Why is Proper Handwashing so Important for Nurses?

December 4-10 is credited as National Handwashing Awareness Week. The celebration aims to increase public awareness about the importance of handwashing. For health care workers such nurses, handwashing has been part of their standard operating procedure. For these professionals who often appear wearing a nursing scrubs and support hose, handwashing is a vital requirement since they have hands-on daily contact with their patients. And it is only through properly washing of hands before and after holding something in which they can control the spread of infection from one patient to another or from nurse to patient in the hospital.

Handwashing may seem to be just a very simple procedure for nurses in support hose but has a vital role in ensuring safety of their patients against infectious diseases. And while writing this article, I found this very interesting infographics regarding the different disease-causing agents that might exist in nurses’ hands once they failed to wash their hands.

Hepatitis A virus – this is among the infectious and epidemical viruses that attack the liver. It might exist in the hands of a person wearing a nursing scrubs and support hose since the mode of transmission is through fecal-oral route.

Staphylococcus – This bacteria that appear in grape-like clusters under the microscope are the most commonly causes of skin infection. It can be acquired from other person who are already infected by the said bacteria however, could be prevented if proper infection control will be observed.

Pseudomonas  -  This bacteria is commonly found not just in homes but also in hospitals. Hence; patients and health care workers wearing support hose are also susceptible to acquire this disease-causing pathogen. Pseudomonas is usually transmitted through direct contact but indirect contact is also possible.

Haemophilus – The bacteria is known for causing quite serious illnesses such as meningitis, epiglottitis, pneumonia, generalized infection, etc. Haemophilus bacteria, which are transmitted through direct contact, inhibit in the respiratory tract of healthy person and do not immediately revealed signs and symptoms.

Shigella – Shigella are contagious bacteria that primarily cause intestinal infection. A person infected by shigella bacteria will experience bloody diarrhea and severe intestinal pain. The bacteria is also transmitted through fecal-oral route hence; observing good sanitation such as proper handwashing is very important.

Streptococcus Pneumoniae – Also known as pneumococcus, this bacterium causes serious infections of the lungs, middle ear, lining of the brain, and bacteria. These pneumococcal diseases most commonly occur among young children but elderly or those with serious medical conditions or chronic disorders that primarily affect the lungs, heart, or kidney as well as those who are alcoholics, diabetics, with sickle cell anemia, and the likes. The bacteria is spread through airborne or direct exposure to the  respiratory droplets of infected person.

All these bacteria could be prevented if everyone will make it a habit to wash their hands before and after holding something.

Today is World AIDS Day

red ribbon is used for world aids day

December 1, 2011 is World AIDS Day and here are a few facts:

• Worlds AIDS Day is first observed in 1988 and this year marks the 23rd anniversary.
• This year's theme for the said celebration is "Getting to Zero" Zero New HIV Infections. Zero Discrimination, and Zero AIDS Related Deaths.
• The purpose of designating this special day is to increase  public awareness and education about AIDS/HIV disease.
• HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus - a virus that attacks the body's immune system

Worldwide Statistics of HIV/AIDS (updated November 2011)

• More than 34 million people now live with HIV/AIDS.
• 3.4 million of them are under the age of 15.
• In 2010, an estimated 2.7 million people were newly infected with HIV.
• 390,000 were under the age of 15.
• Every day more than 7,000 people contract HIV—nearly 300 every hour.
• In 2010, 1.8 million people died from AIDS.
• 250,000 of them were under the age of 15.
• Since the beginning of the epidemic, more than 60 million people have contracted HIV and nearly 30 million have died of HIV-related causes.

image source: google image search engine

A Healthy Gift Idea for Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving Day is just around the corner and for sure most Americans are now so busy finding for the best presents they could give to their love ones since giving gifts is among the highlights of this celebration. And when it comes to Thanksgiving gifts, nothing is better than giving our loved ones with something that will offer benefits to the health like a cornucopia basket filled with healthy fruits and vegetables that are in season. So what are the healthy fruits and veggies that are in season?

Corn – Good for the heart and best source for energy. Corns are cholesterol free, very low sodium, good sources of vitamin C, manganese, folate and dietary fiber.

