Healthy Life | Have Your Health Between Your Hands

Diabetes : Symptoms, Causes, and Preventions

2020-03-25T21:03:00.002+01:00

see my Article in my new website about diabetes ; diabetes

Image: Blood Sugar with Glucometer

Diabetes Mellitus 'DM' is a chronic metabolic disease, that cannot be cured, but can be treated, characterized by elevated levels of blood sugar (Fasting glucose >1.26 g/L or 7 mmol/l)
Diabetes is a major cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, strokes, and lower limb amputation. According to the World Health Organization, about 422 million people worldwide have diabetes, and 1.6 million deaths are directly attributed to diabetes every year.
We can prevent diabetes by physical activity, quit smoking, and eating healthy Food

What is Diabetes

DM has several types of diabetes:
- Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus
- Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (the most common)
- Gestational Diabetes Mellitus .. etc
In this topic, we’re going to talk about the most common ones (type 1 and type 2)

Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus or insulin-dependent occurs in childhood or adult time, secondary to auto-destruction of beta-cells that produce the insulin in our body .
Insulin helps to control blood sugar levels, so an insulin deficit will cause an increase in the levels of blood sugar.
Patients with type 1 diabetes must use insulin injection to control their blood sugar.

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 Diabetes or non-insulin dependent occurs more often in people who are over 40 years old. It is progressive and caused by a resistance to the action of the insulin or an insulin inefficiency, which means that the body makes insulin but it isn’t used properly or there is not enough insulin.
Patients with type 2 diabetes can be treated with oral glucose-lowering medications or insulin injections, associated with weight management and exercise to bring the blood sugar under control.

Diabetes Symptoms

differs from a type to another :

The type 1 diabetes we may have:

- Extreme thirst
- Frequent urination
- Fatigue
- Unexplained weight loss
- Hunger
- Nausea and vomiting

The type 2 diabetes may be asymptomatic ( without symptoms ) or may have:

- Excessive urination, thirst and hunger
- Urinary infections manifested by hematuria, or a painful urination
- Fatigue
- Vulvar itching

Diabetes Complications

If it’s not treated, Diabetes may lead to complications as :
- Heart attack
- Brain stroke
- Kidney failure
- Blindness
- Lower limp necrosis that leads to amputation
- Sexual dysfunction

Diabetes Causes

- Age (the risk increases with age)
- Overweight
- Physical inactivity
- Genes and family history (parent or brother/sister with diabetes)
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Having another autoimmune disease
- Smoking
- Injury of the pancreas (accident, surgery, infection or tumor)
- Race (African-Americans, Alaska natives, American Indians, Asian Americans)
- Stress

Diabetes Prevention

Diabetes can be prevented by Having Healthy Life (only diabetes type 2 can be prevented, type 1 is an auto-immune disease and can’t be prevented)

1- Diet

First thing, you need to cut out sugary food (chocolate, donuts, etc..) and drinks (soda) and refined carbs (candy, white beards, etc...)
Aim to have a balanced diet by basing meals around vegetables, fruits, legumes such as beans and peas, low-fat dairy product, such as milk and cheese
Avoid consuming alcohol because it may increase your blood pressure, and triglyceride levels, and can lead to weight gain

2- Physical activity

Performing physical activity regularly can increase insulin secretion and sensitivity, which may help prevent diabetes and lower your blood pressure
Type of physical activity: Aerobic exercise (such as walking, bicycling, or jogging) or resistance exercise with weights, weight machines

3- Quit smoking

Smoking is strongly linked to the risk of diabetes. Quitting has been shown to reduce the risk of diabetes over time (smokers are twice likely to develop diabetes as non-smokers)

4- See your doctor for regular check-ups

As you get older, it’s a good idea to regularly check your blood sugar, blood pressure, and blood cholesterol levels

Diabetes is a major public health problem due to its complications and the increase in its prevalence worldwide , Diabetes can be prevented by Healthy Life.

Written by Dr. Bouhaltit Nizar
Medical Doctor

Heart Attack : Symptoms and Preventions

2020-03-20T01:04:00.000+01:00

Image: Heart Attack

Heart attack Or Myocarduim Infraction is leading causes of death globally. The World Health Organisation estimates that 7.3 million deaths globally were due to coronary heart disease in 2008. By 2030, almost 23.6 million people will die from cardiovascular disease every year .

