You are here: Home / Medical

When Diabetes hits

Testing the blood glucose level yourself

Image via Wikipedia

It sure sucks to have diabetes. Diabetes Mellitus is a very prevalent disease. The disease happens when the pancreas gland in the body stops producing insulin. Insulin is responsible for regulating the sugar level in the body. Insulin also breaks-down glucose into Adenosin Triphosphate. Lack of Adenosin Triphosphate causes nausea and puking sensation.

In the absence of insulin, muscle tissue and fat is used for energy-expend purposes. The body is forced to do so, since it does not have an agent that will convert glucose to Adenosin Triphosphate. Diabetics start to lose weight, and their muscle masses decrease in size.

In the event of this condition, the body is subject to tremendous fatigue and dehydration. The body burns more calories than required. Reserve fat is used to fuel daily bodily needs. When all this happens, glucose levels in the blood go on increasing. As a result the blood becomes thicker. Thick blood is harmful for the heart. So the brain starts diluting the blood. All water in the body is used to dilute the blood and make in thinner. The person affected with this feels insatiable thirst.

The kidney needs to expel the large amount of glucose. Hence, the diabetic person feels frequent urination sensations. Loss of water through urination can have multiple chain effects on the body. A dehydrated body may cause the person to lose appetite. During this time, it is important to stay away from infections. Once infected, a diabetic might be able to never recover from an infection fast.

Filed Under: Medical Tagged With: , ,

Home Remedies For Minor Ailments

Vicks 

Image via Wikipedia

For children getting the occasional scrape is a fact of life. So too is the occasional cold or tummy ache. In fact, children are susceptible to a variety of conditions that may respond to home treatments. Every mother knows that being a part-time doctor is only one of her many responsibilities.

 

A first-aid kit should be present in every home where there are young children. This will help in treating cuts and bruises that can result from play time activities. It is important for moms to be aware of common ailments and methods of treatment such as:

  • Sore throat: Quick relief can be provided by gargling with warm salt water. If the sore throat persists for more than a day or two, it makes sense to visit a doctor.
  • Congestion: One of the oldest remedies, Vicks Vapor Rub, is still a popular choice. If the child’s nose is stuffy, a little dab at the edge of the nostril can provide relief. You can also make saline drops with warm water and salt to relieve stuffiness.
  • Tummy aches: Brew crushed ginger in hot water, allow it to cool and give a cup to the child to drink. Most children won’t be happy with the taste but it will help. This can also help to combat nausea. Ginger ale can also provide relief.
  • Sprains: Active children occasionally twist an ankle. Relief from pain and reduction in any swelling can be helped by placing hot and cold compresses to the affected area.

Of course, you should know when a visit to the doctor is necessary. Once home treatments don’t seem to be helping, it is time to seek medical help.

Filed Under: Medical, Parenting Tagged With: , ,

Moms Using Technology for Health Information

There was a time, not too long ago, when the best source of health information for new moms was reaching out to their moms. Nothing can beat a mom who has already lived through the trials and tribulations of raising children. Today, moms are taking that kind of connectivity to the next level by adapting technology through social media networking to help them find information about diseases, symptoms, and treatments.

The go-to resource for every mom could be a simple internet source. There is no doubt that, whatever type of ailment they might need information on, they will find an abundant amount of data on numerous professional websites. A lot of the healthcare news is about advances in medicine and vaccines. While that is always important to follow, it might not always have practical applications for a mom who has a young one suffering through a bout of the chicken pox. That’s when a new mom might turn to her network of Facebook friends to ask for some easy-to-follow home care advice. Even putting out a tweet asking for treatment tips for poison ivy can be met with dozens of positive responses.

Moms can also tap into the wide array of mobile phone apps to provide them with all kinds of healthcare news as well as various medical resources. Whether they need a fast guide to first aid or a detailed explanation on a prescription’s possible side effects, moms can quickly access that information on their phones no matter where they might be. Simply put, technology is giving moms peace of mind.

Filed Under: Medical, Parenting

Knowing When OTC is Not Enough

This image depicts a young boy who presented t... 

Image via Wikipedia

One thing is certain about becoming a parent; you will acquire some medical knowledge along the way. Children are prone to various conditions and moms and dads need to recognize the signs of some of these illnesses. In addition, they will need to know when a visit to a doctor is necessary.

