Symptoms of an Enlarged Heart

Contrary to what most people think, enlarged heart is not a condition in itself, but a symptom or let's say a consequence of other problems in the body. Most of these problems are cardiac in nature, that is, they are related to the heart. Some of these may cause the heart to overwork, while some may inflict damage to the organ, thus causing it to dilate or enlarge. Common cardiac causes of an enlarged heart may include hypertension (high blood pressure), diseases of the heart valves, disease of the heart muscle, heart attack, a defect of the heart that is present at birth, and irregular heart beat. And speaking of causes which are not related to the heart, but still can cause the organ to enlarge include anemia, disorders of the thyroid gland, and presence of excessive iron in the body. In clinical terms, enlargement of the heart is known as cardiomegaly. It is important to understand that the concern should not be about the heart getting larger than its normal size, but about what has caused it. And also, the term "symptoms of an enlarged heart", medically, is inappropriate, because enlarged heart, as mentioned above, is itself a symptom. So what you would read in the following would be about the signs and symptoms that 'do not occur' because of enlarged heart, but accompany the problem.

The Symptoms

The signs and symptoms that occur along with enlarged heart, due to obvious reasons, are caused by the disease or disorder that has caused the problem; the most common of which have been briefed in the following.

→ One common symptom that may accompany an enlarged heart is difficulty in breathing. When the heart gets ill, it fails to pump in the manner it is supposed to. And this in turn may affect the lungs, eventually making it difficult for the person's respiration.

→ Another accompanying symptom is edema. It refers to the accumulation of excess fluid trapped in the body's tissues. In this case, its occurrence may be a strong indication that congestive heart failure is the underlying condition that has caused the heart to enlarge. When the heart fails to pump blood as it is required to, the blood pools or accumulates in the ankles, feet or legs and thus, edema.

→ Continuing this article titled "symptoms of an enlarged heart", irregular beating of the heart is another one that may accompany the problem. If its presence is detected, then the doctor may conduct tests to determine if the patient has suffered a heart attack in the past, or if he has conditions such as high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, diabetes, and overactive thyroid gland. Irregular heart beat may also be an indication of stress, medication, alcohol abuse, and smoking.

→ Perhaps, the most severe symptom that may surface along with the enlargement of the heart is chest pain. This particular symptom could be an indication of conditions such as heart attack, spasm of arteries, inflammation of the heart, heart muscle disorder, and narrowing of arteries.

And to conclude the article on "symptoms of an enlarged heart", besides the symptoms described above, dizziness and cough have also been found in patients who were diagnosed with this problem. About the enlarged heart treatment, its main aim is to identify and correct the underlying cause of the problem. For instance, if a damaged heart valve is found out to be the culprit, then a surgery to repair this problem may be the recommended step in the treatment. And for diseases that cannot be corrected, the treatment would aim in relieving the symptoms, and slowing down further damage to the heart.

Test for an Enlarged Heart

Enlarged heart, in medical terms, is attributed as 'cardiomegaly'. Most people regard it as a medical condition in itself, but it is not. It is a symptom or let's say, a manifestation of some other conditions, which may or may not be associated with the heart. Factors that can cause the heart to get enlarged, as studied by doctors, either cause the heart to overwork (which thickens it), or damage the organ (weakens the heart muscle). But in a few cases, the cause remains unidentified, thus making the condition idiopathic. Speaking of the enlarged heart symptoms, for some people, the problem asymptomatic, that is, it does not show any symptoms. And whatever symptoms do occur for some, are primarily because of the underlying cause of the enlargement. These may include shortness of breath, dizziness, swelling, chronic cough, abnormal heart rate, low blood pressure and chest pain. The nature of the symptoms may depend on the side of the heart that has been affected. So considering all these symptoms, the doctor may perform the test for an enlarged heart, and to determine the underlying cause as well.

Enlarged Heart - Test and Diagnosis

The following presents a description on the standard procedures or diagnostic tools employed in the tests before commencing the enlarged heart treatment.

X-ray
X-ray, is perhaps the most common medical procedure that is put to use while diagnosing any kind of heart disease or disorder. Also known X-radiation, this process exposes the patient to beams of electromagnetic radiation. These beams, depending upon the density of the material that they pass through, are absorbed in different amounts. Materials such as bones in the body usually show up in white; fats and muscles in gray; and air (like in the lungs) in black. So as you must have understood from this explanation, X-ray projected on the heart produces images of the lungs and the heart. So with the help of such images, doctors are able to draw a conclusion whether the heart has enlarged or not. Besides this, the test may also help determine other conditions which are causing the signs and symptoms in the patient.

