Glucose, the primary energy source for human and animal cells, is a type of sugar that travels through the bloodstream. Glucose enters your body whenever you eat carbohydrate foods. Glucose levels are regulated by insulin and glucagon. Insulin is a hormone that is produced by the pancreas and released into the bloodstream when glucose levels rise.
Normal glucose levels fall between 70 and 150 mg. Levels typically are lower in the morning, and rise after meals. Blood sugar levels falling consistently above 150 are indicative of hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar. Chronic low levels, falling below 70, characterize hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar. Hypoglycemia is a potentially fatal condition. Symptoms of this condition are lethargy, impaired mental functioning, irritability and loss of consciousness. Persistent hyperglycemia results in diabetes mellitus, which is the most common disease related to blood sugar regulation failure. Diabetes can cause eye, kidney and nerve damage.
A blood glucose test measures the amount of glucose in the bloodstream. Reasons for testing glucose levels are to check for diabetes, to monitor treatment of diabetes, and to check for hypoglycemia. There are several different types of glucose tests. The ‘fasting blood sugar’ test checks glucose levels after an eight-hour fast and is often the first test performed when checking for diabetes. For this test, levels have to fall between 70 and 99 in order to be considered normal. The ‘two-hour postprandial blood sugar’ test measures glucose levels two hours after eating a meal.
Normal glucose levels for this test fall between 70 and 145. Random blood sugar testing checks glucose levels randomly throughout the day, regardless of meal times. If levels vary widely, there could be a problem. Blood sugar levels should be between 70 and 125 in order to be considered normal for random testing. The ‘oral glucose tolerance test’ diagnoses diabetes and predicaments. This tests your blood after drinking a glucose drink. If you think you may have a blood sugar disorder, contact your primary care physician for testing. There are many conditions that can cause a change in your blood glucose levels. Normal results may vary depending on the lab.
The reasons that type 2 diabetes occurs are different from those that trigger type 1 diabetes. Unlike people with type 1 diabetes, who become unable to produce insulin, people with type 2 diabetes produce insulin. But, either the body does not respond to insulin’s action – it’s resistant – or there is just not enough insulin to go around – there’s too much body for the amount of insulin that’s made. Either problem leads to the same outcome: insulin can’t deliver glucose to the cells that need it, and there’s too much glucose in the blood.
Virtually all cells in the body contain special proteins called receptors that bind to insulin. They work like a lock and key. In order for glucose to enter the cell, insulin mist first fit into the insulin receptor. But for some reason, in some people with type 2 diabetes, there is a faulty lock, or insulin receptor. The key doesn’t open the lock, and glucose is shut out of the cell. And in some people with type 2 diabetes, there are not enough locks, or insulin receptors, on the cells to allow enough glucose to enter. But for most people with diabetes, it’s not so much that the key doesn’t fit the lock, but that insulin doesn’t work properly. In rare cases, the insulin is mutated, or built incorrectly, and does not fit the insulin receptor.
In additional to problems with insulin and the insulin receptor, in many people with type 2 diabetes, the beta cells in the pancreas do not produce enough insulin. Without enough insulin to meet the body’s needs, glucose levels raise and diabetes results. Scientists do not know why the pancreas does not function well in these people. Some believe that the system that controls glucose levels in the blood and tells the pancreas to make more insulin does not function properly. Others think that the pancreas, after many years of working overtime, overproducing insulin to overcome insulin resistance, simply begins to burn out.
Although researchers do not fully understand why type 2 diabetes develops, they have uncovered many factors that may contribute to the disease.
For several years now it has been encouraged that seniors receive a flu shot to help protect them from Influenza. Others may wonder how safe the flu shot really is and if it worth the risk to get the shot. You should always talk over your concerns with your doctor and they will let you know if the flu shot is right for you but it doesn’t hurt to do your own research online to discover the risks and benefits of the flu shot. First of all you should know what Influenza is. Influenza is a viral infection that starts in the air passage ways; lungs, nose, and throat.
