Wishing each of you a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and a BLESSED NEW YEAR for 2016!
To our MILITARY PEOPLE, I wish each of you and your families a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and a SAFE and BLESSED NEW YEAR!
To Israel and my Jewish friends, I wish each of you a HAPPY HANUKKAH and for the NEW YEAR, BLESSINGS of PEACE, GOODWILL (from the CHRISTIANS in America) and may GOD keep you SAFE from DANGER, HARM!
Thursday, December 24, 2015
The Legends of Christmas
Christmas Wreaths
The wreaths of Christmas are very special symbols of the season. Wreaths represent a love that knows no end. Much like the wedding bands that couples exchange when married, the wreath has no beginning and no ending. So, too, the love which came down at Christmas is eternal love, and the wreaths symbolize the love of God that never ends.
The Christmas Tree Star
Christmas Star on top of the tree for the most part represents the Star of Bethlehem. Christians see candles as "Christ's Light" and the lighting of candles on Christmas Eve comes from the Jewish "Feast of Lights" or Hanukkah.
The Candy Cane
The candy cane represents one of the oldest symbols of Christmas, the shepherd's crook, for the shepherds were among the first to experience that first Christmas. The colors of the candy cane have special meaning, too. The wide red stripe represents the sacrifice of Christ, "For by his stripes we are healed." The narrow red stripes represent our own sacrifices (giving). The white stripe is a symbol of purity. The peppermint plant is a member of the hyssop family, referred to in the Old Testament as a medicinal herb used for cleansing. As you eat your candy cane, you might want to break it, as Christ's body was broken for you, and share it with a friend, thus sharing in the sweetness of the true meaning of Christmas.
Christmas tree
The Christmas tree, which is an evergreen with it's boughs stretched toward heaven, reminds us of the everlasting life that Christ came to bring sinners. The candles or lights on the tree remind us that Jesus is the light of the world.
The Holly
The holly leaves and berries from the holly bush are widely used in holiday decorations. The sharp pointy edges of the holly leaf remind us of the crown of thorns that Jesus wore upon his brow. The red berries remind us of the blood that Jesus shed.
The wreaths of Christmas are very special symbols of the season. Wreaths represent a love that knows no end. Much like the wedding bands that couples exchange when married, the wreath has no beginning and no ending. So, too, the love which came down at Christmas is eternal love, and the wreaths symbolize the love of God that never ends.
The Christmas Tree Star
Christmas Star on top of the tree for the most part represents the Star of Bethlehem. Christians see candles as "Christ's Light" and the lighting of candles on Christmas Eve comes from the Jewish "Feast of Lights" or Hanukkah.
The Candy Cane
The candy cane represents one of the oldest symbols of Christmas, the shepherd's crook, for the shepherds were among the first to experience that first Christmas. The colors of the candy cane have special meaning, too. The wide red stripe represents the sacrifice of Christ, "For by his stripes we are healed." The narrow red stripes represent our own sacrifices (giving). The white stripe is a symbol of purity. The peppermint plant is a member of the hyssop family, referred to in the Old Testament as a medicinal herb used for cleansing. As you eat your candy cane, you might want to break it, as Christ's body was broken for you, and share it with a friend, thus sharing in the sweetness of the true meaning of Christmas.
Christmas tree
The Christmas tree, which is an evergreen with it's boughs stretched toward heaven, reminds us of the everlasting life that Christ came to bring sinners. The candles or lights on the tree remind us that Jesus is the light of the world.
The Holly
The holly leaves and berries from the holly bush are widely used in holiday decorations. The sharp pointy edges of the holly leaf remind us of the crown of thorns that Jesus wore upon his brow. The red berries remind us of the blood that Jesus shed.
Friday, December 11, 2015
Pleas help me put a smile on this beautiful little girl!
I do not normally do things like this, but this beautiful little girl and her story has just broken my heart. The story I got was all of her family were killed in a fire, she is the only one that survived and she all most died her self. This precious little child was burnt over most of her little body. She was ask what she wanted for Christmas and she said...Christmas cards! That is all this little girl wants is Christmas card, so PLEASE help me and send her a Christmas card for Christmas and lets see if we can put a smile on her face. In the process of sending her a card PLEASE say a prayer for her and maybe even put her on your prayer list. Thank you so very much!
Her name is Safyre and the address is in above her picture. Again I thank you with all my heart!
