7: Diabetes (diabetes mellitus)

• Deaths: 73,831
• Males: 38,324
• Females: 35,507
• Rate: 23.7
• Age-adjusted rate: 21.6
• Percentage of total deaths: 2.93%.

Diabetes is a disease in which blood glucose levels are above normal. Most of the food we eat is turned into glucose, or sugar, for our bodies to use for energy. The pancreas, an organ that lies near the stomach, makes a hormone called insulin to help glucose get into the cells of our bodies. When a person has diabetes, the body either does not make enough insulin or cannot use insulin as well as it should. This causes sugar to build up in the blood.

Diabetes can cause serious health complications including heart disease, blindness, kidney failure, and lower-extremity amputations.

Type 1 diabetes, which was previously called insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) or juvenile-onset diabetes, may account for about 5% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes, which was previously called non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) or adult-onset diabetes, may account for about 90-95% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes.

The estimated costs of diabetes in the US in 2012 was $245 billion. Direct medical costs accounted for $176 billion of that total and indirect costs such as disability, work loss and premature death accounted for $69 billion.

Warning signs and symptoms of diabetes

People who think they might have diabetes must visit a physician for diagnosis. They may have some or none of the following symptoms:

• Frequent urination
• Excessive thirst
• Unexplained weight loss
• Extreme hunger
• Sudden vision changes
• Tingling or numbness in hands or feet
• Feeling very tired much of the time
• Very dry skin
• Sores that are slow to heal
• More infections than usual.

Nausea, vomiting, or stomach pains may accompany some of these symptoms in the abrupt onset of insulin-dependent diabetes, now called type 1 diabetes.

Can diabetes be prevented?

Researchers are making progress in identifying the exact genetics and “triggers” that predispose some individuals to develop type 1 diabetes, but prevention remains elusive.

A number of studies have shown that regular physical activity can significantly reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is associated with obesity.

There is no known way to prevent type 1 diabetes. Several clinical trials for preventing type 1 diabetes are currently in progress with additional studies being planned.

The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), a large prevention study of people at high risk for diabetes, showed that lifestyle intervention that resulted in weight loss and increased physical activity in this population can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes and in some cases return blood glucose levels to within the normal range. Other international studies have shown similar results.

Recent developments on diabetes from MNT news

Diabetes rates in the US ‘leveling off’

A new study from the CDC finds that between 2008 and 2012, diabetes prevalence and incidence rates plateaued, possibly because of slowing obesity rates.

Could a single injection stop diabetes?

Researchers who gave mice with type 2 diabetes the growth factor FGF1, found it reversed diabetes and kept blood glucose within a safe range for 2 days with just one injection.

8: Influenza and pneumonia

• Deaths: 53,826
• Males: 25,401
• Females: 28,425
• Rate: 17.3
• Age-adjusted rate: 15.7
• Percentage of total deaths: 2.13%.

Influenza accounts for 1,532 deaths annually and pneumonia 52,294.

Influenza (flu) is a highly contagious viral infection that is one of the most severe illnesses of the winter season. The reason influenza is more prevalent in the winter is not known; however, data suggest the virus survives and is transmitted better in cold temperatures. Influenza is spread easily from person to person, usually when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

Influenza and pneumonia are the eighth leading cause of death in the US with around 53,826 deaths each year.

A person can have the flu more than once because the virus that causes the disease may belong to different strains of one of three different influenza virus families: A, B or C. Type A viruses tend to have a greater effect on adults, while type B viruses are a greater problem in children.

Influenza can be complicated by pneumonia, which is a serious infection or inflammation of the lungs. The air sacs fill with pus and other liquid, blocking oxygen from reaching the bloodstream. If there is too little oxygen in the blood, the body’s cells cannot work properly, which can lead to death.

Pneumonia can have over 30 different causes, including various chemicals, bacteria, viruses, mycoplasmas and other infectious agents such as pneumocystis (fungi).

Together, pneumonia and influenza cost the US economy more than $40.2 billion in 2005. This figure includes more than $6 billion due to indirect costs (such as time lost from work) and $34.2 billion due to direct costs (such as medical expenses).

Warning signs and symptoms of influenza and pneumonia

Signs and symptoms of influenza include:

• Fever
• Headache
• Cough
• Chills
• Sore throat
• Nasal congestion
• Muscle aches
• Loss of appetite
• Malaise.

Signs and symptoms of pneumonia include:

• Fever
• Wheezing
• Cough
• Chills
• Rapid breathing
• Chest pains
• Loss of appetite
• Malaise
• Feeling of weakness or ill health.

