Enzymes are the workers in our body that make everything function, by enabling chemical reactions. All living cells contain enzymes. They are hard to visualize, since they are not something tangible, but they are essential to our bodies and our lives depend on them.
There are many kinds of enzymes, and they do everything from helping us breath to helping begin life at conception. Eighty percent of our DNA code relates to enzymes. But the kind of enzymes discussed here relate to our digestion and the food we eat.
In the process of digestion, the digestive enzymes in our bodies break down food into tiny microscopic parts that the body can use for fuel, growth and repair. One food may take hundreds of different types of enzymes for the body to digest.
Food is naturally filled with enzymes, called ?food enzymes?, that help us to digest that food. The problem is that when we cook or process it, we kill those enzymes. Temperatures over 118 degrees will destroy the enzymes. A good example of this is pineapple, which has some very powerful digestive enzymes in it. These enzymes work so well that when added to gelatin (like Jello), the enzymes won't allow the gelatin to thicken. So they only kind of pineapple you can add to gelatin is canned pineapple, which has been cooked and processed so that all the enzymes have been destroyed. It is now safe to add to gelatin, but not as good for your body.
Our body can manufacture enzymes, called digestive enzymes, in the pancreas. But when we eat a diet that is filled with mostly cooked and processed foods, depleted of enzymes, the pancreas is forced to work much harder than it was meant to, manufacturing the enzymes the body needs to digest these foods.
So the pancreas ends up overworking, and the body spends much needed energy and resources on digestion instead of important things like boosting the immune system, growth, repairs in the body and fighting disease. Even worse, if the pancreas becomes so overworked that it shuts down, then bits of undigested food start floating around the body in the bloodstream, causing all kinds of trouble.
The pancreas can be healed in time, with a diet of raw foods filled with enzymes. This same kind of diet, filled with raw fruits, vegetables, seeds and nuts, will keep the pancreas from getting that bad to begin with, and will enable the body to spend it?s energy on more important processes like boosting the immune system and fighting pancreas disease.
This is why it is so vital that we eat a diet containing lots of fresh enzyme filled raw foods. Especially in the world we live in today, where we are surrounded by poisons and things that cause cancer. We need these wholesome foods now more than humans ever have in the past, to help our bodies stay disease free and functioning properly.
About The Author
By Dianne Ronnow, © 2006 Mohave Publishing. All rights reserved. This article can be found at the Enzyme Health web site at http://Enzyme-Health.com. Dianne Ronnow’s best selling book reveals how thousands of people are losing weight and getting healthier adding coconut oil to their diets. To find out what the secrets of coconut oil are, check out her site at http://Coconut-Oil-Diet.com and start losing weight today!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dianne_Ronnow
Monday, July 31, 2006
pancreas diseases : Ferret Diseases and Illness
Ferrets are fun and lively pets, but there are many ferret diseases that can strike quickly so you need to be sure to monitor your pets health carefully.
Ferrets can get sick just like any other pet and can even catch a cold or flu from you. Just like other pets, it might be difficult to tell when your ferret is sick. Since ferrets are often bundles of energy, you might notice that your ferret is a bit less energetic or simply just laying around, much like you do when you don’t feel well. This could indicate a simple cold or may mean something more serious.
A ferret that has caught a cold might have a runny nose, coughing and might even start sneezing. He may have other symptoms such as a fever, diarrhea, and he may not want to eat much either. To determine for sure if your ferret has a common cold or one of the more serious ferret diseases, you should take him to your vet at the first sign of illness.
If it is determined that your ferret has a simple common cold, you can help him get over his illness by giving him lots of fluids. You will want to prevent him from becoming dehydrated and may want to try giving him some rehydrating drinks made for children.
If your ferret has symptoms that last longer then a few days or stops eating or drinking, this can indicate serious illness or disease and you should get him to the vet right away. Ferrets have a very high metabolism and if the animal dehydrates himself, he can slip away rather quickly if he does not get the help that he needs.
One of the common ferret diseases is adrenal disease which is a cancer of the adrenal glands. Symptoms of this disease include hair loss and possibly the animal becoming more aggressive than usual. This condition can be fatal if it is not taken care of right away.
Insulinoma is another common ferret type of disease. This cancer affects the pancreas and causes the production of insulin to increase causing the ferrets blood sugar to drop to a dangerously low level. Symptoms of this condition include lethargy, seizures, and foaming at the mouth.
There are also a number of viral diseases that can also cause illness in your ferret. He could have any number of conditions including loss of appetite, diarrhea, and weight loss. If you notice any of these symptoms, it is necessary for you to contact your vet as many of the conditions can be a signal of something that is threatening to the life of your pet.
In order to keep your pet healthy and happy, you should be sure he sees the vet yearly and watch his behavior closely for signs of change. With proper care, your ferret can live a healthy life of 8 years or even more.
Lee Dobbins writes for ferrets.pet-breeds.com where you can find out more about how to care for your pet ferret.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lee_Dobbins
Ferrets can get sick just like any other pet and can even catch a cold or flu from you. Just like other pets, it might be difficult to tell when your ferret is sick. Since ferrets are often bundles of energy, you might notice that your ferret is a bit less energetic or simply just laying around, much like you do when you don’t feel well. This could indicate a simple cold or may mean something more serious.
A ferret that has caught a cold might have a runny nose, coughing and might even start sneezing. He may have other symptoms such as a fever, diarrhea, and he may not want to eat much either. To determine for sure if your ferret has a common cold or one of the more serious ferret diseases, you should take him to your vet at the first sign of illness.
If it is determined that your ferret has a simple common cold, you can help him get over his illness by giving him lots of fluids. You will want to prevent him from becoming dehydrated and may want to try giving him some rehydrating drinks made for children.
If your ferret has symptoms that last longer then a few days or stops eating or drinking, this can indicate serious illness or disease and you should get him to the vet right away. Ferrets have a very high metabolism and if the animal dehydrates himself, he can slip away rather quickly if he does not get the help that he needs.
One of the common ferret diseases is adrenal disease which is a cancer of the adrenal glands. Symptoms of this disease include hair loss and possibly the animal becoming more aggressive than usual. This condition can be fatal if it is not taken care of right away.
Insulinoma is another common ferret type of disease. This cancer affects the pancreas and causes the production of insulin to increase causing the ferrets blood sugar to drop to a dangerously low level. Symptoms of this condition include lethargy, seizures, and foaming at the mouth.
There are also a number of viral diseases that can also cause illness in your ferret. He could have any number of conditions including loss of appetite, diarrhea, and weight loss. If you notice any of these symptoms, it is necessary for you to contact your vet as many of the conditions can be a signal of something that is threatening to the life of your pet.
In order to keep your pet healthy and happy, you should be sure he sees the vet yearly and watch his behavior closely for signs of change. With proper care, your ferret can live a healthy life of 8 years or even more.
Lee Dobbins writes for ferrets.pet-breeds.com where you can find out more about how to care for your pet ferret.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lee_Dobbins
Thursday, July 27, 2006
pancreas diseases : Gastric Bypass Patients Should Include Tomatoes in Their Diet
After weight loss surgery it is important to include as many healthy foods in our diet as possible while still respecting the the restrictive nature gastric bypass system. One of the foods that many patients report having a high tolerance for is tomatoes. It's well known that a high intake of tomato products is associated with lowered risk of colon and prostate cancers, a beneficial effect thought to be due to tomatoes high content of the carotenoids, lycopene and beta-carotene.
Lycopene is a member of the carotenoid family of phytochemicals and is the natural pigment responsible for the deep red color of several fruits, most notably tomatoes. Recently scientists have found evidence that supports the role of lycopene in human health, specifically in the prevention of cancers of the prostate, pancreas, stomach, breast, cervix and lung, as well as in the prevention of cardiovascular disease, cataracts, and age-related macular degeneration.
Lycopene is also believed to play a role in the prevention of heart disease by inhibiting free radical damage to LDL cholesterol. Before cholesterol can be deposited in the plaques that harden and narrow arteries, it must be oxidized by free radicals. With its powerful antioxidant activity, lycopene can prevent LDL cholesterol from being oxidized.
Lycopene is a fat-soluble substance, and as such requires the presence of dietary fat for proper absorption through the digestive tract. To facilitate proper absorption tomatoes can be prepared with minimal healthy fat such as olive oil, canola oil or even dairy fat found in cheese. These "healthy fats" are generally well tolerated by gastric bypass patients.
Shopping for Tomatoes:
Choose tomatoes that have a deep rich color. Not only is this one of the signs of a delicious tasting tomato, but the deep color indicates that it has a greater supply of the health-promoting phytochemical red pigment, lycopene. Tomatoes should be well shaped and smooth skinned with no wrinkles, cracks, bruises or soft spots. They should not have a puffy appearance since this indicates that they will be of inferior flavor and will cause excess waste during preparation. Ripe tomatoes will yield to slight pressure and will have a noticeably sweet fragrance.
Tips for Preparing Tomatoes:
Before serving, wash tomatoes under cool running water and pat dry. If your recipe requires seeded tomatoes, cut the fruit in half horizontally and gently squeeze out the seeds and the juice.
