Causes of stomach pain

Stomach pain is the common type of pain experienced by everybody, in general. Most of the times, a stomach pain could be temporary which is very short lived. But the pain could be serious sometimes due to the infections and the other different factors associated with the varieties of organs located in the stomach. To raise awareness about the causes of stomach pain, this article is focused on the most likely reasons for stomach pain, in reference with various other genuine websites' article about the leading causes of stomachache. 

Next time when you feel some kind of dull ache around your stomach existing for a longer period of time, be sure if the listed points are the causes for the pain and consult the physician accordingly.

From humanhealth.com

• Gallstones: Gallstones are stones that form in the gallbladder, a tiny sac that hangs out under the liver, disgorging bile as needed to digest fats.These stones cause swelling and can block the duct into the intestine, resulting in pain. Gallstone pain tends to strike the right side of the upper abdomen, particularly after fatty meals.

• Pancreatitis: Inflammation of the pancreas can cause burning pain in the upper or middle abdomen. Some people even have shooting pain that drives right through to their back. You may lean forward or lie on your back to try to relieve the pain, which may subside into a dull ache, nausea, and vomiting. Too much alcohol can be a culprit, as are gallstones (the gallbladder and pancreas deliver their digestive juices into the intestine via the same duct). It often requires hospitalization.

• Gerd: Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, can cause pain in the upper stomach and lower chest, aka heartburn. The cause? A valve that separates the stomach from the esophagus is weak, allowing food and acid from the stomach to splash upwards. Eating too much food or the wrong type of food (fatty, for instance) can make it worse. Losing weight, watching what you eat, and medication like antacids, H2 blockers, and proton pump inhibitors, can also help.

• Medication side effects: No drug is without side effects and sometimes that includes abdominal pain. Oral bisphosphonates, a popular class of drugs that helps preserve bone density and prevent osteoporosis, can cause swelling—and therefore pain—in the lower esophagus. Pain medications known as NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen and aspirin can also cause swelling in the stomach lining and may even lead to ulcers.

• Diverticulitis: Diverticulitis is an inflammation of “diverticula” or pockets that form in the lining of the intestine, usually the colon. “These look like punched-out holes in the lining of the colon that tend to get inflamed or obstructed with stool or other foreign material,” says Dr. Kaul. Symptoms can include cramping in the lower abdomen, which may respond to antibiotics. A high-fiber diet can help. In more severe cases, it can cause abscesses, bleeding, and even perforations, resulting in severe pain, or even the need for surgery or a hospitalization.

Extracted from: www.health.com
Other details and more causes of stomach pain : www.health.com (18 reasons why your stomach hurts)

KNOW ABOUT DIABETES

Diabetes is a very common disease which is a chronic health condition in which the level of glucose in the body elevates. Diabetes can be classified into two types : Type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes is an uncommon type in which a body fails to generate insulin and affects mostly children. The common type of diabetes is type 2, where your body is unable to produce enough insulin or the produced insulin is unable to work properly. 90% of the diabetics are type 2 diabetics. This type 2 diabetes grow usually after the age of 40. Type 2 diabetes is characterized by the insulin resistance of the body which increases sugar level in the blood.

The usually studied symptoms of diabetes are:

• being physically inactive

• increased tiredness and fatigue

• intense thirst

• frequent infections

• slow healing of cuts and wounds

• frequent hunger

• unclear or blurred vision

• nausea and vomiting

• body weight issues

• irritability

• loss of feeling in the feet

It is also observed that an individual with a family history of diabetes might also become prone to diabetes.

The problems caused by diabetes can range from heart disease to kidney failure to losing toes and fingers to nerve damage. A diabetic person is more likely to develop a heart disease than a non-diabetic one. But, keeping the diabetes under control helps to protect the health of heart as much as possible. Since diabetes causes high level of glucose in the blood, which affects the walls of the arteries and make them more likely to develop fatty deposits which are called atheroma, if built up in your coronary arteries, you may suffer from a coronary heart disease which triggers a heart attack.

