Tag: Heart disease

Public Health

Experts are outraged over the fact that the U.S. Government does not track Heart Diseases. American Heart Association feels that since heart failure is the number one killer amongst men and women that it should concern the government since it does concern the public health. Our government should track national rates of heart disease and stroke to help cut the incidences of these prime causes of death.

Currently data is collected by different sources and then published once a year in the AHA annual Heart Disease and Stroke journal. The Public Health does not keep a record of heart diseases as they do for other illnesses. The doctors of today have to rely on information provided by different sources as journals and magazines. The Public Health is for everybody’s concern and since the government controls this division, it is highly advisable that they start tracking patients with heart problems.

It is true that the American Heart Association has been doing a great job compiling this information from many and various sources. The fact is that there are many missing pieces, and it is not a good idea to have a nongovernmental agency, with no authority to modify data collected. The fact that the Public Health Department has no control over the facts or evaluation means that changes are slowly improved.

The Public Health Department has the capability of being a surveillance unit that can evaluate how data gets collected then make changes as needed. The Public Health Department can make sure that everyone in the medical field has access to all the information concerning the heart.

It is up to the Public Health Department to gather the needed information from the primary physicians, simply have the physicians report heart disease and stroke whenever possible. The information shared with doctors and patients would be much more obtainable. The public is under the false impression that the medical field is well informed about heart diseases. The truth about the situation is that there is no formal method of collecting data. That in reality without the efforts of the AHA doctors would not be as advanced as they are today concerning heart related problems. The current data collected by surveys needs some modification to help with increasing the physician’s capability to treat heart patients.

– National surveys should expand existing questions on risk factors for heart disease, stroke, and other vascular diseases. Include in the survey risk factors such as physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, smoking and obesity.

– The Public Health System should standardize data collection across existing surveys to eliminate duplication and make information easier to compare.

– Laboratory results on cholesterol levels and blood sugar control to information collected from physician visits needs to be compiled for the possibility of discovering any connections to heart problems. The Public Health Department duty should be to maintain these records for our own safety and well-being.

Let us note that heart health is of interest to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration offers advice on how to keep your heart healthy.

Patients Needs for a Healthy Heart

The American College of Cardiology had a meeting to discuss a number of controversial findings on how to treat a patient with congestive heart failure. Not every person is a like therefore; a treatment for one Patient may not work on another one. This has left many Patients scratching their heads over the proper treatment for their cardiovascular condition. The experts have admitted that what works for one heart patient may not work for another one.

There was a study of over 2,300 patients where angloplasty-vs-drug therapy comparison proved the same. The result was that no differences in death, nonfatal heart attacks, strokes or hospitalization between patients with “stable” heart disease treated with medication alone vs. those who got drugs plus angioplasty and stenting.

A physician realizes that you as a patient know your own body and know your own needs such as diets and exercise. A Patients treatment by the medical field solely based accordingly to their needs and accessibility of medical procedures. Each patient should have the right too know what his care will be and what he can do to help prevent congestive heart failure. The patient should plan to make for him or herself a plan of action that will have a healthy lifestyle. Start with diet and exercise the two most important things in your life to improve upon in order to have a healthy heart.

The Patient still has rights over their own body as to the type of treatment and care they want to receive. The Patient should make a list of what they feel in order to discuss with the doctor the symptoms that they are suffering. This will help your doctor in diagnosis of your case and determine the treatment and care that is best for you. You should be able to confer with your physician on any type of treatment recommended and ask for a second opinion if you are not sure about what the procedures recommended for you are right. You can start your own program to help with your condition if you find that congestive heart failure is just around the corner or you already show symptoms.

First, look at your weight. Are you overweight? Do you need a diet? You know the answers to these questions all to well. A diet plan should fit your physical needs, which will help you loose weight and keep the weight off as well. You do not have to join a group or special buy your food in order to go on a diet. There are adequate diets plans available free on the internet. You should check with your physician before you attempt a diet plan. The next thing that you can do is exercise to help loose weight and relieve stress. You can become your own Patient keep track of your vitals, weight loss and any other important information about yourself. A Patient has power to control the way that they live their life.

