A Health Blog

10 kitchen tips to keep you slim

2011-12-30T12:55:00.000+01:00

Keep healthy foods visible...

A study by researchers at Cornell University found that we are three times more likely to eat the first item we see in the kitchen than the fifth, meaning that keeping healthy food visible could aid your dieting goals. Try to make healthy food options more accessible by ensuring they are as appealing and convenient as possible, as well as making them visible and easy to find. Leave out a colourful fruit bowl, prepare a salad in advance, and put some chopped veggies at the front of your fridge, for example.

... And move ‘bad’ foods out of sight

Just as putting healthy foods in a prominent position can help your diet, it follows that the opposite is also true. While it may be best to avoid buying junk food completely, if you must stock up on the odd treat make sure they are hidden away at the back of cupboards to help prevent cravings. By making these foods a little more difficult to get to (store them behind piles of tins, in high cupboards or in locked drawers – whatever helps), you will also prevent mindless snacking and give yourself some thinking time to decide whether you really want to give in to temptation.

Get some fridge-spiration

To help stay motivated in the face of your cravings, try transforming your fridge from a source of temptation into an inspirational reminder of your progress so far. Consider sticking your favourite photograph of yourself on your fridge for a positive reminder of why you should resist those cravings next time you’re tempted to hit the fridge. Alternatively, stick on a motivational quote or a handwritten note to yourself listing five good reasons not to binge.

Opt for small, blue serving dishes

While many of us think we are eating standard portion sizes, this is in fact not always the case. To help reduce your temptation to overeat, try swapping your plates, bowls, glasses and cutlery for smaller ones, which will help control your serving sizes as well as how quickly you eat. Also, while you are making the switch, think about opting for a blue colour scheme for your crockery, as blue is thought to act as an appetite suppressant.

Set aside an eating area

Whether you eat your meals in the kitchen or a separate dining room, it is important to set aside an area with a table where you can sit down and eat. Furthermore, it is important to ensure you actually sit there. Make it a rule never to eat out of packets or standing up and you will find that this drastically reduces your tendency to overeat. The process of putting food on a plate and sitting down to eat it not only reduces the tendency to mindlessly pick at food, it also increases your awareness of what – and how much – you are eating, and may make you think twice about doing it.

Keep your kitchen tidy

If you’re lacking motivation to cook, it may be that your kitchen’s to blame. Cluttered worktops and messy cupboards hardly act as an incentive to start whipping up a gourmet delight so, if you have to clear a path to the oven or forge through piles of half-opened packets of food to get to what you want, it may be time to give your kitchen a makeover. Treat your kitchen as a place for food preparation – rather than a rubbish dump, mailroom or storage space – and you may be more inspired to reach for the wooden spoon rather than a takeaway menu the next time hunger strikes.

Impose a TV ban

If you’re one of the large number of people who prefers to eat their meals in front of a TV or computer screen, then you could be sabotaging your diet without even realising it. According to research findings published in the British Journal of Nutrition, eating when distracted can cause you to ignore signals from your body that you’ve had enough, leading you to eat more than you normally would. To help cut your calorie intake, make sure you keep distracting items such as the television out of your eating area, and try to keep the two activities separate.

Set kitchen “closing hours”

To help cut the amount of food you are consuming, it is helpful to make the kitchen out-of-bounds once you have finished your evening meal. Move anything you may need during those hours out of the kitchen (and no, this doesn’t include chocolate!), then turn off the light and close the door as a reminder to yourself that the kitchen is now closed. While you will still need to rely on your own willpower to stick to these rules, this should help reduce mindless snacking and trips to the kitchen next time you’re feeling bored.

Spice up your kitchen

Your cupboards and fridge may be packed with healthy items, but how’s your spice rack looking? You might not class it as a kitchen essential, but if you’re looking to cut calories in your meals it can help to keep a well-stocked herb and spice rack. Not only does adding herbs and seasonings to your meals add flavouring to your food without extra calories, but spices such as cinnamon, cayenne, black pepper and ginger can actually help promote weight loss.

Kill your cravings with vanilla

If you struggle to resist sugar cravings following your evening meal, it may be worth investing in a vanilla-scented air freshener or candle for your kitchen. A study at St George’s hospital, south London, found that using vanilla-scented patches on the back of participants’ hands significantly reduced their appetite for sweet foods and drinks. It is thought that this is due to the smell of vanilla, which is believed to help suppress sweet cravings.

Source: Yahoo Lifestyle

Iodine good or bad?

2011-12-30T12:33:00.000+01:00

What are the health benefits of iodine?

Iodine is an acidic non-metallic micro-mineral and essential to humans. It helps aid in the production of a healthy thyroid gland. It’s an integral part of thyroxine which is a hormone produced by the thyroid gland. Iodine is intricately involved with the thyroid Gland, 20% of the body's Iodine concentrates in the thyroid gland. Hypothyroidism which is an under-active thyroid may occur as a result of iodine deficiency and people with hypothyroidism may benefit from doses of supplemental Iodine.

It helps regulate the body’s production of energy though cellular oxidation, helping stimulate the rate of metabolism and will help burn excessive fats. Mentality, speech, hair, nails, skin and teeth are all dependant on a well functioning thyroid gland.

What are the negative health effects?

You should not exceed 2,000mcg this will cause overdoes or toxicity.

Excessive consumption of iodine can cause the production of free radicals this is due to its involvement as a pro-oxidant in the energy production process. Excess iodine may also cause hypothyroidism and can reduce the intake of thyroxine, although the correct dose will help hypothyroidism and thyroxine, therefore the correct does is vital.

Who benefits the most of iodine in their diet?

At least one billion people in the world are at risk of iodine deficiency. Iodine deficiency constitutes one of the most common preventable causes of mental deficiency in the world today. Most of the affected populations live in mountainous areas in preindustrialized countries, but 50 to 100 million people are still at risk in Europe. The most important groups are pregnant mothers, fetuses, neonates, and young infants because the main complication of iodine deficiency, i.e., brain damage resulting in irreversible mental retardation, is the consequence of thyroid failure occurring during pregnancy, foetal, and early postnatal life.

What is the recommended daily intake of iodine?

The recommended daily allowances (RDAs) of Iodine in Australia are:

- 150 micrograms (men)

- 120 micrograms (women)

- 150 micrograms (women during Pregnancy)

- 200 micrograms (women during Lactation)

The minimum daily dietary requirement for Iodine is 75 mcg which is half of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of 150 mcg per day.

The optimal daily allowance (ODA) of Iodine (for adults) is 225 mcg per day:

Taking into account the normal intake of Iodine from foods (diet), some researchers recommend an amount of 100 mcg per day of supplemental Iodine to reach this ODA.

Is the iodine supplement in bread enough to reach our daily intake?

All commercially sold breads contain iodine but it is not enough for specific requirements such as the above. It is important for all people to eat a healthy diet with a large variety of different healthy foods this will reduce the chances of deficiencies.

What other food contain iodine?

Kelp, cod and iodised salt are all extremely high in iodine. Other foods that contain iodine are cheddar cheese, milk, butter, eggs, pineapple, mushrooms ginsengs, pork, liver (beef), sea salt, peanuts, haddock, herring, whiting, clams, salmon, sardines, tuna (canned)m, bladderwrack, onions, spinach, tomato, carrot, watercress, garlic, radish, cabbage, lettuce and fennel.

Pasteurization destroys approximately 20% of the Iodine content of pasteurized foods.

Source: Yahoo Life style

Top Ten Detox Foods

2011-12-29T20:46:00.000+01:00

Watercress

In France, watercress soup - rich in iron and minerals - is often used as a weekend detox.

Blueberries

Blueberries have a reputation as a superfood - and deservedly so. They are rich in antioxidants and phytochemicals, which have anticarcinogenic properties.

Artichoke

Artichoke hearts promote bile secretion, and also contain flavonoids which help keep your liver healthy.

Beetroot

Beetroot contains betaine, which helps protect your liver from alcohol - making it the perfect silly season vegetable.

Garlic

If you can handle it, garlic is most beneficial when eaten raw. It's a great blood cleanser and has antibacterial powers.

Lemon

Hold off on the coffee in the morning and start the day with a cup of hot water with lemon juice, said to help alkalise the body.

Leafy greens

Leafy green vegetables are rich in minerals like iron, calcium and magnesium, as well as cell-protecting phytonutrients.

Tea

Drink green tea for its antioxidants, while fennel tea stimulates the liver. Dandelion leaf tea is a diuretic, which helps flush out your system.

Turmeric

This spice gets it bright yellow-orange colour from curcumin, a phytochemical that helps regenerate liver cells and increases bile production.

Water

Drink plenty of water to keep your detoxifying organs - liver, kidneys and digestive tract - hydrated.

Source: Yahoo Lifestyle

Porphyria

2011-05-16T13:19:00.000+01:00

Porphyria is a term that refers to a group of disorders—the porphyrias—that affect the nervous system or skin, or both. Each type of porphyria is due to the deficiency of one of the enzymes needed to make a substance in the body called heme. Enzymes are proteins that help chemical reactions happen in the body. Making heme involves a series of eight different enzymes, each acting in turn.

Heme is a red pigment composed of iron linked to a chemical called protoporphyrin. Heme has important functions in the body. The largest amounts of heme are in the blood and bone marrow in the form of hemoglobin within red blood cells. Hemoglobin gives blood its red color and carries oxygen from the lungs to all parts of the body. In the liver, heme is a component of proteins that have many functions, including breaking down hormones, drugs, and other chemicals and generating high-energy compounds that keep liver cells alive and functioning normally.

The body makes heme mainly in the bone marrow and the liver. The process of making heme is called the heme biosynthetic pathway. Each step of the process is controlled by one of eight enzymes. If any one of the enzymes is deficient, the process is disrupted. As a result, porphyrin or its precursors—chemicals formed at earlier steps of the process—may build up in body tissues and cause illness.

What are the types of porphyria?

The table below lists each type of porphyria and the deficient enzyme responsible for the disorder. Porphyrias are often classified as acute or cutaneous. Acute types of porphyria affect the nervous system, whereas cutaneous types mainly affect the skin. Two forms of porphyria—hereditary coproporphyria and variegate porphyria—may be either acute or cutaneous, or both.

What are the types of porphyria?

The most common type of porphyria overall is porphyria cutanea tarda. In the United States, acute intermittent porphyria is the most common acute porphyria.

What causes porphyria?

Most porphyrias are inherited disorders, meaning they are caused by abnormalities in genes passed from parents to children. Scientists have identified the genes for all eight enzymes in the heme pathway. Some forms of porphyria result from inheriting an abnormal gene from one parent. Other forms are due to inheriting two abnormal genes—one from each parent. The risk that members of an affected family will have the disease or transmit it to their children depends on the type of porphyria.

One type of porphyria—porphyria cutanea tarda—is most often an acquired disorder. It occurs when factors other than genes cause an enzyme deficiency in the liver.

Porphyria can be triggered by

drugs such as barbiturates, tranquilizers, birth control pills, and sedatives
chemicals
fasting
smoking
drinking alcohol, especially heavy drinking
infections
excess iron in the body
emotional and physical stress
menstrual hormones
exposure to the sun

What are the symptoms of porphyria?

People with cutaneous forms of porphyria develop blisters, itching, and swelling of their skin when it is exposed to sunlight. Symptoms of acute forms of porphyria include pain in the abdomen, chest, limbs, or back; numbness, tingling, paralysis, or cramping; vomiting; constipation; and personality changes or mental disorders. Acute attacks of porphyria can develop over hours or days and last for days or weeks.

Symptoms can vary widely in severity. Some people with gene mutations that can cause porphyria have no signs or symptoms of the disorder. These people are said to have latent porphyria.

How is porphyria diagnosed?

Doctors diagnose porphyria using blood, urine, and stool tests. Interpreting test results can be complex, and initial tests may be followed by further testing to confirm the diagnosis. Diagnosis may be delayed because the symptoms of porphyria are similar to symptoms of other disorders.

How is porphyria treated?

Each type of porphyria is treated differently. Treatment may involve avoiding triggers, receiving heme through a vein, taking medicines to relieve symptoms, or having blood drawn to reduce iron in the body. People who have severe attacks may need to be hospitalized.

Points to Remember

Porphyria is a group of disorders—the porphyrias—that affect the nervous system or skin, or both.
Each type of porphyria results from a deficiency of one of the enzymes needed to make heme.
Most porphyrias are inherited disorders, but porphyria cutanea tarda is usually an acquired disorder.
Cutaneous types of porphyria affect the skin, causing symptoms such as blistering, itching, and swelling.
Acute types of porphyria affect the nervous system, causing symptoms such as abdominal pain, vomiting, numbness, and mental disorders.
Each type of porphyria is treated differently.

Tips for Getting the Sleep You Need

2011-05-16T12:50:00.000+01:00

Can't sleep? You're not alone. 10% of American adults (that's over 30 million!) report trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, waking up early or waking up not feeling rested. And that's not good, since a chronic lack of sleep can lead to accidents on the job and on the road. In fact, in a National Sleep Foundation study, 29% of respondents reported having fallen asleep or having become very sleepy at work and 36% reported having nodded off while driving.
To learn more about the effects of sleep deprivation, watch this video.
But here's the good news: Just a few simple lifestyle changes can help you sleep better. Follow these tips throughout your day for better sleep tonight.

1. Cut down on caffeine.

Caffeine is a stimulant and you get it from coffee and teas, all those sodas you drink and even from that piece of chocolate you snuck in after lunch. The amount of time caffeine stays in your system varies. To be safe, avoid caffeinated coffee, tea, and colas a few hours before bedtime.

2. Stop playing catch-up.

Snoozing until noon on Saturdays won't make up for skimping on sleep all week. Instead, try sticking to a regular sleep schedule—where you get up around the same time every morning and you go to bed around the same time every night.

3. Separate sleep from stress.

According to a 2009 survey conducted by the National Sleep Foundation, nearly one third of participants said the current tough economic times have kept them up at least a few nights a week. To help, do your best to keep worries out of the bedroom—save money discussions with your partner until morning, and don't try to work or pay bills in bed.

