Gout

What is gout? What is hyperuricemia?

Gout is a disease that results from an overload of uric acid in the body. This overload of uric acid leads to the kidney stones (nephrolithiasis).

formation of tiny crystals of urate that deposit in tissues of the body, especially the joints. When crystals form in the joints, it causes recurring attacks of joint inflammation (arthritis). Gout is considered a chronic and progressive disease. Chronic gout can also lead to deposits of hard lumps of uric acid in the tissues, particularly in and around the joints and may cause joint destruction, decreased kidney function, and

Gout has the unique distinction of being one of the most frequently recorded medical illnesses throughout history. It is often related to an inherited abnormality in the body's ability to process uric acid. Uric acid is a breakdown product of purines that are part of many foods we eat. An abnormality in handling uric acid can cause attacks of painful arthritis (gout attack), kidney stones, and blockage of the kidney-filtering tubules with uric acid crystals, leading to kidney failure. On the other hand, some people may only develop elevated blood uric acid levels (hyperuricemia) without having manifestations of gout, such as arthritis or kidney problems. The state of elevated levels of uric acid in the blood without symptoms is referred to as asymptomatic hyperuricemia. Asymptomatic hyperuricemia is considered a precursor state to the development of gout. The term gout refers the disease that is caused by an overload of uric acid in the body, resulting in painful arthritic attacks and deposits of lumps of uric acid crystals in body tissues.

Gouty arthritis is typically an extremely painful attack with a rapid onset of joint inflammation. The joint inflammation is precipitated by deposits of uric acid crystals in the joint fluid (synovial fluid) and joint lining (synovial lining). Intense joint inflammation occurs as the immune system reacts, causing white blood cells to engulf the uric acid crystals and chemical messengers of inflammation to be released, leading to pain, heat, and redness of the joint tissues. As gout progresses, the attacks of gouty arthritis typically occur more frequently and often in additional joints.

BENEFITS OF SEX

Benefits of Sex

"When you're in the mood, it's a sure bet that the last thing on your mind is boosting your immune system or maintaining a healthy weight. Yet good sex offers those health benefits and more. That's a surprise to many people, says Joy Davidson, PhD,

Dental Challenges and Solutions

Dental issues have become quite an occurrence these days. Though looks a very small piece, there's a lot of activity which happens in the mouth. Most of the dental issues can be attributed to the lifestyle, food habits and lack of personal hygiene. A lot of them can be avoided by following some basic hygienic practices recommended by majority of the dentists.

Frequently occurring dental problems include Cavities, yellow teeth, Bad Breath, Sensitive Teeth, Wisdom Teeth and gum diseases to name a few with plague being the major culprit behind majority of them listed. Plague is a breeding ground for bacteria and can lead to many other dental disorders. Many foods that are rich in sugar, along with fizzy drinks, candy and carbohydrates, contribute to plaque. Such foods often make the mouthwash ineffective. Periodontitis, an infection of the gums caused by the bacteria in plaque, is also likely to occur due to wrong brushing technique. If left untreated, the infection will rot the tissue in the gums and destroy the bones around the teeth, eventually facing (total) tooth loss and needing bone grafting to restore oral health with full dentures, over denture or partials.

Sensitive teeth are fast becoming the major concern for many people. Usually dental problems caused due to cavities or abscessed tooth, often sting when exposed to hot or very cold foods and liquids. Exposed nerve roots often from receding gums are also a cause for sensitive teeth. Sensitive teeth can be avoided by using a specialized tooth paste as suggested by your dentist. Cavities, caused by bacteria in the mouth left alone, feed on sugar and starch remnants left on or between the teeth and are very difficult to reach through brushing and flossing. Cavities are usually seen in kids and good oral hygiene is your best bet to prevent them from occurring.

A wisdom tooth, the occurrence of which has to do more with the jaw spacing usually forms when you don't have enough space in your jaw. If there's an enough space, the jaw comes in nicely and you can keep them forever. For some, there isn't enough room, which means they'll only come in, or "erupt" only partially.Bacteria are able to enter the soft tissue around the partially-erupted tooth and reside deep in the gums where the tooth is stuck. Eventually, most people develop an infection in the jaw bone around the wisdom tooth, or in many cases a cyst will form around the impacted wisdom tooth. Painful, impacted wisdom teeth are usually removed through surgery. Yellow teeth usually caused by foods and beverages we consume can be easily treated with over the counter options, laser whitening etc.