Can influenza and pneumonia be prevented?

We basically know what pneumonia is right?  If not, on problem it is this:  Pneumonia is an infection that inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs. The air sacs may fill with fluid or pus (purulent material), causing cough with phlegm or pus or mucus (color-yellow to green), fatigue, sweating, fever, chills, nausea or vomiting and difficulty breathing. A variety of organisms, including bacteria, viruses and fungi, can cause pneumonia.  Treatment is antibiotics.

Most important, methods of prevention with influenza and pneumonia include:

• Flu shot every year to prevent seasonal influenza
• Vaccination against pneumococcal pneumonia if you are at high risk of getting this type of pneumonia
• Wash hands frequently, especially after blowing nose, going to the bathroom, diapering, and before eating or preparing foods
• Do not smoke. Tobacco damages the lungs’ ability to fight off infection, and smokers have been found to be at a higher risk of getting pneumonia.
• Since pneumonia often follows respiratory infections, be aware of any symptoms that linger for more than a few days
• Good health habits – a healthy diet, rest, regular exercise, etc. – help prevent viruses and respiratory illnesses
• Hib vaccine prevents pneumonia in children from Haemophilus influenzae type B
• A drug called Synagis (palivizumab) can be given to some children younger than 24 months to prevent pneumonia caused by respiratory syncytial virus
• With cancer or HIV patients, a doctor should be consulted about additional ways to prevent pneumonia and other infections.

Recent developments on influenza and pneumonia from MNT news

Goji berries protect against the flu in new study

A study in older mice suggests that, when coupled with the flu vaccine, goji berries offer extra protection against the flu by boosting the immune system and diminishing symptoms.

New vaccine protects against staph-induced pneumonia

A vaccine that targeted surface proteins increased disease severity, whereas one that targeted toxins secreted by the bacteria protected against staph-induced pneumonia.

“This article describes the public health impact of Alzheimer’s disease, including prevalence and incidence, mortality and morbidity, use and costs of care, and the overall impact on family caregivers, the dementia workforce and society. The Special Report examines the patient journey from awareness of cognitive changes to potential treatment with drugs that change the underlying biology of Alzheimer’s. An estimated 6.7 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s dementia today. This number could grow to 13.8 million by 2060 barring the development of medical breakthroughs to prevent, slow or cure AD. Official death certificates recorded 121,499 deaths from AD in 2019, and Alzheimer’s disease was officially listed as the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States. In 2020 and 2021, when COVID-19 entered the ranks of the top ten causes of death, Alzheimer’s was the seventh-leading cause of death. Alzheimer’s remains the fifth-leading cause of death among Americans age 65 and older. Between 2000 and 2019, deaths from stroke, heart disease and HIV decreased, whereas reported deaths from AD increased more than 145%. This trajectory of deaths from AD was likely exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021. More than 11 million family members and other unpaid caregivers provided an estimated 18 billion hours of care to people with Alzheimer’s or other dementias in 2022. ”

Alzheimer’s Association(https://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/alz.13016)

4: Stroke (cerebrovascular diseases)

• Deaths: 128,932
• Males: 52,335
• Females: 76,597
• Rate: 41.4
• Age-adjusted rate: 37.9
• Percentage of total deaths: 5.12%.

Cerebrovascular diseases are conditions that develop as a result of problems with the blood vessels that supply the brain. Four of the most common types of cerebrovascular disease are:

• • Stroke
  • Transient ischemic attack (TIA)

• Subarachnoid hemorrhage that highly leads into a stroke, depending on how quick the hemorrhage is detected with how bad of a hemorrhage it is  When a pt comes in the ER and shows symptoms of a TIA or stroke the first thing the MD does within 10 minutes by law is order a CT of the head to see if its a clot or a hemorrhage in the brain that is causing the stroke or TIA to decide his or her pathway of treatment.  It would tell the MD decide whether to decide as surgery for a hemorrhage or if a clot start rTPA a con-         tinuous IV infusion to treat the clot if the stroke symptoms started in the past 6 (using a vein) or to 8 hours (using an artery) or another treatment would be decided if it was a clot with s/s that past.

• Vascular dementia.

Every year more than 795,000 people in the US have a stroke; risk of having a stroke varies with race, ethnicity, age and geography. Risk of stroke increases with age, yet in 2009 34% of people hospitalized for stroke were younger than 65 years.

The highest death rates from stroke in the US occur in the southeast.

 Major warning signs and symptoms of stroke

During a stroke, every second counts. Fast treatment can reduce the brain damage that stroke can cause.

