Medical Site

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

Low phosphorus diet for kidney disease

admin — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 05:36:23 +0000

Phosphorus is essential for the human body, it is in fact one of the most widely found mineral in the body. The mineral is present in huge quantities in bones and teeth. It is required for our growth, repair and maintenance. Phosphorus also helps the kidney in removing body waste. Almost all the food that we consume on a daily basis contains some amount of phosphorus in it. However like every other mineral, too much of phosphorus is not good for your health especially if you have kidney problems. It is the kidneys that regulate that level of phosphorus in your body. Once you have a kidney disease, the level of phosphorus might start increasing in your blood and soft tissue (because kidney is no longer able to discard the excess phosphorus out of the body). The increased phosphorus will eventually decrease the calcium levels which can lead to bone problems.

Normal healthy individuals can consume 700-800 milligrams of phosphorus everyday however for those with kidney problems; the limit should not exceed 400 milligrams per day. It is important to monitor your kidney functions yearly especially when are over 45 years of age. Those with kidney disease should get these tests done more frequently. This will help in giving a clear picture of kidney’s health status. People with chronic kidney disease should also get their “Serum Phosphorus” level measured after every few months.

Here’s a list of food items that are rich in phosphorus and should be avoided by patients with kidney diseases:
-Dairy Products: Milk is rich in phosphorus and hence patients with kidney diseases should use unfortified milk instead. As another alternative to milk, you can also use low fat cottage cheese. Other than milk, dairy products like ice cream, curd etc. should be avoided too.
-Meat: Lean and Red meat is protein rich also rich in phosphorus.
-Wholegrain & Nuts: Cereal, pasta, rice, wholegrain bread contain lot of phosphorus. Kidney patients should instead eat refined grains like white bread etc. Also cut down on biscuits, waffles & muffins. Nuts like cashews, almonds should be avoided.
-Colas and aerated drinks: Have ice tea and fresh lime instead of soda, beer and coke.
-Beans & Peas: Lentils, peas and beans (black, kidney etc.) should not be consumed by patients with chronic kidney disease.

People with kidney problems should always take care of the phosphorus level in their food. So before you start the medication for your kidney make sure you are following a low-phosphorus diet.

Constant acid reflux can lead to oesophagitis

admin — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 13:41:26 +0000

Many of us suffer from heartburn during meals. This happens due to acid reflux from the stomach which over time may lead to Oesophagitis. The condition is characterized by inflammation of Oesophagus which can lead to various symptoms over the years.

What are the symptoms?
The most common symptoms are:
1) Difficulty in swallowing (Dysphagia)/ Painful swallowing
2) Heartburn, which is characterized by pain in chest while eating
3) Nausea and Vomiting (often after food)
4) Mouth ulcers

What causes Oesophagitis?
1) Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) is the most common cause
2) Drugs - like ibuprofen and aspirin, antibiotics, and other anti-inflammatory medicines
3) Smoking and Alcohol
4) Infection - fungal infection (Candida) or viral infection (Cytomegalovirus and Herpes)
5) Food allergies
6) Radiation

Diagnosis and Complications
The condition can lead to some serious complications if not treated on time. The condition is usually diagnosed by doing a endoscopy. Barium X-ray and Biopsy are also used in case endoscopy fails. If untreated, the inflammation can lead to:
1) Constricted Oesophagus, leading to oesophageal stricture
2) Development of abnormal tissue along the lining of Oesophagus, known as oesophageal rings
3) Barrett’s Oesophagus, is a rare condition which occurs due to chronic exposure to acid. The condition is characterized by changes in cells of the lower part of the oesophagus

How is it treated?
The condition is usually treated by suppressing the acid reflux. In some cases the underlying cause of Oesophagitis may need to be treated like Obesity.
1) Medicines: that inhibit acid production like proton pump inhibitors, H2 blockers, antacids, pain killers, antibiotics (where the cause is infection).
2) Elevating the upper body while sleeping: by elevating the bed angle, this decreases the acid reflux during night when the person is sleeping
3) Dietary changes: small meals preferred, spicy and fatty food should be avoided
4) Surgery: is not very common and is usually done when medical treatment fails