Controlling Blood Pressure Works

Since the National High Blood Pressure Education Program was established in 1972, awareness, prevention, treatment and control of hypertension have improved. According to measurements taken in 1976-80 and again in 1988-91,

• Among people with hypertension, treatment increased from 31 to 55%.
• The percentage of people whose high blood pressure is controlled to below 140/90 mmHg increased from 10% to 29%.
• Age-adjusted death rates from stroke declined by nearly 60% and from coronary heart disease by 53%.
• One-half of the reduction in stroke mortality in white women over 50 and nearly two-thirds of the benefit among African American women can be attributed to the fall in blood pressure.

However, these improvements are leveling off. Repeat measurements show that, since 1993, age-adjusted stroke rates have risen slightly, and the decline in coronary heart disease is less pronounced. Rates have increased for the incidence of end-stage kidney disease, and the prevalence of heart failure -- both of which are associated with hypertension.

How do I know when my blood pressure is high?

For the most part, you can't tell if you have high blood pressure, and most hypertensive people have no symptoms. So the only way to find out if it's high is to have it measured. This statement may come as a surprise, because many people are convinced that they can tell when their pressure is high. It's certainly true that when you get angry or anxious you may feel yourself tensing up, and your heart pounding. You may even go red in the face, something that's often erroneously associated with high blood pressure. And you're right: your pressure is likely to be high at such times. But that's perfectly normal, and unless you spend your life being permanently angry, which fortunately most of us don't, it doesn't mean much. High blood pressure is of concern only when it's still high when you are not angry or tense.

What is Blood Pressure?

Blood is carried from the heart to all parts of your body in vessels called arteries. Blood pressure is the force of the blood pushing against the walls of the arteries. Each time the heart beats (about 60-70 times a minute at rest), it pumps out blood into the arteries. Your blood pressure is at its highest when the heart beats, pumping the blood. This is called systolic pressure. When the heart is at rest, between beats, your blood pressure falls. This is the diastolic pressure.

Blood pressure is always given as these two numbers, the systolic and diastolic pressures. Both are important. Usually they are written one above or before the other, such as 120/80 mmHg. The top number is the systolic and the bottom the diastolic. When the two measurements are written down, the systolic pressure is the first or top number, and the diastolic pressure is the second or bottom number (for example, 120/80). If your blood pressure is 120/80, you say that it is "120 over 80."

Blood pressure changes during the day. It is lowest as you sleep and rises when you get up. It also can rise when you are excited, nervous, or active.

Still, for most of your waking hours, your blood pressure stays pretty much the same when you are sitting or standing still. That level should be lower than 120/80. When the level stays high, 140/90 or higher, you have high blood pressure. With high blood pressure, the heart works harder, your arteries take a beating, and your chances of a stroke, heart attack, and kidney problems are greater.

What causes it?
In many people with high blood pressure, a single specific cause is not known. This is called essential or primary high blood pressure. Research is continuing to find causes.

In some people, high blood pressure is the result of another medical problem or medication. When the cause is known, this is called secondary high blood pressure.

What is high blood pressure?

A blood pressure of 140/90 or higher is considered high blood pressure. Both numbers are important. If one or both numbers are usually high, you have high blood pressure. If you are being treated for high blood pressure, you still have high blood pressure even if you have repeated readings in the normal range.

Nursing home placement

Taking care of a person with Alzheimer's disease at home is not always possible. Even when it is possible, it often becomes more difficult with time as the person develops new behaviors or medical problems that are hard to manage. The caregiver may develop medical problems of his or her own. Or the stress of caring for the person at home may become too overwhelming. There are many assisted living arrangements that you may consider, though many people with Alzheimer's will need full-time care at some point. Making the decision about nursing home placement is often very difficult because there are no guidelines that fit every situation. Every family has different needs, preferences, and situations to think about.

What Is Hemophilia?

