Diabetes and Prevention

As we age or if we are overweight, our bodies are not able to handle a high sugar load. The glucose (sugar) stays in higher levels in the blood and for longer periods of time. The problem is greatly increased if exercise is inadequate. As a result of the high blood sugar, some of this sugar is wastefully excreted in the urine. This results in the typical early symptoms of frequent, heavy nutrition. The condition is a relative lack of insulin because insulin is required for uptake (absorption) of sugar by the cells. For reasons that are not entirely clear, diabetes itself becomes a risk factor for atherosclerosis. Diabetes also can cause complications affecting vision, kidney function, and nervous-system function.

Prevention

Diabetic symptoms beginning for the first time after age 30 can frequently be reversed completely by simple non-medical treatment. Even with the more serious type of diabetes beginning early in life, these approaches help a great deal; however, insulin treatment is usually also necessary in early-onset diabetes. First, weight loss is important because it decreases food need and intake. Exercise is very important because it helps the uptake of sugar by the cells from the blood.

A diet that stresses complex carbohydrates (such as whole-wheat grains, cereals, vegetables, and fruits) and that contains adequate fiber is important. Complex carbohydrates, as opposed to the pure white sugar, are broken down more slowly by the body. This evens out the rate at which the sugars enter the blood so that the body can handle them better.

What is Atherosclerosis ?

Atherosclerosis contributes to nearly one-half of death and illness in the United States. About 40 feet of large and small arteries throughout the body, down to about the size of a soda straw, are the site of this problem. Small plaques (patches), made mostly of cholesterol, accumulate on the inside walls of these arteries, this results in narrowing of the arteries. The narrow and irregular artery now becomes susceptible to a sudden blood clot. This can cause a heart attack or stroke. Or, it can result in so much narrowing of the artery that not enough oxygen-carrying blood can get through. This can cause angina or intermittent claudication (discussed below). The various syndromes depend on the particular arteries that are involved and whether there is a sudden clot or a continually weak blood flow. Evidence now points out that atherosclerotic plaques that are already in place can shrink in size with diet and exercise. Reduction in plaques has been scientifically shown in monkeys and most recently through X-ray dye studies (arteriograms) of human hearts.

Atherosclerotic deaths are usually due to heart attack or stroke. These can result from sudden formation of blood clot in the arteries of the heart or brain. There is increasingly good treatment for these clots immediately after they have formed, but not having the clot at all is far better.

Heart attack and stroke can also be non-fatal problems. These cause a great deal of pain and disability. Additionally, atherosclerosis causes many other non-fatal problems. Angina pectoris (heart pain) results from inadequate blood supply to the heart muscle. Pain results when exercise and other activities increase the heart’s need for oxygen that cannot be supplied through the narrowed artery. Intermittent claudication is a similar condition involving the arteries to the legs. Pain in the legs comes during exercise when the leg muscles need more oxygen than they can receive.

Congestive heart failure results when the heart is unable to pump as much blood as the body needs due to weakening or scaring of the heart muscle. Transient ischemic attacks are like little strokes in which short-lived clots form in the arteries that supply blood to the brain. Multiple infarct dementia results when recurrent small clots in the brain result in death of some brain tissue. This damages thinking and memory. Kidney function can break down when the arteries leading to the kidney become narrowed.

Weight Training Guide

Exercise is always been a part of life and exercise is very significant to live a fit life. Those people who do exercise regularly they live a very healthy life and the pace of there success is very high because they keep themselves very fit and very active so that they can match the speed of life. These days life is getting faster and faster and it is difficult for people to do exercise and they are increasing weight rapidly and there is more need to exercise regularly and to lose weight. There are a lot of weight loss exercises that an individual can adopt to lose weight. Weight training is not only used to lose weight but it is also adopted to make the body stronger and vigorous to do a lot of work.

Weight training is very useful for the strength of muscles and joints. Weight training must be suitable to the kind of strength that you want. The person who is doing weight training he/she must know that what kind of strength and what type of results he or she wants to get from the particular weight training, because there are several different types of weight training exercises to get the different types of results. There is a very wide variety of workouts for adopting.

You should always follow the good weight training tips when you are performing weight training exercises. The following weight training tips are very useful and these tips can really help you in your workouts.

1. Set a goal in your weight training
2. Plan an order and regularity in weight training
3. You should have a commitment in your weight training
4. You have to be eager in weight training for your success
5. Your attitude must be good and you have to be confident.

