Inadequate Sleep boosts Appetite

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Inadequate Sleep boosts Appetite

9:24 AM

Loosing few hours of precious sleep each night can leave you with more than an eye bug and a sleepy day. Lack of enough sleep can literally add up several pounds to your weighing scale. The connection between inadequate sleep and obesity is so strong that we can no longer take this fact for granted.

Inadequate Sleep boosts Appetite...here's the science behind it

@healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan

Not having enough sleep messes up with the body's hormones and metabolism.

Scientific studies show that inadequate sleep decreases leptin hormone and increases ghrelin hormone in the body leading to an increase in appetite, which can consequently, lead to an inevitable weight gain.


The role of leptin and ghrelin

Leptin is a hormone produced by fat cells whose purpose is to suppress appetite and increase metabolism. However, even when obese people have high leptin levels, their body has become immune to it's effect.

Moreover, leptin promotes inflammation, an important precursor in the development of many chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, autoimmune disease, and inflammatory bowel disorder.

Ghrelin is a hormone produced by the stomach whose role is to increase appetite and make you feel hungry.

Don't underestimate appetite's critical role in weight gain. The role of leptin and ghrelin in appetite control is recognized in the use of ghrelin-suppresing drug to curb one's appetite to loose weight.

A study shows that individuals who sleep less than 7 hours each night consequently eat more when they are awake.

How long is an adequate sleep?

According to the National Sleep Foundation, the number of hours of sleep considered adequate for a person varies by age group:

• Teenagers (14-17 years old) should get around 8-10 hours of sleep each night.
• Young adult (18-25 years old) should get around 7-9 hours of sleep each night.
• Adults (26-64 years old) should get around 7-9 hours of sleep each night.
• Older adults (65 years old and above) should get around 7-8 hours of sleep each night.

There are people who want to desperately loose weight only to be defeated by their good appetite and poor self control. Compounding the problem is the presence of stress which can inevitably add more pounds to the scale.

At some point, an overweight person will want to shed off those extra pounds, but the harsh reality is it's easier to gain fats rather than to loose them. You certainly can't loose all those nasty pounds overnight...well, unless you undergo liposuction. Many people give up on loosing weight because they loose motivation owing to the fact that the weight loss journey is both hard and long.

It may seem futile at first, but habit builds a strong foundation. Why not start off your weight loss initiative with an adequate good night's sleep.


Resources:

Markwald, Rachel R et al. “Impact of insufficient sleep on total daily energy expenditure, food intake, and weight gain” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America vol. 110,14 (2013): 5695-700.

Prinz P (2004) Sleep, appetite, and obesity—What is the link? PLoS Med 1(3): e61.

National Sleep Foundation. How Much Sleep Do We Really Need? https://www.sleepfoundation.org/how-sleep-works/how-much-sleep-do-we-really-need

Liver: the only internal organ that can fully regener

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Liver: the only internal organ that can fully regener

10:45 AM

Sitting in your abdomen is a massive internal organ weighing 3 lbs (1.3 kg), without which, you can't possibly survive. It's your liver. Amazingly, liver is the only internal organ of a human being that can fully regenerate itself.

Liver: the only internal organ that can fully regenerate

@healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan

Even if just a quarter of a human liver is left, it can grow back to it's full size. That's good news because our liver is critical to our survival. Unlike other organs, the liver regenerates both it's tissues and functions, leaving no scar.

Our liver detoxifies our blood. All the stuffs you've ingested is screened by your liver to ensure you don't end up with sepsis or blood poisoning.

The ability to regenerate is a magnificent feat that serves us well, but do know that while the liver can grow back to it's full mass, regenerated liver tissue is unable to mold back in it's original shape. So, don't expect a perfectly shaped liver. The good thing is liver regeneration doesn't leave a scar, but fully functioning cells.

That doesn't mean one should abuse this organ. The liver's ability to regenerate itself is not a good excuse to drink excessive alcohol because the liver has a limit to regeneration. If it's damaged beyond the point of repair, like in the case of liver cirrhosis and liver cancer, then a liver transplant is necessary. However, it is a tragic fact that people needing liver transplant far exceeds donor liver.