H E A R T

The heart one of the most talked about part of your body. The heart used metaphorically describes love as well as a great hurt like broken heart. “My heart over flows with the love I have for you,” says a young lover to his sweetheart. The emotions that we express with our heart are only part of the human makeup. The other part consists of having a healthy heart.

The heart is a real part of your body organs and functions to keep you alive and healthy. It is a noted fact that not only emotions affect your heart but also your food, your lifestyle, exercises, and stress all play a pertinent part in heart health. The American Heart Association provides much information about heart care. The Cleveland Clinic and other medical centers provide information and steps you can take to have a healthy heart.

Exercise is very import part of a healthy heart care. We know that not everyone can go to the gym or has the room in their home for gym equipment. We have some suggestions that will help your heart health.

– Set in a comfortable chair loosen your clothing for comfort.

– Start with your feet and ankles; rotate them so that you feel the strain.

– Work up to your legs raising them up and holding them for about five minutes.

– Work your hands and arms one side then the other.

– Next, work your head up and down then back and forth.

About 20 minutes a day will help you relieve stress in your life and let you relax. This is a good way to improve on heart health. The next thing is your diet plan remember it is not what you eat but how much and how often. We suggest you stay away from the normal things that people talk about like fats, too many sweets, and things that you know will harm you.

The heart is measured by taking your blood pressure with results letting your physician know your condition. When reading your heart first the doctor looks at the Systolic level because systolic heart failure occurs when the left ventricle cannot contract vigorously which is a pumping problem? The diastolic heart failure occurs when the left ventricle cannot relax or fill fully which becomes a filling problem. The heart must be able to pump vigorously and then relax to refill with blood to have a healthy heart.

The fact is that the nations’ number one killer heart disease; has piece meal data nation wide. AHA has put together some prime information and published it while the U.S. Government has not attempted to track heart disease. The AHA feels strongly that the government should get involved.

Yes, the heart is the soul of our existence. For many we think of the heart when we are in love or at a time of loss love. As we grow older then we venture to look at the real heart the arteries, veins, and the effects on our heart by the things we do. Take heart and enjoy your life.

Living And Coping With Arthritis – How To Stay Active

Living And Coping With Arthritis – How To Stay Active And Independent
Richard Clement

Arthritis pain can be frustrating.Nagging and crippling
arthritis pain can continue day after day. How much happier
would you be if you could stop your arthritis pain right now and
feel great all day? Knowing the nature of the disease can really
bring you the right answers.

What is arthritis ?

Arthritis comprises over 100 different diseases and conditions.
The word arthritis means “joint inflammation”. When joints are
inflamed, it causes pain and usually also limits movement of the
joints that are affected. For many people, arthritis pain has a
large impact on their life. Arthritis is second only to heart
disease as a cause of work disability. Arthritis limits everyday
activities such as walking, dressing and bathing for more than
16 million Americans. Each year, arthritis results in 750,000
hospitalizations and 36 million outpatient visits. Arthritis is
not just an old person’s disease. Nearly two-thirds of people
with arthritis are younger than 65 years including nearly
300,000 children. Arthritis affects children and people of all
racial and ethnic groups but is more common among women and
older adults. The disease can affect different parts of the
body. Two of the most common forms are osteoarthritis and
rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease in which the
joint lining becomes inflamed as part of the body’s immune
system activity. RA is one of the most serious and disabling
types, affecting mostly women. Rheumatoid arthritis is two to
three times more common in women than in men and generally
strikes between the ages of 20 and 50. Both sides of the body
are usually affected at the same time. Symptoms of RA differ
from person to person but can generally include:

Joint tenderness, warmth, and swelling.

Pain and stiffness lasting for more than 1 hour in the morning
or after a long rest.

Joint inflammation in the wrist and finger joints closest to
the hand .

