How to Show Love to Your Heart and Blood Vessels

As the saying goes: “Tell me who your friends are and I will tell you who you are.” We could also say that: “Tell me what is your lifestyle and I will help you determine your health.” Diet, physical activities, and presence or absence of vices are some of the factors that help determine your physical health. If you practice healthy lifestyle and has a positive outlook in life from your early age, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and other illnesses due to unhealthy lifestyle will not befriend you for sure.

Doctors try their best to give the best cholesterol treatment to their patients to help the functioning of heart and blood vessels to be maintained on its normal level but it should be accompanied with cooperation of patients to change their lifestyle as well. But, some people made their maintenance medication an excuse to eat food they want with their crooked reasoning.

Following healthy lifestyle since younger years will make your blood vessels  as if  like express highway roads for your blood to flow well carrying nutrients and essential things to millions of cells in your body. But, unhealthy diet, especially those rich in trans fats and cholesterol, accompanied by lack of exercise plus too much alcohol intake along with smoking addiction, definitely your blood vessels that are as wide as express highways will be as narrow as 2-way road because of accumulated waste materials called “bad” cholesterol or low density lipoproteins (LDL) that cling to the blood vessels.

Whether our blood vessels are narrow or wide our Red Blood Cells need to produce same amount of nutrients to the millions of cells in our body that need not to be delayed or else our body will not function well. In order for the Red Blood Cells to compensate for the narrow blood vessels, heart need to pump faster for the blood to flow faster as well through the narrow blood vessels. Consistent too much  workload for the heart and too much pressure to the blood vessels could result to Coronary Artery Disease, stroke and other health problems.

Maintenance medication for hypertension and high cholesterol level help stretch your blood vessels for the blood to flow well without much pressure. While following healthy lifestyle help you sweep away the accumulated bad cholesterol that cling to the blood vessels.

What you can do aside from following healthy lifestyle? Better have a regular check up of blood pressure and your lipid level with Lipid Profile test on the laboratory. Lipid profile is composed of 5 tests namely Total Cholesterol, Triglycerides, High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) or good cholesterol level test, Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) or bad cholesterol level test and Very Low Density Lipoprotein Level Test.

How Oxygenation In Your Blood Is Measured?

Yesterday we talked about Red Blood Cells (RBC) or erythrocytes and hemoglobin thus we now know that hemoglobin plays a big role in oxygenation of all cells in our body. In relation to that, we will talk about oximeter today. What is an oximeter? Oximeter is an instrument use to measure oxygen percentage in hemoglobin or simply the oxygenation of the blood.

How oxygen percentage in hemoglobin is measured? Oximeters are usually attached on fingertip or at the earlobe of patient. Then, absorption and saturation of hemoglobin in patient’s blood are recorded using oxymeter’s probe at 650nm-805nm range of wavelength of light.  Please take note that oximeter just measure oxygenation and not oxygen metabolism.

Like any other instruments, there are factors that could cause problem in readings of pulse oximeter, slow blood flow due to venous congestion or vasoconstriction is a great example for it. There are lots of hemoglobin types, 2 of the said types are oxyhemoglobin and carboxyhemoglobin (methemoglobin). Carboxyhemoglobin (methemoglobin) can be confused as oxyhemoglobin by pulse oximeter because these two types of hemoglobin are difficult to distinguish. Bright overhead lights and nail varnish could also cause false reading thus, it should be avoided.

Pulse oximeter is not solely for hospital use with a purpose of detecting oxygen related problems and in analyzing if it is necessary for the patient to undergo an oxygen therapy. Mountain climbers,  and people who undergo vigorous exercise like professional athletes uses portable pulse oximeter to measure their pulse rate and oxygenation of the blood too. People who are dependent on supplemental oxygen like pilot flying in non-pressurized airplanes use this instrument to measure the amount of supplemental oxygen needed.

We all know that oxygen is also a form of medication, this kind of medication could not be given without first determining the oxygen level in our blood. That is how important oximeter is to our community.

Iron Supplements and Iron Deficiency Anemia

You and your family are taking iron supplements? Did you know that too much iron in your body is harmful? Yes, our body needs iron, it is important for red blood cell production but too much of it is harmful to the body. There is a theory that extra stored iron in your body release harmful free radicals that may put you to risk for heart problems, liver damage, cancer,iron overdose in children and other illnesses. Medically speaking when there is an excessive amount of iron accumulated in the blood and tissues is is called hemosiderosis if the accumulated iron in the macrophages causes parenchymal cell injury. If the extra iron accumulates in the parenchymal cells and injures the tissue it is called hemochromatosis.

Because of iron side effects, most doctors agree that it is not necessary to take iron supplements unless your blood test shows that you need it. If the person is anemic, with low hemoglobin and, or hematocrit level in the blood, it does not mean automatically that he is suffering from iron deficiency and need to take iron supplements, always bear in mind that anemia has lots of causes and iron deficiency is just one of them. To confirm that the person is suffering from iron deficiency, the person will undergo a special laboratory test called serum ferritin test.

