Physical Activity and Obesity

Obesity is a major risk factor for development of type two diabetes. An inactive lifestyle also predisposes for type two diabetes and both physical activity and obesity are therefore, important topics in relation to prevention of type two diabetes. 

1)Explain health benefits of being physically active.

2)Describe how physical training affects energy balance and metabolic health and discuss the
potential of physical training in prevention and treatment of obesity and diabetes.

3)Demonstrate methods that can be used to evaluate physical fitness, body fat distribution and 
    insulin sensitivity. 

Physical activity should preferably be part of a healthy lifestyle on a daily basis. Major health agencies like the World Health Organization recommend that adults throughout the week should do at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity or at least 75 minutes of vigorous intensity aerobic physical activity or a combination.

The activity should be performed in bouts of at least 10 minutes duration and preferably be spread on days throughout the week. Additional health benefits can be obtained with a high activity level.

Additionally, muscle strengthening activities should be performed two or more days a week.
Examples of physical activity include dancing, hiking or swimming in leisure time, walking or cycling for transport, occupational activities and daily activities as household chores, games and sports activities. Seniors aged 75 and above are recommended to aim for similar activity level as other adults and in addition to exercises to enhance balance and prevent falls, at least three days per week. When older adults cannot do the recommended amount of physical activity due to health conditions, they should be as physically active as their abilities and conditions allow.


Children and young people up to the age of 18 years should accumulate at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity per day. Activities include games, sports, transportation, chores and many more activities in the context of family, school and community.
At least three times per week, the intensity of the activities should be vigorous and aim at strengthening skeletal muscle and bone.  

Additional physical activity provides additional health benefits.

A practical way of assessing one's activity level is by wearing a pedometer. A number of 10,000 steps has been marketed as a magic number of steps. Walking ten thousand steps per day will most certainly be beneficial to health, but it's difficult to directly relate numbers of steps to minutes of exercise and health benefits as this depends on walking, running speed, body weight and composition, physical fitness and other individual factors. Physical fitness can be evaluated
by a variety of methods. Some are easy to use and cheap, but not very precise. Other methods are more precise,but require special equipment and are not feasible in larger groups of subjects.

A simple way to evaluate physical activity level is by using a questionnaire in which the subject responds to questions about his or her exercise. Examples of such questionnaires are the International Physical Activity Questionnaires, IPAQ and the Recent Physical Activity Questionnaire, RPAQ. The validity of physical activity questionnaires depends heavily on the eagerness of the subject to give an unbiased assessment of his or her physical activity habits. A more objective measure of activity levels can be obtained by activity sensors worn by the subject. A simple, over the counter sensor is a pedometer by which the daily number of steps can be evaluated. An accelerometer is a more sophisticated activity sensor, which can detect movement in several directions.

Accelerometry can be combined with heart rate monitoring and all GPS to increase the ability of the measurement. Lately, detection of heat flux has been included as a parameter for increasing the precision of the activity estimation. Most activity sensors can easily detect simple activities, like walking, jogging and running, but movements during cycling are more difficult to quantify  Detection of swimming activity requires that the sensor is waterproof.

An expensive, but unbiased way to measure physical activity level is by the doubly-labelled water method. The subject is to drink a glass of water labelled with stable isotopes at both the hydrogen and the oxygen atoms. Hydrogen is excreted from the body owner's water, but oxygen is excreted both via water and carbon dioxide. During physical activity, carbon dioxide is produced due to combustion of energy rich substrates. The higher the activity level, the higher the excretion of carbon dioxide. After the initial distribution of labeled water in the body and one to two weeks after drinking the labelled water, urine or saliva samples are taken and analyzed for concentrations of labeled hydrogen and oxygen. So concentration of labeled substances in these fluids reflects the concentration in the water faith of the body. The carbon dioxide excretion and hence, the total energy expenditure can be calculated as the difference between the rate of decline of labeled oxygen and hydrogen. The physical activity level is calculated by subtracting the basal metabolic rate and the thermic effect of food from total energy expenditure.

Physical performance can be assessed by testing the subject in a gym, the clinic or the laboratory. Many simple tests exist. For example, for determination of walking speed, hand grip strength or balance. The state of the art test for assessment of physical fitness is quantification of maximum oxygen uptake by indirect calorimetry during a biking or running test to exhaustion. During physical exercise, skeletal muscles require energy to contract. The main substrates expended during exercise are fat and carbohydrates, but a small amount of protein is also used. At low exercise intensity, the main substrate used is fat either from intramyocellular lipidstores or supplied by the blood. Blood lipids are either  triacylglycerol from the liver or the gastrointestinal tract or free fatty acids derived from adipose tissue stores. At an exercise intensity of approximately 40 to 50% of maximal oxygen uptake, fat oxidation reaches its maximum rate. As exercise intensity increases, more energy is needed in the contracting muscles.

At higher exercise intensities, less fat and more carbohydrate will supply the energy for muscle contractions. Carbohydrates are derived from skeletal muscle glycogen stores or provided by the blood as glucose. Blood glucose stems from liver glycogen stores or from the gastrointestinal tract after carbohydrate containing drink or meal. Body glycogen stores are limited and when exercise time is increased, less and less glucose and more and more fat will be used. The energy stored in fat can only be released aerobically, meaning by use of oxygen for combustion. In contrast, glucose can be degraded both aerobically and anaerobically. Therefore, both fat and carbohydrate can supply the muscles with energy at low exercise intensities when the aerobic demand is low versus high intensities. Mainly glucose is used. When degraded anaerobically, glucose is turned into lactate. At higher exercise intensities, the aerobic demand is increasing and at a certain intensity called the anaerobic or the lactate threshold. Lactate will start to accumulate in the blood. Untrained individuals have a low anaerobic result at approximately 50 to 60% of maximal oxygen uptake, but physical training can increase this. That means that well-trained individuals can sustain a given exercise pace for a longer period of time. At very high exercise intensities and at the onset of exercise, energy is supplied by local muscle stores of keratin phosphate and ATP. These stores contain very limited amount of energy. I will now explain in detail health benefits of being physically active. Physical activity is healthy for young and elderly, slim and obese, healthy and sick. Muscles are meant to be used and if you don't use them, you lose them. Also, the rest of the body will degenerate, if it's not stressed regularly. Physical activity will affect nearly all organ systems of the body and keep you used both in prevention and treatment of a variety of diseases and physical activity prolongs life. Load bearing physical exercise will increase the bone mineral content and reduce the risk of osteoporosis. Also, tendon and skeletal muscle strength will increase after physical exercise. 
Similarly, the heart muscle will become stronger and can hence deliver a higher stroke volume during every heartbeat. This will decrease heart rate, the blood pressure can be lowered by physical exercise. More in hypertensive than in non-hypertensive persons. The plasma concentration of the good lipoprotein, HDL cholesterol is increased. Various the concentration of the bad lipoprotein, LDL cholesterol and triglyceride in blood have decreased. The risk of atherosclerosis is reduced by physical exercise and thereby, the risk of cardiovascular diseases and stroke. Energy is expended during exercise moving the energy balance in a favorable direction for prevention and treatment of obesity. Moreover, insulin sensitivities increased by physical exercise, both acutely and in the long-term and this effect of physical exercise is effective both in preventing and treatment of type two diabetes. Physically fit persons also have a lower
probability of developing some cancers, especially breast and colon. Additionally, physical exercise can increase mood and self-esteem and maybe also libido and reduce the risk for depression.

 

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Health Effects of Lipids Part2

Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis involves the gradual narrowing of arteries due to the build-up of plaque. It takes years to develop and happens insidiously without people noticing it. Clinical problems develop when the obstruction is such that blood flow, and thus oxygen supply, cannot meet demands.The low oxygen supply leads to a condition called ischemia, explaining the term ischemic heart disease.Atherosclerosis occurs in many parts of the body. In the heart it may lead to ischemic heart disease, in the brain it may lead to stroke, and in areas outside the brain and heart to peripheral vascular disease also called peripheral artery disease.

Pathogenesis of atherosclerosis

The normal artery contains three layers.The inner layer is called the endothelium or intima and is in direct contact with the blood. The middle layer contains smooth muscle cells that allow blood vessels to expand or contract. The outer layer of arteries is composed mostly of connective tissue. It is commonly thought that a plaque begins to form because the endothelium becomes damaged, possibly because of elevated lipid levels in the blood, high blood pressure, or smoking. The damage causes white blood cells to stick to the endothelium. What happens is that the endothelium produces sticky molecules called adhesion molecules that capture the white blood cells.After adhesion to the endothelium, the white blood cell moves inside the wall of the artery. White blood cells that move into the blood vessel wall include T-cells and macrophages.In the vessel wall, macrophages take up lipid and become foam cells. This causes the vessel wall to gradually thicken as it fills up with lipid. As the atherosclerotic process advances, smooth muscle cells move into the intima and produce molecules such as collagen, that give the inner wall a connective tissue-like appearance.  In advancing lesions, cells die and cell debris including lipids accumulates in the central region of the plaque, called the lipid or necrotic core.It is believed that the lipids that accumulate in the atherosclerotic plaque primarily originate from LDL, which is able to penetrate the wall of the artery and become scavenged by macrophages. In turn, the macrophages become foam cells and start to produce molecules that aggravate the inflammation.

