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Wednesday, May 27, 2009
AIDS Prevention Info
HIV is transmitted through all forms of unprotected sexual intercourse, i.e., vaginal, anal or oral sex without the proper use of a latex condom, and through sharing needles or syringes with someone who is infected with HIV. Because HIV can "hide" in the body for 10 years or more before it shows up as AIDS, you must never assume that just because you cannot "see" it in a person, it is not there!
AIDS Tips for Teens
AIDS is a condition caused by a virus called HIV that attacks a person's immune system, making it defenseless against diseases and infections. The full medical name for AIDS is Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome and the virus is called the Human Immunodeficiency Virus.
AIDS Tips for Teens
AIDS is a condition caused by a virus called HIV that attacks a person's immune system, making it defenseless against diseases and infections. The full medical name for AIDS is Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome and the virus is called the Human Immunodeficiency Virus.
Asthma Information
Asthma Information
Asthma is characterized by coughing, chest tightness, shortness of breath and wheezing. Asthma symptoms can be triggered by several factors, including: allergens or irritants; viral or sinus infections; exercise; reflux disease (stomach acid flowing back up the esophagus); medications or foods; and emotional anxiety.
Caffeine and Asthma
If you feel an asthma attack coming on and don't have your inhaler handy, try a couple cups of coffee, tea, hot chocolate, or chocolate bars. The caffeine will help open your airways.
Controlling Your Asthma
If you find yourself using your quick-relief inhaler to stop an asthma attack more than twice a week, it may be time for a different medication. In fact, if you have to refill your inhaler more than two times a year or are awakened by asthma symptoms two nights or more per week, you also probably need a change.
Correct Inhaler Use
If you use an inhaler to treat your asthma, remember that it's not a breath freshener. You must deeply inhale the medication into your lungs and hold it for three to five seconds before exhaling slowly.
NSAIDs, Aspirin and Asthma
Asthma sufferers should use the non-aspirin pain reliever acetaminophen (Tylenol) because the use of aspirin and NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs), such as Advil/Motrin (ibuprofen) and Aleve (naproxen sodium), have the tendency to worsen asthma.
Asthma is characterized by coughing, chest tightness, shortness of breath and wheezing. Asthma symptoms can be triggered by several factors, including: allergens or irritants; viral or sinus infections; exercise; reflux disease (stomach acid flowing back up the esophagus); medications or foods; and emotional anxiety.
Caffeine and Asthma
If you feel an asthma attack coming on and don't have your inhaler handy, try a couple cups of coffee, tea, hot chocolate, or chocolate bars. The caffeine will help open your airways.
Controlling Your Asthma
If you find yourself using your quick-relief inhaler to stop an asthma attack more than twice a week, it may be time for a different medication. In fact, if you have to refill your inhaler more than two times a year or are awakened by asthma symptoms two nights or more per week, you also probably need a change.
Correct Inhaler Use
If you use an inhaler to treat your asthma, remember that it's not a breath freshener. You must deeply inhale the medication into your lungs and hold it for three to five seconds before exhaling slowly.
NSAIDs, Aspirin and Asthma
Asthma sufferers should use the non-aspirin pain reliever acetaminophen (Tylenol) because the use of aspirin and NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs), such as Advil/Motrin (ibuprofen) and Aleve (naproxen sodium), have the tendency to worsen asthma.
Banana - The alltime favorite and affordable fruit.
Bananas have been the alltime favorite and perennial fruit for hundreds of years now. It has many curative properties. This fruit is affordable by anyone and is available in plenty in India. All the varieties available are beneficial in their own way.
Banana is rich in fiber content and also contains natural sugars like sucrose, fructose and glucose. Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.
Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.
PMS: Forget the pills -- eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.
Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.
Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it the perfect way to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.
Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that t the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.
Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.
Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.
Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.
Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.
Mosquito bites:Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.
Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.
Overweight and at work?
Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.
Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.
Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand, for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.
Smoking: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.
Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.
Strokes: According to research in "The New England Journal of Medicine," eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!
Banana is rich in fiber content and also contains natural sugars like sucrose, fructose and glucose. Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.
Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.
PMS: Forget the pills -- eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.
Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.
Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it the perfect way to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.
Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that t the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.
Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.
Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.
Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.
Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.
Mosquito bites:Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.
Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.
Overweight and at work?
Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.
Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.
Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand, for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.
Smoking: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.
Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.
Strokes: According to research in "The New England Journal of Medicine," eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!
Dengue - fatal disease, causes and cures
Dengue fever is a flu kind of illness spread by mosquito bites. Dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fever are caused by any of the dengue family virus. This is also widely known as 'Break bone fever' due to the severe joint pain caused during the attack. Dengue can be diagnosed by blood test. The infected person as such cannot spread the infection but can be a source to spread it.
Dengue hemorrhagic fever is often complicated and severe. This rather can be termed as a complication dengue fever. Those bitten by the mosquito can get dengue fever and those already infected once if infected again are prone to higher risk of getting dengue hemorrhagic fever.
Dengue is an infectious disease causing frequent epidemics. There are various factors that contribute like lack of effective mosquito control, lack of public health systems to control the epidemic, the increase usage of plastic items which are the breeding sites of the mosquitoes.
Dengue is spread by the bite of an 'Ades' Mosquito. This mosquito bites the infected person and then bites someone else who is not affected thus transmitting the infection. These mosquitoes are active during the day time and spread the infection during day time. These mosquitoes live among human beings and breed in discarded tyres, flower pots, water stores etc.,
Dengue fever starts suddenly accompanied by headache, severe joint pain ,rashes, nausea and lack of appetite. The illness can last up to 10 days and the complete recovery could take about four to six weeks. Widely the dengue infections result in relatively mild illness however in some cases it may lead to the dengue hemorrhagic fever. In the complicated stage the blood vessels start to leak and cause bleeding through mouth, nose and gums. This is most prevalent among children and young adults. This stage requires close medical attention.
Treatment for Dengue and Dengue Hemorrhagic fever
As far as the treatment is concerned there is no specific course, However the affected person is treated with Paracetamol to bring down the fever. The person is usually adviced to drink lots of fluids. The infected person should be isolated until recovery from the rest of the family to prevent further infections.
Although there is no vaccine to prevent this epidemic certain preventive measures as specified below can be taken to control the epidemic.
Preventive Measures to control Dengue Fever
* Use mosquito repellents.
* discard all unwanted items getting gathered around the living area to avoid the breeding of mosquitoes.
* Keep the water stores clean and closed.
* keep yourself well covered when outside.
* Take prompt medical advice once fever starts.
Dengue hemorrhagic fever is often complicated and severe. This rather can be termed as a complication dengue fever. Those bitten by the mosquito can get dengue fever and those already infected once if infected again are prone to higher risk of getting dengue hemorrhagic fever.
Dengue is an infectious disease causing frequent epidemics. There are various factors that contribute like lack of effective mosquito control, lack of public health systems to control the epidemic, the increase usage of plastic items which are the breeding sites of the mosquitoes.
Dengue is spread by the bite of an 'Ades' Mosquito. This mosquito bites the infected person and then bites someone else who is not affected thus transmitting the infection. These mosquitoes are active during the day time and spread the infection during day time. These mosquitoes live among human beings and breed in discarded tyres, flower pots, water stores etc.,
Dengue fever starts suddenly accompanied by headache, severe joint pain ,rashes, nausea and lack of appetite. The illness can last up to 10 days and the complete recovery could take about four to six weeks. Widely the dengue infections result in relatively mild illness however in some cases it may lead to the dengue hemorrhagic fever. In the complicated stage the blood vessels start to leak and cause bleeding through mouth, nose and gums. This is most prevalent among children and young adults. This stage requires close medical attention.
Treatment for Dengue and Dengue Hemorrhagic fever
As far as the treatment is concerned there is no specific course, However the affected person is treated with Paracetamol to bring down the fever. The person is usually adviced to drink lots of fluids. The infected person should be isolated until recovery from the rest of the family to prevent further infections.
Although there is no vaccine to prevent this epidemic certain preventive measures as specified below can be taken to control the epidemic.
Preventive Measures to control Dengue Fever
* Use mosquito repellents.
* discard all unwanted items getting gathered around the living area to avoid the breeding of mosquitoes.
* Keep the water stores clean and closed.
* keep yourself well covered when outside.
* Take prompt medical advice once fever starts.
Avian Influenza - Bird Flu
FLU: As birds ready for trans-border migration beginning November, chances are that the avian flu virus too flies into new areas. Is this the beginning of pandemic? Nations are in a state of fear as the virus threatens to melt borders and spread the wings of death.
WITH the bird flu outbreak in Asia spreading to Europe, alarm bells have started ringing with the UN also asking for action. Tens of thousands of ducks and chickens have been culled to curtail the disease’s spread. As the human death toll continues to grow, many are concerned that the virus will mutate and trigger a human pandemic.
October to February is also a crucial period for the Indian authorities as this is the season when migratory birds visit the subcontinent. Many have already started arriving. Health has prepared a fact file on the flu’s spread.
What is avian influenza (Bird flu)?
Bird flu is an infection caused by avian (bird) influenza (flu) viruses. Theses flu viruses occur naturally among birds. Wild birds worldwide carry the viruses in their intestines, but usually do not get sick from them. However, bird flu is very contagious among birds and can make some domesticated birds, including chickens, ducks, and turkeys, very sick and kill them.
Bird flu and humans
There are many different subtypes of type A influenza viruses. These subtypes differ because of certain proteins on the surface of the influenza A virus (hemagglutinin{HA} and neuraminidase {NA} proteins). There are 16 different HA subtypes and 9 different NA subtypes of flu A viruses. Many different combinations of HA and NA proteins are possible. Each combination is a different subtype. All known subtypes of flu A viruses can be found in birds. However, when we talk about bird flu viruses, we are referring to influenza A subtypes chiefly found in birds. They do not usually infect humans, even though we know they can. When we talk about human flu viruses we are referring to those subtypes that occur widely in humans. There are only three known A subtypes of human flu viruses (H1N1, H1N2 and H3N2); it is likely that some genetic parts of current human influenza A viruses came from birds originally. Influenza A viruses are constantly changing, and they might adapt over time to infect and spread among humans. Bird flu viruses do not usually infect humans, but several cases of human infection with bird flu viruses have occurred since 1997.
Human Symptoms
Symptoms of bird flu in humans have ranged from typical flu-like symptoms (fever, cough, sore throat and muscle aches) to eye infections, pneumonia, severe respiratory diseases (such as acute respiratory distress), and other severe and life-threatening complications. The symptoms of bird flu may depend on which virus caused the infection
The Spread
Infected Birds shed flu virus in their saliva, nasal secretions, and feces. Susceptible birds become infected when they have contact with contaminated excretions or surfaces that are contaminated with excretions. It is believed that most cases of bird flu infection in humans have resulted from contact with infected poultry or contaminated surfaces. The spread of avian influenza viruses from one ill person to another has been reported very rarely, and transmission has not been observed to continue beyond one person.
Treatment
Studies done in laboratories suggest that the prescription medicines approved for human flu viruses should work in preventing bird flu infection in humans.
However, flu viruses can become resistant to these drugs, so these medications may not always work. Additional studies are needed to prove the effectiveness of these medicines. People should avoid contact with infected birds or contaminated surfaces, and should be careful when handling and cooking poultry.
Avian influenza A (H5N1) virus
Influenza A (H5N1) virus also called H5N1 virus is an influenza A virus subtype that occurs mainly in birds. Outbreaks of influenza H5N1 occurred among poultry in eight countries in Asia during late 2003 and early 2004. It is believed that these outbreaks are ongoing. Most recently, influenza H5N1 has been reported among poultry in Turkey and Romania. Human infections of influenza A (H5N1) have been reported in Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam. In Hong Kong the virus caused severe respiratory illness in 18 people, 6 of whom died. Since that time, there have been other cases of H5N1 infection among humans. Recent human cases of H5N1 infection that have occurred in Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam have coincided with large H5N1 outbreaks in poultry. The World Health Organization (WHO) also has reported human cases in Indonesia. Most of these cases have occurred from contact with infected poultry or contaminated surfaces; however, it is though that a few cases of human-to-human spread of H5N1 have occurred.
So far, spread of H5N1 virus from person to person has been rare and has not continued beyond one person. However, because all influenza viruses have the ability to change, scientists are concerned that the H5N1 virus one day could be able to infect humans and spread easily from one person to another. Because these viruses do not commonly infect humans, there is little or no immune protection against them in the human population.
If the H5N1 virus were able to infect people and spread easily from person to person, an influenza pandemic (worldwide outbreak of disease) could begin. No one can predict when a pandemic might occur.
However, experts from around the world are watching the H5N1 situation in Asia very closely and are preparing for the possibility that the virus may begin to spread more easily and widely from person to person.
H5N1 virus treatment
The H5N1 virus currently infecting birds in Asia that has caused human illness and death is resistant to amantadine and rimantadine, two antiviral medications commonly used for influenza. Two other antiviral medications, oseltamavir and zanamavir, would probably work to treat flu caused by the H5N1 virus, but additional studies still need to be done to prove their effectiveness.
WITH the bird flu outbreak in Asia spreading to Europe, alarm bells have started ringing with the UN also asking for action. Tens of thousands of ducks and chickens have been culled to curtail the disease’s spread. As the human death toll continues to grow, many are concerned that the virus will mutate and trigger a human pandemic.
October to February is also a crucial period for the Indian authorities as this is the season when migratory birds visit the subcontinent. Many have already started arriving. Health has prepared a fact file on the flu’s spread.
What is avian influenza (Bird flu)?
Bird flu is an infection caused by avian (bird) influenza (flu) viruses. Theses flu viruses occur naturally among birds. Wild birds worldwide carry the viruses in their intestines, but usually do not get sick from them. However, bird flu is very contagious among birds and can make some domesticated birds, including chickens, ducks, and turkeys, very sick and kill them.
Bird flu and humans
There are many different subtypes of type A influenza viruses. These subtypes differ because of certain proteins on the surface of the influenza A virus (hemagglutinin{HA} and neuraminidase {NA} proteins). There are 16 different HA subtypes and 9 different NA subtypes of flu A viruses. Many different combinations of HA and NA proteins are possible. Each combination is a different subtype. All known subtypes of flu A viruses can be found in birds. However, when we talk about bird flu viruses, we are referring to influenza A subtypes chiefly found in birds. They do not usually infect humans, even though we know they can. When we talk about human flu viruses we are referring to those subtypes that occur widely in humans. There are only three known A subtypes of human flu viruses (H1N1, H1N2 and H3N2); it is likely that some genetic parts of current human influenza A viruses came from birds originally. Influenza A viruses are constantly changing, and they might adapt over time to infect and spread among humans. Bird flu viruses do not usually infect humans, but several cases of human infection with bird flu viruses have occurred since 1997.
Human Symptoms
Symptoms of bird flu in humans have ranged from typical flu-like symptoms (fever, cough, sore throat and muscle aches) to eye infections, pneumonia, severe respiratory diseases (such as acute respiratory distress), and other severe and life-threatening complications. The symptoms of bird flu may depend on which virus caused the infection
The Spread
Infected Birds shed flu virus in their saliva, nasal secretions, and feces. Susceptible birds become infected when they have contact with contaminated excretions or surfaces that are contaminated with excretions. It is believed that most cases of bird flu infection in humans have resulted from contact with infected poultry or contaminated surfaces. The spread of avian influenza viruses from one ill person to another has been reported very rarely, and transmission has not been observed to continue beyond one person.
Treatment
Studies done in laboratories suggest that the prescription medicines approved for human flu viruses should work in preventing bird flu infection in humans.
However, flu viruses can become resistant to these drugs, so these medications may not always work. Additional studies are needed to prove the effectiveness of these medicines. People should avoid contact with infected birds or contaminated surfaces, and should be careful when handling and cooking poultry.
Avian influenza A (H5N1) virus
Influenza A (H5N1) virus also called H5N1 virus is an influenza A virus subtype that occurs mainly in birds. Outbreaks of influenza H5N1 occurred among poultry in eight countries in Asia during late 2003 and early 2004. It is believed that these outbreaks are ongoing. Most recently, influenza H5N1 has been reported among poultry in Turkey and Romania. Human infections of influenza A (H5N1) have been reported in Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam. In Hong Kong the virus caused severe respiratory illness in 18 people, 6 of whom died. Since that time, there have been other cases of H5N1 infection among humans. Recent human cases of H5N1 infection that have occurred in Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam have coincided with large H5N1 outbreaks in poultry. The World Health Organization (WHO) also has reported human cases in Indonesia. Most of these cases have occurred from contact with infected poultry or contaminated surfaces; however, it is though that a few cases of human-to-human spread of H5N1 have occurred.
So far, spread of H5N1 virus from person to person has been rare and has not continued beyond one person. However, because all influenza viruses have the ability to change, scientists are concerned that the H5N1 virus one day could be able to infect humans and spread easily from one person to another. Because these viruses do not commonly infect humans, there is little or no immune protection against them in the human population.
If the H5N1 virus were able to infect people and spread easily from person to person, an influenza pandemic (worldwide outbreak of disease) could begin. No one can predict when a pandemic might occur.