Reducing the risk of developing diabetes for a non-diabetic:

• develop healthy eating habits
• control weight
• develop a habit to work out or perform different physical activities
• eliminate frequent consumption of sugar related items, as just one sweetened drinking in a day increases your diabetes risk by 25%

Reducing the effect of diabetes on the heart:

• do not smoke or drink
• develop healthy eating habits i.e. a balanced diet
• do physical activity as much as you can, consistently
• control your weight
• the drug treatment of diabetes is not fully effective, so it depends on you to control your glucose level by exercising and eating a balanced diet.

For detailed information : Complete Information Sheet of Diabetes

New to humans: MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome)

MERS is a respiratory disease accompanied by inimical health conditions like high fever, respiratory illness, cough and shortness of breath. MERS is a new type of disease to humans and was first reported in Saudi Arabia in 2012, and hence named Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). This disease can affect anyone from any age group. About 36% of the people suffering from MERS have been reported dead.

MERS is caused by a family of viruses called corona virus which contains variety of viruses ranging from their capability to stimulate common cold to deadly MERS in humans. This disease is often called atypical pneumonia since it is not caused by a usual bacteria or viruses from the group of corona viruses. The disease is transferred by close contact with an infected person. MERS is reported to emerge in middle east part of the world in the countries like Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE. The report published by World Health Organization (WHO) on June of 2015, has stated that the number of people infected from MERS, after the September of 2012,  is about 1321 in which about 466 have died in minimum. 

Also, according to WHO, Camel is the source of storing maximum number of these types of viruses but the role of camel and the mechanism of transmission of these viruses from camel to a human is still unclear.

Symptoms of MERS:

• fever
• cough
• runny nose
• shortness of breath
• some people can also suffer from nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, pneumonia and develop kidney failure

People who have weak immunity system, and previously been diagnosed with heart diseases, diabetes, chronic lungs infections and kidney diseases are at greater risk of being infected more seriously. To prevent the disease, it is requested to consult your physician as soon as possible if you find yourself developing the symptoms listed above, especially if you are travelling or staying in the countries in middle east of the world. 

The vaccines for treatment of MERS have not yet been discovered but medical care is provided to lessen the symptoms and relieve the signs. So, it is very important to take account on the precautions to protect yourself against the disease.

• Avoid the habit of touching your eyes, nose, mouth with unwashed hands because it is the great source of viruses and bacteria entering your body.
• Frequently wash your hands with soap and clean water.
• Avoid close contact, through any ways with the sick person
• For the citizens from outside the middle east regions, pay maximum attention in different issues including food and beverage consumption while travelling to these areas.

Thyroid Health

As you know, the different cells in the human body have their respective crucial functions and are fully operational. These cells are highly influenced by one of the largest endocrine glands in human body, the thyroid. Located at the front of the neck, thyroid's main role is to monitor the functioning of different cells in the body. By producing different hormones and using them to deliver different messages respectively to the different cells, this butterfly shaped gland, though small in size, has a greater responsibility in regulation of metabolism by instructing almost every cell about the consumption of nutrients and oxygen. 

The follicles situated in the thyroid stores the hormones which is sent out to the blood by thyroid. Triiodothyronine(T3), Thyroxine(T4) and Diiodothyronine(T2) are the three types of hormones stored in the follicles of thyroid. Out of these, Triiodothyronine(T3) and Thyroxine(T4) are the two of the most important hormones which interact with all other hormones produced  in the body like estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, cortisol and even insulin. Correct amount of T3 and T4 hormones excels in the control of metabolism in the body and is one of the key factors in proper health and fitness. Imbalance in the amount of either of the hormones gives way to certain thyroid related disorders, which are caused by the communication breakdown between the thyroid gland and its monitor; a pituitary gland located in the brain, due to various factors like certain diseases or chemical imbalance, hence the thyroid gland releases too many or too few hormones.

