Diseases & Condition--Bedsores (Pressure Sores)
Why Bedsores develop?
Bedsores are easier to prevent than to treat
Diseases & Condition--Dust Allergy
What is Dust Allergy?
Dust allergy is an allergic reaction to tiny bugs that commonly live in house dust. Signs of dust allergy include sneezing and runny nose. Many people with dust allergy also experience signs of asthma, such as wheezing and difficulty breathing.
Dust mites, close relatives of ticks and spiders, are too small to see without a microscope. Dust mites eat skin cells shed by people, and they thrive in warm, humid environments. In most homes, bedding, upholstered furniture and carpeting provide an ideal environment for dust mites.Steps to reduce the number of dust mites in your home can often control dust mite allergy. Medications or other treatments may be necessary to relieve symptoms and manage asthma.
Diseases & Condition--Anxiety & Panic Disorders (Depression)
What is Depression/Anxiety?
Depression, anxiety, panic, trauma -- all are components of an anxiety disorder. When worry and fear interfere with normal functioning, it’s an anxiety disorder. Several types of recognized anxiety disorders exist.
Experiencing occasional anxiety is a normal part of life. However, people with anxiety disorders frequently have intense, excessive and persistent worry and fear about everyday situations. Often, anxiety disorders involve repeated episodes of sudden feelings of intense anxiety and fear or terror that reach a peak within minutes (panic attacks).
These feelings of anxiety and panic interfere with daily activities, are difficult to control, are out of proportion to the actual danger and can last a long time. You may avoid places or situations to prevent these feelings. Symptoms may start during childhood or the teen years and continue into adulthood.
Examples of anxiety disorders include generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder (social phobia), specific phobias and separation anxiety disorder. You can have more than one anxiety disorder. Sometimes anxiety results from a medical condition that needs treatment.
Diseases & Condition--Eye Tiredness (Eye Strain)
What is Eye Strain?
Eye strain is generally defined as a condition where strain is put on
the muscles that control the eye. This type of strain can be caused by a
variety of things, but most commonly is associated with reading,
computer use, and other activities that involve peering at small items.
Sewing and craft work are also commonly associated with eye strain. A
certain amount of eye muscle strain
is considered normal, and often causes no permanent damage to sight,
but repeated overuse of eye muscles can cause damage that could lead to
surgery or the need to use glasses to improve vision.Eyestrain is a common condition that occurs when your eyes get tired from intense use, such as while driving long distances or staring at computer screens and other digital devices.
Eyestrain can be annoying. But it usually isn't serious and goes away once you rest your eyes or take other steps to reduce your eye discomfort. In some cases, signs and symptoms of eyestrain can indicate an underlying eye condition that needs treatment.
Diseases & Condition--Eye Focusing (Convergence inefficiency)
Convergence insufficiency occurs when your eyes don't work together while you're trying to focus on a nearby object. When you read or look at a close object, your eyes need to turn inward together (converge) to focus. This gives you binocular vision, enabling you to see a single image.
Convergence insufficiency can cause difficulty with reading. This may make parents or teachers suspect that a child has a learning disability, instead of an eye disorder.
Treatments for convergence insufficiency are usually effective.
Symptoms
Not everyone with convergence insufficiency experiences symptoms. Signs and symptoms occur while you're reading or doing other close work and may include:
- Eyestrain
- Headaches
- Difficulty reading — words blur or seem to move on the page
- Double vision
- Difficulty concentrating
- Squinting or closing one eye
Causes
Convergence insufficiency results from misalignment of the eyes when focusing on nearby objects. The exact cause isn't known, but the misalignment involves the muscles that move the eye. Typically, one eye drifts outward when you're focusing on a nearby word or object.
Treatments and drugs
Treatment options for convergence insufficiency include:
- Pencil pushups. In this simple exercise, you focus on a small letter on the side of a pencil as you move it closer to the bridge of your nose, stopping the movement if you have double vision. Your doctor may suggest you do this at home for 15 minutes a day, five or more days a week.
- Office or home-based vision therapy. You can do eye-focusing exercises to improve convergence. If you do this at home on a computer, you can print your results to share with your eye doctor.
- Combined therapy. Many experts recommend using vision therapy — often with computer software programs — along with pencil pushups. The combined approach may be more effective. And the computer-assisted therapy may be more engaging for children.