Heart attack is a medical emergency and you have to call ( 911 for USA ) without wasting any second because « Time Is muscle ».

Myocardial infarction can be prevented by refraining from smoking and maintaining appropriate blood pressure levels and a favorable balance of lipids. Following a myocardial infarction, further drug treatment should include aspirin, thrombolytic therapy (in acute myocardial infarction), beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors (in patients with a low ejection fraction) and perhaps anticoagulants. It’s the only way to prevent Necrosis of the cardiac muscle.

What is Heart Attack

Myocardial infarction (MI) is a term used for an event of a heart attack which is due to the formation of plaques in the interior walls of the arteries resulting in reduced blood flow to the heart and injuring heart muscles because of lack of oxygen supply. It can lead to Necrosis of the cardiac muscle caused by an obstruction of the blood supply to the heart

Heart Attack Symptoms

Consider the following:

« angina pectoris or Chest pain » Prolonged crushing, squeezing, or burning pain in the center of the chest, pain that radiates from the chest area to the neck, arms, shoulders, or the jaw,

Shortness of breath,

Dizziness,

Nausea, vomiting,

Chills and sweating,

Weak pulse,

Cold and clammy skin, gray pallor, a severe appearance of illness.

Prevent heart attack
heart attack can be prevented by taking an earlier action to lower those risks by controlling :

1- High Blood Pressure

is defined as systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥140 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥90 mm Hg, The relationship of High blood pressure to subsequent development of Heart attack has been well established. Physicians wishing to help their patients prevent Heart attack must set up a lifetime program of surveillance of blood pressure level.

2- Diabetes « DM »

Defined by elevated glycemic markers, is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), Normal fasting glucose is glucose <100 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L), lifestyle management is a cornerstone of clinical care. physical activity and nutrition play an important role in the treatment of diabetes mellitus and CVD risk prevention, The next section of this update focuses on weight management through healthy life, medi, and surgical approaches in diabetes mellitus

3- Elevated cholesterol « Dyslipidemia »

Studies suggested the key role of controlling dyslipidemia in the prevention of heart attack , There is general agreement that the development of cardiovascular disease as manifested by the occurrence of all the clinical manifestations of this disorder is related to elevation of serum lipids, especially serum cholesterol. Keeping daily dietary cholesterol intake within a reasonable range in a healthy eating pattern should be recommended. A dietary cholesterol intake level of 500 mg/day.

4- Cigarette Smoking

Studies have provided evidence of the relationship between cigarette smoking and the various manifestations of heart disease. Although little relationship is noted between Chest pain and cigarette smoking. So you must stop smoking and avoid secondhand smoke, too.

5- Physical Activity

Lifestyle intervention, targeting weight reduction through caloric restriction and increased physical activity, the Exercise programs utilizing swimming, jogging, bicycle riding, or other relatively high energy activities promise a certain degree of benefit in preventing the onset of myocardial infarction.

6- Hematologic abnormalities

Ischemia of the cardiac muscle may also result from hematologic abnormalities. Like anemia, it is associated with symptomatic disease. Prevention of myocardial ischemia can be accomplished by prompt medical intervention.

7- Pharmacologic considerations

The use of drugs to prevent myocardial infarction has not been widely considered. Treatment of Chest Pain with nitrites has produced gratifying results for many years.beta-adrenergic blocking agent-has been used recently for the treatment of Chest Pain .

The possible methods of preventing myocardial infarction have been discussed. The methods consist of the prevention of the underlying heart disease.

Written By Dr Zenasni O
Medical Doctor
Emergency Service

Coronavirus : Symptoms, Transmission, and Preventions,

2020-03-07T03:02:00.001+01:00

See my article in my new website about coronavirus

Microscopy image of Virus : Coronavirus

Coronavirus : Preventions ?

Coronavirus or COVID-19 fears reverberate as cases pass 180,000 in worldwide, and the death rate exceeds the number of 7000. The COVID-19 virus is spreading across the world. More than 80 countries have confirmed coronavirus, Coronaviruses cause a variety of diseases in mammals and birds ranging from enteritis in cows and pigs and upper respiratory disease chickens to potentially lethal human respiratory infections. There is no evidence that human coronaviruses can be transmitted by animals. coronavirus cause acute, mild upper respiratory infection (common cold). Here we provide a current prevention and treatment strategies.

