OSTEOARTHRITIS - joint pain.

Osteoarthritis refers to the wear of the joints. Every joint is covered by a protective layer of cartilage that prevents bone rubs on bone and stress buffers. In osteoarthritis this cartilage is damaged. If the disease progresses, the protective layer is eventually lost altogether. Damaged cartilage is not able to regenerate itself again. This is also the reason why violations of the joint where the cartilage is affected, can lead to premature arthritis. The wear of the bone is increasingly overloaded. He responded with the formation of new bone tissue, leading to compaction and extractions around the affected sections. Symptoms of osteoarthritis are pain and limited mobility. Typical complaints are at the beginning of a movement (known as "start-up pain") and during exercise. They are worse in cold or wet weather. Usually hurts a joint osteoarthritis is not at rest or at night.

The most affected are the spine, hips, knees and fingers. In the course of the disease can cause inflammation of other episodes with Disabilities, swelling and tightness. In the long run to deform the joints. 50% of all people over the age of 35 Age already show arthritic changes and from 60th Years have almost all men more or less pronounced - often barely noticeable osteoarthritis.

Common causes:
* Cartilage wear with age.
* Overweight.
* Repeated and severe mechanical stress.
* Past injuries.
* Deformities of the joints.
* Genetic factors (heredity).
* Metabolic disorders.

What can you do?
* To reduce weight.
* Adequate and regular low-impact exercise such as cycling or swimming.
* Strong single-sided loads and avoid overloading the joints.

When you need a doctor?
* If you have time and again pain in the joints that get better after a short duration of movement, especially if the affected joint was injured before and / or are overweight.
* If a joint swelling and / or is heated.

What your doctor can do?
Even the exact description of your symptoms may be indicative of osteoarthritis. The most important investigation to confirm the diagnosis, the X-ray. Here the narrowed gap shows in the joint as a result of the damaged cartilage. In advanced stages are also the bone reactions (condensation, extractions) are identifiable. The visible changes must in no way related to the actual problems in context. May be present at low X-ray signs of arthrosis in severe pain and vice versa.
Osteoarthritis is unfortunately not curable. The goal of treatment is to relieve pain and prevent infection relapses. These are prescribed:

* Anti-rheumatic drugs (e.g. diclofenac, coxibs)
* Pain-relieving medications (for example, ibuprofen)
* Cortisone drugs, often given as an injection into the affected joint.
* Injections of hyaluronic acid into the affected joint.
* The application of heat in the inflammation-free period, cold in inflammation.
* Physiotherapy

In advanced osteoarthritis, surgery is usually necessary. In the knee joint often reflections (arthroscopy) are performed in which the joint is flushed and cleaned it of abraded cartilage and bone particles is. At the same time smoothing of the articular surface is possible. If there are deformities of the joints such as X-or O-legs, give it the possibility of surgical correction, which can prevent the progression of osteoarthritis in logs. If the joint is completely destroyed, only the replacement is with prosthesis. Most often this procedure is performed at the hip, followed by knee prostheses.

Prevention:
* To reduce weight.
* Adequate and regular exercise.
* Unilateral avoid stress. Repeated and severe mechanical stress avoided.
* There is evidence that a healthy diet reduces the risk of developing osteoarthritis.

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Heart disease.

Coronary heart disease (CHD) and angina pectoris.

The heart is through several small arteries - known as coronary arteries or coronary arteries - supplied with blood. In the course of years and decades, can form deposits in these vessels, leading to narrowing. Through these Coronary heart diseases (CHD), the heart will be congested. In the worst case threatens the complete blockage of a coronary vessel and thus the heart attack. CHD and its consequences in industrialized countries are among the most common causes of death. With increasing age deposits in vessels are almost inevitable. There's also a genetic predisposition to CHD. In addition, women with up to the menopause their estrogen production some protection, so that the CAD in them usually occurs later. Besides these non-changing circumstances, there are also factors favoring the occurrence of CHD and can be managed by it, or at least influenced.

Risk factors for coronary heart disease:

* Smoking
* Poor diet
* Lack of exercise
* Obesity
* Stress
* Metabolic disorders, for example elevated cholesterol levels.
* Diabetes
* High blood pressure

Coronary heart disease is insidious because it can progress for a long time without any complaints. Often make the first contractions felt when the heart has an increased oxygen demand, eg during exercise. Then the typical symptom angina pectoris (literally, "chest tightness"). It manifests itself by a strong feeling of pressure or tightness and pain in the chest area. Sometimes this pain also radiate to the left arm, shoulder, neck or in the stomach and are then brought immediately to the heart related. These "attacks" usually last only a few seconds to minutes. Other possible symptoms include dyspnea on exertion or significant arrhythmia of the heart like an extra beat or dropouts. Connect to one or more of these symptoms, you should absolutely see a doctor.