Hemophilia (heem-o-FILL-ee-ah) is a rare, inherited bleeding disorder in which your blood doesn’t clot normally. If you have hemophilia, you may bleed for a longer time than others after an injury. You also may bleed internally, especially in your knees, ankles, and elbows. This bleeding can damage your organs or tissues and, sometimes, be fatal.

People born with hemophilia have little to none of a protein needed for normal blood clotting. The protein is called a clotting factor. There are several types of clotting factors, and they work together with platelets to help the blood clot. Platelets are small pieces of blood cells that are formed in the bone marrow. They play a major role in blood clotting.

How Is von Willebrand Disease Diagnosed?

Early diagnosis of von Willebrand disease (VWD) is important to make sure that you're treated and can live a normal, active life.

Sometimes VWD is hard to diagnose. People who have type 1 or type 2 VWD may not have major bleeding problems. As a result, they may not be diagnosed until they have heavy bleeding after surgery or some other trauma.

On the other hand, type 3 VWD can cause major bleeding problems during infancy and childhood. As a result, children who have type 3 VWD usually are diagnosed during their first year of life.

To find out whether you have VWD, your doctor will review your medical history and the results from a physical exam and tests.

What is Alzheimer's disease?

Alzheimer's disease damages the brain . It causes a steady loss of memory and of how well you can speak, think, and carry on daily activities.

Alzheimer's disease always gets worse over time, but how quickly this happens varies. Some people lose the ability to do daily activities early on. Others may still do fairly well until much later in the disease.

Mild memory loss is common in people older than 60. It may not mean that you have Alzheimer’s disease. But if your memory is getting worse, see your doctor. If it is Alzheimer’s, treatment may help.

What causes Alzheimer's disease?

Alzheimer’s disease happens because of changes in the brain. These include lower levels of chemical messengers (neurotransmitters) that help brain cells work properly. What causes these changes is not clear.

The risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease increases as you get older. But this does not mean that everyone will get it. By age 85, about 35 out of 100 people have some form of dementia.¹ That means that 65 out of 100 don't have it. Dementia is rare before age 60.

Having a relative with Alzheimer’s raises your risk of getting it, but most people with Alzheimer's disease do not have a family history of it.

What Is von Willebrand Disease?

Von Willebrand disease (VWD) is a bleeding disorder. It affects your blood's ability to clot. If your blood doesn't clot, you can have heavy, hard-to-stop bleeding after an injury. The bleeding can damage your internal organs or even cause death, although this is rare.

In VWD, you either have low levels of a certain protein in your blood, or the protein doesn't work the way it should. The protein is called von Willebrand factor, and it helps the blood clot.

Normally, when one of your blood vessels is injured, you start to bleed. Small blood cell fragments called platelets (PLATE-lets) clump together to plug the hole in the blood vessel and stop the bleeding. Von Willebrand factor acts like glue to help the platelets stick together and form a blood clot.

Von Willebrand factor also carries clotting factor VIII (8), another important protein that helps your blood clot. Factor VIII is the protein that's inactive or missing in people who have hemophilia, another clotting disorder.

VWD is more common and usually milder than hemophilia. In fact, VWD is the most common of all the inherited bleeding disorders. It occurs in about 1 out of every 100 to 1,000 people. VWD affects both males and females, while hemophilia mainly affects males.

Types of von Willebrand Disease

There are three major types of VWD.

Type 1

In type 1 VWD, you have a low level of von Willebrand factor, and you may have lower than normal levels of factor VIII. This is the mildest and most common form of VWD. About 3 out of 4 people who have VWD have type 1.

Type 2

In type 2 VWD, the von Willebrand factor doesn't work the way it should. Type 2 is divided into subtypes: 2A, 2B, 2M, and 2N. Different gene mutations (changes) cause each type, and each is treated differently. So it's important to know the exact type of VWD that you have.

Type 3

In type 3 VWD, you usually have no von Willebrand factor and low levels of factor VIII. Type 3 is the most serious form of VWD, but it's very rare.

