Angina

Angina is the squeezing, crushing like pain felt in the heart, because of insufficient blood and oxygen in the cardiac tissues. Angina typically begins as a slight painful sensation felt in the region immediately below the breastbone, slowly radiating out into the shoulders, the arm, or the jaw, the pain increases in intensity finally reaching a plateau-after which it begins to abate. An attack of angina can persist for up to 15 minutes at a time.Atherosclerosis or the accumulation of plaque in the arteries that supply the heart with blood is the primary reason for angina in all patients with the condition. The muscles in the heart require blood and oxygen like any other body muscle, to do its work of pumping blood and to keep the circulatory system going heart muscles must be healthy and strong at all stages of a person's life.The heart muscles are starved of oxygen if a person having atherosclerosis performs strenuous exercise, this is because even if the arteries remain wide enough to provide sufficient blood flow during muscular rest, but they can't supply enough oxygen when the physical demands on the cardiac tissue increases. Angina attacks are therefore often triggered by any kind of sudden exertion, these include activities such as climbing up stairs, running for the bus, or shoveling snow, these activities can put a sudden strain on the pumping ability of the heart muscles leading to an attack of angina. A temporary block in the coronary arteries can also lead to angina attacks in some cases, even though these attacks are not connected to any physical activity. These can come about when a small blood clot forms on the surface of a blood vessel's plaque leading to the clogging of the coronary artery. Spasms in the coronary artery can also give rise to attacks of angina.Supplements and herbsAll the supplements and herbs that are given can be used in combination or even alone as treatment for angina in the vast majority of patients. Prescription medications for angina can also be complemented by these herbs-they can be taken together. The advice of a doctor is essential if you intend to stop taking medication for problems related to the heart.Cellular damage within the body can be avoided and prevented by supplements of the vitamins C and E in all patients. Arteries that have been injured by plaque accumulation can be repaired by the use of supplements of the vitamin C. Plaque buildup and accumulation can be blocked by the supplements of the vitamin E which blocks the oxidation of LDL or the so called "bad" cholesterol, this form of cholesterol is the initial trigger to the formation of plaque. Some minerals may be responsible for lowering the spasm in the coronary arteries; the level of these minerals and substances in the body is often low in some people with heart disease. Good examples for these substances are the vitamin E and the mineral magnesium.There are several ways in which the heart can receive benefit through the use of amino acids. The arterial walls relax under the presence of nitric oxide, the amino acid arginine plays an important role in forming this nitric oxide. The amount of time patients spend exercising at moderate intensity is increased and the chances of chest pain is correspondingly decreased when arginine was consumed thrice a day as a measure against angina-this relation between angina and arginine use was found during one study on patients. The energy utilization efficiency of heart muscles is also increased by carnitine, another amino acid-like substance which can be used as a supplemental measure in angina patients. The amino acid, taurine, is possibly related to an ability to moderate heart rhythm abnormalities in patients with angina.The workings of cardiac muscles can also be promoted and enhanced by the nutritional supplement coenzyme Q10 in an action similar to that of carnitine-this supplement reduces the hearts workload from daily stress. The hawthorn is another excellent herbal supplement that has been shown to be able to improve the blood flow to the heart in angina patients who took it. The flexibility of the arteries is maintained by including the essential fatty acids in the diet and these fats are also very effective in lowering triglyceride levels within the body-all factors that reduce the stress on the heart.What else you can doDiet should preferably rich in dietary fiber and should be low in fat. Some alternatives like using canola or olive oil instead of butter will promote health and avoid unnecessary complications. Stop smoking and avoid going to areas where there are likely to be smokers to reduce the chances of lapsing into the habit again and to prevent breathing in secondhand smoke. Relaxing is one of the best ways to beat angina. Relaxation techniques and meditation, including all techniques such as t'ai chi, and yoga may reduce the chances angina attacks and you should give them a try. Angina patients can benefit from the companionship offered through a support group. Your aim is to reverse the causes of the disease and as such you should spend time determining what factors have led you to this point in your life and what measures need to be taken to return to normalcy.

