Posts Tagged ‘Gastrointestinal Tract’

Crohn’s Disease and Its Symptoms!

Comments: 0November 27th, 2011 by admin



When you witness an inflammation of the digestive tract then it is known as Crohn’s Disease (CD). Such disease is commonly seen in gastrointestinal (GI) tract. It affects the GI tract right from the mouth region to the anus. It can affect any area of the gastro intestine. The lower part of the small intestine, known as ileum is also affected by CD.

If there is a dearth of protein and fiber in your diet, then the chances of CD is high. People who smoke a lot are prone to such disease. And our natural defence mechanism known as the immune system instead of protecting us will start attacking the intestine. It is said that nearly 20 percent of people with this disease will have a blood relative with some form of inflammatory bowel disease. It is confined to one section of the society and it is commonly seen both in men and women. Various studies have revealed that although this disease in the gastrointestinal tract is common in all ages, individuals of the age group 20 and 30 have a greater risk.

People who suffer from Crohn’s disease are said to have weak immune system. This is a natural defence mechanism and may lead to problems when it gets weak. You may have to undergo a test to assess your blood count. Lack of vitamin B12 causes lower blood count and the patient may suffer from anemia. It is ileum that absorbs vitamin b12 from the food products. Due to Crohn’s disease, ileum gets affected and there is lower absorption of vitamin b12. As a result patients suffer from anemia and lower blood count too.

Abdominal pain, often in the lower right area, and diarrhea are the common symptoms of CD. Other symptoms such as weight loss, arthritis, rectal bleeding, skin problems, fever, inflammation in the eyes or mouth, kidney stones, gallstones and diarrhea may also be evident in few. The disease tends to thicken the intestinal wall with swelling and scar tissue, narrowing the passage and thus results in blockage of intestine. Therefore, it is necessary to detect it at the earliest and treat it. Eating more protein rich foods and fiber foods can bring about a greater relief and reduce the symptoms of this disease. Get into the habit of eating smaller meals which are more frequent rather than bigger meals. Carry out a good exercise regime and sleep well. With all these followed diligently, you can get rid of the CD symptoms.

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Chronic Renal Failure Guide – Prevent Dehydration

Comments: 0October 13th, 2011 by admin



Since vomiting and/or diarrhoea, haemorrhage of the gastrointestinal tract, are some of the features of this disease, together with the use of diuretics in this condition, the patient frequently becomes dehydrated, and his condition may quickly become unstable. This condition is so sensitive, that if dehydration is not attended to immediately, serum creatinine rises in no time, and the patient may even become permanently unstable. Hence, quick oral or intravenous fluids should be given, and if need be, hospitalization of the patient should not be delayed, under any circumstances. If the patient is handled in time and carefully, he will soon revert to a stable state and serum creatinine will also come to its original level.

There are other everyday points to be kept in mind. To avoid the risk of dehydration, fluids should not be stopped in the morning, while taking morning blood samples for various tests or for taking X-rays, etc. Similarly, purgatives are not recommended, which are usually given the night before taking an X-ray of the abdomen, as loose motions may add to dehydration. As far as possible, X-rays etc. should be avoided, and blood samples ought to be collected very early in the morning before the patient wakes up. Further, surgical intervention, even of a minor nature, needs to be carried out with proper hydration with intravenous fluids, both before and after the operation.

Since a patient of CRF passes more urine in an attempt to excrete body waste products, both during the day and night, therefore he feels more thirsty. When more urine is passed during the night (nocturia), he may feel dehydrated/thirsty in the morning, which may bring the patient to an unstable stage. And if nausea/vomiting is also there, this will further add to dehydration, which will make the patient more and more unstable, if the condition is not immediately controlled. This can be prevented to a reasonable extent, if the patient takes a little water after each urination at night, or he takes water when he gets up in the morning.

In view of the above, it may be said that one has to know even the minute details in order to preserve a viable portion of the kidneys, and to prevent further damage to them. However, excessive fluid should not be taken which the damaged kidney may not be able to excrete.

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Which Herbs Will Help Control Your High Blood Sugar Levels?

