5 Surprising Foods That Boost Immunity

5 Surprising Foods That Boost Immunity

You’ve probably heard that orange juice and chicken soup can help kick a cold or combat the flu, but there are less obvious (and more appetizing) mealtime choices that help an ailing immune system. Below are five surprising foods that you might want to toss in your shopping cart the next time you feel a tickle in your throat.

Kefir/Yogurt
Many yogurts and almost all kefir, a fermented milk product, contain probiotics, the so-called “good” bacteria. These bacteria alter how the immune system in the digestive tract reacts to microorganisms. Studies have found that probiotics can help with diarrhea and other intestinal disorders. Although more research is needed, probiotics may also help reduce the severity of colds and the flu, according to the Mayo Clinic. Opt for the yogurt and kefir that contain live and active probiotics to make sure you’re reaping the benefits of these miracle-workers.

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Black/Green Tea
A hot cup of tea can help soothe a sore throat and lift spirits, but green and black teas are also a good source of polyphenols, or plant antioxidants, that can help prevent free radical damage in the body. In the lab, compounds in green tea have been shown to inhibit viral replication, which may aid in defending against cold and flu. In addition, a Harvard study found that people who drank five cups of black tea had elevated levels of a compound that can help ward off infections like viruses. The benefits also pertain to decaf black and green teas, so you don’t have to over-caffeinate while loading up on the good stuff.

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Garlic
Garlic is indispensible in the kitchen but has recently received widespread attention for its potential in disease-prevention and immune-boosting properties. Although some of the claims are certainly oversold, garlic has shown some promise when it comes to warding off infections. It’s believed that the sulfur-containing compound allicin could function as an antibacterial and antiviral agent. In one study, British researchers found that people who took a garlic supplement regularly were two-thirds less likely to catch a cold than those who took a placebo. The best way to reap garlic’s benefits, however, is consuming it raw or freshly processed.

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Orange-Fleshed Vegetables
Pumpkins, sweet potatoes, squash, and other orange-fleshed vegetables are high in beta carotene, which the body uses to make Vitamin A. A diet low in beta carotene can suppress the immune system, so stocking up on these fall veggies is a great way to ensure your body has the nutrients it needs. Vitamin A also is important in keeping the skin healthy, which is our body’s first line of defense against disease-causing microorganisms.

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Oysters
Oysters are definitely not the first thing that comes to mind when a cold or other illness strikes, but the bivalves are a great source of zinc, among other good-for-you nutrients like omega-3s, selenium, and iron. Zinc is important in the development of white blood cells and even a low-to-moderate level of zinc deficiencies can have negative implications for the immune system. Of course, there can be too much of a good thing however: too much zinc can have an adverse effect and inhibit the immune system. Therefore, it’s best to get zinc from a well-rounded diet. In addition to oysters, beef and chicken are good sources.

Abortion;Homeopathic treatment; By, 8 Remedies :

Abortion;Homeopathic treatment; By, 8 Remedies :

 (1)Caulophyllum :

Thalictroides are Spasmodic Dyspepsia, Lactation, Leucorrhoea, Pregnancy, Parturition Affections, Rheumatism.
Caulophyllum Thalictroides is helpful in stomach affections causing spasmodic dyspepsia. Pain in the stomach with spasms. It is also useful in female related problems like amenorrhoea, dysmenorrhoea, or menstrual irregularities. It also helps in labour when there is extraoridinary rigidity of os. Pains of spasmodic nature flying in different directions. It is also helpful in all ailments during pregnancy, parturition and lactation. It also helps in leucorrhoea of little girls which is acrid and excoriating.

It also indicated in rheumatism when there is pain and stiffness in small joints, fingers, toes, ankles. Aching in wrists. Pain in flying in nature, migrates from one place to another.

(2)Ferrum Metallicum
Ferrum Metallicum are Anemia, Headache, Menstrual Disorders, Rheumatism, Weakness. 

Ferrum Metallicum has marked action in treating anemia from loss of vital fluid, abuse of quinine. Anemic condition from loss of blood especially from haemorrhage. Due to anemia patient is pale and waxy, muscles becomes flabby and relaxed. Dropsical condition of skin which pits on pressure. Skin is pale and waxy yet face shows appearance of plethora. Rapid exertion or motion brings on weakness, dysnoea, sinking and fainting. Pains and sufferings comes during rest. Patient is better by moving around gently in the house or in open air. Extreme paleness of face, lips and mucus membranes. Emaciation, weakness and trembling in frequent attacks.

Ferrum Metallicum also works for periodical headache once in every 2, 3 or 4 days or every 2 or 3 weeks. Pain is hammering, beating or pulsating type. Headache is caused due to loss vital fluid. With headache, there is vertigo with a sensation as if balancing on water, with avertion to eat or drink.

Ferrum Metallicum is indicated in rheumatism of the left shoulder. Pain in the deltoid muscle. Pain is worse from cold and rest and better by slowly moving about.

(3)Plumbum Metallicum
Plumbum Metallicum are Abdominal Disorders, Colic, Constipation, Intestinal obstruction, Muscular Atrophy.
Plumbum Metallicum has a marked action on alimentary disorders, especially colic and constipation. Stomach is unable to digest food. Contracture of stomach with pressure and tightness, gastralgia with constant vomiting. Plumbum Metallicum is useful for painters colic after lead poisoning. The patient cannot sleep in newly painted room. Very sensitive to lead. Colic in and around naval and radiating to all parts of the body. There is a sensation as if abdominal wall was drawn by string to the spine. Pain is neuralgic type and spasmodic in character. Pain starts around naval also radiates upward to chest and downward to pubes. Patient feels like stretching in every direction. There may also be intersussucption with strangulated, inguinal or umblical hernia causing intestinal obstruction along with colic. Colic is better temporarily by hard pressure and rubbing.

Plumbum Metallicum is also a chief remedy for constipation due to paresis of the intestine or from impaction of faeces. Constipation usually during pregnancy. Stool is hard, lumpy, black like sheep dung. Obstructed evacuation from impaction of faeces.

