hormones – Hello Doctor

How does sex affect your mind and body?

January 26th, 2021 by The Hello Doctor Team

Sex. A powerful force that can topple empires, ruin marriages or even lead to death.

On the other hand, it is only through sex that the human race continues to survive. It is an important way to feel a sense of connection, belonging and love.

What is it about sex that can bring out the best and worst in us? And how can we be mindful and nurture our sexuality in healthy ways? To understand that better, it’s a good idea to understand how sex affects both mind and body:

This is your brain on sex

Have you ever shot up heroin? (Hopefully not!) Well, according to researchers at the University Medical Center Groningen, sex can give you a rush similar to a hit of heroin! During orgasm, the cerebellar parts of the brain, where the rewards system is located, is activated.

There are other parts of the brain that are also “turned on” (excuse the pun) which include the prefrontal cortex, insula, singulate gyrus and orbitofrontal cortex. These brain regions process emotions, pain, metabolic processes as well as decision-making.

According to their studies, the brain responds to sex, in the same way it responds to music and dance. Activating these specific regions can lead to trance-like states, affect how you choose a partner, and how you bond with others.

Top Tip:

When did you and your partner last have an evening of dancing? No need to hit the club, stay socially distanced at home! Put on some of your favourite tunes, dim the lights and spend the evening in each other’s arms. As relationships evolve, the sexual chemistry often wanes. Why not let the beat of the music and movement of the dancing reignite the spark? Even if it doesn’t lead to sex, it will still have a similar effect on your brain, your emotions and your feelings of connection.

Sex and your hormones

Oxytocin is also known as the love hormone. Mothers secrete it during childbirth, helping them to feel bonded, connected and love for their newborn baby.

This hormone is also secreted during sex, which is why you can often feel trusting of your sexual partners. You may even find yourself sharing secrets with your partner that you live to regret later!

Top Tip:

One of the many dangers with a one-night-stand, is how oxytocin makes you vulnerable to trusting a stranger. You may all have seen the spy-movies, where the agent uses sex to extract secret information from her target? Don’t let this powerful hormone trick you into trusting someone until you’ve built a solid foundation in your relationship!

Sex and your immunity

A study at Wilkes University in Pennsylvania found that students who had sex more often, had fewer sick days than those who’s sex lives were less active. This makes perfect sense. Sex stimulates the release of an anti-body that increases your immunity .

Top Tip:

Having a dry spell in your sex-life? No need to worry: there are tons of other habits that can support your immunity. One habit that is currently taking the world by storm, is cold exposure. By simply taking a cold shower every day, or taking a dip in a cold pool, you stimulate your thyroid gland, which releases immune cells to protect you from all kinds of disease. Apart from disease protection, cold exposure may also help with improving mood, focus, resilience and creating a sense of calm and focus in your day.

Sex and relationships

Since sex has so many benefits, will not having sex negatively impact your health? Luckily, the answer is a resounding “No!”. Unlike eating, drinking and sleeping, sex is not an essential need. In fact, we all know the risks associated with unprotected sex! The good news is that you won’t die or get sick from not having sex.

What you do need, though, is emotional connection. In fact, studies have shown that being socially isolated is more harmful to your health than smoking or alcoholism. The problem, though, is that some use sex to fulfill an emotional need. Sex or pornography can act like a short-cut to help you feel less lonely. But it often has the opposite effect. Just like junk-food, it can give you a sudden hormonal rush of pleasure, but leave you feeling depleted and worse-off for it in the long run.

Top Tip:

If you feel the need for sex, why not slow down and check-in with yourself first? Ask yourself: How do I feel right now? Is it possible that I may be feeling mad, sad, worried, or tired – and that I’m reaching for sex as a coping-mechanism? Do I have close friends or family I can reach out to for support, and simply share how it’s going with me? What other relationships and activities can make me feel more connected, supported and cared for?

Mindful Sexuality

For all the ecstasy that sex can offer you, it can also be a dangerous force. Your sexuality is a core part of who you are, and affects your mind, body, health, relationships and overall well-being. In this month of love, why not allow yourself to be more mindful with your sexuality? Make February a month where you cultivate a healthy, wholesome sexual life: both for your own benefit, and those around you!

Resources:

Is sex taking over your life? Find support here: https://saa-recovery.org/
Looking for connection and friendship, rather than a one-night stand? Try MeetUp https://www.meetup.com/apps/ or Bumble: https://bumble.com/en/.

References:

Could you be suffering from Graves’ disease?

January 27th, 2020 by Content Editor

Your thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland in the front of your neck, but it plays an important role in your overall well-being.

Thyroid hormones control how your body uses energy, so they affect almost every organ in your body, even the rhythm of your heartbeat. The thyroid regulates your metabolism by releasing hormones into the bloodstream.

Graves’ disease develops when your immune system damages your thyroid gland by mistaking healthy cells for foreign invaders.