Signs and symptoms of stroke include sudden:¹³

• Numbness or weakness in the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
• Confusion, trouble speaking or difficulty understanding speech
• Trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or lack of coordination
• Severe headache with no known cause.

Call 9-1-1 immediately if any of the above symptoms are experienced.

If you think someone may be having a stroke, act F.A.S.T. and do the following simple test:

• F – Face: ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
• A – Arms: ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
• S – Speech: ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?
• T – Time: if you observe any of these signs, call 9-1-1 immediately.

Note the time when any symptoms first appear. Some treatments for stroke only work if given within the first 3 hours after symptoms appear.

Do not drive to the hospital or let someone else drive you. Call an ambulance so that medical personnel can begin life-saving treatment on the way to the emergency room.

How can stroke be prevented?

High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking are major risk factors for stroke. About half of Americans (49%) have at least one of these three risk factors. Several other medical conditions and unhealthy lifestyle choices can increase your risk for stroke.

Although you cannot control all of your risk factors for stroke, you can take steps to prevent stroke and its complications.¹²

Stroke prevention measures may include:^14,15

• Eating a healthy diet
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Getting enough exercise
• Not smoking
• Limiting alcohol use
• Checking cholesterol
• Controlling blood pressure
• Managing diabetes
• Managing heart disease
• Taking medicine correctly
• Talking with a health care team.

Recent developments on stroke from MNT news:

Potassium-rich foods could lower stroke risk in older women

Researchers have found that older women whose diets involve potassium-rich foods may be at a reduced risk of stroke and have a greater life expectancy than women consuming less potassium-rich foods.

Stroke risk lowered with a high-protein diet

A diet higher in protein may reduce stroke risk by 20%, while every additional 20 grams of protein consumed each day could reduce stroke risk by 26%, according to new research.

5: Accidents (unintentional injuries)

• Deaths: 126,438
• Males: 79,257
• Females: 47,181
• Rate: 40.6
• Age-adjusted rate: 39.1
• Percentage of total deaths: 5.02%.

Accidents, also referred to as unintentional injuries, are at present the 5th leading cause of death in the US and the leading cause of death for those between the ages 1 to 44. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration say that highway crashes alone have an annual price tag of around $871 billion in economic loss and social harm, with speeding accounting for $210 billion of that figure.

Data for accidents include the following:

• Motor vehicle accidents
• Other land transport accidents
• Water, air and space accidents
• Accidental discharge of firearms
• Accidental drowning and submersion
• Falls
• Accidental exposure to smoke, fire and flames
• Accidental poisoning and exposure to noxious substances.

Possible prevention measures

Accidents cause loss and suffering to the victims and their loved ones. Methods of safety and prevention can help toward avoiding some forms of unintentional death.

Seat belts have saved an estimated 255,000 lives between 1975 and 2008.

In 2010, 10,228 people were killed in alcohol-impaired driving crashes, accounting for nearly one-third (31%) of all traffic-related deaths in the US.¹ In 2010, over 1.4 million drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics.³ That is 1% of the 112 million self-reported episodes of alcohol-impaired driving among US adults each year.⁴

Information on saving lives and protecting people from violence and injuries can be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.

Some facts or statistics show:

Violence or injury ‘responsible for almost 80% of deaths in Americans under 30’

More Americans between the ages 1-30 die due to preventable causes such as car crashes, falls and firearm-related injuries, according to a new report.

How a smartphone could prevent falls

Purdue University researchers have created a smartphone tool – called SmartGait – that can measure a person’s walking gait, which they say could prevent falls.

6: Alzheimer’s disease

• Deaths: 84,974
• Males: 25,677
• Females: 59,297
• Rate: 27.3
• Age-adjusted rate: 24.7
• Percentage of total deaths: 3.37%.

Dementia is an overall term for diseases and conditions characterized by a decline in memory or other thinking skills that affect a person’s ability to perform everyday activities. Dementia is caused by damage to nerve cells in the brain which are called neurons. As a result of the damage, neurons can no longer function normally and may die. This, in turn, can lead to changes in memory, behavior and the ability to think clearly.

Alzheimer’s is the sixth leading cause of death in the US with around 84,974 deaths each year.

For people with Alzheimer’s disease, the damage and death of neurons eventually impair the ability to carry out basic bodily functions such as walking and swallowing.

People in the final stages of the disease are bed-bound and require around-the-clock care. Alzheimer’s is ultimately fatal. Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 60-80% of dementia cases.

An estimated 5.2 million Americans may have Alzheimer’s disease in 2014, including approximately 200,000 individuals younger than age 65 who have younger-onset Alzheimer’s.

