How to Lower Your Blood Pressure and Prevent Heart Attacks | Healthmad

It is very important to exercise, but if you have high blood pressure it is even more important. Before you start any exercise routine get your doctor’s permission.

High blood pressure can lead to heart attack or stroke. If you want to keep active for at least 30 minutes a day, 7 days a week, you can prevent or at least lower your chance of a heart attack

I am going to share a hint about exercising. You don’t have to go to the gym 7 days a week. Doing things you enjoy that involve activity can count as exercise, or you can use your hobby as exercise. Do you love gardening or maybe inline skating? Well, there you go, do these for a half hour each day and you’ve exercised.

If you want to lower your blood pressure, make your heart stronger. This can be done by resistance exercises which are exercises such as lifting weights and abdominal cruches. If these two have you groaning, or perhaps you aren’t willing to invest in a set of weights, use cans of food or a rock from outside, abdominal exercises are boring,but leaves no investment of money.

You don’t just do resistance exercises to look pretty. Sure you may get nicer muscles, but you need the resistance exercises for your blood pressure: but it doesn’t hurt to look better =) You can lower your fat in your body by doing these exercises and they will raise your metabolism which will help you lose weight. If you are overweight, losing 10 pounds can lower your high blood pressure.

Consider getting a pool or go to a center for fitness or activity that has a pool. This is a good exercise to do now, especially when it is so hot outside. Swim for 30 minutes. It reduces the amount of adrenaline moving around your body. By having this happen with the adrenaline your pulse rate and your blood pressure will lower. Imagine how many health benefits you will have getting to have fun.

If you haven’t exercised in a while, talk to your doctor to find out what to do to start an exercise regime. Start slowly with something like a walk around the block. If you find the weather doesn’t cooperate 10 minutes on a treadmill will do. Then SLOWLY work your way up to 30 minutes a day, 7 days a week.

IF you are, and who isn’t these days, busy, you’ll have to look long and hard at your schedule to find time to exercise as your health depends upon it. Perhaps use a treadmill while your baby is sleeping or use a treadmill or whatever other type of exercise equipment you have during your favorite 1/2 hour show. You don’t even have to have equipment, just do a jog or walk in place. If you are in the basement jump rope.

Overall with exercise your heart gets healthier. You can do three 10 minute workouts like jumping rope a day. It still counts as your thirty minutes.

It is very important to warm up and cool off if your bloodpressure is high. A good way both warm up and cool down is walk in place 10 minutes. Warming up and cooling down is important for the heart so it doesn’t do extrememes in a few minutes. Like suddenly starting the treadmill at a fast rate then just stopping.

Read more: http://healthmad.com/conditions-and-diseases/how-to-lower-your-blood-pressure-and-prevent-heart-attacks/#ixzz1R2TuPHq9

Poor Nutritional Intake | Healthmad

Who are the individuals at risk from poor nutritional intake?

People who are most prone to poor nutrition are infants, children, adolescents, elderly and pregnant women. In terms of infant malnutrition, mothers should be aware of the diet needs of their child. Youngsters depend on their mothers’ selection of foods therefore mothers should be cautious in the feeding their children with the right and balanced diet. Moreover,preschool children may face additional hazard because they tend to be particular about what they eat.

On the other hand, adolescents may eat at unusual hours. They may have the tendency to miss regularly scheduled meals thus they become hungry subsequently satisfying their hunger with foods that have low nutrient density such as chips, soda and candy. Crash diets are also common among adolescents. This diet sometimes results in form of malnutrition. This condition occurs because some nutrients are eliminated from their diet when the types of food eaten are restricted or not good for their health.

Pregnant women are also prone to malnutrition. It is inevitable that pregnancy increases a woman’s appetite and their need for certain nutrients such as protein, minerals and vitamins. Pregnancy during the adolescent stage requires utmost care in food selection. Young mothers require a diet that can provide sufficient nutrients for the developing fetus as well as her own growing body.

Last on the list are the elderly. They are often alone and may be ill or unwell. Their living conditions are not always conducive to forming a good and healthy appetite. One way to improve their appetite is sharing one’s food in pleasant company.

Read more: http://healthmad.com/health/poor-nutritional-intake/#ixzz1QrCdNJk9

10 Things That Could Make You Fat | Healthmad

There are things you never suspect when it comes to building body fat but the fact remains that they do contribute and could actually be making you fat behind your back. Coffee, nagging spouses, television, tap water, allergies and lack of sleep are suspect fatteners.

