Healthy

Let’s face it; old habits are hard to change. It is a long and tedious process, filled with many roadblocks along the way. However, when it comes to your health, adopting healthier habits is one of the best things you can do. It will protect you from serious problems like diabetes and obesity. Listed below are some lifestyle changes you can make this year for a younger and healthier you.

• Stop Smoking

As you may already know, smoking has been linked to a lot of health problems; it also gives you a sallow, dull complexion and wrinkles. So, quitting this unhealthy habit will not only be great for your health, it will be good for your skin as well.

• Cut Back on your Sodium Intake

If you are constantly fighting a battle with bloating, one of the first things to reconsider is your sodium intake. Why? Salty foods make you retain water. To get rid of the bloat, look for all the sources of sodium in your diet. There is sodium in almost every meal, cereal, bread, condiments, deli meats, sauces, and even sweet baked goods, so limit your intake of these types of foods and eat more fresh vegetables and fruits.

• Eat Right

Eating less junk food is one of the best things you can do for your health and skin. Did you know that a diet filled with sugar speeds up the ageing process? This is why it is important to eat healthy meals that contain proteins, antioxidants, and healthy fats.

Don’t forget about water – you can improve the radiance of your skin and flush out toxins by regularly drinking water. As a rule of thumb, health professionals recommend taking at least two litres of water daily.

• Exercise Regularly

Exercising is a lifestyle habit that offers a lot of positive benefits for both your mental and physical health. It improves blood circulation and strengthens your immune system, which can lead to a younger-looking you. Not sure where to begin? Try Yoga.

Yoga will help you get a better posture, improve your mood and flexibility, and help you manage stress better. Yoga is a mind-body workout, which means that, unlike other exercises, its poses are designed to work both the outer and inner parts of your body.

• Reduce your Alcohol Consumption

Taking too much alcohol, just like smoking, is bad for your health. Alcohol dehydrates you because it is a diuretic. Haven’t you wondered why you have to use the bathroom more when you drink as opposed to when you are sober? Dehydration makes your skin look older, rougher and splotchy. So, if you are really serious about your health and your skin, swap alcohol for water.

• Prepare for the Unknown

No one plans to get hurt or sick, and even with a healthy lifestyle, you might need medical care at some point. Prepare for this by getting private health insurance. Health insurance will ensure your medical costs are adequately covered should you require medical assistance. The earlier you can see a medical professional for any health complaints, the better.

 

Fruits are known for their taste and nutrition. Aside from eating fresh fruits, another way to consume them is by drinking fruit juice. You can squeeze fresh fruits to extract the juice or use a juicer to make it quicker. There are also ready-made fruit juices that you can get from fruit juice suppliers UK juice vendors recommend, which offer more convenience. It’s ideal for busy individuals or people who are always on the go but still want to get a daily intake of fruits in their system.

Although the most popular way of consuming fruit juices is by drinking, they are also now used in cooking and baking. Different kinds of fruits can be juiced and we listed some of the most popular, including their health benefits.

Apple juice

As the saying goes, an “apple a day keeps the doctor away”. Apple juice can also provide important nutrients if you prefer it over a fresh one for some reason. It has a component called quercetin, which has anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. It’s also good for the heart, nerves and the digestive system. Expecting mums can also benefit from apple juice as it can efficiently fight anaemia.

Avocado juice

The creamy avocado fruit that is popularly used for sandwiches, salads and various dishes is also turned into juice. Some of its benefits are improved formation of red blood cells, lower cholesterol level, and maintaining blood pressure. It’s also rich in folic acid that helps in a baby’s brain development, which is why it is also good for pregnant women. Since it has anti-ageing properties, it can also help you look younger.

Tomato juice

Lycopene is a substance found in tomatoes and it’s known to have a good effect on the heart and in fighting cancer. Like avocado, tomatoes also have anti-ageing properties, which is why they are also used in different skincare products. They are also rich in fibre that improves digestion and glycogen that aids in ensuring that the liver works properly.

