When we enter into that deep sleep we forget all of the worried thoughts in our minds and we are able to fully recharge after all of the hours we lost throughout the day. What many of us don’t know is that during the night we can snore. We don’t hear it ourselves - but other can hear it all too clearly.
Snoring is caused by vibrations that cause particles in the air to form sound waves. While we sleep airflow that is turbulent can cause tissues of the throat and nose to vibrate and to rise to snoring. It is only caused during sleep.
Not everyone does snore - but everyone does have the ability to snore. Research shows that 45% of men and 30% of women snore on a daily basis. People who do not snore will usually only snore during a viral illness, when taking certain medications, or after drinking alcohol.
Snoring is sometimes a clear sign that someone has a more serious problem or illness. People that snore need to be evaluated to rule out any other problems that they might have. The most common problems to look for in someone that snores is sleep apnea and other sleeping problems or sleep related breathing problems.
It may be that the person snoring has the ability to breathe and snore with no problems. In this case the only one with the problem is the person sleeping next to the snorer. More often then not snoring can keep other people awake.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Testing For Diabetes
Diabetes is a disease that is brought on when a person’s body does not have the ability to produce the proper amount of insulin. Insulin is a hormone that the body uses to convert starches, sugars, and other types of foods into energy that it needs to keep itself going on a daily basis.
Many people have worked hard to determine what causes this diabetes - but none have been able to isolate the exact problem. They do know that obesity, genetics, and the lack of exercise are some of the main factors can play a large part.
Research shows that 23.6 million adults and children in the United States alone have diabetes. 17.9 million of those people have been diagnosed - but 5.7 million have no idea what they have and go untreated.
The best way to determine if one is affected by one of the four types of diabetes ( Type 1, Type 2, Gestational, and Pre-Diabetes) is to have your local healthcare physician conduct an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) or a Fasting Plasma Glucose Test (FPGT). The American Diabetes Association believes that the FPG is the best test to use because it is easier, less expensive, and faster to use.
If the FPG test detects the glucose level between 100 and 125 mg/dl than it is a sign of pre-diabetes. Someone with a fasting blood glucose level of 126 mg/dl or higher has diabetes.
The OGTT test measures a person’s blood glucose level after fasting and then two hours after drinking a glucose-rich beverage. If the blood glucose level is between 140 and 199 mg/dl then the person had pre-diabetes. If the level is at 200 mg/dl or higher then the person has diabetes.
Symptoms Of Diabetes
Many people have worked hard to determine what causes this diabetes - but none have been able to isolate the exact problem. They do know that obesity, genetics, and the lack of exercise are some of the main factors can play a large part.
Research shows that 23.6 million adults and children in the United States alone have diabetes. 17.9 million of those people have been diagnosed - but 5.7 million have no idea what they have and go untreated.
The best way to determine if one is affected by one of the four types of diabetes ( Type 1, Type 2, Gestational, and Pre-Diabetes) is to have your local healthcare physician conduct an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) or a Fasting Plasma Glucose Test (FPGT). The American Diabetes Association believes that the FPG is the best test to use because it is easier, less expensive, and faster to use.
If the FPG test detects the glucose level between 100 and 125 mg/dl than it is a sign of pre-diabetes. Someone with a fasting blood glucose level of 126 mg/dl or higher has diabetes.
The OGTT test measures a person’s blood glucose level after fasting and then two hours after drinking a glucose-rich beverage. If the blood glucose level is between 140 and 199 mg/dl then the person had pre-diabetes. If the level is at 200 mg/dl or higher then the person has diabetes.
Symptoms Of Diabetes
- Frequent urination
- Excessive thirst
- Extreme hunger
- Unusual weight loss
- Increased fatigue
- Irritability
- Blurry vision
Thursday, September 18, 2008
New Noninvasive Scan For Colon Cancer Patients
A new procedure has been created to help detect precancerous and cancerous polyps in colon cancer patients. The procedure - which was being tested and researched thoroughly) is a noninvasive scan that avoid the risk of bowel perforation during a colonoscopy.
