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Motor neurone disease - symptoms, diagnosis, treatment Motor neurone disease is a neurological condition that causes the progressive degeneration of specialised nerve cells, called motor neurons, in the brain and spinal cord. It has no known cause and is invariably fatal, with a likely life expectancy of 2 - 4 years from diagnosis.  Motor neurone disease symptoms can include generalised muscle spasms, exaggerated reflexes and a progressive wasting and weakness of muscles responsible for speech, chewing and swallowing. As the condition progresses, sufferers may be unable to walk, speak, use their arms and hands, or hold up their head. General information Motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord convey electrical messages from the brain to the muscles to stimulate movement in the arms, legs, trunk, neck and head. As motor neurons degenerate, the muscles do not work properly and gradually weaken and waste away. This muscle weakness and wasting affects speech, swallowing, mo...

Healthy heart diet  Simple changes to your diet can combat weight gain, high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol; giving you a healthier heart that's at less risk of cardiovascular disease (heart attack and stroke).  General information Most people understand that maintaining a healthy weight lowers their risk of cardiovascular disease, mainly because they're less likely to develop  type 2 diabetes  and/or high blood pressure. And an important way of maintaining a healthy weight is to balance the calories a person consumes with the calories they use up in their daily activity. But that's not the end of the story.  A healthy heart diet is as much about  what  you eat, as how much you eat. In particular, foods high in saturated fat are a major driver of  high blood cholesterol ; and too much salt in your diet can contribute to  high blood pressure .  These conditions are both significant risk factors in ...

Healthy heart exercise Many people understand that regular exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle and, in particular, can help shed excess weight.  Fewer people understand why regular exercise has these benefits and, particularly, the role of regular exercise is addressing risk factors that can cause heart attacks and strokes.  General information Regular exercise can help combat these CVD risks by: Raising "good" blood cholesterol (high density lipoprotein cholesterol) which transports fat away from the artery walls Reducing blood pressure levels.  The higher your blood pressure, the greater the improvement you’re likely to see as a result of regular exercise. Reducing weight by increasing energy expenditure. Exercise is not only good for a healthy heart. It's good for the whole body – brain, bones, muscle tone.  For example, studies have found regular exercise: Increases blood flow to the brain Boosts "feel good" chemicals ca...

Health care Health care or healthcare is the maintenance or improvement of health via the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in human beings. Healthcare is delivered by health professionals (providers or practitioners) in allied health professions, physicians, physician associates, dentistry, midwifery, nursing, medicine, optometry, audiology, pharmacy, psychology, and other health professions. It includes the work done in providing primary care, secondary care, and tertiary care, as well as in public health. Access to health care may vary across countries, groups, and individuals, largely influenced by social and economic conditions as well as the health policies in place. Countries and jurisdictions have different policies and plans in relation to the personal and population-based health care goals within their societies. Healthcare systems are organisations established to meet the health needs of targ...