Almost two-thirds of American seniors living with Alzheimer’s are women. Of the 5 million people age 65 and older with Alzheimer’s in the US, 3.2 million are women, and 1.8 million are men.

In 2013, 15.5 million family and friends provided 17.7 billion hours of unpaid care to those with Alzheimer’s and other dementias – care valued at $220.2 billion, which is nearly eight times the total revenue of McDonald’s in 2012.

Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most expensive conditions in the nation. In 2014, the direct costs to American society of caring for those with Alzheimer’s will total an estimated $214 billion, including $150 billion in costs to Medicare and Medicaid. Despite these staggering figures, Alzheimer’s will cost an estimated $1.2 trillion (in today’s dollars) in 2050.

A woman’s estimated lifetime risk of developing Alzheimer’s at age 65 is 1 in 6, compared with nearly 1 in 11 for a man. As real a concern as breast cancer is to women’s health, women in their 60s are about twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s during the rest of their lives as they are to develop breast cancer.

Warning signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease

The following are common signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s:

• Memory loss that disrupts daily life
• Challenges in planning or solving problems
• Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, work or in leisure
• Confusion with time or place
• Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships
• New problems with words in speaking or writing
• Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
• Decreased or poor judgment
• Withdrawal from work or social activities
• Changes in mood and personality, including apathy and depression.

Can Alzheimer’s be prevented?

As the exact cause of Alzheimer’s disease is still unknown, there is no way to prevent the condition. However, there are some steps you can take that may help to delay the onset of dementia.²⁶

Reducing your risk of cardiovascular disease

Cardiovascular disease (disease of the heart or blood vessels) has been connected with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia.

Risk of developing cardiovascular disease, as well as stroke and heart attacks, may be reduced by improving cardiovascular health using steps such as:

• Stopping smoking
• Avoiding large quantities of alcohol
• Eating a healthy balanced diet
• Exercising for at least 150 minutes (2 hours and 30 minutes) every week by doing moderate-intensity aerobic activity (such as cycling or fast walking), which improve both your physical and mental health
• Check blood pressure through regular health tests
• If you have diabetes, make sure you keep to the diet and take your medicine.

Staying mentally active

Evidence suggests rates of dementia are lower in mentally, physically and socially active people. It may be possible to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia by:

• Reading
• Writing for pleasure
• Learning foreign languages
• Playing musical instruments
• Taking part in adult education courses
• Playing tennis
• Playing golf
• Swimming
• Group sports, such as bowling
• Walking.

Future research

Other methods to treat or prevent Alzheimer’s may be revealed as research into the condition continues. At present, there is no evidence to support using the following to prevent dementia:

• Statins (cholesterol-lowering medicines)
• Hormone replacement therapy (when powerful chemicals are taken to replace those that your body no longer produces)
• Vitamin E (found in a variety of foods, such as olive oil, nuts and seeds)
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Learn more about Alzheimer’s

Recent developments on Alzheimer’s from MNT news

Impaired brain signaling pathway ‘may be a cause of Alzheimer’s’

Mayo Clinic researchers say a brain signaling defect in the Wnt pathway may be a cause of Alzheimer’s, and boosting Wnt signaling could prevent the disease.

Alzheimer’s disease: are we close to finding a cure?

There seems to be more focus than ever on Alzheimer’s research. But how close are scientists to developing effective prevention and treatment strategies for the disease?

“Heart disease and cancer are the top two causes of death. Though there’s no guarantee, making healthy choices can lower your chance of being affected by these and other leading causes of death.

For over a decade, heart disease and cancer have claimed the first and second spots, respectively, as the leading causes of deaths in America. Together, the two causes are responsible for 37.5 percentTrusted Source of deaths in the United States.

For more than 30 years, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been collecting and examining causes of death. This information helps researchers and doctors understand if they need to address growing epidemics in healthcare.

The numbers also help them understand how preventive measures may help people live longer and healthier lives.

The top 10 causes of death in the United States account for more than 75 percent of all deaths and this includes Cancer and COPD/Respiratory Infections.”

Healthline (https://www.healthline.com/health/leading-causes-of-death#cancer)

2.”Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S., and despite its undeniable impact on our nation, the disease often remains in the shadows. While there are many misconceptions about lung cancer, the fact is that anyone can get it and no one deserves it. About every two minutes, someone in the U.S. learns they have the disease, and every day, lung cancer takes the lives of more than 342 of our friends, neighbors and loved ones.  We are making a difference for the more than 600,000 people in the U.S. impacted by lung cancer.”

