Add Moisture to the AirConsider investing in a humidifier for your home to combat the drying effects of heaters and furnaces. Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the water to increase the healing power of the hydrated air. Try lavender, rosewood, or chamomile.
Bathe in Lukewarm Water
Hot water and soaps that contain detergents and anti-bacterial ingredients can dry out your skin. Bathe in lukewarm water and choose a mild soap or body wash containing moisturizer, glycerin or plant oils. Apply body oil while still damp to help seal in the moisture after bathing and then gently pat your skin dry with a soft towel.
Best Moisturizer - Water
The best way to hydrate the skin is to soak in lukewarm water for 15 minutes.
Diet and Skin Care
Increase your intake of essential fatty acids found in whole grains, nuts, seeds and certain types of fish. Cook with olive or canola oil and use olive or flaxseed oil in salad dressings. Drink at least eight glasses of water a day to stay hydrated and moisturize your body from the inside. Greasy foods take a toll on your skin; try to eliminate saturated fats and fried foods from your diet.
General Skin Care
The skin is the largest organ of the body and often the most neglected. Taking good care of your skin should be part of your daily routine. Intact skin is our best defense against bacterial invasion. Winter weather often results in dry, itchy skin. Here's some advice on relieving irritation and revealing soft, smooth skin. Remember, a good skin care product doesn't have to be expensive to be effective.
Lotion While Damp
Lotion is much more effective for dry skin treatment if you apply it while your skin is damp after bathing rather than when your skin is totally dry.
Moisturize daily!
When choosing a moisturizer, look for healing ingredients such as plant extracts, plant oils, sea algae, lanolin, glycerin, Vitamins A, B, C, and E and pure aloe vera. Lotions with mineral oils, perfumes or alcohol may produce an allergic reaction or have a drying effect on the skin.
Shaving Moles Is a No-No
Moles should never be shaved off. There is always a possibility of infection, excess bleeding, or scarring. The only safe alternative is to see a dermatologist.
Sun Exposure
Avoid sun exposure during the peak intensity hours - between 10 am and 4 pm (10:00 - 16:00). The risk of burning also increases at higher altitude.
Udderly Helpful Skin Care
Two of the best products for easing dry skin, IMHO, are manufactured for healing cow's udders. Try Udder Cream and Bag Balm when your skin feels like alligator hide.
What's a Hygrometer?
Purchase an inexpensive hygrometer to measure the humidity in your home. Lowering your home's heat and using a humidifier will keep your home in the comfort zone and help prevent dry skin and hair.
Winter Skin Tip
If your skin tends to be dry and itchy in the winter, turn down the heat in your home. You'll be a lot more comfortable in a cooler house.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Vegetable Juices
Vegetables are important protective food and are highly beneficial for health and prevention of diseases. But the juices extracted from the fresh raw vegetables are more benificial as they furnish all the cells and tissues of the body with the elements and nutritional enzymes which they require. It is true that body can derive juices from whole vegetables, but fresh juices provide them in a manner in which they can most easily be digested and assimilated. Vitamin and mineral deficiency could be made up much more quickly by drinking fresh juice then by eating raw vegetables. Juice from vegetables listed below are benificial as mentioned for the ailments.
- Acidosis: Carrot, beet, cucumber and spinach
- Acne: Carrot, lettuce and spinach
- Allergies: Carrot, lettuce and spinach
- Anemia: Beet, celery, carrot
- Appendicitis: Carrot, beet and spinach
- Arterioscurosis: Carrot, celery, lettuce and spinach
- Vegetable juice and arthritis: Cucumber, beet, celery, carrot and watercress
- Asthma: Carrot, radish and celery
- Bronchitis: Tomato, carrot, onion and spinach
- Colds: Carrot, celery, onion and spinach
- Constipation: Carrot, beet, spinach and watercress
- Colitis: Carrot, beet cucumber and spinach
- Vegetable juice for diabetics: Carrot, celery, lettuce and spinach
- Dyspepsia: Carrot, beet, cucumber and spinach
- Eczema: Carrot, spinach, cucumber and beet
- Epilepsy: Carrot, celery and spinach
- Eye disorder: Tomato, carrot, celery, parsley and spinach
- Fatigue: Carrot, spinach, beet and cucumber
- Gout: Tomato, cucumber, beet, carrot, celery, spinach
- Headache: Carrot, lettuce and spinach
- Heart disease: Carrot, beet, cucumber and spinach
- Hypertension: Carrot, spinach, beet and cucumber
- Influenza: Carrot, onion and spinach
- Insomnia: Lettuce, carrot and celery
- Jaundice: Carrot, celery, spinach, beet and cucumber
- Obesity: Tomato, beet, cabbage, lettuce, spinach and carrot
- Piles: Carrot, spinach, turnip, and watercress
- Sinus problem: Tomato, carrot, onion and spinach
- Tonsillitis: Carrot, spinach, beet and cucumber
Garlic (Lahssan)
Garlic (Allium Satinum) has been used for thousands of years for medicinal purposes (American Family Physician), Sanskrit records show its medicinal use about 5000 years ago and it has been used for at least 3000 years in Chinese medicine. The Egyptians, Babylonians, Greeks and Romans used garlic for healing purposes. In 1858 Pasteur noted garlic’s antibacterial activity and it was used as an antiseptic and to prevent gangrene during world Wax 1.
Garlic has long been considered a herbal wonder chug with reputation for preventing everything from the common cold to flu to plague! Garlic has been used extensively in phytotherapy (herbal medicine). Raw garlic is used by some to treat acne and it is believed to be effective as a natural mosquito repellant.
Historically garlic has been used around the world to treat many conditions including hypertension, infections and snake-bite and some, cultures have used it to ward off eveil spirits. Currently garlic is used for reducing blood cholesterol and cardiovascular risk as,, well as and antimicrobial properties,
Pharmacology
The root bulb of garlic plat-it is used medicinally. It can be used fresh, dehydrated or as a steam distilled oil. Garlic has a high concentration of sulphurcontaining compounds. The thiosulfinates at including allicin appear to be the active substances in garlic. The an antimicrobial, hyperlipidaemic, antioxidant and antithrombotic effects that have been attributed to garlic are thought to be related to allicin and other breakdown Products. The antineoplastic effects may be related to the sulphur compounds or to other unknown components.
Uses And Efficacy
(a) Lipid-Lowering Effects
Many randomized clinical trials have studied the effects of garlic on lipid levels- Results from 2 meta-analysis conducted in 1993 and 1994 on effects of garlic on total cholesterol show a significant reduction in total cholesterol levels (9 to 12 percent) compared with placebo. A meta analysis published in 2000 that included these trials concluded that garlic is superior to placebo in reducing total cholesterol. A more recent meta-analysis of placebo -controlled trials using standardized dried garlic powder showed significant reduction in total cholesterol levels (19.2mg per dL) low density lipo-protein hpoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. (6.7mg per dL) and triglycerde levels (2 1. lmg per dL) at 8 to 12 weeks; these reductions were not sustained at 6 months treatment.
A Europeem trial comparing with a lipid lowering drug benzofibrate found them to be equally effective in decreasing lipids to statistically significant cant extent. One trial of garlic extracts treated in children with hypercholesterolaemia found no adverse effects but also no significant beneficial effect on lipids.
Antihypertensive Effects
The antihypertensive effects of garlic have been studied but remain controversial. In 1994 meta-analysis assessment of the effects of garlic on hypertension using 3 trials showed significant ant reduction in systolic blood pressure and 4 trials showed reduction in diastolic B.P. with garlic treatment compared with placebo. In a more recent meta-analysis, 23 placebo controlled trials were analysed. Only 3 trials showed a statistically significant reduction in diastolic B.P and one showed a statistically significant ant reduction in systolic B P in patients treated with garlic compared with placebo.
