List of Cardiac Disease

Cardiac diseases also referred to as cardiovascular diseases are common among the people above forty. However, of late, cardiac distress has been seen in younger people, owing to the fast-paced, unhealthy lifestyles. Apart from an unhealthy lifestyle, which encompasses minimal exercise and junk, fatty foods, today’s demanding lives have lead to a lot of stress and strain in people. Consequently, heart problems have been on the rise.

If you feel that you are also always under stress or lead an unhealthy life style, it is perhaps wise to stay aware of the risks and get some tests done before the condition worsens. It is also important to know about the causes, types, symptoms, prevention and treatment of cardiac diseases. Changing your lifestyle and adopting relaxation practices is also necessary.
Here is a list of cardiac diseases; these are, however, the common problems. Medically, the list of cardiac diseases is extensive.

• Hypertension or high blood pressure
• Coronary artery diseases
• Cardiomegaly
• Angina pectoris
• Congestive heart failure.
• Cardiac arrhythmia
• Acute myocardial infarction

The common signs and symptoms of cardiac disease (for almost all types) are as listed below:

• Pain in chest and shoulders
• Heaviness in the chest
• Heavy sweating and palpitation
• Discomfort and restlessness
• Nausea and dizziness
• Pain in lower jaw and neck, spreading to back and stomach
• Difficulty in speech
• Shortness of breath and difficulty in breathing.
• Fatigue and tiredness
• Abnormally fast or uneven heartbeats
• Loss of consciousness

So, what are the common causes of cardiac disease? As mentioned earlier, stress is a major factor when it comes to diseases associated with your heart. People who are highly stressed put themselves at a greater risk and increase their chances of getting a cardiac disease. This is because, when the mind and body are stressed, hormones are released into the system, and these hormones result in chemical changes in the blood that directly affect your heart.
Another major cause for heart diseases is an unhealthy lifestyle. The term unhealthy lifestyle refers to bad eating habits, excessive smoking and drinking, and lack of physical exercise. This also includes those people who lead such hectic lives that they cannot find time to sleep. Sleep deprivation not only affects your heart but also takes its toll on other organs such as the liver and kidneys.

Apart from stress and lifestyle, heredity is also a factor when it comes to cardiac ailments. If you have a family history of the cardiovascular disease, you are already at a greater risk of heart trouble. What this means is that you need to be all the more careful about the way you lead your life and the foods you consume. Consulting a doctor, getting regular checkups, and leading a healthy life is the best way to ensure that you keep all heart problems at bay.

Treatment for Cardiac Disease

For the treatment of cardiac diseases, precise diagnosis is an absolute must. Diagnosis is usually done through ECGs and other imaging devices such as a CT scan or an MRI as well as through blood tests. All these tests help in pinpointing the root cause of the disease. Once the cause has been identified, depending on the severity of the condition, treatment is prescribed. Treatment of cardiac diseases involves administering the medications to reduce and control the parameters that are causing the illness. In mild cases, it could simply require a change in lifestyle and habits.
Some of the factors that are interrelated with cardiac diseases are as follows:

• High blood pressure: Hypertension is one of the most common cardiac problems, and it can be managed with prescribed medication, diet alteration, an adoption of a healthy lifestyle. Alternative therapies such as yoga and aromatherapy also work well to reduce blood pressure.

• Diabetes: People who have diabetes are also at a greater risk of cardiac diseases. Medicines to keep blood sugar levels in check and lifestyle and diet changes together can help manage the disease and keep the heart healthy.

• Cholesterol: If high cholesterol is the problem, then while medicines are necessary to reduce and maintain cholesterol levels in the blood, an alteration in the diet can go long way in keeping the cholesterol levels low.

• Emotional stress: In many cases, heart attacks are triggered by persistent mental strain or a sudden emotional shock. While there is medication available to calm the nerves, there are also several alternative therapies that one can opt for to keep the mind at ease. Apart from yoga and aromatherapy, exercising regular and eating right can keep your anxiety in check.

• Angina pectoris: In case of angina pectoris, nitrate drugs such as amyl nitrate are administered in order to provide immediate relief from symptoms of pain and a prevent heart attack. Nitrate drugs widen the contracted arteries so as to facilitate more bloodflow to the heart. These drugs are administered only at the time of angina attack and not on regular basis. However, you will be advised by your doctor to keep some tablets handy with you so that whenever you happen to experience symptoms of angina, you can keep one below your tongue. Angina cures also involve performing regular light exercises, leading a cheerful and stress-free life, and of course, eating a healthy diet. The dietary plan prescribed to you may be referred to as an angina diet. An angina diet includes fresh green vegetables, citrus fruits, sea foods such as prawns, fat free milk and milk products, and omega3 fatty acid supplements.

