Gout and Kidney Disease - Is There a Connection?

Gout affects about ten percent of the population, It is a predominately male disease, 90% of those suffering from it are men. Women can develop gout as well, but that usually happens after menopause.

Kidney disease is found in thirteen percent of the population, and the numbers are rising fast. The kidneys filter out waste products, among them uric acid. In patients with kidney disease, these filters do not function properly. They may become blocked or they may become weak. When they are weakened, protein and blood may leak into the urine, one if the indicators of the disease.

Gout is caused by a build up of uric acid in the joints. This acid is carried there via the blood stream, so it stands to reason that there will be a connection of some sort between gout and kidney disease. However, it's not much talked about.

Uric acid crystals can build up in the kidneys and block the tiny filters in the kidneys. If gout can be kept under control via medication and diet, then kidney disease associated with gout is less likely. However, if the gout is not controlled, kidney disease can follow.

What about the other way around? Can kidney disease cause gout? The answer is yes. Because the organ is not functioning properly, uric acid can't be filtered out. When that happens, it builds up in the bloodstream and is carried to the joints. It is then dropped off, causing flare ups.

The best way to prevent this vicious cycle is to watch your diet carefully and make sure you visit your doctor. Blood and urine tests can determine if either disease is under control. If not, medications can be prescribed to help.

The diet for both diseases is remarkably similar. Low protein is important. Purines increase the acid content and excess protein can't be filtered properly. Sodium and some minerals must be watched carefully. If the kidneys are all right, maintaining adequate hydration is important.

Adult Stem Cell Research - Now Helping Dilated Cardiomyopathy Patients

Dilated Cardiomyopathy is a condition in which the heart muscle gets progressively weaker. Patients with this condition usually have low energy, sleep a lot, and their quality of life isn't very good. The prognosis for Dilated Cardiomyopathy is almost always negative. There is no cure or treatment for this condition other than medication which only treats the symptoms, but does nothing to improve it.

3 years ago, Leonard Narracci, a Florida native, was diagnosed with Dilated Cardiomyopathy. He was always tired and listless. He had almost no energy. Faced with his diagnosis, Leonard had little hope of getting better.

Leonard thought there must be a way for him to get better. He heard about Adult Stem Cell research and how Adult Stem Cells may help patients with his condition. He attended a stem cell seminar in Florida and contacted the doctor at the seminar who was treating heart patients in the Dominican Republic.

The doctor from the seminar tested him and declared him a possible candidate for the stem cell therapy. Since he would be using his own stem cells and he had nothing to lose, Leonard said he was ready and expressed his desire to have the stem cell treatment immediately.

In October, 2008, Leonard went to the Dominican Republic and had his own Adult Stem Cells implanted into his heart muscle in a simple procedure using a catheter.

Exactly one week after the procedure, Leonard was already feeling better than he ever had in the previous 3 years. Two weeks after the stem cell treatment, Leonard had an echocardiogram to test his ejection fraction. It had risen from 20% to 28%. His heart had also decreased in size and his heart apex was now normal.

Seven weeks after his own Adult Stem Cells were implanted, Leonard was tested again. There was even more improvement this time. His ejection fraction had gone up to 33%. His heart muscle was thickening as well showing that the stem cells were regenerating his heart muscle that had previously been nonfunctional and wasn't contracting.

Leonard's quality of life has improved immensely and he is hoping the stem cells will help him even more as time goes on. These days, stem cells are helping more and more patients. Stories like Leonard's give Dilated Cardiomyopathy patients reason to hope.

Interpreting EKG Results

Electrocardiogram (EKG) tests help doctors identify and diagnose any present or past heart abnormalities. EKGs are often a part of regular doctor visits for those with a history of heart disease. EKG machines record the heart's electrical impulses via electrodes attached to strategic points on the patient's body. The results are displayed on a computer monitor and then printed out. Physicians or EKG technicians can then determine the patient's heart health by interpreting the printed results.

To get a gage on the patient's heart functions, physicians compare the EKG reading of the patient's heart to the reading of a normal heart. Differences in heart rate, rhythm or contractions between the two readings can indicate possible or past heart attacks, heart diseases or coronary artery diseases. If it is determined that these symptoms exist, further testing is conducted.

There are a wide variety of ways to interpret an EKG result, but most are based on identifying recurring patterns. Heart rate is the first thing EKG technicians look at when reading a set of results. The electrodes cause spikes in the graph reading by stimulating the heart into contracting and relaxing. The first spike (called the "P" spike) indicates the impulses of the heart's upper chamber. A more horizontal line called the "PR" interval indicates the bridge between the contraction and relaxation of the atria. Each EKG has a series of these spikes and dips representing the heart's impulses, with each kind of spike represented by a different letter.

A normal heart will have a spike pattern called sinus arrhythmia, which varies slightly form heart to heart. If a patient's EKG readings do not display sinus arrhythmia, it may be a sign of heart problems. Lack of sinus arrhythmia might indicate the future occurrence of sudden heart attacks or heart failure. In such cases, patients are usually recommended for additional treatment. It is up to the patient's physician to decide what kind of attention and what kind is needed. Often enough though, it is the highly-trained EKG technicians whose word has most weight in making a final decision concerning an EKG reading.

Professional EKG reading demands a considerable amount of education, training, and hands-on experience. Because there are several different methods and a ton of specialized terminology involved, most non-medical-professionals have difficulty understanding how EKGs work and what the results mean. If you're having an EKG performed, your EKG technician should be happy to answer in layman terms any questions you might have concerning your reading.

Take Care! Your Heart and Blood Vessels Grow Older, As You Grow Older

Your heart and blood vessels change as you age, even in the absence of any disease process. The muscle of the heart loses its elasticity, and your body's metabolic processes may produce less of the energy that the heart needs. The heart becomes a less powerful pump, and needs to work more to do the same job. Your heart may atrophy with age and therefore weigh less than it did when you were young. There also may be some loss of the pacemaker cells that control your heart's activities. In addition to these changes in your heart, your blood vessels become less elastic with age. Arteriosclerosis may make the passage way through your vessels narrower. This makes it necessary for your heart to work harder to pump the blood through the more resistant network of vessels.

Less elasticity in the walls of your arteries and atherosclerosis may cause high blood pressure, which makes your heart work even harder. The arteries supplying the heart itself (coronary arteries) may narrow. The result of this is less oxygen reaching your heart, which may cause angina or heart attack. A mild increase in blood pressure with age is normal. Blood pressure readings beyond this, however, are cause for concern. Prolonged high blood pressure (called hypertension) can precipitate a heart attack or stroke.

Despite such general age-related deterioration in your cardiovascular system, your heart is strong enough to meet the needs of your body. However, as your body ages, your cardiovascular system has much less reserve capacity for overcoming injury or handling the sudden demands placed on it by stress or illness. Such changes in the cardiovascular system occur gradually rather than overnight.

By the middle years, the process already may be well along. The middle years see many heart and blood pressure problems, particularly in men. People now seem to be more conscious of death due to cancer or AIDS, but heart attacks kill as many people as cancer, AIDS, and all other diseases combined.

Activity level and diet play significant roles in keeping your cardiovascular system healthy. An aerobic exercise, such as vigorous walking or running for at least half an hour a day on at least three days a week, places demands on your cardiovascular system that sitting at a desk does not. Your body responds to the demands of exercise by increasing its capacity to pump blood. This increased capacity is healthy, becomes a characteristic of your body, and stays with you when you are not exercising (provided of course that you keep up the exercise program).

Especially important is the fact that, in situations of physical exertion, the extra capacity is there; also, exercise may slow or even prevent the progression of atherosclerosis. You cannot stop the effects of aging altogether, but you can greatly minimize them and thus increase the odds of having a healthier life.

Exercise programs should be phased in gradually to avoid injury. If you have been inactive, contact a physician before embarking on an exercise program.

Another way to help your cardiovascular system is by following a low fat low cholesterol diet. A principal effect of a healthy diet is to slow the process of atherosclerosis, the process by which fatty deposits accumulate in your blood vessels. Atherosclerosis occurs in nearly everyone, narrowing the openings in the blood vessels and thereby increasing the resistance to the heart's pumping action.

Causes And Cures Of Chronic Sinus Disease

When all medication for colds ceases to work, a person keeps feeling tired all day, there is intense headache and maybe a fever the person may have a chronic sinus disease. When one or more sinus cavities get infected, a person has a disease called sinusitis. Chronic sinus disease is an advanced form of sinusitis and it may last for three weeks to three months.

Chronic sinus disease can be diagnosed by asking a patient questions about the areas in which a person feels pain. A person might have pain in the head, cheeks and upper teeth. Double or slurred vision may also be associated with chronic sinus. Jarring pain and eyes is also felt in some cases of sinus.

Slow fever is a rarity in chronic sinus disease. It is more prevalent in children as compared to adults. Chronic sinusitis can only be diagnosed if slow fever if accompanied by other symptoms like facial pain and swelling.

Certain protective measures can also be taken by people who have a history of chronic sinus infection symptoms. Using a humidifier and cleaning the nose properly everyday can reduce chances of future occurrence of sinus infection.

There are several ways of treating a chronic sinus disease. Decongestants, antibiotics and other form of oral medication can be given. Some doctors flush the mucous out of the nose using saline water and a syringe. A surgery is the last option which is done only when other options stop working. The infected mucous membrane is then removed surgically. This kind of surgery may be done under local or general anesthesia.

People with chronic sinus also complain of a thick yellow nasal discharge which is full of pus. They may also be blood tinged. This discharge drains to the back of the throat and is referred to as post nasal drip.

Chronic sinus disease can be prevented by consulting a good doctor as soon as the first signs of a sinus infection are observed. A chronic sinus can cause unnecessary pain and trouble. Allergies and colds should be treated as early as possible before they turn into sinus. People with a history of asthma and other allergies should stay away from allergens like smoke, dust and pollen.

