Posts Tagged ‘Cell’

Potassium – Important mineral to prevent Acidosis

Potassium is one of the most important minerals, essential for the life of every cell. It is one of the most widely distributed of all the tissue minerals. Principally, potassium is found in intracellular fluid. A small amount of potassium in extracellular fluid is necessary for normal muscular activity.
- Potassium is a bluish-white metallic element.
- Potassium is highly reactive and is not found free in nature.
- Potassium plays an important role as a catalyst in energy production.
- Potassium plays an important role in the synthesis of glycogen and protein.
- Potassium absorption occurs mainly in small intestine.

Increased amounts of potassium is found in urine whenever the tissues are losing potassium. It is may be because of the breakdown of cellular proteins. Any condition that gives rise to acidosis is liable to cause cellular depletion of potassium. Patients who are given diuretics to increase the output of sodium and water in the urine, an important side effect is an increase in potassium excretion.
In a healthy person, the feces contain very small amounts of potassium. The digestive juices contain large amounts but this is normally reabsorbed in the gut.

FUNCTIONS OF POTASSIUM IN THE BODY

- Potassium is an alkalizing agent.
- Potassium maintains a proper acid-alkaline balance in the blood and tissues.
- Potassium prevents hyper-acidity.
- Potassium is essential for muscle contraction and therefore it is important for the proper functioning of the heart.
- Potassium promotes the secretion of hormones and helps the kidneys in detoxification of blood.
- Potassium prevents female hormonal disorders by stimulating the hormone production.
- Potassium helps in proper functioning of the nervous system.
- Potassium helps to overcome fatigue.
- Potassium also assists in reducing blood pressure.

DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS OF POTASSIUM

- Deficiency may occur during gastro-intestinal disturbances accompanied by severe vomiting and diarrhea.
- Deficiency may occur during diabetic acidosis.
- Deficiency may occur during potassium-losing nephritis.
- Deficiency may occur during steroid therapy and that of similar drugs.
- Deficiency may occur during mental and physical stress.
- Deficiency of potassium causes body tiredness, palpitations of heart, cloudiness of mind, nervous shaking and excessive perspiration of hands and feet, sensitivity of the nerves to cold. It may also lead to slow healing of ulcers and fractures.

FOOD SOURCES RICH IN POTASSIUM

- Pulses such as green gram, cow peas, red gram, black gram.
- Vegetables like lotus stems, sword beans.
- Other good sources are legumes, leafy vegetables, and fruits such as bael, sweet limes, peaches, and apricots.
- Excessive use of alcohol, coffee, sugar, and diuretics can lead to depletion of potassium.

HEALING PROPERTIES OF POTASSIUM

Potassium deficiency should be corrected by increased dietary intake or supplementation with potassium salts.
- Low Blood Sugar: The use of potassium has been found beneficial in the treatment of low blood sugar. An intake of sugar and potassium chloride brings an immediate relief.
- Muscle Abnormalities: The symptoms of muscle abnormalities when 10g of potassium chloride is given. Studies show that severe potassium deficiency results in muscles becoming weak, soft or partially paralyzed.
- Sciatica: Increasing potassium intake can help to alleviate discomfort from leg cramps and sciatica. This is due to the role of potassium in nerve function.

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Squamous Cell Carcinoma – Type of skin cancer

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the second most common form of skin cancer and accounts for 20% of cutaneous malignancies.Squamous cell carcinoma frequently arises on the sun-exposed skin of middle-aged and elderly individuals.

- Squamous cell carcinoma arises from squamous cells in the uppermost layer of epidermis – stratum corneum.
- It appears as a scaly, reddish, dome-shaped, fleshy nodule, from 5 mm to few cm (if left untreated) in size, often with a central ulcer. It mostly appears on sun exposed areas of the skin or lips.
- It grows slowly, but it can spread to other organs.

Risks for squamous cell skin cancer include:
- Having light-colored skin, blue or green eyes, or blond or red hair.
- Long-term, daily sun exposure (such as in people who work outside).
- Many severe sunburns early in life.
- Older age.
- A large number of x-rays.
- Arsenic.
- Chemical exposure.
- Chronic skin ulcers.
- Actinic keratoses (These lesions have the potential to progress to squamous cell carcinoma.).
At first cancer cells tend to spread only as far as the nearest lymph nodes clusters of tissue found in the underarms, groin, neck, and other parts of the body that help fight disease. When cancer spreads, they often trap cancer cells. structures, which filter out and trap the cancer cells. If spread has occurred, the affected lymph nodes can be removed before cancer spreads to vital organs.
With early detection and proper treatment, SCC is curable. Allowed to progress, SCC can invade and destroy much of the tissue surrounding the cancerous tumor, which can be disfiguring.
Some SCCs, such as those that develop on a lip or an ear, can be particularly aggressive. Left untreated, aggressive SCCs have a greater risk for metastasis (spreading) to the lymph nodes and other internal organs. This makes early diagnosis and treatment of SCC essential.

What causes skin cancer ?

There are quite a few known causes of skin cancer. The most widely acknowledged cause is over exposure to harmful ultraviolet rays or sunlight.
Over-exposure to UV radiation from the sun damages the skin, causing it to change colour, burn or even blister. Every time you expose your skin to the sun you add to your ‘lifetime exposure’ and increase your skin cancer risk. The number of severe sunburns you have received, especially during childhood, also increases your risk.
UV rays damage DNA, the genetic material that makes up genes. Genes control the growth and overall health of skin cells. If the genetic damage is severe, a normal skin cell may begin to grow in the uncontrolled, disorderly way of cancer cells. UV also can cause sunburn, and other damage that makes the skin look prematurely old and wrinkled.

The list below highlights some of the main causes:
- Having any deficiency of the immune system, that is having a condition that predisposes you to lowered immune system function, will increase the risk of developing skin cancer.
- Being exposed to abnormally high levels of X-rays may contribute to the development of skin cancer.
- Using tanning booths to acquire an artificial tan has been widely accepted as a substantial cause of the disease.
- Having a family history increases the risk of skin cancer.
- If you have several moles these can become cancerous growths on the skin’s surface.
- Some people are thought to be at a more significant risk, such as lighter skinned people, people with blond or red hair and green or blue eyes.