Anorexia: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Anorexia is a serious disorder that affects not only the physical structure of the body, but the mind as well. This eating disorder is common among teenagers, celebrities and fashion models who are seemingly obsessed about losing weight, the skin-and bone structure being the acceptable and usual body types of people who are in this career.

Eating disorder treatment centers in Los Angeles affirms that anorexia typically starts in the teenage years when girls become more conscious about their bodily shape and their weight. Other factors that may cause anorexia are the family, and the friends. Certain affiliations such as sports like ballet and gymnastics where one has to keep and maintain a specific body size may also cause anorexia. This can also happen due to unexpected stressful events such as divorce and death of a loved one.

There are various anorexia symptoms to watch out for, some of which are observable among patients with anorexia nervosa. These people generally do not see this problem within them and continue to believe that they are rather obese and have much more weight to shed off despite being underweight. Anorexic patients are obsessed with thoughts of dieting and would do everything to get more weights off their body, by exercising even when they are already ill. Some people with anorexia also use laxatives to induce vomiting and to avoid weight gain.

Persons suffering anorexia exhibit signs of starvation like feeling tired, weak, and faint; feeling cold all the time. They also have slow heartbeat and low blood pressure; brittle nails and thinning hair. It can also be observed that these persons have pale skin color on arms and legs because of poor blood flow.

Anorexia treatment is advised as early as possible. Concerned individuals are encouraged to seek professional help from anorexia treatment centers where anorexia patients can best recover from the disorder.

Celebrity Eating Disorders

With the world infested with hundreds of diseases that causes mortality rates to sky rocket, there is one not so vital illness but is the center of attention of the public. Anorexia nervosa is actually a psychiatric disorder that affects the body because of the fear to gain weight. A person with this diagnosis seldom eats and would rather starve, or if they do, they would purge, puke, exercises extremely and the worst thing is use drugs excessively.

Celebrities are commonly known and accused to have this kind of medical condition and are often the subject in gossips and news. Quite a few popular icons have been confirmed of having anorexia and some still denies it though facts show they are. The famous singer, Karen Carpenter, was diagnosed with it and eventually died due to complications. Their obsession to maintain their slim figure or to reduce to a much desirable body image ends in agonizing results. The worst thing about this is that the press indulges on the matter and uses it to sell their articles like hot cakes. Celebs going in and out of anorexia treatment centers are swarmed by paparazzi to get their malnourished images to talk about and get mocked by others.

The real score is that these celebrities are still people with emotions and should be given much attention and guidance. That these problems should be taken seriously and should not be used as a way of getting big bucks and the sooner others realize this, the sooner these people could be treated accordingly. A person with eating disorder should be recognized before hand to avoid reaching the worst point. Getting ill is not something to make fun with so if you see something like this try to offer at least you deepest sympathy and empathy.

Cervical Cancer Symptoms

Cervical cancer hit immense number of women around the world and still is increasing. Do you have basic or little knowledge on cervical cancer? Tackling with this topic would help women’s health to create preventions or actions to prevent risks of having cervical cancer. Do you know that cervical cancer is the second leading cause of death in women? That’s why women don’t want to hear this from their doctors. Another is that only 60 percent diagnosed every year with cervical cancer survived.

There are factors that triggered cervical cancer. Doctors have discovered these risk factors as causes for the disease.

• Early sexual engagement.
• History of Multiple sexual partners.
• Relationship with a high-risk partner, including partners with STDs or a history of multiple partners.
• Smoking.
• Women with lowered immune function.
• Women with a history of vaginal squamous dysplasia (precancer of the vagina).
• Women with prior Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection.
  

There are symptoms of cervical cancer but most women will not have initial symptom, that’s why cervical cancer is difficult to detect without frequent screening. Symptoms that are commonly experienced by women with cervical cancer are bleeding after sexual intercourse, abnormal bleeding of the vagina, vaginal discharge that is watery or full of mucous and has strong odor and lower back or pelvic pain that branch out down the leg.

Good news for women's health, vaccine for the prevention of cervical cancer has been developed with 100 percent effectiveness. The new vaccine is called Gardasil developed by Merck and Co. This vaccine could be used also for boys also to prevent boys from spreading the virus to their partners. The vaccine actually is used before partners become sexually active.

Always be reminded with these valuable facts and the assurance for preventing cervical cancer will be 100 percent.

Big Baby and Birth Defects

A newborn infant that weighs more than 8.8 pounds (4,000g) or more is considered a full-sized or macrosomia baby. Some of us might view these big babies as cute and healthy but in medical view, it is already considered as a birth defect. An obese or overweight pregnant mother might deliver a macrosomic baby because the fetus is being overfed with excess amount of sugar coming from the mother and this sugar will convert into a body fat.

Women with pregestational diabetes may disturb the forming development period of baby’s vital organs if the amount of blood sugar was uncontrolled during the first few weeks of pregnancy. A mother with diabetes during pregnancy may also deliver a macrosomic baby. Most birth defects can be identified during the first half of the pregnancy with ultrasound studies and prenatal diagnostic tests.

Health experts warn women to be aware on their body weight and blood sugar during pregnancy. Otherwise, the mother may suffer an increase risk of injury which can be more difficult as well for the baby. Before going into a vaginal delivery, obstetricians perform an ultrasound to estimate the fetal weight for safety. It is frightening and risky if the big baby will be going out from a mother with diabetes because the baby’s shoulder will get stuck through the birth canal. As a result, the mother may experience trauma and deliver the child through cesarean.

