Hair Dye Colors

How Safe Are They?

All Hair Dyes and Hair Dyes are mutagenic and carcinogenic. Even the so-called “natural” products that use plant pigments also have harmful chemicals that can impair your health.

Hair Dye & Color Chemicals With the Greatest Risk:

p-phenylenediamine (PPD or PPED) or 2-nitro-p-phenylenediamine – causes cancer, allergies & immunotoxicity, organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), irritation (skin, eyes, lungs)

hydrogen peroxide – causes cancer, allergies & immunotoxicity, organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), irritation (skin, eyes, lungs), neurotoxicity

ammonia peroxide – causes cancer, organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), irritation (skin, eyes, lungs)

lead acetate – causes cancer, allergies, immunotoxicity. developmental / reproductive toxicity. Lead is prevailent in hair dyes with striking colors like blue, pink and metallic colors.

coal tar (formaldehyde) – causes cancer, allergies, immunotoxicity. developmental / reproductive toxicity, organ system toxicity (non-reproductive). Allergic reactions to dyes include itching, swelling of the face, and even difficulty breathing.

alkylphenol ethoxylates (APE’s), which are found in spermicides and pesticides and affects the body’s reproductive system.

Quaternium-15, a formaldehyde releaser; Diethanolamine; and Phenylene-Diamines.

If you have a box of haircolor under your bathroom sink, I encourage you to look up some of the ingredients for yourself using the Skin Deep cosmetics database to check if the contents of any personal care products are safe to use.

http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/splash.php?URI=%2Findex.php

Hair Colors & Health Risk

In 2006, 22 of the chemicals that are in most haircolor products including PPD were banned in Europe. These “hair care” products are not regulated by FDA in the USA so claims of its safety are also not regulated either. In 2008, the WHO (World Health Organisation) said that there is evidence that hair dyes can increase the risk of bladder cancer for male hairstylists and hair colorists.

Reports suggest women who regularly use hair colors have a higher chance of many cancers including cancer of the blood, bladder and lymphatic system.

Women who use hair dyes for more than 20 years may nearly double their risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis.

Other risk factors of hair color are non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, multiple myeloma and perhaps leukemia and breast cancer.

Hutchinson’s melanotic freckle melanoma are associated with non-permanent hair dyes.

Allergic reactions to hair color are a common complaint not just at the time of the application of the dye but also days after its use – particularly scalp itchiness resulting in scalp sores and other related problems.

Types of Hair Dyes | Colors

Hair Dyes | Colors can be divided into five categories,each with a specific composition and action mechanism:

Gradual or Progressive hair colouring (using metallic dyes such as salts of lead, bismuth or silver).

Progressive hair dyes change the color of hair gradually from light straw color to almost black by reacting with the sulfur of hair keratin as well as oxidizing on the hair surface.

Plant-based hair colors (such as henna) marketed as natural hair color. So-called ‘natural’ hair dyes – Herbatint, Naturtint and HennaPlus all contain man-made chemicals.

Henna is a plant that is also used for ayurvedic hair coloring. Henna should not be used on gray hair, as it turns it orange. Henna is derived from the leaves of the shrub Lawsonia inermis, which grows in India, North Africa and Sri Lanka; lawsone is the active dye ingredient. The major disadvantage of henna is it cannot be used to lighten one’s natural hair color.

Temporary Hair Dyes (water-soluble dyes that withstand only one shampooing),

Semi-permanent dyes penetrate into the hair shaft and do not rinse off with water like temporary colorings. However, many men’s semi-permanent products use lead acetate and work in ways similar to progressive permanent dyes. Temporary hair dyes can trigger allergies. Semi-permanent dyes will withstand only 4–5 shampooing), and

Permanent or Oxidation hair colours, the most important category. Most permanent hair dyes rely on a dual component system.

Permanent hair color are applied directly to the scalp, nearest to the root. Permanent dyes not only penetrate deeply into the hair shaft, but get locked within it due to a series of chemical reactions that occur while the dye is applied.

Permanent hair dyes use chemicals that strip the hair of its natural color and replace it with another color — a permanent dye.

Metallic hair dyes, which contain lead compounds, can give startling colors —a vivid red, a violent purple, a sober green or a dashing violet.

Bleaching – involves the use of hydrogen peroxide Relaxers – are also known as hair straighteners and involve a variety of chemicals.

Dark hair dyes are believed to come with the greatest cancer risk. Dark hair dyes are of particular concern because they contain a much higher concentration of chemicals than the lighter dyes.

But don’t mistake that to mean that coloring your hair once every four to six weeks is safe. Your scalp has a very rich blood supply that is more than capable of transporting the toxins in hair dyes throughout your entire body.

For instance, one study of nearly 900 people found that women who used permanent hair dye at least once a month were twice as likely as women who did not use permanent hair dye to develop bladder cancer.

Don’t let your chemical romance with sexy colored hair and hair highlights put your health at risk!

More than 75 million women color their hair regularly. One in 12 men colors his hair regularly. Permanent hair colors are the most popular hair dye products. Permanent dyes make up about 80 percent of the market. Commercial dye-makers sell over $7 billion dollars worth of hair dyes worldwide every year. When it is a big business, consumers must do the necessary research and take the necessary precautions to protect themselves from quality and health deficiencies issues related to the business.

If you must use hair dyes, here are some tip on how you can minimize the risk of haircolor toxicity and other health risks:

1. Steer clear of the darkest shades. Although all of the shades use essentially the same chemicals, there’s quite a lot more of them in dark brown and black shades than there are in blond, red or lighter shades. It is worthy to note that the lovely Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, who regularly dyed her hair black, died of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
2. Avoid permanent hair color, as they’re the most toxic. Semi-permanent and temporary colors are less so.
3. Look for natural brands of hair color that use henna, herbal dyes and vegetable dyes as primary ingredients. These are likely to be much less toxic than the average hair color.
4. If you go to a hair salon, choose one that is chemical-free, odor-free, herbal or caters to people with multiple chemical sensitivity and allergies. These salons tend to use less toxic products. As an aside, if you are a woman under 40 and have prematurely gray hair, it is usually a result of hypothyroidism. If you fall into this category, it would be wise to learn about these natural methods to help restore your thyroid imbalance.
5. Never mix different hair dye products, because you may cause potentially harmful reactions.
6. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, staying away from hair dye is particularly important because of the impact it could have on your unborn child (i.e. a 10-fold increase in cancer risk in the child)
7. Take lots of good quality antioxidants to strengthen your immune system. Check out Isagenix’s powerful antioxidant system which can boost your body’s immunity against any toxic material (not just hair dye colors) that you may intentionally or unintentionally consume or be exposed to.

Best Organic Hair Permanent Color Dyes – no parabans, No Ammonia, No Plastics No Thioglycolates

UPDATE:

BEST ORGANIC HAIR COLOR PRODUCTS

These are some of the better organic hair colors currently (2013) available in the market. I’m sure there are lots more permanent hair coloring systems . hair dyes with No Parabans, No Ammonia, No Plastics,  No Thioglycolates in the market – some you can buy on online sites like Amazon & eBay.

We suggest you try out one to see if:

• the hair color effectively covers grays
• the color fades after a few showers
• it causes allergic reactions
• it is affordable to you
• it is truly organic hair colors. Check out the ingredients to see if they meet to your standards of “Organic“
• hair dyes color shades are the one you want (eg. henna in general, tends to be reddish)

So check them out and see which hair color systems meets your needs.

1. Surya Brasil h=Henna Cream dark brown
2. Tints of Nature 6N natural dark Blonde
3. Hennalucent Semi Permanent hair color
4. Naturtint Permanent
5. Herbatint Permanent light blonde
6. Aubrey Organic, Color Me natural
7. CHI Organics Tone & Shine Color Silver Minx for gray and white hair
8. Light Mountain Natural color the gray
9. Rainbow Research hair color
10. Morrocco Method Simply pure henna

MORE NATURAL HAIR COLOR TREATMENTS

© https://teamrich.wordpress.com – hair dye colors: are they safe?

Reasons Why We Die of Heart Disease

According to the US Surgeon General, heart attacks and strokes are highly preventable. In fact, seven of ten Americans who die each year, die of a preventable chronic disease such as heart disease and diabetes [1]. A former US Surgeon General, David Satcher, said, “Currently, 95 percent of the health care dollars in the US are spent on treating disease, with relatively little attention paid to preventing disease, which should be a national priority [2].”

Here are seven reasons why we die of heart disease…

We Smoke

The risk of dying of a heart attack is four times higher in people who smoke than in those who don’t smoke. Many of us are under the impression that the major danger from smoking is cancer but that’s not quite true; smoking is the major risk factor for heart disease, stroke, and cardiovascular disease. In fact, about 40 percent of deaths caused by cardiovascular disease are due to smoking.

We Don’t Walk

Over the past 50 years, health professionals have examined the association between physical activity and the risk for heart disease. The findings consistently reveal that people who are physically active have half the risk for heart attacks than people who are not active. Those studies show also that at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity, such as brisk walking, on most days of the week, is sufficient to reduce the risk of heart attack [3].

We Eat Too Much Saturated Fat

There’s a reason why health authorities advice us to limit the consumption of saturated fat:

• Saturated fat is the most rigid of all fats and is solid at room temperature. Solid fats are hard to dissolve and can easily get stuck in your arteries.
• When you eat too much saturated fat, your liver keeps producing cholesterol and you end up with much more cholesterol than you need.

Limit saturated fat consumption to less than 10 percent of the total calories ingested per day.

We Ingest Too Many Foods Containing Hydrogenated Oils or Trans Fats

Hydrogenated oils or trans fats as they are usually called, are produced artificially by injecting molecules of hydrogen in vegetable oils, a process called hydrogenation. Through this process, the oil, which is liquid at room temperature, changes its original form and becomes solid. In other words, it becomes saturated fat. In addition, the unnatural shapes of trans fats cause our cells to become malformed and to malfunction. And that includes the cells of the heart and the arteries.

Read the food label and avoid products which contain trans fats or hydrogenated fats.

We Don’t Eat Enough Fruits and Vegetables

We know that people who consume plant foods regularly have a lower incidence of heart disease than those who don’t include them in their diet.

Fruits and vegetables contain phytochemicals, non-nutritive chemicals found in plant foods that protect their host plants from infections and microbial invasions. However, phytochemicals are also crucial in protecting humans against many diseases, including heart disease.

Limit saturated fat consumption to less than 10 percent of the total calories ingested per day.

We Ingest Too Many Foods Containing Hydrogenated Oils or Trans Fats

Hydrogenated oils or trans fats as they are usually called, are produced artificially by injecting molecules of hydrogen in vegetable oils, a process called hydrogenation. Through this process, the oil, which is liquid at room temperature, changes its original form and becomes solid. In other words, it becomes saturated fat. In addition, the unnatural shapes of trans fats cause our cells to become malformed and to malfunction. And that includes the cells of the heart and the arteries.

Read the food label and avoid products which contain trans fats or hydrogenated fats.

We Don’t Eat Enough Fruits and Vegetables

We know that people who consume plant foods regularly have a lower incidence of heart disease than those who don’t include them in their diet.

Fruits and vegetables contain phytochemicals, non-nutritive chemicals found in plant foods that protect their host plants from infections and microbial invasions. However, phytochemicals are also crucial in protecting humans against many diseases, including heart disease.

We Have Too Much Stress

Eighty percent of the population suffers from some kind of symptoms caused by stress which many times end up in illnesses such as high blood pressure—a risk factor for heart attack.

One of the reasons why you succumb to disease easily is because tension reduces your capacity to adapt to today’s changing environment.

And the 7th reason why we die of heart disease is…….

We Drink too Much Alcohol

Avoid high alcohol consumption. 5 to 7 percent of the hypertension we see in people is due to high alcohol intake. The Health World Organization estimates that almost 2/3 of strokes and 50 percent of heart attacks are caused by high blood pressure.

References:

1. Thompson P. Preventing coronary heart disease. The role of physical activity. The Physician and Sportsmedicine. 2001 Feb;29(2).

10 Things Every Woman Should Know About Heart Disease

Under Pressure High blood pressure can increase your risk of heart attack and stroke. A higher percentage of women have high blood pressure after age 55 than do men.

Watch Your Waistline Being overweight, especially around the waistline, increases your risk of high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

Keep Moving Lack of exercise increases your risk of heart attack and stroke. Aim for at least 30 minutes of physical activity on most days of the week.

Keep Cholesterol in Check The higher your LDL cholesterol level, the greater your risk of coronary heart disease.

Manage Diabetes Diabetes increases your risk of heart disease.

Butt Out Smoking increases your risk to coronary heart disease.

What’s Up Doc? Be sure to visit your doctor for a check-up annually.

