When the heart is unable to pump blood around the body efficiently, it is known as heart failure. Heart failure can affect either the left or right side of the heart, or in some cases, both sides. The condition can be brought on by a number of diseases including high blood pressure, heart valve disease, blood clot in the coronary arteries and heart muscle disease.

Symptoms include shortness of breath, breathing problems, coughing, fatigue, leg swelling, eczema type rash and accumulation of fluid in the organs or abdominal cavity. Heart failure is usually diagnosed by a combination of medical history along with an examination that will check out such issues as heart sounds, heart rate, heart murmurs, fluid on the lungs, swollen legs, swollen neck veins or an enlarged liver. It can also be diagnosed by means of a chest x-ray, an ECG and blood samples. Doctors can also find out what caused the heart failure by performing additional blood tests so certain viral infections can be spotted, an ultrasound of the heart, a coronary artery examinations (done by injecting a dye into the left and right coronary arteries), exercise testing carried out on a treadmill and by taking a biopsy of a small bit of heart muscle.

Heart Failure

Ways to avoid heart failure include stopping smoking, a change of diet as well as avoiding overeating, exercising more often and getting problems such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol treated in a timely manner.

The heart is a pump that is designed to force blood through the body and as with any type of pump, it works by generating pressure. In the body, the blood is pumped through the arteries to all major organs, but if there is too much pressure it can put a strain on the heart itself or the arteries, causing all sorts of problems.

Blood pressure is dependent on two things. The first is the force with which the heart pumps the blood around the body, and the second is the narrowness of the arteries. Hypertension happens when the blood is forced with increased pressure through the arteries.

When blood pressure is measured, it is done so using two numbers, an example being 120 over eighty. The first number listed is the systolic blood pressure which is the maximum pressure exerted on the arteries when the heart beats, and the second number listed is the diastolic blood pressure, or the minimum amount of pressure on the arteries when the heart is relaxed. The example above is of a normal blood pressure reading.

Blood pressure can be considered high when the systolic blood pressure reading is constantly above 160, and/or the diastolic blood pressure reading is above 100. One of the biggest problems with high blood pressure though, is the fact that it doesn’t always cause any symptoms meaning it may go unnoticed until a later complication such as a heart attack or stroke.

Other complications arising from high blood pressure can be an aneurysm, heart failure, eye damage, kidney failure or atherosclerosis, which is the narrowing of the arteries. Some factors that could contribute to high blood pressure include hereditary reasons, obesity, kidney disease, diabetes, excessive salt intake, lack of exercise and high intake of alcohol.

High Blood Pressure

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune condition that affects the nerves located in the brain and spinal cord, giving rise to issues with muscle control, balance and vision. It can also affect memory as well as associated mood swings and emotions.

MS sufferers can find that their symptoms are different from other sufferers, while also varying from day to day. Sufferers often find that the symptoms can get worse with exercise or heat. In general though, the most common symptoms of MS are problems with the eyes (blurring and double vision); muscle weakness or stiffness; fatigue; loss of coordination; bowel and bladder issues; tingling or numbness of the skin; general pain; anxiety and depression; difficulty swallowing and talking; and sexual problems. Although these may appear to be many symptoms, a sufferer is highly unlikely to develop all of them and certainly not at the same time.

There are four kinds of MS: benign MS, relapsing-remitting MS, secondary progressive MS and primary progressive MS. The exact reasons that an individual contracts the condition are not fully understood at this present moment in time, although several different factors are thought to be implicated. Although it is not a hereditary condition, having specific genes may make a person more susceptible to it. There could also be some environmental factors involved – bacteria or viruses may trigger the immune system to attack its own body. Also, the place of residence may be an issue. It is known, for example, that MS is more common in countries further from the equatorial regions.

Although there are treatments available for the symptoms of MS, there isn’t actually a cure at present.

Multiple Sclerosis