Prime Healthcare Internal Medicine Group

Congestive Heart Failure

Congestive Heart failure occurs when the heart can't receive enough blood to oxygenate or pump enough blood to sufficiently supply the rest of the body. This condition usually develops over time as the heart weakens from disease or defects and cannot pump properly. Although congestive heart failure does not mean that the heart stops, it is still a serious condition that requires medical attention.

Congestive Heart failure is usually a chronic condition, but symptoms can sometimes appear suddenly. Symptoms that appear suddenly may be more severe and can quickly worsen. Common symptoms of heart failure include:

Fatigue
Weakness
Irregular heartbeat
Shortness of breath

Swelling of legs, ankles and feet
Weight gain
Coughing

Chronic congestive heart failure usually requires lifelong treatment to manage symptoms and prevent permanent damage. Treatment for heart failure aims to treat the underlying cause of the condition and prevent it from worsening through a combination of medications, surgery and medical devices.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive condition that involves a constant obstruction of the airways that results in difficulty breathing. COPD can be classified as either emphysema or chronic obstructive bronchitis, both of which usually develop from long-term cigarette smoking, but can also be caused by other irritants such as air pollution and chemical fumes. This condition affects nearly 12 million people in the US and is the fourth most common cause of death.

Causes of COPD

Most cases of COPD are caused by long-term exposure to lung irritants such as cigarette smoke, secondhand smoke, air pollution and chemical fumes that damage the lungs and irritate the airways.

COPD is most commonly diagnosed in middle-aged and older adults, although some younger patients may be diagnosed because of an alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, a genetic condition.

Symptoms of COPD

Patients with COPD often experience:

Chronic cough with mucus (smoker's cough)
Shortness of breath
Wheezing
Tightness in the chest

These symptoms are common among many smokers, and may be present years before COPD is diagnosed. Patients with COPD may also experience frequent colds or flu, along with swelling in the ankles, feet and legs in severe cases. Symptoms worsen over time, and may require a hospital stay if they become severe enough or do not respond to treatment.

Diagnosing COPD

After evaluating your symptoms and medical history, your doctor may perform lung function tests in order to diagnose COPD or a chest X-ray. A lung function test measures how much air you can breathe in and out, how fast you breathe and how well the lungs carry oxygen to the blood. The most common lung function test is called spirometry.

Treatment of COPD

Since COPD is a chronic condition, there is no cure currently available. Treatment focuses on relieving symptoms and slowing the progress of the disease, allowing patients to enjoy an active and healthy life. The most important step that patients can take in treating COPD is to quit smoking. Your doctor may also prescribe medication to relax the muscles and relieve inflammation around the airways, oxygen therapy or pulmonary rehabilitation. Surgery may be performed for severe cases of emphysema to clear the airways from large obstructions.

Depression

While everybody feels sad or blue every once in a while, many people suffer from an actual medical condition, known as depression, that affects their lives on a daily basis. Depression is characterized by constant feelings of sadness or emptiness, and may be triggered by certain events or co-exist with other illnesses.

There are several different depressive disorders, but major depressive disorder is the most common. Symptoms of major depression include:

Feeling sad or hopeless
Loss of interest in normal activities
Crying spells
Trouble sleeping

Trouble concentrating
Irritability
Fatigue
Aches and pains
Suicidal thoughts

Like other psychological disorders, the cause of depression is not specifically known, but is believed to be a combination of genetic, biological and environmental factors. Depression often occurs with other illnesses including anxiety disorders, substance abuse, heart disease, stroke and cancer.

Although depression can be a serious condition, it is highly treatable. It is important to talk to a doctor if you are experiencing symptoms to help prevent the condition from worsening. Treatment of depression typically includes medication and psychotherapy. Following effective treatment methods can help make depression a manageable and much less dangerous condition.

Atopic Dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis, a form of eczema, is a chronic skin disorder that causes dry, itchy skin and often results in a red rash. It is most common in babies and children, and tends to affect those with a family history of allergies and asthma, although the actual cause is unknown. Atopic dermatitis can affect different areas of the skin, but is most commonly found on the face, neck, arms and legs. It is usually mild and can go away on its own, but may be more severe if it affects a larger area.

Although atopic dermatitis cannot be cured, it can usually be treated and controlled simply through using moisturizing lotions, avoiding harsh soaps and controlling scratching.

Contact dermatitis involves an inflammation of the skin caused by contact with a foreign substance. Common triggers of contact dermatitis include poison ivy, certain foods, cleaning products, detergents, cosmetics and latex rubber. When a patient comes in contact with one of these triggers, he/she may experience a red rash, blistering, itchiness, dryness and more. Symptoms caused by contact dermatitis may be a result of an immune system reaction or from an external allergic reaction to the specific trigger.

Most cases of contact dermatitis do not require treatment and will go away on their own within a few weeks. Patients can help relieve symptoms by avoiding the trigger, washing the affected area and applying hydrocortisone cream or taking oral antihistamines.

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