High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is, simply, elevated pressure of the blood in the arteries. Hypertension results from two major factors, which can be present independently or together:

• The heart pumps blood with excessive force.
• The body's smaller blood vessels (known as the arterioles) narrow, so that blood flow exerts more pressure against the vessels' walls.

Although the body can tolerate increased blood pressure for months and even years, eventually the heart may enlarge (a condition called hypertrophy), which is a major factor in heart failure. Such pressure can also injure blood vessels in the heart, kidneys, the brain, and the eyes.

Two numbers are used to describe blood pressure: the systolic pressure (the higher and first number) and the diastolic pressure (the lower and second number). Health dangers from blood pressure may vary among different age groups and depending on whether systolic or diastolic pressure (or both) is elevated. A third measurement, pulse pressure, is becoming important as an indicator of severity.

Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). For example, excellent blood pressure would be less than 120/80 mm Hg (systolic/diastolic). Blood pressure is now categorized as optimal, normal, high normal, and hypertensive. The hypertensive category is further divided, according to severity. [See Table Blood Pressure and Its Treatments.]

American expert groups recommend that any blood pressure above normal should be treated. Some experts are concerned, however, that such guidelines may unnecessarily increase the use of anti?hypertensive drugs.

Systolic Blood Pressure. The systolic pressure (the first and higher number) is the force that blood exerts on the artery walls as the heart contracts to pump out the blood. High systolic pressure is now known to be a greater risk factor than diastolic pressure for heart, kidney, and circulatory complications and for death, particularly in middle?aged and elderly adults. The wider the spread between the systolic and diastolic measurements, the greater the danger.

In fact, elevated systolic pressure may pose a significant danger for heart events and stroke events even when diastolic is normal ?? a condition called isolated systolic hypertension. Isolated systolic hypertension is the most common form of hypertension in people older than fifty. In one study it comprised 87% of hypertension cases in people between ages 50 and 59.

Diastolic Blood Pressure. The diastolic pressure (the lower and second number) is the measurement of force as the heart relaxes to allow the blood to flow into the heart. High diastolic pressure (the second and lower number) is a strong predictor of heart attack and stroke in young adults. [See Hypertension Categories, below.]

Pulse Pressure. Pulse pressure is the difference between the systolic and the diastolic readings. It appears to be an indicator of stiffness and inflammation in the blood?vessel walls. The greater the difference between systolic and diastolic numbers, the stiffer and more injured the vessels are thought to be. Although not yet used by physicians to determine treatment, evidence is suggesting that it may prove to be a strong predictor of heart problems, particularly in older adults. Some studies suggest that in people over 45 years old, every 10?mm Hg increase in pulse pressure increases the risk for stroke increases by 11%, cardiovascular disease by 10%, and overall mortality by 16%. (In
younger adults the risks are even higher.)

Download: PDF Ebook

Read more...

Exercise, Obesity, and Weight Control

It is ironic that while millions of people are dying of starvation each year in most parts of the world, many Americans are dying as an indirect result of an overabundance of food. Further, billions of dollars are spent each year overfeeding the American public, which then leads to the spending of billions of dollars more each year on various weight loss methods. This review will investigate various aspects of overweight and obesity, and show how they are affected by physical activity. But first, we must define and differentiate between the terms overweight and obesity.

The terms overweight and obesity are often used interchangeably, but this is technically incorrect as they have different meanings. Overweight is defined as a body weight that exceeds the normal or standard weight for a particular person, based on his or her height and frame size. These standards are established solely on the basis of population averages. It is quite possible to be overweight according to these standard tables and yet have a body fat content that is average or even below average. For example, almost all college and professional football players are overweight by these tables, but few are overfat. There are also people who are within the normal range of body weights for their height and frame size by the standard tables, but who have, in fact, excessive body fat.

Obesity is the condition in which the individual has an excessive amount of body fat. This means that the actual amount of body fat, or its percentage of a person’s total weight, must be assessed or estimated. A number of laboratory and field assessment techniques can provide reasonably accurate estimates of a person’s body composition. xact standards for allowable fat percentages, however, have not been established. But there is general agreement among clinicians and scientists that men over 25% body fat and women over 35% should be considered obese, and that relative fat values of 20% to 25% in men and 30% to 35% in women should be considered borderline obese.

Download: PDF Ebook

Read more...

How To Maintain Your Perfect Weight, Health & Still Eat Your Favorite Foods

How many times have you lost weight and gained the weight right back after a couple of weeks? It can be a little discouraging to gain the weight after all your hard work and dedication. We tend to go back to eating our favorite foods and completely stop exercising. Well, this report will give you a solution on balancing your food intake and minimal exercise to maintain your perfect weight and health and still eat your favorite foods.

