How long can a person live with congestive heart failure?

Congestive heart failure is a progressive disease that gets worse over time, especially if it remains untreated. It is often caused by other conditions that weaken the heart, such as:

·         heart attack

·         coronary heart disease

·         congenital heart disease

·         faulty heart valves

·         high blood pressure

·         inflammation or damage to the heart muscle

There are four stages of congestive heart failure (CHF), each with a different outlook. Many other disorders and lifestyle choices contribute to the development of CHF.

In some cases, life expectancy and outlook can be positively affected by lifestyle changes, medications, and surgery.

Life expectancy

A 2016 study estimated that about half of people who develop heart failure live beyond 5 years after being diagnosed.

However, there is no simple answer for life expectancy rates, as the average life expectancy for each stage of CHF varies greatly. Personal lifestyle choices may also play a factor, as well as whether a person has other medical problems.

CHF is not curable, but early detection and treatment may help improve a person's life expectancy. Following a treatment plan that includes lifestyle changes may help improve their quality of life.

Symptoms and stage

When a person has CHF, their heart has difficulty pumping blood to the other organs in the body. This problem occurs because the walls of the ventricles, which typically pump the blood through the body, become too thin and weak, causing the blood stay in the ventricle, rather than pushing it out.

Blood remaining in the heart can cause fluid retention because the heart is not pumping enough blood through the body to push out excess fluids.

CHF has four stages based on the severity of symptoms. Understanding each stage may help shed light on a person's life expectancy rates, and explain why they can vary so much.

·         Stage 1 or pre-CHF: People with pre-CHF may have disorders that affect the heart, or doctors may have noticed a weakness in their heart that has not yet caused any symptoms.

·         Stage 2: People with stage 2 CHF may have minor symptoms but are still otherwise healthy. People with stage 2 CHF often have existing heart complications but lack definitive symptoms of heart failure. Doctors may recommend that these people reduce their workload and make lifestyle changes.

·         Stage 3: People with stage 3 CHF may experience symptoms regularly and may not be able to do their regular tasks, especially if they have other health conditions.

·         Stage 4 or late-stage CHF: A person with stage 4 CHF may have severe or debilitating symptoms throughout the day, even while at rest. Late-stage CHF often requires extensive medical and surgical treatment to manage.

The symptoms of CHF vary greatly depending on the stage, and whether a person has any other medical conditions. However, common symptoms include:

swelling in the legs and feet caused by a buildup of excess fluid

·         bloating

·         shortness of breath

·         fatigue

·         nausea

·         chest pain

Other conditions that affect the heart can also cause CHF, and the person will probably also be dealing with the symptoms that these additional conditions create.

Early diagnosis of CHF may help people manage their symptoms and make preventative lifestyle changes, which may give them a better long-term outlook

Treatment

Medical treatment for CHF involves reducing the amount of fluid in the body to ease some of the strain on the heart and improving the heart's ability to pump blood.

Doctors may prescribe angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) as a way to help the heart pump blood more effectively.

In some cases, doctors may also prescribe beta-blockers to support these efforts and control the heart rate.

Doctors also commonly prescribe diuretics for people with CHF, as they may help the body eliminate excess liquid. Common diuretics include hydrochlorothiazide, bumetanide, and furosemide.

In the later stages of heart failure, doctors may recommend surgery to insert a left ventricular assisted device (LVAD) into the heart. An LVAD is a pump that helps the heart muscle contract, and it is often a permanent solution. A full heart transplant may also be an option if the person is considered suitable for the operation.

Lifestyle changes

No matter what stage of CHF a person is at, or what medical treatment they follow, doctors will likely recommend making lifestyle changes to minimize the impact of CHF. These changes may help slow the condition and increase a person's quality of life.

Diet and exercise

Eating a healthful, varied diet and getting regular exercise is recommended for everyone, but is especially important for people with CHF.

Doctors often recommend that people with CHF eliminate excess salt (sodium) from their diet, as it causes the body to retain fluids. Doctors may also recommend cutting out alcohol.

Aerobic exercise is any activity that elevates the heart rate and breathing rate. Activities include swimming, bicycling, or jogging.

Regular aerobic exercise may improve heart health, leading to a better quality of life and perhaps even increasing life expectancy in people with CHF. Doctors can help individuals make a personalized exercise routine that works for them.

Fluid restriction

People with CHF tend to retain fluid in the body, so doctors often recommend restricting their fluid intake to the minimum each day.

Consuming too much liquid may cancel out the effects of diuretic medicines. While it is essential to stay hydrated, a doctor will be able to recommend just how much fluid a person can safely consume a day.