American Lung Association  (https://www.lung.org/lung-force/lung-health-barometer)

COPD includes Asthma,Bronchitis, especially Emphysema!

2: Cancer (malignant neoplasms)

• Deaths: 576,691
• Males: 302,231
• Females: 274,460
• Rate: 185.1
• Age-adjusted rate: 169.0
• Percentage of total deaths: 22.92%.

Cancer affects men and woman of all ages, races and ethnicities.⁵ The National Institutes of Health (NIH) estimate the total costs of cancer in 2009 were $216.6 billion: $86.6 billion for direct medical costs and $130.0 billion for indirect mortality costs.

Cancer is a group of diseases characterized by the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells. If the spread is not controlled, it can result in death.

In 2014, about 585,720 American are expected to die of cancer – almost 1,600 people per day.

Lung cancer accounts for more deaths than any other cancer in both men and women. Deaths from cancer of the trachea, bronchus and lung stand at 157,017 annually with this figure expected to rise to 159,260 in 2014.

Estimated cancer-related deaths for 2014

Leading causes of death from cancer for males:

1. Lung and bronchus – 86,930 (28%)
2. Prostate – 29,480 (10%)
3. Colon and rectum – 26,270 (8%)
4. Pancreas – 20,170 (7%)
5. Liver and intrahepatic bile duct – 15,870 (5%)
6. Leukemia – 14,040 (5%)
7. Esophagus – 12,450 (4%)
8. Urinary bladder – 11,170 (4%)
9. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma – 10,470 (3%)
10. Kidney and renal pelvis – 8,900 (3%).

Leading causes of death from cancer for females:

1. Lung and bronchus – 72,330 (26%)
2. Breast – 40,000 (15%)
3. Colon and rectum – 24,040 (9%)
4. Pancreas – 19,420 (7%)
5. Ovary – 14,270 (5%)
6. Leukemia – 10,050 (4%)
7. Uterine corpus – 8,590 (3%)
8. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma – 8,520 (3%)
9. Liver and intrahepatic bile duct – 7,130 (3%)
10. Brain and other nervous system – 6,230 (2%).

Can cancer be prevented?

A substantial proportion of cancers could be prevented. All cancers caused by cigarette smoking and heavy use of alcohol could be prevented completely. In 2014, almost 176,000 of the estimated 585,720 deaths will be caused by tobacco use.

The World Cancer Research Fund has estimated that up to one-third of cancer cases that occur in economically developed countries like the US are related to being overweight, obese, inactive or having poor nutrition. These are all potentially preventable.

Particular cancers are related to infectious agents such as human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) – these may be prevented through behavioral changes and use of protective vaccinations or antibiotic treatments.

Many of the more than 3 million skin cancer cases that are diagnosed annually could be prevented by protecting skin from excessive sun exposure and avoiding indoor tanning.

Screening offers the ability for secondary prevention by detecting cancer early, before symptoms appear. Early detection usually results in less extensive treatment and better outcomes.

Screening for colorectal and cervical cancers can prevent cancer by allowing for detection and removal of pre-cancerous lesions.

Awareness about changes in the body to breasts, skin or testicles may result in detection of tumors at an earlier stage.

Learn more about cancer at the American Cancer Society or Caner treatment.com with so many other places on the internet, to our library, to our MD and much more.   All you have to do is research, take the time.

3: Chronic lower respiratory disease

• Deaths: 142,943
• Males: 67,521
• Females: 75,422
• Rate: 45.9
• Age-adjusted rate: 42.5
• Percentage of total deaths: 5.68%.

Chronic lower respiratory disease (CLRD) is a collection of lung diseases that cause airflow blockage and breathing-related issues, including primarily chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) but also bronchitis, emphysema (is due to alot of smokers) and asthma.

Bronchitis (chronic) has active and inactive stages where most get it through their lifetime.  How often has depending factors.  Bronchitis may be either acute or chronic.   Often developing from a cold or other respiratory infection, acute bronchitis is very common.

*Chronic bronchitis, a more serious condition, is a constant irritation or inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tubes, often due to smoking.

*Acute bronchitis usually improves within a few days without lasting effects, although you may continue to cough for weeks. However, if you have repeated bouts of bronchitis, you may have chronic bronchitis, which requires medical attention.

A study released by The American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) estimated that 16.4 million days of work were lost annually because of COPD, and total absenteeism costs were $3.9 billion. Of the medical costs, 18% was paid for by private insurance, 51% by Medicare, and 25% by Medicaid. National medical costs are projected to increase from $32.1 billion in 2010 to $49.0 billion in 2020.^8,9

Major warning signs and symptoms of COPD

Signs and symptoms of COPD may include:

• Increased breathlessness when active
• A persistent cough with phlegm
• Frequent chest infections.

