All the benefits that comes from drinking Noni juice

Noni juice has benefited the people of the South Pacific Islands for the past 2,000 years to aid a wide-range of health conditions to include: immune problems, joint pain, infection, colds, digestive disorders, injuries and inflammation.*Clinical researchers have identified well over 150 nutraceuticals in Noni fruit juice that have therapeutic value in the human body. Fresh-pressed Noni juice includes a potent mixture of nature’s most powerful phytonutrients and antioxidant that actively neutralize cell-damaging “free radicals” created in your body.

Top 5 Health Benefits Derived from NONI Juice:

1. Anti-inflammation – Researchers from the University of Hawaii found Noni fruit juice to have inflammation-reducing constituents and the ability to suppress the COX-2 enzyme responsible for inflammation and pain.*
   
   
2. The immune system – Noni juice is a powerful natural food supplement to add to your diet because of its ability to stimulate your immune system into action. By drinking Noni juice daily, your body’s immune system is optimized to respond against the invasion of outside bacteria, germs and viruses as it fights them off and protects you from infection*.
   
   
3. The circulatory and cardiovascular systems – Noni fruit juice contains scopoletin, which has been shown to lower high-blood pressure by dilating constricted blood vessels. Noni also stimulates the body to produce nitric oxide and it relaxes and expands blood vessels, alleviating stress on the arteries and the heart providing valuable benefits for improved health*.
   
   
4. The digestive tract – Noni aids the digestive enzymes to efficiently break down food more thoroughly to absorb nutrients taken into the body from the foods eaten*.
   
   
5. Emotional and mental well-being – Noni is believed to boost serotonin in the brain that has been shown to aid in clearer thinking, better focus and concentration and an elevation in mood and sense of well-being*.

An in-depth study of Noni juice and it's medicinal health benefits was conducted  by Johns Hopkins trained Physician Dr. Neil Solomon who gathered from more than  1,227 health professionals representing over 25,314 noni juice drinkers from over  80 countries who received positive results by drinking Noni juice. His researched  focused on TAHITIAN NONI™ juice because at the time of his study had the  largest known base of Noni juice consumers.We can only wonder how much  higher the "% Helped" in his research would have been if he sampled people  who drank 100% pure NONI juice, rather than a reconstituted Noni juice  blend containing only 89% Noni fruit juice, supplemented with other fruit  concentrate fillers. We present his findings here for educational purposes. Conditions, Decreased Symptoms Total # % Helped 1. Allergy 3,198 86% 2. Arthritis 1,675 78% 3. Asthma 8,077 71% 4. Cancer 2,188 69% 5. CFIDS, Fibromyalgia 3,524 77% 6. Depression 1,512 80% 7. Diabetics, Types 1 & 2 5,575 82% 8. Digestion 3,171 90% 9. Energy, increased 16,056 90% 10. Heart Disease 2,158 76% 11. High Blood Pressure, decreased 1,869 84% 12. HIV 150 55% 13. Immune System 3,707 77% 14. Kidney Disease 3,764 67% 15. Menstruation 3,798 79% 16. Mental Acuity, increased alertness 5,543 73% 17. Multiple Sclerosis 25 52% 18. Muscle, increased body building 1,216 70% 19. Obesity, lost some excess weight 5,526 72% 20. Pain, including headaches 6,828 86% 21. Parkinson's Disease 25 52% 22. Respiratory Problems 3,857 72% 23. Skin and Hair Problems 877 78% 24. Sexual Enhancement increased 2,984 84% 25. Sleep, improved 2,025 75% 26. Smoking, stopped 876 56% 27. Stress, coped better 6,743 74% 28. Stroke 1,806 53% 29. Well-being, felt better 7,879 80% Conditions, Decreased Symptoms Total # % Helped

Noni Juice and Its Benefits

Every time something new comes along in the health food scene, there’s a huge buzz around the product with plenty of people opting for it and other’s condemning it as mere hype. It’s been the same with noni juice, which has become popular for those who are conscious about their health.
Noni juice is derived from the noni fruit, also known as the Great Morinda. This fruit is found in abundance in the Polynesian islands, Southeast Asia as well as Australia, but it’s juice is indeed a worthy discovery, one that has bettered the lives of many people. Scientists are constantly corroborating newer findings about noni with clinical studies and in depth research.
As a result of the hype around noni juice, many people have tried to cash in on it and this has caused quite a few people to regard it as a high level MLM scam. However, this is not the case everywhere. Remember that there are people who have benefited from noni juice.
Actually, the way in which noni juice is processed is of prime importance. This is because it loses its efficacy if too much heat is used, or if it is diluted. Some producers of noni juice use artificial sweeteners because noni juice has a strong taste and smell and is not palatable. Some even use preservatives that does more harm than good. So before you go out to buy your dose of noni juice, look out for the way in which it has been processed. Fresh noni is a richer source of nutrients than bottled juice, so keep that in mind before you buy your noni juice.
Finally, why should you drink noni juice? How can it benefit you?