- Reading glasses. If computer therapy or exercises don't help, your doctor may suggest you use glasses with built-in prisms for reading. This is usually more effective for children.
- Continued observation. It's possible to receive a diagnosis of convergence insufficiency but not show any signs or symptoms. If this is true for you, watch for symptoms when you're reading or doing close work. Your doctor may want to retest you sometime in the future.
- Surgery. In rare cases, if exercises or computer-assisted therapy doesn't work, your doctor may recommend surgery.
Studies show that vision therapy at a doctor's office is more effective than doing eye exercises or computer-assisted therapy at home. Other aspects to consider before choosing a treatment are cost and convenience.
You will likely see improvement in your symptoms after four weeks of doing exercises or computer-assisted therapy. Treatment can offer long-standing relief of the symptoms of convergence insufficiency. But symptoms may come back:
- After an illness
- If you don't get enough sleep
- When you're doing a lot of reading or other close work
Another round of treatment will usually help.
Diseases & Condition--Spots in Vision (Eye Floaters)
Eye floaters are spots in your vision. They may look to you like black or gray specks, strings or cobwebs that drift about when you move your eyes and appear to dart away when you try to look at them directly.
Most eye floaters are caused by age-related changes that occur as the jelly-like substance (vitreous) inside your eyes becomes more liquid. Microscopic fibers within the vitreous tend to clump and can cast tiny shadows on your retina, which appear to you as floaters.
If you notice a sudden increase in eye floaters, contact an eye specialist immediately — especially if you also see light flashes or lose your peripheral vision. These can be symptoms of an emergency that requires prompt attention.
Symptoms
Causes
Eye floaters may be caused by:
- Age-related eye changes.Eye floaters most commonly occur as a result of age-related changes in the vitreous, the jelly-like substance that fills your eyeballs and helps maintain their round shape. Over time, the vitreous partially liquefies — a process that causes it to pull away from the eyeball's interior surface. As the vitreous shrinks and sags, it clumps and gets stringy. Bits of this debris block some of the light passing through the eye, casting tiny shadows on your retina.
- Inflammation in the back of the eye. Posterior uveitis is inflammation in the layers of the uvea in the back of the eye. Posterior uveitis, which can cause eye floaters, may be caused by infection or inflammatory diseases, among other causes.
- Bleeding in the eye. Bleeding into the vitreous can have many causes, including injury and blood vessel problems.
- Torn retina. Retinal tears can occur when a sagging vitreous tugs on the retina with enough force to tear it. Without treatment, retinal tear may lead to retinal detachment — an accumulation of fluid behind the retina that causes it to separate from the back of your eye. Untreated retinal detachment can cause permanent vision loss.
Treatments and drugs
Most eye floaters don't require treatment
Eye floaters can be frustrating, and adjusting to them can take time. However, you may eventually be able to ignore them or notice them less often.
Treatments for floaters that impair your vision
If your eye floaters impair your vision, which happens rarely, you and your eye doctor may consider treatment.
Options may include:
- Using a laser to disrupt the floaters. An ophthalmologist aims a special laser at the floaters in the vitreous, which may break them up and make them less noticeable. Some people who have this treatment report improved vision; others notice little or no difference.Risks of laser therapy include damage to your retina if the laser is aimed incorrectly. Laser surgery to treat floaters is used infrequently.
- Using surgery to remove the vitreous. An ophthalmologist removes the vitreous through a small incision and replaces it with a solution to help your eye maintain its shape. Surgery may not remove all the floaters, and new floaters can develop after surgery. Risks of vitrectomy include bleeding and retinal tears.
First Aid- Fever
A fever is a rise in body temperature. It's usually a sign of infection. The fever itself is generally harmless and probably helpful. Fevers usually don't need treatment.
The average body temperature is 98.6 F (37 C). But normal body temperature can range between 97 (36.1) and 99 (37.2) or more. Your body temperature can vary depending on how active you are or the time of day. Generally, older people have lower body temperatures than younger people.
The following thermometer readings generally indicate a fever:
- Rectal, ear or temporal artery temperature of 100.4 (38 C) or higher
- Oral temperature of 100 F (37.8 C) or higher
- Armpit temperature of 99 F (37.2 C) or higher
Should I treat a fever?
