Planning for the future is important, and that includes planning for a good quality of life. Advanced health planning explained here.
Too many times we put things down to stress. Headaches. Pain. Nausea. Stress can can symptoms, that’s true, but if you are have symptoms, discuss them with your health care provider because high stress leads to more diseases, including heart attack, stroke, and cancers.
Every Canadian should be on Vitamin D3 1000 units daily especially over winter.
Women around the age of 40 can start having significant stress which places us at risk for heart attacks and stroke. The first presentation is usually anxiety or migraines. Premenopause can be very stressful especially if there is already underlying anxiety.
If somebody has collapsed, as long as they are safe to move (no neck injury) place them on their left side so they don’t inhale secretions.
Symptoms of heart attack
These symptoms with exercise could also be Angina:
Chest pain over the left and middle of the chest. A feeling of an elephant or a fist on your chest.
• Worst heart burn ever
• Could sometimes just be very severe
• upper abdominal pain or
• left shoulder /arm pain or
• jaw pain – left side of neck or
• left shoulder blade area
• If you have diabetes or are over the age of 75 or if you are a woman you could be having a heart attack if you experience extraordinary dizziness with sweating, shortness of breath, nausea and weakness
If you think you’re having a heart attack,
chew 1/2 REGULAR Asprin & call 911
Symptoms of a stroke
F face – look at your face in mirror – one side lopsided
A arms – hold both up – one might be weaker
S speech – say something out aloud even if you are alone – speech will be garbled – nonsense – or slurred
T time – get down to ER by ambulance ASAP as time is brain – clot busters can save your brain
Symptoms of Heart failure
Weight gain weigh yourself every day. If gain 3 ibs or more – fluid retention. Need a diuretic or drink less fluid
Shortness of breath lying flat
raise the head of the bed – can use blocks
or simply use more cushions
Getting up in the middle of the night short of breath – come in.
Coughing more than usual – heart failure cough is usually frothy
(asthma coughing is usually thick and or sticky)
Symptoms of Peripheral Vascular Disease
Blockages in your arteries can affect circulation in your legs.
Symptoms are the same as angina in heart –
can get pain in your leg muscles when walking. If you stop and the
pain goes away after a few minutes, usually 5 minutes, then walk
again. If the pain comes back, it could mean your muscles are
starved of oxygen – PVD very much like heart muscles starved
of oxygen in angina.
If you have high blood pressure, tend to put weight on your belly, or if you have gout or diabetes or somewhat high sugar, you could have Metabolic Disease.
Blood clots in your deep veins are called deep vein thrombosis. The treatment can have side effects. Treatment.
If you have metabolic disease, you could consider the keto or paleo diet. I think the keto has established itself more than the paleo. The keto is very different to what specialists advocate but many other specialists feel we are on the wrong track with fats and that sugar and too many refined carbs are the problems. Always speak health care provider. Check out Keto on Diet section
Osteoporosis is common in Canadian women. Here is a link on Osteoporosis.
Medications are vital to treat coronary artery disease and may be all you need. Sometimes, the blockages in your arteries are too much and you may require a stent or a bypass surgery.
Clear with your health care provider that you are able to exercise. Exercise is vital to improving our health and if you exercise, you can build bridges around blocked arteries, feeding your muscles oxygen. Here is a video to explain.
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is known as the silent killer. Most people who have high blood pressure will not feel they have an illness. The first sign of high blood pressure could be a stroke, heart attack, or kidney failure. Even blindness. Please do not assume your blood pressure is fine because you feel fine. Normal blood pressure varies according to your conditions. Speak to your health care provider. Usually 120/80 is a great reading. If it is over 135/85 and you are under 70 years of age, speak to your health care provider.
Here is more information from Mayo Clinic and how to take your blood pressure readings at home.
High blood pressure, when even slightly uncontrolled, can lead to Kidney Disease. Check your BP once a week in the morning and the evening. Take one reading – usually ignore the first reading, then wait 3 minutes and do another one. Wait another 3 minutes and do another one. Record readings 2 and 3.
Alcohol, anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen, diclofenac, naproxen, more than 1200mg salt – these are all toxic to your kidneys. Drink a lot of water and empty bladder properly – take your time when urinating. Be careful of multivitamins. Research says they can hurt your kidneys and liver and even cause cancer, stroke, heart disease. B12, vit D, are fine.
Different puffers work differently. There are rescue inhalers – bronchodilators – (see video above) that open airways and then corticosteroids – they lower inflammation and protect the lungs over a longer period from copd flare ups.
A person can have pain in the calves and even thighs if there are blockages preventing oxygen rich blood from reaching leg muscles. You can get a type of angina of the leg. It starts with pain when you’re walking or running, then if you stop and rest, pain goes away within 5 minutes. Check the video below.
Asthma is an inflammatory disease. When using your bronchodilator – puffers like Salbutamol, also use an anti-inflammatory puffer at least once that day. These are cortisone-like puffers. They are safe, even in pregnancy. After use, swish water in the mouth and spit out to avoid thrush. Always consult your provider for side effects.
Here is another link to Diabetes.
If you want to quit smoking – here is a natural Champix.
You could try a natural product: Talk to your HCP first (doc)
L- Cystine (500mg) 1 cap every 2 hours – 6 caps per day – first 3 days
Then 1 cap every 2.5 hours – 5 caps per day – 4 to 12 days
Then 1 cap every 3 hours per day for max 4 caps per day
Then 1 cap every 5 hours max 3 caps per day
End with 1- 2 caps per day
Chronic disease often leads to erectile dysfunction. Intimacy and sexual touch is necessary for a healthy relationship with your body and your partner. Even if you live alone, you can adapt sensual touch for yourself.