There are many over-the-counter (OCT) medications that can provide relief from certain ailments. However, the problem lies in knowing when to use OTC meds and when to seek medical attention. This calls for recognizing certain symptoms that can spell trouble when a child is sick.

Symptoms to Look Out For

Some symptoms in sick children that warrant a visit to the doctor are:

  • Having a fever over 102 degrees Fahrenheit that last over one day if the child is older than three months old. Consult the pediatrician for a fever in babies younger than three months old.
  • A persistent cough that lasts longer than two days for children older than six months old.
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Vomiting and diarrhea, whether together or alone
  • Listlessness and loss of appetite
  • Obvious pain or discomfort that is unaccounted for

With many childhood illnesses home care can help but professional medical attention can lead to quick recovery. On the other hand being slow to get the right treatment can cause more serious conditions. For example a cold can lead to pneumonia or a small scratch can become infected.

Generally mothers tend to have a gut feeling about their children and their health.  They should never ignore these feelings when it comes to seeking treatment for their kids.

Filed Under: Medical, Parenting Tagged With: , , ,

Signs and Symptoms of a Brain Injury

A CT of the head years after a traumatic brain... 

Image via Wikipedia

As a mom, you worry about serious injuries to your child. Brain injuries can cause physical and psychological problems over the short and long-term. If your child suffers a blow to the head, some symptoms may occur immediately, while others may not appear until some time later. Infants and children may have different types of symptoms than teenagers.

If your child is hit on the head, you should always visit your physician or a healthcare professional. You should also keep good records just in case you need to visit a Los Angeles brain injury attorney to get compensation for an injury.

Mild brain injuries or concussions may present with a temporary loss of consciousness, confusion, issues with memories, nausea or vomiting, or light sensitivity. More serious brain injuries may involve a longer period of unconsciousness, agitation, slurred speech, lack of coordination or muscle weakness, long-term headache, and seizures. A person with a brain injury may have some of these symptoms or all of them.

If you have a teenager, your child should be able to alert you to these complaints. However, a smaller child may not be able to tell you if they are having a headache or dizziness, so you may have to look for other symptoms. Some signs to watch out for include increased fussiness, change in feeding habits, irritability, change in mood, and a lack of interest in toys or activities. Brain injuries can be scary, but with proper care, they can be managed.

Filed Under: Child Development, Medical Tagged With: , ,

Finding the Right Doctor for Your Child

Raising a child takes patience and planning. In order for a child to develop to his fullest, he must be both happy and healthy. Of course happiness is a relative term and it’s the job of the parents to do what they can to provide a stable environment. But healthy is a different term, and there is no relativity. If you are committed to making sure that your child is in his prime physical condition, then you must make it a point to find a reliable pediatrician.

Finding a pediatrician takes time and research. The best option, of course, is to look to your own pediatrician. If you had a good pediatrician and your parents can attest to that then it would make sense for you to go with that person. If they are not practicing, your best bet is to go to Canada 411 and start searching for a top of the line doctor for your child.

Here you can take a closer look at those people who you were referred to by your family and friends. You can read their bios and sometimes you can see previous patient comments that will help you to determine if they are the right person for your child to see.

Once you have a doctor you like you can then go ahead and schedule an appointment online for an interview. This will give you a chance to talk face to face and get a feel for who the doctor is and what kind of relationship he will have with your child. It’s an important decision and it takes time to get it right.

Filed Under: Medical, Parenting Tagged With: , ,

Beware the Dangers of Over the Counter Pain Killers for Teenagers

Many people reach to over the counter pain relievers when they have a headache. Aspirin and Ibuprophen are some of the most commonly used medicines for teens and adults.  Pop a few pills here and a few there each day and you can find yourself or your teenager ingesting a large number of these per day, which can have long term side effects.

There is a common belief that when you have a really bad headache, you should take more than the recommended dosage of aspirin or ibuprophen.  Teenagers are the most susceptible to this type of thinking.  What many people do not know is that consistent use of these over the counter drugs are one of the most common causes of stomach ulcers. Ulcers, or intestinal holes, often are not found until an individual is older, but taking excess amounts of aspirin or ibuprofen as a teenager can lead to this painful condition.

