Diabetes

by Michael Minton


People with Diabetes Should Know

It is probable that 14.5 million people in the United States have diabetes. However, there are probably 6.2 million people who have this disease and do not know they have it. These figures come from the American Diabetes Association. That puts the total at 2.8 million Americans, or 7% of the population.

Diabetes is called a silent killer, because until complications arise, sometimes there are no symptoms. The complications include obesity, high cholesterol, heart disease, stroke and amputation, among others.

If a person with diabetes is careful and manages the disease, he or she can reduce their risk factors. The majority of people with diabetes die of heart disease or stroke. Heart attacks occur at a younger age than in those who do not have diabetes.

Traditional Medicine

Traditional medicine treats the symptom of diabetes rather than the cause. Drugs are given to increase levels of insulin and thus lower blood sugar. These drugs are artificial and they can result in many side effects and do not essentially handle the original metabolic disorder. As the insulin intensity rises, they may have undesirable effects on cardiovascular system. This can even cause heart disease. But the real problem is not low levels of insulin, but the tissue sensitivity to the insulin already in the body.

Results of Aging

Normal aging causes insulin receptors to be less sensitive to insulin. The result is insulin resistance. This means high levels of insulin are needed to keep the blood sugar in a normal range. When this passes a certain limit, blood sugar rises and a person develops blunt type 2 diabetes. With high insulin comes the fat accumulation and active blocking of the fat breakdown.

There are several natural remedies that can help restore insulin sensitivity. Supplements such as chromium and gymnema sylvetere and fish oils will help. Also cutting down extra calories will help. Balancing hormones and other nutrients are effective.

Types of Foods

Glycemic index is a list of foods, which assigns a number to each food indicating how much sugar it contains. It is above all important to keep away from high glycemic foods as eating them raises blood sugar levels too high and too rapidly. In reaction the insulin gets released and so the nasty cycle of insulin insensitivity begins and finally insulin resistance and then diabetes follows.

Eating nutritious food includes complex carbohydrates, low glycemic foods and correct diet for your metabolic type. There are several different metabolic types and each one requires different types of food. A simple check can be done to determine your body's metabolic type, so that you may then chose to eat the correct foods that will help your body.

Diabetes Treatments

Angel Longevity Medical Center in Los Angeles is an alternative medicine clinic, headed by Dr. Anju Mather. She approaches diabetic treatment by doing everything possible to improve insulin sensitivity. Exercise, supplements, hormone balancing and correct diet will all be part of the plan. Recently research has turned up that a testosterone deficiency in men is linked to non-insulin dependent diabetes, thus the balancing of hormones becomes even more important.




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Learn more about high blood pressure. Stop by Anju Mathur, M.D.'s site where you can find out all about supplements and what it can do for you.

Diabetes mellitus Risk Factors

by Armughan Riaz


Do you've got health risk elements for type 2 diabetes mellitus? The incidence of type 2 diabetes has doubled over the past three decades, in accordance with the Framingham Heart Study. Although the reasons of type 2 diabetes mellitus are anonymous, there are some key risk elements. These health risk elements can enhance your possibilities of getting this increasingly widespread type of diabetes.

It is estimated that 70 to 80 million Americans have insulin resistance syndrome -- a risk factor for type 2 diabetes. In the healthiness matter on insulin resistance syndrome or metabolic syndrome, we explain the mixture of diseases attributable to insulin resistance. When you be taught more about insulin resistance, you could need to initiate a number of the beneficial life-style modifications that may assist lower your probabilities of getting this severe problem.

Type 2 diabetes Danger Factors

An individual with some or the entire subsequent listed fitness risk elements could by no means acquire type 2 diabetes mellitus. Nevertheless, the most recent medical findings present that the probabilities of getting type 2 diabetes mellitus increase the more health danger factors you have.

