Archive for the ‘Diseases’ Category

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Concept of Health

Saturday, November 15th, 2008

There are misconceptions among people in regarding to the meaning of health they thought that if they do not having any disease then they are fit. But it is not true; health does not mean only the absence of disease. Health is defined as the complete state of physical, mental and social well being.

Wellness and physical fitness is not the same thing but physical fitness is one part of wellness. Wellness involves all emotional and mental fitness. Health is dependent of many things including diet, physique, etc.

Instead of this physical factor health is affected by following:

  1. Genetic disorders these are the defects, which a person acquires from his parents.
  2. Infection which person gets from surrounding.
  3. balance diet, mental state, exercise with proper rest and relaxation, proper conditioning and standard of living are some other factors which effect health and physical fitness.

Importance of good health

Healthy people are more efficient at work. This increases production and brings economic prosperity. Good health also increases life of people. It reduces child and maternal mortality.

Physical fitness improves the appearance of the person and hence improves his personality in the society. It reduces the chances of occurrence of very deadly diseases including heart and lungs diseases. It also reduces the chances of occurrence of various physical disorders like sprain, and body pain etc. healthy and fit persons are more active. So physical fitness is very important for leading a happy and balance life. If a person is fit than he will give his best performance in the task and fully enjoys his task too.

There are some methods of achieving good health and physical fitness are:

  1. Games and sports are the well known methods of achieving good health and physical fitness. It increases it increases strength, power, flexibility and reduces excessive fat from the body and make it fit and healthy.
  2. Proper balance diet is much important to maintain good health. Diet must consist of all the basic biomolecules needed by the body to perform various metabolic activities.
  3. Consumption of drugs and alcohol is injurious to health. Therefore consumption should be avoided.
  4. Happy and silent mind is also the major key of getting good health. One should lead his life with fun and enjoyment.

What is disease?

According to scientists “any functional or physical change from the normal state that causes discomfort, or disability that impairs the health of a living individual is called disease or malfunctioning of certain body part with specific symptoms is known as disease.”

How disease spread?

  1. The various microorganisms like bacteria and fungi can cause disease.
  2. They can be caused by the deficiency of nutrients and hormones e.g berry berry or night blindness.
  3. The malfunctioning of some organs like heart etc can cause some diseases.
  4. Disease like allergy can be caused when our body becomes hypersensitive to some foreign substances.
  5. As stated earlier some diseases can be spread due to genetic disorder.

Various agents of disease are

  1. Biological agent like viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa and insects.
  2. Nutrient agents like mineral, vitamin, carbohydrate, proteins, fat, vitamins, and water.
  3. Chemical agents like gases hormones enzymes etc.
  4. Physical agents like heat, cold, humidity, pressure, radiation, electricity, sound etc.
  5. Mechanical agents like sprain, injury, fracture etc.

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Common Disease in Hard Working People: Hypertension

Wednesday, November 5th, 2008

People living in metropolitan cities are generally suffered from hypertension and high or low (abnormal) blood pressure. It increases with increase in age. Hypertension increases the risk or heart attack and strokes. Internal blood vessels are damaged due to this disease. These diseases do not have any physical symptom therefore 75% of the patients suffering from this disease do not know that they have such type of disease or not. Hypertension can be cured by regular exercise, taking less salt in daily meal.

What causes Hypertension?

Hypertension is caused by number of factor including genetic constitution of individual, his diet, etc. But kidney is supposed to be the most important organ that is responsible for hypertension, its certain abnormality leads to hypertension. Hypertension is also directly associated with over weight. Over weight persons generally have high tendency to suffer from hypertension and hence they also have maximum chances to get heart attack and other heart linked diseases.

Regular exercise can cure both hypertension and abnormality in blood pressure. There certain points are written down, which can help you to get rid of these deadly diseases.
Follow these instructions carefully and regularly and after some time check the results.

  1. Make a chart of exercise which contains all easy as well as difficult types of exercise including push ups, chin ups, jogging, cycling and weightlifting etc.
  2. The exercise program should be started with low type of exercise like simply jogging and cycling then slowly day by day the level of exercise should be increased.
  3. After exercise, proper rest should be taken. Sleep at least 8 hours a day. Exercise should not be done beyond your capacity. If you are not feeling good or suffering from any other disease then before doing exercise doctor consultation is must.
  4. Safety has much more importance in case of exercise. When you feel fatigue take a regular break to relax. Some time if after a regular period of time you are not feeling well and there occurs some physical changes in you than don’t forget to consult it with your doctor.
  5. Exercise should be done according to age.

Exercise improves the blood pressure and hence cures hypertension. In case of heart attack heart muscle die due to lack of sufficient amount of oxygen and other important ions.

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Stye: What is it?

