Ignore Dental Health, Beware of Heart Disease

Ignore Dental Health, Beware of Heart Disease - Most cases of heart disease are generally caused by unhealthy lifestyles, such as smoking, consumption of high-fat foods, and foods that are high in salt. However, recently a man named Adam Martin from England reported suffering from endocarditis due to ignoring the health of his teeth. This began when the popcorn he ate caught stuck in his teeth. The stuck popcorn turned out to be challenging to remove. 

Launching from Live Science, so challenging to remove, Martin tried to remove the popcorn by poking his gums using household items, such as pen covers, toothpicks, a piece of wire to metal nails. After that, Martin got a toothache but did not immediately check it. A few days later, he experienced flu-like symptoms that drove him to go to the doctor. During a check-up, the doctor diagnosed that he had a heart valve disorder.

Credits: Shutterstock

How Does Toothache Cause Heart Disease?

A few days after Martin poked his gums with a variety of tools, he experienced flu-like symptoms at night, fatigue, and headaches. After seeing a doctor, Martin was diagnosed with a heart valve disorder. The condition turned out to develop blood blisters on his toes called Janeway lesions. These lesions become one of the typical symptoms of endocarditis, namely infection of the inner lining of the heart wall.

Near the end of October 2019, Martin was hospitalized, and the doctor confirmed that he had endocarditis and that the infection had damaged his heart valve. Finally, he was required to undergo open-heart surgery for 7 hours to replace the pipe that has been damaged. Launching from the Mayo Clinic, endocarditis occurs when bacteria enter the bloodstream and spread to the heart.

In Martin's case, his oral activity made the gums bleed and cause an infection. As a result, bacteria easily enter the bloodstream and begin to spread to the heart area. In Martin's case, he had to undergo surgery to replace his damaged heart valve. So, is there any other treatment that can be done besides surgery? 

How to treat endocarditis

Reporting from the Mayo Clinic, endocarditis treatment does not always have to be operated on, but some are successfully treated with antibiotics. Surgery is needed if the heart valve has been damaged and to clean up any remaining signs of infection. If the case is not severe, the doctor will give antibiotics intravenously in high doses. Before medicines are given, the doctor conducts a blood culture test to identify the organism that is causing the infection.

The blood test results help the doctor to choose the most appropriate antibiotic or antibiotic combination to fight the infection. People with endocarditis need to spend a week or more in the hospital when starting this antibiotic treatment. The goal is that doctors can monitor whether antibiotics work against infections. After the fever and symptoms begin to improve, the person can leave the hospital but still go on an outpatient basis to get intravenous antibiotic therapy.

The person must also regularly visit a doctor to ensure that the treatment is truly successful. If you have the antibiotic therapy and are experiencing shortness of breath, swelling in the legs, ankles, or feet after starting antibiotic treatment, see your doctor immediately. These signs and symptoms can be indicators of heart failure. 

Can Endocarditis Be Prevented?

The answer is yes. Learning from the Adam Martin case, maintaining dental health is primary prevention. Avoid putting objects that are not sterile in the mouth, especially objects that can hurt the gums. Don't forget to regularly brush your teeth and get your teeth checked regularly.

In addition to maintaining oral health and teeth, you need to be aware of procedures that infect the skin, such as body piercing or tattoos. If you plan to do this, make sure the needle used is entirely sterile, and the area of ​​the skin to be tattooed is not problematic.

See your doctor immediately if you develop signs or symptoms, such as a fever that does not go down, fatigue that can not be explained, all kinds of skin infections, or open sores or wounds that do not heal properly.

5 Vitamins for the Skin and How to Get Them

5 Vitamins for the Skin and How to Get Them - Who does n't want to have healthy skin? Well, so that the skin is not easily damaged due to exposure to sunlight or dust, you can use vitamins for the skin that comes in the form of supplements or obtained from natural ingredients.

To get healthy skin, dermatologists will first advise you to limit the time when in direct sunlight. You are also encouraged to apply sunscreen every day, even if you rarely move outdoors.

After that, the new doctor will recommend vitamins that are suitable for your skin. Vitamins will function to prevent the occurrence of dark spots, redness, wrinkles, broken lines, to dry on the surface.

Credits: Pixabay

A type of vitamin for the skin

Of the many vitamins, there are at least five types of vitamins for the skin that are needed by the outer portion of your body. The following vitamins can improve overall skin and body health.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A for the skin is beneficial because it contains antioxidants. These antioxidants can prevent damage from direct exposure to sunlight.

With enough vitamin A, the skin can avoid wrinkles, pimples, prevent premature aging, and can even increase collagen production. Conversely, skin that lacks vitamin A will cause dryness, itching, and bumpy.

