Category Archives: Diseases

What you need to know about heart disease

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Do you know that both men and women are at risk of getting heart disease? There are a lot of risk factors that both men and women may have that unknowingly can contribute to acquiring heart diseases. Most people think that men are more at risk of acquiring heart diseases because they have the tendency to get it even when they are still young but they have a better recovery rate than women. Women may get heart diseases later in life but the effect is usually more severe than in men.

There are various details that you need to know about heart disease such as the following:

Getting Enough Sleep Can Make Your Heart Healthier

If you have not been getting enough sleep lately, you may be causing your heart to feel weaker than usual. You are recommended to get about 7 – 8 hours of sleep every day in order to make your heart remain healthy. Insulin is more regulated when you get enough sleep.

Losing Weight Can Decrease the Risk of Heart Disease

Those who are overweight can have a higher tendency to get heart diseases. You would need to check your waistline to see if you are at risk of developing heart diseases. If in case you need to lose weight, aerobic exercises can be beneficial for you. Have a healthy diet too because this can improve your weight significantly.

Aspirin Can Help Revert A Heart Attack

Aspirin is known to block some of the chemicals that may be causing the body to feel pain. In the process, it can block thromboxane which causes the blood to clot. Drinking aspirin when a heart attack is just about to happen may significantly restore the flow of blood going to the heart.

Get to know the history of your family and see if you have some history of heart diseases so that you can take care of your health from the very beginning.

Things to know about diabetes

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What is diabetes?

According to health experts, diabetes is a condition that prevents the body from properly using energy from food. It happens when the pancreas does not generate insulin.

People may have heard about diabetes, but many have no idea what diabetes really is.

Food that we eat is broken down in sugar or glucose. While quite a handful of health experts recommend not adding too much sugar in your diet, you do need it for your energy and metabolism.

While your body is in the process of digestion, your cells are fed by glucose, and it needs insulin (made in your pancreas) to transfer blood sugar (to your cells).

It starts getting bad once you have too much blood sugar compared to the amount of insulin your pancreas is pumping.

When your body fails to produce insulin to keep pace with the sugar, or maybe if your body is having trouble producing insulin, the blood sugar just sits there which in time, causes your blood sugar levels to shoot up. You will develop diabetes if this continues.

What are the early symptoms of diabetes?

1. Excessive and frequent urination – Excessive thirst and frequent urination is the early symptoms of diabetes.

2. Tiredness – Diabetics may feel tired or exhausted all the time.

3. Injury or infection heal slowly – Infections occur more frequently because of diabetes. High blood sugar levels damage the body’s natural healing process and its ability to fight infection.

4. Weight loss – Diabetics may often feel hungry but they are losing weight. The body is working double time to process glucose from food consumed so it has to break down available energy sources such as fat.

If you experience any or all of these symptoms, immediately consult with your physician. The earlier diabetes is detected, the sooner treatment can start.

Remember to eat moderately and exercise to prevent diabetes.

Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Types of Vascular Diseases

In basic terms, a vascular disease involves anything that carries blood to and from the heart. This includes your arteries, capillaries, and veins. When you run into a problem with any part of this network, it can become very dangerous. Getting treated early on is the key to survival, so if you need vascular surgery, make sure that you speak with a doctor immediately.

Cerebral Cavernous Malformation

When you suffer from a cerebral cavernous malformation, or CCM, it means that a series of blood vessels in the central nervous system are enlarged. While 25 percent of those with this disorder will never experience symptoms, those who end up with malformations on their brain or spinal cords will experience discomfort and will require treatment.

Fibromuscular Dysplasia

Fibromuscular dysplasia is a condition where abnormal cells form on the walls of your arteries. This can lead to your arteries narrowing and, in more severe cases, an aneurysm or tearing of the arteries.

Ischemic Colitis

Most people who suffer from ischemic colitis are aged 60 or older. This disorder occurs when the arteries narrow and block blood flow to and from the colon. This can hinder your digestive system and cause a great deal of pain. If you believe that you are suffering from this disorder, don’t worry, as it is completely treatable in most people.