It's not true that strokes can occur only in adults. Stroke can also happen in teenagers and even in children and babies. While there are many causes, a latest study shows that the risk for stroke may in increase among children if they suffer infections such as colds and chickenpox.

Pediatric Stroke

Stroke is said to be a leading cause of death among children. Yet stroke is different in children and newborns as they are in adults. Strokes in children are more probably due to hemorrhagic strokes than ischemic strokes. More boys affected than girls and the causes are different among children.

There are various risk factors for stroke in children. Risk factors for adults such as irregular heartbeats and atherosclerosis are rare in children. The most common risk factors for children include heart problems, arterial diseases, infection, acute or chronic head and neck problems, blood disorders and sickle-cell disease. In the past ten years, there has been an increase in the incidence stroke within the ages of 15 to 34 years old. This may be due to the fact that the younger population are more prone to obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol-related disorders, alcohol use and tobacco use.

Symptoms may be overlooked by parents, caregiver and even health personnel because many people do not think that children may have stroke. Due to this, the child may not have proper treatment. Thus vigilance is a must. Some symptoms of stroke in children include seizures (especially in newborns), sudden or worsening headaches, difficulty of speaking which is sudden with slurring speech, trouble comprehending speech, weakness on one side of the body, sudden loss of vision or abnormal eye movements, trouble walking or loss of balance.

Treatment of stroke in children is dependent on the cause of stroke. Tissue plasminogen activator or tPA�may be given in ischemic stroke, a drug which is able to dissolve blood clots. Antithrombotic medications may also be given. Other measures may also be taken, such as supportive care for temperature, proper hydration, normalization of blood sugar levels, control of high blood pressure, detecting and treating seizures and maintaining intracranial pressure. Long-term care may also be taken for long-term effects such as weakness and paralysis on one side of the body, difficulty with speech, trouble swallowing, mood problems, vision problems, problems with memory, cognitive changes, behavioural changes, and personality changes. Long term changes may also include epilepsy, seizures and cerebral palsy. Children however get better easily than adults because their brains may still be growing.

Infections and the Risk for Stroke

A recent study shows that common infections such as colds or chickenpox may place a child at risk for stroke. In this study by researchers from Pediatric Stroke and Cerebrovascular Disease Center at the University of California, San Francisco, it was found out that there was a particularly strong association between stroke and infection which occurred within a week, almost seven-fold. The researchers think that infections act as a trigger for stroke in children who are predisposed to stroke.

The study analyzed data from 310 children who had experienced a stroke, and looked at data from 162 children who had not experienced stroke. The results showed that having infection for less than one week before stroke was linked to a 6.5-higher risk for stroke. The study also found out that the fewer vaccinations a child has, the more he or she was predisposed to stroke. The researchers recommended vaccination against chickenpox not only against the disease but also against childhood stroke, which has more devastating consequences. No other risk factors for stroke were known, except for a recent trauma in the neck or in the head.

If you see signs of stroke in a child, seek medical help immediately. For more news on how to treat and prevent infections, feel free to read our other articles on this site.

All of us have distinct personality traits that make us unique. However, in some people, certain thoughts and behaviours can be quite abnormal. These people react to things and situations differently than a normal person does. These people may have personality disorders, psychological disorders that may consist of rigid thoughts and behaviour. These people are inflexible and pervasive in their ways of dealing with situations. If left untreated, personality disorders can cause serious problems and impaired functioning.

Many experts think that personality disorders�stem from certain patterns of experiences and behaviour within a person which often deviates from the usual culture. This inflexible attitude prevails and causes significant impairment at work, at school, or in personal relationships. Personality disorders often prevail during adulthood and usually start in the early 20s or 30s. People who have them often live normal lives except that when they are exposed to stress and social demands they act differently. Some common personality disorders include antisocial, avoidant, borderline, dependent, histrionic, multiple personality, narcissistic, obsessive-compulsive, paranoid, schizoid and schizotypal personality disorders.

