Health Digest Daily

Arrhythmias Abnormal Heartbeats

Sunny — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 04:30:18 +0000

Some people who have abnormal heartbeats may not even be aware of them. Awareness of heartbeats (called palpitations) varies widely among people. Some people can feel normal heartbeats, and most people can feel heartbeats when they lie on their left side.

Arrhythmias have consequences that range from harmless to life threatening. The seriousness of an arrhythmia may not be closely linked with the severity of the symptoms it causes. Often, the nature and severity of the underlying heart disease are more important than the arrhythmia itself. Some life-threatening arrhythmias cause no symptoms. Otherwise inconsequential arrhythmias can cause severe symptoms.

When arrhythmias impair the person's heart's ability to pump blood, they can produce weakness, a reduced capacity for exercise, light-headedness, dizziness, and fainting. Fainting occurs when the heart is pumping so inefficiently, it can no longer maintain enough blood pressure. If such an arrhythmia persists, death may be a direct result.

Arrhythmias may also aggravate the symptoms of underlying heart disease, including chest pain and shortness of breath. Arrhythmias that produce symptoms require prompt attention.
Often, a person's description of symptoms can help doctors make a preliminary diagnosis, determining the severity of the arrhythmia. The most important considerations are whether the palpitations are fast or slow, regular or irregular. If the palpitations are brief or prolonged? Whether or not the arrhythmia itself produces symptoms?

Doctors also need to know whether the palpitations occur. At rest or only during strenuous or unusual activity, whether they start and stop suddenly or gradually. However, certain diagnostic procedures are often needed to determine the exact nature of the arrhythmia and its cause

People with suspected life-threatening arrhythmias are usually hospitalized. Their heart rhythm is continuously recorded and displayed on a television-type monitor by the bedside or nursing station. Thus, any problems can be identified promptly.

The Main Cure For Bad Breath

Sunny — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 06:30:03 +0000

Are you looking for a cure for bad breath? If you suffer from bad breath, you are not alone because it is estimated that one in four people suffers from bad breath. Until you find a cure for bad breath, you may be giving people the wrong impression about yourself. Bad breath, known as halitosis, should be treated so that it does not interfere with the way others interact with you.

Oral Bacteria Causes Bad Breath

Oral bacteria that live in the mouth cause ninety percent of the cases of bad breath. Many of the bacteria live at the back of the tongue where bad breath commonly gathers. In order to get rid of the bad breath, it is necessary to dislodge the bacteria from the crevices in which it hides in the mouth.

Bacteria can flourish in the mouth, between the teeth and on the tongue, especially after eating food. Particles of food can be stuck between the teeth or in the gum line and the bacteria will then begin to thrive on it. This is where the problem of bacteria caused bad breath begins.

Get Rid Of The Bacteria

The main idea for this cure for bad breath is that you get rid of the bacteria in the gum lines, on the teeth and tongue by regular brushing everyday. You must brush at least two or three times everyday and you must brush or scrape the tongue as well. The tongue is the place where much bad breath originates because of the bacteria that live in the texture of the tongue.

When you are brushing and flossing your teeth and tongue regularly, you will be making great strides against bacteria caused bad breath. Unless you dislodge the bacteria, any mouthwash or gum you chew will only mask the bad breath caused by bacteria.

If oral bacteria causes you bad breath, your cure for it lies in regularly removing the bacteria. Unless you remove the bacteria, any mints, mouthwash or gum that you chew will only mask the odour and when the mint or candy is gone, the bad breath is back. The true cure for bad breath caused by oral bacteria is the thorough and regular cleansing of your teeth, gums and tongue.

Finding an effective cure for bad breath can be liberating for you. When you have eliminated bacteria from your mouth, you will be able to exude confidence when talking to people because you know that you have found a cure for bad breath that works.

Homeopathic Heartburn Cures: No Or Minimal Side Effects

Sunny — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 01:45:09 +0000

A good reason to opt for homeopathic heartburn cures is that there will be no or minimal side effects. Prescription drugs, on the other hand, are well known for the possible harmful side effects that occur after their use.

Many people may be under the mistaken notion that the term homeopathy refers to a natural remedy or an herbal cure, and that heartburn can effectively be controlled with simple lifestyle changes accompanied by dietary changes. While this may be so, herbal cures have not yet been fully proven in their effectiveness.

Varied Results

Also, homeopathic heartburn cures work differently with different people, and may work for some while not working for others. In any case, a doctor should be consulted regarding heartburn relief and diagnosis, and the patient need also inform the doctor regarding what homeopathic heartburn cure is being taken by the patient, presently, as sometimes, different complications can arise such as cancer of the esophagus as well as damage to the esophagus due to stomach acids.

Also, to find the best homeopathic heartburn cures, one may need to surf the Internet and visit all websites that allow for inputting symptoms, and which answers questions so as to get a recommendation of a correct and suitable homeopathic heartburn cure. The essence of the homeopathic heartburn cure is that, unlike herbal treatments, it treats like with like. Most homeopathic heartburn cures are chosen which, in larger dosages, will bring on symptoms that one is experiencing.

There is certainly no real consensus when it comes to evaluating the effectiveness of the homeopathic heartburn cures, and opinions are very diverse, and it seems that it should be accompanied with a change in lifestyle along with dietary changes to get best results. In fact, homeopathy is certainly controversial and its reliance on an unseen "life force" as well as extreme dilutions is meat and drink for its many critics.

In fact, most homeopathic heartburn cures that are compared with placebos give impressive results. Nevertheless, according to researchers Trevor Thompson and Marjorie Weiss, the act of taking the homeopathic heartburn cure is more effective than the remedy itself.

This may be attributed to the fact that when one visits a homeopath to get a cure prescribed, one may often spend in excess of an hour in answering questions put by the homeopath that focuses on every aspect of the patient's life. The supportive environment may play a big role in making homeopathy effective, which can be more than the strangely named cures themselves. Certainly, the non-specific homeopathy aspects play an important role in the final result.

Ischemic Heart Disease and the Western World

Sunny — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 09:30:14 +0000

Ischemic heart disease is the proper medical term for reduced blood flow to the heart - it is ultimately caused by hardened or blocked arteries, and it is the number one cause of death in most western countries.

From the time people are very young, as young as five years old, they can start developing tissue deposits, called plaque, in the lining of their arteries. For many people, these deposits never cause trouble. For others, the deposits can grow, harden, and eventually cause death. The growth of these tissues is called arteriosclerosis.

As these tissues grow, the arteries will enlarge some to try and accommodate blood flow. However, if the blob of plaque ruptures, the particles clog blood passages causing a heart attack or stroke, in the worst cases.