To get vitamin A, you can eat certain foods, such as carrots, green vegetables, sweet potatoes, and eggs. Mangoes and papaya also include fruits that are rich in vitamin A.

Also, vitamin A can be obtained through other means, namely with creams or serum, correctly vitamin A. Choose a cream that contains several substances, such as retinoids, tretinoin, and isotretinoin.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a vitamin for the skin that is needed by the body because it is an antioxidant. Vitamin C for the skin can ward off free radicals and rejuvenate the skin, thus preventing skin cancer.

In some studies, vitamin C is useful for stimulating the production of skin collagen, so that skin elasticity is maintained correctly. Skin that often gets intake of vitamin C can also maintain its flexibility even though it is regularly exposed to UV light.

To meet the needs of vitamin C, you can find it in fruits, like oranges and strawberries. Other sources of vitamin C are also found in vegetables, such as broccoli and spinach.

Taking special supplements is also able to meet the needs of vitamin C in the skin. However, the supplement will be better if it is by the advice given by the doctor.

Vitamin E

Just like vitamin C, vitamin E for the skin is antioxidant. Its primary function is to protect the skin from free radicals caused by UV rays, prevent dry skin, and delay the appearance of wrinkles on the surface.

In adults, vitamin E is needed around 15 mg every day. To fulfill it, you can increase food intake from nuts and seeds, such as almonds, hazelnuts, and sunflower seeds. Taking supplements can also help meet the needs of vitamin E in the skin.

Vitamin D

You may be familiar with the function of vitamin D to help absorb calcium from the bones. In fact, vitamin D is also very beneficial for skin health.

Even this vitamin for the skin also has a positive effect in the treatment of psoriasis, which is a skin disease characterized by red, dry, thick, and scaly rashes. The vitamin D derivative, calcitriol, is effective in helping to treat psoriasis sufferers by reducing inflammation and irritation.

Vitamin D can be obtained by consuming salmon, sardines, eggs, cereals, and milk powder fortified with vitamin D. Sun exposure can also help the production of vitamin D in the body.

Vitamin K

Vitamin K functions to help blood clots in the body so that it has a vital role in the process of healing wounds, bruises, and the area of ​​the former operation. As for the skin, the function of vitamin K is also considered capable of helping to cure certain skin conditions, such as stretch marks, scars, dark spots, and bags under the eyes.

Vitamin K can be obtained from skin creams. Also, this vitamin can be found in foods, namely green leafy vegetables, such as broccoli and spinach, vegetable oils, and seeds.

So, which vitamin for skin is your favorite?

Sunflower Oil, Healthy Oil that is Rich in Benefits

Sunflower Oil, Healthy Oil that is Rich in Benefits - Sunflower is one of the most popular flowers because of its color beauty. In addition to the flowers, sunflower seeds are often used by many people to become a delicious snack.

Do not stop there, the sunflower was also able to produce oils that contain lots of nutrients. Sunflower oil is staying is expected has a variety of benefits that are good for the body. What are these benefits?

Credits: Pixabay

Nutrient content of sunflower oil

Sunflower oil ( Helianthus annuus ) is an oil that is extracted from sunflower. This oil has a high content of fatty acids, such as palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, and linoleic acid.

Vitamin E and other organic compounds act as antioxidants in sunflower oil, which can have a positive effect on the body. Some of the nutrients contained in 100 grams of sunflower oil, including:

• 884 calories
• 100 grams of total fat
• 41.8 mg vitamin E
• 5,4 mcg vitamin K
• 13 grams of saturated fatty acids
• 46.2 grams of single unsaturated fatty acids
• 36.4 grams of double unsaturated fatty acids.

The nutritional content in sunflower oil is believed to provide many health benefits for the body. Therefore, sunflower oil is produced into other products, such as cooking oil or topical oil for the skin.

The benefits of sunflower oil for health

Although it is still rarely used in Indonesia, it never hurts for you to try oil from this flower. The benefits of sunflower oil that you can get, namely:

Take care of the skin

Vitamin E, which is rich in sunflower oil, can improve the health and regeneration of skin cells. The antioxidants contained can help protect the skin from free radicals and the harmful effects of UV rays, such as premature aging and wrinkles.

Linoleic acid in sunflower oil can also maintain skin moisture and has an anti-inflammatory effect. Using skincare products formulated from sunflower oil can help treat your skin.

Helps overcome water fleas

Sunflower oil is an effective drug for treating water fleas ( tinea pedis ). Water fleas are fungal infections that are usually found between the toes. You can apply sunflower oil on the area affected by water fleas to help to heal faster.

