Holistic Health 123

Understanding Peptic Ulcer Disease

2012-11-06T22:07:00.000-08:00

Peptic ulcer disease is a condition in which sores or ulcers occur in the lining of the stomach or first portion of the small intestine called duodenum. Normally, our digestive tract is protected by a mucosa layer that produces mucus that protects against digestive juices. An ulcer may develop if for some reasons, this protective layer is compromised.

In the United States, peptic ulcer affects around 4.5 million people every year. One out of ten people may have an ulcer at one point in time. Increasing age and the growing use of aspirin or other non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) contributes to the incidence of peptic ulcer disease. In the past, males were more likely to be affected. However, current evidence shows that women are almost as likely to develop peptic ulcer disease as men. The prevalence tends to increase in older female population and decrease in young male population.

How does a peptic ulcer develop?

When the mucosa layer is broken down, digestive juices that contain hydrochloric acid and an enzyme called pepsin can damage the stomach or duodenal tissue. In contrary to popular belief, spicy foods and daily lifestyle stress do not cause peptic ulcers. They can make the symptoms worse, but diet and psychological factors are not causative factors.

The known causes of peptic ulcers are:

Infection by bacteria called Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)
Use of non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin (Anacin, Bufferin, Empirin), naproxen (Aleve), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Excedrin), and many others
Abnormal gastric acid production such as in Zollinger Ellison syndrome where a tumor called gastrinoma produces excessive acid
Physiologic (not psychological) stress like severe burns, head trauma, major surgery, systemic infection, and respiratory failure may cause deep ulcers associated with high acid production
Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption may worsen symptoms and prevent ulcers from healing. However, it is still inconclusive whether or not they are really causative factors.

What are the types of peptic ulcer?

Ulcers that develop in the stomach are called gastric ulcers, where those that develop in the duodenum are called duodenal ulcers. Often times, gastric and duodenal ulcers cannot be differentiated based on the history alone.

What are the symptoms of peptic ulcer?

The most common symptom of a peptic ulcer is abdominal pain that usually occurs in the upper part of the abdomen (epigastric pain) with gnawing or burning quality. In gastric ulcer, pain usually follows shortly after meal. In duodenal ulcer, it occurs several hours after meal and typically happens in the night and awakens the patient from sleep. However, ulcers may not always cause noticable symptoms, especially in the elderly.

a gastric ulcer as seen in endoscopy

Other than abdominal pain, other symptoms that may accompany peptic ulcer disease are:

Bloating and belching
Nausea or vomiting
Chest discomfort or heartburn
Dark, black, or tarry stool due to bleeding ulcer
Vomiting blood
Anemia
Loss of appetite and weight loss

Danger signs in peptic ulcer

If you experience any of the following symptoms related to your ulcer, seek immediate medical attention.

Severe abdominal pain
Bleeding or anemia
Unexplained weight loss
Progressive difficulty in swallowing foods or liquid

What are the complications of peptic ulcer?

Untreated ulcer can cause chronic bleeding or sudden massive hemorrhage associated with perforation. Mortality is higher in patients with gastric perforation compared to duodenal perforation. People with gastric ulcers are also at a higher risk to develop stomach cancer.

How are ulcers diagnosed?

A complete medical history and physical examination will usually help your doctor in making the diagnosis. However, to confirm it, you may need to have a blood or breath test to check for Helicobacter pylori infection or even a more elaborate procedure like endoscopy. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy will allow your doctor to view the inner surface of your stomach or duodenum through a small tube inserted through your mouth.

What are the treatments for ulcers?

Lifestyle changes like stop taking NSAIDs and quit smoking will help the healing process. Ulcers can heal on their own, but if the symptoms are severe or if H. pylori infection is not treated, they will develop into complication.

Medications used to treat ulcers may include:

Antibiotics to treat H. pylori infection
Proton pump inhibitors (PPI) like omeprazole (Prilosec), lanzoprazole (Prevacid) or esomeprazole (Nexium) to reduce acid production
H2 receptor blockers like ranitidine (Zantac) or famotidine (Pepcid)
Cytoprotective agents like misoprostol or sucralfate to increase mucus production

In severe cases such as in massive bleeding and perforation, endoscopic procedure or open surgery will have to be preformed to control the symptoms.

Common Causes of Abdominal Pain

2012-11-04T19:14:00.000-08:00

Abdominal pain is one of the most common reasons for doctor visit with severity ranging from mild to life threatening. Everyone experiences abdominal pain from time to time. As with the other common symptoms, it’s important to recognize whether or not the pain requires immediate medical attention.

What are the symptoms that accompany abdominal pain?

Often times, abdominal pain is accompanied by changes in bowel movement (either diarrhea or constipation), blood or mucus in the stool, flatulence, bloating, nausea and vomiting, fever, back pain, urinary pain and urgency, chest pain, shortness of breath and cough. In women, abdominal pain may be accompanied by changes in menstrual pattern and vaginal bleeding or discharge. In these cases, the possibility of pregnancy or other diseases related to the female reproductive organs must be considered.

What are the causes of abdominal pain?

In mild cases, the causes of abdominal pain can be indigestion, constipation, food poisoning, food intolerance, gastro esophageal reflux disease, irritable bowel syndrome, gas, muscle strain, and menstrual cramps in women. More serious cases include peptic ulcers, gastroenteritis, appendicitis, gall stone, kidney stone, urinary tract infection, hernia, inflammatory bowel diseases, pancreatitis, hepatitis, and diverticulitis. The really serious problems are bowel or intestinal obstruction, perforation, peritonitis, ectopic pregnancy, ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm, cancer of the stomach, pancreas, colon, liver, or other organs, and intestinal ischemia.

How can you tell if the abdominal pain is a sign of serious disease?

Evaluation of the onset, duration, location, quality, and other characteristics of the abdominal pain, along with the accompanying symptoms may give a clue whether or not it is caused by a serious underlying disease that requires emergency treatment.

The characteristics, duration, and causes of abdominal pain can vary greatly.

Seek medical attention of you experience any of the following:

Severe pain that restricts your movement or made you so uncomfortable that you can’t sit still.
Pain that occurs after a recent trauma or injury
Severe tenderness when you touch your abdomen
A rigid, board-like abdomen
Pain accompanied by fever over 38.3 C (101F)
Vomiting blood or coffee grounds appearing substance
Blood in the stool, either fresh blood or black tarry stool
Worsening bloating or constipation or inability to pass stool
Blood in the urine or cloudy urine
Inability to take down food or liquid
Shortness of breath
Chest pain or discomfort
Vaginal bleeding
Pain that occurred during pregnancy
Worsening symptoms that do not improve after 2 days
Unexplained weight loss over a period of time

Other considerations regarding abdominal pain

Sometimes the degree of pain may not reflect the seriousness of the condition. Early appendicitis or pancreatic cancer may elicit only vague pain. In contrary, you may have severe pain from gas or muscle cramps. However, it’s better to be safe than sorry and seek medical help for all severe pain.

Generalized pain is usually caused by indigestion, gas, viral gastroenteritis, food poisoning or intolerance, and irritable bowel syndrome. Usually, the cause of generalized pain is less serious than localized pain. However, severe generalized pain with rigid abdomen is a sign of a serious problem like perforation, peritonitis, or intestinal blockage.

Depending on the location, localized pain is usually caused by abnormalities of the internal organs. Upper abdominal pain may be caused by peptic ulcers, gastro-esophageal reflux disease, or other diseases in the chest cavity like pneumonia or angina. Pancreatitis and early appendicitis usually cause pain in the central area of the abdomen. In late appendicitis, the pain will migrate to lower right abdomen. Diverticulitis causes pain in the lower left area. Location for the rest of the causes of abdominal pain may vary.

Finding out the cause of abdominal pain

Physical examination by a health care professional is still the most important diagnostic step. A good history taking by a doctor will give a clue to aid the diagnosis and saves you from undergoing expensive and unnecessary medical procedures. Depending on your condition, after physical examination your doctor may order stool, urine, or blood test, ultrasound, CT-scan, and endoscopy.

Treatment of abdominal pain

The management of abdominal pain depends on the cause. Mild pain from indigestion, viral gastroenteritis, or food poisoning can be treated with home treatment. Antacids, antibiotics, and other oral medications may be given for ulcers or conditions related to infection. Surgery is often needed for more serious causes like appendicitis, hernia, or perforation.

How Your Body Works: The Digestive System

2012-11-01T12:03:00.000-07:00

The human digestive system breaks down food from larger molecules into smaller components that can be used by the cells as sources of energy and to build and repair tissues. The digestion process itself involves complex mechanical and chemical action that requires energy. The digestive system consists of two main components: the digestive tract-which starts from the mouth and ended up in the anus, and internal organs that are not part of the digestive tract, but play important roles in food digestion.

Parts of the digestive system

The components of the digestive tract are the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestines, large intestines, rectum, and the anus. These hollow organs are lined with a mucosal layer that contains glands that produce protective mucus, acid, and digestive juices. The pancreas is an organ that produce enzymes that help break down the food. Besides producing digestive enzymes, the liver also serves functions related to detoxification, metabolism, and energy storage. The gallbladder stores bile acid until it is needed in the intestines.

