Is your child getting exhausted after a bout of cough? Does he or she suffer from constant wheezing and tightness of the chest? Does your child feel drained out after climbing a flight of stairs? Do you know a child who always seems to run out of breath and cannot participate in school sports tournaments or play outside for a long time? The child could be suffering from asthma, which is a serious breathing problem. Most children are affected by asthma. Staying in a polluted city just makes the condition worse.

Asthma - Know the disease

Asthma is a condition that causes inflammation of the airways, known as trachea and bronchioles.
The muscles around the airways constrict and prevent the smooth flow of air.
The lining of the bronchioles swell and block the airways.
Asthma is mostly triggered by an allergic reaction.
There is a difficulty in breathing out. Exhalation of air is often accompanied by a wheezing, that is, a whistling sound.
There is a constant shortness of breath, feeling out of breath and gasping for air.
There is an uncomfortable tightness in the chest, the feeling of not breathing in enough air.
Coughing bouts in the middle of the night, that leave the child feeling exhausted and completely out of breath.
Causes of Asthma 

Asthma is mostly triggered by asthma allergens. These allergens are mostly pollens and animal fur.

Exposure to pollution, such as dust and smoke
Heredity
Obesity
History of heartburn, GERD and acid reflux
Inflammation of sinus and airways
History of bronchial disorders and pneumonia
Viral infections
Chronic rhinitis
Low immunity causing constant cold and blockage of nose
Treatments of asthma

A nebulizer that turns asthma medicine into a mist can then be inhaled easily
An inhaler can be used to take in inhaled steroids into the lungs or a bronchodilutor
Try and avoid asthma triggers and allergens as much as possible
Avoid physical stress and heat
Get sufficient rest of about 7-8 hours every day

Troubled Breathing - Can It Be a Sign of Asthma?

9 health benefits of walnuts:

1. Lowers risk of diabetes
2. Promotes a healthy heart and circulatory system
3. Lowers cholesterol levels
4. Boosts brain power and improves memory
5. Slows the progression of rheumatoid and osteoarthritis
6. Acts as an anti-inflammatory food
7. Rich in antioxidant properties
8. Fights breast and prostate cancer
9. Improves reproductive health in men.

9 Ultimate Reasons to Eat Walnuts Everyday

Things to do in case of chest pain or angina pain

Unlike yesteryears chest pain or heart related problems aren’t just age related anymore. Many young people under 30 are experiencing chest pain. It seems to be directly proportional to the increasing stress levels.The medical term for mild chest pain is angina pectoris and it happens when your heart is not getting its usual requirement for blood. Such a situation occurs when one or more arteries are blocked. Angina Pectoris is experienced usually while doing physical activities or experiencing strong emotions. At such times, the heart doesn't get as much blood as it requires for normal functioning.

Broadly speaking, discomfort in the upper part of the body is the symptom of angina, the symptoms typically include:

1.  It may feel like you are suffering from indigestion or gas or fullness and pressure.

2.  It may also feel like chest pain spreading to the neck, back, arms, shoulder or jaw.

3. You feel better after a little rest or some medication.

4. It doesn't last for too long, at the most five minutes.

5. Shortness of breath, anxiety, dizziness, sweating, fatigue and nausea and also symptoms of angina.

Physical conditions and habits which put you at the high risk zone for angina are:
1. When you don't get enough exercise.
2. If you are a smoker
3. If you are overweight
4.  If you have a history of heart diseases
5. If you are diabetic
6. If you suffer from blood pressure of high cholesterol

Steps You Must Do To Manage the Pain and Resultant Effects

1. Calm Down - The first thing to do to counter angina pains is to rest and calm down. If you are doing physical activity, stop doing it. And if you are under emotional turbulence, you need to find ways to calm down immediately. Meditate, if needed.

2. Get Professional Help - Do not delay in consulting the doctor and ensure that you take the prescribed medication diligently. In situations where the damage is much more and medications cannot clear the problem, surgery is resorted to.

