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Types Of Heart Disease, 101

admin — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:50:11 +0000

Heart disease is not one particular type of trouble – it is a disorder of the circulatory system, and, in particular, the heart. Each of the many types of heart disease can be referring to damage to the heart’s muscle, valves, lining, arteries, or electrical system. There are many types of heart disease, and a person can have just one or more than one type. It can be something that the person is born with – such as a heart abnormality, or something that develops over time, like blockage of the arteries. Some things that influence heart disease can be controlled by the person, such as whether or not they smoke or get exercise, what types of foods they eat, and other things are uncontrollable, like gender, ethnicity, and age.

Types Of Heart Disease – A Quick Review

When most of us think of heart disease, the type we envision is Coronary Artery Disease (CAD). A major symptom of CAD is angina, which is a heaviness or squeezing in the chest, but can also be felt in other ways. It is easily mistaken for heartburn or indigestion. There are other symptoms that can also be related to CAD besides angina, including faster heartbeat, shortness of breath, and sweating.

Another type of heart disease is Myocardial Infarction (MI), commonly known as a Heart Attack. Symptoms are similar to those of CAD, but increase substantially. They can be mild, yet gradually increasing, and they last 30 minutes or more but are not relieved with medication or rest. Heart Attack symptoms should be treated immediately, by calling 911.

Some people have the type of heart disease that is called “Arrhythmia.” It is often accompanied by a feeling of palpitations in the heart area, or with weakness or fainting. One type of arrhythmia is called “Atrial Fibruillation,” or AF.

Heart Valve Disease manifests itself with shortness of breath, weakness, discomfort in the chest, particularly when going into cold air, heart palpitations, or dizziness. If allowed to cause heart failure, more symptoms follow: swelling in feet, abdomen, ankles, or belly, or a very quick weight gain. The amount of the symptoms does not directly correlate to the severity of the heart disease.

With full-on Heart Failure, the symptoms will be similar to the above, but also can include a cough with a white mucus. Nausea, swelling dizziness, fatigue, palpitations – all are also common if one has heart failure. Once again, the severity of the symptoms does not always match the severity of the heart disease.

Some babies are born with congenital heart defects. Many are diagnosed early on, but it is possible to not have any symptoms and only be diagnosed during an exam as an adult. Typical symptoms for these adults can include shortness of breath, limitations on the amount of exercise one is able to do, and other classic heart or valve failure symptoms. In children and babies, the symptoms can also include fast breathing, poor weight gain, cyanosis, and frequent lung infections.

If one has Cardiomyopathy (Heart Muscle Disease), there may be no symptoms at all. If symptoms do present themselves, they can come at any age and are similar to the other symptoms for heart related diseases, such as palpitations, swelling, and fainting. Some have arrhythmias as well.

Pericarditis is a type of heart disease that is different from CAD. It can give one a sharp chest pain, which can also go to the neck, arms, and back. It is worse while lying down, breathing deeply, or coughing or swallowing. It is better if sitting forward.

Interesting Statistics About Heart Disease And Women

admin — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:50:12 +0000

For many years, when it came to studying heart disease, women were a distinct afterthought. The studies have been done based on men, and never a care was given to even the idea that statistics about heart disease might be different or women.

Now, things are better. Researchers are well aware that a woman’s body is different than a man’s, and they recognize that studies will find other differences to diseases based on gender. Still, however, women make up only 25% of all participants in heart-related research studies.

When you take a look at the statistics about heart disease, you can find some interesting information, especially as it pertains to women.

How Prevalent Is Heart Disease Among Women?

What do the statistics show about heart disease among women? Studies show that there are currently about 8 million women who have heart disease. That breaks down to about 10% of women ages 45 – 64, and 25% of women 65 and older. Nearly 13% of the women that are 45 or older have already had a heart attack. 435,000 women have heart attacks each year, with the average age being 70 ½ years old.

How Dangerous Is It?

Heart disease kills 32% of American women, overall. Each year, 267,000 women die from heart attacks. Heart attacks kill six times more women than breast cancer.

Who Is Most At Risk?

There are some basic things that increase the risk of heart disease. One is smoking. Women who smoke are at greater risk of heart attack 19 years earlier than non-smokers. Another is diabetes. Women with diabetes are more likely to have heart attacks as well – at a rate of 2-3 times more likely. High blood pressure, a contributing factor to heart disease is much more common in women on oral contraceptives. Obesity increases the risk of heart disease, and statistics about heart disease show that 23% of white women, 36% of Mexican American women, and 38% of black women are obese. Directly connected, women who are sedentary and get little or no substantial physical exercise are at much greater risk, and statistics about heart disease show that a high percentage of women in all racial groups are getting very little exercise. (49% Asian/Pacific Islanders, 57% blacks, 57% Hispanics, and 39% white women)

How Do Women Compare To Men?