Food passes from the mouth through the esophagus into the stomach where acid and digestive enzymes break it down before it passes to the small intestines. In the small intestines, most of the digestion process takes place and food components are absorbed. The remnants of the food passed to the large intestines and the indigestible components are expelled through the anus.

Mouth and pharynx

The mouth is the start of the digestive tract. Chewing is a mechanical process that breaks down food into smaller pieces. Salivary glands produces saliva that contains enzymes that starts to break down food chemically. However, because food only stays in your mouth for a short time, the enzymatic reaction is minimal. It is still important to chew properly and not swallow too quickly, though. Doing this will ensure the subsequent digestion process runs more smoothly as the food travel down the pharynx (throat) to the esophagus.

Esophagus

The esophagus connects the pharynx to the stomach. It is a tube lined with muscle tissue that propels the food by contractive movements called peristaltic. There is no enzymatic process that takes place in the esophagus. At the lower end, there is a ‘gate’ called the lower esophageal sphincter that prevents food from going backwards into the esophagus.

Stomach

Also known as the gaster, the stomach is a round sac-like structure that holds the food for mechanical and chemical processing. It mixes up the food with acid and enzymes that continue breaking down the food. Gastric acid kills the majority of bacteria that got eaten, but our stomach is protected against it by the mucosal layer. When it leaves the stomach into the first part of the small intestines, the food will be in paste-like form. The stomach emptying rate depends on the type of food we eat. Carbohydrates spend the least amount of time in the stomach, protein stays longer, and fats the longest.

Anatomy of digestive system

Small intestines

The small intestine is a very long tube that is coiled inside the abdomen. Spread out, the length of our small intestines will reach over 20 feet long. It is made up of three parts: the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. With the help of pancreatic enzymes and bile from the liver, the small intestine continues the process of breaking down food as it mixes everything up by peristaltic contractions. Usually after the food passed the duodenum, it is already broken down into small molecules that are ready to be absorbed in the jejunum and ileum into the bloodstream. Once the nutrients have been absorbed, the leftover liquid passed into the large intestine.

Large intestines

Also known as the colon, the large intestine is a 5 feet long tube that extends from the end of ileum to the rectum. It is made up of four parts: the ascending colon, the transverse colon, the descending colon, and the sigmoid. The undigested leftovers of food are passed through the colon and excess water is reabsorbed from them. The stool, which consists mainly of debris, fiber, and bacteria, is accumulated inside the sigmoid colon until a bowel movement empties it into the rectum.

Rectum

The rectum connects the colon to the anus. When the rectum receives the stool from the sigmoid colon, you will feel a sensation that prepares you for stool evacuation. Sensors from the rectal mucosa signal the brain which then decides whether or not it’s okay to release the rectal content. If the brain allows, the sphincter muscle relaxes and the stool will be propelled into the anus.

Anus

The anus is the end of the digestive tract. It is made up of internal and external sphincters and supported by the pelvic muscular tissue. The sphincters control the evacuation process so we don’t defecate when we’re not supposed to. The pelvic floor muscle supports the sphincter function by creating an angle between the rectum and the anus that holds the stool inside.

As mentioned before, besides the digestive track, some internal organs play an important role in digestion. They are the pancreas, the liver and gallbladder.

Pancreas

The pancreas secretes enzymes that break down protein, fat, and carbohydrates from the food we eat. Besides producing enzymes, the pancreas also serves an endocrine function-that is, producing hormones. The alpha and beta cells of the pancreas respectively produces glucagon and insulin that act against each other to control blood sugar level.

Liver and gallbladder

The liver produces bile which then stored inside the gallbladder. The bile is a compound that helps to the digest fat and eliminates waste products from the blood. During a meal, especially a fatty one, the gallbladder contracts and sends bile to the small intestine. The liver also serves to detoxify the things we digest. Nutrient-rich blood from the small intestines flows to the liver through a blood vessel called the portal vein where it is cleansed from metabolic wastes.

Glucosamine Chondroitin for Osteoarthritis

2012-10-25T21:48:00.000-07:00

What are glucosamine and chondroitin?

Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate are compounds that are thought to have a protective effect on the cartilage, as well as to help manage osteoarthritis, particularly of the knee. Currently there are still many controversies around the effectiveness glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate in actually preventing the degeneration of joint cartilage. In Europe, glucosamine is a prescription drug with a standardized formula. In the United States and some parts of Asia, glucosamine is sold over-the-counter as dietary supplements.

Both glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate are found in normal joint cartilage and synovial fluid. Researchers proposed that glucosamine may stimulate production of cartilage-building proteins. Glucosamine in supplements is extracted from animal tissues such as crab, lobster or shellfish and marketed as glucosamine sulfate or glucosamine hydrochloride. They are considered to be equally effective, but the hydrochloride form is absorbed more easily by the body and can be taken in lower dosage than glucosamine sulfate.

Chondroitin sulfate is part of a protein molecule that maintains cartilage elasticity and is also thought to have an anti-inflammatory effect. Chondroitin sulfate in supplements is extracted from animal cartilage such as trachea or shark cartilage.

Do glucosamine and chondroitin really work for osteoarthritis?

In reality, some studies have found that either glucosamine or chondroitin sulfate given together or separately may relieve osteoarthritis pain with fewer side effects than conventional arthritis drugs. However, there are also studies that have shown no benefit. Although currently positive reports outnumbered negative ones, the negative ones have been larger and better designed.

The largest clinical trial that studies the effect of glucosamine and chodroitin sulfate is the Glucosamine/chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial (GAIT), which is funded by the National Institutes of Health. In 2006, the researchers reported that glucosamine and chondroitin, alone or together, did not reduce osteoarthritis knee pain more effectively than a placebo. Follow up reports from this study also failed to show any promising result.

However, despite this discouraging result many people who take glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate supplements did report subjective reduction in arthritis pain. There are preliminary reports that suggest addition of vitamin C, bromelain, or manganese may enhance the effectiveness of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate. And because these supplements are thought to have very few side effects, people keep taking them anyway.

Be wise if you decide to take glucosamine and chondroitin supplement.

Severe form of osteoarthritis may require surgery.

So, what to do? If you decide to try glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate supplements after all, give it three months time to evaluate their efficacy. The typical initial dose is 1500 mg of glucosamine and 1200 of chondroitin daily for 6 to 8 weeks. If a response is obtained, the dose can be reduced to 1000 mg of glucosamine and 800 of chondroitin or less. If you feel there is no change in symptoms after three months, these supplements should be discontinued.

If your symptoms are severe, you should stay on your usual arthritis medications even while you are taking glucosamine and chondroitin. As always, consult your physician before taking any form of supplements. Common side effects include stomach upset, gas, soft stools, drowsiness, headache, racing heart, and skin reactions. Patients with diabetes should pay extra caution because glucosamine is an amino sugar that may affect blood sugar levels. Also, because these supplements contain shellfish and other possible allergens, watch out for allergy symptoms.

Tips For Choosing Supplements

2012-10-23T21:30:00.000-07:00

Most people in the United States take one or more supplements either regularly or occasionally. Dietary supplements come in forms of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, enzymes, herbal products, and many others. The preparation can be a tablets, capsules, soft gels, powders, and liquid. Because there are so many varieties out there, choosing the right kind of supplement may be challenging. Here are a few basic tips to consider before you decided to start consuming one.

Do some preliminary background check

Research the benefits and possible side effects of the particular compound you’re planning to take. Always consult a health care professional beforehand. Dietary supplements are products intended to supplement the diet. They are not drugs and, therefore, are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases. Do not believe whatever claims the manufacturer made before doing some research of your own. Some supplements promise to help make us thinner, smarter, stronger or faster without making any other changes in lifestyle. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Consider the effectiveness of the supplement

Find out how much you need to consume in order to bring out the health benefits for your body without risking the side effects. Many popular products include ingredients in miniscule quantities, just so a much-publicized ingredient can be listed on the label, or vice versa, they include a very high amount of a particular ingredient while in reality our body only needs a minuscule amount. A good, but not perfect guide is to look up the recommended daily allowances (RDA) of that product. However, keep in mind that a product’s chemical formulation and how it is prepared affect how our body is able to take in the ingredients. This is called bioavailability. A high-dosed product, but low bioavailability is not very effective.

Soft capsules generally have a better bioavailabilty than traditional tablets.

Be aware of safety and risk issues

The term ‘natural’ doesn't always mean safe. Many supplements contain active ingredients that can have strong effects in the body. Always be alert to the possibility of unexpected side effects, especially when taking a new product. Dietary supplements can also interact with certain prescription drugs in ways that might cause problems. Watch out for other catch phrases like ‘clinically tested/proven’ and ‘pharmaceutical strength’. Unlike drugs, which must be approved by the FDA before they can be marketed, dietary supplements do not require premarket review or approval by the FDA and the manufacturers do not have to provide any evidence about the claims they made before the product is marketed.