Please, Pass On The Fats

Scientists know what causes ischemic heart disease: a fatty diet, inaction, and smoking. While smoking is certainly not limited to rich countries, a fatty diet and inaction are luxuries of middle- and upper-class populations.

In Europe and the United States, calories are cheap and plentiful. For an hour's wage, a person can buy a meal containing a pound of meat. However, in some countries, a pound of meat is a treat to be divided within one family once a month. No doctor recommends either extreme of poor or rich food, but rather, everyone needs a healthy, balanced, but lean diet to prevent ischemic heart disease.

However, some doctors have an idea about using peer pressure to make westerners make themselves healthier. Thirty years ago, few Americans wore seatbelts. And many more smoked cigarettes than do now. Laws played a part in changing behavior, but in both of these cases, peer pressure really started the trend. And many scientists, nutritionists, and activists, worried about ischemic heart disease, are trying to repeat the trend for healthier diets.

And this power of healthy suggestion seems to be working on restaurants. Especially since 2004, fast food chains have started to offer healthier menu choices such as yogurt, salads, and fruit. Many restaurants now print some nutrition information on their menus and offer specifically "heart-smart" recipes.

But the question is will people take advantage of healthier menus, city recreation departments, and fresh vegetables at the grocery store? So far, it does not seem so. Some scientists predict that 75% of all Americans will be overweight by 2008. Yet extra weight and the bad diet and inactivity that usually accompany it are causing an epidemic of ischemic heart disease.

Calcium: Choosing The Right Calcium Supplement For Your Needs

Sunny — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 07:30:02 +0000

Getting enough calcium in your diet is crucial, especially for strong bones and healthy teeth. If you do not enjoy consuming milk and other dairy products, which are high in calcium, then consider calcium supplementation.

Below of the different forms of calcium that you can choose from when shopping for your supplements:

1. Calcium Citrate: This form of calcium is a bit expensive, but it is one that most doctors and nutritionists highly recommend. It is made up of 21% elemental calcium and dissolves very easily when ingested. Most people absorb the majority of calcium that comes in these tablets before it leaves the stomach. In addition, calcium citrate is an excellent supplement for older men and women because it dissolves easily and the elderly have less stomach acids to break down anything that is ingested.

2. Calcium Phosphate: Another name for calcium phosphate is "tribasic" calcium phosphate. It is made up of 39% elemental calcium and comes with extra phosphorus that you probably do not need.

3. Calcium Glubionate: Calcium glubionate is generally a rare choice of supplementation that doctors prescribe. It is made up of only 6.5% elemental calcium and you would need to take an extraordinary amount each day just to reach your bodily needs. In addition, it can be very expensive.

4. Calcium Lactate: This is a very common form of calcium that is found in the supplement isle in health food stores. Like most calcium supplements, it is a bit on the pricey side, but it does digest easily and is readily available. However, it is only made up of 13% elemental calcium.

5. Calcium Carbonate: This is by far the most inexpensive form of calcium supplementation that you will find. And in addition to being cheap, it also has 40% elemental calcium. However, there is one major drawback and that is how slow calcium carbonate digests in the body. Because of slow abortion it may not be absorbed to its fullest potential. You can find this form of calcium in a product such as "Tums" and similar generic types.

Experiencing Heartburn After Gall Bladder Surgery? Could Be GERD

Sunny — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 03:30:03 +0000

Gall bladder surgery is often a medical necessity. It is the removal of the gall bladder, which may be necessary if one has gall bladder disease. Gall bladder disease is caused by calcium, bile salts, and gallstones which often develop in overweight people.

People who suffer from gall bladder disease either have high levels of blood cholesterol, or they have poor eating habits. Eventually leading to the inflammation, swelling, and infection of the gall bladder, gall bladder disease is a serious medical condition characterized by indigestion, abdominal pain, vomiting, digestion discomfort, and bloating.

Oftentimes, the only way to treat gall bladder disease is to have a surgery performed that will remove the gall bladder from the body. Gall bladder removal surgery is advantageous because it is a quick, effective, and safe way to recover from gall bladder disease.

However, as with any surgery, there are several unwanted side effects that can occur. One common side effect that people experience is heartburn after gall bladder surgery. Heartburn after gall bladder surgery is not uncommon-in fact, medical experts have even determined the cause behind this pesky side effect.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease-The Leading Cause Of Heartburn After Gall Bladder Surgery

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease is a chronic disease that can be treated through medication or through lifestyle alterations. There are many symptoms of GERD that often go unrecognized because they are common; however, the primary symptom of GERD is heartburn.

GERD is the believed to be the main cause of heartburn after gall bladder surgery. There is not any medical evidence to support this claim; however, the complaints of countless people who have experienced gall bladder surgery are enough to substantiate this statement.

Forty percent of people who have had their gall bladders removed experience gastrointestinal symptoms, such as diarrhea, gas, bloating, and heartburn. When these symptoms, such as heartburn after gall bladder surgery, are experienced after having gall bladder surgery, it is known as post-cholecystectomy syndrome.

Other Potential Causes Of Heartburn After Gall Bladder Surgery

Although GERD is a very common cause of heartburn after gall bladder surgery, it is by no means the only possible cause. Another possible cause of heartburn after gall bladder surgery is gastroperesis. It is important to consult with a doctor when examining your post-gall bladder surgery symptoms, because there could be a wide range of causes for heartburn after gall bladder surgery.

What is Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery?

Sunny — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 18:30:04 +0000

This is a type of heart surgery. It's sometimes called CABG ("cabbage"). The surgery reroutes, or "bypasses," blood around clogged arteries to improve blood flow and oxygen to the heart.

The arteries that bring blood to the heart muscle (coronary arteries) can become clogged by plaque (a buildup of fat, cholesterol plus other substances). This can then slow or stop blood flow through the heart's blood vessels, leading to chest pain or a heart attack. Increasing blood flow to the heart muscle can relieve chest pain and also reduce the risk of heart attack.

Surgeons take a segment of a healthy blood vessel from another part of the body, and then make a detour around the blocked part of the coronary artery. An artery may be detached from the chest wall and the open end attached to the coronary artery below the blocked area. Or a piece of a long vein in your leg may be taken. One end is sewn onto the large artery leaving your heart - the aorta. The other end of the vein is attached or "grafted" to the coronary artery below the blocked area.

Either way, blood can then utilize use this new path to flow freely to the heart muscle.
A patient may undergo one, two, three or more bypass grafts, depending on how many coronary arteries are blocked.

Cardiopulmonary bypass with a pump oxygenator (heart-lung machine) is used for most coronary bypass graft operations. This means that besides the surgeon, a team made up of a cardiac anesthesiologist and surgical nurse, a competent perfusionist (blood flow specialist) are required.