When you or your child is sick, the main goal is to relieve discomfort and promote rest. Treating a fever neither shortens nor particularly prolongs the course of an illness.
Treating fever in a child
Children with relatively high fevers may not look or act particularly sick. Treating a fever depends on the degree of discomfort. If your child is uncomfortable or restless, these home care strategies may help:
- Encourage your child to drink fluids.
- Dress your child in lightweight clothing.
- If your child feels chilled, use a light blanket until the chills end.
- Give your child acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Children's Motrin, others) as directed on the label.Note these precautions:
- Don't give aspirin to anyone age 18 or younger
- Don't give ibuprofen to children under 6 months
- Don't give acetaminophen to infants under 6 weeks
Treating fever in an adult
Treat adults with a fever based on how they look and feel. Adults with fevers of 103 F (39.4 C) or higher will generally look and act sick. Use the same home care strategies as listed for children.
When to seek medical advice
Get medical help for a fever if:
- Your child is younger than 3 months and has a fever
- Your child is age 3 to 6 months and has a temperature up to 102 F (38.9 C) and seems unusually irritable, lethargic or uncomfortable
- Your child is age 3 to 6 months and has a temperature higher than 102 F (38.9 C)
- Your child is age 6 to 24 months and has a temperature above 102 F (38.9 C) that lasts longer than a day but shows no other symptoms
- Your child is 2 to 17 years and has a temperature up to 102 F (38.9 C) and seems unusually irritable, lethargic or uncomfortable
- Your child is 2 to 17 years and has a temperature above 102 F (38.9 C) that lasts longer than three days or doesn't respond to medication
- An adult has a fever that doesn't respond to medication, is consistently 103 F (39.4 C) or higher, or lasts longer than three days
When to seek emergency care
Seek emergency medical care if your child has a fever after being left in a hot car or other such potentially dangerous situation and shows any of these warning signs:
- Fever with no sweating
- Severe headache
- Seizures
- Stiff neck
- Confusion
- Repeated vomiting or diarrhea
- Irritability or significant discomfort
- Any worrisome, different or unusual symptoms
| Fahrenheit-Celsius conversion table | |
|---|---|
| Fahrenheit | Celsius |
| 105 | 40.5 |
| 104 | 40.0 |
| 103 | 39.4 |
| 102 | 38.9 |
| 101 | 38.3 |
| 100 | 37.7 |
| 99 | 37.2 |
| 98 | 36.6 |
| 97 | 36.1 |
| 96 | 35.5 |
How to take a temperature
Always use a digital thermometer to check someone's temperature. Various types are available, including:
- Digital thermometers, which can be used in the rectum (rectal), mouth (oral) or armpit (axillary), though an armpit reading is the least accurate
- Digital ear thermometers (tympanic membrane)
- Temporal artery thermometer, which measures the temperature of the temporal artery in the forehead
Because of the potential for mercury exposure or ingestion, glass mercury thermometers have been phased out and are no longer recommended.
No matter which type of thermometer you use, take these precautions when using it:
- Read the instructions that came with the thermometer.
- Clean it before and after each use with rubbing alcohol or soap and lukewarm water.
- Don't use the same thermometer for both oral and rectal temperatures. Get two and label which is used where.
- Never leave a child unattended while taking his or her temperature.
Rectal temperature (for infants)
- Turn on the digital thermometer and dab petroleum jelly or another lubricant on the tip of the thermometer.
- Lay the child on his or her stomach.
- Carefully insert the tip 1/2 to 1 inch (1.3 to 2.5 centimeters) into the rectum.
- Hold the thermometer and child still until the thermometer beep indicates it's done. To avoid injury, don't let go of the thermometer while it's inside the child.
- Remove the thermometer and read the number.
Oral temperature
- Turn on the digital thermometer. Place the thermometer tip under the tongue.
- Close the mouth around the thermometer for the recommended amount of time or until the thermometer beep indicates it's done.
- Remove the thermometer and read the number.
Armpit temperature
- Turn on the digital thermometer. Place the thermometer under the armpit, making sure it touches skin, not clothing.
- Hold the thermometer tightly in place until you hear the thermometer beep indicating it's done.
- Remove the thermometer and read the number.
Ear temperature
- Turn on the digital thermometer. Gently place it in the ear, no further than indicated by the instructions that came with the device.
