Prevent the spread of winter illnesses

With the winter months well under way and as the temperature begins to drop more and more people will be coughing and sneezing, signifying that the winter cold season is in full effect. Colleagues in work, students at school, riding the bus are all ways we can come into contact with colds and flu. It’s often thought that despite our best efforts we can’t really do much to stop the spread of the cold and flu viruses but there are ways in which we can help prevent and build up our immune system for the winter cold season.

Use a tissue and bin it!

With the H1N1 virus being a real worry in the UK we have been told to make sure if we sneeze to make sure we do it into our tissues and dispose of them as opposed to sneezing out loud or into our hands. The airborne bacteria and germs are one of the prime ways the virus spreads. Make sure you buy yourself a pack of tissues and have them ready in case you need to cough or sneeze.

Get some Vitamins

Vitamin C is well known to help against colds, boosting your immune system with vitamin pills will make sure that your body is fully ready for the coming months where colds and the flu are rampant. Vitamin C can be found in most citrus fruits and juices as well as daily tablet supplements. Eating oranges more regularly can help you add one of your recommended five-a-day fruit and vegetables.

Drink plenty of water

One of the many side effects of getting a cold or the flu is becoming dehydrated; this can make you feel drowsy and tired as well as things like dry mouth and even sore throat. Make sure you drink lots of water as this helps you rehydrate as well as flush any bad bugs through your system.

Use hand sanitizer

Again, in light of the recent swine and avian flu warnings a lot of people are now aware of the germs and unseen bacteria that can be left on surfaces commonly touched such as stair rails, computer keyboards and many other locations. Therefore it’s important to make sure you wash your hands regularly, especially before eating food. Hand sanitizer lotion can be a good measure too as they dry instantly and can be bought from supermarkets and pharmacists.

So make sure you take extra care this winter to avoid catching anything and if you do try and follow these tips to help limit the spread and help build up your body’s defences. Check at your local pharmacy about prescription services and other winter supplies to help you fend off colds.

Glutamine And It's Side Effects By Terry Bytheway

Glutamine, one of the twenty special amino acids that have been encoded by the standard genetic code, is also one of the most common amino acids that occur naturally in the human body. It makes up more than sixty percent of the skeletal muscle tissue, and is fuel for both the digestive tract and the immune system, while also playing a pivotal role in responsibly conducting nitrogen to muscles around the body. High concentrations of Glutamine are especially available in the brain, the gut lining, the lungs, the heart, the kidney, the liver, and the muscles. In short, no human body can survive without this vital amino acid; in fact most bodybuilders and athletes use it as a supplement to enhance their performance or to strengthen themselves physically. Glutamine can be found in protein powders (mostly favored by the likes of athletes, weightlifters, and bodybuilders); and is also rich in other high-protein foods including fish, red meat, beans, poultry and dairy products.

While the human body does not take well to anything taken in excess, however useful it might be, studies regarding the side effects of excess Glutamine use have even churned out inconclusive results. Still, it’s safe to say that it’s never a good idea to take high doses, and it has been proved that excess use might lead to an an upset stomach, if nothing else.

It is now widely believed that since Glutamine occurs naturally in the human body, supplementing a diet with the amino acid comes free of any major health risks or adverse side effects, as long as it’s done in low doses. In fact, it is mostly encouraged; Glutamine deficiency is so common in our day, that medical practitioners check for Glutamine deficiency as one of the primary tests when searching for clues in patients with symptoms of chronic illnesses or dysfunction in cognitive functioning and mood swings.

Nevertheless, it’s important to understand that anybody thinking of starting a regimen including Glutamine supplements should consult a physician or nutritionist first; especially those suffering from either Type I or Type II diabetes since they are usually advised to exercise extreme caution with respect to Glutamine powders or supplements. This is mainly because surplus amounts of Glutamine in the human body are broken down by the liver and the kidneys for the production of glucose.

Aside from being used as a diet supplement by bodybuilders and athletes, Glutamine has been deemed effective in treating muscle cramps or pain in the elderly. It can also speed up the Krebs Cycle and aid in weight loss while retaining muscle mass. However, the principle use of Glutamine is still the replenishment of the body’s stores of amino acids; which is why supplementation is considered particularly healthy after strenuous exercise or long workouts. Furthermore, people suffering from any kind of physical trauma, immune deficiencies, or cancer also tend to find Glutamine very helpful.

Thus, as the article suggests, Glumatine use (in a controlled manner) has many favorable effects, yet most often comes free of any adverse side effects; which is why it’s become such a popular fixture on the market for health supplements.

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=106701&ca=Medicines

Do You Have Diabetes? The Importance Of Being Diagnosed By Ted Cornwall

Diabetes is a disease that millions of Americans suffer from. Unfortunately, it isn’t just any disease, it is a long-term disease. This means almost all of the individuals who are diagnosed with diabetes will have it for the remainder of their life. The good thing about diabetes is that it can easily be managed. However, to be managed, you must first be diagnosed with the disease.

When it comes to being diagnosed with diabetes, you need to speak to a healthcare professional, such as your primary care physician. Diabetes can only officially be diagnosed by a healthcare professional. Despite needing a healthcare professional to diagnose you, there are a number of signs and symptoms that you should be on the lookout for. These symptoms may help to inform you, as well as your healthcare provider, if you may have diabetes or if you may be at risk for developing it.

Before you can begin to understand the most common signs and symptoms of diabetes, you need to take the time to familiarize yourself with the disease. Although diabetes is a disease that results from too little insulin in the body, there are three different types of diabetes. These three different diabetes types not only have some different signs and symptoms, they also have different treatment options. The three main types of diabetes are type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes is most common in children; however, the disease will carryon into adulthood. Common symptoms of type 1 diabetes include increased thirst, increased urination, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and unexplained weight loss. Type 2 diabetes is most commonly found with adults; however, some children have been known to develop it. The most common symptoms of type 2 diabetes includes increased urination, increased thirst, fatigue, as well as, impotence, blurred vision, and increased appetite. Gestational diabetes is found and diagnosed during pregnancy; many times the only symptom associated with this type of diabetes is a high blood glucose reading.

In addition to the above mentioned diabetes signs and symptoms, it may also be a good idea to examine the risk factors associated with diabetes. This is importance because, although a large number of individuals experience some of the above mentioned symptoms, not everyone sees or notices even the most common symptoms of diabetes. If you have a close family member with diabetes, are overweight, have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or if you are over the age of forty-five, you are at an increased risk for developing diabetes. Should a number of the previously mentioned risk factors describe you, it may be a good idea to speak to your primary care physician or another healthcare provider.

As previously mentioned, there is currently no cure for diabetes; however, the disease is treatable and manageable. If you are diagnosed with having diabetes, whether it be type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, or gestational diabetes, your healthcare provider will likely discuss the appropriate treatment options. These treatment options will all likely depend on which type of diabetes you are diagnosed with. Regardless of which type of diabetes you have, you may be required to take insulin shots. If so, your physician will provide you will all of the necessary information, including what type of insulin needs to be used, as well as how often.

In addition to taking insulin shots, if your physician recommends it, you may also be required to begin an exercise program or watch what you eat. As with the insulin, your physician should also help you to develop an effective eating plan, as well as an exercise program. These programs are important; therefore, you need to follow them. In fact, if you have type 2 diabetes, you may also find that eating right and exercising may eliminate many of the signs of diabetes. In fact, it has been said that with the proper diet and exercise, it is possible for a type 2 diabetes patient to be taken off of their insulin.

Perhaps, the best way to learn more about diabetes, particularly the type that you are diagnosed with, is to speak with your healthcare provider. In addition to giving you information on how to manage your diabetes, they may also give you valuable tips on how to move on with your life. This is often done with counseling or with diabetes support groups. Unfortunately, diabetes is becoming such as problem, in America, that there is a good chance that you may have access to a number of local diabetes support groups.

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=106099&ca=Medicines

Creatine Kinase 101 By Terry Bytheway

Creatine kinase, also known as phosphocreatine kinase or creatine phosphokinase, is an enzyme or type of protein that is found in several tissue types of the human body, including the muscle and the brain. The function of this enzyme is to catalyze the conversion of creatine to phosphocreatine by applying itself in the consumption of adenosine triphosphate, the generation of adenosine diphosphate, and the reverse reaction. Adenosine triphosphate is a vital source of energy in biochemical reactions; in the skeletal muscle, the brain, and the smooth muscle – or all tissues that swiftly use up adenosine triphosphate – phosphocreatine acts as an energy reservoir for the quick regeneration of adenosine triphosphate. This is a very important function, and even though it doesn’t sound like much, creatine kinase definitely has its work cut out.

Going back to basics, there are three types of creatine kinase or isoenzymes in the body: CK-BB is mainly produced by the brain and the smooth muscle; CK-MB is primarily produced by the heart muscle; and most of CK-MM is produced by the skeletal muscle.

In normal conditions, there is very little creatine kinase circulating in the blood of the average, healthy human being. Taking the creatine test is a good idea to find out where exactly it is that one stands when it comes to the prevalent level of creatine kinase in one’s body. The test specifically measures the blood levels of certain muscle and brain enzyme proteins; the normal results for females range between 10 - 79 units per liter (U/L) and 17 - 148 U/L in males. A lower than normally low level of creatine kinase shows that you have been drinking excessively; alcohol liver disease and rheumatoid arthritis are two of the most common possibilities that exist with respect to lowered levels of creatine kinase.

On the other hand, if the test reveals that the level of creatine kinase circulating in the blood is higher than it should be in normal conditions, then chances are that the human body in question has suffered damage either to the muscle or the brain. In fact, astronomical levels of creatine kinase are indicative of injuries, rhabdodomyolysis, myocardial infarction, myocarditis, myositis, malignant hypethermia, McLeod syndrome, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, and hypothyroidism. If most of this sounds like gibberish to you, just remember that a heart attack, a muscle disease or a stroke may result in abnormally raised creatine kinase levels in the blood. Statin medications used to decrease serum cholesterol levels may also be the culprit.

Experts suggest that anyone who is not sure whether or not they have had a heart attack (which is hard to imagine!) or whether muscles in their bodies have been damaged as a result of any sort of activity, should make it a point to go for a creatine kinase test. This group also includes those with chest pain, muscle pain, and any sort of muscle weakness. Emergency patients (or patients with acute renal failure) are routinely taken through this test, which actually only requires one’s blood sample drawn from a vein in the arm (not scary at all!).

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=106700&ca=Medicines