What happens after bypass surgery?
After surgery, the patient is moved to a hospital bed in the cardiac surgical intensive care unit. Heart rate and blood pressure monitoring devices continuously monitor the patient for 12 to 24 hours.

Lowering your LDL Cholesterol with Niacin

Sunny — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 12:15:03 +0000

Have you got your lipid profile checked yet? If not, you need to do so as soon as possible. You may wonder why, and what this is all about. It is about lowering the cholesterol level in your blood so as to reduce the risk of getting a coronary heart disease, which may prove fatal, if left untreated.

In this context, it is essential for you to understand cholesterol and its role in keeping your heart healthy. Being a fatty lipid, steroid and an alcohol, cholesterol is one of the most important components found in your body tissues and blood plasma. Too much of it, however, can be extremely harmful, to the extent of gradually clogging your arteries and finally stopping your heart from functioning.

What is Cholesterol?
The main sources of cholesterol in your blood are your liver and food. Most of the cholesterol is produced in the liver. The rest of it gets into your blood through foods rich in animal fats, like meat, egg yolk, and dairy products made from whole milk. Cholesterol gets attached to protein complexes, called lipoproteins, which transport it. There are two main types of cholesterol: one good, the other bad, in relation to the health of your heart. High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is the good one. It gets transported from the various organs and tissues to the liver, where it is broken down and from where it is sent for excretion. Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, the bad one, gets carried from the liver to the tissues and organs, including the heart. Low levels of HDL (good) cholesterol coupled with high levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol in the blood obviously result in increased quantities of fatty lipids getting deposited on the walls of the arteries, narrowing them (or even blocking them) and thus affecting the free flow of blood to the heart and from it. Finding out the levels of HDL and LDL cholesterol along with triglycerides, a type of fat, you can get your lipid profile. If the second is high and the first is low, you have a high cholesterol ratio unfavorable to your heart's health. If added to it you have high levels of triglycerides, your heart runs a very high risk of getting diseased.

Lowering your LDL Cholesterol
Lowering the levels of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides while simultaneously raising the levels of HDL cholesterol thus becomes imperative for a healthy heart. This can be achieved through diet, exercise and drugs. Of these, the last one has been found to be most effective. Avoiding animal fats in your food and doing physical exercise regularly may be useful, no doubt. But a particular Vitamin B called niacin works very well in lowering the LDL cholesterol, raising the HDL cholesterol as well as reducing the triglycerides. Niacin is another name for nicotinic acid and nicotinamide. This wonder drug, first used more than forty years ago, has been found to retard the production of a protein that carries LDL cholesterol and triglycerides from the liver to the heart and other organs. The result is obvious: lower levels of bad cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. Niacin has also been found to be the most effective drug for increasing the good cholesterol. In combination with some statins like lovastatin, niacin has been found to be much more useful in lowering the LDL cholesterol. Similarly, niacin and fibrates work better when used together. In particular, a type of niacin that slows or extends its own release into the blood stream, called the extended-release niacin, in combination with statins or fibrates, is very useful in controlling serum cholesterol. Dieting and exercise may work in some cases, but niacin works in all for cholesterol management.

There is just one thing to worry about in the use of niacin. It causes flushing or redness as well as a few other side effects such as increasing plasma glucose and uric acid levels in some patients. Niacin has therefore to be used only with the advice and under the supervision of a doctor, who will help in the management of these side effects.

Get your lipid profile and if you find it shows elevated levels of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides in it, ask your doctor if niacin will help. You will be happily surprised when he concurs.

How To Spot Heartburn Symptoms

Sunny — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 02:15:09 +0000

Heartburn is an uncomfortable burning sensation or pain below the breastbone or sometimes goes up to the neck. Heartburn symptoms usually appear when lying down, after meals or when sleeping. Most of the time, heartburn is due to GERD or gastroesophageal reflux disease - the condition wherein your stomach acid rises back up into your esophagus.

If you experience burning sensations that may mimic the signs of asthma or heart attack, then you may be experiencing heartburn symptoms. You should not disregard these signs and symptoms because it could lead to other serious health conditions.

Heartburn symptoms may also occur due to negative interactions with specific drugs, such as aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), sedatives, beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers used for high blood pressure, bronchodilators, progestin hormones and other drugs. However, it is not recommended to stop medication without proper medical consultation.

The most common heartburn symptom is the pain described as a burning sensation or feeling in the chest. This sensation usually spreads up to the neck, throat, jaws, arms and back. This is the main reason why many people mistaken heartburn to heart attacks. For this reason, you should never predict that your condition is truly a representation of heartburn symptoms and not heart attacks. Seek medical attention immediately when chest pains occur.

Heartburn symptoms usually occur an hour or less after fatty and protein-rich meals. Chest pains are worse when you are bending forward, lying down or straining your back. However, it can be easily relieve by standing or sitting upright, drinking water, swallowing saliva or taking medications.

When To Seek Medical Help

Heartburn symptoms may vary from one person to the next. Some people can experience a sour or bitter taste in their mouth after eating, while others may affect their throats. Because different people experience different stressful conditions and eat or drink different foods, they also experience various levels of heartburn.

If the acid in your stomach remains for a longer time, your esophagus can become damaged, making it difficult for you to swallow. In serious cases of heartburn, you can experience dehydration, weight loss, bleeding esophagus or blood in your vomit and bowel movements. Although some of these conditions occur on severe cases of heartburn, it is still best to spot those heartburn symptoms early to ensure proper treatment before it leads to serious health risks.

Seek medical attention when antacids and other medications do not work. Consult your doctor if heartburn persists more than three weeks, even after changing your eating patterns. If you can't spot heartburn symptoms, but feel like you're having intense chest pains, call your health care provider immediately.

Alzheimer's History

Sunny — Sun, 31 May 2009 16:00:05 +0000

Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia (a brain disorder that seriously affects the person's memory, intellectual, or thinking abilities as well as interferes with social and/or occupational functioning) that occurs in the elderly. Occurring in 60 to 70% of people with dementia above the age of 65, Alzheimer's disease is classified as progressive, which means that its symptoms grow worse over time. Basically, the disease gradually robs the sufferers of their ability to think and function, and may even reduce lifespan.

The Alzheimer's history began in the early 1900s - in 1906, to be exact. That year, Alois Alzheimer (1864-1915), a German physician well-known for his extensive work in neuropathology and histopathology with other big names in science, marked the Alzheimer's history by describing a condition of a certain middle aged patient of his.

The patient, named Auguste Deter, was only 55 years old when she died for reasons that puzzled her attending physicians, including Alzheimer himself. Her condition involved progressive problems with memory, language, and behavior. Little did anyone know that it would be her death that would signal the beginning of the Alzheimer's history.