The liver's ability to regenerate itself is essential to the recovery of patients who have portion of their liver removed because of a disease or an injury. Liver regeneration is also vital in liver's daily function as this organ usually comes across noxious chemicals and molecules in it's detoxification job.

Important functions of the liver includes the production of important proteins, storage of glycogen, vitamins, and minerals, and the production of bile. The liver produces about 700 ml of bile everyday which is necessary for fat digestion.

10 Horrible Facts about Common Cold

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10 Horrible Facts about Common Cold

7:20 AM

Who doesn't hate coming down with watery eyes, runny nose, uncontrollable sneeze, clogged nose, headache, cough, and sore throat -- the frequent signs and symptoms of common cold. No one obcourse, ironically, we all had it. Now, how about we look into some of the facts that makes common cold a clever and dangerous disease that shouldn't be taken lightly.

10 Horrible Facts about Common Cold

@healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan

1. More than 200 types of virus is responsible for causing common cold in humans. Among the most common are rhinovirus, corona virus, and influenza virus. That means, building an immunity against common cold is hard. In fact, there is no vaccine against common cold. This is one disease we can't help but get multiple times each year.

2. You may want to count. Each year, adult usually get ill with common cold about 2 to 3 times. Children get infected with common cold much more often.

3. Surviving common cold is a feat of the immune system, without which, can easily turn common cold into a killer disease.

4. Common cold can cause serious infection like bronchitis and pnuemonia if you have a weak immune system.

5. A sneeze can send up to 100,000 virus in the air reaching up to 30 feet away at a speed of 100mph. No wonder common cold is such a common issue to spread. Now, imagine a confined room filled with people, one uncovered sneeze is enough to infect them.

6. Common cold may seem like a light illness, but this disease causes children in the United States to lose millions of school days each year.

7. Recovery from common cold takes 7 to 10 days. Now, that doesn't sound like a short time.

8. A person infected with common cold can continue to spread it's virus for up to 3 weeks! Makes me think that their's really no escaping this disease, especially when combined with poor sanitation.

9. There is no cure to treat common cold, only supportive and symptomatic care. In the end, you are depending on your own immune system to fight off this infection.

10. In Japan, it is unacceptable to blow your nose in public. Good luck with your runny nose!

The Lifesaving Purpose of Pets

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The Lifesaving Purpose of Pets

7:12 AM

Why do we have pets? We humans are wired to be social beings. But, let's face it, there are times when being with fellow humans can be really painful and stressful. Ever wonder why cats and dogs have an enormous fanbase online?

The Lifesaving Purpose of Pets

@healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan

Does the comradery of a pet serves a purpose? Research reveals that pets provide such a strong support, at times, even more effective than the support we get from our family, spouse, or close friend.

Don't underestimate the huge emotional impact that pets have on us. There are documentaries of people who survived tough times thanks to their pet, which will make you see pets in a new light.

Studies reveal that the presence of a dog improves performance and lessens error. Furthermore, pets are beneficial to the cardiovascular system as their mere presence lowers blood pressure and heart rate.

It may have been our natural instinct to find a way to fill our longing and cut down on stress by befriending those who can actually help us.

Having a pet lowers the risk of depression and boosts the immune system.

Dogs at workplaces and hospital (eg. therapy dogs) are beneficial to employees as they reduce stress and anxiety, improve work performance, and increase social interactions.

Did you notice that the presence of dogs in a social setting remarkably improves social interaction among humans. Individuals are more likely to engage in a conversation with a stranger if they are accompanied by a dog.

We battle with stress everyday. Even simple things can make or  ruin our mood. Isn't it refreshing to realize that the mere presence of a pet cuts down on stress.

Pets build a part of our mental and physical health so make sure to take care care of your buddies.

12 Facts about Phenytoin

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12 Facts about Phenytoin

6:28 AM

Phenytoin is an anti-epileptic drug used to treat and prevent seizure. Want to know more facts about it?