Age Gracefully As women grow older, their risks of heart disease and stroke begin to increase and continues to increase with age.

What to Watch The most significant symptom of heart attack is pain or pressure in the chest. However, the warning signals of heart attack can be different for women than for men. Often, women also experience shortness of breath, fatigue, anxiety, nausea or vomiting, and back or jaw pain.

You’re Not Immune Heart disease affects women of all ages, races and economic levels. It can happen to you!

© https://teamrich.wordpress.com – Reasons Why We Die of Heart Disease

10 Deadliest Drugs

Approved by the FDA—but are your meds safe? Critics claim tragic failures like the approval of the painkiller Vioxx, which may have caused up to 100,000 heart attack and stroke deaths, are a direct result of prioritizing speed over safety reviews. So what can you do in the meantime to minimize risk from medications like the 10 Deadliest Drugs mentioned below?

The first thing is to be an informed consumer and be sure that the 10 Deadliest drugs you take are necessary and have not been flagged as potentially problematic. For example, the mild opioid drugs Darvon and Darvocet have been found to be no more effective than aspirin—and they can cause heart damage.

These are the 10 Deadliest Drugs:

Rank – Drug —————– Type —————————- Deaths 1998-2005
1 – Oxycodone – Prescription opioid painkiller* – 5548
2 – Fentanyl – Prescription opioid painkiller* – 3545
3 – Clozapine – Antipsychotic – 3277
4 – Morphine – Prescription opioid painkiller* – 1616
5 – Acetaminophen – Over-the-counter painkiller – 1393
6 – Methadone – Prescription opioid painkiller*/addiction medication – 1258
7 – Infliximab – Immune-system modulating drug – 1228
8 – Interferon beta – Immune-system modulating drug – 1178
9 – Risperidone – Antipsychotic – 1093
10- Etanercept – Immune-system modulating drug – 1034

Source: Moore TJ et al., Serious Adverse Drug Events Reported to the Food and Drug Administration, 1998-2005, Archives of Internal Medicine, Sept. 10., 2007; 167 (16): 1752-1759 —– (WXii, 24 March 20008)

 

How to Recognize a Stroke

If you think someone is having a Stroke, remember the 60 second test:

• 1. Ask the individual to smile.
• 2. Ask him or her to raise both arms.
• 3. Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence coherently, like “It is sunny out today.”

NOTE: Another ‘sign’ of a Stroke is this: Ask the person to ‘stick’ out their tongue . if the tongue is ‘crooked’, if it goes to one side or the other, that is also an indication of a Stroke.

To help you remember this procedure, remember these 3 important words in STRoke. Ask the person (who you suspect is suffering from a stroke) to do the 3 STR described below:

• S is for Smile
• T is for Talk
• R is for Raise both arms

IF THE INDIVIDUAL HAS TROUBLE WITH ANY OF THESE TASKS, CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY and describe the symptoms to the emergency ambulance personnel!

More information on how to recognize stroke risk factors, its symptoms, effects and what you can do to minimize its problems, visit: American Stroke Association website

© https://teamrich.wordpress.com – How to recognize a Stroke

Do You Have A Cancer Personality?

Cancer cells are always present in our bodies. All it needs is a stimuli to trigger vicious growth. Cancer cells are actually healthy cells that “go haywire” under certain conditions. This could be caused by a physical stimuli like the exposure to certain foods or substances. Or it could be emotional one. When almost all of the mind’s resources is diverted to coping with the emotional onslaught, it let’s up it vigilance in fighting or controlling cellular damage. If the mind provides scant resources to the body’s defense mechanism i.e. the immune system, disease will have a free reign to take over the body.

Studies have shown that People with the following Personality Traits or Background have a greater Risk of Cancer:

• Suffers traumatic events like personal loss such as a death or a divorce, loss of a job or money, moving to another location etc;
• Harbors long-suppressed toxic emotions such as anger, resentment and/or hostility. Typically the cancer-susceptible individual internalizes such emotions and has great difficulty expressing them;
• Exhibits an obsessive tendency toward carrying other people’s burdens or trying to please or getting others’ approval;
• Type A Personality i.e. one who reacts adversely to stress or gets easily upset, often being unable to cope with the stress. Blow off steam if you must, but don’t carry it around with you;
• Inability to resolve deep-seated emotional problems and conflicts, usually arising in childhood, often even being unaware of their presence.
• Unable to “move on” i.e. finding closure for long standing problems or unable to turn to grieve to relief themselves from their emotional problems;
• Feel that they have lost control of their lives, feel helpless and are unable to cope with daily living, or have low self-worth;
• Don’t have interesting things to look forward to each day;

These feelings or traits are often calls for help, warning signs, telling you to slow down and take stock of your emotional situation.

What you can do if you have a Cancer Personality:

• Workout in the gym;
• Don’t over-drink to cope with stress. Hiding your fears and grief in drugs, alcohol, sweet or fat foods will not relieve your situation, but will damage your body;
• Walking or jogging;
• Finding a friend you can confide in;
• Hire a therapist who will listen to you;
• Get an interesting hobby to take you mind off your own troubles;
• Look at the brighter side of life;
• Get a pet;
• Do Charity or Community work like volunteer helping the sick, elderly, poor or the helpless;
• Start an activity that you have always wanted to do but have put off;
• Stay Positive like Randy Pausch. Be Yourself – just kick out the bad stuff.
• Most importantly, take Anti-Oxidants

https://teamrich.wordpress.com – do you have a cancer personality?

Heart Attack Prediction Tool

Find out if you are likely to suffer a serious heart attack which also entails a high risk of death* within the next 10 years with this heart attack prediction tool.

This Heart Attack assessment tool uses historical data of heart attack patients from the Framingham Heart Study. The heart attack perdiction tool is designed to estimate the risk in adults aged 20 years and older who do not have heart disease or diabetes.

Use the link below to assess the 10 Year Heart Attack Risk Calculator. The Risk Calculator Tool will ask you the following questions and provide an assessment of your risk to heart attacks within the next 10 years:

• Your Age
• Your Gender
• Your Total Cholesterol Count
• Your HDL Cholesterol Count
• If You Are A Smoker
• Your Systolic Blood Pressure
• Whether You Are Doing Anything To Reduce Your High Blood Pressure

* Hard coronary heart disease (HCHD) i.e. myocardial infarction or coronary death.

Copy and Paste this link on your web browser URL:

http://hp2010.nhlbihin.net/atpiii/calculator.asp?usertype=prof

♥

Waist-Hip Ratio:

The Waist-Hip Ratio is another way of assessing the risk of heart attacks and diabetes. It is more accurate than the traditional BMI Index.

To calculate the Waist-Hip Ratio, measure the ratio of your waist circumference (the narrowest point on your abdomen ie at your navel) and your hip circumference (the widest point ie at your buttocks).

To find your Waist-Hip Ratio, divide the size of your waist by your hip size.

A ratio greater than 1.0 for a man (in other words your waist is bigger than your hips) or 0.8 for a woman suggests a higher risk of a heart attack and therefore you urgently need to reduce your weight and increase your levels of exercise.

If you are “apple” shaped (you carry extra weight in your stomach) it is a predictor that you are highly likely to suffer from a heart attack than if you are “pear” shaped (you have excess weight around your hips)

Furthermore, a recent study of 27,000 people showed that those who were obese as judged by the waist-to-hip ratio had substantially more heart attacks than those who were obese according to their BMI.

The bellweather BMI ratio is not considered accurate now as it fails to take into account muscle density and other relevant factors.

To check your BMI ratio, use the link below (Copy & Paste link to your web browser URL):

http://www.nytimes.com/ref/health/bmi.html

© https://teamrich.wordpress.com – heart attack prediction tool

Mobile phones: Health Risk

Mobile phones could represent a public health risk akin to asbestos or smoking, according to a study by neurosurgeon Dr Vini G Khurana, a Mayo Clinic-trained neurosurgeon with an advanced neurosurgery Fellowship in Cerebrovascular and Complex Tumor Surgery from the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona, and a fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.

It suggests there is growing evidence linking excessive long-term use of mobile phones and certain health risks like brain tumors – reigniting a long-running debate about the safety of the technology. “There is a growing and statistically significant body of evidence reporting that brain tumors such as vestibular schwannoma (acoustic neuroma) and astrocytoma are associated with ‘heavy’ and ‘prolonged’ mobile phone use, particularly on the same side as the ‘preferred ear’ for telephony…

Children’s use of mobile phones carries a high health risk, (because of their thinner, undeveloped skulls) he claims, suggesting kids’ use of mobiles should be to emergency situations only.

Mobile phone radiation is a possible cancer risk, warns World Health Organisation (WHO) – 2011

Researchers in Sweden have found that just two minutes’ exposure to energy waves from a handset can disable a defense mechanism in the body designed to prevent harmful proteins and toxins in the blood from entering the brain.

In what is the latest in a series of mobile phone health scares, once the proteins enter brain tissue there is a higher risk of brain and nerve diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis developing.

Source: Mobile phone ‘brain health risk’- BBC News, 6 November, 1999

RADIATION from cellphones is too weak to heat biological tissue or break chemical bonds in cells, but the radio waves they emit may still affect cell behavior.

“Our study suggests that it is possible that mobile phone radiation alters the expression of some proteins in living humans,” says Dariusz Leszczynski at the Finnish Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, in Helsinki.

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Right now the world is in the state of denial as far as mobile phones’ health risks are concerned. Everyone does not want to give up the use of their mobile phones because it is such an all too convenient medium of communication. This will change when more statistics proving links between mobile phone usage and cell /brain damage are released in the years to come. It seems like an inexpensive way to communicate until you add up the future health costs!.

Don’t wait till there is a health problem before cutting back on mobile phone use. Use a wired headset (instead of a blue tooth wireless device) and cut calls and duration of calls to a minimum. Asking callers to sms their messages or use other forms of communications will also increase productivity. Think twice before making that next call on your mobile phone. Don’t be a slave and victim of your mobile phone.

© https://teamrich.wordpress.com – mobile phones | health risk

Do I Have Parasites?

If you have done any of the following, chances are you already have parasites:

1. Have pets or played with pets at any time in your life. Animals, including pets, can spread 240 diseases to humans via parasites. By petting or grooming animals, you are picking up eggs that pass from your pets to yourself and other people you come into contact with – via hands, nose and mouth. When your pet (or someone else’s pet) licks their anus, they are depositing thousands of eggs onto their tongues. Do not allow animals to lick you in the face or mouth. Do not walk barefoot in places where animals have been known to defecate.
   
2. Walked on warm or sandy soil, near feces or decaying matter
3. Ate Sushi, cold cuts or other uncooked or undercooked meats (including pork, beef and fish)
4. Ate raw eggs or oysters
   
5. Ate improperly washed or contaminated fresh salads or fruits
6. Consumed drinks prepared under unhygienic conditions
7. Ate in premises where flies have settled on your food or drinks
8. Ate in premises infested by vermin like rats, cockroaches, flies etc
9. Ate in premises where wastes / rubbish are not covered, or collected near kitchen and dining areas
10. Shook hands, shared drinks, kissed someone who had touched something that had parasites on it
11. Inhaled dust that contains the eggs or cysts of these organisms
12. Had sex with a partner infected with parasites
13. Bitten by insects, animals and other living things
14. Traveled or live in less developed countries at any time in your life. Airplanes are a great source for parasite transmission. Tourists, immigrants, refugees also bring a host of parasites into the country.
15. Drank or washed your hands with untreated water from river, streams, lakes in any country. Drink only filtered/purified or boiled water while on camping trips.
16. Swam or Washed in places where the water is contaminated. For example, many countries still dispose untreated / treated sewerage and other wastes into rivers and coastal waters or bury them in landfills.
17. Come into contact with high germ infested places like public toilets and places where pets, wild animals and humans share. Do not put your hands in your mouth or touch your face when you are in public places.
18. Come into contact with children. Young children are at high risk of contracting parasitic infection because they put their unwashed hands in their mouths
19. Suffered from food poisoning, constipation, diarrhea, gas and bloating, irritable bowel syndrome, joint and muscle aches and pains, anemia, allergies, skin conditions, nervousness, sleep disturbances, teeth grinding, and chronic fatigue. etc (according to Skye Weintraub, a naturopathic physician and author of “The Parasite Menace“). Skye Weintraub says, “Many parasites go undetected because they are not producing serious symptoms. It is easy to attribute feeling ill to other causes because parasitic infections look like lots of other conditions. I have seen other health problems disappear once the body has become parasite free”.
20. Other Signs of Parasites in Children: Blisters appear on the inside of the lower lip, wiping of the nose, restlessness and grinding of the teeth at night, dark circles under the eyes, hyperactive, bed wetting, headaches, sensitive to light, twitching eyelid, gum, rectum, or nose bleeding are signs they may have parasites.
21. If one family member is infected with parasites, the entire family will usually also be infected.

