Drinking water immediately after waking up is a popular ritual in Japan. Scientists agree that is very beneficial to our health. For our readers we publish below a description of use of water. For curing various kinds of diseases drinking water has been found to be very successful in the Japanese medical society, treating numerous diseases, including: Epilepsy, bronchitis asthma, diarrhea, vomiting, urine and kidney diseases, diabetes, menstrual disorders, meningitis, arthritis, headache, heart beating fast, all eye diseases, prevents fatness etc.
1. Drink 4 x 160 ml of water immediately after waking up, even before brushing teeth. 2. Now you can brush your teeth, but don’t eat yet anything for another 45 minutes. 3. After 45 minutes you may eat normally. 4. After eating breakfast, lunch and dinner do not drink or eat anything for another 2 hours. 5. Those unable from sickness or age to drink 4 glasses of water can gradually increase the content little by little each day. 6. People who practice this routine will cure above mentioned diseases and enjoy the full benefit of healthy life.
This habit will help control or prevent the following diseases.
00seshunarayanahttps://imedworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/MedWorks-Logo-02-300x300.pngseshunarayana2020-07-27 11:03:352020-07-27 11:03:35Drinking Water on Empty Stomach Immediately After Waking Up!
While cardiovascular disease is the cause of over a quarter of Indian deaths each year, in a counter-intuitive trend, the mortality rates for rural populations due to this condition have surpassed those in urban areas, according to a new study, published on Friday.
The study is titled “Divergent trends in ischaemic heart disease and stroke mortality in India from 2000 to 2015: a nationally representative mortality study”. Cardiovascular disease caused 2.1 million deaths in India in 2015, over a fourth of the total. For those aged between 30 and 69 years, nearly 70% of the deaths were due to ischaemic heart disease — caused by narrowing of the arteries, a condition that often culminates in fatal heart attacks.
For that age bracket, the probability of dying from that cause increased from 10.4% to 13.1% for men and from 4.8% to 6.6% for women. “Although ischaemic heart disease mortality at ages 30–69 years was lower in rural areas compared with urban areas at the start of the study, rural rates rose rapidly, surpassing urban rates by 2015 in both sexes,” the study found.
“The assumption is that urbanisation is leading to rising rates of heart disease. But in fact, what we showed is that it’s the rural areas of India that had an increase in ischaemic heart disease mortality. In the urban areas, it’s been flat or there’s been a modest decline. That suggests a significant role for untreated hypertension or undertreated diabetes,” Prabhat Jha, director of the Centre for Global Health Research at St Michael’s Hospital in Toronto and senior author of the study said.
This research is based on data from the Million Death Study, a large-scale exercise that has been in progress in India since 2001 and was conducted in collaboration with the Registrar General of India and medical agencies in the country.
Another significant finding was that younger adults, especially those born after 1970, have the highest rate of death due to heart problems caused by narrowing of the heart’s arteries.
“As India has gotten fatter, including in the urban and rural areas, hypertension and diabetes have increased substantially, but the treatment for those have lagged behind. That might be what’s at play here,” Jha said.
The study also examined prevalence of death due to stroke and found “the probability of dying from stroke decreased overall, but increased in India’s North-Eastern states, where a third of premature stroke deaths occurred and only one sixth of (India’s) population lives.
00seshunarayanahttps://imedworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/MedWorks-Logo-02-300x300.pngseshunarayana2020-07-27 10:59:342020-07-27 10:59:34Deaths due to cardiovascular disease up in rural areas of India: Study
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects millions of people worldwide. Uncontrolled cases can cause blindness, kidney failure, heart disease and other serious conditions. Before diabetes is diagnosed, there is a period where blood sugar levels are high but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. This is known as prediabetes.
1. Cut on sugar and Refined carbs.
Eating sugary foods and refined carbs can put at-risk individuals on the fast track to developing diabetes. Your body rapidly breaks these foods down into small sugar molecules, which are absorbed into your bloodstream. The resulting rise in blood sugar stimulates your pancreas to produce insulin, a hormone that helps sugar get out of the bloodstream and into your body’s cells.
In people with prediabetes, the body’s cells are resistant to insulin’s action, so sugar remains high in the blood. To compensate, the pancreas produces more insulin, attempting to bring blood sugar down to a healthy level. Over time, this can lead to progressively higher blood sugar and insulin levels, until the condition eventually turns into type 2 diabetes.
2. workout everyday
Performing physical activity on a regular basis may help prevent diabetes. Exercise increases the insulin sensitivity of your cells. So when you exercise, less insulin is required to keep your blood sugar levels under control. Working out more frequently seems to lead to improvements in insulin response and function. One study in people at risk of diabetes found that burning more than 2,000 calories weekly via exercise was required to achieve these benefits.
