What are the symptoms of asthma?

Shortness of breath (dyspnea) and wheezing are two of the clinical hallmarks of acute asthma attack. The onset may be sudden, with a sense of constriction in the chest, breathing becomes difficult, and wheezing occurs (primarily upon expiration, but can be in both respiratory phases).

Signs of an asthmatic episode are wheezing, rapid breathing (tachypnea), prolonged expiration, a rapid heart rate (tachycardia), rhonchous lung sounds (audible through a stethoscope), and over-inflation of the chest. During a serious asthma attack, the accessory muscles of respiration (sternocleidomastoid and scalene muscles of the neck) may be used, shown as in-drawing of tissues between the ribs and above the sternum and clavicles, and the presence of a paradoxical pulse (a pulse that is weaker during inhalation and stronger during exhalation).[5] During very severe attacks, an asthma sufferer can turn blue from lack of oxygen, and can experience chest pain or even loss of consciousness. Severe asthma attacks may lead to respiratory arrest and death. Despite the severity of symptoms during an asthmatic episode, between attacks an asthmatic may show few signs of the disease.

What can cause an attack?
There are various stimuli that may cause an acute attack. These include:

- allergens, typically inhaled (grass pollen, dust, chalk particles). Food borne allergens like seafoods especially if you are know allergic to it.

- medications. Aspirin and ?-adrenergic antagonists (beta blockers) can cause bronchoconstriction, hence an asthma attack;

* air pollution, such as ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide, which is thought to be one of the major reasons for the high prevalence of asthma in urban areas;
* various industrial compounds and other chemicals, notably sulfites; chlorinated swimming pools generate chloramines—monochloramine (NH2Cl), dichloramine (NHCl2) and trichloramine (NCl3)—in the air around them, which are known to induce asthma.[8]
* early childhood infections, especially viral respiratory infections. However, persons of any age can have asthma triggered by colds and other respiratory infections even though their normal stimuli might be from another category (e.g. pollen) and absent at the time of infection.
* exercise, the effects of which differ somewhat from those of the other triggers; and
* emotional stress, which is poorly understood as a trigger.

In spite of that, in today’s inactive world where almost every indispensable job can be carried out online, from the ergonomic chair in front of a computer, or with a streaming line of messages from a fax machine, exercising can be a hard argument to win over.

The Weight of Exercise

Everyone should exercise, yet the health experts tells us that only 30% of the United States population gets the recommended thirty minutes of daily physical activity, and 25% are not active at all. In fact, inactivity is thought to be one of the key reasons for the surge of type 2 diabetes in the U.S., because inactivity and obesity promote insulin resistance.

The good news is that it is never too late to get moving, and exercise is one of the easiest ways to start controlling your diabetes. For people with type 2 diabetes in particular, exercise can improve insulin sensitivity, lower the risk of heart disease, and promote weight loss.

Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetes is on the rise. The number of people diagnosed with diabetes every year increased by 48% between 1980 and 1994. Nearly all the new cases are Type 2 Diabetes, or adult-onset, the kind that moves in around middle age. Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes include increased thirst, appetite, and need to urinate; feeling tired, edgy, or sick to the stomach; blurred vision; tingling or loss of feeling in the hands.

The causes of type 2 diabetes are complex and not completely understood, although research is uncovering new clues at a rapid pace.

However, it has already been proven that one of the reasons for the boom in type 2 diabetes is the widening of waistbands and the trend toward a more deskbound and inactive lifestyle in the United States and other developed countries. In America, the shift has been striking; in the 1990s alone, obesity increased by 61% and diagnosed diabetes by 49%.

For this reason, health experts encourage those who already have type 2 diabetes to start employing the wonders that exercise can do for them. Without exercise, people have the tendency to become obese. Once they are obese, they have bigger chances of accumulating type 2 diabetes.

Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that over 80% of people with type 2 diabetes are clinically overweight. Therefore, it is high time that people, whether inflicted with type 2 diabetes or not, should start doing those jumping and stretching activities.

Getting Started

The first order of business with any exercise plan, especially if you are a “dyed-in-the-wool” sluggish, is to consult with your health care provider. If you have cardiac risk factors, the health care provider may want to perform a stress test to establish a safe level of exercise for you.

Certain diabetic complications will also dictate what type of exercise program you can take on. Activities like weightlifting, jogging, or high-impact aerobics can possibly pose a risk for people with diabetic retinopathy due to the risk for further blood vessel damage and possible retinal detachment.

If you are already active in sports or work out regularly, it will still benefit you to discuss your regular routine with your doctor. If you are taking insulin, you may need to take special precautions to prevent hypoglycemia during your workout.

Start Slow

For those who have type 2 diabetes, your exercise routine can be as simple as a brisk nightly neighborhood walk. If you have not been very active before now, start slowly and work your way up. Walk the dog or get out in the yard and rake. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Park in the back of the lot and walk. Every little bit does work, in fact, it really helps a lot.

As little as 15 to 30 minutes of daily, heart-pumping exercise can make a big difference in your blood glucose control and your risk of developing diabetic complications. One of the easiest and least expensive ways of getting moving is to start a walking program. All you need is a good pair of well-fitting, supportive shoes and a direction to head in.

Indeed, you do not have to waste too many expenses on costly “health club memberships,” or the most up-to-date health device to start pumping those fats out. What you need is the willingness and the determination to start exercising to a healthier, type 2 diabetes-free life.

The results would be the sweetest rewards from the effort that you have exerted.

It seems as though many Americans are living a life that leads to high blood pressure or hypertension. As people age, the situation gets worse. Nearly half of all older Americans have hypertension. This disease makes people five times more prone to strokes, three times more likely to have a heart attack, and two to three times more likely to experience a heart failure.

The problem with this disease is that nearly one third of the folks who have hypertension do not know it because they never feel any direct pain. But overtime the force of that pressure damages the inside surface of your blood vessels.

However, according to experts, hypertension is not predestined. Reducing salt intake, adopting a desirable dietary pattern losing weight and exercising can all help prevent hypertension.

Obviously, quitting bad habits and eating a low fat diet will help, but the most significant part that you can do is to exercise. And just as exercise strengthens and improves limb muscles, it also enhances the health of the heart muscles.

Heart and Exercise

The exercise stimulates the development of new connections between the impaired and the nearly normal blood vessels, so people who exercise had a better blood supply to all the muscle tissue of the heart.

The human heart basically, supply blood to an area of the heart damaged in a “myocardial infarction.” A heart attack is a condition, in which, the myocardium or the heart muscle does not get enough oxygen and other nutrients and so it begins to die.

For this reason and after a series of careful considerations, some researchers have observed that exercise can stimulate the development of these life saving detours in the heart. One study further showed that moderate exercise several times a week is more effective in building up these auxiliary pathways than extremely vigorous exercise done twice as often.

Such information has led some people to think of exercise as a panacea for heart disorders, a fail-safe protection against hypertension or death. That is not so. Even marathon runners that have suffered hypertension, and exercise cannot overcome combination of other risk factor.

What Causes Hypertension?

Sometimes abnormalities of the kidney are responsible. There is also a study wherein the researchers identified more common contributing factors such as heredity, obesity, and lack of physical activity. And so, what can be done to lower blood pressure and avoid the risk of developing hypertension? Again, exercise seems to be just what the doctor might order.

If you think that is what he will do, then, try to contemplate on this list and find some ways how you can incorporate these things into your lifestyle and start to live a life free from the possibilities of developing hypertension. But before you start following the systematic instructions, it would be better to review them first before getting into action.

1. See your doctor
Check with your doctor before beginning an exercise program. If you make any significant changes in your level of physical activity — particularly if those changes could make large and sudden demands on your circulatory system — check with your doctors again.

2. Take it slow

Start at a low, comfortable level of exertion and progress gradually. The program is designed in two stages to allow for a progressive increase in activity.

3. Know your limit

Determine your safety limit for exertion. Use some clues such as sleep problems or fatigue the day after a workout to check on whether you are overdoing it. Once identified, stay within it. Over-exercising is both dangerous and unnecessary.

4. Exercise regularly

You need to work out a minimum of three times a week and a maximum of five times a week to get the most benefit. Once you are in peak condition, a single workout a week can maintain the muscular benefits. However, cardiovascular fitness requires more frequent activity.

5. Exercise at a rate within your capacity

The optimum benefits for older exercisers are produced by exercise at 40% to 60% of capacity.

