anand-s/m_qalm huggingface dataset:
Question: How can you improve your quality of life if you have heart failure?
Answer: There are several things you can do to improve your quality of life if you have heart failure. Among them: Eat a healthy diet. Limit your consumption of sodium (salt) to less than 2,000 milligrams (2 grams) each day. Eat foods high in fiber. Limit foods high in trans fat, cholesterol, and sugar. Reduce total daily intake of calories to lose weight if necessary. Exercise regularly. A regular cardiovascular exercise program, prescribed by your doctor, will help improve your strength and make you feel better. It may also decrease heart failure progression. Don't overdo it. Plan your activities and include rest periods during the day. Certain activities, such as pushing or pulling heavy objects and shoveling may worsen heart failure and its symptoms. Prevent respiratory infections. Ask your doctor about flu and pneumonia vaccines. Take your medications as prescribed. Do not stop taking them without first contacting your doctor. Get emotional or psychological support if needed. Heart failure can be difficult for your whole family. If you have questions, ask your doctor or nurse. If you need emotional support, social workers, psychologists, clergy, and heart failure support groups are a phone call away. Ask your doctor or nurse to point you in the right direction.
Question: How is cardiac catheterization used to diagnose heart failure?
Answer: This invasive procedure helps determine whether coronary artery disease is a cause of congestive heart failure.
Question: How can limiting salt intake prevent heart failure from worsening?
Answer: Sodium is found naturally in many foods we eat. It is also added for flavoring or to make food last longer. If you follow a low-sodium diet, you should have less fluid retention, less swelling, and breathe easier.
Question: How does cardiomyopathy cause heart failure?
Answer: Damage to the heart muscle from causes other than artery or blood flow problems, such as from infections or alcohol or drug abuse.
Question: Is there a treatment for heart failure?
Answer: There are more treatment options available for heart failure than ever before. Tight control over your medications and lifestyle, coupled with careful monitoring, are the first steps. As the condition progresses, doctors specializing in the treatment of heart failure can offer more advanced treatment options.
Question: How many people are affected by heart failure?
Answer: Heart failure affects nearly 6 million Americans. Roughly 670,000 people are diagnosed with heart failure each year. It is the leading cause of hospitalization in people older than age 65. var s_context; s_context= s_context || {}; s_context['wb.modimp'] = 'vidfloat'; if(webmd.useragent && webmd.useragent.ua.type === 'desktop'){ webmd.ads2.disable Initial Load(); webmd.ads2.disable Ads Init = true; $(function() { webmd.p.pim.increment(); $('.responsive-video-container').insert After('.module-social-share-container'); require(['video2/1/responsive-player/video-loader'], function(video Loader) { video Loader.init({ autoplay: webmd.useragent.ua.type === 'desktop' && !
Question: How can monitoring your weight prevent heart failure from worsening?
Answer: Dry weight is your weight without extra water (fluid). Your goal is to keep your weight within 4 pounds of your dry weight. Weigh yourself at the same time each day, preferably in the morning, in similar clothing, after urinating but before eating, and on the same scale. Record your weight in a diary or calendar. If you gain three pounds in one day or five pounds in one week, call your doctor. Your doctor may want to adjust your medications.
Question: How is an implantable left ventricular assist device used to treat heart failure?
Answer: The LVAD is known as the "bridge to transplantation" for patients who haven't responded to other treatments and are hospitalized with severe systolic heart failure. This device helps your heart pump blood throughout your body. It allows you to be mobile, sometimes returning home to await a heart transplant. It may also be used as destination therapy for long-term support in patients who are not eligible for transplant.
Question: How is an echocardiogram used in heart failure?
Answer: A calculation done during an echocardiogram, called the ejection fraction ( EF), is used to measure how well your heart pumps with each beat to help determine if systolic or diastolic dysfunction is present.
Question: How is an ejection fraction used to diagnose heart failure?
Answer: Ejection fraction ( EF) is used to measure how well your heart pumps with each beat to determine if systolic dysfunction or heart failure with preserved left ventricular function is present.
Question: How are chest X-rays used to diagnose heart failure?
