Health Clinic

How To Quit Smoking Before It's To Late

2008-11-30T09:03:00.000-08:00

What do I need to know about quitting?

The US Surgeon General has said, "Smoking cessation [stopping smoking] represents the single most important step that smokers can take to enhance the length and quality of their lives."
Quitting smoking is not easy, but you can do it. To have the best chance of success in quitting, you need to know what you’re up against, what your options are, and where to go for help. You'll find this information here.

Why is it so hard to quit smoking?

Mark Twain said, "Quitting smoking is easy. I've done it a thousand times." Maybe you've tried to quit, too. Why is quitting and staying quit hard for so many people? The answer is nicotine.

Nicotine

Nicotine is a drug found naturally in tobacco. It is highly addictive -- as addictive as heroin or cocaine. Over time, a person becomes physically and emotionally addicted to (dependent on) nicotine. Studies have shown that smokers must deal with both the physical and psychological (mental) dependence to quit and stay quit.

When you inhale smoke, nicotine is carried deep into your lungs. There it is absorbed quickly into the bloodstream and carried throughout your body. Nicotine affects many parts of the body, including your heart and blood vessels, your hormones, your metabolism, and your brain. Nicotine can be found in breast milk and even in mucus from the cervix of a female smoker. During pregnancy, nicotine freely crosses the placenta and has been found in amniotic fluid and the umbilical cord blood of newborn infants.

Several different factors can affect how long it takes the body to remove nicotine and its by-products. In most cases, regular smokers will still have nicotine or its by-products, such as cotinine, in their bodies for about 3 to 4 days after stopping.

Nicotine produces pleasant feelings that make the smoker want to smoke more. It also acts as a kind of depressant by interfering with the flow of information between nerve cells. As the nervous system adapts to nicotine, smokers tend to increase the number of cigarettes they smoke. This, in turn, increases the amount of nicotine in the smoker's blood. After a while, the smoker develops a tolerance to the drug. Tolerance means that it takes more nicotine to get the same effect that the smoker used to get from smaller amounts. This leads to an increase in smoking over time. The smoker reaches a certain nicotine level and then keeps smoking to maintain this level of nicotine. In fact, nicotine inhaled in cigarette smoke reaches the brain faster than drugs that enter the body intravenously (IV).

Nicotine withdrawal symptoms can lead quitters back to smoking

When smokers try to cut back or quit, the lack of nicotine leads to withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal is both physical and mental. Physically, the body reacts to the absence of nicotine. Mentally, the smoker is faced with giving up a habit, which calls for a major change in behavior. The physical and mental both must be addressed for the quitting process to work.

Those who have smoked regularly for a few weeks or longer, and suddenly stop using tobacco or greatly reduce the amount smoked, will have withdrawal symptoms. Symptoms usually start within a few hours of the last cigarette and peak about 2 to 3 days later when most of the nicotine and its by-products are out of the body. Withdrawal symptoms can last for a few days to up to several weeks.

Withdrawal symptoms can include any of the following:

dizziness (which may only last 1 to 2 days after quitting)
depression
feelings of frustration, impatience, and anger
anxiety
irritability
sleep disturbances, including having trouble falling asleep and staying asleep, and having bad dreams or even nightmares
trouble concentrating
restlessness
headaches
tiredness
increased appetite

These symptoms can lead the smoker to start smoking cigarettes again to boost blood levels of nicotine back to a level where there are no symptoms. (For information on coping with withdrawal, see the section, "How to quit.")

Smoking also makes your body get rid of certain drugs faster than usual. When you quit smoking, it changes the way your body handles some medicines. Ask your doctor if any medicines you take regularly need to be checked or changed after you quit.

Why should I quit?

Your health

Health concerns usually top the list of reasons people give for quitting smoking. This is a very real concern: About half of all smokers who keep smoking will end up dying from a smoking-related illness.

Cancer

Nearly everyone knows that smoking can cause lung cancer, but few people realize it is also a risk factor for many other kinds of cancer too, including cancer of the mouth, voice box (larynx), throat (pharynx), esophagus, bladder, kidney, pancreas, cervix, stomach, and some leukemias.

Lung diseases

Pneumonia has been included in the list of diseases known to be caused by smoking since 2004. Smoking also increases your risk of getting lung diseases like emphysema and chronic bronchitis. These diseases are grouped together under the term COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). COPD causes chronic illness and disability, and worsens over time -- sometimes becoming fatal. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis can be found in people as young as 40, but are usually found later in life, when the symptoms get much worse. Long-term smokers
have the highest risk of developing severe COPD.

Heart attacks, strokes, and blood vessel diseases Smokers are twice as likely to die from heart attacks as are non-smokers. And smoking is a major risk factor for peripheral vascular disease, a narrowing of the blood vessels that carry blood to the leg and arm muscles. Smoking also affects the walls of the vessels that carry blood to the brain (carotid arteries), which can cause strokes. Men who smoke are more likely to develop erectile dysfunction (impotence) because of blood vessel disease.

Blindness and other problems

Smoking causes an increased risk of macular degeneration, one of the most common causes of blindness in older people. It also causes premature wrinkling of the skin, bad breath, bad-smelling clothes and hair, yellow fingernails.

Special risks to women and babies

Women have some unique risks linked to smoking. Women over 35 who smoke and use birth control pills have a higher risk of heart attack, stroke, and blood clots of the legs. Women who smoke are more likely to miscarry (lose the baby) or have a lower birth-weight baby. And low birth-weight babies are more likely to die, or have learning and physical problems.

Years of life lost due to smoking Based on data collected in the late 1990s, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that adult male smokers lost an average of 13.2
years of life and female smokers lost 14.5 years of life because of smoking. And given the diseases that smoking can cause, it can steal your quality of life long before you die. Smoking-related illness can limit your activities by making it harder to breathe, get around, work, or play.

Why quit now?

No matter how old you are or how long you've smoked, quitting can help you live longer and be healthier. People who stop smoking before age 50 cut their risk of dying in the next 15 years in half compared with those who keep smoking. Ex-smokers enjoy a higher quality of life with fewer illnesses from cold and flu viruses, better self-reported health, and reduced rates of bronchitis and pneumonia.

For decades the Surgeon General has reported the health risks linked to smoking. In 1990, the Surgeon General concluded:

Quitting smoking has major and immediate health benefits for men and women of all ages. These benefits apply to people who already have smoking-related disease and those who don't.

Ex-smokers live longer than people who keep smoking.

Quitting smoking lowers the risk of lung cancer, other cancers, heart attack, stroke, and chronic lung disease.

Women who stop smoking before pregnancy or during the first 3 to 4 months of pregnancy reduce their risk of having a low birth-weight baby to that of women who never smoked.

The health benefits of quitting smoking are far greater than any risks
from the small weight gain (usually less than 10 pounds) or any emotional or
psychological problems that may follow quitting.

How to avoid dengue

2008-11-18T21:10:00.000-08:00

Dengue and other mosquitoes nurture in water. Therefore, the following guidelines should be followed to stop producing mosquitoes:-

Water in flower pots should be frequently
All water containers should be covered with a tight lid
Replace once a week the stored water in barrels, drums etc
Large water tanks and surface wells must have single piece lid. Check it at frequent
intervals. Overflow pipe should also be protected by a mosquito net.
Properly dispose off container-like objects like tyres, bottles, etc
Spill out water from fountains once a week and keep it dry for a day or two
Rain water collected on terraces/roofs should be cleared (at least) once a week

Dengue is also known as Break Bone Fever. If the infection is treated on time, the mortality rate is less then 15%.

Countries at Risk of Dengue Transmission

2008-11-18T21:09:00.001-08:00

Countries located at temperate or moderate areas are most likely to affect with infection of Dengue Fever

Dengue - A Pakistani Advertisement

2008-11-18T21:08:00.001-08:00

ڈینگی بخار سے بچاوء کے لیے احتیاطیں

2008-11-18T21:05:00.000-08:00

ڈینگی بخار زیادہ تر بڑے بچوں اور بڑی عمر کے لوگوں پایا جاتا ہے۔
گھر میں پانی ذخیرہ کرنے والے برتنوں مثلا بالٹی ،کنستر، ٹینکی یا پھولوں کے نیچے رکھے جانے والے برتنوں کو کو ڈھانپ کر رکھیں۔
گھروں میں مچھر مار سپرے کروائیں۔
کمرے کے اندر میٹ یا کوائل استعمال کریں۔
طلوعِ آفتاب اور غروبِ آفتاب کے وقت جسم کے کھلے حصوں پر مچھر بھگاوء تیل استعمال کریں۔
کھلی فضاء میں بغیر حفاظت مت سوئیں۔
کمروں کے دروازوں اور کھڑکیوں پر جالی لگوائیں۔
گھروں میں کوڑا کرکٹ مت پھیلنے دیں۔
ڈینگی بخار چھوت کا مرض نہیں ہے، لہذا مریض کی تیمارداری سے مت گھبرائیں۔
ڈینگی بخار کی علامات
تیز بخار°105 ڈگری
اچانک تیز سر درد
پٹھوں کا درد
گلا سوج جانا
سر چکرانا اور الٹیاں آنا

What is Dehydration

2008-11-18T21:02:00.000-08:00

Dehydration is the lack of water in the body. This occurs when water loss is greater than intake.

