Small Changes Can Yield Big Results

Make Minor Adjustments That Will Pay Big Dividends

Showering with your eyes closed can help stimulate the mind by blocking one of the senses, according to studies. Try eating with a blindfold, as well. - Hoby Finn/Digital Vision/Getty Images

Quit cold turkey. Run a marathon. Cut out carbohydrates. Reduce calorie intake by half. You may believe that drastic changes are the only ways to achieve the results you want, but that's hardly the case.

"When changes are too big, they may be too overwhelming," said registered dietitian Ellie Krieger, author of "Small Changes, Big Results: A 12-Week Action Plan to a Better Life." "People don't want to start, or they don't know where to begin so they don't at all."

Small lifestyle changes are easier to achieve and maintain. When successful, they are more likely to become habits and can lead to increased self-confidence.

"Most successful goals or changes are things you can literally check off and say, 'I did this,'" Krieger said. "If you say, 'I am going to eat better,' you can't track or net that goal. But when you set and accomplish small, tangible changes, you get an immediate sense of gratification, and that is self-motivating."

So whether you're looking to improve your finances, health, fitness or relationships, focusing on frequent, achievable little goals will lead you to success.

When you set and accomplish small, tangible changes, you get an immediate sense of gratification, and that is self-motivating.

Ellie Krieger, registered dietitian and author of "Small Changes, Big Results: A 12-Week Action Plan to a Better Life"

Stop Before You're Full

"On a scale of one to 10, with one being you're famished and 10 being you're Thanksgiving full, stop eating when you're at a five or six," said Krieger.

To stay satisfied yet never stuffed, give your snack or meal undivided attention. So-called "mindful eating" means not eating in front of the TV or anything that would distract you from the food.

Take small bites. Chew slowly. Smell your food. Focus on the texture and taste. After a few bites or one serving, ask yourself if you want more or are satisfied.

Using smaller plates and bowls can also help.

In a Cornell University study published in the September 2006 issue of the "American Journal of Preventative Medicine," 85 nutrition experts were given either a small or a large bowl for ice cream. Participants with the larger bowl served themselves and ate 31 percent more calories than those with the smaller bowl.

According to Brian Wansink, Cornell Food and Brand Lab director and lead author of the study, people are likely to serve themselves 22 percent fewer calories if they use a 10-inch plate instead of a 12-inch plate.

Portion half of the dinner plate with vegetables and fruits, says Elisa Zied, registered dietitian and author of "Nutrition at Your Fingertips." This way you fill up on fruits and veggies instead of the high-caloric food.

Confuse Your Muscles

When it comes to building muscles, a few tweaks to your fitness routine may be all you need to change your body.

"You don't necessarily have to change your entire workout; you would only need to change how you complete the exercises," said Jeff Plasschaert, an exercise physiologist at the University of Florida.

Some simple changes are doing an exercise bilaterally (working both limbs), adding in balancing, changing the mode of exercise (from machines to free weights), and grouping multiple exercises into one movement. Adjusting your grip can help get in a few more reps. Plasschaert suggests adding variations to these basic exercises to take your workouts up a notch.

Lunge: Add a twist or rotation; lunge onto unstable surface (Airex Balance Pad or Bosu ball); lunge with rotation using bands.

Biceps Curl: Switch between a palms-down and palms-up grip; use bands or cable machine; stand on one leg for balance; incorporate a lunge with biceps curl.

Triceps Extensions: Switch between a palms-down and palms-up grip; vary between single arm and double arm.

Plank: With marching feet; with elbows on a stability ball; with elbows on a stability ball and tracing the alphabet with your elbows.

Pushup: Vary width of hands; put hands on unstable surface; put a band around your elbows; put one arm on top of a medicine ball.

Take a Relaxing Bath

If you're struggling to fall asleep at night, Harvard University sleep experts suggest establishing a soothing pre-sleep routine. Read a book, practice relaxation exercises or take a bath (the rise and fall in body temperature induces drowsiness). Keep your room slightly cool, and avoid the glow of your computer at night.

After all, sleep is important for your well-being as well as your waistline. A study presented at the 2011 meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies shows that not getting enough shuteye may make junk food more tempting. Researchers say daytime sleepiness may impair your brain's inhibitory control when viewing tantalizing, high-caloric food.

Shower With Your Eyes Closed

Blocking or combining one or more of your senses, such as showering with your eyes closed or eating blindfolded, can improve memory and your mental fitness, according to the Franklin Institute.

When you use your senses in unexpected ways, you're stimulating nerve cells in the brain so that pathways and circuits get activated.

Listen to the rain and tap your fingers, or smell flowers while listening to music. Close your eyes when buying fresh produce and rely only on your spatial reasoning and sense of smell and touch.

Eat More, Drink Less

Whether it's a 140-calorie can of soda can or a 190-calorie soy latte, "liquid calories add up," said Zied.

Limit beverages that add to your daily caloric intake yet do little to make you feel full. And although low in calories, diet soda is not the solution. Researchers from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio reported that drinking diet soda is associated with a wider waistline. And a second study found that aspartame -- an artificial sweetener in diet sodas -- raised the blood sugar levels in mice.

Stick to water or unsweetened coffee/tea, or make fresh-fruit-infused water: Blend two cups of water with a cup of melon and pour over ice.

Sprint Your Workout

Burn fat, build muscles, boost endurance and improve your cardiovascular health in the shortest time possible with interval training, or short bursts of high-intensity exercises, says Jeff Plasschaert, an exercise physiologist at the University of Florida.

An effective way of incorporating interval training is to make part of your workout a circuit, such as a six-exercise set completed for one minute each with 30-second rests and repeated three times for a 30-minute workout. Be sure to include a warm-up and cool-down routine.

"If you know how much time you have to work out, then you can pick a set number of exercises and repeat those exercises for the duration of the workout," said Plasschaert.

Spend 15 Minutes Saving

The average U.S. family carries $8,000 in credit-card debt. Rather than making drastic sacrifices --- such as downsizing from a two-car to a one-car household --- financial expert Ellie Kay suggests small, workable changes that add up to major savings.

Before you shop, Kay recommends seeking online coupon codes and promotions. Cut your grocery bill in half with deals from the newspaper or other online coupon sites, and before traveling, use sites that let you know where the cheapest gas is along your route.