Answer: A chest X-ray shows the size of your heart and whether there is fluid build-up around the heart and lungs.
Question: What is heart failure?
Answer: !s_sensitive, chron ID: $('article embeded_module[type=video][align=top]:eq(0)').attr('chronic_id'), continuous Play: true, cp Options: { flyout: true }, display Ads: true, mode: 'in-article', sticky: true }) }); }); } else { $(function(){ $('.responsive-video-container').remove(); }); } Heart failure does not mean the heart has stopped working. Rather, it means that the heart works less efficiently than normal. Due to various possible causes, blood moves through the heart and body at a slower rate, and pressure in the heart increases. As a result, the heart cannot pump enough oxygen and nutrients to meet the body's needs. The chambers of the heart may respond by stretching to hold more blood to pump through the body or by becoming stiff and thickened. This helps to keep the blood moving, but the heart muscle walls may eventually weaken and become unable to pump as efficiently. As a result, the kidneys may respond by causing the body to retain fluid (water) and salt. If fluid builds up in the arms, legs, ankles, feet, lungs, or other organs, the body becomes congested, and congestive heart failure is the term used to describe the condition.
Question: What medications should you avoid if you have heart failure?
Answer: Some antiarrhythmic agents Most calcium channel blockers (if you have systolic heart failure) Some nutritional supplements, such as salt substitutes, and growth hormone therapies Antacids that contain sodium (salt) Decongestants such as Sudafed If you are taking any of these drugs, discuss them with your doctor.
Question: How does coronary heart disease cause heart failure?
Answer: Coronary artery disease ( CAD), a disease of the arteries that supply blood and oxygen to the heart, causes decreased blood flow to the heart muscle. If the arteries become blocked or severely narrowed, the heart becomes starved for oxygen and nutrients.
Question: How do conditions that overwork the heart cause heart failure?
Answer: Conditions including high blood pressure, valve disease, thyroid disease, kidney disease, diabetes, or heart defects present at birth can all cause heart failure. In addition, heart failure can occur when several diseases or conditions are present at once.
Question: When does diastolic dysfunction happen in heart failure?
Answer: Diastolic dysfunction (or diastolic heart failure) occurs when the heart contracts normally, but the ventricles do not relax properly or are stiff, and less blood enters the heart during normal filling.
Question: How can monitoring your symptoms prevent heart failure from worsening?
Answer: Do not wait for your symptoms to become so severe that you need to seek emergency treatment. Call your doctor if you have urgent questions.
Question: What are the goals of treating heart failure?
Answer: Your doctor may ask you to keep a record of the amount of fluids you drink or eat and how often you go to the bathroom. Medications are used to improve your heart's ability to pump blood, decrease stress on your heart, decrease the progression of heart failure, and prevent fluid retention.
Question: How does a heart attack cause heart failure?
Answer: Coronary artery disease ( CAD), a disease of the arteries that supply blood and oxygen to the heart, causes decreased blood flow to the heart muscle. A heart attack damages the heart muscle, resulting in a scarred area that does not function properly.
Question: What will your doctor ask about if you think you have heart failure?
Answer: Conditions including high blood pressure, valve disease, thyroid disease, kidney disease, diabetes, or heart defects present at birth can all cause heart failure. Do not drink alcohol. If you have questions, ask your doctor or nurse.
Question: What are symptoms of heart failure?
Answer: If fluid builds up in the arms, legs, ankles, feet, lungs, or other organs, the body becomes congested, and congestive heart failure is the term used to describe the condition. The symptoms can include: Congested lungs. Fluid backup in the lungs can cause shortness of breath with exercise or difficulty breathing at rest or when lying flat in bed. Lung congestion can also cause a dry, hacking cough or wheezing. Fluid and water retention. Less blood to your kidneys causes fluid and water retention, resulting in swollen ankles, legs, abdomen (called edema), and weight gain. Symptoms may cause an increased need to urinate during the night. Bloating in your stomach may cause a loss of appetite or nausea. Dizziness, fatigue, and weakness. Less blood to your major organs and muscles makes you feel tired and weak. Less blood to the brain can cause dizziness or confusion. Rapid or irregular heartbeats. The heart beats faster to pump enough blood to the body. This can cause a rapid or irregular heartbeat. If you have heart failure, you may have one or all of these symptoms or you may have none of them. They may or may not indicate a weakened heart.