Look for quality assurance

Since the quality of nutritional supplements can vary widely, one strategy is to choose an established brand name, or one that's recommended by a health professional. Not every product uses high quality raw materials, or is manufactured according to accepted good manufacturing practices. Besides the FDA, several independent organizations like U.S. Pharmacopeia, ConsumerLab.com, and NSF International offer quality testing and allow products that pass these tests to display their seals of approval. These seals of approval provide assurance that the product was properly manufactured, contains the ingredients listed on the label, and does not contain harmful levels of contaminants.

Deep Venous Thrombosis

2012-10-20T20:12:00.000-07:00

What is deep venous thrombosis?

Being physically active prevents deep venous thrombosis.

Blood clots can form inside our veins both superficial and deep. If the superficial veins are affected, the condition is called superficial thrombophlebitis which rarely causes any problems. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a condition in which a blood clot (thrombus) forms in a deep vein, usually in the legs. The clots in deep veins are dangerous because they can break loose and travel through the bloodstream to the lungs. Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a life threatening condition where a blood clot blocks the blood flow to the lung.

What are the risk factors to develop deep venous thrombosis?

In the United States around 350.000 to 600.000 people got deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism each year. DVT can affect any person of any age, but the condition tends to happen in the elderly and in people with risk factors, such as:

Long periods of inactivity such as sitting when traveling by plane or car or being in prolonged bed rest status. If your legs remain, your calf muscles don't contract to help blood circulate, which makes it easier for blood clots to develop.
Injury or surgery can disturb your blood flow. The general anesthetics used in surgery can widened your veins and makes it easier for blood to pool together and form clots.
Inheriting a blood clotting disorder
Pregnancy increases the pressure inside the veins. The increased risk for clot formation continues until 6 weeks after giving birth.
Cancer and its treatment increase the chance for blood clot formation.
Birth control pills or hormonal replacement therapy
Smoking
Obesity
Medical procedures that place a catheter or a pace maker through your veins
A past history and/or a family history of DVT or PE
Other medical condition such as inflammatory bowel diseases and heart failure

What are the symptoms of deep venous thrombosis?

In about half of all cases, DVT occurs without any noticeable symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they can include swelling, pain, warmth, and changes in skin colors on the affected leg, including in the ankle and foot.

When pulmonary embolism is about to develop, the warning symptoms usually include shortness of breath, chest pain or discomfort, feeling faint or dizzy, rapid pulse, sweating, coughing up blood, and feeling anxious or nervous. If you experience any of these, immediately seek medical assistance.

How to treat and prevent deep venous thrombosis?

Your doctor may perform ultrasonography on your legs, run some blood test, and get a chest x-ray or to help with the diagnosis. Immediate treatment involves blood thinners like heparin and warfarin to prevent the blood clots from growing. You will need to continue taking these medications for at least 3 months. In rare cases, a vena cava filter may be used to filter the blood that returns to the heart and prevent the blood clots to travel into the lungs.

To prevent DVT, move your legs often during long trips and in other situation which you are required to sit or lie down for long periods of time. On long flights, walk up and down the aisle hourly, flex and point your feet every 20 minutes while sitting, and drink plenty of water. Pressure stockings are also helpful to reduce the chance of getting blood clots.

Going Somewhere? Basics of Travelers' Health

2012-10-18T16:39:00.000-07:00

Nobody wants to fall sick or get hurt during a trip, but sometimes these things happen. You may not be able to prevent every illness or injury, but you can plan ahead to be able to deal with them. Here's a bit of information to keep in mind whenever you're planning for a travel, especially international ones, in order to ensure a safer, healthier and more enjoyable experience.

Learn about your destination

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides health-related information on destination countries which includes disease outbreaks, natural disasters, and other events. Besides the information provided by the CDC, you should also gather as many details as possible about your specific destination. Take into consideration the modes of travel, lodging, food, and activities during your trip.

Seek travel health advice from your physician or travel medicine provider

Ideally, set up a visit 4-6 weeks before your trip because you may need some vaccinations that may take some time in order to be effective. Besides giving required immunizations, during the pre-travel visit, your doctor may recommend some medications to prevent specific diseases (such as antimalaria drugs) and give specific health advice for preventing and treating travelers’ diarrhea and other illnesses.

Consider your health status.

Avoid traveling when you're sick, especially if you have contracted a communicable disease. If you have a chronic medical condition or are taking medications, consult your regular physician for travel advices and be sure to pack enough medications for the duration of your travel. Travelers with infant or young children, those who are pregnant or breastfeeding, and people with weakened immune system may need extra care during their travel.

Know your vaccinations.

CDC divides vaccines for travel into three categories: routine, recommended, and required. Routine vaccinations protects you from diseases that may still be common in other parts of the world even though they rarely occur in your country of origin. Recommended vaccinations are given depending on your destination, whether you will be spending time in rural areas, the season of the year, your age, health status, and previous immunizations. The only required vaccinations are the yellow fever vaccination for travel to certain countries in sub-Saharan Africa and tropical South America and the meningococcal vaccination for travel to Saudi Arabia during the Hajj.

Prepare your personal travel health kit.

Generally in addition to personal medication, a good travel health kit contains:

Basic medications for fever (acetaminophen or ibuprofen), diarrhea or stomach upsets (loperamide, oral rehydration packs, antacids), respiratory illness (antihistamines, cough preparation), anti-motion sickness medication, and anti allergic medications.
Basic first aid and wound treatment kit
Insect repellent
Sunscreen
Alcohol-based hand cleaner
Contact card containing information about remaining family member or close contact in the country of origin, place of lodging, embassy contact number, and other emergency information.

Pay attention to your health during your trip and after you come back home.

Try not to take risks with your health and safety. Be careful about food and water. Wear proper protection such as insect repellants, sunscreen, protective clothing and gears during your travel. Some diseases like malaria and tuberculosis may have a long incubation time and symptoms can occur after you have returned to your home country. So pay attention to any suspicions health related complaints even after you got back.

Eczema: The Grab Bag Diagnosis For Skin Diseases

2012-10-16T17:28:00.000-07:00

What is eczema?

Eczema or dermatitis is often used as the grab bag diagnosis for skin disorder. If the skin lesion is red and you can't think of anything else that's causing it, put it under eczema or dermatitis until proven otherwise. That shows how wide the range of symptoms is. The term is broadly applied to a family of skin conditions that causes inflammation to the skin that may result in redness, swelling, itchiness, dryness, crusting, blistering, oozing, or even bleeding. It is a chronic non contagious condition that may flare-up periodically and then subside for a time.

The most common form of eczema is atopic dermatitis. It usually affect infants as early as age 2 to 6 months. According to American Academy of Dermatology, most (90%) of people develop atopic dermatitis by age 5 years. Many people outgrow the condition, but some cases persist until adulthood.

People with atopic dermatitis may have other allergic related conditions such as asthma or hay fever.

The term 'atopic' refers to an allergic tendency of this condition. People with atopic dermatitis may have other allergic related conditions such as asthma or hay fever. The exact cause is unknown, but it's likely due to a combination of malfunctioning immune system, skin irritability, and environmental factors. Stress, dry air, viral illness like common cold or the flu, sudden weather changes, chemicals in cosmetics, fragrances, or soap, skin contact with rough materials like wool, contact with common allergens like pollen, pet dander, or dust mites, long hot baths, and excessive sweating may trigger flare-ups.

What are the symptoms of eczema?

Atopic dermatitis may affect any area of your skin, but it usually appears on the hands and feet, and in bending areas such as inside the elbows and behind the knees. In young children, it may affect the face (including the eyelids), the scalp, neck, and upper chest. It tends to flare periodically and then subside.

Signs and symptoms of atopic dermatitis may include:

Itching, which may be severe, especially at night. Often times, scratching the rashes can make it even itchier, causing an itch-scratch cycle that's difficult to break.
Oozing or crusting blisters, especially in young children.
Red to brownish patches, usually in older children or adultsThickened, cracked or scaly leather-like skin which occur after long periods of irritation
Raw, sensitive skin from scratching

What is the treatment?

Early treatment will keep atopic dermatitis from worsening. The more severe it becomes, the more difficult it is to control. Treatment plan aims to reduce inflammation, relieve itching and prevent future flare-ups. In mild cases, over-the-counter anti-itch creams and other self care measures such as avoid scratching and keeping the skin moist with moisturizer or air humidifier may help control the symptoms.

In moderate to severe cases, prescribed medications like topical or oral corticosteroids, oral antihistamines, and antibiotics. Immunomodulators and phototherapy may be given in very severe cases that do not respond to other forms of treatment.

Common Skin Problems

2012-10-14T21:36:00.000-07:00

The skin is our body's largest organ. Changes in skin appearance may be caused by something as minor as acne or they can signal a more serious underlying condition. Rashes, strange spots, itchiness, and other changes in texture and color may be the result of infection, allergic reaction, or other chronic skin disorder. Listed below are some common adult skin problems at a glance. Incidence varies depending on your age and other factors like skin types, racial background, and occupation.

