Health Hypertension-Blood Pressure

Hypothyroidism

2009-05-19T19:39:00.000-07:00

Hypothyroid patient should consult endocrinologist regularly. Thyroid diseases are more common in ladies. T3,T4 levels are low & TSH levels are high.
. Thyroid hormone monitoring ( T3,T4,TSH) should be done at 6 month intervals or as advised by endocrinologist.
. Use iodized salt. Foods fortified with iodine are also available
. Hypothyroidism is more likely to occur in a person if his / her parents / siblings have hypothyroidism
Hypothyroid patient has cold intolerance. So the patient should have adequate warm clothes for winter.
He is more likely to have lipid abnormalities ( hyperlipidemia / dislipidemia/ hypercholesterolemia) & obesity which is a risk factor for heart disease. He also gets constipation. So he has to be more careful about diet. He should avoid certain goitrogenic substances ( like cassava)in diet. Tab. Eltroxin has to be taken regularly.
Hypothyroidism in children ( congenital hypothyroidism ) is called as cretinism. In such cases, parents have to be extra careful about Rx as brain development( intelligence) can get affected & child appears sluggish, mentally retarded. Intelligence quotient level is low. Mental retardation is seen

Read -
Causes and Rx of hypothyroidism

Thyroid disease

Thyroid disease - Goitre (neck swelling) -Causes, symptoms & treatment

Causes and treatment of Constipation

Ischemic Heart Disease

2009-05-14T10:15:00.000-07:00

What is Ischemic Heart Disease?
Blood flow to the heart is reduced
. Factors reducing coronary blood flow include:
1. Decreased aortic diastolic pressure
2. Increased intraventricular pressure and myocardial contraction
3. Coronary artery stenosis, which can be further subdivided into the following etiologies:
o Fixed coronary stenosis
o Acute plaque change (rupture, hemorrhage)
o Coronary artery thrombosis
o Vasoconstriction
4. Aortic valve stenosis and regurgitation
5. Increased right atrial pressure
Blood flow to the heart can be further decreased by superimposed events such as vasospasm, thrombosis or circulatory changes leading to hypoperfusion. Coronary artery perfusion depends upon the pressure differential between the ostia (aortic diastolic pressure) and coronary sinus (right atrial pressure). Coronary blood flow is reduced during systole because of Venturi effects at the coronary orifices and compression of intramuscular arteries during ventricular contraction
Extra cholesterol is a major risk factor for atherosclerosis & cardiac disease. Total cholesterol should be < 225. atherosclerosis causes narrowing of blood vessel walls. Tummy fat in men & excess hip, thigh fat in women not only affects cosmetic appearance but increases risk of heart disease too.
Dietary precautions & lifestyle changes to get protection against heart disease
. Avoid excess salt. Foods like papad, pickle contain excess salt.
. Avoid excess red meat, eggs, chicken, dairy products
. Red wine in moderate amounts gives protection against heart disease
Remember that heart disease affects one's sex life badly as it affects stamina & erectile function. Heart disease indicates dysfunction at the level of blood vessels which occurs at penis blood vessels leading to poor blood supply to penis

Take care in Summer

2009-05-14T06:41:00.000-07:00

. Drink lots of water. This will help skin to be healthy & prevent dehydration.
. Cut down on sugar and junk food.
. Avoid oily food, mutton, chicken, cold drinks.
. Take plenty of green vegetables, fruits, onion, curds, pineapple and salad
. Do following exercise - walk, swimming. Exercise in summer should not be very heavy as in Winter as one tends to sweat a lot & lose water & electrolytes. Have bath twice a day with cold water. Use fan, cooler & AC
. Add enough salt to foods & drinks to prevent electrolyte imbalance
. Drink lemon sharbat or amla ( gooseberry) drink to feel energetic.
. Eat mangoes, apple, oranges, watermelon. " Kairi" means raw mango. A drink called as " Kairiche panhe" is very useful & refreshing. Fruit juices will rejuvenate you
. Keep glucon-D / oral rehydration solution packs ready at home. It is available in orange flavour. When you feel very tired, it gives instant energy. Daily drink water with added sugar / jaggery & lemon. Eat gulkand which gives relief from excess heat.
Avoid drinking sugarcane juice unless it is prepared fresh in front of you. Ice used for such juice may not have been prepared from purified water. You may suffer from jaundice , diarrhea. Read -
Causes & treatment of Diarrhea (lose motions)

Drink Tender coconut water daily to prevent electrolyte imbalance.
Read -

Health Benefits of Tender coconut water
Health Benefits of Apple- Prevent anemia
Health Benefits of Mango- Prevent constipation
Avoid very spicy food.
Avoid eating icecream, kulfi on road. You may get typhoid.
Use hat, umbrella to protect from heat stroke. Avoid drinking very cold water immediately after getting exposed to excess heat. Wash eyes frequently with cold water.
. Use sun-screen lotions ( with sun protection factor-SPF >30) to protect from sun burns

