Tag: open heart surgery

Why A Positive Attitude Helps In Coping With Arthritis Pain

Why A Positive Attitude Helps In Coping With Arthritis Pain Part 1
Cathy Posner

Why A Positive Attitude Helps In Coping With Arthritis Pain Part 1

Think Positive To Relieve Arthritis Pain.

My name is Cathy Posner and I live in Wauchope which is on
the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, Australia. I was
born in 1957 and in late 2004 was told that the aches in my
joints were Rheumatoid Arthritis.

My husband, Ray has a very positive approach to everything
and I guess that has rubbed off on me, so rather than sit
back and let things progress I decided to see what I could
do for myself.

Let me give you an example of Rays positive attitude. In
September 2003 he had to have open heart surgery to replace
his aortic valve. We live on 160 acres so before he went
into hospital he slashed a walking track so that he could
regularly exercise when he came out of hospital.

Not only that he left the tractor set up for slashing. Four
weeks after surgery, even though he was not allowed to lift
anything heavier that a 2 liter bottle of milk (about 4
pints) he got the OK to slash the paddocks as long as he did
big easy turns at the end of each run. (Actually I think he
secretly enjoyed having me open the car door for him and
carry the groceries.)

So, as you can see, in his mind there was no way that he
wasnt going to get back to a normal life as quickly as
possible, but within the guidelines of what the Doctors told
him.

Now when you live with someone like that its hard not to
take a positive approach.

How can having a positive attitude help you in your fight
against the pain and difficulties arthritis can cause?

I know some of you already reading this have a positive
approach so please bear with me.

As I was saying Rays positive attitude helped him in his
recovery. I dont know how much pain he was in but I can
imagine it was considerable. After all you dont have your
sternum sawn in half and rejoined without pain.

In fact for some time he had to clutch a folded towel to his
chest whenever he coughed or went to the bathroom but he
never complained once.

He just got on with life within the restraints set by the
Doctors and in fact even started a new business while he was
recovering.

OK you might ask how does this relate to me? I know pain
can be an all consuming, overpowering feeling but you need
to get your mind off it.

If you sit back and wallow in self-pity your days and nights
will drag, you will become depressed (or even more
depressed) and your pain feeds upon itself your mind
magnifies the intensity of your pain and you feel even
worse.

If this describes you and my comments offend you then I am
sorry but hopefully what I am about to say will be a wake
up call for you.

What are the benefits of having a positive attitude? Well to
start with your mind can be trained to focus on things other
that your pain. When it does, your pain is shut out creating
a sense of feeling better. This feeling feeds on itself in
the same way that if you allow yourself to focus on your
pain, it seems to get worse.

Can you learn to have a positive attitude? Of course you
can. If you are still breathing you have the ability to
learn. And really it is not so much learning but altering
the state of your mind.

All you need is the desire to help yourself, to get relief
from your pain and overcome obstacles that your arthritis
creates for you.

May I suggest some things you can do?

How is your lifestyle? Do you look after yourself? Your
wellbeing is very important to how you feel and
influences how you think.

Diet and Exercise are important to your overall health. If
you are not eating correctly and doing some exercise within
your limits, you are not helping yourself in your fight to get
arthritis pain relief.

To read more about diet, foods that can help, foods to
avoid and to get some great tips on getting started with
exercise simply click on the link at the end of this article
and then follow the links on the home page.

I recommend you read a book on Positive Thinking. There
are some excellent publications available and most will give
you the tools you need.

Sit down and relax. Think back to when you didnt have the
inconvenience and pain of arthritis. Pick a point in time
when you were doing something that you enjoyed.

Now focus on that thing. Experience it again. Feel the
emotion associated with it. Live it. Breathe it. Be there
in your mind be that person that you were then.

Do this 2 or 3 times a day for 5 to 10 minutes at a time.
Tip: if you sit down and find you go to sleep, try standing
up.

This technique helps to reprogram your subconscious to think
pain free and you should find that your pain decreases or
may actually go away.

You can also use this anytime your pain starts to get the
better of you. Just go back to that time when you were pain
free and allow your mind to again experience that feeling.

This really works. But dont just do it once you must do
it every day, without fail and you will soon see the
benefits.

Cathy Posner

http://www.get-arthritis-pain-relief.com/index1

About The Author

Cathy Posner is an arthritis sufferer and lives in Wauchope, New South Wales, Australia. Her website is as a result of personal research and where arthritis sufferers can find up-to-date advice and information on arthritis pain relief.
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The Top U.S. Hospitals have 28% Lower Mortality Rate

The American Heart Association did a new study concerning hospitals and their mortality rates. We now know that the top 5 percent in the United States have a 28% lower death rate than other hospitals in the nation. Health Grades is an independent health care ratings company released this information January 29th, 2007. They also found that patients who have surgery at the top-rated hospitals are about five percent less likely to suffer complications than patients at other hospitals are.

