Three Interesting Facts about Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus, affectionately referred to as just “diabetes” by almost everyone who has ever heard of the disease, is a condition you would not want to wish upon your worst enemy. Aside from forcing you to change almost every aspect of your lifestyle (say goodbye to All-You-Can-Eat wing night), it could lead to a series of unfortunate complications, such as having your foot cut off and that pesky little thing known as death. Terrifying aspects of a disease that can strike without warning aside, here are some interesting facts overlooked by almost everyone.

Have you ever wondered what the mellitus tacked on to the end of diabetes actually means? Aside from being a fancy word to make it sound more medical-y, it actually has an interesting albeit slightly disturbing history to it. In 1675, a doctor by the name of Thomas Willis, added the term, which is the Latin word for “honey,” due to the taste of the urine diabetes patients being deemed sweet. Although not the first person to notice this (it’s been known for well over a thousand years), the reason for its honey-sweet taste is courtesy of Matthew Dobson, who in 1776 discovered its source to be a build-up of a specific kind of sugar in the urine and blood.

Diabetes is all about urine. But what does that name actually mean? Like many medical terms, its history and meaning lies in the language of the ancient Greeks. It was coined by Aretaeus the Cappadocian, a second-century AD physician who noticed that those with the condition urinated frequently and gave off the appearance of “leaking water.” He named it diabetes, which comes from the Greek word διαβαίνειν, which when parsed is composed of the prefix “dia,” meaning “across or apart, “ and “bainein,” meaning “to walk or stand.” When put together it means “to straddle,” with the noun form meaning “one who straddles” (diabētēs).

To be more specific, the word also means “compass” or “siphon.” It wasn’t until 1425 when the term “diabete” was used to describe the condition in English.

Despite being highly manageable today, the ancients who first discovered the condition considered it to be an automatic death sentence. According to Victor Corneliu Medvei in his book The History of Clinical Endocrinology, despite Aretaeus’ attempts at treating the disease, he considered a diagnosis of this new condition to result in a life that is “short, disgusting and painful.”

In short, ancient conceptions of diabetes can be summed up in two words: urine and pain.

More great information on diabetes can be found at On Top of My Diabetes.

Sources: http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=39756
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes

How to Prevent and Treat a Dry, Bloody Nose This Winter

As the coldest months of the winter begin to make their ominous approach, so too does the impending threat of a dry, bloody nose. The threat is much worse for those who spend most of their time in a warm climate and make trips to have recently moved to a cold weather climate, as well as those who venture high into the mountains to make use of the snow for a skiing or snowboarding adventure. Thankfully, there are ways to combat it and treat it so as to have a pain-free and comfortable winter season.

The first step is preventative measures. These tips are especially important for those coming from warm climates, especially those that are humid, as the change from warm and wet to cold and dry can immediately turn a comfortable nose into a painful one. One of the best ways is to invest in a humidifier, which can keep the room moist enough to prevent the dry air from drying out your nose, which can lead to nose bleeds and pain. Humidifiers can be cheap or expensive, though you don’t need to spend a ton of money to find an effective one.

Other possible ways to prevent the nose from drying out is to purchase a saline nose spray that can be used several times throughout the day. This will keep your nasal passages moist and lubricated, which helps to prevent nasal mucus from drying out and hardening, which can lead to pain, discomfort, and a bloody nose. If your nose has already dried out, the nasal spray can be used to moisten the nasal mucus and allow you to more efficiently blow your nose and expel it.

Other simple tips include taking a hot shower (as hot as you can tolerate), which allows the room to fill up with steam. If you’d prefer to not take a shower, you can use a tea kettle or boil some water and breathe in the fumes. The extra humidity and heat will loosen the nasal mucus, allowing you to blow your nose and clear your nasal passages.

When you sleep at night, using the humidifier in conjunction with nasal spray can be helped with the use of nasal strips. These small pieces of plastic or fabric are placed on the outside of the nose and hold the nasal passages open while you sleep. This not only increases your ability to breathe but can prevent frequent snoring as well.

Spring and summer may be horrible seasons for allergy sufferers, but winter doesn’t discriminate. If you have yet to acclimate yourself to cold weather, it is best to follow the aforementioned steps to prevent yourself from having an uncomfortable and painful winter season.

More great winter health tips can be found here!

Hot Holiday Hair Styles

Shelling out big money to have your hair done this holiday season may sound appealing, but with so many people still cutting back, splurging on a one night hairdo may sound a bit ridiculous. To save a little bit of money this holiday season, do it yourself! Here is how to create this season’s top holiday hairstyle trends at home. The following are some at-home solutions for hot holiday hairstyles, start practicing now so come Christmas and New Year’s, your look will be perfect!