Electrocardiogram
Another test to diagnose an enlarged heart is what is known as an Electrocardiogram (ECG) or (EKG). This method requires electrodes to be attached to the skin. Now the working principle of this test is associated with the upper right chamber of the heart. This is the spot in the heart where electric impulses are generated from. And these impulses are responsible for triggering what we know as heartbeat. So the electrodes that are attached to the skin of the patient, pick up these electrical impulses, and record the data, which is then, either displayed on a monitor or printed on a paper. The doctor studies the pattern that occurs among these impulses, thus determines any damage that has been caused to the heart, and other heart conditions.

Echocardiogram
Not to be confused with 'electrocardiogram', echocardiogram is another reliable way to test for an enlarged heart, that makes use of the principle of sound waves. Also known as ECHO, it employs standard ultrasound techniques to create images of the heart in a two-dimensional manner. Medical experts find its use extremely helpful in determining various heart conditions, as the method enables them to study the shape and size of the organ, its pumping capacity, heart valves, and the extent of the damage that might have been inflicted on the heart tissues. Even the pattern of blood flow can be assessed with the aid of this diagnostic tool.

Exercise Stress Test
A test for an enlarged heart, and other heart conditions, way simpler than the above ones, is about evaluating the performance of the patient's heart during increased physical activity. As obvious it is, the heart works faster when the body in indulged in any physical activity. So this test requires the patient to walk on a treadmill, workout on a stationary bike, etc. And while the patient is undergoing the test, his/her heart rate, blood pressure and breathing are recorded and measured. And these readings are used to determine how well the heart is working. To add to this, this test is not only meant for diagnostic purpose, but is also a treatment option if the patient has already been diagnosed with a heart condition.

CT Scan and MRI Scan
CT scan is the short for computerized tomography scan, and MRI is for magnetic resonance imaging. These techniques are put to use to produce images of the heart. CT scan uses the aid of an X-ray to produce the images, while MRI makes use of magnetic filed to do the same. The CT scan works to create X-ray views of the bones and soft tissues in the body. And the views are taken from multiple angles so that the doctor may come up with a 3-D image of the heart. And in MRI, magnetic field is used to align the water molecules in the body. It also uses radio waves, which when used over the aligned particles, produce faint signals. And these signals vary according to the type of tissues over which the test is performed. Even this method produces a 3-D image of the heart.

Some additional tests for heart enlargement may include blood tests, and biopsy. The purpose of the blood test is to reveal the composition of the blood which may help to indicate problems of the heart. And biopsy is about extracting a small sample of the heart for lab tests.

All the above procedures described in this article on test for an enlarged heart, are basically the common diagnostic methods for determining several heart conditions. Since enlarged heart is usually an outcome of some other underlying heart condition, once doctors are able to determine cause, they can initiate the required treatment to cure the disease or slow it down. Take care!

Congenital Heart Disease Symptoms

Congenital heart diseases are a cluster of diseases that are the primary reasons for child deaths during the first year of birth. These defects are not inherited, but are formed when the child is still in the womb. They can be averted if a pregnant woman takes care of herself before, during, and after the pregnancy. These diseases change the structure of the heart and thus hamper its normal functioning. Although these defects can be treated, one needs to take special care post surgery, as the heart is vulnerable to other kinds of problems too.

Congenital Heart Disease in Children

Congenital heart diseases are found in 9 out of every 1000 births. These defects are identified with a defect in the structure of the heart and the great vessels, right from birth. Deformed structure, causes dysfunctional heart, which many a times becomes a cause of child death. It causes obstruction in the blood flow through the heart, which affects its rhythm. It is a common congenital defect, and many times also goes unnoticed throughout one's life. There are two types of congenital heart diseases, namely, cyanotic, which makes the body blue due to lack of oxygen, and non-cynotic.

Cyanotic Congenital Heart Diseases	Signs and Symptoms
Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF)	Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) results in mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood in the left ventricle. This causes the primary symptom of TOF, which is low oxygenation of blood. Loud heart murmur, difficulty in feeding, no weight gain, retarded development and overall growth, are some of the symptoms of this disease. It may also cause clubbing of fingers and toes in some cases.
Tricuspid Atresia	When the heart has a missing tricuspid valve, it causes absolute loss of right atrioventricular connection, leading to tricuspid atresia. Progressive cynosis, feeding issues, rapid breathing in initial weeks of birth, heart murmur and thickening of myocardium muscle on the the left side, are some of the congenital heart disease symptoms.
Persistent Truncus Arteriosus	This is a rare kind of a birth defect. This is a result of improper division of truncus arteriosus, which never forms the pulmonary artery and aorta. The heart pulses are distinctly felt in such cases. The child may suffer from a heart failure within weeks.
Ebstein's Anomaly	Ebstein's anomaly is caused due to displacement of the tricuspid valve towards the top of the right ventricle of the heart. Shortness of breath, fatigue, swelling of legs, high palpitations and discoloration of the lips towards blue, are some of the symptoms of this congenital disease.

