Monthly Archives: February 2010

Reversing Heart Disease With Stem Cells

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How Stem Cells Helped My Heart

Clinical tests on persons with severe heart disease have shown that when their own stem cells were injected back into their hearts, their heart disease showed marked improvement. These heart patients regained some of the mobility they had lost as a result of their heart disease and saw a reversal of some of their symptoms.

 The tests were conducted by heart researchers from Northwestern University and used a device developed by Baxter International, Inc. The device extracts stem cells from the patients’ bone marrow and purifies them for re-introduction into the donors’ hearts.The test panel consisted of 167 males divided into a test and a control group. All of the men suffered from medium to severe heart disease. The test just completed Phase II of a three-part series, and after the second phase, many in the test group patients had already seen a reduction in angina and an increase in their mobility. Some of the patients had angioplasty at some point in their pasts, or even had open-heart surgery. After they had taken the stem cell treatments, many formerly home-bound heart patients could resume nearly normal activities like going grocery shopping or climbing stairs.

These test results have created a lot of interest and even excitement within their respective medical circles. They were presented to the American Heart Association at their scientific conference in Orlando, Florida, this past fall. The third phase is the last one needed to receive FDA approval, but the date for its launch has not yet been set. The third and last phase of testing will involve a larger sample.

This is not a precedent as there are similar examples of introducing the patients’ own stem cells into their diseased bodies that help cure their diseases. One disease with similar results is cancer therapy, particularly lymphatic cancer.There has also been some remarkable improvement in persons suffering from spinal cord injuries.

 

The Link Between Tobacco and Heart Disease

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Everyone knows that tobacco – found in cigarettes and chewing tobacco – is bad for you. Your health care provider most likely has cautioned you about its dangerous effects, however you can also learn something from the Surgeon General’s office and from numerous campaigns. Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable heart disease and heart attacks in the United States and also in the rest of the world. By smoking you increase your risk of heart attack by at least 300%.

Smoking results in rapid heart rate, increased blood pressure, and lessens the quantity of oxygen in your blood. Every one of these components mixed together place you at a greater risk of heart attack and disease.

It doesn’t matter what it is you light up, but in your mouth, it’s still considered smoking. Although a lot of people believe that smoking cigars and pipes isn’t as risky, the reality is that they have greater nicotine amounts along with other harmful substances.

One of the things that people frequently believe is that the use of smokeless tobacco will do less damage to your body than the use of a cigarette or cigar. This is any form of tobacco, whether you chew, smoke or sniff it. This habit is equally dangerous to the heart. As a matter of fact, if you utilize smokeless tobacco, it’s two times more probable that you’ll have a heart attack as opposed to an individual who does not. And if you smoke and use smokeless tobacco you’re actually four times more likely to have a heart attack than someone who doesn’t use tobacco at all. And different from other addictions which can be alright in moderation, using tobacco definitely has no health advantages and there isn’t any safe level to use it.

But there is good news. Even though you use tobacco, it is possible to stop doing so and thereby reduce the consequences. As a light smoker you can more easily become a non-smoker and within 5 to 10 years of quitting, you will become low risk as far as cardiac ailments are concerned. If you’re a heavy smoker, your risk can be reduced a great deal but may never completely be erased.

If you use any form of tobacco, now is the time to quit. Do not wait until you get heart disease to stop. Unfortunately, many people wait to quit until they become sick. At that point there are many effects that are irreversible, though quitting will improve your chances of survival and your quality of life. Yet the sooner you stop, the better off you will be.

Heart disease kills more people each year than all of the cancers combined. Learn more about the causes and effects of this epidemic problem, along with treatment information such as herbal remedies for heart disease, at Heart Wellness.

Are You At Risk for Heart Disease?

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Many people believe that heart disease is inherited, or something that you are born with. It is true that you can be born with a genital heart condition, but as far as inheriting heart disease, this isn’t actually true. You can inherit genes that put you at higher risk for heart disease – but with proper prevention, the chances that you will actually develop heart disease are greatly reduced simply by living a life that prevents it. There are many factors that increase your risk of heart disease.

If you smoke, you are at risk for heart disease. Smoking isn’t the only risk, however. The use of any product that contains nicotine puts you at higher risk. Nicotine has an adverse affect on the body, and narrows the arteries, causing your heart to work much harder than would normally be necessary. If you use tobacco, you need to quit today.

If you are overweight, you are at risk for heart disease. Being overweight alone puts strain on the heart, but there is more to it. Fat also builds up around the heart muscle, which of course is unhealthy.  Too often, people think that only those who are morbidly obese are at risk, but this isn’t so. Being just ten pounds overweight can increase your risk of heart disease. Start taking steps to get the weight off today.

If you do not eat right, you are at risk for heart disease. Foods that are high in salt, cholesterol and fat increase your risks of heart disease. You should take measures immediately to reduce your intake of these foods, or to preferably cut these foods from your diet completely.

If you do not get enough exercise, you are at risk for heart disease. You need to be moving at least thirty minutes each day, and preferably moving for an hour each day. Although the more days per week you exercise, the better off you are, you need to be exercising at least three days each week. If you live a sedentary lifestyle, you can expect to have multiple health problems, not the least of which is heart disease.

Scientists have also found that people who are unhappy or people who have high levels of stress the majority of the time are also at greater risk for heart disease. Happiness – or unhappiness – really does have a physical effect on the body, and although we usually think of stress as a something that affects us only mentally, it really does do physical damage to the body as well.

