« Older Entries

What causes mitral valve prolapse?

Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is among the most common heart conditions; however it remains something of a puzzle. Although MVP affects about two percent of the population, the cause is unknown. MVP often occurs in people who have no other heart problems, and the condition may be inherited.

The mitral valve is located in the heart between the upper-left chamber (the left atrium) and the lower-left chamber (the left ventricle). The mitral valve consists of two flaps called leaflets.

In normal operation the leaflets open and close in a specific sequence. This allows the blood to flow in one direction, from the atrium to the ventricle. The left ventricle is the heart’s main pumping chamber and pushes oxygen-rich blood into the arteries, which carry the blood throughout the body.

In patients with MVP, one or both of the leaflets are enlarged, and the leaflets’ supporting muscles are too long. Instead of closing evenly, one or both of the leaflets collapse or bulge into the atrium sometimes allowing small amounts of blood to flow back into the atrium. By listening to the heart with a stethoscope, the doctor may hear a “clicking” sound caused by the flapping of the leaflets.

Sometimes, MVP leads to a condition known as mitral regurgitation or mitral insufficiency. This means a large amount of blood is leaking backward through the defective valve. Mitral regurgitation can lead to the thickening or enlargement of the heart wall. This is caused by the extra pumping the heart must do to make up for the backflow of blood. It sometimes causes people to feel tired or short of breath. Mitral regurgitation can usually be treated with medicines, and some people need surgery to repair or replace the defective valve.

Most of the time, MVP is not a serious condition, even when some patients report palpitations or sharp chest pains. Most patients do not need treatment

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Related posts

Tags:

Relieve Pain, Accelerate Recovery and Promote Health Using Electronic Muscle Stimulators

The human body can be fragile at times. We all suffer from injuries some time or other during the course of our lives. Injuries can be caused by sickness or accidents. When it happens to us, we all know that the recovery process can be a painful and lengthy one.

Fortunately, modern day technology is readily available to help with the healing process. Gadgets such as the electronic muscle stimulator can help provide the stimulation that our muscles need without adding additional stress to other parts of our body.

For example, an athlete may have suffered an ankle sprain. Thus, he is unable to carry out his daily runs. However, a sprain is an injury to the joint, not the muscle. If the athlete does not continue his training, his muscles will start to grow weak from lack of stimulation. An electronic muscle stimulator can help compensate the lack of exercise by providing the necessary stimulation. Here is how an electronic muscle stimulator work.

The gadget has a few pads that can be attached to the areas that require stimulation. An electric pulse is then sent to the muscles to provide some stimulation. This process is similar to way muscles are stimulated when an individual is engaged in exercise. The level of stimulation can be varied.

Users of the gadget say that they feel a slight tingling sensation when the device is at work. If the sensation becomes uncomfortable, the user can always turn the power down.

This device is light weight, portable, and very popular among the medical community. Is is often used by professional therapists to help heal many muscle related problems. And because it is portable, it is ideal for home use. Users can carry out therapeutic sessions at home without having to travel to medical centers.

Usually, after using the device, users claim that they feel much better. The feeling is very similar to the feeling experienced after an exercise session. The muscles tend to be more relaxed. In addition, the device promotes blood circulation, which improves the overall health of its users.

The electronic muscle stimulator is especially useful for people who are less mobile. Those who are injured, or of find it difficult to move around due to old age, will find this device essential. Old people tend to have weak joints due to bone degeneration. The stimulator allows the muscles to get the exercise that it needs without causing additional stress to the joints.

When in perfect health, the device is also good for improving the general health of the body by promoting blood circulation and helping muscles to relax. Muscles tend to tighten when an individual is under stress. And stress can be caused by work related problems. When stimulated, the muscles loosen up, and tension is released. The individual will also be able to sleep better at night!

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Related posts

Tags:

What is Papillomavirus

Papillomavirus are small cells that are associated with STD (Sexual Transmitted Disease), Cervical Cancer, and other diseases. They are just 55mm in diameter and at least 10% of young women in England are infected with some type of papillomavirus by the age of 16. There are over 100 types of Papillomavirus, ranging from the harmless ones that cause warts, to others that cause cancer.

About 40 types affect the genital area, and 4 are responsible for some common genital diseases. Types 16 and 18 fall under what is known as “high-risk” types and cause abnormal cells, which lead to cancer. These types, along with about 10 others, are easily transmitted from one person to another by sexual relations or genital contact.

Although using a condom is good protection from most sexual diseases, such as AIDS or HIV, they only offer partial protection from papillomavirus cells. 80% of all women will, at one point or another, become infected with at least one type by the age of 50.

The Papillomavirus infects the skin and mucous membranes, lining the cervix. The progression is slow from abnormal benign cells to cancer and sometimes will lie there undetected for many years, before becoming diagnosed.

A third of all women will die within 5 years of diagnosis, but the statistics are changing, as the medical world advances. Recently a vaccine against papillomavirus cells was released, called Gardasil, which so far, has shown highly encouraging results against some types of papillomavirus. Generally, though, once the abnormal cells have developed into cancer, the two options are surgery or radiation, to eliminate them.

In many cases, there are no symptoms to indicate the status and the only true way to discover if you are in infected is to have an annual Pap Smear by a gynaecologist. The “low risk” types are transmitted either environmentally or by touch, but the body builds up antibodies naturally against them.

Women are not the only ones affect by cancer-causing types of papillomavirus. Men could get penile cancer as well. It is a DNA based virus, which is why certain types advance to cancer. Normal cells grow, divide and die, whereas cancer ones just carry on dividing. This happens because the DNA is damaged, and since DNA is hereditary, the defect can be passed on to one’s children. Being a DNA-based virus, the high-risk papillomavirus attacks the DNA in the cells, causing them to become cancerous.

In order for cervical cancer to take form completely, a woman would need a history of infections with the types involved. The risks are generally quite low and for most the chances of getting a high-risk type of papillomavirus is small. However a simple test once a year will eliminate any doubt with your doctor.

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Related posts

Tags: