Excessive body weight is associated with various diseases, particularly cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus type 2, obstructive sleep apnea, certain types of cancer, and osteoarthritis.^[2][3] As a result, obesity has been found to reduce life expectancy.^[3] The primary treatment for obesity is dieting and physical exercise. If this fails, anti-obesity drugs and (in severe cases) bariatric surgery can be tried.^[2][4]

Obesity arises from too much energy intake compared with a person’s basal metabolic rate and level of physical exercise. Excessive caloric intake and a lack of physical activity in genetically susceptible individuals is thought to explain most cases of obesity, with purely genetic, medical, or psychiatric illness contributing to only a limited number of cases. With rates of adult and childhood obesity increasing, authorities view it as a serious public health problem.^[4]

Although obesity is often stigmatized in the modern Western world, it has been perceived as a symbol of wealth and fertility at other times in history.

An obese male. Weight 146 kg/322 lbs, height 177 cm/5 ft 10 in. The body mass index is 46 kg/m².

The presence of risk factors and diseases associated with obesity are also used to establish a clinical diagnosis. Coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and sleep apnea are possible complications that would indicate a need to commence or intensify treatment for obesity.^[2] Smoking, high blood pressure, age and family history are other risk factors that, in combination with obesity, may indicate an additional reason for treatment.

A large number of physical and mental conditions have been associated with obesity.

Health consequences can be categorized by the effects of increased fat mass (osteoarthritis, obstructive sleep apnea, social stigmatization) or by the increased number of fat cells (diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease).

Parkinson’s Disease is a slowly progressive disorder of the central nervous system that affects movement, muscle control and balance. Although the exact cause of Parkinson’s Disease is unknown, research has concentrated on genetics, environmental toxins, endogenous toxins and viral infection.

In Parkinson’s, cells are destroyed in part of the brain stem – the substantia nigra, which sends out fibers to the corpus stratia, gray and white bands of tissue in both sides of the brain. Cells there release dopamine, one of three major neurotransmitters (chemical messengers) which help the body respond to stress. By the time symptoms develop, patients have lost 80 to 90 percent of their dopamine-producing cells.

Symptoms include tremors, slowed movement and postural instability. Other features include rigidity, flexed posture, freezing phenomenon and loss of postural reflexes. Patients can experience depression, sleep disturbances, dizziness and problems with speech, swallowing and sexual functioning.

Since medications and other conditions can cause Parkinson’s-like neurologic symptoms, diagnosis is critical and misdiagnosis is frequent. Medical science lacks an accurate blood or imaging diagnostic test for Parkinson’s, though tests can exclude other conditions. Diagnosis is based on an evaluation of symptoms best accomplished by a Parkinson’s specialist.

The progression of the disease varies from individual to individual, so treatment is also individualized. Treatment focuses on relieving disabilities while minimizing side effects of medications. While there is no cure, therapies can minimize symptoms and maximize function and quality of life.

The usual treatment is a combination of levodopa and carbidopa (Sinemet). Levodopa, which treats neurochemical abnormality, revolutionized treatment. However, over the years, its effectiveness can decline and its side effects, such as motor complications, can increase. Adjusted dosage can help but additional medications may be required. Because of levodopa’s complexities, young people with Parkinson’s often start with other treatments, reserving levodopa for later in the disease. Patients have other treatment options, including surgery. Transcranial magnetic stimulation is also being studied.

Parkinson’s can impair quality and length of life, so its diagnosis and symptoms can devastate an individual and family, and patients often face depression. However, excellent physical therapies, and educational and support resources are available. Research is steadily improving quality of life and symptom control.

The MediFocus Guidebook on Parkinson’s Disease contains information that is vital to anyone who has been diagnosed with this condition.

You will learn about the causes, risk factors, common signs and symptoms, medical tests that are used to establish the diagnosis, and standard treatments. You will also learn about the latest clinical advances in the management of Parkinson’s Disease as well as about the newest treatment options that are available.

The MediFocus Guidebook on Parkinson’s Disease will also inform you about important new, exciting research in the area of Parkinson’s Disease. You will also learn about the doctors, hospitals, and medical centers that are at the leading edge in conducting clinical research about Parkinson’s Disease.

Information about clinical trials, quality of life issues, a list of questions to ask your doctor, and a useful directory of organizations and support groups that can help patients with Parkinson’s Disease complete this valuable Guidebook.

You won’t find this combination of information anywhere else. It is easily accessible right here. We invite you to preview the MediFocus Guidebook on Parkinson’s Disease so that you can decide if this comprehensive, trustworthy information may help you or someone you care about who has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease.

Asthma was long considered a psychosomatic disease, and

… during the 1930s–50s, was even known as one of the ‘holy seven’ psychosomatic illnesses. At that time, psychoanalytic theories described the aetiology of asthma as psychological, with treatment often primarily involving psychoanalysis and other ‘talking cures’. As the asthmatic wheeze was interpreted as the child’s suppressed cry for his or her mother, psychoanalysts viewed the treatment of depression as especially important for individuals with asthma.

