Complications of Open Heart Surgery?

Suffering from acute heart diseases - it has become quite common these days with more and more people falling prey to artery blockages and related maladies. Here, the patient's heart is opened and surgical procedures are conducted on the inner structures of the organ. It is a complex process involving many risks. Since the heart functions as the pumping system for lifeblood, any defective surgical procedure can result in loss of life.

As per the current practice, many patients who are to undergo the surgery are not counseled or informed about the complications that may arise during and after the procedure. Even though all types of surgeries involve risks, open heart surgeries are riskier. The level of complications is directly proportional to the health levels of the patient. In addition, the confidence levels of the patient also play a very important role in determining the outcome of the surgery. This means that necessary steps need to be initiated to boost the morale and robustness of a patient before putting him or her under the scalpel.

Doctors must invariably tell the patient about what kind of complications can rise during and after the surgery. Minor complications include nausea, numbness of skin, minor infections etc while severe complications include conditions like excessive bleeding, stroke, failure of the graft etc. Prior conditioning of the mind would help the patient to endure his or her sufferings with magnanimity. This is beneficial for doctors and hospitals too, since potential lawsuits could also be avoided. This type of mental conditioning would ensure peace of mind for the doctor and other medical staff and also help the patient to be mentally strong in the run up, during the procedure and post surgery periods.

Patients also need to be truthful to the physician and let him or her know if they are suffering from any kind of illnesses or medical situations that can be detrimental. For example, the patient must let the doctor know if he suffers from any types of allergies, including allergies to certain drugs. Eschewing smoking and drinking habits in the run up to the surgery is extremely important, since tobacco and alcoholic drinks are the worst enemies to the heart. If possible, a patient can also donate blood prior to the surgery in order to facilitate easy blood transfusion during the operation. Blood transfusion can neutralize heavy bleeding and other complications like kidney failure to a great extent. For those with sensitive skin, consulting a dermatologist beforehand can help in preventing heavy scarring of the skin and enable quick healing of the skin post surgery.

It has been observed that many patients, post surgery, develop a situation known as arterial fibrillation, with symptoms of unsure heart rates and acute chest pain. Administering the correct amounts of prescribed drugs may help alleviate this issue. In addition, persons recuperating from the surgery need to bring about lifestyle changes, including eating and sleeping habits and patterns.

If you need help passing your USMLE, PLAB and other board exams you must have a large set of Cardiology MCQs. Visit Cardiology Questions for latest Cardiology questions with answers.

Original article

Natural Ways to Lower Blood Cholesterol Level

Many people are actually confused about the good effects and ill effects that high levels of cholesterol can cause to our body. In fact, there are two types of cholesterol, the good cholesterol or the HDL and the bad one, the LDL cholesterol. Cholesterol is actually needed for stimulating production of estrogen and testosterone. Also, presence of bad cholesterol cannot singularly harm your life, but its combination with bad lifestyle practices, lack of physical exercise regimen and excessive body weight can prove to be lethal, if not controlled effectively.

However, demonization of cholesterol in the medical circles has resulted in a spurt in production of drugs that are peddled as great cholesterol reducers. With different companies rushing into the scene, the scene is very hot with manufacturers vying with each other to attract potential customers with attractive advertisements and campaigns. Unfortunately, none of these write ups give conclusive evidence on how their merchandise would work and also about what are the side effects.

It has been observed that the major side effects of cholesterol reducing drugs are damages to kidney and muscles, inexplicable weakness, weakening of the immune system and most frighteningly, some types of cancers. In truth, prescription drugs never act as a life enhancer, but as a destroyer of health in the long term. Regular consumption of such drugs can also cause problems with eye sight and general pain.

Statin drugs are commonly used to fight bad cholesterol, but they need to be consumed with caution. Consuming the drug with grapefruit juice, anti-fungal drugs and antibiotics can invariably deteriorate your physical health, which may, in some cases, lead to death too. The most prominent negative effects of statin drugs are continuous headaches, pain in joints and stomach, numbness or tingling in limbs, nausea, depression, breathlessness, weight fluctuations, diabetes, skin problems, unwarranted blood pressure variations, loose bowels or constipation, bleeding from the ears etc.

