Diabetes the point of no return? Only with poor lifestyle choices.
Friday, April 29, 2016 - Posted by SunnyHealth - 0 comments


Diabetes Type 2, along with high blood pressure and high cholesterol, has always been known to be a chronic disease. Once a person contracts it, he is almost guaranteed to be enslaved to a lifetime of medication to keep the condition under control. Failing to do so could lead to even more health conditions.

But local taxi driver 64-year old Mr Song Hee Pheow is a walking testimony that Type 2 diabetes is reversible with the right lifestyle improvements. Mr Song was diagnosed with diabetes a year and half ago. He was frightened of the thought of having to take diabetes medicine everyday, so he made up his mind to change his lifestyle.

New lifestyle habits he adopted:
•    Walk five storeys up to his flat every day
•    Drink vegetable smoothies every morning
•    Reduce consumption of red meat, oily and fried foods, and soft drinks
•    Adopt walking as a regular form of exercise

These changes were a drastic improvement from the poor lifestyle habits he initially had, which included sitting for several hours as part of his job as a taxi driver, not exercising at all, and drinking soft drinks every day.

He has successfully brought his blood sugar levels under control and no longer requires medication. On top of that, he has lost weight, brought down his cholesterol levels and falls sick less often.

Researchers at Newcastle University did a study with results implying that Type 2 diabetes can be reversed through dietary changes. They created an extreme diet plan for a small trial involving 30 type-2 diabetes patients. For eight weeks, the patients drank a diet milkshake three times daily and ate some 200 grams of non-starchy vegetables, totaling about 700 calories a day.

The outcome was that for many of them, the diabetes disappeared, and nearly half the participants had no diabetic symptoms for nearly six months after they reverted to a healthy diet.

Those who experienced a reversal of diabetic symptoms had had diabetes for less than four years. They also generally led a healthier lifestyle than those who did not experience a reversal in symptoms.

While there is no proven explanation for the reversal, it is hypothesised that elimination of excess fat from the liver and pancreas helps kick-start insulin production to bring sugar levels to normal. Further research will need to be done to find more conclusive, long-term solutions on reversal of diabetes.

Despite the promising results for Mr Song and participants of the Newcastle extreme diet study, it must be emphasised that it is potentially dangerous to embark on a sudden change in diet and lifestyle as health complications could develop. It is always important to consult your doctor on the type of food and exercise you are suited for.

For long-term sufferers of diabetes, not all is lost. Keep up with good lifestyle habits and you will at least prevent your diabetic symptoms from worsening as well as thwart the onset of other related diseases. With increased awareness on diabetes and greater urgency towards curbing this disease, we may well have a solution in the near future.

References:

http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/lifestyle-changes-fitness-regimen-help-cabbie-beat-disease

http://qz.com/669254/its-possible-to-reverse-type-2-diabetes-in-some-people-and-its-not-even-that-difficult/


Sugar makes you age faster
Thursday, April 21, 2016 - Posted by SunnyHealth - 0 comments
 
Sugar does that too

We all have to grow old one day. Aging is a natural process and can be an enjoyable part of life if you’re living life to the fullest in good health. Instead of fretting about prolonging youth with artificial methods, we should focus on how not to speed up the aging process. Especially so because premature ageing due to poor diet and lifestyle choices often involves health problems.

“Sweet” is often associated with youth. Think terms like “Sweet young thing”, and the Harajuku fashion style in Japan where sugary-sweet pastels are commonly used to create youthful, energetic fashion coordinates. Beautifully-decorated desserts adorned with adorable colour schemes and designs, like macarons and donuts, are all the rage, drawing young women like bees to honey. And of course there’s the term "sugar high" that suggests that a sugar break is what one needs to get all energized and excited. 

Yet sugar not only contributes to a myriad of health problems, but in fact, speeds up the aging process.

Sugar is acidic, and excessive consumption of sugar can cause the blood stream to become neutral or mildly acidic, causing cells to age faster, and hairs to turn yellowish and white.

Sugar also leads to wrinkles. According to UK nutritionist, Dr Marilyn Glenville, sugar reacts with protein to create advanced glycation end-products (AGEs). These substances cause skin to be wrinkled and cell structures to harden.

Naturally-occurring sugars (think sugar within fruits) are fine as these are usually consumed with fibre, which slows down digestion of the sugar and reduces the impact it has on the blood stream. Refined sugars are the ones to beware of. Examples of refined sugars include the table sugar we use to sweeten our tea and coffee, for baking and cooking, sugar used in desserts (ice cream included, unfortunately), cookies and edible decorations on cakes and desserts, powdered sugar, also known as confectioner's sugar, commonly found sprinkled on cakes and donuts. Needless to say, sweets and chocolates are sources of refined sugar.