4. Keep your bedroom just a bedroom.

It's not just the late-night monologue from the TV that keeps you up. Eliminating any extraneous activity from your bedroom should be your goal. (Working in bed is a no-no!) Save the bedroom for sleeping and sex, and lose any distractions that could keep you awake..

5. Exercise earlier in the day.

Regular exercise may help you sleep better, but not if it's done too close to late in the day. To give your body ample time to wind down, stop your workout at least three hours before bedtime.

6. Rethink the power nap.

A short nap of approximately 30 minutes may help improve your alertness and have psychological benefits. Just be sure to nap midday and not too early, when your body may be ready to return to sleep, or too late in the day, when napping may interfere with your nighttime sleep.

7. Don't smoke.

As if you needed another reason to quit, here's one more: Nicotine is a stimulant, and smoking before bedtime will only keep you up. Nicotine withdrawal can also disrupt sleep, so talk to your doctor about the best way to stop.
For more tips on how to get to sleep and stay asleep, watch this video.

Source: Healthline.com - Connect to Better Health

The secret life of Green Tea

2011-05-12T13:05:00.000+01:00

“All green tea comes from the Camellia sinensis plant, but the final aromas and tastes differ depending on where the leaves are grown and how they’re produced,” says Mary Lou Heiss, co-author of The Tea Enthusiast’s Handbook: A Guide to the World’s Best Teas. More surprising? In Asia, green tea is a common recipe ingredient, which is a great – and sneaky – way to incorporate this nutritional powerhouse into your diet. Here’s a quick primer on six different varieties, plus ideas for how to cook with each.

MATCHA

Leaves are ground into a fine powder, which you can whisk into water for tea. Since you consume the actual leaves, you get more antioxidants than from other green teas.

FLAVOUR Strong and grassy.

CREATIVE USE Stir one teaspoon into a smoothie or dust it over vanilla ice-cream or a bar of dark chocolate. You’ll find that the tea’s earthiness is a pleasant contrast to the food’s sweetness.

DRAGON WELL

This yellowish-green flat leaf tea is one of the most popular drinking teas in China.
Soft chestnut notes, toasty.

CREATIVE USE Chop the tea leaves, combine with spices, and use them to coat chicken or steak before cooking.

GUNPOWDER

This Chinese tea is pan-fired before being tightly rolled into small pellet shapes.

FLAVOUR Robust with a sweet finish.

CREATIVE USE Substitute a cup of gunpowder tea for a cup of broth in vegetable-based soups. Throw steeped chopped leaves into soup while it simmers to add extra greens.

SENCHA

The most popular green tea in Japan, sencha leaves are steamed, producing a bright green colour, then rolled into needle form.

FLAVOUR Mild and slightly sweet.

CREATIVE USE After mixing the dough for biscuits, muffins or scones, fold two tablespoons of dried sencha tea leaves directly into it, then bake as usual.

KUKICHA

Called “twig tea,” kukicha is derived from thinly cut stalks of sencha and gyokuro leaves.

FLAVOUR Light and smooth with roasted, woody notes.

CREATIVE USE Add a dash to a marinade. Kukicha balances out sweeter fish, like snapper, whiting or scallops, says food consultant Brigid Treloar.

HOJICHA

It’s made from leaves that are roasted until they’re dark brown. Because it’s picked at the end of the season and roasted at a higher heat than other teas, hojicha contains less caffeine.

FLAVOUR Roasted and nutty.

CREATIVE USE Ladle a cup of steeped hojicha tea over a mixture of brown rice and roasted vegies, like pumpkin.

.......................................

Green tea’s superpowers

Scientifically proven ways it does a body good

MELTS BELLY FAT Overweight and obese adult exercisers burned seven per cent more abdominal fat when they drank caffeinated green tea compared with other caffeinated beverages, according to a study in the Journal of Nutrition.
KEEPS TEETH HEALTHYDrinking two or more cups of green tea a day is associated with a lower risk of tooth loss, reports a new study in the journal Preventive Medicine.

LOWERS BMIPeople who drink two or three cups of green tea a day report a lower BMI and body weight, according to a University of Connecticut, US, review.

PREVENTS STROKEThree cups a day lowered stroke risk by 21 per cent, found a 2009 US study.

REDUCES THE CHANCE OF SKIN CANCERGreen tea can help repair DNA damage caused by UVB rays and lower risk of melanoma, according to an animal study in Cancer Prevention Research.

DECREASES LUNG CANCER RISK
In a recent study, Taiwanese researchers found that drinking more than a cup of green tea a day reduced people’s odds of getting lung cancer, regardless of smoking status. In fact, non-smokers who drank green tea daily had five times less risk compared with their non-sipping peers.

Source: Yahoo LifeStyle.

Foods to Boost Immunity

2011-05-11T21:25:00.000+01:00

Elderberry

An old folk remedy, extract from these dark berries appears to block flu viruses in test tube studies. And a few small studies done in people show it may help you recover more quickly from flu. But scientists caution that further study is needed. The fruit itself is rich in antioxidants and may also have the ability to fight inflammation.

Button Mushrooms

Don't dismiss the lowly mushroom as nutrient poor: It has the mineral selenium and antioxidants. Low levels of selenium have been linked to increased risk of developing more severe flu. And the B vitamins riboflavin and niacin, found in these mushrooms, play a role in a healthy immune system. Animal studies have also shown mushrooms to have antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-tumor effects.

Acai Berry

Hawked as a "super food" along with produce like blueberries, the little acai berry's dark color signals that it is high in antioxidants called anthocyanins. While the acai is not scientifically linked to specific disease- or illness-fighting ability, antioxidants may help your body fight aging and disease. Acai berries can be found most often in juice or smoothie form, or dried and mixed with granola.

Oysters

Aphrodisiac? Immune boosters? Maybe both, thanks to the mineral zinc that's found in oysters. Low zinc levels have been associated with male infertility. And zinc appears to have some antiviral effect, although researchers can't explain why. However, they do know it is important to several immune system tasks including healing wounds.

Watermelon

Hydrating and refreshing, ripe watermelon also has plenty of a powerful antioxidant, glutathione. Known to help strengthen the immune system so it can fight infection, glutathione is found in the red pulpy flesh near the rind.

Cabbage

This is another source of immune-strengthening glutathione. And cabbage is easy and inexpensive to find during the winter months when it's in season. Try adding cabbages of any variety (white, red, Chinese) to soups and stews to sneak in extra antioxidants and boost your meal's nutritional value.

Almonds

A handful of almonds may shore up your immune system from the effects of stress. A recommended 1/4 cup serving carries nearly 50% of the daily recommended amount of vitamin E, which helps boost the immune system. And they have riboflavin and niacin, B vitamins that may help you bounce back from the effects of stress.

Grapefruit

Grapefruits have a good amount of vitamin C. But science has yet to prove that you can easily get enough vitamin C through foods alone, without supplementation, to help treat cold and flu. However, grapefruit is packed with flavonoids -- natural chemical compounds that have been found to increase immune system activation. Dislike grapefruits? Try oranges or tangerines.

Wheat Germ

Wheat germ is the part of a wheat seed that feeds a baby wheat plant, so it is full of nutrients. It has zinc, antioxidants, and B vitamins among other vital vitamins and minerals. Wheat germ also offers a good mix of fiber, protein, and some good fat. Substitute wheat germ for part of the regular flour called for in baked goods and other recipes.

Low-Fat Yogurt

A daily cup may reduce your chances of getting a cold. Look for labels listing "live and active cultures." Some researchers believe they may stimulate your immune system to fight disease. Also look for vitamin D. Recent studies have found a link between low vitamin D levels and an increased risk of cold and flu.

Garlic

Garlic offers several antioxidants that battle immune system invaders. Among garlic's targets are H. pylori, the bacteria associated with some ulcers and stomach cancer. Cooking tip: Peel, chop and let sit 15 to 20 minutes before cooking to activate immune-boosting enzymes.

Spinach

Known as a "super food," spinach is nutrient-rich. It has folate, which helps your body produce new cells and repair DNA. And it boasts fiber, antioxidants, such as vitamin C, and more. Eat spinach raw or lightly cooked to get the most benefit.

Tea

Green or black? Both are loaded with disease-fighting polyphenols and flavonoids. These antioxidants seek out cell-damaging free radicals and destroy them. Caffeinated and decaf work equally well.

Sweet Potato

Like carrots, sweet potatoes have the antioxidant beta-carotene, which mops up damaging free radicals. Sweet potatoes also boast vitamin A, which is linked to slowing the aging process and may reduce the risk of some cancers.

Broccoli

Easy to find at the grocery store and incorporate into meals, broccoli is an immune-boosting basic. One study reported a chemical in broccoli helped stimulate the immune systems of mice. Plus, it's full of nutrients that protect your body from damage. It has vitamins A, vitamin C, and glutathione. Add some low-fat cheese to round out a side dish with immune-enhancing B vitamins and vitamin D.

Source: WebMD

Low-Starch Diet

2011-05-10T21:03:00.001+01:00

In the UK it’s estimated that at least 1 in 5 people suffer with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) at some point in their lives, over 10 million people suffer from arthritis and 2-5 in 1000 people are diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS)... not to mention other certified autoimmune diseases such as Type 1 Diabetes.

Recent scientific findings suggest that the symptoms of some of these conditions may indeed be caused when certain intestinal bacteria trigger antibody production causing an over-reactive immune response. These bacteria are often fed by starch.

Like so many scientific discoveries, this one came about almost by accident. Dr Alan Ebringer, a rheumatologist based in the UK, put one of his AS patients on a high-protein, low-starch diet purely for weight loss reasons. Little did he know that that one small step would end up being a giant leap forward in treating this autoimmune disease.

Since then, many studies have been carried out to investigate how starch effects the progression of AS. Similar studies carried out in patients with IBS found that symptoms associated with the condition improved after a short period on a low- or no- starch diet.

How a low-starch diet claims to work

In the case of AS, it is suspected that a particular bacterium (Klebsiella) normally resident in the digestive tract is the cause of AS in persons uniquely susceptible to the disease (with a specific gene). Proliferation of the bacteria may cause the immune system to manufacture antibodies, which help destroy the ‘invading’ substance, but appear to also attack body cells.

So the bacteria isn’t be the cause of damage to tissue, rather the body’s own defences become the problem. A diet that’s low in starch can reduce the primary food source of this bacterium, lowering the number of the species in the digestive system considerably, with striking beneficial results.

There now appears to be a connection between IBS and AS, which means that it could be worth considering a Low-starch diet for people with these inflammatory conditions in order to alleviate some of the symptoms associated with “flare ups”.

A low-starch diet can also help people with diabetes to control their blood sugar levels. The goal of diet for a diabetic person is to remove the foods that most stress your insulin system. When you eat, your food will stimulate the release of insulin, which helps nutrients, especially glucose (blood sugar) to enter your cells. Not all foods stimulate insulin equally. However, starches tend to require maximal insulin function to be removed from the blood. Thus, a low starch diet may help in the long term to improve insulin sensitivity.

The low-starch diet regimen

There are many different versions of low- no-starch diet out there but in general most involve decreasing the following foods in the diet:

Bread and bread products
Rice
Potatoes
Breakfast cereals/pancakes/waffles

and increasing the following:

Meat
Fish
Milk and milk products
Eggs
Vegetables
Fruits
Nuts

There are no restrictions on beverages or spices.

Is a low-starch diet healthy?

Following a low starch diet can be healthy. It's really about going back to a hunter-gatherer style of cooking and eating - simple wholesome food! Some foods that need to be cut back on such as potato, rice and wheat products can make cooking feel fairly restricted at first but once alternatives are discovered and accepted the diet becomes easier. Just allow a little time for a transition period.

Whether the diet is easy to maintain is the real question. If you have a sweet tooth you may find it quite a challenge to cut out the refined processed wheat products such as cake, biscuits and white rolls/bread. This is important to do as these foods contain high levels of starch. Also rice is extremely starchy so if your main meals are often rice-based dishes this diet may be restrictive.

Source: Yahoo LifeStyle

Familiar Causes of Fatigue and How to Fight Back

2011-05-10T20:52:00.001+01:00

Fatigue Cause No. 1: Not Enough Sleep

It may seem obvious but you could be getting too little sleep. That can negatively affect your concentration and health. Adults should get seven to eight hours every night.

Fix: Make sleep a priority and keep a regular schedule. Ban laptops, cell phones, and PDAs from your bedroom. Still having trouble? Seek help from a doctor. You may have a sleep disorder.

Fatigue Cause No. 2: Sleep Apnea

Some people think they’re sleeping enough, but sleep apnea gets in the way. It briefly stops your breathing throughout the night. Each interruption wakes you for a moment, but you may not be aware of it. The result: you’re sleep-deprived despite spending eight hours in bed.

Fix: Lose weight if you’re overweight, quit smoking, and sleep with a CPAP device to help keep airway passages open at night.

Fatigue Cause No. 3: Not Enough Fuel

Eating too little causes fatigue, but eating the wrong foods can also be a problem. Eating a balanced diet helps keep your blood sugar in a normal range and prevents that sluggish feeling when your blood sugar drops.

Fix: Always eat breakfast and try to include protein and complex carbs in every meal. For example, eat eggs with whole-grain toast. Also eat meals and snacks throughout the day for sustained energy

Fatigue Cause No. 4: Anemia

Anemia is a leading cause of fatigue in women. Menstrual blood loss can cause an iron deficiency, putting women at risk. Red blood cells (shown here) are needed because they carry oxygen to your tissues and organs.

Fix: For anemia caused by an iron deficiency, taking iron supplements and eating iron-rich foods, such as lean meat, liver, shellfish, beans, and enriched cereal, can help.

Fatigue Cause No. 5: Depression

You may think of depression as an emotional disorder, but it contributes to many physical symptoms as well. Fatigue, headaches, and loss of appetite are among the most common symptoms. If you feel tired and “down” for more than a couple of weeks, see your doctor.

Fix: Depression responds well to psychotherapy and/or medication

Fatigue Cause No. 6: Hypothyroidism

The thyroid is a small gland at the base of your neck. It controls your metabolism, the speed at which your body converts fuel into energy. When the gland is underactive and the metabolism functions too slowly, you may feel sluggish and put on weight.

Fix: If a blood test confirms your thyroid hormones are low, synthetic hormones can bring you up to speed.

Fatigue Cause No. 7: Caffeine Overload

Caffeine can improve alertness and concentration in moderate doses. But too much can increase heart rate, blood pressure, and jitteriness. And research indicates too much actually causes fatigue in some people.

Fix: Gradually cut back on coffee, tea, chocolate, soft drinks, and any medications that contain caffeine. Stopping suddenly can cause caffeine withdrawal and more fatigue.

Fatigue Cause No. 8: Hidden UTI

If you’ve ever had a urinary tract infection (UTI), you’re probably familiar with the burning pain and sense of urgency. But the infection does not always announce itself with such obvious symptoms. In some cases, fatigue may be the only sign. A urine test can quickly confirm a UTI.

Fix: Antibiotics are the cure for UTIs, and the fatigue will usually vanish within a week.

Fatigue Cause No. 9: Diabetes

In people with diabetes, abnormally high levels of sugar remain in the bloodstream instead of entering the body’s cells, where it would be converted into energy. The result is a body that runs out of steam despite having enough to eat. If you have persistent, unexplained fatigue, ask your doctor about being tested for diabetes.

Fix: Treatments for diabetes may include lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise, insulin therapy, and medications to help the body process sugar.

Fatigue Cause No. 10: Dehydration

Your fatigue can be a sign of dehydration. Whether you’re working out or working a desk job, your body needs water to work well and keep cool. If you’re thirsty, you’re already dehydrated.

Fix: Drink water throughout the day so your urine is light colored. Have at least two cups of water an hour or more before a planned physical activity. Then, sip throughout your workout and afterwards drink another two cups.

Fatigue Cause No. 11: Heart Disease

When fatigue strikes during everyday activities, such as cleaning the house or weeding the yard, it can be a sign that your heart is no longer up to the job. If you notice it’s becoming increasingly difficult to finish tasks that were once easy, talk to your doctor about heart disease.

Fix: Lifestyle changes, medication, and therapeutic procedures can get heart disease under control and restore your energy.

Fatigue Cause No. 12: Shift Work Sleep Disorder

Working nights or rotating shifts can disrupt your internal clock. You may feel tired when you need to be awake. And you may have trouble sleeping during the day.

Fix: Limit your exposure to daylight when you need to rest. Make your room dark, quiet, and cool. Still having sleep issues? Talk with your doctor. Supplements and medications may help.

Fatigue Cause No. 13: Food Allergies

Some doctors believe hidden food allergies can make you sleepy. If your fatigue intensifies after meals, you could have a mild intolerance to something you’re eating -- not enough to cause itching or hives, just enough to make you tired.

Fix: Try eliminating foods one at a time to see if your fatigue improves. You can also ask your doctor about a food allergy test.

Fatigue Cause No. 14: CFS and Fibromyalgia

If your fatigue lasts more than six months and is so severe that you can’t manage your daily activities, chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia are a possibility. Both can have various symptoms, but persistent, unexplained exhaustion is a main one.

Fix: While there’s no quick fix for CFS or fibromyalgia, patients often benefit from changing their daily schedule, learning better sleep habits, and starting a gentle exercise program.

Fast Fix for Mild Fatigue

If you have mild fatigue that isn’t linked to any medical condition, the solution may be exercise. Research suggests healthy but tired adults can get a significant energy boost from a modest workout program. In one study, participants rode a stationary bike for 20 minutes at a mild pace. Doing this just three times a week was enough to fight fatigue.

Source: WebMD

The Healthy Wonders of Water

2011-05-07T21:17:00.002+01:00

Water and Your Diet: Staying Slim and Regular With H2O

If you’ve ever tried to lose weight, you’ve probably heard a lot about water and weight loss. Can drinking more water really help you lose weight? The short answer is yes -- and no.

If you’re already well hydrated and getting plenty of water, getting more water into your diet probably won’t make a lot of difference. But if you’re going through your days a little -- or a lot -- dehydrated, as many people are, getting enough water could help.

“In my experience, most people are not aware of how much they’re drinking and are not drinking enough -- many, as little as half of what they need,” says Amanda Carlson, RD, director of performance nutrition at Athletes’ Performance, which trains many world-class athletes.

How Water Boosts Metabolism

“Water’s involved in every type of cellular process in your body, and when you’re dehydrated, they all run less efficiently -- and that includes your metabolism. Think of it like your car: if you have enough oil and gas, it will run more efficiently. It’s the same with your body.”

“Your metabolism is basically a series of chemical reactions that take place in your body,” says Trent Nessler, PT, DPT, MPT, managing director of Baptist Sports Medicine in Nashville. “Staying hydrated keeps those chemical reactions moving smoothly.” Being even 1% dehydrated can cause a significant drop in metabolism.

Hungry or Thirsty? How Water Helps a Diet

It’s also very difficult for the body to tell the difference between hunger and thirst. So if you’re walking around feeling a gnawing sense of hunger, you might just be dehydrated. Try drinking a glass of water instead of grabbing a snack.

Research has also shown that drinking a glass of water right before a meal helps you to feel more full and eat less. “Many people do find that if they have water before a meal, it’s easier to eat more carefully,” says Renee Melton, MS, RD, LD, director of nutrition for Sensei, a developer of online and mobile weight loss and nutrition programs.

One study, for example, found that people who drank water before meals ate an average of 75 fewer calories at each meal. That doesn’t sound like a lot -- but multiply 75 calories by 365 days a year. Even if you only drink water before dinner every day, you’d consume 27,000 fewer calories over the course of the year. That’s almost an eight-pound weight loss.

The Digestive Health Benefits of Water

But getting enough water doesn’t just help you regulate how much you eat -- it helps you digest it properly, as well.

“Water allows your kidneys to function properly and filter everything they need to, and allows us to eliminate effectively and not be constipated,” Melton says. “People who don’t get enough fluids in their diet tend to be constipated.”

And that’s not all. The single biggest cause of painful kidney stones is chronic dehydration. When you don’t get enough water, calcium and other minerals build up in your urine and are harder for your body to filter out. They can form the crystals that make up kidney and urinary stones.

Doctors who specialize in pediatric kidney problems report seeing more kidney stones in children in recent years, and they believe it’s because of a combination of factors. Many kids aren’t drinking enough water. Also, many kids are overweight and eat a poor diet.

“I’ve been in this field for over 30 years, and I’d say that until about the last 10 to 15 years, you almost never saw stones in kids,” says Robert Weiss, MD, chief of pediatric nephrology at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital of the Westchester Medical Center in New York. “Lately, the frequency is increasing dramatically.”

How Much Water Do You Need?

How can you know if you’re getting enough water to keep your metabolism cranking at peak efficiency and your digestive system functioning? The formula used to be “one size fits all” -- eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day. But that’s changed, experts say.

“It depends on your size and weight, and also on your activity level and where you live,” Nessler says. “In general, you should try to drink between half an ounce and an ounce of water for each pound you weigh, every day.” For example, if you weigh 150 pounds, that would be 75 to 150 ounces of water a day. If you’re living in a hot climate and exercising a lot, you’d be on the higher end of that range; if you’re in a cooler climate and mostly sedentary, you’d need less.

Another quick way to check: look in the bowl after you’ve gone to the bathroom. If your urine is clear or very light yellow and has little odor, you’re well hydrated. The darker and more aromatic your urine, the more dehydrated you are.

How can you build more water consumption into your day? Try these tips:

* Carry an insulated sports bottle with you and fill it up periodically.

* Keep a glass of water on your desk at work.

* Keep another glass next to your bed. Many of us wake up dehydrated first thing in the morning.

* Switch one glass of soda or cup of coffee for a glass of water.

* Drink small amounts of water throughout the day. Six glasses all at once isn’t good for you!

Source: WebMD

Arthritis Treatment Options

2011-04-01T22:03:00.001+01:00

Arthritis treatment generally includes occupational or physical therapy, exercise, drugs, and sometimes surgery to correct joint damage. Treatments for osteoarthritis can help relieve pain and stiffness, but the disease may continue to progress. The same was true for rheumatoid arthritis in the past. But treatments in recent years have been able to slow or stop progression of joint damage in people with rheumatoid arthritis.

The duration and intensity of pain and discomfort depend on the type of arthritis and the degree of severity.

Conventional Medicine for Arthritis

In the case of localized pain, stiffness, and immobility, the typical three-stage arthritis treatment consists of medication to relieve pain and inflammation, rest to let injured tissues heal themselves, and exercise to rebuild mobility and strength.

Joint Protection in Arthritis

Learning to protect your joints is an important part of arthritis treatment. With the help of an occupational therapist, you can learn easier ways to do your normal activities, such as avoiding positions that strain your joints, using your strongest joints and muscles while sparing weaker ones, wearing braces or supports for certain joints and using grab bars in the bath, modified door knobs, canes or walkers, as well as using devices to help you with tasks such as opening jars or pulling up socks and zippers.

Your doctor may recommend pain relievers combined with regimens of heat, rest, exercise, physical therapy, and controlled application of deep heat to soothe affected joints.

Arthritis Medication

To reduce pain and inflammation in mild cases of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, your doctor will probably prescribe aspirin or another nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), such as ibuprofen. Your doctor may also suggest acetaminophen for osteoarthritis.

In more advanced cases, your doctor may recommend corticosteroid injections -- strong anti-inflammatories -- to ease the pain and stiffness of arthritic joints. Depending on the individual, results range from temporary relief to long-lasting suppression of symptoms. Doctors are also using hyaluronate gel-like solutions in joint injections to further restore the cushion and lubricating properities of normal joint fluid and thereby minimizing pain. Some examples are Hyalgan, Synvisc, Supartz, and Orthovisc.

In the early 1900s, researchers discovered that certain compounds containing gold, given orally or by injection, gave relief to some people who have rheumatoid arthritis and caused total remission in others.
Note, however, that because the side effects of gold treatment can range from minor skin rash to severe blood and kidney disorders, this treatment is generally approached with caution and used rarely.

Newer treatments using low doses of chemotherapy medications (methotrexate) have produced dramatic improvements in severe rheumatoid arthritis, and these treatments show great promise of preserving joint function. Other strong medications that are used with or instead of methotrexate are Arava, Azulfidine, Enbrel, Imuran, Neoral, Plaquenil, Remicade, Humira, Kineret, Rituxan, and Orencia. In general, these drugs work by suppressing the overactive immune system. Apheresis is another treatment for rheumatoid arthritis that removes antibodies from the blood.

Specific arthritis treatment will depend on the nature and seriousness of the underlying condition. The major concern is for healing the affected area before more serious problems or long-lasting damage occur. Treatment of infectious arthritis typically involves large intravenous doses of antibiotics as well as drainage of excess fluid from the joints.

Surgery for Arthritis

Various forms of surgery may be needed to reduce the discomfort of arthritis or to restore mobility or joint function. Synovectomy is the removal of damaged connective tissue lining a joint cavity and it reduces joint swelling, pain, and ongoing damage to the joint. After synovectomy, the body regenerates new, healthy tissue in its place. This operation is most common in the knee. In cases of severe arthritic damage to the neck or foot, bones can be surgically removed or fused. Although movement is limited after such surgery, the operations relieve excruciating pain and help prevent further damage to nerves or blood vessels.

If arthritis pain and inflammation become truly unbearable, or arthritic joints simply refuse to function, the answer may lie in surgical joint replacement. Today, hip and knee joints -- as well as smaller joints in elbows, shoulders, and fingers -- can be replaced with reliable artificial joints made of stainless steel and plastic. This type of surgery can dramatically improve function and mobility.

Arthritis Pain Management

Because one of the most trying aspects of this disease is learning to live with arthritis pain, many doctors recommend training in pain management, including cognitive therapy. Research sponsored by The National Institutes of Health has found that cognitive behavioral therapy, using education and behavior modification alongside relaxation techniques, is better than routine care for relieving arthritis pain.

Such programs focus on improving patients' emotional and psychological well-being by teaching them how to relax and conduct their daily activities at a realistic pace. Learning to overcome mental stress and anxiety can be the key to coping with the physical limitations that may accompany chronic rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Cognitive therapy may include various techniques for activity scheduling, imaging, relaxation, distraction, and creative problem-solving.

Alternative Medicine for Arthritis

A variety of alternative therapies are used for arthritis. Let your doctor know if you're considering them.

Some studies suggest that glucosamine and chondroitin supplements are as effective as NSAIDs for reducing pain, swelling, and stiffness in osteoarthritis. Studies have shown some promise that they may slow the progression of osteoarthritis as well. More studies are underway to further investigate this. Typical doses are 1,500 mg for glucosamine and 1,200 mg for chondroitin daily. Glucosamine can raise blood sugar, so be sure to talk to your doctor before taking it, especially if you have diabetes. The antibiotic doxycycline may also show some potential in delaying the progression of osteoarthritis by inhibiting enzymes that break down cartilage. More research is needed to confirm these results.

The National Institutes of Health considers acupuncture an acceptable alternative treatment for osteoarthritis. Studies have shown that acupuncture helps reduce pain, may significantly lessen the need for painkillers, and can help increase range of motion in affected joints.

Source: WebMD

Asthma - Alternative Medicine, Coping and Support

2011-03-23T19:23:00.001+01:00

Alternative medicine

There's some evidence that certain alternative treatments may help with asthma symptoms. However, keep in mind that these treatments are not a replacement for medical treatment — especially if you have severe asthma. Talk to your doctor before taking any herbs or supplements, as some may interact with medications you take. While some alternative remedies are used for asthma, in most cases more research is needed to see how well they work and to measure the extent of possible side effects. Alternative asthma treatments include:

Breathing techniques. Examples include the Buteyko breathing technique, the Papworth method, and yoga breathing (pranayama). These exercises may reduce the amount of medication you need to keep your asthma symptoms under control. Yoga classes increase fitness and reduce stress, which may help with asthma as well.
Acupuncture. This technique involves placing very thin needles at strategic points on your body. It's safe and generally painless.
Relaxation techniques. Techniques such as meditation, biofeedback, hypnosis and progressive muscle relaxation may help with asthma by reducing tension and stress.
Herbal remedies. A few herbal remedies that have shown some promise in treating asthma symptoms include butterbur, dried ivy and ginkgo extract. Blends of different types of herbs are commonly used in traditional Chinese, Indian and Japanese medicine. However, more studies are needed to determine how well herbal remedies and preparations work for asthma.
Omega-3 fatty acids. Found in fish, flaxseed and other foods, these healthy oils may reduce the inflammation that leads to asthma symptoms. They also appear to have a number of other health benefits.
Homeopathy. Homeopathy aims to stimulate the body's self-healing response using very small doses of substances that cause symptoms. In the case of asthma, homeopathic remedies are made from substances that generally trigger an asthmatic reaction, such as pollen or weeds. There's still not enough clear evidence to determine if homeopathy helps treat asthma caused by allergies.