Schema Therapy

Recent news has it that a type of cognitive therapy known as schema therapy has the ability to treat personality disorders. But what is schema therapy? First of all, schema therapy is a type of cognitive therapy that combines behavioural, experiential, psychoanalytic� and interpersonal therapies into one. It encourages a person to change his or her negative patterns which he or she has lived with for a long period of time. Schema therapy is said to be successful when all other methods fail.

This method was developed by Dr. Jeff Young who discovered the different needs of people who have long-standing�behaviours and helped these people by utilizing schemas or life traps. These schemas are enduring and self-defeating patterns which have begun in early life and which have developed into negative thoughts and feelings over time. These schemas enable one to think that he is a failure, he is unpopular, he is inferior, etc. A lot of people deal with these schemas by avoidance, maintenance and compensation. The schema therapy is able to treat the person having schemas by breaking this pattern of negative thinking, negative feeling and negative behaving and by helping the person develop healthier ways of dealing with them.

Schema Therapy and Personality Disorders

Recently, there is a large-scale�randomized control trial which have shown that schema therapy may be beneficial to personality disorders such as obsessive compulsive, dependent, paranoid, histrionic, and narcissistic personality disorders. The results of this study were published in the American Journal of Psychiatry. According to the researchers, schema therapy gave rise to a higher rate of recovery, a greater decrease in depression, greater increases in general and social functioning and a lower dropout rate to therapy. Schema therapy was also noted to be cost-effective, so that the researchers recommend it to treat a variety of personality disorders.

In the past some studies have found out that borderline personality disorders can achieve full recovery with the use of schema therapy among all other treatments. Schema therapy may only be done in 50 sessions and because of this it may be cost-effective than all other therapies. Schema therapy is now widely gaining popularity in the United States and in Europe. Schema therapy is directed to meet the core emotional needs of the patient with personality disorders.

In this particular study, schema therapy was compared with Clarification-Oriented Psychotherapy and “treatment as usual” (TAU). The researchers found out that patients who received schema therapy had significant improvement in recovery from personality disorders. The researchers aim to disseminate this information among health care professionals especially psychiatrists and psychologists so that more people with personality disorders can benefit from this type of therapy.

You can learn more on how to be psychologically healthy by reading our other articles on this site.

We have all known how physical activity is important in normal functioning of the body. Physical activity can bring about increased energy levels in the body and may also eliminate long-term dangerous medical illnesses.

Physical Activity and Its Benefits

Physical activity is defined as any bodily movement that is produced by the muscles of the body and composes energy balance which affects our health. It is said that regular physical activity has a lot of benefits such as the control of weight, the maintenance of healthy bones and muscles, the reduction of risks for long-term illnesses such as hypertension and diabetes, psychological well-being, reduction in death risks and reduction in premature death risks. Also, latest news has it that physical activity can prevent the risk for cancers, especially that of the colon and of the breast, and that of the lung, the esophagus, the prostate and the uterus. These facts are especially important since many people are now into sedentary activity.

It is advised that adults should engage in moderate-intensity physical activity for at least 30 minutes a day for five or more days a week, or engage in vigorous intensity physical activities for at least 20 minutes a day for three or more times a week. Examples of moderate intensity physical activity include walking, brisk walking, hiking, roller skating, bicycling, aerobic dancing, water aerobics, calisthenics, yoga, home exercises, trampoline jumping, climbing stairs, weight training, boxing, dancing, table tennis, tennis, golf, basketball, softball, and other sports.

Vigorous physical activities include race, walking, jogging, running, backpacking, mountain climbing, dancing, water jogging, aerobics, calisthenics, push-ups, pull-ups, jumping rope, jumping jacks, weigh training, boxing, wrestling, dancing, tennis, football, basketball, soccer, rugby, kickball, hockey, skiing, rowing, scuba diving, horseback riding, gardening, lawn mowing, heavy housework and carrying objects weighing 50 pounds or more.

