Health Articles

LDL levels should be lower than 100mg/dL to be considered healthy. Over 190mg of LDL is considered very high risk for heart disease and stroke. It would be unusual, but if the total cholesterol level was 200mg, but the LDL number was 190, a person would still be at risk. In such case, usually doctors will resort to the use of cholesterol lowering drugs.

Total cholesterol reading below 160mg is considered low, so try to keep the balance. Balance is the key to overall good health. Try to choose foods that are highly nutritious and contain a variety of antioxidants.

Having more food which are derived from plants in your daily diet such as fruits, vegetables, nuts , cinnamon and whole grains can help you get and keep a healthy cholesterol range, which, in turn, protects your heart.
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Of course there are other ways to lower cholesterol level, such as consumption of cholesterol lowering statin medicines (Zocor, Lipitor, Lescol, etc). But these are rather risky ways, since the statin drugs themselves have numerous side effects. One of the most dangerous effect of these kind of medication is “muscle breakdown”, which is the “melting” of your muscle tissues.. It’s very dangerous for your kidneys (can cause kidney failure), and also weakens the whole body in the process.

So, stay with natural methods to control your numbers as much as possible. Eat the right food, do the right exercise, take supplements where necessary, live the right lifestyle. It’s for your own good. Resort to medicine treatment only if you can not do any of the natural approach. You are raising the possibility of unnecesarry complication if you try the medical approach too early.

The healthy cholesterol range for human beings is below 200mg/dL. These numbers are the normal total cholesterol circulating in the bloodstream, which includes LDL (bad), HDL (good) and triglycerides. Just as important as the total is the HDL amount. When it comes to HDL, more is better, with the ideal ratio of LDL to HDL to be 4.4:1.

You can check your own ratio by doing this simple calculation: divide your LDL measurement value with your HDL measurement value. If this ratio is below 4.4, you should try to raise your HDL level by exercising more.

A healthy person should have their blood profiles screening test done on a regular basis. The American Heart Association recommends testing every five years for anyone aged 20 or older. Doctors may recommend a test for younger people if they are obese or have other risk factors, such as high blood pressure and smoking (yes, smoking is a risk factor.. that’s why life insurance premium is higher for smokers than non smokers).

If you smoke, controlling this habit to the stage where you can quit can be very difficult.. but you must try to stop. Your heart is at risk, because smoking causes the LDL in your blood to be oxidized, and oxidized LDL forms plaques in blood vessels quickly.. This is no new information to a lot of smokers, so make a wise decision yourself.

Some of the things that cause unhealthy cholesterol levels include obesity and excessive alcohol intake. Lack of exercise plays a role as well. Hormonal imbalances and dysfunction of the glandular system are less common causes. Certain genetic diseases and heredity are also factors.

In order to stay in the healthy cholesterol range, a diet that is very low in saturated fat is recommended. Less than 7% of daily calories should come from saturated fats, which include egg yolks, cheese, beef, pork and poultry.

Trans-fats, which are partially hydrogenated unsaturated fats, should be avoided. Total fat intake plays a larger role in blood serum levels than does the cholesterol itself. The type of fat that you eat is also important.

Plant foods, such as nuts and flax seed, contain healthy cholesterol-like substances, called phytosterols. This is the kind of fat that is a necessary dietary components. Most nutritionists recommend 25-30% of your total caloric intake should come from fat, but plant oil and fatty fish are the best choices for dietary fat.

A healthy HDL or good cholesterol range is 60mg/dL or higher.. however, if yours is higher than this, it’s better. There’s no “highest” limit when it comes to HDL. Just remember the 4.4 ratio mentioned above.

According to the American Heart Association, higher HDL levels provide some protections against heart disease. As HDL travels through the bloodstream, it picks up LDL particles and carries them back to the liver, thus causes the reduction of LDL concentration in your blood. This prevents the particles from building up inside the arterial walls and forming hard plaques.

There are several cystic acne treatments. Some of them include accutane, oral antibiotics, surgical excision and drainage. Intralesional corticosteroid injections are also used as treatment. This condition is the most severe form of acne vulgaris. It develops into small cysts that can be quite painful. It is caused by excessive build up of sebum in the pores. This form of acne can affect the face, the chest, the back, shoulders and sometimes the upper arms.

Cysts are normally filled with a white pus-like liquid. If this condition is not treated early, it may lead to scarring. Intensive treatment can therefore help minimize the extent of scarring. Accutane is one of the cystic acne treatments and works by altering the DNA transcription. Altering DNA not only decreases the size but also reduces the activities of the sebaceous glands.

This treatment makes cells that enter the sebaceous glands less sticky making it hard for the formation of blackheads and whiteheads. It also helps to kill bacteria in the sebaceous glands as well as those found on the surface of the skin. There are several side effects associated with this drug. If you are pregnant, you are not supposed to use this drug because it can lead to birth defects. The defects can be abnormalities in the central nervous system, cardiac and in the thymus gland.

