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Ebstein’s anomaly is an abnormality in the tricuspid valve of the heart. These abnormalities cause the tricuspid valve to leak blood backwards into the right atrium when the right ventricle contracts and as a result, the right atrium becomes enlarged. If this is severe enough, congestive heart failure can result.

If pressure within the right atrium becomes overwhelming by the excessive backflow into it, the foramen ovale (which is normally present in the fetus and usually closes after birth) will remain open. The ovale allows unoxygenated (”blue”) blood to flow from the right atrium, bypassing the lungs and going directly to the body. This will result in lower oxygen levels in the blood.

Ebstein’s anomaly may range from mild, with little symptoms, to very severe. Many patients with milder Ebstein’s anomaly do not have symptoms and are diagnosed due to the presence of a heart murmur.

Some babies and children will have bluish discoloration to their lips and nail beds, due to the flow of blood from the right atrium to the left atrium. Children may tire more easily than other children or become short of breath, particularly during play. In adolescents and young adults, the sensation of palpitations, or fast heart rate, shortness of breath, and chest pain may be the first symptoms.

Severely affected babies are often critically ill at birth, with low oxygen saturations and heart failure requiring intensive care.

If your child is diagnosed with Ebstein’s anomaly, his pediatric cardiologist will discuss the treatment options appropriate for your child.

Tagged with: cardiovascular disease • Ebstein's anomaly • heart abnormalities • Heart Disease • heart failure

Rheumatic heart disease refers to a variety of abnormal cardiac conditions which include heart valve scarring and endocarditis (inflammation of the lining of the heart).

Rheumatic heart disease can be caused by rheumatic fever, which was once one of the prime killers of children. Rheumatic fever may cause inflammation of the heart valves and scarring of the valve leaflets. This can result in leaking valves or severe narrowing of the valve.

The most common symptom is a heart murmur, caused by abnormal blood flow across a scarred valve. There may be excessive bleeding and impairment of vision if microscopic blood clots that have formed in the heart block tiny blood vessels in the eye. Kidney function may slow in middle or later life. Irregular pulse, shortness of breath, and fainting spells are also common symptoms of rheumatic heart disease.

Many people who have suffered rheumatic heart disease have gone on to live extremely active lives, despite the effects. Although rheumatic heart disease is a serious matter, regular exercise, a sensible diet, and treatment can mean the difference in the quality of life.

When one suffers rheumatic heart disease and wants to start a regular exercise program they must consult their doctor. In some cases, it may be impossible for a patient to engage in vigorous physical activity, especially if the heart damage is advanced or severe.

People with rheumatic heart disease must also consult their doctor about antibiotic treatment before undergoing any dental or surgical procedures.

Tagged with: cardiovascular disease • Heart Disease • heart murmur • Rheumatic heart disease

Two of the most common indications of heart disease are chest pain and myocardial heart attack.

The chest pain felt in heart disease occurs because blocked arteries prevent an adequate supply of oxygen and nutrients from reaching the heart. The main causes of chest pain can be: increased physical effort, emotional stress, exposure to secondhand smoke, or even by certain meals or weather changes. Chest pain, also called angina, is treated medically with nitroglycerin, beta- blockers or calcium entry blockers.

It has been found that lack of vitamin C is an important factor of risk of heart disease. Vitamin C helps to strengthen the artery walls by building up their collagen content.

There are two types of treatment for heart disease:

1.) Conventional treatment, which uses surgery and drugs to treat the symptoms of heart disease but rarely gets to the root cause of the disease;

2.) Alternative treatment, which boosts the body’s healing powers and focuses on removing the cause of the disease rather than on treating its symptoms.

The alternative treatment aim is at containing and reversing the underlying cause of heart disease. Heart disease is easier to prevent than to treat.

Diet and lifestyle changes are perhaps the most important tools in the natural treatment of heart disease. Doctors recommend a diet devoid of animal products (except egg whites and nonfat dairy products) and very low in fats and cholesterol, quitting smoking and using a program of moderate exercise.

Check with your doctor about the treatment and avoidance of heart disease.

Tagged with: angina • cardiovascular disease • Heart Disease • heart failure • heart healthy • treatment

Kava Kava can help with sleep, fatigue, asthma, urinary tract infections, anxiety, insomnia and menopausal symptoms. As well it has shown some promises in the treatment of ovarian cancer.

