Antiviral Natural Products. Part Two.

Mushrooms
Mushroom of oriental origin called shiitake is used to boost immune system. It contains specific substances which help to recuperate in case of chronic fatigue, besides this they destroy practically any viral microflora, inhibit and restrict development of cancerous growths, boost physical strength and sexual drive.

Grains and legumes
For a wonder, waste products in manufacture of wheat flour (mill offals) are healthy for immunity. Mill offals contains complex of vitamins B1,В2, В6, PP and micro- and macroelements such as potassium, magnesium, zinc, cuprum, selenium, chrome. Wheat mill offals help to lose weight by suppressing appetite.

Most healthy for the immunity are grains of buckwheat and oatmeal as they are rich in healthy elements. It is recommended 1 – 2 times a week to prepare foods with legumes: pea, bean, lentil as they give to your body native protein.

Fermented milk products
Kefir and yogurt deliver into stomach healthy microorganisms and help to maintain microflora healthy. Stomach itself is immune organ and it makes a contribution in common body strength. However, remember that healthy are only fresh products containing fresh microorganisms. Buy products with live bifidobacterium and lactic bacteria and pay less attention on brand name.

Antiviral Natural Products. Part One.

Human body protection – immunity - requires nutrition. To keep human body from viruses, bacteria, fungi and other pathogens, immunity should get particular set of elements found in products. Which ones? Let us see below.

Fruits and vegetables
There is a number of fruits and vegetables which are well known bacteria killers for centuries. Garlic and onion were included in everyday menu of Roman army. Horseradish, radish, onion and garlic were taken in travels by Russian sailors. There are lots of such examples in history. It's clear that in remote ages people didn't know about viruses and pathogens but they were observant enough. People who consume those products frequently, do never get diseased. Take advantage of it!

Onion, garlic, horseradish, mustard, radish, chili do release phytoncides, substances with antibiotic properties. They inhibit growth and reproduction of viruses and bacteria. They release phytoncides not only during eating but also in surrounding medium which helps people with unhealthy stomach to just smell acrid vegetables, but the effect in this case will be much weaker. Phytoncides are found in vividly colored fruits such as blueberry, black wineberry, cherry, dark grapes, raspberry. Antiviral effects do increase when those products are combined with other ones rich in beneficial microelements.

Major vitamins that do increase persistence to diseases are vitamins A and C. Vitamin C is found abundantly in citrus, cabbage, wineberry, spinach and other lettuce. Vitamin A and its provitamin called beta-carotene are found abundantly in red and orange vegetables and fruits (carrot, peach, paprika, persimmon).

Yellow berries are rich in vitamins A, C and E. They do activate immunity, prevent infection development in human body and improve skin. Red berries of rosehips contain daily amount of vitamin C, iron, magnesium and carotene. Those substances do increase hemoglobin rate in the blood and strengthen body defenses.

BAFS for Immune System

Biologically active supplements are divided into two groups:
1) nutraceuticals – biologically active foods supplements (BAFS) used to regulate chemical composition of food of a man. These are additional sourse of protein, aminoacids, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, mineral substances, dietary fibers.
2) parapharmaceuticals – biologically active food supplements used as a preventive measure, adjunct therapy, and also to maintain functioning of organs and body systems.
Among biologically active supplements most healthy for the immune system are pectins (apple, plum, currant, beet, eatberry) and algae (among algae first place occupies spirulina with its anti-allergic and immune-stimulating properties).

Water
Insufficient consumption of pure water results in frequent colds and contagious diseases, thrombus formation, lymph congestion, tenderness of vascular walls, bladder diseases. Reduction of water in the body aggravates normal work of kidneys and as a result part of its work is made by liver (liver splits fats into useful energy and makes this 100% if not takes work of kidneys). When we drink sufficient amount of water, it makes work much better both kidneys and liver which regulates immune system work.

Antibiotic substances in food
Some foods have antibacterial properties which helps them kill disease causing microbes. These are non-specific antiinfection agents (organic acids such as winy, lemony, apple). Acerbic tanning substances of plums and apples also kill microbes. Raspberry, currant, apple, wineberry, ashberry, cranberry, pear, berbery, pomegranate, and also foods rich with phytoncides (horseradish, radish, garlic, onion, beet, cabbage, carrot, paprika) are perfect natural antibiotics.

Vitamin B for Immune System

Vitamins of B group help to activate work of immune system during stress, after surgery or trauma. Taking multivitamin preparations containing vitamins A, C, D, E, B6 helps to prevent virus diseases. Vitamin B6 stimulates synthesis of nucleic acids required for lymphocytes maturation and antibodies production to fight infection, and also vitamin B6 increases antibodies action against several cancerous growths. Deficiency of vitamin B6 occurs in cases of treatment of tuberculosis with isoniaside. Lowering of antibodies production may be caused by deficiency of vitamin A, B5 (pantothenic acid), B9 (folic acid), H (biotin). Vitamin B6 deficiency reduces the ability of neutrophiles to digest and kill bacteria.

Multivitamin preparations
Multivitamins play an important role in prevention of influenza and URI in period of higher illness frequency. Taking multivitamins helps to avoid diseases, keep body healthy and boost immunity. You should pay a serious attention to multivitamin preparation you choose. Multivitamin preparations are recommended to take as a preventive measure against virus diseases, especially they are recommended to children in spring when immunity is weakened after winter.

Specialists do recommend to take multivitamin preparations which contain whole spectrum of essential vitamins. They must be of hight quality and dosages must be well balanced. This will be a guarantee of effectiveness and safety of the multivitamin preparation. High quality and optimal dosages of vitamins help to reduce significantly risks for allergic reactions which unfortunately occur frequently today and make it possible to undergo preventive course entirely.

Vitamin C for Immune System

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) increases lymphocites number, movements and activity of neutrophilic leucocytes, increases production of interferon, a substance which has antiviral properties. Vitamin C stimulates macrophages, which makes them increase production of highly active forms and compounds of oxygen thus strengthening anticancerous immunity. It is supposed that at least part of immune-stimulating effects of ascorbic acid are connected with its antioxidant properties.

Under the influence of Vitamin C occurs the increase of body ability to recognize proper and foreign cells which is extremely important in older age when frequency of immunodeficient diseases with age increases dramatically. Therefore ascorbic acid is important medical product for older people with immune deficiency conditions. Other cases when ascorbic acid is prescribed:
- when person was subjected to ionizing radiation and exhausting physical load
- persons after severe surgical interventions, who got in their body an increased intensity of free-radical reactions which resulted in increased risks for development of destructive processes, cancerous growths, viral and bacteria infections.

In this case ascorbic acid is recommended as an immune-stimulant. Dozes of 100 – 300mgs (4 – 5 admissions) of ascorbic acid daily help to reduce the intensity of pathologic processes and prevent from infections. To protect from ionizing radiation the doze of ascorbic acid must be not less than 1g daily (5 admissions).

Commonly ascorbic acid is recommended in cases of increased risks for infectious diseases development. In this case ascorbic acid is admitted after food intake 0,025 – 0,05g three times daily. In a different scheme is recommended to take 0.4 g (4 admissions daily) in first four days, 0.3g daily in next three days and then 0.1g daily in next 6 – 8 days.

Normally human needs 70 – 100mg of Vitamin C daily. Products rich with ascorbic acid are black currant, cabbage, lemons, oranges, lettuces, peppers, tomatoes, turnip greens, rosehips. When you consume these products, remember that heating, contact with metal, freezing and defrosting reduce vitamin C rate in products from 30 to 70%. Moreover, when you smoke one cigarette your body loses 0,025g of vitamin C.

In viral and bacteria diseases also gets activated run-off of vitamin C, therefore it is recommended to consume it in form of tablets. Remember, that your body never accumulates vitamin C, and you should consume products with this vitamin regularly, or at least you should take it in form of tablets.

Vitamins A and E For Immune System

Immune system lowers body protective potential when the body for a long time is affected by radionuclides, heavy metals, pesticides, tobacco smoke, and when the body at this time lacks such natural antioxidants as vitamins A, E, C, beta-carotene, macro- and microelements (calcium, selenium), organic components of plant tissues (bioflavonoids).

The system of antioxidant defense requires consumption of vitamins containing antioxidants as this system plays a very important role in prevention of damages caused by foreign agents. Vitamins E, A, C, beta-carotene, selenium and zinc have immune-stimulating effects – they aggravate immune response in form of virus abtibodies production and production of interferons which disturb virus production in body cells and mobilize anti-cancer immunity.

Vitamin E deficiency leads to lowering of antibodies formation and lymphocyte activity. Admission of Vitamin E increases disease-resistance at all ages and it is most useful for aged people. Nutritional sources of Vitamin E: wheat, porridges from ungrained cereals, green parts of plants, liver, egg yolk, leaf lettuce, sunflower oil.

Vitamin A perfectly stimulates immunity by activating cytotoxic functions of T-lymphocytes and macrophages which provide anti-cancer and anti-viral defebse, resistance to autoimmune and immunodeficient conditions. It is necessary to consume daily 1,5 mg of Vitamin E for the normal work of immunity and its acting against cancer.

Vitamin A deficiency leads to immunity disorders: lowering of B-lymphocites rate, disoreds in antibodies production against microbes. Here most of all is affected cell-mediated immunity: the activity of cells, which are first who monitor cancerous cells, gets lowered, If immunity works normally, those cells fight cancer at its embryon state. Remember that excessively high doses of Vitamin A may lead to balance disorder in certain parts of immune system, so high doses should not be taken. Vitamin A deficiency weakens body immune system and it cannot fight viral infections. Also vitamin A deficiency may provoke allergy for albumens, milk, chicken meat, and this shows with following signs: dry skin, small rash, loss of hair, visual loop. Vitamin A is useful for mentation, attention concentration and reaction rate. Two forms of vitamin A:
- retinol, which is ready-to-use vitamin found in butter, milk, egg yolks, fish oil, liver;
- provitamin A (carotin) found in apricots and other yellow fruits, carrots, green vegetables, cabbage, lettuce, potatoes, plum.

How Your Immune System Works

Human immune system nicely responses to the entering of foreign molecules (called antigens) into the body - it localizes antigens, then neutralizes them to destroy them. When immune system works normally, it is able to protect us from a great range of contagious diseases including our own pathologic cells which are formed in the body.

However, when immune system begins to work incorrectly or stops its work entirely, this may result in such severe diseases as AIDS or cancer. Normal immune reaction may occur naturally when agents of viral infection enter the body or may be activated artificially with the help of various vaccines.

Most vaccines contain dead or very weak microorganisms which cause development of particular disease (pathogens) . These microorganisms just activate immune reaction and do not cause the disease itself. Immunity acquired after vaccination is as strong as natural immunity which appears after body fight with viral infection. However, vaccination not causes in man usual disease symptoms in order to produce normal defensive reaction of immune system. Vaccination is performed gradually against viruses causing such diseases as measles, parotitis, roseola, influenza, poliomyelitis, hepatitis, and also some bacterial infections.

The effectiveness of body immune system work reduces slowly, and as a result with aging immunity becomes weak. It was found that most of cancers which appear in older people result from “aging” of immune system.

Virus Diseases

Viruses are smallest microorganisms which cause infectious diseases. Viruses multiply only in live cells. How does this occur? Virus makes the cell it intends to enter produce special virus-alike molecules which form new virus particules which spread to neighbored healthy cells.

The number of viruses increases, gradually they capture more and more cells which leads to disease appearing. Each of body organs may be affected by viruses, thus each vurus disease has its own symptoms and signs. However, all viruses are intracellular pathogens and therefore all methods of treatment of diseases they cause are inefficient. Antibiotics are ineffective in case of viral infection, it means that the duration of disease and its severity depend on organism ability to fight the virus.

One of most seroius methods is prevention of serious virus diseases with the help of vaccination. Most popular classification of viruses is based on their correlation with diseases they cause, for example, viruses that cause such diseases as smallpox, measles, rubella and chickenpox. These diseases spred via blood through whole body very rapidly, and may affect at once several organs including skin (rash).

Other viruses affect only particular organs. For example, viruses of poliomyelitis and rabies damage nervous system. Influenza viruses affect respiratory system, viruses of hepatitis A and B affect liver work. However, this classification is not quite reliable because one and the same virus may damage various organs. For example, herpes catarrhalis may affect lips skin, genitalia or even nervous system. Therefore, today viruses do classify according to their size, shape, structure and mode of reproduction.

Though antibiotics are ineffective to fight viruses, however, there are medications which help to do it. Remember that prevention is the best way to fight virus diseases – try to avoid them, protect yourself and your children from them. Vaccination prevents from entering of particular viruses in the body.

How To Boost Your Immune System?

We continue to talk about immunity. See the beginning in previous post.

Vaccines may be killed or live. Adaptive immunity after injecting killed vaccine is of small duration (about one year) in comparison with live ones (5 – 8 years). Killed vaccines present of themselves a suspension of microorganisms killed with folmalin, spirit or heating. Live vaccines present of themselves a suspension of live but attenuated microorganisms.

Contraindications to vaccines usage are:
- acute febrile illness;
- passed infectious diseases;
- tuberculosis;
- heart disease;
- serious diseases of kidneys; stomach, etc;
- pregnancy;
- first weeks of lactation;
- allergies.

Signs of low immune system:
- frequent backsets of chronic diseases
- frequent cold-related diseases
- sedentary lifestyle, alcohol abuse, smoking, stress, lack of good rest do greatly lower immunity
- chemical substances have negative effects on immune system. Using of medications for a long period of time may lower immunity, so it is recommended to take preventive measures for maintaining body defenses.

How to boost your immune system?
1) Vitamins. Most positive effects on body have natural vitamins rather than pills.
2) Adaptogens, i.e. medical agents which increase body resistance to negative effects of external environment (ginseng, eleuterococcus, etc).
3) Exercises.
4) Healthy lifestyle.

Take special care about medications which do “boost the immunity”. Remember that those medications are never used as self-acting remedy. They may only be prescribed by your doctor to take it along with basic medication for treatment of concrete disease. Healthy people have no need to take these medications. Chemical balance in human body is too fragile mechanism and self-treatment in this case may lead to negative effects. Taking medications for immunity boosting without prescription of your doctor leads to immunity lowering.

What Is Immunity?

Immunity (lat. Immanitas – liberation from duties) is an ability of body to resist infections and toxins. Immune system is most important system in human body. Immunity protects body not only from microbes that provoke infectious diseases but also from genetically foreign cells (parasites, enthetic tissues and even cancerous cells). Immunity to infectious diseases shows in several forms.

Natural immunity appears without conscious human intervention. It may be innate or adaptive.

1. Innate immunity (inherent immunity) is determined by characteristics transmitted heritably which are common to particular species. This is biological peculiarity of a specie which is resistant to particular infections. For example, humans never get infected with distempers and, instead, dogs never get infected with typhoid fever. Children in their first months of life have natural immunity to measles, scarlet fever, and diphtheria, which is connected with retention of protective antibodies that he got from mother who was diseased with them in past.

2. Adaptive immunity (acquired immunity) results from body reaction to entering of microbes in the body. It occurs after infectious disease or results from latent inflammatory process. Acquired natural immunity after ones infectious disease persists for a long time, sometimes for life (typhoid fever, chicken pox, measles, etc), and sometimes for a short time (influenza, etc). Immune system “remembers” all microorganisms which it faced before. Antibodies against them remain in the body for a long time or even for life. So when the microbe enters the body again, the immune system already knows how to fight it and as a result the disease courses in more mild form.

3. Artificial immunity appears after injecting vaccines or serum. Vaccination is performed routinely independently from morbidity rate. Serum with antibodies is used to provide rapid activation of immunity when infection has already occurred. The duration of artificial immunity is less than of natural immunity. Serum provides the duration of 2 – 3 weeks, and vaccines from several months to 5 – 8 years.

Obligatory vaccines are vaccines against tuberculosis, measles, poliomyelitis, diphtheria, tetanus, etc. Routinely are made vaccines to particular population groups, for example, vaccines against intestinal infections to workers of food enterprises, child-care centres, etc. In particular terms vaccines are made again (revaccinaction).

pizza for diabetic

diabetic non-veg pizza(serves 6)
Ingredients:

8 ounces fat free cream cheese
1 cup egg substitute (or 8 egg whites)
1/3 cup low-carb milk
2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 bunch broccoli (Frozen's OK)
3 cups part-skim mozzarella cheese, shredded

Directions:

1Preheat oven to 375.

2Beat together half the cream cheese, milk, and eggs until smooth. Add any seasonings you want.

3Spray 9X13 pan with cooking spray or oil.

4Place 2 cups mozzerella cheese in bottom of pan.

5Pour egg mixture over cheese.

6Bake for 30 minutes.

7Meanwhile, steam the chicken and broccoli and cut into small pieces.

8Remove crust from oven and spread the remaining cream cheese on top.

9Put chicken and broccoli on cream cheese layer, then cover with remaining cup of mozzarella cheese.

10Bake another 5-10 minutes until cheese is melted.

diabetic veg pizza (serves 6)

Instructions
Things You'll Need
11 1/2-inch thin crust Italian bread shell

1 cup pizza sauce

2/3 cup shredded part-skim milk mozzarella cheese

6 oz. turkey sausage

1 small white onion, thinly sliced

1/2 cup fresh mushrooms, sliced

1/2 green bell pepper (chopped)

1/2 red and yellow peppers (chopped)

1/2 tsp. crushed dried oregano

1/2 tsp. crushed dried basil

Crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

recipie
1
Crumble the turkey sausage and brown in a skillet. Drain on paper towels and place in a bowl. Do this ahead of time and set aside.

2
Preheat your oven to 450 degrees. Place the shell on an ungreased 12-inch non-stick pizza pan.

3
Assemble your pizza by spreading the pizza sauce over the shell, leaving a 1-inch border around the rim. Sprinkle with half the cheese.

4
Arrange the cooked sausage on top of the cheese, covering evenly.

5
Top with onion and mushroom slices along with chopped green, yellow and red peppers. Sprinkle evenly with oregano, basil and red pepper flakes (if using). Top with remaining cheese.

6
Bake for 13 to 15 minutes until the crust is crisp and the cheese is melted and browned.

7
Cut into 6 wedges and serve with a salad, low sugar applesauce or coleslaw.

Top 10 ways to live with diabetes

Top 10 ways to live with diabetes
About 59 million indians have type 2 diabetes and many more are at high risk.
Diabetes is a metabolic as well as autoimmune disorder. It is caused by the abnormal secretion of the natural hormone insulin. Though diabetes can not be cured completely but you can kept it under control and can always live a healthy life style.


Below are the top ten precautions that should be followed to live with diabetes:

1) Exercise- exercise is specially important for people suffering from diabetes. You can start exercise at any age. It is a must for diabetics.

2) Diabetic diet- be honest and strict about it, keep in mind that over eating and unhealthy eating may even kill you. Follow your diabetic chart religiously.


3) Always keep in touch with doctors, feel free to discuss any abnormality. You will always find a whole lot of diabetes gurus, you can discuss with them, but before changing anything ask your doctor. Please keep in mind diabetes is a slow killer, we can’t play with it.

4) Medicine- be serious about those, take regularly, have extensive research work, feel free to discuss about the side effects. Take insulin regularly if it is required, never stop suddenly any thing without discussing with an specialist.

5) try to feel and understand the diabetic signals, low sugar level , high sugar levels, etc.

6) A fasting blood sugar test is the best screening tool. Blood sugar level testing is a diabetes risk calculator. Frequency of testing of blood and urine depends on the situation, your doctor is the best man to judge.

7) Avoid abnormal blood pressures, high or low what ever, it is not good for diabetics.

8.) Control your weight. Measure you weight periodically. Make it a habit to check your weight at least every month. Obesity is dangerous for diabetes.

9) Take care of your skin and feet. Act urgently to detect and cure any skin problems. Always use comfortable good quality shoes or slippers.

10) Take care of your eyes. Take all shorts of precautions for you eyes. Periodical eye examination is also required.

Try to keep in touch with the diabetic world, lots of research and new ideas are coming up every day. Learn about diabetes, learn about the new medicines new tools, discuss these with your doctor, arrange group discussions, and keep going.

Hold on for a sec. if you are a diabetic, please avoid marrying another diabetic.

How type1 and type2 diabetes differs in diagnosis?

How type1 and type2 diabetes differs in diagnosis?
This is a query most of you have. You wonder why some one is diagnosed to have type1 diabetes when in the texts you will find that this is a genetic disease (from birth). Also in other cases, there is a very thin line of difference in symptoms for type1 and type2 diabetes mellitus. In this article we have attempted to cover a few differences that we found would be comprehensive and important for you.


Firstly as a start up we would like to begin with defining both forms of diseases. Diabetes Mellitus deals with an increased level of sugar in the body which is about 190-200mg/dL. Now this problem can arise from two sources:

1.Inability of the receptors of the cell to bind insulin or not enough insulin is produced - Diabetes type2(more common).
2.Lack of production of insulin - Diabetes type1
Still there are other type of diabetes with which people often get confused is that of the diabetes insipidus. It is completely unrelated to the glucose level of our body. It does not deal with the glucose metabolism by any way. this condition arises due to excessive production of hormones such as vasopressin which causes excessive production of urine.

Now there are several techniques that has come into limelight which can differentiate between type1 and type2 diabetes. Let us discuss.

A)Natural or human produced insulin includes a C- peptide chain. This C- peptide chain is nicked off from the main insulin protein chain, in a modification of cell. Till date artificially produced insulin C-peptides are not included. Therefore, in case of type1 diabetes, where the production of insulin does not happen at all, a C- peptide detection test might help a lot. This is the best test available till date to differentiate the two types.

B)Tests such as anti-islet antibody, glutamic acid decarboxylase or insulinoma associated peptide2 also identifies the type1 diabetes. In anti islet antibody test, an antibody is prepared against the insulin produced. Generally the antibody designed is radioactively tagged. Therefore if this antibody binds with the insulin produced, it can be identified concluding that it is type2 diabetes.

C)Also another effective way to diagnose type1 diabetes is insulin resistance. In this type of test the insulin resistant which incorporates a glucose tolerance test. In case of type2 diabetes, there is some reistance shown by the test, as insulin is released may be in smaller amount. But type1 diabetes will have no effect.

D)The most recent type of test is by GAD 65 which can differentiate between type1 and type2 diabetes. In type1 diabetes there is the presence of GAD65 antibody in the body, and when we are introducing GAD65 we can easily detect the disease.

The above mentioned tests are quite effective in determining the two types of diabetes mellitus, and we hope that you can choose to undergo any one of them which you find convenient.

ARVI (Acute Respiratory Viral Infection)

ARVI (commonly known as cold) is a widespread virus disease of upper respiratory tract. Major symptoms: running nose, cough, sneezing, headache, sore throat, fatigue. ARVI is most common infectious disease in developed countries where in average an adult gets sick 2- 3 times a year and a child 6 – 10 times.

ARVI may be caused by a number of agents including 5 different groups of viruses (parainfluenza virus, influenza virus, adenovirus, rhinovirus, reovirus) and over 300 their subtypes. All of them are infectious and are transmitted via airborne and are not treated with antibiotics. Also ARVI is transmitted via body contact, for example, during hand shaking.

At the onset of the disease virus is multiplied in nose, nasopharynx, throat showing with gripes, running nose, irritation and dry cough. Body temperature usually is not increased. Sometimes in this process are involved mucous of eyes and gastrointestinal ones.

Then virus enters the blood and causes symptoms of common intoxication: chill, headache, acute pains in back and limbs. Activation of immunity response helps body to produce antibodies to the virus, after which blood gradually becomes clean from virus and then symptoms of intoxication decrease.

At he final stage of the disease occurs respiratory tract cleaning from epithelium damaged by virus which shows with running nose and humid cough.

Treatment and prevention
Prevention against ARVI mainly consists of general health improvement, body strengthening, immune system stimulation, regular exercises, taking vitamins, consuming healthy food, fruits and vegetables. When epidemic occurs, it is necessary to abstain from visiting public places , avoid close contacts with diseased people and wash hands more frequently. And same rules for diseased people – they should take a sick day, not visit public places, avoid contacts with healthy people and wear flu mask.

ARVI treatment commonly is symptomatic: plentiful warm drinking (not hot), taking vitamin C. You should know that taking antibiotics without doctor's recommendation is strongly prohibited because they do not have any effect on viruses and instead they get immunity down and cause disbacteriosis. It is not recommended to take antifebriles and painkillers when temperature is below 38 degrees C because moderate body temperature increase is a natural protective reaction of human body which helps immunity to fight viruses. When comes to antifebrile taking, patient should take Ibuprofen, most safe and effective medication today.

Use anti-viral medications to treat and prevent ARVI.

Air Conditioning Dangers

With the onset of summer heat increases demand for air conditioners that save us from unbearable heat। People who spend all hot summer days indoors do especially count on air conditioners. However you should not forget that everything is not so simple. Air conditioner not only “ping-pongs” air and changes it from hot into chilly one, but also puts human body to a serious test because it is a kind of accumulator of various pathogenic bacteria.

In air conditioners get settled microbes including atypical germs. Are known cases of spreading of legionnaires disease (this is an infectious disease caused by bacteria called legionela which results in severe form of pneumonia) via conditioning system. Today specialists also talk about additional noise and vibration which do affect human vestibular system.

People with chronic diseases should be more careful with air conditioners. In people with such chronic diseases as sinusitis or chronic bronchitis, artificial chill and drop of temperature cause aggravation of chronic diseases. But in healthy people conditioner may cause mucous edema of chronic nature.

Fungi may be found in equipment when in the room is not performed qualitative cleaning. Animal dander and fluff from floor coating. If you have pets at home, their dander do obstruct conditioner. Conditioner in the kitchen accumulates fats.

Experts advice to clean conditioner regularly once a year in order to keep your family healthy. New conditioner must be cleaned for the first time in three years after starting its using. Then it must be cleaned once every year. Cleaning must be performed in winter.

However, it must be said that cleaning is not plaster for all sores. Specialists recommend to switch on “chillers” for 10 – 15 minutes before getting started - this reduces greatly concentration of bacteria in conditioner. You should not abuse chilling and should not use it without particular need. What is comfortable for you is not necessarily healthful. Such preventive measures as smearing nose with oxolinic ointment in this case do not work.

You should be very careful with your health in summer. If you and your co-workers frequently cough and feel bad then you should go to the doctor. Raised body temperature is a sign that in the respiratory organs occurs inflammation and you should pay serious attention at this sign. Temperature drops between street and office must be minumal.

For sure, when you cannot stand unbearable heat, you seek rooms with chill and forget about all precautionary measures. It is difficult to work with only thought about chilly place. Remember that here the talk is not just about stuffy nose, back pains, otitis, here also talk is about death.

What to Ask Your Doctor about Type 2 Diabetes

What to Ask Your Doctor about Type 2 Diabetes

Why should I talk to my doctor about diabetes?
Simply put, the earlier that you find out you have diabetes, the sooner you can get treatment and prevent the common and debilitating complications of this disease. Type 2 diabetes usually develops gradually, meaning that blood sugar levels may be elevated above normal but not yet to a point considered diabetes (called prediabetes) for years before diabetes develops. If you are diagnosed with prediabetes, you can institute lifestyle changes to prevent or forestall the onset of diabetes.

If you are member of a high risk group it is important to talk to your doctor about type 2 diabetes even if you are not having any symptoms. Type 2 diabetes can develop without any noticeable symptoms and may progress to the point of causing debilitating complications such as vision loss or foot infections before you even know you have it. Discussing your lifestyle honestly with your doctor can help determine your overall risk for the disease and help him or her determine how often to be tested.

Being diagnosed with diabetes does not mean there is no hope. On the contrary, type 2 diabetes is very treatable: lifestyle changes alone can dramatically impact your blood sugar levels and may even cause disease remission. Several types of medications to help manage type 2 diabetes are already available and many new medications are on the horizon. Don’t let fear of a diagnosis prevent you from seeing the doctor until it is too late.

How do I talk to my doctor about type 2 diabetes?
The best thing you can do is be prepared. Know the questions you want to ask and come prepared to answer the questions that the doctor will likely ask of you. It may be helpful to bring a list of your questions with you to your appointment. If you are taking medications you can bring a list of those as well (including both prescription and non-prescription drugs). You may be asked to provide a medical history, including any past illnesses, surgeries, and treatments (including mental health treatment) so knowing the dates of these is helpful.

If you do have symptoms, tell your doctor what they are, when they began, how often they happen, and whether they are getting better, worse, or staying the same. Keeping a journal of your symptoms will help you keep track of them and help you talk about them with your doctor.

When your doctor asks you questions about your lifestyle, you should answer them truthfully. Sometimes people are embarrassed to admit that they smoke, or drink, or eat fast food, but your doctor needs to know these things to help you. Most doctors will not judge you; just taking the initiative to come and see them shows that you are interested in taking control of your health and that is commendable.

It is a good idea to take notes, bring a tape recorder, or ask a friend or family member to come with you to help you remember what your doctor tells you. Medical information can be overwhelming, especially when you are faced with a lot of it all at once.

Make sure you understand any diagnoses the doctor gives you and any tests ordered or treatments prescribed. Ask your doctor to explain if he or she says something that you do not understand. Speak up. Let your doctor know if he or she has not answered your question or addressed your concern. Tell your doctor if a treatment is not working or if you are having side effects. He or she may prescribe a different treatment that might work better for you.

What questions will the doctor ask me to help determine if I have type 2 diabetes?
In addition to a routine medical history, the doctor may ask questions about your risk factors for diabetes and your recent symptom history. You should come prepared to answer the following questions:

Does anyone in your family have type 2 diabetes?
What is your race/ethnicity?
Are you 45 or older?
Do you know your body mass index (BMI)?
How often do you exercise?
Have you had your cholesterol and triglycerides levels checked within the last year?
Do you have high blood pressure?
Have you ever been diagnosed with prediabetes or with impaired glucose tolerance?
What is your diet like (do you eat a lot of fast food or mostly vegetables and whole grains)?
Have you noticed any skin darkening around the neck or armpits?

Women only:
Have you ever had gestational diabetes?
Have you ever been diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)? 

Have you experienced any of the following recently?
Extreme hunger
Weight loss
Increased thirst and/or frequent urination
Fatigue
Nausea or vomiting
Blurred vision
Slow-healing sores or frequent infections
Erectile dysfunction
Numbness or tingling in the extremities
Sores or infections on your feet

What questions should I ask my doctor about type 2 diabetes?
If you have not been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes you can ask your physician these questions about diabetes:

What is my risk for type 2 diabetes?
What can I do to lower my risk of developing type 2 diabetes?
What is my blood sugar level?
How often should I have my blood sugar tested for diabetes?
What is my body mass index or BMI? Do I need to lose weight for my health?
What is my blood pressure? What does it mean for me and what do I need to do about it?
What are my cholesterol numbers and triglycerides? What should I do about them?
How much physical activity do I need to do to help lower my diabetes risk?
What type of exercise should I be doing to control my risk?
What is a healthy eating plan for me? Should I see a registered dietitian or qualified nutritionist to learn more about healthy eating?
What types of foods will help me control my risk of diabetes?
What are the treatment options for type 2 diabetes?
What questions should I ask my doctor if I have already been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes?
If you have already been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes there are questions you should ask your doctor about managing your disease and reducing your risk of complications. You should always discuss any changes in your diet, exercise, energy level, or medicines with a health professional.

How can I best manage my diabetes?
Will I always have diabetes?
What are the long-term complications of diabetes?
What can I do to avoid the long term complications of diabetes?
What kinds of lifestyle changes can I make to stay healthy?
What medicines are available for treating type 2 diabetes? Which do you recommend for me and why?
Will I always need to take medications?
What level of activity is OK for me? Are there specific exercises I should do? Are there activities I should avoid?
How can I explain my condition to my friends and family? To my boss?
Can you give an example of patient who made some simple changes and improved their diabetes?
How often should I check my blood sugar levels at home with a glucose monitor?
When is the best time to check my blood sugars?
What are my goals regarding my blood sugar level?
What are the warning signs or symptoms that my blood sugar is too high or too low?
How do high cholesterol and high blood pressure affect me if I have diabetes?
How often should I see the doctor to best manage my diabetes?
How should I take care of my feet?
Do you of any diabetes support groups in our area?
What questions should I ask my doctor about type 2 diabetes medications?
What is the name of the medicine? Does it have a less expensive generic available?
When and how should I take it? For how long?
How does the medicine work?
What should I do if I forget to take a dose?
Are there other, similar medications in the same class that work in a similar way?
Are there foods or activities I should avoid when taking the medicine?
How will I know if the medicine is working?
What are the side effects? What should I do if I recognize them?
Are there any long term risks of taking this medication?
Where can I find out more about the medicine?
What questions should I ask my doctor about diet and weight control?
You may be asked to change your diet and lose weight in order to reduce your risk of developing diabetes or its complications. For some people, this may require a radical departure from their normal eating habits. You should make sure to get clarification on specific foods or ingredients you should eat and those you should avoid. You may also want to ask about methods to help you lose weight safely and effectively.

 Questions you can ask are:

What kinds of food should I eat, what should I restrict, and what should I avoid completely?
What should my daily calorie, fat and cholesterol intake be?
Are there cooking tips that I can use?
Is there a good way to control portion size?
Can I still eat out? What about fast food?
Can I still eat _ (insert a favorite indulgence food, e.g. chocolate, ice-cream, candy)?
How do I read food labels?
What is a realistic goal for a healthy weight for me?
Should I see a nutritionist or dietician to help with my diet?
Should I keep a food diary of what I eat?
How much physical activity do I need to do? What are the best types of activities for me?
How can I maintain a healthy weight after losing those pounds?
Should I follow an established set of dieting guidelines?

What treatments are available for type 2 diabetes

What treatments are available for type 2 diabetes?

All the treatments for type 2 diabetes focus on keeping blood sugar levels within normal limits. The most important and most effective treatment is lifestyle change including eating right, losing weight, and increasing exercise/activity levels. Many people with type 2 diabetes can control their disease just by improving their diet and increasing their activity level. However, if this alone does not work, doctors can prescribe medications that can help stabilize blood sugar levels. The ultimate goal of treatment is to reduce the effects of diabetes symptoms and prevent secondary complications from arising.

Diet
Eating right is one of the most important ways to help keep blood sugar levels in line, even if you are not overweight. This includes choosing healthy foods, eating sensible portions, and eating at appropriate intervals. A nutritionist can help you plan meals with the right combinations of nutrients and appropriate energy content. Eating foods with a low glycemic index helps reduce the rate of rise in blood sugar that occurs after a meal.

The glycemic index ranks sugar-containing foods based on how much and how quickly they increase blood sugar levels. Foods with a high glycemic index such as white bread and most breakfast cereals tend to cause rapid spikes in blood glucose and therefore should be consumed only in limited amounts. Foods with a low glycemic index such as most vegetables and whole grains tend to cause a slower and less pronounced increase in blood sugar and thus should be the preferred source of carbohydrates.

In general, a healthy diet includes lots of nutrient rich foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, as well as fish. But a healthy diet also avoids foods that are low in overall nutrients and limits the intake of trans and saturated fats, cholesterol, sodium, and foods with a high glycemic index. Controlling portion size and eating frequent, small meals also helps the body better digest food and limits the rise in blood sugar levels.

Weight control
Reducing your weight and BMI to appropriate levels also helps keep blood sugar levels down and since obesity is intimately tied to insulin resistance, losing weight can help your body respond better to insulin.

A simple way to lose weight is to figure out the number of calories you need to consume each day to maintain your weight and then eat fewer calories than you need. That way, your body can obtain the extra energy it needs by burning fat and you will lose weight. This is much easier to do when you eat healthy, nutrient-rich foods that fill you up and eliminate empty calories like soda pop.

Besides reducing your caloric intake, the other factor involved in weight loss is activity. Increase the amount and intensity of your physical activity to exceed the number of calories you take in and you are certain to lose weight.

When you have reached an ideal weight as determined by a doctor or nutritionist, you may be able increase your caloric intake a little but the important thing is to always expend all the calories you take in; otherwise, they will be stored as fat and you will gain weight.

Exercise
Attaining a healthy weight can help reduce insulin resistance and keep blood sugar levels in line. But losing weight alone is not the full story. Doctors recommend shedding the pounds that accumulate around the midsection, the ones that contribute to an “apple shape” figure. Increasing your activity level can help redistribute your existing weight to a healthier pattern. Even modest weight loss can improve blood sugar levels by changing fat into muscle mass. Exercise can also improve circulation and lower blood pressure, blood cholesterol levels, and triglycerides, all of which reduce the risk of diabetes complications such as heart disease, stroke, and vision loss.

How much activity do you need? According to the American Heart Association, the average person should aim to get at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise five times per week or 20 minutes of vigorous exercise three times per week. If you are trying to lose weight, you should aim for 30 to 60 minutes on most days.

IMPORTANT: before starting any new exercise regimen, consult a health professional to determine what activities are best for you. A doctor can also help you determine how often to exercise and how to maintain healthy nutrition and normal blood sugar levels when you exercise.

Blood sugar monitoring
Frequent measurement of your blood glucose levels can help you determine the effects that your lifestyle changes and medications are having on your blood sugar. Several types of glucometers are available but they all work by taking a very small sample of blood and analyzing the glucose content. Results are obtained in less than one minute and can help you determine what foods to avoid (those that cause large or rapid spikes in your blood glucose level) and determine when to eat in relation to exercise. You can also monitor the effects of your medications on your blood sugar and make sure to avoid hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) that can be a side effect of some medications.

Medications
While everyone with type 2 diabetes can benefit from changes in diet and exercise, in many cases these alone are not enough to keep blood sugar within normal limits. In those cases, a doctor may prescribe one or more medications. Medications for type 2 diabetes work by helping the body respond better to insulin or by helping keep blood sugar levels down. Several classes of medications are commonly used, either alone or in combination.

Sulfonylureas
Sulfonylureas stimulate the beta cells of the pancreas to release more insulin. These drugs are generally taken once or twice a day before meals. Several sulfonylurea drugs are on the market but some examples include glyburide (Micronase, Glynase, and Diabeta), and glimepiride (Amaryl). These drugs can cause hypoglycemia (low blood glucose levels) as a side effect of insulin release.

Meglitinides
Meglitinides stimulate the beta cells of the pancreas to make more insulin right after meals to decrease the glucose in the blood. They are usually taken before each meal. Examples of drugs in this class include repaglinide (Prandin) and nateglinide (Starlix). The side effects of meglitinides include weight gain and hypoglycemia (though this is less of a problem than with sulfonylureas).

Biguanides
Biguanides decrease the amount of glucose that is made by the liver, lowering overall blood glucose levels. Metformin (Glucophage), a common biguanide, also makes muscle cells more responsive to insulin. This allows muscle cells to take up and use (or store) glucose from the bloodstream and lowers blood insulin levels. Biguanides are usually taken twice a day. The side effects of biguanides include nausea, diarrhea, and cramping. Also, people with kidney problems (a common complication of type 2 diabetes) cannot take this medication so your doctor may perform additional tests to evaluate the functioning of your kidneys before prescribing this medication.

Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors
Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors block the breakdown of sugars and starches in the digestive tract, thus reducing the impact of ingested carbohydrates on blood sugar levels. These drugs do not impact the liver or the glucose that is already in the blood, only the glucose that can potentially enter the body through the digestive tract. Examples of drugs in this class include acarbose (Precose) and meglitol (Glyset). They are normally taken along with the first bite of each meal. Side effects of alpha-glucosidase inhibitors include gas and diarrhea.

Thiazolidinediones
Thiazolidinediones reduce glucose production in the liver; they also partially reverse insulin resistance by improving the sensitivity of insulin receptors in muscle, liver, and fat cells. This helps the body use insulin better and so these medications are often called “insulin sensitizers”. The two members of this class currently on the market in the U.S. are pioglitazone (ACTOS) and rosiglitazone (Avandia). Both of these drugs may slightly increase the risk for heart failure in some individuals and one recent study showed that rosiglitazone may cause a small increase in the risk of heart attacks. For the first year of thiazolidinedione therapy, your liver enzyme levels are monitored as a precaution because a similar drug that is no longer on the market increased the risk of liver damage. Otherwise, both drugs generally have few side effects.

Insulin
Some people who have type 2 diabetes may need to take insulin in addition to other treatments. Insulin is a protein hormone so when taken orally, it gets digested in the stomach just as the protein in a steak does. This is why insulin must be taken by injection. There are several varieties of insulin that differ in their longevity in the body, including: insulin lispro (Humalog), insulin aspart (NovoLog) and insulin glargine (Lantus).

Combination treatment
While the most important and effective treatment for type 2 diabetes involves a serious and long-lasting commitment to changes in diet and exercise, this is not always enough. When lifestyle changes alone fail, often taking a combination of the drugs mentioned above, in addition to dietary changes and increased activity levels, are an effective way to control type 2 diabetes. This is most effective when it involves combining drugs from the different classes, for example, taking an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor to reduce absorption of sugars from the digestive tract and a thiazolidinedione to reduce insulin resistance and production of glucose in the liver.

Taking care of your feet
People with diabetes are prone to foot problems. Poor circulation and nerve damage in the feet can lead to serious complications because without the protective pain sensations, you can injure your feet without realizing it. Reduced circulation also impairs the foot’s ability to heal and the result can be chronic infection, eventually requiring amputation. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) recommends the following to take care of your feet:

Wash your feet in warm water every day
Look at your feet every day to check for cuts, sores, blisters, redness, calluses, or other problems
If your skin is dry, rub lotion on your feet after you wash and dry them
File corns and calluses gently with an emery board or pumice stone
Cut your toenails once a week or when needed
Always wear slippers or shoes to protect your feet from injuries
Always wear socks or stockings to avoid blisters
Wear shoes that fit well
Before putting your shoes on, feel the insides to make sure they have no sharp edges or objects that might injure your feet
Tell your doctor right away about any foot problems
Continuing care
If you have type 2 diabetes, you should visit a health care provider regularly and have a physical examination that includes:

Glycated hemoglobin (A1C)
Blood pressure check
Foot and skin examination
Ophthalmoscope (eye) examination
Neurological examination
Random microalbumin (urine test for protein)
BUN and serum creatinine blood tests
Serum cholesterol, HDL, and triglycerides
ECG
Dilated retinal exam

How can I prevent type 2 diabetes

How can I prevent type 2 diabetes?
While there are several risk factors for type 2 diabetes that you cannot control, the good news is that you can reduce your risk substantially by maintaining a healthy body weight and keeping an active lifestyle. Even if a close relative has diabetes, or if you are a member of a high risk ethnic group, you can often prevent or at least forestall the onset of type 2 diabetes by living a healthy lifestyle and seeing your doctor regularly for diabetes screening.

Get screened regularly
Everyone over 45 should have their blood glucose levels checked at least every 3 years. If you have any risk factors for diabetes, you should have your blood sugar checked more often, starting at a younger age. If you test as having prediabetes, a condition in which your fasting blood sugar level is between 100 - 125mg/dL (higher than normal but not high enough to be called type 2 diabetes) you should be tested every year and institute lifestyle changes to prevent the onset of diabetes.

Maintain a healthy weight
A major preventable risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes is carrying excess weight. The risk is highest if you carry the weight mostly around the middle of your body (having an “apple” shape). Excess fat appears to contribute directly to insulin resistance, though it is unclear exactly how this happens.

Carrying extra weight heightens your risk of developing several other diseases including heart disease and stroke. The body mass index or BMI is a general measure of how much excess weight one carries. Your BMI takes into account your height and weight; higher numbers mean you carry more fat. If your BMI is above 25 but below 30, you are considered overweight. If your BMI is between 30 and 39 you are considered obese, while a BMI 40 or above is considered extremely or morbidly obese.