Other Cardiovascular Related Effects
A recent review of 10 trials assessing the effects of garlic on thrombotic risk showed modest but significant decreases in platelet aggregation with garlic compared to placebo. The same review analysed 12 trials of garlic supplements in diabetics and non-diabetic adults and only one trial showed significant decrease in glucose levels in non diabetic patients.
One observational study showed that regular garlic powder intake weakened age and pressure related increases in aortic stiffness.
Epidemoological studies from cohort studies have shown a decreased risk of stomach and colon cancer with high concentrations of garlic and other allium vegetables e.g. onion, leeks and chives.
Anti-microbial effects
Small studies have shown that garlic exerts antimicrobial activity against gram-positive and gram- negative bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. Dietary garlic has been used in the treatment of infections particularly digestive, respiratory or dermatological infections from vaginitis to colds and warts
Contra-indications, verse effects and interactions
Ingestion of one to two cloves of raw garlic per day is considered safe in adults. The most common side-effects of ingested garlic are unpleasant breath and body odour : Consumption of excessive amounts of garlic especially on an empty stomach can cause gastro-intestinal upset, flatulence and changes in intestinal flora. There has been reports of allergy, dermatitis burns and blusters from topical applications of raw garlic.
Garlic appears to show no effects on drug metabolism. It has been suggested that patients taking anticoagulants use caution when taking garlic and it is prudent to stop taking high dosage of garlic 7 to 10 days before surgery because garlic can prolong bleeding bleeding time.
Dosage
Dosages generally recommended in the literature for adults are 4g (I-2 cloves) of raw garlic peper day or one 300 mg dried garlic powder 2 to 3 per day or 7.2g of aged garlic extracts per day.
Garlic has long been considered a herbal wonder chug with reputation for preventing everything from the common cold to flu to plague! Garlic has been used extensively in phytotherapy (herbal medicine). Raw garlic is used by some to treat acne and it is believed to be effective as a natural mosquito repellant.
Historically garlic has been used around the world to treat many conditions including hypertension, infections and snake-bite and some, cultures have used it to ward off eveil spirits. Currently garlic is used for reducing blood cholesterol and cardiovascular risk as,, well as and antimicrobial properties,
Pharmacology
The root bulb of garlic plat-it is used medicinally. It can be used fresh, dehydrated or as a steam distilled oil. Garlic has a high concentration of sulphurcontaining compounds. The thiosulfinates at including allicin appear to be the active substances in garlic. The an antimicrobial, hyperlipidaemic, antioxidant and antithrombotic effects that have been attributed to garlic are thought to be related to allicin and other breakdown Products. The antineoplastic effects may be related to the sulphur compounds or to other unknown components.
Uses And Efficacy
(a) Lipid-Lowering Effects
Many randomized clinical trials have studied the effects of garlic on lipid levels- Results from 2 meta-analysis conducted in 1993 and 1994 on effects of garlic on total cholesterol show a significant reduction in total cholesterol levels (9 to 12 percent) compared with placebo. A meta analysis published in 2000 that included these trials concluded that garlic is superior to placebo in reducing total cholesterol. A more recent meta-analysis of placebo -controlled trials using standardized dried garlic powder showed significant reduction in total cholesterol levels (19.2mg per dL) low density lipo-protein hpoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. (6.7mg per dL) and triglycerde levels (2 1. lmg per dL) at 8 to 12 weeks; these reductions were not sustained at 6 months treatment.
A Europeem trial comparing with a lipid lowering drug benzofibrate found them to be equally effective in decreasing lipids to statistically significant cant extent. One trial of garlic extracts treated in children with hypercholesterolaemia found no adverse effects but also no significant beneficial effect on lipids.
Antihypertensive Effects
The antihypertensive effects of garlic have been studied but remain controversial. In 1994 meta-analysis assessment of the effects of garlic on hypertension using 3 trials showed significant ant reduction in systolic blood pressure and 4 trials showed reduction in diastolic B.P. with garlic treatment compared with placebo. In a more recent meta-analysis, 23 placebo controlled trials were analysed. Only 3 trials showed a statistically significant reduction in diastolic B.P and one showed a statistically significant ant reduction in systolic B P in patients treated with garlic compared with placebo.
Other Cardiovascular Related Effects
A recent review of 10 trials assessing the effects of garlic on thrombotic risk showed modest but significant decreases in platelet aggregation with garlic compared to placebo. The same review analysed 12 trials of garlic supplements in diabetics and non-diabetic adults and only one trial showed significant decrease in glucose levels in non diabetic patients.
One observational study showed that regular garlic powder intake weakened age and pressure related increases in aortic stiffness.
Epidemoological studies from cohort studies have shown a decreased risk of stomach and colon cancer with high concentrations of garlic and other allium vegetables e.g. onion, leeks and chives.
Anti-microbial effects
Small studies have shown that garlic exerts antimicrobial activity against gram-positive and gram- negative bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. Dietary garlic has been used in the treatment of infections particularly digestive, respiratory or dermatological infections from vaginitis to colds and warts
Contra-indications, verse effects and interactions
Ingestion of one to two cloves of raw garlic per day is considered safe in adults. The most common side-effects of ingested garlic are unpleasant breath and body odour : Consumption of excessive amounts of garlic especially on an empty stomach can cause gastro-intestinal upset, flatulence and changes in intestinal flora. There has been reports of allergy, dermatitis burns and blusters from topical applications of raw garlic.
Garlic appears to show no effects on drug metabolism. It has been suggested that patients taking anticoagulants use caution when taking garlic and it is prudent to stop taking high dosage of garlic 7 to 10 days before surgery because garlic can prolong bleeding bleeding time.
Dosage
Dosages generally recommended in the literature for adults are 4g (I-2 cloves) of raw garlic peper day or one 300 mg dried garlic powder 2 to 3 per day or 7.2g of aged garlic extracts per day.
Coconut
Coconut is such a wonderful thing and has so many healing qualities. Eating coconut can boost your state of health and vitality tremendously. As a matter of fact, eating a few tablespoons of coconut oil every day can even help you lose weight! This is because the structure of the fatty acids in coconut oil is of a special kind and even though it is a type of saturated fat it does not clog the arteries like other saturated fats do. Instead, coconut oil supports a healthy and well-functioning blood-system, with a healthy heart and clear arteries.
This means it lessens the risk for heart attacks, strokes and other heart-related diseases.
For people that really want to have a boost in their health, I recommend them to swap all their dairy products to coconut-based products instead. This alone can help you lose weight faster and you'll notice that you'll become more vital and energized. While dairy products slows down the metabolism, coconut oil instead increases it or balances it.
So you're doing yourself and your body a great favor if you begin to enjoy the wonderfulness of coconut :) You can enjoy it in so many different ways; coconut milk in your fruit-shakes, refridgerated oil as a spread on bread, as a salad dressing oil and so on.
Best thing about it is that it tastes so so great :) eating healthy does not at all need to be boring. And by using coconut oil and cream, it can even be rich!
This means it lessens the risk for heart attacks, strokes and other heart-related diseases.
For people that really want to have a boost in their health, I recommend them to swap all their dairy products to coconut-based products instead. This alone can help you lose weight faster and you'll notice that you'll become more vital and energized. While dairy products slows down the metabolism, coconut oil instead increases it or balances it.
So you're doing yourself and your body a great favor if you begin to enjoy the wonderfulness of coconut :) You can enjoy it in so many different ways; coconut milk in your fruit-shakes, refridgerated oil as a spread on bread, as a salad dressing oil and so on.
Best thing about it is that it tastes so so great :) eating healthy does not at all need to be boring. And by using coconut oil and cream, it can even be rich!
Health benefits of Grapefruit
Grapefruit occupies a high place among the citrus family because of its flavour, appetizing properties and refreshing qualities.
