HEALTHY LIFE

Before people develop type 2 diabetes they almost always have “pre-diabetes” — blood glucose levels that are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. There are 54 million people in the United States who have pre-diabetes. Recent research has shown that some long-term damage to the body especially the heart and circulatory system may already be occurring during pre-diabetes.

The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play roles.

There are two major types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes results from the body’s failure to produce insulin the hormone that “unlocks” the cells of the body allowing glucose to enter and fuel them. It is estimated that 5-10% of Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 1 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes results from insulin resistance (a condition in which the body fails to properly use insulin) combined with relative insulin deficiency. Most Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 2 diabetes.

There is also pre-diabetes which is a condition that occurs when a person’s blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. There are 54 million Americans who have pre-diabetes in addition to the 20.8 million with diabetes.

Diabetes symptoms may vary from person to person but most of the time anyone with diabetes will experience some or all of these symptoms. Some symptoms are: going to the restroom more often staying thirsty fatigue blurred vision stomach pain and occasionally people suffer from weight loss.

Type 1 diabetes is normally only found in children and type 2 diabetes is found mostly in adults but not always. There are some cases where children are being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Some people may be diagnosed with being borderline diabetic which normally ends up turning into full blown diabetes but not always.

Some of the most important things people with diabetes should know is a healthy nutritional diet and a regular exercise program can help in treating the disease. Speak with your doctor about what kind of diet you should consider following along with a moderate exercise program. The doctor or a nutritionist should be able to tell you exactly what kinds of foods you should be avoiding and give you some tips on how much exercise you need every week. Doing this has many health benefits and will also make you feel so much better about yourself.

You should know the truth about some of the most common myths about diabetes. Myth #1 You can catch diabetes from someone else. No. Although we don’t know exactly why some people develop diabetes we know diabetes is not contagious. It can’t be caught like a cold or flu. There seems to be some genetic link in diabetes particularly type 2 diabetes. Lifestyle factors also play a part.

Myth #2 People with diabetes can’t eat sweets or chocolate. If eaten as part of a healthy meal plan or combined with exercise sweets and desserts can be eaten by people with diabetes. They are no more “off limits” to people with diabetes than they are to people without diabetes.

Myth #3 Eating too much sugar causes diabetes. No. Diabetes is caused by a combination of genetic and lifestyle factors. However being overweight does increase your risk for developing type 2 diabetes. If you have a history of diabetes in your family eating a healthy meal plan and regular exercise are recommended to manage your weight.

Myth #4 People with diabetes should eat special diabetic foods. A healthy meal plan for people with diabetes is the same as that for everyone – low in fat (especially saturated and trans fat) moderate in salt and sugar with meals based on whole grain foods vegetables and fruit.

Diabetic and “dietetic” versions of sugar-containing foods offer no special benefit. They still raise blood glucose levels are usually more expensive and can also have a laxative effect if they contain sugar alcohols.

Myth #5 If you have diabetes you should only eat small amounts of starchy foods such as bread potatoes and pasta. Starchy foods are part of a healthy meal plan. What is important is the portion size. Whole grain breads cereals pasta rice and starchy vegetables like potatoes yams peas and corn can be included in your meals and snacks. The key is portions. For most people with diabetes having 3-4 servings of carbohydrate-containing foods is about right. Whole grain starchy foods are also a good source of fiber which helps keep your gut healthy.

Myth #6 People with diabetes are more likely to get colds and other illnesses. No. You are no more likely to get a cold or another illness if you have diabetes. However people with diabetes are advised to get flu shots. This is because any infection interferes with your blood glucose management putting you at risk of high blood glucose levels and for those with type 1 diabetes an increased risk of ketoacidosis.

Myth #7 Insulin causes atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and high blood pressure. No insulin does not cause atherosclerosis. In the laboratory there is evidence that insulin can initiate some of the early processes associated with atherosclerosis. Therefore some physicians were fearful that insulin might aggravate the development of high blood pressure and hardening of the arteries. But it doesn’t.

Myth #8 Insulin causes weight gain and because obesity is bad for you insulin should not be taken. Both the UKPDS (United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study) and the DCCT (Diabetes Control & Complications Trial) have shown that the benefit of glucose management with insulin far outweighs (no pun intended) the risk of weight gain.

Myth #9 Fruit is a healthy food. Therefore it is ok to eat as much of it as you wish. Fruit is a healthy food. It contains fiber and lots of vitamins and minerals. Because fruit contains carbohydrate it needs to be included in your meal plan. Talk to your dietitian about the amount frequency and types of fruits you should eat.

Myth #10 You don’t need to change your diabetes regimen unless your A1C is greater than 8 percent. The better your glucose control the less likely you are to develop complications of diabetes. An A1C in the sevens (7s) however does not represent good control. The ADA goal is less than 7 percent. The closer your A1C is to the normal range (less than 6 percent) the lower your chances of complications. However you increase your risk of hypoglycemia especially if you have type 1 diabetes. Talk with your health care provider about the best goal for you.

There is no cure right now for diabetes but there are several different forms of treatment available for you. Do not give up hope on feeling better and living a long healthy happy life. Even if you are one of the many that has been diagnosed with this disease it does not mean that your life as you know it is over. It simply means you may need medication and you will have to consider certain lifestyle changes that will have an amazing outcome once you have done so. There are many other treatment options that could eventually be available to you but are currently undergoing more detailed research.

Childhood depression is a very real but sometimes elusive illness that affects the young today. We take a look at what it actually means and how unity and support in the family can help fight its hold over a child.

At the recently concluded Asia Pacific Suicide Prevention Convention 2006 we learnt a few startling facts about children and suicide. For example in a worldwide survey 7.3% to 38% of the children surveyed demonstrated suicide ideation which is the idea of wanting to kill themselves. In Singapore close to 4.7% of children entertain this morbid thought. While the figure may be alarming there is no need to panic as it is actually not uncommon to think about suicide.

Ask anyone in the street if he had thought about suicide before and the answer will most probably be a yes’. Thinking about something as serious as killing oneself and actually doing it are two different matters. Out of all childhood suicides approximately 23.5% are associated with mental illness such as depression schizophrenia and others. Seeing the numbers and understanding that depression is one of the key causes that drive our young to suicide. It is time we understand a little more about this elusive illness called “Childhood Depression”.

