Health Articles

Childhood obesity can lead to some severe diseases in children, which can be detrimental for their health and will also lead to severe issues in their adult life. It has been seen that childhood obesity increases the risks of cardio vascular diseases in the later stages of life. Such people also suffer from early symptoms of diabetes and fluctuations in blood pressure. There are various other dangerous diseases, which may be caused if obesity levels are not controlled and the consumption of unhealthy foods are not restricted.

The number of overweight children has risen dramatically over the past two decades and the diseases, which had once been common diseases found in middle-aged adults, are being seen in children. These include the type “2″ diabetes, gallstones and liver failure, which are now prevalent in children and have been fatal in many cases. Children today are seen to be aging before their time and they are also showing symptoms of breathing disorders, sleep problems and bone-and-joint complications and hypertension.

It has been proven through researches that more than 34 percent of children in the U.S., between the ages of 6 – 19, are overweight. This has been revealed by the National Center for Health Statistics, which has also stated that these children are at greater risk of developing heart disease and cancer. It has been seen that obesity in adulthood is likely to be more severe, if the problem of being over weight begins before age 8. Type “2″ diabetes, which had formerly known as adult-onset diabetes, is now being seen in children.

Statistics reveal that 45 percent of new diagnoses of diabetes have been seen in children and adolescents. Unlike juvenile diabetes, which is mainly type 1, this type 2 diabetes is linked to weight and can be fatal if not controlled. The Future of Children and National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys show that almost 18% of the children in the U.S are obese. About 8% of the elementary schools have physical education classes while the others don’t. Almost 20% of the children consume more than four sodas a day.

Here the parents should realize they have the responsibility to alter the poor eating habits in their children and urge them to eat healthy. This can be done with just a few changes, and foods like macaroni and cheese or pizza, should be made healthier and can be cooked at home. Avoid refined flour and opt for whole wheat bread and pasta also the portion sizes need to be considered as well. Even the cereal should be checked for sugar and calorie content and only the required portion should be served.

You should also remove the calorie-rich temptations from home and these include ice creams, sodas and chocolates. Restrict these eating temptations to weekends and make sure that they get the same during weekends, or else they might steal and eat these foods or have them without your knowledge. These are some of the factors that parents should consider to ensure that their children eat healthy foods and are able to remain free from childhood obesity diseases.

The Main Symptoms of Allergies

Our immune system works hard, everyday to stop us from becoming ill and being attacked by toxins, bacteria and other nasty things. So why do we get so many symptoms of allergies?

It’s funny really, because it is our immune system attacking these allergens, which get into our bodies, that is behind what causes allergies. It’s not these things bringing us out in rashes, but our own bodies, that make ourselves come out in a rash, make us have difficulty breathing, cause us to tingle all over, or make our eyes water up our eyes and bodies become itchy.

Even some food stuffs cannot bode well with the interior of our bodies, just like rubbing up against a certain type of plant will make your skin irritable; plants ingested into the body will act in the same way. Remember though, it’s not the plants what cause allergies – it’s our bodies.

Allergies can suddenly develop overnight and they might be so mild that you never know that have them, or so severe that it could kill you (this is very rare). You are more likely to have more serious reactions to allergies if the are inherited, or you have a hypersensitive immune system. There is no scientific knowledge as to what causes allergies in different people.

One of the most talked about allergies at the moment seems to be the nut allergy. There is hardly a packet of anything edible that does not have written on it ‘may contain nuts. Even an extract or a piece of nut dust can cause symptoms of allergies, which can be so severe that people can die from it.

What about hay fever? Now there is an allergy that is becoming more pronounced, in this day and age. People who have never felt the annoying symptoms, which are caused by pollen floating around in the air are suddenly sneezing, blowing their noses and trying not to look like they are crying (which they are not), but pollen has been here since the dawn of time. It wouldn’t be a surprise to know dinosaurs even got hay fever. After all we are all allergic to something; it just depends to what degree.

What causes allergies can have such a violent reaction with our immune system attacking it, that people can die. Thankfully, this does not happen that often, but some people know that their reaction is so bad that they have to carry an EpiPen with them at all times, so they can give themselves a jab of epinephrine to counteract the allergy. This does not always work unfortunately, or it may only work for a short time, but usually it does stop the allergy from causing serious damage and an ambulance should always be called, just in case.

