An estimated of 10 percent or more children snore for more than 1 night. Snoring results from the obstruction of breath when the air makes its way through the mouth. The air passage of the throat through which the air goes in and out causes the tissue to vibrate causing snore. The sound of the snore totally depends on the amount of air passing through the mouth and the frequency at which the throat is vibrating. Children above the age of three years tend to snore when they are deep in sleep.

Primary and secondary snoring:
Children who are otherwise healthy should not have a snoring problem unless there is some health disorder. However, if loud snoring is observed in otherwise a perfectly healthy kid, seeking medical help is a wise thing to do. In general, primary snoring is defined as a condition which is not associated with other sleep-related disorders such as lung disorder, OASS, inability to sleep for a longer duration etc.

Other possibilities:
It is estimated that close to three percent of the children suffers from breathing problem while sleeping. OSAS is a condition which is characterised by pauses in breathing and gasps along with loud snores. There could be instances where a kids  muscle relaxes way too much obstructing the air to pass through. The body and the brain are both alerted at this stage. As soon as the brain sends a signal, the body wakes up. Thus, most kids suffering from this disorder are not able to sleep well and tend to feel tired throughout the day.

Common causes of sleep apnea:
Sleep apena is a major cause of snoring. It can be caused because of allergies, obesity, GERD etc. In children sleep, apnea can also be caused by tonsil. Since the tonsil size of children less than 7 years of age tends to be bigger than adult individuals, it causes snoring related problem. Swollen tonsils not only obstruct air but creates other health related problems as well.

Symptoms of sleep apnea during the day and night:

Loud snore
Snorts, gasps, pauses during sleep
Heavy sweat during sleep
Social and behavioural problems
Failure to get up in the morning
A nasal voice
Easily irritated, cranky and aggressive
Relief measure:
The first thing a that a doctor does is a physical exam followed by observing the symptoms of a kid. Primary snorting can be addressed by physical exercise, counselling and breathing exercise. Problems related to apnea are addressed through medicine, counselling, and exercise. Certain dietary restrictions also needed to be followed during this time. However, apena is completely treatable within a certain time frame.

Mouth Breathing - What Can Cause It?

Neurosurgery mainly deals with treating of functional disorders that affect the nerves, brain and muscles through major or minor surgery. The field of neurosurgery makes use of advanced surgical procedures. The different techniques are used to treat brain tumors, trauma to the head, cerebral hemorrhages, spinal disc herniation, brain aneurysms and peripheral neuropathy.

Neurosurgery Treatment
The main aim of neurosurgery treatment in patients suffering from stoke is to prevent neurologic deterioration as well as the recurrence of stroke. The advancement in medical treatment has increased to a great extent, however the mortality and morbidity in stroke patients is very high. The second leading cause of death all over the world is stroke, and hence, through neurosurgery stroke can be managed. Each year in the U.S there are about 800,000 people who suffer from stroke which causes disability.

Symptoms of Stroke and its Effects
The main symptoms of stroke are not identified easily by people. However, the symptoms that are caused on delay of treatment include difficulty in speaking, weakness on one side of the body, drooping on one side of the face and difficulty in walking.

Stroke at times is life threatening and it is also referred to as brain attack and can occur at any time to an individual. It is caused when the flow of blood supply to the brain is cut off and oxygen is deprived to the brain cells. Brain dysfunction occurs due to the dead brain cells and hence some patients lose their memory and control over their muscle movement. The treatment of stroke in such cases includes a neurosurgery by a neurological specialist.

Types of Stroke
The abrupt interruption to the flow of blood that causes hindrance in the neurological function can be best treated if detected early and by accurate diagnosis by a neurosurgeon. There are 3 different types of stroke that can occur and these include Hemorrhagic stroke, Ischemic stroke and Transient ischemic attack. The Ischemic stroke mainly occurs when blood vessels that supply blood to the brain are blocked. It is a common form of stroke and its underlying cause is known as atherosclerosis. The main procedures that are used for treating ischemic stroke include tissue plasminogen activator and endovascular procedure.