The two key in the initiation of atherosclerosis are 1)Adhesion and infiltration of immune cells into the vascular wall; 2) Entry of LDL particles into the vascular wall and formation of foam cells.The idea that lipids, especially cholesterol, are deposited in atherosclerotic lesions goes back more than 60 years, and led to the suggestion that atherosclerosis may be linked to elevated blood cholesterol. However, in the ensuing years, the hypothesis that high blood cholesterol levels contribute causally to atherosclerosis and CHD (the “lipid hypothesis”)  faced huge skepticism Even today certain groups of individuals remain in denial about the importance of (LDL) cholesterol in atherosclerosis. Within the cardiovascular research community there is a strong consensus about the role of lipids in atherosclerosis, particularly LDL. In addition to the role of lipids, there is near universal recognition for an important role of the immune system and inflammation in the development of atherosclerosis, based on experimental, clinical, and epidemiological studies (the “inflammatory hypothesis”). What is still lacking is the proof that anti-inflammatory drug therapy reduces myocardial infarctions ("heart attack"). 

Most atherosclerotic lesions are stable and do not cause any problems. In those cases, the lipid core is covered by a thick layer of materials typically found in connective tissue forming a so called fibrous cap. However, when the lesion is very inflamed, white blood cells produce molecules that gradually break down the fibrous cap. The thinning of the fibrous cap causes the plaque to become unstable and make it prone to rupture. The rupture of the plaque is very dangerous, as it triggers blood clotting (thrombosis). The blood clot can partially or completely occlude the blood vessel at the site of rupture, or it can be dislodged and travel further to block a blood vessel elsewhere.

 

 

 

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Health Effects of Lipids Part1

Dietary lipids have mainly been connected to heart disease which is also referred to as cardiovascular disease.
What is heart disease and how does it develop? What are the major risk factors for heart disease?
One the risk factors for heart disease is the cholesterol level in the blood. Cholesterol exists in our blood in two forms LDL and HDL.and one needs to be extremely concerned about ones LDL cholesterol level. This is because having high LDL cholesterol  greatly increases one risk to heart disease.
What is interesting about LDL is that it's levels can be changed by altering your diet, what is the impact of  the amount of cholesterol in your diet on your blood cholesterol level? What about consumption of saturated and unsaturated fat?
Trans fat have also been called killer fats., they used to be abundant in frying oil, pastries, fast food, certain margarines and many other processed foods.
Another hot topic is Omega-3 fatty acids numerous claims have been made about these fatty acids, particularly in their relation to heart disease.

Cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease

Cardiovascular disease (CVD, also called heart disease) is a class of diseases that involve the heart and/or the blood vessels. The most common form of cardiovascular disease is coronary heart disease (CHD), in which the coronary arteries – the blood vessels providing blood to the heart muscle - become narrow and rigid, restricting blood flow to the heart. Coronary heart disease is also called ischemic heart disease. Another common form of cardiovascular disease is stroke, in which the arteries supplying blood to the brain become blocked and blood flow is impaired. Cardiovascular diseases are most often rooted in a process called atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis describes the build-up of plaque in the walls of arteries, leading to narrowing of the arteries and gradual obstruction of blood flow. Other cardiovascular diseases include heart failure, diseases of the heart muscle (cardiomyopathy), heart valve problems, and arrhythmias.

Ischemic heart disease (a.k.a. coronary heart disease, CHD) is the leading cause of death in high income countries, whereas infections are the major cause of death in low income countries. It is believed that differences in abundance of infectious organisms, hygiene, medical care, and diet are responsible for the difference in death rates between high and low income countries.

Rates of coronary heart disease or ischemic heart disease differ greatly between countries. The age-standardised, disability-adjusted life year (DALY) rates from ischemic heart disease (CHD) by country (per 100,000 inhabitants, the darker the color, the higher the rates). DALY is a measure of overall disease burden, expressed as the number of years lost due to ill-health, disability or early death. One DALY represents one lost year of "healthy" life. The sum of these DALYs across the population, or the burden of disease, can be thought of as a measurement of the gap between current health status and an ideal health situation where the entire population lives to an advanced age, free of disease and disability (Definition from WHO). Use of DALY has become increasingly popular in public health. The highest DALY rates for ischemic heart disease are observed in eastern Europe.

The age standardized ischemic heart disease (CHD) death rates per 100,000 individuals. This measure is calculated differently than the DALY but the overall picture it creates is highly similar: highest rates are observed in eastern Europe, whereas the lowest rates are observed in France and Japan.

Trends in deaths from CVD show a striking pattern. In many western and northern European countries, which originally had the highest rates of CVD, there has been a sharp decline in CVD deaths despite the growing prevalence of obesity. The decrease in CVD deaths is accounted for by a huge reduction in deaths from CHD and stroke and is largely explained by improvements in long-term and emergency medical care, combined with decreased smoking in more recent years. Behavioral adjustments towards diets and exercise are unlikely to have importantly contributed towards the decline

In contrast to western countries, there has been a substantial increase in CVD rates in eastern European countries. The extremely high rates of CVD in Eastern Europe have been linked to tobacco use, dietary behaviors, alcohol use and poor medical care

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Gluten Free

How many people shun gluten?
Millions.A YouGov poll last year found that one in ten UK households have at least one supposedly gluten-intolerant member, and that 60% of adults have bought gluten-free products. According to a US survey by the Consumer Reports National Research Centre,
Gluten responsible for obesity, inflammation and a host of  other chronic health conditions.

Since the turn of the century, gluten-free has gone from being an obscure niche to a multimillion-pound enterprise. Supermarkets now stock a vast range of gluten-free products, from gluten-free curry and gluten-free chicken nuggets to gluten-free Easter eggs.

But what exactly is gluten?
It’s the spongy complex of proteins, found in wheat, barley and rye, that gives elasticity to dough and enables it to rise. When flour is moistened and kneaded into dough, two proteins, gliadin and glutenin, join together to form an elastic, microscopic latticework that traps the carbon dioxide produced when yeast ferments,causing dough to inflate. Baking hardens the gluten, which helps the finished product keep its shape. Wheat – and thus gluten – is ubiquitous in the Western diet, and not just in bread, pasta and cakes; it’s a hidden ingredient in thousands of processed products such as ice cream, soy sauce and dressings.
Humans simply don’t have the enzymes to break down gluten, so some peptides (partially digested bits of the protein) remain in the intestine. For most of us, this is insignificant: they are simply eliminated. But for a small minority, it causes coeliac disease: the peptides cross the intestinal barrier, triggering the immune system. White blood cells go on the attack, damaging the intestinal wall. This results in stomach pain, diarrhoea, bloating, fatigue, weight loss and sometimes destruction of the small intestine. Coeliac disease is a serious autoimmune condition which requires the elimination of all wheat, for life. But many others today believe they are allergic, or sensitive, to gluten, and that giving it up improves their health.

Coeliac disease is rare, affecting about 1% of people in developed nations. A small number of others may suffer from allergies or sensitivities. But the vast majority do not react badly to gluten – otherwise wheat would never have become a leading food source. You could get healthier on a gluten-free diet because it might increase your intake of fruit and veg, and reduce consumption of refined carbohydrates such as white bread, pizza and puddings. But such a diet isn’t good for you per se. In fact, if you eat only gluten-free products, you may be short of vitamins, nutrients and fibre; they tend to be heavily processed, and can be loaded with fat and sugar. Gluten-free brown bread has twice as much fat as the normal alternative.
Diet fads and phobias have a long history. Many symptoms blamed on gluten – bloating, fatigue, “brain fog” and lack of “wellbeing” – have, in the past, been blamed on fat, yeast and monosodium glutamate. The current epidemic of self-diagnosed gluten intolerance is based on very little evidence. But there are complicating factors. Coeliac disease is definitely on the rise: US tests show that it has grown from around 0.2% of the population in the early 1950s to 1% today. And a high proportion of sufferers are undiagnosed: in the UK, tests have shown that one in 100 people have the disease, but only one in 800 is diagnosed (it requires a blood test and an endoscopy).Besides, there are also other forms of wheat allergy and sensitivity.

What are those?
There’s a rare wheat allergy, sometimes called baker’s asthma, which causes itching and sneezing. More controversially, there is “non-coeliac gluten sensitivity” or NCGS. Sufferers have coeliac-like symptoms which resolve themselves when they cut out gluten. (But it’s not well understood, very rare, and some scientists question whether it exists at all.) Finally, the NHS suggests that those who suffer from bloating after eating bread should avoid basic supermarket loaves, made using fast-acting yeast and added enzymes. These can cause gas and indigestion, for reasons that are nothing to do with gluten.

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Get Fit and Beat Aging

You've probably heard many times how important exercise is. That's right! But exercise
means different things to different people. The most recommended exercise you will find
in medical resources is...walking.

If you want to reverse your age, look great and feel great, you need to do more than just walk. A good exercise program consists of 2 elements:
1. Resistance Training (or "weight training")
2. Cardio Training (or “aerobics”).