• Noni juice is known to be rich in phytochemicals that can help in prevention of diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart diseases, Alzheimer’s etc.
• Noni juice can also help in improving mood and inducing sleep in those suffering from sleep related disorders.
• Better skin, better hair and fewer allergy related reactions are what some of the users of noni juice are claiming.
• Noni juice is known to have many therapeutic effects – antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, you name it, it does it!
• Some people consume noni juice to correct premature aging and build better bone strength.
• One of the fewer known applications of noni juice is that it has been known to alleviate burns. Freshly squeezed noni juice applied directly can help in healing burns to a great extent.
• Noni juice has a few more external applications also. When rubbed on the skin, it can help reduce skin conditions such as eczema or ringworm. It can be used as a poultice and a compress as well. Some people even rub noni juice on their scalp for lustrous hair and better scalp health.

Most often you will find that the noni juice that you get in most health stores is reconstituted and not the real thing. There are some brands which give it to you as it comes and so, they can be a little hard to stomach because of their strong taste. What’s important is that it has all the goodness you need.
Concentrated noni juice has all these benefits, although you might want to know about some of the side effects as well. Noni juice when consumed regularly brings about a detoxification process in your body that may lead to a few side effects such as appearance of boils and pimples, foul breath, diarrhea or gas, headaches and joint pain. While these do sound discomfiting, they are apparently only a way for your body to get rid of all the toxins. Drinking plenty of water will help in flushing out those toxins more easily.
While there are many variants in the market, you might wonder if acquiring pure noni juice is difficult because of the price. Yes, pure noni juice is obviously priced higher because of the effort and time taken in processing it in the right manner. But irrespective of the price, here are a few tips to ascertain whether the noni juice you have is good or not.

• Bubbles – Shake the bottle to see if bubbles form. If the bubbles dissipate quickly, it means that there’s a higher concentration of water than noni juice in it.
• Color – When you shake the bottle, see if the color of the bubbles is brownish. This indicates purity.
• Residue – Good noni juice always has plenty of residue at the bottom. Turn the bottle upside down and note how much residue is visible.
• Taste and smell – Finally, observe the taste and smell of the noni juice. Noni is strong smelling stuff and it is definitely an acquired taste. If it has been flavored with other fruit juices, it might not be pure.

Those who swear by noni juice claim that there are plenty of benefits, but if you’re still a bit skeptical consult your doctor first before you start consuming it. This is, especially, applicable if you have a known heart condition or any other health related condition.

Does Noni Juice really cure all sorts of medical problems? I have heard that Noni Juice can cure a wide variety of illnesses.

A: No. Noni is a fantastic antioxidant that helps with overall good health and can help your body defend against many illnesses potentially, but I haven't read any research that shows it would single-handedly cure much of any full blown medical problems. Unfortunately, Noni, Acai, Mangosteen, and a few other "super fruits" are big fads right now, so there are a lot of companies that are jumping on that bandwagon and making some wild claims to help sell their product faster (and at a higher price ...than needed) before the fad ends. It's always best to do research before diving into any of the big fad products.

Artritis 'Memakan' Sendi

Oleh : Norlaila Hamima Jamaluddin

Sakit terseliuh kaki ketika bermain futsal mengambil masa hampir seminggu untuk hilang. Itu baru terseliuh, bagaimana agaknya kesakitan ditanggung pesakit artritis yang menderita sakit sendi setiap hari, terutama pada waktu pagi sebaik bangun tidur.

Artritis, terutama artritis reumatoid, menyerang ramai orang pada kemuncak hidup mereka. Antara kebimbangan utama pesakit ialah sama ada mereka dapat terus menjalani hidup dengan baik dan mempunyai karier seperti orang lain.

Sebenarnya pesakit artritis (tidak kira apa jenis artritis) masih boleh bekerja jika penyakit mereka terkawal. Ini sebabnya kita perlu tahu tanda awal sakit sendi dan segera berjumpa doktor supaya masalah anda dapat dikesan secepat mungkin. Semakin lama dibiarkan, masalah sakit sendi boleh bertambah buruk, terutama jika ia disebabkan keradangan pada sendi.

Keradangan ini secara perlahan-lahan ‘memakan’ dan merosakkan sendi sehingga menyebabkan sendi seseorang bukan saja berubah bentuk, tetapi hilang fungsinya sama sekali. Dalam keadaan ini, tidak banyak boleh dilakukan kecuali menjalani pembedahan penggantian sendi.

Artritis tidak harus menjadi penghalang seseorang untuk hidup dengan baik. Secara umumnya pesakit masih boleh bekerja jika penyakit mereka terkawal. Pilihan sama ada mahu bekerja atau tidak terletak pada pesakit itu sendiri.

