Angina pectoris and myocardial infarction are two serious diseases that are most commonly interchanged. Early recognition of angina pectoris may prevent the condition from developing into myocardial infarction. This article aims to point out the differences between the two and provide the recommended interventions for them.

Angina pectoris is medically defined as the chest pain resulting from the reduced blood flow from coronary arteries to the myocardium. The insufficient blood flow is brought about by the inadequate supply of oxygen. The chest pain associated with angina pectoris is described as squeezing, pressing, burning, choking, or bursting felt along the sternum. Pain may be sudden and intermittent, often resulting from exertion and is relieved by rest or nitroglycerine.

Myocardial infarction, on the other hand, is a medical condition more popularly known as heart attack. It results from the death or destruction of myocardial tissue that is brought about by the lack of oxygen. The pain associated with myocardial infarction is described to be crushing or excruciating and normally radiates to the shoulder, neck, jaw, and back. The pain is not relieved by rest and nitroglycerine.

Both conditions can be diagnosed through ECG or electrocardiogram. ECG test results of a patient with angina pectoris reveals ST segment depression while that of a patient with myocardial infarction shows ST segment elevation or depression and T wave inversion.  Angina pectoris can also be diagnosed through an exercise stress test. On the other hand, additional laboratory tests confirming myocardial infarction include elevated levels of Troponin and Creatinine phosphokinase.

Management for a person with angina pectoris includes the administration of nitroglycerine to relieve pain. The patient should be reminded that the burning sensation under the tongue after nitroglycerine administration indicates the drugs potency. Additionally, nitroglycerine may also cause headache and flushing of the face.

In contrast, interventions for a person with confirmed myocardial infarction include administration of oxygen, administration of Demerol to relieve the pain, positioning the patient in a medium-to-high back rest to promote lung expansion and increase oxygen intake, and maintaining a low-fat, low-salt and low-cholesterol diet.

As the popular saying goes, an ounce of prevention is always better than a pound of cure. In a society governed by instant food, we must be careful in choosing the available food choices. A well-balanced and healthy diet coupled with a regular exercise regimen will help us decrease the risk of contracting cardiovascular diseases such as angina pectoris and myocardial infarction.

Breast cancer remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality affecting women today. It is documented as the second most common type of cancer in women and the second leading cancer-related cause of death.

Breast cancer is defined as the abnormal proliferation of malignant cells originating from the ducts and lobes. The abnormal growth may be confined to a specific area, most commonly to the upper outer quadrant of the left breast, or may spread to adjacent areas of the body (metastasis).

Cancer of the breast is commonly associated with nulliparity (no child) or having the first child after the age of 35. The risk of having breast cancer increases with age and longer exposure to estrogen. Other factors such as familial history, number of menstrual cycles (menarche or first menstruation before the age of 12, menopause after the age of 55) also predispose an individual to this type of cancer. Estrogen replacement therapy, obesity, high fat, a selenium-deficient diet, and alcohol are factors considered to contribute to the risk of developing this type of malignancy.

The hallmark symptom of breast cancer is the presence of a painless, palpable, irregularly-shaped and fixed mass on the outer upper quadrant of the breast. Other associated symptoms are breast asymmetry, abnormal nipple discharge, change in the color and dimpling of the skin over the lesion (called peau d’orange or orange peel look, seen during the late stage), nipple inversion, and enlargement of axillary lymph nodes.

Diagnostic tests used to confirm this malignancy are mammography, which will reveal the presence of non-palpable lesions, and tissue biopsy. Baseline mammography must be made between 35-40 and yearly thereafter if you have a breast cancer-positive family history.

Treatment modalities for breast cancer include surgical removal of the lump itself, the whole breast including the surrounding tissues, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Breast reconstruction may also be done to improve self-image.

As a general preventive measure, it is important for women to do a regular self-breast examination monthly, seven days after menstruation. Self-breast examination helps women become familiar with their breasts (lump, asymmetry, nipple discharge) and recognize any change immediately. This exam can be done lying down with a pillow under the breast being examined or standing in front of the mirror and slowly palpating each breast clockwise or counter-clockwise to feel for any lump or mass. Breast cancer is a treatable disease. There is a good prognosis for early detected mass.

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome or AIDS is a debilitating disease that involves the slow degeneration of the body’s immune system. As such, a person infected with HIV-AIDS has a compromised immune response making him more susceptible to the development of opportunistic infections, malignancies, and impairment of the central nervous system.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus, or HIV, is the virus that is responsible for destroying and killing the T4 cells of our body which serve as the frontline defense mechanism against foreign bodies. This virus is commonly passed from an individual to another through unprotected sexual intercourse. Other modes of HIV transmission are the sharing of infected needles, as commonly practiced by drug addicts, accidental needle pricks, and transfusion of infected blood. Studies continue to ascertain if the virus can cross the placental barrier and confirm if the virus may also be transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy or childbirth.

The development of AIDS does not take overnight after being infected with the virus. It may take years before an individual with HIV manifests symptoms of full-blown AIDS. A person with the virus can be initially asymptomatic and may be unaware that he or she is carrying the virus. However the initial symptoms of HIV infection can manifest itself as flu-like symptoms occurring two to four weeks after infection and may intermittently disappear and reappear periodically. More severe symptoms may take months to years before they appear.

There are different screening tests available today. These tests measure the antibodies that your body has made against the HIV. However it can take some time before these antibodies can be detected in your system. The window period usually lasts two to eight weeks. An initial negative test should be repeated after three months to confirm a false-negative result. The most common test used to determine the presence of HIV antibodies is the Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA) Test. This involves the extraction of blood from a vein. A reactive or positive EIA Test is followed by the confirmatory Western Blot to come up with a positive diagnosis.

Although there is already an extensive development in science and technology, efforts in the search for the much elusive cure for this disease continue. A long-standing educational campaign is implemented to educate individuals especially the youth on safe, responsible, and protected sex in the hopes of reducing the incidence of this “silent” killer. Health care practitioners are also on heightened alert to be more careful especially in reducing and containing cross infection in hospitals and health care facilities.