Non-Cyanotic Congenital Heart Diseases	Signs and Symptoms
Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD)	When the wall, ventricular septal dividing the lower chambers of the heart (ventricles), has a hole, it is called a VSD. Sadly, the signs and symptoms of this congenital defect are hardly noticeable at birth. However, heart murmur is a sign of this disease.
Atrial Septal Defect	This congenital heart disease in children is caused when the wall that divides the upper chambers does not completely close up. Difficulty in breathing, respiratory infections, palpitations, and shortness of breath, are some of the commonly seen symptoms.
Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)	This congenital birth defect is caused when the ductus arteriosus blood vessel does not close soon after birth. Pounding pulse, speedy breathing, shortness of breath, fatigue and retarded growth, are some of the signs and symptoms of this disease.
Pulmonary Valve Stenosis	This is a condition caused due to blood flow from the heart getting blocked at the pulmonic valve. Chest pain, fainting, fatigue, no weight gain, and shortness of breath, are some of the symptoms of this disease. Pulmonary valve stenosis can prove to be fatal too.

Congenital heart diseases amongst infants can be prevented if the to-be mother takes care of herself before and during the pregnancy. Before getting pregnant, every woman must take care of her health and build up her immune system. Avoiding infections of any kind during pregnancy is very important. Stay away from alcohol, drugs that treat acne, and other strong chemicals, during your pregnancy. It is very important that you get in touch with your gynecologist before you get pregnant. If you have a history of congenital defects, get in touch with a genetic consultant, who can help you understand the likelihood of having a baby with congenital defects, better.

Circulatory System Diseases and Treatments

The circulatory system does the work of distributing blood and lymph fluids throughout the body. Problems in the functioning of this complex system may lead to different types of diseases. Heart, arteries, veins, lymph vessels, etc. are the different parts of this system. The circulatory system diseases and treatment therefore, revolve around the health of these elements. Any problem in the working of arteries and veins results into complications which may in turn affect the functioning of other body organs. Let us understand more about these diseases through this article.

Diseases of Circulatory System

Most of the circulatory system diseases are associated with the functioning of heart. The important human circulatory system diseases and treatments are presented in the paragraphs below.

Arrhythmia
This disease is characterized by abnormal beating of heart. Sometimes, the heart slows down while in some cases it becomes suddenly fast. One can also experience a condition in which the heart beat is skipped. Structural defects in the heart vessels (congenital heart defects) can lead to problems like arrhythmia.

The treatment measures for arrhythmia mainly include use of medications and surgery, etc. Beta blockers like atenolol and metaprolol prove to be useful in treating slow heartbeat. Amongst the medical procedures used for treating arrhythmia, the installation of pacemakers is an important one. This device makes use of electrical impulses and thereby helps the heart beat at a normal rate.

Chronic Venous Insufficiency
In this disease valves inside the leg veins get damaged, which increases the blood pressure above normal level. Blood clots which develop in veins is the main cause of chronic venous insufficiency. Another cause of this disease is the swelling and inflammation of veins; this condition is referred to as phlebitis. Itching is one of the major symptoms observed in chronic venous insufficiency. Other symptoms associated with skin are thickening, discoloration, inflammation, etc.

There are many different treatment measures used for chronic venous insufficiency and manual compression lymphatic massage therapy is the important one. Patients are also asked to wear medical stockings while walking that aids in quick recovery.

Angina
Angina results from obstruction of blood vessels of heart; it causes restricted blood and oxygen flow to the heart. Angina is amongst important circulatory system disorders. Chest pain is the main symptom associated with this heart disease. Based on the occurrence of chest pain, this disease can be classified as stable and unstable angina.

In stable form of angina, pain in the chest occurs frequently. A sudden occurrence of chest pain is observed in the unstable form of this disease. There are many different variations of the symptom of chest pain. A burning sensation, feeling of getting choked, tightness in the chest and other variations can be observed in angina. Causes behind angina are varied just like the symptoms observed in this condition. The important causes of angina are as follows: hypertension, diabetes, smoking, etc.

The treatment measures used for angina are aimed at increasing or restoring normal blood flow to the heart; vasodilators are therefore, used in the treatment. Medications like calcium channel blockers and beta-blockers are helpful in easing the pressure put on the heart; chances of blood vessels getting obstructed are therefore, reduced.

Peripheral Vascular Disease
It is a type of circulatory disease which hampers the functioning of veins and arteries that are present outside the heart and brain. Build up of fatty materials, hardening and other problems associated with veins and arteries can be observed in the peripheral vascular disease. One of the common symptoms of this disease is pain experienced at the time of walking; this condition is also referred to as claudication. Pain in feet experienced at the time of resting also is one of the symptoms.

