What Does Fasting Actually Mean?

Fasting means different things to different people. Some take this to mean that they eat nothing at all, and only consume water. Others do not eat solid food, and only consume certain liquids, such as juice and water. Still others assume this to mean that you consume no solid food at all, but that you can have any type of liquid that you desire.

The length of time that you fast may also different. Some people will fast for one day, while others may fast for three days, a week, ten days, or even two weeks. You may notice a common denominator here, however. In all cases ‘fasting’ means going without solid food for a specified period of time.

In those cases where fasting does include solid food, this typically means that you will either only consume one type of food during a certain time period, or it may mean that you avoid certain types of food during that time period. While some may refer to this as fasting, it really isn’t the same at all, because you are still consuming solid food. In these cases however, a ‘type’ of fast may be named. For example, a meat fast means that you will go without meat for a specified period of time.

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Is Fasting Safe?

According to Fit Wise, fasting is not for the young or the old. In the case of fasting, this means that anyone younger than 20 should avoid fasting, and anyone over the age of 45 should avoid fasting. Opinions do vary on this, but the reasoning behind this is that when you fast, you are losing calcium – and calcium is very important when your bones are still growing, and when you reach the age where deterioration of the bone begins.

This is not the only cause for concern when it comes to fasting. Another concern is fasting when diabetes exists, or when there are kidney problems. Additionally, according to Memorial Hospital, too often, people think that if they fast once a week, they can eat whatever they want for the other days of the week and it won’t matter – and this is, of course, wrong.

Fasting should be avoided by pregnant women, those who take prescription medication, those who have life threatening illnesses, those who are anemic, and more. Ideally, you should already be healthy before you begin a fast, and even then, it isn’t a bad idea to check in with your doctor first. In some cases, people who are taking medication, or who have some health problems, can participate in a fast as long as it is medically supervised.

There are side effects that can be experienced during fasting that you absolutely must be aware of. Common and less serious side effects include fatigue, nausea, muscle aches, dizziness, and headaches. More serious side effects include a drop in blood pressure, emotional distress, weakened pulse, difficulty breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, and a rise in uric acid levels. In most cases, serious side effects are rare, and are generally only associated with long term fasting.

Can Fasting Really Make Your Heart Healthier?

According to Medicine Net, a study that was conducted in Salt Lake City, Utah, and reported on at a session of the American College of Cardiology in New Orleans, fasting may make your heart healthier. The study found that people who fast from time to time have lower instances of coronary disease and a lower risk of diabetes.

Reports of a separate study that was conducted at the same time – known as a companion study – found that during water only fasting, the participants HDL, or good cholesterol levels rose and the LDL, or bad cholesterol levels also rose during this period. This is not considered to be either good or bad. There was, however, a drop in dangerous blood fats – triglycerides, as well as in glucose levels. It was explained that this happens because when the body isn’t receiving food, it goes into self preservation mode and starts using fasts for energy instead of glucose.

It was also found during this study that these favorable results only come from ‘water only fasts,’ and not from other types of fasts, such as juice fasts. Additionally, going for long periods of time without food can be dangerous, and a fast should not last for more than 24 hours, regardless of the type of fast that it is. Additionally, it probably isn’t healthy to fast more than once a month.

Sources: www.nytimes.com, www.memorialhospital.org, www.drcoldwellreport.com, www.fitwise.com, www.medicinenet.com,

About Charcot Marie Tooth Disease

Charcot Marie Tooth Disease is rare, affecting only about 150,000 people in the United States, according to the New York Times. Although it is rare, it is one of the most commonly inherited nerve related disorders as well.

This condition must be inherited directly from a parent who also has the condition. There is no predetermining factor that tells us how severe or mild the condition will be from parent to child. For example, the parent may not even know that he or she has the condition until the child, who has a severe and obvious case of CMT, is diagnosed and both parents are then tested. If only one parent has the disorder, there is a 50% chance that the child will also have CMT.

Although CMT is rarely heard of – unless you or someone you know has it – the clinical name for the condition is Hereditary Motor and Sensory Neuropathy, or HMSN. It is also called Peroneal Muscular Atrophy.