Coping and support

Asthma can be challenging and stressful. You may sometimes become frustrated, angry or depressed because you need to cut back on your usual activities to avoid environmental triggers. You may also feel hampered or embarrassed by the symptoms of the disease and by complicated management routines. Children in particular may be reluctant to use an inhaler in front of their peers.

But asthma doesn't have to be a limiting condition. The best way to overcome anxiety and a feeling of helplessness is to understand your condition and take control of your treatment. Here are some suggestions that may help:

Pace yourself. Take breaks between tasks and avoid activities that make your symptoms worse.
Make a daily to-do list. This may help you avoid feeling overwhelmed. Reward yourself for accomplishing simple goals.
Talk to others with your condition. Chat rooms and message boards on the Internet or support groups in your area can connect you with people facing similar challenges and let you know you're not alone.
If your child has asthma, be encouraging. Focus attention on the things your child can do, not on the things he or she can't. Involve teachers, school nurses, coaches, friends and relatives in helping your child manage asthma.

Prevention

Working together, you and your doctor can design a step-by-step plan for living with your condition and preventing asthma attacks.

Follow your asthma action plan. With your doctor and health care team, write a detailed plan for taking medications and managing an asthma attack. Then be sure to follow your plan. Asthma is an ongoing condition that needs regular monitoring and treatment. Taking control of your treatment can make you feel more in control of your life in general.
Identify and avoid asthma triggers. A number of outdoor allergens and irritants — ranging from pollen and mold to cold air and air pollution — can trigger asthma attacks. Find out what causes or worsens your asthma, and take steps to avoid those triggers.
Monitor your breathing. You may learn to recognize warning signs of an impending attack, such as slight coughing, wheezing or shortness of breath. But because your lung function may decrease before you notice any signs or symptoms, regularly measure and record your peak airflow with a home peak flow meter.
Identify and treat attacks early. If you act quickly, you're less likely to have a severe attack. You also won't need as much medication to control your symptoms. When your peak flow measurements decrease and alert you to an impending attack, take your medication as instructed and immediately stop any activity that may have triggered the attack. If your symptoms don't improve, get medical help as directed in your action plan.
Take your medication as prescribed. Just because your asthma seems to be improving, don't change anything without first talking to your doctor. It's a good idea to bring your medications with you to each doctor visit, so your doctor can double-check that you're using your medications correctly and taking the right dose.
Pay attention to increasing quick-relief inhaler use. If you find yourself relying on your quick-relief inhaler such as albuterol, your asthma isn't under control. See your doctor about adjusting your treatment.

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Source: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

Asthma - Treatments and drugs

2011-03-23T18:45:00.005+01:00

Prevention and long-term control is the key to preventing asthma attacks. Treatment usually involves learning to recognize your triggers and taking steps to avoid them, and tracking your breathing to make sure your daily asthma medications are keeping symptoms under control. In case of an asthma flare-up, you may need to use a quick-relief inhaler such as albuterol.

Medications

The right medications for you depend on a number of things, including your age, your symptoms, your asthma triggers and what seems to work best to keep your asthma under control. Preventive, long-term control medications reduce the inflammation in your airways that leads to symptoms. Quick-relief inhalers (bronchodilators) quickly open swollen airways that are limiting breathing. In some cases, medications to treat specific allergies are needed.

Long-term control medications

In most cases, these medications need to be taken every day. Types of long-term control medications include:

Inhaled corticosteroids. These medications include fluticasone (Flovent Diskus, Flovent HFA), budesonide (Pulmicort Flexhaler), mometasone (Asmanex), flunisolide (Aerobid), beclomethasone (Qvar) and others. They are the most commonly prescribed type of long-term asthma medication. You may need to use these medications for several days to weeks before they reach their maximum benefit. Unlike oral corticosteroids, these corticosteroid medications have a relatively low risk of side effects and are generally safe for long-term use.
Leukotriene modifiers. These oral medications include montelukast (Singulair), zafirlukast (Accolate) and zileuton (Zyflo, Zyflo CR). They help prevent asthma symptoms for up to 24 hours. In rare cases, these medications have been linked to psychological reactions such as agitation, aggression, hallucinations, depression and suicidal thinking. Seek medical advice right away for any unusual reaction.
Long-acting beta agonists (LABAs). These inhaled medications include salmeterol (Serevent Diskus) and formoterol (Foradil Aerolizer). LABAs open the airways and reduce inflammation. However, they've been linked to severe asthma attacks. LABAs should be taken only in combination with an inhaled corticosteroid.
Combination inhalers such as fluticasone and salmeterol (Advair Diskus) and budesonide and formoterol (Symbicort). These medications contain a LABA along with a corticosteroid. Like other LABA medications, these medications may increase your risk of having a severe asthma attack.
Theophylline. This is a daily pill that helps keep the airways open (bronchodilator). Theophylline (Theo-24, Elixophyllin, others) relaxes the muscles around the airways to make breathing easier. It's not used as often now as in past years.

Quick-relief medications

Quick-relief (rescue) medications are used as needed for rapid, short-term symptom relief during an asthma attack — or before exercise if your doctor recommends it. Types of quick-relief medications include:

Short-acting beta agonists. These inhaled, quick-relief bronchodilators can rapidly ease symptoms during an asthma attack. They include albuterol (ProAir HFA, Ventolin HFA, others), levalbuterol (Xopenex HFA) and pirbuterol (Maxair Autohaler). These medications act within minutes, and effects last several hours.
Ipratropium (Atrovent). Your doctor might prescribe this inhaled medication for immediate relief of your symptoms. Like other bronchodilators, ipratropium relaxes the airways, making it easier to breathe. Ipratropium is mostly used for emphysema and chronic bronchitis, but it's sometimes used to treat asthma attacks.
Oral and intravenous corticosteroids. These medications relieve airway inflammation caused by severe asthma. Examples include prednisone and methylprednisolone. They can cause serious side effects when used long term, so they're used only on a short-term basis to treat severe asthma symptoms.

Treatment for allergy-induced asthma

If your asthma is triggered or worsened by allergies, you may benefit from allergy treatment as well. Allergy treatments include:

Allergy shots (immunotherapy). Immunotherapy injections are generally given once a week for a few months, then once a month for a period of three to five years. Over time, they gradually reduce your immune system reaction to specific allergens.
Omalizumab (Xolair). This medication is specifically for people who have allergies and severe asthma. It acts by altering the immune system. Omalizumab is delivered by injection every two to four weeks.
Allergy medications. These include oral and nasal spray antihistamines and decongestants as well as corticosteroid, cromolyn and ipratropium nasal sprays.

Don't rely on quick-relief medications

Long-term asthma control medications — such as inhaled corticosteroids — are the cornerstone of asthma treatment. These medications keep asthma under control on a day-to-day basis and make it less likely you'll have an asthma attack.

If you do have an asthma flare-up, a quick-relief inhaler can ease your symptoms right away. But if your long-term control medications are working properly, you shouldn't need to use your quick-relief inhaler very often. Keep a record of how many puffs you use each week. If you need to use your quick-relief inhaler more often than your doctor recommends, see your doctor. You probably need to adjust your long-term control medication.

Bronchial thermoplasty

This treatment is used for severe asthma that doesn't improve with inhaled corticosteroids or other long-term asthma medications. Generally done in three outpatient visits, bronchial thermoplasty heats the insides of the airways in the lungs with an electrode, reducing the smooth muscle inside the airways. This limits the ability of the airways to tighten, making breathing easier and may reduce asthma attacks. Bronchial thermoplasty isn't widely available. More research is needed to determine whether the benefits of this treatment outweigh the possible risks and potential side effects.

Treatment by severity for better control: A stepwise approach

Treatment based on asthma control can help you manage your asthma. Asthma treatment should be flexible and based on changes in symptoms, which should be assessed thoroughly each time you see your doctor. Then, treatment can be adjusted accordingly. For example, if your asthma is well controlled, your doctor may prescribe less medicine. If your asthma is not well controlled or getting worse, your doctor may increase your medication and recommend more frequent visits.

Asthma action plan

Work with your doctor to create an asthma action plan that outlines in writing when to take certain medications, or when to increase or decrease the dose of your medications based on your symptoms. Your asthma action plan should also list your triggers and the steps you need to take to avoid them. Your asthma plan may also involve tracking your asthma symptoms or using a peak flow meter on a regular basis to monitor how well your treatment is controlling your asthma.

Lifestyle and home remedies

Although many people with asthma rely on medications to prevent and relieve symptoms, you can do several things on your own to maintain your health and lessen the possibility of asthma attacks.

Avoid your triggers

Taking steps to reduce your exposure to things that trigger asthma symptoms is a key part of asthma control. Here are some things that may help:

Use your air conditioner. Air conditioning reduces the amount of airborne pollen from trees, grasses and weeds that finds its way indoors. Air conditioning also lowers indoor humidity and can reduce your exposure to dust mites. If you don't have air conditioning, try to keep your windows closed during pollen season.

Decontaminate your decor. Minimize dust that may worsen nighttime symptoms by replacing certain items in your bedroom. For example, encase pillows, mattresses and box springs in dust-proof covers. Remove carpeting and install hardwood or linoleum flooring. Use washable curtains and blinds.

Maintain optimal humidity. If you live in a damp climate, talk to your doctor about using a dehumidifier.

Keep indoor air clean. Have a utility company check your air conditioner and furnace once a year. Change the filters in your furnace and air conditioner according to the manufacturer's instructions. Also consider installing a small-particle filter in your ventilation system. If you use a humidifier, change the water daily.

Reduce pet dander. If you're allergic to dander, avoid pets with fur or feathers. Having pets regularly bathed or groomed also may reduce the amount of dander in your surroundings.

Clean regularly. Clean your home at least once a week. If you're likely to stir up dust, wear a mask or have someone else do the cleaning.

If it's cold out, cover your face. If your asthma is worsened by cold, dry air, wearing a face mask can help.

Stay healthy

Taking care of yourself and treating other conditions linked to asthma will help keep your symptoms under control. A few things you can do include:

Get regular exercise. Having asthma doesn't mean you have to be less active. Treatment can prevent asthma attacks and control symptoms during activity. Regular exercise can strengthen your heart and lungs, which helps relieve asthma symptoms. Keep in mind that exercising in cold weather may trigger asthma symptoms. If you do exercise in cold temperatures, wear a face mask to warm the air you breathe.

Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight can worsen asthma symptoms, and it puts you at higher risk of other health problems.

Eat fruits and vegetables. Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables may increase lung function and reduce asthma symptoms. These foods are rich in protective nutrients (antioxidants) that boost the immune system.

Control heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). It's possible that the acid reflux that causes heartburn may damage lung airways and worsen asthma symptoms. If you have frequent or constant heartburn, talk to your doctor about treatment options. You may need treatment for GERD before your asthma symptoms improve.

Back- Complications Next - Alternative medicine & Coping

Asthma - Complication, Test and Diagnosis

2011-03-23T18:38:00.002+01:00

Complications

Asthma may cause a number of complications, including:

Symptoms that interfere with sleep, work or recreational activities
Sick days from work or school during asthma flare-ups
Permanent narrowing of the bronchial tubes (airway remodeling) that affects how well you can breathe
Emergency room visits and hospitalizations for severe asthma attacks
Side effects from long-term use of some medications used to stabilize severe asthma

Proper treatment makes a big difference in preventing both short-term and long-term complications caused by asthma.

Preparing for your appointment

You're likely to start by seeing your family doctor or a general practitioner. However, when you call to set up an appointment, you may be referred immediately to an allergist, pulmonologist or other specialist.

Because appointments can be brief, and because there's often a lot of ground to cover, it's a good idea to be well prepared. Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment, and what to expect from your doctor.

What you can do

These steps can help you make the most of your appointment:

Write down any symptoms you're having, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
Note when your symptoms bother you most — for example, if your symptoms tend to get worse at certain times of the day; during certain seasons; or when you're exposed to cold air, pollen or other triggers.
Write down key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes.
Make a list of all medications, vitamins and supplements that you're taking.
Take a family member or friend along, if possible. Sometimes it can be difficult to soak up all the information provided to you during an appointment. Someone who accompanies you may remember something that you missed or forgot.
Write down questions to ask your doctor.

Your time with your doctor is limited, so preparing a list of questions will help you make the most of your time together. List your questions from most important to least important in case time runs out. For asthma, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:

Is asthma the most likely cause of my breathing problems?
Other than the most likely cause, what are other possible causes for my symptoms?
What kinds of tests do I need?
Is my condition likely temporary or chronic?
What's the best treatment?
What are the alternatives to the primary approach that you're suggesting?
I have these other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
Are there any restrictions that I need to follow?
Should I see a specialist? What will that cost, and will my insurance cover seeing a specialist?
Is there a generic alternative to the medicine you're prescribing me?
Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take home with me? What websites do you recommend visiting?

In addition to the questions that you've prepared to ask your doctor, don't hesitate to ask questions during your appointment.

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions. Being ready to answer them may reserve time to go over any points you want to spend more time on. Your doctor may ask:

What exactly are your symptoms?
When did you first notice your symptoms?
How severe are your symptoms?
Do you have breathing problems most of the time, or only at certain times or in certain situations?
Do you have allergies, such as atopic dermatitis or hay fever?
What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?
What, if anything, seems to improve your symptoms?
Do allergies or asthma run in your family?
Do you have any chronic health problems?

Tests and diagnosis

Diagnosing asthma can be difficult. Signs and symptoms can range from mild to severe and are often similar to those of other conditions, including emphysema, early congestive heart failure or vocal cord problems. Children often develop temporary breathing conditions that have symptoms similar to asthma. For example, it can be hard to tell asthma from wheezy bronchitis, pneumonia or reactive airway disease.