However, experts from around the world are watching the H5N1 situation in Asia very closely and are preparing for the possibility that the virus may begin to spread more easily and widely from person to person.
H5N1 virus treatment
The H5N1 virus currently infecting birds in Asia that has caused human illness and death is resistant to amantadine and rimantadine, two antiviral medications commonly used for influenza. Two other antiviral medications, oseltamavir and zanamavir, would probably work to treat flu caused by the H5N1 virus, but additional studies still need to be done to prove their effectiveness.
Heart Care and Cholesterol Control
AN INDULGENT LIFESTYLE AND AN INADEQUATE DIET ARE TWO MAJOR CAUSES OF HEART DISEASE. TO STAY FIT HERE ARE A FEW MEASURES OF CARE AND CONTROL
Heart Diseases and Hypertension which lead to heart or other organ failures has been on the rise for the past 2 decades. People above the age of 40 have been suffering from such problems due to their unbalanced dietary habits. Its always advisable to control these factors if you want to reduce your risk.
Preventing Coronary Diseases
When there are excess deposits of fat, cholesterol or other substances in the inner wall of arteries, the arteries narrow and harden into a condition known as astherosclerosis, the most common cause of heart trouble. A planned diet and regular exercise are the key to prevent atheroclerosis.
Friendly and Unfriendly FATS
FAT should not exceed 30 per cent of your total calorie intake, which includes a maximum of 10 per cent saturated fat and 10 per cent mono-unsaturated fats. Saturated fatty acids in full-cream milk and red meat increase your cholesterol level. Use non-fat or low-fat milk and milk products instead of full-cream milk and avoid sources of saturated fatty acids like lard, butter, cream, palm oil, coconut oil, ghee and vanaspati
Mono-unsaturated fats that lower cholesterol as well as prevent formation of blood clots are present in olive, canola, peanut and mustard oils. It’s best to use these while cooking.
Omega-3, a fatty acid that prevents atherosclerosis is present in foods like herring, mackerel, salmon, tuna, soyabean, walnuts and butternuts. Take these regularly in small quantities to prevent atherosclerosis.
Cutting Cholesterol
Dietary cholesterol should be limited to 300 mg per day. Since it largely comes from animal products, consumption of non-vegetarian foods, whole milk and milk products hould be restricted. For example, an egg has 250 gm of cholesterol and it is not advisable to take more than two to three eggs a week.
Take healthy alternatives like chicken, fish, beans, vegetable, fruits, bread, pulses, wholewheat flour, cereals, rice, millet, skimmed milk and skimmed milk products and vegetable oils like corn, sesame, soyabean, sunflower, canola, olive and mustard.
Heart disease is less frequent among those who eat high carbohydrate and fibre-rich foods. Carbohydrate and fibre-rich foods. Carbohydrates should provide at least 55 per cent of your daily calories. Foods like bread, chapattis, cereals, rice and dals provide an adequate amount of carbohydrates.
How to control Chest Pain:
*
Boil 4-5 pods of garlic in a glass of milk and consume the garlic pods with milk daily to avoid chest pain.
*
Pound the dates with the seeds and eat them every day.
*
Increase the intake of ginger and lime in your diet.
*
Pound urad dhal to powder and eat it regularly.
*
Drink a glass of milk mixed with kadukai powder every night before going to bed.
*
Take a spoon of tulsi juice with honey in empty stomach every day.
Heart Diseases and Hypertension which lead to heart or other organ failures has been on the rise for the past 2 decades. People above the age of 40 have been suffering from such problems due to their unbalanced dietary habits. Its always advisable to control these factors if you want to reduce your risk.
Preventing Coronary Diseases
When there are excess deposits of fat, cholesterol or other substances in the inner wall of arteries, the arteries narrow and harden into a condition known as astherosclerosis, the most common cause of heart trouble. A planned diet and regular exercise are the key to prevent atheroclerosis.
Friendly and Unfriendly FATS
FAT should not exceed 30 per cent of your total calorie intake, which includes a maximum of 10 per cent saturated fat and 10 per cent mono-unsaturated fats. Saturated fatty acids in full-cream milk and red meat increase your cholesterol level. Use non-fat or low-fat milk and milk products instead of full-cream milk and avoid sources of saturated fatty acids like lard, butter, cream, palm oil, coconut oil, ghee and vanaspati
Mono-unsaturated fats that lower cholesterol as well as prevent formation of blood clots are present in olive, canola, peanut and mustard oils. It’s best to use these while cooking.
Omega-3, a fatty acid that prevents atherosclerosis is present in foods like herring, mackerel, salmon, tuna, soyabean, walnuts and butternuts. Take these regularly in small quantities to prevent atherosclerosis.
Cutting Cholesterol
Dietary cholesterol should be limited to 300 mg per day. Since it largely comes from animal products, consumption of non-vegetarian foods, whole milk and milk products hould be restricted. For example, an egg has 250 gm of cholesterol and it is not advisable to take more than two to three eggs a week.
Take healthy alternatives like chicken, fish, beans, vegetable, fruits, bread, pulses, wholewheat flour, cereals, rice, millet, skimmed milk and skimmed milk products and vegetable oils like corn, sesame, soyabean, sunflower, canola, olive and mustard.
Heart disease is less frequent among those who eat high carbohydrate and fibre-rich foods. Carbohydrate and fibre-rich foods. Carbohydrates should provide at least 55 per cent of your daily calories. Foods like bread, chapattis, cereals, rice and dals provide an adequate amount of carbohydrates.
How to control Chest Pain:
*
Boil 4-5 pods of garlic in a glass of milk and consume the garlic pods with milk daily to avoid chest pain.
*
Pound the dates with the seeds and eat them every day.
*
Increase the intake of ginger and lime in your diet.
*
Pound urad dhal to powder and eat it regularly.
*
Drink a glass of milk mixed with kadukai powder every night before going to bed.
*
Take a spoon of tulsi juice with honey in empty stomach every day.
Heart full of Love
A Close look at how love is generated and how it works on health and body
On Valentine’s Day, a close look at how love is generated and how it works on health and body.
Valentine’s Day – a day when love is in the air, hearts and fluttering eyelids. It is a day when the young exchange gifts to express their love swelling in their heart. Why young? Even golden oldies have started joining the love band-wagon and rediscovering life.
You must be wondering what has Health to do with love. Heart is understandable, fluttering eyelids, well – passable, but love? Well, scientists consider love as a drug that is good for your heart and brain.
It might sound unfair to clinically dissect love and term it a function of a few naughty genes or chemicals with a few ‘college-going’ molecules or proteins that have mastered the art of sending a few lovelorn SMS to the brain. Probably Dr Spock of Star Treck would have loved to knit his brows and wonder why people go crazy over love.Studies have shown that falling in love physically is very similar to taking drugs. It has an effect on the heart, shows typical signs of withdrawal symptoms and a few may get addicted too! That later.
Being attracted to someone is actually the result of a series of chemicals and hormones at work. The first spark comes from the brain that releases a neuro-transmitter chemical called dopamine. This results in a chain reaction leading to the heart pounding three times faster than normal. The extra gush of blood finds its way to the cheeks and sexual organs. This sudden diversion of blood makes your stomach feel a bit empty and this causes the feeling of butterflies in the stomach. Since the blood goes to specified areas, the hands and legs get a diminished supply of blood resulting in the palms getting cold and a slight shiver setting in. This is why many in love look a bit disoriented, nervous and they wear a new colour on their face.
Did I hear you say ‘how unromantic’? Well there is more.
How does the body benefit while in love? When in love, the body releases special chemicals that make you feel good, content and happy. This can spur creativity and that probably explains why most poets, artists, writers and people with extraordinary talents are also good at love.
Love can result in sexual activity and this can affect the entire body – from head to toe. Doctors believe that love-making is a good aerobic exercise that improves the circulation and can do wonders to the heart. Studies have shown that sexually active people tend to suffer from fewer heart attacks may be due to their better fitness. But you need to attain the right age to do this so that it can benefit the body.
It can also benefit in weight reduction. Intercourse can burn around 200 calories. And all this happens in just a few minutes work compared to a 15-minute workout on a treadmill at a gym.
In love-making the body releases endorphins, which can mitigate chronic pain of back ache, arthritis and migraines. Since brain chemicals are involved, sexually active people are less vulnerable to depression and suicides. Love-making is also good to calm anxieties, ease fear and can break down inhibitions – all this because of special hormones released by the brain and body.
Some research work has shown that frequent love-making can boost levels of key immune cells that can help fight colds and other infections.
A small study has shown that oxytocin and DHEA hormone released during love-making may prevent breast cancer cells from developing into tumors. Frequent love-making has also been linked to longer life – may be due to the beneficial effects on the heart and immune system.
But if love is just a chemical reaction, why is it that we do not fall head over heals over everyone. Why is that we get attracted to some and not to all? Well, again a bouquet of chemical is at work. Researchers say that the body releases special chemicals that the nose does not catch, but the brain does. And the brain selects the odour of somebody who has a very different immune system. That is why you seldom fall in love with a close relative.
For survival, mankind needs as diverse a gene pool as possible. Otherwise one disease will wipe out the entire humanity.
But if you thought that love involves a huge part of the brain, you are mistaken. In 2000, Andreas and Semir Zeki of University College, London, located the areas of the brain activated by romantic love. They took students who said they were madly in love, put them into a brain scanner, and looked at their patterns of brain activity. The results were rather surprising for such a wonderful emotion called love. The research showed that only a relatively small area of the human brain is active when a person is involved in deep love. But more parts of the brain are active and involved when the motion switches to ordinary friendship. “It is fascinating to reflect”, the pair conclude, “that the face that launched a thousand ships should have done so thorough such a limited expanse of cortex.” (As quoted in The Economist).
The second surprise was that the brain areas active in love are different from the areas activated in other emotional states, such as fear and anger. Parts of the brain that are love-bitten include the one responsible for gut feelings, and the ones which generate the euphoria induced by drugs such as cocaine. So the brains of people deeply in love do not look like those of people experiencing strong emotions, but instead like those of people snoring coke. Love, in other words, uses the neural mechanisms and pathways that are activated during the process of addiction. “We are literally addicted to love,” Dr Young observes.
When a person is in love, the special chemicals and hormones give the body an extra-ordinary feel-good envelope – an effect that is very similar to what cocaine or the drug Ecstasy does to the body and mind. Addiction experts say that attraction and lust are very similar to drugs – it leaves you wanting more. However, the ‘high’ is only temporary – just like in cocaine.
Brain scans have also revealed that the different flavours of love come different spots in the brain. Researchers say that love primarily comes in three distinct flavours: lust, romantic love and long-term attachment. In many cases there can be an overlap, but in essence these are separate phenomena.
Studies have proved that a dip in the chemicals and hormones involved in love result in a decrease in sexual activity. That is why people on drugs for certain ailments find themselves less active sexually because their chemical pool gets altered. Age will also do the same thing.
But love is much more than just genes, chemicals and hormones. So forget all this and just celebrate the different hues of love on Valentine’s Day. You can always fool the body’s chemicals and as someone said: love is in the mind and heart. Life, they say, is like a game of tennis. You need to first serve and it all begins with LOVE ALL.
On Valentine’s Day, a close look at how love is generated and how it works on health and body.
Valentine’s Day – a day when love is in the air, hearts and fluttering eyelids. It is a day when the young exchange gifts to express their love swelling in their heart. Why young? Even golden oldies have started joining the love band-wagon and rediscovering life.
You must be wondering what has Health to do with love. Heart is understandable, fluttering eyelids, well – passable, but love? Well, scientists consider love as a drug that is good for your heart and brain.
It might sound unfair to clinically dissect love and term it a function of a few naughty genes or chemicals with a few ‘college-going’ molecules or proteins that have mastered the art of sending a few lovelorn SMS to the brain. Probably Dr Spock of Star Treck would have loved to knit his brows and wonder why people go crazy over love.Studies have shown that falling in love physically is very similar to taking drugs. It has an effect on the heart, shows typical signs of withdrawal symptoms and a few may get addicted too! That later.
Being attracted to someone is actually the result of a series of chemicals and hormones at work. The first spark comes from the brain that releases a neuro-transmitter chemical called dopamine. This results in a chain reaction leading to the heart pounding three times faster than normal. The extra gush of blood finds its way to the cheeks and sexual organs. This sudden diversion of blood makes your stomach feel a bit empty and this causes the feeling of butterflies in the stomach. Since the blood goes to specified areas, the hands and legs get a diminished supply of blood resulting in the palms getting cold and a slight shiver setting in. This is why many in love look a bit disoriented, nervous and they wear a new colour on their face.
Did I hear you say ‘how unromantic’? Well there is more.
How does the body benefit while in love? When in love, the body releases special chemicals that make you feel good, content and happy. This can spur creativity and that probably explains why most poets, artists, writers and people with extraordinary talents are also good at love.
Love can result in sexual activity and this can affect the entire body – from head to toe. Doctors believe that love-making is a good aerobic exercise that improves the circulation and can do wonders to the heart. Studies have shown that sexually active people tend to suffer from fewer heart attacks may be due to their better fitness. But you need to attain the right age to do this so that it can benefit the body.
It can also benefit in weight reduction. Intercourse can burn around 200 calories. And all this happens in just a few minutes work compared to a 15-minute workout on a treadmill at a gym.
In love-making the body releases endorphins, which can mitigate chronic pain of back ache, arthritis and migraines. Since brain chemicals are involved, sexually active people are less vulnerable to depression and suicides. Love-making is also good to calm anxieties, ease fear and can break down inhibitions – all this because of special hormones released by the brain and body.
Some research work has shown that frequent love-making can boost levels of key immune cells that can help fight colds and other infections.
A small study has shown that oxytocin and DHEA hormone released during love-making may prevent breast cancer cells from developing into tumors. Frequent love-making has also been linked to longer life – may be due to the beneficial effects on the heart and immune system.
But if love is just a chemical reaction, why is it that we do not fall head over heals over everyone. Why is that we get attracted to some and not to all? Well, again a bouquet of chemical is at work. Researchers say that the body releases special chemicals that the nose does not catch, but the brain does. And the brain selects the odour of somebody who has a very different immune system. That is why you seldom fall in love with a close relative.
For survival, mankind needs as diverse a gene pool as possible. Otherwise one disease will wipe out the entire humanity.
But if you thought that love involves a huge part of the brain, you are mistaken. In 2000, Andreas and Semir Zeki of University College, London, located the areas of the brain activated by romantic love. They took students who said they were madly in love, put them into a brain scanner, and looked at their patterns of brain activity. The results were rather surprising for such a wonderful emotion called love. The research showed that only a relatively small area of the human brain is active when a person is involved in deep love. But more parts of the brain are active and involved when the motion switches to ordinary friendship. “It is fascinating to reflect”, the pair conclude, “that the face that launched a thousand ships should have done so thorough such a limited expanse of cortex.” (As quoted in The Economist).
The second surprise was that the brain areas active in love are different from the areas activated in other emotional states, such as fear and anger. Parts of the brain that are love-bitten include the one responsible for gut feelings, and the ones which generate the euphoria induced by drugs such as cocaine. So the brains of people deeply in love do not look like those of people experiencing strong emotions, but instead like those of people snoring coke. Love, in other words, uses the neural mechanisms and pathways that are activated during the process of addiction. “We are literally addicted to love,” Dr Young observes.
When a person is in love, the special chemicals and hormones give the body an extra-ordinary feel-good envelope – an effect that is very similar to what cocaine or the drug Ecstasy does to the body and mind. Addiction experts say that attraction and lust are very similar to drugs – it leaves you wanting more. However, the ‘high’ is only temporary – just like in cocaine.
Brain scans have also revealed that the different flavours of love come different spots in the brain. Researchers say that love primarily comes in three distinct flavours: lust, romantic love and long-term attachment. In many cases there can be an overlap, but in essence these are separate phenomena.
Studies have proved that a dip in the chemicals and hormones involved in love result in a decrease in sexual activity. That is why people on drugs for certain ailments find themselves less active sexually because their chemical pool gets altered. Age will also do the same thing.
But love is much more than just genes, chemicals and hormones. So forget all this and just celebrate the different hues of love on Valentine’s Day. You can always fool the body’s chemicals and as someone said: love is in the mind and heart. Life, they say, is like a game of tennis. You need to first serve and it all begins with LOVE ALL.
How to get a Good Night Sleep
Are you getting enough sleep? If not, you are not alone. A recent study has found that one in every two Indians (46 per cent) sleeps less than six hours. A busy work schedule, a hectic social life, household chores and children’s worries leave little time for sleep. Modern life builds up so much stress and anxiety that when we do get to bed, most of us find it difficult to sleep well.
Adults need at least seven to eight hours of sleep every night, to perform optimally. Children need even more sleep. Less sleep causes morning headaches and daytime fatigue, leading to poor concentration and performance.
Insomnia includes the inability to sleep, frequent awakenings during the night and not being able to go back to sleep, or waking up too early. Women are more likely to suffer from chronic insomnia – the ratio is about two women to one man. Working women, in particular, build up a large sleep debt over the years.