This effectively points to the fact that drugs are not the one stop solution for bad cholesterol as one may think. This also means that one has to adopt a healthy lifestyle regimen involving consumption of natural foods and exercises to keep cholesterol levels at acceptable rates effectively, without any side effects. Many common foods out there are great cholesterol suppressants. These include olive oil, popcorn, fatty fishes, oats, dark chocolate, beans, apples, almonds and artichokes. It is no wonder that newer generations of cholesterol management drugs are claiming to contain extracts of these in enough quantities. But still, it is better to consult an expert in the field before you take a dive towards changing your dietary habits.

If you need help passing your USMLE, PLAB and other board exams you must have a large set of Cardiology MCQs. Visit Cardiology Questions for latest Cardiology questions with answers.

Original article

How to Be Prepared For Cardiac Emergencies?

Since cardiac emergencies are commonplace, there is a need for people to learn the initial emergency measures to be adopted in case one amongst us suddenly experiences heart failure. Medical professionals are well trained in this. But what can you and I do, as laymen, to help one who is badly in need of emergency medical care? The stories of two medical professionals, which I am about to narrate here, must open your eyes to this.

A wonderful, professionally expert nurse in her late thirties started showing signs of unusual heart rhythm and started medication for treating this. She was about to turn forty, but one night, she felt a strange feeling in her chest and dropped on the floor. Her husband, who was nearby, rushed to her side, but not being well-versed in emergency medical care, he neither called 911 nor applied AED or CPR for several minutes. The lost minutes proved fatal with the oxygen supply to her brain getting cut off. Anyway, she survived, and recovered the ability to talk but is presently living in a permanent care facility in an almost vegetative state.

Another medical doctor, again in her late thirties, suffered from a heart failure and collapsed in a street while jogging. A lady, while looking out through her window, noticed this and quickly called 911 and ran to her. Incidentally, this lady had enough knowledge on CPR and was able to administer it quickly to the patient. In a matter of seconds, her breathing was restored and in the meantime, a police car pulled up with an AED in its trunk. The police officer and the lady quickly hooked up the AED and gave the young doctor a shock. By the time an ambulance arrived, the doctor was stable enough to be transported to a hospital. She recovered fully, and is now the proud mother of a six month baby.

What message do the two similar incidents, with dissimilar results convey? The stories convey the ultimate truth that we all need to learn CPR, irrespective of what you are or who you are. Schools, churches, business or any other public facilities need to be equipped with professionals with enough knowledge on CPR. Keeping emergency vehicles equipped with AED facilities would also help here. Since millions of people are dying from heart diseases and strokes every year, this would be a wise practice to ensure that at least some people are saved in time. In this endeavor, contacting the local offices of American Red Cross or American Heart Association would be of immense help.

If you need help passing your USMLE, PLAB and other board exams you must have a large set of Cardiology MCQs. Visit Cardiology Questions for latest Cardiology questions with answers.

Original article

How to Lower Cholesterol

We are obsessed with cholesterol nowadays and with a good reason. It plays a major role in developing conditions that lead to cardiovascular diseases, from heart attack to stroke. Nobody needs to be reminded how deadly these illnesses have become in a modern world, with governments intent on preventing a lifestyle that takes us down that path. Health care systems record ever increasing numbers of fatalities and hospital stays related to disorders that stem from inadequate blood circulation. And since cholesterol is at the center of the processes that accumulate into heart attack or stroke, medical professionals and patients have turned to solutions that promise to tackle it head on.

Niacin might not be a magical cure that saves our civilization, but it is tiny little vitamin that is worth looking at for people who are interested in more natural ways of meting out a blow to their cholesterol levels. Also known as vitamin B3, it has been effective not only in reducing the amount of bad cholesterol but also raising the level of the so-called good cholesterol, or HDL. Its effect on helping clear out plaque from the arteries is exactly what is needed to give patients an effective treatment. It is by clogging these blood transporting channels that cholesterol contributes to the breakdown of the system and its undesirable consequences. Niacin has been shown to have a role in slowing down or stopping these processes.

Some people suggested that taking niacin together with statin, another substance that has cholesterol-lowering quality, might produce an even better result. A study that was designed to test this hypothesis in scientific conditions proved the proponents of this treatment wrong. Apart from increasing the complexity and costs of the therapy, subjects who took both substances were at a greater danger, albeit marginally, of suffering from a stroke than those who only consumed niacin. The conclusion was that treatments need to be simplified.

