Anaemia is a condition that results from the deficiency of Haemoglobin in the blood. Though commonly known as the ‘Poor Man’s Disease’, Anemia widely affects all sections of the society irrespective of age, gender and anatomy.
Anaemia can be of various types, depending upon the cause. There can be several factors responsible for anaemic condition in the body. Whether it is due to iron deficiency, excess bleeding or heredity factors, anaemia needs to be treated effectively as soon as possible.
Medically speaking, anemia is not a disease in itself but a deficiency that leads to other disorders in the body. There are over 400 types of anemia but most of them are rare. We will discuss some of the common forms of anaemia in this article.
There are several classifications for Anaemia and each requires a specific kind of treatment. Understanding the various classifications can help you understand the treatment options available and also prevent various health disorders that result from anaemia.
Classification for Anemia – Types and Symptoms
Deficiency of Iron
Iron is an essential nutrient that is required for the production of red blood cells in the body. When the iron content in the body reduces, the production of red blood cells is hampered which leads to Anaemia. This can be due to excessive bleeding during menstruation, gastrointestinal infections, blood loss due to injuries etc. Poor diet and chronic illness can also lead to iron-deficiency anemia.
Symptoms include paleness of skin, frequent headaches, irritability, brittle hair and nails and rapid heartbeat. This type of anemia can be treated by simple dietary modifications and taking oral iron supplements.
Folic Acid Deficiency
As the name suggests, this kind of anaemia is due to lack of Folic Acid in the blood. Folic acid is a B-group Vitamin that is found in green vegetables and fruits. When we do not consume enough vegetables/fruits or when the veggies are overcooked, a folic acid deficiency can develop.
Most pregnant women suffer from this kind of anemia as during pregnancy the body requires higher amounts of Folic Acid. Symptoms include fatigue, weakness, memory lapse and increased mood swings.
Anemia that results from Folic acid deficiency can be corrected by including green vegetables such as asparagus and spinach, red kidney beans and beef liver in your daily diet.
Pernicious Anaemia
Pernicious anemia results from the lack of Vitamin B12 and mostly affects people within the age group of 50-60 years. Pernicious anemia is mostly hereditary but in some cases, this can result from autoimmune disorders.
Symptoms include fatigue/tiredness, heart palpitations, Dyspnea and numbness or tingling sensations in the body. If diagnosed at an early stage, Pernicious anemia can be treated with Vitamin B12 shots or pills.
Aplastic Anaemia
Aplastic anemia is characterized by an absence or reduction in the red blood cells. This can result from severe blood loss due to an injury, heavy menstruation, hepatitis or exposure to certain toxins. A lack of red blood cells inhibits the disease fighting ability of the body and the person becomes prone to various infections.
Lethargy, paleness of skin, heavy bleeding, rapid heartbeat, multiple infections and heart failure are some of the common symptoms of Aplastic anemia.
People suffering from mild to moderate Aplastic anaemia do not require treatment as long as the condition does not deteriorate further. For severe cases, treatment includes blood transfusions, blood and marrow stem cell transplants and medications.
Sickle Cell Anaemia
Sickle cell anemia is an inherited life-long disease in which the body makes sickle-shaped (shaped like a ‘C’) red blood cells. Sickle cells contain abnormal haemoglobin and tend to from clumps. These clumps get stuck in the blood vessels causing pain, multiple infections and serious organ damage.
Symptoms include jaundice, high fever, rapid heart beat, fatigue, paleness of skin and severe pain in various body parts especially arms, legs and stomach. Severe form of sickle cell anaemia can lead to ulcers, cerebral hemorrhage and orthopedic disorders.
Unfortunately there is no permanent cure for this disease. Treatment involves alleviating the symptoms by medication, supplements and therapy. Bone marrow transplants can also offer relief in some conditions.
Thalassemia
Thalassemia is a genetically inherited disorder that causes excessive damage to the red blood cells. This condition can be major or minor depending upon the number of hemoglobin molecules the body can synthesize.
The most common and severe form of anemia is Cooley’s Anemia. People of African, Chinese, Indian, Italian, Greek and Middle Eastern ethnicity are at a higher risk of developing Thalassemia.
Symptoms include deformed facial bones, dark colored urine, fatigue, jaundice, swelling of the liver & spleen, growth failure, chest pain and dizziness.
Treatment depends on the severity of the condition and mostly involves blood transfusion, bone marrow transplant and iron chelation (removal of excess iron from the bloodstream). Its best to treat Thalassemia at an early stage as it can prove to be fatal if left untreated for long.
