Archive for September, 2010

The Harmful Collocations of Foods

Nowadays, more and more people pay great attention to the health care. They want to defer the aging and keep themselves healthy to the full extent. People think that they can be healthy if they always eat the nutritional foods in everyday life. In fact, this view is not proper. The wrong collocations of nutritional foods can also seriously endanger the human health.

The first wrong collocation is composed of seafood and beer. Seafood usually contains purine and orsellinic acid, while beer contains vitamin B1 which can decompose the two kinds of substances contained in seafood. If people drink beer when they are eating seafood, the toxic substances can be integrated inside the human body to increase the content of uric acid in the blood so as to cause the lithangiuria. If the metabolism is not good, people can even get gout and gouty arthritis.

The second improper food group is composed of ham and lactic acid beverage. People like to eat ham with lactic acid beverages together, which is very dangerous. The nitrate contained in ham can be integrated with organic acid contained in beverages to produce nitrosamine, a kind of carcinogenic substance. Therefore, people should get rid of this eating way to decrease the risk of getting cancer.

The third wrong collocation is composed of radish and orange. Radish can produce a kind of substance called “thiocyanic acid” which can resist the thyroid gland. The flavonoid contained in fruits like orange can be transformed into thiocyanic acid to restrain the normal functions of thyroid gland after the decomposition of bacteria in the intestinal tract. Then goiter can be caused.

The fourth wrong food group includes milk and chocolate. Milk contains abundant protein and calcium, and chocolate contains oxalic acid. When people eat these two kinds of food together, calcium contained in milk can be integrated with oxalic acid to produce calcium oxalate which can not be dissolved in water. Calcium oxalate can not be absorbed by the human body and the symptoms like diarrhea can be caused to affect the normal growth.

The fifth unhealthy food group includes spinach and bean curd. Bean curd contains magnesium chloride and calcium sulfate, and spinach contains oxalic acid. The intake of spinach and bean curd can cause the production of magnesium oxalate and calcium oxalate. These two kinds of products can not be absorbed by the human body. The absorption of calcium can be affected and calculus can be easily caused.

Chiari Malformation

Arnold Chiari (pronounced key-are-ee) Malformation is a rare malformation of the brain located in the area where the brain and spinal cord connect. This malformation occurs when the cerebellum is too large to fit within the confines of the skull.

When the cerebellum is over-sized, the cerebellar tonsils are forced to extend down into the spinal cord canal through the small opening in the base of the skull. As the cerebellar tonsils elongate, they may restrict or cut off the normal flow of cerebro-spinal fluid of the brain and around the spinal cord as well as apply pressure to the brain stem and the top of the spinal cord. This condition is usually a congenital abnormality but there have been a few reported cases of spontaneous development due to trauma.

According to the Duke Center for Human Genetics, “The affected regions of the brain are the lower brainstem and cerebellum. The lower brainstem controls breathing, swallowing, balance, the vocal cords, eye movements, and sensation and movement of the arms and legs. The cerebellum’s most important function is to coordinate body movements.”

The symptoms of Chiari vary with each individual and are quite extensive. Most commonly, Chiari patients have some or all of the following symptoms:

  • Headache in the back of the head that may radiate behind the eyes and into the neck and shoulders.
  • Disordered eye movements, vision changes.
  • Dizziness, autonomic symptoms (orthostatic intolerance, NMH).
  • Muscle weakness.
  • Unsteady gait.
  • Cold, numbness and tingling in the extremities.
  • Chronic fatigue.
  • Tinnitus (ringing, buzzing or watery sounds in the ears).
  • Sleep apnea.
  • Speech impairment.
  • Hearing loss.
  • Gastrointestinal problems, irritable bowel syndrome, frequent urination.
  • Lack of gag reflex, difficulty swallowing.
  • Symptoms are exacerbated by exertion, and especially by leaning the head backward or coughing.
  • and the list continues beyond the symptoms listed above…
  • Some patients with Chiari have no visible symptoms. For these patients, careful monitoring by a neurologist or neurosurgeon is all that is needed. These patients may live a full life with no adverse effects appearing. Other patients with the adult onset variety of Chiari Type-I will begin to exhibit symptoms in their late 20’s or 30’s. For most people who are exhibiting symptoms, surgery is the only option available to help stop the progression.

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    Generally, the surgery is meant to decompress the area of the brain that is being squeezed. Surgery to correct the malformation may not be able to reverse any neurological damage that has already been done. Once the pressure has been relieved, the patient may see some of their symptoms lessen or disappear.

    The long-term effects of the surgery are still being studied. However, surgeons will not guarantee that symptoms will disappear after the surgery, or that symptoms, either old or new, will not return in the future. The main goal of the surgery is to attempt to prevent the patient from worsening from their current neurological status. For some patients, a second decompression surgery will be needed some years after the first surgery was completed.

    As a person living with Chiari, I can not stress enough the importance of finding and staying with a neurosurgeon that specializes in dealing with Chiari. This is a complex disease. Receiving the wrong medical advice can be extremely detrimental to your health. To find qualified medical care near you, I suggest that you join a Chiari support group and ask the other members for their help and guidance.

    
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    Sign of Alcoholism

    Are you trying to find what a sign of alcoholism is? It’s, certainly, a topic of great alarm that using up of alcohol is on a gentle rise everywhere in the globe, indicating the robust chance of the expansion of alcoholics. What started firstly as a social drink quickly changes fashion and standing on the way to top gear and matures as a severe habit. The tale from there on can be actually dreadful to narrate. However, recognizing the signs of alcoholism half manner through can be helpful for the particular person to bear cure efficiently.

    It is just with the cooperation of the particular person that conquering dependancy is possible at any stage. For these who want to get out of the behavior, it’s superb to take action with the beginning of withdrawal signs. Craving, loss of management and physical dependence on account of alcohol mistreatment are the first signs of this addiction.

    Going with no drink can be one thing he/she can not think about resulting from craving and often turns into irresistible. Quickly, the particular person happens to lose management on almost every part as he/she fails to control the compulsion to drink.

    Withdrawal signs like irritation or anxiety start creating when the regular drink is no extra accessible thus leading to physical dependence. When a person develops any of those signs of alcoholism, it leads to a widening hole between the physique and the brain which finally leads to unruly activities.

    There are four alcoholism stages which a person goes through. There are signs that also change the attitude of a person, though gradually. Drinking for enjoyable or to socialize is an indication that always shift positions and drag one near addiction. After all, a negligible part of individuals proceed to carry themselves throughout the self-imposed confines but even for them, it cannot be mentioned with assure that they’ll remain so for ever. Refusing to accept the behavior or lying about consumption is the sign of alcoholism that is motivated by social components like the family or social position.

    One other harmful sign of alcoholism is the stage where the particular person fails to recall what happened after he/she had the drink. This usually leads to doubts and even labels the particular person as anti-social. Notwithstanding the need to give up, when a person finds it troublesome to take action, it’s another sign of alcoholism that calls for intense counseling because the quick-fading willpower to give up must be utilized for rehabilitation without any additional delay. There are a small number of extra widespread signs of alcoholism like an alcoholic father or mother, disturbed childhood or sure occasions that take place within the early phases of life that leads to transformation.

    Ringworm Disease In Children

    It is very common to find people facing infectious diseases. With medicinal development, curing a disease has been made easy and accessible. Today, it is very easy to find podiatry or foot surgery specialists if you have different foot ailments or ankle problems. However, even though medical advancement is making it easy to cure diseases, there is not much difference seen in the occurrence of the diseases. One such example is of ringworm. Even though doctors emphasize on keeping good hygiene, many children are observed to catch this infection.

