When it's time to worry

The occasional inability to remember names, phone numbers, or dates is nearly universal. Periods of stress, anxiety, and depression worsen forgetfulness, but time should remedy it, so you do remember your anniversary-just a little late.

Serious memory loss, accompanied by confusion or personality changes, requires a medical evaluation. You may first think of Alzheimer's disease, but other brain conditions or stroke can also be causes.

See a doctor if :
- Memory loss affects your job.
- You can't remember how to do familiar tasks, such as cook a meal or add numbers.
- You forget simple words or use inappropriate ones.
- You get lost in your own house or neighborhood.
- You bizarrely misplace items-your jeans turn up in the oven.
- You have mood and behavior swings, such as sudden paranoia or terror.

Predicting Heart Disease

Are you at risk of heart attack or stroke?   Learn how your future risk of heart disease can be predicted and treated.

Diagnosis of high blood pressure or hypertension is often based on abnormal blood pressure reading while at rest. A mild elevation of the blood pressure on a routine visit to the doctor is often just followed by closer monitoring accompanied by admonitions to lose weight and cut back on salt.

But this may not be the most effective way to diagnosis hypertension early enough. Early treatment can help head off damage to the heart or stroke, which may be a result of uncontrolled hypertension. A study conducted by researchers at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore indicates that measuring blood pressure during mild exercise may be a better indicator of early heart disease.

The study showed that a high pulse pressure -- defined as the difference between systolic blood pressure (the upper number) and diastolic blood pressure (the lower number) -- during exercise was associated with a dysfunction of the endothelial cells lining the blood vessels. These cells control the ability of the blood vessels to dilate, or expand, which allows more blood to flow during periods of stress. Increased pulse pressure is also an indicator of blood vessel stiffening, which may be a marker of early heart disease. Recent epidemiological studies have shown that pulse pressure is the leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease in the elderly.

If the blood vessels do not expand to accommodate increased blood flow the heart may enlarge and then have to work even harder. As the heart becomes enlarged the risk for heart attack, stroke and heart failure increases.

Earlier detection of heart disease will provide the opportunity for earlier treatment and help to decrease the risk of death and disability. Physicians may be wise to suggest that patients with mild hypertension undergo a exercise stress test to determine their pulse pressure. If the test indicates early heart disease more aggressive treatment can help to slow or stop its progression.

Treatment Of Heart Disease

Initial treatment of heart disease involves decreasing risk factors and involves measure to decrease weight if needed, smoking cessation and changes in the diet to help decrease cholesterol levels. If cholesterol is elevated a medication to decrease it may be prescribed by a physician. Moderate exercise 3-5 times weekly is helpful also in controlling blood pressure, lowering cholesterol and combined with diet effective in weight control.

Medication may be ordered for treatment of blood pressure and heart rhythm irregularities. These medications are very important elements in the fight to prevent heart damage. It is of utmost importance that these medications are taken as ordered and that health status is monitored frequently by the patient's physician.

While prevention is always best, early detection is the next best bet for predicting a long and healthy life.