The heart is one of the five major organs of the body, the other being the brain, the liver, the lungs and the digestive system-any defect in or malfunctioning of which leads to serious complications. The major function of the heart is to pump the blood into the arteries and send the blood returning from the various organs with carbon dioxide to the lungs for purification.
Considering the amount of work that the heart does-it never stops till death-it is subject to few disorders. The main causes of heart disease are the diseases of the coronary arteries (which nourish the heart muscle), high blood pressure and syphilis. Acute rheumatism-a predominantly infantile disorder-is responsible for most cases of heart disease occurring between the ages of 5 to 45 years. Other causes of heart diseases are disorders like diphtheria, diseases of the thyroid gland and certain forms of chronic lung ailments. A small, but important group of heart diseases is due to the congenital abnormalities of the heart. In those disorders for example, the malformation of the valves or cavities in the valve developed in the mother’s womb, the only recourse is to heart surgery. Certain deficiency diseases like gross lack of vitamin B cause the condition known as beri-beri.
The tendency of the heart to adjust to changes in the mode of living of its owner, known as compensation, is one of the vital factors, which prolong life in spite of maladies to which this king of organs is susceptible. This adjustment sometimes enables a person to go through life without suspecting the disease, which invade the heart. It is a common fallacy to suppose that heart disease ends in sudden death. A man with a defective heat may live long, if he is careful. It is only when the heart muscle has become weakened due to some other illness, for example, diabetes, that the end may come suddenly. Another cause of sudden death by heart failure can be ascribed to the formation of a clot in the blood (thrombosis). Hardening of the arteries may lead to failure of the heart, but in most cases that is a gradual development.
Chief Ailments
The broad categories of heart ailments are:
(i) Those caused by inflammation of the muscle, the outer covering or the inner covering of the heart;
(ii) Hardening of the arteries and formation of a clot which may result in sudden interruption of the functioning of the heart;
(iii) Weakening of the muscle or degeneration of the organ because of advancing years;
(iv) Involvement of the heart as a corollary to rheumatism or syphilis; and
(v) Functional disorders like techycardia, bradicardia or hypertension and arrhythmia (lack of rhythm in the heart beat) and angina pectoris (pain in the chest, behind the sternum) and a sense of impending death.
As stated earlier, naturopathy is the only recourse in case of all bodily ailments. Heart diseases can be cured safely and in a better manner under this system of medicine. The only exception, it may be stated here, is congenital defects of the heart for which surgical interference is necessary after the “compensation” fails to relieve the condition.
Here we give the treatment that is to be under taken in angina pectoris. The same course of treatment would help other heart ailments too regardless of the technical name given by the doctors.
Angina pectoris is characterized by a sharp pain in the chest (behind the sternum), which leaves the victim breathless. There is a sense of impending doom. It is generally caused by the constriction of the main artery that leads into the heart, because of its hardening or deposition of fat in the insides. The pain radiates to the back, the shoulders and the arms, particularly the left arm. The attack may come on after a hearty meal, a sudden over exertion or intense grief or excitement.
Lest the reader confuse a gastric pain with angina, let us make it clear that the true pain of angina has a tendency to spread to the shoulders and the arms. There is a constriction in the chest and profuse sweating. True angina must be differentiated from false or pseudo-angina which is of a nervous origin.
Drugs taken to relieve angina only help to make the condition more chronic. Patients taking recourse to traditional methods of treatment would be seen carrying tablets of nitro-glycerine to relieve the pain. The drug may be taken in an emergency but the correct treatment for angina begins when it is aimed at building the general health level of the patient.
When an attack is on, the best thing is to apply hot towels over the heart region. That will relieve the constriction around the chest by dilating (through heat) the clogged artery, which finds it difficult to pass the required amount of blood through it to the heart.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Excuse Me, Your Heart is Waiting
Have you ever felt that you have all these ideas in your head--they must be there for a reason? Then, the next step is to believe you have what it takes to make these ideas a reality, to bring them to fruition.
Have you ever felt like there was something holding you back? Something telling you that you couldn't have what you wanted until you did this or that? Good luck trying to get your ideas out on paper when you are struggling to get through the day, complaining about the dry heat and the slight headache you still have from last week and on top of that--no one seems to want to be around you!