Brussels Sprouts – They are good for the heart and contain lots of cancer-protection substances. Brussels sprouts are low fat, saturated fat free, very low sodium, cholesterol free, low calorie, good source of dietary fiber, high in vitamin C, good source of folate.

Pumpkin – Good for the heart and eyes. Pumpkins are fat free, cholesterol free, sodium free, good source of vitamin C and excellent source for vitamin A.

Sweet Potato – Sweet potatoes are fat free, saturated fat free, low sodium, cholesterol free, good source of dietary fiber, high in vitamin A, high in vitamin C, good source of potassium.

Pineapple – Contain lots antioxidant protection and immune support, vitamins for energy production, and with anti-inflammatory properties. Pineapples are fat free, saturated fat free, very low sodium, cholesterol free, and high in vitamin C

Grapes – Contains lots health-supportive phytonutrients that help boost almost all systems of thebody. Grapes are fat free, saturated fat free, very low sodium, cholesterol free

Cranberries – Good for the heart, for digestive tract, for kidney, and contain lots of anti-cancer properties. in fact, this fruits has been featured in my last post regarding dash diet. Cranberries are fat free, cholesterol free, sodium free, and good source of vitamin C as well as fiber

Pear – Good for the eyes, heart, colon, and helps prevent postmenopausal breast cancer. Pears are fat free, saturated fat free, sodium free, cholesterol free, excellent source of dietary fiber, good source of vitamin C.

By the way, when it comes to fruits baskets or simply cornucopia baskets, you can always find them both in local and online stores

The DASH Diet: Serving it Right

At risk of hypertension or currently suffering from high blood pressure? Here’s good news to everyone! According to the book entitled The DASH Diet Action Plan: Based on the National Institutes of Health Research: Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, adopting healthy eating practices such as including more fruits and vegetables in everyday diet at the same time opting for low-fat or non-fat dairy, low-sodium diets  instead of processed foods are among the effective preventative measures to lower blood pressure and support healthy weight loss.

Below are some list of DASH diets (obtained from Yahoo! Health), which according to healthcare professionals who are expert in using stethoscopes when served correctly, they are guaranteed to lower the blood pressure level of an person.

4 Stalks of Celery a Day

Studies have shown that consumption of celery has a number of benefits to both man and animals. This food for lowering blood pressure is no longer new as Doctors of Traditional Chinese Medicine has already been using celery or celery root to hypertensive patients for almost a century now because it is rich in phthalides, a phytochemical that helps relax the muscle tissue in the artery walls so as to increased blood flow.

2-6 Ounce of Cold Water Fish a Week

Doctors who use littmann cardiology stethoscopes and doctors who use fetoscopes both agreed that consumption of cold-water fish (2-6 ounce per week) really have health benefits. This type of fish is said to be rich in anti-inflammatory omega 3-fats that helps lower blood pressure and other toxins that causes heart attack and stroke.

1 Serving of Broccoli a Day

Being hailed as a super-food because of its powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, the ability of broccoli to reduce the risk of hypertension is without doubt. Aside from antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, this super-food is also packed with lots of fiber, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and vitamin C, which all helps normalize blood pressure.

3- 4 Cups of Whole Oats a Day

According to research, whole grain oats is full of fiber and magnesium that both have beneficial effects on blood pressure. Therefore, aiming for one serving of whole grain oats everyday can help reduce the person’s risk for high blood pressure. Besides lowering blood pressure, whole grain oats help slow atherosclerosis or the deposition of plaques of fatty materials in the inner walls of arteries.

 1 Cup of Cooked Black Beans a Day

Including a cup of cooked black beans in everyday diet can help maintain the blood pressure at a normal level. Black beans are good sources of folate or folic acid, a B-complex vitamin that is very essential in maintaining the blood pressure at a normal and healthy level. Not to mention the great amount of fiber and magnesium that black beans provide.

1 Cup of Berries a Day

Whether they are fresh or frozen, most doctors using littmann cardiology stethoscopes would recommend their hypertensive patients to eat at least one serving or one cup of berries a day. Berries, either raspberry, blueberries, or strawberries are very rich in fiber, calcium, vitamin C, potassium and other antioxidants that help get rid of plaques buildup in the inner walls of arteries.