- Hold the thermometer tightly in place until you hear the thermometer beep indicating it's done.
- Remove the thermometer and read the number.
Temporal artery temperature
- Turn on the thermometer. Gently sweep it across the forehead and read the number.
Diseases & Condition--Hair Loss
Baldness typically refers to excessive hair loss from your scalp. Hereditary hair loss with age is the most common cause of baldness. Some people prefer to let their baldness run its course untreated and unhidden. Others may cover it up with hairstyles, makeup, hats or scarves. And still others choose one of the treatments available to prevent further hair loss and to restore growth.
Extreme Causes of Hair Loss
Physical Stress
Any kind of physical trauma—surgery, car accident, or a severe illness, even the flu—can cause temporary hair loss. This can trigger a type of hair loss called telogen effluvium. Hair has a programmed life cycle: a growth phase, rest phase and shedding phase. “Pregnancy
Pregnancy is one example of the type of physical stress that can cause hair loss (that and hormones). Pregnancy-related hair loss is seen more commonly after your baby has been delivered rather than actually during pregnancy.Lack of Protein
If you don't get enough protein in your diet, your body may ration protein by shutting down hair growth, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. This can happen about two to three months after a drop in protein intake, they say.Male pattern baldness
About two out of three men experience hair loss by age 60, and most of the time it's due to male pattern baldness. This type of hair loss, caused by a combo of genes and male sex hormones, usually follows a classic pattern in which the hair recedes at the temples, leaving an M-shaped hairline.Heredity
Female-pattern hair loss, called androgenic or androgenetic alopecia, is basically the female version of male pattern baldness. “If you come from a family where women started to have hair loss at a certain age, then you might be more prone to it,” says Dr. Glashofer. Unlike men, women don't tend to have a receding hairline, instead their part may widen and they may have noticeable thinning of hair.Emotional Stress
Anemia
Almost one in 10 women aged 20 through 49 suffers from anemia due to an
iron deficiency (the most common type of anemia), which is an easily
fixable cause of hair loss. You doctor will have to do a blood test to
determine for sure if you have this type of anemia. Vitamin B Deficiency
Although relatively uncommon in the U.S., low levels of vitamin B are another correctible cause of hair loss.
Treatment & Medication for Hair Loss
Effective treatments for some types of hair loss are available. But some hair loss is permanent. With some conditions, such as patchy alopecia, hair may regrow without treatment within a year.Treatments for hair loss include medications, surgery, laser therapy, and wigs or hairpieces. Your doctor may suggest a combination of these approaches in order to get the best results.
The goals of treatment are to promote hair growth, slow hair loss or hide hair loss.
Medication
If your hair loss is caused by an underlying disease, treatment for that disease will be necessary. This may include drugs to reduce inflammation and suppress your immune system, such as prednisone. If a certain medication is causing the hair loss, your doctor may advise you to stop using it for at least three months.Medications are available to treat pattern baldness. Two medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat hair loss are:
-
Minoxidil (Rogaine). Minoxidil is an
over-the-counter liquid or foam that you rub into your scalp twice a day
to grow hair and to prevent further hair loss. It may be used by men
and women. With this treatment, some people experience hair regrowth, a
slower rate of hair loss or both. The effect peaks at 16 weeks and you
need to keep applying the medication to retain benefits.
Possible side effects include scalp irritation, unwanted hair growth on the adjacent skin of the face and hands, and rapid heart rate (tachycardia).
-
Finasteride (Propecia). This prescription drug
is available only to men. It's taken daily in pill form. Many men taking
finasteride experience a slowing of hair loss, and some may show some
new hair growth. You need to keep taking it to retain benefits.
Rare side effects of finasteride include diminished sex drive and sexual function and an increased risk of prostate cancer. Women who are or may be pregnant need to avoid touching crushed or broken tablets.
Surgery
In the most common type of permanent hair loss, only the top of the head is affected. Hair transplant or restoration surgery can make the most of the hair you have left.During this procedure, your surgeon removes tiny plugs of skin, each containing a few hairs, from the back or sides of your scalp. He or she then implants the plugs into the bald sections of your scalp. You may be asked to take a hair loss medication before and after surgery to improve results.
Surgical procedures to treat baldness are expensive and can be painful. Possible risks include infection and scarring.