Mango juice

Mangoes are high in fibre, thus making them an effective relief for constipation. They can also help remove toxins from the blood and prevent certain types of cancer. Taking mango juice also has a beautifying effect as it aids in rejuvenating the skin. You will not only feel refreshed drinking this juice, but you will also look fresh.

Pomegranate juice

Some of the vitamins that you can find in pomegranate are A, C and E. It’s also rich in folic acid, which is good for a baby’s brain development. This type of fruit juice can help slow down the growth of certain types of cancer like lung and prostate. It’s also excellent for the heart as it aids in fighting bad cholesterol.

Orange juice

It’s a great way to strengthen the immune system and prevent sickness, especially since it’s loaded with vitamin C. Oranges are also fantastic sources of antioxidants that prevent cancer and also rejuvenate the skin. They are also helpful in maintaining blood pressure and preventing heart problems.

With all the benefits that you can get from these fruit juices, it’s time to include them in your daily diet, in case you have not yet.

 

Spa bathing is a life-changing experience that you would love to do over and over again. The idea of being in a tub to give your body a massage while bathing is the best way to cleanse and relax. This type of bath is ideal, especially for those who have an active lifestyle and yet find it necessary to take a plunge after a long and tiring day. Whether in a hot tub bath or jetted whirlpool bath, spa baths maintain the promise to help the body of anyone who uses them for a healthier condition.

Relaxes the body

One of the known benefits of spa baths is for general body relaxation. The jet-infused water aimed at problem areas of the body is what gives the relieving effect to the muscles. As the body relaxes, the chance to get better sleep increases and the release of stress is naturally achieved. The way these therapeutic baths relax the body makes this old technique still relevant nowadays.

Enhances mood

Bathing is essential to wash all the dirt from the body. Amazingly, this everyday routine is not only limited to this purpose but it also helps to enhance mood. The refreshing effects of bathing, especially when soaking in water for a considerable period, can put the mind at ease. Studies in hydrotherapy have long supported this claim as it helps lessen stress and anxiety. Spa baths also help increase the serotonin and dopamine, or commonly known as “happy hormones”, and decrease the release of cortisol and epinephrine, or the “stress” hormones. These benefits have lasting effects, especially if done regularly.

Beneficial to health

Spa baths, or often called therapeutic baths, are proven to have plenty of health benefits. Aside from being an effective defence against infections and disease as they stimulate the immune system, they also help improve blood circulation. When blood flows normally, oxygen and nutrients are delivered evenly in the body, protecting body functions and bones from injury. The massaging action of water pressure naturally produces all these health benefits through the jets that target the common problem areas in the body. With spa baths, the body is ensured to have a healthy state.

Gives a luxurious feeling

With all the innovations and advancements in the forms of spa baths, you may say it is too extravagant to experience. This notion is commonly raised by many since baths are usually found in spas and high-end hotels. But these baths can also be installed at home, and the luxurious feelings remain. The luxury these baths are referring to is the positive effects on beauty and wellness. The tub serves as a place to recondition the body and restore energy making it a pleasurable experience.

Cleansing, rejuvenating, relaxing, and comforting – these all are sufficient reasons to spend more quality time in spa tubs.

In clinic I’ve been seeing an increasing number of patients who are running for the first time as a way of keeping fit and all of them seem to be using the Couch to 5K app.  Personally, I think this app is amazing, it builds you up slowly in order to achieve your goal of running 5K. What I love most about it, is how it increases the distance gradually over 12 weeks in very manageable amounts and, as a chiropractor, this is incredibly important as it reduces the risk of injury. It also builds your confidence and you will honestly feel like you will be running 5K in no time at all! If you are thinking of starting running, or have started, but can’t seem to make much progress with it, I honestly urge you to download this app. It’s free too (bonus!).

