LOW BLOOD PRESSURE

Home remedies to cure low blood pressure

While high blood pressure is much talked about and people are aware of its symptoms and effects, not many know about low blood pressure.
In fact, it affects a large number of people worldwide. Very often people don't realise they are suffering from it and often dismiss it as an one-off case of feeling dizzy or ill. It could be a sign of a serious issue with the heart, endocrine or even signal neurological disorders. Severe low blood pressure can block oxygen and vital nutrients from flowing to the brain and hence shouldn't be taken lightly.

Causes
There can be plenty of reasons why you may be suffering from low blood pressure.
Dehydration: Drinking enough water is extremely essential for your well-being. If you are one of those who get dehydrated easily, you must do something about it. One needs to drink more fluids than one loses. If you are one of those who work outdoors, ensure you keep sipping on liquids like nimbu paani. This will help keep the weakness in check.

Pregnancy: If you are pregnant, there's a good chance your pressure might drop. This is normal but gets you checked if it becomes too frequent.

Heart issues: Some heart problems could cause blood in your body to not circulate properly.
Deficiency of nutrients: A lack of some essential vitamins such as B-12 and iron can lead to anemia, which is turn, can result in low blood pressure.
Solution
- Increase your salt intake: Generally people are told to avoid using too much salt in their diet. For people suffering from low blood pressure, salt can help. Check with your doctor though before turning to salty foods.
- Drink more water: Water is necessary for your basic body functioning. It also helps prevent dehydration. Don't forget to increase your water intake if you're constantly feeling giddy.
Home remedies: Take a cup of the raw beetroot juice twice daily. It is one of the best home remedies for low blood pressure. Drinking a cup of strong black coffee can also help. Some people suggest making a paste of almonds and drinking with lukewarm milk.

Exercise: Include a little exercise in your daily regime. A walk or a quick swim can help circulate the blood.

TIPS FOR OBESITY RELATED PROBLEMS

1. Weight loss is also extremely important in prevention.
2. Drink plenty of water at least 10-15 glasses of water in a day.
3. Cut down your sugar and sweets intake.
4. Instead of using artificial sweeteners go for ‘Stevia’ a natural sweetener.
5. Avoid eating foods made with sugar other refined carbohydrates such as white rice and dry cereals.
6. Stay away from high glycemic index foods.
7. Eat lots of fiber, which is found in raw fruits and vegetables, beans, whole grains and oatmeal or oat bran.
8. Eat your meals and snacks at about the same times each day. Do not skip meals or snacks.
9. Avoid dried, preserved, or salted meats, like bacon, ham, beef jerky, and pepperoni
10. Heavily salted snacks, canned foods, soups, frozen foods, sauces, and condiments should be avoided.
11. Steer clear of table salt and salty seasonings.
12. Take high-potassium, low-sodium fruits and veg. like apple, avocado, cabbage, cauliflower, peppers etc.
13. Make use of low-fat or fat-free dairy products (serving sizes include 1 cup milk or yogurt).
14. Avoid foods containing high levels of saturated fats or trans fats—such as potato chips and cookies.
15. Consumption of healthy fats and oils like canola oil, olive oil etc. is very beneficial.
16. Include craft cheese instead of butter or whole milk and chicken and fish instead of Red Meat like    Mutton.
17. Intake of almonds, Walnut avocado, sesame seeds, garlic, and milk helps in relieving many symptoms.
18. Avoid foods rich in goitrogens like broccoli, peaches, peanuts, mustard, turnips, millets and sprouts etc.
19. Take a lot of fiber in form of whole cereals, pulses, fresh fruits and vegetables.
20. Use Iodized salt or rock salt instead of normal salt.
21. Take Grapefruit juice, coconut water and Green tea instead of coffee, tea and aerated drinks etc.
22. Include Bran, Barley, Ragi, Brown rice and other whole grains in your diet.
23. Less intake of high Purine food such as beef, pork and lamb and Alcohol especially Beer.
24. Avoid heavily fried and spicy foods.
25. Avoid frequent eating outs, junk and fried foods.
26. Avoid thick gravies and cream based dishes.
27. Soy and its products like tofu, soymilk etc. are very beneficial for lowering cholesterol.
28. Give at least 30 minutes of your day to exercise and work out.

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DIABETES- TYPE OF INSULIN

Types of Insulin

Different types of insulin preparations are distinguished by the speed at which the injected insulin is absorbed from the layer under the skin into the blood (onset of action) and by the time it takes for all the injected insulin to be absorbed (duration of action).

It is important to note that the duration and absorption times described below are only approximate. Absorption of insulin always depends on individual factors.