Kaye Bailey © 2005 - All Rights Reserved
An award winning journalist and former newspaper editor Kaye Bailey brings expertise in writing and personal experience with gastric bypass surgery to EzineArticles.com. Having spent most of her life overweight Ms. Bailey is strongly empathetic toward the obese, particularly overweight children. This compassion compelled her to found the website http://www.livingafterwls.com, a fast-growing resource of information, understanding and support for the weight loss surgery community.
The LivingAfterWLS.com site is complimented with daily blog. The blog, http://livingafterwls.blogspot.com offers readers the chance to comment or leave feedback about fresh content added daily. This site contains success stories and recipes, general information and WLS inspired topics. Complementing the site is a monthly newsletter titled “You Have Arrived” available exclusively to people who subscribe through the website or the blog.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kaye_Bailey
Lycopene is a member of the carotenoid family of phytochemicals and is the natural pigment responsible for the deep red color of several fruits, most notably tomatoes. Recently scientists have found evidence that supports the role of lycopene in human health, specifically in the prevention of cancers of the prostate, pancreas, stomach, breast, cervix and lung, as well as in the prevention of cardiovascular disease, cataracts, and age-related macular degeneration.
Lycopene is also believed to play a role in the prevention of heart disease by inhibiting free radical damage to LDL cholesterol. Before cholesterol can be deposited in the plaques that harden and narrow arteries, it must be oxidized by free radicals. With its powerful antioxidant activity, lycopene can prevent LDL cholesterol from being oxidized.
Lycopene is a fat-soluble substance, and as such requires the presence of dietary fat for proper absorption through the digestive tract. To facilitate proper absorption tomatoes can be prepared with minimal healthy fat such as olive oil, canola oil or even dairy fat found in cheese. These "healthy fats" are generally well tolerated by gastric bypass patients.
Shopping for Tomatoes:
Choose tomatoes that have a deep rich color. Not only is this one of the signs of a delicious tasting tomato, but the deep color indicates that it has a greater supply of the health-promoting phytochemical red pigment, lycopene. Tomatoes should be well shaped and smooth skinned with no wrinkles, cracks, bruises or soft spots. They should not have a puffy appearance since this indicates that they will be of inferior flavor and will cause excess waste during preparation. Ripe tomatoes will yield to slight pressure and will have a noticeably sweet fragrance.
Tips for Preparing Tomatoes:
Before serving, wash tomatoes under cool running water and pat dry. If your recipe requires seeded tomatoes, cut the fruit in half horizontally and gently squeeze out the seeds and the juice.
Kaye Bailey © 2005 - All Rights Reserved
An award winning journalist and former newspaper editor Kaye Bailey brings expertise in writing and personal experience with gastric bypass surgery to EzineArticles.com. Having spent most of her life overweight Ms. Bailey is strongly empathetic toward the obese, particularly overweight children. This compassion compelled her to found the website http://www.livingafterwls.com, a fast-growing resource of information, understanding and support for the weight loss surgery community.
The LivingAfterWLS.com site is complimented with daily blog. The blog, http://livingafterwls.blogspot.com offers readers the chance to comment or leave feedback about fresh content added daily. This site contains success stories and recipes, general information and WLS inspired topics. Complementing the site is a monthly newsletter titled “You Have Arrived” available exclusively to people who subscribe through the website or the blog.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kaye_Bailey
pancreas diseases : Taking Control of Your Health & Well-being
Taking Control of Your Health & Well-being
by Georgianna Donadio D.C., M.Sc., Ph.D.
Do you ever wonder why, in spite of all your good intentions, you just cannot seem to take control over your health and wellness the way you really want to? The answer to that question can be found in the words of Albert Einstein, who reminded us "you cannot correct a problem with the same thinking that created it”. In other words, you cannot change old behaviors without new information.
The Institute of Medicine recently published a study that indicates ninety million Americans are "health illiterate", which means we do not know how to interpret or use health information to control or improve our health, or prevent chronic disease. Data compiled previously identified, "lack of information as the number one root cause of death". Understanding that there exists a cause and effect relationship between what we know and how we behave, we need a model of integrating this important information to change the behaviors that lead to chronic disease. According to a 7-year, 1996, Harvard Medical School study, approximately 70% of all cancers are preventable through lifestyle changes. Furthermore, our diseases and conditions are primarily a result of stress, food, environment, attitude, emotions or beliefs that keep us in behaviors that lead to illness. Which invites the question, are we consciously choosing to be unhealthy, or do we just not understand sufficiently the relationship between what we think, how we behave, what we put into our bodies and how we keep ourselves well or make ourselves sick?
In a world exploding with health information, especially on the internet, we are caught in the dilemma of having abundant amounts of information, without a context through which we can understand and utilize this information in a way that is appropriate for our own unique personal health needs. There is, however, good news - making its way into the mainstream of health care is an integrated model of health information and education that provides a "whole picture of health" perspective, allowing each of us to discern and create our own unique approach to taking charge of our health and well-being. Whole Health Education, developed over the past 28 years, in cooperation with Boston physicians, nurses and educators, is an approach to understanding the cause and effect our behaviors and choices have on our state of health. Demystifying the five major factors that influence how sick or well we become, Whole Health Education provides a perspective on human anatomy and physiology, bio-chemistry, psycho-social, environmental and spiritual aspects which allows for an authentic understanding of what we need know to resolve chronic health problems or to stay healthy. Integrating evidence-based information with the wisdom of various spiritual teachings and a whole-person overview of behavioral options, Whole Health Education offers each of us a tool for personal health management by providing personalized health information that explains the physical, emotional, nutritional, environmental and spiritual aspects of a health concern.
For example, Mature Onset Diabetes affects approximately 18.2 million Americans and is the leading health concern in our culture today. As all chronic conditions are, Mature Onset Diabetes is a multi-dimensional disease state and the unique Whole Health perspective, can facilitate the restoration of health for those with chronic diseases such as diabetes.
Physical/Structural
What happens on a physical and structural level with Mature Onset Diabetes? The specialized beta cells of the pancreas, which produce insulin, become incapable of producing adequate amounts of the critically necessary secretion. This happens over a period of years and can begin in our bodies, over time, by eating large amounts of insulin-provoking foods. These insulin provocateurs, which are sugars and starches in the form of complex carbohydrates, require the pancreas to produce more insulin so that the sugars can be carried over the cell membranes to all parts of the body. Serious disturbances occur when we do not have enough insulin to carry the sugar over the cell membranes. Insulin hooks onto the sugar molecule and acts like a lock and key mechanism to bring that sugar into the cell which is then used in the energy cycle of cell metabolism. The nervous system, brain and the lungs cannot function without the proper metabolism of sugars.
Emotional/Social
Just as diabetes is a lack of nourishment on a chemical/nutritional level, so is it a lack of emotional nourishment on an emotional/mental level. It relates to the “feel good” nourishment component of your body. What do we know about carbohydrates and serotonin? Carbohydrates provoke the production of serotonin. Serotonin is a neuro-transmitter that produces a feeling of well-being. There is a direct relationship between what our body is doing chemically and how we feel emotionally. When we crave or build our diet around carbohydrates, this can be a way of “self-medicating” our emotional needs by eating carbohydrates to provoke insulin production.
Sugar problems can affect us emotionally. Let's say you have a pancreas that is not working properly. What can happen somatic/psychically from the pancreas to the brain? If we are feeling the ups and downs of hypoglycemia, and its biochemical/neurological symptoms, it may undermine our sense of security, self esteem, and produce anxiety and fear.
What is the emotional component of diabetes and the pancreas? Often, it can be a poor sense of self-esteem and a fear of not being “good enough” or not belonging. These feelings, medicated by the serotonin foods, can lead us to not look deeply enough into what is causing our health concerns and allow the feeling/feeding cycle to continue.
Chemical/Nutritional
On the nutritional side, the treatment for people with Mature Onset Diabetes is to decrease the stress on the pancreas by making changes in their diet -- decrease starches and sugars and decrease calories. Eat less, eat right. What kind of a diet would be best for preventing Mature Onset Diabetes? Vegetables, vegetables, and vegetables combined with lean proteins such as fish, chicken, water, a little fruit and a little fat. In a hypoglycemic situation, it is wise not to eat grain or sugar, but sprouted grain bread, and other substitutes can be healthy and satisfying.
Because hormones are chemicals, diabetes and hypoglycemia are both hormonal-based problems. What we know about the hormone system is that it works as a balanced interdependent system. Diabetes is an endocrine-related, systemic problem. With a systemic problem like diabetes, you have a body system problem--you do not just have a condition by itself. It is known that the pancreas is related, through hormone interaction, to the adrenals, and the adrenals are in turn related to the reproductive system. It is known that these glands are related through hormone interactions to the pituitary and the pituitary is related to the thyroid gland, the thyroid is related to the thymus, and the thymus is related to the immune system.
Environmental/Internal & External
The environment that we work in, live in, walk through, live near -- how does that environment have an impact on the way that we feel and the way we feel about ourselves?