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
Cold and flu season is approaching
With winter coming on the cold and flu season is starting, here is some info that might help with you feeling better. I am all for the natural and homeopathy remedies. Along with uses of essential oils, herbs and minerals.
Friday, November 20, 2015
12 Genius Uses for Toothpaste
12 Genius Uses for Toothpaste
By Sarah
B. Weir, Shine Senior Writer/Healthy Living
1. Polish jewelry. Apply a thin film of toothpaste to dull stones or tarnished metal with a soft toothbrush or cloth. Polish gently, rinse with water, and dry. If the tarnishing is heavy, apply a thicker coat and let it sit for an hour. Do not use toothpaste on pearls, turquoise, vintage Bakelite, or vintage rhinestones, which have softer surfaces and might get scratched.
2. Remove carpet stains. Scrub stains with a toothbrush and toothpaste. Blot with a damp cloth. Be sure to test a small section of carpet to make sure the dye doesn't come off.
3. Clean up scratched DVDs and CDs. Gently dab a small amount of toothpaste on the scratch with a cloth and buff from the center of the disk outward toward the rim. Rinse with water and dry with a microfiber cloth.
More on Yahoo: Best Teeth Whitening Products
4. Spiff up sneakers. If the rubber soles of your favorite kicks are getting scuffed, scrub them with toothpaste using a toothbrush or nailbrush. Ditto for white leather shoes. Be sure to do a patch test with white canvas.
5. Banish water rings on furniture. Oops, you forgot to use a coaster. Gently buff away the water ring with a small dab of toothpaste and a soft, slightly damp cloth. You may have to repeat the process a couple of times but don't use too much pressure and over scrub. Test on antique wood to make sure you don't damage the finish.
6. Clean the inside of grimy water bottles, baby bottles, and thermoses. We try to be green and reuse bottles, but what about when they get all gross with mysterious and unappetizing scum? Scrub with a narrow bottle brush and toothpaste, and rinse thoroughly with hot water.
7. Defog. Rub a small amount of toothpaste around the inside of goggles or a diving mask and rinse thoroughly. Do not use on goggles with special coatings such as anti-glare treatments.
8. Lift collar stains. Tackle those ugly gray stains around the collars of shirts with toothpaste and a toothbrush. Rinse and launder.
9. Scrub your nails. Manicures are great until the colored polish comes off and your nails look dingy and discolored. If your nails are stained and yellow, scrub with toothpaste applied to a nailbrush to regain their glow.
10. Patch small holes in walls. Fill thumbtack holes in drywall with a little smear of toothpaste. Smooth over the filled hole with a piece of cardboard such as a playing card. Repeat if toothpaste shrinks when it dries.
11. Deodorize your hands. Wash your hands with a squirt of toothpaste if you have been cutting garlic or onions. Do not use toothpaste on burns or on your face to clear up pimples. Despite old wives' tales and Internet advice on the efficacy of toothpaste and skin care, it contains detergents, menthol, and possible allergens, all of which could be irritants.
12. Polish the faucet. A quick toothpaste scrub gets your chrome bathroom accessories shiny again. Just don't overdo it — chrome plate can get worn away over time.
While toothpaste is gentler than a traditional cleaning scrub like Comet, it typically contains about 50 percent abrasive materials. With all this inspiration, it may be tempting to run around with an industrial-sized tube scrubbing stains and scuffs with abandon, but start with small patches and dab, rub, and buff with a light touch.
Sunday, September 6, 2015
Ventricular tachycardia "IS LIFE THREATENING!"
Ventricular tachycardia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Ventricular
tachycardia (V-tach
or VT) is a tachycardia, or fast heart rhythm, that originates in one of the ventricles of the heart. The ventricles are the main pumping
chambers of the heart. This is a potentially life-threatening arrhythmia because it may lead to ventricular fibrillation, asystole, and sudden death.
Classification[edit]
12 lead electrocardiogram showing a run of monomorphic
ventricular tachycardia (VT)
Ventricular
tachycardia can be classi fied
based on its morphology:
- Monomorphic
ventricular tachycardia means that the appearance of all the beats match each other in each lead of a surface electrocardiogram (ECG).
- Scar
related monomorphic ventricular tachycardia is the most common type and a
frequent cause of death in patients who have survived a heart attack or myocardial infarction especially if they have weak
heart muscle.[1]
- RVOT
tachycardia is a type of monomorphic ventricular tachycardia originating
in the right ventricular outflow tract. RVOT
morphology refers to the characteristic pattern of this type of
tachycardia on an ECG.