Symptoms of the Flu
The severity of symptoms depends on each individual but sure signs of the flu include
• Sore throat
• Stuffy nose
• Cough
• Tiredness/Exhaustion
• Headaches and muscle aches
These symptoms can last for up to two weeks. If you begin to feel any of these symptoms you may want to call your doctor so they can monitor your progression. If the flu is left untreated it can turn into pneumonia and that is why it is important to get your flu shot if your doctor recommends it.
The only time you should not get the flu shot is if you have had a negative reaction from the flu shot before, If you have ever developed Guillain-Barre Syndrome right after taking the flu shot, or if you are allergic to eggs. Your doctor may still recommend that you receive the flu shot but they will monitor your condition more closely.
Alternatives
Besides the flu shot you can also receive a flu nasal spray vaccine. This is not for everyone but you may be a perfect candidate for it. There are situations that you should not receive the spray including
• If you are over 50
• If you have certain health conditions
• If you have certain immune deficiencies
• If you have asthma or other breathing conditions
• If you have diseases such as lung, heart, or kidney disease
• If you have a history of Guillain-Barre Syndrome
• If you have ever had a reaction to the flu vaccine in the past
You can still end up with the flu even after taking the vaccination. The older you are the less likely the flu shot is to prevent your from getting the flu. Keep in mind that there are several factors that play a role in increasing your chances of developing the flu. These include:
• If you frequently visit or reside in a nursing home or facility
• If you are over the age of 65
• If you suffer from health problems and conditions that require long term treatment
• If you are under the care of someone who is frequently exposed to other patients who have the flu
The flu vaccination is your best defense from the flu but there are other ways that you can protect yourself. These include taking care of your self by eating the right foods in a well balanced diet, making sure you have enough sleep every night, and washing your hands often. When you go out of the home make sure that you wash thoroughly when you return in case you have come into contact with germs and bacteria while you were out.
Parkinson’s Disease, or PD, is most common amongst the elderly. In most cases, Parkinson’s cannot be predicted or prevented. The disease is a movement disorder characterised by the loss of or slow physical movement, trembling of the arms, hands, legs, jaw or head, stiffness of the limbs and impaired balance.
The non-motor aspect of PD
Apart from the physical symptoms, patients suffering from PD also show signs of mood disturbances. As much as 90% of PD patients suffer from anxiety that consequently leads to depression, abulia or apathy. Parkinson’s sufferers have noted experiencing sleep disturbances causing excessive daytime drowsiness or insomnia.
Cognitive disturbances include dementia in almost 40% of Parkinson’s sufferers. They suffer from short term memory loss, lack of impulse control, prioritising and evaluating the clarity of surrounding situations, varying time awareness and lack of social consciousness. These symptoms of the physical and emotional seem to worsen over time.
In some cases, as the condition worsens, symptoms such as lack of facial expression, speech impediments, difficulty in swallowing, constipation, bladder problems, sweating, sexual difficulties and alterations in their sense of smell.
Disease vs. Syndrome
Although Parkinson’s is referred to as a disease, its definite cause has not been specified. Common causes that have been indicated as being responsible for causing Parkinson’s Disease include genetics, toxins, cerebral anoxia, head trauma and drug related issues. Despite these causes, an ailment qualifies as a disease because of a collection of signs and symptoms which emerge together. In order to qualify as a disease, the problem would have to have a root cause incorporating that a single cure should work in every Parkinson’s case.
Treatment
As such drugs have only been able to improve the symptoms, but have not been able to cure the disease. Some even suggest delaying treatments as the effectiveness of the drug has a restricted lifetime. The main treatment for Parkinson’s Disease has been drugs that include: Propranolol, Primidone, Anticholinergics, Selegiline, Amantadine, Levodopa, COMT inhibitors and Dopamine agonists. Levodopa is the main agent used to treat Parkinson’s and is combined with carbidopa when given in a pill form.
Surgery has also been used in cases where the medication is no longer having any effect in controlling the symptoms. Alternatively, deep brain stimulation is applied. It works similarly to a pacemaker and is implanted in the chest with wires that penetrate deep into the part of the brain that controls motor function, where electrical impulses are sent. So far this has been the dominant treatment with severe cases where medication is no longer effective.
Alternative medicine and Parkinson’s Disease
Alternative medicine and treatments have been incorporated into treatment of the symptoms of Parkinson’s. Exercises such as Pilates, tai chi and yoga help increase body flexibility, enhancing balance and coordination. The muscles of the spine are elongated, strengthened and stabilised through the stretching movements specific to Pilates. This increases blood circulation and balance and improves posture.
Nutrients and herbs are also prescribed in a patient’s diet, but this is to be used solely in conjunction with other treatments. Homeopathy is used for symptoms and can alleviate the trembling, painless paralysis, restless legs, anxiety, depression, arteriosclerosis and general restlessness. Massages help with circulation and to decrease muscle spasms, while acupuncture helps with tremors.
Manual Nerve Release technique, or MNR, has been showing great benefits for Parkinson’s sufferers. Although still categorized as an alternative healing technique, Parkinson’s Disease patients have experienced many benefits due to the treatment. Because MNR is also a somatic healing technique, both the physical and mental aspect of Parkinson’s is treated.
With all this considered, it does show that there is hope for those suffering with Parkinson’s, whether a disease or syndrome. You no longer have to suffer the symptoms and agony of this disease like before.
Stuffy nose, sore throat, body aches. When symptoms arise, it’s sometimes hard to decipher the difference of whether you’re coming down with a cold or flu.
The common cold is milder than seasonal flu and lasts for about a week at the most, whereas the flu and its aftermath can take hold much longer. The flu can also result in serious health problems such as pneumonia and severe respiratory distress syndrome. Both complications can send the person to the hospital, and in some severe cases of the swine flu, possible death.
The common thread of cold and flu is that the preventative measures one takes to improve respiratory health are the same. And with both illnesses, the symptoms can be minimized and duration shortened with several flu remedies.
How To Know If It’s A Cold
The common cold usually begins with a scratchy feeling in the back of the throat, or a sore throat. Symptoms that follow within the next two to five days include a runny nose, chest congestion and a cough. Fever is present often in children, and less likely in adults.
The most miserable part of a cold is usually nasal discharge, starting with watery secretions and sneezing, and becoming darker and thicker as the illness progresses. This is a natural occurrence and does not mean a bacterial infection exists.
For the first three days of a cold, the infected person is contagious. It’s wise to stay home during this period and get plenty of rest. If symptoms do not subside within a week, a bacterial infection may have taken hold that requires antibiotics to clear it from the body.
And It’s The Flu If…
The symptoms from seasonal flu and H1N1 (swine) flu are very similar. They are usually more severe than cold symptoms and manifest themselves more rapidly. Symptoms include a sore throat, fever, headache, muscle aches and pains, congestion and coughing. If the illness is the swine flu, symptoms may include diarrhea and vomiting. As is the case with contracting a cold, the influenza virus enters the body through the mucous membranes of the nose, eyes and mouth.
Flu symptoms typically subside within two to five days, but depending on the person’s immune response, it can take hold longer, making the person to feel run down for several weeks. Pneumonia is one common complication of influenza, most notably in young children, the elderly and individuals who have lung and heart problems. If one experiences shortness of breath, a health care profession should be contacted immediately.
Cold And Flu Remedies That Work
Prevention is the best way to avoid catching a virus. Healthy life habits, flu vaccinations and immune boosting supplements are the best ways to maintain respiratory health. At-risk groups including the elderly and young children under age five are advised by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to get vaccinations against seasonal and H1N1 strains of the flu. Healthy life habits include getting plenty of sleep, staying well hydrated, maintaining a regular exercise schedule and frequent washing of the hands with soap and warm water while in public places are the easiest ways to avoid getting sick and maintain good respiratory health. Adding supplements such as vitamin C, zinc and elderberry extract, in the form of elderberry lozenges, to one’s daily routine is also considered to be one of the most highly effective flu remedies.