However, I’m still seeing people picking up little niggles and injuries here and there as they are nearly reaching their 5K goal, and I see how frustrating it is when you’ve done so well. Just this past week I’ve seen ankle sprains, shin splints and Achilles tendonitis which were all related to running.

Many of my patients tell me they take up running as they spend a lot of their day sat down and they want to kick start their fitness again. Which means, when they take up running, they’re suddenly doing two extremes – either sitting for a long time or running without considering that they also need to build up their muscle strength. Think back to a time when you did your first run, you probably felt out of breath because you were not used to exerting yourself like that. Well your muscles are the same: if you’ve spent the last 2 years sat down most days, your leg muscles are also going to need a bit of strengthening to help get accustomed to running and prevent injury.

As many of you know, I also work with track and field athletes at Bristol & West Athletics club. These athletes often represent GB at various competitions and range from sprinters to marathon runners. A lot of my patients in clinic think that these athletes at Bristol & West are worlds apart from them and therefore they couldn’t possibly ever put themselves in the same category, however, let me tell you that athletics pays almost nothing, so these guys are managing full time jobs alongside their training. The only big difference between my pro and semi pro athletes and my Couch to 5K group, is their understanding of the importance of strength training.

Now before you stop reading and decide that strength training isn’t for you which is why you’re running rather than lifting weights in the gym, please consider that research shows that we only need to do as little as 20 minutes of strengthening 2 x a week to reduce risk of injury by 80%! 20 minutes twice a week is manageable; Especially once I show you that all these exercises can be done at home when it’s pouring with rain and you don’t feel like doing your run.

 

Every single one of these exercises are done without weights, however you can progress them holding either some dumbbells or something similar of weight. Do these exercises twice a week and I promise you will significantly reduce your chance of injury.

SQUAT 

• Stand feet shoulder width apart  (You may find it’s easier if you turn your feet outwards slightly at around 15 degrees).
• You can either have your arms out in front of you, or across your chest.
• Now imagine you’re going to sit back. You want to bend at the hips and push your bum out as you go down and then start to bend your knees.
• You don’t have to touch the floor with your bum, just go down as far as is comfortable, for most people this is around 90 degrees.
• Ensure your knees don’t go over the front of your feet.
• Push up from the floor, back into the start position.
• 2 sets x 6 reps

LUNGE 

 

• Start standing with your feet shoulder width apart.
• With one leg, take a step forward
• Now bring yourself down to the floor by bending the back knee.
• Your knees must not go over the front of your foot! – Remember you should be an elevator (up and down) NOT and escalator (Forward)
• Return back to the start position and repeat with the other leg
• 4 reps on each leg, 2 sets

SINGLE LEG BALANCE

 

This is an exercise I give to every single athlete and weekend runner as it is incredibly important in helping prevent ankle injuries and sprains.

Each step is a progression, and you don’t move onto the next stage until you can hold each one for 30 seconds without wobbling. 

Also worth mentioning, please make sure you are near something you can take hold of when doing eyes closed stages, as we don’t want injuries from you falling over!

1. Start by standing on one leg for 30 seconds
2. Stand on one leg, eyes closed, for 30 seconds
3. Stand on one leg on an uneven surface (i.e a cushion is perfect for this),  for 30 seconds
4. Same as step 3, but eyes closed

WOBBLE BOARD EXERCISE 

 

This is the next step after the above exercise, and is great because it incorporates a bit of core strength too – this one you may not be able to do at home if you don’t have a wobble board, so instead you can just do step 3 on some cushions.

Medical negligence occurs when a healthcare provider or professional neglects to provide appropriate treatment, gives poor treatment or omits to take any proper actions that cause injury, harm, or death to a patient. The negligence or malpractice usually involves a medical error. This could be in aftercare, treatment, health management, medication dosage, or diagnosis. Medical malpractice law in the United States enables patients to recover reparation from any harm that results from any inappropriate treatment.

As per the statistics generated by the Medical Malpractice Center, there are around 15,000-19,000 medical negligence suits against healthcare professionals in the United States every year.

