Atrial Fibrillation and Its Common Signs and Symptoms

Atrial Fibrillation or also known as AFib or AF is a condition where an individual experiences irregular heartbeats. Based on a recent survey conducted, there are 2.7 million Americans who have this kind of condition. Patients may reveal that their hearts seem to bang against their chest walls especially when they are moving around to perform activities. Others may disclose that they feel no symptoms or signs at all.

You will be able to know the common signs and symptoms associated with atrial fibrillation in this article. Read on to learn and share with your loved ones.

Different Types of Atrial Fibrillation

There are four known types of atrial fibrillation, and these are:

•         Occasional

This is also known as paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. The symptoms come and go. They may last for a few minutes to a couple of hours and stop suddenly.

•         Persistent

This type of atrial fibrillation means that your heart does not return to its normal rhythm. You have to get electrical shocks or medications to have your heart rhythm restored.

•         Long-standing persistent

This one lasts longer than the first two and may last for more than twelve (12) months.

•         Permanent

The abnormal heart rhythm is not possible to be restored any longer. The patient is given medications to control the heart rate.

Common Symptoms of Atrial Fibrillation

Individuals who have atrial fibrillation may experience palpitations or sensations of uncomfortable, irregular, racing-like, and flip-flopping heartbeats. They also may feel weakness and fatigue. Light-headedness and dizziness are also a common symptom. The patient may experience confusion as well. Shortness of breath and chest pain are also included.

When to See a Doctor

If you have any of the aforementioned atrial fibrillation symptoms, it is better if you see your doctor right away. The doctor will then instruct you to undergo electrocardiogram to see if the symptoms that you feel belong to the atrial fibrillation condition. What should alarm you most is when you experience chest pain as it may indicate that you are having a heart attack.

Causes of Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation is an often and irregular heart rate that happens when the two chambers of your heart undergo mixed and chaotic electrical signals. The electrical connection between the atria and the ventricles are being bombarded with signals as they try to get through the ventricles. This then results to a wild and irregular heart rhythm. The heart rate in atrial fibrillation ranges from 100 to 175 beats per minute, wherein the normal range is 60 to 100 beats per minute. Other causes can be due to high blood pressure; heart attacks; coronary artery disease; abnormal heart valves; congenital heart defects; overactive thyroid gland; exposure to stimulants like medications, caffeine, tobacco or even alcohol; lung diseases, previous heart surgery; sleep apnea and stress due to pneumonia, viral infections or other illnesses.

Conclusion

Atrial fibrillation may increase your risk of a stroke. It is advisable that you discuss it with your doctor since atrial fibrillation, if not controlled, can weaken the heart and worst, lead to heart failure.

This is a guest blog post.

Tips for Managing a College Degree When You Suffer From Chronic Pain

Studying at college is no easy experience, but for students who suffer with chronic pain or a condition that causes them to experience a lot of pain throughout the day, it can be even more difficult. However, with a huge range of alternative and potential plans that can be put in place to help students with special needs and requirements at college, there’s no reason to let chronic pain get in the way of your academic and educational goals. We’ve put together some top tips for students who want to succeed at college despite suffering from regular pain.

Study Online

Online education is becoming more and more popular, and the good news for students is that online degrees are today widely recognized by employers and are worth exactly the same as degrees obtained from a traditional, campus-based institution. Along with this, students who suffer with chronic pain can also benefit from reduced stress due to lower tuition fees for online programs, and with a wide range of options available from nursing degrees, marketing masters or an undergraduate public health degree online from The University of Arizona, you are likely to find an online program that suits you well.

Speak to Your Doctor

As a college student, pain management will be more important than ever before to help ensure that you get the most from your studies and avoid letting your grades suffer. Without good pain management techniques, your education could begin to slip and this could lead to stress and anxiety, negatively impacting your overall health and well-being. Before you enroll on a college MPH degree program, be sure to speak to your doctor and work with them to put together a personalized pain management plan for during your time at college. You should also meet regularly with your doctor for reviews throughout your studies.

Get Educational Support

Colleges do their best to help their students succeed, therefore students who do have special needs and requirements are usually offered extra support and personalized plans in order to help ensure that they can reach their full potential. Alert your college to your condition as soon as possible so they will be able to put any plans in place quickly and will be aware of your mitigating circumstances for the future. You may also be able to get extensions on assignment deadlines or special support in exams if needed.

