How to be happy and healthy?

Want to be happy and healthy? We have some good news for you!
Keeping is not difficult as you may think. There are a few things that will make you happy.

Healthy lifestyle means

•  exercise regularly
• eat healthy
• reduce stress
• drink plenty of water

Was that simple? Yes. Is this effective? Yes!! :)

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We all are concerned about our health from time to time. This is totally normal. Sometimes we feel good and sometimes miserable. It's important to know when someting really bad is happening.
Reading medical articles can help you understand and learn about your health, fitness and what you should do to feel better.
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Anorexia nervosa – why does eating disorder occur?

What is Anorexia nervosa ? 

An eating disorder that is clearly symptomized by weight loss and distorted body perception. The sheer fear of weight gain restricts the patient, mostly women, from consuming a diet level necessary for a healthy living. 

Sypmtoms: 

The following symptoms should help you understand if you fall under this category of disorder: 

• Low body weight almost malnutritioned. Also termed as low body mass. 
• Inappropriate eating habits 
• Obsessed with skinniness 
• Fearful of gaining weight
• Opposite self  image of oneself , even if he seems underfed. 
• Hunger strokes felt due to the increase of hunger hormone but continuous denial and deprivation of food.
• Hair loss or hair growth on the face and body. 
• Purging : use of drugs to induce vomiting of any consumed calories 
• Strenuous exercise

Medical Diagnosis: 

The lack of food may drop the level of potassium significantly and cause abnormal heart rate, muscle damage or paralysis. Besides physical a mental disorder occurs in the form of depression and loneliness. The salivary glands may inflate due to excessive vomiting.  Diagnosis begins with the identification of first psychiatric and then psychological symptoms.  

Other reasons: 

Research suggests that Anorexia Nervosa may be due to biological or sociological reasons. 

Consequences:  

Contradictory to what most women may think of the complications of anorexia nervosa, it may have serious consequences especially if it inhibits the growth of muscles, bones. Let’s consider a few: 

• Growth retardation: Lack of food will result in a short height. 
• Pubertal delay or arrest: The growth hormones from the pituitary glands are disabled due to deprivation of food. 
• Low bone mass 
• Hepatic Steatosis: fatty infiltration of the liver. 
• Neurological disorder : seizures or tremors 
• Death: the worst consequence can be death specifically due to the psychological reasons. 

Treatment: 

Till date the best treatment for Anorexia Nervosa is the restoration of a healthy weight and undergoing a psychological therapy. Intake of medicine can also catalyze the weight gain process. The family unit plays the most important role in negating the fear and anti-social syndromes. 

Allergic rhinitis – how to deal with nasal allergy?

Allergic rhinitis is a common kind of allergy mostly found among children. This allergy is caused by the  swelling of the inside lining in the nose.  

Causes :  

The allergy develops with the contraction of viral allergens which may be seasonal or year around. Seasonal allergens appear with the change of weather while the year-around allergens are present indoor in the form of dust, pets fleeces and molds. 

Clinical feature : 

The first symptom of the allergy is the congestion of the nose which inhibits the air supply. Other symptoms of the Rhinitis are : 

• Watery discharges
• Itching 
• Irritation in the eyes
• Fever, sneezing  

Treatment: 

Oral medications can serve as an immediate relief but a skin testing should be conducted to identify the allergens. The indoor allergens can be removed by spraying around the room. While with a drug thereapy medicines should be taken two to three times a day. Other examples include sedation and nasal spray . 

It is an allergy mostly common in children but dealing with this nasal allergy is quite simple and quick. 

What are the early symptoms of autism?

Autism in children is characterized by the inability to socially interact, communicate or to behave in a repetitive manner.  Autism is usually detected in the early months or years of life. In some cases children may lose their language skills that had been acquired previously. Let’s understand some common symptoms of Autism: 

Social Skills: 

• Unresponsive to his name or to others’ feeling or emotion
• Avoids eye contact  
• Prefers staying alone 

Language: 

• Unable or slow in speaking. Some may have a different rhythm of speaking.  
• Unaware of when to converse 
• Unable to follow simple directions 
• Repeats words without knowing the meaning. 
  

