Health Talk: 2010

Alzheimer's Disease: Terminal Disease

When my grandmother reached the age of 80, all of us inside the house always give attention to her. She acted as a little child and do the things the little child is doing. My grandmother couldn't identify her children. She had 7 children but even one of them she could not remember. All of us inside the house were aware that our grandmother is experiencincing an Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia. This disease is named after Alois Alzheimer, who discovered it in 1906. this generative and incurable Alzheimer's disease occurs amongst people aged 65 years above. Families, close relatives and ffriends of Alzheimer's patients know, that taking care of such patients is a challenging task. Spending everyday with such patients is demanding in terms of looking after their safety, addressing new issues and taking care of them. Activities for Alzheimer's patients are meant to keep such patients engaged in the most productive ways and in a way, to help them cope with the disease.

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Although the course of Alzheimer's disease is unique for every individual, there are many common symptoms. The earliest observable symptoms are often mistaken thought to be age-related concerns, or manifestations of stress. In th early stages, the most commonly recognized symptoms is inability to acquire new memories, such difficulty in recalling recently observed facts.

As the disease advances, symptoms include confusion, irritability and aggression, mood swings, language breakdown, long term memory loss, and the general withdrawal of the suffereras their senses decline. Gradually, bodily functions are lost, ultimately leading to death. Individual prognosis is difficult to assess, as the duration of the disease varies. AD develops for an indeterminate period of time before becoming fully apparent, and it can progress undiagnose for years. The mean life expectancy following diagnosis is approximately seven years. Fewer than three percent of individuals live more than fourteen years after the diagnosis.

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What are the causes or risk factor of Alzheimer's disease?

Here are several factors which are known to be linked to a higher risk of developing the disease:

Age. After the age of 65 the risk of developing Alzheimer's doubles every five years.

Family History. People who have a close family member who developed Alzheimer's have a slightly higher risk of developing it themselves-just a slightly higher risk.

Down's syndrome. People with Down's syndrome have an extra copy of chromosome 21, which contains a protein that exists in the brain of people with Alzheimer's.

Whiplash and head injuries. Some studies have identified a link between whiplash and head injuries and a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's.

Gender. A higher percentage of women develop Alzheimer's than men. As women live longer than men, and Alzheimer's risk grows with age, this may partly explain the reason.

Mild cognitive impairment. A person who has just mild cognitive impairmnet has memory problems but not Alzheimer's. His/Her memory is worse than other healthy people of the same age. A higher percentageof people with mild cognitive impairment develop Alzheimer than other people.

Heart disease risk-factors. People with the risk factors of heart disease- high blood presure(hypertension), high cholesterol, and poorly controlled diabetes-also have higher risk of developing Alzheimer's.

Alzheimer's is a terminal disease and has no cure. However a doctor can prescribe a medication which can help slow down the progression of the disease, and other sign that can improve the signs and symptoms of this disease.

Resources: en.wikipedia.org

www.buzzle.com

www.medicalnewstoday.com

Migraine Headache

Some people complain of a severe headache that they feel. It causes severe pain that sometimes lasts for a couple of days. This is a migraine headache.

A migraine headache is a form of vascular headache. Migraine headache is caused by vasodilatation (enlargement of blood vessels) that causes the release of chemicals from nerve fibers that coil around the large arteries of the brain.

Enlargement of these blood vessels stretches the nerves that coil around them and causes the nerves to release chemicals. The chemicals cause inflammation, pain, and further enlargement of the artery. The increasing enlargement of the arteries magnifies the pain.

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With the common migraine, headache begins without warning. Children mostly experience common migraine.

Common symptoms of migraine are associated with:

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-Intense head pain. The pain begins on one side of the head and it spreads downward to the eye, face and even neck. The pain can switch sides and less commonly can affect both sides at once.

-Feeling a relentless throbbing or pounding deep in the head.

-Having nausea

-Vomiting

-Strong and painful reactions to light and loud noises. As a result patients try to avoid them.

-The simple act of moving may be difficult during the migraine attack. Pain may worsen from activity.

-Not being able to carry out day to day activities.

-Need to lie down during the attacks.

It is not necessary to have all these symptoms. They may be moderate or severe. Migraine attacks may last between four hours and three days if not treated or poorly treated. Because you have the need to lie down and rest during these attacks your working life, family life and social activities may be disrupted.

How is migraine headaches treated? Treatment includes therapies that may or may not involve medications.

Non-medication therapies for migraine

Therapy that does not involve medications can provide symptomatic and preventative therapy.