3. Change Of Lifestyle - In the long run, lifestyle change is a good idea. Staying fit, a clean medical report and keeping a healthy lifestyle will keep enough blood pumping into your heart.

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Why You Must Not Dismiss Chest Pain as a Minor Affair!

Dialysis is a very important and life-saving procedure. It is performed to replace kidney function in case of renal failure. Wastes and extra fluids in the blood are filtered out during this process. To be able to perform Dialysis, the connection between the patient s bloodstream and the equipment for performing Dialysis (dialyzer) outside the body is established. This connection is created through Dialysis Access Surgery. It is a type of Vascular Surgery which forms the vascular opening for access during Dialysis. Thus, Dialysis Access Surgery is the lifeline for the survival of the patient.

Types of Vascular Access for Dialysis- 
There are three types of Vascular Access for Dialysis: Arteriovenous (AV) Fistula, Arteriovenous (AV) Graft, and Venous Catheter.

  Arteriovenous (AV) fistula is a surgical connection of an artery to a vein. An AV fistula is usually placed in the upper arm or in the forearm. It causes extra blood to flow into vein making it grow large. A larger vein hence provides easy access to blood vessels. An AV fistula is preferred over other methods as it lasts longer than other methods of access and provides a good flow of blood. Moreover, it is less prone to infection and blood clots than other methods. Before an AV Surgery, a Vessel Mapping Test is sometimes performed for assessing the blood vessels most suitable for Dialysis. An AV fistula is performed under local anaesthesia and requires two to three months for maturation before hemodialysis. If it fails to mature, the procedure is repeated.

  Arteriovenous (AV) graft is performed when AV fistula fails to mature. It is hence the second most preferred choice for long-lasting access to vascular tissues for Dialysis. An AV graft is a looped plastic tube which establishes a connection between an artery and a vein. Like AV fistula, AV graft is also performed under local anaesthesia. It is slightly more difficult to maintain than an AV fistula.

  A venous catheter is used for short- term hemodialysis. It is a tube which is inserted into chest, neck, leg, or near groin for vascular access. After exiting the body, the tube splits into two halves. In the case where a renal disease has made quick progression leaving little or no time for the AV fistula or AV graft to mature, a venous catheter is used to establish the required vascular connection. This procedure is also performed under local anaesthesia. It is a tool for emergencies but is not suited for long- term use. It can cause narrow vein due to an infection,
scarring, or blood clot. If long- term venous catheter is used, it is tunnelled under the skin which has fewer problems associated with it and is more comfortable. 

How to Care for a Vascular Access?
  Get checked for infections and other problems before each hemodialysis session;
  Use the operated site for access only for the intended use;
  Always keep the access clean;
  Prevent cutting or bumping the access;
  Check for thrill/ vibration in the access and inform the doctor if any;
  Do not put pressure on the access site;
  Do not put blood pressure cuff around the access arm;
  Do not wear jewellery or tight-fitting garments over the site;
  Do not lift a weight.

Take Away-
Vascular Surgery for Dialysis is performed to provide vascular access for the procedure. AV fistula is the most preferred type followed by an AV graft. A venous catheter is recommended to be used only in case of an emergency when there is not much time left for the other two options to mature.

Vascular Surgery - Can It Help For Dialysis?

Hypertension or increased blood pressure is one of the modern lifestyle diseases. The changing lifestyles including altered dietary habits and lack of physical activity are the main reasons for the high incidence of hypertension. With this, it brings a host of complications including other chronic diseases like diabetes, kidney failure, risks of stroke and heart attacks.

Alternative medicine proposes quite a number of remedies in addition to just increased physical activity. Read on to know more about how you can eat healthier and control your blood pressure.

Eat walnuts: As most books and media depict, heart disease is directly related to physical reaction towards stress. Regular eating of walnuts helps control this response, thereby controlling blood pressure. It is also a great source of antioxidants and fibre, which adds to its heart-healthy features.