1 Serving of Low-Fat Dairy per Meal

Researches show that those who consume a serving of low-fat dairy per meal have lesser chances of incurring high blood pressure. Including low-fat dairy in everyday diet is imperative as it increases the bioavailability of calcium at the same time offer blood-pressure lowering calcium and potassium. Best sources of low-fat dairy products that are guaranteed to prevent hypertension are skim milk, cheese, and yogurt.


image source: health.yahoo.net

Understanding the Disease that Ended Steve Jobs Life

It is already SOP in the blogger world to tackle issues that are in current trend so, I decided to write about what to expect when diagnosed with pancreatic cancer - the disease that ultimately claimed the life of Apple CEO and founder, Steve Jobs.

By the way, let me give you first some insights about pancreas and its importance to our digestive system. The pancreas is the pear-shaped organ measuring about 6 inches long that lies behind the stomach and in front of the spine. It has two important roles played - to produce enzymes that are essential for metabolism and to produce hormones like insulin and glucagon, which ensures a balanced blood sugar level.

image source:medicineworld.org/news/pancreasnews.html

The pancreas is just one of the organs in the digestive system that is susceptible for an abnormal growth of cells or tumors. These tumors may come in various forms or characteristics. Some tumors are benign while others are malignant. There are also tumors that are common while others are rare. And in the case of Steve Jobs, medical practitioners who often come in a white lab coat and a littmann stethoscope hanging on their neck found a rare form of pancreatic tumor in the endocrine gland - the part of the pancreas that is responsible for producing insulin. What makes neuroendocrine pancreatic tumor rare is that is only 1 out of 100,000 people had this type of disease. Aside from that, the abnormal cell grows slowly and less aggressive, which is deemed as among that reasons why Steve Jobs was able to live 6 years longer the moment he was diagnosed.

What causes pancreatic cancer?

According to healthcare professionals who basic medical instrument is a littmann stethoscope, people who are at risk to develop pancreatic cancer are those with:

1. Damaged DNA mutation. This can be bother inherited from the parents or acquired as the person age 
2. Pancreatitis or inflammation of the pancreas. Although the reason is not yet clear, but chronic pancreatitis can lead to abnormal growth of cells in the pancreas.
3. Diabetes. It appears to be a symptom for pancreatic cancer.
4. Poor lifestyle. Eating fatty or carcinogenic foods, smoking cigarettes are just some unhealthy lifestyle habits that increases the risk for pancreatic cancer
5. Chemical exposure. People who are exposed to hazardous chemicals like gasoline have bigger chances of developing pancreatic cancer.

What to expect when diagnosed with pancreatic cancer?

Signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer can only be seen/felt by the patient when the tumor has grown and spread out of the pancreas. The common signs and symptoms include:

1. Yellowing of the skin, gums, and white of the eyes
2. Constant lower back pain
3. Sudden weight loss
4. Loss of appetite
5. Generalized body malaise or the feeling of weakness and discomfort
6. Feeling of sickness in the stomach characterized by an urge to vomit

Simple Steps to Avoid Listeria

Listeriosis, an infection obtained from eating foods tainted by a bacterium called listeria monocytogenes, is dubbed as the leading cause of food-borne outbreak in the US for almost a decade now. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recent statistics on listeriosis case, 13 people have already been killed and more than 73 were still infected.

The bacterium listeria monocytogenes is found in both soil and water. The disease causing bacterium travels through the soil and manure, which causes contamination on root crops vegetables. The recent listeria outbreak in the US has been traced that the contaminated cantaloupes produced by Jensen Farms in Colorado were blamed for the deaths of 13 people and illnesses of 73 other people. So the department of health strictly warned the consumers to be cautious when buying melons and verify them if they comes from Jensen Farms. But aside from root crops and vegetables, animals can also carry the bacterium. Hence; there is a big possibility that the meat and dairy products from these animals could also be tainted.

Exposure to listeriosis can be prevented if everyone will only take some precautions such as:

Avoid eating raw or partially cooked food from animal sources.

Wash the root crops, vegetables, and fruits thoroughly before storing, cooking or eating.

Avoid unpasteurized milk or those foods made from raw milk.