Kebolehan untuk bekerja juga bergantung kepada tahap penyakit dan sama ada pesakit boleh melakukan sesuatu kerja itu. Dalam hal ini pesakit boleh membincangkan kebimbangan mereka dengan pakar reumatologi atau fisioterapi untuk mendapatkan penyelesaian.

Mereka boleh memilih untuk tidak bekerja tetapi jika bekerja, ia bukan saja mampu mengelak pesakit terlalu memikirkan masalah dan penyakit mereka, malah mempunyai pendapatan tetap bagi menampung kos ubat serta dapat mengembangkan rangkaian sosial untuk berkongsi masalah.

Apabila disahkan menghidap artritis, biasanya pesakit dinasihatkan belajar menguruskan rutin apabila sendi mereka tidak mengalami keradangan dan kesakitan. Pada masa sama pesakit perlu memperlahankan rentak hidup atau mengagihkan kerja kepada rakan sekerja ketika mengalami keradangan.

Pembedahan Penggantian Sendi

Selain mengamalkan beberapa senaman dan mengambil ubat, masalah sakit sendi boleh diatasi dengan pembedahan penggantian sendi.

Bagaimanapun, ia langkah terakhir selepas kaedah lain seperti berehat, rawatan sejuk dan panas (meletakkan pek sejuk dan panas pada sendi), melakukan senaman, menggunakan penganduh (kain yang digantung pada leher untuk mengampu tangan yang sakit) dan pengambilan ubat gagal memberi kesan positif.

Penyakit artritis kadangkala boleh mendatangkan kerosakan teruk kepada pesakit dan mengakibatkan kesakitan dan lumpuh. Dalam kes begini, peralatan gantian tiruan atau pembedahan ortopedik diperlukan untuk melegakan kesakitan dan memulihkan pergerakan. Ini akan meningkatkan kualiti hidup seseorang pesakit.

Tujuan utama pembedahan sendi adalah menghilangkan kesakitan dan ini memberi kesan baik terhadap kelancaran pergerakan serta meningkatkan keupayaan seseorang.

Pembedahan sendi juga disyorkan apabila sendi tidak ada pada posisi sepatutnya atau menjadi cacat disebabkan keradangan berpanjangan.

Apabila keadaan ini berlaku, bahagian sendi terbabit berasa sakit dan tidak dapat berfungsi dengan baik. Dalam kes begini pembedahan disyorkan bagi mengatasi masalah kesakitan dan membolehkan sendi yang diserang berfungsi lebih baik.

Beberapa bahagian sendi dapat diperbaiki untuk tumbesaran dengan meluruskannya, iaitu sendi pada pinggul, lutut, tangan dan pergelangan kaki. Sendi ini berfungsi dengan lebih baik selepas menjalani pembedahan. Ia juga kelihatan lebih kemas dan kesakitan dialami berkurangan.

Persediaan Sebelum Pembedahan

Sebelum menjalani pembedahan, beberapa perkara perlu dipertimbangkan iaitu:

* Adakah pembedahan akan memperbaiki cara dan kualiti hidup anda? Setiap orang ada keperluan hidup berbeza. Justeru, pesakit perlu berbincang mengenai apa yang diinginkan dengan doktor.

* Keadaan kesihatan dan keupayaan anda untuk menanggung kesan pembedahan dan ubat bius. Masalah kesihatan seperti jantung, paru-paru dan jangkitan kuman mesti dirawat terlebih dulu sebelum menjalani pembedahan.

* Seseorang yang mempunyai berat badan berlebihan mesti mengurangkannya terlebih dulu kerana berat badan berlebihan menambah tekanan kepada jantung dan paru-paru ketika pembedahan. Pesakit gemuk biasanya menghadapi lebih banyak komplikasi pembedahan dan proses pemulihan juga sukar dan lambat. Malah, kegemukan dan berat badan berlebihan memberi lebih tekanan kepada sendi tiruan dan seterusnya boleh memendekkan jangka hayat sendi baru itu.

* Selepas melakukan pembedahan anda perlu menjalani peraturan ketat untuk sesi fisioterapi, senaman dan pengambilan ubat. Perkara ini mesti difahami sebelum menjalani pembedahan.

Jenis Pembedahan

Sinovektomi — Satu prosedur di mana lapisan sendi (yang dikenali sebagai sinovium) dikeluarkan daripada sendi untuk mengurangkan bengkak dan kesakitan akibat keradangan. Pun begitu selepas pembedahan, pesakit mungkin mengalami masalah sendi kaku atau keras. Tisu sinovial juga mungkin tumbuh kembali selepas beberapa tahun.

Reseksi — Pemindahan tulang atau bahagian tulang yang biasanya dilakukan apabila sendi pada bahagian kaki mendatangkan kesukaran atau kesakitan ketika berjalan.

