Urge Incontinence: The Case of the Overactive Bladder

Urgency is a word which describes a pressing necessity, like there is a need to do something immediately. It is a normal feeling to have most especially in situations that are of utmost importance. Paying the electricity bill that has been long overdue, or finishing a business report that will be presented during a board meeting --- these are only a few examples of urgent matters that we cannot afford to delay. But if a person feels the urge to pass water, a urinary problem might be involved. Most people need to pass water every three to four hours during the day and up to once or twice in the night. For normal urination, the muscular wall of the bladder has to contract at the same time as a valve mechanism at the outlet of the bladder relaxes.

Urge incontinence is a urinary problem characterized by a sudden uncontrollable urge to urinate and frequent urination. It is often necessary to use the bathroom as frequently as every two hours and bed wetting is common. With urge incontinence, the bladder contracts and squeezes out urine involuntarily. Sometimes a large amount of urine is released.

With urge incontinence, the bladder contracts and squeezes out urine involuntarily. Sometimes a large amount of urine is released. Accidental urination can be triggered by sudden change in position or activity, hearing or touching running water and drinking a small amount of liquid.

Urge incontinence occurs when a person experiences a strong desire to empty the bladder, followed almost immediately by an involuntary loss of urine. People with urge incontinence complain of urgency with little or no warning, and may experience troublesome symptoms such as not reaching the toilet in time, a frequent need to urinate, passing of urine several times during the night, and bedwetting. The volume of urine loss varies from small to large amounts depending on bladder capacity.

The most common cause of urge incontinence is inappropriate bladder contractions. Two bladder abnormalities commonly cause the disorder. The most common is a neurogenic bladder (overactive type), which is caused by brain injury or spinal cord injury or disease that interrupts nerve conduction above the sacrum and results in loss of bladder sensation and motor control.

Medical professionals describe such a bladder as unstable, or overactive. A doctor might call the condition reflex incontinence if it results from overactive nerves controlling the bladder. Urge incontinence can mean that the bladder empties during sleep, after drinking a small amount of water, or when one touches water or hear it running like when someone else is taking a shower or washing dishes.

There are several neurological diseases and disorders associated with a neurogenic bladder, including the following:

Alzheimer's disease

Multiple sclerosis

Parkinson's disease

Ruptured intervertebral disk

Stroke

Syphilis

Traumatic brain or upper spinal cord injury

Tumors located in the brain or spinal cord

Urge incontinence can also be cause by a bladder infection. Diabetes can cause excessive production of urine and very frequent trips to the toilet.

Involuntary actions of bladder muscles can occur because of damage to the nerves of the bladder, to the nervous system (spinal cord and brain), or to muscles themselves. Multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, stroke, brain tumors, and other types of that occurs during surgery can harm bladder nerves or muscles.

Other causes for urge incontinence include atrophic vaginitis, diet, caffeine, and carbonated beverages. Spicy foods, and tomato-based foods can also irritate the bladder and cause muscle instability in some patients which can result to urge incontinence. Treatment with bladder retraining often cures the problem. Medication may also be advised to relax the bladder. Advice from a continence advisor is also usually helpful.

Mercedes 400E: One Remarkable Sedan

Despite the new models that Mercedes-Benz is developing and introducing, some models are simply remarkable that they continuously evolve into a much better vehicle. An example of which is the Mercedes 400E which was introduced in the year 1992 as the first E-class V8. But two years later the name was change to E420. It was also given some trim changes just to justify the change of name. The production of the 400E/E420 cars covers period from 1992 to 1995 model years with some 15,425 cars sold in the United States at that time. The 400E/E420 has features that appeal to mid-50s customers who enjoy the V8 power and all the comfort that comes with the E-class.

The 400E sedan has a weight of 3,660 lb and can travel 60 miles per hour in a matter of seven seconds. It is also capable of traveling 150+ mph all day long and yet delivers a mileage figure that is almost on par with its 6-cylinder siblings. The transmission, braking upgrades, and suspension provide the extra power while the tire size remained the same at 195/65/15. The Mercedes 400E is known for its 2.24 rear differential hampered performance off the line but what many do not know that performance on the highway is the true expertise of this model. The mixture of lots of smooth torque together with the tall gearing provides the acceleration feel of a jet aircraft that is about to takeoff. The 400E just like the rest of the luxury vehicles that Mercedes has is equipped with common options like the ASR traction control, trunk mounted CD changer, heated front seats, integrated cellular phone, and a rear window sunshade.

