If you've had a heart attack, the doctor will review your medical history and examine you. He or she may use an electrocardiogram to discover any heart abnormalities and may use a blood test to detect enzyme level abnormalities in the bloodstream.
If you're worried about heart disease, several tests can diagnose possible heart disease depending on your risk factors, history of heart problems, symptoms and your doctor's interpretation of these factors. The doctor will probably begin with the simplest test and use more complicated ones later on.
Some tests are invasive. That is, they involve inserting needles, instruments or fluids into the body.
These tests include nuclear imaging (MUGA scan, thallium stress test, SPECT test and PET test) and other imaging tests, such as computed tomography (CT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE). Another invasive test is the cardiac catheterization, also known as coronary angiography.
Noninvasive tests include a resting electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), signal-averaged electrocardiogram (SAECG), chest X-ray, Holter monitor (ambulatory electrocardiogram), echocardiogram or exercise stress test.
The best tests for diagnosing heart disease in women are the technetium and stress echocardiogram imaging tests. In the technetium, the woman walks on a treadmill while a radioactive isotope is injected into the bloodstream to track blood flow.
The traditional ECG is less accurate for women -- it may produce false positives and negatives.
If your doctor determines you're at risk for heart disease, certain preventive measures can lower your risk of having a heart attack -- such as quitting smoking, lowering blood cholesterol and blood pressure levels, managing stress levels, increasing your amount of exercise, lowering your weight and treating your diabetes, if you have it.
If you quit smoking, your risk for heart attack is cut in half one year later. You also improve your blood flow and lung function, lower your risk for stroke and cancer, and help stop bronchitis and emphysema from worsening.
Patients with high blood pressure should control their weight, consume moderate portions of alcohol and salt, and get enough exercise. If your blood pressure is higher than 140/90 mm Hg, you may have high blood pressure and should have it checked yearly by your doctor.
Blood cholesterol is another important factor to watch. If your cholesterol level is at 240 mg/dL or above, you increase your risk of heart disease. Your doctor will likely check your levels of LDL cholesterol ("bad" cholesterol) and HDL cholesterol ("good" cholesterol). A high level of LDL cholesterol increases your risk for heart disease, as does a low level of HDL cholesterol. All adults 20 years of age or older should have their blood cholesterol level checked at least once every five years.
Recent studies show that moderate alcohol intake (1-2 drinks/day) may lower the risk of coronary heart disease and heart attacks by raising the level of "good" HDL cholesterol. However, it isn't clear if this is how alcohol lowers the risk of heart attack. Individuals should consult with their doctor, and should not use alcohol in place of confirmed preventive measures.
Individuals should exercise between three to four times each week for 30 minutes, and maintain a desirable weight, with a body mass index between 21 and 25 kg/m2.
Women at risk may want to consider estrogen replacement in postmenopause, especially if they have other risk factors, like high cholesterol.
Se afișează postările cu eticheta disease. Afișați toate postările
Se afișează postările cu eticheta disease. Afișați toate postările
sâmbătă, 23 ianuarie 2010
miercuri, 14 octombrie 2009
Learning How Emotions Are Related To Symptoms In Traditional Chinese Medicine
Learning how emotions relate to symptoms is an important part of traditional Chinese medicine and can provide effective results. Emotions and the body are integrated and emotions such as sadness, worry or fear correlate to a certain area of the body. There are seven emotions: sadness, worry,anger,fear,fright,shock and joy. Even though some of these emotions may be seen as negative, in Chinese medicine they are seen as neither ‘good’ nor ‘bad’ just human nature. When we are well emotions flow freely, when we are stressed or ill, the emotions become ’stuck’. Chinese medicine looks to assess the ’stuck’ emotions and ‘free’ them in order to re-balance harmony. The relative organ that is affected by the emotion can also determine what type of treatment will be offered.
Sadness or even grief, affects the lungs leading to Lung Qi deficiency, leading to fatigue, depression and sometimes weakened immune system.
