BodyAliveNutrition.com

Whats the best medication for palmonary hypertension?

Answer :

pulmonary hypertension is treated with more than one medication because it is a result of more than one problem, this is something you need to decide in consultation with your doctor.

What is the best anti-hypertension drug in this case and why?

MR M.A is a healthy 36-year old obese male.his BP was found of 178/114 mmhg. He is a heavy smoker and drinks 10 or more units of alchohol each evening. He has a sedentary occupation.

what anti hypertension agent coud be used in initial management of his hypertension?

Answer :

First thing is you cannot diagnose hypertension from a single reading. You need at least two more.

If he does have hypertension, the first thing is he needs to stop drinking so much, exercise more, lose weight, and stop smoking. Lifestyle modifications always come first. you wouldn’t let a 300 pound person keep eating 4000 Cal. a day, why would you not counsel this patient to stop his destructive habits?

All of the above answers are at least partially correct. a 36 year old with stage II hypertension should be evaluated for a secondary cause. If one is found then you treat based on that. a Pheochromocytoma would be treated with surgical resection and an alpha 1 and beta blocker. Renal artery stenosis would be treated medically with ACE inhibitors ro angiotensin receptor blockers if possible, otherwise surgical correction would be necessary

 Beta blockers and CCBs are no longer recommended as first line agents, he should be put on a or a thiazide diuretic, probably including an ACE-Inhibitor with that high of a blood pressure. If those don’t bring down the BP enough then a CCB or beta blocker would be added.

Is atherosclerotic vascular disease caused by hypertension?

my father recently passed of a heart attack. I just got the death certificate and it said hypertension which i know is high blood pressure and “atherosclerotic vascular disease” which I believe is hardening of the heart arteries. I assume the two are related diseases, in that one caused the other? anyone have any info? and can AVD be caused by inhaling harmful chemicals? like fumes on a job site or something?

Answer :

Atherosclerosis and hypertension are directly related as are kidney disease and retinal disease . In general diet and hypertension team up to cause the hardening ,the HBP by injuring the inside of the ateries and the fat compounds by depositing at the site of the injuries in thick cheesy linings w.hich calcify and restrict blood flow to the heart .

Enviromental air pollution could cause lung ,liver kidney ,dermatological problems but not atherosclerosis

What is the best natural remedy for Hypertension?

I am 40 and have Hypertension for no known reason.

For medication, the doctor gave me Diovian, and Norvasec. These seem to work well. I do get light headed sometimes after taking the Diovian.

Then he gave me the Toprol XL. I started suffering from heartburn; sensitivity to bright lights, and light headedness. I could not sleep (nightmares). I’d get random erections when I was just idling (while driving, or watching TV)

He reduced the Toprol XL, and things got a little more normal. I still could not sleep. So I started taking Melatonin (one when I got home, and one shortly before bed). I discovered my blood pressure went way down. Is this because I am sleeping better, or does the stuff really help my blood pressure?

Melatonin is really cheap. Today I just take Diovian, Norvasec, Melatonin, and B vitamins. I have pretty much normal blood pressure all the time. Once in a while it goes up

What works for you?

Answer :

Hypertensive people can remarkably reduce their blood pressure through nutritional changes. Increasing the amount of vegetables and fruit and reducing the amount of fat and cholesterol will not only reduce blood pressure but can help with weight loss, which also lowers blood pressure.

Eat whole, fresh, unrefined, and unprocessed foods. Include fruits, vegetables, garlic, onion, whole grains, soy, beans, seeds, nuts, olive oil, and cold-water fish (salmon, tuna, sardines, halibut, and mackerel).

Low sodium-high potassium diet. Most people are aware that reducing sodium (salt) intake can help reduce blood pressure. However, that may not be the whole picture. Restricting sodium intake to lower blood pressure appears to work better if accompanied by increasing potassium intake. Keep in mind that reducing sodium intake involves more than not using a salt shaker, but also reading processed and prepared food labels for the sodium content.

Avoid salt, sugar, dairy products, refined foods, fried foods, junk foods, and caffeine.

Eliminate food sensitivities. Use an elimination and challenge diet to determine food sensitivities.

Drink 50% of your body weight in ounces of water daily (e.g., if you weigh 150 lbs, drink 75 oz of water daily).

Hypertension???What are the symtoms???What are the causes???

Answer :

Hypertension can have no symptoms, that is why regular BP checks are so important. Causes are, but not limited to, obesity, too much sodium in the diet, heredity, kidney problems and anxiety.

What are the predisposing factors of hypertension?

Answer :

Cholesterol comes from animal fat like meat, cheese, butter, cream & eggs. Too much cholesterol causes high blood pressure. Eat more vegetables instead.

Secondary Pulmonary Hypertension due to CREST Scleroderma?

Hi everyone, I was wondering if there is anyone out there that has or knows someone that has Pulmonary Hypertension due to CREST Scleroderma? My Mom has just been diagnosed with it, and she is currently on Revatio (20mg 3X’s a day), and she said that she doesn’t really feel any different, she has been on it for about 6 months. Is there any other medicines out there that other people have tried and have they worked for you? Please let me know by replying back to the message, and is there any forums or chatgroups that anyone might know about to talk with people that have this disease? Thanks everyone.

Answer :

okay well i know of one forum that is extremely helpful…

www.roadback.org click on the community tab and then go to bulletin board. the website has to do with ap treatment and people recovering from diseases like ra and scleroderma through this treatment. i can atest to that(i have systemic scleroderma and have done very well on ap) poke around a bit and see if it might be something your mom would consider.

Give adrenaline with caution if presenting with hypertension or hypovolemia..why?

Im a student paramedic trying to learn my drugs…just some questions about adrenaline….Our indications for giving adrenaline pre-hospitally is: croup with life threatening airway compromise, anaphylaxis, asthma with imminent arrest, and cardiac arrest.

Why is hypertension and hypovolemia a precaution for adrenaline? Please answer in as much detail as possible!!

Thank you

Answer :

Adrenaline increases cardiac output by increasing both heart rate and cardiac contractility (beta-1 agonist effects). It also increases systemic vascular resistance (in both arteries and veins due to alpha-1 and alpha-2 agonist effects).

In administering adrenaline to a hypertensive pt, you risk causing a hypertensive emergency that could manifest clinically in failure of one or more organ systems:

CNS — ischemic stroke (r/t disrupted cerebral autoregulation), hypertensive encephalopathy, and (less commonly) acute intracerebral bleed

CVS — left ventricular failure, myocardial ischemia (caused by increased myocardial oxygen demand), and acute MI

RESP — acute pulmonary edema

GU — acute renal ischemia (again r/t disruption of already taxed autoregulatory mechanisms)

In a volume-depleted (”dry”) pt, administering adrenaline could cause extreme tachycardia (further exacerbating hypotension as the heart becomes less efficient (remember the Frank-Starling law … LVEDP lowers because of poor contractility, low stroke volume and zilch atrial kick)) … and some lethal dysrhythmias (esp. if the pt is hyperkalemic or has a low mag. or ICa++ level).

Of course, as the poster “Fivemgmorphine” pointed out, these are things you need to know and keep in the back of your mind when pushing epi, but if your pt. is having an acute anaphylactic reaction or is otherwise crashing, giving the drug ASAP could literally save a life (it’s the drug of choice for bronchospasm, shock, and angioedema (here I mean swelling of the throat) in severe anaphylactic rxns).

Is hypertension usually a family history?

And nothing can prevent it if both of ur parents, ur grandparents suffered from it? True?

Answer :

Family history is one of the risk factors. The other risk factors that you cannot control are your age (over 65 is higher risk) and your ethnicity (those of South Asian, Black, Aboriginal, or Inuit descent have greater risk).

The best course of action is to live a heart healthy lifestyle to minimize the other risk factors. This includes not smoking, being at a good body weight, eating a heart-healthy diet, exercising, etc.

A website with great information about all of this is http://www.smart-heart-living.com/high-b… and the home page with links to all kinds of great resources at http://www.smart-heart-living.com/index….

I hope this helps… good luck!

How to take care of a hypertensive person?

Answer :

First, of course, is to follow the advice of your health care providers… doctor, nurse, rehab, etc.

In general terms you need to ensure a proper diet and appropriate amount of physical activity.

Cut back on salt… and be aware of all the “hidden” salt (sodium) that you’ll find in just about every packaged or processed food.

Try to eat as much whole food (i.e., unprocessed) as you can.

A good source of additional information can be found on http://www.smart-heart-living.com/high-b…

Hope this helps… good luck!

Is high blood pressure one of the reasons for high cholesterol?

Answer :

Hypertension is sustained elevation of resting systolic BP (= 140 mm Hg), diastolic BP (= 90 mm Hg), or both. Hypertension with no known cause (primary; formerly, essential hypertension) is most common. Hypertension with an identified cause (secondary hypertension) is usually due to a renal disorder. Usually, no symptoms develop unless hypertension is severe or long-standing. Diagnosis is by sphygmomanometry. Tests may be done to determine cause, assess damage, and identify other cardiovascular risk factors. Treatment involves lifestyle changes and drugs, including diuretics, ß - blockers, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers, and Ca channel blockers.

Dyslipidemia is elevation of plasma cholesterol and/or TGs or a low HDL level that contributes to the development of atherosclerosis. Causes may be primary (genetic) or secondary. Diagnosis is by measuring plasma levels of total cholesterol, TGs, and individual lipoproteins. Treatment is dietary changes, exercise, and lipid-lowering drugs.

I know that high cholesterol can be due to hereditary but does that mean some people have to take medicine?

I understand that high cholesterol is part diet and exercise and part hereditary. I also know about the bad side effects of taking high cholesterol medicine. My questions is should I trust my doctor about taking these medcines or are there alternatives he is not telling me. Please give me your thoughts about this I’m open to alternative medicine ideas as well.

Answer :

If you are not a diabetic, try taking niacin to lower cholesterol. My ex-husbands triglycerides were over 1400. His doctor told him to get the non flush 500 mg niacin. It’s cheap and you can get it at Walmart. He had to take one capsule in the morning and one at night. In three months all of his cholesterol readings were normal. Now he takes one capsule a day. I know a lot of people that take niacin to lower cholesterol and control it. If you are diabetic, you can’t take it because it raises the blood sugar too much.

High Cholesterol?

I had really high cholesterol since ever and I’m in my late 20s. Doctors have been telling me eat healthy and workout. I am really healthy and I workout a lot. I am not overweight. I went on medicine, didn;t lower it much. when I stopped it went back up. they did an ekg test and they say my heart is fine. Now that I’m in my late 20s I want to make sure I become healthy someday and no potential heart diseases. But doctors down want to find the problem, all they want to do is push drugs that don’t work. Any idea what would cause my high cholesterol and not effect my heart. Last reading was not bad at 270, but that is still really high for my weight and age.

Answer :

It is very tough to have young patients with high cholesterol. Doctors hate to put you on cholesterol lowering meds because you’d have to be on them for rest of your life.

It is too early, on the other hand, to run any kind of test on you to see if you have any issues, since you’re too young and will likely pass all of them.

Never the less, your cholesterol has to be controlled for the time being and there is no other good way than drugs. If one doesn’t work, another has to be tried until they can manage your levels.

If you have family history of heart disease, then running test such as a heart scan with a CT scanner may be warranted. If you don’t have any calcium deposits in your coronary arteries, your doctor can go easy on the meds and try to control it with special diets.

High cholesterol at 18?

Is it normal to have really high cholesterol at 18? I mean, I know, obviously that having high cholesterol isn’t “normal”, because it’s not healthy, but do a lot of teens have it too?

Answer :

yes,they have,especially nowadays

control the diet,and insist on taking Shanxi vinegar ,two spoons a day (rrade mark is East Lake)

it has good result for high cholesterol

Good diet for middle aged man who has high cholesterol?

please make lists of diets for a middle aged man who has high cholesterol, and what he should eat and avoid…

ohh and…

please don’t put…. ASK A DOC.

FYI i HAVE and he didn’t give enough info!!

haha

k thanks

Answer :

Foods to add

Almost all tree nuts (peanuts are best)

Certain types of fish, including salmon

Egg whites

Low-fat dressing

All fresh vegatables

Orange juice

Grape juice

Apple juice

Water

Mangosteen juice (studies had shown that this type of

  juice scavenges the LDL cholesterol in your arteries as

  well as the syntheic statin drugs like Zocor or Lipitor)

Foods to avoid

Egg yolks

The fatty skins on all chicken, whether fried or baked or grilled

Whole milk

Ranch dressing (because it is way too fatty)

Fried rice

Beef jerky

Macaroni and cheese

Additional foods to avoid….

The obvious artery-cloggers….which are some of the fast food items everyone loves….a teeny list:

Big Mac (from McDonalds)

Quarter Pounder With Cheese (from McDonalds)

Double Cheeseburger (from Burger King)

Whopper (from Burger King)

Double Whopper (from Burger King).