In response, the thyroid gland starts to make more thyroid hormone than your body needs; causing hyperthyroidism or an overactive thyroid.

So, what causes the disease?

While researchers aren’t sure why some people develop autoimmune disorders like Graves’ disease, a combination of genes and environmental factors is thought to be the cause.

A family history of Graves’ disease increases your chance of developing the condition, and in terms of environmental factors; you’re much more likely to develop Graves’ disease if you smoke.

Symptoms

Graves’ disease symptoms are gradual and take several weeks or months to develop. These can include behavioural changes like nervousness, irritability, anxiousness, restlessness and difficulty sleeping (insomnia).

Other symptoms include:

Emotional swings
Sweating
Hand tremor
Palpitations
Unexplained weight loss (often despite increased appetite)
Sensitivity to warm temperatures (feeling hot all the time)
Muscle weakness
Shortness of breath

Physical Signs and Symptoms

If Graves’ disease goes untreated, physical signs and symptoms may start to develop.

And these include:

Goitre: A goitre is an enlarged thyroid gland. Anyone can develop a goitre, but the chances increase with age. When the gland isn’t making enough thyroid hormone, it compensates by growing. As the thyroid gets bigger; your neck may begin to look full or swollen. One of the common causes of this particular condition is an iodine deficiency, a trace mineral (a micro mineral that you only need in small amounts) your body needs to maintain thyroid function.
Eye problems: Eye disease related to Graves’ disease is called Graves’ ophthalmopathy.
These problems vary from mild to very severe. Symptoms include red eyes, tearing, a feeling of sand or dust in the eyes, and sensitivity to light. In more severe cases, one or both eyes may protrude from the eye sockets. This is called exophthalmos, which can make you appear as though you are staring. Graves’ disease causes an inflammatory response in the eye muscles; which causes the muscles and tissues in that area to swell.
Skin thickening: Some may develop thickening of the skin over the front of the lower leg called the tibia. The disorder causes skin lesions that are patchy and pink. Other parts of the skin rarely get affected.

Diagnosis

A diagnosis of Graves’ disease is based on detailed patient and family history, a thorough clinical evaluation, and specialised blood tests that measure levels of thyroid hormone and thyroid-stimulating hormone.

Your doctor may want to measure the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), T3 (triiodothyronine), and T4 (thyroxine) hormone levels in your blood. T3 and T4 are the major hormones produced by your thyroid. TSH, which is released by the pituitary gland, tells your thyroid to produce T3 and T4.

If your doctor can’t definitively diagnose Graves’ disease after looking at your TSH, T3, and T4 levels, they may refer you to a specialist for further tests or treatment.

Reference:

I’m always tired. Could it be Addison’s disease?

January 13th, 2020 by Content Editor

It’s not even 7am and you’re already exhausted… you didn’t even have a late night! Perhaps a third cup of coffee will help keep you alert?

If you’ve been feeling fatigued lately or experiencing pain and/or unexplained weight loss, it’s possible you could have Addison’s disease.

Your adrenal glands, located on top of your kidneys, produce many of the hormones your body needs to function at its best. When your adrenal glands are out of whack, Addison’s disease develops because your body can’t produce enough of the hormones cortisol and aldosterone. These hormones are important because they’re in charge of giving instructions to almost every tissue and organ in your body.

The symptoms for Addison’s disease usually develop slowly over a few months, and include extreme fatigue, low blood pressure, decreased appetite, salt cravings, darkening of the skin, nausea and weight loss. You may also experience muscle and abdominal pain, depression and body hair loss.

You could be at risk for Addison’s disease if you:

Take blood-thinning medication (anticoagulants)
Have a chronic condition like tuberculosis
Had surgery where a part of your adrenal gland was removed
Have an autoimmune disease like Type 1 diabetes or Graves’ disease
Have cancer

Prevention

Although Addison’s disease itself cannot be prevented, taking steps to prevent those conditions associated with it could lower your risk.

Managing these risk factors may prevent Addison’s disease:

Treating fungal infections.
Treating diabetes.
Identifying cancer symptoms to prevent cells from spreading into the adrenal glands and bloodstream.
Treating bacterial infection like tuberculosis

How is Addison’s disease treated?

Treatment depends on the underlying cause of your condition, but both lifestyle change and medication are used to manage the condition.

Untreated Addison’s disease may lead to a severe case of the disease. Once you have your treatment plan, you must follow it correctly.

If you develop other conditions related to Addison’s disease like high blood pressure, your doctor will need to treat that too.

Medications

Usually prescribed to decrease inflammation in the body, medications are taken for the rest of your life to effectively manage your disease. In addition, hormone replacements may be prescribed to replace any hormones your adrenal glands are struggling to produce.

Home care

It’s crucial that you always keep your medication on you. Make sure you have an emergency kit with you and add a medical alert card to let others know about your condition.