Tuesday, July 8th, 2008

Living on everybody’s skin are millions of bacteria. Most of the time they live harmlessly on our bodies, but when they get into the wrong place they cause infection. If certain bacteria get into the glands on the eyelids at the base of the eyelashes, the resulting infection is called a hordeolum, commonly known as a stye.

Styes are usually caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, also known as Golden Staph. These bacteria are often present in the nasal membranes. They can cause skin infections, food poisoning, blood poisoning and pneumonia. Skin infections caused by staph, including styes, look like pimples or boils.

Symptoms of a stye include pain, redness and swelling of the area. There may be white or yellow lump, called pointing. Styes may point along the edge of the eyelid or inside the eyelid, but not usually on the outside of the eyelid. Swelling may be localized to the stye, or it may affect the whole eyelid.

In most cases styes do not require medical treatment. Left alone they are often self limiting and go away on their own. Home care treatments include warm to hot compresses three or four times a day. Most important is hygiene, being careful not to rub the eye as this can spread the infection. Squeezing or popping the stye is definitely not recommended. This can spread the infection not only to the rest of the eye but also to the skin of the face, with possibly serious consequences.

Styes can be spread from person to person by contact, so hygiene for the whole household is very important. Anything that touches the eye, like facecloths, towels, bedding, should be washed separately in hot water.

You should seek medical care for a stye if it does not begin to improve within a few days of home care treatment, or if it does not heal within a week or two. Other indications you need to see a doctor are if styes recur, you experience excessive pain, the white of the eye becomes red, the entire eye is swollen shut, or if you experience any change or disturbance in your vision, including double vision. Children with styes who have raised temperature, loss of appetite and complain of a headache, tiredness or feeling unwell should also be taken to the doctor.

Styes will usually be treated by an ophthalmologist. Medical treatment may include topical antibiotic cream to be applied to the eye. For people who have more than one stye at a time, or styes that recur, or get styes along with another condition such as blepharitis or rosacea, the doctor may prescribe oral antibiotics. A large or painful stye may be lanced and drained by the ophthalmologist.

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Different Types of Scoliosis

Wednesday, July 2nd, 2008

A highly distinctive characteristic of humans is the ability to walk upright. Our skeletal and muscular systems are both designed to allow us to stand and walk upright. The major support for this is the spinal column. Unfortunately things can go wrong, and in some people the spine does not develop as it should.

When viewed from behind, most people have a spine that appears straight up and down. In some people, however, there is a noticeable curve from side to side. This condition is called scoliosis, from an ancient Greek word meaning curved or crooked. There are many types of scoliosis, with different causes and ages of onset. Between one and three percent of people have some form of scoliosis.

The most common form of scoliosis is called Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS). Idiopathic is used by doctors to describe conditions for which they cannot find the cause, although the odds of developing scoliosis are much greater if there is a family history of the disorder. AIS is usually diagnosed during the growth spurts of early adolescence. Cases requiring treatment are up to ten times more prevalent in girls than in boys.

Treatment for AIS varies depending on the severity of the curve. The Cobb angle is a measurement of the deviation of the spine. A Cobb angle of more than ten degrees is necessary for a technical diagnosis of scoliosis. If a Cobb angle of between ten and twenty degrees is present, no treatment is necessary, although regular observation will be necessary to check that it is not progressing.

Cobb angles between twenty and forty degrees are often treated with braces. Different braces have been developed to support curvatures in different areas of the spine. Bracing cannot cure scoliosis, but can prevent the curvature from progressing.

In cases of more severe curvature, with a Cobb angle of forty to fifty degrees, surgery may be necessary. There have been many advances in surgery over the past few decades, and the use of metal implants along with spinal fusion means a shorter recovery period and reduces the necessity of wearing a cast after surgery. Prognosis after surgery is very good. Many patients go on to live full normal lives, with the only restriction they face being contact sports.

Idiopathic scoliosis can occur in children younger than two years old (Infantile Scoliosis) or in children between two and ten (Juvenile Idiopathic Scoliosis). Other types of scoliosis are Congenital Scoliosis which develops because of a congenital abnormality in the vertebrae, often associated with other congenital abnormalities. Muscular Dystrophy and other neuromuscular disorders can also sometimes result in scoliosis.

Complications of scoliosis can include deformity and severe chronic back pain. If the ribcage is involved there can be problems with the heart and lungs being compressed, leading to breathing problems and decreased circulation. Risk of bone loss and osteoporosis in later life is also increased.

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Sciatica

Friday, June 27th, 2008

Medical terms are often adopted and misused by the general population. One example of such a word is sciatica. This term is used by many people to describe any form of lower back or leg pain. True sciatica refers to pain caused by inflammation or irritation of the sciatic nerve.