1. Acne

Around 80% of Americans will have acne at some point in their lives. Incidence in both men and women peaks in the teenage years is because of hormonal influence. Acne is the most common skin condition especially in young adult, but it's usually the least severe.

Acne is a skin condition that causes pimples which occurs when the tiny pores on the surface of the skin become clogged. When glands produce too much oil, the skin pores can become blocked and dirt, bacteria, and cells build up. Acne may come in many forms such as whiteheads, blackheads, papules, pustules, or nodular and cystic acne which may leave scars. The most common locations affected are the face, neck, shoulders, chest and back.

2. Eczema

Eczema or dermatitis is a term used to describe a group of conditions where skin is inflamed, red, dry, and itchy. It is a chronic noncontagious condition that may come and go over time. The exact cause is unknown, but stress, allergens, chemical irritants like soap or cosmetics, and weather changes can trigger flare-ups.

There are three types of dermatitis: atopic dermatitic, allergic contact dermatitis, and nummular dermatitis. Atopic dermatitis is usually seen in children and many people outgrow it by adulthood. In adult, it often occurs on the hands and feet, and in bending areas such as inside the elbows and behind the knees. Allergic contact dermatitis usually starts in adulthood and is related to allergens in fragrances, cosmetics, or metallic elements. Nummular dermatitis is a condition in which itchy, coin-shaped spots or patches appear on the skin. It usually affects elderly men.

3. Moles

Moles or nevi are very common. Almost every adult, especially people with light skin, has a few moles that generally appears in teenage years until the middle ages. A number of 10 to 40 moles is normal. Moles can grow anywhere on the body in form of black or brown spots. Some moles may undergone changes in size and colors over the years. While most are harmless, some moles have a higher risk of becoming cancerous. If a mole starts to grow, itch, or bleed, make an appointment to see a dermatologist and have it evaluated.

4. Hives

Also known as urticaria, hives are raised, often itchy, red welts (wheals) on the surface of the skin. They are usually an allergic reaction to foods, medicines, temperature changes, and bacterial or viral infections. Hives may appear anywhere on the body varying in sizes and may last from minutes to days. They are generally harmless and disappear on their own, but a small number of cases can develop into severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. Seek emergency help if your hives are accompanied by tongue or face swelling and shortness of breath.

5. Psoriasis

Psoriasis causes skin rashes and irritation with thick red plaques covered with white or silvery scales. The condition usually begins between ages 15 to 35 and may come and go throughout life. It usually affects the elbows, knees, and lower back. Certain forms affect particular areas like the hands, scalp or the joints. Psoriarsis is non contagious and the exact cause is unknown. However, the immune system seems to play an important part in the development of this disease and it is now proposed that psoriasis is an autoimmune disorder.

6. Warts

Warts are small, usually painless growths on the skin caused by a virus called human papillomavirus (HPV). Common warts usually appear on the fingers or hands. They usually do not cause pain unless they are repeated rubbed against. Warts spread from person to person or via direct contact or indirectly through things used by a person with the virus. In most cases, warts are harmless, painless, and go away on their own.

7. Shingles

Shingles or herpes zoster is a painful, blistering skin rash caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. It usually starts with burning, tingling, or painful rash which develop into blisters that last about two to three weeks. Shingles may develop in any age group, but elderly people and those with weakened immune system are at higher risk. It can appear anywhere, but often affects the trunk, buttocks, or the face. Most people recover, but sometimes the pain in the area where the shingles occurred may last from months to years.

The Benefits of Antioxidants

2012-10-12T19:35:00.000-07:00

What is an antioxidant?

Antioxidant is a molecule that inhibits the oxidation of other molecules, preventing the production of free radicals. Free radicals are produced when our body breaks down food, or by environmental exposures like tobacco smoke and radiation. They can start a chain reaction that eventually damage cells, and may play a role in the aging process, development of heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and other degenerative diseases.

What are the sources of antioxidants?

Plants and animals can produce its own antioxidants or obtain them from food. Examples of antioxidants are gluthatione, beta-carotene, flavonoids, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, lutein, lycopene, coenzyme Q10, and enzymes like superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidases. Antioxidant are also available as food supplements, but these synthetic forms may not have the same effects on the body as antioxidants that occur naturally in foods.

Listed below are a few examples of antioxidants and their natural sources:

Beta-carotene is found in colorful fruits and vegetables such as carrots, peas, cantaloupe, apricots, papayas, mangoes, peaches, pumpkin, apricots, broccoli, sweet potatoes and squash. It can also be found in some leafy green vegetables, including beet greens, spinach and kale.
Vitamin A is found in milk, liver, butter and eggs.
Vitamin C is found in most fruits and vegetables such as oranges, papayas, strawberries, cantaloupe and kiwi.
Vitamin E is found in wheat germ and vegetable oil, cereal, liver, eggs yolk, green plants, milk, and.some nuts and seeds, including almonds, sunflower seeds, hazelnuts and peanuts.
Lutein is found in green leafy vegetables, such as spinach, collards and kale, broccoli, corn, peas, papayas and oranges.
Lycopene is found in pink and red fruits and vegetables, such as tomatoes, pink grapefruit, watermelon, and apricots.
Selenium is found in tuna, cold water fish (cod, halibut, salmon), turkey, calf liver, barley, garlic, broccoli, and seeds. Brazilian nuts have especially high selenium content.

How does antioxidant benefit your health?

Antioxidants benefit your health by cleaning free radicals out of your bloodstream. Different antioxidants benefit act on different parts of the body. Beta-carotene found maintain eye health and may prevent age related macular degeneration, lycopene can contribute to prostate health, while flavonoids are good for your heart.

Before you decide to start taking antioxidants supplements, remember these supplements are not a replacement for healthy diet or conventional medical care. The best sources of antioxidants are from natural products. A varied diet containing at least 5 servings of fruits and 6-11 servings of grains, including at least 3 servings of whole grains per day will provide you with enough antioxidants to keep oxidative stress away. Be sure to consult your physician before you start taking supplements. High levels of some nutrients, such as vitamins A, vitamin E, or selenium can be harmful for your health.

Beware of Fad Diet Plans - Get Realistic

2012-10-10T21:23:00.000-07:00

What is fad diet?

The phrase fad diet, was originally used to refer any eating plans that promote short term weight loss. Food fad or fad diet is a term of popular media, not science. These diet plans claim to be scientific but do not follow the scientific method in establishing their validity. Some of them were downright telling you to starve yourself.

No matter how good it sounds, a diet plan that consists solely of bananas, is not feasible.

The fact is, no one (even the models who are used to advertise these diet plans) is able to stay on these deprivation diet for long periods of time. Even if you did lose some weight, you won't stay that way once you get back to your regular eating pattern. Fad diet plans typically don't result in long-term weight loss and they are usually not very healthy. In fact, some of them might actually be dangerous to your health.

How to identify fad diet plans?

Fad diet usually focuses on a single dietary element such as cabbage or grapefruit. In 1974, the term was defined as three categories of food fads.

A particular food or food group is exaggerated and proclaimed to cure specific diseases.
Certain type of foods or food element (fat, carbohydrate, or protein) are eliminated from because they are viewed as harmful.
An emphasis is placed on eating certain foods to express a particular lifestyle.

Examples of these fad diets are the cabbage soup diet, fruitarianism, the grapefruit diet, fat free diet, and many others.

Why shouldn't you follow these diet plans?

A balanced diet is important, unless you have a medical condition like liver or kidney disease that demands protein restriction. You can't just simply eliminate one of the major elements from your diet and expect there won't be any consequence. For example, if you eliminate fat from your diet and replace it with protein, you'll risk getting a condition called ketoacidosis which can lead to loss of consciousness.

Some fad diet plans claim that you can lose weight without having to exercise. This is a very misleading notion because without studies have shown that people who exercise regularly are more likely to lose and keep weight off. Any diet plan that tells you that you can lose weight without exercise is only telling you what you want to hear, but not the truth. There's no easy way to get your way around and skip exercise.

"Fad diet plans don't result in long-term weight loss and they are usually not very healthy."

Even though the principle of weight loss is to cut down calories, the quality of the food you eat do matter. If you only stick to one type of food for long periods of time, you'll lose other important nutrients like vitamins and minerals even if you actually get enough calories to fulfill your daily need.

The worst thing about fad diets is the emotional consequences they have on those who fail when trying to follow them. Those who start the diet expect that they are going to lose weight quickly and be able to stick with it. Someone who has tried several different diets without success feels like a failure. Unfortunately dieters tend to blame themselves for the failure, rather than recognizing that the diets they were attempting were unrealistic and impossible to stick with in the long term. Before starting a diet, be sure to assess what you expect and whether that is a realistic expectation.

Panic Attack? Keep Calm and Read On

2012-10-08T20:25:00.000-07:00

What is a panic attack and panic disorder?