In the tissue plasminogen activator procedure, the patient is given medicine intravenously. The blood flow to the affected area of the brain is improved when the blood clot dissolves through this method. The medication is given immediately after 3-4 hours on occurrence of the stroke symptoms. In the second procedure, a catheter is used, which is injected in the area of the obstructed blood vessel. The blood flow to the area is restored by the endovascular procedure. Even anticoagulants are given to thin the blood and prevent clogging.

Neurosurgery In Management Of Stroke!

Egg yolk and cholesterol - is there a link?

Although egg is considered one of the most nutritious foods, people with high cholesterol avoid its consumption as they believe that eggs may increase cholesterol and risk heart diseases.

Is there a link between egg yolk and cholesterol?

Egg yolk is rich in dietary cholesterol. One large egg contains 185 milligrams of cholesterol. People with normal cholesterol levels require about 300 milligrams of dietary cholesterol and people with high cholesterol need 200 milligrams of dietary cholesterol from food.

Dietary cholesterol has the minimum impact on blood cholesterol as compared to saturated and trans fats which contain bad cholesterol. Hence dietary cholesterol present in egg yolk has minimal or no effects on increasing your cholesterol levels.

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Egg Yolk and Cholesterol - Is There Really a Link?

5 Signs of an Unhealthy Heart

The heart is a muscular organ that helps to pump blood through the circulatory system by periodic contractions and relaxations. The heart is one of the most important organs of the body so much so that a single cardiac arrest or a heart attack can lead to fatal consequences. Even so, a heart attack is one of the most leading causes of death in the country. But there are some earlier symptoms that could alert you ahead of time. The following are signs of an unhealthy heart:

1. Sexual problems

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is one of the most predictable reasons for cardiovascular conditions. Today, patients who are diagnosed with ED are also considered as cardiovascular patients. This is because the heart is supposedly not able to pump enough blood to the genital area. In case of women, reduced blood flow can hamper arousal and delay orgasms.

2. Snoring and sleep apnea

If one snores loudly enough to prevent their partner's from sleeping or resort to using earplugs, one may be at a risk of having a weak heart. Restricted breathing during sleep is connected with a host of cardiovascular diseases. Sleep apnea, a condition where breathing stops for a brief span of time, is linked with higher cardiovascular risks.

3. Swollen, sore and bleeding gums

Swollen and bleeding gums are not only symptoms of dental conditions but also of cardiovascular difficulties. Medical experts believe poor circulation of blood arises due to underlying heart conditions. Recent studies are focusing on bacteria that are believed to cause gum disease as well as plaque inside the arteries of the heart.

4. Heart Arrhythmia

Irregular heartbeat or heart arrhythmia is a common sign of a weak heart. It is characterized by both fast and slow beating of the heart. Restricted blood flow to the heart strains the electrical signals that maintain the normal beating of the heart. This is one of the common causes of coronary artery diseases.

5. Chest pain

One of the most apparent signs of coronary artery diseases is chest pain. The cause of the sharp, clutching pain in your chest can be build-up of plaque in the arteries, which could lead to fatal consequences.



5 Signs of an Unhealthy Heart

Somebody in the world suffers a stroke every two seconds. Stroke affects physical as well as mental health gravely. It can be a life- altering situation leading to new limitations overnight. Such limitations can be physical or mental, affecting mobility and cognition. According to psychologists, cognitive functions of the brain encompass speech, language, functional memory, spatial- motor systems, ability to switch between tasks, executive functions like task organization, attention, and being able to employ tools and symbols.

When the stroke strikes, it irreversibly damages a part of the brain. It happens due to hemorrhage or blocked supply of blood. However, the brain can be trained and taught compensatory strategies. These compensatory strategies consist of attention increasing activities that require neurological utilities. These activities and exercises are formed in a way to improve the memory. Both pictorial and hearing skills are engaged in these activities.

Memory, attention span, and executive activities are dependent on each other and any problem regarding these affects an individual s daily life. That is why to improve the complete mental capacity, exercises are required. These exercises help to improve memory and attention span. In cognitive rehabilitation, goals are set as per the requirements of the patient and treatment is then followed. This requires some plans and strategies to carry out daily activities. These plans may consist of planning and analysis of the task.