The Health Grade Company analyzed death and mortality rates for 26 procedures and diagnoses, including bypass surgery, angioplasty, stroke, and heart attack, at all 5,122 nonfederal hospitals. The top hospitals reduced their death rate by an average of 11.7 percent and reduced post-surgical complication rates by 3.4 percent. The study author claimed that if all U.S. hospitals had the same quality of care as the top hospitals, 158,264 lives would have been saved and 12,409 major complications avoided. Unfortunately, there is a gap in the quality of care provided by high quality hospitals and other hospitals in the United States, according to Health Grades.

In order to qualify for the Health Grades list, hospitals were required to meet minimum thresholds in terms of patient volumes, quality ratings and the range of services provided.
In the top 5% of hospitals that deal with heart, patients there are 229 in the nation today. The hospitals are located all around the nation and keep a high standard of performance.
The Christ Hospital located in Cincinnati, Ohio ranked number one in cardiovascular care is affiliated with several other hospitals in the area that are accredited as being in the top 100 of the 5% heart hospitals.

One of the most distinguished top cited heart hospitals and medical centers is the Robert Wood Johnson’s University Hospital. This hospital has earned significant national recognition for clinical quality and patient safety. This hospital is the principal teaching hospital of the University of Medicine in the state of New Jersey. It is a very demanding position to be the one is who teach others how to take care of heart patients.

The Dayton Heart Hospital focus on patient care and fighting any problems that deals with heart problems. Each year heart disease kills more people than any other disease. Patients want new and better ways of healing. The physicians, community leaders, and others want to reduce the impact of heart disease has on society.

Spectrum Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan has updated its heart wing, is now one of the leading hospitals for open-heart surgery, and transplants. The staff at Spectrum Hospital is very sensitive to patient needs and stress levels and tries to help in any manner possible. When a patient leaves the hospital, the care does not stop at that point. They provide in home nurses that visit the patient on a daily basis to make sure that they are coming along very well. Therapy is a part of the patient care after a month or so when the patient feels they are ready. The patient then goes to the therapy wing and a professional helps lead in proper therapy techniques. The hospital also provides a dietician who helps with your diet plan. The care provided is necessary for complete recovery.

How Can Genes Contribute to and Cure Congestive Heart Failure?

How Can Genes Contribute to and Cure Congestive Heart Failure?

It is common knowledge that heart failure follows another severe form of heart damage; however, until now scientists and doctors have had no way to identify those at risk. New research into genes and gene therapy have made them a potential weapon in the fight against heart failure.
Scientists have made several discoveries regarding the role of genes in the detection and treatment of heart failure. Several years ago it was discovered that a small percentage of patients who had suffered heart failure possessed a defect in the gene that allows the body to detect stress signals; in essence, the heart does not know that it is working to hard and is unable to adjust. This percentage may seem insignificant; however, the gene mutation was not present in any of the healthy patients examined. Researchers stress that this is a susceptibility factor, not a cause of congestive heart failure; however, it may be the breaking point when determining if a heart suffering from other disease will fail. Detection of this mutation may allow doctors to identify and treat patients at risk prior to their heart failing rather than after.

This defect is found in the ATP-sensitive potassium channels and is caused by a genetic mutation. The potassium channel regulates potassium and calcium levels in the body. While the heart must have calcium to function, an excess of calcium leads to damage. This is the reason calcium blockers are often given to patients with congestive heart failure. Fortunately, medications to open the potassium channel already exist.

In addition, a defect of the delta-sarcoglycan gene has been seen in hamsters with muscular dystrophy and cardiomyopathy. This gene is the cytoskeleton of muscle fibers, and successful transplant of a normal human delta-sarcoglycan gene has been shown to cause a tremendous improvement in these animals. This is noteworthy because current transplant attempts require open heart surgery. This type of gene transplant is carried on a virus, eliminating the need for surgery.

Scientists had been a bit concerned with using this method of gene therapy due to the need for a systemic effect. There was also some concern that the body’s natural immune system would eliminate the virus of its own accord prior to successful delivery of the gene; however, they believe they have found the best form of virus to successfully slip past the body’s defenses. When transplanting the delta-sarcoglycan gene researchers used a type eight adeno-associated virus, piggybacking the corrective gene onto it as it was inserted into the body. This allowed the gene to be carried to all areas of the body in animals with muscular dystrophy without being destroyed by the body’s own natural immunity.

Gene therapy is still highly experimental, and researchers are unsure yet of the role it will play in the conquest of heart failure; however, this represents a technology that was unavailable thirty years ago. Continuing advancements in technology and medicine’s knowledge of the body’s building blocks may one day unlock the mysteries to the cure of this deadly disease.