Insulin analogues

1.Rapid-acting insulin analogue
Onset: 10-20 minutes
Maximum effect: 1-3 hours
Duration: 3-5 hours
Indication: treatment of diabetes mellitus

2.Long-acting insulin analogue
Onset: 1 hour
Duration: 24 hours
Indication: treatment of diabetes mellitus

3.Biphasic insulin analogue
Onset: 10-20 minutes
Maximum effect: 1-4 hours
Duration: up to 24 hours

Human insulins

1.Short-acting insulin
(soluble human insulin)

This insulin comes in a clear solution, and is intended to be given at meals. An injection should be followed by a meal or snack containing carbohydrates within 30 minutes.
Onset: within 30 minutes
Maximum effect: 1-3 hours
Duration: 8 hours

2.Intermediate-acting insulin
(isophane human insulin, NPH)

An insulin formulation that contains a substance, which delays the absorption of insulin. The combination of insulin and a delaying substance usually results in the formation of crystals that give the liquid a cloudy look. The insulin crystals must be homogenised (mixed) evenly before each injection. Intermediate-acting insulin takes approximately 1 1/2 hours before it begins to have an effect. The largest effect occurs between 4 and 12 hours after the injection, and after approximately 24 hours, the whole dose has been absorbed
Onset: within 1.5 hours

Maximum effect: 4-12 hours
Duration: 24 hours

3.Premixed insulin

(biphasic human insulin consisting of e.g. 30% soluble and 70% isophane insulin)

Insulin containing a combination of a short-acting and an intermediate-acting insulin in standard proportions. These products eliminate the difficulty some individuals have while mixing insulin. The products come in several different premixed combinations containing 10-50% short-acting insulin and 90-50% intermediate-acting insulin, with the ratio of 30% short acting and 70% intermediate acting being the most used.

 Onset: within 30 minutes
Maximum effect: 2-8 hours
Duration: 24 hour

INJECTION SITE SELECTION

The most common injection site is the abdomen (or stomach). The back of the upper arms, the upper buttocks or hips, and the outer side of the thighs are also used. These sites are the best to inject into for two reasons:

• They have a layer of fat just below the skin to absorb the insulin, but not many nerves - which means that injecting there will be more comfortable than injecting in other parts of your body.
• They make it easier to inject into the subcutaneous tissue, where insulin injection is recommended.

   Depending on your body type, you'll find that certain injection sites work better than others.

• Some people, for example, prefer injecting in the abdomen because the insulin absorbs well there.
• But injecting in the abdomen isn't right for everyone, especially young children or people who are so thin and/or heavily muscled that they can't pinch up a half-inch of fat.

Consult with your doctor in choosing the injection sites that are best for you. Your doctor will consider both insulin absorption and site rotation.

DO NOT INJECT:

• near moles
• near scars
• areas that looked inflamed, infected, or have a rash
• within 2 inches of the naval (all the way around)
• the same spot (see "Rotating Your Injection Site," below)

WAYS OF INJECTING INSULIN

1. Hands.  Wash hands with warm, soapy water using plenty of friction.
2. Clean the site.  Make sure the injection site is clean and sterilized with soap and water or an alcohol pad.  The area should be dry before injecting because you need to make sure all the insulin gets under the skin.  If skin is wet you won't be able to tell.
3. Numbing the area.  You can numb the area with ice, a bag of frozen vegetables (never put cold objects directly on the skin, wrap them in a hand towel or wash cloth).  This is usually not necessary but sometimes helps children feel better about a forthcoming shot.
   Numbing creams that contain lidocaine are expensive and have some side effects and are not recommended for multiple daily injections.
   Cold insulin right from the refrigerator can causes stinging when injected.  It is fine to let your pen, or syringe warm up for 5 minutes, or, even the bottle of insulin for 5-10 minutes.
4. Pinch up a fold of skin surrounding the site you've selected. Hold it firmly with one hand you can inject insulin into muscle, but it is more painful and it is better to inject into fat when possible.
5. Inserting the needle.  Faster is better, inserting slowly will cause more pain.  Try inserting the needle almost like you would toss a dart.6.
6. Needle angle.  For adults or those with good fatty tissue, insert at a 90° angle. Thin adults and children may need to inject at a 45° angle.Try to get the needle all the way into fatty tissue below the skin, but not so deep that it hits the muscle below.
7. Injecting the insulin. Push the syringe plunger all the way in with a slow steady motion or firmly press the insulin pen injection button. The injection should take a couple of seconds, unless you take a very small dose. Let go of the skin.  

Remove the needle by pulling straight out. Twisting or shifting the needle's position will cause pain.  You may gently press on the injection site with your finger for a couple seconds. Do not rub or massage the skin where the insulin is injected; it can affect how fast the insulin is absorbed and acts within the body

7 Risk Factors for Type 2 Diabetes

7 Risk factors of Diabetes 2

1. Obesity

The number one risk factor for type 2 diabetes is obesity. The National Center for Health Statistics states that 30% of adults are obese. That's 60 million people. Greater weight means a higher risk of insulin resistance, because fat interferes with the body's ability to use insulin. According to the same study, the number of overweight kids has tripled since 1980. The number of children being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes has also risen.