The treatment that is recommended for this peripheral vascular disease deals with management of different health problems like hypertension, diabetes, etc. However, along with these treatment measures, specific problems like claudication can be treated with medications such as pentoxifylline and cilostazol. In order to prevent the clotting of blood vessels, the statins, clopidogrel and aspirin can be used.

List of Other Circulatory System Diseases

The circulatory system is associated with the functioning of almost all organs of our body. List of diseases associated with circulatory system is therefore, a long one. The names of circulatory system diseases presented below should be useful for the readers.

Disease	Description	Treatment
Acute Coronary Syndrome	The symptoms of coronary syndrome are unstable angina, non-ST elevation myocardial infarction and ST-elevation myocardial infarction.	Nitroglycerin and aspirin are the medications used in the treatment of this syndrome.
Endocarditis	Here, the inner layer of heart is inflammed. This disease is of two types i.e. infective and non-infective.	Antibiotics are used in the treatment of infective endocarditis. Replacing the heart valve is another treatment measure used for endocarditis.
Conceptual Apraxia	The human brain possesses an ability to organize work that involves use of different motor skills. In conceptual apraxia, this ability of organizing tasks is lost.	It is hard to say anything about the treatment or recovery of this disease at present. The problem might just get cured without any medical help.
Pulmonary Valve Stenosis	In this condition, the pulmonary valve opens only incompletely. The discharge of blood that comes to lungs from the right ventricle is therefore, affected.	Surgery of the valve is the treatment used for pulmonary stenosis. Replacement of the valve also is one of the treatment measure being adopted.
Thrombophlebitis	It is a condition in which blood clots develop in the veins of arms and especially legs. This condition mostly results from inactivity for a long time.	Pain medications are primarily used for the treatment of thrombophlebitis. Preventing the formation of clots is necessary; in order to stop clot formation, anticoagulants are used.
Ventricular Tachycardia	In ventricular tachycardia, heart beat rises above the normal level. The fast rhythm of heat beat responsible for ventricular tachycardia originates from ventricles.	The treatment for ventricular tachycardia is given only in emergency. Otherwise, this condition is not a cause of concern. Cardioversion, CPR and anti-arrhythmic medications are used for treating emergency situations.
Temporal Arteritis	In this disease, blood vessels in the neck region are damaged. Defect in immune response is said to be the cause of temporal arteritis. The exact cause is however, not known.	Corticosteroids which mitigate the damage caused to tissues is recommended for treatment of this disease.

That was an overview of the important circulatory disorders and treatments for the same. Keeping the circulatory system free of cholesterol clogging is one of the best preventive measures one can follow for all heart diseases.

How does Smoking Cause Heart Disease

Smoking is generally associated with respiratory diseases and lung cancer, but contrary to popular belief, smoking is a major cause of cardiovascular diseases. According to the American Health Association, "Cigarette smoking is the most important preventable cause of premature death in the United States, accounting for 440,000 of the more than 2.4 million annual deaths." Studies have proven that smokers are at a higher risk of numerous cardiovascular diseases. Women who smoke and are on birth-control prescription are at a higher risk of heart diseases. Let us try to know how does smoking cause heart disease and what are the other diseases caused by smoking.

How does Smoking Cause Cardiovascular Disease

The heart depends on arteries for the circulation of blood. Smoking causes a condition known as atherosclerosis, generally known as "the hardening of arteries". Cigarette smoke contains more than 3000 chemicals including carbon monoxide and nicotine which damage the inner lining of coronary arteries. These chemicals aid the deposition of cholesterol which clogs the arteries and this clogging reduces the supply of oxygen to heart, putting the body to a risk of heart attack.

There are various other heart diseases that are associated with smoking. Smoking aggravates the condition of hypertension leading to malignant hypertension. Smoking reduces the level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and leads to an increase in the low-density lipoprotein levels. The chemicals in smoke cause accumulation of cholesterol in your coronary arteries. This again, increases the chances of heart attacks and various other strokes. Smoking causes hormonal imbalance as it arouses the body to produce higher levels of adrenaline and cortisol. Smoking has also been associated with difficulty in breathing, which is very crucial in case of a heart attack.

Numerous studies have proved that smokers are at a higher risk of various cardiovascular diseases, including fatal heart attacks. People who smoke around fifteen cigarettes a day are two to four times more likely to have a heart attack once in their lifetime. Smoking ‘light’ or ‘mild’ cigarettes has little effect on reducing the ill-effects of smoking.

There are several other diseases that attribute their cause to smoking, lung cancer and respiratory diseases being the prominent ones. Besides lung cancer, smokers are at a high risk of contracting throat and gullet cancer. Smoking also leads to a condition known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). People suffering from COPD experience difficulty in breathing along with frequent coughing. Smoking is also related to various sexual dysfunctions and may lead to infertility in women.