Hypothyroid Treatment - Medical Treatments for Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone. This can occur for various reasons. Treatment may depend on various factors including the patient's health history, the severity of their condition, and the type of medical practitioner they seek for care.

Many practitioners rely on synthetic hormones to treat hypothyroid disease, but this may not always be the best course of action. It is important you educate yourself about hypothyroidism so you can make the best decision when it comes to caring for your body and treating your condition.

Let's learn a little more about standard care of hypothyroidism so you can make an informed decision along with the advice of your qualified healthcare professional.

Hypothyroid Disease Treatment Protocols

Treatment for an underactive thyroid will vary from patient to patient depending on the severity of their disease and their treatment provider. For many, treatment will involve use of daily thyroid replacement hormones, whether synthetic or natural. This will require regular or routine monitoring by a healthcare provider to monitor thyroid function and assess the correct dosage.

Typically treatment with a hormone results in a quick improvement. If someone has their thyroid gland removed or partially removed they will probably require treatment with a synthetic hormone for the rest of their life. Hypothyroid caused by Hashimoto's thyroiditis, a more serious autoimmune condition, may also require a lifetime treatment protocol.

Some patients who have hypothyroid disease develop it as a result of a recent illness. In cases like this treatment may be needed for a short period of time. After the illness subsides, a patient may recover and no longer require treatment.

Sometimes pharmaceutical medicine causes a patient to develop hypothyroid disease. In cases like this treatment may simply involve discontinuation of the offending medication or a switch to a new medication. As long as the medication has not caused permanent damage to the thyroid gland, the odds are the patient will recover and can resume a normal lifestyle.

Sometimes a patient has sub-clinical hypothyroid. This is a mild case of hypothyroid disease. There are times when doctors or healthcare providers prefer to monitor cases like this instead of prescribing medication. Other times healthcare providers may recommend treating hypothyroidism immediately, depending on how severely the patient is affected.

You and your doctor, or healthcare provider should discuss your treatment options in cases like this, including the risks associated with treating hypothyroidism with synthetic or natural hormones, compared to a watch and wait approach. Patients taking hypothyroid hormones must watch for side effects which may include heart disease, chest pain or irregular heart rate.

Hormones available to treat patients include:

- Levothyroxine (Synthroid, Levoxyl, Levothroid)

- Natural Hormones

Taking too little medicine may result in little effect or improvement and can result in a return of symptoms or recurring weight gain. Taking too much hormone may result in increasing side effects including the jitters or tremors, or insomnia. It is critical that as a patient you take notes of all side effects you experience while taking hormones so your doctor can adjust your dose of your medication accordingly.

Remember that diet and lifestyle are just as much a part of your treatment protocol as hormone or medication therapy. Talk with your healthcare provider about lifestyle changes as well as medication when you begin treating hypothyroid disease. That way you will manage your disease as wholly as possible to ensure the best possible odds for successful management of your disease.

Severe Hypothyroidism

In some cases hypothyroidism goes undiagnosed for excessive periods of time as many people avoid going to the doctor when they feel unwell. In cases of severe debilitation, some patients may need life saving treatment. Severe hypothyroidism when left untreated may place a patient at risk for what is known as a myxedema coma. This requires emergency medical care and treatment with intravenous thyroid hormone.

Symptoms may include a heart attack or trouble breathing, and hypothermia or severe problems maintaining one's body temperature. If you or someone you know experiences any of these symptoms it is critical you seek emergency medical care as soon as possible.

Treatment of Hypothyroidism During Pregnancy

Some women develop hypothyroidism during pregnancy. During this time treatment is essential to ensure the wellness of both mother and fetus. Thyroid levels of women during pregnancy will be carefully monitored in women that have hypothyroidism to ensure adequate treatment. Some women will require treatment before, during, and after pregnancy if they have hypothyroidism before pregnancy.

Others may develop hypothyroid disease during pregnancy and may begin treatment during pregnancy, and may or may not require hormone replacement therapy following delivery.

Remember, treating hypothyroidism is a life saving matter, so go to your healthcare provider immediately and take a simple blood test...it can be a matter of life or death!

Once you have the facts about your illness you can then make an informed decision regarding your course of action. If you do not wish to take pharmaceutical medication you can access the wide variety of natural therapies available to help balance your thyroid hormones, and can stay healthy with appropriate dietary and lifestyle decisions.

Diabetes and Menopause

You might be thinking what is the connection between diabetes and the menopause? Well, for ladies reaching that certain age, it can be very traumic. Menopause is not necessarily a negative experience. It is sometimes called a "change of life" as there are a lot of changes going on in a woman's body, both as menopause approaches and afterwards.

The menopause marks an important transition into the last third of a woman's life. It gives the woman and her health professionals an opportunity to review health risks, plan preventive activities, and establish monitoring strategies. This is especially important in women with diabetes because of the compounding menopausal cardiovascular risk and those associated with diabetes. The importance of the menopause is often not appreciated by women with diabetes, nor by their health professionals, and opportunities to avoid future problems may be missed.

Menopause is a natural process that women go through as the child-bearing years come to an end and the ovaries cease to release eggs every month. Menopause is usually defined as the point when periods stop. Menopause is not an event, but a slow process, often lasting up to 10 years. It starts during the age of 40s (sometime late 30s) and the average age for most women to have their last period is 51, where the female sex hormones hormones, estrogen and progesterone, begin to decline.

How menopause affects diabetes

As you approach menopause, ovaries gradually stop producing the hormone estrogen and progesterone. Both of these hormones affect insulin which is the hormone produced by the pancreas that deliver glucose which is life sustaing to every cell in the body.

Decrease levels of estrogen and progesterone can:

Increase the blood sugar. This will be mostly during perimenopause where the body may become more resistant to insulin and this causes blood sugar level to rise.

Decrease the blood sugar. This will be during the time when you reach menopause. Where the levels of estrogen and progesterone decline permanently. Where the body may regain its sensitivity to insulin, which causes blood sugar levels to fall.

The hormone fluctuations that characterize menopause may wreak havoc on the hard-earned blood glucose control. With less progesterone, there may be greater insulin sensitivity and with less estrogen insulin resistance increases, and the lack of these hormones can also cause other changes which can worsen diabetes complications. For example, lowered estrogen levels increase the risks of cardiovascular disease, which is already higher for people who have diabetes, and osteoporosis.

Many symptoms are attributed to menopause, and the most common are hot flashes, disturbed sleep, night sweats and the decreased ability to think clearly. Both menopause and diabetes produce similar symptoms. Some mistake menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, moodiness etc as the symptoms of low blood sugar, so that they incorrectly assume these symptoms are a result of low blood sugar and start consuming unnecessary calories which in turn raises the blood sugar and in advertently cause a surge in blood sugar

Because of diabetes women experience stronger and more frequent episodes of low blood sugar especially at night. This may affect their sleep, already interrupted by menopause - associated with hot flashes and night sweats. Such sleep deprivation causes fluctuations in blood sugar.

In order to combat this women choose to take hormone replacement therapy or HRT.These hormones (estrogen and progesterone) replace the hormones that the body no longer make. But this will not be possible in the case of women if she is a diabetic as these hormones affect the blood sugar. But these doses with HRT are so low and they do not cause much effect. In that case the diabetic medicine needs to be adjusted also .If the woman is exposed to these hormones it has benefits like

Protect the heart

Protect the bones from the loss of calcium which can lead to brittle bones.

Eliminate the symptoms such as hot flashes (which are easy to confuse with hypoglycemia) helps to sleep and think more easily.

Complications of Menopause

Majority of women will experience this complication but the intensity may vary within each women

Irregular bleeding

Hot flushes

Vaginal thinning and dryness

Osteoporosis

Heart diseases

Menopause is complete when you have not menstruated for 12 months. Women with type 1 diabetes experience menopause earlier than average. Women with type 2 diabetes may go through menopause later than average if they are above a healthy weight, as estrogen levels do not decrease as rapidly in women who are overweight.

This is one of the major problems in many women as they gain weight and become less active during this time, which compounds blood glucose control difficulties. So it is vitally important to plan a nutritious, low fat diet with calcium supplements if needed and physical activity. As these measures will lower the risk of cardiovascular disease by keeping the cholesterol level low and protect the bones against the thinning of osteoporosis.

Regular exercise benefits the heart and bones, help to regulate weight, contributes to a sense of overall well-being and improvement in mood. Sedentary women are far more prone to coronary heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and osteoporosis. They also suffer from chronic back pain, stiffness, insomnia, and irregularity. Depression is also a problem. Therefore exercise plays an important and beneficial role as it circumvent these problems and also achieve higher HDL cholesterol levels.

The Benefits of regular exercise

o Increases circulation, and improves the regulation of body temperature.

o Improves weight control by increasing basal metabolic rate and lean body mass.

o Reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease by strengthening the circulatory system, lowering blood pressure and maintaining a healthier blood cholesterol level.

o Increases strength and range of movement.

o Elevates your mood and controls stress.

o Reduces the likelihood of osteoporosis.

Some suggestions that may reduce the discomforts of menopause:

1.Eat well balanced meals that forms the basis for managing the diabetes

2.Cutting out caffeine which may help to reduce hot flashes.

3.Consuming more legumes and soy products which decreases the discomforts associated with menopause as these foods contain phytoestrogen (plant estrogen.

4.Last but not the least being physically active may help to increase energy levels and give you a mental lift.

Therefore menopause is an important phase in women's life where she undergoes a lot of physical changes. The body goes through changes that can affect her social life, her feelings about herself, and functioning at work. Till recently menopause was often surrounded by misconceptions and myths, but it is a natural; step in the process of aging. So one should accept menopause and age gracefully - for "As a white candle in a holy place so is fine beauty of an aged face."

Panic Attack Symptoms in Women - What Are The Main Symptoms?

What to look out for?

Panic and anxiety attacks affect many people worldwide, and women can be more prone to them than men. So, with this in mind it is important to know of what panic attack symptoms in women you should be looking out for if you feel you could be experiencing them. Identifying the symptoms of the attacks is one of the main ways to treat and deal with the panic in the future.

So, what symptoms are most common in women?

Well, symptoms of panic and anxiety attacks within women are generally the same as with men. The most common and most recognizable ones are:

1. Trouble Breathing & Feeling Of Lack Of Control

Whilst having an attack, one of the biggest panic attack symptoms in women is that of difficulty of breathing and a feeling of being out of control with how your body is reacting.

These are the same panic attack symptoms in men too.

2. Chest Pains & A Racing Heart

Other very common symptoms in women are that of tight chest pains which are part of the breathing difficulties, and also of a racing heart. These symptoms appear very common amongst men too.

Within a panic or anxiety attack you would generally feel a few of these symptoms at the same time. When you next feel like you are in the midst of an attack and the above panic and anxiety attack symptoms in women are present, then it most likely points to a panic disorder.

You should seek medical advice if you are unsure. When suffering from a panic disorder, it is imperative that you look at possible treatments and cures to help relieve and treat the disorder.

If you suffer from these panic attack symptoms in women, and leave a disorder untreated, they can get worse. A panic disorder in women is not a disorder to push to the back of your mind for another time. The sooner it is treated and looked at, the better!

Heart Attack Treatment Tip - Cayenne For the Heart

These tiny, colorful hot pepper powerhouses really pack a punch. Not only do they add zing to your food but they have an absolute plethora of health benefits especially for the heart. Cayenne and other hot peppers are all members of the genus Capsicum and whether you choose cayenne, habanero, red Thai, or any of the other hot varieties, they all have amazing heart healthy properties. Anyone with a family history of cardiovascular disease or if they have heart disease themselves needs to add cayenne to the diet.

Cayenne doesn't have just one heart healthy action; it has them all! It lowers blood pressure benefiting those with hypertension. This relieves the stress on the heart. High blood pressure makes the heart pump harder and harder, eventually wearing out the heart. It opens up the blood vessels almost instantly allowing blood to flow freely. In addition it fights cholesterol, cleaning the blood vessels of deposits that can lead to atherosclerosis. Cayenne helps bring nutrients and oxygen directly to the

heart by opening up the coronary blood vessels, strengthening the heart muscle.

Cayenne strengthens every blood vessel in the body including tiny capillaries that bring nutrients and oxygen to every cell and remove the toxic waste products from the cells. Hot peppers even keep the blood from sticking together preventing dangerous clots. All of these actions help cayenne prevent heart attacks and strokes. Herbalists agree that hot peppers are the number one herb for the heart.

Studies show that cultures that consume a lot of hot peppers in their food have a much lower incidence of heart and cardiovascular disease. You can add peppers to food, make an instantly stimulating cup of hot cayenne tea, use high quality hot sauce on vegetables or in soups and stews, or take cayenne capsules.

Worried about ulcers? No need, cayenne actually has properties that heal ulcers! Loaded with nutrients and phytochemicals, cayenne is high in Vitamins A and C. Vitamin C is essential for the health of blood vessels. It strengthens vessel walls and is necessary for the body to produce collagen, the substance that keeps the cell walls flexible and supple. There are many stories of heart attacks and strokes being instantly stopped by cayenne. This is certainly not a substitute for medical attention but in an emergency situation before help arrive, a cup of hot water with cayenne, or even a tablespoon of hot sauce placed under the tongue can stop the heart attack.

What Is Acute Hyponatremia?

Sodium is an important electrolyte that regulates the water balance inside the body. Normal serum sodium measures 135-145 mEq/L. If there is a drop in serum sodium levels in the body, extracellular fluid goes inside the cell causing it to swell. A sudden drop of serum sodium levels is called acute hyponatremia. If acute hyponatremia does not show any signs and symptoms, it resolves on its own. If symptoms are present, it is important that corrective measures are given to prevent onset of neurologic damage.

Acute hyponatremia can be caused by several conditions. These include:

- Burns

- Diarrhea

- Vomiting

- Congestive heart failure

- Kidney disease

- Liver cirrhosis

- Use of medications such as diuretics, anti-depressants, and pain relievers that cause excessive urination and sweating

- Excessive sweating due to intensive physical training and workout

- SIADH (syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone)

Common symptoms of acute hyponatremia are:

- Loss of appetite

- Muscle weakness

- Muscular spasms or cramps

- Nausea

- Vomiting

- Restlessness

- Irritability

- Fatigue

- Headache

- Convulsions or seizures

- Coma

Alteration in mental status indicates that brain cells are already starting to swell. This will pose a great problem for improper correction of severe acute hyponatremia can lead to several brain complications including brain herniation. Brain herniation is the abrupt descent of the brain inside the skull. This is a life-threatening condition for the weight of the brain depress on the brain stem, causing problems in breathing.

Treatment of acute hyponatremia is usually addressed towards the cause of hyponatremia and relief of presenting symptoms. Oxygen administration and anti-seizure medications are given to help prevent seizures and address difficulty of breathing. IV line is established as a route for immediate correction of hyponatremia, especially if hyponatremia presents severe conditions. 0.9% or 3% saline solution is given, depending on the fluid status and how low obtained serum sodium level readings were upon admission. Correction of 4-5 mEq/L within 12 hours is done, with 10-12 mEq/L correction within 24 hours. Serum sodium levels should be at 120-125 mEq/L in 48 hours. Normal serum sodium levels are targeted 3 days after induction of therapy to prevent osmotic demyelination syndrome.

Inflammation is the Root Cause of Disease

You may be hearing the term "inflammation" a lot more lately. Especially in the prescription adds that are so popular on television these days. It turns out there's a good reason for it. More and more studies are now revealing that just about every disease gets it's roots from an unresolved inflammatory process in the body. If that's the case, then it makes sense to have a better understanding about what causes inflammation and how we can prevent it.

What is inflammation? It's a process that happens when the body gets injured or compromised in some way. It may be something as simple as: a cut or a bruise or a more serious injury to an organ or vessel. This can be caused by a number of factors including excess toxins or a deficiency of nutrients. Regardless of the cause, the body undergoes an inflammatory process and tries to repair or heal itself.

The good news is, if you can reduce the inflammation in your body, you can reduce your disease potential.

Acute inflammation is usually pretty easy to control. The body will usually repair itself or a recognized protocol is used in the more serious cases of acute inflammation. However, chronic inflammation is the killer. It starts slowly and may not manifest any outward symptoms until it's progressed into a disease, which is why it's so dangerous. It's hard to fix something that you aren't aware of.

Fortunately there is a simple blood test that your doctor can perform to help you determine the

level of inflammation in your body. When an injury or an infection occurs in the body, many systems respond to handle the crisis. During the inflammatory process the body releases a protein that is produced by the liver. Your doctor can perform a blood test that measures the concentration of this c-reactive protein in your body.

Dr. Steven A. Komadina states that the results can actually predict your potential to develop heart disease and other inflammatory diseases. Here is how he evaluates the numbers in his practice:

o Less than 1 mg/L means very low risk of developing heart disease or other inflammatory diseases.

o Between 1-3 mg/L means you are at average risk.

o Higher than 3 mg/L means you are at high risk for developing heart disease or other inflammatory diseases.

o Higher than 10 mg/L means you will have a heart attack within 10 years or you have another severe inflammatory disease or you have an acute infection.

Chronic inflammation has been linked to asthma, Alzheimer's disease, cancer, diabetes, digestive disorders, heart disease, hormone imbalances and osteoporosis just to name a few. Since we know that inflammation is the root cause of disease, it just makes sense to find ways to decrease inflammation. The biggest causes of chronic inflammation are diet, stress and lifestyle. Antioxidants, another term you may be hearing about, are very helpful in reducing inflammation. In my next article I will cover more about antioxidants and other ways you can reduce the inflammation in your body. You may have to make some healthier lifestyle choices, but it's a small price to pay and you're worth it!

Benefits Of Kefir Against Disease

Popularity kefir is now supported by scientific evidence that it contains probiotics (live bacteria) and components that is important for health. That's one secret of longevity Caucasian population since 1400 years ago from generation to generation.

Composition and taste of kefir is vary considerably depending on the source of kefir milk (goat, buffalo, cows, sheep) and fat content (regular-fat, low fat, nonfat) milk is used, the microbial composition of kefir in the seeds and the technology used for production.

Biochemical components produced by kefir is fermented to lactic acid, CO2, and alcohol. Many aromatic components, including diasetil and acetaldehyde are also present in kefir. Diasetil produced by the bacterium Str. Lactis subsp. Diacetylactis and Leuconostoc.

Lactose content is reduced in kefir and b-galactosidase levels increased as a result of fermentation. There was a slight increase in proteolysis thereby increasing the free amino acid content. Kefir that is made from full fat milk contains 3.5 grams of fat per 100ml resulting 62kcal per 100ml.

Cholesterol in milk fat is relatively low. Kefir contains 12mg of cholesterol per 100 grams (about 3.5% in the beverage fat content). Microbes in kefir break down fat in milk kefir, making it easier to digest. Research has shown that some lacto bacteria in kefir can lower cholesterol, by gluing himself to the cholesterol and dispose from the body.

In addition, kefir does have remarkable properties. Many research that has been done to discover exactly what makes the content of kefir has extraordinary properties. Based on the research and experience, kefir can help cure the complaints:

- Allergies, asthma, bronchitis

- Gout, rheumatism, arthritis

- Kidney stones, renal failure

- Diabetes, heart disease, hypertension

- Impaired function of the intestine, indigestion

- Herpes, lupus, acne, eczema, ulcers

- Cancer, tumor

- Cholesterol

- Slowing the menopause

- Restores stamina after seriously ill patients

- Refine and tighten skin

- Avoiding the effects of chemotherapy and radiation

- Migraine

- Obesity, diet (weight loss support)

- Osteoporosis

- Stress, depression, sleep disturbances

- Stroke, or paralysis.