Artrodesis atau penguncian tulang — Ini adalah pembedahan untuk menyatukan dua tulang, biasanya pada pergelangan kaki, pergelangan tangan dan ibu jari. Meskipun kejayaan pembedahan ini menghilangkan kesakitan, ia juga menghilangkan keanjalan sendi.

Artroskopi — Cara di mana pakar bedah memeriksa sendi menggunakan alat yang dinamakan artroskop iaitu tiub nipis yang mempunyai lampu di hujungnya. Kelebihan prosedur ini ialah sendi tidak perlu dibuka ketika pembedahan kecil dan ia juga dapat digunakan untuk pembedahan sinovektomi lebih rumit. Tempoh pemulihan pesakit juga lebih cepat.

Penggantian sendi (artroplasti) — Sendi yang rosak dikeluarkan dan diganti dengan sendi tiruan. Rawan pula digantikan dengan plastik tahan lama dan aloi atau bahan yang sama ciri dengannya sebagai pengganti tulang. Cara ini berkesan jika digunakan pada lutut dan pinggul. Ia dapat menghilangkan kesakitan keseluruhannya.

Berapakah Kosnya?

Kos keseluruhan rawatan bergantung kepada beberapa faktor seperti upah pakar bedah, hospital, ubat, terapi fizikal yang diperlukan, jenis implan, ujian dan rawatan khusus lain. Sukar menentukan kos sebenar terapi penggantian sendi. Rujuk kepada doktor atau syarikat insurans sebelum menjalani pembedahan.

Pun begitu, beberapa cara boleh dilakukan untuk mendapatkan rawatan tanpa mengira jenis artritis yang anda alami. Yang perlu dilakukan ialah bekerjasama dengan doktor, jururawat, pakar terapi, ahli keluarga dan paling utama diri anda sendiri.

Ini penting jika anda memilih pembedahan. Pembedahan mungkin cara terbaik untuk mengurangkan kesakitan, memperbaiki pergerakan dan untuk memperoleh kualiti hidup lebih baik.

Artritis boleh menyerang sesiapa saja. Pembedahan penggantian sendi pula memerlukan belanja besar, contohnya kos untuk peralatan gantian (lutut atau pinggul) saja berharga antara RM6,000 ke RM8,000.

Ini menyebabkan ramai pesakit daripada golongan berpendapatan rendah terpaksa menanggung penderitaan dan sesetengahnya perlu menggunakan kerusi roda atau menjadi lumpuh disebabkan arthritis.

Apabila keadaan ini berlaku, ia mendatangkan lebih banyak masalah dan meningkatkan beban pesakit serta keluarga.

Cara Menjaga Sendi

* Beri perhatian kepada gejala yang dialami. Jika sendi sakit, bengkak dan terasa panas berlarutan melebihi dua minggu, segera berjumpa doktor. Gejala ini boleh muncul secara perlahan-lahan atau mendadak.

* Dapatkan rehat dan tidur yang mencukupi.

* Elak tekanan berlebihan yang mungkin menyebabkan keradangan.

* Susun tempat kerja anda untuk mengurangkan usaha mengangkat, mencapai, mengangkut, memegang atau berjalan bagi menjimatkan tenaga (khususnya bagi pesakit artritis).

* Elak pergerakan berulang untuk tempoh panjang. Ubah aktiviti anda atau berehat selepas melakukan kerja setiap 20 hingga 30 minit.

* Lindungi sendi anda daripada sakit, tekanan dan keradangan dengan menggunakan splin atau alat perlindungan.

* Kurangkan perjalanan jauh kerana ia memerlukan banyak tenaga.

* Bersenam. Senaman membantu mengurangkan kesakitan dan menambah jarak pergerakan sendi. Ia juga boleh mengatasi kelebihan dan menjadikan anda lebih segar serta bertenaga. Jika menghidap artitis, belajar kaedah senaman yang bersesuaian dengan keadaan anda.

* Lakukan aktiviti menggembirakan. Kajian menunjukkan ketawa dan kegembiraan boleh merehatkan sendi, mengurangkan kesakitan dan meningkatkan kekuatan sistem imun badan.

Pregnancy and Stretch Marks

by Dr. Nor Ashikin Mokhtar

Almost every one who has had a baby shares the same concern : stretch marks. They want to know whether they can avoid getting stretch marks – and if they do get them, what they can do to get rid of them.

It may not seem like a life-and-death issue, but it is important to women because it can affect their body image and self-confidence.

At the same time, women should not obsess too much about the existence of stretch marks – wrinkles and lines are part of nature, and stretch marks are evidence that you have been blessed with a child.

Stretch and Expand

During pregnancy, your abdomen expands a lot to accommodate your growing baby. The skin of your belly is able to stretch, but only to a certain limit. After that point, the elastic supportive tissue just beneath the skin saurface starts to break down, causing stretch marks.