A healthy adult, about 7 liters of water from digestive juices is secreted into the intestine and about 2 liters of dietary water is ingested every day, but only 100-200 ml of water is lost with the stool, since most of it is re-absorbed in intestine.

When the Dehydration is Critical:

If 20 liters of water (and electrolytes) are lost in one day, it would be an acute diarrhea, which needs immediate attention and shifting of patient to a hospital or health care centre.

Liposuction - A Weight Loss Method? by Keith George

2008-11-18T04:51:00.000-08:00

Liposuction is a cosmetic surgery employed to remove excess fat from body parts. It is also called lipoplasty, suction lipectomy, liposculpture or fat suction.

Generally the fat is removed from thighs, chin, buttocks, lovehandles (abdomen), breasts and stomach for women and chin, waist, breasts and buttocks for men.

This surgical procedure is not an alternative to exercise and dieting and should be used only to remove the stubborn fat that does not respond to exercises and diet.

Liposuction is not a weight loss method but a method to remove excess fat. 10-15 pounds of fat is removed generally. However, taking out of large amounts of fat can be dangerous at times.

There are many types of liposuction performed today like traditional liposuction, tumescent liposuction, ultrasound liposuction, superwet liposuction. All these methods employ a cannula (a blunt straw like tube) for suction of fat.

Saline water is injected into the space between muscle and fat to separate them. If the amount of saline water is less than the amount of fat to be removed it is called traditional liposuction.

If the saline water is 3 to 4 times the volume of fat to be removed it is called tumescent liposuction. Adding extra water assists the surgeon in moving the cannula back and forth to break up the fat cells. However excess water may affect the homeostasis of the body. In super wet liposuction the amount of saline water is the same as the amount of fat to be removed. This is the most popular surgical method used by surgeons.

In ultrasonic liposuction the fat is initially liquefied by ultrasound before being suctioned out. However, ultrasound methods are not popular as they sometime lead to necrosis (death of skin) and seromas (collection of yellow fluid in pockets).

In all types of liposuction either local anesthesia or general anesthesia is used. The usual anesthetic used is lidocaine. Epinephrine is also used in liposuction to reduce blood loss.

To perform liposuction the patient must be over 18 and in good health with elastic skin. If the skin is not sufficiently elastic the excess skin may have to be removed after liposuction. Generally the excess skin is removed from abdomen called abdominoplasty or tummy tuck. This leaves scar marks on the skin.

Diabetics and patients on antibiotics are advised not to undergo liposuction. Before operation the patient should not have taken any anticoagulants like warfarin, phenindione etc.

If general anesthesia is given the patient has to fast on the night before the operation. If local anesthesia is given there is no requirement of fasting. Smoking and drinking etc should be avoided.

The incisions are usually less than an inch. After operation the excess fluid takes days to weeks to drain out. During that time antibiotics and/or pain killers are prescribed.

Patient recovery varies from days to 2 months. As with all surgeries there are surgical risks in liposuction too. There are minor risk, up to 0.7%, of side effects like internal organs being scraped, seromas, necrosis, excessive bleeding etc.

Liposuction is not a weight loss method and the patient should expect realistic and not dramatic changes in appearance.

Warning: The information presented in this web site is not intended as a substitute for medical care. Please talk with your healthcare provider about any information you get from this web site.

4 Tips To Quit Snoring by Jonathan Ward

2008-11-18T04:47:00.000-08:00

How many of you know the feeling when your wife wakes you up in the middle of the night, complaining about your snoring? I know I've been in that same position and it's not fun. For me this whole snoring thing just kind of crept up on me. When my wife, Sharon, and I first got married I never snored. Shortly into our marriage my wife would hear me snoring when she was awake, and would tease me about it. A few years down the road, and a few extra pounds, my snoring would occasionally wake her. Eventually it got so bad that she would leave the room and sleep on our couch. So I decided to find some answers, and get this issue solved. Well I finally solved my problem, and I found some tips to help you quit snoring. Unless you really don't like your wife, get this problem handled. The sooner you do, the better you will feel!

My first tip to help you quit snoring, and hopefully this wont sound too cliché, is to get some exercise and eat a little healthier! Next time you reach in the fridge, grab an apple or an orange, instead of the ice cream. Or instead of the soda, grab a nice cold bottle of water. Ok, I realize if your diet normally consists of soda, grabbing water will definitely test your self-control. Find some diet sodas or some fruit drinks you like. Just don't trade your sodas for beers. Beer wont help you quit snoring, it will actually make it worse.

Yes, alcohol can aggravate your snoring. It is sad, I know, but you don't have to quit drinking altogether. Just cut down on the booze! Not only did cutting down on the booze help me quit snoring, it also made my wife happier, too. Oh and eating heavily before you go to sleep is not great idea. In fact when you eat right before you go to bed, your body can't focus on sleeping and rejuvenating, it also has to digest the food you just put into it. I usually don't eat or drink alcohol for 3 hours before I go to bed, If you do this it will help your body focus on sleeping and less on digesting, which means it will help you quit snoring! .

Another little tip I used to quit snoring was sleeping on my side rather than on my back. I used to be a back sleeper, and I snored really loud, but since I started sleeping on my side, my wife didn't have to get up in the middle of the night because of my snoring. This secret is huge. You really need to try this. If you're bent on sleeping on your back, and I know I was for a while, my next little tip will definitely help you out. Ok my last tip to help you quit snoring is to tilt your head back a few inches. It's that simple. Just prop your head back. Maybe curl up a pillow, or get one of those fancy tempur-pedic pillows that naturally tilt your head back. They might be a little expensive but they sure are worth they price. Just ask my wife. Almost every night I wake up to find my tempur-pedic pillow is under her head.

If you need a lillte help to remember these easy tips to help you quit snoring, just remember look to E.A.S.T. E is for EXERCISE, and healthy foods, A is for no ALCOHOL or food late at night, S is for SLEEP on your SIDE, and T is for TILT your head back. Well I hope my 4 tips will you quit snoring for good. If you follow this simple guide you will be on your way to being snore free!

Warning: The information presented in this web site is not intended as a substitute for medical care. Please talk with your healthcare provider about any information you get from this web site.

Yeast Infection Symptoms and Tips by Morgan Heese

2008-11-14T22:51:00.000-08:00

Yeast infections sure suck, don't they? Especially when you have a hot date at the end of the week! I've had them, and almost every other woman I know has had at least one in their lifetime as well.

However, many people think women are the only people who get yeast infections, but they're wrong. Men can get yeast infections as well. Even babies can get them.

So, how do you know if you have a yeast infection? Well ladies, there's a reason why so many of us lovingly call it crotch rot. Here are just a few of the annoying symptoms of a vaginal yeast infection:

Pain and burning in the crotch area (hence the crotch rot)

Heavier than normal discharge (some people compare it to cottage cheese)

Itching so bad you want to scratch with sandpaper

Of course, every woman is different and some may not experience these symptoms. If this is the first time experiencing a yeast infection, you should check with your doctor to get a proper diagnosis. Many times these symptoms can be caused by a different infection.

In a lot of cases, parents mistake yeast infections in their baby for diaper rash. Both male and female babies can get yearst infections. Usually, you'll see red bumps on their little bum. Another clue is if it doesn't go away after a few days with regular diaper rash cream.

To help avoid yeast infections in babies, keep their bum 'fresh' by changing diapers regularly. You can also let them 'air dry' by waiting for a few minutes to put a clean diaper on.

Ladies, you can do the same thing to help prevent future yeast infections as well.

Stay clean down there with regular washing, but don't douche.

Douching can kill good bacteria as well as bad bacteria. We don't want that.

Avoid tight fitting clothes and opt for cotton as much as possible.

Avoid bubble baths and other products that could irritate you. If you do add anything to your bath water, make sure to rinse with fresh water before drying off.

Stay away from anything scented, including toilet paper and tampons. They do more harm than good.

Go commando at night and give it a chance to breathe.

Guys, my advice to you is just stay clean and protected. Yeast infections can be transferred through intercouse, so be careful who you run into in a dark alley. Always wear condoms and if you or your partner has a yeast infection, try and hold off until it's treated.

Solving erection problems

2008-11-13T05:04:00.000-08:00

Erectile problems are extremely common - up to 2 million men in the U.K. have erectile dysfunction, and some studies have shown that it affects 5% of 40 year old men and this percentage increases with age.

It may seem difficult or embarrassing to discuss problems with your sex life with a doctor. It is often difficult to diagnose the exact problem that is causing symptoms - more often it is a combination of problems, both physical and
psychological (see below), that can cause problems with achieving or maintaining an erection.

The history often can give a good idea about whether the cause is likely to be predominantly psychological or physical. Some men seem to have no problems with erections when masturbating, and have morning erections / erections during the night, but have problems with their erection only when they are with a partner. In these cases, it is more likely that there is a predominantly psychological cause. Nonetheless when there is an accompanying loss of libido (sex drive) physical causes for erectile problems also need to be excluded.