Hyperthyroidism:

Hyperthyroidism occurs when the organ sends out too many of the hormones into the blood and causes the functions in the body to accelerate rapidly. In other words, the cells become overactive and the metabolism rate is pumped up, signalling the following symptoms to be experienced:

• Faster heart beat rate
• Weight loss
• Constant hunger
• Difficult to sleep
• Anxiety
• Irregular menstrual periods in women
• Hot and sweaty
• Frequent bowel movement

Hyperthyroidism. if not treated properly could lead to heart failure.

Hypothyroidism:

Just as opposite of hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid sends out too few hormones. In other words, the cells lack the hormones required to function effectively, hence there is listless growth of cells and metabolism rate slows down. The following symptoms could be signaled if a person suffers from hypothyroidism:

• Weight gain
• Fatigue and lack of energy causes sluggishness
• Sensitivity to cold
• Depression
• Hair loss
• Swollen joints

There are medical treatments for both types of thyroid disorders. So, it is requested to visit the physician as soon as possible, when you experience the listed symptoms too frequently.

For in depth knowledge and body maps concerning thyroid, browse: http://www.healthline.com/human-body-maps/thyroid-gland

  

Choosing your sunscreen this summer

Taking care of your skin is also an essential part of your proper health and fitness. Primarily, trying to avoid the sun from about 10 A.M. to 2 P.M. would be the best idea to be safe from the harmful radiations of the summer sun. But, for people in different cases, this would not be a perfect idea because they have to go out or travel during this time period. So, for them to not compromise their safety, there are various tips to be protected from the sun while going out, including wearing sunglasses, wearing full sleeved shirts, wearing caps to protect the face from the sun, applying sunscreen to the exposed body parts etc.. 

Choosing a sunscreen:

While travelling out in the summer sun, applying a sunscreen to the exposed body parts is the best way to get rid of the harmful radiations of the sun which can alter your health conditions causing lot of skin problems including cancer. However, using a sunscreen just without any proper knowledge of the specifications and  the methods of application of the product, and thinking it to be a savior is no fruitful. So, there are basic things to take an account of before purchasing or using a sunscreen.

• SPF rating: SPF (Sunburn Protection Factor) is the factor which states that the vulnerability of getting affected by a person wearing a sunscreen is 'that factor' times less in comparison with a person exposed to the sun without wearing any sunscreen. For example, if a person is wearing a sunscreen with SPF 15, then he/she is 15 times less vulnerable to get sunburn than the person using no sunscreen. However, using sunscreen with SPF 30 or 50 would be highly prolific. It is often not recommended to use sunscreens with SPF higher than 50 because it is believed that specifying a sunscreen with SPF higher than 50 is just another marketing strategy and doesn't guarantee extra protection.

• Broad spectrum: There are three types of UV wavelengths which are classified as UVA, UVB and UVC. While SPF only measures the UVB, exposure to the combination of UVA and UVB contributes to a deadly skin cancer. So, it is recommended to consume a sunscreen which has been labelled as 'Broad Spectrum' since this type of sunscreen helps to protect from both UVA and UVB radiations.

• Testing a sunscreen: Before purchasing a sunscreen for the purpose of daily usage, test a sunscreen in a small patch of skin first. Note the effect of it in your skin, i.e. either it bothers you or not. Because every brand of sunscreen is not the same just like the other sets of products in the market, it is necessary to check the side effects of that particular sunscreen in your skin first. 

• Avoid using sunscreen with dangerous ingredients: Try to consume a mineral-based sunscreen containing zinc oxide or titanium oxide. Avoid using a sunscreen with an ingredient as oxybenzone since it is considered as a hormone disruptor and often triggers allergic reactions.

Sunscreens should be applied to the body parts which are exposed to the sun, 30 minutes before going out to the sun. It should be applied evenly on exposed skin including ears, neck, arms, shoulders and other body parts according to your clothing style but avoiding the eye. If you have been swimming, washing your face often or sweating a lot, make sure to reapply the sunscreen for positive results.

Top 6 foods and drinks to avoid during summer

Summer, a weather full of warmth and heat, but if proper care is taken, this time of the year is full of fun too. Various problems arise concerning our health and fitness in summer because of the temperature being risen up. There are different kind of foods and drinks to take an account on, while eating or consuming them in summer because bad eating habits in summer could lead to severe health issues.

