AMM'S FREQUENTLY REQUESTED HEALTH INFORMATION LIBRARY TOPICS
ALCOHOLISM:CAUSES
ARTHRITIS: WHAT IS IT?
WEIGHT: WEIGHT MANAGEMENT
HEART ATTACK AND STROKE: REDUCING YOUR RISK
HEARTBURN





ALCOHOLISM:CAUSES

Alcoholism is a chronic illness characterized by the habitual consumption of alcohol. Some alcoholics drink daily. Others drink less often, but the drinking becomes out of control. Alcohol use is abuse to the degree that it interferes with physical or mental health or with normal social and work behavior.


Alcohol produces both physical and psychological addiction. It is a central nervous system depressant that reduces anxiety, inhibition, and feelings of guilt. It lowers alertness and impairs perception, judgment, and motor coordination. In high doses, it can cause loss of consciousness and even death. Chronic alcoholism damages the brain, liver, heart, and other organs.


Many people wonder what causes alcoholism. No one can become an alcoholic if they do not drink alcohol. For people who do choose to drink alcohol, some seem to be able to drink without problems, while others do not. Nonetheless:

  • There are certain signs and symptoms of alcoholism that are the same for every alcoholic.
  • There are certain "stages" that each alcoholic will go through if the disease is not treated.
  • Alcoholism is chronic, and the disease won't go away on its own.
  • Without treatment, alcoholism can cause death.
  • Alcoholism can be treated.

We can think of alcoholism like we think of other diseases. Some people are more at risk for the disease. They can learn ways to live with the disease and take care of themselves. As in other diseases, if the person refuses treatment, the disease will get worse, and the person may even die.


Risk factors for alcoholism in people who drink alcohol include:

  • a family member who is alcoholic
  • a history of other substance abuse
  • depression
  • anxiety
  • post-traumatic stress syndrome or
  • bipolar disorder

Research has shown that alcoholics may not be able to metabolize alcohol in the way other people can. It may never be completely understood what causes alcoholism, but there is treatment for alcoholism. If an alcoholic decides to get treatment, he or she has a very good chance of living a long and healthy life.



ARTHRITIS: WHAT IS IT?

Arthritis is an inflammatory disorder of the joints that may produce pain and swelling that lasts a lifetime. It affects and limits everyday activities and is a leading cause of disability. Millions of people have arthritis.


Joints are composed of two or more bones, cartilage that cushions and separates the bones, and ligaments that attach the bones together. When joints become injured or diseased, they swell. Over 100 types of arthritis affect the joints and connective tissues of the body.


Inflammation is a normal part of the body's defense system. It is a natural reaction to injury. Inflammation causes swelling, pain, and redness. It also decreases motion in the affected area. With arthritis, inflammation becomes part of the problem. It causes tissue damage that the body tries to handle by creating more inflammation. This painful cycle of destruction damages the joint and limits its function.


The cause of arthritis is unknown, although clues are being uncovered. For example, people with certain gene types are prone to certain forms of arthritis. Certain types of infections can trigger the onset of arthritis.


Each type of arthritis has different symptoms and patterns and each requires different treatments. The most common forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, followed by fibromyalgia, gout, scleroderma, and juvenile arthritis.


Some forms of arthritis go through cycles of getting better and worse. A flare-up means the disease is more active. During this time, there is increased morning stiffness, more pain and swelling in the joints, involvement of new joints, and increased tiredness and fatigue.


If you are having symptoms of arthritis, see your healthcare provider for a proper evaluation, diagnosis, and a treatment plan. Treatment for most forms of arthritis includes medications, exercise, and rest. Joint protection and surgery are sometimes needed as well.



WEIGHT: WEIGHT MANAGEMENT

Do you want to be successful in controlling your weight? Then eat lowfat foods and burn more calories by exercising. The body burns calories 24 hours a day. Any activity burns more calories than sleeping or sitting. Exercise burns the most calories. It melts away unwanted inches and pounds. Losing fat is a slow process that requires appropriate habits for both dieting and exercising. Exercise is the key to successful and permanent fat loss.


Overweight people usually burn fewer calories than fit people. They are usually less active. Their bodies are less efficient at burning calories and more efficient at storing them. Fit people burn extra calories before any can be stored as fat in the body. Overweight people store extra calories as fat. Exercise changes metabolism. Regular exercise allows overweight people to lose fat and control their weight.


What activity, how often, how hard, and how long are important questions to ask when adding exercise to your lifestyle. The most effective workout program includes both aerobic exercise and strength training. The combination yields faster fat loss at any age. Aerobic exercise increases metabolism. Strength or weight training builds muscle. Muscle rids the body of excess fat by burning fat for fuel. Heart rate, speed, strength, and metabolism all improve, as one gets fitter and trimmer.


The phrase, "no pain no gain," is simply not true. Avoid pain. Do not try to whip yourself into shape in just a few weeks, because it does not work. It takes months to achieve permanent fat loss in a healthy way. Quick weight loss through dieting alone is not just fat loss. It is really a combination of water, muscle, and fat loss. The bathroom scale cannot tell the difference. That's why it is important to adapt regular physical exercise into your lifestyle.


It takes time to achieve weight loss and fitness goals and a lifetime to maintain them. An active lifestyle that includes daily exercise burns more calories than a sedentary lifestyle, which stores more calories as fat.


Get a medical checkup before starting any exercise program. Beginners should work with a certified exercise leader. This ensures that a safe and proper workout program is prescribed for their health condition.



HEART ATTACK AND STROKE: REDUCING YOUR RISK

Lifestyle can contribute to, or prevent, a heart attack or stroke. The first step you can take to reduce your chance for having a heart attack or stroke is to stop unhealthy habits that contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease. To do this, you must know the factors that are increasing your risk. Risk factors are warnings of a person's increased risk of having a heart attack or stroke. Some risk factors cannot be changed, however, some can be changed to reduce the risk.


Unchangeable major risk factors include:

  • family history (heart disease and stroke tend to run in families)
  • race (African Americans are at higher risk for heart disease due to high blood pressure and stroke due to the sickle cell genetic disorder)
  • sex (men have higher risk of heart attack early in life; for stroke, men and women have the same incidence, but women are more likely to die of stroke) and
  • over age 60 (as we get older, the risk of heart disease and stroke increases for women and men)

Changeable risk factors include:

  • cigarette and tobacco smoking
  • overweight and obesity
  • high blood cholesterol
  • high blood pressure
  • physical inactivity
  • careful management of diabetes
  • stress and
  • excessive alcohol intake

High blood pressure makes the heart work harder. It causes the heart to enlarge and weaken over time. It also raises the risk of stroke, heart attack, kidney failure, and heart failure. The risk of heart attack is 3 times greater when someone with high blood pressure, smokes, is overweight, or has high blood cholesterol, or diabetes. Control of high blood pressure reduces the risk of stroke and heart attack. Often, simply eating a healthier diet and maintaining proper weight can control blood pressure. Drugs to control blood pressure are also available.


High blood cholesterol makes someone more likely to get heart disease. The risk of a heart attack or stroke becomes higher as cholesterol levels rise and especially when other risks are present, such as high blood pressure, and smoking. A diet high in saturated fat and cholesterol raises blood cholesterol and can cause the buildup of fatty deposits on the walls of arteries. This buildup is called atherosclerosis.


Smoking is a major risk for heart disease. Smokers are more likely than nonsmokers to die suddenly from a heart attack or stroke. Smoking causes the heart to work harder. Constant exposure to second-hand smoke also increases the risk for heart attack and stroke.


Other risk factors for heart attack are diabetes, overweight, and stress. Persons with diabetes often die of some form of heart or blood vessel disease. People who have too much body fat are more likely to develop heart disease, even if they have no other risk factors. In addition, people who carry most of their excess fat around the middle are at greater risk. Being overfat makes the heart work harder and can lead to diabetes or increased cholesterol and blood pressure. Prolonged, excessive stress can hurt the health of the heart.