Pregnant women can minimize the risks of delivering a baby with birth defects by visiting regularly to a licensed physician or midwife for prenatal care. Women should undergo oral diabetes medications, in order to optimize blood sugar control during pregnancy. To prevent big baby and birth defects, women's health should be well take cared of during pregnancy.

A Study on Broccoli Sprouts to Protect Against Cancer

A study in Japan suggest that eating two and half ounces of broccoli sprouts daily for two months may protect against bacteria that causes gastritis, ulcers and even stomach cancer.

Most people don’t like the taste and texture of broccoli. But the nutritional benefits it offers cannot be disregarded. Broccoli is packed with antioxidants and other nutrients, including vitamin C, foliate, calcium, beta carotene and full of fiber.

In the study, broccoli sprouts or baby broccolis have particularly high concentration of antioxidant called sulforaphane (much higher than mature heads broccoli). Sulphoraphane is said to trigger enzymes in the gut that boost the body’s defenses against oxygen radicals, DNA-damaging chemicals, and inflammation and perhaps ultimately help prevent stomach cancer, although research is still at an early stage.

It has long been known that sulforaphane is a potent antibiotic against Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium that causes gastritis, ulcers and stomach cancer. H. pylori infection doesn’t always cause symptoms, but it can lead to stomach inflammation and ulcers. It’s also a major risk factor for stomach cancer. Studies in animals have shown that sulforaphane from broccoli sprouts elevate the protective enzymes against bacterium, and also reduce inflammation and cell damage that could lead to cancer. But not much research has been done in people.

In the new study, the researchers gave 25 people in Japan who were infected with Helicobacter pylori 70 grams per day of broccoli sprouts for two months. Another 25 infected people consumed an equivalent amount of alfalfa sprouts, although rich in phytochemicals, don’t contain sulforaphane.

Researchers monitored the participants and found out that those eating broccoli sprouts reduced the level of infections and inflammation. This suggests that the likelihood of getting gastritis, ulcer and cancer is probably reduced.

Even with its promising findings, larger studies are still needed to confirm these results and explore more whether eating broccoli sprouts does, in fact, lower the risk of stomach cancer. In the meantime, eating broccoli regularly won’t be such a bad idea as it gives us a lot of nutritional benefits.

Fetal Macrosomia: Big Baby Syndrome

Macrosomia is a situation in which a fetus is strangely large, otherwise known as Big Baby Syndrome and/or Large for Gestational Age (LGA). They are born at the weight of at least 8 pounds, 13 ounces or more. The standard birth weight for a baby is about 7 pounds. Most babies with macrosomia are born full-term, but some instances may be born in pre-term.

A baby born with macrosomia is to be likely expected to experience low blood sugar, respiratory distress, and jaundice. They are also at an increased possibility of birth defects. Macrosomia occurs in more than 10% of all pregnancies, for a pregnant woman that has no proper diet and exercise. Complications include a greater risk of Cesarean delivery, damage to the birth canal, and harm to the fetus if delivered vaginally.

The most common cause of fetal macrosomia is diabetes in the mother (because the insulin can cross through the placenta, in which it metabolizes by the fetus). A risk factor is somewhat that increases your chance of getting a disease or condition. The following risk factors include the chances of giving birth to a baby with LGA’s are: when the mother is having diabetes mellitus, mother and/or father of large size (prone for having diabetes) and excessive weight gain by the mother during pregnancy. Signs include: Birth weight of at least 8 pounds, 13 ounces to ten pounds or higher. Your medical doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and do a physical and pelvic examination.

Babies that are large for gestational age throughout the pregnancy can sometimes be seen during a routine ultrasound, although fetal weight estimations late in pregnancy are quite inaccurate. Your doctor will approximately measure the birth weight, and evaluate any dangers present for the mother and/or fetus. If the fetal macrosomia is significant enough to cause possible harm during a vaginal delivery, a Cesarean delivery may be scheduled. A cesarean delivery is recommended for fetuses that are too large to be safely delivered through the birth canal.

Feeding babies with LGA soon after birth is important to prevent low blood sugar in the baby. Macrosomia may not always be prevented, but if the mother maintains a healthy weight throughout her pregnancy, then it can help prevent a large fetus. For pregnant women with diabetes, strict control of blood sugar during pregnancy is extremely important to prevent macrosomia. Proper prenatal care can also help identify any health conditions in the mother that could cause harm to the fetus. Early findings of macrosomia can prevent complications during delivery.

H1N1 Flu Pandemic

The whole world is in turmoil due to the recent outbreak of Novel influenza A (H1N1). I had a “second degree” experience in relation to the pandemonium that’s happening. Readers, be guided that I don’t have H1N1, I only have a story to tell.

When a friend of mine went to Japan to promote Japan and Philippines Friendship recently, she had cough then. After arriving at the airport, she was quarantined with other people who are suspected of having the feared influenza. Things were worse for people who have fever because it caused the ALARMS on the airport blasting. What a sight it must have been! Luckily for my friend, their Japanese Coordinator explained to the police that the group was there for governmental reasons and more luckily enough, there had been no H1N1 case on Philippines that time yet. And of course, they were checked before going back to the Philippines so no need to worry about my friend. She’s alive and kicking.

On a serious note, different countries have officially reported a cumulative total of 117 deaths of the 19,273 cases around the globe. The World Health Organization (WHO) have published that influenza A(H1N1) is a pandemic of which all of the population have no immunity. The common symptoms of this flu are sore throat, cough, runny nose, fever, malaise, headache and joint/muscle pain. There had been a development regarding the treatment of H1N1 with the use of antiviral drugs of neuraminidase inhibitors class. But WHO strictly warns individuals not to purchase medicines to prevent/fight this new influenza without prescription.