Diagnosing Heart Failure
If you have Symptoms of Heart Failure, your GP will ask you to describe them in detail. You will also have a physical examination. If heart failure is suspected, a number of tests may be recommended to find out more. Some of the tests that yo
Heart Attack
A heart attack is a serious medical emergency in which the supply of blood to the heart is suddenly blocked, usually by a blood clot. Lack of blood to the heart can seriously damage the heart muscle. A heart attack is known medically as a myocardial
Symptoms of a Heart Attack
Call an ambulance immediately if you suspect that you or someone you know is having a heart attack. Symptoms can include: Chest Pain – a sensation of pressure, tightness or squeezing in the centre of your chest Pain in other parts o
Causes of a Heart Attack
Heart attacks are caused by the blood supply to the heart being suddenly interrupted. Like all other tissues and organs in the body, the heart needs a constant supply of oxygen-rich blood. Without this supply, heart muscles may be damaged and
Diagnosing A Heart Attack
If a heart attack is suspected, you should be admitted to hospital immediately. You will usually be admitted to an acute cardiac care unit (ACCU), or directly to the cardiac catheterisation unit, to confirm the diagnosis and begin treatment. Elec
Treating A Heart Attack
The treatment options for a heart attack depend on whether you have had an ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), or another type of heart attack. A STEMI is the most serious form of heart attack and requires emergency assessment an
Preventing A Heart Attack
Making lifestyle changes is the most effective way to prevent having a heart attack (or having another heart attack). There are three main steps you can take to help prevent a heart attack (as well as stroke): Eat a healthy, balanced diet
Heart Failure
Heart failure is a condition caused by the heart failing to pump enough blood around the body at the right pressure. It usually occurs because the heart muscle has become too weak or stiff to work properly. If you have heart failure, it does n
Preventing Heart Failure
Many of the factors that increase your risk of developing heart failure can be managed either by making lifestyle changes or by taking medicines. In particular, high blood pressure (hypertension) and smoking are risks for heart health, and tack
Causes of Heart Failure
In most cases, heart failure does not have a single cause. There are a number of other conditions that increase your chances of developing heart failure. These include: High blood pressure (hypertension) – this can put extra strain on your h
Treating Heart Failure
Importance of Treatment The common Symptoms of Heart Failure, such as breathlessness, swelling (oedema) and fatigue, can make it difficult to live a normal life. Most people have symptoms that can be controlled with medical treatment for long per
Symptoms of Heart Failure
The symptoms of heart failure can vary from person to person. The main symptoms are breathlessness, extreme tiredness and ankle swelling, which may extend up the legs. These symptoms may be caused by conditions other than heart failure, and sometime
Diabetic eye screening
Eye screening is a key part of your diabetes care. If you have diabetes, your eyes are at risk of damage from diabetic retinopathy, a condition that can lead to sight loss if it's not treated. Diabetic retinopathy occurs when diabetes affects s
Diabetes
Diabetes is a lifelong condition that causes a person's blood sugar level to become too high. There are two main types of diabetes – Type 1 Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is far more common than type 1. In the UK, around 90
Symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes
The symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes can develop very quickly (over a few days or weeks), particularly in children. In older adults, the symptoms can often take longer to develop (a few months). However, they should disappear when you start taking
Causes of Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body is unable to produce insulin. Insulin is a hormone that's needed to control the amount of sugar (glucose) in your blood. When you eat, your digestive system breaks down food and passes its nutrients – in
Diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes
Diagnosing type 1 diabetes It's important to diagnose diabetes as early as possible, so that treatment can be started. If you experience the Symptoms of Diabetes, you should visit your GP as soon as possible. They'll ask about your symptoms an
Treating Type 1 Diabetes
There's no cure for diabetes, so treatment aims to keep your blood glucose levels as normal as possible and to control your symptoms to prevent health problems developing later in life. If you've been diagnosed with diabetes, you'll be referred
Type 1 Diabetes
Diabetes is a lifelong condition that causes a person's blood sugar (glucose) level to become too high. The hormone insulin – produced by the pancreas – is responsible for controlling the amount of glucose in the blood. There are two ma
Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes
The symptoms of diabetes include feeling very thirsty, passing more urine than usual and feeling tired all the time. The symptoms occur because some or all of the glucose stays in your blood and isn’t used as fuel for energy. Your body wil
Causes of Type 2 Diabetes
Causes of type 2 diabetes Type 2 diabetes occurs when the pancreas doesn't produce enough insulin to maintain a normal blood glucose level, or the body is unable to use the insulin that is produced – known as insulin resistance. The pancreas
Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes
Treating type 2 diabetes There's no cure for diabetes, so treatment aims to keep your blood glucose levels as normal as possible and to control your symptoms, to prevent health problems developing later in life. If you've been diagnosed with dia
Type 2 Diabetes
Diabetes is a lifelong condition that causes a person's blood sugar level to become too high. There are two main types of diabetes – Type 1 and Type 2. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body doesn't produce enough insulin to function proper
Depression
Depression is more than simply feeling unhappy or fed up for a few days. We all go through spells of feeling down, but when you're depressed you feel persistently sad for weeks or months, rather than just a few days. Some people still think t
Treating Depression
Treating Clinical Depression Treatment for depression usually involves a combination of medicines, talking therapies and self-help. The type of treatment your doctor recommends will be based on the type of depression you have. Below is a short d