Laser therapy
A low-level laser device is available to treat men and women with pattern baldness. It has been cleared by the FDA. A study of 128 male and 141 female subjects indicated the device resulted in an overall improvement of hair loss condition and thickness among those who used the device. The researchers said no side effects were noted but that further study is needed to consider the long-term effects of this therapy.Wigs and hairpieces
You may want to try a wig or a hairpiece as an alternative to medical treatment or if you don't respond to treatment. It can be used to cover either permanent or temporary hair loss. Quality, natural-looking wigs and hairpieces are available.Prevention from Hair Loss
These tips may help you avoid preventable types of hair loss:
- Eat a nutritionally balanced diet.
- Avoid tight hairstyles, such as braids, buns or ponytails.
- Avoid compulsively twisting, rubbing or pulling your hair.
- Treat your hair gently when washing and brushing. A wide-toothed comb may help prevent pulling out hair.
- Avoid harsh treatments such as hot rollers, curling irons, hot oil treatments and permanents.
How to Remove Dryness (Khushki & Sikri) of the Hair
Home Remedies
1. Mix one egg, two full spoon Yogurt, & two spoon Mustard oil
apply it on your head to remove dryness
Moreover, after doing this apply one egg to your hair and then wash with shampoo to get excellent results.
2. Take one-cup full fat mayonnaise.
apply a thick layer of it on slightly damp hair & scalp
Massage it into scalp & then work it through hair to the end.
Cover your hair & head with a plastic cap for an hour.
Rinse your head with lukewarm water & then Shampoo
as usual.
Repeat weekly to hydrate very dry hair.
Diseases & Medicine--Kidney Stones
Why Kidneys Stones?
Kidney stones (renal lithiasis, nephrolithiasis) are small, hard mineral deposits that form inside kidneys. The stones are made of mineral and acid salts.
Kidney stones have many causes and can affect any part of your urinary tract — from your kidneys to your bladder. Often, stones form when the urine becomes concentrated, allowing minerals to crystallize and stick together.
Passing kidney stones can be quite painful, but the stones usually cause no permanent damage. Depending on your situation, you may need nothing more than to take pain medication and drink lots of water to pass a kidney stone. In other instances — for example, if stones become lodged in the urinary tract or cause complications — surgery may be needed.
Diseases & Condition--Headache due to Tension
A tension headache is generally a diffuse, mild to moderate pain in your head that's often described as feeling like a tight band around your head. A tension headache (tension-type headache) is the most common type of headache, and yet its causes aren't well understood.
Treatments for tension headaches are available. Managing a tension headache is often a balance between fostering healthy habits, finding effective non drug treatments and using medications appropriately.
Diseases & Condition--Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is cancer that occurs in a man's prostate — a small walnut-shaped gland that produces the seminal fluid that nourishes and transports sperm.
Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in men. Prostate cancer usually grows slowly and initially remains confined to the prostate gland, where it may not cause serious harm. While some types of prostate cancer grow slowly and may need minimal or no treatment, other types are aggressive and can spread quickly.
Prostate cancer that is detected early — when it's still confined to the prostate gland — has a better chance of successful treatment.
Diseases & Condition--Diarrhea
What is diarrhea
Diarrhea describes loose, watery stools that occur more frequently than usual. Diarrhea is something everyone experiences. Diarrhea often means more-frequent trips to the toilet and a greater volume of stool.
In most cases, diarrhea signs and symptoms usually last a couple of days. But sometimes diarrhea can last for weeks. In these situations, diarrhea can be a sign of a serious disorder, such as inflammatory bowel disease, or a less serious condition, such as irritable bowel syndrome.
Diseases & Condition--Type 1 Diabetes in Children
Type 1 diabetes in children is a condition in which your child's pancreas no longer produces the insulin your child needs to survive, and you'll need to replace the missing insulin. Type 1 diabetes in children used to be known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes.
The diagnosis of type 1 diabetes in children can be overwhelming at first. Suddenly you and your child — depending on his or her age — must learn how to give injections, count carbohydrates and monitor blood sugar.
Although type 1 diabetes in children requires consistent care, advances in blood sugar monitoring and insulin delivery have improved the daily management of type 1 diabetes in children.
Diseases & Condition--Type 1 Diabetes
Various factors may contribute to type 1 diabetes, including genetics and exposure to certain viruses. Although type 1 diabetes usually appears during childhood or adolescence, it also can begin in adults.
