Disease Fact Sheets - Report Example

Disease Fact Sheet Obesity: Obesity has been described in the medical terminology as a chronic condition, where there exists excessive amount of body fat. This is usually measured with the help of measurement of a person’s BMI, that is, Body Mass Weight. This is not to be mistaken with being over weight. Symptoms: The main symptoms that have been identified with obesity include the following conditions: Large abdomens; Adipose tissues formation in the breast region in boys Also, in males, the external genitals appear to be disproportionate; Increase in mass in the limbs of the person; Occurrence of Genu Valgum (Knock kneed) Lethargy; Breathless All these symptoms may be present in the individual or some may hold true, but the presence of three or more of these symptoms usually point out to obesity. Causes: The causes of the occurrence of this disease include mainly physical inactivity and a high intake of simple carbonates or calories in the diet (Hunskaar S 2008). This holds mostly true but there are also other causes that lead to obesity in individuals including Generics, as it is a proven fact that a person is more susceptible to obesity if one or both parents suffer from it. Also, if the metabolic rate of a person is slow, the chances of the occurrence of obesity in the person are correspondingly high. Medications such as antidepressents, anti-convulsants, carbamazepine, and diabetes medication all lead to an increased chance of obesity in a person. Diet: The control of the diet in the cases of obesity is extremely important and thus it is important. The most important factor that needs to be considered while forming the diet chart for an obese patient is to ensure that the intake of calories, carbohydrates and fat is controlled and reduced considerably (Mela D). The diet should also be free of high intakes of sugar as well as salt. Instead of this, the diet should include fruits and vegetation, legumes, whole grains and nuts. The main aim of the diet should be to achieve energy balance and limit the energy intake. The diet should shift from a high saturated fat diet to unsaturated fats. List of Contacts: There are a number of contacts that are in place around the world to help individuals facing this problem. These are present both at the international as well as the local level. The most common programs are the locally held centers and programs like Weight Watchers, Overeaters Anonymous, and Jenny Craig. There are also present certain health lines that look into matters of obesity like in Australia there is the health line 1300 806 258, and the corresponding website is www.gethealthynsw.com.au. There are also online sites like Diet and Weight Management General accessed at http://www.medicinenet.com/diet_and_weight_management/article.htm. Medication: There are today present a number of medication that is subscribed to those suffering from the disease including Orlistat, which helps in the reduction of intestinal fat absorption and Sibutramine which helps in decreasing the appetite (Thompson A 2009). Only these two are approved by the FDA. Other medications are also present like the Rimonabant. Lifestyle recommendations: The most important fact that needs to be taken into account is that a healthy lifestyle has to be developed and maintained. The lack of a healthy life style is the main cause of most of the diseases prevalent like obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc. Regular physical exercise is required in this and also smoking habits should be given up to ensure better physical management. Dietary control is also important where balanced nutrition should be maintained. Type II Diabetes: There are two types of diabetes, of which Diabetes Mellitus is the second type. In this form of diabetes the body cells are unable to process the insulin produced in the body due to which there is the presence of high blood sugar in the body. Symptoms: The symptoms that are usually present in the individuals suffering from the second type of diabetes include: Polyuria, which leads to frequency in urination; Polyphagia, which causes the patients to experience hunger increase; Polydipsia, which leads to an increase in thirst in the patients; and It also has an irreducible mental fatigue. Causes: The main cause of DM in individuals is either related to their lifestyles as well as their generic conditions. It has been seen that people who suffer from obesity run a high risk of suffering from DM also. There is seen that consumption of large amount of alcohol is also harmful (Dobson, M.1776). Another important cause of DM is lack of physical activity and also environmental toxins contribute to DM, where there has been seen that there exist a positive relation between Bisphenol A and DM. the other important factor that contributes to DM is generics and it has been seen that the risk of individuals whose either one or both parents were diabetic is higher than those whose parents were not diabetic. Diet: It has been seen that the regulation of the diet is important in the case of those patients suffering from DM. in the case of this there has to be ensured that there is maintained a daily schedule and diet. The intake of food and nutrients should not be varied much on different days (Gerstein HC, Yusuf S, Bosch J, et al 2006). Also there has to be ensured that the blood sugar level is maintained, so there is seen that there is need for eating something in every two hours. Also the intake of sugar