In order to rule out other possible conditions, your doctor will do a physical exam and ask you questions about your signs and symptoms and about any other health problems. You may also be given lung (pulmonary) function tests to determine how much air moves in and out as you breathe.

Tests to measure lung function include:

Spirometry. This test measures the narrowing of your bronchial tubes by checking how much air you can exhale after a deep breath and how fast you can breathe out.
Peak flow. A peak flow meter is a simple device that measures how hard you can breathe out. Lower than usual peak flow readings are a sign your lungs may not be working as well and that your asthma may be getting worse. Your doctor will give you instructions on how to track and deal with low peak flow readings.

Lung function tests often are done before and after taking a bronchodilator (brong-koh-DIE-lay-tur) such as albuterol to open your airways. If your lung function improves with use of a bronchodilator, it's likely you have asthma.

Other tests to diagnose asthma include:

Methacholine challenge. If you have asthma, inhaling a known asthma trigger called methacholine will cause mild constriction of your airways. If you react to the trigger, you likely have asthma. This test may be used if your initial lung function test is normal.
Nitric oxide test. This test is sometimes used to diagnose and monitor asthma. It measures the amount of a gas called nitric oxide you have in your breath. If your airways are inflamed — a sign of asthma — you may have higher than normal nitric oxide levels. This test isn't widely available.

How asthma is classified

To classify your asthma severity, your doctor will consider your answers to questions about symptoms (such as how often you have asthma attacks and how bad they are), along with the results of your physical exam and diagnostic tests. Determining the severity level of your asthma will help your doctor choose the best treatment for you. Asthma severity often changes over time, requiring an adjustment to treatment.

Asthma is classified into four general categories:

Asthma classification	Signs and symptoms
Mild intermittent	Mild symptoms up to two days a week and up to two nights a month
Mild persistent	Symptoms more than twice a week, but no more than once in a single day
Moderate persistent	Symptoms once a day and more than one night a week
Severe persistent	Symptoms throughout the day on most days and frequently at night

Back - What is Asthma? Next -Treatments and drugs

Asthma - Symptom and Causes

2011-03-23T18:30:00.003+01:00

When you have asthma, your airways narrow and swell. They produce extra mucus, and breathing becomes difficult. The most common asthma signs and symptoms are coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. For some people, asthma symptoms are a minor nuisance. For others, they're a major problem that interferes with daily activities. If you have severe asthma, you may be at risk of a life-threatening asthma attack.

Asthma can't be cured, but its symptoms can be controlled. Treatments include taking steps to avoid your particular asthma triggers, using long-term control medications to prevent flare-ups and using a quick-relief inhaler to control symptoms once they start. Because asthma changes over time, you'll work with your doctor to track your signs and symptoms and adjust treatment as needed.

Symptoms

Asthma symptoms range from minor to severe and vary from person to person. You may have mild symptoms and asthma attacks may be infrequent. Between asthma flare-ups you may feel normal and have no trouble breathing. You may have symptoms primarily at night, during exercise or when you're exposed to specific triggers. Or you may have asthma symptoms all the time. Asthma signs and symptoms include:

Shortness of breath
Chest tightness or pain
Trouble sleeping caused by shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing
An audible whistling or wheezing sound when exhaling (wheezing is a common sign of asthma in children)
Bouts of coughing or wheezing that are worsened by a respiratory virus such as a cold or the flu

Signs that your asthma is probably getting worse include:

More frequent and bothersome asthma signs and symptoms
Increasing difficulty breathing (this can be measured by a peak flow meter, a simple device used to check how well your lungs are working)
An increasingly frequent need to use a quick-relief inhaler

For some people, asthma symptoms flare up in certain situations:

Exercise-induced asthma occurs during exercise. For many people, exercise-induced asthma is worse when the air is cold and dry.
Occupational asthma is asthma that's caused or worsened by breathing in a workplace irritant such as chemical fumes, gases or dust.
Allergy-induced asthma. Some people have asthma symptoms that are triggered by particular allergens, such as pet dander, cockroaches or pollen.

When to see a doctor
These key circumstances may lead you to talk to your doctor about asthma:

If you think you have asthma. If you have frequent coughing that lasts more than a few days or any other signs or symptoms of asthma, see your doctor. Treating asthma early, especially in children, may prevent long-term lung damage and help keep the condition from worsening over time.
To monitor your asthma after diagnosis. If you know you have asthma, work with your doctor to keep it under control. Good long-term asthma control not only helps you feel better on a daily basis, but also can prevent a life-threatening asthma attack.
If your asthma symptoms get worse. Contact your doctor right away if your medication doesn't seem to ease your symptoms or you need to use your quick-relief inhaler more and more often. Don't try to solve the problem by taking more medication without consulting your doctor. Overusing asthma medication can cause side effects and may even make your asthma worse.
To review your treatment. Asthma changes over time. Meet with your doctor on a regular basis to discuss your symptoms and make any needed adjustments to your treatment.

When to seek emergency treatment

Severe asthma attacks can be life-threatening. Work with your doctor ahead of time to determine what to do when your signs and symptoms worsen — and when you need emergency treatment. If your quick-relief medications don't relieve symptoms of a severe asthma attack, seek emergency help right away. Signs of an asthma emergency include:

Rapid worsening of shortness of breath or wheezing
No improvement even after using a quick-relief inhaler such as albuterol
Shortness of breath when you are doing minimal physical activity

Causes

It isn't clear why some people get asthma and others don't, but it's probably due to a combination of environmental and genetic (inherited) factors.

Asthma triggers are different from person to person. Exposure to a number of different allergens and irritants can trigger signs and symptoms of asthma, including:

Airborne allergens, such as pollen, animal dander, mold, cockroaches and dust mites
Respiratory infections, such as the common cold
Physical activity (exercise-induced asthma)
Cold air
Air pollutants and irritants, such as smoke
Certain medications, including beta blockers, aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Strong emotions and stress
Sulfites, preservatives added to some types of foods and beverages
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a condition in which stomach acids back up into your throat
Menstrual cycle in some women
Allergic reactions to some foods, such as peanuts or shellfish

Risk factors

Asthma is common, affecting millions of adults and children. A growing number of people are diagnosed with the condition each year, but it isn't clear why. A number of factors are thought to increase your chances of developing asthma. These include:

Having a blood relative (such as a parent or sibling) with asthma
Having an allergic condition, such as atopic dermatitis or allergic rhinitis (hay fever)
Being overweight
Being a smoker
Exposure to secondhand smoke
Having a mother who smoked while pregnant
Exposure to exhaust fumes or other types of pollution
Exposure to occupational triggers, such as chemicals used in farming, hairdressing and manufacturing
Low birth weight

Exposure to allergens, exposure to certain germs, and having some types of bacterial or viral infections may also be risk factors. However, more research is needed to determine what role they may play in developing asthma.

Next - Complications

Bloodless Medicine - Benefits and risks

2011-03-13T21:17:00.001+01:00

The risks and benefits of bloodless methods -- compared to traditional medicine -- have not been well studied. The main benefit of bloodless medicine is that it allows people to avoid potential blood reactions and contaminants, and to follow certain religious beliefs. It also helps address blood supply issues. However, it is possible that bloodless medicine may provide a variety of other benefits, including fewer transfusion-associated complications, such as lung injuries.

All of these possibilities are being studied, but the evidence is preliminary.

Keep in mind that ALL patients undergoing any type of surgery -- whether bloodless or conventional -- face certain risks. There may be additional risks specific to you and your personal medical condition and history. Your individual risk and benefit ratio should be reviewed specifically with your physicians as you consider the medical options available to you.

Bloodless medicine, however, has some unique considerations.

When blood is lost -- but not replaced

In taking a bloodless approach, your health care team will strive to limit the possibility of heavy bleeding (hemorrhage). However, no surgical techniques or bloodless strategies can completely prevent the possibility of all bleeding. If an unforeseen circumstance results in major bleeding, and you have declined the use of blood donor products, you could experience serious blood loss that may need to be replaced to prevent organ injury or death. It is important that this unfortunate outcome be discussed in advance, so that you may guarantee that your wishes are followed.

In the rare event that this occurs during elective surgery, the complications that you'll experience depend on the amount of blood lost, the speed with which the blood is lost, and your baseline level of health. Healthy adults can usually lose up to 20% of their normal blood volume without suffering permanent damage. If the blood loss occurs slowly over time, a loss greater than 20% of normal blood volume may be tolerated without permanent effects.

However, severe blood loss can cause life-threatening complications such as low blood pressure, changes in the acidity of your blood, and decreased oxygen supply, resulting in damage to vital organs.

Depending upon the specific type of therapy or procedures employed, there may be other increased risks. For example, using some hemostatic agents may have side effects; aprotinin is associated with allergic reactions, and aminocaproic acid may cause blood clots or a condition called disseminated intravascular coagulation.

Discuss your options

If you are considering bloodless surgery, make sure that you understand the basic risks that accompany the particular procedure you'll be undergoing, discuss your unique personal risk factors with your health care team, and ask for help weighing the risks and benefits of using bloodless techniques.

Adapted from: Penn Medicine

Why people choose bloodless medicine

2011-03-13T21:10:00.000+01:00

Traditionally, surgeons and other doctors have used blood transfusions (donated or banked blood, usually from another person) for a variety of medical situations. For example, people would have received blood transfusions if they had lost a great deal of blood during a surgical procedure, childbirth, or a serious injury.

The rationale behind giving blood transfusions has always been to maintain a certain level of hemoglobin in your blood. Hemoglobin is a component of red blood cells, and it is responsible for carrying oxygen throughout your body. Low hemoglobin levels mean that less oxygen is being delivered to your tissues and organs. This has been thought to increase your risk of infection, slow your body's ability to heal, and cause tissue and organ damage

Proponents of bloodless medicine are re-examining the threshold level of hemoglobin necessary for good health and healing. They believe that patients can do well at lower hemoglobin levels than previously believed safe. And some proponents believe that the risks of a blood transfusion can, at times, outweigh the risks of low hemoglobin.

Bloodless medicine may be chosen for a variety of reasons. Some of the most common are described below.

Religious convictions

If you belong to certain religious groups, most notably the Jehovah's Witnesses, your religious beliefs may state that you should not accept blood transfusions. Jehovah's Witnesses believe blood "stands for life... has special significance... and should not be misused." Their ethical principles state that blood should not be removed from the body and stored, nor taken in by another person. Therefore, Witnesses do not accept blood products containing plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets -- which are sometimes referred to as major blood fractions.

Clotting factors, albumin, growth factors, and immunoglobulins are sometimes referred to as minor blood fractions. If you are a Jehovah's Witness, whether or not you can accept treatment with a minor blood fraction may be considered an individual "matter of conscience."

Concern about infections in the blood supply

In the early 1980s, a number of hemophiliacs contracted HIV through blood transfusions. Since then, public concern about infections transmitted through blood transfusions has increased.

A variety of infectious agents have been discovered in the nation's blood supply, including:

Hepatitis A, B, and C
Malaria
Syphilis
Cytomegalovirus
Herpesviruses
Epstein-Barr virus
Creutzfeldt-Jacob virus (which causes the human form of "mad cow" disease)
West Nile virus

Potential donors can be screened, and donor blood tested and discarded, if found to contain some of these viruses.

Still, new viruses are regularly discovered in donor blood, requiring that new blood testing and screening procedures be put into place.

Other complications from blood transfusions

While infections are certainly the most "in-the-news" complications, there are other medical risks of receiving blood transfusions. Everybody has a specific blood type, which refers to the biochemical markers located on their red blood cells. If you accidentally receive a transfusion of the wrong blood type, you can have a severe and even life-threatening reaction. Errors in blood typing do sometimes occur, prompting some people to prefer bloodless techniques over traditional transfusion medicine.

Even if you get the right blood type from a donor, you could still undergo an allergic-type reaction to the transfusion because of other factors in the blood.

A dwindling blood supply and rare blood types

As policies to cut down on infectious contamination of donor blood are instituted, more and more people are prohibited from donating. The donor pool continues to shrink, and the nation's blood supply has been steadily declining. Further, the cost of giving blood to patients has increased, due in part to the variety of tests to which donor blood must be subjected. If you have a rare blood type, it may be especially difficult to locate the kind of blood you need -- meaning that bloodless medical techniques may be crucial to your care.

Adapted from: Penn Medicine

Bloodless Medicine

2011-03-13T21:00:00.000+01:00

The term "bloodless medicine" refers to a variety of techniques that allow a patient to be treated without blood transfusions. This means that the patient does not receive any major blood products that have been stored or provided by donors.

You may wish to request bloodless medicine techniques if you are scheduled to undergo a surgical procedure. In addition, some of these techniques can be applied to patients who have suffered traumatic injuries.

Bloodless techniques may be performed before, during, and after your surgery, and may include a combination of diet, medication, surgical techniques, and other strategies. Some of the common goals are to:

Boost your red blood cell count prior to surgery
Monitor and optimize oxygen delivery during surgery
Avoid blood loss during surgery
Collect and reuse your own blood during surgery

Bloodless medicine is growing

The practice of bloodless medicine is growing by leaps and bounds. In early 1990, you would have been able to choose from only a small number of medical centers providing bloodless health care. By 1996, you could have chosen from about 76 centers.

Today, more than 100 American medical centers are known for providing bloodless care, and even more centers are exploring the technologies and practices that will make such care a regular option for interested patients. Overall, health care practitioners are making efforts to avoid the use of blood products whenever possible, even in centers that do not specifically focus on bloodless medicine.

The components of blood

To better understand the issues surrounding bloodless medicine, it's important to have a basic understanding of blood. In a given sample of your blood, more than half of the sample is made up of a watery substance called plasma, which contains proteins, immune cells, clotting factors, and various salts.

About half of the sample is made up of red blood cells, which contain oxygen-carrying hemoglobin. Less than 1% of the sample is made up of white blood cells (infection-fighting cells) and platelets (sticky little cell fragments that are involved in helping the blood clot).

Adapted from: Penn Medicine

Epilepsy - Fact File

2011-03-12T21:14:00.001+01:00

Epilepsy is a disorder that results from the generation of electrical signals inside the brain, causing recurring seizures. Seizure symptoms vary. Some people with epilepsy simply stare blankly for a few seconds during a seizure, while others have full-fledged convulsions.

