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.

Lose Weight By Playing Sports

If you want to lose weight in a healthy way then you must make regular exercise an integral part of your weight loss plan. Relying just on your diet can be very tricky at times. This is because body is always in need of special nutrients and fasting and unmonitored dieting can deprive you of them. This can lead to many metabolic diseases and vitamin deficiency disorders.
Suggesting that someone workout in gym for 2 hours a day is very easy but when it comes to practical reality it is very hard to spare enough time for your workouts and exercise. In this time of distress, sports come to rescue. Sports are interesting activities that can engage you for hours and hours. Playing your favorite sport, having fun with your friends and enjoying the thrill of victory can be very helpful in reducing your weight as well as in keeping you mentally fit and fresh.
Here are three most highly rates sports that are considered ideal for weight loss according to physiotherapists:
Rowing:
Rowing is a very good exercise. Though it mainly targets your arms, shoulders and back but the forces generated on your lumber region and abs can bring about miraculous results within a couple of weeks. Rowing is a very fun and joyful sport. Rowing in form of teams and competing with one another will burn enough calories of yours that flat abdomen will be guaranteed. The only issue with this sport is that you need to go to some lakeside for rowing and owning a boat of your own can very expensive.
Cycling:
Cycling is a day to day activity more than a sport. It is a matchless way of burning extra calories from your body. Cycling targets the fats on your belly and thighs. You should not restrict yourself to cycling only on weekends or picnic days; rather it should be considered a healthy way of travelling. Cycling for around 12 kilometers a day will help you in reducing almost 2 pounds in a week.
Play soccer and be a star:
If you want to have the figure of a celebrity you need a game like soccer. 90 minutes of thrill in a green field every day will ensure that you have the ideal figure by the end of the month. Remember you do not have to play as a center forward all the time; goal keeper is not a bad position to start.

Manage Stress Levels In The Workplace

With workloads increasing continuously, and much sharper deadlines, the stress levels at the workplace have been increasing at a high pace all around the world. Though a certain amount of stress is definitely important for your performance, excessive levels of stress can prove to be very harmful, mentally as well as physically. Not just your personal well-being, high stress will also affect your performance in the workplace and will affect your productivity and performance in a very negative manner and can lead to dissatisfaction among your colleagues, employers as well as family. Basically, it will affect your entire life and might lead to break down if it isn't treated at an early stage. Thus,everybody must take a few cautionary steps and ensure a few things to reduce his or her stress levels while working. Here are a few tips that a person can use, to stay away from excessive stress in the work environment.
The first thing you need to do to manage stress is to reduce the excessive workload. One of the top reasons for high stress levels while you work is because of a very high workload. At times, we end up taking or managing more work than our physical and emotional strength can handle and start getting worked up. This leads to a lot of problems in our performance and delivery and things get out of control. You need to make sure this doesn't happen to you by setting the rules. Make sure you are not doing more than you can handle and start taking care of your personal health. Do things like spending more time with your family and avoiding overtime work. These small things can make a huge difference to your health and well-being. Make a schedule which involves exercise, healthy food and good sleep and then stick to it. In this manner, you will be able to manage your personal and professional life much better.
Another thing you can do to improve your work stress is by engaging in new and different things that will help you unwind, and help you become better at the same time. Plan a game night with your colleagues and bond with them in settings that are not competitive or professional. This will help you in getting to know them better and enjoying their company more while working. Another great activity you can get yourself and others involve is attending talks by comedian and keynote speakers. There are a number of professionals who will inspire you and make you laugh at the same time, thereby greatly reducing the level of stress. Always remember, incorporating humor and good laughing sessions in your daily life can greatly help you in doing better on the work front.
While you work hard during the end dates of the month, or when the deadlines are near, take a few small steps that will greatly improve your working condition. These steps involve breaking bad habits and taking small breaks while you work on high-stress days. Bad habits could include wasting time on useless things like social networking sites in between the work, excessive smoking and drinking, wasting time over the phone and others. Always remember, you are the best judge and its only you, who can decide what a good and bad for you. Also, make sure you take breaks while you work to walk around and refresh yourself. Once you are able to follow all of the above mentioned tips, you will be able to greatly reduce your stress levels.

