You might wonder why some have bent pinky fingers. You’ll find that there are people with pinky fingers that are more severely bent than others. The interesting thing is that if you have someone who has bent pinky fingers you are likely to find an ancestor of his that has the same condition. This condition is called camptodactyly and is a condition that is hereditary.

Defining the Condition

In layman’s terms, camptodactyly is the condition where there is a deformity in the fingers. Other people may have it on other fingers on their hands but you will usually find evidence of this on the pinky fingers. Such deformed fingers are usually bent either severely or just slightly.

A common occurrence among such cases is that these deformed fingers won’t be able to straighten out or extend naturally. Some people’s pinkies are more bent than others since some cases are milder than others. It may require a health professional to identify this said condition.

Causes of Camptodactyly/Bent Pinky Fingers

There are a number of causes of this condition that comes with the deformity of the fingers. Some causes include contracted ligaments and contracted tendons, which one might initially think of as the cause. However, some causes may not seem too obvious at the time like tight skin and abnormal muscles. One cause of this condition that can easily be detected is irregularly shaped bones.

Common Incidence

There are those who wonder just how common does this condition occur within the general population. The truth is that the exact number of incidence of camptodactyly is definitely unknown. The best thing that we can ever come up with is a rough estimate of the incidence of this said condition. A good estimate would be one percent of the total general population. Of course, this estimate will have varying degrees in terms of accuracy.

From what is known, it is observed that camptodactyly is more frequent with the female population than that of the male. It has also been observed that most cases of getting bent pinky fingers are more likely sporadic. However, it has also been observed that there are patients who might have relatives or ancestors who have the very same condition. Do take note that this said condition can also be an element of one underlying syndrome one might be experiencing.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Do not try to diagnose camptodactyly on your own. Don’t jump to any conclusion if you find a friend or relative to have bent pinky fingers. If you suspect that you have this said condition you should see your doctor. Mild cases or deformities rarely cause any functional problems. Surgery is not usually recommended for such cases. You should solicit the aid of a treating physician for severe deformities.

smoking1 300x199 Why Does Smoking Cause a Rise In Blood PressureSmoking is one of the habits and practices that medical experts oppose because it poses serious threats to human health. Medical studies showed that smoking could cause various deadly diseases such as cancer, strokes as well as stenosis. This habit also affects the efficient functioning of the cardiovcascular system. One of the serious effects of smoking is a rapid increase in blood pressure. Discussed below are the reasons why smoking causes a rise in blood pressure.

Narrowing Blood Vessels

Why does smoking cause a rise in blood pressure? There are various ways smoking cause an increase in blood pressure. One of these is by narrowing the heart blood vessels. Cigarettes and tobaccos have ingredients or elements that affect the effective functioning of the blood vessels. Regular smoking damages and weakens the blood vessels and causes them to narrow. When this occurs, blood flow will be affected and the heart will be stressed since it needs to work harder than the usual to pump blood to the other parts of the body. Whenever the heart is under stress, the blood pressure increases.

Shortage in Oxygen

Inhaling oxygen is important to the survival of humans. Shortage in oxygen can be dangerous to our health. Medical studies showed that smoking causes shortage in the supply of oxygen in the body, which can greatly affect the efficient functioning of the cardiovascular system. Inadequate supply of oxygen causes the heart to work harder to provide sufficient amount of oxygen in the other parts of the body. When the heart pumps harder than the usual, the cardiovascular system is affected. Thus, a rapid increase in blood pressure occurs.

Inflammation and Plaque

Another reason why medical experts oppose smoking is that this unhealthy practice causes plaque build-up in blood vessels. Aside from this, the habit also destroys the linings of the heart blood vessels. When the linings were damaged, inflammation of the blood vessels will happen. Build-up of plaque and inflammation of the vessel are risk factors to increased blood pressure.

Long-Term Effects of Smoking on Blood Flow

Smokers should be aware of the long-term effects of the unhealthy habit on their health. Cigarettes and tobaccos have chemicals that cause the fibrinogen and blood cholesterol levels to rise. When these happen, they may experience heart attacks because increased levels of blood cholesterol and fibrinogen affects the blood clotting mechanism of the body. Heart attacks can cause high blood pressure and other serious illnesses such as aneurysm, coronary heart disease, stroke as well as peripheral vascular disease.

Why Does My Face Go Red1There are actually many reasons why the face goes red. The situations and occurrences vary from person to person.

What Causes Blushing or Reddening

What actually happens is that blood vessels in the skin widen. When this happens more blood is pumped up in the upper parts of the face. Sometimes the blushing can appear in other parts of the body too. It’s usually accompanied by a feeling of heat in the cheeks. It disappears after a few minutes. The experience is an involuntary reflex of the body.

Feelings of Embarrassment

One of the most common reasons is embarrassment. When someone makes a mistake in front of many people, this can cause blushing. While it is one reason why the face goes red, it doesn’t always mean something negative has happened.

Some people blush when they are given generous compliments in front of others. It can also occur when someone is in the presence of their crush. Words of flattery can make the face appear flushed as well.

Allergies

In some cases the reddening could be due to allergic reaction. Someone who eats seafood may experience this. After having some shrimps, the person may feel the area around the eyes thicken. This is usually followed by the reddening of the face.

If the allergy is slight, this side effect will go away in a few minutes. If it’s severe, the person has to take antibiotics. When analyzing why the face goes red, this has to be considered too.

Excessive Heat

The weather can also play a part. It’s not uncommon to see people appearing flushed while walking in the sun. This is a bodily reaction against the heat. Usually this is not serious. However it can be irritating and quite uncomfortable. Individuals who are used to walking in the heat usually don’t show this effect.

