CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES

CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES

Image Source:"Heart near" by BodyParts3D/Anatomography - Anatomography. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.1 jp via Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Heart_near.png#/media/File:Heart_near.png

Cardiovascular diseases include:
a. coronary heart disease (heart attacks),
b. cerebrovascular disease,
c. raised blood pressure (hypertension),
d. peripheral artery disease,
e. rheumatic heart disease,
f. congenital heart disease, and heart failure.


The existence of the heart was well known to the Greeks, who gave it the name Kardia, still surviving in modern words such as cardiac and tachycardia. Aristotle believed that the heart was the seat of the soul and the center of man. Romans modified Kardia to Cor, the latter word still surviving in "cordial greetings". The old Teutonic word herton was also derived from Cor and gives us heart via the medieval heorte.

The term “heart disease” refers to several types of heart conditions. The most common type is coronary artery disease, which can cause heart attack. Other kinds of heart disease may involve the valves in the heart, or the heart may not pump well and cause heart failure. Some people are born with heart disease.

Anyone, including children, can develop heart disease. It occurs when a substance called plaque builds up in your arteries. When this happens, your arteries can narrow over time, reducing blood flow to the heart muscle.

Smoking, eating an unhealthy diet, and not getting enough exercise all increase your risk for having heart disease.

Having high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes also can increase your risk for heart disease. Ask your doctor about preventing or treating these medical conditions.

What are the signs and symptoms?

The symptoms vary depending on the type of heart disease. For many people, chest discomfort or a heart attack is the first sign.

Someone having a heart attack may experience several symptoms, including:

Chest pain or discomfort that doesn’t go away after a few minutes

Engaging in physical activity for at least 30 minutes every day of the week will help to prevent heart attacks and strokes.

Eating at least five servings of fruit and vegetables a day, and limiting your salt intake to less than one teaspoon a day, also helps to prevent heart attacks and strokes.

To maintain an ideal body weight, take regular physical activity and eat a healthy diet.

Cessation of tobacco use reduces the chance of a heart attack or stroke.

Use simple charts to determine your risk of developing a heart attack or a stroke.

Check your blood pressure and cholesterol regularly.

If you have diabetes, control your blood pressure and blood sugar to minimize your risk.

Head Lice Facts

Head Lice Facts

Image Source:  "Male human head louse" by Gilles San Martin - originally posted to Flickr as Male human head louse. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Male_human_head_louse.jpg#/media/File:Male_human_head_louse.jpg

1. Lice are spread by head-to-head contact and are much harder to get than a cold, the flu, ear 
infections,pink eye, strep throat or impetigo.

2. Lice do not spread any known disease, nor are they impacted by dirty or clean hygiene. They are just annoying.

3. Head lice need a blood meal every few hours and the warmth of the human scalp to survive.  When off the human body, they cannot survive for more than 24 to 36 hours.

4. Nits are glued to the hair shaft by a cement-like substance and are very hard to remove. When a nymph (baby louse) is hatched, it must quickly have the warmth and food source of a head to survive.

5. The length of a person’s hair does not impact his or her risk of getting head lice. 

6. Head lice are spread through direct head-to-head contact. The lice do not hop, jump or fly, so sitting near someone with head lice does not increase the risk of getting the lice.

7. Transmissions in schools are rare. It is more common to get head lice from family members, overnight guests and playmates who spend a lot of time together. 

8. Although spread through hats or helmets is possible, it is rare. It is more common for transmission to occur from pillows, hairbrushes or sheets. The most common type of transmission is from head-to-head contact.

9. Having regularly scheduled mass screenings does not reduce the incidence of head lice.

10. Research shows “no-nit” policies do not decrease the number of cases of head lice.  They do increase the risk of incorrect diagnosis of head lice, the number of days children are out of school, and negative social stigma associated with head lice.  They also may hinder academic performance.

11. Studies have shown the removal of nits immediately after treatment with a pediculicide is usually not necessary.

12. Head lice are specific to humans. You can get human lice only from other humans. You cannot give your pets lice.

13. Head lice is also called pediculosis. 

14. Head lice are not a major public health concern because they do not spread illness or disease.  

15. Head lice can be a bother because of the discomfort they can cause and how easily they are spread from person to person.