A panic attack is an episode of sudden, intense fear that happens when there is no real danger or apparent cause. It usually lasts for more than 10 minutes and is accompanied with severe physical reactions such as profuse sweating, difficulty breathing, rapid pulse or heart beat, feeling faint, choking, or smothering, trembling, nausea or vomiting, and the subjective feeling of losing control, dying, or going crazy.

"During a panic attack, the fear response is out of proportion for the situation."

an episode of sudden, intense fear when there is no real danger

Panic disorder is a type of anxiety disorder that affects over 2.4 million people in the United States. One out of 75 person may experience a panic attack in their lifetime. It usually begins during the late teens or early adulthood and women are twice more likely to be affected. Most people experience only one or two attacks in their lifetime and the problem usually goes away when a stressful situation ends. However, if you've had recurrent panic attacks and spent long periods in constant fear of another attack, you may be suffering from panic disorder.

The exact cause of panic disorder is unclear, but there is evidence of genetic predisposition and connection with major stress related to life transitions (graduating from college, marriage, or death of a loved one). Drug and alcohol abuse and certain personality types also predispose a person into having a panic disorder.

Diagnosis

Not everyone who has panic attacks has a panic disorder. To be diagnosed with panic disorder, you must meet these criteria spelled out in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) published by the American Psychiatric Association:

Frequent, unexpected panic attacks.
At least one of the attacks has been followed by one month or more of ongoing worry about having another attack; ongoing fear of the consequences of an attack, such as losing control, having a heart attack or 'going crazy' or significantly changing your behavior, such as avoiding situations that you think may trigger a panic attack.
The panic attacks are not caused by substance abuse, a medical condition or another mental health condition, such as social phobia or obsessive compulsive disorder.

The major difference between panic disorder and normal fear is that the disorder strikes without warning or a clear reason behind it. During a panic attack, the fear response is out of proportion for the situation, which often is not threatening. After the attack is over, the person may develop persistent fear of having future panic attacks. The fear of these attacks can cause the person to avoid places and situations where an attack has occurred or where they believe an attack may occur.

How to manage?

Management of panic disorder consists of a combination psychotherapy, anti depressant or anti anxiety medications, and behavioral therapy. In addition, relaxation techniques such as breathing techniques and positive visualization, may help a person during an attack. With appropriate treatment, nearly 90% of people with panic disorder can find relief.

Healthy Computing Habit

2012-10-05T22:56:00.000-07:00

If you're feeling aches and pain in your neck or lower back after working in front of the computer, you might want to review your computer habits. Following these simple suggestions for healthy computing might prevent you from developing serious medical problem caused by poor posture.

1. Take frequent breaks, at least 3 minutes every 30 minutes. Set a timer to remind if you tend to forget. During the break, preform a simple stretching exercise. For example, lean forward, hold your knees, and push your knees apart while keeping your hands on them or stand up and stretch your neck and shoulders while taking deep breaths from your abdomen.

2. Maintain good working posture. According to the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the following are important points to consider while working at the computer workstation. So you might want to adjust your chair or working station to fulfill these:

Maintain good working posture.

Hands, wrists and forearms are straight, in-line and roughly parallel to the floor.
Head is level or bent slightly forward, forward facing, and balanced. Generally it is in-line with the torso.
Shoulders are relaxed and upper arms hang normally at the side of the body.
Elbows stay in close to the body and are bent between 90 and 120 degrees. You may want to adjust your forearm rest to achieve this position.
Feet are fully supported by floor or footrest.
Back is fully supported with appropriate lumbar support when sitting vertical or leaning back slightly.
Thighs and hips are supported by a well-padded seat and generally parallel to the floor.
Knees are about the same height as the hips with the feet slightly forward.

3. If you get to choose between a desktop computer and a laptop, choose the desktop. Laptops and netbooks may seem appealing, but they generally don't provide an ergonomic environment. When using a laptop computer over long periods of time, attach it to a docking station or raise the height of your laptop screen to eye level and use an external keyboard and mouse.

4. Center your monitor and keyboard in front of you at arm's length. Your monitor should not be farther than 35 degrees to the left or right. Make sure the top of the screen is eye level when sitting up straight. The preferred distance between the eye and monitor is in the range of 20-40 inches (50-100 cm).

5. Alternate your mouse hands. You can use a symmetrical mouse to make left and right hand pointing more comfortable. Switching hands can be particularly helpful if your shoulder or neck pain happens only on one side.

6. Place frequently used devices such as the phone within your reach. Use a speaker phone or a headset for long conversations.

Premenstrual Syndrome: Men's Worst Nightmare?

2012-10-03T21:50:00.000-07:00

It's a common belief (among the guys, of course) that man suffers whenever a woman is having premenstrual syndrome. This is not entirely accurate. True, emotional irritability is one of the many symptoms of PMS, but not every women with premenstrual syndrome experience this problem. And if PMS was to be someone's worst nightmare, it would be more likely to be a woman's.

Premenstrual syndrome: men's worst nightmare?

What is premenstrual syndrome?

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) involves a variety of physical, mental, and behavioral symptoms related to a woman's menstrual cycle. These symptoms occur during the two weeks before a woman's period starts, known as the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Three out of four menstruating women have at least one symptom as part of their monthly cycle. PMS symptoms characteristically become more intense in the 2-3 days prior to the period and usually resolve after the first day or two of flow.

Women who are between their late 20s to early 40s, those who gave birth at least once, and those who have a history of mood disorder are more prone to have PMS. Most women have only mild symptoms, but around 3-8% may have a severe form of PMS, called premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) with disabling symptoms that affect their daily functions.

What are the symptoms of PMS?

Symptoms varies between one woman and the other, but they usually follows a predictable pattern and recur each month with variable intensity. Physical symptoms include fatigue, headache, joint and muscle pain, weight gain, bloating, acne, and changes in bowel movements. Mental and behavioral symptoms include mood swings, anxiety, irritability, depressed mood, poor concentration, cravings, insomnia, and social withdrawal.

The exact causes of PMS are still unknown, but cyclic changes in hormones level seem to play an important part. Low levels of serotonin, a type of brain chemical, may also trigger PMS symptoms. Stress, depression, poor eating habit can make the symptoms worse.

How to manage PMS?

Management of PMS consists of lifestyle changes, behavioral therapy, medications, and vitamin and mineral supplementation. For most women, lifestyle changes are often enough to control symptoms.

Drink enough fluids, but avoid alcohol, caffeinated drinks, and soft drinks.
Eat a healthy, balanced diet and divide the portion into small, frequent meals.
Regular physical exercise throughout the month will help reduce the severity of PMS.
Aspirin, ibuprofen, and other non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may reduce back pain, headache, and cramps.
Nutritional supplements like vitamin B6 (50-100 mg), vitamin E (400 IU), calcium (1000mg), folic acid (0,4 mg) and magnesium (400 mg) may reduce symptoms in general.
In severe cases, your physician may prescribe anti-depressant medications.

Obesity Overview

2012-10-01T18:10:00.000-07:00

Obesity is diagnosed when your body mass index (BMI) is 30 or higher. In people of Asian descent, you may be diagnosed with obesity when your BMI is 27.5 or higher. To calculate your BMI, divide your weight (in kilograms) by your height (in meters) squared. Or if that's too complicated for you, use an online BMI calculator found here: http://nhlbisupport.com/bmi/

"Obesity is more than just a cosmetic problem."

A BMI of more than 40 means you are morbidly obese. Morbid obesity carries a very high risk for cardiovascular diseases and severely interferes with a person's normal functioning and quality of life. It is more than just a cosmetic problem.

People who are obese have an excessive amount of body fat. Because muscle weighs more than fat, sometime using only BMI to diagnose obesity can be inaccurate, especially in muscular people like athletes. Therefore, waist circumference is also used to determine the amount of abdominal fat. People who carry too much fat around the middle (central obesity), are more likely to have health problems. Waist measurement greater than 40 inches (101 cm) in men and greater than 35 inches (88 cm) in women are considered to carry increased risk for diseases. In people of Asian descent, greater than 36 inches (90 cm) in men and greater than 32 inches (80cm) in women.

What causes obesity?

A lot of people thinks that obesity is caused simply because one eats too much calories and lacks physical activity. However, there are other factors that also play a role in obesity which include:

Genetic factor. Obesity tends to run in family. If one's biological mother is heavy as an adult, there is more than 50% chance her offspring will grow to be heavy. This doesn't mean that your genes failed you and convict you to a lifetime of obesity, though. Many people who are genetically predisposed to obesity do not become obese or are able to lose weight and keep it off.
Age. As your body ages, your metabolism rate slows down and you do not require as many calories to maintain your weight.
Gender. Women have slower resting metabolism rate than men and thus more prone to obesity.
Environmental factors, including lifestyle behaviors, what a person eats, and his or her activity.
Psychological factors. Many people eat in response to emotions such as boredom, sadness, or anger.
Medical conditions. There are some illnesses that can cause obesity, such as hypothyroidism, Cushing's disease, and polycystic ovarian syndrome. Arthritis may also cause obesity by restricting physical activity.
Drugs. Certain drugs such as steroids and antidepressants may cause excessive weight gain.
Lack of sleep. Getting less than seven hours of sleep at night causes hormonal changes that may increase your appetite.

