Diagram of the heart

Diagram of the heart

The heart contains four chambers and four valves. The superior vena cava, inferior vena cava, and pulmonary vein are the large veins that empty into the heart; the aorta and pulmonary artery are large arteries that lead out of the heart. The mitral valve and tricuspid valve allow blood to move from the left and right atria, respectively, to the left and right ventricles. The blood is then pumped out of the ventricles to the body and lungs.

Source: Chung, M.K., and Rich, M.W. Introduction to the cardiovascular system. Alcohol Health and Research World 14(4):269–276, 1990.

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Digestive System Diagram - Kids Animation [VIDEO]

Learn all about the functions of the Human Body from the 'Human Body' Kids Animation Learn Series. This simple video elaborated with pictures and descriptions can make the toughest subjects easier and fun for your kids.

This video is from http://www.rajshri.com/

See more about digestive system diagram

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What is cholecystectomy

Cholecystectomy is the surgical removal of the gallbladder.
It is the most common method for treating symptomatic gallstones. Surgical options include the standard procedure, called laparoscopic cholecystectomy, and an older more invasive procedure, called open cholecystectomy.

A traditional open cholecystectomy is a major abdominal surgery in which the surgeon removes the gallbladder through a 5- to 7-inch incision. Patients usually remain in the hospital at least 2 to 3 days and may require several additional weeks to recover at home. This procedure will therefore leave a right-sided subcostal scar.

Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

• Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has now replaced open cholecystectomy as the first-choice of treatment for gallstones and inflammation of the gallbladder unless there are contraindications to the laparoscopic approach. This is because open surgery leaves the patient more prone to infection. Sometimes, a laparoscopic cholecystectomy will be converted to an open cholecystectomy for technical reasons or safety.
• The procedure is usually performed under general anesthesia
• The laparoscope is a long tube with lenses at one end that are connected by fiber optics to a small television camera at the other. The fiber optics also carries light into the abdomen from a special light source. This system allows the surgeon to see and operate within the abdomen
• The laparoscope and laparoscopic instruments with long handles are inserted through the incisions into the abdomen. The entire operation is then performed while viewing the organs magnified on a television screen

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Treatment of Celiac Disease

Celiac Disease (CD) is a life-long digestive disorder found in individuals who are genetically susceptible. Damage to the small intestine is caused by an immunologically toxic reaction to the ingestion of gluten. This does not allow food to be properly absorbed. Even small amounts of gluten in foods may affect those with celiac disease and cause health problems. Damage can occur to the small bowel even in the absence of symptoms.
This is a simple overview of the Gluten-Free (GF) diet. Not all areas of the diet are as clear-cut as portrayed by this Guide. This is intended to be used as a safe and temporary survival tool until the newly diagnosed celiac obtains additional information. Understanding these dietary requirements will enable the newly diagnosed to read labels of food products and determine if a product is GF.
Gluten is the generic name for certain types of proteins contained in the common cereal grains wheat, barley, rye and their derivatives.

ALLOWED Grains/Flours

Rice, corn (maize), soy, potato, tapioca, beans, garfava, sorghum, quinoa, millet, buckwheat, arrowroot, amaranth, teff, Montina®, flax, and nut flours.

NOT ALLOWED in any form

Wheat (enkorn, durum, faro, graham, kamut, semolina, spelt), rye, barley and triticale.

Frequently overlooked foods that may contain gluten and need to be verified:

Breading, Coating mixes, Panko	Brown rice syrup
Croutons	Energy Bars
Flour or cereal products	Imitation bacon
Imitation seafood	Marinades
Pastas	Processed Luncheon Meats
Sauces, gravies	Self-basting poultry
Soy Sauce or soy sauce solids	Soup bases
Stuffings, Dressing	Thickeners (Roux)
Communion wafers	Herbal supplements
Nutritional supplements	Vitamins & mineral supplements
Prespcription Drugs	Over-the-counter medications

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For More Information about Celiac Disease see this