The main use for Kava is as an herbal remedy to ease symptoms of anxiety, stress and depression. The effects of drinking kava include euphoric behavior, calming, a sense of well-being, clear thinking and relaxed muscles. Sleep is restful and there are no after-effects the next day.

Kava has also interestingly been employed by the military in Fiji to aid in vigilance and anxiety reduction, mental clarity, sociability and improved decision making.

Kava is traditionally consumed as an herbal tea, produced by straining a mixture of water and shredded, dried, pounded or fresh root and/or stump.

Kava is not pharmacologically addictive. However, recent studies bring some concerns about the safety of kava use. Several reports were released that kava may cause severe liver toxicity, including liver failure in some people who have used dietary supplements containing kava extract. While no conclusive link to these conditions in conjunction with kava has been established, the severity of the liver damage prompted action by numerous regulator agencies.

Some counter that the cases which resulted in liver toxicity included people who abused alcohol or other drugs. No single conclusive case of adverse liver effects has been reported by natives, who have used the plant for centuries but make sure to discuss the use of kava with your doctor.

Tagged with: anxiety • fatigue • kava • liver damage • toxicity

Aloe vera is a handy home-grown remedy that can be used as a moisturizing agent and for the treatment of minor burns, skin abrasions, and irritations. It has been suggested that external application of aloe vera gel promotes wound healing.

As well as the healing and anti-oxidant properties, there is good evidence to support using aloe vera for oral health problems.

Aloe vera accelerates healing and reduces pain associated with oral canker sores, which are blisters on the lips or mouth. As well, aloe vera does not have a bad taste or sting when applied.

A study done on a patient with lichen planus, a disease affecting the skin and oral mucus membranes was completed with aloe vera. The patient drank 2.0 ounces of aloe vera juice daily and topically applied aloe vera lip balm. The oral sores associated with the condition cleared up in four weeks and complete success was achieved.

Aloe vera can be taken both as the aloe vera juice and aloe vera gel in the use of treating oral health problems.

Of course the decision to use aloe vera to treat oral health problems should be discussed with your dental professional as self treatment may lead to missed diagnosis or incorrect treatment.

Tagged with: aloe vera • anti-oxidant • oral health • oral pain • wound healing

Although shiitake mushrooms are a popular and tasty gourmet mushroom, they have also been used for centuries in Asian medicine.

Shiitake mushrooms are a popular mushroom which is used in Asian cuisine. They are umbrella shaped and have a golden brown color. Shiitake mushrooms typically grow on trees which have fallen.

Apart from strong anti-cancer properties, shiitake mushrooms also have other powerful beneficial health properties such as antioxidants and antiviral compounds.

The powerful beneficial health properties contained within shiitake mushrooms is the reason why they are traditionally used in Chinese medicine to help with health conditions such as:

* Diabetes
* Gallstones
* High Cholesterol
* Stomach Ulcers
* The Common Cold

Shiitake mushrooms have been found to be an important part in fighting cancer with nutrition because they contain a substance called lentinan.

Lentinan stimulates your immune system and helps your body’s defenses to protect against cancer, viruses and fungal infections.

Clinical studies have shown that lentinan can improve the survival rates of patients with the following types of cancer:

* Stomach Cancer
* Colon Cancer
* Breast Cancer

Lentinan shows the potential to increase a powerful anti-viral substance called interferon and the antioxidant enzyme called superoxide dismutase within your body.

To help protect you from cancer, you can consume between 5g and 15g of dried shiitake mushrooms per day or take 400mg of shiitake mushroom extract supplements, three times a day.

However, shiitake mushrooms extract taken in large doses can cause upset stomach and pregnant or nursing women should not take shiitake mushrooms extract supplements or eat shiitake mushrooms.

As with all supplements, please consult your physician before taking them.

Tagged with: antioxidant • fight cancer • interferon • lentinan • shiitake mushrooms

Spirulina is a green micro alga. They are microscopic plants which grow in fresh water. They are green due to chlorophyll.

It is sold in the form of powder and can be found also in veggie capsules.

Spirulina is an amazing food. And it is a food, not a medicine. It contains a lot of protein, three times more protein by weight than beef. This protein is more digestible than beef, so you take in more of it into your system and Spirulina contains complete protein, all eight essential amino acids.

As well, it contains vitamin B12, and being a plant it’s a vegetarian source.

It contains the second highest amount of the essential fatty acid, GLA, available. The most GLA available is found in human breast milk. GLA enhances the immune system.