Plumbum Metallicum also helps in muscular atrophy. Extensor muscles affected as in piano players. It also helps in wrist drop. Muscular atrophy from sclerosis of spinal system. Single muscle or a group of muscle affected. The patient cannot raise arm or lift any thing with hand. Excessive and rapid emaciation of the affected part.
(4)Pulsatilla
Pulsatilla are Acne, Allergies, Amenorrhea, Breast feeding disorders, Breast pain, Bronchitis, Colds, Conjunctivitis, Coughs, Diarrhea, Dysmenorrhea, Heartburn, Hemorrhoids, Intermittent fevers, Leucorrhoea, Menstruation abnormal, Nasal catarrh, Ovaries inflammation, PMS, Pregnancy troubles, Prostate inflammation, Rheumatism, Sinusitis, Smell loss, Styes, Tapeworm, Toothaches, Varicose veins.
Pulsatilla is a chief remedy for female problems like amenorrhoea, dysmenorrhoea, leucorrhoea, menstrual abnormalities and pre-menstual syndrome (PMS). All the symptoms are traced to the time of puberty. The patient says she has never been well since puberty. Menses delayed or comes too late. Menses suppressed due to wet feet, nervous debility. There is short duration of menses which is scanty. The menstrual flow is thick and changeable in character. The blood flows, stops and flows again. Flow is worse during day and on walking. Pulsatilla helps in pre-menstrual syndrome when there is vomiting and purging with severe pain across the abdomen which is shifting in nature. Diarrhoea during or after menses. There is also dryness of tongue with no thirst. Pulsatilla is suitable to ladies having fair complexion. Pulsatilla also helps in leucorrhoea which is milky white with swollen vulva. Leucorrhoea is acrid, burning and painless or cutting pain in abdomen. Leucorrhoea corrodes the vulva. Pulsatilla is also useful in threatened abortion. It also helps in expelling moles. Pulsatilla also helps in inflammation of ovaries.

Pulsatilla is also a suitable remedy for nasal catarrh, sinusitis and respiratory problems. Coryza with stoppage of right nostril. There is pressing pain at the root of the nose. Loss of smell with large green fetid discharge from nose. Bad smells as of old catarrhs. Pulsatilla also helps in bronchitis with cough caused by irritation in pit of stomach by taking ice cold things, ice cream, or due to suppressed menses. Cough is spasmodic in two paroxysms. There is expectoration of copious and greenish yellow mucus. There is involuntary urination during cough.

Pulsatilla is also useful in gastric complaints like heartburn, diarrhea, hemorrhoids etc. There is dryness of the mouth without thirst. Bad taste and smell from mouth in the morning. There is loss of taste. Tongue is dry, edge of tongue feels sore. It also helps in toothache which is worse in morning and in warm room. Pulsatilla also helps in nausea, vomiting, epigastric pain or diarrhea caused due to rich fatty food, fruits, ice cream, or worms in children. Nausea with a sensation of worms crawling in throat. Vomiting is green in colour. It is also useful in colic which obliges patient to bend forward. Abdomen is sensitive to touch. During diarrhea no two stools are alike and is worse during night. Pulsatilla also helps in intermittent fevers, cold, conjuntivitis and breast pain.
(5)Pyrogenium
Pyrogenium are Abscess, Fever With Restlessness, Puerperal Fever, Sepsis, Ulcers.
Pyrogenium has marked action on all types of septic fevers with restlessness. It is well indicated in various types of fevers like typhoid, puerperal fever, ptomaine poisoning or sewer gas infection. Fever caused by any septic condition. Sudden rise of temperature. Skin is dry, burning, pale or cold. Bed feels very hard. The patient is very restless. He must constantly move to get relief from soreness of parts. Chills begins in the back, between the scapulae. Pulse abnormally rapid 140-170/ minute, out of proportion of temperature. Periodically the tongue is clean and smooth, as if varnished and fiery red, large and flabby, dry and cracked. Articulation of tongue is difficult. Pus like taste in the mouth as from abscess.

Pyrogenium is well indicated in sepsis condition. All the discharges are very offensive, such as diarrhoea, vomitus, breath, urine, menstrual blood etc. Pyrogenium also acts as homeopathic antiseptic. Pyrogenium is also very useful in treating ulcers of old persons. Ulcers are very offensive and obstinate. Skin is pale, cold and of ashy hue.
(6)Sabina
Sabina are Abortion, Leucorrhoea,  Menstrual Disorders, Uterine Pain.
Sabina has marked action on Uterine pain. There is a shooting pain from back to front and from sacrum to pubes with haemorrhages. Sabina also helps in many menstraual disorders like menorrhagia, metrorrhagia or dysmenorrhoea. Menses is too early, too profuse and too long lasting. Flow in paroxyms with bright red, liquid and intermingled with clot that is it is partly fluid and partly clotted. During menses pain from sacrum to pubes which is worse from least motion and ceases when walking about. There is discharge of blood inbetween periods. Sabina also helps in leucorrhoea.

Sabina is also indicated in abortion in those ladies who attain menarche very early in their lives. There is a tendency to miscarriage or abortion at third month with typical shooting pain from sacrum to pubes. During abortion the flow is partly fluid and partly clotted. After the abortion there is inflammation of uterus and ovaries.
(7)Secale Cornutum
Secale Cornutum are Abortion, Congestive Headache, Gastro-intestinal Troubles, Menstrual Disorders, Miscarriage, Skin Affections.
Secale Cornutum is a chief remedy for congestive headache which is passive arising from the back of head with pale face. Head is drawn back. There is also falling of hair. Hair is dry and gray.

Secale Cornutum has marked action on various menstrual disorders. Menses is irregular, long lasting and copious. There is continuous oozing of dark blood until the next period. Secale Cornutum also helps in dysmenorrhoea. Menstrual colic with labour like pain with coldness and intolerance of heat. It also helps in greenish, brownish and offensive leucorrhoea. Secale Cornutum is also indicated in threatened abortion at third month. Abortion caused from lifting, straining and hard labour.

Secale Cornutum is also useful in skin conditions. It helps in dry, senile gangrene following injury with burning as if sparks of fire were falling on parts affected. It is worse from external heat and relieved by cold application inspite of coldness of the parts. Secale Cornutum also helps in large ecchymosis and blood blisters. Skin feels cold to touch, yet the patient cannot tolerate any covering. Icy coldness of the extremities. Skin is pale, with sunken eyes and blue rings around the eyes.

Secale Cornutum also helps in gastro-intestinal troubles. Abdomen is very sensitive to touch with burning sensation all over the abdomen. There is unnatural ravenous appetite even with exhausting diarrhoea. There is craving for acids and lemonade, desires bread and undiluted wine. Vomiting of bilious matter, mucus, dark brown, coffee ground fluid or all the food and drink. Secale Cornutum also helps in diarrhoea with icy coldness of the parts. Profuse, watery, painless, involuntary, stool passes with great force.
(8)Sepia
Sepia are Amenorrhoea, Dysmenorrhea, Leucorrhoea, Menstrual Disorders, Mental Conditions.
Sepia is a chief remedy for various menstrual disorders and dysmenorrhea. Sepia is indicated in late, early, scanty, profuse menses. It also helps in amenorrhoea that is absence of menses. The first menses may be too late or too early. The menses is irregular in every form, with dark flow in the morning. With menses there is a bearing down sensation. Pain comes from back to front, especially in those females who are highly chilly and have a weeping disposition.  Sepic is also indicated in leucorrhoea. Yellowish, greenish discharge with much itching. Acrid leucorrhoea before menses causing soreness of the pudenda.

Sepia also manifests typical mental conditions. The patient is extremely nervous. Indifference to every thing, to her own occupation, to members of her family whom she loved best once, to her own domestic and personal affairs. The patient cannot narrate her symptoms without weeping. She is anxious and fearful. The patient cannot bear tobacco in any form. Consolation aggravates her mental condition.