Conventional doctors have warmed up to vitamin B3 as a way to target high cholesterol, but some reservation remained. First, if taken in large doses and for an extended period of time, it can be toxic to a human body. It requires care and caution from patients, even though it is a diet supplement and sold without a prescription anywhere. Second, it has produced mild side effects even when taken in moderation, resulting in symptoms such as hot flushes, nausea and queasiness. Unfortunately, quite a lot of patients have complained about this sort of reactions. There is also something possibly much more important, which has to do with a patient psychology more than treatment effectiveness or safety. Niacin might be seen as a replacement for changes in lifestyle that are necessary to avert unwanted consequences of cardiovascular problems. Taking a pill looks like a much less complex activity in comparison to eating better food, doing regular exercise or quitting smoking and other destructive habits. Its availability as a diet supplement also creates an urge to circumvent medical advice, which is never a good idea.

I am a web designer, a passionate writer and a healthy lifestyle enthusiast. I write articles about diet supplements like probiotics or niacin and about healthy food.

Original article

What Is Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI)?

Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI) is a condition wherein the leg veins are not able to pump enough blood back to the heart. It is caused by congenital absence of or damage to venous valves; venous incompetence from thrombi; and thrombi formation that is primarily caused by venous stasis, hypercoagulability, and endothelial trauma, collectively known as Virchow triad.

There are several risk factors that would predispose an individual to CVI. Increasing age is one of the risk factors since the incidence of CVI is directly proportional with age. A family history of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) that causes the valvular incompetence which results to backflow and increased venous pressure also predisposes an individual to CVI. Sedentary lifestyle, obesity, and prolonged standing increases venous pressure which makes it a risk factor. And lastly, there is an increased risk for CVI in individuals who smoke.

People with CVI have varicose veins due to the increased venous pressure on the legs. Complaints of leg discomfort are common primarily due to venous hypertension from prolonged standing. Patients would describe this as a burning sensation, dull ache, or heaviness in the legs. Leg edema is also present due to the damage in the capillary membranes. Skin changes in the legs can also be seen due to capillary proliferation, fat necrosis, and fibrosis of skin and subcutaneous tissues. The skin appears reddish or brown due to hemosiderin deposition. Skin ulcers are often seen due to poor blood flow to the lower extremities.

Vein ligation is indicated for patients with severe leg pain, skin ulcers due to poor venous blood flow, and thickening and hardening of the skin in the affected leg. Sclerotherapy is also used to manage CVI; where the physician injects a strong chemical to the affected veins, scarring the abnormal vein, which results to inability of the veins to fill with blood. The blood will then be returned back to the heart using other veins. Ablation can also be done where a catheter is inserted into the varicose vein, heating its walls and destroying the vein tissue.

However, for mild cases of CVI, the usage of compression stockings is recommended. These are elastic stockings used to squeeze veins, stopping the backflow of excess blood. These are also used to manage skin sores. For patients with CVI, wearing of compression stockings is for life. Prolonged sitting or standing is avoided. Movement or activity is important to improve the circulation. Wound care is also important in cases of skin breakdown and infections.

Chronic Venous Insufficiency, this term describes a situation in which veins aren't doing an adequate job of returning blood efficiently to the heart. There are ways to treat this. To know more about it, check out http://woundcarecentralnewyork.com/

Original article

Rheumatic Heart Disease Alert

Definition of Rheumatic Heart Disease (RO)

Rheumatic heart disease is a disease where it can damage the heart valves, such as leaks or strictures, particularly mitral valve (mitral stenosis) caused by rheumatic fever. This disease is very dangerous because it caused the valves of the heart valve in the course of the disease process that begins with a throat injury.

Rheumatic fever is a systemic disease itself, which can cause acute, subacute, chronic or fulminant, leading to infection of group A beta-hemolytic streptococci in the upper respiratory tract. Rheumatic fever is characterized by prolonged fever, palpitations, sometimes tired. In general, attacks of this disease at the age of 5-15 years, the disease is rarely seen in children under the age of 4 years and over 50 years.

Symptoms of Rheumatic Heart Disease (RO)

In general, shortness of breath experienced patients are caused by heart problems already in motion, pain in joints, reddish spots on the skin, the hand movements, irregular and uncontrollable. In addition, a sign that accompanies neyi also on the abdomen, weight loss, rapid fatigue and fever.

