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Some Tips for Diabetics

Some Tips for Diabetics

Diabetes and Hypertension are the 2 most common chronic ailments affecting general population of developed or developing countries. Though they are life-time diseases, you can live a healthy life along with them if you take care properly.

Following are some of the useful tips for Diabetec Patients :

1. Take your medicines regularly.
2. Don’t forget to take your meals after taking medicine to avoid hypoglycemia.
3. Avoid foods with direct carbohydrates like sugar, cake, white bread etc.
4. Take food at same time daily and at frequent intervals
5. Exercise regularly
6. Get your blood sugar checked at regular intervals as per doctor’s advise.
7. Maintain a diabetes diary mentioning your medicines, sugar levels, emergency contact numbers, your doctor etc.
8. Wear a Diabetic Wristband or bracelet for rapid identification during emergency
9. Check your feet daily and see that there is no injury. If there is any, take instant treatment.
10. Keep Glucose tablets or candies ready in case of hypoglycemic episodes.

Take diabetes as a challenge, fight against it and don’t get depressed.

Preventing Travel Related Diseases

This is continuation of our previous post on traveller’s immunization.

Immunizations are among the most important and effective ways to prevent travel-related infections. Immunizations for travellers include the “routine” childbirth and adult immunizations that you would receive in Canada. Vaccines like shots against meningococcal meningitis, will also be recommended at childhood, others like typhoid shots or  flu shots are strongly encouraged when there is risk of infection.

For Canadians who travel abroad, there is a very small risk of requiring emergency medical treatment in a foreign country. Very few travelers die of serious preventable illnesses. Infectious diseases account for 1% of travel-related deaths whereas almost 50% die from motor vehicle accidents or drowning.

The most common illness to strike Canadian tourists in developing countries is travel diarrhea (TD), which can, in case of some drinks, even lead to bladder cancer. This is also known as Montezuma’s revenge, turista, or Delhi belly. That’s why it’s very important to check with a health care professional or travel clinic about preventable diseases before travelling in order to obtain a prescription for self-treatment.

Menopause, What to expect?

Some women continue to menstruate normally until the onset of menopause and then simply cease to have periods. But for most women, the transition is not so orderly. You can expect to see a variety of changes. What they are and why they happen is the subject of the discussion that follows. Under other headings, you’ll find more on the symptoms and management of the most troubling of these problems.

• Changing Hormonal Patterns
• Changes in the Menstrual Cycle
• Muscle Tone and Elasticity
• Hair, Bones, and Teeth

Changing Hormonal Patterns

A woman’s egg supply, as much as 2 million in the ovaries at birth, is programmed for depletion. When the supply is almost exhausted because of the aging process, or the ovaries are surgically removed, the menstrual cycle comes to an end. In fact, the reproductive cycle begins to change several years before menopause, a period referred to as perimenopause.

During this time, typically starting in the late 40’s, the ovaries’ response to the various stimulating hormones produced by the brain becomes unsynchronized, until eventually the aging ovaries fail to respond at all. They start to produce less progesterone, losing their ability to ovulate and develop the subsequent corpus luteum. When ovulation stops, estrogen levels decline and menstruation ceases.

As ovulatory cycles become more irregular throughout perimenopause, the body’s sensitive hormonal rhythm is thrown off and menstruation may vary more from month to month. In addition, two hormones known as androgens begin to play a bigger role. Though referred to as male sex hormones, they are in fact produced in small amounts by the female body as well. As levels of the female hormones decline, the impact of these “male” hormones can increase.

The bottom line is that fluctuating blood levels of hormones during the transitional years can create a number of physiological changes. These may be less unsettling for women who have an understanding of what their bodies are going through.

Menopause at a Glance

The wide array of problems shown in this diagram may seem daunting; but fortunately, few women experience every one of them. Hot flashes are the most common complaint. However, these annoying sensations pass in due course, while other symptoms may pose a much greater long-term threat. Be particularly alert for lower back pain, which may signal the onset of osteoporosis, the bone-weakening disorder that leaves older women prey to fractures. Remember, too, that menopause robs you of estrogen’s protective effect on the heart, and that heart disease is the Number One killer of women. (For more information, see “Heart Disease: The Greatest Threat of All.”)

Changes in the Menstrual Cycle

Cyclical Changes occur for the vast majority of women whose periods do not just stop. The perimenopausal years may be marked by skipped menstrual periods, heavier or lighter than usual bleeding, and changes in the frequency of cycles. During some menstrual cycles, no egg may be produced; these are called anovulatory cycles.