What Are the Early Warning Signs of Lung Cancer?

What is Lung Cancer?

Lung cancer is almost always caused by cigarette smoking. Many times it's not diagnosed until the later stages of the disease which normally means that it has already spread to other tissue and organs. It's also the leading cause of cancer deaths in the US in both men and women which is sad as the risks of developing it significantly decrease if a person does not smoke.

What are the early warning signs?

Lung cancer has many symptoms however some of the earliest signs can be mistaken for common everyday illnesses. Many of the symptoms of lung cancer do not show up until the cancer is in a later stage. Some of the early warning signs can include:

o Persistent Cough

o Recurrent Bronchitis or Pneumonia

o Loss of Appetite, Weight Loss

o Chest Pain

Some of the additional symptoms of Lung Cancer are listed below. While having any of these symptoms does not mean you have cancer, a Dr. should be consulted if you are suffering from any of the following:

o Fever without a known reason

o Abnormal Chest X-ray

o Coughing Up Blood

o Hoarseness

o Chronic Shortness of Breath

If you are suffering from any or several of these symptoms and you are a current or former smoker, you should contact your physician and schedule an appointment to have an examination. There are tests that can be done to determine the cause of your symptoms and these tests can either diagnose or rule out lung cancer. Some of the tests available include a blood count test, X-ray as well as bone scan or sputum exam.

Conclusion

If you are a smoker and are concerned about any of the symptoms you are experiencing remember the sooner you are diagnosed the better. Cancer can spread very rapidly and by beginning treatments as soon as possible you can improve your chance of survival.

Types of Kidney Disease

Our kidneys are very important to us. Without actively functioning kidneys, the presence of kidney disease can be devastating for a person. In the worst case scenario, an individual will need to be on dialysis or receive a kidney transplant to replace the diseased kidneys.

There are several different types of kidney disease, some of which are worse than others. Kidney disease can be "acute", meaning it is of a fast onset or "chronic" meaning the decline in kidney function is slow. Both kinds of kidney disease can be due to autoimmune disorders, toxins, medications or infections. Diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure can gradually worsen the function of the kidneys.

Another classification of kidney disease occurs when the kidneys leak out certain body fluids or substances. One of these diseases is hematuria or blood in the urine. This can come from sickened kidneys that leak out blood cells from the capillaries in the kidneys. The other is fairly common and is called proteinuria. Proteinuria is when protein, mostly albumin, leaks out from the body. This can become so great that there is not enough protein in the blood of the rest of the body. We need our protein to keep the fluid in the blood vessels and without it, fluid leaks out into the tissues all over the body. This condition is known as "nephrotic syndrome".

The presence of kidney stones is another kidney disease. This can occur when a person secretes too much calcium oxalate into the urine and doesn't drink enough water. Uric acid can cause kidney stones as well. The calcium oxalate or the uric acid builds up in the urinary area of the kidneys and precipitates into a stone that, if passed, becomes very painful. Kidney stones do not fit well in the ureters and they get stuck, causing a back of urine and extreme pain. Infections can occur with kidney stones as well.

Hypertension can cause kidney disease or, in some cases, the medications that treat hypertension (high blood pressure) can cause kidney problems. In some cases, a person has a blockage of one or both arteries leading to the kidneys. The kidneys respond by releasing vasopressin which causes the blood pressure to rise remarkably. There are specific blood pressure medications that address this problem. In some cases, surgery to correct the blockage may need to be done.

Chronic pyelonephritis is another kidney disease. This is a condition where infection seeds into the kidneys (one or both) and causes chronic pain and inflammation in the kidneys. Hematuria can result from this type of kidney infection.

There is one primary kidney disease which is cancerous. Renal cell carcinoma is a type of kidney disease that can occur spontaneously. The cancer can cause pain or bleeding in the area of the kidneys. A CT scan of the abdomen can detect this form of kidney disease. Often, if the cancer doesn't extend beyond the outer capsule of the kidney, the kidney can be removed and the cancer is highly treatable.

Kidney disease can be hereditary. There are a number of rare hereditary kidney diseases that result in leakage of blood or protein from the kidneys. These diseases can sometimes be managed medically but, in other cases, dialysis or kidney transplant are necessary to cure the underlying problem.

Chronic and Acute Inflammation - Prevention and Treatment

Some of my patients have been asking me recently, about a new medical condition, inflammation, that's being investigated as the underlying cause of fatigue and most diseases including, cancer and heart disease. As I tell my patients, the truth is, inflammation is not something new, though our unhealthy diets and lifestyles may be adding to the rise in its occurrence. Inflammation, and its ill effect on health, have been around for centuries, and have been well studied and treated by alternative, non-Western medicine, for just as long. Seems Western medicine is just starting to catch on to damaging, chronic inflammation.

Inflammation, or yang, as it's called in Asian medicine, is one of the pernicious influences in human health. Together with it's opposite; the dampness/coolness of yin, Asian medicine believes that these two forces form the root of all diseases. However, you don't have to go to the Far East to get rid of inflammation as the treatment is the same in Western medicine, i.e., re-balance the blood and tissues to cool the inflammation. Allow me to tell you a little about this condition and share with you some simple things you can do to rebalance your yang force and obtain better health.

Inflammation, Friend and Foe

Inflammation can help us and hurt us. Acute inflammation is the beneficial side of the condition that occurs when we injure ourselves through a cut, bruise, sprain or fracture. The surrounding area turns red and may become hot to touch. This is our immune system's first defense attempt at healing the damaged part. It sends white blood cells to the area which causes the tissues to heat up in order to kill an infection that may develop from the injury.

On the flip side, chronic, low-grade, ongoing inflammation, can be damaging to our overall health. Somehow, the body's immune system just keeps pumping out inflammatory responses and instead of healing the body it starts to make it ill. But how does this happen? Well, it can come about from a variety of factors, the following being the most common:

• Smoking


• Too much alcohol


• Too much refined sugar, high glycemic carbohydrates


• Insufficient good fatty acids (Omega 3's) in diet


• Insufficient antioxidants


• Too little exercise, overweight


• Diabetes

In short, the immune system starts to think of itself as under constant attack from poor diet and lifestyle habits and works overtime. In fact, many researchers now believe that inflammation may be the key to understanding how all diseases start, from Alzheimer's, asthma, arthritis, GERD and ulcers, to heart disease and even cancer. Interestingly, treating these diseases successfully may also lie in treating the inflammation that's fueling them.

How Can You Get Rid of Inflammation?

In order to work on reducing inflammation, you first have to know if you have elevated levels of certain tests that are excellent markers for inflammation. These are:

• CRP - short for C-reactive protein, elevated in chronic inflammation.


• Homocysteine - elevated, usually from a lack of folic acid and/or too high iron in diet.


• MPO - short for myeloperoxidase. A relatively new test for inflammation can help determine potential cardiac risk factors such as atherosclerosis.

Next, do everything possible to stop any inflammation-producing activities. For example, quit smoking, cut down on alcohol or limit it to special occasions. Get some exercise. People who exercise frequently tend to weigh less and have lower CRP, homocysteine and MPO levels. Reduce your weight as fat cells are filled with cytokines which boost inflammation. Get tested for diabetes. Untreated, uncontrolled diabetes can fuel inflammation, damage blood vessels, and put you at increased risk for heart disease.

Follow an inflammation-fighting diet such as the following:

• Limit sugar/refined carbohydrates. Cakes, pies, candy, some fruits, and high glycemic carbohydrates (bread, pasta), all create a high acid condition which fuels inflammation.


• Eat more good fats. Add high monounsaturated fats like mixed nuts, avocado, olive oil, as well as fatty fish like salmon, tuna, mackerel, sardines a few times a week. If you eat canned tuna, choose water packed as the Omega-3's leach into the oil packed varieties that will get drained off before eating. Or, take two 1,000 mg fish oil capsules a day.


• Limit acid foods. High acid foods like animal meats, eggs, lemon, grapefruit, and tomato.


• Eat more alkali foods. Yellow, dark green, vegetables like yams, kale, cucumbers fight inflammation by balancing acid with alkali.


• Add antioxidants. Our modern diet can't possibly contain enough antioxidants to do us much good fighting inflammation. Add a good supplement that contains Vitamin C, resveratrol, E, selenium, Vitamin D3, bilberry, blueberry. Spices like turmeric (curcumin), ginger, cayenne, parsley.


• Increase fiber. Fiber helps sweep inflammatory toxins out of your system.


• Avoid dehydration. Our bodies thrive on water to cool itself and dilute inflammatory acids. Drink at least ½ your weight in water a day.

As I tell my patients, learning how inflammation creates diseases may be the biggest health news of this decade. Following the tips here can help you both prevent it and get rid of it and go a long way toward keeping you healthy and active long into your silver years!

Stay well,

Dr. Mark

4 Unpleasant Side Effects of Fat Deficiency

Many people try to avoid eating fat because they incorrectly associate eating this nutrient with increased body fat levels. However, fat is actually 1 of the 3 main nutrients that humans need to survive and removing it from your diet can have a number of nasty side effects. In this article I am going to be expanding on these and discussing 4 of the unpleasant side effects of fat deficiency.

1) FAT SOLUBLE VITAMIN DEFICIENCY: Foods that are rich in fat are usually the best source of fat soluble vitamins. Fats also help your body absorb these vitamins and get the maximum benefit from them. Cutting fats out of your diet means that not only do you risk fat deficiency but you also risk being deficient in these vitamins. This brings its own selection of unpleasant side effects which include anemia (a low red blood cell count), vision problems, weak bones and skin problems.