Angina Pectoris Treatment

Angina pectoris or simply angina is a very common problem these days. In addition to the physical health conditions, today’s fast and stressful life is also responsible to a great extent. Angina pectoris is a condition in which you suddenly experience heaviness and pain in the chest. Angina pain occurs when there is inadequate supply of blood to your heart. Blood supply to your heart is restricted by some blockage in the arteries that carry blood to the heart muscles.
The usual signs and symptoms of angina pectoris are as under:

• Sudden spasm in the chest on the left side. The angina pain may spread to your shoulder, neck and spine.

• Palpitation and uneasiness accompanied by heavy sweating.

• Feeling of heaviness in the chest.

• Nausea.

• Fatigue and weakness.

These are the common signs and symptoms of angina pectoris. However, severity may differ from person to person, depending upon the type of angina as well as health conditions.
In general, angina pectoris is of two types: stable angina pectoris and unstable angina. The details of these are described hereunder:

• Stable angina pectoris: In this type of angina, the occurrence of chest pain is in similar patterns as experienced previously. Stable angina pectoris is provoked by doing some heavy work or over exertion; it could also be triggered by emotional stress and strain. Exposure to severe cold is another cause of angina pectoris as exposure to cold may result in contraction of the arteries, leading to angina pain. Usually, stable angina pectoris is not life threatening, but you must keep in touch with your health care provider if you are suffering from the condition.

• Unstable angina pectoris: Unstable angina is more severe and may lead to a heart attack. Therefore, this type of angina could be fatal. Unstable angina occurs due to sudden narrowing of the coronary arteries. The signs and symptoms of angina pectoris such as chest pain, palpitation, and sweating are more severe here than in the stable type of angina pectoris.

So what causes angina pectoris? Angina pain occurs due to poor flow of blood to the heart because of narrowing of the coronary arteries. The narrowing of coronary arteries occurs as a result of gradual deposition of cholesterol on the walls of these arteries. Due to narrowed arteries, your heart has to work harder in order to pump the blood as well as the blood supply to heart is restricted. This condition ultimately leads to angina pectoris. Factors that result in fat deposition on arteries’ walls are as follows:

• One of the major factors responsible for angina is smoking. Nicotine and other dangerously harmful constituents in tobacco’s smoke have chemical reactions with your blood. This condition leads to occurrence of the angina pectoris.
• Abnormally high levels of bad cholesterol.
• Diabetes.
• Being overweight is another major factor responsible for coronary heart disease. Being overweight simply means excessive fat deposits in the body.
• Bad eating habits such as eating oily foods that are rich in saturated fatty acids results in the deposition of fats in the coronary arteries.
• Sedentary lifestyle and lack of body movement is another common factor responsible for this ailment.
• Another major cause for angina pectoris is heredity. If there is a family history of coronary artery disease, you are also vulnerable to this disorder. However, you can prevent occurrence of angina by leading a disciplined and healthy lifestyle.

Diagnosis of angina pectoris involves an ECG and certain blood tests. ECG shows the graph of your heartbeat, which helps your doctor in determining the health condition of your heart. From blood test, the quantitative analysis for cholesterol content is determined. On the basis of the test results, medicines for treatment are prescribed.

Angina pectoris treatment involves administering nitrate drugs such as amyl nitrate. Nitrate has the ability to widen your arteries and this helps in improving the flow of the blood which in turn reduces blood pressure as well. Blood thinning medicines are also administered in order to improve flow of the blood through narrowed arteries. If an artery is completely blocked, an open heart bypass surgery may be required. Blood pressure is monitored at regular intervals and also ECG tests are performed periodically. A record of these is maintained so as to monitor the administration of drugs and precise angina pectoris treatment.

In addition to the usual medical treatment, you are advised to change your lifestyle and maintain a disciplined life. Self angina cures involve leading a healthy lifestyle by incorporating a regular light exercise routine such as aerobics and yoga. Diet is also very important for preventing recurrence of angina. You will be prescribed a fat-free diet that includes fresh veggies and fruits. This diet may be referred to as angina diet. By strictly following your doctor’s advice, you can always keep away another episode of angina pectoris.

Home Remedies for Nosebleeds

Nosebleeds are quite common among the people of all ages and usually are not a matter of serious concern. The thin capillaries that carry the blood beneath the lining of the nasal passage are very delicate. These capillaries may get ruptured due to a number of reasons, resulting in nosebleeds. The most common causes for the occurrence of a nose bleeds are as under:

• Some external injury to the nose. Small kids and toddlers may hurt their nose with their nails or some sharp object they happen to pick up.
• Excessive exposure to sun and heat.
• Excessive cold weather may result in drying up of the nose. This condition also may lead to nosebleeds.
• Vigorous blowing of your nose may also sometimes result in nose bleeding.
• Prolonged use of certain antibiotics can be another reason for nosebleeds.
• Frequent intake of painkillers is another common cause for the occurrence of nosebleeds.
• Nose bleeding is also very common in hayfever.
• Intake of blood thinning drugs is another common cause of nosebleeds.
• High blood pressure and diabetes is the major cause of nosebleeds in adults.
• Deficiency of vitamin K may also result in nosebleeds. You might know that vitamin K is responsible for clotting the blood.