Physical activity is said to be protective against cancers. In colon cancers, it has been shown to protect against tumor growth and development while regulating hormone metabolism, insulin regulation, and prevention of toxic effects of carcinogens. It may also decrease inflammation and regulate the immune system. In breast cancer, physical activity lowers hormone levels especially in pre-menopausal�women while also lowering insulin and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) levels. It also enhances the immune response and maintains body weight for long-term.

Physical Activity in Cancer Survivors

New research also says that physical activity after diagnosis of cancers can improve quality of life, reduce fatigue and boost energy levels. Physical activity can reduce excess body weight even after a cancer diagnosis while also helping overcome side effects of chemotherapy. It is said that cancer survivors have improved survival rates as compared to those who lived sedentary lives. Physical activity can improve fitness and psychological well-being of cancer survivors and can help them become compliant with treatment regimens. Physical activity has various effects on leptin and insulin levels and can improve cancer prognosis.

A recent study has shown that male cancer survivors can live longer if they exercise. This study, published in the January issue of the Journal of Physical Activity & Health, studied more than a thousand male cancer survivors in the United States over the years. The researchers found out that men who burned more than 12,600 calories per week were less likely to die by 48 percent than those who burned less than 2,100 calories per week. Also, the researchers found out that those men who were physically active were less likely to die from heart disease by 49% and were less likely to die from cancer by 38%.

Thus the researchers suggest that cancer survivors should undertake regular physical activity to enhance longevity. If you want to learn about the other benefits of physical activity on cancers, you may read other articles on this site.

Who doesn't want to live longer? Almost all of us do. However, how can we live longer if we do not take good care of our health? If you maintain your healthy habits for life, you can lessen your risk for dangerous illnesses and you can live a good life at a ripe old age. If you are curious as to what constitutes good healthy habits, read on.

Some Good Health Habits

You should stay active all throughout life and avoid being sedentary. Studies say that if you allow yourself to become sedentary, you can raise your risk for diseases such are cardiovascular diseases, stroke, diabetes, immune disorders and arthritis. Even if you retire, you can still volunteer for small jobs just to while your time away.

You should also take care of your mouth, teeth and gums. You should brush your teeth after meals and floss every day. A study has shown that flossing everyday reduces the amount of disease-causing germs in the mouth. Bacteria that can invade the mouth can spread through the blood stream and into the other tissues of the body such as the heart to give rise to other diseases. Bacteria can give rise to inflammation and infection inside the body so that you have to keep them out with any way you can.

You should also increase your physical activity by engaging in exercise or sports at least 3 times a week. With exercise your body speeds up your metabolism so that it can eliminate more waste materials from your body and can lead to faster growth and repair of body tissues. Exercise can improve your mood, balance, mental alertness, and muscle strength.

Eat nutritious foods such as fiber rich foods. Never skip breakfast because it is the most important meal of the day. You should get your daily servings of whole grains, fruits and vegetables especially during breakfast. This helps maintain your blood sugar levels everyday and reduces the risk for diabetes. You should also opt to consume more whole foods that contain more nutrients so that you will age well and not succumb to cognitive decline earlier.

Get at least 7 hours of sleep at night. You should not lose sleep at night and make it up during the day. This can take the years out of your youth and make you at risk for more illnesses. Try to get good sleep at night and avoid caffeine laden drinks and alcohol before bedtime.

Stay stress free. Do not worry too much and do not let yourself get overworked. Spend some fun time with family and friends and do some meditation every now and then. Also, do not smoke, drink too much alcohol and do not take in more sweets. Do not feast on food with too much carbs in them. Keep in shape and lose weight if it is in excess.

Good Habits Make You Fit For Life

Researchers from KIT, Technische�Universität�München, and the universities of Konstanz and Bayreuth have found out that if good health habits are introduced at an early age, the person will stay fit for life. In this study which involved 500 adults who were studied for 18 years, nutritional and exercise habits were found to affect the status of fitness in the next 18 years. This study only suggests that we should educate our young on good healthy habits so that they will stay fit later on as adults.