Know Your Limits

If you suffer from chronic pain, then it’s even more important to look after yourself when you are studying for a college degree. Obtaining a college degree will take a lot of hard work and dedication, so it’s important to ensure that you know your limits. Don’t overdo things, as this could lead to your condition worsening, which could leave you unable to work for a while. Sticking to a carefully drawn up study timetable can help you make sure that you don’t push yourself to hard and can aid in good pain management.

Share your top tips for managing college with chronic pain in the comments!

This is a guest blog entry.

How to relieve chronic pain without taking painkillers

If you have ever had to live with chronic pain, then you will know that one of the only ways to get proper pain relief is through prescribed medication, generally of a strong level. When you are feeling extreme, constant pain it is easy to depend on painkillers as your main source of pain relief, but this can become a bigger problem.

Statistics show that the number of accidental overdoses in recent years has increased year-on-year and this is a very worrying pattern. The data covers all forms of overdose, from illegal substance abuse to taking too many painkillers by mistake.

One of the reasons that people can accidentally overdose is because when people first start taking the medication, the impact on pain relief is very high. Over time and continual use, your body becomes tolerant to the drug, and you won’t feel the same pain relief due to this. This can tempt people to take more of the drugs and often significantly more than they have been prescribed in an effort to reduce their pain.

As well as the risk of overdose, becoming dependent on painkillers has a number of other problems associated with it. Becoming addicted to painkillers is a growing concern and there are an alarming number of people that this has happened to. Side effects can include sickness and diarrhea, but can also lead to increased chances of heart attack. Short-term effects show that the body can be less aware of surroundings and are advised not to drive or operate machinery on certain types of painkillers.

If you’re in the unfortunate population of people that suffer from chronic pain then you should be getting help and advice from your doctor regarding other alternatives to taking painkillers. Exercise is one of the main recommendations for pain management. If you are referred to a physiotherapist, they will be able to draw up an exercise routine for you to complete that will be specific to the type and frequency of pain that you suffer from.

Advisable exercises include swimming, walking, or cycling on an exercise bike, as these are moderate exercises with minimum amounts of weight bearing. By performing regular exercise, you can build up muscles around the body that will be able to support your joints more effectively and help relieve some of the pain.

In addition to exercise, you may be advised to try treatments such as acupuncture. This is particularly recommended if you have back and neck problems, and sometimes physiotherapists will massage or manipulate your back to try and reduce the level of pain.

The use of heat therapy can provide quick relief to areas of pain, so either a hot bath or a heat pack applied to the affected area tends to work well. If your chronic pain is related to your joints, then you can also try fish oil supplements such as Omega-3, which as well as relieving your joints, are said to have several other benefits to the body.

This is a guest blog entry.

Polluted Air, Confused Mind: Is There a Link Between Dirty Air and Poor Mental Health in Later Years?

The risks of inhaling polluted air when suffering from health conditions like asthma or lung cancer are well known and documented. But there is a growing band of evidence to suggest that certain conditions that appear later in life such as Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia may possibly be linked to polluted atmospheres too.

Unclean Air May Possibly Inhibit Cognitive Function

The link between bad air and impaired brain function is controversial, but the evidence is starting to stack up with a growing number of studies including one published by ‘Translational Psychiatry’ at the end of January suggesting that living in places with “PM2.5 exposures higher than the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) standard of 12 µg/m3 nearly doubled dementia risk in older women”.

The study is not a short-term flash in the pan, either. It has been carried out over the last eleven years and if the finding holds up across a wider spectrum of the population, it’s believed that air pollution could eventually account for around twenty one percent of all dementia cases worldwide.

If the evidence continues to mount, then it’s believed that the connection between pollution and these conditions may lead to better treatments in the future and further improvements in cutting traffic emissions and lowering other forms of pollution from industry.

What Causes Air Pollution?

Many weather forecasts now offer information on air quality as a matter of course, but as a rule, matter such as pollen, dust, wildfires and detritus from industry can all cause air pollution which can have a detrimental effect on health especially in seniors.

When air pollutants are high, it is often advised that anyone with health concerns involving their lungs stays indoors, and there are steps that can be taken to ensure the air in your home stays clean and as fresh as possible too:

· Clean all carpets, soft furnishings and surfaces regularly with a HVAC to help minimize dirt, dust and pollen debris in the home

· Change all filters on vacuum cleaners regularly, or keep them washed and clean.

· Consider buying an air purifier or investing in a dehumidifier

· If you’re choosing new furniture, make sure any furnishings you pick are free from Volatile Organic Compounds - these are gases that are given out by older furniture and sometimes paints too.

