Cholesterol Medication – Statins helping influenza patients
Many adults suffer from high cholesterol as a result of bad diets, poor amounts of exercise or simply inherit the condition from their parents. While cholesterol is used by the body for several functions, too much “bad” cholesterol can cause cardiovascular disease. This is when the low-density lipoproteins (LDL) transport too much cholesterol throughout the blood stream than is needed, and the excess substance accumulates around the arterial walls of the heart. In order to stop this from happening, and thereby decreasing the risk of heart problems, people take a form of medication known as statins, the most popular being Simvastatin, which lowers overall cholesterol production in the liver.
The treatment has found large success in helping people treat high cholesterol, but a new study published in theJournal of Infectious Diseases has suggested that statins may also decrease the mortality rates in hospitalised patients suffering from influenza. Giving the medication, besides lowering cholesterol, a further potentially life-saving function.
This was discovered after evaluative research observed over 3,000 patients with laboratory-confirmed influenza within the United States. Of this number, nearly 33% were using or had been given statins prior to hospitalisation. Researchers took race, gender, age and other factors into account when comparing patients and mortality rates, and found that overall; patients who were not using statins during their influenza infection had double the chance of dying from the infection. Professor William Schaffner, M.D. and chair of Preventative Medicine, commented that the findings provide potential for a more effective combination treatment of influenza.
“We may be able to combine statins with antiviral drugs,” Schaffner said during an interview about the findings, “to provide better treatment for patients seriously ill with influenza.” As co-author of the influenza study, he still recommended that yearly vaccinations against the viral infection to be the most effective method for preventing the sickness in the first place.
Overall these results are a positive discovery as flu season hits one of its yearly “peaks”. Although not necessarily serious to younger individuals, the elderly are often at extreme risk when they contract any of the influenza virus and subsequent strains; but with the use of statins following this finding mortality rates could be effectively decreased with the aid of a relatively inexpensive medication. It’s unclear at this point as to the benefit, if any, they may have for strains like swine flu or avian flu, but given the problematic development of vaccines for those particular strains, it’s unlikely that they would provide an additional benefit.
If you suffer from influenza and wish to know more about the condition and possible treatments, you can view ourInfluenza condition page where we hope you find the information you are looking for. Alternatively, should you have contracted the flu, you can visit our Tamiflu treatment page for treatment options.
12 Key Questions to Ask Your Doctor if You Have Heart Failure
Heart failure (HF) is the primary diagnosis in one million hospitalizations and costs the American health care system almost 30 billion dollars annually. It affects almost five million Americans and leads to about 300,000 deaths each year. Heart failure is a devastating disease as it increases the incidence of depression and hospital/nursing home admission. It decreases the ability to care for oneself and increases disability and death. Heart failure is an inability of the heart to pump out enough blood to meet the needs of the body. As a result of a poor pumping heart, the cells of the body are unable to get adequate oxygen resulting in many of the symptoms of heart failure. As heart failure progresses it activates the nervous and endocrine system. The activation of these systems results in a progression of the disease. Treatment options are focused on stopping the negative impact of the activated nervous and endocrine system. Becoming knowledgeable about disease is an important part of having a successful health care experience. Individuals must have a basic understanding of his or her disease. The better you understand your diseases the better you can partner in your medical care.