To know more about staying healthy, feel free to browse other articles on this site.

Hepatitis B may seem like an innocent finding on a blood laboratory test however it may be a potentially life threatening medical condition that affects the liver. It is a common health problem worldwide. Experts say that people who are high risk for the infection should be screened to prevent deaths from liver cancer and liver failure.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is becoming a common infection worldwide. It is a chronic infection; after many years the person may become predisposed to liver failure or liver cancer. Millions of people have already developed hepatitis B worldwide, and a percentage of these people die from the long-term complications of the disease. This illness can cause symptoms that can last for several weeks such as dark urine, extreme fatigue, yellowing of the eyes and skin, vomiting, nausea and abdominal pain. Some people who were infected by the virus have been infected since they were children and some were infected as adults.

Hepatitis B is commonly spread at birth from the mother to the child. It can also be transmitted from person to person during adulthood. One third of cases are passed on from the mother to child during birth and the rest of the population have been infected by the use of contaminated needles among drug users and through sexual transmission.

It is said that the hepatitis B virus can survive outside the human body for as long as 7 days. If the virus enters into the body within this period, the person may become infected if he or she is not protected by vaccination. Hepatitis viruses usually have an incubation period of about 75 days, although the range may be 30 to 180 days. It would be 30 to 60 days before the virus can be detected in the blood by laboratory tests. Most people do not feel or manifest any signs and symptoms after infection; however in some people there may be yellowing of the eyes or skin, fatigue, dark urine, vomiting, nausea and abdominal pain. In several of these people, the virus may cause a chronic liver infection that may develop into liver cancer or cirrhosis of the liver. While some people develop chronic liver infections, some healthy people may recover and get rid of the virus within six months.

There are some people who carry certain risks for this disorder. Risk is dependent on age; children less than 6 years of age who become infected with the virus are at risk of acquiring chronic infections later in life. For adults, less than 5 percent will develop chronic infection while 15 to 25% of adults who have chronic infections usually die from cirrhosis or liver cancer.

Hepatitis B is usually diagnosed by laboratory tests. Screening is done by detection of the hepatitis B surface antigen HBsAg. Blood donors should be screened for hepatitis B before they can donate blood. If the infection is acute, HBsAg�and immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibody to the core antigen, HBcAg�would be positive. Chronic infection is detected by the persistence of HBsAg�for greater than 6 months. Those who have persistent HBsAg�are at risk for having chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma later in life. If HBeAg is positive in the blood, this means that the patient is highly contagious.

There is no specific treatment for hepatitis B infection. Good nutrition should be given as well as adequate care and rest. Chronic hepatitis B is usually treated with interferon and antiviral agents.

Screening for Hepatitis B

According to a draft recommendation from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, high risk adults should be screened for hepatitis B including the following people: those born on countries or regions with a high rate of hepatitis B infection (Africa, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Eastern Europe and the northern countries in South America), people born in the United States who were not vaccinated against hepatitis B in infancy whose parents were born in areas with a high rate of hepatitis B infection, those who are HIV-positive, IV drug users, gay and bisexual men, people with a weak immune system and those undergoing treatment for kidney failure. Vaccination should be done to be protected against the infection. To read more about hepatitis B, you can check out our other articles on this site.

Tyrosine is a least-talked about amino acid. Yet what you will learn now may make you search for more tyrosine rich foods on your kitchen shelf.

Tyrosine

Tyrosine is a type of amino acid which you may need to take in from your daily diet so that the body can make another amino acid called phenylalanine, Aside from this, tyrosine is also needed to make important neurotransmitters in the body such as norepinephrine, epinephrine and dopamine. These neurotransmitters are important in the communications between nerve cells, the conduction of impulses from the parts of the body to the brain and vice versa and in maintaining mood. Tyrosine also helps create melanin which is the pigment responsible for giving hair and skin its characteristic color. Other functions of tyrosine include the production and regulation of hormones in the body such as those found in the pituitary, thyroid and adrenal glands. It is also needed in protein metabolism. Thus we can say that tyrosine is also an important amino acid.

