Cholesterol and Heart Diseases

October 31, 2018

Cholesterol helps the body in building new cells and the production of hormones. Cholesterol is normally produced by the liver, however, we get cholesterol from food such as milk, eggs, and meat. Too much of cholesterol in the system is a risk factor for heart diseases.

Too much cholesterol in your blood accumulates on the walls of the arteries leading to a form of heart disease called atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is characterized by the thinning of the arteries and decreases or blocks flow of blood. In the case of decreased blood flow to the heart, you might experience chest pain. If the blood supply to the heart is blocked, this results to a heart attack.

There are two main forms in which cholesterol travels in blood;

low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or “bad” cholesterol because if you have too much of it in your bloodstream, it can cling to the walls of your arteries, eventually blocking them.
high-density lipoprotein (HDL) or “good” cholesterol because it picks up cholesterol and takes it back to the liver for disposal.

LDL or “bad cholesterol” is the main cause of the narrowing of arteries leading to atherosclerosis. HDL or “good cholesterol” works to clear cholesterol from the blood.

What Are the Symptoms of High Cholesterol?

Generally, high cholesterol levels do not produce any symptoms. It is for that reason many people are not aware their cholesterol levels are too high. A decrease in cholesterol levels also reduces the risk of developing heart diseases like atherosclerosis and heart attacks. It also lowers the chances of you dying of heart diseases if you already have it.

It is recommended that everyone 20 years and above should measure their cholesterol levels at least 1 time in 5 years. This is measured by performing a blood test called lipoprotein profile which shows:

Total cholesterol level
“Bad” Cholesterol level
“Good” cholesterol level
Triglyceride level

Triglycerides are another form of fats in your bloodstream. Recent studies show that high triglyceride levels are linked to heart diseases.

What Affects Cholesterol Levels?

A variety of factors can affect your cholesterol levels. They include:

Diet. Saturated fat, trans fat, carbohydrates, and cholesterol in the food you eat increase cholesterol levels. Reducing the amount of saturated fat, trans fats and sugars in your diet helps lower your blood cholesterol level. Increasing the amount of fiber and plant-derived sterols can also help lower LDL cholesterol.
Weight. In addition to being a risk factor for heart disease, being overweight can also increase your cholesterol. Losing weight can help lower your LDL, total cholesterol levels, and triglyceride levels, as well as raise your HDL.
Exercise. Regular exercise can lower LDL cholesterol and raise HDL cholesterol. You should try to be physically active for 30 minutes every day.
Age and Gender. As we get older, cholesterol levels rise. Before menopause, women tend to have lower total cholesterol levels than men of the same age. After menopause, however, women’s LDL levels tend to rise.
Heredity. Your genes partly determine how much cholesterol your body makes. High blood cholesterol can run in families.
Medical conditions. Occasionally, a medical condition may cause an elevation of cholesterol levels in the blood. These include hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid gland), liver disease and kidney disease.
Medications. Some medicines, like steroids and progestins, may increase “bad” cholesterol and decrease the “good” cholesterol.

Breast Self-Exam: How to Check for Lumps

October 9, 2018

Breast self-exam, or regularly examining your breasts on your own, can be an important way to find a breast cancer early, when it’s more likely to be treated successfully. Not every cancer can be found this way, but it is a critical step you can and should take for yourself.

How to do a breast self-exam: The five steps

Step 1:

Begin by looking at your breasts in the mirror with your shoulders straight and your arms on your hips.

Here’s what you should look for:

Breasts that are their usual size, shape, and color
Breasts that are evenly shaped without visible distortion or swelling

If you see any of the following changes, talk with a doctor:

Dimpling, wrinkling, or bulging of the skin
A nipple that has changed position or an inverted nipple (pushed inward instead of sticking out)
Redness, soreness, rash, or swelling

Step 2:

Now, raise your arms and look for the same changes.

Step 3:

While you’re at the mirror, look for any signs of fluid coming out of one or both nipples (this could be a watery, milky, or yellow fluid or blood).

Step 4:

Next, feel your breasts while lying down, using your right hand to feel your left breast and then your left hand to feel your right breast. Use a firm,smooth touch with the first few finger pads of your hand, keeping the fingers flat and together. Use a circular motion, about the size of a quarter.

Cover the entire breast from top to bottom, side to side — from your collarbone to the top of your abdomen, and from your armpit to your cleavage.