3. Drink water
What’s more, sticking with water most of the time helps you avoid beverages that are high in sugar, preservatives and other questionable ingredients. Sugary beverages like soda and punch have been linked to an increased risk of both type 2 diabetes and latent autoimmune diabetes of adults (LADA). Drinking water instead of other beverages may help control blood sugar and insulin levels, thereby reducing the risk of diabetes.
LADA is a form of type 1 diabetes that occurs in people over 18 years of age. Unlike the acute symptoms seen with type 1 diabetes in childhood, LADA develops slowly, requiring more treatment as the disease progresses.
4. Lose weight if you are over weight
Although not everyone who develops type 2 diabetes is overweight or obese, the majority are.What’s more, those with prediabetes tend to carry excess weight in their midsection and around abdominal organs like the liver. This is known as visceral fat. Excess visceral fat promotes inflammation and insulin resistance, which significantly increase the risk of diabetes
Carrying excess weight, particularly in the abdominal area, increases the likelihood of developing diabetes. Losing weight may significantly reduce the risk of diabetes.
5. Quit Smoking
Smoking has been shown to cause or contribute to many serious health conditions, including heart disease, emphysema and cancers of the lung, breast, prostate and digestive tract. There’s also research linking smoking and second-hand smoke exposure to type 2 diabetes
6. Eat high-fiber Diet
Studies in obese, elderly and prediabetic individuals have shown that it helps keep blood sugar and insulin levels low. Consuming a good fiber source at each meal can help prevent spikes in blood sugar and insulin levels, which may help reduce your risk of developing diabetes.
7. Optimize Vitamin D levels.
Vitamin D is important for blood sugar control. Indeed, studies have found that people who don’t get enough vitamin D, or whose blood levels are too low, have a greater risk of all types of diabetes. Good food sources of vitamin D include fatty fish and cod liver oil. In addition, sun exposure can increase vitamin D levels in the blood.
8. Minimum your intake of processed food
One clear step you can take to improve your health is to minimize your consumption of processed food. They’re linked to all sorts of health problems, including heart disease, obesity and diabetes.
Studies suggest that cutting back on packaged foods that are high in vegetable oils, refined grains and additives may help reduce the risk of diabetes. Minimizing processed foods and focusing on whole foods with protective effects on health may help decrease the risk of diabetes.
9. Drink coffee or Tea
Although water should be your primary beverage, research suggests that including coffee or tea in your diet may help you avoid diabetes.
Studies have reported that drinking coffee on a daily basis reduced risk of diabetes type 2 by 8–54%, with the greatest effect generally seen in people with the highest consumption. Coffee and tea have antioxidants known as polyphenols that may help protect against diabetes In addition, green tea contains a unique antioxidant compound called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) that has been shown to reduce blood sugar release from the liver and increase insulin sensitivity.
10. Life style change
Rather than viewing prediabetes as a stepping stone to diabetes, it may be helpful to see it as a motivator for making changes that can help reduce your risk. Eating the right foods and adopting other lifestyle behaviors that promote healthy blood sugar and insulin levels will give you the best chance at avoiding diabetes
Because your kidneys are located toward your back and underneath your ribcage, it may be hard to tell if pain you may be experiencing in that area is coming from your back or your kidney.
The symptoms you’re having can help you figure out which is the source of the pain. The location, type, and severity of the pain are some of the things that will be different depending on whether the pain is from a problem in your kidneys or your back.
How to identify kidney pain
Kidney pain is most often caused by a kidney infection or a stone in the tubes coming out of your kidney. If the pain is coming from your kidney, it will have these features:
Where the pain is located
Kidney pain is felt in your flank, which is the area on either side of your spine between the bottom of your ribcage and your hips. It usually occurs in one side of your body, but it can occur in both sides.
Type of pain
Kidney pain is usually sharp if you have a kidney stone and a dull ache if you have an infection. Most often it will be constant. It won’t get worse with movement or go away by itself without treatment.If you’re passing a kidney stone, the pain may fluctuate as the stone moves.
Radiation of the pain
Sometimes the pain spreads (radiates) to your inner thigh or lower abdomen.
Severity of the pain
Kidney pain is classified according to how bad it is — severe or mild. A kidney stone usually causes severe pain, and the pain from an infection is usually mild.Things that make it better or worse
Typically, nothing makes the pain better until the problem is corrected, such as by passing the stone. Unlike back pain, it usually won’t change with movement.