How can COPD be prevented?

In the US, tobacco smoke is a KEY FACTOR in the development and progression of COPD=EMPHYSEMA, although exposure to air pollutants in the home and workplace, genetic factors, and respiratory infections also play a role.⁷

Smoking is a primary risk factor of COPD since it causes primarily emphysema, and approximately 80% of COPD deaths can be attributed to smoking.   Emphysema damages the tissue of the lung called alveoli causing them to expand and not have the elasticity they need to exchange 0xygen for carbon dioxide when we breath.  Most importantly when the alveoli looses the elasticity it can’t be fixed unless you need a new lung and are a candidate for one.   So regular daily smokers why don’t you just drink poison?  Best is to not smoke at all but at least do it once in a awhile.  Abusing anything usually turns into injury (For example take alcohol to simply verbally or physically abusing and doing it over and over again which makes it easier to do which isn’t right to do at all.  Abuse is just used as an exampte not that it is right at all, I reenforce)

To prevent COPD:

• Quit smoking
• Avoid secondhand smoke
• Avoid air pollution
• Avoid chemical fumes
• Avoid dust

The FDA have approved the once-daily inhaled drug olodaterol (brand name Striverdi Respimat), a long-acting beta-agonist, for the treatment of airflow obstruction in COPD patients.

Doctors are missing chances to diagnose COPD early in up to 85% of cases

COPD is a progressive disease that causes irreversible damage to the lungs. Now, a new study reveals that doctors are missing chances to diagnose the condition early.

If this correct than that gives us as people not to depend just on the MD but to take care of ourselves in particular on preventative measures to give you higher odds that you will not even have to deal with the diagnosis at all.

“The world’s biggest killer is ischaemic heart disease, responsible for 13% of the world’s total deaths. Since 2000, the largest increase in deaths has been for this disease, rising by 2.7 million to 9.1 million deaths in 2021.  The world’s biggest killer is ischaemic heart disease, responsible for 13% of the world’s total deaths. Since 2000, the largest increase in deaths has been for this disease, rising by 2.7 million to 9.1 million deaths in 2021.  Keep in mind COVID 19 had a factor in 2021 but still the leading 1 killer.”

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – CDC (https://www.cdc.gov/heart-disease/data-research/facts-stats/index.html)

1-Heart Disease

It is still the number one killer even greater than cancer in both men and women today. This disease should be rare do to a lot of cardiac disease is inflicted upon humans through being overweight through just bad healthy habits practiced. Obesity can cause diabetes II, heart disease, high blood pressure, and more. High blood pressure is called the “silent killer” because it often has no warning signs or symptoms, and many people don’t realize they have it. That’s why it’s important to get your blood pressure checked regularly. The good news is that you can take steps to prevent high blood pressure, or to treat it if it is already high.

What we can do is make some changes in our living. We westerners create an increase in diabetes, heart disease and some cancers. AMERICA WE NEED TO WAKE UP AND MAKE A CHANGE. TO THE MAIN CULPRITES we are talking about sugars and fat (OUR DIET). GLUCOSE and LIPIDS!. The typical American diet is consisted and loaded with sugar and fats. Lack of exercise and stress doesn’t help the situation. Get peace of mind through again making changes in your life if you are striving to become healthier. Let’s look at cholesterol = 2 types HDL and LDL. LDL is the bad cholesterol. Know if your LDL is type A or type B. If you have a high HDL level and a low LDL that is good but ask your doctor to see if you can get a blood test checking both type A and type B of your cholesterol that will give you the knowledge if you need to take an action. Go to CDC.org to see the different number ranges of both men and women on their levels and more. Just knowing your cholesterol level isn’t enough but does give the doctor some direction. Knowing if your type A or type B LDL helps even more with knowing your risk of heart disease.

Cholesterol only becomes a problem if the LDL gets too high with high pattern type B which is worse with stress and smoking and processed foods in high amounts eaten. Particles called lipoproteins carry cholesterol in the blood. There are two kinds of lipoproteins you need to know about: LDL and HDL. The plasma lipoprotein particles classified under high-density (HDL) and low-density (LDL) lipoproteins enable fats to be carried in the blood stream.

-Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) cholesterol make up the majority of the body’s cholesterol. LDL is known as “bad” cholesterol because having high levels can lead to a buildup in the arteries and result in heart disease.

