Thursday, 29 November 2012
Secondhand Smoke
You
don't have to be a smoker for smoking to harm you. Breathing other
people's smoke can also cause you health problems. Secondhand smoke is
the combination of smoke that comes from the burning end of a cigarette,
cigar or pipe and the smoke exhaled by the smoker. Secondhand smoke
contains more than 50 substances that can cause cancer. Health effects
of exposure to secondhand smoke include lung cancer, nasal sinus cancer,
respiratory tract infections and heart disease.
There is no safe
amount of secondhand smoke. Children, pregnant women, older people and
people with heart or breathing problems should be especially careful.
There's
no way around it. Smoking is bad for your health. Smoking harms nearly
every organ of the body. Cigarette smoking causes 87 percent of lung
cancer deaths. It is also responsible for many other cancers and health
problems. These include lung disease, heart and blood vessel disease,
stroke and cataracts. Women who smoke have a greater chance of certain
pregnancy problems or having a baby die from sudden infant death
syndrome (SIDS). Your smoke is also bad for other people - they breathe
in your smoke secondhand and can get many of the same problems as
smokers do.
Quitting smoking can reduce your risk of these problems. The earlier you quit, the greater the health benefit.
Smoking - Your Choice
There's
no way around it. Smoking is bad for your health. Smoking harms nearly
every organ of the body. Cigarette smoking causes 87 percent of lung
cancer deaths. It is also responsible for many other cancers and health
problems. These include lung disease, heart and blood vessel disease,
stroke and cataracts. Women who smoke have a greater chance of certain
pregnancy problems or having a baby die from sudden infant death
syndrome (SIDS). Your smoke is also bad for other people - they breathe
in your smoke secondhand and can get many of the same problems as
smokers do.
Quitting smoking can reduce your risk of these problems. The earlier you quit, the greater the health benefit.
Gastric Banding Surgery
Gastric
banding is a type of surgery to help a patient when dieting and
exercise fail to help with weight loss. Gastric banding is only
recommended for obese patients who meet these conditions:
- Have a Body Mass Index (BMI) above 40
-
Have a BMI between 35 and 39.9 and have a serious obesity-related
disease such as Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, or sleep apnea
During
the surgery, the stomach is divided into two smaller parts by a special
band. The part of the stomach that receives food from the esophagus
becomes smaller causing the patient to eat less food and to feel full
with a very small amount of food. A special band is connected with a
reservoir that is placed under the skin. A saline solution can be
injected or withdrawn from the reservoir to adjust the tightness of the
band. After surgery, a strict diet regimen must be followed to ease the
patient back to eating regular foods. The surgery is considered
successful when 50% of excess weight is lost and that loss is sustained
up to five years. A regular exercise program will be part of the
lifestyle change required to maintain weight lost and improve health. A
lifetime regimen of vitamins and prescribed medicine is also required
after surgery.
Diabetes and Carbohydrate Counting
Carbohydrate Counting is a way to help track what and how much you eat in order to help manage your blood sugars. Carbohydrate counting requires paying attention to when, what and how much you eat each day. Half of your food energy should come from carbohydrates, and advice from a dietician will help determine your particular needs. Foods high in carbohydrates include bread, beans, grains, potatoes, corn, fruits and fruit juices. Half of your grain choices should be whole grains to get the healthful benefits of fiber. Candy, cake, ice cream and similar sweet foods are also very high in carbohydrates but these foods do not have healthful benefits. It is advised that you spread your carbohydrate consumption throughout the day, avoid skipping meals, and eat consistent and moderate amounts. If you take insulin at meals, you should match your insulin requirement to your carbohydrate intake.
Diabetes and Meal Planning
A healthy diet that provides the nutrients your body needs in sufficient amounts helps to control and may even prevent diabetes. Blood sugar can be controlled successfully if you maintain an optimal weight, pay attention to what you eat, and consider how much you eat. This may eliminate the need for medication to control diabetes. A healthy diet includes a variety of food groups, especially grain products, vegetables and fruits. Less than 30% of calories should come from fat. Candy, desserts, sweetened drinks, salt and alcohol should be consumed only in moderation. Do not skip meals, but eat regularly and pay attention to portion sizes. Refrain from smoking. The Food Guide Pyramid created by the US Department of Agriculture contains valuable information to help you plan a healthy diet.
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