What is coronavirus

Coronavirus or COVID-19 is the largest groups of viruses belonging to the Nidovirales order, enveloped positive-sense RNA viruses, are characterized by club-like spikes that project from their surface, an unusually large RNA genome, and a unique replication strategy.

Coronaviruses are found in avian and mammalian species. They resemble each other in morphology and chemical structure: for example, the coronaviruses of humans and cattle are antigenically related, the first coronavirus was isolated nearly 50 years ago, These viruses are endemic in the human populations, causing 15–30% of respiratory tract infections each year.

Coronavirus Symptoms

There is no reliable clinical method to distinguish coronavirus colds from colds caused by rhinoviruses or less common agents. He causes a range of illnesses from no symptoms to acute respiratory illness with mild to severe respiratory courses and death

Coronaviruses invade the respiratory tract via the nose. After an incubation period ( silent period ) of about 3 to 14 days , they cause the symptoms of a common cold, including :

· Fever is a common symptom,

· Nasal obstruction,

· Sneezing,

· Runny nose,

· Occasionally Cough,

· Sore throat,

· Headache,

· myalgia

· Abdominal pain.

In critically ill patients, presentation with shortness of breath (most likely with severe hypoxemic respiratory failure), Severe respiratory syndrome of CoV infection is outlined by progression to acute respiratory distress . and gastrointestinal symptoms have been observed such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, while acute kidney damage has been reported.

Coronavirus Test

By a biological technique called « RT-PCR » has become the method of choice for diagnosis of COVID-19, from nasal swabs or washings .

Coronavirus Transmission

Studies have shown that respiratory viruses can be transmitted from one person to another through direct or indirect contact , the common transmission routes of COVID-19 include :

Direct transmission :
Cough, Sneeze, and Droplet inhalation transmission, contact with oral, nasal, and eye
Indirect transmission :
Through coarse or Small droplets and COVID-19 can also be transmitted directly or indirectly through saliva.

Notably, transmission of the virus may also occur through contact with patients who have no symptoms.

Studies have suggested that COVID-19 may be airborne through aerosols ( molecular are in suspension in the air) formed during medical procedures .

However, the aerosol transmission route and the fecal–oral transmission route concerned by the public still need to be further studied and confirmed.

Coronavirus Preventions

We have 3 steps for the best preventions.

Coronavirus infection is a new communicable disease with an emergent outbreak that affects all populations.
It is paramount to implement infection control practices by infection source controlling, transmission route blocking, and susceptible population protection.

1) Controlling infection sources

Patients infected with COVID-19 are the main infection sources.

Person infected by novel coronavirus should be isolated at home or admitted to designated hospitals under the guidance of healthcare workers.

There are enormous demands for room ventilation, necessary cleaning, and disinfection work for the articles used by the patient. Here, it is worth mentioning that there is a crucial need for equipment with disposable masks and properly disposal after use when taking care of the sick person.

2) Blocking transmission routes

Preventing transmission by Covering your mouth and your nose with napkin or towel when coughing or sneezing.

Wash hands frequently, and use the seven-step washing technique.

Try not to touch your mouth, your nose, or your eyes before cleaning your hands thoroughly after returning from public places.

Regularly disinfecting toys by heating at 56 °C for 30 min, 75% alcohol or chlorine-containing disinfectants, and ultraviolet rays.

Avoid public transport at epidemic areas

Wear masks when going to crowded or poorly ventilated public places

Person with a history of close contacts of infected patients need to be monitored for body temperature and clinical features routinely.

When presenting with suspicious symptoms, you should visit the hospital for screening.

3) Boosting immunity

Balanced diet, oral health, adequate exercise, and boosting immunity are the powerful measures to preventing infection

Coronavirus Treatment

General treatment strategies include bed rest and supportive treatment; ensuring sufficient calory and water intake; monitoring vital signs ; keeping respiratory tract unobstructed and inhaling oxygen when necessary; biological blood analysis and timely re-examination of chest imaging should be performed when necessary.
Specific treatment is Using drugs such as antiviral, antibiotics and glucocorticoids can be used in severe cases .
Vaccination is an effective way to prevent virus infection. The research and development of anti-virus vaccines have been carried out in China at present.