The Mercedes 400E performance parts include the 4.2 liter M119.975 engine which has replaced the 4196cc or 256.1 cubic inches engine. The new 4.2 liter M119.975 engine delivers 275 horsepower at 5700 rpm and 295 lb-ft of potent torque at 3900 rpm. The variable valve timing on the intake cams as well as the long intake runners enables the engine to rev up 90% of peak torque not lower than 1500rpm. Other technical highlights of the 400E includes its 32 valve DOHC V8 which comprised of an aluminum alloy block and heads designed for weight reduction, LH sequential multiport fuel injection, silicon crystal cylinder liners to lessen friction and antiknock control---All these are managed by a Control Area Network data management system. The EPA fuel figure rate of the 400E is 18mpg for city driving and 24 mpg for highway driving. Each of the Mercedes 400E part utilized for the 3,660 lb sedan is tested for quality and performance.

The 400E offers more power improvements compared to the previous 300E and E320 cars. The car is so powerful that drivers are pinned to the seat whenever upper rev changes. Thats the punch of the 400E. Similarly, the brakes were also improved and are par with many sports cars. Its only drawback is that it lacks the nimble and tossable feel of the previous 300E which has been lost in the V8 performance.

In addition the handling limits of the V8 has easily match those of the earlier cars unfortunately the increased in the weight of the 400E has somewhat numbed the feel of earlier models.

S80s Secret Formula Is Under The Hood

Arresting looks and remarkable ergonomics are not enough to drive aficionados wild. Moreover, Volvo boosts auto performance by perking the engine up. What is under the hood is as equally important as other auto parts. With said modifications, Volvo expects that the Volvo S80 will not only turn heads but turn preferences as well.

Volvo Cars earlier unveiled an entirely new high-efficiency six-cylinder in-line engine that features an advanced induction system that contributes to both good performance and impressive fuel efficiency. A number of innovative solutions created by Volvos pool of engineers made it possible to produce an extraordinarily compact engine. I think that this will be one of the most impressive six-cylinder engines on the market, said Derek Crabb, Vice President Powertrain at Volvo Cars.

The six-cylinder 3.2 liters engine is made entirely of aluminum and has a bigger displacement than its predecessor 2.9. The automaker improved power to 175 kW as is torque, at 320 Nm. This corresponds to increases of 31 kW and 40 Nm respectively. Said engine has been designed to blend with the new six-speed automatic transmission. Further, the entire driveline has been engineered to complement with the rest of the auto parts to create balance and harmonious drive feel in every respect.

Volvo engineers applied a wide range of technologically advanced solutions to the Volvo S80s valvetrain and a variable intake system. The solutions made it possible for the engine to be exploited efficiently throughout the rev range. As such, it could promote alert response and superb performance. This is done without compromising the fuel efficiency of the vehicle.

The Volvo S80s valvetrain features the Cam Profile Switching (CPS) and the Variable Cam Timing (VCT). These features contribute significantly to the flexibility and driveability of the Volvo S80. CPS allows the inlet valves to be lifted to two varied heights depending on the load and speed of the engine. In principle, Cam Profile Switching creates two engines in one, explained Crabb.

We can unite widely differing demands on one and the same engine and easily meet the requirements of customers with entirely different wishes. For instance, we can equally easily satisfy customers who prioritize performance as well as those who are more interested in driving comfort and fuel economy, he further adds.

The VIS, on the other hand, is given two throttle flap valves which adjust the intake manifold volume to complement the driving situation. This system boosts torque and power to manage a thrilling ride. Through precise interplay with the flap valves we actually get three different torque curves that are integrated with one another, said Crabb. Consequently, we can exploit the engines capacity to the maximum and extract the highest possible power throughout the rev range. The result is alert response to the accelerator pedal at both low and high speeds, with both generous power and good driveability.

Another secret ingredient to the Volvo S80s formula is the compact format. Despite the engines 3.2 liter displacement, it has extremely compact exterior dimensions. The entire package is only 3 millimeters longer than Volvos five-cylinder engine. The total engine length is 625 millimeters. A compact format is a matter of safety, explained Crabb. It is particularly important that the engine takes up minimal space longitudinally in the vehicle. Volvos engines are fitted transversely and a compact engine thus has more space to move inside the engine compartment in the event of an impact that deforms the cars front. This helps reduce the risk of engine penetration into the passenger compartment.

