Tips for Diabetic Weight Loss

Diabetic weight loss is much more difficult than many people think. Losing weight when you are diabetic takes much more dedication and perseverance because you need to keep track of your blood sugar levels and insulin in addition to adapting to a new diet and exercise routine. Many diabetics are able to keep track of their blood sugar but are not able to properly regulate it when they are attempting to diet.

Before starting any diabetic weight loss regimen it is a good idea to talk to your doctor. Your doctor should be able to give you some guidance that will help you to be able to properly regulate your insulin. You need to make sure to eat foods that will help you maintain your blood sugar at healthy levels, and test these levels as you normally would. You do not want your blood sugar to spike or drop too quickly. The doctor will be able to give you some guidance that will help you be able to lose the weight that you want to lose while keeping your body as healthy as it can possibly be.

When dieting it is important to be conscientious about what you are eating. You should eat vegetables and fruits in moderation. It is important to make sure that the foods you are eating do not make your blood sugar levels spike. There are some foods that you can eat that will slowly digest and will allow you to maintain your levels while also being able to lose weight. Work with your doctor to develop a healthy balance of low-calorie, low-fat meals that will make sure you get the proper balance of nutrients and vitamins.

Exercise is also important when it comes to diabetic weight loss. Cardio is an especially important part of the exercise regime. You want to elevate your heart rate to a level that will help exercise this important muscle and burn fat. If you push yourself too hard there is a chance that you could pass out and become injured, so be cautious. If you notice that you are starting to feel overly light-headed while exercising, you should take a few moments to allow your body to regulate itself. You will be able to know if you are hurting your body or if the light-headed feeling is from exercising or if it is from your diabetes. If the light-headed feeling does not pass it is important to check your blood sugar levels and contact your doctor right away so that you can be sure that your body is okay and that you can continue your workout.

For more information on how to effectively manage diabetes the natural way starting today, visit www.myiho.com/orlandodiabetesproject. Dr. Marc Ott, DC offers effective solutions to help you maintain a healthy blood sugar level. Visit Integrated Health of Orlando to learn more about how you can begin to manage your diabetes as we are dedicated towards providing effective diabetes solutions to our patients.

Advantages of a Wireless Diabetes Monitoring System

In type 2 diabetes, the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore it. Insulin is needed by the body to breakdown glucose for energy. When glucose builds up in the blood, instead of going into cells, it can lead to a number of serious health problems, affecting the eye, kidney, heart and other body functions. Today, there are approximately 25.8 million people in the US, or 8.3% of the population, afflicted with type 2 diabetes. The key to controlling type 2 diabetes is through diet, exercise and through testing and watching blood sugar readings on a consistent and reliable basis.

To help better address the healthcare needs of people afflicted with type 2 diabetes, one company has a wireless diabetes management system enabling blood sugar level readings to be transmitted over the cell phone network and then have them stored and managed by healthcare providers through a web-enabled diabetes management software. The system can collect and then transmit readings from most any of the glucose meters available in the US market today.

This wireless diabetes management solutions consist of a "connector" integrated wireless device, software application and a PC interface module. The connector enables the transmission of blood sugar readings from glucose meters through any GSM cellular network. The software application stores and manages patients' data. The PC-interface module enables patients' data to be graphically viewed on any computer or PDA connected through the Internet.

Upon receipt of newly submitted patient data, the systems' server software generates and send feedback messages directly to the patient, via cell-phone or personal computer. The feedback messages are selected by the system based on the patient's historical data.

Through this wireless diabetes management solution, healthcare professionals have the ability to remotely review and better manage patient's blood sugar levels as well as set thresholds to flag readings, according to specific blood sugar levels. In addition, the system has the ability to contact patients via text or email. The solution also enables patients to login and create personal accounts via the Internet as well as to allow them to select which Personal Health Record (PHR) or Electronic Health Record (EMR) system they would like to store their data within or outside the system.

Some of the advantages of using this diabetes management tool, over current practices of collecting patient blood sugar data, include: greater accuracy in reading and storing blood sugar level data by patients and healthcare givers, more reliable remote access to patient blood sugar readings by healthcare providers and ability to provide coaching and positive reinforcement of patient behaviors to improve healthier lifestyles. Additionally, the wireless device is small and portable enough that it can be used anywhere there is access to a GSM cellular network.

Barry Inouye is the President and CEO of Confidant Systems and more information on this new wireless diabetes management system can be found at http://www.confidantinc.com/.

Six Diabetic Weight Loss Mistakes - Avoid Them and Lose Weight

Type 2 diabetic weight loss mistakes will make an already difficult path much harder. If you get discouraged and quit, the consequences to your health and quality of life are much too high a price to pay.