The recovery varies from individual to individual depending upon the restoration of the damaged neurological functions supporting specific cognitive area. However, there are very limited types of treatments for cognitive rehabilitation, mostly generic treatments which depends on doctor s experience.

Evidence is found by researchers which supports the cognitive rehabilitation after stroke, in which the areas discussed are smaller than the issues faced by the stroke survivors. The studies fail to talk about the long-term results and common treatments for daily tasks. It is now really important for us to have a serious innovation in the field of cognitive rehabilitation with the amount of stroke patients increasing day by day.

Before one going for rehabilitation, he/ she should ensure that why they need it and what are their needs that are to be fulfilled through rehabilitation. Experts recommend rehabilitation so that patients are able to lead as normal lifestyle as possible post stroke strikes them.

Who are more prone to stroke?

Old age people, alcoholics, people with high cholesterol levels, active smokers, Diabetic patients, people who consume drugs, people suffering from Hypertension, patients going through transient ischemic attack (TIA) are all very much prone to a stroke.

It is also very important to consult a doctor after stroke. He will advise you the best possible way to treat the problem. 

Take away

Stroke these days can happen to anyone which although largely depends upon the age factor, but one's lifestyle can also make him/her the target of stroke. There is cognitive rehabilitation which can help a person to recover post stroke through activities and exercises and change in lifestyle. It is important for an individual to consult a doctor if he/she finds any difficulty in carrying out daily activities with one side of the body.

Cognitive Rehabilitation Post Brain Stroke!

Cardiomyopathy includes diseases involving the heart muscle. These diseases have various causes, types, symptoms and modes of treatment.

The heart muscle gets enlarged, thick or rigid. In several cases, the heart muscle tissue is replaced with a scar tissue. As this condition worsens, the heart gets weaker and the ability to pump blood is disrupted, which can cause heart failure or irregular beating of the heart. The weakened state of the heart can lead to valvar diseases.

The different types of cardiomyopathy are:

 Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy-
This is a common form and affects people of all ages. Men and women are affected equally. This condition arises due to the enlargement and thickening of the heart muscle. The ventricles, the septum and the lower heart chamber usually thicken, which causes obstruction in pumping of blood by the heart. This disease also causes stiffness in the ventricles, and cellular changes in the tissue.
 Dilated cardiomyopathy-
This form of cardiomyopathy develops due to the enlargement and weakening of the ventricles. The issue arises from the left ventricle and develops over time. It may even affect the right ventricle. More effort is put in by the heart muscles for pumping blood and slowly the heart is unable to pump blood effectively. This condition may lead to heart failure, valve diseases or blood clots in the heart.
 Restrictive cardiomyopathy-
This disease occurs due to the stiffening of the ventricles, without thickening of the walls of the heart. The ventricles are not allowed to relax and do not receive a sufficient volume of blood supply. This condition causes heart failure and valvar problems over time.
 Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia-
This rare form of cardiomyopathy occurs when fat or fibrous tissues replace the muscle tissue of the right ventricle. This causes arrhythmias and disruption in the electrical signals of the heart. It generally affects teens and may cause cardiac arrest in athletes.
 Unclassified cardiomyopathy-
Some types of cardiomyopathy of this category include left ventricular non compaction where the ventricles develop trabeculations. Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is another disease where immense stress causes failure of the heart muscles.

Treatment-
Many cases of cardiomyopathy come and go away on their own. Treatment for other cases depends on the severity and symptoms. The major treatment methods are:
Lifestyle changes meant for a healthier heart.
Medication.
Nonsurgical methods.
Surgery and implants

Modes of surgery for treatment of cardiomyopathy include:
Septal myectomy
Heart transplant
Implant devices such as cardiac resynchronization therapy (crt) device, implantable cardioverter defibrillator (icd), left ventricular assist device and pacemakers are fitted into the heart for better performance.

Cardiomyopathy can be of many different types, each arising from different situations and conditions. The mode of treatment depends on the severity of the complication or on the basis of symptoms.

Types and Treatments of Cardiomyopathy

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