Some reasons why that fat won’t go away just yet:

1. Nagging spouse – Your spouse could be making you fat without knowing. Nagging wives and husbands elevate stress and therefore make people to eat uncontrollably and put on weight. Sometimes food is the only consolation when a relationship isn’t working.
2. Coffee – Studies reveal that excessive coffee intake can actually add to the calories taken and therefore make one fat. Coffee has been known to contribute upwards of 600 of daily calorie intake.
3. Antihistamines – Antihistamines administered to patients with allergy and other inflammatory conditions boost their appetite and hence increase food intake hence making them fat.
4. Television – Just how much television do you watch? Experts say there is every reason to believe television fattens. Television watching spends fewer calories but encourages overfeeding.
5. Eating out – There is every indication that eating out exposes us to more junk than we would find in our own fridges. Instead of eating out often, finding ways of cooking light meals or carrying packed lunch should help.
6. Tap water – Nutritionists warn that tap water can actually make you fat because of the high levels of fluorides prevent absorption of iodine which plays an important role in body metabolism. Taking mineral water instead should remedy this.
7. Fasting – We tend to over feed in order to compensate lost calories when we fast or crash diet which may lead to faster weight gain than anticipated. Instead of fasting and resorting to heavy meals thereafter, eating small portions can help.
8. Stress – Feeling low is in most cases accompanied by excessive food intake in what psychologists term redirection. Comfort eating is more common among stressed individuals than those who aren’t.
9. Sleep – Lack of sleep slows down body metabolism and the feeling of tiredness that results tends to make people yearn for more food which adds to their calorie intake.
10. Fruit juice – Fruits contain a good amount of sugars that can actually make you fat due to the extra calories they provide coupled with the belief that they are harmless.

Read more: http://healthmad.com/weight-loss/10-things-that-could-make-you-fat/#ixzz1QOFQRQsx

Bone Marrow Transplant: What, Why, and How | Healthmad

A complete primer on bone marrow transplant.

What is Bone Marrow

Bones are not solid, but instead are made up both compact and spongy structure. The compact bone gives strength, while the spongy bone contains the marrow.

The outer, weight-bearing area is hard, compact, and calcium-based. The inner region is a lattice-work of fibrous bone known as cancellous tissue.

Bone marrow is a soft fatty tissue that fills the cavities of certain bones – such as the sternum (middle of the chest), pelvis (hip bone), and femur (thigh bone). It fills the shafts of the long bones, the trabeculae (spaces within cancellous tissue), and extends into the bony canals that hold the blood vessels.

Our skull, sternum, ribs, pelvis, and femur bones all contain bone marrow, but other smaller bones do not contain the marrow. Inside this special tissue, stems cells reside. Stem cells are large “primitive” undifferentiated cells.

While they are undifferentiated, the stem cells wait until unhealthy, weakened, or damaged cells need to be replaced. These stem cells transform themselves into white and red blood cells and platelets, essential for immunity and circulation. This process is directed by subtle chemical cues that vary according to location and conditions in the body.

Any of the blood cells that comprise the bloodstream within the arteries and veins are born from stem cells and mature within the bone marrow.

Importance of Bone Marrow

Stem cells within the bone marrow continuously divide to form new cells. Some of the new cells remain unchanged as stem cells and have a lifelong capacity for self-renewal. These cells are called pluripotent cells. These are capable of transforming themselves into all the tissues that compose a living being, except the extra-embryonic membranes (placenta).Bone marrow is a critical part of the body because it is the body’s main blood cell “factory.”

Other, unipotent stem cells have a limited capacity for self-renewal.These cells become committed to forming only one type of blood cell line—erythrocytes (red blood cells which carry oxygen around the body), leukocytes (white blood cells which help fight infection), or platelets which help stop bleeding.

Thus, we see that the marrow is the principal site for blood formation (hematopoiesis), which occurs primarily in the bones of the legs, arms, ribs, breastbone (sternum), and spine (vertebrae).

Sources of Bone Marrow Stem Cells

• Bone marrow harvest: Stem cells are harvested for future use by taking them directly out of the bone. Under anesthesia, a needle is inserted into either the hip or the breastbone to take out some bone marrow.

• Apheresis: A more common method is to collect stem cells from a donor blood and pass it through an apparatus that separate out one particular constituent and return the remainder to the circulation. To get the stem cell out of the marrow into the blood stream, the donor is given injections for a few days. Then the donor is connected to a machine by a needle inserted in the vein and the blood is taken from the vein. It is then filtered by the machine to collect the stem cells, then the residual blood returned back to the donor through a needle in the other arm.

