Choosing a Low Cholesterol Foods

Many people complain how difficult it was to control blood cholesterol. They have a strict diet, not eating beef, lamb, chicken, offal and eggs, and eat only vegetables and fruit. But why cholesterol does not decreased? Is there anything wrong with their bodies?

Cholesterol should always be controlled at all times. Total cholesterol should be approximately close to 200 milligrams percent (mg% subsequently written, Ed.). Usually blood cholesterol levels between women and men actually not much different, both total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol (low density lipoprotein = bad cholesterol). However, HDL cholesterol (hight density lipoproteins = good cholesterol) tend to be higher in women than men.

Normal HDL in women is 55 mg% and HDL 45 mg% in men. With proper diet and regular exercise, the target is actually not too difficult to achieve.

However, in certain people, with a strict diet and regular exercise though, is not enough. Cholesterol levels in the blood remains high, before taking the drugs the doctor. Genetic factors often cause the reduction of cholesterol is not very satisfying.

This factor is partly due to the nature of hypercholesterolemia, ie people who have average cholesterol levels high enough, between 200-350 mg%. So the people who suffer from hypercholesterolemia in a diet and exercise should be under the supervision of a physician. Hypercholesterolemia does require more aggressive treatment.

What is really the highest cholesterol levels are allowed? And if cholesterol levels that exceed the highest level, what's the impact? Consensus on cholesterol that have been asked by the United States Department of Health is, if cholesterol levels between 200-240 mg%, they have the risk of coronary heart disease threats two times greater than if the cholesterol levels of 300 mg%.

For that blood cholesterol levels need to be controlled at all times, both in people who suffer from hypercholesterolemia or not. Because prevention is better than treatment.

Environmental Factors
Environmental factors play a huge role against blood cholesterol is diet, and blood cholesterol is very influential on the formation of atherosclerosis (deposits of fatty substances in and under the inner lining of the artery wall).

The results of epidemiological studies have shown, the wrong diet can accelerate atherosclerosis. While proper diet, but can delay the process of calcification, calcification may attenuate already occurred. So, eating is not just mean what you liked or disliked, but how we choose something meaningful to the body.

For example Finns who like beef and pork roll to warm the winter. They rarely ate nuts and seeds. As a result, they are more likely to suffer coronary calcification.

Unlike the Italians who prefer soy, like roasted corn and peanuts; average their blood cholesterol levels lower than those of Finland.

Consumption of cholesterol a day is ideal, in fact there is no definite limit. It's just a nutritionist from Cipto Mangunkusumo suggested, should not consume more than 300 mg cholesterol per day.

It required considerable knowledge of content of various types of foodstuffs that contain high cholesterol. Given the cholesterol in the blood is also affected by the fat intake in the diet, especially the type of saturated fatty acids, fatty acid content is also noteworthy.

Back to Traditional
Tips for choosing foods low in cholesterol is to limit the source animal. Expand food from plant materials. In addition contain no cholesterol, vegetable sources also contain non-nutritional active ingredients that can lower cholesterol levels. For example isoflafon of grains, pectin from fruits and vegetables, and fiber from whole grains, fruits and vegetables.

Of course the point is not advised to abstain altogether animal food sources, but must limit and choose. Meat should be a smooth fiber, such as chicken meat. If you want to eat beef, choose lean. Avoid brain and viscera. Choose fish that are relatively low-cholesterol, compared to shellfish.

Fast food (fast food) of any kind, should be reduced or restricted. These foods generally contain high cholesterol. As a guideline, it can be seen the results of the analysis of a variety of fast food from Australia.

Piece of chocolate cake contains 100 mg of cholesterol. Burger kind of combination of egg and cheese each serving contains 110 mg of cholesterol. Start of this type of chuck steak steak, rib steak, round steak, rump steak to contain an average of 100 to 200 mg of cholesterol per serving. Foods that contain cheese, any kind, such as cheese pizza, cheese burgers, cheese omelets, cholesterol varies between 100 to 200 mg per serving.

Indonesia's traditional menu are usually consumed daily, on average contain less cholesterol. For example rice with tempeh, meat, vegetables, fruit and green beans contain only cholesterol of 70 mg. Fried rice with an omelet containing approximately 50 mg cholesterol (derived from eggs).

If you eat dinner with rice, vegetables nodes spinach, red beans, with a side dish tofu, tempeh and salted fish or fried fish, contains only 20 mg cholesterol. Obviously, maintaining the traditional menu very limiting cholesterol intake.