Lifestyle changes

Manage your stress levels and keep an overall healthy lifestyle. Talk to your doctor about stress-relieving techniques like yoga, Tai Chi or meditation. Simple exercises like walking or jogging are excellent stress busters too.

References:

Why do women get cold more easily than men?

April 8th, 2019 by The Hello Doctor Team

There’s a reason why men are always draping their coats over women’s shoulders in movies, and often in real life. And no, it’s not (just) in the name of romance. Turns out that on average, women are more sensitive to the cold than men are.

One of the main ways your body regulates temperature is through the blood vessels. When you feel hot, the blood vessels in your skin dilate (get wider) to release heat through your skin. When you feel cold, your blood vessels contract (get narrower) to retain heat. A person’s regular body temperature is 37 degrees, but it can go up or down by a degree during the day.

Men and women are generally able to keep a constant, safe core (internal) temperature, despite fluctuating external temperatures. However, even though our core temperatures are the same, the temperature of our skin may differ, and this is where the differences between men and women come in.

A study published in The Lancet found that women’s hand temperatures are approximately three degrees lower than men. The common reasons: differences in size, weight and body proportions. Together, these all affect the way we’re able to retain heat.

The colder, fairer sex

Women have more body fat

Although you’d think extra kilos would keep you toasty, for women, that’s not always the case. Fat helps protect your organs, but it can also restrict blood flow. This brings on the chills. Women also have less muscle mass and lose heat faster from their skin than men because they’re naturally smaller.

Women have slower metabolic rates

Your metabolism is the rate at which your body can burn fuel, and a man’s metabolic rate is about 23% higher than a woman’s. For women, this is a downer for two reasons. One, this means women gain weight more easily than men because they can’t burn food as fast. And two, a woman’s body is often colder because the longer it takes fuel to burn, the less heat it can create to keep you warm.

Women have “lady problems”

Besides the painful side-effects that come with menstruation, like cramps and headaches, a woman’s temperature is also affected at that time of the month. Their body temperature fluctuates due to increasing and decreasing hormone levels. This means women feel chillier or warmer at different times during the month. Due to its effects on hormones, birth control can also trigger changes in body temperature.

Good to know

Feeling cold is usually harmless, but if you’re frosty all the time to the point of discomfort, it could be related to another condition. Some other signs that may be clues to a cold-related condition include:

constant chills
you sweat more or less than usual.
your nails turn blue or dark.
you feel colder than normal quite often.
your skin is brittle or very dry.

If this is you, why not chat to one of our doctors, so you can get the right treatment to help warm up those joints.

References:

Is your medication causing acne?

March 20th, 2019 by The Hello Doctor Team

If you have acne, you are not alone. About 80% of people between the ages of 11 and 30 get acne breakouts at some point. It seems that adult acne is also on the rise, with studies showing that as many as 54% of women aged 25 and older affected by the skin condition.

With acne, different types of pimples form when the hair follicles under the skin are blocked with sebum (oil), dead skin cells and sometimes, bacteria.

While doctors don’t always know the cause of acne, they do know that changing hormone levels, genes and some cosmetics may play a role. Certain medication can also be to blame.

Acne culprits

Birth control medication that contains progesterone-like hormones. This includes progesterone injections and pills (e.g. Depo-Provera and Provera) as well as progesterone-containing intra-uterine devices and implants (e.g. the Mirena).
Topical and oral corticosteroids. The oral corticosteroids may cause yeast to grow within the hair follicles, resulting in acne, while the overuse of topical ones (i.e. skin creams or gels) could produce a type of acne.
Anabolic steroids, synthetic variations of the male sex hormone testosterone, can leave you with severe acne. These drugs increase the amount of sebum in the pores.
Lithium. This medication is used to treat bipolar disorder and can cause a type of acne.

Other medications linked to acne and acne-like eruptions include anti-epileptic as well as immunosuppressive medication (which inhibit the activity of the immune system). Medication can, however, also play an important role in treating your acne. Oestrogen-based contraceptive pills, for example, can help regulate the hormonal changes that cause acne.

Manage and treat your acne

Make a point of getting your acne treated, as the skin condition can leave permanent scars and affect your self-esteem. With the right approach, your doctor could help clear your skin completely.

Your treatment will depend on what’s causing your acne and its severity as well as your age, your health, and your medical and family history.

Talk to your doctor about:

Alternative birth control options if you think your current method could be causing or aggravating your acne. For example, a combined oral contraceptive pill may be a better choice than a progestogen-only contraceptive pill or injection.
If you’re using oral or topical corticosteroids, find out if you’re using them correctly and at the right dose. Remember: overuse could be causing your acne.
Anabolic steroids should only ever be taken under strict supervision by your doctor. Don’t use them to bulk up.
Talk to your doctor about managing your acne if you think lithium may be the cause. A lower dose might help clear your skin, but it’s important to discuss with your doctor first. Another possible treatment option is tretinoin, a topical drug that will help unclog your skin.

