Electrocardiogram (ECG)

An electrocardiogram (also known as an ECG or EKG) is a simple, painless test that measures your heart’s electrical activity. Every heartbeat is triggered by an electrical signal that starts at the top of your heart and travels to the bottom.

Heart problems often affect the electrical activity of your heart. Your doctor may recommend an EKG if you are experiencing symptoms or signs that may suggest a heart problem, including:

• pain in your chest
• trouble breathing
• feeling tired or weak
• pounding, racing or fluttering of your heart, or a feeling that your heart is beating unevenly
• detection of unusual sounds when your doctor listens to your heart

An ECG will help your doctor determine the cause of the symptoms and signs and what type of treatment might be necessary.

If you are 50 or older, or if you have a family history of heart disease, your doctor may also order an ECG to look for early signs of heart disease.

Procedure

An electrocardiogram is quick, painless, and harmless. After you change into a gown, a technician attaches 12 to 15 soft electrodes with a gel to your chest, arms, and legs. The technician may have to shave small areas to ensure the electrodes stick properly to your skin. Each electrode is about the size of quarter. These electrodes are attached to electrical leads (wires), which are then attached to the ECG machine.

During the test, you will need to lie still on a table while the machine records your heart’s electrical activity and places the information on a graph. Make sure to lie as still as possible, breathing normally. Do not talk during the test.

After the procedure, the electrodes are removed and discarded. The entire procedure takes about 10 minutes.

Other Options

An electrocardiogram records a picture of your heart’s electrical activity for the time that you are being monitored. However, some heart problems come and go. In these cases, you may need longer or more specialized monitoring.

Stress Test

Some heart problems only appear during exercise. During stress testing, patients have an ECG while they are performing exercise, typically on a treadmill or stationary bicycle.

Holter Monitor

Also known as an ambulatory ECG or EKG monitor, a Holter monitor records your heart’s activity over a 24 to 48 hour period while you maintain a diary of your activity to help your doctor identify the cause of your symptoms. Electrodes attached to your chest record information on a portable, battery-operated monitor that you can carry in your pocket, on your belt, or on a shoulder strap.

Event Recorder

Symptoms that don’t happen very often may require an event recorder. It is similar to a Holter monitor, but records your heart’s electrical activity just when symptoms occur. Some event recorders activate automatically when they detect symptoms; for others, you push a button when you feel symptoms. You can send the information directly to your doctor over a phone line.

Risks

There are few, if any, risks related to an ECG. Some patients may experience a skin rash where electrodes were placed, but this usually goes away without treatment.

Patients who undergoing a stress test may be at risk for heart attack, but this is related to the exercise, not the ECG.

An ECG simply monitors the electrical activity of your heart; it does not emit any electricity and is completely safe.

Preparation

Avoid drinking cold water or exercising before your ECG. Drinking cold water can cause changes in the electrical patterns that the test records. Exercise can increase your heart rate and affect the test results.

Results

If the ECG is routine and there are no pressing medical problems, your doctor will typically review the results of your ECG at a follow-up visit. Otherwise, in cases of urgent medical symptoms or findings, your doctor will be notified of the results, the ECG will be read and you should be informed of the results immediately.

An ECG can help your doctor determine if you are experiencing any of the following:

• heart rhythm problems (heart is beating too fast, too slow, or irregularly)
• heart attack (emergent) or previous heart attack
• heart defects, including enlarged heart, lack of blood flow, or birth defects
• problems with your heart’s valves
• blocked arteries (coronary artery disease)

Based on the results of an ECG, your doctor can then determine appropriate medications or treatments necessary to improve your heart’s condition.

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Pesticides In Produce May Lower Sperm Count By Half

Guys, you may want to be a little bit pickier about your produce. A new study has found a link between pesticides in fruit and veggies and a lower sperm count.

Pesticides in fruit and veggies

The research, published online in the journal Human Reproduction, showed that men who ate the most produce with high levels of pesticide residue had a 49% lower total sperm count and 32% fewer normally formed sperm than men who ate the least amount of pesticide-heavy produce.

Problems with low sperm count

No, that is not permission to skip the salad bar in favor of a burger and fries. "This by no means is indication that people should stop eating fruits and vegetables," says Jorge E. Chavarro, MD, assistant professor of nutrition and epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health and coauthor of the study. "But if you were to choose your fruits and vegetables in a way that focused on pesticides specifically—such as either choosing organically grown fruits and vegetables if you can afford it, or choosing fruits and vegetables that are known to have low pesticides—that might be the way to go."

