Category Archives: General Health Stuff

Causes, Symptoms and Cures for Fatty Liver Disease

Fatty liver, which is among the most common liver problems, causes an accumulation of fat in the cells of the liver. Although fatty liver disease is usually not a life-threatening condition, not treating it on time can lead to several health complications. A high fat diet is the most common cause of fatty liver disease. There are quite a few other factors too like excessive alcohol intake, which can lead to the development of this liver condition.

A liver that contains little fat or no fat at all is considered to be healthy. When the amount of fat accumulated in the liver exceeds about five to ten percent of the liver’s weight, then the person is said to be suffering from fatty liver disease. Mild cases of fatty liver usually do not produce any symptoms or complications. However, excess deposition of fat can lead to serious liver problems like liver failure, cirrhosis, and even liver cancer. Mild cases of fatty liver disease are referred to as hepatic steatosis, whereas serious ones are called as steatohepatitis.

Causes of Fatty Liver Disease

Excessive alcohol consumption is the main cause of fatty liver disease. Other common causes of this liver problem include obesity caused due to a high fat diet and sedentary lifestyle. High blood pressure, diabetes, rapid weight loss, and insulin resistance can all led to the development of this liver problem. In rare cases, gastric bypass surgery might be responsible for fatty liver disease.

Other factors that play a part in causing this problem include malnutrition, long term use of certain prescription drugs, high cholesterol levels, inflammatory disease, hepatitis C, and HIV.

Symptoms of Fatty Liver Disease

The severity of fatty liver disease varies from individual to individual. Some might experience mild case of fatty liver which is not at all life-threatening, while others may suffer from intense discomfort.

Some common symptoms of this liver disease include dull pain in the right abdomen, fatigue, fever, and yellowing of skin and the eyes. Steatohepatitis may eventually lead to scar tissues or the formation of fibrosis in the liver. This can produce symptoms like liver enlargement, nausea, easy bruising and bleeding, discoloration of the skin, fatigue, and occasional pain in the right abdomen.

Fibrosis, over a period of time, can worsen to become cirrhosis. This can in turn lead to liver failure or even liver cancer. Studies have shown that steatohepatitis takes about 8 to 15 years to develop into cirrhosis. Liver cirrhosis is a very serious medical condition that can cause various symptoms like jaundice, swelling in the legs, fluid retention, bleeding of esophageal veins, and gynecomastia.

Since mild cases of fatty liver disease do not cause any symptoms and might go unnoticed, it is recommended to have routine medical check-ups and blood tests to diagnose this condition.

Treating Fatty Liver Disease

Fatty liver disease is treated by taking care of the underlying cause of the problem. In case of fatty liver caused due to excessive alcohol consumption, completely stopping alcohol intake can help to treat the condition. It is very important to correctly diagnose the cause of fatty liver disease. This is because there are far too many problems that can lead to the development of this liver condition. People who are obese will have to lose weight to cure this problem. Identifying and diagnosing this condition at an early stage can ensure complete recovery.

Causes of Pain in Lower Left Abdominal Region

Abdominal pain is usually caused due to the existence of certain health conditions. There are quite a few vital organs that are located around the abdomen. A health problem that affects any of these organs can lead to pain in the abdomen. This pain can be mild, intense, chronic or acute. All these factors depend on the case of the pain. Pain in the lower side of the abdomen is more common in females due to the presence of the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and the womb. Indigestion and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are two of the most common causes of lower left abdomen pain. Other problems that can cause this kind of pain are discussed below.

Constipation

Constipation can be defined as the inability to pass stool on a consistent basis. The most common causes of constipation include lack of fiber in the diet, dehydration, and stress. Abdominal discomfort, pain, and cramps are primary symptoms of constipation.

To treat constipation, you should drink more water and increase the consumption of fiber-rich foods. Serious cases of bowel obstruction might even require surgery.

Crohn’s disease

Crohn’s disease is a health condition that causes inflammation of the intestines. This chronic condition cannot be diagnosed easily. Crohn’s disease causes chronic pain on the lower left side of the abdomen.

Although there is no way to permanently cure Crohn’s disease, medications like antibiotics and inflammatory drugs; dietary and lifestyle changes, and surgery can help  to ease the symptoms of this disease.

 Diverticulitis

Diverticulitis is a problem that affects the large intestine. Pain and tenderness in the lower part of the abdomen are common symptoms of diverticulitis. This health condition commonly affects people who are above the age of 60.

The minor cases of diverticulitis can be cured with the help of medications, healthy diet and antibiotics. However, serious cases involving bowel obstruction might require hospitalization and surgery.