The compact solution integrates Shaft In Shaft design. We are very proud of this compact solution, added Crabb. A lot of highly advanced development work was required in order to arrive at a design that ensures smooth and quiet operation.

All told, the new six-cylinder engine offers a premium experience in every respect, concluded Crabb. This applies to its performance and fuel efficiency, and also to its driving comfort and the sound of the engine. The fact that the engines design also helps enhance safety isnt something the customer usually thinks about, but it is naturally a central part of Volvos product concept.

The new six-cylinder engine is built in Fords Bridgend factory in Wales. It is also where Volvo fuel injectors are assembled. The factory, built in 1980, has manufactured about 10 million engines by 2001.

Hennesseys SRT600 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8

Its faster than a speeding Porsche Cayenne Turbo. It laughs at the face of a BMW X5 and sprints to 60 mph faster than a new Mustang GT. The new super car, Jeeps rowdy Grand Cherokee SRT8 is equipped with a powerful 6.1 liter Hemi V8, delivering a potent 420 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque. This SUV family hauler is definitely not your average SUV and you will know soon enough once you hear its throaty roar as it reach a quarter mile in a matter of 13.5 seconds which by the way is only a muscle car territory.

Despite the power delivered by Jeeps Grand Cherokee SRT8 it still doesnt match the performance of the Dodge Viper SRT10 Coupe and for this same reason why the Hennessey Performance created the new SRT600 package. The Hennessey Performance was the same people responsible for tuning up the Viper and since it wants to always create something more powerful than its previous masterpiece it has developed the performance package that will enable the Grand Cherokee SRT8 to finally defeat the ferocious Dodge V10 Viper in a 0 to 60 and quarter mile sprint.

Actually this was already accomplished with the new Hennessey SRT600 fortified Jeep, the Viper was outpaced to 60 mph by half a second and cross the quarter mile finish line two-tenths sooner than a much lower and lighter Viper.

Ever wondered where the Jeeps added Saturn V-like thrust comes from? Instead of a solid rocket booster, a big Garrett turbocharger has provided the boost to a modified 6.1 liter V8. How did the Hennessey Performance accomplish this? First they started by removing the stock SRT8 V8 and tear it down to the cast-iron cylinder block. Afterwards heavy-duty bearings were added before the installation of aftermarket forged steel connecting rods, forged-aluminum 9.5:1piston, and high performance piston rings.

Hennessey has also reworked the cylinder heads creating a full porting on the intake and exhaust runners along with polished combustion chambers. And on airflow test bench conducted by Hennessey the ported heads flow 360 cfm on each intake port which is about 60 cfm more than stock.

To further increase airflow to the cylinders a single Garrett T4 turbocharger that delivers seven psi of thrust was added. The custom-made stainless-steel headers deliver exhaust to the turbo, then boost is fed through the 3.5 inch polished stainless steel tubing, a big front mount air-to-air aluminum intercooler and custom inlet tubing replete with twin billet-aluminum blow-off valves. To keep the turbos boost in check is a single 44 mm wastegate while the 180 degree thermostat helps the Hemi to remain cool.

Hennessey has also added a high-volume fuel pump that delivers a continuous flow of petrol likewise the oversized fuel injectors and a special fuel-pressure regulator are being monitored by a custom-programmed engine computer. The result of all these process is a 6.1 liter V8 that delivers 600 horsepower at 5200 rpm backed by 650 lb-ft of torque at 4000 revs. Such powerful torque requires a lot of engine airflow that lead the Hennessey to fit a dual three inch diameter stainless steel exhaust system, high flow mufflers, and a polished four inch diameter exhaust tips. At rest, the SRT600 is like a meek lamb but try to flat-foot the throttle and it awakens into a monstrous beast. A word of caution: The Hennessey SRT600 Jeep SRT8 is not for the faint-hearted.

The modifications done on the Jeep SRT8 was maintained at a minimum level which means that aside from the engine, the basic components of the SRT8 like for instance its Jeep fuel filter, the factory SRT spec Brembo disc brakes and many more were not altered. The exterior was however enhanced by adding a few SRT600 badges and optional 20x10.5 inches forged aluminum wheels wrapped in a Michelin Pilot Sport 2 295/30ZR20 tires.

