Maintaining your Blood Sugar

Blood sugar level is the amount of sugar present in the blood of an individual. It is essential to maintain a healthy blood sugar level because it is the primary source of energy to the cells of the body. If the blood sugar level goes both higher and lower than its normal range, it can cause serious health issues.

Every person whether healthy or sick, should definitely keep a check on their blood sugar level. Although, it fluctuates a little throughout the day, and is lowest early in the morning before the first meal; it is still recommended for blood sugar prevention to maintain it through diet instead of waiting for something wrong to happen. 

RM85,000 Heartbreak For Breast Cancer Survivor

PETALING JAYA: Breast cancer survivor Cherry Lim was shattered when she learned last year that she may have lost the RM85,000 she invested in a Canadian land investment scheme.

“It was a big chunk of my RM200,000 EPF savings which I can never replace,'' said the 60-year-old Lim, who broke down in tears as she spoke of how she had slogged for 35 years as a human resources executive before retiring in 2008.

“It was hard-earned money and I have no other source of income. I had believed the returns promised would see me through to my last days,'' said Lim, who has to spend about RM2,000 every three months for medication.

Don’t Let ADD/ADHD Stand in Your Way!

As another new year begins, don’t let ADD/ADHD interfere with personal success. Studies from the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry show adults with ADD/ADHD have significantly less educational and occupational achievements than their peers, relative to anticipated accomplishments based on intellect.

This lack of scholastic and professional success in the group of participants studied found that those with ADD/ADHD attained less schooling, regardless of IQ levels-- likely correlated with learning, mental focus, and attention span problems that affected academic performance-- thus limiting advancement in higher education studies.

Is Easing ADHD as easy as One, Two, Three?

Recent studies on groups of students showedpositive results following the incorporation of Transcendental Meditationinto their daily routinestwice a day during school hours for three months, according to the Current Issues in Education journal.

Asstress can impair functioning and behavior—thus affecting working memory, impulse regulation, mental sharpness and coping strategies—lessening its effects can have highly beneficial results not only inalleviating ADD/ADHD symptoms(which are exacerbated by stress) but also helping develop healthy life coping skills.

How Healthy is Your Heart?

Whether you or your child suffers from ADD/ADHD,improving heart health benefits everyone.Your heart works hard day in and day out to pump blood through your entire body. Every cell in your body needs the oxygen and nutrients carried by your blood in order to live. Thus, ahealthy heart influences the symptoms of ADD/ADHD, as the systems of the body are so interrelated.

You can take action andlessen your risk for heart problemsand have yourbody working at its optimal performance level.

1. Keep your blood pressure in check

High blood pressure or hypertension can lead to a variety of cardiovascular complications and is a risk factor for heart attack and stroke. It’s important to have your blood pressure checked at least once every two years, even when you don’t feel like anything is wrong.

What Could be Adding to Your Addiction?

Do you ever wonder what comes first… the smoking (addiction) or the ADD/ADHD (disorder)? Statistics on smoking are not in favor for those with the disorder, as40% of adults with ADHD smoke, compared to 26% of the general population, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Many smokers with ADD/ADHD claim that smoking is a"self-medicating" rationalefor their addiction, as they say thatnicotine helps them focusand improve performance.

While there is no hard evidence to support this, pre-clinical data does show that dopamine may be released while smoking, so it can affect mental processes and impulse control (but doesn't necessarily improve it).

These findings are the result of a new study published in the Journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, which shows thatsmokers with the disorder showedlower quitting ratesthan those without ADD/ADHD symptoms.

Benefits of Quitting Smoking

-Decreased risk of lung and other cancer, heart disease, stroke, pneumonia and bronchitis, emphysema

-Increased energy levels and improved fitness

-Better-looking skin and less wrinkles

-Whiter teeth and fewer dental problems

-A better sense of taste

-Lessened chance of fertility problems

-Improved immunity

-Saved money that you would have spent on cigarettes

Does Brain Food Really Exist?

