Parkinson's disease - A brief understanding

Parkinson's disease is a progressive disorder of the nervous system that affects movement. It develops gradually, often starting with a barely noticeable tremor in just one hand. But while tremor may be the most well-known sign of Parkinson's disease, the disorder also commonly causes a slowing or freezing of movement.

Friends and family may notice that your face shows little or no expression and your arms don't swing when you walk. Speech often becomes soft and mumbling. Parkinson's symptoms tend to worsen as the disease progresses.

While there is no cure for Parkinson's disease, many different types of medicines can treat its symptoms. In some cases, your doctor may suggest surgery.

The symptoms of Parkinson's disease can vary from person to person. Early signs may be subtle and can go unnoticed. Symptoms typically begin on one side of the body and usually remain worse on that side even after symptoms begin to affect both sides. Parkinson's signs and symptoms may include:

·         Tremor. The characteristic shaking associated with Parkinson's disease often begins in a hand. A back-and-forth rubbing of your thumb and forefinger, known as pill-rolling, is common, and may occur when your hand is at rest. However, not everyone experiences tremors.

·         Slowed motion (bradykinesia). Over time, Parkinson's disease may reduce your ability to initiate voluntary movement. This may make even the simplest tasks difficult and time-consuming. When you walk, your steps may become short and shuffling. Or your feet may freeze to the floor, making it hard to take the first step.

·         Rigid muscles. Muscle stiffness can occur in any part of your body. Sometimes the stiffness can be so severe that it limits the range of your movements and causes pain. People may first notice this sign when you no longer swing your arms when you're walking.

·         Impaired posture and balance. Your posture may become stooped as a result of Parkinson's disease. Balance problems also may occur, although this is usually in the later stages of the disease.

·         Loss of automatic movements. Blinking, smiling and swinging your arms when you walk are all unconscious acts that are a normal part of being human. In Parkinson's disease, these acts tend to be diminished and even lost. Some people may develop a fixed staring expression and unblinking eyes. Others may no longer gesture or seem animated when they speak.

·         Speech changes. Many people with Parkinson's disease have problems with speech. You may speak more softly, rapidly or in a monotone, sometimes slurring or repeating words, or hesitating before speaking.

·         Dementia. In the later stages of Parkinson's disease, some people develop problems with memory and mental clarity. Alzheimer's drugs appear to alleviate some of these symptoms to a mild degree.

When to see a doctor
See your doctor if you have any of the symptoms associated with Parkinson's disease — not only to diagnose the illness but also to rule out other causes for your symptoms.

Risk factors for Parkinson's disease include:

·         Age. Young adults rarely experience Parkinson's disease. It ordinarily begins in middle or late life, and the risk continues to increase with age.

·         Heredity. Having a close relative with Parkinson's increases the chances that you'll also develop the disease, although your risk is still no more than about 4 to 6 percent.

·         Sex. Men are more likely to develop Parkinson's disease than women are.

·         Exposure to toxins. Ongoing exposure to herbicides and pesticides puts you at slightly increased risk of Parkinson's

Complications

Parkinson's disease is often accompanied by these additional problems:

·         Depression. Depression is common in people with Parkinson's disease. Receiving treatment for depression can make it easier to handle the other challenges of Parkinson's disease.

·         Sleep problems. People with Parkinson's disease often have trouble falling asleep and may wake up frequently throughout the night. They may also experience sudden sleep onset, called sleep attacks, during the day.

·         Difficulty chewing and swallowing. The muscles you use to swallow may be affected in the later stages of the disease, making eating more difficult.

·         Urinary problems. Parkinson's disease may cause either urinary incontinence or urine retention. Certain medications used to treat Parkinson's also can make it difficult to urinate.

·         Constipation. Many people with Parkinson's disease develop constipation because the digestive tract works more slowly. Constipation may also be a side effect of medications used to treat the disease.

·         Sexual dysfunction. Some people with Parkinson's disease may notice a decrease in sexual desire. This may stem from a combination of psychological and physical factors, or it may be the result of physical factors alone.

Medications for Parkinson's disease also may cause a number of complications, including involuntary twitching or jerking movements of the arms or legs, hallucinations, sleepiness, and a drop in blood pressure when standing up.

Tests and diagnosis

No definitive tests exist for Parkinson's disease, so it can be difficult to diagnose, especially in the early stages. And parkinsonism — the symptoms of Parkinson's disease — can be caused by many other types of problems. For example, other neurological disorders, toxins, head trauma and even some medications — such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), prochlorperazine (Compazine) or metoclopramide (Reglan) — can cause parkinsonism.

A diagnosis of Parkinson's disease is based on your medical history and a neurological examination:

·         Medical history. As part of your medical history, your doctor will want to know about any medications you take and whether you have a family history of Parkinson's.

