Blue Haven Hospitalities

Archive for June, 2009

Brain is the center for memory and intelligence. The memory capacity of an individual varies from person to person. Aging is the major reason that is responsible for decrease in memory. Memory capacity of an individual also decreases due to various other factors like lack of healthy diet, stress in the minds due to increased work pressure, lack of relaxation and regular exercise. Memory plays a vital role in all our day to day activities. For instance, remembering our daily lessons, people we meet, daily responsibilities etc also requires sharp memory. People who do have a sharp memory, need not worry because there are a variety of techniques available to increase the memory capacity of an individual. These techniques include two types of therapies namely internal and external therapies. External therapies include head massage and nostril therapy. A number of oils have medicinal value. Such oils rich in medicinal content capable of boosting up memory are used for head massage and nostril therapy. In nostril therapy, such oils are applied into the nostrils. Internal therapy includes the usage of herbs as a part of regular diet. Some herbs have the tendency to increase the memory. Such herbs are can be included in the diet. Various memory boosting pills and capsules are also available in the market these days. But, it is advisable to take these capsules only after consulting a doctor, as per the prescribed dosage and duration. Yoga and meditation are believed to be the best ways for boosting memory. Thus by the use of proper techniques it is possible to solve the problem of memory loss.

Tooth is not only responsible for chewing food but it also adds to the beauty and appeal of an individual. The parts of a tooth are the enamel, dentine, pulp and cementum. Enamel is the outer most covering of the tooth that is visible. Dentine and pulp are the soft portion of the tooth which contains blood vessels. Cementum is the inner portion, which consists of the root. There are a variety of factors involved in keeping the tooth strong, by protecting it from tooth decay and also to keep the tooth clean and white. Some of these factors include having a healthy diet, which does not have excess acidic or citrus content, smoking, drinking, etc. The white color of the tooth diminishes and yellow stains appear on the tooth as time passes by due to the above factors. The color of the tooth is measured in terms of various shades. With advanced technology, various techniques are recently used to enhance the whitening of tooth. A dentist can perform tooth whitening by a process called bleaching in which a bleaching agent is applied to the tooth to remove the yellow stains from the pores of the enamel. At home, tooth whitening toothpastes, gels and strips can be used which are available in the market. Compared to normal toothpastes, the tooth whitening toothpastes contain some additional chemicals. Gels and strips can also remove the stains and restore the white color of the tooth as they contain peroxide. Thus the tooth stains can remain no more a problem for anyone.

Pneumonia is a respiratory disorder caused due to infection in the lungs. Any individual with a weaker immune system can develop pneumonia. Especially, small children and elderly people are more susceptible to this disease. The infection can be caused due to microorganisms such as bacteria, virus etc. Smoke, dust and chemicals, which are inhaled from the atmosphere also causes pneumonia. When the lungs are infected, liquid secretion will be observed in the lungs. The pneumonia can be of several types like bacterial pneumonia, viral pneumonia, chemical pneumonia etc. The patient diagnosed with pneumonia will suffer from severe cough, yellowish or greenish mucous discharge, blood in mucous, chest pain, fever etc. It is advisable to cough as much as you can and bring out the mucous from the lungs. The tests that are needed for the diagnosis of pneumonia are blood test to check the white blood cells count responsible for resistance against harmful pathogens, X-ray etc. Pneumonia can be controlled by, controlling the factors responsible for causing this disease. Smoking is strictly prohibited, as it may lead to further inflammation and infection of the lungs. Anti bacterial and anti viral drugs are available in the market, which should be taken after consulting a doctor along with medication for fever. Pneumonia vaccination can also be given as a preventive measure to people with a weak immune system particularly to aged people and infants. It is recommended to take immediate treatment as it can lead to blood poisoning if not treated. Thus, this respiratory ailment can be treated depending on its type.

