Angina is a discomfort in the chest area due to the reduced flow of blood to the heart muscle. It typically leads to a constricted, heavy feeling in the chest and may spread to the neck, jaw, torso, and left arm. There are several reasons why angina occurs in a patient. All the reasons are indicative of coronary artery disease. What causes angina? The heart muscle requires a steady supply of oxygen for the body to survive. Arteries leading to the heart muscle carry oxygen-rich blood to the heart. The problem happens when there is a reduced flow of blood. This occurs when the arteries are narrowed or hardened. Fat deposits or plaque on the arteries can cause this narrowing. This is called atherosclerosis. A person with fat deposits in their arteries will not have angina solely due to the fact that angina is a condition of the low supply of oxygen to the heart. So while the body requires lesser oxygen, say while resting or sleeping, it will get on by with the low oxygen available to the heart. It is when physical exertion takes place that the heart requires a good supply of oxygen, and angina typically occurs.

A majority of people who suffer from OCD usually benefit from either medication or exposure and response prevention (ERP). Treatment for OCD usually involves ERP and/or medication. Cognitive behavior therapy and medication are the most effective treatment methods for OCD. ERP is a type of cognitive behavior therapy which is very effective and has strong evidence supporting its use in the treatment of OCD along with a class of medication known as serotonin reuptake inhibitors. A licensed mental health professional such as a psychologist or mental health counselor alone can treat a patient with ERP treatment. It can be done as an outpatient (OP) setting. Medication can be prescribed only by a licensed medical professional like a psychiatrist or a physician. The therapist and the physician together would develop a treatment plan. When ERP and medications are taken together it is considered as a first-line treatment for OCD. People who suffer from OCD will benefit from ERP and medication. When an outpatient ERP does not work, there are more intensive levels of care which can be utilized. There is an intensive treatment center which provides various levels of services to people with OCD. There is a list of therapy options ranging from least intensive to most intensive such as the following:

Every time we visit a doctor for a consultation or physical examination, our pulse rate and blood pressure are the first parameters to be checked. How many of us have really wondered about what blood pressure numbers really indicate? These numbers of elevated blood pressure or hypertension are indicators of an additional workload on the heart and blood vessels. It was only in 1817, with the invention of the stethoscope that doctors were able to listen to the heart and understand the difference between the systole and the diastole. In 1854, the first tool to measure blood pressure externally was invented by a German physiologist Karl von Vierordt. In 1896, the first blood pressure monitor named the sphygmomanometer was introduced by Scipione Riva-Rocci. The blood pressure measurements were introduced in 1901. Systolic blood pressure ( The number on top) When our heart beats, blood is pumped out with some force throughout the body. This force creates pressure on the blood vessels and is called systolic blood pressure. Normal blood pressure – Is less than 120 Blood pressure is elevated – if it is 120 – 129 Stage 1 hypertension – if it is 130 – 139 Stage 2 hypertension – if it is 140 Needs emergency medical attention – if it is 180 or more.

Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) caused by inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. While it may affect any part of the digestive system, it typically manifests at the end of the small intestine, ileum, where it joins the large intestine, colon. It can also affect the eyes, skin, and joints as it is an inflammatory disease. Crohn’s disease should not be confused with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Irritable bowel syndrome is not characterized by intestinal inflammation. It is estimated that about 700,000 people in the country are affected by Crohn’s disease. It affects both men and women equally. It can affect people of any age, but it usually manifests for the first time between the ages of 15-35 years. About a fifth of the patients with Crohn’s disease have a blood relative who has suffered from the same condition. While its exact causes are unknown, Crohn’s disease is chronic, and the symptoms range from mild to severe. It is not contagious and is not caused by the food a patient eats. But, diet and stress may aggravate it. Let’s look at some of the causes of Crohn’s disease. Immunity: When the immune system is already compromised, it leads to inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract, which can, in turn, lead to Crohn’s disease.

When an abnormal heartbeat can be traced back to the lower chambers of the heart (the ventricles), it is called ventricular arrhythmia. Ventricular arrhythmias include ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation and premature ventricular contractions (PVCs). All these types are life-threatening arrhythmias and are most commonly associated with heart attacks or scarring of the heart muscle from a previous heart attack. Ventricular tachycardia:  Tachycardia refers to a very fast heart rate of more than 100 or more beats per minute, out of sync with the upper chambers. The condition depends on where the fast heart rate begins and thus, the fast rhythm that begins in the ventricles is called ventricular tachycardia. Typically, when the heart beats faster, it pumps less blood. When this condition occurs, your heart may not be able to pump enough blood to your body and lungs as they don’t have time to fill properly. This condition results in loss of blood flow to the vital organs including the brain, leading to loss of consciousness. Most patients with ventricular tachycardia have heart-related problems, such as high blood pressure, heart valve disease, or coronary artery disease. In ventricular tachycardia, there is a scar tissue that forms on the heart. Due to this, there is a chance that ventricular tachycardia can also develop after a heart attack (myocardial infarction) or heart surgery.