Using ice, biofeedback, and relaxation techniques may be helpful in stopping an attack once it has started.
Sleep may be the best medicine if it is possible.

Preventing migraine takes motivation for the patient to make some life changes. Patients are educated as to triggering factors that can be avoided. These triggers include:

Smoking, , and
Avoiding certain foods especially those high in tyramine such as sharp cheeses or those containing sulphites (wines) or nitrates (nuts, pressed meats).

Generally, leading a healthy life-style with good nutrition, an adequate intake of fluids, sufficient sleep and exercise may be useful. Acupuncture has been suggested to be a useful therapy.

Narcotics and butalbital-containing medications sometimes are used to treat migraine headaches; however, these medications are potentially addicting and are not used as initial treatment.

If ever children are experiencing this kind of sickness must better for parents to consult a doctor.

Sources: www.esortment.com

www.medicinenet.com

Leukemia: Blood Cancer

I often heard that many children and adults are suffering from this disease which they called LEUKEMIA. What is this all about, and what are it's causes?

Leukemia is a cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of blood cells, usually leukocytes (white blood cells). Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum diseases. In turn, it is part of the seven broader group of diseases called hematological neoplasms.

Leukemia is clinically and pathologically subdivided into a variety of large groups. The first divisioon is between its acute and chronic forms.

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Acute Leukemia-is characterized by the rapid increase of immature blood cells. This crowding makes the bone marrow unable to produce healthy blood cells. Immediate treatment is required in acute leukemia due to the rapid progression and accumulation of the malignant cells, which then spoil over into the blood stream and spread to other organs of the body. Acute forms of leukemia are the most commmon forms of leukemia in children.

Chronic Leukemia-is distinguished by the excessive build up of relatively mature, but still abnormal, white blood cells. Typically taking months or years to progress, the cells areproduced at a much higher rate than normal cells, resulting in many abnormal white blood cells in the blood. Whereas acute leukemia must be treated immediately, chronic forms are sometimes monitored for sometime before treatment to ensure maximum effectiveness of therapy. Chronic leukemia mostly occurs in older people, but can theoretically occur in any age group.

Like all blood cells, leukemia cells travel through the body. The symptoms of leukemia depend on the number of leukemia cells and where these cells collect in the body.

Common Symptoms of Leukemia:

Swollen lymph nodes that usually don't hurt (especially lymph nodes in the neck or armpit).
Fevers or night sweats
Frequent infections
Feeling weak or tired
Bleeding and bruising easily (bleeding gums, purplish patches in the skin, or tiny red spots under the skin)
Swelling or discomfort in theabdomen (from a swollen spleen or liver)
Weight loss for no known reason
Pain in the bones or joints

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Most often, these symptoms are not due to cancer. An infection or other health problems may also cause these symptoms. Only a doctor can tell for sure.

Anyone with these symptoms should tell the doctor so that problems can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible.

People with leukemia have many treatment options. The options are watchful waiting, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, biological therapy, radiation therapy, and stem cell transplant. If your spleen is enlarged, your doctor may suggest surgery to remove it. Sometimes a combination of these treatments is used.

The choice of treatment depends mainly on the following:

The type of leukemia (acute or chronic)
Your age
Whether leukemia cells were found in your cerebrospinal fluid

It also may depend on certain features of the leukemia cells. Your doctor also considers your symptoms and general health.

We should take good care of our health. If ever there are certain symptoms visit the doctor as early as possible to have early treatment.

Resources: http://www.medicinenet.com

en.wikipedia.org

Inguinal Hernias

Inguinal hernias (IH) seldom make the headlines. Yet they're one of the most common types of hernia, affecting millions of people around the world.

They occur when soft tissue, usually part of the intestine, protrudes through a weak point in the groin, where the abdomen meets the thigh. The resulting bulge can be painful, sometimes excruciatingly so, especially when you cough or lift a heavy object.

Some people develop or acquire the abdominal weakness that leads to a hernia in adulthood. But more often the weakness occurs at birth, when the abdominal lining (peritoneum) doesn't close properly. And although far more men than women have inguinal hernias, no one is immune, including infants, pregnant women and older adults.

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The two types of inguinal hernia have different causes.

Indirect inguinal hernia. Indirect inguinal hernias are congenital hernias and are much more common in males than females because of the way males develop in the womb. In a male fetus, the spermatic cord and both testicles starting from an intra-abdominal location descend through the inguinal canal into the scrotum, the sac that holds the testicles. Sometimes the entrance of the inguinal canal at the inguinal ring does not close as it should just after birth, leaving a weakness in the abdominal wall. Fat or part of the small intestine slides through the weakness into the inguinal canal, causing a hernia. In females, an indirect inguinal hernia is caused by the female organs or the small intestine sliding into the groin through a weakness in the abdominal wall.