Type 2 diabetes is the result of insulin resistance, and that in itself can cause more weight gain. On top of this, every medication you were given to control your blood sugar adds to weight gain, including injecting insulin.

Why It's So Hard to Lose Weight With Type 2 Diabetes

Our Western style diet of convenience food is loaded with sugar, fat, nitrates and MSG among other things, and everywhere it has gone the local people have seen an enormous rise in obesity and in type 2 diabetes. This is most noticeable among the younger population, probably because they adopt the new ways of eating so much faster than their elders do.

So trying to lose weight while continuing to eat a convenience food diet is going to frustrate a type 2 diabetic who is already fighting insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia. But as David found out with Goliath, it's not how strong your enemy is, it's how well you pick your stones and your targets. Just like the six smooth stones, here are six mistakes you can avoid.

Not Eating Enough

There is such a thing as a 600-calorie diet, and there are people who try it. I've done it myself. It will lead you to lose weight but it has two problems. First, you cannot get the things you need to keep you healthy at such a low level, and if you try to exercise on that kind of low calorie diet you will fail. Building muscle is impossible without calories.

The second problem is that once your body has adjusted to this diet, it will lower your metabolism to match your intake, and if you raise your calories, your clever metabolism will store as much as it can in the form of fat. That's so it can survive the next starvation diet.

Since type 2 diabetics already store fat because of insulin imbalances, you are doing the opposite of what needs to be done to reverse type 2 diabetes. This is why not eating enough is the first of the diabetic weight loss mistakes.

What you need to do is learn the best calorie range for your desired weight loss, and remember that it is not the calories you eat but the carbohydrate balance that makes for easy weight loss. That leads to the second of the diabetic weight loss mistakes.

Concentrating on Calories Instead of Carbohydrates

The latest news in diet studies is that a 7-days-a week low calorie diet was beaten by a 2-days-a-week low carbohydrate diet. Not only did the low carb dieters lose a lot more weight, they lowered blood sugar and reduced insulin resistance.

If you are a type 2 diabetic and you eat a low calorie diet you will lose weight, but if you are on a low carbohydrate diet you will lose weight more easily, and you will reduce your body's need for insulin and blood sugar medications too.

Use the glycemic index, stay away from refined carbohydrates, and you'll find yourself on a low carb diet without having to cut so far down on your calories. And you will lose weight.

Watch Out for Expectations

We are human. We may jump off the low carb wagon, or we may hit plateaus during a diet. Diabetic weight loss mistakes include expecting too much, and it can lead to stress and depression. One week you might lose 2 pounds, and the next week not lose any weight.

The best way to diet is not to diet. Choose how you will live, what foods you will eat from now on, and see it as your new life, not as a diet you will be on until you get to a certain weight.

Type 2 diabetes requires doing things differently for the rest of our lives. We are replacing lifetime eating habits, and slip-ups will happen. But we will change if we don't give up.

Diabetic Weight Loss Mistakes Include Not Exercising

Trying to lose weight without exercise is going to lead to frustration. It is much more difficult to continue weight loss and keep it off if you are not active. How often and how long should you exercise? That depends on you.

If you are trying to lose weight, exercise needs to be part of every day. And after you've increased your exercise time to a good hour you will see steady results. That's because you are building muscle, and muscle burns calories and uses free insulin.

That hour does not have to be all in one chunk either. However, the more time you commit to being active, the better you will do. Participants on the Biggest Loser TV show are exercising all day long. They are also on a healthy weight loss diet, but it is the exercise that does the job. So get active every way you can.

Eating While Doing Other Things Is a Diet Breaker

If you watch TV while you are eating, you have fallen into one of the common diabetic weight loss mistakes, and it will lead you to failure. Unconscious eating keeps you from being aware of what or how much you eat. You will not know when you are full either.

This habit often occurs at night during or after supper when you are relaxing. The best advice for those of us who have the habit of unconscious eating is to serve food and sit at the table to eat it. We can't allow ourselves to eat in front of the TV or at a computer or while reading a book.

The serve and sit rule will change many bad eating habits if you will make yourself abide by it. If unconscious eating is a problem this will break it. I confess it's something I still struggle with late in the evening.

Cleaning Your Plate Is a Bad Habit

Your mama said to clean your plate, but that is one of the diabetic weight loss mistakes you need to stop. There is no need to eat everything that is on your plate. In fact, it's good practice to stop eating while there is still food there.

How many times have you filled your plate because you felt very hungry and then realized halfway through the meal that you no longer felt hungry? Yet you probably kept eating because it was there on your plate. We were raised to do that, but it's not a good habit now.

It's important to know when you are full and stop eating the moment you are no longer hungry. If you obeyed the diet tip of using a smaller plate, that helps too. But not finishing what is on your plate is now a desirable trait to have. That goes double if you are eating out. The portions are often way too large anyway.

