X-ray Image of a an Arthritic Hand

Arthritis is a pain in the joints of your body such as knee, elbow, wrist etc. where two bones join and meet each other. The very word “Artho” in greek refers to Joint. Anyone who has problems in movement around the joints, inflammation, swelling or warm and red then you have a serious problem. You need to get yourself examined. A diagnosis of the arthritis can be done either by X-ray or Blood tests in the affected joints. This can tell if one is likely to have arthritis.

Arthritis is not just one disease. It is a group of conditions that create problems and complications to the joints in our body.

Types Of Arthritis

There are almost 100 types of arthritis known to be existed. The most one of all the arthritis is the Osteoarthritis, which might be due to injury or aging and Rheumatoid Arthritis occurs when your own immune system attacks your tissues.  The most common myth is that people think, arthritis is a disease for old aged people. But let me tell you, Arthritis can affect anyone at any stage. Let me tell you some of the primary forms of arthritis which if left unattented can lead to too many complications thereby giving way for secondary forms of arthritis.

Types Of Primary Forms

• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Osteo Arthritis
• Septic Arthritis
• Juvenile Arthritis
• Gout and Pseudogout Arthritis
• Ankylosing spondylitis

Symptoms Of Arthritis

A symptom is the only way for our body to communicates with us if anything goes wrong. So you got to be alert and react accordingly. The following are the common symptoms of Arthris.

• Joint Pain
• Joint Swelling
• Joint Inflammation
• Restricted movement of the joints
• Redness and tenderness surrounding the Joints
• Joint Stiffnes
• Joint locking
• Other symptoms include fever, rashes, loss in weight etc.

Treating Arthritis

The bitter truth about Arthitis is that, there is no cure for this dreaded joint disease. However, the pain in the joint can be treated and can be releaved temporarily. Arthritis can be treated the following ways

• Relaxation of your joints by various exercises
• The right diet and medication
• The intake of essential fatty acids especially Omega 6 fatty acid, which has anti-inflammatory properties can be used for treating arthritis.
• Physiotherapy is yet another natural way of treating this disease.

Do not have a slack approach towards your health. Stay fit and Take Care!

Learn it from an Orthopedic Surgeon on “What is Arthritis?”

Diabetes – Are you in Control???

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a state where the human body does not produce insulin or not properly utilized, that is required to absorb glucose into the cells for energy generation. The insulin is a hormone produced in the pancreas plays a vital role in using the glucose that is stored in the body which is given out in the form of energy.

When this insulin is not produced, all the glucose gets accumulated thereby creating problems of increased blood sugar or glucose levels.

Types of Diabetes

There are different types of diabetes that can possibly affect the human body. The major ones are

1. Type 1 Diabetes
2. Type 2 Diabetes
3. Gestational Diabetes

The Type 1 Diabetes also known as Juvenile Diabetes. The juvenile Diabetes is an auto – immune disorder which is found in children or likely to happen from childhood. The type 1 Diabetic has to be totally dependent on insulin. The type 1 diabetic cannot produce insulin in the pancreas and so they are insulin dependent. A hereditary problem can also be cause for a juvenile diabetes. Possibilities are to develop thyroid problems.

The Type 2 Diabetes is a condition where in at one stage of your life you develop a state when your body cannot produce insulin or does not properly utilize the insulin. In a Type 2 diabetic, the breakdown of glucose is stopped and the body takes up the food you eat to produce energy. This results in loss of weight. This is the first symptom for type 2 diabetes.

The Gestational Diabetes is found mostly in pregnant women. Women who have not faced a problem of diabetes can undergo during pregnancy. This might be dangerous to both the mother and the fetus.

Keep a constant check on your sugar levels and stay healthy.

Check out this Video on “What is Diabetes?”