    The symptoms of ringworm may differ according to the areas of infection. Ringworm on the scalp would start with a small pimple that will grow big with the passage of time. As it becomes larger, it leaves behind hairless patches and makes the hair brittle which eventually breaks off. Yellow crusty patches might also be visible. As for the ringworm on the body, a round and itchy patch may develop on the body other than the head and feet. A ring might also show up and it may clear away hair growth from the area.

    Anyone and everyone can be affected by ringworm. However, increasing numbers of children are exhibiting the disease. The main cause of the disease is poor hygiene and contact with any other infected person or animal. Considering the fact that children tend to have much contact with other children at school, this infection may rise. Similarly, children may use different common items at school such as telephones, gym mats, or shower stalls that can lead to infection.

    Treatment of ringworm mainly comprises of anti-fungal creams and anti-allergens. However, you must never think about self medication. Consult a doctor and follow his advice. It is better that you rush to the doctor the moment you see the initial signs because it is can get much worse if it is not treated in a timely manner. Do not take the infection lightly and consult a physician. If your child has ringworm, there are a few things you need to be careful about:

    • Take the child for regular check ups. The doctor might prescribe the medicine for up to 4 weeks. Make sure you are careful about the daily dosage.

    • Over-the-counter creams are ideal for scalp ringworm. Apply them on the infected area and wash your hands.

    • Ask your doctor about a shampoo that will be least irritating to children’s skin. Use this shampoo on the child’s hair at least twice or thrice a week. You might also consider using the over-the-counter creams with the shampoo.

    • Inform the school teachers of the infection.

    • Keep pets away from the child.

    • Make sure you regularly clean the common-use items in your house.

    • Keep the combs, brushes, hats, caps, hair bows, and clips separate for each member of your family.

    • Tell your child to wash his/her hands when he/she combs their hair.

    The easiest way to cure any disease is to prevent it. Most fungal infections can be prevented if you emphasize on good personal hygiene. Keep up a good hygiene and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

    Causes and Treatment for Neuropathy

    Nerve damage happens in a variety of ways and is considered a disease or inflammation that damages the peripheral nerve cells, which connect to the brain or spinal cord. Damage resulting in Neuropathy can happen by:

  • Trauma to certain area of your body where nerves cells have been damaged or pinched can cause excruciating pain leaving the injured area with numbness, tingling or burning sensations.
  • Systemic diseases are disorders that affect a person’s whole body and can cause peripheral neuropathy. People suffering from diabetes may fall into this category.
  • Infections and autoimmune diseases can render a person with nerve damage as a result of the bacteria attack the nerve tissue.
  • Inherited forms of peripheral neuropathy might be imbedded in a person genetics and begin to manifest itself in their early adult years.
  • Neuropathy and the effect on your life

    With any illness a person experiences some limitations and set back to their normal daily routine. Imagine having an almost crippling limitation such as diabetic neuropathy that creates a burning feeling in their feet, hands and legs making it nearly impossible to carry on with normal day to day activities. Neuropathy in feet can cause intense pin and needle like pricking feelings in their foot as well as loss of feeling and sensations. This can be a very frightening thing for a person whose job requires them to be on their feet for long periods of time.

    Neuropathy treatment can be sought through medications found in your personal physician’s office; however medication can have side effects and produce only short term relief. Your life has been stilted enough due to your neuropathy why allow your medication to hinder you from fully experiencing a pain free life? You do have other options.

    Treatment Option

    After years of living with almost unbearable pain the idea of finding pain relief seems impossible. Maybe you have tried numerous medications over the last couple of months or years and you are beginning to lose heart. There is hope for you and there is a neuropathy treatment available that will help lesson if not relieve the tingling in your feet and possibly restore feeling to your numb feet. The key is to find good nerve support formula with the right levels of clinically proven nutrients.

    Look for a product that is manufactured in an F.D.A approved facility and contains vitamins such as B1 and B12 that work alongside the Alpha Lipoic Acid to drastically reduce and possibly even eliminate the tingling and numbness caused by nerve damage. Doctors all over the world are starting to notice the improvements that a proper neuropathy support formula is making in their patients. You no longer have to sit on the sidelines watching others enjoy life, kick off your shoes and join in on the fun.