Behavior: 

• Repeatedly moves or harms himself  
• Fascinated by tiny details and loses focus on the larger picture 
• Sensitive to change, light or noise  

The early years of development are the toughest for autism patients. With the passage of time some children do overcome their weaknesses by learning and understanding their peers. On the other hand some children either don’t recover or get worse. Some Autism patients are highly intelligent but only lack the ability to communicate.

Diagnosis: 

Parents must be fully aware of their children’ development specifically during the first year. Doctors recommend development tests based on the following symptoms: 

• Responsiveness to emotion 
• Mimicry of sounds or expressions
• Movement or gesture making 
• Speech  

Though this inability cannot be overcome entirely but certain types of drug and behavioral therapy can help improve the situation. Family support and encouragement at home will help Autistic children feel normal and improve the situation.   

Does Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome affect fertility

To understand the effect of the Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome on fertility I will first explain the purpose of the two ovaries present in the pelvis. Under normal circumstances the ovaries must produce hormones and an ovum with the menstrual cycle for the fertility of the eggs. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome however is the formation of a cyst(s) in these ovaries. 

Causes: 

Scientific research suggests that the main cause of the Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is genetic. There are 50% chance of inheriting the predisposing genetic variant(s). Secondly, harmonal imbalance. In this case the ovaries over produces androgens, which is also produced in men. This over production of androgen inhibits the release of eggs during ovulation. The other reason of the over production in androgen is the high level of insulin. 

Sign and symptoms : 

• Menstrual disorder: Less or no menstruation 
• Infertility : lack of ovulation
• Masculinity Hormones: Acne, dandruff , Baldness or male pattern baldness 
•  Metabolic Syndrome: abdominal obesity
• Pelvic pain 
• Patches in Skin 
• Weight gain 

Treatment: 

The cure for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is to manage it. Lets begin with the easier steps:

• Lifestyle modicficcation:Try to eat healthy and exercise as much as possible. Try to control your weight.Avoid sugar and increase  the intake of whole grain food, vegetables and meat. 
• Birth control pills:This is helpful to control the menstrual cycle and may clear acne. 
• Diabetes : Pills the way insulin controls blood sugar and lowers testosterone production. 
• Fertility : Stimulate ovulation to become pregnant.
• Surgery: Ovarian drilling, to increase the chance of ovulation. 

In Pregnant women the Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome can lead to miscarriage, diabetes, premature delivery and further more complications like heart attack, sleep apnea and endometrial cancer. 

What are the symptoms of Andropause?

A deficient level of male hormone called the testosterone is called Andropause or the male menopause. This common condition is witnessed in men at the age of 30 and above and is a gradual shortage that occurs @10 per annum.  

Causes: 

The most basic cause of andropause is not only the reduction of testosterone but also the increase of SHBG(Sex hormone-binding globulin). SHGB binds the testosterone in the blood and makes it inactive/useless for the body. Evident mood swings and fatigue by the patients are alos the result of low stimulation of tissues. Furthermore, patients involved in obesity, diabetes, hypertension, chronic disease are at a higher risk of developing andropause. 

Symptoms:  

The symptoms of Andropause vary and often times can be confused with hypogonadism which is due to diseases of the testes, the pituitary or the hypothalamus.Other common symptoms are listed as: 

• lack of interest in sex  

• difficulty in erections 

• lack of energy

• depression 

• irritability and mood swings

• memory lapses

• nervousness

• fatigue and inability to get adequate sleep

• brittleness of bones due to osteoporosis 

• increased risk of heart disease

Management and Treatment

Testosterone replacement therapy has proven to be the most effective means of treatment. Based on convenience and sensitivity various forms like capsules, skin patches, gels, and injections are used. The following summarizes the different methods: 

• Oral testosterone:The side effects include  jaundice and liver tumors. Hence patient already with liver conditions must avoid this. 
• Test injections: An oily preparation of testosterone is used as it has a longer duration of action. It is injected into the muscles every 2 to 4 weeks.
• Skin patch: The effect of the skin patch skin is visible after 4-12 hours but may cause some irritation 
• Gel: A calculated dose depending upon the diagnosis is applied. This method has been recognized as  Easy and convenient. 

Men should proactively consult doctors when they notice the symptoms. In addition to the test therapy;easier means such stress reduction exercise, meditation and good nutrition can significantly improve the condition