When the Body Attacks Itself

When the body falls ill, people generally assume that their illness is due to the presence of some foreign invader. While this is usually the case, there are occasions when the body is quite literally its own worst enemy. One such example is Lupus, an autoimmune disorder that causes your immune system to attack the very body it is supposed to defend. Though there is no cure for Lupus, researchers continue to look for ways to better combat this onerous disease.
Lupus is diagnosed in a patient with the body's immune system begins to attack the body's tissues and organs. Essentially, the immune system loses its ability to tell the difference between enemy toxins and normal tissues. What makes Lupus so difficult to identify is that it can strike at any part of the body - a patient's skin, lungs, blood cells, brain, heart, lungs and joints are among the body parts that can be affected. If fact, symptoms vary so widely from patient to patient that no two cases are exactly alike. Lupus also imitates a number of other diseases, making the disorder even harder to diagnose.
Because of the nature of the disease, Lupus patients expect to suffer from a wide range of symptoms. These symptoms are noted in the following list:
- Fatigue and Fever
- Join Pain and Swelling
- A distinct rash in the shape of a butterfly on the cheeks and bridge of the nose
- Skin lesions that are vulnerable to sun light
- Your fingers and toes may turn white if exposed to cold, or if you are under stress
- Shortness of breath
- Dry eyes
- Headaches, confusion and memory loss
A patient may experience addition symptoms depending on which areas are affected by the disease. Below is a list of symptoms that are specifically related to certain parts of the body
Brain/Nervous System: headaches, numbness, tingling, seizures, vision problems, personality changes
Digestive tract: abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting
Heart: abnormal heart rhythms
Lung: coughing up blood and difficulty breathing
Skin: patchy skin color, fingers that change color when cold
Another troublesome characteristic of the disease is that the strength of a case of Lupus may wax and wane; in other words, it may go into remission for a period of time before coming back with a vengeance.
The Lupus Foundation of America estimates that 1.5 million Americans currently have Lupus, with 16,000 new cases diagnosed annually. Lupus is not contagious, and is not related to other diseases like HIV and cancer. Though anyone can develop Lupus, the groups at the highest risk of developing this condition are women of color and women of child-bearing age (15 - 44).
Diagnosing Lupus
To date, there is no single test that can identify Lupus. In order to diagnose a patient with this condition, a doctor must run a slew of tests that look for signs of inflammation in the patient. These tests could include antibody tests, complete blood counts, chest x-rays, kidney biopsies and urinalysis. When treating a patient, a doctor may also look at a patient's current symptoms, a patient's medical history, and a patient's family history. After reviewing all of this collected data, a doctor may diagnose a patient with Lupus.
Controlling the Disease
Though there is still no cure for Lupus, medical science has developed ways of reducing the symptoms of Lupus. Methods for treating the disease vary based on the severity of the patient's symptoms. Mild cases of Lupus are treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs), corticosteroid creams, low-dose corticosteroids and an anti-malaria drug known as hydroxychloroquine. NSAIDs are used for arthritis and pleurisy (inflammation of the chest and lungs), the corticosteroid creams fight skin rashes whereas the low-dose corticosteroids and malaria drug treat both skin and arthritis symptoms.
In more severe cases of lupus, the immune system response may have to be partially blocked by high-dose corticosteroids and other medications. If these treatments do not work, a doctor may offer a patient the chance to take cytotoxic drugs, which stymie cell growth. These medications carry a substantial amount of risk, and require careful supervision by a prescribing doctor over an extended period of time.
While Lupus may never fully leave a patient, it can be managed and pushed into remission through modern medical practices. Natural remedies can also be of service when treating this chronic autoimmune condition. Through a combination of effort, patience and medicine, a Lupus patient can reduce the symptoms of his or her condition to a more tolerable level.