2) INCREASED HEART DISEASE RISK: Low fat diets are often linked with a reduced heart disease risk. However, recent research has revealed that this is not actually true. Fat deficiency has been linked with atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), increased triglyceride levels and reduced high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (a type of cholesterol which removes plaques from the artery walls) levels. All these factors restrict the flow of blood to your heart and increase your heart disease risk.

3) HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE: High blood pressure is a condition which can cause serious damage to your blood vessels and vital organs. It also makes you more likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke. Regular consumption of omega 3 essential fatty acids (EFAs) can lower your blood pressure. Not getting enough has the opposite effect and leads to high blood pressure.

4) MENTAL PROBLEMS: Eating omega 3 EFAs supports good mental health by assisting in the production of signal pathways in the brain and protecting its cells from damage. Failing to get enough removes this protective benefit and can lead to a number of mental problems. This type of fat deficiency has been linked with Alzheimer's disease (a mental disorder which can lead to the loss of memory, thought and speech), attention deficit disorder (a mental disorder characterised by short attention spans), autism (a mental disorder which causes communication problems) and schizophrenia (a mental disorder which causes split personalities).

SUMMARY

As you can see, fat deficiency is not healthy and cutting fats from your diet is not something you want to do. To avoid the nasty symptoms of fat deficiency take a look at your diet and make sure that at least 15% of the calories you consume each day come from fat. This can easily be achieved by adding healthy, natural fats such as dairy, fish, meat and nuts to your daily meals.

Liver Disease Symptoms - 10 Signs You Have Liver Disease

Did you know that of the top causes of death and disability liver disease is the only cause that has consistently grown over the last few decades? And that over one third of all people in the Western world suffer from liver disease and don't know it?

Most people in this condition suffer from mild liver disease. Symptoms are not specific to the liver and most of the time people attribute it to sloppiness, tiredness, diet, or genetics.

If you suffer from two or more of the following symptoms chances are you suffer from some form of liver disease.

Excess body weight. Because the liver is in control of your body's metabolic rate, when there is liver disease your metabolism is impaired. This often leads to obesity (and extreme weight loss in later stages). When people go on normal diets they will lose some weight but because their liver is not healthy their metabolic rate will go down and weight loss soon stops - the famous weight loss plateaus.

Bad breath. When your metabolism is impaired your body has to resort to alternative ways of producing energy. These processes produce byproducts which are expelled by your mouth, producing bad breath, no matter how many times you brush your teeth.

Circles under the eyes. It is not clear why liver disease causes circles under the eyes, but people who heal their liver will lose them, so there is a connection.

Diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol. More results from an unhealthy metabolism. Sugars won't be handled properly as response to insulin diminishes, fat will pile up in your arteries, and your heart and brain will suffer.

Headaches and a foggy mind. Without proper energy sources and due to the pile up of toxic substances (which your liver was supposed to get rid of) brain cells won't work properly causing a foggy mind and headaches. Some doctors believe that liver disease can cause Alzheimer's disease, though no studies have shown a link.

Tiredness. No energy... Are you starting to see a pattern?

Feeling bloated. Besides controlling your metabolism and getting rid of toxic substances, your liver is also responsible for secreting bile, which is necessary to absorb fat. When it malfunctions it produces less bile and the excess fat is digested by bacteria, which secrete gas in the process, thus making you feel bloated.

Does Caffeine Cause Atrial Fibrillation?

Atrial fibrillation is a heart disorder, most often found in older adults. During atrial fibrillation, the heart's two small upper chambers quiver rather than beating effectively. As a result, blood isn't pumped completely out of the chambers, so it can pool and clot.

Approximately 2.2 million Americans suffer from atrial fibrillation. The likelihood of developing this disorder increases with age. Doctors estimate that three to five percent of those over age 65 have this disorder.

Atrial fibrillation can be dangerous because, if a piece of a blood clot in the atria leaves the heart and becomes lodged in an artery in the brain, a stroke can result. In fact, about 15% of all strokes occur in people with atrial fibrillation.

There are several ways to treat atrial fibrillation. The most common treatments include:

o Medications, which slow down the rapid heart rate associated with atrial fibrillation.

o Electrical cardioversion - This is basically an electric shock that restores normal rhythm. It is typically used when medications don't improve symptoms.

o Drugs can sometimes restore the heart's normal rhythm. These drugs are given under medical supervision, and are delivered through an IV tube into a vein, usually in the patient's arm.

o Radiofrequency ablation may be effective in some patients when medications don't work. In this procedure, thin and flexible tubes are introduced through a blood vessel and directed to the heart muscle. Then a burst of radiofrequency energy is delivered to destroy tissue that triggers abnormal electrical signals or to block abnormal electrical pathways.

o Surgery can be used to disrupt electrical pathways that generate atrial fibrillation.

o Pacemakers can be implanted under the skin to regulate the heart rhythm.

Who's At Risk for Atrial Fibrillation?

We don't really know what causes atrial fibrillation, but we do understand some of the risk factors. The most significant are:

o Increased age - the number one risk factor is simply old age

o Coronary heart disease

o High blood pressure

o Abnormal heart muscle function

o Disease of the mitral valve between the left and right ventricle

o An overactive thyroid gland

o Low amounts of oxygen in the blood. This is often found in patients with lung diseases like emphysema or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

o Inflammation of the lining surrounding the heart

o Blood clots in the lung

o Chronic lung disease

o Alcoholism

o Stimulant drug use - abuse of drugs like cocaine or decongestants

o Recent heart or lung surgery

o Congenital heart disease

In addition, there are young adults who have atrial fibrillation without any known cause or any evidence of underlying heart disease. This condition is known as lone atrial fibrillation. Stress, alcohol, tobacco and the use of stimulants is believed to play a role in lone atrial fibrillation.

Does Caffeine Cause Atrial Fibrillation?

One question that has been asked by many people is whether caffeine contributes to atrial fibrillation, and whether caffeine consumption is safe for those with atrial fibrillation.

One study, reported by the UK Tea Council, suggests that caffeine consumption is safe for those at risk for the disease. This study, conducted in Denmark, examined nearly 48,000 participants, each over the age of 56. Their caffeine consumption was analyzed over a period of years, as was their health information, including whether or not they went on to develop atrial fibrillation.

The study concluded that caffeine consumption was not at all related to whether or not participants developed the heart disorder. The associated researchers did not recommend that those at risk for atrial fibrillation discontinue the consumption of caffeine.

This is great news, especially for green tea drinkers. Since green tea is known to be associated with a lower than average risk of heart disease, it's wise for those at risk of any sort of cardiovascular disease to consume green tea on a daily basis. And, while green tea is lower in caffeine than coffee, black tea and soda, it does contain some caffeine.

So, you're safe to drink your green tea, both for its health benefits and its delicious and refreshing flavor. If you're not a connoisseur of green tea yet, take a look at all the benefits that green tea can offer.

o Green tea is full of anti-oxidants - which are known to reduce aging and prevent disease.

o Green tea has been shown to decrease your risk of heart disease by improving your cholesterol. While green tea doesn't actually reduce the cholesterol in your blood, it does appear to prevent the bad cholesterol from hardening into the plaque that causes narrowing of the arteries.

o Green tea has been associated with a lower risk of many forms of cancer. It is believed that green tea's anti-oxidants act as a scavenger to abnormal cells, ridding the body of them before they can mutate into cancer cells.

o Green tea has been shown to naturally regulate blood glucose levels, which may help maintain normal weight and may be helpful in controlling Type II diabetes

o Green tea has been shown to have anti-microbial properties, which means that it may be helpful in ridding the body of infections.

So, if you haven't been drinking green tea, see what you've been missing? Not only is green tea delicious, inexpensive and readily available, but it may also be an important way to prevent disease and protect your health.

The Progression of Lewy Body Dementia

Lewy Body Dementia may be one of the most difficult types of dementia to deal with, for the patient and the family. The person affected with this disease typically goes through extreme changes in mood and personality. As it progresses, the family simply is not able to recognize the person that they used to know. These changes tend to come on abruptly, leaving the patient paranoid and unable to trust others while leaving the family very confused about what is happening.

If someone close to you has been diagnosed with this disorder, it is imperative that you research what to expect as the disease progresses. While every path of dementia is somewhat unique, there are basic stages that, let's say, Alzheimer's patients tend to follow. With Lewy Body Dementia, the progression has more extreme changes and can arrive very suddenly. Patients with Lewy Body Dementia will typically have hallucinations and delusions that are, in every way, very real to them. Trying to explain to them that these things did not occur will only make them upset. You may not be able to see or understand what they are experiencing, but, in my experience, it is as real to them as anything else that goes on around them. By not listening and talking through what they are experiencing, you will only cause unnecessary agitation. As a result of trying to dismiss them, they will lose trust in you. Patients that I have helped through this progression of Lewy Body Dementia are desperately trying to finding someone to believe them. Someone to discuss what is going on in their mind. Many times, in the earlier stages, as you talk through what they are experiencing, they can recognize on their own that it did not really happen. Their constant fight to keep a grip on reality is heart wrenching.

Many times patients with Lewy Body Dementia will require assisted living or a long-term care facility to provide their care and safely manage their behaviors. These patients have a tendency to become aggressive even if for their whole life they have never even raised a finger of anger toward any living thing. They can have psychotic episodes that can arrive without notice or cause. They can have episodes when they are not able to recall any of the recent events that brought them to where they are. Their communication becomes very broken and hard to follow, which causes them frustration with their caregivers because they do not recognize that they are not speaking clearly - to them it is coming out clear as day.