But if you want to eat this bad fast food, best to eat only one of those bad items once a month…not once a day. It is hard to cut back on fat and have to give up on taste….

Hope this helps…..

High Cholesterol Diet … how?

I just discovered that i have high Cholesterol in my blood test.. Am a femail 35 yrs old. looking for the best diet and lifestyle..??

Answer :

1.Try ‘Uncle Toby’s’ low cholesterol oats for breakfast. Oats r very healthy and nutritious. They contain fibre and give u energy. It is also a natural food.

2.You should also avoid high fat foods and aim for the heart foundation ones. I’m quite sure that heart foundation foods r cholesterol free.

3.Keep excercising. Try walking for about 20 minutes a day or u can try at least to walk to places that r close to were u live. That saves the environment too.

4.I think u should also try low sugar foods.

5.Try going to http://health.ninemsn.com.au

6.Plz rate my answer a best answer!!

7. =)

High cholesterol advice needed please?

Hi, i just had a cholesterol test and it was 7.1 which i know is high.. Does anyone know a list of foods i should stay away from and foods i could start eating. I know exercise is important and i am going to start doing more. I do eat alot of red meat, cheese, olives, olive oil, tuna, prawns, rice, chicken, pasta, salads, tomatoes.. where am i going wrong?

Thanks very much

Answer :

first,

does you family have a history of high cholesterol?

second,

did you eat anything less than 8 hours before the blood test?

third,

do some high intensity cardiovascular exercise (like jogging, running, or sprinting… etc)

fourth,

eat natural food sources… don’t fry anything… make sure you take in lots of fish oil, EXTRA VIRGIN olive oil, good protein (fish, chicken), stay away from saturated fats, eat some good carbs (fruits, potatoes, brown rice, yams, whole wheat pasta), make sure you take in enough fiber (psyllium husks “metamucil”, veggies), drink lots of water, don’t over eat.

fifth,

supplement with red yeast rice, FLUSH FREE NIACIN (make sure it’s flush free… this is very good for your cholesterol. 500 mg 3 times per day), garlic extract.

it usually takes my clients about 4-6 weeks to get better cholesterol levels after this regimen

hope that helps.

Facing high cholesterol 209. Pl tell about food which could help in bringing it down.?

Answer :

Eat a salad sandwich with some meat with much oil with wholemeal bread. DO NOT EAT TAKE AWAY. Check calories and have skim milk.

What foods are good to eat if you have high Cholesterol and want to lower it?

give me list of good foods to eat for dinner,breakfeast,snacks,lunch…….. thankyou

Answer :

Take supplements: Flaxseed oil, flaxseed meal, fish oil, calcium, garlic oil, and B complex. These make a huge difference.

As far as foods: garlic & onions, oatmeal and other whole grains. Avoid high fructose corn syrup like the plague, you have to check labels because it’s in everything. Also try to avoid white sugar and flour, eat plenty of veggies. Fruits and veggies that contain a lot of fiber are great, i.e. carrots, apples, broccoli, berries. If you eat pasta make it whole grain pasta.

If you are on a statin drug like Lipitor be sure you take Coenzyme Q10 (50 mg/day) and Milk Thistle because it depletes your CoQ10 and does a number on your liver. (Milk Thistle promotes liver health.)

I have high cholesterol going through menopause and i quit smoking…need a vitamin supplement that will addre

want a vitamin that will address everything….I dont want to take 100 pills a day…..my skin is dry……help…..

Answer :

Fish oils with Omega 3, and Lecithin (sold in vitamin section of most stores) really work. Ask your pharmacist. The fish oil will also help your skin.

Can a heart attack cause someone to have a seizure ?

Answer

Usually not in and of itself; however, an after effect of a heart attack could cause a person to experience seizure (or “seizure-like”) activity. A “seizure” is generally what an epileptic attack is referred to as; but this term more acurately describes the associated convulsive state. Seizures are a result of a cerebral malfunction which can originate from a number of factors (epilepsy, drug overdose, shock to the body caused by injury, high fever, etc…). A “heart attack”, as the name implies, refers to an event that occurs with the heart (N.B. Without going into too much detail, a “heart attack” is a term coined to describe two different cardiac abnormalities: 1) Myocardial Infarction; in which a portion of the myocardium [heart muscle] dies from a lack of oxygen, usually due to artherosclerosis [a buildup of plaque on interior arterial walls], resulting in retricted blood flow to portions of the heart muscle; and 2) Cardiac Arrest; in which th
ere is a “complete cessation of cardiac activity either electrical, mechanical, or both…”. This is usually brought on suddenly via serious accident/injury, but can also be the result of an occlusion [closing or blockage] caused by a breakaway piece of plaque [embolus] or a thrombus [ a cardiovascular system clot, usually of blood or blood constituents], which can give the appearance of a seizure [to the inexperienced observer] due to the person’s immediate collapse; and which leads me to your question’s answer. ). Sometimes after a “heart attack”, a person MAY have seizure activity due to a thrombosis (either of plaque or clotted blood) having broken loose to form an embolus that occludes a cerebral vessel, disrupting normal neuronal electrical activity; however, in cases when an embolus has caused a cerebrovascular occlusion, usually some form of “stroke” ends up occurring (known as a C.V.A. [=Cerebro Vascular Accident] in medical terms); which can be of varying de
grees, and, although technically not a “seizure”, it MAY mimic one in symptomatic presentation.

Panic anxiety attack will cause heart attack?

Panic anxiety attack for 6-8 yrs with stress work will cause heart attack? Yoga or medication will cure the condition?

Answer

The panic attacks themselves aren’t going to cause a heart attack. As long as you’ve had panic disorder i’d talk to your doctor about medication. Yoga would be great for a stress relief though. Good Luck.

Causes of chest pain not heart attack related?

I have been to the hospital before with chest pain even though current blood work shows everything is normal and I had different doctors diganosed me with pleursy and an inflammation of the breast bone. The pain comes and goes which is a common symptom to angina. What else causes chest pain that is not related to a psyical attack caused by another person? All I know is that I want this pain to stop coming back and what to do to stop it? Or does it just leave on it’s own?

Answer

As you know, there is alot of muscles in the chest area. It could be a type of strain or a pulled muscle. Which isn’t easily detected by your physician. Do you do any repetitive movements at work or anything? It could be something you do so often that you don’t take into consideration.

What could be the cause if not mild heart attack?

Greetings

On Sunday my mom started getting some sharp pains in her chest. After a little while they moved down into her left armpit area and a little bit further down her arm. She has been on medication for high blood pressure for a while now.

It persisted in the chest and arm so she saw a doctor today and he gave her an ECG and blood test. The ECG pointed to a mild heart attack but her doctor doesn’t believe this is the cause so is waiting for the blood test results tomorrow.

Does anyone have an idea of what could cause these symptoms other than a mild heart attack?

Many thanks for yor assistance

Zartbot

Answer

ECG readings are not so definate as you might think. Possibilities are angina, electrolite disorder potasium being one that springs to mind but hyponatreamia could also cause ECG fluctations and many others

The blood test he is waiting for is one that detects heart enzymes that are only released when the cardiac cells die.

Don’t worry though. A heart attack isn’t the end of the world anymore and there are many possible treatments.

Did your mother go into hospital? If not then she may still be asked to go to the coronary cath lab to get an angiogram or they might focus on clot busting drugs.

All in all it depends on how recent the heart attack was (this can be told from the ecg) i think st elevation is the indicator. Anyway i hope that helps,

dave

What is the main cause for heart attack?

men;s health

Answer

The heart is a pump which requires a continuous supply of oxygenated blood to provide nutrients to the muscles responsible for its action. Any reduction in blood supply (ischemia) interferes with the function of the heart muscle and can lead to death of muscle tissue (myocardial infarction).

 

The heart muscle has the ability to repair itself, provided the supply of oxygenated blood is quickly returned to normal with appropriate treatment.

 

Blockage of a main coronary artery occurs when blood, which would not normally clot, is prompted to do so because an artery has become narrowed.

 

The main cause of artery narrowing is a disease called atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), a process where deposits of fatty material containing cholesterol (plaque) build up along the lining of the artery walls.

What could cause delusional ,mean behavor after heart attack?

my ex mother-in-law,maybe in her mid 60’s,had a heart attack this past

tuesday,i am now imformed she has three blockages,and triple by-pass surgery

has been scheduled for next tuesday,my ex came by last nite and was telling

me about this.i am writing to see can you possibly put any light on the fact

that she has become irrational,mean,delusional,parinoid etc.. she is

carrying on conversations with people whom are not there.she has had alot of

trouble over the years with her legs,she will not accept that she is in

there as a result of a heart attack,she is certain she is there to get her

legs cut off.she has pulledv her i.v. out repeatedly,she is totally

irrational.before tuesday she has always been an intelligent, together

woman.i am told they don’t think she had a stroke,i am also told they

haven’t been medicating her with anything since tuesday night but blood

thinners,she is in ICU i am told some patients have some “psychotic,like”

reactions from being in there with no win

dows and all also she has’nt can’t sleep since arriving there.she has made

several crude,life threatening remarks one regarding a nurse etc… could

you please shed some light on this for me to pass on to the family i would

be so grateful i feel really bad for their hurt and having no reasonable

explanation for her totally irrational behavior

Answer

a heart attack happens when there is not enough blood being supplied by the heart to the heart itself. If she had had a stroke (aka brain attack; meaning not enough blood to a certain part of the brain), then I might be inclined to think that PERHAPS there was some brain damage. The frontal cortex controls behavior and personality.

However, given the other details you have given (i.e., she is expected to undergo surgery soon, etc), I would think that this is a great stressor in anyone’s life. How would you feel if you knew you were going to be laid out on a table, put to sleep, so that someone can open your chest by breaking your ribs open just to get to your heart, which by the way will be outside the body for a while? This would not be an easy concept to accept for anyone of any age.

Given that she is talking to herself, perhaps she needs someone to talk to..someone who does not judge her or try to diagnose her.. she needs to share some feelings without being interrupted etc. Or, she may be thinking out loud (who has not done that). Or, age may be catching up to her: dimensia, alzheimers and other age-related brain ailments are becoming more widely discussed althougth the onset may be slight, progressive and hardly noticeable to family members who remember loved ones in their own way.

At any rate, as a daughter in law, I might want to try listening to her, supporting her and her son (your husband) and your family (in laws) through this time. This is not about you or anyone else or your guys’ perceptions of her and her behavior. This is about her and her struggles to get through this time in her life. I am sure she was there for your husband when he was growing up and needed consoling and someone to listen (who better than mom?), and that you would want someone to do the same if these circumstances were your circumstances, and that you would expect no less from your very children…so, give to her no less than she expects whatever that may be…it will take time to listen to her in order to find this out, something no one can tell your family but her, no matter how large this Yahoo community of answerers…

Best of luck to your mother in law and your family.

Why does high blood pressure cause people to have a heart attack, stroke, heart failure and kidney disease ?

what is the physiological explanation to that?

Answer

High blood pressure causes strain on the blood vessels carrying blood around your body. This strain can cause vessels to become clogged up or to weaken, and this can lead to narrow blood vessels and clots that can cause damage to the heart or brain. Having high blood pressure can also cause heart and kidney failure.

It is important to realise that the higher your blood pressure, the higher your risk of heart disease or stroke. This means that all of us should be adopting a lifestyle that will help to lower our blood pressure whether we have high blood pressure or not.

Can anxiety cause a heart attack?

Answer

Yes, anxiety is a form of stress which can lead to a heart attack if it is severe and added to by any other factors (i.e over weight, weak heart and so on)

What causes a heart attack and a stroke at age 30?

Answer

Primary causes can be hereditary, obesity, smoking and stress.

Is it possible that ”Anxiety Tachycardia Palpitations” can cause a heart attack?

Could i have a heart attack cause i got anxiety tachycardia palpitations?

Answer

Hello, I work in a ER and actually have anxiety related heart palpitaions. and the answer is no, although the feeling of them is very very scary, it wont cause a heart attack. Heart palpitations also known as PVC’s can happen when you are stressed out. I was prescribed xanax for this problem and i take it when i start to feel them, and it really helps.

Good luck to you

Is gastric bypass surgery covered by canadas healthcare system?

In America this surgery costs some 15,000 dollars, but in my case it isnt a priority (in other words im not so fat Im having any problems physically) Though I am whats called “morbidly obese” in that im 100 pounds over weight for ym height and size.

Answer :

Vacuums are a hard thing to buy! I recommend Dirt Angel. It’s fast picking up system allows for all the stuff in your carpet to be picked up quickly and accurately. You can purchase it in Home Depot, Lowes, or other vacuum store. Good luck and happy cleaning!

Precautions to be taken after By Pass Surgery?

DOs and Donts

Answer :

First try to understand why bypass surgery is needed. It is the blockage of valves due to shrinkage blood vessels. You can go through go ogle ‘HONEY CINNAMON’ using can prevent surgery.