Question: What are the treatments for Kawasaki disease?
Answer: Kawasaki disease is an illness that almost always affects kids, most of them under the age of 5. Your child may have a lot of pain from the fever, swelling, and skin irritation. His doctor might prescribe medication to relieve these, including aspirin and others that prevent blood clots. You shouldn't give your child any medication without talking to your doctor first. He'll probably also get an IV of immune globulin. It will lessen his chance of heart issues when used early in his treatment. Because of the risk of complications, most children are initially treated for Kawasaki disease in the hospital.
Question: What conditions are more likely associated with Kawasaki disease?
Answer: Kawasaki disease is an illness that almost always affects kids, most of them under the age of 5. Because it involves the heart, this illness can be scary. But most children recover completely and have no lasting problems. However, in rare cases, children can have: Abnormal heart rhythms (dysrhythmia) Inflamed heart muscles (myocarditis) Damaged heart valves (mitral regurgitation) Inflamed blood vessels (vasculitis) These can lead to further troubles, including weak or bulging artery walls.
Question: What type of medication will my doctor suggest for my hepatitis C?
Answer: Your doctor might call these new drugs direct-acting antivirals. They zoom in on the virus that's making you sick. Each drug works in a slightly different way. But in general, the medicine interferes with proteins that help the virus grow or spread.
Question: Can vosevi (Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir and Voxilaprevir) treat my hepatitis C?
Answer: Sofosbuvir, velpatasvir, and voxilaprevir ( Vosevi): This can also treat all types of hep C with one tablet that you take each day.
Question: Can elbasvir and grazoprevir (Zepatier) be used to treat my hepatitis C?
Answer: Elbasvir and grazoprevir ( Zepatier): This once-a-day pill treats HCV types 1 and 4. It may also offer new hope for people with hep C who also have cirrhosis, HIV, late-stage kidney disease, and other hard-to-treat conditions. Like the other antivirals, the side effects are mild. You might have a slight headache or bellyache, or you might feel tired.
Question: Do all hepatitis C medications work the same?
Answer: There's no one-size-fits-all option. There are many different types, or "genotypes," of hepatitis C. Type 1 is the most common. This is important to understand when you talk to your doctor. Not all meds work on all types. Which medicine is best for you also depends on how much liver scarring (cirrhosis) you have.
Question: How soon does my hepatitis C medication remove all traces of the virus from my blood?
Answer: Most of the time, these meds remove all traces of the virus from your blood within 12 weeks. This is called sustained virologic response ( SVR), and it's what doctors look for to tell if you're cured. How long you'll need treatment can vary. It may range from 8 to 24 weeks.
Question: Is ledipasvir and sofosbuvir (Harvoni) used to treat hepatitis C?
Answer: Ledipasvir and sofosbuvir ( Harvoni): This once-a-day pill launched a revolution in hep C treatment. It was the first interferon-free med for people with type 1. A year later, the FDA also gave the thumbs up for people with HCV types 4, 5, and 6 to use it. Side effects are mild. You might feel tired or have a slight headache. Some people have a bellyache, diarrhea, and trouble sleeping.
Question: How can daclatasvir (Daklinza) treat my hepatitis C?
Answer: Daclatasvir ( Daklinza): Approval of this drug meant no more shots for the 1 in 10 people infected with hepatitis C virus ( HCV) types 1 and 3. You take this pill once a day with sofosbuvir ( Sovaldi). You might get a headache or feel a little tired. Tell your doctor if you feel super-sluggish.
Question: Can ombitasvir, paritaprevir, and ritonavir (Technivie) treat my hepatitis C?
Answer: The FDA warns it can sometimes seriously slow your heart rate, which may require you to get a pacemaker. Side effects include feeling itchy, weak, tired, or having trouble sleeping. This medicine might cause severe liver damage in people with advanced cirrhosis. Typically, your doctor will only prescribe this if you don't have cirrhosis and after other treatments have not worked.
Question: What are the future goals for treating hepatitis C?