This is a guest blog entry.

Effective Tips for Melanoma Prevention

It can be difficult to handle any type of cancer diagnosis, including skin cancer. Although melanoma is considered one of the most deadly types of skin cancer, there is always hope, even at the very end, that an aggressive cancer like melanoma can be defeated. The good news is that if melanoma is diagnosed early, it is curable. However, left undiagnosed, it can move to other areas of the body. This could lead to a very long and hard fought battle against the disease.

Cancer Treatments More Affordable

Changes in health law and policy have made cancer treatments more affordable for patients. Thus, there are more patients who are being diagnosed and treated earlier now than at any other time in history.

People were at one time afraid they would no longer have healthcare coverage if they lost their job, but professionals with a masters in health law from Hofstra Law have diligently worked within the community and with lawmakers to ensure that affordable health care is available to all who needs it, including cancer patients.

Skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in the United States. Estimates published by the American Cancer Society have shown that melanoma diagnosis rates have steadily increased over the past 30 years. The good news is that there are things you can do to help with the fight against cancer and you can reduce your risk of developing skin cancer by following these tips.

Melanoma Prevention

One of the easiest ways to prevent the development of skin cancer is to always wear sunscreen when you are outside. If you are able to reduce your skin’s exposure to UV rays, then you will be in a much better position to reduce sun damage and skin burn. You can apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen to protect you from melanoma.

You should also wear sunglasses when you are outside to protect your eyes from the sun. Wearing a hat will provide shade from the sun for your face. Try to reduce your exposure to both artificial and natural light.

Make regular appointments with your healthcare provider or dermatologist. Make sure you consume a vitamin D from healthy food sources, eat a balanced diet, and avoid unhealthy habits.

The ABC’s of a Potential Skin Cancer Diagnosis

Always be on the lookout for unusual growths and moles that are on your skin. Physicians and dermatologists have classified the diagnosis of melanomas based on the following factors.

•    A- Asymmetry (scan your body for moles that are ragged or asymmetrical
•    B- Border (Does the mole have a defined border?)
•    C- The color (Are multiple colors appear inside of the mole or lesion?)

Also, watch the diameter and the evolution of the mole or lesion. If it is larger than 5 millimeters in diameter and looks different to other lesions or moles on your body, you need to schedule an appointment with a dermatologist as soon as possible.

You can spread the importance of early melanoma detection by becoming more involved in your community. Educate the public and you may save someone’s life.

This is a guest blog entry.

5 Cosmetic Treatment Trends Expected to Grow in 2017

With the advent of advanced cosmetic surgery procedures, it has become super easy to iron out even the tiniest of imperfections in the human body. From lips and breasts to legs and feet, every part of the body can now be "customized" as per your specific needs. Wondering what cosmetic surgery treatments are trending this year? Read on to learn about the top 5 such treatments that are becoming increasingly popular.

Buttock Augmentation (or Butt Lift)

Celebrities like Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez, and Kim Kardashian have long back set the trend for huge bottoms. According to the data released by ASPS, the trend has grown close to 40 percent since 2014 and more than 250 percent since 2000. Surgeons claim to notice a spike in the number of patients who are seeking buttock augmentation, so the trend seems to be gaining momentum. Among the most popular requests is the Brazilian Butt Lift, which combines the procedures of body contouring and liposuction.

Dermal Fillers

Image source: Cosmos Clinic

Many surgeons are already putting to use a new variety of dermal fillers that are designed for specific parts of a person's face. Lips, midface, laugh lines, and cheeks can now be augmented on demand. A good number of such procedures have already been approved in some countries, and soon will provide the cosmetic doctors a wider palette of treatments they can offer to their patients safely, without the need of a surgery. Injectables are in demand this year, and among them are three approved neuromodulators available in the market – Botox, Xeomin, and Dysport. According to Cosmos Clinic, prices start at $575.

Dimplectomy

Dimples are in great demand. Taking selfies has become an addiction and everyone wants to look sexy, cute, and friendly in their photographs. If you don’t have dimples to make your smile look sweet, you can get a cosmetic procedure done quickly within just an hour. Dimplectomy is a scarless procedure and requires an incision inside the cheek. Who knew it would become so easy to simply "add" dimples to your smile, and become the object of "envy"?