Accompanying symptoms
If you have a kidney infection or a kidney stone, you may also experience:
small kidney stones that look like gravel in your urine
How to identify back pain
Back pain is more common than kidney pain and is usually caused by a problem in the muscles, bones, or nerves in your back. Back pain has the following features:
Where the pain is located
Back pain can occur anywhere on your back, but it’s most commonly located in your lower back or one of your buttocks.
Type of pain
Muscle pain feels like a dull ache. If a nerve has been injured or irritated, the pain is a sharp burning sensation that may travel down your buttock to your lower leg or even your foot.
Muscle pain may affect one or both sides, but nerve pain usually only affects one side.
Radiation of the pain
Nerve pain may spread to your lower leg. Pain from a muscle usually stays in the back.Severity of the pain
Back pain is described as acute or chronic based on how long you’ve had it. Acute pain lasts days to weeks, subacute pain lasts six weeks to three months, and chronic pain lasts longer than three months.
Things that make it better or worse
Back pain may get worse with movement or if you sit or stand for a long time. It may get better if you switch positions or walk around.
Accompanying symptoms
Other symptoms you may experience with back pain include:
the painful spot looking swollen and feeling tender to the touch
a muscle spasm in the painful area
numbness or weakness in one or both of your legs (if the pain is due to a nerve issue)
If you find you have back pain and can’t hold your urine or bowel movements, something is pressing on your spinal nerves, and you should be evaluated immediately. This condition, called cauda equina syndrome, can cause severe long-term damage to your spinal nerves if not treated right away.
When to see a doctor
Once you’ve determined whether your pain is coming from your back or your kidneys, consider seeing your doctor for evaluation and treatment. You should always be seen if you think you have a kidney infection or kidney stone.
You might be able to treat acute back pain that is mild without seeing your doctor, but if it doesn’t get better, is more than mild pain, or spreads, you should see your doctor.
00seshunarayanahttps://imedworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/MedWorks-Logo-02-300x300.pngseshunarayana2020-07-25 13:07:282020-07-25 13:07:28Kidney Pain vs. Back Pain: How to Tell the Difference
Here’s what we know about artificial sweetners. They are not good for you. The average American consumes 24 pounds of artificial sugar each year. Researchers have linked sweeteners — which have long been popular low-calorie substitutes for sugar — to diabetes and heart disease. Some studies have even associated them with weight gain. Sweetners can harm your bladder and cause diarrhea. Still, misconceptions about artificial sweeteners still exist. People still believe they’ve found the “healthy” sweetener. The truth is, these sweeteners are unhealthy across the board. A closer look at what each consists of will help to highlight how your preferred sweetener might affect you.
Fortunately, there is a solution. To satisfy your taste for sweet drinks and foods, you don’t have to choose between sugar and artificial sugar. Try healthier natural alternatives for sugar, such as honey and coconut sugar, among others. And consider these steps to equip yourself with the information you’ll need to maintain healthier habits:
If you’re looking to lose weight, see how can you reduce intake of sugar and eat Yogurt to replace sweet.
Become familiar with names of artificial sugar, so you can spot them in the ingradient box of your favorite products.
Step 1: Slowly Scale Down
Gradually reduce the amount of artificial sweeteners you consume:
Some artificial sweeteners can cause withdrawal symptoms if you cut back too quickly. Follow this schedule to graReduce by one packet for one day.
Reduce by two packets for two days.
Reduce by three packets for three days.
Continue this pattern until you are down to using no artificial sweeteners.
Step 2: Go for the Real Thing
Over time, learn to eat and drink natural sugars. Each of these tricks all have 50 calories or less, so you don’t need to worry about weight gain going off artificial sweeteners. About five minutes of jumping jacks is enough to burn off these calories.
Instead of diet soda, pour any flavored fruit juice into a shot glass, and then dump in a glass of seltzer. Each shot only has between 20 and 25 calories.
Instead of artificially flavored water, try fruit-infused water instead. Use watermelon, as it’s naturally sweet and will feel like you are indulging.
Instead of sugar-free pudding, get the kind with real sugar. Put half the pudding in a piece of Tupperware to save for later and fill the other half of the cup with fresh fruit.
Step 3: Add Sweet Spices and Stevia
Spices like ginger, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom and nutmeg enhance natural sweetness. Sprinkle sweet spices into your coffee or tea and even on a baked apple as a dessert. Stevia as a natural sweetener is also a great replacement; it comes in granulated form that looks like sugar or in drops that you can add to coffee, water or dessert in all different flavors.
Yogurt that will satisfy your taste buds and dietary needs.