The fruit is nutritive and refrigerant and possesses very much the same properties as orange, lemon and lime. The seedless variety is the best as it often contains greater amount of sugar, calcium and phosphorus. The nutritional value of the fruit varies with colour (white, pink, or red).
Red and pink grapefruits have a higher amount of vitamin A. It also has 325mg of potassium, 25mcg (micrograms) of folate, 40mg of calcium, and one mg of iron. Pink and red are high in beta carotene, an antioxidant that the body converts to vitamin A.
Grapefruit peel is candied and is an important source of pectin for the preservation of other fruits. The peel oil, expressed or distilled, is commonly employed in soft-drink flavouring.
Grapefruit seed oil is dark and exceedingly bitter but, bleached and refined, it is pale-yellow, bland, and like olive oil in flavour.
Grapefruit is an excellent appetizer as it promotes salivary and gastric digestion. It is an important health-builder and a tonic.
In spite of its sharp, sub-acid taste, the fresh grapefruit has an alkaline reaction after digestion. The citric acid of the fruit is oxidized in the human system and hence the effect is to increase the alkalinity of the fluids of the body. Its juice is beneficial in the prevention and treatment of acidity and many diseases caused by too much acid in the system.
The fruit is valuable in relieving constipation. The pulp, when wholly taken, supplies healthy bulk to aid bowel action. It is beneficial in maintaining the health of intestines and is regarded as a preventive food item against dysentery, diarrhoea, enteritis, typhus and other infective diseases of the digestive tract.
According to an expert, “grapefruit is a super thing in the food of diabetic patient. If grapefruits were eaten more liberally, there would be much less diabetes. A diabetic patient can use three grapefruits three times a day. A non-diabetic but with a tendency should use three fruits a day.
The juice of grapefruit is an excellent remedy for influenza as it helps in reducing the acidity in system and its bitter properties arising from a substance called ‘Marin gin, tones the system up. It quenches thirst and removes the burning sensation of fever.
It contains natural ‘quinine’ and hence is valuable in the treatment of malaria. This ‘quinine’ is also beneficial in feverish colds. It can be extracted from fruits by boiling a quarter of a grapefruit and straining the pulp. It is beneficial in the treatment of fatigue. Taking a glass of grapefruit and lemon juice in equal parts is an excellent way of dispelling fatigue and general tiredness after a day’s work.
Grapefruit stimulates the appetite and is used for digestive, stomachic, antiseptic, tonic, and diuretic qualities. Over the years a number of people have promoted the grapefruit as possessing a unique ability to burn away fat. People following grapefruit diets lose weight.
Grapefruit is high in pectin, a soluble fibre that helps lower blood cholesterol. Pink and red grapefruits are high in lycopene, an antioxidant that appears to lower the risk of prostate cancer.
Researchers have not yet identified lycogen’s mechanism of action, but a six-year Harvard study involving 48,000 doctors and other health professionals has linked 10 servings of lycopene-rich foods a week with a 50 per cent reduction in prostate cancer.
Other protective plant chemicals found in grapefruits include phenolic acid, which inhibits the formation of cancer-causing nitrosamines; limonoids, terpenes, and monoterpenes, which induce the production of enzymes that help, prevent cancer; and bioflavonoid, which inhibit the action of hormones that promote tumour growth.
Some people with rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and other inflammatory disorders find that eating grapefruit daily seems to alleviate their symptoms. This is thought to stem from plant chemicals that block Prostaglandins, substances that cause inflammation.
People who are allergic to citrus fruits are likely to react to grapefruits, too. The sensitivity may be to the fruit itself or to oil in the peel. Grapefruit has serious interactions with many commonly prescribed medications. Its juice inhibits a special enzyme in the intestines that is responsible for the natural breakdown and absorption of many medications. When the action of this enzyme is blocked, the blood levels of these medications increase, which can lead to toxic side effects from the medications.
The grapefruit juice research suggests that flavonoids and/or furanocoumarin compounds are the substances that block the enzyme in intestines that normally metabolizes many drugs. The grapefruit juice-drug interaction can lead to unpredictable and hazardous levels of certain important drugs. These medications should not be consumed with grapefruit juice unless advised by a doctor: The juice of grapefruit is extremely rich in vitamin C and potassium. It can, therefore, be beneficially used as a medicine in scanty urination caused by liver, kidney and heart disorders.
Grapefruit pectin is a natural source of soluble dietary fibre and offers many other health benefits that are supported by scientific evidence. Scientists are studying grapefruit for its medicinal value in connection with the following conditions:
Heart disease and high cholesterol: Grapefruit has been observed to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels. There is only limited research to support the use of grapefruit pectin in connection with heart disease in humans. It is not clear what dose is safe or effective.
Eczema: One study suggests that grapefruit may provide benefit for those with eczema. However, the study is small, and therefore it is unclear whether there is any benefit from grapefruit for this condition.
Many claim that grapefruit pectin produces a variety of health benefits in addition to those described above. It is now being recognized as a natural and tasteful means for reducing cholesterol and triglycerides.
The other benefits are: The waste from grapefruit packing plants has long been converted into molasses for cattle. After oil extraction, the hulls can be used for soil conditioning, or, combined with the dried pulp, as cattle feed.
A detoxification process must precede the feeding of this product to pigs or poultry. Old grapefruit trees can be salvaged for their wood. The sapwood is pale-yellow or nearly white, the heartwood yellow to brownish, hard, fine-grained, and useful for domestic purposes. Mainly, pruned branches and felled trees are cut up for firewood.
The fruit is nutritive and refrigerant and possesses very much the same properties as orange, lemon and lime. The seedless variety is the best as it often contains greater amount of sugar, calcium and phosphorus. The nutritional value of the fruit varies with colour (white, pink, or red).
Red and pink grapefruits have a higher amount of vitamin A. It also has 325mg of potassium, 25mcg (micrograms) of folate, 40mg of calcium, and one mg of iron. Pink and red are high in beta carotene, an antioxidant that the body converts to vitamin A.
Grapefruit peel is candied and is an important source of pectin for the preservation of other fruits. The peel oil, expressed or distilled, is commonly employed in soft-drink flavouring.
Grapefruit seed oil is dark and exceedingly bitter but, bleached and refined, it is pale-yellow, bland, and like olive oil in flavour.
Grapefruit is an excellent appetizer as it promotes salivary and gastric digestion. It is an important health-builder and a tonic.
In spite of its sharp, sub-acid taste, the fresh grapefruit has an alkaline reaction after digestion. The citric acid of the fruit is oxidized in the human system and hence the effect is to increase the alkalinity of the fluids of the body. Its juice is beneficial in the prevention and treatment of acidity and many diseases caused by too much acid in the system.
The fruit is valuable in relieving constipation. The pulp, when wholly taken, supplies healthy bulk to aid bowel action. It is beneficial in maintaining the health of intestines and is regarded as a preventive food item against dysentery, diarrhoea, enteritis, typhus and other infective diseases of the digestive tract.
According to an expert, “grapefruit is a super thing in the food of diabetic patient. If grapefruits were eaten more liberally, there would be much less diabetes. A diabetic patient can use three grapefruits three times a day. A non-diabetic but with a tendency should use three fruits a day.
The juice of grapefruit is an excellent remedy for influenza as it helps in reducing the acidity in system and its bitter properties arising from a substance called ‘Marin gin, tones the system up. It quenches thirst and removes the burning sensation of fever.
It contains natural ‘quinine’ and hence is valuable in the treatment of malaria. This ‘quinine’ is also beneficial in feverish colds. It can be extracted from fruits by boiling a quarter of a grapefruit and straining the pulp. It is beneficial in the treatment of fatigue. Taking a glass of grapefruit and lemon juice in equal parts is an excellent way of dispelling fatigue and general tiredness after a day’s work.