About one in 100 people in the United States will experience an unprovoked seizure in their lifetime. However, a solitary seizure doesn't mean you have epilepsy. At least two unprovoked seizures are required for an epilepsy diagnosis.

Even mild seizures may require treatment, because they can be dangerous during activities like driving or swimming. Treatment — which generally includes medications and sometimes surgery — usually eliminates or reduces the frequency and intensity of seizures. Many children with epilepsy even outgrow the condition with age.

Symptoms

Because epilepsy is caused by abnormal activity in brain cells, seizures can affect any process your brain coordinates. A seizure can produce:

Temporary confusion
A staring spell
Uncontrollable jerking movements of the arms and legs
Complete loss of consciousness

Symptoms vary depending on the type of seizure. In most cases, a person with epilepsy will tend to have the same type of seizure each time, so the symptoms will be similar from episode to episode.

Doctors classify seizures as either partial or generalized, based on how the abnormal brain activity begins. In some cases, seizures can begin as partial and then become generalized.

Partial seizures
When seizures appear to result from abnormal activity in just one part of the brain, they're called partial or focal seizures. These seizures fall into two categories.

Simple partial seizures. These seizures don't result in loss of consciousness. They may alter emotions or change the way things look, smell, feel, taste or sound. They may also result in involuntary jerking of part of the body, such as an arm or leg, and spontaneous sensory symptoms such as tingling, vertigo and flashing lights.
Complex partial seizures. These seizures alter consciousness, causing you to lose awareness for a period of time. Complex partial seizures often result in staring and nonpurposeful movements — such as hand rubbing, twitching, chewing, swallowing or walking in circles.

Generalized seizures
Seizures that seem to involve all of the brain are called generalized seizures. Four types of generalized seizures exist.

Absence seizures (also called petit mal). These seizures are characterized by staring and subtle body movement, and can cause a brief loss of consciousness.
Myoclonic seizures. These seizures usually appear as sudden jerks or twitches of your arms and legs.
Atonic seizures. Also known as drop attacks, these seizures cause you to lose normal muscle tone and suddenly collapse or fall down.
Tonic-clonic seizures (also called grand mal). The most intense of all types of seizures, these are characterized by a loss of consciousness, body stiffening and shaking, and loss of bladder control.

When to see a doctor
Seek medical advice if you experience a seizure for the first time. Also, seek immediate medical help if any of the following occurs.

The seizure lasts more than five minutes.
Breathing or consciousness does not return after the seizure stops.
A second seizure follows immediately.
You're pregnant.
You have diabetes.
You've injured yourself during the seizure.

Causes

Epilepsy has no identifiable cause in about half of those who have the condition. In the other half, the condition may be traced to various factors.

Genetic influence. Some types of epilepsy, which are categorized by your type of seizure, run in families, making it likely that there's a genetic influence. Researchers have linked some types of epilepsy to specific genes, though it's estimated that up to 500 genes could be tied to the condition. For some, genes are only part of the cause, perhaps by making a person more susceptible to environmental conditions that trigger seizures.
Head trauma sustained during a car accident or other traumatic injury can cause epilepsy.
Medical disorders. Events like strokes or heart attacks that result in damage to the brain also can cause epilepsy. Stroke is responsible for up to one half of epilepsy cases in those over age 65.
Dementia is a leading cause of epilepsy among older adults.
Diseases like meningitis, AIDS and viral encephalitis can cause epilepsy.
Prenatal injury. Fetuses are susceptible to brain damage caused by an infection in the mother, poor nutrition or oxygen deficiencies. This can lead to cerebral palsy in the child. About 20 percent of seizures in children are associated with cerebral palsy or other neurological abnormalities.
Developmental disorders. Epilepsy can be associated with other developmental disorders, such as autism and Down syndrome.

Risk factors

Certain factors may increase your risk of epilepsy.

Your age. The onset of epilepsy is most common during early childhood and after age 65, but the condition can occur at any age.
Your sex. Men are slightly more at risk of developing epilepsy than are women.
A family history. If you have a family history of epilepsy, you may be at an increased risk of developing a seizure disorder.
Head injuries. These injuries are responsible for many cases of epilepsy. You can reduce your risk by always wearing a seat belt while riding in a car and by wearing a helmet while bicycling, skiing, riding a motorcycle or engaging in other activities with a high risk of head injury.
Stroke and other vascular diseases. These can lead to brain damage that may trigger epilepsy. You can take a number of steps to reduce your risk of such diseases, including limiting your intake of alcohol and avoiding cigarettes, eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly.
Brain infections. Infections like meningitis, which causes an inflammation in the brain or spinal cord, can increase your risk of epilepsy.
Prolonged seizures in childhood. High fevers in childhood can sometimes be associated with prolonged seizures and subsequent epilepsy later in life, particularly for those with a family history of epilepsy.

Complications

Having a seizure at certain times can lead to circumstances that are dangerous to yourself or others.

Falling. If you fall during a seizure, you can injure your head or break a bone.
Drowning. If you have epilepsy, you're more than 15 times more likely to drown while swimming or bathing than the rest of the population because of the possibility of having a seizure while in the water.
Car accidents. A seizure that causes either loss of awareness or control can be dangerous if you're driving a car or operating other equipment. Many states have driver's licensing restrictions related to your ability to control seizures and impose a minimum amount of time that you've been seizure-free — ranging from three months to two years — before you're allowed to drive.
Pregnancy complications. Seizures during pregnancy pose dangers to both mother and baby, and certain anti-epileptic medications increase the risk of birth defects. If you have epilepsy and you're considering becoming pregnant, talk to your doctor. Most women with epilepsy can become pregnant and have a healthy baby. You'll need to be carefully monitored throughout pregnancy, and medications may need to be adjusted. It's very important that you work with your doctor to plan your pregnancy.

Other life-threatening complications from epilepsy are uncommon, but do occur.

Status epilepticus. This condition occurs if you're in a state of continuous seizure activity lasting more than five minutes or you have frequent recurrent seizures without regaining consciousness in between them. People with status epilepticus have an increased risk of permanent brain damage and death.
Sudden unexplained death in epilepsy (SUDEP). People with poorly controlled epilepsy also have a small risk of sudden unexplained death. Overall, less than one in 1,000 people with epilepsy die from SUDEP, but it's more common among people whose seizures aren't controlled by treatment. The risk of SUDEP is particularly elevated when generalized tonic-clonic seizures are frequent.

Preparing for your appointment

You're likely to start by first seeing your family doctor or a general practitioner. However, in some cases when you call to set up an appointment, you may be referred immediately to a specialist, like a neurologist or a doctor called an epileptologist, who specializes in treating epilepsy.

Because there's often a lot of ground to cover, it's a good idea to be well prepared for your appointment. Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment, and what to expect from your doctor.

What you can do

Keep a detailed seizure calendar. Each time a seizure occurs, write down the time, the type of seizure it was and how long it lasted. Also make note of any unusual circumstances, such as increased stress, menstruation or other events that might trigger seizure activity. Seek input from people who may observe your seizures — including family, friends and co-workers — so that you can record information you may not know.
Be aware of any pre-appointment restrictions. At the time you make the appointment, ask if there's anything you need to do in advance, such as restrict your diet.
Write down key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes.
Make a list of all medications, as well as any vitamins or supplements that you're taking.
Take a family member or friend along. Sometimes it can be difficult to soak up all the information provided to you during an appointment. Someone who accompanies you may remember something that you missed or forgot. Also, because you may not be aware of everything that happens when you are having a seizure, your doctor may want to ask questions of someone who has witnessed them.
Write down questions to ask your doctor.

Preparing a list of questions in advance will help you make the most of your time with your doctor. List your questions from most important to least important in case time runs out. For epilepsy, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:

What is likely causing my seizures?
Are there other possible causes?
What kinds of tests do I need?
Is my epilepsy likely temporary or chronic?
What is the best course of action?
What are the alternatives to the primary approach that you're suggesting?
How can I ensure that I don't hurt myself if I have another seizure?
I have these other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
Are there any restrictions that I need to follow?
Should I see a specialist? What will that cost, and will my insurance cover it?
Is there a generic alternative to the medicine you're prescribing me?
Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take home with me? What Web sites do you recommend?

In addition to the questions that you've prepared to ask your doctor, don't hesitate to ask questions during your appointment at any time that you don't understand something.

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions:

When did you first begin experiencing seizures?
Do your seizures seem to be triggered by certain events or conditions?
Do you have similar sensations just before the onset of a seizure?
Have your seizures been frequent or occasional?
What symptoms do you have when you experience a seizure?
What, if anything, seems to improve your seizures?
What, if anything, appears to worsen your seizures?

What you can do in the meantime

Certain conditions and activities can trigger seizures, so it is best to:

Avoid excessive alcohol consumption
Avoid nicotine and recreational drug usage
Get enough sleep
Reduce stress

Also, it is important to start keeping a log of your seizures before you visit your doctor.

Tests and diagnosis

Your doctor may use a number of tests to diagnose epilepsy, from neurological exams to imaging techniques like MRI scans.

Neurological and behavioral exam. Your doctor may want to test your motor abilities, behavior and intellectual capacity to see how the seizures are affecting you.
Blood tests. Your doctor may take a blood sample to check for signs of infections, lead poisoning, anemia or diabetes, which can cause seizures.

Your doctor may also suggest tests to detect abnormalities within the brain. These include:

Neuropsychological tests. This group of tests includes IQ, memory and speech assessments, which help doctors pinpoint where the seizures are originating. This type of testing is routinely done before epilepsy surgery.
Electroencephalogram (EEG). This is the most common test to diagnose epilepsy. An EEG records the electrical activity of your brain via electrodes affixed to your scalp. If you have epilepsy, it's common to have changes in your normal pattern of brain waves, even when you're not having a seizure. Your doctor may want to monitor you on video while conducting an EEG of you awake or asleep in hopes of recording the seizure to see what kind of seizures you're having. Sometimes your doctor will have to do something to provoke a seizure while you're being tested, such as asking you to sleep very little the night before.
Computerized tomography (CT). You might be given a CT scan if you go to an emergency room for an initial seizure, because it's generally a readily available test. CT machines use a type of X-ray equipment to obtain cross-sectional images of your brain and skull. CT scans can reveal abnormalities in the brain that might be causing your seizures, including tumors, bleeding and cysts.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). An MRI provides much the same type of information as a CT scan, but in far greater detail. MRIs use radio waves and a strong magnetic field to produce detailed images of your brain. MRIs can reveal brain abnormalities that could be causing your seizures.
Functional MRI (fMRI). A functional MRI measures the changes in blood flow that occur when specific parts of your brain are working. Doctors generally use an fMRI before surgery to identify the exact locations of critical functions, like speech, so that surgeons don't injure those places while operating.
Positron emission tomography (PET). PET scans use a small amount of low-dose radioactive material that's injected into a vein to help visualize active areas of the brain and detect abnormalities.
Single-photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT). This type of test is used primarily if you've had an MRI and EEG that didn't pinpoint the location in your brain where the seizures are originating. A SPECT test uses a small amount of low-dose radioactive material that's injected into a vein to create a detailed, 3-D map of the blood flow activity in your brain during seizures.

Treatments and drugs

Doctors generally start by treating epilepsy with medication. If that doesn't work, they may propose surgery or another type of treatment.

Medication

Most people with epilepsy can become seizure-free by using a single anti-epileptic drug. Others can decrease the frequency and intensity of their seizures. More than half the children with medication-controlled epilepsy can eventually stop medications and live a seizure-free life. Many adults also can discontinue medication after two or more years without seizures.

Finding the right medication and dosage can be complex. Your doctor likely will first prescribe a single drug at a relatively low dosage, and may increase the dosage gradually until your seizures are well controlled. If you've tried two or more seizure medications without success, your doctor may recommend trying a combination of two drugs.

All anti-seizure medications have some side effects. Mild side effects include:

Fatigue
Dizziness
Weight gain
Loss of bone density
Skin rashes
Loss of coordination
Speech problems

More severe but rare side effects include:

Depression
Suicidal thoughts and behaviors
Severe rash
Inflammation of certain organs, such as your pancreas

To achieve the best seizure control possible with medication:

Take medications exactly as prescribed.
Always call your doctor before switching to a generic version of your medication or taking other prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs or herbal remedies.
Never stop taking your medication without talking to your doctor.
Notify your doctor immediately if you notice new or increased feelings of depression, suicidal thoughts or unusual changes in your mood or behaviors.

Half of all people newly diagnosed with epilepsy will become seizure-free with their first medication. If anti-epileptic medications don't provide satisfactory results, your doctor may suggest surgery or other therapies.

Surgery

Surgery is most commonly done when tests show that your seizures originate in a small, well-defined area of your brain that doesn't interfere with vital functions like speech, language or hearing. In these types of surgeries, your doctor removes the area of the brain that is causing the seizures.

If your seizures originate in a part of your brain that can't be removed, your doctor may recommend a different sort of surgery where surgeons make a series of cuts in your brain. These cuts are designed to prevent seizures from spreading to other parts of the brain.

Although many people continue to need some medication to help prevent seizures after successful surgery, you may be able to take fewer drugs and reduce your dosages. In some cases, surgery for epilepsy can cause complications such as permanently altering your cognitive abilities. Talk to your surgeon about his or her experience, success rates and complication rates with the procedure you're considering.

Therapies

Vagus nerve stimulation. This therapy involves a device called a vagus nerve stimulator that's implanted underneath the skin of your chest like a pacemaker. Wires from the stimulator are wrapped around the vagus nerve in your neck. The battery-powered device delivers short bursts of electrical energy to the brain through the vagus nerve. It's not clear how this inhibits seizures, but the device can reduce seizures by 30 to 40 percent. Most people still need to take anti-epileptic medication. Side effects of vagus nerve stimulation include hoarseness, throat pain, coughing, shortness of breath, tingling and muscle pain.
Ketogenic diet. Some children with epilepsy have been able to reduce their seizures by maintaining a strict diet that's high in fats and low in carbohydrates. This diet, called a ketogenic diet, causes the body to break down fats instead of carbohydrates for energy. Some children can go off the ketogenic diet after a few years and remain seizure-free.
Consult a doctor if you or your child is considering a ketogenic diet. It's important to make sure that a child doesn't become malnourished when taking the diet. Side effects of a ketogenic diet may include dehydration, constipation, slowed growth because of nutritional deficiencies, and buildup of uric acid in the blood, which can cause kidney stones. These side effects are uncommon if use of the diet is properly and medically supervised.

