14 May 2015

How to use eyeliner to get beautiful attractive eyes

  • One of the best way to make your eyes stand out is to use eyeliner
  • If you want more subtle and sophisticated look use brown eyeliner, to draw attention and create various looks use black eyeliner. 
  • When applying eyeliner, first sweep a line immediately above the upper lashes, and then you should  carefully line the rim of the lower eyelid. 
  • To get dramatic look a thick but subtle coating of eyeliner is given.
  • If you want smoky eyed look, you can smudge the eyeliner a little.For this use heavy black, then after that apply slow shades of glitter, not a lot. 
  • If you wish to make your eyes appear larger, first you should line the bottom inside rim with a white liner,this should be followed by a light application of a brown or soft black eyeliner on the outside, just under your lowerlash line. 
  • These steps will definitely help to create the illusion of a larger and beautiful eye.

9 May 2015

What is the role of conventional DMARD in rheumatoid arthritis treatment

DMARD are disease modifying antirheumatic drugs, they are so called because of their ability to prevent and slow the structural damage to joint and save the joint in rheumatoid arthritis.These are known as slow-acting "second-line drugs.Prior to the invention of these drugs treatment is aimed to reduce the pain and discomfort to people than slow the actual underlying disease process.DMARD have thus revolutionized the treatment and elevated treatment goal. 

What are the advantages of DMARDS in RA?
1.These agents substantially reduce the inflammation in joints.
2.Prevent or slow down the joint damage.
3.Help to preserve the joint structure and function so the affected person can lead normal life and enable to do all daily activities as far as possible.

When to start DMARD?
Since the critical period in RA is first year of onset of disease, bone and joint damage occurs early, DMARDS cannot reverse the existing damage already occurred, they can only protect the joint from further progression of disease process.It is better to start them early to avoid joint destruction.As soon as the person is diagnosed with this disease Rheumatologists now start with a DMARD.Methotrexate is the most commonly prescribed drug.The faster the patient is strated on DMARD sooner it slow down the joint damage.

How they act in RA?
They will act on specific part of immune system and bring down the abnormally increased immune response.Basic pathology in RA is abnormal immune response which damage the joints.Earlier treatment with them have improved the function and reduced the structural damage to joint that is even within months of diagnosis.Most people need aggressive secondline drugs to treat the situation that is methotrexate.

How long it take to get improvement in disease?
The time requied to produce improvement varry depending on individual agent.
4 to 6 weeks of treatment with methotrexate
1 to 2months with salfasalazine
2 to 3 months for hydroxychloroquine
Sometime they need to take for years at varying doses to get optimal results

Conventional DMARDS  in Rheumatoid arthritis treatment 
DMARDS come in variety of forms and are listed below. 
Methotrexate (Trexall, Rheumatrex, Otrexup),leflunomide (Arava), hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) and sulfasalazine (Azulfidine)

Methotrexate 
This is the initial DMARD of choice and is the main drug for combination therapy.This is an immune suppressing agent and decreases the joint inflammation.Since 1986 it is approved for treatment of RA.This is the initial second-line drug because of the following. 
1.Methotrexate is effective and it has infrequent side effects compared to other DMARDS.
2.Dose adjustment of methotrexate is flexible.Dose adjustment done as per need.
Side effects of this drug are ,it may affect bonemarrow and liver  rarely cause cirrhosis of liver and allergic reaction in lung.So regular monitoring of liverfunction and complete blood count is required in all people  while on this drug.Taking folic acid recommended to  reduce the risk of methotrexate side effects.
Dose of methotrexate is 10–25 mg/week orally or SQ Folic acid 1 mg/d to reduce toxicities.Other common side effects are mouth ulcers fatigue, hair loss ,vomiting and loose stool.Before starting treatment check CBC, LFTs Viral hepatitis panel and Chest x-ray.
Monitor CBC, creatinine, LFTs every 2–3 months while on treatment.

Leflunomide (Arava) 
Helps to relieve the symptoms and slowdown the progression of the RA.Clinical efficasy similar to methotrexate.Common side effects of this dugs are hair loss, diarrhea, rash in some people.Serious side effects include increased susceptibility to infection,liver damage, bone marrow suppression.This drug is not safe in pregnancy.As it produces birth defects it should not be taken during pregnancy and those women who want to become pregnant while on drugs.Dose is 10–20 mg/d.Before starting therapy blood count,liver function test and viral hepatitis panel should be done. While on this agent regular monitoring of CBC, creatinine, LFT every 2–3 months is recommended.