After the death of Auguste D., Alzheimer, who was in Munich at the time, studied her brain to determine what the factors that caused her symptoms to appear were. There he found two changes in the tissue of the brain. During the course of the Alzheimer's history, these two changes would later become the essential features of this brain disease.

First are the tangles. Called Neurofibrillary tangles, these formations are intracellular abnormalities involving the cytoplasm of the nerve cell. In order to see them, one would have to use hematoxylin and eosin stain or through silver impregnation techniques, as well as Congo red or fluorescent dye thioflavine. These abnormalities are generally found in the cerebral cortex, especially in the temporal lobe structures such s the hippocampus and amygdale.

The second change that Alzheimer noticed is the neuritic plaques. In the Alzheimer's history, it has been found that these neuritic plaques are actually made up of protein called amyloid, which is naturally found in the body. But for reasons yet unknown, large deposits of this protein are formed between the nerve cells. Later, it was also discovered that the plaques also contained deposits of aluminum silicate, in addition to amyloid peptides, hence the term "amyloid plaques." This, along neurofibrillary tangles, are said to cause the symptoms of Alzheimer's.

Years after Alzheimer first described these essential features of the disease, scientists have gained greater insight into the genetic factors that contribute to Alzheimer's disease. In this period of Alzheimer's history, it has been found that there is a form of the disease that is mostly hereditary - that is, it is passed from one family member to another via their genetic makeup.

But much is still to be learned about Alzheimer's history before any real conclusions can be made. And at present, the research on Alzheimer's disease is more focused on finding ways to prevent the onset of the symptoms.

Hand care

Sunny — Thu, 28 May 2009 20:15:03 +0000

Next to face, the hands are the most precious in a human body. We work with our hands, shake hands to begin friendship, take help of hands to body care and say good-bye by waving hands. Hands have multifarious activities. Anthropologists say that by use of this pair of hands human beings cut their last links with the animal world. Human history is closely linked with the evolution of their hands.

A close scrutiny of human hands can well tell your age. This is possible by the wrinkles made on the skin of the hands. To make the hands wrinkle free, there are several measures to work on.

Like all other natural body care, to get wrinkle free soft hands, you should concentrate on your diet. If the diet has enough collagen fibers, the skin gets young look whatever your age may be. Milk has a lot of collagen protein. Besides taking adequate pure milk, a daily milk bath or hand wash would keep the hands soft and smooth. Also advised not to allow the hands getting dry. Use water as moisturizer.

To maintain your soft and supple hands, it is advised not to expose them to the sun, which may burn those to wrinkles. The sun may also generate spots on the hands. It would make the hands dry too.

Protection of the hands from the dust is also required. Air and water pollution may damage your hands. Adequate protection should be taken while washing dishes or other works done by the hands. Hand gloves are handy in such situations. But take care about the thing by which the hand gloves are made of. Plastic hand gloves may develop fungal infections. Go for natural fibers

An oil bath a day is very helpful for having soft and smooth hands.. Check before the bath that the water is warm. Daily warm water oil bath would keep your hands soft forever. Besides, warm hands are always preferable than cold hands. Keep your hands warm all the time. Regular massage of hands keeps those warm always.

Take care of your nails as those are part of your hands. There are several forms of nail disorder. Nails may be flaky and splitting. They may have white or black spots on them. Nails sometimes overgrow. They become hard and sometimes brittle. Sometimes they become so rocky that it is hard to cut them. Unhealthy nails lose natural color and become stony black. Take adequate nail care

Use olive oil to care your nails. Dipping of your fingers in warm water with olive oil drops would make your nail healthy. Cut nails since those are prone to collect dirts. Clean natural nails are a woman's beauty.

Try to avoid chemical nail polishes. Those may harm your nail and make your hands unattractive. Use authenticated herbal nail polishes, as those are not risky. You may use mehandy. Always color your nail, if you wish, matching the color of your hands.

Remember the man you like would ask for your hands only!

The Unfortunate Epidemic: Sexual Abuse in the Autistic World

Sunny — Wed, 27 May 2009 09:30:04 +0000

One of the most perverse problems in an autistic individual's life is the threat of sexual abuse. This can come in the form of rape or simply be in an abusive relationship. Because autistic people spend much of their lives feeling different and left out, they often enjoy sexual experiences for one reason: it puts then on a playing field equal to others. It is very easy for this to become a controlling part of a relationship. The most important thing to remember is that autistic people experience sexuality in much of the same way that others do, no matter how highly functioning they may be. Parents should teach their child about sexuality from an early age in order to prevent sexual abuse from happening.

The most valuable command that anyone can learn in relationship to sexuality is "No." Teaching this to even children can be very useful. In this respect, treat your autistic child as no different than you would another child-teach him or her the parts of the body from a young age and be very clear, as the child matures, about what happens during puberty and what kinds of behaviors are appropriate and inappropriate. Be sure that your child understands the differences between good touches and bad touches. This can be extremely difficult for autistic children who are sensitive to touch in general. It may be helpful to label "zones" on the body where no one should touch without permission.

Also make sure that as your autistic child grows into an adult, he or she understands what rape is and what to do if this happens. As many autistic children are hands-on learners, it may be best to role-play some potentially dangerous situations. If your child communicates non-verbally, teach him or her clear signs to show a person to stop what they are doing. Autistic people can often not understand that others have their own thoughts and emotions-they believe that everyone thinks and feels what they do. Because of this, many are shocked to find that "bad" people in the world will take advantage of sexual situations. You may need to explain to an autistic individual what kinds of dress and conduct are appropriate in public so that he or she is not unknowingly attracting sexual attention.

You child should learn to respect his or her body and understand that others need to respect it as well. This is only possible if parents and educators teach autistic children about their bodies from a young age. By learning how to stop sexual abuse, you can keep you children, autistic or not, safe from predators.

Rheumatic Fever and Heart Disease

Sunny — Sun, 24 May 2009 21:30:02 +0000

Before antibiotic medicines became widely used, rheumatic fever was the largest cause of valve disease. Rheumatic fever is a condition that is a complication of untreated strep throat. Strep throat is caused by a group A streptococcal infection found in the throat.

Rheumatic fever can damage body tissues by causing them to swell, but its greatest danger lies in the damage it can do to your heart. More than half of the time, rheumatic fever leads to scarring of the heart's valves. This scarring can narrow the valve and make it harder for the valve to open properly or to close completely. In turn, your heart has to work harder to pump blood to the rest of your body. This valve damage can lead to a condition called rheumatic heart disease, which, in time, can lead to congestive heart failure.
Rheumatic fever is not an infection itself, rather the result of an untreated strep infection. When the body senses the strep infection, it sends antibodies to fight it. Sometimes, these antibodies attack the tissues of joints or the heart instead. If the antibodies attack the heart they can cause the heart valves to swell, which can lead to scarring of the valve "doors." (The doors are called leaflets.) The scarred leaflets make it harder for the valve to either open or close properly, or both.