Eat variety of foods to minimize repeated exposure to food toxins, sprays, etc. All foods are handled differently in different parts of the country. (See Natural Foods List Below) If you eat conventional fruits and vegetables, be extra cautious on what you put into your body, repeatedly.

Conventional foods contain pesticides and other chemicals. It is always best to eat organic foods which are grown naturally without any chemicals. Eat organic foods if you can. Certain foods are laced with dangerous pesticides. Wash all fresh foods thoroughly especially melons, as there have been several cases of salmonella poisoning found from cutting into the melons before washing them. Grow your own if possible. When selecting organic foods at your local grocery store look for the “organic” label on each produce in the organic section. Conventional produce can be larger and look better than organic produce. Organic foods are somewhat expensive, however, it is better to pay now than later on the operating table.

Eat more fiber to speed dangerous toxins through the intestinal tract and to bind and neutralize them before they can do any harm. Fiber should be part of every meal. It is found in whole grains, beans, legumes, vegetables, and fruits. Processed foods lack fiber, be sure and add fresh food to every meal. Fiber also cuts down on food reactions and blood sugar fluctuations, in addition to preventing constipation.

Download: PDF Ebook

Read more...

Relationship Between Weight Loss and Body Image

Obesity is a serious health problemworldwide. In the United States, the number of obese people (defined as BMI>30) has reached epidemic proportions, affecting approximately one-quarter of the American population. The prevalence of obesity is increasing worldwide, and the percentage of people who are overweight has steeply risen more than 30% since 1980 (Bray, 1998). Data fromthe National Center for Health Statistics indicate an uneven distribution of obesity, with African-American and Mexican-American females most affected (Flegal, Carroll, & Kucfzmarski, 1998). Children and adolescents are not immune to this epidemic. Data suggest that over 20% of children are currently overweight, and 30% of these individuals become obese adults later in life.

Excess weight increases the risk of serious medical consequences such as hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, and some forms of cancer. It has been argued that the “preponderance of evidence suggests that even mild overweight is probably associated with some increase in mortality risk" (Solomon, Willett, & Manson, 1995). In addition to the tremendous health risks, the financial cost of obesity is staggering. Obesity-related problems are estimated to cost the United States 39.3 billion dollars annually (Colditz,
1998). Given this backdrop, it is not surprising that the study of obesity has received an increasing amount of attention fromlocal and federal policy-makers, health care professionals, and researchers.

Despite the well-established relationship between medical risks and obesity, the relationship between psychological functioning and obesity remains less clear. Common beliefs implicating psychological distress as a contributing factor in the development of obesity has not been well supported by research (Hill & Williams, 1998). Several large- scale studies, each involving at least 500 subjects, found no consistent evidence to support the claimthat severely obese persons show higher levels of psychopathology than normal-weight controls (Moore, Standard, & Srole, 1996; Silverstone, 1968; Hallstrom& Noppa, 1982; Kittel, Rustin, Dramaix, DeBacker, & Kornitzer, 1978; Hill & Williams, 1998; Stunkard &Wadden, 1992). Wadden, et al. (2001) contend that a substantial minority of extremely obese patients seeking bariatric surgery present with significant emotional complications.

Download PDF Ebook

Read more...

Brachytherapy for The Treatment of Prostate Cancer

Brachytherapy is the implantation of radioactive sources in or near tumours. When used in the treatment of prostate cancer, radioisotopes are inserted directly into the prostate gland guided by a transrectal ultrasound probe as a single day-patient or overnight stay procedure. The radioactive sources have a localised effect and, when the placement and dosage are planned appropriately, destroy tumour cells of the prostate gland without significantly irradiating adjacent normal tissue. The total radiation dose is about twice that from conventional external beam radiotherapy (EBRT), and about 50 per cent higher in terms of biological equivalence.

There are two types of prostate brachytherapy permanent implants (using small iodine 125 (I 125) or palladium 103 (Pd 103) seeds) and temporary implants (using iridium 192 wires via temporary catheters). Only permanent implants using I 125 are the subject of this application. Palladium implants are not currently available in Australia.

Brachytherapy has been proposed to offer a more efficient treatment (shorter treatment, in-hospital and recovery time) for localised prostate cancer with the additional advantages of limiting the side-effects to adjacent tissues that occur with EBRT and the surgical risks associated with radical prostatectomy (RP). However, the procedure may be associated with short- and long-term complications.

Contents
Executive summary
Introduction
Background
The procedure

Intended purpose
Clinical need/burden of disease
Existing procedures
Comparators
Marketing status of the device/technology
Current reimbursement arrangement

Approach to assessment

Review of literature
Expert advice

Results of assessment

Is it safe?
Is it effective?
What are the economic considerations?