Kidney Stones

High level of uric acid or calcium in the body leads to the formation of kidney stones.  Dehydration is also among the leading causes of this common and painful condition. Kidney stones cause pain in the lower left or lower right of the abdomen, depending on where the stone is located. In addition to abdominal pain, kidney stones cause symptoms like groin pain, nausea, vomiting, and fever.

Kidney stones that are smaller in size often pass by themselves if you drink lots of fluids. However, in case of larger stones, surgery is usually advised.

Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis is almost identical to Crohn’s disease. This condition causes inflammation, sores, and ulcers in the inner lining of the rectum and the colon. Ulcerative colitis belongs to the category of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Abdominal pain and cramping, rectal bleeding, and weight loss are common symptoms of this health problem.

Being a chronic disorder, the symptoms of ulcerative colitis appear slowly. Treating this condition involves using antibiotics, anti-inflammatory medicines, painkiller, etc. Serious problems are treated through surgery.

Ectopic Pregnancy

Lower left abdominal pain during pregnancy can be a symptom of an ectopic pregnancy. It can also be a result of ligament pain due to enlarged cysts, uterus, luteal, etc.

Mild cases of ectopic pregnancy can be treated with the help of medications like Methotrexate, whereas serious problems require surgery.

Besides the common causes mentioned above, lower left abdominal pain can be a result of problems like bladder infection, gastroenteritis, pelvic inflammatory disease, abdominal aortic aneurysm, bowel cancer, food poisoning, ovarian cysts, menstrual cramps, urinary tract infection, etc. Having an X-ray is the best way of diagnosing the underlying cause of your abdominal pain.

Strength Exercises are Full of Advantages

Resistance training or strength training or weight training are exercises done for enhancing muscle mass in the body. More body has muscles, it is good for health. These workouts put external pressure on the body leading to build up of muscles. Muscles form when body is exerted rigorously. These exercises are amazing escape from health issues and also contribute in melting body fat.

There are exercises also that provide strength, hence called strength training exercises. Apart from them, resistance bands are also available. Dumbbells are also good for increasing muscles in the body. Strength training is for everyone. Especially when it is accompanied by cardio exercises, good diet and proper rest, its results are amazing. Vigorousness is experienced in the body that keeps active and help in carrying out chores in an easy and smooth manner.

People who are new to strength training should be much careful. These workouts can lead to injury too if not done in a proper manner. So, consult a doctor or do with much precision. These workouts can affect people with medical problems. Heart patients, liver patients, kidney patients, blood pressure patients etc should listen to their doctor prior starting strength workouts. Personal trainers are good to keep. They guide well and give you complete attention.

For more motivation to incorporate resistance workouts in routine, its benefits are given below. They will surely trigger you to daily do these exercises and look fantastic. The list of advantages is here:

Fat in the body can be removed with strength exercises. This is one of common and most beneficial benefit. Fatty people can believe on these exercises for losing weight. Weight training is particularly known for increasing muscles in the body. More muscle density help in weight loss. Muscle in the body makes body use more energy. For more energy body has to convert fats into energy fast, this would cause weight loss at last. Therefore, if you seriously want to shed kilos, start weight training workouts today itself.

Bones, muscles and body ligaments become strong and get strength. Resistance workouts have greater positive effect on them. Strength in the body is highly required for performing all actions with smoothness. Strength exercises tone up overall body and makes entire body strong. However, for strength it is important to do these exercises on a regular basis.

Heart disorders are common in people these days. Teenagers and young adults are also highly being diagnosed with heart problems each year. In curbing the number of heart patients strength workouts can come much in use. Sufferers of heart disease can also undertake these exercises and lessen their problem to an extent. Strength exercises keep check over blood pressure and heart rate, thus of use in keeping heart healthy.

These advantages can be enjoyed by anyone. Strength workouts are for everyone. Right execution of the exercises is mandatory. All care should be taken while doing them. Resistance exercises are extremely good to do and bring life on the right track. So, enjoy them and savor benefits.

 

10 Easy Ways towards a Healthy & Stress Free Life

Maintaining a healthy and a stress free lifestyle is not at all that difficult task. All that it requires is the willingness to do it rightly and devotedly. Making certain important and gradual lifestyle modification to your current lifestyle, this will help you gain the desired healthy life. Some of the important areas that you need to focus on while you are planning to lead a healthy and a stress free lifestyle they are diet, behavioral pattern, physical fitness, and emotional wellbeing. Ensure that you are taking proper care of these four major areas will help you lead a better health and a stress free lifestyle.