No matter what you call the disease, one thing is absolutely certain. CMT is not fatal, but there is no cure for the disease.

What Causes Charcot Marie Tooth Disease?

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CMT is one of the diseases covered by the Muscular Dystrophy Association, or MDA. According to this organization, CMT is caused by a defect in the genes for proteins that are found in axons. Axons are fibers that carry the electrical signals from the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body. The disease must be inherited from a parent – it does not skip a generation and then reappear.

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, there are many different forms of CMT. This includes CMT1, CMT2, CMT3, CMT4, and CMTX. CMT1, which comes from a duplication of the gene on the 17^th chromosome, has three different types, CMT1A, CMT1B, and CMT1C. There are, however, two other types of CMT1, which are less common. These are CMT1D and CMT1E. A great deal of research is constantly being done concerning CMT, and the causes. As with most things, finding a cure will be difficult, if not impossible, without first knowing the actual causes of the problem.

Symptoms and Treatment for CMT

Because the symptoms are so similar to so many other diseases, often victims are initially given the wrong diagnosis. The symptoms include loss of muscle bulk in the legs and feet, curled toes – also known as hammertoes, weakness in the legs, ankles, and feet, high foot arches, difficulty running or bending over, foot drop, an awkward gait or step, frequent balance problems that lead to tripping or falling, numbness in the limbs, and difficulty grasping small objects.

CMT is a progressive disease. This means that no matter how mild the symptoms may initially be, they will become worse with time – as the disease progresses. Those who have severe CMT will most likely be in a wheelchair at some point in their lives. While there is no cure for CMT, there is treatment available that helps most people who participate. Physical therapy is almost always needed, and occupational therapy is also highly recommended. Some patients will need to wear leg braces or back braces – or both, and there are many orthopedic devices that are designed to make life in general a little less complicated for those who have CMT. In some cases, different types of orthopedic surgery can be helpful as well, but this will not cure CMT.

Pain is common, and often severe, for those who have CMT, and for this, pain killers may be prescribed. Caution should be used here, since pain killers are addictive, and the patient should try to manage pain without medication for as long as possible.

If you or someone you love is diagnosed with CMT, this does not mean that the person is going to die or become completely incapacitated. Instead, it means that you or your loved one will have to make adjustments in their daily lives. For example, you may need to rethink your career choice, or you may need to find devices through occupational therapy that make it easier for you to continue on your current path.

If you suspect that you may have Charcot Marie Tooth Disease, there are tests that can be done. These tests start with Nerve Conduction Studies and an EMG or Electromyography test. A nerve biopsy may also be done. The most definitive answer, however, comes from a simple blood test for genetic testing to see if there are any abnormalities in the genes.

Sources: www.cmtausa.org, www.mdausa.org, www.cnn.com, www.ninds.nih.gov, www.nytimes.com

It is becoming a common story in newspapers and on news casts around the United States. A young athlete suddenly drops dead on the field or the court. They were healthy. They were in top physical condition. They didn’t do drugs, drink, or smoke, and they are simply too young for a heart attack – or are they? The increase in young athletes who die from heart related problems while practicing or playing their chosen sport is definitely a concern.

Studies Concerning Heart Attacks in Young Athletes

According to the New York Times, a study published recently in the Circulation Journal reported that there is one sudden cardiac death for every 43,770 athletes who participate in sports that fall under the National Collegiate Athletic Association. The increase in young athletes dying has caught the attention of the American Heart Association, as well as other organizations, and guidelines have been issued for screening.

There are numerous other studies that are currently in progress concerning this issue, but what preliminary results are finding is that all of these deaths are considered to be Sudden Cardiac Death, caused by a condition known as Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. So while local news reports on young athletes dying may state that the cause is unknown, the cause almost always is contributed to SCD and half of those are also contributed to HCM.

Who is at Risk?

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According to Boston Scientific, a young athlete suddenly dies every three days in the United States. Approximately 90% of those that die will be male. While we think of exercise as important to our health, it is interesting to note that young male athletes are more likely to experience sudden cardiac death, or SCD, than their non athletic peers.

