New Way of Monitoring Blood Pressure

August 25, 2011 By

A recent trend has started recently in monitoring one’s blood pressure in response to some possible inaccuracy when it is measured at the doctor’s office. It would normally go up at the doctor’s office due to nervousness when answering personal questions.

A number of persons also noticed that their blood pressure would go up due to the irritation at waiting for a long time at the waiting room. Due to this, situation, these individuals may be diagnosed with hypertension.

Some people would monitor their own blood pressure due to concerns on their health in order for them to make the necessary adjustments in their diet and lifestyle before they decide to take some medication for the ailment.

These individuals would purchase a digital blood pressure monitor which they can use at home. They would normally take their own blood pressure before they have the first coffee in the morning. They would also take another reading just before bedtime. Some of these individuals would find out that the readings taken at the doctor’s office were way off their normal reading.

Monitoring one’s blood pressure is important since it can play a part in kidney problems, heart attack or a stroke. Since there are no previous symptoms to alert people that something is wrong, hypertension has been dubbed as the silent killer. It is already widely accepted that if it remains untreated can cause serious health problems.

Due to this, it is a good idea to constantly monitor one’s blood pressure. On the other hand, taking medications for an inaccurate diagnosis of hypertension may also cause more problems than solving them.

Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring is a trend which some observers are hoping will become popular. This involves wearing a cuff that is linked to a device that will take one’s blood pressure at least once an hour for 24 hours.

With this new trend, some observers have indicated that it will provide a more accurate understanding of one’s health since the blood pressure is taken throughout the day. After the readings are made, a doctor can be consulted on what appropriate measures can be taken to make the situation better.

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Checking Glucose Levels with New Glucose Monitor

August 22, 2011 By

Small, wireless fluorescent sensors can be utilized in monitoring glucose levels based on research made by experts from the Institute of Industrial Science of the University of Tokyo. These sensors, which will be implanted, will act as glucose monitors since they reportedly glow according to glucose levels.

This reported glucose monitor will be welcome news for millions of Americans who currently have diabetes who would want to eliminate the need for finger pricking. The number of Americans who suffer diabetes is at around 26 million.

Even as sub-dermal sensors are utilized by others in monitoring glucose levels, no glucose monitor was ever created by anyone that can be inserted under the skin of a person and left there for a long period of time.

A recent review of the research has shown that this type of glucose monitor surpassed the level sub-dermal gadgets in monitoring glucose that are currently being used. These existing glucose monitoring devices have limitations in terms of stability and accuracy. Reviewers also noted that existing gadgets that monitor glucose levels are also dependent on oxygen.

The study made by the researchers from Japan indicated that inflammation was lessened when polyethylene glycol-bonded polyacrylamide hydrogel fibers are utilized as compared to the typical polyacrylamide hydrogel hydrogel fibers.

The study also showed that sensors were responsive to changes in glucose levels for a period of around 140 days up to 160 days. The study has also revealed the potential applications of these glucose monitors in observing glucose levels.

Even though additional adjustments and evaluations are required for these glucose monitors, researchers are looking forward to the further developing more durable fluorescent glucose sensors which are implanted and will allow consumers to constantly check on their glucose levels. The study on the latest glucose monitoring system on checking glucose level was published on the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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Importance of Reducing Vitamin D Deficiency

August 19, 2011 By

A physician who takes care of osteoporosis has indicated that everyone has vitamin D deficiency. Although other reports have questioned the need of vitamin D some experts have indicated that vitamin D deficiency may affect bone health.

Calcium absorption is improved by Vitamin D which will help strengthen bones and prevent breakdown. The danger of osteoporosis is also affected by Vitamin D deficiency as sufficient amounts of vitamin D and calcium would help prevent bone loss along with tooth loss.

Falls and muscle weakness among the elderly is also affected by Vitamin D deficiency since muscle strength is enhanced by the vitamin while mortality and morbidity is reduced among the elderly. A study revealed that around 46 percent of 246 women aged 65 years and older experienced lesser risks of falling after receiving 500 mg of calcium 700 international units of vitamin D.

Diabetes, heart failure, stroke, and high blood pressure are also affected by vitamin D deficiency. On the other hand, breast cancer among premenopausal women is reduced by around 50 percent according to another study made. A number of research has given indications that a number of autoimmune and metabolic disease along with infections and cancers are affected by vitamin D deficiency.

Additional studies are also being conducted on the effect of vitamin D deficiency on the depression, cognitive function, and Alzheimer’s disease. It will be necessary for the 25-OH Vit D to be from 30 ng/ml up to 50 ng/ml. A 600 IU of Vitamin D is recommended for women under 71 years old and it goes up to 800 for women 71 years and older. The maximum level which the vitamin can be consumed safely is 4000 iU.

Vitamin D3 is the best supplement since it can be absorbed easily and can be ingested with or without food. Fortified milk is the main source of vitamin D3 in the US although cod liver oil and eggs can also be used to reduce vitamin D deficiency.  Sunlight would also be a good source of the vitamin which will have positive effects on anyone’s health in the future.

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Type 2 Diabetes Linked to Red Meat Consumption

August 16, 2011 By

A study, which was conducted by Harvard School of Public Health researchers and published on the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, hinted on the increased risk of the development of type 2 diabetes when red meat is consumed daily.

The study indicated that the risk of contracting type 2 diabetes is increased by fifty percent with the daily consumption of no less than 2 oz of processed meat. Consumption of no less than 4 oz of unprocessed meat will increase the risk by twenty percent.

The study also indicated that as the red meat consumption increases, the risk of contracting type 2 diabetes also increases.

The study on the development of type 2 diabetes involved more than 200,000 respondents who answered food frequency questionnaires along with several follow-ups. The duration of the study ranged from 14 up to 28 years and concentrated on the individual dietary intakes of the respondents. Aside from the diet, some factors in the lifestyle which would affect the risk level were also taken into consideration.

Even as the study on the development of type 2 diabetes does not offer tangible proof, the researchers indicated that it may be caused by the red meat’s high iron content. Earlier research had revealed inflammatory chemicals increase with high iron levels. Beta cells which produce insulin may be damaged by these chemicals and low insulin levels can cause a build-up of glucose which is basically the root of diabetes.

The study on the development of type 2 diabetes also pointed at the major factors linked to diabetes are obesity, unhealthy diet, smoking and inadequate exercise. Medical practitioners have hinted at increasing the awareness on the causes of type 2 diabetes and diabetes in general along with the signs and precautionary measures which can lessen mortality.

Although signs of diabetes include increased infections, slow-healing sores, increased fatigue, numbness in the feet and hands, rapid changes in vision, severe hunger, inexplicable loss of weight, extreme thirst, and frequent urination.

Reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes and diabetes in general would begin with a good exercise schedule, becoming a non-smoker, activities to reduce stress, and a reduction in red meat consumption by using other protein sources.

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Enhancing the Sexual Health of Men with Type 2 Diabetes

August 8, 2011 By

Researchers in Australia have found that overweight men who have Type 2 diabetes can enhance their sexual health if they have a low calorie diet. Improvements were noted among overweight men who had Type 2 diabetes during an eight week period after they lost around five percent of their weight.

According to Dr. Gary Wittert, the improvements in the health of the overweight men who have Type 2 diabetes continued for a period of twelve months. The study was published on the online version of the Journal of Sexual Medicine.

The editor-in-chief of the journal, Irwin Goldstein, revealed the result of the research verified previous publications which indicated that sexual health can be improved through a healthy lifestyle.

Even as oral drugs have increased in popularity, the research showed a non-pharmacologic intervention though weight loss can be used in enhancing the sexual health of a person.

The participants in the research included 31 overweight men who have Type 2 diabetes. The overweight men who have Type 2 diabetes, whose age averaged at around 60, were divided into two groups. The first group was given nutritious meal replacements which were low in calories while the diet of the second group was high in protein and low in fat.

A written plan which detailed their diet, menu plan, recipe, cooking and eating out advices was given to the overweight men who had Type 2 diabetes. The food diaries of each participant were checked regularly as they went about their normal activities each day.

Eight weeks into the program the assigned diets of the overweight men who have Type 2 diabetes were switched. The researches indicated that the sexual health of the participants improved.

Aside from their sexual health, the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level of the overweight men who have Type 2 diabetes also improved.  However the researchers also indicated that they did not include a control group in the research due to ethical concerns.

They also acknowledge that it will not be easy to sustain such a diet although overweight men who have Type 2 diabetes may find some motivation with the results that was made available for public use.

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High Blood Pressure to Be a Major Cause for Strokes in Pregnant Women

August 3, 2011 By

Physicians have been noticing for some time now, that there is an increase in risk factors such as high blood pressure and obesity bringing on strokes in pregnant women. According to new research, there has been a 54 per cent increase in the strokes among women who have just delivered a baby and pregnant women, since the mid nineties.   These strokes have been directly linked to high blood pressure and obesity.

This report was made public by the American Stroke Association and American Heart Association.  The research correlated millions of patient records from 1000 hospitals and found that over 4000 women were hospitalized because of strokes in the mid nineties and over 6000 between 2006 and 2007.   These results have not surprised doctors who said that they have seen an increase in high blood pressure and obesity in expecting mothers.

Doctors say that overweight women who get pregnant are more at a risk of stroke, as obesity is a precursor to high blood pressure.  They said that most of the pregnant women were already overweight before they conceived.

The extra weight during pregnancy will worsen the risks that to-be mothers have to anyway face.  In many cases, pregnancy precipitates genetic health problems such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes.  Women nowadays weigh at least 45 pounds more than their mothers did.

Some hospitals have already gone all out to treat high blood pressure in expecting mothers.  Patients in the high risk category are also medicated for high blood pressure.

The answer to better health is, of course regular visits to a doctor.  If risk factors such as high blood pressure and obesity are tackled better then strokes can be avoided.  Women should monitor risk factors such as high blood pressure more closely even before deciding to have a child.

Doctors said that strokes stemming from high blood pressure and obesity were more common among the poorer sections of society.

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Chronic Fatigue? Vitamin B12 Injections Might Be the Answer

August 2, 2011 By

A deficiency in Vitamin B12 manifests as chronic fatigue, pins and needles in the extremities and migraine.  New research now shows that this problem, which was once considered deadly, can be treated by administering the energy booster Vitamin B12.

Vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, is found in diary and meat product and is essential for the body.   The main function of Vitamin B12 is to support the production of red blood corpuscles (RBC).  When the RBC count drops  the person becomes anemic, which in turn bring about fatigue, breathlessness and feeling under the weather.

Vitamin B12 is required for converting foods which contain carbs, fats and proteins into energy.  The entire body requires Vitamin B12 and this includes white blood corpuscles (WBC)

WBC needs Vitamin B12 to build up a layer of fat which will keep them damage free, while the brain cells require B12 to protect them.
If you have a Vitamin B12 deficiency it will gradually affect your nerves, mainly the feet and then it will move on to your hands and legs.  People with such deficiency will find that that their thinking has also slowed down.

It is the beginning of the small intestine which absorbs Vitamin B12 and if this absorption does not take place for months then the count drops and the person becomes anemic.  This can be detected through ordinary examination of the blood.

This can be treated with either injection once a month or through Vitamin B12 tablets.   People more susceptible to Vitamin B12 deficiency are vegetarians, particularly the ones who do not eat dairy.  In most cases the oral medicine will sort out the problem.

But in some cases, the body may not be absorbing the Vitamin B12 through the intestine, this is known as pernicious anemia and the only way to get the Vitamin B12 into the system would be through injections.

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Build Muscles to Reduce High Blood Sugar and Rid Diabetes Symptoms

August 2, 2011 By

Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III, NHANES III carried out in 2010 found that sarcopenia affected both obese people and non-obese people by way of increased insulin resistance while in obese this was also accompanied by high blood sugar levels, which was a clear indication of diabetes symptoms. These parameters were used in a new study, to obtain a clearer picture of the relation between sarcopenia and insulin resistance in 13,644 adults above 20 years of age with a BMI of at least 16.5. The group comprised people with different levels of muscle mass as well as those with sarcopenia. World Health Organization, WHO has categorized a BMI of less than 18.5 as underweight.

After making allowances for factors such as ethnicity, race, obesity and large waistline, it was observed that as skeletal muscle index or SMI rose by 10%, a corresponding decrease in insulin resistance by 11% was seen, which cut the pre-diabetes symptoms by 12%. Higher insulin resistance causes high blood sugar levels which are pre-diabetes symptoms.

Dr. Preethi Srikanthan, physician at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine, division of endocrinology observed that the finding of the new study indicates that besides achieving weight loss for improved health and fitness, there is need for increasing and maintaining muscle mass, which plays an important role in controlling the onset of diabetes symptoms.

Researchers are aware of that low muscle mass was linked to metabolic disorders and were that this factor also held ground through varied muscle mass range. The researchers need to do a more detailed and interventional survey to corroborate these results. The investigators will undertake a larger study, using imaging to study about the muscle quality in obese people and diabetics. The survey however has indicated the need for people to build muscle mass to reduce the risk of diabetes which only confirms the long held belief that exercise was needed to reduce high blood sugar and control diabetes symptoms.

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High Blood Pressure Medication May Be Beneficial to Brain Functions

July 31, 2011 By

A recent study has revealed that an FDA-approved drug for high blood pressure may provide a significant positive effect on the function of the brain. The study showed that old monkeys demonstrated enhance brain functions after they the medication for high blood pressure was given to them.

The study on the high blood pressure medication may also show problems involving the prefrontal cortex as people age. It may also give indications on the cause of ‘senior moments’ which increases with age.

According to the lead of the research, Amy Arnsten, the research provides proof on the cellular causes for the decline of higher cognitive functions which happens with aging. The study on the medication for high blood pressure provides hope for the restoration of memory and cellular functions.

Three pairs of macaque monkeys of different ages were a part of the study using the high blood pressure medication. They were trained to remember the location of an object following a short delay. The team recorded the brain activity of specific regions on the brain while the monkeys carried out the task.

 

The nerve cells of the monkeys were fired up whenever they saw the object and would decline during the short delay as they held on to the object. The decline on the brain activity had a direct link to the age of the monkeys. The older monkeys showed less activity during the delay compared to the younger monkeys.

But after the high blood pressure medication, guanfacine, was given to the monkeys, the brain activity in the older monkeys increased during the delay and their difference with the younger monkeys lessened. Guanfacine is already used as medication for high blood pressure and is currently studied on its possible positive effects on the improvement of the cognitive function of older people.

The study also revealed that stress had a similar effect as aging on the prefrontal cortex. Although stress is can be dealt with, it may also cause the decline of cognitive functions to increase as people age. Despite the results, the current research on the high blood pressure medication is not yet conclusive with regard to helping improve the cognitive function among people, Arnsten said.

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Vitamin D Deficiency Connected to Mental Ailments Among Children

July 30, 2011 By

Recent research show that children with serious mental health ailments have two times more vitamin D deficiency compared to mentally healthy children. The research indicated that children who have serious psychiatric problems were found to be deficient in vitamins, specifically vitamin D, which is lower than the American Academy of Pediatrics standard.

Vitamin D deficiency may be dealt with easily since it is easy to obtain since these vitamins can be acquired through exposure to sunlight for a certain period of time. The human body has the capability of converting solar energy into vitamins that is useful for humans.

Basing on the findings of the study, around 20 percent of children suffering from mental ailments have vitamin D deficiency according to the lead investigator of the research, Dr. Keith Cheng. Mini Zhang, the first study author also said that vitamin D deficiency was widespread among children suffering from psychotic disorders as compared to other problems in mental health.

The report also showed that lower levels of vitamins, specifically vitamin D, can result to autism among children. Vitamin D can also be used in stopping other medical disorders such as breast cancer, depression, prostate cancer and osteoporosis. Dealing with vitamin D deficiency can also have an effect on depression and diabetes.

The pervasiveness of a number of health problems and diseases may be founded on the vitamin D deficiency which has affected a number of individuals throughout the world. Another study also indicated that almost sixty percent of the population in the world was found to have vitamin D deficiency with 25 percent severely lacking these types of vitamins.

The low levels of these types of vitamins can also result to problems in the immune system since another study indicated that the T cells of the immune system have the tendency to remain inactive which would lead to reduced protection against microorganisms.

Another doctor has also indicated that based on his experience dealing with vitamin D deficiency have worked better than using a number of prescription drugs that are available in the market. He indicated that he would recommend giving vitamins, drugs and supplements to his patients, whenever prescription drugs appear to have no effect on the health of his patients.

He indicated that vitamin D is more than just vitamins for the body since it has the capability of interacting and affecting over 2,000 genes on the human body, giving indications that these vitamins may be hormones.

He added that due to this a number of diseases are connected to vitamin D deficiency. The lack of these vitamins are linked to around 17 cancer types, high blood pressure, autoimmune diseases, heart diseases, asthma, osteoporosis, and chronic pain. The more recent link to vitamin D deficiency was apparently autism.

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