An anaphylactic shock is the harshest of symptoms of allergies. This can come from almost anything like some types of foods, bee stings, medication or even animal fur. The thing is with an anaphylactic shock is that there is not a lot anyone can do about it, they can give you water and keep your airways free from obstruction, but mainly it is a waiting game. Waiting for your body to finish attacking whatever it is that trying to harm you. The best thing to do when someone has an anaphylactic shock is call an ambulance, as they will have the right equipment to monitor and help a person suffering from an anaphylactic shock.

Some of the symptoms to look out for, when some is having an anaphylactic shock or even just an allergic reaction are, prickly heat, itchiness, watering eyes, swelling and a rash. The best and only thing you should do is call an ambulance and talk to them, tell them what is happening. Most allergic reactions are not this severe, but now you know the symptoms of allergies to look out for.

Thyroid cancer is one of the less common types of cancer to be diagnosed and, for most people who contact it, with treatment, the prospects of recovery are very good.

Many people discovering a lump in their thyroid region perhaps automatically fear that this might indicate cancer but most estimates reckon that only about 5% of all thyroid lumps are actually cancerous. Women are more at risk of thyroid cancer than men, with the highest chance of having the problem being between the ages of 30 and 55, before it decreases somewhat. The risk for men increases with age, until the age of about 75.

The four different types of thyroid cancer are papillary thyroid cancer, follicular thyroid cancer and the less common medullary and anaplastic tumours. Papillary cancer, the most common type, is also the one most likely to appear in people in the younger age bracket. Follicular cancer is more probable in older people. Medullary cancer can sometimes be genetically inherited so, if there is a family history of this problem, regular check ups and blood tests are a good idea. Anaplastic tumours, the rarest type of thyroid cancer, are more common in elderly patients and can develop more quickly than other types, whilst also sometimes being difficult to treat. In addition, it is possible that a person could develop a lymphoma of the thyroid, but this is even more uncommon.

There is no indication whatsoever that having an overactive or underactive thyroid can increase the risks of thyroid cancer. However, it has been estimated that approximately 1 in 5 cases of thyroid cancer do actually occur in people who, in the past, have had nodules, goitres or inflammation of the thyroid. This is particularly evident amongst people who have had nodules at a younger age.

Other possible people at more risk of thyroid cancer appear to be those who have had radiotherapy in the neck; been exposed to radiation in their work; suffer from the bowel disorder known as Familial Adenomatous Polyposis; have low iodine levels; have recently had babies or are going through the menopause.

Research studies, however, indicate that by far the largest contributory factor towards thyroid cancer appears to be an unhealthy diet. It appears that eating refined rather than unrefined carbohydrates leads to a higher risk of the problem developing. Eating good amounts of vegetables, containing Vitamins C and E, and avoiding too much butter, cheese and red meat seems to be a way of trying to avoid thyroid cancer.

Dependent upon the type of cancer you have, your age, fitness levels and general health and how far your cancer has developed, your specialist doctor will decide upon the requisite treatment for you. Predominantly, surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and occasionally hormone therapy are used.

Surgery can involve either a partial or total thyroidectomy – removal of the thyroid gland. Mostly, doctors prefer the total thyroidectomy as it stops the cancer from possibly returning, although it means the patient will require thyroid hormone tablets afterwards.

The radiotherapy used in thyroid cancer treatment is a targeted radiotherapy employing a radioactive form of iodine which can specifically target and destroy the cancer cells. There are generally very few side effects to this treatment. Radiotherapy is sometimes used after surgery to help prevent the return of the cancer or to treat cancer that has returned despite previous treatment. Chemotherapy, much less commonly used, is employed to treat advanced or returning cancers.

It needs to be re-emphasised, though, that not only is thyroid cancer quite rare but also, especially with early diagnosis and treatment, the fact is that many people are successfully and completely cured of it.

Migraine is a form of headache, which is very severe and comes with other symptoms like, problems with vision, nausea and a lot of sensitivity. Migraines are generally happen due to differences in the chemicals present in the brain.
There are various causes of migraines, like physical, hormonal, emotional, dietary, environmental, medicinal and also hormones.