Will medicade cover gastric bypass surgery?

Answer :

You might need to call the insurance company that Medicaid has and see if they cover it. Different states have different things covered and not covered. I do know that Medicare does after you meet the criteria. Maybe the same way with Medicaid. Good Luck…

Which private hospital is best for bypass surgery in Delhi?

My father have more than 90% blockage and has to go for bypass surgery immediately. Please suggest a good hospital and also the cost that will be incurred.

Answer :

1. Apollo.

2. Asian Heart Institute.

3. Escorts.

In a bypass surgery, more important is the post surgery care taken by the hospital. A good hospital will charge you any thing above four lakhs as a package. There are good ayurvedic capsules capable of clearing blockages from 5% to 95% and single blockage to multiple blockage within 4 to 6 months without any surgery. How old is your father? Do they give any guarantee that re-clogging will not take place after the surgery? There are hundreds of cases where a patient had to udnergo second bypass within a couple of years from the first bypass. After the bypass, the patient has to be under medication till his life time. Check in google search engine for Rudved/Cardoved/Suved/Slowgold etc.

If you have had gastric bypass surgery, do you feel it was worth it?

What complications did you experience? What all can you eat now and how much? also wondering what type of surgery you had and any other details to help with a decision. Is there counseling you have to go thru first? My husband has a liver problem and was told to consider surgery.

Answer :

I had gastric bypass surgery on June 5th and it is the BEST thing I’ve EVER done for my health. I’ve lost 42 pounds in the past month, I have so much more energy & I look better.

My surgeon told me from the beginning that weightloss surgery IS NOT a magic cure it is only a TOOL. You have to change your attitude, mindset and lifestyle to make the surgery help you.

My procedure was done with the lap rather than an open incision and so I was at home within 4 days and on bed rest for another 14. Each person heals differently, so where some take 6 week I took 2 1/2 weeks.

I can eat a total of 4 ounces –at a time. I have three to four small meals a day I eat protein first, then vegetable and maybe a bite of a starch if I’m still hungry.

EVERYONE should go through a Center of Excellence for the surgery! In preparation for the surgery you will have to see a counselor as well as nutritionist and maybe even attend support groups but it is ALL in your best interest to do these things.

As far as the previous answers you’ve gotten–yes, people have died and gained weight back–and if you do your research you will see the SAME thing happens to patients who have had the lapband. I have 8 friends who did the gastric bypass and 4 who did the lapband –the ones with the bypass have had better results where three of the four with the lapband have gained their weight back–IT IS DIFFERENT FOR EACH PERSON.

All the best to your husband.

Can some one clean thier artiries naturaly with out by pass surgery ?

Answer :

To clean blocked arteries do these exercises(pranayam) everyday and you can avoid bypass surgery.You will see the benefits within weeks as you start to feel generally healthy and the next test will show an improvement.Keep a check on your BP. Continue the exercise once a day, after you are better.

Build up your timing gradually.If you feel tired or dizzy, stop and resume after one minute.

Anulom Vilom –

Close your right nostril with thumb and deep breath-in through left nostril

then – close left nostril with two fingers and breath-out through right nostril

then -keeping the left nostril closed deep breath-in through right nostril

then - close your right nostril with thumb and breath-out through left nostril.

This is one cycle of anulom vilom.

Repeat this cycle for 20 to 30 minutes twice a day(maximum 60 minutes in one day).

You can do this before breakfast/lunch/dinner or before bedtime or in bed.Remember to take deep long breaths into the lungs.You can do this while sitting on floor or chair or lying in bed.

Kapalbhati -(Do it before eating) Push air forcefully out through the nose about once per second. Stomach will itself go in(contract in). The breathing in(through the nose) will happen automatically. Establish a rhythm and do for 20 to 30 minutes twice a day.(Max 60 min/day) Not for pregnant women. Seriously ill people do it gently.

Bhramri Pranayam -Close eyes. Close ears with thumb, index finger on forehead, and rest three fingers on base of nose touching eyes. Breathe in through nose. And now breathe out through nose while humming like a bee.

Duration : 5 to 15 times

Do it and reap the benefits.

What are the chances of survival for an open bypass surgery?

Answer :

These days they are VERY good, it is such a common surgery now. Especially if the person is in good health otherwise.

I am a medical coder, I code these procedures almost daily.

My friend had gastric by pass surgery?

And after 70 pounds she stopped looseing weight? SHE HAS ALONG WAY TO GO . tHEY SAID IT WAS A PLATUE 4 months? Ive been with her all long and stays on diet works out 3 times a week shes still got about 100 pds to go . anybody had this problem?

Answer :

No the body can only loose so much weight at a time, it is a platue. My mom had gastric bypass, and went through the same stuff. just ensure her to keep up the good work and do what the doctors tell her they know whats best.

My sister had gastric bypass surgery and now has fluid around her lung?

has anyone ever had fluid around there lung with the gastic bypass sugery and an enlarded spleen from it? her dr jus says to wait for another 6 weeks to see if it leaves. and now she has a terrible cold from it . she had the surgery in jan of 08.thanks

Answer :

She might have gone diphragmatic perforation and now developed the hydrothorax or hydropneumothorax.

It should be drained with the thoracic drainage tube and monitored for lung collapse.

Quadruple bypass surgery???

My granpa has to get on on Valentines day. He is 68 years old, over weight, had surgery before, and used to smoke. The doctor said he had a chance of not making through the surgery, but he didnt say the percent. With this information, what do you think his chances are that he will pass away from the surgery, or during it???

Answer :

I work in a hospital and review medical records - that is ALL I do — there are SOOOOO MANNNNYYY BYPASS surgeries that go through our hospital. ANY HEART procedure can be serious and yes, a person could die on the table but I haven’t seen it very often……there are people who are in their 90s who go through bypass and do just fine. There are so many reasons a person can die through surgery BUT before heart surgery, a cardiologist has to give their approval for whether they are a safe enough candidate to handle it. Every patient who goes through a heart procedure is advised of the risks — MOST MAKE IT THROUGH…..he will be in a lot of pain afterwards though……he’s not going to look real great afterwards - don’t let that scare you…..no one looks good after surgery. BEST OF LUCK TO YOU AND YOUR GRANDPA. He is really young. My in-laws are in their 80’s and my mother-in-law had heart surgery too. They are both fine.

How much is a gastric bypass surgery in a private hospital in malaysia?

like around kl

Answer :

Weight loss surgery-like gastric bypass surgery have become very common and very safe now. My cousin got her Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery in India. She has lost more than 65 lbs in 5 months and is very happy with the results. The price for obesity surgery is very less in India. My cousin just paid 25% of the cost she was quoted in America. She got her surgery from a company called Forerunners Healthcare.

Forerunners Healthcare is very famous in India. I read a lot about them in the Newspapers and magazines. I have read a lot of their patient stories also. They arrange financing for USA, Canadian, UK and other international patients who plan to have surgery abroad for low cost, as Bariatric surgery and weight loss surgery is not covered by insurance. They also have photos pasted of their International patients. You can checkout their website. There are huge cost savings. As a doctor I personally believe that your Obesity surgery can be easily handled in India, as the quality of healthcare available In India is simply best in the world. The surgeons are USA/UK trained and facilities are 5 star.

http://www.forerunnershealthcare.com

Hope this helps.

Is gastric by pass surgery better than lap band ?

hi, i want to know if gastric by pass surgery or lap band is best for me. im a male 6′ 4″ 320 lbs i have type 2 diabetes. im just out of controll with my eating habits. im taking so much different medication. i just cant get my sugar under controll, and i cant lose any weight. i feel my diabetes medicine makes me eat ,even more. my endocronologist doctor wants me to get the surgery. but i dont know which surgery is best for me. if you had this procedure done, let me know which surgery you feel is best thanks, john.from new york.

Answer :

In the last decade, a number of medical advancements have made the surgical treatment of obesity safer and less invasive. One of the most exciting developments in 1993 was the introduction of the LAP-BAND System, an inflatable ring implanted around the stomach that reduces one’s appetite and facilitates weight loss by eating less food. Although the LAP-BAND procedure is the most popular weight-loss surgery around the world, the most commonly performed in the United States is still the gastric bypass. If you are considering a surgical treatment for severe obesity, the differences in the two procedures should be well understood.

Though both procedures require surgery, the approaches are very different. During a gastric bypass surgery, doctors begin by stapling the stomach to form a smaller pouch. Then, by attaching a portion of the intestines to the newly-formed pouch, the remaining stomach and intestines are bypassed, in essence removed from the digestive tract. The result is a drastically smaller internal area for food, allowing the patient to feel satiated more quickly and absorb fewer calories. Though this procedure has evolved in recent years, gastric bypass still represents one of the more invasive approaches to weight loss.

On the other hand, the LAP-BAND procedure can be performed without cutting and stapling the stomach. Rather than rerouting the intestinal tract, the LAP-BAND creates a similar feeling of satiety with a simple single inflatable band. The LAP-BAND is surgically placed around the upper portion of the patient’s stomach, forming a smaller stomach pouch similar to the gastric bypass procedure. The LAP-BAND helps the patient feel full with less food intake, but also reduces the appetite by slowing digestion for a natural, healthy weight loss.

While gastric bypass and LAP-BAND procedures represent very dissimilar surgical approaches, the recoveries and extended treatment programs associated with each surgery highlight even greater differences. For instance, in addition to a ten times higher mortality rate1, gastric bypass patients typically remain in the hospital for 2-3 days while most LAP-BAND patients are able to return home the same day. Additionally, most gastric bypass patients will not be able to return to normal activities for 2-3 weeks while LAP-BAND recipients often complete their surgical recovery in 1-2 weeks.

After recovering from surgery, gastric bypass and LAP-BAND patients also experience weight loss differently. Although most patients experience rapid initial weight loss with the gastric bypass, there is no long-term mechanism to continue to maintain the feeling of satiety that can be achieved with a properly adjusted LAP-BAND. The intestinal re-routing of the gastric bypass can also contribute to nutritional deficiencies, many of which require extensive follow-up care.

In addition to a lower risk of complications from surgery, the LAP-BAND procedure also helps patients lose weight gradually and healthily, eliminating the effects of malnutrition. In the months following LAP-BAND surgery, patients tend to experience weight loss of 1 to 2 pounds a week. They are receiving all the natural nutrients of the food they consume but the portions are significantly smaller as a result of the restriction and satiety the LAP-BAND provides. In order to receive the greatest number of benefits however, it is essential that the LAP-BAND is properly adjusted. This is determined by your surgeon according to your rate of weight loss, the types of food you can consume and your sense of satiety in between meals. It’s an ongoing refinement to achieve optimal results based upon your personal experience.

The LAP-BAND also avoids the uncomfortable side effect known as dumping syndrome. Experienced by many gastric bypass patients, dumping syndrome occurs when undigested food particles move too quickly into the small intestine. Similar to a state of shock, gastric bypass patients often break out in a cold sweat with a rapid heart beat and experience cramps and diarrhea.

In the event that patients want to reverse their weight loss surgeries, the LAP-BAND is considered the only reversible procedure because the internal anatomy is not changed with the placement of the LAP-BAND. As the LAP-BAND is merely implanted around the stomach without surgical manipulation of the intestinal tract, the stomach will return to its original state after removal of the LAP-BAND.

While both gastric bypass surgery and LAP-BAND surgery have been proven to be successful methods of treating obesity and sustaining long-term weight loss, the LAP-BAND procedure remains the safest and least invasive weight loss surgery available.

Why is coronary bypass surgery a good thing?

I need this answered for my science class

i understand that it helps prevent another heart attack but why else is it a good thing?

Answer :

There are a number of ways to treat blockages of the heart (coronary) arteries. First, you can treat medically by giving medicines that decrease the load on the heart. This decreases the amount of oxygen it needs and therefore the amount of blood it needs. This can help improve the ability to exercise, but in the end, does nothing to remove the blockages or improve blood flow. Second, the blockages can be approached from inside the arteries by cardiac catherization. Very fine catheters are sent up the main arteries of the leg (usually) and used to shoot dye into the heart arteries. Once the blockages are mapped, there are a great number of very specialized catheters that can either push open the blockages (angioplasty) or actually remove blockages (atherectomy). The arteries are then usually propped open using a special metal tube, called a stent. This often works quite well, and doesn’t require much of a recovery period. The last way is by surgery; coronary artery bypass grafting
sometimes called CABG, ACBG and other acronyms. Surgery may be necessary for a number of reasons, but usually because the artery that is blocked either can’t be opened, and has to be bypassed, or if the blockage is in just the wrong place. If the blockage is in just the wrong place then patients can die during a catherization, or can require much more risky emergency surgery. In this case, then surgery on an elective basis is much safer. Lastly, surgery would be necessary if something goes badly wrong during an angioplasty.

Why is bypass a good thing? In short, it is the only answer when it is required. In addition, after surgery, there is less risk of sudden death than there is after angioplasty and stent.

