Guide to Your Health

When one thinks of metabolism, he/she generally thinks of how easily—and/or quickly—that his/her fat is able to burn. However, a more technical definition is listed as follows as “metabolism refers to all the chemical reactions taking place in the body to convert or use energy”. In turn, metabolism aims to break down the food that a person intakes, so that it can be turned into energy. But when one’s metabolism doesn’t function as it’s supposed to, this can be linked to a number of problems—and/or disorders—the most common revolving around his/her thyroid. Some of the most common metabolism problems involve hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and diabetes.

The thyroid gland is a part of the endocrine system which uses iodine from the foods one eats to make two main hormones being Triiodothyronine (T3) and Thyroxine (T4). These two hormones “regulate your body’s temperature, metabolism, and heart rate”. That’s why this gland can have such a great impact on a person’s health, but symptoms of thyroid problems, as well as severity, can differ greatly depending on the person. For, metabolism disorders “cause the body to have either too much or too little of the essential substances needed to stay healthy”.

First and foremost is hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. hypothyroidism stems from the underproduction of the hormones. Initial symptoms of such might include; “fatigue, weight gain, cold intolerance, memory problems, irritability and depression, higher cholesterol levels, slower heart rate, and constipation/sluggish bowel”. In contrast, hyperthyroidism is the overproduction of hormones which might include symptoms such as; “weight loss, heat intolerance, frequent bowel movements, tremors, nervousness and irritability, thyroid gland enlargement, sleep disturbances, and fatigue”.

Second is diabetes. For, “it’s not uncommon for one to have both thyroid disease and diabetes”. The reason behind such is because if someone has type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, or metabolic syndrome then his/her risk of developing thyroid disease is doubled. And thyroid disease increases one’s risk of developing metabolic syndrome or type 2 diabetes.

In conclusion, a metabolism disorder cannot be narrowed down to just one problem or disorder, because there are many. For, some may stem from nutrition deficiencies, some may result in diabetes, etc. That’s why it is beneficial that one seeks evaluation from that of a medical professional, so that he/she might be able to receive the necessary/needed treatment to get back to that of a healthy life.

Many of us get frustrated if we are unable to maintain the clear skin that we have longed for. A wide array of moisturizers, cleansers, and other such products are used, only for one to find his/her skin reverting right back to its exact same condition. It is through such that a significant amount of individuals in today’s society find themselves unaware of their skin condition, and without having an understanding of skin problems, it can be hard to know what to do—and/or what action to take. However, what many don’t realize is that this feeling of defeat doesn’t only go for those who struggle with their acne, but various other skin diseases such as eczema, hives, moles, rashes, psoriasis, vitiligo, and so on.

First and foremost is acne which is defined as “the occurrence of inflamed or infected oil glands in the skin, and characterized by red pimples on the face”. Second is eczema which is where “patches of skin become rough and inflamed, with blisters that cause itching and bleeding”. Third is hives which is “a rash of round, red welts on the skin that itch intensely, sometimes with dangerous swelling, caused by an allergic reaction”. Fourth is moles which “occur when cells in the skin grow in a cluster instead of being spread throughout the skin”. Rashes—which are much like hives—can be caused by a wide range of factors, rather than being limited to only allergic reactions.

Unfortunately, some skin disorders are permanent, such as psoriasis and vitiligo. Psoriasis is a disease “marked by red, itchy, scaly patches”, while vitiligo is “a condition in which the pigment is lost from the areas of the skin, causing whitish patches, often with no clear cause”. As a result, those who struggle with such have to adapt—and/or adjust—to the skin they’re in. This may be challenging for some if they want to rid their skin of the condition, and in the midst of such they might even find themselves losing their confidence—to which they have to rediscover themselves.

In conclusion, it is important that those who are faced with skin problems seek the best form of treatment/expertise from a health professional—and/or dermatologist. It is through his/her assistance that they can better learn what to avoid—and/or look out for—and what products are helpful and harmful to their skin type. Not only that, but if easily curable then they can be prescribed what they need, in order to clear up the symptoms they are experiencing.  

Respiratory problems—although common—can cause a plethora of trouble for those who deal with one or more on a daily basis. As a result, many may find them both uncomfortable—and debilitating—depending on the extent of their diagnosis. For, such a broad category holds a wide range of health issues going from 1. viruses to 2. chronic diseases. These two categories allow each respiratory problem to be classified into one or another.

First and foremost are viruses which consist of bronchitis, common cold, croup, influenza, and other such infections. Bronchitis is the “inflammation of the lining of one’s bronchial tubes (which carries air to and from one’s lungs), which causes one to cough up thickened mucus”, the common cold is “a viral infection of your nose and throat (upper respiratory tract)”, croup is “an infection of the upper airway, which obstructs breathing and causes a characteristic barking cough”, and influenza (flu) “tends to come on suddenly, and includes symptoms such as a fever over 100.4 degrees fahrenheit, aching muscles, chills, etc”.

Second is chronic diseases which are “diseases that persist for a long time” which last for 3 or more months. These consist of things such as COPD, asthma, lung cancer, etc. COPD, also known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is “a lung disease characterized by chronic obstruction of lung airflow that interferes with normal breathing and is not fully reversible”, asthma is “a respiratory condition marked by spasms in the bronchi of the lungs, causing difficulty in breathing, and usually results from an allergic reaction”, and lung cancer is “the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in one or both lungs. These abnormal cells do not carry out the functions of normal lung cells and do not develop into healthy lung tissue”.

All in all, people who are struggling with respiratory problems ranging from the common cold to lung cancer, must look at all the factors—and/or circumstances—in regards to such. For, there are a variety of aspects that may play a key role in one’s respiratory health such as his/her environmental exposure. For example, one can come across allergens within the air—like pollen and mold—which can significantly contribute to the health of his/her lungs.

Another scenario is where one either smokes directly, or resides in an environment where he/she comes into contact with smoke on a daily basis; this can also take a toll on one’s lungs. That’s why it is important that individuals take the time to be examined by a health professional early on—when they begin to experience symptoms of a respiratory infection—so that they can receive the treatment they need.