Overview

Most people who have VWD have type 1, a mild form. This type usually doesn't cause life-threatening bleeding. You may need treatment only if you have surgery, tooth extraction, or trauma. If you need treatment, medicines and medical therapies are used.

Some people who have severe forms of VWD need emergency treatment to stop bleeding before it becomes life threatening.

Early diagnosis is important. With the right treatment plan, even people who have type 3 VWD can live normal, active lives.

Lung Diseases

When you breathe, your lungs take in oxygen from the air and deliver it to the bloodstream. The cells in your body need oxygen to work and grow. During a normal day, you breathe nearly 25,000 times. People with lung disease have difficulty breathing. Millions of people in the U.S. have lung disease. If all types of lung disease are lumped together, it is the number three killer in the United States.

The term lung disease refers to many disorders affecting the lungs, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, infections like influenza, pneumonia and tuberculosis, lung cancer, and many other breathing problems.

Heel Injuries and Disorders

Heel problems are common and can be painful. Often, they result from too much stress on your heel bone and the tissues that surround it. That stress can come from

• Injuries
• Bruises that you get walking, running or jumping
• Wearing shoes that don't fit or aren't made well
• Being overweight

These can lead to tendinitis, bursitis and fasciitis, which are all types of inflammation of the tissues that surround your heel. Over time the stress can cause bone spurs and deformities. Certain diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and gout, can also lead to heel problems. Treatments for heel problems might include rest, medicines, exercises, taping and special shoes. Surgery is rarely needed.

First Aid

Accidents happen. Someone chokes on an ice cube or gets stung by a bee. It is important to know when to call 9-1-1 -- it is for life-threatening emergencies. While waiting for help to arrive, you may be able to save someone's life. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is for people whose hearts or breathing has stopped and the Heimlich maneuver is for people who are choking. CPR should only be done if you have had the training.

You can also learn to handle common injuries and wounds. Cuts and scrapes, for example, should be rinsed with cool water. To stop bleeding, apply firm but gentle pressure, using gauze. If blood soaks through, add more gauze, keeping the first layer in place. Continue to apply pressure.

It is important to have a first aid kit available. Keep one at home and one in your car. It should include a first-aid guide. Read the guide to learn how to use the items, so you are ready in case an emergency happens.

Keeping blood sugar in check good for the heart

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A new study highlights the importance of good long-term control of blood sugar in people with diabetes.

The study found that poor long-term blood sugar control in diabetics is associated with a substantial increase in the risk of dying from ischemic heart disease -- the type of heart disease characterized by restricted blood flow to the arteries of the heart.

However, with reasonably good blood sugar or "glycemic" control, the risk of death from ischemic heart disease is comparable to that seen in people without diabetes, the researchers found.

"Due to these findings, good glycemic control in persons with newly diagnosed diabetes should be recommended," Dr. Ane C. Dale, from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, told Reuters Health. "In addition, it is necessary to control other cardiovascular risk factors properly."

In a 20-year follow up study, Dale and colleagues compared death rates from ischemic heart disease in 205 patients newly diagnosed with diabetes and 205 matched subjects without diabetes at the outset.

The researchers report in the European Heart Journal that diabetic patients had nearly a two-fold greater risk of dying compared to nondiabetic patients.

The risk for death from ischemic heart disease was four times higher in diabetic subjects with poor long-term blood sugar control compared to the control group, whereas in diabetes patients with "reasonably good" blood sugar control the risk was almost the same as in subjects without diabetes, Dale said.

These findings, Dale and colleagues conclude in their report, are "compatible with the hypothesis that good glucose control reduces the risk of coronary complications in patients with diabetes."

FDA Warns About Weight Loss Products

MONDAY, Dec. 22 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned consumers Monday to avoid more than two dozen products marketed for weight loss because they contain undeclared ingredients that could pose serious health risks.

