Medical Site

Do you have a painful back?

admin — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 20:21:48 +0000

Back pain, something that almost all of us have experienced at some point in life. A fairly common health problem which can restrict your activities of daily living. So what all can cause back pain? It could be stress or trauma or even some injury. Lets look at the causes for back pain:

1. Bad posture: More often that not a bad posture is the reason behind back pain. Today most of our work requires us to sit in front of the computer, which strains our back leading to back pain

2. Slipped disc: One of the common causes of back pain, in this the intervertebral disc protrudes out of the spine. The protruded disc can lead to nerve compression causing severe back pain. It usually occurs due to improper lifting of heavy weight and due to excessive physical strain. Sudden trauma can also lead to disc rupture

3. Bony conditions: Degenerative conditions like osteoporosis and arthritis can also affect the spine leading to back pain

4. Miscellaneous: Other causes include cancer affecting the spine, infections and in some cases certain psychological problems may also give rise to back pain

Low caffeine intake for breastfeeding mothers!

admin — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 01:03:01 +0000

Caffeine is found in good quantity in many drinks that we consume daily like tea, coffee, soft drinks etc. Consuming these beverages in excessive amount especially when you are breastfeeding can cause problems for your child. High caffeine intake by the mother can lead to irritability symptoms in the child. The child may also suffer from sleep problems.

According to various researchers a newborns body cannot metabolize or excrete caffeine very well. This can lead to high caffeine concentration in the child’s body. Breastfeeding mothers are thus often advised to limit their intake of caffeine in any form. Moderate intake is absolutely fine and safe for the mother as well as the child.

Fruits and veggies to control blood pressure!

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 20:03:41 +0000

High blood pressure or hypertension is a highly prevalent condition in today’s time. To keep the blood pressure or BP as it is often called one should keep a check on their diet. Cutting down on salt, processed food, coffee, tea and fried food will help in keeping the BP within control. Regular exercise is also essential for a healthy living. Some fruits and veggies can help in controlling BP naturally:

1. Juice of raw veggies: 500 ml of spinach and carrot juice (made my 300 ml carrot + 200 ml spinach) can be taken everyday. Spinach and carrot juices can be taken separately as well
2. Watermelon seeds: The seeds need to be dried and roasted first, and they can then be taken in moderate amount
3. Grapefruit & Indian gooseberry: Regular intake of these fruits can be effective in controlling high BP
4. Lemon: Including lemon in your diet can help in building and maintaining the capillary fragility

Addison’s disease

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:38:15 +0000

Addison’s disease is a disorder where the adrenal glands in your body do not produce sufficient amout of hormones. Adrenals are located on the top of kidneys and secrete certain hormones which are important for the normal functioning of the body. The two important hormones secreted by the adrenals are cortisol and aldosterone and usually it is the cortisol whose level goes down in a patient suffering from Addison’s disease. The disease is also known as adrenal insufficiency and can be life threatening. The disease may occur due to a problem within the adrenals themselves (known as primary adrenal insufficiency) however chronic infections like tuberculosis and HIV might also lead to adrenal gland failure. The main symptoms are:

1. Weakness and loss of apetite, tiredness
2. Weight loss and muscle fatigue
3. Low blood pressure
4. Skin darkening (hyper-pigmentation)
5. Craving for salt

Honey is good for your health!

admin — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 01:30:18 +0000

Including honey in your diet can result in better health. Consuming honey with warm water can help in weight loss as it increases body’s Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR). You can also combine honey with cinnamon or with lemon juice for similar weight loss benefits.

Honey is a natural antiseptic and also a good antioxidant. It helps in removing free radicals from your body, thus making it stronger and healthier. It increases your body’s immunity. It also contains various minerals and vitamins. Honey has been traditionally used to treat infection, arthritis pain etc. Its natural healing power has been recognized and known for more than thousand years now!

Clean your tongue regularly!

admin — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 23:08:49 +0000

There are various benefits associated with regular tongue cleaning. Many bacteria’s associated with bad odor stay on the tongue and cleaning helps to get rid of them. It also helps in preventing tooth decay and plaque formation.

*Tip* - Do not use a toothbrush to clean your tongue, instead use a tongue scraper which can gently scrape your tongue surface. A toothbrush won’t be able to do so! So it might be a great idea to add tongue cleaning to your regular routine of brushing.

Acanthosis nigricans

admin — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:08:51 +0000

Acanthosis nigricans is a skin disorder where skin becomes dark, velvety and think around the body folds. The area usually affected is the back, armpits and neck. Acanthosis nigricans can affect any age group. The condition is usually associated with diabetes and obesity. People with this skin disorder often have increased insulin levels in their blood. Some genetic factors may also play a role and so can certain medications like the oral contraceptives. The usual form of treatment is to treat the underlying medical condition however the best way to control it would be to keep the insulin level within control and indulge in some form of physical exercise regularly. The associated symptoms are:

1. Changes in the skin, which becomes dark, velvety and thick. Usually skin changes are the only symptoms that appear especially around the body creases and folds
2. The changes appear slowly and can sometime appear on feet and palms as well
3. One might experience itching in the darkened skin folds/creases sometimes

Alzheimer’s

admin — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 07:24:18 +0000

Alzheimer’s disease is the commonest cause of dementia, leading to gradual loss of brain functions. It’s a slowly progressive brain disorder which is characterized by loss of social skills, intellectual abilities and memory impairment. The cause of Alzheimer’s is not fully understood however it is believed to occur as a result of certain genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors. The disease is often severe enough to affect daily life activities. It typically affects older adults (65 and above) though early onset of Alzheimer’s are also known. The usual symptoms associated with the Alzheimer’s are:

1. Forgetfulness, is usually the first symptom to appear
2. Disorientation with space, time and place
3. Personality changes,
4. Lack of ability to make judgement, take decision
5. Difficulty to concentrate and think

Arthritis

admin — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 20:04:22 +0000

In simple words, any joint inflammation is defined as arthritis. We have various joints in our body, where bones meet to allow free movement. There are various types/form of arthritis like there is Rheumatoid arthritis which is an auto-immune disease leading to chronic joint inflammation and then there is Osteoarthritis (the most common form of arthritis) which is a degenerative arthritis and where the joints undergo wear and tear due to aging, injury etc. So, the underlying cause for arthritis can vary however the commonly associated symptoms are:

1. Pain in the affected joint, can be accompanied with stiffness
2. Difficulty in walking or doing activities of daily life/living (ADL)
3. Tiredness
4. Fever, especially when disease is active
5. Lack of appetite & also weight loss

Asthma

admin — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 02:14:09 +0000

Asthma occurs when you airways become inflamed and narrow. This inflammation can be triggered by various factors due to which there is increased mucus production and further narrowing of airways in the lung. Common symptoms associated with Asthma are:

1. Difficulty in breathing or breathlessness
2. Wheezing, which is a whistling sound that you hear as you breathe
3. Coughing
4. Feeling of tightness in the chest
5. Difficult in speaking as a result of shortness of breath