Congestive heart disease affects about five million Americans, and several medical professionals believe that within five years time about half of those people will unfortunately die from their state. Congestive heart disease is marked by the heart’s inability to pump efficiently enough to supply the body with freshly oxygenated blood. It is the leading cause of hospitalization among senior citizens and accounted for nearly 20% of the hospitalization of this age group in 2003.
Since congestive heart disease is a state that warrants consideration, a brief conversation of several of the risk factors might be in order. While several of these factors cannot be helped, there are many things a person can adjust about their lives to decrease the risk.
Risk Factors That Cannot be Helped
There are a number of risk factors for congestive heart disease that simply can’t be helped.Other common factor for this state are: (late stages of age: over the age of 66), and one of the most common factors we have was having a prior heart attack. Another, of course, is a history of diabetes.There is a distinct possibility that congestive heart disease might be one of the few medical conditions that although it is extremely treatable the distance the disease hase gone already cannot be reversed.
Another risk factor that cannot be changed when dealing with congestive heart disease is having a genetic disposition to the disease. Genetic testing and knowledge of the complete family history can go a long way in indicating whether or not congestive heart disease is something that should be a concern for you.
Risk Factors the Can Be Changed
While some factors that signify the potential for congestive heart disease cannot be helped, there are a number that can. These factors consist of such things as continuing high blood pressure, drug or alcohol abuse, thyroid disease, and even heart valve disease. All these risk factors, especially drug and alcohol abuse can be managed with help from your medical professional or friendly neighborhood physician. The best course of action is talk to your doctor to design a plan to attack congestive heart disease and hopefully stop it from touching your life.
Unfortunately, congestive heart disease is hard to diagnose because it frequently occurs as a result of or in conjunction with other forms of heart disease. Perhaps the best hope for patients with this disease is to catch it early and begin treatment as soon as possible.
Filed under Health by on Feb 24th, 2009. 
Hearing aids are a part of life for many people, especially when they get older. There are several varieties of hearing aids available. The type of hearing aid that a person needs depends on the amount of hearing loss that they have and what type of a lifestyle that they live.
Some models of digital hearing aids are completely enclosed inside the ear so you can hardly see them. These are nice because most people will be unaware that the hearing impaired person is wearing a device.
However, these devices are really only suitable for people with minimal hearing loss. As well, there are more limits on the features available, like volume control for example. For some people, this just might not be a good solution.
Another style of hearing aid fits partially into the ear canal. This style is barely noticeable, but still maintains some important features such as volume control. Some of these hearing aids even come with remote control devices to help with the volume issue. These hearing aids have more features, so are suitable for those who experience mild to moderately severe hearing problems.
Most hearing aids are fitted either into the ear or just behind it. In the ear devices fill the space in the cup of the ear. With the behind the ear models, one piece goes into the ear. The volume control and battery units fit behind your ear.
The downside of these models is that they are more visible. On the bright side, they feature longer batter life. Plus they feature more options for control so you can maximize the benefits of this technology.
The basic parts of a hearing aid are the microphone, the amplifier and the speaker. The device’s microphone picks up all the sounds within the immediate vicinity. The amplifier helps to increase the volume of the sound so that you are able to hear it. The speaker component relays the enhanced sound to the ear so you can hear it easily.
Hearing aid batteries are another essential component. You’ll need to replace these occasionally, or your device will simply cease working. They’re generally quite inexpensive. Depending on the particular kind you need, they generally cost between four and seven dollars.
Filed under Health by on Feb 24th, 2009. 1 Comment.
Halitosis or bad breath is an oral condition that is not only embarrassing but can also have serious repercussions on a person’s internal health. In fact, a lot of halitosis cases are actually symptoms of other medical conditions such as diabetes and kidney infections. When you notice that you have halitosis, you should immediately find its cause and address the situation right away.
By making improvements to your dental hygiene you can actually solve a lot of halitosis conditions. Flossing every single day, and brushing your teeth and mouth twice a day are simple hygiene practices you should do. Neglecting to do these basic procedures will lead to the buildup of microscopic food particles on your tongue, in between your teeth and along the gum line. This will be very attractive to oral bacteria which will soon be dwelling in your mouth.
As the bacteria breaks down these food particles, it eliminates a putrid smell that we all know as a bad breath problem. Tooth decay and gum disorders are also among the most common conditions that can lead to halitosis. Teeth and gums become more susceptible to infections and disease without proper oral hygiene. Visiting your dentist at least once a year is essential. Your dentist will be able to see problems you cannot and therefore offer the right treatment. If you do have bad breath and the dentist does not see any irregularity in your mouth, you might have to undergo exams to identify any underlying medical illness.
The kind of food that you regularly consume can also lead to halitosis. Strong-smelling foods such as garlic and cabbage are among the most frequent culprits. It is therefore essential to drink lots of water so that your mouth as well as the inside of your digestive system will always be free of toxins and foul odors.