should not be high and should be high in fiber (Barnard ND, Katcher HI, Jenkins DJ, Cohen J, Turner-McGrievy G 2009). The daily diet should include a fruit, milk, and starch in case of all those suffering from diabetes. Intake of fat should also be regulated along with the cholesterol level in the body. List of Contacts: Diabetes helps lines exist almost in all countries around the world. These include some of the following: Diabetes Helpline: 1-800-941-4635 National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Diabetes Helpline: 1-800-891-5390 Diabetes Helpline: 1-800-891-5359 Children with diabetes, online community, accessed at http://www.childrenwithdiabetes.com/. Diabetes Helpline online, accessed at http://www.linkedin.com/in/diabetes2helpline The support program Peer Support helps link individuals suffering from diabetes together so that they can support each other and maintain a healthy lifestyle (Knowler WC, Fowler SE, Hamman RF, 2009). Medication: Medication for diabetics is very limited in nature and the only medication available is synthetic insulin, which is usually mixed with regular or NPH insulin. Lifestyle: The most important fact that needs to be maintained is as mentioned above, that is, maintenance of a healthy life style including plenty of exercise and ensuring that the blood pressure is maintained and dietary support is ensured. Candida: Candida is usually the development of the yeast organisms in the body of the individuals. It is an epidemic disease, but is usually misdiagnosed by doctors due to lack of knowledge. Symptoms: There are a number of symptoms that are usually present in individuals suffering from Candida. These include individuals suffering from gas or bloating, headaches and migraines, excessive tiredness, apprehension, craving for alcohol, rectal itching, hyperactivity, constipation or diarrhea, occurrence of acne, etc. Causes: Candida is a form of yeast that is already present in the human body and is usually highly useful in the functioning of the body. But there has been seen that if there are imbalances created in the body then the growth of this organism can increase manifolds causing problems in the human body (Darwazeh A, Lamey P, Samaranayake L, MacFarlane T, Fisher B, Macrury S, MacCuish A 1990). There is no consensus among the practioners of medicine s to the cause of this in the human system, but is generally believed that there are high chances of occurrence of Candida in individuals whose immune system of the body is weak. Thus individuals suffering from aids, diarrhea, malaria, cancer, depression are all highly susceptible to the occurrence of Candida in the system. There has also been realized that the prolonged usage of any medication can also lead to the development of this condition. Diet: There has to be ensured that a healthy diet is maintained to cleanse the body of the yeast growth. The diet should include low amounts of sugar and simple carbohydrates as the yeast feeds upon sugar (Nguyen NH, Suh SO, Blackwell M 2007). There can also be undertaken various steps to ensure that the body is cleansed of toxins and wastes. Fasting can be adopted. Also there can be employed detox herbs. Plenty of water as well as fresh vegetable juice in the diet also help ensure that the body is cleansed of the wasteful toxins that usually lead to the growth of Candida in the body. Help Lines: The helpline list for Candida is a little shorter but there are websites that can be accessed for information and help. These include http://www.eliminating-candida.com/candida.html or http://www.eliminating-candida.com/blog/2006/09/01/causes-of-candida/. Medication: The most common medication that is subscribed in the case of Candida includes oxygen based products like food grade hydrogen peroxide, caprylic acid, oregano oil, garlic, taheebo tea, grapefruit seed extract and colloidal silver. Prescription medication like Nystatin, Diflucan or Nizoral may be obtained by a physician, but carry a few risks. Reference:  Barnard ND, Katcher HI, Jenkins DJ, Cohen J, Turner-McGrievy G 2009: Vegetarian and vegan diets in type 2 diabetes management, Nutrition Reviews 67 (5): 255–6, May 2009. Darwazeh A, Lamey P, Samaranayake L, MacFarlane T, Fisher B, Macrury S, MacCuish A 1990: The relationship between colonisation, secretor status and in-vitro adhesion of Candida albicans to buccal epithelial cells from diabetics, J Med Microbiol 33 (1): 43–9 Dobson, M.1776: Nature of the urine in diabetes, Medical Observations and Inquiries 5: 298–310. Gerstein HC, Yusuf S, Bosch J, et al 2006: Effect of rosiglitazone on the frequency of diabetes in patients with impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glucose: a randomised controlled trial, Lancet 368 (9541): 1096–105, September 2006.  Hunskaar S 2008: A systematic review of overweight and obesity as risk factors and targets for clinical intervention for urinary incontinence in women, Neurourol, Urodyn. 27 (8): 749–57 Knowler WC, Fowler SE, Hamman RF, 2009:10-year follow-up of diabetes incidence and weight loss in the Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study, Lancet 374 (9702): 1677–86 Mela D: Food Diet and Obesity, Unilever Health Institute, The Netherlands, Woodhead Food Series, No 115. Nguyen NH, Suh SO, Blackwell M 2007: Five novel Candida species in insect-associated yeast clades isolated from Neuroptera and other insects, Mycologia 99 (6): 842–858. Thompson A 2009: Obesity Helpline taking calls, 27th February 2009, Mercury. Read More