No one has a greater interest vested in your well being than you. Physicians manage very busy office practices and may overlook some important aspects of your care. It is imperative that you help your health care providers give you the care that is needed to prevent death and disability. As part of health care responsibility you need to understand your disease. Below are a list of questions you should ask your health care provider if you have heart failure. 1. What type of heart failure do I have? The two main types of heart failure are systolic heart failure and diastolic heart failure.2. What is my ejection fraction? When am I going to have my next echocardiogram? Ejection fraction is the percentage of blood beat out with each beat. Patients with systolic heart failure have an ejection fraction less than 40-50%. Physicians frequently monitor the progression of the disease in patients with serial echocardiograms. There are other ways to determine ejection fraction, but the echocardiogram is the easiest way to do this.3. What caused my heart failure? There are a number of causes of heart failure. It is important that you know what caused your heart to fail so it can be avoided in the future.4. How often should I weight myself? What should I do if I gain X pounds? Keep the weight form above your scale. Heart failure patients are prone to fluid overload and should weigh themselves everyday. This is to determine the degree of fluid overload that may occur on a day-to-day basis. If you gain a certain amount of weight your doctor will want you to call, come to the office or take an extra water pill. Talk to your doctor about the specific plan he/she wants for you. 5. Should I restrict the amount of salt and/or fluid in my diet? Most people with heart failure should restrict the amount of salt they consume. Binges of high salt foods may lead to an acute exacerbation of heart failure. Talk to your doctor about how much salt you should eat in a given day. Avoid large quantities of food containing a lot of salt including processed food, canned foods and bagged snack food. Some individuals with heart failure benefit from a restriction of the amount of fluid that they take in. Talk to your doctor if a fluid restriction is important for you.6. If you have systolic heart failure; should I be on an ACE-I, ARBS, and/or BB? You will unlikely be on all three medicines but aggressive treatment would likely put you on at least two of these drugs.7. If you have systolic heart failure; should I be on an aldosterone agonist (spironolactone) or digoxin? Spironolactone is a drug that has been shown to improve outcomes in those with severe heart failure. Digoxin may be helpful in some patients with heart failure. 8. Should I pay to attention to how much I urinate? Not urinating enough may indicate that you are retaining more fluid and may be at risk for going into acute heart failure. 9. Do I have any evidence of lack of blood flow to any area of my heart? Have you checked for it? Many patients with heart failure have evidence of coronary heart disease, which can make their heart failure worse, and should be evaluated. It can be evaluated by a number of different means including a stress test or cardiac catheterization.10. Are my risk factors controlled? Blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes. It is important in patients with heart failure and other risk factors to control them to prevent progression of heart failure.11. Should I see a cardiologist? Many patients especially those with severe heart failure, see a cardiologist. Cardiologists are doctors that specialize in treating patients with heart problems. 12. Should I exercise? The answer to this is almost always yes. Special precautions are often taken prior to and during exercise. Talk to your doctor about any testing that should take place prior to exercise such as a stress test. Talk to your doctor about any precautions that you should during exercise. Some health care systems are associated with a cardiac rehabilitation program or and exercise facility that specializes in congestive heart failure. For more information on heart failure check out a the free ebook: Chronic Disease Guide: How to Prevent and Treat Common Chronic Diseases. The chapter on heart failure can be found at http://www.mini-medicalschool.com/CHF.html
Arrhythmias-Information on Arrhythmias
Article by peterhutch
Arrhythmias are disorders of the regular rhythmic beating of the heart. They’re common • ” about 2.2 million Americans are living with atrial fibrillation (one type of rhythm problem). Arrhythmias can occur in a healthy heart and be of minimal consequence. They also may indicate a serious problem and lead to heart disease, stroke or sudden cardiac death. The goal of this site is to help the public and healthcare professionals learn more about arrhythmias, and ultimately reduce disability and death from heart disease and stroke. Do your part by learning the facts and taking the steps needed to understand and control arrhythmias.The heart has four chambers. The top two are the atria, and the lower two are the ventricles. Normally the heartbeat starts in the right atrium when a special group of cells sends an electrical signal. (These cells are called the sinoatrial or SA node, the sinus node or the heart’s “pacemaker.”) This signal spreads throughout the atria and to the atrioventricular (A-V) node. The A-V node connects to a group of fibers in the ventricles that conduct the electrical signal. The impulse travels down these specialized fibers (the His-Purkinje system) to all parts of the ventricles. The electrical signal must follow this exact route for the heart to pump properly.
Patients may describe an arrhythmia as a palpitation or fluttering sensation in the chest. For some types of arrhythmias, a skipped beat might be sensed because the subsequent beat produces a more forceful contraction and a thumping sensation in the chest. A “racing” heart is another description. Proper diagnosis of arrhythmias requires an electrocardiogram, which is used to evaluate the electrical activity of the heart.
In the majority of cases, a skipped beat is not medically significant. The most serious arrhythmias, however, contribute to almost 500,000 deaths in the United States each year according to the American Heart Association, with annual deaths attributable to the condition rising steadily. Also, one type of arrhythmia called ventricular fibrillation causes most of the 330,000 sudden cardiac deaths that occur each year.