To a large extent, we can control the quantity and quality of our sleep. The key to a restful night’s sleep is to calm down your brain rather than rev it up.
What you eat affects how you sleep. Some food slows down nerve traffic and calms the brain and contributes towards a restful sleep; such food are called sleepers. Other perk up the brain and keep you awake; such food are called wakers.
Sleepers contain tryptophan, an amino acid that makes up protein, which produces the sleep – inducing substances, serotonin and melatonin. Food that contains tryptophan or make more tryptophan available to the brain make us sleepy.
Ideal sleepers are food which contains moderate amounts of carbohydrate stimulates the release of insulin which clears amino acids that compete with tryptophan making it more available to the brain. At the same time, protein contributes tryptophan directly to the brain.
Great snooze food includes; dairy products (paneer, cheese, milk and curd), meat, poultry or seafood, whole grains vegetables and pulses (including soyabeans).
Indian dinners usually have a fair share of these types of food. However, our traditional cooking practices include a lot of fat and spices, both of which in terferes with sleep.
Calcium helps the brain use tryptophan; this explains the soporific effect of a glass of milk at bedtime. Foods containing caffeine such as tea,coffee, colas and chocolates are wakers. a high-protein meal without carbohydrates contains the amino acid, tyrosine, which perks up the brain.
An all carbohydrate snack, especially one high in sugar, is less likely to help you sleep. It will raise blood sugar and inhibit sleep. Later, when blood sugar drops too low, you might wake up and not be able to fall back asleep. Also, you will miss out on the sleep-inducing effects of tryptophan.
Adults need at least seven to eight hours of sleep every night, to perform optimally. Children need even more sleep. Less sleep causes morning headaches and daytime fatigue, leading to poor concentration and performance.
Insomnia includes the inability to sleep, frequent awakenings during the night and not being able to go back to sleep, or waking up too early. Women are more likely to suffer from chronic insomnia – the ratio is about two women to one man. Working women, in particular, build up a large sleep debt over the years.
To a large extent, we can control the quantity and quality of our sleep. The key to a restful night’s sleep is to calm down your brain rather than rev it up.
What you eat affects how you sleep. Some food slows down nerve traffic and calms the brain and contributes towards a restful sleep; such food are called sleepers. Other perk up the brain and keep you awake; such food are called wakers.
Sleepers contain tryptophan, an amino acid that makes up protein, which produces the sleep – inducing substances, serotonin and melatonin. Food that contains tryptophan or make more tryptophan available to the brain make us sleepy.
Ideal sleepers are food which contains moderate amounts of carbohydrate stimulates the release of insulin which clears amino acids that compete with tryptophan making it more available to the brain. At the same time, protein contributes tryptophan directly to the brain.
Great snooze food includes; dairy products (paneer, cheese, milk and curd), meat, poultry or seafood, whole grains vegetables and pulses (including soyabeans).
Indian dinners usually have a fair share of these types of food. However, our traditional cooking practices include a lot of fat and spices, both of which in terferes with sleep.
Calcium helps the brain use tryptophan; this explains the soporific effect of a glass of milk at bedtime. Foods containing caffeine such as tea,coffee, colas and chocolates are wakers. a high-protein meal without carbohydrates contains the amino acid, tyrosine, which perks up the brain.
An all carbohydrate snack, especially one high in sugar, is less likely to help you sleep. It will raise blood sugar and inhibit sleep. Later, when blood sugar drops too low, you might wake up and not be able to fall back asleep. Also, you will miss out on the sleep-inducing effects of tryptophan.
Diet control and weight loss
Burn calories at a higher rate. Control your diet and maintain and reduce your waistline.
Weight loss can be achieved in many ways. You can achieve weight loss by diet control, exercising, yoga, medicines, etc.
The best way is to follow a combination of all these to ensure that your daily routing life is not affected in any way.
The thumb rule is very simple "be happy". Always try to come out of stress and other worries. Feel free and flying. Most of us feel very heavy and tired only because of our mind. Mind is the cause of all diseases. Your confidence is what will talk about your fitness.
Know all, follow what your want. You are the best judge for yor life.
Diet Control and Weight loss : Food intake plays a very vital role while trying to reduce or control weight. You have to know what to eat? how to eat? and when to eat?
Healthy Habits: Healthy habits that can be followed in daily routine life. These habits will improve blood circulation in the body and also increases the energy levels.
Workplace Workouts: Keep yourself fresh and energetic during work hours. These simple and easy methods can be followed for complete relaxation of the entire body.
Tips and Technics to Treat your eyes: Most computer users suffer from the problem of tired eyes, dark circles and headaches. Follow these ten tips to avoid them.
Weight loss can be achieved in many ways. You can achieve weight loss by diet control, exercising, yoga, medicines, etc.
The best way is to follow a combination of all these to ensure that your daily routing life is not affected in any way.
The thumb rule is very simple "be happy". Always try to come out of stress and other worries. Feel free and flying. Most of us feel very heavy and tired only because of our mind. Mind is the cause of all diseases. Your confidence is what will talk about your fitness.
Know all, follow what your want. You are the best judge for yor life.
Diet Control and Weight loss : Food intake plays a very vital role while trying to reduce or control weight. You have to know what to eat? how to eat? and when to eat?
Healthy Habits: Healthy habits that can be followed in daily routine life. These habits will improve blood circulation in the body and also increases the energy levels.
Workplace Workouts: Keep yourself fresh and energetic during work hours. These simple and easy methods can be followed for complete relaxation of the entire body.
Tips and Technics to Treat your eyes: Most computer users suffer from the problem of tired eyes, dark circles and headaches. Follow these ten tips to avoid them.
Health guru and Technics
This section provides you with various articles related Stress Management
Stress.. This is caused due to heavy working hours, fatigue and strain. Stress leads to head ache and restlessness.
Articles for stress relief and eye strain below gives you easy to follow tips and technics to overcome stress and also treat your eyes. These technics result in stress relief and treatment to your eyes.
Treat Headaches by Breathing: Drive Headaches away by breathing deeply and also understanding the food that triggers headaches.
Healthy Habits: Healthy habits that can be followed in daily routine life. These habits will improve blood circulation in the body and also increases the energy levels.
Tips and Technics to Treat your eyes: Most computer users suffer from the problem of tired eyes, dark circles and headaches. Follow these ten tips to avoid them.
Healthy food for Stress Free Life: STRESS cannot be done away unless the cause itself is removed. Good health and stress free life is all that one craves for.
Tips to overcome sleeplessness: Ways on how you can get better sleep. You can try any of these methods to get some good sleep. A few tips to gain good sleep
Stress.. This is caused due to heavy working hours, fatigue and strain. Stress leads to head ache and restlessness.
Articles for stress relief and eye strain below gives you easy to follow tips and technics to overcome stress and also treat your eyes. These technics result in stress relief and treatment to your eyes.
Treat Headaches by Breathing: Drive Headaches away by breathing deeply and also understanding the food that triggers headaches.
Healthy Habits: Healthy habits that can be followed in daily routine life. These habits will improve blood circulation in the body and also increases the energy levels.
Tips and Technics to Treat your eyes: Most computer users suffer from the problem of tired eyes, dark circles and headaches. Follow these ten tips to avoid them.
Healthy food for Stress Free Life: STRESS cannot be done away unless the cause itself is removed. Good health and stress free life is all that one craves for.
Tips to overcome sleeplessness: Ways on how you can get better sleep. You can try any of these methods to get some good sleep. A few tips to gain good sleep
General Health Care
This section provides you with informations about various herbs and spices.
Tummy troubles and treatment: Is that terrible tummy ache taking the wind out of your sails? Making you sleepless, stressed, and irritable? Well, it’s not just your mind that is irritated but something deep down in your belly your bowel! Get up and get cracking
Weaning the child from breast feeding: Weaning should be a very slow activity. It is a very difficult phase in the baby's growing stage.
A complex breakfast can keep kids mentally healthy : The child's breakfast should be nutrious so that they do not get into depression.
Keep a watch on your wasteline for a healthy living : Expanding wastelines could become hazardous.
Keep a watch on your cholesterol levels : High cholesterol levels can be controlled but exercise and diet.
Eating healthy after Delivery : Read on to know about the diet after delivery.
Heart burn symptoms and treatments : HeartBurn is a condition that arises due to the malfunctioning of a muscle in the stomach.
Walking - Health Benefits : Walking is a good exercise. It provides flxibility to the entire body. It is boon for weight watchers.
Dietary Fiber is Essential : Dietary fiber is essentail for the proper functioning of the digestive system. Dietary fiber should be gradually introduced into our diet to achieve maximum benefits from them.
Importance of Deworming : Worm infestation is a common condition and children are more prone to it. This basically happens due to lack of hygiene.
Eczema : A rash like itchy patch of skin is called Eczema.
Sweating : Sweating is a cooling condition for the body. Sweating may sometimes occur due to stress and anxiety also.
Fat Facts Fat is essential for the human body. Dietary fats are as important as carbohydrates or proteins.
Advancement in Cataract Surgery: Cataract is one of the most commonly occuring vision defect in older population. The treatment is mainly surgical. The advanced procedures are painless and bloodless.
Reducing the Salt intake keeps hypertension at bay Sodium Chloride or common salt is very fundamental to life.
Hemangioma Awareness Hemangioma occurs usually in Premature Infants. These are active blood vessel tumors and usually superficial.
Natural Remedies and home treatment: Treatment for cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes, piles, gastritis, cough and cold
Cholesterol and Heart, how to control: An indulgent lifestyle and an inadequate diet are two major causes of heart disease. To stay fit here are a few measures of care and control.
Obesity Hazards: Obesity is a major health hazard. In fact its becoming a very common problem. The excessively high levels of fat in the body is a great risk to health.
Watching TV causes obesity, diabetes and sleeplessness: TV viewing is directly linked with mindless eating, causing obesity and sleeplessness
Avian Influenza, Bird flu - A complete story - Bird flu is an infection caused by avian (bird) influenza (flu) viruses. Theses flu viruses occur naturally among birds. Wild birds worldwide carry the viruses in their intestines, but usually do not get sick from them.
Cholesterol - Anti Hero - Once you hear the word ‘Cholesteral’ the first thing that comes to our minds is the clogged arteries and the ‘open heart surgeries’ and the ‘angiograms’
Sinusitis: Sinusitis is an infection of one or more of the sinus cavities, often caused by bacteria or an allergy.
Tummy troubles and treatment: Is that terrible tummy ache taking the wind out of your sails? Making you sleepless, stressed, and irritable? Well, it’s not just your mind that is irritated but something deep down in your belly your bowel! Get up and get cracking
Weaning the child from breast feeding: Weaning should be a very slow activity. It is a very difficult phase in the baby's growing stage.
A complex breakfast can keep kids mentally healthy : The child's breakfast should be nutrious so that they do not get into depression.
Keep a watch on your wasteline for a healthy living : Expanding wastelines could become hazardous.
Keep a watch on your cholesterol levels : High cholesterol levels can be controlled but exercise and diet.
Eating healthy after Delivery : Read on to know about the diet after delivery.
Heart burn symptoms and treatments : HeartBurn is a condition that arises due to the malfunctioning of a muscle in the stomach.
Walking - Health Benefits : Walking is a good exercise. It provides flxibility to the entire body. It is boon for weight watchers.
Dietary Fiber is Essential : Dietary fiber is essentail for the proper functioning of the digestive system. Dietary fiber should be gradually introduced into our diet to achieve maximum benefits from them.
Importance of Deworming : Worm infestation is a common condition and children are more prone to it. This basically happens due to lack of hygiene.
Eczema : A rash like itchy patch of skin is called Eczema.
Sweating : Sweating is a cooling condition for the body. Sweating may sometimes occur due to stress and anxiety also.
Fat Facts Fat is essential for the human body. Dietary fats are as important as carbohydrates or proteins.
Advancement in Cataract Surgery: Cataract is one of the most commonly occuring vision defect in older population. The treatment is mainly surgical. The advanced procedures are painless and bloodless.
Reducing the Salt intake keeps hypertension at bay Sodium Chloride or common salt is very fundamental to life.
Hemangioma Awareness Hemangioma occurs usually in Premature Infants. These are active blood vessel tumors and usually superficial.
Natural Remedies and home treatment: Treatment for cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes, piles, gastritis, cough and cold
Cholesterol and Heart, how to control: An indulgent lifestyle and an inadequate diet are two major causes of heart disease. To stay fit here are a few measures of care and control.
Obesity Hazards: Obesity is a major health hazard. In fact its becoming a very common problem. The excessively high levels of fat in the body is a great risk to health.
Watching TV causes obesity, diabetes and sleeplessness: TV viewing is directly linked with mindless eating, causing obesity and sleeplessness
Avian Influenza, Bird flu - A complete story - Bird flu is an infection caused by avian (bird) influenza (flu) viruses. Theses flu viruses occur naturally among birds. Wild birds worldwide carry the viruses in their intestines, but usually do not get sick from them.
Cholesterol - Anti Hero - Once you hear the word ‘Cholesteral’ the first thing that comes to our minds is the clogged arteries and the ‘open heart surgeries’ and the ‘angiograms’
Sinusitis: Sinusitis is an infection of one or more of the sinus cavities, often caused by bacteria or an allergy.
Yoga for good health
This section provides you with various articles related Yoga and other technics to manage your daily life.
This section provides you with informative articles on Yoga. Simple technics and tips to maintain good health. Before starting to work on Yoga, one has to understand yoga better. For attaining a healthy life, physical excercises, yoga technics need to be practiced with utmost care. These should however be practiced under the supervision of a trained person.
You can find Helpful articles on Yoga, easy to follow yoga Tips and Technics. Introduction to Yoga and its benefits to attain healthy life. Simple and easy to follow physical excercises help you in your daily routine.
Articles for stress relief and eye strain below gives you easy to follow tips and technics to overcome stress and also treat your eyes. These technics result in stress relief and treatment to your eyes.
Benefits of Sarpasana : Reduce upper back pain and relieves muscular tension
Benefits of Samasthithi asana : Samasthithi asana helps you cultivate a balanced stance towards the world
Benefits of Vrikshasana : This yogic posture helps improve concentration and builds mind power
Benefits of Bharadwaj asana: This asana gives a good twist to the lower, mid and uppder back
Yoga Do's and Dont's: Yogic exercises have to be practiced with caution.
Benefits of Pranayama: Pranayama is a kind of meditation that creates awareness, controls the unsteady mind, refreshes the brain.
Introduction to Yoga: Yoga is a system of physical excercise and natural healing. Our ancient sages have suggested eight stages of Yoga to secure purity of body, mind and soul and final communion with God.
Healthy Habits: Healthy habits that can be followed in daily routine life. These habits will improve blood circulation in the body and also increases the energy levels.
This section provides you with informative articles on Yoga. Simple technics and tips to maintain good health. Before starting to work on Yoga, one has to understand yoga better. For attaining a healthy life, physical excercises, yoga technics need to be practiced with utmost care. These should however be practiced under the supervision of a trained person.
You can find Helpful articles on Yoga, easy to follow yoga Tips and Technics. Introduction to Yoga and its benefits to attain healthy life. Simple and easy to follow physical excercises help you in your daily routine.
Articles for stress relief and eye strain below gives you easy to follow tips and technics to overcome stress and also treat your eyes. These technics result in stress relief and treatment to your eyes.
Benefits of Sarpasana : Reduce upper back pain and relieves muscular tension
Benefits of Samasthithi asana : Samasthithi asana helps you cultivate a balanced stance towards the world
Benefits of Vrikshasana : This yogic posture helps improve concentration and builds mind power
Benefits of Bharadwaj asana: This asana gives a good twist to the lower, mid and uppder back
Yoga Do's and Dont's: Yogic exercises have to be practiced with caution.
Benefits of Pranayama: Pranayama is a kind of meditation that creates awareness, controls the unsteady mind, refreshes the brain.
Introduction to Yoga: Yoga is a system of physical excercise and natural healing. Our ancient sages have suggested eight stages of Yoga to secure purity of body, mind and soul and final communion with God.
Healthy Habits: Healthy habits that can be followed in daily routine life. These habits will improve blood circulation in the body and also increases the energy levels.
Health Tips and Technics - Fitness and Exercist Tips
Simple tips and technics to keep your body fit and healthy
How do you feel to be healthy? Nice! Must be wondering if there is that magic wand, I can become slim, fit and healthy. Nice to think but how to make this a reality? Takes time. Can't happen overnight.
You can follow certain simple and easy technics which will help you be fit and healthy. Have you decided to go for it! then read on.
- Do not make a future plan for your exercise, if you have to do it, just do it now.
- Wake up a bit early, pull your pants up and start walking out. If not like an exercise, just walk out. Go where you like, spend sometime out in the morning. You can opt to buy milk, vegetables, newspaper or whatever... just go out. Slowly increase the speed of your walk.
- Follow the Golden Rule - Breakfast like a KING, Lunch like a Prince and Dinner like a PAUPER. Keep your dinner very light, avoid cheese, butter, curd or any other fat products.