Activity
The less active you are, the greater your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Exercising fewer than three times a week is considered a risk factor. Not only does physical activity help control weight, it also allows your body to use up blood sugar, makes your cells more sensitive to insulin, boosts your level of “good” cholesterol, and lowers blood pressure.

Commit to changing your lifestyle
Change can be difficult, but if you are in a high risk category, changes in the way you live may be necessary to avoid diabetes. You can make it easier by making a specific plan for yourself with enumerated benchmarks for change. These goals can start out small, but over time you can have them build into large changes. Try to anticipate ahead of time the things that might cause you problems in reaching your goals and have a contingency plan in place. Seek support from family members, friends, or others that share your situation whenever necessary. Consult a doctor, nurse, counselor, or nutritionist for advice on how to stay on track. Finally, choose constructive ways to reward yourself for reaching goals, saving the largest rewards for the goals that are the toughest to attain.

How do I know if I have type 2 diabetes

How do I know if I have type 2 diabetes?

By definition, diabetes is an elevated blood glucose level that persists over time. Since type 2 diabetes may occur with no symptoms, it is possible to have the condition for years without noticing. Over time, symptoms will develop and they may become severe. You may want to have your blood sugar tested as part of your yearly physical examination by a physician, especially if you have one or more risk factors for developing diabetes. The American Diabetes Association recommends being tested yearly beginning at age 45, especially if you are overweight.

Diagnosing type 2 diabetes
Fasting blood glucose test
After fasting overnight (at least 8 hours) a blood test can be performed to check your blood sugar. If your blood glucose level is 126 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) after fasting for 8 hours on two separate testing occasions, you have diabetes. If your blood glucose is between 100 and 125mg/dL, this is considered prediabetes, which is a risk factor for developing diabetes.

Random (non-fasting) blood glucose test
If you have a blood sample taken - regardless of how long it has been since you last ate - and your non-fasting blood glucose is higher than 200 mg/dL, the doctor will suspect diabetes. This is especially true if you are having other diabetes symptoms such as increased thirst and urination. A fasting blood glucose test must be done to confirm the results.

Oral glucose tolerance test
The oral glucose tolerance test examines how well your body metabolizes sugar after it is introduced into your body. After fasting overnight, the doctor will provide you with a sample of sugary liquid to drink. Then, a blood sample is taken every 30 to 60 minutes after you drink the solution for 2 to 3 hours. Diabetes is diagnosed if your blood glucose level is higher than 200 mg/dL after 2 hours. If your blood glucose is between 140 and 200 mg/dL it is considered “impaired glucose tolerance” or prediabetes.

Glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test
If you’re diagnosed with diabetes, your doctor may also suggest a glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test. This test gives a measure of the average blood sugar level over the previous 1 to 3 months. The A1C test looks at the oxygen-carrying molecules called hemoglobin that are found in red blood cells and determines how much sugar they have been exposed to. The doctor takes a blood sample and examines what proportion of your hemoglobin molecules have sugars attached to them (how many are “glycated”). The higher the proportion of glycated hemoglobin in the blood, the more sugar there has been in the blood over the past few months. A target A1C result is 7 percent or less.

Why Nutrition Is Important

Vitamin A is most important vitamin which stimulates cells growth, participates in formation of leucocytes, helps to maintain epithelium and mucosa healthy. Vitamin A is first barrier on the way of deleterious invaders. Vitamin A is an antioxidant and this is an additional advantage. It is found in milk, dairy cream, butter, natural fish-oil, liver (beef, cod, chicken), salmon, eel, eggs.

In vegetables and fruits is found provitamin A (beta-carotene). Butter helps to transform beta-carotene into vitamin A. Carotene strenghtens immune system. Therefore it is recommended to get also “animal” vitamin A and “vegetative” beta-carotene, and generally all group of carotinoids. They are found in green and orange vegetables and fruits: carrot, pumpkin, paprika, spinach, mango, persimmon, parsley, broccoli and fennel. Daily norm is 15 – 30 mg (two big carrots).

Vitamin C is most popular vitamin when influenza epidemic occurs. It helps to interferon production in the body. It is also an antioxidant. Vitamin C prevents other vitamins from break-up. Do not wait the moment you get diseased. In winter when you are healthy drink tea with lemon, drink each morning fresh orange juice! Make it a rule eating every day one orange or kiwi, big pieces of spinach or cauliflower. The less time you spend on processing food the better vitamin C is kept because it is a cranky vitamin. Vitamin C is found in blacberries, green sweet pepper,, grapefruit.

Zinc, as vitamin C, is also recommended to take when do appear first signs of influenza. Sea foods and oysters are rich with zinc. Consume these products several times a week and this will help to maintain body defenses. Zinc may be found in liver and beef. Those who do not consume meat may find zinc in nuts, pea soup, wheat germs, buckwheat porridge, mushrooms, garlic.

Each clove of garlic contains several dozens of biologically active components such as phytoncids (volatile compounds who kill viruses and bacteria). Garlic activates production of immune cells and thus helps to protect the body. The decensies prevent us from eating garlic at any time in any place. However, there are many recepies that you may prepare with garlic.

Your immune system will be not only ready to meet viruses but to fight them if you consume these products:
- two big carrots or dish of spinach; one sweet pepper or two persimmons (daily carotine norm)
- bite of beef or pork liver or 100g Dutch cheese; 70g smoked eel or table-spoon of fish oil (daily norm of vitamin A);
- handful of blacberries, kiwi, orange, dish of cauliflower, 7 backed potatoes (daily norm of vitamin C);
- 110g wheat germs or 150g veal liver (daily zinc norm);

Society's perception of MS: how bad is it?

In response to your comments about the prognosis and severity of MS. There is no doubt in my mind that MS is a disabling disease and leads to disability in the majority of subjects given sufficient time. However, this statement refers to the prognosis from natural history studies done in the the pre-DMT era. I believe that in the current era with aggressive treatment early on the prognosis has improved. 

The following figure demonstrates UK Society's perspective on the disease. On the y-axis is utility an index of quality of health used by health economists; 1 is perfect quality of health and 0 is death. Your utility on the day you are born is 1 and gradually drops to 0 when you die. A value less than 0 is considered a quality of life worse than death. It is alarming that in the UK a PwMS with an EDSS of 8.0 or 9.0 (weakness in all 4 limbs and/or bed-bound) is considered to have a quality of life worse than death. I am told that no other chronic disease scores this low. Alarming?

Orme et al. The effect of disease, functional status, and relapses on the utility of people with multiple sclerosis in the UK. Value Health. 2007 Jan-Feb;10(1):54-60.

"I use this figure as the backbone of my argument to support early aggressive treatment. How can we not treat this disease aggressively? Despite the poor Societal perspective of MS, MS does not fulfill contemporary criteria for being a terminal illness. Would you agree? If not we can continue the debate."

How To Maintain Immune System With Vitamins And Minerals

Vitamin E
Vitamin E is a real fortress for immune system protection. It increases infinitely immune system capabilities. Vitamin E prevents cells from harmless action of new radicals, increases work of white blood cells, increases number of Interleukin 2 (substance promoting growth of T cells). Also it prevents from formation of prostaglandin E – substance that naturally is formed in the body which suppresses immune system work.

Vitamin E being an antioxidant is found in vegetable oil, nuts and sunflower seeds. However, in order to maintain daily dose of Vitamin E it is not enough to consume just food products rich with this vitamin because it provides only 20 ME of vitamin E daily. Optimal dose of Vitamin E must be 100 ME daily.