It has been discovered that the leading cause of these SCDs is a condition known as Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, or HCM. This disease causes the heart muscle to become thicker than it should. According to the data at Boston Scientific, 52% of the male athletes that die from SCD, caused by HCM will be black, and the average age of athletes affected by this phenomenon is 17.5 years. Surprisingly, the risk increases as the person ages. 67% of those who are affected by SCD will play either basketball or football.

With those statistics in mind, it is also important to know that you are at risk for SCD if you have a family history of sudden death in a young person, if you have ever fainted or nearly fainted during exercise, or if you have unusual chest pain or shortness of breath during exercise.

How to Avoid Cardiac Death for Young Athletes

If you or someone you love is a young athlete, you should seriously consider cardiac testing as soon as possible. Through cardiac testing, it can be discovered if HCM exists, and knowing that the problem is there can essentially save the young athletes life. This involves two very simple tests.

The first test is an ECG or Electrocardiogram. This test will measure the electrical activity in the heart. The second test is an ECHO test, or an Echocardiogram. This is essentially an ultrasound of the heart, which takes pictures so that doctors can see if there is thickening of the heart muscle.

It is vital that the parents, guardians, and coaches of these athletes know the signs and symptoms of HCM, and that they take measures to have their young athlete tested. Kids are fairly resilient, and most do not complain of minor problems – they simply want to play the sport that they love. It is up to the adults to watch for and screen for problems that could lead to sudden death.

Currently, screening is not a requirement, but many schools are considering putting this requirement into place in the near future. Despite the growing number of deaths, HCM is still surprisingly considered to be rare. It is important to realize as well that this doesn’t just happen to teenagers. Athletes are considered to be at risk to the age of 24. Therefore, just because you make it past seventeen, you shouldn’t think that you are safe and avoid the proper screening.

In the past, required sports physicals were cursory, at best. If you looked to be in good physical condition, that was generally enough for the doctor and the coach. They certainly didn’t include any screening for heart conditions. Today, that is quickly changing. Doctors, coaches, and athletes need to be much more serious about the required sports physical, and of course the examination should be more thorough – and preferably, it should include the ECG and ECHO test.

Sources: www.nytimes.com, www.everydayhealth.com, www.bostonscientific.com, www.empowher.com, www.stanford.edu

More Information about Heart Stents

Heart Stents are usually inserted into the arteries during other procedures, such as Angioplasty. To insert the stent, the stent is collapsed and made very small. It is then placed over a balloon catheter, inserted into the artery where it is needed, and the balloon is inflated to reopen the stent. When a stent is placed in the artery, it is permanent. The stent actually becomes a part of your body because the lining of the artery grows over it in less than a month, according to the American Heart Association.

Many stents that are placed in arteries these days are actually coated with medication. These are called drug-eluting stents. The drugs are slowly released into your system, and their main purpose is to prevent the arteries from narrowing again – a condition known as restenosis. Restenosis is more common when bare metal stents are used – without the coating of medication. According to a report at CNN, studies concerning heart stents only last four to five years, and those studies show that within that time frame, only one to two percent of all patients who receive heart stents experience restenosis. According to the Mayo Clinic, if bare metal stents are used, the risk of restenosis is 30% to 40%.

Despite the name, heart stents are never inserted directly into the heart. They are only used in the arteries that lead in and out of the heart to increase blood flow, or to remedy any damage that has been done in other procedures, such as angioplasty.

Are Heart Stents Dangerous?

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Heart Stents are not dangerous for all intents and purposes. The main danger is that the artery will reclose (restenosis). It is imperative for patients who have heart stents to take medications that are designed to thin the blood, referred to as blood thinning agents. This is especially important if you have a drug-eluting stent, as there have been studies that show that the risk of developing blood clots in the stent is high within the first year if blood thinning agents are not used. Your doctor will most likely recommend that you take one aspirin per day for the rest of your life, and will usually prescribe a drug called Clopidogrel for the first year after the stent is placed.