Use separate knives, utensils, and cutting boards for meat and vegetables.

Consume first perishable and ready-to-eat foods.

Ensure proper storage of food in the refrigerator; uncooked meat should be separated from vegetables and cooked foods.

Always wash hands before and after handling raw or uncooked foods.

By keeping these simple tips in your mind, your chances of acquiring listeria is definitely reduced.

The Benefits of Drinking Water on Empty Stomach

This worth-sharing, healthy article that was shared by my friend Margie was the first thing that caught my attention while I was checking my facebook account this morning. The post is all about the numerous benefits of filling your empty stomach with water.

Image Source: docakilah.wordpress.com

DRINK WATER ON EMPTY STOMACH

It is popular in Japan today to drink water immediately after waking up every morning. Furthermore, scientific tests have proven its value. We publish below a description of use of water for our readers. For old and serious diseases as well as modern illnesses the water treatment had been found successful by a Japanese medical society as a 100% cure for the following diseases:

Headache, body ache, heart system, arthritis, fast heart beat, epilepsy, excess fatness, bronchitis asthma, TB, meningitis, kidney and urine diseases, vomiting, gastritis, diarrhea, piles, diabetes, constipation, all eye diseases, womb, cancer and menstrual disorders, ear nose and throat diseases.

METHOD OF TREATMENT

1. As you wake up in the morning before brushing teeth, drink 4 x 160ml glasses of water

2. Brush and clean the mouth but do not eat or drink anything for 45 minute

3.. After 45 minutes you may eat and drink as normal.

4. After 15 minutes of breakfast, lunch and dinner do not eat or drink anything for 2 hours

5. Those who are old or sick and are unable to drink 4 glasses of water at the beginning may commence by taking little water and gradually increase it to 4 glasses per day.

6. The above method of treatment will cure diseases of the sick and others can enjoy a healthy life.

The following list gives the number of days of treatment required to cure/control/reduce main diseases:

1. High Blood Pressure (30 days)

2. Gastric (10 days)

3. Diabetes (30 days)

4. Constipation (10 days)

5. Cancer (180 days)

6. TB (90 days)

7. Arthritis patients should follow the above treatment only for 3 days in the 1st week, and from 2nd week onwards – daily..

This treatment method has no side effects, however at the commencement of treatment you may have to urinate a few times.

It is better if we continue this and make this procedure as a routine work in our life. Drink Water and Stay healthy and Active.

This makes sense .. The Chinese and Japanese drink hot tea with their meals ..not cold water. Maybe it is time we adopt their drinking habit while eating!!! Nothing to lose, everything to gain...

For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you.

It is nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal. However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion.

Once this 'sludge' reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine.

Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer. It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.

A serious note about heart attacks:

· Women should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting,

· Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line.

· You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack.

· Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms.

· 60% of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up.

· Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know, the better chance we could survive...

A cardiologist says if everyone who gets this mail sends it to everyone they know, you can be sure that we'll save at least one life.

Please be a true friend and send this article to all your friends you care about.

Today is National Family Meal Day

Most of the families nowadays rarely have dinner together. Busy work schedules seem to be the primary reasons. That's why the National Center on Addiction and Substance abuse designated September 26, 2011 as the National Family Meal Day with its theme A Day to Eat Dinner with Your Children. The said organization believed that by having meals with the family together, parents-children relationship will be strengthened. And this   saves them from addiction or substance abuse.

So go home early and spend your dinner with your family today!

4 Ways to Combat Obesity

It has been a habit by many of us to eat too much.  Even if our stomach is already shouting that it is already full, we just don’t mind it because our mouth is still craving for more. And because of our overeating habit, we become unaware that we are already gaining extra weight.

A person carrying extra pounds, which are not essential to his or her body, is what we call obese or is suffering from obesity. Obesity is now becoming a major health problem in many countries and Philippines is no exemption. With obesity, so many life-threatening diseases may arise. So before the bad things happen to us, it is good if as early as now we start combating obesity. How we can do it? Continue reading below.

Switch hands

According to the recent study from Southern University of that was featured on CNN.com, people who snacked using their no dominant hands reduced about 30% of their total intake, compared with those using their dominant hands. One of the reasons being linked into technique this is that you are disrupted. So the tendency is to finish your eating immediately.