- Breathe in and breathe out deeply whenever your remember. Do simple stretching exercises.
- Last of all... Dont worry.. Be happy. Stress can cause lifestyle diseases. Be away from stress. Life is short, enjoy every moment of it.
Treatment for low back pain: Low back pain is a common issue among computer surfers and bike riders. These are a few simple exercises which will help relieve low back pain.
Balance your spine - Stretch: Learn how to sit, stand, move and exercise in a balanced manner to reduce the neck and lower back pain to a great extent.
Healthy Habits: Healthy habits that can be followed in daily routine life. These habits will improve blood circulation in the body and also increases the energy levels.
Workplace Workouts: Keep yourself fresh and energetic during work hours. These simple and easy methods can be followed for complete relaxation of the entire body.
Tips and Technics to Treat your eyes: Most computer users suffer from the problem of tired eyes, dark circles and headaches. Follow these ten tips to avoid them.
How do you feel to be healthy? Nice! Must be wondering if there is that magic wand, I can become slim, fit and healthy. Nice to think but how to make this a reality? Takes time. Can't happen overnight.
You can follow certain simple and easy technics which will help you be fit and healthy. Have you decided to go for it! then read on.
- Do not make a future plan for your exercise, if you have to do it, just do it now.
- Wake up a bit early, pull your pants up and start walking out. If not like an exercise, just walk out. Go where you like, spend sometime out in the morning. You can opt to buy milk, vegetables, newspaper or whatever... just go out. Slowly increase the speed of your walk.
- Follow the Golden Rule - Breakfast like a KING, Lunch like a Prince and Dinner like a PAUPER. Keep your dinner very light, avoid cheese, butter, curd or any other fat products.
- Breathe in and breathe out deeply whenever your remember. Do simple stretching exercises.
- Last of all... Dont worry.. Be happy. Stress can cause lifestyle diseases. Be away from stress. Life is short, enjoy every moment of it.
Treatment for low back pain: Low back pain is a common issue among computer surfers and bike riders. These are a few simple exercises which will help relieve low back pain.
Balance your spine - Stretch: Learn how to sit, stand, move and exercise in a balanced manner to reduce the neck and lower back pain to a great extent.
Healthy Habits: Healthy habits that can be followed in daily routine life. These habits will improve blood circulation in the body and also increases the energy levels.
Workplace Workouts: Keep yourself fresh and energetic during work hours. These simple and easy methods can be followed for complete relaxation of the entire body.
Tips and Technics to Treat your eyes: Most computer users suffer from the problem of tired eyes, dark circles and headaches. Follow these ten tips to avoid them.
Seasonal Diet, Body and Skin Care
This section provides you with usefull information on Seasonal care and tips and technics to maintain a healthy body and a healthy skin.
Skin care depends on various other factors of the body condition. Fruits and vegetables are having abundant sources of vitamins and minerals to keep your body fit and healthy.
A good skin can be achieved by ensuring that all natural elements required for it are given accordingly. Sunlight, water, fruits, milk and many other such things provide lot of value to skin
Tips to treat tired eyes: Most computer users suffer from the problem of tired eyes, dark circles and headaches. Follow these ten tips to avoid them.
Skin care depends on various other factors of the body condition. Fruits and vegetables are having abundant sources of vitamins and minerals to keep your body fit and healthy.
A good skin can be achieved by ensuring that all natural elements required for it are given accordingly. Sunlight, water, fruits, milk and many other such things provide lot of value to skin
Tips to treat tired eyes: Most computer users suffer from the problem of tired eyes, dark circles and headaches. Follow these ten tips to avoid them.
Exercise and Fitness
Simple fitness exercises can help to have a fitter and healthy life. Stretching exercises can help in many ways in mainting a fitter body. Weight loss can be achieved by following simple effortless regular exercises. Medical breakthroughs can happen by regular meditation and exercising. Yoga and other workouts which can be performed easily are available in this website to keep you fit and healthy.
Health and Fitness can make all that difference in one's life. Healthy living is all that one needs and to achieve that we picked up the best of the articles from reliable sources and have presented here in an organized manner. You might not be able to spend your valuable time on complicated medications and diet controls, but. you can find articles to help you have a better living using simple and easy technics.
Ayurveda, a science in vogue practiced since centuries, uses a wide variety of plants, animal origin substances, mineral and metallic substances to rebalance the diseased condition in the sick. A few tips on simple treatment of life style diseases have been carefully picked for the visitors of this website. These tips can help reduce or control diseases like diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure, etc.
Health and Fitness can make all that difference in one's life. Healthy living is all that one needs and to achieve that we picked up the best of the articles from reliable sources and have presented here in an organized manner. You might not be able to spend your valuable time on complicated medications and diet controls, but. you can find articles to help you have a better living using simple and easy technics.
Ayurveda, a science in vogue practiced since centuries, uses a wide variety of plants, animal origin substances, mineral and metallic substances to rebalance the diseased condition in the sick. A few tips on simple treatment of life style diseases have been carefully picked for the visitors of this website. These tips can help reduce or control diseases like diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure, etc.
Nutrition and Health Diet
The basic foundation for a healthy individual starts from his foetal stage with proper and healthy nutrition derived from his or her mother. Hence, a pregnant woman's diet stands atop all diets.Your food shall be your medicine. Ayurveda has postulated the rold of food and especially nutritive foods for maintaining health as well as cure of diseases. Nutrients are necessary for the proper functioning of mental, physical, metabolic, chemical and hormonal activities. The body is like a machine that will repair and rebuild itself provided proper nutrition is provided by way of food.
Sumptous nutrition is available in fruits and vegetables. Fruits have the capacity to give all that a body needs. How to consume? What to consume? Which fruit helps in which way? The answers to these questions can be found in our Nutrition and Healthy Diet Section
Sumptous nutrition is available in fruits and vegetables. Fruits have the capacity to give all that a body needs. How to consume? What to consume? Which fruit helps in which way? The answers to these questions can be found in our Nutrition and Healthy Diet Section
Health and Fitness
Health and Fitness has now become one of the major concerns. Earlier humans used to hunt for their living, due to which their body had to undergo a lot of physical exercise. This made life active and alert. Now, life has become more simple and easy. Everything we need is just a phone call away. This easy life has restricted humans to do that bit of physical exercise which is required to keep the body fit and healthy. We get instant, spicy and variety of food which lose their nutrition during the process.
How do we ensure that we have all that we need to have a healthy living? This is a big question among everyone. We need proper nutrition and a fit and belathy body. Good Health is all that one craves for. Becoming healthier and fitter though not very difficult needs dedicated efforts.
How do we ensure that we have all that we need to have a healthy living? This is a big question among everyone. We need proper nutrition and a fit and belathy body. Good Health is all that one craves for. Becoming healthier and fitter though not very difficult needs dedicated efforts.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Senior Citizen's Corner
There are 75 million people over the age of sixty in India. Their health, nutritional and psychological needs are special. However, awareness about these aspects of ageing is low. Webhealthcentre.com in alliance with seniorindian.com brings comprehensive information on various health issues relevant to ageing. Seniorindian.com is a website promoted by Dr Suresh Bhimsingh, who has trained under India’s pioneering geriatrician Dr V S Natarajan.
Can anti oxidants really retard ageing?
What are the schemes Indian insurance companies offer for the aged?
What is Alzheimer’s disease and how can care givers cope with it?
Can anti oxidants really retard ageing?
What are the schemes Indian insurance companies offer for the aged?
What is Alzheimer’s disease and how can care givers cope with it?
Neuro Centre
For a spongy three pound mass of fatty tissue, the brain is a fascinating organ. It is the centre of the nervous system and controls all body activity. And enables us to dream.
Many advancements in medical research, such as the mapping of the human genome and improvements in imaging technology, have made it possible for us to understand more and more about the brain. Neurological disorders are being studied with greater focus and patients of these disorders have better drugs and treatment options today.
Dr Prithika Chary, an eminent Neurologist, presents this section on webhealthcentre. She is very committed to educating the public on the mind-brain functions. She will be writing on various neurological disorders, as well as interesting aspects of the brain and nervous system. Her special area of interest is Epilepsy.
"It is our belief that knowledge is power and understanding what the brain does and how diseases disturb its function will help us to take better care of this special organ which enables us to embrace the finer and more complex aspects of life like art, music, mathematics and language giving richness to our lives." Dr Prithika Chary.
Quick Facts about Epilepsy
Travel tips for people with Epilepsy
Many advancements in medical research, such as the mapping of the human genome and improvements in imaging technology, have made it possible for us to understand more and more about the brain. Neurological disorders are being studied with greater focus and patients of these disorders have better drugs and treatment options today.
Dr Prithika Chary, an eminent Neurologist, presents this section on webhealthcentre. She is very committed to educating the public on the mind-brain functions. She will be writing on various neurological disorders, as well as interesting aspects of the brain and nervous system. Her special area of interest is Epilepsy.
"It is our belief that knowledge is power and understanding what the brain does and how diseases disturb its function will help us to take better care of this special organ which enables us to embrace the finer and more complex aspects of life like art, music, mathematics and language giving richness to our lives." Dr Prithika Chary.
Quick Facts about Epilepsy
Travel tips for people with Epilepsy
Mental Health and Illness
About 450 million people suffer from mental and behavioural disorders worldwide, reports the World Health Organisation. In many parts of the world socio economic conditions have a negative impact to mental health: poverty, illiteracy, war, violence discrimination on various aspects are all detrimental factors. Awareness that some behaviours and symptoms are signs of illnesses, is lacking. There is a stigma to voicing mental problems and seeking help.
Mental Illness covers a wide spectrum where the boundaries between “normal” and “abnormal” are not very sharply defined. Illnesses can be classified in different ways. Some broad categories are:
Organic, where there are structural/physiological abnormalities in the brain or nerves, leading to illness
Functional where there are no structural abnormalities identifiable
Neurosis - severe forms of normal experiences
Psychosis – severe distortion of perception of reality.
Illnesses are also grouped as:
Mood disorders
Anxiety disorders.
Substance-related disorders.
Schizophrenia related disorders
Dementia and Memory Related Disorders
Developmental disorders
Personality disorders.
While it is difficult to define what is normal when a behaviour interferes with your ability to cope with life on a daily basis, then it is better to seek help.
Mental Illness covers a wide spectrum where the boundaries between “normal” and “abnormal” are not very sharply defined. Illnesses can be classified in different ways. Some broad categories are:
Organic, where there are structural/physiological abnormalities in the brain or nerves, leading to illness
Functional where there are no structural abnormalities identifiable
Neurosis - severe forms of normal experiences
Psychosis – severe distortion of perception of reality.
Illnesses are also grouped as:
Mood disorders
Anxiety disorders.
Substance-related disorders.
Schizophrenia related disorders
Dementia and Memory Related Disorders
Developmental disorders
Personality disorders.
While it is difficult to define what is normal when a behaviour interferes with your ability to cope with life on a daily basis, then it is better to seek help.
Diabetes Corner
What is Diabetes?
What are the symptoms?
Who is at risk?
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes Mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterised by the body's inability to maintain blood sugar levels within the normal range. This could be due to:
A deficiency in insulin secretion
Biological ineffectiveness of the insulin secreted>
Both the above causes
Depending on the amount of insulin produced and other observations, diabetes is classified into Type I and Type II. If untreated, diabetes could lead to many complications.
However, we know that careful management of the condition will help those with diabetes lead a near normal life.
The appropriate level of sugar in the blood
How much of glucose is too much? If you want a rough idea, you can do a random check at a laboratory. If the lab report says that you have more than 180 milligrams of glucose for each decilitre of blood (180mg/dl) then there may be a problem. You have to go in for more accurate tests like the ones detailed below.
Fasting Sugar Test
Post Prandial
Glucose Tolerance Test
Glycosylated Haemoglobin Test
Fasting Sugar Test
Test your blood sugar level after fasting for at least eight hours. The best way to do this is to get your blood tested before you eat anything in the morning.
The normal fasting blood sugar level is between 80 – 120 mg/dl
Post Prandial
This test is done after you have had a meal. A blood sample is taken after 1-½ hours after your meal and is checked for blood glucose.
The recommended level of blood glucose is between 120 – 160 mg/dl
Glucose Tolerance Test
You can go for this test when you do not have any illness and when you have not taken any medication.
You will have to take this test after fasting over eight hours (or overnight). A blood sample is collected before you take anything. After this you will have to take a glass of water with about 75 grams of glucose dissolved in it. In the next three hours your blood glucose is measured five times.
In normal people the blood sugar rises and falls quickly.
In people who have diabetes it rises higher and does not come down enough.
Here is what the result might indicate:
Not diabetic
At the end of the two-hour period if the blood sugar level is less than 140 mg/dl and all the readings in the two-hour period are less than 200 mg/dl, you are not diabetic.
Impaired glucose Tolerance
You have a problem with using up sugar when the 2-hour glucose level is between 140 and 199 mg/dl but and your fasting sugar is less than 120 mg/dl.
This does not mean you are diabetic. But it just shows that the possibility exists. If you exercise, keep your weight in check and monitor your blood sugar regularly, you may never need to take medication.
Diabetic
If at the end of two hours your blood sugar value is more than 200 mg/dl and the result from another test as in the case of fasting test, also shows a high value, you have diabetes.
Glycosylated Haemoglobin Test
Tracking your control
To monitor how well your diabetes has been managed in the past 2-3 months your doctor may advise another test: the glycosylated haemoglobin test. When the glucose in the blood attaches to the haemoglobin, glycosylated haemoglobin is formed. These cells stay in circulation for a period of two to three months. Monitoring their level gives the doctor an idea how well your sugar control has been in the past two months.
The Role of Insulin
One of the basic functions of the body is to convert food into energy and nutrients. We can get energy from fats, proteins and carbohydrates, but carbohydrates are especially important because they are rapidly converted to sugar and produce energy quickly.
To help the sugar enter the body's individual cells, the pancreas sends insulin into the blood, enabling the hormone to reach insulin receptors on the surface of these cells. Only when insulin binds to the surface of the cells, can the cells absorb sugar from the blood.
When blood sugar increases after a meal, the amount of insulin (called "mealtime insulin") also increases, so that excess sugar can be rapidly absorbed by the cells. The liver stops secreting sugar and instead stores sugar from the blood for later use. When insulin has done its work, it is broken down. The body must therefore constantly renew its supply of insulin.
When the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, the cells are not able to absorb sugar from the blood for growth, repair or energy. Cells begin to "starve" and the blood sugar level is constantly too high.
Where does the insulin come from?
The pancreas is a gland located behind the stomach. It is attached to the small intestine and the spleen. Inside the pancreas are small clusters of cells called Islets of Langerhans. Within the islets are beta cells, which produce insulin.
What are the symptoms of Diabetes?
Frequent urination
Thirst
Dry skin
Blurred vision
Hunger
Exhaustion
Slow recovery from injuries and illnesses
Frequent urination
When the cells do not use the excess sugar in the blood, it gets excreted in the urine. But the sugar cannot come out by itself, so it soaks up the urine and spills out. Therefore people with diabetes need to use the bathroom frequently.
Thirst
Because of frequent urination, there is water loss from the body and diabetics feel thirsty easily.
Dry skin
This is a symptom of dehydration or water loss.
Blurred vision
The levels of water and glucose in the eye fluctuate due to dehydration causing blurred vision.
Hunger
When insulin that helps cells take in sugar is missing, the cells starve and this sends the message of hunger to the brain. So even though there is sugar in the blood, it does not get absorbed and the message of hunger is sent to the brain frequently.
Exhaustion
When sugar in the blood is not being used by the cells to grow, repair or produce energy, it remains in the blood. It is sent out through the urine by the kidneys. The body thus loses the sugar and the nutrients. A diabetic is not able to get the full benefit of the food he is taking. A diabetic therefore feels hungry, exhausted and generally in poor health.
Slow recovery from injuries and illnesses
Our body fights diseases through its immune system, consisting of white blood cells. When the sugar level in the blood is high, the white blood cells function poorly. When body fluids have higher level of sugars, it makes it more attractive for bacteria and other disease organisms to thrive. Once they fall ill it takes a long time for diabetics to get well. The immune system plays an important part in the healing of cuts and bruises. Diabetics take a long time to recover from cuts and bruises as well.
Who is at risk?
Two factors seem to be related to diabetes, especially Type II diabetes. Heredity and Obesity. If you have a parent, grandparent, brother or sister with diabetes Type II there is a possibility that you will also have it. If you are obese, you are increasing the risk.
Listed below are some of the other factors, which might cause or trigger the disease:
Viruses - Researchers feel that viruses may play a role in the destruction of insulin producing beta cells in some people.
Age -Diabetes Type II is a forty plus disease. As people age, their bodies may have fewer insulin-producing beta cells.
Pregnancy - Hormones produced in the womb during pregnancy may block the effect of insulin. For details read Gestational diabetes.
Problems in the immune system - It is now believed that the immune system might play a part in the destruction of the insulin producing beta cells
Injury - An accident or injury may destroy the pancreas, where insulin is normally produced.