You have learned that cardio is the activity you must spend most of your time at to get fit ("burn your calories"). Recent discoveries in the fitness science have changed this outdated belief. Weight training has become the major age fighter.
"Anti-Aging Fitness" puts the first priority on weight training and the second priority on cardio training. The ratio is about 80% for weight training and 20% for cardio training.


Weight (Resistance) Training
Here are some age symptoms that weight training offsets and reverses:

Muscle Loss:
Muscle loss is the most noticeable aging symptom. Muscle loss makes you weaker and
doomed to injuries and unattractive posture. As a result of muscle loss, your metabolic rate declines because muscles are the biggest fat burner. Therefore you start to accumulate body fat, which increases your risk of heart disease, diabetes and stroke.

You can offset this vicious cycle of muscle loss if you...rebuild your muscles back. The only effective way to gain muscle is weight training. That's true for men and for women. Diets don't support muscle gain. Slimming pills and fat burners don't build your muscles either. Even cardio activities such as jogging, biking, and walking don't build your muscle. When you gain muscle you speed up your metabolic rate. You burn more fat, get a dream body which makes you look much younger than your age.

Bone Loss:
The less noticeable symptom of aging is a loss of bone density. Unfortunately, by the
time you are diagnosed with bone mass loss, it can be too late because you've already
developed osteoporosis. The common medical advice you usually get is to supplement
with calcium and vitamin D. Your doctor will probably recommend that you exercise (not more than walking or...dancing). Usually you get this advice from overweight doctors that are doomed to develop degenerative diseases even more than you are.

Supplementation doesn't solve bone mass loss! Bone mass loss relates to hormonal
imbalances and women are at much greater risk than men especially if they're postmenopausal. The most effective cure is the least revealed one. Weight training will restore your bone mass and dramatically reduce your osteoporosis risk. Don't wait to start when you're already sick. Start now!

Hormone Decline:
The third symptom of aging is the decline in your hormone levels. Your hormones are
decreasing at a "free-fall" pace when you are over 40. Your sexual hormones are at their peak when you're 20-30 and they decline every year after. Men's testosterone declines after puberty but its rate of decline is faster after 40. Women's estrogen levels drop down pre-menopause.

The unrevealed secret that only a few athletes and bodybuilders know is that weight
training increases the secretion of hormones. That’s why men and women who exercise
with weights look younger than their age. Weight training makes you look really great. Women are usually concerned weight training will make them look “bulky”. They perceive weight training as a "men's activity". No more. It's clear cut that women can change their physique dramatically without increasing testosterone. The reasons are still unknown but it has been proved in many studies.

If you want to change your body and your life you need to do some weight training. The benefits are enormous. You will look 5, 10, even 15 years younger than your age. Your energy, stamina and vigor will skyrocket. Weight training increases your endorphins and pheromones which stimulate you all day long even when you wake up one hour earlier …and miss your coffee.

Not all weight training programs are designed equally. To get the hormonal secretion
effect that makes you many years younger, follow a specific technique that is revealed in the Anti-Aging Fitness Program “Change Your Body and Be Admired”. Many of the exercises that you remember from your childhood or adolescence are obsolete. Take sit-ups for example. Sit-ups are the less effective exercise for abs because
your hips take some of the motion and because of the risk of low back injury.

Cardio Training
Most people exercise because they want to "burn calories". This is based on the theory that if you burn more calories than you consume, you will probably lose weight. That's right...partially.

Studies show that there are other factors much more effective than calorie balance like managing blood sugar levels, raising metabolic rates, working with your body type and changing your body composition. It's not just calorie consumption. Not all calories are built equally. 1000 calories of sugar aren't equal to 1000 calories of vegetables. The sugar peaks your blood sugar level while the same amount of calories consumed as vegetables won't affect your blood sugar at all.

The same thing is true with calorie burning. One hour on the treadmill burns roughly 800 calories. You need many hours to burn all the food you eat if you're following the calorie balance theory. But gaining 20% more muscle will burn the same calories even without doing any cardio at all. This is how powerful weight training is. You gain muscle, speed up your metabolic rate and get a rush of hormones that make you look and feel much younger than your age. Should you engage in cardio at all? Cardio’s main goal is to improve your....cardio condition. That means improving the strength and efficiency of your heart and lungs while improving your vigor, energy, stamina, and endurance. Cardio training shouldn't target only calorie burning. Millions jog slowly because they have been told that long duration/low intensity cardio training is the best way to burn fat. It’s definitely not the most effective way.

What's wrong with long duration/low intensity cardio training for fitness purposes?
• It's time consuming. It's difficult to commit regularly to such demanding activity.
• It causes you to lose muscle rather than gaining muscle. You achieve the opposite
result. You slow down your metabolic rate and you accelerate your aging.
• It is based on calorie balance of "input" and "output". In an hour you burn only
around 800 calories.
• You stop burning fat when you stop your activity.
• Your cardiovascular capability doesn’t improve because the heart rate is low.
• Your lung capacity doesn't improve because you don't train in the anaerobic zone.
• It's b-o-r-i-n-g!

The right cardio is short duration high intensity training. The optimum time is 20
minutes. The intensity of the training should be up to 85% of your maximum heart rate. The first few minutes are below 85% for warm up and the last 1-2 minutes can be even 90% of your maximum heart rate (heart rate over 85% also boosts your free-radical production. Don’t stay there for too long!). You can learn more about using heart rate monitor, high intensity cardio training and effective interval training, in the Anti-Aging Fitness Program “Change Your Body and Be Admired”.

Short Duration High Intensity cardio training is the most effective fitness routine:
• It takes a short time and you don't need to do it more than 2-3 times a week.
• It builds muscle. Compare sprint runner’s body to marathon runner’s body.
• It improves your cardiovascular and lung capability
• It burns fat long hours after you're off because the anaerobic features
• It's easy to stick to, because it's short and interesting
• It has a positive mind motivator benefit. Finishing a training session is very
rewarding.

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Acute Bronchitis

Many people suffer from a variety of respiratory disorders. It is important that your respiratory system remains in a healthy condition. Many people ignore the early signs of a respiratory disorder, as a result of which they are unable to control a condition that can later becomes chronic and lead to disability. For example, acute bronchitis, when neglected, leads to chronic bronchitis, a condition that causes severe, irreversible damage to your respiratory system and leaves you disabled for life. Therefore, updating your knowledge about bronchitis and its various signs and symptoms is of utmost importance. Neglect of this condition could lead to a medical as well as a personal disaster.

What is Acute Bronchitis?
Acute bronchitis is a disease of the respiratory system caused due to viral infection of the bronchial tree. In some cases, the infecting agent is a fungus. Usually, people mistake this condition to be common cold and underestimate the seriousness of it. This is the common reason why most people tend to ignore bronchitis.

Children and infants are easy prey for this condition because their immune systems are still in the growing phase and are not that well-equipped to battle the virus. Bronchitis also affects tobacco smokers and those who reside in highly polluted cities.

Treatment for Bronchitis
If the condition is acute bronchitis caused by a virus, it does not require any special treatment. All that you need to do is rest and relax as much as possible and drink plenty of fluids such as water and the juices of fruits and vegetables. If you or someone at home is suffering from bronchitis, it is highly advisable that you use humidifiers to raise the humidity in the rooms. If this is not possible, place wet towels or blankets in different areas of the house. A humid condition is ideal for the recovery of a person suffering from bronchitis.

Acute bronchitis does not last more than 10-12 days if treated properly. Usually, it is closely followed by a flue or cold. You might also cough for 2-3 weeks, and you will continue to cough till your bronchioles are completely healed and free of infection. If the cough persists, it may be due to another condition. In this case, you need to consult your physician and get yourself checked for any other medical condition. It is very important to know that acute bronchitis, if left unattended to, can lead to a condition called chronic bronchitis. This can cause intense misery
and last from 3 months to two years. Moreover, it can permanently damage your respiratory system.

Signs and Symptoms of Bronchitis
You know that you are in for acute bronchitis when you experience breathlessness, slight pain and tightness in the chest, light fever, chills, persistent cough that brings out a lot of mucus, wheezing, and headache. Now, this can easily be mistaken for a common cold. Only a doctor can make out the difference. So, as soon as you experience these symptoms, visit your family doctor and get a medical examination.

A number of tests are required to determine if you are suffering from acute bronchitis or just a common cold. A doctor will study your breathing pattern through a stethoscope. Chest X-rays will be taken. Laboratory tests will be conducted to examine your mucus in order to determine if the condition has been caused by bacteria, virus, or fungus.

Recovering from Bronchitis
If you are diagnosed with acute bronchitis, quit smoking immediately. Avoid cigarette smoke completely if you want a speedy recovery. Smoke is really bad for you, so is polluted air. Ensure than the air around you is perfectly clean. You can do so by installing an air purifier or two inside your house.

Prevention of Acute Bronchitis
You don't need to suffer from acute bronchitis. You can easily prevent it by taking a few precautions. It is important to avoid getting infected by virus, bacteria, and fungi that cause acute bronchitis, and you can do so by washing your hands regularly and giving up smoking.

