Heart Health: 5 Tips to Protect Your Heart

Relapsing polychondritis is a rare but serious disease in which the body's immune system mistakenly begins to attack its own cartilaginous tissue. Cartilage is the flexible material that forms our ears, nose, certain joints, the trachea, and even parts of the heart. When this tissue is damaged, inflammation, pain, and changes occur. The disease is called relapsing because it usually progresses with recurring episodes: there are times when the disease is active, and then it weakens or almost disappears. After this calm period, inflammations may appear again. What are the main signs? Most often, the disease first affects the cartilage of the ears. A characteristic feature is unilateral or bilateral damage to the outer ear. The ear becomes red, painful, and swollen, while the earlobe usually remains unaffected. Many patients describe that their ears burn or hurt even when touched. It may lead to the development of "soft ears" or a "cauliflower ear" appearance. The next common symptom is inflammation of the nasal cartilage. The nose may become red, painful, and over time deformed, creating the so-called "saddle nose" appearance. Another symptom is damage to the throat, trachea, and bronchi, which is also quite common. Unlike other symptoms, this one can be life-threatening by causing softening of the tracheal rings, known as chondromalacia. This can lead to critical narrowing of the trachea—stenosis—and result in suffocation. Patients may develop hoarseness, shortness of breath, ineffective dry cough, and pain in the front of the neck. The disease can also affect the joints. A characteristic feature is damage to the cartilaginous connections of the sternum, which causes chest pain. Peripheral joints may also be affected, leading to swelling and pain. Among the relatively rare symptoms are inflammatory eye diseases, up to blindness; skin manifestations such as various rashes, nodules, ulcers; hematopoietic system disorders leading to aplastic anemia; and genitourinary involvement, up to renal failure. These symptoms are much rarer than the main ones (ears, nose, and airways), but their occurrence can make the disease life-threatening. There are no specific laboratory or special tests for this disease; diagnosis is based on a combination of clinical signs and examinations. Laboratory tests show no specific markers. A complete blood test may reveal elevated inflammatory markers, anemia, or leukocytosis. Instrumental studies include CT and MRI to assess airway damage. Biopsy is sometimes used but is not always conclusive. Considering the difficulty of diagnosing this disease, unfortunately, patients often reach rheumatologists too late. They are treated by ENT specialists, pulmonologists, ophthalmologists, therapists, and are referred to rheumatologists at rather advanced stages of the disease. Therefore, close collaboration among narrow specialists is very important for the patient’s benefit. In the past, this disease had a fairly high mortality rate due to late diagnosis and ineffective treatment. Today, the development of medicine, especially in the field of autoimmune disease diagnosis and treatment, has led to much higher effectiveness in early diagnosis and treatment of this disease.

Visiting a cardiologist is important not only if you already have health problems, but also for preventive assessment of your heart health. There are several warning signs and risk factors that should not be ignored. Main reasons to see a cardiologist 1. Chest pain or tightness Especially if the pain radiates to the arms, neck, or back. 2. Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing Even after minor physical activity. 3. Rapid or irregular heartbeat Palpitations, shortness of breath, or pounding heartbeat. 4. High blood pressure If blood pressure is persistently high and medications do not help. 5. Family history of heart disease If close relatives had heart disease at a young age. 6. Diabetes Diabetes significantly increases the risk of heart disease. 7. High cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) Elevated cholesterol levels in the blood. 8. Swelling of the legs and shortness of breath May indicate heart failure. Prevention and treatment The main goal of prevention is to avoid the development of heart disease and reduce risk factors. Treatment, however, is aimed at managing and addressing existing problems. Myocardial infarction (heart attack) A heart attack develops when blood flow in a part of the heart muscle decreases or stops completely, causing damage. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort, which may radiate to the shoulder, arm, scapula, neck, or jaw. Other possible symptoms include: • shortness of breath, • nausea, • severe weakness, • cold sweat, • feeling of fatigue. What to do If you experience these symptoms, seek medical help immediately. Self-medication is extremely dangerous and can lead to serious consequences.

