Apr
24
Have you ever wondered why we have to grow old? When we make that great shift out of our teenage years into our twenties, most of the changes we encounter about growing older are good.
Whe we are in our twenties, growing older means a lot more freedom and a lot of adventure. Physically, we are at our peak of perfection.
In our thirties, we are starting to enjoy many of the benefits of growing older as we accumulate more wisdom and in most cases, continue to have a body and a brain that’s still in great shape.
But there comes a time, perhaps in our fifth decade, or in our sixth, when growing older starts to have some negative effects we don’t really like.
We may not be as physically fit as we used to be. We start to get sags and bags. We get aches and pains. We may be showing some forgetfulness.
Our beautiful perfection of youth is gone.
Why do we age?
Over the centuries, people have often wondered how it is that our bodies grow and develop from a tiny fertilized egg, to a newborn baby, to a young child, then a teenager and, finally, a young adult. A huge number of very complex changes within our bodies must happen perfectly in order to achieve this.
Once we grow into our adult perfection, why can’t we just stay there? Why do we have to age?
And can we stop it?
Doctors and scientists used to take aging for granted. Scientists used to think that because aging was a natural process, there was no need to investigate it.
Now, as increasing numbers of baby boomers are turning fifty, anxious to hang on to some semblance of youth, more and more research is being devoted to the topic of aging.
Scientists are trying to find out how and why we age, and they are investigating possible ways to slow down the aging process, or perhaps even stop it altogether.
If new ways are found to extend physical and mental health for the aging population, the benefits to society will be enormous.
Although all of us want to live a long time, none of us wants to spend our final years in physical pain or suffering from mental decline.
Scientists have been able to identify some of the factors that influence the process of aging, and new knowledge is accumulating at a rapid rate. Dozens of theories to explain aging have been proposed, but it seems that aging is a very complex, and several processes are interlinked.
Here are some of the current theories about why we age:
Hayflick Limit Theory
– Two scentists in the 1960s noticed that many human cells would divide a limited number of times, then stop. If the cells were well fed, they divided faster. Body cells may have a built-in genetic program that tells them not to reproduce anymore.
Free Radical Theory - Free radicals are molecules or atoms that have an unpaired electron. In order to be electrically balanced, these molecules or atoms will grab an electron from a nearby atom, thereby creating another free radical, eventually resulting in a cascading chain of damage to cells and organs.
Free radical formation may not account for all the symptoms of aging, but it probably does play an important part in accelerating cellular damage. Free radicals are unavoidable. They are an inevitable consequence of living in a physical body. However, there are steps we can take to slow down free radical damage, such as avoiding pollutants, and eating a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables.
The Telomere Theory – Telomeres are special types of chemicals that seem to have some ability to protect the chromosomes inside our cells. Every time our cells divide, the telemeres become shorter and less able to protect the chromosome. This may explain why the cells eventually become damaged and die. Scientists are currently trying to find out how to repair telomeres and stop the damage to the cells.
Glycation – When proteins in your body react with excess blood sugar, the proteins become damaged. This process is known as “glycation”. These sugar-damaged proteins may contribute to the breakdown of many other systems in the body. People who have diabetes or problems with insulin resistance are particularly vulnerable to glycation damage because of abnormalities in their blood sugar levels.
If it turns out to be true that glycation plays a major part in causing the negative effects of aging, we may be able to slow it down by making sure we avoid excess blood sugar levels.
Here are some other factors that play a part in aging:
· We experience a steep decline in hormone production in our later years
· Our body becomes less efficient at detoxifying
· The DNA in our cells becomes damaged
· A life time of exposure to stress and environmental toxins in our air, food and water overwhelms our body’s repair systems.
These are some of the explanations for why we age, but it’s not a complete picture. At the present time, we don’t yet know all the reasons for this process. And so far, there is no single magic bullet to stop it.
If scientists can learn how to slow down the process of aging, we will be able to spend many more happy years enjoying our lives while maintaining our peak of physical perfection.