The physiology of how erections occur is complicated, but essentially erections occur when blood becomes trapped within the penis. This comes about by either psychological stimuli, physical stimuli or both. For erections to occur some of the muscles within the penis need to relax.

As previously mentioned, the causes of erectile dysfunction are often divided into two:

- psychological causes

- physical causes

Psychological causes include anxiety, depression, relationship problems and performance anxiety. Anxiety / fear increases the production of hormones such as adrenaline and this can prevent the muscles in the penis that need to
relax to cause an erection from doing so. The problem is self-perpetuating as each time an erection fails, the anxiety levels associated with subsequent attempts at erection increase. This is performance anxiety.

Physical causes include vascular problems, diabetes, kidney problems, neurological problems (including trauma or operations to the back). Some prescribed medications can cause problems with achieving erections, and importantly so too can smoking and alcohol, as well as recreational drugs such as cannabis and cocaine.

In reality, most men with erectile dysfunction have a combination of physical and psychological elements. A man who has a physical cause for his erectile dysfunction will invariably have some psychological effects as a result of his
problem - this could include depression or anxiety / performance anxiety - which can make the problems with erections worse.

Treatment will depend on what is found. There are several therapies specifically for erectile dysfunction. They include:

- Psychosexual counseling- often a programme called sensate focusing

- Oral medications - such as sildenafil (Viagra) and uprima that is helpful in 50 - 88 % patients

- Injections of medication into the penis to achieve erection (eg prostaglandin a type of hormone)

- Urethral medications - a small pellet of a prostaglandin that is inserted into the urethra

Eat Fiber and Avoid Constipation by Rudy Silva

2008-10-21T04:34:00.000-07:00

To have regular bowel movements and escape constipation you need to eat more fiber. Fiber from raw vegetable and fruits is better for you than fiber from grains. Why? Raw vegetables and fruits are live foods with enzymes, minerals, vitamins, and many antioxidants that are charged electrically. They have a magnetic energy that is absorbed by your DNA. So get more fiber from this source and less from grains.

Don't forget about water. If you don't get enough water during the day, your body will take the water out of your fecal matter in the colon and make your stools hard. Drink a minimum of 3 glasses a day of pure water and work up to drinking 5-6.

Here's where you need to do some "fiber work." You need to increase your fiber intake to around 40 - 60 mg or more. Yes this is a lot. In the past, I recommended 35mg of fiber, but this is an average. You want to have more than the average amount. Here are some foods with high fiber. Add them to your eating habits so that you will not be constipated. Fiber does much more in your colon than make you regular it,

Combines with toxins and moves them out in your stools · combines with heavy metal and moves them out in your stools · combines with cholesterol and bile and prevents them from being reabsorbed into your blood stream. · helps to prevent colon cancer and other colon diseases. · keeps your colon walls strong and healthy by not allowing toxins to accumulate there. cleans the colon walls and pulls toxins out of colon pockets and holes.

The following foods provide 3 gm of fiber. Add a variety of these foods to your daily diet to get more fiber into your eating habits. Start eating these foods little by little to get use to eating high fiber levels.

1/3 cup prunes · 2 slices of whole wheat bread · 1/2 cup cooked winter squash · 1/2 cup fresh cooked green peas · 1/2 cup cooked kidney beans, or pinto beans, or cowpeas · 1 cup of cooked barley, 1 1/2 cup of brown rice, 1 cup of millet · 3 corn tortillas · 1 1/2 cup spaghetti, 1/3 cup of spinach spaghetti · 1/6 cup 100% bran, 1/2 cup cream of wheat · 1 cup applesauce, 1 cup of apple slices, 1/2 cup of bananas, 1/2 cup figs · 1 cup fruit salad, 1 cup of prune juice, 1 ounce of raisins · 1/2 avocado · 1 cup blueberries, 3/4 cup of cranberries · 1/3 cup guava, 1 kiwifruit, 1/2 of a mango, 2 nectarines, 1/3 papaya · 1 orange, 1 cup peach slices, 1 cup pears slices, 1/2 persimmon · 1 1/2 cup pineapple, 1 cup strawberries · 1/2 cup raisins, 3/4 cup coconut · 1/2 cup rhubarb, 1/3 cup of artichoke hearts · 1.2 ounces of almonds, 1/2 ounce sesame seeds, 1/3 cup of sunflower seeds · 1/4 cup of baby lima beans, 1/7 cup of black beans, 1 cup green beans · 1/4 cup of kidney, pinto, white or navy beans, 1/3 cup of lentils · 1/2 cup broccoli, 1/2 cup Brussels sprouts, 1 cup cabbage · 2 carrots, 1/2 cup of carrot juice · 1 cup cauliflower, 5 stalks of celery · 1 cup of chard, 1 cup of mustard greens · 1 ear of corn · 1/2 cup of mixed vegetables · 1/2 cup of olives · 1/2 baked potato, 1 baked sweet potato, 1 cup yams · 1 cup tomato juice, 1 cup vegetable juice

How do you know when you are starting to get plenty of fiber in your diet? When you are getting plenty of fiber in your diet, your stools weigh less and float in your toilet water. So if your stools sink in water then you need more fiber. This is just a general rule. If you eat excess fiber your stools may sink, but I doubt any of you fall in this category.

About the Author: Rudy Silva has a degree in Physics and is a Natural Nutritionist. He is the author of Constipation, Acne, Hemorrhoid, and Fatty Acid e-books. He writes a newsletter called natural-remedies-thatwork.com and his information on other topics can be seen at http://www.stop-constipation.com/ or at http://www.constipation-remedies.for--you.info/ . Source of Article: http://www.goarticles.com/

Things you should know about kidney disease and lupus

2008-10-21T04:29:00.000-07:00

Studies revealed that about a third of patients that have systemic lupus erythematosus can develop a kidney disease called lupus nephritis or lupus glomerulonephritis.Lupus nephritis usually shows very few signs. It doesn't cause pain or burning during urination and also it does not produce pain in the abdomen or back.The first symptom the patient with lupus nephritis usually experiences is puffiness in the legs, ankles or fingers. This happens because the loss of protein in the urine may lead to fluid retention with weight gain and swelling.

Sometimes the fact that a patient has lupus nephritis is discovered only after urine studies are made. It is very possible that if there is made another urine test, the urine abnormalities to disappear. But there are patients in which the abnormal findings on urine studies persist or can become even worse in time. This kind of patients require more studies to determine the best treatment to control the disease, because there appears the risk for loss of kidney function.

It is important to know that patients having lupus can experience some symptoms that confuse them and think they have lupus nephritis. For example infections of the urinary tract with burning on urination, or medications used in lupus treatment may produce signs that can start the confusion.There are some tests that can be done in order to find out if a patient has lupus nephritis.

Urinalysis is the most used and the most simple test to do. A urine sample is studied to find out if there is protein and blood cells which are not normally found in the urine.If in the urine sample there are found red blood cells, white blood cells, casts(excretion in the urine of protein or blood cells that collect within the tubules of the kidney), or there is discovered the presence of protein, there exists the possibility of lupus nephritis, and further tests are necessary.Sometimes, it is done a urine collection over a period of 24 hours to measure the kidneys' ability to filter waste products.

Blood studies can also be performed, and we can mention the blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine. These are tests that are made to find out if waste products are being removed properly by the kidney and are not building up in the blood.By measuring the serum albumin, it can be determined if there is a low protein level in the blood, and chemistry studies such as the serum sodium, potassium, and bicarbonate determine the imbalances of salt and water in the blood.There can be also made blood tests in order to determine if there are abnormalities of the immune system.

An intravenous sonogram or pyelogram can be made to determine the size and shape of the kidneys. Usually this test takes place before a kidney biopsy.The kidney biopsy takes place in order to confirm the diagnosis of lupus nephritis. It is made by inserting a needle through the skin of the back and removing a tiny piece of the kidney.Then, the small part taken from the kidney is analyzed under the microscope in order to determine how much inflammation or permanent damage is present within the kidney.

There are four most common types of nephritis: focal or diffuse proliferative nephritis, mesangial nephritis and membranous nephritis.

The treatment for lupus nephritis must be individualized, because there are different patients having different needs. It is important that all factors that appear to be taken in consideration when deciding the treatment.General principles of medical management of kidney disease include anti-hypertensive drugs to control increased blood pressure, diuretic agents to help eliminate excess fluid, changes in the diet to control the intake of salt, proteins and calories. These are very important in lupus nephritis.

Corticosteroids are often used to treat lupus nephritis. We can mention here prednisolone, prednisone and methylprednisolone. There still are some unanswered question about how corticosteroids work and how they may be most effectively used. Usual, high doses of corticosteroids are given until there appears improvement in the lupus nephritis. Then , the dose is reduced, but there is done a careful observation by the physician to make sure that the nephritis doesn't get worse.If corticosteroids are given for long periods, there can appear side effects, like easy bruising, increase in appetite and fluid retention with weight gain, cataracts, thinning of the hair, an increase in the risk of infection, diabetes and other.

When patients do not respond at corticosteroid treatment, they are given Cytotoxic or immunosuppressive drugs such as azathioprine or cyclophosphamide. The effect of these drugs is to block the function of the immune system.As a result, further damage to the kidneys is prevented. However, even if these drugs may be beneficial, they can also bring serious complications.

