Group items tagged

Dec. 1, 2008 -- Getting too little vitamin D may be an underappreciated heart disease risk factor that's actually easy to fix.\n\nResearchers say a growing body of evidence suggests that vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of heart disease and is linked to other, well-known heart disease risk factors such as high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes.

"This website is about Vitamin D and MS Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease of the central nervous system (CNS), with an uncertain cause. Colleen Hayes and Donald Achaeson have suggested that insufficient sunlight exposure and chronic viral infections might be unrelated environmental risk factors for MS. These risk factors may act synergistically to enable the pathogenic autoimmune response. The prevalence of MS is highest where environmental supplies of vitamin D are lowest. Sunshine enables the production of vitamin D3 (VD3) in the skin. Epidemiological studies have shown that higher vitamin D blood levels are associated with lower risk, less relapses and a slower progression of multiple sclerosis. Higher vitamin D levels can be achieved in part by increased oral intake of VD3. Optimal health requires serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D levels higher than 20 ng/ml (50 nmol/L) P Lips, 40 ng/ml (100 nmol/L) P Heaney or at least 40 ng/ml (100 nmol/L) R Vieth. "

Vitamin D deficiency an important, common, and easily treatable cardiovascular risk factor?\nLee JH, O'Keefe JH, Bell D, Hensrud DD, Holick MF.\nJ Am Coll Cardiol. 2008 Dec 9;52(24):1949-56. Review.\nPMID: 19055985

Alzheimer's is a mental illness that mostly affects the elderly. It is characterized by dementia, cognitive impairment, and mood swings. The patient gradually fades into a state of perpetual darkness and lack of self-awareness. Here are some steps we can take to reduce our own risk.

Scientists are trying to find ways to prevent Alzheimer's before it comes knocking at your doorstep. Extensive research is taking place even as you read this. Everyone hopes to put together the answer before it becomes a global issue. Here are a few risk factors that you can and can't avoid:

Effects of pistachios on cardiovascular disease risk factors and potential mechanisms of action: a dose-response study. Gebauer SK, West SG, Kay CD, Alaupovic P, Bagshaw D, Kris-Etherton PM. Am J Clin Nutr. 2008 Sep;88(3):651-9. PMID: 18779280

"Maté consumption plays a significant and independent role in the development of upper aeodigestive tract cancers," and "Maté drinking should be considered one of the risk factors for cancer of the neck and head."

Nephron Sparing Surgery in Renal Tumors : A Case Report A 69 yrs old male presented to our OPD with h/o left sided varicocele. A known case of Diabetes, hypertension and bilateral medical renal disease, he underwent MRI abdomen which revealed a large lower pole lesion in left kidney with no renal vein or IVC thrombus. DTPA Scan revealed a 61% function in the affected kidney. Due to his bilateral medical renal disease and poorly functioning contra lateral kidney, he was planned for Nephron Sparing Surgery / partial nephrectomy (L) and DJ Stenting under cold ischaemia. Post op patient initially showed a rise in creatinine levels which gradually settled down to pre operative levels. Before we go into the discussion of partial nephrectomy or nephron sparing surgery (NSS) in RCC, I would like to emphasize on the presenting complaint. Varicocele in the left side is one of the presentation of Left sided kidney mass, which occurs due to the drainage of the gonadal vein into the renal vein on the left side and generally indicates tumor thrombus in the venous system renal/ IVC, however in this case it was because of compression of left gonadal vein by the renal mass. Renal tumors comprise approximately 3.8% of all new cancers with median age at diagnosis of 64 yrs. It is the third most common urological malignancy. The rate of RCC has increased by 1.6% per year for last 10 yrs, the reason of which is unknown. Majority of them are renal cell carcinomas and 80% of them are clear cell variety. Smoking and obesity are high risk factors of RCC. Some genetic diseases are also associated with RCC, like Von Hippel Lindau (VHL) disease. At presentation 25% are locally advanced. More often patient presents with metastatic disease (20%) . Only a few patients present with Virchows Triad - the 'too late triad' ( of hematuria, abdominal pain and flank mass). A CT Scan or MRI of the whole abdomen including pelvis clinches the diagnosis. A NEEDLE BIOPSY IS NOT NE

de Lorgeril M, Salen P, Martin J-L, Monjaud I, Delaye J, Mamelle N:\nMediterranean diet, traditional risk factors and the rate of\ncardiovascular complications after myocardial infarction. Final report of the Lyon Diet Heart Study.\nCirculation 1999, Febr

