Archive for February, 2010

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

Anemia Cause – Are You at Risk? Have Your Doctor Check Your Cell Count and Get Plenty of Iron!

Comments: 0February 13th, 2010 by admin



Dietary Deficiency: Is There a Connection?

What is anemia and what is the cause of anemia? There are various types of anemia, but in general, anemia is a blood disease. First, let me explain the function of the blood and how it works. The blood has several main functions: 1) to carry oxygen from our lungs to tissues in our body; 2) to carry waste products from the foods we eat; 3) to regulate the ability to clot; 4) to regulate our body temperature; 5) to regulate the amount of water and electrolytes in our body; and 6) to protect us from harmful organisms through antibodies and our white blood cells.

There are 3 kinds of blood cells: red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. The red blood cells carry oxygen, white blood cells fight off infection, and platelets clot our blood. Aplastic anemia is when your body stops producing enough blood cells. If your body stops producing enough blood cells, then you are at risk of bleeding to death (hemopheliacs suffer from this) or you are at risk of getting diseases (AIDS patients are susceptible to this).

So what does diet have to do with any this? Well, although a healthy diet is the foundation of all things, Aplastic anemia, studies show that it can come from the following factors:

a) Radiation during chemotherapy

b) Exposure to toxic substances

c) Auto immune disorders

d) Certain medications

e) Pregnancy

Although the above factors seem to have nothing to do with diet, they are all indirectly related to poor dietary practices.

How Does Loss of Iron Increase Your Risk?

There are various types of anemia and therefore, various causes of anemia. Hemolytic anemia occurs when the red blood cells are destroyed before new ones can be reproduced. Doctors always first look for iron deficiency as a risk factor in patients when they are presented with anemia. There are various symptoms displayed when one has anemia, but more often than not, the most common symptom is fatigue.

The Function of Bone Marrow and Depletion of Cell Count

Another cause of anemia lies in the bone marrow. Bone marrow is responsible for reproducing new blood cells, but when someone has hemolytic anemia, the marrow cannot keep up with its production of new red blood cells with the rate of the premature destruction of the red blood cells. The depletion of cells jeopardizes the patient’s health.

Sickle Cell – What’s the Correlation?

Sickle cell anemia is caused by genetics. The cause of this type of anemia is inheritance. African Americans are often susceptible to sickle cell as they are in contracting tuberculosis (tb). Researchers don’t know why this is.

Normally our blood cells are round and they flow through the vessels of our body easily. Sickle cells are bean shaped, which doesn’t allow them to flow through the vessels. As a result, they get stuck in the vessel and these cells block blood from freely flowing to other parts of the body. The result is pain, serious infections and/or damage to the organs.

In sum, all types of anemia are serious. Although some types of anemia are rarer than others, such as Aplastic anemia, anemia is still a disease of the blood. Given the importance of the function of the blood, it is important that people schedule routine check ups with their physician, get plenty of iron, eat a healthy diet which includes plenty of fruit and vegetables, and exercise.

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in anemia

Recommendations on Ovarian Cyst Treatments

Comments: 0February 13th, 2010 by admin



It’s common to be anxious when you have an ovarian cyst. But what can help you lessen your fear is your knowledge of what kind of cyst on the ovary you have. Ovarian cysts are not actually perilous to health. You can do an ovarian cyst treatment depending on its kind and severity.

You have to consult a doctor as soon as possible once you suspect that you have a cyst on your ovary. He can tell you what kind of cyst you possess. You will feel a relief once he tells you that what you have is functional cyst. It is because this ovarian cyst can be removed even without medical involvement. However, it may come back during your menstruation period.

In this regard, your doctor may recommend you to take birth control pills. This should not make you worry even if it is your first time to use it. By using these pills, hormones responsible for the growth of cyst can be controlled, and the formation of big follicles that may result to ovarian cyst may even be prevented. You should also know that your doctor will surely advise you to refrain from having sex. This is because it may lead to ovarian cyst rupture.

When it’s identified that you have a polycystic cyst, you are dealing with an infertility problem. You must then let your physician know it in case you plan to get pregnant. By taking some form of medications, your desire would be made possible as they stimulate ovulation.

How will you face the situation of avoiding ovarian cyst pregnancy, or the state of handling pregnancy while dealing with a cyst on the ovary? Your doctor may suggest you to go through a treatment using laparoscopy. The function of this instrument is to drain fluid from your cyst. In this case, staying in the hospital during the treatment is no longer needed.

In some situations, however, the doctor may face up of having no choice but to employ surgical procedures. This happens when cyst on ovary is no longer responding to oral medication. Endometriomas, cystadenomas, and ovarian cyst dermoid are involved in these cases. It would be unwise to allow ruptured cyst to develop. You must undergo surgery immediately.

On the other side, a dermoid cyst can be compared to neoplasm in nature. You will notice in your x-ray that this thing bears teeth. The only sure way is to undergo surgery.

None would be better than being attentive to your ovarian cyst in an earlier phase. This can help you perform natural remedies as it plays both prevention and cure. If you plan to end up of taking this alternative treatment, it is definitely a good idea to mention it to your trusted doctor. He can even help you to select.

Don’t get nervous about ovarian cysts reproductive problems. Although, it is important to be attentive of its symptoms so that you can immediately ask for the help of a physician, and undergo some ovarian cyst treatments.

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in cancer

Possible Leukemia Causes and Risk Factors

Comments: 0February 12th, 2010 by admin



Leukemia is a disease that is considered to be life-threatening. It requires prompt intervention when discovered, in order to maximize the chances of recovering through specific treatment and therapy. Leukemia is basically a type of cancer of the bone marrow and blood, caused by inappropriate cellular activity. The disease can be of different forms, according to the types of blood cells that cause its development. Also, if leukemia is developing rapidly, it is called acute leukemia, while if the disease is developing slowly, it is referred to as chronic leukemia.

The direct leukemia causes are still unknown. In present, medical science isn’t able to establish the specific leukemia causes. However, a strong connection between certain genetic factors and the development of the disease has been revealed. Leukemia occurs on the background of genetic failure that causes the excessive production of incomplete, partially matured blood cells. Also, leukemia has a hereditary character, allowing the transmission of genetic predispositions to disease from one generation to another. Although many factors are known to contribute to the development of leukemia, they alone can’t be considered leukemia causes.

Despite the fact that statistics indicate a higher incidence of the disease in people that are exposed to some environmental factors of risk, leukemia doesn’t seem to be caused by neither of them in particular. Among the environmental factors that are thought to be leukemia causes, here are some of the most plausible ones:

- Smoking – smoking is thought to increase the chances of being affected by leukemia. Although statistics show that around 20 percent of acute leukemia cases are related to smoking, leukemia also occurs to people that don’t smoke and therefore it can’t be considered a leukemia cause on itself;

- Prolonged exposure to radiation – Radiation is considered to facilitate the development of leukemia. It is believed that exposure to X-rays can be a leukemia cause;

- Prolonged exposure to benzene – statistics reveal that this is a major factor of risk in some forms of leukemia, such as myelogenous leukemia;

- Chemotherapy and cancer treatment – previous cancer treatments and chemotherapy are known to facilitate the occurrence and development of leukemia and can be considered plausible leukemia causes. Within a few years from the completion of chemotherapy and other treatments for certain forms of cancer, most people can develop leukemia.

Among the genetic factors that are considered to be leukemia causes, the following ones are thought to be the most important:

- chromosome abnormalities – some rare genetic syndromes are known to contribute to leukemia causes;

- Immune system genetic problems – a weak immune system is very likely to facilitate the occurrence of leukemia and therefore can be considered a leukemia cause;

- Down syndrome – children born with this syndrome have a very high risk of developing acute leukemia.

The list of possible leukemia causes can continue further, but these are the most common factors that are considered to be interrelated with leukemia. While some of them can be prevented, others reside within the genes and in present can’t be corrected. In future, however, thanks to medical advance, we will probably be able to prevent leukemia and other forms of cancer.

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in leukimia

Genital Herpes Recurrence – Tips to Shorten and Prevent Outbreaks

Comments: 0February 8th, 2010 by admin



Genital Herpes – What Is It?

Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the herpes viruses type 1 (HSV-1) or type 2 (HSV-2). Many people who are infected may not even be aware, as they often have no symptoms or only minimal signs of infection. The condition is contracted through sexual contact. It is possible to contract the virus from someone who does not have a visible sore or who does not even know that they are infected.

What are The Signs or Symptoms?