Vitamin C and zinc are effective antioxidants that can boost immunity. Elderberry extract has also been demonstrated in laboratory tests to be effective in fighting influenza A and B. In a randomized double-blind placebo controlled study, elderberry extract was shown to significantly reduce the duration of the flu by about four days. Elderberry lozenges are an easy way to get the immune boosting benefits of elderberry extract and have been found to be effective in reducing symptoms of the flu.
The 411 On Cold and Flu
Regardless of which virus you catch, neither is a picnic. Scientifically speaking they aren’t as similar as they feel, but their commonalities are that they both have a negative impact on respiratory health, have similar methods of contraction and require the same remedies to shorten the duration. By practicing good life habits, being vaccinated if you are a member of a high-risk group and supplementing your diet with respiratory health boosters that include vitamin C, zinc and elderberry lozenges, you are taking a giant step in fighting both the common cold and the flu virus.
The health risks linked to obesity are clearly recognized by experts and one of the most common of these is diabetes. Diseases caused by obesity are debilitating, even life-threatening and will result in many people dying ten to twenty years earlier than they would otherwise have done. Perhaps the most shocking aspect of this is the fact that many children and teenagers are becoming obese and as a result some of them will die before their parents. If obesity is the cause, many cases of these serious illnesses are preventable.
What exactly is diabetes and how is it related to obesity?
There are two types of diabetes, the cause of Type 1 is unknown and it occurs when cells in the pancreas which produce insulin are damaged and fail to do their job. This can happen after a viral infection or if a person has had a severe shock. Type 2 diabetes generally occurs in people over 40, often with a family history of the illness and around 80% of the people in this group are overweight. In Type 2 Diabetes, the body does produce insulin, but it either doesn’t produce enough or it can’t use insulin properly. Insulin is needed by the body to convert sugar into energy. Type 2 is the most common form of diabetes in the developed world and is now becoming increasingly common amongst younger people. Symptoms include excessive thirst, frequent urination and tiredness. Diabetes can lead to heart and kidney problems, as well as blindness and so it is important to make sure it is controlled.
Although the causes of diabetes are unknown, scientists have established that there is a definite link between overeating and type 2. Therefore developing a healthy eating pattern and taking sufficient exercise are important factors, both in prevention and disease control.
Anyone who is very overweight is at risk of diabetes. Diseases caused by obesity can, however, be prevented. Adults who are affected should take steps to reduce their weight and parents should teach their children about the dangers and help them to develop habits which will enable them to avoid these in later life.
Everyone is familiar with the standard food pyramid that shows the recommended amounts of food we should eat each day. The diabetic food pyramid is much like this more well known version with the exception that it helps diabetics avoid foods that raise blood sugar levels. It has the seal of approval of the American Diabetes Association and is one of the first steps in creating a diabetic diet plan.
Dietary glucose (sugar) is something all diabetics need to manage closely. The perception that they cannot eat sugar is not completely true but it is something that most diabetics avoid. The severity of their diabetes determines if and how much sugar they can eat from time to time. The diabetic pyramid shows those with this condition which foods to eat and in what amounts to help control blood sugar levels.
Choosing the right kinds of foods is what the pyramid is all about. It gives a quick breakdown of diabetic friendly foods that help manage this disease. This is important when planning meals because it helps with serving sizes around which meals can be created.
The diabetic food pyramid is broken into six categories with the main group at the bottom. These are the foods that diabetics should eat the most of and include whole grains, starchy vegetables, and beans. These types of foods are composed of complex carbohydrates that provide an even sustained release of glucose into the blood stream.
The second rung of the pyramid consists of fruits and vegetables while the third step up is dairy products, meat, and other sources of protein. At the top of the pyramid reside the fats, oils, and refined sugars that all diabetics need to monitor closely and eat only in moderation.
The United States Department of Agriculture, which maintains both the regular and diabetic versions of the food pyramid, updated it last in 2005. While this makes it three years old it is still a good resource for those who are newly diagnosed and are trying to figure out what they can and can’t eat.
The internet is full of information about the diabetic food pyramid. The American Diabetes Association and American Dietician Association websites have the most complete and updated information about the pyramid and how to use it. The information diabetics need to successfully manage their disease with diet is readily available, and it all starts with understanding which foods to eat and which foods to avoid.