Commonly prescribed treatments include:

Antibiotics
Anti-androgens, i.e. drugs that block the action of the male sex hormones.
Isotretinoin (Roaccutane), a powerful and effective anti-acne drug.
Benzoyl peroxide, a topical antibacterial treatment.
Retinoids, a form of Vitamin A.
Salicylic acid, a treatment from the same family as aspirin.
Photodynamic therapy, which involves special photosensitising drugs and light.
Chemical peels, which are applied to the skin, causing it to peel off.

Remember: Your skin might only respond to treatment within a few days or weeks. In the meantime, gently wash your face twice a day (don’t scrub!) and when you’re sweaty. Make a point of using skincare products and cosmetics that don’t cause acne. Look for “non-comedogenic”, “non-acnegenic” and “oil-free” on labels.

References

Why do you have a sweet tooth?

January 23rd, 2019 by The Hello Doctor Team

Cupcakes, ice cream, doughnuts and chocolate. Hmm… It’s past your bedtime, yet you can’t fall asleep because you’re thinking about sweet treats. But why have you suddenly been hit with sugar cravings?

A food craving is an intense desire for a specific kind of food. Sometimes that desire can be so intense that you won’t feel satisfied until you have that specific food. Where’s it coming from?

There are a few reasons why you crave sweet foods.

1. Your hormones aren’t balanced

Hormones play an important role in food cravings. An imbalance of hormones like leptin (which helps to regulate appetite, food intake and body weight) or serotonin could cause food cravings. In women, serotonin (one of the “happy hormones”) can trigger the need for high-calorie foods like sweet treats. This happens because oestrogen falls during the menstrual cycle while cortisol (the “stress hormone”) rises.

Fix it: Getting enough sleep helps to balance these hormones, so aim for at least seven to nine hours every night. Unwind at the end of each day and eat fresh foods like cheese, salmon, nuts and chicken. These contain tryptophan, an amino acid that can raise serotonin levels. Talk to your doctor if you’re worried about your hormones being unbalanced.

2. You’re skipping meals

Although some people skip meals to cut down on calories, this habit could up your calorie intake for the day. Why? If you skip a meal, your blood sugar levels drop, which could make you reach for sugar-rich foods like doughnuts and chocolates.

Fix it: Eat smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day. Snack on fruit, nuts or yoghurt to keep your sugar levels balanced until your next full meal.

3. Your diet is too sweet

Just as you can start craving caffeine if you drink lots of coffee, you can crave sugar if you have too much. The cravings can be so intense that it’s often compared to an addiction. The more simple sugars you have, the more your brain will tell you that you want (or need) it. This has to do with endorphins, the feel-good hormones that are released when you’ve eaten sugary foods. Responding to a constant flood of endorphins can lead to addictive behaviour.

Fix it: Remove all sweet-tasting foods from your diet, including items like sugar-free beverages, sauces and sweetened, flavoured yoghurt. Ask your family to support you so that you won’t be tempted by their food. When a craving hits, drink unsweetened tea or chew a piece of sugar-free gum. If your emotions are triggering sugar cravings, call a friend or talk to a loved one for a healthier release of negative feelings.

4. You have a deficiency

A body imbalance occurs when you lack certain key nutrients in your diet. For your body to feel better and to regain its balance, it instructs you to seek out certain textures or foods. If your body doesn’t have enough vitamins and minerals, you might feel tired, causing you to crave sweet treats to boost your energy levels. Similarly, if your body lacks salt because you’ve lost a lot due to sweating, you might crave salty foods.

Fix it: If you’re deficient in certain nutrients, you could take a supplement or make a change to your diet. Before you doing anything, talk to your doctor to clearly identify the problem.

5. You’re stressed out

Do you often find yourself heading for the bakery or chocolate aisle whenever you’re stressed? It’s your body looking for comfort. High-fat and high-sugar foods help satisfy that need. What’s more, the stress hormone cortisol releases sugar into your bloodstream and which can make cravings for sweet treats even more intense.

Fix it: Put down the chips and take a walk instead. Find a replacement for that stress trigger. Turn on the radio or watch a movie. Distract yourself from the sugary comfort.

6. It’s in your genes

Just like your genes influence your personality, they may be involved in your food cravings too. Researchers found that a genetic variation called FGF21 can lead to sugar cravings. An international team tested the genes of more than 6 500 Danish people. The researchers also went through dietary preference reports by the Danish participants, while investigating their cholesterol and blood sugar test results. Those who had the FGF21 gene variant were approximately 20% more likely to enjoy sugar or experience sugar cravings.

Fix it: While it may not be possible to change your genes, you could make other changes to reduce your sugar cravings: try eating regular healthy meals and managing your stress levels as best as you can.

References:

Is soy really good for your health?

January 23rd, 2019 by The Hello Doctor Team

There are good reasons why many vegans and vegetarians swear by soy. It’s versatile, packed with protein and other nutrients, plus, it makes a tasty meat alternative.