Difficult breathing while lying down; (Orthopnea)

Breathing difficulty while lying down is an abnormal condition in which a person must keep the head raised (by sitting or standing) to be able to breathe deeply or comfortably.
A specific type of breathing difficulty while lying down is paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea. This condition causes a person to wake up suddenly during the night feeling short of breath.

Considerations

This is a common complaint in people with some types of heart or lung problems. Sometimes the problem is subtle. People may only notice it when they realize that sleep is more comfortable with lots of pillows under their head, or their head in a propped-up position.

Causes

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Cor pulmonale
• Heart failure
• Obesity (does not directly cause difficulty breathing while lying down but often aggravates other conditions that lead to it)
• Panic disorder
• Sleep apnea
• Snoring

Home Care

Your health care provider may prescribe treatment for breathing difficulty while lying down. The treatment will depend on the specific illness causing the problem.
Weight loss is generally recommended in people who are obese.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

If you have any unexplained difficulty in breathing while lying down, call for an appointment with your health care provider.

What to Expect at Your Office Visit

The health care provider will perform a physical examination and take your medical history.
Medical history questions may include:

• Did this problem develop suddenly or slowly?
• Is it getting worse (progressive)?
• How bad is it?
• How many pillows do you need to help you breathe comfortably?
• Is there any ankle, feet, and leg swelling?
• Do you have difficulty breathing at other times?
• How tall are you? How much do you weigh?
• What other symptoms do you have?

The physical examination will include special attention to the heart and lungs (cardiovascular and respiratory systems).
Diagnostic tests that may be performed include the following:

• Chest x-ray
• ECG
• Echocardiogram

         Pulmonary function tests
You may need to receive supplemental oxygen.
 source;
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplusHomeo Treament ;

Banana Nutrition Facts

The banana is called the "the fruit of the wise." It contains vitamins and minerals that are essential for the body.

 

Bananas were first found in the region of Malaysia. With the help of curious visitors, bananas found their way to India, Buddhist Pali writings dating back to the 6th century B.C. support this fact. It was Alexander the Great who brought the banana back with him to the western world. Bananas were grown in the southern region of China but only became popular with the masses around the 20th century.
Americans first tasted the banana almost three hundred and fifty years later. At that time, they were wrapped in tin foil and sold for 10 cents each at the celebration held in Pennsylvania in 1876, to celebrate the hundredth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Instructions on how to eat the banana also appeared in the Domestic Cyclopaedia of Practical Information.

Banana Nutrition Facts

• A banana contains Vitamin C, potassium and dietary fiber.
• Bananas do not contain sodium, fat or cholesterol.
• The Vitamin C, which is found in bananas, helps the body to defend and heal against infections. This vitamin also proves valuable in the synthesis of the connective tissue, absorption of iron and the formation of blood.
• Not only are bananas rich in vitamin C, they also contain potassium. Potassium is a mineral that helps in the building of muscles and protein synthesis. This is done as potassium stimulates nerve impulses for muscle contraction.
• A diet rich in potassium is said to reduce the risk of hypertension and stroke. As bananas are free from sodium and very rich in potassium, they can be included in the diet to reduce the risk of high blood pressure.
• Bananas contain three natural sugars, sucrose, fructose and glucose along with fiber. A banana thus gives an instant and substantial boost of energy.
• A banana contains Vitamin B6, which helps in the synthesis of antibodies in the immune system apart from red blood formation, protein metabolism and functioning of the central nervous system.
• No other fruit contain more digestible carbohydrates than bananas. This is advantageous because, the body burns off calories from carbohydrate more easily and quickly than calories from fat or protein.

Interesting Facts About Bananas

• The word banana is derived from the Arab word "banan," which means finger.
• Bananas are harvested green because they keep ripening even after they are picked.
• Unlike most other fruits that grow on trees, bananas grow on plants.
• An average American is said to consume more than 28 pounds of bananas every year.
• Brisbane holds the world record for the longest banana split, which measured 7.3 kilometers.
• 3 medium bananas would weigh about a pound.
• Despite that fact that bananas love a tropical climate, they are grown in Iceland too, by heating the soil with geysers.

Cardiac diseases

Cardiac diseases are also known as heart diseases. Cardiac diseases is a very broad term for a number of conditions that affect the heart and as of 2007, it is the one of the leading cause of death in England, Wales and the United States.
The most leading cause of cardiac disease is a narrowing of the lumen of arteries which supply blood to the heart, commonly called coronary artery disease (CAD).
There are various other heart conditions that come under the umbrella of cardiac diseases.
Types of Cardiac Disease

  Cardiovascular diseases
A number of conditions that affect the heart itself or any of the arteries or veins leading to and from the heart are called cardiovascular diseases. Long studies have suggested that women are more prone to conditions that affect the blood vessels themselves while men are more prone to conditions that affect the heart muscles. Most common conditions that cause cardiovascular diseases are:
a) High blood pressure
b) Diabetes
c) Increased fats (lipids) in blood
d) Hyperhomocysteinemia
The most common type of cardiovascular disease is atherosclerosis.
* Coronary heart disease
A disease of the heart itself where the arteries supplying the heart muscles are clogged by atheromatous plaques.
An atheroma is a collection or a swelling on the vessel wall composed of fats, cell debris, calcium, connective fibrous tissues etc.
Symptoms
a) Angina - chest pain due to insufficient blood supply to the heart
'Ischemic heart disease', is another term used to denote a condition where blood supply to the heart is reduced.
Homeopathic treatment;
 

Raised blood pressure

Raised blood pressure is labeled as hypertension. In realism, blood pressure of an individual tends to increase with advancing age. So, term hypertension will be used when blood pressure exceeds the normal range for a particular age group. Unattended blood pressure can lead to a number of serious complications including stroke, heart diseases, kidney failure, etc. Hypertension is very common in general population. However, in 95% of cases a specific underlying cause of hypertension cannot be pointed out. This hypertension is labeled as essential hypertension and is believed to be related to genetic and heredity factors. There are multiple factors that increase chances of hypertension significantly: Age, Obesity, High levels of body fats (cholesterol), Excess consumption of alcohol and smoking, Food (more salt intake), Life-style factors (lack of exercise, lack of sleep, mental stress, etc). There is a very small group of cases where hypertension is a result of some specific disease condition in the body and is labeled as secondary hypertension. It can be easily perceived that hypertension is a constitutional disorder as constitutional defect (genetic factors) is at the base of it and the disorder itself has impact on entire constitution of an individual. While treating hypertension, the treatment needs to be planned to focus at a root level: to affect the genetic tendency.Homeopathic treatment does that precisely.; Homeopathy can play major role in management of essential or secondary hypertension. Timely administered homeopathy medicines can assist in preventing further complications of condition. Life-style modification with moderate exercise, weight reduction, salt restriction can enhance the benefits of homeopathy. Early cases of hypertension respond to homeopathy much better than those late cases who are already on some antihypertensive medicines for long period of time. Again, homeopathy is not best suited during the acute hypertensive crisis. Homoeopath is best for resistant cases who have not responded to the conventional treatment.  Homeopathic treatment;