Signs of the active virus usually include the appearance blisters on or around the genital or anal areas. When these blisters they leave painful sores that may take several weeks to heal. An outbreak can also be accompanied by flu-like symptoms and a fever. Users also typically experience psychological distress. Subsequent outbreaks can appear weeks or months after the first. The severity of outbreaks tends to decrease over time. If you suspect you may be infected, you should visit your doctor without delay.

Is There Any Cure?

The infection stays within the body indefinitely and there is no known cure. The condition can be treated with anti-viral drugs to ease pain and discomfort and reduce both the length and frequency of attacks.

Preventative Measures

Infection can still occur even if a person is not showing any symptoms. The use of latex condoms during sexual activity is recommended. Infected persons should abstain from sexual contact during an outbreak to avoid spreading the disease.

Medication and Treatment

Visit your physician to obtain a proper diagnosis. Your physician can arrange a blood test if required and prescribe anti-viral medication.

Avoiding Recurrence

No one is sure why some people have recurrences of herpes. One trigger seems to be stress-both emotional and physical. Outbreaks may recur when a person is under pressure or their immune system is lowered. To help prevent outbreaks, keep your body strong-get plenty of rest, eat a balanced diet, and learn to cope with stress.

Tips For Reducing Discomfort

1. Keep the lesions clean and dry.
2. Use a hair dryer on the low setting to dry sores that are very sensitive or hard to reach.
3. Wear loose-fitting cotton underwear.
4. Take aspirin or ibuprofen to relieve the pain.

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in anemia

Having Kids With Type 1 Diabetes

Comments: 0February 8th, 2010 by admin



Both my son’s have Type 1 Diabetes and it seems more and more kids lately are developing this mystery disease. But what Is Type 1 Diabetes? According to the Junior Diabetes Research Foundation, they simply explain it this way:

“Type 1 diabetes (juvenile diabetes) can occur at any age, but most commonly is diagnosed from infancy to the late 30s. In this type of diabetes, a person’s pancreas produces little or no insulin. Although the causes are not entirely known, scientists believe the body’s own defense system (the immune system) attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. People with type 1 diabetes must inject insulin several times every day.”

When our oldest, Russell, got sick, we had no idea what the symptoms where. Honestly, we thought he was going through a growth spurt. But is just wasn’t right. He was thirsty all the time, soaked his bed every night, lethargic and eating more then normal but losing weight. I took him to the doctor and they did a simple urine test and checked his blood. At the time his brother was only 4 months old and sleeping in my arms. As soon as the tests came back, the Dr. told me I need to get him to the ER right away! I called my husband and we raced to Children’s Hospital. He spent 1 night in the ICU as his blood sugar numbers where so high and out of control.

We felt guilty waiting so long to take him in, but honestly had no idea what was going on in his body. He spent 4 days total at the hospital (they did move him to a reg. room after the first day) so my husband and I could be educated on how to take care of him at home.

A few short years later, his little brother Brian was also diagnosed weeks before his 3rd birthday. He was showing the same symptoms for about a week or so and so we used his big brothers meter to check his blood sugar. Finally, while on Russell’s 7th birthday, we decided to take Brian to Children’s Hospital as the blood sugar meter kept saying “hi” (meaning his numbers where over 600). He spent 5 days at Children’s Hospital because he also developed a viral infection.

So now we have two kids with Diabetes, two kits, two sets of insulin, meters, syringes, test strips, ect. All the tools of the trade to manage this mystery disease from home. But we do manage it. The kids have taken it on as normal as brushing their teeth.

Both my kids are on Lantus (long acting insulin) and Humalog (short acting). Every morning they each get a shot of Lantus, units are different for each child due to age and weight. The Humalog is given every time they eat food with carbohydrates that fall within a ratio of their target blood sugar. For example, at lunch, my youngest may eat food that ads up to 25 grams of carbs, so if his blood sugar is within its normal range before he eats, his shot will be 1 unit of Humalog. Same applies with his big brother, just a different dosage ratio.

How do we figure out their dosages for Lantus and Humalog? Every three months since the date of their diagnosis, we visit the Endocrine Clinic at Children’s Hospital here in Seattle. Their Dr. takes a blood sample, much like their finger pokes and that will tell her their A1C levels (A1C is a test that measures a patient’s blood glucose level over the previous three months that might also help predict serious health complications like heart attack and stroke).