- Polymorphic
ventricular tachycardia, on the other hand, has beat-to-beat variations in
morphology. This may appear as a cyclical progressive change in cardi ac axis, previously
referred to by its French name
torsades de pointes ("twisting of the
points"). However, currently the term torsades is reserved for
polymorphic VT occurring in the context of a prolonged resting QT
interval.
Another way
to classify ventricular
tachycardias is the duration of the episodes: Three or more beats in a
row on an ECG that originate from the ventricle at a rate of more than 100
beats per minute constitute a ventricular tachycardia.
- If the
fast rhythm self-terminates within 30 seconds, it is considered a
non-sustained ventricular tachycardia.
- If the
rhythm lasts more than 30 seconds, it is known as a sustained ventricular
tachycardia (even if it terminates on its own after 30 seconds).
A third way to
classify ventricular tachycardia is on the basis of its symptoms:
Pulseless VT is associated with no effective cardiac output, hence, no
effective pulse, and is a cause of cardiac arrest. In this circumstance, it is
best treated the same way as ventricular fibrillation (VF), and is recognized
as one of the shockable rhythms on the cardiac arrest protocol. Some VT is
associated with reasonable cardiac output and may even be asymptomatic. The
heart usually tolerates this rhythm poorly in the medium to long term, and
patients may certainly deteriorate to pulseless VT or to VF.
Less common is
ventricular tachycardia which occurs in individuals with structurally normal
hearts. This is known as idiopathic ventricular tachycardia and in the
Monomorphic form appears with little or no incidence of increased risk of
sudden cardiac death. In general, idiopathic ventricular tachycardia occurs in
younger individuals diagnosed with VT. While the causes of idiopathic VT are MI
or cardiomyopathy, it is generally presumed to be congenital, and can be
brought on by any number of diverse factors.
Pathophysiology[edit]
The morphology
of the tachycardia depends on its cause.
In monomorphic
ventricular tachycardia, all the beats look the same because the impulse is
either being generated from increased automaticity of a single point in either the left or right ventricle, or due to a reentry circuit within
the ventricle. The most common cause of monomorphic ventricular tachycardia is myocardial scarring from a previous myocardial infarction (heart attack). This scar cannot conduct electrical
activity, so there is a potential circuit around the scar that results
in the tachycardia. This is similar to the re-entrant circuits that are the
cause of atrial flutter and the re-entrant forms of supraventricular tachycardia. Other rarer congenital causes of
monomorphic VT include right ventricular dysplasia, and right and left
ventricular outflow tract VT.
Polymorphic
ventricular tachycardia, on the other hand, is most commonly caused by
abnormalities of ventricular muscle repolarization. The predisposition to this
problem usually manifests on the ECG as a prolongation of the QT interval. QT
prolongation may be congenital or acquired. Congenital problems include Long QT syndrome and Catecholaminergic polymorphic
ventricular tachycardia. Acquired problems are usually related to drug toxicity
or electrolyte abnormalities, but can occur as a result of myocardial ischemia.
Class III anti-arrhythmic drugs such as sotalol and amiodarone prolong the QT interval and may in
some circumstances be pro-arrhythmic. Other relatively common drugs including
some antibiotics and antihistamines may also be a danger, particularly in
combination with one another. Problems with blood levels of potassium,
magnesium and calcium may also contribute. High dose magnesium is often used as
an antidote in cardiac arrest protocols.
Diagnosis[edit]
The diagnosis of ventricular tachycardia is made
based on the rhythm seen on either a 12 lead ECG or a telemetry rhythm strip.
It may be very difficult to differentiate between ventricular tachycardia and a
wide-complex supraventricular tachycardia in some cases. In particular,
supraventricular tachycardias with aberrant conduction from pre-existing bundle branch block are commonly misdiagnosed as ventricular tachycardia.
Other rarer phenomena include ashman beats and antedromic atrioventricular re-entry tachcyardias.[citation needed]
Various diagnostic
criteria have been developed to determine whether a wide complex tachycardia is
ventricular tachycardia or a more benign rhythm.[2][3] In addition to these diagnostic
criteria, if the individual has a past history of a myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, or recent angina, the wide complex tachycardia is much
more likely to be ventricular tachycardia.[4]
The proper
diagnosis is important, as the misdiagnosis of supraventricular tachycardia
when ventricular tachycardia is present is associated with worse prognosis.
This is particularly true if calcium channel blockers, such as verapamil, are used to attempt to terminate a
presumed supraventricular tachycardia.[5] It is therefore wisest to assume that
all wide complex tachycardia is VT until proven otherwise...
Treatment[edit]
Therapy may be
directed at either terminating an episode of the arrhythmia or at suppressing a
future episode from occurring. The treatment for stable VT is tailored to the
specific patient, with regard to how well the individual tolerates episodes of
ventricular tachycardia, how frequently episodes occur, their comorbidities,
and their wishes. Patients suffering from pulseless VT or unstable VT are
hemodynamically compromised and require immediate cardioversion.
Synchronized electrical cardioversion[edit]
If the patient
still has a pulse, it is usually possible to terminate a VT episode with a
direct current shock across the heart, that is delivered from one side of the
chest to the other, or from the front to the back. This is ideally synchronized
to the patient's heartbeat, in order to avoid degeneration of the rhythm to ventricular fibrillation. As this is quite uncomfortable,
shocks should be delivered only to an unconscious or sedated patient. As a
reminder, this is different from defibrillating the patient; see next
paragraph.
Defibrillation[edit]
A patient with
pulseless VT or ventricular fibrillation will be unconscious and treated as an
emergency on an ACLS protocol, given high energy (360J with a monophasic
defibrillator, or 200J with a biphasic defibrillator) unsynchronised
cardioversion (defibrillation).
The shock may
be delivered to the outside of the chest using the two pads of an external
defibrillator, or internally to the heart by an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) if one has previously been
inserted.
An ICD may also
be set to attempt to overdrive pace the ventricle. Pacing the ventricle at a
rate faster than the underlying tachycardia can sometimes be effective in
terminating the rhythm. If this fails after a short trial, the ICD will usually
stop pacing, charge up and deliver a defibrillation grade shock.
Cardiac ablation[edit]
Catheter
ablation is a key therapeutic modality for patients with recurrent VT.[6]
There was
consensus among the task force members that catheter ablation for VT should
generally be considered early in the treatment of patients with recurrent VT.
In the past, ablation was often not considered until pharmacological options
had been exhausted, often after the patient had suffered substantial morbidity
from recurrent episodes of VT and ICD shocks. Antiarrhythmic medications can
reduce the frequency of ICD therapies, but have disappointing efficacy and side
effects. Advances in technology and understanding of VT substrates now allow
ablation of multiple and unstable VTs with acceptable safety and efficacy, even
in patients with advanced heart disease.[7]
Remote magnetic navigation is recognized as an important method
for delivery of ablation therapy for these patients due to the ability of the
flexible magnetic catheter to carefully map the diseased tissue without
inadvertently inducing abnormal ventricular rhythms. In a series of 110
patients that included all morphologies of VT, 85% of patients treated with
magnetic ablation were free from VT at one year after the intervention and were
exposed to statistically reduced levels of radiation when compared to
non-magnetic VT ablations at the same center.[8] In patients with myocardial scarring
from a previous heart attack who were receiving excessive shocks from an ICD,
magnetic ablation was shown to be successful in reducing these shocks and
demonstrated a 67% reduction in imaging radiation needed to complete the
procedure compared to a historical non-magnetic group.[9] For monomorphic idiopathic VT which
may originate in thin-walled tissues, magnetic ablation offers catheter
flexibility, steering accuracy and reproducibility to navigate to a desired
location with a low probability of perforating the myocardium.[10]
Antiarrhythmic drug therapy[edit]
Drugs such as amiodarone or procainamide may be used in addition to defibrillation to terminate VT while the underlying
cause of the VT can be determined. As hypomagnesia is a common cause of VT,
stat dose magnesium sulphate can be given for torsades or if hypomagnesemia is
found/suspected.
Long term
anti-arrhythmic therapy may be indicated to prevent recurrence of VT.
Beta-blockers and a number of class III anti-arrhythmics are commonly used.
Lidocaine is now being replaced by amiodarone as the first line anti-arrhythmic
treatment of VT.
The
implantation of an ICD is more effective than drug therapy for prevention of
sudden cardiac death due to VT and VF, but may be constrained by cost
issues,(RDM) and well as patient co-morbidities and patient preference.
Thursday, September 3, 2015
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