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Hormonal Downfall of our Diet

The low-fat, high-carbohydrate, low-protein diets of the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s have had wide-sweeping implications on our health. These diets have triggered high frequencies of degenerative diseases, unmanageable levels of stress and excessive weight gain. No attention was paid to the importance of hormonal balance or the nature of a functional hormonal axis.

Many nutritional researchers feel that accelerated aging, beginning from 35 to 50 years of age, is mainly due to hormonal dysfunction or hormonal miscommunication.The following four factors are the primary markers of accelerated aging—all of which stem from poor food choices and excess stress.

Excess Blood Glucose Levels: Excess glucose, from eating refined or processed food that is high in calories and sweeteners, can combine with proteins in our body to make advanced glycated end products (AGEs). AGEs represent a serious problem for our body. They are very sticky and quickly adhere to places they shouldn’t, causing accelerated biological damage to all cells. They accelerate the occlusion (opposing walls stick together) of blood vessels and capillaries that nurture the heart, eyes, kidneys and brain. This means we become more prone to heart attacks, blindness, kidney failure and stroke.

Excess sugar consumption (natural or synthetic sweeteners), from any source, elevates blood glucose levels. Part of the hypothalamus is responsible for sensing the amount of glucose in the blood and controlling the pancreas hormonally, to stabilize blood sugar levels using the hormone insulin. Chronic sugar consumption leads to constantly high blood glucose levels that wash over the hypothalamus in a glucose swell that causes glucose-induced toxicity in the hypothalamus that jams its switches on “off.” In this situation, insulin cannot do its job well and we become insulin resistant, a primary marker of aging.

Excess Insulin Levels: Insulin is secreted by the pancreas in response to incoming calories (primarily processed carbohydrates). The fewer the calories consumed, the less insulin is secreted. As insulin levels go down, we lose excess fat and support the synthesis of hormones such as testosterone, DHEA and growth hormone and hormonal communication. High levels of insulin inhibit the release of the important brain-feeding hormone called glucagon. The stress hormone cortisol acts as a back-up system to raise blood sugar levels for the brain. Cortisol is able to make more glucose by cannibalizing existing body structures such as muscle. The problem is that even though cortisol may be trying to help the brain by raising blood sugar levels, elevated cortisol levels destroy the hippocampus portion of the hypothalamus.

Excess Cortisol Levels: Too little stress in our body is just as bad as too much stress. To be alert, keen and observant, we require small amounts of the stress hormone cortisol. Cortisol is the body’s molecular mediator of stress, for short periods of time.

Cortisol output is governed by circadian rhythms. Levels are highest in the bloodstream between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., and then gradually decrease throughout the evening.

Excess cortisol has the capacity to kill at the cellular level. The thymus gland, the central control station of our immune system, is very sensitive to excess cortisol.
This is why the thymus shrinks with age and we experience a loss of immune function.
Excess cortisol also reduces brain longevity by directly destroying cortisolsensitive neurons in our body’s “control center”—the hypothalamus. Engaging in low levels of prolonged moderate exercise (like walking) and simply learning to relax can dramatically help us to lower cortisol levels.


Excess Free Radicals: The mitochondria are the power generators, or furnaces,
in each of our 100 trillion cells. A well-conditioned muscle cell may contain 1,000 to 3,000 mitochondria. They burn glucose to make adenosine triphosphate (ATP), or aerobic cellular energy. The constant biochemical functioning of mitochondria gives off a “smoke” called a free radical. These free radicals are destructive to our cell walls and cellular processes.

In short, the fewer free radicals you make, the longer you can live. Research shows that 90 percent of all free radicals are formed from the vast amounts of food we consume. Our body must do something with all of those incoming calories, after all. The bottom line is, the less food we take in and the fewer the calories we consume, the less energy is required to process incoming food, and hence, the fewer free radicals we make. The fewer the free radicals we make, the longer we live! In other words, unrestricted eating is the best way to accelerate aging.

The goal, therefore, is to eat enough food—good food—to maintain optimum mental, emotional, physical and spiritual health, but never too many calories. Consider, for example, that a commercial cinnamon bun contains 670 calories and virtually no essential nutrients, while a power protein shake has only 130 calories with 35 grams of protein and adequate amounts of immunesupportive nutrients.

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Herbs ,Heat and Ice Treatment for Back Pain

Herbs for back pain
Current research suggests that depression and stressful events can make pain worse, meaning that chronic pain sufferers are likely to respond to depression or stress with more pain. Consequently, this research suggests that substances which can calm and soothe your nervous system will therefore also help to relieve your pain.

For this reason, herbs that can reduce your stress levels are likely to be highly effective aids in your fight against back pain. Included in this category would be skullcap, valerian, St John’s wort, poppy, willow bark, angelica, cayenne, wild yam, motherwort, rose and lavender.

In addition, the essential oils of peppermint,pine,rosemary,frankincense,ginger, cloves or juniper can be used as pain killers because every one of them has recognized analgesic qualities. Infuse one liquid ounce of a suitable carrier oil like olive or coconut oil with 10-12 drops of any of these essential oils, shake well and then rub the oil on the skin in the area of back pain. This will alleviate the pain and also reduce any swelling or inflammation.

If you have chronic back pain, try to drink a few cups of skullcap infusion every day, or alternatively take a dozen or so drops of skullcap tincture every day. Alternatively, a mixture of equal parts of the skullcap tincture, St John’s wort and oat straw is known to be particularly effective for calming the nerves, and that will have a knockon effect in helping to alleviate chronic back pain.

St John’s wort oil can be liberally rubbed into any area of your back in which you feel pain, and as it is a particularly effective treatment for muscular pain, this can be an extremely valuable antidote to chronic or acute muscular back pain.

Heat and ice treatment for back pain
Both heat and ice treatments can be used to deal with back pain from muscles, with the most suitable choice depending upon the reason for the pain.

If you have suffered some kind of back muscle injury, the first thing to ascertain is whether there is any swelling or inflammation. If there is no swelling, you are probably best advised to use heat to reduce the pain,because applying heat to a muscle increases its flexibility and elasticity.

Especially if activity is in the offing (even if it is only having to go to work), applying heat is probably more appropriate than applying an ice pack to your damaged muscles. In this way, you will encourage movement in your muscles, which is going to enable you to use them as and when it becomes necessary without suffering an undue degree of pain.

Because heat increases blood flow and skin temperature, you can apply an appropriate source of heat to your muscles for 15 to 20 minutes at a time. As moist heat is best, you could try using a hot towel or you could use a special athletic heat device or application on the injured area. There are also quite a few websites where you can buy natural heat applications like the National Allergy site.

Alternatively, there might be times when applying ice to your injury could be more appropriate. Although it is generally believed that applying an ‘ice pack’ of some description to any muscle injury is the best idea, heat works best for chronic pain.

If you are in the situation where your back pain is caused by an obvious injury where there may be swelling or inflammation, then application of an ice pack is likely to work better than applying a heat source. The application of ice acts as a vaso-constrictor, meaning that it will cause your blood vessels to narrow and that will limit internal bleeding and swelling.

Apply ice to the affected area (wrapped in a cloth or towel to prevent discomfort or ‘ice burn’) for 10 to 15 minutes at a time. After application, allow your skin temperature to return to normal before repeating the process as many times as necessary.

This is a process that you can repeat as many times as necessary for three or four days, but if after that, the problem still persists, you should seek appropriate medical advice.

If your back pain is caused by excess or unaccustomed physical activity or exercise, then the application of an ice pack may be the most

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Medical treatments for Back Pain

Natural treatments for back problems, it should be obvious from the range of medical conditions that can cause back pain that natural treatments are not capable of curing every problem that might cause such pain. For example, anti-inflammatory drugs (more commonly known as nonspecific anti-inflammatory drugs) can sometimes be useful for reducing the pain in your back, and also bringing down any associated inflammation. However, like all pharmaceutical drugs, even NSAIDs can have side-effects such as an increased risk of gastro-intestinal bleeding.

Thus, they are not ideal for everyone who suffers from a back pain problem, and they should be taken for as short a period of time as possible. In addition, there are narcotic pain killers that will reduce the pain symptoms, but they can also be used only for a limited period of time with any degree of safety. Drug based muscle relaxants might also be prescribed by your medical attendant if the primary cause of your back pain problems is muscle spasms. In this case, however, muscle relaxants (such as Valium) are likely to make you drowsy, so once again, great care has to be applied if you intend to take such drugs.

If you are suffering from inflammation around the spinal nerves, your medical practitioner may recommend an epidural steroid injection that will reduce both the pain and the inflammation around the nerves at the same time. Steroids are another pharmaceutical drug that you should only take for a limited period of time, and most people who have had an epidural will tell you that it is no walk in the park!

The final solution is spinal surgery, but this actually only happens in a small number of cases. Spinal surgery only becomes necessary after trying all other treatments without success, hence it is most commonly used as a treatment of last resort.

Spinal surgery is only really effective for a limited number of conditions such as spondylolisthesis, spinal stenosis or to remove a ruptured disc should that become necessary (which is unusual).

Most physicians will only consider surgery when they believe that the risk of not undertaking surgery is greater than the risk of doing so. For example, if after a considerable period of non-invasive treatment, a slipped or ruptured disc is not getting any better, it can quite easily start to get worse. In this situation, it is possible that spinal surgery will be considered.