Grapefruit stimulates the appetite and is used for digestive, stomachic, antiseptic, tonic, and diuretic qualities. Over the years a number of people have promoted the grapefruit as possessing a unique ability to burn away fat. People following grapefruit diets lose weight.
Grapefruit is high in pectin, a soluble fibre that helps lower blood cholesterol. Pink and red grapefruits are high in lycopene, an antioxidant that appears to lower the risk of prostate cancer.
Researchers have not yet identified lycogen’s mechanism of action, but a six-year Harvard study involving 48,000 doctors and other health professionals has linked 10 servings of lycopene-rich foods a week with a 50 per cent reduction in prostate cancer.
Other protective plant chemicals found in grapefruits include phenolic acid, which inhibits the formation of cancer-causing nitrosamines; limonoids, terpenes, and monoterpenes, which induce the production of enzymes that help, prevent cancer; and bioflavonoid, which inhibit the action of hormones that promote tumour growth.
Some people with rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and other inflammatory disorders find that eating grapefruit daily seems to alleviate their symptoms. This is thought to stem from plant chemicals that block Prostaglandins, substances that cause inflammation.
People who are allergic to citrus fruits are likely to react to grapefruits, too. The sensitivity may be to the fruit itself or to oil in the peel. Grapefruit has serious interactions with many commonly prescribed medications. Its juice inhibits a special enzyme in the intestines that is responsible for the natural breakdown and absorption of many medications. When the action of this enzyme is blocked, the blood levels of these medications increase, which can lead to toxic side effects from the medications.
The grapefruit juice research suggests that flavonoids and/or furanocoumarin compounds are the substances that block the enzyme in intestines that normally metabolizes many drugs. The grapefruit juice-drug interaction can lead to unpredictable and hazardous levels of certain important drugs. These medications should not be consumed with grapefruit juice unless advised by a doctor: The juice of grapefruit is extremely rich in vitamin C and potassium. It can, therefore, be beneficially used as a medicine in scanty urination caused by liver, kidney and heart disorders.
Grapefruit pectin is a natural source of soluble dietary fibre and offers many other health benefits that are supported by scientific evidence. Scientists are studying grapefruit for its medicinal value in connection with the following conditions:
Heart disease and high cholesterol: Grapefruit has been observed to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels. There is only limited research to support the use of grapefruit pectin in connection with heart disease in humans. It is not clear what dose is safe or effective.
Eczema: One study suggests that grapefruit may provide benefit for those with eczema. However, the study is small, and therefore it is unclear whether there is any benefit from grapefruit for this condition.
Many claim that grapefruit pectin produces a variety of health benefits in addition to those described above. It is now being recognized as a natural and tasteful means for reducing cholesterol and triglycerides.
The other benefits are: The waste from grapefruit packing plants has long been converted into molasses for cattle. After oil extraction, the hulls can be used for soil conditioning, or, combined with the dried pulp, as cattle feed.
A detoxification process must precede the feeding of this product to pigs or poultry. Old grapefruit trees can be salvaged for their wood. The sapwood is pale-yellow or nearly white, the heartwood yellow to brownish, hard, fine-grained, and useful for domestic purposes. Mainly, pruned branches and felled trees are cut up for firewood.
5 Things You Didn’t Know About Your Teeth
No. 1: Sour can be just as bad as sweet.
Sugar isn’t the only dental villain that undermines healthy teeth. Acidic, low-pH foods -- sour candy, soft drinks, fruit juices -- soften teeth. The result: enamel erosion and diminished tooth size. “Citric acid is the worst acid for your teeth,” says Martha Keels, DDS, chief of pediatric dentistry at Duke’s Children’s Hospital. “We’re seeing acid erosion every day.”
Dentists’ worst nightmare: ultra-sour, ultra-sticky, ultra-sugary kids’ candies such as Warheads and Toxic Waste. Even sour gummy vitamins can be culprits.
“These sour candies, when tested, have a really low pH, nearing battery acid,” says Robyn Loewen, DDS, a fellow in the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and a diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. “I liken it to an ice cube that’s been left on the counter. It melts the tooth.”
To make matters worse, children’s tooth enamel isn’t mature until a decade after their teeth erupt, Loewen says. Because it’s softer, “it’s more susceptible to the acid.”
Adults aren’t off the hook: Low pH fare includes sour mango Altoids and even sugar-free soft drinks.
If you’re going to consume highly acidic foods, do it during mealtime, Keels says. You’ll minimize the effects by consuming them along with other foods. Better yet, chew xylitol-containing gum, such as Ice Breakers Ice Cubes, Trident, or Orbit, Keels says. Xylitol fakes out bacteria and may even help prevent cavities. Also, gums containing Recaldent, such as Trident, will help teeth remineralize and resist tooth decay.
No. 2: Enamel is the hardest substance in the body, but it can break easily.
Ice, popcorn, and tongue and lip piercings can chip teeth.
And unlike skin, teeth can’t re-grow. “We’re not like beavers,” says American Dental Association spokesman Richard Price, DMD.
Dentists detest ice and popcorn. Eating a popcorn kernel is like eating “stone,” Price says. And ice is brittle. “You have a combination of something ultra hard and something ultra hard,” he says. Be especially careful if your mouth is full of fillings. “You wouldn’t run a marathon with a bad leg,” he says. “Don’t chomp away if your teeth aren’t as strong as they used to be.”
Dentists also “hate” piercings of the tongue and lip, says Nuntiya Kakanantadilok, DMD, director of the division of pediatric dentistry at Montefiore Medical Center. The metal jewelry harbors bacteria -- and can chip teeth.
A metal barbell-like tongue ring is especially bad. “Every time you talk, it hits your teeth,” says Paul Casamassimo, DDS, a spokesman for the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and chairman of pediatric dentistry at Ohio State University.
A 2007 review study published in the American Journal of Dentistry showed that 14% to 41% of people with oral piercings suffered from tooth fractures and wear. They noted that piercing in the mouth may cause “significant oral deformities” and “may lead to tooth loss.”
To keep healthy teeth, treat them with TLC. “Don’t use your teeth as pliers,” Price says. “They weren’t made to straighten out the tine of the fork.”
No. 3. You can be missing teeth at any age. Although many people get a tooth, or all 32, pulled, some folks are born missing choppers. The most common missing ones are the wisdom teeth. The second most common is the lateral incisor, which is located next to the big front tooth. People can inherit missing teeth.
Still, the most frequent causes of tooth loss are gum disease and cavities.
A number of people find it cheaper and easier to pull all their teeth than to pay for fillings and implants. After all, implants can cost about $2,000 per tooth, whereas a cheap set of dentures can cost less than $1,000, Keels says.
Studies show that 22.8% of Americans 65-74 and 29.4% of Americans 75 and older wear dentures.
No. 4: Too much fluoride can be bad for your teeth. We know that fluoride is important for healthy teeth. But kids who ingest excessive amounts of this substance when they’re 8 or younger, when their permanent teeth are developing under the gums, can develop a condition known as fluorosis. Typically fluorisis starts out causing white spots, but they can become brown. Unfortunately, fluorisis stains are “intrinsic,” which means the dentist cannot simply polish off a surface stain.
Excessive fluoride causes teeth to become porous. The problem is not the water supply: Since 1950, the American Dental Association has recommended fluoridation of community water supplies because it makes teeth harder and more resistant to decay. The problem occurs when children ingest extra fluoride, typically by swallowing too much toothpaste. Unlike water, toothpaste “is meant to work only topically,” Kakanantadilok says.
To make sure children don’t swallow toothpaste, supervise them while they’re brushing. Tell them to squeeze out only a pea-size amount of paste so that they won’t accidentally swallow too much. Most cases of fluorosis involve children who used more than that. Kakanantadilok recommends that kids stick to fluoride-free paste until they understand that they need to spit it out, not swallow it.