On the subject of eating out, here are some good habits. Limit salad toppings, serve less pasta, don't use whipped toppings or gravies, and don't order a soda with the meal. If you get dessert make it one of those mini desserts.

Avoid Diabetic Weight Loss Mistakes

Trying to lose weight can be hard and heartbreaking for a type 2 diabetic, but it is possible. Fighting against hunger pangs from high insulin levels and low blood sugar is tough enough without the added problem of sugar addiction that is promoted by our convenience food diet.

My advice? Do the best you can today, forget yesterday, and don't worry about tomorrow. While you are counting carbs and calories, don't forget to count your blessings too. God bless you.

Martha Zimmer invites you to visit her website and learn more about type 2 diabetes, its complications and how you can deal with them, as well as great tips for eating healthy that will make living with diabetes less painful.

Go to http://www.a-diabetic-life.com and find out what you can do to avoid many of the pitfalls of this life-changing condition, like paying for cures that don't work and spending money for things you could have gotten free. Martha has made the mistakes and done the research so you don't have to.

The Value of the Patient-Centered Medical Home

The Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) is an approach to healthcare that is widely seen as a first step toward healthcare reform. The PCMH is usually a primary care office - family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics or geriatrics - that serves as the hub for all a patient's medical needs. Focusing on the whole person, it provides continuous, comprehensive, coordinated care, establishing a partnership between patients and their personal healthcare team as part of an integrated medical neighborhood.

The PCMH emphasizes:

• Enhanced access, making it easier for patients to contact their personal healthcare team;
• Prevention and proactive management of chronic conditions, improving clinical quality and safety;
• Education to engage patients in their care to attain optimum health;
• A team approach to care; and
• Technology, such as electronic health record and patient registries, to facilitate information exchange, storage and retrieval.

According to the Patient-Centered Primary Care Collaborative, "Clinicians practicing in the highest level medical home will:

• "Take personal responsibility and accountability for the ongoing care of patients;
• Be accessible to their patients on short notice for expanded hours and open scheduling;
• Be able to conduct consultations through email and telephone;
• Utilize the latest health information technology and evidence-based medical approaches, as well as maintain updated electronic personal health records;
• Conduct regular check-ups with patients to identify looming health crises, and initiate treatment/prevention measures before costly, last-minute emergency procedures are required;
• Advise patients on preventative care based on environmental and genetic risk factors they face;
• Help patients make healthy lifestyle decisions; and
• Coordinate care, when needed, making sure procedures are relevant, necessary and performed efficiently."1

To enable medical practices to adopt these priorities and build the appropriate infrastructure, the PCMH model realigns payment to blend standard fee-for-service reimbursement, a monthly care-management fee and a bonus for meeting or exceeding quality outcomes. Theoretically, this compensation model will shift the focus of care away from acute, episodic care toward more comprehensive, holistic care. It will incorporate both lower costs and better outcomes for patients.

Few practices can achieve the transformation to the PCMH on their own. Most lack the time, expertise and resources to transform their care delivery methods. On-site coaching by quality-improvement experts shows them how to adopt new work flows, realign staffing, acquire and use new technology to its fullest extent, and make the culture change to a quality-driven mindset. Once attained, the new framework allows a practice to improve operations, incorporate quality approaches and increase patients' and care-givers' satisfaction with the healthcare experience.

The PCMH narrows the gap between today's fragmented healthcare system and tomorrow's integrated approach.

Source
1. Patient-Centered Primary Care Collaborative. http://www.pcpcc.net/patient-centered-medical-home, accessed Aug. 15, 2011.

Lisa H. Schneck, MSJ, is staff writer for HealthTeamWorks, a nonprofit medical-practice transformation company in Lakewood, Colo

White Blood Cells in Urine

Finding white blood cells in urine is not common and is usually a sign that something is wrong with the body. Should this occur, individuals would be exposed to a battery of tests to find out exactly why white blood cells are present in the urine that is usually sterile.

Detection of white blood cells in urine can be done through two different methods. The first one is by peeking through the microscope and the other is by using an indicator strip. Either way, both are done in laboratories and are very accurate indicators of the presence of white bcs in a person's urine.

How they get there, however, is another matter. Following are some of the known causes for the presence of white blood cells in the urine.

Urinary Tract Infection
This is actually the most common and also the easiest to treat. The urinary tract encompasses three organs - the bladder, the kidneys and the urethra. As most people know, some of the sign of a UTI include fever, vomiting and painful yet frequent urination. Usually, it is easy to diagnose the presence of UTI because the urine not only contains WBC but also nitrites. This kind of infection usually occurs if bacteria enter the urethra, which could happen during sexual intercourse.