Follow a pattern to be sure that you cover the whole breast. You can begin at the nipple, moving in larger and larger circles until you reach the outer edge of the breast. You can also move your fingers up and down vertically, in rows, as if you were mowing a lawn. This up-and-down approach seems to work best for most women. Be sure to feel all the tissue from the front to the back of your breasts: for the skin and tissue just beneath, use light pressure; use medium pressure for tissue in the middle of your breasts; use firm pressure for the deep tissue in the back. When you’ve reached the deep tissue, you should be able to feel down to your rib cage.

Step 5

Finally, feel your breasts while you are standing or sitting. Many women find that the easiest way to feel their breasts is when their skin is wet and slippery, so they like to do this step in the shower. Cover your entire breast, using the same hand movements described in step 4.

Risk, Causes and Prevention of Breast Cancer

October 7, 2018

There are about 1.38 million new cases and 458 000 deaths from breast cancer each year. Breast cancer is by far the most common cancer in women worldwide, both in the developed and developing countries. In Cameroon and other Sub-Saharan Countries the incidence has been rising up steadily in the last years due to increase in life expectancy, increase urbanization and adoption of western lifestyles. Currently there is not sufficient knowledge on the causes of breast cancer, therefore, early detection of the disease remains the cornerstone of breast cancer control.

Risk factors of Breast Cancer

Anything that increases the risk of getting a disease is called a risk factor. Find out about the things that increase the risk of breast cancer, including lifestyle factors, hormone levels, and certain medical conditions:

Obesity (Overweight)

Women who are overweight after their menopause have a higher risk of breast cancer than women who are not overweight. Men also have an increased risk of breast cancer if they are overweight or obese.

Being overweight means having a body mass index (BMI) of between 25 and 30. Obesity means being very overweight with a BMI of 30 or higher. Try to keep a healthy weight by being physically active and eating a healthy, balanced diet.
Alcohol

Drinking alcohol increases the risk of breast cancer. The risk increases with each extra unit of alcohol per day.
How much alcohol is enough? Read more here
Hormone treatments

The use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and oral birth control pills have been linked to breast cancer, due to increased levels of estrogen.

High levels of natural hormones can increase our risk of some cancers, such as breast. Some medical treatments, including hormone replacement therapy and the contraceptive Pill, work by increasing levels of certain hormones.
Age

The risk increases with age. At 20 years, the chance of developing breast cancer in the next decade is 0.6 percent. By the age of 70 years, this figure goes up to 3.84 percent.
Family history and genetics

If a close relative has or has had, breast cancer, the risk is higher. Some people have a higher risk of developing breast cancer than the general population because other members of their family have had particular cancers. This is called a family history of cancer.Having a mother, sister or daughter diagnosed with breast cancer approximately doubles the risk of breast cancer. This risk is higher when more close relatives have breast cancer, or if a relative developed breast cancer under the age of 50.
Radiation

Exposure to radiation is known to increase the risk of many types of cancer. Most of us are never exposed to enough radiation to make much difference to our risk.
Dense breast tissues

Breast cancer risk is higher in women with the most dense breast tissue compared to less dense tissue. Women with dense breast tissue have less fat and more breast cells and connective tissue in their breasts.

Prevention of Breast Cancer

Making changes in your daily life may help reduce your risk of breast cancer. Try to:

Become familiar with your breasts through breast self-exam for breast awareness.

Women may choose to become familiar with their breasts by occasionally inspecting their breasts during a breast self-exam for breast awareness. If there is a new change, lumps or other unusual signs in your breasts, talk to your doctor promptly.
Maintain a healthy weight.

If your weight is healthy, work to maintain that weight. Reduce the number of calories you eat each day and slowly increase the amount of exercise.
Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all.

Limit the amount of alcohol you drink to no more than one drink a day, if you choose to drink. Above all,
Ask your doctor about breast cancer screening.

Discuss with a doctor when to begin breast cancer screening exams and tests, such as clinical breast exams and mammograms. Talk to your doctor about the benefits and risks of screening. Together, you can decide what breast cancer screening strategies are right for you.

Know the Symptoms of Breast Cancer

October 5, 2018

Breast cancer is the most common cause of death in women worldwide. The incidence of breast cancer in sub-Saharan Africa has been rising and yet many cases remain undetected.

