Family Health Articles » general health

Losing weight is always a combination of diet and exercise

admin — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 14:11:59 +0000

The world is full of people who make excuses for themselves when their commitment is weak. Sadly, when many people who could do better find the going tough, they suddenly find they have other urgent things to do or they have injuries that require them to rest. The reality is that people who are physically disabled and confined to a wheel chair can and do exercise those parts of their bodies that will move. Indeed, this is necessary to maintain some degree of muscle tone and general health. For those adult people who have normal mobility, there are few real excuses. Magnifying ordinary stiffness following exercise into an injury simply confirms demotivation. Stiffness can be relieved by stretching. If there are some real mobility problems, people can exercise effectively while sitting in a chair (if necessary, while watching television). Similarly, many claim they cannot free enough time to exercise. There can be some truth in this. People may have long commutes and the work may require them to sit with little opportunity to move around. Once home, there are family commitments and necessary work around the home that make it inconvenient to go out to a gym or sports center. That said, there are simple exercise routines that can be done in the home. All it takes is the will and fifteen minutes a day.

So that gets the tough talking out of the way. If there are genuine reasons why exercise is physically impossible, what should you do? This immediately brings you back to the question of diet. All weight loss depends on you burning more calories than you consume. Some people use exercise as a form of cheating. When they want to continue eating some unhealthy food, they exercise. Even if they do not lose significant amounts of weight, this can keep their weight stable. Anything is better than continuing weight gain. But if you cannot exercise, you no longer have any excuse on the diet front. To lose weight, you must start counting the calories and aim for a net-loss diet with a high-fibre content. Read up on nutrition and start applying that knowledge to shed the pounds.

There are general health issues to consider. If your life is stressful because of work or family commitments or both, you should take time to relax. This means getting enough sleep. It’s easier to stay motivated if you are well-rested. Losing weight is all about making yourself important. There comes a point when the sacrifices you make for others have to end and you take a little time for yourself. This is for your benefit. In short bursts, you should also consider taking phentermine. This has been on the market for fifty years and has demonstrated a good track record of safety. Phentermine is an appetite suppressant. The idea is simple. If you feel less hungry, you eat less. This makes it easier for you to maintain the diet and lose those pounds. But do not fall into the trap of taking it for too long. Weight loss does not come out of a bottle. It requires you to make the commitment and hold to it. Only then will the loss be real and last.

Diabetes and oral health problems

admin — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 06:29:47 +0000

Is there a link between diabetes and gum disease?
New research suggests a link between diabetes and gum disease. While it is established that people with diabetes are more prone to develop gum disease, this new research implies that chronic gum disease may be a risk factor for diabetes.

How does this happen? Gum disease can cause bacteria to enter the bloodstream and activate cells that produce inflammatory biological signals that have a destructive effect throughout the body. Of the pancreas, the cells responsible for insulin (blood sugar) can be damaged or destroyed. Once this happens, it may trigger Type 2 diabetes – even in a healthy individual, without other risk factors for diabetes.

The Surgeon General Report on Oral Health states that good oral health is integral to general health. So, be sure to brush and floss properly and see your dentist for regular checks.

If I have diabetes, I am at risk for dental problems?
If your blood glucose levels are poorly controlled, you are more likely to develop gum disease and lose more teeth than non-diabetics. Like all infections, gum disease may be a factor causing blood sugar to rise and make it more difficult to control diabetes.

Other problems related to oral diabetes include: thrush, an infection caused by a fungus that grows in the mouth, dry mouth and can cause pain, ulcers, infections and cavities.

How can I help prevent dental problems associated with diabetes?
First, control of blood glucose. Then, take care of your teeth and gums, along with regular checks every six months. To control thrush, a fungal infection, maintain good diabetic control, avoid smoking and, if you wear, remove and clean dentures daily. Good control of blood sugar may also help prevent or relieve dryness of the mouth caused by diabetes.

What can I expect in my checkup? Should I tell my Dentist about My Diabetes?
People with diabetes have special needs and your dentist is able to meet those with your help. Keep your dentist informed of any change in his condition and any medication may be required. Postpone any non-emergency dental procedures if your blood sugar is not under good control.

Alarm grows on kids’ dental health

admin — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 09:44:47 +0000

The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge diabetic patients have their risk of periodontal disease, their attitude towards oral health and their oral health related quality of life (OHRQL). One hundred and one consecutive patients (age 31-79 years), recruited from a diabetes clinic participated in the study. Twenty-seven percent of participants had type 1 diabetes, 66% type 2 and 7% do not know what kind of diabetes they had. The length of time since the participants were diagnosed as diabetics ranged from 1 to 48 years. Metabolic control of diabetes, as determined by HbA1c levels ranged from 6.2% to 12.0% compared to the normal range of 4, 5-6, 0%. Thirty-three percent of participants were aware of their increased risk of periodontal disease, 84% of their increased risk of heart disease, 98% for eye disease, 99% for circulatory problems and 94% for kidney disease. Half of the participants who were aware of their increased risk of periodontal disease have received this information from a dentist. Dental presence has been sporadic, with 43% reporting participation in recent years. OHRQL was not significantly influenced by the presence of diabetes in the group surveyed, compared with a previous investigation of non-diabetic patients. A significant association was found between metabolic control and dentate status. Awareness of the potential associations between diabetes, oral health and general health should be increased in diabetic patients.