The sciatic nerve runs from the spine through the buttocks and down to the foot through the back of each leg. It is the largest nerve in the body and is responsible for both sensory and motor functions. Feelings and movement of the legs and feet are regulated through the sciatic nerve.

Symptoms of sciatica can occur anywhere along the sciatic nerve. They are most often felt in the lower back, radiating down through the buttocks and into the back of the leg. Sensations associated with sciatica include pain, numbness and tingling. Motor functions can also be affected, making movement of the leg difficult. In most cases sciatica affects only one side of the body.

Sciatica is not a diagnosis in itself, rather it is a symptom of an underlying condition. Treatment depends on what has caused the nerve to become inflamed. Causes of sciatica include slipped discs, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis and spinal disc herniation. Disc herniation can result from degeneration of tissue due to aging. Continued pressure on the nerve, such as sitting for long periods, can also cause sciatica. Tumors of the spinal column or sciatic nerve can also cause sciatica. In some cases a specific cause may not be identifiable.

In most cases very little treatment is required for sciatica. Analgesics may be taken for the pain, and a few days of bed rest may be recommended. Prolonged bed rest is no longer a remedy as it may weaken the muscles around the spine, making recurring pain more likely. It is more effective to maintain activity and work on strengthening back muscles to reduce pain and prevent recurrence. Applications of heat and cold may also be helpful to relieve the pain.

Sciatica will usually go away within a couple of weeks. If it lasts for longer than six weeks or progressively worsens, you may need to seek medical help. Medical care for sciatica will also be necessary if you get sudden severe pain, numbness or muscle weakness in your back or legs. If there is a loss of bowel or bladder control or if the pain follows a violent trauma then you should see a doctor.

When home care measures do not provide relief from sciatica, more aggressive treatment may be required. This may include epidural injections of steroids to reduce inflammation and surgery. A diskectomy may be performed if the sciatica is caused by a herniated disc. This will relieve the pain, but will not prevent further attacks of sciatica from degeneration.

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Osteoporosis – Porous Bones

Sunday, June 22nd, 2008

In it’s literal sense, Osteoporosis means porous bones. This means that the normal structure of the bone – the hard thick outer shell protecting the honeycomb tiny mesh inside – is weakened and more likely to be damaged. One in Two women and One in Five men over the age of 50 in the UK will break a bone due to osteoporosis.

There are two types of cells that are constantly working in our bones – one type of cell is responsible for building new bones and the other type of cell is responsible for breaking down the old bones. These cells fluctuate in activeness – in childhood and up to the early 20s the cells building new bones are very active and can replace a whole skeleton in around 2 years. From around 40 years old, the new bone cells slow down (the replacement skeleton would take in comparison around 10 years) and the cells that break down the bones start to increase their activity. That is why as you age generally, your bones get weaker. In people with osteoporosis, this shift in cell balance can happen earlier or at a much quicker rate than normal, meaning the person’s bones are weak and fragile.

Osteoporosis, in children and young people that is not a result of another serious medical condition such as cerebral palsy, is very rare and called Idiopathic Juvenile Osteoporosis. It affects around 100 children in the UK and in half of these will completely disappear at puberty.

Osteoporosis can sometimes, although again rarely, be an issue for pregnant women. This has only been evidenced since the 1950s and is thought to be due to the change in hormones and required vitamin levels being pregnant produces.

Exactly why some people develop osteoporosis whilst others don’t is unclear and the subject of a large research body. It is known to have strong genetic links (particularly in cases where a mother has the condition), but there are other known risk factors such as diminished ability to absorb vitamins and minerals (mainly through medical issues or eating disorders), early menopause in women or low testosterone in men, previous bone injury, immobility and excess alcohol or nicotine consumption.

Because we cannot see or feel the texture of our bones normally, the condition is usually not detected until a bone is broken. If osteoporosis is suspected, a bone density scan, called a Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiomety (DXA) to measure the thickness and strength of a person’s bones. For people who fall into high-risk categories, this can be done as an investigative measure without an incident having occurred. The results of this scan, taken in consideration with the patient’s age and lifestyle, can inform future care.

Once diagnosed with osteoporosis, there is no cure. There are a number of different licensed drugs available however that seek to reduce the likelihood of further bone breaks, including hormone replacement therapy for men and women. Vitamin D and Calcium supplements are commonly prescribed alongside other drugs. Many patients also turn to homeopathic and alternative medicines for alternatives and pain management.

Living with osteoporosis can be hard. Lifestyle changes can however reduce the likelihood of bone damage – getting exercise to ensure bones get as strong as they can and you remain supple, eating a healthy diet and cutting out drinking and smoking. As a person gets older, living accommodation may also need to be adapted to reduce the risks of falls and knocks that can easily break bones.

Thankfully, more is being learnt about osteoporosis every year in research and there are a wealth of support groups, help-lines and information centres available to support patients and their families.

