Posts Tagged ‘Obesity’

What is Pancreatic Cancer (a gland present in the abdomen) ?

The Pancreas is a gland present in the abdomen between the spine and the stomach. The Pancreas is partially present behind the stomach and partially in the small intestines (the duodenum). The pancreas acts as an endocrine gland as well as an exocrine gland. As an endocrine gland the pancreas produces hormones like glucagon, insulin, and somatostatin whereas as an exocrine gland it secretes juices which are helpful in the digestion of food. This article will deal about pancreas cancer, its symptoms and the causes of the pancreatic cancer.
Cancer is basically the improper growth in the cell. Pancreas cancer is considered to be one of the most dangerous and serious cancers, where the pancreas tissues are layered by the cancerous cells which form lumps and this causes pancreatic cancer to occur. Pancreatic cancers are of two types. First one is the endocrine pancreatic cancer and the second one is the exocrine pancreatic cancer. The cancer which grows in the endocrine pancreas is called the pancreatic neuroendocrine carcinoma as well as islet cell tumor, whereas the exocrine pancreas can be affected with the adenocarcinoma cancer.
Pancreatic cancer does not show any symptoms in the initial stages and hence it is also called a “silent disease”. But at a later stage pancreas cancer may show some symptoms which one should not ignore. These symptoms may vary from person to person, depending upon the type of pancreas cancer that person is suffering from. The symptoms indicating a pancreatic cancer are as follows:
• The most common symptom indicating pancreas cancer is abdominal pain. You tend to feel this pain after about 2 to 3 hours of having food and may also increase while you are lying down. The pain mostly occurs in the upper abdomen and sometimes the back.
• The next symptom which persists is the swelling up of the abdomen or a person feeling full even with a little intake of meal.
• People suffering from jaundice, with or without the abdominal pain, is another symptom indicating the pancreatic cancer. Jaundice causes the skin to become yellow, eyes to become white, bowel motions, severe itching and darkened urine.
• A person losing weight at once may be suffering from pancreas cancer. As weight loss is one of the most common symptoms for almost all the cancers, therefore it is always preferred that a person losing weight without any work out should get a checkup done.
• Other symptoms showing existence of pancreas cancer are diabetes, vomiting/ nausea, diarrhea, fever and shivering.
The most common causes and risk factors which may increase the chances of the pancreas cancer in a person are the regular use of tobacco, increasing age, the race and also gender (more common in men) of the person, obesity, diabetic history, inflammation of the pancreas, a diet which is rich in harmful fats and many more.
If a person is a smoker then he can can decrease his chances of pancreas cancer by quitting smoking, people who are more into a fatty diet should control their diet and people who are obese must keep a check on their obesity in order to prevent the chances of pancreatic cancer.
Pancreas cancer is not a contagious disease i.e. it is not transferred from one person to another person by means of communication of physical contact. Pancreas cancer can be treated depending on its severity. It is best treated at its earlier stages but technologies now have changed and it is quite possible to treat pancreas cancer at a later stage also. Surgery may be performed in order to remove the tumor growing inside your pancreas.
Pancreas cancer is one of the most aggressive cancers and can cause a person to suffer seriously. Therefore, all the factors leading to it must be taken care of in order to reduce or totally eliminate the chances of pancreas cancer.

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Phenylalanine – essential amino-acid for weight control.

Phenylalanine is an essential amino acid since other amino acids are formed from it in the body. Along with tyrosine, it provides raw material from which the body makes the hormones adrenaline and thyroxine. The body can also convert phenylalanine to tyrosine but not vice versa.

Phenylalanine is effective for weight control because of its effect on thyroid selection. It also plays an important role in the control of appetite. If taken before meals, it suppresses the appetite substantially. This amino acid is also essential for the efficient functioning of the kidneys and the bladder.

Phenylalanine is found in abundance in:
- curd
- milk
- cottage cheese
- pulses and legumes
- poultry
- piyal seeds
- groundnuts
- pistachio nuts
- almonds
- leafy vegetables
- whole grains

Deficiency of phenylalanine can lead to a variety of symptoms including:
- bloodshot eyes.
- cataract.
- several behavioral changes such as psychotic and schizophrenic behavior.

Phenylalanine has many therapeutic uses like:
- It is considered beneficial in the treatment of obesity and is being successfully employed as an appetite suppressant for this condition.
- In the intestinal tract, the amino acids tryptophan and phenylalanine trigger the release of cholycystokinin which induces satiety, and a termination of eating.
- An intake of half a teaspoon of phenylalanine powder 30 minutes before each meal can lead to a loss of as much as 100 to 200g of weight a day.
- Positive effects noticed after 24-48 hours of taking phenylalanine are a feeling of greater alertness, an increase in sexual interest, memory enhancement.
- It also diminishes depressant feelings.

CAUTION: Caution should be observed in the use of phenylalanine in hypertensive individuals. Low doses of around 100mg daily should be taken by anyone with suspected high blood pressure, and a check should be kept on pressure levels.

Why do people snore and how to stop snoring?

Snoring is a sleep disorder. Snoring is a loud, hoarse, or harsh breathing (vibratory) sound that happens while one is a asleep. It happens when the airways at the back of the throat are obstructed. Every time you breathe your throat muscles are vibrating and when your airways are blocked or irritated – and when those vibrations are stopped – you snore.

When you are awake, you breathe in through your nose (and mouth) and the air passes in a steady stream that easily goes through your throat and down into your lungs. However, when we are asleep, these same muscles relaxes causing the airway in the back of your throat to become narrower. When air passes through the narrower opening, it hits and cause the relaxed soft floppy palate tissues surrounding the opening to vibrate like a flag in the wind, which in effect cause the sounds of snoring.

Symptoms of Snoring

Snoring can also lead to excessive daytime sleepiness, lack of concentration, dry and sore throat, weight gain, headaches, hypertension.

Causes of Snoring

- Sleep apnea : Sleep apnea, a disruption of breathing while asleep, is a deceiving sleep disorder. Not everyone who snores has sleep apnea–and not everyone who has untreated sleep apnea snores.
- Overweight.
- Deviated nasal symptom.
- Tongue enlargement.
- Sleeping on your back.
- Allergy.
- Poor muscle tone of the palate.
- Small oropharynx (area of your throat that passes the vocal chords).
- Nasal blockage.
- Cigarette Smoking.
- Alcohol and sleeping pills.
- Aging.
- Goiter- Swelling of the thyroid gland present in the neck.
- Breathing through nose.
- Eating a large meal shortly before bedtime.

How to cure Snoring

- Steam inhalation, tea, nasal strips.
- Follow a regular sleeping pattern.
- Sleeping on the side.
- Avoid caffeine before sleeping.
- Take little bit of honey before sleeping.
- Nasal Separator – fits into both nostrils keeping nasal passages open.
- Loose weight.
- Elevate your head when you sleep.
- Steer clear of dairy products before going to bed. Dairy causes mucus buildup.
- Don’t drink alcoholic beverages, take sleeping pills, tranquilizers, or antihistamines right before going to sleep, they will cause your muscles to relax and limit your air passage way.
- Quit smoking
- Dry air can irritate membranes in the nose and throat. Keep your room moist.
- Surgery attempts to increase the size of the airway to make nighttime breathing easier and stop snoring.

Exercises that can help:

- Repeat each vowel (a-e-i-o-u) out loud for three minutes throughout day.
- Place the tip of your tongue behind your top front teeth. Slide your tongue backwards for 3 minutes a day
- With mouth open, move jaw to the right and hold for 30 seconds. Repeat on left side.
- With mouth open, contract the muscle at the back of your throat repeatedly for 30 seconds.