Not enough vitamin D: health consequences for Canadians. Schwalfenberg G. Can Fam Physician. 2007 May;53(5):841-54. Review PMID: 17872747 Conclusion Low levels of VTD are considered a major public health problem in Canada, especially during the winter. Those with risk factors should be screened for low 25(OH)D levels and repletion therapy instituted if needed. Researchers have estimated that the oral dose of vitamin D3 to attain and maintain 25(OH)D levels >80 nmol/L is 2200 IU/d if baseline levels are 20 to 40 nmol/L, 1800 IU/d if levels are 40 to 60 nmol/L, and 1160 IU/d if levels are between 60 and 80 nmol/L.64 We need to ensure that patients have healthy blood levels of 25(OH)D to prevent levels of parathyroid hormone from rising and to maximize absorption of calcium, magnesium, and phosphate. Positive effects on bone are marginal at best unless patients consume at least 800 IU/d of VTD. The emerging and exciting role of the VTD receptor and the actions of VTD in maintaining health in other cell types have become more apparent during the last decade.

The flu is a disease, accompanied mankind for centuries, but it remains a serious medical and social problem in our days. The flu can be manifested in the form of pandemics, epidemics, local outbreaks and isolated cases. Worst flu epidemics caused by type A influenza virus.The flu epidemics occur almost every year. The main factors that determine the risk of disease are: level then its predecessor specific immunity and age of infected them - the final ages are extremely susceptible to infection. Complications of influenza are mainly from the lungs, and less of the nervous system. They are more common in patients of advanced age.

Vitamin K has been known as the coagulation vitamin, because of its role in the blood-clotting process. However, research over the last few decades has shown that the role of K Vitamins - and natural Vitamin K2, the menaquinones, in particular - has been greatly expanded. Of note, K Vitamins activity outside the liver is required for calcium utilization, the key factor in maintaining both bone and cardiovascular health.\n\nVitamin K2 helps to activate vitamin K-dependent proteins responsible for healthy tissues. In bone, it activates osteocalcin, a protein required to bind calcium to the mineral matrix, thus strengthening the skeleton. In circulation, Vitamin K2 participates in carboxylation of Matrix Gla Protein (MGP), the most potent inhibitor of arterial calcification known, lowering the risk of vascular damage.

Vitamin D's days of obscurity seem pretty much over. Once just an afterthought to most people-relegated to the sides of milk cartons and the pages of medical texts-it's now on the cusp of becoming a full-fledged disease prevention star. Although vitamin D has long been known as an important factor in bone health, a quickly growing body of evidence now shows that it may also help lower the risk of cancer, heart disease, and even premature death.[1], [2] Not surprisingly, scientists and the public have started to take note, particularly of vitamin D's potential to protect against cancer

A deficiency of B-Vitamins can cause elevated levels of the amino acid homocysteine. Whether or not you have high cholesterol, homocysteine is an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis and can cause you to have a heart disease.

The traditional risk factors -family history, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, and cholesterol- explain less than half the cases of heart disease. In fact, people with heart disease who take drugs to lower cholesterol or who lower the fat content of their diets continue to suffer significant heart disease, and many die of heart attacks.

We know smoking is injurious to health. It causes severe injury to lungs and increases its vulnerability to different types of infections. One such smoking induced disorder is the major damage in air sacs in lungs, which makes patients suffer from abruptly shortage of breath. This problem is called emphysema and it is one of the diseases counted in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease group, shortly known as COPD.

We know smoking is injurious to health. It causes severe injury to lungs and increases its vulnerability to different types of infections. One such smoking induced disorder is the major damage in air sacs in lungs, which makes patients suffer from abruptly shortage of breath. This problem is called emphysema and it is one of the diseases counted in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease group, shortly known as COPD.

Stroke is a cerebrovascular syndrome that involves the blockage and bursting of blood vessels in the brain. It shows a multifactorial pattern of inheritance. High cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, hypertension and obesity are the key causes of stroke besides inherited genes.

we will talk about acute gout attack symptoms and the different possible locations. We will conclude with the differential diagnosis of gout attacks and risk factors for gout disease in general.

All about lung cancer, causes risk factors, by Fostr multispeciality clinic. Lung cancer often has more particular symptoms until its advanced and has low rate of survival.