They also download their blood glucose meters to get a readout of their average blood sugars over the last few months. With this information, she can decide where the peaks and lows are, and where the Lantus and Humalog may need adjusting. Their Dr also has a computer program on the hospital database that helps with the calculations as well as “cheat sheets” we use for each child. You see. They many times have different dosages for the Humalog for EACH meal during the day, for EACH child. A chart for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner (if they eat a snack, for example, mid morning, I use the dosage for breakfast to treat it if necessary).

We’ve been very lucky with Children’s Hospital, they’ve got the best Endocrine team there and have helped us weather many storms through both boys dealing with illness or simply not able to get their numbers under control.

This leads me to another thing we have to watch out for, ketones. Or as we like to tell our kids, we need to fight the “ketone monsters”.

What are Ketones?

Ketones are due to not enough insulin being available to meet the body’s needs. The 2 main causes are illness/infections (the body needs extra energy to fight off a virus or bad cold) or forgetting to take an insulin shot. There are other causes, but the primary ones we’ve had to deal with are the two mentioned. Another bugger, which is worse, is acidosis.

Now acidosis is the result of letting ketones get out of hand. Perhaps insulin isn’t available due to an emergency situation, or the person is simply not taking care of their diabetic needs properly. See, it is not high blood sugar that causes ketones or acidosis; eating sugar does not cause acidosis. Ketones come from the breakdown of body fat. The role of insulin is to shut off fat breakdown. Now if the stress hormones are high or there simply isn’t enough insulin, fat will begin to break down. And the side product of fat breakdown is ketones production. In the early stages, it can be tested with urine. But if left undetected, ketones can also build up in the blood and eventually in the body tissues. When it gets this far, it will result in acidosis (DKA).

For example, my youngest spent a week at Children’s Hospital when he got the stomach flu last February. He was so sick; we couldn’t get him to keep any food or liquid down. Because he wasn’t eating, his blood sugar dropped low, and we couldn’t give him insulin to deal with the heavy ketones because he wasn’t eating. So in turn, he was on an IV drip to help rehydrate his little system as well as supply glucose for his body to work with. Even the smallest amount of long acting insulin dropped him low to the point the Glucagon wouldn’t work (that is an emergency glucose administered through as a shot to help the body draw stores of sugar from the liver). But because we where able to get him in and on an IV drip, he never got as far as DKA.

Our oldest son has also developed ketones because of the flu and or a head cold. His body will have really high blood sugars (only a couple of times has he had heavy ketones and low blood sugars, luckily never needing to be admitted, but did have an ER visit). So we follow a sick day management regimen and different calculations according to how heavy his ketones are so we know how much extra insulin he needs to get his blood sugar under control. As with any illness, lots of fluids, especially water are a necessity but even more so with diabetics.

So anytime my kids come down with even just a sniffel, we’re on them to check for ketones and watching their blood sugars closely. We have test strips that can be dipped in urine that show a color code to how light or heavy their ketones are. Staying on top of their sick day management has prevented many trips to the ER.

What can my kids eat?

Anything! What is so nice about the insulin they’re on; they’re not restricted to how much food or type of food they can eat. We do, however watch how much fat (limited “fast food” and “junk food”) and salt intake because it raises blood pressure as well as threatens the circulatory system. The reason fat restriction is very important because high cholesterol and diabetes are two of the four risk factors for developing heart disease. (The other two for developing heart disease is smoking and family history).

So I make a lot of my own foods for home. I’ve posted many of our favorite recipes at The Poor Chef website. I also input the nutrition information on a program I use at home that gives me the carb amount on home recipes per serving (FitDay.com). Another great resource for food items, especially if you’re eating out (most restaurants now supply nutrition info) is a pocket book from Calorie King. I keep a copy in the car just in case, trust me, having extra resources to go to in a snap is so handy.

What about school?

Again, we are very lucky to have a great school district who supplies a full time nurse. Nurse Alice is the best. We have a system down for my oldest son Russell. I make his lunch and provide all the carb info for what is packed. She just has to add up what he’s eaten and is able to use the “cheat sheets” I’ve provided so she knows how much insulin to give him at lunch time. We talk almost every day about his numbers so I have a complete log for when it’s time to go to the doctor. It’s a team effort and I can use all the help I can get. Brian isn’t quite ready for school yet, but I know he’ll be well taken care of when it’s time.

