Family preventive care strategy – Let’s make a Healthy Family

Family Preventive Care beforehand is always better. Once heath is lost it’s lost forever. Ensure to take smart measures for yourself as well as your family. One such important decision is choosing preventive care strategy.

How preventive care keeps maladies at Bay!

Regular check-ups minimize the chances of getting the disease in the first place and if at all found to be having them, we have time to tackle it. They act as a barrier between us and the enemies of our health. There is a number of tests that can safeguard us from diabetes, thyroid disorders, heart conditions, liver diseases, obesity, deficiency of vitamins and minerals, and many more as:

1. Diabetes

• Hemoglobin A1c Test (HbA1c) helps to identify as well as monitor the blood sugar levels for the last 3 months.
• Blood glucose test and Fructosamine Test also tells about the blood sugar levels.

2. Thyroid Disorders

• Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), Thyroxine (T4), and Triiodothyronine (T3) Test detect conditions like hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism.
• Free Triiodothyronine (FT3) and Free Thyroxine (FT4) Tests are done for diagnosis as well as observation of related treatment.

3. Liver Disorders

This test tells about the efficient detoxification and transportation of bilirubin, hormones, metal ions, vitamins, and drugs, thus analyzing the working of the liver and the presence of diseases related to it.

4. Heart diseases

Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2), apolipoprotein A (apoA) and apolipoprotein B (apoB) test, and Homocysteine levels are cardiac risk markers. They monitor the levels of cholesterol and indicate the presence of heart diseases, stroke, and atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).

5. Kidney Diseases

Levels of uric acid, albumin, calcium, creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) help to evaluate kidney functions and monitor kidney diseases.

6. Minerals and Vitamins Imbalance

• Testing the levels of minerals and Vitamins can warn you about any deficiency and thus help prevent the diseases it can bring. Also can tell you about the excess of these in the body which is harmful too.

Preventive Care Serves all Age Groups

• Protects everyone, from infants to the elderly.
• For growing children, it offers tests for deficiencies like iron, vitamin, mineral, and nutrient deficiency.
• Adults due to sedentary lifestyles and unplanned diets should get tested for the probability of getting diabetes, thyroid disorders, deficiencies, and imbalance in the level of lipid and cholesterol.

With aging the risk of bone and heart disease increases in elders, so along with the above tests, these two should be checked in them.

 

Importance of Regular Heart Check-ups The Centre for Disease Control has presented an alarming number of rising incidences of cardiovascular disorders amongst the urban population. Experts suggest that a regular heart check-up is important to gain control over rising incidences of cardiovascular disorders. Continue reading to understand the importance of preventive healthcare and how regular diagnostic tests e.g. lipid profile, etc. can help you minimize the risks associated with the same.

Benefits of Regular Heart Check-ups

• Regular heart checkup is important because they can detect the issue at a very naïve stage. This will further help in getting the right treatment at right time for a complete cure.
• Reduce chances of getting ill due to other comorbid conditions
• Can reduce treatment cost to the considerable extent
• Help to be prepared in advance with the understanding of developments in treatment and diagnostic tests for accurate analysis

Important Screening Tests Recommended for Cardiovascular Disorders

Multiple tests can be performed both in-house and with expert handling to keep yourself healthy and strong. They can be noted as:

Blood pressure check:

When you talk about why the Importance of Regular Heart Check-ups, then one cannot ignore a regular check on blood pressure. If you have chronic high blood pressure, then your risk of cardiovascular disorders and other ischemic diseases increases. However, by regularly monitoring your blood pressure, you can ensure that your blood pressure levels remain stable. On average statistics suggest that women are more susceptible to high blood pressure after menopause.

Lipid profile check:

This is a set of blood tests specifically measuring total cholesterol, including bad cholesterol, good cholesterol, and triglycerides. Experts suggest that in the current pandemic situation, regular heart check-ups with a lipid profile are important. This becomes a necessity when you are experiencing symptoms like blood pressure or chest pain etc.

Glucose Levels:

Once you pass the age of 40, it is critical to get your blood sugar levels tested every three months. Studies have indicated that high blood glucose levels can put you at an increased risk of cardiovascular disorders and other morbid conditions like stroke, paralysis, etc. If you don’t treat your diabetes for several years, you’re more likely to develop mental illness and other cardiac problems.

 

If you are at an elevated risk of cardiovascular problems owing to your lifestyle, age, other comorbid conditions, or factors, you should keep a track of checking your heart health regularly. It has also been advised that people with increased risk of cardiovascular disorders should discuss their dietary habits, lifestyle habits, etc. with experts to get the right piece of advice at the right time.

Vitamin B deficiency diseases affect your brain, heart, mental well-being, and more. If you don’t obtain enough vitamin B from your diet or if your body doesn’t absorb enough from the food you consume, you’re at risk of having vitamin B deficiency disorders. If you wish to decrease the health hazards connected with vitamin B deficiency, there are several things you may do. To begin, have a Vitamin B Complex Profile performed to check if you are deficient. If you are, consult your doctor about what you should do next.

Vitamin B Deficiency Diseases and Conditions

1. Beriberi

A deficiency of vitamin B1 (thiamine) causes beriberi. This disease is of two types: wet beriberi (which affects the cardiovascular system) and dry beriberi, also known as Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (which affects the nervous system).