A number of risk factors such as alcoholism, age and hormones predispose women to breast cancer and several challenges are currently faced in detecting and managing breast cancer in the region, especially in the domain of medical imaging technology and finances.

The earlier breast cancer is diagnosed, the better the chance of successful treatment. So it’s important to check your breasts regularly. How can you detect breast cancer from the symptoms?

Breast lump

The first symptom of breast cancer for many women is a lump in their breast. But 9 out of 10 breast lumps (90%) are benign. That means they are not cancers. However, if you spot a lump, see your doctor straight away.

Change in size, shape or feel of a breast

Your breast might look bigger or have a different shape than usual. It might feel different. Many healthy women find that their breasts feel lumpy and tender before their period. Get to know the size, shape and feel of your breasts. See your doctor if you notice any changes or anything that is unusual for you.

Breast pain

Breast pain is very common and it’s not normally due to cancer. You might get pain in one or both breasts for a while, which goes after a time. There might be no obvious reason for this pain, even if you have a lot of tests. See your doctor if you have breast pain.

Skin changes

Skin changes include wrinkling, dimpling, a rash, or redness of the skin of the breast.

The texture of the skin might feel different. This can be caused by other breast conditions but get your doctor to check out anything that is not normal for you.

Change in the position of your nipple

One nipple might turn in or sink into the breast. It might look or feel different to usual.

Fluid leaking from your nipple

Fluid leaking from a nipple in a woman who isn’t pregnant or breast feeding can be a sign of cancer. But it can also be caused by other medical conditions.

See your doctor if you have leakage from a nipple and you aren’t pregnant or breast feeding.

As take home message, you should see your doctor if you have:

a change in the size, shape or feel of a breast
a new lump or thickening in a breast or armpit
skin changes such as wrinkling, dimpling, a rash or redness of the skin
fluid leaking from a nipple and you aren’t pregnant or breastfeeding
changes in the position of a nipple
breast pain

Drug Abuse: A Rising Problem in Cameroon

August 29, 2018

I remember the first time I was told Douala is a major hub for drug trafficking in the central African region. That was about 3 years ago. My quest even revealed worse: the first rapid assessment which unveiled Cameroon as a trafficking and consuming hub was performed from March to November 1994 in collaboration with the Economic Community of Central African States, with technical assistance from the World Health Organization and the support of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme. So, we have an old problem here. Back in 1994, recommendations were made to the state of Cameroon, to create programmes offering preventive education and alternative forms of recreation for youth as well as harmonized national policies on demand and supply reduction. 10 yrs later a presidential decree announced the creation of special units to curb drug trafficking in all national airports. Meanwhile, a National Drug Committee, NDCC, has been created.

Fast forward 2008, a study published by Theodore Kommegne, a clinical psychologist who specializes in drugs and alcohol research, showed 5% of high school students admitted to having taken drugs, with a special preference for heroin (64% of those using drugs) and cocaine (57%). According to experts, increasing drop in prices explains this growth. A dose of cocaine, also known as ‘caillou’, dropped from 3.000CFA to 1,500-2000CFA, within a few years.

Yaounde, June 24th, 2010: Cameroon’s minister of health, Mama Fouda, during a ceremony to mark the 23rd World Day for the Fight Against Drug Abuse and Trafficking dueled on the alarming extent of the nation’s drug problem. He mentioned some parents drugged their kids by adding illicit products to their food.

Riding on to August 2011, 141.5kg of cocaine was found inside bottles of vegetable oil on a cargo ship at Douala’s port. Moreover, traffickers do not rely solely on sea travel: in 2012, more than six kilograms of heroin were seized at Douala airport. In the same year, journalist and blogger Frank William Batchou posed as a user in order to gain access and understand the local drug trafficking scene.

“After hearing of people being arrested for drug trafficking and consumption, of drugs seized at Douala’s port and airport, I wanted to understand how drug trafficking worked in the city. So I went into the neighbourhoods where drugs are sold. Introducing myself as a journalist made the dealers distrustful and they wouldn’t answer my questions. So I decided to go back and pretend to be a user.

First I went to the Congo Market, an area known for being a hotspot for dealers. I found one quickly. I told him I was a singer and because I had a concert two days later I needed something to prevent stage fright. He asked me to give him 1,000 CFA in advance and to come back later. That’s a technique widely used when the buyer is new, so that the dealer can be sure the person is serious and is, above all, not an undercover policeman. I went back in the afternoon, and another guy gave me some heroine in exchange for my 1,000 CFA.

