Archive for April, 2011

Some ways to reduce High Cholesterol levels – very important for your health

A high level of cholesterol is typically supposed to be very bad for your health. So, it is necessary to reduce the level of cholesterol; but before we proceed, a bit of explanation as to what is cholesterol. Cholesterol is essentially one of the fats (lipids) in the body. These are important because they are seen as one of the building blocks of cell structure, as well as for making hormones, and for generating energy. The body generates cholesterol in the liver, one of the most important organs of the body. Cholesterol is divided into main types, being high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (seen as a good cholesterol) and a more ‘bad’ sort, which is known as low-density lipoprotein (LDL). We will explain these 2 in a minute, but right now, let us also explain what is generally meant as the harmful effects of high cholesterol. High Cholesterol causes some harmful effects in the body such as narrowing of the arteries and their hardening, known as atherosclerosis.
So, what are the effects of these 2 types of cholesterols ?
- HDL (high-density lipoprotein) causes a reduction in the levels of cholesterols, by sending it back to the liver. HDL causes a reduction in atherosclerosis.
- LDL (low-density lipoprotein) is the harmful one which causes the bad effects such as hardening of the arteries, impact on the disease.
What the human body requires is that the proportion of HDL to LDL should be high. So, how do you lower your levels of cholesterols ? Here goes:
1. Increase your level of exercise. Increasing your exercise regime causes an increase in the level of HDL (the positive cholesterol). Maintaining a constant exercise level requires some amount of determination and will power, and one of the best ways of doing that is by getting an exercise buddy. This enables ensuring that you can work out exercise regimes such as walking or cycling which will have a very positive effect on your health.
2. Be more informed of what you are eating. You may be eating something that you think is fine, but in reality, the fine print of the ingredients could reveal that the item contains such harmful ingredients as saturated fat, as well as other sources of sugar (typically contained in items such as high fructose corn syrup).
3. There are food additives such as DHA (docosahexaenoic acid, a polyunsaturated fatty acid). Consuming DHA on regular intervals helps in reducing the levels of LDL, and increasing the level of HDL. You may have heard of the beneficial effects of consuming Omega3, contained in food stuffs such as salmon and tuna – these are good sources of DHA. If you are a vegetarian, look for supplements made from algal DHA.
4. Measure your physical activity. You may think that the short walks you do will help you, but it is best if you actually do some measurement of the walking or other activity you do, at least for the first few weeks. So, for example, get a pedometer and use this to measure the amount of walking you do.
5. Change your diet. Reducing the fatty or oily stuff and increasing the fiber in your diet is one of the most important ways of reducing the LDL in your diet. Some types of fiber such as psyllium fiber trap the LDL and take it to the gut, reducing the amount of LDL.

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Lymphoma – cancer of white blood cells. What are its causes, symptom, risk factors and treatment?

Lymphocytes are the cells of the immune system. Lymphoma is a cancer of lymphocytes i.e white blood cells. This type of cancer develops in lymphatic system. There are two types of lymphoma:
- Hodgkin disease : It occurs due to the presence of Reed-Sternberg cells in lymph nodes. The structure of the abnormal lymph node and types of cells will decide the division of hodgkin disease.
- Non-Hodgkin disease : The risk increase with age and people who have weak immune system. It occurs when T or B type cells grow abnormally.

CAUSES OF LYMPHOMA

Exact cause is not known but the risk factors include:
- Infections like HIV, Epstein-Barr virus, Helicobacter pylori and hepatitis B or hepatitis C virus.
- It depends on age.
- Weak immune system.
- When body is exposed to harmful chemicals.
- Family history of lymphoma.
- Exposure to carcinogens.

SYMPTOMS OF LYMPHOMA

- Swelling in neck, under an arm.
- Swelling is painless.
- Swelling of lymph nodes or tissues.
- Fever and chills.
- Weight loss
- Sweating in night.
- Tiredness and weakness.
- Abdominal discomfort.

To diagnose lymphoma:
- a complete physical examination and family history is noted.
- blood tests are done.
- imaging techniques are used to detect the presence of cancer and how much it has spread.
- examinations of bone marrow are done.
- biopsy can be done.
- CT Scan and MRI

After diagnosis is over, staging of lymphoma is done so that how much the cancer has spread is noticeable.

- In stage 1, lymphoma has affected single lymph node.
- In stage 2, lymphoma has affected one or more lymph nodes.
- In stage 3, lymphoma has affected when two or more lymph nodes or a lymph node and an organ on the opposite side of the body.
- In stage 4, lymphoma has affected spleen, bone marrow or nervous system.

Treatment of lymphoma depends on how much it has spread and affected i.e. the staging of the disease. The goal of medical therapy in lymphoma is complete remission.

- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy