health tips

Loosing few hours of precious sleep each night can leave you with more than an eye bug and a sleepy day. Lack of enough sleep can literally add up several pounds to your weighing scale. The connection between inadequate sleep and obesity is so strong that we can no longer take this fact for granted. Inadequate Sleep boosts Appetite...here's the science behind it @healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan Not having enough sleep messes up with the body's hormones and metabolism. Scientific studies show that inadequate sleep decreases leptin hormone and increases ghrelin hormone in the body leading to an increase in appetite, which can consequently, lead to an inevitable weight gain. The role of leptin and ghrelin Leptin is a hormone produced by fat cells whose purpose is to suppress appetite and increase metabolism. However, even when obese people have high leptin levels, their body has become immune to it's effect. Moreover, leptin promotes inflammation, an important precursor in

Sitting in your abdomen is a massive internal organ weighing 3 lbs (1.3 kg), without which, you can't possibly survive. It's your liver. Amazingly, liver is the only internal organ of a human being that can fully regenerate itself. Liver: the only internal organ that can fully regenerate @healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan Even if just a quarter of a human liver is left, it can grow back to it's full size. That's good news because our liver is critical to our survival. Unlike other organs, the liver regenerates both it's tissues and functions, leaving no scar. Our liver detoxifies our blood. All the stuffs you've ingested is screened by your liver to ensure you don't end up with sepsis or blood poisoning. The ability to regenerate is a magnificent feat that serves us well, but do know that while the liver can grow back to it's full mass, regenerated liver tissue is unable to mold back in it's original shape. So, don't expect a perfectly shaped li

Who doesn't hate coming down with watery eyes, runny nose, uncontrollable sneeze, clogged nose, headache, cough, and sore throat -- the frequent signs and symptoms of common cold. No one obcourse, ironically, we all had it. Now, how about we look into some of the facts that makes common cold a clever and dangerous disease that shouldn't be taken lightly. 10 Horrible Facts about Common Cold @healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan 1. More than 200 types of virus is responsible for causing common cold in humans. Among the most common are rhinovirus, corona virus, and influenza virus. That means, building an immunity against common cold is hard. In fact, there is no vaccine against common cold. This is one disease we can't help but get multiple times each year. 2. You may want to count. Each year, adult usually get ill with common cold about 2 to 3 times. Children get infected with common cold much more often. 3. Surviving common cold is a feat of the immune system, without which,

Why do we have pets? We humans are wired to be social beings. But, let's face it, there are times when being with fellow humans can be really painful and stressful. Ever wonder why cats and dogs have an enormous fanbase online? The Lifesaving Purpose of Pets @healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan Does the comradery of a pet serves a purpose? Research reveals that pets provide such a strong support, at times, even more effective than the support we get from our family, spouse, or close friend. Don't underestimate the huge emotional impact that pets have on us. There are documentaries of people who survived tough times thanks to their pet, which will make you see pets in a new light. Studies reveal that the presence of a dog improves performance and lessens error. Furthermore, pets are beneficial to the cardiovascular system as their mere presence lowers blood pressure and heart rate. It may have been our natural instinct to find a way to fill our longing and cut down on stress by be

Phenytoin is an anti-epileptic drug used to treat and prevent seizure. Want to know more facts about it? 12 Facts about Phenytoin @healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan 1. Phenytoin had been used since 1938 to treat seizure. 2. Do not stop taking phenytoin abruptly unless directed by your doctor because this can aggravate seizure attacks. 3. Long term use of phenytoin can reduce Vitamin D in the body making the individual prone to skeletal problems such as fracture and osteoporosis. 4. Phenytoin can reduce insulin release which can lead to high blood sugar level. 5. Taking phenytoin can make some people suicidal. 6. Phenytoin can be taken either with or without food. 7. If you miss one dose of phenytoin and it's almost time for your next dose, do not take double dose. 8. Phenytoin decreases the effectivenes of birth control pills. 9. Calcium impedes the absorption of phenytoin. 10. Nystagmus, or the involuntary jerking of the eyes, is the most common side effect of phenytoin in childre

