Frequent exercise is robustly associated with a decrease in cardiovascular mortality as well as the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Physically active individuals have lower blood pressure, higher insulin sensitivity, and a more favorable plasma lipoprotein profile. Animal models of exercise show that repeated physical activity suppresses atherogenesis and increases the availability of vasodilatory mediators such as nitric oxide.
Exercise has also been found to have beneficial effects on the heart. Acutely, exercise increases cardiac output and blood pressure, but individuals adapted to exercise show lower resting heart rate and cardiac hypertrophy.
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a condition in which people have more memory or thinking problems than other people their age. The symptoms of MCI are not as severe as those of Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia. People with MCI can usually take care of themselves and carry out their normal daily activities.
People with MCI are at a greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia. Estimates vary as to how many people who have MCI will develop dementia. Roughly one to two out of 10 people age 65 or older with MCI are estimated to develop dementia over a one-year period. However, in many cases, the symptoms of MCI stay the same or even improve.
This Friday, March 17, is World Sleep Day, an annual event that aims to raise awareness of the importance of getting a good night’s sleep. This year’s campaign tagline is “Sleep is essential for health.” According to a study by the American College of Cardiology, up to 8 percent of deaths from any cause could be attributed to “poor sleep patterns”, while those with healthier sleep habits are less likely to die prematurely.
Data from Statista Consumer Insights shows that in the United States, 39 percent of respondents said they had suffered from a sleep disorder (problems falling asleep or staying asleep, insomnia, etc.) in the 12 months prior to the survey. Italians were among the worst sleepers in the survey at 48 percent reporting a sleep disorder, while India registered a higher share of good sleepers, with only 26 percent suffering from poor sleep.
“A psoriatic arthritis flare-up is a temporary worsening of symptoms of arthritis, which includes swelling, pain and stiffness in your joints,” explains Dr. Sapkota. “It can also include swelling of the whole toes or fingers due to the swelling of the ligaments around the joint. And sometimes, psoriasis, a skin rash, can worsen at the same time as your joints.”
Pneumonia is an infection that inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs. The air sacs may fill with fluid or pus (purulent material), causing cough with phlegm or pus, fever, chills, and difficulty breathing. A variety of organisms, including bacteria, viruses and fungi, can cause pneumonia.
Mayo Clinic – Pneumonia can range in seriousness from mild to life-threatening. It is most serious for infants and young children, people older than age 65, and people with health problems or weakened immune systems.
Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of pneumonia vary from mild to severe, depending on factors such as the type of germ causing the infection, and your age and overall health. Mild signs and symptoms often are similar to those of a cold or flu, but they last longer.
Signs and symptoms of pneumonia may include:
Chest pain when you breathe or cough
Confusion or changes in mental awareness (in adults age 65 and older)
Cough, which may produce phlegm
Fatigue
Fever, sweating and shaking chills
Lower than normal body temperature (in adults older than age 65 and people with weak immune systems)
Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
Shortness of breath
Newborns and infants may not show any sign of the infection. Or they may vomit, have a fever and cough, appear restless or tired and without energy, or have difficulty breathing and eating.
When to see a doctor
See your doctor if you have difficulty breathing, chest pain, persistent fever of 102 F (39 C) or higher, or persistent cough, especially if you’re coughing up pus.
It’s especially important that people in these high-risk groups see a doctor:
Adults older than age 65
Children younger than age 2 with signs and symptoms
People with an underlying health condition or weakened immune system
People receiving chemotherapy or taking medication that suppresses the immune system
For some older adults and people with heart failure or chronic lung problems, pneumonia can quickly become a life-threatening condition.
After a digital twin of a heart is created, researchers can go a step further and use 3D printing to create a physical version of a heart. This is then used to practice surgical techniques and test solutions such as new heart valves or drugs without ever touching an actual body.