The symptoms of rheumatic fever usually begin 1 to 6 weeks after a strep infection. The symptoms are fever, joint pain or swelling in your wrists, elbows, knees, or ankles. Small bumps under the skin over elbows or knees (called nodules). Maybe a small raised red rash on the chest, back, or stomach, experience stomach pain or feeling less hungry. Weakness, shortness of breath, or feeling very tired

Please remember that Rheumatic Fever needs immediate medical attention!

Stop Heartburn Once And For All

Sunny — Sun, 17 May 2009 15:00:28 +0000

If affects fifteen million Americans daily. Some people experience it every once in a while, other people are affected by it every day. Sometimes, it is even mistaken for a heart attack. It is a strong, burning sensation that causes chest pain and digestive problems. What am I referring to? Heartburn of course!

Whether your heartburn is chronic or even if you just experience it every once and a while, it is not a fun experience to have. Many people are hospitalized for reasons relating to heartburn, and heartburn is often mistaken for other conditions. Wouldn't it be great if you could just stop heartburn once and for all? Well, you can!

There is usually no reason to see a medical professional for treatment for heartburn-normally, you can simply make alterations in your own life style. For example, one of the most common causes of heartburn is smoking. Besides being a dangerous habit, smoking causes heartburn because the nicotine affects the release of acids in the stomach.

Another cause of heartburn is too much alcohol or caffeine. This is why alcoholics often experience heartburn; and again, these habits are dangerous for other reasons as well. An extremely common cause of heartburn is the foods that you eat.

What Foods Can I Eat To Stop Heartburn?

The food that you eat plays a significant role in the occurrence of heartburn; thus, by controlling your diet, you should be able to successfully stop heartburn. Heartburn often occurs when one eats greasy foods, or foods that are high in fat.

If you are trying to stop heartburn, you can start by avoiding many foods that are common causes of heartburn. Foods that commonly cause heartburn include sour cream, milk shakes, ice cream, and cottage cheese. Other foods that you should avoid eating to stop heartburn are citrus fruits, tomato sauces, chocolate, and fried foods. If you avoid these foods, you should be able to stop heartburn successfully.

How Else Can I Stop Heartburn?

One of the most common causes of heartburn is overeating or eating too fast. When your stomach is too full, it puts an excess amount of pressure on the esophagus, which in turn leads to heartburn. By normalizing your eating habits, you can stop heartburn before it becomes a major problem.

What If I've Tried Everything-And Nothing Works!

If you have tried making lifestyle changes to stop heartburn with no success, now would be the time to consult your doctor. Your doctor can prescribe a medication that will work for you-and stop heartburn once and for all.

Bad Breath in Dogs

Sunny — Sat, 16 May 2009 01:00:12 +0000

Summary: Causes of bad breath in dogs can be traced not only to the dental and gum disease but also to kidney and liver disease.

Do you have animals, especially dogs? I, as dog lover, make sure to own a dog ever since when I was a kid. Even my whole family loves dog and we treat our favorite pet member of the family. When I got married, I left my dog with my parents and since my husband knows that dogs are my favorite pets, he got me one a few weeks before our weeding. Isn't that sweet?

As a responsible dog owner, I always make it a point to feed and clean my dog. But, it's not enough. There's more to feeding, bathing, and walking your dogs. For those who also love and own dogs (like me), it is important for you to know why dogs have bad breath and what causes bad breath in dogs.

Tooth and gum problems are the most common medical condition of cats and dogs because bad breath in dogs and other pets usually accompanied with other health problems. Even if bad breath in your pets does not bother you or you don't find it offensive, it is still best to treat the problem.

Tartar build up surrounding the teeth of your dog is the most common cause of bad breath. Just like in our case, if small food particles left in between our teeth, these food particles will decay resulting to become a friendly environment for oral bacteria to grow. And when they grow, they become plaque. Plaque and other oral infections are responsible for the bad breath in dogs. In addition, plaque sticks to the base of teeth causing inflammation and receding of gums. Eventually these gum problems contribute to the foul smell of your dog's breath.

Have you notice your puppies that puppies have different breath odor? I won't say it's stinky or offensive, but it's just that it smells puppy breath. This is because young puppies that is in the process of shedding their baby teeth usually salivate and bad breath. Brushing your puppies' mouth with water mixed with baking soda gives them relief and minimizes bad breath. In older pets, liver and kidney diseases usually affect the mouth; therefore, bad breath can possibly be traced through organ failure. Kidney and liver disease can lead to dental disease and dental disease can lead to liver and kidney diseases. You can immediately identify if your dog has dental problems for they usually drool.

Bad breath in dogs is treatable. You just have to be observant to the health conditions of your pets. Here are several helpful tips in the treatment of bad breath in dogs:

o Yearly general and dental check up helps you monitor the condition of your dog, including bad breath.
o To slow down the formation of plaque build up, feed your pet with a name brand commercial pet food. These crunchy food helps massage gums and gradually removes tartar
o Feed your dog with chewy treats, bones, and the like for they help minimize dental plaque.
o Brushing your pet's teeth is the best thing you can do to keep their teeth and gums healthy.
o Use mouthwash and sprays containing enzymes that dissolve plaque and help reduce bacteria. These are available in veterinary hospitals and pet shops.

Bad breath in dogs should not be taken for granted for this may lead to another serious problem. If you notice your dog's breath has an offensive smell, bring them to your veterinarian to determine the cause of their bad breath. After all, our dog deserves the best treatment we can give to them as part of the family.

Prognosis and Treatment of Abnormal Heartbeats

Sunny — Tue, 05 May 2009 04:15:02 +0000

Most arrhythmias (abnormal heartbeats) neither cause symptoms nor interfere with the heart's ability to pump blood. Thus, they usually pose little or no risk. They can cause considerable anxiety if a person becomes aware of them. There are some arrhythmias, harmless in themselves that can lead to more serious arrhythmias.

Any arrhythmia that impairs the heart's ability to pump blood adequately is serious. How serious, depends in part on where the arrhythmia originates. Is it in the heart's normal pacemaker, in the atria, or in the ventricles? Generally, arrhythmias which originate in the ventricles are more serious than those that originate in the atria. These are more serious than those that originate in the pacemaker. However, there are many exceptions.

For people who have a harmless, yet worrisome arrhythmia, reassurance that the arrhythmia is harmless may be treatment enough. Sometimes arrhythmias occur less often or even stop, when doctors change a person's drugs or adjust the dosages. Avoiding alcohol, caffeine, smoking, or strenuous exercise can also help.