Despite active research, type 1 diabetes has no cure. But it can be managed. With proper treatment, people with type 1 diabetes can expect to live longer, healthier lives than did people with type 1 diabetes in the past.
Diseases & Condition--What is Diabetes?
Diabetes
Diabetes mellitus refers to a group of diseases that affect how your body uses blood sugar (glucose). Glucose is vital to your health because it's an important source of energy for the cells that make up your muscles and tissues. It's also your brain's main source of fuel.
If you have diabetes, no matter what type, it means you have too much glucose in your blood, although the causes may differ. Too much glucose can lead to serious health problems.
Chronic diabetes conditions include type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Potentially reversible diabetes conditions include prediabetes — when your blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be classified as diabetes — and gestational diabetes, which occurs during pregnancy but may resolve after the baby is delivered.
Diseases & Condition-Why Heart Muscle become Abnormal (Cardiomyopathy)
Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy is a condition where the heart muscle is abnormal. The main types of cardiomyopathy include dilated, hypertrophic and restrictive cardiomyopathy. Cardiomyopathy makes it harder for your heart to pump and deliver blood to the rest of your body. Cardiomyopathy can lead to heart failure.
Cardiomyopathy can be treated. The type of treatment you'll receive depends on which type of cardiomyopathy you have and how serious it is. Your treatment may include medications, surgically implanted devices or, in severe cases, a heart transplant.
Diseases & Condition-What is Cardiogenic Shock?
Cardiogenic Shock
Cardiogenic shock is a condition in which your heart suddenly can't pump enough blood to meet your body's needs. The condition is most often caused by a severe heart attack.
Cardiogenic shock is rare, but it's often fatal if not treated immediately. If treated immediately, about half the people who develop the condition survive.
Diseases & Condition-Blood Flow Reduction to Heart (Myochardial ischemia)
Myocardial ischemia
Myocardial ischemia occurs when blood flow to your heart is reduced, preventing it from receiving enough oxygen. The reduced blood flow is usually the result of a partial or complete blockage of your heart's arteries (coronary arteries).
Myocardial ischemia, also called cardiac ischemia, can damage your heart muscle, reducing its ability to pump efficiently. A sudden, severe blockage of a coronary artery can lead to a heart attack. Myocardial ischemia might also cause serious abnormal heart rhythms.
Treatment for myocardial ischemia involves improving blood flow to the heart muscle. Treatment may include medications, a procedure to open blocked arteries or bypass surgery.
Making heart-healthy lifestyle choices is important in treating and preventing myocardial ischemia.
Symptoms (Myocardial ischemia)
Some people who have ischemia don't experience any signs or symptoms (silent ischemia).When signs and symptoms occur, the most common is chest pressure or pain, typically on the left side of the body (angina pectoris). Other signs and symptoms — which might be experienced more commonly by women, older people and people with diabetes — include:
- Neck or jaw pain
- Shoulder or arm pain
- A fast heartbeat
- Shortness of breath when you are physically active
- Nausea and vomiting
- Sweating
- Fatigue
Causes (Myocardial ischemia)
Myocardial ischemia occurs when the blood flow through one or more of your coronary arteries isdecreased. The low blood flow decreases the amount of oxygen your heart muscle receives.
Myocardial ischemia can develop slowly as arteries become blocked over time. Or it can occur quickly when an artery becomes blocked suddenly.
Conditions that can cause myocardial ischemia include:
- Coronary artery disease (atherosclerosis). Plaques made up mostly of cholesterol build up on your artery walls and restrict blood flow. Atherosclerosis is the most common cause of myocardial ischemia.
- Blood clot. The plaques that develop in atherosclerosis can rupture, causing a blood clot. The clot might block an artery and lead to sudden, severe myocardial ischemia, resulting in a heart attack. Rarely, a blood clot might travel to the coronary artery from elsewhere in the body.
- Coronary artery spasm. This temporary tightening of the muscles in the artery wall can briefly decrease or even prevent blood flow to part of the heart muscle. Coronary artery spasm is an uncommon cause of myocardial ischemia.
- Physical exertion
- Emotional stress
- Cold temperatures
- Cocaine use
Treatments and drugs (Myocardial ischemia)
Treatment of myocardial ischemia is directed at improving blood flow to the heart muscle. Depending on the severity of your condition, you may be treated with medications, surgery or both.