And that’s something to look forward to!
Apr
24
Welcome to the Ab-solute Definition programme. A Super-effective programme of proven exercises for the abdominal muscles. The programme, if adhered to, will give you the results you desire in shaping your waistline, as well as blasting some of the old misconceptions about abdominal training.
The Ab-solute Definition programme is probably the best abs programme you’ll ever do.
Before we go any further, let’s just take a look at the role abs play on the overall “physique map” what having a rock hard, chiselled six packs of abs could mean for you.
There is an argument that argues that the abdominal muscles are the most important muscles in the human body!
Let’s take a look at that. The abs are used in every aspect of life. Standing, walking, working, as well as working out. Above all, it is this set of muscles that protects your inner digestive organs, the very organs responsible for nutrient absorption and distribution, the ones that make “the system” work. But let’s just look at the abs aesthetically. Imagine a bodybuilder whose arms, chest and shoulders are okay. You can tell that he works out, and yes he’s got pretty good muscular definition.
Now add a set of ripped abs to the scenario. See what we mean? For some reason having a ripped set of abs puts all of your other body parts into a much more favourable light. A good set of abs will make even a fairly average body look great.
Check out the classical sculptures by great artists of the past, such as Michaelangelo. Even check out the “body design” of famous superheroes (e.g. Spiderman, Superman). They all have fantastic abs.
Due to common stereotypes, one tends to assume that someone with a large fat protruding belly is probably a slob, not in control of his eating habits or his life (we’re not saying that this is the case, we’re saying that this is the stereotype).
On the other hand, a lean, defined midsection gives the aura of power and heroism.
So awesome abs are a big plus point to have on your personal physique map.
We’re not saying this so that you have an excuse to skimp on the rest of your body workout intensity. Far from it, we’re saying that by realizing the importance and benefits of this fantastic muscle group, you will give yourself the edge over other people who don’t have good abs, or want them and are going about it the wrong way.
THERE’S MORE? SURE THERE IS!
On average the super effective routines that you will find in Ab-solute Definition will only take five minutes of your time and as long as you don’t have too much fat around your waistline you’ll start seeing results in a couple of weeks.
Abs are probably the most responsive muscle group in the human body. Three sessions of the abdominal definition routine a week are enough to put you on the road to great results.
Furthermore, after the routines section, we have included extra ab exercises which you can later incorporate into your routine at will, keeping future ab workouts- fresh and shockingly effective.
AEROBICS
Aerobics are generally considered bad for people wishing to put on serious muscle mass, but this is really not the case, aerobics should be an intrinsic part of your training regime.
ANAEROBIC EXERCISE
Weight training for bodybuilding is classified as anaerobic exercise. This means “without oxygen”. The reason for this is that the exercise is so intense that the body cannot supply enough oxygen to the working muscles during the activity. This explains why, after an intense set you are Left out of breath.
Your body now has a negative oxygen supply, which is “refilled” during the rest between sets as you regain your breath.
The energy for anaerobic exercise is obtained by the body by burning glycogen, the body sugar found in the muscles, liver and bloodstream.
Due to the short duration and explosive nature of anaerobic exercise, the body is prohibited from tapping into its stores of fat for energy.
AEROBIC EXERCISE
Aerobic means “with oxygen” and refers to exercise done with a low to moderate intensity during which the body is still able to supply enough oxygen to the system while the activity is taking place.
Aerobic activities can therefore be sustained for a longer period of time. During aerobic exercise, the initial source of energy for the body is the glycogen stores, as these stores are depleted, the body begins to utilise body fat for its energy requirements.
AB-TRAINING NO-NOs
There follow some tips over what to avoid when training abdominal muscles:
1.Sit-ups: Don’t do them! Although traditional “wisdom” has long stated that the sit-up is a good ab. exercise, this is not the case.
Sit-ups and other similar movements (which involve arching the back) involve the psoas muscles (which run from the front of the Legs, through the pelvic area, to the lower back), and these exercises are useless for abdominal development work.