• Umbilical cord blood: Stem cells are taken from an umbilical cord right after delivery of an infant. The stem cells are tested, typed, counted, and frozen until they are needed for a transplant. Umbilical cord blood requires less stringent matching because the stems cells are so immature. These cord blood stem cells are important because they do not need to be as closely matched as bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cells to ensure a successful outcome.

What is bone Marrow Transplant

Bone marrow transplantation (also known as stem cell transplantation) involves harvesting healthy stem cells to replenish the bone marrow of the patient. The new stem cells take over the production of the blood cells.

A bone marrow transplant delivers healthy bone marrow stem cells into the patient. Stem cells that are normally found in the bone marrow are taken out, filtered, and given back either to the same person or to another person. It replaces bone marrow that is either not working properly or has been ablated—destroyed—by chemotherapy or radiation.

Read more: http://healthmad.com/medicine/bone-marrow-transplant-what-why-and-how/#ixzz1Q6bDVTCG

Turn Your Body Into a Fat Burning Machine | Quazen

We all have areas where fat cells seem to congregate and, sadly, thrive. The real challenge is how to burn fat. We hear a lot about fat burning, from working out in the “fat burning zone” to eating foods or taking supplements that supposedly burn more fat. But, gimmicks aside, what we all want to know is: What’s the best way to burn fat? Knowing a little more about how your body works can help you become a better fat burning machine.

I once had a client who asked, “When I eat too many calories, how do they know to go straight to my thighs? Do they have some kind of homing device or what?” I suppose that’s one way to look at it since our genes usually determine where we store excess fat and how and where we burn fat. A more important point is that, if we didn’t eat too many calories, we wouldn’t have any extra calories to store. We have no problem gaining fat but trying to burn fat is another problem.

We all have areas where fat cells seem to congregate and, sadly, thrive. The real challenge is how to burn fat. We hear a lot about fat burning, from working out in the ‘fat burning zone’ to eating foods or taking supplements that supposedly burn more fat. But, gimmicks aside, what we all want to know is: What’s the best way to burn fat? Knowing a little more about how your body works can help you become a better fat burning machine.

The Basics of Burning Fat

If you’re trying to lose weight, knowing how your body uses calories for fuel can make a difference in how you approach your weight loss program. We get our energy from fat, carbs and protein. Which one our bodies draw from, however, depends on the kind of activity we’re doing. Most people want to use fat for energy, which makes sense. We figure, the more fat we can use as fuel, the less fat we’ll have in our bodies. But, using more fat doesn’t automatically lead to losing more fat.

Read more: http://quazen.com/shopping/turn-your-body-into-a-fat-burning-machine/#ixzz1OUkTgAax

Staying Healthy Cooking Oil Use a Heart-healthy Monounsaturated | Bizcovering

I may be away from the real disease at the time, but I think that what we eat is important to stay healthy and keep diseases at bay.

Today I will talk about fats and oils we all use almost every day.

We know that high cholesterol is bad for the heart, and certain fats and oils can clog the arteries that are saturated fats. Diets high in saturated fat increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Some foods are those classes are butter, ghee, tallow, lard, coconut oil, cottonseed oil and palm kernel oil.

Dairy products are also included in this section, cream, cheese, meat, chocolate and other prepared foods.

The vegetable oil has long been promoted as a healthy heart, but do not be misled into believing that you can use it extensively. Oil is still oil and it still contains fat and calories.

Read more: http://bizcovering.com/business/staying-healthy-cooking-oil-use-a-heart-healthy-monounsaturated/#ixzz1MoCZFhwH

PIMS orders check on private vendors,medical representatives

The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) has instructed the heads of all departments to ensure that neither they themselves nor the staff under their control, is involved in promoting illegal purchase of drugs, medicines or surgical disposables from private vendors and medical representatives roaming within the hospital’s premises, ‘The News’ learnt here on Friday.

Commenting on the situation, PIMS Joint Executive Director Dr. Jehanzeb Khan Aurakzai shared that the hospital had been receiving complaints to the effect that implants were being sold within the hospital premises for prices that were higher than the market rate. The only convenience for patients was that these were available to them at their bedside and hence, they did not have to take the trouble of going to the market. 

“We are now working on a plan under which all orthopaedic, cardiac and eye implants will be made available to patients within the hospital at subsidised rates,” Dr. Aurakzai informed. He also assured that free medicines would be provided to patients in the emergency and indoor departments of the hospital.