“We now have another tool to catch these polyps early, and one that's less risky and easier on the patient,” said Dr. Giovanna Casola - one of the authors on the report and a professor of radiology at the University of California San Diego. “We can save lives, and that's the bottom line,” she said. “This gives patients a choice.”
The study was published in the new edition of the New England Journal of Medicine - which pushed insurance companies and Medicare to pay for the new procedure -called virtual colonoscopy or CT colonoscopy. Because of them Medicare and certain private insurance companies will now cover the procedure - but only for people who are too weak and frail or have intestinal problems that could keep doctors from doing the usual colonoscopy.
Doctors recommend that people be screened for colon cancer when they hit the age of 50 and then every ten years afterwards. If polyps are discovered then you should have tests done more often to ensure that the cancer can be caught early on.
“We now have another tool to catch these polyps early, and one that's less risky and easier on the patient,” said Dr. Giovanna Casola - one of the authors on the report and a professor of radiology at the University of California San Diego. “We can save lives, and that's the bottom line,” she said. “This gives patients a choice.”
The study was published in the new edition of the New England Journal of Medicine - which pushed insurance companies and Medicare to pay for the new procedure -called virtual colonoscopy or CT colonoscopy. Because of them Medicare and certain private insurance companies will now cover the procedure - but only for people who are too weak and frail or have intestinal problems that could keep doctors from doing the usual colonoscopy.
Doctors recommend that people be screened for colon cancer when they hit the age of 50 and then every ten years afterwards. If polyps are discovered then you should have tests done more often to ensure that the cancer can be caught early on.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
New Vaccine For Breast Cancer Patients
News reached my ears of a new breast cancer vaccine that is being tested. This new vaccine - which is still in the testing stage - may be able to cure those who have been diagnosed with breast cancer or those who have recurring symptoms from the disease. If this vaccine tests positive then it will be a breakthrough in the health industry.
How the vaccine works is that it gives breast cancer patients a gene that will fight against the cancer cells that have been infected by the disease. This will also help to create proteins in the bodies’ immune system - which will in turn work to destroy the tumor.
For now researchers have only been testing the vaccine on mice test subjects and it has worked successfully to remove the tumors from HER2 positive cancer. The vaccine was made using ‘naked DNA’ taken from genes that are able to produce receptors for HER2 cancer. This DNA mixed together with a stimulant from the immune system is then placed into a ring of genetic material. After other such mixing and the vaccine is then injected into the person’s body where it will try to connect to the good cells to fight off the bad ones with the receptors.
We hope and pray that within the next few years they will be able to perfect this vaccine and be able to save more lives with it. Too many women have had to suffer from breast cancer and we pray for them and their families.
How the vaccine works is that it gives breast cancer patients a gene that will fight against the cancer cells that have been infected by the disease. This will also help to create proteins in the bodies’ immune system - which will in turn work to destroy the tumor.
For now researchers have only been testing the vaccine on mice test subjects and it has worked successfully to remove the tumors from HER2 positive cancer. The vaccine was made using ‘naked DNA’ taken from genes that are able to produce receptors for HER2 cancer. This DNA mixed together with a stimulant from the immune system is then placed into a ring of genetic material. After other such mixing and the vaccine is then injected into the person’s body where it will try to connect to the good cells to fight off the bad ones with the receptors.
We hope and pray that within the next few years they will be able to perfect this vaccine and be able to save more lives with it. Too many women have had to suffer from breast cancer and we pray for them and their families.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
How Your Diet Effects Your Risk For Colon Cancer
Out of the dozens of different cancer diseases that have been discovered - colon cancer has become one of the worst and one of the most deadliest. There are many risk factors that can cause this disease and that people are not aware of.
For example it is more likely that someone over the age of 50 and those who have family members who have the disease will have a harder time of avoiding it. Of course this largely depends on the type of foods that they eat and the liquids that they drink.
A person’s diet is very important in anyone’s life no matter what age. Yet, it seems that we feel that we are too busy to eat and cook normal meals. So we eat at the nearest fast food restaurant or we purchase TV dinners. Both of these foods are high in fat, sodium, and cholesterol - which can lead to a high risk of colon cancer.
Physicians are always trying to encourage their patients to eat more foods that will help not only their colon - but also their hearts. Vegetables, fruits, the right amount of protein, and less of the fatty foods are some things that we need to add and change in all of our diets. In fact natural foods are the best types of foods because they are void of any chemicals.
Even if you do change your diet and try your best to prevent this deadly disease you should make regular visits with your doctor. Your doctor can perform regular health tests as well as a colonoscopy to determine if you have the disease or not.
For example it is more likely that someone over the age of 50 and those who have family members who have the disease will have a harder time of avoiding it. Of course this largely depends on the type of foods that they eat and the liquids that they drink.
A person’s diet is very important in anyone’s life no matter what age. Yet, it seems that we feel that we are too busy to eat and cook normal meals. So we eat at the nearest fast food restaurant or we purchase TV dinners. Both of these foods are high in fat, sodium, and cholesterol - which can lead to a high risk of colon cancer.
Physicians are always trying to encourage their patients to eat more foods that will help not only their colon - but also their hearts. Vegetables, fruits, the right amount of protein, and less of the fatty foods are some things that we need to add and change in all of our diets. In fact natural foods are the best types of foods because they are void of any chemicals.
Even if you do change your diet and try your best to prevent this deadly disease you should make regular visits with your doctor. Your doctor can perform regular health tests as well as a colonoscopy to determine if you have the disease or not.
Home Remedies To Treat Poison Ivy
When I was a child I used to have many plants and shrubs that would grow in my backyard and around my house. My parents used to let me and my siblings play outside when we wanted to - but they always warned us to be careful of the poison ivy plants because they would make us itch and our skin burn. I never quite understood the powerful effects that it has on the skin until it was too late.
I had let it touch my skin and because of it I was forced to take medications and my mom would smear ointment all over the irritated part of my skin. Now that I am a mother I have learned a much easier way of cleaning the infected areas.
I don’t always trust the generic medications and try to stick to home remedies as much as possible. That is why I went in search of a home remedy that would help me to fight against this whenever my child was old enough to have it affect her.
I stumbled onto a site that focused solely on how to treat poison ivy and found some interesting remedies in the process. One of the most effective and also cheapest cure is Calamine lotion. It helps to relieve the itching.
Another effective cure is heat - something that many of us would never have thought of using. Using hot water or air will help to dry out the skin - which will in turn help to speed up the healing process. The top layers of the skin will peel off over time and will help the healthy skin underneath to grow.
An oatmeal bath is usually used for those who have chicken pox and it will help your children that have touched poison ivy for the same reason - the itchiness. Baking soda and warm water will also have the same effect. They will relieve the itching and help your skin to heal all at the same time.
The great home remedies help to cure the infected skin and will leave your child happy that you are able to take care of it quickly and with little problems. You will also be happy because you will not have to spend to much money on a product that you didn’t need in the first place.
I had let it touch my skin and because of it I was forced to take medications and my mom would smear ointment all over the irritated part of my skin. Now that I am a mother I have learned a much easier way of cleaning the infected areas.
I don’t always trust the generic medications and try to stick to home remedies as much as possible. That is why I went in search of a home remedy that would help me to fight against this whenever my child was old enough to have it affect her.
I stumbled onto a site that focused solely on how to treat poison ivy and found some interesting remedies in the process. One of the most effective and also cheapest cure is Calamine lotion. It helps to relieve the itching.
Another effective cure is heat - something that many of us would never have thought of using. Using hot water or air will help to dry out the skin - which will in turn help to speed up the healing process. The top layers of the skin will peel off over time and will help the healthy skin underneath to grow.
An oatmeal bath is usually used for those who have chicken pox and it will help your children that have touched poison ivy for the same reason - the itchiness. Baking soda and warm water will also have the same effect. They will relieve the itching and help your skin to heal all at the same time.
The great home remedies help to cure the infected skin and will leave your child happy that you are able to take care of it quickly and with little problems. You will also be happy because you will not have to spend to much money on a product that you didn’t need in the first place.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)