Here is a list of top 6 foods and drinks to avoid in Summer.

6. Caffeine and Alcoholic Beverages: 

Although, caffeine has various health benefits, drinking too much of coffee in summer could be no fruitful. The main reason for avoiding coffee in summer is to keep your body hydrated. Consuming coffee too often dehydrates your body. Also, drinking hot coffee or tea warms up your body in summer thus leading to diseases. Caffeine products contributes to insomnia which in turn gives space for fatigue and tiredness.

Also, drinking alcoholic beverages also has same effect of dehydrating the body in large amount along with their other health disadvantages. Alcohol also disrupts sleep patterns and lead to weight gain. So, it is recommended to not consume caffeine products or alcoholic beverages in summer, mainly when you move outside in the hot summer sun. Drinking a plenty of water is beneficial for all cases in summer as it keeps hydrating your body.

5. Nuts:

Nuts refer to the seeds which contain a large number of oil and fat, such as peanut, walnut, cashew nut, pine nut, melon seeds, almond, pistachio nut, and so on. Nuts are very nutritious and beneficial to human health. However, during the summer, you should not eat too much of this kind of food. This is because nuts contain a high content of calories, and they will produce a lot of heat in the body.

Also, dried nuts are low in their water content hence, contributing to dehydration in summer, the time when you need maximum amount of water content in your body to be healthy and fit.

4. Fruit Juices:

You thought your whole life that the fruit juices are highly beneficial to body and are not inimical to health and fitness in any way, isn't it? Isn't this astonishing? But it is true that relying heavily to fruit juices rather than the fruit itself in summer could cause negative impacts in your body.

When you blend a fruit to extract its juice, the fibers contained in the fruit is no longer present. Fiber is a very important nutrient which has a lot of benefits. Fibers help in digestion, prevent colon cancer and has many other advantages to health. But, when you frequently drink fruit juices instead of eating a fruit, your body could lack the amount of fiber leading to tiredness, constipation, weight gain, nausea, sugar fluctuation in blood etc..

Also, most of the commercial fruit juices contain large amount of sugar and are high in calories, which are the leading cause of obesity and various other health issues. The acid and sugar present in a fruit juice are very harmful to the teeth as they can weaken the hardness of teeth by eroding enamel, decaying and by creating cavity.

3. Cold Drinks:

When you feel hot in the summer, there comes a desire to have some cold soft drinks and relax. But, you should have noticed, some time after having a drink, you develop an urge to drink water. Yes, this is a case. In general, cold soft drinks dehydrate your body after consuming them, which might lead to cellular dehydration and various other diseases including the weakened immune system. So, it is very important to drink plenty of water in summer and to avoid drinking cold drinks.

Cold drink such  as soda contains sugar, phosphoric acid, carbonation and many calories. Sugar contributes to obesity, increment of sugar level in blood can lead to diabetes and various other fat related diseases whereas the phosphoric acid weakens the calcium composition in your bones and teeth, thus leading to poor bone and teeth development. It is advised to drink plenty of water instead of the cold drinks in the summer.

2. Ice Creams:

Another best thing consumed frequently by majority of people to enjoy and beat summer are ice creams. So, as this article is all about foods to be avoided in summer, it is certain that ice creams are 'not to be consumed frequently' type of dessert too.  There are number of disadvantages of consuming an ice-cream and frequent consumption could contribute to various health issues such as:

• High sugar content results in obesity, as the sugar gets converted and stored in the form of fat in the body.

• Ice-cream is made up of milk. Animals producing milk are injected with high estrogen containing syringes to produce milk at the faster rate. When consuming an ice-cream made up of this type of milk, a human body has higher risk of over development which is against the human body's natural mechanism.

• Consuming ice-cream frequently also increases the cholesterol level in blood which in turn is the cause for heart diseases.

1. Processed Meats: 

Roasting varieties of meat products and enjoying them with your beverages might be your one of the favorite parts of the plans in the summer. But, how would you feel if you are told that these types of food are one of the leading causes of cancer and other health issues? Yes, frequent consumption of processed meats such as sausages, bacon, hot dogs etc. has an adverse effect in your health and fitness . 

