First described medically in 1991 by Japanese doctors, the condition was originally called takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Takotsubo is a type of pot used by Japanese fishermen to capture octopuses. When doctors take X-ray images of a person who’s experiencing broken heart syndrome, part of his or her heart resembles the pot. Today, the condition is also referred to as stress cardiomyopathy, stress-induced cardiomyopathy or apical ballooning syndrome.

By Mayo Clinic staff

It’s thought that a brief surge of stress hormones, such as adrenaline, might temporarily damage the hearts of some people. How these hormones might hurt the heart or whether something else is responsible isn’t clear.

Most heart attacks are caused by a complete blockage of a heart artery due to a blood clot forming at the site of narrowing from fatty buildup (atherosclerosis). In broken heart syndrome, the heart arteries are not blocked, although blood flow in the arteries of the heart may be reduced.

Broken heart syndrome affects women far more often than men. Some research indicates nearly nine out of 10 cases occur in women, and of those, almost all are in women 50 or older.

Other complications of broken heart syndrome include:
• Disruptions in your heartbeat
• A fast or slow heartbeat
• Backup of fluid into your lungs (pulmonary edema)
There are no standard treatment guidelines for treating broken heart syndrome. At first, it’s treated similar to a heart attack until the diagnosis is clear. There is no specific therapy, and most people stay in the hospital while they recover, which takes about a week.
Your doctor will likely prescribe blood pressure medications for you to take while you’re in the hospital, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, beta blockers or diuretics. These medications help reduce the workload on your heart while you recover. Usually, your doctor will tell you to stop taking these medications once you recover.

If you have had experience with this problem, feel free to e-mail me at

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SOURCE: mayoclinic.com

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This Pod cast is from a KVEC  interview with Deborah Bayles about quality of life and aging in place no matter where the location.

Hands Only CPR
CPR. A lifesaving action.

Hands only CPR

When an adult has a sudden cardiac arrest, his or her survival depends greatly on immediately getting CPR from someone nearby. Unfortunately, less than 1/3 of those people who experience a cardiac arrest at home, work or in a public location get that help. Most bystanders are worried that they might do something wrong or make things worse. That’s why the AHA has simplified things.
Don’t be afraid. Your actions can only help.

It’s not normal to see an adult suddenly collapse, but if you do, call 911 and push hard and fast in the center of the chest. Don’t be afraid. Your actions can only help. Take a minute and look around this site and invite your friends! Increasing the number of people who know about Hands-OnlyTM CPR will increase the chance that someone can help when an adult suddenly collapses, and more lives can be saved.

SOURCE: handsonlycpr.org

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Gardnerella Vaginalis
Bacterial vaginosis is a common condition, and studies have shown that approximately 29% of women in the US are affected
It is anaerobic gram-variable rod which can cause bacterial vaginosis in some women as a result of a disruption in the normal vaginal microflora which results in an overgrowth of normal bacteria in the vagina.

Gardnerella vaginalis

SOURCE: Wikipedia

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The resident anaerobic lactobacillus population in the vagina are responsible for the acidic environment. Once the anaerobes have supplanted the normal vaginal bacteria, prescription antibiotics with anaerobic coverage may have to be given to eliminate the Gardnerella vaginalis and allow the balance to be restored.

What causes bacterial vaginosis?

Researchers have had difficulty determining exactly what causes bacterial vaginosis. At present, it seems to be that a combination of multiple bacteria must be present together for the problem to develop. Bacterial vaginosis typically features a reduction in the number of the normal hydrogen peroxide-producing lactobacilli in the vagina. Simultaneously, there is an increase in concentration of other types of bacteria, especially anaerobic bacteria (bacteria that grow in the absence of oxygen). As a result, the diagnosis and treatment are not as simple as identifying and eradicating a single type of bacteria. Why the bacteria combine to cause the infection is unknown.

A few antibiotic remedies are routinely used. Metronidazole (Flagyl) taken by either oral (pill) form or by vaginal metronidazole gel (Metrogel) is an effective cure.

SOURCE:medicinenet.com
Click her to read more about signs and symptoms of Bacterial Vaginosis

Tame a nighttime cough with buckwheat honey, not cough syrup.

Syrup on a spoon from Getty Images

This type of honey has been shown to help ease children’s symptoms, affording better sleep. But it shouldn’t be given to children younger than 12 months old because it carries the risk of botulism, a rare but paralyzing bacterial illness.

SOURCE: usnews.com

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Lifestyle and home remedies for Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
By Mayo Clinic staff

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a condition in which a blood clot (thrombus) forms in one or more of the deep veins in your body, usually in your legs. Deep vein thrombosis can cause leg pain, but often occurs without any symptoms.

Deep vein thrombosis can develop if you’re sitting still for a long time, such as when traveling by plane or car, or if you have certain medical conditions that affect how your blood clots.

The primary goal of your self-care plan should be preventing deep vein thrombosis from occurring.

To prevent deep vein thrombosis from worsening or happening again:

* Check in with your doctor regularly to see if your medication or treatments need to be modified.
* Watch how much vitamin K you’re eating if you take blood thinners. Vitamin K can affect how drugs such as warfarin work. Foods high in vitamin K include green leafy vegetables and canola and soybean oils.
* Exercise your lower calf muscles if you’ll be sitting a long time. Whenever possible, get up and walk around. If you can’t get up to walk around, try raising and lowering your heels while keeping your toes on the floor, then raising your toes while your heels are on the floor.
* Move. If you’ve been on bed rest, because of surgery or other factors, the sooner you get moving, the less likely blood clots will develop.
* Make lifestyle changes. Lose weight, quit smoking and control your blood pressure. Obesity, smoking and high blood pressure all increase your risk of deep vein thrombosis.
* Wear compression stockings to help prevent blood clots in the legs if your doctor recommends them.
* Be on the lookout for excessive bleeding, which can be a side effect of taking medications such as blood thinners. Talk to your doctor about activities that could cause you to bruise or get cut, as even a minor injury could become serious if you’re taking blood thinners.

SOURCE: mayoclinic.com

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