Heart Disease – Prevent and stay away so as to stay close with your loved ones

Importance of the HUMAN HEART

The Heart is the most vital organ in the Human Body. It’s a muscular organ that pumps blood throughout the blood vessels thereby providing oxygen and other nutrients all over the body. The Human Heart weighs 300g to 350g in Male and 250g to 300g in Female. The Human heart has an average of 72 beats per minute. If this pumping stops, it will cease your life. The common factor in all the major heart diseases is that, in one way or the other it ceases the pumping of the heart. So try to keep your nervous system calm and cool to avoid Blood pressure as it is the major cause for all the Heart Diseases. People with high blood Pressure are likely to be prone to such diseases.

Heart Disease – Are you Aware of them???

The Heart Disease has become the major cause of death in the United States. The high death rate is due to this dreadful disease. There are different types and forms  of heart diseases that can affect the pumping of the blood throughout our body. Some of them are

• Heart Failure
• Coronary Artery Disease
• Cardiovascular Disease
• Cardiomyopathy
• Hypertensive Disease
• Valvular Heart Disease
• Inflammatory Heart Disease

Reducing the Risk of Heart Diseases

Though there are various dreadful diseases one such to mention is the heart Diseases, you can always try to minimize the risk of happening by taking the following steps into consideration

• Eat healthy and nutritious food
• Strictly say NO to high cholesterol food
• Avoid fatty junk food
• Makes some alterations in your lifestyle to lead a long life
• Try to include more of fruits and veggies in your food
• Quit Smoking now. Do not think of it.
• Try to limit your alcohol intake which can save your life
• Workout to get rid of all prevailing heart diseases
• And most of all, calm down, relax and stay cool as Blood pressure is the easier way to take you close to this dreadful disease.

Keep yourself fit and fine to enjoy your life with your loved ones!!!

Swine Influenza – Not just an ordinary Flu but has become a Life threatening one

The Swine Influenza also known as “Swine flu“, “Pig flu” or “Hog flu” is generally endemic in Pigs. The swine influenza virus (SIV) is a chain of viruses – Influenza A, and C that are endemic in swine. However, this has so far infected two different species viz. Pigs and Humans. The transmission can either  happen between

• Pigs to Pigs
• Pigs to Human
• Human to Human

The swine flu is the most common disease among the Pig species. However, the transmission of this flu from ”Pigs to Human” is an uncommon one. The SIV that has affected the humans is the Swine Influenza A which is further sub divided into H1N1, H1N2, H3N1 and H2N3. The H1N1 swine flu virus also termed as novel H1N1 is a new type of virus sub categorized under Swine influenza A type which has affected the humans recently on April 2009 globally.

People who work closely with pigs are now likely to be affected by this kind of flu. The first affected human groups were from U.S (especially North America) and Mexico.

Swine Influenza Symptoms – The Common Symptoms one should look for and get treated immediately

A zoonotic Flu is referred to as when the transmission happens between Pigs to Humans. But the 2009 Swine influenza cannot be termed as a Zoonotic one as the transmission was between humans to humans. The following are the symptoms one should look for if any individual feels they are likely to be affected by Swine Flu

• Cough
• Common Cold
• Fever
• Sore Throat
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Body ache
• Headache etc.

However, a Swine Flu can become fatal if the above symptoms prolongs for a week or so. It can lead to death if constant Vomiting or Diarrhea exists thereby causing Dehydration, a high fever can also become fatal leading to neurological Problems etc.

“PREVENTION” Is Better Than Cure

A swine flu can be prevented from being transmitted from humans to humans in the following ways and methods. Every individual should take extra care in keeping yourself and your loved ones away from this disease. Please follow the below to stay away from the Swine Flu.

• Isolate the affected ones
• Try not to go near the affected people
• Close your mouth when the affected ones are sneezing or coughing as the virus might spread easily
• Wash your hands often
• Washing hands with alcohol based liquid soaps is highly effective as they destroy the bacteria and the germs.
• Do not have close contact with your nose or mouth when you know that your hands might contain the flu

The Swine flu is not transmitted through food. So eating pork is no harm.

BEWARE!!! Individuals with a weak immune system have a better chance of getting affected. Take Care and Stay protected.