Coronary heart disease

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading  both in the UK and worldwide.

It's responsible for more than 73,000 deaths in the UK each year. About 1 in 6 men and 1 in 10 women die from CHD.

In the UK, there are an estimated 2.3 million people living with CHD and around 2 million people affected by angina (the most common symptom of coronary heart disease). 

CHD generally affects more men than women, although from the age of 50 the chances of developing the condition are similar for both sexes.

As well as angina (chest pain), the main symptoms of CHD are heart attacks and heart failure. However, not everyone has the same symptoms and some people may not have any before CHD is diagnosed.

CHD is sometimes called ischaemic heart disease.

Read more about the symptoms of coronary heart disease.

The heart

The heart is a muscle about the size of your fist. It pumps blood around your body and beats approximately 70 times a minute. After the blood leaves the right side of the heart, it goes to your lungs where it picks up oxygen.

The oxygen-rich blood returns to your heart and is then pumped to the body's organs through a network of arteries. The blood returns to your heart through veins before being pumped back to your lungs again. This process is called circulation.

The heart gets its own supply of blood from a network of blood vessels on the heart's surface called coronary arteries.

What causes coronary heart disease?

Coronary heart disease is the term that describes what happens when your heart's blood supply is blocked or interrupted by a build-up of fatty substances in the coronary arteries.

Over time, the walls of your arteries can become furred up with fatty deposits. This process is known as atherosclerosis and the fatty deposits are called atheroma.

Atherosclerosis can be caused by lifestyle factors and other conditions, such as:

smoking

high cholesterol

high blood pressure (hypertension)

diabetes

Read more about the causes of coronary heart disease.

Diagnosing coronary heart disease

If your doctor feels you're at risk of CHD, they may carry out a risk assessment. This involves asking about your medical and family history, your lifestyle and taking a blood test.

Further tests may be needed to confirm a diagnosis of CHD, including:

an MRI scan

a CT scan

coronary angiography

Read more about diagnosing coronary heart disease.

Treating coronary heart disease

Coronary heart disease can't be cured but treatment can help manage the symptoms and reduce the chances of problems such as heart attacks.

Treatment can include lifestyle changes, such as regular exercise and stopping smoking, as well as medication and surgery.

Read more about treating coronary heart disease.

Recovery

If you have problems, such as a heart attack or heart surgery, it's possible to eventually resume a normal life.

Advice and support is available to help you deal with aspects of your life that may have been affected by CHD.

Read more about recovering from the effects of coronary heart disease.

Prevention

You can reduce your risk of getting CHD by making some simple lifestyle changes. These include:

eating a healthy, balanced diet 

being physically active

giving up smoking

controlling blood cholesterol and sugar levels

Keeping your heart healthy will also have other health benefits, such as helping reduce your risk of stroke and dementia.

Read more about preventing coronary heart disease.

Breast cancer

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer

In 2011, just under 50,000 women were diagnosed with invasive breast cancer. Most women who get it (8 out of 10) are over 50, but younger women, and in rare cases, men, can also get breast cancer.

If it's treated early enough, breast cancer can be prevented from spreading to other parts of the body.

The breasts

The breasts are made up of fat, connective tissue and thousands of tiny glands called lobules, which produce milk. When a woman has a baby, the milk is delivered to the nipple through tiny tubes called ducts, which allow her to breastfeed.

The body is made up of billions of tiny cells, which usually grow and multiply in an orderly way. New cells are only produced when and where they're needed. In cancer, this orderly process goes wrong and cells begin to grow and multiply uncontrollably.

Read more about the causes of breast cancer.

Symptoms of breast cancer

Breast cancer can have a number of symptoms, but the first noticeable symptom is usually a lump or area of thickened breast tissue.

Most breast lumps aren't cancerous, but it's always best to have them checked by your doctor. You should also see your GP if you notice any of the following:

a change in the size or shape of one or both breasts

discharge from either of your nipples (which may be streaked with blood)

a lump or swelling in either of your armpits

dimpling on the skin of your breasts

a rash on or around your nipple

a change in the appearance of your nipple, such as becoming sunken into your breast

Breast pain isn't usually a symptom of breast cancer.

Learn more about the symptoms of breast cancer.

After examining your breasts, your GP may refer you to a specialist breast cancer clinic for further tests. This might include a mammography (breast screening) or a biopsy.

Read more about breast screening and how breast cancer is diagnosed.

Types of breast cancer

There are several different types of breast cancer, which can develop in different parts of the breast. Breast cancer is often divided into non-invasive and invasive types.