Weight

For someone with CHF, watching their weight is often less about fat accumulation than it is about fluid retention.

Doctors will often ask people to monitor their weight each day to check for any sudden or fast weight gain, which may be linked to fluid retention.

Monitoring a person's weight every day can help a doctor prescribe the correct levels of diuretics to help the body release fluid.

Takeaway

Each person with CHF will have a different experience with the condition, and life expectancy for the disease will vary significantly between individuals.

Life expectancy depends on what stage CHF has reached, as well as what other complications or health problems the person has. People who have received an early diagnosis may have a better outlook than those who did not receive a diagnosis until the later stages.

Many people find that positive lifestyle changes can significantly improve the symptoms of CHF and their well-being. Medication helps many people with CHF, and doctors will sometimes recommend surgery.

Working directly with a doctor or medical team is crucial to make an individualized treatment plan and give someone the best possible outlook.

Source : Medicalnewstoday

Can we protect the brain from cosmic radiation?

As we prepare to enter a new era of space travel, we must find ways of averting health risks posed by the cosmic environment. Deep space radiation, in particular, is known to impair cognitive function. Have researchers found a way to undo that damage?'Cosmic radiation may affect brain long-term'

This is the eve of sending astronauts to explore deep space, colonizing and terraforming other planets, and planning for space tourism.

But space travel comes with its own set of health risks.

One main threat comes from cosmic radiation, which can harm the central nervous system, altering cognitive function and leading to symptoms similar to those found in Alzheimer's disease.

With their colonizing missions to Mars planned for as soon as the 2030s, NASA — as well as private companies interested in space travel concepts — have been looking into effective ways of protecting astronauts from the harms of radiation.

So far, researchers have focused mainly on how to enhance spacecrafts and protective outfits for outer space travelers to fend off this strong radiation.

Now, however, investigators from the University of California, San Francisco — led by Susanna Rosi — have started developing a treatment that might offset the neurodegeneration triggered by cosmic rays.

The results of their experiments, which they carried out on mouse models, are now published in the journal Scientific Reports.

Previous research conducted by Rosi and team found that, after mice were exposed to a level of radiation roughly equivalent to what human astronauts might encounter during an outer space mission, their capacity to differentiate between familiar and unfamiliar objects was impaired.

Usually, when mice are faced with two objects — one that is new and unknown to them and one that they formerly explored — they will spend more time familiarizing themselves with the new object.

Other symptoms that the mice presented included problems with social interactions and a sense of elevated anxiety. Rosi and team note that this was likely because of the effect the strong radiation had on the microglia, or nerve cells found in the brain and spinal chord that are part of the central nervous system's immune mechanism.However, the animals that had been exposed to radiation tended to spend an equal amount of time exploring both objects, which suggested to the researchers that the mice had forgotten they had already been exposed to one of the two.

When microglia are activated, they can cause symptoms — such as impaired memory recall — that are consistent with those of neurodegenerative disorders.

This is partly due to the fact that they are driven to destroy synapses, or the connections formed between brain cells that allow them to convey information.

We are starting to have evidence that exposure to deep space radiation might affect brain function over the long-term, but as far as I know, no one had explored any possible countermeasures that might protect astronauts' brains against this level of radiation exposure."

New compound shows promise

In the new study, Rosi and colleagues collaborated with researchers from Loma Linda University in California to find a therapy that might counteract the effects of radiation on the brain.

They started with a similar experiment on mice, in which they were exposed to a dose of radiation similar to that which might affect a deep space traveler.

After a week, the mice were either given a regular, controlled diet for 15 days, or one that included treatment with an experimental compound called PLX5622.

The PLX5622 diet works by depleting microglia in the central nervous system. In past research, PLX5622 treatment had been shown to protect cognitive function in mice exposed to cranial irradiation as a form of cancer therapy. Rosi and team took their cue from these results.

The recent experiments also yielded encouraging outcomes. First, the scientists noticed that, although at first they presented no cognitive impairments, within 3 months from the initial irradiation, the control diet mice presented impaired novel object recognition.

However, the mice that had received PLX5622 therapy demonstrated no such damage to memory recall.

In comparing the brains of mice from each group, the researchers revealed that those from the control group featured many activated microglia and had lost numerous synapses, while those from the PLX5622 therapy group looked healthy.

Why is this? Rosi and team believe that by forcing the central nervous system to eliminate activated microglia, new, healthy nerve cells came to replace them, allowing the mice to maintain normal cognitive function.

"This is really neat evidence, first that rebooting the brain's microglia can protect cognitive function following radiation exposure, and second that we don't necessarily need to treat immediately following the radiation exposure for the drug to be effective," Rosi explains.