Weight training equipments are crucial part of weight training because if you use proper equipment for the right training it can really amuse you with good results. These days people don’t have enough time to go in the gyms for weight training therefore people are now using weight training equipments at there own home. Weight training equipments are available in vast varieties that also offer different functionality.

Bench press is very useful weight loss exercise that is often used to lose weight. This exercise can be done with the help of bars and plates. A very right technique is used in this weight training equipment. You need to put your back on it and then you have to start exercise. You can lift it with your legs also to build up your leg muscles. Dumbbells are used for the strength of the arms’ muscles at the front and the back. If u does a regular workout with Dumbbells, it can really make your arms and back muscles strong. There are lots of other weight training equipments that can also be used in weight training.

Trauma and Prevention

Trauma is not, strictly speaking, a “disease,” but it results in large number of deaths and even more pain and suffering. It causes over 75 percent of serious illness and death between the ages of 15 and 25. Obviously, trauma is the result of a direct injury to the body. Overwhelmingly, these injuries, whether injury is to driver, pedestrian, or occupant, are the result of an automobile accident. There are about ten serious injuries, often resulting in lifelong problems, for every death.

Prevention

Seat belt use is by far the most important single habit to develop. This is an easy habit, without cost, which reduces risk by over one-half. Remember that seat belt use is for driver and passenger, in both the front and back seats. Using seat belts is a way of achieving greater personal control over your destiny. You think ahead, you plan, and you avoid trouble. You choose, far more than you ever imagined, whether or not you stay healthy.

Alcohol or drug intoxication is responsible for nearly one-half of all accidents. Prescription drugs (and illegal drugs) are another frequent cause of impairment. Codeine, Valium, and a whole range of sedatives and tranquilizers can alter reflexes and judgment enough to cause accidents. Don’t drive if you are impaired. Don’t ride with anyone who is impaired.

Magnificently Designed Convertible Furniture

It’s not wrong to say that the home interior shown in the video below is absolutely magnificently designed. This give you much room and storage space if you have a small home or live in an apartment. This video shows the beautifully crafted convertible beds, convertible tables, convertible sofas and even the convertible storage shelves to give you maximum room in your place.

I think this kind of convertible furniture is a great innovation by Resource Furniture and is a master piece of art in itself and everyone would love to get it installed in their new homes. However, it can be installed in existing places but I think it will cost you a little more time and money. I would love to have this in my home if I could make money for it. What do you think, isn’t it a good idea for small luxury homes ???

Dark Circles Under Eyes

Our skin responds to unfavorable conditions in many ways like acne, dryness, redness etc. Dark circles under eyes are also a response to some unfavorable condition. Dark circles around eyes make you look tired and ill and also they are difficult to hide under makeup. Causes of dark circles under eyes are many such as severe illness, lack of sleep or improper diet and the treatment. A dark circle under eye may form in a day. Getting rid of dark circles is difficult but may be achieved by using various products like creams and gels that are available in the market which reduce and even remove dark circles under eyes if used regularly.

The skin around eyes is sensitive and harsh treatments may damage it further. Homemade treatments for dark circles are also very effective. Washing your eyes with cold water or rose water gives a soothing effect to tired eyes. Get a good night sleep and make your diet nourishing with vitamins and minerals. Drink lots of water as dehydration may also be a cause. As a homemade remedy, put cotton pads soaked in ice cold milk over your eyes. Placing cucumber slices or potato slices also helps in reduction of dark circles. Another remedy is placing used tea bags on eyes after putting them in the freezer for a few minutes.

Dark eye circles are also the effect of age and a good anti aging eye cream or eye gel may help in reduction of such dark under eye circles. Dark circles under eye may be an alarm for an illness if all other factors are favorable like proper sleep and nourishment. It may also be caused as a drug side effect. Dark circles sometimes run in the family and the causes are genetic which are difficult to control. They are also caused due to bruising of eyes, allergies and even eczema. Dark circles under the eyes are also due to pigmentation and can be reduces by skin lightening creams. Some people use Hydroquinone cream for dark circles or reduction in spots as it helps in general skin lightening caused by any factor but for dark circles of eyes it should only be used on prescription from a dermatologist or physician.

Dark circles make you look ill while clear skin around the eyes enhance your eyes and also give them a brighter look so you look fresher with sparkling eyes. So be careful of dark circles!

Health Disorders - Ignorance or Negligence

Health is wealth; if there is health we can do anything, anytime and anywhere. But, we people ignore and Neglect small things and don’t give notice to them unless and until we have bigger problems. It’s so obvious in us that even we know it might result in bigger issues we neglect as much as possible.