"Devote 15 minutes a day to saving, and determine to never pay full price for anything," said Kay.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com

The Best Way to Work Out for Weight Loss

Overview

When it comes to losing weight, you need to burn more calories than you are taking in.

This is called a "caloric deficit." The way to achieve this is by cutting back your daily calories and working out. To lose a pound of weight a week, without dieting, you will need to burn 3,500 calories a week through exercise. As far as your workouts are concerned, make them as efficient as possible. To lose weight, you will need to do both cardio exercise and weight training.

Step 1

Do not work out on an empty stomach. Although this has been a long time debate, the best way to lose weight is not by working out while you are starving. This can cause you to "hit the wall" and not perform at optimal levels. When this happens, no weight will be lost, because you will not have any energy to work out. To prevent this from happening, have a small meal 15 to 30 minutes before you exercise. Eat something that is easily digestible, like fruit or yogurt. This will give you enough calories for energy without having an excess to be stored as fat.

Step 2

Perform aerobic exercise. Aerobic exercise involves the major muscle groups moving in a repetitive fashion. The best exercise to do is something that you enjoy doing like running, walking, hiking, biking, elliptical training, rowing, stair stepping, jumping rope or kickboxing. All forms of aerobic exercise are efficient at burning calories, but elliptical training, rowing, jumping rope and kickboxing incorporate your upper and lower body at the same time, which can cause you to do more work.

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Step 3

Do interval training. Interval training is characterized by alternating between high and low intensities. This type of training is labor intensive and it also helps elevate your metabolism for hours after you have finished working out. Here is an example of an interval workout: do a five-minute light warm-up run. Sprint for 30 seconds, then jog for 30 seconds. Alternate back and forth 12 to 15 times, then do a light five-minute cool-down jog. You can apply interval training to any form of aerobic exercise.

Step 4

Lift weights. Weight lifting helps you build muscle. Muscle is a metabolically active tissue, which can cause you to burn more calories even when you are sitting down. Perform weight training that targets all of your major muscle groups. Exercises like bench presses, shoulder presses, bent over rows, triceps extensions, biceps curls and squats are all examples of these. Perform 10 to 12 reps and do three to four sets of each exercise. To increase your weight loss efforts, do active recoveries in between your sets. For example, instead of just standing around for 60 seconds, jump rope, perform step-ups on a bench or simply walk around the gym floor briskly.

Step 5

Be consistent. If you want your workouts to be effective, you need to do them more than whenever you feel like it. Do weight training three times a week and cardio three times a week on alternating days. Perform cardio for 45 to 60 minutes, unless you are doing intervals. They can be done in 20 to 30 minutes because they are at a higher intensity. On the seventh day, do a 30-minute light cardio session, like going for a walk or throwing a football with a friend.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com

Still Counting Calories?

Still Counting Calories? Your Weight-Loss Plan May Be Outdated;

It’s no secret that Americans are fatter today than ever before, and not just those unlucky people who are genetically inclined to gain weight or have been overweight all their lives. Many who were lean as young adults have put on lots of unhealthy pounds as they pass into middle age and beyond.

Should You Trust Calorie Counts?

Is there a better way than calorie counts to raise awareness about nutrition, or should the government stop worrying about what people order?

It’s also no secret that the long-recommended advice to eat less and exercise more has done little to curb the inexorable rise in weight. No one likes to feel deprived or leave the table hungry, and the notion that one generally must eat less to control body weight really doesn’t cut it for the typical American.
So the newest findings on what specific foods people should eat less often — and more importantly, more often — to keep from gaining pounds as they age should be of great interest to tens of millions of Americans.
The new research, by five nutrition and public health experts at Harvard University, is by far the most detailed long-term analysis of the factors that influence weight gain, involving 120,877 well-educated men and women who were healthy and not obese at the start of the study. In addition to diet, it has important things to say about exercise, sleep, television watching, smoking and alcohol intake.
The study participants — nurses, doctors, dentists and veterinarians in the Nurses’ Health Study, Nurses’ Health Study II and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study — were followed for 12 to 20 years. Every two years, they completed very detailed questionnaires about their eating and other habits and current weight. The fascinating results were published in June in The New England Journal of Medicine.
The analysis examined how an array of factors influenced weight gain or loss during each four-year period of the study. The average participant gained 3.35 pounds every four years, for a total weight gain of 16.8 pounds in 20 years.
“This study shows that conventional wisdom — to eat everything in moderation, eat fewer calories and avoid fatty foods — isn’t the best approach,” Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, a cardiologist and epidemiologist at the Harvard School of Public Health and lead author of the study, said in an interview. “What you eat makes quite a difference. Just counting calories won’t matter much unless you look at the kinds of calories you’re eating.”
Dr. Frank B. Hu, a nutrition expert at the Harvard School of Public Health and a co-author of the new analysis, said: “In the past, too much emphasis has been put on single factors in the diet. But looking for a magic bullet hasn’t solved the problem of obesity.”
Also untrue, Dr. Mozaffarian said, is the food industry’s claim that there’s no such thing as a bad food.
“There are good foods and bad foods, and the advice should be to eat the good foods more and the bad foods less,” he said. “The notion that it’s O.K. to eat everything in moderation is just an excuse to eat whatever you want.”
The study showed that physical activity had the expected benefits for weight control. Those who exercised less over the course of the study tended to gain weight, while those who increased their activity didn’t. Those with the greatest increase in physical activity gained 1.76 fewer pounds than the rest of the participants within each four-year period.
But the researchers found that the kinds of foods people ate had a larger effect over all than changes in physical activity.
“Both physical activity and diet are important to weight control, but if you are fairly active and ignore diet, you can still gain weight,” said Dr. Walter Willett, chairman of the nutrition department at the Harvard School of Public Health and a co-author of the study.
As Dr. Mozaffarian observed, “Physical activity in the United States is poor, but diet is even worse.”
Little Things Mean a Lot
People don’t become overweight overnight.
Rather, the pounds creep up slowly, often unnoticed, until one day nothing in the closet fits the way it used to.
Even more important than its effect on looks and wardrobe, this gradual weight gain harms health. At least six prior studies have found that rising weight increases the risk in women of heart disease, diabetes, stroke and breast cancer, and the risk in men of heart disease, diabetes and colon cancer.
The beauty of the new study is its ability to show, based on real-life experience, how small changes in eating, exercise and other habits can result in large changes in body weight over the years.
On average, study participants gained a pound a year, which added up to 20 pounds in 20 years. Some gained much more, about four pounds a year, while a few managed to stay the same or even lose weight.
Participants who were overweight at the study’s start tended to gain the most weight, which seriously raised their risk of obesity-related diseases, Dr. Hu said. “People who are already overweight have to be particularly careful about what they eat,” he said.
The foods that contributed to the greatest weight gain were not surprising. French fries led the list: Increased consumption of this food alone was linked to an average weight gain of 3.4 pounds in each four-year period. Other important contributors were potato chips (1.7 pounds), sugar-sweetened drinks (1 pound), red meats and processed meats (0.95 and 0.93 pound, respectively), other forms of potatoes (0.57 pound), sweets and desserts (0.41 pound), refined grains (0.39 pound), other fried foods (0.32 pound), 100-percent fruit juice (0.31 pound) and butter (0.3 pound).
Read more;www.livestrong.com

