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Coronary heart illness (CHD) is also called coronary artery illness (CAD), is the most common type of heart illness.

CHD develops when one or more of the coronary arteries (arteries that supply blood to the heart muscles itself) becomes narrow. This results from a buildup of cholesterol. This buildup decreases the blood flow to the heart muscle.

What can happen?

As coronary heart disease develops, damage to the heart occurs and the following conditions may develop –  

Angina

When the heart isn’t getting enough oxygen, a person may feel pain or discomfort in the chest. This is known as angina. Symptoms of angina include –  

•  Discomfort or pressure felt in the chest.

This can range from a vague ache to a crushing sensation.

•  Pain or pressure in the left arm, shoulder, or throat.

•  Difficulty catching your breath.

Heart Failure

Heart failure occurs when a weakened heart can’t pump efficiently. Fluid builds up in the ankles, legs, and lungs.

Heart Attack

When blood flow to any part of the heart is completely blocked, the cells in that part of the heart begin to die. This causes a heart attack. Symptoms of a heart attack can include –  

o  Pain or pressure in the chest, shoulders or arms (most widely on the left side), neck or lower jaw

o  Shortness of breath

o  Weakness

o  Rapid heart beat

o  Lightheadedness or faintness

o  Profuse sweating

o  Nausea or vomiting

If these symptoms occur, get help fast.  Call 911 right away.

Adults in their 40’s can have a slow loss in being able to see small objects or print. They also have trouble seeing things close-up. This is known as far-sightedness or presbyopia. It might be easier to read print when you hold reading materials further away. “Reading” glasses can help.

Another change related to age is cataracts. A cataract is a cloudy area in eye lens. This causes loss of eyesight. Cataracts are easily detected with a routine eye exam. Cataracts could be removed with surgery. Surgery could  be needed when these changes in vision interfere with every day activities.

As you age, you’re less able to make tears and your eyes may feel dry, itchy or burning. A home humidifier or special eye drops may help. Speak with your eye care provider about what would be best for you.

Over time, when glaucoma is not treated, it can result in loss of vision or blindness.  The risk of glaucoma increases when you’re over 65 years of age or an African American over 40. Glaucoma may not have any signs. It is detected with an eye exam. There are many treatments for glaucoma ranging from eye drops to surgery.

See an eye care expert immediately when –  

•  you suddenly can’t see

•  vision is dim, or

•  you see flashes of light

You also need to be seen if you experience –  

•  eye pain,

•  fluid coming from eye,

•  double vision, redness or

•  swelling of eyelid

And remember… when you are outdoors, wear sunglasses that block UV rays.

The tetanus / diphtheria / pertussis shot (Tdap) protects against three serious illnesses.

Tetanus also known as ‘lockjaw’ is a serious illness. Individuals  with Tetanus typically have painful tightening of the jaw and neck muscles. As a result, they can’t open their mouths or swallow. Tetanus doesn’t spread from person to person. Individuals  get tetanus when their skin is cut or broken, in particular if they’re around dust, soil and manure.

Diphtheria is a very serious infection of the upper chest.  The infection can lead to breathing problems, heart failure, paralysis and even death. A individuals who has diphtheria can give it to somebody else by coughing. Today, hardly anybody in the United States  gets diphtheria because almost everyone gets the vaccine (shot).

Pertussis (whooping cough) is an infection of the chest that causes people  to cough very hard for a long time. Sometimes people  cough so hard they break a rib. A individuals with whooping cough also has trouble breathing. Whooping cough can lead to pneumonia. Whooping cough spreads easily from one individuals to another.

The Tdap shot is the best way to protect against tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough. If you are between 19 – 64 years old, you should get the Tdap shot one time. When it’s time for you to get your tetanus diphtheria booster shot, that’s a good time to get the Tdap shot instead. Your provider may recommend Tdap as soon as 2 years from your last tetanus/diphtheria booster because Tdap also protects you against whooping cough.

After you get Tdap shot, your skin may  be sore where the needle went in.

The warmer weather brings us outdoors and brings some unwanted “guests”. Here are some helpful hints to prevent being bit by a tick.

Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) are common in the USA. Both are the result from a Tick bite.