Smoking might be putting your loved ones at risk as studies have shown that passive smokers are also at a higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. It is important therefore, that you put in your best effort to get rid of this habit. Many people are put off by the thought of quitting smoking as they feel that they have been smoking all their life, so quitting won’t make a difference, but numerous studies have revealed that by quitting, you reduce the chances of a heart attack by 50%. Over a course of a decade, the risk becomes as low as that of a non-smoker.

There are myriad options available for people who want to quit smoking. There are numerous "Stop smoking" drugs available in the market today. Another way to kick the habit is to undergo a nicotine replacement therapy. If you find that you are facing issues with quitting, you can always take the help of a counselor. Remember, we all were born non-smokers and if we are determined enough to kick the butt, we can do it. In the end, I hope that this article on how does smoking cause heart disease helps you know about the danger smoking poses to our cardiovascular health.

Sleep Apnea and Heart Disease

Today, heart disease is the number one cause for death all over the world. It is therefore, essential to be aware of all the causes and risk factors of heart diseases. Having knowledge about these risk factors can help in treatment and prevention of the heart diseases. You must be aware that obesity and high blood pressure are some of the most common causes or risk factors of heart diseases. However, are you aware that sleep apnea can also increase the risk of heart diseases? In this article, we will see more on sleep apnea and heart diseases.

Sleep Apnea: Cause of Heart Disease

Before knowing about the relation between heart diseases and sleep apnea, let us know what exactly is sleep apnea. Well, in simplest terms, it can be defined as sleep disorder in which the breathing of the person becomes very low and slow. There are very long pauses, which can last for a few seconds, in between breathing. Central sleep apnea is a condition that occurs when the brain does not send signals to the respiratory system to breath. Sleep apnea causes include obesity or having blocked airway. In most cases, sleep apnea goes undiagnosed because the symptoms usually appear when the person is sleeping. Therefore, it is not easy to diagnose the condition immediately. However, there are certain warning signs and sleep apnea symptoms which one should look out for in order to diagnose the disorder quickly. Anxiety, insomnia, feeling sleepy during the day and irritability are some symptoms of sleep apnea. On the other hand, obstructive sleep apnea (which is the most common type of sleep apnea), can lead to long term complications like high blood pressure and disorders of the heart.

You may wonder how does sleep apnea cause heart diseases? Well, if you take a look at the definition of sleep apnea, you will find that along with a sleep disorder, it is more of a breathing disorder. People suffering from obstructive sleep apnea experience frequent collapsing of the airways. Therefore, they experience longer gaps in between breathing. Sometimes the gaps can be as long as 10 seconds. It can be a dangerous condition if the person experiences this frequently, and for the entire period that he is asleep. The amount of oxygen that should actually reach to the vital organs reduces due to breathing problems. Secondly, The breathing trouble awakens the person from his sleep constantly throughout the night. Now, you must be aware that we sleep in order to give rest to all the organs in the body. However, this is not the case with people suffering from sleep apnea. Due to their breathing disorder, they have difficulty in having a sound sleep. This can increase the blood pressure and heart rate, resulting in heart diseases like heart attack and heart failure. Therefore, we see that obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea and heart disease are all related to each other. Sleep apnea can increase a person's risk for heart diseases by as much as 60%.

It is essential to diagnose the symptoms of sleep apnea and get is treated immediately. If you wake up in the night frequently, and experience dry mouth, feel out of breath, suffer from insomnia, have difficulty in having a sound and deep sleep, you should consult the doctor immediately. Sleep apnea cures include use of a respiratory ventilator or a mask. The Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) or Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) is the best and the most effective method for treating sleep apnea. Secondly, your doctor may even advise change in sleeping habits and patterns in order to get sound sleep and cure insomnia. You should also reduce the intake of caffeine containing drinks, alcohol, to treat sleep apnea. Also read on obstructive sleep apnea treatment.

Due to the recent studies and research, it has been proven that sleep apnea and heart disease are linked to each other. It should also be noted that obstructive sleep apnea, if left untreated, can also lead to death. Therefore, it is advisable to consult a doctor if you have any long lasting disorders of sleep, and have them treated immediately. Take care!

Steroids and Heart Problems

Today's cut throat competition forces us to lead an erratic lifestyle, thereby exposing us to numerous factors that cause heart problems. Eating unhealthy foods and lack of physical activity are the common reasons of heart ailments in present times. However, quite a few people have no idea about certain commonly used medicines that may cause damage to the heart. Studies reveal that taking steroids frequently can cause heart problems. Side effects of steroids related to the heart are discussed below.