The Definition of Childhood Depression

In a 2004 article published by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry childhood depression is defined as “an illness when the feelings of depression persist and interfere with a child or adolescent’s ability to function.”

Feelings of depression are represented in the forms of mood physical mental and behavioural changes in a child. Dr Ken Ung Senior Consultant Child Adolescent & Adult Psychiatrist & Psychotherapist at Adam Road Hospital describes the signs of childhood depression as persistent “irritability or loss of interest loss of appetite and weight poor sleep lethargy headache stomach pain loss of concentration preoccupation with self-harm or suicide refusal to go to school increased temper tantrums and antisocial behaviours such as smoking drinking and running away from home. Any combination of these changes that lasts for more than two weeks could spell a child falling into depression and warrants a closer look.

Many of the symtoms listed are actually applicable to both adults and children but there are telling differences. Age in a non-categorical way does make a difference in the presentation of depressive behaviour. “We don’t tend to categorize (childhood depression) in terms of age groups” says Dr Ung ” but we can generally say that adolescent depression tends to look more like adult type depression whereas childhood depression can be more a typical’ perhaps manifesting in bodily pains and behaviour changes. The closer the age of a child to adulthood – the more we can expect to see an adult-type depression.

Types of childhood depression

There is no clear categorization of childhood depression. According to Dr Ung “Typing depression is notoriously difficult and fashions come and go. We now tend to type it according to severity i.e. mild moderate and severe. Sometimes we use the term reactive’ depression to denote the type that is due to a reaction to some stress (such as the sudden passing of a loved one). Although very rare in children psychotic’ depression refers to the presence of psychotic symptoms which are symptoms that show that the person has lost touch with reality i.e. hearing voices believing irrational bizarre or incredible thoughts.”

Another childhood psychiatry expert Dr Sharon Chan of Sharon Chan Child Guidance Clinic who has been practicing child psychiatry since 1988 concurs “I am not sure that there is such a categorization (of childhood depression).. because the entity is still controversial it follows adult depression patterns (sic) – chronic single episode or recurrent adjustment disorder bipolar etc.”

Bipolar disorder also known as manic-depression is a type of mood disorder marked by extreme changes in mood energy levels and behaviour. Symptoms can begin in early childhood but more typically emerge in adolescence or adulthood. Children with bipolar disorder usually alternate rapidly between extremely high moods (mania) and low moods (depression). These rapid mood shifts can produce irritability with periods of wellness between episodes or the young person may feel both extremes at the same time. Parents who have children with the disorder often describe them as unpredictable alternating between aggressive or silly and withdrawn.

Stages of childhood depression

According to a Harvard Medical School Publication ” The picture changes with age. Up to age three the signs (of childhood depression) may include feeding problems tantrums and lack of playfulness and emotional expressiveness. AT ages 3-5 depressed children may be accident-prone and subject to phobias. Even before age 5 they may show signs of self-reproach by apologizing unnecessarily for minor mistakes and transgressions like spilling food or forgetting to put clothes away. Children of early school age (6-8) sometimes show depression with vague physical complaints and aggressive behavior. They may cling to their parents and avoid new people and challenges. At ages 9-12 some common symptoms are morbid thoughts and lying awake worrying about schoolwork. By then children have enough intellectual capacity and social understanding to think about reasons for their depression and they may blame themselves for disappointing their parents.”

When asked for his opinion on this analysis Dr Ung says ” I think that this is a good guide by and large. Nevertheless this is merely a guide and should not ne taken as set in stone.

For example a 12 year old boy may show signs of depression by aggressive behaviour and phusical complaints.”

For Dr Chan “Depression before the age of six is very rare. In fact I do not think that there is general agreement that it exists. In a young child the common emotional condition is anxiety not so much depression. From six years onwards I would agree with the given description.”

Children under stress who experience loss or who have attention learning conduct or anxiety disorders are at a higher risk for depression. Depression also tends to run in families.

Lena’s experience

Lena (not her real name) is a 17 year-old student who recently suffered a relapse and fell into depression once more. Lena has been troubled by depression since the age of 12. Once again she has no appetite for food is feeling listless and confused lost alot of weight and is isolating herself from others.

Lena’s mother 49 year old clerical staff Sonia (not her real name) recounts her daughter’s experience with depression ” It all started after Lena’s father passed away. At first nothing seemed wrong. SHe was very sad but she did not shed a tear at his funeral. It was a year after that she started to miss him badly. This was compounded by being bullied in school and stressed by schoolwork. Always a quiet child Lena became even more withdrawn. She had trouble sleeping would cry for no reason refused to eat and talked about hurting herself.”

Seeing her daughter’s condition Sonia brought Lena to a Polyclinic which referred them to a psychiatrist at a hospital. Lena was given antidepressants and started having regular therapy sessions with psychiatrists and counsellors. She tried to follow their advice of not thinking negatively to focus on developing her interests and to make a timetable for each day. Everyday was a struggle but she managed to recover with time.

“She said she liked the counselling sessions where she could talk to someone about her feelings and problems.” say Sonia of Lena’s reaction to treatment. “Slowly she got better to the point that she was more cheerful and could laugh and giggle like a normal young girl. She even enrolled in yoga classes that helped her gained fitness and to relax.”

For Sonia being supportive of Lena through the down times and being sensitive to her needs are her priorities. “I told her that her health is more important than studies. When I’m at work I try to call her and talk to her whenever I can. She will tell me things like ” Mummy I’m useless and I don’t know what to do” and I will try to encourage her to look on the bright side not to think too much..etc.. I have to try to give her lots of love my full support and attention.”

Treatment

What most doctors agree on is that medication should not be used unnecessarily on children and that when used it should be accompanied with the right counselling and therapy. ” It’s interesting that recent studies have not been able to prove that antidepressants work in children. This could be because children are not mini adults and what works for adults may not work for kids” says Dr Ung.

There is also little research of how antidepressants work on children and prescription drugs may increase the risk of self-harm for some vulnerable ones. However Dr Ung adds “To keep a perspective on things the increase of antidepressants prescriptions is small probably around 2% in affected children given inactive medications (placebos) to about 4% of those on active medication.”