Folk medicine has been a part of every culture throughout our history. Many folk remedies have been found to be based upon truth. A lot of the medicines we have today were derived from plants. Unfortunately there were many more folk remedies that just didn’t seem to make logical sense.
As folk medicine practices grew over the centuries many treatments were developed that were questionable at best. One may want to think twice about using some of these folk remedies as their adverse side effects could sometimes be worse than the condition they were supposed to heal.
As an example of one highly unlikely cure for lockjaw, one was supposed to make a tea with ground up insects and other bugs, cockroaches for preference, and then drink it. It is not mentioned whether the cure was contained in the drink or in the body
Packing a powerful array of biochemicals and sticky substances which aid the immune system in fighting disease, phlegm comes in a variety of colors and viscosity. It is produced primarily by the lungs and other respiratory organs–except the nasal cavity.
When you look at a person with diabetes, you’d never know it, they look healthy on the outside.
But it’s what you don’t see that is so bad.
The disease elevates the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood. As blood sugars remain high, over time, complications such as blindness, kidney failure, amputations, heart disease, and severe nerve damage can occur.
The quality of your child’s life may depend on being able to recognize the symptoms of diabetes in children.
Diabetes in children has reached almost epidemic proportions. The incidence of this chronic and sometimes deadly disease is predicted to continue to rise.
Unfortunately for parents, sometimes it can be hard to identify the symptoms of diabetes in children. Read the list below and you’ll understand why often symptoms of diabetes aren’t recognized early.
When they are, doctors can help immediately with treatment and help you to maintain and control the diabetes.
Symptoms of diabetes in children and adults are:
o Frequent thirst – You may just be thinking your child drinks a lot.
o Frequent infections – Many consider this just a part of childhood.
o Blurred Vision – Your child may not tell you as the blurred vision can come and go. It’s not always constant.
o Cuts/bruises that are slow to heal – It’s easy to think the injury was just a “bad one” and it’s taking longer to heal.
o Tingling/numbness in hands or feet – Again you child may not notice or tell you about it as it’s not usually constant.
o Frequent urination – Many just think it comes from drinking more.
o Extreme hunger – Often parents think their child is going through a “growth spurt” and just requires more food.
o Unusual weight loss – This symptom does normally make parents concerned. If the child has bee overweight, parents sometimes think …..Great, the weight is finally coming off.
o Irritability – Can often be labeled as parent/child confrontations. Also many parents of teens just think it’s a normal part of the teenage years.
You won’t see all of this at once. You will notice one of them, then a month or two latter something else…
What To Do If You See Symptoms Of Diabetes In Children
Get your child tested for diabetes IMMEDIATELY. Don’t wait. The test is simple and painless. The longer you wait the more difficult the disease can be to control.
These symptoms may not even be noticed until the disease in is full force. It’s important to learn to recognize these symptoms. With early detection children with type 2 diabetes can learn to control the disease with diet and exercise.
Left untreated the symptoms of diabetes in children results in more defined and difficult treatment. Medications and insulin must often be used to control diabetes. Diabetes is a disease that should not be taken lightly.
There are two types of diabetes, type 1 and type 2.
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body no longer produces insulin.
Type 2, the most common type of diabetes occurs when the body develops a resistance to insulin, or does not produce enough insulin. Type 2 diabetes, once labeled adult onset diabetes, has become more and more prevalent in children.
Research has documented two primary factors contributing to the rise in type 2 diabetes in children. The factors are: 1) children today are more inactive, and 2) unhealthy diets in children. Today’s lifestyle of fast-food meals, TV, computers, and hand-held games has put many at risk of developing symptoms of diabetes in children.
Diabetes in children is a serious threat. Take control of your child’s future today. Make sure they have a healthy diet including fresh fruits and vegetables. Keep your children active. They won’t be deprived if they don’t spend hours a day watching TV or playing computerized games. You could be saving their life.
You may get a few weird looks and complaints, but what’s that compared to the health of your child?
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