Kidney Disease
A kidney disease is also a big possibility when the white blood cell is present in the urine. At the same time, red bcs and protein would also be present in the liquid. The presence of kidney stones is also a known culprit as these stones block the pathway of the urine. In some cases, the blockage is not made by kidney stones but a tumor in the said organs.

A kidney problem leading to WBC in the urine is not usually felt by the person having it unless the problem is already advanced. Hence, the urinalysis is actually a good indicator of a kidney problem so that people can resolve the disease before it becomes worse.

Bladder Infection
Aside from the presence of WBC in the urine, people with a bladder infection will notice that their urine is very cloudy. This usually happens if a person has any blockage in their bladder, causing the WBC to accumulate in the organ. Pregnant women are also prone to infections that may lead to the presence of white blood cells in their urine.

Of course, there are some cases when white blood cells in urine do not pose a large threat to a person's health. The urine could have been contaminated by WBC from the vagina, in which case obstructions or kidney diseases are not to be blamed.

The presence of white bcs in urine is more of a symptom than the actual cause of the problem. This is why submitting to a routine urinalysis is a good way to prevent problems even before they become too serious. Of course, the amount of white blood cells as well as how often they appear in the urine could also be indicators of an underlying problem.

Incretins in Diabetes

Incretins are hormones that are released in the gut in response to a meal. The incretins promote insulin secretion, inhibit glucagon, and slow emptying of the stomach. The result of these effects is to lower sugar levels in the morning and after eating a meal. Incretins also appear to promote the growth and survival of beta cells (the cells that release insulin).

The insulin-secreting effects of the incretins depend on blood sugar levels. They have their greatest effects at high sugar levels, when increased insulin secretion is needed. When sugar levels are normal, they have minimal effects, thus avoiding hypoglycemia (low sugar). This is a significant advantage when these hormones are used for treatment.

Although these benefits were first noted over 50 years ago, incretins were not previously available as therapy since the hormones lasted less than 10 minutes in your circulation. Researchers however recently identified technologies that allowed the incretins to last for longer periods of time. This has allowed physicians to use the incretins to treat people with Type 2 Diabetes, in whom incretin related actions are typically reduced.

The first class of incretin related drugs developed were the "incretin mimetics". Currently available drugs in this class are Byetta and Victoza. Both are delivered by injection. Byetta is a synthetic formulation of exendin 4, a hormone found in the Gila monster. It is very similar to the human incretin (53% homology), but much more resistant to breakdown. It thus lasts for more than 2 hours (compared to 10 minutes).

The formulation which is currently available requires two injections per day. Victoza has been chemically modified to resist breakdown. It lasts for 11-13 hours, and is injected once per day.

Bydureon, a once weekly version of Byetta, was approved by the FDA in January 2012.

On average, Byetta and Victoza reduce HA1C levels by 1-2%, lower after meal sugars by ~50 mg/dl, and lower fasting sugars by ~25 mg/dl. Both drugs are associated with reduced appetite and an average weight loss of 2-6 pounds after 7 months. At one year, the average weight loss is 10 pounds.

Victoza appears to be more effective in HA1c reduction, with the greatest benefits in people with the highest sugar levels.

The weight-loss benefits associated with this class of drugs are typically described as an early sense of "fullness" while eating a meal. Byetta and Victoza have also been associated with small reductions in blood pressure. New retrospective data suggests a potential role for incretins in the reduction of heart-related risk.

Prospective clinical trials regarding heart disease reduction are now underway. Incretin related side effects include nausea, and rarely, vomiting. Gastrointestinal complaints are typically dose-related, and lessen with time (typically within 6-8 weeks).

Nausea appears to be more common with Byetta.

A gradual increase in dose reduces the frequency and duration of nausea in many patients.

Recently, cases of acute pancreatitis have been described in people treated with Byetta and Victoza. A causal relationship has not been definitively identified.

Risk assessment is complicated since pancreatitis risk is already increased in people who are obese and who have Type 2 Diabetes.

Until further information is available, you should not use these medications if you have a history of pancreatitis, or are judged to be at high risk for this disease.

Thyroid tumors were seen in mice and rats treated with Victoza in pre-clinical trials. These findings were not observed in monkeys. There were no reported cases of medullary thyroid cancer in human clinical trials.

Nonetheless, Victoza should not be used if you have a history of medullary thyroid cancer, or if anybody in your family has medullary thyroid cancer.

The second class of incretin related drugs are the "DPP-4 inhibitors".

The DPP-4 inhibitors inhibit the breakdown of the incretins, thereby increasing circulating levels of these hormones. Currently available drugs in this class include Januvia, Onglyza and Tradjenta. All are once daily oral medications.