For More Information about Celiac Disease see this

American Celiac Disease Alliance
2504 Duxbury Place
Alexandria, VA 22308
Phone: 703–622–3331
Email: info@americanceliac.org
Internet: www.americanceliac.org
American Dietetic Association
120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000
Chicago, IL 60606–6995
Email: hotline@eatright.org
Internet: www.eatright.org
Celiac Disease Foundation
13251 Ventura Boulevard, #1
Studio City, CA 91604
Phone: 818–990–2354
Fax: 818–990–2379
Email: cdf@celiac.org
Internet: www.celiac.org
Celiac Sprue Association/USA Inc.
P.O. Box 31700
Omaha, NE 68131–0700
Phone: 1–877–CSA–4CSA (272–4272)
Fax: 402–643–4108
Email: celiacs@csaceliacs.org
Internet: www.csaceliacs.org
Children's Digestive Health and Nutrition Foundation
P.O. Box 6
Flourtown, PA 19031
Phone: 215–233–0808
Fax: 215–233–3918
Email: mstallings@naspghan.org
Internet: www.cdhnf.org
www.celiachealth.org
Gluten Intolerance Group of North America
31214 124th Avenue SE
Auburn, WA 98092–3667
Phone: 253–833–6655
Fax: 253–833–6675
Email: info@gluten.net
Internet: www.gluten.net
National Foundation for Celiac Awareness
224 South Maple Street
Ambler, PA 19002–0544
Phone: 215–325–1306
Email: info@celiaccentral.org
Internet: www.celiaccentral.org
North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
P.O. Box 6
Flourtown, PA 19031
Phone: 215–233–0808
Fax: 215–233–3918
Email: naspghan@naspghan.org
Internet: www.naspghan.org
www.cdhnf.org

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Specific Diseases Statistics for the United States

Specific Diseases Statistics for the United States

Abdominal Wall Hernia

Ambulatory care visits: 4.7 million (2004)

Surgical procedures (inguinal hernia only): 600,000 (2004)

Hospitalizations: 372,000 (2004)

Mortality: 1,663 deaths (2007)

Prescriptions: 3.7 million (2004)

Chronic Constipation

Prevalence: 63 million people (2000)

Ambulatory care visits: 6.3 million (2004)

Hospitalizations: 700,000 (2004)

Mortality: 137 deaths (2004)

Prescriptions: 5.3 million (2004)

Diverticular Disease

Prevalence: 2.2 million people (1998)

Ambulatory care visits: 3.2 million (2004)

Hospitalizations: 815,000 (2004)

Mortality: 3,372 deaths (2004)

Prescriptions: 2.8 million (2004)

Gallstones

Prevalence: 20 million people (2004)

Ambulatory care visits: 1.8 million (2004)

Surgical procedures: 700,000 cholecystectomies (2004)

Hospitalizations: 622,000 (2004)

Mortality: 1,092 deaths (2004)

Prescriptions: 1.65 million (2004)

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Prevalence: Reflux symptoms at least weekly: 20 percent of the population (2004)

Ambulatory care visits: 18.3 million (2004)

Hospitalizations: 3.1 million (2004)

Mortality: 1,150 deaths (2004)

Prescriptions: 64.6 million (2004)

Gastrointestinal Infections

Prevalence: Nonfoodborne gastroenteritis: 135 million people (1998)
Foodborne illness: 76 million people (1998)

Ambulatory care visits: 2.3 million (2004)

Hospitalizations: 450,000 (2004)

Mortality: 4,396 deaths (2004)

Prescriptions: 938,000 (2004)

Hemorrhoids

Prevalence: 75 percent of people older than 45 (2006)

Ambulatory care visits: 3.2 million (2004)

Hospitalizations: 306,000 (2004)

Mortality: 14 deaths (2004)

Prescriptions: 2 million (2004)

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Crohn’s Disease

Prevalence: 359,000 people (1998)

Ambulatory care visits: 1.1 million (2004)

Hospitalizations: 141,000 (2004)

Mortality: 622 deaths (2004)

Prescriptions: 1.8 million (2004)

Ulcerative Colitis

Prevalence: 619,000 people (1998)

Ambulatory care visits: 716,000 (2004)

Hospitalizations: 82,000 (2004)

Mortality: 311 deaths (2004)

Prescriptions: 2.1 million (2004)

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Prevalence: 15.3 million (1998)

Ambulatory care visits: 3 million (2004)

Hospitalizations: 212,000 (2004)

Mortality: 20 deaths (2004)

Prescriptions: 5.9 million (2004)

Liver Disease

Prevalence: 2.6 million people (2007)

Ambulatory care visits: 2.3 million (2004)

Liver transplants: 6,319 (2008)

Hospitalizations: 759,000 (2004)

Mortality: 36,090 deaths (2004)

Prescriptions: 731,000 (2004)