There are names and codes used to identify the drugs. Powdered cocaine and heroin are known as ‘caillou’, while drugs that are smoked are often referred to as ‘tchap’, which means ‘leaf’ in several languages spoken in west Cameroon.

Drugs are mostly sold in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Douala, such as in Makea, nicknamed Dubai because the business is so lucrative there. But they can also be found right in the heart of the city centre, such as at a school that I attended myself. Part of the property is made up of sports grounds, but these are partially deserted and there are weeds growing, so it’s become a popular place for junkies to come and smoke heroine and cannabis, while watching young people play football.

Most of the dealers are from Cameroon. They start when they’re about 15 years old; they come from deprived areas, and often they don’t have families. They’re idle, they spend their days drinking, smoking and making money in various illegal ways, like theft and dealing drugs.”

2016 the Ministry of Public Health indicated 15.000 youths between the ages of 13 and 15 have either come in contact with drug abuse or have abused of drugs.

Statistics released a few days ago by Cameroon’s Anti-drug National Committee (CNLD) shows 21% of the population have already tried a hard drug. 10% are frequent consumers including 60% young people aged 20-25. 12,000 young people under 15 also consume narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. High in demand are cannabis (58.54%), tramadol (44.62%) and cocaine (12.10%). Traditional makeshift preparations account for 7.59%, while solvents and heroin account for 7.36% and 5.70%, respectively.

Cameroon’s national drug committee seems to focus more on repressive measures against trafficking and consumption. A lot still needs to be done on sensitizing the public, recreation programmes for the youth and enabling guardians and teachers.

Whether “tchap”, glue, “trama”, alcohol or “caillou”, Cameroon’s rising drug problem is closely linked to its unstable politico-economic state of affairs combined with a poorly funded health sector. This tweet yesterday by social justice activist and entrepreneur Kathleen Ndongmo sums it up and got me rethinking. We will ahve to do a lot to keep kids innocent and safeguard their future.

What you need to know before starting a keto diet

August 10, 2018

What is a keto diet

A keto diet a deliberate reduction of glucose through low carbs while subsequently introducing high levels of fat in a diet. It was first used to introduce ketones and reduce glucose as the main source of energy in the brains of children suffering from drug-resistant epilepsy.

The word “keto” comes from the ketone bodies – acetone, acetoacetate, and beta-hydroxybutyrate , which are acidic chemicals, produced from fat by the body in extreme survival situations. The body gets its main energy supply from glucose. In the absence of glucose, the body starts converting fats to ketone bodies, as a source of energy, especially for the brain- a process called ketosis. Ketone bodies are toxic at higher levels, which could result is ketoacidosis, a life-threatening condition often seen in diabetic patients with low blood sugar. Their acidic nature gives them a peculiar smell, for this reason, people on a keto diet make have their breath or urine smelling like nail polish.

Today there are different adapted forms of the keto diet for epilepsy, various metabolic disorders, and weight loss.

Who should go on a keto diet

Keto diet is actually a medical therapy and must be adapted to the individuals. Some forms must be initiated in the hospital. Medically the keto diet is mostly used to treat epilepsy and other nervous system conditions like Parkinson, Alzheimer and Multiple sclerosis. People with Glucose Storage Diseases, Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome may also profit from it. However, a keto diet might cause or worsen other health problems like kidney stones, osteoporosis, stunted growth, and increased risk of clogged blood vessels through raised LDL-fats.

The classical keto diet is not a balanced diet. People on a keto diet tend to lack vital minerals and vitamins which should be substituted like Vit B, Calcium and Vit D.

Medically the keto diet is not seen as a permanent dietary solution.

Today the keto diet is widely popular for its weight loss benefits. However it is good to know, it is an expensive extreme dieting form which comes with side effects, so be clear with your goals. Keto diets are hard to maintain long-term and very few studies exist to prove its long-term weight maintenance results. Most people give up and regain the gained weight.

It is advised to only begin a keto diet under medical supervision. Speak to your doctor or dietician before starting a keto diet.

Schizophrenia: Symptoms, Causes, and Prevention

August 10, 2018

Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder in which people interpret reality abnormally. It may result in some combination of hallucinations, delusions, and extremely disordered thinking and behavior that disturbs daily functioning, and can be disabling.

