Ultimate Facts About Cholesterol That May Leave You Surprised

April 20, 2018 Leave a comment

Nearly every one of us has heard about cholesterol and all of us have misconstrued this fact that cholesterol is always bad for health. Often, it is only talked about in terms of the dangers of having too much of it, a condition is known as hypercholesterolemia. But on the contrary, it is a natural vital substance that can be extremely beneficial too. Here are some facts that may surprise your cholesterol.

Cholesterol performs Important functions

Cholesterol in excess can be extremely hazardous to health, but on the other hand, it performs some essential functions in the body. It helps in forming the outer layer of the cells. Helps in formation of bile acids that aids in the digestion of the food. And the third most important function is, that it lets the body to make Vitamin D and hormones, like estrogen in women and testosterone in men.

All the Cholesterol in the Body Doesn’t Come from Diet

The body produces all the cholesterol required by itself without relying on external sources. As a matter of fact, if someone eats a diet that contains zero cholesterol, the body would still make approximately 1,000 mg it needs for digestion, cell development and vitamin and hormone production. Although all cells can make cholesterol, but the liver is an organ that can produce and export cholesterol the along with metabolizing excess cholesterol and recycle it.

Not All Cholesterol is harmful

There are two different types of cholesterol, Low-density lipoproteins, and high-density lipoproteins. Too much LDL in bloodstream results in deposition of excess cholesterol in the arteries, which can further cause heart disease.

High Cholesterol Can Be Inherited

Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a condition in which an individual inherits abnormal chromosomes from their parents. It makes people more prone to premature heart disease caused by narrowing of the arteries and plaques.

High Cholesterol Can Have an Effect Even Before Birth

If parents have FH, their childrenare more likely to the disease and are at greater risk of having FH. This condition can further lead to severe heart disease. If both parents have Familial Hypercholesterolemia, each child will have a 50 percent chance of inheriting one FH gene and a 25 percent chance of inheriting two FH genes. Which aggravates narrowing and then blocking of the blood vessels very rapidly, if not treated in time.

Hereditary High Cholesterol is common and can be treated

In families with a pattern of early heart disease or high cholesterol, children at a very younger age are at the risk of such chronic diseases. Many medications & lipid-lowering therapies have come into existence to treat Familial Hypercholesterolemia. Appropriate treatment can decrease the risk of early heart disease associated with inherited hypercholesterolemia.

Don’t Miss Out These 5 Diet-Related Health Issues

February 20, 2018 Leave a comment

A good and healthy living not only makes you feel good, but it can keep many diseases at bay. Proper diet is an essential part of living a healthy life. All nutrients are equally important for our body. As every day our immune system fights with many external and internal factors that can cause variant diseases. It is evident that nowadays people are falling prey to diet-related health issues that generally fall under the category of “lifestyle diseases”. Few of them are:

Diabetes

Although there are some uncontrollable factors that can cause diabetes but still it is a preventable disease with a healthy lifestyle. Obesity, high blood pressure, and increased cholesterol are strong risk factors that contribute towards causing diabetes. Good nutri-rich balanced diet is one of the best ways to keep blood sugar levels in check. A well-balanced diet includes whole grain foods, fresh fruits and vegetables. Every other person is diagnosed with pre-diabetes and, inculcating good nutritious diet and regular exercise sessions can prevent pre-diabetes from progressing into type 2 diabetes.

Anemia

Anemia occurs when red blood cells fail to carry enough oxygen to body’s cells. Fatigue, sensitivity to cold temperatures, headache, and a fast, irregular heartbeat are few symptoms of anemia. Iron deficiency is one the various other causes of anemia. The body requires iron to make hemoglobin and to transport oxygen throughout the body. Anemia can also be caused by a lack of vitamin B12, which your body needs to make red blood cells. If you are anemic then doctors would suggest you to include whole grains and animal products in your diet.

Rickets

Rickets is a serious health condition that is often responsible for bone-softening due to lack of vitamin D. The body gets vitamin D from exposure to sunlight, or through meat and fish oils in the diet. For stronger bones calcium needs to interact with vitamin D. Rickets consequently causes muscle weakness, a curved spine, projected breastbone and bow legs. Consumption of milk, eggs, meat, and fish is extremely important to prevent and fight off rickets. However, those on a vegetarian or vegan diet should be aware of the importance of vitamin D for bone health.

Scurvy

When body faces a deficiency of vitamin C, chances of suffering from the scurvy increase. Also known as the “grey death”, scurvy causes tooth loss, painful joints and weakness, halitosis and skin problems. The body is not capable of making vitamin C, so make sure to incorporate vitamin c rich products in your diet that includes citrus fruits, vegetables or vitamin C supplements.

Obesity

Many people don’t consider obesity as a disease. Although, obesity is one the deadliest diseases which is a mother of all other health issues. Consuming energy-dense food that is high in sugar and saturated fat leads to obesity. Eat healthily and follow exercise that helps in reducing fat.

Are You Also Eating Carbs and Fat Before a Workout?? Must Read

February 20, 2018 Leave a comment

It is a well-known fact that staying healthy is a tough job now because of the amount of pollutant present in the atmosphere and adulteration in everything available. people who work out in the gym should take a healthy diet to lead a healthy lifestyle. It is recommended to have a smoothie or anything that work as a supplementary drink within 30 minutes after a workout so the muscles can get the nutrients they need to recover.

Your body needs carbs to exert energy to attain better training. It is advisable to Eat a nutritious snack about 45 minutes before hitting the gym and this quick meal should include carbs along with proteins and healthy fat.

Studies say that a diet comprised of 85 percent fat can help in improving overall performance for ultra-endurance. There is another of information that most of the people who are associated with working out misconstrue which is needed to be clarified. When we say “fat” we mean the good kind fat which includes – avocados, nuts and fish, and not junk food and desserts.

Eating traditional fat or fatty food is discouraged to be consumed pre-workout session as fatty food takes more time to get digested and thus it will not pass through the system to provide energy during the workout. Another adverse effect that consuming fast food can lead to is that as fatty eatables are heavier on the gut it can also trigger digestive distress and create feelings of sluggishness.

Consuming modest servings of healthy fat are OK before work out. A tablespoon of peanut butter on a whole-wheat bagel or whole-grain cereal with a sprinkling of dry fruits are considered as best foods. Avoid saturated fat-laden food and try eating a light portion of healthy food.

There is a way in which carbs should be eaten. Amount of carbs eaten in a day depends on several factors including body size, activity level, genetics and fitness goals. Talk to your gym instructor and incorporate the diet with the number of carbs and fats he suggests.

Few Things you Must Know About Asthma

February 15, 2018 Leave a comment

What is Asthma?

Breathing is the task that is taken for granted by all of us. Although, for some people catching their breath is not always an easy task. In fact, 1 in every 5 Indians has a breathing problem. Most common amongst them is Asthma, which is a lung disease caused by inflammation that leads to shortness of breath, chest tightness, and uncontrollable coughing. Many people with asthma also have a family history of breathing allergies, making it a common ailment and complaint.

What are the Symptoms of Asthma?

When the airways responses to asthma triggers, people tend to experience asthma flare-ups or in common term, asthma attack. An asthma attack basically occurs when muscles around the lining of the air passages stiffen. Swelling reduces the amount of air that can pass through the airways and leads to wheezing.

Symptoms of an asthma attack include:

Coughing
Chest tightness
Wheezing
Sudden gasping

What is the Treatment for Asthma?

Asthma is a disease that cannot be cured absolutely but, it can be controlled by certain preventive measures. Asthma is aimed at controlling airway inflammation and avoiding known allergy triggers. The main goals are to restore normal breathing and preventing asthma attacks. Asthma treatments commonly involve inhalers that are the most preferred method by the doctors because it results in easier and direct reach of the drug into the lungs in smaller doses &lesser side effects. If the problem is serious, patient should speak with their doctor about how to manage their condition.

How to use an Asthma Inhaler?

Talk with your doctor and develop an emergency asthma action plan, particularly for the time of asthma attack. Make sure to use the inhaler correctly and carry it along all the time. If your asthma is not well controlled you might need to use the inhaler more than twice, and evidently, it’s not a good sign. consult your doctor to manage the condition.

Practice using your inhaler. Medicine works best if they are used correctly. Here are few steps that can help you use the inhaler correctly:

Prepare your inhaler:

Remove the cap. Check the mouthpiece, there should be nothing that blocks the ejection of medicine.
Shake the inhaler to mix the medicine present in it.
Hold the inhaler upright, with the mouthpiece pointing towards the mouth.

Time to breathe in the medicine:

Keep your mouth away from the mouthpiece, and take a long breath to clear your lungs.
Place the mouthpiece into the mouth and tighten your lips around the nozzle to form a seal and prevent the leakage of medicine
Start to breathe in slowly through your mouth it helps the medicine to get into your lungs.
Hold your breath for at least 5 seconds after following the previous step.
Gargle with warm water to remove any leftover medicine from your mouth and throat.

Take care of yourself. You can help the doctor in preparing an action plan for yourself.

The above information is just an educational help. It doesn’t aim towards advising individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, before following any medical regimen make sure it is safe and effective.

Symptoms Leading to Severe Heart Disease

February 15, 2018 Leave a comment

Cardiovascular diseases generally, refers to the conditions that involve blocked blood vessels leading to a heart related serious problems. Other heart conditions, affecting heart’s muscles, valves or rhythm, are being considered as heart disease. Our body always warns us about forthcoming health risks through different signals. We out of our ignorant towards these signals happen to miss out this indication which further leads to severe health risks in future. Some of these symptoms that our body indicates are as follows:

Chest Pain

Chest pain is the classic sign of a heart attack, yet many people take it as something very normal and not a medical emergency. If you suddenly feel pain in chest and you feel extremely uneasy. If it’s a heart attack, it’s usually described as a heaviness and a sort of constricting feeling.

Stomach Pain

There are various reasons for stomach pain, indigestion being one of them. But if you feel the perpetual urge to vomit and constant heartburn then there is something that should be bothered about. If you feel the risk of any heart issue then it is recommended to see a doctor and let the doctor diagnose the main reason for all the problems that you have been facing.

Feeling Exhausted and Sweaty

Sweating while you have been working out in the gym or because of the raised temperatures is nothing to worry about. But feeling exhausted abruptly along with chest pains is a sign that you should not be ignorant about. Consult your doctor as soon as possible.

Arm Pain

Many people will question how is arm pain associated with heart? but it is a fact that it can be a sign of a heart attack. If you have a heart pain that goes down the arm, especially the left arm, that it is more likely that the pain is related to heart more than any other health issue

Swollen Ankle

Swelling of ankles shouldn’t be ignored, especially if the ankles get huge, as it signals towards poor heart condition, but it is also very common and has lots of other causes. ankles. If you’re getting swollen ankles, and swelling isn’t subsiding then it is enough to fix an appointment with your doctor.

Irregular Heartbeat

If your heart is going very fast and jumping around erratically then it is extremely important to visit your doctor and get yourself diagnosed.

Heart diseases is a grievous and fatal health issue that should not be neglected. Always try to prevent heart problems by following the proper diet and proper work out. If still, you face any of the symptoms mentioned above don’t wait much to visit your doctor.

Pipl Health

Author: Abha Pal