* A family history of diabetes mellitus. If a guardian or sibling in your family has diabetes, your risk of developing type 2 diabetes increases. * Age over forty five. The prospect of getting type 2 diabetes will increase with age. * Race or ethnic background. The risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus is greater in Hispanics, blacks, Native Americans, and Asians. * Metabolic syndrome (also called insulin resistance syndrome). * Being obese. If you are obese, defined as a body mass index (BMI) greater than twenty five, you are at larger risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus. * Hypertension. Hypertension increases the danger of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus. * Defective ldl cholesterol levels. HDL ("good") cholesterol levels below 35 mg/dL mg per dl and/or a triglyceride level over 250 mg/dL increases your threat of type 2 diabetes mellitus. * History of gestational diabetes. Getting diabetes mellitus at some stage in pregnancy or delivering a child over 9 pounds can augment your risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Different health risk components for type 2 diabetes mellitus embrace:

* A history of polycystic ovary disease (PCOS) * Inactivity * Historical past of vascular disease such as stroke)




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If you want to know more about Diabetes Symptoms and Diabetes Blog then visit these links.

Hormone Replacement Therapy Still Good For Menopause?

By Adriana Noton

Hormone replacement therapy, now more commonly known as hormone therapy, use to be medical worlds standard treatment for those women suffering from hot flashes and other side effects of going through menopause. They also thought that it could help prevent osteoporosis and even heart disease.

In 2002 however; the minds of many in the medical field changed when they saw the results of a clinical test. What the test uncovered is that the hormone replacement therapy could actually be causing a lot more health hazards than benefits. As the doctors saw the increase of health hazards with women on this therapy they began to prescribe it less and less and a lot of women completely stopped it on their own when they heard the news about it may being dangerous.

Those who took the hormone replacement therapy were given estrogen and progestin. This therapy would ease some of the symptoms of menopause making life easier for the women going through a difficult menopause. The long term prescriptions for this are rarely given now, on occasion though, women are given the treatment for short term.

If the bioidentical hormone replacement is given short term, there still might be some health benefits. Over short periods of time, doctors have discovered that it can help lessen the chances of getting osteoporosis. If used moderately, the hormone therapy may still be able to lower the risk of developing colorectal cancer. Heart disease risk can be lowered if estrogen is given in the early stage of postmenopausal years but not throughout the entire cycle of menopause.

There are risks for taking hormone replacement therapy and women who are experiencing menopause should weigh the facts and figure out if menopause is causing that much disruption in their lives that it would be worth chancing the hazards that come with the therapy.

Long term use of the therapy actually increased the threat of heart disease in women who took the real therapy. Breast cancer appeared to increase with long term use. Strokes increased in women that took the long term therapy. There were also an increase in false positive mammograms.

On the other hand, if women only took estrogen did not seem to have an increase in heart disease or breast cancer, but; they did have an increase in strokes, blood clots in their legs and an increase in abnormal mammograms.

If your menopausal symptoms are far greater than the risk, you should talk to your doctor if the following things are bothering you the most. If you have severe hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms that are interfering with daily life. It has been discovered that you have lost bone mass and you have stopped having your period before the age of forty.

If you experience any of the above mentioned situations, it might be wise for you to consider the treatment anyway. Your doctor will be able to identify whether or not what you are experiencing is extreme enough to begin you on the hormone therapy. - 32608

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What to Look for to Be Sure That You are in Good Health

By Christopher Taylor

Yes, you have killer 6-pack abdominals. But does that mean that you are healthy? Of course you can evaluate a persons physical health based on their external looks. Aside from the abdominal muscles, there are other ways of determining how healthy you are.

Body Mass

Body mass, or how large (or slim) you are, is not always the most dependable barometer of how healthy a person is. Medical doctors use the body mass index or BMI to judge the size of a person against weight. One can calculate BMI by dividing kilograms by meter squared. Ordinarily, a sign of good health is to have a BMI between 18-25. Underweight BMI is less than 19, overweight BMI is between 25-30 and obese is 30 or more.

Nonetheless, an individual who is very fit with very little body fat could have a BMI over 25. This will put him or her in the over weight category.

For growing teens and youngsters, BMI is also an inefficient method for measuring health. Therefore, in place of using this antiquated type of measurement, what should be regarded instead, is the teens age and possibility for growth. If a child is putting on poundage too quickly for his or her age or not putting on enough weight, or not growing taller, this is a much better determinant of his or her health.

