palpitation attack

lately, i've been suffering from frequent heart palpitation. at first, it didn't really bother me as i've experienced it before and it didn't seem a whole lot of a threat back then. but like i said earlier, lately it's been coming too frequent that it's starting to startle me a little.

just a few nights ago, i literally was catching my breath, and there's this pain in my chest, and i dunno, everything just got so blurry that i almost passed out (all these happened while i was lying on bed -- imagine?!). i even selfishly asked my hubby, who at that time was preparing to go to work, to stay at home with me as i was beginning to get real scared. good thing the palpitation stopped even before he could consider my request. after that incident, it made me think of seeing a doctor. but then, what would i tell him? what would he ask me to do? then i dismissed the thought immediately.

last night, after i had another palpitation visit, i decided to look it up on the internet and here's what i've got:

Palpitations

ALSO KNOWN AS:

Pounding in the chest, Rapid Heartbeat, Irregular Heartbeat, or Racing Heart

DESCRIPTION:

This is not a disease but a congregate of symptoms in which the patient suddenly becomes extremely aware of his heartbeat, often describing fast, slow, regular, or Irregular Heartbeat.  Pounding in the Chest and fluttering are terms often used by patients to describe their Palpitations. Palpitations may have a sudden or gradual onset, and may be triggered by certain factors. Under normal conditions, electrical signals travel to the heart and stimulate it to pump blood to other body parts.  Redistribution of the normal electrical impulses gives rise to abnormal patterns experienced as Palpitations.  Consequently, it may feel as though the heart is missing or skipping a beat, but in reality there are extra or premature beats, or an early beat followed by a pause (rest), then a heavy beat. Benign (not dangerous) Palpitations are common, lasting for a few seconds with no other symptoms.  Frequent Palpitations associated with symptoms can be dangerous and may require immediate attention.

SYMPTOMS:

Often asymptomatic, lasting a few seconds to a few minutes Feeling that the heart is racing, Pounding in the Chest, or fluttering Skipped beat or extra heartbeat may be felt over the chest or the neck Dangerous symptoms include: Dizziness Light headedness Shortness of breath Chest pain Chest pressure or heaviness Fainting Pain in the arms, jaws, or neck Occurring often Lasting longer than a few minutes and with symptoms. 6 or more extra beats per minute. Beats come in runs of 3 or more. Heart rate (pulse in the wrist) more than a 100 beats per minute without any activity, fever, or drugs (normal heart beat is 60-100 beats per minute).

CAUSES:

Heart disease: Arrythmias -- any variation from the normal rhythm of the heart Any structural abnormality, such as mitral valve prolapse Diseased blood vessels -- coronary heart disease Congenital heart defects -- defects present at birth, such as a hole in the heart chambers High Blood Pressure Thyroid disease Hypoxemia or conditions that lower blood oxygen levels, such as lung disease Acidemia -- an increase in the acid content of the blood as seen in some lung problems. Low Blood Sugar Anemia (low blood) Smoking Cocaine use Amphetamine use XTC Caffeine -- coffee, tea, sodas Alcohol Vigorous exercise Stress Anxiety Panic attacks Lack of sleep Over eating Medications including over- the-counter cold remedies, Diet Pills Overdose of thyroid medicine, theophylline, or some antidepressants

HOW THE DIAGNOSIS IS MADE:

A general physician may need to consult a cardiologist if he suspects heart disease as the cause of Palpitations. Medical history: Symptoms -- how long, how often, sudden, other symptoms, or triggers? Past and recent illnesses, surgeries, medications, habits, allergies, and family history Medical exam: General exam -- entire body, blood pressure, pulse, and temperature. The doctor may listen to the lungs and the heart using a Stethoscope. Tests include: Electrocardiogram (EKG) -- records the electrical activity of the heart and provides information about the rate and rhythm of the heart (painless and fast). The doctor may order a Holter monitor (Walkman-size device that you take home and record the heart's activities over 24 hours.  This is also painless test but can help to identify the time, triggers, causes, and types of arrythmia. Echocardiogram -- uses sound to provide a picture of the heart's structures.  It can show enlarged heart, defects present at birth, or abnormal valves. X-Ray of the chest may show an enlarged heart or lung disease. If other conditions are suspected, blood and urine analysis may be needed.

TREATMENT:

Treating the underlying cause is the first step. Most Palpitations need no treatment. Avoid stimulants such as alcohol, caffeine, tobacco, Diet Pills, emotional stress, or fear. Learn to meditate and relax Multiple medications including beta blockers such as Atenolol can normalize the heart rate and offer relief. In some cases cardiac surgery or other procedures may be needed.

IF YOU SUSPECT THIS CONDITION:

Adjust your diet, sleep, rest, relax, and avoid stress.  Contact your doctor for a checkup.  If you have any of the danger signs and symptoms, call 911.

i know now what is wrong. it's simply STRESS, LACK OF SLEEP, and uhm, OVER EATING? hahaha, i think it's time to go on diet. really! so, immona work on that stress thingy first, and then i'll try to sleep more during the night and yeah, maybe i will, uhm, lessen my food intake a bit? hahaha.

that's it for today! immona take a bath now and go to work. see you again... later. =)

LET THE THROWING OF STONES BEGIN

** I used to have this 'unpublished blog' (which I called My Confession Room) where i pour out some of the things that i have in mind. And this write-up which I wrote on 13th October, 2009 is one of those. **

*******

I wonder why criticizing others has been part of our daily life when we ourselves hate being criticized. When does one earn the right to criticize others? And is there really such a thing as “constructive criticisms”? How can that thing which most people loathe be constructive when all it does is point what’s bad in what you think you do best in life?