Women are much more likely to die within a year of the first heart attack (38% vs. 25%). More women have another heart attack within six years (35% vs. 18%), and more women than men will be disabled by heart failure within six years (an astonishing 46% vs. 22%). Women are more than twice as likely to die after bypass surgery than men.

What Can We Learn From This?

Given the information we are learning from the statistics about heart disease, it is crucial that we study heart disease as it relates to women with a greater intensity and determination. Our future as a gender may depend on it.

Some Alarming Facts Related To Smoking And Heart Disease

admin — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 13:50:12 +0000

As far as smoking and heart disease is concerned, it goes without saying that cigarette smoking is one of the leading causes for heart attacks and strokes as well as a number of other secondary vascular diseases. It is thus a good idea to learn more about smoking and heart disease and probably the first thing that will strike you in this regard is the fact that tobacco has over four thousand chemicals in it and many of these are actually quite poisonous.

Nicotine Means Elevated Blood Pressure

Another fact worth learning about when it concerns smoking and heart disease is that nicotine will cause your blood pressure to rise since the carbon monoxide it contains helps to make hearts beat quicker and it also replaces oxygen in the smoker’s blood. Even worse, tobacco contains tar which is a leading cause of cancer that in turn is a fatal disease.

Thus, the picture with regard to smoking and heart disease is pretty clear and alarming as well, and it can easily be concluded that regular and sustained smoking is a major reason why arteries clog up and this only makes the heart work more than it should which in turn leads to heart diseases since the much needed oxygen that the heart requires does not reach it and therefore, the risk of blood clots forming increases manifold.

In fact, as far as smoking and heart disease goes, it has also been found that people that have smoked regularly and for long periods of time are seventy percent more at risk of dying as a result of coronary heart diseases as compared to those who do not smoke.

Another interesting fact related to smoking and heart disease is that it is believed that as many as eighty percent of first time smokers are in their youth and even passive smoking has been linked to heart diseases. Thus, when it concerns passive smoking and heart disease, even those who do not smoke directly are as much at risk of contracting heart diseases as are those who actually inhale cigarette smoke directly.

Furthermore, even if you are simply living with someone that smokes, your risk vis-à-vis smoking and heart disease increases by as many as thirty percent, and inhaling smoke is especially more dangerous for yet-to-be-born babies as well as little children and it can cause a number of unwanted health problems.

Thus, with all this information clearly showing the many risks associated with smoking and heart disease, it is time for you stop smoking if you want to live longer as well as healthier. If you don’t heed the warning, you can be sure that because of smoking, you risk curtailing your life on this planet, and whatever time you do spend among the living would be no better than a living hell.

Reversing Heart Disease – Can It Be Done?

admin — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 13:50:12 +0000

So you’ve been told you have heart disease – now, can you reverse it? It really depends what you mean by “reverse.” Perhaps your doctor explained to you that for some kinds of heart disease, the damage is already done. The best thing may be to have surgery (like for coronary artery disease) to open or bypass blockages. In that sense, the damage or heart disease is “reversed.” For many types of heart disease, the damage already done to the heart can’t be reversed. But sometimes the damage can be slowed or stopped to the point that it can be considered to be “reversing heart disease.” So, while your heart may never be “as good as new,” it sure can be better than it is today!

One thing seems clear. There are lifestyle changes that can help with reversing heart disease. Along with stopping smoking, exercising, and taking prescription medicine to help with cholesterol levels in the blood, there are basic changes one can make to fats in the diet that will have a positive impact, and help with reversing heart disease.

The Role Fats Play In Heart Disease

For most of us, we don’t pay any attention to what we eat. Our diets are full of things that are high in fats and cholesterol, and we neglect the valuable fruits and vegetables too much. We need to change these habits if we want to have our diet help us in reversing heart disease.

What are the dos and don’ts of eating when it comes to reversing heart disease? There are many pieces to this puzzle. One of the biggest puzzle pieces is about the fats in our diets. First, avoid saturated fats. Saturated fats are those pesky things that the body can turn into LDL cholesterol, which is the “bad cholesterol” that can clog the arteries. What is high in saturated fat? Read the labels on the packages for accurate information, but a quick guide to remember is that animal products are high in saturated fat – these include milk, cheese, and meats. Other things, like baked goods that use butter, cream, or cheese will also be high in saturated fats.

