Apr 182009
 

Congestive Heart Failure Prognosis

Time and wear and tear can take their toll on the body and even the heart itself.  You can develop such things as coronary artery disease or high blood pressure, which are possible  congestive heart failure causes.  These diseases sap your strength by reducing the heart’s ability to pump blood efficiently.  It is very important that you take care of your body because these things are  not reversible but are preventable. 

Your bodyis a magnificent machine that normally works in harmony.  Like any machine it needs proper care and sometimes parts needs to be repaired or replaced.  Your heart is one part that sometimes needs help to prevent failure. If your heart is damaged it may not pump enough blood to meet your body’s needs or even lead to congestive heart failure. Many conditions can be the cause of possibly fatal congestive heart failure.

Congestive heart failure medications can treat your existing conditions and improve your survival rate. These medicines if taken properly can help control your blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and other things that might have an affect your heart.  This field of medicine has come a very long way in providing treatments  to prevent congestive heart failure.

The cardiologist is a heart specialist who can inform you about by-pass surgery or stents to open up the flow of  blood through the veins and arteries leading to your heart.  There are many methods the doctors may advise to prolong your life.  Ask your doctor for advice on what you need to do.  It is  possible for you to do things for yourself that will help keep your heart in good shape.

A change of lifestyle might be required to prevent congestive heart failure.  This doesn’t always take a big change but you may need to take better control of some aspects of your life. Firstly, take a look at your diet. You will need to make sure you stick to a  healthy diet that is good for your body, especially your heart.  Watch your salt intake. Eating fatty foods and over indulging can increase the risk of congestive heart failure. You might need to learn how to manage stress or overcome depression or simply improve the quality of our life. Being overweight can lead to many problems including coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.  Keeping these conditions under control will help to prevent congestive heart failure.

Managing stress can become a stressful problem in itself for many people.  Stress can lead to high blood pressure and other disorders that can be harmful to your heart. You need to find a way to release your daily stress. Regular exercise can assist with general fitness as well as helping to deal with stress. Join an exercise program at a local local gym or buy your own equipment to use in your home. Even if you don’t have the time, money, or space to afford an exercise program or equipment you can find a way to get regular exercise. Simply going for a daily walk will be of benefit.  

Congestive heart failure is a serious disease and is one of the number one killers.  Prevention begins at home by you taking better care of your body’s needs.

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Apr 172009
 

If you’ve ever experienced a migraine you know how debilitating they can be. Severe head pain is often accompanied by nausea and vomiting. It may take days to fully recover.

The typical migraine headache is unilateral and pulsating, lasting from 4 to 72 hours; symptoms include nausea, vomiting, photophobia (increased sensitivity to bright light), and hyperacusis (increased sensitivity to noise). The treatment usually includes analgesics for the pain and anti-emtics for the symptoms of nausea. The cause of migraines is generally unknown although in some cases there may be circulatory problems resulting in reduced blood flow to certain areas of the brain.

There are a number of ways to help reduce the severity of migraine attacks or even prevent them altogether. One of them is to use magnesium supplements. You can read more about magnesium treatments in this excellent article, Help in Treating Migraines 

Magnesium is nature’s natural vascular relaxant in both animals and humans. It is not a synthetic drug with all kinds of adverse effects. It is interesting to note that in certain areas of Africa and Japan, the number of migraine sufferers are among the lowest in the world due to the fact that the dietary level of magnesium in these areas is high.

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Apr 142009
 

Foods That Improve Memory

 Using herbal ingredients to improve memory has long been practiced not only by those in the United States, but in other countries as well.  The American Indians, Orientals, Egyptians, and Greeks have all used herbs to improve memory and concentration. Spicy foods are said to increase the cognitive functions of your brain, and there are several spicy herbs available.

Turmeric is a herb often used in curry.  Curcumin is found in turmeric and it works to improve your memory.  It also reduces the effects of diseases like Alzheimer’s disease.  Ginger is another herb, containing zingerone, which defends the neurons of the brain to improve memory.  Cinnamon is a brain activity booster; even simply smelling it enhances cognitive function and lifts the mood.  All these wonderful spices can be found in your local grocery store, usually on the aisle with the basic cooking ingredients such as flour and sugar.

Your local health food store should be able to supply ginkgo biloba, touted as the best herb to improve blood flow to the brain which is a must to improve memory and concentration.  Suggested use is 80 mg, 3 times a day.

Another food to improve memory found in health food stores which increases memory and guards against senility is gotu kola.  It also has a calming effect.  Suggested use is 1/2 teaspoon in warm water 3 times a day.

Siberian Ginseng can help the body adapt to stress, helps promote a strong, balanced nervous system, and gives a mild energy boost.  Suggested use is 250 mg, 2 times a day.

Before partaking in the benefits of any of these suggested herbs, please do your research and make sure they won’t have a negative interaction with any medications you are currently taking.  The idea is to improve your memory, not further damage your health in another way.

 Another  popular way to stimulate your brain is by aromatherapy.  Some herbs can be heated in either water or as an ingredient in a candle, maybe even as an ingredient for use with a potpourri burner placed on a cloth as an essential oil to inhale, or simply burned as incense.  Aromatherapy can be done as a low-cost addition to your steps towards good mental health.  It clears the mind, helps you relax, sharpens your ability to focus, and improves your mood.  Two essential oils to use in aromatherapy to help improve memory are rosemary and basil.  Although, anything that is pleasant to your nose will help you calm your thinking so that you can focus more clearly and feel uplifted in spirit.

It’s important to take proper care of your mind and body now. Don’t wait until you’ve aged and have more trouble undoing the effects of your neglect.  It’s never too late to adapt a positive outlook and take charge of yourself!

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Apr 142009
 

What Are the Symptoms of A Kidney Stone?

Do you see  blood when you urinate or do you have pain in your back or pelvis? If you answer yes to these two questions then you may have kidney stones. The only way to be really sure is to have yourself examined by a doctor.

The two symptoms mentioned are just some of the symptoms that tell you if you have kidney stones. Other symptoms of kidney stone may include fevers or chills, feeling or being sick, frequent urinating and a burning sensation when you urinate.

It’s hard to tell just by how you feel if you have kidney stones because these symptoms are also felt by those who have a urinary tract infection (UTI).

When you go to your doctor, they will have to do a series of checks to confirm a kidney stones diagnosis. This will include reviewing your medical history, conducting a physical examination and doing some tests.

To rule out UTI a sample of urine or blood is scanned using one or two machines that may be a computed tomography (CT) scan, intravenous pyelogram (IVP), retrograde pyelogram or X-ray.

To give you a better understanding of what these machines are;

The CT scan can be used for many purposes. In the case of kidney stones, the doctor will tell the technician to focus on your urinary system.

The problem with the CT scan is that it cannot detect small stones when these are located near the bladder. To be sure, an x-ray will be done to tell the doctor its orientation, shape and size.

The Intravenous Pyelogram or IVP is another option and for this test you will be injected with a contrasting agent. Once this is flowing through your kidney, it will be easy for the machine to see if you have a kidney stone blocking the ureter.

There are risks for conducting this test especially if you have a slight allergic reaction to the contrasting fluid that is used.

An ultrasound machine may be used to check if you have kidney stones located in your upper urinary tract or in your ureter. Unfortunately, it cannot be used to check for kidney stones in other areas.

Another test is called the retrograde pyelogram. This test is similar to the IVP in using a contrasting agent however instead of an intravenous agent the contrasting solution is introduced directly into the lower ureter. The contrast flow is opposite to the normal direction of urine, hence the “retrograde” part of the name. This test is normally done under general or local anasthesia.

In most cases, patients who have kidney stones do not need to undergo these more advanced tests because the others mentioned have already confirmed that.

Once the doctor is sure of the kidney stones diagnosis and determined the type of stone only then will they be able to treat it. The doctor may or may not have to give you medication. In extreme cases, surgery may be the best option.

Kidney stones happen more often to males than females. If you feel something wrong down there, don’t wait until it’s get worse before seeing your doctor.

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