Antiarrhythmic drugs are useful for suppressing fast arrhythmias that cause intolerable symptoms or pose a risk. No single drug cures all arrhythmias in people. Sometimes several drugs must be tried until the response is satisfactory. Sometimes antiarrhythmic drugs can worsen or even cause arrhythmias; this effect is called proarrhythmia. Antiarrhythmic drugs can also produce other side effects.

Artificial pacemakers are electronic devices that act in place of the heart's own pacemaker. These devices are implanted surgically under the skin, usually below the left or right collarbone. They are connected to the heart by wires running inside a vein. New circuitry has almost completely eliminated the risk of interference from automobile distributors, radar, microwaves, and airport security detectors.

Any abnormality within the chest is wise to get checked out by your family doctor.

Severe Heartburn: If Left Untreated Or Ignored, Can Gravely Impact The Quality Of Life Of The Patient

Sunny — Mon, 04 May 2009 23:15:02 +0000

It is necessary for a patient suffering from heartburn to be able to distinguish between a mild episode and a severe one, since severe heartburn may be indicative of a more serious underlying condition. When diagnosing heartburn, factors studied include identifying the nature as well as harshness of heartburn.

Most often, heartburn is accompanied by a burning sensation as well as discomfort in the chest region, and normal treatment includes prescription drugs that may be taken once or twice daily.

Requires Follow-Up Care

With severe heartburn, the patient will require follow-up care, and even when drugs are unable to provide relief, the healthcare professional handling the case may need to conduct esophageal acid testing or another medical evaluation that can safely eliminate GERD. Normally, patients that suffer from short bowel syndrome, hiatal hernia as well as stomach cancer are most prone to fall victim to a case of severe heartburn.

To stay healthy as well as find relief from severe heartburn, one should keep in close contact with one's physician or doctor, and is even more necessary when taking medications to alleviate symptoms of severe heartburn. Those that do have severe heartburn may find that simple remedies such as lifestyle changes accompanied by dietary changes and some over-the-counter drugs are inadequate in addressing such a condition, and more potent medications may be required.

There is always the risk if one has severe heartburn that further complications may occur and, so, an early and correct diagnosis as well as specialized treatment is called for. Common symptoms of such episodes include heartburn occurring many times in a week, the condition reappears after antacid effects wear off, and when one has to wake up at night because of heartburn.

Patients that have symptoms that persist in spite of taking prescription drugs, or have difficulty in swallowing or have regurgitated blood or whose stool is black or find themselves losing weight are sure to be suffering from severe heartburn. Left untreated or ignored, it will significantly impact the patient's life adversely, and will even impair the performance of one's daily routine tasks.

It is very common for those with severe heartburn to report impaired sleep and many also find the condition an embarrassment, and it is believed that men are twice as likely to be disturbed while asleep at night as compared with women with the same condition. Also, many patients choose to ignore the symptoms and prefer to bear the discomfort in silence, which is a grave risk given the fact that it can have consequent debilitating effects on the quality of life of the patient.

Healthy Eating Plans

Sunny — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:52:22 +0000

Late night snacking can ruin your diet. When time is structured, you're less likely to think about food. Why are so many people tempted to snack late at night?

The #1 reason is boredom. When the mind is not stimulated, it tends to seek pleasure and eating is a very pleasurable experience. Here are tips for eating healthy that will prevent those unplanned snacks that add unwanted calories.

Don't Skip Dinner - Skipping dinner will set you up for failure. The temptation for eating junk food or whatever is available becomes overwhelming when you are very hungry. You can help your weight loss effort tremendously by not skipping meals.

Include a Light Dessert for Dinner - Any light dessert will do if you love sweets. Desserts that are less than 150 calories can easily be added to your diet to give your sweet tooth a real treat. When you're satisfied, you are less tempted to snack later at night.

Watch Less TV - Weight loss will certainly not come by way of deceptive infomercials. You'll also be surprised how watching television can cause you to snack and cause "out of control" eating. Your mind is not working and boredom unsuspectingly creeps in.

Boredom causes you to want something pleasurable such as food. Also TV commercials, with their tempting images of food constantly coming at you, are notorious for triggering you to start eating again, especially treats that are not healthy.

Make Plans for Fun Projects - Write down projects that you always wanted to do. Using your spare time to do worthwhile chores will keep your mind off food. Projects can include helping your kids with homework, sewing, developing a business plan, family games, 30 minutes on the treadmill or stationary bike.

It's hard to believe, but very true that fun and productive projects can help you lose weight in a very healthy way.

Plans for Snacks - If you're the type of person that just can't avoid snacking late at night, then plan 1 or 2 low calorie snacks. Plan something like sugar free hot chocolate with light whip cream or 1/2 bag of light microwave popcorn at the time you're most vulnerable to eating snacks. This way, you consume only 70 to 100 calories, and do very little damage to your weight loss effort.

Food And Acid Reflux Recipes

Sunny — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 16:45:04 +0000

For all sufferers of acid reflux, eating mildly and specially selected recipes bring fair improvement. Some nutritionists contend that Acid Reflux is not a disease at all but a mere condition that is the result of unhealthy eating habits. The following are some friendly foods and acid reflux recipes for easy home preparation.

Healthy Food For Use In Acid Reflux Recipes

Many vegetables, fruits, and drinks are friendly to people suffering from acid reflux condition and can be used in acid reflux recipes. Fresh and dried apples, and bananas are friendly fruits. Vegetable baked potato; broccoli, cabbage, carrots, green beans and peas are healthy vegetables. Friendly animal foods include ground beef (extra-lean), steak (London Broil), skinless chicken breast, egg whites, egg substitute, and fish with no added fat. In dairy foods, friendly acid reflux items include dairy cheese (feta or goat), cream cheese (fat-free), and sour cream (fat-free). Mult-grain bread, cereal, bran or oatmeal, corn bread, Graham crackers, Pretzels, Rice (brown or white), and rice cakes are harmless grain-based foods. Filtered pure water is the best drink, and perhaps the only entirely harmless one, for acid reflux condition.

Vegetable Broth

Vegetable broth as described here is alkaline and rich in minerals. Alkalinity neutralizes the acid and provides relief. Vegetable broth can be taken as a simple soup, or as a stock for cooking. Acid reflux recipes for vegetable broth vary in ingredients. A simplest one needs include two cups each of red skinned potato peelings, celery tops, beet tops, and carrots. Also needed are three cups of celery stalk, one small onion, one small zucchini or yellow squash, sprig of parsley, and two and a half quarts distilled water. Simply chop all vegetables into very fine pieces. Place in the water and bring to the boiling temperature. Simmer for 20 minutes. Cool a little for instant use and strain and refrigerate for future use.