Medications
Medications to treat myocardial ischemia include:- Aspirin. A daily aspirin or other blood thinner can reduce your risk of blood clots, which might help prevent obstruction of your coronary arteries. Ask your doctor before starting to take aspirin because it might not be appropriate if you have a bleeding disorder or if you're already taking another blood thinner.
- Nitrates. These medications temporarily open arteries, improving blood flow to and from your heart. Better blood flow means your heart doesn't have to work as hard.
- Beta blockers. These medications help relax your heart muscle, slow your heartbeat and decrease blood pressure so blood can flow to your heart more easily.
- Calcium channel blockers. These medications relax and widen blood vessels, increasing blood flow in your heart. Calcium channel blockers also slow your pulse and reduce the workload on your heart.
- Cholesterol-lowering medications. These medications decrease the primary material that deposits on the coronary arteries.
- Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. These medications help relax blood vessels and lower blood pressure. Your doctor might recommend an ACE inhibitor if you have high blood pressure or diabetes in addition to myocardial ischemia.
- Ranolazine (Ranexa). This medication helps relax your coronary arteries to ease angina. Ranolazine may be prescribed with other angina medications, such as calcium channel blockers, beta blockers or nitrates.
Procedures to improve blood flow
Sometimes, more-aggressive treatment is needed to improve blood flow. Procedures that may help include:- Angioplasty and stenting. A long, thin tube (catheter) is inserted into the narrowed part of your artery. A wire with a tiny balloon is threaded into the narrowed area and inflated to widen the artery. A small wire mesh coil (stent) is usually inserted to keep the artery open.
- Coronary artery bypass surgery. A surgeon uses a vessel from another part of your body to create a graft that allows blood to flow around the blocked or narrowed coronary artery. This type of open-heart surgery is usually used only for people who have several narrowed coronary arteries.
- Enhanced external counterpulsation. This noninvasive outpatient treatment might be recommended if other treatments haven't worked. Cuffs that have been wrapped around your legs are gently inflated with air then deflated. The resulting pressure on your blood vessels can improve blood flow to the heart.
Lifestyle and home remedies (Myocardial ischemia)
To follow a heart-healthy lifestyle:
- Quit smoking. Talk to your doctor about smoking cessation strategies. Also try to avoid secondhand smoke.
- Manage underlying health conditions. Treat diseases or conditions that can increase your risk of myocardial ischemia, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol.
- Eat a healthy diet. Limit saturated fat and eat lots of whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Know your cholesterol numbers and ask your doctor if you've reduced them to the recommended level.
- Exercise. Talk to your doctor about starting a safe exercise plan to improve blood flow to your heart.
- Maintain a healthy weight. If you're overweight, talk to your doctor about weight-loss options.
- Decrease stress. Practice healthy techniques for managing stress, such as muscle relaxation and deep breathing.
Diseases & Condition-What is Heart Enlargement (Cardiomegaly)
An enlarged heart (cardiomegaly) isn't a disease, but rather a symptom of another condition.
The term "cardiomegaly" most commonly refers to an enlarged heart seen on a chest X-ray. Other tests are then needed to diagnose the condition causing your enlarged heart.
You may develop an enlarged heart temporarily because of a stress on your body, such as pregnancy, or because of a medical condition, such as the weakening of the heart muscle, coronary artery disease, heart valve problems or abnormal heart rhythms.
An enlarged heart may be treatable by correcting the cause. Treatment for an enlarged heart can include medications, medical procedures or surgery.
Diseases & Conditions-Sudden cardiac arrest
Sudden cardiac arrest is different from a heart attack, which occurs when blood flow to a portion of the heart is blocked. However, a heart attack can sometimes trigger an electrical disturbance that leads to sudden cardiac arrest.
Sudden cardiac arrest is a medical emergency. If not treated immediately, it causes sudden cardiac death. With fast, appropriate medical care, survival is possible. Administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), treating with a defibrillator — or even just compressions to the chest — can improve the chances of survival until emergency personnel arrive.
Heart Diseases & Condition-HEARTBURN
Heartburn
Heartburn is a burning pain in your chest, just behind your breastbone. The pain is often worse when lying down or bending over.