What is medical malpractice/negligence?

A healthcare professional, doctor, or hospital is expected to provide a certain standard of care to their patients. Although they are not liable for any harm the patient experiences under their supervision, they are legally responsible if they deviated from the quality of care that was meant to be offered.

As per the lawyers in the United States, for medical negligence to be considered, the following aspects must be involved:

• Failure to provide promised care: The law demands doctors, and healthcare providers abide by specific standards, else face an accusation of malpractice.
• An injury results from negligence: there can be no claim if the patient feels the doctor was negligent, but no injury was caused. The patient needs to prove negligence.
• The harm must have injurious consequences: the patient needs to show that the harm or injury caused by inattention resulted in significant damage.

The damage could be anything from:

• Disability
• Considerable loss of income
• Constant pain
• Enduring hardship
• Suffering

The types of negligence and error that could occur

Examples of cases where malpractice or mistake could lead to a lawsuit may include:

• • Bedsores or pressure ulcers
  • Potentially fatal infection acquired in the hospital
  • The patient has persistent pain after the surgery
  • Surgery on the wrong part of the body
  • Leaving things inside the patient’s body after the operation
  • Prescribing the wrong medication or dosage
  • Not following up
  • Failure to act on results such as not ordering appropriate tests
  • Premature discharge
  • Incorrect or unnecessary surgery
  • Failure to diagnose or misdiagnose

Other serious incidents may include patients developing suicidal tendencies while in the care of medical staff and fires in hospitals or clinics.

Certain measures have been implemented to reduce the incident of infringement in hospitals. This includes:

1. Sustained implementation of hand hygiene rules
2. Establishment of guidelines for best medical practice

What does a medical negligence case involve?

There are several entities involved in a medical malpractice lawsuit.

• • The plaintiff is the individual who complains – this can be either the patient or someone who acts on the patient’s behalf in case the patient dies
  • The defendant is the party who is being prosecuted – this can be the hospital, the doctor, nurse, or the medical staff
  • The fact-finder is the jury or the judge

Dissatisfaction with the outcome of treatment doesn’t imply medical negligence. It is only considered malpractice if there is negligence causing injury.

 

It’s hard to get people excited about the idea of insurance. It’s one of those things that everybody inevitably needs at some point during their life, but nobody likes paying for. Because you buy it in the hope that you’ll never have to claim on it, paying for an insurance policy can feel like shelling out dead money month after month. There are probably things you’d rather be spending that money on, and so it can be tempting to forget about insuring yourself and spending more on the things you love instead.

While we understand that temptation, we also feel that leaving yourself uninsured is a bad idea for the majority of people. Think about all the things you insure yourself for. Your home is probably insured against accident or theft. Your car is also insured to protect against theft, or liability in the case of an accident. Your valuable goods – such as your laptop or cellphone – may well be insured, too. Some of you will even have insurance for your pets, but not for yourself! Are all these things really more important than your own health and well being? If you’re spending money on insurance for everything other than yourself, how can you be sure you have your priorities in order?

The most recent statistical data available tells us that only sixty percent of Americans have life insurance, and that number is falling all the time. That figure needs addressing. If you think about life insurance payments as wasted money, try to think of it another way. Consider the way that playing online slots works. You know that when you pay money into online slots, it’s more likely that you won’t win than you will. That doesn’t stop you from doing it, though, because you’re also aware that there’s always a chance that UK Slots will pay out on the next spin you take. You don’t know when it might happen – it might be the next time you spin the reels, or it might be fifteen spins from now, but slots wouldn’t exist as a popular hobby if they never paid out at all. Life insurance is the same. Most of the time, you’re making payments and getting nothing back. When it does pay out, though, it’ll be at the precise moment you or your family needs it the most. Online slots are a gamble, and taking out life insurance can feel like gambling with your health, but it’s not as big a gamble as having none at all.

Perhaps the issue that holds many people back is not knowing which type of life insurance to go for. It broadly splits into three varieties, which we’ll explore below.

1. Life Insurance

Basic life cover does the job you expect it to do based on its name – it pays out a lump sum to your family, or to your estate, in the event that you pass away during the term of the cover. A typical reason someone may want to take life insurance out is that they have a mortgage that would need to be cleared in the event of death, or they have a dependent child who would need caring for if something were to happen to them. The majority of standard life insurance policies pay out for death, or in the event of a medical condition being diagnosed which will lead to death within twelve months of diagnosis (this is known as terminal illness cover). For healthy people, standard life insurance is comparatively cheap, and will do the basic job of ensuring that your loved ones are provided for if you’re no longer there to provide for them yourself.

1. Life Insurance With Critical Or Serious Illness Cover

Standard life insurance pays out of you’re dead or dying, but what happens if you only die a little bit? What happens if you have a serious health problem – say, for example, a heart attack, a stroke, or a severe form of cancer, and survive? You may still be alive, but you may not be able to go back to the job you used to do. You may not be able to work at all. What would happen in those circumstances? Does your employer have an in-work benefit which would pay out to your family? If not, you may prefer to consider life insurance with critical or serious illness cover over standard life insurance. Critical or serious illness cover pays out a lump sum on diagnosis of a serious health condition, even if you go on to make a full recovery from the issue. That means you can focus on your recovery without worrying about how you’ll afford to keep a roof over your head.

1. Income Protection

By now, we know that life insurance pays out if you’ve passed away or are about to pass away, and critical or serious illness cover pays out for life-threatening conditions. That doesn’t cover everything that might happen to us over the course of our lives, though. What if we were in a car accident, and broke both of our legs? We’re not dead, so our life insurance wouldn’t pay out. Our life isn’t in danger, and so it’s unlikely that serious or critical illness insurance would pay out either. That’s where Income Protection steps in. Income Protection usually pays out as a monthly payment instead of a lump sum, and is there to cover our essential expenses until we’re back on our feet and able to resume work. That could be for as little as two months, or for the rest of our working lives if necessary. Some income protection plans will also pay out a lump sum to our families in the event that we pass away without getting ill or having an accident first, and so they’re still considered to be a form of life insurance.

People who want to feel wholly and adequately protected will often take out a blend of all three types of insurance to ensure that they’re well provided for in any circumstances. That may not always be possible dependant on budget, but a little cover is better than nothing at all. The only people who aren’t likely to require any cover at all are single people, with no liabilities, no dependents, and no obvious beneficiaries. Even then, they may want to as themselves the question of what happens if an accident or illness stops them from working, and how they would cope financially in those circumstances.

If you’ve been sitting on the fence about sorting out your life insurance, here’s one more thing to consider – it gets more expensive to enter into a life insurance contract as you get older, so the sooner you act, the cheaper it’s likely to be. It’s better to put something in place right now and not have to worry about it ever again than to leave it for too long, and then not be able to take it out after you’ve fallen ill. Speak to your financial adviser, and start a conversation about planning for yourself and your family.

Join the discussion on this topic with NH Forge by visiting our contact page.

Eating healthy can be an expensive proposition, especially for families. Whether you want to include more whole grains, cut out gluten or monitor your calorie intake, finding foods that meet your guidelines can wreak havoc on your grocery bill. Then, there are times when you’re craving a favorite food, and you know you must have it. With these helpful shopping tips, you can still eat right without breaking the bank and also enjoy a cheeseburger pizza special from your neighborhood pizza maker when the craving hits.

Plan Your Shopping Trip

Planning is essential to saving money at the grocery store. Before you make a shopping list, take stock of what’s already in your pantry and refrigerator. In addition,

• Plan the week’s menu, being sure to use up expiring foods. Add needed ingredients to your list.
• Stick to your list while shopping, and buy only what you know your family will eat.
• Never purchase items such as plants or toys at a grocery store, where the markup is higher.