Valvular heart disease

 Valvular heart disease:
Valves are flap-like structure present at the openings of the atria into the ventricles, and at the openings into the large blood vessels arising from the heart. They prevent the back-flow of the blood as it passes (or is pumped) through the heart chambers. Any structural abnormalities of these valves bring about multifold changes in the dynamics of blood flow.
Common terms for valvular defects seen are:
a) Stenosis: or narrowing of the lumen because the valves do not open properly. This means that the heart has to pump with added force to make the blood pass through the lumen.
b) Atresia: this defect means that the valves do not develop correctly. They are ill-formed and mostly the lumen appears completely closed. So there is no opening from which the blood can pass through.
c) Regurgitation: here the valves do not close properly. Hence, there is regurgitation or back-flow of the blood pumped, into the cambers.
The most common valvular defect encountered is: Pulmonary valve stenosis.
Through this valve, the blood flows from the right ventricle to the lungs where it picks up oxygen. When the valve is stenosed, the severity ranges from mild to severe. Mild forms require no treatment. Just occasionally, an abnormal heart sound (murmur) can be heard. Correction of the condition when necessary, it done by a catheter procedure.
Homeopathic Treatment;

Complex congenital heart defect

Complex congenital heart defect:
The commonest complex congenital heart defect seen worldwide is known as 'the Fallot's tetralogy'. This defect has a combination of the following:
a) A large VSD
b) Right ventricular hypertrophy - the muscles of the right ventricle enlarge due to the excess stress of pumping more than usual blood volumes.
c) Overriding of the Aorta - the aorta is a large vessel carrying blood from the left ventricle to various body parts. Normally, its origin is in the left ventricle only. In the Fallot's tetralogy, the aorta is placed above the left as well as the right ventricle as opposed to normal. Thus, impure blood from the right ventricle gets mixed with the pure (oxygenated) blood from the left ventricle.
d) Pulmonary valve stenosis - this occasionally causes the presence of a murmur.
Homeopathic Treatment;

Cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy:

Cardiomyopathy means any disease of the heart muscles themselves. The heart muscle is referred to as the 'myocardium'. Any condition that causes impaired functioning of this muscle is considered as a cardiomyopathy.
The heart muscles become inflamed and don't work as they should.
Common structural changes seen in the heart are:
Dilatation of heart muscles
Restricted contractility of the heart muscles
Increased (hypertrophy) size of the heart muscles.
Previous heart attacks, viral and bacterial infections and many other conditions cause cardiomyopathies.
Types
? Cardiomyopathies caused by outside factors
? Ischemic cardiomyopathy: means there is deficiency of blood (oxygen) supply to the heart muscles themselves. This is the most leading cause of cardiomyopathy caused by coronary artery disease (CAD).
? Alcoholic cardiomyopathy: This is a form of dilated cardiomyopathy. Toxins from alcohol directly attack the heart muscle cells. Eventually, the heart is unable to pump properly and there is heart failure.
? Hypertensive (high blood pressure) cardiomyopathy: this is the most common cause of death in Western Societies.
? Congenital heart diseases
? Valvular cardiomyopathies
? Coronary artery disease
? Nutritional deficiencies causing cardiomyopathies.
? Metabolic diseases causing cardiomyopathies
? Cardiomyopathies caused by intrinsic factors: weakness of the heart occurring form no identifiable external cause. The major types are:
? Restrictive: least common cardiomyopathy. Ventricular walls are stiff and occasionally thickened. Since, for optimal filling of ventricles, they need to be relaxed, this condition impairs normal filling.
? Dilated: this is most common form. The left ventricles are commonly affected and they cannot pump blood received with adequate force.
? Hypertrophic: the walls of the heart appear thicker, and they obstruct the normal floe of blood. This is mostly due to a genetic defect. It is a genetic disorder
? Arrythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC): scar tissues replace normal tissues due to improper electrical circuits.
? Hypertensive (high blood pressure) cardiomyopathy
Is heart disease caused by high blood pressure. High blood pressures increase the load acting on heart. Over a period of time, the left ventricle thickens and cannot pump sufficient blood. Factors that cause this condition are
a) Coronary heart disease
b) Left ventricular hypertrophy
c) Arrhythmias (irregular heart beats)
d) Congestive heart failure
e) Hypertensive cardiomyopathy
? Inflammatory heart disease
Inflammation of the heart and the tissues surrounding it.
Any viral or bacterial infections can set off an inflammatory heart disease in a susceptible person. This inflammation can be either in the inner layer of the heart (the endocardium) or in the muscular part of the walls (myocardium). The conditions are then called endocarditis or myocarditis respectively.
? Valvular heart disease:
Any disease that affects the valves can over a prolonged period of time cause impaired functioning of the heart.
Homeopathic treatment:
Homeopathy is based on the principle that disease is a total affliction of body. Moreover homeopathy recognizes importance of the underlying causes such as genetic and inherited factors as the root of any ailment of the body. Homeopathic medicines prescribed on such criteria plays a crucial role in management of many deep-rooted, chronic, difficult diseases.
Homeopathic Treatment;

symptoms of heart disease (Treated by Homeo,Western medical medical sciences)

Women develop symptoms of heart disease an average of 10 years later than men.
Women report symptoms prior to having a cardiac event, although these are not typical “heart” symptoms. In a multi-center study of 515 women who had an acute heart attack (MI), the most frequently reported symptoms were unusual fatigue, sleep disturbances, shortness of breath, indigestion and anxiety. The majority of women (78 percent) reported at least one symptom for more than one month before their heart attack. Only 30 percent reported chest discomfort, which was described as an aching, tightness, pressure, sharpness, burning, fullness or tingling .
If you have these symptoms, you should contact your doctor for a full evaluation. This is even more important if you have risk factors for heart disease, such as family history, smoking, diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. A full risk factor evaluation, combined with symptoms and an exam, will help the doctor know your risk for future events and guide additional testing.

Symptoms of a Heart Attack

Women are less likely to recognize the symptoms of a heart attack and seek treatment right away. For more information on heart attack in women, click here
Women tend to have heart attacks about 10 years later than men do ¹.
By learning and recognizing the symptoms, women can become more assertive in their treatment.
The most common symptoms of heart attack in women are ²:

• Shortness of breath
• Weakness
• Unusual fatigue
• Cold sweat
• Dizziness
• Pain or pressure in the back or high chest
• Pain or discomfort in one or both arms
• Discomfort may be described as pressure, ache, or tightness; may come and go
• A burning sensation in the chest or upper abdomen
• Irregular heartbeat
• Nausea

What do I do if I have angina?

