Skin cancer

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Skin is the largest organ for human body. It is function for protecting the internal organ from injury, serves as a barrier to germs and  also helps to get rid of certain body wastes. Skin cancer is the most common of all cancer. It is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal skins. It occurs when unrepaired DNA damage to skin cells triggers mutations  that lead to skin cells to multiply rapidly and form malignant tumours. There are three types of skin cancers : basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma.

Symptoms

• A spread of pigmentation beyond the border, such as dark coloring that spreads past the edge of a mole or mark
• Changes of the skin, especially size, colour,spot or a new growth
• Bleeding, scaliness,oozing of the bump
• Feeling of itchiness, tenderness, or pain

Cause

• Unprotected or excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation
• Occupational exposure to coal tar,pitch,creosote,arsenic compounds,or radium
• Family history of skin cancer
• Multiple or unusual moles
• Severe sunburns in the past
• Smoking
• The use of many immunosuppressive drugs
• Chronic non healing wounds

Action plan

• Avoid direct exposure to the sun between 10am- 4pm.
• Cover up with protective clothes to protect skin from the direct sunlight exposure
• Apply sunscreen with sun protection factor (SPF) 30 by 30 minutes before outdoor activities.
• Undergo regular checkups and bringing changing lesions to the attention of doctor.
• Increase the consumption of carrot,orange,tomatoes, red peppers, spinach and kale which rich in antioxidant to lower the risk of skin cancer.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

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Rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune disease where the body attack own tissues and cells that result in chronic inflammatory condition. It may affect many tissues and organs but more targeted on flexible joints. It may cause mobility difficulties and pain which can lead to substantial loss of functioning if not adequately treated.

Symptoms

• Painful and swollen joints ,especially hands,feet and knees
• Difficulty moving joints
• Stiffness and pain in affected joints
• Fever
• Red, puffy hands
• Fatigue
• Hard bumps just under the skin near the joints
• Loss of appetite

Cause

• Genetics 
• Food allergies
• Abnormal gut and bowel permeability
• Deficiencies of B vitamins
• Deficiencies of essential fatty acid 
• Smoking
• Chronic stress
• Adrenal weakness
• Constipation
• Infection

Action Plan

• Increase the intake of fruit and vegetables for the antioxidant.
• Eat more deep sea dish like salmon,mackerel and sardines for the omega-3 fats as anti-inflammatory agent.
• Take supplement such as vitamin B-complex, vitamin D and E.
• Avoid the intake of refined food such as white bread, pastas and sugar.
• Reduce intake of red meat and trans-fatty acids that found in commercially baked goods such as cookies,cakes,doughnuts and processed foods.
• Avoid caffeine and other stimulants, alcohol and tobacco.
• Maintain a regular exercise such as swimming, walking,  or biking for 30 minutes of 3-5 times a week.
• Use hot and cold treatment by applying direct to the pain site; heat maybe useful for chronic pain while cold provide relief to acute pain.
• Try massage therapy to relax the muscle, reduce the tension, and relief arthritis pain.

Pancreatitis

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Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas. The pancreas is an organ that  produces digestive enzymes that help to break down protein, fat and carbohydrates from food as well as insulin and glucagon that control blood sugar levels. Pancreatitis can be acute or chronic. The acute pancreatitis may only last a few days and may resolve completely .For chronic pancreatitis, it starts off as acute and scarred it may not recover and the  damage can worsen. Often there is no pain in chronic pancreatitis; this may be a signed that the pancreas has stopped working altogether.


Symptoms

• Severe upper abdominal burning pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Fever
• Chill
• Jaundice
• Increase heart rate

Cause

• Alcohol abuse
• Gallstones
• Medications
• Oxidative stress
• Antioxidant deficiencies
• Injury
• Genetics
• Surgery
• High blood calcium level
• Scorpion sting
• Autoimmune disease
• Infections
• High blood fats

Action plan

• Maintain a low fat foods diet but make sure to eat some sources of essential fat daily for anti-inflammatory functions that needed for health.
• Increase the intake of fruit and vegetables that rich in antioxidant to reduce pain and severity of pancreatitis.
• Avoid the intake of alcohol which will put a huge strain on the pancreas.
• Limit the intake of refined carbohydrates, processed fats and saturated fats.
• Supplement with antiocidants such as vitamin C,E, beta-carotene and methionine.
• Eat small, regular meals and snacks to put less strain on the pancreas and digestive system.
• Stop smoking as cigarette create free radicals damages and used up antioxidant. 

Osteoarthritis

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It is also called "wear-and-tear arthritis", this tend to strike people in their fifties and above and affects more women than men.It refers to the erosion of cartilage that covers the ends of bones between joints．The usually smooth cartilage becomes rough and this results in friction, pain and inflammation.The changes in the cartilage stimulate the overgrowth of bone cells as the body tries to correct the imbalance.This overgrowth can lead to bony spurs that contribute to more pain.The affected joints includes wrist,hands, knees,spine and hips.