12 Facts about Phenytoin

@healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan

1. Phenytoin had been used since 1938 to treat seizure.

2. Do not stop taking phenytoin abruptly unless directed by your doctor because this can aggravate seizure attacks.

3. Long term use of phenytoin can reduce Vitamin D in the body making the individual prone to skeletal problems such as fracture and osteoporosis.

4. Phenytoin can reduce insulin release which can lead to high blood sugar level.

5. Taking phenytoin can make some people suicidal.

6. Phenytoin can be taken either with or without food.

7. If you miss one dose of phenytoin and it's almost time for your next dose, do not take double dose.

8. Phenytoin decreases the effectivenes of birth control pills.

9. Calcium impedes the absorption of phenytoin.

10. Nystagmus, or the involuntary jerking of the eyes, is the most common side effect of phenytoin in children, but does not affect the child's vision.

11. About half of children taking phenytoin experience swelling of the gums.

12 . Individuals taking high dose of phenytoin may experience excessive growth of hair of the face and body.

11 Facts about Seizure in Newborn Babies

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11 Facts about Seizure in Newborn Babies

6:22 AM

11 Facts about Seizure in Newborn Babies

@healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan

1. Seizure happens when clusters of neurons get excited uncontrollably all at once.

2. Seizure is usually the first sign of an underlying neurological problem in newborn.

3. 1 to 5 in every 1000 live births are afflicted with neonatal seizure.

4. Preterm babies have higher incidence of seizure compared to term birth babies.

5. If seizure is left untreated, it can cause further damage to the developing brain of the newborn.

6. Seizure in newborn has many etiology, like:
acidosis
hypoglycemia
hypocalcemia
hypomagnesemia
stroke
intracranial hemorrhage
meningitis
hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy

7. Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy is the most common cause of seizure in term birth babies.

8. Continous video-electroencephalogram (cEEG) monitoring is the gold standard to diagnose neonatal seizure.

9. Most cases of neonatal seizure are asymptomatic.

10. Electroclinical dissociation describes the phenomenon when a seizure activity is detected by cEEG, but the baby does not show any clinical symptom of a seizure attack.

11. Prognosis of seizure in newborn is based on etiology. Seizure caused by hypocalcemia has better prognosis than seizure caused by hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy.

13 Facts about Varicose viens

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13 Facts about Varicose viens

9:15 PM

Varicose viens are dilated and twisted viens usually with bluish tinge commonly seen on the lower extremities.

13 Facts about Varicose viens

@healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan

1. In healthy viens, there are one way valves which prevent pooling of the blood, however in varicose viens, the valves are faulty, not closing properly which allows blood to backflow and accumulate in the viens leading to bulging and pain.

2. Genetics is the number one predisposing factor in developing varicose viens.

3. Obesity, advancing age, pregnancy, prolong standing and prolong sitting contributes to the formation of varicose viens.

4. Varicose vien affects more female than male.

5. Exercise, leg elevation, and use of compressive stocking are beneficial to individuals with varicose viens.

6. Having varicose viens increases the risk of forming blood clots (thrombus) which can travel to the lungs and cause pulmonary embolism.

7. Avoid standing or sitting for a long period of time as gravity puts pressure on the viens of the lower extremities.

8. When walking or running, muscle contraction of the calf muscle helps push the blood from the deep viens of the lower leg into the heart.

9. Vien stripping is a surgical procedure in which varicose viens are removed. It is becoming less popular with the advent of non-surgical procedure.

10. Sclerotherapy is a procedure in which a medicine is injected into the varicose vien to shrink it. The vien is then absorbed by the body.

11. In ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy, the physician does sclerotherapy with the aid of ultrasound imaging for better visualization.

12. In foam sclerotherapy, the medicine they inject into the varicose vien is incorporated with gas to make a foam which increases the surface area of the medicine making it suitable to shrink larger varicosities.

13. In endovenous thermal ablation, a radiofrequency catheter is inserted into the vien with the guide of ultrasound imaging, which closes the vien by cauterizing it.