Obesity affects one's quality of life.

What are the physical and psychological effects of obesity?

Some of the potentially serious health problems you may develop from obesity include: metabolic syndrome, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer (especially colon and breast cancer), sleep apnea, liver and gallbladder diseases, infertility, and osteoarthritis. Obesity is also associated with low quality of life because of self esteem issues and discrimination that leads to social isolation and depression.

When to seek help?

Contact your doctor or health care provider if you think you may be obese to evaluate your health risks and discuss weight-loss options. You should also seek help if you are having emotional or psychological issues related to obesity.

What are the management options?

Weight loss is usually possible through dietary changes, increased physical activity and behavior changes. In some cases, prescription medications or weight loss surgery may be used under physician's recommendation. Support groups are available to provide help with the psychological aspects of obesity. Stress management and healthy coping strategies are beneficial to increase quality of life.

Heart Disease Prevention

2012-09-30T15:13:00.000-07:00

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. According to the American Heart Association, at least 58.8 million American suffer from heart disease of any form. Around 950.000 people die every year from cardiovascular causes. It is also a major cause of disability for the survivors. Even though increased age is a risk factor, it's a big misconception to think that heart disease only happens to the elderly. One out of every 20 people below the age of 40 has heart disease.

The good news is that there are many ways to prevent heart disease. Studies show that nearly everyone, even those with unmodifiable risk factors such as old age and racial background, can become more heart healthy by following a few key steps, such as eating a healthy diet, exercising, quitting smoking, and maintaining a healthy body weight.

Quit Smoking

Smoking or tobacco use is one of the most significant risk factors for developing heart disease. Even occasional social smoking increases the chance of getting heart disease, as is exposure to second-hand smoke. Pipe smoking or using low-tar, low-nicotine products does not reduce the risk by much. However, when you quit smoking, your heart disease risk drops dramatically within just one year. No matter how long or how much you smoked, you'll start reaping rewards as soon as you quit.

Exercise regularly

Try getting at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity most days of the week. You can break up your exercise time into three times 10 sessions. Casual activities such as gardening, housekeeping, and taking the stairs all count toward your total.

Eat a heart-healthy diet

Following the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) eating plan can help protect your heart. The diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy products. Limiting saturated and trans fat will also reduce your LDL cholesterol which plays an important role in the development of heart disease.

Omega-3 fatty acids is a type of polyunsaturated fat that decreases your risk of heart attack by lowering blood pressure and prevents irregular heart beats. Omega-3 is present in salmon, mackerel, flaxseed oil, soybean oil and canola oil. They can also be found in form of food supplements.

Moderate amount of alcohol, such as red wine can have a protective effect on your heart. Limit consumption to no more than two drinks a day for men, and one a day for women.

Maintain a healthy weight

As you put on weight in adulthood, your weight gain mostly consists of fat rather than muscle. Even a small weight loss can be beneficial. Reducing your weight by just 10% can decrease your blood pressure, lower your blood cholesterol level and reduce your risk of diabetes which in turn reduce your overall risk for cardiovascular diseases.

One way to see if your weight is healthy is to calculate your body mass index (BMI). If your BMI is 25 or higher, you have an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. The BMI is a good, but imperfect guide. Muscle weighs more than fat, and women and men who are very muscular and physically fit can have high BMIs without added health risks. Because of that, waist circumference also is a useful tool to measure how much abdominal fat you have. Men are considered overweight if their waist measurement is greater than 40 inches (101 cm). Women are overweight if their waist measurement is greater than 35 inches (88 cm).

Regular screening for heart disease risk factors

Check your blood pressure at least every 2 years starting from 18 years old. Check your cholesterol level every 5 years (more frequently if you are at an increased risk for heart disease) starting from 20 years old. Check your blood sugar level every five years (more frequently if you have other risk factors such as obesity or high blood pressure) starting from age 30 years old.

Practical Tips for Stress Management

2012-09-27T21:39:00.000-07:00

Let's start with the four 'A's mentioned in the previous entry about healthy coping strategies for stress management: avoid, alter, adapt, and accept.

Avoid unnecessary stress

When doing this remember that not all stress can be avoided and it’s not healthy to avoid a situation that needs to be addressed.

Manage your time and personal limits.

Set your priorities and move the tasks that aren’t truly necessary to the bottom of your to-do list, or eliminate them when possible.
Don't spend too much time with people who stress you out or if possible, avoid them entirely. This is not the same as social withdrawal where you avoid friends and people who are not causing you stress as well.
Set your personal limits and stick to them. Learn how to say no when you think people are demanding more than you can handle.
Take control of your environment. If the evening news makes you anxious, turn the TV off. If traffic’s got you tense, take a longer but less-traveled route.
Avoid conversation topics that have the tendency to develop into heated arguments, like religion or politics.

Alter the situation

If you can’t avoid a stressful situation, try to alter it and figure out what you can do to prevent the problem from presenting itself in the future.

Plan ahead and make sure you have enough time to do important tasks, but still have time to get enough rest.
Communicate your needs and feelings. If you have an exam tomorrow and a friend plan to drop by, tell him or her you need to study. If something or someone is bothering you, voice your feelings openly in a respectful way. Holding everything inside will likely to build up resentment while the situation remains the same.
Be willing to compromise. If you ask someone to change their behavior, be prepared to do the same. If you both are willing to bend at least a little, you’ll have a good chance of finding a happy middle ground.

Communicate your needs and feelings.

Adapt to the stressor

If you can’t change the stressor, change yourself.

Change your point of view and look at stressful situations from a more positive perspective. If you fail at something, look at it as a chance to learn from your mistakes and do better in the future. Look at the big picture and ask yourself how important it will be in the long run. Don't sweat the little things.
Set reasonable standards for yourself and others. Try not to demand everything to be perfect, learn to accept things that are good enough.
Focus on the positive things in your life: your family and friends, your own achievements and talents, including physical properties like your home. Learn to appreciate and be grateful for them.
Avoid thinking negative thoughts, especially about yourself. Eliminate words such as 'always', 'never', 'should', and 'must' when you talk to yourself.

Accept the things you can’t change

There are things in life in which you have no power to do anything about, such as the death of a loved one, a natural disaster, or a war. Acceptance may be difficult, but it’s easier than ramming yourself against a situation you can’t change. Learn to forgive yourself and others for the mistakes they made.

Other strategies to reduce stress

Besides the four 'A's, listed below are other ways to manage stress:

Spare some time to relax and have fun. Try to do at least one thing you enjoy doing every day.
Maintain a good sense of humor, including the ability to laugh at yourself
Eat a healthy diet. Avoid too much caffeine, alcohol, and sugar.
Exercise regularly
Get enough sleep

Stress Management: Coping The Inevitable

2012-09-24T20:11:00.000-07:00

Human is equipped with a fight or flight response when faced with any challenges, physical or mental.

An adult who tells you he or she had never felt stressful in his or her life is either a saint or a liar. Let's face it, stress in inevitable. In fact, stress is part of a normal psychological and physical reaction to the ever increasing demands of life. There will never be more hours in a day, there will always be bills to pay, and there will always be occupational and social responsibility for you to deal with. Even with great coping strategies, stress won't disappear entirely from your life.

The human body is equipped with a fight or flight response when faced with any challenges, be it physical or mental. When facing a threat, our brain reacts by telling the body to increase the production of hormones, charging it up so it will be ready to respond. Once the threat is gone, our body is meant to return to a normal relaxed state. Unfortunately, the nonstop stress of modern life places a demand so that our body has to be constantly on alerted state.

Overworking is an unhealthy coping strategy.

Realizing that you are not powerless against life's challenges is the foundation of stress management. Managing stress is all about taking control. It may be hard to change the conditions of your environment, but your thoughts, emotions, and choices are your own. With practice, you can increase your coping ability and switch from unhealthy strategies to healthier ones.

"Healthy coping strategies require change."

Unhealthy ways to cope with stress include smoking, drugs and alcohol abuse, overeating or undereating, social withdrawal, sleeping too much, procrastinating, overworking, and taking out your stress on others by lashing out or physical violence.

Generally, healthy coping strategies require change. That's why they are more difficult to implement than the easier, unhealthy ones. The change can be applied either to the situation or to your reaction. When deciding which option to choose, it’s helpful to think of the four As: avoid, alter, adapt, or accept.

Since everyone has a unique response to stress, no single method works for everyone or in every situation. Experiment with different techniques and focus on the ones that makes you feel calm and in control.

Cancer 102: How It Grows and Spreads

2012-09-21T19:45:00.000-07:00

Previous entry talks about how a cancer starts. If only the cancer would stay in place, then it won't be difficult to treat with surgery. Unfortunately, the way most cancers grow and spread complicates things a bit.