Occasional heartburn is common and no cause for alarm. Most people can manage the discomfort of heartburn on their own with lifestyle changes and over-the-counter medications.
Heartburn that is more frequent or interferes with your daily routine may be a symptom of a more serious condition that requires medical care.
Heart Diseases & Condition-Heart Valve Disease
Your heart has four valves that keep blood flowing in the correct direction. The valves open and close once during each heartbeat. Sometimes, the valves don't open or close properly, disrupting the blood flow through your heart to your body. In a condition called stenosis, a valve isn't able to open properly. In a condition called regurgitation, a valve doesn't close properly and can leak.
Heart valve disease includes:
Heart Diseases & Condition-Heart Palpitations
Heart Palpitations
Heart palpitations (pal-pih-TAY-shuns) are the feelings of having rapid, fluttering or pounding heart. Heart palpitations can be triggered by stress, exercise, medication or, rarely, a medical condition.
Although heart palpitations can be worrisome, they're usually harmless. In rare cases, heart palpitations can be a symptom of a more serious heart condition, such as an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia), that may require treatment.
Symptoms (Heart Palpitations)
Heart palpitations can feel like your heart is:
- Skipping beats
- Fluttering
- Beating too fast
- Pumping harder than usual
You may feel heart palpitations in your throat or neck, as well as your chest. Heart palpitations can occur whether you're active or at rest, and whether you're standing, seated or lying down.
Causes (Heart Palpitations)
Often the cause of your heart palpitations can't be found. Common causes of heart palpitations include:
- Strong emotional responses, such as stress or anxiety
- Strenuous exercise
- Caffeine
- Nicotine
- Fever
- Hormone changes associated with menstruation, pregnancy or menopause
- Taking cold and cough medications that contain pseudoephedrine, a stimulant
- Taking some asthma inhaler medications that contain stimulants
Occasionally heart palpitations can be a sign of a serious problem, such as an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism) or an abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia). Arrhythmias may include very fast heart rates (tachycardia), unusually slow heart rates (bradycardia) or an irregular heart rhythm.
Tests and diagnosis (Heart Palpitations)
If your doctor thinks you have heart palpitations, he or she will listen to your heart using a stethoscope. Your doctor may also look for signs of medical conditions that can cause heart palpitations, such as a swollen thyroid gland.
Other tests your doctor may perform include:
- Electrocardiogram (ECG). In this noninvasive test, a technician will place probes on your chest that record the electrical impulses that make your heart beat.
- Holter monitoring. A Holter monitor is a portable device that you wear to record a continuous ECG, usually for 24 to 72 hours. Holter monitoring is used to detect heart palpitations that aren't found during a regular ECG exam.
- Event recording. If you don't have irregular heart rhythms while you wear a Holter monitor, your doctor may recommend an event recorder.You wear an event recorder as much as possible throughout the day, and push a button on a recording device you wear on your belt to record your heartbeat when you have symptoms. You may need to wear an event monitor for several weeks.
- Echocardiogram. This noninvasive exam, which includes an ultrasound of your chest, shows detailed images of your heart's structure and function.Ultrasound waves are transmitted, and their echoes are recorded with a device called a transducer that's held outside your body. A computer uses the information from the transducer to create moving images on a video monitor.
An ECG can help your doctor detect irregularities in your heart's rhythm and structure that could cause palpitations. The test may be performed while you rest or exercise (stress electrocardiogram).
Treatments and drugs (Heart Palpitations)
Unless your doctor finds that you have a heart condition, heart palpitations seldom require treatment. Instead, your doctor may recommend ways for you to avoid the triggers that cause your palpitations.
If your palpitations are caused by a condition, such as an arrhythmia, your treatment will focus on correcting the condition.
Lifestyle and home remedies (Heart Palpitations)
The most appropriate way to treat palpitations at home is to avoid the triggers that may cause your symptoms. Some ways to avoid triggers include:
- Reduce stress or anxiety. Try relaxation techniques, such as meditation, yoga, or deep breathing or aromatherapy.
- Avoid stimulants. Stimulants, including caffeine, nicotine, some cold medicines and energy drinks, can make your heart beat quickly or irregularly.
- Avoid illegal drugs. Certain drugs, such as cocaine and amphetamines, can bring on heart palpitations.