Asthma is a chronic condition involving the respiratory system in which the airways occasionally constrict, become inflamed, and are lined with excessive amounts of mucus, often in response to one or more triggers.^[1] These episodes may be triggered by such things as exposure to an environmental stimulant such as an allergen, environmental tobacco smoke, cold or warm air, perfume, pet dander, moist air, exercise or exertion, or emotional stress. In children, the most common triggers are viral illnesses such as those that cause the common cold.^[2] This airway narrowing causes symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing. The airway constriction responds to bronchodilators. Between episodes, most patients feel well but can have mild symptoms and they may remain short of breath after exercise for longer periods of time than the unaffected individual. The symptoms of asthma, which can range from mild to life threatening, can usually be controlled with a combination of drugs and environmental changes.

Public attention in the developed world has recently focused on asthma because of its rapidly increasing prevalence, affecting up to one in four urban children.

Some or all of the following symptoms may be present in those with asthma: dyspnea, wheezing, stridor, coughing, a tightness and itching of the chest or an inability for physical exertion. Some asthmatics who have severe shortness of breath and tightening of the lungs never wheeze or have stridor and their symptoms may be confused with a COPD-type disease.

Asthma is caused by a complex interaction of environmental and genetic factors that researchers do not yet fully understand.Over 100 genes have been associated with asthma in at least one genetic association study.

In asthma, constriction of the airways occurs due to bronchoconstriction and bronchial inflammation. Bronchoconstriction is the narrowing of the airways in the lungs due to the tightening of surrounding smooth muscle. Bronchial inflammation also causes narrowing due to edema and swelling caused by an immune response to allergens.

Asthma is defined simply as reversible airway obstruction. Reversibility occurs either spontaneously or with treatment.

Current treatment protocols recommend prevention medications such as an inhaled corticosteroid, which helps to suppress inflammation and reduces the swelling of the lining of the airways, in anyone who has frequent (greater than twice a week) need of relievers or who has severe symptoms. If symptoms persist, additional preventive drugs are added until the asthma is controlled. With the proper use of prevention drugs, asthmatics can avoid the complications that result from overuse of relief medications.

The most effective treatment for asthma is identifying triggers, such as pets or aspirin, and limiting or eliminating exposure to them. If trigger avoidance is insufficient, medical treatment is available. Desensitization is currently the only known “cure” to the disease

Why Fruits are good for health?

Fruits are good source of fiber , vitamins, minerals, and antioxidant. Dietary fiber is very important for our digestive system. Antioxidant will help us to prevent cancer.

Do all the fruits are good for health?

It depends on your age, the time and amount you consume and your health condition. Apple, grapes, kiwi, berries, pineapple, orange, apricot, plum are in general you can eat any time. Dont eat few fruits just before going to bed. Banana, mangoes, jack fruit, papaya, avocado, are good to have two hours before going to bed.

Eating fresh fruit Vs juice

Eating fresh fruit is always better, but again it depends on how you are preparing the juice, and also how much convenient to consume. For example when we are making strawberry smothie or milk shake we wont remove anything from fruit and as juice we will consume more too. But in case of commercial apple juice we are not going to get any dietary fiber and also more sugar is added. Select your choice considering what else you had too.

1. Sit down: Go grab a chai, open your books and start reading

2. Plan: Plan what you are going to study. Workout a schedule and stick to it

3. Get rid of Distractions: Switch off your cell phone and other stuff

4. Get off ur Bed: You need to sit on a chair (not too comfy) in upright position.

5. Understand: Its simple, make sure you are getting what you are reading!

6. Take breaks: Dont study for more than 90 minutes without a break.

7. Take your vitamins: You know, fruit supplements e.t.c

8. Reward yourself: I do not need to explain that

9. Enjoy it: You are one of the 2% of the whole population who is lucky to get education, so put a sock in it and enjoy it!

10. GET A BEER!

Bruce Lee, was so fast that they had to slow the film down so you could see his moves.

In the United States of  America, someone (a careless person) is diagnosed of HIV/AIDS every ten (10) minutes.

In Mzantsi, someone dies of Ngculaza (HIV/AIDS) every ten (10) minutes

Freeky

Alcohol is the main substance of abuse across all of Mzanti`s land except in the WESTERN CAPE

Short term EFFECTS

• Sensation, perception and muscle co-ordination is impaired

• Slurred speech

• Blurred vision

• Acute intoxication can even cause death from intentional activities

Long term EFFECTS

• Can cause a range of health problems, such as cirrhosis of the liver

• Alcohol abuse, combined with poor diet, increases your chances of contracting several diseases by compromising your immune system

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