It is believed that some people get stretch marks because their bodies produce more corticosteroid than others. Corticosteroid is a hormone that decreases the amount of collagen in the skin. As collagen is the protein which keeps our skin fibres stretchy, reduced levels of it will mean that the skin is unable to stretch to accommodate 9 months of pregnancy.

These marks appear as fine, depressed streaks in the skin, and often appear on the lower abdomen, as well as the thighs, hips, buttocks, breasts and arms. You will usually start noticing them in the sixth or seventh month.

The marks start off as thin, parallel red lines in the middle layer of the skin. They may also appear pink, reddish-brown, purple or dark brown, depending on your skin colour. The stretch marks do not hurt, but they may cause a tingling or itchy sensation.

As time goes on, the skin becomes thin and silvery and may appear scar-like.

Some Women Don't Get

How come some women do not get stretch marks? Yes, life is unfair. There are some women who sail through pregnancy without morning sickness or stretch marks, while others have to suffer through both.

Predicting who gets stretch marks is still something of a mystery to science. There are some known factors that put you in the likely category, such as genetics. If your mother or sister had stretch marks during pregnancy, you might as well be prepared.

If you gain a lot of weight rapidly, your skin will stretch dramatically, and this makes it more likely to develop marks. Obviously, if you are carrying multiple babies or a large baby, the same logic applies. Sudden and excessive weight gain can mean that the skin's elasticity is not able to handle the expansion.

If you have poor nutritional status, your skin is less likely to be healthy, which affects its elasticity.

Stretch Marks, Begone!

The million-dollar question is : can stretch marks be prevented from developing? Unfortunately, all the creams and all the lotions in the world can only do so much – there is still no fool-proof method for preventing stretch marks. However, there are many things you can do to minimise the effect of stretch marks, help the skin recover better, and help you feel more comfortable.

First, address your weight gain. The skin breaks because it has to expand rapidly, so do whatever you can to prevent sudden, excess weight gain.

Follow your doctor's advice for gradual weight gain, in the recommended amount. You should be aiming to gain 1 to 2 kg over the first 12 weeks, followed by 300-400g per week from weeks 12 to 28, and finally 1 to 3 kg per month over the last 3 months. The term 'eating for two' is a myth!

A healthy diet plays a role in that, as well as to nourish your skin and keep it healthy. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, and drink at least 8 glasses of water a day to hydrate your skin and maintain its elasticity.

Moisturisers and creams may not be able to prevent the marks, but they can keep the skin hydrated to reduce itchiness and irritation. The trick is to start using them early in your pregnancy, even if you do not notice any stretch marks or itchiness yet – if you wait until the stretch marks appear, then your skin is already overstretched and nothing can reverse that.

Cocoa butter, almond oil, shea butter, wheatgerm oil, and pure Lanolin are good choices. There are plenty of different brands out there, but do not spend too much money on such products and do not be taken in by promises such as '100% prevents stretch marks'!

After delivery, you should aim to lose weight gradually. Rapid weight loss can also result in stretch marks.

The marks will be less noticeable from about 6 to 12 months after you deliver. The pigmentation will fade and the marks will gradually become lighter than the surrounding skin.

By this time anyway, you will be so preoccupied with a new baby that these marks will not matter to you. After all, being a mum is much more important!

Diabetes dan Kerosakan Buah Pinggang

oleh Dato' Dr Zaki Morad bin Mohd Zaher

Darah anda dibersihkan oleh buah pinggang anda. Bahan-bahan sisa buangan dan cecair akan ditapis keluar, membentuk urin, yang akan disalur keluar melalui pundi kencing. Sekiranya buah pinggang anda rosak, fungsi penting ini tidak dapat dilakukan dan ianya akan mengakibatkan anda menjadi lesu atau kadang-kala membawa maut.

Apabila anda mula mendapat diabetes, buah pinggang anda mungkin akan membesar dan mula mengeluarkan bahan-bahan sisa buangan dengan cepatnya dari badan. Ini berlaku kerana terdapat banyak glukosa yang memasuki buah pinggang dan menyebabkan banyaknya air dikeluarkan dan seterusnya mengakibatkan tekanan di dalam buah pinggang anda meningkat.

Ini boleh menyebabkan membran dan struktur buah pinggang menjadi tebal dan selepas satu jangka masa, buah pinggang anda akan tidak boleh menapis darah sebanyak seperti dahulu. Apabila buah pinggang anda mula kehilangan keupayaan untuk menapis, cecair dan bahan sisa buangan akan mula berkumpul dalam darah dan meningkat ke tahap yang membahayakan.