I do not tell you this to incite fear for caregivers or patients dealing with this disorder. I tell you this so that you can fully understand the extent of the changes that you should be prepared for. Early preparation for their needs is vital as you prepare for this challenge. Your best chances at keeping some of the behaviors from becoming aggressive is by understanding that what they see and feel is real to them. Listen to them, talk to them, reassure them that you will do whatever you can to help them.

Today I had a 20-minute conversation with a client, diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia, about the 20 men he saw on the roof this past weekend stealing internet signals from our company with a 9mm gun. Sounds ridiculous right? Of course it does, he even said as much when he started the conversation by saying, "I know you are going to think I am nuts but...". He needed someone to talk to about what he saw and express his concerns to make sure that someone would followup on it to keep things safe. I was that person for him. I reassured him that I would report it to our IT department and they would followup. He was happy and satisfied by that and was able to go about the rest of his day because he trusts that I will help him. He felt heard and validated, which is what he needs more than anything. Every time he comes to me with his concerns, I always listen and provide him a safe place to say whatever he needs to without feeling judged or looked at like he is crazy. There are some conversations when I can say to him "Do you think that really happened or might it be from your condition?" At times he can recognize that he really has only pieces to a story and that it did not really happen. Those occurrences are becoming less frequent. I do not try very hard at all to help him see reality from his delusions because it serves no purpose for his quality of life. If listening to him for 20 minutes and giving him reassurance allows him to enjoy the rest of his day, that serves to improve his quality of life to a much higher level.

Quality of Life serves Aging with Ease!

What Are Heartworms and How Do Pets Get Heartworm Disease?

Heartworms are parasites that attack an animal's heart and cause congenital heart problems if not detected. They are transmitted from animal to animal, after one is bit by an infected mosquito. Heartworms normally live in the right ventricle of the heart and in the nearby blood vessels.

Adult male and female worms that are living in your pet's heart produce millions of baby parasites that circulate through your pet's body. When a mosquito bites an animal with heartworms, it sucks up the baby worms and transmits them to the next animal it bites. Those worms now live in the heart of the newly infected animal, where they become adults and begin to reproduce.

When the baby worms are transmitted into the new animal, it takes approximately 6-7 months for them to become reproducing adult worms. They are only detectable when they are adults, so an animal needs to be infected for at least 6 months before it can be diagnosed through blood tests or X-rays.

Since heartworms can be spread easily from animal to animal, it is important to use preventative measures to protect your pet. Veterinarians recommend heartworm prevention for all dogs and as knowledge on heartworms in cats is increasing, prevention for cats is also becoming common.

In order to protect your pets from heartworm disease:

• Make sure you have your pet tested for heartworms before you begin to give them preventatives- unless they are less than 7 months old. If your pet is over 7 months and is started on preventative heartworm medication without initial testing, they are at risk for serious reactions to the medication.

• Puppies should be given a heartworm preventative by the time they are 8 weeks old.

• Puppies should be tested once they are 7 months old even if they are taking preventative medication.

• Dogs should be tested on a regular basis. Testing should be done every 2-3 years if the dog is regularly given the preventative medication, and every year if any doses of the medication were missed.

• In cats, one heartworm can cause sudden death, but it is difficult to test in cats. You can start the preventative medication without an initial test.

• Cats do not display the same symptoms as dogs. The symptoms in cats are similar to those of other common cat diseases. It is important to remember the possibility that such symptoms can be because of heartworm.

It is important to protect your pets from heartworms because it can be a fatal disease. However, if they are detected in your dog, there are curable treatments to use. A series of injections cause the adult heartworms living in the heart to die. The worms then continually break up into smaller pieces until they are small enough for the body to absorb. While this is happening, the dog's heart is working harder than usual, so it is important that the dog does not do any strenuous exercise for 5 weeks. After 5 weeks, the dog is given a one day treatment to rid its body of the baby worms. Be sure that your dog receives a follow up test 6 months after the treatment to ensure that the heartworms are gone. There are currently no heartworm treatments for cats yet. The best way to treat a cat infected with heartworms is to begin using preventative medications to help alleviate your cat's symptoms.

Facts About Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) - For Women Only

As the name suggests, Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is diagnosed in women who seldom or never drink alcohol. Medical doctors report that women diagnosed with NAFLD are often significantly overweight.

Weight gain and obesity are the most commonly associated risk factors for fatty liver. Moreover, research proves that women with high blood sugar, insulin resistance (pre-diabetes) or diabetes are commonly diagnosed with NAFLD.

NAFLD is associated with:

• Weight gain


• Obesity


• High blood sugar


• Diabetes


• Insulin resistance


• Metabolic syndrome


• Hormone imbalances


• Menstrual irregularities


• Ovarian cysts

Women who suffer from NAFLD commonly experience hormone imbalances and menstrual irregularities. Studies have shown a direct link to estrogen hormone and ovarian cysts.

Several medical studies show that women who are diagnosed with Metabolic Syndrome (metabolism imbalance) and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (ovarian cysts) are also being diagnosed with NAFLD.

Dr. Kinkhabwala at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine published a landmark report in 2007 showing that 70% of women who are overweight and diagnosed with metabolic syndrome and ovarian cysts, also suffered from fatty liver disease.

That same landmark study showed that those women who lost just 9% of their total body weight had a complete reversal of their liver disease.

What Causes NAFLD?

As you may know, the liver plays an important role in the metabolism of fats. When something goes wrong in this process of metabolism, fat starts building up in your liver.

At first you might think that eating fatty foods causes fatty liver, but this is not the case. Although being overweight is often a precursor to NAFLD, it is because the liver cannot properly metabolize the fats in your food--no matter how much or how little you eat.

In addition, the liver is responsible for storing excess blood glucose (sugar). If your blood sugar is too high, the excess sugar converts to fat and accumulates in your liver.

Health Experts Admit They Don't Know

In fact, some health experts believe that chronic or systemic candida overgrowth causes serious problems with metabolism. They are finding evidence that Candida albicans, a type of bacteria yeast found in your intestinal tract, may be at the root of NAFLD.

Candida overgrowth can cause sugar cravings--which also makes women gain weight and contributes to fatty liver disease. Foods high in sugar and refined carbohydrates (which convert to sugar in your body) are the worst offenders.

Candida overgrowth causes excess bacteria, sugar and toxins to build up in the body. These are serious factors that lead to metabolic disorders, high blood sugar and hormone imbalances. All of these health risks also contribute to both weight gain and fatty liver.

Three Key Factors

The fact is, losing weight, lowering blood sugar and cleansing toxins are key factors to getting rid of liver fat. Keep in mind, the evidence suggests that chronic candida overgrowth may be the root cause of fatty liver disease. Candida has been linked to weight gain, metabolic disturbances, high blood sugar and hormone imbalances. These happen to be the most critical factors in fatty liver, too.

The simple truth is, our liver has a remarkable power to heal. It can repair damaged cells and regenerate its own tissues. Women who is serious about overcoming fatty liver can experience the freedom of feeling healthy again. A woman who finds herself suffering with NAFLD can reverse fatty liver by treating or removing the underlying cause.

HEART ATTACK - My Story!

When I awoke that Tuesday morning, 28 December, I never dreamed that it would be the start of not only a new day, but, quite literally, a new life for me.

I had been out the evening before to play cards at the usual Monday Night Euchre at the legion. During the evening, I was feeling kind of woozy for an hour or so, but attributed it to all the coffee that I had been drinking that day. Little did I know what lay in store for me the next day.

When I got home (I live alone with 2 cats), I turned on the living room light, and the bulb popped. That angered me. I went to bed, but didn't sleep well.

So Tuesday morning, after dressing and getting a couple of mugs of coffee, I jumped up on a chair to change the overhead bulb. I went down to the basement to get another bulb, and found I didn't have one large enough, so knew I would have to go to the store to buy more. That angered me. I put in one that was too small temporarily, and, when I got down off the chair, suddenly I felt very dizzy. It felt like I had put on a tee shirt 3 sizes too small...everything was squeezing me. My hands felt like I had gloves on, and my arms just hung by my sides. It took an effort to try to raise them up, so I just let them dangle. I saw black spots about 3 inches across.

As I am diabetic, I have been told that diabetics seldom feel pain. I know that's true, because I didn't feel any pain at all. But I knew that something was very much out of the ordinary, and I'd better get help before I pass out, so I phoned 911. I unlocked the door, got my health card, put my medications in a bag, and phoned a neighbour to come over to look after my cats, as I didn't know how long I was going to be. I didn't return home for eleven days.

The paramedics were there within 10 minutes or so, hooked up some wires to me, then put me on a gurney and loaded me in the ambulance. The nearest hospital is in the next town, about a half hour away, and we had sirens on and lights flashing all the way.

I don't know how he got there...I guess I must have called him...but my brother and his wife were there. I guess the hospital gave me drugs, because there is a gap of things that I just don't remember. But I do remember being told that the hospital where they usually send heart patients was full, so I was transported by helicopter to Toronto General Hospital. I remember the helicopter ride, and a gurney ride into the hospital, but then things are more or less blank for the next 3 days.

Apparently, I had a 5 hour operation the next morning - a triple-bypass. The arteries around my heart were blocked in 12 places.

I know I drifted in and out. My family members and friends came to visit, but I just remember vague images. I guess I spoke to them, but I have no idea what I said.

When I finally came to my senses, I found that I now have a large scar running down the center of my chest from just below my throat to my breastbone. I was told that they cut me open, used a saw to cut through the bone, and held my chest cavity open with clamps. Then they bypassed my heart with a machine that keeps the blood circulating, removed my heart, repaired it with arteries taken from my leg, and put it back in again. WOW! God bless modern medicine!

They joined the bone and wired it together with 4 pieces of stainless steel wire (I saw the x-rays. Pretty cool. I can't wait to go through airport security.) The skin was held closed with stitches that dissolved on their own in a couple of weeks. Again, being diabetic, I felt no pain.