Although there is appropriate treatment, there are patients that develop progressive loss of kidney function and renal failure. This requires the use of artificial dialysis, and that can be done by hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis.Also, it can be made a kidney transplantation, and it is known that this has been very successful in patients with renal failure from lupus nephritis.

Over the years, science advanced in the understanding of what causes lupus nephritis, and there were made improvements in ways to treat patients.

About the Author: For more resources about discoid lupus please review this http://www.lupus-guide.com/lupus-treatment.htm or even http://www.lupus-guide.com/discoid-lupus.htm Source of Article: http://www.goarticles.com/

Lower Back Pain: Know The Causes

2008-10-21T04:24:00.000-07:00

Lower back pain is such a common ailment that the very mention of it would transport many of us back to the time when we went through it the last time. Very few of us are lucky enough to have escaped lower back pain, which explains why it is the commonest excuses for people to miss office in the US.

Doctors and researchers across the world are working day in, day out to find ways to alleviate the pain of millions of sufferers. There are many causes for the lower back pain. One important fact that must be remembered while talking about it is no one is immune to it. No matter who you are, no matter what you eat and no matter how old you are, the lower back pain can mar you any time. Many a time the pain may be ordinary and would vanish in a day or two. However, if the pain persists for over 2 weeks, it is time for you to visit your doctor because in such cases the pain can turn unbearable in no time.

One of the most common causes for lower back pain is muscle strain. And it can be caused due to a number of reasons and in a number of situations. If you lifted heavy weight all of a sudden your back might not be able to take it. Similarly, if you jerked around abruptly, it could be a reason for why your back has been hurting so much for a few days. You may or may not feel the pain immediately. It might grow unbearable gradually. The pain occurs because when the muscles get torn or are strained beyond a certain point, there is inflammation caused, which causes muscular spasms.

Herniated Disc is another reason for lower back pain. Our spine has discs that work as shock absorbers preventing the bones from sustaining injuries. If any of the discs in the lower back slips forward, it may cause severe lower back pain.

The pain in one's lower back may also be caused due to degenerative disc disease. This occurs due to the break down of the cartilage between the bones of the joints. The pain caused due to this is experienced mostly in the mornings and the evenings.

These are some of the causes of lower back pain. The best protection to this kind of pain is caution and regular exercise because the stronger your lower back, the lesser the chances of your suffering from lower back pain.

Follow the link http://www.backpaindetails.com/pain/magazine/edition/Backpain-Guide.htm to get more information on low back pain and low back pain treatment

We all Need these Vitamins - Vitamin B12 and Folacin

2008-10-21T01:55:00.000-07:00

During the last years the vital importance of Vitamin B12 and Folacin for our health has become more obvious. Perhaps you have heard that folacin is important during pregnancy. Deficiency can cause severe damages to the fetus. In the USA and other countries one has added synthetic folacin to prevent damages to the fetus. Also B12 is of importance as both vitamins are interacting to have an effect. Both vitamins have great importance even in other cases. The risk of developing dementia are for example bigger if you suffer from a deficiency of one of these vitamins.

Vitamin B12 and folacin are important for every cell of the body. B12 and folacin interact in vital functions of all cells. For example they are necessary for the cells to divide and grow in a normal way. That is why they are of great importance for the growing foetus. The first symptoms of deficiency can also come from the cells that divide too fast, for example blood cells and the cells of mucous membrane. The symptoms will result in a type of anemia often combined with a read tongue and shear mucous membranes in the mouth.

Both vitamins are also necessary for the nerve system to function well, for the nerve cells and for the signal substances that transmit the nerve impulses. If not treated this kind of deficiency can cause permanent damages of the nerves.

A deficiency may occur as a result of an inability to absorb B12 from food and in strict vegetarians who do not consume any animal foods. As a general rule, most individuals who develop a vitamin B12 deficiency have an underlying stomach or intestinal disorder that limits the absorption of vitamin B12. Sometimes the only symptom of these intestinal disorder is subtly reduced cognitive function resulting from early B12 deficiency. Anemia and dementia follow later. Characteristic signs, symptoms and health problems associated with B12 deficiency include anemia, fatigue, weakness, constipation, loss of appetite and weight loss.

Deficiency can also lead to neurological changes such as numbness and tingling in the hands and feet. Additional symptoms of B12 deficiency are difficulty in maintaining balance, depression, confusion, dementia, poor memory and soreness of the mouth or tongue. Many of these symptoms are very general and can result from a variety of medical conditions other than vitamin B12 deficiency. It is important to have a physician evaluate these symptoms so that appropriate medical care can be given.

About the Author: Keith George always writes about valuable news & reviews. A related resource is Vitamin B12. Further information can be found at Home Mortgage Cycling. Source of Article: http://www.goarticles.com/

Warning: The information presented in this web site is not intended as a substitute for medical care. Please talk with your healthcare provider about any information you get from this web site.

How to Create a Diabetic Diet Plan

2008-10-21T01:44:00.000-07:00

Diabetes is a very common disease and in the United States 20.8 million people or 7% of the population of both children and adults have some form of this disease. For those who have this disease it is good to know that it can be controlled with a few lifestyle changes. Unfortunately for many people changing their daily habits can be both hard and frustrating. The foods they have always enjoyed are off limits and are replaced with healthy foods that can take some getting used to. This is particularly true for people who have a sweet tooth and find giving up sugar to be a hard proposition.

Fortunately for people who have diabetes finding foods that help control their condition is easy with a little research and the help of a nutritionist. While your doctor may be the place to start with when it comes to treating and controlling your diabetes he or she may not be the most the up to date on the foods that you can and cannot eat. A licensed nutritionist is the way to go create a diabetic diet plan full of healthy foods that taste good.

Because diabetes is such a common disease there is a whole food industry built up around it offering many foods that are a match for even the most sugary treats to satisfy those with a sweet tooth. That means if you used to enjoy chocolate cakes chances are you will be able to find an artificially sweetened chocolate cake that will taste just as good as the real thing. With the advent of the many artificial sweeteners there are many options when it comes to creating a diabetic diet plan.

Even though you may no longer be able to enjoy all your favorite foods there are many foods options available to you. The American Diabetes Association has a wealth of resources available for people with diabetes including a comprehensive list of foods that diabetics can include in their diet plan. These include meats, vegetables, fruit, breads, dairy and fats.

Their blogger has this information readily available for free along with a multitude of other free resources across the World Wide Web. You can also find many books at your local book store with complete lists of diabetic foods and the diet plans you can use with them. When the sugary sweets and foods have to go because of diabetes one does not have to stop living and enjoying good tasting food.

About the Author: If you are diabetic of know someone who is and you want to learn more about diabetic diet plans please visit the website Diabetic Diet Plans by clicking here Source of Article: http://www.goarticles.com/

Warning: The information presented in this web site is not intended as a substitute for medical care. Please talk with your healthcare provider about any information you get from this web site.

Methods for repairing hernia

2008-10-21T01:36:00.000-07:00

Hernia is a problem that with the help of a surgical intervention might be considered history. Hernia is caused of the weakness of the muscle tissues of the abdominal wall. When these tissues are weakening the risk for internal organs to bulge, especially the intestines, is high. The main hernia repair consists of a surgical intervention that may be done in a day or more, depending on each case. The hospitalization period is influenced by the age of the patient, by the type of hernia and even by its hobbies. If he as smoker or an alcoholic complications may occur and long time hospitalization is needed. The surgery consists of pushing back the bulge of peritoneum and then closes the operation by stitching one side to another, under general anesthesia.

In many cases this firm stitching will cause pain after every move. That is why surgeons recommend a pretty long period without physical activities. Even after this intervention no one can assure the patients that hernia will not recur. More than that, a high percentage of the people that were once operated are prone to develop hernia again. The number of cases stands up to 10 %. For these people a second intervention mean higher pain and more uncomfortable consequences.

Surgeons thought of methods to reduce to reduce the pain caused by the stitches and got to the conclusion that stitching the tissues in layers causes less pressure. Later the surgeons noticed that placing a patch over the hernia is an alternative for stitching in layers. Done in any way, stitching causes tissue distortion with pain as a main consequence.

A new method in repairing hernia is believed to be the laparoscopic technique. This procedure consists of the insertion of a small tube provided with a video camera into the abdominal cavity. The surgeon operates while looking to the image on a monitor. This technique is the most difficult one to perform because accidents may occur during the operation. The laparoscopic technique has an advantage too because of the small incision required.

In order for the surgeon to work with the inserted tube, the patient's abdomen must be pumped up with carbon dioxide gas. While applying this technique the surgeons are guided only by what they see on the monitor. The difference between a normal intervention and a laparoscopic hernia repair is made by the control that the surgeon has. In more complex cases the surgeon needs to see with his eyes instead of seeing on a monitor. This technique of hernia repair did lead to serious accidents to the organs near by.