However, the researchers are excited not just about this experimental therapy's potential for space travelers. Drugs tapping into similar mechanisms as PLX5622 are already being tested in clinical trials for the treatment of cancer.

This means that such drugs might lend themselves well to a wider array of problems, including cognitive impairment in the wake of cancer treatment.

"NASA is very interested in finding ways of ensuring both astronaut safety and mission success during deep space travel," notes study co-author Karen Krukowski

"But," she adds, "astronauts are a small population — it's exciting that these findings could potentially help prevent many other forms of cognitive impairment."

Source : Medicalnewstoday

"How to use essential oils for hair growth"

There are many essential oils a person can use to promote hair health. These oils are ingredients in a variety of products, including specialty shampoos and conditioners.

Best essential oils for hair growth

While more research is needed, some evidence does exist to suggest that essential oils can help hair to grow healthier and stronger. Examples include:

Bergamot oil

One study found that bergamot essential oil helps facilitate wound healing and reduce inflammation. This may help promote hair growth and a healthy scalp.Another study found that bergamot displays antimicrobial activity when applied to the scalp.

Jojoba oil

Jojoba oil comes from the seeds of the Zizyphus jujube plant. According to one study, when jojoba oil was applied to shaved hair, it promoted faster hair growth than hair that did not have jojoba oil.

Peppermint oil

Some research found that peppermint oil promoted hair growth more effectively than topical applications of saline, jojoba oil, and minoxidil, which is a medication commonly used to treat hair loss.

The researchers also found that peppermint essential oil increased scalp thickness and the number of hair follicles. They also suggested that peppermint oil may help to promote a more rapid growth stage for hair in the body.

Peppermint oil contains menthol, which causes the blood vessels just under the skin to dilate. This additional blood flow could help to promote further hair growth.

Additional oils

Other essential oils that may be helpful in promoting hair growth include chamomile, rosemary, and sage oil.

Risks

Essential oils are usually well-tolerated when diluted in a carrier oil. However, some people may experience allergic reactions, including itching, swelling, and irritation.

If a person has an adverse reaction to an essential oil, they should wash off the oil with soap and water as soon as possible.

Anyone experiencing problems breathing, dizziness, and changes in consciousness should seek emergency medical treatment.

Some essential oils can make the skin more sensitive to the sun, including

·         lemon

·         grapefruit

·         orange

It is best to apply these oils before bed, so that a person is not immediately exposed to the sun after use.

According to the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy, some oils, such as sage and peppermint oils, should not be used during pregnancy or while breast-feeding.

Source : Medical News Today

Nipah Virus: Everything about the virus that's taking lives in Kerala!

Kerala has been on high alert due to mysterious deaths of eight people because of an unidentified viral attack. Out of these, three were reported to be caused by Nipah Virus(NiV). As per the National Institute of Virology, Pune,Nipah Virus is the sole cause of these three deaths. Rajiv Sadanandan, Kerala’s health secretary, has assured that the government has started its preparation towards fewer deaths and that people should not panic. An unheard virus, NiV is yet to be understood by many. Here is what the virus is all about.

What is NiV?
 

As per the World Health Organisation (WHO), Nipah Virus is a newly emerging zoonosis that causes a severe disease in both animals and humans. This virus was first identified in Malaysia and Singapore in 1998. At that time, it was primarily caused in pigs and through them got transferred to humans. Nipah Virus infected as many as 265 people then, out of which 40 per cent were taken under intensive care due to the infection having spread severely. As quoted by the WHO, the natural host of the virus are fruit bats of the Pteropodidae Family, Pteropus genus.
 

The virus can be transferred through infected bats, pigs or humans who have been infected. In 2004, humans who consumed the date palm sap infected by fruit bats, caught the virus as well. Humans who were infected by other humans were reported in Bangladesh and India.

Signs and symptoms
 

Experts say that Nipah Virus is not an airborne transmission infection, it can only affect those who come in direct contact with contaminated bodies.

Nipah Virus is usually associated with inflammation of the brain due to which severe days of fever can often lead to a state of confusion, disorientation and even persistent drowsiness. If not taken care of, these symptoms can even cause a coma in a span of 24-48 hours. There are many patients who show neurological, respiratory and pulmonary signs as well. Therefore, do not ignore any such signs.

Some common signs and symptoms of NiV are headache, fever, nausea, dizziness, drowsiness and mental issues such as confusion. These symptoms can last up to 7-10 days. Watching out for respiratory illness during the early stages is also a must.

Prevention and cure

As of now, there is no particular vaccine available purely for the treatment of Nipah Virus. The only way to treat this virus is through intensive supportive care.