Tai Chi: The Roots, Purpose and Techniques of an Ancient Art

The exact beginnings of Tai Chi cannot be traced back to a particular person or year; rather, the art developed over the course of 2,500 years. The earliest form of this exercise dates back during the reign of King Gou Jian of Yue (an area consisting of present day Shanghai, northern Zhejiang and southern Jiangsu) from 496 - 465 B.C. During this period, records mention an art called Nei Chia, which emphasized body movements, breathing and posture to harmonize a body's internal and physical energy. Over the ensuring centuries, Nei Chia continued to evolve, eventually branching out to create a number of different art forms. One of these art forms was Tai Chi.
There are two theories as to who was the first person to practice Tai Chi. The first theory contends that a man named Chang-San Feng developed Tai Chi over 600 years ago on China's Wu-Tang mountain. The second theory argues that Chen Wan-Ting was the first person to practice the art around the year 1540. According to this version of events, Ting kept the practice a closely guarded secret among himself and his followers. The second explanation is generally the more accepted of the two theories by researchers.
Tai chi is believed to have been kept isolated to Ting's village until the end of the eighteenth century, when a student named Yang spread the practice all across mainland China. As the art began to gain followers through the country, five schools began to emerge as the most popular teachers of the art. These schools were known as Wu, Chen, Yang, Sun and Wu/Hao. The Wu school developed its exercises between 1812 and 1880, whereas the Sun style was developed between 1861 and 1932. Tai Chi was finally introduced to the West in the 1960s and 1970s.
Purpose of Tai Chi
The purpose of Tai chi is fairly simple to understand. According to traditional Chinese belief, a form of external energy called Qi runs throughout the body. Inside the body are also forces known as Yin and Yang, which much be evenly balanced with each other to maintain good health. When Qi cannot reach certain areas of the body, the Yin and Yang forces will be thrown off kilter, and the afflicted body parts will fall ill with disease. The art form was designed to strengthen Qi, allowing it to flow undisrupted through the practitioner. When Qi is able travel freely through the body, the harmony between the Yin and Yang forces will be restored.
Health Benefits
Tai Chi has a number of proven benefits for both your mental and physical health. Researchers have found that it can help treat the following afflictions:
• Anxiety
• Joint Stiffness
• Arthritis
• Muscle Tension
• Balance
• Poor Posture
• Coordination
• Stress
• Fatigue
Tai Chi has rich history, and can prove especially useful for improving your health and overall well-being. By learning and practicing this ancient art, you can take meaningful steps toward developing bodily strength and acquiring peace of mind.

How Fish Oil Pills Benefit Your Health

Fish like tuna, salmon, sardines etc. are not only loved for their taste but they also contain rich fish oil called Omega 3 Fatty Acids. This kind of oil has important properties which can be used for solving a number of health related issues.
Researchers all over the world have found the following benefits of Omega 3 Fatty Acids pills:
1. Reduces the risk of heart disease: Specialists suggest that people with heart problems should take 2-4 gram of omega 3 in either the form of dietary fish intake or oral pills every day. The pills can help reduce various problems like risk of heart attack, risk of abnormal heart beat and risk of stroke to those suffering from such problems.
2. Lowering of triglyceride levels: Triglycerides are main form of fat stored in the body which are used to provide energy. But when a body has high triglyceride levels, there are high chances of that person to contract heart diseases and diabetes. Hence, it is important to maintain a certain level of triglycerides. Fish oil pills can help reduce the level by almost half of the amount as stored in the body.
3. Relieves pain during menstrual cycle: Some women endure a lot of pain during their periods. The intensity of pain differs from individual to individual. Omega 3 fish oil pill helps alleviate stomach pain, back pain and tends to improve the overall condition. It also reduces the need to intake other pain relieving drugs.
4. Prevention of mental illness: Researches have shown that intake of omega 3 fish oil pill prevents the development of any psychotic illness in one's mind. It can also be used for treating those suffering from bipolar disorders and is depressed.
5. Asthma: Fish oil when taken by pregnant women reduces the risk of asthma in the infants. It has the properties of improving airflow, reducing cough and lowering the need for medication. In case you are pregnant and have respiratory problems, you can consult your doctor regarding these supplements.
Apart from this, Omega 3 pills also help in preventing cancer, Alzheimer's disease, hyperactivity, dyspraxia in children, miscarriage in women and whole lot of other risks. People tend to notice a higher memory span after consuming fish oil pills. All these researches are backed by scientific proof and proper study in order to show the best benefits of omega 3 fish oil pills.