Stress - There is the possibility that hormones released during periods of stress may block the effect of insulin.
What are the symptoms?
Who is at risk?
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes Mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterised by the body's inability to maintain blood sugar levels within the normal range. This could be due to:
A deficiency in insulin secretion
Biological ineffectiveness of the insulin secreted>
Both the above causes
Depending on the amount of insulin produced and other observations, diabetes is classified into Type I and Type II. If untreated, diabetes could lead to many complications.
However, we know that careful management of the condition will help those with diabetes lead a near normal life.
The appropriate level of sugar in the blood
How much of glucose is too much? If you want a rough idea, you can do a random check at a laboratory. If the lab report says that you have more than 180 milligrams of glucose for each decilitre of blood (180mg/dl) then there may be a problem. You have to go in for more accurate tests like the ones detailed below.
Fasting Sugar Test
Post Prandial
Glucose Tolerance Test
Glycosylated Haemoglobin Test
Fasting Sugar Test
Test your blood sugar level after fasting for at least eight hours. The best way to do this is to get your blood tested before you eat anything in the morning.
The normal fasting blood sugar level is between 80 – 120 mg/dl
Post Prandial
This test is done after you have had a meal. A blood sample is taken after 1-½ hours after your meal and is checked for blood glucose.
The recommended level of blood glucose is between 120 – 160 mg/dl
Glucose Tolerance Test
You can go for this test when you do not have any illness and when you have not taken any medication.
You will have to take this test after fasting over eight hours (or overnight). A blood sample is collected before you take anything. After this you will have to take a glass of water with about 75 grams of glucose dissolved in it. In the next three hours your blood glucose is measured five times.
In normal people the blood sugar rises and falls quickly.
In people who have diabetes it rises higher and does not come down enough.
Here is what the result might indicate:
Not diabetic
At the end of the two-hour period if the blood sugar level is less than 140 mg/dl and all the readings in the two-hour period are less than 200 mg/dl, you are not diabetic.
Impaired glucose Tolerance
You have a problem with using up sugar when the 2-hour glucose level is between 140 and 199 mg/dl but and your fasting sugar is less than 120 mg/dl.
This does not mean you are diabetic. But it just shows that the possibility exists. If you exercise, keep your weight in check and monitor your blood sugar regularly, you may never need to take medication.
Diabetic
If at the end of two hours your blood sugar value is more than 200 mg/dl and the result from another test as in the case of fasting test, also shows a high value, you have diabetes.
Glycosylated Haemoglobin Test
Tracking your control
To monitor how well your diabetes has been managed in the past 2-3 months your doctor may advise another test: the glycosylated haemoglobin test. When the glucose in the blood attaches to the haemoglobin, glycosylated haemoglobin is formed. These cells stay in circulation for a period of two to three months. Monitoring their level gives the doctor an idea how well your sugar control has been in the past two months.
The Role of Insulin
One of the basic functions of the body is to convert food into energy and nutrients. We can get energy from fats, proteins and carbohydrates, but carbohydrates are especially important because they are rapidly converted to sugar and produce energy quickly.
To help the sugar enter the body's individual cells, the pancreas sends insulin into the blood, enabling the hormone to reach insulin receptors on the surface of these cells. Only when insulin binds to the surface of the cells, can the cells absorb sugar from the blood.
When blood sugar increases after a meal, the amount of insulin (called "mealtime insulin") also increases, so that excess sugar can be rapidly absorbed by the cells. The liver stops secreting sugar and instead stores sugar from the blood for later use. When insulin has done its work, it is broken down. The body must therefore constantly renew its supply of insulin.
When the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, the cells are not able to absorb sugar from the blood for growth, repair or energy. Cells begin to "starve" and the blood sugar level is constantly too high.
Where does the insulin come from?
The pancreas is a gland located behind the stomach. It is attached to the small intestine and the spleen. Inside the pancreas are small clusters of cells called Islets of Langerhans. Within the islets are beta cells, which produce insulin.
What are the symptoms of Diabetes?
Frequent urination
Thirst
Dry skin
Blurred vision
Hunger
Exhaustion
Slow recovery from injuries and illnesses
Frequent urination
When the cells do not use the excess sugar in the blood, it gets excreted in the urine. But the sugar cannot come out by itself, so it soaks up the urine and spills out. Therefore people with diabetes need to use the bathroom frequently.
Thirst
Because of frequent urination, there is water loss from the body and diabetics feel thirsty easily.
Dry skin
This is a symptom of dehydration or water loss.
Blurred vision
The levels of water and glucose in the eye fluctuate due to dehydration causing blurred vision.
Hunger
When insulin that helps cells take in sugar is missing, the cells starve and this sends the message of hunger to the brain. So even though there is sugar in the blood, it does not get absorbed and the message of hunger is sent to the brain frequently.
Exhaustion
When sugar in the blood is not being used by the cells to grow, repair or produce energy, it remains in the blood. It is sent out through the urine by the kidneys. The body thus loses the sugar and the nutrients. A diabetic is not able to get the full benefit of the food he is taking. A diabetic therefore feels hungry, exhausted and generally in poor health.
Slow recovery from injuries and illnesses
Our body fights diseases through its immune system, consisting of white blood cells. When the sugar level in the blood is high, the white blood cells function poorly. When body fluids have higher level of sugars, it makes it more attractive for bacteria and other disease organisms to thrive. Once they fall ill it takes a long time for diabetics to get well. The immune system plays an important part in the healing of cuts and bruises. Diabetics take a long time to recover from cuts and bruises as well.
Who is at risk?
Two factors seem to be related to diabetes, especially Type II diabetes. Heredity and Obesity. If you have a parent, grandparent, brother or sister with diabetes Type II there is a possibility that you will also have it. If you are obese, you are increasing the risk.
Listed below are some of the other factors, which might cause or trigger the disease:
Viruses - Researchers feel that viruses may play a role in the destruction of insulin producing beta cells in some people.
Age -Diabetes Type II is a forty plus disease. As people age, their bodies may have fewer insulin-producing beta cells.
Pregnancy - Hormones produced in the womb during pregnancy may block the effect of insulin. For details read Gestational diabetes.
Problems in the immune system - It is now believed that the immune system might play a part in the destruction of the insulin producing beta cells
Injury - An accident or injury may destroy the pancreas, where insulin is normally produced.
Stress - There is the possibility that hormones released during periods of stress may block the effect of insulin.
Cardiac Corner
When you were about four weeks old in the womb, your heart began to form. Your heart will beat nearly three billion times in your lifetime.
Your heart is a hollow muscle about the size of your closed fist. Every time your heart ‘beats’, it pumps blood containing oxygen and nutrients to all parts of your body. Blood is carried to your tissues and organs through a network of blood vessels called arteries. A single red blood cell makes approximately 250,000 round trips of the body before returning to the bone marrow, where it was born, to die.
Sometimes this wonderful organ can develop problems. This section attempts a brief description of the heart and common cardiac problems.
The Anatomy - simplified
Your heart is made up of four chambers. There are two chambers on top and two below.
The upper chambers are called atria. (Each upper chamber is called an atrium). The lower chambers are called ventricles. There are muscle walls called septa separating the left and the right atrium, and the left and right ventricles. Blood flows from the atrium to the ventricle through valves. Valves work like one-way doors, letting blood flow through them in only one direction.
Within the heart the blood flows thus:
The impure blood from the rest of the body is brought to the right atrium. Then it passes into the right ventricle. The right ventricle contracts and blood is forced into the pulmonary artery. This blood travels through the lungs. The blood is purified or oxygenated in the lungs and this returns to the heart at the left atrium. Then the blood falls into the left ventricle. The ventricle contracts and the blood goes rushing into the aorta and to the other parts of the body.
The Circulatory System
Your heart pumps blood to all parts of your body through the “systemic circuit”. Pure blood from the heart, carried through the aorta, goes to all the organs of the body through the arteries and the impure blood is gathered by the veins and returned to the heart.
The heart sends the impure blood collected thus to the lungs through the pulmonary artery to be purified by the lungs. It collects the pure blood through the pulmonary vein. This routing of blood to the lungs and back forms the “pulmonary circuit”.
To do both these functions(pumping blood to the rest of the body and sending blood to be purified in the lungs) effectively, the heart needs a supply of oxygenated blood, just like any other part of the body. The coronary arteries that rise from the aorta supply oxygen rich blood to the heart muscle.
Two main coronary arteries feed the heart. The right coronary artery feeds the right side and bottom part of the heart. The left main coronary artery has two branches; the left anterior descending artery, which feed the front left side of the heart, and the circumflex artery which feeds the back of the heart. These main coronary arteries have many branches, which supply the heart muscle with oxygen-rich blood.
Defects/ diseases of the heart
Heart problems can be classified into two broad categories:
Congenital Heart Diseases
Acquired Heart Diseases
Your heart is a hollow muscle about the size of your closed fist. Every time your heart ‘beats’, it pumps blood containing oxygen and nutrients to all parts of your body. Blood is carried to your tissues and organs through a network of blood vessels called arteries. A single red blood cell makes approximately 250,000 round trips of the body before returning to the bone marrow, where it was born, to die.
Sometimes this wonderful organ can develop problems. This section attempts a brief description of the heart and common cardiac problems.
The Anatomy - simplified
Your heart is made up of four chambers. There are two chambers on top and two below.
The upper chambers are called atria. (Each upper chamber is called an atrium). The lower chambers are called ventricles. There are muscle walls called septa separating the left and the right atrium, and the left and right ventricles. Blood flows from the atrium to the ventricle through valves. Valves work like one-way doors, letting blood flow through them in only one direction.
Within the heart the blood flows thus:
The impure blood from the rest of the body is brought to the right atrium. Then it passes into the right ventricle. The right ventricle contracts and blood is forced into the pulmonary artery. This blood travels through the lungs. The blood is purified or oxygenated in the lungs and this returns to the heart at the left atrium. Then the blood falls into the left ventricle. The ventricle contracts and the blood goes rushing into the aorta and to the other parts of the body.
The Circulatory System
Your heart pumps blood to all parts of your body through the “systemic circuit”. Pure blood from the heart, carried through the aorta, goes to all the organs of the body through the arteries and the impure blood is gathered by the veins and returned to the heart.
The heart sends the impure blood collected thus to the lungs through the pulmonary artery to be purified by the lungs. It collects the pure blood through the pulmonary vein. This routing of blood to the lungs and back forms the “pulmonary circuit”.
To do both these functions(pumping blood to the rest of the body and sending blood to be purified in the lungs) effectively, the heart needs a supply of oxygenated blood, just like any other part of the body. The coronary arteries that rise from the aorta supply oxygen rich blood to the heart muscle.
Two main coronary arteries feed the heart. The right coronary artery feeds the right side and bottom part of the heart. The left main coronary artery has two branches; the left anterior descending artery, which feed the front left side of the heart, and the circumflex artery which feeds the back of the heart. These main coronary arteries have many branches, which supply the heart muscle with oxygen-rich blood.
Defects/ diseases of the heart
Heart problems can be classified into two broad categories:
Congenital Heart Diseases
Acquired Heart Diseases
CANCER
The majority of cancers that occur in India are preventable or curable if detected in the early stages. Cancer Institute (WIA), Chennai, findings note: “With our existing knowledge and resources 50% of cancers that occur in our area can be prevented. Over 50% of cancers in men are tobacco oriented. They are due to chewing tobacco or smoking. Over 50% of cancers in women are uterine cancers. And both these groups of cancers are preventable."
Today we have tools to detect a cancer long before it becomes visible, or produces symptoms. Even when established cancer is detected, with better methods of investigation and treatment, more cancers are curable today. The question of life or death for cancer patients hinges on when the disease is detected. This section provides information with a view to helping users understand the disease, its prevention and early detection.
Source: Information on cancer has been sourced from
Cancer Institute (WIA), Chennai.
Today we have tools to detect a cancer long before it becomes visible, or produces symptoms. Even when established cancer is detected, with better methods of investigation and treatment, more cancers are curable today. The question of life or death for cancer patients hinges on when the disease is detected. This section provides information with a view to helping users understand the disease, its prevention and early detection.
Source: Information on cancer has been sourced from
Cancer Institute (WIA), Chennai.
HIV and AIDS
HIV and the Immune System
HIV Outside the Body
HIV and AIDS – The Relation and the Difference
The Progress from HIV to AIDS
"HIV/AIDS accompanies poverty, is spread by poverty and produces poverty in its turn, ” says the United Nations Population Fund in its paper on AIDS. The worst affected countries are in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Eastern Europe.
The UNAIDS report projects that, in the absence of drastically expanded prevention and treatment efforts, 68 million people will die because of AIDS in the 45 most affected countries between 2000 and 2020, more than five times the 13 million deaths of the previous two decades of the epidemic in those countries.
AIDS spreads because of risk behaviours rather than risk “factors”. Awareness can lead to an avoidance of these behaviours.
Despite the absence of preventive vaccine/medication and cure, there is an improvement in the quality of life for the AIDS patient. Yet, the stigma associated with AIDS prevents the patient from benefiting from the best care available.
This section attempts at raising awareness on HIV infection and AIDS. This section hopes to fight the stigma people with HIV face and provides tips on coping with the disease. You can also view Dr Sunithi Solomon’s views on AIDS and management.
Source: The material for this section is sourced from YRGCare,India.
HIV stands for Human immunodeficiency Virus.
It only causes disease in humans. It’s presence in the bloodstream leads to the depletion of white blood cells leading to lowering of immunity.
The incubation period:
Once the virus enters the body it lies dormant for many years and hence is known as a slow virus. Most other viruses, for example, those causing measles, mumps, chicken pox etc., manifest the disease in 14-21 days after they enter the body. In HIV the incubation period is very long and runs into years.
HIV and the Immune System
Once HIV enters the body, it gets attached to a type of white blood cell called the lymphocyte (which is the T cell in the human body's protection against infections). The RNA (genetic material) of the virus then gets converted to DNA (genetic material) by an enzyme that the virus produces. This viral DNA then gets incorporated in to the DNA of the human cell (T lymphocyte) and remains there for the lifetime of that cell. This infected cell now becomes a virus factory producing more viruses (HIV), which bud out of the cell, attack new T lymphocytes, and destroy them. Over a period of years, the T cell count of the infected person drops to a critical level and the individual develops many opportunistic infections and hence is then said to have AIDS.
HIV Outside the Body
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus is fragile.
Once the virus is outside the body in a dry form, it dies immediately.
Even in a wet state, it does not live long when exposed to heat, detergents, or disinfectants.
When stored in blood banks at 4.C it can live for about 3 weeks (or longer) or till the white cell disintegrates.
In a frozen state it can survive for years.
HIV and AIDS – The Relation and the Difference
A person living with HIV (medically known as an HIV positive person) is one who has virus in his/her body. Such a person remains infected and is presumed infective for the rest of his/her life. However, she/he will appear to be perfectly normal and healthy and asymptomatic for many years. An asymptomatic HIV infected person does not have Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
But when an HIV positive person's T lymphocytes (which are responsible for the immunity) count falls to 200 or less, she/he starts developing symptoms, for example, cough, fever, diarrhoea, skin lesions, etc.
These are due to opportunistic infections (so called because they develop when the body’s immunity becomes deficient) like TB, thrush, pneumonia, Cryptococcal meningitis, etc.
All persons with AIDS are infected with HIV, but not all persons with HIV infection have AIDS. AIDS is only the end stage of this infection.
The Progress from HIV to AIDS
A few weeks after the virus enters the body, some people have flu like symptoms such as fever, body ache, and headache (every infected person may not experience these same symptoms). These symptoms disappear after a while and then there is a long phase of 3 years to 12 years, which is asymptomatic. After that, when the immune system starts failing AIDS sets in.
The rate of progress depends on the mode of the HIV transmission and the lifestyle of the HIV positive person. Majority of persons who are infected through blood transfusion develop symptoms on an average from 3 years to 5 years. With the other modes of transmission when the quantum of the virus is low, the person can remain healthy for 8 to 12 years or longer.
HIV Outside the Body
HIV and AIDS – The Relation and the Difference
The Progress from HIV to AIDS
"HIV/AIDS accompanies poverty, is spread by poverty and produces poverty in its turn, ” says the United Nations Population Fund in its paper on AIDS. The worst affected countries are in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Eastern Europe.
The UNAIDS report projects that, in the absence of drastically expanded prevention and treatment efforts, 68 million people will die because of AIDS in the 45 most affected countries between 2000 and 2020, more than five times the 13 million deaths of the previous two decades of the epidemic in those countries.
AIDS spreads because of risk behaviours rather than risk “factors”. Awareness can lead to an avoidance of these behaviours.
Despite the absence of preventive vaccine/medication and cure, there is an improvement in the quality of life for the AIDS patient. Yet, the stigma associated with AIDS prevents the patient from benefiting from the best care available.
This section attempts at raising awareness on HIV infection and AIDS. This section hopes to fight the stigma people with HIV face and provides tips on coping with the disease. You can also view Dr Sunithi Solomon’s views on AIDS and management.