Indeed, weight loss through exercise is an excellent starting point if you wan tot prevent hypertension. Experts say that being overweight is linked to an increased risk of developing hypertension, and losing weight decreases the risk.

Juvenile diabetes is caused by the inability of the pancreas to produce insulin. It is an autoimmune disease, which means the bodies own defense system attacks the body’s tissues or organs.

In the last 30 years the number of juvenile diabetes had increased three times over and in Europe and the US we are now seeing type 2 diabetes in children for the first time.

Obesity easily explains type 2, but not why there is such a rise in type 1 diabetes in children. It is believed that a mixture of genetics and environmental factors are what triggers juvenile diabetes. But the majority of children don’t have a family history of diabetes.

The symptoms for juvenile diabetes are the same as in adults. Thirst, weight loss, fatigue, frequent urination is typical, but diabetes in children can also increase stomach pains, headaches and behavior problems.

Doctors should consider the possibility of diabetes in children who have unexplained stomach pains for a few weeks, along with the typical symptoms.

If you believe your child may be experiencing these symptoms you should schedule them for a thorough examination and tell your doctor what you suspect your child may have. Be sure to tell them about any and all symptoms your child may be experiencing.

The symptoms of acid reflux are as follows: heartburn, which is characterized by chest pain; inflammation in the mucosa; difficulty in swallowing; cough and hoarseness. These symptoms are felt by the infected person after eating a fatty meal or drinking liquor, when bending, and worse when constantly smoking.

Acid reflux is primarily caused by the malfunction of the esophageal sphincter. In other cases, it can also be brought about by the abnormal production of the gastric acids. If there is insufficient supply of the stomach acid, the valve in the stomach responsible for churning up foods to the intestine does not open up. This irritates the esophagus and leads to inflammation.

Some of the factors that can trigger acid reflux are hiatus hernia, zollinger-elison syndrome, hypercalcemia, scleroderma and systemic sclerosis.

According to paradoxical beliefs, drinking alcohol, tea and coffee can lead to gastro esophageal reflux. But recent studies show that although individuals already infected by this disease can be aggravated by alcohol, tea and coffee, these elements do not cause the disease. Compared to smoking which amplifies the risks of getting the disease, alcohol, tea and coffee had the least impact. But this doesn’t mean that GERD infected people are free to take the beverages stated above. Doctors still suggest avoiding drinking of alcohol in order to shun further aggravation.

Smoking is the chief culprit that causes acid reflux disease. Regular smokers for twenty years are 70% susceptible to acid reflux disease compared to non-smokers. And symptoms of those who already developed the GERD are worsened day by day due to smoking.

The highlight of the research is that great amounts of salts are found to be equivalent to regular smoking in terms of the risk of developing GERD. It is not a common knowledge that table salts can cause acid reflux disease but researchers found out in their studies that people who are constantly using extra salt are 70% at risk to have gastro esophageal reflux disease. Gastroenterologists of New York University Medical Center attested this fact.

Gastro esophageal reflux disease can be diagnosed even by the infected person himself through the appearance of the symptoms. In the occurrence of these symptoms, it is advised to undergo the tests conducted by medical experts to clear doubts of having the disease or to carry out possible treatments. To treat this kind of disorder, there are varieties of ways possible. It can be cured by prescribed drugs such as antacids, by natural way such as change of diet system, elevation of the head when lying down, or to the utmost is surgery. And of course, it will be best to stop or avoid smoking and drinking alcohol especially to people who are vulnerable to acid reflux disease.

Gastro esophageal reflux disease causes a lot of discomfort that it can ruin even your lifestyle. To avoid its bad effects, precautionary measures should be considered. The cliché quote that prevention is better than cure applies always.

What causes Lisfranc fracture dislocation?
The 2 major causes of Lisfranc injuries are low-energy loading observed in sports-related injuries and high-energy loading observed in motor vehicle and industrial accidents.

What is the treatment for Lisfranc injury?
There are two types of Lisfranc injury - the one which is anatomically stable and the other one with nonanatomic alignment. Consult an orthopedic surgeon. He will run imaging studies to see how badly the joint is affected.

These two types have different management.

Anatomically stable: Initial treatment usually consist of a well-molded short cast worn for a minimum of 6 weeks. Your doctor might order regular radiologic studies for the affected area to ensure continued anatomic alignment.