Pesticides are very common

Pesticide exposure—from the environment and people's jobs—has well-documented effects on sperm production, Chavarro says, but this study is the first to examine reproductive effects of pesticide exposure through food. And it's an important risk to understand, considering it's likely the biggest source of pesticide exposure for those of us who don't work in, say, agriculture or as exterminators, he says.

Studies show high residue of pesticides on fruits and veggies

Chavarro and his team analyzed 338 semen samples from 155 men between the ages of 18 and 55. These men were already seeking help with fertility issues at a medical center from 2007 to 2012 and had opted into the ongoing Environment and Reproductive Health or EARTH study.

Infertility cases increase 

Each man filled out a comprehensive diet questionnaire when he first visited the fertility center, reporting how often he ate how many portions of various fruits and veggies. Produce was categorized as carrying high, moderate, or low amounts of pesticide residue according to data from the USDA's Pesticide Data Program.

Because pesticide residue is measured according to how a fruit or vegetable would typically be eaten—for example, when testing a banana, the fruit is peeled; when testing apples, they are washed—simply being a bit more diligent about how your scrub your strawberries isn't the solution, Chavarro says. "Some pesticides do stay on the surface of the fruit or vegetable, and washing does make a difference, but many pesticides get absorbed into the soil and then into the plant through its roots." No amount of washing will rid your produce of pesticides once the plant itself has absorbed them, he says.

Are those fruits safe to eat?

This study is the first to show an adverse reproductive effect related to dietary pesticide exposure, so Chavarro cautions that it doesn't necessarily prove that pesticide residue causes changes in semen quality, nor do those changes necessarily lead to fertility problems. The results will need to be replicated in future research, he says.

Until then, if you're of the "better safe than sorry" camp, look for organic versions of the produce with the most pesticides, or what nonprofit Environmental Working Group deems its Dirty Dozen. (Apples top the list of worst offenders for the fifth year in a row!) Or, stock up on items from the Clean 15, the EWG's list of—you guessed it—produce with the lowest amount of pesticide residue.

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What Is Hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C causes about 350,000 deaths each year worldwide — yet many people don't even know they have the infectious disease.

What is Hepatitis?

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, and hepatitis C is liver inflammation caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV).Other types of viral hepatitis include hepatitis A, B, D, and E.

Hepatitis A and E are generally acquired from contaminated food and drink, while B, C, and D are transmitted via bodily fluids. Vaccines are available to prevent hepatitis A and B, but no vaccines exist for hepatitis C and E.

You can only acquire hepatitis D if you already have hepatitis B, so the hepatitis B vaccine can protect you from both B and D infections.

Causes and Risks of Hepatitis C

HCV causes hepatitis C infections. There are six major strains of HCV, or HCV genotypes, and more than 50 subtypes of hepatitis C, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

These genotypes respond differently to treatments, and it's possible to be infected with more than one HCV genotype at the same time.

Hepatitis C is a contagious disease that is transmitted when the blood of an infected person enters the body of someone who isn't infected.

Today, the most common ways this occurs is through: 

• The sharing of needles and syringes for intravenous drug use 

• Accidental needle injuries in healthcare settings 

• During birth if your mother has hepatitis C 

Though less common, it's also possible to acquire a hepatitis C infection by having unprotected sex with someone who has the virus, or using personal care items — including razors and toothbrushes — that have come in contact with blood infected with HCV.

Some factors that increase your risk of hepatitis C: 

• Working in the healthcare setting or another field in which you have regular contact with blood 

• Having HIV

• Receiving a tattoo or piercing with non-sterile instruments 

• Undergoing kidney dialysis for many years 

Though viruses are the most common causes of hepatitis, there are also numerous types of non-viral hepatitis, including: 

• Alcoholic hepatitis caused by prolonged alcohol abuse 

• Autoimmune hepatitis, in which the immune system attacks healthy liver cells 

• Drug-induced hepatitis from various medications, including acetaminophen, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), anabolic steroids, birth control pills, and tetracycline antibiotics 

• Hepatitis resulting from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a condition that develops when large amounts of fat accumulates in the liver of someone who drinks little to no alcohol and who typically is obese 

Prevalence of Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C comes in two forms: Acute and Chronic.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 15 to 25 percent of people who become infected with hepatitis C only develop an acute infection, which spontaneously clears from the body within six months. The other 75 to 85 percent of people go on to become hepatitis C carriers and develop a chronic infection, which can last a lifetime and lead to hepatitis C-related liver complications, including chronic liver disease, cirrhosis (irreversible scarring of the liver), and liver cancer.