Use smaller plates and utensils

Switching to smaller plates and utensils will make you become more aware of your food serving. Even if you are still hungry, you will be reminded of your extra weight so the tendency is to let yourself be satisfied with just one small serving.

Avoid eating-while-watching TV

If it has been your habit to eat while in front of the television, start avoiding it now. Television is one of the many factors that distract one’s eating behavior. So the more you concentrate on watching your favorite TV shows, the more you forget the feeling of fullness. So what happen is you keep on eating until the serving is gone or until the show is over. And this lead to additional body weight.

Keep active

Sedentary lifestyle has long been associated to obesity. People who are physically inactive have greater chances of becoming obese compared to active ones because they fail to burn the calories they consumed. These unused calories will favorably affect body fat distribution at the same time contribute to the high prevalence of obesity.

Watch out Your Diet

Becoming about the caloric content of the foods you consume is another effective way to prevent obesity. According to the book Why We Get Fat: And What to Do About It, the inclusion of too many refined carbohydrates in today’s meals or foods is among the primary reasons why obesity is becoming an epidemic. In this book written by Taubes, he said that if we will limit our carbohydrate intake leads the body to store excess energy in fat cells that then results to obesity.

Bronchopneumonia: The Disease that Caused the Death of Rock Legend Freddie Mercury

Today is supposedly Freddie Mercury’s 65^th birthday. So as a tribute, Google Doodle honored him by providing an animated video that appears over the Google logo featuring one of Queen’s greatest hits “Don’t Stop Me Now.”

Freddie Mercury, the lead vocalist of rock band Queen, is just one of the few rock legends that I love. His ostentatious stage character and powerful vocals over a four-octave range made him famous around the globe. He was also a popular songwriter who composed some of Queen’s hit songs like Bohemian Rhapsody, Killer Queen, Somebody to Love, Don’t Stop Me Now, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, and We Are the Champion. In addition to his work, Mercury also led a solo career and occasionally served as a producer and guest musicians to other artists.

Despite his successful career in music industry, Freddie Mercury left his avid fans so soon. He died on November 24, 1991 at the age of 45 due to bronchopneumonia. According to medical doctors who are primarily authorized to use the littmann stethoscope, such disease that caused Freddie Mercury’s early death was induced by HIV/AIDS.

The Disease that Causes Freddie Mercury’s Death

Bronchopneumonia is an acute inflammation of the lungs caused by bacteria and considered as one of the most common death causing diseases brought by infection. The bacteria that primarily affect the bronchi (air passages of the lungs) and alveoli (air sacs) are usually acquired in the community. The most common bacteria that cause pneumonia are called streptococcus pneumoniae. But there are also other types of bacteria that could induce the said disease and this includes mycoplasma pneumoniae, haemophilus influenza, moraxella catarrhalis, and chlamydia pneumoniae.

The photos below compare the appearance of a healthy person's lungs and the lungs of a person with bronchopneumonia.

each healthy lung, which is 10-14 inches long, appears pink and sponge-like. the whole lungs have 2 large air passages called bronchi that lead to the right and left lung, 22 smaller tubes to reach the 100,000 very smallest tubes, and 1,000,00o alveoli or air sacs that looks like a cluster of grapes.

this is a closer view of lung that is infected by streptococcus pneumoniae, which invade the spaces between cells and between alveoli or air sacs through connecting pores.

How does Bronchopneumonia occur?

diagram source: wikipedia.org

Bacteria causing bronchopneumonia are usually transmitted through airborne droplets. When the bacteria from airborne droplets are inhaled by a person, they will reside in the upper respiratory tract such as nose, mouth, and sinuses. From that location, it is very easy for the bacteria to reach the alveoli and damage the spaces between air sacs through connecting pores as well as the spaces between cells. The invasion of bacteria causing bronchopneumonia induces the immune system to send neutrophils (a defensive white blood cell) to the lungs, which engulf and kill the offending organisms. Aside from that, cytokines are also released and this leads to general activation of the immune system. The neutrophils, bacteria, and fluid from surrounding blood vessels fill the alveoli and hinder oxygenation. And this abnormal transport of oxygen will result to death.