Buy in bulk when possible, but buy only those items that are sure to be eaten. The savings you realize throughout the year more than makes up for the cost of a membership at a bulk-goods store.

Cook and Eat at Home

Giving up dinners out can help you save both cash and calories. You won’t be tempted by enticing menu items, and you’ll spend about half the amount on family dinners. Take time during the weekend to prepare for the week by doing these tasks:

• Rinse and cut vegetables for snacks, salads and meals and store in the refrigerator.
• Cook and freeze several entrees for easy dinners that you can quickly re-heat.
• Cook extra portions to have as leftovers or save for another week.

When you do have occasion to eat out, view restaurant menus online first, where you can take time to explore healthy options. You can also have it delivered. Eating in lets you enjoy more family time while also enjoying the best gluten free pizza crust.

Keep Meat on the Menu

If meat and fish dishes make up a good portion of your menu, don’t despair. Here are some ideas for saving on these higher-priced items, too.

• Buy less expensive cuts for soups, casseroles and stir-fry dishes that are rich in seasonings.
• Buy larger portions of meat that is on sale for use in several dishes.
• Let other proteins star in a few entrees, such as eggs in omelets and beans in burritos.

Limit purchase of fresh fruits and vegetables to in-season items, when they’re less expensive. Stock up on frozen packages of your favorites, which are just as nutritious, to enjoy during off-seasons.

Planning Ahead Is Key

It’s hard to resist the many tempting dishes that are offered already prepared in the grocery store, especially for busy parents. Planning ahead can help you stay on-budget while still eating healthy. When you do indulge, be sure to include a salad or vegetable side. That makes it easy to enjoy a budget-friendly and guilt-free meal when you hear that Philly cheesesteak pizza is back at your go-to pizzeria. Go ahead and fulfill your craving, knowing that you’re still eating healthy.

 

They say, one of the most important things to do if you want to take care of your teeth is to get them brushed two times a day. But it doesn’t end there. There are many other facts you need to be aware of if you want strong and healthy teeth. Yes, there are a lot of things about your teeth that you don’t know. And this is why we have family dentists. That being said, the following are just a few of the many pieces of advice your family dentist would want to give you about your teeth:

Problem is Not Determined by Pain Alone

A lot of people just assume that they have no problem with their teeth just because they don’t feel any pain. Well, this is not true. In fact, the only way to detect and prevent issues with your teeth is by dedicatedly visiting your dentist twice a year.

Your Back Teeth are Equally Important

Well, this is something you should know in school but if you brush to keep your smile sparkling. Recently, the family dentist near me said that he finds problems with back teeth that are neglected while brushing.

Floss is Important

And brushing alone is not enough. Remember that floss is not just a fancy tool but something very important that can go a long way in preventing problems with your teeth. Flossing can also go a long way in preventing bad breath.

Your Teeth are Affected by Your Lifestyle

And one of the biggest killers here is the cigarette. So, start chewing the gum meant to help you stop smoking if you care for your teeth. Soda is another dangerous killer that can go a long way in destroying your teeth. So, the next time you are at a party, you may want to think twice before picking the glass of soda drink.

Don’t Rely on Mouthwash

Unless you’re going to greet the queen in a few minutes. The effect of mouthwash does not last long. Instead, it dries the mouth and in fact, leaves bad breath returning in an even stronger way in a matter of a few hours. Floss instead. This is an effective way to prevent bad breath.

Bleaching is Not a Good Idea

Yes, we all want to have a good smile that shows sparkling white teeth but this does not mean that we resort to damaging ways. Bleaching, for one, can go a long way in thinning the enamel of your teeth and thus making it lose its color. So, unless you want translucent teeth, throw away that bleach.

So, while the above is just a few of the many pieces of wisdom your family dentist would share, there is a lot more than you would want to know about and he would be only too happy to guide you with. So, now that you know how much you need to take care of your teeth, here’s hoping for better dental health from today and teeth that will go with you to your golden years.