There is an 8" scar on my lower leg and a 3" scar on my upper leg where the arteries were removed. Again, no pain. Again, dissolving stitches.

Complications set in the day after surgery. My lungs filled with fluid, and I almost drowned. My hands, feet and face puffed out. I remember only waking once that day. I looked at my left hand, and wondered who the fat kid was that had his hand over mine. Of course, I was looking at my own hand, but didn't recognize it, drugged as I was. Yes, I almost died!

I came to my senses the next day with a hose up my nose to drain my lungs, a breathing tube down my throat, and a catheter in my privates to help drain the liquids that my body was retaining. They wouldn't give me any water, even though I was parched. All I could have were ice chips to suck on. They helped.

Getting those 3 hoses out wasn't fun, but not really that bad, either. Just a quick moment of discomfort.

The only pain I had was when I had to sneeze or cough. My chest felt like it exploded. They gave me a small red pillow in the shape of a heart that I hugged to my chest and that helped tremendously. That little pillow was my best friend for the first couple of weeks. Gradually, as I healed, the pain became less and less.

A week or so later I returned home to my new lifestyle.

I have switched to decaf coffee with sweetener and milk, instead of regular coffee with sugar and cream. No more fatty fast-foods. I am working on enjoying vegetables and fruits instead of pizza and do-nuts. I find skim milk tastes okay. No more cakes, ice cream, cookies by the handful etc.

And I dug out the treadmill that I used for about 3 days when I first got it, before it became a storage rack. Now it is a treadmill once again. I am afraid I'm still addicted to the TV, but I try to take James Brown's advice and "Get up offa that thing" whenever I can. I walk whenever possible, and have lost some weight. I'm not obese, but 15 pounds off or so will make me normal.

So, all in all, this wasn't the most enjoyable New Year's holiday that I have ever had.

I just want to thank the 911 operator for her prompt action, the paramedics for their speed and skill, the helicopter pilots and especially the surgeons and staff of Toronto General Hospital for their skill, kindness and concern. My biggest thanks I have offered up in prayer to thank God for not giving up on this very stupid human.

Better, healthier times are ahead.

Diseases Caused by Obesity

What Is The Definition Of Obesity?

The clinical definition of obesity is a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or higher. A BMI of 40 or higher is the definition of morbid obesity. There are lots of free BMI calculators available online if you wish to check your own BMI. The BMI calculator provided by WebMD is quite easy to use.

BMI Calculations Don't Work For Very Muscular People

It should be noted that BMI calculations are confused by people with a large amount of muscle. For example, the boxer Mike Tyson would be have been considered "obese" by BMI calculations even when he was at his most fit. Obviously this is not something that effects the great majority of people.

How Many People Are Obese?

The latest statistics suggest that 32% of adult Americans are now obese. That's very nearly 1 in 3. Although the United States is the "poster child" for obesity, obesity rates are actually raising all over the world.

Obesity Increases The Risk Of These Diseases

1. Diabetes.

2. Cancer.

3. Heart Disease.

4. Liver Disease.

5. Sleep Apnea.

6. Osteoarthritis.

These are only some of the many health problems (diseases) caused by obesity.

Increased Risk Of Death

A BMI of 32 or above is associated with a doubled risk of death.

Reversing & Preventing Obesity

How to reverse and/or prevent obesity? The simple answer is diet & exercise. Many people simply eat too much of the wrong foods and live a sedentary lifestyle which leads to weight gain and eventually obesity. Of course that simple answer doesn't mean that it's simple for people to lose weight.

The Day Off Diet

Most diets fail because they are too difficult for people to stick with and/or they make the body go into starvation mode. The Day Off Diet solves both of those problems with it's weekly "day off" which allows the dieter to eat anything they want once a week. This lets the dieter satisfy their cravings while also boosting the metabolism. Unlike other less successful diets, The Day Off Diet doesn't require any calorie counting or carb counting.

The Importance Of Strength Training

Increasing muscle is a very under utilized way of fighting obesity. Each pound of muscle burns 50 calories per day even at rest, compared to a pound of fat which burns only 2 calories per day! By adding even 10 pounds of muscle to your body you will be able to burn much more fat. This will make you look far better and will also greatly increase your metabolism for long term weight loss. It will help you to keep the weight off.

The Day Off Diet includes a great strength training program free of charge with the purchase of the online diet plan.

Arthritis Different Types and Related Conditions - List

Before we delve into arthritis different types, it's important to note that arthritis means joint inflammation. It is actually a name given to problems that cause pain, stiffness and swelling in the joints. It can affect one or more joints and it could mean anything from slight tightness to severe pain and disability. Put simply, there are more than 100 types of arthritis and related conditions. In fact, here's the compete list of arthritis different types and related conditions.

A-B Arthritis Different Types and Related Conditions

• Achilles tendinitis


• Achondroplasia


• Acromegalic arthropathy


• Adhesive capsulitis


• Adult onset Still's disease


• Ankylosing spondylitis


• Anserine bursitis


• Avascular necrosis


• Behcet's syndrome


• Bicipital tendonitis


• Blount's disease


• Brucellar spondylitis


• Bursitis

C-D Arthritis Different Types and Related Conditions

• Calcaneal bursitis


• Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD)


• Crystal deposition disease


• Caplan's syndrome


• Carpal tunnel syndrome


• Chondrocalcinosis


• Chondromalacia patellae


• Chronic synovitis


• Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis


• Churg-Strauss syndrome


• Cogan's syndrome


• Corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis


• Costosternal syndrome


• CREST syndrome


• Cryoglobulinemia


• Degenerative joint disease


• Dermatomyositis


• Diabetic finger sclerosis


• Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH)


• Discitis


• Discoid lupus erythematosus


• Drug-induced lupus


• Duchenne's muscular dystrophy


• Dupuytren's contracture

E-F Arthritis Different Types and Related Conditions

• Ehlers-Danlos syndrome


• Enteropathic arthritis


• Epicondylitis


• Erosive inflammatory osteoarthritis


• Exercise-induced compartment syndrome


• Fabry's disease


• Familial Mediterranean fever


• Farber's lipogranulomatosis


• Felty's syndrome


• Fibromyalgia


• Fifth's disease


• Flat feet


• Foreign body synovitis


• Freiberg's disease


• Fungal arthritis

G-H Arthritis Different Types and Related Conditions

• Gaucher's disease


• Giant cell arteritis


• Gonococcal arthritis


• Goodpasture's syndrome


• Gout


• Granulomatous arteritis


• Hemarthrosis


• Hemochromatosis


• Henoch-Schonlein purpura


• Hepatitis B surface antigen disease


• Hip dysplasia


• Hurler syndrome


• Hypermobility syndrome


• Hypersensitivity vasculitis


• Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy

I-K Arthritis Different Types and Related Conditions

• Immune complex disease


• Impingement syndrome


• Jaccoud's arthropathy


• Juvenile ankylosing spondylitis


• Juvenile dermatomyositis


• Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis


• Kawasaki disease


• Kienbock's disease

L-N Arthritis Different Types and Related Conditions

• Legg-Calve-Perthes disease


• Lesch-Nyhan syndrome


• Linear scleroderma


• Lipoid dermatoarthritis


• Lofgren's syndrome


• Lyme disease


• Malignant synovioma


• Marfan's syndrome


• Medial plica syndrome


• Metastatic carcinomatous arthritis


• Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD)


• Mixed cryoglobulinemia


• Mucopolysaccharidosis


• Multicentric reticulohistiocytosis


• Multiple epiphyseal dysplasia


• Mycoplasmal arthritis


• Myofascial pain syndrome


• Neonatal lupus


• Neuropathic arthropathy


• Nodular panniculitis

O-P Arthritis Different Types and Related Conditions

• Ochronosis


• Olecranon bursitis


• Osgood-Schlatter's disease


• Osteoarthritis


• Osteochondromatosis


• Osteogenesis imperfecta


• Osteomalacia


• Osteomyelitis


• Osteonecrosis


• Osteoporosis


• Overlap syndrome


• Pachydermoperiostosis Paget's disease of bone


• Palindromic rheumatism


• Patellofemoral pain syndrome


• Pellegrini-Stieda syndrome


• Pigmented villonodular synovitis


• Piriformis syndrome


• Plantar fasciitis


• Polyarteritis nodosa


• Polymyalgia rheumatica


• Polymyositis


• Popliteal cysts


• Posterior tibial tendonitis


• Pott's disease


• Prepatellar bursitis


• Prosthetic joint infection


• Pseudoxanthoma elasticum


• Psoriatic arthritis

R-S Arthritis Different Types and Related Conditions

• Raynaud's phenomenon


• Reactive arthritis/Reiter's syndrome


• Reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome


• Relapsing polychondritis


• Retrocalcaneal bursitis


• Rheumatic fever


• Rheumatoid arthritis


• Rheumatoid vasculitis


• Rotator cuff tendonitis


• Sacroiliitis


• Salmonella osteomyelitis


• Sarcoidosis


• Saturnine gout


• Scheuermann's osteochondritis


• Scleroderma


• Septic arthritis


• Seronegative arthritis


• Shigella arthritis


• Shoulder-hand syndrome


• Sickle cell arthropathy


• Sjogren's syndrome


• Slipped capital femoral epiphysis


• Spinal stenosis


• Spondylolysis


• Staphylococcus arthritis


• Stickler syndrome


• Subacute cutaneous lupus


• Sweet's syndrome


• Sydenham's chorea


• Syphilitic arthritis


• Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

T-Z Arthritis Different Types and Related Conditions

• Takayasu's arteritis


• Tarsal tunnel syndrome


• Tennis elbow


• Tietse's syndrome


• Transient osteoporosis


• Traumatic arthritis


• Trochanteric bursitis


• Tuberculosis arthritis


• Arthritis of Ulcerative colitis


• Undifferentiated connective tissue syndrome (UCTS)


• Urticarial vasculitis


• Viral arthritis


• Wegener's granulomatosis


• Whipple's disease


• Wilson's disease


• Yersinial arthritis

Arthritis Different Types-- Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis

The most common forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. As such, we will discuss these two types in more detail.

