Definition
Hypertension is the term used to describe high blood pressure.
Blood pressure readings are measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) and usually given as two numbers. For example, 120 over 80 (written as 120/80 mmHg).
* The top number is your systolic pressure, the pressure created when your heart beats. It is considered high if it is consistently over 140.
* The bottom number is your diastolic pressure, the pressure inside blood vessels when the heart is at rest. It is considered high if it is consistently over 90.
Either or both of these numbers may be too high.
Pre-hypertension is when your systolic blood pressure is between 120 and 139 or your diastolic blood pressure is between 80 and 89 on multiple readings. If you have pre-hypertension, you are more likely to develop high blood pressure.
See also: Blood pressure
Symptoms
Most of the time, there are no symptoms. Symptoms that may occur include:
* Chest pain
* Confusion
* Ear noise or buzzing
* Irregular heartbeat
* Nosebleed
* Tiredness
* Vision changes
If you have a severe headache or any of the symptoms above, see your doctor right away. These may be signs of a complication or dangerously high blood pressure called malignant hypertension.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Kidney Disease
Chronic Kidney Disease Overview
Normal Kidneys and Their Function
The kidneys are a pair of bean-shaped organs that lie on either side of the spine in the lower middle of the back. Each kidney weighs about ¼ pound and contains approximately one million filtering units called nephrons. Each nephron is made of a glomerulus and a tubule. The glomerulus is a miniature filtering or sieving device while the tubule is a tiny tube like structure attached to the glomerulus.
The kidneys are connected to the urinary bladder by tubes called ureters. Urine is stored in the urinary bladder until the bladder is emptied by urinating. The bladder is connected to the outside of the body by another tube like structure called the urethra.
Illustration of Kidneys, UrinaryTract, and Bladder
The main function of the kidneys is to remove waste products and excess water from the blood. The kidneys process about 200 liters of blood every day and produce about two liters of urine. The waste products are generated from normal metabolic processes including the breakdown of active tissues, ingested foods, and other substances. The kidneys allow consumption of a variety of foods, drugs, vitamins and supplements, additives, and excess fluids without worry that toxic by-products will build up to harmful levels. The kidney also plays a major role in regulating levels of various minerals such as calcium, sodium, and potassium in the blood.
* As the first step in filtration, blood is delivered into the glomeruli by microscopic leaky blood vessels called capillaries. Here, blood is filtered of waste products and fluid while red blood cells, proteins, and large molecules are retained in the capillaries. In addition to wastes, some useful substances are also filtered out. The filtrate collects in a sac called Bowman's capsule.
* The tubules are the next step in the filtration process. The tubules are lined with highly functional cells which process the filtrate, reabsorbing water and chemicals useful to the body while secreting some additional waste products into the tubule.
The kidneys also produce certain hormones that have important functions in the body, including the following:
* Active form of vitamin D (calcitriol or 1,25 dihydroxy-vitamin D), which regulates absorption of calcium and phosphorus from foods, promoting formation of strong bone.
* Erythropoietin (EPO), which stimulates the bone marrow to produce red blood cells.
* Renin, which regulates blood volume and blood pressure.
Chronic kidney disease
Chronic kidney disease occurs when one suffers from gradual and usually permanent loss of kidney function over time. This happens gradually, usually months to years. Chronic kidney disease is divided into five stages of increasing severity (see Table 1 below). The term "renal" refers to the kidney, so another name for kidney failure is "renal failure." Mild kidney disease is often called renal insufficiency.
With loss of kidney function, there is an accumulation of water; waste; and toxic substances, in the body, that are normally excreted by the kidney. Loss of kidney function also causes other problems such as anemia, high blood pressure, acidosis (excessive acidity of body fluids), disorders of cholesterol and fatty acids, and bone disease.
Stage 5 chronic kidney disease is also referred to as kidney failure, end-stage kidney disease, or end-stage renal disease, wherein there is total or near-total loss of kidney function. There is dangerous accumulation of water, waste, and toxic substances, and most individuals in this stage of kidney disease need dialysis or transplantation to stay alive.
Unlike chronic kidney disease, acute kidney failure develops rapidly, over days or weeks.
* Acute kidney failure usually develops in response to a disorder that directly affects the kidney, its blood supply, or urine flow from it.
* Acute kidney failure is often reversible, with complete recovery of kidney function.