Fungal skin infections are considered one of the most common skin diseases in the world, primarily caused by the fungi Trichophyton, Microsporum, and Epidermophyton. Prevalence According to research, about 20–25% of the world's population will experience a fungal skin infection at least once in their lifetime. Fungal infections can affect people of any age, but they are most common in children and athletes. They are characterized by high contagiousness and frequent recurrence. Fungal infections are also common among populations living in hot and humid climates. Clinical Manifestations The clinical picture of a fungal infection depends on the type of fungus, the area of infection, and the patient's immune system. The main manifestations include circular, pink-red patches with distinct outlines, where the center often remains white or normal skin color. Sometimes, there is itching, burning, scaling, or even the formation of small blisters, especially in the spaces between the toes or on the scalp. Diagnosis To diagnose a fungal infection, a skin scraping is performed to detect fungi. In some cases, a culture is performed to determine the type of fungus. Treatment The treatment for fungal skin infections depends on the area and severity of the infection. • Mild and moderate cases – topical antifungal agents are used first. • Severe or widespread cases – systemic antifungal drugs are used for 2–6 weeks, with the dosage being individualized. In some cases, the course of treatment may be extended to reduce the risk of recurrence. Prevention • Maintain personal hygiene rules and do not share personal items. • Take a shower after sweating. • Do not leave certain areas of your skin moist. • Do not walk barefoot in public restrooms, saunas, or locker rooms. • Wear clean, dry, cotton underwear. • Keep your nails short and clean. • Do not share sports equipment, towels, or other personal items with other people. • When working with soil, wear protective clothing such as gloves, boots, long pants, and long-sleeved shirts. • Note that pets can be a source of fungal infections, so it is necessary to monitor their hygiene and health status. Conclusion Fungal skin infections are common but treatable diseases. Successful treatment and prevention require a comprehensive treatment plan, including topical and systemic therapy, hygiene measures, and patient education. Awareness of fungal skin infections and timely treatment reduce sanitary issues and the spread of the disease in society. Furthermore, promoting a healthy lifestyle, including strengthening the body's defense mechanisms, plays an important role in preventing fungal infections.

Botulism is a rare but serious infectious disease caused by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. The danger comes from the powerful toxin it produces. This poison blocks the function of the nervous system, leads to paralysis, and can be fatal if medical help is not provided in time. There are several main forms of the disease. The most common is the foodborne form, which develops after consuming contaminated food. Wound botulism occurs when bacterial spores enter a wound and multiply. Infant botulism affects children under one year old when spores begin to grow in the intestines. Less frequent variants include intestinal colonization in adults, iatrogenic botulism following medical procedures, and the extremely rare inhalational botulism. Symptoms and Causes The first symptoms are often linked to vision problems: double vision, blurred sight, and dilated pupils. Soon after, droopy eyelids, dry mouth, difficulty swallowing, and slurred speech may appear. As the toxin spreads, muscle weakness develops along with digestive and respiratory difficulties. The most dangerous complication is paralysis of the respiratory muscles. Symptoms depend on the type of botulism: • Foodborne botulism: abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, bloating, constipation, visual disturbances, and general weakness. • Wound botulism: gradual onset (1–3 weeks), localized weakness near the wound, possible fever, and no early digestive symptoms. The root cause is always the same: multiplication of Clostridium botulinum and release of its toxin. For this to happen, certain conditions are required — low oxygen, insufficient acidity, lack of salt or sugar, improper food storage, or inadequate heat treatment. Homemade canned foods prepared without proper sterilization are a frequent source of infection. Complications The most life-threatening complication of botulism is respiratory failure, which can cause death without mechanical ventilation. Even after successful treatment, patients may suffer from long-lasting weakness and fatigue. Recovery of muscle strength can take weeks or months, sometimes complicated by pneumonia or nervous system disorders. Diagnosis Doctors usually suspect botulism based on clinical symptoms: sudden visual disturbances, difficulty speaking and swallowing, and muscle weakness. Information about recently consumed food or the presence of wounds is also crucial. Laboratory confirmation may include tests of blood, stool, or vomit. To exclude other conditions with similar signs, additional diagnostic methods are often used, such as: • Computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) • Lumbar puncture • Electromyography Treatment Therapy is focused on quickly neutralizing the toxin and supporting vital functions. Patients older than one year are treated with an antitoxin, which blocks the poison’s further action. In severe cases with respiratory paralysis, artificial ventilation is required. Infants are treated with a specific preparation — botulinum immune globulin (Baby BIG). In wound botulism, treatment also includes surgical cleaning of infected tissue and the use of antibiotics. Prognosis With timely diagnosis and proper treatment, most patients recover. Noticeable improvements usually appear within a few months, but full recovery may take up to a year. Rehabilitation and supportive care are often necessary throughout this period. Prevention Botulism is largely preventable if proper food handling and storage practices are followed, especially when preparing home-canned goods. Key preventive measures include: • Refrigerating food within 2 hours of cooking • Boiling food for at least 10 minutes to destroy toxins • Avoiding swollen or damaged canned goods • Sterilizing homemade preserves in an autoclave at 121°C for at least 30 minutes • Discarding foods with an unusual or foul odor To reduce the risk of wound botulism, wounds should be cleaned promptly, non-sterile needles should never be used, and illicit drug use must be avoided. Injections of botulinum toxin should only be performed by licensed healthcare providers.