Consume less fats. Experiments on animals showed that food containing 40% calories due to fats is harmful for the immune system. So reduce fats consumption by 25% calories. For that purpose consume fat-free dairy foods or products with low oil content. Remove skin and visible fat from meat, reduce consumption of bird, fish and red meat to 100 g daily. Include in your daily menu six dishes from groats (bread, beans, rice) and five kinds of vegetables and fruits (apples, pears, cauliflower, spinach).

Iron
Iron is a vital catalyzer helping the immune system to stop invasion of viruses and stop development of cancerous cells. Most people need 10 mg of iron daily. Dinner consisting of 100 g of cooked meat, grilled potatoes of average size and half cup of beans contains more than 7 mg of iron. Iron is found in oysters, chicken meat, porkmeat and green vegetables. Do not rely on special supplements with iron if they are not prescribed by your doctor. Iron overload may cause diarrhea, skin color change, liver cirrhosis and diabetes.

Magnesium
Some studies show that magnesium deficiency makes immune system “aggressive”: it fights healthy cells which causes development of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Magnesium drugs are recommended for people who take diuretics and blood pressure lowering drugs because they do withrowal magnesium from the body. Excess amount of alcohol has the same effects. Healthy people need to consume 350 mg of magnesium without additional supplements. Consume regularly salads, potatoes, unmilled grains, milk and marine products.

Selenium
Selenium has antioxidant features and is known for its anticancerous effects. It maintains immune system when it needs to fight infection. Adequate nutrition helps to get enough selenium. It is required to consume 70 mcg. You get 138 mcg of selenium when you eat one sandwitch with tuna. Selenium is found in all kinds of fishes, crabs, oysters and unmilled grains. However, big dozes of selenium may damage immune system. So when you take selenium supplements do not exceed 200 mcg.

Vitamins To Maintain Immunity

Nutrition is directly related to immunity. Specific nutrients play particular role in immunity change. Here are some recommendations on taking vitamins and minerals which help to maintain immunity at any age.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A strengthens superficial layer of skin preventing fissure formation through which microbes may enter the body. This vitamin also prevents development of cancerous growths which is connected with stimulatory effects on white blood cells. However, overmuch vitamin A may be toxic for the body. It is better to get daily rate of vitamin A from food than from special drugs. It is recommended to consume 1000 micrograms of it daily For example, a half of new potato contains double daily rate of vitamin A. Also you may find vitamin A in liver, carrot, spinach, cauliflower, lettuce, apricots and watermelon.

Beta-carotene
Beta-carotene transforms into vitamin A in human body. This antloxidant helps to fight free radicals and intensifies capabilities of immune system to fight cancerous diseases. Just as vitamin A, beta-carotine may be found in carrot, spinach, cauliflower and lettuce. Unlike vitamin A, beta-carotene is not toxic and it may be taken as an supplement to foods. It is recommended to take 6 – 9 mg of beta-carotine daily.

Vitamin B6
When older people consume food with low rate of vitamin B6, their immunity becomes much weaker. Dose increase helps to restore immunity to a normal level. It is necessary to consume more than 1.5 mg of vitamin B6 daily.

In order to get 2 mg of vitamin B6 you should eat big bananas daily. Other sources of vitamin B6 are chicken meat, fish, liver, rice, avocado, walnuts, wheat and sunflower seeds. Large dozes (1000 – 2000 mg daily) of vitamin B6 may be toxic.

Vitamin C

Practically vitamin C provides great aid to each part of immune system. Vitamin C prevents viruses from multiplying, increases attacking drive of cells that fight cancerous diseases. Oranges, strawberries, cauliflower, paprika are perfect sources of vitamin C. Normally it is necessary to consume 500 – 1000 mg of vitamin C daily.

Vitamin D
Vitamin D is good for bones strengthening and that is its major function in the body, because immune system cells are developed in bone marrow. The recommended dose of vitamin D is 5 microgrames. One glass of pure milk contains approximately 10 ME, also it may be found in cheese. In human body vitamin D develops under action of sun rays. Ultraviolet accelerates development of vitamin D from a substance in the skin. In summer it is enough to spend 10 - 15 minutes in the sun to get necessary daily doze of vitamin D. Large dozes of vitamin D may be toxic, therefore, health care providers do not recommend it to take it in form of supplemental drugs.

Keep Your Immune System Strong

A number of scientists claim that weak immune system is a result of natural aging process. Dr. Fillips says that it is enough just to change lifestyle to make immunity much stronger. “Eventually, the way we take care of our heath determines the way our immunity system takes care of us.” Here are the ways you may keep your immune system strong.

Eliminate Stress
From the earliest times scholars suspected stress to weaken immune system. At present time, there are many proves of this theory. An experiment was made. Four hundred volunteers used nose drops with virus of catarrhal disease, and group of 26 volunteers used placebo (i.e. drops without virus). Then in both groups was measured stress level in their blood and then they got new dozes of vaccine. As a result, in people with high stress level the probability to get diseased was two times higher than in those who had low stress level. In group of 26 people no one got diseased.

Scientists say that stress contributes to steroid hormones production in atrabiliary capsules which suppress activity of immune system. It is up to you to choose how to fight stress. You should begin with next activities: play with your children, pets, work in the garden, etc. Also you may meditate, practice yoga or read an interesting book.

Have Enough Sleep
“Sleep is a repair shop of immune system” - says Dr. Fillips. During sleep you rest with your body and mind but your immune system keeps working. It must guard your health but it requires less energy to strengthen defense mechanisms. Insufficient sleep has negative effects on your immune system. Scientists have stated that when people lose 3 or 4 hours of their sleep, their immune system activity reduces by 30%.  The conclusion is that you must sleep not less than 6 – 8 hours a day.

Quit Smoking
Tobacco smoke contains formaldehyde, a substance that paralyzes macrophages in lungs. This makes human more vulnerable to the diseases of upper respiratory tract including influenza. So you should give up smoking if you smoke.

Make Regular Exercises
Moderate physical activity prevents from microbes assembly in lungs and strengthens immune system which helps to accelerating of antibodies circulation in blood. In order to keep your immune system strong you should practice aerobics, walk, jog, swim or ride a bike 20 minutes a day.

ARVI Treatment

Patient with ARVI is treated at home. In case of fever it is recommended bed regimen, dairy and vegetative diet rich in vitamins, plenty of warm liquids (fruit drinks, tea with lemon).  Are prescribed symptomatic drugs: nasal vasomotorial drugs, mucolytics, anti-tussive medications, antihistamine drugs, ascorbic acid, polyvitamins.

In case of causal treatment (directed on fight with causative agent) within 48 hours from the onset of the disease it is necessary to start taking antiviral medications, for example, Tamiflu. In case of complications development and occasional temperature rise after its normalization, start using antibiotics (penicillins, aminopenicillins with beta-lactamase, cephalosporins).

For the specific prevention of influenza, vaccination  is recommended. It should be done before the epidemic rise. However, vaccination is useless in other ARVI cases which are registered all year round.

ARVI prevention:
- common health improvement
- body strengthening
- immunity promotion with exercises
- consumption of food rich in vitamins
Additionally, when pandemic, your doctor may advice you to take vegetative adaptogens and immunomodifiers.

Complications after ARVI
Past viral infection makes body more vulnerable to bacterial infection which results in bacterial complications especially in cases of late diagnostics and untimely ARVI treatment. Past ARVI frequently results in chronic pathology in respiratory ways such as bronchial asthma, sinusitis, tonsillitis, otitis.