The American Dental Association recommends brushing your teeth, thoroughly, twice a day. A morning tongue scrapping plays a major role in oral health along with flossing. Most dental diseases are caused from poor oral hygiene and can be easily cured by taking good care of your teeth and regular visits to the dentist.

Maintaining A Good Oral Health

 Maintaining a good oral health care regimen is essential during orthodontics treatment to ensure that once your braces come off, or other treatment is completed, the hard work it took to achieve a straight smile wasn't all for naught. But brushing and flossing regularly isn't just to keep your smile bright and shiny. It might just save your life one day.

Healthy Teeth

Failing to properly brush and floss during treatment can damage a patient's teeth. Food particles and sugars from drinks can get stuck in the nooks and crannies of braces, for instance, and stain or otherwise harm teeth. But poor dental health doesn't just affect your smile, it can affect the rest of your body. Diabetes and heart disease are linked to oral health.

Patients are recommended to brush twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste. Patients who wear braces, should take extra care when brushing. Soft-bristled brushes are best for the mouth. Electric or battery-operated brushes can remove more plaque than standard brushing will. Patients should be sure to brush all surfaces of the teeth, not just those people see.

Toothbrushes should always be rinsed before and after each use and stored upright. Toothbrushes should never be covered or touch another toothbrush to prevent bacteria. Toothbrushes should be replaced every three months.

Flossing should occur each time you brush, as well. Effective flossing will remove plaque buildup from between the teeth and under the gums. If left alone, this plaque buildup can lead to gum disease.

Periodontitis is an oral disease that occurs when plaque builds up, spreading below the gumline. The toxins of the plaque irritate the gums, leading to irritation and inflammation. That can then lead to the tissue and bones that support the teeth breaking down, and eventually becoming destroyed. Small pockets of infection can grow in the mouth and the teeth will eventually become loose and need to be removed. The symptoms of periodontitis are mild, but they have very lasting effects.

That's why it is important that patients maintain all regular appointments with their dentists. Schedule checkups every six months and call your dentist at any sign of trouble. Warning signs include red or swollen gums, gums that bleed when you brush, loose permanent teeth, tooth sensitivity and persistent bad breath.

Other tips to remember, especially for patients who wear braces, include avoiding unnecessary snacking and don't drink sugary beverages. Any time food or drink comes into contact with teeth, there are more opportunities for problems to occur. Sugars and acids can wreak havoc on your mouth, eventually leading to tooth decay. And when patients are wearing braces, those sugars and acids can settle into the nooks and crannies created.

By following a few simple tips, patients can maintain their beautiful and radiant smiles they've worked hard to achieve, and avoid serious diseases such as diabetes and heart disease at the same time.

Mercy Johnson Okojie and Family

Family photos of Mercy Johnson Okojie, her husband Prince Odi Okojie and daughter, Purity. Find more photos after the cut... That little angel looks so much like her dad.

MTN Nigeria

MTN Nigeria has taken a big hit by recording 49 per cent of the overall subscribers that have switched service providers under the recently introduced Mobile Number Portability (MNP) scheme, according to figures released this week by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

With over 114 million active phone lines in Nigeria, mobile phone subscribers now have the freedom to switch from any non-performing operator and still retain their numbers with the introduction of number porting, NCC said when the scheme was launched last April.

On the same day of number porting launch, MTN, the largest network by subscriber numbers, launched its widely celebrated “Saka Don Port” campaign.

In the controversial TV commercial, MTN used an actor popularly known as Saka, who hitherto featured in TV commercials for rival Etisalat Nigeria, to promote its number porting campaign, urging subscribers to migrate to its network.

The Saka Don Port video by MTN got rave reviews and several wannabes, including a YouTube animation, which was to further trigger mixed reactions from industry market watchers.

Figures released by NCC showed that Etisalat may have emerged the big winner in the number porting duel between the two mobile phone companies as it recorded the biggest gain of 44 per cent in the first month of porting in the country, reported TechonologyTimes, an online ICT publication.

NCC Director of Public Affairs, Tony Ojobo, said number porting had deepened competition so far and given subscribers a choice to switch networks without losing their unique numbers, which he cited as one of the gains of the milestone 12th year of commercial roll out of GSM services in Nigeria in August 2001.