March 2, 2023: Following National Heart Health Month in February, TCS futurists took a look at how a digital twin of the heart can save more lives – human and animal – in the future. From boosting athletic performance to developing predictive medicine, new advances in technology will help keep hearts healthier than ever.
TCS is on the leading edge of “Digital BioTwin” research, modeling human organs digitally to find new ways for researchers and doctors to test experimental drugs and surgical techniques without risk. With heart disease the leading cause of death in the U.S., it is more important than ever to innovate techniques to keep hearts healthy.
Using information from a MRI of someone’s heart, TCS can create a fully modeled human heart in cyberspace. By applying various historical and speculative data sets, doctors can see the impact of different conditions and situations such as beginning a long-term exercise program or quitting smoking. This approach to predictive medicine demonstrates the real impact of health choices to patients.
Guillain-Barré syndrome is an autoimmune disease that affects the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord (the peripheral nerves) and develops over several days to weeks. GBS can cause severe muscle weakness, and death occurs in about 5% of patients. The most common subtypes are acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (AIDP) and acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN). Approximately 90% of people with GBS in North America and Europe have AIDP.
Signs and Symptoms of GBS
Patients with the AIDP subtype of GBS typically have weakness that starts in the legs and spreads to the arms, as well as decreased or absent reflexes. In more than 50% of these patients, nerves that originate in the brain stem (cranial nerves) are affected, which may cause facial weakness, difficulty swallowing, and eye muscle weakness or paralysis. Approximately 25% to 30% of patients develop severe weakness or paralysis of the muscles used to breathe. GBS commonly causes symptoms of low back pain and limb numbness and tingling, and fluctuations in blood pressure or an irregular heart rhythm can also occur.
Risk Factors and Conditions Associated With GBS
GBS affects people worldwide, and the lifetime risk of GBS is estimated at 1 in 1000. Although individuals of any age can develop GBS, the incidence increases with age, and males are slightly more likely to develop GBS than females.
Approximately two-thirds of patients have a diarrheal or respiratory illness within 4 to 6 weeks prior to the onset of GBS symptoms. Other, less common events or conditions that may trigger GBS include recent surgery, pregnancy, and immunosuppression. Although rare sporadic cases of GBS have been reported after vaccinations, the risk of developing postvaccination GBS is much lower than the risk of developing GBS after an infection.
Diagnosis and Treatment of GBS
Diagnosis of GBS is made based on symptoms and physical examination findings. Neurological testing often includes electromyography and nerve conduction studies to assess nerve and muscle function. Results of a spinal tap (lumbar puncture) may support the diagnosis of GBS and can rule out other neurological diseases.
Individuals with suspected GBS should be admitted to the hospital. All patients with GBS need close monitoring of their breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure. Individuals who develop severe respiratory muscle weakness or paralysis are supported with mechanical ventilation. Patients who have difficulty swallowing may receive nutrition through a feeding tube.
Current recommended treatments for GBS are intravenous immune globulin (IVIG), an infusion of antibodies, or plasma exchange, which involves removal and replacement of the liquid component of blood. About 40% to 50% of patients with GBS do not improve within 4 weeks after IVIG or plasma exchange and need prolonged supportive care. Physical, occupational, and speech therapy are important to help patients regain strength and function.
What Is the Prognosis of GBS?
Most patients with GBS gradually improve and can have a complete recovery over 6 to 12 months. However, some patients have residual symptoms, including fatigue, pain, numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness. Some factors associated with a higher risk of death due to GBS include older age, more severe disease, and need for mechanical ventilation.
Lp(a), pronounced “L-P little A” is like LDL cholesterol, but stickier, which can speed up narrowing of your arteries. If you have too much Lp(a), you have a higher chance of clogged arteries, heart attack, stroke, and heart valve problems.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis. Some people call it degenerative joint disease or “wear and tear” arthritis. It occurs most frequently in the hands, hips, and knees. With OA, the cartilage within a joint begins to break down and the underlying bone begins to change.
Doctors Without Waiting Rooms 