Ticks are typically harmless, unless the tick is infected.  The tick that causes Lyme illness is the Black-legged Deer Tick. It is the size of the head of a pin and typically lives on deer.  The American dog tick and the Rocky Mountain wood tick are the ticks that cause RMSF.

Here are some ways to protect yourself from ticks –  

•  Apply insect repellant. Make sure to use a repellant that contains DEET to exposed skin. Remember to peruse the product’s instructions before use.

•  Prevent wooded areas and areas with high grass and with lots of litter. Ticks are found in these areas.

•  Wear long-pants, long-sleeves and sock when you’re going to be in wooded areas. Tuck your clothing –  pants into socks; shirts into pants. This will help to keep ticks on the outside of clothing.

•  Stay in the middle of trails to avoid contact with high grass, bushes and leaf litter.

•  Make certain to take additional care in the months of May, June and July. Ticks are most active these months.

•  Remove outer clothing before coming indoors.

•  Be sure to check yourself daily for the presence of ticks.

•  Remove ticks using a pair of tweezers. If you find a tick, remove it using tweezers. Dispose of the tick in a plastic bag.

•  Cleanse the area where the tick was with an antiseptic.

Do not forget –  Generally, a tick needs to be on the skin for about 36 hours or more for it to spread Lyme illness or RMSF.

Notify your main care provider when develop a fever, nausea, muscle aches, headache, loss of appetite and/or a rash after a tick bite.

Measles, Mumps and Rubella (German measles) are each caused by a virus. These diseases are highly contagious. They are spread by coughing, sneezing, or drinking from the same cup or using the same fork or spoon as someone who has one of these diseases.

•  Someone with the measles will have a rash, cough, runny nose, runny eyes and fever.  The illness can result in more serious problems like ear infections or pneumonia. Sometimes, it can even cause seizures and brain damage.

•  Someone with the mumps will have a rash, fever and swollen glands in the cheeks and neck. It can also lead to more serious problems, like deafness, meningitis, or painful swelling of the testicles or ovaries.

•  Rubella signs are a rash and mild fever. When a pregnant woman gets rubella, she could lose the baby or it could be born with a birth defect.

The MMR vaccine protects against all of these diseases.

Consult with your primary care provider about the MMR vaccine when you –  

•  Were born after 1957 and do not have proof of vaccination as a child.

•  Are a female old enough to become pregnant.

•  Were vaccinated for measles before 1968.

•  Plan to travel outside the USA

•  Make sure to work in a health care facility

After the shot, you might experience some soreness where the needle went in, fever or a mild rash.

You don’t need the MMR vaccine if –  

•  You were born before 1957.

•  Blood tests show that you’ve protection against measles, mumps and rubella.

When you eat, your body turns some of the food into a sugar called glucose.  The cells that make up your body need this glucose to give you energy. Your body also makes insulin. Insulin assists glucose get into your cells. Type 2 diabetes is a disease where your body does not use insulin well or does not make enough insulin. So, the glucose can’t get into your cells. It stays in your blood, while your cells are starved for energy.  The high levels of glucose in your blood damage nerves and blood vessels. This may cause  heart disease, eye disease, kidney disease, and nerve problems. These problems can lead to heart attacks, stroke, blindness, amputation, and dialysis.

How can you tell when you have kind 2 diabetes?

More than six million individuals  in the USA have Type 2 diabetes and do not know it. You mightn’t have any signs. Or, your signs may  be so mild that you do not even notice them.

You might’ve diabetes when you –  

o  Are thirsty most of the time

o  Are hungry even though you eat enough

o  Are tired all the time

o  Need to urinate a lot

o  Notice that things look blurry

o  Make certain to get a sore that doesn’t heal

Sometimes people  have signs but don’t think they have diabetes.  The earlier you find out that you have diabetes, the better. Treatment can stop diabetes from damaging your body. When you have signs that you think could  be related to diabetes, talk with your doctor.

How can Type 2 diabetes be prevented?

Make these changes to help reduce the risk of getting diabetes –  

o  Reach and maintain a healthy body weight

o  Make wise food options

o  Be physically active every day

Good stress or bad stress, it is something that we experience every day.

The good news….you can help prevent everyday goings-on from causing undue stress.

Here are some things to do –  

•  Make certain to set realistic goals both at work and at home.

•  Make sure to look at the big picture and put things into perspective.