Lemon Chive Salad Dressing

Salads of reflux friendly items are very easy to prepare and ideal acid reflux recipes. Lemon chive salad dressing is classic vinaigrette for green salads. To prepare, you would require one lemon juiced, sea salt (pinch), three tablespoons extra-fine sugar, six tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, the same quantity of minced chives and freshly ground black pepper. Now combine lemon juice, salt and sugar in a bowl. Whisk until the sugar and salt are dissolved. Continue whisking in the olive oil, chives and several grinds of pepper. Keep whisking until dressing is emulsified.

Savory Lentils with Texmati Brown Rice

This is a unique preparation among acid reflux recipes. To a large pot bring one pound of rinsed organic lentils to a boil in eight cups of water. Add other ingredients: one chopped onion, three cloves of garlic (chopped), two sliced carrots, two chopped stalks celery, one bay leaf, two sprigs of thyme, and Organic Texmati brown rice (follow instructions on package). Reduce to the simmer, partially covered. Cook until tender (about 20 to 30 minutes), stirring occasionally and adding more liquid as needed. Remove the bay leaf and thyme sprigs. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Serve over organic Texmati brown rice. Garnish with chopped parsley. Serve with a light green salad, dressed with the lemon chive dressing.

What are the symptoms of a Myocardial Infarction?

Sunny — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 21:00:03 +0000

Severe chest pain is the main symptom. The pain may also travel up into the jaw, down the left arm, or down both arms. The person may also be sweating, feel sick, and feel faint. The pain may be similar to angina; however, it is usually more severe and lasts longer. Angina usually goes off after a few minutes. MI pain usually lasts more than 15 minutes - sometimes several hours.

A small MI occasionally happens without causing pain (a 'silent MI'). It may be truly pain-free, or sometimes the pain is so mild and that the may think it is only heartburn or 'wind'. Collapse and sudden death may occur with a large or severe MI.

Many people recover well from an MI with no complications. Before discharge from hospital, it is common for a doctor or nurse to advise you how to reduce any risk factors. This advice aims to reduce the risk of a future MI as much as possible.

Emergency angioplasty is used in some cases as an alternative to a 'clot busting' drug in some hospitals. In this procedure a tiny wire with a balloon at the end is put into a large artery in the groin or arm. It is then passed up to the heart and into the blocked section of a coronary artery using special x-ray guidance. The balloon is then blown up inside the blocked part of the artery to open it wide again.

This often depends on the amount of heart muscle that is damaged. In many cases only a small part of the heart muscle is damaged (infarcts or dies) which heals as a small patch of scar tissue. The heart can usually function normally with a small patch of scar tissue. A larger MI is more likely to be life-threatening or cause complications

Vitamin K: Learn The Basics Of This Important Vitamin

Sunny — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 04:30:03 +0000

There are three forms of vitamin K in existence. Two of those forms are naturally occurring and the third is a synthetic form. In order for vitamin K to be absorbed and utilized by the small intestine, there must be some presence of dietary fat to go along with it.

There are many functions of Vitamin K that benefit our health. The most important ones are normal blood clotting, strong bones, and cancer prevention. Let's take a closer look:

Blood Clotting: Vitamin K's most important and primary function is to regulate health normal blood clotting. Without enough of this vitamin, your body will not produce enough prothrombin, which is vital for blood coagulation.

Strong Bones: There are proteins, such as osteocalcin, which are "vitamin K-dependable". Osteocalcin can be found within the bones and are considered to be an essential part of calcium metabolism, tissue mineralization, and bone-turnover.

Cancer Prevention: Numerous studies and experiments on tumor cells have been taken from the body provide information that the use of vitamin K may help slow down or even totally prohibit the growth of some cancer forms. These cancers include colon, bladder, stomach, breast, kidney, and ovary cancer.

The effectiveness of vitamin K is enhanced when it is used with a medication called warfarin. Keep in mind, however, that the research on vitamin K is of course limited and more information needs to be concluded before set recommendations can be made.

Vitamin K Deficiencies

Cases of vitamin deficiencies are rare, except in some newborn babies. This is because the vitamin gets synthesized by microorganisms that are within the intestinal tract. However, in newborn infants, the establishments of this bacteria take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to develop. Mothers are typically given vitamin K supplements before having her baby in order to increase the amounts of the vitamin that crosses over the placenta and are made ready in the breast milk.

Adults may have vitamin K deficiencies due to the lack of dark green leafy vegetables in their diet. Also, those men and women who take in many antibiotic medications on a regular basis show signs of being deficient of vitamin K. Other medications that may affect how your body absorbs vitamin K are salicylates, coumarin, and warfarin.

Sources Of Vitamin K In Your Diet

There are only "approximate values" of vitamin K intake found in many foods, instead of concrete amounts advised. In fact, the amount of vitamin K of a certain food may vary by as much as a 45% difference than what the label may show. So when it comes to getting enough of this vitamin, you can ensure your intake by eating dark green leafy vegetables such as romaine lettuce, cabbage, turnip greens, and broccoli. Certain cheeses, liver, and egg yolks also contain a small amount of vitamin K.

Constant heartburn Is A Grave Problem Requiring Strong Treatment

Sunny — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 10:30:07 +0000

Heartburn is quite common and occurs after a big meal, and occasional episodes are not reason for undue worry. However, frequent and constant heartburn is a grave problem that requires to be medically treated as it is a common symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD, which is a disease causing stomach acid or even causes bile to flow back (reflux) into the food pipe or esophagus.

Requires Strong Measures And Even Surgery To Treat Constant Heartburn

If there is repeated backwash of acid, it will cause the esophagus to be irritated that will not only result in irritation, but will also lead to inflammation of the esophagus as well. Generally, lifestyle changes can help to address the problem of heartburn or over-the-counter medications can provide relief.

Constant heartburn will require much stronger medications as the constant burning sensation in the chest, as well as sometimes the throat, coupled with a sour taste in the mouth, requires strong measures to counteract such a condition.

People that are obese, have hiatal hernia, pregnant women, asthmatics, diabetics, those with peptic ulcer, or those who have delayed stomach emptying or who suffer from Zollinger-Ellison syndrome or have connective tissue disorders will be most likely to have constant heartburn, which can lead to further complications arising that would, in turn, require ever more intensive medical treatment as well as prescription medications.

Constant heartburn can occur several times in a week, may return soon after the antacid wears off, as well as causes patients to wake up at night. In case the symptoms persist in spite of taking prescription drugs, or there is difficulty in swallowing, or there is regurgitated blood, or stool turns black or one experiences weight loss, one can be sure that these are symptomatic of constant heartburn.