If you have angina that lasts more than 5 minutes - and you DO NOT have a prescription for nitroglycerin - call for emergency help. DO NOT DELAY. Call for emergency help Quick treatment of a heart attack is very important to lessen the amount of damage to your heart. Due to the possible benefits of taking aspirin early on during a heart attack, emergency personnel may tell you to chew an aspirin if there is no medical reason for you to avoid aspirin. If your symptoms stop completely in five minutes, still call your doctor to report your symptoms.
If angina occurs and you have been prescribed nitroglycerin (a medication):

• Stop what you are doing and rest.
• Take one nitroglycerin tablet and let it dissolve under your tongue, or if using the spray form, spray it under your tongue. Wait 5 minutes.
• If you still have angina after 5 minutes, call for emergency help (dial 911 in most areas) or have someone take you to the local emergency room. Emergency personnel may tell you to chew an aspirin to break up a possible blood clot, if there is not a medical reason for you not to take aspirin.

ANGINA PECTORIS ;Homeo Treatment

Amyl nitrite. [Aml-n]
In acute attacks of this disease **Amyl nitrite is usually the  remedy
given, and it is given by olfaction of the crude substance, Its action
is to produces a speedy dilation of the capillaries in the upper  part
of the body, the face becomes flushed, the heart's action is rapid and
tumultuous,  there  is  a  feeling  as of  a  band  around  the  head,
constriction  about  the  heart and oppressed breathing.  It  is  very
useful  in relieving the paroxysm, and if the symptoms  correspond  it
will be found useful at other times.
**Aconite  is especially useful during a attack of  vaso-motor  angina
from exposures to cold, with intesnse anxiety. Coldness pain radiating
from head in all directions, with numbness, tingling, paraesthesia.

Glonoine [Glon]
or **Nitro glycerine is a very similar remedy. It has been proved  and
its action is fairly well known.
Its  grand  characteristic  is throbbing all over the  body  in  every
vessel,  a  feeling of fulness in region of heart, and  perhaps  sharp
pains  radiating in all directions from heart, labored breathing,  and
fluttering  of  the heart, it feels contracted. **Arsenicum  has  also
proved useful especially in preventing the paroxysms.

Crataegus. [Crat]
Sudden, terrible pain in the left breast, radiating over the heart and
down left arm, despondent and fearful of death. Use tincture in water,
frequent doses.

Cimicifuga [Cimic]
has pains radiating all over the chest and a sensation as if the  left
arm were bound to the side The patient may become unconscious;us,  the
heart's  action  suddenly  ceases,  there  is  a  sense  of  impending
suffocation,l and the pulse is weak and feeble.
**Kalmia  has shooting pains above the heart to the  scapula,  anguish
about heart, pressure form epigastrium to heart.
**Kali  carbonicum  has stitches from heart to scapula  and  there  is
great weakness.
**Magnesia phosphorica 6x in hot water will frequently greatly relieve
the paroxysms of angina and lessen their duration. It has  contraction
of the chest with pains radiating from the heart in all directions.
**Aurum produces a pressure on sternum as from a heavy weight.

#Spigelia [Sep]
is  a  useful remedy in anguishing substernal pain which  radiates  to
neck  and arms, irregular pulse, tendency to syncope, palpitation  and
sharp  stitches  in  heart,  pulse weak and  irregular,  or  full  and
bounding with aggravation from the least motion.
**Cuprum  has  a slow pulse, and clinically it has  proved  useful  in
angina, where there is an uneasy feeling about the heart.
In  cases ;of "tobacco heart," or uneasy pains about the heart due  to
tobacco,  **Nux vomica, Staphisagria and Tabacum have  proved  useful.
**Tabacum  3x  has  cured cases of angina pectoris  in  patients  with
arterio-sclerosis. Especially useful in anginas caused by tobacco also
in the intermittent hearts of the aged.
If organic disease of the heat be present as a cause  of  the  angina,
**Cactus  may  be  the remedy when the grasp  of the  "iron  hand"  is
present.  **Arnica has a sudden pain in the heart as if  squeezed  and
pain  in  left arm and left arm and left chest. If the  sore,  bruised
feeling  be present the choice is easy. An other remedy to be  thought
of  in tobacco heart is Kalmia. a numbness of the right hand  and  arm
should  suggest  **Lilium,  which  is an  excellent  remedy  in  heart
troubles.  **Latrodectus  mactans deserves to be studied,  as  it  has
worked well in many cases.

---

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH)

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is an enlargement of the left pumping chamber of the heart and may be due to several different things. The most common cause is high blood pressure. Other causes are due to exercise (athletic hypertrophy) and congenital (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or HOCM).
The diagnosis of LVH is usually made by echocardiogram. The walls of the ventricle can be measured and a thickness of greater than 1.5 cm is considered enlarged. Athletic hypertrophy is usually less than this thickness and will return to normal size with cessation of the activity. HOCM may be diagnosed in the absence of other causes of LVH and with the presence of a family history.
The treatment of LVH depends on the cause. Hypertensive LVH is treated by controlling the blood pressure. Some antihypertensive drugs may cause LVH to regress but this is controversial. Athletic hypertrophy does not require treatment. HOCM is a rare condition that should be followed by a cardiologist with expertise in this area.
Homeopathic Treatment
It may be treated by the help of homeo medicines as given below
Acording to the symptoms of the patient some of the homeo medicines are listed below;
Natrum mure 200  OD at bed time

Crategus Oxy MT   5drops for three to four times a day.

For further  details send your detailed history.

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Adonis (Adonis vernalis) part 2

Adonis (Adonis vernalis)

Toxic symptoms
Poisoning with the adonis leads to nervous anxiety. In addition, there may be nausea and vomiting. If there is suspicion of Adonis poisoning, you should absolutely seek medical advice immediately.
History The Adonis is originally a plant of the continental steppes of Eurasia. So it has its origin in the western Siberian steppes. After the ice ages, the Adonis is in places migrated to Western Europe. Wherever it is dry steppes and where the grass was kept relatively short by grazing, could the adonis domesticate. Therefore, the spread of Adonisröschens is closely related to sheep production. Because the sheep has become less, is also the adonis increasingly rare. In some places will be kept extra sheep to maintain the dry areas, and thereby obtain, among other things, the living conditions for the Adonis to.

Medieval Application

In herb books of the 16th and 17 Century we find the Adonis as a remedy for heart disease and dropsy. Somewhat later, in the 18th Century, the Adonis to fashion a medicinal plant.
Large quantities of the roots were dug up in Thuringia and sold throughout Europe.
Thus, the Adonsiröschen has been decimated and is now a very rare plant.

Sage

The legend tells that the beautiful Adonis, was loved by Aphrodite. Adonis in Cyprus was under an act of revenge of the goddess Artemis killed by a wild boar.
Wherever now hintropft the blood of the beautiful Adonis, grows a Adonis. This is the summer form of Adonisröschens meant, for this flower blooms red.
Another variation of the Adonis legend comes from Roman mythology.
Here it is the jealous Mars, who sent the boar to kill Adonis. Adonis had been involved with the goddess Venus. Venus and Aphrodite are different names of the same goddess of love.