Don’t be fooled by natural and artificial sweeteners, which claim to offer a healthier alternative without refined sugar. Fructose, a common ingredient in natural sweeteners, sits in the liver and may lead to health issues like high cholesterol. Artificial sweeteners, on the other hand, could lead to increased appetite and consequently, weight gain. This is because the body expects calories when it detects something sweet. When that isn’t delivered, we end up seeking out more food to satisfy energy needs.

Don’t panic if you’ve spent your lifetime indulging in sweet food. It is not too late for a lifestyle change. Foods high in anti-oxidants, like blue berries, can halt skin damage caused by the AGEs. Omega 3 fatty acids cool inflammation caused by sugar. Rich sources include flaxeed oil, chia seeds, salmon, walnuts. Vitamin C stimulates collagen production and destroys free radicals that can cause premature ageing so be sure to eat your fruits and vegetables daily. 

Cut down on the refined sugar, and switch to healthier sweet alternatives, such as honey, maple syrup and brown rice syrup, which contain natural sugars. Very importantly, be sure to get your 8 hours of sleep daily. Lack of sleep slows down metabolism and inhibits hormone production. It also weakens your facial muscles, causing sagging. You’ll notice and improvement in tone and texture in your skin when you get regular, sufficient rest!

Sources: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/will-sugar-make-you-old
http://sculptmyhealth.com/how-sugar-ages-your-skin/
http://www.livestrong.com/article/67126-refined-sugars/
http://mypaper.sg/chinese-lifestyle/shi-tian-shi-xiao-xin-bai-fa-20160404




Is that feeling of gassiness indigestion? Or a heart attack?
Thursday, April 14, 2016 - Posted by SunnyHealth - 0 comments
 
Not all heart attacks look like that, especially not in women!

 The classic visual symptom of a heart attack is to clutch at the chest possibly with a pained expression on the face. In fact, chest pain is just one of the many symptoms of heart attack, and women, who have a fairly different set of heart attack symptoms from men, may not even display it.

Heart attack can in fact, induce early symptoms as far as a month ahead of the actual onset. If you pay attention to your health, you can avoid complications and seek treatment early and safely.

Heartline gives an excellent run-down of the symptoms related to heart attack:

Generally, early symptoms include one or more of the following:
  • mild pain or discomfort in chest that may come and go
  • pain in shoulders, neck, and jaw
  • perspiring
  • nausea or vomiting
  • lightheadedness or fainting
  • breathlessness
  • feeling of "impending doom"
  • severe anxiety or confusion
Due to the commonality of some of these symptoms, doctors may misdiagnose or downplay the severity of your condition. Trust your instincts. If you’re in a high-risk group, you definitely should get a check up for safe measure.

Typically, those who are at higher risk of having heart attacks are men, people with a family history of heart disease, smokers and ex-smokers, those with high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, obesity and previous incidences of heart attack.

The onset of heart attack has several symptoms, and they differ for men and women.

For men:
  • pain, squeezing sensation, pressure in the chest that could vary in intensity or frequency
  • Discomfort in any parts of the upper body, including your arms, left shoulder (nearer to the heart which is on the left), back, neck, jaw, stomach
  • Rapid or irregular heartbeat
  • Feeling of indigestion
  • Shortness of breath, even when resting
  • Dizziness or feeling like you're going to pass out
  • Breaking out in a cold sweat

For women:
  • unusual fatigue lasting for several days or sudden severe fatigue
  • sleep disturbances
  • anxiety
  • lightheadedness
  • shortness of breath
  • indigestion or gas-like pain
  • upper back, shoulder, or throat pain
  • jaw pain or pain that spreads up to the jaw
  • pressure or pain in the center of your chest, which may spread to the arm
Women over 50 may experience the following symptoms:
  • severe chest pain
  • pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach
  • rapid or irregular heartbeat
  • sweating
According to medical journal Circulation, a study of 515 women indicated that the most frequently reported symptoms of heart attack did not include chest pain. The more common symptoms are unusual fatigue, sleep disturbances, and anxiety.

Sometimes, the symptoms are so mild that you don’t even realise that you’ve had a heart attack! Not seeking timely treatment can be fatal.  
Symptoms of possible silent heart attacks include:
  • mild discomfort in your chest, arms, or jaw that goes away after resting
  • shortness of breath and tiring easily
  • sleep disturbances and increased fatigue
  • abdominal pain or heartburn
  • skin clamminess
Silent heart attacks are more common among diabetic people and those who have had previous heart attacks. Indeed, it is no exaggeration to compare those who have had previous heart attacks to a ticking time bomb.