Risk Factors and Prevention

People who are at risk for this type of bacterial pneumonia are usually adults; those who are smoking; people with immunologic deficiency syndrome (which is the case of Mercury); and individuals who have long-term health conditions like heart failure, liver failure, diabetes, or lung disease.

In terms of preventative measure, this disease can now be avoided through vaccines like Pneumovax and Pnu-immune. These vaccines, which are intended for adults, help prevent infections caused by streptococcus pneumoniae. Meanwhile for children, a vaccine called Prevnar is also given for the prevention of pneumococcal disease.

Top Reasons to Add Dark Chocolates in Your Daily Diet

Many studies revealed that including a small amount of dark chocolate in your daily diet offers a number of health benefits. Dark chocolates contain a host of heart-healthy and mood-enhancing phytochemicals. To name some, we have phenols, flavonols, antioxidants, resveratrol, theobromine, caffeine, serotonin, etc.

I provided below some of the healthy benefits a person could get when he or she consumes a small serving of dark chocolates every day. By the way, a small serving simply means 30 calories of dark chocolate a day and that is just as big as Hershey’s bite-size chocolate KISSES.

• Prevents Aging and Cancer – Dark chocolates are full of antioxidant and resveratrol. These are substances that protect the cells from chronic inflammation, heart disease, and cancer.

• Lowers Blood Pressure – Dark chocolates are rich in cocoa phenols. These are protective compounds found in plants and fruits. They are known to help the body process nitric oxide. Nitric oxides are essential compounds that help increase blood circulation at the same time lower blood pressure.

• Lowers LDL Cholesterol – Dark chocolates contain large quantities of flavonoids or flavonols. These are the same chemicals found in red wine that help lower low density lipoprotein (bad) cholesterol levels. One-third of dark chocolates fat is in the form of stearic acid, a naturally-occurring fat that exerts a neutral effect on LDL cholesterol levels.

• Good for the Heart – Since dark chocolates contain ingredients that can help lower blood pressure and LDL cholesterol at the same time improve blood flow; healthcare professionals who expertly use blood pressure device believe that this type of chocolate is definitely good for the heart.

• Stimulates Pleasure and Relaxation – Dark chocolates contains a ingredient that induces the brain to release endorphin. Endorphin is naturally produced in the brain that stimulates pleasure and relaxation.

Eating Red Meat on Daily Basis Linked to Type 2 Diabetes, US Study Revealed

Next to water, protein is the most abundant substance found in our body. About 16.6 percent our body weight is made up of protein.

Getting enough protein and eating a balanced diet with adequate calories are very important in maintaining a healthy body. The amount of protein the person needs to consume will depend on his or her body size and special needs. According to healthcare professionals who are expert in using the different diagnostic tools like blood pressure tester, infants need need bigger percentage of protein in their daily diet simply because they are still at the stage of growing and building new protein tissue. Same with pregnant women, they need more protein not just for their body but also for the developing fetus in their womb.

• an average adult needs 0.6-0.8 grams of protein for every kilogram (2.2 lbs.) of body his/her weight
• infants may need as much as 2.0 grams per kilogram
• adolescents need up to 1.2 grams per kilogram
• pregnant and lactating women need an additional 10 grams per day

For a person to have enough amount of protein, they have to include protein-rich foods in their daily serving like red meat that comes from naturally raised/grass-fed animals (one of the best sources of protein).

But just recently, eating of red meat (whether it is processed or not) has been the talked in town after a research conducted by experts at the Harvard School of Public Health revealed that such source of protein can increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Based on their study both the processed and unprocessed red meat can boost diabetes risk.

People who eat 50 grams of red meat every day like 2 slices of bacon or 1 hotdog, according to US study, increase their risk for type 2 diabetes by 51 percent while those who consume 100 mg of unprocessed meat boost their risk by 19 percent. Experts whose basic medical instruments are blood pressure tester and stethoscope believed that the substance found in red meat that could damage the cells of pancreas, is the main reason why it is increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The pancreas has an important function in our body system since it is responsible for producing enough insulin to process food intake and regulate blood sugar levels. Once it is damaged, type 2 diabetes or formerly called as non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus will occur.