Anaemia can occur for a number of reasons – it can arise from the failure of the bone marrow to synthesize red blood cells or because of the inability of the body to absorb specific components required for the production of red blood cells or due to genetic mutations. Whatever be the type or cause for anaemia, it is best to treat it at an early stage and alleviate the symptoms completely.
Yesterday I decided it was time to clean out my filing drawers. There was so much paper in those drawers and now that I use a Macbook Pro, I have no need for paper. As I began tossing away old files and junk, I stumbled into some old diet paperwork from about three years ago. It was very interesting to look at results of an old blood test that I had done for the diet.
A couple of things stood off the page and whacked me in the head. One was that my blood spectrum report showed that I had abnormally high UREA in the blood, as well as URIC ACID. Also, my cholesterol level was high as were a few other minor markers.
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This really intrigued me since all of my levels now are textbook perfect. Moreover, I am only marginally lighter in weight, so it was not the diet that made these changes. Given all of the research I’ve done in the past two years regarding alkalinity and its relationship to disease, I had a theory. After several hours research on the matter, I am now convinced that I am onto something worthy of further research.
Here’s my theory. If you take a glass of water and add blue dye to the water, the water turns blue. You could test that water and the lab would report a certain “parts per million” count for the dye. But if you let that water stand on the table for several days, some water will evaporate. There will be less water in the glass. Now, if you do another lab test on the water, the lab will report that the concentration of that blue dye has increased! In fact, there is no more dye in the water. What’s happened is that water molecules have evaporated – leaving the same amount of dye in less water.
The exact same thing is happening in our blood streams. At the time of my blood test, I was dehydrated. The report put me at 49% water. Humans should be up around 60% or better. Today I am 63% water. But when my blood was tested at a hydration point of 49%, concentrations of certain blood markers was understandably high. That means that these are false and misleading figures.
What is even more critical in this situation is that doctors do not account for hydration levels at the time they take blood tests. So when they test you and find that your cholesterol is high, the first thing they should do is find out what hydration level you are at. If you are at 49%, like I was, doctors should first put you on a plan to get you up to 60%. Once there, they should test you again. My cholesterol level fell by 30% by me just properly hydrating with high alkaline water. Water is NOT lowering your cholesterol, it is raising your blood fluid levels so that the test will be a fair measure based on standards.
This is another thing that big pharma is not going to like. If people normalize their hydration levels, then all of the skewed testing that is going on will have to be reworked. People will suddenly have normal levels and there will be much less need for prescription drugs.
I have a good friend locally who’s doctor put him on statin drugs to bring down his cholesterol. Within a week he had aching shoulders and joints. Of course he did! You need cholesterol to lubricate your joints. If you choose to bring down the cholesterol instead of bringing up the blood fluids, then your are going to artificially deprive your body of much needed cholesterol. Remember, if your body doesn’t have enough cholesterol it will make it.
I’m going to put my friend on 3 litres of high alkaline water per day and have him tested again after two months. I will report back once the findings are in.
Are you stressed out all of the time? Does it seem that you always have headaches and the muscles in your neck and back are tight especially after sitting in front of a computer all day? Then a massage may be the perfect solution for you. Massage therapy relaxes the muscles, increases blood flow, and soothes your aches and pains. Additionally, massages rejuvenate the body and gives us an overall sense of well being.
There are a variety of massage therapies out there, from the basic Swedish massage to specialty massages. If you are in need of some deep relaxation, then a hot stone massage might be perfect for you. Although the hot stone massage is a little more expensive than the traditional Swedish massage, it is worth the extra money.
A hot stone massage is a type of specialty massage using smooth, heated stones. The stones used for this type of massage are about the size and shape of an egg, except flatter. They are smooth, flat stones, something like river rocks but are typically made of a black volcanic rock called basalt. Basalt rocks absorb and retain heat well.
The stones are an excellent way to use heat to improve the massage. Heat is not only relaxing, but it also helps to release the tightness of muscles. The massage therapists typically pre-warm the stones in hot water or some other heating device so that the stones are at a hot, but not unbearable, temperature. The massage therapists handle the stones before placing them on the client’s back; this helps ensure the temperature is perfect.
Typically the massage therapist begins the massage with the normal relaxing Swedish massage and then begins to massage the patient with the heated stones. As the stones cool, the therapist replaces them with more heated ones. Sometimes the therapist will also lay heated stones down the spine as she massages you with the other stones.