Full of protein, calcium and healthy bacteria that’s good for your digestion and immune system, Greek yogurt has recently enjoyed a burst of popularity. It’s a great snack, especially if you’re looking to slim down. Not only does this yogurt make you feel full, some studies have shown that diets that include several servings of Greek yogurt a day may aid weight loss and trim waistlines.
SUGAR
You’ve probably heard that soft drinks are bad for your health. Those who indulge in these fizzy beverages are more likely to end up obese with diabetes, heart disease, or both. And while many people have turned to other drinks to satisfy their thirst, some of these alternatives may not be so healthy. A study published took a look at the juices people are drinking in the UK to get a sense of how much sugar might be in the drink that many consumers consider healthy. Their findings show that drinking juices and other similar drinks may be just as bad for you as the soda they’re replacing.
Preaparing juice without adding sugar at home will be healthier than you get in bottled juices in market or at the juice parlour where they mix more water and sugar.
Dr. Oz, is a Turkish-American television personality, cardiothoracic surgeon, Columbia University professor, pseudoscience promoter, and author. This is article is selected from one of his blogs
00seshunarayanahttps://imedworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/MedWorks-Logo-02-300x300.pngseshunarayana2020-07-23 22:31:512020-07-23 22:31:51The Not-So-Sweet Truth About Artificial Sweeteners
Chances are you know someone with type 2 diabetes. In fact, 29 million Americans suffer from it, and if current trends continue, one in three adults will have type 2 diabetes by 2050. It’s one of the most dreaded chronic diseases we face. It results in elevated blood sugar because the body does not use insulin properly. Over time this elevated blood sugar can damage the eyes, kidneys, heart, nerves, and brain and even lead to amputations. Unfortunately, once you have type 2 diabetes you have it for life. It can be treated and well-controlled, but many people find that difficult.
Luckily, there’s a way to tell if you’re at risk for type 2 diabetes and change course before you get the disease. It’s called prediabetes and unlike diabetes, it can be reversed. One in three Americans reading this may already have it and not even know it.
Prediabetes is when your blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not quite high enough yet to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. If you have it and don’t make changes, prediabetes can turn into type 2 diabetes, but the good news is, it can also be used as a tool for prevention.
Figuring out if you have prediabetes is quite simple. Recently the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Diabetes Association, the American Medical Association, and the Ad Council joined me on our show to show everyone a new a test they developed that you can do at home, right now, to see if you are at risk for prediabetes. That’s right. You don’t even have to sit in a waiting room. The online test asks seven simple questions and takes less than a minute. You can find it at DoIHavePrediabetes.org. It focuses on risk factors like being overweight or physically inactive, having a history of high blood pressure or a family history of diabetes, gender, age, and ethnicity. If the online tool shows your risk as high, you should follow up with your doctor to get a simple test to confirm your results.
If you know you have prediabetes you also know you’re at an increased risk for type 2 diabetes, so, it’s time to take action and reverse it.
Here’s some simple steps you can take to do just that:
1. Lose weight: – Studies show that losing just 5-7% of your body weight can reverse prediabetes.
2. Walk: – Get at least 2.5 hours (150 minutes) of light aerobic activity every week. This could be as simple as going for a brisk 30-minute walk 5 days per week. Even 10 minutes at a time adds up.
3. Eat smart: – Fill up on vegetables and remember to read food labels — the more you know about what goes into your food, the better decisions you’ll be able to make.
4. Don’t smoke: – Smoking increases the risk of serious health problems associated with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.
Making these changes doesn’t have to be difficult and you don’t have to do it alone, because there is another great tool that can help. It’s the CDC-led National Diabetes Prevention Program, and studies show that it can actually help you cut your risk of diabetes in half. This customizable program helps show you how to make living a healthy lifestyle easy. The best part is you get a coach that works with you the entire time to serve as both guide and motivator. In addition to your coach, you are connected with other people in the program just like you, so you can discuss challenges and their solutions with other people going through the same things. There is probably a program right near where you live and you can find a list at DoIHavePrediabetes.org. If there isn’t one in your area, you can also do the entire program online.
So if you have diabetes be sure to check it out. Having type 2 diabetes is hard, but fortunately its turns out that preventing it doesn’t have to be.