Balanced against this, there is always a risk involved in such surgical procedures, specifically the risk of paralysis, because this is surgery undertaken in very close proximity to the individual patient’s spinal cord. Surgery is generally only considered when all else has failed and the situation is clearly deteriorating.

Beyond this short list of recognized medical treatments for various causes of back pain and associated problems, there are many natural treatments that you can apply to reduce the severity of your back pain, and to treat your condition at the same time.

Before starting to look at these natural treatments in greater detail, however, let me first set out what I would consider to be a sensible approach to consulting a qualified member of the medical profession about your back pain problem.

As suggested, the majority of back problems that most people suffer from are likely to be caused by muscle strains of one form or another. In this situation, it is unlikely that there will be any need for serious medical attention or treatment.

While not belittling the fact that back muscle strains can be very painful indeed, there is very little that your medical practitioner can do to help you in this situation other than prescribing painkillers and relieving creams or ointments. Unless you know that these are 100% natural, you may not want to take or use them in any event.

If you have a new case of back pain that you cannot explain, you may want to contact your medical practitioner for an evaluation.

However, there are certain situations where you should definitely seek medical attention for your back pain, because it may be that it is a symptom or an indication of something that might be more serious. In particular, make sure that you contact your doctor if:

• The pain lasts more than a week or so, and does not seem to be decreasing in severity;
• You have a back pain that is accompanied with an inability to properly control your bladder or bowels;
• You have chills, fevers. sweating, trembling or find that you feel alternately hot and cold. In this case, you have a fever as well as back pain, which clearly needs checking at the soonest opportunity;
• You notice any other unusual additional symptoms that would not normally be associated with a muscle strain or ligament sprain.

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Dementia treatment

How is dementia treated?
Dementia is not curable but more and more drugs are coming on the market that can delay cognitive impairment.Two types of drugs are commonly prescribed.Cholinesterase inhibitors (Aricept, Exelon and Razadyne) prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine, a
neurotransmitter that is essential to memory and thought processes. These drugs are used to treat mild and moderate Alzheimer’s and can delay the progression of the disease up to a year. Only about half the people who have tried the drug have benefited. The other drug, memantine (Namenda), regulates glutamate, a different neurotransmitter. It is prescribed for patients with moderate to severe Alzheimer’s. It also delays the disease’s progression in some patients. Other symptoms such as restlessness, combativeness, hallucinations and delusions can be treated with behavior modification as well as medication. Caregivers need to be alert to things that trigger behavioral problems, such as a change in environment. The patient may be responding to an awareness of their diminishing abilities, or attempting to communicate some need. Patients should be checked for injuries, illness, drug interactions or side effects. Dementia also can change sleep patterns, which can affect mood.
A variety of anti-depressant, anti-anxiety and anti-psychotic drugs are available.

Are alternative treatments available?
A number of nutritional supplements are sometimes used to reduce dementia symptoms. Research on their effectiveness is limited and claims are mostly anecdotal. Some may have side effects or interfere with prescription medications. The manufacturing of these products is not regulated and so their quality and purity can vary widely. Before trying any of these products, research the product and manufacturers. You should also consult a Physician as some vitamins/herbal medication may interfere with prescribed drugs.
Vitamin E is sometimes prescribed because it is an antioxidant. It may help delay mental decline. However, in high doses, Vitamin E can interfere with medications including blood-clotting drugs.
Another antioxidant, Coenzyme Q10, or ubiquinone, sometimes is used to treat dementia. It occurs naturally in the body, but little is known about effective dosages or side effects.
Turmeric, the bright yellow seasoning in curries, also has shown to have antioxidant properties. Studies in rats have found that turmeric stimulates an enzyme called hemeoxygenase to act as a defense mechanism against free radicals, which are believed to be a factor in dementia.
The herb ginkgo biloba has been used for centuries by the Chinese to treat memory problems. It has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Research has found that it can help with cognition and behavior, but it also can reduce the blood’s ability to clot. There is a lot of evidence that suggests ginkgo can help to reverse some of the memory difficulties of people with dementia – check with your Doctor before taking to make sure it doesn’t interfere with any other medication.
Another Chinese herb huperzine A has properties similar to cholinesterase inhibitors and is being tested in clinical trials. It has shown to be effective in small studies, but it is not known how it reacts with medications.
Omega-3 fatty acids are believed to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. Omega-3 also is shown to protect nerves and elevate mood. These fatty acids are found in fish and plants such as flax. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends that no more than 3 grams be consumed. Since fish often are contaminated with mercury and other toxins, it is important to use pharmaceutical grade oil.
Phosphatidylserine is a type of lipid that makes up the membranes around nerve cells. Since these membranes deteriorate in dementia, it is believed that phosphatidylserine may help slow the progression of the disease. However, little official research has been done. B vitamins are vital for mental health and a deficiency in any of these will rapidly affect how someone thinks and feels. Because B vitamins are water soluble you need to make sure you get a daily intake, either from food or taking vitamin supplements.

Do mental exercises help?
All kinds of exercise help the brain – physical, mental and social. It’s a case of use it or lose it. Several studies have found that physically exercising at least twice a week can reduce the risk of developing dementia by between 40 and 60 percent.
Researchers recommend a 20-minute walk twice a day as a way to increase blood flow to the brain.
Mental exercises such as solving puzzles or pursuing hobbies help stimulate the brain. It’s probably best to stick to familiar activities like crosswords and jigsaw puzzles. People with dementia find it harder to learn new things and if they’re not used to puzzles like Sudoku, may find it difficult to master!
Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) has been shown to have a positive effect on dementia sufferers. CST consists of activities like word games, reality orientation and other information processing activities. It's been shown to improve cognitive ability and quality of life for participants.
Contact your local support group or speak to your physician about whether this is available in your area.
Social interaction also is valuable. It stimulates the brain and improves emotional health. Having friends and family visit or phone on a regular basis is a good way of ensuring the dementia patient gets adequate social contact.
And, finally, good nutrition is important. A diet with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables is good for the whole body.

What are the care options?
Dementia is a progressive disease and the types of care required will change as the disease changes.
Many families try to care for their loved one at home, which can be very challenging. In the early stage of the disease, the patient will have lucid times and confused times. A familiar face often is reassuring. But homecare requires a support network of family and friends to provide respite for the caregiver. Some visiting nurse agencies now provide nursing and personal care services for dementia patients.
Assisted living facilities are becoming a popular choice. Many of these facilities offer several levels of care so the patient’s needs can be addressed in one place. Often the spouse can live at the facility with the patient and can participate in their care without bearing the full brunt of it. These facilities provide food, laundry, maid, personal hygiene and nursing services. Many of them cater to Alzheimer’s patients and offer recreation and other stimulating activities.
Nursing homes often become necessary in the late stage of the disease as the patient loses the ability to care for themselves or communicate with others.

What to do in the early stages of dementia
Candid conversations on a variety of subjects are important in the early phases. Sit down with family, close friends and a trusted financial adviser to talk about the financial situation.
Set up direct deposit of checks and direct payment of bills, and make sure someone is double-checking that nothing falls through the cracks.
Consider establishing a joint bank account.
Check insurance policies so that everyone knows what medical and long term care options are available.
Consult with a lawyer about power of attorney, guardianships and other legal avenues for caregivers. This also is a good time to update wills and living wills to make wishes known about end of life care.
Let people around you know what is happening. A neighbor, the mailman or the gardener can be alert to problems. And get acquainted with services available in your community such as respite care and adult day care.
Write it down - in the early phases of dementia, it can be helpful to post a daily schedule, including meals and medication times, to help the patient keep track of their day. You could use an erasable white board placed somewhere prominent, such as the kitchen.
Be aware that early on the patient wants to stay as independent as possible and may become hostile or sullen if they feel people are trying to take over their life. Make sure you allow them to be as independent as possible.

Keeping their long-term memory
Being surrounded by familiar possessions can be a comforting thing early on but later as cognition begins to decline, too many objects can be confusing.
There will come a time when the patient’s environment needs to be simplified.
A few family photos, labelled with names, can help stimulate the memory. But a treasured collection of porcelain figurines should probably be put out of harm’s way. Throw rugs and electrical wires should be eliminated from frequently travelled areas.
Use what’s known as “Reminiscence therapy”. This is where you help to stimulate your loved one’s long term memory by showing them pictures, or objects from the past. Or talk to them about past events. Additionally, you could use music, videotapes etc. You’ll find when it comes to talking about their younger days; most dementia patients’ memories are as good as ours!
Rather than starting your loved one on new hobbies or tasks, try to stick to familiar tasks that they can do almost automatically – without having to think about it. This could be things like; folding laundry, making beds, setting out cutlery, gardening, washing and drying plates and the like. This makes it more likely that they’ll be able to remember what to do and in carrying out the task successfully, they’ll feel satisfied that they’re being useful.

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Dementia

What is dementia?
Dementia is caused by the destruction of brain cells from ageing, illness or injury. It is commonly associated with aging, although it can affect adults of all ages. The first sign is usually memory loss, although not all memory loss is an indication of dementia.
A person with dementia might forget where he lives or how to put away the groceries. Over time, dementia affects a person’s ability to reason,communicate and focus. It can cause their personality to change.