“What are Parasites?

The Dictionary Definition of Parasites: An organism that grows, feeds, and is sheltered on or in a different organism while contributing nothing to the survival of its host.

For the sake of simplicity, we have defined the following categories of harmful organisms as “Parasites” as they do not serve any useful purpose to the host, namely us:

Types of Parasites:

Ectoparasite: – organisms that live on the outer surface of the host’s body e.g ., lice, fleas, ticks, etc.

Endoparasite: – parasites that live inside the host body in tissues or organs such as blood, peritoneal cavity, brain, etc.; e.g., liver fluke, Ascaris, malaria parasites, etc. (Cestoda and Trematode)

Sporozoans: – organisms that invade the host’s cells

Facultative parasite: – An organism which is able to live either a free living or parasitic existence; e.g., Strongyloids Stercoralis of man.

Obligatory parasite: – Organism which has become completely dependent upon its host for existence.

Aberrant parasite: – Found in locations in the host where they normally do not occur; e.g., Ascaris larvae may migrate to the brain

Insidental parasite: Occurs in hosts where it does not normally occur; e.g., Fasciola normally does not occur in man but is incidental if found in man’s liver.

Periodic parasite: – Feeds on host but does not live on host; e.g., blood sucking flies.

Hyperparasite: – Parasitizes another parasite; e.g., Histomonas meleagridis (a protozoan) is hyperprsitic on the nematode worm Heterakis gallinae.

Monoxenous parasites: – Those with direct life cycles (i.e., with one host).

Heteroxenous parasites: – Those with inderect life cycles requiring an intermediate host (i.e., involves 2 or more hosts).

Heterogenetic Parasites: – One with alteration of generations e.g., Coccidial parasites and Strongyloides.

Euryxenous parasites: – Those with a broad host range.

Stenoxenous parasites: – Those with a narrow host range; e.g., host specific coccidia.

Parasitiasis: – Refers to the disease state associated with the presence of parasites in the host – an unbalanced association in which the host shows symptoms of infection.

Parasitosis: – Refers to the disease state associated with the presence of parasites in the host – an unbalanced association in which the host shows symptoms of infection.

Bacteria and Viruses:

Protozoa – making up approximately 70% of all parasites, these are microscopic one-cell organisms

Nematode – A small mass of protoplasm or cells (or multi-cell organisms) that may be pathogenic

Pathogens:

Causing disease or capable of doing so, the most notable of which are:

Parastic Zoonoses – Diseases of non-human animals that may be transmitted to man or may be transmitted from man to non-human animals.

Parasites may do harm to their host in a number of ways, some of which are listed below:

1. Mecbanical obstruction of tubular organs (ascarids, lungworms, heartworms)
2. Extraction of host body fluids (hookworms, Haemonchus, ticks, fleas, etc.)
3. Actual mechanical destruction of body tissues (larvae)
4. Causing growths, tumors or nodules in host (Onchocera)
5. Feeding on tissue of host (hookworms)
6. Causing irritation to host (mite, lice)
7. Causing allergic reactions (flea)
8. Secreting toxic or otherwise harmful substances:
   1. digestive and/or proteolytic enzymes (Bot)
   2. antidigestive enzymes (Helminths, ascarids, tapeworms)
   3. hemolytic substances (Babesia)
   4. anticoagulants (hookworms)
   5. neurotoxic substances (Tapeworms, ticks)
9. Transitting other metazoan parasites (fleas, mosquitoes, some flies)
10. Transmitting protozoan parasites (tick, mosquitoes, some flies)
11. Transmitting viruses, rickettsiae, bacteria
12. Interfere with skin function (mange mites)
13. Absorbing food intended for host (tapeworm)

Summary on Parasites

Over 60-90% of population have parasites (depending on where you live) – we are just not aware of it! Some parasites do not cause any deterioration to our health immediately. These “harmless” parasites just rob us of some of our life-sustaining nutrients. Other parasites can threaten our life almost immediately upon coming into contact with them. If you are unlucky to pick up a flesh-eating parasite, they may eat you alive! With the rise of antibiotic resistant super bugs, it pays to be careful. Some parasites just live in our intestines. Others may live in any part of our body like our brains, eyes, heart, lungs and other vital organs with disastrous consequences. Some parasites are so small we can’t see them without the aid of a microscope. Others may grow to several feet long and live for 20-30 years.

Parasites can be transmitted through the skin, the mouth, nose and eyes. Parasites can live under human fingernails for up to 2 months. Parasites propagate through eggs, spores or cell division (simple fission). Due to lack of natural enemies, the parasitic population can expand rapidly once they establish a presence in an unfortunate host.

Colonoscopy has answered this patient’s question: “Do I Have Parasites?”

[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQlbeCeQ2M4]

What Do Parasites Like To Eat?

Parasites love the same bad foods we humans crave for i.e. sugar and simple carbohydrates. Simple carbhydrates (processed foods loaded with table sugar — soda, candy, pastries, etc.) are digested quickly and easily, and the sugar enters the bloodstream in high concentrations. A high sugar and carbohydrate diet provides a highly conducive environment for parasitic and fungal organisms to thrive, multiply and systematically rob us of our health.

What can I do to ensure that I am parasite free?

De-worm yourself at least twice a year and stay away from worm infested places. We recommend Isagenix’s highly effective Isagenix Cleansing System™ as we have personally used it and it really works wonders not only in de-worming our body but also boosting our immune system which results in better overall health. Also, as Isagenix Cleansing System™ uses natural ingredients, it is safer and gentler on your body system compared to other products which have synthetic chemicals in them.

As a rule, everyone in the household should do a de-worm program (including pets) at the same time. If you do not, it is highly likely that parasitic re-infestation will occur within a very short period of time and thereby negating the beneficial effects of such a cleansing / detox program. Isagenix Cleansing System™ does not harm the beneficial bacteria in your body, only the harmful ones.

It is easy to introduce Parasites into your body and very hard to get rid of them. Take Action Now and Be Parasite Free Today! Who knows what kind of unwanted guests are thriving inside your body.

© https://teamrich.wordpress.com – Do I have parasites?

Non-Stick Cookware

Chemical Used in Non-Stick Cookware Continues to Prove Its Toxicity.

More evidence seems to be mounting in the ongoing Perflurooctanoic Acid (PFOA) debate. PFOA is used in the production of Teflon and other non-stick surfaces and is found in the packaging of candy bars, microwave popcorn, fast food packaging like french fry and pizza boxes, bakery items, drinks, paper plates, and a host of “stain resistant” products such as carpets. Other well-known brand names containing PFOA include Stainmaster, Scotchgard, SilverStone, Fluron, Supra, Excalibur, Greblon, Xylon, Duracote, Resistal, Autograph and T-Fal.

According to DuPont Corporation, PFOA is only used in the manufacturing process and should not be found in the final products. However, the report notes that the chemical is found in the bloodstream of 95% of American men, women, and children.

It has been implicated by some research to cause increased instances of cancer in the pancreas, liver, testicles, and mammary glands. Also increased were instances of miscarriage, weight loss, thyroid problems, weaker immune systems, and low organ weights.

Read More from Source: Natural News, 14 Feb 2008

https://teamrich.wordpress.com – Non-Stick Cookware

Germ Infested Foods

How safe are foods from Restaurants? Not so, if you are unlucky enough to get service from an hygienic restaurant employee who dishes out some really mean germ infested foods.

Germ Infested Foods from Restaurants are usually the Result of Employees / Business Owners failure to follow proper food handling procedures such as:

1. not washing their hands properly after going to the toilet or after handling items which may have bacteria
2. being sick and still being asked to handle food
3. failure to keep food equipment clean
4. improper refrigeration or cooking of food
5. improper disposal of waste products and rubbish
6. poor vermin control
7. lax management controls or sometimes, even irresponsible business practices.

Because of this, you could be consuming germ infested foods like in the following instances:

Nice Slice of Lemon with your Drink (watch video)

Refreshing Drinks with Ice Cubes (watch video)

Healthy Salads can make you sick (watch video)

Get Germ Infested Foods even from Well Known Restaurants! (You Must Watch this Video by Health Inspections which catches unhygenic workers preparing food and drinks for customers)

Hope you are not hungry: Amazing Restaurant Violations (watch video)

Chicken-Out on Chicken Wings (watch video)

Safer with your Favorite Restaurants (watch video)

Check out your kids’ School Cafeteria (watch video)

We have featured only those stories that have recent accompanying videos. We are sure there are many other violations of the Food Safety Procedures in restaurants across the world. So the next time you go to your favorite restaurant, be sure to check out their kitchen and the way employees handle the food.

If you do come across food safety violations from the restaurants you visit, do report it to the local health authorities and warn your friends about them. Vote with your stomach and your feet, take your business elsewhere.

Public places like restaurants are not the only places you can pick up nasty germs through your foods. Many more people also get sick from eating food prepared in their own homes than in restaurants. Check out our earlier story on “The Top 22 Germ Infested Places“. Even if you have read it before, you may want to revisit it to view some of the new shocking videos, statistics etc featured with the story.

Bon Appétit!

© https://teamrich.wordpress.com – germ infested foods

Top 22 Germ Infested Places

Germs (viral, bacterial, or fungal) are everywhere! Because they are invisible, we often assume that it is not a problem. However, you can pick up E Coli and fecal bacteria, coliforms, staph-a, staphylococci, salmonella, coxsackievirus, campylobacter, rotavirus, lice, pinworms etc from public places as well as from your home. These dangerous organisms with their deadly toxins can cause major illness, damage to the gastrointestinal tract (ie. your gut), circulatory (eg blood and kidneys) and respiratory (eg lungs) systems. The following are the Top 22 Germ Infested Places (the list has been expanded since last posted) which you may come into contact on a daily basis:

• Places in your Home that may be Germ Infested:

1. Toilet bowl: 3.2 million bacteria/square inch
2. Kitchen drain: 567,845 bacteria/square inch
3. Sponge or counter-wiping cloth: 134,630 bacteria/square inch
4. Bathtub, near drain: 119,468 bacteria/square inch
5. Kitchen sink, near drain: 17,964 bacteria/square inch
6. Kitchen faucet handle: 13,227 bacteria/square inch
7. Bathroom faucet handle: 6,267 bacteria/square inch
8. Bathroom sink, near drain: 2,733 bacteria/square inch
9. Pet food dish, inside rim: 2,110 bacteria/square inch
10. Kitchen floor, in front of sink: 830 bacteria/square inch
11. Toilet floor, in front of toilet: 764 bacteria/square inch
12. Kitchen counter top: 488 bacteria/square inch
13. Bathroom counter top: 452 bacteria/square inch
14. Garbage bin: 411 bacteria/square inch
15. Dish towel: 408 bacteria/square inch
16. Toy: 345 bacteria/square inch
17. Kitchen tabletop: 344 bacteria/square inch
18. Home office phone or refrigerator door: 319 bacteria/square inch
19. Toilet seat: 295 bacteria/square inch
20. Bathroom light switch: 217 bacteria/square inch
21. Microwave buttons: 214 bacteria/square inch
22. Kitchen chopping board: 194 bacteria/square inch
23. Child-training potty: 191 bacteria/square inch
24. Infant changing mat and infant high chair: 190 bacteria/square inch
25. Kitchen phone: 133 bacteria/square inch
26. Bathroom door’s inside handle: 121 bacteria/square inch
27. Toilet’s flush handle: 83 bacteria/square inch
28. TV remote control: 70 bacteria/square inch
29. Home computer keyboard: 64 bacteria/square inch
30. Home computer mouse: 50 bacteria/square inch
31. Bed Mattress (as many as 5 million dust/bed mites live in a double mattress and pillows)
    

• Public Places that may be Germ Infested:

1. Airplane Toilets
2. Hospitals and Medical Clinics Waiting Areas
3. Public Drinking Fountains (0.6-1.2 million bacteria per sq inch on the spigot) Watch Shocking Health Inspection Video about bacteria in public drinking fountains
   
4. Supermarkets and Grocery Store where raw or frozen foods can be handled
5. Shopping Cart Handles and Shopping Basket Handles
6. Currency (Cash)
7. ATM Buttons (averages 1,200 bacteria per button)
8. Elevator Buttons (3,500 bacteria per square inch)
9. Vending Machines Buttons
10. Shared Ink Pens or Pencils (2,350 bacteria per square inch)
11. Playground Equipment (even fast food play centers)
12. Daycare centers equipment, toys and books
13. Escalator Handrails
14. Mats and Exercise equipment in Health Clubs
15. Hotel Drinking Glasses (watch video)
16. Hotel Room Remote Control
17. Public transport hand rails, hand poles and arm-rest (in planes, trains, buses and taxis)
18. Gas pump nozzles
19. Cafeteria trays (33,800 bacteria per square inch)
20. Theaters, Clubs, Sports Venues, Games Arcade and Recreational Facilities amenities
21. Public Toilet Seats (49 germs per square inch)
22. Office: Office Desk (10 million bacteria per sq inch), Desktop surface: (20,961 bacteria per square inch), Telephones (25,127 bacteria per square inch), PC Keyboards (3,295 bacteria per square inch), PC Mouse (1,676 bacteria per square inch), Fax machine: (301 bacteria per square inch), photocopier (69 bacteria per square inch), Toilet seat: (49 bacteria per square inch).

