Is it Possible to Die From A Broken Heart?

It is almost Valentine’s Day and all I could hear from single people are love, love and love. Love indeed is in the air nowadays. But, Valentine’s Day reminded me of how I experienced my first broken heart, so cheesy indeed, huh?

Some people says broken heart pain is nothing more than a folklore. I was not convinced that broken heart has no physical effect because I really felt a literal pain by the time I experienced it. I was encourage then to have some info about broken heart pain and how to cope up.

Stress cardiomyopathy or broken heart syndrome could be due to emotional shocks such as traumatic romantic break up, death of a loved one, or a shock in a surprise party. It has been found out that with stress cardiomyopathy or broken heart syndrome, stress hormone could shoot up to three times higher than those suffering from heart attack though patients possess unclogged and healthy arteries. Grief could stress the cardiovascular system thus causing a heart attack-like syndrome.

It is indeed possible to die from broken heart thus you need not to grieve that much. You can prevent yourself from suffering from stress cardiomyopathy or broken heart syndrome by drinking plenty of water (more than 8 glasses of water daily), take sufficient rest (8 hours sleep), having time for exercise everyday (at least 30 minutes everyday) and in learning things how to cope up stress.

Nutrients We Should Not Take in Excess

Too much of good things is bad. This saying is true especially if we talk about vitamins and other nutrients that could harm if taken in excess.

Harmful level of certain vitamins and minerals is impossible to attain if such nutrients are taken only by eating nutritious foods, and is very possible when it is taken in supplement form. Thus, the right way to get our body’s needed nutrients is by eating various nutritious foods than taking them as supplement.

Here are some of the supplements that you must not take in excess:

IRON. Too much of iron stored in the body could cause headache, fatigue, low blood sugar, liver problems, accumulation of fluid in the lungs, testicular problem in men, or even coma.

Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA):
men: 8 mg/day
women: 18 mg/day
women 51 y.o. and over: 8 mg/day
Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (UL): 45 mg/day

VITAMIN A. Too much of vitamin A in the body could lessen bone mineral density (could lead to osteoporosis), liver damage, disorders in central nervous system and risk of birth defects.

Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA):
men: 3,000 IU/day
women: 2,310 IU/day
Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (UL):
10,000 IU/day

VITAMIN C. Too much of vitamin C could upset the gastrointestinal tract and could even cause diarrhea.

Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA):
men: 90 mg/day
women: 75 mg/day
Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (UL): 2,000 mg/day

CALCIUM. High level of calcium in the body could interfer the absorption of other important minerals like iron, magnesium, zinc and phosphorus, and could impair the functioning of our kidneys.

Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA):
adults 19-50 y.o.: 1,000 mg/day
adults 51 y.o. and over: 1,200 mg/day
Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (UL): 2,500 mg/day

VITAMIN E. Vitamin E is a natural anticoagulant thus too much of it in the body put the individual at risk of bleeding problems.

Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA): 22.5 IU/day
Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (UL): 1,500 IU/day
NOTE: 400 IU/day or more increase the risk of death

VITAMIN D. High level of vitamin D in the blood could raise blood calcium level too that may cause changes like confusion. Poor appetite, constipation, weakness, nausea, vomiting and weight loss are some of the symptoms of high level of vitamin D.

Adequate Daily Intake (AI):
70 y.o and below: 400 IU/day
71 y.o. and over: 600 IU/day
Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (UL): 2,000 IU/day

ZINC. Too much of zinc in the body could weaken the immune system and lower the good cholesterol (HDL) level and alter iron function and copper levels.

Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA):
men: 11 mg/day
women: 8 mg/day
Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (UL): 40 mg/day

SELENIUM. Too much of selenium in the body exhibits symptoms like hair loss, gastrointestinal upset, fatigue, white blotchy nails, irritability, garlic breath odor, and mild nerve damage.

Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA): 55ug/day
Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (UL): 400ug/day

VITAMIN B6. If it is taken at high doses but lower than 500mg/day, it could cause nerve damage to the legs as well as on arms.

Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA):
19-50y.o.: 1.3 mg/day
men 51 y.o. and over: 1.7 mg/day
women 51 y.o. and over: 1.5 mg/day
Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (UL): 100 mg/day

COPPER. Too much of copper could damage the liver and kidneys, and could cause neurologic problems. The following are symptoms of too much copper in the body: abdominal pain, weakness, insomnia, diminished concentration, learning disabilities, memory lapses, stuttering, hyperactivity, seizure, and delirium.

Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA): 900mcg/day
Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (UL): 10,000mcg/day

Beating Breast Cancer in Digital Way

Breast cancer should not be taken lightly especially those at a higher risk for breast cancer. It is recommended by experts that women above 40 of age to undergo screening procedures for breast cancer every one to two years. And, monthly breast self-exams to the younger ones.

Mammogram procedure’s positioning and compression of your breast are the same for both traditional film and digital mammography. But, with digital mammography, instead of x-ray film, solid-state detectors that x-rays into electric signals are used. It is like you have been taken pictures using digital camera that could be zoom, etc by the radiologist as he study the pictures on the computer compared to those that are taken using films. Thus, it gives great advantage to women because it reduces mammogram callbacks and stress on patients while undergoing the procedure.

Not only that, digital mammography uses 22 percent less radiation compared to traditional film mammography thus reducing your exposure to x-rays. Digital mammography could also better detect cancer cells in women with dense breasts and those who are under 50 years of age who were at pre- or peri-menopausal stage.

Women should have mammography exam while their breast tissues are least tender, that typically falls one week after monthly period. It has been reported that taking vitamin E and cutting off caffeinated drinks several weeks prior to mammography viewer exam results to less discomfort during the procedure.

Pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and those with breast implants should inform the technician who will do the procedure prior to examination.

Joint Pains and Arthritis

Joint pain could affect any age not just the older individuals. It could be due to wrong choice of food, lack of exercise, infection, an autoimmune disease, or other illnesses. Thus, you need to see a doctor if you suffer from joint pain to know what’s the cause and nature of it and be given a right treatment, since treatments vary with the cause and nature of the disorder that causes the pain.

Various kind of arthritis are the most common cause of joint pains. These include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout. There are pharmaceutical companies who sell what they call as best joint supplements which they claim to help people suffering from joint pain especially if it is due to unhealthy lifestyle.

Lots of people associate arthritis with old age because it usually affects the older people. But, did you know that the most serious arthritic disease affects the younger ones? Yes, rheumatoid arthritis affects the young people, it is an example of an autoimmune disease.

Osteoarthritis on the other hand is the most common cause of joint pain that usually affects the older people, that hinders movement due to bone swelling. With osteoarthritis, cartilages are gradually destroyed and replaced with thickened bone deposits.

Alternating rest and exercise is the best treatment for rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Rest reduces the inflammation while exercise prevents deformity of the joints. Weight loss helps a lot too to reduce strain on spine, hips, and knees.

Finding Help for Mesothelioma Victims

During World War II, asbestos seems to be a great help in producing ships for the war, building construction, so as in manufacturing and automotive. Some of the companies that time just provided a little protection to their workers and haven’t emphasize the risks of handling asbestos making them liable for those who have been contracted with mesothelioma and other asbestos related diseases.

The worst thing is that it’s not only those who handled asbestos that are at risk to suffer from mesothelioma and other asbestos related diseases but those with direct contact with them too like their families and friends. Those who are staying near the factories where asbestos products are manufactured are also at risk of contracting mesothelioma and asbestos related diseases. Asbestos could easily attach to hair, clothes, skin and other things because it is so fine. This fine fiber is nearly indestructible and could easily be inhaled that may lodge in the lining of the lungs that could cause mesothelioma or other asbestos related diseases.

Another worst thing is that symptoms of mesothelioma appear about 20 years after exposure to asbestos making it hard to track the cause and the company responsible for their exposure. The only good news is there are sites that are willing to reach out to mesothelioma victims and their families for them to easily access help like New York mesothelioma and Asbestos Help. This site could guide mesothelioma victims and their families about mesothelioma diagnosis and treatment; on mesothelioma lawsuit to fight the rights of the victims and their families; and other important information about dealing with mesothelioma like where they could find support.

Mesothelioma lawyers could help those who have been contracted with mesothelioma if they file case for mesothelioma lawsuit against the responsible company. Mesothelioma lawyers are capable of tracing the causes of exposure and in fighting for victim’s right for financial compensation to cover all the medical costs, financial aid from the time the victim lost a job due to mesothelioma up to funeral expenses and financial needs.

We all know that pain and suffering of mesothelioma victims, especially those on terminal stage,  and the emotional pain their families bear to see their loved ones dying could not be compensated with any amount of money . The only thing we can do to support the victims and their loved ones is to fight hand in hand in totally eradicating asbestos to totally eradicate mesothelioma and other asbestos related diseases.