Plant Description

The Adonis belongs to the family of the buttercup family (Ranunkulazeen) and thrives on calcareous soils tend to warm dry places. It is a typical plant of the dry continental climate.
His favorite sites are grass steppe and dry grassland. As these grass species are rare, is the Adonis in most areas are very rare.
In Germany, the Adonis is most common in dry regions of eastern Germany before, for example in Brandenburg. Everywhere elsewhere we find only a few places some copies.
Therefore, it is no wonder that the Adonis is strictly protected.
The perennial plant has a finger-thick rootstock with many lateral roots.
From the rootstock in spring drive from 15 cm to 30 high stalk.
The leaves are pinnate occasions. The individual leaf sections are narrow linear, almost like soft needles.
Between March and May, the Adonis flower in vibrant yellow.
The flowers are up to seven inches high. They have many petals.
One can clearly see the relationship to the buttercup and marsh marigold. The flowers of Adonisröschens are very much larger and more magnificent.
On a plant usually grow more flowers.

Growing tips
For the cultivation of Adonisröschens you need a calcareous soil and a very dry, sunny spot. Since snails eat the adonis very happy, you should take before the planting measures against slugs.
The growth of neighboring plants is limited by the Adonis, so it is not suitable for groups with different kinds of flowers.
If you want to sow the Adonis, one does the best in the cold cold frame as soon as the seeds are ripe in the summer.
The seeds usually germinate until they take a long time.
Once the plants have germinated and survived the first year, they can be planted in their place in the dry bed.
It is easier when you can buy the finished plants. You can plant them directly into the flower bed.

Collected Tips

Because Adonis is strictly protected, we must not gather in nature. Even with plants in your garden you should be very cautious with the harvest.
Because the active ingredients of the Adonisröschens vary greatly, depending on the location and the climate is, it can very easily come to under-or overdoses in plants they have gathered.
The best thing is pleased at the beautiful look of sunny yellow flowers and bought the drugs from the Adonis in the pharmacy.

Adonis (Adonis vernalis)

Adonis (Adonis vernalis)

The Adonis is a strongly acting medicinal plant which acts like the foxglove and, accordingly, is toxic, though less toxic than the foxglove. In normal medicine cabinet, the Adonis has thus nothing to search, but belongs in the hands of an expert. In contrast to collect at the Foxglove Digitalis glycosides of Adonisröschens not in the body and are therefore more likely to be taken over a longer period. The main field of Adonisröschens is the heart and its various weaknesses.

Stats

Main applications:	Functional heart problems,
Healing Effect:	reassuring diuretic, venenstärkend,
Applications:	Asthma Bronchial asthma, Epilepsy Fever Heart beat; Arrhythmia, Heart failure Cough Hypotension Hyperthyroidism Poor circulation, Mild valvular heart disease, Menstruation, Graves' disease Nervous heart complaints, Nervousness Low blood pressure, Edema Prostate complaints Rheumatism, Rheumatic heart disease, Hyperthyroidism, Tachycardia, Venous insufficiency, Dropsy
Scientific Name:	Adonis vernalis
Plant Family:	Buttercup family Ranunculaceae =
English name:	False Hellebore
popular names:	Adonis vernalis, Devil's Eye Spring, Early adonis, fire rose, blood-eye, False Hellebore, Hellebore Bohemian
Plant Parts Used:	Bloom herb without roots
Ingredients:	Various Digitalis glycosides: Adonidosid, Adonivernosid, Cymarin, Adonitoxin, Adonin, choline, resin.
Collecting time:	April / May The plant is protected! So collect only when you have grown them myself.
Photos of adonis

Application

Since the adonis is toxic and should not be trifled with it and not also experiment with it.
It is generally much milder than the thimble, and these can sometimes be replaced if one does not tolerate digitalis preparations.

Therapeutic considerations

The safest course is the application of finished products, eg from the pharmacy, because in such finished products, the quantity of drugs is always consistent, so that a safe dose is possible. Even with the application of finished products, we may apply the Adonis only in consultation with the treating physician.
The Therapeutic considerations are usually prepared from the powder of the aerial parts of Adonisröschens.
Frequently, these preparations contain lily of the valley, squill, and oleander, are so mixed preparations.

Tincture

In general, a tincture is more effective than a tea, because the glycosides are not partially soluble in water. A large part of the active ingredients, however, been destroyed in the stomach, because the glycosides are sensitive to stomach acid.
The tinctures of yourself is not recommended at Adonis.
This is due both to the rarity of Adonisröschens and the other on the toxicity, which makes the adonis unpredictable in their own tinctures.
Prescription tinctures of Adonisröschens should be applied only as directed by your doctor.

Mischtees

Traditionally, the Adonis in folk medicine was often used in Mischtees against heart disease. The popular medicine used against Adonis menstrual cramps, and fever.
It was also used to Adonis in popular medicine against edema, especially for swollen feet.
The advantage as a component in Mischtees is that while you can not overdose on the adonis that easily.

Homeopathic

As a homeopathic remedy Adonis vernalis is used in low potencies against similar symptoms, such as medicinal plants in the client. In addition, we used the homeopathic adonis vernalis from circulation problems in infectious diseases.
Sometimes Adonis vernalis is also applied to treat prostate problems.
By Adonis vernalis in homeopathic preparation one takes usually 3 times a day, 5 to 15 drops.

Valvular Heart Disease

Heart valve abnormalities may exist at birth. Some require early medical attention while others may go undetected until later in life. Certain infections as well as rheumatic fever may damage heart valves. The aging process can also take its toll on valve tissue. Any of these conditions can cause a valve to become thickened (stenosis). The valve then cannot open freely. Valves can also become weakened and fail to close tightly (insufficiency). The aortic and mitral valves are the most often affected.

Heart valve problems cause the heart to work harder. If the heart isn’t able to keep up this work load, heart failure occurs. Fluid backs up into the lung and other body parts. This causes shortness of breath, swelling, coughing or extreme weakness. Medications can improve heart function, but sometimes surgery is needed.

Prevention of Bacterial EndocarditisAnyone who has heart valve disease or has had heart valve surgery is at risk for bacterial endocarditis. This is an infection of the heart or heart valves that can occur when bacteria (germs) enter your blood stream and lodge inside your heart. When you are at risk for this infection, you will need antibiotic therapy for:

1.  Any dental work (including professional cleaning).
2.  Some diagnostic tests or procedures for the bowel or urinary tract (examples: colonoscopy, cystoscopy, prostate surgery).
3.  Removal of tonsils (tonsillectomy).
4.  Surgical procedures of any infected tissue (drainage of abscesses).
5.  Some diagnostic tests and procedures of the throat or lungs (example: Bronchoscopy).

If you are at risk for endocarditis, you will be given a “Bacterial Endocarditis Card” to carry in your wallet. This will help your doctor or dentist decide on the kind of antibiotic and dosage you should be given.