Household Items with the Most Germs:

1. Kitchen Sponges and dish cloth
2. Toilet bowl
3. Garbage can
4. Refrigerator
5. Cutting Boards
6. Door Knobs (especially the toilet bathroom doorknob)
7. Toothbrushes
8. Hairbrushes

The Main Ways Disease are Spread:

Direct Contact:

• Person to Person: When you come into direct physical contact with a infected person’s bodily fluids (from mouth, nose, eyes etc) and blood, there is a high chance you will get ill.
• Animal to Person: Being bitten, scratched or handling animal waste or utensils can expose you to serious diseases.
• Mother to Unborn Child: If a mother suffers a disease, it is highly likely that the unborn child will also suffer from the disease.

Indirect Contact:

• 80% of all infections are spread by hand – indirectly through objects touched by an infected person.
• Droplet Transmission: through coughs and sneezes. (Watch this YouTube video on how to cough and sneeze onto your sleeves and minimize the spread of infectious diseases)
• 
  
• Particle Transmission: when you come into contact with infectious airborne virus, bacterium and other germs.
• Bites and Stings: Mosquitoes, ticks, lice and fleas moves from host to host cross spreading diseases.
• Food Contamination: Under-cooked food, improperly washed fresh fruits and vegetables or food handled by unhygienic or infected persons can give you food poisoning. Whenever you dip a partially eaten potato chip (or cracker or any other food), you will add at least 100 bacteria onto the bowl of dip (sauce) each time you do it. So don’t share dips.
• Interesting Fact: There are more bacteria in your mouth than there are people in the world.

What You Can Do To Reduce Germ Infested Areas in Your Home:

To avoid infection and getting sick:

1. Hand Washing – Wash your hands frequently and regularly, especially after going to the toilet, before and after preparing food, after touching animals and pets and if someone in your household is ill. It is important to use soap and water, scrub underneath your nails and the back of your hands and dry thoroughly with a paper or clean dry towel (Watch video on how to wash your hand thoroughly).
2. Surface Disinfection – Commonly touched surfaces should be regularly disinfected (FDA recommends a mixture of one part chlorine bleach to 10 parts water). Kitchen surfaces should also be cleaned and disinfected before preparing food and immediately after they have been in contact with raw foods such as meat and poultry, to reduce the chances of cross contamination.
3. Proper Food Handling – To avoid food-borne illness, cook and store food at the proper temperature; separate raw meats from fresh produce and packaged goods in your grocery bag and refrigerator; and regularly disinfect surfaces to prevent cross contamination.
4. Soap and water don’t actually kill bacteria, but they create a slippery environment so that they slide off. That’s why it’s so important that you rub your hands together with soap for at least 20 seconds (about as long as it takes to sing the Happy Birthday song twice), making sure to clean well between fingers and under the nails. Use warm water and work up a good lather all the way up to your wrists making sure all skin surfaces i.e. backs of hands, wrists, between your fingers and fingernails are given a good cleaning.
5. Anti-bacterial liquids and abrasive soaps (soaps with triclosan and other antiseptics) are not recommended as it upsets the skin’s normal flora, which is needed to keep more undesirable bacteria from taking over. It was also reported that anti-bacterial liquids and soaps is instrumental in the contribution to the development of antibiotic resistant bacteria. Furthermore, the chemical, triclosan, in antibiotic soaps and liquids is said to kill human cells. A recent study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that a swab of your forearm may reveal up to 182 species of bacteria (8 percent of which were unknown).
6. Alcohol-based instant hand sanitizers which comprise mainly of alcohol are safe to use (must contain at least 60% alcohol to be effective). Hand sanitizers may kill germs but they do not remove dirt. So you still need to wash your hands with soap.
7. Do not wash your hands (and even other parts of your body eg face) vigorously so as to thin or damage the skin eg abrasive liquids or soaps or cause the removal of protective oils produced by your skin. Your skin is your first line of defense against bacteria and toxins. Protect broken or cracked skin from exposure to bacteria with necessary wound dressings. The presence of bacteria in your wound can prolong the healing process. The skin of the human body is alive with life – microscopic life of all kinds. In his classic work, Life on Man (1969), Theodor Rosebury estimates that there are 10 million individual bacteria living on the average square centimeter of human skin (155,000 per sq inch).
8. A straight 5 percent solution of vinegar—such as you can buy in the supermarket—kills 99 percent of bacteria, 82 percent of mold, and 80 percent of germs (viruses).
9. Avoid brushing your hands against your eyes, nose and mouth if your hands have come into contact with such high risk germ infested places. You should be extra vigilant when there is an epidemic or someone in your house has a contagious illness even coughs and colds.
10. Be sure to close the toilet lid before you flush the toilet to keep microbes inside the bowl from splashing as far as 20 feet onto you, counters and anything on them. These floating bacteria can stay in the air for at least 2 hours before settling on everything in the toilet / bathroom.
11. This health procedure is more critical in airplane toilets as the vacuum flushing effect from airplane toilet sends a strong volcanic-like gush of air upwards together with the hundreds of thousands of microbes. When 50 people from many parts of the world share one airplane toilet intensively, you can expect a whole host of exotic germs to abound. And for goodness sake, don’t open the door immediately after flushing with the toilet bowl cover up unless you want to flood the whole airplane with germs!
12. Use tissue paper, if possible, when making physical contact with high risk contaminated objects and discard the tissue paper immediately after.
13. Disinfect highly suspect germ infested areas in your home regularly with non-antibiotic soaps.
14. Teach your kids about germs and hygiene.
15. Immune health depends on eating right, getting enough sleep and exercise, and avoiding environmental toxins and stress.
16. Take high quality health supplements that build up your immune system like Unicity’s “Immunizen“

The 5-Second Rule

There is a kid’s rule that says if the food drops onto the floor, it is safe to eat it if you pick the food up within 5 seconds. There is no scientific evidence to this 5-Second Rule. Germs can jump onto the food as soon as it lands on the floor etc. So don’t practice this disgusting habit. Even if you are so poor, you can’t afford to throw away food, this practice is not recommended as your medical bills will be more than the cost of the food that fell onto the floor.

Remember, germs never sleep. They show no mercy. They are getting stronger. Germ Warfare is not a myth even in “disease-free”times. Germs are with us all the time. If you take the necessary precautions outlined above, you will be able to stay healthy and keep the germs from taking over your body.

Bacteria Testing Kits

There are many different commercial bacteria testing kits which will enable you to easily test for bacteria in your home or elsewhere. Some of the bacteria testing kits are simple devices (like test strips or test dishes) and do not need any special lab equipment. You can get to the online vendors offering such testing kits by typing: “bacteria testing kits” on any search engine and choose which kits meet your needs and budget.

You can also test if bed and living room furniture fabrics are clean by using an inexpensive battery operated UV light hand lamps. When all the lights in the room are switched off, UV light will show stains that may contain bacteria. Such stains will be lighter than the rest of the fabric under the UV light in the dark. This is particularly useful when you want to check if the bed sheets in hotels are clean. See the YouTube video below for more details on this.

Dirty Hotel Secrets! – Bedsheets. Find out how it affects you on YouTube:

Dirty Hotel Secrets! – Drinking Cups. The Health Risks on YouTube:

Banned Hotel Commercial that will Shock you on YouTube:

More about Germs:

Also read and watch videos on “Germ Infested Foods”

© https://teamrich.wordpress.com – top 22 germ infested places

Heart Attack Signs

Heart Attack – Signs & Symptoms

• WHY WAIT TILL DISEASES OVERCOME YOU BEFORE YOU DO SOMETHING
• ABOUT YOUR HEALTH.  TAKE ISAGENIX PRODUCTS FOR BETTER HEALTH

How do you survive a heart attack? Fast action is your best weapon against a heart attack. Why? Because medical treatments can stop a heart attack in its tracks. They can prevent or limit damage to the heart–but they need to be given immediately after symptoms begin. The sooner they are started, the more good they will do – and the greater the chances are for survival and a full recovery. To be most effective, they need to be given ideally within 1 hour of the start of heart attack symptoms.

• Uncertainty is Normal
• Delay Can Be Deadly
• Call 9-1-1
• Emergency Medical Personnel
• Plan Ahead

Discomfort or a heavy feeling in the chest can signal a heart attack.

Chest pain is the most commonly reported heart attack symptom. But the pain may not feel severe or “stabbing.” It may feel more like a discomfort. Chest discomfort may be accompanied by or follow shortness of breath. Or discomfort or pain may be felt in other areas of the upper body, such as one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach.

Also, other symptoms that can occur include breaking out in a “cold sweat,” nausea, or light-headedness.

Women frequently experience heart attacks.

Heart disease is the number one killer of American women, and nearly half of all heart attack deaths each year happen to women. Furthermore, women are less likely to survive a heart attack than are men.

African-American women have higher risk of dying of heart attacks than white
African-American women’s death rates from heart attacks are a third higher than the rates for white women. In general, women and minorities delay longer before calling for help. African-American women also are at greater risk for hypertension and diabetes, which are both risk factors for heart disease. More on Women and Heart Attacks.

Some people who are experiencing the symptoms of a heart attack may wait hours or even days before seeking needed medical care.

Many people do not recognize their symptoms as life-threatening. That’s why it is important to know the warning signs and take action quickly.

Being treated within about an hour of the first symptoms can make a significant difference.

Heart attack deaths and heart damage can often be avoided when treatment begins within an hour of when the symptoms started. Most studies show a large reduction in death rates and in heart damage in patients treated within 1 hour of the start of symptoms.

Many heart attack victims say their heart attack wasn’t what they’d expected.
Most people expect a heart attack to be a sudden intense pain, but often heart attacks start slowly as a mild pain. Patients whose experience did not match their expectations delayed longer before seeking treatment. And delay costs lives.

A family member, such as a spouse, can persuade a loved one having a heart attack to seek help immediately.

True but studies tell us that family members should expect lack of awareness or denial of the seriousness of the symptoms, and resistance to calling for help. Many heart attack sufferers will reject calling 9-1-1, thus delaying the arrival of help. That’s why it’s best to enlist family, friends, and coworkers now. Discuss the symptoms. Talk to your doctors about risk for a heart attack. Make a survival plan, before you need one. Whenever a heart attack is suspected, everyone should know to call 9-1-1 immediately–wait no longer than 5 minutes, if symptoms persist. Don’t wait for the person having symptoms to agree. Take charge to make sure the person gets checked out sooner rather than later.
Calling 9-1-1 for chest pain alone would probably turn out to be a waste of the emergency medical personnel’s time.

It’s better to be safe than sorry, and sometimes chest pain—even mild chest pain—is the only indicator of a heart attack beginning. Emergency medical personnel, or mobile EMS teams, can diagnose a heart attack and begin treatments on the spot. They can even revive a heart that has stopped or is beating erratically. Call right away—do not wait longer than 5 minutes from when symptoms start. It’s okay to be wrong. Emergency medical personnel want you to call to get a heart attack checked out. And even if the call turns out to be a false alarm, running the risk of feeling a little embarrassed is better than running the risk of dying or having a permanently damaged heart.

Most heart attacks occur in people over 65.

However, 45 percent, or nearly half, of all heart attacks occur in people under age 65. Five percent occur in people under age 40.

The major issue in delay is how long it takes for emergency medical personnel to find the address and deliver the patient to the hospital.

The most significant portion of delay time is due to patient delay, the time it takes for an individual to decide to ask for help. Sometimes a patient does not want to believe anything bad is happening and dismisses the seriousness of the symptoms.

Sometimes people do not know the symptoms of heart attack.

Frequently Asked Questions About Heart Attack:

Heart Attack Warning Signs—

Q: How would I know if I were having a heart attack?
Often, it is not easy to tell. But there are symptoms people may have. These are:

• an uncomfortable pressure,
• squeezing, fullness, or
• pain in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back;
• discomfort in other areas of the upper body, which may be felt in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach;
• shortness of breath, which often occurs with or before chest discomfort;
• and other symptoms such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, or light-headedness. When in doubt, check it out! Call 9-1-1. Don’t wait more than a few minutes– 5 at most. Call right away!