There haven’t really been any studies that show that bypass makes you live any longer than angioplasty and stent.

Hope that answers the question

Will someone help me write a thesis statement on gastric bypass surgery?

I have a paper due tonight, and I am having trouble writing a proper thesis statement regarding gastric bypass surgery…hhhheeeelppp!!!

Answer :

can’t help u if u don’t know wut u r proving

How to avoid bypass surgery even if all the arteries are blocked?

My father is 72 years old. His heart capacity is 15% only. He had a bypass 14 years back. Again all the arteries including the bypass arteries are blocked. Is it medically advisable to go for bypass surgery again? The doctors have warned that since the heart is weak, another bypass surgery is dangerous. Can anyone from the medical field throw more light. His condition is precarious now.

Answer :

Your father should take the advice of his doctors or get a second opinion and make his own decision regarding this. Yes, it is a difficult decision. Some people have pulled through this (My grandfather did and he was at 20% capacity and 75 at the time and had previous bypass before then also, he died at the age of 79). Some do not make it through the surgery unfortunately though. My other grandfather had 15% heart capacity, did not go through another bypass (he had one previously also) and lived almost 5 years without undergoing the operation. It depends upon the person and the severity of their condition. I know that you may want someone to tell you what best decision to make as I know you are very concerned, but there are no guarantees either way, that is only a decision that your father can make. Even with the best doctors and best advice, he is the only one who can weigh the pros and cons and make the final decision. Also there are not many doctors on this site, if any. Some
people say they are and they might be or they may not be, as some say that and you can tell by their answers they are not doctors, BUT ALWAYS REMEMBER they cannot tell you anything definite without a thorough examination of your father. Your father has every right to seek another professional opinion and then go from there with his decision. I wish you and your father the best.

Should Ins. companies pay for gastric bypass surgery if lives are at risk and the surgeryis there best hope?

Gastric Bypass surgery ( roux en Y ) has now been proven through long term studies to cure type 2 diabetes in 95 percent of patients. Reported on MSNBC

Answer :

This is still a “hot topic” in insurance. There are many pros about gastric bypass and lap band intervention, which all are readily published and advocated.

However, insurance carriers are still very doubtful of its ability to be a too quick fix and long-term solution for justifying the cost of the surgery and follow-up care that comes with it as well as the potential of long-term permanent side-effects that can accompany it. Many companies want to see what you, the patient have truly done to make an effort to modify your lifestyle and eating habits prior to any approval. Medicare wants proof of 2 years of attempt of every available diet, nutritional modifications, and even psychological review prior to approval.

Another point of view of the cons is this….

It is now being proven that both are not permanent soltuions for permanent weight loss because many recipients of either surgery have had history of regaining weight, becoming alarmingly overweight, and having difficulty in losing it again. So even with the considerable stomach size reduction, one can still manage to become overweight with improper diet and exercise. This would be viewed by insurance companies as a monetary loss as it did little for long-term prevention.

Unfortunately, even after intervention surgery, it still comes down to self-control, behavior and eating modification, and life style changes involving exercise too.

NOTE: This question would probably best responded to in surveys & polls or health instead of insurance. Most insurance questions asked are regarding defintion of coverages or how to best use the insurance

EDIT ADD: Both of these surgeries should be viewed as the possibility of offering a quick fix to helping a person get on the right path for lifestyle modification when traditional methods may not have helped them to begin and to sustain if for the long haul. i.e. a overweight person labor of breathing and exercise stamina may be only 5-15 minutes. The dramatic weight loss resulting from the surgery will help mobility and breathing to help them maintain exercise for 20 minutes or longer as time passes and mobility continues to improve. Again, dietary moderation would always need to be observed. I do advocate the lap band as it is the least permanent types of surgery for those who have a clear understanding that this is not a permanent fix but only a tool to assist them for long term behavior changes.

Differences between lap-band surgery and gastric bypass surgery?

I am considering one of these surgeries, but I need more info on both. I am in my 20s and I have tried diet after diet but none work. I know both are pretty similiar but there are some real differences. So if you have had one of these surgeries that would be great. My weight has reached 300lbs and my height is 5′3, so with that info I am seriously over-weight. I know its not a quick fix and it a big change for the rest of my life, but to pro-long my life i’m willing to do it.

Answer :

gastric bypass they cut out parts of ur stomach and intestine…..w/the lap-band they put a band around part of ur stomach (the band has like a little balloon in it) and they slowly add water to the balloon over time to reduce the amount of food that is able to be held in the stomach…….lap band is better since its not a permanent removal of part of an organ

What are the benefits of taking vitamin b complex?

Will it help with my nervousness and always being tired?

Answer :

The main benefits of B-Complexes are for energy metabolism, Cardiovascular health, recovery from Stressful times, and Mental health. Many women take B-Complexes when they are pregnant, too.

There are some other benefits that may occur, depending on if you are deficient on any of the B vitamins, but that’s a different story.

It will probably help with some aspects of your stress, and it definitely helps with energy. The hardest thing is that it depends on what nutrients you’re lacking that’s causing the nervousness and tiredness, but either way, a B-Complex should help in general.

Gaining weight after having a gastric bypass surgery?

I had a gastric bypass surgery done at the age of 18, three years ago. I got pregnant a year ago, and gave birth two months ago. I weighed 457 lbs. before the surgery, and got down to 190 lbs. I gained up to 235 before pregnancy, and am now 262. This is totally unacceptable, and I’m in the process of putting a stop to it. Aside from diet and exercise, I was also thinking about taking Phentermine, a presciption weight loss drug. Has anyone else had issues gaining weight after a gastric bypass? If so, how did you lose this weight? Are there any support groups/info forums on losing GAINED weight after your gastric bypass?

Thanks!

Answer :

First off, congratulations on losing the weight in the first place. It must have been a hard decision, and an even harder task to complete.

I belong to a Yahoo group called Weight Loss Surgery Friendship & Support. We are very friendly and could try to help. We have had people who need to lose weight because they have Started to regain their weight. One of the biggest suggestions is to start back at the beginning. Act like you just had the surgery. Eat your recommended amount of protein, water, vitamins and minerals, and exercise. Eat 3 meals a day with one or two snacks. Eat between 1000-1200 calories a day. Remember why you had this surgery, especailly now that you have a child you are responsible for.

We give a lot of support, so join if you would like.

There is one other thing I have seen. I don’t know if you would be interested. But, now a surgeon can reduce the size of your pouch, if you have already had GBS, by going in through your mouth. If all else fails, that may help shrink your stomach. Remember, it’s all up to you. Get the support you need. Start getting healthy again.

Can a diabetic have gastric bypass surgery?

Answer :

Yes , If you’re very overweight and can’t lose pounds with a healthy diet and exercise, surgery might be an option for you. The surgery is usually for men who are at least 100 pounds overweight and women who are at least 80 pounds overweight. If you are somewhat less overweight, surgery still might be an option if you also have diabetes, heart disease or sleep apnea.

Weight loss surgery limits the amount of food you can take in. Some operations also restrict the amount of food you can digest. Many people who have the surgery lose weight quickly. If you follow diet and exercise recommendations, you can keep most of the weight off. The surgery has risks and complications, however, including infections, hernias and blood clots.

Are these heart attack symptoms?

im afraid i may be having a heart attack. im 18. a year ago i was jogging a lot, and in really great shape, but have been “obese” my entire life. I became depressed and stopped working out, started eating like ****, lying in bed all the time, and smoking a lot of cigarettes. this has been my lifestyle for almost a year. the smoking only about 6 months. but i smoke a lot when i do. sometimes so much it makes me wheeze.

I’m just now coming out of it, and I’ve been getting kind of hyper and wild lately (like i used to) and one night i got drunk and something weird happened. My chest felt “strange”. i wasn’t sure if it was heart or lung related, it felt a little heavy, and it was kind of hard to breathe. it lasted a few minutes, and being the hypochondriac that I am, my anxiety made it a little worse. I got my mind off of it and I was fine. Then the other night i was walking and felt a sharp pain really quick in my chest area…but it was fine after that.

My mind wasn’t though.

Answer :

This sounds VERY much life a panic attack, and thus nothing to worry about. However if you are concerned then by all means go see your doctor. If nothing else it will make you feel better knowing that you are in fact healthy.

Heart attack symptoms?

Here they are dull pain all day, heart will at times beat irregular, fingers on one hand numb, very cold,

Answer :

What you are describing sounds like a possible heart attack, if you seem irritable, and sweat-tie go have this checked out. It could also be angina.

Do I have heart attack symptoms?

I have twice in the last two weeks had severe arm and shoulder pain. Shooting down from my shoulder into my arm almost paralyzing. Once when I was sitting on the couch watching TV. The other was last night it woke me out of a deep sleep; the pain was so serve that I woke up my husband. I thought he was going to take me to ER, but after 15 min the pain went away. There is a small burning pain in my chest. But, most of the pain is my arm and shoulder it hurts so bad I almost think I am having a stroke or something. Please give me your opinion. I am 44 years old.

Answer :

its a alarming sign and more over its winter season. so seek doctors help at the earliest. there are more cases of heart attacks are in winters rather than other seasons and we find more cases of heart attacks in the night and early morning. its not good to waste time asking such questions at this forum. it could be life threatening so take it seriously. it might be angina or heart attack so please do not ignore. in cardiac problems its not necessary that such pains stays longer but in this much of time it can damage heart tissues which are irreparable.

good luck!!!

How long can heart attack symptoms last?

I’ve had chest discomfort for almost 2 months now. The discomfort always goes away when I press down on parts of my ribs. However, the slight pain always occurs in different parts of the left chest. I’ve also been having jaw discomfort that feels like a growing pimple in the area where the neck joins the lower jaw on both sides of my face. My doctors did an EKG, listened to my heart beat, did an x-ray, tested my blood, and said I am fine. I am 16 years old and I am afraid I might have a heart attack. Any suggestions?

Answer :

An ECG will have revealed if you have had a heart attack, also a blood test will have shown something.

When I was 28 I had a heart attack and had no jaw ache, no pain on my left side, just a crushing feeling in the centre of my chest. I thought I was OK cause I didnt have any of the above ‘commonly’ reported symptons ( I thought that you were only having a heart attack if you felt shooting pains down your left arm) - Bottom line, never take chances with chest pain, whatever your age. By all means get a second opinion on the chest pain, but after the tests you’ve had I would rule out heart problems.

Also, a high percentage of patients who have sufferred a heart attack dont get any Jaw pain or left sided shooting pains. If this is your guide to deciding whether you are having a heart attack, you could be putting yourself in danger.

Patient has possible heart attack symptoms - what tests are done in the ER & how long do they take for result?

Answer :

EKG, a CBC, Cardiac enzymes and tropin ( these are released when the heart is damaged and tropin is only found in the heart so if it’s elevate you probably have had a heart attack) your oxygen level, A metabolic panel which schows how your kidneys are working and how your blood sugar is and esp. your potassium because potassium is vital to muscle contraction. If the EKG and symptoms warrent it you may go directly to the heart cath lab where they thread a tube from your groin into your heart blood vessles and can dialate them if clogged by a clot or plaque which causes a heart attack. This can prevent the heart from being damaged. It should take a few minutes to get the EKG but depending on your hospital the blood work can take 30 minutes to several hours! obviously the sooner the better. If you have the chance to go to a heart center, thats the place to go. They work the fastest because time lost is heart muscle damage.

Chest pain, heart problems?

i’ve been playing rugby for some while, while doing pushups and stuff, sometimes i find that my chest hurts. I asked a doctor about it, he said he heard no heart murmurs, then they checked me using this thing with lots of wires to check my pulse in many parts of my body, after checking the results they found i was fine. my heartbeat was something like 55 at the time, theres not excess pressure either. The doctor said that it may be because my chest muscles aren’t growing at the same pace. I just want to make sure this is true, and that i don’t have heart problems. Because if i had heart problems i would probably know already right? or is it not obvious?

Answer :

Maybe you do have heart problems ,maybe you don’t.Take the doctor’s advice and relax.

You say that it only hurts sometimes when you exercise,I reckon you’ll have the pain whenever you strain yourself, if you do have heart trouble or otherwise.

You could get a second opinion and find that you’re in trouble,and then what? A third opinion?

There should only be so much that you should dig

 before you unearth something you don’t want to know.

Ten years ago I had similar problems when I used to be heavy into soccer.Checked with the doctors and they put me through the whole nine yards(x-ray,ECG,BP,Blood test,Treadmill,the works) and found nothing.I wasn’t convinced and probed further.The doctor actually told me off saying that I was paranoid for nothing. I’m not saying that I’m

 100% but I don’t want to know.I’m sure you’re OK.

Panic Attacks Vs Heart Attack?

My heart is racing very bad and I’m currently having a panic attack. Sometimes I feel so crazy, I keep convincing myself I need to contact 911 cause I feel like I’m having a heart attack.

What are some similar symptoms ad distinct DIFFERENCES between panic attacks and the beginning stages of a heart attack?