If you have long, sultry layers and are looking for a loose and sexy look set your hair in some jumbo size rollers with each section directed back on an angle, away from your face. Once the rollers have been in your hair for about 20 minutes, let loose, and brush your hair upside down for a voluminous finish.

For a sleek up do, try the ever traditional French twist. Once out of the shower, work volumizer through damp hair and blow dry with a paddle brush to get your hair as smooth as possible. Tease your hair all over (combing back the roots) to add height, and then divide your hair into four equal sections (the crowns, side and back). Then, create a French twist by creating a low ponytail, twisting it, pulling it upward and securing it to your head, while tucking it under at the top. To ensure that this look stays, seal it up with hairspray.

Next, try this low pony tail for a sleek yet still slightly undone look. To begin, once out of the shower, work thickening spray through damp hair and blow dry with a paddle brush; finish by finger combing your hair for some great texture. Then, loosely part your hair down the center; section your hair into two horizontal pieces (top and bottom), then tease the crown and smooth it out with a fine tooth comb, pulling it into a low ponytail at the nape of the neck. To finish off this look, pull a few face- framing pieces out in front and use bobby pins to secure them in place.

For a gorgeous down look, try side swept curls. For this look you will need a large barrel curling iron, finishing spray and bobby pins. To begin, part your hair to its natural side start curling the bottom portion o the hair, with the curls beginning right above the ears. While curling the hair with a large barrel curling iron, hold it vertical while curling to create natural appearing curls. Once the hair has been curled, pull the hair to one side, opposite the part. You can use small pins tucked under the hair, in the opposite direction that hair has been pulled to secure the style. Finish the styling with finishing spray to ensure that the style remains in place all night long.

If you can’t decide between an up do and a down do, try this half up and half down elegant look. For this look medium or long hair will work best. First, create body within the hair that can be seen throughout. You can do this with a curling iron or even by simply blow drying. Once you have created body in the hair, you should part the hair to one side, creating the version of side bangs. Next, you will want to pull the hair away from the face, pull back a lower section of the hair on each side and secure with a pin and finish with serum to ensure shiny and healthy hair. For a fun twist on this look, braid the two pieces and finish with weaving them together in the back.

Don’t forget you can dress up any hairstyle with the use of pins, headbands and other hair accessories featuring sparkles, crystals or bows. This will add a special holiday feel to your look and will make your hair sparkle.

More great beauty tips can be found here!

How to Lose Weight Properly

Fad diets are all the rage. From Slim Fast and Weight Watchers to Atkins and South Beach, each diet uses its own special set of standards to promote weight loss. While some of these diets are successful, they typically are only in the short term. For example, the Atkins diet involves the elimination or severe moderation of carbohydrates, which in term is said to promote faster weight loss. While you may lose weight quickly, once you go off the diet you tend to gain it back fairly quickly.

This in turn is the fundamental flaw in most diets. Dieting itself is a great way to lose weight in the short term, but to keep it off and maintain a healthy weight involves a complete lifestyle change, not just a quick fix to a bad diet. This involves getting regular exercise, approximately thirty minutes a day, five days a week, and consuming a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats and proteins.

In the end, losing weight properly really isn’t a difficult task, and in the end the results far outweigh those found through fad diets. The first thing you need to know is how weight is actually lost and gained. The average calorie intake is approximately 2,000 calories. Eating this many calories per day with very little to no exercise will keep your weight consistent. If you were to eat 500 calories more per day, you would gain one pound a week, as one pound is approximately 3,500 calories. Conversely, by eliminating that many calories a day from your diet, you will lose one pound a week. It’s all really fairly simple, and there a number of easy, healthy ways to accomplish this weight loss.

One of the cornerstones of losing weight is to not eat three meals a day but instead focus on five or six small meals spread evenly throughout the day and night. This allows you to prevent yourself from overeating, particularly at dinner, and allows you to focus on healthier choices. For example, mid-day snacks can include healthy treats such as a handful of mixed nuts or trail mix, or something simple such as an apple or banana. These will keep you full until proper “meal times,” wherein you can indulge in a healthy salad or sandwich. Of course, these are just examples, as the options are limitless. Just because you’re trying to lose weight doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice taste.

By counting calories, focusing on healthy choices and getting plenty of regular exercise, losing weight doesn’t have to be a huge change. If it helps, starting gradually, such as by eliminated or cutting back severely on one problem item, such as sodas, can help you get accustomed to a new, healthier lifestyle. Eventually the weight will start to come off, and in the end you’ll feel a heck of a lot better.