·         Neurological exam. This examination includes an evaluation of your walking and coordination, as well as some simple hand tasks.

A diagnosis of Parkinson's is most likely if you have:

·         At least two of the three cardinal Parkinson's signs and symptoms — tremor, slowing of motion and muscle rigidity

·         Onset of symptoms on only one side of the body

·         Tremor more pronounced at rest, for example, when your hands are resting in your lap

·         Significant improvement with levodopa, a Parkinson's drug

Alternative medicine

Forms of alternative medicine that may help people with Parkinson's include:

·         Coenzyme Q10. People with Parkinson's disease tend to have low levels of coenzyme Q10, and some research has suggested it may be beneficial. However, subsequent research hasn't confirmed this benefit. You can buy coenzyme Q10 without a prescription in drugstores and natural food stores. Talk with your doctor before taking this supplement to ensure that it won't interfere with any medication you may be taking.

·         Massage. Massage therapy can reduce muscle tension and promote relaxation, which may be especially helpful to people experiencing muscle rigidity associated with Parkinson's disease. These services, however, are rarely covered by health insurance.

·         Tai chi. An ancient form of Chinese exercise, tai chi employs slow, flowing motions that help improve flexibility and balance. Several forms of tai chi are tailored for people of any age or physical condition.

·         Yoga. Yoga is another type of exercise that increases flexibility and balance. Most poses can be modified, depending on your physical abilities.

Coping and support

Living with any chronic illness can be difficult, and it's normal to feel angry, depressed or discouraged at times. Parkinson's disease presents special problems because it can cause chemical changes in your brain that make you feel anxious or depressed. And Parkinson's disease can be profoundly frustrating, as walking, talking and even eating become more difficult and time-consuming.

Although friends and family can be your best allies, the understanding of people who know what you're going through can be especially helpful. Support groups aren't for everyone, but for many people, they can be a good resource for practical information about Parkinson's disease, as well as a place to find understanding from people that are going through the same things you are.

To learn about support groups in your community, talk to your doctor, a Parkinson's disease social worker or a local public health nurse. Or contact the National Parkinson Foundation or the American Parkinson Disease Association.

For more details contact us at drkurien@effectivelivingclinic.com

What is the sugar busters diet?

We all love to add sweetness into our lives. When we feel happy, we want to treat and greet ourselves with sweets. When we feel sad, sweets act to boost our moods. When we show our thankfulness, we prefer to treat others with sweets. Whenever guests visit us, we won't leave them before they do the traditional "Moo-Mitha". When we pass, we take sweets, when we fail; others bring sweets for us to cheer us up. So, will there be anything to worry about with all these sweetness "surrounding" us? Yes, too much of sweetness may bring bitterness in our lives in the form of diabetes. This explains why we see the emergence of various concepts which claim to battle your sugar cravings. And this explains why we get to come across popular concepts like the Sugar Buster Diet, designed by Samuel S. Andrews, M.D (endocrinologist), Morrison C. Bethea, M.D (cardiac surgeon), Luis A. Balart, M.D.(gastroenterologist),H. Leighton Steward (a corporate CEO).

The Salient Features of the Sugar Buster Diet

·         It is about how, what and when to eat and exercise.

·         It encourages you to avoid refined sugar and processed grain products.

·         It encourages you to make a commitment in choosing the right carbohydrates - the low insulin-producing carbohydrates. Insulin causes you to convert and store excess sugar as fat and to also store the excess fat as fat.

·         It involves eating high fiber vegetables, fruits and whole grains. The fiber in both of these food products has a beneficial effect on your digestive process and overall health. Meats are an important source of protein but should be lean and trimmed.

·         It encourages the intake of low-fat products while choosing milk and cheese while strongly advocating careful attention to saturated fats. Too much saturated fat and trans fats and those oils used in fast foods, are very harmful not only to your waistline but also to your heart and blood vessels.

·         Hydration is important and everyone is encouraged to drink six to eight glasses of water daily.

·         It is important to eat three regular meals daily and appropriate snacks are allowed. But moderation in portion size is most important. If you are not careful enough, then you may end up eating too much of healthy foods as well.

·         Late night snacking is not allowed. Eating at night before going to bed only raises your insulin level and encourages cholesterol production since most of the cholesterol is manufactured while you are sleeping.

·         Exercise is an important part of any successful nutritional lifestyle. You should strive to exercise at least twenty minutes daily for four days a week so as to raise your resting heart rate.

·         It encourages the voice of moderation.

·         If you choose alcohol, you should drink red wine.

·         And fruit is preferred over fruit juice and best eaten a half hour before the meal.

What Should You Avoid?

·         All refined sugar products and sugar itself

·         Potatoes

·         Corn

·         White rice

·         Bread from refined flour

·         Beets

·         Carrots

·         Refined sugar

·         Corn syrup

·         Molasses

·         Honey

·         Sugared colas

·         Beer

·         Baked beans

·         Ripe bananas

·         Raisins

·         Bacon

·         Fried chicken

What Should You Include?