Food poisoning is a less dangerous, yet more common disorder seen in the day to day lives of many people. When an individual, consumes food that is contaminated with toxins, dangerous chemicals or bacteria they get affected by food poisoning. Small children and old people are often a prey to this disorder because of their weak immune system, which does not have sufficient resistive power against the entry of harmful toxins and bacteria into their body. Food poisoning causes vomiting, headache, stomach ache, diarrhea and fever in the affected persons. Food poisoning can be prevented, if we are more cautious about the hygiene factor of the food we consume. The equipments used for cooking like cutlery, knifes and forks should be kept clean. Bacteria are usually invisible to the human naked eye and they even stick to hands while working. So, it is advisable to wash your hands before you eat or cook. Bacteria can also be present in the vegetables so it is necessary to wash them before you eat it raw. Dairy products, meat, pork, fish etc are also home of disease causing bacteria. While buying these products, care should be taken to check the expiry date. They should be properly refrigerated before cooking and it is necessary to cook them completely before we consume. It is advisable to drink only boiled water. If the symptoms of food poisoning are observed in an individual, proper medication should be taken before the condition becomes worse. Thus by adopting a hygienic lifestyle the reasons for food poisoning can be greatly minimized.

The skeletal framework of the body consists of bones, one of the rigid parts of the body, which are capable of growing from childhood till certain period of life. The bones have to be strong enough to prevent fractures and joint problems. Osteoporosis is a condition occurring in the bones, where the bones become weak, tender and brittle and are hence often prone to fracture easily. This condition is often seen in aged people, particularly aged women. The bones need sufficient amount of nutrients like calcium and phosphates to support their growth. This condition affects almost all the bones in the body but the areas, where the bones become more porous are, the hip, wrist and the femur that is the thigh bone which is the longest bone in the body. Osteoporosis can occur due to many reasons. The main reason is aging. Due to aging the bones de-mineralize and develops pores inside the bones thus making it brittle. Estrogen is a hormone secreted in women, which is responsible for the growth of bones. Due to menopause, estrogen secretion stops thus leading to osteoporosis. Hence this condition mostly prevails in women rather than men. Smoking and alcohol are also one of the reasons. Control measures include hormone therapy and healthy diet. The diet should be rich in calcium and phosphate such as dairy products especially milk. In hormone therapy estrogen will be supplied to women. Addiction to smoking and alcohol must be stopped. Osteoporosis is nor curable but it can be prevented by strictly adhering to the above control measures.

Thyroid is a gland, which is situated in the neck. This gland is responsible for secreting a hormone that plays a major role in controlling the growth, release of energy and metabolic activities of the body. Two other glands in the brain namely, pituitary gland and hypothalamus will control the level of hormone and there by stimulates the thyroid gland to secrete the required level of T4 and T5 hormone. There are two types of thyroid conditions namely hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. When the thyroid glands secrete excess level of hormone then the condition is called hyperthyroidism whereas, when the thyroid glands secrete hormone below the required level then this condition is called hypothyroidism. The symptoms observed will be different in both the conditions. A patient having hyperthyroidism will have irregular menstrual cycle, metabolism rate will increase and hence the patient will have increased appetite yet looses weight to some extent. The patient also suffers from pain in the joints, will be prone to fatigue easily and will not be able to concentrate properly. A person having hypothyroidism will also be prone to fatigue easily. Hair loss and increase in weight will be observed greatly. A women having hypothyroidism is at great risk during pregnancy and might have difficulty in becoming pregnant soon. If both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are left untreated at an early stage, it can cause severe heart and brain disorders which might be life threatening. So it is necessary to consult a physician when the above symptoms are observed in an individual and take necessary treatments in the initial stage itself.

Peptic ulcer is a more common, painful yet less dangerous condition of the digestive tract, especially stomach and duodenum. Peptic ulcer causes the lining of the digestive passage to be affected and eroded by the secretion of acidic digestive juices. Depending on the area in the digestive tract, which gets affected, peptic ulcer is generally classified into stomach or gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer and esophageal ulcer. There are a number of reasons for the occurrence of peptic ulcer. The main reason is due to the bacterial infection in the lining of stomach wall or duodenum. Acidic digestive juices and pepsin, a digestive enzyme can also cause the erosion of digestive tract. Alcohol consumption also leads to peptic ulcer. Cigarette smoking also adds on to this cause, as it contains nicotine in excess, which is capable of causing damage to the lining of the digestive tract. The symptoms of peptic ulcer, varies depending on its nature, intensity and cause. The symptoms include severe stomach pain, vomiting, fatigue, weight loss, indigestion etc. When these symptoms are observed, then it is advisable to visit a doctor and take necessary tests and treatment. Peptic ulcer can be confirmed by, taking blood test and doing endoscopy. The preventive measures include, avoiding junk food and food stuffs which are acidic. Alcoholism and cigarette smoking should be quitted as soon as possible. If the peptic ulcer is diagnosed in the initial stage, then it can be cured by proper medication else surgery will be required if the condition worsens.

