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    Pulmonary Embolism / 16 Feb 2016

    Pulmonary Embolism

    What to Know If You Have Pulmonary Embolism People who have recently been diagnosed with pulmonary embolism may wonder what is a pulmonary embolism, what are the symptoms, and how is it treated. Pulmonary embolism occurs when a major artery in the lung is suddenly blocked, usually by a blood clot. This often happens when a blood clot in the leg breaks off and travels to the lung. A small amount of cases are caused by air or fat. Most cases of pulmonary embolism are not deadly, but if the clot is too large or is not taken care of quickly, it can prevent blood from flowing to the lung, which can be potentially fatal. People who are older than 70 years old and people who are obese have more of a risk of pulmonary embolism. Other common pulmonary embolism causes include: Prolonged bedrest after a surgery or illness. Diseases such as cancer, heart failure, and stroke. Childbirth, particularly a cesarean section. Pulmonary embolism has several noticeable symptoms that can bring awareness to the condition. The most common pulmonary embolism signs include: Shortness of breath Rapid breathing Sharp chest pain Coughing or coughing up blood Cyanosis (blue discoloration in the lips or fingers) Pulmonary embolism diagnosis can be complicated because doctors will need to thoroughly review a patient’s medical history to know if they are at a high risk for the condition. Doctors will often use a pulmonary embolism ECG to measure electrical activity of the heart. This test will rule out the possibility of a heart attack. Also, doctors may perform an arterial blood gas analysis to test for a drop in the oxygen level of the blood. A common pulmonary embolism treatment is anticoagulent medicines that prevent new blood clots from forming. If the condition is severe and…

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  • Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
    Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension / 05 Nov 2018

    What Is Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension?

    Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a serious, life-threatening condition. The condition gradually gets worse over time and can lead to heart failure. Treating the condition can help to decrease symptoms to improve the life of those who have the condition. What Is Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension? Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare type of pulmonary hypertension. It is not the same as high blood pressure, and it is sometimes referred to as type 1 pulmonary hypertension. When a person has PAH, the small blood vessels (pulmonary arteries) that are responsible for transporting blood through the lungs begin to narrow. This narrowing restricts the blood flow and causes blood pressure levels to rise. The heart works harder to pump the blood into these arteries. This can eventually weaken the heart and cause heart failure. There are several reasons that PAH may develop. These reasons include: Blood clots in lungs Congestive heart failure Congenital heart defects Eisenmenger syndrome HIV Chronic disease of the liver or cirrhosis Illegal drug use, such as methamphetamines or cocaine Autoimmune diseases, such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis Glycogen storage disorders Sleep apnea Sometimes there is no reason for PAH to develop. When this occurs, the condition is known as idiopathic PAH. Idiopathic Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Symptoms Idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension symptoms gradually worsen over time. When the condition occurs, the symptoms may be so slight that they aren’t noticed and will become increasingly problematic as the disease progresses. These symptoms include: Shortness of breath Dizziness Swelling in the legs and ankles Weakness Chest pains Passing out or fainting Diagnosing Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension When a patient presents with the symptoms of PAH, the doctor will order tests to confirm the diagnosis. These tests may include: Ultrasounds of the heart CT scans Ventilation-perfusion scan Electrocardiogram Exercise testing…

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  • diabetes03
    Diabetes / 27 Oct 2015

    Preventing Diabetes

    Key Lifestyle Modifications for Preventing Type 2 Diabetes Type 2 diabetes is a preventable medical condition with the right nutrition and workout routine. As the number of cases of diabetes rises each year in the United States, it is more important than ever to learn what to do to prevent this disease. Type 2 diabetes, also known as non-insulin dependent diabetes, is a condition in which the sugars from food have difficulty getting into body cells because the cells become resistant to an important hormone, insulin. Type 1 diabetes is much less common than type 2 and is caused by insufficient insulin production, due to an autoimmune process. This occurs when the body’s own immune system damages the pancreatic cells that normally produce insulin. Preventing and reducing the risk of acquiring diabetes is easy with a consistent diet and fitness routine. Muscles require a huge amount of energy during exercise, most of which is supplied by the breakdown of carbohydrates into simple sugars. Exercising causes the receptors on the body’s cells to become more sensitive to insulin, allowing glucose to move into the cell and be used for energy production. So, exercise directly affects the body’s ability to take in and utilize glucose, reducing the risk of diabetes. The best fitness routine for maximizing glucose utilization in the body is moderate intensity exercise for 30 or more minutes at least five days per week. Jogging, Zumba, Crossfit, kayaking, mountain biking, and swimming are just a few of the ways to get your workout in each day. Nutrition is also key in preventing diabetes. When a person eats a meal high in sugar, it is immediately absorbed into the bloodstream and overwhelms the body’s ability to take the sugar in. Eating a well-balanced meal with complex carbohydrates such as dark, leafy…

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