Comments: 0August 20th, 2011 by admin



Herbal medicine for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, plus a healthy eating plan and daily physical activity, can help you to keep your blood sugar levels under control. Herbs have been used as part of traditional medicine by the vast majority of people on earth for thousands of years. Herbs can do more than just reduce your blood sugar levels, they are also capable of reducing the damaging affects of type 2 diabetes itself.

These are not the only solution that will help you to say goodbye to type 2 diabetes, but why not consider them as a supplement to a healthy eating plan and exercising? Certainly, before you start using some of these herbs, you should consult with your health care provider for direction as to which ones will suit your specific situation.

Natural Herbs Commonly Used by Type 2 Diabetics:

Cinnamon: Cinnamon is one of the best “fighters” against high blood sugar levels and is also highly researched by modern science. Cinnamon has been shown to reduce fasting blood sugars by up to 29 per cent and has a measurable impact on making insulin more effective in your body.

Cinnamon contains no calories, makes insulin more effective and helps food to taste good… why not use it liberally?

Bitter Melon: Bitter melon is a cucumber-like plant that grows in Asia, Africa and South America. From a scientific investigation it has been shown to have the ability to lower blood sugar levels. 15 grams of an extract from bitter melon produced a 54% drop in after meal blood sugar levels… so it should be taken with caution in order to avoid hypoglycemia.

Gymnema Sylvestra: Gymnema sylvestra is a plant native to tropical regions of India and has been used extensively to treat both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. This herb works in several areas to improve diabetes. It has been shown to slow absorption of sugar in the gastrointestinal tract and to also have revitalizing effects on the pancreas. Gymnema sylvestra is one of the most powerful herbs for improving blood sugar control… so you will need to closely monitor your blood sugar levels and discuss what you are doing with your health care provider.

Ginseng: Ginseng is one of the world’s oldest herbs… it is almost a “cure it all”. It works on so many different aspects of the bodily processes. If a person has high blood pressure, then ginseng will often help lower it. If the blood pressure is too low, ginseng will often help raise it to a normal level. It appears to have the ability to correct the body’s processes whichever way they need to go.

Studies on type 1 and type 2 diabetics have shown improvement in both their blood sugar level and their HbA1c percentage.

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Why Folic Acid is Important For Pregnant Women

Comments: 0March 23rd, 2011 by admin



In order to help prevent birth defects, women need to get enough folic acid every day, even if they are not planning a pregnancy. About 4,000 babies are born with neural tube defects (NTDs) each year, and many other affected pregnancies end in miscarriage or stillbirth. This is especially necessary during both pregnancy and infancy when cell growth is extremely rapid. Both adults and children need folic acid to make normal red blood cells and to prevent anemia. According to one study, only 10% of women know that folic acid should be taken before pregnancy.

Folic acid is rapidly absorbed from gastrointestinal tract following oral administration. Peak folate activity in blood is 30 to 60 minutes after oral administration. Folic acid is needed for the development of your baby’s spine and brain in the early weeks of pregnancy.

Folic acid is also required for the production of DNA, which is necessary for the rapid cell growth needed to make fetal tissues and organs early in pregnancy. That is why it is important for a woman to have enough folic acid in her body both before and during pregnancy. Folic acid is a B vitamin used by cells as they grow and divide. The naturally occurring form, folate, is found in spinach and leafy green vegetables, dried beans, liver and citrus fruits. A higher dose of 5,000 micrograms (5mg) of folic acid is recommended for women who have previously had a baby with a neural tube defect, or are taking medicine for epilepsy. If you have a family history of neural tube defects then you should also take the higher dose.

Folic acid is responsible for assuring an adequate supply of thymidylate. Thymidylate is one of four nucleotide bases needed to construct DNA molecules. Folic acid is needed during the first few weeks, often before a woman knows she is pregnant. That is why it is so important to start taking folic acid each day, even when you are not planning to get pregnant.

Folic acid is generally thought of as a “good” nutrient. Mothers who get enough folic acid before and during pregnancy have a far lower risk of having a baby with a spinal birth defect.