As, being a doctor myself I come across such cases all the time, 8 out of 10 cases which present in our department are result of such ignorance and negligence. People visit us with complain of chest pain mostly with symptoms of burning sensation in chest with food consumption or without food. They come after months of such presentation unless it becomes severe in nature from once in month to everyday. We think that it’s just few times we are having such problem and don’t need attention or visit doctor. It’s obvious, as in our mind we feel that visiting a doctor will result in various tests and medicines, which we don’t want to take. But, just think if we could visit on time we can prevent so many complications which may result from such cases. Simple burning sensation may result in ulcer, and ulcer may either burst or spread throughout the abdomen or may become cancer in some cases. Saving time from going doctor and avoiding taking one medicine makes us to get admitted to hospital and have to take several medicines at once.

It is not that every symptom may be harmful or present later as problematic; but it’s better to get prevented from such problems on time. “Prevention is better than cure” either stop smoking to prevent so many cancers or other diseases or avoid smoking after it causes some problem. Doctors can only give advice but it’s up to whether to follow them or not.

Save yourself and your surrounding and doctor before it’s too late. Avoid negligence or ignoring, ‘’Act early’’.

GERD and Its Prevention

Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is the most common gastro intestinal disorder which we encounter in hospitals in outpatient basis. Out of 10, 7 people complain of heartburn or pain in chest at least once a week or daily. Symptoms are caused by back-flow of gastric acid and other gastric contents into the esophagus due to incompetent barriers at the gastro-esophageal junction. Exposure of the esophagus to refluxed acid correlates with potential for mucosal damage.

Clinical Features

Regurgitation of sour material in the mouth and heartburn are the characteristic symptoms of GERD. Some patient present with chronic cough more during night which is mostly due to reflux into the pharynx, larynx, and tracheobronchial tree, bronchoconstriction, pharyngitis, laryngitis, bronchitis, or pneumonia. Morning hoarseness is noted in some. Heartburn is produced by the contact of refluxed material with ulcerated esophageal mucosa. Angina-like or atypical chest pain occurs in some patients, while others experience no heartburn or chest pain. Many patients with GERD remain asymptomatic and do not seek attention until complications occur.

Diagnosis 

The diagnosis is easily made by history alone. Diagnostic studies are indicated in patients with persistent symptoms or complications or those who do not respond to therapy. Endoscopy is done to see the changes in mucosa of stomach/esophagus. a therapeutic trial with a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) (such as omeprazole, 40 mg bid) for 1 week provides strong support for the diagnosis of GERD.

Management :

    1) Life Style Modification: It’s the most important step in prevention of GERD. Such as- weight reduction, sleeping with the head of the bed elevated. Patients should not smoke and should avoid consuming fatty foods, coffee, chocolate, alcohol, mint, orange juice.
  
    2) Drugs: omeprazole (20 mg/d), lansoprazole (30 mg/d), pantoprazole (40 mg/d) frequently used.

Emphysema and Prevention

The breathing tubes (bronchi) are kept free of mucus and infection by small hairs (cilia). Cilia move the mucus continually toward the throat where it is swallowed. Cigarette smoking destroys these cilia so that the mucus cannot be cleared and bacteria can live within the lung. Partial blockage of the breathing tubes makes it difficult to exhale. The inflammation and the increased respiratory effort rupture the small air sacs in the lung; this causes loss of the surface area necessary for the exchange of oxygen. This results in slow oxygen starvation, great limitation in function, and usually leads to multiple hospitalizations. The side effects of treatment are often also major problems.

Prevention

Over 90 percent of emphysema results from cigarette smoking. Pipe and cigar smoke (if not inhaled) does not increase risk. Stopping smoking early in the process will allow stabilization. Although this condition does not reverse, stop smoking at any point is helpful.

Cirrhosis and Prevention

Cirrhosis of the liver results from three factors:

1.Repeated injury to the liver cells.

2.Fatty change and death of many of these cells.

3.Accumulation of fibrous scar tissue that ultimately prevents function of the liver.

The abdomen may fill up with fluid due to back pressure at the liver, this is called ascites. Jaundice (yellowing) may result from obstruction of small ducts in the liver or replacement of the normal liver tissue by scar.

Prevention

Cirrhosis can follow other kinds of injury, such as hepatitis; but long-term heavy alcohol intake, often accompanied by inadequate nutrition, directly causes 75 percent of the cases. If alcohol is causing liver damage, alcohol intake must be stopped entirely. In early stages, considerable recovery is possible. After heavy scarring of the liver has occurred, cirrhosis is not reversible.