Arrhythmias can either be temporary or permanent and they can be caused by several things • ” but they can also happen for no apparent reason. Arrhythmias can be congenital, meaning a person is born with the condition. Other causes of arrhythmias include chemical imbalances in the blood, infections or other diseases that cause irritation or inflammation of the heart, medications (prescription or over-the-counter), and injuries to the heart from chest trauma or heart surgery. Other factors like illegal drugs, alcohol, tobacco, caffeine, stress, and some herbal remedies can also cause arrhythmias.
An arrhythmia is a disturbance of the normal rhythm of the heart. Arrhythmias are very common and affect over 700,000 people in England. Arrhythmias may occur naturally, or be due to heart disease or other causes, such as a reaction to a medicine. An arrhythmia may occur continuously or just occasionally.
Arrhythmias can be temporary or permanent. They can be caused by several things, but can also occur for no apparent reason. Arrhythmias can be congenital, meaning a child is born with the condition. This can happen in a child with a birth defect of the heart, or even if a child’s heart has formed normally.
In most people, arrhythmias are minor and are not dangerous. A small number of people, however, have arrhythmias that are dangerous and require treatment. Arrhythmias are also more serious if you have other heart problems. In general, arrhythmias that start in the lower chambers of the heart (called the ventricles) are more serious than those that start in the upper chambers (called the atria). Your doctor will talk with you about the type of arrhythmia you have and whether you need treatment.
Could High Cholesterol Be A Contributing Factor In The Development Of Alzheimer’s Disease
Article by R.D. Hawkins
It is well-known that high cholesterol levels are a precursor to cardiovascular disease. We also know that heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States and seventy percent of heart attack victims have high cholesterol. But now there seems to be another really serious disease that experts believe could be linked to high cholesterol, and that is Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s disease is perhaps the most feared disease of all. Anyone who has had to watch helplessly as a family member gradually slipped into the darkness of Alzheimer’s knows the pain and heartbreak this disease can bring.
According to an article in HealthDay News research suggests that high cholesterol levels could raise the risk of Alzheimer’s disease by creating more brain-clogging bits known as plaque.
The good news, in what is a very disturbing sea of troubling information, is that the findings in this article don’t directly prove that high cholesterol causes Alzheimer’s disease or that lowering it would reduce the risk. Also, the research failed to link Alzheimer’s and dangerous brain tangles.
On the other hand, the discoveries add to prior research linking insulin resistance to this dangerous brain disease. According the study’s author Dr. Kensuke Sasaki better control of both cholesterol levels and insulin resistance, both risk factor for heart disease might contribute to a strategy for the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease.
Currently 5.4 million people are known to have Alzheimer’s disease and countless others have early stage Alzheimer’s which can easily be overlooked or confused with other much less severe conditions and diseases.
The research conducted by Dr. Sasaki consisted of 147 Japanese people – 76 men, 71 women who were all alive in 1988 when they went through a thorough clinical examination. All underwent autopsies between 1998 and 2003.
Of the 147 people participating in the study 49 had dementia, although no signs were apparent until 1988.
Compared with people with low cholesterol levels, those with high cholesterol levels were more likely to have plaque in the brain: 62 percent versus 86 percent.
On the other hand brain tangles weren’t more common in people with high cholesterol.
Dr. Marc L. Gordon, chief of neurology at the Zucker Hillside Hospital in Glen Oaks, N.Y., found the study to be both credible and intriguing and went on to add that this study reinforces the suspicion that high cholesterol levels in midlife, particularly bad cholesterol/LDL boosts the risk of Alzheimer’s later in life.
It is not clear how cholesterol may make plaques in the brain more common, said Gordon, although cholesterol is found in plaques. It is possible that cholesterol could set off another process that causes Alzheimer’s, he said, or that something else “predisposes you to be prone to Alzheimer’s and raises your cholesterol levels.”
In conclusion, high cholesterol has no known long-term benefits and now we can add Alzheimer’s to the list of possible dangerous diseases linked to it. Lowering cholesterol, in most cases, is about changing old habits, adopting new healthier habits, and enlisting the help of convention medications such as statins.
Put simply, this means finding ways to increase HDL (good cholesterol) and decrease LDL (bad cholesterol levels), while bringing overall cholesterol down to acceptable heart healthy levels. Certainly when deciding on ways to bring cholesterol levels into healthy levels the aforementioned statin drugs will be one of your options but they do carry a number of serious label warnings.
The side effect risks have compelled many natural health minded individuals to seek out alternatives. One of the safest, and most effective, are natural cholesterol reduction supplements containing ingredients such as policosanol and plant-based phytosterol compounds. When combined with a heart healthy diet and doctor approved daily exercise this all natural treatment approach has shown to one worth considering. As always talk to your doctor before making medication changes.
An Overview Of Heart Disease
Article by Cindy Heller
One of the most widely recognized causes of premature death worldwide today is heart disease. Although this may sound very depressing, the reality is that the incidence of premature deaths caused by heart disease has significantly declined in recent years. Although progress has been made in the treatment of heart disease, additional effort needs to be made to prevent this illness as much as possible. Heart disease often takes a toll on the sufferer’s and his family’s lives. Treating heart disease can also be very complicated, requiring specialized human resources, equipment and medication. The costs of such treatments are also very high. In summary, prevention is better than the cure. Let’s now review the other factors.
Who Are At Risk?
People who have a family history of heart disease are probably the most at risk. So, bear in mind that if hereditary heart disease is prevalent in your family it would probably be a wise step to discuss this aspect with your doctor and to have regular annual appointments with him to check for potential problems. Be assured that if you do this, your chances of circumventing heart disease will be so much better.
Heart Disease Is A Leading Cause For Fatalities
Although more men are prone to heart disease than women, it is the most widely recognized cause of death in women. Strangely enough the observation that women live longer than men is also still true. Women therefore have to take certain measures to prevent the onset and development of heart disease.
Recognition Of The Problem Often Occurs Too Late
Doctors and specialists today, armed with improved technologies, are able to diagnose and treat heart disease more comprehensively than ever in the past. Unfortunately, by the time most people realize that they are suffering from heart disease, it would have escalated to an advanced stage that poses a treatment challenge for physicians. Often the onset of the illness only comes to light when the person has already been afflicted by a stroke or heart attack.
Of the many contributing factors of heart disease in people, smoking cigarettes is the most critical. Other factors such as elevated blood cholesterol levels as well as obesity, high blood pressure, sedentary lifestyles and diabetes heighten the incidence of heart disease. The person who does not deny these risk factors will have a better understanding and chance of survival should he or she be afflicted by some form of heart disease. Obviously it will mean making some necessary lifestyle changes.
Tremendous advances in medical technology have been made in many areas and also in terms of treatment protocols for sufferers of coronary heart disease. The development of drugs specifically designed to prevent heart attacks has increased and are readily available. Surgical techniques have advanced tremendously since the days of Dr. Chris Barnard and the first heart transplant. Both drug and surgery treatment protocols are designed for the elimination of heart problems and the restoration of proper heart function. The success of these developments is documented by the sharp decline of fatalities due to heart disease.
Steps Forward In Dealing With Heart Disease
Many new preventive measures have been developed to reduce the problems associated with heart disease. In addition to the advances in medical treatment for people suffering from heart disease, public awareness for these illnesses has increased dramatically. People are educating themselves with regards to the good benefits of a healthy lifestyle, staying away from smoking and drugs and working out to a cardiovascular exercise routine that is specifically designed to exercise the heart to make it stronger.
This statement by no means indicates that heart disease is not a serious threat, or that heart disease can be circumvented with minor treatment programs. Not at all! Heart disease is a serious health condition the danger of which can never be underplayed. But it is interesting and important to realize that heart disease is no longer the death threat that it was in years gone by.
Check Ups Can Prevent Heart Problems
Regular examinations by the doctor will not prevent heart disease from happening, but these examinations may have a significant impact on your heath if they are able to nip a heart problem in the bud before it becomes serious. This makes sense with regards to any illness. Detecting heart disease early in its developmental stages can motivate the patient to obtain treatment as a matter of urgency. When treatment is received promptly, the higher the chances are to successfully treat the heart disease before it turns out to be life threatening. Because this is so important regular – at least annual – checkups are necessary for those who might be at risk for heart disease.