Conclusions

Safety
Effectiveness
Cost-effectiveness

Recommendation
Appendix A MSAC terms of reference and membership
Appendix B Advisory Panel
Appendix C Studies included in the review
Appendix D Defining the Clinical Question
Appendix E Estimated costs of brachytherapy treatment - translated from the United Kingdom and direct Australian estimates
Abbreviations
References.

Download: PDF Ebook

Read more...

The book of tea

Tea began as a medicine and grew into a beverage. In China, in the eighth century, it entered the realm of poetry as one of the polite amusements. The fifteenth century saw Japan ennoble it into a religion of aestheticism--Teaism. Teaism is a cult founded on the adoration of the beautiful among the sordid facts of everyday existence. It inculcates purity and harmony, the mystery of mutual charity, the romanticism of the social order. It is essentially a worship of the Imperfect, as it is a tender attempt to accomplish something possible in this impossible thing we know as life. The Philosophy of Tea is not mere estheticism in the ordinary acceptance of the term, for it expresses conjointly with ethics and religion our whole point of view about man and nature.

It is hygiene, for it enforces cleanliness; it is economics, for it shows comfort in simplicity rather than in the complex and costly; it is moral geometry, inasmuch as it defines our sense of proportion to the universe. It represents the true spirit of Eastern democracy by making all its votaries aristocrats in taste. The long isolation of Japan from the rest of the world, so conducive to introspection, has been highly favourable to the development of Teaism. Our home and habits, costume and cuisine, porcelain, lacquer, painting--our very literature--all have been subject to its influence. No student of Japanese culture could ever ignore its presence. It has permeated the elegance of noble boudoirs, and entered the abode of the humble. Our peasants have learned to arrange flowers, our meanest labourer to offer his salutation to the rocks and waters. In our common parlance we speak of the man “with no tea” in him, when he is insusceptible to the serio-comic interests of the personal drama.

Again we stigmatise the untamed aesthete who, regardless of the mundane tragedy, runs riot in the springtide of emancipated emotions, as one “with too much tea” in him. The outsider may indeed wonder at this seeming much ado about nothing. What a tempest in a tea-cup! he will say. But when we consider how small after all the cup of human enjoyment is, how soon overflowed with tears, how easily drained to the dregs in our quenchless thirst for infinity, we shall not blame ourselves for making so much of the tea-cup. Mankind has done worse. In the worship of Bacchus, we have sacrificed too freely; and we have even transfigured the gory image of Mars. Why not consecrate ourselves to the queen of the Camelias, and revel in the warm stream of sympathy that flows from her altar? In the liquid amber within the ivory-porcelain, the initiated may touch the sweet reticence of Confucius, the piquancy of Laotse, and the ethereal aroma of Sakyamuni himself.

Download: PDF Ebook

Read more...

Alternative Therapies for Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease that has a significant impact on the health, quality of life, and life expectancy of patients, as well as on the health care system. Exercise, diet, and weight control continue to be essential and effective means of improving glucose homeostasis. However, lifestyle management measures may be insufficient or patient compliance difficult, rendering conventional drug therapies (i.e., oral glucose-lowering agents and insulin injection) necessary in many patients. In addition to adverse effects, drug treatments are not always satisfactory in maintaining euglycemia and avoiding late stage diabetic complications. As an alternative approach, medicinal herbs with anti hyperglycemic activities are increasingly sought by diabetic patients and health care professionals. Commonly used herbs and other alternative therapies, less likely to have the side effects of conventional approaches for type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes mellitus is a serious chronic metabolic disorder that has a significant impact on the health, quality of life, and life expectancy of patients, as well as on the health care system. In the United States, diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death. 1 Diabetes is divided into two major categories: type 1 diabetes (formerly known as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus or IDDM) and type 2 diabetes (formerly known as non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus or NIDDM). The overall prevalence of diabetes is approximately six percent of the population, of which 90 percent is type 2. Treatment and care of diabetes represents a substantial portion of the national health care expenditure, over $105 billion annually. This represents a substantial portion of the health care expenditure more than one of every 10 U. S. health care dollars and one of four Medicare dollars.

Type 2 diabetes represents a syndrome with disordered metabolism of carbohydrate and fat. The most prominent clinical feature is hyperglycemia (fasting plasma glucose level > 126 mg/dL, or glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) > 6.9%). In most patients with type 2 diabetes, the onset is in adulthood, most commonly in obese people over 40 years of age. Hypertension, hyperlipidemia, hyperinsulinemia, and atherosclerosis are often associated with diabetes.

Download: PDF Ebook

Read more...