The usual symptoms of nosebleeds are mentioned hereunder:

• Thin blood coming out from the nostrils; may be from one or both the nostrils. Usually the nosebleeds are not associated with pain if it is not due to an external injury.

• If the nose bleeding occurs during sleep, the blood may flow to your stomach through the throat. In such a case, you may find that color of your stools would be red or dark brown.

• Nausea and vomiting sensation may be felt if you happen to swallow blood while suffering from a nosebleed.

Usually, most nosebleeds are not serious and can be treated at home. Some very effective home remedies for nosebleeds are described below:

• If the nosebleed has occurred because of exposure to heat, pour cold water on your head and apply cold compress dipped in ice cold water on and around your nose. This is one of the simplest and most effective home remedies for nosebleeds.

• Plug your nostrils using a small cotton ball dipped in apple cider vinegar. This is also a very good home remedy for nosebleeds.

• Smell a freshly cut onion by placing it close to your nostrils. It greatly helps in stopping the nose from bleeding.

Treatment for Nosebleeds

As soon as you happen to suffer from a nose bleed, you should take the following steps as a first aid for nosebleeds:

• Sit down and lean your head forward so as to prevent the blood flowing down to your throat.
• Put a cloth on your head soaked in cold water and also apply cold compress on your nose.
• Pinch your nostrils gently with your fingers and breathe deeply through your mouth.

Doing this should stop bleeding within a few minutes. But if the problem persists, consult your doctor. Treatment for nosebleeds can be easily done by using the home remedies mentioned above. If the home cures for nosebleeds do not work, you must seek the medical help. Medical treatment for nosebleeds involves finding out the root cause first and then administering the necessary medicines. For example, if it is due to vitamin K deficiency, you will be prescribed the vitamin K supplements. If it is due to use of drugs such as aspirin, an alternative drug may be prescribed. Nosebleeds could also be indicative of some serious underlying problem, so make sure to visit a doctor if you get frequent nosebleeds, if the nosebleed does not stop, or if the bleeding is excessive and you feel faint and dizzy.

Sleeping Disorders Insomnia

Among the various sleeping disorders, insomnia is one of the most common. Not many people are even aware that they suffer from this type of sleeping disorder. Insomnia is a sleeping disorder that is characterized by a person’s inability to stay asleep or fall asleep. There are two types of this condition that could affect a person. The first type is primary insomnia and the second is secondary insomnia. In the former category, the sleeplessness is not linked with any other medical problem. However, in the latter category, the sleeplessness is usually caused by some other underlying medical condition such as depression or asthma.

Sleeping disorders insomnia can also be broken down into a further two types based on the length of the condition. The first is acute insomnia. This is a condition that continues to affect the person for at least three weeks. Chronic insomnia is the other type that continues to affect the person for over a month or so. The causes as well as the symptoms of both the above mentioned forms of insomnia vary from each other. Mentioned below are some of the common causes of insomnia.

There are three major groups into which insomnia causes can be divided into. They are Medical problems, Psychological problems, and Intake of certain medication. Medical problems which can cause insomnia would include different types of cancer, asthma and similar other conditions. Psychological problems could be something like depression or even simple stress. Certain medicines also contribute to hampering a person’s sleep and could therefore be a cause of insomnia as well.  Stress could be a contributing factor for short term or acute insomnia while emotional problems, illnesses or heavy medication could be responsible for chronic insomnia.

Now that we have dealt with the common causes of sleeping disorders insomnia, let us take a look at the signs and symptoms of insomnia. One of the first and main symptoms of insomnia is having problems falling asleep. Waking up often in the middle of the night and having problems falling asleep again is another symptom. A feeling of tiredness upon waking up every morning is another clue that you might be suffering from insomnia. Feeling irritated, confused and sleepy during daytime are all signs of insomnia as well. Problems with concentration due to sleepiness are also another sign. Tension headaches, ongoing worries about sleep, anxiety, increased accidents or errors are other signs.

Natural Home Remedies for Insomnia

Insomnia can cause many health problems therefore it is necessary to deal with this problem straight away. It is important to determine the cause behind this sleeping disorder before treatment can be started. More often than not, stress is responsible for insomnia. If you can resolve the stress in your life, you might be able to start sleeping better. Many people are not opting for natural home remedies for insomnia, rather than pills. Read on to find out some natural ways to cure insomnia.

One of the best treatments for insomnia is trying to get to sleep at the same time daily. This will help in setting up the insomniac’s body clock. Lie in bed even if you have a problem falling asleep. Your body will slowly become accustomed to this set time of falling asleep. Milk is also one of the natural home remedies for insomnia. Have a glass of warm milk every night before getting into bed. Mix a tablespoon of honey in it for better results. Relaxation meditation techniques like yoga or a massage are also recommended for inducing sleep. Add a teaspoon of aniseed to boiling water. Drink this mixture as it also helps to bring on sleep. A warm bath before retiring to bed will help as well. Most importantly, compose yourself to sleep. Do not worry about what you have to do the next day. Free your mind from any tension.