    Living With Restless Leg Syndrome

    Living with restless leg syndrome may prove to be quite a challenge. This condition is considered to be a common medical issue that is both a neurological condition as well as a disorder that affects the natural sleep cycle. Individuals that suffer from this condition typically experience uncomfortable sensations in the legs.

    When the sufferer experiences certain feelings in their legs, they feel that they must move them in one way or another. If you suffer from RLS, you know how challenging it is to try to rest only to be disrupted by the need to move because your legs feel as if they are twitching, tingling, burning, or like “pins and needles” are hitting various locations. In this guide, I will share some basic tips on successfully living with restless leg syndrome.

    Educate Yourself

    The very first step to living with restless leg syndrome successfully involves taking the time necessary to educate yourself on the condition. There are many different sources of information that you may utilize in order to learn about this neurological condition. First, you may ask your doctor if they have any publications on the condition or if they could run you off some information on it from their medical library or the internet.

    You may also ask your doctor any question that you may have pertaining to the condition. You may also find books at your local bookstore and even at the library located in your community. If you would like to have a wide range of information at your fingertips, the internet is also a wonderful resource for material that covers both basic and advanced information on restless legs syndrome.

    Talk to Others

    One of the best ways that you may successfully cope with the diagnosis of restless legs syndrome is to talk to others. First, you will want to start with your loved ones, your coworkers, your neighbors, and your friends. Once you are properly educated on the condition, you should share that knowledge with others that may be affected by your medical condition.

    It is important to reach out to others, educate them, and encourage them to ask you any questions that they may have. Providing information to those that may be there for you when you experience the symptoms associated with the condition is essential. If you are having a hard time with your diagnosis and find it difficult to transition from one day to another, you may also talk with your doctor, your loved ones, or special counselors about your concerns.

    Support Group

    If you suffer from RLS, it is important that you know and understand that you are only one patient of millions worldwide that are also affected. Many support groups exist in your community, neighboring communities, and also in virtual communities on the internet for patients of RLS and their loved ones.

    If you want to live successfully with this condition, it is important that you connect with others that suffer from the complications that you do on a day to day basis. These support groups often offer samples, free to try products, patient resource information, and other tools that may be beneficial to you. If you follow the steps outlined here, you will find that it is easy to live with restless leg syndrome.

    My First Contact With Glomerulonephritis

    I was 24 at the time this happened. I was always careful with what I eat and what I drink so you can imagine the surprise. I remember like yesterday, I was visiting my parents for Easter Holiday. It was a great day, I was meeting with my old friends from back home, things were great with my parents. My mother was cooking my special desert when it happened. I went to the toilet for an usual release. I was freaked out, literally. I just couldn’t believe I was looking at my red urine. Just like blood, it was a color I was not ready for at that time. It is in human nature to have unusual thoughts in situations like this.

    The first thing that came into my mind was pure panic. I thought for some unexplained reason I’m going to die soon. I went to the general hospital and they took some urine sample. After 30 minutes of waiting came the verdict: renal colic. Of course I was not satisfied with this, mainly because I had no pain. That was the most important thing that drove me to further investigate the situation. I went to a specialized clinic. After rigorous blood testing and urine testing they concluded that I need a biopsy. It was crucial to test a sample of renal tissue in order to give me a fair diagnosis.

    The intervention was made with superficial anesthetics, and let me tell you: it hurt like hell. I remained in the hospital unable to move that night, but I was released that after this I will know with no doubt what’s wrong with me. At that point, the hematuria (blood in the urine) has stopped.

    After few days the results were in my hand and I could read clearly: early form of glomerulonephritis. The disease require no special treatment. I have to control the amount of proteins I’m eating, avoid salt drink a lot of fluids. Due to Glomerulonephritis, blood and protein were lost in the urine. I remember one of the signs of this disease is that Glomerulonephritis can cause high blood pressure. My blood pressure was over 150 at that moment. My advice to anyone who experience unusual urine is to further investigate the problem. See as many doctors as you can in order to get a real diagnosis. Glomerulonephritis can cause kidney failure, and that can have drastic results.