Doctors and nutritionists alike have long touted the benefits of a balanced diet. But for people suffering fromlack of concentration and hyperactivity, diet is not only important, it iscrucialin helping to manage symptoms.

Whether food sensitivities or lack of nutrients are to blame, theanswer to many health issues may actually reside in a change of diet.

Since manyfood allergy symptomsmimic those found in concentrationand mood disorders, it is a good idea to experiment by eliminating the following foods in the box to the right for approximately 2 weeks to see if any improvement is noticed.

Under the Covers and (Not) Dreaming?

Is it ADHD or a sleep disorder? Which problem is contributing to your (or your child's) inattention, hyperactivity, behavioral problems, and ultimately, impaired academic/work performance?

The answer is likely both! Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and sleep disruptions such as insomnia, sleep terrors, bruxism and snoring can display symptoms which are often interrelated or mistakenly attributed to the other problem.

Research from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine shows that teens who received a childhood diagnosis of ADHD currently display sleep disturbances that can endure into adulthood, regardless of the severity of existing ADHD symptoms.

Tackling Fussy Eaters

EVERY mother knows that mealtimes can quickly turn into a battle ground.

Long faces and temper tantrums at the dining table are the norm when little ones don’t get their way and mums probably wish they could break into tears too.

But the first step in promoting heathy eating in your child starts with you. Parents should be good role models when guiding children towards good eating habits says Jamie Lam, a nutritionist at the Marketing Department of Dutch Lady Milk Industries Berhad.

They must be patient and make healthy eating enjoyable instead of a cause for rebellion and tantrums.

Lam says the manner in which children are fed, peer behaviour, how significant adults in a child’s life regard food, as well as advertisements on TV — all influence eating habits.

Early Screening The Key

COLORECTAL surgeon Dr Tee Shin Shan is optimistic. Despite the increase in incidences of colorectal cancer, he thinks there’s hope for those affected.

“With early detection and treatment of stage one colorectal cancer, the survival rate (on a five-year basis) is up to 90 per cent,” he says in a soft, soothing voice that must greatly reassure his patients as well as inspire their confidence in him.

In conjunction with Assunta Hospital’s March4Blue event which focuses on colorectal cancer, he says this is the most prevalent form of cancer among men in the country. In women, it has overtaken cervical cancer and is now ranked second after breast cancer.

A Nutritional Supplements Guide

• Folic acid, vitamin B6 and B12 are required for proper homocysteine metabolism. Low levels of these vitamins are associated with higher risk of cardiovasular diseases

• Vitamin D and calcium are associated with decreased risk of osteoporosis and fractures

• High vitamin C level is associated with decreased cancer risk

• Vitamin E and lycopene help to decrease risk of prostate cancer

• Vitamin B12 is associated with decreased risk of anaemia and neurological disorders

• Carotenoids decrease risk of breast, prostate and lung cancers

• Bioflavonoids and vitamin C enhance strength of the capillaries, lower blood pressure, improve blood circulation and help prevent occurrence of stroke

• Quercetin (a citrus flavonoid) is indicated in the prevention of diabetes by enhancing insulin production, protecting the insulin producing beta-cells in the pancreas, and inhibiting platlet aggregation

• Proanthocyanidins, the active component of grape seed extracts, exhibit cardio-protective effects and cancer cell-killing ability

• Selenium is associated with reduced incidence of total cancer mortality, including prostate, colon and lung cancer.

Source: Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements, 1st edition revised (courtesy of Usana Health Sciences)

Invest For Life

FROM the stories you hear at the vending machines in the office and over dinners with family to the ones on TV, it’s understandable if you’re overwhelmed by fear of developing a life threatening health condition.

Dr Tim Wood, executive vice president of research and development at Usana Health Sciences says heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes are some of the common causes of death.

“Often, most of us are so concerned about what kills us that we tend to forget conditions that can cause disabilities such as Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis and osteoporosis. We also need to take weight management seriously as obesity can be a cause of many deadly diseases.

