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Diagnosed diabetic? Don’t fret, know how to control it Hirsutism: Growing agony in females Health Notes
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Diagnosed diabetic? Don’t fret, know how to control it The growing culture of fast food and leading a luxurious life are among the main causes giving rise to the number of diabetes patients in India. Diabetes is not a disease that comes with age, it can hit you anytime. Unfortunately, India happens to be the diabetes capital of the world with more than 61.3 million people suffering from this problem. It is an acute condition when either our body does not produce enough insulin or has cells that do not respond properly to the insulin the pancreas produces, resulting in too much glucose build-up in the blood. Insulin is a hormone that is produced by the pancreas, which the pancreas releases in adequate quantity to help glucose move in the blood. There are three main types of diabetes: Type 1 diabetes — Pancreas do not produce insulin at all. Type 2 diabetes — The insulin produced does not suffice the needs or does not work properly Gestational diabetes — When one develops diabetes during pregnancy. While diabetes types 1 and 2 are chronic medical conditions — they are persistent and last a lifetime — gestational diabetes usually goes away after childbirth. Pre-diabetes, also referred to as borderline diabetes, represents a key stage when the person is diagnosed between normal blood sugar and diabetic levels. It defines a stage before the development of diabetes with normal glucose tolerance, but with an increased risk of developing diabetes in the near future. Such individuals are at a much higher risk of developing diabetes than the general population and are often recommended to undergo a diabetes test at least once a year and follow a proper diet and exercise regime. People who face a greater risk of acquiring diabetes can be identified as follows:
Usually people depend on orally-taken pills to control their sugar levels, delivery devises like insulin pen, insulin injections and the smarter ones use insulin pumps. An insulin pump is a small mechanical device which works more like a healthy pancreas. It is programmed to deliver the correct dosages based on the individual’s needs. If any of the above-mentioned symptoms are troubling you, seek professional help at the earliest. Diabetes, if left undiagnosed, may damage organs of the body like the eyes, kidneys, heart, feet, nerves and even the brain. Therefore regular screening for diabetes is necessary to detect and treat the disease at its grassroot level itself. The good news about diabetes is that most of the cases are preventable or can be controlled if you alter your lifestyle and bring a few healthy changes. Some of the main things that should be strictly managed are:
The writer is Consultant (Endocrinology), Alchemist Hospital, Panchkula. |
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Hirsutism: Growing agony in females Hirsutism is excessive hair growth in certain areas of a woman’s face and body such as the moustache and beard area. This creates a “male pattern” of hair. Women normally can have fine, pale, faintly visible hair in these areas, but heavy hair growth in a male pattern with coarse or dark hair is not expected. Hirsutism in women means that hair follicles are being over-stimulated by testosterone or other androgen hormones. Androgens are the dominant sex hormones in men. Women normally have low levels of androgens, but abnormally high levels of androgens can lead to excess The presence of excessive bodily and facial hair, usually in a male pattern, especially in women, may be present in normal adults as an expression of an ethnic characteristic or may develop in children or adults as a result of androgen excess due to tumours or owing to the use of nonandrogenetic or other drugs. Besides an excessive amount of hair, the patient may also have other symptoms such as oily skin, acne, alopecia, a receding hairline, an enlarged clitoris and voice changes such as a deeper voice.
The causes
Hirsutism can be caused by either an increased level of androgens, the male hormones, or an oversensitivity of hair follicles to androgens. Male hormones such as testosterone stimulate hair growth, increase the size and intensify the growth and pigmentation of hair. High-circulating levels of insulin in women are also believed to contribute to the development of hirsutism. This theory is speculated to be consistent with the observation that obese (and thus presumably insulin-resistant hyperinsulinemic) women are at a high risk of becoming hirsute. Further, treatments that lower insulin levels will lead to a reduction in hirsutism. Insulin, at high enough concentration, stimulates the ovarian theca cells to produce androgens. There may also be an effect of high levels of insulin to activate the insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-1) receptor in those cells. Again, the result is increased androgen production. Medical history is important with special attention to menstrual cycles. If one has a normal cyclic pattern of menstrual periods, hirsutism is most likely genetic (inherited). If menstrual cycles are irregular and have always been irregular, the cause could be the polycystic ovary syndrome. If hirsutism and menstrual irregularity are new, the evaluation for a potentially more serious condition such as a tumour of the ovary adrenal glands or pituitary gland is recommended. This is especially important if a woman is skipping periods. If one has mild hirsutism and doesn’t have any symptoms that suggest overproducing androgen hormones, one may not need any additional testing. Hormones testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone may be measured to check for the signs of polycystic ovary syndrome, ovary tumours, adrenal gland tumours, adrenal gland hormone deficiencies (causing overgrowth, or hyperplasia, of the adrenal glands) or tumours that can stimulate the adrenal glands. The hormone prolactin may be measured to check for the signs of a tumour in the pituitary gland. Blood sugar and cholesterol levels may be tested because diabetes and high levels of cholesterol commonly are associated with some causes of hirsutism. In some cases, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain, a computed tomography (CT) scan of the adrenal glands or an ultrasound of the ovaries is necessary.
Treatment
If a specific cause of hirsutism is diagnosed, the treatment is focused and specific for the aetiological factor. For women who are overweight, losing weight may reduce androgen levels and improve hirsutism. For all women with hirsutism, cosmetic treatments and medical treatments that decrease the levels of androgens or their impact on hair follicles
can be helpful. Laser hair-reduction techniques work on the principle of using light to generate heat inside hair follicles, which destroys the ability of hair to grow from the follicle. However, lasers also have limitations and do not produce the same good results in every patient. In addition, lasers do not produce permanent hair removal; they achieve hair reduction and that too in multiple sittings.
Preventing hirsutism
Most causes of hirsutism are beyond a woman’s control. One should avoid unnecessary medicines that are known to cause hirsutism. The writer is a dermatologist and dermato-laser surgeon, National Skin Hospital, Mansa Devi Complex,
Panchkula. |
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Cherries may help you get a good night’s sleep
Wellington: If you have the problem of struggling with sleep, Central Otago cherries could be just the bedtime remedy, say researchers. They say Cherries grown in sun-rich Central Otago are a natural source of melatonin at levels 30 times higher than their northern hemisphere counterparts. Melatonin is a hormone that is naturally present in the human body and aids sleep. The findings come from research commissioned by Fruision Ltd, a joint venture between Hamilton-based Quantec Ltd, a company specialising in developing health remedies from natural products, and Alexandra-based fruitgrower Summerfrui, Stuff.co.nz reported. Previous studies published in the United States have shown northern hemisphere cherries to have levels of melatonin at two to 15 nanograms per gram.
— ANI
Pelvic bone stem cells could help preserve heart function
Washington: Scientists, including an Indian-origin, have revealed that stem cells from the pelvic bone may help the heart beat stronger. Doctors and other clinicians at the Orlando Health Heart Institute are researching the use of stem cells from pelvic bone marrow to restore tissue and improve heart function after muscle damage from heart attacks. “The thought is the body may use itself to heal itself,” Vijaykumar S. Kasi, principal investigator of the study, said. “Because stem cells are immature cells they have the potential to develop into new blood vessels and preserve cardiac muscle cells. By infusing certain stem cells into the area of the heart muscle that has been damaged from a heart attack, tissue can be preserved and heart function restored,” Kasi said. — ANI
Walking may help treat depression
London: Taking a brisk walk could play an important role in fighting depression, according to researchers in Scotland. Vigorous exercise has already been shown to lessen symptoms of depression, but the effect of less strenuous activities was unclear. A study in the journal Mental Health and Physical Activity showed walking had a “large effect” on depression. One in 10 people may suffer from depression at some point in their lives. The condition can be treated with drugs, but doctors for mild symptoms commonly prescribe exercise. Researchers at the University of Stirling scoured academic studies to find data on one of the mildest forms of exercise — walking. They found eight studies, on a total of 341 patients, which fitted the bill. The report’s authors showed “walking was an effective intervention for depression” and had an effect similar to other more vigorous forms of exercise. “Walking has the advantages of being easily undertaken by most people, incurring little or no financial cost and being relatively easy to incorporate into daily living,” the BBC quoted the authors as saying. However, they cautioned that much more research needed to be done. There are still questions over how long, how fast and whether walking should take place indoor or outdoors. — ANI
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Cherries may help you get a good night’s sleep
Sedentary lifestyle, lack of physical activity, stress and calory rich diet are some other factors behind the high incidence of diabetes in India.