1.2 What are the different types of dementia?
Alzheimer’s is the best-known and most common type of dementia – it accounts for about half of all cases. Over time, people with Alzheimer’s lose their memory and their ability to speak or understand language. They cannot make decisions or solve problems. They don’t recognize friends or family. They don’t know their own name or know where they are.
Vascular dementia is the result of small strokes that cause bleeding in the brain. The bleeding damages that area of the brain. If the bleeding occurs in the language area of the brain, for instance, the speech will be affected.
The damage is not always reversible but if the cause of the strokes is treated, then further bleeding can be stopped. This type of dementia is the second most common type (around 20% of dementia patients suffer from vascular dementia).

Dementia with Lewy bodies is similar to Alzheimer’s. It gets its name from abnormal collections of protein (Lewy bodies) which occur in the nerve cells of the brain. But unlike Alzheimer’s, it includes elements of Parkinson’s disease such as muscle rigor, trembling, shuffling gait and slurred speech. Hallucinations may also be experienced.
Pick’s Disease is the rarest form of dementia and causes personality and behavior changes. It is caused by degeneration in the front temporal lobe of the brain that controls judgment and social behavior. This type of dementia can occur in people in their 40s.

1.3 What causes dementia?
All dementia is caused by damage in the brain. Sometimes the damage is reversible, sometimes not. It is important not to jump to conclusions.
Memory loss or some other symptom of dementia could be caused by something minor and treatable. You should always consult a knowledgeable physician.
Alzheimer’s and Lewy body dementias are caused by areas of protein that develop in the brain. The clumps of protein – called plaques and tangles -- scramble the messages sent in the brain. Researchers aren’t sure what causes the proteins to develop, but they suspect inflammation is partly responsible.
Vascular dementia is caused by strokes that produce bleeding in the brain. Treating the underlying cause can stop further damage.
Certain lifestyle choices can cause dementia, too. Poor diet, smoking, excessive drinking, not exercising, can all adversely affect brain health.
Recent studies have found that being a smoker increases your risk of dementia by 50% - another great reason to give it up! Something as simple as dehydration can affect mental function.
Severe head trauma such as is seen in boxers can also result in dementia.
Researchers are now seeing a link between head trauma and the onset of dementia years later.
Reactions to medications, especially in older people with slower liver function, can also cause dementia. Dementia from these causes can usually be reversed by lifestyle changes.
Several research studies have suggested a possible link between aluminium and Alzheimer’s disease and some research suggest that people living in an area where there is a high concentration of aluminium in the water supply may be more likely to develop Alzheimer’s – but this evidence is not conclusive. Using deodorants or drinking tea, where there is low exposure to aluminium has not been linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Exposure to mercury (e.g. in dental fillings) is also unproven to cause Alzheimer’s although mercury can be toxic to the central nervous system.
A variety of diseases can be accompanied by dementia:
1 Sexually transmitted diseases like syphilis and AIDS
2 Pellagra, a lack of niacin or B-3
3 Pernicious anaemia, a lack of B-12
4 Hypoglycaemia, caused by lack of sugar in the bloodstream
5 Hypothyroidism, decreased thyroid function
6 Severe brain infections like meningitis and encephalitis
7 Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a brain infection
8 Huntington’s, a hereditary brain disease
9 Parkinson’s
10 Down’s syndrome
It’s interesting that in countries like India and China, people are less than half as likely as people in western countries to suffer from Alzheimer’s. This is a clear sign that the difference is to do with diet, lifestyle or other environmental factors. It’s unlikely to be due to the difference in genetics, as people emigrating from these countries to western regions, soon catch up in terms of a greater risk of dementia.

1.4 Who is at risk?
Dementia can occur at any age, although it is typically a disease of old age. Almost half of people over 85 suffer from Alzheimer’s, but only about 5% of people between 65 and 74 are diagnosed with it.
A person with a parent or sibling with Alzheimer’s has a higher risk of developing it. Early onset dementia that occurs at midlife is believed to be hereditary.
Women are more likely than men to have Alzheimer’s, possibly because they live longer. Researchers also think women who take hormone replacement therapy after age 65 increase their risk for dementia.
Researchers are finding that people who chronically use antacids such as Tagamet, Pepcid and Zantac have 2 ½ times the normal risk for Alzheimer’s.
In addition to acting on stomach acid, the drugs also inhibit the brain’s cholinergic system, which is involved in memory and cognition.
Education levels also seem to be an indicator. Research has found that people with lower levels of education are at greater risk. The theory is that mental stimulation may be a preventive.
Relationships have also been found between the development of Alzheimer’s and disturbances in insulin and glucose metabolism. This may explain why people with diabetes have a much higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

1.5 Is dementia preventable?
There’s is no proven way to prevent dementia such as Alzheimer’s but keeping to a healthy diet and staying physically and mentally active seems to reduce the risk. Mental fitness is particularly important. Solving puzzles and engaging in hobbies are recommended as ways to exercise the brain.
Studies show that the use of anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen (Motrin and Advil), naproxen sodium (Aleve) and indomethacin (Indocin) may reduce the risk. But they should be used with caution because they can cause gastrointestinal bleeding.
Statin drugs like atorvastatin (Lipitor), rosuvastatin (Crestor) and simvastatin (Zocor) that are used to treat high cholesterol may also reduce the risk, but researchers are not sure how.
Another drug, raloxifene (Evista), that is used to treat osteoporosis seems also to reduce mild cognitive impairment, a memory disorder that precedes Alzheimer’s.

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Body Detoxification

Are you looking for a full total body detoxification? If so, then you might want to try a 10 day detox or some refer to it as the 2-week detox. A 10-day detox is a full body detox that usually means taking several different steps to reach your total body transformation. It might involve a change in diet, exercise and more.
A full body detox is more thorough than a 24-hour fast of 72-hour juice diet. You need a full body detox program and you need to be ready to commit the full amount of time that it will take to get the full benefit of your detox.
You need a system that can help you by:

- Removing heavy metals such as lead and mercury
- Detoxify your liver, kidneys and other organs – even the brain
- Replenish the friendly bacteria with a pro-biotic formula
- Recharge your immune system with a powerful antioxidant support

You might also want to work on your emotional state and detoxing your mind. While your brain is an organ as well and will get the same benefit from detoxing the other organs of your body, detoxing the soul is a bit different.
If you want to cleanse and refresh your body, it is a great idea to cleanse and refresh your mind and spirit at the same time which can be done in a 10-day full body detox. Spend time relaxing, recouping and retraining your mind. Take time to de-stress from all the worries and trouble in the world and in your life while also cleansing your body physically.
You might want to try journaling and breathing and relaxing exercises in addition to the ingested regimen you have for your 10 day detox. You will come out of the process feeling like a new person.

What Is A Body Detox Routine?
Are you planning a body detox to cleanse your body? If you want to try a body detox either for your first time or if you have done it before, you will want to have a detox routine. So what exactly is a detox routine? Basically a detox routine is an all-natural method of cleansing your body by giving it the time and conditions it needs to rebuild and heal from the damages of daily life and the foods you eat and other substances you intake.
There are many different types of known detox routines. Some common types include:

- juice fasting
- water fasting
- minimal eating/fasting
- herbal detoxification
- detox baths
- colon cleansing
- caloric restriction
- and many more

Your detox routine will be the specific plan that you take to detoxify and rejuvenate your body. It might be a pre-purchased plan that you get which contains all the steps needed for a healthy detox or it might be a plan that you helped formulate yourself.
You might want to try different detox routines or different combinations of different detoxification routines until you find one that works well for you. Once you find something that works well for you, you can continue to use it every time your body needs a detox.How often you detox will also depend on your routine, the type of routine you use and how often you plan to use it. It will vary according to what your regular lifestyle is as well. After your detox, do you continue to eat healthy and avoid things that create a lot of toxins? If so, then you will not need your detox routine very often.
If you detox and then go back to a poor diet, caffeine and sugar and even nicotine, then you will need another detox sooner as your body will have more build up of toxins faster.

Detox for better skin
You might have heard about body detox and all the great things it can do for you. You probably have also heard that it can help cleanse your colon, remove toxins and waste from the body and help prevent disease and illness. You probably also know that it can give you more energy and boost your immune system.
Did you know that a body detox can also give you great skin? If you want to have younger, smoother, healthier looking skin, then a detoxification of your body might be the way to go. It can make your skin look and feel refreshed. By cleaning out the toxins in your body, the result is that you look and feel healthier all over. Our skin is often a sign of our inner health. People that are unhealthy may have dry, brittle skin, more wrinkles and more signs of age than a healthier person.
Toxins in the body can cause your skin to be pale and dry and look unhealthy. It can contribute to signs of aging earlier as well. When you clean your body deeply from the inside out, you remove these toxins that weigh down on your body and skin and refresh yourself. In the days that follow your detoxification, you should notice your skin becoming healthier and more alive.
Over time, this will continue. Drinking a lot of water- whether it was specified in your detox program or not- will also be very helpful.
There are also special skin detox formulas you can purchase that are specifically for people with problem skin, acne or other skin conditions. There are many specially formulated detox systems that are designed for people that have skin problems or for those that might be experiencing aging and fine lines or wrinkles and just want to rejuvenate their skin.