Fatigue, an occasional fever, and a general sense of not
feeling well . Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of
arthritis. It is a degenerative joint disease in which the
cartilage that covers the ends of bones in the joint
deteriorates, causing pain and loss of movement as bone begins
to rub against bone. OA commonly affects the joints of the
fingers, knees, hips, and spine. Osteoarthritis is more common
in older people because they have been using their joints
longer. Using the joints to do the same task over and over or
simply using them over time can make osteoarthritis worse.
Younger people can also get osteoarthritis. Athletes are at risk
because they use their joints so much. People who have jobs that
require the same movement over and over are also at risk.
Injuries to a joint increase the risk of arthritis in the joint
later on. Excess weight can accelerate arthritis in the knees,
hips and spine. The most common symptom of Osteoarthritis is
pain in the affected joint(s) after repetitive use. Joint pain
is usually worse later in the day. There can be swelling,
warmth, and creaking of the affected joints. Symptoms of OA may
greatly vary. Some patients can be debilitated by their
symptoms. On the other hand, others may have remarkably few
symptoms in spite of dramatic degeneration of the joints
apparent on x-rays. Symptoms also can be intermittent. These 2
forms have very different causes, risk factors, and effects on
the body, yet they often share a common symptom—persistent
joint pain.

What are the causes of arthritis ? Primary OA is mostly
related to aging. With aging, the water content of the cartilage
increases and the protein makeup of cartilage degenerates.
Repetitive use of the joints over the years irritates and
inflames the cartilage, causing joint pain and swelling.
Eventually, cartilage begins to degenerate by flaking or forming
tiny crevasses. Inflammation of the cartilage can also stimulate
new bone outgrowths (spurs) to form around the joints. Sometimes
osteoarthritis follows an injury to a joint. For example, a
young person might hurt his knee badly playing soccer. Then,
years after the knee has apparently healed, he might get
arthritis in his knee joint. RA is an autoimmune disease. This
means the body’s natural immune system does not operate as it
should; it attacks healthy joint tissue, initiating a process of
inflammation and joint damage. RA is a type of chronic arthritis
that occurs in joints on both sides of the body (such as hands,
wrists or knees). This symmetry helps distinguish RA from other
types of arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis occurs most frequently
in the 30-50 age group, although can start at any age. It is
strongly associated with the HLA marker DR4 – hence Family
history is an important risk factor. The disease affects
Females:Males in a 4:1 ratio. Other conditions can also cause
arthritis. Some include:

Gout, in which crystals build up in the joints. It usually
affects the big toe.

Lupus , in which the body’s defense system can harm the
joints, the heart, the skin, the kidneys, and other organs.

Viral hepatitis ,in which an infection of the liver can cause
arthritis.

What can you do about it ?

Some people may worry that arthritis means they won’t be able to
work or take care of their children and their family. Others
think that you just have to accept things like arthritis. While
there is not yet a cure for arthritis, much can be done today to
reduce pain and boost joint function. Learning how to manage
pain over the long term is essential to maintaining a good
quality of life. There are things you can do to keep the damage
from getting worse. They might also make you feel better.Here
are some simple things to do:

Lose weight if you’re overweight

Exercise regularly for short periods. Going for a walk every
day will help, too.

Use canes and other special devices to protect your joints.

Avoid lifting heavy things.

Don’t pull on objects to move them-push them instead

Use heat or cold to reduce pain or stiffness.

The pain and disability that accompany arthritis can be
decreased through early diagnosis and appropriate management.So
if you have persistent symptoms lasting more than several days –
go see your doctor. The doctor will examine you and may take x
rays (pictures) of your bones or joints to decide if you have
arthritis and what kind you have.

After the doctor knows what kind of arthritis you have, he or
she will talk with you about the best way to treat it. The
doctor may give you a prescription for medicine that will help
with the pain, stiffness, and inflammation. The good news is
that now there is a way to stop your pain with a medication .
Celebrex is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID),
specifically a COX-2 inhibitor, which relieves pain and swelling
(inflammation). It represents a huge breakthrough in the
treatment of pain, inflammation, and stiffness of arthritis.
Celebrex is believed to fight pain and inflammation by
inhibiting the effect of a natural enzyme called COX-2. Unlike
the older medications, however, it does not interfere with a
similar substance, called COX-1, which exerts a protective
effect on the lining of the stomach.Celebrex doesn’t cause the
stomach bleeding and ulcers that traditional nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) might.

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About the author:
Richard Clement is an online publisher dedicated in helping
online users getting appropriate and effective medical care.
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http://www.e-drugstore.ws/arthritis.html for more info.