Ojobo said   within the first month after the April launch of number porting, among an overall number of subscribers that switched service providers in the telecoms market, MTN topped the losers table when it recorded a 49 per cent switch to other networks in May.

Globacom followed MTN by recording losses of 23 per cent; Airtel Nigeria was number three with overall losses of 17 per cent while Etisalat Nigeria came last on the losers table with 11 per cent for May figures. Culled from THISDAY LIVE

Looking Beautiful

Beauty could be defined as a reflection of effective functioning of body metabolizes, the human body is made up of cells, and cells are made up of organs, organs are made up of senses,  sense like the eye, skin etc.  Now if any of these senses become abnormal will that portrays beauty?  The answer is left for your imagination!  Care must be taken to maintaining our organs and reduce the wear and tie aging theory.

Poor health gets visible easily and can create a negative impact on your physical appearance, . Some obvious outward signs pointing  individual's physical health complications get detected are obesity, dark circles around the eyes, acne, dry skin and hair loss.

However, apart from these signs, there are several other marks that indicate health problems of a person as for instance, white fingernails, brittle hair, creases between the eyes and dandruff. This is why; if you like to look beautiful; you should definitely give importance to your health maintenance.

10 Tips You Should Watch Out For

1.         Use healthy cooking oil

It is a misconception that oils are all bad for your body. The secret to a beautiful body is to choose healthy oil for cooking. Monounsaturated fat is actually beneficial for your body and is found in oils like olive, flax and canola. Food prepared in these oils can help you to remain healthy and fit. In addition, these oils help your body to absorb essential fat-soluble carotenoids as well as vitamins that slow down the process of aging.

2.         Drink a lot of Water

Drinking a lot of water help the skin from dehydration and prevent it from wrinkle consequently power the elasticity to the skin, removing of waist products from the body greatly depends on liquid in the human body.  This is because water help in the digestion process and provide people with refreshed feel.

3.         Eat healthy diet

Healthy food rich in vitamins and minerals are important to provide proper nutrition to your body. Fruits, vegetables and nuts are very nutritious and help in slowing down the aging process. They increase immunity and help to fight diseases. Thus, you can retain youthful and beautiful for a long time. Always try to have different types of healthy foods that are rich in vitamins like A, B, D, C, E and K.

4.         Avoid Sugar

Sugar can suppress your immune system causes upsets to the mineral relationship in the body, sugar causes a decline in tissue elasticity  function  thereby leading decline physical appearance– the more sugar you eat, the more elasticity you lose.

  

5.         Use products with Retinoid

Retinoid are very essential for the formation of collagen. It also helps the cells of skin to regenerate. Therefore, take care to buy cosmetic products that have retinoid.

6.         Maintain Clean Skin

Clean up your skin. Blotches, ash marks, dirt, and acne are not very pretty. Aim to shower or bathe every day with a body wash that works for you. Use deodorant to keep your sweat-prone areas fresh. Remember: The best skin you could possibly have is free of acne, well moisturized, protected from UV rays, not greasy, and radiantly bright. So a good cleansing program and oil-free sunscreen is a must.

7.         Include protein in your diet

Protein is made up of amino acids which is very essential for the proper development of the body. These are known as the building blocks of our body and help in growth, repair and healing. Adequate protein is very essential for good skin, hair and nails. A normal person should include 120 grams of protein in his daily diet.

8.         Always Smile

Make the effort to smile. This will make you feel good about yourself, and make other people feel positive while improving your own mood. Think of something that made you laugh, and you'll have the most charming and pretty smile! Definitely practice smiling in front of the mirror and find out what your most beautiful smile is (a head tilt smile, a teeth smile, a full lip smile, etc.) Then have this smile on for the camera.

9.         Avoid long sun exposure

Sunlight provides vitamin D to the body and helps in the absorption of calcium and phosphorus. However, this does not mean that you have to bake in the sun for long hours. Overexposure of sun can cause sunburns and even skin cancer. The UV rays break the collagen present in the skin, making it dry and wrinkled. Be cautious and always apply sunscreen before going out.

10.       Having Enough Sleep

Get enough sleep. This will help you to always look your best. Regular sleeping patterns help your body to effectively regenerate and feel great the next day! More sleep equals a more awakened, energized person. If you don't have time to sleep in during the morning, avoid sleeping on your face, this will cause wrinkles and more grease, which probably means a longer facial care system.