Self Conscious

Some people blush when they realize they’re the focus of attention. Examples of this situation would be a contestant in a beauty pageant, being asked to make a speech or other similar circumstances. While it’s a common explanation as to why the face goes red, it’s not indicative of the person’s ability to handle the situation.

Anger

Anger and emotional outbursts can also cause the blood vessels to widen. In this case the effect may last longer than usual. Aside from reddening, the individual might also appear red in the neck area. It’s also not uncommon for people to feel very hot. Unlike blushing caused by embarrassment, anger induced flushing usually comes with rapid heart beating and even physical trembling.

Too Much Alcohol

People who drink a lot of alcoholic beverages might see their face appear flushed. The reason is that alcohol widens the arteries. The result is an increase in blood movement. This eventually reaches the face.

It becomes evident that there are several reasons why the face goes red. Most of the time, it’s just a harmless reaction to an unexpected situation. But still, it’s good to know the other causes and how they might be indications of something else altogether.

strawberries1 300x300 Why Are Strawberries Good For You

One of the most popular breed of berries, a strawberry has a sweet taste, which makes it very appealing to humans. Many people agree that the fruit is nutritious and is good to improve our health. To know why strawberries are good for you, let us explore the health benefits that you can get from eating the fruit.

Minerals and Vitamins

Why are strawberries good for you? Strawberries are good for your health because it contains minerals and vitamins that are important to boost the immune system. Some of the vitamins that people can get from this fruit are vitamin C, vitamin B2, vitamin B5, vitamin B6 and vitamin K. Aside from these, strawberry is also rich in manganese, dietary fiber as well as iodine. If you need potassium and folate, you can get these from eating strawberries.

Anti-Aging Properties and Antioxidants

If you want to eliminate the harmful toxins in your blood, one of the best things to do is to eat strawberries because these have antioxidants that are important to combat free radicals. Eliminating free radicals is important to prevent the development of cancer cells. Aside from having anti-aging properties, people can also benefit from strawberries since these have properties that can improve brain health and slow down aging.

Treating Diseases

Including strawberry in your daily diet is important to enhance your health because it has minerals and vitamins that can help combat and treat some diseases like constipation, flu and high blood pressure. Physicians also recommend the regular intake of the fruit to patients who have gout, rheumatism and catarrh. Another health benefit from eating this fruit is it can enhance gum health and eliminate tartar.

Other Relevant Information About Strawberry

If you want to store strawberries, you need to keep the fruits in a cool and dry place. You can only store the fruits for not more than two days since the nutritional components of strawberries are decreased when stored for a long time. To make sure that the fruits that you will eat are fresh and sweet, select those that are bright red. To provide variations and to encourage children to eat the fruit, you can use it in making special desserts and side dishes. Aside from these, you can also use strawberries in making smoothies, shakes and fresh juices. Strawberry is also a popular ingredient in cakes, ice creams, appetizers and candies. It is also best to mix strawberry with other nutritious fruits like bananas and mangoes. In this way, children can enjoy eating the fruit and at the same time improve their health.

lungs1 300x225 Why Does Fluid Build Up In LungsWhen analyzing the cause of fluid buildup in the lungs or edema, it’s important to look at several possible reasons. By recognizing the various symptoms you will be able to take the proper action.

Indications

The first step is to determine if you have one. The first sign is difficulty breathing when lying down. If you need more than one pillow to breathe properly, you may have edema. Aside from difficulty breathing, it’s also accompanied by wheezing sounds. The severe cases will include coughing up blood.

Other indications are anxiety or chest pain. Some people might also experience a total breath stoppage for several seconds. Edema patients may also report feeling feverish. If you are showing any of the symptoms, then it’s time to analyze the possible cause of fluid buildup in the lungs.

Heart Disorders

The reason could be related to the heart. The increased pressure on the blood vessels can cause these fluids to come out. There are many different types of heart ailments that can cause this. One of them is stroke, as this usually means a vessel has ruptured. Another possible ailment is valvular heart disease. What this means is that the chambers don’t work properly.

Arrhythmias, or irregular beating / rhythm is another reason. Inborn heart defects like wall holes and valve infection can result in edema too. Another possible cause of fluid buildup in the lungs is high blood pressure.

Other Possible Causes

If you don’t have heart disease, thyroid could be the reason. You should also check with your doctor to see if you have kidney disease. One reason for this is imbibing a lot of liquids. Pulmonary embolism is another one. The primary reason for this condition is the presence of fat.

Pneumonia can also lead to edema. Drowning and drug overdose can also affect the respiratory system. In some cases, the problem can stem from climbing high altitudes.

What to Do

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, go to a doctor immediately. If that’s not possible, call 911 (or the local emergency number in your area). If you see someone showing these symptoms, take him or her to the hospital to get treatment. They’ll know the cause of fluid buildup in the lungs and what medication to give.

If your family has a history of heart or lung problems, make sure you have regular check ups with your doctor. Take the medication prescribed. Do not self prescribed.

Even if you don’t have a case history, try not to abuse your health. Avoid eating too much fat and keep your drinking to a moderate level. Exercise regularly. This strengthens your body.

Studies have also shown that smoking leads to breathing problems so avoid it. It also helps if you take vitamins and eat plenty of vegetables. These aren’t directly related to the lungs, but it helps you develop resistance to disease.

The cause of fluid buildup in the lungs can be attributed to many things, but it can be treated. However, the best cure is still prevention.