How do we learn to trust in the order of the universe? By behaviors that come from trusting the order inside ourselves. We do this by setting boundaries -- codes of conduct of how we are going to behave, eat, work exercise and live. If we don't violate our own boundaries, we are less likely to let anybody else violate our boundaries. We have to start with ourselves. Our experience of victimization can begin with our own self-victimizing behavior.
Spiritual/World View
A Hindu Vendata truth is that “the whole world is one family”. It is said that there is only one disease, the disease of separateness, separating oneself from the awareness that we are one living organism. Competition creates isolation. The spiritual challenge presented by hypoglycemia and diabetes appears to be involved with over- or under-valuing the self: judgment of self and then others. Where are we in the process of getting to the truth that we are all equally important? The drama created by a one-up or one-down dynamic that we may allow to be part of our experience can lead to psychophysiology and the behavioral issues which can contribute to and create Mature Onset Diabetes.
Whole Health Education can transform our experience of taking care of ourselves. It can provide an understanding of our health concerns and conditions from this multi-dimensional perspective that makes sense in a way we can utilize the information directly and in a meaningful way. In addition, having the information provided in a mindful, respectful way that invites each of us to discern what we know about our health and condition, how to choose to resolve the problem and what kind of care we choose to have, allows each of us to experience whole-person health care through whole health information. Then, WE become the center of our health and healing process, rather than the doctors or practitioners we go to for guidance.
Georgianna Donadio D.C., M.Sc., Ph.D., has conducted a private practice in Whole Person Care since 1976. She is the Founder and Director of The New England School of Whole Health Education, the pioneer of Whole Health Education and a provider of patient and healthcare professional education since 1977. For more information, visit www.wholehealtheducation.org or call 1-888-354-HEAL (4325).
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Georgianna_Donadio,_D.C.,_M.Sc.,_Ph.D.
by Georgianna Donadio D.C., M.Sc., Ph.D.
Do you ever wonder why, in spite of all your good intentions, you just cannot seem to take control over your health and wellness the way you really want to? The answer to that question can be found in the words of Albert Einstein, who reminded us "you cannot correct a problem with the same thinking that created it”. In other words, you cannot change old behaviors without new information.
The Institute of Medicine recently published a study that indicates ninety million Americans are "health illiterate", which means we do not know how to interpret or use health information to control or improve our health, or prevent chronic disease. Data compiled previously identified, "lack of information as the number one root cause of death". Understanding that there exists a cause and effect relationship between what we know and how we behave, we need a model of integrating this important information to change the behaviors that lead to chronic disease. According to a 7-year, 1996, Harvard Medical School study, approximately 70% of all cancers are preventable through lifestyle changes. Furthermore, our diseases and conditions are primarily a result of stress, food, environment, attitude, emotions or beliefs that keep us in behaviors that lead to illness. Which invites the question, are we consciously choosing to be unhealthy, or do we just not understand sufficiently the relationship between what we think, how we behave, what we put into our bodies and how we keep ourselves well or make ourselves sick?
In a world exploding with health information, especially on the internet, we are caught in the dilemma of having abundant amounts of information, without a context through which we can understand and utilize this information in a way that is appropriate for our own unique personal health needs. There is, however, good news - making its way into the mainstream of health care is an integrated model of health information and education that provides a "whole picture of health" perspective, allowing each of us to discern and create our own unique approach to taking charge of our health and well-being. Whole Health Education, developed over the past 28 years, in cooperation with Boston physicians, nurses and educators, is an approach to understanding the cause and effect our behaviors and choices have on our state of health. Demystifying the five major factors that influence how sick or well we become, Whole Health Education provides a perspective on human anatomy and physiology, bio-chemistry, psycho-social, environmental and spiritual aspects which allows for an authentic understanding of what we need know to resolve chronic health problems or to stay healthy. Integrating evidence-based information with the wisdom of various spiritual teachings and a whole-person overview of behavioral options, Whole Health Education offers each of us a tool for personal health management by providing personalized health information that explains the physical, emotional, nutritional, environmental and spiritual aspects of a health concern.
For example, Mature Onset Diabetes affects approximately 18.2 million Americans and is the leading health concern in our culture today. As all chronic conditions are, Mature Onset Diabetes is a multi-dimensional disease state and the unique Whole Health perspective, can facilitate the restoration of health for those with chronic diseases such as diabetes.
Physical/Structural
What happens on a physical and structural level with Mature Onset Diabetes? The specialized beta cells of the pancreas, which produce insulin, become incapable of producing adequate amounts of the critically necessary secretion. This happens over a period of years and can begin in our bodies, over time, by eating large amounts of insulin-provoking foods. These insulin provocateurs, which are sugars and starches in the form of complex carbohydrates, require the pancreas to produce more insulin so that the sugars can be carried over the cell membranes to all parts of the body. Serious disturbances occur when we do not have enough insulin to carry the sugar over the cell membranes. Insulin hooks onto the sugar molecule and acts like a lock and key mechanism to bring that sugar into the cell which is then used in the energy cycle of cell metabolism. The nervous system, brain and the lungs cannot function without the proper metabolism of sugars.
Emotional/Social
Just as diabetes is a lack of nourishment on a chemical/nutritional level, so is it a lack of emotional nourishment on an emotional/mental level. It relates to the “feel good” nourishment component of your body. What do we know about carbohydrates and serotonin? Carbohydrates provoke the production of serotonin. Serotonin is a neuro-transmitter that produces a feeling of well-being. There is a direct relationship between what our body is doing chemically and how we feel emotionally. When we crave or build our diet around carbohydrates, this can be a way of “self-medicating” our emotional needs by eating carbohydrates to provoke insulin production.
Sugar problems can affect us emotionally. Let's say you have a pancreas that is not working properly. What can happen somatic/psychically from the pancreas to the brain? If we are feeling the ups and downs of hypoglycemia, and its biochemical/neurological symptoms, it may undermine our sense of security, self esteem, and produce anxiety and fear.
What is the emotional component of diabetes and the pancreas? Often, it can be a poor sense of self-esteem and a fear of not being “good enough” or not belonging. These feelings, medicated by the serotonin foods, can lead us to not look deeply enough into what is causing our health concerns and allow the feeling/feeding cycle to continue.
Chemical/Nutritional
On the nutritional side, the treatment for people with Mature Onset Diabetes is to decrease the stress on the pancreas by making changes in their diet -- decrease starches and sugars and decrease calories. Eat less, eat right. What kind of a diet would be best for preventing Mature Onset Diabetes? Vegetables, vegetables, and vegetables combined with lean proteins such as fish, chicken, water, a little fruit and a little fat. In a hypoglycemic situation, it is wise not to eat grain or sugar, but sprouted grain bread, and other substitutes can be healthy and satisfying.
Because hormones are chemicals, diabetes and hypoglycemia are both hormonal-based problems. What we know about the hormone system is that it works as a balanced interdependent system. Diabetes is an endocrine-related, systemic problem. With a systemic problem like diabetes, you have a body system problem--you do not just have a condition by itself. It is known that the pancreas is related, through hormone interaction, to the adrenals, and the adrenals are in turn related to the reproductive system. It is known that these glands are related through hormone interactions to the pituitary and the pituitary is related to the thyroid gland, the thyroid is related to the thymus, and the thymus is related to the immune system.
Environmental/Internal & External
The environment that we work in, live in, walk through, live near -- how does that environment have an impact on the way that we feel and the way we feel about ourselves?
How do we learn to trust in the order of the universe? By behaviors that come from trusting the order inside ourselves. We do this by setting boundaries -- codes of conduct of how we are going to behave, eat, work exercise and live. If we don't violate our own boundaries, we are less likely to let anybody else violate our boundaries. We have to start with ourselves. Our experience of victimization can begin with our own self-victimizing behavior.
Spiritual/World View
A Hindu Vendata truth is that “the whole world is one family”. It is said that there is only one disease, the disease of separateness, separating oneself from the awareness that we are one living organism. Competition creates isolation. The spiritual challenge presented by hypoglycemia and diabetes appears to be involved with over- or under-valuing the self: judgment of self and then others. Where are we in the process of getting to the truth that we are all equally important? The drama created by a one-up or one-down dynamic that we may allow to be part of our experience can lead to psychophysiology and the behavioral issues which can contribute to and create Mature Onset Diabetes.
Whole Health Education can transform our experience of taking care of ourselves. It can provide an understanding of our health concerns and conditions from this multi-dimensional perspective that makes sense in a way we can utilize the information directly and in a meaningful way. In addition, having the information provided in a mindful, respectful way that invites each of us to discern what we know about our health and condition, how to choose to resolve the problem and what kind of care we choose to have, allows each of us to experience whole-person health care through whole health information. Then, WE become the center of our health and healing process, rather than the doctors or practitioners we go to for guidance.
Georgianna Donadio D.C., M.Sc., Ph.D., has conducted a private practice in Whole Person Care since 1976. She is the Founder and Director of The New England School of Whole Health Education, the pioneer of Whole Health Education and a provider of patient and healthcare professional education since 1977. For more information, visit www.wholehealtheducation.org or call 1-888-354-HEAL (4325).
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Georgianna_Donadio,_D.C.,_M.Sc.,_Ph.D.