Source: The material for this section is sourced from YRGCare,India.
HIV stands for Human immunodeficiency Virus.
It only causes disease in humans. It’s presence in the bloodstream leads to the depletion of white blood cells leading to lowering of immunity.
The incubation period:
Once the virus enters the body it lies dormant for many years and hence is known as a slow virus. Most other viruses, for example, those causing measles, mumps, chicken pox etc., manifest the disease in 14-21 days after they enter the body. In HIV the incubation period is very long and runs into years.
HIV and the Immune System
Once HIV enters the body, it gets attached to a type of white blood cell called the lymphocyte (which is the T cell in the human body's protection against infections). The RNA (genetic material) of the virus then gets converted to DNA (genetic material) by an enzyme that the virus produces. This viral DNA then gets incorporated in to the DNA of the human cell (T lymphocyte) and remains there for the lifetime of that cell. This infected cell now becomes a virus factory producing more viruses (HIV), which bud out of the cell, attack new T lymphocytes, and destroy them. Over a period of years, the T cell count of the infected person drops to a critical level and the individual develops many opportunistic infections and hence is then said to have AIDS.
HIV Outside the Body
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus is fragile.
Once the virus is outside the body in a dry form, it dies immediately.
Even in a wet state, it does not live long when exposed to heat, detergents, or disinfectants.
When stored in blood banks at 4.C it can live for about 3 weeks (or longer) or till the white cell disintegrates.
In a frozen state it can survive for years.
HIV and AIDS – The Relation and the Difference
A person living with HIV (medically known as an HIV positive person) is one who has virus in his/her body. Such a person remains infected and is presumed infective for the rest of his/her life. However, she/he will appear to be perfectly normal and healthy and asymptomatic for many years. An asymptomatic HIV infected person does not have Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
But when an HIV positive person's T lymphocytes (which are responsible for the immunity) count falls to 200 or less, she/he starts developing symptoms, for example, cough, fever, diarrhoea, skin lesions, etc.
These are due to opportunistic infections (so called because they develop when the body’s immunity becomes deficient) like TB, thrush, pneumonia, Cryptococcal meningitis, etc.
All persons with AIDS are infected with HIV, but not all persons with HIV infection have AIDS. AIDS is only the end stage of this infection.
The Progress from HIV to AIDS
A few weeks after the virus enters the body, some people have flu like symptoms such as fever, body ache, and headache (every infected person may not experience these same symptoms). These symptoms disappear after a while and then there is a long phase of 3 years to 12 years, which is asymptomatic. After that, when the immune system starts failing AIDS sets in.
The rate of progress depends on the mode of the HIV transmission and the lifestyle of the HIV positive person. Majority of persons who are infected through blood transfusion develop symptoms on an average from 3 years to 5 years. With the other modes of transmission when the quantum of the virus is low, the person can remain healthy for 8 to 12 years or longer.
Medical Calculators
Advancement in medical science has made it possible for doctors to enhance the quality of care provided to patients. But it has also made doctors handle an information overload. There are formulae to compute, algorithms to remember, substantial quantity of data to sift through in the process of diagnosing and treating ailments.
Webhealthcentre provides below a set of medical calculators that serve as decision support tools for doctors.
Webhealthcentre provides below a set of medical calculators that serve as decision support tools for doctors.
Health Calculators
The human body is a sophisticated piece of machinery. Hundreds of parts work in symphony. The challenge of medical science has been to devise methods to gauge the efficiency of each part and function.
We present in this section tools that will help you to see if some of your body mechanisms are running smoothly. Tools like the pregnancy calculator and the ovulation calculator demystify crucial bio cycles. You can also figure out some fun facts with the Body Fluids Volumes calculator and Surface Area Calculator.
Keep a tab on your health with our calculators.
We present in this section tools that will help you to see if some of your body mechanisms are running smoothly. Tools like the pregnancy calculator and the ovulation calculator demystify crucial bio cycles. You can also figure out some fun facts with the Body Fluids Volumes calculator and Surface Area Calculator.
Keep a tab on your health with our calculators.
Yoga
Yoga is primarily a philosophical science, born out of man's need to fathom the meaning of existence. Patanjali, the father of yoga, states in the second sutra, (the yoga sutras):"Yogah cittavrtti nirodhah." (yogah = integration of all levels of our being; citta = consciousness; vrtti = fluctuation or state of mind; nirodhah = restraint) - meaning, "Yoga is the cessation of consciousness." The ultimate aim of yoga is self-evolution. In ancient times, when people lived the yogic way, good health was the natural result of their lifestyle. But, as health deteriorated with man's changing values, yoga gained ground in its use as therapy.
Patanjali explained that uncertain action, giving rise to violence, whether done directly or indirectly, or condoned, is caused by greed, anger, or delusion in different degrees. This causes endless pain and ignorance. Through introspection comes an end to pain and ignorance. This sutra explains the essence of the genesis of ill-health in today's world and also the method of management. Diseases are due not just to physical reasons but to decay in moral standards also. So the curative methods, should not be confined to the material plane alone.
Yoga and Modern Medicine - A Comparison
Power of the Human Mind
Yogic Approach
A Diagnostic Tool
Preventive Care
Yoga Sutras
Ashtanga Yoga
Professional Life
Executive Health
Yoga's aid to the executive
Targeting Diseases
Bronchial Asthma
Chronic Bronchitis and Ephysemia
Peptic Ulcer
Gastric Ulcer
Duodenal Ulcer
Yogic Management of Ulcers
Diabetes Mellitus
Yogic Management
Cervical Spondylitis
Asanas
Patanjali explained that uncertain action, giving rise to violence, whether done directly or indirectly, or condoned, is caused by greed, anger, or delusion in different degrees. This causes endless pain and ignorance. Through introspection comes an end to pain and ignorance. This sutra explains the essence of the genesis of ill-health in today's world and also the method of management. Diseases are due not just to physical reasons but to decay in moral standards also. So the curative methods, should not be confined to the material plane alone.
Yoga and Modern Medicine - A Comparison
Power of the Human Mind
Yogic Approach
A Diagnostic Tool
Preventive Care
Yoga Sutras
Ashtanga Yoga
Professional Life
Executive Health
Yoga's aid to the executive
Targeting Diseases
Bronchial Asthma
Chronic Bronchitis and Ephysemia
Peptic Ulcer
Gastric Ulcer
Duodenal Ulcer
Yogic Management of Ulcers
Diabetes Mellitus
Yogic Management
Cervical Spondylitis
Asanas
Siddha
Siddha, simply means perfection. A sense of mystery prevails about siddhars, or people who achieved siddhi. They were philosophers, healers and people with supernatural powers. While they were reputed to be miracle men, the medical science they practised is surprisingly well documented. In the recent times Siddha medicine has revived.
Siddha medicine was developed by the ancient Tamils, Dravidian people who lived in South India. The early Tamil epics mention poets who were also medical men. In the seventh and 12th centuries A.D. bhakti literature blossomed, so did medicine. This was the period when most famous siddhars lived. Surgery was well developed.
Kambaramayanam observes,
Incising the haematoma,
blood letting was done
followed by cauterization and
healing it by external application.
According to Dawson's dictionary on Hindu mythology, Siddhars were revered as much as the magi in Europe were. They were people who strove for spiritual well being to achieve the highest goal in life. Siddha, in fact, seems to be the by-product of certain gifted people's quest for spiritual fulfilment.
Attempts are being made to reinvent this ancient form of healing to deal with the ailments of today.
This section contains information under the following topics.
History and Thought of Siddha
What goes into the Making of a Man
The Five Elements and the Three Doshas
The Seven Dhatus
Diseases and Diagnosis
Types of Therapy
Anti-Aging
AIDS Control
Source
Dr. V.R.Seshadri , Secretary, IMPCOPS (Indian Medical Practitoners Co-operative Pharmacy & Stores Ltd.)
Siddha medicine was developed by the ancient Tamils, Dravidian people who lived in South India. The early Tamil epics mention poets who were also medical men. In the seventh and 12th centuries A.D. bhakti literature blossomed, so did medicine. This was the period when most famous siddhars lived. Surgery was well developed.
Kambaramayanam observes,
Incising the haematoma,
blood letting was done
followed by cauterization and
healing it by external application.
According to Dawson's dictionary on Hindu mythology, Siddhars were revered as much as the magi in Europe were. They were people who strove for spiritual well being to achieve the highest goal in life. Siddha, in fact, seems to be the by-product of certain gifted people's quest for spiritual fulfilment.
Attempts are being made to reinvent this ancient form of healing to deal with the ailments of today.
This section contains information under the following topics.
History and Thought of Siddha
What goes into the Making of a Man
The Five Elements and the Three Doshas
The Seven Dhatus
Diseases and Diagnosis
Types of Therapy
Anti-Aging
AIDS Control
Source
Dr. V.R.Seshadri , Secretary, IMPCOPS (Indian Medical Practitoners Co-operative Pharmacy & Stores Ltd.)
Reiki
At every stage of human evolution we are given certain tools to help us deal with our problems at that particular time.
Life today is more complicated than it used to be. We go through complex and stressful situations. What we are now looking for is something that will help us cope with life and live it as it should be lived; in peace, joy, harmony and abundance.
There is an increasing awareness today that health deals with much more than the physical body. The mind and spirit are equally involved. It is actually “a healthy body in a healthy mind” rather than the other way around. This awareness has led to a search for healing systems that lay emphasis on holistic health. Reiki is one such energy healing system that brings about very positive and extensive changes in our health, general well being and way of life, if practised regularly.
What is Reiki?
Definition
The Universality of Reiki
The Highlights of Healing
The Reiki view of Pain and Healing
What causes Pain?
What remedies it?
Some Key Reiki Concepts
The Aura
The Chakras
The Power of the Universal Energy
the Role of the Master
The Process of Healing
The Attunement
How Healing Happens
The Benefits
Five Principles of Reiki
Three levels of Learning
Karuna Reiki
A Reiki Masters’ Directory
History
Traditional History
Researched history
Life today is more complicated than it used to be. We go through complex and stressful situations. What we are now looking for is something that will help us cope with life and live it as it should be lived; in peace, joy, harmony and abundance.
There is an increasing awareness today that health deals with much more than the physical body. The mind and spirit are equally involved. It is actually “a healthy body in a healthy mind” rather than the other way around. This awareness has led to a search for healing systems that lay emphasis on holistic health. Reiki is one such energy healing system that brings about very positive and extensive changes in our health, general well being and way of life, if practised regularly.
What is Reiki?
Definition
The Universality of Reiki
The Highlights of Healing
The Reiki view of Pain and Healing
What causes Pain?
What remedies it?
Some Key Reiki Concepts
The Aura
The Chakras
The Power of the Universal Energy
the Role of the Master
The Process of Healing
The Attunement
How Healing Happens
The Benefits
Five Principles of Reiki
Three levels of Learning
Karuna Reiki
A Reiki Masters’ Directory
History
Traditional History
Researched history
History of Homeopathy
Homoeopathy was discovered in Germany 200 years back by Dr. Samuel Hahnemann.
He was a physician. However, he was getting disenchanted with the kind of treatment doctors gave patients in his days. Most of it involved purging, one way or another. Patients were given laxatives, emetics or were made to bleed, in an attempt to cure diseases. Hahnemann gave up medicine and worked as a chemist .
He was also a scholar fluent in 14 languages. While he was translating the work of a doctor he came across the detail that the bark of the Cinchona tree could cure malaria. The doctor’s arguments on the way this worked set Hahnemann thinking.
Having a scientific mind, he decided to experiment. He ate a bit of a Cinchona bark and noted it produced symptoms similar to malaria. He gave the same bark to few of his friends and relatives and they experienced malaria like symptoms. But whenever a patient came with malaria, administration of this bark cured the disease condition!
He continued experimenting with different medicinal substances. He noticed that those that produced symptoms similar to a disease were capable of treating the disease. He formulated the principle: SIMILIA SIMILIBUS CURENTUR. (LIKE Cures LIKE).
Homoeopathy was born.
He was a physician. However, he was getting disenchanted with the kind of treatment doctors gave patients in his days. Most of it involved purging, one way or another. Patients were given laxatives, emetics or were made to bleed, in an attempt to cure diseases. Hahnemann gave up medicine and worked as a chemist .
He was also a scholar fluent in 14 languages. While he was translating the work of a doctor he came across the detail that the bark of the Cinchona tree could cure malaria. The doctor’s arguments on the way this worked set Hahnemann thinking.
Having a scientific mind, he decided to experiment. He ate a bit of a Cinchona bark and noted it produced symptoms similar to malaria. He gave the same bark to few of his friends and relatives and they experienced malaria like symptoms. But whenever a patient came with malaria, administration of this bark cured the disease condition!
He continued experimenting with different medicinal substances. He noticed that those that produced symptoms similar to a disease were capable of treating the disease. He formulated the principle: SIMILIA SIMILIBUS CURENTUR. (LIKE Cures LIKE).
Homoeopathy was born.
Overview
Ayurveda means 'Knowledge of Life'. This system of medicine is derived from philosophical theories propounded in India over 2,000 years ago. More than being a system of treatment this system's thrust is the prevention of disease, through a harmony in body composition.
The basic concept of ayurveda is that the body is composed of three principles: pittha, kapha and vatha. These are called the tridoshas. Each dosha is located in a certain organ of the body and is a combination of the five natural resources (earth, fire, water, air and space or ether). Depending on the predominance of a particular dosha, an individual falls into a particular character type and is prone to particular types of diseases. For example people of the pittha type are said to be hot tempered and competitive. They are thought to be more prone to ulcers and rashes.
Depending on the analysis of the patient type, ayurveda advises a particular diet, treatment and care. There are different types of treatments in ayurveda.
Dr. V.R.Seshadri , Secretary, IMPCOPS (Indian Medical Practitoners Co-operative Pharmacy & Stores Ltd.)
The basic concept of ayurveda is that the body is composed of three principles: pittha, kapha and vatha. These are called the tridoshas. Each dosha is located in a certain organ of the body and is a combination of the five natural resources (earth, fire, water, air and space or ether). Depending on the predominance of a particular dosha, an individual falls into a particular character type and is prone to particular types of diseases. For example people of the pittha type are said to be hot tempered and competitive. They are thought to be more prone to ulcers and rashes.
Depending on the analysis of the patient type, ayurveda advises a particular diet, treatment and care. There are different types of treatments in ayurveda.
Dr. V.R.Seshadri , Secretary, IMPCOPS (Indian Medical Practitoners Co-operative Pharmacy & Stores Ltd.)
Drugless therapy through Atma Gnana Yoga
Stress and side effects of modern drugs are probably the twin causes of a large percentage of ailments today.
We seldom let bygones be bygones. By brooding over the past and being anxious about the uncertain future, we keep accumulating a lot of tension, which manifests as psychosomatic diseases that are incurable by medication. Medicines at best only serve as palliative.
Atma Gnana Yoga (AGY) is an experiential programme for ten days and two hours each day. The purpose of the program is to realize the divinity within ourselves and make us see only godliness and goodness in others.
Being a simple, process-oriented program involving no stretching or contraction of limbs such as Yogasanas, even a ninety-year-old person can benefit by this program.
It has been designed in such a manner that practice of Pranayama and Meditation for 15 to 20 minutes every day cures and prevents several physical and mental ailments.
We seldom let bygones be bygones. By brooding over the past and being anxious about the uncertain future, we keep accumulating a lot of tension, which manifests as psychosomatic diseases that are incurable by medication. Medicines at best only serve as palliative.
Atma Gnana Yoga (AGY) is an experiential programme for ten days and two hours each day. The purpose of the program is to realize the divinity within ourselves and make us see only godliness and goodness in others.
Being a simple, process-oriented program involving no stretching or contraction of limbs such as Yogasanas, even a ninety-year-old person can benefit by this program.
It has been designed in such a manner that practice of Pranayama and Meditation for 15 to 20 minutes every day cures and prevents several physical and mental ailments.
Acupuncture/Acupressure
Acupressure and Acupuncture are similar except for the fact that in Acupuncture, the influential points are punctured by needles where as in Acupressure the same points are pressed by fingertips or other suitable appliances. As the basic principles of both are same, in the information here, both terms are used interchangeably.
Acupuncture, the ancient Chinese art of healing is experiencing a revival.
Acupuncturists claim success in healing many diseases, which are resistant to conventional forms of therapy. They also claim that it is a simple, safe, effective and economical form of therapy.
The evolution of Acupressure seems natural if we consider our natural reaction to pain. We press the painful point. It is said that experiences of soldiers also contributed to the evolution of Acupressure and Acupuncture. Soldiers observed that arrows which pierced specific parts of the body cured long standing ailments of some other parts of the body.
Acupuncture, the ancient Chinese art of healing is experiencing a revival.
Acupuncturists claim success in healing many diseases, which are resistant to conventional forms of therapy. They also claim that it is a simple, safe, effective and economical form of therapy.