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Do You Know What Nausea is?

Tuesday, June 17th, 2008

We use the word Nausea to mean when we feel sick. But in actual fact, we are using it wrong.

Nausea comes from the Greek word ‘naurela’ meaning seasickness. Its dictionary definition is “a feeling of discomfort in the stomach with an urge to vomit”. Medically it is used to describe the urge to be sick when the symptoms are not related to a stomach condition.

The vomiting centre in the brain initiates the sensation of feeling the urge to vomit. Exactly what initiates the response is unknown, although scientists currently believe it may through the production of certain chemicals that triggers action in the vomiting centre.

We know that there are 3 areas that commonly are associated with this feeling nauseous; these are the inner ear balance mechanism, the intestinal tracts and also the brain.

The most common ear related condition is travel sickness. This as caused by a confusion between messages to the brain about whether you are moving or not. The sense of equilibrium (like a spirit level) lies in the ear and is usually confirmed as correct by the messages from your eyesight. When these two don’t “agree” whether the body is actually moving or not, it causes nausea, even though the stomach itself is not affected. Children seem to be more susceptible to this trigger, which may be why they are more prone to suffer travel sickness than adults. T

Equally, scientists believe that the nausea feeling that does not cause vomiting when related to a stomach or intestinal issue is the body’s natural mechanism for preventing us eating something dangerous or when our stomachs need to rest. Nausea is a common symptom following a large intake of sugary food – scientists believe the body triggers this response to prevent us eating more and thus giving the body time to produce enough insulin to lower the existing blood sugar level.

Nausea is a common symptom following a brain injury or when there is a foreign body in the brain tissue such as a tumor. Many drugs also seem to invoke the nausea response, particularly aggressive drugs such as chemotherapy.

Recent research has been undertaken to identify the cause of exercise-induced nausea – the feeling of sickness that many people get after taking part in vigorous exercise. A study of 20 volunteers conducted at Nyago University in Japan found more people felt nauseous when exercising after they had eaten. A possible reason for this could be the increased levels of endorphins in a person’s body, which are released while exercising. Endorphins have been associated with nausea and vomiting before, but not fully supported at this stage without further research.

Whatever the cause, nausea can be lessened often by drinking water in small amounts, resting and avoiding solid food. More prolonged nausea without an obvious trigger and when associated with actual vomiting should always be investigated by medical staff as nausea can be indicative of underlying conditions.

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Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Thursday, June 12th, 2008

When most of us think of MS (Multiple Sclerosis), we think of people in wheelchairs severely disabled. However, in reality only very few of the 2.5 million MS sufferers worldwide (85,000 in the UK) can be recognised in that way; many others will be people you see every day without even knowing.

With around 200 people being newly diagnosed with MS every day, there is no known ‘cause’. However, it is more common among northern European and is most commonly diagnosed between 20 and 50 years old. There is thought to be genetic factors influencing a person’s likelihood of developing MS but it is known not to be hereditary. Whilst there is no known cause,

Multiple Sclerosis is a condition in which your own body attacks the protective tissue (called the myelin) around the nerve fibres your central nervous system. As it attacks the myelin, it leaves hard scars or lesions around the nerves. Myelin is responsible for the smooth transmition of the ‘messages’ that travel along your nerves, and as such, the lesions interrupt that transmition and stop the messages getting through smoothly. If this is hard to conceptualize, imagine your central nervous system as your home electricity system and the myelin as the plastic round a cable. If damage occurs to the cable plastic (like a rat gnawing through it) the electricity does not flow smoothly and the light bulb will flicker on and off.

There are 4 types of MS. Most people are initially diagnosed with Relapse Remitting MS, in which there is a flare up of cases (‘relapses’) followed by periods when the patient is completely or partially symptom free (‘remission’). Most patients go onto develop Secondary Progressive MS where the condition and symptoms continue to get worse and the level of disability increases. Some patients are diagnosed with Primary Progressive MS – in which the condition progresses rapidly with no clear periods of remission. Very few patients are diagnosed with Benign MS – where they are completely symptom free for a period of at least 10 years following a short period of relapse.

The symptoms of MS vary greatly, with many patients suffering different symptoms at different times in their illness. These tend to include difficulties with balance, bladder and bowel control, memory recall and extreme fatigue. Other common symptoms include muscle tremors, spasms and weakness, emotional and mood changes, and distortions of vision.

Once you have MS, it cannot be cured and remains with you for life. Thankfully however, there are a number of treatments that can improve a person’s condition and severity of symptoms. There are 5 ‘disease altering medications’ available, 4 of which are registered and widely available and one new drug which has recently been approved by NICE. These drugs reduce the number of lesions and also initial evidence suggests that they might slow down progression of the disease. Many patients also turn to alternative and complimentary therapies, with 50-70% of sufferers trying alternatives to relieve their symptoms. NICE have issued guidance that supports the use of complimentary therapy as part of a care package for MS sufferers. Scientists are also currently researching the potential for stem cell treatment to repair the myelin damage caused in MS.

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Migraines: Things You Should Know About

Saturday, June 7th, 2008

Most of us use the word Migraine to describe a bad headache, but in actual fact Migraines are far more complex than that. A migraine is a ‘primary headache’ – meaning it is not a symptom of another problem, such as a cold. For sufferers, migraines are severely debilitating.

Migraine is not as common as we might think, with only 15% of the UK population suffering migraines. Anyone can be a sufferer – from a baby to an elderly person, although it is more common in the productive years. Two thirds of sufferers are women. An attack can last anywhere from a few hours to 72 hours; the sufferer will often be left feeling listless and drained for a few days afterwards however.

The cause of migraines is not fully understood. Until a few years ago it was assumed the migraine was caused by a spasm followed by a sudden dilation of the blood vessels in the brain, but now it is understood to be more complex. The effect of changing levels of a hormone called Seratonin in the body which in turn effects the blood vessels in the brain is now thought to be significant.

The actual headache is defined as common or classic, dependant on the presence of an aura. The ‘common’ migraine is one without an aura and the ‘classic’ being with an aura. An aura is like a warning sign sent from the brain before a headache, and although it can be a range of sensations, it is commonly zigzag lines or blindspots in vision or even numbness of the limbs. This can occur anything from 15 minutes to an hour before the headache.

Sufferers symptoms range from person to person, but there are a number of ‘classic’ symptoms that seem to be generic to everyone. The major symptom is a an intense, throbbing headache, often only on one side of the head. The headache is often accompanied other common symptoms:

  • nausea and / or vomiting
  • An increased sensitivity to light
  • An increased sensitivity to sound
  • An increased sensitivity to smell

When having a migraine, sufferers will want to rest in a quiet, darkened room.

Whilst we know the chemical reaction that is responsible for migraines, we are not sure of the triggers that are responsible for causing that reaction to start. For most people, a number of triggers are needed to combine to start the reaction that causes a migraine. These triggers are as unique to the person as their symptoms, but commonly include emotional and physical stress causing a change in to a persons routine, a change in environment including exposure to bright lights and noises and hormonal change in women.

Food and diet also seem to play an important role for migraine siufferers. We have all heard of cheese starting migraines, but foods such as caffeine, additives and red wine are also common triggers. For migraine sufferers it seems particularly important to eat regularly and avoid dehydration.

There are over the counter and prescription drugs available to treat an attack once it has started. For people with very frequent attacks (more than 1 a week) there are preventative drugs available on prescription but need to be taken regularly for around 6 months and rarely eliminate attacks completely. Because of the adverse long term affects of many of these medications, sufferers are increasingly looking to minimise triggers in their lives and seek alternatives through complimentary therapy.

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All about Hay-fever

Friday, May 30th, 2008

Those who are lucky enough not to suffer from hay fever often think of it as a relatively minor inconvenience. However if you are affected, you know that it can cause a great deal of disruption to your daily life, as well as making you feel downright miserable.

Hay fever, also known as allergic rhinitis, is caused by an allergic reaction to certain substances. Symptoms include runny or blocked nose, sneezing, itchy watery eyes, coughing, headache, fatigue, poor sleep, wheezing, sore throat, irritability and listlessness. Not only the eyes and nose but also the throat, the ears and the roof of the mouth can become very itchy.

Other possible effects of hay fever include increased difficulty in controlling asthma and increased vulnerability to sinus infections, and eye infections or conjunctivitis caused by rubbing watery itchy eyes. People also develop bad breath and husky voices along with the sore throat.

There is no real cure for hay fever, but management strategies can make it easier to live with. The most important management strategy is to figure out your personal triggers and do your best to avoid them. One of the most common causes of hay fever is airborne pollen. It can be difficult to avoid this, so the best strategy is to listen for the pollen count and stay inside on days when it is high. Other triggers include animal dander, dust mites, cigarette smoke, pollution, perfumes and mold spores.

Treatment for hay fever can include medication, non-medicated treatment and immunotherapy. Medications which are effective against the symptoms of hay fever usually contain some form of antihistamine. These counteract the effects of histamines produced by damaged cells during the body’s allergic reaction. Histamines are the direct cause of the itching, irritation and inflammation which make hay fever sufferers so miserable. Antihistamines can be administered as tablets, nasal sprays or eye drops. Other medication may include decongestant sprays or tablets, corticosteroid sprays, mast cell stabilizing sprays and anticholinergic sprays.

Immunotherapy is an attempt to switch off the body’s allergic reaction by gradually exposing it to more and more of the allergen. This is usually done by a series of injections, often over a number of months or even years. You will need to see an allergy specialist or clinical immunologist for this procedure.

Non-medicated treatments seem to work for some people. These include steam inhalation and salt water nasal sprays. Supplements including horseradish, garlic and vitamin C have also been recommended to relieve the symptoms.

Hay fever in children can be difficult to deal with as they can become very tired and irritable due to poor quality sleep. This can affect their ability to learn and concentrate. Some things you can do to reduce their allergies are to breastfeed where possible, delay the introduction of allergy producing foods, and limit their exposure to allergens especially cigarette smoke, dust mites and animal dander.

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Natural Cure for Diabetes

Sunday, May 4th, 2008

Diabetes is a disease where the blood sugar level remains constantly high due to lack of controlling effect of insulin. Increased level of sugar causes many life threatening problems in our body. It damages the immune system and the minor infections can sometimes become life threatening. It damages the tiny blood vessels in our eyes and eventually blindness can occur. Diabetes can cause plaque formation inside the blood vessels and that may lead to heart attack and cerebral stroke. The skin becomes prone to infection. There is no permanent cure for diabetes but we can prevent the complications by keeping the blood sugar level under control. Let us discuss about some of the natural cure for diabetes –

Gymnema sylvestre – There are many naturally occurring herbal medicines available. It was used since a long time in India by the traditional Ayurvedic system of holistic medicine. Scientists have found that high doses of Gymnema extracts can help the pancreatic beta cell to regenerate. This is the gland from where insulin is secreted. After a lot of clinical trial, Gymnema is included into the natural cure for diabetes. In India, traditionally Gymnema is called ‘Gurmar’; the word ‘gur’ means sugar and ‘mar’ means ‘kill’. So, it was known for years as a treatment for diabetes.

Azadirachta indica (Neem) – neem leaves has the power to purify blood. It has been used as a traditional herb for treating and preventing diabetes for long. Moreover, neem leaves has natural antibacterial property. It helps to prevent the infection that might happen in various parts of our body.

Momordica charantia (Karela, Bitter gourd) – karela extract or fresh juice of karela has the blood sugar lowering action. It has been established in various clinical and experimental studies. Recently a British group of experts have named it is ‘plant insulin’ as they found the Karela has some hypoglycemic action like that of insulin. Doctors are now prescribing karela in the daily diet of diabetics.

Pterocarpus marsupium (Kino tree) – it is a plant found in the northern hills in India and is well known for it hypoglycemic action. The active ingredient in this plant – a potent flavonoid has shown the potentiality to help in the regeneration of pancreatic beta cells. A controlled study was conducted among 97 diabetic volunteers in India. The study report shows there is improvement in the state of the disease in 69% of them.

Curcura longa (Turmeric) – it is an essential herb in the Indian system of herbal medicine (Ayurveda). It helps to reduce blood sugar level, potentiates insulin activity in the muscles and accelerates glycogen synthesis. Turmeric has antiseptic activities also.

Syzygium cuminii (Black plum) – in India, the fruit of this plant is called ‘Jamun’. It is also widely used to treat diabetes according to Ayurveda. The aqueous extract of the seed is used and given orally. This preparation helps to lower down the blood glucose and elevates the hemoglobin level.

Zingiber officinale (Ginger) – the patients of type II diabetes will be benefitted by using the ginger root extract. Long standing diabetes helps to produce belching and gastric ulceration. Ginger and its root extract will help to prevent these problems. Although ginger directly does not reduce the blood glucose level, the complications will be averted by using this herb/spice.

Many naturally occurring herbs and plants have their beneficial effect up on human body. Ayurveda – the Indian system of traditional medicine is nurturing this knowledge for centuries.

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Gestational diabetes

Thursday, April 24th, 2008

Gestational diabetes is a special type of diabetes that occurs exclusively during pregnancy. Like all other forms of diabetes, gestational diabetes also gives rise to increased blood sugar and complications out of the increased level of it. This type of diabetes is short lived, the glucose level returns to normal soon after the delivery of the baby.

Gestational diabetes affects about 4% of all the pregnant mothers, an estimated 135,000 cases of gestational diabetes reports each year in the United States. The exact cause of this disease is not known. But it is hypothecated that some placental hormones blocks the action of insulin in the mother’s body although it helps to grow the baby inside the womb. This problem of refractoriness of hormone action is called Insulin resistance. It becomes hard for the mother’s body to use the full benefit of insulin. There is three times increased demand of insulin in the mother’s body. Without the presence of enough effective insulin, glucose can not be converted to glycogen (its stored form) and it starts building up in the blood. The end result is hyperglycemia. Gestational diabetes generally develops after three months of pregnancy (second trimester). But it may occur as early as 20th week and can start at the last trimester of pregnancy also. Primigravida (mothers having first pregnancy) of more than 25 years, those who have a positive family history of gestational diabetes in their close relation, obese mothers are prone to develop this disease. Hispanic, black and American Indian women are racially prone to develop gestational diabetes.

Gestational diabetes occurs when the structure of the baby is formed inside the uterus but it is still in the preliminary stage. So it does not cause any kind of developmental abnormality as seen in the mothers who are suffering from diabetes before pregnancy. Nevertheless, poorly controlled or untreated gestational diabetes can harm the growing baby. The insulin level can not lower the blood glucose in mother. Although mother’s insulin does not cross placenta, glucose and other nutrients easily do and there is increased glucose level in the baby’s blood. This causes the baby’s pancreas to secrete extra insulin to get rid of this extra glucose. As the baby is getting more energy in terms of glucose, this extra energy is stored in the baby’s body as fat and the mother delivers a flabby child (Macrosomia) which of course is not healthy. Macrosomic child can injure themselves to their shoulder at the time of normal delivery besides low blood sugar level owing to high concentration of insulin. These babies are prone to breathing problem, jaundice and obesity. They may develop maturity onset diabetes (type II diabetes) in due time. Gestational diabetes may be a predisposing factor for pre-ecclampsia for the mother.

Screening of gestational diabetes is very important those who possess the risk factors. Glucose challenge test is to be done during 24th and 28th weeks of pregnancy. Blood glucose level below 130-140 mg/dl is considered normal in all occasions.

Regarding treatment of gestational diabetes, planned diet and regular exercise are the two most effective approaches. Diet should be rich in fresh vegetables, fruits and cereals. Plenty of water is to be taken. Pregnancy exercises can be undertaken after consulting your gynecologist. Exercise helps to reduce blood sugar level. Any kind of anxiety and stress must be avoided.

If these two methods fail to control the raised blood glucose level, subcutaneous insulin injection is the last option for management of gestational diabetes.

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Diabetes problems

Saturday, April 12th, 2008

Diabetes is a condition when the level of glucose in our blood increases up to such an extent that it damages different parts of our body organ. Normally, the level of glucose is controlled by a hormone called Insulin, secreted by the beta cells of pancreas. Now, there are two types of diabetes – type I and type II. In the former, there is reduced secretion of insulin as the pancreas gland is damaged due to some reason. In the case of type II diabetes, the is normal or higher level of insulin, but the glucose level still remain increased as the body tissues becomes refractory to the hormone.

Excess amount of blood glucose can harm almost every part of our body. The notable are heart, kidney, eyes, skin and blood vessels. There is increase level of cholesterol also. The combined effect of increased blood glucose and cholesterol help in the formation of plaques (thrombus) inside the blood vessel – leading to heart attacks (when inside the vessels supplying blood to the heart muscle) and stroke (cerebral thromboembolism – when that of the brain). But there are certain things that will help us to prevent or at least slow down the problems caused by diabetes.

Diabetes is a silent killer. Everybody can be affected. Type I diabetes occurs in the younger age group. So, in this category, diabetes problems may not float for years. But the damage still goes on inside our body. Type II diabetes develops in the adult. By the time the disease is diagnosed, it may have been caused some overt manifestations. Either way, maintaining a normal blood glucose and cholesterol level can prevent diabetes problems.

Now the most important question comes. What is the normal blood glues level? According to ADA (American Diabetes Association), a patient will be stamped diabetic when the blood glucose level increases beyond to –

In empty stomach before meals -> 90mg/dl to 130mg/dl of blood

After 1-2 hours from starting a major meal -> less than 180mg/dl of blood

Any measurement above the given parameter is unacceptable. You can check the level by any good quality blood glucose meter or from a nearby laboratory.

High blood pressure and diabetes go hand in hand. So, periodically check your blood pressure from qualified personnel.

You can do a lot of things to prevent diabetes and its complications. This disease is familial. If there is somebody from your close relatives suffering from the disease, watch yourself and check your blood glucose level periodically after six months. Consult your doctor and ask for a low dose aspirin. This will prevent formation of any plaque inside the blood vessels.

You should have a complete eye check up every year. Diabetes is a notorious disease that affects the tiny blood vessels of the retina. And if these vessels are damaged, you are sure to have blindness. Let the ophthalmologist examine your eye by instillation of some medicine to dilate your pupil. You may have vision problem for a day, but do not bother. This examination is highly essential to see the inside of your eye.

Your diet should be optimum. Avoidance of excess carbohydrate and fat is needed. According to modern way of treatment, there is no need to stop taking carbohydrates. The only thing that has to be kept in mind is your daily total calorie intake. Include fresh green leafy vegetables in your diet. Regular exercise is a must.

Following the instructions will help you to prevent diabetic problems.

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Diabetic food

Sunday, March 30th, 2008

Diabetes is a disease where the blood glucose level remains continuously elevated than the normal level. It results into damage in the various bodily organs. Modern concept of diabetes management does not advocate complete restriction of intake of alcohol. Patient is advised to take every foods, but with some precaution to the total daily calorie intake.

The diabetic foods can be divided into six categories. The three main food types are vegetables, fruits and grains, the next group contains milk, milk products and meat products; the last group is fat, oils and sweets.

Total amount of daily intake for a healthy young adult is 1600-2800 cal. Depending upon the built, the amount of calorie is to be determined. Again, women patients will be more benefitted while taking the low range calorie and men are meant to high end calorie group. The precise number of servings will depend on the diabetes goal, lifestyle, division in the calorie and nutrition needs and of course the type of food the patient likes most. The total number of calorie should be judiciously divided into major meals and snacks.

Let us have some idea about different group of foods that is acceptable for a diabetic patient.

Starches and grains

The most acceptable group is cereal, bread, rice and pasta. The bulk of the diabetic diet should come from this group. These foods contain carbohydrates mostly. The acceptable grains are wheat, corn, oats and rye. Vegetables that contain starch like potatoes and peas also belong to this group besides dry beans like pinto beans and black eyed bens. These vegetables come into this group as the have the same amount of calorie as contained in equal serving of a slice of bread. So you can count them as same amount of serving carbohydrates into your meal plan. The following foods can be taken roughly 6-12 servings per day but keep an eye on it and try to take the as lower range as you can. This are – 1 slice of bread, ¾ cup of dry cereal (you can make any preparation – the total calorie should be counted), ¼ of a bagel, one 6” tortilla, ½ cup cooked cereal, 1 cup of winter squash, ½ cup either of yam, potato, peas, cooked beans or corn and 1/3 cup of pasta or rice .

Vegetables

Vegetables are rich in vitamins, fiber and minerals. You can take as much as green leafy vegetables like spinach, sorrel, chicory, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, tomatoes, cucumbers, Brussels sprouts and lettuce. One serving contains 1 cup raw or ½ cup of cooked amount.

Fruits

Fresh fruits contain plenty of vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates and fiber. Fruits that you can take are oranges, blackberries, strawberries, apples, cantaloupe, bananas, grapes and apricots. You can take 2-4 servings a day.

Milk and milk products

Milk is rich in calcium, vitamins and minerals. Low fat or skimmed milk is better. You can take 2-3 servings a day and a serving contains 1 cup of low fat milk or 1 cup of yogurt.

Meat and other non vegetarian items

This group contains beef, chicken, fish, turkey, eggs and cheese. This group provides required amount of proteins and minerals. It is always better to take white meats. You can take 4-6 ounces per day divided into major meals.

Fats and sweets

This is the group you would try to take as less as possible. Otherwise you can save consuming these items for a great treat for a single time once in a while. A single serving include 2 small cookies, ½ cup of ice-cream and 1 cupcake or muffin.

It is not so hard to follow this diet guideline. You can make a great deal of preparations by combining these items and you diabetic life more enjoyable.

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Can Aloe Vera Help to Maintain Your Blood Glucose Level?

Sunday, March 23rd, 2008

The blood glucose level will affect our health. We will have problems such as jitters and headaches if the glucose level is too low. In fact, our body has it own system to regulate the blood sugar level. Insulin will be generated to help to regulate glucose level when it is too high.

Everyone knows the health risk associated with diabetes. Severe cases of diabetes can lead to death. As a matter of fact, diabetes is mainly related to high blood sugar level. And a patient will become more active if the glucose level can be maintained.

In fact, aloe vera can also be used to maintain our blood glucose level. According to studies reported in Journal of Ethnopharmacology and Diabetes Research, aloe vera can even benefit diabetes patients. In a particular study, aloe vera was given to alloxan-diabetic mice orally. And reduction in blood glucose levels were observed during the five day experiment.

In another study performed by Medical Plant Information Centre, faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University in Bangok, 72 diabetic patients, aged between 35 and 60, were randomly assigned to a group with aloe vera treatment and a control group with placebo. The patients with aloe treatment took tablespoon of Aloe vera juice two times a day. The study lasted for 42 days and the blood sugar level was measured once a week.

It is found that there was a significant reduction in blood glucose level for the patients in the treatment group.

As a result, some patients will treat aloe vera as an alternative in maintaining the blood sugar level. Although the studies show a positive results for diabetes patient to take aloe vera, patients should not take it causally. However, a patients should always consult the doctors before taking aloe vera!

*The above are not medical advices of any kind. Readers should consult their doctors or physicians before making any decisions on treatments and medications.

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