Usually, the doctor may be able to prescribe medications, as well as diagnose the constant heartburn condition with the help of just the description of the symptoms. However, sometimes these may be insufficient and the condition may be severe enough or unresponsive to treatment, and thus will require undergoing other tests including Barium X-ray, endoscopy, ambulatory acid (pH) probe tests, and esophageal impedance measurements.

Constant heartburn will usually cause irritation, as well as inflammation, of the esophagus, but can also lead to one or more other conditions, including narrowing of the esophagus, ulcers in the esophagus, and Barrett's esophagus. Treatment for a constant heartburn condition can vary and may only require over-the-counter medications or surgical procedures depending on how severe are the condition and how well the symptoms respond to various treatments.

Common over-the-counter remedies include antacids, H-2 receptor blockers, and proton pump inhibitors. Prescription strength medications include prescription-strength H-2 receptor blockers, prescription-strength proton pump inhibitors, and prokinetic agents, and, finally, one may require undergoing surgery or other procedures to get rid of constant heartburn.

NUTRITION DURING PREGNANCY

Sunny — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 02:30:02 +0000

Summary: Knowing the facts and myths of nutrition during pregnancy.

Doesn't it get to you when your grandmother tells you something totally in contrast to what your OB said? Did you get into a fight with your best friend over your doctor's advice because she thinks hers is better after bearing 5 kids?

Being pregnant is already hard as it is without people making all the fuss and throwing their two cents each at you. The several physiological and emotional changes may be easier to bear than the debate over the nutrition during pregnancy that your friends and family are having. These well-meaning people may just want the best for you but your OB can give you the best advice on the proper nutrition during pregnancy. The following half-truths and total misconceptions may have cropped up during the debate:

1st Myth: Double your food intake because you're eating for two people.

Not exactly. An extra 300 calories is enough for most women. The baby inside your womb does not need the meal of a full-grown human being. Thus, the recommended weight gain is just about 24-35 pounds. This actually varies depending on the woman's height and build, and the number of babies she is carrying. Your doctor can tell you the right nutrition during pregnancy to achieve the correct weight gain as well.

2nd Myth: Drinking coffee is a no-no.

This has remained to be a debate up to now. While most studies found out that 3 or four cups of coffee a day will have no dangerous effects on the baby, some doctors and other health practitioners still insist that java causes Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children. If it is too much to bear not being able to drink coffee, make sure you lessen your intake. A cup or two a day is better than not having any at all.

3rd Myth: Herbal teas are safe.

Generally yes. However, intakes of large doses of herbs like peppermint and raspberry leaf are said to result in contractions and preterm labor. If you need tea as part of your nutrition during pregnancy scheme, check with your doctors which contents are safest.

4th Myth: Alcohol and cigarettes taken in moderation is ok.

For alcohol, possibly; but for cigarettes, don't even think about it. The glares you get from your parents and your hundreds of aunts may not scare you enough to throw out those sticks. But the harmful contents in cigarettes can get inside your baby's system which may result in complications. Premature and low birth weight is also a possibility.

Even if have the urge to throw out your mom and your mother-in-law out of the house when they insist on a better nutrition during pregnancy, they sometimes have a point. Their might not be based on any science, but all the same — they mean well.

Heartburn and Acid Reflux Are Related

Sunny — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 19:00:04 +0000

Many people suffer with heartburn and acid reflux so the experts in drug therapies have developed many new treatments to help these people. Heartburn and acid reflux are closely related so many physicians examine these two conditions together when treating a patient. When treating patients, the physicians discover that heartburn and acid reflux may not be the only problems that the patient faces at the time of the visit to the office. Acid fills the human stomach to help with the digestive process, and this substance will not be harmful in the right conditions.

The acid in the stomach is an extremely strong substance, but the stomach is built to use this substance in the digestive process without harm to the stomach. Other organs cannot tolerate this strong acid so problems develop if the acid escapes from the stomach into adjoining organs. Unfortunately, this acid in the stomach can cause great discomfort for a patient if this acid leaves the stomach and enters adjoining organs such as the esophagus. When the acid backs up out of the stomach into the esophagus, the patient feels pain. This condition is heartburn and acid reflux that causes pain for so many people.

Heartburn and Acid Reflux Can Be Treated Successfully

Many people suffer from heartburn from time to time if they eat very spicy food or too much at one time. Sometimes people feel heartburn when they eat soon before they go to sleep. The real problems come when this condition occurs often, and then treatment should be in consultation with a physician. This condition usually does not affect people until they are older, but there is relief for the pain from this condition. Heartburn and acid reflux disease is painful but not life threatening at first.

Unfortunately, heartburn and acid reflux could cause more permanent damage to the esophagus. The acid flowing from the stomach to the esophagus can erode the lining of this organ. The damage that is caused by repeated episodes of heartburn and acid reflux could be very serious. For this reason, the patient should consult with a doctor if they suffer from heartburn often. There are now treatments that can provide complete relief from these painful and damaging conditions. The most effective treatment for each patient should be provided by a physician who understands the problems of each patient. The doctor can prescribe medications that can provide complete relief from this condition all day long.

Disease of The Mitral Valve

Sunny — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 11:15:02 +0000

Diseases of the heart valves are grouped according to which valve or valves are involved plus the amount of blood flow that is disrupted by the problem. The most common and serious valve problems happen in the mitral and aortic valves. Diseases of the tricuspid and pulmonary valves are fairly rare.

The mitral valve regulates the flow of blood from the upper-left chamber (the left atrium) to the lower-left chamber (the left ventricle).

Mitral Valve Prolapse

The mitral valve regulates the flow of blood from the upper-left chamber (the left atrium) to the lower-left chamber (the left ventricle). Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) means that one or both of the valve flaps (called cusps or leaflets) are enlarged, and the flaps' supporting muscles are too long. Instead of closing evenly, one or both of the flaps collapse or bulge into the left atrium. MVP is often called click-murmur syndrome because when the valve does not close properly, it makes a clicking sound and then a murmur.

What causes MVP? MVP is one of the most common forms of valve disease. It is also genetic running in families.

What are the symptoms? Most people with MVP do not have symptoms. When symptoms do happen, they may include
* Shortness of breath, especially when lying down.
* Chest pain.
* Extreme fatigue.
* Heart palpitations.
* Coughing.
* Trouble breathing after exercise.

Most of the time, MVP is not a serious condition. Some patients say they feel palpitations or sharp chest pain.

Mitral Regurgitation is also called mitral insufficiency or mitral incompetence. This happens when the mitral valve allows a backflow of blood into the heart's upper-left chamber (the left atrium). Mitral regurgitation can take years to reveal itself.

If it goes on long enough, it may cause a buildup of pressure in the lungs or cause the heart to enlarge. In time, this will lead to symptoms.