No. 5: Braces can cause cavities. Brush well if you want your straightened teeth to be healthy teeth. Otherwise, food, bacteria, and acid stuck around braces can “slough the enamel away,” says Raymond George Sr., DMD, president of the American Association of Orthodontists.
The result can look bad.
“You actually start forming cavities around the brackets of the braces,” Kakanantadilok says. Even if the decay doesn’t fully develop into a cavity, it can cause “demineralization.” The result are light spots on the teeth. (As cavities progress, they then get darker.)
The tongue is nature’s toothbrush, Keels says. When people get braces, they tend to stop rubbing their tongue against their teeth because it’s not comfortable to hit metal. “You’re not tongue brushing any more,” she says. The result can be a build-up of “gunk.”
About 3.9 million U.S. kids are getting orthodontic treatment, and 1.1 million U.S. adults are, too, according to the American Association of Orthodontists. In the age of perfect movie-star teeth, adults want nicer choppers, too.
But it's not just about looks. Adults also want healthier teeth. After all, Keels says, “crowded mouths are harder to clean.”
Sugar isn’t the only dental villain that undermines healthy teeth. Acidic, low-pH foods -- sour candy, soft drinks, fruit juices -- soften teeth. The result: enamel erosion and diminished tooth size. “Citric acid is the worst acid for your teeth,” says Martha Keels, DDS, chief of pediatric dentistry at Duke’s Children’s Hospital. “We’re seeing acid erosion every day.”
Dentists’ worst nightmare: ultra-sour, ultra-sticky, ultra-sugary kids’ candies such as Warheads and Toxic Waste. Even sour gummy vitamins can be culprits.
“These sour candies, when tested, have a really low pH, nearing battery acid,” says Robyn Loewen, DDS, a fellow in the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and a diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. “I liken it to an ice cube that’s been left on the counter. It melts the tooth.”
To make matters worse, children’s tooth enamel isn’t mature until a decade after their teeth erupt, Loewen says. Because it’s softer, “it’s more susceptible to the acid.”
Adults aren’t off the hook: Low pH fare includes sour mango Altoids and even sugar-free soft drinks.
If you’re going to consume highly acidic foods, do it during mealtime, Keels says. You’ll minimize the effects by consuming them along with other foods. Better yet, chew xylitol-containing gum, such as Ice Breakers Ice Cubes, Trident, or Orbit, Keels says. Xylitol fakes out bacteria and may even help prevent cavities. Also, gums containing Recaldent, such as Trident, will help teeth remineralize and resist tooth decay.
No. 2: Enamel is the hardest substance in the body, but it can break easily.
Ice, popcorn, and tongue and lip piercings can chip teeth.
And unlike skin, teeth can’t re-grow. “We’re not like beavers,” says American Dental Association spokesman Richard Price, DMD.
Dentists detest ice and popcorn. Eating a popcorn kernel is like eating “stone,” Price says. And ice is brittle. “You have a combination of something ultra hard and something ultra hard,” he says. Be especially careful if your mouth is full of fillings. “You wouldn’t run a marathon with a bad leg,” he says. “Don’t chomp away if your teeth aren’t as strong as they used to be.”
Dentists also “hate” piercings of the tongue and lip, says Nuntiya Kakanantadilok, DMD, director of the division of pediatric dentistry at Montefiore Medical Center. The metal jewelry harbors bacteria -- and can chip teeth.
A metal barbell-like tongue ring is especially bad. “Every time you talk, it hits your teeth,” says Paul Casamassimo, DDS, a spokesman for the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and chairman of pediatric dentistry at Ohio State University.
A 2007 review study published in the American Journal of Dentistry showed that 14% to 41% of people with oral piercings suffered from tooth fractures and wear. They noted that piercing in the mouth may cause “significant oral deformities” and “may lead to tooth loss.”
To keep healthy teeth, treat them with TLC. “Don’t use your teeth as pliers,” Price says. “They weren’t made to straighten out the tine of the fork.”
No. 3. You can be missing teeth at any age. Although many people get a tooth, or all 32, pulled, some folks are born missing choppers. The most common missing ones are the wisdom teeth. The second most common is the lateral incisor, which is located next to the big front tooth. People can inherit missing teeth.
Still, the most frequent causes of tooth loss are gum disease and cavities.
A number of people find it cheaper and easier to pull all their teeth than to pay for fillings and implants. After all, implants can cost about $2,000 per tooth, whereas a cheap set of dentures can cost less than $1,000, Keels says.
Studies show that 22.8% of Americans 65-74 and 29.4% of Americans 75 and older wear dentures.
No. 4: Too much fluoride can be bad for your teeth. We know that fluoride is important for healthy teeth. But kids who ingest excessive amounts of this substance when they’re 8 or younger, when their permanent teeth are developing under the gums, can develop a condition known as fluorosis. Typically fluorisis starts out causing white spots, but they can become brown. Unfortunately, fluorisis stains are “intrinsic,” which means the dentist cannot simply polish off a surface stain.
Excessive fluoride causes teeth to become porous. The problem is not the water supply: Since 1950, the American Dental Association has recommended fluoridation of community water supplies because it makes teeth harder and more resistant to decay. The problem occurs when children ingest extra fluoride, typically by swallowing too much toothpaste. Unlike water, toothpaste “is meant to work only topically,” Kakanantadilok says.
To make sure children don’t swallow toothpaste, supervise them while they’re brushing. Tell them to squeeze out only a pea-size amount of paste so that they won’t accidentally swallow too much. Most cases of fluorosis involve children who used more than that. Kakanantadilok recommends that kids stick to fluoride-free paste until they understand that they need to spit it out, not swallow it.
No. 5: Braces can cause cavities. Brush well if you want your straightened teeth to be healthy teeth. Otherwise, food, bacteria, and acid stuck around braces can “slough the enamel away,” says Raymond George Sr., DMD, president of the American Association of Orthodontists.
The result can look bad.
“You actually start forming cavities around the brackets of the braces,” Kakanantadilok says. Even if the decay doesn’t fully develop into a cavity, it can cause “demineralization.” The result are light spots on the teeth. (As cavities progress, they then get darker.)
The tongue is nature’s toothbrush, Keels says. When people get braces, they tend to stop rubbing their tongue against their teeth because it’s not comfortable to hit metal. “You’re not tongue brushing any more,” she says. The result can be a build-up of “gunk.”
About 3.9 million U.S. kids are getting orthodontic treatment, and 1.1 million U.S. adults are, too, according to the American Association of Orthodontists. In the age of perfect movie-star teeth, adults want nicer choppers, too.
But it's not just about looks. Adults also want healthier teeth. After all, Keels says, “crowded mouths are harder to clean.”
Dental Health
Good health involves more than just brushing. To keep your teeth and mouth healthy for a lifetime of use, there are steps that you should follow. Here's what you need to consider:
1. Understand your own oral health needs.Talk with your dentist, other oral health care specialist, or hygienist about any special conditions in your mouth and any ways in which your medical/health conditions affect your teeth or oral health. For example, cancer treatments, pregnancy, heart diseases, diabetes, dental appliances (dentures, braces) can all impact your oral health and may necessitate a change in the care of your mouth and/or teeth. Be sure to tell your dentist if you have experienced a change in your general health or in any medications you are taking since your last dental visit.
2. Develop, then follow, a daily oral health routine.Based on discussions with your dentist, other oral health care specialist, and hygienist and considering your unique general health and oral health situations, develop an oral health routine that is easy to follow on a daily basis. For example, people with special conditions - such as pregnancy, diabetes and other underlying diseases, orthodontic appliances - may require additional instruction and perhaps treatments to keep their mouth healthy. Make sure you understand the additional care and/or treatment that is needed, commit to the extra tasks, and work them into your daily health routine.