Time And Togetherness

For mums, spending time with their children is of utmost importance. Kasmiah Mustapha suggests some activities to help them bond

Make a scrapbook

-Have fun looking for the perfect scrapbook. Then decide what photo or sticker should go where and what to write. You can include a baby picture of your child, or her or his first birthday celebration, holiday or first day at school. Gather photos and other memorabilia such as ticket stubs or certificates. Work together to create a mother-child scrapbook.  

Aktif Bersenam Pintar Matematik

BIJAK dalam subjek Matematik menjadi salah satu kelebihan kanak-kanak yang aktif khususnya mereka yang mengalami obesiti.

Senaman biasa boleh menambah kemampuan kanak-kanak obes, yang biasanya hanya duduk diam, untuk berfikir, membuat pelbagai rancangan, bahkan bertambah baik dalam Matematik.

Demikian penemuan oleh pengkaji di Universiti Sains Kesihatan Georgia, Amerika Syarikat (AS).

Diabetes Sebabkan Mati Mengejut

KEMATIAN mengejut wartawan penyiaran NBC News, Tim Russert, 58, dan Timbalan Menteri Pelajaran, Datuk Razali Ismail, 59, pada tahun 2008 memeranjatkan ramai orang.

Tidak terkecuali Ahli Parlimen Bukit Gantang, Roslan Shaharom, 50, dan penyanyi kumpulan nasyid Rabbani, Mohamad Asri Ibrahim, 40, pada tahun 2009.

Kesemua mereka meninggal dunia selepas mengalami serangan jantung.

Biarpun begitu, petanda awal kepada serangan jantung itu sudah diduga kerana masing-masing merupakan penghidap diabetes.

Perkara tersebut diakui oleh Ketua Endikronologi, Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (PPUKM), Dr. Nor Azmi Kamaruddin.

Larian Maraton Rosakkan Jantung

SEBELUM ini ramai yang percaya bahawa jika kita melakukan aktiviti olahraga secara teratur, kita dapat dapat mengekalkan kesihatan tubuh. Namun, terdapat beberapa aktiviti kecergasan yang perlu diberi perhatian kerana ia boleh memberi kesan buruk kepada kesihatan.

Kajian oleh Universiti Melbourne, Australia baru-baru ini mendapati mereka yang melakukan aktiviti ekstrem seperti larian maraton dan memanjat gunung mempunyai risiko yang tinggi untuk menghidap penyakit jantung.

Ereksi Petunjuk Kesihatan

SALURAN darah atau arteri pada zakar mempunyai kaitan rapat dengan tahap ereksi. Perunding Urologi, Pusat Perubatan Universiti Malaya, Profesor Dr. Ong Teng Aik memberitahu, ereksi atau ketegangan pada zakar berlaku jika darah memasuki ruang zakar dengan mencukupi.

“Darah akan memenuhi ruang zakar tanpa gangguan serta memberi kekuatan ereksi andainya saluran darah tidak terganggu atau tersumbat,” kata Teng Aik.

Zakar akan membesar dan menegang apabila sepasang tisu korpus kavernosum pada alat kelamin itu terisi dengan darah.

SPORTCHECK: MAU Was Warned

THE Malaysian Athletic Union (MAU) was warned by the National Sports Institute (NSI) last month that engaging the services of an unlicensed foreign doctor is illegal.   

The warning was issued after 4x400m runner Yunus Lasaleh tested positive for  the anabolic agent methandienone at the Indonesia Sea Games in November.

   Yunus said he was given pills and injections by a Bulgarian doctor working for MAU during training camps in Miri and Brunei ahead of the Sea Games.

Losing Weight 'twice as difficult as diets claim'

A a widely-accepted rule of thumb states that cutting 500 calories per day from your diet will translate to a weight loss of 1lb (half a kilogram) per week.

But the advice, which appears on the NHS website and a variety of diet plans, is wrong because losing weight becomes harder the thinner you get, experts said.

This is because cutting the number of calories in your diet slows your metabolism down, meaning that your weight loss will tail off and eventually reach a plateau.

To help redress the balance, scientists from the US National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease have programmed an online calculator which designs a personalised weight loss plan based on information about your diet, physical activity and body shape.