How to Include a Supplement in Your Diet

2008-10-21T01:26:00.000-07:00

In addition to eating right and exercising regularly, adding a supplement formulated for men to your daily routine can help you improve your body from the inside out. But how can a person choose the right supplement for them when it seems like new ones are being introduced all of the time? Although it's tempting to just rely on the newest fad or nutritional craze, taking the time to evaluate which nutritional supplement works best for you is the only way to reap its benefits fully. Keep the following in mind when deciding which supplement you would like to take.

Men's supplements and vitamins offer a wide variety of choices, so first identify what specifically you would like to accomplish to narrow them down. For example, are you concerned that you are not getting enough protein? Are you looking to maintain your weight? Do you want to improve your skin or hair?

Check with a doctor before taking a nutritional supplement if you have a pre-existing medical condition, no matter how slight.

Do some research on the nutritional ingredients in a product before purchasing and make sure you are buying from a source you can trust.

If you have not taken a supplement before, ease into it. Introducing a large amount of a new substance into the body can sometimes cause nausea or irritation, so keep doses low at first.

Be sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day to assist in processing vitamins and supplements. Take a supplement either with food or after a meal to avoid nausea or discomfort.

Spread doses out evenly through the day, rather than taking several supplements all at once in the morning.

Try not to take a supplement just before you go to sleep. Some ingredients, like selenium, can produce a "caffeinated" feeling and keep you awake.

World Health Report

2008-10-17T22:33:00.000-07:00

Walking burns more fat than running

2008-10-17T22:17:00.000-07:00

ISLAMABAD: Researchers have found that low-intensity exercise may burn more fat than high-intensity activities when it comes to shedding pounds. The findings were reported in the International Journal of Sports Medicine. The research team, led by Dr. Vassilis Mougios of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece, randomly assigned 14 normal-weight and overweight women to one of two groups: one that exercised on a treadmill at a moderate pace, four times a week; and one that worked out at a more vigorous clip, also four times per week. The two group were placed on a three-month exercise regimen. The researchers set time period for the workouts so that women in both groups would burn 370 calories each time. After three months, exercisers in both groups were thinner, but the lower-intensity group lost more weight -- about 7 pounds, on average, compared with 4 pounds in the high-intensity group. Though women in the high-intensity group shed fewer pounds, they did retain more muscle mass than those who worked out more moderately, the researchers note. The researchers recommended that to get the greatest health and fitness benefits, people should strive for a mix of moderate and vigorous cardiovascular exercise, as well as strength training. There is no such thing as one "magic exercise," said lead study author Dr. Vassilis Mougios of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece.

Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

2008-10-07T02:33:00.000-07:00

Baby bottle tooth decay is caused by prolonged contact with almost any liquid other than water. The condition can stem from putting your baby to bed with a bottle of formula, milk, juice, soda or other soft drink, or by allowing your baby to suck on a bottle for a prolonged period, either while awake or asleep.

Take these steps to help prevent decay.

* Never put your child to bed with a bottle.

* Only give your baby a bottle during meals.

* Teach your child to drink from a cup as soon as possible, usually by age one.

* Keep your baby’s mouth clean.

* Use water and a soft child-sized toothbrush for daily cleaning once your child has seven to eight teeth.

By the time your toddler is 2, you should be brushing his teeth once or twice a day, preferably after breakfast and before bedtime. Once you are sure your child will not swallow toothpaste, you should begin using one that contains fluoride.

Exercise and Mental Depression

2008-10-07T02:24:00.000-07:00

Depression is a sense of being sad. Sadness in itself is a normal emotion that everyone experiences during life but depression is more than feeling just sad - it is rightly defined as a cluster of symptoms. Usually, clinical depression happens when a person experiences at least five of nine symptoms for a period of at least two weeks or longer. These symptoms can be loosely classified into (i) physical and (ii) cognitive-emotional symptoms. Physical symptoms include changes in sleep or appetite patterns, fatigue and psychomotor agitation or retardation (the speeding up or slowing down of movements) and the cognitive-emotional symptoms range from sadness, decreased concentration, a loss of interest and pleasure, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, and even a impulse to commit suicide.

In today’s times, it is not surprising that many of us lead stressful lives and almost everyone has a few bad days or nights. When someone is depressed it is difficult for him or her to know what is normal and if one is actually depressed. Depression is widespread and affects a huge population over the world. The illness depression is more than just feeling down or sad for a day or two because in this condition, those feelings are with people most of the time and for longer than two weeks, and often people also do not derive interest or pleasure in any activity.

Depression is often known to cause physical disorders such as headaches, fatigue and abdominal pain. To many this may sound like depression may be easy to recognize but nothing could be farther from the truth - at least half of its sufferers do not get proper treatment.

Depression is by far the most common psychological disorder. The prevalence of depression in both U.S. and European populations is estimated at any given time to range from about five to six percent for adolescents, to about 10 to 11 percent for young adults, to as high as 21 percent in elderly populations.

Sir Winston Churchill suffered from depression as did Florence Nightingale.

What about Asia? It isn't that Asians are happier than Americans or Europeans. Evidence suggests that incidences of major depression among adults in Asia is about the same as in the U.S. But the widespread belief that mental illness is a stigma of the worst sort, coupled with the popularity of shamans (Indian medicine doctors) and other alternative healers such as monks, witch doctors and fortune-tellers, have sharply restricted sales of anti-depressants throughout the region. Firstly, most people do not recognize bouts of depression and end up getting ‘treatment’ from local ‘experts’.

The impact of depression on people’s lives is multifaceted and varies from individual to individual. Those who suffer with it often struggle to get out of bed each morning and feel that it takes a Herculean effort to accomplish even the most normal of daily activities. Going to school or work may be difficult and they may be inclined to withdraw from or avoid social interactions. People with depression views themselves in a negative light, their overall thinking tends to become skewed and the brighter side of life does not appeal to them.

Causes of depression : Depression can be caused by a combination of factors.

• It can be hereditary, suggesting a genetic component, but it may be triggered by stressful events.

• Major depressive illness is usually linked to some form of chemical imbalance in the brain.

• It is also thought that people with low self-esteem, a pessimistic outlook on life and difficulty coping with stress are more prone to depression.

• Life events which may trigger depression include bereavement, chronic illness, relationship problems and financial difficulties.

• Benefits of Exercise : Researchers have found that jumping on that treadmill or bike is not only good for one’s health, but also can help significantly reduce depression. There are a number of treatments for depression, including psychotherapy and medication, both of which have been found to be about equally effective by themselves, with the combination of both therapies typically being the most effective. Not everyone is responsive to these treatments, however, and researchers and practitioners have turned to exercise as an adjunct and alternative to the traditional methods. Exercise has long been recognized for its powerful impact on improving physical health, and now is increasingly recognized for improving mental health. There are consistent findings in research literature that exercise is most helpful for those with mild to moderate depression. Some evidence suggests that its effectiveness is comparable to individual, group, and cognitive therapy, while other evidence indicates that exercise is comparable to antidepressant medications in reducing symptoms and associated with a smaller likelihood of relapse than medication.

As far as the specific type of exercise that is most helpful, the research findings are still a bit unclear. There are some who have found aerobic exercise more effective than resistance training, while others have found that both are equally effective in reducing depression. What also remains to be determined is exactly what accounts for this positive effect of exercise on depression. Some believe that there is a process that occurs during and after exercise that confers an enduring resilience to stress, and subsequently depression as well. This process may occur through strictly physiological changes that occur in the body as a result of exercise ( e.g., the release of endorphins in the brain that can lead to a “runner’s high”) or it may also occur due in part to the psychological interpretation of exercising ( e.g., setting and accomplishing goals, feeling productive and capable). In all likelihood, it is probably some combination of both that will ultimately explain this process.

Improvements are regularly seen with all types of physical activity. Exercise works best for people with mild symptoms. The exertion need not be too vigorous. In fact, the exercise level can be low because it is not necessary to actually get in shape to benefit from exercise.

The table below lists the Aerobic type of fitness, its benefits, and how to achieve more of a good thing:

• Aerobic Capacity : What is it?

Your ability to exercise over several minutes to hours at mild to moderate (not high) intensity. It requires oxygen to be absorbed by your lungs, then transferred to the bloodstream. Oxygen-rich blood is then pumped by your heart to your working muscles. Finally the oxygen is combined with fuel (mainly fats and carbo-hydrates) resulting in muscle energy. Benefits

It can reduce depression and anxiety. Also it lowers blood pressure, improves blood sugar and cholesterol levels, burns fat, and helps prevent cardio-vascular disease and cancer.

Most benefits do not require more than a mild to moderate amount of exercise. How to improveMaintain your exercise for a minimum of 15 minutes each workout. Although you achieve the greatest gain in aerobic capacity with three to four sessions of 30 minutes each week, daily exercise you improve your capacity and health, even more. Examples include walking, jogging, swimming, cycling and dancing.

More and more physicians and therapists are “prescribing” exercise for their depressed patients. A clinician who wishes to incorporate physical activity into their treatment may help the patient design concrete goals with reasonable planned steps to accomplish them. This process of setting and achieving goals can help the depressed person gain a sense of mastery and accomplishment that is very concrete and serves as evidence against their self critical thoughts. It can also help reduce the sense of fatigue and improve sleep and appetite patterns. Clinicians who are not knowledgeable about various types and routines of exercise should assist the patient in finding a qualified and certified personal trainer to design a safe and effective exercise regimen. Furthermore, as long as the exercise regimen is reviewed with the patient’s physician and approved, there are very few negative side effects from this type of treatment. In other words, it can definitely help and is not likely to hurt.