Thanks

Answer :

Unless you know the facts, you may mistake the chest pains that normally accompany panic attacks for a heart attack.

Every year, thousands of people having chest pain, difficulty breathing, pain or numbness in the left arm and tingling throughout the body end up in a hospital emergency room because they believe they are having a heart attack. Typically, a few tests are run, and the patient is sent home because the nature of the attack he or she experienced is one of panic, not coronary.

It’s easy to understand how a panic attack can be mistaken for a heart attack; the two share several common symptoms-with subtle, but recognizable differences. For instance, the chest pain from a heart attack is focused in the center of the chest and is crushing, as if a heavy weight is sitting on top of the chest. It is usually persistent, may radiate to the left arm, neck or back and lasts longer than 5 - 10 minutes. Heart attack victims don’t hyperventilate (unless the person’s fear of heart attack triggers a panic attack), any tingling they experience is usually confined to the left arm, and vomiting is common.

During a panic attack, chest pain is localized over the heart and described as “sharp, and comes and goes. The pain usually intensifies with breathing in and out, and pressing on the center of the chest. Panic attack may cause nausea, but vomiting is rare, and if tingling is present, the entire body tingles. Hyperventilation almost always precedes a panic attack. Using deep breathing techniques dispel this and combined with relaxation exercises, other panic attack symptoms disappear in less than 5 minutes. If the location of the pain moves to the center of the chest, doesn’t go away within 10 minutes, is accompanied by more than one incident of vomiting or diarrhea, or goes away and returns a few minutes later, you should immediately get medical attention.

Panic attacks don’t cause heart disease, and some experts say that they actually affect the heart similarly to the way cardio exercise does, by causing the release of adrenaline, increasing the heart rate, and expanding blood vessels. On the same note, heart disease doesn’t cause panic attacks, although a person with a history of panic attacks who is actually having a coronary may also panic for fear of worsening the heart damage, dying or being disabled.

Using the correct techniques and exercises, you can learn to control panic attack symptoms. I’m one of those with anxiety/panic disorders who have benefited from these practices. I’ve learned to overcome the symptoms of panic attack and differentiate them from heart attack symptoms. It takes practice to control panic attack symptoms, but if you learn to recognize the difference between panic and heart attack signs, and you know that what you’re experiencing is only a panic attack, they’ll be much easier to deal with.

If you want to learn more about heart attacks and how to deal with panic attacks, there is a great amount of information on the Internet. Learning the difference between the two kinds of symptoms makes all the difference in how you react to panic attacks!

Did you know that every 8 seconds someone in the US has a panic attack? True! And sometimes I’m one of them! How about you?

I’ve had panic attacks that have lasted 30+ minutes, and was absolutely certain I was having a heart attack! I couldn’t breathe, I had chest and neck pains, my left arm hurt, yet at the same time was numb; how weird is that?. Although I still feel the symptoms of panic attack coming on, from time to time, I’ve learned how to take control of my thoughts and reactions, and have changed my lifestyle to drastically decrease the chances of panic attack.

What is the symptoms heart attack?

Answer :

MIne was: Severe heart burn: Pain in left shoulder blade. Profuse sweating, shortness of breath. Passing out while driving. Hitting a telephone pole. Air bag deployment: Two precardial thumps while in the back of the ambulance. Stint placed to open 100% blocked LAD.

If a person lives alone and has a heart attack how long do the paramedics have to make it before they die?

Answer :

There is some confusion here between “heart attack” or myocardial infarction and cardiac arrest. For a heart attack or MI obviously the faster response time the better. Paramedics and ER’s use the golden hour rule so the best outcomes occur within the first hour. For cardiac arrest the patient is clinically dead at the moment of arrest so these patients have a very poor outcome no matter what the response time is. As a paramedic I have never heard any 5 to 15 minute rule on anything related too cardiac care.

What are the symptoms of a future heart attack?

I’m only 25 but I’ve been feeling alot of stress this week. I’ve been having heart palpatations and a “heavy” or “tension” feeling in my chest, upper back, and left shoulder, and sometimes upper left arm as well. I’ve been trying to relax. also sometimes when I breathe my chest feels a little tight or constricted.

How serious are these symptoms? They are not quite as bad as they were yesterday. Should I just try some exercise today?

Answer :

Heart Attack Symptoms and Early Warning Signs:

Heart attack is the number one killer of both men and women in the U.S. Each year, about 1.1 million Americans suffer a heart attack, and 460,000 of these are fatal. Most of the deaths from heart attacks are caused by ventricular fibrillation of the heart that occurs before the victim of the heart attack can reach an emergency room. Those who reach the emergency room have an excellent prognosis; survival from a heart attack with modern treatment should exceed 90%. The 1% to 10% of heart attack victims who die later include those victims who suffer major damage to the heart muscle initially or who suffer additional damage at a later time. Fortunately, procedures such as coronary angiogram and PTCA (coronary balloon angioplasty), and clot dissolving drugs are available that can quickly open blocked arteries in order to restore circulation to the heart and limit heart muscle damage. In order to optimally benefit heart attack victims and limit the extent of heart damage, these treatments to open blocked arteries
 should be given early during a heart attack.

Knowing the early warning signs of heart attack is critical for prompt recognition and treatment. Many heart attacks start slowly, unlike the dramatic portrayal often seen in the movies. A person experiencing a heart attack may not even be sure of what is happening. Heart attack symptoms vary among individuals, and even a person who has had a previous heart attack may have different symptoms in a subsequent heart attack. Although chest pain or pressure is the most common symptom of a heart attack, heart attack victims may experience a diversity of symptoms that include:

  * Pain, fullness, and/or squeezing sensation of the chest

  * Jaw pain, toothache, headache

  * Shortness of breath

  * Nausea, vomiting, and/or general epigastric (upper middle abdomen) discomfort

  * Sweating

  * Heartburn and/or indigestion

  * Arm pain (more commonly the left arm, but may be either arm)

  * Upper back pain

  * General malaise (vague feeling of illness)

  * No symptoms (Approximately one quarter of all heart attacks are silent, without chest pain or new symptoms. Silent heart attacks are especially common among patients with diabetes mellitus)

Even though the symptoms of a heart attack at times can be vague and mild, it is important to remember that heart attacks producing no symptoms or only mild symptoms can be just as serious and life-threatening as heart attacks that cause severe chest pain. Too often patients attribute heart attack symptoms to “indigestion,” “fatigue,” or “stress,” and consequently delay seeking prompt medical attention. One cannot overemphasize the importance of seeking prompt medical attention in the presence of symptoms that suggest a heart attack. Early diagnosis and treatment saves lives, and delays in reaching medical assistance can be fatal. A delay in treatment can lead to permanently reduced function of the heart due to more extensive damage to the heart muscle. Death also may occur as a result of the sudden onset of arrhythmias such as ventricular fibrillation.

What should you do if you experience these symptoms? Doctors agree that if you’re in doubt, get checked out anyway. Even if you’re not sure if something is really wrong, you should call 9-1-1 if you experience heart attack symptoms. Prompt administration of drugs can help restore circulation to the heart and increase your chances of survival.

What are symptoms for women having heart attack?

are they same as for man?

Answer :

There were some studies done and some women do have different symptoms than men. Some women do not have acute chest pain which is a well known symptom for men. I am sure it depends upon the person. But below is some interesting information I found about women having a heart attack. I will provide link below with more information also.

Female Heart Attack Symptoms: What are They?

These chest-related heart attack signs often appear in men, and many women get them, too:

Pressure, fullness or a squeezing pain in the center of the chest, which may spread to the neck, shoulder or jaw;

Chest discomfort with lightheadedness, fainting, sweating, nausea or shortness of breath;

But many women don’t have chest pain.

In the Circulation study on early female heart attack symptoms, researchers found that during a heart attack, 43% of the 515 women studied had no “acute chest pain… a ‘hallmark symptom in men,’” according to study authors.

Nevertheless, the study cited evidence that many emergency room doctors still look mainly for chest pain. Only a minority check for the other types of symptoms that women tend to develop. As a result, doctors may miss heart attacks in women.

“Although women can have chest tightness as a symptom of a heart attack, it’s also important for women to recognize that might not be their symptom,” says Nieca Goldberg, MD, a cardiologist and chief of Women’s Cardiac Care at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City and author of “The Women’s Healthy Heart Program.”

“Women commonly have symptoms of shortness of breath, unexplained fatigue, or pressure in the lower chest, so they easily mistake it as a stomach ailment.”

In the Circulation study, common female heart attack symptoms include:

shortness of breath (57.9%)

weakness (54.8%)

unusual fatigue (42.9%)

Women also had these symptoms:

Nausea

Dizziness

Lower chest discomfort

Upper abdominal pressure or discomfort that may feel like indigestion

Back pain

Female Heart Attack Symptoms: Warning Signs That a Heart Attack May Be Coming:

In the weeks preceding an actual heart attack, some of these symptoms may even appear as “prodromal,” or early, warning signs, according to the Circulation study.

Goldberg, who is familiar with the study, says, “About six weeks before the actual heart attack, women were more likely to experience shortness of breath, unexplained fatigue or stomach pain as an early warning sign that they might have a blocked artery.”

Click this link for more info:

http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/featu…

How to find one person is having Heart Attack?

Answer :

By signs and symptoms you can say the persons is having heart attack-

Heart attacks have many variable signs and symptoms. Not all people who have heart attacks experience the same ones or experience them to the same degree. Many heart attacks aren’t as dramatic as the ones you’ve seen on TV or in the movies.

For example, heart attack symptoms in women, in older adults and in people with diabetes tend to be less pronounced. Some people have no symptoms at all. Still, the more signs and symptoms you have, the greater the likelihood that you may be having a heart attack.

Warning signs and symptoms of a heart attack include:

  * Pressure, fullness or a squeezing pain in the center of your chest that lasts for more than a few minutes

  * Pain extending beyond your chest to your shoulder, arm, back, or even to your teeth and jaw

  * Increasing episodes of chest pain

  * Prolonged pain in the upper abdomen

  * Shortness of breath

  * Sweating

  * Impending sense of doom

  * Lightheadedness

  * Fainting

  * Nausea and vomiting

A heart attack can occur anytime — at work or play, while you’re resting, or while you’re in motion. Some heart attacks strike suddenly, but many people who experience a heart attack have warning signs and symptoms hours, days or weeks in advance. The earliest predictor of an attack may be recurrent chest pain (angina) that’s triggered by exertion and relieved by rest. Angina is caused by temporary, insufficient blood flow to the heart. The medical term for insufficient blood flow to the heart is “cardiac ischemia.”-

What doed a heart attack feel like, and does it always hurt, what are the symptoms?

have common sense, if you died of a heart attack you obviously cant answer this but some people had heart attacks and lived

Answer :

Heart attacks do not always hurt. You can have pain in the neck, jaw, gums, chest, arms, and even have a headache. But when there is no pain, sometimes the chest can feel tight, arms heavy, tingeling sensations, dizzyness, weak, tired, light headed. Sometimes there are no symptoms at all.

Heart attack pain down arm?

Where is the pain? On top of the arm or on the bottom of the arm?

Answer :

Differently people describe it differently, in cases it’s top, which radiates to the lower arm. Other find it difficult to describe, complaining of pain radiating from shoulder to arm mostly left.

What does a heart attack or stroke feel like what are the symptoms?

Answer :

for heart attack:

CHEST PAIN/pain on left side of body

Shortness of breath

Cough

Lightheadedness - dizziness

Fainting

Nausea or vomiting

Sweating, which may be profuse

Feeling of “impending doom”

Anxiety

Ways to know a person is having a stroke:

ask them to SPEAK a simple phrase

ask them to RAISE both arms

ask them to stick out their tongue

  if they have trouble doing those things, chances are they might be having a stroke

Can a heart attack make your left arm go numb?

I have been having this pain in my chest for a couple hours now and don’t know what it is. I am debating going to the ER just ’cause I don’t have the money. My right are is also starting to go numb and the pain just stays. What could this be?

Please help me!

Answer :

Any time you are having chest pain, it is a good idea to go get checked out. If your left arm is numb also, it could be your heart. I would chew an aspirin, and head to the emergency room. Call an ambulance if you don’t have anyone to drive you. Don’t worry about the money. They have to treat you, and you don’t have to pay now. Work out a payment plan later. Better to be safe! Good Luck!

I suffered major heart attack w/ blood clot. Still seeking best nat. subst. for warfarin that raises INR to 2

Warfarin/ coumadin is basically rat poison and the long term effects are not very good. Unfortunately I have not yet found any

effective natural substitute that will keep the blood thinning (INR)

around 2 or a little higher. Pot is not under consideration.

Has anyone had success with nattokinase and how much do you take and how often?

