How To Check Your Own Heart pulse
Health Care November 30th, 2010
Jakarta, Knowing the changes in heart rate is very important to know the heart of the problem early on. Not only by using special equipment, checking the heart rate can also be done without using tools.
Heart rate is the number of heartbeats per unit time, usually expressed in beats per minute (beats per minute or bpm).
Heart rate can vary according to the body’s need for oxygen changes, such as during exercise or sleep.
Measurement of heart rate is usually used by medical professionals to assist in the diagnosis and monitoring of medical conditions. But you can also check their own heart rate without having to use specialized medical equipment.
As quoted from eHow, Monday (05/03/2010), here I check my heart rate without using special equipment:
1. Use your fingers to find the pulse
Use two fingers or three fingers, namely the index finger, middle finger and ring finger to find your pulse. But do not use your thumb because your thumb has a pulse itself.
Inspection can be done on the wrist (radial pulse) and in the neck (carotid pulse).
At the wrist, use three finger pads of index, middle and ring finger. The ideal place is below the wrist crease at the base of the thumb. Press lightly until you find the pulse (the blood pulsing beneath the fingers). If necessary, move your fingers until you find the most taut pulse.
On the neck just use two fingers, index and middle fingers. The ideal spot is about one inch to the side of the middle of the throat, right where the neck and jaw meet.
2. Check and record level, strength and rhythm
Use a clock or watch in the other. Calculate and record how many pulses that occurred within 10 seconds.
3. Multiplied by 6
Heart rate is the number of beats per minute. So the number of beats for 10 seconds multiplied by the number 6 (60 seconds each with 1 minute). The result is your heartbeat.
Slow heartbeat
Normal heart rate at rest for adult individuals ranges from 60-100 beats per minute. If someone has a heart rate below that, the doctor will be diagnosed with bradycardia (slow heartbeat).
Slow heart rate is sometimes normal and can be a sign of someone very fit. Healthy young adults and athletes often have heart rate less than 60 times per minute.
But for others, slow heartbeat may be signs of a problem with the ‘electrical systems’ heart. This marks the pacemaker is not functioning correctly or ‘power line’ the heart be disturbed.
Severe bradycardia with a heart that beats so slow, so the blood that is pumped is not sufficient to meet the needs of the body, can be life threatening.
Like dilasir from WebMD, bradycardia can be caused by:
1. Changes in the heart of which is the result of aging.
2. Diseases that damage the heart’s electrical system. These include coronary heart disease, heart attacks, and infections such as endocarditis and myocarditis.
3. Conditions that can slow electrical impulses in the heart. Examples have low thyroid levels (hypothyroidism) or an electrolyte imbalance, such as too much potassium in the blood.
4. Side effects of medications to treat heart problems or high blood pressure.
Rapid heartbeat
Heart beat faster and achieve one hundred times more diagnosed with tachycardia (rapid heartbeat).
Most people experience temporary rapid heartbeat or sinus tachycardia, a normal response to excitement, anxiety, stress, caffeine or exercise.
But if tachycardia occurs at rest or without a logical reason, it is considered abnormal. Rapid heartbeat usually occurs in people with thyroid disease, fever, or the effects of certain drugs (especially asthma and allergy medications).
In some cases, tachycardia does not cause symptoms or complications. However, tachycardia could seriously interfere with normal heart function, increasing the risk of stroke, or lead to heart failure or sudden death.
Laughter Can Improve Your Appetite
Health News November 30th, 2010
Jakarta, If you do not have time to exercise, to laugh. In some ways be equated with a laugh diligent diligent exercise, because the effect produced nearly equivalent.
Quoted from ScienceDaily, Tuesday (04/27/2010), a private research ever conducted in the 1970s by Norman Cousin, lay people who have experienced the benefits of laughter. He concluded that humor and laughter can improve health happiness, and conclusions are published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Dr. Lee S. Berk from Loma Linda University, in collaboration with Dr. Stanley Tan interested to follow up. Since the 1980s, they have pioneered research to develop these Cousin.
The result is, laughter proved to optimize the production of hormones in endocrine systems. Reduced levels of cortisol and epinephrine, and this is what causes the stress is reduced. Laughter also can enhance the immune system to stimulate antibody production.
In that study they also introduce Laughercise, a series of laughter that is claimed to have an effect equivalent to mild exercise. In addition to improving your mood and reduce stress hormones, Laughercise can improve the immune system. The other effect is to reduce levels of bad cholesterol (HDL) and blood pressure and raise levels of good cholesterol (LDL).