Your Weight-Loss Plan

Still Counting Calories? Your Weight-Loss Plan May Be Outdated;

Also not too surprising were most of the foods that resulted in weight loss or no gain when consumed in greater amounts during the study: fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Compared with those who gained the most weight, participants in the Nurses’ Health Study who lost weight consumed 3.1 more servings of vegetables each day.

Should You Trust Calorie Counts?

Is there a better way than calorie counts to raise awareness about nutrition, or should the government stop worrying about what people order?

But contrary to what many people believe, an increased intake of dairy products, whether low-fat (milk) or full-fat (milk and cheese), had a neutral effect on weight.
And despite conventional advice to eat less fat, weight loss was greatest among people who ate more yogurt and nuts, including peanut butter, over each four-year period.
Nuts are high in vegetable fat, and previous small studies have shown that eating peanut butter can help people lose weight and keep it off, probably because it slows the return of hunger.
That yogurt, among all foods, was most strongly linked to weight loss was the study’s most surprising dietary finding, the researchers said. Participants who ate more yogurt lost an average of 0.82 pound every four years.
Yogurt contains healthful bacteria that in animal studies increase production of intestinal hormones that enhance satiety and decrease hunger, Dr. Hu said. The bacteria may also raise the body’s metabolic rate, making weight control easier.
But, consistent with the new study’s findings, metabolism takes a hit from refined carbohydrates — sugars and starches stripped of their fiber, like white flour. When Dr. David Ludwig of Children’s Hospital Boston compared the effects of refined carbohydrates with the effects of whole grains in both animals and people, he found that metabolism, which determines how many calories are used at rest, slowed with the consumption of refined grains but stayed the same after consumption of whole grains.
Other Influences
As has been suggested by previous smaller studies, how long people slept each night influenced their weight changes. In general, people who slept less than six hours or more than eight hours a night tended to gain the most. Among possible explanations are effects of short nights on satiety hormones, as well as an opportunity to eat more while awake, Dr. Hu said.
He was not surprised by the finding that the more television people watched, the more weight they gained, most likely because they are influenced by a barrage of food ads and snack in front of the TV.
Alcohol intake had an interesting relationship to weight changes. No significant effect was found among those who increased their intake to one glass of wine a day, but increases in other forms of alcohol were likely to bring added pounds.
As expected, changes in smoking habits also influenced weight changes. Compared with people who never smoked, those who had quit smoking within the previous four years gained an average of 5.17 pounds. Subsequent weight gain was minimal — 0.14 pound for each four-year period.
Those who continued smoking lost 0.7 pound in each four-year period, which the researchers surmised may have resulted from undiagnosed underlying disease, especially since those who took up smoking experienced no change in weight.

Carbs Make You Crave Sugar

Why Do Carbs Make You Crave Sugar?

Overview

Carbohydrates are a type of macronutrient found in foods and drinks. Many carbohydrates in your diet come from plant grains, but there are also an abundance of carbohydrates added to beverages and other foods. These carbohydrates are found in the form of sugars and starches. Carbohydrates are an important source of nutrition for your body, forming an important part of a balanced diet. Carbohydrates affect blood sugar and, as such, can affect cravings for more carbohydrates and sugar.
How Carbohydrates Work

Carbohydrates are an essential part of your diet. Your body relies on carbohydrates to function, particularly your brain and central nervous system. When you consume carbohydrates, they are first broken down by the enzyme amylase. Your body converts carbohydrates to glucose, or blood sugar, and transports it into the bloodstream as fuel. Three hormones manage glucose: insulin, glucagon and epinephrine.
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Carbohydrates and Sugar

Sugar is a carbohydrate. The body treats sugar in the same way that it treats any carbohydrate: insulin, glucagon and epinephrine begin their work. It is insulin that is responsible for regulating the level of sugar in the blood. Sugar has a high glycemic index rating, meaning that it has a strong impact on the level of sugar in your blood after consumption. Sugar is broken down into simple sugars, the same as other carbohydrates are, and then transported by insulin into the bloodstream.
Role of Insulin

Insulin controls the metabolism of carbohydrates and fat in the body. High-glycemic carbohydrates cause a large amount of sugar to release quickly into your body. Insulin responds to this drastic increase in sugar, neutralizing it. Insulin does this by stimulating the transfer of glucose to your cells so that your organs can metabolize the new-found energy. This rise and drop in blood sugar, sometimes referred to as "crashing," leaves you feeling tired and depleted. This can stimulate hunger, particularly for more carbohydrates and sugars.
Avoiding This Cycle

Whenever possible, you should avoid eating refined or simple sugars, particularly those that are high on the glycemic index. To determine whether a carbohydrate has a high glycemic index rating, visit the Glycemic Index site and search its database (see Resources). Select complex carbohydrates that release sugar into your bloodstream more slowly, creating less of a spike in blood sugars. Don't remove carbohydrates altogether, as your body requires them as fuel. Your brain is especially reliant upon carbohydrates for nourishment. You should, however, choose whole grains, fruits, vegetables and foods that are higher in fiber.
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VTE( venous thromboembolism )risk

VTE risk is a common, but preventable, complication

Although many associate venous thromboembolism (VTE) with recent trauma or surgery, 50% to 70% of symptomatic cases, as well as the majority of cases of fatal pulmonary embolism (PE), occur in medical (nonsurgical, nontrauma) patients. Because of the often silent nature of VTE, the first sign of a problem may be a clinically significant event, such as PE.