Again, taking iron supplements are not recommended unless prescribed by your doctor. If you want to make sure that your family family is getting enough iron for their body needsgo for good food sources of iron. Fish, poultry, red meat, shellfish, tofu, potatos, peas, beans, pumpkin seeds and dried apricots are rich in iron, some cereals and other processed foods are fortified with iron too thus, you need not to take iron supplements unless prescribed by your physician.

Poisons in Tobacco Smoke

Poisons in Tobacco Smoke

Poisonous? Consider tobacco smoke  as one. It contain lots of toxic substances that is threatening not just to the smokers but to your family health as well. Did you know that tobacco smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals including 200 poisonous and 40 carcinogenic compounds? It causes more than 40 diseases. No wonder, World Health Organization statistics showed that nearly 1 0f every 5 death nowadays are related to smoking. One in every seven seconds die from tobacco-related illness. It is due to either mainstream tobacco smoking or through passive (involuntary) smoking.

Here are some of the carcinogenic compounds you can find on tobacco smoke:

4-Aminobiphenyl
-It is confirmed to cause cancer in humans. Bladder, lung, colon, and breast cancers have been associated with 4-ABP.

-The worst thing about 4-ABP is it can cross the placenta & render child susceptible to bladder cancer.

Arsenic
-Inorganic arsenic is present in tobacco smoke and has been linked to lung, skin, bladder, liver, kidney and prostate cancers.

Benzene
-Study showed that high levels of benzene may cause low birth weights, delayed bone formation and bone marrow damage in animals.

-Benzene is highly toxic. Inhalation of extremely high levels of benzene may cause rapid heart rate, confusion, tremors, drowsiness, dizziness, headache, unconsciousness or even death.

-All three blood cell lines may be unfavorably affected by long term exposure to benzene. Low white blood cells or leucopenia, low red blood cells or anemia and low platelet count or thrombocytopenia may exist in varying degree. In case where there is a reduction in all three blood cell lines it is already called pancytopenia, this may happen due toxicity from long term exposure to benzene from tobacco smoking.

-Chronic exposure to benzene through tobacco smoke may also lead to increase risk of acquiring leukemia and, in many cases, is preceded by aplastic anemia.

Cadmium
-Cadmium is a toxic heavy metal pollutant that can be found in tobacco smoke. Tobacco smoke is an important source of air cadmium because tobacco leaves naturally accumulate and concentrate quite high levels of cadmium.

- An average cigarette contains approximately 1.05 micrograms/g of cadmium in cigarette with filter tip and approximately 1.61 micrograms/g in regular cigarette. And, about 10% of the cadmium content in cigarette is inhaled when it is smoked.

-Exposure to high levels of cadmium may lead to high blood pressure, anemia and renal failure, lung and, or liver damage.

-It is also considered as possible carcinogen.

Chromium
-As you inhale air containing chromium, like in tobacco smoke, chromium enters your body. Did you know that some forms of chromium can remain in the lungs for several years or longer?

-When you breathe air containing chromium, some of the chromium will enter your body through your lungs. Some forms of chromium can remain in the lungs for several years or longer.

-The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has determined that chromium (VI) compounds are carcinogenic to humans. The National Toxicology Program 11th Report on Carcinogens classifies chromium (VI) compounds as known to be human carcinogens. Inhalation of chromium has been shown to cause lung cancer.

-It can cause respiratory problems, depressed immune system- resulting to a lower ability to fight disease, birth defects and other developmental problem, infertility and tumor formation.

2-Naphthylamine
-It can cause bladder cancer.

N-Nitrosodiethylamine
-It can induce benign and malignant tumors in respiratory, upper digestive tracts, liver and kidneys.

N-Nitrosopyrrolidine
-It can produce hepatocellular carcinomas, one of the top in leading liver cancer death type worldwide.

N-Nitrosodiethanolamine
-It is connected to esophageal cancer.

Nickel
-The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has determined that some nickel compounds are carcinogenic to humans.

-More nickel is absorbed from the lungs into the body when nickel particles readily dissolve in water. If it does not easily dissolved in water, like chromium, nickel particles may remain in the lungs for a long time, and can only be excreted from lungs through coughing out or swallowing the mucus.

-Unborn child can be exposed to nickel through maternal blood supply to fetus.

-Babies are exposed to nickels through breastmilk of mother who is exposed to nickel and through passive tobacco smoking.

-It causes reduced lung function, chronic bronchitis, and cancer of the lung and nasal sinus

Lead-210 and Polonium-210 (Radon)
-Did you know that tobacco leaves used in making cigarettes contain radioactive materials? Yes, lead-210 and polonium-210 are radioactive materials.