2. 0ver-speedy expectation of results.
3. Lack of discipline: giving up too early.
Points 2 & 3 are also important as they play a vital part in ensuring exercise programme fail!
All too often, people start a diet and fitness programme and expect to be in shape within a week. When this fails to happen (as, of course, it will), their dedication decreases and inevitably the programme fails.
To avoid this scenario, keep your discipline. Work out realistically-targeted goals and work at them. Try not to miss even one session (the routines take more than 10 minutes to perform), because missing one session will make it easier to miss the next, and so on.
Remember Edison’s words: “Genius is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration.” get ready to perspire!
AB-SOLUTE DEFINITION
The Ab-solute Definition programme is designed to isolate and work specific parts of the abdominal muscle group. The routines are put together in a specific order, which when adhered to will give fantastic results. There follows a description and “How To” section on all the exercises. Number of repetitions, durations etc. are listed in the relevant table afterwards.
WHEN TO TRAIN
Do your exercises on alternate days, and rest at weekends. IDEALLY, EXERCISE ON MONDAY/WEDNESDAY/FRIDAY = WEEKEND RELAX.
Remember, even on higher levels your complete workout will only take between 5¬-10 minutes!
Apr
24
How to Run Faster than a Three-Toed Sloth…
or…
Learn How to Run Faster than when I’m Lying on the Couch
“How to Run Faster?” is the WRONG question!!!
The philosophy we espouse at http://www.ordinaryrunner.com/ is “Running by Minutes” — a less intense attitude, and tailored for SUCCESS, not automatic failure!
Running by Minutes!
That’s it. It’s really very simple. It’s a bonanza of running for beginners!
The important thing:
Start slowly and build… Slowly and Consistenly!
Rather than being a slave to mileage logs, always trying to get in the right number of miles per day, even when you feel like your legs are made of Jello…
The Ordinary Runner simply puts in the MINUTES!
That way, if you feel great one day, you can run a little faster. (And if you feel like a slug, you can run a little slower.) Just run the number of minutes you have set for the day!
You still get your run in for the day, whether you feel great or feel lousy!
This is a much lower pressure approach to fitness, and much more enjoyable!
Remember when you were a kid…
… You could run! You did it all the time!
Running is natural. God made us to run!
That means you can learn to do it again! Just run!
You won’t have to worry about how to run faster…
… The more you run, the faster you’ll get, naturally!
It may have been a long time since you ran!
But that doesn’t mean you can’t do it again!
Just remember the most important thing:
JUST KEEP MOVING!
And don’t feel the pressure that you’ve got to run fast! Remember, you’re in the top 5% of people in the world if you just get out there and run, whether it’s slow…
… or even slower!
Here’s a 7-Week plan to get you started:
Running should be fun!!
Before I show you the plan for getting you started (a very simple plan, by the way), I should say this again…
The important thing is that you GET started…
And then…
Just KEEP MOVING!!
This plan is simple, and flexible. Follow it exactly or simply use it as a guideline, especially if you’re already exercising a little bit.
Start where you are, and don’t be embarrassed about it. Remember, with just a little time and consistency, you’ll be getting in shape, losing weight, feeling and looking better…
… And you’ll do it the healthy way, with your own work, not any cheap pills or diets!
If you haven’t run in years…
… don’t go out and run 30 minutes the first day. This is a SURE WAY to hurt yourself and end your running career before it begins!
7-Week Getting Started Plan:
See the full plan at(http://www.ordinaryrunner.com/running-get-started-plan.html).
Week 1:
Alternate 1 minute fast walk and 1 minute slow, for a total of 15 minutes. (5 days this week)
(If you want to, substitute a slow jog for the fast walk portion. Just be careful, and be realistic! Remember, patience and consistency are the keys!)