Counselling it seems plays the key role in helping children recover from depression. “A good counsellor will try to get information from parents child and school and will try his or her best to co-ordinate the counselling to incorporate all these parties. Cognitive-behavioural therapy is one of the commonest forms of counselling techniques used nowadays – it seeks to change the negative thoughts of the child to more realistic and positive ones and also t help the child make action/behavioural changes that will help lift the mood” adds the psychiatrist.

Cyber Help
With the computer-savvy generation of today some children or teens may choose to express their thoughts and feelings in cyber space. is a community website launced in March to provide information and counselling services for depression. A diary’ services allows members to post daily updates on their mental and emotional experiences while a letterbox’ service provides them with an opportunity to ask questions to a panel of experts. Most importantly a service like this seeks to educate the public on the existence of depression and encourage those who are depressed to seek help. Following examples depressed children may be inspired by a strong sense of community to step out of a possible state of isolation. Adults too can visit to gather more information and advice before deciding how best to seek help.

Understanding is Key.

“Sometimes depressed children are mistakenly labelled as lazy stubborn or difficult” says Dr Chan. This is largely due to a lack of knowledge and understanding on the adults’ part. Children unlike adults are dependent on their families and guardians to identify their troubles and seek help.

Dr Ung adds” One common misconception is that the child is mad. This is totally not so. Another is that the child is weak’. Some famous people who are strong of character and have suffered depression include Abraham Lincoln. Another misconception is that it is incurable or that the child is bad’. Depression is a very treatable condition and the change of behaviour from depression should not be mistaken for badness’.

Fame often divides among people. Famous people enjoy many privileges that others do not but the privilege of avoiding heart disease is not one of them.

A famous person with heart disease faces the same risk factors as those who are not famous. A famous person with heart disease experiences the same symptoms and can die of heart disease. The famous do not escape heart disease known by physicians as coronary artery disease (CAD).

Examples of Famous People with Heart Disease

A famous person with heart disease who recently (March 2007) underwent triple heart bypass surgery is Regis Philbin well-known United States TV host. He had experienced typical heart disease symptoms such as chest pains and shortness of breath despite having angioplasty 14 years ago.

He joined a long list of famous people with heart disease. Here are a mere dozen of them.

* Bill Clinton – quadruple bypass surgery in 2004

* David Letterman – quadruple bypass surgery in 2000

* Larry King – heart attack and bypass surgery in 1987

* Mike Ditka – heart attack in 1988

* Tommy Lasorda – heart attack in 1996

* Dick Cheney – at least 4 heart attacks

* Phyllis Diller – heart attack in 1999

* Elizabeth Taylor – congestive heart failure

* Victoria Gotti – heart disease from age 16

* Ma Ji – died of heart disease in 2006

* Alfredo Di Stefano – heart attack in 2005

* Sir Ranulph Fiennes – heart attack and bypass surgery

Heart Disease Treatment

A famous person with heart disease may be able to afford the best treatment available. Every effort will likely be made not only to save their lives but to return them to the fullest possible health.

Advantages of Heart Disease in the Famous

A famous person with heart disease can be a highly-recognized spokesperson for companies that offer heart disease medications diet plans and other treatments aimed at reducing heart disease. It is said that immediately after a famous person has a heart attack or major heart surgery hundreds of people schedule physical examinations – especially men.

The heart disease is not of course an advantageous experience for the famous person undergoing it. It can awaken them to their need for lifestyle changes but other than that it is just as excruciating for the famous as for those who have no claim to fame.

No One Is Invincible

Whether it is a famous person with heart disease or a person who is famous only to his or her family no one is invincible. That may be one of the biggest lessons to be learned from hearing of yet another famous person with heart disease. Another big lesson is that we should all heed the multitude of warnings and take action to prevent heart disease in ourselves and our loved ones.

Always feeling under the weather? Always not in the mood to be around others and have a good time? If you’re suffering from prolonged sadness for quite some time now you should face these bouts of depression and get yourself diagnosed by a psychiatrist they’re doctors who can actually help you out with your problem. Not to mention the various depression treatments as well as all sorts of depression medication that doctors prescribe to their depression patients.

Fortunately depression can now be cured especially when diagnosed early depressed individuals can actually be treated through therapy and depression medication although it may be a bit costly a person’s good mental health is something that shouldn’t be scrimped on. Cognitive behavioral talk or interpersonal talk are incredibly healthy depression treatments that are just some of the available psychosocial depression treatments that cognitive behavior therapists can offer to their patients both actually prove to be able to produce fruitful and positive results even for just short-term sessions around ten to twenty weeks are almost always already enough to get a depression patient slowly begin their recovery towards a sound mental health.

Before getting started with depression medication the depression patient must first get him or herself to a reputable doctor get a diagnosis of which type of depression the patient is actually suffering from may it be clinical depression manic depression or what-have-you. It’s best that you’re sure what you’re actually dealing with since there are various depression medications that are available in the market you should make sure that you get the most appropriate one the one that’ll actually cure your depression illness.

There’s actually a wide variety of anti-depressant depression medications available to help treat those who are suffering from depressive disorders.

The more popular ones are those that are of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs variant then there are the tricyclics while the other popular variant is the monoamine oxidase inhibitors or MAOIs. These depression medications (the SSRIs variant as well as the other newer depression medication available in the market) actually to be a much safer alternative than the tricyclics since they have fewer side-effects as opposed to the tricyclics depression medication variant.

Sometimes doctors actually find it more effective to mix up these depression medications depending on the needs of the individual the doctor might actually prescribed a variety of depression medication to help cure one’s depression illness.

Also the dosages of depression medication can actually be increased or lowered depending on what the doctor finds to be the most effective. However when it comes to taking these depression medications patients are highly advised to never mix up depression medications as well as pick out which dosages to take without consulting their doctors first.

Anti-anxiety or sedatives however should never be mistaken as depression medication. Even though these anti-anxiety drugs are often prescribed along with depression medication they don’t actually help cure one’s depression illness. Their mere purpose is to help calm one’s nerves which is why depression medications are still needed to be taken by the depression patient.

There are actually some common side-effects from depression medication usually coming from the tricyclic variety. Some people tend to not mind these side-effects from depression medication however if it does become to much of a bother and may end up ruining one’s ability to function properly it’s best to go immediately to your doctor and report the side-effects. Quite common side-effects from depression medication are the following:

Dry mouth: always having the irritating feeling of being hydrated it’s best to always have some (clean drinking) water nearby so as to have something to drink whenever dry mouth occurs chewing sugar free gum as well as brushing your teeth after every meal is also a good idea.