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Direct inguinal hernia. Direct inguinal hernias are caused by connective tissue degeneration of the abdominal muscles, which causes weakening of the muscles during the adult years. Direct inguinal hernias occur only in males. The hernia involves fat or the small intestine sliding through the weak muscles into the groin. A direct hernia develops gradually because of continuous stress on the muscles.

The two main types of surgery for hernias are as follows:

“Open” hernia repair. In open hernia repair, also called herniorrhaphy, a person is given local anesthesia in the abdomen or spine to numb the area, general anesthesia to sedate or help the person sleep, or a combination of the two. Then the surgeon makes an incision in the groin, moves the hernia back into the abdomen, and reinforces the muscle wall with stitches. Usually the area of muscle weakness is reinforced with a synthetic mesh or screen to provide additional support an operation called hernioplasty.
Laparoscopy. Laparoscopic surgery is performed using general anesthesia. The surgeon makes several small incisions in the lower abdomen and inserts a laparoscope a thin tube with a tiny video camera attached to one end. The camera sends a magnified image from inside the body to a monitor, giving the surgeon a close-up view of the hernia and surrounding tissue. While viewing the monitor, the surgeon uses instruments to carefully repair the hernia using synthetic mesh.

People with inguinal hernia need to consult a physician in order to know what type of surgery is needed to treat such disease.

Sources: www.crohns.diseases-probiotics.com

digestive.niddk.nih.gov

Appendicitis

Appendicitis is one of the most common diseases experienced by many people around the world. It is condition in which the appendix become inflamed and filled with pus, experienced by about 7 percent of Americans.

The appendix is a small, finger-shaped pouch that projects out from your colon on the right-hand side. The appendix has no known purpose, but that doesn’t mean it can’t cause problems.

The main symptom is pain that begins around the navel and then shifts to the lower-right abdomen. The pain usually increases over a period of 12 to 24 hours, and eventually may be very severe.

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Appendicitis does not discriminate, anyone can develop it, but it most often strikes people between the ages of 10 and 30 and is one of the most common reasons for emergency abdominal surgery in children.

Signs and Symptoms

Appendicitis can cause a variety of symptoms that may change over time. The most obvious early symptom is an aching pain around your navel that often shifts to your lower-right abdomen. As the inflammation in your appendix spreads to nearby tissues, the pain may become sharper and more severe.

Eventually the pain tends to settle in your lower-right abdomen just above your appendix. This point is about halfway between your navel and your right pelvic bone. But the location of your pain may vary, depending on your age and the position of your appendix. Young children, especially, may have appendicitis pain in different places.

If you apply gentle pressure to the area that hurts, it will feel tender. As you release the pressure, the pain often will feel worse (rebound tenderness). It will also tend to get worse if you cough, walk or make other jarring movements. The pain may lessen somewhat if you lie on your side and pull your legs up beneath you.

Other symptoms:

Nausea and sometimes vomiting
Loss of appetite
A low-grade fever that starts after other symptoms appear

Causes

It's not always clear why this condition occurs. Sometimes it's the result of an obstruction when food waste or a hard piece of stool (fecal stone) becomes trapped in the cavity that runs the length of your appendix.

Appendicitis may also follow an infection, especially a gastrointestinal viral infection, or it may result from other types of inflammation. In both cases, bacteria may subsequently grow rapidly, causing the appendix to become inflamed and filled with pus. If not treated promptly, your appendix eventually may rupture.

Treatment

If you have an acute condition, you'll need to have your appendix surgically removed (appendectomy). Your surgeon may perform traditional open surgery, using a single long abdominal incision, or choose laparoscopic surgery, which requires only a few small abdominal incisions.

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If ever you feel that what you are experiencing is appendicitis, consult a doctor as early as possible.

Source: www.crohns-disease-probiotics.com

Dengue: Common Killer

Dengue is the most common disease but if not treated immediately would cause death to the victim. It is but just a bite of a mosquito but carry out hazardous effect to a certain person who acquired it.

Dengue is a transmitted by the bite of an Aedes mosquito infected with anyone of the four dengue viruses. It occurs in tropical and sub-tropical areas of the world. Symptoms appear 3-14 days after the infective bite.

Dengue fever is a febrile illness that affects infants, young children and adults.