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
pancreas diseases : Causes/Basic Definitons of Diabetes
Before studying the causes of diabetes you must understand what is diabetes? Diabetes is a disease caused by hormonal imbalance. Insulin is helpful in supply of sugar to various parts of the body. When the beta cells in either produce low quantities of insulin or does not produce insulin in the pancreas, such a stage is called diabetes. In other cases the insulin is produced in the pancreas but the blood cells do not respond to the insulin. This factor of insulin imbalance leads to diabetes.
Diabetes is classified in different categories based on the above factors. They are commonly known as Type-1 & Type-2 Diabetes.
In Type-1 Diabetes the insulin is not produced in the pancreas. This happens because beta cells producing insulin are attacked and destroyed by the body’s cells. Researches are yet to confirm why this happens. This system of attacking and destroying insulin producing cells has a name called “autoimmune reaction”. There are no proven results available to establish the cause of this destruction of cells. However certain results are indicative why this happens. They are as follows:
a) It may be result of specific bacterial or viral infection.
b) It may be the result of toxins which are consumed through food.
c) According to some scientists it is the result of cow milk feeding at a very young infant stage.
The above causes are only hypothesis and exact cause is yet to be established.
The other form of diabetes – Type-2 Diabetes develops under the following circumstances:
a) Insulin Resistance. In this stage though the insulin is produced in the pancreas but the blood cells do not respond to the insulin. This leads to excess production of insulin. This over production of insulin results in getting insulin-producing cells exhausted.
b) As a result of insulin producing cells getting exhausted, there may not be sufficient insulin available or the available insulin may not be normal for your body system.
Here are some other factors which may increase the risk of occurrence of Type-2 diabetes. These factors are Increasing Age, Overweight and Physical Inactivity.
There are some other causes which may increase the risk of diabetes occurrence. But these are not so common and may be found in rare cases.
Continued prolonged consumption of certain drugs/steroids/medicines may elevate the blood sugar leading to diabetes.
Women may suffer from Gestational diabetes during pregnancy period. However, this type of diabetes is temporary but chances of it converting into Type-2 diabetes can not be ruled out.
Some diseases affect the pancreas. The pancreas may be damaged as a result of these diseases. This results in the malfunction of the pancreas and non-production of insulin. This can lead to diabetes.
What doesn’t cause diabetes?
You know that obesity – which is the cause of diabetes - is the result of eating sweets or the wrong kind of food. But eating sweets or the wrong type of food does not itself result in the occurrence of diabetes.
Stress may worsen the condition of diabetes but stress can not cause diabetes.
Diabetes is not contagious. It cannot spread from one person to another.
Above are the common and known causes of all types of diabetes. The best way to overcome this disease is to follow a life style which suits your body. If you follow certain tips like eating nutritious food, regular daily exercise, and avoid the use of steroids.
Ray Lunaburg
rlunaburg@thenextsolution.com
diabetic-recipes.blogspot.com
Causes of Diabetes 5/2006
IT Consultant looking for diabetic recipes to improve my health.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ray_Lunaburg
Diabetes is classified in different categories based on the above factors. They are commonly known as Type-1 & Type-2 Diabetes.
In Type-1 Diabetes the insulin is not produced in the pancreas. This happens because beta cells producing insulin are attacked and destroyed by the body’s cells. Researches are yet to confirm why this happens. This system of attacking and destroying insulin producing cells has a name called “autoimmune reaction”. There are no proven results available to establish the cause of this destruction of cells. However certain results are indicative why this happens. They are as follows:
a) It may be result of specific bacterial or viral infection.
b) It may be the result of toxins which are consumed through food.
c) According to some scientists it is the result of cow milk feeding at a very young infant stage.
The above causes are only hypothesis and exact cause is yet to be established.
The other form of diabetes – Type-2 Diabetes develops under the following circumstances:
a) Insulin Resistance. In this stage though the insulin is produced in the pancreas but the blood cells do not respond to the insulin. This leads to excess production of insulin. This over production of insulin results in getting insulin-producing cells exhausted.
b) As a result of insulin producing cells getting exhausted, there may not be sufficient insulin available or the available insulin may not be normal for your body system.
Here are some other factors which may increase the risk of occurrence of Type-2 diabetes. These factors are Increasing Age, Overweight and Physical Inactivity.
There are some other causes which may increase the risk of diabetes occurrence. But these are not so common and may be found in rare cases.
Continued prolonged consumption of certain drugs/steroids/medicines may elevate the blood sugar leading to diabetes.
Women may suffer from Gestational diabetes during pregnancy period. However, this type of diabetes is temporary but chances of it converting into Type-2 diabetes can not be ruled out.
Some diseases affect the pancreas. The pancreas may be damaged as a result of these diseases. This results in the malfunction of the pancreas and non-production of insulin. This can lead to diabetes.
What doesn’t cause diabetes?
You know that obesity – which is the cause of diabetes - is the result of eating sweets or the wrong kind of food. But eating sweets or the wrong type of food does not itself result in the occurrence of diabetes.
Stress may worsen the condition of diabetes but stress can not cause diabetes.
Diabetes is not contagious. It cannot spread from one person to another.
Above are the common and known causes of all types of diabetes. The best way to overcome this disease is to follow a life style which suits your body. If you follow certain tips like eating nutritious food, regular daily exercise, and avoid the use of steroids.
Ray Lunaburg
rlunaburg@thenextsolution.com
diabetic-recipes.blogspot.com
Causes of Diabetes 5/2006
IT Consultant looking for diabetic recipes to improve my health.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ray_Lunaburg
pancreas diseases : Learn Why Digestive Enzymes are Crucial for Optimal Health
Your body produces over 20 separate digestive enzymes that are actually proteins; they break down food so that your body can convert it to energy, relieve certain ailments and discomforts and bolster your immune system. Your digestive enzymes work hard from the moment that food enters your mouth. Yes! Once you take a bite of food, your digestive enzymes set out to break down the meal. The more efficient that your body is at breaking down your meals, the better your body works. Therefore, investing in and using a digestive enzyme supplement is one way to improve your overall well being.
Papain is the name of one digestive enzyme used in the manufacture of a quality digestive enzyme supplement. It is made from an unripened tropical fruit that you are probably familiar with: the papaya. The unripened fruit is crushed and the juice of the green papaya is used to make Papain. This digestive enzyme supplement ingredient helps proteins create oligopeptides and amino acids. Papain is thought to have properties that help reduce swelling and inflammation. Papain is used to assist with digestion and is also used to make meat tenderizers.
Lipase is another digestive enzyme that is produced in your body. Lipase works on the fat that you eat; it breaks it down so that your body can use it. When your body doesn't create enough Lipase to breakdown the fat, your stools will be greasy looking and very pale in color. Your body makes Lipase in the pancreas and as with all digestive enzymes, it also exists in saliva. The pancreas makes pancreatin which is essentially three digestive enzymes: lipase, amylase and proteases.
Lipase as a digestive enzyme supplement has been used to successfully aid in the treatment of Cystic Fibrosis. The benefits have been documented and it is regularly prescribed by medical doctors for this ailment. Lipase is also being used to see if it will provide benefits to patients with indigestion because of pancreas diseases or the inability of the pancreas to work efficiently.
Perhaps the most beneficial use of Lipase and Papain are for their tumor fighting effects. Many oncologists prescribe digestive supplement therapy in addition to standard medical treatment including chemo therapy for cancer patients. Chemo therapy upsets the stomach partly because it is so hard on the body and partly because chemo is a toxin. The body tries to rid itself of the additional toxin, so it expels any food from the stomach as well. However digestive supplement therapy increases the body's ability to breakdown nutrients. Further digestive enzyme supplement therapy is said to have cancer fighting benefits. Whether this is because it boosts the immune system's ability to fight tumors or whether the enzymes breakdown the tumors so that the body can expel them needs to be studied further, but there is documented success in adding digestive supplement therapy to oncology patient's treatment regimes.
As with most things in our industrialized world, food is processed and preserved to the point that many nutrients are lost before the food is consumed. Once prepared, more nutrients are leeched from your food, so you have to consider whether or not you are getting the full benefit of any nutrient. If your meals are lacking in essential nutrients, like digestive enzyme bolsters, you may have a depletion of the essential enzymes that are necessary to your health. That is why you should consider adding a digestive enzyme supplement to your diet.
If you are a frequent flier or have a lot of stress in your life, your body is being robbed of its supply of digestive enzymes. Thus, when you are standing in line at the ticket counter after sleeping through your alarm and getting stuck in traffic, your natural supply of digestive enzymes is suffering. You can add a digestive enzyme supplement to your daily routine and increase the efficiency of your body and your immune system.
If you are pregnant or nursing, you should consult with your family physician before you take any dietary supplement, including digestive enzyme supplements.
Dan Ho is chief editor of Nutritional Supplement Info Spotlight, and an avid enthusiast of alternative and holistic health. Get unconventional and unique solutions for common health issues, and keep abreast of the latest benefits and dangers of nutritional supplements with our free newsletter. Claim your subscription now at: Our Nutritional Supplements and Herbal Supplements Guide
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dan_Ho
Papain is the name of one digestive enzyme used in the manufacture of a quality digestive enzyme supplement. It is made from an unripened tropical fruit that you are probably familiar with: the papaya. The unripened fruit is crushed and the juice of the green papaya is used to make Papain. This digestive enzyme supplement ingredient helps proteins create oligopeptides and amino acids. Papain is thought to have properties that help reduce swelling and inflammation. Papain is used to assist with digestion and is also used to make meat tenderizers.