While you are on Clopidogrel, you will be required to take routine blood tests. There is side affects associated with this drug. These side effects include stomach pain, upset stomach, diarrhea, headache, constipation, dizziness, rashes, back or joint pain, and flu like symptoms. You should let your doctor know if you have any of these side effects – but do not stop taking the medication unless your doctor instructs you to do so.

Heart Stent Myths

There have been many reports of heart stents increasing the risk of heart attack. This was once thought to be true among medical professionals, but years of research have proven this concern to be false. Heart stents do not increase the risk of heart attack as long as the patient continues to take medications as instructed, and makes lifestyle changes that the doctor also recommends – such as abstaining from tobacco.

There have also been reports that stents can ‘break.’ The stents are made of metal, and they do not break. They can, however, collapse, just as they were collapsed in order to be inserted. When this happens, angioplasty is performed to open them back up – using balloons. The collapse can happen for any number of reasons – or for no apparent reason at all.

There has been some concern about the use of certain medications with drug eluting stents. To learn more about these concerns, and to see if there is an actual risk, the Food and Drug Administration has launched a four year study, which is being headed by the Harvard Clinical Research Institute. The study involves 20,000 patients, and was started in September of 2009. The purpose of the study is to examine the risks of treatment with aspirin and antiplatelet drugs for a twelve month period and a thirty month period.

If you are concerned about the complications or risks associated with heart stents, you should discuss this with your cardiologist. In the end, however, the risks associated with the stent are a great deal less than the risks associated with a clogged artery that remains clogged. That clogged artery guarantees a heart attack or stroke at some point.

Source: http://www.americanheart.org/, http://www.webmd.com/, http://www.mayoclinic.com/, http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/, http://www.cnn.com/, http://www.fda.gov/

Side Affects of Cancer Cachexia

Cancer Cachexia is a condition that affects people who have cancer. It causes them to not only lose their appetites, but also to lose a great deal of weight very quickly. The cause of cancer cachexia is believed to be the fatigue and weakness that is associated with cancer.

When cancer cachexia patients loses their appetite, and subsequently starts to lose great amounts of weight, a number of body systems are affected, including the balance of electrolytes. This causes the person to feel even more fatigued and weaker, so the problem essentially becomes a vicious circle. The person essentially becomes malnourished, and eventually cannot even perform basic tasks, including basic hygiene practices. When a person has a severe case of cancer cachexia they are more likely to die of starvation than of cancer.

Additionally, cancer cachexia can lead to a total breakdown of systems. Many people die of respiratory problems that are caused by cancer cachexia, such as pneumonia. According to OncoLink, approximately 75% of all cancer patients will develop cancer cachexia.

People with certain types of cancer are at greater risk of cancer cachexia. It is reported that approximately 85% of cancer patients who have cancer of the upper gastrointestinal tract will have cancer cachexia. This includes stomach cancer, pancreatic cancer, and esophageal cancer. This same percentage of patients will lose just over 14% of their body weight before they are even diagnosed with cancer cachexia.

If you have cancer, and you have lost more than 10% of your total body weight, you will most likely be diagnosed with cancer cachexia. Weight loss and loss of appetite are the two biggest symptoms of this condition. Not only will you not have an appetite, but you will most likely find that when you do eat, food is rather tasteless.

The Cannibalism of Your Body

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It has also been discovered that cancer cachexia causes the chemotherapy and radiation that is used in cancer treatment to be less effective. People who have cancer cachexia also do not do well with surgery to remove cancerous tumors. It is important to note that when cancer cachexia is present, the cancer patient’s chances of surviving the cancer are greatly diminished. This is why doctor’s need to treat cancer cachexia as soon as possible – to stop or seriously delay the process.

What Can Be Done about Cancer Cachexia?

If cancer cachexia is identified and diagnosed, the person is usually instructed to increase their calorie intake, but this is seldom enough to stop the process. It is believed that the extra calories that the person is consuming only feed the cancerous tumor, instead of delivering nutrition to the healthy cells in the body.

There has been some success with Megestrol Acetate, also known as Megace. This is a synthetic progestin hormone. The hormone increases the appetite significantly and promotes weight gain. Corticosteroids also promote weight gain, but both drugs only cause temporary increase in the appetite and weight gain. What doctor’s hope when a patient is administered this treatment is that the increase in weight and appetite will last long enough for other cancer treatments to be effective.