11 Facts about Seizure in Newborn Babies @healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan 1. Seizure happens when clusters of neurons get excited uncontrollably all at once. 2. Seizure is usually the first sign of an underlying neurological problem in newborn. 3. 1 to 5 in every 1000 live births are afflicted with neonatal seizure. 4. Preterm babies have higher incidence of seizure compared to term birth babies. 5. If seizure is left untreated, it can cause further damage to the developing brain of the newborn. 6. Seizure in newborn has many etiology, like: acidosis hypoglycemia hypocalcemia hypomagnesemia stroke intracranial hemorrhage meningitis hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy 7. Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy is the most common cause of seizure in term birth babies. 8. Continous video-electroencephalogram (cEEG) monitoring is the gold standard to diagnose neonatal seizure. 9. Most cases of neonatal seizure are asymptomatic. 10. Electroclinical dissociation describes the phenomenon when a seizure

Varicose viens are dilated and twisted viens usually with bluish tinge commonly seen on the lower extremities. 13 Facts about Varicose viens @healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan 1. In healthy viens, there are one way valves which prevent pooling of the blood, however in varicose viens, the valves are faulty, not closing properly which allows blood to backflow and accumulate in the viens leading to bulging and pain. 2. Genetics is the number one predisposing factor in developing varicose viens. 3. Obesity, advancing age, pregnancy, prolong standing and prolong sitting contributes to the formation of varicose viens. 4. Varicose vien affects more female than male. 5. Exercise, leg elevation, and use of compressive stocking are beneficial to individuals with varicose viens. 6. Having varicose viens increases the risk of forming blood clots (thrombus) which can travel to the lungs and cause pulmonary embolism. 7. Avoid standing or sitting for a long period of time as gravity puts pressure on

Garlic is sensational for it's culinary and medicinal wonders. It's a superfood that's commonly sitting in the kitchen. Want to add flavor to soup or scrambled egg? Then, how about we use garlic oil? How to make Garlic Oil? @healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan Making garlic oil is easy. Here's a step by step guide. Ingredients: 8 cloves crushed garlic 1 cup edible oil of your choice Instruction to make garlic oil: Pour 8 cloves crushed garlic and 1 cup oil in a saucepan. Put it under medium heat and stir occasionally for about 5 minutes or until the garlic turns golden brown. Strain the garlic bits off. Pour in the garlic oil in a glass container and let it cool. Store in the body of a refrigerator for up to 1 week. Note: Do not store garlic oil in room temperature so you don't risk contracting botulism. If you'd like, you can also leave the garlic bits in the garlic oil so you'll get a stronger taste.

The combo of honey and lemon as a home remedy for cough is popular for good reasons. Honey is a demulcent, which means that it forms a protective layer on the mucous membrane of the mouth and throat to soothe and prevent abrasion. In addition, honey acts a natural cough suppressant. Lemon, a citrus fruit, is rich in Vitamin C which is advantageous to the immune system. Honey and Lemon for Cough @healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan Who doesn't hate a bout of cough? Although it's a natural reflex to help expel pledge and secretions from the airways, there are times when it's doing more annoyance. Here's a classic twist of honey and lemon you should try to ease your cough. Ingredients:     1 cup or 8 ounce warm water     1 piece fresh lemon     2 teaspoon honey     juicer Instruction:     To obtain more juice from a lemon, soak it in warm water for about 15 minutes before you juice it.     Pour 1 cup or 8 ounce warm water in a mug     Cut a lemon in half     Use a juicer to

Did you know that when you're angry or depressed, your immune system is also failing you. With lower immunity arises health concerns such as sluggish wound healing and delayed recovery from infection. Both anger and drepression is linked to high levels of cytokines which promotes inflammamation. Chronic inflammation is linked to the development of many diseases like cardiovascular disease, colitis, and inflammatory bowel disorder. High levels of cytokines helps explain why those with anger or depression experience social withdrawal, loss of appetite, and sluggishness. Anger and Depression Lowers Immunity, Promotes Inflammation @healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan Anger and depression are two different emotion but they share several bad things in common that have tremendous impact to the well-being of an individual. Being angry or depressed makes you vulnerable to diseases because the levels of antibody in your body flunks. If that's not scary enough, imagine this. Did you know th