Lack of exercise is a major risk factor for heart attack. The heart is a muscle and if it is out of shape, it does not work as well as it should. Routine exercise plays a crucial role in preventing heart and blood vessel disease. Adults should get at least 30 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise most days of the week, preferably daily. (Children need at least 60 minutes a day.) Doing less than this will minimize your health benefits. Moderate aerobic exercise is generally defined as requiring about as much energy as walking 2 miles in 30 minutes.


Aerobic exercise is the best for your heart. Exercises like walking, swimming, jogging, skating, cross-country skiing, and bicycling are aerobic. A good rule to follow when exercising is that if you are too short of breath to talk normally with another person while exercising, you are exercising too hard and need to slow down.


If you are planning to start an exercise program, check with your healthcare provider first. A specific exercise program may be needed for certain health conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, osteoporosis, or overweight. Having a family history of heart disease and being over age 40 for men or 50 for women may also call for specific exercise recommendations that your provider can give to you.


How to reduce your risk of heart attack or stroke:

  • have regular medical check ups
  • lose weight if you are overweight or overfat
  • exercise daily
  • eat a low cholesterol, low fat, and low salt diet
  • avoid alcoholic drinks if you have high blood pressure or heart problems
  • control blood sugar if you have diabetes and
  • quit smoking


HEARTBURN

Heartburn is a burning pain in the chest at the lower end of the breastbone. There may be a sour or bitter taste in the mouth or throat. This pain usually happens after a big meal or when lying down after eating. It can last from a few minutes to several hours. Heartburn is very common. Despite the name, heartburn has nothing to do with the heart.


Heartburn is caused by acid in the stomach backing up into the esophagus. The esophagus is the tube that takes food from the mouth to the stomach. The area where the esophagus connects to the stomach has a ring-like muscle that acts like a gate. When food is swallowed, the muscle closes to keep the stomach acid in the stomach. When it does not close acid can get into the esophagus. The stomach has a special lining to protect it from the acid. The esophagus does not have this lining. So when acid gets into the esophagus, it becomes irritated and starts burning. Sometimes the acid may come up into the mouth. It may have a bitter or salty taste. This is called regurgitation.


Heartburn is fairly common for pregnant women. This may happen because of the baby pushing on the stomach. Other conditions associated with heartburn are obesity, hiatal hernia, peptic ulcer disease, and diabetes. It is also common after eating a big meal, when lying down or bending over shortly after eating, with certain foods, or experiencing stress.


Heartburn may occur when eating:

  • foods high in fat or sugar
  • chocolate
  • onions
  • citrus foods
  • tomato-based foods
  • spicy foods and
  • when taking some medicines

Anyone can have an attack of heartburn from overeating or eating foods that are high in acid. Most of the time heartburn is mild and lasts for a short time. There is usually not a problem when heartburn occurs just once in a while. Antacids may be used to help relieve the symptoms. If these do not work, a type of medicine called H2-receptor blockers can be tried. These medicines reduce the acid in the stomach and there are several available over-the-counter.


If heartburn occurs several times a week, comes back when the antacid wears off, or awakens you at night, make an appointment with a healthcare provider. Heartburn that happens more than occasionally is called GERD or gastroesophageal reflux disease. People with GERD often need prescription medicines.


Further medical evaluation will be necessary if symptoms continue in spite of medication, or if having difficulty swallowing, spitting up blood, tarry stool, or weight loss.


There are several ways to prevent heartburn with lifestyle changes. They include:

  • lose weight if overweight
  • eat smaller more frequent meals
  • eat high-protein, low-fat meals
  • avoid foods that cause heartburn
  • do not eat 2 to 3 hours before going to bed
  • raise the head of the bed 4 to 6 inches and
  • stop smoking

Seek emergency care if heartburn symptoms happen along with shortness of breath, sweating, weakness, or chest, arm, or back pain. Heartburn that is not relieved by over-the-counter medicines needs to be evaluated.