The therapist massages the client with the oiled, heated stones. Holding them in the palm of the hand, the therapist uses long, firm strokes along the muscles of the client’s legs, arms, and torso areas. The heat and pressure relaxes the client and releases the tension in the muscles.
Basically, the stones provide heat for extra relaxation to the client, while also allowing the massage therapist to penetrate deeper into the muscle tissue with the stones. The massage should not be painful, so if the client ever feels uncomfortable, the client should speak up.
There are a variety of reasons why you might want to try the hot stone massage over other massage techniques. First, many clients find the hot stones to be very relaxing; the heat penetrates their tight muscles and provides more relaxation than just a typical massage. Additionally, clients sometimes prefer the hot stone massage to alleviate Back pain and aches, stress, anxiety, or tension, or to help improve poor circulation. Sometimes clients find the massage helps with insomnia, as it is very relaxing.
Whether you stay in the hospital for a few days or return home immediately after surgery, it is important that you or, better yet, a caregiver keep a journal tracking some vital information. If this information is not recorded and an emergency occurs, information recounted from memory could be convoluted and partial, at best. At worst, it could be erroneous which could lead to your doctor recommending an inappropriate, potentially harmful, treatment. Below are five vital statistics that you or your caregiver should record after the surgery.
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1. Temperature
Periodically take a reading of the patient’s temperature. Whether you use a mouth, ear, or other type of thermometer, make sure that the reading is as accurate as possible. Record the temperature and the time it was taken. It is a good idea to do this every four hours, unless the doctor specifies differently.
2. Blood Pressure
So many vital body functions are affected by blood pressure, particularly post-op, and spiking or plummeting blood pressure is an indication that something is wrong. Like the patient’s temperature, take an accurate blood pressure reading and record it along with the time. Your local drugstore will have a good selection of moderately priced digital blood pressure monitors. These monitors are very easy to use and will provide you with the readings you will need to record. It’s efficient to take and record temperature and blood pressure at the same time.
3. Medicine Taken
Record the name of the medicine exactly as it is written on the bottle, the dosage amount (number of pills or amount of liquid), the milligrams or micrograms of the medicine, and the time it was taken. Also, note any side-effects experienced by the patient. For example, if the patient’s pain medication causes dizziness, write it down.
4. Food/Liquid Consumed
Anything that goes in the patient’s mouth should go down in the journal. Whether the patient feels good enough to wolf down a hamburger or just nibble on a few crackers, write it down. Whether the patient takes a few sips of ginger ale or gulps down a large smoothie, write it down. Record the type of food or drink, how much was consumed, and when it was consumed.
5. Frequency of Urination and Bowel Movements
Important? Yes! And vital information in the eyes of a doctor. Record when (date and time) the patient urinates or has a bowel movement. Note if there is anything unusual, such as the presence of blood. Also, jot down any complaints from the patient (e.g. the patient feels constipated).
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Of course, this list provides only the basic vital sign information. Depending on the nature of the surgery and the health of the patient, it may also be beneficial to record other information such as the patient’s blood sugar level or amount of sleep. Should your loved one require any emergency post-op care, the doctor will be happy to have the journal of symptoms to help determine a quick and accurate diagnosis and treatment options. Hopefully, in just a few days after surgery, your friend will be healing nicely and you can toss the journal in file thirteen.
The glamour of Pilates training may have faded. After all, all exercise regimens ebb and flow, or just fade away. I have faith that Pilates is an enduring science that will rebound again. It offers real value in pain relief, rehabilitation, and proper muscle development. Plus, it’s been around for over 80 years. But what’s missing in most modern Pilates training?
Let me first give you a small insight on Joseph Pilates, a German of little delicacy. I know, I’ve seen old video clips of his training. WOW! If I threw women around like that today, I’d have no clients.
Anyway, I have the two published works of Pilates. The man had some very strict philosophies, principles, and theories. Not to say that his revolutionary impact on the world of fitness can not evolve. It definitely has. However, one of the absolute tenets of his work was the balance of mind and body. And I’ve seen too many times the so-called “Pilates training” that is simply going through the motions and not incorporating the basic core elements that, in fact, are what make it Pilates.
An hour of Pilates instruction should have you mostly engrossed in proper body mechanics, not the latest gossip. There are so many precise movements coordinated into each exercise to gain maximum benefit, to balance mind and body.
Here’s a direct quote that really impresses upon you the idea:
“Concentrate on the correct movement EACH TIME YOU EXERCISE, lest you do them improperly and thus lose all the vital benefits of their value. Correctly executed and mastered to the point of subconscious reaction, these exercises will reflect grace and balance in your routine activities.”