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Blood Pressure Explained

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Blood Pressure Explained

Vascular pressure, or blood pressure as it is more commonly referred to, is a vital indicator of health and fitness in all people and is determined by calculating how much force is placed on the walls of blood vessels by circulating blood. On the other hand, arterial pressure is the type that indicates the level of pressure as blood traverses the arteries, arterioles, capillaries and veins and is the term most often associated with blood pressure; moreover, arterial pressure decreases as the bloods travels farther away from the heart.

Arterial pressure is most commonly measured via a sphygmomanometer, which uses the height of a column of mercury to reflect the circulating pressure (see Non-invasive measurement). Even though mercury is no longer used in most blood pressure monitoring devices, millimeters of mercury, also referred to as mmHg, continues to be the way blood pressure levels are reported. The systolic arterial pressure is defined as the peak pressure in the arteries, which occurs near the beginning of the cardiac cycle; the diastolic arterial pressure is the lowest pressure (at the resting phase of the cardiac cycle). The pulse pressure refers to the difference in maximum and minimum pressure level values, and the total overall pressure during the cardiac cycle is referred to as the mean arterial pressure level.

When a healthy adult is resting, the average systolic pressure reading is 120 mmHg (16 kPa) and the normal diastolic reading would be in the range of 80 mmHg (11 kPa). When writing this particular pressure level, it would be shown as 120/80 mmHg and spoken as “one twenty over eighty”. While the 120/80 mmHg is considered to be average for healthy adults, readings can vary considerably based on other factors such as age, fitness and health. The measure of your arterial blood pressure can change as often as the heart beats, and your blood pressure may vary at different times of the day. Fluctuations in your arterial blood pressure and are usually not cause for great concern – unless there are particularly large differences. Some common factors that may affect your arterial blood pressure levels are: diet, drugs and alcohol, fitness and even stress.

Blood pressure levels that are either too high or too low can be a cause of concern and may lead to other health problems. The condition associated with elevated blood pressure levels is known as hypertension, and when pressure levels are too low, hypotension is the term used to name the condition. The only basic health test performed more than a blood pressure check is the measuring of the body’s temperature with a thermometer.

Your good health is the most valuable asset you can have and if you have a blood pressure concern, seek out all the advice and information you can find. Taking professional advice is the sensible thing to do and have a chat with your doctor about your blood pressure concerns. Weigh up your findings and fine tune your plan of action for maintaining good health and a good blood pressure level.

For the most thorough and up to date information on blood pressure levels, arterial pressure monitoring and other useful information, use reliable specialist sites dealing with blood pressure issues.

The Lifesource Blood Pressure Monitor UA-853AC Stand-Up – This Workhorse just Works.

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Lifesource Monitor


The UA-853AC and the UA-85X Series

Lifesource Blood Pressure Monitor

Blood Pressure Monitor Review

The Stand-Up Lifesource Blood Pressure Monitor UA-853AC – One Real Workhorse of a Monitor

Many of my readers know that I really get into blood pressure monitor reviews. After years in the medical product review profession, I know first-hand the dangers of not taking care of your health I like to call this HCL (Health Care Laziness), and far more people are guilty of it than would like to admit.

Many people, some as young as in their forties, depend on blood pressure monitors to avoid, or cope with, hypertension. So, I don’t write these articles out of the pleasure I receive from them; I write them because I feel the information is relevant and important. Frankly, I believe there should be a blood pressure monitor in every home.

Well enough of the sermon, we are here to review the Lifesource UA-853AC Premium Stand-Up Blood Pressure Monitor. Because I travel a lot, I like to review the more portable type BP monitors. Nonetheless, I have to admit that the larger monitors, like the UA-853AC are more accurate and have more features. This Lifesource Monitor has every feature that you could possibly want or need in a home pressure monitor.

The Lifesource monitor boasts solid engineering and first-rate accuracy. While not so cheap as some home monitors you will find; it is less expensive than some other less capable BP monitors. If you consider all of the features offered by this monitor, then it is definitely one of the better values available.

First and foremost on the unit’s list of features is Lifesource’s excellent Irregular Heartbeat Detection (IHD) technology. IHD allows a user to know when irregularities occur that could be signs of arrhythmia issues. Patterns detected by the machine can be discussed with a doctor to determine on how to proceed with diagnosis or treatment. I cannot begin to tell how very important this feature could prove for many people who suffer arrhythmia conditions. Having already been around a few years, the technology has proven effective in saving lives. Early detection leads to a better chance of correcting a defective condition.

Another very useful feature of this particular monitor is the TimeWise system of automatically differentiating between morning and evening BP readings. In addition, the monitor stores both morning and evening reading averages. This is very helpful in examining dosage levels. Those taking medication for high blood pressure or hypertension are aware that many times day and night dosages can vary. Physicians love to see this type of reporting when meeting with patients for a check-up or evaluation.

The Lifesource monitor will also remind you to take your medication with audible alarms that can be programmed for three alerts a day. In addition, the monitor also provides for logging of your last ninety blood pressure readings. Again, doctors love these; they are great for helping them evaluate effectiveness of medications and other type treatments. With its large LCD Display, reading your pressure check result is easy and understandable.

This monitor is very well made and designed to last. As with other Lifesource blood pressure monitors, this unit has a lifetime warranty.

The Lifesource Monitor UA-853AC is a Blood Pressure Monitor of the highest caliber. Because of the size of the monitor, you probably won’t find it very suitable for quick trips; however, it will fit easily in large bags or suitcases.

This Lifesource Monitor is a solidly built Blood Pressure Monitor that will give you very accurate results for years, with reasonable care and use. The UA-853AC offers a lot for the price you pay. This  monitor has everything you need and nothing you don’t. This workhorse just works, and works well.