Affect Appetite
Recently, Berk re-examine the effects of laughter on the human body. This time he invites his colleagues at Loma Linda University, Dr. Jerry Petrofsky. The goal is to see the impact of eustress (laughs happily) and distress (hard feelings) on appetite.
In a study that lasted for three weeks, they involve 14 volunteers. Random, participants were shown a video with a pause duration of 20 minutes each a week to eliminate the effects of the previous video.
To create the effect of distress, Berk plays the first 20 minutes of footage from the film Saving Private Ryan. While for eustress, volunteers freed choose any appropriate funny videos humor them, with the same duration ie 20 minutes.
Before and after watching the video, pressures and blood samples of volunteers were observed. Two hormones that influence appetite, namely leptin and ghrelin have been observed from the serum separated from blood samples.
From observation of the volunteers who watch videos distress, Berk did not find any change in blood pressure and hormone levels. While the volunteers watched videos eustress, blood pressure and hormone levels change.
These changes are, leptin levels fall while ghrelin increases. According to Berk, the same effect was also obtained when people do a little exercise so-called beneficial to increase appetite.
Berk did not conclude that laughter can increase appetite. But observed that this research opens the possibility to find solutions troubleshooting appetite, especially for those who can not regularly exercise.
For example the elderly, depression and lack of physical activity often resulted in a decrease in appetite. This often triggers chronic pain, and reduced general health condition. The same was experienced by a widow or widower who had just left her partner.
Taxable Easy Stroke Single Men
Disease November 9th, 2010
Get married, be healthy and happy. The singles, especially men, have greater risk for stroke. Thus the conclusion of a study involving more than 10,000 men.
After the stroke, other factors aside, a single man in the 1960s to 64 percent risk for a stroke three decades (30 years) later than their counterparts who were married. However, the risk of stroke in men who get married are also still high, especially the marriage was unhappy.
The results presented at the American Stroke Association conference in 2010 was consistent with the literature that says that the support of the spouse can increase a person’s health status.
“People who are married are usually more concerned about health. They are more likely to see a doctor when sick, and tend to have a healthy diet,” said Daniel Lackland, a professor of neuroscience from Epidemiologic and Medical University of South Caroline, USA.
The study of stroke and marital status was conducted by scientists in Israel, involving 10 059 men who participated in the Israeli ischemic Heart Disease Study in 1963. By using records of death, researchers looking for a track record of the health of the respondents until 1997.
Approximately 8.4 percent of the unmarried in 1963, both the still-single, divorced, or widower since his wife died, apparently died of a stroke after 34 year. The figure is slightly higher than married people, 7.1 percent.
The analysis result also shows socioeconomic factors and other risk factors, such as obesity, hypertension, and smoking. Presence or absence of diabetes and heart disease at the beginning of the study also calculated.
Although this study involved only men respondents, the researchers said that the risk is not much different than the female. “Our partner is usually more concerned with the symptoms or signs of disease that we suffer so much faster treatment. As a result, the risk of complications or fatal strokes would be reduced,” explained Lackland.
12 Myths About Condoms
Health Care November 9th, 2010
Jakarta, Still many people are reluctant to use condoms because the real reason was a myth. Yet condoms could prevent transmission of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) if there is one that is not healthy.
Condoms are protective devices during sex which is made from materials such as latex or polyurethane rubber which one end is open.
Condoms are used to protect people from sexually transmitted diseases (sexually transmitted disease / STD) such as AIDS, syphilis and others. It also helps couples to avoid unwanted pregnancies.
As quoted from GeniusBeauty, Tuesday (05/11/2010), the following 12 myths about condom use:
1. Buying condoms is embarrassing
There are some people who think like that, buy a condom is a shameful thing. If you are embarrassed to say ‘buy condom’ to the seller, then you can buy condoms at the supermarket, so do not be embarrassed to buy them.
2. Transmitted infections or pregnancy can occur even with the use of condoms
If you use a condom properly, it can minimize the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases or prevent pregnancy.
3. Condoms must be purchased men
The logic was that memakailah a must buy. But in fact, more than 35 percent of consumers who buy condoms are women.
4. Affect the enjoyment of using a condom
Condoms are made of thin, elastic and durable, which practically does not reduce the enjoyment at all. In addition, there is also equipped with a lubricant condoms especially with water-based materials, which are recommended for those who experience orgasm problems.
5. Using condoms painful
Almost all condoms have a silicone or water-based lubricants, which prevent the pain when used. If you have experience pain during sex, then you should consult with your doctor to make sexual health checks, not connect the pain with a condom.