3. Use fluoride.Children and adults benefit from fluoride use. Fluoride strengthens developing teeth in children and prevents tooth decay in both children and adults. Toothpastes and mouth rinses contain fluoride. Fluoride levels in tap water may not be high enough without supplementation to prevent tooth decay. Contact your water utility to determine the level for your area. Talk with your dentist about your fluoride needs. Ask if fluoride supplements or a higher strength, prescription-only fluoride product is necessary for you.
4. Brush and floss daily.Brush your teeth at least twice a day (morning and before bed time) and floss at least once a day. Better still would be to brush after every meal and snack. These activities remove plaque, which if not removed, combines with sugars to form acids that lead to tooth decay. Bacterial plaque also causes gingivitis and other periodontal diseases.
5. Eat a balanced diet and limit snacking.Eat a variety of foods, but eat fewer foods that contain sugars and starches (for example, cookies, cakes, pies, candies, ice cream, dried fruits and raisins, soft drinks, potato chips). These foods produce the most acids in the mouth, which begin the decay process. If you must snack, brush your teeth afterward or chew sugarless gum.
6. If you use tobacco products, quit.Smoking cigarettes or using smokeless tobacco products increases your risk of oral cancer and cancers of the larynx, pharynx and esophagus; gingivitis; as well as causes bad breath, tooth discoloration and contributes to other oral and general health problems.
7. Examine your mouth regularly.Become familiar with the appearance of your own mouth and teeth through frequent examination. This way, you will be able to catch any changes at an early stage and have these changes examined by a dentist. Look for the development of any spots, lesions, cuts, swellings or growths on your gums, tongue, cheeks, inside of your lips, and floor and roof of your mouth. Examine your teeth for any signs of chipping or cracking, discoloration, and looseness. If you experience a change in your bite or develop pain, call your dentist as soon as possible. An oral examination is particularly important to conduct if you are a tobacco user, since you are at an increased risk of developing oral cancer.
8. Visit your dentist regularly.The standard recommendation is to visit your dentist twice a year for check-ups and cleanings. Talk with your dentist about the frequency that is best for you considering your oral health situation.
9. Develop a partnership with your dentist.Don't be afraid to ask your dentist for more information if you don't understand a treatment or procedure. You should be able to have a free and frank discussion with your dentist about the following types of issues:
1. Understand your own oral health needs.Talk with your dentist, other oral health care specialist, or hygienist about any special conditions in your mouth and any ways in which your medical/health conditions affect your teeth or oral health. For example, cancer treatments, pregnancy, heart diseases, diabetes, dental appliances (dentures, braces) can all impact your oral health and may necessitate a change in the care of your mouth and/or teeth. Be sure to tell your dentist if you have experienced a change in your general health or in any medications you are taking since your last dental visit.
2. Develop, then follow, a daily oral health routine.Based on discussions with your dentist, other oral health care specialist, and hygienist and considering your unique general health and oral health situations, develop an oral health routine that is easy to follow on a daily basis. For example, people with special conditions - such as pregnancy, diabetes and other underlying diseases, orthodontic appliances - may require additional instruction and perhaps treatments to keep their mouth healthy. Make sure you understand the additional care and/or treatment that is needed, commit to the extra tasks, and work them into your daily health routine.
3. Use fluoride.Children and adults benefit from fluoride use. Fluoride strengthens developing teeth in children and prevents tooth decay in both children and adults. Toothpastes and mouth rinses contain fluoride. Fluoride levels in tap water may not be high enough without supplementation to prevent tooth decay. Contact your water utility to determine the level for your area. Talk with your dentist about your fluoride needs. Ask if fluoride supplements or a higher strength, prescription-only fluoride product is necessary for you.
4. Brush and floss daily.Brush your teeth at least twice a day (morning and before bed time) and floss at least once a day. Better still would be to brush after every meal and snack. These activities remove plaque, which if not removed, combines with sugars to form acids that lead to tooth decay. Bacterial plaque also causes gingivitis and other periodontal diseases.
5. Eat a balanced diet and limit snacking.Eat a variety of foods, but eat fewer foods that contain sugars and starches (for example, cookies, cakes, pies, candies, ice cream, dried fruits and raisins, soft drinks, potato chips). These foods produce the most acids in the mouth, which begin the decay process. If you must snack, brush your teeth afterward or chew sugarless gum.
6. If you use tobacco products, quit.Smoking cigarettes or using smokeless tobacco products increases your risk of oral cancer and cancers of the larynx, pharynx and esophagus; gingivitis; as well as causes bad breath, tooth discoloration and contributes to other oral and general health problems.
7. Examine your mouth regularly.Become familiar with the appearance of your own mouth and teeth through frequent examination. This way, you will be able to catch any changes at an early stage and have these changes examined by a dentist. Look for the development of any spots, lesions, cuts, swellings or growths on your gums, tongue, cheeks, inside of your lips, and floor and roof of your mouth. Examine your teeth for any signs of chipping or cracking, discoloration, and looseness. If you experience a change in your bite or develop pain, call your dentist as soon as possible. An oral examination is particularly important to conduct if you are a tobacco user, since you are at an increased risk of developing oral cancer.
8. Visit your dentist regularly.The standard recommendation is to visit your dentist twice a year for check-ups and cleanings. Talk with your dentist about the frequency that is best for you considering your oral health situation.
9. Develop a partnership with your dentist.Don't be afraid to ask your dentist for more information if you don't understand a treatment or procedure. You should be able to have a free and frank discussion with your dentist about the following types of issues:
- What are the treatment options for a particular dental condition?
- How do these options differ in cost and in their durability?
- Do all the options solve the problem?
- What are the benefits and drawbacks of each option?
- Of the dental treatments being recommended, which are absolutely necessary, which are less urgent, which are elective, and which are merely cosmetic?
- What are the consequences of delaying treatment?
- How much will the treatment cost?
- When is payment due? What method of payment does your dentist expect?
- Do you have a clear understanding of all fees and methods and schedules of payment?
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
A Healthy Diet for Type 2 Diabetes
Here's some good news: Healthy eating can have a dramatic impact on the symptoms and progression of type 2 diabetes and its frequent precursor, prediabetes. But the problem is that there's a lot of conflicting information out there. Just what does healthy eating with type 2 diabetes really mean? No sweets? Scheduled snacks? Low-fat, low-carb -- or neither?
To help guide you, WebMD turned to Hope Warshaw, MMSc, RD, CDE. She's been a dietitian and diabetes educator for almost 30 years, and is the author of numerous books on the subject, including Diabetes Meal Planning Made Easy, published by the American Diabetes Association.
How does a healthy eating plan for someone with type 2 diabetes differ from what everyone else should be eating?It doesn't. The nutrition recommendations from the American Diabetes Association echo the healthy eating guidelines for the general public. Everyone should be eating more whole grains, fruits, and vegetables and less saturated and trans fat. Remember that the type of fat matters to your heart and blood vessels. We've moved away from recommending a strict low-fat diet and shifted toward an eating plan that allows for a moderate amount of fat, provided you choose healthier fats, like monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.
If you have diabetes and are trying to lose weight, don't take the drastic diet approach, like a low-carb diet. It might help you lose weight in the short-term, but there's not good evidence that it will help you keep it off. Here's my point: You're going to have diabetes for the rest of your life. You need to be thinking about minor doable changes in your eating habits that you can really maintain. Even small steps towards healthier eating result in big rewards, like lower blood glucose and improved blood pressure and lipids.
You also don't need a special diet to tell you how to eat healthy. Most people -- especially people reading WebMD -- already know. The big challenge is actually doing it day after day, year after year.
What is the connection between diabetes and heart and blood vessel diseases?The connection is huge. It is said that diabetes is a cardiovascular disease. But lots of people haven't realized it yet. They worry more about diabetes affecting their eyesight and kidneys. Yes, that can happen. But the fact is that people with diabetes suffer and die much more from heart and blood vessel disease. That's the real issue.
This is the key reason there's been a big change in the focus of diabetes management. It's no longer just about glucose control. It's at least -- if not more -- important for people to focus on controlling blood pressure and blood lipids, particularly LDL cholesterol. By the time someone gets diagnosed with diabetes, he or she may have already been living with serious risk factors for heart and blood vessel disease for years.
To help guide you, WebMD turned to Hope Warshaw, MMSc, RD, CDE. She's been a dietitian and diabetes educator for almost 30 years, and is the author of numerous books on the subject, including Diabetes Meal Planning Made Easy, published by the American Diabetes Association.
How does a healthy eating plan for someone with type 2 diabetes differ from what everyone else should be eating?It doesn't. The nutrition recommendations from the American Diabetes Association echo the healthy eating guidelines for the general public. Everyone should be eating more whole grains, fruits, and vegetables and less saturated and trans fat. Remember that the type of fat matters to your heart and blood vessels. We've moved away from recommending a strict low-fat diet and shifted toward an eating plan that allows for a moderate amount of fat, provided you choose healthier fats, like monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.
If you have diabetes and are trying to lose weight, don't take the drastic diet approach, like a low-carb diet. It might help you lose weight in the short-term, but there's not good evidence that it will help you keep it off. Here's my point: You're going to have diabetes for the rest of your life. You need to be thinking about minor doable changes in your eating habits that you can really maintain. Even small steps towards healthier eating result in big rewards, like lower blood glucose and improved blood pressure and lipids.
You also don't need a special diet to tell you how to eat healthy. Most people -- especially people reading WebMD -- already know. The big challenge is actually doing it day after day, year after year.
What is the connection between diabetes and heart and blood vessel diseases?The connection is huge. It is said that diabetes is a cardiovascular disease. But lots of people haven't realized it yet. They worry more about diabetes affecting their eyesight and kidneys. Yes, that can happen. But the fact is that people with diabetes suffer and die much more from heart and blood vessel disease. That's the real issue.
This is the key reason there's been a big change in the focus of diabetes management. It's no longer just about glucose control. It's at least -- if not more -- important for people to focus on controlling blood pressure and blood lipids, particularly LDL cholesterol. By the time someone gets diagnosed with diabetes, he or she may have already been living with serious risk factors for heart and blood vessel disease for years.
6 Serious Medical Symptoms
Here are six important flashing signals.
1. Paralysis of the arms or legs, tingling, numbness, confusion, dizziness, double vision, slurred speech, trouble finding words, or weakness, especially on one side of the face or body. These are signs of stroke -- or a "brain attack" -- in which arteries that supply oxygen to the brain become blocked or rupture, causing brain tissue to die.Symptoms depend on which area of the brain is involved. If a large blood vessel is blocked, a wide area may be affected, so a person may have paralysis on one side of the body and lose other functions, such as speech and understanding. If a smaller vessel is blocked, paralysis may remain limited to an arm or leg.If you have symptoms, call 911 right away and get to an emergency room that offers clot-busting therapy for strokes due to blocked vessels. Such treatment, which dissolves clots in blocked vessels, needs to be given within the first three hours after symptoms begin, but newer treatments may work within a longer time frame, says Birge, who is medical director at the Tanner Medical Center in Carrollton, Ga.Timing is urgent; fast treatment can potentially stop brain tissue death before permanent brain injury happens. "There is a time clock ticking as to when you might totally recover," Birge tells WebMD.
2. Chest pain or discomfort; pain in the arm, jaw, or neck; breaking out in a cold sweat; extreme weakness; nausea; vomiting; feeling faint; or being short of breath. These are signs of heart attack. If you get some of these symptoms, call 911 immediately and go to the emergency room by ambulance. Shulman and Birge also recommend that patients chew one regular, full-strength aspirin (unless they're allergic to aspirin) to help prevent damage to the heart muscle during a heart attack.Not everyone who has a heart attack feels chest pain or pressure or a sense of indigestion. Some people, especially women, the elderly, and people with diabetes, get "painless" heart attacks, the doctors say. Being aware of "painless" heart attack signs is crucial: a very weak feeling, sudden dizziness, a pounding heart, shortness of breath, heavy sweating, a feeling of impending doom, nausea, and vomiting.Both doctors say that it's important to learn heart attack signs and understand them in context. "Everybody has jaw pain. You don't immediately run and say, 'I've got a heart attack,'" Shulman tells WebMD. He is an associate professor of internal medicine at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta. "But if you're also sweating and you have some of these other symptoms -- shortness of breath and so forth -- then that's going to tip you off that there's something much more serious happening."
3. Tenderness and pain in the back of your lower leg, chest pain, shortness of breath, or coughing up blood. These are symptoms of a potentially dangerous blood clot in your leg, especially if they come after you've been sitting for a long time, such as on an airplane or during a long car trip. These signs can also surface if you've been bedridden after surgery. "Anybody is susceptible," Birge says. He adds that such blood clots are more common than most people and doctors realize. Blood is more likely to pool in your legs when you're sitting or lying down for long periods of time, as opposed to standing and walking. If a blood clot forms in your leg as a result, your calf can feel swollen, painful, and tender to the touch; you should be evaluated. If you get sudden chest pain or shortness of breath, a piece of the blood clot may have broken off and traveled through the bloodstream to your lungs. This condition can be life-threatening, so get to an emergency room without delay.
4. Blood in the urine without accompanying pain. Anytime you see blood in your urine, call your doctor promptly, even if you have no pain.Kidney stones or a bladder or prostate infection are common causes of blood in the urine. But these problems are usually painful or uncomfortable, which sends people to the doctor promptly.In contrast, when people see blood in their urine but feel no pain, some take a "wait and see" approach, especially if they just have one episode. "But you can't have this attitude," Shulman says. Lack of pain doesn't necessarily mean lack of seriousness.Cancer of the kidney, ureter, bladder, or prostate can cause bleeding into the urinary tract; when these cancers are small enough to be curable, they may not cause pain. So don't dismiss this important sign because, according to Shulman and Birge, "blood in the urine may be the only clue for an early diagnosis."
5. Asthma symptoms that don't improve or get worse. Asthma attacks are marked by wheezing or difficulty breathing. When an attack doesn't improve or worsens, a patient should get emergency care.If an asthma attack is left untreated, it can lead to severe chest muscle fatigue and death, say Shulman and Birge. Some people with persistent asthma hesitate to go to the emergency room because they've gone so many times before, or they need someone to drive them because they're too short of breath. So instead of seeking care, "They try to hang in there," Birge says, even if they need higher doses of inhalants or have decreasing lung function measurements when using a device to measure how well they move air out of their lungs.Because asthma makes breathing difficult, the muscles for breathing may tire and the volume of air exchanged by the lungs will decrease. As a result, a person's oxygen level drops while blood levels of carbon dioxide rise. As Birge and Shulman explain in their book, "A carbon dioxide buildup in the blood has a sedating effect on the brain, which may cause you to feel even drowsier. You may lose the motivation or energy to breathe.""A person with asthma who seems to be relaxing more, who seems to not be struggling for breath anymore -- even though they've been at it for six or eight hours -- may actually be worse. It could be a sign of respiratory fatigue," Birge says. Eventually, the person could stop breathing."They're really in a big danger zone," Shulman adds. Patients believe they're getting better when they're actually getting worse, he says. "They become sedated and seem to be peaceful when actually, they're dying."One of the most important considerations is how long an attack lasts, according to both doctors. "If you've been having labored respirations with the asthma not relenting after a period of several hours, even though you may be apparently doing OK, don't let it go any longer," Birge says. "Get on to the emergency room."