Risk Factors for Congestive Heart Disease

Congestive heart disease is the hearts inability to supply enough oxygen and nutrients to meet the needs of the human body. It is commonly caused by a weaken heart muscle, hardening of the arteries, some lung diseases such as cancer and emphysema. Over five million Americans suffer from this disease and it is believed that over half of them will die from their condition within the next 5 years. Congestive heart disease is the leading cause of hospitalization among senior citizens.
A previous heart attack, advanced age, and diabetes are all factors in developing congestive heart disease. While all of these medical conditions are treatable the damage done to the heart muscle cannot be reversed.
Another risk factor that cannot be changed when dealing with congestive heart disease is having a genetic disposition to the disease. Genetic testing and knowledge of the complete family history can go a long way in indicating whether or not congestive heart disease is something that should be a concern for you.
While some risk factors for congestive heart disease cannot be helped, there are many things that you can do to reduce the risk of developing this disease. These factors include such things as chronic high blood pressure, drug or alcohol abuse, thyroid disease, and even heart valve disease.
The best course of action to take is to reduce your risk of developing congestive heart disease and improve the quality of life. Unfortunately, congestive heart disease is difficult to diagnose because it often occurs as a result of or in conjunction with other forms of heart disease. Perhaps the best hope for patients with this disease is to catch it early and begin treatment as soon as possible.
Common Vitamins and over the counter products can help with Heart Disease such as Copper, Calcium, Magnesium, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Zinc, Vitamin B, Ginkgo Plus and M.S.M.
There is strong evidence that trace mineral Copper is vital to the tensile strength of the coronary blood vessels.
Scientists have found that people who drink hard water, water rich in calcium and magnesium, stand less chance of developing cardiovascular disease that people who drink soft water.
Vitamin C is essential for defending the body against pollution and infection. It enhances the immune system and aids in growth and repair of bone and tissue. Vitamin C has show to reduce cholesterol levels and lowers high blood pressure.
Vitamin E supplies Oxygen to the heart and the other muscles in the body. Accelerates wound healing and aids in the functioning of the immune system.
Zinc is needed for healing and maintaining healthy tissues. Amino Acids are the building blocks of protein and are the vital components of skin, hair, muscle tissue, the body's organs, blood cells, various enzymes and hormones. Zinc also has a profound influence on the body's ability to resist disease.
Vitamin B taken together as B-Complex work as a team to perform vital biological processes, including energy production and efficient metabolic function.
Ginkgo Plus supplies a comprehensive range of important nutrients needed for the proper functioning of the vascular system and for improving blood circulation to the brain.
M.S.M maintains the development of the body's protein by forming flexible disulfide bonds between certain amino acids and in maintaining the strength of connective tissue. This allows water and nutrients to flow freely into cells and allows toxins to flow freely out of the cells. M.S.M increases athletic stamina and helps eliminate muscle soreness. M.S.M is a natural supplement that is getting a lot of attention due to its role in tissue healing at the cellular level. It is a natural organic sulfur that comes from rain fall and is found naturally in the human body.
If you are at risk from Congestive Heart Disease then find a good health care professional prior to starting any type of home treatment.
Always consult your doctor before using this information.
This Article is nutritional in nature and is not to be construed as medical advice.

Congenital Heart Disease Demystified

This article is an attempt to remove confusion concerning some of the issues regarding congenital heart disease.

Congenital heart disease is a kind of malformation or heart defect that exists somewhere in the heart. In some cases it is a defect that can be found in one of the blood vessels of the heart. It is defined as congenital because the defect is present when a baby is born. It is strongly believed that these types of heart defects take place while the fetus is developing but it is not clear at what stage throughout the nine months that it takes hold. Out of every 1,000 children born, 8 to 10 have this condition.

Some babies show symptoms of congenital heart defects from the very beginning of their lives while other people will not show symptoms until later in their childhoods. In other cases, such a defect is not discovered until a person has become an adult. It is estimated that 500,000 American adults suffer from congenital heart disease.

Trying to discover the cause of congenital heart disease is not easy. Most of the time the cause of it is not known. Doctors and medical researchers have discovered factors that do seem to suggest an increased risk of developing this disease however. One of these risk factors is a chromosomal abnormality or a genetic abnormality such as Down syndrome. Women who drink alcohol, use drugs or take specific types of medication during the period of their pregnancy are more likely to give birth to children with congenital heart defects. When a woman contracts a maternal viral infection such as German measles (also known as rubella) during the first trimester of her pregnancy she is more likely to give birth to a child with this disease.