Lipase is another digestive enzyme that is produced in your body. Lipase works on the fat that you eat; it breaks it down so that your body can use it. When your body doesn't create enough Lipase to breakdown the fat, your stools will be greasy looking and very pale in color. Your body makes Lipase in the pancreas and as with all digestive enzymes, it also exists in saliva. The pancreas makes pancreatin which is essentially three digestive enzymes: lipase, amylase and proteases.
Lipase as a digestive enzyme supplement has been used to successfully aid in the treatment of Cystic Fibrosis. The benefits have been documented and it is regularly prescribed by medical doctors for this ailment. Lipase is also being used to see if it will provide benefits to patients with indigestion because of pancreas diseases or the inability of the pancreas to work efficiently.
Perhaps the most beneficial use of Lipase and Papain are for their tumor fighting effects. Many oncologists prescribe digestive supplement therapy in addition to standard medical treatment including chemo therapy for cancer patients. Chemo therapy upsets the stomach partly because it is so hard on the body and partly because chemo is a toxin. The body tries to rid itself of the additional toxin, so it expels any food from the stomach as well. However digestive supplement therapy increases the body's ability to breakdown nutrients. Further digestive enzyme supplement therapy is said to have cancer fighting benefits. Whether this is because it boosts the immune system's ability to fight tumors or whether the enzymes breakdown the tumors so that the body can expel them needs to be studied further, but there is documented success in adding digestive supplement therapy to oncology patient's treatment regimes.
As with most things in our industrialized world, food is processed and preserved to the point that many nutrients are lost before the food is consumed. Once prepared, more nutrients are leeched from your food, so you have to consider whether or not you are getting the full benefit of any nutrient. If your meals are lacking in essential nutrients, like digestive enzyme bolsters, you may have a depletion of the essential enzymes that are necessary to your health. That is why you should consider adding a digestive enzyme supplement to your diet.
If you are a frequent flier or have a lot of stress in your life, your body is being robbed of its supply of digestive enzymes. Thus, when you are standing in line at the ticket counter after sleeping through your alarm and getting stuck in traffic, your natural supply of digestive enzymes is suffering. You can add a digestive enzyme supplement to your daily routine and increase the efficiency of your body and your immune system.
If you are pregnant or nursing, you should consult with your family physician before you take any dietary supplement, including digestive enzyme supplements.
Dan Ho is chief editor of Nutritional Supplement Info Spotlight, and an avid enthusiast of alternative and holistic health. Get unconventional and unique solutions for common health issues, and keep abreast of the latest benefits and dangers of nutritional supplements with our free newsletter. Claim your subscription now at: Our Nutritional Supplements and Herbal Supplements Guide
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dan_Ho
Friday, July 21, 2006
pancreas diseases : Pancreatic insufficiency
What can you tell me about pancreatic insufficiency?
Answer
The pancreas makes and secretes digestive juices and enzymes, which help break down fats, carbohydrates and proteins. Pancreatic insufficiency occurs when the pancreas doesn't make enough enzymes for proper digestion to take place. Pancreatic insufficiency isn't a disease but a sign of an underlying problem. It typically results from damage to the pancreas, such as due to chronic inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) or cystic fibrosis.
Severe pancreatic insufficiency impairs absorption of nutrients by the intestines (malabsorption), leading to deficiencies of essential nutrients. Decreased absorption of fat leads to increased fat in stools (steatorrhea). This results in weight loss, diarrhea and pale, bulky, foul-smelling stools.
When possible, treatment is directed at the underlying cause of pancreatic damage. Treatment may also include supplemental pancreatic enzymes to improve digestion and absorption of nutrients. In addition, your doctor may recommend a low-fat diet to help control steatorrhea.
by - John / Missouri
Answer
The pancreas makes and secretes digestive juices and enzymes, which help break down fats, carbohydrates and proteins. Pancreatic insufficiency occurs when the pancreas doesn't make enough enzymes for proper digestion to take place. Pancreatic insufficiency isn't a disease but a sign of an underlying problem. It typically results from damage to the pancreas, such as due to chronic inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) or cystic fibrosis.
Severe pancreatic insufficiency impairs absorption of nutrients by the intestines (malabsorption), leading to deficiencies of essential nutrients. Decreased absorption of fat leads to increased fat in stools (steatorrhea). This results in weight loss, diarrhea and pale, bulky, foul-smelling stools.
When possible, treatment is directed at the underlying cause of pancreatic damage. Treatment may also include supplemental pancreatic enzymes to improve digestion and absorption of nutrients. In addition, your doctor may recommend a low-fat diet to help control steatorrhea.
by - John / Missouri
pancreas diseases : Hyperinsulinemia: Is it diabetes?
Hyperinsulinemia means you have too much insulin in your blood. It isn't diabetes. But hyperinsulinemia is often associated with type 2 diabetes.
Insulin is produced by your pancreas and helps regulate blood sugar. Hyperinsulinemia is a sign of an underlying problem that is causing your pancreas to secrete excessive amounts of insulin.
The most common cause of hyperinsulinemia is insulin resistance, a condition in which your body is resistant to the effects of insulin and your pancreas tries to compensate by making more insulin.
Rarely, hyperinsulinemia is caused by:
A tumor of the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas (insulinoma)
Excessive numbers of insulin-producing cells in the pancreas (nesidioblastosis)
Hyperinsulinemia causes no signs or symptoms unless it causes low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Treatment of hyperinsulinemia is directed at the underlying problem.
by Melanie / Pennsylvania
Insulin is produced by your pancreas and helps regulate blood sugar. Hyperinsulinemia is a sign of an underlying problem that is causing your pancreas to secrete excessive amounts of insulin.
The most common cause of hyperinsulinemia is insulin resistance, a condition in which your body is resistant to the effects of insulin and your pancreas tries to compensate by making more insulin.
Rarely, hyperinsulinemia is caused by:
A tumor of the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas (insulinoma)
Excessive numbers of insulin-producing cells in the pancreas (nesidioblastosis)
Hyperinsulinemia causes no signs or symptoms unless it causes low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Treatment of hyperinsulinemia is directed at the underlying problem.
by Melanie / Pennsylvania
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
pancreas diseases : Pancreas Function Tests
Secretin stimulation test
The secretin stimulation test measures the ability of the pancreas to respond to the hormone secretin. The small intestines produce secretin in the presence of partially digested food. Normally, secretin stimulates the pancreas to secrete a fluid with a high concentration of bicarbonate. This fluid neutralizes stomach acid and is necessary for a number of enzymes to function in the breakdown and absorption of food. People with diseases involving the pancreas (for example, cystic fibrosis or pancreatic cancer) might have abnormal pancreatic function.
In performing a secretin stimulation test, a health care professional places a tube down the throat, into the stomach, then into the duodenum (upper section of small intestine). Secretin is administered and the contents of the duodenal secretions are aspirated (removed with suction) and analyzed over a period of about two hours.
Fecal elastase test
The fecal elastase test measures elastase, an enzyme found in fluids produced by the pancreas. Elastase digests and degrades various kinds of proteins. During this test, a patient’s stool sample is analyzed for the presence of elastase.
Computed tomography (CT) scan with contrast dye
This scan can help rule out other causes of abdominal pain and also can determine whether tissue is dying (pancreatic necrosis). CT can identify complications such as fluid around the pancreas, a collection of pus (abscess), or a collection of tissue, fluid, and pancreatic enzymes (pseudocyst).
Abdominal ultrasound
An abdominal ultrasound can detect gallstones and fluid from inflammation in the abdomen (ascites). It also can show an enlarged common bile duct, an abscess, or a pseudocyst.
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
During an ERCP, a health care professional places a tube down the throat, into the stomach, then into the small intestine. Dye is used to help the doctor see the structure of the common bile duct, other bile ducts, and the pancreatic duct on an X-ray.
Endoscopic ultrasound
During this test, a probe attached to a lighted scope is placed down the throat and into the stomach. Sound waves show images of organs in the abdomen. Endoscopic ultrasound might reveal gallstones and can be helpful in diagnosing severe pancreatitis when an invasive test such as ERCP might make the condition worse.
Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography
This kind of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to look at the bile ducts and the pancreatic duct.
© Copyright 1995-2006 The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. All rights reserved
The secretin stimulation test measures the ability of the pancreas to respond to the hormone secretin. The small intestines produce secretin in the presence of partially digested food. Normally, secretin stimulates the pancreas to secrete a fluid with a high concentration of bicarbonate. This fluid neutralizes stomach acid and is necessary for a number of enzymes to function in the breakdown and absorption of food. People with diseases involving the pancreas (for example, cystic fibrosis or pancreatic cancer) might have abnormal pancreatic function.
In performing a secretin stimulation test, a health care professional places a tube down the throat, into the stomach, then into the duodenum (upper section of small intestine). Secretin is administered and the contents of the duodenal secretions are aspirated (removed with suction) and analyzed over a period of about two hours.