Q: What is angina and how is it different from a heart attack?
An episode of angina is NOT a heart attack. However, people with angina report having a hard time telling the difference between angina symptoms and heart attack symptoms. Angina is a recurring pain or discomfort in the chest that happens when some part of the heart does not receive enough blood temporarily. A person may notice it during exertion (such as in climbing stairs). It is usually relieved within a few minutes by resting or by taking prescribed angina medicine. People who have been diagnosed with angina have a greater risk of a heart attack than do other people.

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Pre-hospital Delay Time—

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Q: I’d rather wait until I’m sure something’s really wrong. What’s the rush anyway?
Medical treatments work best when given within the first hour after a heart attack starts. The first hour also is the most risky time during a heart attack–it’s when your heart might stop suddenly. Responding fast to your symptoms really increases your chance of surviving.

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Q: So how quickly should I act?
If you have any heart attack symptoms, call 9-1-1 immediately. Don’t wait for more than a few minutes–5 at most–to call 9-1-1.

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Q: Why should I bother? If I’m going to die, there’s not much I can do about it anyway, is there?
That’s not true. There is something that can be done about a heart attack. Doctors have medical procedures that can stop or reverse a heart attack, if given quickly. These drugs can limit the damage to the heart muscle by removing the blockage and restoring blood flow. Less heart damage means a better quality of life after a heart attack.
Given that these new therapies are available, it’s very sad to know that so many people cannot receive these treatments because they delay too long before seeking care. The greatest benefits of these therapies are gained when patients come in early (preferably within the first hour of the start of their symptoms).

The Role of Emergency Medical Personnel—

Q: Emergency medical personnel cause such a commotion. Can’t I just have my wife/husband/friend/coworker take me to the hospital?
Emergency medical personnel—also called EMS, for emergency medical services—bring medical care to you. For example, they bring oxygen and medications. And they can actually restart someone’s heart if it stops after they arrive. Your wife/husband/friend/coworker can’t do that, or help you at all if they are driving. In the ambulance, there are enough people to give you the help you need and get you to the hospital right away.

Steps to Survival—

Q: I’m not sure I can remember all this. What can I do to make it easier for me?
You can make a plan and discuss it in advance with your family, your friends, your coworkers and, of course, your doctor. Then you can rehearse this plan, just like a fire drill. Keep it simple. Know the warning signs. Keep information–such as what medications you’re taking–in one place. If you have any symptoms of a heart attack for a few minutes (no more than 5), call the EMS by dialing 9-1-1 right away.

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Q: I carry nitroglycerin pills all the time for my heart condition. If I have heart attack symptoms, shouldn’t I try them first?
Yes, if your doctor has prescribed nitroglycerin pills, you should follow your doctor’s orders. If you are not sure about how to take your nitroglycerin when you get chest pain, check with your doctor.

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Q: What about taking an aspirin like we see on television?
You should not delay calling 9-1-1 to take an aspirin. Studies have shown that people sometimes delay seeking help if they take an aspirin (or other medicine). Emergency department personnel will give people experiencing a heart attack an aspirin as soon as they arrive. So, the best thing to do is to call 9-1-1 immediately and let the professionals give the aspirin.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Angina?

Angina

Pain and discomfort are the main symptoms of angina. These symptoms include:

• Are often described as pressure, squeezing, burning, or tightness in the chest
• Usually start in the chest behind the breastbone
• May also occur in the arms, shoulders, neck, jaw, throat, or back
• May feel like indigestion

Some people say that angina discomfort is hard to describe or that they can’t tell exactly where the pain is coming from. Symptoms such as nausea, fatigue, shortness of breath, sweating, light-headedness, or weakness may also occur.

Symptoms vary based on the type of angina.

Stable Angina

• The pain or discomfort:
• Occurs when the heart must work harder, usually during physical exertion
• Is expected, and episodes of pain tend to be alike
• Usually lasts a short time (5 minutes or less)
• Is relieved by rest or angina medicine
• May feel like gas or indigestion
• May feel like chest pain that spreads to the arms, back, or other areas

Unstable Angina

The pain or discomfort:

• Often occurs at rest, while sleeping at night, or with little physical exertion
• Is unexpected
• Is more severe and lasts longer (as long as 30 minutes) than episodes of stable angina
• Is usually not relieved with rest or angina medicine
• May get continuously worse
• May signal that a heart attack will happen soon

Variant Angina

The pain or discomfort:

• Usually occurs at rest and during the night or early morning hours
• Tends to be severe
• Is relieved by angina medicine

Chest pain that lasts longer than a few minutes and is not relieved by rest or angina medicine may mean you are having—or are about to have—a heart attack. Call 9–1–1 right away.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Atherosclerosis?

Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis usually does not cause symptoms until it:

• Severely narrows an artery
• Totally blocks an artery

Symptoms you may have depend on which arteries are severely narrowed or blocked.
If the arteries that feed your heart (coronary arteries) are affected, you have symptoms of coronary artery disease.

• If the arteries that feed your brain are affected, you have symptoms of a stroke or a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or “mini stroke.”
• If the arteries that feed your legs, pelvis, or arms are affected, you have symptoms of peripheral arterial disease.
• If the arteries that feed your kidneys are affected, you have symptoms of renovascular hypertension.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Coronary Artery Disease?

Coronary Artery Disease

The most common symptoms of coronary artery disease (CAD) are:

• Chest pain or chest discomfort (angina) or pain in one or both arms or in the left shoulder, neck, jaw, or back
• Shortness of breath

The severity of symptoms varies widely. Symptoms may become more severe as coronary arteries become narrower due to the buildup of plaque (atherosclerosis).

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In some people, the first sign of CAD is a heart attack. A heart attack happens when plaque in a coronary artery breaks apart, causing a blood clot to form and block the artery.

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What Are the Signs and Symptoms of a Heart Attack?

Not all heart attacks begin with a sudden, crushing pain that is often shown on TV or in the movies. The warning signs and symptoms of a heart attack aren’t the same for everyone. Many heart attacks start slowly as mild pain or discomfort. Some people don’t have symptoms at all (this is called a silent heart attack).

• Chest Pain or Discomfort

The most common symptom of heart attack is chest pain or discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back. The discomfort can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain. It can be mild or severe. Heart attack pain can sometimes feel like indigestion or heartburn.

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The symptoms of angina can be similar to the symptoms of a heart attack. Angina is pain in the chest that occurs in people with coronary artery disease, usually when they’re active. Angina pain usually lasts for only a few minutes and goes away with rest. Angina that doesn’t go away or that changes from its usual pattern (occurs more frequently or occurs at rest) can be a sign of the beginning of a heart attack and should be checked by a doctor right away.

• Other Common Signs and Symptoms

Other common signs and symptoms that a person can have during a heart attack include:

• Upper body discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach. Shortness of breath may often occur with or before chest discomfort
• Nausea (feeling sick to your stomach), vomiting, lightheadedness or fainting, or breaking out in a cold sweat

Not everyone having a heart attack experiences the typical symptoms. If you’ve already had a heart attack, your symptoms may not be the same for another one. The more signs and symptoms you have, the more likely it is that you’re having a heart attack.
Act Fast!
Sometimes the signs and symptoms of a heart attack happen suddenly, but they can also develop slowly, over hours, days, and even weeks before a heart attack occurs.
Know the warning signs of a heart attack so you can act fast to get treatment for yourself or someone else. The sooner you get emergency help, the less damage there will be to your heart.
Call 9–1–1 for help within 5 minutes if you think you may be having a heart attack or if your chest pain doesn’t go away as it usually does when you take prescribed medicine.
Don’t drive yourself or anyone else to the hospital. Call an ambulance so that medical personnel can begin life-saving treatment on the way to the emergency room.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Heart Failure?

The most common signs and symptoms are:

• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

• Feeling tired

• Swelling in the ankles, feet, legs, and sometimes the abdomen

• Shortness of breath and feeling tired are caused by the buildup of fluid in the lungs and around the lungs (pleural effusions). When symptoms start, you may feel tired and short of breath after routine physical exertion. Climbing two flights of stairs makes you feel winded. As heart failure progresses, the symptoms get worse. You may begin to feel tired and short of breath after simple activities, like getting dressed or walking across the room. Some people have shortness of breath when lying flat.

• Fluid buildup in the lungs can also cause a cough. The cough is worse at night and when you are lying down. Excessive fluid in the lungs can cause a life-threatening condition called acute pulmonary edema. This condition requires emergency treatment.

The swelling is from the buildup of fluid in your body (edema). Other signs of fluid buildup are:

• Weight gain
• Frequent urination

Limitation on Physical Activity
Doctors also classify your symptoms based on how much they limit your daily activity. By class of symptom, your doctor means:

• Class 1: No limits—ordinary physical activity does not cause undue tiredness or shortness of breath.
• Class 2: Slight or mild limits—comfortable at rest, but ordinary physical activity results in tiredness or shortness of breath.
• Class 3: Marked or noticeable limits—comfortable at rest, but less than ordinary physical activity causes tiredness or shortness of breath.
• Class 4: Severe limits—unable to carry on any physical activity without discomfort. Symptoms are also present at rest. If any physical activity is undertaken, discomfort increases.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Chronic Heart Failure and Acute Heart Failure?

Chronic heart failure
Signs and symptoms of chronic heart failure can include:

• Fatigue and weakness
• Shortness of breath (dyspnea) when you exert yourself or when you lie down
• Reduced ability to exercise
• Persistent cough or wheezing with white or pink blood-tinged phlegm
• Swelling (edema) in your legs, ankles and feet
• Swelling of your abdomen (ascites)
• Sudden weight gain from fluid retention
• Lack of appetite and nausea
• Difficulty concentrating or decreased alertness
• Irregular or rapid heartbeat

Acute heart failure
Signs and symptoms of acute heart failure can include:
Acute heart failure can occur when something suddenly affects your heart’s ability to function. Signs and symptoms of acute heart failure are similar to those of chronic heart failure, but are more severe and start or worsen suddenly. Signs and symptoms of acute heart failure may include:

• Sudden fluid buildup
• Rapid or irregular heartbeat with palpitations
• Sudden, severe shortness of breath and coughing up pink, foamy mucus
• Chest pain if caused by a heart attack or a bulge in an artery (aneurysm)

What Is a Heart Murmur?

Heart Murmur:
A heart murmur is an extra or unusual sound heard during your heartbeat. Murmurs range from very faint to very loud and sometimes sound like a whooshing or swishing noise. Normal heartbeat sounds—”lub-DUPP” or “lub-DUB”—are the valves closing as blood moves through the heart.

A heart murmur is not a disease; it is a sound that the doctor hears with a stethoscope. It may be normal, or it could be a sign that something may be wrong. Most heart murmurs are harmless. Some are signs of heart problems, especially if other signs or symptoms of a heart problem are present.

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Types of Murmurs

• Innocent (harmless) murmurs
• A person with an innocent murmur has a normal heart and usually has no other signs or symptoms of a heart problem. Innocent murmurs are common in healthy children.
• Abnormal murmurs
• A person with an abnormal murmur usually has other signs or symptoms of a heart problem. Most abnormal murmurs in children are due to congenital heart defects—heart defects present at birth. In adults, abnormal murmurs are most often due to heart valve problems caused by infection, disease, or aging.

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What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Hypotension?

Hypotension:

Orthostatic Hypotension
The symptoms of orthostatic hypotension happen within a few seconds or minutes of a person standing up after sitting or lying down. They go away if the person sits or lies down again. The signs and symptoms of orthostatic hypotensioninclude:

• Dizziness or feeling lightheaded
• Blurry vision
• Confusion
• Feeling faint or weak
• Fainting

Neurally Mediated Hypotension
The symptoms of neurally mediated hypotension (NMH) happen after a person has been standing for a long time or in response to an unpleasant, upsetting, or frightening situation. Like orthostatic hypotension, the drop in blood pressure with NMH is temporary and usually goes away after the person sits down. The signs and symptoms of neurally mediated hypotension NMH are similar to those of orthostatic hypotension.

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Severe Hypotension Associated With Shock
In shock, not enough blood flows to the major organs, including the brain.
The early signs and symptoms of reduced blood flow to the brain include lightheadedness, sleepiness, and confusion. In the earliest stages of shock, it may be hard to detect any signs and symptoms. In older people, the first symptom may only be confusion.

As shock worsens, eventually, the person cannot sit up without passing out. If it continues, the person will lose consciousness. Shock is often fatal if not treated.

Some of the other signs and symptoms of shock vary, depending on the cause. When shock is caused by low blood volume (such as from massive bleeding) or poor pumping action by the heart (as in heart failure):

• The skin becomes cold and sweaty. It often looks blue or pale. If pressed, the color returns more slowly than normal. A bluish network of lines can be seen under the skin.
• The pulse becomes weak and rapid.
• The person begins to breathe very quickly.