Non-invasive breast cancer

Non-invasive breast cancer is also known as cancer or carcinoma in situ. This cancer is found in the ducts of the breast and hasn't developed the ability to spread outside the breast.

This form of cancer rarely shows as a lump in the breast that can be felt, and is usually found on a mammogram (see below).The most common type of non-invasive cancer is ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).

Invasive breast cancer

Invasive cancer has the ability to spread outside the breast, although this doesn't necessarily mean it has spread.

The most common form of breast cancer is invasive ductal breast cancer, which develops in the cells that line the breast ducts. Invasive ductal breast cancer accounts for about 80% of all breast cancer cases and is sometimes called "no special type".

Other types of breast cancer

Other less common types of breast cancer include invasive lobular breast cancer, which develops in the cells that line the milk-producing lobules, inflammatory breast cancer and Paget's disease of the breast.

It's possible for breast cancer to spread to other parts of the body, usually through the lymph nodes (small glands that filter bacteria from the body) or the bloodstream. If this happens, it's known as "secondary" or "metastatic" breast cancer.

Breast cancer screening

About one in eight women are diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime. There's a good chance of recovery if it's detected in its early stages. For this reason, it's vital that women check their breasts regularly for any changes and always get any changes examined by their GP.

Mammographic screening (where X-ray images of the breast are taken) is the best available method of detecting an early breast lesion. However, you should be aware that a mammogram might fail to detect some breast cancers. It might also increase your chances of having extra tests and interventions, including surgery.

Women with a higher-than-average risk of developing breast cancer may be offered screening and genetic testing for the condition.

As the risk of breast cancer increases with age, all women who are 50-70 years old are invited for breast cancer screening every three years.

Women over 70 are also entitled to screening and can arrange an appointment through their GP or local screening unit.

The NHS is in the process of extending the programme as a trial, offering screening to some women aged 47-73.

Read more about breast screening and find breast cancer screening services near you.

Treating breast cancer

If cancer is detected at an early stage, it can be treated before it spreads to nearby parts of the body.

Breast cancer is treated using a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Surgery is usually the first type of treatment you'll have, followed by chemotherapy or radiotherapy or, in some cases, hormone or biological treatments.

The type of surgery and the treatment you have afterwards will depend on the type of breast cancer you have. Your doctor will discuss the best treatment plan with you.

Read a document listing the one-year net survival estimates by CCG for breast cancer

In a small proportion of women, breast cancer is discovered after it's spread to other parts of the body (metastasis). Secondary cancer, also called advanced or metastatic cancer, isn't curable, so the aim of treatment is to achieve remission (symptom relief).

Read more about treating breast cancer.

How well your local NHS performs

Clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) are NHS organisations that organise the delivery of NHS services in England. They play a major role in achieving good health outcomes for the local population that they serve.

You can now check how your local CCG compares against others for breast cancer survival (PDF, 900 Kb).

Preventing breast cancer

As the causes of breast cancer aren't fully understood, it's not possible to know if it can be prevented altogether.

If you're at increased risk of developing the condition, some treatments are available to reduce the risk.

Studies have looked at the link between breast cancer and diet and, although there are no definite conclusions, there are benefits for women who maintain a healthy weight, exercise regularly and who have a low intake of saturated fat and alcohol.

It's been suggested that regular exercise can reduce your risk of breast cancer by as much as a third. If you've been through the menopause, it's particularly important that you're not overweight or obese. This is because being overweight or obese causes more oestrogen to be produced, which can increase the risk of breast cancer.

Read more about preventing breast cancer.

Living with breast cancer

Being diagnosed with breast cancer can affect daily life in many ways, depending on what stage it's at and what treatment you're having.

How women cope with their diagnosis and treatment varies from person to person. You can be reassured that there are several forms of support available, if you need it. For example:

your family and friends can be a powerful support system

you can communicate with other people in the same situation

find out as much as possible about your condition

don't try to do too much or overexert yourself

make time for yourself

Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle

As competition has increased, so is the time consumption, generally speaking, people have become immensely busy due to their ongoing activities, all because of the challenging and demanding nature of their respective jobs. This, naturally, will intervene in the normal existing personal life of an individual which has and which will keep on increasing rather than lessening. This is because, competition is increasing day by day and so are the responsibilities. Other than that, people spend more time in handling their office/work life rather than investing time in their relations which includes family and love life. Work and relationship are developed to be the two opposite poles of the life of an individual which often seem to collide. Proper balance and stability, in short equilibrium is needed to fill in the gap between these two poles. These associations form the basis of a society, a community moves forward with the help of two or more individuals working together in harmony; which results in a friendship known as a relationship. If this relation is not smooth and not in harmony, disturbances along with turbulences will the observed and consequence will be grave that can weaken the society.