Lifestyle and home remedies

Understanding your condition can help you control it.

Take your medication correctly. Don't take it upon yourself to adjust your dosage levels. Instead, talk to your doctor if you feel something should be changed.
Get enough sleep. Sleep deprivation is a powerful trigger of seizures. Be sure to get adequate rest every night.
Wear a medical alert bracelet. This will help emergency personnel know how to treat you correctly.

In addition, make healthy life choices such as managing stress, limiting alcoholic beverages and avoiding cigarettes.

Coping and support

Uncontrolled seizures and their effect on your life may at times feel overwhelming or lead to depression. It's important not to let epilepsy constrain you. You can still live an active, social life. To help cope:

Educate yourself and your friends and family about epilepsy so they understand the condition.
Try to ignore negative reactions from people. It helps to learn about epilepsy so you know the facts as opposed to misconceptions about the disease. And try to keep your sense of humor.
Live as independently as possible. This means continuing to work, if possible. If you can't drive because of your seizures, investigate public transportation options near you.
Find a doctor you like and with whom you feel comfortable.
Try not to constantly worry about having a seizure.

If your seizures are so severe that you can't work outside your home, there are still ways to feel productive and connected to people. These include:

Work from home by developing a special skill, like computer programming.
Develop or participate in hobbies, and connect over the Internet with other people who are interested in the same things.
Work to develop friends and have contact with other people.

Let people you work and live with know the correct way to handle a seizure in case they're with you when you have one. This includes:

Gently roll the person onto one side.
Put something soft under his or her head.
Loosen tight neckwear.
Don't try to put your fingers or anything else in the person's mouth. No one has ever "swallowed" his or her tongue during a seizure — it's physically impossible.
Don't try to restrain someone having a seizure.
Don't attempt to rouse the person by shouting at or shaking him or her.
If the person is moving, clear away dangerous objects.
Stay with the person until medical personnel arrive.
Observe the person closely so that you can provide details on what happened.
Time the seizures with your watch.
Keep calm and reassure others nearby

Adapted from: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

Acne - Skin Care

2011-03-12T20:29:00.001+01:00

What is acne?

Acne, or acne vulgaris, is a skin problem that starts when oil and dead skin cells clog up your pores. Some people call it blackheads, blemishes, whiteheads, pimples, or zits. When you have just a few red spots, or pimples, you have a mild form of acne. Severe acne can mean hundreds of pimples that can cover the face, neck, chest, and back. Or it can be bigger, solid, red lumps that are painful (cysts).

Most young people get at least mild acne. It usually gets better after the teen years. But many adult women do have acne in the days before their menstrual periods.

How you feel about your acne may not be related to how bad it is. Some people with severe acne are not bothered by it. Others are embarrassed or upset even though they have only a few pimples.

The good news is that there are many good treatments that can help you get acne under control.

What causes acne?

Acne starts when oil and dead skin cells clog the skin's pores. If germs get into the pores, the result can be swelling, redness, and pus.

For most people, acne starts during the teen years. This is because hormone changes make the skin more oily after puberty starts.

You do not get acne from eating chocolate or greasy foods. But you can make it worse by using oily skin products that clog your pores.

Acne can run in families. If one of your parents had severe acne, you are more likely to have it.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of acne include whiteheads, blackheads, and pimples. These can occur on the face, neck, shoulders, back, or chest. Pimples that are large and deep are called cystic lesions. These can be painful if they get infected. They also can scar the skin.

How is acne treated?

To help control acne, keep your skin clean. Avoid skin products that clog your pores. Look for products that say "noncomedogenic" on the label. Wash your skin once or twice a day with a gentle soap or acne wash. Try not to scrub or pick at your pimples. This can make them worse and can cause scars.

If you have just a few pimples to treat, you can get an acne cream without a prescription. Look for one that has benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. These work best when used just the way the label says.

It can take time to get acne under control. Keep using the same treatment for 6 to 8 weeks. You may even notice that it gets worse before it gets better. If your skin is not better after 8 weeks, try another product.

Acne - Treatment Overview

Acne treatment depends on whether you have a mild, moderate, or severe form. Sometimes your doctor will combine treatments to get the best results and to avoid developing drug-resistant bacteria. Treatment could include lotions or gels you put on blemishes or sometimes entire areas of skin, such as the chest or back (topical medicines). You might also take medicines by mouth (oral medicines).

Treatment for mild acne (whiteheads, blackheads, or pimples) may include:

Gentle cleansing with a mild soap (such as Dove or Neutrogena).
Applying benzoyl peroxide (such as Brevoxyl or Benzac).
Applying salicylic acid (such as Propa pH or Stridex).

If these treatments do not work, you may want to see your doctor. Your doctor can give you a prescription for stronger lotions or creams. You may try an antibiotic lotion. Or you may try a lotion with medicine that helps to unplug your pores.

Moderate to severe acne

Sometimes acne needs treatment with stronger medicines or a combination of therapies. Deeper blemishes, such as nodules and cysts, are more likely to leave scars. As a result, your doctor may give you oral antibiotics sooner to start the healing process. Inflammatory acne may need a combination of several therapies. Treatment for moderate to severe acne may include:

Applying benzoyl peroxide.
Draining of large pimples and cysts by a doctor.
Applying prescription antibiotic gels, creams, or lotions.
Applying prescription retinoids.
Applying azelaic acid.
Taking prescription oral antibiotics.
Taking prescription oral retinoids (such as Accutane).

Treatment for acne scars

Treatment may improve and even remove acne scars. Sometimes a combination of treatments works best. These treatments include:

Collagen injections, which smooth the skin by plumping the skin under the scar.
Dermabrasion, which uses a whirling wire brush to skim off scar tissue.
Laser resurfacing, which uses a carefully controlled laser to burn away scar tissue.
Chemabrasion, which uses chemicals to peel away top layers of skin.

What To Think About

Most treatments for acne take time. It often takes 6 to 8 weeks for acne to improve after you start treatment. Some treatments may cause acne to get worse before it gets better.
If your acne still hasn't improved after several tries with other treatment, your doctor may recommend that you take an oral retinoid, such as isotretinoin (Accutane). Doctors prescribe this medicine as a last resort, because it has some rare but serious side effects and is expensive.
Certain low-dose birth control pills may help control acne in women who tend to have flare-ups before menstruation.

Acne - Prevention

Although you cannot prevent acne, there are steps you can take at home to keep acne from getting worse.

Gently wash and care for your skin every day. Avoid scrubbing too hard or washing too often.
Avoid heavy sweating if you think it causes your acne to get worse. Wash soon after activities that cause you to sweat.
Wash your hair often if your hair is oily. Try to keep your hair off of your face.
Avoid hair care products such as gels, mousses, cream rinses, and pomades that contain a lot of oil.
Avoid touching your face.
Wear soft, cotton clothing or moleskin under sports equipment. Parts of equipment, such as chin straps, can rub your skin and make your acne worse.
Avoid exposure to oils and harsh chemicals, such as petroleum.
Avoid long periods of time in sunlight, as this doesn't help acne and can increase your risk of skin cancer. Use sunscreens when you are out in the sun.

Acne - Home Treatment

Treatment at home can help reduce acne flare-ups.

Wash your face (or other affected skin) gently one or two times a day.
Do not squeeze pimples, because that often leads to infections, worse acne, and scars.
Use water-based skin care products that gently clean your skin. Avoid products such as milky cleansers, cold creams, lipsticks, and lip glosses that contain oils.
Use over-the-counter medicated creams, soaps, lotions, and gels to treat your acne. Always read the label carefully to make sure you are using the product correctly.

Examples of some over-the-counter products used to treat acne include:

Benzoyl peroxide (such as Brevoxyl or Benzac), which unplugs pores.
Alpha-hydroxy acid, which dries up blemishes and causes the top skin layer to peel. You'll find alpha-hydroxy acid in some moisturizers, cleansers, eye creams, and sunscreens.
Salicylic acid (Propa pH or Stridex), which dries up blemishes and causes the top skin layer to peel.
Tea tree oil, which kills bacteria. You'll find tea tree oil in some gels, creams, and oils.

Other products that may help your overall skin condition include skin pore-cleaning strips. When you peel these sticky strips off your skin, dirt and/or makeup is removed by the strip.

You'll have better results if you follow the directions for using topical medicines. If you use a product too often, acne can get worse.

Skin Care Tips for Teens

Many teenagers struggle with acne due to their changing hormones. Here are some skin care tips to help teenagers achieve the best possible results for their skin.

Take care when choosing cosmetics: Cosmetics like foundation, blush, and moisturizer should be oil-free. Chose products that do not promote the formation of blemishes or cause blocked pores. Ask a qualified sales person or a dermatologist which skin products would be best for your skin type.
Don't pick your face: If you pick, squeeze, or pinch blemishes, you risk developing acne scars. Don't rub or touch blemishes.
Be gentle with cleaning: Hard scrubbing will only make your skin condition worse. Gently wash your skin with a mild cleanser in the morning, at bedtime, and after heavy exercise. Avoid rough scrubs or pads. After you wash your skin, rinse it thoroughly.
Use sunscreen (SPF 30 or more) regularly: The sun can damage the skin and promote premature aging; therefore, daily use of sunscreen is recommended. Although a tan or sunburn can make the skin feel less oily, the benefits are short-lived. Remember that some acne medications, as well as some other medications, can make you more prone to sunburns. For this reason, use sunscreens all of the time. Re-apply sunscreen when you are in the sun for prolonged periods of time.
Be careful when shaving: Avoid the accidental nicks of blemishes by shaving lightly and only when you have to. You can experiment with different razors to find the one that is more comfortable for your skin.

Source: WebMD

Halitosis - Causes and Risk factor

2011-03-11T18:06:00.001+01:00

Halitosis is usually caused by simple things you can do something about. Some illnesses can cause bad breath, such as kidney or liver failure (in fact, doctors are taught to smell their patients' breath to look out for these), but if you're otherwise well it's unlikely these are causing your problem. If you're worried, though, check with your GP.

People often laugh at bad breath, but it's a serious problem and can lead to social isolation, divorce and even suicide.

causes and risk factors

The bad smell is usually caused by chemical molecules containing sulphur. These are produced when bacteria that live in the mouth break down protein in the diet.

Other factors are important, too, including:

Tooth decay and gum disease - these are the main causes of bad breath. Make sure you have regular dental check-ups and see a dental hygienist. Brush your teeth twice a day and after meals with a toothpaste that inhibits bacteria, and try using a mouthwash. Look for mouthwashes that combine oil and water components, which may be more effective because bacteria and sulphide compounds are more easily dissolved in oil than water.
Smoking - this is one of the most common causes of bad breath, especially because it can lead to gum disease. Stop smoking if possible.
Diet - many types of food can cause your breath and sweat to smell unpleasant. Garlic is the best-known culprit, but strong spices (especially cumin) and herbs can also cause a problem. Try changing the types of food you eat.
Dry mouth - this can be caused by general illness, medicines and simply not drinking enough. Drink plenty of fluids to wash through your mouth, and increase saliva flow by chewing sugar-free gum. Saliva helps to neutralise the acids produced by bacteria and helps to prevent tooth decay.

Bad breath is something we all worry about and sometimes those concerns get out of hand. If you're aware of your bad breath and doing what you can about it, it may not be as bad as you think. The worst bad breath is usually found in people who neither know nor care, and neglect important factors such as dental hygiene.

Very rarely, people worry so much that they develop a psychiatric condition called delusional halitosis. This tends to affect young men and is linked to depression (in one report, a patient with this condition used up a tube of toothpaste every four days in his despair).

Source: BBC - Health

8 Secretly Super-Salty Foods

2011-03-11T17:24:00.001+01:00

Salt adds flavor to foods, but too much can wreak havoc on your health. Watch out for these foods to avoid sodium overload.

Raw Chicken
Salt solutions are pumped into chicken parts to plump them up. Check the label for fine print that says something like "10% broth solution." That means you can expect as much as 60 mg sodium in one chicken breast. Look for chicken that doesn't come with an added broth solution.

Noodles
Italian pasta is fine. But plain Japanese somen noodles carry 280 mg sodium per cup, without the salted broth they're usually served in. Even worse: seasoned ramen noodles, at 1,434 mg per package. Switch to soba noodles, at only 68 mg per serving.

Precooked Frozen Shrimp
It's just steamed shrimp, right? Wrong. Most cooked, frozen shellfish in stores was processed with salt. Expect about 222 mg sodium for 3 ounces. Buy yours at the fish counter; they'll even steam, peel, and devein the shrimp for you.

Frozen Dinners
A Swanson Hungry Man Meatloaf Dinner weighs in with 1,870 mg sodium. Even though it sounds innocuous, Uncle Ben's Spicy Beef & Broccoli Rice Bowl contains 1,550 mg, thanks mostly to soy sauce. If you insist on the convenience of Uncle Ben, try his Sweet & Sour Chicken Rice Bowl instead, at 620 mg, which is still rather high. Your best bet is to cook up your own stir-fry.

Cornflakes
A big bowl (2 cups) of this all-American breakfast cereal has 532 mg sodium. Better options: whole-grain cereals. For example, a chunk of shredded wheat has only 6 mg; 2 cups of cooked oatmeal has less than 5 mg.

Ketchup and Mustard
Ketchup has 167 mg per tablespoon; mustard, 168 mg. Spread 'em thin.

Cottage Cheese
This popular protein source has 918 mg sodium per cup. Low-sodium versions contain just 29 mg. Or substitute hard cheese and some milk.

Smoked Trout, Salmon, or Turkey
Smoke is what you taste, sodium is what you consume. Before they're smoked, these foods are soaked in a salty brine. Smoked salmon has more than 600 mg sodium in a 3-ounce serving. Limit the smoked stuff to special occasions.