When shock is caused by extreme widening or stretching of blood vessels (such as in septic shock), a person feels warm and flushed at first. Later, the skin becomes cold and clammy, and the person feels very sleepy.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Marfan Syndrome?

Marfan Syndrome

The signs and symptoms of Marfan syndrome vary from one person to another, even within the same family. Some people have mild signs and symptoms, while others may have severe problems and discomfort. Signs and symptoms of Marfan syndrome occur in many parts of the body, including:

• The bones and ligaments
• The heart and blood vessels
• The eyes
• The lungs
• The skin

Appearance and Body Build
Some of the major signs of Marfan syndrome are the common physical features seen in people with the condition. People with Marfan syndrome often have:

• A tall, slender body build. They may be very tall or taller than other family members who do not have the condition. However, it should be noted that short, heavy people also can have Marfan syndrome.
• Long arms, legs, fingers, and toes. A person’s arm span (the distance from the fingertips of one hand to the fingertips of the other with the arms stretched out from the sides) may be greater than his or her height.
• A long and narrow face.
• A highly arched roof of the mouth with crowded teeth.
• A receding lower jaw, causing an overbite.
• A protruding or sunken chest.
• A curved spine.
• Flat feet that are rotated inward (some people, however, have exaggerated arches).

Bones, Cartilage, and Ligaments
The bones of the limbs, hands, and feet often grow too long in people with Marfan syndrome. This typically leads to a tall, thin body with disproportionately long arms, fingers, legs, and toes. People with Marfan syndrome have loose, relaxed ligaments and are usually loose jointed.

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Chest abnormalities may occur due to an overgrowth of the ribs. There are two types of chest abnormalities:

• Pigeon breast, also called pectus carinatum. The chest protrudes outward like a bird’s chest. This can affect heart and lung function.
• Funnel chest, also called pectus excavatum. The chest is sunken or indented, reducing the space between the breastbone and the backbone. As a result, the heart and lungs are displaced. Heart and lung function may be affected, leading to breathing and endurance problems.

Curvature of the spine may occur. It usually develops during childhood, often gets worse during the teenage growth spurt, and may require surgical treatment. The three main types of abnormal spine curvature are:

• Scoliosis—a side-to-side curvature
• Lordosis—an inward curvature of the spine in the lower back, just above the buttocks
• Kyphosis—an outward curvature of the spine in the upper back (hunchback)

Curvature of the spine can cause back pain, posture problems, and deformity. Scoliosis can sometimes reduce lung function.
Another problem that can occur is dural ectasia (ek-TA-ze-a), which is the stretching of the membrane surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Dural ectasia can wear down the bones of the spine over time. Symptoms dural ectasia may include:

• Pain in the lowest part of the back
• Pain in the abdomen
• Pain, numbness, or weakness of the legs

Dural ectasia is a hallmark of Marfan syndrome that is very rare in the general population.

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Heart and Blood Vessels
People who have Marfan syndrome often have problems with the heart and blood vessels. The valves of the heart may not work properly and may permit some blood flow to be reversed, causing the heart to do extra work. The aorta—the large artery that carries blood away from the heart to the body—may stretch and enlarge. These problems can cause signs and symptoms, such as:

• A heart murmur. This can be the result of valves not functioning properly or other heart problems.
• Sudden chest pain. This can be a symptom of aortic dissection, a life-threatening complication that can occur due to weakened aorta walls. The pain may occur in the front or in the back, usually in the midline of the body. The location of the pain may change as the tear in the aorta grows. In some cases, a dissection does not cause dramatic pain.
• Abnormal heart rhythms called arrhythmias (a-RITH-me-as). A person with Marfan syndrome may develop an arrhythmia as a result of problems with the heart valves or due to cardiomyopathy or congestive heart failure.
• Shortness of breath and fatigue (tiredness). These can be symptoms of heart failure due to an overworked heart.

Two of the heart and blood vessel complications that can occur in people with Marfan syndrome are mitral valve prolapse (MVP) and enlargement of the aorta.

Mitral Valve Prolapse:
MVP is a problem with the heart’s mitral valve. The mitral valve controls the flow of blood through two of the chambers in the heart, the left atrium and the left ventricle. The flaps of the valve are designed to allow blood to flow in one direction—from the left atrium into the left ventricle—and to prevent blood from flowing the other way.
In MVP, the mitral valve does not work correctly. The valve flaps are large and floppy. They may overlap or not close completely. One or both flaps may flutter or swing back into the atrium.

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The abnormal mitral valve can allow blood to flow backward through the valve in the wrong direction. This is called mitral regurgitation. When this happens, the heart has to work harder to make up for the backward flow of blood. Over time, the heart can become overworked, leading to heart failure.

MVP occurs in about 3 out of every 4 people with Marfan syndrome. It also occurs in people who do not have Marfan syndrome. In many people with MVP, little or no blood leaks back through the valve, there are no symptoms, and no treatment is needed. In some people, blood does leak back through the valve, and these people may have symptoms and require treatment.

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Enlargement of the Aorta (Aortic Dilation)
The aorta is the large artery that carries oxygen-rich blood away from your heart out to the rest of the body. When weak connective tissue causes the walls of the aorta to weaken, the aorta widens and stretches. Most often, the enlargement begins where the aorta connects with the left ventricle of the heart, just above the aortic valve. This part of the aorta is called the aortic root.

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Enlargement of the aorta can lead to several serious complications:

• Aortic root dilation. The aorta can widen and bulge where it attaches to the heart. This happens due to continued weakening of the wall of the aorta. Aortic root dilation may not cause any symptoms until it becomes quite large. If symptoms occur, they may include pain in the chest, upper back, neck, and jaw; coughing and hoarseness; and trouble swallowing. As part of this dilation, one section may enlarge and bulge out. This is called an aortic aneurysm (AN-u-rism). The aneurysm can rupture, causing massive internal bleeding, which is a life-threatening medical emergency.
• Aortic regurgitation. The aortic valve sits between the left ventricle and the aorta and allows blood to flow one way, from the ventricle to the aorta. In Marfan syndrome, as the aorta widens, the aortic valve also is stretched, and the valve flaps cannot close properly. This allows blood to leak the wrong way, from the aorta back into the left ventricle (regurgitation). As a result, the heart has to work harder to pump blood out to the body. The heart can become overworked, leading to heart failure. People with aortic regurgitation may have shortness of breath and exercise intolerance.
• Aortic dissection. This is a tear that occurs in the weakened layers of the inner wall of the aorta. The tear allows blood to get under the inner layer of the wall. As a result, the aorta tears further. An aortic dissection is a life-threatening emergency. Signs and symptoms of an aortic dissection include abrupt onset of chest pain, which may range from mild to severe. There may be pain in the back or the abdomen, or both. The person may sweat, vomit, faint, and have a weak pulse.

Eyes and Vision

Nearsightedness (myopia) is the most common eye problem in people with Marfan syndrome. It can range from mild to severe. People with Marfan syndrome often have astigmatism (a-STIG-ma-tizm), which causes visual distortion and blurred vision.

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Dislocation of the lens of the eye (ectopia lentis) is another common complication of Marfan syndrome. It is considered a hallmark of Marfan syndrome because it occurs in very few other conditions. It may affect one or both eyes, and the lens may be higher or lower than normal or shifted off to the side. Vision in the affected eye(s) may be severely affected.

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Other, less common eye problems in Marfan syndrome include detached retina, cataracts, and glaucoma. A detached retina occurs when there are holes or tears in the inner lining of the eye. A cataract is a clouding of the lens. Glaucoma occurs as a result of high pressure in the eye. People with Marfan syndrome tend to get cataracts and glaucoma at a younger age than people who do not have Marfan syndrome.

Lungs

In Marfan syndrome, the air sacs in the lungs may be larger than normal. This can cause breathing problems. People with Marfan syndrome are at an increased risk of developing emphysema or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a serious lung disease.

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Sudden collapse of the lung, called spontaneous pneumothorax (noo-mo-THOR-aks) can occur in people with Marfan syndrome. About 1 in every 20 people with Marfan syndrome develops this problem. Collapsed lung can happen after only a slight blow to the chest, or even while at rest without a known cause. Collapsed lung usually causes sudden shortness of breath and requires immediate medical attention.

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Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea is a problem that is often associated in the general population with being overweight or obese. But thin people with Marfan syndrome can also suffer from it. Sleep apnea may be due to looseness of the connective tissue in the airways. More on Sleep Apnea and getting Heart Attacks in Early Morning when you wake up

Skin

Stretch marks on the skin occur in about 2 out of every 3 people with Marfan syndrome. The stretch marks are usually on the lower back, buttocks, shoulders, breasts, thighs, and abdomen. They differ from stretch marks in the general population because, in people with Marfan syndrome, they occur without excessive weight gain or loss. The marks usually appear around the time of puberty, but may occur in childhood. They do not require treatment.

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What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Raynaud’s Disease?
People with Raynaud’s (primary or secondary) have attacks in response to cold or emotional stress. The attacks can affect the fingers and toes, and rarely the nose, ears, nipples, or lips. The affected body parts will usually have two or more of the following changes:

• Look pale due to lack of blood flow
• Look bluish due to a lack of oxygen
• Feel numb, cold, or painful
• Redden and throb or tingle as blood returns to the affected area

Attacks usually last about 15 minutes. They can last less than a minute or as long as several hours. Attacks can occur daily or weekly.
Sometimes attacks affect only one or two fingers or toes. Different areas may be affected at different times. Attacks can cause sores or tissue death (gangrene) in people with severe secondary Raynaud’s. However, severe Raynaud’s is very uncommon.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Holes in the Heart?

Atrial Septal Defect

A heart murmur (an extra flow sound associated with the heartbeat) is the most common sign of an atrial septal defect (ASD). Often, it’s the only sign. However, not all murmurs are a sign of a congenital heart defect. Many healthy children have heart murmurs, which are innocent, normal sounds of blood flow through the heart. A doctor can tell by listening whether a murmur is a normal flow sound or a sign of a heart problem. Many babies born with ASDs have no signs or symptoms.
If a large ASD isn’t repaired, the extra blood flow to the right side of the heart can eventually damage the heart and lungs, causing heart failure. This doesn’t occur until adulthood.

Signs and symptoms of heart failure can include:

• Fatigue or tiring easily during exercise or activity
• Shortness of breath
• A buildup of blood and fluid in the lungs
• A buildup of fluid in the feet, ankles, and legs

Ventricular Septal Defect

A heart murmur is usually present in ventricular septal defect (VSD) and may be the first and only sign of this defect. The heart murmur is often present right after birth in many infants, but it may not be heard until the baby is 6 to 8 weeks old.
Most newborns who have VSDs don’t have heart-related symptoms. However, a baby with a medium or large VSD can develop heart failure. Signs and symptoms of heart failure usually appear during the baby’s first 2 months of life. The signs and symptoms of heart failure from VSD are similar to those listed above for ASD, but they occur in infancy.
The major sign of heart failure is difficulty feeding and poor growth. VSD symptoms are rare after infancy because the defect either decreases in size on its own or is repaired.

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What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Congenital Heart Defects?

Many congenital heart defects have few or no symptoms. A doctor may not even detect signs of a heart defect during a physical exam.
Some heart defects do have symptoms. These depend on the number and type of defects and how severe the defects are. Severe defects can cause symptoms, usually in newborn babies. These symptoms can include:

• Rapid breathing
• Cyanosis (a bluish tint to the skin, lips, and fingernails)
• Fatigue (tiredness)
• Poor blood circulation

Congenital heart defects don’t cause chest pain or other painful symptoms.

Abnormal blood flow through the heart caused by a heart defect will make a certain sound. Your doctor can hear this sound, called a heart murmur, with a stethoscope. However, not all murmurs are a sign of a congenital heart defect. Many healthy children have heart murmurs.
Normal growth and development depend on a normal workload for the heart and normal flow of oxygen-rich blood to all parts of the body. Babies with congenital heart defects may have cyanosis or tire easily when feeding. Sometimes they have both problems. As a result, they may not gain weight or grow as they should.
Older children may get tired easily or short of breath during exercise or activity. Many types of congenital heart defects cause the heart to work harder than it should. In severe defects, this can lead to heart failure, a condition in which the heart can’t pump blood strongly throughout the body.

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Symptoms of heart failure include:

• Fatigue with exercise
• Shortness of breath
• A buildup of blood and fluid in the lungs
• A buildup of fluid in the feet, ankles, and legs

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Patent Ductus Arteriosus?

A heart murmur may be the only sign that a baby has patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). A heart murmur is an extra or unusual sound heard during the heartbeat.
Some infants may develop signs or symptoms of volume overload on the heart and excess blood flow in the lungs.