Symptoms range from a mild fever, to incapacitating high fever, with severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, and rash. There are no specific antiviral medicines for dengue. It is important to maintain hydration.

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Dengue hemorrhagic fever (fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, bleeding) is a potentially lethal complication, affecting mainly children. Early clinical diagnosis and careful clinical management by experienced physicians and nurses increase survival of patients.

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Causes of Dengue Fever

The virus is contracted from the bite of a striped Aedes aegypti mosquito that has previously bitten an infected person. The mosquito flourishes during rainy season but can breed in water-filled flower pots, plastic bags, and cans year-round. One mosquito bite can inflict the disease.

The virus is not contagious and cannot be spread directly from person to person. There must be a person-to-mosquito-to-another-person pathway.

Dengue fever treatment

There is no specific medication for treatment of a dengue infection. Persons who think they have dengue should use analgesics (pain relievers) with acetaminophen and avoid those containing aspirin. They should also rest, drink plenty of fluids, and consult a physician.

There is no specific medication for DHF. It can however be effectively treated by fluid replacement therapy if an early clinical diagnosis made. Hospitalization is frequently required in order to adequately manage DHF.

We should know how to get rid from this mosquito in order to stay away from dengue.

Resources: www.medicinenet.com

www.who.int

www.pathologylabindia.com

Liver Cancer: Sure Killer

Liver cancer is the third common cancer in the world today. It is a deadly cancer, it will kill almost all patient who have it within a year. In 2000, it was estimated that there were about 564,400 new cases of liver cancer worldwide, and a similar number of patients died as a result of this disease.

There are many forms of liver cancer and this has cancer also different causes.

Liver cancer causes:

Hepatitis B infection
Hepatitis B can be caught from contaminated blood products or used needles or sexual contact but is frequently among Asian children from contamination at birth or even biting among children at play. In addition, the patients with hepatitis B virus who are at greater risk for liver cancer are men with hepatitis B virus cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) and a family history of liver cancer.

How does chronic HBV cause liver cancer? In patient with both chronic HBV and liver cancer, the genetic material of hepatitis B virus frequently found to be part of the genetic material of the cancer cells. It is thought, therefore, that specific regions of the HBV genome (gentic code) enter the genetic material of the liver cells. This HBV genetic material may then disrupt the normal genetic material in the liver cells, thereby causing the liver cells to become cancerous.

Hepatitis C infection
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is more difficult to get than hepatitis B. it usually requires direct contact with the infected blood, either from the contaminated blood product or needles. HCV is also associated with the development of liver cancer.

In HCV patients, the risk factors for developing liver cancer includes the presence of cirrhosis, older age, male gender, elevated baseline alpha-fetoprotein level (blood tumor marker), alcohol use and co-infection with HBV.

However a 2009 study suggested that l-carnitine deficiency is a risk factor for liver cancer, and that supplementation with it could reduce the risk.

Photo credit: www.wellsphere.com

There are no specific symptoms of liver cancer in the early stage. As the disease progresses symptoms begins to appear. Due to the delayed onset of symptoms, liver cancer is often diagnosed in an advance stage.
Symptoms of liver cancer:
*jaundice (condition that causes the yellowing of thye eyes)
*unintentional weight loss
*loss of appetite
*pain and discomfort on the right side of the abdomen
*pain and discomfort on the right shoulder blade area

Other liver symptoms that may experienced are fever, general fatigue that is not relieved with rest, and nausea and/or vomiting. Symptoms can appear seperately or together.

These liver cancer symptoms can be nonspecific, if you have them just consult your doctor on how your liver is functioning may need to be evaluated.

At this time, surgery offers the only like chance to cure liver cancer. Surgery is done either to remove the tumor or to do a liver transplant. If all of the cancer that the surgeon can see at the time of the operation can be removed, you have the best outlook for survival. But complete removal of most liver cancers is not possible. Often the cancer is large, is found in the many different parts of the liver, or has spread beyond the liver. Also, many people with cirrhosis do not have enough healthy liver left to make surgry an option.

Let's take care of our health for it is the only wealth we have. Avoid cancer by avoiding whatever things it may cause.

Resources: www.medicinenet.com
cancer.about.com
en.wikipedia.org

Diabetes: Silent Killer

Many people suffered from the disease called diabetes. Maybe we can say that this is of the common disease because everywhere around the world we can hear many people who suffer from this disease. The truth of the fact is that, my mother died due to the complication of this disease.

Diabetes is a silent killer if left unnoticed or untreated.