Tyrosine can be acquired from the daily diet, so it's rare to have tyrosine deficiency. However, if tyrosine deficiency happens indeed it will cause some manifestations such as low body temperature, low blood pressure and underactivity�of the thyroid. Tyrosine can be used as a supplement in people with phenylketonuria. Phenylketonuria is a condition wherein the body cannot use phenylalanine which is an amino acid, so that it further leads to brain damage and other mental problems. People with PKU often have low levels of tyrosine so that it can be used in this situation. Tyrosine also helps with stress, because this amino acid can facilitate the production of norephinephrine and epinephrine which are stress hormones. In times of stress, the body is not able to create enough tyrosine from phenylalanine so that more tyrosine supplementation is needed. Tyrosine is also sais to sharpen memory and improve cognitive performance even in times of stress. Tyrosine can also make you feel more alert, especially when you lacked sleep, however this is subject to validation by more research studies. Some athletes even advocate the use of tyrosine because it can boost performance.

The effects of tyrosine may be due to the fact that it helps the body produce a mood chemical called dopamine, which further affects mood. It is even said that depression can lower tyrosine levels so that tyrosine supplementation may be needed in times of depression. Tyrosine can be consumed in the diet in the form of turkey, fish, chicken, soy products, bananas, dairy products, beans, nuts and seeds. It is also available in supplement form.

Tyrosine and Reflexes

Recently, a study has shown that eating spinach or eggs which contain tyrosine can improve reflexes. The findings of this research are published in the journal Neuropsychologia. This study conducted by researchers from Leiden University and the University of Amsterdam have found out that intake of tyrosine can enhance the body's ability to stop an activity at a faster speed. In this study, volunteers were made to perform a repetitive activity and were told to stop and look carefully at a computer screen. They were told to stop whenever a green arrow appeared so that they can press a button as quickly as possible. They were also made to match the button to the direction of the arrow. Whenever a red arrow appeared on the screen, the volunteers should keep their hands off the keyboard.

The results showed that those who consumed an orange drink that contained tyrosine were quicker in performing the stopping task. The researchers implied that tyrosine can increase reaction speed so that it can have benefits on road safety.

For more articles on how to take care of our brain and nerves, feel free to read our other articles on this site.

Sleep apnea is a medical condition wherein there are breathing pauses, shallow breathing, and reduced ventilation during sleep. This problem may give rise to a lot of complications such as hypertension, diabetes, stroke and heart disease. Recent news says that sleep apnea may contribute to worsening fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis. But is this true? Read on.

Sleep Apnea

The breathing pauses in sleep apnea can last for a few seconds to a few minutes. They can occur repetitively, about 30 times or more within one hour while you are sleeping. This is usually a chronic or a long term condition that affects your sleep. Sleep apnea leads to poor sleep quality and may give rise to frequent awakenings at night and excessive daytime sleepiness. The most common type is obstructive sleep apnea, wherein the airway collapses and becomes obstructed so that air cannot move in freely during sleep. This further causes breathing pauses or shallow breathing. While air enters the obstructed airway passages, it brings forth a noise caused by the vibration of the walls of the airways known as snoring. Obstructive sleep apnea is usually found in overweight people, however it can also occur in people of normal weight because of anatomic deformities of the throat and neck.

The other type of sleep apnea is central sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea is a less common type of sleep apnea and occurs when the brain doesn't send proper signals to the airways and the breathing muscles. Thus there is a lack of effort for breathing. Central sleep apnea is more common in people who have certain medical conditions or in people who use certain medications.