Head Injury

2008-10-07T02:21:00.002-07:00

Head injury causes damage to the scalp, skull or brain. It can be a minor condition or severe and even life-threatening.Symptoms:Minor head injuries may cause headache, bruising, swelling and cuts, which may bleed profusely, even if small.The following symptoms may occur soon after the head injury, or hours or days later if the injury is more severe:

1. headache with nausea and vomiting

2. blurred or double vision

3. slurred speech

4. confusion or drowsiness

5. loss of consciousness

6. blood or clear fluid from the ears or nose

Head injuries can cause skull fractures and damage to the brain that may be permanent.

Causes:

Road traffic accidents are the single largest cause of head injuries. Other common causes include falls, assaults and sports injuries.

Prevention:

Being aware of potential dangers and wearing protective headgear when on bicycles or motorbikes and when playing contact sports can reduce the risk of head injury.

Treatment:

Although most head injuries are minor, around 1 million people each year in the UK need emergency medical care as a result of head injury. Around one in four of these needs to be admitted to hospital.Treatment of a head injury depends on its type and severity. It may involve:observation at home or in hospital:

1. first aid treatment, for example stitching of wounds

2. medication such as painkillers, corticosteroids and antibiotics

3. If brain damage has occurred, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and emotional support may be needed.

Too Much Caffeine Ups Risk of Kidney Stones

2008-10-07T02:21:00.001-07:00

People who are prone to kidney stones should limit their caffeine intake, new research suggests. When investigators gave people with a history of kidney stones a dose of caffeine equivalent to that found in two cups of coffee, they began to excrete more calcium in their urine, putting them at increased risk of forming kidney stones. Study author Dr. Linda K. Massey told that stone suffers should limit themselves to less than two cups of coffee per day or a comparable amount of caffeine from other sources. And that limit of two cups means, literally, 16 ounces-not two enormous mugs of coffee, which can contain much more caffeine, she said. Massey, who is based at Washington State University in Spokane, explained that a spike in urinary calcium increases the risk of stones because calcium is an important ingredient in kidney stones so the more there is, the more likely there will be stones. Previous research has shown that people who do not tend to form kidney stones also excrete more calcium in their urine after consuming caffeine. To investigate whether the same thing happens in people prone to stones, Massey and Dr. Roger A. L. Sutton at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, asked 39 people with kidney stones and nine who never had stones to drink caffeine added to water after 14 hours of fasting. The researchers tested their urine 2 hours before and after they consumed caffeine. As the investigators report in the Journal of Urology, after caffeine, the stone-formers showed an increase in calcium, sodium, magnesium and citrate in their urine. The same pattern also occurred in the people with no history of kidney stones. In an interview, Massey explained that more calcium and sodium in urine likely increases the risk of kidney stones, while increases in magnesium and citrate appear to protect people from kidney stones. However, after plugging these changes into a formula that predicts kidney stone risk, Massey said, "The increase in magnesium and citrate did not offset the increase in calcium."

Eating Red Meat Ups Diabetes Risk in Older Women

2008-10-07T02:20:00.001-07:00

Middle age and elderly women whose diets include a lot of red meat appear to have an increased risk of developing diabetes, according to a report in the medical journal Diabetes Care. Dr. Simin Liu, of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, and colleagues examined the association between red meat consumption and the risk of type 2 diabetes, the type that doesn't necessarily require insulin. A total of 37,309 participants in the Women's Health Study were followed for an average of 8.8 years. The subjects were at least 45 years of age, and had never been diagnosed with heart disease, stroke, cancer, or diabetes when the study began. Food questionnaires were used to determine how much red meat the subjects ate. During the study, 1558 women were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Women who at the highest amounts of red meat were 28 percent more likely to develop diabetes than their peers who ate the lowest amounts. In terms of specific meats linked to diabetes, bacon and hot dogs were identified as two of the worst offenders.

Low-Fat Dairy May Lower Risk of Diabetes

2008-10-07T02:16:00.000-07:00

Eating low-fat dairy products may help slightly lower the risk of developing diabetes, a new study of more than 40,000 middle-aged men suggests. Each additional serving of low-fat dairy per day resulted in a 9 percent drop in risk. The link could be due to whey proteins or magnesium, ingredients thought to enhance the action of insulin in regulating blood sugar. But those ingredients are contained in high-fat dairy products, too, so researchers said they don’t really know what caused the drop in risk. They cautioned against making major changes in diet based on the study. Men who ate more low-fat milk, yogurt, ice cream and cheese were less likely to get Type 2 diabetes during a 12-year period. Sour cream, whole milk and cream cheese, however, didn’t help. The study found no evidence that dairy products help people shed pounds, although smaller studies have linked dietary calcium and weight loss. Eating dairy could be associated with some hidden factor the healthier men shared that was reducing their risk of diabetes, said Dr. Frank Hu of the Harvard School of Public Health, one of the study’s authors. "There are many other ways to prevent diabetes risk," he said. "Eating high-fiber foods and nuts, and reducing sugar, sweets and beverages. Exercise has been shown to be beneficial." Researchers relied on questionnaires filled out by 41,254 male health professionals in an ongoing Harvard study. The men did not have diabetes when the study began, but more than 1,200 developed it during the years they were followed. The researchers took into account the effects of age, family history, smoking, physical activity and known dietary risk factors for diabetes. In an accompanying editorial, Janet King a researcher at Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute cautioned that milk appears to increase the risk of prostate cancer and, in certain children, Type 1 diabetes. Type 1, once called juvenile diabetes, is caused by the body’s inability to produce insulin. Type 2, the most common form of diabetes, can result from overweight, inactivity and poor diet. King also said milk can be part of a diet that lowers blood pressure and has been linked to a lower risk of colorectal cancer.

Poor Blood Pressure Control Ups Stroke Risk

2008-10-07T02:15:00.000-07:00

About half of all first-time strokes in patients being treated for high blood pressure result from the pressure not being adequately controlled, Swedish researchers report. Older age, diabetes, and smoking also raise the risk of stroke in these patients. The study, published in the medical journal Stroke, included nearly 28,000 men and women aged 45 to 73 living in Malmo. Sixty percent of patients had high blood pressure, but only 23 percent of them were being treated. Moreover, among those receiving treatment, nearly 90 percent had pressures above recommended limits, according to Dr. Cairu Li of Malmo University Hospital and colleagues. Two-thirds of patients with inadequately controlled blood pressure were on single-drug regimens, the researchers note, with beta-blocker type drugs being the most commonly used overall. During follow-up, which averaged six years, 137 strokes occurred among the patients with high blood pressure. The researchers found that 45 percent of the stroke risk could be attributed to inadequately controlled blood pressure. While there were only minor initial differences in survival between patients with controlled or poorly controlled blood pressure, these differences increased over time. "Adequate (blood pressure) control may prevent a substantial proportion of first-ever stroke among" patients treated for high blood pressure, the researchers conclude.

Warning Signs of a Heart Attack

2008-10-07T02:14:00.002-07:00

Most heart attacks aren't like in the movies - sudden and intense. Usually, they start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Often people affected aren't sure what's wrong and wait too long before getting help. Here are the most common signs of a heart attack or heart disease that could lead to one. Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain. Fatigue or a vague sense of being ill without explanation, especially among women. Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach. Shortness of breath, which women in particular may have without chest discomfort. Other signs: breaking out in a cold sweat, indigestion, nausea or lightheadedness

Depression

2008-10-07T02:14:00.001-07:00

Clinical depression usually involves one or more of the following symptoms consistently for at least a two-week period: feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or pessimism; lowered self-esteem and heightened self-depreciation; a decrease or loss of ability to enjoy daily life; reduced energy and vitality; slowness of thought or action; loss of appetite; suicidal ideation; and disturbed sleep or insomnia. Depression differs from simple grief or mourning, which are appropriate emotional responses to the loss of loved persons or objects. Where there are clear grounds for a person’s unhappiness, depression is considered to be present if the depressed mood is disproportionately long or severe.Depression is probably the most common psychiatric complaint; the rate of incidence increases with age in men, while the peak for women is between the ages of 35 and 45 (women in general suffer from depression more often than men). Most professionals now agree that biological, social, and psychological factors all contribute to depression. The chief biochemical cause seems to be the defective regulation of the release of one or more naturally occurring monoamines in the brain, particularly norepinephrine and serotonin. Reduced quantities or reduced activity of these chemicals is linked to depression. Treatment of depression has been a controversial topic in recent years as new drugs have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Many types of psychotherapy, both individual and group, are used to treat depressed patients; the medications most often prescribed are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which regulate serotonin. A combination of psychotherapy and medication is generally the preferred choice for treatment. Hospitalization may be necessary if a patient is contemplating suicide. Although most depressed individuals are only mildly suicidal, poorly monitored administration of medications may actually increase the risk of suicide. The energizing effects of an anti-depressant can empower patients to act on suicidal thoughts, whereas they previously lacked the energy or will to do so; an inadequate or incomplete trial of a medication has also been correlated with increased suicide rates. An alternate or complementary approach to the treatment of depression involves the use of self help techniques, including depression-oriented support groups.