Masalah Tidak Disedari

Ramai di antara mereka yang mempunyai penyakit buah pinggang tidak sedar bahawa mereka mempunyai masalah sehingga fungsi buah pinggang mereka menurun kepada kurang 25% daripada kapasiti normal. Pada tahap akhir penyakit, fungsi buah pinggang adalah kurang daripada 10% daripada kapasiti normal. Pada ketika itu, buah pinggang anda tidak lagi boleh mengekalkan hayat dan anda terpaksa menjalani rawatan dialisis ataupun pemindahan buah pinggang untuk terus hidup.

Secara amnya, lebih kurang 30-40% pesakit diabetes yang mempunyai penyakit buah pinggang disebabkan diabetes (nefropati diabetes) akhirnya akan mengalami kegagalan buah pinggang. Kebiasaannya ia mengambil masa selama 10 hingga 20 tahun dari masa penyakit diabetes bermula.

Tetapi, jangkamasa untuk buah pinggang anda gagal dari berfungsi boleh dikatakan akan menjadi singkat jika anda terlambat membuat pengesahan bahawa anda ada menghidapi penyakit diabetes. Oleh itu, adalah penting untuk anda melakukan pemeriksaan secara kerap untuk mengesan penyakit diabetes seawal yang boleh dan ambil langkah-langkah pencegahan yang sebaik-baiknya.

Dialisis Buah Pinggang

Diabetes mellitus, terutama jika disertakan dengan tekanan darah tinggi dan juga menghisap rokok, adalah sebab utama berlakunya penyakit buah pinggang (nefropati diabetes) di kebanyakan negara. Di Malaysia sebanyak 51% kes-kes baru yang diterima untuk dialisis pada tahun 2004 adalah di kalangan pesakit diabetes.

Dialisis adalah satu rawatan perubatan untuk mengeluarkan bahan sisa buangan badan secara terus dari darah bagi mereka yang mengalamai kegagalan fungsi buah pinggang. Dialisis akan akan hanya dapat menggantikan sebahagian daripada fungsi buah pinggang yang tidak lagi berfungsi. Terdapat 2 jenis dialisis iaitu hemodialisis dan dialisis peritoneal.

Hemodialisis adalah sejenis dialisis yang menggunakan satu mesin buah pinggang tiruan (mesin dialisis) untuk membuangkan cecair dan bahan sisa buangan dari aliran darah.

Dialisis peritoneal pula berasaskan satu tiub yang dimasukkan ke dalam rongga badan yang juga terletaknya perut, hati dan usus-usus, yang dipanggil kaviti peritoneal. Cecair dalam kuantiti yang banyak akan dialirkan ke dalam kaviti ini dan ia akan mengeluarkan sisa buangan melalui cecair yang mengalir balik ke luar daripada kaviti. Dialisis peritoneal selalunya di lakukan di rumah pada setiap hari.

Oleh kerana rawatan dialisis diperlukan secara kerap, maka ia biasanya akan menjadi beban kewangan kepada kebanyakan mereka yang memerlukannya. Kos untuk setiap sesi hemodialisis di klinik atau hospital swasta adalah dalam lingkungan RM100 ke RM300. Oleh kerana pesakit diabetes mungkin memerlukan 3 sesi seminggu, maka ia boleh menyebabkan anda berbelanja sehingga RM600 seminggu!

Anda sememangnya tidak patut menanggung beban yang seberat ini. Walaupun anda mempunyai diabetes, anda boleh mengelak atau melewatkan berlakunya kegagalan buah pinggang dengan berusaha untuk menjaga diri anda dan penyakit diabetes anda dengan baik.

Penjagaan Diabetes Yang Baik

Anda boleh mengelakkan penyakit buah pinggang yang disebabkan diabetes dengan :

* Mengawal tahap glukosa darah

Anda harus pastikan sebaik mungkin tahap glukosa darah anda berada di tahap yang disyorkan iaitu antara 3.8 hingga 6.1 mmol/L semasa berpuasa dan tidak lebih dari 7.8 mmol/L selepas makan. Banyak kajian telah menunjukkan bahawa kawalan glukosa darah yang baik dapat menurunkan risiko untuk mendapat penyakit buah pinggang disebabkan diabetes ataupun sekurang-kurangnya mengelakkannya daripada menjadi lebih teruk.

Oleh itu, adalah amat baik jika anda mula berusaha untuk memakan secara sederhana dan teratur, mengawal pengambilan karbohidrat, melakukan aktiviti fizikal dengan kerap dan mengurangkan berat badan yang berlebihan. Penjagan diabetes yang baik juga termasuklah mengambil ubat-ubatan mengikut peraturan (sekiranya dipreskripsi oleh doktor), memantau tahap glukosa darah setiap hari di rumah dan kerap berjumpa dengan doktor anda.

* Mengawal tekanan darah anda

Adalah disarankan bahawa pesakit-pesakit diabetes mestilah sentiasa mengekal tekanan darah mereka di bawah tahap 130 mmHg sistolik (bahagian atas) dan rendah daripada 80 mmHg diastolik (bahagian bawah). Ini mungkin agak sukar untuk dicapai dan anda mungkin memerlukan lebih daripada satu ubat tekanan darah.