6. Healthier sex without a condom because there is an exchange of hormones
True, having sex without a condom can treat depression in women. But the negative effects such as unwanted pregnancy, abortion or sexually transmitted diseases can occur, and this could result in more unhealthy.
7. Married couples can have sex without condoms
Viral infections can not only be transmitted through sex-change bergonta couples, but also in public transportation, swimming pool, gym, and others. In the long term, Herpes virus can suddenly ‘wake up’, which are passively held by almost all organisms.
8. There are two condom sizes, small (Asia) and large (western countries)
Condoms can be divided into three groups depending on the size, ie 48-50 mm, 51-53 mm, 54-56 mm. The length of a typical condom is 19-20 cm.
9. Awkward to tell the couple when to use condoms
Many people think that if they ask their partners to use condoms, they would be offended. In fact, the proposal is extra care on the health of their partners. In addition, the event the use of condoms, can be a special moment that will enhance harmonious relationships.
10. Using a condom is better equipped with the cream, oil or gel
That is not true. Apart from the fact that certain creams and gels can cause itching, allergic reaction or burnt, they also may have effects that can damage latex condoms and lubricants.
11. All condoms have tiny holes that can still transmit AIDS
Condom sales are obtained permission to pass the test of hermiticity and inflammation, which proves the lack of holes in condoms.
12. Condoms interfere with sexual spontaneity
If you and your partner agree to use condoms from the beginning, then it will not interfere with your sexual spontaneity.
Disease Due to Mad Work
Health Tips November 9th, 2010
New Jersey, Some people may feel proud to claim him ‘workaholism’ or a workaholic. But apparently there are many health problems that lurk the geeks to work. What are the diseases caused by a workaholic?
Literally, unlike workaholics hard worker. More hardworking marked with persistence and determination in working. While working geeks will feel panic, anxiety or feeling lost something when they’re not working.
“Mad is addicted to work constantly on the move. This behavior continues even though they realize that it is dangerous to themselves, which ultimately damage the quality of work,” said Diane M. Fassel, author of “Working Ourselves to Death ‘and the Chief Executive of the New Action employee satisfaction survey, as reported from PersonalDevelopment, Monday (03/05/2010).
According to Fassel, unlike workaholic addicted to drugs or alcohol. Crazy people who will work praised or rewarded for their work in a loyal, even exceeded the time limit set by the company. This is what causes many people a negative view of the geeks do not work.
However, experts consider that workaholics can cause mental and physical damage.
“Mad work is dangerous and risky business for the human body,” said Gayle Porter, an Associate Professor of Management at Rutgers School of Business at Camden, New Jersey, who learned about a workaholic.
People will ignore the workaholic personal health and to lose sleep, eat with malnutrition, and consume cigarettes or caffeine to keep them awake, which can cause various diseases and death at a young age.
Here are some diseases caused by the madness of the job as quoted from health.com, namely:
1. Kidney stones
Time to sit too long, less drinking and frequent urination resist. On the other hand the food consumed high calcium and oxalate-rich hard late in the body. As a result of urinary tract infection or blockage occur. Blockage in the urine can make the crystals become kidney stones.
2. Constipation
Time to sit for too long makes less mobile that is not balanced by drinking plenty of water and fruit. The condition makes it very difficult to defecate when the abdomen feels full.
3. Hemorrhoids or hemorrhoid
Time to sit too long or standing too long, less mobile that is not balanced by drinking plenty of water and fruit. The condition makes it very difficult to defecate when the abdomen feels full. Because constipation consequently forced to defecate causing bleeding and swelling in the rectum.
4. Ulcer
Often too late to eat, eating irregularly or eating together in large quantities because it waited until hunger comes. Eat-food is too spicy, too sour, also trigger ulcers.
5. Liver
Most are hard workers who forgot to pay attention to nutritional food, lack of sleep or keep overtime until late at night. People affected by liver will be lost appetite, quick to feel tired, very chocolate-colored urine.
6. Heart
Target or emotional pressure on jobs, conflicts at work, high stress levels, smoking and lack of rest triggers blockage of blood vessels.
7. Hypertension
Crazy people who work usually will have an uncontrollable emotion. This is because they always felt dissatisfied with her job, so they will continue to work and impact on the physical and emotional.
8. Dry eye syndrome
Work enthusiast will spend much time in front of the computer or doing other work that requires them to stay awake for long periods of time. This can lead to dry eye syndrome.
9. Fatigue, no energy and insomnia
Working geeks will perform the work without time limit. This will cause the body experiencing chronic fatigue (fatique) and loss of energy. This will also trigger a person experiencing sleep disorders like insomnia.
