Implants that grow with children

Scientists have created medical implants for children which expand in tune with their natural growth.
Children with defects in the heart or other organs have had to undergo numerous heavy-duty operations throughout their lifetime to replace their life-saving implants.

The accommodating implant designed for use in a cardiac surgical procedure called a valve annuloplasty, which repairs a leaking heart. Children who undergo life-saving cardiac surgeries, such as mitral and tricuspid valve repairs, may require several additional surgeries over the course of their childhood to re-repair or replace leaking heart valves.

The growth-accommodating implant is meant to enhance the durability of pediatric heart valve repairs and accommodating a child's growth, decreasing the number of heart surgeries a child must endure.

Beyond cardiac repair, the research team says the tubular, expanding implant design used in their proof-of-concept could also be adapted for a variety of other growth-accommodating implants throughout the body. The implant design consists of two components: a degrading, biopolymer core and a braided, tubular sleeve that elongates over time in response to the tensile forces exerted by the surrounding growing tissue.

The polymer is made of components that exist in the human body, adjusting the polymer's composition can tune the core to degrade predictably over a pre-determined amount of time. This concept could be adapted for many different clinical applications, with exciting potential to be converted into an actively, rather than a passively - elongating structure that could act as a tissue scaffold growth.
           haleplushearty.blogspot.com

Lung cancer treatment could affect the heart

Radioactivity of the heart from
radiotherapy of lung cancer treatment is increasing mortality rates. Exposing heart to radiation during treatment of lung cancer may kill the organ.

Some tumours are very close to the heart, higher dose of radiotherapy to this part of the body increases the risk of early death. During radiotherapy, some radiation will hit the heart because it is very close to the lung and this have negative effects on it

Researchers analysed many patients, looking at where in the heart there was radiation and how long the patients survived. They identified that the top of the heart is very sensitive to radiation than the body of the organ.

The researchers carried out a high-resolution, normal-tissue dosimetric analysis, this identify regions in the heart that correlated with poorer survival. The result confirmed that radiation affects the heart.
          haleplushearty.blogspot.com

E-cigarette with nicotine changes adrenaline in nonsmokers heart

Healthy nonsmokers experienced increased adrenaline levels in their heart after taking one electronic cigarette with nicotine but there were no increased adrenaline levels when the study subjects used a nicotine-free or empty e-cigarette.

Unlike cigarettes, e-cigarette have no combustion or tobacco. Instead, these electronic, handheld devices deliver nicotine with flavoring and other chemicals in a vapor instead of smoke.
E-cigarettes produce fewer carcinogens than tar of tobacco cigarette smoke, they also produce nicotine.

E-cigarette users have elevated sympathetic nerve activity which increases adrenaline directed to the heart and are more susceptible to oxidative stress. Researchers used heart rate variability obtained from a prolonged, non-invasive heart rhythm recording. Heart rate variability is calculated from the degree of variability in the time between heartbeats.

This variability may be indicative of the amount of adrenaline on the heart.
heart rate variability test to link increased adrenaline activity in the heart with increased cardiac risk. People with known heart disease and people without known heart disease who have this pattern of high adrenaline levels in the heart have increased risk of death.

In the first study to separate the nicotine from the non-nicotine components when looking at the heart impact of e-cigarettes on humans, researchers studied healthy adults who were not smoking. Researchers measured cardiac adrenaline activity by assessing heart rate variability and oxidative stress in blood samples by measuring the enzyme plasma paraoxonase PON1.

They discovered that exposure to e-cigarettes with nicotine, but not e-cigarettes without nicotine, led to increased adrenaline levels to the heart, as indicated by abnormal heart rate variability. Acute electronic cigarette use with nicotine increases cardiac adrenaline levels. And it's in the same pattern that is associated with increased cardiac risk in patients who have known cardiac disease and even in patients without known cardiac disease.
          haleplushearty.blogspot.com

Poor sleep pattern linked with overweight

Poor sleep patterns are linked with overweight, obesity and poor metabolic health. Sleeping less than seven hours recommended for an adults increases the risk of overweight.

Insufficient sleep could contribute to the development of metabolic diseases like diabetes, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, blood sugar and thyroid function.

Obesity contributes to the development of many diseases like type 2 diabetes. Shorter sleep was also linked to reduced levels of high density lipoprotein HDL cholesterol.

 HDL cholesterol is 'good' cholesterol that helps remove 'bad' fat from the circulation. High HDL cholesterol levels protect the heart from diseases.
          haleplushearty.blogspot.com.

How to prevent type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes occurs when pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or the body does not react properly to insulin.