That's how I felt for the longest time when it came to actually creating some results in my life! It wasn't until I realized that the fight I had been fighting was all in my head. It was my own vain imaginings of "what might happened if..." The winners and losers (in my mind) were on the same team! No one else was keeping score other than myself. I was the one holding the key and the lock.
Through all this I realized, as long as you believe that you set yourself free, you are powerful. But if you do not believe that you can set-yourself and your heart free, you are powerless to change.
Our power truly lies in our ability to choose, to make choices and decisions and feel good about them! If I have all this potential but I am having a hard time stepping out into the unknown and believing my ideas are valid, then I am the only one that can create the result.
Here are a few steps for implementing your heart into your daily life: (and also a good way to secure you will never suffer from a heart-attack).
**-Go somewhere and become quiet and still and tune into your inner-thoughts, desires, longings etc. Use music to tap into those thoughts-it by passes your analytical mind and allows for instant access to your emotions.
**-Write down your inner thoughts on paper or your lap-top. I occasionally will use my laptop but other times I will actually write it down because when you write it actually uses another part of your brain that assists with ingraining it into your mind.
**-Map out a plan of action. Give yourself 30-45 days to achieve your newly desired goal/plan and gets' you thinking in terms of possibilities vs. measuring yourself by some standard that isn't necessary.
best,
Cynthia Farsadi
Business Owner
After many years of struggling and being broke, thinking some day my "LUCK" will come--I made the bold decision to get started in my own direct-sales business.
Today, I spend a few hours a day assisting others with setting up their own part-time business to create a ridiculous income and have plenty of time to enjoy it! My work combines personal growth with wealth creation--what a great combo!
Have you ever felt like there was something holding you back? Something telling you that you couldn't have what you wanted until you did this or that? Good luck trying to get your ideas out on paper when you are struggling to get through the day, complaining about the dry heat and the slight headache you still have from last week and on top of that--no one seems to want to be around you!
That's how I felt for the longest time when it came to actually creating some results in my life! It wasn't until I realized that the fight I had been fighting was all in my head. It was my own vain imaginings of "what might happened if..." The winners and losers (in my mind) were on the same team! No one else was keeping score other than myself. I was the one holding the key and the lock.
Through all this I realized, as long as you believe that you set yourself free, you are powerful. But if you do not believe that you can set-yourself and your heart free, you are powerless to change.
Our power truly lies in our ability to choose, to make choices and decisions and feel good about them! If I have all this potential but I am having a hard time stepping out into the unknown and believing my ideas are valid, then I am the only one that can create the result.
Here are a few steps for implementing your heart into your daily life: (and also a good way to secure you will never suffer from a heart-attack).
**-Go somewhere and become quiet and still and tune into your inner-thoughts, desires, longings etc. Use music to tap into those thoughts-it by passes your analytical mind and allows for instant access to your emotions.
**-Write down your inner thoughts on paper or your lap-top. I occasionally will use my laptop but other times I will actually write it down because when you write it actually uses another part of your brain that assists with ingraining it into your mind.
**-Map out a plan of action. Give yourself 30-45 days to achieve your newly desired goal/plan and gets' you thinking in terms of possibilities vs. measuring yourself by some standard that isn't necessary.
best,
Cynthia Farsadi
Business Owner
After many years of struggling and being broke, thinking some day my "LUCK" will come--I made the bold decision to get started in my own direct-sales business.
Today, I spend a few hours a day assisting others with setting up their own part-time business to create a ridiculous income and have plenty of time to enjoy it! My work combines personal growth with wealth creation--what a great combo!
Heart Symptoms - The Symptoms of a Heart Attack
The heart attack symptoms are the heart of the matter. Are you overly concerned about the possibility of a heart attack? We all know that it is a very serious lifestyle disease that could end a life in a matter of minutes.
Now, let us examine closer some of the heart attack symptoms?
Symptoms of heart attack are usually preceded with chest pains. During this time, the regular breathing movement of the heart is failing. The symptoms of an oncoming heart problem can be both slight and sudden.