solutions to female hair loss

Perhaps one of the most important outwardly visible signs of health is our hair. With fast growing cells, hair can very quickly reflects stress or crisis in the body. Everything from nutritional deficiencies, to a surgery, to starting a new medication can all become visible quite quickly in your hair. And one of the most frightening things that can happen is hair loss. There is nothing worse than standing in a shower, washing your hair, and seeing multiple strands of hair circling around – and eventually clogging – the drain. It’s helpful to understand and that there are actually three common types of hair loss. • General Hair Loss. This is overall shedding. You’ll see more hair on the pillow, more in the drain, and more in your hairbrush. You won’t, however, have specific bald patches. This type of loss is more often associated with thyroid imbalance, and imbalances in estrogen and progesterone. • Circular/Patchy Loss. Small circular patches of thinning hair, or even total loss in patches. This is more often seen in fungal infection or in the disease autoimmune alopecia. • Male Pattern Hair Loss. While this affects men primarily by this hair loss that is concentrated mainly in the temples and top of the head, women are vulnerable too. Typically, this sort of hair loss is related to conversion of the hormone testosterone to its less dihydrotestosterone, or DHT. Hair follicles shrink, and eventually disappear. If you are experiencing hair loss, your first step should be a thorough evaluation of your thyroid function. Hair loss is a very common – but often overlooked – sign of an underlying thyroid dysfunction, and an underactive thyroid – hypothyroidism – specifically. Are you experiencing any of these common hair-related symptoms of an underactive thyroid? • My hair is rough and coarse • My hair is dry, strawlike • My hair is breaking or brittle • My hair is falling out more than usual • My eyebrows or eyelashes are falling out • I’m losing my underarm or pubic hair • I’m noticing that hair is falling out with the root still attached • My hair won’t hold a perm • Won’t hold a curl • The texture of my hair has changed • My hair tangles easily • The outer edge of my eyebrows are thinning, or falling out (considered a distinct and obvious hypothyroidism symptom) Because hair loss is so often caused by a hidden thyroid problem, a thorough thyroid evaluation is essential. As part of such an evaluation, your practitioner should take your personal and family history, conduct a thorough clinical examination, and order blood tests. For more information, see Could Your Thyroid be Underactive? The thyroid can cause hair loss in women in a number of different ways. Normally, hair grows about a half inch a month. One in ten hairs is in a resting period at any given time, and after about three months of rest, a new hair pushes the old one out. Because the thyroid provides energy to the cells, low thyroid can cause a slowdown in hair cycles, and sometimes follicles even get “stuck” in the resting phase. Imbalances in thyroid hormones can also destabilize progesterone and estrogen, all which have an impact on hair cycles. Thyroid problems are also most likely due to the underlying autoimmune disease known as Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. And autoimmune patients are more susceptible to alopecia. The conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone seems to be sped up in some hypothyroid patients. For some women, getting an underlying thyroid problem diagnosed and properly treated will resolve hair loss. It can take months, however, because hair takes months to move back into a regrowth cycle. Some women continue to lose hair, after treatment. One little know reason is that the popular conventional treatment for hypothyroidism – the drug levothyroxine, known most often by the brand name Synthroid –actually causes hair loss as a drug side effect in some patients. (Note: Many doctors don’t know this, even though it is a stated side effect in the literature, so don’t be surprised if your doctor is not aware of this.) Some patients also appear to need the additional hormone T3 – not found in levothyroxine – to prevent further hair loss. For these patients, switching to another drug like the natural desiccated thyroid drug Armour Thyroid, or the combination drug liotrix (Thyrolar), may resolve hair problems. I have very long, usually thick hair myself, but early on after my hypothyroidism diagnosis, my hair became so thin that my entire head of hair could be pulled into a ponytail the thickness of a pencil! It truly was a discouraging symptom. But with proper thyroid treatment – in my case, I lose hair on levothyroxine/Synthroid, and need a drug that includes T3 in order to stem hair loss – my hair loss became more manageable. There are also natural and lifestyle approaches that help support healthier hair, and slow hair loss in women with hormonal imbalances. • Protein — Sufficient protein in the diet is particularly important for the health of hair. • Evening Primrose Oil (EPO) • Iron (If you are on thyroid hormone replacement already, make sure you allow at least 4 hours between taking thyroid medication and iron, to avoid interfering with your thyroid treatment.) • Lysine • Natural progesterone • Other supplements such as arginine, cysteine, green tea, saw palmetto, vitamin B6, and zinc. Don’t forget to talk to your hairdresser too. Many hairdressers are experts at helping women cope with hair loss. So while you’re getting your health in order, and hopefully addressing your hair loss problem from the inside out, your hairdresser may be able to suggest styling products or techniques that will help camouflage hair loss. Small undetectable hairpieces that add lift and body are also a great tool in helping make thinning hair look great. And even hair extensions can help you get through an especially difficult period of thinning hair. If your hair loss still doesn’t respond to thyroid treatment, a consultation with a trichologist – a specialist in hair loss – may be helpful. Medical treatments for hair loss may include laser therapy, scalp injections, drugs like Rogaine (minoxidil) and Propecia, and even hair transplants if needed.

Antidepressants

Antidepressants are dangerous drugs that increase your chances of a stroke, and of death by any cause, especially if you’re a postmenopausal woman, a new study has discovered. Doctors believed that the new generation of SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) antidepressants were safer than the older tricyclics – but a major study by the Women’s Health Initiative has discovered they are every bit as dangerous. The researchers are now recommending women talk about their cardiovascular risks with their doctor before starting their prescription. The study is monitoring the health of around 136,000 women and, over a period of 15 years, 5,500 women started taking an antidepressant. The group had many more deaths from any cause and of stroke than those who weren’t taking the drug. (Source: Archives of Internal Medicine, 2009; 169: 2128-39).