Understanding High Blood Pressure
Hypertension or high blood pressure is a condition of the heart that can cause many problems. Some people believe that hypertension is caused by people who are hyperactive, stressed or nervous. However, anyone can get high blood pressure. In order to deal with high blood pressure both for yourself and your loved ones, you need to understand more about this serious medical condition.
High blood pressure can work within your body for years, causing damage to your heart and symptoms that may seem hard to understand. Healthy arteries are strong flexible and elastic. With their smooth inner lining, they allow blood to flow freely so organs and tissues can receive the needed nutrients and oxygen.
The term high blood pressure is when the amount of pressure on the blood that flows is too high. Atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis can both be results of this increase in blood pressure.
The inner lining of the walls of the arteries become damaged, resulting in the condition called arteriosclerosis. Too much fat in the diet can then pass through these damaged arteries and begin collecting, which causes arteriosclerosis. Blood flow can now get blocked causing damage to the kidneys, heart, arms, legs and brain. In time, this can cause serious problems such as a stroke, heart failure, kidney failure, heart attack or an aneurysm.
When a weakened artery becomes enlarged and forms a bulge, an aneurysm occurs. Should the pressure continue, the aneurysm or bulge can then erupt which can result in internal bleeding that can be life-threatening. Aneurysms usually occur in the aorta, the largest artery in the body.
Besides these life threatening illnesses, the heart can be severely damaged if high blood pressure is present for very long. For example, when atherosclerosis occurs and the blood flow becomes blocked in the arteries, it is very possible to experience chest pain, irregular heart rhythms or even a heart attack. When people with high blood pressure have a heart attack, they are more likely to die because their blood pressure is not high enough after the attack.
Due to the hard work that is required of the heart, hypertension can cause damage to the left ventricle. The ventricle’s ability to pump blood into the body will then be limited. Heart attack, sudden cardiac death or heart failure can then result. The stress from high blood pressure over time begins to strain the heart. Slowly, the heart will begin to weaken and not function properly. Eventually, the heart will simply wear out and no longer be able to work as it should, even stopping, resulting in cardiac death. This will happen even sooner if the heart is damaged.
Other parts of the body, including the brain, can be damaged by hypertension. Because the brain depends on the heart for a nourishing blood supply, when the supply is diminished, the brain will suffer. This can result in many conditions. A transient ischemic attack (TIA) or ministroke is one such problem that can result. This can occur when there is not a proper blood supply to the brain. This is often caused by either atherosclerosis or a blood clot, both of which can be caused by hypertension. A TIA is often a warning that a regular stroke is imminent.
Another condition that can occur due to hypertension is a stroke, which is a direct result of the brain being deprived of oxygen and nutrients, causing brain cells to die. Strokes can occur when blood clots form in the arteries leading to the brain. An aneurysm in the brain may occur when a bulge in a blood vessel wall, resulting in bleeding in the brain, which can be life-threatening.
Hypertension can also cause dementia and mild cognitive impairment. Reasoning, memory, vision, thinking, and movement are all handled by the brain. All of these things can be affected if they do not receive the proper supply of blood. Even Alzheimer’s disease can occur because of the affect on memory and understanding.
Besides these important conditions, damage can occur in the kidneys due to the decreasing flow of blood to the kidneys. This can result in kidney failure, kidney scarring or kidney artery aneurysm. The blood vessels to the eyes can be affected, resulting in impaired vision. Sexual dysfunction, bone loss and insomnia are other areas that can be directly linked to high blood pressure.
There are things that can be done to both prevents and stop hypertension. A healthy diet, exercise and a low salt diet can help. Blood pressure medications such as carvedilol and hydrochlorothiazide have been helpful as well.
Most importantly, get the hypertension under control as soon as possible. Do whatever you must to get the blood pressure down to a healthy level. Changing your lifestyle, following your doctor’s orders and taking your medication will soon eliminate hypertension and put you on the track to a long successful life.