Week 2:
Alternate 3 minute fast walk and 1 minute slow, for a total of 15 minutes. (5 days this week)
Week 3:
Alternate 7 minute fast walk and 1 minute slow, for a total of 20 minutes. (Monday, Wednesday, Friday)
Alternate 1 minute slow jog and 1 minute slow walk, for a total of 15 minutes. (Tuesday, Saturday)
Week 4:
Alternate 2 minute jog and 1 minute slow walk, for a total of 20 minutes. (6 days this week)
Week 5:
Alternate 4 minute slow jog and 1 minute slow walk, for a total of (25 minutes Mon, Thur 20 minutes Tu, Wed, Sat)
Week 6:
Alternate 5 minute jog and 1 minute walk, for a total of 30 minutes. (6 days this week)
Week 7:
Alternate 7 minute jog and 1 minute walk, for a total of 35 minutes. (5 days this week)
At the end of this 7 week period, you will be losing weight and feeling better! You’ll be well on your way to fitness, and you’ll notice you can run longer and longer!
Once again… You’re just getting started! Being an Ordinary Runner is a lifestyle, and WON’T happen overnight.
This is not a “Get Skinny Quick” lie, like you see on infomercials. This is the real thing!
Just Keep Moving!!!
Kely Braswell has been running for 27 years! He’s not the fastest human on the earth… but he’s fit! He also developed Ordinary Runner (http://www.ordinaryrunner.com), simple advice on running for beginners and mere mortals!
Apr
24
If you’re a weight-training enthusiast, no doubt you know the benefits to be gained from building strong muscles. But, is cardio training part of your workout, too? If it’s not, you should consider adding it to your routine. Weight training paired with cardiovascular workouts provides a nearly perfect combination for keeping you fit and healthy. Let’s look at seven reasons to add cardio training to your workout.
Cardio training is good for your heart – The increased heart rate you will achieve during your cardio workout will improve the condition of your heart and lungs, by training your heart to pump more blood in fewer beats and your lungs to move more oxygen with less effort. The improvement you will gain in your cardiovascular health will reduce your risk of heart disease and improve your blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Aim for 30-60 minutes at least 3 days a week in order to achieve the best results for improving your heart.
Cardio training will help improve muscle mass – Yes, it’s true – You need strength training to gain muscle, but the thirty minutes you spend on those elliptical trainers will help improve your muscle mass, too, especially if you combine the two as part of an interval training program. By going back and forth between cardio training and weight training, you are working your muscles and then letting them relax several times during a workout, which will improve your ability to build that great toned look. In addition, regular aerobic exercise causes the capillaries in your muscles to grow, which helps them to remove waste, such as lactic acid, from your body more easily. This will help improve the health of your muscles, and reduce muscle soreness after your workout.
Cardio Training Burns Fat – Adding four thirty minute cardio sessions a week to your current training schedule will help you rev up your fat burning capability. The fat loss you will see will help your toned muscles be even more noticeable.
Cardio Training Revs Up Your Metabolism – In addition to the fat you will burn during your workout, regular cardiovascular training will boost your metabolism for hours after your workout, too, helping you to maximize fat loss all day long.
Your Immune System Can Improve – People who spend thirty minutes in cardiovascular exercise at
least three times a week are less likely to catch colds and other viral illnesses. It is believed that aerobic exercise improves your immune system, making it better able to fight off infection.
Your Mental State Will Improve – Cardio training causes your brain to release endorphins, the body’s natural high. Endorphins act as natural painkillers and stress reducers.
You Are Likely To Live Longer – The New England Journal of Medicine has found a direct link between regular exercise and longevity.
What Cardio Training Is Best?
So, now that I’ve convinced you that you need cardio training, just what kind of cardio training is best? Well, most experts agree that running provides the best aerobic exercise bang for the buck, in terms of fat burning. Plus, running strengthens your legs better than most other aerobic exercise. Another benefit is that, other than a good pair of shoes, no special equipment is required for running, and you can do it virtually anywhere. Experts recommend that you begin with 20-minute sessions and work your way up to 30-40 minute runs. However, running does have its disadvantages. It’s particularly hard on the knees, making it a difficult sport to continue, as you get older. There are several other cardiovascular exercises that provide great benefit for those of us who don’t handle running very well.