Spirulina also contains chlorophyll and beta-carotene, both powerful antioxidants. They help support your immune system and may have anti-cancer effects. Spirulina is also an excellent source of calcium. And of course, they are full of photochemicals.

You may want to give Spirulina a try. You may find that it will improve your health and support your efforts at healthy living. However, before adding something like Spirulina to your diet, talk to your doctor first.

Tagged with: anti-cancer • green micro alga • nutrtion • photochemicals • spirulina

If you’re searching for free weight loss pills, you need to look carefully at the facts, the benefits and the risks.

One of the benefits of free weight loss pills is that it provides a person with hands-on experience with the pills. This makes it easier for you to decide whether the free weight loss pills offered are working well enough for you to spend your money on them.

However, there can be a downside to these free weight loss pills offers. There are some companies which use such offers to get credit card details from you and then bill you beyond the time frame you signed up for. There are companies which have ’subscription-based’ billing programs who bill people who use the free weight loss pills offer without their knowledge of the billing program.

In some cases of companies offering free weight loss pills that use the ’subscription-type billing’, the cancellation process is made so tedious that sometimes it is better to get your credit card canceled rather than going through their cancellation process.

Some of the companies making the free weight loss pills offers say that you get a continuous supply of free pills during the offer duration and you may well find that the costs of these pills are outrageous after you have gotten used to them.

The free weight loss pills offer, if intelligently used, can be helpful. But before applying for the free offer, you need to be diligent in understanding the offer. It is also important that you consult your physician before taking any weight loss pills.

Tagged with: free weight loss • free weight loss pills • free weight loss plans • lose weight • ways to lose weight

Easy weight loss for teens does not mean a crash diet or short bursts of exercise.

A teen who has rarely exercised should not rush into running miles a day or pounding the treadmill. The struggle to maintain extreme exercise will leave them feeling disheartened and they’re far more likely to injure themselves.

However, the teen that increases the amount they exercise, but maintains the same diet and calorie intake, will certainly lose weight. When beginning a regimen for easy weight loss for teens, even light exercise such as a short 20 minute walk will be beneficial if done most days of the week. Every single time one exercise more than usual, they burn calories and fat.

Easy weight loss for teens does include a healthy diet. To eat a bit healthier does not require more money or time. The following is an example of a great meal that teens love, is easy to prepare, inexpensive and features healthy tasty foods.

Grill lean hamburger patties until well done. Place the patties on whole grain all natural hamburger buns. Serve the burgers with a tossed salad and a side of steamed green beans (or preferred veggie). Follow this simple meal with an offering of fresh fruit for dessert.

It is the best way to expose your teen to a variety of healthy foods to encourage life long healthy eating. Small changes can make a huge difference for easy weight loss for teens. Two extra pieces of bread a week can lead you to gain 5lb a year. Have your teen cut that bread out of their diet and they’ll lose the same amount.

When looking for easy weight loss for teens, always check with your doctor and think of it in terms of permanently changing eating habits.

Tagged with: easy ways to lose weight • easy weight loss • easy weight loss for teens • exercise lose weight • free weight loss for teens

If you are one of the millions of adults that suffer from arthritis, then you know how painful it can become. However, you don’t have to continue to suffer. If you follow an arthritis diet it will help with the pain.

Omega 3 fatty acids have been proven to reduce inflammation. Omega 3 fatty acids can be found in fish (salmon) and certain types of nuts (walnuts). You can also buy over the counter fish oil supplements that contain large amounts of Omega 3 fatty acids. Note that fish oil can thin your blood, so you must be careful if you are taking aspirin or any other blood thinning medications. Check with your doctor first.

An arthritis diet also calls for an increase in your water intake to help promote cartilage formation. Following a healthy diet will also help keep your weight lower. This is very important for those that suffer from arthritis. Being overweight will put extra stress on the joints and cause more pain and inflammation.

An arthritis diet paired with exercise can also help alleviate joint pain that is associated with arthritis. One of the best types of exercise one can do is swimming, preferably in a heated pool. The buoyancy created by the water will help keep the stress off the joints while you swim or do water exercises. The heated water can be soothing and help to decrease inflammation in the joints.

So if you are an arthritis sufferer, talk to your doctor about his suggestions for an arthritis diet and the correct exercise for you.

Tagged with: arthritis diet • diet • diet and exercise • diet foods • diets