Nonanatomically aligned: Surgical therapy is the treatment of choice.

For more information about Lisfranc injury, visit the American Academy of Family Physicians’ website.

There are a few important things for a diabetic or his family to remember about taking insulin. He should:

1. Know what his insulin i s supposed to look like, and not use it if it looks different.  Some kinds of insulin should always be clear; other are cloudy or milky looking.  If a clear type of insulin looks cloudy, or if any kind of insulin looks like it has separated or gone lumpy, it should not be used.

2. Always keep an extra bottle of insulin available.  Running out could be disastrous!

3. Store the insulin currently being used in a dark cupboard.  In very hot climates, keep it in the refrigerator.  Insulin loses some of its strength when it is exposed to heat.  Never put insulin in the freezer or in direct sunlight.

4. Buy the type and strength of insulin which the doctor has prescribed, and never change brands without asking your doctor.

5. Use the correct type of syringe to go with the insulin prescribed.  There are different kinds of insulin syringes, and using the wrong one may result in giving the dose of insulin.

6. Check the expiration date on the insulin bottle.  Don’t use outdated insulin because its action may be very different from what it should be.

7. Take the correct amount of insulin every day.  Even if you are eatingvery little bcause of sickness, never stop taking your insuli.  You still need some insulin, so you should contact your doctor to adjust the dose.

8. Check with the doctor if the insulin is causing nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, skin redness, or any other problems.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory form of arthritis that affects the spinal joints. The hallmark feature of AS is the involvement of the joints at the base of the spine where the spine joins the pelvis - the sacroiliac (SI) joints.

What are the warning signs of ankylosing spondylitis?

* Chronic back pain which lasts for many months or years.
* Back pain occurring during the night.
* Back stiffness lasting for extended periods in the morning or after periods of rest.
* Pain and tenderness in the ribs, shoulder blades, hips, thighs, shins, heels and along the bony parts of the spine.
* Recurring inflammation in the eyes causing pain, redness, blurred vision, and sensitivity to bright light

What can you do if you have ankylosing spondylitis?

At this time, there is no cure for AS. Therefore, treatment is designed to minimize pain and to maintain mobility and function. Establishing the correct diagnosis early is important because the sooner appropriate treatment is started the better the chance of avoiding disability or deformity.

What are the treatments for AS?

Medications: Your rheumatologist may prescribe you with analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to minimize the pain.

Exercise: Exercise is one of the most important activities in managing ankylosing spondylitis. It helps keep joints moving and reduce pain. Your rheumatologist may refer you to a physiatrist (a rehab doctor) for recommendations of range of motion exercises to reduce stiffness and help keep your joints moving. Strengthening exercises may also help to maintain or increase the strength of your back muscles and help you keep an upright posture.

However, precautions hold for AS patients to contact sports like rugby or hockey because of the greater risk for spine fracture.

Heat: Applying heat helps relax aching muscles, and reduces joint pain and soreness. Heat therapy is therapeutic to chronic inflammations.

Surgery: Surgery may be needed if you have severe AS, depending on the judgment of your rheumatologist and surgeon.

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What is rabies? 

It is caused by a virus which medical experts describe as “neurotropic” because of its attraction to nerve tissues.  Once the virus has found its way into the cell tissue of a host, it turns into a highly prolific producer.  The virus is transmitted to man by the bit of rabid animals.

Who can get rabies?

Anyone can get rabies.  However, cases are highly seen in developing countries because mainly of poor control of stray dogs and cats and poor vaccination of dogs.  Incidence was noted higher in children below 15 years old.

Are dogs the only rabies carrier?

Dogs aren’t the only carriers of rabies.  The main carriers are bats.  Rabies is also carried by cattle, cats, swine, monkeys and even human being who had been bitten by rabid animals.  It is reportedly “extremely rare” in squirrels, rats and mice.

They say the dog’s saliva is curative, is it safe to let my pet lick my wounds?

Some people believe that the saliva of dogs has some curative properties and they encourage their pets to lick their wounds.  This practice is extremely dangerous, no matter how you religiously immunize your pet.

I was bitten by a dog, what should I do? 

The following first aid measures should be followed by a person bitten  by a dog or any animal assumed to be rabid.

• Scrub the wound or bitten area with soap and detergent and under running tap (water) for at least five minutes.
• Remove any foreign material from the site as this may also lead to infection.
• Rinse with plain water; and
• Irrigate with a viricidal agent such as alcohol or povidone iodine.

Then be sure to consult a physician immediately for appropriate preventive measures. These practices should also be applied to those licked wounds, especially the open ones.

Who can be given rabies vaccine?

Anyone who was bitten by a dog or a rabid animal should receive vaccine, especially in areas where there are high cases of rabies.  Further, victims of dog bites in the dangerous sites such as the head, neck, face, fingertips and back should immediately be given rabies vaccine.  The nearer the site of the bite to the brain, the faster the movement of the virus.

What are the symptoms of rabies?

Symptoms may include nausea, a slight headache which is usually accompanied by fever, and a feeling of fatigue, lasting from two to three days or even more from the time of inception.  But once the virus reaches the brain and starts to “colonize,” it tortures its victim with terrifying ferocity.

A rabid patient often become maniacal… An excessive flow of thick saliva pours over his face and neck and becomes smeared on hands and clothes and over the bedding and floor…Convulsions are brought about by the least irritation and by the slightest current of air.  When the patient attempts to drink, there is an immediate viselike contraction of the muscles of deglutition  with an excruciatingly painful spasm of the glottis and the pharynx.  The body trembles with convulsive movements, the jaws are clenched, respiration is impossible.  As a rule, death occurs after two or three days from cardiac or respiratory failure.

The researchers advise that diabetics shouldn’t be rushing to drink masses of black tea thinking it will cure them of diabetes. Their research into tea compounds is at a preclinical, experimental stage and people with diabetes should continue to take their medication as directed by their doctor.

Source: HealthDay

Take a moment to try this simple breathing exercise. It will energize and refresh you.

1. Stand or sit with your back straight.
2. Exhale deeply through your mouth.
3. Now, draw the air back into your lungs through your nose. As you do, imagine it going right down into your belly, filling it.
4. Feel your stomach expand as your inhale.
5. When lungs are full, slowly begin to exhale.
6. Tighten the muscles of your stomach as you gently push the last bit of air out.

Repeat the process, slowly, five to six times. Do this exercise when you wake up in the morning and several times during the day. If possible, step outdoors into the fresh air. Refresh body and mind by giving yourself a caffeine-free boost.

Your challenge:

Practice frequent deep breathing. Place one hand on your chest and the other on your stomach. Breathe normally for a few moments, noting the movement of each hand as you inhale. Which hand rises more dramatically? If it’s the one on your belly, take it off and pat yourself on the back. You have excellent respiratory technique. but if it’s the hand on your chest, you’d better take a deep breath - though your probably can’t. You’re breathing wrongly!

Source: Health and Home, 2004

There is a third kind of diabetes, though it is much less common than types I and II. It is called gestational diabetes because it begins during pregnancy, which doctors call the gestational period.

What are the risk factors for gestational diabetes?
- If a woman has someone in her family who already has diabetes, she is more likely candidate for gestational diabetes.
- If a woman is over 30 years old and especially if she is overweight.

Why does it happen only during pregnancy?
Pregnancy is a time of additional stresses to the human body. the body may fail to produce enough insulin to meet the need during this time. Approximately one percent of all women may develop symptoms of diabetes during the last half of pregnancy.

What are the symptoms of gestational diabetes?
Gestational diabetes may not cause any symptoms, however, excessive weight gain maybe noticeable at some cases. Excessive hunger or thirst, excessive urination or recurrent vaginal infections can also be signs and symptoms.

What should I do to know if I have gestational diabetes?

It is advised that you always have prenatal tests to determine not only presence of gestational diabetes but also other obstetrics condition.

Your obstetrician can advice you some diet and lifestyle modifications and exercise recommendations. She can also determine if you need insulin or any medication for treatment.

What are the complications of gestational diabetes?

If untreated or poorly controlled, gestational diabetes can cause the baby to:

• have macrosomia (excessive weight at birth exceeding 9 pounds, 14 ounces)
• develop hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) at birth
• develop jaundice (yellow skin)
• develop respiratory distress syndrome (breathing difficulties)
• die after week 28 of pregnancy (called a stillbirth)
• die in infancy