Fecal elastase test
The fecal elastase test measures elastase, an enzyme found in fluids produced by the pancreas. Elastase digests and degrades various kinds of proteins. During this test, a patient’s stool sample is analyzed for the presence of elastase.
Computed tomography (CT) scan with contrast dye
This scan can help rule out other causes of abdominal pain and also can determine whether tissue is dying (pancreatic necrosis). CT can identify complications such as fluid around the pancreas, a collection of pus (abscess), or a collection of tissue, fluid, and pancreatic enzymes (pseudocyst).
Abdominal ultrasound
An abdominal ultrasound can detect gallstones and fluid from inflammation in the abdomen (ascites). It also can show an enlarged common bile duct, an abscess, or a pseudocyst.
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
During an ERCP, a health care professional places a tube down the throat, into the stomach, then into the small intestine. Dye is used to help the doctor see the structure of the common bile duct, other bile ducts, and the pancreatic duct on an X-ray.
Endoscopic ultrasound
During this test, a probe attached to a lighted scope is placed down the throat and into the stomach. Sound waves show images of organs in the abdomen. Endoscopic ultrasound might reveal gallstones and can be helpful in diagnosing severe pancreatitis when an invasive test such as ERCP might make the condition worse.
Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography
This kind of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to look at the bile ducts and the pancreatic duct.
© Copyright 1995-2006 The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. All rights reserved
Friday, July 14, 2006
pancreas diseases : Lipase -Common Questions
1. What are the treatment options for pancreatitis?
Treatment depends upon the symptoms. If they are absent or mild, there may be no treatment. If they are more severe, your doctor may suggest "resting the pancreas" by a spectrum of options ranging from not eating solid foods to fasting combined with IV (intravenous) fluid replacement for several days to a few weeks (usually requiring hospitalization). Medication and possible surgery may also be considered for patients with severe symptoms. Sometimes pain management medications are required. Nutritional support, such as low-fat diets and frequent small meals, may help relieve symptoms. Oral pancreatic enzyme replacement is another possible choice.
2. What are the long-term consequences of pancreatitis?
With acute pancreatitis there is usually no long term damage, and often no further problems develop. Chronic pancreatitis, which may present as a series of acute attacks or as an ongoing upset can cause permanent damage. As the pancreas becomes more scarred, some people develop diabetes and/or the inability to digest foods, especially fats. The lack of normal pancreatic enzymes may lead to adverse effects on food digestion and waste production, causing abdominal pain, greasy stools, and formation of stones in the pancreas. Even if the disease is controlled, the damage done is often irreversible. If the disease progresses, it could lead to death.
3. Do elevated lipase levels always mean I have a pancreatic condition?
In pancreatitis, the lipase rises quickly, but begins to drop in about 4 days. In other conditions, the rise is usually not as great, and the level is maintained for a longer period. Your doctor is the best one to determine if you have a pancreatic disorder. She will make a diagnosis based on your symptoms, medical history, and test result.
©2001-2006 American Association for Clinical Chemistry
Treatment depends upon the symptoms. If they are absent or mild, there may be no treatment. If they are more severe, your doctor may suggest "resting the pancreas" by a spectrum of options ranging from not eating solid foods to fasting combined with IV (intravenous) fluid replacement for several days to a few weeks (usually requiring hospitalization). Medication and possible surgery may also be considered for patients with severe symptoms. Sometimes pain management medications are required. Nutritional support, such as low-fat diets and frequent small meals, may help relieve symptoms. Oral pancreatic enzyme replacement is another possible choice.
2. What are the long-term consequences of pancreatitis?
With acute pancreatitis there is usually no long term damage, and often no further problems develop. Chronic pancreatitis, which may present as a series of acute attacks or as an ongoing upset can cause permanent damage. As the pancreas becomes more scarred, some people develop diabetes and/or the inability to digest foods, especially fats. The lack of normal pancreatic enzymes may lead to adverse effects on food digestion and waste production, causing abdominal pain, greasy stools, and formation of stones in the pancreas. Even if the disease is controlled, the damage done is often irreversible. If the disease progresses, it could lead to death.
3. Do elevated lipase levels always mean I have a pancreatic condition?
In pancreatitis, the lipase rises quickly, but begins to drop in about 4 days. In other conditions, the rise is usually not as great, and the level is maintained for a longer period. Your doctor is the best one to determine if you have a pancreatic disorder. She will make a diagnosis based on your symptoms, medical history, and test result.
©2001-2006 American Association for Clinical Chemistry
pancreas diseases Lipase
How is it used?
The blood test for lipase is used to help diagnose pancreatitis (swelling of the pancreas) and other pancreatic disease. It is also used to a lesser extent in the diagnosis and follow-up of cystic fibrosis, celiac disease, and Crohn's disease.
When is it ordered?
A lipase test may be ordered if you show symptoms of a pancreatic disorder, such as severe abdominal pain, fever, loss of appetite, or nausea.
What does the test result mean?
NOTE: A standard reference range is not available for this test. Because reference values are dependent on many factors, including patient age, gender, sample population, and test method, numeric test results have different meanings in different labs. Your lab report should include the specific reference range for your test. Lab Tests Online strongly recommends that you discuss your test results with your doctor. For more information on reference ranges, please read Reference Ranges and What They Mean.
Normal values for lipase depend on the test used to measure it. In acute pancreatitis, lipase levels are very high, often 2 to 5 times the normal amount. Slightly high lipase values may occur in other conditions such as kidney disease, salivary gland inflammation, or peptic ulcer disease. Occasionally lipase is high due to a tumor (cancer). The rapid and sharp rise of lipase in the blood within hours after the beginning of an attack, and the decline after about 4 days, usually indicates acute pancreatitis.
Is there anything else I should know?
In acute pancreatitis, elevated lipase levels usually parallel levels of another enzyme called amylase, and remains elevated longer (for 5 to 7 days).
Both lipase and amylase are usually ordered together to diagnose acute pancreatitis. Both may also be used to monitor chronic pancreatitis. Both may be moderately elevated in chronic pancreatic disease and/or levels may fall if the cells that produce amylase and lipase in the pancreas become damaged or destroyed.
Low lipase levels are often associated with diabetes. (If your body is unable to digest fat, this condition interferes with insulin metabolism and with insulin's transport of glucose into the cells.)
Lipase-deficient people may also have high cholesterol and/or high blood triglycerides, high blood pressure, difficulty losing weight, and varicose veins. Drugs that may interfere with maintaining proper lipase levels include codeine, indomethacin, morphine, and drugs with a hydrochloric acid base.
©2001-2006 American Association for Clinical Chemistry
The blood test for lipase is used to help diagnose pancreatitis (swelling of the pancreas) and other pancreatic disease. It is also used to a lesser extent in the diagnosis and follow-up of cystic fibrosis, celiac disease, and Crohn's disease.
When is it ordered?
A lipase test may be ordered if you show symptoms of a pancreatic disorder, such as severe abdominal pain, fever, loss of appetite, or nausea.
What does the test result mean?
NOTE: A standard reference range is not available for this test. Because reference values are dependent on many factors, including patient age, gender, sample population, and test method, numeric test results have different meanings in different labs. Your lab report should include the specific reference range for your test. Lab Tests Online strongly recommends that you discuss your test results with your doctor. For more information on reference ranges, please read Reference Ranges and What They Mean.
Normal values for lipase depend on the test used to measure it. In acute pancreatitis, lipase levels are very high, often 2 to 5 times the normal amount. Slightly high lipase values may occur in other conditions such as kidney disease, salivary gland inflammation, or peptic ulcer disease. Occasionally lipase is high due to a tumor (cancer). The rapid and sharp rise of lipase in the blood within hours after the beginning of an attack, and the decline after about 4 days, usually indicates acute pancreatitis.
Is there anything else I should know?
In acute pancreatitis, elevated lipase levels usually parallel levels of another enzyme called amylase, and remains elevated longer (for 5 to 7 days).
Both lipase and amylase are usually ordered together to diagnose acute pancreatitis. Both may also be used to monitor chronic pancreatitis. Both may be moderately elevated in chronic pancreatic disease and/or levels may fall if the cells that produce amylase and lipase in the pancreas become damaged or destroyed.
Low lipase levels are often associated with diabetes. (If your body is unable to digest fat, this condition interferes with insulin metabolism and with insulin's transport of glucose into the cells.)
Lipase-deficient people may also have high cholesterol and/or high blood triglycerides, high blood pressure, difficulty losing weight, and varicose veins. Drugs that may interfere with maintaining proper lipase levels include codeine, indomethacin, morphine, and drugs with a hydrochloric acid base.