Improve hair health

A study shows that the content of natural vitamin E, including sunflower oil, can help maintain healthy hair. Also, vitamin E contained in this oil is believed to be able to treat baldness and hair loss problems.

Heal wounds

An animal study found that topical use of sunflower oil can help heal wounds faster. The content of oleic acid contained therein is a source for wound care. However, do not apply to open wounds.

Increase energy

The content of fatty acids in sunflower oil can increase body energy. Not only that, but this oil can also help you be full longer so that excessive food consumption can be avoided.

Boosts the immune system

Sunflower oil is a source of polyunsaturated fatty acids, which can protect the body from bacteria and viruses. Therefore, fatty acids have a significant effect on the immune system and can increase the body's ability to fight infection.

Improve digestive health

Sunflower oil contains a lot of polyunsaturated fatty acids. These fatty acids can increase digestibility to create healthy digestion and avoid various digestive disorders.

Maintaining heart health

Sunflower oil is the right choice for maintaining heart health. The content of vitamin E in these oils can prevent harmful free radicals from oxidizing the body's cholesterol.

High cholesterol in the body can cause hypertension, atherosclerosis, heart attack, or stroke. Also, the content of oleic acid in sunflower oil can have a good effect on blood lipids and coagulant activity.

Potential to prevent cancer

The content of antioxidants in sunflower oil can help fight free radicals and thus potentially inhibit the growth of cancer cells. Also, the selenium in sunflower oil can repair cell damage.

If you are interested in trying sunflower oil, don't use it excessively. Therefore, excessive oil intake can cause an imbalance of fatty acids in the body, the effects of which are harmful to the body.

Also, before using sunflower oil, make sure your security conditions are okay. It is feared that sunflower oil can trigger allergic reactions, such as rashes, itching, coughing, dizziness, vomiting, stomach pain, and others. If this happens, stop using it immediately and check with your doctor.

Understanding Dialysis which Helps Kidney Failure

Understanding Dialysis which Helps Kidney Failure - Dialysis is essential for patients with kidney failure. In this medical condition, the body will experience a buildup of fluids and toxic substances in the body. When should you undergo dialysis if you suffer from kidney failure?

Photo by Robina Weermeijer on Unsplash

What is dialysis?

Dialysis is a procedure carried out to get rid of hazardous waste and excess fluid in the body using medical devices. This procedure is done to replace kidney function. Also known as dialysis, dialysis also helps maintain fluid balance and electrolyte particles in the body when the kidneys fail to function.

Healthy kidneys perform a variety of essential functions, such as controlling fluid balance, getting rid of waste substances from the body, to producing hormones to control blood pressure. But in patients with kidney failure (chronic kidney disease), normal function is difficult or not optimally carried out by the kidneys.

Dialysis procedures or dialysis can help patients with kidney failure. If you do not do dialysis, salt and other waste products will accumulate in the blood. These substances can also poison the body and damage organs.

Even so, it is essential to remember that dialysis cannot cure chronic kidney disease.
When should you undergo dialysis?

Dialysis needs to be done if the patient starts experiencing end-stage renal failure, i.e., when the kidneys are no longer able to carry out 85-90% of their normal functions.

Another indicator of urgency for dialysis is the value of EGR. eFGR is the estimated value of glomerular filtration rate, calculating the volume of blood passing through the glomerulus (a small filter on the kidney) in one minute.

If the eGFR value is getting lower, then the kidney damage is getting worse.

Kidney failure patients need to have dialysis if they have an eFGR value below 15. Dialysis must be carried out for a lifetime unless the patient gets a kidney transplant.

Types of dialysis procedures

In general, there are two types of blood washing or dialysis, namely hemodialysis, and peritoneal dialysis.

1. Hemodialysis
Hemodialysis is a dialysis procedure that uses an artificial kidney (hemodialyzer). Patients' blood will be 'transferred' from the body and filtered through the hemodialyzer. The filtered blood is returned to the body with the help of a dialysis machine.

To drain blood from the body to the hemodialyzer, the doctor will create an access point to the blood vessels. There are three types of access points for this procedure, namely:

• Arteriovenous fistula, which connects the arteries with veins to make larger 'blood vessels' called fistulas.
• Arteriovenous graft. The arteries and veins are connected by soft plastic tubes.
• Catheter. The doctor inserts a small plastic tube into a large vein in the neck.

Hemodialysis generally lasts 3-5 hours per session and is done 3 times a week. Even so, the duration can be shorter with more various frequencies.