Type 2 diabetes remission possible with a special diet. According to a study published today in the Lancet medical journal, certain people with Type 2 diabetes were able to put the disease in remission without medication by following a rigorous diet plan. One hundred and forty-nine participants with type 2 diabetes participated in the study for six years, and were monitored closely as they underwent a liquid diet (which provided only 825 to 853 calories per day for three to five months). The participants were then reintroduced to solid food and maintained a structured diet until the end of the yearlong study. The researchers found that half of the participants were able to put their diabetes into remission, without medication, after one year. In addition, those who participated in the study also lost an average of more than 20 pounds. The findings are important, as diet and lifestyle are touched upon in research on diabetes remission, but the impact of cutting calories and increasing physical activity is rarely discussed.
The study also offered a more universal approach to reversing diabetes compared to undergoing bariatric surgery, which can achieve remission for some people, but is considerably more expensive and comes with a greater health risk.
If you are Prediabetic avoid following food:
Saugar and sweets, sweetened beverages
Transfat, white bread, white rice, pasta
Flavoured yogurt, flavoured coffee, flavoured or sweet breakfast cereals.
Packages snacks, French fries, fruit juice
Donuts and soda
If you are Prediabetic eat following food:
whole wheat bread.
non-starchy vegetables, such as carrots and field greens.
00seshunarayanahttps://imedworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/MedWorks-Logo-02-300x300.pngseshunarayana2020-07-23 22:20:472020-07-23 22:20:47Do You Have Prediabetes?
Your digestive health is directly impacted by the foods you eat and the lifestyle you live. By taking steps to improve your digestive health, you’ll help your digestive system to function more efficiently, improving your overall health and sense of well-being.
Try these 10 tips for better digestive health:
Eat a high-fiber diet.According to Maria Adams, RD, MPH, a nutrition consultant in Marblehead, Massachusetts, consuming a diet that’s high in fiber and rich in whole grains, vegetables, legumes, and fruits can improve your digestive health. “A high-fiber diet helps to keep food moving through your digestive tract, making you less likely to get constipated,” Adams says, adding that a high-fiber diet can also help you prevent or treat various digestive conditions, such as diverticulosis, hemorrhoids, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). In addition, it can help you achieve or maintain a healthy weight.
. Get both insoluble andsoluble fiber. It’s important to consume both types of fiber, since they help your digestive system in different ways. “Insoluble fiber, also known as roughage, can’t be digested by the body and therefore helps add bulk to the stools,” says Adams. “Soluble fiber draws in water and can help prevent stools that are too watery.” Good sources of insoluble fiber include wheat bran, vegetables, and whole grains; get soluble fiber from oat bran, nuts, seeds, and legumes.
Limit foods that are high in fat.“In general, fatty foods tend to slow down the digestive process, making you more prone to constipation,” says Adams. But since it’s important to get some fat in your diet, Adams says that pairing fatty foods with high-fiber foods can make them easier on your digestive system.
Choose lean meats.Protein is an essential part of a healthful diet, but fatty cuts of meat can lead to uncomfortable digestion. When you eat meat, select lean cuts, such as pork loin and skinless poultry.
Incorporate probiotics into your diet.Probiotics are the same kind of healthy bacteria naturally present in your digestive tract. “They help keep the body healthy by combating the effects of a poor diet, antibiotics, and stress,” says Adams. In addition, probiotics can enhance nutrient absorption, may help break down lactose, strengthen your immune system, and possibly even help treat IBS. Adams recommends that people eat good sources of probiotics, such as low-fat yogurt or kefir, on a daily basis.
Eat on schedule.Adams says that consuming your meals and snacks on a regular schedule can help keep your digestive system in top shape. Aim to sit down for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks around the same time each day
Stay hydrated.Drinking plenty of water is good for your digestive health, according to Adams. Fiber pulls water into the colon to create softer, bulkier stools, allowing them to pass through more easily.
Skip the bad habits: smoking, excessive caffeine, and alcohol.Liquor, coffee, and cigarettes can interfere with the functioning of your digestive system, and lead to problems like stomach ulcers and heartburn.
Exercise regularly.“Regular exercise helps keep foods moving through your digestive system, reducing constipation,” says Adams. Exercise can also help you maintain a healthy weight, which is good for your digestive health. Make it a point to work regular exercise into your weekly schedule.
Manage stress.Too much stress or anxiety can cause your digestive system to go into overdrive, according to Adams. Find stress-reducing activities that you enjoy and practice them on a regular basis.
To maintain Healthy weight:
Build more lean muscle. Maintain, or even increase, your metabolism by continuing to build lean muscle. “Muscle has a higher metabolism than fat does,” explains Emily Banes, RD, clinical dietitian at Houston Northwest Medical Center. If you don’t yet train with weights, add this type of exercise to your overall program now. If you do, increase the amount of weight you’re working with to keep yourself challenged.
