Disease can affect every part of the body, not least including: the brain, heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, and eyes. What can we do to reduce the chances of getting these diseases?
Influenza is a viral infection, and a major cause of death for older people.Antibiotics have no effect, so prevention is all the more important. Without doubt, the single most effective preventive measure is to have an annual flu injection. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a yearly flu vaccine, by the end […]
According to the National Health Service, chronic kidney disease is usually caused by other conditions that put a strain on the kidneys. Often it’s the result of a combination of different problems.• high blood pressure• diabetes• high cholesterol• kidney infections• kidney inflammation• polycystic kidney disease• blockages in the flow of urine• long-term, regular use of
According to Wikipedia: A stroke is a medical condition in which poor blood flow to the brain results in cell death.There are two main types of stroke: ischemic, due to lack of blood flow, and hemorrhagic, due to bleeding. Both result in parts of the brain not functioning properly.Signs and symptoms of a stroke may
According to the Mayo Clinic in the US: Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in your blood. Your body needs cholesterol to build healthy cells, but high levels of cholesterol can increase your risk of heart disease. With high cholesterol, you can develop fatty deposits in your blood vessels. Eventually, these deposits grow, making it
Parkinson’s disease is a condition in which parts of the brain become progressively damaged over many years. According to the National Health Service, the three main symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are: • involuntary shaking of particular parts of the body (tremor) • slow movement • stiff and inflexible muscles A person with Parkinson’s disease can
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Macular degeneration is a loss of vision caused by deterioration of the central portion of the retina, and although there are treatments, none can cure it, but can only stop it progressing. So, it makes sense to take preventative measures before you get problems. The consensus seems to be that if you eat a balanced
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The most common form of diabetes is called Type 2 Diabetes, and whether or not you get this condition is largely under your control, ie. It is preventable. So, this is what we’ll be focusing on here. FYI: Type 2 is ten times more common than the inherited form Type 1, which is something you
Most of us know of a friend or relative that’s been affected by dementia, with the saddest cases being where the person no longer even recognises close family members. That’s why many people fear dementia more than cancer or other diseases. The National Health Service says that early symptoms to watch out for include: “memory
We keep seeing advice that it’s important to keep our brains active, especially to delay the onset of dementia, or at least of its effects. But is this true? And if so, what should we do about it? Will a daily crossword or Sudoku be enough? The Alzheimer’s Society says that: “Keeping your mind active
For many of us, heart disease is perhaps the number one threat in terms of healthy longevity. And the bad news is that often the first attack is fatal. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says: Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, causing about 1 in