Surgical excision and drainage are another cystic acne treatment where a small incision is made in your skin and the infected material is extracted. In intralesional corticosteroid injection, medication is injected directly to the affected area. This helps to reduce inflammation as well as shrink the blemish.
by Mercy Maranga

We all want to look our best and whether we are maintaining our current youth or trying to recapture our waning one the solution is much the same. Quality natural skin care oils need to be applied daily.

The next problem is where to find these all natural skin care oils and how are they applied? Well, good quality moisturisers should all contain skin friendly oils but how natural are they? For the purists amongst you, you will never get natural skin care oils that haven’t been in some way processed but finding products that have minimally processed oils takes some research.

Many of the currently available off the shelf moisturizing and anti-aging products contain ingredients that may have questionable safety records and without understanding the ingredients being used many people will not have realised this.

Ingredients to Avoid

Dioxane is a synthetic derivative of coconut and 1,4-dioxane is considered a chemical known by some US states to cause cancer. Mineral oil, paraffin wax, liquid paraffin or petrolatum can cause photosensitivity and strips the natural oils from the skin causing premature aging! Parabens are widely used as a preservative in skincare products but some studies indicate that they may cause cancer as well as allergic reactions and skin rashes.

These are just a few of the ingredients found in some products and quite clearly natural skin care oils are nowhere to be found. So those are the products to avoid but what should we be looking for.

Ingredients to Include

Euxyl PE9010 (Phenoxyethanol/Ethylhexyl glycerin) is a natural alternative to parabens and therefore can be used as a preservative for natural skin care products. Babassu nut oil comes from the Babassu plant which grows in the Amazon region of Brazil and has been known as the “tree of life”! The oil penetrates the skin very quickly and has been used for centuries to soothe skin. Grapeseed oil contains natural vitamin E which is one of the essential fatty acids important for the skin and for the cell membranes. It has also been found to have great moisturizing and regenerative properties.

These are only a few of the natural skin care oils that we should be looking for in our daily beauty regime products in fact as our skin absorbs what we put on it maybe we should be able to safely eat our skin care products. How many of us would risk that?

Home remedies for gout pain relief is needed by anyone undergoing a severe gout attack. In this article, I will review a few fast and effective natural treatments for gout flare-ups.

Gout attacks occur when uric acid has built up in the body and for some reason cannot be expelled. This usually occurs in the joints of either the foot, fingers or elbow (but it can also occur other places).

1) If you have severe pain in the foot (a common place for uric acid buildup), soak the foot (or feet) in an epsom salt solution for a period of about 30 minutes. Make sure that the water is a moderate temperature.
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2) Another home remedy for gout is to eat certain fruits that will help to neutralize the uric acid build up. such Cherries and strawberries are very effective in this area. If cherries are not in season, you can opt to drink an 8 ounce glass of cherry juice. Amounts consumed should be about a handful at a time, but you really can’t do any harm by eating as much as you want. This will help to neutralize the uric acid buildup.
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3) Chance are you have some anti-inflammatory pills in your medicine, such as ibuprofen. Take this according to the directions on the bottle. This is effective at reducing inflammation in the affected joints.

4) Increase your water intake. Try to drink an 8 ounce glass of water every 30 minutes. Yes, you will find yourself in the bathroom more than you would like, however this will help to flush the uric acid from your body.

Before you look into the symptoms of anxiety attacks, you must first know it’s causes. You need to identify the triggers and this can only be done after a thorough checkup with a medical professional.

The real cause of anxiety attacks, obsessive compulsive disorder anxiety, and post traumatic stress disorder anxiety is still unknown. But, according to scientists and researchers, the attacks are primarily caused by physical illness, stressful situations, and the genetic makeup of the individual. Now that you know the possible causes of anxiety attacks, you can now increase your knowledge by uncovering the symptoms of anxiety panic attack.

Muscle tension and chest pain are two of the most common anxiety disorder symptoms. However, studies show that there are more than a hundred possible symptoms and it varies from one individual to another. Some anxiety disorder patients experience mild symptoms, but there are also those who suffer from severe symptoms. It all depends on the genetic makeup of the patient. So if you have a family history of the disorder, you need to be extra careful because you’re a likely candidate.

The symptoms of the attacks are usually divided into different categories so that medical professionals can give accurate diagnosis. The categories include body, chest, emotions or mood, fears, head, mind, mouth and stomach, skin, sleep, sight, and touch.

Body symptoms typically includes tension, stiffness, blanching, blushing, itchy or burning sensation, numbness, hyperactivity, general malaise, increased/decreased sexual drive, and shaking. Chest pains are common that is often mistaken for a heart attack because of increased heart palpitation. Mood swings are notable. Because of the fear for another attack, the patient can go insane or can lose control of his or her emotions. Some patients also tend to vomit, suffer from diarrhea, constipation, and dry mouth. Allergic reactions and skin rashes are quite common among patients as well as disturbed sleep. Blurred vision and eye sensitivity are not common symptoms of anxiety attacks although it also happens in rare cases.

There is no need to worry because by consulting a medical professional, you can receive the appropriate anxiety panic attack treatment. There are several treatments available like cognitive behavioral therapy, serotonin, and many other treatments. Keep in mind that you should not take any medication without the doctor’s advice because the disorder can get worse.

