Meena Mangalathil:

What is Cancer? Cancer is not a single disease. It is a group of diseases, all of which display the common feature of cells showing uncontrolled growth. Cancer may affect people at all ages, children and adults but the risk increases with age. The cells of all animal bodies follow a predictable pattern, where old cells become defunct, and eventually die, with new cells taking their place. The essential difference is the time it takes for cells to wear out and die, and this varies between cell types. Almost every cell dies and is replaced, except certain specialized cells like brain cells. When this process goes out of the normal synchrony, cells multiply out of control with a resultant malignant process. The end result is a mass of cells, called a tumor. The Causes of Cancer Cancer rates for various types of cancer are on the rise, and environmental/lifestyle factors are increasingly being pinpointed as the culprits, such as: • Pesticide- and other chemical exposures • Pha

What is Blood Pressure? Blood pressure measures how strongly blood presses against the walls of your arteries (large blood vessels) as it is pumped around your body by your heart. Blood pressure is the result of two forces: from the heart as it pumps blood into the arteries and throughout the circulatory system, and the force of the arteries as they resist blood flow. The “Silent Killer” High blood pressure is often termed “the Silent Killer” because it usually has no symptoms. Many people have high blood pressure for many years without knowing about it. The only way to find out if your blood pressure is elevated is to have your blood pressure checked. High Blood Pressure 1. Elevated blood pressure is harmful to the body because it causes the heart to work harder than normal, leaving both the heart and arteries more prone to injury. 2. High blood pressure also increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, damage to the eyes, kidney failure, atherosclerosis and congestive

What is Obesity? Obesity results from the excessive accumulation of fat that exceeds the body's skeletal and physical standards. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), an increase in 20 percent or more above your ideal body weight is the point at which excess weight becomes a health risk. Causes of obesity Obesity results when there is an imbalance between energy intake and energy expenditure. In other words, you consume more calories than you expend in your daily activities. Weight gained during certain critical periods of your life more commonly lead to an increased number (as opposed to increased size) of fat cells and make obesity more difficult to treat. These time periods are: • Between 12 and 18 months of age. • Between 12 and 16 years of age. • Adulthood when a person gains in excess of 60% of their ideal body weight. • Pregnancy. During these periods, an excessive amount of weight gain causes an increased number of fat cells. Once a fat cell is

What is Epilepsy? Abnormal electrical activity in the brain can cause seizures. When a person has repeated seizures, this condition is called epilepsy. Seizures happen when the electrical system of the brain malfunctions. Instead of discharging electrical energy in a controlled manner, the brain cells keep firing. The result may be a surge of energy through the brain, causing unconsciousness and contractions of the muscles. If only part of the brain is affected, it may cloud awareness, block normal communication, and produce a variety of undirected, uncontrolled, unorganized movements. Most seizures last only a minute or two, although confusion afterwards may last longer. An epilepsy syndrome is defined by a collection of similar factors, such as type of seizure, when they developed in life, and response to treatment. What Causes Seizures? There are many different causes of seizures. According to some studies, between 7% and 10% of people will suffer a single isolated sei

I met a friend, whose friend had liver cirrhosis. So he wanted to know, what are the causes. Why it happens, etc... So I just went in search of the causes, etc... What is Liver Cirrhosis? Cirrhosis is a chronic, irreversible liver disease caused by repeated damage to the liver, most commonly due to excessive alcohol intake over several years. Ultimately, the liver tissue is destroyed and unable to complete its normal functions, which include synthesis of various molecules and processing of foods, drugs, and toxins. The majority of cases are due to chronic alcohol use or viral hepatitis, especially hepatitis C. However, any chronic liver disease can lead to cirrhosis. The initial symptoms a. weight loss, b. anorexia, c. fatigue, d. weakness, e. nausea, f. dull abdominal pain, g. constipation or diarrhea As the disease progresses, symptoms become more severe and may include a. jaundice (a yellow discoloration of the skin), b. gynecomastia (excessive growth of men

Diabetes is one of the leading non-communicable diseases which are called silent killers. Diabetes is a metabolic disease in which a person has high blood sugar, either because the pancreas do not produce enough insulin, or because cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced. There are two kinds of Diabetes - Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 sets in in childhood and Type 2 sets in later in adulthood. The reasons for the cause of Diabetes - a. obesity, b. sedentary lifestyle, c. genetic factors Diabetes leads to a. Cardiovascular conditions, b. Kidney damage, c. Eye and skin conditions, d. Stroke and coma, e. Fertility issues Naturally it would drastically hamper the quality of life along with that it can sometimes leave a life-threatening impact on the body. Symptoms of Diabetes 1. Numbness that starts as a tingling in the hands, fingers, legs, and feet is an early warning sign of diabetes. 2. Increased Urination :- They have an overwhelming urge to urinate.

Today one of my cousins passed away due to heart attack. I really felt sad because I do not know how many of my family members passed away due to cancer. The most saddening thing is, my dad too passed away due to heart attack. So I decided to just find out, why it happens in the first place and the shocking factor just opened up to me. I hope you too read it and know it. What is a Heart Attack? A heart attack is a serious medical emergency in which the supply of blood to the heart is suddenly blocked, usually by a blood clot. What are the causes of Heart Attack? Heart attacks are not the result of coronary artery disease. It is as a result of disease in the small vessels—the capillaries and small arterioles—which is a consequence of factors such as stress, diabetes, smoking and nutritional deficiencies. Heart cells, which are very active metabolically, suffer from inadequate oxygen and nutrient supply. This oxygen and nutrient deficiency increases under stressful conditions. W