It is important to talk to teenagers about overusing aspirin and ibuprofen due to its long term effects.  It can be an easy problem to be unaware of as a parent. It may not seem to be a problem at first,  but before you know it, your teenager could be setting themselves up for major health problems. If your teenager feels that they need to take aspirin or ibuprofen due to pain, a doctor should be consulting to recommend a safe dosage.

Filed Under: Expert Advice, Medical Tagged With: , ,

Good things about medical insurance

Children’s are going to have fun during winter vacation. All the kids want their winter vacation to be an enjoyable one. There are lot of activities that can be done during winter season. This is a good time the kids are going to learn about different activities which are done during winter season.

Parents should always be with them to teach them about these activities. Some of the sports played during winter are ice skating, snow skiing, sledding and snowmobiling. The kids should be warmed up in equal interval of times when they are playing out side in the snow.  Warm clothing should be done properly for the kids. Snow activities like ice skating, skiing and more can be bad for the kid’s health. It has been found that lot injuries are caused when playing in the snow. Skiing causes injuries and fractures so every one should be carefully and especially children’s. All the safety measures have to be taken while playing with snow.

Icy surface is slippery so you should be careful. The kids should wear helmet while ice-skating or skiing. Most of the time cold and flu like disease are caused to children’s and also to elderly people. Now day’s health insurance is taken by every one. You cannot say at what time the insurance is going to help you out. Insurance benefits you all the time. Health insurance is considered to be a long term investment. Insurance is some thing that saves your money when you are suddenly hospitalized. Mainly insurance is taken by people to prevent financial loss. The two important factors that come in health insurance is time and risk. You should check what all things are covering in your health insurance. Make sure that you purchase one that covers your family insurance also. You are investing it for your future. Few things should be kept in mind before selecting insurance plan. The financial thing is also important. You should always select a plan that get more benefit for your family by giving less amount of money. Be sure that you pay the premium on time.

Filed Under: Medical Tagged With: , ,

Children need Vitamins and Minerals to be Healthy Adults

Feeding growing children all of the essential nutrients, like Vitamins A, C, and Calcium, is very important. Children cannot eat junk food all the time and hope to grow up and be healthy. It is very easy to find foods that your children will like that will actually be good for them.

Vitamin A is found in carrots, both cooked and uncooked. Children need vitamin A for healthy eyes and bones. While carrots may be a tough sell to some kids, you can often mash them up and add them to other foods.

Vitamin C is in fruit juices like orange juice and apple juice.  Giving your child just a glass or two a day is more than enough to help them ward off colds and help injuries.

Calcium is another essential nutrient for children. Milk is packed with calcium, which will help children grown strong teeth and bones. Even chocolate milk, ice cream or cheese contain a healthy dose of calcium.

There are many vitamins and minerals necessary for a growing children and it is a parent’s job to point their children in the right direction. Teaching your children at a young age to enjoy eating healthy will give them the possibility of a better life. Children are very vulnerable, especially when they are growing. Give them a chance at a healthy life by teaching them how to eat right.

Filed Under: Child Development, Medical Tagged With: , ,

Take Extra Measures to Avoid Bronchitis

Getting over a cold or upper respiratory infection can seem like a never-ending chore. Once you start to feel better, you want to just be over the illness for good. However, this is when you have to be careful because you are at risk of developing acute bronchitis. This is characterized by a dry, itchy throat, coughing, congestion and fever. Since your immune system is weakened when you have a cold, if you do not let your body full recovery, bronchitis can develop and keep you out of commission for a long time.

People who smoke are at the highest risk of prolonged illness, including chronic bronchitis, which could last for months.  Smoking while having a cold will often quickly transition into bronchitis. You should take extra care when you are sick and avoid inhaling toxins caused by cigarettes, cigars, cars and household chemicals. These can all weaken your body’s immune system and make it more susceptible to bronchitis.

The key to preventing bronchitis is to give your body a chance to fully recover from a cold or upper respiratory infection. You do not want to rush back into stressful situations or begin smoking until you are healthy again.  Bronchitis can be very painful on your lungs and throat, so a few extra days of taking it easy will be more than worth it in the end.

Filed Under: Expert Advice, Medical Tagged With: , ,
« Older Posts