PIMS remains swarmed with representatives of pharmaceutical companies, as well as vendors of private chemists and medical stores located outside the hospital. These medical representatives can easily be spotted meandering in the corridors of the hospital, chasing doctors, specialists, patients and their attendants to purchase drugs, medicines, surgical disposables and various kinds of implants from their stores. Eventually, they end up supplying inferior quality items at inflated rates or selling substitutes of medicines prescribed by doctors. 

The representatives of pharmaceutical companies can be spotted visiting doctors and specialists working in the Out-Patient Department as early as 10 a.m. They keep roaming about, even in the operation theatre and wards, to meet specialists till 1:45 p.m. every day, thereby wasting the time of doctors and specialists during peak hours of treatment. 

Taking notice of the practice, the administration of PIMS has debarred medical representatives from visiting the OPD and OT before 1 p.m. Moreover, the heads of departments have been directed to keep a check on promotion of illegal purchase of drugs, medicines and surgical supplies from private vendors.

The joint executive director (non-medical), director of the component, and security staff have also been alerted to keep a vigilant check on vendors and representatives and to immediately intimate in writing, the name of the doctor or person who contravenes the order. The hospital administration is contemplating strict action against those involved in promoting private vendors and medical representatives, it is learnt.

Drop in pollen count is only temporary, expert warns

The free Pollen Allergy Relief Camp established by the chief commissioner of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) started off on Friday with over 100 patients being examined within the first two hours. Patients started reaching the camp, as early as 7 a.m., hoping to obtain free and effective medications.

Although pollen counts were relatively low on Thursday and Friday, patients still visited the camp to get medications well in time before resurgence of pollen allergy. The counts recorded yesterday — less than 5,000 pollens of paper mulberry per cubic metre — were at an all-time low for this time of the year.

Dr. Osman Yusuf, the chief consultant to the camp, explained that since there has been a noticeable climate change this year, therefore paper mulberry trees were predicted to pollinate erratically. While patients heaved a sigh of relief that the counts have fallen, Dr. Osman warned that this drop may be only temporary. The pollens need proper rainfall and temperature to mature. 

The Pakistan Meteorological Department has forecast rain for Friday night and Monday. If it does rain, as predicted, then pollens will begin to rise 2 to 3 days after receiving strong sunshine. So there is a danger of a rise in paper mulberry pollen counts in the last days of March, and early April. Dr. Osman also feared a third peak of paper mulberry in mid-April. This peak, he suspected, would be in the cooler northern sectors of Islamabad, like F-6, F-7 and E-7.

While talking to this scribe about the types of patients visiting the camp, Dr. Osman said that the majority of the patients does not comprise victims from pollen allergy but of chronic allergies, asthma or Coronary Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), a chronic inflammation of the lungs caused by cigarette smoke. 

While most of the medicines being provided at the camp are donations, Dr. Osman noted with concern that some people who promise large sums of money or donations to gain media attention, do not actually fulfill their commitment. One leading chemist of Islamabad promised to donate Rs100,000 but in fact contributed much less, and sent over-invoiced bills to show that he had made the stated donation. Two leadings chemists, Shaheen Chemists and Waheed Medicos, are the only ones to have donated 700 inhalers to the camp, and have lived up to their commitment. The Allergy and Asthma Institute, Pakistan, has donated spacer devices, literature, printed material and back-up supplies to the camp. Various other pharmaceutical agencies have donated all types of medicines which are being provided to the patients. Another private sector hospital promised to provide doctors and a large donation to the camp, but these are still awaited.

Chaudhry Muhammad Ali, director of ICT, is taking keen interest in the camp and is continuously coordinating with Dr. Osman, Dr. Amirzada, DHO and Shafiq Khan, camp coordinator. The doctors who are working non-stop, even beyond the camp timings, to accommodate maximum patients include Dr. Faizullah Talpur, Dr. Fawad Khalid Khan, Dr. Tawaf Gul Orakzai, Dr. Tahira Aziz, Dr. Zartaja Tawaf and Dr. Mansoor. Each of these doctors has been specially trained in management of severe pollen asthma and allergy. 

The camp management had decided to change the timings of the camp so that patients are saved from excessive exposure to pollens; however, since this change was not well-publicised, patients faced slight difficulty in the morning on Friday, but the matter was sorted out through the timely intervention of director ICT. It has now been decided that this year, the camp timings will remain from 9 a.m. till 4 p.m., but in future, will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., so that patients can return indoors before the pollen counts rise.

Dr. Osman also advised that if the pollen counts remained low this year, and if the CDA remained ineffective in removing the notorious paper mulberry trees, the pollen counts in spring 2011, will be much higher than the current year.