Signs and symptoms may include:

• Fast breathing, working hard to breathe, or shortness of breath, or in the case of a premature infant, need for increased oxygen or ventilatory support
• Poor feeding and poor weight gain
• Tiring easily
• Sweating with exertion (such as while feeding)

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Tetralogy of Fallot?

An important symptom of tetralogy of Fallot is cyanosis, or a bluish tint to the skin, lips, and fingernails. Low levels of blood in the oxygen cause this symptom.
Babies with tetralogy of Fallot sometimes have “tet spells” in response to an activity like crying or having a bowel movement. A “tet spell” occurs when the oxygen level in the blood suddenly drops. This causes the baby to become very blue. The baby may also:

• Have a hard time breathing
• Become very tired and limp
• Not respond to a parent’s voice or touch
• Become very fussy
• Lose consciousness

In years past, when tetralogy of Fallot wasn’t treated in infancy, children would get very tired during exercise and could have fainting spells. This heart defect is now repaired in infancy to prevent symptoms like this.

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Another common symptom of tetralogy of Fallot is a heart murmur. A heart murmur is an extra or unusual sound that a doctor can hear while listening to the heart during a physical exam. When a heart defect causes an abnormal flow of blood through the heart, it will make a certain sound. However, not all murmurs are signs of congenital heart defects. Many healthy children have heart murmurs.
Normal growth and development depend on a normal workload for the heart and normal flow of oxygen-rich blood to all parts of the body. Babies who have tetralogy of Fallot may not gain weight or grow as quickly as children with healthy hearts because they tire easily while feeding.

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Children with this heart defect also may have “clubbing,” an abnormal, rounded shape to the skin or bone around the fingernails.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Holes in the Heart?

Atrial Septal Defect

A heart murmur (an extra flow sound associated with the heartbeat) is the most common sign of an atrial septal defect (ASD). Often, it’s the only sign. However, not all murmurs are a sign of a congenital heart defect. Many healthy children have heart murmurs, which are innocent, normal sounds of blood flow through the heart. A doctor can tell by listening whether a murmur is a normal flow sound or a sign of a heart problem. Many babies born with ASDs have no signs or symptoms.
If a large ASD isn’t repaired, the extra blood flow to the right side of the heart can eventually damage the heart and lungs, causing heart failure. This doesn’t occur until adulthood.

Signs and symptoms of heart failure can include:

• Fatigue or tiring easily during exercise or activity
• Shortness of breath
• A buildup of blood and fluid in the lungs
• A buildup of fluid in the feet, ankles, and legs

Ventricular Septal Defect

A heart murmur is usually present in ventricular septal defect (VSD) and may be the first and only sign of this defect. The heart murmur is often present right after birth in many infants, but it may not be heard until the baby is 6 to 8 weeks old.
Most newborns who have VSDs don’t have heart-related symptoms. However, a baby with a medium or large VSD can develop heart failure. Signs and symptoms of heart failure usually appear during the baby’s first 2 months of life.

The signs and symptoms of heart failure from VSD are similar to those listed above for ASD, but they occur in infancy.
The major sign of heart failure is difficulty feeding and poor growth. VSD symptoms are rare after infancy because the defect either decreases in size on its own or is repaired.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Peripheral Arterial Disease?

At least half of the people who have peripheral arterial disease (PAD) don’t have any signs or symptoms of the disease.
People who do have signs or symptoms may have pain when walking or climbing stairs, which may be relieved after resting. This pain is called intermittent claudication (klaw-de-KA-shen). Blood brings oxygen to the muscles, but during exercise, muscles need more blood flow. If there is a blockage in the blood vessels, muscles won’t get enough blood. If a person has intermittent claudication and exercises while in pain, his or her muscles may be harmed. When resting, the muscles require less blood flow and the pain goes away. Claudication is more likely in people who also have atherosclerosis in other arteries, such as the heart and brain. About 10 percent of people with PAD have intermittent claudication.

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Other signs and symptoms of PAD include:

• Pain, numbness, aching, and heaviness in the muscles
• Cramping in the legs, thighs, calves, and feet
• A weak or absent pulse in the legs or feet
• Sores or wounds on toes, feet, or legs that heal slowly, poorly, or not at all
• Color changes in skin, paleness, or blueness (called cyanosis)
• A decreased temperature in one leg compared to the other leg
• Poor nail growth and decreased hair growth on toes and legs
• Erectile dysfunction, especially among people with diabetes

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Source: National Heart, Lung, Blood Institute of US Dept of Health & Human Services
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov

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10 Year Heart Attack Risk Calculator:

Calculate your risk of heart attack with this simple Heart Attack Risk Calculator at:

http://hp2010.nhlbihin.net/atpiii/calculator.asp?usertype=pub

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Pausch Last Lecture

Dr Randy Pausch’s Last Lecture –

Life Lessons

How many times have we taken things for granted – paying scant attention to the things that matters most in our life like – our health, our family and all the little gifts of life. Sometimes it takes a personal crisis – be it an illness or accident – before we finally begin to get our priorities back into focus.

Dr Randy Pausch did just that in his Last Lecture. He showed us how we can live a meaningful life filled with hope and fulfilled dreams. How to laugh at ourselves and be grateful for each and every day that we are alive. Unfortunately, 46 year old Dr Pausch, do not have much time to live. He is terminally ill with pancreatic cancer (he has 10 tumors in his liver and his doctors gave him only 3-6 months of good health) so Pausch’s Last Lecture could well be his very last public lecture.

For a person who is terminally ill, there is no emotion or self-pity in his farewell speech. Instead, we are treated to fascinating stories of his childhood dreams, how he achieved them and lessons he learn from them. His farewell speech is upbeat, entertaining, thought-provoking and peppered with jokes. Randy gave us many insights of his life that can only inspire and give us all great hope.

Dr. Pausch’s speech was taped so his preschool children, ages 5, 2 and 1, can watch it when they’re older. His last words in his last lecture were simple: “This was for my kids.”

He showed us that even through failures, we can learn useful and endearing life lessons that will help us throughout our lives. He also highlighted the need to enshrine even your most smallest achievements eg. Randy is proud of winning giant stuffed animals in local carnivals.

In Dr Randy Pausch‘s Last Lecture, “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams” in September 18, 2007, he talked about his lessons learned and gave advice to students on how to achieve their own career and personal goals. Dr Randy Pausch is an energetic, captivating and flamboyant speaker and delivers, what the Wall Street Journal describes as, “a lecture of a lifetime”. His farewell lecture will, in the years to come, be a model presentation format for many public speakers.

Quotable Quotes from Dr Randy Pausch’s Last Public Lecture for those who want a quick review of the lecture:

• “Don’t Complain, Just Work Harder.”
• “It is not about Achieving your Dreams but Living your Life. If you lead your Life the right way, the Karma will take care of itself, the Dreams will come to you. “
• “Never underestimate the importance of having Fun. I’m dying and I’m having Fun. And I’m going to keep having fun every day, because there’s no other way to play it.”

• “We can’t change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand. If I’m not as depressed as you think I should be, I’m sorry to disappoint you.”
• “Brick walls are there for a reason. They are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. The brick walls are there to stop people who don’t want it badly enough.”
• “No one is pure evil. Find the Best in everybody…. Wait long enough, and people will surprise and impress you. It might even take years, but people will show you their Good side. Just keep waiting.”
• “Experience is what you get when you Didn’t get what you Wanted.”
• “Never lose the child-like Wonder. It’s just too important. It’s what Drives us. Help others.”
• “How do you get people to help you? You can’t get there alone. People have to help you and I do believe in karma. I believe in paybacks. You get people to help you by telling the Truth. Being earnest. I’ll take an earnest person over a hip person any day, because hip is short term. Earnest is long term.”
• “Show gratitude. Gratitude is a simple and powerful thing.”
• “Having Fun for me is like a fish talking about the importance of water. I don’t know how it is like not to have Fun… I will keep having Fun everyday I have left.”
• “It is Important to have Specific Childhood Dreams.” He wanted to play football in the NFL; he wanted to write an article for the √World Book Encyclopedia; he wanted to be Captain Kirk from “Star Trek”; and he wanted to work for the √Disney Co. He also wanted to experience the √Weightlessness of Zero Gravity;

However, Randy, as a kid, knew that he did not have the necessary physical prerequisites to be an astronaut. So he focussed on the dream of being able to float in zero gravity. He got his wish when he and his students earned the privilege to use the KC-135 (also known as the “vomit comet”) – a modified Boeing 707 four-engine turbojet that NASA uses to simulate conditions of weightlessness.

• “Be Good at Something; it makes you Valuable.”

• “I’m sorry I won’t be around to raise my kids. It makes me very sad but I can’t change that fact, so I did everything I could with the time I have and the time I had to help other people.”

Pausch recently took his 5-year-old son to Walt Disney World to swim with the dolphins. As his oldest child, the boy will be the only one who may have clear memories of his father.

• “I’ve never understood pity and self-pity as an emotion. We have a finite amount of time. Whether short or long, it doesn’t matter. Life is to be lived.”
• “If someone rides on you for 2 hours, you know they care for you” (on his experiences in baseball training)

• “To be cliché, death is a part of life and it’s going to happen to all of us. I have the blessing of getting a little bit of advance notice and I am able to optimize my use of time down the home stretch.”
• If you want to achieve your dreams, you better learn to work and play well with others. Tell the Truth. That means you got to live with integrity.
• A good apology has three parts: 1. “I’m sorry”; 2. “It was my fault” and 3. “How do I make it right”. The last part tells about your sincerity.
• On Education: “Mark Twain says, “Don’t let your schooling get in the way of your education.” I always tell my students that they should spend their time in whatever way helps them learn. I’m perfectly happy if they cut my class because they were doing something that was a better use of their time” – Time, 10 April 2008.

Dr Pausch is a Professor of Computer Science, Human-Computer Interaction and Design at the Carnegie Melon University (CMU). He has done consulting work for Disney and Google, written over 70 books and is the creator of the Alice Interactive Computing Program – which allows students to easily create 3-D animations. It had one million downloads in the past year, and usage is expected to soar.

The “Last Lecture” series is a common title for talks on college campuses today. Schools such as Stanford and the University of Alabama have mounted “Last Lecture Series,” in which top professors are asked to think deeply about what matters to them and to give hypothetical final talks. For the audience, the question to be mulled is this: What wisdom would we impart to the world if we knew it was our last chance? At the CMU, the Dr Randy Pausch’s last lecture was far more than hypothetical.

Randy Pausch Medical Update:

25 July 2008 – Prof. Pausch has died of complications from pancreatic cancer after a two year uphill battle with the disease. He passed away in his Chesapeake, Virginia home in the early morning of the 25th.  The Pausch family moved to Chesapeake last fall to be closer to his wife’s relatives. He was 47 and leaves behind a wife and 3 young children.

On August 15 2007, doctors told him they had found 10 inoperable tumors and he had up to six months of good health left. That will be followed by a sharp two-week decline into pain, immobility and death.This deadly disease kills 95%  of the victims within months of the diagnosis.

Pausch noted that although pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths, no progress has been made on pancreatic cancer research in the past 30 years due to lack of Federal funding. You stand a  far greater chance of living with AIDS than pancreatic cancer.

We are going to miss your infectious humor and unfailing enthusiasm. Even with your passing, you have given us so much hope.  You did not beat the Reaper, but then no one does:

“We don’t beat the Reaper by living longer,” Pausch said. “We beat the Reaper by living well.”

Randy did not believe in natural healing.

Below are some of Randy’s last public appearances, most in support of projects he truly believed in:

24 June 2008 – On Thursday, an unnamed friend of Pausch’s had posted on his behalf to the news page of Pausch’s personal area on the Carnegie Mellon Web site.

“A biopsy last week revealed that the cancer has progressed [sic] further than we had thought from recent PET scans,” the posting read in part. “Since last week, Randy has also taken a step down and is much sicker than he had been.”

16 June 2008 – Randy’s condition continues to slowly improve. However, his PET scan showed that his cancers continue to grow though at a slower rate. He current thinking is that more chemotherapy may not be wise. The benefits of chemotherapy vs getting sick may not be worth the slight reduction of tumors.  He is studying  some immunuotherapy-based options that would presumably come with little or no side effects.

Pausch received a Congressional Record commendation on 21 June and a nice letter from President George Bush on 10 June.  Not bad for a sick man.

20 May 2008 – Pausch returned to chemo treatment on 20 May but by 28 May, the adverse effects of the chemo resulted in Randy having a high (101) fever and vomiting for 3 days and therefore he had to stop treatment.

2 May 2008 – Cancer spreads to Randy’s lungs and lymph nodes in his chest. There are also some metastases inside his abdomen. His priority right now is to recover from heart and kidney failure first which is a relatively more serious problem. When he is strong enough, he will resume the grueling SIR-Spheres or some systemic chemo treatment to tackle the liver and non-liver tumors. It’s Catch-22. Let’s hope Pausch recovers from the heart and kidney complications soon.