Although soy is lauded for its many benefits, it comes with a few negatives, too. Let’s take a look.

The good

Soy is a legume. But, unlike many other legumes, it’s an excellent source of plant protein.
Soy is naturally cholesterol-free and low in saturated fat, making it a healthy, plant-based alternative to meat.
Soy can boost your fibre intake, which helps to sustain a healthy colon.
Soy contains Omega-3 fatty acids, which help to lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
It’s chock-full of B vitamins, Vitamin D, calcium, iron, zinc and antioxidants.
It provides an excellent dose of polyunsaturated fat, which has heart-health benefits
It‘s an ingredient in many readymade convenience foods. These include soy milk, tofu, soy sauce and tempeh.
It may help alleviate symptoms of menopause. Menopause occurs when a woman has her last menstrual period. Hormone therapy is often used to relieve the symptoms of menopause and to counteract the drop in oestrogen. This comes with some health risks, so many women look for alternatives to manage their menopause symptoms. One of these alternatives is soy, which contains chemical compounds called isoflavones. These have some oestrogen-raising effects.

The bad

It affects your thyroid

Soy has excessive levels of goitrogens – compounds that hamper your thyroid’s ability to use iodine properly. This may cause hypothyroid problems, which means that your whole metabolism slows down. Hypothyroidism may also cause low energy levels, make you feel cold all the time, and make you vulnerable to disease. Be aware that vegetables like cauliflower, broccoli and cabbage (in excessive quantities) can also disrupt your thyroid.

It disrupts your hormones

Although soy may help with managing menopause as it raises oestrogen levels, it can cause problems. Isoflavones disrupt the reproductive systems of people who aren’t menopausal. Excess soy could temporarily stop the menstrual cycle in women. In men, it could cause an imbalance of testosterone, resulting in fat accumulation around the waist, a low libido, and a loss of energy and stamina.

Parents with young children should take care when choosing baby formulas as many contain substantial doses of soya. A baby’s hormones need to be balanced for them to develop properly and for their sexual characteristics to develop. For example, too much oestrogen can result in underdeveloped testicles and problems during puberty. Speak to your child’s doctor if you’re concerned.

It makes digesting protein difficult

Protease is an enzyme that breaks down proteins. Soy contains protease inhibitors (trypsin inhibitors), which block the action of protease. When proteins aren’t broken down, they can’t be absorbed and used for important functions, such as repairing and building tissues.

The bottom line

According to dietician Kathy McManus, natural soy products like tofu and edamame are valuable sources of protein and other minerals. So, it’s okay to eat these whole soy foods in moderation, a few times a week. However, try to avoid soy isoflavone supplements and foods made with soy protein isolate, including protein powders and nutrition bars. These put you at greater risk for the possible side-effects of soy intake than the whole-food soy options.

References:

The science behind falling in love

December 3rd, 2018 by The Hello Doctor Team

It’s a beautiful day, but instead of enjoying it, you’ve been cooped up at home for hours, staring at your phone.

You’ve been waiting for your date from the previous night to finally text you back. You can’t eat, sleep or stop thinking about the person.

What’s wrong with you? Well, you’re falling in love. And surprisingly, this has more to do with your brain than your heart.

From your brain to your heart

You may think that romantic feelings come from your heart, but it all begins with your brain. For example, when a stranger walks into a room, your brain begins to decide if you’re attracted to them.

Your five senses come into play, starting with your eyes. Signs of youth are often winners, along with long hair and clear skin – markers of fertility and health. Each person has their own standard of beauty though, which varies depending on culture and preferences.

Once your brain decides that your eyes like what they see, it will tell you to move closer to the stranger so that your other senses can get to work in helping you decide. And if all your senses agree, the process of falling in love begins.

What happens once you’re in love?

The lines blur

If you feel like your newfound love really gets you, there’s a reason why. When falling in love, a man’s testosterone level drops while a woman’s surges. This seems to make men and women relate better to each other and the feeling of “being alike” becomes more prominent.

You become obsessed

There’s a reason why you’ve been stalking your beloved online: your serotonin levels have dropped. Serotonin is also known as the happy hormone. Research by the University of Pisa revealed that when you fall in love, the amount of serotonin in your body plummets. It decreases so much that it can fall to the level of someone with obsessive-compulsive disorder. In other words, you become obsessed instead of happy.

You’re stressed out

While your serotonin levels are dropping, your cortisol levels are rising. Cortisol is the stress hormone that prepares your body for fight or flight. The high level of cortisol makes you feel alive and energised which can interfere with you getting enough sleep and even from eating enough. It also explains the sweaty palms and thundering heart rate whenever your love is near.

You begin to feel content

It’s weird to think that you could be stressed and content at the same time, but it’s possible. When your cortisol levels are sky-high, the part of your brain that’s supposed to respond and make you feel anxious shuts down. Researchers from the University College London found that when you’re in love, certain parts of your brain go “offline”. One of these areas is the amygdala which is the part of the brain that registers anxiety. This also means that if your beloved bothers you, you’re not likely to pay attention because your alarm system has been deactivated.

You lose your judgement

Bad news. The part of the brain that’s in charge of critical judgement takes a back seat when you’re smitten. This part is called the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and without it, it’s unlikely that you will hold your sweetheart accountable for anything negative they’ve done. What’s more, is that research by Leiden University in the Netherlands found that you lose cognitive function when you’re in love. This means that not only do you lack judgement, but you also lack the ability to make difficult decisions.

You become attached

Once you become intimate with your partner, your feelings become the real deal. When you have sex or are physically touched by your partner, hormones called oxytocin and vasopressin are released. These hormones enhance the feelings of attachment and create a deeper level of love between you and your partner. These are the same hormones that are released in a newborn baby and its mother to initiate feelings of attachment. In other words, when you’re in love, your brain tricks your mind into feeling attached to another human being.

References:

Prevent illness with these top health tests

October 8th, 2018 by The Hello Doctor Team

Blood testing can help catch potential health risks early, before they progress to serious health problems. Blood tests are recommended on an annual basis for people over the age of 40.

Keep an eye on your overall health with these tests.

Thyroid function

Your thyroid regulates how your body uses energy. It influences the way your respiratory, circulatory and nervous systems function. It also influences brain function, cholesterol levels, menstruation, body temperature, muscle tone and strength, and skin conditions. When your thyroid function is too high or too low, you could have serious health complications.

Tests for…

A thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) test checks if your thyroid gland is working efficiently. It can tell you if it’s overactive (hyperthyroidism) or underactive (hypothyroidism). A blood sample is taken from a vein in the arm and sent off to a lab for analysis. Together with your test results and any symptoms you may have been experiencing, your doctor will determine whether you have a thyroid disorder, how severe it may be, and how to treat it.

Complete blood count

A complete blood count (CBC) test measures all the cells that make up your blood. These include your red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets (tiny pieces of blood cells).

Tests for…

The test tracks blood disorders, like anaemia, leukaemia and blood clotting disorders. This is used to diagnose autoimmune disorders and infections, while also being able to show whether any dangerous nutritional deficiencies are present.

Sex hormones

A hormone imbalance is often linked to health conditions that include obesity, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and hypertension. It can impact sexual health and performance, cholesterol and Type 2 diabetes.

Tests for…

This test measures the level of sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) in your blood. SHBG is a protein made by your liver. It binds tightly to three sex hormones found in both men and women. These hormones are oestrogen, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and testosterone. SHBG carries these three hormones throughout your blood Although SHBG binds to three hormones, the hormone that’s critical in this test is testosterone. The level of SHBG in your blood changes due to factors like sex and age but can also change because of obesity, liver disease, and hyperthyroidism. Your doctor may mention this test if he suspects that you have abnormal testosterone levels.

Haemoglobin A1C

This test measures the number of red blood cells with glucose-coated haemoglobin. Uncontrolled high blood sugar can lead to diabetes. In people already diagnosed with diabetes, consistently high blood sugar increases the risk of damage to your liver and kidneys, heart disease, stroke, and eye disease.

Tests for…

The haemoglobin A1C test is an important blood test to diagnose diabetes or find ways to control diabetes. It gives an average blood glucose measurement over the past three months.

Vitamin profile

Vitamins are an essential part of a healthy and functioning system which includes your organs and cells. They impact physical, cognitive and emotional health.

Tests for…

A vitamin profile blood test is done to pinpoint and resolve any suspected deficiencies.

Magnesium

Magnesium plays a vital role in several chemical reactions in the body. It works with cell communication, providing energy for cells, and in the structure of chromosomes, cell membranes and bones.

Tests for…

A magnesium deficiency is related to diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. It can also impact calcium and Vitamin D absorption and their levels in your body.

Comprehensive metabolic panel

A comprehensive metabolic panel is a group of blood tests. They provide an overall big picture view of your body’s chemical balance and metabolism.

Tests for…

A CMP test measures liver and kidney function, as well as levels of protein, calcium, blood sugar, and electrolytes. This provides a look into the chemical balance of your body and your overall metabolism.

C-reactive protein (CRP)

This is a test for inflammation in the body. Chronic inflammation is usually linked with diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, certain cancers, periodontitis (inflammation of the gums), hay fever and atherosclerosis (a disease where plaque builds up inside your arteries).

Tests for…

CRP is produced by the liver. Its level rises when there’s inflammation in the body. Levels are measured by testing the blood.

Lipid panel cholesterol test / lipid profile test

This blood test checks triglycerides and cholesterol levels, which include both high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels. Too much cholesterol can threaten your health. This also increases the risks of stroke and cardiovascular disease.

Tests for…

Testing can catch cholesterol problems early, and lifestyle changes can reduce your risk.