Medicinal Causes:

Intake of certain medications causes migraines. These medications could be sedatives, medication prescribed for menopause which is HRT that is ‘Hormone Replacement Therapy‘ and also birth control pills.

Physical Causes:

Physical activities like bad body posture, a lot of travelling, work timings, tension in the shoulder or the neck, sleeping quality and also fatigue. Menopause could also cause migraine.

Environmental Causes:

Environmental conditions like pungent smells, dazzling lights, smoke, change of weather, in case the temperature is very low or even a lot of humidity, watching a lot of television or usage of computer would also cause migraine and places where there is poor ventilation and short of fresh air also triggers migraine.

Emotional Causes:

Emotions also affect migraine to a large extent. When the person suffering from migraine undergoes too much depression, tension, stress, shock, anxiety or even too much excitement would lead to migraine.

Dietary Causes:

Dietary factors also cause migraine. Foods like cheese, fruits citrus by nature and also chocolate trigger migraine. Other factors like dieting or irregular eating habits, too much of alcohol and caffeine like coffee or tea and also dehydration lead to migraine.

Hormonal Causes:

Fluctuation in hormones also causes migraine. Women tend to get an attack of migraine around the time of their menstrual cycle; this is called the ‘Menstrual Migraine’.

Till date no cure has being found for migraine, but there are many treatments for this condition which help in easing the pain. The treatments are mostly in the form of medicines, which are available in plenty, it is important to know which would best suit you.

Anti – Sickness Medicines:

In cases where nausea is an indication of migraine, then you would be prescribed anti-sickness medications. These are available in the form of tablets and also suppository. These can be taken along with the painkiller.

Triptan Medicines:

Triptan medications are the next step in case painkillers do not help in reducing the migraine pain. They are not like painkillers. These medications tend to contract the blood vessels near the brain. These medications are available in the form of nasal sprays, injections and tablets.

Anti – Inflammatory Medicines:

These medications have anti-inflammatory properties as such they are quite effective in treating the pain.

Painkillers:

These are the most commonly used form of medication used to treat migraine. In fact this is the first step to treat a migraine. There are many painkillers available, like aspirin and paracetamols. These are available in the form of tablets and soluble tablets. The soluble painkillers affect faster as the body absorbs them faster.

Complementary Medicines:

Medications like homeopathy treatment and acupuncture also help in reducing the pain, but these are not proven to be as effective.

Combination Medicines:

Combination medications are medicines which contain both the properties that are they help in the reduction of pain as well as act as anti-sickness.

Migraine Clinics:

These are specialized clinics where the specialist will conduct an examination and check the harshness of the migraine and put you on treatment accordingly.
James S. Pendergraft

Chronic sinusitis is the persistent form of sinusitis that continues unabated for a long period of time. It has been observed that this disease generally sets in after the incidence of a bout of acute sinusitis but thankfully, its occurrence is much rarer. Here’s a chronic sinusitis treatment guide for your reference.

Chronic sinusitis is generally persistent for 90 or more days and is a very stubborn form of affliction that is generally caused by repeated incidence of sinus problems. Sometimes it also causes damage and change to the mucus lining of the nasal passage with extremely harmful effects to personal health.

Chronic sinusitis Causes: The onset of this disease is preceded by bouts of acute sinusitis. There are many causes of this. For one, nose allergy that is allergic rhinitis is said to be a primary reason as it causes blocking of the inner lining of the nose leading to nasal passage blockage. Asthma and cystic fibrosis also cause chronic sinusitis. Acute immunity problems like those in AIDS are also quite responsible for chronic sinusitis as the body is unable to fight infection and inflammation over prolonged periods of time.

Chronic sinusitis Symptoms: Runny nose where the mucus drips out incessantly is a primary symptom of this disease. Cough and fever can also be observed along with reduced sense of smell due to nasal passage blockage. The nasal region could also experience pain. In many cases headache, toothache, fullness in the ears and random tiredness may be observed too. In kids, feeding difficulty, irritability and mouth breathing can be observed.

Chronic sinusitis Treatment: Various medical treatments can be prescribed for tackling chronic sinusitis. If the cause is asthma, it must be treated. Prolonged dosage of antibiotics may be called for as also usage of steroid nasal sprays. If fungal infection has occurred, anti fungal treatment is required. In very severe cases, there may be need for surgery where an endoscope may be inserted in the nasal region and clearing of the passage done by the surgeon.

Very few people are aware of the fact that heartburn is not at all interrelated to heart. This ailment is actually linked with the digestive tract. The condition called heartburn is experienced when the acid present in the stomach escapes through the opening in lower esophagus. As soon as the acid enters the esophagus, the patient experiences a burning pain in the middle of the chest. Those looking for how to cure heartburn must read below given information:

Causes of Heartburn

Some common foods that are known to increase acid production are:

1. Spicy foods such as Peppers, jalapenos, hot sauces, picante sauces etc
2. Acidic fruits like lemons, limes, oranges, etc.
3. Tomato juices and tomato because they contain high amount of acid.
4. Alcohol, chocolate, peppermint, high fatty foods and coffee.

How to cure heartburn

There are many cures available to sufferers of heartburn. Most of the times people look at manmade cures such as medications, to solve their heartburn woes. The worst part of using medications is that they treat the symptom and not the cause of the problem.

Doctor has prescribed to me an over the counter medicine. It worked for the being of time, but he advised me that I needed to do other things in order to prevent its return:

1. Lose weight
2. Change my eating habits
3. Exercise
4. Change the foods I ate and when
5. Eating some raw vegetables regularly
6. Take Aloe Vera juices regularly
7. Drinking milk regularly before and after the meal

The most significant changes I made in order to reduce my heartburn. It is the need of time that there should be a change in the lifestyle of common people. Hope this works for those who want to find answer to the common question – how to cure heartburn?

In a moment we will see how the anxiety and stress symptoms are very similar. This is very evident if we look at anxiety physical symptoms and look at the same category of symptoms in stress.

Stress is seen by many as one of the causes of anxiety. Although we did note read this statement during our research, but I guess we will be safe if we said that among the most common anxiety causes is stress.

Therefore, we if we are able decipher the stress code through understanding its signs and symptoms we might be able to control anxiety or even prevent it. The logic goes as follows:

If we are living a stressful situation without knowing that it is stressing us, which is very normal and common as stress can creep into our lives without us noticing, the stress signs and symptoms can give us an early warning before it develops and later cause anxiety.

If we are able to notice the stress symptoms, then we will have the chance to work on controlling them and overcoming them. When we succeed doing that then we would prevent it from developing anxiety.

If we already suffer from anxiety, then – as some practitioners actually suggest – we can try and work on the stress symptoms which will significantly reduce anxiety.
Learn more about anxiety disorders
Now let us look at the Stress symptoms first. Those symptoms have been divided into four groups as follows:

Anxiety symptoms

1- Cognitive Symptoms

- Memory problems
- Inability to concentrate
- Poor Judgment
- Seeing only the negative
- Anxious or racing thoughts
- Constant Worrying

2- Emotional Symptoms

- Moodiness
- Irritability or short temper
- Agitation, inability to relax
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Sense of loneliness and isolation
- Depression or general unhappiness

3- Physical Symptoms

- Aches and pains
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Nausea and/or dizziness
- Chest pain, rapid heartbeat
- Loss of sex drive
- Frequent colds

4- Behavioral Symptoms

- Eating more or less than usual
- Sleeping too much or too little
- Isolation from others
- Procrastination or neglecting responsibilities
- Using alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs to relax
- Nervous habits (e.g. nail biting, pacing)

Now let us take a look at anxiety physical symptoms:

- Palpitations – Heart Beating Hard and/or Fast or Pounding
- Sweating – Perspiration
- Trembling or Shaking
- Shortness of Breath – Breathlessness – Difficulty Breathing
- Difficulty Swallowing
- Sharp Pains in the Chest or Chest Discomfort
- Abdominal Pain – Stomach Pain
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Dizziness – Lightheadedness – Faintness
- Hot or Cold Flashes

We will list here now just the stress physical symptoms for a comparison:

- Aches and pains
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Nausea and/or dizziness
- Chest pain, rapid heartbeat
- Loss of sex drive
- Frequent colds

There are 6 different types of throat cancer. They often develop around the mouth region like on the mucosal surfaces of the larynx, pharynx or mouth, thus leading to different types of the throat cancer.