Symptoms of endocarditis can be vague. Fever, sweating, chills, tiredness and appetite loss that last for 2-3 days should be reported to your doctor. Blood cultures are drawn when endocarditis is suspected. Antibiotics are given to treat this disease.

Understanding Food Labels

Understanding food labels can help you make healthier options. Use this guide to help you with grocery shopping.

In this example, one serving of macaroni and cheese is one cup, and there are two servings per container. If you ate the entire package, you would be eating two cups.

2.  Look at the total calories per serving.
Pay attention to the serving size and see how many calories you get per one serving. If you ate the whole package you would consume double the calories (500 calories) and double the other nutrients shown on the label.

Calories from Fat refers to the number of fat calories in one serving of the product. In this example, there are 110 calories from fat in one serving of macaroni and cheese. If you ate two servings, you would be eating 220 calories from fat. 3.  Limit Fat, Cholesterol, and Sodium.
Keep your fat intake at 25% to 35% of your total daily calories. For a healthy adult who needs 2,000 calories per day, he or she will need to limit saturated fat to less than 16 grams; trans fat to less than 2 grams, cholesterol to less than 300 mg, and sodium to 2,400 mg or 1,500 mg.
4.  Get enough of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Calcium, and Iron.
These are essential nutrients that can improve your overall health. Eating enough of dietary fiber may reduce your cholesterol levels, and thus lower your risk of heart disease.
5.  Understanding Percent Daily Values
Daily values are recommended intake levels for different nutrients based on a 2,000 calorie diet. The Percent Daily Values help you to compare between products and determine whether a nutrient is high or low in a serving. You may need more or less than these references depending on your caloric needs. In general, less than 5% daily values means low and more than 20% daily values means high.
There are no percent Daily Values for trans fat. A package that says trans fat free or 0 grams of trans fat, may contain up to 0.5 grams of trans fats. The amount of trans fats you eat can add up quickly and exceed the recommended limits if you eat more than one serving of a product containing trans fat. Look for the word “hydrogenated” in the ingredient list; if partially hydrogenated oil is listed, it means the product contains trans fats. Avoid the product if partially hydrogenated oil is stated as one of the first 3 items in the ingredient list.

A Healthy Diet for heart Patients

A healthy diet is an essential step towards a better life. The American Heart Association recommends you eat a variety of nutritious foods every day. If you suffer from high blood pressure, heart failure or are recovering from a heart attack or heart surgery, eating a heart healthy diet is especially important for you to follow.

To have a heart healthy diet, it is important to:

• Aim for 4 – 5 servings each of fruits and vegetables every day.
• Eat plenty of whole grains such as whole wheat bread, whole grain cereal, and whole grain pasta.
• Use liquid vegetable oils such as olive oil, canola oil, corn oil, and safflower oil as your main cooking oil instead of butter and stick margarine.
• Choose more skinless poultry, fish, and beans that are generally lower in saturated fat and cholesterol than beef, pork, and lamb.
• Aim to eat no more than 2,000 mg per day of sodium or as recommended by your doctor.
• Use a small plate to prevent you from overeating.
• Limit your consumption of:
  • Saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol such as butter, margarine, fatty meats
  • Salt and other forms of sodium such as canned foods, processed meats, condiments
  • Added sugars such as candies, soda, cookies

The DASH (Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension) eating plan has all the recommended components of a heart healthy diet. It is low in saturated fat, cholesterol, and total fat, with an emphasis on fruits, vegetables, and fat-free or low-fat dairy products. It also includes whole grain products, fish, poultry, and nuts. Compared to the typical American diet, it is reduced in red meat, sweets, added sugar, and sugar-containing beverages.

DASH eating plan for adults consuming 2,000 calories daily

Food Group	Daily Servings	Serving Sizes
Grains	6 – 8	-    1 slice of bread -    1 oz. dry cereal -    ½ cup cooked rice, pasta, or cereal
Vegetables	4 – 5	-      1 cup raw leafy vegetables -      ½ cup cut-up raw or cooked vegetables -      ½ cup vegetable juice
Fruits	4 – 5	-      1 medium fruit -      ¼ cup dried fruit -      ½ cup fresh, frozen, or canned fruit -      ½ cup fruit juice
Fat-free / low-fat dairy products	2 – 3	-      1 cup milk or yogurt -      1 ½ oz. cheese
Lean meats, poultry, fish	6 or less	-      1 oz. cooked meats, poultry, or fish -      1 egg (limit to 4 egg yolks per week)
Nuts, seeds, and legumes	4 – 5 per week	-      1/3 cup or 1 ½ oz. nuts -      2 Tbsp. peanut butter -      2 Tbsp or ½ oz. seeds -      ½ cup cooked legumes
Fats and oils	2 – 3	-      1 tsp. soft margarine -      1 tsp. vegetable oil -      1 Tbsp. mayonnaise -      2 Tbsp. salad dressing
Sweets and added sugars	5 or less per week	-      1 Tbsp. sugar -      1 Tbsp. jelly or jam -      ½ cup sorbet or gelatin -      1 cup lemonade

The number of servings you need may vary, depending on your caloric need.

Heart attack symptoms

A middle-aged man gets crushing chest pain while shoveling snow. He’s short of breath, light-headed, and sweating. He has the telltale signs of a heart attack. Yet, instead of calling for an ambulance, he goes inside, sits down and waits to see if the symptoms go away.

People delay going to the hospital, waiting hours sometimes before they seek help for what is a life-and-death emergency. Every minute counts in a heart attack. The longer the delay, the greater the chance of damage to the heart and the lower the chance of surviving.

Heart attack symptoms vary from person to person
Many people think a heart attack is sudden and intense, like a “movie” heart attack, where a person clutches his or her chest and falls over. The truth is that many heart attacks start slowly, as a mild pain or discomfort and not always in the chest. Warning signs of a heart attack include:

• Uncomfortable pressure, fullness, squeezing or pain in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes
• Pain spreading to the shoulders, neck or arms
• Shortness of breath that occurs with or before chest discomfort
• Lightheadedness, fainting, sweating or nausea along with chest discomfort
• Discomfort in other areas of the upper body including one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach

The best-known symptom of a heart attack - the agony of an elephant’s foot on your chest - means that the heart muscle is crying for oxygen it no longer is getting, because a clot has sealed a plaque-narrowed coronary artery. If you are seen in the first hour of a heart attack, we have very effective means to make those events have much less impact on your heart muscle. Going to the hospital promptly is what it’s all about.

Studies have shown the longer heart attack patients wait to get to a hospital, the less likely they will benefit from emergency treatment. If you wait more than 10 to 12 hours and you are having a heart attack, the damage is basically done and it’s too late to benefit from the treatments we have.

If you think you are having heart problems or a heart attack, get help immediately.

Heart Terms Defined

Heart Terms Defined

Aerobic Exercise — Activity which requires continuous rhythmic muscle contraction of the legs and/or arms.
Aneurysm — Bulging of the wall of a vein, artery, or heart due to weakening by disease, injury, or birth defect.
Angina Pectoris — A condition in which the heart muscle itself doesn’t receive a sufficient blood supply, resulting in pain in the chest and often in the left arm and shoulder.
Angiogram — Test done by injecting contrast dye into a body organ to observe the heart or systemic circulation.
Anticoagulant — Medicine which delays clotting of the blood. If given when a blood vessel is blocked by a clot, it tends to prevent new clots from forming or the existing clot from enlarging, but does not dissolve an existing clot.
Aorta — Largest artery in the body. It carries blood from the heart’s left ventricle and distributes it throughout the body.
Arrhythmia — Irregular heart rhythm.
Arteriosclerosis — Condition in which the walls of the arteries thicken and lose their elasticity, thus decreasing blood flow through them. May be due to a buildup of fibrous tissue, lipids, or minerals. Also called hardening of the arteries, and usually occurs naturally with aging.
Artery — Blood vessels which carry blood to various parts of the body. Arteries carry oxygenated blood.
Atherosclerosis — Hardening of the arteries caused by a buildup of lipids and other substances in the blood vessels.
Atrium — One of the two upper chambers of the heart.
Automatic Implantable — Implanted device used to treat the Cardioverter life-threatening rhythms of ventricularDefibrillator (AICD) tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation.

Blood Pressure — Force that flowing blood exerts against artery walls. Bradycardia — Abnormally slow heart rate. Generally, any rate under 60 beats per minute.
Cardiac Arrest — Occurs when the heart stops beating and the circulation of blood ceases.
Cardiac Catheterization — Test done by putting a long, narrow, flexible tube into a blood vessel and guiding it into the heart to measure the mechanics of blood flow and to determine the position and size of structural defects.
Cardiomyopathy — Disease of the heart muscle that reduces the ability of the heart to pump enough blood.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) — Emergency measure used by one or two people to try to revive a person whose heart and breathing have stopped.
Cardiovascular — Pertaining to the heart and blood and blood vessels.
Cardioversion — Use of low voltage electric shock to stop an abnormally fast heart rhythm through paddles placed on the chest surface.
Catheter — Thin, flexible tube which can be guided into a body organ.
Claudication — Cramping of the muscles (typically the calf muscles) with exercise, produced by inadequate blood flow.
Congestive Heart Failure — Condition in which the heart is unable to pump enough blood. Loss of this pumping power can lead to weakened circulation and fluid collection in body organs and tissues.
Coronary Arteries — Arteries arising from the base of the aorta which carry blood to the heart muscle.
Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) — Surgery done to bypass narrowed or obstructed areas to improve blood flow.
Coronary Heart Disease — Condition caused by narrowing of the coronary arteries resulting in decreased blood supply to the heart (ischemia).
Coronary Occlusion — Obstruction in a coronary artery which interrupts flow of blood to the heart muscle. Also called a heart attack.
Defibrillation — Use of high voltage electric shock to stop an abnormally fast heart rhythm through paddles placed on the chest surface (external) or around the heart (internal).
Diabetes Mellitus — Disease characterized by high levels of glucose in the blood caused by a failure of the pancreas to produce enough insulin or by ineffective use of insulin in the body.
Diuretics — Medicines which increase the flow of urine. Often used to treat conditions involving excess body fluid, such as hypertension and congestive heart failure.
Dyspnea — Shortness of breath.
Echocardiogram — Test in which pulses of sound are sent into the body, and the echoes returning from the surfaces of the heart produce images that are recorded.
Edema — Swelling that occurs when the body tissue contains more fluid than normal.
Electrocardiogram — Graphic record of the electrical activity of the heart.
Electrophysiology Study (EP study) — Test done to evaluate the heart’s electrical conduction system by inserting small catheters into the heart and reproducing symptoms and rhythm disturbances in a controlled setting.
Embolism — Blocking of a blood vessel by a blood clot or other substance carried in the blood stream.
Heart Attack — See myocardial infarction.
Heart Block — Condition which results in a block or a slowing of the electrical impulses which travel through the heart.
Heart Rate — Number of times the heart beats in one minute.
Hemorrhage — Profuse loss of blood or bleeding.
Hypercholesterolemia — Excess of cholesterol in the blood.
Hyperlipidemia — Excess of fats or lipids in the blood.
Hypertension — High blood pressure.
Hypotension — Low blood pressure.
Infarct — Area of tissue which is damaged or dies because of a blocked blood supply.
Irregular rhythm — Heartbeat that is unpredictable and without pattern.
Ischemia — Temporary deficiency of blood and oxygen in a portion of the body, often caused by a blockage in the blood vessel supplying that part.
Isotonic — Muscular work which produces motion of a body part. Also referred to as dynamic work.
Lipid — Term for fat or fat-like substance found in the blood, such as cholesterol.
METs (metabolic equivalent) — Units of measurement of the energy  required to perform a physical activity. One MET is the energy used by your body while sitting quietly in a comfortable chair.
Myocardial Infarction — Inadequate blood supply to the heart, causing death to a portion of the heart muscle.
Pacemaker — Small mass of specialized cells in the right atrium of the heart which initiates the electrical impulses that produce contractions of the heart. An implanted pacemaker is an electrical device which can control the beating of the heart by creating one or more rhythmic electrical impulses.
Palpitations — Sensation of fluttering of the heart.
PTCA — Abbreviation for percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. Procedure of stretching open a coronary artery with a balloon catheter to improve blood flow to the heart muscle.
Pericardium — Closed sac around the heart.
Phlebitis — Inflammation of any vein, often in the leg.
Plaque — Deposit of fat or other substances in the lining of the arterial walls.
Pulmonary — Referring to the lungs.
Pulmonary Artery — Artery that transports blood needing oxygen from the heart to the lungs.
Risk Factor — Characteristic that has been shown to increase one’s chances for developing a disease or making a disease worse.
Saphenous Vein — Large vein in the leg which can be grafted onto the heart in coronary bypass surgery to provide adequate coronary circulation.
Sinus Rhythm — Normal heart rhythm.
Stent — A stainless steel device that helps hold any artery open. It is placed by a balloon catheter inflated in the artery.
Stress — Physical, mental or behavioral response of the body to demands made on it by a stressor. This response is based on individual interpretation.
Stress Test — A stress test is an electrocardiogram recorded before, during, and after exercise. It shows how the heart muscle reacts to the increased heart rates and blood pressures included by exercise.
Tachycardia — Fast heart rate. Generally any rate above 100 beats per minute.
Thrombosis — Formation of a blood clot (thrombus) inside a cavity of the heart or blood vessel.
Vascular — Pertaining to blood vessels.
Vein — One of the blood vessels which returns blood from various parts of the body to the heart. Usually carries deoxygenated blood.
Ventricle — One of the two main pumping chambers of the heart. The left ventricle pumps blood to the body, while the right ventricle pumps blood to the lungs.