Answer: But in general, the medicine interferes with proteins that help the virus grow or spread. Researchers may continue to come up with new treatments, and some of the combinations of medications below may change as they make new discoveries.
Question: How has hepatitis C transformed over the years?
Answer: These drugs didn't target the virus that made you sick. Instead, they amped up your immune system so you'd fight it the way you do when you get the flu. But the treatment didn't always get the virus out of your body. Cure rates hovered around 50%. And people who stuck with the yearlong treatment -- not all did -- had to live with chemo-like side effects. These days, more and more people can get rid of the virus by simply taking a pill, at home, for just a few weeks. This is called sustained virologic response ( SVR), and it's what doctors look for to tell if you're cured. Ledipasvir and sofosbuvir ( Harvoni): This once-a-day pill launched a revolution in hep C treatment. The most common side effects are headache, tiredness, diarrhea, and nausea.
Question: What is hepatitis C?
Answer: 1 cause of liver cancer and liver transplants. It's brought on by a virus you can catch if you come into contact with contaminated blood. You could get it from an unclean tattoo needle, for example. Sometimes, it spreads during sex. There are many different types, or "genotypes," of hepatitis C. Type 1 is the most common.
Question: Can hepatitis C be cured?
Answer: But curing it hasn't always been easy or comfortable. There are certain drugs that shouldn't be taken with it, as the combination can slow your heartbeat.
Question: How can you control the swelling of a broken finger?
Answer: Cool the finger by applying ice that is wrapped in a towel -- don't apply ice directly to the skin; it can cause a burn.
Question: How can you immobilize a broken finger?
Answer: Tape the broken finger to an adjacent non-broken finger.
Question: How can I start to exercise if I have pain?
Answer: Conditions: Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, back pain, migraine, nerve pain, undiagnosed Symptoms: Stiffness, joint pain, muscle pain, lower back pain, upper back pain, tenderness, weight gain, weakness, pain, pain when standing, pain with movement, aching, back pain, joint pain, joint tenderness, pain at night, pain worse in A. M., all over pain, spine pain, painful periods, tender points Triggers: Treatments: Categories: Exercise 21 If you're new to exercise, start by asking your doctor what activity level is right for you. For example, if you have acute back pain you may have to avoid exercise until your back has healed. Also, ask what types of exercise suit your condition. Water aerobics is often ideal for people with arthritis because it supports joints. Remember, exercise shouldn't hurt. If you notice an increase in pain, stop and tell your doctor. There may be other types of exercise that you can do.
Question: How can I avoid sun damage?
Answer: To avoid sun damage: Stay indoors between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when the sun's burning rays are the strongest. Protect your skin with clothing, a hat, and sunscreen if you go outside.
Question: When should I call a doctor about sun damage?
Answer: Skin cancer is often treatable when it's found early. Also, talk to your doctor about any medications that you take. Some antibiotics, antidepressants, and diabetes drugs can make skin more sensitive to sun. Some drugs that you put on your skin, such as Renova and Retin- A, can make your skin very sensitive and cause it to burn quickly. It soothes damaged skin because it is anti-inflammatory and may prevent the burn from deepening.
Question: What should I do if I get a sunburn?
Answer: Choose a sunscreen with the right SPF to avoid sunburn and skin damage. If you use these treatments, ask your doctor how to protect your skin from the sun. Immediately apply 90% aloe vera gel or the juice squeezed directly from the aloe plant. Every tropical culture uses aloe vera as a treatment for sunburn. It soothes damaged skin because it is anti-inflammatory and may prevent the burn from deepening. If you don't have aloe, apply a moisturizing lotion that doesn't contain alcohol.
Question: Can I get too much sun?
Answer: Years of getting too much sun can lead to early wrinkling and age spots, and makes you more likely to get skin cancer. It soothes damaged skin because it is anti-inflammatory and may prevent the burn from deepening.
Question: What are compression fractures?
Answer: Soft, weakened bones are at the heart of the problem. Compression fractures are usually caused by the bone-thinning condition osteoporosis, especially if you are a woman over age 50 who has been through menopause.
Question: How do you know if you have spinal compression fractures because of osteoporosis?