To read more on topics like this, check out the healthy category.

Even if an individual is cautious about whatever he eats to maintain good health, at times, it may not be adequate, trying to prevent any health complications. Most of the doctors recommend their patients to use Pain Tracker, an application that helps to track body pain related to any physical injury or eating unhealthy food without following a proper diet plan. They can use this application with the help of an Android/iOS as well as the website as per the requirement.

What is Celiac Disease?

Celiac disease, in ancient times, derived from a Greek word ‘coeliac,’ now in medical term, it is called Coeliac/Celiac disease. Celiac disease is a long term disease that affects the small intestine. An abnormal immune response in the body causes due to the intake of gluten (a type of protein found in wheat and other grains such as barley, rye, etc.) food.

This disease is quite more widespread among women than men as per few researchers claiming it to be. If ignored untreated, it causes gastrointestinal problems as well as high risk of having cancer in small intestine results in sudden death.

If an individual continues to consume gluten food, then it affects its health that further leads to many other health-related complications.

Signs and Symptoms of Celiac Disease

Some symptoms found in infants/children:

1. Causing constipation

Improper timing of food, dehydration, also leads to the hardened stool that is difficult to pass results into illness.

2. Diarrhea

It is one of the gastrointestinal symptoms that cause loose, watery stool.

3. Steatorrhea

Pale, foul-smelling stool.

4. Bloating

Swelling in the belly

5. Other symptoms

It includes vomiting, gas, fatigue, joint pain, blood in the urine or stool, etc.

Many people mistakenly take celiac disease as a food allergy, which is not that case.

Few symptoms found in adults:

1. Anemia – Iron deficiency

Lack of iron content in the red blood cells.

2. Dermatitis herpetiformis

Itchy blistery rashes are called dermatitis herpetiformis.

3. Problems in the nervous system

It includes cognitive impairment as well as numbness in hands and feet.

4. Osteoporosis

Loss of bone density causes osteoporosis.

5. Hyposplenism

A decrease in the functioning of the spleen.

6. Other symptoms

Headache, fatigue, infertility, abdominal pain, depression, stress, weight loss, etc. are a few other symptoms.

It becomes a significant problem when the symptoms of this diseased surface after a specific time, which leads to further delay in treatment.

Diagnosis

Most of the people with celiac disease are not aware that they have it. It leads to delay in treatment having further health complications.

To diagnose this disease, doctors recommend conducting two tests:

1. Serology test – This test performs to look for antibodies in the human blood as well as checks the levels of antibody proteins that direct immune reaction to gluten.

2. Genetic analysis – test conducted for checking for human leukocyte antigens, i.e., HLA-DQ2 & HLA-DQ8. It helps to check if you are having celiac disease or not based on reports.

Causes of the disease

Celiac disease is due to the reaction of intake of gluten-rich food, i.e., glutenins (a protein found in wheat and other grains such as barley, rye) and the oats (Aveneae tribe).

Many researchers believe that gluten food and other health factors contribute to celiac disease, but as of now, the leading cause is unknown.

The real problem of this disease is when our body’s immune system overreacts while taking gluten-rich food, this reaction damages villi – tiny fingerlike projection present in the small intestine. It helps in absorbing vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. In case villi get affected due to this disease, no matter whatever one eats, it is not enough to have adequate nutrients in our body that leads to severe health complications.

Risk factors

Celiac disease happens to run in families (heredity). If any of the family members has this disease, there is a high chance for their children to have this health problem. In some cases, most people having this disease do not have any family history.

Some people who are likely to have celiac disease include:

1. Type 1 diabetes

2. Turner syndrome ( a health condition where the X chromosome is missing in a female)

3. Down syndrome ( a genetic disorder)

4. Rheumatoid arthritis.

Diet and Treatment

As of now, there is no proper treatment, except following a gluten-free diet. Many health institutes are still researching about the medications that help in curing small intestines, a therapy that improves immune system and vaccines for curing celiac disease.