                                  

Various research and scientific studies have confirmed that the consumption of processed meats contributes to cancer, heart diseases etc. thus decreasing the life span of a human being. Nitrate, which is used in the frozen meats as a preservative and to make the products appear fresh, is a cause for forming cancer causing chemicals in the human body.

Since these types of meats are rich in fat and cholesterol, they also contribute to different heart diseases. So, in summer, it is the best thing to chill by consuming the processed meats less frequently or don't consume them at all if your desire is to stay healthy and fit. Also along with processed meats, other processed foods like fried chips, french fries, fried doughs, pizzas etc. are also considered very harmful in summer if frequently consumed.

                         

These are my top 5 list of the foods and drinks you should never consume in Summer to stay healthy and fit. Is there any thing missed? What is your list?

TOP FITNESS APPS EVERY FITNESS CONSCIOUS SHOULD DOWNLOAD

There are more than many fitness and health apps for different smartphones but you are not of course willing to download all of them, to grab maximum benefit from your workouts. So, this is my list of 5 fitness apps you should have in your phone, for your workout session to be more effective as well as  highly prolific. 

Map my fitness

Great fitness app which includes mapping of different fitness activitiy such as map my run, map my ride, map my walk and map my hike. This app uses GPS tracking system and helps collecting and recording your work out along with the statistical analysis. Map my fitness also tracks the nutritional value of your eating habits and lets you know when to cut off the high calorie intake.

For further information: http://www.mapmyfitness.com

Fitstar

Fitstar is the high-tech, personalized fitness app which is often considered as a revolutionary one. The work outs in this app are guided by the celebrity trainers, who will walk with you through the arduous fitness journey, but don't worry they even spice it up with a motivational pep talk.

The app has the facility to upload your choice music during your work out session which helps you to pump up your adrenaline rush during exercise. The main idea of this app is to make you fit by ensuring you that you are never alone during the entire session. With the fitstar fitness app, you can take your portable gym center with a personal trainer anywhere.

For further information: http://fitstar.com

Nike Training Club

This app lets you choose your level of working out, whether you would like to perform the sets of a beginner,  an intermediate or  an advanced. Once you select your level, you have seven workouts to choose from ranging from 30-35 minutes. The workouts have you performing a variety of toning and aerobic exercises ranging from 30 seconds to two minutes in length, in succession. The app also offers a video demonstration of each exercise.

Get Leaned, Get Toned, Get Strong and Get Focused are the categories provided by the app which represent a type of goal you would like to achieve from your workout. This app offers a step by step guidance to improve and fine your workouts and correctly apply the techniques. 

For further information: http://www.nike.com/us/en_us/c/womens-training/apps/nike-training-club

My Fitness Pal

My Fitness Pal is an interactive and easy to use fitness and health app out there which tracks your exercise along with your daily calorie consumption. This app is also recently praised as 'The King of Diet Trackers'. My Fitness Pal has gained popularity to be one of the best diet friendly and calorie counting applications around. This app also consists of forum where people can freely exchange advices and tips and can build a healthy relationships by sharing fitness issues and struggles. My fitness pal, certainly is one of the fitness apps that every person willing to contribute to their fitness level should try out. 

For further information : http://www.myfitnesspal.com/apps

7- Minute Workout

7- Minute Workout consists of high intensity workouts and I consider it to be one of the most motivating fitness apps if you are thinking to initiate your exercises without hitting to gym but could not really get started. There are several 7- Minutes workout apps, almost all are effective but the one by Perigee is recommended by me because I find it very simple to use anddefinitely is a prolific one. The app is very very simple to use and consists of 12 different workouts, 30 seconds of each with 10 min rest between consecutive exercises. All that you need to start up is a chair, a wall and your own body weight. The main objective of this app is to help you get the maximum benefit of working out on a daily basis, in the shortest time possible. 7- Minute workout is strongly a 'must have app' according to my list.

For further information: http://www.perigee.se/seven.php