Sunday 8 January 2012

Investigating heart disease

Blood tests

These can pick up abnormalities that influence how well the heart is working. For example, they can detect raised levels of cholesterol (which may lead to coronary artery disease), abnormal levels of thyroid hormones (which can affect the heart's strength and rhythm) and the presence of cardiac enzymes (chemicals released when heart muscle cells are damaged in a heart attack).
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Cardiac enzyme tests

Blood samples taken over a series of days can reveal the level of enzymes - proteins that help with chemical actions in the body and are released after a heart attack - in the blood.
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Cerebral arteriography

This is used to show the extent and location of hardening of the arteries in the brain in order to diagnose patients at risk of stroke. The test takes between 20 minutes and an hour and is often done as day case, though some patients may have a short stay in hospital. There is a very small risk - one in 700 - that the test will cause a heart attack.
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Chest x-ray

This shows abnormalities in the size or shape of the heart, and whether fluid is building up in the lungs because the heart isn't working efficiently as a pump.
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Coronary angiogram

This is often used to assess whether people with angina require surgery. The test gives vital information about:
  • Blood pressure within the heart
  • How much oxygen is in the blood
  • The function of the pumping chambers and valves
  • The exact severity and positioning of any narrowings in the coronary arteries
A catheter is inserted into a vein or artery in the groin or arm, under a local anaesthetic, and dye is injected into the coronary arteries. Obstructions in the arteries can be identified by tracing the liquid's passage though the veins.
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Coronary angiography

This is a more complex test. Under the guidance of an x-ray camera, a long, thin tube is threaded into the coronary arteries via a blood vessel in the groin or arm and a dye, which can be seen on the x-ray screen, is then injected, showing the pattern of the coronary arteries.
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CT scan

High resolution images of the heart, brain and blood vessels are given by X-ray computed tomography (CT) or computerised axial tomographic (CAT) scans. It's useful to evaluate disease of the aorta - the largest artery in the body and involves little potential risk to patients. In stroke patients, it gives valuable information about the location and extent of brain injury.
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Doppler studies and echocardiography

Blood samples taken over a series of days can reveal the level of enzymes - proteins that help with chemical actions in the body and are released after a heart attack - in the blood.
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Echocardiogram

This scan uses sound waves to create an image of the heart as it beats. It shows the structure of the heart, how the walls of the heart move, and how well the heart valves are working.
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Echocardiography

A pulse of high frequency, inaudible sound is transmitted through the skin by placing a recorder or probe on the chest wall. The probe picks up the echoes reflected from various parts of the heart and displays them as an echocardiogram - a picture on a screen. The recorded waves show the shape, texture and movement of the valves and the size and function of the heart muscle and chambers. The test can take up to an hour and is painless. It provides information about disease of the heart muscle for those who have suffered a heart attack or heart failure and to assess people with disease of the heart valves.
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Electrocardiogram (ECG)

This shows electrical activity in the heart. It can reveal the thickness of the heart muscle (this may indicate long-term strain due to high blood pressure), areas of damage after a heart attack, and whether the blood supply to the heart muscle is adequate.
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Exercise stress test (or treadmill test)

This monitors the heart during exercise and shows how well it responds when the demands on it are increased. It's a good way to detect blockages in the blood flow through the coronary arteries to the muscle of the heart (coronary artery disease).
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Holter monitoring

Also known as 24-hour ECG, involves electrocardiogram recordings taken over 24 hours and can help diagnose palpitations, which occur infrequently and can easily be missed in a short test. The electrodes are placed on the chest and attached with wires to a small portable tape recorder which is worn on a belt around the waist. The recorder - the Holter monitor - takes constant or intermittent readings.
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MRI scan

A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan produces detailed pictures of internal organs, including the heart and brain. Patients lie in a short tunnel-like machine which contains a cylindrical magnet. Short bursts of magnetic fields and radio waves create images of parts of the body as required.
MRI can measure the flow of blood through some of the major arteries and can detect abnormal heart function in disorders such as cardiomyopathy (heart muscle disease), coronary heart disease, and congenital heart defects and help define the location and extent of brain injury in stroke patients.
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Nuclear imaging

A very small and harmless quantity of radioactive substance, called an isotope, is injected into the blood, often while exercising. Gamma rays emitted by the isotope - usually technetium or thallium - are picked up by a "camera" positioned close to the chest and tests the size and pumping function of the heart chambers, taking pictures of the inside of the heart as it empties and fills. Blood flow to the heart muscleis also studied, taking pictures of the flow of blood to the muscular walls of the heart.
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Thallium scan

Radioactive dye is injected during exercise to demonstrate the amount of blood reaching different parts of the heart's muscular walls.
When the results of these and other tests are available, it's possible to build a picture of what is going wrong with the heart, reach a diagnosis and consider appropriate treatment.