Before I leave off with my ranting, there is one more thing. Because you can do all the exercises in the world, but will not be healthy and fit without considering your food choices. Another quote from the man himself says,
“The principal point to remember with regard to diet is to eat only enough food to restore the ‘fuel’ consumed by the body”…
And also, “Merely eating to satisfy one’s lust for good food is both foolish and dangerous to one’s health. Such a person cannot ever be truly physically fit.”
And in conclusion, “Not only the amount of food but also the kind”…
So a true Pilates training would include not just guidance through precise exercises but a holistic approach involving all areas affecting the body/mind equilibrium. If you are looking for that coveted Pilates body, think about whether your Pilates training offers guidance on nutrition and taking your Pilates principles into everyday life.
When you feel too much pain in your tooth without any apparent reason, when your tooth is sensitive to changes in temperature or when the pulp of your teeth is exposed after it breaks, it is time when you need an endodontic treatment. Searching for a professional who will perform procedures of cosmetic dentistry in Essex is not hard anymore because nowadays there are already hundreds of endodontists, orthodontists and dentists who can serve you.
An endodontic treatment is necessary to save your tooth or teeth when the pulp that contains the nerve of your tooth gets infected or injured but this treatment can only be done in the permanent teeth for adults and the primary teeth of babies. In babies, if a space left by missing teeth is left for a long time, the neighboring teeth may lean toward the empty space causing the teeth to tilt or prevent the permanent teeth from coming in.
Any dentist in Chelmsford or Chigwell, or any endodontist in Essex can perform these cosmetic dentistry procedures. Check you local directory to find a reputable endodontist or dentist in Essex who can perform cosmetic dentistry such as root canal treatment and endodontic treatment.
Endodontic treatments is also known as root canal treatment which can be performed by an endodontist or orthodontist in Essex. This treatment which saves millions of teeth every year is a very popular procedure in the United States.
If you leave a cavity for long, this may cause the dentin and enamel of your tooth to decay and lead to pulp infection. The bacteria may infect your root canal which cannot be reached by antibiotics. You will begin to suffer pain from inflammation as the blood supply to your tooth is reduced. A root canal treatment may then be necessary.
Ask any dentist in Chelmsford or Chigwell, or consult an endodontist or dentist in Essex for an assessment on your condition if you need a root canal treatment. Do not hesitate to visit a professional because waiting for long may cause more damage to the teeth surrounding the damaged one. The worse thing to happen if the tooth can no longer be saved is to extract it. The gap caused by the extracted tooth can cause the remaining teeth on both sides to lean toward the missing space. Visit a dentist now before it’s too late to save your teeth.
Many people mistakenly believe that the process of aging is normal and inevitable. Forward thinking researchers now believe the process of aging is a disease process which can be thwarted through dietary calorie restriction, appropriate exercise, stress-reduction and controlling post meal blood sugar levels. While genetics does play a role in the aging process, we can modify the effects through lifestyle modification and ensure our senior years are healthy, vibrant and disease free.
Processed Foods Lead to Disease
Cutting edge scientists are beginning to believe that the human body has a normal life span of nearly 120 years. Presently life expectancy is around 80 years, with many living their latter years in declining health. By adopting a diet consisting in large part of processed and refined foods and avoiding exercise, we are actually taking years away from our biological potential. Eating foods which have been stripped of nutrition for years and decades causes our cellular metabolism to decline. The body can amazingly compensate for a period of time, but eventually it will take its toll. Further, we live in an environment which continually subjects us to increasing pollutants, electro-magnetic radiation and a host of synthesized chemicals which we absorb from cleaning and beauty products. We rely on pharmaceuticals to keep us healthy, but in most cases these drugs only add to the assault placed on our body.
Calorie Restriction Proven to Extend Life
Research which began back in the 1930’s has demonstrated that a dietary lifestyle known as caloric restriction can extend healthy lifespan in mammals, and indications are that it does the same in humans. By reducing the amount of calories consumed by 25% we cause the body to revert to a ’starvation survival’ mode, where our evolutionary ancestors would have been able to survive a famine when food was scarce. We don’t have that problem today, but our genetics are still wired to react to calorie reduction by setting in place a very complex chain of molecular reactions which put the brakes on heart disease, cancer proliferation, dementia, and many of the diseases we associate with aging. A simple 25% reduction in calories and the associated weight loss over a period of two years has been shown to directly lead to a reduction in arterial plaque and heart disease risk.