Again, some of these symptoms are susceptible to misdiagnosis. I know of a case in which a doctor misdiagnosed a patient’s feeling of indigestion and heart discomfort as gastric. Fortunately, the patient received timely treatment during the actual onset of his heart attack. But he could have required less damaging, intrusive treatment if the doctor had correctly identified his symptoms. Misdiagnoses are rarely reported in the news unless they are fatal. Yet timely intervention could mean not having to undergo surgery or a mechanical pump for the rest of your life.

The bottom line is, there is more to heart attack than chest pain!  Additionally, all heart attacks are different, some patients may only experience certain types of symptoms. Some may even experience symptoms outside the above list.

It is important to go for regular health check-ups if you belong to the high-risk group or are 50 years old and above. Above all, have a healthy lifestyle that includes exercise, healthy eating, sufficient water and rest.  


Dry eyes? Here's how to maximise the effect of your eye drops with safe use!
Friday, April 08, 2016 - Posted by SunnyHealth - 0 comments


Eye drops are a godsend if you work full-day in an air-conditioned office, and spend most of your awake time looking at the screens of your PC and other mobile gadgets, like many a typical Singaporean.

Most regular eye drops, or artificial tears, are easily available at any pharmacy, and there are usually no clear instructions on the dosage. Most typically contain the rather unhelpful message of “as often as required”. Of course, too much of something is never good, especially when it comes to chemical products.

Is it possible to overdose on eye drops, or even develop a reliance on it? Can one reach a point when dry eyes become unresponsive to eye drops?

Happily, it is not quite possible to get addicted to eye drops. According to WebDM, it  is not possible to become overly dependent on artificial tears lacking preservatives. These eye drops contain harmless moisturizing substances and no medication, so they can indeed be used as often as required.

If you find that you have to increase the frequency of using eye drops, or you’re having to utilise it so extensively that it becomes intrusive to your lifestyle, you should seek medical advice from a doctor. In the case of severe chronic dry eyes, other more suitable treatments would have to be sought.

A frequent need to use eye drops can also be due to inappropriate administration, leading to wastage and inadequate lubrication. In a bid to save time, many of us tend to just drip the drops in, blink rapidly and go about with the task at hand. Often times, you may also find that some of the eye drops just roll down your face. Here are the right steps to administer eye drops so you maximize their usage:



1) Wash your hands before handling the eye drop container. Do not touch the tip of the dropper as you could contaminate it.

2) Tilt your head upwards, and aim the drop in the outer corner (away from the nose bridge) of your eye.

3) Don’t blink rapidly. That does not help with absorption of the drop, but will instead, pump the drop out of your eye. Blink normally, or simply close your eye.

4) Do not use tissue to dab at your eye. Instead, place a clean finger where the eye meets the nose bridge to keep the drop from draining.

5) One drop at a time! The eye only has the capacity to hold on to one eye drop. So take a break and close your eye after one drop, and only administer the next one when that drop has gone in. 



If you are wearing contact lenses, that restricts the types of eye drops you can use with it. Eye drops that can be used with contact lens will have something to the effect of this stated on the package: Safe to use with contact lens.

To improve your eye health and avoid relying on eye drops, it is important to give your eyes ample rest from all the electronics. When we are focused on staring at our screens, we tend to blink less and that causes your eyes to feel tired, dry and strained. Chronic dry eyes can be a major annoyance as they tend to feel tired, itchy and even painful throughout the day.

Every 30 minutes, stop your work, look away and close your eyes, or blink them at normal speed until they feel moist. Every hour, stand up, stretch, go to the window and look out at the trees. Not just your eyes, but possibly your entire well-being will feel better with these little breaks. Above all, never rub your eyes no matter how tempting it may be. It may feel momentarily satisfying, but you risk injuring your eyes.

Eye drops that relieve eye redness are a different matter altogether. Rebound eye redness is a side effect of overuse of eye drops intended to relieve eye redness. Over-the-counter eye drops reduce redness, but do not get rid of the cause of the redness, which could be due to inflammation, cornea scratch etc. Prolonged overuse of eye drops to relieve redness without solving the problem can cause permanent redness and damage to blood vessels in the eye. If your red eye persists for more than 24 hours with no improvement, it is advisable to see a doctor.



References:
http://www.everydayhealth.com/news/dos-and-donts-when-using-eyedrops/
http://www.livestrong.com/article/175250-side-effects-of-over-using-red-eye-drops/
http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/eyedrops-an-ocean-of-uses?page=3