- Lead-210 and polonium-210 are toxic radioactive heavy metals. They build up over time in delicate lung tissue and are a key risk factor for lung cancer. How? Tar from tobacco smoke builds up in the bronchioles; accumulated tar traps lead-210 and polonium-210 against the tissues of the bronchioles. Most of what is deposited in the bronchioles is lead-210 which has a half life of 22.3 years; eventually it decays and become dominant radionuclide. On the other hand, polonium-210 has only half life of 138 days but it quickly increases in concentration, thus, over the time, as its concentration rises, an intense localized radiation doses may occur in the bronchioles.

-Researchers believe that lead-210 and polonium-210 in tobacco smoke are significant factors for lung cancer in smokers.

Vinyl Chloride
-Inhalation of high levels of vinyl chloride may cause dizziness, drowsiness or even death.

-Chronic exposure to vinyl chloride may cause severe nerve damage and immune reactions.

-The World Health Organization has determined that vinyl chloride is a human carcinogen.

-Vinyl chloride, has also been shown to have an effect on human reproductive system.

Know More About Cholesterol

structure of cholesterol

Cholesterol is an unsaturated steroid alcohol. It is formed of four fused rings and a side chain. It is a fatty wax-like substance occuring naturally in all body cells. In moderate amounts, cholesterol is essential for good health. It is the principal body sterol, present in all cells as an important structural component of cell membranes. It stabilizes the body against temperature changes, it lines our nerves and makes up much of our brain tissue. Cholesterol is a precursor for the biosynthesis of bile acids, steroid hormones and vitamin D. It aids in digestion, it is required in the absorption of fat soluble vitamins: A, D, E and K.

The site of cholesterol degredation as well as its major site of synthesis is in the liver. Most of the cholesterol in the body is synthesized from acetyl Coenzyme A (acetyl CoA plays a central role in intermediary metabolism between carbohydrate metabolism and fat metabolism – in synthesis, catabolism, or use of nutrients for energy production and growth), but cholesterol also comes from animal foods. We can find unwanted cholesterol in meats, dairy products, cheese and eggs and other food rich in saturated and trans fats. Plants have closely related sterols but do not contain cholesterol.

Levels of cholesterol in the blood at any given time are determined both by diet and by body chemistry but what influences most in our cholesterol  level is  what we ingest. Our body needs only about 25 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) of LDL daily. But, most people have far more cholesterol circulating in the blood than their bodies need.

At body temperature, pure cholesterol is solid. Though not soluble in water, both cholesterol and triglycerides are normal constituents of plasma. Two thirds of the plasma cholesterol are esterified with long chain saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, and one third exist as unesterified alcohol. In plasma, cholesterol is suspended in solution by a shell proteins and phospholipids known as lipoprotein particles. In humans, 60 to 70 percent of cholesterol is transported by low density lipoproteins (LDL), 20 to 35 percent by high density lipoproteins (HDL), and 5 to 12 percent by very low density lipoproteins (VLDL).

Low density lipoproteins (LDL) transports cholesterol to tissues. High concentration of LDL in the blood causes it  to build-up and line the walls of the arteries and narrowing them, thus, making it hard for blood to circulate,that is why it was commonly called the “bad cholesterol”. While high density lipoproteins (HDL) is responsible for the transport of cholesterol from tissues to the liver. All plasma lipoproteins join temporarily to HDL for esterification. HDLs removes potentially damaging excess cholesterol from the arteries and transport it to the liver for disposal. Because of its function, HDL has been known as the “good cholesterol”. VLDL is made up of small amount of cholesterol and protein and a larger amount of different type of fat, triglyceride, which clogs the arteries and causes a sluggish immune system.

Usually, no signs or symptoms can be noticed that you have high blood cholesterol, but it can be detected through laboratory examination of the blood, that is why it is advisable to undergo annual general check up  especially  people on their 40s and above. Long time elevated cholesterol concentration has been associated as one of several risk factors leading to coronary artery disease (CAD); making the measurement of serum total cholesterol a common laboratory procedure.  Increase in total cholesterol concentration is also seen in uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, extrahepatic obstruction of bile ducts and various types of lipedemias. During late pregnancy, cholesterol rises but it usually return to its normal concentration within a month after delivery.