Sleep apnea when untreated can cause numerous medical consequences. It can raise blood pressure and predispose you to have heart attacks, obesity stroke and diabetes. This breathing problem can also worsen heart failure and makes your heart beat irregularly. It also increases your chance of having vehicular accidents, especially when you are driving. This is why sleep apnea needs to be treated as soon as possible. It can be treated with mouthpieces, lifestyle changes, breathing devices and surgery

Sleep Apnea and Multiple Sclerosis

Recently, a new study has found out that sleep apnea is more common among patients with multiple sclerosis and may contribute to their fatigue. This study done by researchers from University of Michigan Multiple Sclerosis and Sleep Disorders Centers utilized data from 195 people with multiple sclerosis who have completed sleep questionnaires and were assessed for insomnia, daytime sleepiness, fatigue and sleep apnea. The results which were published in the Feb. 15 issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine showed that one-fifth of the patients with multiple sclerosis have been diagnosed with sleep apnea and more than half were found to have elevated risks for this condition. The researchers also found out that multiple sclerosis patients who have sleep apnea also have more severe fatigue.

One of the manifestations of multiple sclerosis is fatigue. Multiple sclerosis is a disabling disease which attacks the nerves and the other parts of the central nervous system. This medical condition may give rise to symptoms such as numbness in the limbs and more serious complications such as paralysis or loss of vision. The researchers have found out that sleep apnea is a contributor to fatigue already experienced by patients with multiple sclerosis. This is why people with multiple sclerosis should be tested for concomitant sleep apnea and they should be treated if they were found out to have obstructive sleep apnea. Fatigue in patients with multiples sclerosis can lower quality of life in these patients.

To know more about sleep apnea, you can read our other articles on this site.

Being thin is in nowadays, and it sure comes with a lot of benefits. Aside from making you wear all the clothes that you want, being thin can also eliminate your risks of acquiring illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol levels, heart disease and stroke.

Bariatric Surgery

For morbidly obese people, diet and exercise simply wouldn't work. Bariatric�surgery may be the only option for these people. Bariatric surgery is the term for the type of surgery that can make the morbidly obese lose weight. It is not recommended for those who are not overweight or obese and it may also be the last resort for obesity which has been resistant to diet and exercise. Obese people have a body mass index or BMI of ?30. Weight loss surgery is only recommended for severe obesity or those with a body mass index of above 40 who had not responded to diet, exercise and weight loss medications. It is also recommended for those with a body mass of 35 to 40 with problems such as diabetes, joint pains and sleep apnea.

Those who have been prescribed with weight loss surgery�should be made aware of its benefits and risks. You should also be motivated and willing enough to make changes in your lifestyle. There are several types of weight loss surgeries that your doctor can choose from, such as lap banding, gastric bypass, and sleeve gastrectomy.

Lap banding, also known as laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) uses an adjustable band fitted around the stomach's opening to reduce the amount of food that you can eat. It is a popular type of weight loss surgery because it can be removed or adjusted, with a lower risk of serious complications after surgery. Weight loss can occur at 45 to 75% after two years. On the other hand, gastric bypass or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass creates a small pouch in the stomach that can make you lose weight by reducing the amount of food that you can take in. The smaller stomach pouch can hold less food thus making you feel full even if you have just eaten a little. The body also absorbs lesser calories in the process. This procedure has a high success rate of about 62 to 68% weight loss during the first year.

The other procedure is sleeve gastrectomy�and can reduce stomach size to just a narrow tube. This new stomach is smaller and produces less ghrelen, a hormone that triggers hunger. Thus sleeve gastrectomy makes you easily full and satisfied even if you have eaten a little food. It is less invasive than gastric bypass due to its minimal invasion to the intestines, thus it creates less malnutrition. It can lose about 33% of body weight during the first year.

Thus we can say that weight loss surgeries are all highly effective methods of reducing weight. However, the question is, can body perception change after the obese even after weight loss surgery?