Associated Content

Simple Ways to Get Healthy

Contrary to popular belief, getting healthy or, conversely, remaining healthy, is really not all that difficult. Even if you’re overweight, have high cholesterol, high blood pressure, etc, reversing these potentially damaging health hazards does not have to be a monumentally life changing event, and can in fact happen with only a modicum of effort. This article will highlight some tips on how to get healthier without making huge life-changing decisions.

First and foremost, the best way to get healthier is to gradually change your diet. This does not mean that you have to give up all the foods you love you just have to practice moderation. A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, protein and whole grains is essential, and while the bulk of your diet should include these items daily, occasionally having a piece of cake or some pizza will certainly not kill you. The key is moderation. Yes, you should avoid certain things, such as sugary, empty calorie-filled sodas and most processed food, but one Coca-Cola every once in awhile is definitely ok. If making such a drastic change is difficult, gradually weaning yourself off these items will make it a much easier process.

Supplementing your diet with moderate exercise is essential. Now, this does not necessarily mean you have to devote one to two hours a day at the gym. Adequate exercise can be obtained through something as simple as a walk around the block after dinner. If you lead a busy life and don’t have time to exercise, taking the stairs on a daily basis instead of the elevator, or utilizing your lunch break to go for a walk or even go to the gym for a half hour can be just as effective. Not only will it help keep you healthy, but it will help keep you energized throughout the day.

In some cases medication may be required to reverse damage that has been caused by years of unhealthy eating habits and little to no exercise, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol. Beyond this, little changes made daily will eventually lead to new habits that can lead to an overall healthier, happier you.

More great health tips can be found here!

New Years Resolution: Quitting Smoking

With the New Year approaching, it’s time to begin thinking about resolutions. A common resolution that many individuals make but fail to keep is the complete cessation of smoking. What better way to start off the new year than with a healthier set of lungs? Here are some great ways to kick a nasty smoking habit once and for all.

1. Nicotine gum or patches These smoking-aids provide the nicotine that makes cigarettes so addictive and thus satisfy your cravings. The gum comes in a variety of flavors and is often preferable over the patch due to it satisfying the oral fixation many smokers have. Unfortunately, nicotine gum has the potential to cause serious side effects, such as hiccups, gum disease, hair loss and birth defects. In addition, the American Cancer Society suggest nicotine patches be used primarily for withdrawal symptoms.

2. Weaning Many people feel that quitting cold turkey is too difficult, as withdrawal symptoms can be a real struggle to deal with. As a result, a tried and true method is reducing the average number of cigarettes you smoke on a daily basis until you’re down to zero. This allows you to avoid withdrawal symptoms, which can cause you to reach for a cigarette to quell them, and eventually the desire to smoke will subside.

3. Cold Turkey If you can deal with the withdrawal symptoms, which can include headaches, dizziness, irritability, and even depression, then quitting smoking entirely and all at once might work. This often goes hand-in-hand with using nicotine patches or gum, which can help quell the cravings. As was noted above, however, you should be informed of possible side effects, as the withdrawal symptoms may be preferable.

4. Money While this isn’t exactly a WAY to quit smoking, it certainly is motivation. Smoking is expensive, and with the recent hike in cigarette prices, quitting smnt.com/lifestyle/oking is not only a great way to improve your health, but to save money as well. A pack of cigarettes costs on average $5, and for those who smoke excessively, the cost can really add up. A good tip is to take the money you were going to use for cigarettes and stick it in a jar somewhere. Then, at the end of the month, use that money to buy something you’ve always wanted.

In the end, the reason you’re quitting smoking is for your health, and whatever way you decide to do so is the right way. Before quitting you should discuss with your doctor the potential for side effects and the possibility of withdrawal symptoms. He or she can thus help you formulate a plan to quit smoking once and for all.

Medline Plus

Cancer.org

Associated Content

Simple Calorie Cutting Tips for a Busy Lifestyle

Let’s face it: not everyone has the time to follow a healthy lifestyle. Long work days, a family, and the lure of a quick meal make eating healthy and getting regular exercise extremely difficult. As a result, people get comfortable with their lifestyles and simply accept what doesn’t have to be the inevitable. There are a number of simple steps that can be taken throughout the day to help promote a healthy lifestyle, and best of all, the age old excuse of “I just don’t have the time” does not work.