People with schizophrenia require lifelong treatment. Early treatment may help get symptoms under control before serious complications develop and may help improve the long-term outlook.

The prevalence of schizophrenia in developing countries, and especially in Africa, is controversial. One of the major findings of the World Health Organization on schizophrenia conducted in the 90’s was that outcome of schizophrenia was better in developing countries. More recent research suggests this may not be the case in modern-day Africa. Rapid urbanization, industrialization, migration, conflict and ongoing poverty and deprivation characterize most of sub-Saharan Africa in recent decades; and it is likely that these potent risk factors for psychosis have contributed to shifts in the occurrence of psychosis and schizophrenia in that continent.

What Are the Symptoms of Schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia changes how you think, feel, and act. It might affect you differently from someone else. The symptoms can come and go, too. No one has all of them all of the time.

They usually start between ages 16 and 30. Men often get them earlier than women. When the disease is in full swing and symptoms are severe, the person with schizophrenia can’t tell what’s real and what’s not. This happens less often as they get older.

People with the condition usually aren’t aware that they have it until a doctor or counselor tells them. They won’t even realize that something is seriously wrong. If they do happen to notice symptoms, like not being able to think straight, they might chalk it up to things like stress or being tired.

Signs and symptoms may vary, but usually involve delusions, hallucinations or disorganized speech, and reflect an impaired ability to function. Symptoms may include:

Delusions. These are false beliefs that are not based in reality. For example, you think that you’re being harmed or harassed; certain gestures or comments are directed at you; you have exceptional ability or fame; another person is in love with you; or a major catastrophe is about to occur. Delusions occur in most people with schizophrenia.
Hallucinations. These usually involve seeing or hearing things that don’t exist. Hallucinations can be in any of the senses, but hearing voices is the most common hallucination.
Disorganized thinking (speech). Disorganized thinking comes from from disorganized speech. Effective communication can be impaired, and answers to questions may be partially or completely unrelated. Rarely, speech may include putting together meaningless words that can’t be understood, sometimes known as word salad.
Extremely disorganized or abnormal motor behavior. This may show in a number of ways, from childlike silliness to unpredictable agitation. Behavior isn’t focused on a goal, so it’s hard to do tasks. Behavior can include resistance to instructions, inappropriate or bizarre posture, a complete lack of response, or useless and excessive movement.
Negative symptoms. This refers to reduced or lack of ability to function normally. For example, the person may neglect personal hygiene or appear to lack emotion (doesn’t make eye contact, doesn’t change facial expressions or speaks in a monotone). Also, the person may have lose interest in everyday activities, socially withdraw or lack the ability to experience pleasure.

Causes and Risk Factors of Schizophrenia

Although the precise cause of schizophrenia isn’t known, certain factors seem to increase the risk of developing or triggering schizophrenia, including:

Having a family history of schizophrenia
Increased immune system activation, such as from inflammation or autoimmune diseases.
Some pregnancy and birth complications, such as malnutrition or exposure to toxins or viruses that may impact brain development
Taking mind-altering (psychoactive or psychotropic) drugs during teen years and young adulthood

Left untreated, schizophrenia can result in severe problems that affect every area of life such as suicidal thoughts, depression, alcohol and drug abuse, social isolation and self injury.

How Much Alcohol is Enough?? Read More

Prevention of Schizophrenia

There’s no sure way to prevent schizophrenia, but learning more about risk factors for schizophrenia may lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment. Some of the risk factors which you have control include: avoid alcohol and drug abuse(early and long-term use of marijuana and other illicit drugs may raise the risk),avoid social isolation, make an extra effort to deal with stress and anxiety, and make an extra effort to stay positive.

References

What Are the Symptoms of Schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia
Preventing Schizophrenia - Risk Reduction Approaches 
Social Determinants of Schizophrenia: Africa

Best Practices to Lower Blood Pressure

August 2, 2018

Blood pressure above 140/90 mm Hg is considered hypertension, and is one of the most prevalent and preventable conditions. In Cameroon, the prevalence of hypertension spans from 5.7% in rural settings through 21.9% in semi urban to 47.5% in urban milieu, with a national average survey of 31.0%. There is also an increase in the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and kidney failures.

Medicines are usually recommended to bring down the blood pressure, but these drugs may cause a number of side effects, including insomnia, dizziness and leg cramps. Many people are unaware that blood pressure can be lowered without using medications. Even if you are on medication, simple lifestyle changes may help in reducing the need for medication to control the pressure.