Deciding to Inform Off-Spring of Donor Conception

Should I tell my child that they were conceived through IVF with the help of an Egg Donor? Will they be upset that we don't share DNA? Is it essential for my child's future health to have access to their Egg Donor's medical files? Will my family think differently of my child if they know they were donor-conceived? These are all questions that could potentially run through the minds of parent's who conceived a child through IVF, with the help of an Egg Donor. The debate on whether or not to tell the donor-conceived child the origin of part of their DNA is a hotly debated issue, and a very important one. Some key points in this debates are whether or not the child needs to know this information for future health reasons, whether or not it is fair and psychologically healthy to keep this information from the child, and whether or not the child should be allowed to have access to the identity of their Egg Donor.
It is important for all humans to know if they are potentially at risk for certain health problems. This information can give them the chance to take precautionary measures in their life to help prevent the onset of these health issues. For example, if an Egg Donor's mother had heart disease the donor-conceived child would have an increased risk of heart disease in their future. If the donor-conceived child was aware of this information they could make sure to have regular check-ups, eat a healthy diet, and exercise regularly. It is possibly for the child to learn the medical history of their Egg Donor without the Donor's identity being revealed.
Humans have a fundamental interest in knowing their biological origins. It is natural for a child to want to know what DNA they came from. If parent's decide to disclose the use of an Egg Donor to their donor-conceived child they can give a physical description of the donor, such as eye color, hair color, body type, height, ethnicity, etc., without disclosing the donor's actual identity. It is every parent's choice whether or not to disclose this information to their child but keeping a secret this large could potentially cause great strain on family relationships. Studies have shown that most children who know they were donor-conceived are very well adjusted and that it is best to have this talk with children as soon as they're old enough to understand.
Although some donor-conceived children and their parent's may have the desire to meet their Egg Donor it is not their choice alone. The Egg Donor must be comfortable and willing to meet the family. There are some cases where the donor legally agrees before donation to have her identity known to the Intended Parent's and possible children conceived through the donation, but most donations are anonymous. Egg Donor's have the desire to help Intended Parent's fulfill their dream of becoming parent's but most feel uncomfortable having their identities known. If all donors were required to let their identities be known to Intended Parent's, and the possible children that could result from the donation, there would more than likely be large drop in the number of Egg Donors. Intended Parent's should think about whether or not they will want to know the identity of their Egg Donor, and whether or not they will want their donor-conceived child to have access to this information, before they enter into a legal contract with a donor.
The decision of whether or not to inform donor-conceived children of their biological origins is a big decision that should be well thought out. Every parent will have their own opinion on what information they should disclose to their children. Above all else parents should keep the well being of their children and the legal right's and privacy of their Egg Donor in mind.

A Heart Healthy Food Secret That Delivers Brain Power

A Great Healthy Heart Diet Secret
Did you know that not all carbohydrate foods are created equal, and that they act very differently in our bodies?
The difference in carbohydrate behavior is ranked by the effect on blood glucose levels. This ranking system is known as the Glycemic Index(GI). Our blood glucose rises and falls when we eat a meal containing carbohydrates. How high it rises and how long it remains high depends on the types of carbcarbohydrates (the GI) and the quantity eaten. The Glycemic Index divides carbohydrate behavior in our bodies into three numerical tiers. High Glycemic Index range is 70 and greater, the medium Glycemic Index range is 56 to 69, and low Glycemic Index range is 55 and below.
Eating a lot of high GI foods can be harmful to your health because it pushes your body to extremes. This is of particular importance if you are overweight and your life style is sedentary.
When you eat a slice cake, the sugar in that treat, also known as a simple carbohydrate is quickly converted to glucose in your bloodstream. Your blood sugar levels rise and spike when simple sugar is eaten alone. If you eat a candy bar for a mid-afternoon snack your pancreas releases a hormone called insulin to move the glucose out of the blood stream and into your cells for energy. As a result, your blood sugar level may drop dramatically. When your blood glucose levels have a very high spike followed by a very low drop you tend to get hungry again. Also low blood sugar can leave you feeling shaky, dizzy, and searching for more sweets to regain that sugar "high." High blood glucose levels can be a threat to your health even if you don't have diabetes. In fact, elevated blood glucose levels within the 'normal' range can damage the blood vessels and circulatory system, increasing the risk of a heart attack, type 2 diabetes, weight gain, and even certain types of cancer. It does so by increasing the production of damaging free radicals and creating oxidative stress and inflammation.
Low GI carbohydrates are the ones that produce low fluctuations in our blood glucose and insulin levels. Switching from high to low GI carbohydrates that slowly trickle (slower gastric emptying time) glucose into your blood stream will not only keep your energy levels balanced, but will also allow you to feel fuller for longer periods of time between meals.
Glucose is your brain's primary fuel source and it needs a steady supply of it throughout the day. Eating that healthy low GI breakfast provides the brain with a more constant level of blood glucose compared with the highs and lows of a high GI breakfast. You can start your day in high gear every day of the week with a healthy low GI breakfast that will nourish and sustain you. Also the effect of a low GI carbohydrate food carries over to the next meal, reducing its glycemic impact. This means that a breakfast eaten after a low GI dinner the previous evening, or a lunch eaten after a low GI breakfast carries an unexpected and beneficial effect that is called the "second meal effect". The experts caution us not to take this information to the extreme, and they recommend that you strive for at least one low GI food per meal. Choosing low GI carbohydrates is one of the secrets to long-term health and reducing your risk of heart disease, diabetes, and the added benefit of sustainable weight loss. Now that you know one of the secrets of a Great Healthy Heart Diet share it and enrich the lives of loved ones and friends.