However, the only treatment is to avoid gluten in your food. A strict diet plan from the concerned dietician will help in intestine healing as well as managing symptoms, but if one eats gluten food, then it may cause a relapse. There is a specific test conducted to those who are willing to continue gluten food, even replacing some of them with another type of food as per the instructions from the dietician.

Follow the regular diet and products that are gluten-free. Many people are willing to follow a gluten-free diet; they should consult the doctor’s advice.

Some food is safe to consume such as

1. Cereals (corn, millet, rice, sorghum) and

2. Non – grains (quinoa, bananas, topica, etc.) do not contain gluten.

Avoid eating food processed, including soy sauce, bread, gram flour, rye, canned meat, etc. that contain gluten.

Doctors recommend the following specific other treatment to reduce the symptoms from further health complications.

1. Endoscopy

This test conducted with the help of a tiny camera which enables the doctor to view small intestine and take a small tissue sample (biopsy) to analyze the damage of villi.

2. Medical Supplements

Doctors or dietician might recommend taking vitamin and mineral supplements in case of severe anemia or nutritional deficiencies. If the supplements are not working, doctors prefer to give an injection instead. Medications to control itchy rashes and intestinal inflammation, which helps to control any damage in the small intestine.

Many doctors find it useful to use the Pain Tracker application to know their patient’s health condition through pain tracking charts and reports. It also helps the patients to give day to day entry if they have any physical pain symptom. Visit the concerned doctor before taking a gluten-free diet and also regular checkup helps to know about the health condition before things get worse.

To read more on topics like this, check out the healthy category.

A number of people have been victims of Valsartan. They have filed lawsuits for the same. If you too are thinking of doing the same then you first need to find a good lawyer who can handle these type of cases.

Before one can file Valsartan lawsuits one needs to have clarity about Valsartan and the side effects that are associated with it.

So what is Valsartan?

This is a angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB). It helps in controlling blood pressure. Earlier it was sold by Novartis under the brand name of Diovan and this was not said to have any impurities. Later several generic forms of this medicine entered the market. Some of these generic medicines were combination pills.

Details of Valsartan contamination:

The manufacture of this medicine in an acidic environment will result in the formation of a by-product called NDMA. If the pH is very low then one more by product called N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) is produced. This is a carcinogen. According to reports, a large number of Valsartan that is sold across the globe contains this impurity. There are claims that the contamination may have happened overseas as the companies in the US outsourced the manufacturing. But the US companies may have turned a blind eye to the fact that the product was contaminated with cancer causing impurities.

A look at the side effects:

Investigation is going on in order to find out the details about the side effects due to Valsartan. The impurities in Valsartan are absorbed vert fast by the upper part of the small intestine and are carried to the liver. The extent of side effects of long term exposure to Valsartan is being investigated. Overall, it looks like a large number of people have got affected.

You will find that people across the US have filed lawsuits for the Valsartan side effects. This includes Stomach cancer, Liver cancer, Colorectal cancer, Pancreatic cancer, Esophageal Cancer, Bowel cancer, Liver failure etc. Investigations are being carried out in order to find out about any other side effects and cancers that may have been caused due to Valsartan.

Make sure that you file the lawsuit for Valsartan side effects:

Do you feel that you or your loved ones are a victim of the Valsartan side effects? Then you need to get justice. For this you need to file a lawsuit. On this, you will naturally need professional help. You need to find an attorney who has proven expertise in filing these type of lawsuits. You need to give all the correct details to the attorney like since when you were taking the medicine, the different medical investigation reports etc.

Ideally opt for an attorney who will have the expertise to fight your case in the best possible manner. He must be able to help you and your loved ones get justice. Make sure that you choose the best attorney for the same. He must have proven expertise and must help you in every possible way.

To read more on topics like this, check out the healthy category.