Steroids and Heart Problems
As we all know, steroids are hormones that are not only naturally produced in the body, but are also available in supplemental form. Oral corticosteroids like hydrocortisone and prednisolone display anti-inflammatory effect. Medical problems like asthma (inflammation of the airways) and arthritis (inflammation of the joints) improve with the usage of these steroids. They are especially useful to treat severe asthma because steroids provide immediate relief from breathing problems.

Although steroids do alleviate swelling, its side effects when taken in excess doses are a cause of concern. Unknowingly consuming steroids in high doses can be fatal to the heart. Long term use of steroids may raise blood pressure, thereby increasing the risk of heart problems. A study published in the journal 'Annals of Internal Medicine' cited how steroid use for prolonged periods of time can negatively affect the heart. The study that was conducted spanning 3 years in between 1993 to 1996 involved thousands of patients taking steroids. Their heart condition was monitored to estimate the risk of heart problems. Of course, all the patients were not taking the same steroid or the dosage. Even the duration of steroid use was different, nevertheless it was not for a short period. All this data was analyzed and researchers found out that intake of steroids in high doses elevates the chances of cardiovascular problems. Taking these steroids in small doses does not mean that there is no risk of heart problems, but it is minimal as compared to those taking high doses of steroids.

Though the study suggests that steroids put a person in the risk zone of cardiovascular problems, it does not indicate that these anti-inflammatory drugs are a primary contributory factor in the development of heart problems. This is because other factors like smoking habits, exercise routine and diet of the people under study were not considered in the research. Hence, saying that only steroids trigger heart problems would be wrong.

Anabolic Steroids and Heart Problems
Anabolic steroids like oxandrolone are drugs that are commonly used to build muscles. These drugs stimulate production of proteins within cells, which helps us to develop well toned muscles. Weight lifters and bodybuilders often take (sometimes excessively) these drugs to increase muscle mass and strength. There is no doubt that these drugs have a positive impact on body muscles but a recent study reveals that use of anabolic steroids can also pose a threat to heart health. To be precise, people taking these steroids on a regular basis elevate their chances of developing heart attacks. A study showed that using these muscle building drugs cuts down on good cholesterol levels and raises bad cholesterol levels (LDL). Now, it is a known fact that good cholesterol protects heart health and too much of bad cholesterol clogs the arteries and blood vessels that transport blood directly to the heart. The clogged arteries can stop blood circulation to the heart, eventually causing an heart attack. Chances of heart problems were found to be high in all 3 doses of oxandrolone (20 mg, 40 mg and 80 mg). Higher the dosage, more will be the risk of heart problems. Although the subjects in the study were HIV infected patients, the result holds a lot of significance among healthy individuals who are using these steroids to gain muscles. Abusing this drug in a bid to gain muscles fast, can pave the way to cardiac arrest.

Well, this was some info on the connection between steroids and heart problems. On the whole, those wanting to take steroids to treat medical conditions or for gaining muscle strength need to use it carefully after consulting a doctor. Taking it in high doses can do more harm than good, hence one should take only the required dose for a short duration to prevent any adverse side effects.

How to Prevent Circulatory System Diseases

The circulatory system plays a very important role in the proper functioning of our body. This system regulates the blood supply in different parts of the body which is done with the help of heart and blood vessels. Blood gets oxygenated by the lungs and supplied to the heart which pumps it to different parts of the body through the arteries. Then de-oxygenated or impure blood is taken by the veins to the lungs for oxygenation and like this, the process continues. Apart from carrying oxygen, blood also carries different minerals and nutrients which are very necessary for all the parts of the body. Any restriction in the blood supply may cause serious problems which can be life threatening. Hence, it is very important to take proper precautions in order to avoid different types of circulatory system diseases.

Tips on How to Prevent Circulatory System Diseases

There are many circulatory system diseases which can be fatal. Some of them are angina, arrhythmia, atherosclerosis, cardiomyopathy, congenital heart defect, coronary artery disease, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and peripheral vascular disease. Circulatory system disease prevention will help you to stay away from the circulatory system diseases. To help you with this, following are some of the preventive measures.

✜ Exercise: Exercise and workouts are the best way to keep your body healthy. Routine workouts generate a proper blood flow in the body which reduces the chances of getting circulatory system diseases. They also increase the oxygen level in the body which is the primary need of the body. You can opt for jogging, cycling, swimming or any other sports which can keep your body working.

✜ Quite Smoking: Smoking is the cause of a number of diseases among which circulatory system diseases are the most common ones. If you are already suffering from circulatory system diseases, then smoking may even cause death. Hence, it is best to avoid it completely.

✜ Control Alcohol: It has been observed that small amounts of alcohol specifically red wine can improve the blood circulation. But when this amount is increased then it may cause many adverse effects. Hence, it is advised to keep an eye on your alcohol consumption.