Endless questions and no exact answers…

Yesterday, my dad and I were practicing the songs that I would render on Carleen’s upcoming wedding. I was having a little difficulty in hitting the exact notes for the song, “Now that I have You” while my dad also was having a hard time perfecting the chords, yet he’s pointing it out to me that the notes I was hitting are just not it. In my mind, I have this thing going on, “why don’t you perfect those chords first and I’ll take care of the notes?” but I know that it wouldn’t really help any bit. I also had this gut feeling that the notes I was hitting were really correct as I’ve listened to that song several times already. But then, who am I to say such a thing to my dad? I’m just an imperfect lacking with experience singer while he’s been a musician for ages. When I was nearing frustration, I headed for the stairs and listened to the song myself again. And again, I was right. I was really hitting the right notes all along and yet my dad is telling me otherwise. I came to him and asked him that we listen to it again. He agreed.

The song’s original key is at Ab. Since it’s already been settled that I don’t have a good low-notes register, I requested that the song’s key be transposed to one key higher at least. And my dad said ok to it. However, the notes he’s instructing me to hit for the chorus are just not it. I know. I really know. So when we listened again, I tried to make him see my point. I came to him with no expectations, so even though I know that I was right, it still surprised me that I really was right all along. He stood corrected and for the first time, I felt different about this whole thing.

Now it put me into thinking why we, people have made criticism an everyday habit when we ourselves are threatened of others’ criticisms about us. Wouldn’t it be much fairer if we just mind our own business and just be happy for others’ successes in life? Or would that be too unrealistic and too out-of-this-world? Since no one is perfect, isn’t criticism just rubbing it in the fact that we would never be perfect? And if one needs to be perfect first before he could criticize others of their wrong doings, then there should be no criticism at all flying around because nobody is perfect and will ever be perfect.

While I’m contemplating on this argument in my head, the Lord’s message about judging the sinners in the book of John came to me. Let me quote a few verses from the book of John, KJV Bible:

8:1   Jesus went unto the Mount of Olives.

8:2   And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.

8:3   And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,

8:4   They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.

8:5   Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?

8:6   This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.

8:7   So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

Now that is a rude awakening!

Hear me out; if there really is such a thing as constructive criticism, I just hope it really would help the person it would be casted at. Maybe criticisms are not really about the “perfect bullying the imperfect ones”. Maybe it’s really all about helping others see that there is always a spacious room for improvement. After all, it’s also in the Bible that open rebuke is better than secret love. I just hope that although we can no longer remove the fact that we are an everyday critic, I hope that it will be for a divine purpose and not just for the sake of criticism itself.

I know I didn’t end up with a good conclusion today. Blame it to my still mystified psyche.

This has been me again, saying that with an open mind and heart, I know we could make even the most insulting and mortifying criticism we receive every day, a key to our progress.  Until next time, same room…

homesick?

as i am typing these words, it is already 2:18 in the morning and i obviously can't still manage to get a decent sleep. i am actually tired and sleepy already but i can't get myself to rest and sleep. sometimes it's just really ironic. but i don't think it's irony this time. i think i'm just feeling a little bit homesick. =(

sigh. after two months of enjoying my hubby's sister & cousin's company, now they're finally back home. they're presence here somehow made me forget all about the things i miss about our country. but now that they've left us already, i just feel a little sad and now here, restless...

...but i have work later. so whether i like it or not, i must force myself to go to bed now. i'll see you again... later.

Today is the 20th of August, 2011

Once upon a time, there was a dejected girl who found comfort from simply texting a boy she’s never seen before. The boy was exceptionally charming. He has a unique sense of humor and his romantic side never failed to amuse the girl the whole time they were texting. The boy, after realizing that he’s been smitten by the girl’s wit (and the other cute things about her), immediately confessed that he loves her. In fact he kept saying, “love u pow” every time. The girl, though besotted already by the boy’s indisputable warmth, still felt scared of trusting him completely with her heart. She’s frightened to get hurt again, but the boy is not fond of waiting. His moves were all swift. That’s why, one Saturday night, not long after talking to the boy over the phone for almost two hours (if she remembers it correctly), the girl decided, “It’s now or never”. So she composed herself, and bravely texted the boy with, “…I think I love you too…” And the rest is history.

One important fact: It all happened on a Saturday night, the 20^th of August, 2005 – exactly six years ago.

Happy 6^th Anniversary, Baby...

INTRODUCTION

hi. i realized that when i started blogging in 2008 (and stopped abruptly due to laziness), i never made any introduction of myself. so, to set the record straight, i'll do a quick one now.

i don't really need to do the "my-name-is-blah-blah-and-i-live-in-yada-yada-yada" kind of thing. i just wanna make it known to y'all the whole purpose of this blogging career. to start off, i'm a super busy person and my work is very stressful. i find venting out through writing (or in this case, blogging) an effective way of relieving myself of all the stress and pressure from work, which is why this blog is created. but like i said at the beginning of this entry, i did start blogging in 2008 but it didn't work that well for me back then because... hmmm... i also dunno. maybe i was not that stressed or it's just not yet the perfect timing for me to enter the world of blogging back then. i am really not sure.

moving on, now that i really feel the need of doing so (i mean blogging), i want my stuff to be organized. okay, my very first blog, which is now called The Sketcher's Sketches, will from now on be the container of all my sketch/drawings/architecture-related write-ups. while all products from my EMO mind will be dumped directly to my other blog: Welcome to Beckaroo's Magnum Opus. this new blog i'm creating today (tonight) will be where i might blog more often as this is the best place where i can talk just about anything... anything under the sun.

so i guess that would be all for my introduction. like i said, i still need to organize my stuff, so i'll see you here... later. ^_^