I have here a table (obtained from dietary fiber food site) for the daily recommended intake of protein for specific age, gender, and life stage group

why am i still single these days

Whenever I asked my friends (who already have kids) about the pain they felt from the time they became pregnant until they gave birth, many of them confirmed that labor and birth delivery is certainly painful. But if there’s one good thing about pain during birthing, they said that it quickly fades away the moment they heard the sound of their baby crying.

According to studies, the pain experienced during labor varies from women to women and even from pregnancy to pregnancy. And it is absolutely correct. Based on the birthing experiences of my dear friends, they say that giving birth to a baby boy is always more painful than giving birth to a baby girl especially, if he is your first child.

I love babies because I consider them as one of the greatest blessings. And if ever I will be given a chance to choose what gender I want, I would love to have a baby boy. But I admit that pain during labor and delivery are some of the things I worry much about having a baby. This is also among the reasons why I sometimes do not want to marry yet (despite my current age which is 28) because I know the moment I settle, I will be pregnant a few months after. And if you will ask my capacity to deal pain, I will score myself 6 from the scale range of 1 as the lowest and 10 as the highest.

But while browsing the latest news in cnn.com, the article of Madison Park about relaxing while giving birth through hypnobirthing catches my attention. Hypnobirthing according to Mr Wikipedia is a term used in the medical field referring to the process of using hypnosis or hypnotheraphy (which is usually self-applied) in childbirth.

In Parks' write-up, she mentioned that the philosophy behind this particular birthing approach, according to experts, is to remove the fear being experienced by most women when it comes to giving birth. In hypnobirthing, a soon-to-be mom is being trained how to calm her body and mind to a state of self-hypnosis. Through this, they become more prepared in giving birth and with less anxiety. CNN correspondent Park likewise added that hypnobirthing is already becoming a popular practice for expectant moms these days especially in US and UK. More and more pregnant women including child-bearing celebrities namely Jessica Alba, Tiffani Thiessen, and model Miranfa Kerr are considering to take advantage of the mentioned pre-birthing techniques.

After reading this news feature, I immediately search the web if there are now hypnobirthing experts here in the Philippines teaching for the said pre-birthing technique. And glad to say, there are some.

Hmm, would this be a perfect signal for me to say "I Do" to the one I love?

*note: image is taken using google image search engine

have your child's eyes examined before school starts

How often do you bring your child to an eye doctor for check-ups and consultation? For sure many of us don’t give so much importance on regular eye examination.

Eye check-ups and consultation are very important part of health maintenance not just for kids but for everyone. It is imperative for adults to visit their eye doctor for regular vision testing to ensure an updated prescription at the same time to immediately detect signs of eye problems or disease. Meanwhile for kids, eye examination plays crucial in normal development.

If a child has eye problems or is visually impaired, he or she will be limited to explore the interesting objects in the environment. Hence, he/she will miss the opportunities to have experiences and to learn. Aside from child’s cognitive development, visual impairment likewise affects his/her social behavior.

And since poor vision is one of the factors that affect child’s academic performance, August is designated in the United States as Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month that aims to increase public awareness of the importance of proper eye care for children. Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month is also an ideal indication for every parent to have their child’s eyes thoroughly examined prior to heading back to school.

By the way, here are the two most common form of corrective devices an eye care specialist might recommend to a person with poor vision:

Image sources: eyeconx.com

importance of staying healthy and fit

Welcome to my health blog!

As an opening post, I decided to discuss the importance of staying healthy and fit at all times.

With the hectic pace of modern life, it is imperative for each of us to have a good health because without it; we will surely die. Being healthy and fit holds a number of benefits and one of them is having an opportunity to enjoy almost every pleasure that life holds without worrying for things that people with ailments do. We can eat and drink whatever we want. We can do whatever we like. And most of all, we can live a life that we desire most.

Besides living a life that is full of enjoyment, we can also be saved from high-cost medicare as being healthy and fit protects us from developing diseases like diabetes, heart disease, stroke, cancer, and other life-threatening disorders.

So if you are still a member of those people who practice sedentary lifestyle, isn’t it a perfect time now to disband from that organization?

*Image Source: Photo is taken using Google Image Search