One of the cornerstones of a healthy lifestyle is getting adequate amounts of exercise. Due to the hectic lifestyle of many individuals, finding time to squeeze in a trip to the gym or walk around the block is difficult. This is especially troublesome for those who are particularly sedentary in their professional lives, such as computer programmers, bank tellers and the like. If this is a concern for you, there are a number of things you can do to squeeze in some light to moderate exercise throughout the day. For example, taking the steps instead of the elevator or, if you live close enough, walking to work. If you’re allowed fifteen minute breaks or smoke breaks, utilize them not to smoke but to take a leisurely stroll around the office or around the block. Finally, if you have a long lunch break (an hour or more), spend that time at the gym as opposed to a restaurant or the break room.

Another major cause of unnecessary weight gain or a major factor in the prevention in weight loss is empty calories. Long days often require excess consumption of sodas, coffee and other sugary energy drinks. Eliminating all of these (save for a cup or two of coffee in the morning) can eliminate several hundreds of calories a day. Even diet sodas or calorie-free drinks can contribute, as all of that extra sugar can make losing weight far more difficult. Instead, simply consume water throughout the day. Not only will help you feel fuller and thus prevent you from overeating, but it will make you feel better in the long run and contribute to an overall healthier you.

Another major factor to an unhealthy lifestyle is the tendency to make unhealthy food choices. Whether at work or on the go, the lure of fast food or huge portions at gourmet restaurants to entertain a client are major problems in the fight against obesity. Thankfully, there are simple and easy ways to combat this. The first step is to bring your lunch to work with you. Not only will it help you save money, but you’re more likely to make healthier food choices. If you find yourself in a situation where you have to go out to eat, a quick jaunt to the supermarket for some low-fat soup or fruit can help put the kibosh on any cravings you might have. If you end up at a restaurant to entertain a client, simply order low-fat fare, skip the alcohol, and immediately ask for a doggie bag to take home half the meal.

In the end, just because you lead a busy lifestyle does not mean you have to sacrifice your health. If you’re having trouble following these simple tips to help you get into shape, consult with your physician or a dietitian, who can offer you more advice on how to become a healthier individual, both inside and out.

More great diet tips can be found here!

At-Home Spa Services

A recent report estimated that American women spend approximately 7 billion dollars a year on beauty products alone. Now imagine the amount that is spent on various salon services, the thought alone is astounding. With these tough economic times our country is in, many people are trying to find more and more ways to cut back and spa services may just be one area. In fact, there are many beauty tricks that you can use from the comfort of your home that not only cost a whole lot less but have the same effect as some of its pricey counterparts. Also, with many of these tricks expensive products are not even needed, these essentials can simply be found in your cabinet or refrigerator.

Seeing as it is winter and many of us are lathering up to keep our skin moisturized and flake free, this homemade facial recipe will also do the same. Before the recipe is disclosed, however, there is a simple facial procedure that you can follow to get best results. First cleanse your skin, massage an exfoliate into it to remove dead skin, splash some warm water over your skin to open pores, then apply the mask for 10-15 minutes and wash off gently. Now, these two recipes are the best at keeping your skin moisturized and vibrate looking all winter long. The first is an avocado yogurt mask; puree one ripe avocado with four tablespoons plain yogurt and apply to face. The next is an egg honey mask; mix one egg yolk and two tablespoons honey until a light paste is formed then apply to the face.

The next station for our home spa is hair. While it is difficult to say cut or color your hair at home, since it really is an expert’s job, the least we can do is maintain healthy, beautiful hair. This service will not only allow to cut back on costly moisturizing techniques your stylist may use, but it will also allow you to go longer in between haircuts. With the following recipe you should wash your hair as usual, apply mixture thoroughly through hair and do NOT rinse. The first recipe is a lemon and honey rinse; mix together two teaspoons honey, one quarter cup lemon juice and four cups warm water. This next recipe is a hot olive oil treatment; you put one to two teaspoons of extra virgin olive oil in a zip lock bag and run under hot water until it is hot. The next step is to apply thoroughly through the hair, and then you apply a plastic cap for 10-15 minutes, rinse and style as usual. Both of these recipes will add moisture, sheen and softness to your hair.

Next, to create soft, silky smooth skin you can immerse yourself into a relaxing and oh so good smelling tea bath. This at home service can replace other expensive ones such as mud baths and has the same effects. For this bath you will need, two tablespoons green tea, two tablespoons loose peppermint tea, two tablespoons chamomile tea, one piece of cheesecloth with a 15 inch diameter, three tablespoons oat flour, five drops lavender essential oil, five drops neroli essential oil and aloe vera. The first thing you need to do is combine the herbs, place them in the cheesecloth and tie off. Then fill your bath and immerse the tea bag for a few minutes, then add the flour and the essential oils. Next, submerge yourself in the tub, relax and let out any stress. After the bath is complete dry yourself and apply the aloe. For a more relaxing setting turn off the lights and lights some candles.