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes mellitus, often simply reffered to as diabetes. It is a group of metabolic diseases in which a person has a high blood sugar, either because thebody does not produce enough insulin, or brcause cells do not respond to the insullin that is produced. This high blood sugar produces the classical symptoms of polyuria (frequent urination), polydipsia (increased thirst) and polyphagia (increased hunger).

There are different types of diabetes:

Type 1 diabetes: (IDDM or juvenille diabetes) is a form of diabetes mellitus that results from autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas. The subsequent lack of insulin leads to increaed blood and urine glucose. The classical symptoms of polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia, and weight loss result.

Type I diabetes

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Type 2 diabetes: (NIDDM or adult-onset diabetes) is a metabolic disorder that is characterized by high blood glucose in the context of insulin resistance and relative and relative insulin deficiency.

Unlike type 1 diabetes there isa very little tendency toward ketoacidosis though it is not known. One effect that can occur is nonketonic hyperglycemia. Long term complication from high blood sugar include an increased risk of heart attacks strokes, amputation, and kidney failure.

Gestational diabetes ( GDM) is acondition in which women without previous diagnosed diabetes exhibit high blood glucose levels during pregnancy.

Generally it has few symptoms and it is commonly diagnosed during pregnancy. Diagnostic tests detect inappropriately high levels of glucose in blood samples. Gestational diabetes affects 3-10% of pregnancies, depending on the population studied.

Babies born to mothers with gestational diabetes are at increase risk of problems typically such as being large for gestational age (which may lead to delivery complications), low blood sugar and jaundice.

Causes of Diabetes:

Diabetes is caused by a defect in production or use of insulin, a hormone secreted from the pancreas. Type 1 diabetes is caused by autoimmune-mediated destruction of the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. Type 2 diabetes is related to excess weight, inactivity, and a family history of (type 2) diabetes.

Treatment of Diabetes

Controlling your blood sugar is essential to feeling healthy and avoiding long-term complication of diabetes.

A healthy diet and exercise should be placed as a priority for diabetes treatment. Second, you might also try some of the diabetes treatment using alternative medicine. Third, follow your doctor's prescriptions. And last, pancreas or islet cell transplantation maybe an option for people whose kidneys are falling or who aren't responding to other ttreatments.

We should treat this diease as early as possible to avoid its hazardous complications. As we know that this can be considered as common disease but a silent killer.

Resources: chinese-school.netfirms.com

en.wikipedia.org

UTI: Common But Serious Problem

Have you notice that most of the common infection today is the (UTI) or Urinary Tract Infection. It is very common especially in women and children. Urinary tract infection is a serious problem affecting millions of people each year.

A urinary tract infection (UTI) is a bacterial infection that affects any part of the urinary tract. Infections of the urinary tract are the second most common type of infection in the body. Urinary tract infection (UTIs) account for about 8.3 million doctor visits each year. Women are especially prone to UTIs for reasons that are not yet well understood. One woman in five develops a UTI during her lifetime. UTIs in men are not as common as in women but can be very serious when they do occur.

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What are the causes of UTI?

Normally, urine is sterile. It is usually free of bacteria, viruses, and fungi but does not contain fluids, salts, and waste products. An infection occurs when tiny organisms, usually bacteria from the digestive tract, cling to the opening of the urethra and begin to mutiply. Most infections arise from the type of bacteria, Escherichia coli (E. coli), which normally lives in the colon.

Bacteria travel first to the urethra. When bacteria multiply, an infection can occur. If the infection is not treated promptly, bacteria may then travel up to the ureters to multiply and infect the kidneys.

What are the symptoms of UTI?

Not all with UTI has symptoms, but most get at least some symptoms. These includes a frequent urge to urinate and a painful, burning feeling in the area of the bladder or urethra during urination. It is not unusual to feel bad all over-tired, shaky, uncomfortable pressure above the pubic bone, and some men experience a fullness in the rectum. The urine itself may look milky or cloudy, even redish if blood is present. A fever may mean that the infection has reached the kidneys. Other symptoms of a kidney infection include pain in the back or side below ribs, nuasea, or vomiting.

In children symptoms of urinary infection may be overlooked or attributed to another disorder. A UTI should be considered when a child or infant seems irritable, is not eating normally, has an unexplained fever that does not go away, has incontinence or loose bowels, or is not thriving. This can happen to both boys and girls. The child should be seen by a doctor if these symptoms occurs, especially a change in the child's urinary pattern.

How UTI can be treated?