Detox- Cleansing the body inside out
It is important to cleanse the body of the toxins that have accumulated through the months.These toxins play havoc with the vital organs of the body and leave a trail of destruction. They need to be removed from the system without trace – if that were possible. In order to cleanse the system of toxins one must clean the colon. It is said that death begins with the malfunction of the colon. Though the kidneys and the liver are primarily responsible for the cleansing of toxins from the system the colon is a vital player in assisting the process of detoxification. So where do these toxins come from? There are many sources for toxins that enter the body through every possible opening, including the tiny pores in the skin.
The air we breathe is a rich source of toxins that make their way into our blood stream. Toxins are deposited into the air through car fumes and pollution from industries. The vegetables we eat are polluted with toxins through the insecticides we spray to kill the pests that destroy the plants. The chemical fertilizer we use for the plants is another source of toxins that make their way into the vegetables and fruit we eat. The water we drink is treated with cleansing and purification agents, again chemicals. These make their way into our system and finally add to the toxic levels in our body.
Another great source of toxins is the medications that we take to heal ourselves. In fact, any form of chemical intake leads to the build up of toxins in out system. Then again here are the chemical toiletries such as deodorants and sprays; these are a big source of toxins.
So, how do toxins affect our system?
Toxins affect all the organs of our body. They mainly attack the kidneys, liver and the colon.Toxins hamper the functioning of the immune system and leave the body open to attacks from diseases leading to ill health. Some of the main symptoms are aging, skin rashes and many other skin disorders, indigestion, nausea, and most of all behavioral changes including depression, a rising disorder linked to toxin levels in the system.
The best way to rid the system of toxins is to go on a detox diet. This is a program that consists on vegetables and fruits. A 5 day diet of leafy vegetables and fresh fruit along with at least 4 liters of water every day will rid the system of over 80% toxins. There are other ways that include home detox kits complete with herbal detox pills and tonics that work independently on each organ to detoxify the system.
Whatever the process you choose to detoxify your body it is important to do so on a regular basis such as twice a year. A detoxified body is a healthy body and a happier individual.

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Autism

What is Autism?

You may have seen an autistic child or adult and never knew that the person had a diagnosis. Your ignorance about the disorder is not uncommon because most people who are not experienced with the disorder look at autistic people as those who are mentally retarded or have some learning disability. This is not true. Autism is a very complicated disorder that affects children typically from the age of three to conception.
The disorder is neurological in nature and primarily affects the areas of the brain where communication and social interaction is developed. To the unsuspecting person, the autistic child or adult would be considered mentally unstable or retarded.
The unique thing about autism and the reason it is sometimes hard to detect is that the disorder affects different sufferers in different levels of complexity. A mildly affected child may be able to communicate their wants and needs, but there communication is often stifled and they do not understand the subtleties of the English language. Sometimes humor, irony, and other nuances of the language will present a difficult or impassible barrier to the child’s communication process. Another autistic sufferer may have severe autism where the child or the adult cannot communicate at all. The sad thing is that the autistic person can think about the what they want to say and how to communicate it, but the words do not come out and their silence on appears on the outside.
Autistic children act differently to normal situations than other kids. Loud noises, a deviation from a familiar route, or a change in time schedule can set an autistic child off with sometimes violent consequences. The acts of an autistic child could be misinterpreted as a behavior disorder or an emotional disorder. Simple communication is not there. If a autistic child is hot, it has been reported that some will strip naked in public and run around. The communication is there. They are hot. It is cooler when I am naked. Therefore I will be naked and be cool. Again, the communication is there, but the socially accepted communication in which we communicate is not.

Factors that contribute to Autism

Autism is a mystery for most health care professionals. They have found no one clear cause for autism though there are several autism factors that are common throughout the research. The most common is that autistic sufferers have abnormalities in their brain. When compared to non-autistic people, autistic brains are shaped differently and function differently. There are many theories concerning the factors that contribute to autism in which genetics, heredity, and environmental aspects are suspected. The genetic theory is supported that in some families there are patterns of disabilities and mental illness that are frequent and autism is considered apart of this pattern.
What causes the mutations or the passing of the autistic gene is uncertain. Some researchers believe that a group of unstable genes interfere with the development of the brain during the early years of life and these genes rearrange themselves to hinder the proper realignment of brain tissue. If this is truly a factor for the contribution to autism then it cannot be stopped with today’s medical knowledge. If the genes are isolated, genetic screening before pregnancy can determine if the parents have a predisposition to give birth to an autistic child.
Environmental factors have been another theory that researchers have come up with. The research for this idea is very sketchy and according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry there has been no link between autism and an outside source such as chemicals or other toxins in the environment. Remember that this may be a link and the research is just not showing the connection yet. With all the pollution that is in our air and water and all the contaminants we consume in our food, there is all likelihood that environmental factors are indeed a piece in the puzzle.
Physical medical condition has shown a possibly of being a contributing factor.
Conditions such as tuberous sclerosis and congenital rubella syndrome has yielded results that there is a high percentage of autistic manifestations after diagnosis. Also phenylketonuria also known as PKU and fragile X syndrome has been known to contribute a high number of cases that also link themselves to autism. The jury is still out to whether these conditions have percentages high enough to officially correlate evidence that leads to autism, but at this point the suspicion is there.
The contributing factors are sketchy at best, but there are factors that you can rule out. For some reason autistic kids have a predisposition to the autistic condition.
You can’t blame the parents for the parents have no control over their DNA. If a family does have a high occurrence of disabilities, they should still have right and the ability to procreate and to have happiness as a family. Environmental conditions are also not completely to blame unless a parent on purpose puts toxins into their bodies before or during pregnancy. Some say that drugs and alcohol consumption by the parent is a contributing factor. So far there is no link to drugs, alcohol, or alcohol fetal syndrome and autism. For now we have to accept autism for what it is. The child, parents, or genetics are not to be blamed until there is more research done and more evidence that point to one contributing factor. For now until that research is done we must do everything we can to let the silent voices be heard and help those already inflicted with this terrible disorder.


Symptoms of Autism

Right now, genetics seem the only real connection for a cause and effect in regards to autism. Genetic research is being done right now and the call for research from the National Autistic Society is desperate. They are willing to look at any research in the realm of genetics and autism and will help correlate future research with what they have in their archives now. There are some promising breakthroughs but there is not enough evidence to support a grounded theory. The only general theme that has been found is that there is a genetic link between close relatives and the sufferers of autism.
The search for the specific gene that causes this link is not under study. The Collaborative Autism Project and the International Genetic Study have been studying chromosomes that might have an influence on whether a child is autistic or not. This sounds difficult, but researchers are not even sure that it is just one gene that causes autism. If more than one gene affects autism outcomes, then even though the chance of finding one of those genes is statistically greater, the excitement and following research may ignore the others. Both research facilities have come to one conclusion but it is a weak one at best. They believe that the gene might be found in chromosome 7 of our genetic makeup. This means they have found a possible haystack and now they have to look for the needle.
Dr. Michael Dougherty of the American Institute of Biological Sciences argues the pure genetic cause theory. He thinks that there is a combination between both genetics and environmental factors. This could be true because outside environmental changes affect both phenotypical and genotypical characteristics of an organism. He believes that chromosome 12 is the main culprit to the genetic side of autism. If a child receives two mutated copies of this chromosome the amino acids that are a part of food proteins cannot be broken down. This would lead to a mutation in the development of the brain and particularly the part of the brain that controls communication and social skills. He adds that the presence of phenylketonuria may call another malfunction of the brain that produces behavior that will be diagnosed as autism. Since the PKU can be detected at birth and when detected, a special diet thwarts the negative side effects; both PKU and genetics have duel roles in the creation of autism.
The collaboration to find data and share research on autism is still in its infancy.
The collaboration process between researchers only began in 1996. This means only a decade has been dedicated to finding the source of the disorder. The gene mapping projects that have fascinated researchers for years have yielded results to the cause and some cures of many diseases since it has begun. This give hopes to people who have autistic children and also hope to prospective parents who think that might be predisposed to the gene. Remember though, if the gene is found it is only a step to the cure. The gene’s discovery will only allow the medical community to let parents know they have a predisposition before pregnancy and once pregnant the disorder has a good chance of occurring. Only time and patience will be needed to find both the cause and the cure of this disturbing disorder. All the parents can do for their child that has the disorder is to love them and give them the quality of life that they deserve. As with all diseases, autism will someday be a thing of the past.
The symptoms of autism are hard to define because each autistic child is unique in their own way. Not only are the symptoms individualized but the severity of the disorder also differs from child to child. One child might have mild autism and be able to function normally at home or in the classroom. The only difference you might see is minor social awkwardness when interacting with other or a certain preference of where there food is positioned on a plate. On the severe side you might see a child that has no communication skills. They are impulsive and their behavior, though no fault of theirs, borders on one that is socially unacceptable. Some autistic children have no fear of social norms.
One of the symptoms of autism is a delayed or unusual speech pattern. When young severe autistic children will grunt, stutter, or talk slowly with long breaks between each word or syllable. Mild autistic children have been known to memorize entire books or scripts from a television show. There was a case in Maine where a teenage autistic boy could not tell you what he had for breakfast or what his mother’s name was but he could tell you, by cabin, the entire passenger manifest of the Titanic. Other cases have included numbers in their speech pattern. A autistic child in Texas had the unusual talent of counting the number of letters of each word as you spoke them. The count was accurate and immediate, but again, simple knowledge was almost impossible to communicate.
Subtle nuances in language are also a symptom of autism. For example, the autistic child would not understand humor or would find humor in something that was not funny. The emotional reaction to irony or sarcasm would seem out of place and unusual in normal conversation. Physical comedy may be understood by the autistic
child, but there actions in both body language and spoken word would seem inappropriate to the situation. When talking to an autistic child, the lack of eye contact is normally seen. They may be listening to you, but their body and eyes are concentrated on something else. You may have their full attention, but you would think that the child was totally consumed by another person or an object that has little significance to you.
The autistic child sometime does not have the ability to imagine anything outside of self. If you asked an autistic child if they would like to do what their friend is doing or how would you feel if that happened to you, they could not put the concept together to compare themselves to the other person or situation. Putting themselves in another’s shoes is not a concept they can grasp or communicate. When they do communicate it may seem awkward and inappropriate. They may speak with a very high voice that seems out of place or with a very flat voice that is sometimes inaudible or hard to understand. The conversation, if they are capable will be void of any slang words or words associated in the vocabulary of a person that age.
All these nuances and symptoms of the disorder can be viewed, especially by peers, as being socially unacceptable and divergent of societal norms. Even when playing with others, the other children will have a hard time interacting with the autistic child. This could lead to isolation and further social development unless the interaction is facilitated by an understanding adult.