Osteoarthritis, also called degenerative joint disease involves the breakdown and eventual loss of the cartilage of one or more joints.

Symptoms of osteoarthritis include:

• Mild aching to severe pain and loss of mobility, especially in the evening, due to joint stiffness.


• Usually affects the weight-bearing joints - the knees, hips, and facet joints (in the spine), as well as the finger joints.

Osteoarthritis is primarily associated with aging and injury. In fact, it was once called "wear-and-tear" arthritis and it affects nearly everyone past age sixty. Although it can develop before age forty, it is said to be rare. In truth, the exact cause of osteoarthritis is unknown. However, about 20 million Americans are affected by osteoarthritis.

Supplements that may be helpful for Osteoarthritis

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Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a type of inflammatory arthritis, is an autoimmune disease, in which the body's immune system improperly identifies the synovial membrane as foreign and, as such, inflammation results, damaging cartilage and tissue around the joints. Often, the bone surfaces are destroyed as well. Joints affected by rheumatoid arthritis include the hands, knees, wrists, and feet.

Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) include:

• Swelling, stiffness, tenderness, redness, and pain in the affected joint. Usually more severe in the morning.


• Fatigue.


• Fever.


• Chills.


• Body aches.


• Joint deformity.


• Weight loss.

It affects about 2.1 million Americans and roughly 75% of them are females. In addition, it frequently occurs in people under forty five and when the disorder occurs in children under sixteen years old, it is known as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. The cause of rheumatoid arthritis is unknown or should we say it is still not well understood.

Supplements that may be helpful for Rheumatoid Arthritis

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ADHD Symptoms - Lack of Attention and Concentration

Before known what is the ADHD symptoms one should know what exactly the full form ADHD is. It is called as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. There are many types of ADHD if you check on internet or just refer a doctor. These ADHD symptoms are mostly found in common children's and teenagers. But there are also many chances that even adults can get contracted to these symptoms. One of the symptoms which an adult can experience is the restlessness without doing any heavy work or some thing else. The problems which arise in adult are of the interpersonal relationships. The types of ADHD are basically of three different types including combined ADHD it is the most common type, inattentive ADHD which is also known as ADD which makes the symptom of less attention and contraction and the third type is the hyperactive impulsive ADHD it is marked as the hyperactivity. Just for information one should know that how it is been contracted and what are the ADHD symptoms when one is diagnosed to it.

The symptoms are also divided into three different categories including hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity. In the symptom of inattention the child may not cause unless he or she does not enter the crowded and challenging environment of school. The same symptom is applicable to the adults that they apparent in social situations or in work environment. The common symptom to be notice in the ADHD symptoms is that they find very difficult to do the easy work and they also find difficulty in paying attention to certain topics or details and tend to do silly mistakes in work or in school. If diagnosed to it one can get easily distracted to the noises which others try to avoid. To perform a particular task due to less attention. A child or an adult will find it difficult to complete some paperwork or school work which one has to do in concentration. The noticeable ADHD symptoms is the changes in daily habits, forgetting important things like meetings, appointment to doctor or forgot to call some one at particular time and lot more.

Due to lack of attention and concentration the child may not do his or her homework on time or study on exam time which may result to failure and even they won't participate in task where they have to concentrate. for adult the inattention symptom which comes under the ADHD symptoms has to pay because even the adults has a lack of concentration and attention which they need in work place for doing work or meetings and in social environments also. The other symptom which comes under ADHD symptoms is the hyperactivity. This symptom is mostly present before the age of seven at the preschoolers. If you see that one who is diagnosed to it they move nervously while seating or find themselves restless so they get up frequently for a walk or to run and the most restlessness after running or climbing. They find it difficult to play some games or keep themselves engaged while experiencing some activity. Most of them are in hurry or ready position to walk away from particular place and they always talk in limit and give reasons on particular communication.

The Most Common Symptom Of GERD - Heartburn

What is the most common symptom of GERD? Heartburn, without a doubt. In fact many people are experiencing GERD, also known as acid reflux syndrome, on a daily basis. It can even start as early as infancy.

In this article, we will discuss the most common symptom of GERD -- heartburn.

GERD occurs because a backflow of acid from the stomach enters into the esophagus. This will cause a burning sensation to occur, and also pain will be experienced. Usually the pain will be occur in the chest, directly below the breastbone or near the sternum.

Heartburn and acid reflux can also lead to vomiting because there is too much gastric acid that is built up in the esophagus or the stomach.

The pain felt from heartburn may start in the chest and eventually radiate to the neck, throat, or even into the jaw. Many people who experience intense heartburn say that there is a feeling of sourness in the back of the mouth. Another common symptom is chronic coughing and is usually a direct result of heartburn.

You would think that heartburn was related to the heart, but actually it isn't. The only reason why it is called this is because the burning sensation located in your chest is near the heart. The reason for this confusion is that there are similar sensations that you may experience from various heart problems that will feel like heartburn.

Usually, to diagnose a symptom and see how extreme it is, a probe will be placed into the esophagus to record the acidity levels that are contained in the lower esophagus. Naturally, it is normal to find a certain level of acidity, but what doctors are looking for is more extreme levels before they can say for certainty that GERD is what you have.

In some cases, the patient will be x-rayed to determine the extent of their acid reflux. A barium solution is consumed by the patient and if there is a reflux of a solution into the esophagus, there is a high probability that Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease has occurred.

There is no denying that the most common symptom of GERD is heartburn. There are variety of ways of treating it, from simply staying away from foods high in acid to using medications and altering your lifestyle. The key is trying different techniques and finding what works best for your particular situation.

Gallbladder Disease Symptoms

Gallbladder Disease Symptoms are often confused with heartburn symptoms but knowing more about gallbladder pain and symptoms will help you find out if you are experiencing gallbladder problems and how you can find treatment.

A major difference between gallbladder symptoms and heartburn is that heartburn should only occur now and then, if you are experiencing "heartburn" symptoms or similar pains frequently or almost every day than it may be a sign of a gall bladder problem.

Your gall bladder is placed right below your liver and its function is to store bile that is used to digest fat. That is why lumps of cholesterol can easily form in this area, also known as gallstones.

In many cases, gallbladder disease symptoms can be very painful. Here are some common symptoms associated with gallbladder disease.

- Chest Pain

- Symptoms Similar to Heartburn

- Vomiting

- Pain increases after eating

- Stomach Pain

- Back Pain

- Nausea

In worse cases, if this disease goes untreated, you can experience fever, chills and increasing chest pains.

Vomiting and nausea are common symptoms because the bile stored in your gallbladder is clogged up due to gallbladder stones. This will cause the above symptoms.

It is important to know what the symptoms of gall bladder disease are, if you think you are experiencing this kind of pain check with your doctor and start treating it quickly so you can avoid surgery.

One of the most recommended and used treatment to get rid of gallbladder disease and gallstones is with natural remedies that will allow you to naturally cleanse your gallbladder.

Hemochromatosis - The Silent Death Machine

Hemochromatosis can kill you dead if undetected.

What exactly is this malady I speak of?

It is a condition in which the body absorbs more iron from food than it needs. The extra iron is stored in and may damage the liver, heart, and pancreas. It may cause organ failure, cancer, heart problems, and liver disease. ...

Symptoms include:

Abdominal pain

Decreased sex drive or impotence.

Have you been feeling weak or tired all the time?

Do your joints hurt? Skin turning a bronze color?

Arthritis of the knuckles of the first and second fingers?

Cardiac problems (including abnormal heart rhythms

If so, you better alert your doctor. A complete physical must be performed. I know it's a bummer but better than kicking the bucket.

Your examination must include:

Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC) and Serum Iron (SI).

Divide the SI by TIBC for percentage of Transferrin Saturation TS.

Normal range is: 12-45%.

The same blood may be used to measure Serum Ferritin.

Normal range: 5 to 150.

Mostly men contract the disease for some unclear reason. Probably due to normal iron loss during menstruation in women.

Usually around age 40. Individuals of European ancestry are much more likely to be carriers of what was until recently the only known gene to cause genetic hemochromatosis, than are people of other ethnic ancestries.

However, iron overload is common in people of African or Mexican descent as it is among Caucasians.

Your goal is to prevent liver cancer, heart attack or stroke. Do that by unloading stored iron as quickly as possible. Objective: ferritin below 10.

Any blood relatives must be tested and monitored yearly.

Iron will cross the blood brain barrier. Excess iron stored in the brain has been found to elevate severity in Alzheimer's, Lou Gehrig's, Parkinson's, MS, and other diseases. Iron in the brain also leads to psychological problems.

If you have any of the above symptoms, make an appointment with your primary care physician immediately. The longer you put off testing, the more damage to your liver will result if you have hemochromatosis.

Iron overload is most often present and silently causing problems long before you

notice any symptoms.

Serious consquences of untreated hemochromatosis can result in: arthritis, diabetes, depression, impotence, hypogonadism, gallbladder disease, cirrhosis and scarring of the liver, heart attack, cancer, and other life threatening ailments.

Limit red meat in your diet. Iron loaded vegetables are okay because the body doesn't absorb iron from plant sources so well.

Drink black, green, or oolong tea with meals. The tannin from tea helps curb iron absorption (herbal tea doesn't contain tannin). Cut all foods and snacks that have added iron.

Vitamin C supplements should be limited to less than 100 milligrams per day, because vitamin C promotes iron absorption. Use multivitamins that do not contain iron. Avoid raw oysters and shellfish like the plague, which may be tainted with bacteria that might be harmful, even deadly to someone with an iron overload.