People all over the world, will be definitely familiar with diabetes mellitus because, it is one of the most popular disorder seen in people of all age groups, in recent years. Diabetes is generally caused if the sugar level in blood is high. This disorder can be hereditary. Pancreas are responsible for producing insulin in our body. The role of insulin is to take up glucose from the blood and use it for metabolic activities of the body. But, in a person who has diabetes, the metabolic activities will be disturbed because, the pancreas stop secreting the needed level of insulin. Hence the sugar will not be utilized for metabolic process and the sugar level in the blood will be greatly increased leading to diabetes. There is no complete cure or recovery from diabetes instead it can be controlled. Diabetes is classified into 3 types as Type1, Type2 and Gestational diabetes. A person suffering from Type1 diabetes will be recommended to take insulin injections daily. This is caused because the pancreas secrete less insulin. Type2 is likely to occur more commonly than the other types, where there is an abnormal level of insulin secretion. There are more chances for pregnant women getting affected by Gestational diabetes. But after the delivery of child, the insulin level becomes normal. Diabetes can lead to other complications like skin infections, cataract in eye, vision problems, renal diseases. In extreme cases, it can cause kidney failure and even death. Since diabetes is the most prevalent disorder, awareness should be created to diagnose and control it at an early stage.

One of the most common respiratory disorder, which occurs in people all over the world is asthma. Asthma attacks are seen in people of all age groups, right from small children to aged individuals. There is no permanent cure or recovery from asthma but it can be controlled to a great extent by taking proper precautions and by adopting a healthy lifestyle. The main factors, which are responsible for causing asthma are smoke, dust, pests, pollen grains, insects etc. Stress and medicines to some extent can also be a cause for this disorder. The air passage gets inflamed thus affecting the normal breathing mechanism. The patient, will find it difficult to breathe, especially during night and early mornings and the sleep cycle gets disturbed. Asthma patients can use an inhaler, which contains medicine in the form of vapor when they have difficulty in breathing. In the case of severe conditions, the patient should be immediately taken to a health care center for proper treatment and medication, as it may even lead to death. There are a variety of preventive measures for this disorder. The first and fore most is, patients suffering from asthma should be strictly prohibited from smoking. The living environment should be kept clean from dust, insects or pests, which cause asthma. Moreover, asthma can greatly controlled by practicing yoga regularly. The breathing exercise, will be of great use in reducing the difficulty in breathing. Since, asthma has no permanent cure, its up to you to adopt proper preventive measures and healthy lifestyle to prevent this disorder.

Common cold, as the name indicates is the most commonly prevailing condition, causing a great discomfort to the nose and throat. Common cold is simply an infection that occurs in the respiratory passage. Rhinovirus is the most common virus responsible for causing common cold. Common cold affects people with a weaker immune system, having poor resistance against such infectious viruses. Normally, kids often fall a prey to this infection. The symptoms of common cold are running or blocked nose, frequent sneezing, headache, body pain, sore throat etc. There is no treatment available for the permanent cure of cold. Cold can be controlled by certain remedial measures, which gives a temporary relief. Alcohol should not be taken at all, as it may increase the cold and soreness in throat. Soups can be of great help to relieve blockages in nose and thus prevent the virus from being in contact with the mucous membrane of the nose for a long period of time. Salt water gargling is believed to be the best remedy from ancient times to get rid of sore throat. Steam bath helps to get relief from running nose. Common cold is usually accompanied by headache and body pain, so painkiller tablets can be used. Cough syrups are available, but the dosage should not be high as it can make you feel sleepy. Nasal sprays can also provide a temporary relief from cold but if should not be used often. All these should be strictly used after the consultation of doctor as per the prescribed dosage and duration.