A healthy lifestyle begin with good eating habits, regular exercise, consider all the behavioral changes and consider taking all the essential effectual step to deal with your physical, emotional and psychological life.

  1. Make sure that you are planning to you day well in advance and make sure that you are strictly follow it with making any changes until and unless it is very important.
  2. It is not always about eating a healthy diet but one must also consider eating a balanced and a well proportionate diet. A well balanced diet is very important for you to consider while you wish to seek a healthy lifestyle.
  3. Your diet must include lots of vegetables, fresh fruits, green leafy vegetable, cereals, wholegrain, etc. Make sure that you also taking all the essential minerals and nutrients as well that will keep you healthy and stress free.
  4. Drink at least 7-8 glass of water each day as this will keep you hydrated all day long and will also help you rinses out all the toxin content from your body. Water also help you to keep your skin clean and glowing.
  5. Have a very active and a fit lifestyle, by keeping yourself occupied with some or the other physical activity. Learn to make use of the spare time that you may get while you are not doing anything.
  6. To achieve your goals more effectively you can gift yourself a very useful and interesting good health product, i.e. a speedometer. This speedometer will help you keep a proper track on the daily number of steps that you that you will be taking. Preferably a person can move up to 10,000 steps a day.
  7. Making necessary lifestyle changes and changing behavioral pattern. It is important for you to learn to accept things and overcome them without any regret or discontentment in your heart. As this can make you a emotional person and can severely harm you mentally.
  8. Be very strong with your emotions and always speak about what you feel and be open about your thoughts and be honest to yourself.
  9. The most important step that we always need remember and manage is your stress level.
  10. Maintain proper personal hygiene as it plays a very important role when it comes to health living along with a healthy mind which is majorly related with your good health.

These above mentioned tips will surely help you lead a healthy and a stress free lifestyle.

Foods and Drinks that Improve Skin Appearance

You can take good care of your skin without buying expensive cosmetics and skin care products. Although some skin care products can help to maintain a clear complexion to a certain extent, not all of them are free of harmful chemical ingredients. Moreover, skin care products only improve the outer appearance and do nothing to maintain healthy skin from the inside. To enhance your skin health from the inside and prevent common problems like acne, it is a must for you to follow a healthy diet plan. It is common to lose skin elasticity and develop wrinkles as you age. However, even this can be controlled by having a healthy diet plan in place. A diet consisting of antioxidant-rich foods is the best for you skin. Listed below are some of the top foods and drinks that should be a part of a skin care diet plan.

Green Tea

The fact that green tea contains very high quantity of antioxidants makes it a very effective drink for tackling the effects of dangerous free radicals. The antioxidants present in green tea are known to prevent premature aging by helping to protect the skin from potential damage caused by sunlight radiation. Consuming just about two to three cups of green tea each day can also help to prevent skin cancer. In addition to dealing with the skin damage in a better way, green tea helps to rejuvenate your skin cells. This healthy drink also fights inflammation and acne.

Water

Increasing water intake and drinking lots of it all through the day is the least one can do to improve skin health. Water gives your skin a clear and fresh appearance by flushing all the nasty toxins out of the body.

Lemon Water

Having lemon water is a good skin care technique. Being a natural antiseptic medicine, lemon helps to treat various skin related issues. The vitamin C present in this citrus fruit brings in a healthy glow by rejuvenating your skin from within. Regular consumption of lemon water will help to eliminate wrinkles and blackheads.

Carrots

Carrots have a lot of positive effects on your skin. Eating four or five carrots or consuming a glass or two of carrot juice every day can act as natural sun block. Having carrots on a regular basis can be very beneficial for people who frequently suffer from acne problems. Carrots contain a lot of skin-friendly nutrients like vitamin A, vitamin C and potassium. Consuming this vegetable regularly is a good way of achieving a clear complexion.

Salmon

The omega-3 fatty acids contained in salmon help to ease inflammation in the body. This can be helpful in reducing as well protecting the skin from sunburn and might even reduce the risk of skin cancer. Eating salmon about three times per week can not only improve skin texture, but also add shine to the hair, eyes, and nails. Salmon and other fishes rich in omega-3 fatty acids are considered to be among the best foods for improving skin elasticity. This is because they help to increase the production of keratin, collagen, and melanin. People who don’t eat fish can have flax seed to increase their consumption of omega-3 fatty acids.

Berries

The fact that berries contain abundant amount of antioxidants makes them excellent for the skin. Berries like blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, etc. are known to protect the skin from damage related to free radicals.