Health & Fitness Guide » Disorders

Relationship between Diabetes and Eating Disorders

admin — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 11:10:41 +0000

Recent studies have shown there to be a link between diabetes and developing an eating disorder. This group in particular seems to be at a higher risk of developing anorexia.

It starts with a restrictive type of diet diabetics have to be placed on. There is a lot of stress on weight and eating habits. This can help fuel an eating disorder mindset.

As a diabetic decreases food intake or even starves for a period of time, their diabetic symptoms decrease in the short term. Before insulin, starvation was a method used to control diabetes. Diabetics may also find that misusing their insulin can also contribute to a weight loss. Usually they are praised for keeping their weight under control, but if it is done using insulin depravation, the consequences are far-reaching, even deadly.

Although there is an emphasis on keeping weight down, a healthy diet should be stressed. Proper exercise and food intake are key to increasing the life span of a diabetic. An eating disorder can have be hidden easily and for many years, usually until the consequences are irreversible. If you have a child or teen with diabetes, be sure they are not obsessed with their weight. Try and encourage a healthy way of eating and get them help if they need it.

Nail Care – Diseases that show up in the fingernails

admin — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 10:35:07 +0000

Our fingernails are a window to our bodies’ health. Changes in the look, shape, or color of our finger nails can indicate a disorder or a disease somewhere in our body long before other symptoms show up. For example, white fingernails can indicate that you have anemia or kidney problems. Pitted brown spots or splits fingernail tips may mean you have psoriasis.

This article will tell of some other diseases and disorders that our fingernails can warn us about so we can go see a doctor for further evaluation.

Our fingernails are made of protein, keratin and sulfur. They grow about .05 to 1.2 millimeters a week. Nail differences or abnormalities are often the outcome of nutritional deficiencies or disorders. Seek medical attention if any of the following symptoms are suspected.

White fingernails with pink near the tops are a sign of cirrhosis of the liver. Moreover, when the entire nail is white it could mean kidney or liver disorders or anemia.

White lines across the nail may also indicate liver disease. A half white nail with dark spots on the tip could indicate a kidney disorder.

Abnormally thick nails might be due to the blood not circulating properly in the vascular system.

Yellow nails can mean there are problems with your liver, diabetes, respiratory disorders or problems with the lymphatic system. Yellow nails can occur many years before the disorder shows up.

Dark nails that are flat and/ or thin are a sign of vitamin B(12) deficiency. Sometimes the nail could even be spoon shaped.

Brittle nails are a sign of iron deficiency and thyroid problems. You could have impaired kidneys or problems with circulation.

Nails that are very bendable could be a sign of rheumatoid arthritis.

Pitted brown spots or split fingernail tips may mean you have psoriasis.

Very deep blue nail beds can indicate pulmonary obstruction or emphysema.

Brittle, soft nails with a shine and no moon may indicate an overactive thyroid. Nails that separate from the nail bed could also indicate a thyroid disorder. Ridges in the nail could mean an infection, or thyroid disorder. Nails that are like a bumpy road can indicate a thyroid disorder too.

Nails that resemble hammered brass indicate a tendency toward partial or total hair loss.

Nail beading is a sign of rheumatoid arthritis.

Flat nails can indicate Raynaud’s disease. This disease affects the circulatory system, which in turn affects the limbs. It leaves hands and feet continually cold.

Unusually wide nails that are square can mean a hormonal disorder.

Red skin at the very bottom of your nail bed could indicate a connective tissue disorder.

Changes in your fingernails may signify disorders somewhere else in your body, so pay close attention to your fingernails and those of your loved ones.

Cures for Eating Disorders

admin — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 14:57:35 +0000

Eating disorders in the USA have risen in the past decade. As young women, girls are taught what the social “norm” of weight is. They pull from magazines and television, movies etc. what they feel they should look like or achieve to look like to be accepted in today’s society. By the time a young girl reaches the age of 11, on the average, she has attempted to diet.

Talking with and sharing with your child how they feel will keep the lines of communication open. Be aware of peer pressures or any child in your child’s attitude and activity. If you should recognize your child in any of the following categories it is time for intervention.

ANOREXIA NERVOSA

19668 Characterized by over dieting, the need for perfection. They appear to want to please all the time. They have a distorted self-image; even at 90lbs an anorexic will look in the mirror and see them as fat. These people are usually over achievers, always willing to help everyone else except himself or herself. There is no realization that there is a problem.

Some of the symptoms are, weight loss, excessive exercising, symptoms to that of Raynauds (hands and feet always cold), tired, weakness of the muscles, obsession with food and caloric intake, fainting, dizziness, missed periods, or amenorrhea (no period). Some of the emotional side effects are depression, mood swings, decrease in self worth, self-critical and over achiever.

It is noticeable that they will surround life with food, not the consumption of it, but food avoidance. They may prepare a meal for the family and busy themselves with cleaning up and will make an excuse to eat later and never actually eating. They noticeably cut food into very small portions, or may take pre determined (two to three) bites of any food choice. They become obsessed with food, and become defensive if it is brought to their attention.

Again, an anorexic does not see that there is a problem. Some may start wearing oversize clothes hiding the effects of the excessive dieting. The scale becomes their friend and you will find them weighing themselves daily. Anorexics feel they have failed not only themselves but also others when they do eat, in striving for perfection they have lost sight of reality.

With proper counseling and nutritional training they can recover, but may relapse so ongoing treatment is a must.

Bulimia is characterized by excessive bingeing and purging. They have a fear of weight gain, and weight gain means failure. Most people do not understand this condition: they think that purging is simply vomiting, but this is not true. Bulimics have been known to use things such as enemas, diuretics and laxatives to rid themselves of the over abundance of calories they feel they have ingested. For some a simple ice cream cone is bingeing to them, others may intake many calories eating a box of cookies, Twinkies, candy, cakes or any other food source.

Some symptoms of Bulimia are, binge eating, secretive eating, hiding to eat or eating during the night when everyone is sleeping, weight fluctuations, broken blood vessels usually in face or eyes from forced vomiting, bathroom visits after meals, tooth decay caused by the acids of the stomach from vomiting so much, fatigue, weakness, sore throat(from purging), irregular heartbeats. Some of the emotional side effects are low self esteem, self criticism, self worth is determined by how much they have lost or gained, fear of not being able to stop eating, guilt from eating, avoiding functions that involves eating including social outings, substance abuse (laxatives, recreational drugs, diuretics)

Bulimics realize they have a problem, so the treatment is much easier than would be for an Anorexic. A relapse after treatment may happen, but with proper counseling and nutritional assessment it can be cured.

A person who eats excessively for comfort characterizes compulsive overeating. They find comfort in food, bringing a short-lived satisfaction. Often during stressful times they binge and feel that they cannot stop eating. Their self worth is all based on weight and what they feel society sees as normal.

Symptoms of compulsive eating are binge eating, starting and stopping most any new fad diet that is out or new and this time it will work, being overweight but no one ever sees them eating a thing, eating in privacy of their own home away from people.

Emotional symptoms are anxiety of not being able to stop eating voluntarily, depression with crying spells, embarrassment about weight, distorted views that if they are thin they will be a better person, weight and foods are the focus of life.

Like Bulimics, Compulsive overeater know they have a problem so it is more easily treated than an Anorexic. With proper counseling and nutritional guidance they can resume a normal lifestyle.