Worry or excessive over thinking can be caused by mental stresses, common in students and those in intellectual professions. These stresses knot the Qi and affect the spleen and lungs bringing on aching shoulders and breathlessness. Worry may also turn into anxiety or panic attacks.
Anger can include rage, irritability and frustration. In anger the tongue becomes dark red in colour.
Fear affects the kidneys and makes the Qi descend, prolonged fear drains the kidneys. In children it can result in bed wetting and in adults it can turn to anxiety and heart troubles.
Fright or shock leads to breathlessness, heart palpitations and puts undue strain on the kidneys.
Joy, although a positive, joy can affect the heart by slowing down the Qi, in small doses joy is beneficial but over excitment can cause heart dis-harmonies.
Causes Of Disease:
Dietary problems such as over-eating can affect the spleen. Over-eating can be caused by worry or excessive mental work and cause fatigue, digestion problems and diarrhea. Symptoms include stiffness, pale skin and lips, possible bruising and bleeding problems. Poor diet, not eating enough or not eating the correct foods due to modern day diets can be detrimental on the flow of Qi and on the spleen. Not only is it what we eat but when such as late at night,eating in a hurry and eating whilst working can affect the stomach and flow of Qi.
Lung problems can be caused by sadness and grief, affecting the lungs and breathing. Symptoms include frequent colds and flu, asthma, allergies and dry skin conditions. In order to improve the lungs, the immune system needs to be boosted.
Heart problems may occur as a result of depression and loss of vitality. Symptoms include heart palpitations, insomnia, poor long-term memory and other psychological issues.
Treatment of Disease
Most can be treated by a combination of acupuncture and herbal remedies. Acupuncture is commonly effective for heart and kidney problems whereas extras such as exercise will be effective for depression and anxiety problems. Chinese medicine practitioners recognize that an individual’s condition is unique and may need different treatments for different symptoms. An in-depth session with a practitioner will work out a treatment program that can re-balance the emotions and the flow of Qi.
Sadness or even grief, affects the lungs leading to Lung Qi deficiency, leading to fatigue, depression and sometimes weakened immune system.
Worry or excessive over thinking can be caused by mental stresses, common in students and those in intellectual professions. These stresses knot the Qi and affect the spleen and lungs bringing on aching shoulders and breathlessness. Worry may also turn into anxiety or panic attacks.
Anger can include rage, irritability and frustration. In anger the tongue becomes dark red in colour.
Fear affects the kidneys and makes the Qi descend, prolonged fear drains the kidneys. In children it can result in bed wetting and in adults it can turn to anxiety and heart troubles.
Fright or shock leads to breathlessness, heart palpitations and puts undue strain on the kidneys.
Joy, although a positive, joy can affect the heart by slowing down the Qi, in small doses joy is beneficial but over excitment can cause heart dis-harmonies.
Causes Of Disease:
Dietary problems such as over-eating can affect the spleen. Over-eating can be caused by worry or excessive mental work and cause fatigue, digestion problems and diarrhea. Symptoms include stiffness, pale skin and lips, possible bruising and bleeding problems. Poor diet, not eating enough or not eating the correct foods due to modern day diets can be detrimental on the flow of Qi and on the spleen. Not only is it what we eat but when such as late at night,eating in a hurry and eating whilst working can affect the stomach and flow of Qi.
Lung problems can be caused by sadness and grief, affecting the lungs and breathing. Symptoms include frequent colds and flu, asthma, allergies and dry skin conditions. In order to improve the lungs, the immune system needs to be boosted.
Heart problems may occur as a result of depression and loss of vitality. Symptoms include heart palpitations, insomnia, poor long-term memory and other psychological issues.
Treatment of Disease
Most can be treated by a combination of acupuncture and herbal remedies. Acupuncture is commonly effective for heart and kidney problems whereas extras such as exercise will be effective for depression and anxiety problems. Chinese medicine practitioners recognize that an individual’s condition is unique and may need different treatments for different symptoms. An in-depth session with a practitioner will work out a treatment program that can re-balance the emotions and the flow of Qi.
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