6. Depression and suicidal thoughts. Few people would put up with crushing chest pain or extreme shortness of breath, but many endure depression, even though at its extreme it can be life-threatening."Depression can be a very, very serious problem because people can commit suicide," Shulman says. "Some people will not seek care when they are depressed because they think that they'll be perceived as being crazy or not strong or not manly, and they have to understand that there is a chemical imbalance going on in their brain. It is a disease just like any other disease."Symptoms of depression include sadness, fatigue, apathy, anxiety, changes in sleep habits, and loss of appetite. Depression can be treated with medications and psychotherapy.If you have suicidal thoughts, you can speak to someone right away by calling national phone numbers such as 1-800-273-TALK or 1-800-SUICIDE.Speak Up When You Think Something Is WrongDoctors are human: They can miss important diagnoses, including heart attacks. A patient's awareness and vigilance can make a difference, Shulman says."My feeling is, as a doctor, I want a patient who's informed. I'd rather have a patient who's informed, who's helping me so I won't make a mistake," Shulman says. "And I can be honest and say, 'I'm human. Don't be intimated by me because I have a white coat on. Don't be intimidated by me because I'm using big words.'"If patients can recognize potentially serious symptoms, they'll have more power when they go to the doctor or the emergency room, he adds. "You have enough to say, 'Well, have you ruled out this problem?'"
1. Paralysis of the arms or legs, tingling, numbness, confusion, dizziness, double vision, slurred speech, trouble finding words, or weakness, especially on one side of the face or body. These are signs of stroke -- or a "brain attack" -- in which arteries that supply oxygen to the brain become blocked or rupture, causing brain tissue to die.Symptoms depend on which area of the brain is involved. If a large blood vessel is blocked, a wide area may be affected, so a person may have paralysis on one side of the body and lose other functions, such as speech and understanding. If a smaller vessel is blocked, paralysis may remain limited to an arm or leg.If you have symptoms, call 911 right away and get to an emergency room that offers clot-busting therapy for strokes due to blocked vessels. Such treatment, which dissolves clots in blocked vessels, needs to be given within the first three hours after symptoms begin, but newer treatments may work within a longer time frame, says Birge, who is medical director at the Tanner Medical Center in Carrollton, Ga.Timing is urgent; fast treatment can potentially stop brain tissue death before permanent brain injury happens. "There is a time clock ticking as to when you might totally recover," Birge tells WebMD.
2. Chest pain or discomfort; pain in the arm, jaw, or neck; breaking out in a cold sweat; extreme weakness; nausea; vomiting; feeling faint; or being short of breath. These are signs of heart attack. If you get some of these symptoms, call 911 immediately and go to the emergency room by ambulance. Shulman and Birge also recommend that patients chew one regular, full-strength aspirin (unless they're allergic to aspirin) to help prevent damage to the heart muscle during a heart attack.Not everyone who has a heart attack feels chest pain or pressure or a sense of indigestion. Some people, especially women, the elderly, and people with diabetes, get "painless" heart attacks, the doctors say. Being aware of "painless" heart attack signs is crucial: a very weak feeling, sudden dizziness, a pounding heart, shortness of breath, heavy sweating, a feeling of impending doom, nausea, and vomiting.Both doctors say that it's important to learn heart attack signs and understand them in context. "Everybody has jaw pain. You don't immediately run and say, 'I've got a heart attack,'" Shulman tells WebMD. He is an associate professor of internal medicine at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta. "But if you're also sweating and you have some of these other symptoms -- shortness of breath and so forth -- then that's going to tip you off that there's something much more serious happening."
3. Tenderness and pain in the back of your lower leg, chest pain, shortness of breath, or coughing up blood. These are symptoms of a potentially dangerous blood clot in your leg, especially if they come after you've been sitting for a long time, such as on an airplane or during a long car trip. These signs can also surface if you've been bedridden after surgery. "Anybody is susceptible," Birge says. He adds that such blood clots are more common than most people and doctors realize. Blood is more likely to pool in your legs when you're sitting or lying down for long periods of time, as opposed to standing and walking. If a blood clot forms in your leg as a result, your calf can feel swollen, painful, and tender to the touch; you should be evaluated. If you get sudden chest pain or shortness of breath, a piece of the blood clot may have broken off and traveled through the bloodstream to your lungs. This condition can be life-threatening, so get to an emergency room without delay.
4. Blood in the urine without accompanying pain. Anytime you see blood in your urine, call your doctor promptly, even if you have no pain.Kidney stones or a bladder or prostate infection are common causes of blood in the urine. But these problems are usually painful or uncomfortable, which sends people to the doctor promptly.In contrast, when people see blood in their urine but feel no pain, some take a "wait and see" approach, especially if they just have one episode. "But you can't have this attitude," Shulman says. Lack of pain doesn't necessarily mean lack of seriousness.Cancer of the kidney, ureter, bladder, or prostate can cause bleeding into the urinary tract; when these cancers are small enough to be curable, they may not cause pain. So don't dismiss this important sign because, according to Shulman and Birge, "blood in the urine may be the only clue for an early diagnosis."
5. Asthma symptoms that don't improve or get worse. Asthma attacks are marked by wheezing or difficulty breathing. When an attack doesn't improve or worsens, a patient should get emergency care.If an asthma attack is left untreated, it can lead to severe chest muscle fatigue and death, say Shulman and Birge. Some people with persistent asthma hesitate to go to the emergency room because they've gone so many times before, or they need someone to drive them because they're too short of breath. So instead of seeking care, "They try to hang in there," Birge says, even if they need higher doses of inhalants or have decreasing lung function measurements when using a device to measure how well they move air out of their lungs.Because asthma makes breathing difficult, the muscles for breathing may tire and the volume of air exchanged by the lungs will decrease. As a result, a person's oxygen level drops while blood levels of carbon dioxide rise. As Birge and Shulman explain in their book, "A carbon dioxide buildup in the blood has a sedating effect on the brain, which may cause you to feel even drowsier. You may lose the motivation or energy to breathe.""A person with asthma who seems to be relaxing more, who seems to not be struggling for breath anymore -- even though they've been at it for six or eight hours -- may actually be worse. It could be a sign of respiratory fatigue," Birge says. Eventually, the person could stop breathing."They're really in a big danger zone," Shulman adds. Patients believe they're getting better when they're actually getting worse, he says. "They become sedated and seem to be peaceful when actually, they're dying."One of the most important considerations is how long an attack lasts, according to both doctors. "If you've been having labored respirations with the asthma not relenting after a period of several hours, even though you may be apparently doing OK, don't let it go any longer," Birge says. "Get on to the emergency room."
6. Depression and suicidal thoughts. Few people would put up with crushing chest pain or extreme shortness of breath, but many endure depression, even though at its extreme it can be life-threatening."Depression can be a very, very serious problem because people can commit suicide," Shulman says. "Some people will not seek care when they are depressed because they think that they'll be perceived as being crazy or not strong or not manly, and they have to understand that there is a chemical imbalance going on in their brain. It is a disease just like any other disease."Symptoms of depression include sadness, fatigue, apathy, anxiety, changes in sleep habits, and loss of appetite. Depression can be treated with medications and psychotherapy.If you have suicidal thoughts, you can speak to someone right away by calling national phone numbers such as 1-800-273-TALK or 1-800-SUICIDE.Speak Up When You Think Something Is WrongDoctors are human: They can miss important diagnoses, including heart attacks. A patient's awareness and vigilance can make a difference, Shulman says."My feeling is, as a doctor, I want a patient who's informed. I'd rather have a patient who's informed, who's helping me so I won't make a mistake," Shulman says. "And I can be honest and say, 'I'm human. Don't be intimated by me because I have a white coat on. Don't be intimidated by me because I'm using big words.'"If patients can recognize potentially serious symptoms, they'll have more power when they go to the doctor or the emergency room, he adds. "You have enough to say, 'Well, have you ruled out this problem?'"
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