✜ Stay Away from Stress: In our busy routine, we forget about our health and take a lot of mental and physical stress. Any type of stress can lead to a number of circulatory diseases. Meditation has proved to be one of the best ways to get rid of the problems of stress.

✜ Take Proper Rest: Your body needs proper rest after a day's long work hence try to get at least 7 hours sleep, every 24 hours. It will remove toxins from your body and will maintain proper blood flow. Avoid sleeping extra as it will result in poor blood circulation in your body.

✜ Foods to be Avoided: Just by taking care of the food habits you can easily protect yourself from circulatory system diseases. Avoid eating foods which have saturated fats like butter, dairy products, etc. Fat and cholesterol get deposited in the arteries and cause blockages in the proper circulation of blood. Avoid eating junk food items. Lower down the oil consumption and use only refined oils.

✜ What to Eat: Fresh vegetables and fruits will improve the blood circulation of your body. Fat is one of the necessities of the body hence you cannot avoid it completely. You can have mono-unsaturated fat which you can get from from nuts, almonds, sunflower seeds, omega 3 fatty acids, corn oil, soy oil, etc. You can have lean meat and lean diary products. Fish can be very healthy for prevention of circulatory diseases. Carbohydrates and fibers should be included in the diet.

✜ Lose Weight: People with excess weight are more susceptible to cardiovascular diseases. Hence, it is very important to shed excess weight with the help of various weight reducing activities and a suitable diet. Consult a physician for more details.

✜ Other Diseases: If you are suffering from other diseases such as diabetes then you need to be more careful. Keep an eye on the sugar levels and try to maintain it so as to avoid any type of circulatory system diseases.

So these were some of the tips and preventive measures to improve circulatory system and to avoid circulatory system diseases. You can consult your doctor for more detailed information on the diet schedule. Hope this Buzzle article was helpful and informative.

Coughing and Heart Diseases

Coughing is not really a disease in itself, however, it could be a sign of certain medical conditions. Coughing is basically a instinctive reflex action or a mechanism that our body employs for expelling the foreign substances that may be irritating the airways. In fact, the production of mucus is another protection mechanism that is used for the same purpose. However, persistent or chronic cough could be caused due to certain ailments and must not be taken casually. Chronic cough or violent coughing are generally indicative of respiratory tract infections, but it's possible that there may be a connection between coughing and heart diseases. Scroll down to find out how coughing may be a sign of a heart ailment.

Can Coughing be Caused due to a Heart Disease?
More often than not, coughing is experienced by those suffering from upper or lower respiratory tract infections. Before the lungs can actually carry out the function of exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide, the air that we inhale, passes through the components of the respiratory system such as the nasal passage, pharynx, larynx, windpipe and the bronchial tubes. These respiratory organs could get inflamed if we inhale irritants such as dust, chemicals, fumes, or disease causing microbes. The immune system may get stimulated, and the body may try to expel irritants along with mucus by the reflex action of coughing.

So, what does coughing have to do with the functioning of the heart? Well, the organ systems of the body work collectively, and the respiratory system does work in tandem with the circulatory system, of which the heart is definitely a key organ. Well, the heart is the pumping organ, that supplies deoxygenated blood to the lungs, and the oxygen-enriched blood from the lungs is then carried by the blood vessels to various parts of the body. If the heart's pumping capacity is affected by any ailment, the lungs may become congested. Fluid in lungs and heart may give rise to symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath or wheezing.

Coughing and Heart Failure
To understand how coughing and heart diseases may be linked, one must first understand how the heart works. The human heart comprises of four chambers. The upper and lower chambers on the right and left side of the heart are referred to as the right atrium, right ventricle, left atrium and left ventricle. The left atrium receives the oxygen-rich blood through the pulmonary veins. This is followed by opening of the mitral valve, and the blood is then carried into the left ventricle. It is through the left ventricle that the oxygenated blood is carried to the various parts of the body. On the other hand, oxygen deficient blood is carried by the inferior vena cava and superior vena cava to the right atrium. The tricuspid valve opens to facilitate the passage of blood into the right ventricle. The pulmonary artery carries the blood into the lungs, wherein it gets oxygenated and is again carried to the left side of the heart. When the chambers of the heart fail to pump the blood properly, one is said to suffer from a congestive heart failure.

Weakening of the myocardium or the heart muscle due to coronary artery disease is one of the most common causes of congestive heart failure. Coronary heart disease is characterized by limited flow of blood to the heart due to the accumulation of arterial plaque. While this causes the heart muscle to weaken, thereby increasing the risk of congestive heart failure, thickening of the heart muscle due to high blood pressure can also cause the same effect. Coronary artery disease also increases the risk of a heart attack. A heart attack is a life-threatening condition wherein the blockage of a coronary artery causes damage to a part of the heart muscle. Shortness of breath, persistent cough, chest pain, wheezing and edema are the characteristic symptoms of congestive heart failure.