UTIs are treated with antibacterial drugs. The choice of drug and length of treatment depend on the patient's history and the urine tests that identify the offending bacteria

Severely ill patients with kidney infections may be hospitalized until they can take fluids and needed drugs on their own. Kidney infections generally require several weeks of antibiotic treatment.

Most doctors suggest that drinking plenty of water helps cleanse the urinary tract of bacteria. During treatment, it is best to avoid coffee, alcohol, and spicy foods. And one of the best things a smoker can do for his or her bladder is to quit smoking. Smoking is the major known cause of bladder cancer.

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Let's avoid UTI. Though this is just a common infection but can lead to serious problem.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

kidney.niddk.nih.gov

Heart:Most Important Organ

Heart being the most important organ of our body needs proper care. Heart when it stop beating life will also end. So, that is why we should need to take care of our heart and not to abuse it. Let your heart stay healthy in order to have a long life.

The heart is a myogenic muscular organ found in all animals with a circulatory system (ncluding all vertebrates), hat is responsible for pumping blood throughout the blood vessels nby repeated, rhythmic contractions. The term cardiac (as in cardiology) means “related to the heart” and comes from the Greek, kardia, for the “heart”.

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There are so many different forms of heart diseases and this is the number 1 killer not only in the US but throughout the whole world. The most common cause of heart disease is narrowing or blockage of the narrow arteries, the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart itself. This is called coronary artery disease and happens slowly over time. It's the major reason people have heart attacks.

Other kinds of heart problems may happen to the valves in the heart, or the heart may not pump well and cause heart failure. Some people are born with heart disease.

Causes of heart disease:

High Blood Cholesterol. One of the major risk factors for heart disease is high blood cholesterol. Cholesterol, a fat-like substance carried in your blood, is found in all of your body's cells. Your liver produces all of the cholesterol your body needs to form cell membranes and to make certain hormones. Extra cholesterol enters your body when you eat foods that come from animals (meats, eggs, and dairy products).

Although we often blame the cholesterol found in foods that we eat for raising blood cholesterol, the main culprit is the saturated fat in food. (Be sure to read nutrition labels carefully, because even though a food does not contain cholesterol it may still have large amounts of saturated fat.) Foods rich in saturated fat include butter fat in milk products, fat from red meat, and tropical oils such as coconut oil.

Too much low-density lipoprotein (LDL or "bad cholesterol") in the blood causes plaque to form on artery walls, which starts a disease process called atherosclerosis. When plaque builds up in the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart, you are at greater risk of having a heart attack.

Obesity and Overweight. Exra weight is thought to lead to increased total cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, and an incrreased risk of coronary artery disease. Obesity increrases your chances of developing other risk factors for heart disease, especially high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and diabetes.

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We should learn how to take care of our heart by being careful of what we take and what we do with our body.

Resources:en.wikipedia.org

chinese-school.netfirms.com

Health the Only Wealth

Health is the only capital we have with this body which we are taking care of everyday. What will happen if we lost our health and this body become weak due to illness and diseases which was obtained by too much abuse which we have done in it. Can we still regain the good health which we have before?
So, we should always put in mind that health is the only wealth we have.

People think that they have lots of money that even if they engage in different vices that will abuse their health still they can recover because they have money to be use during the time they loose their good health. Don't be too sure with that because there are many diseases and illnesses which is the effect of health abuse that cannot be cure eventhough you will spend thousands of dollars. To tell you, many people died because of those diseases.

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Some people say that they doesn't care about their health, as long as they live they should spend their entire life enjoying, engaging in different vices such as, alcohol, cigarettes, and even drugs which is the worst enemy of our health. For them, these are just the thing that can give them satisfaction in life. They won't even think of the effects of it which the worst is cancer. They did not even think that when their health diminish they can't regain it anymore. Anyway, its up to them to think over with these small advice, to start weighing the positive and negative effect.

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Health is the only wealth we have. When we lose this, it seems that we are completely paralized. So, we should know how to take care of our health. The only capital that will give meaning and beauty to our body.

Always remember “Only one health we have, if we lose it be sure you can regain it, if not all I can say is the only word (SORRY) just wait for your turn to leave this world”. It's you who knows how to manage the only wealth God has given you.

Stay Healthy By Exercising Everyday

Many diseases today that just arose and we didn't know if what's the cause of it. Some say that effect of food which we are eating, others say through pollution, radiation, unhealthy environment or whatever still there's no clear explanation for all of it. Many herbal medicines were introduced for the cure of these diseases. There's nothing more I can say, in order to stay fit and healthy do some physical exercises everyday.