Adalah penting untuk tekanan darah anda dikawal secara ketatnya. Tekanan darah pada paras yang tinggi boleh mempercepatkan terjadinya penyakit buah pinggang diabetes anda dan (jika ianya telah wujud) akan mengakibatkannya menjadi lebih teruk.

* Pengesanan awal untuk penyakit buah pinggang disebabkan diabetes

Sekiranya anda sudah mempunyai penyakit buah pinggang, protein darah mungkin akan tertumpah ke dalam urin. Kehadiran protein dalam kuantiti yang banyak dalam urin (satu petanda lewat nefropati diabetes) boleh dikesan dengan satu ujian ringkas dengan mencelup stik pengesan ke dalam urin.

Tetapi pengesanan untuk protein yang sedikit di dalam urin (mikroalbumin) - satu petanda awal kerosakan buah pinggang disebabkan diabetes - memerlukan ujian yang khas. Kehadiran mikroalbumin atau protein dalam urin menunjukkan buah pinggang anda telah rosak. Ini akan memberi amaran kepada doktor anda untuk mengambil tindakan yang sewajarnya untuk mengelakkan penyakit buah pinggang anda daripada menjadi lebih teruk.

* Mengambil ubat-ubatan anda mengikut peraturan

Tambahan kepada pengambilan ubat untuk mengawal diabetes (dan mungkin juga untuk tahap lipid anda), anda juga perlu mengambil ubat anti-hipertensi untuk mengekalkan tekanan darah anda di bawah tahap 130/80 mmHg.

Ubat-ubat daripada kumpulan Perencat Enzim Penukar Angiotensin (ACEI) ataupun Penghalang Reseptor Angiotensin (ARB) bukan sahaja dapat merendahkan tekanan darah anda, tetapi juga dapat melindungi buah pinggang anda dengan merendahkan tekanan dalam glomeruli. Oleh demikian, ia akan membantu mengurangkan risiko kematian disebabkan nefropati diabetes dan juga dapat mengurangkan keperluan untuk dialisis ataupun pemindahan buah pinggang.

* Berhenti merokok

Merokok adalah membahayakan untuk apa jua keadaan sekalipun. Merokok akan mempercepatkan proses pembentukan penyakit buah pinggang dan oleh sebab itu adalah lebih baik jika anda tidak merokok.

Mencegah Lebih Baik Daripada Merawat

Kehidupan boleh menjadi sukar apabila buah pinggang anda telah rosak. Diabetes bukan sahaja mengancam buah pinggang anda, tetapi juga organ-organ lain seperti jantung dan mata anda.

Berita baiknya ialah, anda boleh mengelakkannya atau melewatkan komplikasi-komplikasi diabetes ini daripada berlaku. Maka, ambillah langkah pertama hari ini jua untuk melindungi buah pinggang anda dengan mengamalkan pengurusan diabetes yang baik. Anda berkuasa untuk mengelakkan penyakit buah pinggang yang disebabkan diabetes anda dan sebaliknya dapat menikmati kehidupan dengan sepenuhnya, walaupun anda menghidapi diabetes.

Very Very Critical Information .. Dr.Devi Shetty, Narayana Hrudayalaya (Heart Specialist) Bangalore

 

A chat with Dr.Devi Shetty, Narayana Hrudayalaya
(Heart Specialist) Bangalore was arranged by WIPRO for its employees .
The transcript of the chat is given below. Useful for everyone.

Qn: What are the thumb rules for a layman to take care of his heart?
Ans:
1. Diet - Less of carbohydrate, more of protein, less oil
2. Exercise - Half an hour's walk, at least five days a week; avoid lifts and avoid sitting for a longtime
3. Quit smoking
4. Control weight
5. Control blood pressure and sugar
Qn: Is eating non-veg food (fish) good for the heart?

Ans: No

Qn: It's still a grave shock to hear that some apparently healthy person
gets a cardiac arrest. How do we understand it in perspective?

Ans: This is called silent attack; that is why we recommend everyone past the age of 30 to undergo routine health checkups.
Qn: Are heart diseases hereditary?

Ans: Yes
Qn: What are the ways in which the heart is stressed? What practices do you suggest to de-stress?

Ans: Change your attitude towards life. Do not look for perfection in everything in life.
Qn: Is walking better than jogging or is more intensive exercise required to keep a healthy heart?

Ans: Walking is better than jogging since jogging leads to early fatigue and injury to joints
Qn: You have done so much for the poor and needy. What has inspired you to do so?
Ans: Mother Theresa , who was my patient
Qn: Can people with low blood pressure suffer heart diseases?