Red wine & heart disease

2009-05-13T10:09:00.001-07:00

Red wine decreased the likelihood of death among the obese. So moderate amount of wine drinking is acceptable & beneficial to heart. It reduces risk of atherosclerosis & reduces chances of heart attacks. This should be controlled as excess alcohol is harmful to liver & leads to addiction ( alcohol abuse).

hypothyroidism

2009-05-07T08:28:00.000-07:00

Causes of Cretinism -congenital hypothyroidism in infants

Uses of Beta blockers

2009-05-06T18:17:00.000-07:00

Beta blockers decrease heart rate and pumping action. Thus these are effective in tachycardia ( increased heart rate)
. Reduce blood pressure by dilating blood vessels
. Hyperthyroidism for symptomatic relief. Read more -
. Hypertension
. Arrhythmias
. Palpitations
. Glaucoma – timolol, betaxolol eye drops are used
To relieve anxiety before making public speech, exams
Read more-
Uses of beta blocker drugs in heart disease (anginal chest pain) & hyperthyroidism

Yogasanas are ideal for relaxation. Yoga also helps to promote regular blood circulation in the body.

Myocardial infarction -Heart attack with chest pain

2009-05-04T21:32:00.000-07:00

The electrocardiogram in acute infarction would be most reliable. This is the main aid and it reflects the specific changes in a very short time. Those gross changes of infarction may appear in the electrocardiogram in the first hour in the majority of cases. In some case it may take as much as 24 hours or even more. The electrocardiogram also shows changes suggestive of angina & cardiac ischemia
. Read more about cholesterol, red wine & how these affect heart

Treatment of heart disease and Hyperthyroidism

2009-05-04T01:52:00.000-07:00

Antihypertensive Drugs will act 1 month after starting.

Read -
Treatment of heart disease and Hyperthyroidism
Lipids Enemy of health

Antioxidants in green tea with health benefits

2009-04-27T04:27:00.000-07:00

Antioxidants are present in green tea. It thus reduces chances of damage due to free radicals. Many scientific and medical studies have proved this.
It is useful in Rx of -
1. Alzheimer's disease
2. Parkinson's disease
3. Multiple sclerosis
4. Improves brain & urinary function
5. Reduces cholesterol & triglycerides. Thus it is useful in weight loss & cardiac disease prevention.
6. Polyphenols in tea may decrease the risk of cancers of skin, breast,ovary, stomach,esophageal, pancreatic, prostate, etc.
It is prepared from leaves of Camellia sinensis & widely consumed in China , Asia and Japan.
Tulsi reduces blood pressure.
Read - Herbal tea - Health benefits
Tulsi-medicinal-uses

Breast cancer- Causes, prevention, Treatment

Stress- Cause, adverse effects on health & stress busters

2009-01-29T04:17:00.001-08:00

Stress can affect body & cause a lot of harm. Chronic stress can be the result of irritating hassles or a long term life condition such as a difficult job situation or problems in family life..

How to identify that stress is developing?

One should recognize when stress is setting in.
Following are the signs -

Inability to sleep

Muscle tension

Raising voice

Increasing heart beats

Excessive tiredness,

Dry mouth,

Erratic movements,

Breathing difficulty,

Stomach upset - diarrhea, acidity

Excessive sweating

Sexual dysfunction ( lack of sex desire -libido, erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation)

Chronic stress can have following effects :-

Muscle pain :-
Neck, shoulder and low back pain.

Cardiovascular Disease :-

High blood pressure,
Abnormal heartbeat (arrhythmia),
Problems with blood clotting and hardening of the artery (atherosclerosis).
Coronary artery disease, heart attack or even heart failure.

The respiratory system :-

Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)

Skin Problems :-

Stress can make disorders such as acne, bronchial asthma or psoriasis worse. Stress worsens the symptoms of pre-menstrual syndrome

Immune system :-

The body tends to become more prone to illness, from colds and minor infections to major diseases. If you have a chronic illness such as AIDS or cancer, stress can make the symptoms worse.

Stomach and intestinal problems.

Alteration in bowel habits
Gastroesophageal reflux disease
Peptic ulcer disease
irritable bowel syndrome.

Reproductive system :-

Painful menstrual period,
Decreased fertility & libido and
Erection problems & decreased sperm production.

”Short term stress”

‘Tension’ is often the first sign of acute stress. Tense muscles are tight and feel ‘hard’ to touch. A tense mind make you feel jumpy, irritable and unable to concentrate. One tends to make a lot of mistakes. This can be a warning to do something about stress to prevent long term effects of stress and enjoy a comfort.