·         Lean meats , fish , poultry, dairy products, whole grains and cereals.

·         Vegetables like beans, lentils, peas, spinach, lettuce squash, zucchini, mushrooms, asparagus, artichokes, cabbage, celery, cucumbers, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, eggplant and onions.

·         Fruits like apples, lemons and limes, pears, cherries, raspberries, kiwis, grapefruits, apricots, melons other than watermelon, tomatoes, tangerines and oranges.

The Pros and Cons

·         In the short term, the Sugar Busters plan is likely to result in weight loss because it eliminates many foods including baked goods and other sweets. And your food choices will be better, such as substituting whole grains for white bread, for instance.

·         You may become irritable and tired due to restriction of carbs. You may also feel low in energy. This may not be the case with everyone, but it may trigger lethargy.

·         Sugar Busters stresses eating healthy foods, such as whole grains, legumes and beans and lean meats. And cutting out refined sugars in processed foods is a plus point.

·         Counting calories or measuring food is not a part of the Sugar Buster Diet, but it may become confusing for a layman without any portion size mentioned.

·         The authors themselves caution that the diet is not for exercise fanatics.

·         High protein diets increase calcium excretion and possible side effects include kidney and liver damage, fatigue, weakness and irritability.

It's good to stay "sweet" while imparting this "sweetness" to other people's lives, but it's not sweeter to go overboard with it. In fact, we don't know what brings "sweetness' in each individual's life. What may work fine for one, may not go well with others. Sugar Busters diet may truly restrict unnecessary or extra fat, sugar or refined carb intake in some, while many others may just fail and surrender to the "calls" of their taste buds.

How to make sure your kid eats healthy

Source: Times of India - Rejuvenate

After a shocking report yesterday on how more and more urban Indians are becoming obese, here’s some good news. School children are starting to get conscious about eating healthy. With principals, teachers and parents increasingly becoming worried about the rise in obesity among children, they are not only looking into what’s being served in the canteen and brought in tiffins, but also bringing on board dieticians and nutritionists. Here are some tips to make sure that your child eats right.

Healthy proteins: Growing children need protein. Dairy products (milk, curd, paneer etc), dals and pulses should be a part of their daily diet. For non-vegetarians, chicken and fish is advised, but not red meat. At snack time, give them a sandwich made of brown bread with cottage cheese, tofu or chicken.

Essential nutrients: Fresh fruits and vegetables are very important as they provide essential vitamins and minerals. A good way to ensure your child eats vegetables is by making yummy, vegetable soups for him. They are low in fat, yet nutritious. You could make sure he eats enough fruit by cutting up fruits and adding them to his morning cereal.

Go nuts: Children should regularly consume small amounts of dates and nuts, like almonds and walnuts. Though high in calories, they build immunity. Tip: Throw in a couple of almonds or a few dates into a fruit smoothie.

Start early: Children should be told the ill effects of consuming junk food. There should be restrictions on food sold in school canteens. You could make suggestions about what kind of food should be served during the next PTA meet. And if your child’s school agrees, you could also suggest that they get a nutritionist or dietician on board.

All work and no play: Schools and parents should emphasise sports and a healthy diet. Encourage your child to play a sport of their choice everyday. It could be anything from basketball to swimming, cycling or cricket. This ensures that they get their daily dose of cardio.

Why do we like to eat fatty foods?

Source: Mid Day

Ever wondered why we reach for ice cream, pizza and other fatty foods when we're feeling down? There may be a scientific reason. 

A new research has suggested that fatty foods literally serve as 'comfort' foods and help lift our mood.

The findings could explain why so many people become obese when facing stressful situations.

Dr Lukas Van Oudenhove from the University of Leuven, in Belgium, and his colleagues used MRI scans to assess the emotional impact of fat when injected into the stomach.

They recruited 12 healthy-weight volunteers and scanned their brainwaves as they were shown a series of sad and neutral images as well as exposing them to sad and neutral music.

They then inserted either fatty acids or saline into their stomachs but didn't tell the volunteers which was which.

This meant they could bypass the effects of sensory stimulation as well as any associations to childhood foods.

The scientists found the music and expressions caused people's moods to fall across the board.

However, the levels of sadness among those who consumed fatty acids were around 50 per cent lower compared to those who received saline.

"Eating fat seems to make us less vulnerable to sad emotions, even if we don't know we're eating fat," the Daily Mail quoted Oudenhove as telling HealthDay.

The researchers said their findings could have important implications for people with obesity, eating disorders and depression.