Vocal Cord Cancer:

Often called as the cancer of the larynx is a type of throat cancer developed in the tissues of the larynx. The larynx is a small passage below the pharynx in the neck. The symptoms maybe like sore throats or pain while swallowing the foods or a change in the voice or a small lump in the throat. Even pain in the ears is a symptom for it. The treatments for this type of cancer are therapy like radiation therapy, chemotherapy and sometime maybe surgery to take out the cancer.

The surgery to remove this cancer is common option which involves the removing the cancer and part of the larynx.

Laryngeal Cancer:

Cancer of the larynx or the voice box is a type of cancer similar to the vocal card cancer. The symptoms of this cancer are similar to the vocal card cancer like the sore throat or pain in the larynx. These types of cancer are diagnosed with the laryngoscopy. In this method a special type of tube with lights are send down to the patient throat to examine the causes.

Thyroid Gland:

The thyroid gland cancer is a type of throat cancer in which the thyroid gland may grow abnormally leading to the formation of tumors. The thyroid is a gland that is located at the base of the throat. The main purpose of this gland is to secrete hormones that regulate many parts of the body. The main reason for the disease in the thyroid gland is either over-active or under-active nature of the thyroid gland. There are four different types of thyroid gland. They are papillary, follicular, medullary, and anaplastic thyroid cancers. Each type grows at different rate so the effect of this cancer depends upon the type.
Thyroid gland images

Nasopharyngeal Cancer:

This type of cancer occurs in the region called the nasopharynx. The nasopharynx is a small area in the back of the nose towards the base of the skull. Though it is a type of throat cancer it is different from the other types. It has the highest risk factor than most of other types. Thy symptoms of this type are trouble breathing, hearing or speaking, nose bleeding etc. These types of cancer are diagnosed with the nasoscope. There are four stages of this cancer.

Hypo pharyngeal Cancer:

This is a type of cancer in which cancer cells forms in the tissues of the hypo pharynx. The bottom part of the pharynx is called as the hypo pharyngeal. The basic risk factors for this type of cancer include tobacco consumption in any form and excess alcohol. Even diet without proper nutrition may cause this cancer. These types of cancer are diagnosed with the Barium esophagogram, Esophagoscopy, Bronchoscopy and Biopsy.

There’s been a lot of talk about the swine flu these last two weeks. The immediate danger to most parts of the country is very small. Even so, all these news reports have got people thinking about what they can do to protect themselves. I’ve already had several patients ask me what they can do to keep from getting sick.

A strong immune system plays an important role. I recommend three things to all my patients to help the immune system stay strong and healthy. Take Vitamin C, get enough sleep, and wash your hands regularly.

I’ve recently added a fourth suggestion to that list. If you really want to give your immune system the support it needs, then I recommend astragalus.

Chinese Herb Gives You Dramatic Results

In Chinese medicine, astragalus has been used for thousands of years in many, many different ways.

Ancient Chinese healers used astragalus to reduce the affects of stress on the body. Whether a patient suffered from physical, emotional, mental, or environmental stress, healers used astragalus to help the person cope better and to prevent detrimental effects that stress might have on health.

Astragalus was used to make the body better able to fight off diseases. People took the herb to protect against colds and infections as well as more serious conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and cancer.

Healers also prescribed astragalus to help increase the vitality of their patients. Even healthy patients could benefit from the improvement in stamina and energy that astragalus delivered. The history of astragalus is very interesting, but it’s the recent research on this herbal supplement that has me excited about recommending it to my patients.

Modern-Day Research Backs Up the Benefits of Astragalus

In the realm of modern medicine, the powerful health benefits of astragalus are just coming to light. It turns out there are good reasons why Chinese healers used astragalus for so many purposes. The herb is powerful and versatile when it comes to supporting your overall health. One of things I like best about it is that it works as both a preventative and as a treatment for many illnesses.

Astragalus has a number of valuable properties. It contains complex sugar molecules called polysaccharides that help strengthen the immune system. It has antibacterial properties that help to fight off infections and a number of diseases. It also works as an antioxidant and helps to protect your cells from damage. It has anti-mutagenic properties that make it a powerful ally in preventing cancer. And it helps reduce chronic, low-level inflammation that contributes to so many age-related diseases.