•  Make a plan for dealing with the problem.

•  Manage tasks or projects by breaking into smaller more doable steps.

•  Do not “sweat the small stuff”.

•  If something is not important, attempt to not get upset over it.

•  Be certain to help yourself –

o  Think about a stress management class.

o  Consider a time management class.

•  Find activities you enjoy and take part in them on a regular basis.

•  Be physically active.

•  Be sure to maintain a positive outlook.

Change your thinking –

If you are doing something new – think of it as an motivating opportunity

•  Task seems too hard – attempt a different tactic

•  Not enough time – reorder your priorities

•  Not enough resources – isn’t this a great time to get those creative juices flowing

Reward yourself for the good things you do each day

Smoking or using smokeless tobacco cause about seventy-five% of cancers of the mouth and throat. Your risk of developing these cancers increases if you also drink alcohol.

Almost 95 percent of these cancers occur in adults over 40. Men are more likely to create cancer of the mouth and throat.

What are the risk factors?

o  the major risk factor is tobacco – cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco and dipping snuff.

o  Long time heavy smokers are at greatest risk.

o  Your risk increases when you’re tobacco user who drinks heavily.

You ought to be concerned if you –  

o  Have a sore on your lip or mouth that doesn’t heal.

o  Create a lump or patch on your lips, gums or in your mouth.

o  Begin bleeding, have pain or a numb area on your lip or in your mouth.

o  Notice a change in your voice.

o  Detect loose teeth or your dentures no longer fit.

o  Have trouble chewing, swallowing or moving your tongue or jaw.

o  Create a sore throat or have a feeling that something is caught in your throat.

When you have any of these, you ought to see your main care provider or dentist.

Most cancers of the mouth and throat are preventable.

Stopping smoking and stopping smokeless tobacco will reduce your risk.

Important — Smokeless tobacco IS NOT a safe substitute for smoking cigarettes.

For help to stop use of tobacco or stop using smokeless tobacco, speak with your healthcare team.

Shingles is a illness that affects the nerve endings. It causes severe pain and blisters. Nearly 1 million people  in the USA  will get Shingles each year. Shingles is more common among older people . People  with a weakened immune system may also get Shingles.

Shingles is caused by infection with the Herpes Zoster virus, the same virus that causes chicken pox. After a chicken pox infection clears up the virus stays in the body. Typically the virus doesn’t cause any problems. Many years later, however, the virus can reactivate and cause Shingles. Shingles generally starts with pain, itching or tingling on one side of the face or body. A rash with blisters will then appear. You can also have a fever, chills, headache and upset stomach.  The rash can last from 2 weeks to a month. About one of every five who has Shingles will have severe pain long after the rash is gone.

The Herpes Zoster vaccine can help protect you against Shingles.  The vaccine is safe. It is given as a single shot.

Speak with your main care provider about receiving the Herpes Zoster vaccine when you –  

o  Are an adult 60 or older

o  Don’t have an allergy to gelatin, neomycin or other component of the vaccine

o  Do not have a weakened immune system

You may experience some redness, soreness, swelling and itching where the needle went in. You may also experience a headache after the shot.

The warmer weather brings us outdoors and brings some unwanted “guests”. Here are some helpful hints to prevent stings by bees, wasps or yellow jackets.

Stings

For most of us being stung by a bee, wasp or yellow jacket is unpleasant. Sometimes a bee, wasp or yellow-jacket sting could be much more hazardous.

Here are some ways to prevent being stung –  

o  Wear light-colored clothing.

o  Don’t wear perfume or use scented soaps.

o  Make sure to keep lids on foods, drinks and trash.

If you get stung –

o  Scrape the stinger with a side-to-side motion.  To do this use your fingernail or blunt object like a credit card. After the stinger is removed, wash the area with soap and water. Do that a few times a day until the skin heals.

o  Apply a cold compress to help relieve the pain. Make a paste of baking soda and water. Apply for 15-20 minutes. This can also help with the pain. Taking an over-the-counter pain medication can also help.

Seek medical help if –  

o  You’re stung on the nose or mouth.

o  You have a large area of swelling, abnormal breathing, tightness in your throat or chest, experience dizziness, faint or create hives.

If you’ve a known allergy to stings, talk to your main care provider about an Epi-pen .