The Shape of the Body

Another meter for good health is someones body shape. Health care providers also look at waist measurements because they know that apple-shaped men and women carry excess fat around their waistline. Obesity-related illnesses, as well as coronary heart problems are a higher risk for these men and women. If the midriff is larger than thirty five inches, the individual has a greater exposure to health problems such as diabetes or stroke.

Condition of Your Skin

Ones skin appearance would be another sign of good or poor health. Oddly shaped or growing freckles or moles are things to be watchful for. One should use sunscreen and get the opinion of a dermatologist about any skin spots.

Oral Health

If there is bleeding when you spit after brushing your teeth, your gums may need attending to. Gums that bleed often are a sign of bad oral health and vitamin deficiency. Blood on the toothbrush is one of the most common indicators of gingivitis or gum disease, which in turn is a harbinger for cardiovascular diseases.

Gingivitis is avoidable and reversible. Gums need to undergo a thorough plaque removal along with daily dental hygiene habits, good eating habits and vitamin supplements.

Studies reveal that gum diseases can be connected with cardiac disease and diabetes. People with gum diseases and tooth decay are twice more predisposed to die of heart attacks and approximately 3 times more liable to have a stroke.

Look Out for Your Lips

Another unhealthy state for the human body to be in is dehydration. Dry and coarse lips could be an indicator of dehydration. Dehydration can cause headaches and fatigue, as well as remove the moisture from the skin making it look decrepit and dry. Are your lips moist and kissable? If not, drink some water.

Finger and Toe Nails

Look at your fingernails. Healthy fingernails and toenails are strong, colorless and smooth. Otherwise, unhealthy nails are otherwise yellow and crumbly. Yeast infection, peculiar levels of oxygen in the blood, thyroid problems and a vitamin deficiency are just some of the disorders associated with unhealthy looking nails.

Granted that you are muscled enough to parade those six-packs, you can still dig for yourself an early grave if you disregard the other signs of bad health. - 32608

Drugs Are Not The Answer For Fighting Cholestrol

By Christian Goodman

Eating too much of food containing fat is the reason for cholesterol. The amount of high content fat food we eat has made us to make frequent trips to our physicists.

High cholesterol can lead to the clogging of arteries, which when neglected may result in various heart diseases.

Most of the people do not know that the high amount of cholesterol found in our body is produced by our own bodies. Moreover, everyone should understand that the amount of cholesterol produced in our body is a by product of what we eat.

So, while you may take as many conventional drugs as you want and increase the side effects that you face and manage, it is mandatory to eat smart so that you are able to abate the production of cholesterol in the body.

Naturopaths have made a detailed research on the foods that are helpful for people who suffer from high cholesterol. Eating this foods will help the process of reducing cholesterol.

1. One of the good foods for cholesterol is pecans. The study was conducted in New Mexico. Consuming a cup of pecans without sugar and corn syrup will reduce the bad cholesterol in the body by 10 percentage. This reduction was attained by keeping all other aspects of diet intact.

2.Ginger, a standard ingredient in oriental cuisine, is known to have great properties. Among them is the capability of ginger to help in reducing LDL cholesterol.

But ginger should not consumed as ginger cookies. The juice should be extracted from ginger and should be added to tea of food preparations.

3. 3. Another food that contains large amount of calcium, fiber, iron, manganese, potassium and vitamin B6 in cassava. The presence of large amount fiber helps it to reduce cholesterol.

A recent study conducted in Philippines shows that cassava was instrumental in reducing total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. The food also helped in decreasing the level of triglycerides in the body.

Other foods that have been labeled as being good for reducing cholesterol levels in the body are high fiber foods like barley, oatmeal, wheatgrass, garlic and apples. Know more about how these foods can help you effectively fight cholesterol by reading more about them in our upcoming cholesterol guide.

EL331014 - 32608

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The Best Reasons Why You Should Quit Smoking

By Martin Elmer

Quitting the cigarettes might seem to be a really great thing, but it not always that clear, what the benefits are.