Diagnosis of Rheumatic Heart Disease (RO)

Besides the presence of signs and symptoms that appear directly on the physical, the doctor will usually perform some lab tests that indicate, for example, routine blood tests, Asto, CRP and throat culture. The most accurate survey is echocardiography do to see the status of valves and heart muscle

Treatment of Rheumatic Heart Disease (RO)

If the diagnosis is established by rheumatic heart disease and persistent infection with streptococcus bacteria, but the main thing is that comes from the team doctor gave antibiotics and anti-inflammatory. For example, the provision of oral antibiotics penicillin and benzathine penicillin G. In patients who are allergic to other medicines, there is another alternative, erythromycin or cephalosporin group. While anti-inflammatories are usually cortisone and aspirin. Patients are encouraged to think rest is in a hospital bed, next to the medical team on how to deal with the likelihood of complications such as heart failure, bacterial endocarditis or thromboembolism Trombo.

Rheumatic heart patients (PJR) without symptoms require no treatment. Patients with mild symptoms of heart failure, medical treatment to address his complaint. Symptomatic patients who require invasive treatment or intervention surgical. But surgical and intervention therapy is still limited and the cost is relatively expensive and require long-term follow-up.

Prevention of Rheumatic Heart Disease (RO)

When we see above that Cor is lung might occur in the presence of a triggering event, rheumatic fever (CD), of course, the best prevention, as we do not get rheumatic fever (CD) (Streptococcusbeta hemolytic infections is).

Can see that there are several factors that support a person develops the germ, including environmental factors such as poor living conditions, crowded living conditions and poor access to medical care is a major determinant of the distribution of this disease. Weather variations occur have a significant role in the pathogenesis of strep DR.

A person who is infected with streptococcus bacteria and rheumatic fever should be given with antibiotics. This is to prevent possible attacks a second time or even lead to rheumatic heart disease.

For other articles and more information about heart disease please visit this site http://hidupyangsehat.blogspot.com/.

Original article

Enlarged Heart Symptoms: Why They Are Not Enough

A very common misconception about enlarged hearts is that it is a medical condition. Yes, it is a medical condition, but it is also a symptom of another more serious disease. Having an enlarged heart, usually first detected through a routine chest x-ray, will actually alert your physician that you may have a more serious underlying condition. In this article, we will be discussing the symptoms within a symptom and how misleading they could be.

Enlarged heart is also known as cardiomegaly. The symptoms for this condition may vary. There are some people who do not present any symptoms whatsoever, but there are also some people that manifest a few signs. Enlarged heart symptoms are actually very nonspecific. They are so general that they can be mistaken as symptoms of another condition. Examples of those symptoms would be the following:

Difficulty in breathing and shortness of breath
Dizziness
Cough
Chest Pain
Abnormal heart rhythms or arrhythmias
Edema
Easy fatigueability and/or activity intolerance

Symptoms in cardiomegaly can easily be related to the condition. For example, an enlarged heart can cause abnormal heart rhythms because it is having problems pumping blood. Your normal, resting heart rate will be around 60 to 100 beats per minute. In the case of a person with cardiomegaly, it will be slightly higher than that. You see, disease conditions can affect blood flow, therefore, needing the heart to put on additional effort to pump blood to the different areas of the body. This "extra effort" will cause the heart to enlarge. Enlargement of the heart is not a good thing. Although it is bigger, the muscles are weaker as compared to a normal-sized heart. These weak muscles will try their hardest to pump blood by increasing the number of beats per minute. Once the heart becomes too tired, it will momentarily pause or slow down its beating. And that is how arrhythmias are related to cardiomegaly.

You have to bear in mind, though, that the aforementioned symptoms can also be caused by just about any condition. Arrhythmias, for one thing, can also be caused by alcohol abuse, smoking, and diabetes. The human body is a wonderful and confusing thing. Everything is interconnected, that when you start to analyze one condition, you can just go on forever. Everything is related to, or can be caused by, something that is also related to everything.

Since the symptoms of cardiomegaly are too general, diagnostic procedures are needed to rule out other conditions that may be causing their onset. I have mentioned before that an enlarged heart is usually spotted during routine chest x-rays. This is actually one of the most basic diagnostic procedures that a patient can undergo in order to have the condition diagnosed accurately. Other procedures will include electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, stress test, CT Scan, MRI, and many others.

It is important to know a lot about a specific condition because it will aid you in making informed decisions. The internet is a very rich place for information regarding health and medicine, so you should try look into other websites if you feel like you need a more in-depth explanation.