If someone in the family such as a parent, grandparent or brother or sister was born with a congenital heart defect then the risk of a child in the family being born with it is even higher. For example, the risk for the general population is eight in 1000 but it becomes 16 in 1000 for those who have a family member with it.

There is more than one type of congenital heart disease. Heart valve defects are very common and these are stenosis or narrowing of the heart valves or in severe cases, valves that are narrowed to the point that they do not allow blood through at all. Leaky valves also fall under the category of heart valve defects. Atrial and ventricular septal defects which are defects in the walls between the atria and ventricles of the heart cause some blood which is oxygenated and some blood which is not, to mix which can cause problems in both the right and left areas of the heart. Another type of congenital heart disease is abnormalities in the heart muscle, which can then cause heart failure.

Congenital heart disease can cause symptoms but often times there are no symptoms at all. Sometimes it is necessary to undergo medical tests to determine whether or not a person is afflicted with this disease. If symptoms do show themselves the two most common are shortness of breath and a decreased ability for exercise.

The Most Common Types Of Heart Disease

This article is written to take some of the mystery (and hopefully, some of the fear) from the words, "heart disease."

Although there are many different types of heart disease when someone mentions the words "heart disease" most people think of coronary heart disease first. Coronary heart disease is a "narrowing of the arteries that lead to the heart" however it is important to stress that coronary heart disease is only one form of heart disease.

Cardiovascular disease is one of the most common types of heart disease. In fact, it is the number one cause of death for both men and women in the United States. Heart disease affects both the structure of the heart and the functioning of it or sometimes both. A number of conditions fall under the category of heart disease and these include coronary heart disease (which takes into account heart attacks), heart failure, heart valve disease, abnormal heart rhythms (or arrhythmias), congenital heart disease, pericardial disease, aorta disease and Marfan syndrome, heart muscle disease (or cardiomyopathy), and vascular disease (blood vessel disease).

Coronary artery disease (or abbreviated to CAD) is another name for atherosclerosis or simply hardening of the arteries. It is the arteries that make it possible for nutrients and oxygen to make it to the heart. This is also one of the more common types of heart disease.

The average heart beats 60 to 100 times per minute in a steady even manner. This works out to be approximately 100,000 each and every day. However for reasons unknown to the medical community, sometimes the heart falls out of rhythm. This leads to an abnormal heartbeat or an irregular heartbeat, which is known as arrhythmia. Also known as a dysrhythmia, in this cause a change takes place to the rhythm of the heart, which can lead to a heartbeat that is too fast, too slow or uneven in how it beats. This is one of the more unusual types of heart disease.

The term "heart failure" is somewhat misleading. Heart failure does not mean that the heart has failed or that it has ceased to work properly. Instead it means that the pumping action of the heart is not as good as it should be. Heart failure affects an average of five million Americans every year and is the number one cause of hospitalization for individuals over the age of 65.

The heart has four chambers and heart valves lie at the exit of each one and allow one-way blood flow to make its way through the heart. Heart valve disease takes place when there is a problem with any one of these heart valves. Some examples of heart valve disease include aortic stenosis, mitral valve insufficiency and mitral valve prolapse.

Congenital heart disease is a problem that occurs before a baby is born and is a defect in the way the heart is structured or else in the structure of the blood vessels. Congenital heart disease sometimes does not show itself until a person is a child and in some cases, until they become an adult. Congenital heart defects affect an average of 8 out of every 1,000 babies born on an annual basis.

Cardiomyopathies are diseases that occur to affect the muscle of the heart. Generally this includes heart muscles that are enlarged or else have become stiff or thickened over a period of time. Heart muscle disease makes it difficult for the heart to adequately pump blood. If it is left untreated, a cardiomyopathy will get worse as time progresses and can very often lead to both heart failure as well as abnormal heart rhythms.

Pericarditis is a condition that involves the lining of the heart becoming inflamed. This is one of the more unusual types of heart disease. This condition is actually rather rare and is most often caused by one type of infection or another.

The aorta is the biggest artery in the heart and a number of conditions can cause it to either tear or to widen (or dilate). Thee include the genetic condition known as Marfan Syndrome, high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, connective tissue disorders and injury. This is one of the types of heart disease that is somewhat rare.