Specific cancers may have different preferences, but in general the characteristics of cancer growth and spread are:

Initiation: the transformation process of a normal cell into a cancer cell, from the first mutation until it escapes the body's defense mechanism.
Proliferation: the process in which the rate of cell growth of the cancer cells overcome the rate of cell death. Hormones and growth factors plays important role in affecting the rate of growth of certain cancers. Even though cancer cells are dubbed immortal, they do die because the body's immune system is constantly at work and because they grow so fast, from lack of nutrients. It is believed that the cancer cells achieve their proliferation through the initiation of stem cells which are normally abundant in actively growing tissues, such as in tissue repair.
Invasion: the process in which the cancer cells overcome the natural boundaries of different types of tissues in our body. Invasion is one of the hallmark characteristics of a malignant tumor. Normally different types of tissues have very well defined borders. You won’t find skin cells growing in deep muscle, or liver cells growing in the stomach.
Angiogenesis: the formation of new blood vessels to provide nutrients for the growing cancer cells. Tumors could only reach a certain size before they would exhaust themselves of nutrients if it were not for angiogenesis. In other words, this is the process where a cancer steals the body's resources to feed itself.
Metastases: is the ability of cancer cells to spread to different parts of the body via the bloodstream or the lymphatic system. Metastases is another hallmark of malignant tumors.

Every stage of development mentioned above can be interfered by different types of cancer treatment such as radiation or chemotherapy. Cancers that are growing rapidly and prone to metastases are more likely to be affected by these treatments compared to slow growing cancers which may yield better result with surgery.

Cancer 101: How It Starts

2012-09-19T19:44:00.000-07:00

Being immortal is not always a good thing. Take cancer cells, for example.

A normal cell carries genes inside its nucleus. These genes carries information that controls the cell's behavior including when it will grow and when it will die. Normally if something goes wrong within the cell, it is programmed to die. However, sometimes this fail-safe mechanism misses, allowing a cell to keep dividing uncontrollably until it forms a tumor.

Technically, every abnormal growth is called a tumor. It can be either benign or malignant. A benign tumor usually grows slowly or stop growing at one point and does not spread to other parts of the body. Cancer is a malignant tumor, which keeps growing and may spread to other places through the bloodstream or the lymphatic system.

The Mutation

Mutation is the start of a cancer.

Mutation means that a gene has been damaged or lost. Genes decide what kind of protein a cell will produce. Therefore, a mutated cell may produce too much or too little protein. Some proteins controls how a cell behaves. For example, when a hormone acts on a structural protein, it then sends a series of signals which tell the cell to reproduce by dividing into two.

Because of mutation, a signaling protein may be permanently switched on or proteins whose job is to control and limit cell division may be switched off. Often times, the cause of this mutation is a carcinogen. For example, there are carcinogens in cigarette smoke. Virus infection and ionizing radiation may also trigger these changes. Mutated genes can also be inherited.

The Genes

There are three different types of genes that plays important roles in cancer formation.

Oncogenes are genes that encourage the cell to multiply. When people talk about cancer genes, this is what they usually meant.
Tumor suppressor genes are the 'police' genes that stop the cell from multiplying. If one of these genes becomes damaged and stops working, then the cell will carry on dividing. In other words it becomes immortal, which is one of the properties of a cancer cell. The best known tumor suppressor gene is called p53.
DNA repair genes repair other damaged genes. Mutations happen a lot more often than you may think. However, thanks to these repair genes, not every mutation will develop into cancer.

What happens after mutation?

It is not easy for a normal cell to turn into a cancer cell. Our body is equipped with means to prevent it from happening. Mutated cells often destroy themselves or the immune system might recognize them as abnormal and attack them. DNA repair genes are able to repair the mutations so that it takes more than a single mutation in order to start a cancer. It can take a long time before enough mutations happen for a cell to become cancerous. This is why most types of cancer are more common in older people.

The place where a cancer begins is called the primary cancer. Once developed, the cancer may spread locally into surrounding tissues. Cancer cells may also break away from the primary cancer and be carried off in the blood or lymphatic system, starting a new tumor in other parts of the body. A tumor that grow from from a cancer that have spread are called secondary cancer or 'metastases'.

Tips to Improve Sleep Habits

2012-09-17T21:53:00.000-07:00

Everyone suffers from sleepless night every now and then. A lot of factors contribute to sleep problems, but fortunately most of them are modifiable. Stress, uncomfortable surrounding, occupation, dietary habit, pollution, and lack of physical activity are common things that can prevent you from falling and/or maintaining a quality sleep.

The following tips will help you optimize your sleep habit so you can wake up feeling refreshed and energized for the rest of day.

1. Create comfortable sleep environment

An ideal room for sleeping is usually cool, dark and quiet. Make sure your bed is comfortable and there is enough room for you stretch and turn if you share your bed with another person.

Try not to use an alarm clock to wake you up.

2. Keep a regular sleep schedule

Consistency is important. If you keep a regular sleep schedule, your sleep-wake cycle (circadian rhythm) will become synchronized and it’s easier to sleep better this way. Go to bed and get up at the same time every day, even on weekends, holidays and days off. Try not to use an alarm clock to wake you up. If you are sleep deprived, it may take longer for you to wake up naturally.

3. Pay attention to your diet

Avoid too much coffee or smoking. These stimulants will make it hard for you to fall asleep. Stay away from alcohol as well, because even though it makes you fall asleep faster, it reduces the quality of your sleep. Don’t drink too much fluid around bedtime because it will wake you up in the middle of the night to go to the toilet. Don’t eat too much either because a full stomach will keep you up until it finishes digesting the food.

4. Stay active during the day

Regular physical activity will help you fall asleep faster and enjoy better sleep quality. Don’t exercise too close to bedtime, though. Avoid taking naps in the daytime if you can help it. If you can’t, limit them to 30 minutes at most in mid-afternoon.

5. Try to regulate your circadian rhythm naturally

A light sensitive hormone called melatonin is produced by your brain to regulate your sleep-wake cycle. When it’s dark, melatonin levels increased, making you feel sleepy. On the contrary, when it’s bright, melatonin levels decreased making you feel awake. Getting enough sunlight in the daytime and avoid too much artificial light in the night will improve your sleep habit.

6. Develop a bedtime ritual

Doing the same things each night before bed will help your body to relax and wind down, taking a hot bath, reading books, or listening to music for examples. Try not to include anything that requires you to look at an electronic screen like television, computer, or mobile phones.

7. Deal with stress and anxiety

Easier said than done, but it’s not impossible. If you have a habit of worrying, try to evaluate your thoughts, sort the unrealistic ones out and replace them with productive ones. Even counting sheep is better than worrying. Stress management strategies like setting your personal limits, staying organized, and positive thinking will help you reduce the strain that’s keeping you from getting a good night sleep.

OTC Painkillers - Use With Care

2012-09-14T19:11:00.000-07:00

The two most commonly used over-the-counter pain relievers are acetaminophen (Paracetamol, Tylenol) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs (Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Aleve). There are many types of OTC painkillers marketed under different brand names with different prices, but there is no evidence that more expensive pills works better than cheaper ones.

Acetaminophen

Tylenol and Paracetamol belongs to the acetaminophen class. This type of drugs reduce pain and fever, but it does not have reduce inflammation and swelling. They are generally used to treat minor pain like tension headaches, influenza, and in chronic conditions where no inflammation is present.

Acetaminophen is metabolized in the liver and kidney. Therefore, people with liver and kidney condition or those who drinks alcohol should avoid taking it. Interaction with other medications like blood thinners and birth control pills also warrant precaution. Because acetaminophen is a common component in cough mixtures and in prescription medication, people often don't realize that they are taking products containing the same ingredient, resulting in overdose.

"People often don't realize that they are taking products containing the same ingredient."

Taking as little as 10-15 g of acetaminophen in 24 hours can cause life threatening liver damage which may not be apparent for 4-6 days. Symptoms of overdose includes nausea, vomiting, stomachache, kidney failure, and brain damage. Even though initial symptoms are not significant, patients should seek immediate medical attention.

Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)

NSAIDs relieve pain and is especially useful in reducing inflammation. There are three types of NSAIDs available for purchase without prescription: aspirin (Anacin, Bufferin, Empirin), naproxen (Aleve), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Excedrin). Naproxen is more long-acting than aspirin and ibuprofen.

The most concerning side effect of NSAIDs is stomach bleeding. Symptoms includes black tarry stools, abdominal pain, or vomiting blood. Long term use may also cause kidney problems, even more prevalent than that caused by acetaminophen. That's why acetaminophen is a safer choice for chronic usage.

Children under 18 years old should not take aspirin because of the risk of developing Reye Syndrome, a potentially fatal condition. Aspirin also increases the risk of bleeding in people undergoing surgery. So be sure to tell your dentist or doctor that you take aspirin before they perform any procedure.

Normal Sadness or Depression?

2012-09-12T16:13:00.000-07:00

Sadness, much like happiness, is a part of our life. Normal grief or sadness last only for a short while and rarely interferes with your daily functions. Depression, however, is a serious condition that not only affects a person's mood and behavior, but also one's bodily functions.

normal sadness or depression?