Some patients are given Thalidomide. This drug was initially released on the market as a sleeping pill. It was banned from the market in 1960, however, because it was proven to cause birth defects. Today, however, some patients who have cancer cachexia have found success with this drug.

The last resort in the treatment of cancer cachexia is intravenous nutrition. This is a temporary solution at best, and many patients cannot afford this treatment, as it is expensive. This treatment, however, does temporarily balance the electrolytes and other hormone production which is essential in cancer treatment.

A great deal of research concerning cancer cachexia is currently underway, and it is hoped that this research will result in more effective treatments for cancer cachexia, or better yet in methods of avoiding cancer cachexia altogether.

Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/, http://www.oncolink.org/, http://www.annieappleseedproject.org/

The expansion will increase the number of Chinese urban dwellers covered by the government aided basic health insurance programme to 440 million. Along with the rural population covered by a separate rural health insurance scheme, this ensures 90 percent of the Chinese population is covered by a health insurance, close to the Chinese government’s target to reach universal health insurance coverage.

The rural population of China is covered by “Rural-Cooperative Health Insurance”, while the urban population is covered by “Urban Basic Health Insurance”.

The expansion of health insurance coverage is part of a bigger health care improvement scheme of the government that includes government plans to build several hospitals, improve the standard of existing health centres, subsidize frequently used medicines, increase support to the citizens suffering from severe diseases and increase the capping in rural insurance.

Increased Budget

Chinese health minister Chen Zhu told a press conference Wednesday that the government plans to spend 172 billion Yuan (USD 26.2), 16.3 percent more than the previous year, on health care this year. Part of this amount will go towards the increment in the government contribution in insurance premiums. The government has increased the capping of coverage on inpatients expenditure in rural areas to 50,000 (approx. USD 7600) Yuan from the existing 30,000 Yuan (approx. USD 4560). The amount is 10 times the annual net per capita income of the Chinese rural population. According to health minster Zhu, the increased capping means up to 70 percent of the cost could be reimbursed.

Future Plans

In addition to expanding the health insurance coverage further to include all citizens, the government also plans to narrow down the differences in the level of services between the health care services in rural areas and urban areas. It also plans to expand the extra financial services provided to patients suffering from severe and incurable diseases.

China had planned the ramp up in health care services in 2009, when its health care system was heavily criticized as one of the worst in the world. The country’s high rate of saving was often attributed to its poor, but expensive health services. Many economists analyzed the saving habit of the people as their tendency to save for emergency medical needs.

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Impact on Overall Economy

The new health care plan is expected to boost the country’s economy both directly and indirectly. The increased subsidies from the government means the people will have to save less for medical emergencies leaving more disposable income. The increased disposable income will lead to increased consumer spending thereby increasing the cash flow in the market. Indirectly, the improved health care facilities will motivate people and increase their productivity at work.

Cynicism

Some economists have criticized the policy saying the increased subsidies in health care system would encourage people to unnecessarily spend their disposable income in social events.

Nutrition, Rest And Activities

For preschoolers, there are no evident reasons for the child to throw tantrums which may indicate your child is hungry, or could not get adequate sleep in the day and is feeling tired, or is not feeling well. Some children who do not get adequate nutrition may feel discontented and may throw tantrums for minor issues. Parents of infants and preschoolers should be aware of child’s nutritional need and sleep patterns to prevent them from throwing tantrums for no cause. Parents must ensure the child is getting balanced amount of rest and nutrition, and goes for outdoor activities everyday.

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Listen To Your Child

Preschoolers cry when their needs are not met. Parents should listen to the child calmly when the child is angry. Children may show minor or major tantrums frequently but you need to respond to the ones which are due to some real issue. Parents can ignore minor tantrums and allow the child to deal with certain situations themselves. You should never ask the child to be quiet when the child is angry. Allow the child to speak out as it helps in reducing anger. If you bluntly ask the child to stop – it will show them you are not concerned or incapable to understand them, and they may not tell you the issues.