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Physical exercise enhances or maintains physical fitness and overall health wellness. Exercise includes stretching of muscles and the cardiovascular system, honing athletic skills, weight loss or maintenance and for enjoyment. Regular exercise boosts our immune system, and helps prevent the “diseases of affluence” such as heart disease, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and obesity. It also improves mental health, helps prevent depression, helps promote or maintain positive self- esteem, and can even augment an individual's sex appeal or body image, which again is also link of higher levels of self-esteem.

Exercise also reduces levels of cortisol. Cortisol is a stress hormone that builds fat in the abdominal region, making weight loss difficult. Cortisol also causes many health problems, both physical and mental.

Frequent and regular aerobic exercise has been shown to help prevent or treat serious and life- threatening chronic conditions such as, high blood pressure, obesity, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, insomia, and depression. Endurance exercise before meals lower blood glucose more than the same exercise after meals. According to World health organization, lack of physical activity contributes to approximately 17% of heart disease and diabetes, and 10% of breast cancer and colon cancer.

Credit: http://upload.wikimedia.org/Aerobic_exercise_-_public_demonstration07.jpg

Many busy people cannot give time to exercise due to their hectic schedules in life. But let's just put in mind that a little time given to physical exercise everyday contributes a great part of our health in the coming day.

Laughter: The BEST Medicine

Laughter is an audible expression or the appearance of happiness, or inward feeling of joy. Laughter is found among various animals, as well as in humans. Among the human species, it is a part of human behavior regulated by the brain, helping humans clarify their intentions in social interaction and providing an emotional context to conversation.


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There is an article in the Psychosocial Nursing Journal, there is documented and ongoing research in this field of study. This study has led to new and beneficial therapies practiced by doctors, psychiatrists, and other mental health professionals use in laughter to treat a variety of physical and psychological issues. Thus, it goes with the old saying “Laughter is the Best Medicine” or in a Bible Proverb “A Merry Heart Doeth Good Like a Medicine”.

Laughter therapy is the way to help people re-connect with the natural, authentic laughter which is every human being's birthright. All of us were born with the physical and neurological apparatus for laughing, and we will do it without being taught how, starting at about 4 weeks of age under the right conditions. (an explanation of these can be found in Steve Wilson's “Full-Belly Laughter”). The neurologist who made this discovery believe that laughter has survival value.

Laughter is a powerful antidote to stress, pain and conflict. Nothing works faster more dependably to bring your mind and body back into balance than a good laugh. A good hearty, laugh relaxes physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relax up to 45 minutes after.

Laughter decreases stress hormones and increase immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease. It triggers the release of endorphins, the body natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins promotes on overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain.
Laughter improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which can help protect you against a heart attack and other cardiovascular problems.
Laughter makes you good, and a good feeling that you get when you laugh remains with you even after the laughter subsides.

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More than just a respite from sadness and pain, laughter gives you the courage and strength to find new sources of meaning and hope. Even in the most difficult times, a laugh-or even a simple smile- go along way toward making you feel better.

What the Best Medicine laughter can give. Just hearing laughter primes your brain and readies you to smile and join in the fun.

BRAIN “CPU of our Body”

Brain plays a very important role in our body . When the brain will not function everything in our body will be paralyzed. Like in a computer there is a CPU which when shut down all operations system will turn out.

Human brain is the center of the human nervous system and is highly complex organ. We should learn how to take care of our brain in order for it to stay healthy and alert.

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It is the brain that monitors and regulates the body's actions and reactions. It continously receives sensory information, and rapidly analyzes this data and then responds, controlling bodily actions and functions.

Despite of the fact that is protected by the thick bone of the skull, suspended in cerebrospinal fluid, and isolated from the bloodstream by the blood-brain barrier, the delicate nature of the human brain makes it susceptible to many types of damage and diseases.

There are some common types of brain problems or diseases:

Alzhiemer disease; is a progressive brain disorder that impacts patients memory and their ability to function normally.

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Parkinson's disease; is a progressive degenerative brain disease caused by the loss of dopamine-producing brain cells.

Stroke; also called brain attack or cerebral infarction, is a very serious condition in which brain is not receiving enough oxygen to function properly. Stroke often results to permanent serious complications and disability and is common cause of death.

Human brain is not a machine, it needs to have a relax and proper care. Abuse of the brain results to brain problems and diseases. Too much use of brain, drug addiction, and accidents are results of brain damage or brain problems.