©2001-2006 American Association for Clinical Chemistry
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
pancreas diseases : New Study of Gemcitabine, Cisplatin and Bevacizumab Yields Promising Results
According to results reported by Andrew Ko, MD (University of California, San Francisco), an experimental protocol including gemcitabine, cisplatin and the molecular targeting agent bevacizumab (Avastin) yielded astonishing results in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. In this single institution phase II study, patients were given gemcitabine 1000mg/m2, cisplatin 20 mg/m2 and bevacizumab 10 mg/kg on days 1 and 15 of a 28-day cycle. CT scans were performed every two cycles. Of the 35 patients enrolled, 66.7% achieved disease control (complete response > one year: 1; partial response: 6; stable disease: 15). Median survival, evaluated after 28 days, was 8 months for the cohort as a whole, the estimated 1-year survival being 39%. Dr. Ko drew attention to the fact that all patients in the study had either been diagnosed when the disease was already metastatic or had cancer recurrence after a Whipple procedure. ’The combination of fixed-dose rate gemcitabine, low-dose cisplatin and bevacizumab appears to be very active in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer’, Dr. Ko said. ‘However’, he cautioned, ‘the potential benefits of this regimen need to be carefully weighed against the considerable toxicity observed on the study.’ Indeed, the complications were considerable: About 25% of patients developed grade 3 or worse liver toxicity; 11% developed hypertension, and major bleeding events occurred in 8.6% of patients. Two patients had bowel perforation, and 1 person suffered a stroke-like event. Better patient selection, such as excluding those with tumors that were protruding through organ walls, might reduce some of these complications, Dr. Ko said. These results were presented during the 3rd Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium (ASCO-GI) held in San Francisco, CA, January 20 - 30, 2006.
PancreasWeb 03/02/06
PancreasWeb 03/02/06
pancreas diseases : New Drug Combination Found to Be Effective
New Drug Combination Found to Be Effective in Gemcitabine-Resistant Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer
PancreasWeb 18/04/06
According to the findings of Italian researchers, a combination treatment of raltitrexed and oxaliplatin seems to be effective in gemcitabine-resistant metastatic pancreatic cancer. Michele Reni, MD, and his team investigated 41 patients (>18 years, performance status =50) who had stopped responding to gemcitabine. They received raltitrexed 3mg/m2 and oxaliplatin 130mg/m2 every 3 weeks until progression, toxicity, or a maximum of 6 cycles. A total of 137 cycles were administered, with a dose intensity of 92% of the intended dose for both drugs. Main grade >2 toxicity was found in 10 patients, including neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, vomiting and fatigue. Clinical benefit was seen in 21 patients (51%): 10 subjects showed a partial response, and 11 had stable disease. At 6 months, progression-free survival was 14.6%, with a median survival of 5.2 months. The researchers also found that a longer previous progression-free survival positively influenced survival in this study. Michele Reni concluded that a clinically relevant improvement of quality of life was observed in numerous domains. The data has been presented in an article published in the British Journal of Cancer (2006;94:785-791).
PancreasWeb 18/04/06
PancreasWeb 18/04/06
According to the findings of Italian researchers, a combination treatment of raltitrexed and oxaliplatin seems to be effective in gemcitabine-resistant metastatic pancreatic cancer. Michele Reni, MD, and his team investigated 41 patients (>18 years, performance status =50) who had stopped responding to gemcitabine. They received raltitrexed 3mg/m2 and oxaliplatin 130mg/m2 every 3 weeks until progression, toxicity, or a maximum of 6 cycles. A total of 137 cycles were administered, with a dose intensity of 92% of the intended dose for both drugs. Main grade >2 toxicity was found in 10 patients, including neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, vomiting and fatigue. Clinical benefit was seen in 21 patients (51%): 10 subjects showed a partial response, and 11 had stable disease. At 6 months, progression-free survival was 14.6%, with a median survival of 5.2 months. The researchers also found that a longer previous progression-free survival positively influenced survival in this study. Michele Reni concluded that a clinically relevant improvement of quality of life was observed in numerous domains. The data has been presented in an article published in the British Journal of Cancer (2006;94:785-791).
PancreasWeb 18/04/06
Sunday, July 09, 2006
pancreas diseases : Are the Tumors Associated With MEN1 Cancerous?
The overactive endocrine glands associated with MEN1 may contain benign tumors, but usually they do not have any signs of cancer. Benign tumors can disrupt normal function by releasing hormones or by crowding nearby tissue. For example, a prolactinoma may become quite large in someone with MEN1. As it grows, the tumor can press against and damage the normal part of the pituitary gland or the nerves that carry vision from the eyes. Sometimes impaired vision is the first sign of a pituitary tumor in MEN1.
Another type of benign tumor often seen in people with MEN1 is a plum-sized, fatty tumor called a lipoma, which grows under the skin. Lipomas cause no health problems and can be removed by simple cosmetic surgery if desired. These tumors are also fairly common in the general population.
Benign tumors do not spread to or invade other parts of the body. Cancer cells, by contrast, break away from the primary tumor and spread, or metastasize, to other parts of the body through the bloodstream or lymphatic system.
The pancreatic islet cell tumors associated with MEN1 tend to be numerous and small, but most are benign and do not release active hormones into the blood. Eventually, about half of MEN1 cases will develop a cancerous pancreatic tumor.
Copyright © 2000-2006 Adviware Pty Ltd. All rights reserved.
Another type of benign tumor often seen in people with MEN1 is a plum-sized, fatty tumor called a lipoma, which grows under the skin. Lipomas cause no health problems and can be removed by simple cosmetic surgery if desired. These tumors are also fairly common in the general population.
Benign tumors do not spread to or invade other parts of the body. Cancer cells, by contrast, break away from the primary tumor and spread, or metastasize, to other parts of the body through the bloodstream or lymphatic system.
The pancreatic islet cell tumors associated with MEN1 tend to be numerous and small, but most are benign and do not release active hormones into the blood. Eventually, about half of MEN1 cases will develop a cancerous pancreatic tumor.
Copyright © 2000-2006 Adviware Pty Ltd. All rights reserved.
pancreas diseases : Rare Complications of MEN1
Occasionally, a person who has MEN1 develops islet tumors of the pancreas that secrete high levels of pancreatic hormones other than gastrin. Insulinomas, for example, produce too much insulin, causing serious low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia. Pancreatic tumors that secrete too much glucagon or somatostatin can cause diabetes, and too much vasoactive intestinal peptide can cause diarrhea.
Other rare complications arise from pituitary tumors that release high amounts of ACTH, which in turn stimulates the adrenal glands to produce excess cortisol. Pituitary tumors that produce growth hormone cause excessive bone growth or disfigurement.
Another rare complication is an endocrine tumor inside the chest or in the stomach, known as a carcinoid. In general, surgery is the mainstay of treatment for all of these rare types of tumors, except for gastric carcinoids which usually require no treatment.
Copyright © 2000-2006 Adviware Pty Ltd. All rights reserved
Other rare complications arise from pituitary tumors that release high amounts of ACTH, which in turn stimulates the adrenal glands to produce excess cortisol. Pituitary tumors that produce growth hormone cause excessive bone growth or disfigurement.
Another rare complication is an endocrine tumor inside the chest or in the stomach, known as a carcinoid. In general, surgery is the mainstay of treatment for all of these rare types of tumors, except for gastric carcinoids which usually require no treatment.
Copyright © 2000-2006 Adviware Pty Ltd. All rights reserved
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
pancreas diseases : Implications and Cost of Pancreatic Leak Following Distal Pancreatic Resection
Objectives: Pancreatic stump leak (PL) after elective distal pancreatic resection significantly impacts cost and increases subsequent health care resource utilization. We sought to provide an economic framework for potential interventions aimed at reducing its occurrence.
Design: Retrospective case series and economic evaluation.
Setting: University-affiliated, tertiary care referral center.
Patients: Sixty-six patients undergoing elective distal pancreatectomy.
Main Outcome Measures: Postoperative complications; hospital and professional costs.
Results: Overall postoperative morbidity occurred in 34 patients (52%) with no deaths. The total number of patients with complications directly related to PL was 22 (33%). The mean ± SD number of total hospital days for the no-PL group was 5.2 ± 1.7 days (range, 3-12 days) vs 16.6 ± 14.6 days (range, 4-49 days) for the PL group (P = .001). The average patient with PL-related problems incurred a total cost that was 2.01 times greater than the average patient in the no-PL group. A decision analytic model developed to evaluate threshold costs showed that a hypothetical intervention designed to reduce the complication rate of distal pancreatectomy by one third would be financially justifiable up to a cost of $1418 per patient.
Conclusions: Complications derived from PL following distal pancreatectomy double the cost and dramatically increase health care resource utilization. There is an urgent need to develop strategies that reduce the incidence of this common complication. Interventions aimed at decreasing the incidence of PL should take into account this cost differential. We provide an economic model to serve as a guide for developing these technologies.
J. Ruben Rodriguez, Santos Soto Germes, Pari V. Pandharipande, G. Scott Gazelle, Sarah P. Thayer, Andrew L. Warshaw, Carlos Fernandez-del Castillo
Design: Retrospective case series and economic evaluation.
Setting: University-affiliated, tertiary care referral center.
Patients: Sixty-six patients undergoing elective distal pancreatectomy.
Main Outcome Measures: Postoperative complications; hospital and professional costs.