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High Blood Pressure

Your heart is the hardest working muscle in your body. No bigger than a fist, this powerful pump circulates blood throughout your entire body, providing the oxygen and nutrients you need to live. Unlike most pumps, however, this pump never stops as long as you’re alive. In fact, the average human heart works at a rate of 100,000 beats a day, or an incredible 2.5 billion beats over a lifetime of 70 years! Every time your heart beats, it pumps blood through arteries, exerting pressure (or force) on the inside of your blood vessels. This is called blood pressure.
To understand this, think of a water pump and hose. When you turn the pump on, it pushes water into the hose, creating pressure against the inner walls of the hose and causing the water to flow. Now, if you interrupt the flow of water—for example, by putting a bend in the hose—you create a blockage that stops up the water. The water will build up behind the blockage, exerting more pressure and pushing out the walls of the hose. If you keep the hose bent, eventually either the hose will burst or the pump will shut down. If you get rid of the blockage, water will once again flow smoothly through the hose.
You can think of high blood pressure, or hypertension, in the same way. It is a condition in which the pressure of the blood inside the arteries is too high. If the condition is left untreated, it will cause damage to the arteries and put strain on the heart. You can develop serious complications of high blood pressure, including stroke, heart attacks, heart failure, kidney failure, and eyesight problems or even blindness. Developing these and other related illnesses can lead to a life of considerable suffering or premature death.
Sadly, millions of Americans are walking around with high blood pressure and don’t even know it. It seems that most people find out they have the disorder only when their doctors bring it to their attention during an office visit. This is due to the fact that there are no clear-cut symptoms of high blood pressure—which is part of the reason it has become known as “the silent killer.”
One basic marker that people can use to keep tabs on their blood pressure is their age. As people grow older, their chance of developing the condition becomes greater. Health experts have determined that roughly 54% of people over 60 have high blood pressure and that two out of three Americans will have it by the age of 70. For this simple fact alone, it is important for people to become more aware of their blood pressure, have it measured periodically, and learn healthy ways to prevent or control this potentially deadly condition.
High blood pressure does not affect all people in the same way. African Americans and older people are particularly hard hit by the disorder. Those with lower incomes and lower educational backgrounds also tend to be at greater risk for developing high blood pressure.
In addition, research studies have shown that people living in the southeastern United States have average blood pressure levels that are higher than Americans living in other parts of the country. The exact reasons for this still remain unclear. What is clear is that people can take many actions to reduce their chances of developing high blood pressure. This involves having blood pressure checked regularly, since high blood pressure is simple to detect, and making changes in lifestyle, such as increasing physical activity, reducing the amount of salt consumed, and committing to a lifetime of healthier eating.
For those suffering from high blood pressure, medical science and modern research since the 1940s and 1950s have come a long way in understanding and treating this silent condition. Many medications have been developed and proven effective in helping to get blood pressure levels under control, to limit or avoid further complications, and to prolong life.

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Fibromuscular Dysplasia

On a hot day at the end of July, 37-year-old Pam Mace woke up with a left-sided headache that intensified as the day progressed. When she noticed that her pupils were unequal and her headache was so severe that she could not pick up her head, she went to the emergency room (ER). It wasn't until two more trips to the ER that she was told that she had a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or mini-stroke. For many months Pam suffered with an array of symptoms: severe headaches, a “swishing noise” in her ears, dizziness, and a feeling that she was about to faint. She also had trouble regulating her blood pressure, and her pupils were unequal in size. Months later doctors were able to diagnose the cause of her TIA as fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD). FMD is an unusual blood vessel disease that leads to abnormal cell development in the artery wall that causes narrowing which decreases blood flow through the artery. FMD is most commonly found in the arteries that supply blood to the kidneys (renal arteries), followed by the carotid arteries of the neck that supply blood to the brain. Fibromuscular dysplasia can also affect the arteries in the abdomen (supplying blood to the liver, spleen and intestines) and extremities (arms and legs). In Pam's case, the arteries in the back of her neck were affected first and she experienced a dissection (a tear or rip) in one of her vertebral arteries, then she had another dissection in her left carotid artery in the front of her neck.
“I had such a bad headache that nothing relieved the pain,” said Pam. “I spent over 11 days in the hospital and no one could seem to figure out what was wrong with me. I was very afraid that I was going to have a massive stroke.”
Many people with FMD do not have symptoms that can be detected during a general physical exam. The signs or symptoms that a person exhibits depend on which arteries are affected, and the degree of narrowing within them. Some patients with FMD have no symptoms at all. Fibromuscular dysplasia can be diagnosed through a number of methods including CT scan, MRI, ultrasound and angiogram. In the most common forms of FMD, a characteristic “string of beads” appearance is seen in images of the renal arteries that supply blood to the kidneys. This is caused by changes in the cellular tissue of the artery wall that causes the arteries to alternatively become narrow and dilate, or expand. In more aggressive forms of Fibromuscular dysplasia, the vessel will narrow without the “string of beads” appearing.
It was the “string of beads” that led to Pam's diagnosis of FMD. After a series of tests and many trips to the ER, she still had headaches that were so painful she couldn't work. In a follow-up MRI, a radiologist noticed that she had a carotid aneurysm.
After a second opinion, it was determined that Pam had suffered two aneurysms and had three arterial dissections or tears in the arteries of her neck. Renal FMD was also discovered.
“As an ER nurse, I knew something was wrong, but it was so frustrating that the doctors couldn't figure out what was causing my symptoms,” Pam said. “When the doctor saw the classic “string of beads” in my renal arteries during my angiogram,
he indicated that I had FMD. I finally started to feel like I knew what was causing all of my problems.”
There is no cure for FMD nor is there a set protocol for treating it. Depending which arteries are affected will determine the kind of treatment used. A procedure called angioplasty is the treatment most commonly used for severe narrowing due to FMD. Angioplasty is often performed at the same time as an arteriogram during which the radiologist, vascular surgeon, or cardiologist inserts a wire into or near the affected artery and injects contrast material or dye that can be detected by X-ray. If an angioplasty is performed, a catheter is extended into the affected artery and a small balloon is inflated that “stretches” open the artery. A metal stent is typically not required to keep the vessel open for patients with Fibromuscular dysplasia. “Right now, there is a great need for more research on FMD to determine which patients are at risk and the optimal treatment. The care of patients with FMD focuses on determining which blood vessels are involved and whether or not a procedure needs to be done to treat severe symptoms due to this disorder,” said Dr. Heather Gornik, a specialist in FMD at the Cleveland Clinic. “I also treat patients with carotid FMD with antiplatelet therapy, usually aspirin, and I work on controlling all other risk factors for vascular disease, such as smoking, cholesterol, body weight, and exercise. There is a great need to learn more about FMD, and the FMDSA will soon be sponsoring a national research study to learn more about this disorder.”
In Pam's case, she had two experimental stents placed in her arteries within a two-year period, which helped to minimize the swishing noise in her ears and her headaches. She currently takes several medications, including a diuretic, blood pressure medication, and aspirin.
Today, Pam continues to work as an ER nurse and remains active. She also watches her diet and does what her doctors tell her. She currently serves as executive director of the Fibromuscular Dysplasia Society of America, Inc. (FMDSA) and has made it her mission to help others afflicted with FMD. “My biggest frustration when I went through all of this was that I felt so alone and like no one was listening to me,” she said. “It was also difficult that it took so long to find the FMD, but I'm glad at least now I know what I'm dealing with and am grateful that I have an opportunity to help others affected by FMD.”

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