The study is published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

Effective Living Clinic

               Bringing Positivism in Life

We welcome you to Effective Living Clinic at Vashi, Navi Mumbai, India, an unique clinic that caters to psychological as well as physical cure in most scientific and natural way. Effective Living Clinic gives a professional touch to your issues and would bring positivism in your Life. 

We all need right guidance and moral support to excel in life sometimes....real good professional touch to cater to exact needs that you currently face. At Effective Living Clinic, we provide scientific guidance and therapeutic care for relief from pain and suffering, instill confidence and mental peace, mend relationships and help you take right decisions at the right time both in your personal and professional life.

A complete rejuvenating experience awaits a tourist coming to India for wellness tourism as they surrender to the expert services of wellness therapist and age old Ayurvedic therapy.  At Effective Living Clinic we have the unique blend of goodness of age old ayurveda with modern techniques that are believed to counter the effects of stress and pollution from urban lifestyle environment.

Today in India,  Effective Living Clinic is seen as a preferred Wellness destination with Yoga, K Yoga, Ayurveda, Naturopathy, Therapeutic and Wellness Massage, etc. together with medication which alleviates stress, removes toxins, tones skin with anti-aging properties, removes unwanted fats in the body, reduces weight, adds vigor along with providing nourishment and pampering the body and mind.

The potential of Wellness tourism is being further explored by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.  Over the years, Medical Tourism has gained momentum and today India is medical tourism hub. More and more tourist are coming to India to avail State-of-the-Art health care services at an affordable cost.

Effective Living Clinic has the advantage of having highly qualified and experienced doctor and medical professionals with world class infrastructure in terms of Clinic and if need be take guidance and treatment from the best hospitals around to take care all of your medical needs. Effective Living Clinic also provides counselling and psychotherapy sessions to those needed during your visit to the Clinic to channelize your mind and relationship that brings positivism in your life.

Visit Effective Living Clinic to enjoy the unique experience of your journey from illness to wellness.



Weight Loss -- Why Is It So Slow For Me?

Source: Good Diet Good Health

When we read about the latest diets in magazines and newspapers or see them advertised on the TV, we could be forgiven for thinking that losing more than a couple of pounds each week, every week, is normal. The reality is that many of us can't lose weight at this rate, even if we keep to our diet one hundred per cent.

The trouble is, we've been led to believe that all that's involved in losing weight is eating less and exercising more. We're told that a pound of body fat equates to around 3,500 calories, and all we have to do is calculate how many calories we will need to 'save' each day (or how much more exercise we will need to take) to burn the desired amount of fat off.

Unfortunately, that's just the theory. In practice, it's not so straightforward. There are many different factors which affect how and when we lose weight.

Firstly, men on average lose weight at a faster rate than women. We women may complain at how unfair it is, but there's nothing we can do about it! Also, weight loss will be much slower for a person who is mildly overweight compared with someone who has very many pounds to lose.

When comparing our weight loss with the number of pounds the diet magazines claim we should be losing, it is important to consider how much of the weight loss is water or lean muscle tissue, and how much actual fat. If our own weight loss is less, it may be that we've lost fat and gained muscle (which is exactly what we want). The secret is that muscle weighs more than fat. It is denser, and takes up less space. So if we our clothes are looser even though we haven't lost much on the scales, then that may indicate that, although our weight loss may be a bit slow, our fat loss on the other hand is right on target.

Very often we become disappointed when our weight loss slows right down after an initial rush of success. A loss of 4 to 10 pounds or more in the first week of any diet is common. This is due to the depletion of our glycogen stores. Since we are not fulfilling all our energy needs by eating, our body starts to break these down, using up the glucose and excreting the water in which it was dissolved. This initial period of substantial weight loss is not sustainable, and is mostly only water anyway. This phenomenon is in fact what most 'crash' and 'lose 10 pounds in a week' diets rely upon for their apparent success.

Hormonal factors can also prevent us from losing weight as fast as our calorie calculations lead us to believe we ought. For instance, hormones are thought to play a part in how quickly weight is lost after giving birth. Pregnancy hormones 'instruct' the body to deposit fat in readiness for feeding the baby, and it seems logical that it may take time for the body's fat deposition to return to normal. Most sources advise that it takes 8 to 12 months to return to pre-pregnancy weight.

Slow weight loss (and even complete failure to lose weight on a diet) may also be related to conditions such as type 2 diabetes, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and hypothyroidism (low or underactive thyroid). Many prescribed medications can also interfere with weight loss.

Even eating too little may stop us losing weight. As part of the body's natural survival mechanism, metabolism slows when food intake drops excessively, in an attempt to conserve energy. That's why gradual weight loss, although frustrating, is likely to succeed in the long term where 'crash' diets fail.

Other problems such as food allergies, intestinal yeast overgrowth and carbohydrate intolerance can also play a part in slowing or stalling weight loss. The science behind all these factors and strategies for overcoming them are explained in the e-book Why Can't I Lose Weight.