* Some patients are left with residual damage and can have a progressive decline in kidney function in the future.
* Others may develop irreversible kidney failure after an acute injury and remain dialysis-dependent.
Normal Kidneys and Their Function
The kidneys are a pair of bean-shaped organs that lie on either side of the spine in the lower middle of the back. Each kidney weighs about ¼ pound and contains approximately one million filtering units called nephrons. Each nephron is made of a glomerulus and a tubule. The glomerulus is a miniature filtering or sieving device while the tubule is a tiny tube like structure attached to the glomerulus.
The kidneys are connected to the urinary bladder by tubes called ureters. Urine is stored in the urinary bladder until the bladder is emptied by urinating. The bladder is connected to the outside of the body by another tube like structure called the urethra.
Illustration of Kidneys, UrinaryTract, and Bladder
The main function of the kidneys is to remove waste products and excess water from the blood. The kidneys process about 200 liters of blood every day and produce about two liters of urine. The waste products are generated from normal metabolic processes including the breakdown of active tissues, ingested foods, and other substances. The kidneys allow consumption of a variety of foods, drugs, vitamins and supplements, additives, and excess fluids without worry that toxic by-products will build up to harmful levels. The kidney also plays a major role in regulating levels of various minerals such as calcium, sodium, and potassium in the blood.
* As the first step in filtration, blood is delivered into the glomeruli by microscopic leaky blood vessels called capillaries. Here, blood is filtered of waste products and fluid while red blood cells, proteins, and large molecules are retained in the capillaries. In addition to wastes, some useful substances are also filtered out. The filtrate collects in a sac called Bowman's capsule.
* The tubules are the next step in the filtration process. The tubules are lined with highly functional cells which process the filtrate, reabsorbing water and chemicals useful to the body while secreting some additional waste products into the tubule.
The kidneys also produce certain hormones that have important functions in the body, including the following:
* Active form of vitamin D (calcitriol or 1,25 dihydroxy-vitamin D), which regulates absorption of calcium and phosphorus from foods, promoting formation of strong bone.
* Erythropoietin (EPO), which stimulates the bone marrow to produce red blood cells.
* Renin, which regulates blood volume and blood pressure.
Chronic kidney disease
Chronic kidney disease occurs when one suffers from gradual and usually permanent loss of kidney function over time. This happens gradually, usually months to years. Chronic kidney disease is divided into five stages of increasing severity (see Table 1 below). The term "renal" refers to the kidney, so another name for kidney failure is "renal failure." Mild kidney disease is often called renal insufficiency.
With loss of kidney function, there is an accumulation of water; waste; and toxic substances, in the body, that are normally excreted by the kidney. Loss of kidney function also causes other problems such as anemia, high blood pressure, acidosis (excessive acidity of body fluids), disorders of cholesterol and fatty acids, and bone disease.
Stage 5 chronic kidney disease is also referred to as kidney failure, end-stage kidney disease, or end-stage renal disease, wherein there is total or near-total loss of kidney function. There is dangerous accumulation of water, waste, and toxic substances, and most individuals in this stage of kidney disease need dialysis or transplantation to stay alive.
Unlike chronic kidney disease, acute kidney failure develops rapidly, over days or weeks.
* Acute kidney failure usually develops in response to a disorder that directly affects the kidney, its blood supply, or urine flow from it.
* Acute kidney failure is often reversible, with complete recovery of kidney function.
* Some patients are left with residual damage and can have a progressive decline in kidney function in the future.
* Others may develop irreversible kidney failure after an acute injury and remain dialysis-dependent.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Liver Disease Symptoms
Liver Disease Symptoms
Liver disease is otherwise medically called as hepatic disease and the word hepatic denotes the liver. Any disease that affects the liver is called liver disease. Liver diseases are many and they may be either functional or organic. Most of the liver diseases are accompanied by the symptoms of jaundice which is characterized by color changes in to yellow in eyes and skin. The bilirubin is the cause for the yellow color appearance which is formed by the break up of the hemoglobin from the dead red blood cells. The liver is taking over the function of removing the bilirubin from the blood stream and it discharges or excretes the same through bile.
Diseases of the liver :
Inflammation of the liver is called hepatitis. It is caused by several viruses, autoimmunity and alcohol and by certain hereditary conditions.
Cirrhosis or steatohepatitis is a condition of the liver where unwanted and abnormal quantity of fat is deposited by obese persons. This is also called as non alcoholic fatty liver disease. This may eventually lead to hepatitis.
There is a condition in which the dead cells are replaced by fibrous tissue and this formation and replacement by fibrous tissue may be caused by virus, liver toxins and alcoholism.
Cancer of the liver is varying in classification. They may be caused by several causes. There are metastatic cancers, which usually originated from other parts of the body organs like gastrointestinal tract. Another form is hepatocellular carcinoma. The liver damage is also occurred by a condition in which the iron abundantly stored in the body and it causes liver damage and this disorder is called as haemochromatosis. It is only a hereditary disorder rarely occurs.
The copper content is stored abnormally in the body and it causes damage to liver. This is called Wilson’s disease.
Autoimmune disorder of the small bile ducts is called the primary biliary cirrhosis.
Obstruction of veins of the liver is caused by a disease called Budd-Chiari syndrome.
The important organs like heart and lung muscles are affected and the entire muscular system becomes weak by build up of glycogen in the liver. This disease is described as Glycogen storage disease type II.
Apart from this list, there are many liver diseases including children liver diseases.
Liver disease is otherwise medically called as hepatic disease and the word hepatic denotes the liver. Any disease that affects the liver is called liver disease. Liver diseases are many and they may be either functional or organic. Most of the liver diseases are accompanied by the symptoms of jaundice which is characterized by color changes in to yellow in eyes and skin. The bilirubin is the cause for the yellow color appearance which is formed by the break up of the hemoglobin from the dead red blood cells. The liver is taking over the function of removing the bilirubin from the blood stream and it discharges or excretes the same through bile.
Diseases of the liver :
Inflammation of the liver is called hepatitis. It is caused by several viruses, autoimmunity and alcohol and by certain hereditary conditions.
Cirrhosis or steatohepatitis is a condition of the liver where unwanted and abnormal quantity of fat is deposited by obese persons. This is also called as non alcoholic fatty liver disease. This may eventually lead to hepatitis.
There is a condition in which the dead cells are replaced by fibrous tissue and this formation and replacement by fibrous tissue may be caused by virus, liver toxins and alcoholism.
Cancer of the liver is varying in classification. They may be caused by several causes. There are metastatic cancers, which usually originated from other parts of the body organs like gastrointestinal tract. Another form is hepatocellular carcinoma. The liver damage is also occurred by a condition in which the iron abundantly stored in the body and it causes liver damage and this disorder is called as haemochromatosis. It is only a hereditary disorder rarely occurs.
The copper content is stored abnormally in the body and it causes damage to liver. This is called Wilson’s disease.
Autoimmune disorder of the small bile ducts is called the primary biliary cirrhosis.
Obstruction of veins of the liver is caused by a disease called Budd-Chiari syndrome.
The important organs like heart and lung muscles are affected and the entire muscular system becomes weak by build up of glycogen in the liver. This disease is described as Glycogen storage disease type II.
Apart from this list, there are many liver diseases including children liver diseases.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Heat Disease
Heart disease is a general name for a wide variety of diseases, disorders and conditions that affect the heart and sometimes the blood vessels as well. Heart disease is the number one killer of women and men in the United States, and more than a million Americans have myocardial infarctions, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood institute.
Types of heart disease includes angina, heart attack (myocardial infarction), atherosclerosis, heart failure, cardiovascular disease, and cardiac arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms). Other forms of heart disease include congenital heart defects, cardiomyopathy, infections of the heart, coronary artery disease, heart valve disorders, myocarditis, and pericarditis.
Symptoms of heart disease vary depending on the specific type of heart disease. A classic symptom of heart disease is chest pain. However, with some forms of heart disease, such as atherosclerosis, there may be no symptoms in some people until life-threatening complications develop. For more information on symptoms and complications, refer to symptoms of heart disease.
Risk factors for developing heart disease include having hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia, hyperlipidemia), obesity, and a sedentary lifestyle. Other risk factors include being of African-American ancestry, male, drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, having a lot of long-term stress, smoking and having a family history of a heart attack at an early age.
Certain congenital heart defects can run in families and/or be caused by exposure during pregnancy to specific toxins. Pregnant women with some conditions and diseases can have a higher risk of having a baby with a congenital heart defect.
People who have high C-protein levels, which increases atherosclerosis, are also at a higher risk for heart disease. In addition, people who have high homocysteine levels, which may damage artery walls and increase the risk of clots, are also at an increased risk.
Making a diagnosis of heart disease includes completing a complete medical evaluation and history and physical examination. A comprehensive evaluation from a licensed health care professional includes compiling and analysing many factors that impact heart disease risk. These include lifestyle, family history, personal history, dietary habits, weight, cholesterol levels, blood pressure, stress levels, and smoking/drinking habits.
Tests that may be used to diagnose heart disease or the risk of heart disease include blood tests, exercise stress testing, EKG, X-Ray, and imaging tests, such as heart scan, ultrasound and echocardiogram. A coronary angiogram may be dome in certain cases. A coronary angiogram is an invasive procedure that reveals which coronary arteries are narrowed or blocked.
It is very possible that a diagnosis of heart disease can be missed or delayed because there may be no symptoms and for other reasons. For more information on misdiagnosis, refer to misdiagnosis of heart disease.
Heart disease is treated with an individualized treatment plan that best fits the individual case of heart disease, a person's life style and other factors. Treatment involves regular medical monitoring and testing, lifestyle and dietary changes, and may include medications and surgery. For more information on treatment, refer to treatment of heart disease. ...more »
Heart disease: Any of a number of conditions that can affect the heart. Some examples include coronary heart disease, heart attack, cardiovascular disease, pulmonary heart disease and high blood pressure. Heart disease is a big problem in today's society because of lifestyle issues such as poor diet, lack of exercise and smoking. ...more »
Read more at http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/h/heart_disease/intro.htm?ktrack=kcplink
Types of heart disease includes angina, heart attack (myocardial infarction), atherosclerosis, heart failure, cardiovascular disease, and cardiac arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms). Other forms of heart disease include congenital heart defects, cardiomyopathy, infections of the heart, coronary artery disease, heart valve disorders, myocarditis, and pericarditis.
Symptoms of heart disease vary depending on the specific type of heart disease. A classic symptom of heart disease is chest pain. However, with some forms of heart disease, such as atherosclerosis, there may be no symptoms in some people until life-threatening complications develop. For more information on symptoms and complications, refer to symptoms of heart disease.
Risk factors for developing heart disease include having hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia, hyperlipidemia), obesity, and a sedentary lifestyle. Other risk factors include being of African-American ancestry, male, drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, having a lot of long-term stress, smoking and having a family history of a heart attack at an early age.
Certain congenital heart defects can run in families and/or be caused by exposure during pregnancy to specific toxins. Pregnant women with some conditions and diseases can have a higher risk of having a baby with a congenital heart defect.
People who have high C-protein levels, which increases atherosclerosis, are also at a higher risk for heart disease. In addition, people who have high homocysteine levels, which may damage artery walls and increase the risk of clots, are also at an increased risk.
Making a diagnosis of heart disease includes completing a complete medical evaluation and history and physical examination. A comprehensive evaluation from a licensed health care professional includes compiling and analysing many factors that impact heart disease risk. These include lifestyle, family history, personal history, dietary habits, weight, cholesterol levels, blood pressure, stress levels, and smoking/drinking habits.
Tests that may be used to diagnose heart disease or the risk of heart disease include blood tests, exercise stress testing, EKG, X-Ray, and imaging tests, such as heart scan, ultrasound and echocardiogram. A coronary angiogram may be dome in certain cases. A coronary angiogram is an invasive procedure that reveals which coronary arteries are narrowed or blocked.
It is very possible that a diagnosis of heart disease can be missed or delayed because there may be no symptoms and for other reasons. For more information on misdiagnosis, refer to misdiagnosis of heart disease.
Heart disease is treated with an individualized treatment plan that best fits the individual case of heart disease, a person's life style and other factors. Treatment involves regular medical monitoring and testing, lifestyle and dietary changes, and may include medications and surgery. For more information on treatment, refer to treatment of heart disease. ...more »
Heart disease: Any of a number of conditions that can affect the heart. Some examples include coronary heart disease, heart attack, cardiovascular disease, pulmonary heart disease and high blood pressure. Heart disease is a big problem in today's society because of lifestyle issues such as poor diet, lack of exercise and smoking. ...more »
Read more at http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/h/heart_disease/intro.htm?ktrack=kcplink
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