-High-density lipoproteins (HDL) cholesterol absorb cholesterol and carry it back to the liver, which flushes it from the body. High levels of HDL, or “good” cholesterol, reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Apolipoprotein A1 (apoA1) is the major protein of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and apoB is among the major proteins of very low-, low- (LDL), and intermediate-density lipoproteins. Because of their associations with the respective lipoproteins, apoA1 is inversely and apoB is positively associated with cardiovascular risk (2). In fact, evidence suggests that apoA1 and apoB are better predictors of heart disease risk than are HDL and LDL cholesterol levels (3-5). Apolipoproteins may also offer advantages over lipoprotein cholesterol measurements because they are direct measurements, whereas LDL, for example, is calculated from other lipoproteins from a fasting blood sample.

You can take several steps to maintain a normal cholesterol level.

• Get a blood test.
• Eat a healthy diet.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Exercise regularly.
• Don’t smoke.
• Treat high cholesterol.

Heart disease what is it? Your arteries can get stretched in high blood pressure and it puts the arteries at risk for an auto immune response which allows LDL particles to go in these stretched out areas causing build up of bad cholesterol in the arteries and imbeds fat causing the placque build up = narrowing of the arteries.

We need to reduce inflammation in the arteries. To prevent, reduce, and treat heart

Heart disease what is it? Your arteries can get stretched in high blood pressure and it puts the arteries at risk for an auto immune response which allows LDL particles to go in these stretched out areas causing build up of bad cholesterol in the arteries and imbeds fat causing the placque build up = narrowing of the arteries.

We need to reduce inflammation in the arteries. To prevent, reduce, and treat heart disease if already diagnosed with. Reduce all sugars, cut back on fatty foods, exercise daily, increase of your whole grains, fresh fruits, and vegetables. We need to use all 4 food groups but eat the healthy ones in the right portions. Which I can provide to you later how to go about this.

disease if already diagnosed with. Reduce all sugars, cut back on fatty foods, exercise daily, increase of your whole grains, fresh fruits, and vegetables. We need to use all 4 food groups but eat the healthy ones in the right portions. Which I can provide to you later how to go about this.

In the United States, the most common type of heart disease is coronary artery disease (CAD), which leads many to heart attacks. You can greatly reduce your risk for CAD through lifestyle changes and, in some cases, medication. CAD consists of cholesterol and placque build up, even tar if a smoker, that can be deadly in time with blocking the arteries called atherosclerosis. This in time left untreated can lead to a heart attack or even silent heart attack. CAD also is the brittling of the arteries causing narrowing of the arteries called arteriosclerosis. Here it is the ending result is the blood supply is affected in not getting enough oxygen throughout our body to our tissues.

Coronary artery disease can cause a heart attack. If you have a heart attack, you are more likely to survive if you know the signs and symptoms, call 9-1-1 immediately, and get to a hospital quickly. People who have had a heart attack can also reduce the risk of future heart attacks or strokes by making lifestyle changes and taking medication. Don’t put off the chest pain or discomfort in the chest or pain down the L arm for if your right you want to prevent the heart attack before it occurs and if you already had an attack the sooner treated the better. Reperfusion of blood to the heart is the KEY in treatment. Chest pain to the heart is lack of oxygen getting to the heart tissue=ischemia. We alone can’t treat it but we can prevent it before CAD even sets in through good health practices daily, healthy dieting daily and balancing rest with exercise daily.

Look at our diet alone in America: Take the elements that are in our food=Sugars or Carbohydrates or Fats. Simple CHO likes bread, rice, pasta along with fats and complex sugars all convert to simple sugars in the stomach and when it goes through digestion and the simple sugar reaches the blood stream filling it up with sugar which first does get utilized to our tissues and cells but if still extra sugar in the blood stream that sugar has to go somewhere which is by filling up the liver with it. In the liver the glucose gets converted from active sugar=glucose to glycogen=inactive sugar that stores in this organ. This is so if and when the body needs extra sugar for energy in our body and we don’t eat the inactive glucose glycogen will get released back into the blood stream and change to glucose and be used. Since we eat so much in America it usually isn’t the case. Obesity is so large in our country and this is why. When it reaches full and can’t store anymore still this glucose extra glucose in the blood stream has to go somewhere. So now the glucose gets stored in our fatty tissue=weight gain. This is what you see with eating through on a regular basis day in & day out too much food compared to the activity or exercise you get for the day. If no daily exercise then your fat storage build up is high=weight gain.

How do we go about preventing CAD and getting healther. Well see if this makes sense to you, it did to me. First, genetic abnormalities contribute to the risk for certain types of heart disease, which in turn may lead to heart failure. However, in most instances, a specific genetic link to heart failure has not been identified.