Elliptical trainers seem to be one of the best options for those whose knees can’t handle running. Elliptical machines provide the same great cardio benefit, but without all the stress on the knees. There are many great trainers to choose from, and you can find elliptical trainer reviews on many fitness websites.
Whatever type of cardiovascular training you choose, you are sure to see an increased benefit in your health and fitness by adding aerobic exercise to your regimen. With just a little extra effort added to your workout, you should see noticeable results in no time!
Mike Singh is a fitness instructor and writer, who
provides unbiased reviews of health/fitness products
for consumers looking for quality information.
Checkout the largest collection of elliptical machine reviews at http://www.elliptical-trainers-reviews.com
Apr
24
Statistics reveal that almost 58 million people in the United States are obese. Another fact that has not undergone as much research as this one is that an alarmingly high percentage of these people have also tried several weight loss programs. But most of them have been unsuccessful. Blame it on the faulty diet programs or the lack of determination, most people quit the diet programs midway itself.
Hence there is a serious requirement for high quality diet programs that can not only help you lose weight but also help you stay motivated enough. Zone Diet is just that. Zone diet is one of the most advanced weight loss diets to have ever been invented. The major difference of the diet program from others that claim to be the Holy Grail in dieting is that Zone diet is a lifestyle. It is not a program at all. It aims at bringing about controlled changes in your everyday living that will help you manage aging, lose weight and also improve your physical performance each day.
You will be eating a completely nutritious diet that includes the right a
mount of fats, proteins and Omega 3 acids. Once you get into the Zone as the lifestyle is called, losing weight will come naturally to you.
For the first time you will not be depriving yourself of your favorite foods. Provided that your balance is right, you can have even the tastiest foods in your everyday diet.
Combining this nutritious diet with some moderate exercise you will adapt this new lifestyle within no time at all. You will just be surprised at the new look that you see in the mirror. So the only thing that separates you from a total makeover is the zone. So what are you waiting for? Switch to zone diet today.
For more Information on Zone Diet visit http://www.chefsdiet.com .
Apr
24
According to eastern
medical theories it is believed that your hair’s situation is a suggestion of
your internal body system, and frailty in a person’s body tends to reflect into
symptoms such as premature gray hair and hair loss and premature gray hair. With
the craze of herbal products catching up with everyone, nature based hair loss treatment” target=”_blank”>hair loss treatment are on the look out
too.
Did you ever imagine about
having a herbal alternative for Propecia? Thanks to the research undertaken in
the field of hair care, you can now have access to herbal Propecia” target=”_blank”>herbal Propecia.
Natural of herbal Propecia
include:
- Saw palmetto from nectar of the berry
- Grape seed extract
- Green tea
- Fo ti Root or Ho shu wu
Saw palmetto from the nectar
of the berry is known for its benefit of enhancing prostate function in men and
stabilized androgen function women.
Grape Seed Extract (Procyanidin
oligomers) is naturally derived ingredients from grape seeds that have been revealed
to motivate hair growth. Grape seed extracts possess growth stimulus action
toward hair cells.
Catechins are the active components
in green tea leaves which have been revealed to have anti-androgen assets.
Fo ti Root or Ho shu wu is
a Chinese herb consequent of the dried roots of a Japanese evergreen referred
to as Polygonum multiflorum. Even though the definite biochemical procedure of
this root has yet to be identified, but it has proven that the root may include
complex which reduce levels of cholesterol, enhance immune function, augment formation
of red blood cell, lessen hardening of the arteries, and control antibacterial
action.
This herbal hair loss
treatment works by interrupting DHT (Dihydrotestosterone), which hinders the
normal act of the hair follicles in the scalp. This action DHT results varies
from the partial damage to absolute damage of hair follicles.
Decline in the production
of DHT consistently allows for prevention of further hair loss and promotes re-growth
in thinning and bald areas. It is noteworthy that the drug Propecia also works
by blocking 5-alpha reductase and reducing DHT levels.