Our brain needs proper care in order to stay healthy and alert. The ff. were just simple tips on how to take care of it:

Eat right kind of food at the appropriate time.
Take time to sleep, if possible 8 hours a day.
Drink plenty of water because fluid plays a large contribution to our brain.
Stop using drugs and alcohol.
Finally, Love yourself for if you do, you will be sensitive to what your system needs.

The Almighty gives us two eyes, two ears, two hands, two feet, and other body parts. He only gives us one brain that will control all of it. We should be thankful, and in return we should learn how to take care of it for our own good and benefit.

EYES: MOST IMPORTANT ORGAN

The eyes are probably the most important yet the least understood of man's sensory organ. It is use to see the beauty of the earth which our Creator had made. It is initiator of action, it is used to detect the surroundings if it's light or dark. We should be thankful that God gives us eyes, which is the most important part of our body.

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Some people were born with eyes but cannot see. They cannot behold how wonderful the world is, which God has created. They cannot appreciate the beauty of nature. They cannot even see the different colors and designs which this wonderful world have.

God did gave us two eyes, we should learn how to take care of them.

Taking care of our eyes helps maintain a good vision. If we abuse it, we

are trying to lose our vision.

The eyes are the most important yet a very sensitive part of our body. Often we encounter common problems with our eyes. If we love our eyes we should know how to take care of them and know the right treatment.

Ways in taking care of our eyes

-we should eat the right kind of food which will give nutrients to our eyes.

-take enough rest in order for your eyes to be relax.

-always cover your eyes when working with chemicals and other substance which you know can affect your eyes.

-visit an eye specialist if ever you feel you have problem with your eyes.

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Always remember you only have a pair of eyes, if you don't know how to take care of them you are having the chance of losing them.

How Computers Affects Your Health

Nowadays life becomes techno friendly, lots of people even little children use computers for many hours a day. Parents were concern about the effects this modern technology may bring to their children as well as to the users.

How does computer affects your EYES?

Research has shown that nine out of ten people using computers are suffering from CVS (Computer Vision Syndrome). The vision problems involved in CVS include blurred vision, itching, burning, dry eyes, teary eyes, difficulties in focusing, double vision, squinting, eye strain, headaches and often pain in the neck, shoulders and back.

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Studies have shown that eye strain is a common complaint among office workers, students and home business entrepreneurs adjusting to extended time chained to a computer screen. In order to accomplish all the daily tasks necessary during their work schedule, eyestrain is now surpassing carpal tunnel syndrome as the number one complaint, and has now been given the name of Computer Vision Syndrome.

A computer is probably one of the most dangerous thing you can give to you if you want to kill your eyes. There is something called eyes tension that will become worse and worse if you keep using your computer for very long periods of time without resting. Your eyes need to rest at least 15 minutes for every hour of work. If you do not rest them you risk losing them too soon.

How does computer games can affect your children's brain?

Well, many parents worry about the mind bending influence computer games might have on their children. But one researcher in the United Kingdom has been investigating a much more tangible side effect: computer games can occasionally induce epileptic fits.

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It's a form of a condition called Photosensitive Epilepsy. Professor Graham Harding and his colleagues at the University of Aston in Birmingham have studied a group of such children and adolescents who had convulsions while playing at the computer.

Photosensitive epilepsy is best defined as a tendency to recurrent convulsions, precipitated either by flashing lights or patterns.

Photosensitivity is a strange condition. You have to have a hyper-excitable visual cortex, and a low convulsive threshold. That means that if you or I were presented with a flashing light in a discotheque or something, our brain automatically damps that down. In these patients, it doesn't. And so if that flicker goes on and it's at the right flash rate, then they will be precipitated into a convulsion.Photosensitive epilepsy is best defined as a tendency to recurrent convulsions, precipitated either by flashing lights or patterns.

How common is it? It's relatively rare in the population. It occurs at one in three and a half thousand. It's more common in girls than boys, about sixty to forty - which is different from epilepsy, which is slightly more males than females. But the interesting thing about it is that it most commonly occurs around puberty.

And so most photosensitives are between seven and 19 years of age when they have their first attack. One in four patients lose photosensitivity. But the other three out of the four will continue for the rest of their lives, even up to 70, 80 years of age. One in ten. And why is particularly more common at that age?

Photosensitive epilepsy which is really a product of the modern computer age.

But today, there is nothing to worry about, as the time went on, modern inventions of computer devices that are being used to lessen or to prevent those bad effects that computer may create to our health. After all, it is still the user who knows how to manage himself in order to get rid from those harmful effects.