Heartburn or GERD can Kill

Heartburn is a common annoyance. The busy lifestyle, quick meals, fatty or spicy foods all contribute to the occasional need of a chewable pain reliever. The acceptance of heartburn as an inconvenient, but natural, part of the daily grind can blind you to the warning that a severe heartburn symptom can bring.

Heartburn as a Disorder

Heartburn can be a symptom as well as a disorder. Simple heartburn or GERD can be controlled and dealt with. However, heartburn can signal the presence of a much more serious problem. If it’s heartburn, you will have a burning sensation in the chest usually after eating. There may be a spread of the burning to the throat, sometimes accompanied by a bad taste, difficulty in swallowing, belching, coughing, hoarseness and/or wheezing.

It can become worse by lying down or bending over or by eating. Relief can come from an antacid. While the more severe heartburn symptoms may be mistaken for a heart attack, simple heartburn is usually not made worse by exercise. If there is any concern that the pain may signal a heart attack, get help quickly.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Potential Dangers of Premature Menopause

By Keira Adams

Each woman will go through menopause at a certain stage in her life, whether she wishes to or not. The usual time at which a female starts this time is about 50, and it will most often last for a few years. There are also those who will begin the change while in their 40s. This is more often than not a result of hereditary causes or surgery such as a hysterectomy. But if a female ceases having her monthly periods any earlier than that, she is in all likelihood experiencing early menopause.

The warning signs and symptoms of early menopause are entirely the same as those that are experienced by older women experiencing this phase. In spite of this, there is an additional element that younger women need to handle too. They will often be subjected to emotional and mental difficulties as a result of their menopause symptoms and the enormous transitions happening inside the system at such an an early age.

Going through menopause at such an early age of course indicates that the woman can no longer conceive, and her child bearing days are ended. This can be emotionally problematic for a lot of of these women. Others, however, may appreciate a premature conclusion to their monthly periods and having to be concerned with birth control. Nonetheless, there are other problems that can arise that are more worrying.

These women are more threatened by specific health problems than those who undergo their change of life at the usual time. There is an increased possibility that they will develop osteoporosis, cancer of the colon or ovarian cancer. This is a result of the lower amounts of estrogen being produced by the system too early in life. There is also a small risk of developing gum disease, loss of teeth and cataracts in the eyes.

In the big picture, the rewards of no longer having periods and unwelcome pregnancies don't offset the risks. It's critical that every woman who is going through this condition stay under the vigilant treatment of her physician. He or she will be watchful for these health conditions and know how to address them at once if they occur. And ensure that you stay alert to any hints of these conditions yourself.

If you believe that you're going through early menopause, go to see your doctor immediately. Only they will be able to diagnose it correctly. They will perform various tests that can positively identify the condition. That way you'll be better equipped to handle any physical and psychological issues related to this point of life.

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