The final process in your at home spa day is a hand treatment. Your hands go through a lot everyday from doing the dishes to changing the oil and beyond so it is important to take of your hands and make sure they stay moisturized. To make this at home hand moisturizer you will need to combine a few spoonfuls of cold cream, two drops tea tree oil, five drops lavender oil, a spoonful of olive oil and a banana in a blender. When the consistency is smooth slather liberal amounts of the concoction on your hands and slip them into a pair of yellow rubber gloves (yes the ones you clean with!). To enhance to moisturizing properties of this mixture place your hands under a heating pad.

After your at home spa day is complete you will feel a hundred times better and will have the satisfaction of knowing you didn’t just drop hundreds of dollars at a spa. To make the experience even more fun make it a girls night and try out these techniques on each other!

More info can be found here!

Treat Yourself! Why Massages Are Good For Your Health

Billions of dollars are spent each year by people who want to make themselves feel better. Whether this money is spent on beauty, fashion, or gym memberships this money goes towards making our ever stressed out population feel just a little bit better mental or physically. Well now studies show that getting a massage has some great health benefits that will make you want to indulge! In fact, research shows that getting messages can ease insomnia, boost immunity, prevent PMS, and more.

With regular massages you can effectively say goodbye to pain. This may seem like somewhat of a no brainer but rubdowns can be especially effective for back pain. Some researchers have even found that getting a massage actually works better than other treatments such as chiropractic therapy and acupuncture. This happens because get massaged boosts the feel good hormone serotonin and dopamine which block’s your nervous system’s pain receptors.

If you struggle for insomnia you can say hello to dreams with massages as well. Studies have found that getting massages increase delta waves which are linked with deep sleep. No wonder you find yourself drifting whenever you are on the table!

It has also been found that getting massaged actually helps prevent you from getting sick. It boosts your natural fighting cells, which is the immune system’s first line of defense against invading germs and bacteria. Researchers have known that cortisol destroys fighting cells and since they also found that getting massaged decreases cortisol levels it automatically gives your immune system a boost. In fact, massage has even been found to boost immunity in those people with compromised immune systems, such as cancer patients.

Decreased levels of cortisol and more serotonin and dopamine also mean less stress, anxiety, and depression in general. This increased sense of relaxation is one reason why some hospitals offer massage to anxious patients awaiting surgery and cancer patients going through chemo.

Finally, it is no big surprise that if you are an active person, massage can cause less cramps and pain due to the improved blood circulation that delivers oxygen and nutrients to the cells. So when you start to feel guilty about treating yourself to a massage just remind yourself about all of these awesome health benefits you get from them!

More great info can be found here!

Healthy Holiday Baking

We all know that baking is a huge part of not only Thanksgiving but of Christmas as well. There are few people who abstain from baking cookies, pies or cakes during the holiday season. Unfortunately, baked goods usually mean unwanted calories, fat and sugar. Lucky for us though there are many ways to make our holiday baking healthier. Here are some of those tips!

The first thing to remember when it comes to changing a baking recipe is to make small changes and to limit the number of changes. Making all of the following changes can make for some interesting baked goods so take all of these suggestions with a grain of salt.

The first thing you can do to make your baking a little healthier is to include some wheat flour instead of using entirely all purpose. The standard ratio for this change usually half and half. Depending on the baked good though this can make for a rather dry good so make sure you play with the recipe to see what works best with all of your recipes.

Another easy change that can be made is to reduce the amount of sugar within a recipe. Sugar makes for both unwanted sugar and unwanted fat. Most of the time recipes actually call for more sugar than is really needed so using less sugar is okay. The standard deviation for this suggestion is about one fourth, which also means one fourth the fat and sugar.

In order to sustain flavor in your recipes while changing the amount of sugar you put in you can add other flavors. Tasty baking flavors that offset the reduction in sugar include cinnamon, vanilla or nutmeg.

Also, to reduce the fat within your baked goods you can often times use vegetable oil in place of butter or shortening.

So remember this holiday season if you are looking to reduce your caloric intake while still indulging in all the delicious holiday dishes, making your baked goods healthier with these tips is a good way to do so. More great, healthy cooking tips for the holidays can be found here.