Answer :

Don’t be put off by the word “poison”. Aspirin or Tylenol is a poison if you take it wrong. Coumadin has been used forever has had a prov en track record. There are some other prescription medications…they are far more expensive and haven’t had even close to the efficacy history that coumadin has had. You will have to inject yourself tho. If I were your doctor I would tire of your non-compliance and wish you would go to someone else. You are being ridiculous

PossIible Heart attack? Im 27?

I a am 27 year old male. i am 6′ even 354 lbs and fairly active. I work 2 jobs 7 days a week, smoke a pack of cigarettes a day and also smoke marijuana 5 out of 7 days a week.

Last week I started having pains in my chest and remembered my aunt has a blood pressure machine around so I started testing myself twice a day. I have been registering blood pressure readings as low as 146/92 and as high as 228/129

Im not sure what all this means but my friends say it is really high. more recently Ive been having other problems while at work. Lightheadedness lasting 10-15 seconds very poor balance and tripping over my own feet alot. Ocassional blurred vision and dizziness when i go from a prone position to a standing positions and a very bad migraine located at the rear base of my head. Yesterday evening I had a nose bleed for the first time in my life. Heart disease,diabetes and various forms of cancer all run through my family.y. I have no health insurance please help with any information.

Answer :

Your blood pressure rates suck. Your lifestyle is the pits…..you are seriously asking for problems.

Yet you can fix it with some changes….

right now tho…I think your just feeling anxious!!

Is this an on going heart attack or have i pulled a muscle?

i recently had a really bad abscessed tooth it was drained & is still healing up nicely..about 4 or 5 days into the abscess i started having headaches then chest pains as well as a sore throat which i still have i am a smoker but only smoke 6-7 a day the question i have is about the chest pain i looked up on the net about symptoms of a heart attack & the only famliar symptoms im havin is the sharp knife like pains kinda like stinging it sometimes gets worse when i move my left arm or back a certain way or if i stand up too fast the pain is on the left side of my chest right above my breast and sometimes theres a stinging pain on the side of my breast wall near my ribs one time the stinging pain did move to the middle of my chest but im not running a fever i dont feel heavy havent done any hard exercises except lift up my 13lb son after layin on the couch for 4 days unable to do anything due to my abscess pains & dizziness im wondering if this could be a slow progressing heart attack?

Answer :

do not take a chance, i would rather be sorry than wrong, i would go to the emergency room right now and get checked out. ask a friend or family member to take you.. dont wait for people here to answer this . for you… go now and find out what is wrong. you could be saving your life, and then if it is nothing, then you can relax.. PLEASE GO TO THE HOSPITAL NOW………………..

I had a small heart attack 2 years ago. I am 58 years old now. Which “soft” style martial arts can I learn?

I did not have open heart surgery or bypass surgery. I do have stent implants. I still have slight chest pain occasionally, but I am doing ok. My primary goal is for self defence because I will soon become a senior citizen.

I am 5′10″ about 160 lbs. Plain and simple, I have to admit I am a coward. I was thinking that a soft style martial art, might be easier for me to learn, taking my age and health condition into consideration. Could anyone please recommend one? Thank You for taking the time to read this. God Bless You.

I live in New York City. Since I no longer work, I can train full time.

Answer :

There are no “small heart attacks” and, you say your “still having some trouble” I wouldn’t do anything except breathe until I saw the cardiologist and got a look at.

  This “still having trouble” bothers me. Are you sure the “stints” were all you needed ?

  I think you’d better see your cardiologist first before you do anything.

Heart Attack?

Do you know when your having a heart attack? Because my chest hurts when I like press against it, and Im worried because I dont want to have a heart attack not knowing it. Im only 13. Im just really scared. I dont have any other symptoms besides the chest pain. Someone please help…

Answer :

changes are this is a gastro intestinal issue, when you produce gas, you can have chest discomfort, when you inhale air, it might feel like a stabbing pain etc.. usually the entire chest area aches. Try taking a tums or antacid. At 13 it is unlikely that you are having a heart attack… also usually when a heart attack occurs you experience tingling numbness in arms, shoulders, or hands, lack of oxygen to the lungs, cannot breathe properly.

I thought i was having a heart attack, but i think it was indigestion?

having never had indigestion before, the other nite i was woken by the most painful ache in my back and in my ribs, i really thought i was having a heart attack, i was sick too and thought i was gunna die, everyone i’ve spoken to says it was indigestion… god, never thought it could be so painful….

Answer :

i know its horrible isnt it! I had never had it, and then i got it and i couldnt move, it was painful to walk and i had to go home, i even went straight to the doctor (i too thought it was too painful just to be indigestion) and my husband called me a hypochondriac. Oh well, im with you on the pain

What doed a heart attack feel like, and does it always hurt, what are the symptoms?

have common sense, if you died of a heart attack you obviously cant answer this but some people had heart attacks and lived

Answer :

They tell me I had a massive silent heart attack.

I had back pain for many years (starting in my 20’s). I went to doctors, took medications, had MRI’s, xrays etc.

My cardiologist ( who I got in the hospital) told me that I had been misdiagnosed and that the back pain was my heart. He was right.

If you are concerned that you are having a problem - go to the doctor- they can determine if you are having heart problems via a blood test. It’s not something to mess with or take chances.

Look up the American Heart Association. They have good information.

If a person lives alone and has a heart attack how long do the paramedics have to make it before they die?

Answer :

Your brain starts to die after about 8 minutes - which begins shutting down your vital functions. There comes a time, when it’s not worth being resuscitated.

Is this indigestion or a heart attack?

Hey, you guys, for a year now, I have been having major left sided chest pain. When I first got this pain, I went into the ER twice, and both times they said it was not my heart. They did give me Ibuprofen, which was supposed to kill some inflammation or infection I had contracted inside my chest. But today, I don’t know, I only ate once, and just a while ago, I got the horrible anxiety, chest pain again. I ate something and it went away. Is the stomach up there, like near the breastbone? Eating something relieved it. Then sometimes I cannnot eat because I get bad heartburn or chest pain. What the hell is this? I just want it to go away. Is it psychological? How do I stop this? How do I know it’s not angina?

Also, would nosebleeds mean that I may get a stroke or hemorrage in the future?

Answer :

You do need to go to a doctor. It could be ulcers, gullbladder or something else. Tests need to be run to find out what is happening.

I feel like I am having a heart attack, but I am only 16!?

Today around 7 (about 5 hours ago) I got this pain below my left chest and then my left shoulder and arm started hurting and the pain below my chest went away. Earlier today I felt some pressure on my chest, but that also went away. I can breathe just fine, but my shoulder and arm pain is still there and once in a while below my chest hurts a bit. Are these the symptoms of a heart attack or am I just being paranoid? I am not fat at all, and my family does not have a history of heart problems. What do you think is going on? My parents don’t think I am having a heart attack, they just said to relax and keep an eye out. Help please, and thank you.

Answer :

see your doc in the morning heart attacks kill young people too ,I had one that almost got me so be safe..

Can a bird have a heart attack!?

i had a bird and one day i came home and it was at the bottom of his cage and was hoppin like he was having a heart attack but if he did i dont know why

Answer :

YES birds have heart attacks my cousin had 10 birds and 9 of them had heart attacks!!!

Can you have a mini heart attack and be ok without seeing a doctor?

I am not positive this was any kind of mini heart attack but it has happened 3 time in the last 6-7 weeks.My chest in the middle an to the left sometimes the right hurts and my jaw under the chin and left side- it feels like really bad cramps, I will feel sweaty cold and hot at the sametime then light headed. I will get a little paniced but then calm myself by breathing through it & I usually take an iburophen for the pain. They last around 10,20,30 minutes and then I am fine but maybe a little fatigued. I will lay down for a bit and I am ok.I am 45 yrs old female, chunky, great blood pressure but high cholestrol,OTR truck driver husband, 11 yr old twin boys, stay at home mom to busy for a hospital stay and no one to tend to the kids if husband is out and when this happens he usually is.

Answer :

It might be ok. But it could get wore in cases so i would suggest seeing a doctor if you had it for a period of time.

Heart Attack/Panic Attack?

I’ve been highly stressed out for the last 6 months due to several life altering happenings & other major life issues. I have had panic and anxiety attacks before, but yesterday was different.

The pain was centralized over my heart with radiating pains on my left upper body (including shoulder, neck, and right below my breast.) It was accompanied by nausea. I honestly thought I was having a heart attack or getting ready to have one, so I tried to remain calm the rest of the evening. Today I wake up and have the same issue. Is it possible that I did have a heart attack, considering the pain lasting so long, or am I just having a really long panic attack/series of attacks?

Answer :

Don’t take any chances. I’m alive today because I didn’t hesitate to get medical attention when I had my heart attack. If you get a blood test within, I believe, 72 hours, they can tell for sure whether it was a heart attack or not. There’s some chemical indicator in your bloodstream for that long. After that, they’ll be guessing.

In any case, with chest pain, pain being transmitted to other parts of your body, and nausea; you’ve got way too many symptoms to just hope it goes away.

Almost everyone who gets quick treatment survives so don’t take the risk! See a doctor now!

Is it possible for a young man to have a heart attack?

I was in a fight the other day and my heart was beating so hard and fast I got scared it would explode or something. Is it possible for a healthy young man to die of a serious burst of adrenaline? btw I dont like fighting so its not like i go around picking fights just for thrills, I just dont want to worry about my heart failing on me when I need to rely on it the most.

Answer :

it is possible. take care.

Heart attack, anxiety or heart burn?

I’ve had pressure right at my breast bone for months.. the past 2 days I’ve had a burning feeling going down my left arm. It went away within a 1/2hr. Yesterday the pressure in my chest was a burning pressure all day. On the way home it radiated all over my chest and I became lightheaded and nauseous. I tried not to panic and the ambulance station wasn’t that far from where I was so I drove there. They took me to the hospital and told me they didn’t see anything (they gave me aspirin and nitro on the way and it had little affect). The hospital did blood work and it didn’t show anything, they did a EKG and that didn’t show anything..they gave me Maalox and ? and it helped a little but the pressure and lightheadedness are still there. I don’t get it..it’s not a heart attack, it’s not anxiety and it’s not heart burn.. ???

Answer :

Lose weight

What is best ex cerise to strengthen heart muscle after an attack?

Answer :

No One: Start with Chikita’s Answer.

No. Two: Don’t let Toodd’s Answer scare you off. The heart is a muscle and muscles can be made stronger. He does go on to give some good advice.

No. Three: Althere’s Answer is a Good Beginning Exercise. Walking is good for the heart.

No. Four: Heart Attack Jack’s Answer: The best exercise, is the one done on a regular and consistent basis. Start out light until you find your limitations. I suffered slight heart damage as a result of a heart attack two years ago. My doctor says the heart will probably not heal, but should be OK.

Not to second guess my doctor, but as the good book says, As a man thinketh, so is he. I firmly am believing in total healing of my heart through diet, exercise, and faith in Jesus, who tells me, by his stripes we are healed. I believe it and speak it.

Could I have suffered a mild heart attack?

Monday it felt like someone kicked me in the back, but no one did.

Tuesday was the worst, i had all the symptoms of having a mild heart attack, although the symptoms are like those of an anxiety attack.

Last night i got the same feeling, and I couldnt sleep.

Today i feel a little better.

I know you can have a heart attack at any age, but im only almost 18. I also have heart murmer.

I need to go to my cardiologist, but since im almost 18, I have to find a new one and am waiting to hear back from my primary doctor.

Answer :

If the pain you are describing is the only symptom you have, then its not an indication of a heart attack, especially at your age, unless you have some pre-existing heart problem other than a heart murmur. But it is always a good idea to check with a doc with these types of pains even if it isn’t a heart attack.

Most likely, you are experiencing the effects of a muscle spasm, pinched nerve, or vertebra that has slipped out of place. In the mean time, you can try to do some stretching exercises to stretch you shoulder blades and the back and side muscles, and also move the spine to loosen it up. One easy way to determine if this is a muscle/spinal problem is to sit on a carpeted floor with your knees up at your chest, put your arms around your legs, so you form a tight ball, and then roll your body back over your head a few times. If the pain is caused by muscles or the spine you will notice a painful, sensitive spot.

What is heart disease and heart attack?

Answer :

Heart Disease is a number of abnormal conditions affecting the heart and the blood vessels in the heart.

….while a Heart Attack occurs when blood flow to a section of heart muscle becomes blocked. If the flow of blood isn’t restored quickly, the section of heart muscle becomes damaged from lack of oxygen and begins to die.

Heart attack at 14?

Is that possible, because I think I just had one. I myself find it to be pretty outrageous, but earlier I was reading, and all of the sudden it hurt really bad to exhale. It felt like stabbing on the left side of my chest, so I wound up laying on my bed for like, 30 minutes trying to find an easy way to breath without getting a stabbing feeling. Then towards the end of my trouble breathing, my back (the area behind the left side of my chest) began to ache badly. Then my jaw started to hurt. I was chewing gum at the time, so I assumed it had something to do with that. This was like 1 hour ago, and it still hurts a bit to breath. And I also thought my breathing was asthma related, because I used to have a severe asthma problem when I was young, for an example of the severity of my problem, I was on a name to name basis with many of the doctors in my local ER. But later, when I looked up my symptoms (extreme pain in chest, back aching, and jaw pain) I kept coming up with heart attack

Answer :

Doubt it was a heart attack.