Results: Overall postoperative morbidity occurred in 34 patients (52%) with no deaths. The total number of patients with complications directly related to PL was 22 (33%). The mean ± SD number of total hospital days for the no-PL group was 5.2 ± 1.7 days (range, 3-12 days) vs 16.6 ± 14.6 days (range, 4-49 days) for the PL group (P = .001). The average patient with PL-related problems incurred a total cost that was 2.01 times greater than the average patient in the no-PL group. A decision analytic model developed to evaluate threshold costs showed that a hypothetical intervention designed to reduce the complication rate of distal pancreatectomy by one third would be financially justifiable up to a cost of $1418 per patient.
Conclusions: Complications derived from PL following distal pancreatectomy double the cost and dramatically increase health care resource utilization. There is an urgent need to develop strategies that reduce the incidence of this common complication. Interventions aimed at decreasing the incidence of PL should take into account this cost differential. We provide an economic model to serve as a guide for developing these technologies.
J. Ruben Rodriguez, Santos Soto Germes, Pari V. Pandharipande, G. Scott Gazelle, Sarah P. Thayer, Andrew L. Warshaw, Carlos Fernandez-del Castillo
pancreas diseases : PancreasWeb 28/06/06
Ever since surgical resection has been part of the armamentarium against pancreatic disease, pancreatic leak has been its foremost complication in terms of frequency and associated morbidity. The rate of pancreatic leak is more common, albeit less dramatic, after distal pancreatectomy than after pancreatoduodenectomy. Occurrence of a pancreatic leak is associated with fistula, sterile or infected collections, or peritonitis, which may lead to patient re-operation or even death. This increase in morbidity has significant financial implications, doubling the overall cost of the procedure, as shown in the economic assessment recently published by Dr. Rubén Rodríguez et al.. The money that could be saved by reducing the occurrence rate of this complication has warranted a wealth of trials aiming at controlling pancreatic leak thanks to pharmacological, technical or technological means. The suppressive effect on exocrine secretion from the pancreas of the hormone somatostatin and its synthetic analogues has been used in a number of prospective randomized trials in an attempt to prevent pancreatic leaks after pancreatic resection. Although this pharmacological strategy has been found beneficial in a recent meta-analysis, its efficiency is still a matter of debate and was not observed in several studies [1,2]. From a technical/technological point of view, there does not seem to be an advantage in using stapling rather than a hand-sewn suture for the closure of the pancreatic stump after distal pancreatectomy [3]. Several other strategies, such as fibrin-glue sealing of the stump or anastomosis, sealing of the parenchyma of the pancreatic stump with a radio-frequency device, patching the pancreatic stump with an omental plug or a patch taken from the falciform ligament, the use of an ultrasonic or harmonic scalpel for tissue dissection, have been described as successful, but still remain anecdotic [4]. Some authors have even advocated the preoperative endoscopic placement of a stent inside the pancreatic duct or performance of a sphincterotomy to prevent the occurence of a leak thanks to pancreatic decompression. This strategy was successful in a small series of patients, but triggered acute pancreatitis in some [5]. Finally, it is ironic that the most sophisticated approaches may not necessarily be the most effective, since a recent article showed that identification and suture ligation of the pancreatic duct after distal pancreatectomy decreased the rate of occurrence of a pancreatic leak from 34% to 9.6% [6], which equals a saving of 3,400 US$ per patient according to the study of Dr. Rubén Rodríguez.
by Thierry Berney, MD, MSc,
by Thierry Berney, MD, MSc,
Sunday, July 02, 2006
pancreas diseases : FAQ for Nutrition
What is the best thing to do nutritionally if you have abdominal pain?
Sometimes it is best to rest the pancreas and limit your food intake. If you are experiencing a flare, your doctor may even recommend no food for a day or two. If you can tolerate food, low fat, low protein foods may be better tolerated as they tend to stimulate the pancreas the least. Avoid high fat and heavily spiced foods. If you notice a particular food causes pain, avoid it. A diet of only clear liquids can be followed when pain is severe. Clear liquids include apple, cranberry and grape juice, gelatin and broth. The clear liquid diet, however, is not nutritionally complete and the diet should be advanced as soon as additional food is tolerated.
What can be done for nutrition when there is nausea and vomiting?
The following suggestions may help you maintain or increase your intake while minimizing nausea and vomiting:
Avoid foods with high fat content (such as greasy or fried foods).
Avoid coffee, tea, and alcohol. Cool, clear liquids are often better tolerated. Try broth, flavored gelatin, carbonated beverages, popsicles, or apple juice. Drink small amounts every hour, especially if you are vomiting.
Eat smaller portions more often during the day. Eating small amounts every 1-2 hours may be helpful.
Don't drink liquids with your meals. It is best to drink fluids 45-60 minutes before or after meals.
Avoid spicy foods. Bland foods may be better tolerated.
Foods that are cold or warm may be easier to tolerate than hot foods.
Let someone else do the cooking. The odor of foods may make you feel worse.
How can someone with pancreatitis or other pancreatic diseases go out to a restaurant?
Most restaurants are more than willing to accomodate special requests. When ordering in a restaurant, request a very low fat meal and explain to the server that there is a medical reason for the request. Most restaurants will steam fish and vegetables or grill a piece of chicken. Many restaurants are happy to take on the challenge and will produce a truly delicious meal for you.
©1999-2004 National Pancreas Foundation
Sometimes it is best to rest the pancreas and limit your food intake. If you are experiencing a flare, your doctor may even recommend no food for a day or two. If you can tolerate food, low fat, low protein foods may be better tolerated as they tend to stimulate the pancreas the least. Avoid high fat and heavily spiced foods. If you notice a particular food causes pain, avoid it. A diet of only clear liquids can be followed when pain is severe. Clear liquids include apple, cranberry and grape juice, gelatin and broth. The clear liquid diet, however, is not nutritionally complete and the diet should be advanced as soon as additional food is tolerated.
What can be done for nutrition when there is nausea and vomiting?
The following suggestions may help you maintain or increase your intake while minimizing nausea and vomiting:
Avoid foods with high fat content (such as greasy or fried foods).
Avoid coffee, tea, and alcohol. Cool, clear liquids are often better tolerated. Try broth, flavored gelatin, carbonated beverages, popsicles, or apple juice. Drink small amounts every hour, especially if you are vomiting.
Eat smaller portions more often during the day. Eating small amounts every 1-2 hours may be helpful.
Don't drink liquids with your meals. It is best to drink fluids 45-60 minutes before or after meals.
Avoid spicy foods. Bland foods may be better tolerated.
Foods that are cold or warm may be easier to tolerate than hot foods.
Let someone else do the cooking. The odor of foods may make you feel worse.
How can someone with pancreatitis or other pancreatic diseases go out to a restaurant?
Most restaurants are more than willing to accomodate special requests. When ordering in a restaurant, request a very low fat meal and explain to the server that there is a medical reason for the request. Most restaurants will steam fish and vegetables or grill a piece of chicken. Many restaurants are happy to take on the challenge and will produce a truly delicious meal for you.
©1999-2004 National Pancreas Foundation
pancreas diseases : Hydration and Chronic Pancreatitis
Proper hydration is important in the health of all people, but especially for people with chronic pancreatitis. While many people with chronic pancreatitis are aware of the need for fat restriction, few are aware of the need for adequate hydration. Many of our patients at The Pancreas Center at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, in Boston, MA have flares (increased pain) when they are dehydrated. While the exact reason is not known at this time, it is assumed that the lack of fluid assists in the accumulation of pancreatic sludge. This sludge can then lead to blockages which can irritate the pancreas. Dehydration often occurs due to warm temperatures and excess water losses, air travel, increased activity level, and inadequate intake. It is important to understand that thirst is a sign of dehydration and therefore not a timely indicator of our fluid needs.
Fluid needs can be met with any beverage that does not have caffeine or alcohol. Caffeine and alcohol should be limited as they are diuretics and promote fluid loss and can also stimulate the pancreas. Foods with a high water content such as fruits, vegetables, and soups are also helpful in meeting fluid needs. Remember that thirst is an indicator that you are already dehydrated. Be sure to drink BEFORE you feel thirsty. Your best bet? Carry a water bottle with you!
Use the formula below to calculate your fluid needs:
Remember that on hot days or days of increased activity, your fluid needs may be higher.
Body weight X 16 = number of 8oz. cups of fluid needed per day
240
for example:
125 pounds X 16 = 2000 mL
2000mL = 8 cups (8oz. Each) of fluid needed per day
240 mL/cup
Kathianne Sellers, R.D.
Fluid needs can be met with any beverage that does not have caffeine or alcohol. Caffeine and alcohol should be limited as they are diuretics and promote fluid loss and can also stimulate the pancreas. Foods with a high water content such as fruits, vegetables, and soups are also helpful in meeting fluid needs. Remember that thirst is an indicator that you are already dehydrated. Be sure to drink BEFORE you feel thirsty. Your best bet? Carry a water bottle with you!
Use the formula below to calculate your fluid needs:
Remember that on hot days or days of increased activity, your fluid needs may be higher.
Body weight X 16 = number of 8oz. cups of fluid needed per day
240
for example:
125 pounds X 16 = 2000 mL
2000mL = 8 cups (8oz. Each) of fluid needed per day
240 mL/cup
Kathianne Sellers, R.D.
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