Men are less likely than women to spontaneously clear an acute infection from their blood, and more likely to develop liver complications from the infection, according to a 2006 article in the journal Gut.

On a global scale, two to three percent of the world's population is living with hepatitis C, and about 350,000 people die each year from complications related to the disease, according to 2012 report in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Any Symptoms of Hepatitis C?

About 70 to 80 percent of people who become infected with acute hepatitis C do not show any symptoms at first, notes the CDC.

Those who do, however, may have: 

• Jaundice 

• Fatigue 

• Fever 

• Dark urine 

• Gastrointestinal issues 

People with chronic hepatitis C, on the other hand, don't normally show any symptoms until the liver becomes damaged.

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How's your gut doing?

Around 40% of people have at least one digestive symptom at any one time, according to Dr Anton Emmanuel, consultant gastroenterologist at University College Hospital in London.

The most common are: 

• Abdominal pain
• Changes in bowel habit (usually constipation or diarrhoea) 
• Indigestion
• Heartburn

"These are the big four and they’re so common that we take them for granted," said Dr Emmanuel.

"Most digestive problems are to do with lifestyle, the foods we’ve eaten, or stress. Which means that taking steps to change your lifestyle can help, and often prevent, many of these problems," he said. "And there’s a wide choice of pharmacy remedies for heartburn, indigestion and similar problems that are very good for the short-term relief of symptoms."

Some Medicines can Upset Your Tummy

Certain medicines that your doctor may have prescribed for you for other health conditions can lead to side effects that may upset your tummy and cause indigestion, diarrhoea or constipation.

Aspirin and medicines used to treat arthritis, known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), should be avoided if you have an ulcer or you get indigestion. Consult your doctor if you rely on these medicines and are also prone to indigestion or ulcers. Paracetamol is a useful alternative.

Heartburn

Certain tranquillisers, painkillers, iron tablets and cough medicines can cause constipation and some people get diarrhoea while taking antibiotics or blood pressure pills. Always inform your doctor if your prescribed medicines are upsetting your tummy.

Red flag Digestive Symptoms

Dr Emmanuel warned that although digestive symptoms are usually harmless and often settle down by themselves, they can sometimes persist and be a signal of serious illness.

Seek doctor's advise on your symptoms

"People tend to underestimate how serious their symptoms are and that’s frustrating for doctors as we often see patients with gastrointestinal conditions later than we’d like, sometimes only when they’ve had their symptoms for years. If we could see them earlier we could, with treatment, improve their quality of life immensely," he said.

You can get an abdominal scan

He advised anyone who has taken a pharmacy remedy for a digestive problem for two weeks with no improvement to consult their GP.

Do a Blood Test to screen if you have some infection

He also highlighted five "hardcore" symptoms, which mean you should see a doctor without delay. These symptoms may be an alarm warning of a serious digestive illness: 

• A sudden, persistent change in the pattern of how your bowels work 
• Bleeding from the back passage
• Increasing heartburn, indigestion or other stomach pain 
• Losing weight unexpectedly
• Difficulty swallowing

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5 Home Remedies for Constipation

When it comes to being "regular," there really isn't a standard. The definition of normal bowel movements differs from person to person. But regardless of whether you visit the bathroom three times a day or three times a week, the symptoms of constipation are usually the same for everyone. If you aren't having as many bowel movements as you normally do, or if your stool is hard, dry, or painful, you're probably experiencing a bout of constipation.

Fortunately, the condition is rarely a sign of serious disease and usually can be cleared up without drastic measures. In fact, there are several home remedies for constipation that can help alleviate the discomfort.

While signs accompanying constipation such as abdominal pain, bloody stool, or unexpected weight loss should be brought to a doctor's attention, for run-of-the-mill constipation bouts, these non-drug constipation remedies just might do the trick.

Fish Oil

Omega-3 fatty acids are thought to play a role in a large number of bodily functions, including digestion. Some studies have shown that omega-3s can be helpful in managing symptoms of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, which include constipation. Fish oil, derived either from diet or in supplement form, is a rich source of these fatty acids. Specifically, cold-water fish such as salmon, mackerel, halibut, sardines, tuna, and herring contain eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Fish oil supplements also contain EPA and DHA.