Acute Stress problems :-

Acute (Short term) stress is the body’s immediate reaction to any situation that seems demanding or dangerous. Your stress level depends on how intense the stress is, how long it lasts and how you cope with the situation. The body usually recovers quickly from acute stress, but it can cause problems if it happens too often or your body doesn’t have a chance to return to normal. In people who have heart problem, acute stress can trigger an abnormal heartbeat (arrhythmia) and even a heart attack.

Stress Busters

One should do some relaxing activities regularly.

1. One should have regular sex. Sex is a very good stress reliever. Find some time for romance. Interact with your wife.

2. Arrange tours at weekends with family & friends. Select nearby hillstations.

Read -
Headache-Migraine

Regular exercise is beneficial for heart & sex life

2009-01-27T06:38:00.000-08:00

Regular exercise is the key for a healthy body.. It helps in reducing fat & weight loss. It improves heart function

“ Health is wealth”. " A sound mind in a sound body". One should not forget this.

Yoga helps in achieving good health.
Yoga gives us mental peace & keeps physically fit to fight stress. It keeps body flexible. All over the world, people are following yoga now.

Tummy Reduction And Weight Loss Are Very Important For Avoiding Hypertension

2009-01-25T06:32:00.000-08:00

Tips for tummy reduction

1)join gym.Do situps

2)yoga is very good especially pranayam exercises.

3)avoid oily food.

4)cut down on sugar and junk food.

5)Drink lots of water

6)Do following exersizes -run, walk, swimming, etc

7)Take plenty of green vegetables & salad

8)Hot water has the capability of liquifying fat. So strictly drink hot water

9)"Surya-namaskar" is also very good & it helps in reducing fat. This is a method of exercise which is followed in India which gives a good exercise to almost all body parts.

10)Eat a lot of salad which gives less calories .Also it gives a feeling of fullness & prevents eating of food which contains high calories

11)Avoid 3 white things in excess-"sugar,salt & ghee"

12)Avoid foods like-mutton,chicken,eggs in excess .These contain a lot of fat.Eating in proper amount is allowed

Read -
Lipids-Enemy of health

2009-01-25T04:35:00.000-08:00

Systemic hypertension is a multifactorial disease.
Hypertension is ranked as the fourth greatest mortality risk factor in the world. It is defined as a state of persistent elevated pressure above 140/90 mm of Hg on two or more blood pressure recordings.

Hypertension may be divided into primary and secondary.
. Primary (or essential) hypertension means exact cause is unknown & it comes as a part of aging process. It is by far the most common type, representing more than 90% of cases.
. Secondary hypertension may be iatrogenic (oral contraceptives, steroid therapy) or may be caused by renal parenchymal disease, renal artery stenosis, and endocrine causes

Hypertensive retinopathy is a well-known condition. Hypertension can cause retinal artery & vein occlusion. In grade 3 "Hypertensive retinopathy", one sees a lot of hemorrhages in fundus while in grade 4 "Hypertensive retinopathy", optic disc edema also develops.

Choroidopathy in malignant hypertension may affect visual function permanently but may also in part be related to two other factors, the compromised circulation of the optic nerve and maculopathy in the form of extensive macular exudates. The fundus changes may be the reflections of changes that are going on in other organs of the body like heart, brain and the kidneys.

DM & HT are 2 enemies which once enter our body will remain for whole life. There is no cure. We can only control HT & DM. It is also the most important risk factor for cerebral vascular disease. The mortality and morbidity associated with hypertension also include renal and ophthalmic end-organ damage. HT can cause ischemic heart disease(IHD) & cardiac failure.
Hypertension patient can develop sudden cerebrovascular attacks(stroke).Sudden reduction of blood pressure through the administration of multiple antihypertensive medications may result in hypoperfusion and ischemic injury to susceptible tissues

Medicines for blood pressure

2008-11-16T03:29:00.000-08:00

Certain medicines have some side effects

Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors produce dry hacking cough in some patients
Beta blockers like propanolol,atenolol can cause bradycardia & may prove harmful in patients with heart blocks
Calcium channel blocker drugs like nifedipine(depin) should not be given sublingually in cases of very high BP as it causes sudden fall in BP which is not desirable.Give this drug orally

Ramipril is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor prescribed for Hypertension -High blood pressure. Other angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are -
1. Lisinopril
2. Enalapril ( Brand name- envas)

2008-11-13T09:34:00.000-08:00

A lot of medicines are available to control BP
1.Oral beta blockers like propranolol ( tablet inderal), atenolol ( tablet aten)
2.ACE ( angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitors
3 Calcium channel blockers
4 Sodium nitroprusside to control sudden rise in BP

Hypertension diabetes

2008-11-13T06:57:00.000-08:00

Hypertension & diabetes both are uncurable diseases.We can only control these diseases.
Hypertension can worsen diabetic retinopathy.
Both these diseases can damage kidney & this again leads to worsening of diabetic retinopathy
For help - contact drsrb1@gmail.com