Cancer and other medical illness are major contributors to VTE risk

Cancer, in particular, is a major risk factor, as one in five diagnosed cases of VTE occurs in a person with cancer.

Immobilisation increases the risk of VTE

Hospitalised medical patients are often immobile because of weakness, reduced alertness, or nerve injury. In addition, patients in critical care settings are often bedridden. Even in the absence of medical illness, lack of mobility can lead to venous stasis and VTE, as can occur during long-distance air travel.

Conditions commonly associated with hospitalisation that increase risk of VTE

• Stroke
• Congestive heart failure (NYHA Class III-IV)
• Acute respiratory disease
• Acute myocardial infarction
• Acute arthritis
• Acute infection
• Inflammatory bowel disease

Patient-related, predisposing characteristics that increase risk of VTE

• Recent surgery or major trauma
• Immobility or paralysis
• Malignancy
• Previous VTE
• Older age, particularly >80 years
• Oestrogen therapy (contraceptives or hormone replacement)
• Obesity
• Central vein catheterisation
• Varicose veins
• Inherited or acquired thrombophilia

Age, in particular, is a one of the most important risk factors for VTE. The risk increases exponentially over time, from a negligible rate in children under 15 (<5 per 100,000) to a rate of ~500 per 100,000 in those over 80.

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Hospitalised patients often have multiple risk factors for VTE

Patients hospitalised because of medical illness often have multiple risk factors for VTE, and these risks are generally cumulative.Accordingly, all patients should be evaluated for their risk of VTE at the time of hospital admission. This evaluation should be repeated whenever there is a significant change in a patient’s clinical status.

Preventive treatment can reduce incidence of VTE

Prospective studies have shown that hospitalised medical patents at high risk who do not receive preventive anticoagulant therapy develop deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the calf in 10% to 15% of cases. The same studies revealed an incidence of proximal DVT in 2% to 5% and of PE in 0.3% to 1.5%.

Studies have also shown that anticoagulant prophylaxis reduces the risk of symptomatic VTE in hospitalised medical patients. Despite the clear need for prophylactic care to prevent VTE in high-risk medical patients, a recent multinational, cross-sectional audit revealed that fewer than 40% of hospitalised medical patients at risk received standard VTE prophylaxis. Therefore, timely risk assessment and preventive therapy is the optimal therapeutic approach.

---

VTE risk associated with cancer

VTE is a leading cause of death in patients with cancer. The incidence of symptomatic VTE in patients with malignancies ranges from 4% to 20% depending on the study.Certain medications used to treat cancer, such as tamoxifen and erythropoietin, increase the risk of VTE. In addition, novel chemotherapeutic agents that suppress blood vessel formation (eg, thalidomide, lenalidomide, and bevacizumab) have been associated with a high rate of VTE.

Certain cancer malignancies are associated with higher VTE risk

The risk of thrombosis is greatest in the first year after the diagnosis of cancer malignancy. Certain cancer malignancies are associated with a higher VTE risk (eg, pancreatic, gastric, colon, brain, kidney, ovarian, prostate, haematologic, and lung), and metastatic disease confers a greater risk than primary tumours.The same predisposing factors that elevate the risk of VTE in surgical patients and in hospitalised patients without cancer augment the overall risk in patients with cancer.

Transform Your Body

Transform Your Body

Posted by abornstein | July 22, 2011 | 0 Comments

Looking for a new workout and diet plan? We have a new approach that will take you out of the gym, and offer a flexible way of eating. We teamed up with UFC Personal Trainer, a new game dedicated to fitness, to help provide a comprehensive approach to improving your health. When you pick up the game, you now have the ability to track the fitness activities using MyPlate. Simply do the activity, and then log it here to find out how many calories you burned.

In combination with your new exercise program, we also created 30-day meal plans inspired by the different workout goals in the game. You can choose from three options: Build Strength, Cut Weight, and Build Endurance. Feel free to print out the linked pdf of the diet you want to follow, and use the meal template and shopping list to guide your experience. When you follow the meal plan, be sure to log your foods on MyPlate so you know your total calories consumed and burned. 

After all, research has found that those who track their food lose 3.5 MORE pounds than those who don’t. In order to track, simply select the foods you eat from the MyPlate database, and enter the quantity you consumed. The calorie tracker will provide the rest of the details. Getting back in shape has never been this fun—or easy. 

Download the UFC Build Strength Plan

Download the UFC Cut Weight Plan

Download the UFC Build Endurance Plan read more

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The Difference Between Vegetable Lecithin & Vegetable Glycerin

Overview;

Glycerin, or glycerol, is a 3-carbon sugar alcohol that forms the backbone to which fatty acids are attached in the fats known as triglycerides. Lecithin is a fat also known as phosphatidyl choline. It is based on a glycerol backbone. In lecithin, two of glycerol's carbons are attached to fatty acids and the third is attached through a phosphate group to choline.

Vegetable Glycerin

Vegetable glycerin is derived from vegetable oils, as opposed to glycerin derived from animal fats or petroleum products. It is considered a carbohydrate and has similar calories per gram as table sugar. However, it has very little effect on blood sugar or insulin levels in healthy people, according to a 2002 article in the journal "Diabetes." It is not known how glycerin affects diabetics.

Uses of Glycerine

Glycerin sweetens and thickens food products and may act as a preservative. It helps retain moisture both in foods and in skin lotions.

Vegetable Lecithin

According to the Food and Drug Administration, vegetable lecithin comes from the processing of soybean, corn and safflower oils, with most of it coming from soybeans. Lecithin makes a good emulsifier because its fatty acids are oil-soluble while the choline phosphate is water-soluble. This dual character makes it a key component of cell membranes in plants and animals.

Uses of Lecithin

In foods, lecithin acts as an emulsifier and as a releasing agent, preventing sticking. It also helps prevent spattering during frying.