What your doctor can do.

The normal ECG can be completely normal in a coronary heart disease. Much more information provides a stress test. This is often seen that the oxygen supply is no longer the heart during exercise enough. The safest method for the detection of coronary artery disease is cardiac catheterization. Over the bar a small plastic tube (catheter) into the heart is advanced. Then doctors inject contrast medium into the coronary arteries, thus narrowing are clearly visible. Confirmed the diagnosis, various drugs are used to improve blood flow and / or relieve the heart. In addition, possible accompanying diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and lipid disorders are treated. For acute angina pectoris attack, the doctor will prescribe nitroglycerin preparations, e.g. as a spray. They cause an immediate enlargement of the vessels. If the narrowing progressed very far, it is possible to dilate the affected artery mechanically, for example using a balloon. For security a stent (stent) may be used. As the last remaining opportunity for a bypass operation. Here, small replacement vessels - mostly veins from the legs - is removed and sewn as a bridge of the narrowed vessels.

What can you do.

* Give up smoking
* Lose weight
* Do you move enough
* Eat a low fat
* Reduce Stress
* Carry your emergency medication with you at all
* If you are diabetic, watch out for the good attitude of your blood sugar levels
* Do you suffer from high blood pressure, take your medication faithfully

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EXHAUSTION - CMS

Who is tired and exhausted all the time, the demands of everyday life does not feel equal and loses interest in hobbies and social contacts. In particular, women with family burden are often beyond the point of physical and mental exhaustion. There are often physical side effects such as black before the eyes of standing up, a tendency to sweating and cold hands, sensitivity to the weather and accelerated pulse. Very often there is an increased susceptibility to infectious diseases. Psychiatric side effects are performance and lack of concentration, insomnia, feeling overwhelmed, lack of motivation and anhedonia.



Fatigue occurs most often after serious illness. The body is weakened by the process of the disease, often are deficiencies in front of vitamins, minerals and trace elements. Observed especially in the elderly doctors often that a flu infection lasts for weeks and months on the acute symptoms and also manifests itself in tiredness and listlessness. On the other hand, exhaustion may also be the first symptom at the beginning or before the outbreak of various diseases (eg infectious diseases, tumors) should be. More and more often occurs with the chronic fatigue syndrome, or CMS for short, on,. Leaden fatigue and exhaustion, after only small loads are the main symptoms of this disease. Other physical symptoms may be added: muscle and joint pain, lymph node swelling and almond, increased body temperature, cardiovascular disorders and headaches. The cause is unknown; the involvement of the immune system is likely. At the beginning of the chronic fatigue syndrome is often the flu or flu-like symptoms.

Common causes
* After-effect of serious diseases.
* Blood pressure.
* Stress.
* Syndrome Due to a constant load
(Sleep disturbances and psycho-vegetative symptoms).
* Sleep disorders.
* Iron deficiency, iodine deficiency.
* Hypothyroidism.
* Early symptom of various diseases.
* Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)

What can you do?

* The physical regeneration of vitamin B12 preparations in capsule form or vials in the recovery time and prevent a vitamin deficiency by the administration of multivitamin preparations: Against the aftermath of serious disease.

* Get up slowly, brushing and massage spray shower, invigorating shower or bath use with rosemary, enjoy their morning coffee or black tea: At low blood pressure. Sport and exercise in between. During the day, drink plenty much. Best herbal tea and sodium-rich mineral water.

* For stress: seriously signals of exhaustion. Not everything will always make perfect, make tasks. To admit to do anything once. Sensory overload, for example avoided through radio, television.

* In depressive mood disorders: mild depressive states respond well to treatment with St. John's wort. In the winter, often staying in daylight outside, because on shorter days, many people of the organism on gentle cycle and often results in a low mood.

* For insomnia: Check bedtime and sleeping space, eg not too much alcohol before bedtime and a quiet room for sleeping are important prerequisites. Take warm baths with sleep-inducing herbal supplements.

* Chronic fatigue syndrome: strengthening the immune system with vitamins and nutrients or other preparations for defense increase.

When you need a doctor?

At constant tiredness related to the above symptoms.

What your doctor can do?

* Exclusion of severe organic disease.

* Detection of low blood pressure, iron or iodine deficiency or chronic fatigue syndrome.

* The causes of fatigue treatment.

* Proposals for a therapy to reduce fatigue symptoms do.

Prevention:

Balanced, nutritious diet, sports and exercise, not smoking, low alcohol, adequate sleep, meaningful exchange between stress and relaxation.

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