Depression is a common but serious illness. Each year depression affects 5-8% of adults in the United States. One in 10 people will have a depressive disorder in their lifetime and one of those 10 cases will develop into major depression and even suicide. Depression occurs 70% more frequently in women than in men.

Signs and symptoms of depression varies depending on the individuals affected. Children may not display the same symptoms with adult. Also, if you display symptoms while under influence of substance abuse, you cannot be diagnosed with depression until the effect has cleared off. Listed below are common findings in people with depression:

Persistent sadness or low mood most of the time for at least 2 weeks
Loss of interest in pleasurable activities or hobbies
Fatigue and decreased energy
Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
Irritability or restlessness
Difficulty concentrating and making decisions
Sleep disturbances
Loss of appetite or overeating
Suicide thoughts or attempts
Aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems.

There are several forms of depression:

Minor depression is characterized by having symptoms of depression for of at least 2 weeks, but do not meet the criteria for major depression. If left untreated, minor depression can develop into major depression.

Major depression or major depressive disorder is characterized by severe, highly persistent depression, and a loss of interest or pleasure in everyday activities. The individual may have recurrent thoughts about death and suicide. Major depression is a disabling condition and prevents a person from functioning normally.

Dysthymic disorder or dysthymia is characterized by long-term (2 years or longer) symptoms that may not be severe enough to disable a person, but can prevent normal functioning.

A lot of people with depression never seek treatment. But the majority, even those with major depressive disorder, can get better with treatment. The earlier the treatment begins, the better the prognosis. Medications, psychotherapies, and other methods can effectively treat people with depression.

Different Types of Headaches

2012-09-09T21:11:00.000-07:00

The head is one of the most common location of pain in the body.

The head is one of the most common location of pain in the body. There are many causes of headache, making it difficult to classify. In 2007, the International headache Society made a new classification system for headache in hopes that this new system will make the diagnosis more specific and treatment more effective.

The three major categories of headache are primary headaches, secondary headaches, and cranial neuralgias, facial pain, along with other headaches.

Primary Headaches

In primary headaches, the pain is not a result of an injury or underlying structural problem. This is the most common type of headache. Examples of primary headaches are:

Tension headache or chronic non-progressive headaches is the most common form of primary headaches. Up to 90% of adults will experience tension headache in some point of their life. The pain comes from muscle contraction that cause mild to moderate pain that comes and go.
Migraine headache is the second most common form of primary headache. Up to 18% of women and 6% of men will experience tension headache in some point of their life. The exact cause of migraine is unknown. The pain is moderate to severe, with pounding or throbbing quality, and maybe accompanied by nausea or vomiting and sensitivity to bright light, noise, or smell. It occurs episodically and each attack can last from several hours to three days.
Cluster headache is a rare form of primary headache that affects only 0.1% of the population with men in their late twenties more commonly affected. The pain is severe, with constant burning, piercing, or throbbing quality, usually occurring in one side of the head and most intense behind the eye. During a cluster period, which may last from two weeks to two months, headaches occur 1-3 times per day.

Secondary Headaches

An underlying disease or injury in the head or neck is the cause of secondary headache. Not all of these structural problems are harmful, but problems like meningitis, brain tumor, or bleeding must always be considered. Some of the worst headaches resulted from secondary causes, such as subarachnoid bleeding that causes 'thunderclap' headache.

Cranial Neuralgias, Facial Pain, and Other Headaches

Cranial neuralgias and facial pain occur because of the inflammation on the nerves in the head and neck region. Unspecified headaches or when there is not enough information to classify the headache into other categories falls into 'other headaches' waste basket classification.

Headache could be a sign of a serious life threatening condition. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following:

Seek medical attention if you feel the intensity of pain is unusual.

A perceived sensation of the worst headache of your life
Fever or stiff neck
Seizures
Headache associated with recent trauma
Persistent nausea and vomiting
Weakness in any part of the body
Changes in levels of consciousness, speech, or vision
Headaches not responding to pain medication

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: The Great Imitator

2012-09-06T22:47:00.000-07:00

butterfly or malar rash in SLE

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that can affect any part of the body, hence the term systemic. Most commonly affected organs are the joints, skin, heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, blood vessels, and nervous system. In 2008, around 250.000 Americans have SLE. Women aged 20-30 years old are nine time more likely to be affected than men. African American and Asians are more commonly affected and the disease tend to be more severe in these ethnic groups.

Diagnosis

As in any autoimmune disorder, the immune system lost the ability to differentiate self and non self, producing auto antibody that attacks normal cells. Why our immune system turned against us is still unknown, but viral infection, sunlight and allergies may trigger the changes.

SLE is dubbed the great imitator because the symptoms can mimic other diseases, making the diagnosis a challenging one to make. The course of disease is completely unpredictable with flare-ups alternating with remissions. Severity ranges from mild to life threatening. Initially, most patients unspecific symptoms like fatigue, rashes, painful joints, and low grade fever.

Based on The American College of Rheumatology's criteria, a person is said to have SLE if he or she has at least four of the symptoms listed below.

the location of rashes in SLE

Butterfly shaped rashes over the cheeks (malar rash), oval shaped rashes with raised borders (discoid rash), or rash over sun exposed skin
Arthitis in two or more joints lasting more than a few weeks
Chest pain when taking deep breaths, a sign of inflammation of the outer linings of the lung (pleuritis) or the heart (pericarditis)
Kidney problems ranging from mild protein or blood in the urine to renal failure
Nervous system disturbances like seizures, stroke, or delirium
Sores in the mouth
Abnormal lab results:

low red blood cells, low white blood cells, or low platelets
positive auto antibodies like anti nuclear antibody (ANA) or anti double stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA), anti Smith (referred to as anti-Sm) or antiphospholipid antibodies, or a false positive test for syphilis

Treatment

Sadly there is no cure for SLE and its management can be rather complicated. The good news is that immunosuppresive therapy can greatly improve survival. Maintaining a good quality of life remains the greater challenge, however.

The medications commonly used for SLE includes:

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to reduce joint pain and inflammation.
Antimalarial drugs such as hydroxychloroquine help with fatigue, rashes, joint pain, and mouth sores.
Immunosuppressants such as azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, cyclosporin are used in patients with more severe and wide-spread symptoms.
Corticosteroids is also used in the more severe form of SLE.
Biological agents such as rituximab and abatacept modulate the faulty immune system.

Holistic Health 123

Understanding Peptic Ulcer Disease

How does a peptic ulcer develop?

What are the types of peptic ulcer?

What are the symptoms of peptic ulcer?

Danger signs in peptic ulcer

What are the complications of peptic ulcer?

How are ulcers diagnosed?

What are the treatments for ulcers?

Other articles related to peptic ulcer disease:

Common Causes of Abdominal Pain

What are the symptoms that accompany abdominal pain?

What are the causes of abdominal pain?

How can you tell if the abdominal pain is a sign of serious disease?

Seek medical attention of you experience any of the following:

Other considerations regarding abdominal pain

Finding out the cause of abdominal pain

Treatment of abdominal pain

Other articles in common symptoms:

How Your Body Works: The Digestive System

Parts of the digestive system

Mouth and pharynx

Esophagus

Stomach

Small intestines

Large intestines

Rectum

Anus

Pancreas

Liver and gallbladder

Other articles on how your body works:

Glucosamine Chondroitin for Osteoarthritis

What are glucosamine and chondroitin?

Do glucosamine and chondroitin really work for osteoarthritis?

Be wise if you decide to take glucosamine and chondroitin supplement.

Tips For Choosing Supplements

Do some preliminary background check

Consider the effectiveness of the supplement

Be aware of safety and risk issues

Look for quality assurance

Deep Venous Thrombosis

What is deep venous thrombosis?

What are the risk factors to develop deep venous thrombosis?

What are the symptoms of deep venous thrombosis?

How to treat and prevent deep venous thrombosis?

Going Somewhere? Basics of Travelers' Health

Eczema: The Grab Bag Diagnosis For Skin Diseases

What is eczema?

What are the symptoms of eczema?

What is the treatment?

Common Skin Problems

1. Acne

2. Eczema

3. Moles

4. Hives

5. Psoriasis

6. Warts

7. Shingles

The Benefits of Antioxidants

What is an antioxidant?

What are the sources of antioxidants?

How does antioxidant benefit your health?

Beware of Fad Diet Plans - Get Realistic

What is fad diet?

How to identify fad diet plans?

Why shouldn't you follow these diet plans?

"Fad diet plans don't result in long-term weight loss and they are usually not very healthy."

Panic Attack? Keep Calm and Read On

What is a panic attack and panic disorder?

"During a panic attack, the fear response is out of proportion for the situation."

Diagnosis

How to manage?

Healthy Computing Habit

Premenstrual Syndrome: Men's Worst Nightmare?

What is premenstrual syndrome?

What are the symptoms of PMS?

How to manage PMS?

Obesity Overview

"Obesity is more than just a cosmetic problem."

What causes obesity?