Answer: You can have osteoporosis and not even know it. In fact, about two-thirds of spinal compression fractures are never diagnosed because many people think the back pain is just a part of aging and arthritis. But if osteoporosis isn't treated, it can lead to more fractures. It's important to see your doctor if you're in pain. Osteoporosis treatment won't guarantee that you'll never get another compression fracture, but it will significantly lower your odds.
Question: What increases your risk of getting spinal compression fractures?
Answer: Some people have a higher chance of getting the disease because of: Race: White and Asian women have the greatest risk. Age: The chances are higher for women over 50 and go up with age. Weight: Thin women are at higher risk. Early menopause: Women who went through it before age 50 have higher chances of getting osteoporosis. Smokers: People who smoke lose bone thickness faster than nonsmokers.
Question: How do compression fractures happen?
Answer: Soft, weakened bones are at the heart of the problem. Compression fractures are usually caused by the bone-thinning condition osteoporosis, especially if you are a woman over age 50 who has been through menopause. When bones are brittle, your vertebrae aren't strong enough to support your spine in everyday activities. When you bend to lift an object, miss a step, or slip on a carpet, you can put your spinal bones at risk of fracture. Even coughing or sneezing can cause compression fractures if you have severe osteoporosis.
Question: How do compression fractures affect the spine?
Answer: The strength and shape of the spine can change. You lose height because your spine is shorter. Most compression fractures happen in the front of the vertebra. When you get enough of them, the front part of the bone can collapse. The back of the vertebra is made of harder bone, so it stays intact. That creates a wedge-shaped vertebra, which can lead to the stooped posture you might know as a dowager's hump. Doctors call it kyphosis.
Question: What are the effects of spinal compression fractures?
Answer: The strength and shape of the spine can change. You lose height because your spine is shorter. Most compression fractures happen in the front of the vertebra.
Question: What factors can increase an individuals chance of getting a spinal compression fracture?
Answer: But most spinal compression fractures happen because of osteoporosis. Some people have a higher chance of getting the disease because of: Race: White and Asian women have the greatest risk. Age: The chances are higher for women over 50 and go up with age. Weight: Thin women are at higher risk. Early menopause: Women who went through it before age 50 have higher chances of getting osteoporosis. Smokers: People who smoke lose bone thickness faster than nonsmokers.
Question: What happens if osteoporosis isn't treated?
Answer: But if osteoporosis isn't treated, it can lead to more fractures. It's important to see your doctor if you're in pain. Osteoporosis treatment won't guarantee that you'll never get another compression fracture, but it will significantly lower your odds.
Question: Are people with cancer at risk for spinal compression fractures?
Answer: Two groups of people are at highest risk for spinal compression fractures: People with osteoporosis People with cancer that has spread to their bones If you have been diagnosed with certain kinds of cancer -- including multiple myeloma and lymphoma -- your doctor may monitor you for compression fractures. On the other hand, sometimes a spinal fracture may be the first sign that a person has cancer.
Question: Where do most compression fractures happen?
Answer: When you get enough of them, the front part of the bone can collapse. The back of the vertebra is made of harder bone, so it stays intact. That creates a wedge-shaped vertebra, which can lead to the stooped posture you might know as a dowager's hump. Doctors call it kyphosis. But most spinal compression fractures happen because of osteoporosis.
Question: What are spinal compression fractures?
Answer: When these small hairline fractures add up, they can eventually cause a vertebra to collapse, which is called spinal compression fracture. But most spinal compression fractures happen because of osteoporosis. In fact, about two-thirds of spinal compression fractures are never diagnosed because many people think the back pain is just a part of aging and arthritis. It's important to see your doctor if you're in pain.
Question: What are liquid diets?
Answer: Like the name suggests, liquid diets mean you're getting all, or at least most, of your calories from drinks. Some liquid diets are limited to fruit or vegetable juices, or shakes, that replace all of your meals, taken three or four times a day. You do some of these diets on your own. Others need medical supervision. Other types of liquid diets replace just one or two meals (usually breakfast and lunch) with drinks, and then you eat a healthy dinner. You may also get snacks on some of these plans.