Help Find Ways To Express Anger

Preschoolers do not know how to express themselves and this may cause frustration. You need to help them find words. Children going to grade 1to 5 are at a learning stage, and even they may need your help to find words. School going children aged below 10 years can get angry due to certain circumstances such as school bullying, education, new neighborhood, parental conflicts, friends, not getting something of their choice etc. You need to listen to the problems carefully and identify the issues for which you can counsel and teach the child to enable him or her to handle the situation appropriately. In certain conditions, you can contact a specialist to help the child to handle the situation in a better way. Children in schools can go for hobbies such as painting, drawing, dancing or listening to music to relax.

Practice Self Control

Children may get angry when they feel something is confusing, unfair or overwhelming, and you need to teach children to practice self control. Children sometimes behave like their parents, and they may react to a situation in the way you react, so parents should practice self control to prevent their child from reacting similarly.

Look for a Complete Program

Some Kettlebell routines or programs do not target all areas of the body, or they only target specific areas of the body. It is essential that you find the program that is right for you. Ideally, this means that it will target all areas of the body – unless you really just need work in one area. The areas of the body that should be worked with these programs include the chest and abdominals, the forearms, the hamstrings, the quadriceps, the shoulders, and the lats.

Use the Right Kettlebells for the Program

Kettlebells come in different weights, ranging from four pounds, or 1.8 killograms to 175 pounds, or 79 killograms. You might wonder why you would use kettlebells instead of weights. Kettlebells have handles, and the weight is centered differently than traditional dumbbells. Many experts believe that this makes them easier to use, and more effective overall.

Look for the Right Movements

You aren’t just lifting weights when you use kettlebells, and it is important to understand this going into it. You will be swinging and lifting the kettlebells. The movements should be designed to strengthen the lower back, the shoulders, the legs, the arms, and to increase the strength of your grip. Basic movements include swing, clean and jerk, and snatch.

It is very important that you check with your doctor before you start doing any Kettlebell routines – particularly if you have any injuries or health problems. It is very easy to injure yourself using Kettlebell routines, so working with a skilled, qualified instructor is also important. Kettlebell workouts should be considered advanced workouts – as they typically are not designed for people who are not already in decent physical shape.

It is also a good idea to work one-on-one with a personal trainer, and to discuss your fitness goals so that the right routine is put together – especially for you and those goals. This is also vital if you insist on working out with kettlebells despite any injuries or health issues that you may have.

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How to Get Rid of Back Aches During Pregnancy with Gentle Exercise

During pregnancy you should remain physically active.  You may need to forego the very physical and strenuous activities that could cause risk to your baby but with gentle exercise is helpful in not only relieving back pain but in preparing your body for an easier labor and delivery.

Water exercises are great during pregnancy because you are buoyant and this reduces the impact on the back and other muscles.  You could participate in a water aerobics class for pregnancy or just go swimming.  Swimming is a great total body workout.

How to Get Rid of Back Aches During Pregnancy Maintaining Good Posture

Due to the ever going size of the abdomen during pregnancy more stress is added to the muscles of the back.  It is common to adjust the posture in an effort to carry this additional weight in the front of the body.  Poor posture only increases back aches and pain. Be aware of the changes in your posture and make a conscious effort to maintain correct posture.  This is also true even during sleep.  You may need to use pillows or wedge supports when sitting or lying to support the back and legs and maintain proper body alignment.   When sitting or standing strive to pull your belly inwards toward your back and keep your shoulders back in the correct alignment.

How to Get Rid of Back Aches During Pregnancy with Adequate Rest

One of the most important things you can do for yourself and your baby is to get adequate rest during pregnancy.  You need to sleep in a position that is healthy and comfortable for your back. Many pregnant women find that sleeping on their side using pillows between their knees and tucked behind their backs and under the belly can add support and comfort to induce a good night of rest.  You may need to experiment for exact placement for maximum comfort and support.  Getting a night of restful and comfortable sleep can do wonders to help relieve back aches during pregnancy.

If you think drinking will only give you hangovers, think again. Drinking alcohol excessively has some serious long term damages to your physical health including your liver, brain, heart and other body organs.