Here are few lifestyle changes that would be helpful in lowering the blood pressure:

Maintain a healthy body weight – Blood pressure is found to be related to body weight. The more weight loss, the lower the blood pressure. It is also said that lowering body weight would make medications more effective. Extra weight around the waistline (obesity) is yet another factor that increases the risk of high blood pressure.
Exercise regularly – Studies show that regular physical activity helps in reducing the blood pressure by 4 to 9 mm of Hg. Thus, increasing the activity level will automatically have a lowering effect on the pressure. Develop an exercise regimen after discussing with your doctor. Follow the restrictions carefully and gradually buildup the routine, if you have not been regularly doing exercise.
Healthy diet – Having a healthy diet can bring down the pressure considerably. Try to include more of fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products such as yogurt, cottage cheese, milk to get healthy benefits. Reduce the intake of saturated fats and cholesterol such as palm oil. You can also consider improving the potassium intake through appropriate diet e.g. in bananas, potatoes and sweet potatoes. This will help in reducing the effect of sodium in increasing the blood pressure.
Reduce sodium intake – Reducing the consumption of sodium in the diet can help in lowering the pressure by 2 to 8 mm Hg. Limit the intake of sodium to less than 3/4 of a teaspoon a day, particularly if you are above 50-years-old, or have conditions like hypertension, diabetes or chronic kidney disease. The best way to reduce sodium in the diet is to avoid processed foods and avoid adding extra salt to the food.
Limit alcohol consumption – Drinking too much alcohol can increase the blood pressure by several points. Cut back the extra alcohol and gradually reduce the quantity. [How much alcohol is enough? Read more]
Quit smoking – Along with a number of other conditions, smoking can increase the blood pressure. For a person who smokes continuously throughout the day, the blood pressure remains high. Passive smoking also should be avoided as much as possible.
Reduce stress – Stress is one of the leading causes of hypertension. Try to eliminate all stress triggers or try to adjust with them in a healthier way.

If you must remember something, remember these;

To ensure low blood pressure, one must change unhealthy lifestyle habits to see results.
High blood pressure is one of the causes of about 15% of deaths in the country, and also increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Blood pressure above 140/90 mm Hg is considered hypertension.

Link all related articles as read more

Prediabetes – symptoms, causes and treatment

July 19, 2018

Prediabetes is a condition characterized by glucose levels that are high, but not as high as in the case of Type 2 diabetes. In most cases, there are no specific symptoms, and the condition remains undiagnosed for a long time. It is also known as impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glucose. This condition affects millions of people throughout the country and it is increasing worldwide and it is projected that more than 470 million people will have prediabetes in 2030, and is often known to occur before developing into Type 2 diabetes.

It is is now considered to be a condition that may lead to more serious health problems. Thus, early diagnosis and treatment of prediabetes will help to prevent the development of Type 2 diabetes, which is associated with health conditions, like heart and kidney diseases.

Prediabetes may remain asymptomatic in most cases, but when present, the most common symptoms are similar to that of Type 2 diabetes.

The common symptoms for prediabetes that are similar to Type 2 diabetes include:

Increased thirst
Frequent urination
Blurred vision
Fatigue

The actual cause for prediabetes is still unknown. Presence of abdominal fat and physical inactivity increase the risk for prediabetes.

One should test for prediabetes if you:

Are over 45-years-old
Have a body mass index above 25.
Are physically inactive
Have a family history of diabetes
Have a history of gestational diabetes
Have polycystic ovary syndrome
Had abnormal blood sugar tests
Have a history of heart disease
Have insulin resistance

Identifying prediabetes is very important in preventing Type 2 diabetes, and other associated diseases, like heart disease.

Some of the complications caused by Type 2 diabetes include:

Hypertension
High cholesterol levels
Heart disease
Stroke
Kidney disease
Blindness

Complications of diabetes read more

Prediabetes can be treated by:

Having a healthy, balanced diet – eating food that are less in calories and fat and high in fiber is the best diet plan for reducing chances of prediabetes.
Losing extra body weight – losing 5-10% of the body weight reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes considerably
Regular exercise — regular exercise for thirty minutes every day is found to reduce the risk of diabetes by 60%.
Quitting smoking
Treating hypertension
Treating high cholesterol levels
Getting adequate rest

Before you go, remember this;

Prediabetes can be considered a stepping stone to type 2 diabetes, if left untreated.
Prediabetes is characterized by high glucose levels, however, the levels are not as high as type 2 diabetes.