SO THE KEY TO PREVENTION OF CAD IS TO LIVE AS HEALTHY AS POSSIBLE IN YOUR ROUTINE HABITS, YOUR DIETING OF THE 4 FOOD GROUPS, MAINTAINING YOUR WEIGHT IN A THEREPEUTIC RANGE (look as calculating BMI online for free to find out what your weight range for your height is), and BALANCING REST WITH EXERCISE TO HELP DECREASE THE CHANCE OF GETTING HEART FAILURE.

“If you have Graves’ disease and eye symptoms, it could be Thyroid Eye Disease (TED)

TED is an autoimmune disease in which the eye muscles and fatty tissue behind the eye become inflamed. This inflammation can push the eyes forward (“staring” or “bulging”) or cause the eyes and eyelids to become red and swollen. In some individuals, the inflammation may involve the eye muscles, causing the eyes to become out of line, leading to double vision. In rare cases, TED can cause blindness from pressure on the nerve in the back of the eye or ulcers that form on the front of the eye (cornea).

TED is an autoimmune disease, meaning that the inflammation and scarring are caused by an attack from the body’s immune system. TED is primarily associated with an over-active thyroid gland due to Graves’ disease, although it can rarely occur in patients with an under-active or normally functioning thyroid gland. About a quarter of patients with Graves’ disease develop TED before, during or after the diagnosis of a thyroid disorder. TED is also known as Graves’ orbitopathy (GO) or Graves’ eye disease (GED).

Smokers are two to eight times more likely to develop TED.  Smoking causes vasoconstriction of the vessels.

The most common symptoms of TED include:

• Bags under the eyes
• Blurred/double vision
• Change of the eyes’ appearance (usually staring/bulging)
• Difficulty moving the eyes
• Dry or watery eyes
• Gritty feeling in the eyes
• Low tolerance of bright lights
• Pain in or behind the eye — especially when looking up, down, or sideways
• Redness of the lids and eyes
• Swelling or fullness in one or both upper eyelids
• Signs that your condition may be more due to TED include:
  • Symptoms occur in the wrong season for hay-fever.
  • Symptoms include eye ache/pain, especially with eye movement.
  • You develop double vision. This is serious and is likely from TED.

Treatment of TED:

When symptoms of TED develop, they can be progressive for the first six to twelve months. So, early diagnosis and treatment is important to prevent the condition from worsening. For mild TED, artificial tear drops will help with dry eye relief. Selenium supplements can also be beneficial. For severe TED, steroids and/or orbital radiotherapy may be considered. Some patients with TED are left with permanent double vision or a change in the appearance of their eyes, for which surgery may be recommended. Surgery is typically performed as a part of rehabilitative therapy once the inflammation has resolved and may involve:

• Decompression surgery, which removes bone and soft tissue from behind the eye to create more space.
• Eye muscle surgery, which corrects severe double vision.
• Eyelid surgery, which improves the appearance and function of the eyelids.

Other recommendations for TED patients can include:

• Prism glasses for double vision
• High-dose steroid medications and/or radiation to improve inflammation and double vision
• Support groups/counseling to address the social and psychological effects of the appearance of the eyes

Patients can control the severity of TED symptoms by:

• Quitting smoking. TED treatments are less effective for current smokers.
• Taking selenium supplements, which are available over the counter.
• Maintaining normal levels of thyroid hormones. Test your blood regularly and follow your doctor’s instructions, including taking prescribed medications.

“Alagille syndrome is a genetic disorder that can affect the liver, heart, and other parts of the body.

One of the major features of Alagille syndrome is liver damage caused by abnormalities in the bile ducts. These ducts carry bile (which helps to digest fats) from the liver to the gallbladder and small intestine. In Alagille syndrome, the bile ducts may be narrow, malformed, and reduced in number (bile duct paucity). As a result, bile builds up in the liver and causes scarring that prevents the liver from working properly to eliminate wastes from the bloodstream. Signs and symptoms arising from liver damage in Alagille syndrome may include a yellowish tinge in the skin and the whites of the eyes (jaundice), itchy skin, and deposits of cholesterol in the skin (xanthomas).

Alagille syndrome is also associated with several heart problems, including impaired blood flow from the heart into the lungs (pulmonic stenosis). Pulmonic stenosis may occur along with a hole between the two lower chambers of the heart (ventricular septal defect and other heart abnormalities. This combination of heart defects is called tetralogy of Fallot.”

MedicinePlus (https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/alagille-syndrome/)