The evolution of Acupressure seems natural if we consider our natural reaction to pain. We press the painful point. It is said that experiences of soldiers also contributed to the evolution of Acupressure and Acupuncture. Soldiers observed that arrows which pierced specific parts of the body cured long standing ailments of some other parts of the body.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Friday, May 8, 2009
Lime and Beauty
A simple little fruit, found in most kitchens, can offer you more beauty solutions than you might think. Adding a little lemon to your beauty regimen can work wonders.
For an inexpensive astringent, use a cotton ball to apply a few drops of lemon juice mixed with equal water to your face. Simple and efficient! If you want to remove the unsightly redness of a blemish, dab lemon juice on the area a few times a day.
Take the juice of one lemon, two parts coarse salt and one part olive oil and mix them into a paste for a fantastic exfoliating scrub. Use in the tub, just before you shower for the best results. And don’t forget to moisturize afterwards!
For a nightly face wash, try a little turmeric powder and lemon juice for 10 minutes before bed. This isn’t a morning wash, as the yellow turmeric powder could slightly stain your face for a while.
Papaya pulp and lemon juice makes a great face mask. Two tablespoons of papaya and 10 drops of lemon juice is all you’ll need! Mix them up and apply to your face for 20 minutes. For a little added bonus during your mask time, add a twist of lemon to a glass of water. It tastes great, helps your complexion glow, and keeps you healthy.
Steaming your face once, a week is very important. Bring water to a boil and squeeze half a lemon into the bowl. Place a towel over your head to form a steam tent over the bowl, letting the steam work its magic for 15 minutes. After you’re done, wait at least 15 minutes before applying a moisturizer.
Maybe you want a little change in your hair color. Lemon juice can even do that. Add lemon juice to any areas you want to lighten and then sit in the sun for around 15 minutes, but be careful! Dry hair could be damaged by this process. This also works on elbows, knees, and other areas that might have hyper-pigmentation.
Even age spots can’t defend against the power of a lemon. Hold a wedge over an age spot for around 10 minutes, and then rinse the area with water. Do this once a day and your age spots should lighten or vanish quickly. A lemon peel rubbed on your teeth can help remove stains, too.
Lightening isn’t the only thing lemons can do to hair. Add lemon juice to a cup of water and pour it over your hair after you’ve washed it. This is a final hair rinse, so don’t wash the good stuff away. Shampoo residue can be washed out beforehand with a little extra lime squeezed in during your rinse.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Surgeon's Corner
There is a good chance that each of us will undergo at least one surgery during our lives. Our desire for longevity and the advancement of medical technology towards improvement of the quality of life have made this a distinct possibility.
If you are a patient any surgery is a daunting proposition. You are filled with doubts and questions. You might seek clarifications from your doctor. And yet you might need more information.
If you are a doctor, you will be aware there are no hard and fast rules about many aspects of medicine. New insights on grey areas are valuable. Your professional techniques are changing rapidly. Apart from the old-faithful scalpel, you deal with endoscopes, laparoscopes, lasers and more…Diagnostic methods are growing more scientific. Campaigns for minimally invasive processes and bloodless surgery are on.
Keeping abreast of recent and locally significant research and technical improvements becomes vital.
Webhealthcentre is glad to bring the expertise of eminent surgeons in this area to help both the consumer and the doctor in the field of surgery. Dr G Sivakumar M.S., FICS, FAIS who presents the surgeon’s corner at webhealthcentre.com is a senior General and Vascular Surgeon.
For more information on Dr. Sivakumar click here.
The Surgeon’s Corner will deal with many facets of various types of surgery. It will also initiate discussions on many issues of debate, in which your participation is welcomed.
Thyroid
Gall Stones
Stomach Cancer
If you are a patient any surgery is a daunting proposition. You are filled with doubts and questions. You might seek clarifications from your doctor. And yet you might need more information.
If you are a doctor, you will be aware there are no hard and fast rules about many aspects of medicine. New insights on grey areas are valuable. Your professional techniques are changing rapidly. Apart from the old-faithful scalpel, you deal with endoscopes, laparoscopes, lasers and more…Diagnostic methods are growing more scientific. Campaigns for minimally invasive processes and bloodless surgery are on.
Keeping abreast of recent and locally significant research and technical improvements becomes vital.
Webhealthcentre is glad to bring the expertise of eminent surgeons in this area to help both the consumer and the doctor in the field of surgery. Dr G Sivakumar M.S., FICS, FAIS who presents the surgeon’s corner at webhealthcentre.com is a senior General and Vascular Surgeon.
For more information on Dr. Sivakumar click here.
The Surgeon’s Corner will deal with many facets of various types of surgery. It will also initiate discussions on many issues of debate, in which your participation is welcomed.
Thyroid
Gall Stones
Stomach Cancer
Senior Citizen's Corner
There are 75 million people over the age of sixty in India. Their health, nutritional and psychological needs are special. However, awareness about these aspects of ageing is low. Webhealthcentre.com in alliance with seniorindian.com brings comprehensive information on various health issues relevant to ageing. Seniorindian.com is a website promoted by Dr Suresh Bhimsingh, who has trained under India’s pioneering geriatrician Dr V S Natarajan.
Can anti oxidants really retard ageing?
What are the schemes Indian insurance companies offer for the aged?
What is Alzheimer’s disease and how can care givers cope with it?
For answers to these questions and more
Can anti oxidants really retard ageing?
What are the schemes Indian insurance companies offer for the aged?
What is Alzheimer’s disease and how can care givers cope with it?
For answers to these questions and more
Neuro Centre
For a spongy three pound mass of fatty tissue, the brain is a fascinating organ. It is the centre of the nervous system and controls all body activity. And enables us to dream.
Many advancements in medical research, such as the mapping of the human genome and improvements in imaging technology, have made it possible for us to understand more and more about the brain. Neurological disorders are being studied with greater focus and patients of these disorders have better drugs and treatment options today.
Dr Prithika Chary, an eminent Neurologist, presents this section on webhealthcentre. She is very committed to educating the public on the mind-brain functions. She will be writing on various neurological disorders, as well as interesting aspects of the brain and nervous system. Her special area of interest is Epilepsy.
"It is our belief that knowledge is power and understanding what the brain does and how diseases disturb its function will help us to take better care of this special organ which enables us to embrace the finer and more complex aspects of life like art, music, mathematics and language giving richness to our lives." Dr Prithika Chary.
Quick Facts about Epilepsy
Travel tips for people with Epilepsy
Many advancements in medical research, such as the mapping of the human genome and improvements in imaging technology, have made it possible for us to understand more and more about the brain. Neurological disorders are being studied with greater focus and patients of these disorders have better drugs and treatment options today.
Dr Prithika Chary, an eminent Neurologist, presents this section on webhealthcentre. She is very committed to educating the public on the mind-brain functions. She will be writing on various neurological disorders, as well as interesting aspects of the brain and nervous system. Her special area of interest is Epilepsy.
"It is our belief that knowledge is power and understanding what the brain does and how diseases disturb its function will help us to take better care of this special organ which enables us to embrace the finer and more complex aspects of life like art, music, mathematics and language giving richness to our lives." Dr Prithika Chary.
Quick Facts about Epilepsy
Travel tips for people with Epilepsy
Mental Health and Illness
About 450 million people suffer from mental and behavioural disorders worldwide, reports the World Health Organisation. In many parts of the world socio economic conditions have a negative impact to mental health: poverty, illiteracy, war, violence discrimination on various aspects are all detrimental factors. Awareness that some behaviours and symptoms are signs of illnesses, is lacking. There is a stigma to voicing mental problems and seeking help.
Mental Illness covers a wide spectrum where the boundaries between “normal” and “abnormal” are not very sharply defined. Illnesses can be classified in different ways. Some broad categories are:
Organic, where there are structural/physiological abnormalities in the brain or nerves, leading to illness
Functional where there are no structural abnormalities identifiable
Neurosis - severe forms of normal experiences
Psychosis – severe distortion of perception of reality.
Illnesses are also grouped as:
Mood disorders
Anxiety disorders.
Substance-related disorders.
Schizophrenia related disorders
Dementia and Memory Related Disorders
Developmental disorders
Personality disorders.
While it is difficult to define what is normal when a behaviour interferes with your ability to cope with life on a daily basis, then it is better to seek help.
Mental Illness covers a wide spectrum where the boundaries between “normal” and “abnormal” are not very sharply defined. Illnesses can be classified in different ways. Some broad categories are:
Organic, where there are structural/physiological abnormalities in the brain or nerves, leading to illness
Functional where there are no structural abnormalities identifiable
Neurosis - severe forms of normal experiences
Psychosis – severe distortion of perception of reality.
Illnesses are also grouped as:
Mood disorders
Anxiety disorders.
Substance-related disorders.
Schizophrenia related disorders
Dementia and Memory Related Disorders
Developmental disorders
Personality disorders.
While it is difficult to define what is normal when a behaviour interferes with your ability to cope with life on a daily basis, then it is better to seek help.
Diabetes Corner
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes Mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterised by the body's inability to maintain blood sugar levels within the normal range. This could be due to:
A deficiency in insulin secretion
Biological ineffectiveness of the insulin secreted>
Both the above causes
Depending on the amount of insulin produced and other observations, diabetes is classified into Type I and Type II. If untreated, diabetes could lead to many complications.
However, we know that careful management of the condition will help those with diabetes lead a near normal life.
The appropriate level of sugar in the blood
How much of glucose is too much? If you want a rough idea, you can do a random check at a laboratory. If the lab report says that you have more than 180 milligrams of glucose for each decilitre of blood (180mg/dl) then there may be a problem. You have to go in for more accurate tests like the ones detailed below.
Fasting Sugar Test
Post Prandial
Glucose Tolerance Test
Glycosylated Haemoglobin Test
Fasting Sugar Test
Test your blood sugar level after fasting for at least eight hours. The best way to do this is to get your blood tested before you eat anything in the morning.
The normal fasting blood sugar level is between 80 – 120 mg/dl
Post Prandial
This test is done after you have had a meal. A blood sample is taken after 1-½ hours after your meal and is checked for blood glucose.
The recommended level of blood glucose is between 120 – 160 mg/dl
Glucose Tolerance Test
You can go for this test when you do not have any illness and when you have not taken any medication.
You will have to take this test after fasting over eight hours (or overnight). A blood sample is collected before you take anything. After this you will have to take a glass of water with about 75 grams of glucose dissolved in it. In the next three hours your blood glucose is measured five times.
In normal people the blood sugar rises and falls quickly.
In people who have diabetes it rises higher and does not come down enough.
Here is what the result might indicate:
Not diabetic
At the end of the two-hour period if the blood sugar level is less than 140 mg/dl and all the readings in the two-hour period are less than 200 mg/dl, you are not diabetic.
Impaired glucose Tolerance
You have a problem with using up sugar when the 2-hour glucose level is between 140 and 199 mg/dl but and your fasting sugar is less than 120 mg/dl.
This does not mean you are diabetic. But it just shows that the possibility exists. If you exercise, keep your weight in check and monitor your blood sugar regularly, you may never need to take medication.
Diabetic
If at the end of two hours your blood sugar value is more than 200 mg/dl and the result from another test as in the case of fasting test, also shows a high value, you have diabetes.
Glycosylated Haemoglobin Test
Tracking your control
To monitor how well your diabetes has been managed in the past 2-3 months your doctor may advise another test: the glycosylated haemoglobin test. When the glucose in the blood attaches to the haemoglobin, glycosylated haemoglobin is formed. These cells stay in circulation for a period of two to three months. Monitoring their level gives the doctor an idea how well your sugar control has been in the past two months.
The Role of Insulin
One of the basic functions of the body is to convert food into energy and nutrients. We can get energy from fats, proteins and carbohydrates, but carbohydrates are especially important because they are rapidly converted to sugar and produce energy quickly.
To help the sugar enter the body's individual cells, the pancreas sends insulin into the blood, enabling the hormone to reach insulin receptors on the surface of these cells. Only when insulin binds to the surface of the cells, can the cells absorb sugar from the blood.
When blood sugar increases after a meal, the amount of insulin (called "mealtime insulin") also increases, so that excess sugar can be rapidly absorbed by the cells. The liver stops secreting sugar and instead stores sugar from the blood for later use. When insulin has done its work, it is broken down. The body must therefore constantly renew its supply of insulin.
When the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, the cells are not able to absorb sugar from the blood for growth, repair or energy. Cells begin to "starve" and the blood sugar level is constantly too high.
Where does the insulin come from?
The pancreas is a gland located behind the stomach. It is attached to the small intestine and the spleen. Inside the pancreas are small clusters of cells called Islets of Langerhans. Within the islets are beta cells, which produce insulin.
What are the symptoms of Diabetes?
Frequent urination
Thirst
Dry skin
Blurred vision
Hunger
Exhaustion
Slow recovery from injuries and illnesses
Frequent urination
When the cells do not use the excess sugar in the blood, it gets excreted in the urine. But the sugar cannot come out by itself, so it soaks up the urine and spills out. Therefore people with diabetes need to use the bathroom frequently.
Thirst
Because of frequent urination, there is water loss from the body and diabetics feel thirsty easily.
Dry skin
This is a symptom of dehydration or water loss.
Blurred vision
The levels of water and glucose in the eye fluctuate due to dehydration causing blurred vision.
Hunger
When insulin that helps cells take in sugar is missing, the cells starve and this sends the message of hunger to the brain. So even though there is sugar in the blood, it does not get absorbed and the message of hunger is sent to the brain frequently.
Exhaustion
When sugar in the blood is not being used by the cells to grow, repair or produce energy, it remains in the blood. It is sent out through the urine by the kidneys. The body thus loses the sugar and the nutrients. A diabetic is not able to get the full benefit of the food he is taking. A diabetic therefore feels hungry, exhausted and generally in poor health.
Slow recovery from injuries and illnesses
Our body fights diseases through its immune system, consisting of white blood cells. When the sugar level in the blood is high, the white blood cells function poorly. When body fluids have higher level of sugars, it makes it more attractive for bacteria and other disease organisms to thrive. Once they fall ill it takes a long time for diabetics to get well. The immune system plays an important part in the healing of cuts and bruises. Diabetics take a long time to recover from cuts and bruises as well.
Who is at risk?
Two factors seem to be related to diabetes, especially Type II diabetes. Heredity and Obesity. If you have a parent, grandparent, brother or sister with diabetes Type II there is a possibility that you will also have it. If you are obese, you are increasing the risk.
Listed below are some of the other factors, which might cause or trigger the disease:
Viruses - Researchers feel that viruses may play a role in the destruction of insulin producing beta cells in some people.
Age -Diabetes Type II is a forty plus disease. As people age, their bodies may have fewer insulin-producing beta cells.
Pregnancy - Hormones produced in the womb during pregnancy may block the effect of insulin. For details read Gestational diabetes.
Problems in the immune system - It is now believed that the immune system might play a part in the destruction of the insulin producing beta cells
Injury - An accident or injury may destroy the pancreas, where insulin is normally produced.
Stress - There is the possibility that hormones released during periods of stress may block the effect of insulin.
Diabetes Mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterised by the body's inability to maintain blood sugar levels within the normal range. This could be due to:
A deficiency in insulin secretion
Biological ineffectiveness of the insulin secreted>
Both the above causes
Depending on the amount of insulin produced and other observations, diabetes is classified into Type I and Type II. If untreated, diabetes could lead to many complications.
However, we know that careful management of the condition will help those with diabetes lead a near normal life.
The appropriate level of sugar in the blood
How much of glucose is too much? If you want a rough idea, you can do a random check at a laboratory. If the lab report says that you have more than 180 milligrams of glucose for each decilitre of blood (180mg/dl) then there may be a problem. You have to go in for more accurate tests like the ones detailed below.
Fasting Sugar Test
Post Prandial
Glucose Tolerance Test
Glycosylated Haemoglobin Test
Fasting Sugar Test
Test your blood sugar level after fasting for at least eight hours. The best way to do this is to get your blood tested before you eat anything in the morning.
The normal fasting blood sugar level is between 80 – 120 mg/dl
Post Prandial
This test is done after you have had a meal. A blood sample is taken after 1-½ hours after your meal and is checked for blood glucose.
The recommended level of blood glucose is between 120 – 160 mg/dl
Glucose Tolerance Test
You can go for this test when you do not have any illness and when you have not taken any medication.
You will have to take this test after fasting over eight hours (or overnight). A blood sample is collected before you take anything. After this you will have to take a glass of water with about 75 grams of glucose dissolved in it. In the next three hours your blood glucose is measured five times.
In normal people the blood sugar rises and falls quickly.
In people who have diabetes it rises higher and does not come down enough.
Here is what the result might indicate:
Not diabetic
At the end of the two-hour period if the blood sugar level is less than 140 mg/dl and all the readings in the two-hour period are less than 200 mg/dl, you are not diabetic.
Impaired glucose Tolerance
You have a problem with using up sugar when the 2-hour glucose level is between 140 and 199 mg/dl but and your fasting sugar is less than 120 mg/dl.
This does not mean you are diabetic. But it just shows that the possibility exists. If you exercise, keep your weight in check and monitor your blood sugar regularly, you may never need to take medication.