Herbal Propecia is meant for
usage not only for men but also for women. Accessibility of herbal Propecia is
made easy with the emergence of online
pharmacies.
Apr
24
Shoulder tendonitis is the inflammation of the tendons around the shoulder’s rotator cuff and upper bicep area. Shoulder tendonitis is usually developed by sports and activities that require you to lift your hands above your head repeatedly. Common activities that often lead to shoulder tendonitis are strength training (bodybuilding), some certain swimming strokes, racket sports like squash and tennis, cricket and any manual job that requires lifting of items over the shoulders.
The early symptoms of shoulder tendonitis include some light pain in the area where the upper bicep meets the shoulder and possibly some light swelling and tenderness. Usually the pain only occurs when the shoulder is under pressure. As the tendonitis develops the pain will occur at any time of the day or night, even when you are sleeping. The area where the pain occurs will get larger often encompassing the entire rotator cuff area and in some cases the upper bicep. Movement of the shoulder will be very restricted often painful.
So how do you know if you are developing shoulder tendonitis? As mentioned above, the first sign of tendonitis developing is the pain in the shoulder when it’s under pressure. If you feel a pain in your shoulder when you are lifting heavy weights and playing sport this is usually a sign that tendonitis is developing.
The first (and most obvious) step to take is stop doing whatever activity is causing the pain in your shoulder. We recommend that you stop this activity for at least one week. After that week, you should attempt lifting some very light weights to see if the pain is still occurring. If the pain does not occur, then it is likely that you simply strained your shoulder muscle or in more serious cases damaged the tendon temporarily. In this case you should ease back into the activity. If the pain does occur, it is likely that you have developed mild shoulder tendonitis.
Now that you have identified that you have tendonitis in your shoulder you must rest it once again. This time rest it for about three weeks. During this three week period you should not partake in any activity that may strain your shoulder. This includes light lifting and sports.
After that three weeks is up it is time to start to strengthen the shoulder to prevent the tendonitis. There are several light exercises that you can do strengthen your shoulder muscles and tendons. You should start with very light weights, 1kg should be about right for males and .5kg for females.
Start by holding the weight in your right hand with your palm facing your body. Keeping your arm straight raise the weight straight out in front of you until it is at shoulder height. Repeat this exercise for twenty repetitions. Repeat for your left hand. Now get the same weight and instead of moving it out to your front move it out to your side. Keep your arm straight and do this exercise for twenty repetitions. Repeat for your left arm.
If you feel any pain during these exercises it is time to go and see your doctor or physician. It is possible that your shoulder tendonitis may require further treatment. See links at the bottom of this page for details.
If these exercises do not bring back the pain in your shoulder you are on the road to recovery. You should do these exercises every day for one to two weeks. You may increase the weight slightly if the exercises are feeling too easy for you. But remember now to overdo it.
So in about four to five weeks you should be able to get back into the sport, exercise or activity that caused your shoulder pain. You should always ease back into exercise. Make sure you warm up and stretch your shoulder for about ten minutes before and after the activity.
Remember, shoulder tendonitis can be permanent, but it also can be treated relatively easily without medication. Many people get inpatient and do not give the shoulder sufficient rest time or recovery time before attempting a possibly straining activity. If you do not rest and strengthen your shoulder correctly there is a large possibility that shoulder tendonitis will develop again. If you shoulder pain does reoccur you should see professional advice from your doctor physician.
Apr
23
Stress and anxiety are things anyone and everyone has to deal with. The mental stresses and pressures placed upon the typical human being by modern civilization is a price that must be paid to live within the social strata we have now. It is understandable for people to have to bear with stress and pressure, to need to develop the mental tools to adapt to their culture and working environment, but for some, the burden is too great to bear. The human mind is a sensitive instrument, a computer program that has algorithms and protocols that can be stretched to a breaking point. The average person either has the capacity to deal with the stress and anxiety inherent to the modern world, but others are not so lucky. It has been suggested that, more than any era on record, the world we live in today has a sizable percentage of the population that is incurably mad.