Since drinking raw date palm sap bitten by a bat can also cause NiV, it is safe to say that you should stay from consuming date palm for some time. Hospitals also need to raise awareness about symptoms and transmission to avoid human-to-human infections in such settings. Detection is another issue with NiV and anyone who feels the symptoms should get tested thoroughly from a recognized facility.

Avoiding direct contact with infected pigs, bats and humans in endemic regions should be practiced. Health professionals attending to such patients should take precautionary measures, such as wearing masks and gloves. If you feel uneasiness when in and around an infected region, get yourself tested immediately.

Source: Times of India

Acid Reflux and GERD Overview

Acid Reflux Overview

Acid reflux occurs when stomach contents moves backward into the esophagus. It’s also called acid regurgitation or gastroesophageal reflux (GERD). Acid reflux is a common digestive condition. According to the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG), more than 60 million Americans experience acid reflux at least once a month. More than 15 million Americans experience it every day.

Acid reflux usually causes a burning sensation in the chest. The sensation radiates up from the stomach to the mid-chest or throat. This is also known as heartburn.

Acid reflux may also cause a sour taste in the back of the mouth. Chronic reflux can sometimes lead to difficulty swallowing and in some cases it can even cause breathing problems like asthma.

What Causes Acid Reflux?

The muscle at the end of the esophagus is called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). The LES is a one-way valve that normally opens for limited amounts of time when you swallow. Acid reflux occurs when the LES doesn’t close properly or tightly enough. A faulty or weakened LES allows digestive juices and stomach contents to rise back up into the esophagus.

Large meals that cause the stomach to stretch a lot can temporarily loosen the LES. Other factors associated with reflux include:

·         obesity

·         stress

·         hiatal hernia (when part of the stomach pushes up through the diaphragm)

·         consuming particular foods (particularly carbonated beverages, coffee, and chocolate)

If you notice that your reflux only occurs with certain foods, try eliminating them from your diet. Some people also find that sitting up straight during and after eating improves their symptoms.

Types of Acid Reflux

Most people experience occasional acid reflux or GER. However, in some cases the digestive condition is chronic. It’s considered gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) if it occurs more than twice a week.

Acid reflux can affect infants and children as well as adults. Children under 12 usually don’t experience heartburn. Instead they have alternative symptoms like:

·         trouble swallowing

·         dry cough

·         asthma

·         laryngitis (loss of voice)

These alternative symptoms can also appear in adults.

Infant Acid Reflux

Adults aren’t the only ones affected by acid reflux. According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC), more than half of all babies experience infant acid reflux during their first three months of life. It’s important for your pediatrician to differentiate between normal reflux and GERD.

Spitting up and even vomiting is normal and may not bother the baby. Other signs of normal reflux include:

·         irritability

·         discomfort

·         arching the back during or immediately after feedings

·         poor feeding

·         coughing

These symptoms generally aren’t harmful to the baby.

GERD in children can easily be missed. Infant acid reflux usually goes away on its own around 12 to 18 months of age. If symptoms persist beyond 18 months of age or become severe, talk to your child’s pediatrician. Your child’s symptoms may be a sign of GERD. Serious symptoms include:

·         a lack of weight gain

·         refusing to eat

·         breathing problems

Call your pediatrician immediately if your infant:

·         vomits large amounts

·         spits up green or brown fluid

·         has trouble breathing after spitting up

To reduce reflux symptoms, your pediatrician may suggest:

·         burping the baby a few times during a feeding

·         giving more frequent, smaller meals

·         keeping the baby upright for 30 minutes after eating

·         adding up to 1 tablespoon of rice cereal to 2 ounces of infant milk (if using a bottle)

·         changing your diet (if you are breast-feeding)

·         changing the type of formula

·         certain over-the-counter or prescription medicines to control symptoms

You also may be referred to a pediatric gastroenterologist. Sometimes further testing is necessary.

Reflux Esophagitis

Esophagitis is a general term for inflammation of the esophagus. It can be accompanied by irritation.

Reflux esophagitis is a type of esophagitis associated with GERD. It’s caused by stomach acid backing up into the esophagus. This damages the esophageal tissues. It often causes heartburn, which may become chronic.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

GERD is a chronic digestive disease. It affects people of all ages, including children. It’s the more serious form of GER and can eventually cause more serious health problems if left untreated. Acid reflux that occurs more than twice a week and causes inflammation of the esophagus is considered to be GERD.

Most people with GERD experience symptoms such as:

·         heartburn

·         regurgitation

·         trouble swallowing

·         a feeling of excessive fullness

Consult your doctor if you have symptoms, or use over-the-counter (OTC) antacids or reflux medications for more than two weeks.

 Source : Health Line