The DPP-4 inhibitors reduce HA1C levels by 0.8% on average. Fasting and after-meal blood sugar levels are also reduced. They are "weight-neutral" without an effect on appetite. The DPP-4 inhibitors are very well tolerated due to simple once daily dosing and rare side effects.

These drugs are an interesting addition to the treatment options available to people with Diabetes.

Before you begin therapy, remember to discuss all potential risks with your physician.

Michael A. Dempsey, M.D.

Diabetes Symptoms and Treatment

One of the most common metabolic disorders in today's world is diabetes. Malfunctioning of the pancreas in - producing too little insulin, resistance to insulin, or both and this causes diabetes. Insulin is a hormone secreted by the pancreas to help in converting sugar, starches, and other foods into energy. A person who has regular high levels of blood glucose is diagnosed to suffer from diabetes. There are three types of diabetes - Type I, Type II, and Gestational diabetes.

Polydipsia or increased thirst causing to drink fluids more often, Polyphagia or increased appetite, Polyuria or frequent passing of urine, Blurred eye vision, Lack of energy and fatigue, Unusual and sudden weight loss, Dry itchy skin, Slow healing sores, Losing sensation or tingling and numbness in feet are all diabetes symptoms.

The different allopathic diabetes medicines are - Meglitinide Drugs, Alpha-glucosidase Inhibitors, Thiazolidinedione Drugs, DPP-4 Inhibitors, Sulfonylureas Drugs, Biguanide Drugs, Dopamine Receptor Agonists, Bile Acid Sequestrants, and Combination Drugs.

In Ayurveda, diabetes is also known as Madhumeha and according to them, there are 20 types of diabetes - four types are due to Vata, six types from Pitta, and Kapha causes the remaining ten. Ayurveda for Diabetes helps to maintain blood sugar and keep kidneys, liver, eyes, and heart safe as these organs are affected by long drawn diabetes. Some diabetes herbal medications are listed here - Gymnema Sylvestre, Salacia oblonga, Bitter Melon, Cinnamon, Fenugreek, Ginseng, Aloe vera, and Chandraprabha. Some specified herbs for diabetes are - Savory to alleviate thirst, Broccoli, Ginseng, Green Tea, Lantana, Plantain, Sage to lower blood sugar, Evening Primrose for blood circulation, and Aloe Vera, Beans, Ginseng, Green Tea, Plantain to normalize blood sugar.

In Ayurvedic medication since ages, cow urine is used to prepare diabetes medicines. A recent scientific study by Dr. Jayakumar and his team in their research have found that the cow urine has anti-diabetic properties and has raised hope for millions of diabetic patients in India and abroad. The project funded by the State Government will be over five years.

Natural medicines for diabetes do not cause any side effects and help in stimulating pancreas to function normally. Any form of regular exercise, stopping smoking and alcohol, and taking a balanced diet along with few life-style changes can help in controlling diabetes. Some yoga exercises that are beneficial for diabetes are Sarvangasana, Halasana, the Child pose, Paschimotasana, and Ardha Matsyendrasana. Diabetes yoga helps to manage diabetes by activating glandular system responsible for this illness.

Cow Urine Therapy is an ancient therapy part of Ayurveda which has been re-established by study and research. Cow's urine is very much capable of diabetes treatment. For more information on Ayurveda for diabetes visit our website at swaarnim.com.

Diabetes Is Preventable

Diabetes and the Consequences

It is no laughing matter when one contracts this horrible disease. Early symptoms might include headaches, dizziness, thirst, hunger and a few other mild out of sort's conditions. It's when the other more serious symptoms start that one generally becomes very anxious.

The feet may lose feeling, the centre of the brain feels numb, the eyes are not what they used to be and balance is fading. You head to the doctor's and a sucrose tolerance test is ordered. You suspect high blood sugar because you have a sweet tooth and a great love of chocolate and ice cream. So will that explain why you are so thirsty, particularly when you wake up in the morning? What about that funny feeling in your tongue?

Some of these symptoms go with high cholesterol and high blood pressure and these too are warning signs for diabetes.

During my lifetime there have come and gone many with the disease and the thing noticed most about them is the smell of their breath. It is a somewhat sickly artificial smell that might be explained by the intake of insulin. My grandmother had diabetes and that smell was prominent on her breath and would see me avoiding coming too close to her face, although her affection was much sought after.

Lately some diabetics have come to my attention in hospitals where they were having lower limbs removed. In the eye hospital some were being treated for blindness and other things.

This is a preventable disease although if you have the diabetic gene it only takes careless abuse of your body to get it. Obesity is one of the primary causes and here blood pressure and cholesterol are always present. People with the latter can contract heart disease, suffer strokes and die suddenly.

These are all reasons to avoid sugar at all costs and yet parents feed masses of it to their children. Soft drinks or sodas are full of it, some worse than others. Chocolate bars and candies are quite potent poisons and ice cream loaded with sugar is also full of fat.

If we can prevent diabetes why would we not want to. The information here may help with that task and make potential victims more aware.

Side Effects of HGH

It's been heralded for its ability to virtually "turn back time," but the side effects of HGH that occur when it is used incorrectly are harrowing. Read below to learn what can go wrong when one decides to take HGH, and take care when beginning any HGH regimen. Weigh the benefits versus the risks, and select the type of HGH that is most likely to prove safe for you.

Side effects of injections and supplements of HGH include:

-Stiff muscles and joints - Though HGH most definitely helps the user increase muscle mass, it also can result in muscles that are difficult to stretch out and joints that feel stagnant.

-High blood pressure - Some studies have shown that HGH use by the elderly can eventually result in complications like high blood pressure, which may affect a person's lifespan. Even with the knowledge of side eff ects, some people purport to enjoy the vitality HGH use brings to their life, and to therefore accept the possibility of some side effects in the process.

-Fluid retention - Many people take HGH for its anti-aging benefits, so it comes as a surprise to some when they experience fluid retention. After all, increased muscle mass gives one the ability to burn more calories and thus decrease fat stores; fluid retention can make it look as if one has gained weight instead of lost it.

-Carpal tunnel syndrome - Uncomfortable and a real hindrance for computer users in particular, carpal tunnel syndrome can occur due to HGH supplementation.

-The onset of diabetes - This is a debated side effe ct, as HGH also been shown to lessen one's chance of developing diabetes. It depends which studies you view as to what your final opinion will be on this matter.

-Enlarged heart and/or kidneys - A scary side effect that can happen due to HGH therapy, an enlarged heart and/or kidneys is definitely a concern.

-Nightmares - Some side effects of HGH do not seem intuitive, and nightmares or night terrors are one of these.

-Allergic reactions - Itchiness, rashes, swelling at injection site and more can occur as a result of an allergic reaction to HGH.

To lessen your changes of experiencing side effects of HGH, make sure you are taking a supplement that is well-known for its relative safety and efficacy. Do not take more than is prescribed by a professional, and be on the lookout for any and all side effects.

I Hate Taking Medicine

I can not even guess how many times I have heard that statement from patients when I ask them about the medications they take everyday. Many times I ask them why they are taking medication and the most common answer is "The doctor said I had to". If someone is taking more than one medication (which is usually the case), I ask them if they know which medicine is for which condition. About 50% do not know which medication is for blood pressure, cholesterol or stomach issues, etc. Then the next 2 questions almost always draw a blank stare reaction - How high was your cholesterol or how high was your blood pressure? They usually don't have any idea. Then I want to know that when their doctor told them that they had to take this medicine, did the doctor base the recommendation on 2 or 3 blood pressure readings over a period of weeks or did the doctor do at least a second blood test 2 or 3 months later to check their cholesterol to see if was still high? Their answer almost always is "no" or "I don't think so".

Why? That should be standard procedure. Blood pressure can vary widely from day to day over a period of weeks, as with cholesterol readings. Once a patient is placed on these medications, rarely does the doctor ever say "let's try stopping the medicine for a while and see how things are going". People are expected to take medicine for the REST OF THEIR LIFE! Yet I hear it everyday - "I hate taking medicine"...

Think about this - no doctor can "make" a patient take anything. None of the medications for blood pressure, cholesterol, etc. are something that needs to start the day they are prescribed or a heart attack or stroke will occur soon. It does not work that way.

Ask yourself this question - Do I know anyone who started on one medication and a year or two later is still taking only one medication? Also - Do I know anyone who has started on one of these drugs and they really seem healthier, more active, more alive or more joyful after being on the medication for 2 or 3 years?

Think about this - If taking drugs for just about every lab value that gets a little out of range or if taking drugs to prevent the problem actually worked, why is our country going broke trying to practice this type of health care?

Think about the "war on cancer", the massive flu shot campaigns, the millions donated to all the various societies and associations for all diseases. How is that working? It's not! Consult with me and get real answers about the cause of your health problems - then get the truth about how to support the organs and tissues of your body to heal and repair and create a level of health you didn't think you could ever regain!

Eat Well - Move Well - Think Well

© Health & Wellness Solutions

Dr. Dennis Mutell, D.C., D.A.C.B.S.P., D.A.C.B.N., C.C.N. graduated from Life Chiropractic College in 1983 with honors. Following graduation Dr. Mutell set up a private practice in Baldwin, New York. While in practice Dr. Mutell's interest in running led him to pursue post graduate training in the care and treatment of athletes.

Both for personal and professional reasons his interest in nutrition for improved athletic performance and health became a focal point of his practice. Dr. Mutell obtained diplomat status with the American Clinical Board of Nutrition.

Since 1984 Dr. Mutell has worked with athletes, private patients and corporations helping individuals achieve better health and wellness with proper nutrition and life style management.

Dangers Of Self-Medication

Pill-popping has become a common practice today. The stressful conditions under which we live, the competition at work or business, the struggle to keep up with the Joneses, has taken a toll on human health. About 50% of the general population suffers from headaches several times during the month. Dyspepsia, heartburn and peptic ulcers are other common complaints. As depression, insomnia, allergies and various other problems increase, pharmaceutical companies flood the market with new drugs. There are pills available even to combat laziness or shyness. Ingenious advertising and aggressive marketing have turned us into a generation of pill-poppers.

Self-medication is the use of drugs without a doctor's advice. Medicines may be recommended by a family member or a friend or a pharmacist.

Reasons for Self-medication:

• Lack of time to see a doctor. Inability to get a quick appointment. The battery of unnecessary tests ordered for a simple illness is both expensive and time-consuming.
• Illness may be too mild to warrant a visit to the doctor.
• A similar complaint may have been treated successfully through a previous prescription. So the medication is repeated.
• Too much information culled from the internet or magazines makes people confident about treating their own illness.
• Non-availability of a doctor in the vicinity. The hospital or clinic may be a long distance away.
• Poverty. A doctor's fees may be unaffordable.
• Easy availability of over-the-counter drugs.
• Home remedies that have been used in the family with success.
• Elderly people are suspicious of allopathic medicines. So alternative therapies are commonly used in developing countries.

The Dangers of Self-medication are many

1. Habituation. Many become addicted to prescription drugs such as cough syrups, anti-allergic drugs, antacids, pain relievers or tonics. Newspapers often report about Hollywood actors checking into rehabilitation facilities for addiction to prescription drugs.
2. Allergic reactions that may be severe or even fatal. Antibiotics like Penicillin or Sulpha drugs can cause very severe reactions.
3. Irrational drug combinations are available in the market. Some of them may be dangerous especially if taken with alcohol or other substances. Even food supplements and tonics can sometimes be harmful.
4. Under-dosage may not cure the symptom. Over-dosage can produce collateral damage to heart, kidneys or other organs. Indiscriminate use of antibiotics through wrong dosage or insufficient duration may lead to resistance or a sudden allergic reactions. As a result, when there is need for an antibiotic, it may be ineffective.
5. Even an overdose of vitamins may have an adverse effect, especially fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, E, and K.
6. Cheap and substandard drugs are of no use.
7. Addiction to psychotropic drugs such as LSD, Ketamine, cocaine, marijuana is on the increase.
8. A symptom like headache or nausea may be common to many medical diseases. By masking the symptom temporarily, it will be difficult for a doctor to arrive at a correct diagnosis.

Drugs most commonly used are painkillers. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like brufen or ibuprofen increase the risk of stroke by four times in a person suffering from high blood pressure. They also cause gastric problems. COX2 inhibitors affect the heart. Paracetamol, aspirin, anti-allergic pills, anabolic steroids - any of these can produce side- effects detrimental to health.

How to discourage self-medication:
Sir William Osler said "One of the first duties of a physician is to educate the masses when not to take medicines."
So the most important thing is to educate the general public on the dangers of self-medication. Health talks can be given in schools or colleges or even at the grass root level through talks, slide shows or videos. Every drug must be regarded as potentially dangerous if taken indiscriminately. Medication should be taken on the advice of a doctor or a trained health professional.

Proper drug control is very important. Drugs should not be dispensed without prescriptions. There should be proper maintenance of records of dangerous drugs, by shops selling medicines. Drug inspectors should be more vigilant in checking these pharmacies. Many patients rely on the pharmacist to recommend drugs for their ailments. Sometimes antibiotics are given only for a day or two. There should be some restrictions on over-the-counter drugs.

Slack implementation of drug control is the reason why pharmacists feel free to prescribe at will. People vary greatly in their sensitivity to drugs. One person's dosage may be a little too much for the next person, resulting in toxic reactions.

Doctors too should be conversant with the properties of the drugs they prescribe. There are patients who demand antibiotics for the slightest indisposition such as a common cold. They should be discouraged. When an antibiotic is prescribed they should insist on the patient taking the entire course. They should also create awareness about the dangers of mixing drugs.

Self-medication is dangerous. Only the ignorant and the ill-advised will subject themselves to medication for every minor complaint. Pregnant women should be doubly cautioned as it can have adverse effects on the unborn child.

The next time you are tempted to pop a pill just stop and think!

Eva Bell is a doctor of Medicine and also a freelance writer of articles, short stories, children stories. Published in Indian magazines and newspapers, anthologies and also on the web. Author of two novels, one non-fiction, two children's books. Special interest- Travel and Women's Issues. http://www.evabell.net Blog: www.muddyloafers.blogspot.com

The Return of the Victorian Diseases

A series of deadly diseases, which wreaked havoc during the Victorian age, are staging a comeback. Conditions on the rise include typhoid, whooping cough, rickets and scarlet fever.

The UK has seen an increase of 50 per cent on new scarlet fever cases since 2007, a pandemic disease that once killed thousands of people throughout Europe 200 years ago. As a result of this increase doctors and hospitals have also been put on alert for possible outbreaks.

Typhoid and whooping cough are at their worst levels in more than a decade.

The return of these diseases can be attributed to the rise of cheap package holidays to parts of the world where tuberculosis and typhoid are rife combined with poor nutrition and outbreaks of flu.

Here are some guidelines about how to recognize and prevent these feared diseases:

-Typhoid: This infection is caused by salmonella bacteria. Its symptoms include fever, constipation and tummy pain. Typhoid outbreaks are common in Asia, Africa and South America. Most of the cases in the UK are attributed to people who have brought it from abroad. The most effective way to prevent this disease is by vaccination, so if you are thinking about travelling to these areas it is better to get advice from either your local GP or your international health insurance provider.

-Rickets: This condition is caused by a deficiency in vitamin D, which helps the body to absorb calcium and make sure it gets it where is needed, namely your bones and teeth. If the bones do not get enough of the calcium that they require, then they can become soft and weak. This illness is common amongst children of African-Caribbean descent because dark skin needs to be in the sun longer than pale skin to get vitamin D. The increase use of sun protection creams in the UK might have led to more children being deficient in vitamin D and as a result more exposed to the risk of getting rickets. The best way to prevent it is to eat plenty of food rich in vitamin D like oily fish, liver, eggs and breakfast cereals.

- Scarlet Fever: This disease is usually caused by a bacteria transferred through mucus or saliva. Its most common symptoms are vomiting, tonsillitis and swollen glands in the face and neck. The severity of this disease can be curbed to a great extent by the use of antibiotics. These bacteria can also spread via cutlery, clothes and bed linen so it is important to wash everything regularly and at high temperatures.

-Whooping Cough: This is a bacterial infection which can be easily spread between people and usually affects infants and young children. The UK has a national immunisation programme against whooping cough, however a health scare about 30 years ago led to a loss of faith in the vaccine causing cases of whopping cough to rise. Its symptoms are sore throat, hacking cough, a runny nose and watering eyes. It is worth mentioning that the current vaccine is very effective even though its effectiveness decreases over time. However the symptoms tend to be milder for adults.

Drug Interactions Can Be A Problem

Drug interactions can mean different things to many people, but most people think of the different varieties of prescription medications, the disclaimers and the label warning information. The great thing about taking only one medication is that it is much easier to monitor the effects on your body and be aware of any problems almost immediately. For those taking many medications close together, monitoring and problem solving is much harder and can cause some major problems for the patient.

Prescription drugs are notorious for having too many cross interaction tests to determine where the problem cause is and add to these confusions the different chemical makeup of each drug and you might be looking for a needle in a haystack and many possible adverse reactions. Regardless of how many tests are ordered it all depends on the individual and the medications and the reactions that might not even be mentioned on the label so the patient might not realize that the new problem is actually coming from one or more of the medications they are taking.

One way to try and combat unusual reactions to the medications you are taking is by closely communicating with your doctor making sure they are aware of every single medication you are taking. However, because some doctors are not fully versed in every drug, especially the less common drugs, they might be at a loss for what is going on. To get the full scoop on the medications you are taking and how they might have negative interactions always and frequently consult your pharmacist. They are specifically trained in specific drugs, the chemical compounds used and the many ways they can affect the body and for the most part they would probably be the best medical professional to seek advise from.

Of course, while some medications are life threatening it is important to realize that the less medications you take the better off your body will be. Medication that can help certain problems can also take a large toll on organs such as your kidneys, liver, and heart.

The importance of letting your doctor know what prescription and OTC drugs and medications you are taking regularly cannot be stressed enough. The best approach is to be proactive like doing some of your own research as well as limiting the number of medications you are taking when you can and definitely stop any medications that are producing questionable side effects until you can talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Following these simple suggestions will help you live a long and healthy life well into your future.

Huge problems can arise when you are taking a bunch of medications for different problems at one time, with decent Health insurance coverage and a good doctor, staying on track is no problem. Quick Health insurance quotes will get you needed coverage.