Diabetic
If at the end of two hours your blood sugar value is more than 200 mg/dl and the result from another test as in the case of fasting test, also shows a high value, you have diabetes.
Glycosylated Haemoglobin Test
Tracking your control
To monitor how well your diabetes has been managed in the past 2-3 months your doctor may advise another test: the glycosylated haemoglobin test. When the glucose in the blood attaches to the haemoglobin, glycosylated haemoglobin is formed. These cells stay in circulation for a period of two to three months. Monitoring their level gives the doctor an idea how well your sugar control has been in the past two months.
The Role of Insulin
One of the basic functions of the body is to convert food into energy and nutrients. We can get energy from fats, proteins and carbohydrates, but carbohydrates are especially important because they are rapidly converted to sugar and produce energy quickly.
To help the sugar enter the body's individual cells, the pancreas sends insulin into the blood, enabling the hormone to reach insulin receptors on the surface of these cells. Only when insulin binds to the surface of the cells, can the cells absorb sugar from the blood.
When blood sugar increases after a meal, the amount of insulin (called "mealtime insulin") also increases, so that excess sugar can be rapidly absorbed by the cells. The liver stops secreting sugar and instead stores sugar from the blood for later use. When insulin has done its work, it is broken down. The body must therefore constantly renew its supply of insulin.
When the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, the cells are not able to absorb sugar from the blood for growth, repair or energy. Cells begin to "starve" and the blood sugar level is constantly too high.
Where does the insulin come from?
The pancreas is a gland located behind the stomach. It is attached to the small intestine and the spleen. Inside the pancreas are small clusters of cells called Islets of Langerhans. Within the islets are beta cells, which produce insulin.
What are the symptoms of Diabetes?
Frequent urination
Thirst
Dry skin
Blurred vision
Hunger
Exhaustion
Slow recovery from injuries and illnesses
Frequent urination
When the cells do not use the excess sugar in the blood, it gets excreted in the urine. But the sugar cannot come out by itself, so it soaks up the urine and spills out. Therefore people with diabetes need to use the bathroom frequently.
Thirst
Because of frequent urination, there is water loss from the body and diabetics feel thirsty easily.
Dry skin
This is a symptom of dehydration or water loss.
Blurred vision
The levels of water and glucose in the eye fluctuate due to dehydration causing blurred vision.
Hunger
When insulin that helps cells take in sugar is missing, the cells starve and this sends the message of hunger to the brain. So even though there is sugar in the blood, it does not get absorbed and the message of hunger is sent to the brain frequently.
Exhaustion
When sugar in the blood is not being used by the cells to grow, repair or produce energy, it remains in the blood. It is sent out through the urine by the kidneys. The body thus loses the sugar and the nutrients. A diabetic is not able to get the full benefit of the food he is taking. A diabetic therefore feels hungry, exhausted and generally in poor health.
Slow recovery from injuries and illnesses
Our body fights diseases through its immune system, consisting of white blood cells. When the sugar level in the blood is high, the white blood cells function poorly. When body fluids have higher level of sugars, it makes it more attractive for bacteria and other disease organisms to thrive. Once they fall ill it takes a long time for diabetics to get well. The immune system plays an important part in the healing of cuts and bruises. Diabetics take a long time to recover from cuts and bruises as well.
Who is at risk?
Two factors seem to be related to diabetes, especially Type II diabetes. Heredity and Obesity. If you have a parent, grandparent, brother or sister with diabetes Type II there is a possibility that you will also have it. If you are obese, you are increasing the risk.
Listed below are some of the other factors, which might cause or trigger the disease:
Viruses - Researchers feel that viruses may play a role in the destruction of insulin producing beta cells in some people.
Age -Diabetes Type II is a forty plus disease. As people age, their bodies may have fewer insulin-producing beta cells.
Pregnancy - Hormones produced in the womb during pregnancy may block the effect of insulin. For details read Gestational diabetes.
Problems in the immune system - It is now believed that the immune system might play a part in the destruction of the insulin producing beta cells
Injury - An accident or injury may destroy the pancreas, where insulin is normally produced.
Stress - There is the possibility that hormones released during periods of stress may block the effect of insulin.
Cardiac Corner
When you were about four weeks old in the womb, your heart began to form. Your heart will beat nearly three billion times in your lifetime.
Your heart is a hollow muscle about the size of your closed fist. Every time your heart ‘beats’, it pumps blood containing oxygen and nutrients to all parts of your body. Blood is carried to your tissues and organs through a network of blood vessels called arteries. A single red blood cell makes approximately 250,000 round trips of the body before returning to the bone marrow, where it was born, to die.
Sometimes this wonderful organ can develop problems. This section attempts a brief description of the heart and common cardiac problems.
The Anatomy - simplified
Your heart is made up of four chambers. There are two chambers on top and two below.
The upper chambers are called atria. (Each upper chamber is called an atrium). The lower chambers are called ventricles. There are muscle walls called septa separating the left and the right atrium, and the left and right ventricles. Blood flows from the atrium to the ventricle through valves. Valves work like one-way doors, letting blood flow through them in only one direction.
Within the heart the blood flows thus:
The impure blood from the rest of the body is brought to the right atrium. Then it passes into the right ventricle. The right ventricle contracts and blood is forced into the pulmonary artery. This blood travels through the lungs. The blood is purified or oxygenated in the lungs and this returns to the heart at the left atrium. Then the blood falls into the left ventricle. The ventricle contracts and the blood goes rushing into the aorta and to the other parts of the body.
The Circulatory System
Your heart pumps blood to all parts of your body through the “systemic circuit”. Pure blood from the heart, carried through the aorta, goes to all the organs of the body through the arteries and the impure blood is gathered by the veins and returned to the heart.
The heart sends the impure blood collected thus to the lungs through the pulmonary artery to be purified by the lungs. It collects the pure blood through the pulmonary vein. This routing of blood to the lungs and back forms the “pulmonary circuit”.
To do both these functions(pumping blood to the rest of the body and sending blood to be purified in the lungs) effectively, the heart needs a supply of oxygenated blood, just like any other part of the body. The coronary arteries that rise from the aorta supply oxygen rich blood to the heart muscle.
Two main coronary arteries feed the heart. The right coronary artery feeds the right side and bottom part of the heart. The left main coronary artery has two branches; the left anterior descending artery, which feed the front left side of the heart, and the circumflex artery which feeds the back of the heart. These main coronary arteries have many branches, which supply the heart muscle with oxygen-rich blood.
Defects/ diseases of the heart
Heart problems can be classified into two broad categories:
Congenital Heart Diseases
Acquired Heart Diseases
Your heart is a hollow muscle about the size of your closed fist. Every time your heart ‘beats’, it pumps blood containing oxygen and nutrients to all parts of your body. Blood is carried to your tissues and organs through a network of blood vessels called arteries. A single red blood cell makes approximately 250,000 round trips of the body before returning to the bone marrow, where it was born, to die.
Sometimes this wonderful organ can develop problems. This section attempts a brief description of the heart and common cardiac problems.
The Anatomy - simplified
Your heart is made up of four chambers. There are two chambers on top and two below.
The upper chambers are called atria. (Each upper chamber is called an atrium). The lower chambers are called ventricles. There are muscle walls called septa separating the left and the right atrium, and the left and right ventricles. Blood flows from the atrium to the ventricle through valves. Valves work like one-way doors, letting blood flow through them in only one direction.
Within the heart the blood flows thus:
The impure blood from the rest of the body is brought to the right atrium. Then it passes into the right ventricle. The right ventricle contracts and blood is forced into the pulmonary artery. This blood travels through the lungs. The blood is purified or oxygenated in the lungs and this returns to the heart at the left atrium. Then the blood falls into the left ventricle. The ventricle contracts and the blood goes rushing into the aorta and to the other parts of the body.
The Circulatory System
Your heart pumps blood to all parts of your body through the “systemic circuit”. Pure blood from the heart, carried through the aorta, goes to all the organs of the body through the arteries and the impure blood is gathered by the veins and returned to the heart.
The heart sends the impure blood collected thus to the lungs through the pulmonary artery to be purified by the lungs. It collects the pure blood through the pulmonary vein. This routing of blood to the lungs and back forms the “pulmonary circuit”.
To do both these functions(pumping blood to the rest of the body and sending blood to be purified in the lungs) effectively, the heart needs a supply of oxygenated blood, just like any other part of the body. The coronary arteries that rise from the aorta supply oxygen rich blood to the heart muscle.
Two main coronary arteries feed the heart. The right coronary artery feeds the right side and bottom part of the heart. The left main coronary artery has two branches; the left anterior descending artery, which feed the front left side of the heart, and the circumflex artery which feeds the back of the heart. These main coronary arteries have many branches, which supply the heart muscle with oxygen-rich blood.
Defects/ diseases of the heart
Heart problems can be classified into two broad categories:
Congenital Heart Diseases
Acquired Heart Diseases
CANCER
The majority of cancers that occur in India are preventable or curable if detected in the early stages. Cancer Institute (WIA), Chennai, findings note: “With our existing knowledge and resources 50% of cancers that occur in our area can be prevented. Over 50% of cancers in men are tobacco oriented. They are due to chewing tobacco or smoking. Over 50% of cancers in women are uterine cancers. And both these groups of cancers are preventable."
Today we have tools to detect a cancer long before it becomes visible, or produces symptoms. Even when established cancer is detected, with better methods of investigation and treatment, more cancers are curable today. The question of life or death for cancer patients hinges on when the disease is detected. This section provides information with a view to helping users understand the disease, its prevention and early detection.
Today we have tools to detect a cancer long before it becomes visible, or produces symptoms. Even when established cancer is detected, with better methods of investigation and treatment, more cancers are curable today. The question of life or death for cancer patients hinges on when the disease is detected. This section provides information with a view to helping users understand the disease, its prevention and early detection.
HIV and AIDS
HIV/AIDS accompanies poverty, is spread by poverty and produces poverty in its turn, ” says the United Nations Population Fund in its paper on AIDS. The worst affected countries are in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Eastern Europe.
The UNAIDS report projects that, in the absence of drastically expanded prevention and treatment efforts, 68 million people will die because of AIDS in the 45 most affected countries between 2000 and 2020, more than five times the 13 million deaths of the previous two decades of the epidemic in those countries.
AIDS spreads because of risk behaviours rather than risk “factors”. Awareness can lead to an avoidance of these behaviours.
Despite the absence of preventive vaccine/medication and cure, there is an improvement in the quality of life for the AIDS patient. Yet, the stigma associated with AIDS prevents the patient from benefiting from the best care available.
This section attempts at raising awareness on HIV infection and AIDS. This section hopes to fight the stigma people with HIV face and provides tips on coping with the disease. You can also view Dr Sunithi Solomon’s views on AIDS and management.
Source: The material for this section is sourced from YRGCare,India.
HIV stands for Human immunodeficiency Virus.
It only causes disease in humans. It’s presence in the bloodstream leads to the depletion of white blood cells leading to lowering of immunity.
The incubation period:
Once the virus enters the body it lies dormant for many years and hence is known as a slow virus. Most other viruses, for example, those causing measles, mumps, chicken pox etc., manifest the disease in 14-21 days after they enter the body. In HIV the incubation period is very long and runs into years.
HIV and the Immune System
Once HIV enters the body, it gets attached to a type of white blood cell called the lymphocyte (which is the T cell in the human body's protection against infections). The RNA (genetic material) of the virus then gets converted to DNA (genetic material) by an enzyme that the virus produces. This viral DNA then gets incorporated in to the DNA of the human cell (T lymphocyte) and remains there for the lifetime of that cell. This infected cell now becomes a virus factory producing more viruses (HIV), which bud out of the cell, attack new T lymphocytes, and destroy them. Over a period of years, the T cell count of the infected person drops to a critical level and the individual develops many opportunistic infections and hence is then said to have AIDS.
HIV Outside the Body
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus is fragile.
Once the virus is outside the body in a dry form, it dies immediately.
Even in a wet state, it does not live long when exposed to heat, detergents, or disinfectants.
When stored in blood banks at 4.C it can live for about 3 weeks (or longer) or till the white cell disintegrates.
In a frozen state it can survive for years.
HIV and AIDS – The Relation and the Difference
A person living with HIV (medically known as an HIV positive person) is one who has virus in his/her body. Such a person remains infected and is presumed infective for the rest of his/her life. However, she/he will appear to be perfectly normal and healthy and asymptomatic for many years. An asymptomatic HIV infected person does not have Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
But when an HIV positive person's T lymphocytes (which are responsible for the immunity) count falls to 200 or less, she/he starts developing symptoms, for example, cough, fever, diarrhoea, skin lesions, etc.
These are due to opportunistic infections (so called because they develop when the body’s immunity becomes deficient) like TB, thrush, pneumonia, Cryptococcal meningitis, etc.
All persons with AIDS are infected with HIV, but not all persons with HIV infection have AIDS. AIDS is only the end stage of this infection.
The Progress from HIV to AIDS
A few weeks after the virus enters the body, some people have flu like symptoms such as fever, body ache, and headache (every infected person may not experience these same symptoms). These symptoms disappear after a while and then there is a long phase of 3 years to 12 years, which is asymptomatic. After that, when the immune system starts failing AIDS sets in.
The rate of progress depends on the mode of the HIV transmission and the lifestyle of the HIV positive person. Majority of persons who are infected through blood transfusion develop symptoms on an average from 3 years to 5 years. With the other modes of transmission when the quantum of the virus is low, the person can remain healthy for 8 to 12 years or longer.
The UNAIDS report projects that, in the absence of drastically expanded prevention and treatment efforts, 68 million people will die because of AIDS in the 45 most affected countries between 2000 and 2020, more than five times the 13 million deaths of the previous two decades of the epidemic in those countries.
AIDS spreads because of risk behaviours rather than risk “factors”. Awareness can lead to an avoidance of these behaviours.
Despite the absence of preventive vaccine/medication and cure, there is an improvement in the quality of life for the AIDS patient. Yet, the stigma associated with AIDS prevents the patient from benefiting from the best care available.
This section attempts at raising awareness on HIV infection and AIDS. This section hopes to fight the stigma people with HIV face and provides tips on coping with the disease. You can also view Dr Sunithi Solomon’s views on AIDS and management.
Source: The material for this section is sourced from YRGCare,India.
HIV stands for Human immunodeficiency Virus.
It only causes disease in humans. It’s presence in the bloodstream leads to the depletion of white blood cells leading to lowering of immunity.
The incubation period:
Once the virus enters the body it lies dormant for many years and hence is known as a slow virus. Most other viruses, for example, those causing measles, mumps, chicken pox etc., manifest the disease in 14-21 days after they enter the body. In HIV the incubation period is very long and runs into years.
HIV and the Immune System
Once HIV enters the body, it gets attached to a type of white blood cell called the lymphocyte (which is the T cell in the human body's protection against infections). The RNA (genetic material) of the virus then gets converted to DNA (genetic material) by an enzyme that the virus produces. This viral DNA then gets incorporated in to the DNA of the human cell (T lymphocyte) and remains there for the lifetime of that cell. This infected cell now becomes a virus factory producing more viruses (HIV), which bud out of the cell, attack new T lymphocytes, and destroy them. Over a period of years, the T cell count of the infected person drops to a critical level and the individual develops many opportunistic infections and hence is then said to have AIDS.
HIV Outside the Body
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus is fragile.
Once the virus is outside the body in a dry form, it dies immediately.
Even in a wet state, it does not live long when exposed to heat, detergents, or disinfectants.
When stored in blood banks at 4.C it can live for about 3 weeks (or longer) or till the white cell disintegrates.
In a frozen state it can survive for years.
HIV and AIDS – The Relation and the Difference
A person living with HIV (medically known as an HIV positive person) is one who has virus in his/her body. Such a person remains infected and is presumed infective for the rest of his/her life. However, she/he will appear to be perfectly normal and healthy and asymptomatic for many years. An asymptomatic HIV infected person does not have Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
But when an HIV positive person's T lymphocytes (which are responsible for the immunity) count falls to 200 or less, she/he starts developing symptoms, for example, cough, fever, diarrhoea, skin lesions, etc.
These are due to opportunistic infections (so called because they develop when the body’s immunity becomes deficient) like TB, thrush, pneumonia, Cryptococcal meningitis, etc.
All persons with AIDS are infected with HIV, but not all persons with HIV infection have AIDS. AIDS is only the end stage of this infection.
The Progress from HIV to AIDS
A few weeks after the virus enters the body, some people have flu like symptoms such as fever, body ache, and headache (every infected person may not experience these same symptoms). These symptoms disappear after a while and then there is a long phase of 3 years to 12 years, which is asymptomatic. After that, when the immune system starts failing AIDS sets in.
The rate of progress depends on the mode of the HIV transmission and the lifestyle of the HIV positive person. Majority of persons who are infected through blood transfusion develop symptoms on an average from 3 years to 5 years. With the other modes of transmission when the quantum of the virus is low, the person can remain healthy for 8 to 12 years or longer.
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