Communication

The foremost and the basic principle considered as a prerequisite for every relationship to thrive is communication; be it family or love life, communication is the key to a stable and an established relationship. Without the act of cooperation and interconnection, no kind of relationship will flourish or boost. Direct communication results in less misunderstanding, increased trust and confidence among two or more individuals. Similarly, communication is also possible through the use of body language, which should also be kept in mind, gestures such as body movements that allow hands, arms and facial expressions are also grave and can create a meaning in a positive or a negative way.

Give and take

This is a perfect example of a secure and sensible affiliation, this includes being equal in a relationship. If dominance is endorsed by one of the individuals in a relationship, it will start to deteriorate. Being bossy, dictatorial and interventionist will lead to instabilities and insecurities as well. Hence, the solution lies in listening to every person involved in a relationship, which is a sign of respect and admiration; compromise and negotiate as well, but at the same time, also allow yourself to prosper and flourish within a relationship.

Time Investment

The other needed element required creating constancy and steadiness in any relationship is to spend time together. This allows individuals to accept and endorse each other’s strengths and weakness and consequently accepting them. Spend quality time together, which involves doing various outdoor and indoor activities such as sports, going to the cinema and having quality dinner.

Balancing

In the end, it’s all about balancing, spending quality time with your partners is acceptable, but spending too much time and being an extremist, in this case is not. This result in intense frustration, which can leave a relationship depreciated. Learn to balance your work and love life which will create synchronization and results in peaceful interactions.

Author’s Bio: This post is written by Katherine William; she is an expert advisor and is currently working as a marriage counselor. She has received her Master’s degree in Psychology and Counseling, at the present time she is working at

Blood Cancers

Blood cancer  definition and concept

Cancerous formation can attack any organic system of the human physiology. As part of 

blood cancer, the rapidly multiplying cancerous cells are found attacking the different aspects of the circulatory system. Besides blood and the lymphatic system; the bone marrow can also be the focus of attack.

Blood cancer - its kinds and types

Primarily, there are three basic types of blood cancer. Each of the variety may also include several variations, but in general this cancer is categorized into the following kinds

    Leukemia- With spurt in the multiplicity of cancerous cells affecting either the marrow or the blood; the ability of the circulatory system to produce blood is severely impaired with.

    Lymphoma- The cancerous formation affecting the lymphocytes is referred to as the lymphoma. Lymphocytes are one of the varieties of white blood corpuscles.

    Myeloma- As part of Myeloma, the plasma (another variety of WBC) is affected by the cancerous formation.

Symptoms of blood cancer

Leukemia marked by an acute destruction of health sustaining red blood cells includes the symptoms of anemia, weakness and extreme fatigue. Consequently one affected by it is likely to sweat and come under bouts of breath shortness in course of performing day to day activities of the regular kind. Vulnerability to infection and swelling of the lymph nodes are some of the other fallouts of Leukemia. Blood tests are likely to present higher counts of white blood corpuscles.

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Leukemia can be chronic or acute. A person afflicted with the latter type may not exhibit any of these symptoms. On the other hand, in leukemia of the acute type, the symptoms are likely to manifest with rapid intensity.

Symptoms pertaining to lymphoma.

One of the most common symptoms of lymphoma includes swollen lymphatic node because this cancer essentially revolves around the lymphatic cells. The swelling is mostly painless in nature. Some of the other indications include loss of weight and appetite, fever, sudden bouts of chill and night sweating.

Certain variety of leukemia is also associated with coughing, fatigue, fullness of abdomen and extreme fatigue. Itching, nausea and food aversion may also set in.

Symptoms pertaining to myeloma.

The initial stage may well go free of symptoms. But with the gradual prognosis of the disease, there ought to be generic feel of fatigue, painful back, susceptibility to infection, breath shortness, bouts of numbness and that of chest pain. Kidney problems are likely to develop on account of myeloma. Blood tests taken are likely to indicate abnormal clusters of plasma cells.

The different stages of blood cancer

Depends on the rate of metastasis.

There are different yards sticks to distinguish blood cancer into different stages according to the symptoms of prognosis and rate of metastasis.

Four different phases of chronic leukemia.

The first phase is marked by an enlarged presence of lymph nodes. This happens owing to the spurt in the count of lymphocytes. The risk level at this stage is intermediate because at this stage of prognosis, the cancer is yet to spread and affect other physical organs.