Constipation: cure such discomfort by eating and taking in a lot of fiber to help aid your digestion.

Blurry vision: another temporary side-effect this one’s quite easy to pass but if it proves to be too much of a bother consult your doctor immediately.

Headaches: quite common with the newer kinds of depression medication it’s really not a big deal and will actually go away easily.

Insomnia: first-time users may actually experience this depression medication side-effect but it usually just happens during the first few weeks of taking the depression medication asking your doctor to lower the dosage of the depression medication may actually help you with this side-effect as well as the time of day wherein you take your depression medication can actually have something to do with your sleeping problem.

While it may be hard to find someone who has not experienced some form of anxiety in their life there are those whose anxiety never fades which can make it impossible for suffers to lead a normal life. When the ability to participate in certain events or go to certain places is prevented by an unshakable fear of things that could possibly occur many find themselves becoming reclusive instead of enjoying the life they once led.

Suffers of anxiety disorders may think that their “disease” is something that is uncontrollable but that could not be further from the truth. Those suffering from some form of anxiety disorder can take hold of their symptoms with the right form of treatment for anxiety disorders since it is a condition and not an illness that causes people to become physically psychologically emotionally or spiritually fearful or distraught over any number of situations. When this happens a person’s normal anxiety turns into a disorder because the mind and body can no longer respond to situations in a normal manner but no matter how bad your symptoms are you can take hold of your anxiety with the right help and support in treating anxiety disorders.

Some may choose to turn to medication in order to assist in reducing their anxiety disorder symptoms and while this may work for some it should not be considered the only cure for healthy living. While some may claim otherwise medication actually has a very low success rate for treating anxiety disorder symptoms which does not bode well for long term success in taking control of your anxiety symptoms. Anxiety disorders commonly occur for specific reasons and are commonly associated with an underlying reason. When you take control over the underlying cause the disorder that is associated with the cause is gone for good.

When you mask the symptoms with the assistance of medication you are not addressing the underlying reasons for the disorder which prevents you from achieving a successful treatment for anxiety disorders. Anxiety disorder suffers who choose medication commonly end up staying on the medication for the long term resulting in a type of yo-yo effect of going on and off the drugs over and over again without resolving the issues once and for all. Until the underlying cause of the anxiety is addressed the symptoms will remain preventing the sufferer from returning to the life they once loved.

Based on extensive research it has been found that the most effective treatment for anxiety disorders is the combination of the right form of self help instruction with the assistance of a qualified therapist who specializes in dealing with anxiety recovery. A coach counsellor therapist or even a psychologist who has successfully beaten anxiety in their own life and have been free of medication for at least 3 years are all good choices when choosing the right therapist for assistance in treating anxiety disorders. Therapists who are currently on medication for treating their own anxiety have proven to not be good sources for anxiety help. Studies have shown that those who work with a therapist that has overcome their own anxiety disorder tend to be the best in assisting others in tackling their own unique form of this disorder. Those who are still using anti-anxiety meds may lead current suffers to wonder how helpful could this therapist be if they are unable to overcome their own anxiety disorder.

While this claim any bother some mental health professionals our experience has shown that this claim commonly proves to be true. Many who have previously enlisted the help of one of these professionals for the treatment of anxiety disorders have found that their condition remained or in the worst case actually got worse even after treatment. Anxiety disorders can be cured but you need to have the right information as well as the right level of support to help your end your anxiety disorder once and for all.

Anxiety disorders can be classified in either one of two categories. Suffers are most commonly prone to either circumstantial anxiety or chronic anxiety both of which can be cured if treated properly.

Circumstantial Anxiety:

This form of anxiety disorder is commonly characterized by symptoms that are caused by an acute stressful event its circumstances or even emotions. Examples that can cause this form of anxiety can include but are not limited to relationship difficulties a career challenge an illness death of a loved one or even educational stress can create a constant level of anxiety. Since the build-up of stress commonly comes before an anxiety condition most types of early stress conditions can be classified in this category. Once the stress inducing event circumstance or even emotion passes the use of the right self help materials rest and time will help the sufferer resolve their anxiety conditions on their own.

Chronic Anxiety:

This type of anxiety is commonly characterized by symptoms that will appear and then disappear over an extended period of time which can range from a few month to a year or longer. Examples can include a person who has symptoms that come and go at various stages of their life the symptoms will commonly remain as an ongoing backdrop to their life and these suffers will commonly be on and off medication for their entire life unless they get the right form of treatment for anxiety disorders.

Chronic anxiety also comes with a form of deep seated fear. Many anxiety suffers will live life in fear that the symptoms of their illness will be visible to others. An anxiety episode can last anywhere from a few weeks to many years while some may deal with symptoms throughout their entire life. Those plagued by symptoms for an extended period of time can also be referred to as entrenched anxiety.

Anxiety disorders can be further classified into even more specific forms of anxiety. The classifications are as follows:

• A spontaneous or panic anxiety that can occur regardless of where the person may be.
• A situation or phobic anxiety or panic that can occur because of a particular situation or location that the person is in.
• A form of anticipatory anxiety or panic that can occur because the person has a thought or fear that something might happen or that a particular situation might occur.
• A form of involuntary anxiety or panic that can occur by itself or completely out of the blue. This type of anxiety or panic is commonly not preceded by a spontaneous situational or even anticipatory anxiety.

When it comes to treating anxiety disorders it is a good idea to enlist the help of someone who has personally dealt with and conquered the same level of anxiety in their own life. The experiences that they went through will help greatly in your recovery process. Once you realize that you are not alone in your battle with anxiety disorders success in finding the right cure soon seems easier than you may have ever thought was possible.

All pet owners know that health care for your cat can be the most expensive part of pet ownership. Vet bills are never cheap and pets have a knack for getting sick right when we can never afford it. Thankfully while emergencies and accidents will always happen by investing in your cats’ health with a strong preventative health program as well as proper diet and effective nutritional supplements you can ward off one of the most destructive and disruptive medical problem in cats- allergies.

Allergies and Cats- a Destructive Cycle

A great many cat owners are familiar with the painful and disruptive effects of feline allergies. Chronically irritated or itchy skin chronic sneezing wheezing and coughing runny eyes and nose chronic vomiting and diarrhea and even self-mutilation are just some of the symptoms of allergies in cats.