Some benefits are very obvious. The clothes and the house will smell better, and if you normally smoke in the car, it will also be nicer to drive without the smell of the cigarettes. But there better reasons to quit the cigarettes. Things like better health and more money is probably counting more than the smell.

You can save a lot of money if you quit the cigarettes. On pack a day can easily save you $35 a week, $150 a month and $1,825 a year. So if you really want to save some money, be honest and calculate how much it cost you to smoke the number of cigarettes, you are smoking today.

But money is not everything. Your health will also be improved. Research shows 20 minutes after the last cigarette it is possible to see an improved health.

If you stop smoking you can improve your health by reducing the risk of breathing complications, lung cancer, high blood pressure, heart problems and stroke. Research has shown that only a short period after the last cigarette many of the harmful effects that smoking has caused will start to reverse; even if you are a long time smoker.

If you quit for just a period of 5 years the risk of a stroke is the same as for someone who have never smoked. If you continue to smoke the risk will be at least the double

And it gets better. 15 years after you have stopped smoking the risk of coronary heart disease is the same as for non-smokers. It might seem like small steps, but you can be sure that they will improve your health; and thereby also the quality of your life.

There are many reasons to quit smoking; no matter if you look at the money or the health. So stop today and see an improvement tomorrow. - 32608

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A Major Risk Factor for Stroke: High Blood Pressure

By Christian Goodman

October 29 is World Stroke Day. Promoted by the World Stroke Organization, the topic of World Stroke Day this year is "What can I do?"

According to the World Stroke Organization, you can master how to distinguish risk components and symptoms of stroke - and do something about them.

Hypertension or high blood pressure is a significant risk factor for stroke as well as heart disease. Poor nutrition, lack of exercise, obesity, and smoking all raise the risk of stroke and hypertension.

A stroke is similar to a heart attack, but it takes place in the brain. Stroke occurs when a blood clot blocks a blood vessel and interrupts blood flow to the brain. A lack of blood flow causes brain damage; brain cells begin to die. Stroke may force weakness in limbs, paralyzed limbs, or loss of ability to speak.

Stroke is the third leading reason of death in America and the leading factor of disability in adults. Up to 80 percent of strokes are preventable with healthy lifestyle choices.

"Stroke is not an inevitable consequence of ageing," points of Professor Lars Ryden of the Karolinska Institute in Stockhom. "So by identifying and modifying risk factors, there are chances to reduce the incidence and fatality rate of this destructive condition."

Worldwide, stroke is the second leading cause of death (second only to heart disease), accounting for nearly 6 million deaths each year. The number of stroke victims proceeds to rise around the world.

High blood pressure is the most significant risk factor for stroke. The Framingham Heart Study determined that hypertension doubles the possibility of stroke. Smoking also doubles the risk of stroke.

To lower the risk of stroke, you can stop smoking (if you smoke), lose weight, lower blood pressure, eat healthier foods, and exercise regularly. Excessive alcohol consumption and excessive salt intake also raise the risk for high blood pressure as well as stroke. Regular exercise is the key to losing weight, lowering blood pressure, and lowering your risk of stroke.

Walking is an exceptional exercise, and you have no excuses to avoid walking. If the weather is bad outside, you can walk indoors in a mall, for instance. One Japanese study discovered that regular vigorous walking reduced the risk of stroke by upwards of 20 percent. In a similar Finnish study, researchers found that leisure-time physical activity is a preventative of stroke. Lying on the couch and watching television might seem like the most relaxing activity, but when that's your only leisure-time activity, then it's actually creating more stress and anxiety within your body. You must maintain physical activity levels to release that stress and keep your body healthy.

Summarizing, to lower your risk of stroke, follow these simple suggestions: Stop smoking. Walk or exercise daily. Eat five servings of fruit and vegetables each day. Keep your blood pressure and cholesterol levels within healthy ranges.

See high blood pressure workouts for more suggestions about lowering blood pressure naturally.

EL331004 - 32608

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