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Alcohol Abuse and Its Physical and Emotional Toll on Aging

Comments: 0July 5th, 2010 by admin



Scientific research shows that prolonged alcohol abuse causes a wide variety of health problems later in life. Initially, the most basic concern is that older drinkers show deficiencies in vitamins, minerals, and other key nutrients. That is because chronic alcohol abuse results in abnormalities in how the body processes nutrients. In fact, reduced levels of essential vitamins and minerals are common in heavy drinkers, along with abnormal zinc metabolism.

Further, alcohol abuse can decrease vitamin B12 absorption from the gastrointestinal tract, and block thiamineor vitamin B1 absorption — causing neurological and mental symptoms. These include memory loss, mental confusion, nervousness, poor concentration, headache, damage to the central nervous system, and numbness and tingling in the arms and legs. Alcohol even impairs the abilities of kidneys to conserve magnesium.

Over time, continuous drinking causes sleep disturbances with frequent awakenings, which is associated with daytime fatigue. It can result in gastritis (a burning sensation in the stomach), as well as pancreatitis (the inflammation of the pancreas), along with diarrhea. Prolonged drinking even promotes osteoporosis (a loss of bone density), which is a growing problem in the US.

Advanced brain imaging has shown that alcohol negatively impacts the brain, affecting memory, emotions, abstract thinking, and concentration. Alcohol also depresses the immune system and the body’s ability to destroy cancer cells. For men, alcohol is directly toxic to the testes, as it produces reduced testosterone levels. In some cases, this contributes to breast enlargement in men. Although small amounts of alcohol may help protect the heart by cutting the risk of blood clots, continuous drinking can actually increase the risk of heart failure, stroke, and high blood pressure. Finally, excessive drinking leads to liver disease, fatty liver, hepatitis, and eventually cirrhosis.

The process of aging seems to reduce the body’s ability to adapt to, and process, alcohol. In fact, older adults reach higher blood levels of alcohol, even when drinking the same amount as younger people. This is because, with aging, the amount of water in the body is reduced and alcohol becomes more concentrated in the bloodstream.

As people age, they readily turn to prescription drugs and over-the-counter products to remedy health conditions and allay aches and pains. Currently, more than 2,800 prescription drugs are available in the US, and physicians write 14 billion prescriptions annually. In addition, approximately 2,000 medications are available without a prescription. All the while, more than 70 percent of the adult population drinks alcohol. Yet, mixing alcohol with certain medications is a very serious concern. The resulting chemical reactions can cause nausea and vomiting, headaches, drowsiness, fainting, and loss of coordination. Moreover, it can put one at risk for internal bleeding, heart problems, and breathing difficulties. Mixing alcohol with certain drugs such as sleeping pills, painkillers, and antihistamines, can be very dangerous, and even fatal. At the very least, alcohol decreases the effectiveness of some medications or it can render them totally ineffective.

These revelations are especially troublesome for professionals in the healthcare profession. Surveys indicate that 20 percent of elderly patients in psychiatric wards, and 14 percent of seniors in emergency rooms, have drinking problems. Yet, hospital staff members are significantly less likely to recognize alcohol dependence in older patients and often misdiagnose alcohol-related symptoms as age-related diseases. This can have grave consequences when it comes to medical treatment. For the heaviest of drinkers, long-term alcohol consumption can lead to a serious brain disease called Korsakoff Syndrome, which causes periods of confusion and impaired memory that can be misdiagnosed as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

Given the widespread health problems continual drinking can bring about in seniors, it is vital to carefully monitor and moderate alcohol consumption. When you consider the rapid rise in prescription medicine, over-the-counter products, and prolonged hospital stays among people over 65, family members must take a closer look at drinking behavior. Doing so may prevent additional complications and needless fatalities.

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Pernicious Anemia – A Condition Caused by a Lack of Vitamin B12

Comments: 0January 9th, 2010 by admin



Pernicious anemia is an anemic condition which occurs or happens when an individual’s body or the sufferer is not able to absorb enough of the B12 vitamin from their gastrointestinal tract. The human body requires the B12 to produce red blood cells as well as to maintain the nervous system.

