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.

Photo credit: Google

                                                          

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.