I can’t say it’s been an easy road and wouldn’t wish it on anyone. But if you’re reading this and have a loved one with Type 1 Diabetes, I hope the information has been of some help. It’s an ongoing education and we’re so grateful to live in a time where medical breakthroughs are happening all the time. Who knows, maybe by the time my kids are in high school, there may be a cure for Diabetes. Until then, we’ll keep managing their care, not let it get us down or hold us back from living a happy and normal life.

For more information regarding Type 1 Diabetes, please visit:

http://www.jdrf.org

“Understanding Diabetes, A Handbook for People Who Are Living with Diabetes”, by H. Peter Chase, MD (aka: The Pink Panther Book)

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in anemia

Effects of Drug Addiction

Comments: 0February 7th, 2010 by admin



Drugs addiction is one of the most vexing and pervasive problems that almost all the countries have faced. The consequence of such addiction can be devastating. The effects of drug addiction are felt on many levels.

Individuals who use drugs experience physical effects due to their drug addiction. People with drug addiction may experience anxiety, fatigue, depression, and a strong desire to use more cocaine to alleviate the feelings of the crash. Many drug users engage in criminal activity, such as burglary and prostitution, to raise the money to buy drugs, and some drugs are associated with violent behavior.

Family and friends feel the effects of drug addiction as well. The user who are preoccupied with the drug usually have changeable mood, which is likely to cause marital problems and poor work performance or dismissal. Drug addiction can disrupt family life and create destructive patterns of codependency.

Drug Abuse affects society in many ways. Drug users are more likely than nonusers to have occupational accidents, endangering themselves and those around them. Drug-related crime can disrupt neighborhoods due to violence among drug dealers, threats to residents, and the crimes of the addicts themselves. In addition, drug addiction will cost billions of dollars each year. Heroin use alone is responsible for the epidemic number of new cases of HIV/AIDS and drug addicted infants born each year. Drug addiction is responsible for decreased job productivity and attendance, increased healthcare costs, and an escalation of domestic violence and violent crimes

Drug addiction has many negative physiological health effects, ranging from minor issues like digestion problems or respiratory infections, to potentially fatal diseases. The effects depend on the drug and on the amount, method and frequency of use. The upshot is that regular drug abuse or sustained exposure to a drug can cause physiological dependence, which means that when the person stops taking drugs, he/she experiences physical withdrawal symptoms and a craving for the drug.

Drug addiction can cause brain damage. Drug addiction affects the way the brain functions and alters its responses to the world. How drug abuse will affect your behavior, actions, feelings and motivations is unpredictable. By meddling in the natural ways the brain functions, abusers exposes themselves to risks they may not even have imagined.

Drugs addiction leads to psychological and physiological dependence. The term drugs abuse is used to indicate the excessive consumption of a drug, regardless of whether an individual is truly dependent on it. Drugs abusers are generally immature, suffering from mental and physical health hazards, emotionally disturbed and psychopathic in nature.

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in Alcohol

Drug Abuse and Alcohol Abuse – The 9 Underlying Causes and 2 Major Reasons They Abuse Drugs

Comments: 0February 7th, 2010 by admin



What are the underlying causes of drug and alcohol abuse? And why do you need to know? If you’re trying to solve a drug or alcohol abuse problem, wouldn’t it be a good idea to find out first what’s causing it? Obvious question right, well maybe not so. Perhaps knowing about the cause to drug abuse is the first step to solving the problem.

Drug and alcohol abusers were all born with various degrees of abilities and inabilities. The less able drug or alcohol abuser are the more dependent they became.

An easy example to show is with children. In their early age, they’re unable to cook, or work for a living. Therefore they depend on their parents to survive.

As children grow, they learn new skills, and as a result, become less dependent on their parents.

The more able children become in dealing with challenges in life, relationships, and work, the less dependant on their parents they become.

Another simple example is an injured person who just broke his leg and is temporarily dependent on crouches until he or she regains their ability to walk.

The problem with alcohol and drug abusers is they lack some natural abilities that are basic and essential to succeeding in life.

Some or all of the hidden causes of addiction fit into one of these 9 situations.