Pancreatitis

Prevalence: 1.1 million people (1998)

Incidence: Acute: 17 cases per 100,000 people (2003)

Chronic: 8.2 cases per 100,000 people (1981)

Ambulatory care visits: 881,000 (2004)

Hospitalizations: 454,000 (2004)

Mortality: 3,480 deaths (2004)

Prescriptions: 766,000 (2004)

Peptic Ulcer Disease

Prevalence: 14.5 million people (2007)

Ambulatory care visits: 1.4 million (2004)

Hospitalizations: 489,000 (2004)

Mortality: 3,000 deaths (2007)

Prescriptions: 5 million (2004)

Viral Hepatitis

Hepatitis A

Prevalence of chronic infection: none (2007)

Incidence of acute clinical cases: 2,979 new cases (2007)

Ambulatory care visits: infrequent (2004)

Hospitalizations: 10,000 (2004)

Mortality: 58 deaths (2004)

Hepatitis B

Prevalence of chronic infection: 800,000–1.4 million people (2007)

Incidence of acute clinical cases: 4,519 new cases (2007)

Ambulatory care visits: 729,000 (2004)

Hospitalizations: 69,000 (2004)

Mortality: 645 deaths (2004)

Hepatitis C

Prevalence of chronic infection: 2.7–3.9 million people (2007)

Incidence of acute clinical cases: 849 new cases (2007)

Ambulatory care visits: 2.7 million (2004)

Hospitalizations: 419,000 (2004)

Mortality: 4,595 deaths (2004)

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Digestive Diseases Statistics for the United States

All Digestive Diseases Statistics

Prevalence: 60 to 70 million people affected by all digestive diseases
Ambulatory care visits: 104.7 million (2004)
Hospitalizations: 13.5 million (2004)
Mortality: 236,164 deaths (2004)
Diagnostic and therapeutic inpatient procedures: 5.5 million—12 percent of all inpatient procedures (2006)
Ambulatory surgical procedures: 20 million—31 percent of all ambulatory procedures (2006)
Costs: $141.8 billion (2004)
$97.8 billion direct medical costs (2004)
$44 billion indirect costs (e.g., disability and mortality) (2004)

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HHS Launches Healthy People 2020

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) officially launched Healthy People 2020 on December 2, 2010, at the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. The event marked the formal release of the decade’s national health promotion and disease prevention objectives.

Each decade since 1980, the HHS has released a comprehensive set of national public health objectives. Known as Healthy People, the initiative has been grounded in the notion that setting objectives and providing benchmarks to track and monitor progress can motivate, guide, and focus action.

The HHS convened the Secretary’s Advisory Committee on National Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Objectives for 2020 to aid in the process of developing the next decade’s guidelines. The Advisory Committee was charged with providing advice and consultation to the Secretary: 1) to facilitate the development and implementation of national health promotion and disease prevention goals and objectives, and 2) to inform the development of initiatives that will occur during initial implementation of the goals and objectives.

The December 2 launch program included remarks by HHS Assistant Secretary for Health Howard K. Koh, M.D., and members of the Advisory Committee; an introduction and orientation to the Healthy People 2020 website and objectives; and a panel discussion about the uses of Healthy People 2020.

For more information about the Healthy People 2020 initiative, please visit www.healthypeople.gov/HP2020.

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Crohn’s Disease Is Associated with Restless Legs Syndrome

Researchers investigating a link between restless legs syndrome (RLS) and Crohn’s disease (CD) uncovered results that demonstrate RLS occurs frequently in people with CD and appears to be a possible extraintestinal manifestation of CD. This research appeared in the February 2010 issue of Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

CD is an ongoing disorder that causes inflammation of the digestive tract, also referred to as the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. CD can affect any area of the GI tract, from the mouth to the anus, but it most commonly affects the lower part of the small intestine, called the ileum.

CD has a variety of possible extraintestinal manifestations: arthritis, skin problems, kidney stones, gallstones, and liver diseases. This study is the first to show central nervous system (CNS) manifestations of CD.

A total of 272 patients with CD participated in the study, and researchers found a 43 percent incidence rate and 30 percent prevalence rate of RLS in patients with CD, compared with a 9 percent prevalence rate in the control group. RLS symptoms occurred during or after the onset of CD symptoms in the majority of patients, suggesting a link between CD and RLS.

For more information and to obtain copies, visit www.digestive.niddk.nih.gov.

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