By knowing the symptoms of anxiety attacks, you will know the best time to visit your doctor.

Do you want to find out simple skin care secrets how to minimize pores? Then this article is just for those who hate their big pores and are trying to remove them making their skin look attractive again.

I suppose you have tried a number of products that claim to be effective in reducing pores, but unfortunately failed. It is similar situation for me too. Therefore I’d like to share my little secrets on how to minimize pores easily.

Relying on my experience, I can note that:

1. You have to apply those anti-pore solutions every single day for at least 15-30 days.
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I found out that if I skipped a day, I would break out and have to spend the next 2 weeks to solve the pore issue. No matter, it is anti-acne or anti-pore skin care program, you need to do certain routine every day to get better results in a shorter time.

2. Prefer less chemical products.

I have found that less chemical, more organic skin care products are much more effective. Though it may take a few weeks to shrink pores, but it is really worth it. Why? – Because if you stick with it for a while, it does really work.

3. The best thing that you can do to maintain perfect skin is to clean it day and night.

The best answer to “how to minimize pores” is to always keep your skin clean and clear. The most important parts of daily cleansing routine is removing makeup and cleaning skin from dead cells applying an exfoliator.

A balanced diet keeps you healthy and active as it gives the required energy and nutrition to your body. This energy is required by various body organs to function well. Therefore, you should try to maintain a good diet while trying to lose weight; or else you may be depriving your body from essential nutrients:

Here are few simple tips to help you lose weight fast by following a healthy dieting routine:

• Eat small portions of meals at frequent intervals. Avoid overeating and eat slowly. This will allow so your body to tell you that it is full before you consume more food.

• Avoid processed foods. Instead, choose whole wheat products. Always maintain a healthy dieting routine. Include more fruits and raw vegetables in your diet. Include whole grains, legumes, and lean animal protein in your diet.

• You feel full if you include more fiber in your diet. Fiber boosts metabolism and makes your absorb less dietary fat. It also helps you eliminate fat through your digestive system. So, include 8-9 servings of fruits and leafy vegetables in your daily diet.

• Eat plenty of salads to remain healthy and fit. However, never replace your food with salads. While making salads, avoid using oily, fatty salad dressings, such as mayonnaise. Salad dressings elevate the calorie count in your body and prove risky to your health.

• Avoid fried food items. Include lots of pulses, milk, eggs, sprouts, fish, and lean meat in your diet.

• Water is extremely important to maintain good health. So, drink at least 7-8 glasses of water daily to keep yourself hydrated and remove toxins from your body.

• Remember, ’sugar free’ labels don’t mean that these food items don’t contain any calories. Read the labels well before consuming them.

• Physical activity is very important as it helps you remain fit and manage your weight gain. Even a half-an-hour brisk walk is better than doing nothing at all. With proper exercise, you can lose weight without starving yourself.

Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory disease of the digestive tract. Generally, it is the small intestine and colon that are affected by it. It leads to ulcerations of small as well as large intestines. However, it can affect any part of the digestive system from the mouth to the anus.

For someone suffering from the disease, accurate Crohns diseases diagnosis is the prominent step that needs to be taken. It becomes very important especially when its symptoms, which may imitate other conditions, may mislead the sufferer. The foremost thing is that this disease keeps on progressing with the passage of time.

You will need to go through certain medical and physical examination to have confirmed Crohns disease diagnosis. These tests will also eliminate the chances of acquiring other conditions that may have similar symptoms like colitis, celiac disease or irritable bowel syndrome.

Tests for Crohns disease diagnosis include the following:

Blood Tests: Even when a complete blood count is not able to confirm an accurate diagnosis of Crohn’s disease, still it is performed usually in suspected cases. It is done as it may confirm about any kind of intestinal bleeding, an infection or any other inflammatory condition.

Radiologic Examinations: These examinations enable the physician to have a look inside the body. Thus, it gets easier to determine whether you have Crohn’s disease or not. Various tests that come under this examination are:

Barium Enema: It is performed to envision the colon and rectum.

Enterocylsis: A barium based liquid is made to reach into small intestine with the help of a tube and x-rays are taken in this way, abnormalities in the small intestine are known if any.

CT (Computerized Tomography) Scan: It helps in identifying any abnormalities of liver, intestines or kidneys.

Ultrasound: Sound waves are used to scrutinize the pelvis organs and abdomen.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): This test proves beneficial in identifying fistulas and abscesses inside a person’s body and the body is not exposed to radiation.

Stool Tests: These tests are noninvasive in which stool samples are used to detect Crohn’s disease, bacterial infection or ulcerative colitis in a patient.

Urine Tests: presence of bacteria, white blood cells and red blood cells in the urine of a patient is identified by these tests. Increase in bacteria and white blood cell is an indication of urinary tract infection that in turn may be complication of Crohn’s.

Endoscopic Examinations: A detailed examination of the intestinal tract can be done with the help of these tests. These tests include Sigmoidoscopy, Colonoscopy and Upper Endoscopy.

It is a fact that there is no permanent cure for Crohn’s disease. However, the sooner Crohns disease diagnosis can help in managing its signs and symptom. Thus, you can avoid severe complications of the disease.