Symptoms

• Joint Pain
• Joint Stiffness
• Joint Swelling
• Reduction in mobility of affected joints
• Bony enlargements in the middle and end joints of the fingers

Cause

• Inherited defect genes responsible for making cartilage which leads to rapid deterioration of joints.
• Obesity increase risk of osteoarthritis for the knee, hip, and spine.
• Injuries contribute to the development of osteoarthritis such as athletes with knee injuries or people who have had severe back injury.
• Overuse of certain joints increase risk of osteoarthritis.For instance, people in jobs requiring repeated bending of knee.
• Other condition such as rheumatoid arthritis ,iron overload or excess growth hormone also increase risk of osteoarthritis.

Action Plan

• Eat deep sea fish such as sardines,salmon,mackerel which contain anti-inflammatory omega 3 essential fats.
• Increase the intake of fruits and vegetables that high in anti-inflammatory nutrients and can help to alkalise the body.
• Eat fresh pineapple that contains bromelain to reduce inflammation.
• Avoid intake of saturated fat from food that have an inflammatory effect.
• Reduce intake of tea, coffee, and spinach that contain oxalic acid to increase acidity and worsen inflammation.
• Place cold packs on inflamed joins to reduce inflammation.
• Have hot then cold shower to promote circulation circulation and healing.
• Get regular, moderate exercise such as walking or swimming to strengthen surrounding muscles and ligaments.

Nausea

Nausea is a sensation of unease and discomfort in the upper stomach,leaving the feeling of draining energy and wanting to vomit. Nausea is not a sickness but rather a symptom of several conditions which many does not related to the stomach.

Causes

• B vitamin deficiency
• Lack of food
• Malnutrition
• Food poisoning
• Infection
• Stress
• Digestive disturbances
• Migraines
• Anorexia
• Pregnancy
• Gall bladder disease
• Medication
• Travel sickness

Action plan

• Plain wholemeal toast or dry crackers to help settle the stomach
• Miso soup to helps neutralize stomach acid
• Pumpkin seed to reduce nausea
• Drink ginger tea or hot water with ginger slice
• Avoid travel sickness by eating papaya or whole grains before setting off 
• Avoid alcohol, spicy and fatty food before travel to prevent travel sickness

Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome is defined as a cluster of any 3 condition which includes the increase of blood pressure, a high blood glucose level, excess of body fat around the waist and abnormal cholesterol level. The combination of all these conditions will lead to the higher risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes.


Symptoms

• Triglycerides                  >= 1.7 mmol/l
• HDL-C  

          Men                                 < 1.0 mmol / l

          Women                            < 1.3 mmol / l

• Blood pressure(mm Hg) >= 130 / >=85
• Fasting glucose               >= 6.1 mmol / l
• Waist Circumference

          Men                                  >90cm

          Women                             >80cm

Causes

• Lack of  physical activity (sedentary lifestyle)
• Excessive intake of carbohydrate
• Smoking
• Ageing
• Insulin resistance
• Excess blood clotting
• Hormone changes
• Increase level of blood substances that are sign of body inflammation
• Excess weight around middle and upper parts of body

Action plan

• Increase fibre intake for lowering the insulin and blood sugar level.
• Take garlic for protecting the cardio-vascular system.
• Consume more deep sea fish which contain omega-3 essential fat to protect heart and improve cell response to insulin.
• Avoid high sugary and refined carbohydrate food which will increase the insulin level such as soft drinks, biscuit, cake, pastries, chocolate, sweets, white rice, white bread, crisps and potatoes.
• Lower the salt intake to control the blood pressure level.
• Restrict the intake of tea, coffee and caffeinated soft drinks as caffeine will indirectly raises blood sugar levels and therefore insulin.

Lactose Intolerance

Individual that are lactose intolerant will be unable to digest the milk sugar lactose. Digestion of lactose requires the enzyme lactase, which is produced by the cells lining the small intestine. The lactase will break down lactose into two simpler form of sugar called glucose and galactose to be absorbed  into the blood stream. Lactose intolerance usually results in unpleasant digestive symptoms when products containing lactose are eaten.


Symptoms

• Diarrhea
• Bloating
• flatulence
• Abdominal pain
• Nausea

Causes

• Genetics
• Damage of digestive tract due to coeliac disease, gastroenteritis or colitis,infection, surgery and injuries

Action plan

• Add plenty of non-dairy calcium-rich food to diet such as broccoli, soy milk, tofu,oat and soya yoghurt
• Eat magnesium rich food to ensure correct uptake of calcium such as white beans, dark green leafies, pumpkin seeds, brown rice, and seaweed
• Check labels carefully, dairy products and lactose are found in many products.
• Eat milk products that are easier for people with lactose intolerance to digest, such as yogurt and hard cheese
• Take a tablet that contains the lactase enzyme when eat foods that contain lactose