Fight off hunger with more filling foods. A three-year University of Pittsburgh study of 284 women between the ages of 25 and 45 found that those who avoided weight gain the best were the ones whose meals kept them feeling full. “Keeping that feeling of fullness can be done with foodshigh in fiber — think fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein,” says Jenna Anding, PhD, RD, of the department of nutrition and food science at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas.
00seshunarayanahttps://imedworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/MedWorks-Logo-02-300x300.pngseshunarayana2020-07-23 22:12:162020-07-23 22:12:16Tips for Better Digestive Health
Although a fever could be considered any body temperature above the normal 98.6 F (37 C), medically, a person is not considered to have a significant fever until the temperature is above 100.4 F (38.0 C).
Most fever is beneficial, causes no problems, and helps the body fight off infections. The main reason to treat a fever is to increase comfort.
Fever is the result of an immune response by your body to a foreign invader. Foreign invaders include virus, bacteria, fungi, drugs, or other toxins.
Children under 3 months of age with a temperature of 100.4 F (38.0 C) or greater should be seen by a health care professional. They may be quite ill and not show any signs or symptoms besides a fever. Infants younger than 6 weeks of age should be seen immediately by their doctor.
Acetaminophen (Tylenol and others) ibuprofen (Advil and motrin) can be used to treat a fever. Aspirin should not be used in children or adolescents to control fever.
The prognosis for a fever depends on the cause. Most cases of fever are self-limited and resolve with treatment of symptoms.
A person who is taking immunosuppressant drugs or who has a history of or diagnosis of cancer, AIDS, or other serious illness, such as heart disease or diabetes, should seek medical care if a fever develops.
What is a fever?
The definition of fever is an elevation in body temperature or a high body temperature. Technically, any body temperature above the normal oral measurement of 98.6 Fahrenheit (37 Celsius) or the normal rectal temperature of 99 F (37.2 C) is considered elevated. However, these are averages, and one’s normal body temperature may actually be 1 F (0.6 C) or more above or below the average of 98.6 F. Body temperature can also vary up to 1 F (0.6 C) throughout the day.
Fever should not be confused with hyperthermia, which is a defect in your body’s response to heat (thermoregulation), which can also raise the body temperature. This is usually caused by external sources such as being in a hot environment. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are forms of hyperthermia. Other causes of hyperthermia can include side effects of certain medications or medical conditions.
Fever should also not be confused with hot flashes or night sweats due to hormonal changes during perimenopause (the time period around menopause). Hot flashes and night sweats cause a sudden and intense feeling of heat, and may be accompanied by flushing (skin redness and tingly feeling) and sweating but are not the same thing as a fever.
What Causes Fever?
Fever is the result of an immune response by your body to a foreign invader. These foreign invaders include viruses, bacteria, fungi, drugs, or other toxins.
These foreign invaders are considered fever-producing substances (called pyrogens), which trigger the body’s immune response. Pyrogens signal the hypothalamus in the brain to increase the body temperature set point in order to help the body fight off the infection.
Fever is a common symptom of most infections such a colds and gastroenteritis (also referred to as stomach flu), and thus a risk factor for fever is exposure to infectious agents. Typical infections that may cause a fever include those of the ear, throat, lung, bladder, and kidney. In children, immunizations (such as vaccine shots) or teething may cause short-term low-grade fever. Autoimmune disorders (including rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and inflammatory bowel disease), medication side effects, seizures, blood clots, hormone disorders, cancers and illicit drug use may also cause fevers.
A fever can cause a person to feel very uncomfortable. Signs and symptoms of a fever include the following:
Temperature greater than 100.4 F (38 C) in adults and children
Shivering, shaking, and chills
Aching muscles and joints or other body aches
Headache
Intermittent sweats or excessive sweating
Rapid heart rate and/or palpitations
Skin flushing or hot skin
Feeling faint, dizzy, or lightheaded
Eye soars
Weakness
Loss of apetite
Fussiness (in children and toddlers)
Also important to note in children are symptoms that can accompany an infection, including cough, ear ache, vomiting and diarrhea
With very high temperatures (>104 F/40 C), convulsions, hallucination or confusion is possible. Always seek medical attention for a high fever or if these symptoms occur.
How do health care professionals diagnose a fever?
Along with having generalized symptoms of a fever, taking one’s temperature with a thermometer can confirm the diagnosis of a fever. A temperature greater than 100.4 F in adults or children is considered a fever.
Different tests may be done by a doctor, such a blood and imaging tests, to determine the cause of a fever and if the cause of the fever needs to be treated.
How should someone take a temperature for fever?