Source: Yahoo Health

Hiccups - Causes and Treatment Options

2011-03-09T21:57:00.001+01:00

Hiccups occur when the diaphragm suddenly and involuntarily contracts (tightens), resulting in a hiccup sound being produced at the top of the trachea (windpipe). The medical name for hiccups is "singultus".

The diaphragm is a thin membrane of muscle that separates the chest cavity from the abdomen (tummy). It is underneath the ribcage and helps to control breathing.

Hiccups are a reflex action, which means that you do not have any control over them. Hiccups are not usually serious and in most cases they only last for a few minutes.

Persistent and intractable hiccups

In rare cases, hiccups can last for a long time. Hiccups that last for more than 48 hours can be categorised into:

persistent or protracted hiccups – a bout of hiccups that lasts for more than 48 hours
intractable hiccups – a bout of hiccups that lasts longer than a month

How common are hiccups?

Hiccups are common and most people will get them at some point during their life. They can affect people of any age, including babies. Men and women are equally affected by episodes of short-lived hiccups.

However, for reasons that are unclear, persistent and intractable hiccups are more common in men. Intractable hiccups are more common in adults. These types of hiccups can be very tiring and upsetting, and they can make eating and drinking difficult.

It is important to remember that persistent and intractable hiccups are very rare and are usually caused by another underlying health condition. In 80% of cases of persistent or intractable hiccups, a cause can be identified. The remaining 20% of cases usually have a psychological cause. S

Outlook

Most hiccups will pass quickly and usually only last for a few minutes. Treatment is not usually required.

However, in cases of persistent or intractable hiccups that last longer than 48 hours, further investigations are needed to identify the cause and appropriate treatment.

CAUSES

Short-term hiccups

Most cases of hiccups occur for no apparent reason. Everyone experiences a short bout of hiccups from time to time. This is perfectly normal and nothing to be concerned about.

The most common causes of short-term hiccups are:

consuming large amounts of alcohol
excessive smoking
a bloated stomach – usually as a result of eating or drinking too quickly
a sudden change in room temperature
a sudden change in the temperature inside your stomach

Sometimes, short-term hiccups may also occur as a result of:

shock
stress – the feeling of being under pressure
excitement

See below for more information about psychological factors that can cause hiccups.

People experiencing short-term hiccups usually get better without the need for treatment.

Persistent and intractable hiccups

In rare cases, persistent and intractable hiccups can be caused by a more serious underlying condition, such as gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) (see below). However, in other cases the cause of hiccups remains unknown (idiopathic).

Several conditions can cause hiccups. However, even with testing and investigation an underlying cause can sometimes not be identified.

Possible underlying conditions

Some of the conditions that can potentially cause long-term hiccups include:

gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) – a condition where stomach acid flows back into the oesophagus (gullet)
gastroenteritis – a stomach and bowel infection that causes repeated diarrhoea (loose, watery stools)
small bowel obstruction
gastritis – inflammation of the stomach
pharyngitis – a sore throat that is usually caused by a viral or bacterial infection
laryngitis – inflammation of the voice box (larynx)
goitre – swelling of the thyroid gland
hypoglycaemia – low levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood
diabetes – a long-term condition caused by too much sugar (glucose) in the blood

Medication

Persistent hiccups can sometimes be caused by a reaction to certain types of medication. For example:

anaesthesia – medication that is given before a surgical operation or procedure that causes a loss of sensation
corticosteroids – medication that reduces inflammation (swelling)
benzodiazepines – a type of sedative that helps to reduce anxiety
barbiturates – a type of sedative that are sometimes used to prevent seizures (fits)
opioids – medication that is used to treat pain; morphine and methadone are both strong opioids
methyldopa – medication that is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension)

Psychological factors

Persistent hiccups are sometimes associated with psychological factors. For example, they may occur as a reaction to a strong feeling or emotion such as:

shock
fear
grief
excitement
hysterical behaviour
anxiety
stress

Possible complications

Prolonged hiccups can sometimes cause a number of complications. For example, in some cases it can lead to:

insomnia
weight loss, due to difficulty eating
exhaustion
depression

Treating hiccups

Most cases of hiccups do not require medical treatment and will usually stop after a short period of time.

Self-care

However, there are a number of things that you can try which may help to stop your hiccups. These include:

slowly sipping ice-cold water
holding your breath for a short period
gently placing pressure on your nose while swallowing
gently placing pressure on the diaphragm
gargling with water
biting on a lemon
swallowing granulated sugar
drinking from the far side of a glass
tasting vinegar
breathing into a paper bag (never place a bag over your head)
holding your breath for short periods
pulling your knees up to your chest
leaning forward to compress your chest

Treating underlying conditions

If an underlying health condition is causing your hiccups, treating it will help to resolve the problem. If your hiccups are persistent, or last for longer than 48 hours (intractable), your GP will investigate whether an underlying condition may be causing them.

Some conditions that cause persistent and intractable hiccups may need to be assessed and treated by a specialist. If this is the case, your GP will refer you to the appropriate healthcare professional, who will carry out further investigations and recommend appropriate treatment.

Medication

If your hiccups last for 48 hours or more, and your GP feels it is appropriate, you may be prescribed medication. If your child has persistent or intractable hiccups, they will usually have to visit a specialist before being prescribed any form of medication.
Medication for hiccups is often only used when other forms of treatment have failed or if no underlying cause can be found.
Some medicines that you may be prescribed for the treatment of long-term hiccups include:

chlorpromazine
haloperidol
baclofen
metoclopramide
gabapentin

Your GP will usually prescribe a two-week course of medicine for you and they may gradually increase the dosage until your hiccups are brought under control. The length of time that you will need to take the medicine for will depend on your individual circumstances, including:

your age
your general health
the severity of your hiccups

All medicines can cause side effects. Therefore, before taking any, seek advice from your GP or pharmacist about any potential side effects you may experience.

Source:NHS

Tips for Stronger Erections

2011-03-08T22:07:00.001+01:00

1. Eat Blackberry Jam on Your Toast

Dark fruits like blackberries, bilberries and elderberries contain high levels of anthocyanins, ultrapowerful antioxidants that could act as erection insurance.

Quick science lesson: Your penis' ability to rise and shine depends, in part, on the availability of nitric oxide, a blood-vessel-dilating chemical. When too many free radicals are present in your bloodstream, nitric oxide goes down-and so does your penis. Enter anthocyanins. These potent antioxidants attack free radicals before they have the chance to lower nitric oxide levels.

Here's proof of their power: Indiana University researchers in the USA found that arteries treated with anthocyanins retained high levels of nitric oxide even after being flooded with free radicals. "Antioxidants help keep free radicals under control so nitric oxide can do its thing," says Dr David Bell, the lead study author. And that "thing" is giving your penis the blood it needs to turn excitement into an erection.

2. Shut Down the Smokestack

If you still light up, you've probably accepted your increased risk of heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, and bladder cancer. But how about dying young and impotent? A study published in the Journal of Urology found that smoking causes arterial damage that doubles a man's risk of total erectile dysfunction. The good news: "If men quit in their 50s or earlier, we can usually reverse the damage," says Dr Andre Guay., director of the Lahey Clinic for Sexual Function, in Massachusetts, USA.

When Dr Guay measured nighttime erections in 10 impotent smokers (average age 49), he noted a 40 per cent improvement after just 1 smoke-free day. Swap the cancer sticks for fish sticks: Researchers at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland discovered that taurine, an amino acid found in fish, helps heal smoke-damaged arteries.

3. Become a More Sensitive Guy

Everyone knows stress is a psychological cold shower. But untamed tension also works in a more insidious way—by releasing epinephrine, a type of adrenaline that goes straight to your arteries and slowly wreaks havoc there. "Stress in the long term can contribute to hardening of the arteries," says Dr Jones, who is author of Overcoming Impotence: A Leading Urologist Tells You Everything You Need to Know.

In a great medical irony, being hard in the arteries can leave you soft in the shorts. The fix: Force yourself to concentrate on each of your five senses for a few minutes every day—the feel of the steering wheel in your hands, the sound of the engine revving to redline, the sight of the hot brunette in the next car . . .

"Obsessing on stressful thoughts will increase your epinephrine," says Dr Jay Winner author of Stress Management Made Simple. "On the other hand, if you focus on current sensations, it decreases the epinephrine and ultimately improves your ability to have an erection."

4. Stop Sawing Wood

Snoring can sabotage a night of sex, and not just because it's difficult to engage in foreplay from the couch. "All of your tissue needs oxygen to be healthy, and the penile tissue is especially sensitive," says Dr Jones. "When you snore, you're depriving your tissue of that oxygen."

That said, don't waste your money on over-the-counter snore stoppers; research by the U.S. Air Force shows that these products aren't effective. Instead, try placing bricks under the bedposts at the head of the bed. "Snoring has a lot to do with gravity," says Dr Phillip Westerbrook, founder of the sleep-disorders centre at the Mayo Clinic in the USA. "If you elevate the torso without bending the neck, it changes the effect of gravity on the soft tissues of the throat."

5. Eat a Dark-Chocolate Bar

It's erection medicine. Dark chocolate contains epicatechins, flavonoids that trigger the release of dilating chemicals in the inner, or endothelial, layer of the arteries. How much should you munch? A University of California at San Francisco study shows that those who ate a 45 gram dark-chocolate bar each day increased their blood-vessel dilation by more than 10 per cent.

While the study wasn't done specifically on erectile tissues, anything that benefits your body's endothelial system will likely benefit your erections, since the penis is made up largely of endothelial surfaces. "Keeping those surfaces healthy is crucial to good arterial flow," says Dr Kevin McVary, a professor of urology at Northwestern University in the USA.

6. Lower Your Estrogen

Calculate your body-mass index. If your BMI comes in close to or over 25, you may be carrying just enough lard to drag down your erections. "We know that heavier men convert testosterone to estrogen, and that a lower level of testosterone and a higher level of estrogen are not good for erectile function," says Dr Larry Lipshultz, chief of male reproductive medicine and surgery at Baylor college of medicine.

Fortunately, even moderate weight loss can rid you of excess estrogen and put your sex life back on track. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that one-third of clinically obese men—BMI 30 or higher—with erectile dysfunction showed improvement after losing 10 percent of their body weight.

7. Build a Stronger Floor

Go figure—one of the best ways to treat erectile dysfunction is to pretend that you suffer from premature ejaculation. British researchers discovered that the traditional treatment for a hair trigger—strengthening the pelvic-floor muscles—is also a remedy for men who can't point their pistols. In the study of 55 impotent men, 40 per cent of those who practiced pelvic-floor exercises, a.k.a. Kegels, every day for 6 months regained normal sexual function.

Apparently, the same muscle contraction that's used to stop peeing midstream can also prevent blood from escaping during an erection. "Unless they have severe back pain, all men with ED can perform pelvic-floor exercises," says Dr Grace Dorey, the study author. Here's the workout plan: Contract and relax your pelvic muscles anytime you're sitting, although you can also do them lying down. Work up to doing 18 contractions daily, holding each one for 10 seconds.

8. Still Not Able to Defy Gravity?
At this point, it makes sense to consider taking Viagra, Cialis or Levitra to stimulate bloodflow to the penis, says Dr Steidle. And who knows what miracles might happen once you prime the pump a few times? "What a lot of men find is that once they restart these medications, they may not need them for every episode of sexual activity—they may need them only now and then," he says.

Source: Yahoo Life Style

Dr Chris: My top Tips for Good Health

2011-03-05T14:00:00.001+01:00

By Dr Chris Steele

The main causes of death and illness are heart attacks, strokes and cancer. Therefore, any tips for good health must involve reducing the risks of developing these diseases.

1. Stop smoking

Cutting down or changing to a milder brand is not the answer. See your doctor or pharmacist for advice and help.

If there is a history of high blood pressure, heart attack or stroke in your family you should have the following three 'risk factors' checked by your GP or practice nurse, especially if a relative has died before retirement from any of these problems.

2. Blood pressure.

If your blood pressure is high you might have further tests and then receive the appropriate treatment from your GP or he might want to refer you to a specialist.

3. Cholesterol

A simple blood test will reveal the level of your cholesterol - the ideal is 5.2. Higher levels will need to be lowered by dietary control or medication.

4. Diabetes

Diabetics are more at risk of getting heart attacks, strokes and many other disorders. This can be diagnosed by having a sample of urine tested with a simple ‘dipstick' by your GP/nurse.

5. Obesity

If you are 20% over your ideal weight you are classed as obese. Being overweight not only puts you more at risk of developing heart attacks and strokes, but also increases your chances of getting certain cancers (breast, cervix, colon, rectum, prostate), arthritis, hernias, diverticulitis and even cataracts!

Weight loss is best achieved by dieting along with an increase in your daily exertion or exercise. These changes must be permanent life style changes, in order to achieve permanent weight loss.

6. Stress

Try to reduce stress in your life or counteract its effects by setting time aside just for yourself. Pursue a relaxing hobby, listen to self-relaxation tapes, try yoga, find out what pastime gives you pleasure and then do it! Your pharmacist might even recommend a harmless herbal or homeopathic remedy.

7. Exercise

Apart from helping obesity, exercise has many other beneficial effects e.g. it strengthens bones so preventing osteoporosis (brittle bone disease), it improves circulation, strengthens the heart, can help reduce blood pressure, and of course makes you feel good and more positive.

Walking for 30 minutes, non stop, every day is a simple yet worthwhile exercise, but do ask your doctor's advice before embarking on any exercise routine if you have not exercised for some time.

8. Eat fruit and vegetables

Increase your intake of fresh fruit and vegetables. Research has shown that dark green and orange fruit and vegetables (cabbage, spinach, carrots, red peppers) reduce the risk of cancers and heart disease.

9. Eat fish

Eat plenty of fish, especially herring, tuna, mackerel, pilchards and sardines as these are high in certain oils that have found to reduce risk of heart attack, and possibly arthritis.

10. SOS

If you notice any lumps or bumps see your doctor. Or if any new symptom arises e.g. weight loss, or any old symptoms do not go away, seek your doctors advice e.g. basic persistent indigestion might be something more serious.

Summary

Stop smoking
Blood pressure
Cholesterol
Diabetes
Obesity
Stress
Exercise
Fruit and vegetables
Fish
SOS

Source: Yahoo Life Style

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2011-02-27T00:00:00-08:00