Indeed, the stress and anxiety being pressed upon people can stretch less adapted minds to the breaking point. Apart from conforming to social norms, one also has to deal with the culture of work, the demands placed upon one’s gender, the social duties one has, and the conflicting need to fit in while retaining one’s individuality at the same time. This incredible amount of stress and anxiety, when combined with some personalities or mentalities, can result in someone that has embraced madness. In many ways, being utterly insane is a way to escape the stress and anxiety that society, work, and culture press upon a person. It is an unusual sight, but it is not impossible to see someone who has become so stressed out by events in his life that he can find himself having a complex philosophical debate with a stop sign.
As was once said by the comic book character The Joker, all it really takes for someone to go crazy was one “really bad day.” Unfortunately, when one takes everything into context and considers the thousands of layers that one has to navigate on a daily basis, the possibility of at least one person in the world having that “really bad day” is relatively high. There is no specific combination that can lead to this, nor is there any specific personality profile that is more prone to just snapping. The fact is, this is all based heavily on circumstance and luck. For some, it will only take a single event in that person’s life to make a difference, to cause a significant enough change that his mind can no longer handle the strain. For others, it would take him being served divorce papers, losing his job, learning he has cancer, being robbed blind in the middle of the street, and learning his youngest daughter just died for him to “lose it.”
The modern era, according to some analysts, is structured with so many complications and duties for a single individual that going completely insane is not that far-fetched. However, it is distinctly possible that insanity is a long-term development. People in the workplace or within some social circles may be slowly developing insanity in some form or another, but lack that single, defining moment to trigger the nervous breakdown. The emergence of insanity does not always have to be instantaneous, as the degradation of one’s “sanity” can be a slow process that can last a lifetime, requiring only a single event to open the proverbial door to the psychological point of no return.
Apr
23
Diabetes mellitus is defined as a fasting blood glucose of 126 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or more. “Pre-diabetes” is a condition in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not yet diabetic. Diabetes can cause many complications. Acute complications (hypoglycemia, ketoacidosis or nonketotic hyperosmolar coma) may occur if the disease is not adequately controlled. Serious long-term complications include cardiovascular disease (doubled risk), chronic renal failure (diabetic nephropathy is the main cause of dialysis in developed world adults), retinal damage (which can lead to blindness and is the most significant cause of adult blindness in the non-elderly in the developed world), nerve damage (of several kinds), and microvascular damage, which may cause erectile dysfunction (impotence) and poor healing. Poor healing of wounds, particularly of the feet, can lead to gangrene which can require amputation — the leading cause of non-traumatic amputation in adults in the developed world.
Diabetes is the third leading cause of death in the United States after heart disease and cancer. Over time, diabetes can lead to blindness, kidney failure, and nerve damage. These types of damage are the result of damage to small vessels, referred to as microvascular disease. Diabetes is also an important factor in accelerating the hardening and nar
rowing of the arteries (atherosclerosis), leading to strokes, coronary heart disease, and other large blood vessel diseases. This is referred to as macrovascular disease. Diabetes affects approximately 17 million people (about 8% of the population) in the United States. In addition, an estimated additional 12 million people in the United States have diabetes and don’t even know it. Normally, blood glucose levels are tightly controlled by insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas. Insulin lowers the blood glucose level.
Non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM)—is due to a combination of defective insulin secretion and insulin resistance or reduced insulin sensitivity (defective responsiveness of tissues to insulin), which almost certainly involves the insulin receptor in cell membranes. In the early stage the predominant abnormality is reduced insulin sensitivity, characterized by elevated levels of insulin in the blood. Gestational diabetes also involves a combination of inadequate insulin secretion It develops during pregnancy and may improve or disappear after delivery. Even though it may be transient, gestational diabetes may damage the health of the fetus or mother, and about 20%–50% of women with gestational diabetes develop type 2 diabetes later in life.Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) occurs in about 2%–5% of all pregnancies.