Lecithin and Cardiovascular Health

Research regarding dietary lecithin's role in artherosclerosis has been inconsistent. It may help lower bad LDL cholesterol and raise good HDL cholesterol in patients with high cholesterol but not in people with normal cholesterol levels, according to a research paper published in 2002 in the journal "Artherosclerosis." However, according to the paper, the products of lecithin breakdown by gut flora may actually encourage artherosclerosis. Lecithin supplements should not be taken without consulting with your doctor.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com

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Diagnosing thrombosis

Understanding Thrombosis

Venous and arterial thrombosis: a major global health concern

From public health scares about the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) on long-distance flights to high rates of pulmonary embolism (PE) in patients recovering from major surgery, venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a well-publicised, serious health issue.^{1, 2}
expand...
Patients undergoing major orthopaedic surgery for total hip or total knee replacement or surgery for fracture of the hip are at particularly high risk of DVT. Undertreatment remains a problem, despite ample evidence that primary preventive therapy effectively reduces the risk of DVT, PE, and fatal PE.^{3, 57}

Thrombosis complications also play a major role in cardiovascular disease. Blood clots in coronary arteries cause acute coronary syndrome, and blood clots that form in the heart are the major cause of stroke in people with atrial fibrillation.^{4, 5}

Haemostasis and the coagulation cascade

Blood clot formation, or haemostasis, depends on an intricate series of events involving platelets, other cells, and the activation of specific blood proteins, known as coagulation factors.⁶
Learn more about haemostasis.

Diagnosing thrombosis

Clinical symptoms of DVT and acute coronary syndrome can be associated with other conditions.^{8, 9} For that reason, objective diagnostic tests may be required for diagnosis.
Learn more about diagnosing thrombosis.

How thrombosis develops;A thrombus is a blood clot formed when there is an imbalance in the blood coagulation system. A thrombus can block the flow of blood through a vein or artery, and can detach from the vessel wall to become a life-threatening embolus when it lodges in the lungs or other vital organs.⁶

Sleep Apnea and Related Health Conditions

 Sleep Apnea and Related Health Conditions;

Snoring may seem comical, but obstructive sleep apnea is no joke. It can increase your risk of high blood pressure and diabetes -- and even make you more dangerous on the road.

These seven health problems are linked to obstructive sleep apnea:
High blood pressure. Obstructive sleep apnea can contribute to high blood pressure in people who have it. The frequent nighttime wakings that plague people with sleep apnea cause hormonal systems to go into overdrive, which results in high blood pressure levels at night. Low blood-oxygen levels, caused by the cutoff of oxygen, may also contribute to hypertension in people with sleep apnea. The good news: Some people with high blood pressure who are treated for sleep apnea can cut back on their blood pressure medications.
Heart disease. People with obstructive sleep apnea are more likely to suffer heart attacks and die in the middle of the night. The causes may be low oxygen or the stress of waking up often during sleep. Stroke and atrial fibrillation – a problem with the rhythm of the heartbeat -- are also associated with obstructive sleep apnea. The disrupted oxygen flow caused by sleep apnea makes it hard for your brain to regulate the flow of blood in arteries and the brain itself.
Type 2 diabetes. Sleep apnea is very common among people with type 2 diabetes – up to 80% of diabetics have some obstructive sleep apnea. Obesity is a common risk factor for both disorders. Although studies haven’t shown a clear link between sleep apnea alone and type 2 diabetes, sleep deprivation can cause insulin resistance, a precursor to diabetes.
Weight gain. Adding weight raises your risk of sleep apnea, and up to two-thirds of people with sleep apnea are severely overweight. Obstructive sleep apnea can often be cured if you lose enough weight, but that can be tough to do.

 Being overweight causes fatty deposits in the neck that block breathing at night. In turn, sleep apnea impairs the body’s endocrine systems, causing the release of the hormone ghrelin, which makes you crave carbohydrates and sweets. Also, people with sleep apnea who are tired and sleepy all the time may have lower metabolisms, which can also contribute to weight gain. Getting treatment for sleep apnea can make you feel better, with more energy for exercise and other activities.
Adult asthma. Although the link to obstructive sleep apnea is not proven, people who are treated for sleep apnea may find they have fewer asthma attacks.
GERD. There’s no proof that sleep apnea causes acid reflux, but many people with sleep apnea complain of acid reflux, and treating it seems to improve apnea symptoms, say sleep physicians.
Car accidents. Daytime grogginess can put people with sleep apnea at increased risk of falling asleep behind the wheel. People with sleep apnea are up to five times more likely than normal sleepers to have traffic accidents.
Treating Sleep Apnea

The increased risk for health problems linked to sleep apnea can be scary, but effective treatment for sleep apnea is available. In most cases, a sleep specialist will recommend a machine known as CPAP. Although it can take some getting used to, people who use CPAP feel better and are healthier. Talk to your doctor about treating your sleep apnea and preventing related health problems.
It may be treated easily by using a HOMEOPATHIC MEDICINE ;

KALI PHOS  30

FDA Approves Brilinta Blood Thinner

FDA Approves Brilinta Blood Thinner
Brilinta: Plavix Alternative for Acute Coronary Syndrome

July 20, 2011 -- The FDA has approved AstraZeneca's Brilinta blood thinner for patients with acute coronary syndrome -- conditions, such as heart attack and angina, that reduce blood flow to the heart.

Brilinta wears off faster than Plavix and Effient, which are approved for treating the same conditions.

"In clinical trials, Brilinta was more effective than Plavix in preventing heart attacks and death, but that advantage was seen with aspirin maintenance doses of 75 to 100 milligrams once daily," says Norman Stockbridge, MD, PhD, the FDA's director of the cardiovascular and renal products.

 source;webmed.com

The downside of Brilinta is that  the drug is less effective if patients take more than 100 milligrams a day of aspirin. A so-called "baby aspirin" contains 81 milligrams of aspirin.

The FDA's approval of Brilinta requires AstraZeneca to institute a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) that will alert doctors to the risk of using higher doses of aspirin along with the drug. This risk will be highlighted in a "black box" warning on the product label. A "black box" warning is the FDA's strongest warning.

The warning will also note that, like Plavix and other blood thinners, Brilinta increases the rate of bleeding and can sometimes cause fatal bleeds. In addition to bleeding, the most common adverse effect of Brilinta was difficulty breathing.

The company will also have to give patients a medication guide every time they refill their Brilinta prescription.

The FDA's approval reverses its December 2010 refusal to approve the drug, despite a 7-1 vote of an expert advisory committee in favor of approval.

Excessive Sweating

Localized Sweating: Primary Focal Hyperhidrosis

The most common cause of excessive sweating is called primary focal hyperhidrosis. This form of hyperhidrosis affects about 1% to 3% of the population, and usually starts in childhood or adolescence.
Primary focal hyperhidrosis does not cause illness. Basically, you sweat excessively. Although it is a medical condition, it's not a sign of disease or a drug interaction. People who have it are otherwise healthy.
The symptoms of primary focal hyperhidrosis are fairly specific. It's called focal or localized because it only affects specific parts of the body, such as the underarms, groin, head, face, hands, or feet. Symptoms also tend to be symmetrical, occurring on both sides equally.
Why does it happen? Experts aren't sure, but primary focal hyperhidrosis seems to stem from a minor malfunction in the nervous system. There's some evidence that it could run in families.
While primary focal hyperhidrosis isn't medically risky, it can cause problems in your life. "Primary focal hyperhidrosis can really interfere with your quality of life," Glaser says.
Some people are merely inconvenienced by excessive sweating. Others are so embarrassed that they limit their social and work life in harmful ways.

Generalized Sweating: Secondary General Hyperhidrosis

This less common form of hyperhidrosis causes sweating all over the body -- not just on the hands or feet. Secondary general hyperhidrosis is also more serious medically. It's called secondary because it's being caused by something else, such as an underlying health condition.
One telltale sign of secondary hyperhidrosis is excessive generalized sweating at night.
What can trigger secondary general hyperhidrosis? There are many possibilities, including a number of different medical conditions and diseases. They include:

• Menopause
• Pregnancy
• Thyroid problems
• Diabetes
• Alcoholism
• Infectious diseases like tuberculosis
• Parkinson's disease
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Stroke
• Heart failure
• Cancers like leukemia and lymphoma

What about anxiety? People who are anxious -- or have actual anxiety disorders -- may sweat more than others. But experts say that anxious sweating isn't the same as hyperhidrosis. (In some people, however, the two conditions can co-occur.)
Medications can also cause general excessive sweating. Medications that can cause sweating include:

• Some psychiatric medications
• Some blood pressure medications
• Some medicines for dry mouth 
• Some antibiotics
• Some supplements 

Excessive Sweating

Is Your Excessive Sweating Caused by a Medical Problem?

Sweating may be a symptom of thyroid problems, diabetes, or infection.

Do you sweat more than other people? Does a five-minute workout on the treadmill leave you sopping wet? Do you wipe your hand before every handshake?

At the very least, excessive sweating is a hassle. But sometimes heavy sweating is sign of a medical condition.                 ...

"It's not always easy for the average person to know the difference, 

Excessive sweating, or hyperhidrosis, can be a warning sign of thyroid problems, diabetes or infection. Excessive sweating is also more common in people who are overweight or out of shape. 

The good news is that most cases of excessive sweating are harmless. If you are worried about how much you sweat, here's information to help you decide if you should see a doctor for a medical diagnosis.

What Is Excessive Sweating?

If you just sweat more than other people when it's hot or you're exerting yourself, that's not usually a sign of trouble. Sweating is a normal reaction when your body's working harder and needs to cool itself down.
"There are natural variations in how people sweat, just as there are variations in other bodily functions," says Dee Anna Glaser, MD,  vice chair of the dermatology department at St. Louis University and president of the International Hyperhidrosis Society. "Some people start sweating more easily than others."
True excessive sweating goes beyond the normal physical need to sweat. If you have hyperhidrosis, you may sweat heavily for no good reason -- when it's not appropriate to the circumstances.
"Let's say that the temperature is mild, and you're not anxious, and you don't have a fever, and you're just watching a movie with your family," says Glaser. "If you're sitting there sweating profusely, that's not normal."

Barankin says that there are two basic types of excessive sweating: localized hyperhidrosis and generalized hyperhidrosis.

A Vitamin That Fights Depression

 “A Vitamin That Fights Depression.” I’d like to comment on vitamins or neutraceuticals being used to treat depression. There are many complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) products advertised to treat depression, but only a few have actually begun the steps to prove that they actually work.

First, food sources in the USA are not held accountable like FDA approved drugs where they need to be shown to be safe and effective against a sugar pill. As a consumer of prescription and over the counter medications, food supplements, and nutraceuticals I really would like some proof that the things I take to treat my medical problems are both effective and safe. In this blog, I want to comment on one vitamin-type product that seems to be turning the corner from a good idea to a reasonable, almost proven treatment for depression.

Folate and L-Methylfolate (LMF)

1) Folate is an essential nutrient in our diet. It can be found in spinach, lentils, liver, asparagus, beans, and collard greens. Some research studies have shown that folate tablets can help treat depression, but these are small and poorly regulated studies. Hardly definitive proof…

2) Your liver takes the folate you eat in your diet and converts it to a special form of brain folate called L-methylfolate (LMF). However, your liver has the ability to only convert a little bit of regular folate into brain LMF at a time. Therefore you can eat all the spinach in the world but still only get little bits of LMF into your brain at a time.

3) Once in the brain, LMF has the theoretical ability to provide nerves with the ability to make more neurotransmitters such as serotonin. This boost in serotonin allows antidepressants that work by manipulating serotonin to have a greater chance to work their antidepressant mechanisms. LMF tablets are available by prescription now as they are considered a medical food, similar to prenatal vitamin classifications.

4) More stringent research studies that compare LMF to placebo sugar pills are being published and scrutinized, and it appears that adding LMF products to antidepressants may improve depression symptoms. These studies are preliminary in nature but are clearly better regulated and supportive in that LMF may be safe and help in the treatment of depression. Larger, 400 patient studies are needed to prove definitive antidepressant effects, but these current medium sized studies are promising.

Diabetic Care Plan( TREATED BY WESTERN & HOMEO MEDICAL SCIENCES

 Diabetic Care Plan

Overview

Diabetes is a lifelong condition requiring ongoing medical care to manage short- and long-term risks to your health. Although much of diabetes treatment focuses on managing blood sugar levels, a comprehensive care plan for diabetics includes strategies to prevent or minimize the effects of diabetes-related complications. Several types of health care professionals work with you to execute your diabetes care plan.

Blood Sugar Management

Managing your blood sugar level is the cornerstone of your diabetes care plan. Your blood sugar management probably involves one or more medications to prevent high glucose levels, or hyperglycemia. Good blood sugar control is important because it reduces your risk of diabetes-related complications. Blood sugar control also prevents short-term metabolic complications of the disease. Checking your blood glucose level at different times during the day may be a component of your diabetes care plan, especially if you take insulin. Your doctor monitors your glycated hemoglobin, or A1c, to determine whether your blood sugar management plan is consistently controlling your glucose level.

Cardiovascular Care

Diabetes significantly increases your risk of developing atherosclerosis, an inflammatory condition leading to accumulation of fat deposits in your blood vessels. These deposits, called plaques, obstruct blood flow to your body tissues. Atherosclerosis of the blood vessels that supply your heart, known as coronary artery disease, may lead to a heart attack or heart failure. Other atherosclerotic complications of diabetes include stroke and peripheral artery disease.



To reduce your risk of cardiovascular complications, your diabetes care plan includes regular monitoring of your blood fat levels and blood pressure. Your doctor may prescribe medications to prevent or manage cardiovascular complications of diabetes, including cholesterol-lowering drugs and blood pressure medicine.

Lifestyle Care

Your nutrition proves an important component of your diabetes care plan. A healthful diet and regular exercise improve blood sugar control. Additionally, a low-fat, low-sodium diet supports your cardiovascular health. If you smoke, your diabetes care plan will include strategies to help you stop smoking, a habit that profoundly endangers your cardiovascular health.

Eye Care

Diabetes increases your risk for cataracts, glaucoma and retinopathy, a condition in which the image-receptive portion of your eye sustains damage. These conditions can significantly impair your vision and may lead to blindness. Your diabetes care plan, therefore, includes regular eye examinations.

Other Specialty Care

Diabetes may cause problems with your kidneys. Your diabetes doctor monitors your kidney function with periodic blood and urine tests. You may be referred to a kidney specialist if you develop significant problems. Foot care also proves an important component of your diabetes care plan if you have poor sensation in your feet due to diabetes-related nerve damage. Depression and other mental health issues can interfere with your ability to care for yourself and manage your diabetes. Talk with your doctor if you experience symptoms of anxiety or depression. Managing these conditions is as important to your diabetes care plan as any other component of your health care.

Diabetes symptoms Learn symptoms, causes, and treatments for diabetes. Read more. Healthline.com/Diabetes-Symptoms

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High Urea Levels? Probiotics to regulate Urea levels and promote healthy kidneys www.kibowbiotech.com

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com
DIABETES ;Treated by HOMEO MEDICINES;  
Uranium nitrate. [Uran] 
This  remedy  is  praised  highly by Hughes  and  others  in  diabetes
originating in dyspepsia. It has polyuria, polydypsia, dryness of  the
mouth  and skin. It causes sugar in the urine. Dr. Laning   said  that
no  remedy gives such universally good results; it  lessens  the sugar
and quantity of the urine; he recommended  the 3X  trituration. It  is
when   the  disease  is  due   to   assimilative   derangements   that
**Uranium  is  the remedy, and symptoms such as  defective  digestion,
languor, debility and much sugar in the urine, enormous appetite   and
thirst, yet the patient continues to emaciate.
**Syzygium jambolanum is a remedy capable of diminishing the amount of
sugar  in  the urine, especially when used in the tincture  and  lower
triturations,  and some cases have been reported cured, but it  cannot
be considered a reliable drug , and its use seems entirely palliative.

#Phosphoric acid  [Phos]
corresponds  to  diabetes of nervous origin; the urine  is  increased,
perhaps  milky in color and containing much sugar. It suits cases  due
to  grief,  worriment  and  anxiety, those  who  are  indifferent  and
apathetic,    poor    in   mental  and   physical    force.   It    is
unquestionably   curative  of diabetes mellitus in the  early  stages,
great debility  and bruised feeling in the muscles.
There  will  be loss of appetite, sometimes unquenchable  thirst   and
perhaps  the patient will be troubled with boils. When  patients  pass
large  quantities  of  pale colorless urine or  where  there  is  much
phosphatic   deposit  in the urine it is the remedy. It thus  may   be
a remedy in the form known as diabetes insipidus.
Hering  considered  **Plumbum one of the most important  remedies   in
diabetes mellitus.
**Causticum,  Scilla  and  Strophanthus may be  of  use   in  diabetes
insipidus.
**Lycopodium  cured  a case in a weary, wretched  patient;  emaciated,
increased appetite and great thirst; pale, profuse urine. Eight quarts
in 24 hours.

#Phosphorus. [Phos]  
Useful  in diabetes and pancreatic diseases, especially in those of  a
tuberculous   or  gouty diathesis. The  pancreatic  involvement   will
call attention  to  **Phosphorus.  Natrum sulphuricum  corresponds  to
the   hydrogenoid   constitution,  with  dry  mouth  and    throat,and
**Arsenicum  should  be  studied  in  diabetic  gangrene,  thirst  and
emaciation.   Sudden  and  extreme dryness of  the  mouth  and  marked
physical  restlessness   are also  guiding symptoms  to  this  remedy,
especially with a  dark  watery stool.
Dr.  P.Jousset  reports  positive  success where  the  mouth  is  dry;
frequent, abundant urination and tendency to skin eruption.

#Lactic acid. [Lact] 
An  exceedingly good remedy in the gastrohepatic variety  of  diabetes
and good results often follow its use. It has a fine clinical record.
The  symptoms are: urinates copiously and freely, urine  light  yellow
and  saccharine,  thirst,  nausea, debility,  voracious  appetite  and
costive bowels.
Dry skin, dry tongue, gastralgia.
**Acetic  acid is also a valuable diabetic remedy, and it has  passing
of  large quantities of pale urine, intense thirst, hot, dry skin  and
marked debility **Carbolic acid may also be found useful.

