Health Problems Associated with Obesity

Obesity is a growing problem around the world and especially in the United States. The problem is a serious one since being significantly overweight can cause many health issues. Obesity isn’t just something that affects physical appearance, although that alone can trigger emotional problems connected to self-esteem that can lead to depression and withdrawal from the outside world.

A person who weighs at least 40 percent more than their ideal weight is approximately twice as apt to die earlier than a person whose weight is normal. The more overweight someone is, the more at risk they are to chronic diseases. That would explain why many people who are unsuccessful at losing weight through diet and exercise are checking into surgical options like the lap band.

Some health problems associated with obesity include:

• Heart disease and high blood pressure – Overweight people are more prone to high blood pressure, which is one of the leading factors that cause strokes and heart disease. High cholesterol also tends to be a trait in obese people, another factor contributing to heart disease. Being overweight can also decrease the amount of oxygen that gets to the heart.
• Type 2 Diabetes – This is a frequent cause of early death, stroke, heart issues, and even blindness in people who are obese. In someone who is obese the body can learn to resist insulin. Insulin controls the levels of blood sugar and eventually the high sugar levels that can result can seriously damage the body.
• Affect on weight-bearing joints – The excess weight that is placed on the joints like the hips and knees can quickly cause wear and inflammation, which results in pain. The back is constantly under extra strain, causing problems with the disks, pain, and decrease in mobility.
• Breathing problems and sleep apnea – In someone who is obese, fat can build up in the areas of the tongue and neck as well, causing the air passages to become obstructed. When lying on the back to sleep, these obstructions worsen and may cause the individual to wake up repeatedly in order to find a better position in which to breathe.

There are many other health conditions that are caused by being obese. Excess weight can cause other physical issues like an increase in sweating, trouble breathing, acne and other skin conditions, and trouble walking. For more information about health problems related to obesity, there are reliable sources online like WebMD.com and MedicineNet.com that can help.

Is it a Cold or the Flu?

Every year when cold and flu season approaches, the question is asked over and over: “Do I have the flu or just a cold”? And sometimes, the answer can be quite tricky.

Colds and flu often share many symptoms, including headache, congestion, coughing, sneezing, sore throat and runny nose. And, both can leave you feeling bad for several days.

There are a couple of telltale signs that you might have the flu rather than a cold. The first is the speed of onset of symptoms. With a cold, symptoms usually appear gradually; you can usually tell that you’re coming down with a cold. Flu symptoms, on the other hand, usually come on rapidly, with no forewarning.

In addition, fever with the flu is typically higher: often over 102 degrees, while a cold usually produces only a low grade fever if any at all.

The flu often causes chills and sweats and may cause nausea and a loss of appetite.

Both flu and colds can cause muscle aches. However, with the flu the symptoms are most often located in the back, arms and legs and can be quite severe. Colds can cause fatigue, but fatigue with the flu is also more severe.

Whether it’s cold or the flu, rest is important to help you heal a bit faster. If the flu is caught early enough, there are some anti-viral medications that can significantly shorten its duration, so it may be worth going to the doctor if you can get in right away. However, in most cases, you do not really have to see a doctor with a case of the flu. However, if you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately.

High, prolonged fever over 102 degrees, coupled with fatigue and achiness
Symptoms lasting more than 10 days or getting worse rather than better
Trouble breathing or shortness of breath
Feeling faint or disoriented
Severe or persistent vomiting
Pain or pressure in the chest
The best way to treat the flu is to prevent it. Getting a flu shot each year is a good idea, especially if you’re in a high risk category. This includes people with compromised immune systems, the elderly and young children. But, anyone who is in contact with the public on a regular basis can often benefit from a flu shot.

Once symptoms have presented themselves, it’s important to do your part to prevent the spread of colds and flu. Here are some tips:

Stay home when you’re sick.
Cover your coughs and sneezes; sneeze and cough into your arm, not your hands
Wash your hands frequently

Each year, thousands of people contract colds and flu, and most cases are not serious. However, if someone in your family is in a high risk category, with current health issues or a compromised immune system, you should seek medical attention more quickly than for a healthy person. It’s important for all families to keep colds and flu under control each winter season.

Phyl Zerkle blogs about how to obtain a master in nursing.

Americans warn about an arthritis

Ad Council and Arthritis Foundation have started an advertising campaign against an arthritis.
Recent researches have shown, that one of five adult Americans suffers an arthritis. It is 46 million persons, and by 2030 number of people sick of an arthritis will reach 67 million persons.

Technological harm

Growth is connected by that the human life becomes more comfortable. Modern technologies do all for comfort of the modern person, hence people become all less mobile. Without movement joints lose flexibility, this factor leads to arthritises.

Arthritis preventive maintenance

Ad Council and Arthritis Foundation have decided to urge adult Americans to move more by means of videoclips in which people dance, being engaged in the most usual daily affairs and showing excellent flexibility of joints and harmony of a body.