When the vitamin B12 in the body becomes insufficient, the bone marrow is unable to produce red blood cells which divide normally. These cells are then too large and many can not pass through the bone marrow to the body and this creates a shortage of these cells which are needed to carry oxygen throughout the body.

The Symptoms of Vitamin B12 Deficiency as well as Pernicious Anemia

In many cases of pernicious anemia, the condition itself is not diagnosed until after signs of a neurological problem appear. There are many symptoms associated with this type of anemia including those which are typical of all types of anemia and include tiredness and fatigue. Other symptoms include bleeding gums, sore mouth, tongue problems, impaired sense of smell, loss of appetite, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, and a pale skin color.

Other symptoms which may occur and are due to the lack of vitamin B12 can include numbness or tingling in the hands as well as feet, loss of balance, and muscle weakness. In severe cases of a vitamin B12 deficiency it is possible for an individual to experience memory loss, dementia, confusion, and depression.

The Most Common Treatments for Pernicious Anemia

Pernicious anemia was actually given its name due to the fact that “pernicious” is defined as “deadly”. The reason for this was because at one time vitamin B12 treatments were not available; however, at these days pernicious anemia is treated fairly easy by building up the vitamin B12 in the body.

This can be done easily through vitamin B12 shots which are given in the more severe cases of pernicious anemia as well as may be on a daily or weekly basis until the B12 reaches sufficient levels in the body. In less severe cases vitamin B12 pills are usually taken in very large doses. Vitamin B12 is also made available in a nose spray as well as gel which is sometimes beneficial for individuals who have problems with swallowing pills. Prescription medications may also be given to treat this kind of condition which is causing the body’s inability to absorb the B12.

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Certain Key Facts About Anemia

Comments: 0February 3rd, 2009 by admin



One of the most frequent kinds of nutritional deficiencies which are found widely amongst women in particular is the Iron deficiency which is also known as sideropenia or hypoferremia. Iron is a very important nutrient needed for our body and in turn it serves varied purposes and is a major constituent of each cell of our body. It serves the very major function of being the carrier of oxygen between the tissue and the lungs and is present in the form of hemoglobin.

Not only is iron present in the form of hemoglobin but, it is also present as the cytochromes in the cell which acts as the medium of transportation within the cell and iron plays a very crucial role in the enzymatic reactions occurring inside tissues. If the iron content lowers beyond the normal level which is supposed to be present in the cell, then it can result in morbidity and even death of the individual.

One of the frequent conditions arising due to iron deficiency is called anemia which is widely prevalent in pre-menopausal women and children. An average of 3.8 g of iron must be present in healthy men and around 2.3 g should be present in healthy women. There are bacteria which need iron for their proper growth and in case of the dearth of the nutrient it avoids their infectious development and to stop bacterial infections during fever, temporary hypoferremia is created in the body.

Various mechanisms occur inside our body which helps in controlling the iron metabolism happening in our cells and tissues and one of the major regulatory mechanisms is located in the gastrointestinal tract. If the proper compensation of iron does not occur as per its usage in the body, iron deficiency occurs.

Iron deficiency can cause several ailments to the human body such as chronic bleeding, excessive menstrual bleeding, non-menstrual bleeding and bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract such as ulcers or hemorrhoids. In extreme cases which are especially rare, laryngological bleeding which indicates bleeding from the respiratory tract can also occur.

The symptoms of iron deficiency can become visible in the human body even before the condition of anemia sets in. Since iron is used for varied functions, several symptoms of the deficiency can occur either because of anemia or because of the primary occurrence of the lack of iron in the body. The most common symptoms which are widely prevalent in people suffering from this ailment are fatigue, hair loss, pallor, weakness, irritability, pica, brittle nails, etc.

Iron deficiency in the earlier stages can be treated with adequate intake of rich nutritious foods which are rich in iron such as red meat, fish, poultry, lentils, beans, leaf vegetables, tofu, chickpeas, black-eyed peas, fortified bread, and fortified breakfast cereals and also by the intake of iron supplements such as ferrous sulfate, amino acid chelate tablets, etc. Iron deficiency can lead to drastic health consequences if not treated in time and it is better advised that people check the hemoglobin count of their body as often as possible.

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