Left-sided heart failure is a type of congestive heart failure that causes pulmonary congestion, which in turn, gives rise to coughing. In case of a person suffering from left-sided heart failure, the left ventricle is unable to pump blood. This causes blood to flow back into the left atrium. The blood is then carried by the pulmonary veins into the lungs. This causes pulmonary congestion. The air sacs wherein the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place, get filled with fluid, and this interferes with the lung function. Coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath are the common symptoms of pulmonary congestion. ACE inhibitors are a class of drugs that are used for the treatment of hypertension and congestive heart failure. It is believed that chronic cough in adults may be caused due to the use of these drugs.

This was some information on the possible connection between coughing and heart diseases. While bouts of coughing may be associated with respiratory tract infections, allergies, asthma or lung conditions, in some cases, congestive heart failure may actually be responsible for causing chronic cough. Those who do experience symptoms such as coughing and heart pain every now and then, must therefore get a thorough medical checkup done.

How to Prevent Cardiac Arrest

Heart is one organ of the human anatomy which functions ceaselessly right from the time we are born till our very last breath. Taking the importance of this organ into consideration, it becomes more than obvious that health issues related to heart shouldn't be taken lightly. One such health issue is cardiac arrest which occurs when the heart stops functioning all of a sudden. If normal functioning of the heart comes to a complete halt all of a sudden, it can result in severe repercussions in the form of chest pain, profuse sweating, and even death (see cardiac arrest symptoms). In such circumstances, being well-versed with some simple ways to prevent cardiac arrest can come as a blessing in disguise.

How to Prevent Cardiac Arrest

Cardiac arrest is actually a sudden condition that takes place within a few seconds, and doesn't come with any obvious warning signs that would give you time to prepare. Due to this unpredictability, it is very difficult to say specifically what can be done to prevent a cardiac arrest. Discussed below are some cardiac arrest precautions which will introduce you to some simple measures of preventing cardiac arrest which you can inculcate in your day-to-day life with great ease.

Be in Shape
The foremost thing to take into consideration is your weight. If you are overweight or obese, you need to get your weight in control to make sure that you are not vulnerable to cardiac problems. People fail to realize that obesity is in itself a disease, and has the tendency to place you at an added risk of suffering from cardiac arrest, as well as diabetes, hypertension, and a host of other diseases. After all, the heart of an obese person has to work harder to ensure that each cell in the body gets adequate amount of blood and oxygen. In order to make sure that the functioning of your heart is not hampered, you must try and lose all the excess weight that you’re carrying. Ideally, you should start with simple cardio exercises so as to initiate the process of weight loss, and then progress to other intense exercises and weights.

Healthy Diet
Exercising is not the only precautionary measure that you need to follow to stay in good health. Even if you workout for half the day, only to go home and feast on burgers and fries, then all of your hard work is going down the drain. Heart healthy diet is as important as the workout that you do. You must concentrate on eating healthy fruits and vegetables, or at least cut down on the excess fat that you take in. For starters, people who eat a lot of beef must try and cut down on this habit, as beef is one of the main culprits when it comes to hypertension and cardiac arrest. You can instead try low fat food, which is a relatively better option. Eating fattening food once in a while is excusable, but if it forms a part of your staple diet, then you are simply shortening the life of your heart.

Stop Bad Habits
There are many vices that directly affect the heart. This may come as a surprise for many, but even something as simple as a diet that is very high in salt can lead to heart and blood pressure issues in the future. One of the main culprits when it comes to habits which lead to cardiac problems is smoking. Smokers are often under the impression that smoking only affects the lungs, and not the heart. They fail to understand that, since the lungs are affected, the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood is compromised, and therefore the heart has to work harder to increase the blood circulation in the body. This increased workload that the heart is subjected to can eventually take a toll on it.

Regular Check Ups
While the aforementioned tips will help you keep your heart healthy, things don't just end there. One of the most important things to keep in mind is to go regularly for check-ups so as to make sure that predisposing factor, if any, is caught beforehand. Such check ups can help you gauge you health and identify any oncoming disease or malfunctioning of organs, including the heart, before things go out of hand.

As you must have noticed, there is nothing new in the aforementioned information on tips to prevent cardiac arrest. These are the same tips which your parents, school teacher, family doctor and many other people around you must have given you, which you must have just brushed aside. There is no questioning the fact that cardiac arrest can cause irreversible damage to the heart, and therefore preventing it is the only safe way out. At the end of the day, leading a healthy lifestyle is the only way you can ensure that your heart health prevails.