The symptoms of dry beriberi include:

• Nystagmus (eye movements)
• Tingling feeling or numbness in feet and hands
• Difficulty in walking
• Difficulty in speaking
• Weakness in muscles or paralysis
• Confusion
• Vomiting
• Pain

Wet beriberi can cause additional symptoms, such as:

• Increased heart rate
• Shortness of breath
• Swelling in the legs

If beriberi is detected during its early stages and treated on time, the heart and nerve damage caused can be reversed. But if beriberi progresses to Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, the brain damage is often permanent. 

2. Pellagra

Pellagra is a disease that is caused due to vitamin B3 (niacin) deficiency. The common symptoms include:

• Diarrhea
• Dermatitis
• Dementia
• Insomnia
• Tongue inflammation
• Hair loss
• Weakness
• Ataxia
• Aggression
• Confusion
• Dilated cardiomyopathy

A diet that lacks niacin causes reduced production of nicotinamide adenine diphosphate (NAD), which is required for some crucial metabolic functions in the body. If left untreated, it can even lead to death within 4 to 5 years.

3. B12 Deficiency

Vitamin B12 (cobalamine) is only present in animal foods. As a result, vegetarians and vegans are at high risk of B12 deficiency. The symptoms of B12 deficiency include:

• Tingling or numbness in legs, hands, and feet
• Anemia
• Depression
• Difficulty walking
• Tongue inflammation
• Cognitive changes
• Jaundice
• Hallucinations
• Weakness
• Paranoia
• Fatigue

4. Folate Deficiency

Folate (vitamin B9) works with other B vitamins to metabolize proteins, and synthesize both blood cells and DNA. Since the body doesn’t store this vitamin, its levels can become low after consuming a folate-deficient diet for just a few weeks. The primary symptoms of folate deficiency include:

• Irritability
• Fatigue
• Diarrhea
• headache
• A smooth or tender tongue.
• Increased risk of neural tube defect in the developing fetus of a pregnant woman

Other Health Conditions Linked With Vitamin B Deficiency

• Peripheral neuropathy: A condition affecting the nervous system, characterized by a stabbing or burning pain.
• Heart attack and stroke: Vitamin B12 deficiency increases the risk of getting a stroke or heart attack.
• Paresthesia: A condition characterized by a feeling of “pins-and-needles” experienced around the legs, hands, arms, or feet
• Psychosis: A mental condition that alters the thoughts and perceptions, leading to hallucinations, delusions, nonsense talks, or other symptoms.

Key Takeaway

For most people, a well-balanced diet containing a variety of grains, meats, fruits, and vegetables is enough to prevent a vitamin B deficiency. The elderly with medical conditions and pregnant women are at high risk of vitamin B deficiency and hence need to or are advised to take vitamin B supplements.

Liver health

Although, the liver is a regenerative organ; it is more prone to damage easily due to a higher degree of exposure to toxic compounds, drugs, digestion issues, etc. The best way to fight against liver damage is to keep your liver healthy with good diet and lifestyle habits.

Continue reading to learn about the changes you’ll need to make to keep your liver in good shape.

A Healthy and Balanced Diet as per Your Genes

According to studies, one should include foods in his or her diet that his or her genes allow. Dietary commitments inherited from your parents are equally essential and should never be overlooked. This can be further clarified by stating that if you are a habitual vegan eater and suddenly stop, your liver may experience stress due to particular substances found in the animal diet or non-vegetarian food. Furthermore, maintaining a healthy body weight is critical for reducing the liver’s fat-storage mechanism and allowing it to go in a stressed condition to digest more.

Diet Plans to Keep Your Liver Healthy

Expert nutrition specialists across the world believe that with the right combination of diet and exercise; you can certainly keep your liver healthy. Your diet should be well-balanced and rich in fiber, proteins, and essential carbohydrates. It is advisable to avoid raw, uncooked fish, saturated fatty acids, and refined carbohydrates, etc. that are capable of putting a burden on your liver. Similarly, too much indulgence in fatty food can damage functional attributes of your liver; a condition is known as non-alcoholic fatty liver.

Avoid Toxins

Long-term exposure to toxins, steroids, and other artificial preservatives can pressurize your liver due to overload. Similarly, contact inhibition with pesticides, natural aerosol creators used in household cleaning, smoke, etc. can reduce your liver health. Statistical analysis has proposed that the illicit use of certain drugs, such as heroin, hallucinogens, inhalants, or certain types of psychotherapeutics for a longer period can cause permanent damage to the working capacity of a liver.

Stay Away From Viruses

Accidental exposure to viruses, like chronic hepatitis or HBV can have a detrimental impact on the liver. The condition if treated on time can be beneficial to keep your liver healthy. It is advised to be vigilant before using needles, razors, and nail clippers. It is possible that they are carrying viruses through minute body fluid droplets. Similarly, one should use protection while having sex with an unknown person to avoid future consequences.

Today, with advancements in science and technology number of diagnostic tests like liver function tests are available that can be helpful to routinely analyze liver health. Accurate diagnosis and timely treatment can help you reduce the consequences associated with liver damage.