The second stage is marked by the enlarged presence of spleen as well as liver; in addition to that of the lymph nodes. If not both the organs, at least one of them apart from lymph nodes is affected at the second stage. There is a massive swing in the growth of lymphocytes. The risk level is still moderate.

The next stage or the third stage is marked by the development of anemia. The aforementioned organs are still likely to remain swollen. In general two or more organs are likely to be affected at the third stage of cancerous development.

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The fourth and last phase is marked by a drastic fall in the rate of blood platelets. In the last stage the cancerous development can also affect lungs besides the ones already affected. Anemia is likely to be more acute. Both the third as well as the last phase are more risky from the viewpoint of the sufferer.

Curability of blood cancer and the stages involved

The latest piece of news with regard to the curability of blood cancer.

According, to one of the most recent findings, researchers have come up with a curative alternative to blood cancer. The medication seeks to block the release of irregular enzymes accountable for the metastasis of blood cancer. Surfeit of protein accountable for the enlargement and increase of cancerous cells are likely to be blocked as well by the researched medication.

Even until some years back, it could not be categorically affirmed as to the curable deals of blood cancer. But according to the practitioners and faculty involved in research oriented studies, the first stage of blood cancer responded better to the deals of curability more than the others.

To go by the practitioners and advocates of alternate therapeutic measures to cancer cure, blood cancer is curable even in its second and the third stages.

Natural treatment of blood cancer

Some of the common avenues of treatment.

Other than chemo and radiotherapy, the conventional modes of treatment for blood cancer include attempts at stem cells and bone marrow transplantations.

Herbal deals in leukemia / blood cancer cure.

Certain herbs, at least two varieties of herbs known by the names of 'Garcinia Mangostana' and 'xanothenes' have been found to be effective with respect of leukemia. The herbs and compounds based on them have reflected intrinsic potential of growth inhibiting features.

Importance of antioxidants.

It has commonly been observed that people particularly the kids undergoing treatment for blood cancer, respond better to curative measures if there is not a drastic cut in the intensity of antioxidants. So, even with allopathic remedial options, it is important to go for a diet rich in greens and antioxidants, in order to add to the supportive base of the treatment.

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Children oriented to a balanced diet with an adequate supply of greens and raw fruits are less likely to develop blood cancer / leukemia.

What demography is more prone to blood cancer?

It may run in the family.

Heredity / family history is one of the likely factors making one more prone to blood cancer than those without family history.

Exposure to radiation and carcinogenic chemicals.

These uncalled for exposures also add to the risk of developing blood cancer. Smoking is another incentive.

HIV Infection.

Those infected by HIV all come under the risky demography prone to blood cancer.

Age group and blood cancer.

Though it is probable amongst different age groups, the recently taken statistics point to the increased possibility amongst the older age groups.

Race and blood cancer.

It has also been observed that whites are more susceptible to leukemia / blood cancer.

Prevention of blood cancer

Healthy lifestyle with specialized focus on balanced diet.

In fact, health of nutrition and that of living can go a long way in combating blood cancer. Instead of freaking out on dollops of sugar and that of dressed meat items, one ideally needs to fall back on the organic greens.

Avoiding the fad for junk food and going back on a nutritious platter with abundance of green can add to the prevention of blood cancer.

Dressed meat / fish items have been identified as one of the incentives to blood cancer. So, they need to be avoided as well.

Trans or saturated fat is congenial to the development of this dreaded disease. So together with dressed items and that of starch, one needs to go low in this category as well.

Eat, drink and breathe in fresh air.

It is also important to stay away from the destructive sway of herbicides and chemicals. There are needs to minimize the risky bouts of radiation as it is another point of abetment.

Besides depending on a judicious blend of diet and rest, regularized regimen of exercise with abundant exposure to the unpolluted deals of natural fresh is another incentive to blood cancer prevention. Regularized schedule of exercising over a bare minimum period of half an hour can be pretty effective.

Due safety measures to be adopted.

People working in nuclear, chemical or dye making plants belong to the risk category of blood cancer. Thus, they need to opt for safety measures so that the exposure to the deals of radiation and that of chemicals are minimized.

Adding to the strength of the immunological system.

It also pays because people immunologically strong are better capacitate in resisting diseases including blood cancer.

Survival rate in blood cancer-Statistical figures

Statistical orientation is given to the inputs gathered over a given period of time. The figures are gathered by different organizations According to a figure gathered by 'Leukemia and Lymphoma Society', in the year 2011 around 1,012,533 people have been found recovering from different stages of blood cancer. It includes all the three types of blood cancer. The statistical count relates to the people of USA