Ir. Faisal Anwar, M.Sc., lecturer of Department of Community Nutrition and Family Resources, IPB writes for kompas.com 

original post by : http://info-sehat-kita.blogspot.com/

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A headache could attack everyone and many peoples have suffered headaches

A headache could attack everyone and many peoples have suffered headaches. Simply put, having a headache can put a damper us on our entire day. If you’re suffering headaches, here are some tips to relieve your headaches, naturally:

a. Take a break from your current activity

Everyone use their heads to think most of the time. Like our others organ, we also need to rest our mind. Remember to give our head a rest. Headaches can sometimes be your body’s sign that you’re doing too much and need to slow down, so listen to what it’s telling you.

b. Breathe deeply
When your head hurts, stop, relax and take some deep breaths. Don’t underestimate the ability of the breath to calm your body and move energy and stress through it that may be stuck and causing pain. In fact, this is a good practice for every day, whether you’re experiencing pain or not.

c. Eat healthy
Everyone needs foods for their life. Everyone know, better foods gives us better life. So, begin with a good breakfast, which some people feel is the most vital meal of the day. You should also maintain a balanced diet throughout the day, so you can maintain consistent energy and blood sugar levels.

d. Cut out the caffeine
Caffeine can boost your energy and wake you up, but using it excessively (or even at all, for some people) can also cause tension headaches and leave you feeling nervous and irritable. This is another instance when it’s beneficial to listen to what your body tells you. If you have a reaction when you drink coffee, simply eliminate it. Herbal teas are good substitutes, as are roasted grain drinks that simulate coffee taste. You can buy these from the health food store.

e. Say no to additives
Food additives, such as artificial colors and flavors, can trigger headaches. There’s even some evidence that large doses over time may cause more serious problems, such as strokes and seizures. There’s no reason to ingest these additives and they can be easily avoided if you stick to natural foods, with an emphasis on “live” substances, such as fruits and vegetables.

f. Apply a cold, wet cloth
Cool down your aching head by using a towel that has been soaked in cold water and wrung out. If you have the patience to wait, you can also place the wet towel in the freezer before applying it to your head.

g. See an eye specialist
Vision problems or eye strain can sometimes be the cause of headaches, so if you have consistent headaches that don’t seem to have any other cause, get your vision checked. To lessen the financial stress going to the eye doctor can generate, check out your medical coverage to see if you’re covered. Some medical health plans have eye care coverage options, so know if yours does before you go.

If you don’t know what’s causing your headaches, you can assess which of the above factors are relevant to you by keeping a diary that lists which activities you’ve done during the day and what foods you’ve eaten. Patterns will probably surface quickly as you keep the diary, which will give you a good basis for knowing how to treat your headaches.

(sources; http://myonlinehealtharticles.com/headache-relief-tips/)

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What is epiglottitis? How to prevent from epiglottitis?

Overview

Epiglottitis is a medical emergency that may result in death if not treated quickly. Epiglottitis is inflammation of the epiglottis - the flap that sits at the base of the tongue, which keeps food from going into the trachea (windpipe). Due to its place in the airway, swelling of this structure can interfere with breathing and constitutes a medical emergency. The infection can cause the epiglottis to either obstruct or completely close off the windpipe. When it gets infected and inflamed, it can obstruct, or close off, the windpipe, which may be fatal unless promptly treated.

Respiratory infection, environmental exposure, or trauma may result in inflammation and infection of other structures around the throat. This infection and inflammation may spread to involve the epiglottis as well as other upper airway structures. Epiglottitis usually begins as an inflammation and swelling between the base of the tongue and the epiglottis. This may cause the throat structures to push the epiglottis backward. With continued inflammation and swelling of the epiglottis, complete blockage of the airway may occur, leading to suffocation and death. Autopsies of people with epiglottitis have shown distortion of the epiglottis and its associated structures including the formation of abscesses (pockets of infection). For unknown reasons, adults with epiglottic involvement are more likely than children to develop epiglottic abscesses.

Epiglottitis Causes

Conditions that cause epiglottitis include infectious, chemical, and traumatic agents. Infectious is the most common. H influenzae type b was once the most common cause prior to vaccination. Currently, other organisms such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi are the causes, especially among adults.

• Various organisms. For examples: Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus parainfluenzae, varicella-zoster, herpes simplex virus type 1, and Staphylococcus aureus, among others.
• Heat damage injured. Heat damage that results in epiglottitis is also known as thermal epiglottitis. Thermal epiglottitis occurs from drinking hot liquids, eating solid foods, or using illicit drugs such as inhalation of metal pieces from crack cocaine pipes or the tip of marijuana cigarettes. In these cases the epiglottitis from thermal injury is similar to the illness caused by infection.
• Unusual causes of epiglottitis include brown recluse spider bites to the ear, which may result in swelling or eating buffalo fish, which may cause an allergiclike reaction and swelling. Blunt trauma or something blocking the throat may also lead to epiglottitis.
  