Urine test

A urinalysis can help detect diabetes, urinary tract infections and kidney problems. This test is often included in a regular doctor’s appointment.

References:

What is pancreatitis?

July 16th, 2018 by The Hello Doctor Team

Your pancreas is the organ that sits just behind the lower part of your stomach. When it’s inflamed you have what is called pancreatitis.

The main function of the pancreas is to produce and discharge hormones and enzymes that help with digestion and regulate your blood sugar (glucose).

How does this happen?

Digestive enzymes are released through the pancreatic duct into the small intestine where they’re activated to help break down fats and proteins.

Digestive hormones produced by the pancreas are released into the blood stream where they help regulate blood sugar levels.

What is pancreatitis?

Pancreatitis can either be acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term).

Acute pancreatitis usually lasts a few days to weeks and can be easily treated with medication.

Chronic pancreatitis typically develops after several episodes of acute pancreatitis. It’s a long-term condition that can last for months or even several years.

What are the causes?

Most cases of acute pancreatitis are brought on either by alcohol abuse or gallstones. Other causes may be from trauma or surgery on the stomach, prescribed medications, or having an abnormal pancreas or intestine. In rare cases, the disease may stem from infections like mumps.

Symptoms

Pancreatitis usually begins with severe pain in the upper stomach that may last for a few days. The pain reaches to the back and other areas. It could be sudden and intense, or a mild pain that’s triggered by eating, and slowly grows worse.

The stomach may be swollen and very tender. Other symptoms include:

Nausea and vomitting
Chills and fever
Fatigue and weakness
Raised blood pressure
Dehydration
Internal bleeding
Increased heart and breathing rate
Weight loss and loss of appetite

Pancreatic function tests can help your doctor decide if your pancreas can still make enough digestive enzymes. This can be done with different scans that will show the characteristics of the condition.

In more advanced stages of the disease, your doctor can use blood, urine, and stool tests to help with diagnosis.

Treatment

In the case of acute pancreatitis, treatment depends on whether the condition is mild and not likely to cause complications or be severe.

Prevention

While pancreatitis is still not fully understood, you can try to prevent it from developing:

If the condition is caused by gallstones and your gallbladder hasn’t been removed, avoid fatty and fried foods, butter, full-fat dairy products and animal fats. Include wholegrains and fresh fruit and vegetables in your diet. Eat smaller and more frequent meals to help prevent aggravating the pancreas.

If the cause is alcohol, stop drinking. Stick to your doctor’s orders and recommended diet. Take your medication to limit the attacks.

References

Under the spotlight: Cortisol

July 16th, 2018 by The Hello Doctor Team

Think of cortisol as your body’s alarm system. It’s the main stress hormone which helps fuel your body’s fight or flight response in emergencies. Cortisol works with certain parts of the brain to help control your mood, motivation and fear responses.

What does cortisol do?

Triangle-shaped hormones called the adrenal glands make cortisol. Almost every cell in your body has receptors for cortisol, so this means that cortisol is involved in different actions in the body.

These include:

Managing how your body uses carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.
Acting as an anti-inflammatory when needed.
Regulating your blood pressure.
Increasing your blood sugar (glucose).
Regulating your metabolism.
Controlling your sleep and wake cycle.
Controlling your salt and water balance.
Boosting energy so you can handle stress and restoring balance afterward.

When cortisol goes out of whack

It’s important that your body produces the right amount of cortisol because too much or too little could wreak havoc on your body. Your body usually produces the right amount, but in conditions like Cushing’s syndrome (too much cortisol), and Addison’s syndrome, (too little cortisol), it doesn’t.

Symptoms of too much cortisol include:

Weight gain, particularly around the abdomen and face.
Thin and fragile skin that’s slow to heal.
Acne.
Facial hair and irregular menstrual periods in women.

Symptoms of insufficient cortisol include:

Exhaustion.
Nausea and vomitting.
Weight loss
Muscle weakness.
Pain in the abdomen.

Balance your cortisol levels

There are ways to keep your cortisol levels in check, naturally.

1. Eat anti-inflammatory foods

Blood sugar imbalances can throw off your body’s processes, including how much cortisol is released from the adrenal gland. This happens because blood sugar imbalances contribute to inflammation. To prevent this, it’s important to follow an anti-inflammatory diet. Cut out excess sugar, processed carbohydrates and grains. Replace these with healthy fats like avocado, fish, olives and coconut. Include some nuts and seeds like almonds, pumpkin seeds and macadamias. Lastly, include moderate amounts of protein, along with fibrous veggies like broccoli, cabbage, beans, asparagus and beetroot.

2. Destress your life

Stress is a big culprit when it comes to imbalances in the body, including adrenal gland dysfunction which affects cortisol levels. It’s important to take proper time out to relax. Start with doing daily meditation, prayer, deep breathing, journalling or stretching. Reflecting on the stressors in your life and doing all you can to minimise these culprits can help, too. For example, if the daily work commute stresses you out, try to reduce your travelling time. If certain people affect you negatively, respect your personal space and limit your time with them. Do things you enjoy in your downtime, like writing, watching a movie or spending time outdoors with loved ones.