2. Sedentary Lifestyle

The Surgeon General's Report on Physical Activity and Health (USA, 1996) states that "a sedentary lifestyle is damaging to health and bears responsibility for the growing obesity problems." Inactivity and being overweight go hand in hand towards a diagnosis of type 2. Muscle cells have more insulin receptors than fat cells, so a person can decrease insulin resistance by exercising. Being more active also lowers blood sugar levels by helping insulin to be more effective. It's a win-win.

3. Unhealthy Eating Habits

Ninety% of people who have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes are overweight. Unhealthy eating contributes largely to obesity. Too much fat, not enough fiber, and too many simple carbohydrates all contribute to a diagnosis of diabetes. Eating right is can turn the diagnosis around and reverse or prevent Type 2.

4. Family History and Genetics

It appears that people who have family members who have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes are at a greater risk for developing it themselves. African Americans, Hispanic-Americans and Native Americans all have a higher than normal rate of type 2 diabetes. Having a genetic disposition towards type 2 is not a guarantee of a diagnosis however. Lifestyle plays an important part in determining who gets diabetes.

5. Increased Age

It's a sad but true fact. The older we get, the greater our risk of type 2 diabetes. Even if an elderly person is thin, they still may be predisposed to getting diabetes. Scientists theorize that the pancreas ages right along with us, and doesn't pump insulin as efficiently as it did when we were younger. Also, as our cells age, they become more resistant to insulin as well.

6. High Blood Pressure and High Cholesterol

These two bad boys are the hallmark risk factors for many diseases and conditions, including type 2 diabetes. Not only do they damage your heart vessels but they are two key components in metabolic syndrome, a cluster of symptoms including obesity, a high fat diet, and lack of exercise. Having metabolic syndrome increases your risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

7. History of Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes affects about 4% of all pregnant women. It begins when hormones from the placenta make the mother insulin resistant. Many women who have gestational diabetes develop type 2 diabetes years later. Their babies are also at some risk for developing diabetes later in life.

Top 6 Diabetes Management Challenges for Senior

Not only is the risk for Type 2 diabetes more common as people get older, but physical, financial and medical issues are often compounded as people age. Not enough insurance coverage, co-existing medical problems, difficulties with transportation, lack of social support, being unable to be physically active, poor nutrition; all these can come into play when elderly patients are diagnosed with diabetes.

1. Diagnosis Can Be More Difficult

Diagnosing diabetes becomes more difficult when there are already underlying symptoms of other common conditions that frequently occur with aging. Older people may not pay attention to symptoms of chronic thirst and frequent urination, instead just chalking them up to old age. Problems such as blurred vision may be masked if cataracts or other age-related eye diseases are also concurrent. Fatigue and weakness in the extremities may also be overlooked as just a natural process of aging.

2. Complications Are More Likely

If diabetes is not diagnosed for a long period of time, the incidence of complications is higher due to the longterm damage of high blood sugar. If other medical problems are also occuring at the same time, these complications may not even be noticed until they become serious and life threatening.

·         blindness

·         kidney failure with resultant dialysis

·         peripheral vascular disease and impaired circulation with threat of amputation

·         cardiovascular disease

 

3. Affordable Health Care

Seniors might not be able to afford the extra expense of doctor visits, nutritionists, extra medications and supplies needed to keep diabetes under control. Very often private insurance is too expensive. There are options available to seniors for medical coverage, including Medicare Plan D which can help pay for prescriptions if you qualify for Medicare, state programs such as EPIC (Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage) and State Health Insurance Counseling and Assistance Programs(SHIP).

4. Transportation To and From Appointments

No longer being able to drive can be a big concern. It's hard to get to doctor's appointments, pharmacies, nutritionists and other health related destinations when there's no available transportation. Sometimes physical limitations prevent seniors from taking advantage of public transportation. Community-sponsored senior transportation may be offered at small to no charge. Local government offices or senior community centers can direct you to these services.

5. Adequate Nutrition

Sometimes a fixed income means trying to cut costs and live as economically as possible. Eating healthy can be expensive and difficult to accomplish. Nutritionally balanced meals are sometimes offered in area senior centers or through senior services agencies in the community. The Meals on Wheels program will deliver a healthy meal right to the door. Ask your doctor or nutritionist about low-cost food programs that are available in the area

.

6. Getting Enough Exercise

Physical activity is beneficial for all seniors but especially for seniors with diabetes. Exercise can help keep blood sugar in control. Limited mobility can interfere with getting enough exercise. Local gyms and community centers can offer exercise programs specifically designed for older adults, such as the Silver Sneakers program. Local hospitals may also be able to recommend senior fitness programs in your area. Always check with your physician before starting any exercise program.