Disclaimer

All content within BBC Health is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional. The BBC is not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made by a user based on the content of the BBC Health website. The BBC is not liable for the contents of any external internet sites listed, nor does it endorse any commercial product or service mentioned or advised on any of the sites. See our Links Policy for more information. Always consult your own GP if you're in any way concerned about your health.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/physical_health/conditions/in_depth/heart/investigating_index.shtml
Posted by Society For Better Treatment at 19:07 0 comments

Tests to diagnose cancer

If cancer is suspected, or even as part of a regular screening programme, you may encounter one or more of the following tests.
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X-rays

A simple x-ray can show the lungs, heart outline, collar bones and ribs, and may help diagnose lung and bronchial cancers.
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Contrast x-rays

These use barium, either as a drink or as an enema, to highlight any abnormalities in an x-ray. Contrast x-rays are used to diagnose cancer of the gullet (oesophagus), stomach, colon or rectum.
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Mammogram

This is a special soft tissue x-ray of the breast which is used to detect abnormalities. As the breast tissue has to be squashed to take the picture some women find this uncomfortable. Mammograms are used in the screening of all women, whether or not the woman displays symptoms of breast cancer.
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CT

CT, or computerized tomography, scanning gives a more detailed view of sections of the body, detecting changes in shape. CT is often used when trying to detect very small cancers in the body.
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MRI

MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, uses a powerful magnetic field in combination with radio waves to create images similar to CT, but without exposing the patient to ionising radiation. These images give much more information than other imaging techniques, enabling a more detailed and accurate interpretation of the results. This type of imaging can be very noisy but you can listen to music to help block out the noise. Because of the magnet, patients with any implants containing metal (e.g. cardiac pacemakers, aneurysm clips, artificial heart valves, cochlea implants, implanted pumps, tattooed eyeliner) can’t have an MRI.
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Nuclear medicine

These scans can be used to look at bones, kidneys, lungs and the thyroid gland. This usually involves an injection of a small amount of radiation and you’re provided with a list of do’s and don’ts for 12 hours after the scan.
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Ultrasound imaging

Ultrasound is a non-invasive investigation of soft tissues in the body using high frequency sound waves to produce pictures of body organs.
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Cytological investigations

This test may be performed to collect cells from an abnormality within the body. A needle and syringe is used to take cells from a lump, a lymph node, thyroid gland or bone marrow. Cells from the cervix may be collected using a swab (a smear test). Taking these cells can be quite uncomfortable but is important in getting the right diagnosis.
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Endoscopy

A tube with a tiny camera and light is used to look at different parts of the body, including the gullet, lungs, stomach and bowel.
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Surgery

Sometimes it isn't possible to reach a definite diagnosis without a biopsy. This involves taking a small piece of tissue for testing and is often carried out under a local anaesthetic.
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Blood tests

Blood tests are very common and are usually done to look at how the organs in the body are working.
Some tests are done immediately by your GP, but others may take longer to arrange as they’re more complex and require hospital visits. Results may take a little time to get as scans and test reports have to be checked and double checked by experts. An appointment is usually made once all your results are available. If you think you should be having a particular test, it's important to discuss your concerns with your doctor who will be able to tell you if the test is appropriate. Often when you see your doctor you may forget some of the things you want to ask, so it's often useful to write these things down before you go.

Disclaimer

All content within BBC Health is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional. The BBC is not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made by a user based on the content of the BBC Health website. The BBC is not liable for the contents of any external internet sites listed, nor does it endorse any commercial product or service mentioned or advised on any of the sites. See our Links Policy for more information. Always consult your own GP if you're in any way concerned about your health.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/physical_health/conditions/in_depth/cancer/carecancer_test.shtml
Posted by Society For Better Treatment at 19:04 0 comments

what is cancer

How cancer causes harm

Cancer harms the body in a number of ways. The size of the tumour, for example, can interfere with nearby organs or ducts that carry important chemicals, causing pain or other symptoms.
A tumour on the pancreas can grow to block the bile duct, leading to the patient developing obstructive jaundice. A brain tumour can push on important parts of the brain, causing blackouts, fits and other problems. Even benign tumours can cause these problems if located in the wrong place.
When a cancer invades nearby tissues, it can cause bleeding from damaged blood vessels, and stop the organ it is invading from working properly.
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How cancer spreads

As a tumour grows, cells can break off and start growing on adjacent tissues and organs. For example, if bowel cancer has spread through the wall of the bowel itself, it can start growing on the bladder. Cells can also enter the bloodstream and travel to distant organs, such as the lungs or brain. The technical term for this is metastasis.
When new tumours form on distant organs, they behave like the original tumour - so a bowel cancer cell growing in the lung will not be lung cancer.
Once other organs are involved, any symptoms of the cancer can get worse. However, it may be some time before a growing cancer in certain parts of the body produces noticeable symptoms.
Once a cancer has started to spread beyond its original site, the chances of a cure often begin to fall, as it becomes more difficult to treat.
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How cancer is treated

There are three principal ways of treating cancer.
The first is surgery, normally an operation to remove the cancerous growth and - depending on its type - nearby tissues and organs. A cancer patient may first undergo a minor operation called a biopsy to take a small sample of the cancer for analysis.
The surgeon will try to remove as much of the cancer as possible, but sometimes extra treatment will be needed. This could either take the form of radiotherapy or chemotherapy, or a combination.
While the overall number of new cancers is not falling, the good news is that successful treatment rates for many of the most common types are improving rapidly
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Support for those with cancer

All patients treated with chemotherapy will be looked after by ateam of healthcare professionals, who are there to support you and access specialist support if required.

Disclaimer

All content within BBC Health is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional. The BBC is not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made by a user based on the content of the BBC Health website. The BBC is not liable for the contents of any external internet sites listed, nor does it endorse any commercial product or service mentioned or advised on any of the sites. See our Links Policy for more information. Always consult your own GP if you're in any way concerned about your health.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/physical_health/conditions/in_depth/cancer/whatis_cancer.shtml
Posted by Society For Better Treatment at 18:58 0 comments
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