Monitor Blood Sugar to Avert Diabetes
We typically don’t think about what happens at the cellular level and in our blood every time we eat a meal. The body is a very efficient machine, breaking down every food item into the vitamins, minerals, proteins and fats which are made available for energy and metabolism. The Standard American Diet (SAD) of highly refined carbohydrates and trans fats floods the blood with these breakdown products, overwhelming our capacity to mop up the excess glucose and lipids which hit the blood. This is known as post-prandial disorder, and when allowed to continue meal after meal directly leads to disease which will shorten our life.
High post meal blood sugar is one of the most damaging and controllable conditions.
By regularly using a simple and inexpensive blood glucose meter, we can monitor and regulate the blood glucose surges after meals. Check your blood sugar readings one and two hours after eating, and ensure that the readings are not over 140 mg/dl and 120 mg/dl respectively. Extensive data indicates that extended blood glucose readings over 140 mg/dl lead to death of the pancreatic beta cells which produce insulin, and once gone they do not regenerate. Eventually this leads to diabetes and dramatically increased risk of heart disease and many cancers.
Elevated Blood Pressure Doubles Risk of Heart Attack
Blood pressure has been called the ’silent killer’ for a very good reason. Elevated readings as small as 20 (mm Hg) over the optimal reading of 115/75 are associated with a doubled risk of heart attack. Many people of all ages are walking around with elevated blood pressure which act as a ticking bomb waiting to explode in their arteries. Higher pressure in the arteries causes small cracks of the inner lining of the vessels which the body expediently fills with a foamy substance called plaque. This creates an increased burden for the heart and results in higher blood pressure. Interestingly, a recent study found that lowering blood pressure by commonly prescribed pharmaceuticals did not equate to lowered risk of future disease. Following a natural, non-refined diet with adequate exercise and stress reduction works far better than any drug at reducing and virtually eliminating heart disease risk.
It is possible to avoid many of the common ailments which claim the lives of so many Americans and extend your natural life cycle by following several critical modification tips. Calorie Restriction, Blood Glucose and Blood Pressure Monitoring are key lifestyle tenants which when started early enough, have been proven to maximize the limits of your healthy later years. While we don’t know exactly how long the average human life can be extended by using these techniques, we do know that living a disease free existence is a significant benefit.
Optimal Health Resource
John Phillip regularly reports on the cutting edge use of supplements and lifestyle modifications to enhance and improve the length and quality of life. Health problems can be avoided and overcome with a sensible approach to monitoring key health factors such as weight, blood glucose, blood pressure and body temperature. His intent is to discuss the relevant findings on nutritional factors as they become available, and how you can incorporate this latest information to better your lifestyle.
Foot calluses are very common particularly amongst women. They are an accumulation of hard skin that harden and thicken over an area of the foot, usually in response to some form of pressure. The following four simple tips should be followed to help prevent foot calluses from forming.
1. Take good care of your feet. Inspect them daily for developing calluses and other foot problems, and treat accordingly – the sooner the better.
2. Wear shoes that fit. A simple instruction but one that is frequently ignored particularly by those following fashion. Unfortunately ill fitting shoes are the source of many a foot problem. Ideally shoes should fit well and not rub anywhere. If appropriate add insoles or protective cushions. Remember anything that promotes rubbing, pressure or pinching can ultimately result in a callus.
Calluses can be caused by wearing shoes that are too tight, too short, or even too big and sloppy. Anything in fact that causes rubbing, pressure or pinching of the skin on your feet can result in a foot calluse. Approximately 14 percent of all adults get calluses annually: it is in fact a very common malady
3. Try not to walk barefoot on hard or firm surfaces such as asphalt or concrete for any length of time, or protective calluses will begin to form on the soles of your feet.
4. If overweight, commit to losing some excess weight. The combination of excess weight and ill fitting shoes results in way too much pressure being applied on your poor suffering feet and will encourage callus formation.
It is vital however to be sensible and whilst the above measures do provide a decent preventative programme, if your calluses are not responding to treatment and are becoming painful, then see a foot specialist.
Diabetic and elderly people frequently need assistance with foot care, because of circulatory problems or because they just can’t bend over to scrub the rough spots. Also, the foot calluses may not be just the result of friction, but could be forming because of a foot misalignment problem, which would need to be treated.
So in essence, the recipie for preventing foot calluses is a relatively simple one. Put in place a daily review of your feet and take appropriate action where necessary. Maintain a healthy diet and do take plenty of exercise. Commit to losing excess weight if necessary. Finally, reexamine your choice of footwear and prioritize well fitting footwear over the dictates of fashion. Your feet will thank you!