Diabetes Care and Diet

2008-10-07T02:04:00.000-07:00

Healthy routine helps to minimize the risk of developing complications of diabetes. One can keep blood glucose levels normal by a healthy diet and maintaining physical fitness. Eating right, controlling your weight and exercising regularly will help you to control sugar level.
Excess consumption of alcohol is harmful as it may lower blood glucose levels and cause weight gain. Smoking is very harmful to diabetes patients, because it increases the risk of long-term complications. Foot care is important because diabetes can increase the risk of skin infections and ulcers on the feet. You must clean your feet daily and if a sore develop on your feet, consult the doctor promptly. Diabetes patients have an increased risk of high blood pressure, so regular monitoring is important.
Low-fat, vegetarian diets are ideal for diabetics. In most cases, diabetics can manage their disease much better with a food plan that gets most of its calories from complex carbohydrates while minimizing fats.

Diet for Diabetes :

With a near-vegetarian diet and exercise program, one can maintain their sugar levels with out taking any medications. Ideal diet program for a diabetic is a low fat vegetarian diet, reducing meats, high-fat dairy products, and oils. At the same time increasing grains, legumes, and vegetables.

Have your meals at regular timings and limit your overall intake.

Eat five servings of fruits and vegetables every day. Soluble fibers mainly found in fruits, vegetables and some seeds are good for diabetics. They reduce or slow down the absorption of glucose from the intestines. Diabetes patients should include leafy vegetables, vegetable soups and juices in their diet. Vegetables like tomato, cucumber, bitter gourd, carrot, cooked kidney beans, pumpkin, snake gourd, beans, cabbage, lady finger, brinjal, onion, spinach, inner part of banana stem, drum sticks etc. are good for diabetes. Fruits and fruit juices of apple, guava, lemon etc. are good. Avoid fruits like banana, mango, grapes, papaya, jack fruit etc. and vegetables like potato, tapioca, sweet potato etc. containing lot of carbohydrates.
Eat more starches such as bread, cereal, and starchy vegetables. Aim for six servings a day or more.

Eat sugars, sweets and fat and fat-fried items in moderation. It is better to avoid cakes, jaggery, honey, ghee, butter, cool drinks, biscuits, dried fruits like badam and excess use of oil while cooking.

Home Remedies

Some home remedies help to regulate the blood sugar level. You can try out some of these remedies which compliment along with the diet for diabetics and regular exercises to lower blood sugar levels and protect from diabetes related damages.

Have

1 liter of cinnamon water daily. Cinnamon contains a chemical to help utilize blood sugar naturally in your body. Add 3 table spoon of cinnamon to 1 litre of boiling water. Simmer for 20 minutes in a low flame, then strain the mixture.

Fresh or dried bitter gourd (bitter melon) or 2 ounces of its juice every day. Bitter melon increases the insulin secreting cells in the pancreas and daily intake of juice reduces the risk of developing diabetic retinopathy.

Wild (Black) cumin boiled in water regularly.

Equal quantities of turmeric powder and dried gooseberry powder with honey or drink equal quantities of gooseberry juice and fresh turmeric juice in an empty stomach regularly.

Regularly, the juice of crushed 'touch me not' with its roots.

First thing in the morning, have the juice of crushed fish-berry (amruth) soaked in water for a day.

Make coffee with powdered fried fenugreek and wheat, taken in equal quantities.

Garlic every day early in the morning in an empty stomach.

Tender curry leaves (fresh) twice a day.

Crush guava leaves, a handful and 3 grams of cumin together. Boil with one glass of water and make it half.

Drink 8 glass of water in the morning and walk for one hour.

The leaves of gymnema sylvestre (Gurmur- a climbing vine), a traditional Ayurvedic medicine for diabetics, significantly reduces the metabolic effects of sugar by preventing the intestines from absorbing the sugar molecules during the process of digestion. Add 3 quarters of gymnema powder to one glass of boiling water, strain and drink it warm twice a day, 1 hour before breakfast and 1 hour before dinner for best results. The leaves can also be ground and had. It has the property of blocking sugary taste and thus curbs the craving for sweet things.

Take 15 fresh mango leaves and boil them in 1 glass of water. Keep them overnight. Filter and drink the next morning. As a part of diabetes home remedy treatment, grapefruit is considered most beneficial. Eat three grapefruits three times in a day. Indian gooseberry, a rich source of vitamin C serves as the best home remedy for diabetes. Take 1 tbsp of gooseberry juice and mix it with a cup of bitter gourd juice. Consume the mixture daily for about 2 months. Parslane seeds can be used effectively for treating diabetes. Consume a tsp of these seeds with half-cup water on a daily basis for about 3-4 months. It aids in enhancing the body's insulin level.

1. Eat green vegetables, coriander, cucumber, cabbage, coconut, chenopodium album (bathu), creeper of pumpkin, cucumber, cabbage, bitter guard, carrot, tomato, lemon, radish, onion and ginger.

2. Eat fibre rich food like apple, figs, guava, lemon and orange. Grains rich in fibres are barley, oatmeal, maize, wheat flour, jowar, bajra, whole wheat, rice flakes, refined wheat flour (without husk) and puffed rice. Other sources of fibre are coriander seeds, cumin seeds, dry pepper and turmeric

3. Soak 90-100 seeds in 250 gms of water in the evening. Mash them in morning, sieve in a cloth and drink mixture regularly. Take daily for two months to cure diabetes.

4. Take juice of bilva and parijataka leaves in equal parts for natural remedy of diabetes. Take two teaspoons of it twice a day.

5. Eat grapefruits regularly for diabetes natural remedy.

6. Boil 3-4 fresh leaves of mango tree in the morning and drink. It is also very effecting in curing diabetes.

7. Take soyabean in your diet. It does not contain sugar and is a good source of energy for diabetes.

8. Do regular exercises to reduce the chances of developing coronary artery disease and also improves control over diabetes.

9. Avoid exertion and always try to stay free from tension.

10. Avoid sweets, chocolates, rice, banana, grapes, mangoes, dry fruits, oils, cakes and pastries.

11. Drink half-cup karela (bitter gourd) juice daily. It is an effective natural home remedy for diabetes

.
12. Avoid drinking alcohol (including beer, gin, wines and whisky).

13. Lower your fat intake for obese diabetic patients. Do regular morning walk and exercises to reduce weight.

14. Avoid infections, burns and injuries as they develop ketosis in such stressful conditions.

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.

Nutrition Diet for Women

2008-09-18T22:36:00.001-07:00

How do nutritional needs and diets change for women across their lifespan?

The effects of a woman's diet on her children start long before she becomes pregnant. Stores of fat, protein, and other nutrients built up over the years are called upon during pregnancy for fetal nourishment. During adolescence and early adulthood, women need to increase food rich in calcium to build peak (maximum) bone mass to reduce the risk of developing osteoporosis, a progressive loss of bone with aging that causes bones to be more susceptible to fracture. All women need more iron than men since younger women lose iron through menstruation. Caloric intake varies for each person based on age, gender, and activity level, but for the most part, women between 23 and 50 should eat about 2,200 calories per day to maintain their current weight, while older women need fewer calories. No one should consumer fewer than 1,500 calories, even in attempts to lose weight, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA recommends that everyone maintain healthy levels of fat and fiber intake through out their adult lives.

What is a healthy diet?

The United States Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services have jointly issued a complete report on a healthy diet titled "Nutrition and Your Health: Dietary Guidelines for Americans" and "Food Guidelines for Americans". Healthy diets follow the food guide "pyramid," which recommends 6-11 servings of complex carbohydrates, 2-3 servings each of fruits and vegetables,1-2 servings each of dairy products and proteins like meat, tofu, or beans, and sparing use of added fats and sugars. In addition, the "Five A Day" Campaign is a national effort to get Americans to eat at least five servings combined from the fruit and vegetable groups per day.

What weight is considered obese or overweight?

The words obesity and overweight are generally used interchangeably. However, according to the Institute of Medicine report, their technical meanings are not identical. Overweight refers to an excess of body weight that includes all tissues, such as fat, bone and muscle. Obesity refers specifically to an excess of body fat. It is possible to be overweight without being obese, as in the case of a body builder who has a substantial amount of muscle mass. It is possible to be obese without being overweight, as in the case of a very sedentary person who is within the desirable weight range but who nevertheless has an excess of body fat. However, most overweight people are also obese and vice versa. Men with more than 25 percent and women with more than 30 percent body fat are considered obese. The USFDA has released a chart detailing recommended weights relative to height; women should be in the lower end of their appropriate weight range, according to the chart.

