Diabetes Mellitus – Invitation to Several Health Problems

May 10, 2011 by admin  
Filed under Diseases And Conditions

Checking_Blood_Sugar
Nick Mutt asked:

In diabetes mellitus, the glucose level in the urine and blood is high. A high level of blood sugar is due to deficiency of insulin, the hormone that facilitates the entry of glucose in body cells. This occurs when the pancreas fails to produce sufficient insulin or due to antibodies that are formed in the blood which interfere with the normal functioning of the insulin. In either case, there is a high level of glucose in the blood.

Diabetes generally appears as polyuria (frequent urination) and polydipsia (increased thirst). It is always essential to check for diabetes if a person is suffering from any ailment and is not recovering fast; particularly those approaching 40 should and must check for diabetes every year.

1. Diabetes may cause itching of ***** in women and inflammation of the glans ***** in men.

2. You may lose weight inspite of normal or increased appetite.

3. You may have a variety of infections like tuberculosis, infection of kidney (pyelonephritis).

4. You may have retinal detachment or even loss of vision, may develop infection in the feet which may turn into gangrene and require amputation if the disease is not checked in early stage.

5. You may have aches or pain in the body, weakness, a boil or carbuncle of skin which does not heal rapidly.

6. There is an increase in still births of pregnant women in a diabetic condition. The child born could be heavy (over 10 lbs. at birth).

7. Diabetes can complicate arthritis.

8. It may cause amenorrhea (stopped periods).

If you have a high glucose level in the urine and blood, the most important thing to do is to control the diet. Cut down sugar completely, this will bring down the sugar level to some extent, increase physical activity, do walking, jogging, exercises and if sugar is still high then probably you will need some medicine for the time being, but if you supplement the effort with controlled diet and increased exercise you can gradually cut down medicine and be able to completely stop it in most cases.

Manage you diabetes for a healthier life!

Disclaimer: This article is not meant to provide health advice and is for general information only. Always seek the insights of a qualified health professional before embarking on any health program.

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Heartworms And Your Pit Bull Terrier: Dog Health Advice

May 10, 2011 by admin  
Filed under Pets

Tim Amherst asked:


One of the most devastating parasites which may threaten your Pit Bull is the heartworm. These nasty creatures can linger in your pet for years before dealing a death blow to your Pit Bull. Heartworms are treatable, but it is best to use a protective stance rather than wait for infection to occur.

This disease is not spread from pet to pet via contact, but by another nasty creature we all know as the mosquito. The mosquito is a necessary link in the transfer of the disease. The number of dogs infected with heartworms always increases during the height of mosquito season. Long mosquito seasons will increase the rate of infections rapidly.

Once heartworms are transmitted by the mosquito into the dog’s blood stream, they travel through the blood into the heart and the major pulmonary blood vessels. The heartworms are in the immature stage and are called microfilaria.

Upon arriving in the heart, the microfilaria will set up residence and grow into adult heartworms. These fully grown parasites cause heart blockage and damage to surrounding tissues by clogging the heart and the major blood vessels leading from the heart. Adult heartworms will also interfere with the valve action within the heart.

When the heart and main blood vessels get clogged, the blood flow to other critical organs is reduced, which can cause problems for the liver, kidneys and lungs, resulting in organ failure.

Most dogs which are infected with heartworms will not show any outward signs of disease for as long as up to two years. Sadly, by the time the disease starts to show signs in the dog, it is in the advanced stage. These signs depend on several factors, such as the number of adult worms and microfilariae present, as well as their location. The length of time the infection has been present, and the amount of damage already done to the heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys are all essential factors.

Signs of Heartworm Infestation

The most obvious outward signs of heartworms are:

Unexplained weight loss.

A dry almost constant cough with labored breathing.

Shortness of breath.

Sudden weakness.

A sudden show of nervousness or listlessness, accompanied by a loss of stamina.

The signs of heartworms are most noticeable after the dog has been engaged in exercise or play. Some dogs with heartworms may even faint or drop dead suddenly right after engaging in rigorous play or exercise.

Treatment for heartworms is available but it is costly and in some cases may prove fatal to the dog itself. To prevent this horrible disease in your Pit Bull, be sure to keep your dog’s regular vet appointments. Heartworms can be prevented easily by administering heartworm medication to your pet each month.

As always, talk to your vet if you have any concerns that your dog may have heartworms, and never try to treat the disease on your own. Always consult a properly qualified professional before starting any type of treatments on your dog.