Caution:

As is the case with all dietary supplements, fish oil supplements should be taken with caution. High doses of any omega-3 fatty acids can increase bleeding risk, so it is especially important that people who bruise easily or have bleeding disorders be careful when using this home remedy for constipation. Blood-thinning medications also put people at risk for this same reason. In addition to blood thinners, diabetes and cholesterol medications, some steroids, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may produce possible adverse reactions when combined with omega-3 fatty acids like those found in fish oil.

Another downside to using this constipation remedy is that fish oil can cause gas and bloating, and in some cases diarrhea. And it is important to know the source of fish oil before using it as a constipation remedy, as some fish may contain heavy metals such as mercury and other contaminants.

Castor Oil

Castor oil is a yellowish liquid that can be used as a home remedy for constipation because of its laxative property. One study in Nigeria found that oral castor oil helped children with chronic constipation to move their bowels. An upside to castor oil for constipation is that it works quickly.

Caution:

For that same reason, however, castor oil should be cautiously administered as a constipation remedy. It should not be taken at bedtime, due to its quick effects. Another downside to this constipation remedy is that it tastes bad, so it is recommended that the castor oil be chilled and mixed with a sweetener such as orange juice. Castor oil is generally considered safe, but it can lead to overdose if taken in large amounts.

Fiber

One of the best known home remedies for constipation is fiber. The recommended dosage - 20 to 35 grams per day - can be found in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Fiber is also a convenient constipation remedy since most people already have these items in their homes. Fiber supplements such as psyllium (Metamucil) or methylcellulose (Citrucel) can be used as well.

Caution:

The one downside to using fiber as a constipation home remedy is that it can actually make constipation worse if you don't drink plenty of water with it. For the fiber to help alleviate constipation, it needs fluids to help move it through the digestive system. Fiber derived from supplements especially must be taken with water in order to avoid worsening constipation.

Natural Herbs

Herbal therapy is one of the oldest forms of constipation treatments - numerous cultures around the world have used herbs to cure constipation for thousands of years. This tried-and-true constipation therapy is generally divided into two categories: bulk-forming and stimulant laxatives.

Commonly used bulk-forming herbal laxatives include flaxseed, fenugreek, and barley. If you opt for flaxseed as a constipation remedy, you should remember that flaxseed oil is different from the actual flaxseeds, which are available as whole or crushed seeds; flaxseed oil is not a constipation remedy. Stimulant herbs for constipation include senna, Cascara segrada, and aloe.

One reason to think twice before using herbs for constipation is that the stimulant laxatives, particularly aloe, can cause cramping. Herbalists typically recommend a less powerful stimulant like senna before suggesting aloe. Along with side effects, herbal therapies for constipation can potentially interact with medications and supplements. Always speak with a qualified health care practitioner before taking any herbs.

The Good Bacteria: Probiotics

Probiotics are the bacteria inside our intestines that promote digestion. Examples of probiotics are Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Sacchromyces boulardi, and they are available in supplement form and some foods, such as yogurt. Some studies have shown that probiotics are an effective non-drug cure for constipation. Like fiber, probiotics are a relatively easy home cure for constipation because they are available in foods that many families already have in the refrigerator.

Caution:

However, the jury is still out on probiotics for constipation. Recently, Polish researchers conducted a systematic review of trials on the effect of probiotics on constipation and concluded that there was not yet strong enough evidence to support their recommendation.

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Why Elderly People Don't Eat

Proper nutrition is vital to your parent for maintaining health, retaining and building bone mass and, importantly, to enable medications to work effectively in the body -- and possibly with fewer side effects.

But, what if Mom or Dad won't eat whether properly, or won't eat enough? This creates an added challenge to you as caregiver. There may be valid reasons that your parent may shy away from dining. As the caregiver, you want to uncover the reasons why your parent is not eating, and try to address the underlying issues. Here are 10 reasons why seniors sometimes don't eat properly, according to the National Institutes of Health and its National Institute on Aging, plus augmented in one-on-one-interviews of professional caregivers.

1. Reduction in Senses of Smell and Taste

Dining involves many senses: aromas, colors and tastes in one's mouth; but many mature adults experience a lessening of the senses of smell and sense of taste in their aging process. There is a reduction in the experience that, in turn, lessens the personal desire for food. There is no magic pill to restore full senses of smell and taste.

