Posted: April 27th, 2010 | Filed under: Heart Disease Prevention | Tags: Heart Disease, Heart Health, Heart Staple, HeartStaple, Intelligent Health, Portable ECG Machine, Portable EKG Machine, Risk Factor, Risk Factors for Heart Disease |
Posted: April 18th, 2010 | Filed under: Diabetes, Guest Contribution | Tags: Diabetes, ECG, Heart Disease, Heart Health, Heart Rhythm Management, HeartStaple, Portable ECG Machine, Portable EKG Machine |
Our pancreas is affected by diabetes – specifically, Type 2.Our body contains glucose found in the blood stream, which it gets from the sugar in food. Our body uses the glucose, but only when it goes into our blood cells and the insulin released by our pancreas converts it. Insulin production and utilization is difficult for someone who lives with Type 2 diabetes .There is a lot of glucose in the body, but your cells cannot locate them.
The American Diabetes Association has the duty of looking for information regarding this important medical condition. 23.6 million individuals living in America currently have diabetes, and because of this the country is seen as very unhealthy. Ninety percent of this figure has been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Diabetes and the tendency to be overweight usually run in the family. If there is too much glucose in your body, it could result in serious internal organ damage and affect one’s nervous system.
Living with Diabetes
A life with Type 2 diabetes is best lived in a healthy way. Diabetics will find that healthy practices will have a huge effect on them. Simple actions like eating healthy food and exercising are considered as healthy practices. Keeping the levels of your glucose within the appropriate range ensures you stay away from health complications.
To check the levels of blood glucose in your body, you can do the common finger prick test. Physicians say that such a test is comparable to the HbA1c test when tracking the glucose fluctuations in your body. This HbA1c test works by determining how high your glucose levels are and by identifying the blood’s exact glycated hemoglobin percentage. According to results of the A1c tests, people who have diabetes maintain their levels at seven percent. A seven percent maintaining level of a1c, according to the CDC, can dramatically reduce the risks of this disease by around forty percent.
Too-Tight Controls
Many studies in the medical field show that if your a1c levels are below seven percent it could mean a bad thing. People who use insulin and people who have median a1c levels have a higher death risk, according to the Seattle Lancet and Swedish Medical Center’s studies. Other tests maintain that keeping your a1c level at seven percent is still on the healthy side. Accredited endocrinologist Matt Davies shares that seven percent is healthy but it is still important for physicians to consider a patient’s medical history before implementing treatment.
About the Author – Kristina Ridley writes for the bloodless glucose meter blog , her personal hobby blog focused on healthy eating and tips to measure blood glucose levels at home to help people understand early diabetes symptoms.
Posted: February 26th, 2010 | Filed under: Atrial Fibrillation | Tags: arrhythmias, Atrial Fibrillation, Heart Abnormal Rhythm, Heart Disease, Heart Health, Heart Rhythm Management, Heart Staple Wiki |
The FDA advised patients currently taking Invirase that they should not stop taking the drug, but to discuss any questions or concerns they have about Invirase with their doctors.
As well, the FDA said patients should review their cardiovascular medical history and current medications with their doctors to determine if they should continue using Invirase, and report any side-effects.
FDA’s preliminary analysis of clinical trial data from Invirase’s manufacturer, Roche, suggests the drug combination can lead to irregular heart rhythms that can cause lightheadedness, fainting and in some cases death.
The heart rhythm problem occurred in healthy patients aged 18 to 55 who were taking 1,000 mg of Invirase boosted with 100 mg of Norvir. The side-effects depended on the dose, FDA said.
The FDA is still reviewing the magnitude of the effects and their clinical implications.
What are arrhythmias?
Arrhythmias (or dysrhythmias) are problems that affect the electrical system of the heart muscle, producing abnormal heart rhythms. They can cause the heart to pump less effectively.
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.
Under some conditions almost all heart tissue can start a heartbeat. In other words, another part of the heart can become the pacemaker. An arrhythmia occurs…
