Health Manipulation

Diabetes is a disorder that results from the body’s inability to regulate blood sugar or due to the reduced sensitivity of cells to insulin. If left untreated, it can lead in chronic and severe diseases such as kidney failure.

Diabetes affects approximately 29 million people in the United States while another 86 million have prediabetes. An estimated 8 million people in the United States have diabetes and do not even know it. Over time, diabetes can lead to blindness, kidney failure, and nerve damage. These types of damage are the result of damage to small vessels, referred to as a microvascular disease. Diabetes is also an important factor in accelerating the hardening and narrowing of the arteries (atherosclerosis), leading to strokes, coronary heart disease, and other large blood vessel diseases. This is referred to as a macrovascular disease.

Sourced from: http://www.medicinenet.com/diabetes_mellitus/page2.htm

The most common type of diabetes is type 2; nevertheless, it would be a mistake to assume that type 1 and gestational diabetes lack severity. Currently, 8 million people are estimated to suffer from diabetes and are unaware. The following are some shared and other distinctive characteristics of diabetes.

• Increased thirst
• Increased hunger (especially after eating)
• Dry mouth
• Frequent urination
• Unexplained weight loss (even though you are eating and feel hungry)
• Fatigue (weak, tired feeling)
• Blurred vision
• Headaches
• Loss of consciousness (rare)
• Recurring Slow-healing sores or cuts
• Itching of the skin (usually around the vaginal or groin area)
• Frequent yeast infections
• Recent weight gain
• Velvety dark skin changes of the neck, armpit, and groin, called acanthosis nigricans
• Numbness and tingling of the hands and feet
• Decreased vision
• Sexual dysfunction, such as erectile dysfunction in men

Sourced from: http://www.webmd.boots.com/diabetes/guide/type-2-diabetes

Diabetes affects every part of the body dependent on the intake of sugars from the blood into the cells for energy production. Therefore, some of the primary symptoms are blurred vision, headaches, and sexual dysfunction. Insulin is produced in the pancreas to control the levels of glucose in the blood. If the sugar levels are above normal, then insulin is released to stimulate intake of sugar into cells and reduce its levels in plasma. If the blood sugar is below normal, then the pancreas ceases to produce insulin. Some individuals are at a greater risk of getting diabetes than others due to some factors such as genetics. Usually, a combination of things cause type 2 diabetes, including:

• Genes

Scientists have found different bits of DNA that affect how your body makes insulin.

• Extra weight

Being overweight or obese can cause insulin resistance, especially if you carry your extra pounds around the middle. Now type 2 diabetes affects kids and teens as well as adults, mainly because of childhood obesity.

• Metabolic Syndrome

People with insulin resistance often have a group of conditions including high blood glucose, extra fat around the waist, high, and high cholesterol and triglycerides.

• Too much glucose from your liver

When your blood sugar is low, your liver makes and sends out glucose. After you eat, your blood sugar goes up, and usually the liver will slow down and store its glucose for later. However, some people's livers do not. They keep cranking out sugar.

• Bad communication between cells

Sometimes cells send the wrong signals or do not pick up messages correctly. When these problems affect how your cells make and use insulin or glucose, a chain reaction can lead to diabetes.

• Broken beta cells

If the cells that make the insulin send out the wrong amount of insulin at the wrong time, your blood sugar is thrown off. High blood glucose can damage these cells, too. Sourced from: http://www.webmd.com/diabetes/type-2-diabetes-guide/type-2-diabetes

In some cases, beta cells of the pancreas are destroyed by a virus, bacteria, or an autoimmune disease. Beta cells produce insulin; their destruction means little or no production of insulin for blood glucose control, which will lead to diabetes. Luckily, developments in diabetes research have led to the introduction of some of the best methods of control and treatment of various types of diabetes.

The primary goal of treating type 1 and type 2 diabetes is to control blood sugar (glucose) levels within the normal range, with minimal excursions to low or high levels.

1.Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is treated with:

• insulin,
• exercise, and a
• diabetic diet

2.Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is treated:

• First with weight reduction, a diabetic diet, and exercise
• Oral medications are prescribed when these measures fail to control the elevated blood sugars of type 2 diabetes.
• If oral medications become ineffective treatment with insulin is initiated.

Sourced from: Shttp://www.medicinenet.com/diabetes_treatment/article.htm

When a person has red and inflamed skin, they may just be suffering from eczema. If a doctor has told you that you have eczema, you may be searching for answers. This article is here to help you with some expert eczema tips that will help give you the solutions you need and what to use for eczema.

Dress in cotton, or at least wear a cotton blend. This type of fabric usually does not irritate people who have eczema. Avoid things like polyester, which can cause an outbreak. In addition, when you purchase new clothing, make sure you put it in the washing machine prior to wearing it.

Your body temperature could have an impact on your eczema. Being too hot could cause you to sweat, which makes the skin irritated and itchy. In the winter time, the humidity inside is quite low, which could cause the skin to dry out and become itchy. Keep these things in mind as to what could make your eczema flare up.

Pay attention to your hands. Because you wash them throughout the day, they can get very dry and are prone to more eczema. If you are engaged in an activity that involves water, like washing the dishes, wear rubber gloves. This will help protect your skin from the water throughout the day.

To reduce eczema flare-ups, there are some basic bathing rules you can follow. Use room temperature water in your tub or shower. Hot water can cause eczema flare-ups. Don't scrub your skin. Use a gentle soap alternative instead of soap itself. Pat your skin dry, and liberally apply moisturizer when you are done bathing.

Experiment with suntan lotions to find one that works for you. Certain sunscreens may exacerbate your eczema while others will not. However, what works for one person doesn't necessarily work for another. Keep trying them until you find one you can live with. However, be sure to just test them on a small patch of skin first.

Make sure you wear clothes that are comfy as possible. People that have eczema have skin that is very sensitive to certain fabrics. Try sticking with clothing made of breathable fabrics like cotton or cotton blends. Try to avoid wearing synthetic fabrics or wool since these materials can cause flare-ups.

Remember to moisturize your skin. Moisturizing your skin regularly is one of the best ways you can combat eczema. Look for thick, unscented moisturizers that will not aggravate your skin. Too many chemicals or additives in a moisturizer can be counterproductive. Apply it on a daily basis, especially after taking a shower or bath.

Sweeping can cause issues with dust, and dust is not good for eczema. Vacuuming will keep the house clean while helping you to avoid flare-ups. While you have the cleaner out, head up to the bedrooms and vacuum the mattresses as well. This will help ensure that your room stays as dust-free as possible.

It is quite common for most people to not discuss skin conditions that bother them. This is why taking it upon yourself to read articles like this one are so important. Print this article out so that you can re-read it when necessary. You will be glad that you used the info given here to help your skin.

Tinnitus is a condition characterized by a ringing sound in the ear that could be persistent or episodic. Usually, tinnitus is a symptom of something else although more often than not it is not so serious. The reason behind the ringing or the distracting sounds in the ear is the electrical impulses sent mistakenly by your ear cells to your brain. This means that the inner ear cells are somewhat damaged and are thus unable to control the impulses they send. These impulses reach the brain and are the sounds that one keeps hearing. If the ear cells are fine, then you may have a problem with the hearing part of your brain for whatever reason. The thing about this condition is that it is often near impossible to pinpoint the exact cause. 

There are very many possible causes of the tinnitus including simple inner ear damage and there are many
natural tinnitus hearing remedies too. There are however a number of things that are more likely to cause the ringing in your ears and they include;

-Prolonged or sudden exposure to loud noise

-Accumulated earwax

-Ageing 

-Hereditary abnormalities in your ear bone

-Chronic health conditions like acoustic neuroma, tumors in your head or neck and hypertension among others

-Medication like some antibiotics, cancer drugs and aspirin, just to name a few.

In most cases, these causes imply that you cannot avoid tinnitus unless it is the result of exposure to loud noises or accumulation of earwax. However, the good news is that you can manage the condition effectively by understanding what it is really about. 

Understanding Tinnitus

It occurs when sound gets to your brain through the nerves that are usually situated on the tiny hairs found on your inner ear cells. These hairs send electrical impulses for the brain to interpret into sound and when these hairs are not in good condition, they are likely to leak electrical impulses, which your brain will interpret like sounds that are mostly phantom in nature. The ringing in ears in this case could be anything from clicking, hissing or even buzzing depending on the type of electrical impulses your brain is receiving. 

In order to deal with this condition, you may consider establishing the possible causes. This means looking at the risk factor to ascertain where the underlying problem could really be. If you are on medication that can cause tinnitus, you may want to speak to your doctor about changing your prescription. Antibiotics, cancer medication and aspirins are often the main culprits in such cases although there could be others. Always ask about the possible side effects of the medication you are given by your doctor or pharmacist. It is actually the best way to avoid any harmful side effects. 

If you have an underlying health condition that may be affecting your hearing mechanisms, then treating them may be a good option. The challenge is in identifying the condition. In most cases, you will require a number of tests to discover what the problem really is. Other times, removing the earwax is a reasonable to start and may even make you feel better immediately.  

Presently, Anemia is a common blood disorder. The body needs oxygen t all time, therefore, without erythrocytes the body has a hard time, and the individual shows the following symptoms; When you have anemia, your body lacks oxygen so that you may experience one or more of the following symptoms:

• Weakness
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness
• Fast or irregular heartbeat
• Pounding or "whooshing" in your ears
• Headache
• Cold hands or feet
• Pale or yellow skin
• Chest pain

Sourced from: http://www.hematology.org/Patients/Anemia/

• Fatigue and loss of energy
• Unusually rapid heart beat, particularly with exercise
• Shortness of breath and headache, particularly with exercise
• Difficulty concentrating
• Dizziness
• Pale skin
• Leg cramps
• Insomnia

Sourced from: http://www.webmd.boots.com/a-to-z-guides/anaemia-symptoms-treatment

The common symptoms of anemia are insomnia, dizziness, cold feet, and pale skin. Each type of anemia is unique characteristics; therefore, it is best to treat each type of anemia uniquely.

• Iron-deficiency anemia is almost always due to blood loss. If you have iron-deficiency anemia, your doctor may order tests to determine if you are losing blood from your stomach or bowels. Other nutritional anemia, such as folate or B-12 deficiency, may result from poor diet or from an inability to absorb vitamins in the gastrointestinal tract. Treatment varies from changing your diet to taking dietary supplements.

• If your anemia is due to a chronic disease, treatment of the underlying disease will often improve the anemia. Under some circumstances, such as chronic kidney disease, your doctor may prescribe medication such as erythropoietin injections to stimulate your bone marrow to produce more red blood cells.

• Aplastic anemia occurs if your bone marrow stops producing red blood cells. Aplastic anemia may be due to primary bone marrow failure, myelodysplasia (a condition in which the bone marrow produces abnormal red blood cells that do not mature correctly), or occasionally as a side effect of some medications. If you appear to have a form of aplastic anemia, your doctor may refer you to a hematologist for a bone marrow biopsy to determine the cause of the anemia. Medications and blood transfusions may be used to treat aplastic anemia.

• Hemolytic anemia occurs when red blood cells are destroyed in the bloodstream. This may be due to mechanical factors (a leaky heart valve or an aneurysm), infection, or an autoimmune disease. The cause can often be identified by special blood tests and by looking at the red blood cells under a microscope. The treatment will depend upon the cause and may include referral to a heart or vascular specialist, antibiotics, or drugs that suppress the immune system.

Sourced from:http://www.hematology.org/Patients/Anemia/

• Anemia caused by increased red blood cell destruction The treatment of hemolytic anemia may be tailored to the underlying cause. It is important to consider altering or stopping any medication or agent that is causing the condition. Adding folate supplements is often needed as levels drop. Some patients may require blood transfusion or iron replacement therapy, but it is a complex decision as to whether either is given.

• Sickle cell anemia treatment. The drug hydroxycarbamide is sometimes recommended if a person has recurring sickle cell crisis episodes. It appears to stimulate the formation of an alternate form of hemoglobin that is not susceptible to the sickling. This medicine may help to limit the number of episodes and the severity.

• For vitamin B12 and folate deficiency anemia, the treatment depends on the cause of the deficiency. If your body stores are depleted of vitamin B12, your doctor is most likely to prescribe vitamin B12 injections. If the vitamin B12 levels are borderline; low then your doctor may try oral tablets in a high dose first to see your response. There is a good chance that many of the symptoms associated with this type of deficiency will improve very quickly once the body is provided with the needed B12.

• Lead poisoning anemia is treated by discontinuing exposure to lead and administering medicine that binds and draws lead out of the body. Where the household is suspected as the source of lead poisoning, calling the local environmental health department is essential. Old lead water piping used to be a problem in older houses.

• With iron deficiency anemia, your doctor may recommend iron supplements that contain the strong form of iron, which your body can absorb quickly. Always consult your doctor before taking iron supplements. Excess iron intake can be harmful. Symptoms of iron overload include fatigue, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, irritability and joint problems.

Sourced from: http://www.webmd.boots.com/a-to-z-guides/anaemia-symptoms-treatment?page=2

In the case of iron deficiency anemia, it is best to treat it by supplementation with ferrous iron. Interestingly, anemia is preventable by good healthy eating.

While many types of anemia cannot be prevented, eating healthy foods can help you avoid both iron and vitamin deficiency anemia. Foods to include in your diet include those with high levels of iron (beef, dark green leafy vegetables, dried fruits, and nuts), vitamin B-12 (meat and dairy), and folic acid (citrus juices, dark green leafy vegetables, legumes, and fortified cereals). A daily multivitamin will also help prevent nutritional anemia; however, older adults should not take iron supplements for iron-deficiency anemia unless instructed by their physicians.

Sourced from: http://www.hematology.org/Patients/Anemia/

Anemia is one of the most common blood disorders affecting more than three million people in the United States. However, most people assume that anemia is just that; unknown to them there are different types of anemia. It is important to begin with the understanding that anemia affects red blood cells within the plasma.

Red blood cells carry hemoglobin, an iron-rich protein that attaches to oxygen in the lungs and carries it to tissues throughout the body. Anemia occurs when you do not have enough red blood cells or when your red blood cells do not function properly. It is diagnosed when a blood test shows a hemoglobin value of less than 13.5 gm/dl in a man or less than 12.0 gm/dl in a woman. Normal values for children vary with age.

Sourced from: http://www.hematology.org/Patients/Anemia/

Anemia results due to the reduced number or dysfunctional erythrocytes. The role of red blood cells (erythrocytes) is as follows:

Red cells contain a special protein called hemoglobin, which helps carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body and then returns carbon dioxide from the body to the lungs so it can be exhaled. Blood appears red because of a large number of red blood cells, which get their color from the hemoglobin. The percentage of whole blood volume that is made up of red blood cells is called the hematocrit and is a common measure of red blood cell levels.

Sourced from: http://www.hematology.org/Patients/Basics/

Erythrocytes are important in the transport of oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body, and the removal of carbon dioxide from the body to the lungs. The following are the most common types of anemia.

• Iron-deficiency anemia is the most common type of anemia. It happens when you do not have enough iron in your body. Iron deficiency is usually due to blood loss but may occasionally be due to poor absorption of iron. Pregnancy and childbirth consume a great deal of iron and thus can result in pregnancy-related anemia. People who have had gastric bypass surgery for weight loss or other reasons may also be iron deficient due to poor absorption.
• Vitamin-deficiency (megaloblastic) anemia may result from low levels of vitamin B12 or folate (folic acid), usually due to inadequate dietary intake. Pernicious anemia is a condition in which vitamin B12 cannot be absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract.
• Anemia and Pregnancy - Learn about the risk factors and symptoms of anemia during pregnancy.
• Aplastic anemia is a rare form of anemia that occurs when the body stops making enough red blood cells. Common causes include viral infections, exposure to toxic chemicals, drugs, and autoimmune diseases. Idiopathic aplastic anemia is the term used when the reason for low red blood cell production is not known.
• Hemolytic anemia occurs when red blood cells are broken up in the bloodstream or in the spleen. Hemolytic anemia may be due to mechanical causes (leaky heart valves or aneurysms), infections, autoimmune disorders, or congenital abnormalities in the red blood cell. Inherited abnormalities may affect the hemoglobin or the red blood cell structure or function. Examples of inherited hemolytic anemia include some types of thalassemia and low levels of enzymes such as glucose-6 phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. The treatment will depend on the cause.
• Sickle cell anemia is an inherited hemolytic anemia in which the hemoglobin protein is abnormal, causing the red blood cells to be rigid and clog the circulation because they are unable to flow through small blood vessels.
• Anemia caused by other diseases - Some diseases can affect the body's ability to make red blood cells. For example, some patients with kidney disease develop anemia because the kidneys are not making enough of the hormone erythropoietin signal the bone marrow to make new or more red blood cells. Chemotherapy used to treat various cancers often impairs the body's ability to produce new red blood cells, and anemia often results from this treatment.

Sourced from: http://www.hematology.org/Patients/Anemia/

• Thalassaemia

Thalassemias are inherited blood disorders, which cause the body to make fewer healthy red blood cells and less hemoglobin (an iron-rich protein in red blood cells). The two major types of thalassemia are alpha- and beta thalassemia. The most severe form of alpha thalassemia is known as alpha thalassemia major or hydrops fetalis while the serious form of beta thalassemia is known as thalassemia major or Cooley's anemia. Thalassaemias affect both males and females and occur most often in people of Italian, Greek, Middle Eastern, Asian, and African descent. Severe forms are usually diagnosed in early childhood and are lifelong conditions.

• Pernicious Anemia

Pernicious anemia is a condition in which the body cannot make enough healthy red blood cells because it does not have enough vitamin B12 (a nutrient found in certain foods). People who have pernicious anemia cannot absorb enough vitamin B12 due to a lack of intrinsic factor (a protein made in the stomach). However, other conditions and factors can also cause vitamin B12 deficiency. Sourced from: http://www.health24.com/Lifestyle/Your-Blood/Anaemia-20130216-2