Just as in humans an allergic reaction in cats occurs when the immune system begins to overreact to a seemingly normal substance or material. Often times a cat can become allergic to a substance suddenly after being exposed to it with no problems for months or even years prior.

Flea and Skin Allergies

Flea allergies are one of the most common types of allergies in cats. In “normal” cats fleas and flea bites may cause minor irritation and itching which often will resolve quickly once the fleas are removed. Cats with flea-bite allergies have a much stronger reaction with intense itching causing hair loss and open sores- even from just one flea bite.

The typical signs of flea-bite allergies in cats are the presence of fleas intense itching and sores and scabs on the skin. These sores caused by repeated itching and chewing can lead to a skin infection.

If you take your cat to the vet typically it will be treated with anti-inflammatory medication (steroids) and antibiotics for several weeks. While this route may solve the immediate problem of the skin infection it does nothing for the underlying cause- the fleas and the allergies- leaving your cat open to future allergies and repeated courses of unhealthy steroids and antibiotics both of which can contribute to a weakened immune system and therefore increasing the occurrence of allergies.

The other choice is to use natural alternatives such as herbal anti-inflammatory and a soil-based probiotic. And while these are both highly effective and non-toxic instead of treating skin allergies and the resulting skin infections after they occur you can prevent severe allergic flea reactions in your cat by removing the source of the allergies (fleas) and by preventing your cats’ immune system from overreacting.
Prevention requires proper supplementation to improve the quality of your cat’s immune system.

Oil based nutrients common in the human natural health spectrum as fatty acid supplements are equally vital to feline health and especially in the case of skin and coat problems. A proper lipid supplementation based from one of the most potent antioxidants known to science Krill Oil as well as other essential lipids can help to supplement your cats’ immune system reduce the severity of allergic reactions improve the condition of your cat’s skin and reduce healing times.

Food Allergies

Food allergies in cats are one of the most frustrating allergies to deal with. Many times a cat may develop a food sensitivity or allergy to a type of food despite being fed even though your cat may have eaten that same food for many years with no problems. Further complicating the diagnosis of food allergies are the myriad of ingredients that typically make up most of today’s commercial cat foods.

Cats typically manifest food allergies in two different ways- chronic digestive problems (i.e. vomiting and diarrhea that occur more than 3 times a week) and through skin allergies such as itching scratching and losing hair.

Cats can be allergic to any component in their food. The more common cause of food allergies in cats is the highly processed grain based nature of commercial cat food. It is the protein in these grains that cause allergies in the form of skin rashes digestive problems and even problems with stiff joints and arthritis.

Feeding the Way Nature Intended

Cats are carnivores by nature. Their systems require meat. In order to be healthy cats must eat a diet that mimics the one they would eat in the wild- namely whole prey. In the wild cats eat virtually the entire content of their caught prey. Their protein comes from the bulk of the kill most of their water intake comes directly from the water in the body of the kill and the only grain they ingest is that which is in the stomach of their prey.

Unfortunately commercial cat foods do not place the same emphasis on pure protein that the cat needs to survive substituting low levels of grains and carbohydrates. Meat by-products (the parts of the animal unfit for human consumption) rendered meat plant matter and carbohydrates are the staples and fillers of commercial cat foods. They have very little nutritional benefit to cats and in fact cause a myriad of their own health problems as a result.

The natural prey of cats consists of at least 65% water and historically cats evolved from the desert where they had to rely on their prey as a primary source of water. Cats do not naturally drink much supplemental water yet by feeding dry food to cats with negligible water content it requires cats to increase their water consumption or else become chronically dehydrated.

Cats typically manifest food allergies in two ways- chronic digestive problems (such as chronic diarrhea and vomiting) and skin problems such as chronic itching recurring skin infections yeast infections and ear infections. All of these symptoms of allergies are uncomfortable and damaging to your cat’s health and typically require repeated courses of steroids antibiotics and other medications. Unfortunately by continuing to feed the same food the causative factor of the allergy-food that is nutritionally indigestible and virtually “foreign” to the cats system-the allergies will continue to reoccur.

Instead of creating a revolving door of allergy symptoms vet visits medications and cost preventing allergies through a proper diet and nutritional supplementation is the more cost effective and more importantly the much more healthy alternative for your cat.

Home and commercially prepared raw diets seek to mimic the cats’ natural diet- wild prey- by eliminating the foreign carbohydrates and grains that are the causes of so many food allergies. This alone will go a long way to restoring his or her health. Be mindful that raw meat fowl or fish is not sufficient by itself.

In addition to feeding your cat a nutritionally sound Raw Diet proper supplementation insures that all of your cat’s nutritional probiotic vitamin mineral and fatty acid requirements are being met and properly assimilated by the body.

Cats and Asthma

Of all the types of allergies in cats asthma can be the most heartbreaking to watch your cat endure- and in severe cases it can even be deadly.

As in humans asthma attacks in cats are caused by an allergic reaction of the respiratory tract to particulates in the air. The precipitating cause stimulates the mucosal lining of the throat and airway to secrete mucous and swell leading to difficulty breathing wheezing and coughing. In severe cases the breathing difficulties can lead to respiratory distress an abdominal effort to breath and the swelling may become so severe that the airway becomes totally obstructed leading to death.

Typically treatment of cats with chronic asthma is managed through long-term steroid therapy to suppress the immune system and prevent airway swelling. Unfortunately steroids only mask the symptoms; long-term use atrophies your cats’ natural immune response. Many health problems are directly related to the long-term steroid use.

In addition to the cost of veterinary visits associated with treating asthma flare ups and medication to treat it chronic steroid use can lead to other health problems such as liver dysfunction and even failure kidney failure chronic dehydration and lessen the body’s ability to fight viruses bacteria simple infections and even cancer.

By treating the underlying cause of your cat’s asthma you can prevent the life-long cycle of steroid administration continuing respiratory problems and more severe health problems down the road.

As asthma at its core is an allergy caused by a heightened immune system every effort must be made to remove potential allergens from the cats’ environment. Changing your asthmatic cat’s food to a Raw Diet can help to eliminate further allergens from your cat’s system giving the immune system less irritants to react to. In addition by proving a carefully balanced probiotic vitamin mineral lipid (oil) and amino-acid supplements to your cat you are insuring that your cat’s body utilizes the full potential of the raw diet.

