Heart Disease

Heart disease is a general term that refers to a variety of acute and chronic medical conditions that affect one or more of the components of the heart. The heart is a muscular, fist-sized organ that is located in the left side of the chest cavity. It continuously pumps blood, beating as many as 100,000 times a day. The blood that the heart moves carries oxygen and nutrients throughout the body and transports carbon dioxide and other wastes to the lungs, kidneys, and liver for removal. The heart ensures its own oxygen supply through a set of coronary arteries and veins. The heart is also an endocrine organ that produces the hormones atrial natriuretic hormone (ANP) and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), which coordinate heart function with blood vessels and the kidneys. 

Internally, the heart is essentially hollow. It is divided vertically into two halves by a septum, and each side of the heart has two internal chambers – an atrium on top and a ventricle on the bottom. Venous blood enters the right side of the heart through the right atrium and is pumped by the right ventricle to the lungs, where carbon dioxide is released and oxygen acquired. Oxygenated blood from the lungs is transported to the left atrium and is pumped by the left ventricle into arteries that carry it throughout the body. Four heart valves regulate the direction and flow of blood through the chambers of the heart. It is their opening and shutting that gives the heart its characteristic “lub-dub” beat. The heart muscle itself is called the myocardium. Lining the chambers of the heart and the valves is a membrane called the endocardium. Encasing the outside of the heart is the pericardium – a layered membrane that is fibrous on the outside and serous (fluid-secreting) on the inside. The pericardium forms a protective barrier around the heart and allows it to beat in a virtually friction free environment.

Diseases affecting the heart may be structural or functional. Anything that damages the heart or decreases the heart’s supply of oxygen, makes it less efficient, reduces its ability to fill and pump, will disrupt the coordinated relationship between the heart, kidneys, and blood vessels and will harm not only the heart but the rest of the body as well.

About Hepatitis A Food Poisoning

Hepatitis A is the only common vaccine-preventable foodborne disease in the United States (Fiore, 2004).  It is one of five human hepatitis viruses that primarily infect the human liver and cause human illness.  Unlike hepatitis B and C, hepatitis A doesn’t develop into chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis, which are both potentially fatal conditions; however, infection with the hepatitis A virus (HAV) can still lead to acute liver failure and death.

Hepatitis A is much more common in countries with underdeveloped sanitation systems. This includes most of the world: an increased transmission rate is seen in all countries other than the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and the countries of Western Europe. Nevertheless, it continues to occur in the United States; approximately one-third of the population has been previously infected with HAV (Fiore, 2004; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2009a). Each year, approximately 30,000 to 50,000 cases of hepatitis A occur in the United States. Historically, acute hepatitis A rates have varied cyclically, with nationwide increases every 10 to 15 years. The national rate of HAV infections has declined steadily since the last peak in 1995. Although the national incidence (1.0 case per 100,000 population) of hepatitis A was the lowest ever recorded in 2007, it is estimated that 25,000 new infections occurred that year after asymptomatic infection and underreporting were taken into account. Although the rates of HAV infection have declined over the years, rates are twice as high among American Indians/Alaskan Natives (AIAN) and Hispanics compared to non-Hispanic Whites in the United States (Rawls & Vega, 2005). Rates among AIAN have decreased dramatically, though, coincident with the implementation of routine hepatitis A vaccination of AIAN children, both in urban and rural communities (Bialek et al., 2004).

Benefits of Aloe Vera

Aloe vera, commonly found in subtropical and tropical regions like South Africa, Latin America, and Indonesia. In Indonesia, the properties of Aloe vera is often used for hair care. But now many skin care products that use aloe vera as one of the basic materials. The results, published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology prove, aloe vera is effective in helping overcome the healing of burns and skin irritation. This could be due to its soothing, refreshing, and relieve inflammation of the skin. Thus, properly used aloe vera on the skin of all types, including sensitive skins

How it works: One of skin care products that use aloe vera as the base material is after-sun lotion. Aloe vera can reduce the burning sensation caused by exposure to sunlight, repair damaged skin cells and stimulate growth of new cells. Research from the University of Mariland

Napping is Good For Heart Health

Not many are aware, slept a moment during the lunch break to help reduce the risk of death, especially in the able-bodied young men. Greek scientists who conducted research during the six-year period mentioned nap for about 30 minutes at least three times a week had a 37% lower risk of experiencing heart pain disorders.

The experts expressed naps help people to relax and reduce their stress levels, heart disturbances and even smaller countries are routinely found in a nap, although a number of studies show different results.

Research conducted in Greece is conducted in 23.681 men and women in the age range 20 to 86 years. The participants have a good health record, no history of heart disease and other acute diseases