Ans: Extremely rare
Qn: Does cholesterol accumulates right from an early age
(I'm currently only 22) or do you have to worry about it only after you are above 30 years of age?

Ans: Cholesterol accumulates from childhood.
Qn: How do irregular eating habits affect the heart ?

Ans: You tend to eat junk food when the habits are irregular and your body's enzyme release for digestion gets confused.
Qn: How can I control cholesterol content without using medicines?

Ans: Control diet, walk and eat walnut.
Qn: Can yoga prevent heart ailments?

Ans: Yoga helps.
Qn: Which is the best and worst food for the heart?

Ans: Fruits and vegetables are the best and the worst is oil.
Qn: Which oil is better - groundnut, sunflower, olive?

Ans: All oils are bad .
Qn: What is the routine checkup one should go through? Is there any specific test?

Ans: Routine blood test to ensure sugar, cholesterol is ok. Check BP, Treadmill test after an echo.
Qn: What are the first aid steps to be taken on a heart attack?
Ans: Help the person into a sleeping position , place an aspirin tablet under the tongue with a sorbitrate tablet if available, and rush him to a coronary care unit since the maximum casualty takes place within the first hour.
Qn: How do you differentiate between pain caused by a heart attack and that caused due to gastric trouble?

Ans: Extremely difficult without ECG.
Qn: What is the main cause of a steep increase in heart problems amongst youngsters? I see people of about 30-40 yrs of age having heart attacks and serious heart problems.

Ans: Increased awareness has increased incidents. Also, s edentary lifestyles, smoking, junk food, lack of exercise in a country where people are genetically three times more vulnerable for heart attacks than Europeans and Americans.
Qn: Is it possible for a person to have BP outside the normal range of 120/80 and yet be perfectly healthy?

Ans: Yes.
Qn: Marriages within close relatives can lead to heart problems for the child. Is it true?

Ans : Yes, co-sanguinity leads to congenital abnormalities and you may not have a software engineer as a child
Qn: Many of us have an irregular daily routine and many a times we have to stay late nights in office. Does this affect our heart ? What precautions would you recommend?

Ans : When you are young, nature protects you against all these irregularities. However, as you grow older, respect the biological clock.
Qn: Will taking anti-hypertensive drugs cause some other complications (short / long term)?

Ans : Yes, most drugs have some side effects. However, modern anti-hypertensive drugs are extremely safe.
Qn: Will consuming more coffee/tea lead to heart attacks?
Ans : No.
Qn: Are asthma patients more prone to heart disease?

Ans : No.
Qn: How would you define junk food?

Ans : Fried food like Kentucky , McDonalds , samosas, and even masala dosas.
Qn: You mentioned that Indians are three times more vulnerable. What is the reason for this, as Europeans and Americans also eat a lot of junk food?

Ans: Every race is vulnerable to some disease and unfortunately, Indians are vulnerable for the most expensive disease.
Qn: Does consuming bananas help reduce hypertension?

Ans : No.
Qn: Can a person help himself during a heart attack (Because we see a lot of forwarded emails on this)?

Ans : Yes. Lie down comfortably and put an aspirin tablet of any description under the tongue and ask someone to take you to the nearest coronary care unit without any delay and do not wait for the ambulance since most of the time, the ambulance does not turn up.
Qn: Do, in any way, low white blood cells and low hemoglobin count lead to heart problems?

Ans : No. But it is ideal to have normal hemoglobin level to increase your exercise capacity.
Qn: Sometimes, due to the hectic schedule we are not able to exercise. So, does walking while doing daily chores at home or climbing the stairs in the house, work as a substitute for exercise?
Ans : Certainly. Avoid sitting continuously for more than half an hour and even the act of getting out of the chair and going to another chair and sitting helps a lot.
Qn: Is there a relation between heart problems and blood sugar?

Ans: Yes. A strong relationship since diabetics are more vulnerable to heart attacks than non-diabetics.
Qn: What are the things one needs to take care of after a heart operation?

Ans : Diet, exercise, drugs on time , Control cholesterol, BP, weight.
Qn: Are people working on night shifts more vulnerable to heart disease when compared to day shift workers?

Ans : No.
Qn: What are the modern anti-hypertensive drugs?

Ans : There are hundreds of drugs and your doctor will chose the right combination for your problem, but my suggestion is to avoid the drugs and go for natural ways of controlling blood pressure by walk, diet to
reduce weight and changing attitudes towards lifestyles.
Qn: Does dispirin or similar headache pills increase the risk of heart attacks?
Ans : No.
Qn: Why is the rate of heart attacks more in men than in women?

Ans : Nature protects women till the age of 45. (Present Global census show that the Percentage of heart disease in women has increased than in men )

 Qn: How can one keep the heart in a good condition?

Ans : Eat a healthy diet, avoid junk food, exercise everyday, do not smoke and, go for health checkup s if you are past the age of 30 ( once in six months recommended) ....