Written By Dr. Zenasni O.
Medical Doctor
Emergency Service

High Blood Pressure : Symptoms, Causes, And Treatment

2020-03-05T21:51:00.000+01:00

Image : Blood pressure Monitor

High Blood Pressure ?

see my article in new website : high-blood-pressure

Hypertension (high blood pressure) is one of the most widely spread modern diseases and one of the leading risk factors for heart and blood vessel diseases, particularly stroke and coronary heart disease. The prevalence of hypertension is about 25% in adults.

Blood pressure is the pressure, measured in millimeters of mercury, within the major arterial system of the body.

It is conventionally separated into systolic and diastolic determinations. Systolic pressure is the maximum blood pressure during contraction of the ventricles; diastolic pressure is the minimum pressure recorded just before the next contraction.

The blood pressure is usually written as the systolic pressure over the diastolic pressure (e.g., 120/80 mm Hg).

What is High Blood Pressure ?

High blood pressure (also referred to as HBP, or hypertension) is when your blood pressure, the force of blood flowing through your blood vessels, is consistently too high.

Table above : Blood Pressure level

High blood pressure Symptoms ?

If you are looking for a list of symptoms and signs of high blood pressure (HBP or hypertension), you won’t find them here. This is because most of the time, there are none, “silent killer” Only if it is extremely high can it result in symptoms like dizziness or vision problems.

What are the risks of High blood pressure?

Hypertension is one of the main risk factors for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events and one of the main causes of death and disability in developed countries. The possible long-term effects of high blood pressure include the following:

Poor blood circulation in the legs (PAD)

Weak heart (myocardial insufficiency, heart failure)

Heart attack

Stroke

Damage to the kidneys

Damage to the Eye

Treatment can lower the risk of developing these kinds of problems.

What are the causes of high blood pressure?

Our bodies can regulate blood pressure as needed. It's typically low when we relax or sleep. It increases when, for example, we do hard physical work and our muscles need more blood. Stress or fear can also cause your blood pressure to go up.

So it's normal for blood pressure readings to vary; that's just a sign of an active life. But if blood pressure is too high for too long, it can damage blood vessels over time and increase the risk of various health problems.

Often no specific cause is found for high blood pressure. Then doctors call it "essential" or "primary" hypertension.

Being overweight, eating a lot of salt, drinking too much alcohol and not getting enough exercise can increase your blood pressure. But any person may also develop high blood pressure – for example, because it runs in their family.

An exact cause is only found in 5 out of 100 people. When the cause is known, doctors refer to it as "secondary" hypertension.

The ABCDE mnemonic can be used to help determine a secondary cause of hypertension :

A. Accuracy of diagnosis, obstructive sleep Apnea, Aldosteronism,
B. Bad kidneys (renal parenchymal disease )
C. excess Catecholamines, Coarctation of the aorta, Cushing's syndrome,
D. Drugs, Diet,
E. excess Erythropoietin, and Endocrine disorders.

An algorithm showing the general strategy to help screen for factors involved in secondary hypertension is presented. Routine urinalysis, complete blood cell count, blood chemistry profile (potassium, sodium, creatinine, fasting glucose, fasting lipid levels), and a 12-lead electrocardiogram are recommended for all patients with hypertension.

Any treatment for High blood pressure ?

The goal of hypertension treatment is to reduce BP to <140/90 mm Hg; however, in patients with hypertension and diabetes or renal disease, the BP goal is even lower, targeted at ≤130/80 mm Hg. Nonpharmacologic interventions should be instituted in all patients with hypertension.

When used early, lifestyle modifications can decrease other disease risks and may avoid the need for drug therapy. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, however, is not sufficient or is difficult to comply with, and most patients will require pharmacologic interventions to control their BP.

1) Lifestyle Modifications

These modifications include : weight loss, reduced sodium intake, physical activity, limiting alcohol consumption, and eating plan.

2) Pharmacotherapy

Drug therapy is needed if lifestyle modifications cannot adequately bring BP to the goal. First-line medications used in the treatment of hypertension include diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), beta-blockers, and calcium channel blockers (CCBs). Some patients will require 2 or more antihypertensive medications to achieve their BP target.

Hypertension is a significant and costly public problem. It is a major, but modifiable contributor for the development of cardiovascular disease.