#Bryonia. [Bry]  
Should not be neglected in this disease. No remedy has dryness of  the
lips as a symptom  of hepatic disorder more marked than **Bryonia, and
this   is  often one of the first symptom of diabetes.  There   is   a
persistent   bitter  taste,  the  patient  is  languid,   morose   and
dispirited, thirst may not be extreme nor the appetite voracious,  the
patient may lose strength through inability to eat.
**Podophyllum has a bitter taste, but the tongue is flabby. It may  be
of use in the disease.
**Chionanthus  is  a  remedy  used by the  Eclectic  School  upon  the
indications  of thirst, frequent and copious urine; constipation  with
stools light colored, devoid of bile. Functional liver disorders.
**Argentum metallicum.   Hahnemann suggests the use of this remedy  in
diuresis,  it  is  decided use in diabetes  insipidus.  The  urine  is
profuse,  turbid  and  of  sweet odor.  Micturition  is  frequent  and
copious.
**Natrum  sulphuricum.     Hinsdale  reports good  results  with  this
remedy. It has polyuria, intense itching of the skin, especially  upon
the upper surface of the thighs. It is the Tissue Remedy of diabetes.

#Insulin. [Insulin]   
Long  before  the  discovery of Insulin  Dr.Pierre  Jousset  of  Paris
prepared a pancreatic juice on a glycerine basis which he administered
to diabetic patients in doses of 10 or 20 drops a day in water and had
results    sufficiently    good   to   consider   pancreatic    juice, 
orally  administered,  as  a remedy of great value  in  diabetes.  Dr.
Cartier,  his  practical  successor,  praised it insisted  on  smaller
doses  given  by mouth as larger doses and hypodermic injections of it
had  no  effect in ordinary diabetes. Baker advises  the  homoeopathic
strengths of Insulin 3d  to  30th and reports happy results therefrom.
Great  care   must  be taken not to overdose. Boericke  says  that  it
maintains  the blood sugar at  a  normal level and the urine   remains
free  of  sugar.  Epileptic convulsions  and mental derangements  have
been produced by  hypodermic use of this hormone.

Glucose 6 Phosphatase & Lactic Acidosis

Overview

Your liver and muscles contain glycogen, which is the storage form of glucose, or blood sugar, that your body uses for energy. Glucose-6-phosphatase is an enzyme that's needed for you to convert glycogen to glucose and release it into the blood. Some people have a glycogen storage disease that causes a build-up of lactic acid to occur as the body tries to raise blood sugar.

Glycogenolysis

Your muscles and liver convert glycogen to glucose by a process called glycogenolysis. The liver sends glucose into the blood to be transported to the brain and other organs during times of starvation, while the muscles convert glycogen to glucose for their own use during exercise and physical activity. The processes are slightly different because the liver requires the help of an enzyme called glucose-6-phosphatase.

Diabetes symptoms Learn symptoms, causes, and treatments for diabetes.

Von Gierke Disease

Von Gierke disease, or Type I glycogen storage disease, is a genetic disorder in which the body can't undergo glycogenolysis in the liver due to a deficiency of glucose-6-phosphatase. Glycogen builds up in the liver, but blood sugar levels drop resulting in hypoglycemia, hunger, fatigue and irritability in infants who have the disease. Glycogen builds up in the liver and causes it to swell. The kidneys may become enlarged as well.

Lactic Acidosis

Lactic acid builds up in the blood as the body attempts to increase blood sugar levels. The liver normally breaks down the lactic acid, but it cannot keep up and a condition called lactic acidosis occurs. Lactic acid levels in the blood can be measured in lab and a doctor may order this test along with blood glucose, triglycerides and uric acid, along with a biopsy of the liver, if Von Gierke disease is suspected.

Treatment

Von Gierke disease is treated by avoiding low blood sugar with frequently carbohydrate feedings throughout the day. A feeding tube that goes through the nose into the stomach may provide additional sugars during the night. Medications may also be given to reduce uric acid levels, blood fat levels and to help bolster the immune system, which can also be damaged. A medical doctor must examine the child and make the diagnosis.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com

Healthy Thyroid Count for Women;

Healthy Thyroid Count for Women

 

Your thyroid is a small gland at the front of your throat. It produces two primary hormones that control the rate at which your body uses energy. This process is known as your metabolism. Your doctor analyzes the levels of three hormones to assess your thyroid function. Too much or too little thyroid hormone can have adverse health effects. Talk to your doctor about your test results.

Thyroxine

Thyroxine, also known as T4, is one of two primary hormones your thyroid produces. Your doctor will order a T4 test to assess this hormone's levels. The typical range for this hormone if you are a healthy adult is 4.5 to 11.2 mcg/dL. Lower than normal levels mean that your thyroid is not making enough hormone, while the opposite is true for higher than normal results.

Triiodothyronine

Triiodothyronine, also known as T3, is the second thyroid hormone your body uses to control metabolism. T3 makes up 20 percent of the thyroid hormone produced, while thyroxine accounts for the remaining 80 percent. However, T3 is four times more potent than T4. Your doctor can order a T3 test to assess this hormone. The normal T3 range is 100 to 200 ng/dL.

TSH

Your pituitary gland -- a pea-sided gland at the your brain's base -- controls the rate at which your thyroid produces hormones. Your doctor will order a thyroid stimulation hormone, or TSH, test to gain further insight into your thyroid health. When your T3 and T4 blood levels are low, TSH signals your thyroid to produce more and when it is high, TSH signals for a reduction. The normal range for this hormone is 0.4 to 4.0 mIU/L.

Abnormal Results

Hashimoto's thyroiditis is an auto-immune condition and the most common cause of abnormally low thyroid hormone levels, known as hypothyroidism. When you have this condition, your immune system mistakenly attacks your thyroid tissues, preventing your thyroid from making enough hormones. Graves disease, also an abnormal immune response, is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism, which is abnormally high thyroid levels. A pituitary tumor can also cause your thyroid to produce too much hormone. Thyroid cancer can cause abnormal levels in rare cases.

Effects

Your thyroid system balances a delicate hormone level. Too little thyroid hormone can cause fatigue, depression, hair loss, weight gain and heavy menstrual periods. Too much thyroid hormone can cause frequent bowel movements, restlessness, increased appetite and irregular periods. Your doctor can analyze your test results and determine the best course of action if your results are abnormal.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com