Diseases and Conditions: Diseases Symptoms, Treatment, Signs ...
Coronary Artery Disease
Coronary artery disease (CAD; also atherosclerotic heart disease) is the end result of the accumulation of atheromatous plaques within the walls of the coronary arteries that supply the myocardium (the muscle of the heart) with oxygen and nutrients. It is sometimes also called coronary heart disease (CHD). Although CAD is the most common cause of CHD, it is not the only one.
CAD is the leading cause of death worldwide. While the symptoms and signs of coronary artery disease are noted in the advanced state of disease, most individuals with coronary artery disease show no evidence of disease for decades as the disease progresses before the first onset of symptoms, often a "sudden" heart attack, finally arises. After decades of progression, some of these atheromatous plaques may rupture and (along with the activation of the blood clotting system) start limiting blood flow to the heart muscle. The disease is the most common cause of sudden death, and is also the most common reason for death of men and women over 20 years of age. According to present trends in the United States, half of healthy 40-year-old males will develop CAD in the future, and one in three healthy 40-year-old women. According to the Guinness Book of Records, Northern Ireland is the country with the most occurrences of CAD. By contrast, the Maasai of Africa have almost no heart disease.
As the degree of coronary artery disease progresses, there may be near-complete obstruction of the lumen of the coronary artery, severely restricting the flow of oxygen-carrying blood to the myocardium. Individuals with this degree of coronary artery disease typically have suffered from one or more myocardial infarctions (heart attacks), and may have signs and symptoms of chronic coronary ischemia, including symptoms of angina at rest and flash pulmonary edema.
A distinction should be made between myocardial ischemia and myocardial infarction. Ischemia means that the amount of blood supplied to the tissue is inadequate to supply the needs of the tissue. When the myocardium becomes ischemic, it does not function optimally. When large areas of the myocardium becomes ischemic, there can be impairment in the relaxation and contraction of the myocardium. If the blood flow to the tissue is improved, myocardial ischemia can be reversed. Infarction means that the tissue has undergone irreversible death due to lack of sufficient oxygen-rich blood.
An individual may develop a rupture of an atheromatous plaque at any stage of the spectrum of coronary artery disease. The acute rupture of a plaque may lead to an acute myocardial infarction (heart attack).
Signs And Symptoms Of Acute Hepatic Porphyria
Acute hepatic porphyria (AHP) happens when your body doesn't make a substance called heme the way it should. Heme, a part of red blood cells, does a lot of vital things, like carry oxygen throughout your body.
AHP causes a wide range of symptoms that are common to other disorders and may differ among people; doctors may not even test for it as a result.
Your doctor can help you manage AHP. But you need to know what signs and symptoms to look out for. If left untreated, AHP can be life-threatening.
What to Look ForYour first AHP attack usually won't show up until after puberty. And it's more likely to happen if you're a woman between ages 14 and 45. You may notice that your symptoms are worse during the second half of your menstrual cycle.
It's possible to have more than one attack during your life. During one, your symptoms may get worse over the course of a few days or longer. Without treatment, they may last weeks or months.
AHP can bring a wide range of acute and chronic symptoms that affect the nervous system. They might include:
Serious belly pain. This is the most common symptom. The ache is usually spread out across your whole belly. It may hurt so much that your doctor will likely order blood work and imaging to make sure that there is nothing surgical that needs to be done.
Other stomach problems. You may get nauseated or throw up, and your belly could get really swollen. A blockage in part of your small intestine is also possible.
Muscle aches. Your neck, back, chest, butt, arms, and legs may hurt. Your pain may get worse over several days.
Constipation or diarrhea. You may have trouble pooping. Less often, you may poop too much.
Pee changes. Your urine may look dark or reddish. You could have a hard time peeing.
Numbness or tingling. Nerve damage can give you a "pins and needles" feeling in your arms or feet.
Weakness or paralysis. AHP can affect the nerves that control your muscles. You may get weakness in your legs, belly, and arms. Without treatment, you may lose the ability to move.
ContinuedMood changes. You may get irritated, agitated, or feel like you need to move around. It's also common to worry a lot or feel depressed and lose interest in activities or get confused. You could also see things that aren't there or get really paranoid.
Less energy. Chronic fatigue could happen. You could get a really strong urge to sleep. That's called somnolence. In serious cases, you could go into a coma.
Insomnia. That means you'll have trouble falling or staying asleep.
Severe weakness. In rare cases, the muscles that control your lungs may stop working, which can affect your breathing. This is life-threatening and requires medical attention right away.
During attacks, you may have:
If you have AHP for a long time, you can get serious conditions like chronic kidney disease, cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), or liver cancer.
When to See Your DoctorIf you think you have AHP, see your doctor. There are treatments that can help you manage and prevent attacks, including lifestyle changes and medication.
WebMD Medical Reference
SourcesSOURCES:
Clinical Advances in Hematology & Oncology: "What Hematologists Need to Know About Acute Hepatic Porphyria."
Journal of the American Heart Association: "Role of Heme in Cardiovascular Physiology and Disease."
Hepatology Communications: "Acute Hepatic Porphyrias: Review and Recent Progress."
American Porphyria Foundation: "Acute Intermittent Porphyria (AIP)."
Merck Manual: "Acute Intermittent Porphyria."
NIH: Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center (GARD): "Acute intermittent porphyria."
Journal of Clinical and Translational Hepatology: "Acute Hepatic Porphyria."
National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD): "Acute Intermittent Porphyria."
© 2022 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.Heart Problem Warning Sign That You May Notice At Night
A little known warning sign that often happens at night, could mean something is wrong with your heart.
The most common signs of coronary heart disease are chest pain and shortness of breath. However, some people may not experience any symptoms at all before they are diagnosed with a heart problem.
But there is one lesser-known sign that could signify something is seriously wrong, the Mirror reports. In the UK, around one in eight men and one in 14 women die from coronary heart disease.
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One of the signs that occurs during the night is hearing your own heartbeat. This may seem normal, but it could mean something is wrong and should be checked out.
Michael Miller, professor of cardiovascular medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, said: "Some patients with a loud faulty valve can hear the sound of their valve at night when they are trying to fall asleep."
A pounding heartbeat while you're not doing much can also be a sign of low blood pressure, low blood sugar, anaemia, dehydration or a side effect of medication. Coronary heart disease is caused by build-up of a fatty material called atheroma.
Eventually, they may become so narrow that not enough oxygen can reach your blood and if your arteries become blocked, it can cause a heart attack. Symptoms can vary, but may include feeling pain in other parts of the body, light-headedness, sweating, nausea and breathlessness.
If anyone has any symptoms of a heart attack you should call 999.
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