Sounds like asthma or heart burn.

Keyword : Heart Attack

1. Dealing with a Heart Attack

By Kevin Reilly | Date Submitted: 03/14/08Keywords: after heart attack,causes of heart attack,heart attack,heart attack age,heart attack for women,heart attack in women,heart attackMore Details about after heart attack here.Summary: This article is about people like me who have had a heart attack at a fairly young age (42) and how to deal with the issue related to it.

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Copyright (c) 2008 Kevin ReillyFor anyone who has suffered a heart attack, you’ll know how difficult it can be to get back on your feet. Not only do you have to make lifestyle changes to prevent the risk of another heart attack, there are emotional as well as physical demands on your body. It’s not just a matter of surviving a heart attack; it’s the effects a heart attack has on your life that can be just as big a problem.Depending on the severity of a heart attack, the options open to someone will be very different. A major heart attack will mean some huge changes to your current day-to-day routine, while a milder heart attack will offer a bit more leeway. However, any kind of heart attack is a serious warning about your overall health, and the need to make life changes to prevent one from happening again.Medical Aftercare One of the first things that will happen is that you will need to go for more regular check-ups at your doctor or family physician’s. Here you will get advice about how to reduce the chances of a follow-up heart attack - unfortunately, people who suffer a heart attack are 50% more likely to have another one within 12 months if they don’t make changes to their lifestyle.You’ll be encouraged to give up smoking if you haven’t already; what to eat, and what to avoid, will also be covered; and you may even have to go on a heart attack prevention course of medication. These can include drugs to control blood pressure, as well as anti-stress medication. Anything that controls the symptoms of a heart attack will be covered with your medical follow-up.Normal Activities Although you’ll probably want to get back to normal as quickly as possible, the very fact that you’ve suffered a heart attack will prevent this to some degree. Depending on the severity of the heart attack, it’s likely that you will be fine for walking after a week or so. However, other day-to-day activities such as sexual intercourse or driving may have to wait a few weeks more, to make sure there are no complications or follow-up chest pains.Changes to the Family Life Perhaps the biggest hurdle anyone that suffers a heart attack needs to overcome is the emotional and psychological effect it has. This isn’t just on you, either - your family and loved ones will have gotten just as big a scare as you by your heart attack. So it’s only natural that they may act differently around you - more refrained, for example.You need to ensure that they know that you realise it’s been a shock, but together you can ensure that it’s less likely to happen again. By getting everything in the open, and discussing the reasons for your heart attack, it will make sure that everyone is in a better position to help you prevent what caused the heart attack in the first place.Talking about it will also enable you to get back to normality quicker. One of the biggest problems after a heart attack is depression, and fear that you’ll suffer another heart attack. Having the love and support of your closest friends and family will help you through this difficult period, and hopefully prevent future symptoms or heart attacks from happening again.

Author’s URL:

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2. Panic Attack Self Help Can Be Quite Helpful

By Sveinung Skoglund | Date Submitted: 03/12/08Keywords: panic attack self help, self help book and anxiety, panic attacks, HealthMore Details about panic attack self help here.Summary: Panic attacks are a variety of symptoms, both physical and emotional, that include sense of doom, heart attack, and breathing difficulty. The initial attack usually occurs in a specific situation. Additional panic attacks may occur at any time or pla

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The definition of a panic attack is a sudden rush of uncomfortable symptoms together with thoughts of impending doom such as making a scene, heart attack and the inability to breath. The first panic attack often takes place in a particular situation; other episodes are unpredictable as to time or place where they occur.Increased heart rate, dizziness or lightheadedness, shortness of breath, inability to concentrate and confusion can often be some of the uncomfortable symptoms that are present during a severe panic attack. Often times, the sufferer becomes afraid of being a helpless victim of panic after a few of these panic episodes.It is possible for the person in question to hesitate when faced with being alone, venturing too far from home, or being in public places. Even when not currently undergoing a panic attack, the victim will many times become extremely nervous and apprehensive regardless. The victim’s body remains physically and psychologically tense, in anticipation of the next attack.You will need self-help skills to overcome panic attacks. These skills can be learnt at the Panic Attack Self Help Program. This program teaches you how to deal with the worry about symptoms and also dealing with the symptoms themselves. This will help you venture into situations that you had avoided, with ease.There are medications available for panic attack self help. First, work with your doctor to take care of any medical condition that may be causing or increasing your problems. Obsessive-compulsive disorder may be present if you constantly have bothersome mental ideas or feel a need to repeat the same actions over and over again. A great number of people are afflicted with this disorder.Panic attacks can vary in severity, from simple worries about turning off the appliances before leaving home, to severe and crippling repetitive tasks that take up hours of your day. No matter the degree, panic attacks are upsetting and uncomfortable when they interrupt your life and can even destroy important personal relationships. Learning panic attack self help through books can become very helpful.Author’s URL:

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3. Stress management

By Lakshman Balasubramanyam | Date Submitted: 09/22/05Keywords: Stress managementMore Details about Human Resource management Stess release here.Summary: Stress at work, stress management techniques, stress reduction and relief

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Stress at work, stress management techniques, stress reduction and reliefEmployers should provide a stress-free work environment, recognise where stress is becoming a problem for staff, and take action to reduce stress. Stress in the workplace reduces productivity, increases management pressures, and makes people ill in many ways, evidence of which is still increasing. Workplace stress affects the performance of the brain, including functions of work performance; memory, concentration, and learning. In the UK over 13 million working days are lost every year because of stress. Stress is believed to trigger 70% of visits to doctors, and 85% of serious illnesses (UK HSE stress statistics). Stress at work also provides a serious risk of litigation for all employers and organisations, carrying significant liabilities for damages, bad publicity and loss of reputation. Dealing with stress-related claims also consumes vast amounts of management time. So, there are clearly strong economic and financial reasons for organisations to manage and reduce stress at work, aside from the obvious humanitarian and ethical considerations. If you are suffering from stress yourself the stress management guidelines here are just as relevant.People most at risk from stressIn one US study as many as 40% of workers described their jobs as very stressful. While not a scientific gauge and not measuring serious stress health problems, this gives some indication as to how prevalent work-related stress is. As regards official health records, in the UK, the nursing and teaching occupations are most affected by work-related stress, with 2% of workers at any one time suffering from work-related stress, depression and anxiety. (The figure for teachers rises to 4% when including physical conditions relating to stress.) Care workers, managers and professionals are the next highest affected occupations, with over 1% suffering from serious work-related stress at any one time. UK HSE work-related stress statistics suggest that work-related stress affects men and women in equal numbers, and that people in the 45-retirement age suffer more than younger people. More socially-based USA research suggests that the following American social groups are more prone to stress (this therefore not limited to work-related stress): young adults, women, working mothers, less educated people, divorced or widowed people, the unemployed, isolated people, people without health insurance, city dwellers. Combined with the factors affecting stress susceptibility (detailed below), it’s not difficult to see that virtually no-one is immune from stress. An American poll found that 89% of respondents had experienced serious stress at some point in their lives. The threat from stress is perceived so strongly in Japan that the Japanese even have a word for sudden death due to overwork, ‘karoushi’.work-related stress trendsData is sparse and confused (stress statistics are also complicated by metal health reporting in the UK), but the statistics do indicate certain growth. In the UK HSE statistics indicate a doubling of reported clinical cases between 1990 and 1999. Working days lost per annum appear to have been about 6.5 million in the mid-1990’s, but rose to over 13 million by 2001. Greater awareness of the stress ailment in reporting no doubt accounts for some of this variance, but one thing’s for sure: the number of people suffering from work-related stress isn’t reducing.costs of stress

UK HSE statistics suggest stress-related costs to UK employers in the region of £700m every year. The cost of stress to society is estimated at £7bn pa. (These figures were respectively £350m and £3.7bn in 1995/6 when total days lost were half present levels.)

stress causes Stress is caused by various factors - not all of which are work-related of course, (which incidentally doesn’t reduce the employer’s obligation to protect against the causes of stress at work). Causes of stress - known as stressors - are in two categories: external stressors and internal stressors.

External stressors - physical conditions such as heat or cold, stressful psychological environments such as working conditions and abusive relationships, eg., bullying.

Internal stressors - physical ailments such as infection or inflammation, or psychological problems such as worrying about something.

From the above, it is easy to see that work can be a source of both external and internal stressors.

Stressors are also described as either short-term (acute) or long-term (chronic):

Short-term ‘acute’ stress is the reaction to immediate threat, also known as the fight or flight response. This is when the primitive part of the brain and certain chemicals within the brain cause a reaction to potentially harmful stressors or warnings (just as if preparing the body to run away or defend itself), such as noise, over-crowding, danger, bullying or harassment, or even an imagined or recalled threatening experience. When the threat subsides the body returns to normal, which is called the ‘relaxation response’. (NB The relaxation response among people varies; ie., people recover from acute stress at different rates.)

Long-term ‘chronic’ stressors are those pressures which are ongoing and continuous, when the urge to fight or flight has been suppressed. Examples of chronic stressors include: ongoing pressurised work, ongoing relationship problems, isolation, and persistent financial worries.

The working environment can generate both acute and chronic stressors, but is more likely to be a source of chronic stressors.

Stress effects on health and performance Stress is proven beyond doubt to make people ill, and evidence is increasing as to number of ailments and diseases caused by stress. Stress is now known to contribute to heart disease; it causes hypertension and high blood pressure, and impairs the immune system. Stress is also linked to strokes, IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), ulcers, diabetes, muscle and joint pain, miscarriage during pregnancy, allergies, alopecia and even premature tooth loss.

Various US studies have demonstrated that removing stress improves specific aspects of health: stress management was shown to be capable of reducing the risk of heart attack by up to 75% in people with heart disease; stress management techniques, along with methods for coping with anger, contributed to a reduction of high blood pressure, and; for chronic tension headache sufferers it was found that stress management techniques increased the effectiveness of prescribed drugs, and after six months actually equalled the effectiveness of anti-depressants. The clear implication for these ailments is that stress makes them worse.

Stress significantly reduces brain functions such as memory, concentration, and learning, all of which are central to effective performance at work. Certain tests have shown up to 50% loss of performance in cognitive tests performed by stress sufferers. Some health effects caused by stress are reversible and the body and mind reverts to normal when the stress is relieved. Other health effects caused by stress are so serious that they are irreversible, and at worse are terminal.

Stress is said by some to be a good thing, for themselves or others, that it promotes excitement and positive feelings. If these are the effects then it’s not stress as defined here. It’s the excitement and stimulus derived (by one who wants these feelings and can handle them) from working hard in a controlled and manageable way towards an achievable and realistic aim, which for sure can be very exciting, but it ain’t stress. Stress is bad for people and organisations, it’s a threat and a health risk, and it needs to be recognised and dealt with, not dismissed as something good, or welcomed as a badge of machismo - you might as well stick pins in your eyes.

Causes of stress at work

These are typical causes of stress at work:

Bullying or harassment, by anyone, not necessarily a person’s manager Feeling powerless and uninvolved in determining one’s own responsibilities Continuous unreasonable performance demands Lack of effective communication and conflict resolution Lack of job security Long working hours Excessive time away from home and family Office politics and conflict among staff A feeling that one’s reward is not commensurate with one’s responsibility

Factors influencing the effects of stress and stress susceptibility: A person’s susceptibility to stress can be affected by any or all of these factors, which means that everyone has a different tolerance to stressors. And in respect of certain of these factors, stress susceptibility is not fixed, so each person’s stress tolerance level changes over time:

Childhood experience (abuse can increase stress susceptibility) Personality (certain personalities are more stress-prone than others) Genetics (particularly inherited ‘relaxation response’, connected with serotonin levels, the brain’s ‘well-being chemical’) Immunity abnormality (as might cause certain diseases such as arthritis and eczema, which weaken stress resilience) Lifestyle (principally poor diet and lack of exercise) Duration and intensity of stressors (obviously…)

Signs of stress - stress test At a clinical level, stress in individuals can be be assessed scientifically by measuring the levels of two hormones produced by the adrenal glands: cortisol and DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone), but managers do not have ready access to these methods. Managers must therefore rely on other signs. Some of these are not exclusively due to stress, nor are they certain proof of stress, but they are indicators to prompt investigation as to whether stress is present. You can use this list of ten key stress indicators as a simple initial stress test: tick the factors applicable. How did I do?

1. sleep difficulties 2. loss of appetite 3. poor concentration or poor memory retention 4. performance dip 5. uncharacteristic errors or missed deadlines 6. anger or tantrums 7. violent or anti-social behaviour 8. emotional outbursts 9. alcohol or drug abuse 10. nervous habits

Methods of personal stress management and stress relief:

If you are suffering from work-related stress and it’s beginning to affect, or already affecting your health, stop to think: why are you taking this risk with your body and mind? Life’s short enough as it is; illness is all around us; why make matters worse? Commit to change before one day change is forced upon you.