Many heart symptoms can also be indicating other less dangerous conditions, and therefore a diagnosis of heart disease is often made later than it could have been. Normally, there are some clear warnings for a potential victim like the chest pain. However, not all such pains are heart symptoms. Nevertheless, chest pain or pressure is indeed a common symptom most heart attack victims experienced.
The signs of a heart condition is the result of a blood clot completely blocking a coronary artery supplying blood to the heart muscle. And also causing death to parts of the heart muscle.
Research has shown that the site of blood clot formation during heart attack, is usually a cholesterol built up on the inside of the coronary artery.
Most heart symptoms show up during the first half of the day. The reason for this is the higher level of adrenaline released from the adrenal glands during that time of day. This increased level of adrenaline in the bloodstream can contribute to the rupture of the cholesterol plaque in the artery.
You need to note this important point that heart attack is also a silent killer. Approximately one quarter of all heart attacks come without warning, Diabetics are more at risk to this type of heart attacks.
Heart related chest pain is often vague or dull and may be described as a pressure or tightening sensation, squeezing, heaviness or other types discomfort. As a general rule of thumb, a with symptoms of the attack may complain of any one or more of the following conditions:
Feeling of heaviness in the chest, sudden sweating, heartburn and/or indigestion, arm pain (usually the left arm), pain in the upper back, difficulty breathing, an unusual feeling of illness, nauseous feeling,
For any lifestyle diseases, prevention is always cheaper than cure, so the first step you must take to avoid heart symptoms, is to change your lifestyle, and practice some of the ways to help your body ward off the risks of heart attack.
Living a healthy lifestyle is the answer for reducing the chances of developing symptoms heart attack.
There are three factors that make us susceptible to heart attack signs: genetic predisposition, environmental hazard and modern lifestyle living.
The good news is, even with those who are genetically programmed towards symptoms heart attack, which is the strongest influence of heart condition; adjusting to a healthy lifestyle will drastically lower the risks of getting any signs or symptoms of a deadly heart problem.
Heart attacks can and should be prevented, but you must be conscious of your daily lifestyle. http://www.health-consciousliving.com. A healthy balanced diet, daily aerobic exercise and enough quality rest are the three basic practices to develop a healthy heart and avoid being a victim of a heart attack.
You are 100% responsible for achieving a good healthy heart. But you must take action towards ensuring your lifestyle is in harmony with healthy behaviours.
Now, let us examine closer some of the heart attack symptoms?
Symptoms of heart attack are usually preceded with chest pains. During this time, the regular breathing movement of the heart is failing. The symptoms of an oncoming heart problem can be both slight and sudden.
Many heart symptoms can also be indicating other less dangerous conditions, and therefore a diagnosis of heart disease is often made later than it could have been. Normally, there are some clear warnings for a potential victim like the chest pain. However, not all such pains are heart symptoms. Nevertheless, chest pain or pressure is indeed a common symptom most heart attack victims experienced.
The signs of a heart condition is the result of a blood clot completely blocking a coronary artery supplying blood to the heart muscle. And also causing death to parts of the heart muscle.
Research has shown that the site of blood clot formation during heart attack, is usually a cholesterol built up on the inside of the coronary artery.
Most heart symptoms show up during the first half of the day. The reason for this is the higher level of adrenaline released from the adrenal glands during that time of day. This increased level of adrenaline in the bloodstream can contribute to the rupture of the cholesterol plaque in the artery.
You need to note this important point that heart attack is also a silent killer. Approximately one quarter of all heart attacks come without warning, Diabetics are more at risk to this type of heart attacks.
Heart related chest pain is often vague or dull and may be described as a pressure or tightening sensation, squeezing, heaviness or other types discomfort. As a general rule of thumb, a with symptoms of the attack may complain of any one or more of the following conditions:
Feeling of heaviness in the chest, sudden sweating, heartburn and/or indigestion, arm pain (usually the left arm), pain in the upper back, difficulty breathing, an unusual feeling of illness, nauseous feeling,
For any lifestyle diseases, prevention is always cheaper than cure, so the first step you must take to avoid heart symptoms, is to change your lifestyle, and practice some of the ways to help your body ward off the risks of heart attack.