Light, short, or skipped periods occur as the ovaries’ hormonal response becomes unpredictable. Heavy and prolonged bleeding arise when a longer than normal release of estrogen overstimulates growth of the uterine lining. The lining may be irregular or thickened and may not slough off completely or evenly, causing menstruation to stop and start again. Clotting may be noticeable in menstrual bleeding.

The physical changes that accompany the menstrual cycle may also become less predictable and regular. Such signs as breast tenderness, fluid retention and headache may occur at unpredictable times.

Fertility declines as a woman enters her 40s, but it does not disappear entirely until menopause is complete. To avoid unplanned pregnancies, doctors recommend using birth control until a full year has passed since the last menstrual cycle.

Muscle Tone and Elasticity

Skin and mucous membranes in various parts of the body become drier because of the decline in estrogen levels and the aging process in general. Women who once worried about oily skin may now find their skin dry and itchy and may need to apply moisturizers and hand creams.

As the body ages and the estrogen level declines, the fatty layer beneath the skin surface that makes the skin appear supple and youthful begins to shrink from a loss of elasticity and moisture. The outer skin layer is now looser than the deeper layers, and begins to fold and wrinkle. The skin may also develop a rougher texture.

During midlife, it is especially important to protect your skin from the sun. Aging skin produces less melanin, the pigment that causes your skin to tan instead of burn. This decreases your natural protection from harmful UV rays.

Thinning skin also reveals any harmful effects of previous years of sun exposure. Limiting sun exposure and using sunscreen is a prudent and effective way to delay aging of the skin.

Vaginal Changes are the first sign of approaching menopause for some women, while many do not notice changes until five to ten years after menopause. As estrogen levels drop, the vulva and vagina lose elasticity, resulting in vaginal dryness, itching and a shrinking process known as vaginal atrophy in which the vagina becomes shorter and narrower at the opening. Vaginal membranes also become thinner, hold less moisture, and lubricate more slowly. The thinner vaginal lining becomes more susceptible to tears. Reduced secretion of cervical mucus can add to the problem. The result of all these changes can be discomfort, vaginal infections, and painful intercourse.

Breast Changes are also apparent as estrogen’s stimulation of the breast tissue is reduced, causing glandular tissue to shrink. Loss of elasticity causes the breasts to droop and flatten, losing their earlier fullness. Nipples become smaller and flatter and may lose their erectile properties.

Women who have been bothered by breast tenderness and cysts related to the menstrual cycle are often relieved to find that these symptoms disappear after menopause.

Abdominal wall tone may lessen gradually as we age, resulting in a protruding stomach. Regular exercise to strengthen the abdominal muscles can help maintain muscle tone.

A sudden increase in the size of the abdomen may be the first warning sign of ovarian tumors. Stomach enlargement may also be caused by inadequate nutrition or exercise, but should be seen promptly by your gynecologist.

Hair, Bones, and Teeth

Hair all over the body can change in texture and quantity during menopause. For some women, the increased effects of the body’s androgens can result in darker, thicker and wiry body hair on the pubis, underarms, face, chest, lower abdomen, and back. This sprouting of excess, coarse hair, known as hirsutism, is usually related to hormonal changes. However, not all cases of hirsutism are menopause-related, so check with your physician for proper diagnosis.

The softer hair on your head also begins to change in texture as you reach your forties. A loss of luster occurs because individual hair shafts begin to thin and dry as a result of hormonal changes. The replacement process for normal daily hair loss becomes slower, and new replacement hair is generally dryer, with less shine. Many women also note a thinning of pubic and underarm hair after menopause. Female baldness, a rare problem, may begin about age forty. See a dermatologist if hair loss persists.

Changes in hair texture and thickness can be minimized by avoiding over-styling. Good nutrition can also slow the brittleness of hair that comes with normal aging.

Bone strength is critical at all ages but particularly during and after menopause. As estrogen and progesterone levels fall drastically, the bones begin to lose mass. This causes them to become progressively more fragile. Backaches, common in midlife, may indicate the beginning of bone loss as a result of declining estrogen levels. These pains are localized, beginning in the lower back. Severe loss of bone becomes a condition called osteoporosis, which strikes at least half of all women age 50 and older. In fact, by the time a woman is 80, she may have lost 40 percent of her bone mass. Osteoporosis leaves a woman vulnerable to bone fractures, especially in the hip, spine, and wrist.

