Are You Glucose Intolerant?

We’ve all heard about the rise of diabetes, but a related disease called impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) hasn’t received much recognition. IGT sufferers have a reduced ability to regulate sugar levels in their blood. It’s the same problem as diabetes but in a milder form. Here’s what you need to know:

• Risk factors – IGT is common among those who are overweight, who have family members with diabetes, who have history of heart disease and / or store, and who have high blood pressure.

• Diagnosis – It is diagnosed with an oral glucose tolerance test. A person fasts, then is given a drink containing 75 grams of glucose. Blood sugar Is measured tow hours later. Someone with IGT will get higher levels of glucose over a longer period.

• Treatment – While IGT can not be treated directly, people with IGT are encouraged to increase their level of physical activity, achieve a healthy weight and follow a healthy, balanced diet. Drugs can help slow IGT’s development into diabetes.

If you think you are risk for IGT, ask your doctor about having a glucose tolerance test.

No Shame in Helping Your Bowels

Your digestive system seems to be out of control. Either you can’t stay off the toilet, or your stomach is tied in knots. Your bowel movements are loose and runny, or unusually hard.

If this sounds familiar, you are probably suffering from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), the most common digestive disorder. A lot of people are too embarrassed to seek help. Symptoms include constipation or diarrhoea after meals, over a period of several months, usually accompanied by abnormal cramps or bloating and increased intestinal gas.

The good new is that IBS isn’t life-threatening. These tips to ease the discomfort cause by IBS:

• Avoid gas-forming foods like potatoes, beans, legumes, broccoli, lentils and cabbage.

• Eat a high-fibre diet. Fibre increases stool production and reduces pressure in the intestines.

• Eliminate diary products to see if your condition improves.

• Have small, frequent meals and cut out fatty food like ham-burgers, frieds, ice cream and chocolate.

• Drink lots of fluid to keep your bowels moving smoothly

• Avoid coffee – Caffeine, even in small accounts, stimulates the bowels.

Exercise like a Kid

The more you enjoy exercising, the more likely you’ll stick with it. Children play these games just for fun, but you can get a healthier heart and slimmer body:

• Hula-hoop – Targets abdominal and lower back muscles for a sculpted waist.

• Skipping rope – You’ll tone your calves and build agility, strength and endurance. Just 15 minutes of vigorous skipping burns almost as many kilojoules as a half-hour jog.

• Scooter – The standing leg gets stronger, while the pushing leg gets an endurance workout. It’s great cardio and will firm up the legs. Balancing works the core while trimming abs.

• Trampoline – Not recommended for children, but a high-intensity session on a mini-trampoline burns about the same number of kilojoules as running, without the knee-jarring impact. Just be careful you don’t fall of.

Keep an Eye on Your Eyes

The state of your peepers can reveal a lot about your health information. So, keep an eye on your eyes:

• Yellow eyes – Most eyes take on a yellow-brown tinge with age, though a diet high in fat and low in fruit and vegetables can make it worse. This won’t affect sight, but if it’s pronounced and affects the skin, it could be jaundice. See your doctor.

• Foggy sight – Could be an early sign of cataracts, opaque patches on the lens that are operable. Could also be glaucoma, pressure in the eye that can cause blindness if not picked up.

• Putty eyes – Usually mean something is irritating the eye, perhaps an allergy or water retention. Can occasionally signal a thyroid problem, in which case the neck may also swell.

• Flashing lights – Visual disturbances can be a sign of stress. But it can also be a warning of retinal detachment, so have an eye exam to rule that out.

• Double vision – Aside from alcohol or other drugs, a common cause is an untreated childhood squint. But if it appears in later life, it could signal multiple sclerosis, stroke, a tumor or some other disease.

• Blurring – Long and short sightedness and astigmatism can all cause this, so you may need glasses or a new prescription. But blurring can also be a symptom of high blood pressure or uncontrolled diabetes, or the beginnings of age-related macular degeneration. This comes to us all but can be slowed by talking a lutein supplement.

• Stye – A harmless infection forming a small, often painful abscess at the base of an eyelash or inside the eyelid. Will usually disappear on its own, but can be treated with antibiotic ointment.

• Floaters – Usually just a shadow cast by the natural proteins in your eye. But if you suddenly start seeing lots of they are colored, then it could signal bleeding or a torn retina.

• Aching eyes – Probably caused by working in front of a computer. Take regular breaks.

• Red, gritty eyes – Could be an infection or allergy, but it may be a trapped lash or a bit of make-up. You may need to see an optometrist.

Life Need Not be a Pain in the Neck

Although neck pain does not get the same attention as back pain, it is common. If you are susceptible, here are some hints:

• Do not jump out of bed and start exercising. Let your joints warm up.

• At work, adjust your computer so that the top of the monitor is at eye level and use a document holder. Learning to touch type will also stop you having to look down constantly.

• Change the phone from side to side when using it. Do not cup the receiver between head and neck. Try using a headset.

• Avoid heavy handbags or briefcases. Get a backpack or “trolley” briefcase.

• Sit upright when you are driving. Do not lean back in a straight armed “racer” position.

• Support your neck in bed. Scrunch up a pillow or towel or use a neck pillow.

• Try ice or frozen peas to soothe throbbing pain, or a hot water bottle for aches.

Eyes Protection - Made for the Shade

Cataracts are caused by ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure, and new studies have found that light at the blue end of the spectrum can damage the retina and possibly lead to age-related macular degeneration.

Protecting your eyes from the sun is as simple as slipping on a pair of shades. UV-protected sunglasses will block out up to 90 per cent of visible light and 100 per cent of UV rays. Ensuring kids wear sunglasses is doubly important because their pupils dilate more than adults, allowing in more harmful rays.

Some pointers when buying shades:

• Non-UV protective sunglasses could be worse than none at all because they fool the pupil into not constricting, letting in more UV rays.

• Wraparound shades prevent light from getting into your eyes from the side.

• Expensive glasses do not necessarily offer more protection – always look for a 100 per cent UV certificate.