Living a healthy lifestyle is the answer for reducing the chances of developing symptoms heart attack.
There are three factors that make us susceptible to heart attack signs: genetic predisposition, environmental hazard and modern lifestyle living.
The good news is, even with those who are genetically programmed towards symptoms heart attack, which is the strongest influence of heart condition; adjusting to a healthy lifestyle will drastically lower the risks of getting any signs or symptoms of a deadly heart problem.
Heart attacks can and should be prevented, but you must be conscious of your daily lifestyle. http://www.health-consciousliving.com. A healthy balanced diet, daily aerobic exercise and enough quality rest are the three basic practices to develop a healthy heart and avoid being a victim of a heart attack.
You are 100% responsible for achieving a good healthy heart. But you must take action towards ensuring your lifestyle is in harmony with healthy behaviours.
Stop the Silent Killer
High cholesterol levels leads to cardiovascular heart disease. There are no physical symptoms. Silently over a period of time fatty deposits accumulate in your arteries. Your arteries begin to narrow and eventually the blood flow to your heart is blocked. Bam! You have a heart attack. Cholesterol is a natural substance produced by your liver for normal bodily functions. An over abundance causes problems. The worst kind of cholesterol type is referred to as ldl. Your objective is to reduce ldl. Your doctor is the only person who can determine if you have high cholesterol levels. His first option is to prescribe cholesterol lowering drugs such as lipitor and pravachol. However, these drugs have side effects. The most common types are: headache, muscle pain, joint pain, stomach pain and liver damage. Not everyone experiences side effects. Taking prescription drugs means that you have to be under constant supervision by your doctor. You need frequent check ups to determine your progress. Before prescription drugs are used. you should try to lower your cholesterol naturally. This means a life style change. You have to:
lose weight
exercise
follow cholesterol friendly diets
A good low cholesterol diet should:
avoid high saturated fat foods
not include trans fat foods
include 3 to 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day
include 6 to 11 servings of grain and legumes
In addition to a low cholesterol diet, you have to exercise loose weight and stop smoking. If a life style change does not lower your cholesterol, than prescription drugs will be required and you will have to be under a doctor's supervision.
Norm Kay is a contributor writer to lowering cholesterol today A website dedicated to information on managing your cholesterol levels
lose weight
exercise
follow cholesterol friendly diets
A good low cholesterol diet should:
avoid high saturated fat foods
not include trans fat foods
include 3 to 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day
include 6 to 11 servings of grain and legumes
In addition to a low cholesterol diet, you have to exercise loose weight and stop smoking. If a life style change does not lower your cholesterol, than prescription drugs will be required and you will have to be under a doctor's supervision.
Norm Kay is a contributor writer to lowering cholesterol today A website dedicated to information on managing your cholesterol levels
Causes of Chest Pain
Everyone at some point in their lives will experience chest pain and some times its severe thorax pain. Your chest covers a large part of your body and there is a lot of territory there, so to speak. It also contains most of your bodies vital organs. These vital organs in your chest, are protected by your rib cage, because they are soft and delicate and can be damaged easily. So it is only natural to become alarmed at the onset of chest pain.
Thorax pain is one of the most common reasons people seek emergency help at a hospital. The majority of these people seeking emergency help are concerned that they may be having a hear attack. While mild, to extreme pain, is one of the common symptoms of a heart attack, there are many other common reasons that can be attributed to chest pain. Even a minor injury to the some parts of your body can leave you stricken with extreme pain.
This does not mean that you shouldn't be concerned if you are stricken with serious pain and that you shouldn't seek medical attention. It just means that you don't have to assume you are going to die if it happens to you. Quit often, chest pain seems to come on suddenly and this in itself can be alarming but how sudden thorax pain appears can have little bearing on how serious it is.
A strained back, that leads to swelling around the nerves in the back, causing a pinched nerve, can cause some of the most severe chest pain and it can come on suddenly and also may manifest itself in the center of the chest. This is because an irritated nerve can send a pain signal to other parts of your body and many times does. a bruised or cracked rib, can leave you buckled over with thorax pain, that can make it difficult to breath.