Digital thermometers can be used to measure rectal, oral, or axillary (under the armpit) temperatures. The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend use of mercury thermometers (glass), and they encourage parents to remove mercury thermometers from their households to prevent accidental exposure to this toxin.
Generally, if the fever does not cause discomfort, the fever itself need not be treated. It is not necessary to awaken an adult or child to treat a fever unless instructed to do so by a doctor.
The following fever-reducing medications may be used at home:
Acetaminophen (Tylenol and others) can be used to lower a fever. The recommended pediatric dose can be suggested by the child’s pediatrician. Adults without liver disease or other health problems can take 1,000 mg (two “extra-strength” tablets) every six hours or as directed by a physician. The makers of Tylenol state the maximum recommended dose of acetaminophen per day is 3,000 mg, or six extra-strength tablets per 24 hours, unless directed by a doctor. Regular-strength Tylenol tablets are 325 mg; the recommended dosage for these is two tablets every four to six hours, not to exceed 10 tablets per 24 hours. If your fever is accompanied by vomiting and you are unable to keep oral medications down, ask a pharmacist for acetaminophen suppositories, which are available without a prescription.
Most people use plastic every day. However, this material generally isn’t biodegradable. Over time, it breaks down into tiny pieces called microplastics, which can be harmful to the environment.
What’s more, recent studies have shown that microplastics are found commonly in food, particularly seafood. Nevertheless, it is unclear whether these microplastics affect human health. This article will take an in-depth look at microplastics and whether they are a threat to your health.
What Are Microplastics?
Microplastics are small pieces of plastic that are found in the environment. They are defined as plastic particles less than 0.2 inches (5 mm) in diameter. They are either produced as small plastics, such as microbeads added to toothpaste and exfoliants, or are created when larger plastics are broken down in the environment. Microplastics are common in oceans, rivers and soil and are often consumed by animals.
A number of studies in the 1970s began investigating the levels of microplastics in the oceans and found high levels in the Atlantic Ocean off the US. These days, due to the world’s increasing use of plastic, there is much more plastic in rivers and oceans. An estimated 8.8 million tons (8 million metric tonnes) of plastic waste enter the ocean every year. A whopping 276,000 tons (250,000 metric tonnes) of this plastic is currently floating at sea, while the rest has likely sunk or washed ashore.
Microplastics in Food
Microplastics are increasingly found in many different environments, and food is no exception. One recent study examined 15 different brands of sea salt and found up to 273 microplastic particles per pound (600 particles per kilogram) of salt. Other studies have found up to 300 microplastic fibers per pound (660 fibers per kilogram) of honey and up to about 109 microplastic fragments per quart (109 fragments per liter) of beer.
However, the most common source of microplastics in food is seafood. Because microplastics are particularly common in sea water, they are commonly consumed by fish and other marine organisms. Recent studies have shown that certain fish mistake plastic for food, which can lead to toxic chemicals accumulating inside fish liver.
A recent study found that microplastics were even present in deep-sea organisms, suggesting that microplastics are affecting even the most remote species. What’s more, mussels and oysters are at a much higher risk of microplastic contamination than most other species. A recent study found that mussels and oysters harvested for human consumption had 0.36–0.47 particles of microplastic per gram, meaning that shellfish consumers could ingest up to 11,000 particles of microplastic per year (17).
Are Microplastics Affecting Your Health?
Although a number of studies have shown there are microplastics present in food, it is still unclear what effect they may have on your health. Thus far, very few studies have examined how microplastics affect human health and disease. Phthalates, a type of chemical used to make plastic flexible, have been shown to increase the growth of breast cancer cells. However, this research was carried out in a petri dish, so the results can’t be generalized to humans.
A recent study examined the effects of microplastics in laboratory mice. When fed to mice, the microplastics accumulated in the liver, kidneys and intestines, and increased levels of oxidative stress molecules in the liver. They also increased the level of a molecule that may be toxic to the brain.
Microparticles including microplastics have been shown to pass from the intestines into the blood and potentially into other organs. Plastics have also been found in humans. One study found that plastic fibers were present in 87% of the human lungs studied. The researchers proposed this may be due to microplastics present in the air.
Some studies have shown that microplastics in the air may cause lung cells to produce inflammatory chemicals. However, this has only been shown in test-tube studies. BISPHENOL A (BPA) is one of the best studied chemicals found in plastic. It is usually found in plastic packaging or food storage containers and can leak out into food. Some evidence has shown that BPA can interfere with reproductive hormones, especially in women.