Here is a general acceptable normal values for adults:
LDL Cholesterol
Optimal: Less than 100 mg/dL (2.59 mmol/L)
Near/above optimal: 100-129 mg/dL (2.59-3.34 mmol/L)
Borderline high: 130-159 mg/dL (3.37-4.12 mmol/L)
High: 160-189 mg/dL (4.15-4.90 mmol/L)
Severe high: over 190 mg/dL (4.90 mmol/L)

Total Cholesterol
Desirable: Less than 200 mg/dL (5.18 mmol/L)
Borderline high: 200-239 mg/dL (5.18 to 6.18 mmol/L)
High: 240 mg/dL (6.22 mmol/L) or higher
Severe high: over 300mg/dL

HDL Cholesterol
Low risk: Less than 40 mg/dL (1.0 mmol/L) for men and less than 50 mg/dL (1.3 mmol/L) for women
Average risk: 40-50 mg/dL (1.0-1.3 mmol/L) for men and between 50-59 mg/dl (1.3-1.5 mmol/L) for women
Less than average risk: 60 mg/dL (1.55 mmol/L) or higher for both men and women

Note: Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories.

High cholesterol does not just affect adults. Some Health Agencies agreed that all children who have risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD) and those with a family history of high blood cholesterol should be screened soon after age 2. By screening these high-risk children, high percentage of children with high cholesterols are identified. Children has different normal values of total cholesterol, HDL cholsterol and LDL cholesterol from adults, ask your health provider about it.

Water, how important is it to you?

water

How long will you survive without food and water? A person could survive only eight to ten days without water, whereas it takes weeks or even months to die from a lack of food. That’s how important water is to our body. Every body cell, tissue and organ needs water to function. Actually two thirds of our body is made up of water. If we dried out, we would only weight only half as much.

Our brains function in a watery gel. Our blood flows because of its water content. Water circulates through our blood and lymphatic system, transport nutrients and oxygen to the cells. It is essential to metabolism, providing a medium for complex chemical reactions. Water is the agent that removes wastes products and excess we have eaten through urine and sweat and stools. Water softens stools to prevent constipation. Water also maintains the natural balance between dissolved salts and water inside and outside of cells. Our joints and soft tissues depend on the cushioning that water provides for them. Water lubricates the air flowing over our nasal passages. It coats the tiny air sacs of our lungs and permits them to expand and contract without collapsing, by acting as a solution for the “surfactant” or surface tension lowering chemical in the lungs. While water has no caloric value and therefore is not an energy source, without it in our diet we could not digest or absorb the foods we eat or eliminate the body’s digestive waste.

Water also helps regulate body temperature. When exercising or, when we are exposed to increase temperatures, water helps prevent heat exhaustion.

When we do not drink sufficient water, the blood concentrates. With a hematocrit value higher than 50, cardiovascular events double in men and increase fourfold in women. So, drink more water than your thirst mandates you.

How much water a person need depends largely on the volume of urine and sweat lost daily, and water needs are increased if a person suffers from diarrhea or vomiting or undergoes heavy physical exercise. At least 6-8 glasses of water per day is needed by our body for the various organs to work efficiently.

Water is replenished by drinking liquids. However NOT ALL liquids we drink counts as water, caffeinated drinks such as soft drinks, tea or coffee and alcohol based drinks increase the output of urine and thus dehydrate the body. So instead of ordering those things when you dine out, just simply say,”Water please.”

The Chemical Examination of Urine

test strips for chemical examination of urine

The usual chemical examination of urine are performed using reagent strip method. These reagent systems are available as dip and read for rapid, sensitive and convenient analysis of many constituents in the urine.

Reagent strips provide a speedy way for performing medically significant chemical analysis for protein, glucose, ketone, bilirubin, urobilinogen, nitrite, leukocytes, blood, pH and specific gravity of urine. Semi-quantitative value of results are reported as negative, trace, 1+, 2+, 3+, or 4+.

PROCEDURE involves dipping the reagent strip completely but briefly into a well-mixed, unspun, urine sample; draining excess urine from the strip when withdrawing it from the specimen by blotting it on absorbent paper; waiting the exact timing recommended for each chemical reaction to take place; and comparing the colored reactions against the manufacturer’s chart under good lighting.

Clinical significance of chemical test:
PROTEIN. Occurrence of this is the most suggestive of renal disease.
GLUCOSE. It is the most commonly performed on urine because of its value in the revealing and monitoring of diabetes mellitus.
KETONE. Testing for urinary ketones is most valued in the management and monitoring of insulin dependent diabetes mellitus.
BILIRUBIN. The appearance of bilirubin in the urine gives an early indication of liver disease.
UROBILINOGEN. Increase urine urobilinogen is observed in liver disease and hemolytic disorders.
NITRITE. It gives a quick screening test for the existence of urinary tract infection.
LEUKOCYTE. It offers more standardized way for the detection of leukocytes.
BLOOD. Positive result for this signals the occurrence of intact red blood cells, hemoglobin, or myoglobin. Each of these has different clinical implication.
pH. It helps in determining the presence of systemic acid-base disorders of metabolic or respiratory origin and in management of urinary conditions that needs the urine to be maintained at a specific pH.
SPECIFIC GRAVITY. It provides a clue of the urinary total solute concentration.

Note: Have knowledge on sources of error including interfering substances, sensitivity, and specificity of each test on the reagent strip.