    Overview of Alzheimer’s Disease

    An August 23, 2010 article in the New York Times provides a useful and straight forward overview of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) as it is understood today.

    The causes of AD are not specifically known. However, family history is a risk factor. So are high blood pressure, history of head trauma and female gender. Both genetic and environmental factors can cause AD. Early and late onset AD are differentiated.

    There is only one sure way to diagnose AD and that is by autopsy. However, there are clinical manifestations that a physician can use to come to a probable diagnosis. AD must be differentiated from dementia. Dementia includes difficulty with language, memory, perception, emotional behavior and cognitive skills. These problems generally do not interfere with daily living.

    AD symptoms include language problems, misplacing items, getting lost, personality changes losing interest in favored activities and difficulty in performing tasks that require thought. As AD symptoms progress, they do tend to interfere with the ability to care for one’s self. Severe AD includes the inability to understand language, recognize family. Perform ADL’s, incontinence and swallowing problems.

    AD is difficult to diagnose in its early stages. A physician needs to perform blood tests to rule out other metabolic causes for the symptoms. An MRI or CT scan can find plaques and shrinkage of brain tissue in later stages. However, in the early stages, there are little to none of these changes.

    There is no present cure for AD. However, there are some treatments and research is showing promise in slowing and/or reversing the symptoms and physical changes of AD. Currently there are two types of medications used to treat AD. One type increases the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which is low in AD patients. The other drug, Namenda, is a NMDA receptor antagonist that binds to the NMDA receptor. It has been shown that in AD patients, Glutamate excites the NMDA receptor and Nemenda binds to the receptor better than glutamate. Additionally, a Physician can prescribe drugs to help relieve some of the symptoms associated with AD. Many AD patients are taking vitamins and supplements. However, you should check with your Physician before taking any vitamin or supplement.

    The outlook for AD patients is not generally good. Life expectancies are between 3 to 20 years after diagnosis. Late stage AD can last from months to years. AD patients usually die from infections or failure of other body systems. There are many complications with AD. Patients lose the ability to function and get illnesses from being bed ridden ranging from bed sores to pneumonia. Additionally, they suffer broken bones, malnutrition, violence towards others and violence directed at them.

    You should contact a Physician, or other medical professional, if a loved one develops symptoms of dementia, if an AD patient develops sudden changes in symptoms or the AD patient can no longer care for themselves. There is no proven way to prevent AD. However there are some things that can be done to help slow the progression. A person should eat a low fat diet, eat cold water fish high in omega-3 fatty acids 2-3 times per week, reduce linoleic acid, increase anti-oxidants, maintain normal blood pressure and stay mentally and socially active. You can consider taking NSAIDs or Statins, but talk to your Physician first.

    Fibromyalgia – Strengthen Your Immune System

    Fibromyalgia produces acute body-wide pain, which migrates and can be felt throughout the body. It is a mysterious illness that causes the sufferer to experience severe pain in some 18 different muscle groups. It is difficult to diagnosis fibromyalgia because there is no other physical way to detect the disease. There are natural methods that are extremely effective in treating fibromyalgia.

    Prescription medications that control the symptoms of this syndrome are the most common form of treatment. Modern western medicine prescribes to the practice of identifying symptoms and prescribing medications as the method of treatment. Prescriptions are not an attempt to cure fibromyalgia; they are an attempt to manage the symptoms of fibromyalgia.

    Alternative medicine has subscribed to a different philosophy that “The Body has an almost wondrous ability to heal itself”. Give the body what it naturally needs, and the body’s healing processes can be strengthened to heal and fight disease, including fibromyalgia.