How to Avoid Microplastics in Food
Microplastics are found in many different human food sources. However, it is still unclear how they affect human health. The highest concentrations of microplastics in the food chain appear to be in fish, particularly shellfish. Because little is known about how microplastics affect health, it is not necessary to avoid shellfish entirely. However, it may be beneficial to eat high-quality shellfish from known sources.
In addition, some plastics can leak into food from packaging. Limiting your use of plastic food packaging may curb your microplastic intake, and benefit the environment in the process.
SUMMARY Shellfish appear to be the greatest source of microplastics in the food chain, so make sure to choose high-quality shellfish from known sources. Limiting plastic food packaging may also reduce your microplastic intake.
The Bottom Line
Microplastics are either purposely produced to be small, like microbeads in cosmetics, or formed from the breakdown of larger plastics. Unfortunately, microplastics are present throughout the environment, including in the air, water and food.
Seafood, particularly shellfish, contains high concentrations of microplastics that may accumulate in your body after you eat these foods.
How microplastics affect human health is currently unclear. However, results from animal and test-tube studies suggest they may have negative effects.
Reducing your use of plastic food packaging is one of most effective ways you can reduce plastic in the environment and in the food chain.
It’s a step that will benefit the environment and probably your health, as well.
00seshunarayanahttps://imedworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/MedWorks-Logo-02-300x300.pngseshunarayana2020-07-23 20:54:062020-07-23 20:54:06Are Microplastics in Food a Threat to Your Health?
The common cold is a viral infectious disease that infects the upper respiratory system. It is also known as acute viral rhinopharyngitis and acute coryza. It is the most common infectious disease in humans and is mainly caused by coronaviruses or rhinoviruses.
Because there are more than 200 viruses that cause the common cold, the human body can never build up resistance to all of them. This is why colds are so common and often return. According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), adults get 2-3 colds per year and children may have up to 12 per year.
The common cold is contagious; it can be spread by air droplets from coughs and sneezes and by touching infected surfaces. It is contagious from 1–2 days before symptoms begin until the symptoms have stopped.
Fast facts on colds Here are some key points about colds. More detail and supporting information is in the main article.
Common cold symptoms include dry or sore throat, blocked or runny nose, and sneezing.
Around a quarter of people do not experience symptoms when infected with a cold.
Up to half of common colds are caused by a group of viruses referred to as rhinoviruses.
Complications of the common cold include acute bronchitis and pneumonia.
People with lung conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are more vulnerable to colds than other people.
The most common symptoms of a cold are:
dry throat
sore throat
cough
mild fever
sneezing
hoarse voice
blocked nose
mild headache
Causes
The common cold can be caused by more than 200 different viruses. Around 50 percent of colds are caused by rhinoviruses, other cold-causing viruses include:
human parainfluenza virus
Human metapneumovirus
coronaviruses adenovirus
human respiratory suncytial virus
enteroviruses
When a virus manages to overpower the body’s immune system, infection occurs. The first line of defense is mucus, which is produced in the nose and throat by the mucus glands. This mucus traps anything inhaled, such as dust, viruses, and bacteria. Mucus is a slippery fluid that the membranes of the nose, mouth, throat, and vagina produce.
Prevention
However, there are some precautions that can help avoid catching the common cold. These include:
Avoid close contact with someone infected with a cold.
Eat plenty of vitamin-rich fruit and vegetables to help keep the immune system strong.
When sneezing or coughing, make sure it is done into a tissue. Discard the tissue carefully and wash your hands.
If you sneeze into your hands, make sure you wash them with soap and water immediately.
If you have no tissues or a handkerchief, cough into the inside (crook) of your elbow rather than your hands.
Wash your hands regularly; cold viruses can be transmitted from one person to another by touch. In fact, more germs are passed by shaking hands than by kissing.
Keep surfaces in your home clean — especially in the kitchen or bathroom.
Avoid touching your face, especially your nose and mouth.
Treatments
It is important to realize that both antibiotics and antiviral medications are ineffective against most viruses that cause the common cold. A cold normally lasts up to 10 days; however, some symptoms can stay as long as 3 weeks.
Although there is no real way of treating or curing a common cold, the following measures may help ease the symptoms:
Drink plenty of fluids and keep well hydrated, being dehydrated when infected with a cold can make symptoms worse.
Get plenty of bed rest; it is important to get as much sleep/rest as possible while the immune system is fighting off the virus.
Take aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen to relieve headache or fever. Do not give aspirin to children under 16.
Some people find that inhaling steam helps ease the symptoms of nasal congestion.
00seshunarayanahttps://imedworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/MedWorks-Logo-02-300x300.pngseshunarayana2020-07-23 18:43:132020-07-23 18:43:13All about the common cold