Another type of fat to be aware of are “trans fats.” These are found in fast foods (particularly fried foods), many cookies and snacks, and margarine. These also increase the LDL, which helps clog your heart. Not only that, but they also lower your HDL – which is the “good cholesterol,” the kind that helps to keep your arteries running clear. If you read the labels on the foods you eat, watch for “partially hydrogenated vegetable oil” – that means “trans fat.” Manufacturers must list trans fats on the labels of the products they sell.

Some kinds of fats are actually good for the body. These include monounsaturated fats. They are found in some nuts, canola oil, and olive oil. These reduce the LDL in the body and that helps with slowing heart disease. Also, polyunsaturated fats – which are in corn oil, soybean oil, and some margarines – are good in that they reduce LDL, but the rest of the cholesterol becomes more of a problem, so that’s the downside. Omega-3 fatty acids (in fatty fish like salmon, and in fish oil or flaxseed supplements) can lower cholesterol and be good for the heart.

There are other measures that can also be taken to help with reversing heart disease. Adding more fruits and vegetables into your diet will also help.

Second Mortgage Foreclosure vs. a First Mortgage Foreclosure

admin — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 13:50:15 +0000

Getting a mortgage is a large step for homeowners. Many make jokes about mortgages and buying their homes calling it “signing their life away”. Although it’s not quite that serious, taking out a mortgage loan is a huge step. You’ll be agreeing to make monthly payments, which include principal and interest, for many years, sometimes up to 30 years. Often by time you’ve finished paying off your loan, you’ll have paid for it two times or more with the interest included.
If the borrower fails to make the scheduled payments on time, they risk losing their home to foreclosure. No one comes out ahead in the foreclosure, not the lender or the borrower. Whether it’s a first mortgage foreclosure or a second mortgage foreclosure, it’s a big headache for everyone involved. Banks don’t like having an REO (Real Estate Owned) on their record and borrowers don’t want to lose their home.
In addition to losing their home, they’ll have a poor credit rating for many years, which will make it difficult for them to get any credit in the near future. Regardless of whether it’s first or second mortgage foreclosure, their credit will be affected the same. You probably understand what a mortgage and mortgage foreclosure is, but many are unfamiliar with second mortgages or second mortgage foreclosure.
An individual buys a home for $100,000 and has a $20,000 down payment. They then take out a mortgage loan for $80,000. We’re assuming the home is worth at least $100,000 because banks usually borrow up to 80% of the appraised value of the home. A few years later, the borrower decides to take out a second mortgage. He may be having difficulties making his first mortgage payment and needs cash to be caught up or may also just need extra cash for some expense.
At this time, his home is appraised at $120,000 and his first mortgage loan balance is down to $70,000. He, therefore, has $50,000 of equity to borrow on his home. Following with the 80% rule, he can probably get a second mortgage for up to $40,000. The second lender’s name will be on the mortgage under the first mortgage lender because the first has precedence on the loan. Therefore, at this time the borrower owes $70,000 on his first loan and $40,000 on the second loan.
If the borrower cannot make payments on the loans and the loan goes into first mortgage and second mortgage foreclosure, the first lender will get their money before the second. If the home is foreclosed and sold for $100,000, the first lender will get the $70,000 owed to them, with only $30,000 left so the second lender will only get $30,000.
If there is a second mortgage foreclosure but not a first mortgage foreclosure, the second lender may be allowed to make payments to the first lender. Unless it can’t be avoided, try to avoid a second mortgage for all concerned.

Rehabilitation Of Rheumatic Heart Disease: Look At Every Aspect Of The Patient’s Health Including Economic Status

admin — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 13:50:14 +0000

Rehabilitation of rheumatic heart disease is something that deserves to be taken very seriously, especially as the way that patients of rheumatic heart disease are treated today is a lot different from the traditional treatment methods which involved taking rest for six weeks following this form of a heart attack. In fact, because so much improvement has been achieved with regard to rehabilitation of rheumatic heart disease, today when a person suffers from such an ailment, both they and their relatives need not worry so much about the health of the patient.

Fewer Complications

Today, treatments targeting rehabilitation of rheumatic heart disease is a lot less complicated and even the treatments are simple and devoid of much complications. Thus, rehabilitation of rheumatic heart disease can be over in just two weeks, and as early as the second day following the rheumatic heart attack, the patient can be allowed to walk near about their bed and gradually the walks can be extended to as far as even five hundred yards.

In fact, today rehabilitation of rheumatic heart disease does not even require patients to take prolonged rest since it may lead to their becoming weak and they could also lose their strength as well as their efficacy. The only instance when rehabilitation of rheumatic heart disease requires a patient to take prolonged rest is when complications develop or when the condition is serious enough to warrant this kind of rest.

However, rehabilitation of rheumatic heart disease may also mean that patients need to exercise great caution before climbing stairs as it is recommended in the initial stages following a rheumatic heart attack to only climb stairs once in the week and the pulse rates during such climbs should not differ by more than twenty.

In fact, it is also recommended that rehabilitation of rheumatic heart disease involves encouraging the patient to resume their daily work and normal routine as early as possible following the rheumatic heart attack, or as soon as they are declared as being medically fit to do so. Some amount of light work is also recommended, and in some cases, the patient may even need to be given psychological help and doing some light and regular exercising is also part of rehabilitation of rheumatic heart disease.

To be sure, proper rehabilitation of rheumatic heart disease involves looking into all aspects of a patient’s welfare and it even includes their economic stage, and more importantly, the patient will only be rehabilitated satisfactorily provided he or she gets proper support from family and friends.

Obtaining a Mortgage after Foreclosure is Very Possible

admin — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 13:50:11 +0000

Obtaining a mortgage after foreclosure is not only possible, but also easier than you many think. This is not to say that lenders will be knocking on your door begging to borrow you money to purchase a home, but obtaining a mortgage after foreclose is definitely possible. Many lenders may hesitate to give a mortgage to an individual that lost their home to foreclosure, but many are willing to help when they see your financial situation has improved.

When you lose your home by foreclosure, it’s not the end of the world, although it may seem that way. Your dreams of owning another home are still possible with a little work and a lot of careful spending and saving. Getting your credit scores back up where they belong is the first step towards obtaining a mortgage after foreclosure. Rebuilding your credit needs to be your top priority. Some people try immediately to get a mortgage to purchase a new home. You will find some lenders that are willing to help you in this endeavor, although many may be apprehensive immediately after a foreclosure.

If you get a mortgage shortly after a foreclosure, you will probably be charged a high interest rate. In some cases, they may even require a co-signer or excessive collateral. Make sure you make your mortgage payments (as well as your other bills) on time EVERY MONTH. Nothing will rebuild your credit scores faster than payments made on time. In a year or two, when your credit scores are higher, you can refinance your mortgage and get a lower credit rating. Banks will be more willing to help you after you’ve proved your credit worthiness.

If your hopes of obtaining a mortgage after foreclosure include low interest rates, you’ll have to wait a year or two to rebuild your credit before you apply. Use this time to reevaluate your spending habits and what caused your foreclosure. Determine where you can cut back on your spending and do so. The extra cash you have from cutting your excess spending can be used to start saving a down payment for your next home. During this time, it’s important to make all your payments on time so your credit scores will increase. Lenders may not hold it against you that you lost your home to foreclosure, if they still see low credit scores and poor pay history two years later, they will not be willing to give you a mortgage.

When obtaining a mortgage after foreclosure, don’t grab the first lender you find. Shop around for different lenders and mortgage brokers. Mortgage brokers are often your best choice for obtaining a mortgage after foreclosure. They will offer your financial information to a group of lending institutions to find the best package for you. Soon, your dreams of home ownership will once again be a reality.

What Is Pulmonary Heart Disease?

admin — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 13:50:10 +0000

Pulmonary heart disease, or cor pulmonale, is a term used to describe a change in the structure and function of the right ventricle of the heart as a result of a respiratory disorder. This disease can develop very slowly and it may e years before one notices symptoms. Most of the people with this disease are middle aged or older. Pulmonary heart disease is a major cause of death and illness and is the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S. Unfortunately at this time there is no cure although efforts continue to minimize the effects of pulmonary heart disease. The damage caused to your airways and lungs can not be reversed, but there are things you can do to help feel better and slow the damage.

This disease is not something you can catch from someone else, although other diseases can have a direct effect on how bad your pulmonary heart disease is. The most common cause of this disease is smoking. Pollution, chemicals, dust, or any other irritants that you are exposed to over a long period of time can cause pulmonary heart disease.

Basically what happens is that your air sacs in your lungs become damaged by the irritants you put in your body. Where they used to be springy and resistant they now have become damaged and do not expand. This causes your heart to work harder as less and less oxygen is being brought in. By working harder it increases the chance that your heart will fail and also increases the stress on the muscle.

Treatment For Pulmonary Heart Disease

The first thing if you are smoking stop. By continuing to smoke you will continue to cause more and more damage to your lungs resulting in eventually full blown pulmonary heart disease. In addition to quitting smoking avoid doing things that would stress your lungs. Working in dust filled and chemical environments will only increase the chance that you condition is going to get worse.

Also you need to try to loose weight if you are overweight to relieve the stress being placed on your heart. A well balanced low fat diet will help to lower your weight and reduce the stress on your heart. In addition exercise will help your lungs to recover somewhat and will also increase the stamina of your heart.

Take these simple steps and you should be able to mitigate as many of the symptoms of pulmonary heart disease as you can.

Mortgage Loans are Possible after a Foreclosure

admin — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 13:50:13 +0000

You’ve worked hard many years to be able to purchase the home of your dreams. Many of these years were spent scrimping can cutting corners to try to save money for this home. Once you got your mortgage, you counted the years until it would be paid off and owned by only you instead of you and the bank. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, you lost your dream home to foreclosure. You probably feel you’ll spend the rest of your life living in a rented apartment or home. You, no doubt, believe you’ll never be eligible for mortgage loans after foreclosure of your first home. You are very wrong about this fact, although it’s a fact that many believe. When you lose a home to foreclosure, your credit rating is drastically affected, but there is still hope for the future.

Although it will be harder than it was the first time, you can be approved for mortgage loans after foreclosure. This is not something you want to do immediately after your foreclosure, however. It’s recommended that you take some time to get your finances in order before you think about applying for another mortgage loan. Give yourself around 24 months before you think about trying for mortgage loans after foreclosure of your first home.

The first thing you need to evaluate is what caused the problem in the first place. If it was an emergency such as medical problems, divorce, loss of job, etc., you may have had time to readjust to the new situation in your life and get back on track financially. If you had financial difficulties due to be highly in debt with other debts such as credit cards, loans, etc., the two years will give you time to correct your debt paying and spending habits. Concentrate on paying off your other debts. Cut back on your spending while paying off debts you have now. Pay the minimum amount due on your debts but pay them on time. If cutting back on spending helps to give you extra cash, you can pay more on your debts or start saving for your home.

After two years, you should have your debts paid down so you’re ready to see a lender about getting mortgage loans after foreclosure. Although many lenders may dismiss you when they get a look at your credit report, there are lenders that will be willing to help you when they see you’re improved your credit scores and have a down payment. So, if you have had a run of bad luck, don’t give up your dreams of owning a home because mortgage loans after foreclosure are still possible.

Hope For People With Heart Disease

admin — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 13:50:11 +0000

As the old saying goes, “Where there’s life, there’s hope.” This is especially true for people with heart disease. Although getting the diagnosis makes you feel anything but hopeful, it is not a death sentence. There are many treatment options and changes you can do in order to still have a good quality of life for many years yet to come.

Lifestyle Changes

Another old saying is, “Change is good for the soul.” Although this writer is not an expert on souls, I do know that change is good for people with heart disease. Even taking inexpensive steps like quitting smoking, exercising regularly and eating a better diet can help change the future prognosis for people with heart disease.

People with heart disease need to talk with their doctor and physical therapist (if one is involved) about developing a light exercise program that gradually gets more challenging. Going from no exercise to running five miles a day will be just as dangerous as not exercising at all. Slow and steady is the goal. You should never exercise if your chest hurts. Walking your dog, gardening or pottery can all be exercises that help people with heart disease.

Keep Seeing Your Doctor

Heart disease does not reduce by itself, even if you suddenly quit smoking, quit drinking, become a vegetarian and work out a half hour a day. You still need to see your doctor regularly. If he or she recommend going to a specialist, if possible, go see a specialist. Although lifestyle changes can help reduce your chance of suddenly dropping dead, you still need medications.

There are a dizzying amount of medications now available for people with heart disease. Quite often, you are not on just one medication, but several. Before you are given a prescription, you need to let your doctor or specialist know about all of the medications and herbal supplements you are currently taking. This will help to avoid any bad interactions between your current drugs and herbal remedies and the new drugs.

Each person with heart disease reacts differently to any kind of medications. This is one reason you need to keep your appointments to see your doctor or heart specialist. They will need to monitor your body’s reactions to the drugs and to the dosage. When you are on these medications, don’t suddenly decide to try an alternative medical remedy or even nutritional supplements like fish oil capsules. You need to as your doctor first.