Breast cancer causes

Breast cancer remains one of the most prevalent forms of cancer affecting women worldwide. While significant progress has been made in understanding and treating this disease, there is still much to learn about its causes. Breast cancer is a multifaceted condition influenced by a range of factors, including genetics, lifestyle choices, environmental exposures, and hormonal imbalances. In this post, we will delve into the complex causes of breast cancer, shedding light on the various factors that contribute to its development.

1. Genetic Predisposition: Certain genetic mutations, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations, can significantly increase the risk of developing breast cancer. However, it's essential to note that only a small percentage of breast cancer cases are directly attributed to inherited genetic factors. Most cases are believed to result from a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental influences.

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3. Hormonal Factors: Hormonal imbalances play a pivotal role in breast cancer development. Women with early onset of menstruation, late menopause, or a prolonged history of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) are at a higher risk. Estrogen, a hormone produced by the ovaries, has been linked to the growth of certain types of breast cancer. Additionally, the use of oral contraceptives and exposure to high levels of estrogen over an extended period may slightly increase the risk.

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5. Lifestyle Choices: Unhealthy lifestyle choices can contribute to breast cancer risk. Lack of physical activity, a sedentary lifestyle, and being overweight or obese have been associated with an increased likelihood of developing breast cancer. Additionally, excessive alcohol consumption has been linked to higher breast cancer risk, making moderation essential.

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7. Environmental Factors: Exposure to certain environmental factors may also play a role in breast cancer development. These include ionizing radiation, such as from medical imaging tests like mammograms, and environmental pollutants like pesticides, industrial chemicals, and air pollution. While the impact of these factors is still being researched, it is crucial to minimize exposure to potential carcinogens where possible.

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9. Family History: A family history of breast cancer can elevate an individual's risk, especially if a first-degree relative (parent, sibling, or child) has been diagnosed. Although most cases of breast cancer occur in individuals without a family history, it is important for those with a history to be aware of their increased risk and consider early screening and genetic counseling.

What causes heart attacks? Myocardial Infractions Explained

Heart attack

Heart attack, or myocardial infarction as they are commonly referred to by doctors, occur when blood flow to a part of the heart that  is blocked for an extended period of time leading to the damage or death of tissues in that area which can lead to the heart muscles getting damaged and dying. And that is what causes heart attacks.

The main cause of heart attacks is the blockage of the coronary arteries that deliver blood to the heart. This blockage is caused mainly by the buildup of a substance called plaque which is mainly made up of cholesterol and other cells along the walls of the arteries stopping the flow of blood to the muscles starving them of oxygen and causing them to die. The actual causes of heart attacks are not well known, but they can be triggered by heavy physical activity, being active outside in the cold weather or by severe emotional and physical stress.

Causes of heart failure:

One contributing factor for heart attacks is coronary heart disease. This is governed by your heart disease risk factor. These are habits or conditions that increase your risk of getting coronary heart disease and these factors also increase the risk of coronary heart disease worsening.

The main heart disease risk factors are high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, smoking, unhealthy diet and lack of physical activity. Any one of or any combination of these factors greatly increases your likelihood of getting coronary heart disease.

Heart problems are another factor that causes heart attacks. These are related to cardiac heart disease. The main one is the clogging of the coronary arteries due to the buildup of plaque.

Heart failure is when the heart stops functioning properly leading to the heart attack. It’s caused when blood flow is restricted to the cardiac muscles; this means the muscles are deprived of oxygen which they need to function. The muscles gradually stop working and may die, this means that the heart can’t pump blood properly and hence causing heart failure.

Heart failure is normally preceded by certain signs that if spotted in time, can be vital in preventing a heart attack. The most common signs are shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing, tightness around the chest, and buildup of fluids in body tissues, dizziness, nausea, fatigue and anxiety. These signs once seen should be acted upon immediately to avert any impending heart attack.

what causes heart attacks

Here are some facts about heart attacks that show how major an issue it is;

In the US in 2008, heart attacks accounted for 616000 deaths, almost 25% of the deaths, making it the leading killer in the US. It accounts for 25.1% of the deaths in whites making it the leading cause of death among white adults and is estimated to cost the US government $108.9 billion in treatment, medication and lost productivity.

Having answered the question what causes heart attacks with these causes and signs of an impending heart attack, one sees the need to change their lifestyle to lower their risk of heart attack and live a healthy productive life.

Heart palpitations after eating

Heart palpitations after eating are one of the causes of heart palpitations seen in patients. This may be normal under certain conditions, but if it is associated with other symptoms can be a problem for the patients.
After you read this article you know which are the mechanisms, symptoms, causes, treatments and preventions of heart palpitations after eating.
Heart palpitations after eating are fast heart beats that occurs after eating and may or may not feel the patient. Heart palpitations may be due to cardiac or extracardiac. Very important is the severity of the heart palpitations after eating. They can be without hemodynamic significance (just heart palpitations and anxiety)  or hemodynamically significant, considered severe (with low blood sugar, syncope, chest pain and difficulty of breathing).

Mechanism of heart palpitations after eating  

After eating a meal, need for blood in the stomach and surrounding organs increases and thus aids digestion. In this process of digestion and absorption of food, increased heart rate may be undetectable or may be felt as palpitations. If you want to see if you have heart palpitations    you have to measure your pulse rate. This can be done at any hand with the index and the middle finger of the wrist from the other hand. If the pulse rate is over 90 -100 beats and it is maintained over this values,  the patient should consult a doctor.

Other symptoms that accompany heart palpitations after eating

This are nausea, dizziness, fatigue, asthenia, chest pain, shortness of breath  and discomfort in abdominal region felt as feeling bloated. After dinner heart palpitations after eating can may the patient inability to sleep in peace at night and this may be a very important problem for the patient.

Causes of heart palpitations after eating

There are many causes for this condition. One of this is hiatal hernia, which is a condition that upper part of the stomach enters into the thorax. For this, patients with hiatal hernia should avoid lying position for at least two hours after a meal.
Today an important cause for heart palpitations after eating is obesity. More persons are obese due to environmental factors (a sedentary lifestyle, a diet high in sugar, fast food). In this persons suffering from obesity, the heart must work harder to pump the blood to the stomach. Severe anemia is another cause for heart palpitations after eating. In this patients hemoglobin value are very low and may be accompanied by low serum ferritin values. This palpitations are often accompanied with fatigue, asthenia and adinamie.
There are also hormonal imbalances that cause heart palpitations after eating. Patients with hyperthyroidism (disease of the thyroid gland with overproduction of thyroid hormones).

Treatment of heart palpitations after eating

There is no specific treatment for patients with heart palpitations after eating. They must have a lifestyle adapted for prevent heart palpitations. For example:

• Have frequent meals and few quantitative
• Not have a sedentary lifestyle
• Not have a diet high in sugar and caffeine
• To conduct periodic reviews to prevent severe anemia or hyperthyroidism

If heart palpitations after eating continue after prevention methods the patients should consult a doctor.