Changing from sedentary lifestyle to active lifestyle and changing from over processed foods to eating plant based diet can prevent type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes prevention is eating more healthy foods, becoming more physically active and losing excess weight.

 Nerve, kidney and heart damage are complications developed from suffering from diabetes, these can be prevented by adopting these preventive measures.

Be involved in regular physical activity - regular physical activities can prevents many diseases including diabetes promotes weight loss.

Daily fibre consumption - Foods rich in fiber are fruits, vegetables, beans and nuts. These foods will digest slowly and prevent blood sugar spike.

Eat whole grains - Whole grains will reduce the risk of diabetes and maintain blood sugar levels.
          haleplushearty.blogspot.com

Prone radiation for breast cancer treatment

Lying face down called prone radiation, to receive radiation therapy to the breast area reduces the amount of radiation that reaches the heart and lungs and protects them from damage.

When patients receive radiotherapy from X-ray radiation which destroys cancer cells, the radiation may destroy lungs and the heart if the patient lie on her back, lying on face protects and exempts the heart and lungs from the radiation.

Treatments that prevent or reduce the heart and lungs from radiation are very important to prevents heart and lungs damage. Prone radiotherapy makes it easy to treat large breast without heart and lungs damage.

Arthritis patients or those suffering from back pain may not be able to benefit from this method, women who are not comfortable lying on their stomach for a long period of time may not use prone radiation.
          haleplushearty.blogspot.com

Diesel pollution can damage your heart

Diesel fumes alter the structure of the heart and increases risk of cardiovascular diseases.

They found those who lived in areas of high diesel air pollution were more likely to have an enlarged chamber on the left side of their heart.

If this left ventricle becomes too big the heart loses pressure and power.
This means it cannot pump as much blood, raising the risk of heart attack, heart failure and death.

Experts are aware of the impact of diesel fumes on human health, including the risk of asthma, dementia and cancer.

Hot flashes is linked to heart disease

More than 60 percent of women experience frequent and severe hot flashes, research indicates that hot flashes occur during late reproductive years and it can continue for more than ten years.

The researchers examined 272 women aged between 40 and 60 years, some of them have hot flashes daily while some do not. These women do not smoke and had no record of cardiovascular disease.

The women were monitored for physiologic sign of hot flashes in ambulatory care and diary monitoring.

Researchers tested their blood and endothelial function by an ultrasound measurement of the flow-mediated dilation of their brachial artery.

It was discovered that their is no link between hot flashes and vascular dysfunction in  women between 54 and 60 years. 

Younger women between the age of 40 and 53 years with regular hot flashes may have poorer endothelial function. Dr. JoAnn Pinkerton executive director of the North America Menopausal Society said hot flashes have been linked to cardiovascular, bone and brain health.

Exercise linked with improved heart attack survival

The chance of surviving heart attack is high if you are engaged in regular exercise.

According to professor of cardiovascular prevention and rehabilitation, University of Copenhagen, myocardial infarctions are less fatal in animal that exercise.

The study want to see if exercise prevent myocardial infarction in human, 14,223 participants who had never had a heart attack or stroke were examined.

Their level of physical activity was assessed in 1976-1978 and classified as sedentary, light, moderate or high.

The participants were monitored until 2013, A total of 1,664 had myocardial infarction and 425 died immediately.

Researchers discovered that patients who exercised may not die from myocardial infarction, while sedentary patients were more likely to die.

Regular exercise improves blood flow and reduce heart injury, it can also leads to development of collateral blood vessels in the heart which supplies blood to the heart after a blockage.

Graying hair increases the risk of heart disease

An observational study presented at the EuroPrevent 2017 conference of the European Society of Cardiology suggests that the risk of heart disease is high for adult men with more gray hair.

The researchers examined 545 adult men with coronary artery disease and divided them into several groups according to amount of their gray hair.

Level of gray hair is gradeded into four: 1 for pure black hair, 2 for more black hair than white, 3 for equal amount of black and white, 4 for more white than black hair and 5 for pure white hair.

Multivariate regression analyses was used and discovered that age, level of gray hair, high blood pressure, and dyslipidemia predicted atherosclerosis coronary artery disease differently.

Patients with coronary heart disease had greater whitening grade level, hair graying shows real age and indicates cardiovascular risk.

How to treat heart failure with stem cell

When heart failed, it will not be unable to pump enough blood to every part of the body. Common symptoms are: fatigue, chest pain and shortness of breath.

Illnesses that can cause heart failure are: high blood pressure, diabetes and coronary heart disease. Treatment includes: heart transplant,  medication and change of lifestyle.

Japanese team chose 27 patients with heart failure who are not responding to treatment; 15 had ischemic cardiomyopathy and 12 with dilated cardiomyopathy.