Apr
23
Alzheimer’s is a very serious brain disease that attacks the parts of the brain responsible for the creation of memory and for thinking.
As the disease progresses, more and more parts of the brain become affected. The patient loses the ability to live independently, and the sense of self and identity disappears. Eventually the patient dies.
Alzheimer’s is not the only disease that causes dementia, but it is probably the best known to the general public.
When Alzheimer’s strikes someone, we watch as the person afflicted slowly fades away in front of us, and eventually disappears to a place where they can’t be reached.
We may personally know people, who have been afflicted by Alzheimer’s disease. We may have visited a nursing home where many of the elderly residents sat staring blankly and unaware. We shuddered inwardly, thinking, “I hope that never happens to me.”
Part of the reason we fear this disease so much is because it is so mysterious. We don’t know what causes Alzheimer’s. We don’t know how to cure it. We don’t even have a surefire test to diagnose Alzheimer’s while the victim is still alive.
The incidence of Alzheimer’s disease tends to get higher as the population ages. In the age group 65-75, approximately four per cent of the population may be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. In the age group of 85 years or older, about 50% of the population has Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s disease is a growing problem all over the world because the population in most countries is growing older and older on average. In many countries, more and more people are surviving to the age where the incidence of the disease becomes more common.
At the present time, up to four million North Americans are believed to be affected by Alzheimer’s disease. In twenty years, that number may go up to ten million. India has the some of the lowest rates of Alzheimer’s in the world, but scientists don’t know why the rate of the disease in India is so low.
Alzheimer’s disease is named after Dr. Alois Alzheimer who studied and described this disease in Germany in the early years of the twentieth century. Dr. Alzheimer was the first to discover and analyze the massive destruction of brain cells in a middle-aged woman who had been stricken with dementia and eventually died from it.
When Dr. Alzheimer studied this woman’s brain after she died, he noticed that her brain was filled with microscopic plaques and tangles. These plaques and tangles had
killed her brain cells.
The disease starts out with small lapses in the ability to make and retrieve short-term memories
. With this comes a decline in the ability to reason and the ability to concentrate. The person affected may forget the names of familiar objects, or get lost in a familiar place. Personality changes may become apparent.
This decline in mental processing happens because of the destruction of brain cells that are needed to form and retrieve memories. At the same time, there is a progressive decline in the brain’s supply of neurotransmitters required to carry messages from one brain cell to another.
In the initial stages, it is very hard to differentiate Alzheimer’s disease from other types of memory loss.
As the disease progresses, more and more brain cells die. Memory test scores may decline by 10 to 15% each year. Eventually, the patient will have difficulty performing the simplest actions required for daily living. The vocabulary dwindles to a few dozen words, then disappears altogether. Friends and family will not be recognized. The “self” fades away.
In the final stages, the patient will be completely unable to look after herself, unable to feed, walk or control the bladder and bowel. Death often occurs from pneumonia or infection.
Alzheimer’s may strike people in their twenties, but is very rare in that age group. It becomes increasingly common with advanced aging. As women tend to live longer than men by several years, they are more likely to live long enough to be afflicted with Alzheimer’s.
From the initial diagnosis to the time of death may be a period of seven to twenty years. The toll of the disease on the family and on society is very high.
Unless a cure is found soon, the costs of institutionalizing those millions who will fall victim to Alzheimer’s in the coming decades will consume many billions of dollars.
The toll on the families of those afflicted is very high. For the person who is afflicted with this disease, the loss of memory, of thinking ability, of the personal sense of self is the greatest tragedy of all.
What is the cause of Alzheimer’s disease? Is the cause genetic? Is it environmental? Is Alzheimer’s caused by a virus? Does Alzheimer’s have only
=EN-US style="COLOR: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US">one cause, or are there many contributing factors? Will a cure for Alzheimer’s be discovered?
These are questions that scientists are racing to answer.
← Previous Page — Next Page →