Hemodialysis will also usually be done in a hospital or dialysis clinic. After undergoing hemodialysis for some time, the doctor may allow the patient to do dialysis at home.

2. Peritoneal dialysis
If hemodialysis is done with an artificial kidney, peritoneal dialysis is a dialysis procedure carried out in the patient's body. Through surgery, the doctor will place a catheter into the stomach to make access.

The abdominal area will be filled with dialysate through the catheter. The liquid will absorb waste substances. Once the dialysate has finished absorbing waste from the bloodstream, the fluid will be released from the patient's stomach.

The dialysis peritoneal dialysis procedure takes several hours and needs to be repeated four to six times a day.

Are there any side effects of dialysis?

Dialysis or dialysis still has risks and side effects. Some of the side effects of dialysis include:

• Muscle cramp
• Itchy skin, often worse before or after dialysis
• Low blood pressure, especially in people suffering from diabetes
• Sleep problems
• Excessive fluid, so people undergoing dialysis should consume the same amount of fluid each day
• Infection or ballooning in the area of ​​the dialysis access point
• Depression and mood changes

Another thing related to another dialysis
The following are things about dialysis, which are worth knowing

1. How much does dialysis cost?
Generally, dialysis procedures require a fee of $9,900  in one visit. However, this fee will also depend on the health facility policy you are aiming for.

2. Can kidney failure sufferers survive by dialysis?
Of course, you can, on the condition, the patient must undergo dialysis all his life until he gets a kidney transplant.

The life expectancy of a kidney failure patient will depend on the patient's health condition and compliance in undergoing the doctor's direction. Always consult a doctor to help you stay healthy when you begin the dialysis procedure.

3. Does the patient need to pay attention to his food consumption?
Yes, with the help of a doctor, kidney failure patients will need to pay attention to their food intake. The patient must also limit water consumption. The type of diet required will depend on the type of dialysis procedure performed.

4. Can the patient return to work?
Yes, many patients with chronic kidney disease continue to work, although indeed they must allocate time to undergo dialysis. Patients must also avoid work that requires physical exertion.

Unhealthy Eating Patterns Can Cause Blindness in Old Age

Unhealthy Eating Patterns Can Cause Blindness in Old Age - A new study that lasted nearly 2 decades has found an association between an unhealthy diet and vision loss at an older age.

Not many people consider the impact of eating patterns on their vision. A new study that appears in the British Journal of Ophthalmology has found an association between a diet rich in unhealthy foods and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

AMD is a condition that affects the retina as we age, causing central vision to blur. This part of the fundamental idea that helps people see objects clearly and perform daily activities such as reading and driving.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in the United States, around 1.8 million people aged 40 years and over live with AMD, and 7.3 million others have a condition called drusen, which usually precedes AMD.

credits: healthflex.com

The CDC also explains that AMD is a leading cause of permanent reading and visual impairment or close-ups among people aged 65 years and over.

Study author Amy Millen, from the University at Buffalo in New York, said that most people understand that diet affects the risk of cardiovascular disease and the risk of obesity.

"But I'm not sure the public thinks about whether or not dieting affects one's risk of vision loss later in life," he said as reported by Medical News Today, Thursday (01/05/2020).


The study looked at the development of early and late AMD in participants in the Atherosclerosis Risk Study in the Community, who observed arterial health for 18 years (1987-1995).

Using data on 66 different types of food, the researchers identified two dietary patterns, namely the first food group dubbed "Prudent," or healthy. Second, the "Western" group, which includes a high intake of processed and red meat, fried food, dessert, eggs, refined grains, high-fat milk, and sweet drinks.

Although the researchers did not find an association between early AMD and diet, they found that the incidence of late AMD was three times higher among those with a Western diet.

"What we observed in this study was that people who did not have AMD or early AMD at the start of our research, and reported frequently consuming [unhealthy] foods, were more likely to develop a threatening vision, end-stage disease about 18 years later, "said Dr. Millen

Early stage AMD has no symptoms. One may not realize that AMD is getting an early stage. Although not everyone will reach the final stage of AMD, for those who experience, the cost of treatment is prohibitive.

There are two forms of AMD in the final stages. One of them is called wet AMD or neovascular AMD, which health professionals tend to treat by injecting antivascular growth factors.

The other is called dry AMD or geographic atrophy, which occurs when photoreceptor cells die without neovascularization. There is no effective treatment for this form of AMD.

"We want people to realize that diet is important for their vision. The clinical message that can be taken home is that food intake might make a difference in determining central vision loss later in life," he said.

If someone has early AMD, he said, they have more interest in maintaining a diet by limiting the ingredients identified as part of a Western diet in moderation.