Drug And Alcohol Abusers Have Difficulties With:

PROBLEMS they can’t solve, often the problems multiply when they take drugs. Many have unresolved internal conflicts. Sometimes, family, friends, the police or doctors need to step in to help them out. PAIN – They aren’t able to tolerate disappointment, pain and upset. They immediately try to block out painful feelings and sensations Trust: They aren’t able to be trusted and many don’t trust themselves Promises, they aren’t able to keep their word once given and have difficulty following through on promises Self Esteem: They’re unable to be themselves and express themselves easily Memory, they have difficulties remembering things and often forget Luck, they seem to have awfully BAD luck Goals, they seem unable to reach their goals and give up on their true goals Truth, they have a hard time telling the truth

If a loved one fits into all of these categories, pay attention as you’ll need a program of recovery to save their lives before it’s too late.

Here are the 2 major reasons people use drugs:

To Ease pain To Avoid problems

Many addictions follow accidents, failures, breakups, losses of self respect, giving up on life goals, job problems, . .. . The list goes on. What is common to all these pains and problems is the ABSENCE OF a better solution and an inability to resolve the original problem. Factually, what’s missing was a real accessible solution to the problem in the first place.

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in Alcohol

Normocytic Anemia

Comments: 0February 6th, 2010 by admin



Anemia in its various forms is the most common blood condition in the United States, affecting anywhere between 2 and 10-percent of Americans. Anemia is considered a symptom of disease, rather than a disease in itself.

The body’s ability to sustain the correct number of red blood cells requires cooperation of the bone marrow, kidneys, and nutrients circulating within the blood. If one of these systems is not working properly, the body may develop a form of anemia.

Normocytic anemia is a condition in which the body does not maintain an adequate amount of healthy red blood cells. This reduces the blood’s ability to transfer a sufficient amount of oxygen to the tissues.

There are two forms of Normocytic Anemia. Congenital normocytic anemia, caused by the breaking up of red blood cells, is a condition a person is born with. Acquired normocytic anemia, the more common form, is most often the result of chronic illness or disease. Rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, kidney disease, and autoimmune diseases are some of the diseases that may lead to normocytic anemia.

Normally normocytic anemia will progress slowly. Initially the person may have no symptoms. Eventually the person may become pale, overly tired. As the condition progresses, the person may experience any array of symptoms, including shortness of breath, low blood pressure, a fast or irregular heartbeat, chest pain, dizziness, and/or general weakness.

Normocyctic anemia is diagnosed through a complete medical history, a physical exam, and a routine blood test called a CBC (Complete Blood Count). Among other things, this blood test measures the levels of red blood cells and hemoglobin in the blood. A portion of the blood will likely be examined under a microscope. This will reveal the number of blood cells, as well as the size, shape, and color. Normocytic anemia is the diagnosis given when the patient is found to have a low number of normal-sized red blood cells.

Once diagnosed, the doctor may wish to order further testing to determine the cause of the anemia. Treatment of normocytic anemia preferably targets the root cause. Occasionally, in severe cases, the doctor may recommend a transfusion of red blood cells or shots of erythropoietin. Erythropoietin is a hormone normally produced by the kidneys. Manufactured under various brand names, this medication induces the bone marrow to produce more red blood cells.

A person diagnosed with anemia will need to have follow-up visits with his or her doctor in order to determine the response to treatment. Repeat blood tests will be ordered to monitor the number of red blood cells.

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in anemia

Diabetes Blood Sugar – The Normal Blood Glucose Ranges

Comments: 0February 5th, 2010 by admin



It is a fact of life for diabetics; they need to spend quite a bit of time pricking their fingers and measuring the amount of sugar, or glucose, found in their blood. There are a number of different tests that can be done, and it is now recommended that if you have diabetes you should check your blood glucose levels several times a day. But how do you know whether or not you have normal blood glucose levels? What exactly are normal blood glucose ranges? Are they the same for everyone or are they different once you have been diagnosed with diabetes?

It would be best for everyone, including diabetics, to have their blood sugar levels fall into the normal category. Some people with diabetes, however, find that to be an unrealistic goal. If you have diabetes, you should use the charts as a guide, but you should also make a plan with your doctor that includes realistic goals for you. It is also necessary that you monitor your glucose as your doctor tells you to; it is your best tool for keeping your diabetes in check.

The American Diabetes Association has a diabetes blood sugar chart that includes normal blood glucose ranges for diabetics. The goal is to keep your sugar levels within those ranges all the time.

A1C test.. below 7%
Before meal… 70-130
After meal… less than 180

Included in this diabetes blood sugar chart is the American Diabetes Associations recommends for proper blood pressure. Diabetes is known to affect the cardiovascular system, so maintaining your blood pressure at less than 130/80 is important, too. It is also important to know your cholesterol levels, and to adjust your lifestyle or medications if necessary.