These are both chest pain situations that are not indicators of a problem with any of your vital organs. Both of these can be cured with a visit to your doctor and some bed rest. However, thorax pain can be a warning sign of more serious problems with the vital organs contained in your chest. Pain can be one of the symptoms of a heart attack and you may have other symptoms along with it if it is.
These may include, sweating, dizziness and vomiting. Other symptoms may be pain in you jaw or left arm. You also may experience shortness of breath. Restricted blood flow to the heart, may cause chest pain which may be a symptom of heart disease but not a heart attack. There are several heart related problems that can lead to thorax pain, while not causing a heart attack.
One of these is a viral infection of the tissue surrounding the heart and another is any of several issues with the arteries that connect to the heart. Stomach problems, such as heartburn or indigestion can cause severe chest pain also. Prolonged mental stress and or anxiety, can cause thorax pain. It can also be an indicator of serious life threatening health problems that don't involve your heart at all.
Your chest also contains and protects your lungs and any one of many problems involving your lungs can cause extreme chest pain. Any infection of the lungs, can cause severe thorax pain. Even pneumonia, or even a severe chest cold, or the flu can often cause chest pain. It is also one of the symptoms of lung cancer. There are other vital organs that your chest also contains, that will cause thorax pain, if they are diseased, or malfunctioning.
Your gal bladder and also your pancreas, are both contained in your chest and any one of a number of problems with these two organs, will lead to chest pain. It can be a symptom of gall stones, which is a very painful condition. So if you experience severe pain, you should always seek immediate medical help, but don't try to diagnose yourself because the causes are many.
Thorax pain is one of the most common reasons people seek emergency help at a hospital. The majority of these people seeking emergency help are concerned that they may be having a hear attack. While mild, to extreme pain, is one of the common symptoms of a heart attack, there are many other common reasons that can be attributed to chest pain. Even a minor injury to the some parts of your body can leave you stricken with extreme pain.
This does not mean that you shouldn't be concerned if you are stricken with serious pain and that you shouldn't seek medical attention. It just means that you don't have to assume you are going to die if it happens to you. Quit often, chest pain seems to come on suddenly and this in itself can be alarming but how sudden thorax pain appears can have little bearing on how serious it is.
A strained back, that leads to swelling around the nerves in the back, causing a pinched nerve, can cause some of the most severe chest pain and it can come on suddenly and also may manifest itself in the center of the chest. This is because an irritated nerve can send a pain signal to other parts of your body and many times does. a bruised or cracked rib, can leave you buckled over with thorax pain, that can make it difficult to breath.
These are both chest pain situations that are not indicators of a problem with any of your vital organs. Both of these can be cured with a visit to your doctor and some bed rest. However, thorax pain can be a warning sign of more serious problems with the vital organs contained in your chest. Pain can be one of the symptoms of a heart attack and you may have other symptoms along with it if it is.
These may include, sweating, dizziness and vomiting. Other symptoms may be pain in you jaw or left arm. You also may experience shortness of breath. Restricted blood flow to the heart, may cause chest pain which may be a symptom of heart disease but not a heart attack. There are several heart related problems that can lead to thorax pain, while not causing a heart attack.
One of these is a viral infection of the tissue surrounding the heart and another is any of several issues with the arteries that connect to the heart. Stomach problems, such as heartburn or indigestion can cause severe chest pain also. Prolonged mental stress and or anxiety, can cause thorax pain. It can also be an indicator of serious life threatening health problems that don't involve your heart at all.
Your chest also contains and protects your lungs and any one of many problems involving your lungs can cause extreme chest pain. Any infection of the lungs, can cause severe thorax pain. Even pneumonia, or even a severe chest cold, or the flu can often cause chest pain. It is also one of the symptoms of lung cancer. There are other vital organs that your chest also contains, that will cause thorax pain, if they are diseased, or malfunctioning.
Your gal bladder and also your pancreas, are both contained in your chest and any one of a number of problems with these two organs, will lead to chest pain. It can be a symptom of gall stones, which is a very painful condition. So if you experience severe pain, you should always seek immediate medical help, but don't try to diagnose yourself because the causes are many.