We Love to #Meducate you.

Is Caffeine a drug?

July 2, 2018

What is caffeine?

Caffeine is a stimulant drug, which means it speeds up the messages travelling between the brain and the body. It’s found in the seeds, nuts and leaves of a number of different plants, including:

Coffea Arabica (used for coffee)
Camelia sinensis (used for tea)
Cola acuminate (used as a nut, tea or in soft drinks including cola)
Theobroma cacao (used in cocoa and chocolate)
Paulinia cupana (used as guarana in snack bars and energy drinks)

How is caffeine used?

Caffeine is used in a number of different products. The amount of caffeine in these products can vary dramatically, so it’s always best to check the label. The average amounts are listed below.

Product Average caffeine content (mg/100 ml)
Red Bull® 32.0
Mountain Dew® 15.0
Coca Cola® 9.7*
Diet Coke® 9.7*
Coke Zero® 9.6*
Brewed black tea 22.5
Brewed green tea 12.1
Coffee, cappuccino 101.9
Coffee, flat white 86.9
Coffee, long black 74.7
Coffee, from ground coffee beans, espresso style 194.0
Chocolate, milk with added milk solids 20.0
Chocolate, dark, high cocoa solids 59.0

Effects of caffeine

There is no safe level of drug use. Use of any drug always carries some risk. It’s important to be careful when taking any type of drug. Caffeine affects everyone differently, based on:

Size, weight and health
Whether the person is used to taking it
Whether other drugs are taken around the same time
The amount taken

The following effects may be experienced between 5 to 30 minutes after consuming caffeine, and may continue for up to 12 hours:

Feeling more alert and active
Restlessness, excitability and dizziness
Anxiety and irritability
Dehydration and needing to urinate more often
Higher body temperature
Faster breathing and heart rate
Headache and lack of concentration
Stomach pains
Children and young people who consume energy drinks containing caffeine may also suffer from sleep problems, bed-wetting and anxiety.

Overdose

If a large amount of caffeine is consumed it could also cause an overdose. If you experience any of the following effects, talk with your doctor straight away.

Tremors
Nausea and vomiting
Very fast and irregular heart rate
Confusion and panic attack
Seizures

It’s possible to die from having too much caffeine, but this is extremely rare. This would usually only happen if 5–10g of caffeine (or 80 cups of strong coffee) were consumed one after the other.

In small children, caffeine poisoning can happen if a lower amount, such as around 1g of caffeine (equal to around 12 energy drinks) is consumed one after the other.

Some people consume drinks with caffeine so that they can continue working or studying at night. However, the after-effect is that they will feel tired and lethargic the next day.

Long-term effects

Regular, heavy use of caffeine (such as more than 4 cups of coffee a day) may eventually cause:

Osteoporosis
High blood pressure and heart disease
Heartburn
Ulcers
Difficulty sleeping
Infertility (in men and women)
Anxiety
Depression
Needing to use more to get the same effect
Dependence on caffeine
Using caffeine with other drugs.The effects of taking caffeine with other drugs – including over-the-counter or prescribed medications – can be unpredictable and dangerous, and could cause:

Caffeine + alcohol: causes enormous strain on the body, and can mask some effects of alcohol such as falling asleep, leading to drinking more and risk taking behavior.
Caffeine + other stimulant drugs: increase the risk of cardiovascular problems.

Withdrawal

Giving up caffeine after using it for a long time is challenging because the body has to get used to functioning without it. Withdrawal symptoms usually start within 24 hours after the last dose – or even within 6 hours for people who consume a lot of caffeine regularly. The symptoms can last for around 36 hours, or even longer for people who consume a lot.

These symptoms can include:

Headache
Tiredness
Sweating
Muscle pains
Anxiety and tension

References
1 Brands, B., Sproule, B., & Marshman, J. (Eds.). (1998). Drugs & drug abuse (3rd ed.). Ontario: Addiction Research Foundation.
2. Food Standards Australia New Zealand. (2014). Caffeine.
3. Upfal, J. (2006). The Australian drug guide. (7th ed.). Melbourne: Black Inc.
4. Seifer, S., Schaechter, J., Hershorin, E. & Lepshultz, S. (2011).
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