I just read a recent study in which scientists discovered that astragalus actually works to keep your cells younger. It stimulates the activity of telomerase, an enzyme that helps protect the DNA within your cells and that may slow aging at a cellular level. Younger cells mean less disease-especially cancer and a slower overall aging process.

In animal studies, researchers have also verified the effects of astragalus on stamina and vitality. In mice induced with chronic fatigue syndrome, astragalus helped to restore balance to the production of inflammatory cytokines and it increased the mice’s endurance.

For strengthening the immune system, astragalus works in a number of ways. It helps remove pathogens, it stimulates T-cell activity, and it activates a number of antiviral systems within your body. Through these means, astragalus supplements can protect you from everyday illnesses like the cold and flu. Other research shows that it can be an effective treatment for these illnesses, as well, helping you to recover faster.
Scholarly articles for T-cell activity
The immune-boosting properties of astragalus are so powerful that it actually interferes with immune suppressing drugs. These drugs are most commonly given to transplant patients to reduce rejection. If you’re on an immune suppressant for any reason, you shouldn’t take astragalus. Otherwise, this powerful supplement can benefit you greatly.

The recommended dosage for astragalus is one to 25 grams a day. You can find astragalus at health food stores. It’s commonly available as a standardized extract or in powdered capsules. For the best results, I prefer the extract. Your body will be better able to absorb it.

Whether you’re worried about the swine flu or looking for a good way to promote your overall health and slow down the aging processes in your body, astragalus is a good option. Give it a try… I’m certain you’ll be pleased with the results.

Mark Rosenberg, M.D.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – Causes, Symptoms and Treatments

Chronic fatigue syndrome is considered to be a disease which was 1st named in 1980’s. Till now, as maximum numbers of individuals have been diagnosed with the CFS, numerous individuals outside and inside health field still have doubt regarding its presence or preserve that it is psychological ailment. Individuals who were healthy in the past and were filled with energy, might have to go through different types of symptoms, which are inclusive of weakness, headaches and superior fatigue and face problem while concentration and painful muscles, lymph nodes and painful muscles. Characteristically chronic fatigue syndrome follows the viral infection and at times is found after the mononucleosis infections.

No specific symptoms of tiredness, aches, fatigue and exhaustion make CFS critical to diagnose as well as similar to the other conditions like lyme disease, lupus, multiple sclerosis and fibromyalgia. Individuals with Chronic fatigue syndrome are frequently unable to execute normally at their home as well as work due to their enduring fatigue and the problems with interim memory. The stamped symptoms of Chronic fatigue syndrome are over powering weakness and fatigue which makes it highly critical to perform daily routine and tasks, such as dressing, eating and getting up from bed. This illness could seriously affect work, leisure activities, school and can cause emotional and physical symptoms which could last for weeks or months or years.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome’s causes:

Few of the CFD’s common causes are alterations in the hormones levels that are generated in the pituitary glands, adrenal glands or hypothalamus.

- Low blood sugar – Hypoglycemia
- Iron deficiency anemia
- Viral infection like human herpes virus or Epstein – Barr virus
- Low blood pressure
- Dysfunction in immune system
- History of allergies

CFD’s symptoms are:
-Headache
- Persistent fatigue
- Muscle aches
- Fatigue from effort
- Fatigue
- Not able to concentrate
- Tiredness
- Painful lymph nodes

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome’s treatment:
- Altering the daily routine in order to have normal sleep patterns could help
- Treatment to cure anxiety by making use of anti – anxiety drugs

Without a prescription painkillers could support to ease joint and muscle pain as well as for headaches. Powerful painkillers could even be recommended by the GP, even though these have to be used for a short period. Antidepressants could be used by the individuals having depression with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Treatments To Decline Discomfort, Fever And Pain Pacing is considered to be a significant way if you want to control the symptoms. It actually means searching a balance amongst the rest and activity and ignoring huge bursts of the exercise which might hold you back. Learning the concept, like in which way your energy could be used to the fullest and could surely support you to maximise the amount that you could do.

CBT (full form is Cognitive behavioural therapy) might identify the feelings and thoughts which are resulting in certain behaviour as well as you generate fresh coping ways. This is considered to be the most strong and powerful medications for chronic fatigue syndrome.