The products are sold in some retail stores and on the Internet and some claim to contain only "natural" or "herbal" ingredients. But the undeclared ingredients (not listed on labels) range from an anti-seizure medication to a suspected carcinogen, the FDA said.

The FDA identified the weight loss products as: Fatloss Slimming, Japan Lingzhi 24 Hours Diet, 7 Day Herbal Slim, 999 Fitness Essence, Imelda Perfect Slim, Perfect Slim, ProSlim Plus, Slim Express 360, Superslim, Venom Hyperdrive 3.0, 2 Day Diet, 5x Imelda Perfect Slimming, 8 Factor Diet, Extrim Plus, Lida DaiDaihua, Perfect Slim 5x, Royal Slimming Formula, Slimtech, TripleSlim, 3x Slimming Power, 3 Day Diet, 7 Diet Day/Night Formula, GMP, Miaozi Slim Capsules, Phyto Shape, Slim 3 in 1, Somotrim, and Zhen de Shou.

Birth Defects : What we know

People define “birth defects” in different ways, and recognize different types of birth defects.

Structural defects present at birth that result in a physical disability or death are birth defects by anyone’s definition. Structural birth defects affect the formation of parts of the body, and include cleft palate (a split in the roof of the mouth), spina bifida (a defect in the neural tube that allows part of the spinal cord to protrude from the spine), certain heart defects, and missing arms or legs, to give just a few examples.

Functional defects are considered by some, but not all, to be birth defects. They may be considered birth defects if they result from untoward events that occur during fetal development. Functional defects can affect the nervous system, immune system, reproductive system, endocrine system, or other systems of the body, and may not become apparent for months or years.

These may include, for example, mental retardation, autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), some types of blindness and deafness, some immunological problems, and some degenerative disorders.

Asthma: What we know

Asthma is serious and widespread. Asthma is a serious chronic disorder of the lungs that causes recurrent attacks of breathlessness and wheezing, and can be life-threatening.

In 2002, an estimated 30.8 million people in the United States had asthma diagnosed at some point in their life, including some 8.9 million children. Asthma is estimated to affect as many as 300 million people worldwide. Asthma is the leading cause of hospitalization in children, the most prevalent chronic disease in childhood, and the most common cause of school absenteeism due to chronic disease. It is more common and more severe in African-Americans, and in people with a low income living in urban areas. In 2001, 4,269 people died of asthma in the U.S.; over 65% of these deaths occurred in women. Asthma accounts for 1 of every 250 deaths worldwide.

About Hand Surgery

Our hands serve many purposes. Hands help us eat, dress, write, earn a living, create art, and do many other activities. To accomplish these tasks and activities, our hands require sensation and movement, such as joint motion, tendon gliding, and muscle contraction.

When a problem takes place in the hand, care must be given to all the different types of tissues that make function of the hand possible. Hand surgeons are specifically trained to give that care:

• Hand surgery is the field of medicine that deals with problems of the hand, wrist and forearm.
• Hand surgeons care for these problems without surgery, and they are specially trained to operate when necessary.
• Many hand surgeons are also experts in diagnosing and caring for shoulder and elbow problems.
• Hand surgeons are orthopedic, plastic or general surgeons who have additional training in surgery of the hand.
• To become a member of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand, a hand surgeon must complete a full year of additional training and must pass a rigorous certifying examination.

Hand Injuries and Disorders

No matter how old you are or what you do for a living, you are always using your hands. When there is something wrong with them, you may not be able to do your regular activities.

Hand problems include

• Carpal tunnel syndrome - compression of a nerve as it goes through the wrist, often making your fingers feel numb
• Injuries that result in fractures, ruptured ligaments and dislocations
• Osteoarthritis - wear-and-tear arthritis, which can also cause deformity
• Tendinitis - irritation of the tendons
• Dupuytren's contracture - a hereditary thickening of the tough tissue that lies just below the skin of your palm
• Trigger finger - an irritation of the sheath that surrounds the flexor tendons, sometimes causing the tendon to catch and release like a trigger