Epiglottitis Symptoms

When epiglottitis strikes, it usually occurs quickly but may range from just a few hours to a few days. The most common symptoms include sore throat, muffling or changes in the voice, difficulty speaking, fever, difficulty swallowing, fast heart rate, and difficulties in breathing.

Fever is usually high but may be low at 37.8°C (100.1°F) in adults or even slightly lower at 37.2°C (99°F) in cases of thermal epiglottitis.

• Signs of respiratory distress, or trouble breathing, are seen with epiglottitis as drooling, leaning forward to breathe, taking rapid shallow breaths, "pulling in" of muscles in the neck or between the ribs with breathing (retractions), high-pitched whistling sound when breathing (stridor), and trouble speaking. Someone with acute epiglottitis usually looks very ill.
• Children may sit in a "sniffing position" with the body leaning forward and the head and nose tilted forward and upward as though they are sniffing a good smelling pie.
• People with epiglottitis may appear restless and breathing with their neck, chest wall, and upper belly muscles. While they may be taking in less air with each breath, they will still manifest the high-pitched whistling sound, called inspiratory stridor.
• Typically, a child who comes to the hospital with epiglottitis has a history of fever, difficulty talking, irritability, and problems swallowing for several hours. The child often sits forward and drools. In infants younger than 1 year, signs and symptoms such as fever, drooling, and upright posturing may all be absent. In this small population group, the infant may have a cough and a history of an upper respiratory infection. Thus it is very difficult to know if an infant has epiglottitis.
• In contrast, adolescents and adults have a more general appearance with sore throat as the main complaint along with fever (50-70%), difficulty breathing (25%), drooling (15%), and stridor (noise with breathing) (10%). Doctors have characterized adult epiglottitis into 3 categories:

1. Category 1: Severe respiratory distress with imminent or actual respiratory arrest. People typically report a brief history with a rapid illness that quickly becomes dangerous. Blood cultures, which are tests that check for bacteria in the blood, are often positive for Hib.
2. Category 2: Moderate-to-severe clinical symptoms and signs of considerable risk for potential airway blockage. Symptoms and signs usually are of sore throat, inability to swallow, difficulty in lying flat, muffled "hot potato" voice (speaking as if they have a mouthful of hot potato), stridor, and the use of accessory respiratory muscles with breathing.
3. Category 3: Mild-to-moderate illness without signs of potential airway blockage. These people often have a history of illness that has been occurring for days with complaints of sore throat and pain upon swallowing.

Medical Treatment

Currently, immediate hospitalization is required whenever the diagnosis of epiglottitis is suspected. The person is in danger of sudden and unpredictable closing of the airway. So doctors must establish a secure way for the person to breathe. Antibiotics may be given.

• Initial treatment of epiglottitis may consist of making the person as comfortable as possible including placing an ill child in a dimly lit room with the parent holding the child, humidified oxygen, and close monitoring. If there are no signs of respiratory distress, IV fluids may be helpful. It is important to prevent anxiety because it may lead to an acute airway obstruction especially in children.
• People with possible signs of airway obstruction require laryngoscopy in the operating room with proper staff and airway intervention equipment. In very severe cases, the doctor may need to perform a cricothyrotomy (cutting the neck to insert a breathing tube directly into the windpipe).
• IV antibiotics may effectively control inflammation and get rid of the infection from the body. Antibiotics are usually prescribed to treat the most common types of bacteria. Blood cultures are usually obtained with the premise that any organism found growing in the blood can be attributed as the cause of the epiglottitis. However, in many cases, if not the actual majority, blood cultures fail to yield this information.
• Corticosteroids and epinephrine have been used in the past. However, there is no good proof that these medications are helpful in cases of epiglottitis.
  

Follow-up

Continue taking all antibiotics until the full course is completed. Keep all follow-up appointments with your doctor. In the event that a breathing tube had to be placed through the neck, follow-up with the surgeon to have the tube removed and make sure the site is healing well. Most people improve significantly before leaving the hospital, so taking the antibiotics and returning to the hospital if there are any problems are the most important parts of follow-up.

Prevention

Prevention of epiglottitis can be achieved with proper vaccination schedules against H influenza type b (Hib). Therefore it is important that your doctor make the appropriate recommendations for vaccination against Hib for children (see the children's immunization schedule). Adult vaccination is not routinely recommended, except for people with immune problems such as sickle cell anemia, splenectomy, cancers, or other diseases affecting the immune system.

When there is a member of a family with an unvaccinated child under age 4 years who is exposed to a person with H influenza epiglottitis, preventive medication (rifampin, Rifadin) should be given to all household contacts to make sure that both the person with the illness and the rest of the household have the bacteria completely eradicated from their bodies. This prevents formation of a "carrier state" in which a person has the bacteria in the body but is not actively sick. Carriers can still spread the infection to other family members in this state.

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