As caregiver and chief cook, you can alter your recipes, switching from typical spices used in the past or as used by your parent in his or her own cooking, to herbs and spices with a bit more zing, and that introduce a new, added flavor to the dish.

2. Reduction in Sense of Sight

Cataracts and other conditions in the eyes can reduce your parent's visual perception of the meal servings, thereby reducing the image to "blurr."

You can easily enhance the visual representation by increasing the food colors on the plate, separating them so that the colors are defined and easily perceived. Consider a main course with a colorful topping, a multi-colored salad, red potatoes, or orange carrots. Of course, vary the plate presentation by the day, that is, unless your parent really responds to one or two of your designer presentations. In this way you can reach effectively through to the remaining sense of vision.

3. Medications

Some medications have side effects that can change your parent's sense of taste or make her or him less hungry. Ask your parent's doctor if the prescribed medications or medical treatments are causing loss of appetite, bad taste or no flavor.

Tasteless after Medication

The physician may be able to substitute with a different medication, or prescribe an added medication to correct the problem.

4. Constipation

A side effect of many prescription drugs is constipation, a most uncomfortable conditionwhere the patient claims to have no room left for additional food. The first step to solution is to reduce the incidence of constipation.

Consider increasing the amount of water your parent drinks throughout the day and the percentage of food that will actually help the functioning of your parent's elimination system. With the proper diet and nutrition, the water will help clear the digestion system and, therefore, the volume of food retained in the stomach.

5. Problems with Chewing

If your parent has trouble chewing, he or she may have a teeth or gum problem or, if wearing dentures, the appliances may need to be adjusted. Advise your Mom or Dad's dentist about the chewing problem so that the specialist can check and correct the teeth, gums or dentures.

Chewing problems can often be resolved by eating softer foods. This can be resolved by replacing raw vegetables and fresh fruits with cooked vegetables or juices. Good nutrition can also be found in foods like applesauce and canned peaches or other fruits.

Ground or shredded meats are typically easy to chew or, in lieu of meat, consider soft foods such as cooked, dry beans, eggs, tofu, tuna fish and such.

6. Dining Alone 

A meal is often enjoyed more when the event is shared with another person or a group. Try to share at least one of the meals each day with your parent so you can visit, talk about a new or adjusted recipe, or discuss events and outings.

Recruit other family members, friends and neighbors to join Mom or Dad regularly for lunch or dinner. Recommend that they visit with your parent on any subject other than illness or limitation, and that they ask questions to help Mom or Dad retain and even expand mental agility and ability. Anticipating the visit will surely entice your parent the dining table.

Research local "meal events," such as lunch at the Senior Center. The meal will be healthy, and your parent can visit with other mature adults in a communal setting. Your local Area Agency on Aging can provide the sites and contact information, plus if volunteer drivers or specialized transit services are available for transportation.

7. Lack of Knowledge/Motivation

Draw Mom or Dad into the plan:

• "Mom/Dad, if we can make sure you have proper nutrition, we can reduce the side effects of your medication; 
• We can help your medications work better; 
• You will probably feel better; 
• We can celebrate our mutual life together for far longer. 

If your parent understands the vital role of nutrition in her or his life, and agrees with the approach, you have a partner for all the right reasons.

In this step, offer a positive comment at least once each day to your parent that "with your proper nutrition, we have taken another giant step forward in your health and independence."

8. Unwillingness to Cook 

If you can't prepare all the meals, call for help. There may be a Meals that can be order and deliver to you right at your door step. Your parent then only needs to heat the meal as recommended, and then dine in style.

If you have time, you can treat her or him to lunch or dinner in a restaurant to enhance the dining experience. The meal will probably be prepared and seasoned differently than your own recipe. Continue to focus on the healthy foods in the diet program. Dining out will also give you a break from your kitchen chores.

9. The Last Resort if Your Elderly Mom or Dad Still Won't Eat

Proper nutrition is vital for your parent. If all of the above fail to work, seek the counsel of your parent's physician. Forced feeding may be the only alternative, and the doctor may direct your parent to a hospital for forced feeding combined with examinations to determine if he or she has any physical reason for declining food, and then treating or correcting the cause.

As caregiver, your nutrition mission is important. You can, indeed, ensure that your Mom or Dad is in the best possible and functional health.

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