Their are cases when children have to undergo surgery and be given general anesthesia. Undergoing surgery is scary enough. Even so, knowing that general anesthesia can cut down a child's intelligence can freak out some parents. General Anesthesia cuts down Child's Intelligence @healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan A child's brain development during their formative years (6-12 years old) raises great concern among parents. When major surgery is deemed necessary, the use of anesthesia is a must...unless you want the surgery to be a living nightmare. But the use of general anesthesia does have it's downside when it comes to intelligence. Researchers found out that children exposed to general anesthesia has a marked reduction in intelligence. Children experience impairment in memory and difficulty learning. It is alarming that the bad impact of general anesthesia has over intelligence is dramatic even up to 3 month after undergoing operation. It isn't until 1 year after su

Did you know that taking a vacation is one of the most effective strategy to shake off work-related stress. Like it or not, most workplaces bombard their employees with stress every single workingday. Stress impacts performance, decision making, health, and well-being. When stress is piled high, burnout is inevitable. What better way to shake it off than good'ol vacation. Does Vacation at Home Eliminate Work-related Stress? @healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan During vacation, do you choose to stay at home or go somewhere you've never been before? Want to know which one is better? Here's a research by C. Blank et al. in which they've recruited 40 employees who hold middle manager position. They were split into two groups. Half stayed at home while the others stayed in a hotel for a short vacation lasting 4 consecutive days. It turns out that even those manager who stayed at home during vacation had great reduction in stress and significant improvement in well-being. Both

Breakthrough: Measles virus hold potential for cancer treatment. Have you read the news? Measles Virus Kills Cancer What? Kill Cancer with Measles Virus? @healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan Cancer is hard to battle. In search for better ways to kill this deadly disease, let's talk about viruses, particularly measles. A normal person will definitely dread the idea of contracting measles, but recent breakthrough reveals it can offer an effective way to fight cancer. This may sound horrifying, but the potential of using virus for cancer treatment became evident when tumor growth progression deteriorated among some cancer patients who contracted viral illness. One success story of using measles virus against cancer is the case of Stacy Erholtz who had a remission of multiple myeloma after she received a single dose containing massive amounts of attenuated measles virus courtesy of Mayo Clinic. Do note that the measles virus she received were laboratory engineered to be weaker. How do me

Do you want to know more facts about lanzones? Lanzones is a popular fruit grown in many tropical countries in South East Asia. It is a delicious sweet, sour, and juicy fruit. This fruit has a spherical or oval shape, with yellow to brownish peel and a semi-translucent soft flesh. 8 Facts about Lanzones @healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan 1. Lanzones tree's lifespan is 1 century (100 years). 2. Take it easy. Endulging in too much lanzones can cause bloating. 3. Lansones has several varieties including duku, jolo, longkong, and paete. 4. The flesh of lanzones fruit is usually eaten raw, but can also be made as candy, jam, beverage, jelly, salad, and be use as an ingredient in many Asian main dish. 5. Lanzones is in season from August to November. 6. Lanzones fruit is acidic so it's sour variety is not recommended for people afflicted with GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) or hyperacidity. 7. Lanzones originated from the Malaysian Peninsula. It has been grown successfully in

Lanzones is one of those delicious and nutritious fruits in Asia that we can't help but anticipate in delight during the "ber" months. What can I say, it's among those seasonal fruits that makes this part of the year special. Are you wondering what sorts of health benefits lanzones gives you everytime you indulge in the goodness of it's sweet and sour fruit? 7 Lanzones Health Benefits @healthbiztips Lanzones / lansones, also known as langsat, belongs to the mahogany family. It's scientific name is Lansium domesticum. Here's a list of the health benefits of lanzones. 1. Contains Fiber Lanzones contains fiber which aids in proper digestion. Every 100 gram of the edible portion of lanzones fruit contains 2.3 g of fiber which is good for your gut health. If you have gut problem like consitipation, this fruit will definitely benefit you. 2. Vitamins and minerals Lanzones or lansat is both delicious and nutritious. This tropical fruit is a rich source of vitamin