28 April 2008 Randy put up a Time Management video which he did some time back with the help of Gabe Robins in November 2007 at the University of Virginia. To watch this 2007 time management video by Randy Pausch, click on this link:

27 April 2008 Pausch continues to get his strength back as his blood pressure gets under control. With BP under control, he can cut back on the medication which causes fatigue and makes him weak. Well wishers have expressed concern about his tumor marker readings (which is CA19-9 (tumor marker): 404) but Randy say he’ll not worry about it just yet. Fight one battle at a time. You can’t be fighting at all fronts without exhausting your precious resources.

19 April 2008 – Randy is recovering more quickly (this time) from his 2nd congestive heart failure but the HB medication side effect – fatigue – is taking its toll on his body.

17 April 2008 – Pausch’s newly released book “The Last Lecture“, written with Wall Street Journal columnist Jeff Zaslow, made to the top selling books lists according to most book retailers including Amazon etc. This was reported by USA Today, Time etc. Congratulations on this amazing feat, Randy.

15 April 2008 – Pausch’s cardiologist said that Randy “is technically back in heart failure” for the 2nd time with his heart pumping at 30% its optimal levels. 24 hours later, the high blood pressure medications brought his blood pressure down to normal and diuretics “shed 4 pounds in water weight”. Unfortunately, the high blood pressure medication has resulted in fatigue.

12 April 20088 – Randy’s is accepted by the University of Maryland for the SIR-Spheres treatment – a experimental treatment in which tiny spheres of yttrium-90, a radioactive substance, are injected into the liver to treat cancer – sometimes referred to as “brachytherapy“. He will check into the University of Maryland for the treatment when he is sufficiently strong enough to undergo the treatment.
2 April 2008 – Pausch’s CT and MRI scans show new, 11th, tumor (though small and negligible). The old tumors have not grown “like crazy” even though the doctors had to stop his chemo treatment due to heart / kidney complications reported earlier. Next step is to deal with the tumors in his liver. Chemo for liver specific treatment is said have “very low rate of side effects” compared to systemic chemotherapy. Randy is hopeful of a successful treatment.

29 March 2008 – Getting back his energy. Pausch’s CA19-9 blood marker is showing better numbers than before.

26 March 2008 – Randy suffers from “a lot of fatigue” caused by his blood pressure medication. Has to spend most of his day in bed. Pausch’s kidney function has improved with creatanine levels down to 3.1 from a high of 3.9. However, the tumors readings went up from 103 to 170.

13 March 2008 – Paush is out of hospital though “still a little wobbly from the heart / kidney issues”. Had a car minor accident driving home. Fortunately, no one was hurt.

8 March 2008 – Randy is hospitalized for treatment particularly the clearing the fluid in his lungs and abdomen. Doctors are confident that there is no long-term damage to Randy’s heart. However, kidney damage is less clear at the moment.

5 March 2008 – Pausch suffers major setback against his fight against cancer, though tumors are contained. Major side effects of chemo drugs this time:

• kidney performing under 50% of efficiency
• blood pressure skyrocketing to 200 over 100
• build up of abdominal fluid (a result of kidney dysfunction) causes difficulty in breathing and sleeping.

Randy is hopeful that the planned blood pressure medication, diuretics and blood transfusion will do the trick.

15 February 2008: – Pausch celebrates his 6 months survival from his cancers through palliative chemotherapy – beating the doctors’ predictions of his survivability to less than 6 months. Randy remains fitter in spite of his illness – biking and running faster than most people.

6 February 2008: – Pausch fighting hard as CT scan in beginning January showed signs of “creeping growth” of tumors. His doctor gave him a less aggressive drug Avastin (Gemcitabine+Tarceva+Avastin) which had “stopped the growth (and even showed some signs of shrinkage)” for now. If Avastin starts to fail, he will be given a more stronger (downside = more bad side effects) drug. One of the more worrying side effect of this treatment is that his “kidney seems to be weakening, though not dangerous yet”. Hopefully, a stronger drug won’t be necessary. Hang on in there, Randy.

23 Dec, 2007: Pausch wrote that his cancers are stable and “on hold” probably for another 2-4 months. As the performance of such cancer drugs have a bell shaped curve, it is difficult to say if things will get better or worse after it has past its peak effectiveness. If the drugs’ payoff starts to dip, Pausch will look to other “longer shot” options which work for only about 10-15 of the patients.

1st Oct 2007 : Pausch reported “I had a CT-scan, and a follow-up PET-CT scan on Oct 13th. Both confirmed that we are willing: The cancer tumors in my spleen are now gone, and the dozen or so cancer tumors in my liver are all either stable or slightly smaller.

19 Oct 2007, elated Randy reported in his website that his latest medical condition is encouraging: “Palliative Chemo is working!, I am a winner. I have bought an extra 2-4 months of good health. Said another way, I may have just doubled my life expectancy.”

Background to Pausch’s Medical Condition:

In September of 2006, Dr. Pausch was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Hoping to beat the odds, Dr. Pausch underwent a bold treatment plan to defeat his pancreatic cancer. Doctors removed Dr Randy Pausch’s gallbladder, portions of his stomach and pancreas and several feet of his small intestine to increase his survival odds to 15%. He enrolled in an experimental treatment offered in Houston that combined chemotherapy with highly toxic radiation, boosting the five-year odds to 45% against pancreatic cancer.

Unfortunately, in August 2007, the cancer returned to his liver and spleen. (See our Medical Update above for the latest developments in Pausch’s medical condition). The overall five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer is just 5%. Even the one-year rate is only 26%. The reason for this low survival rate is because pancreatic cancer is difficult to detect and is usually detected at a very late stage when the cancer had already done a great deal of damage to the body.)

Pausch has said that he does not believe in Health Supplements because of lack of clinical data. So he is going to put his faith in a drug cocktail. That is OK, he is entitled to and I respect his opinions on this. But I’m sure he would agree that that the remission of some of his tumors is not entirely due to conventional medical intervention. Natural healing plays a great part in determining whether a person survives or succumbs to the disease. People who are Happy and Optimistic, have a better chance of surviving a major illness than one who is Unhappy and Pessimistic.

In ” Mind Medicine “, Uri Geller says: “The most brilliant medicine in the world cannot cure the body if the patient’s state of mind refuses to cooperate, just as a person’s state of mind can have a devastating effect on physical health. .. We know that if a patient does not believe he will be cured, a cure will not take place. The whole of the mind needs to heal to effect a full recovery.”

And now, finally, the last part on Randy Pausch’s Farewell Lecture:

Here are two YouTube video highlights of some of Pausch’s most poignant reminders of how to live out your dreams to the fullest. If you are interested in viewing Randy Pausch’s full farewell lecture (is about 70 minutes plus though other testimonial speakers clock up time making it a 1 hour 44 mins video) go to YouTube or Google Video to watch “Randy Pausch’s Last Lecture”

© https://teamrich.wordpress.com – pausch last lecture

MSG | Heart Diseases and Cancer

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What is worst than alcohol, nicotine and drugs? Can be found on your kitchen shelves and sold in school canteens, supermarkets etc? It is MSG (MonoSodium Glutamate) a flavoring ingredient for foods. But they are only used in Chinese food right? Wrong! MSG can be found in most common foods as it boosts the marketability of food products (like salt and sugar) and is a cheap food flavoring agent.

 

MSG can be found in soups, biscuits, meats and even infant milk formulas, in fact, most processed foods and in junk foods. You won’t find MSG on food product labels but the following ingredients could indicate the presence of MonoSodium Glutamate:

• Gelatin
• Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein (HVP)
• Yeast Extract
• Malted Barley
• Rice Syrup or Brown Rice Syrup
• broth, casein, autolyzed, etc, making MSG very difficult for even the most sophisticated health conscious shoppers to detect simply by reading the food label.
• if the food tastes good, chances are it may have MSG in it.

 

MSG is said to be linked to obesity, the risk of heart attack, stroke, type 2 diabetes, insomnia, cancer etc. At the very least, it can give you a heartburn – so called because of a burning sensation near your breastbone caused by gastric juices over-reacting because of MSG.

Studies showed that 40% of the population reacted adversely to high levels of MSG.

Aspartame has similiar compounds as MonoSodium Glutamate.

Our article was featured in CNN.com website on 3 October 2007.

 

 

Watch this three-part YouTube video by Dr. Russell Blaylock, a board-certified neurosurgeon, who says that MonoSodium Glutamate is a dangerous excitotoxin that can make you fat triggering the Big 2 Diseases – Cancer and Heart Disease. According to Dr Blaylock, MSG overexcites your cells to the point of damage, acting like a poison and causing free radical damage.

 

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Danger of Getting a Heart Attack When Awakening from Sleep

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You may be in danger of getting a heart attack when you wake up from sleep in the morning.

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These are some of the factors which can cause a cardiac attack if you don’t have a healthy heart:

• Dehydration
• A bout of anger
• Strenuous exercise
• Infectious diseases, like pneumonia or the flu.

♥When you wake up in the morning, your body releases stress hormones into your bloodstream in preparation of getting your body in motion of rising from bed. This awakening may cause a cardiac arrest if your arteries are clogged with cholesterol-rich plaque.

♥So reducing the intake of cholesterol into your blood stream is crucial to prevent the plaque build up in your arteries.

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Report from the Mayo Clinic and other medical websites:

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Sleep apnea: Can it cause heart disease? Sleep apnea, along with its most common symptom, snoring, is more than just annoying. Some evidence suggests sleep apnea (obstructive hypopnea or OSAH) increases your risk of heart disease.

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Obstructive Sleep apnea is a disorder that results in brief pauses in breathing during sleep. The word “apnea” is a Greek word meaning “want of breath.” With sleep apnea, breathing pauses can last from 10–30 seconds or more and can occur up to 400 times a night. For some people, sleep apnea will interrupt sleep every 30 seconds, all night long. Sleep apnea is a common and potentially life-threatening condition that frequently goes unrecognized and undiagnosed due to a lack of awareness among physicians and the general public.

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Sleep apnea is a serious condition that can affect a person’s ability to safely perform normal daily activities. It is thought that approximately 25 percent of adults are at risk for sleep apnea. Men are more commonly affected than women; other risk factors include middle and older age, being overweight or obese, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

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Symptoms of Left-Side Heart Failure

This simple test is designed to alert you to the possibility of a sleep disorder. Check any condition below that you have experienced in the past year.

• I have been told that I snore and hold my breath at night.
• I wake up with a headache.
• I have high blood pressure.
• No matter how hard I try to stay awake, I fall asleep.
• I suddenly wake up gasping for air.
• I feel sleepy during the day, even if I slept through the night.
• I seem to be losing my sex drive.
• I am overweight.
• I am irritable, fatigued or have difficulty concentrating.
• My heart skips a beat or races during the night.
• Restless sleep
• Awakening with choking, gasping, or smothering
• Awakening with chest pain or discomfort
• Morning dry mouth or sore throat
• Morning confusion
• Morning headaches
• Personality change
• Memory impairment, difficulty concentrating
• Impotence
• Frequent awakenings to urinate

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How a heart attack occurs –
Watch this YouTube Video:

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Cholesterol | Latest News

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Don’t have time to keep up with the latest news on Cholesterol? Then read these Summaries of the Latest News breaking stories on Cholesterol today by Quick Bytes for Speed Surfers.

Click to Read Recent Full Stories :

 

One Third of Women do not know their Cholesterol levels. They are not aware that even if they exercise regularly and maintain a healthy diet, they still can still have life threateningly high levels of cholesterol. Source: Poll: Women Clueless On Their Cholesterol by CBS News (WebMD) 22 August 2007

Good HDL Cholesterol is unpredictable and may work against Coronary Health. It seems that HDL Protein composition inhibits proteases and increase vessel damage the plaque raptures. Source: When “Good ” Cholesterol Goes Bad. (HealthDay Reporter) 22 August 2007

Traditional Mediterranean diet reduces LDL cholesterol. Beneficial elements of Mediterranean diet include virgin olive oil, nuts, fruits, vegetables, grains and fish intead of meat. Source: Cholesterol: The Mediterranean diet reduces the risk (WDDTY) 23 August 2007

Boost “good” HDL cholesterol levels by keeping stress at bay. Hostility and blaming oneself leads to high glucose levels in the blood. Source: Coping With Stress May Help Cholesterol (WebMD) 20 August 2007

Inconclusive findings indicate that Statin Drugs may not reduce the risk of prostate cancer. Source: Cholesterol drugs may not reduce prostate cancer (Reuters) 23 August 2007

More Cholesterol

© 2007 teamrich.wordpress,com – Cholesterol | Latest News in Quick Byte Size