Heart Attack Signs
Today, people mistake heart attack for cardiac arrest. The difference between the two is actually very distinct. Cardiac arrest is the medical situation when your heart stopped beating. It does not necessarily mean there is something wrong with your heart. It could be a result of a complication. On the other hand, a heart attack is actually a disorder. Also called acute myocardial infarction, a heart attack is characterized by an interruption of the blood supply to a particular part of the heart resulting to oxygen shortage. The area not receiving sufficient oxygen suffers from tissue damage that could lead to tissue death. This is when a person would be experiencing a heart attack.
Since heart attacks are the leading causes of death worldwide, knowing the signs could mean the difference between life and death. Contrary to some belief, heart attacks do not always have to be a "chest-grabbing" incident. Many people experiencing a heart attack actually thought it was just heart burn or chest muscle pains. And it doesn't even have to be a one-time discomfort. You can experience recurring symptoms, which may feel mild one day and the next day severe, before an actual heart attack happens. So before you put yourself or your loved ones in serious dangers, here are some heart attack signs to look for.
The most classic heart attack sign is a feeling of discomfort in the middle of the chest. It could be a sudden dull pain that could subside after a few minutes. But remember that this kind of chest discomfort always come back. You may also feel an uncomfortable squeezing, pressure of even fullness aside from the mild to severe pain. This chest discomfort is actually because of the oxygen shortage in the heart muscle. Some pain actually spread to the left arm, lower jaw, back and stomach region.
Another heart attack sign is the sudden shortness of breath. This is because the left part of the heart has limited output, eventually damaging the heart. You will also exhibit other heart attack signs such as sweating, nausea, weakness, vomiting, light headedness and palpitations. Some persons lose consciousness when having a heart attack while others die suddenly.
In females, heart attack signs vary a little. The most common signs include weakness, dyspnea and fatigue. Sleep disturbances are also reported for a period as long as a month before an actual heart attack occurs. Not all persons with heart tissue damage will experience pain or discomfort. In fact, almost 30% of heart attack cases did not exhibit classic chest pain or other heart attack signs. It will only be confirmed after a medical investigation is done,
Individuals at risk of a heart attack are those who have a genetic disposition to it (family history), diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, high LDL levels and low HDL levels. People, who smoke, drink excessively, eat fatty foods, do not exercise and stressed, are also at risk of having a heart attack. These kinds of habits can be severely damaging to your body, and can ultimately prove to be fatal.
Since heart attacks are the leading causes of death worldwide, knowing the signs could mean the difference between life and death. Contrary to some belief, heart attacks do not always have to be a "chest-grabbing" incident. Many people experiencing a heart attack actually thought it was just heart burn or chest muscle pains. And it doesn't even have to be a one-time discomfort. You can experience recurring symptoms, which may feel mild one day and the next day severe, before an actual heart attack happens. So before you put yourself or your loved ones in serious dangers, here are some heart attack signs to look for.
The most classic heart attack sign is a feeling of discomfort in the middle of the chest. It could be a sudden dull pain that could subside after a few minutes. But remember that this kind of chest discomfort always come back. You may also feel an uncomfortable squeezing, pressure of even fullness aside from the mild to severe pain. This chest discomfort is actually because of the oxygen shortage in the heart muscle. Some pain actually spread to the left arm, lower jaw, back and stomach region.
Another heart attack sign is the sudden shortness of breath. This is because the left part of the heart has limited output, eventually damaging the heart. You will also exhibit other heart attack signs such as sweating, nausea, weakness, vomiting, light headedness and palpitations. Some persons lose consciousness when having a heart attack while others die suddenly.
In females, heart attack signs vary a little. The most common signs include weakness, dyspnea and fatigue. Sleep disturbances are also reported for a period as long as a month before an actual heart attack occurs. Not all persons with heart tissue damage will experience pain or discomfort. In fact, almost 30% of heart attack cases did not exhibit classic chest pain or other heart attack signs. It will only be confirmed after a medical investigation is done,
Individuals at risk of a heart attack are those who have a genetic disposition to it (family history), diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, high LDL levels and low HDL levels. People, who smoke, drink excessively, eat fatty foods, do not exercise and stressed, are also at risk of having a heart attack. These kinds of habits can be severely damaging to your body, and can ultimately prove to be fatal.
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