Are dietary supplements such as vitamins and minerals important in maintaining a healthy diet?
Dietary supplements have been prescribed by physicians to correct nutrient deficiencies diagnosed. However, it has not been established that large amounts of vitamins and minerals as dietary supplements will help prevent or treat health problems or slow the aging process. Daily multivitamin tablets may be beneficial to some people, but the value of the supplement is dependent on many factors, including eating habits and overall health. While some supplements only contain some of the identified nutrients important to health, a well-balanced diet provides all the necessary nutrients. Large amounts of some supplements may actually upset the natural balance of nutrients that the body maintains. If you have illnesses such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or arthritis, you should check with your doctor before taking any over-the-counter dietary supplements.

There are many weight-loss programs; how do you know which ones are safe and successful?
Almost any of the commercial weight-loss programs can work, but only if they motivate you sufficiently to decrease the amount of calories you eat or increase the amount of calories you burn each day (or both). A responsible and safe weight-loss program should be able to document for you the five following features:

The diet should be safe, including all of the recommended daily allowances for vitamins, minerals and protein and low-calorie, not low in essential foodstuffs;
The program should be directed toward a slow, steady weight loss unless your doctor feels your particular health condition would benefit from more rapid weight loss. Expect to lose only about a pound a week after the first week or two.

If you plan to lose more than 15-20 pounds, have any health problems, or take medication on a regular basis, you should be evaluated by your doctor before beginning a weight-loss program. Your physician should also be able to advise you on the need for weight loss, the appropriateness of the program you have in mind, and a sensible weight loss goal for you.

The program should include plans for weight maintenance after the loss phase is over. It should include help in permanently changing your dietary habits and level of physical activity to alter a lifestyle that may have contributed to weight gain in the past.

A commercial weight-loss program should provide a detailed statement of fees and costs of additional items such as dietary supplements.

Should I take vitamins or other dietary supplements?

The Federal Government approach to dietary intervention, formulated by boards composed of nutrition scientist, generally does not recommend supplementing the typical American diet with vitamins or nutrients beyond the recommended daily allowances (RDAs), nor does it suggest that some foods never be eaten. In contrast, many alternative dietary approaches contend that no amount of manipulation of the typical American diet is enough to promote optimum health or prevent eventual chronic illness.

These alternative approaches represent a continuum of philosophies ranging from the concept that supplementing the typical American diet somewhat beyond the RDAs is necessary to promote optimum health, to the idea that supplementation well beyond the RDAs is often required to reverse the effects of long-term deficiencies. Other approaches advocate drastic dietary modification, either eliminating or adding certain types of foods or macronutrients, to treat specific types of conditions such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. Finally, there is the view that certain major staples of typical American diet, such as meat and dairy products, are basically unhealthy and should be generally avoided.

There is a growing body of data supporting the notion that the RDAs for minerals, such as calcium and magnesium, may be too low and that supplementation may be necessary to prevent the onset of chronic diseases. In addition, the RDAs for a number of vitamins and micronutrients, such as vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, folate, and beta-carotene, may not be adequate to prevent chronic illness. For example, recent studies have found that the RDA for folate may need to be doubled for women as well as men.

The FDA has said that a well-balanced diet will usually meet women's allowances for vitamins and minerals. However, for good health, women need to pay special attention to two minerals, calcium and iron.

How much calcium do women need?

Both women and men need enough calcium to build peak (maximum) bone mass during their early years of life. Low calcium intake appears to be one important factor in the development of osteoporosis, a disease in which bone density decreases and leads to weak bones. Women have a greater risk than men of developing osteoporosis.
Therefore, particularly during adolescence and early adulthood, women should increase their food sources of calcium. According to one FDA spokesperson, the most important time to get a sufficient amount of calcium is while bone growth and consolidation are occurring, a period that continues until approximately age 30 to 35. The idea is, if you can build a maximum peak of calcium deposits early on, this may delay fractures that occur later in life.

The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for calcium for woman 19 to 24 is 1,200 milligrams per day. For women 25 and older, the allowance drops to 800 milligrams, but that is still a significant amount, says Stephenson. "The need for good dietary sources of calcium continues throughout life," she says.
How do you get enough calcium without too many calories and fat?
Dairy products are powerhouses of calcium, but they need be high-fat. Use 1 percent or skim milk instead of whole milk or cream, and choose from lower fat cheeses, yogurts, frozen yogurts, and ice cream substitutes.
In addition to dairy foods, other good sources of calcium include salmon, tofu (soybean curd), certain vegetables (for example, broccoli), legumes (peas and beans), calcium-enriched grain products, lime-processed tortillas, seeds, and nuts.

Do I need to take an iron supplement?

For women, the RDA for iron is 15 milligrams per day, 5 milligrams more than the RDA for men. Women need more of this mineral because they lose an average of 15 to 20 milligrams of iron each month during menstruation. Without enough iron, iron deficiency anemia can develop and cause symptoms that include pallor, fatigue and headaches.
After menopause, body iron stores generally begin to increase. Therefore, iron deficiency in women over 50 may indicate blood loss from another source, and should be checked by a physician.

Animal products--meat, fish and poultry--are good and important sources of iron. In addition, the type of iron, known as heme iron, in these foods is well absorbed in the human intestine.
Dietary iron from plant sources, called non-heme, are found in peas and beans, spinach and other green leafy vegetables, potatoes, and whole-grain and iron-fortified cereal products. Although non-heme iron is not as well absorbed as heme iron, the amount of non-heme iron absorbed from a meal is influenced by other constituents in the diet. The addition of even relatively small amounts of meat or foods containing vitamin C substantially increases the total amount of iron absorbed from the entire meal.

Eye care tips for computer users

2008-09-18T22:36:00.000-07:00

Most of our work is done on computers, and there is usually no escape from it. It is a visually intensive task and, unfortunately, our work pressure and lifestyles do not give us the opportunity to be kind to our eyes.

Which is why these tips should come in handy.

1. Know your eyes
Tears: The first line of defense, they also serve as lubrication by keeping the eyes moist and nourished; they also have a corrective lens function. Eyelids: Their main job is to protect your eyes from dirt, dust and harsh light.

Eyelashes: A protective net for your eyes.

Cornea: A refractive zone that guides light to reach the retina.

Pupil: Controls the amount of light that enters your eyes.

Lens: A refractive zone that also guides light into the retina.

Retina and Optic Nerve: A bunch of intricate wiring that carries vision signals between your brain and eyes.

2. Exercise your eyes
Dr Harish S Belvi, a practising ophthalmologist (eye specialist) based in Mumbai, says that regular work hours should be infused with short breaks. During such breaks, he suggests a small and easy exercise: "First, blink your eyes several times. While you keep your eyes closed, roll your eyeballs both clockwise and anticlockwise and take a deep breath. Gradually open your eyes while releasing your breath. This exercise lasts for a minute and you can repeat it three times before getting back to work." It serves as a good workout for the eyes.

3. Look away
While working for long hours, look at distant objects either in your office or outside. Looking at a distant object and then returning to your task helps your eyes focus better. Try taking such visual breaks for about five to 10 minutes every hour.

4. Positioning is everything

Correct positioning of your computer, keyboard and typing copy is essential. Your screen should be positioned about an arm¢s length from your eyes and 20 degrees below eye level. Consider foot and wrist rests for added comfort.

5. Lighting can make all the difference

Room lighting should be diffuse, not direct, to reduce glare and reflections from your screen. Look into an internal or external glare screen and be sure to set your color, contrast and brightness levels to suit you.

6. A little extra help for your glasses

Anti-reflective coatings on the lenses of your glasses can be applied by your optometrist to reduce discomfort and to ease reduced vision from bright and/or flickering light sources such as VDTs and fluorescent lights. And don¢t forget, your doctor of optometry can talk to you about eyeglasses designed specifically for people who use computers a lot.

Step I :-
After every 20 minutes of looking into the computer screen, turn your
head and try to look at any object placed at least 20 feet away. This
changes the focal length of your eyes, a must-do for the tired eyes.

Step II :-
Try and blink your eyes for 20 times in succession, to moisten them.

Step III :-
Time permitting of course, one should walk 20 paces after every 20 minutes
of sitting in one particular posture. Helps blood circulation for the entire body.

all in the blinking

Did you know that on average we blink 12 times per minute? But wait, did you know that when we¢re on the computer we only blink 5 times per minute? That can add up to dry eyes. Relieve the discomfort by using artificial tear drops or gels and remember to blink!

7. Palming

Sit straight at your workstation and rub your palms against each other till you feel them warm. The warmth of your palms helps soothe and relax tired eyes. Then, lightly cup your eyes with your palms and relax for 60 seconds. Count the seconds in your mind. Repeat this exercise two to three times whenever your eyes feel tired, or as often as you want. While palming, you can either rest your elbows on your desk or keep away from the desk and cup your eyes. Both ways are fine.

8. Splash water on your face
During breaks, splash water on your face while closing your eyes. This has an overall relaxing effect and helps you feel refreshed..
9. Use tea bags

Keep two used tea bags in the refrigerator before you leave for work. Once you are home, place the tea bags on your eyes for a few minutes as you relax. This not only soothes tired eyes, but also reduces puffiness.

10. Eat healthy

Incorporate Vitamins A, C, and E on a daily basis; eat citrus fruits, green leafy veggies, tomatoes, spinach, poultry and dairy products. Pack a box of chopped carrots, cucumber and fresh fruits and munch in-between meals at the office.