Weight Loss Surgery And Body Perception

A new study has shown that after weight loss surgery, women take a long time to adjust to their new stomach�. This doctoral thesis from Karen Synne�Groven at the University of Oslo gathered data from 22 women who underwent gastric bypass, one year after the operation and 2.5 to 4 years after surgery. The researcher concluded that weight loss surgery has increased quality of life in all of these women; however, they still have a hard time adjusting to their feelings and to other socially. They still had feelings of inferiority even if they were already in shape.

The researcher commented that this may be due to the branding society does to fat men and women. A lot of commercials focus on being fit and thin; with shapely models to promote products, especially health products. These commercials seem to imply that fat women were lazy and ate the wrong food. This perception has to be changed.

If you need some advice on how to stay fit and healthy, you can read our other articles on this site.

Diabetes and Its Complications

Diabetes is becoming more a common medical condition nowadays, and this problem is a product of stress and unhealthy eating. In diabetes, there is a problem with which the body metabolizes glucose from the foods that we eat. The food that we eat provides glucose to the body which in turn can fuel up our processes in the body that use up energy. The problem with diabetes is that it leads to numerous dangerous complications such as stroke, heart attacks, atherosclerosis and metabolic syndrome.

Symptoms of diabetes include increased thirst, frequent urination, extreme hunger and unexplained weight loss. The urine may show ketones, which are by-products of muscle and fat breakdown. Other signs and symptoms include fatigue, high blood pressure, slow-healing wounds, blurred vision and infections such as urinary tract infections, vaginal infections, gum infections and skin infections.

Type 1 diabetes is usually caused by problems in the immune system of the body. Normally, our immune system fights off harmful bacteria and viruses. In type 1 diabetes, the immune system attacks the body's cells in the pancreas, the ones that produce insulin. This makes the pancreas produce little or no insulin at all, so that sugar piles up in the bloodstream and causes numerous adverse effects on the body. The cause of the destruction of cells in the pancreas is mostly unknown although a lot of experts have theorized that genes and environmental factors may play a role.

On the other hand, pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes is caused by the resistance of body cells to the action of insulin. In these conditions, the pancreas is unable to make insulin to overcome this resistance in body cells. Blood sugar also builds up in the bloodstream as found in type 1 diabetes mellitus. Genetic and environmental factors may also play a role in type 2 diabetes.

Another type of diabetes is gestational diabetes, which manifests itself as elevated blood sugar levels during pregnancy. This may be due to the action of the placenta which causes hormones that causes resistance of the body cells to the action of insulin. In this condition, the pancreas does not produce enough insulin to overcome this resistance.

Risk factors for Type 1 diabetes include genes, environmental factors, viral illnesses, the presence of autoantibodies�in the immune system of the body, dietary factors, race and geography. As for type 2 diabetes, risk factors include excess weight, being sedentary, family history, race, old age, gestational diabetes, polycystic ovarian syndrome, high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and other factors.

Diabetes and Cognitive Function

There are many complications of diabetes, including cardiovascular disease, nerve damage, kidney damage, eye damage, foot damage, skin and mouth disorders, osteoporosis, dementia and cancers. Cognitive decline is one consequence of diabetes, which may be due to reduced brain volume and increased white matter lesions on imaging procedures of the brain. In the past, cognitive decline was theorized to be attributed to high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels. However, lately, a new study has shown that blood pressure lowering and cholesterol lowering were not associated with reduced risks for cognitive decline in diabetics. This study, done by researchers from Wake Forest School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, N.C, studied more than 2000 subjects without baseline cognitive impairment or dementia and with hemoglobin A 1C levels less than 7.5 percent. These subjects were assessed at baseline, 20 and 40 months. There were no differences in cognitive function with blood pressure lowering and blood cholesterol lowering. More studies are needed in the future to determine what factors are responsible for cognitive decline among diabetics.

For more articles on how to live with diabetes, feel free to browse other articles on this site.