For more information on Different Types of Diseases, Symptoms and Diagnoses, Please visit: Enlarged Heart Symptoms and Normal Heart Rate.

Original article

The Natural Way to Lower Your Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a thick, waxy, fat-like substance found in the body.

Having high cholesterol means you have an excess of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) or bad cholesterol in your blood. LDL is mostly fat with only a small amount of protein. On the other hand, High-density lipoproteins (HDL) cholesterol is the "good" cholesterol that has more protein than fat and carries the "bad" cholesterol away from your arteries wall.

Too much cholesterol in the blood can build up in your arteries and block the flow of blood to your heart or brain causing a heart attack or stroke. To understand what happens, think about a clogged pipe under the kitchen sink. Like the buildup of grease and grime in the pipe, the build up of cholesterol narrows your arteries, making it harder for the blood to flow through them, reducing the amount of blood that gets to your body tissues, including your heart and brain.

High cholesterol is a silent killer, meaning you have no symptoms, until it's too late. People with high cholesterol have a very high risk of developing heart disease, which is the # 1 killer in the world. In the US alone, someone has a heart attack about every 34 seconds. 80% of people who have a heart attack have high cholesterol.

What causes high cholesterol?

. Diet - Eating too much junk food and fast food, saturated fat and trans fat, many packaged and processed foods, snacks like cookies, crackers, chips and animal foods like whole milk, egg yolks, butter and cheese. All can raise your cholesterol.

. Weight - Being overweight lowers the "good" cholesterol".

. Activity level - Being sedentary may raise "bad" LDL cholesterol and lower "good " HDL cholesterol.

. Age - Cholesterol starts to rise after age 20.

. Family History - If it runs in the family, you're more likely to get it.

Your cholesterol total number should be:
. Best - under 200.
. Borderline-high is 200 to 239.
. High - 240 or higher.

Only about 25% of cholesterol comes from the food you eat and the other 75% is made by the body, which is linked to factors such as age and family history. For 2 out of 3 people, diet and exercise alone are not enough.

Want a natural way to lower your cholesterol? Try Pro-Argi 9 plus.

It's all natural, no side effects. It has many, many health benefits: Below is a list of at least 18 health benefits provided by this wonderful product:

The nitric oxide derived from arginine is beneficial to every health condition imaginable, from the cardiovascular system to the immune system, and hormone function to nerve function.

1. It helps with cholesterol control by lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol levels.

2. Nitric oxide keeps your arteries relaxed, flexible, preventing hypertension and angina.

3. Arginine's antioxidant properties may help protect against heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes and
premature aging because it is one thousand times more powerful than any antioxodant in the body.

4. It may slow or stop the division and spread of cancel cells.

5. It has anticoagulants abilities that reduce clotting and lowers the risk of heart attack and stroke.

6. It reduces Pregnancy Induced Hypertension (PIH), a risk factor for both mother and unborn child.

7. It's a natural Viagra. It improves the male's sexua performance by treating Vascular Erectile Dysfunction (ED).

8. It strengthens long-term memory, and may assist in reversing the effects of dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

9. It bolsters human growth hormone (HGH) production, which is known to have anti-aging properties and can help with developing lean muscle mass, preserving bone density, aiding in weight loss and strength training, boosting athletic performance and enhancing stamina.

10. It may help improve your immune system and aids in the fight of bacterial infections.

11. It relaxes hypertonic sphincter muscles, controlling the bleeding, preventing and healing hemorrhoids.

12. It may improve kidney function and slow the progression of renal disease and age-related chronic kidney failure. Arginine`s protective effect on the kidneys may also benefit those with diabetes.

13. It can help offset cardiovascular and lung damage caused by tobacco use. Nitric oxide levels in smokers are less than half of those found in non-smokers.

14. It is useful in the treatment of asthma by opening pulmonary airways for easier breathing and the treatment of lung disorders.

15. It may assist in the treatment and prevention of diabetes because many of the disease's complications, including but not limited to poor circulation and blindness, are vascular. Arginine is also found to control insulin secretion in the pancreas.

16. It may prevent and possible reverse the effects of osteoporosis (weak bones) by positively affecting bone mass.

17. It has been used in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome and reduces the occurrence of ulcers - without affecting gastric acid production.

18. ProArgi9 Plus accelerates wound healing and post-surgery recovery. It is also useful in treating burn wounds and stimulates wound healing in the elderly.

Original article