Written By Dr. Zenasni O.
Medical Doctor,
Emergency Service

Brain Strokes : Symptoms and Preventions

2020-03-04T22:50:00.000+01:00

Image : Brain is the Motor of our body

See my new websites : brain-strokes

Brain strokes or « brain attacks », are ranked as the 5th most common cause of death and the leading cause of disability in the USA. A stroke is a deadly medical emergency and can affect everyone so people maintain awareness. Get ready to call for help (911 or local emergency line) without wasting any second because ‘’ time is brain ’’. During a stroke, a patient loses 1.9 million neurons each minute, very damaging to the brain. We can prevent 80 %

of strokes by controlling the risk factors. While heredity, age and race are set variables, there are many actions you can take to cancel out several other risk factors.

What is Brain stroke

Stroke is a sudden interruption in the blood supply of the brain. There are many types of brain strokes, the most common is an abrupt blockage of arteries leading to the brain (ischemic stroke) and the 2nd is by bleeding into brain tissue when a blood vessel bursts (hemorrhagic stroke). When the symptoms of a stroke last only a short time, less than an hour, we call it ‘’mini-stroke’’ or ‘’transient ischemic attack’’ ( AIT). ( Mini-strokes usually last less than five minutes and it’s a major warning signaling that it was a temporary blockage of blood flow to the brain. These should never be ignored because, just like the check engine light on your car, it’s a warning that something is wrong.

Brain stroke Symptoms

An easy to remember acronym for stroke symptoms: ‘’FAST’’

F: Face drooping

A: Arm weakness

S: Speech slurred

T: Time to call 911 If you see ‘F’, ‘A’, ‘S’ happing, it’s time to ‘T’, and do so fast.

Steps to Prevent brain Stroke

These key factors can help you live a longer, healthier life and reduce your risk of brain stroke. They’re part of an overall healthy lifestyle and prevention approach you can build with your health care team (doctors, nurses, pharmacists ).

1. Know your risk

Estimate your risk by Change Control Calculator of a cardiovascular event in the next 10 years. Certain factors can increase your risks, such as smoking, kidney disease or family history.

2. Control your BLOOD PRESSURE

High Blood Pressure (HBP) is the No. 1 cause of stroke and the most important controllable risk factor for stroke. Defined as a systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥140 mm Hg or a diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥90 mm Hg, People who are overweight or obese, over age 35, have a family history of HBP, African Americans, pregnant women, and those who are physically inactive eat too much salt and/or drink too much alcohol are at higher risk for HBP. Of all people with high blood pressure, more than 20 percent are unaware of their condition. Are you one of them? If you don’t know, see a healthcare professional to be tested.

3. Avoid CIGARETTE SMOKING

Cigarette smoke damages the cardiovascular system in many ways. you must stop smoking and avoid secondhand smoke, too. If you don’t think you can quit for good on your own, ask for help.

4. Control your blood sugar ‘’DIABETES MELLITUS (DM)’’

Normal fasting glucose is glucose <100 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L), Lifestyle interventions and pharmacotherapy can prevent progression to DM. Though diabetes is treatable, the presence of the disease still increases your risk of stroke.

5. Take a healthy diet

Diets high in saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol can raise blood cholesterol levels. Diets high in sodium (salt) can contribute to increased blood pressure. Diets with excess calories can contribute to obesity. But a diet that includes five or more servings of fruits and vegetables per day may reduce stroke risk.

6. Be physically active and watch your weight

Being inactive, obese (defined as a body mass index (BMI) of ≥30 kg/m2 ) or both can increase your risk of high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease and stroke. So go on a brisk walk, take the stairs and do whatever you can to make your life more active. Try to get a total of at least 30 minutes of activity on most or all days.

7. Control your BLOOD CHOLESTEROL ‘’Dyslipidmia’’

Modification of a primary serum lipid biomarker such as low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is an important component to reduce the risk of brain stroke. It also appears that low HDL (“good”) cholesterol is a risk factor for stroke, take your medication and eat a healthy diet to control your blood cholesterol.

8. Take your medicine

Your doctor may prescribe statins or other medications to help control cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure.

Take all medications as directed. Healthy living is the best way to delay or avoid many brain diseases. This means controlling your blood pressure, sugar and cholesterol, being active and fit, eating healthy, avoiding tobacco, taking your medicine that can protect you from brain strokes.

Written by Dr Zenasni O.
Medical Doctor,
Emergency Service