Some types of supplements or medicines may also affect the quality of your breath, if only temporarily. If this is an inconvenience for you, you can always request your doctor for a different kind of medication that will not exhibit the same side effects. As you can see, halitosis does not always come from improper oral hygiene. Solving your bad breath problem, no matter what the cause, will definitely improve your social life. You should make the effort to find the reason for your bad breath or halitosis as soon as possible, not just for your personal life but for your total well being.
Filed under Health by on Feb 23rd, 2009.
In early recovery it is all we can do to just stay sober for another day. We might struggle to stay sober for a 24 hour period and in order to make it through this tough time we might have to focus on networking and getting help from the fellowship. This is OK but as you stay sober for longer you’ll realize that you are becoming more reliant on your self and on your level of growth. This does not mean that you are permanently healed of alcoholism or that you no longer need others to recover, but only that there is a shift in what you focus on. Recovery is fueled by passion and purpose and the striving for personal growth, whereas early recovery is more about learning and networking with others. Both stages have all of these attributes in them, but the focus is a bit different for those who are successful in living a sober life.
So you're curious how to stop drinking? My first message to you is one of safety – you need to find a medical treatment center to sober up in. This is important because stopping drinking can literally kill you if you are not careful. There is also a plus side to attending rehab that you will meet a ton of peers who can help you on your journey. The networking that you get from your peers in early recovery is of vital importance, and going to a treatment center will automatically introduce you to these types of connections. Because of these 2 reasons I highly recommend attending a treatment center if you are serious about quitting drinking.
At this point in time, most alcoholics believe that they are basically cured now that they are leaving rehab but actually this is where the true test begins. The real challenge in recovery is in living your life sober without resorting back to resentment and anger and eventually relapsing. It is not just the liquor that got us into a world of hurt, but also the fast life that came with it. If you leave treatment and try to stay off the sauce but revert right back to the same lifestyle then you’re probably not going to stay sober. We need to really change our life in a major way if we’re going to stay sober in the long run. This is not unrealistic but it does require some effort.
Most of those who leave a treatment center don’t follow through on their aftercare plan. If you want to be successful with your sobriety then you’re going to have to go way overboard when it comes to your recovery strategy. We put a lot of effort into our drinking and we need to put just as much, if not more, into our recovery. Most alcoholics do not realize how much effort it will take to quit drinking at first. The answer is to go further than what you think it will take in order to remain sober.
And that is the bottom line right there: If you want to stop drinking then you have to take action. At first your actions will be very specific and focus on getting you detoxed and learning how to live a sober life. But after a while in sobriety your focus must change to that of caring for your self and trying to grow. In early sobriety the help and connections you make with other is crucial. In long term sobriety your drive for personal growth and holistic health is what is key.
Filed under Health by on Feb 23rd, 2009.
Human Growth Hormone usage has been subjected to extensive study and the findings are amazing. The findings have been embraced by the public, leading to publication in influential journals like the New England Journal of Medicine.
An 8.8% increase in lean muscle mass, an average four percent loss of fat, and weight loss with no dieting were some of the benefits reported in these studies. Also reported was a loss of cellulite, wrinkle reduction, younger looking skin, enhanced memory, sharper vision, improved sleep, decreased blood pressure, better cholesterol profiles, better heart function and many other health benefits.
Millions of dollars and thousands of man hours have been expended on different efforts by large drug manufacturers attempting to find products that provide even one of these benefits. Now that you know that there is a product on the market that combines all of these great benefits into one incredible substance, you will of course start to think about what the downside of this product could be.
When you take large doses of any hormone you can experience negative side effects. When taken in large doses the side effects of hgh can be rather dangerous. An individual’s genetics substantially impacts how they react to various dosages of hormone.
The most extreme HGH side effects have been seen in body builders and athletes who have in all likelihood taken extremely high dosages over extensive periods of time. Cases such as these have been known to produce unusual growths with unnaturally large bones being one characteristic. Research points to elevated risk of cardiac irregularities, heart damage, and joint and facial deformities due to long term abuse.
Abuse of the drug has been shown to be the cause of most hgh side effects. Strictly following the dosage prescribed by your physician and by limiting the time the drug is used can greatly reduce the negative side effects of HGH. The severity of reactions can be reduced by injecting a smaller dosage.
In some of the initial studies there have been a few documented cases of patients who suffered from carpal tunnel syndrome, and a condition of enlarged breasts called gynecomastia. Other side effects that have been documented are high blood pressure, swollen joints and chronic joint pain, increased hair growth, and edema.
Stress to the liver and even liver damage can occur when it has to process large dosages of the synthetic forms of HGH in the blood.There is a real danger that your pituitary gland will produce a smaller amount of natural hgh. This could even lead to a case where the pituitary gland stop functioning.
An individual needs to look at the benefits and side effects to determine if HGH therapy is for them. Knowing all the dangers and researching the numerous alternatives are important to making an informed decision.
Filed under Health by on Feb 22nd, 2009. 16 Comments.