Load up on minerals: Eating a diet rich in calcium, magnesium, and potassium is extremely beneficial for the heart. Sweet potatoes, bananas, dry fruits, dairy products, etc., have shown to reduce blood pressure extremely well in various experiments.

Avoid salt: While the natural sea salt is almost out of use, most of us have switched to the processed variety, which is devoid of all minerals. This is one of the major contributors for increased blood pressure. Studies have shown that reducing salt intake helps in a big way in controlling blood pressure. Most of us are also used to adding extra salt so the food tastes better. This should be avoided. With increased consumption of processed food items, everything from bread to cookies to cheese has salt, which also should be reduced, and if possible, avoided.

Have a colourful meal: Load up your plate with peppers, berries, dry fruits, and organic fruits and vegetables. Pomegranate juice is believed to control angiotensin, converting enzyme, which is responsible for controlling hypertension. They are also rich in antioxidants and help control blood pressure by reducing inflammation.

Know your cholesterol: While cholesterol is generally used with a negative connotation, it is not always true. There is good and bad cholesterol and the bad one should be avoided. Watch out for labels, and ensure you are eating less of the bad cholesterol. Good cholesterol is required for the production of hormones and proper functioning of the body.

Watch your medicines: While it is easy to just pop an ibuprofen when there is a headache or a back ache, it is advisable to watch out. These are best avoided in the long run, as they can induce hypertension and induce heart disease.

In addition, meditation, relaxation, green tea, dark chocolate, red wine, music, and quitting smoking are also shown to be helpful in controlling blood pressure.

Successful Tips To Control Blood Pressure

Are you looking for effective and natural ways to prevent heart blockage and blood pressure management? You should consider taking Ayurvedic measures, which have been proven to be quite effective in dealing with various issues of the heart. Usually, heart blockages are difficult to deal with and a surgery has to be carried out for recovery. With Ayurvedic remedies, you can solve such issues without the concern of harmful side effects on your body.

Ayurvedic management of heart blockage
For effective prevention and management of heart blockages, you need to create a certain Ayurvedic medicine using basic ingredients.

Mix lemon, ginger, apple vinegar and garlic together and boil on a light flame.
After the quantity gets reduced, leave the mixture to cool.
After this, add some honey in the solution, and store it in a bottle for use. You have to take this medicine every morning after waking up.
Note all the ingredients are chosen for their unique and beneficial features.
Lemon contains more than 19 qualities, and garlic and ginger are good for dealing with gastric issues. Apple cider vinegar is given great importance in Ayurveda, and honey is good for your blood. Hence, this medicine is ideal for treating heart blockages effectively.
Ayurvedic management of blood pressure
High blood pressure or Rakta Gata Vata refers to an elevation in the pressure of blood in your arteries. The increase in pressure is based upon your age, activities, diet, and medical history.

The Ayurvedic remedies for the prevention and control of blood pressure include the following:

Avoid consuming eggs, meat, tea, coffee, pickles and table salt.
Abstain from smoking.
Increase your intake of food items such as lemon, garlic, parsley, grapefruit, cottage cheese, Indian gooseberry, and watermelon.
Engage in regular exercise as it is important for lowering and preventing your chances of high blood pressure.
Laugh a lot and keep away from anxiety and stress factors.
Make a juice of garlic cloves, wheat grass and basil leaves. Have this regularly for reduced chances of high blood pressure.
Mix onion juice with honey and have the mixture every day.
Make a paste using garlic and buttermilk, and drink it regularly.
Grind roasted watermelon seeds, add water to the powder, strain the liquid, and have it twice every day.
It is important for you to visit an Ayurvedic practitioner before starting to take Ayurvedic measures for heart blockage or high blood pressure on your own. This will ensure that you are prescribed the best measures by a qualified and experienced doctor.

Heart Blockage & Blood Pressure - How Ayurveda Can Help You Prevent It?

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