If you recognise signs of stress in a staff member, especially if you are that person’s manager, don’t ignore it - do something about it. It is your duty to do so. If you do not feel capable of dealing with the situation, do not ignore it; you must refer it to someone who can deal with it. You must also look for signs of non-work-related stressors or factors that increase susceptibility to stress, because these will make a person more vulnerable to work-related stressors. These rules apply to yourself as well….

Stress relief methods are many and various. There is no single remedy that applies to every person suffering from stress, and most solutions involve a combination of remedies. Successful stress management frequently relies on reducing stress susceptibility and removing the stressors, and often factors will be both contributing to susceptibility and a direct cause. Here are some simple pointers for reducing stress susceptibility and stress itself, for yourself or to help others:

Stress relief pointers Think really seriously about and talk with others, to identify the causes of the stress and take steps to remove, reduce them or remove yourself (the stressed person) from the situation that causes the stress. Understand the type(s) of stressors affecting you (or the stressed person), and the contributors to the stress susceptibility - knowing what you’re dealing with is essential to developing the stress management approach. Improve diet - group B vitamins and magnesium are important, but potentially so are all the other vitamins and minerals: a balanced healthy diet is essential. Assess the current diet and identify where improvements should be made and commit to those improvements. Reduce toxin intake - obviously tobacco, alcohol especially - they might seem to Provide temporary relief but they are working against the balance of the body and contributing to stress susceptibility, and therefore increasing stress itself. Take more exercise - generally, and at times when feeling very stressed - exercise burns up adrenaline and produces helpful chemicals and positive feelings. Stressed people must try to be detached, step back, look from the outside at the issues that cause the stress. Don’t try to control things that are uncontrollable - instead adjust response, adapt. Share worries - talk to someone else - off-load, loneliness is a big ally of stress, so Sharing the burden is essential. increase self-awareness of personal moods and feelings - anticipate and take steps to avoid stress build-up before it becomes more serious. explore and use relaxation methods - they do work if given a chance - yoga, meditation, self-hypnosis, massage, a breath of fresh air, anything that works and can be done in the particular situation. Note also that managing stress does not cure medical problems. Relieving stress can alleviate and speed recovery from certain illnesses, particularly those caused by stress, (which depending on circumstances can disappear when the stress is relieved); ie., relieving stress is not a substitute for conventional treatments of illness, disease and injury.

Importantly, if the stress is causing serious health effects the sufferer must consult a doctor. Do not imagine that things will improve by soldiering on, or hoping that the sufferer will somehow become more resilient; things can and probably will get worse.

For less serious forms of stress, simply identify the cause(s) of stress, then to commit/agree to removing the cause(s). If appropriate this may involve removing the person from the situation that is causing the stress. Counselling may be necessary to identify the cause(s), particularly if the sufferer has any tendency to deny or ignore the stress problem.

Acceptance, cognisance and commitment on the part of the stressed person are essential. No-one can begin to manage their stress if they are still feeling acutely stressed - they’ll still be in ‘fight or flight’ mode. This is why a manager accused of causing stress though bullying or harassment must never be expected to resolve the problem. The situation must be handled by someone who will not perpetuate the stressful influence.

Removing the stressor(s) or the person from the stressful situation is only part of the solution; look also at the factors which affect stress susceptibility: where possible try to improve the factors that could be contributing to stress vulnerability. This particularly and frequently involves diet and exercise.

The two simplest ways to reduce stress susceptibility, and in many situations alleviate stress itself (although not removing the direct causes of stress itself) are available to everyone, cost nothing, and are guaranteed to produce virtually immediate improvements. They are diet and exercise.

Diet It’s widely accepted that nutritional deficiency impairs the health of the body, and it’s unrealistic not to expect the brain to be affected as well by poor diet. If the brain is affected, so are our thoughts, feelings and behaviour.

We know that certain vitamins and minerals are required to ensure healthy brain and neurological functionality. We know also that certain deficiencies relate directly to specific brain and nervous system weaknesses: The Vitamin B Group is particularly relevant to the brain, depression and stress susceptibility. Vitamin B1 deficiency is associated with depression, nervous system weakness and dementia. B2 deficiency is associated with nervous system disorders and depression. B3 is essential for protein synthesis, including the neurotransmitter serotonin, which is necessary for maintaining a healthy nervous system. Vitamin B6 is essential for neurotransmitter synthesis and maintaining healthy nervous system; B6 deficiency is associated with depression and dementia. B12 deficiency is associated with peripheral nerve degeneration, dementia, and depression.

Vitamin C is essential to protect against stress too: it maintains a healthy immune system, which is important for reducing stress susceptibility (we are more likely to suffer from stress when we are ill, and we are more prone to illness when our immune system is weak). Vitamin C speeds healing, which contributes to reducing stress susceptibility. Vitamin C is associate with improving post-traumatic stress disorders and chronic infections.

A 2003 UK 18 month study into violent and anti-social behaviour at a youth offenders institution provided remarkable evidence as to the link between diet and stress: Around 230 inmate volunteers were divided into two groups. Half were given a daily vitamin/fatty acid/mineral supplement; half were given a placebo. The group given the supplement showed a 25% reduction in recorded offences, and a 40% reduction in serious cases including violence towards others, behaviours that are directly attributable to stress.

Vitamin D helps maintain healthy body condition, particularly bones and speed of fracture healing, which are directly linked to stress susceptibility.

Adequate intake of minerals are also essential for a healthy body and brain, and so for reducing stress susceptibility.

A proper balanced diet is clearly essential, both to avoid direct physical stress causes via brain and nervous system, and to reduce stress susceptibility resulting from poor health and condition. Toxins such as alcohol, tobacco smoke, excessive salt, steroids, other drugs and other pollutants work against the balance between minerals, vitamins mind and body. Obviously then, excessive toxins from these sources will increase stress susceptibility and stress itself. (Useful information about salt and steroids.)

Some other simple (and to some, surprising) points about food, drink and diet:

Processed foods are not as good for you as fresh natural foods. Look at all the chemicals listed on the packaging to see what you are putting into your body. Generally speaking, and contrary to popular opinion, butter is better for you than margarine. This is because the fat in butter is natural and can be converted by the body more easily than the hydrogenated fat that occurs commonly in margarines. Fresh fruit and vegetables are good for you. Simple and true. Fish is good for you, especially oily fish like mackerel. Battered fish from the chip shop, cooked in hydrogenated cooking oil is not so good for you. Canned baked beans often have extremely high salt and sugar content. The beans are good for you, but the sauce isn’t if it contains too much salt and sugar. Look at the contents on the label. Canned and bottled fizzy ‘pop’ drinks are generally very bad for you. They contain various chemicals, including aspartame, which has been linked in several studies with nervous system disorders. Many squashes and cordials also contain aspartame. Too much coffee is bad for you. Interestingly expresso coffee contains less caffeine than filter and instant coffee, because it passes through the coffee grounds more quickly. Tea is good for you. Especially green tea. Pills and tablets are not good for you, avoid them if you can. For example, next time you have a headache, don’t take tablets, go for a run, or a walk in the fresh air to relax naturally. The rule is simple and inescapable: eat and drink healthily, and avoid excessive intake of toxins, to reduce stress susceptibility and stress itself. If you are suffering from stress and not obeying this simple rule you will continue to have be stressed, and moreover you will maintain a higher susceptibility to stress.

Irrespective of your tastes, it’s easy these days to have a balanced healthy diet if you want to - the challenge isn’t in knowing what’s good and bad, it’s simple a matter of commitment and personal resolve. You have one body for the whole of your life - look after it.

Exercise Physical exercise is immensely beneficial in managing stress. This is for several reasons:

Exercise releases helpful chemicals in our brain and body that are good for us. Exercise distracts us from the causes of stress. Exercise warms and relaxes cold, tight muscles and tissues which contribute to stress feelings. Exercise develops and maintains a healthy body which directly reduces stress susceptibility. Exercise increases blood flow to the brain which is good for us. Exercises also releases hormones, and stimulates the nervous system in ways that are good for us. Exercise produces chemicals in the body such as beta-endorphin, which is proven to have a positive effect on how we feel. For many people, serious exercise produces a kind of ‘high’. (It’s arguable that it has this effect on everyone, but not since so many people never get to do any serious exercise they’ll never know…….). Scientists still don’t fully understand how exactly these effects happen, but we do know that exercise produces powerful feelings of well-being and a physical glow, both of which directly reduce stress feelings.

Exercise of all types (muscle-building and stamina-building) relaxes tense muscles and tight connective tissues in the body, which directly contribute to stress feelings and symptoms (particularly headaches). Try this next time you get a stress headache - one that comes up the back of your neck into the back of your head: stand up, leave whatever you are doing, walk outside, take a few deep breaths, roll your shoulders backwards gently, slowly at first, then gradually speed up to about one rotation per second and keep it going for one minute. You can actually feel your shoulders warming and loosening, then feel your neck muscles warming up and relaxing, and then feel the relaxing feel beginning to take the edge of the pain in the back of your head. And that’s after just sixty seconds of exercise! Imagine what 15 minutes brisk walking or jogging can do. Ask anyone who’s just finished a game of tennis or squash or soccer if they feel at all stressed. Of course they don’t. It’s actually impossible to stay stressed if you do a serious bit of exercise.

Exercise is wonderfully distracting - especially something very competitive which makes you push yourself further than you might do by yourself. When your body is involved with exercise it’s very absorbing - it’s actually very difficult to think about your problems when you are puffing and panting. Something terrific happens to the brain when the body works out, especially aerobic exercise - cardiovascular exercise that gets the heart pumping.

We all evolved over millions of years with bodies that were built to exercise, it’s no wonder that avoiding it creates all kinds of tensions.

Exercise, like a better diet, isn’t difficult to adopt - the answer is simple, the opportunity is there - it’s the personal commitment that make the difference.

And a final point about ‘anger management’….

Anger management and stress The term ‘anger management’ is widely use now as if the subject stands alone. However, ‘anger management’ is simply an aspect of managing stress, since anger in the workplace is a symptom of stress. Anger is often stress in denial, and as such is best approached via one-to-one counselling. Training courses can convey anger management and stress reduction theory and ideas, but one-to-one counselling is necessary to turn theory into practice. Management of anger (and any other unreasonable emotional behaviour for that matter) and the stress that causes it, can only be improved if the person wants to change - acceptance, cognisance, commitment - so awareness is the first requirement. Some angry people take pride in their anger and don’t want to change; others fail to appreciate the effect on self and others. Without a commitment to change there’s not a lot that a manager or employer can do to help; anger management is only possible when the angry person accepts and commits to the need to change.

A big factor in persuading someone of the need to commit to change is to look objectively and sensitively with the other person at the consequences (for themselves and others) of their anger. Often angry people are in denial (”my temper is okay, people understand it’s just me and my moods….”), so removing this denial is essential. Helping angry people to realise that their behaviour is destructive and negative is an important first step. Discuss the effects on their health and their family. Get the person to see things from outside themselves.

As with stress, the next anger management step is for the angry person to understand the cause of their angry tendency, which will be a combination of stressors and stress susceptibility factors. Angry people need help in gaining this understanding - the counsellor often won’t know the reason either until rapport is established. If the problem is a temporary tendency then short-term acute stress may be the direct cause. Use one-to-one counselling to discover the causes and then agree necessary action to deal with them. Where the anger is persistent, frequent and ongoing, long-term chronic stress is more likely to be the cause. Again, counselling is required to get to the root causes. Exposing these issues can be very difficult, so great sensitivity is required. The counsellor may need several sessions in order to build sufficient trust and rapport.

The situation must be referred to a suitably qualified person whenever necessary, ie when the counsellor is unable to establish a rapport, analyse the causes, or agree a way forward. In any event if you spot the need for anger management in a person be aware that serious anger, and especially violence, is a clinical problem and so must be referred to a suitably qualified advisor or support group - under no circumstances attempt to deal with seriously or violently angry people via workplace counselling; these cases require expert professional help.

Establishing commitment to change and identifying the causes is sufficient for many people to make changes and improve - the will to change, combined with awareness of causes, then leads to a solution.

lakshman@lbdh.co.uk

Author’s URL: http://www.lbdh.co.uk

Dr. L Balasubramanyam is a Senior Consultant. He has a doctorate in Dynamic Simulation Modelling for Staffing in projects and Companies. He is also a keen researcher in the Use of Fine chemicals and natural extracts for various industries and contributes articles. He has been instrumental in setting up start up organisations in the Systems Integration field for services and has vast experience in handling issues of trust and public affairs. Dr. Balasubramanyam also is a Sr. Human Resources Professional practising the science and management of HR over the last 10 years and is now writing on the subject for very many publications.

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