The team made patches of cells from the patience thigh muscles and surgically glued it onto the heart surface on left ventricle. 

The stem cell implant strengthen the heart to perform better, the patients get better after the implant without any complications.

Health benefits of keeping dogs

Dog is one of the common pets in the world, dogs exist in a wide range of colours and sizes, common examples of dogs are: German Shepherd, Doberman pinscher, Beagle, Cocker spaniel, Collie and Welsh corgi.

Beagle and Cocker spaniel are playful family pets that are very useful at home.

Benefits of keeping dogs
• American Heart Association said dogs decrease risk of cardiovascular disease, playing with dogs is a form of exercise.

• Laughing and playing with dogs release serotonin and oxytocin hormone and block cortisol.

•Some beneficial bacteria in dogs are useful for human, keeping and staying with them will give you access to the healthy bacteria.

•Dogs are very sensitive, they can detect burglars easily and prevent intruder from coming closer.

• Trained dogs are used in medicine to detect cancer; they can detect prostrate cancer by smelling the patient's urine.

Stem-cell therapy may be effective for erectile dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction is inability to get erection firm enough for sexual intercourse. According to Institute of Diabetes and Digestive Kidney Diseases, about 12 percent of men under the age of 60, and 22 percent of men between 60 and 69 have erectile dysfunction.

Common cause of erectile dysfunction are: diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, anxiety, depression and stress.

Stem-cell therapy is the process of injecting the patients' own stem cell into the erectile tissue of his penis, patients' stem cells is always derived from his abdominal fat cells.

Dr Martha Haahr discovered that within 6 months of stem-cell, 8 out of 21 men treated were able to have sexual intercourse.

Current treatments for erectile dysfunction like injections, penile implant and PDE5 have side effects, researchers are looking for safer treatment. Steam-like cell therapy is safer in animal trials and will be safe for men.

You can save a life

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation CPR is an emergency method of chest compression with artificial ventilation to restore breathing and blood circulation in someone who is in cardiac arrest.

CPR is necessary during injury, electric shock and heart attack. Irregular heart beat will prevent blood flow to different organs in the body, this is dangerous if it occurs for a long period of time.

The aim of performing CPR is to circulate oxygenated blood to the brain, heart and other organs in the body. Proper CPR can preserve the brain and save lives.

When CPR is mandatory
• When someone collapse suddenly.
• No breathing sign.
• No response from shaking.
• When electrocution injury occur.
• After fire accident.

How to do CPR
• Ensure that CPR is needed before you start.
• Place the person flat on his back and open his airway.
• Check for a pulse at the carotid artery in the neck.
•Give rescuer breathing.
• Compress the chest until the person is breathing and has independent of compression
• Call your doctor.

Vitamin B may protect against air pollution

B vitamins are water-soluble vitamins that aid cell metabolism, these vitamins are found in whole unprocessed foods but low quantity in processed food.

Researchers found that high doses of vitamin B may destroy the damage caused by air pollution.

Pollutants like smoke and chemical by- product can stay in human lungs and cause lungs and heart diseases.

Air pollutants alter the function of immune system. Foods rich in vitamin B can control the effects of these pollutants in the body.

Unhealthy diets linked to cardiovascular disease

Human heart is a muscular organ that pumps blood through the blood vessels of the circulatory system.

Cardiovascular disease is a class of diseases that involve blocked blood vessels that can lead to heart attack, chest pain and stroke.

High intake of saturated fat, salt, sugar, industrial vegetable oil, Pastries, Margarine, French Fries, Candy Bar, Precessed Meat, Energy drink, Ice cream, Bottled smoothies, Biscuits, Sports drinks, Canned soup, Hot Dog, McDonald's mayonnaise and Foods coated with artificial Chocolate will increase your risk of cardiovascular disease.

Eat these heart friendly foods regularly:
1. Fruits and vegetables
2. Nuts and Seeds
3. Whole grains
4. Fish
5. Water

Effects of Zika virus on your heart

Zika virus is primarily transmitted  through the bite of an infected Aedes mosquitoes. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed that Zika can spread through sex, infected blood during transfusion and pregnant mother to foetus.

This virus could harm the heart by damaging the  heart muscle cells or by promoting inflammation in the heart of infected people, Zika is also linked to autoimmune disorder that causes muscle weakness and paralysis.

People infected with zika virus should get enough rest, drink enough water and seek medical care, presently there is no vaccine available for zika virus.

Zika can be prevented by wearing light- coloured clothes that cover every parts of the body and sleeping inside insecticide treated mosquito net.