Teeth and the mouth are similarly affected. Dental problems that can occur around midlife, such as receding gums or loose teeth, may be related to declining levels of estrogen and a loss of bone mass. Gingivectomy, a procedure to repair the gums after periodontal disease, is a common oral surgery procedure for women in midlife, especially for those prone to osteoporosis. Maintenance of your teeth and gums, including daily cleaning, and flossing, professional cleaning and regular checkups, will help reduce your risk of these dental problems.

Reverse Skin Damage With a Peel

In a chemical peel, a chemical solution is applied to the skin and allowed to soak in. Over the next 1 to 14 days, depending on how deeply the chemical penetrated the skin, the skin peels off. This procedure destroys parts of the skin in a controlled way so that new skin can grow in its place. The chemicals used are sometimes called exfoliating or wounding agents.

The types of chemical peels differ based on how deeply the chemical penetrates and what type of chemical solution is used. Factors that may affect the depth of a peel include the acid concentration in the peeling agent, the number of coats that are applied, and the amount of time allowed before the acid is neutralized. Deeper peels result in more dramatic effects as well as higher risks, increased pain, and longer healing time. There are three basic types of peels:

• Superficial peels are the mildest type of chemical peel and can be used on all skin types. Superficial peels usually use liquid containing a mild (dilute) acid, most often glycolic acid. Dry ice (solid carbon dioxide) is sometimes used.
• Medium peels penetrate the skin more deeply than superficial peels and cause a second-degree burn of the skin. Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) is the main peeling agent used for medium peels, though the peel may also be done in several steps using a different chemical solution followed by TCA.
• Deep peels penetrate several layers of skin and cause a second-degree burn of the skin. They are used only on the face. A chemical called phenol is usually used for a deep peel. Deep peels may not be used on darker skin types because they tend to bleach the skin (hypopigmentation). Even in lighter-skinned people, phenol peels—or any type of deep resurfacing—may bleach the skin. A deep peel can be done only once in most cases.

Before the peel

Your doctor can help you decide what depth of peel and what type of chemical solution is most appropriate, based on your skin type, which areas you want peeled, what kind of results you want, how much risk you are willing to take, and other issues. A small “test spot” may be peeled to get a better idea of the results, especially for people with darker skin.

Two to three weeks before the peel, you will need to begin preparing your skin by cleansing it twice a day, applying a special moisturizer or cream once or twice a day, and using sunscreen every day. In some cases, daily use of tretinoin (Retin-A), a topical medicine usually used to treat acne, is also recommended and may speed healing. This skin care regimen will help the skin peel more evenly, speed healing after the peel, and may reduce the chance of infection and other complications, especially uneven color changes in the skin.

For medium and deep peels of the face, you may be given a short course of medicine (such as acyclovir) to prevent viral infection. This is especially likely if you have had cold sores before, and the peel will be in the areas near the mouth or eyes.

How a superficial peel is done

Right before the peel, the skin is cleaned. The chemical (usually a liquid or paste) is then applied to the skin with a small brush, gauze, or cotton-tipped applicators. The chemical is left on the skin for several minutes, depending on the type of chemical used. Water or alcohol may be used to neutralize the acid and end the chemical reaction, then it is wiped off. You may feel a little burning while the chemical is on your skin. A handheld fan can help cool the skin and relieve any discomfort.

How a medium peel is done

The technique used to do a medium peel is similar to that used for a superficial peel, but the chemical may be left on for a longer period of time. Medium peels are more painful than superficial peels because the chemicals are stronger and they soak deeper into the skin. You may be given a pain reliever and an oral sedative to reduce pain and anxiety during the procedure. Cool compresses and fans can be used to cool the stinging and burning caused by the chemical. The procedure takes about 40 minutes. There is little or no pain after the peel is finished.

How a deep peel is done

Deep peels take the most time and are the most painful type of chemical peel. The procedure for a deep peel using phenol is also more complicated than for other types of peels.

• You may be given an oral sedative and pain relievers. This is usually in the form of a shot or intravenous injection. General anesthesia may also be used.
• You may be put on a heart monitor and receive intravenous (IV) fluids during the procedure because phenol is toxic when absorbed into the body’s systems in large doses. These measures may not be necessary if only a single, small area is being peeled.
• After the skin has been thoroughly cleaned, the chemical will be applied and allowed to penetrate. After one area of the face is treated, there will be a 15-minute break before the next area is treated to avoid getting too much phenol in your system.
• Tape or ointment may be applied to the area after the peel to treat deeper problem areas. When tape is used, it is removed after 2 days. Ointment is washed off with water after 24 hours and then reapplied as needed.

Depending on how large an area is being treated, the entire procedure may take 60 to 90 minutes.

What To Think About

Expectations

Chemical peels are designed to wound and remove the upper layers of the skin. You need to prepare yourself for how your skin will look immediately after the peel and throughout the healing process. You also need to be prepared to use cosmetics to blend skin tones between treated and untreated areas, such as between the face and jawline.

It is important that your doctor understand what you hope to achieve and that you understand what results you can realistically expect. Even with realistic expectations, you may not see results for several weeks or months after a chemical peel.

Sun protection

During the early healing period after a chemical peel (before the skin has finished peeling), you will need to avoid sun exposure. After the early healing period has passed, you will need to wear sunscreen every day and limit sun exposure as much as possible. New skin is more susceptible to damage and discoloration from sunlight.

Options for skin resurfacing

Chemical peel, dermabrasion, and laser resurfacing are the most commonly used techniques for improving the texture and appearance of the skin. Although these techniques use different methods, they have basically the same effect on the skin: They destroy and remove the upper layers of skin to allow for skin regrowth.

No one technique is necessarily better than the others. When performed by an experienced surgeon, laser resurfacing may be slightly more precise than chemical peeling or dermabrasion. However, the choice of technique is based on the site you want to treat, your skin type and condition, the doctor’s experience, your preferences, and other factors. Some people may get the best results using a combination of techniques.

Get Some Sun

Dangerously low vitamin D levels may increase the risk of heart disease, colon cancer, and prostate cancer. The solution? Catch some rays

By: Tom McGrath

Frankly, I didn’t really want to die at age 37.

That was the first thought I had three summers ago, when my dermatologist told me that the small pink lump on my left cheek was, in fact, skin cancer. He quickly went about assuring me that, despite the funeral dirge playing in my head, death wasn’t really an option here. I had the mildest form of the disease, basal-cell carcinoma, which hardly ever causes long-term problems. What’s more, removing it would be a simple slice-and-stitch procedure. And that’s just what it was. In the end, the root canal I’d had 2 months earlier was probably more of a near-death experience.

That said, ever since that moment, I — like so many guys nowadays — have become far more conscious of protecting myself from the sun. I slather sunscreen on my fast-burning Irish skin and outfit myself in a series of grimy baseball caps (my fedora phase, thankfully, has passed). Having cheated death at age 37, I’m not about to let it win at age 47.

There’s just one hitch: My attempts to save my skin may ultimately cost me my life. At least that’s the warning a group of researchers is giving sun-phobics like myself. They’re suggesting we’ve grown dangerously leery of the sun and, specifically, that we need more of the ultraviolet vitamin, vitamin D. As evidence, they point to an alarming number of people — particularly those living in the northern part of the United States, and those with dark skin — who are running close to “E” when it comes to D.

In 2002, for example, a study of otherwise healthy 18- to 29-year-olds in Boston found that one-third had significantly low vitamin D levels by the end of the winter. A recent article in the journal Nutrition Reviews, which looked at five separate studies, concluded that “prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency is higher than anticipated in North America.” Meanwhile, one noted expert on bone and calcium believes that the problem is even bigger than that. “I admittedly have a liberal standard,” says Robert Heaney, M.D., of Creighton University in Nebraska, “but I estimate that as many as 80 percent of people in the United States don’t get enough vitamin D.”

Now, granted, “You need more vitamin D” sounds like what your grandmother might say if she were named Surgeon General (right after she proclaimed beets the national vegetable). But there’s reason to pay attention, since researchers believe that a lack of D — a substance that helps our bodies use calcium and is crucial to bone strength — could be behind much of what ails us here at the dawn of the 21st century, including heart disease, colon cancer, and prostate cancer. Indeed, a 2002 study in the journal Cancer speculated that vitamin D undernourishment may lead to more than 23,000 cancer deaths each year.

“I think this is a major unrecognized epidemic in the United States,” says Michael Holick, M.D., a researcher at Boston University medical center and the most high-profile member of the vitamin D research community. “It affects children and adults of all ages, all races, and both sexes. It’s very significant.”

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