3. Up your magnesium levels

Excessive stress drains the body of magnesium. It’s important to prevent this from happening as magnesium helps to balance cortisol levels by improving blood sugar, promoting relaxation, improving sleep and your ability to adapt to stress. Eat magnesium-rich foods like wholewheat, spinach, quinoa, almonds, black beans and tofu. Talk to your doctor about a magnesium supplement. It’s a great way top up your magnesium stores.

4. Sleep well

For your body to cope with stress, you need balance by way of relaxation (quality sleep). Getting a good night’s rest regularly does wonders for the body; more especially, deep sleep. Deep sleep helps rejuvenate your brain and restore your body’s internal balance.

References

Heal your body by healing your gut

May 11th, 2018 by The Hello Doctor Team

Millions of neurons line the gut and release important chemical messengers that allow the gut to keep in close contact with the brain, and influence our moods and emotions. This is one reason whey the digestive system is also known as the second brain.

Digestion is critical as it breaks food into nutrients that the body uses for energy, growth, and cell repair.

Mind and body connection

There’s more to your digestive system than occasional aches and pains that come with heartburn, bloating, constipation and diarrhoea. Your gut is central to your overall health. It’s connected to everything that happens in your body.

It’s important to balance this system because what happens in the gastrointestinal system can affect your physical health and emotional state.

Understand how your gut works

Your digestive system absorbs food, breaks it down into macronutrients (proteins, fats, and carbohydrates) and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals), and then absorbs them. The rest of your body uses them as fuel and raw materials to build tissues.

Gut bacteria alter the way you store fat, how you balance levels of glucose in your blood, and how you respond to hormones that make you feel hungry. The wrong internal mix can cause obesity and other health issues.

Digestion stages

The mouth and teeth. The digestive process starts with your mouth and teeth breaking food into small pieces and mixing with saliva.
The oesophagus. Chewed food travels through your oesophagus, a simple tube that connects the pharynx (throat) with the stomach.
The stomach. Your stomach slowly empties its contents into the small intestine, which is the longest portion of the digestive tract. It usually takes about four hours for a moderate-sized meal to empty out from the stomach.
The small intestine. The major food groups, protein, fat and carbohydrates are broken down here into amino acids, sugars and fatty acids, which are then absorbed into the bloodstream. It can take between two to four hours for a meal to be processed.
The large intestine. The major function of the large intestine is to absorb water from the remaining indigestible food matter and get rid of the useless waste material from the body.
The pancreas. This is a digestive gland that secretes an alkaline juice that contains powerful enzymes that break down protein, fat and carbohydrates. It’s also the source of insulin.
The liver receives blood from the gut, filters, removes toxins, metabolises medications, stores nutrients and creates proteins. It also creates bile.
The gallbladder concentrates and stores bile produced by the liver and helps with digestion of fats in the gut.

Now that you know how this powerful machine works, what are the main culprits that affect your gut health?

Refined sugars.
Artificial sweeteners.
Processed foods.
Excessive alcohol.

Avoid these and your stomach will thank you because what you eat determines which bacteria thrive in your gut.

Common gut problems include:

Food allergies and intolerances.
Skin issues like acne, rosacea, and eczema.
Digestive issues like bloating, gas, diarrhoea, and IBS.
Hormonal imbalances, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, depression, anxiety, and attention deficit disorder (ADD).

Restore good bacteria

Up your probiotics; they’re good for your gut.

Garlic boosts your healthy bacteria. It also prevents bacteria from growing and diseases from spreading.
Onions contain prebiotics which strengthen your gut, break down fat and breed good bacteria.
Yoghurt is a filling snack that helps keep out harmful microorganisms that may cause intestinal infections.
Kefir, which is similar to yoghurt, is a trusted source of probiotics and is mainly used to make a fermented milk drink. It’s a better source of probiotics than yoghurt and helps with digestive problems to protect your gut from infections.

Prebiotics vs. Probiotics?

Probiotics are found in fermented foods and some supplements. Prebiotics are found in certain fruits, vegetables, and wholegrains. The most dominant prebiotic is fibre.

Fibre is the most important ingredient for gut health. Soluble fibre helps lower blood glucose levels and LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol). Find fibre in oats, legumes, some fruits and veggies.
Insoluble fibre has a cleansing effect on your digestive system. You can find it in wholegrains, kidney beans, fruit and veggies.
Bananas act as peacemakers and are gentle on your stomach. They have high levels of potassium and magnesium. They can relieve stomach ulcers by coating the lining of the stomach against acids.
Apples contain insoluble fibre. They have gut healing properties thanks to pectin, found in the skin. It can help maintain and repair the intestinal mucosa lining.