The American Diabetes Association advises:

HDL: greater than 40
LDL: less than 100

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in anemia

Fight Anemia With Vitamins And Over The Counter Products

Comments: 0February 4th, 2010 by admin



Anemia is epidemic in such countries as India, Vietnam and Bangladesh. Although anemia is epidemic among the people of impoverished countries it is also quite common in the United States.

Blood is made up of three types of Cells, red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Red blood cells contain iron-rich protein called hemoglobin that carries oxygen to all of the body’s tissue. Oxygen is required by the body for energy production and for other chemical reactions at the cellular level.

Anemia occurs when you do not have enough red blood cells needed by your body for energy production. You may feel tired both mentally and physically.

When the body is suffering from Anemia the kidneys cannot send enough of a hormone called erythropoietin to the bone marrow because of the lack of red blood cells. The bone marrow cannot produce red blood cells because of the lack of the hormone. Red blood cannot carry enough oxygen to the kidneys for the erythropoietin hormone production.

Because of this round-robin effect, Anemia can become life threading quite quickly. Anemia can be difficult to identify during its early stages because the symptoms may be mild and it can be easily mistaken for symptoms of other diseases or the side effects of medication.

Some of the symptoms of anemia are fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, dizziness, a rapid heart beat, feeling cold, depression, and pale skin. When the brain does not get enough oxygen it can be hard to read, write or perform basic daily activities.

It is important to see a physician if you are experiencing significant fatigue or any of the other symptoms listed above.

Some of the causes of Anemia are blood loss, diseases such as kidney disease or bone cancer. Anemia can also be the side effect of medication, poor died, and vitamin or iron deficiencies.

The most common symptom is fatigue. We all get tired, from time to time, but the fatigue cause by anemia is one of extreme dead tiredness.

Sometimes iron deficiency anemia can cause extreme cravings such as a ravenous appetite for ice. One woman ate a five-pound block of ice and her husband took her to the doctor because her crunching of ice all night kept him awake.

Anemia can be detected by a standard hematocrit blood test. The hematocrit blood test measures the percentage of blood that is made up of red blood cells. Normal hematocrit is between 36 and 50 percent. Anything below 36 percent indicates anemia.

24 to 40 percent of hospitalized patients over the age of 65 are anemic. In a recent study anemic individuals between the ages of 70 and 79 were 28 percent more likely to die over the next 5 years. Anemic patients between the ages of 80 and 89 were 34 percent more likely to die. Anemic patients between 90 and 99 were 48 percent more likely to die.

Many physicians do not take anemia seriously. Physician of the elderly often tell them that anemia is a normal in the elderly and the physicians are failing to treat it. It is shocking to hear of patients complain of the symptoms of anemia, and then here that there physicians say not to worry about their low red blood count. While it is true that anemia is epidemic in the elderly it is not an excuse to leave it untreated.

American elderly are routinely dying from a deficiency of oxygenated blood and yet physicians are failing to recommend dietary supplements or prescribe anti-anemia treatments. Have your blood tested annually, to avoid becoming a victim of this appalling neglect by the medical establishment, and if necessary aggressively pursue some type of anti-anemia strategy.

Common Vitamins and over the counter products can help with treating Anemia such as Iron, Vitamin B, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, L-Carnation, Guarana, and Yohimbe.

Iron is an essential component of hemoglobin, the oxygen carrying substance in red blood cells. Iron is vital for the production of blood by the bone marrow. The single most common cause of anemia is the lack of Iron.

All of the different Vitamin Bs taken together as B-Complex work together as a team to perform vital biological processes, such as energy production and efficient metabolic function.

Vitamin C is essential for defending the body against pollution and infection. It enhances the immune system and aids in growth and repair of bone and tissue.

Vitamin E is known to help the red blood cells to live longer and keep them from breaking down too soon.

L-Carnation increases energy at the cell level by increased fat burning, increases the body’s ability to remove toxic disease-causing compounds and helps cells live longer.

Guarana is a natural herbal supplement used to increase energy and fight fatigue.

Yohimbe is recommended for men and woman who enjoy an active lifestyle.

Always consult your doctor before using this information.

This Article is nutritional in nature and not to be construed as medical advice.

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in anemia

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »