Health Blog » Diseases

What Your Aching Feet May Be Telling You

Charlie — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 14:26:12 +0000

Lately, I have been experiencing pain in my feet – the soles to be exact. While I think that it is probably due to my weight gain over the year, I still went ahead and researched on the topic. Guess what I found out? More than being overweight, there may be other reasons for aching feet! Some of them could actually be serious so aching feet should not be left alone, thinking that it is only due to age.

In the Health section of the New York Times, they featured this topic recently and presented some questions that can help you analyze the cause of your pain. Here are some of them.

Are you diabetic?
I didn’t realize this but poor blood circulation can cause feet pain due to the distance between the lower limbs and the heart. Alternatively, this can cause loss of feeling. For diabetics, this is dangerous because you might get wounds in your feet without realizing it. This can, in turn, lead to more complications such as infection or amputation.

Do you have flat feet or high arches?
Both conditions have adverse effects on the muscles on the feet. Either way, you need to wear the right kind of shoes that will help you deal with the condition and avoid pain.

Are your shoes the right size?
Some people may not realize it but their shoes may be contributing to the pain and discomfort they feet. The best way to go would be to have your feet actually measured and get the right size and type of shoes.

Needless to say, you have to see a podiatrist if you experience consistent pain in your feet.

Good Hygiene Your Best Bet Against Swine Flu

Charlie — Tue, 19 May 2009 19:20:45 +0000

At this point, most everyone I know is a bit paranoid about the swine flu. Even the slightest sign of the sniffles gets some of my friends alarmed. And why not? With even the Center for Disease Control saying that there might be more than 100,000 cases of swine flu all over the country, it is but understandable that people would be quite cautious. But this is what the experts say: there is nothing like good hygiene to keep you safe from the outbreak.

You see, as this strain of the flu is very new, there really is no vaccine against it. Even if you had the flu shots earlier this year or last year, it really is not a defense against swine flu. So here are some tips to keep it at bay:

*Be aware. If you know that there are swine flu cases in your area, then you can take the necessary precautions.

*Wash your hands often. The best way to go would be to use good old fashioned soap and water. If you are on the go a lot and you do not have access to water and soap all the time, carry a bottle of hand sanitizer with you AND use it often.

*Avoid or minimize contact with sick people. Whether they have swine flu or not, you do not want to take the risk. Coming down with some other bug is sure to weaken your immune system and you do not want that happening right now.

More Than 100,000 Americans Infected With Swine Flu

Charlie — Sat, 16 May 2009 19:18:43 +0000

That’s not an alarmist type of statement – it is true. This figure actually comes from the experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which estimates the real number of cases all throughout the country as about 100,000. The fact is that they only have about 4,700 documented or reported cases as of Friday. As for the number of deaths, only five so far have been reported and attributed to swine flu.

The good news is that experts also say that this recent outbreak of swine flu is not as bad as it could be, and is in fact quite mild. AJC has this report:

Most cases of swine flu occurring in the United States appear to be mild, health officials said.

In fact, “estimates of the confirmed and probable cases in the United States is probably not the best indicator of transmission at this point,” the CDC’s Jernigan said. “The outbreak is not localized, but is spreading and appears to be expanding throughout the United States. This is an ongoing public health threat.”

Jernigan said there also seems to be more cases of flu generally in the United States — both the seasonal and the new H1N1 swine flu — than is usually seen at this time of the year. “There are 22 U.S. states that are reporting widespread or regional influenza activity, which is something that we would not expect at this time,” he said.

Mild or not, it is best to always be on the alert and to stay as healthy as possible.

Concerns Over Swine Flu Escalate

Charlie — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 04:37:06 +0000

Every now and then we hear of diseases that are deadly and have the potential to become widespread. I think it’s that time of the year again, and this time, we are facing a potentially serious threat from swine flu. In fact, the World Health Organization has already stepped in and has declared a public emergency.

The current strain of swine flu originates from Mexico and is said to be different from the previous ones that we have encountered. In Mexico, it has been reported that 81 people have died from the disease and that more than 1,000 people are currently infected with it.

Swine flu, as the name implies, is transferred from infected pigs to humans. Humans who contract the disease exhibit the normal signs of flu – fever, respiratory problems, fatigue, and the like. However, the degree of the symptoms is more intense and can lead to death.

While the majority of reported cases are in Mexico, other cases have already been reported in other countries, particularly the United States. Texas, California and Kansas have reported cases and there are some suspected cases in New York City too. Recently, an airline crew member of the British Airways has been taken to an isolation unit as he disembarked from a flight from Mexico. He showed symptoms of swine flu.

If you have not been traveling, then you are most likely safe but you never really know who has been where so the best course to take would be to remain alert for such symptoms and immediately report it to the authorities if you suspect that you or anyone else has the disease.

Nuts……. Lots of Healthy Nuts

JW18 — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 09:52:23 +0000

People are now more health conscious than ever before and who wouldn’t with the dozens of infectious diseases and health risks that we face each and everyday. Life has gotten a lot healthier with respect to how commerce has changed and adjusted preferences to make them healthier. More and more people are opting for the healthy lifestyle as they begin to realize the advantages of good health that can take them well after their prime.
From proper exercise, diet and living, seems we all been bit by the health bug. Mother nature has produced for us some of the healthiest and most powerful healing plants that are enough to rival a pharmacy. Herbal cures for aches and pains have long been known to our ancestors and are again today being called upon by modern medicine as the primary source of our best drugs. From the common cough and cold, to immunity boosting food we are beginning to realize they have much to offer.
Anti-oxidants that eliminate free-radicals, particles that causes cells in the human body to die off prematurely hastening aging process. Rediscovered food crops known to ancient man are once again called upon and are only now being recognized for the huge amounts of vital minerals and vitamins they have always contained within them. Sadly, most of the world’s virgin forests are declining at an amazing rate that many of mother nature’s hidden gems may never be found. Let us all take up the cause of preventing the destruction of such vaults, of knowledge and life by supporting environmental movements. Check out One Big Health Nut where some of the best and healthiest nuts on the net can be found. For life and for health.

Your Brain – The Last Frontier

Charlie — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 11:54:14 +0000

The human brain is considered to be the last frontier to unlock the utter complexity of the human body. It is the most studied yet most puzzling part of our bodies due to a complexity that cannot be rivaled by today’s super-computers pound for pound. The human brain is a compact supercomputer that has an area that is larger than you think is in the human skull. The complex inner workings of the human brain has baffled scientists who know what it is made of but how it works is still a big puzzle. Today’s advanced imaging sciences and devices have allowed the unlocking of some of its secrets and the information they gather is proving to be a huge benefit to those who suffer from disease. Studies with stem cells, the body’s super-cells, are giving clues to how a totally healthy cell becomes malignant due to certain signal proteins that are produced by the body itself.
The brain is a mysterious and wondrous organ that is still one of the most studied parts of the human body. We almost have the ability to grow organs and repair limbs but to grow a brain or transplant one to another human is still a far flung dream. Much more needs to be learned about our brains that can hold the key to curing the many diseases we suffer from . Let us just hope that the information we get, would be used for the betterment of man and not for our undoing.

Men And Osteoporosis

Charlie — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 13:43:10 +0000

Although osteoporosis commonly occurs in women, men are not totally exempt from this condition. If you are male and you want to ensure a healthy body even when you get older, then I suggest paying particular attention to the risk factors involved in osteoporosis. The National Osteoporosis Foundation lists down these risk factors:

• Prolonged exposure to certain medications, such as steroids used to treat asthma or arthritis, anticonvulsants, certain cancer treatments and aluminum-containing antacids
• Chronic disease that affects the kidneys, lungs, stomach, and intestines and alters hormone levels
• Undiagnosed low levels of the sex hormone testosterone
• Lifestyle habits:
1. Smoking
2. Excessive alcohol use
3. Low calcium intake
4. Inadequate physical exercise
• Age: Bone loss increases with age
• Heredity
• Race: Of all men, white men appear to be at greatest risk for osteoporosis. However, men from all ethnic groups develop osteoporosis

If you think about it, these risk factors are quite similar – if not exactly the same – as the risk factors for other diseases. The bottom line, then, is for men (and women as well) to try and live the healthiest possible lifestyle as early as possible. It is common sense, really, but I suppose that we do not really pay attention to these things until we feel that something is wrong with our bodies.

Whether we are talking about osteoporosis or any other condition, the moral of the story is that we should take care not to subject our bodies to undue conditions.

Preventing Osteoporosis

Charlie — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 15:25:31 +0000

Osteoporosis is a very old disease but sad to say, not too many people pay particular attention to its prevention until it’s a tad late. Osteoporosis is a disease that affects the bones. A person with the condition has bones that are brittle and have lots of holes inside them – something like a sponge. As a result, people with osteoporosis are prone to fractures. Osteoporosis is most common in women who are above 60 although people outside these demographics are affected as well.

So how do you prevent osteoporosis?

The National Osteoporosis Foundation suggests these 5 steps:

• Get your daily recommended amounts of calcium and vitamin D
• Engage in regular weight-bearing exercise
• Avoid smoking and excessive alcohol
• Talk to your healthcare provider about bone health
• When appropriate, have a bone density test and take medication

Pay particular attention to your calcium and vitamin D intake as young as possible. More info on these two:

According to NOF recommendations, adults under age 50 need 1,000 mg of calcium daily, and adults age 50 and over need 1,200 mg of calcium daily. If you have difficulty getting enough calcium from the foods you eat, you may take a calcium supplement to make up the difference.

According to NOF recommendations, adults under age 50 need 400-800 IU of vitamin D daily, and adults age 50 and over need 800-1,000 IU of vitamin D daily. There are two types of vitamin D supplements. They are vitamin D3 and vitamin D2. Previous research suggested that vitamin D3 was a better choice than vitamin D2. However, more recent studies show that vitamin D3 and vitamin D2 are equally good for bone health.

Our bones do not become strong overnight. Their strength is a result of years and years of proper nourishment and care. As such, the steps that are given above should not be delayed in implementation. There is in fact no cure for osteoporosis currently.

Eating McDonald’s May Cause Alzheimer’s

Charlie — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 12:38:08 +0000

I might be a prime candidate for Alzheimer’s Disease! This is what I found out from a report that Reuters recently published. They quoted a study conducted by Swedish researchers which stated that there is a link between eating fast food and the disease. If you know me, I tend to eat McDonald’s a lot. If not McDonald’s then KFC or some other fast food meals. This is because a lot of times, I find myself short on time and cooking becomes a non option.

The Reuters report states that:

Mice fed junk food for nine months showed signs of developing the abnormal brain tangles strongly associated with Alzheimer’s disease, a Swedish researcher said on Friday.

The findings, which come from a series of published papers by a researcher at Sweden’s Karolinska Institutet, show how a diet rich in fat, sugar and cholesterol could increase the risk of the most common type of dementia.

“On examining the brains of these mice, we found a chemical change not unlike that found in the Alzheimer brain,” Susanne Akterin, a researcher at the Karolinska Institutet’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, who led the study, said in a statement.

This is so not good news! Countless people around the world – Americans perhaps being at the head of the race – consume McDonald’s and other fast food meals on a regular basis. Then again, as with many other studies, the results are “not conclusive.” In fact, Susanne Akterin gave these parting words:

All in all, the results give some indication of how Alzheimer’s can be prevented, but more research in this field needs to be done before proper advice can be passed on to the general public.

Pity the general public reads Reuters.

Vitamin That Slows Down Alzheimer’s To Be Tested On Humans

Charlie — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 02:10:22 +0000

Ever since Alzheimer’s was discovered more than a hundred years ago in 1906 (though this is subject to discussion), the medical community has been trying to find ways to cure it. To date, there is no known cure for the disease but there are a lot of breakthroughs occurring in the field of research.

One such breakthrough is the discovery of the potential of vitamin B3 to slow down the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. In lab trials, researchers infused mice with high doses of the vitamin and they found out that it had positive effects in retarding the disease. Now, they are ready to try the vitamin on humans. The Guardian has this report:

A vitamin pill that could slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease is to enter human trials after scientists found it protected animals from memory loss associated with the condition.

High doses of vitamin B3 will be given to 70 people who have recently been diagnosed with the disease as part of the trial due to begin in the new year, which is open to volunteers over the age of 50.

If the six-month trial is a success it could have a dramatic impact on the treatment of an estimated 417,000 people in Britain who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. There is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s or any other type of dementia.

Delaying the onset of the disease by five years would halve the number of deaths from the condition, saving 30,000 lives a year, according to the Alzheimer’s Society.

Though this is by no means a cure to the disease, it does look like the researchers are headed toward the right direction.