In addition the powerful anti-oxidant effects of soil-based probiotics fatty acids vital lipids and essential enzymes are scientifically proven to naturally reduce inflammation.

Moreover they support and create a healthy immune system capable of dealing with emerging health crises while preventing the terrible immune system overreactions that cause asthma attacks.

Save Money… and Save Your Cat

Conventionally speaking allergies in cats are expensive to treat. Modern medicine has yet to provide us with a cure to allergies. Instead veterinary medicine often provides little more than a “band aid” for treating your cat’s allergies. Failure to address the actual cause- a dysfunctional immune system reacting to the unnatural way that domestic cats have been fed and kept leads to repeated courses of medications that can do more harm than good.

By addressing the core of your pet’s health through a proper diet as nature intended and supplementing and supporting the immune system you can save your cat years of suffering from allergies create a healthier cat from the inside out and save money on repeated treatments that don’t work and cause more problems than they solve.

If you feel that back pain is completely overwhelming your life you are not alone. So many people live with debilitating even crippling back pain everyday seemingly with no end in sight.

It is a daily ritual for them to reach into the medicine cabinet and pop a pill of their favorite over-the-counter pain reliever or doctor prescribed medication.

Despite the publicized health risks for taking these drugs on a continuous basis back pain sufferers continue to swallow pills even if the relief only lasts temporarily and is miniscule at best. A cycle of doctor visits pick-ups at the local pharmacy and popping pills becomes a way of life.

But does it have to be this way? Are we truly limited to just a bottle of medication with potential side effects and the one-sided advice from a doctor?

ABSOLUTELY AND POSITIVELY NO WAY!!!

AND YES…YOU AND YOU ALONE CAN DEFEAT YOUR OWN BACK PAIN!

First you must understand that everyone for the most part has access to a huge arsenal of tools for combating eliminating and managing back pain. But not everyone has the same degree and cause of back pain.

It is so important to find and effectively use the right set of tools for your own particular situation.

For example too much rest or relaxation (a tool for getting rid of back pain) has the potential to be detrimental to your health if weak and underdeveloped muscles are the underlying cause of your back pain.

On the other hand if you suffer a herniated disk from playing a sport rest and relaxation may play a larger role in a quick recovery.

So essentially effectively treating your back pain first depends on identifying the primary cause(s) or origin(s) of your back pain.

The better you are at identifying the cause of back pain for your own particular situation the more specific and exact your arsenal of tools will become to effectively eliminate your back pain for good.

So after all that you must identify the cause(s) of your back pain. Let’s look at some common causes of back pain.

Common Causes Of Back Pain

-Poor Posture

-Injury (Sports Car Accident Fall etc.)

-Poor Genetics Or Congenital Disorder (Scoliosis Spinal Stenosis Degenerative Disk etc.)

-Using Improper Lifting Techniques

-Obesity

-Frail Bone Structure/Osteoporosis/Osteoarthritis

-Muscle Weakness/Imbalances

-Lack Of Exercise/Sedentary Lifestyle

-Poor Nutrition

-Stress/Anxiety

-Poor Sleep

-Performing A Repetitive Motion That Puts Strain On Your Back

Take a good long look at the list above.

Just about everyone who suffers with back pain can relate to one or several if not all of these common causes of back pain. I personally can relate to every single one.

And it’s ok to have several causes or identifiers of your back pain. The more you can discover the more weapons you will have to effectively combat and eliminate your back pain for good.

Back pain is similar to a weed. You can’t just mow over the top of it and hope you never see it again. You have to find the root of the weed or the root of the problem in order to effectively treat it.

How do you do this?

Well you need to examine your own lifestyle. I would like you to ask yourself these questions to help determine your cause(s) of back pain:

Questions To Determine Cause Of Back Pain/Circle All ‘Yes’ Answers

1. Do I suffer from a congenital condition or was I born with a spinal condition?

2. Do I not pay attention to my posture either sitting or standing?

3. Do I not practice good posture either sitting or standing?

4. Have I suffered from a recent car accident or fall and subsequently experienced back pain not long after?

5. Do I do a lot of heavy lifting or bending over in my job or at home?

6. Do I perform an unnatural repetitive motion at work or at home?

7. Do I not practice safe lifting techniques?

8. Am I 20 pounds or more overweight?

9. Do I not eat enough fruits and vegetables?

10. Do I not drink enough water? 8-12 glasses per day?

11. Do I eat too many sweets and foods containing sugar?

12. Have I been diagnosed with osteoporosis or arthritis?

13. Do I lead a sedentary lifestyle? Am I a couch potato?

14. Am I under a lot of stress? Do I suffer with anxiety?

15. Do I have trouble sleeping?

Of course these are just a handful of questions you could ask yourself to discover the root cause(s) of your back pain. Please circle the questions that have a ‘Yes’ next to them if you have not already.

Take a good look at the questions you circled. This method is not foolproof but it is a great way to see all the potential causes or root origins of your back pain. You should see the things you need to improve in order to help you live free of back pain.

Once you know or at least have some idea of the cause(s) of your back pain then you can delve deeper into the plethora of ways to combat and eliminate it once and for all.

What is Inflammatory Arthritis?

There are many forms of arthritis. Inflammatory arthritis is any form of arthritis that involves the immune system and inflammation. The characteristic symptoms of inflammation are swelling heat redness of skin pain and loss of function. There are different types of inflammatory arthritis.

Autoimmune Disorders

• The body treats it own tissues as a foreign object and reacts to this foreign object with inflammation
• Rheumatoid arthritis - antibodies produced by the body attack the synovial membrane that encloses each joint
• Lupus - systematically affects connective tissues and organs
• Ankylosing Spondylitis - a progressive form of arthritis that causes inflammation of the spine and large joints
• Reiter’s Syndrome - a chronic progressive disease that can affect the joints tendon attachments skeleton and the eye’s conjunctiva and mucous membranes
• Psoriatic arthritis – causes inflammation of the skin and joints
• Inflammatory bowel disease - inflammatory arthritis can be associated with this disease

Other Causes of Inflammatory Arthritis

Inflammatory arthritis can be caused by other conditions as well. Reactive arthritis is caused by certain types of bacteria and can develop from an infection in another part of your body. The deposit of crystalline structures in the joints causes gout and pseudogout. Elevated blood levels of uric acid which is a waste product can form in the joints when the kidney does not properly dispose of the waste.

Symptoms of Inflammatory Arthritis

The symptoms of inflammatory arthritis can include the following:

• Pain in one or more joints
• Swelling in one or more joints
• The affected joint is usually warmer than other joints
• Stiffness and decrease of ability to move affected joints
• Symptoms may appear after a minor illness or emotional stress
• Skin around joints may become red and tender

Treatment of Inflammatory Arthritis

The symptoms of inflammatory arthritis can be treated with medicines or natural remedies. However it is very important to find the cause of the arthritis so that the root problem can be treated as well.

Medications can be used to treat the pain and inflammation but there are many natural remedies that have been more successful in treating the cause of the inflammatory arthritis. If you use medications to relieve the symptoms of inflammatory arthritis be sure to learn of any side effects or reactions to other medications or food.

Some natural remedies for the treatment of inflammatory arthritis include:

• Exercise – a regular exercise regimen helps to avoid stiffness of the joints associated with inflammatory arthritis
• Water aerobics – endorphins produced in the brain during water aerobics can help ease the pain of inflammatory arthritis
• Valerian – this can be used to treat the pain of inflammatory arthritis. This natural medication is a known sedative and caution should be used – some people have experienced withdrawal symptoms when stopping abruptly.
• Comfrey – a comfrey salve can be used to reduce the inflammation of the affected joints
• Mangosteen – this fruit has been shown to relieve both the inflammation and pain associated with inflammatory arthritis
• Omega-3 fatty acids – can be found in foods such as cold-water fish walnut and flaxseeds.

Diet for Inflammatory Arthritis

Diet is also another way that you can prevent or lessen the symptoms associated with inflammatory arthritis. A healthy diet is important for overall health. There are some foods that can trigger the onset of inflammation in the joints and some foods that decrease the onset of inflammation. If you suffer from inflammatory arthritis you should eliminate milk and milk products. You should avoid polyunsaturated fats and products that are made with partially hydrogenated oils. The best kind of diet for those who suffer from inflammatory arthritis is low in protein and high in carbohydrates. Some of the common foods that can trigger the symptoms of arthritis are milk and dairy products beef corn and wheat. Avoiding these foods can help you to avoid triggering the symptoms. In general a healthy diet and regular exercise can help you to avoid many of the symptoms of inflammatory arthritis.

Headaches are one of the most common health grievances of students adults and even children Headaches are very common and usually do not point to a serious illness. But even a mild headache can disrupt your daily activities

What actually happens in your body to cause headache?

The skull bones and brain tissues do not have pain sensitive nerve fibers. But muscles of face mouth throat neck scalp and blood vessels on the surface and base of brain are sensitive to pain as they contain pain sensitive nerve fibers.

The tip of these nerve fibers gets stimulated by various causes like stress muscle tension lack of sleep etc. The stimulated nerve tip sends message up the length of the nerve fiber to the related nerve cells of Brain. Brain locates the region of stimulated nerve tip based on these signals and we feel the pain or ache.

The headache may be mild chronic or severe depending on the underlying cause and pain bearing capacity of the individual.
Our body produces natural pain killing proteins called endorphins. One of the theories suggests that people with low endorphin levels suffer from severe headache and other chronic pains in comparison with people having high endorphin levels.

What triggers headache?

o Anger

o Muscle tension

o Missed meals

o Vigorous exercise

o Sexual excitement

o Infections like Common cold Flu Fever Ear infection Tooth infection Sinus infection Pneumonia etc

o Coughing – too much coughing can cause a form of traction headache.

o Lifestyle causes Hangover Excessive alcohol Stress Fatigue Tension Tiredness Excessive smoking

o Dyspepsia

o Eye conditions

o Systemic or metabolic conditions Hypertension Thyroid disease Anemia Kidney failure Uremia

o Brain or head conditions Meningitis Encephalitis Head injury Heatstroke Sunstroke

o Before during or after menstruation

o Hunger

o Medications (Many drugs designed to relieve pain can actually cause headache when the drug is stopped after a period of prolonged use).

o Alcohol and caffeine withdrawal

o Not getting enough sleep

o Reading for long periods of time or eyestrain

o Doing repetitive work

o Staying in one position for a long time such as working at a computer.

The same causes of head ache have been explained in Ayurveda also. These causes vitiate all the three doshas (vata pitta and kapha). The vitiated doshas cause tension migraine sinus and other head aches.

Few common types of headache are Tension headache Migraine headache and sinus headache.

Tension headache:

Tightening of muscles of face and neck cause tension headache. It is characterized by a dull ache in forehead or back of head and pain in neck and shoulders which travels to head. Causes like less sleep stress reading for a long time and working in front of a computer for long hours can precipitate tension headache.

Migraine Headache:

Migraine headache is caused when blood vessels of head get too much dilated or constricted. Females are more prone to this type of headache than males and migraine tends to run in families.

A person suffering from migraine headache feels like vomiting becomes too sensitive to light sound and other activities. Few people experience spots or flashes before headache.

Few facts like menstruation in females caffeine alcohol aged cheese cured meat stress change in sleeping pattern strenuous exercise trigger migraine headache.

Sinus Headaches

A sinus headache surfaces when fluids in the nose are not able to drain well and pressure builds up in sinuses. A cold dust allergies dirty or polluted water air travel may cause this type of headache.
Sinus headache causes pain in forehead cheek bones nose and stuffy nose. The headache increases when face is bent or touched. The symptoms are worse in the morning.

Although headaches are very common It is recommended to consult a doctor about your headache.

Go to an emergency departmentif any of the following symptoms occur:

o Pain that develops very rapidly

o A change in concentration or ability to think

o A change in level of alertness

o Altered speech

o Weakness numbness or difficulty in walking

o Changes in vision

o Headache with a stiff neck or neck pain or if light hurts your eyes

o If you feel that this the worst headache of your life

o Headache with dizziness or a feeling that you are falling to one side

o Headache from an injury or blow to the head

o Headache with fever.

Home remedies for tension headache.

For tension headaches massage few drops of peppermint oil or eucalyptus oil on temples.

Massage the scalp with slightly warmed sesame oil. This relieves tension headache and induces sleep.

Regular exercise yoga and meditation reduce the stress levels and keep the tension headache at bay.

Persons of vata type can use hot water bags on aching parts and a hot shower will be of good help.

Persons of pitta type can use cold or ice packs on aching parts and wrap a wet cold cloth around neck.

Home remedies for migraine headache.

Make a note of facts which trigger the headache and also the foods. Try to avoid these.

Avoid spicy foods coffee tea alcohol onion and garlic. Avoid citrus fruits except lemon.

Try muscle relaxation exercises. Progressive muscle relaxation meditation and yoga are definitely going to help. Relax at least for half an hour everyday by doing your favourite activities like listening to music gardening taking hot water bath etc.

Stick to you a regular sleep pattern and get enough sleep but don’t oversleep. Avoid sleeping during the afternoon.

Rest in a dark quiet room when you feel a headache coming on. Place an ice pack wrapped in a cloth on the back of your neck and apply gentle pressure to painful areas on your scalp.

Home remedies for sinus headache.

o Breathe in warm moist air.

o Moist the nasal passages with the help of saline nasal spray. A saline spray can be used up to six times per day.

o Do not smoke. If you smoke quit.

o Avoid second-hand smoke and polluted air.

o Avoid exposure to anything that triggers allergy or sinus symptoms.

o Wash your hands frequently to avoid colds.

o Seek treatment for a persistent cold before sinusitis sets in.

o Avoid alcoholic drinks. Alcohol can cause swelling of nasal and sinus tissues.

Copyright Dr. Savitha Suri Ayurvedic Physician and web master of

Hair loss (Androgenetic alopecia) refers to the reason of hair loss that is influenced by the androgen hormone the genetic tendency for balding and aging. Because hair loss is caused by these hormones treatment is available to immediately and dramatically prevent the loss of hair.

Androgenic Hormones

In general normal men including women make male hormones. Testosterone underestimation and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) are the most common that they produce. Androgens are manufactured by the men’s adrenals and testicles and in women by their adrenal glands and ovaries. In both sexes these hormones are important but take place in different concentrations and amounts.

When hair follicles are exposed to DHT a genetically prone individual over time leads to androgenetic alopecia or female and male pattern baldness.

In particular cells of the hair follicle as with in the sebaceous glands there are enzymes called 5-alpha-reductase that are in high levels converting testosterone which is then carried to these areas by the blood and into DHT.

Hair loss myths:

Myth #1: Hair loss of an individual is inherited from the mother side.

Not true. Genetics is one factor of hair loss it can be inherited from either the father’s or the mother’s side.

Myth #2. Frequent cutting of hair will make it grow thicker.

Not true. Although when the hair is cut it would appear thicker at first after three days or so your hair would drop off and new hair would grow having the same diameter as the pre cut hair.

Myth #3. Wearing a Hat Can Cause Hair Loss.

Not true. The hat can help by blocking off the sun’s harmful rays. Although wearing a hat for a very long period of time may cause sebum accumulation due to temperature changes and can react with cholesterol creating a hardened sebum plug that will cut off oxygen circulation causing the hair to fall out.

Myth #4. DHT is the reason for hair loss.

Not true. Although an over production of DHT is a significant reason for hair loss it is not the only cause.

Myth #5. Frequent shampooing and blow drying lead to hair loss.

Not true. Heat can damage the hair reason for brittle hair; it does not harm the roots of the hair.

Even worse some perscription drugs are known to cause hair loss. Avoid if at all possible the following drugs:

- Cholesterol-lowering drugs:

- clofibrate (Atromis-S)

- gemfibrozil (Lopid)

- Antidepressants:

- tricyclics amphetamines

- High blood pressure:

- atenolol (Tenormin)

- metoprolol (Lopressor)

- nadolol (Corgard)

- propranolol (Inderal)

- timolol (Blocadren)

- Antithyroid:

- carbimazole

- Iodine

- thiocyanate

- thiouracil

- Ulcer drugs:

- cimetidine (Tagamet)

- ranitidine (Zantac)

- famotidine (Pepcid)

- Anticoagulents:

- Coumarin

- Heparin

Actions you can take to prevent hair loss:

- Stop coloring or perming your hair very often for it can damage it - Limit exposure of your hair to chlorine - Avoid exaggerated brushing or combing wet hair - Use a conditioner every after shampoo to make grooming manageable and easier - Regulate heat exposure.  Blow-drying hot-curling and exposure to straightening irons may damage your hair over time - Avoid medications that can lead hair loss such as Vitamin A testosterone products beta blockers certain antidepressants and certain cholesterol-lowering agents - Too much alcohol should be avoided. Be careful in choosing your hair care products as some contain alcohol and can contribute to hair dryness brittle and hair that is prone to breakage.  - Tight ponytails and braids can lead to hair damage - Maintain a healthy diet eating lots of fruits and vegetables and drinking enough water - Birth control pills can contribute to hair loss - Consult your doctor if should you notice abnormal hair loss as certain medical conditions such as lupus or having polycystic ovaries or hyperthyroidism can cause hair loss

Vitamins you can take to prevent hair loss:

- Thiamin ( B1)

Containing the mineral sulfur this is the essential element of the hair that gives gloss and shine.

- Riboflavin (B2)

This vitamin is vital for body cell breathing ensuring efficient oxygen utilization for cell repair and production.

- Niacin (B3)

Helps to widen capillaries and vessels thereby increasing the blood circulation to the scalp to help stimulate hair growth. It also may reduce the cholesterol build up which is essential since cholesterol on the scalp will convert to the enzyme 5 alpha reductase.

- Pahtothenic Acid (B5)

This vitamin helps in restoring hair color and brightness. It works with the amino acid Tyrosine Folic Acid PABA and Copper in the deterrence white and gray hair.

- Biotin (B7)

Biotin is a widely used ingredient in hair products due to its hair promoting properties. Biotin increases hair cortex elasticity prevents breakage and thickens hair cuticle.

- Cobalamin (B12)

Regenerates red blood cells for healthy hair.

- Pyridoxine (B6).

Responsible for protein intake balance it helps in transporting amino acids to the proper tissues. This is also essential in the conversion of one amino acid to another like the conversion of Methionine to Cysteine. With Inositol they regulate oil flow to the scalp and the skin.