Leg shaping

A Vogue article that claimed that the era of cleavage is over and as women are gradually choosing to show parts of the leg, shoulder, or stomach instead of their breasts. As a result of this trend in 2017, an increasing number of patients will be opting for the cosmetic procedures which will help create the perfect legs. Procedures such as Microlipo are generally targeted to remove unwanted fat and sculpt specific parts of the legs, especially thighs, making the legs appear longer and leaner to the eyes. The treatment lasts just a few hours and is done using a local anaesthetic, so the patient is awake but experiences no pain.

This is a guest blog entry.

Pain Management- What Are Your Treatment Options?

Pain is the body’s response to injury or illness. At times, pain can become chronic and difficult to manage. There are many different types of pain management treatment options available. Each comes with its own set of risks and benefits. Let’s take a look at some of the most common treatment options and how they can help relieve your chronic pain.

Chiropractic Care for Pain Relief

Chiropractic care can help to correct joint dysfunction. When you suffer from an injury, you can develop subluxations in the spine. A functional chiropractor uses gentle manual adjustments to restore joint function, reduce pain, relax muscles, improve nerve pulse transmissions and increase circulation to the injured area.

Functional chiropractic care is more than just spinal manipulations. The functional chiropractor will take a detailed medical history, complete a biomechanical assessment to look for any issues and use a variety of imaging tests to determine the cause of your pain. Once the cause of the pain is determined, the functional chiropractor may recommend a variety of services to help ease your pain, restore joint function and bring the body back into alignment.

• Spinal manipulations – Spinal manipulations are the hallmark of chiropractic care. The chiropractor will use controlled force to help realign the spine and restore joint function.
• Exercises – Strength training, flexibility exercises and aerobic activities
• Nutritional supplements – Nutritional supplements  help to ensure the body has the nutrients that it needs to heal from the inside out. These supplements include antioxidants to decrease inflammation, increase cartilage in the joints and improve joint function.
• Herbal remedies – There are a number of herbal remedies that can help relieve pain and decrease inflammation. These remedies can be taken internally or applied topically. Turmeric, capsaicin, comfrey, devil’s claw and white willow bark are some of the most potent herbs used for pain.
• Cold laser therapy – Cold laser therapy uses non-thermal lights that pass through the skin to reach damaged tissue and speed up the healing process by increasing cellular metabolism. Additionally, this can be used to reduce inflammation and relieve nerve irritation that may be causing you pain.
• Ultrasound therapy – Ultrasound therapy uses sound waves to stimulate inflamed and damaged tissues in the body. The sound waves help to break down calcifications on the tendons to help them heal properly. Additionally, ultrasound promotes new cellular growth to repair damage.
• Electrical stimulation – Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) provides pain relief by delivering an electrical current to stimulate the nerves. This causes the nerves to send a signal to the brain to scramble pain perception.

Hot and Cold Therapy for Pain Management

Hot and cold therapy helps to decrease swelling and inflammation and increase flexibility in damaged joints, muscles and tendons. Typically, ice is used for new injuries and acute pain. Heat is for older injuries and helps to loosen up the joints and stimulate new tissue growth.

Physical Therapy to Relieve Pain

Chronic pain often requires a multidisciplinary approach, including physical therapy. Physical therapy educates the patient on pain mechanisms and how exercise and massage can relieve pain, strengthen the muscles, increase flexibility and stabilize joints. Physical therapy can be used to ease chronic pain and may include many of the same disciplines used in chiropractic care, including electrical stimulation, hot and cold therapy, nutritional supplementation and ultrasound therapy.

Mind-Body Techniques and Pain Relief

Living with pain can be extremely stressful. Mind-body techniques help a patient relieve stress, reduce pain and learn to cope with their chronic pain. The most common methods used include guided imagery, hypnosis, biofeedback, meditation and yoga. These mind-body techniques help the pain sufferer to center themselves, learn to deal with their pain and relax the body so that it can heal itself.

Food Intolerance Can Be Causing Your Pain

When you suffer from food intolerance and consume the offending food, it can damage the lining of the intestinal tract and lead to toxins, waste and undigested food particles to enter the bloodstream. When this occurs, inflammation throughout the body can occur, resulting in chronic pain. Healing the gut by following an anti-inflammatory diet and taking probiotics can help to relieve the pain you are experiencing.

Chronic pain is a pain! It is a response to an injury or illness in the body. However, sometimes the pain signals get stuck in the on position after the injury or illness has passed. When this occurs, you need to find a way to heal the body and relieve pain. These methods include chiropractic care, hot or cold therapy, correcting food intolerances, using mind-body techniques and physical therapy. With a multifaceted approach, you can relieve chronic pain and begin enjoying life again.

This is a blog post by Vishal Verma