    By supplying, all the vital nutrients known to science at optimal levels to the body’s cells, allows the cells to determine what it does and does not need to get well. The potency of the right nutrients in optimizing the body’s natural antioxidant, immune, and repair systems is remarkable. Using this treatment many people with fibromyalgia have had extraordinary results.

    There are three groups of nutrients that work together to strengthen and initiate the body’s healing process. They are vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Most people take some form of vitamins. What most people do not know is that vitamins need minerals in order to work, our soil, food and bodies are mineral deficient. Most vitamins are not absorbed well by the body in the form they delivered.

    Free Radicals from the polluted environment and highly processed foods have been linked to over 70 chronic degenerative diseases including fibromyalgia. Antioxidants repair the damage free radicals cause. Of all the antioxidants, Xanthones found in the rind of the mangosteen fruit are the most powerful and the highest concentrated source in the world. The Xanthones found in the pericarp [rind] of the mangosteen fruit is 3000% more potent than mangosteen juice. For centuries, the Chinese have used the mangosteen fruit for its extraordinary healing properties.

    An alternative medicine baseline treatment for fibromyalgia would include giving your cells all the nutrients they need to help them fight fibromyalgia. The body has a wondrous internal design to heal. Modern lifestyles leave cells depleted of the fuel they need for optimal health, or even the fuel they need to maintain health, let alone fight a disease.

    A scientific blend of 12 full spectrum bio-available vitamins, 65 major, trace and ultra trace, plant derived minerals and 42 Xanthones from the rind of the mangosteen has proven to be an excellent natural treatment with long-lasting health benefits and relief from pain for people with fibromyalgia. People have had amazing results using this clinically proven product to naturally treat fibromyalgia.

    Taking a few vitamins will not be enough. Scientifically blend all the essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants together and take them at optimal levels will. This approach has worked to reverse fibromyalgia; it will also improve immune function, digestion, lower inflammation, and protect your heart.

    Excess Copper in Your Diet May Cause Wilson’s Disease

    I bet that most of you have never even heard of Wilson’s disease. Do you know that most of you consume a lot more copper from the food that you eat than you need. Well, the truth is that you do get a lot more from your food than you need but the good thing is that most of you are able to eliminate from your cells this excess copper (waste matter).

    Now those of you with Wilson’s disease may not be able to eliminate this excess copper due to a deficiency in your ceruloplasmin (a copper carrying protein). Thus your copper builds up in your liver right after your birth and eventually may damage your liver.

    Guys, this is a generic disorder of copper metabolism and it occurs in 1 out of every 30,000 of you.

    Now when your liver is unable to hold your excess copper, that mineral may enter into your bloodstream. This copper then may travel to your other organs and may damage your brain, your central nervous system, your kidneys or your eyes. If this disease is suspected then I recommend that you quickly seek medical treatment. This disease has been known to be fatal if not properly treated and the earlier the treatment the better.

    Now to get a little technical on its causes; Wilson’s disease is inherited from your parents. You must have received altered genes from both of your parents to have developed this. Should you possess only one altered gene then you will never have the symptoms nor need treatment (according to my research). But, you should know that you can pass this altered gene on to your children.

    The gene I speak of for your Wilson’s disease is on chromosome 13 and is referred to as ATP7B. You should also know that all of the many different mutations that this gene can produce are called Wilson’s disease.

    The only known risk factor is if you have a family history of the disease. The symptoms usually appear in you folks under forty. A few of the symptoms are jaundice, depression, anxiety, swollen abdomen, difficulty in swallowing and mood swings, just to name a few. Once again (according to my research) this disease is difficult to diagnose.

    But, if you suspect that you have it, it is important to get it treated early. Tell your doctor about your medical history and your symptoms and she will perform physical and mental exams. And the goal would be to remove your excess copper and stop it from building up in you again. But, as always, the diagnosis and cures must be left up to your doctor. And as always you must eat well to live well.
    I think. I read. I care. I inform. I coach.
    A subject rarely mentioned. But a subject that should be addressed.
    Get back to me.

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