Hydroxychloroquine  (Plaquenil) 
It has been used for long periods  to treat RA..But it wont produce radiographic improvement.Dosage of this drug is 200–400 mg/d orally(=6.5 mg/kg)
This is used  in early mild cases and in combination therapy with other DMARD. The common side effect of this drug include upset of stomach, diarrhea,vomiting ,headache. muscle weakness ,skin rashes, and vision changes.Prior to starting this drug eye examination is done in all people who are more than 40 years old and those with past history of eye disease.People on this drug require regular monitoring of vision by an eye doctor (ophthalmologist) every year after starting drug.Other serious adverse reactions of this drugs are toxicity of heart and abnormality in blood count.

Sulfasalazine (Azulfidine)
This is an oral drug used to treat RA along with other antiinflammatory agents.This drug is usually well tolerated by people.The common side effects are stomach upset rash,vomiting and diarrhea.The serious side effect is low blood count thus predispose to infection.As Azulfidine  contain  sulfa and salicylate compounds this should  be avoided in people with past history of allergy to sulfa.Initial dose of drug is 500 mg orally twice daily and maintenance dose is 1000–1500 mg twice daily.Before starting these drugs blood count,liver function test and G6PD level need to be tested.For people on salfasalazine blood count should be monitored every 2–4 weeks for first 3months,then every3 months

Conventional  agents may be used alone or in combination in the treatment of RA 

Immunosuppressants in the treatment of RA
Immunosuppressants are used in the treatment of refractory aggressive case of RA , where all other therapy fails.Also in those people with severe complication of RA that is blood vessel inflammation.They include azathioprine (Imuran), cyclophosphamide(Cytoxan), cyclosporine and chlorambucil(Leukeran), 
These agents may suppress the bonemarrow and produce anemia,low platelet count and low toatal WBC  count.Thus increases the risk for infection,and bleeding.
Agents like Gold ,Pencillamine are rarely used nowadays due to poor clinical efficacy and toxic profile. 

29 Apr 2015

Super foods that fight against cancer

Cancer is a dreaded disease where prevention is better than cure.One of the major culprit in cancer is your unhealthy and faulty food habits.There are food substance that enable you to fight against cancer.They act by boosting our immune system and supporting our body.They help you to stay a head of cancer and improve your health.

Super foods that prevent cancer
We usually neglet those powerful foods that prevent cancer, they have powerful action on your health and immune system.
1.Vegetables and fruits
You should consume more variety of fruits and to prevent cancer.Vegetables that act against cancer are Broccoli, brusselsprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, eggplant, green beans, kale, onions(red), peppers, radishes ,soy, squash, sweetpotatoes, tomatoes,yams
Anti-cancer fruits include the following
Apricots,blueberries, grapefruit, grapes, lemons, mangoes, oranges, papayas, peaches, persimmons, strawberries, organic, tangerines
Include atleast five sevings of vegetables and fruits in your daily food
2.Fiber rich food 
Eat fiber rich food as they will reduce the cancer risk , which include whole grains,beans, fruits and vegetables.
3.Plant based foods,
Eat predominantly plant based foods, foods of plant origin are low in their caloric and fat content.They are rich in phytochemicals and antioxidants which are strong anticancer agents.Apart from the anticancer effect of fibers the legumes (such as seeds, rice, beans, and chick peas soy beans) have anti cancer properties due to their protease inhibitor function.So they reduce the growth of colon, breast and skin cancers. 
4.Green tea 
Consumption of green tea is useful in cancer prevention.
5.Peanuts and Peanut butter
Consume more Peanuts and Peanut butter.Consumption of vitmin E rich foods helps to reduce the risk of colon, stomach liver and lung cancer.Peanuts, peanut butter, sunflower seeds almond, almond butter are rich source of vitamin E they make your cells strong enough to fight agaist cancer.
6.Vitamin D rich food
Eat vitamin D rich food,as low vitamin D have been associated with the cancer especially breast, prostate and colon cancer.Wild salmon, vitamin D fortified dairy product such as yogurt and milk increases your vitamin D level.Vitamin D inhibit the blood vessel formation that feeds the tumor cell,thus helps to arrest the cell growth.
8.Foods rich in calcium
Consume foods rich in calcium.High calcium intake is associated with decreased incidence of colorectal cancer.Calcium acts in the following ways to prevent cancer
a.It can control the multiplication of cells that line the colon.As uncontrolled growth is the basic pathology in cancer it help to reduce cancer.
b.Calcium can bind with bile acid and protect the colon from the irritating effect of bile which is a carcinogen.
If you want to reduce the cancer risk consume 500 to 1000 mg of calcium daily along with dietary source of calcium.Dose required is 2000mg to suppress uncontrolled proliferation.Dairy products bony fish and yogurt are rich source of calcium.
9.Food rich in selenium
Consume food rich in selenium.Selenium has strong antioxidant property, thus helps to scavenge the free radicals that produce cancer.They are shown to reduce the colonic cancer.To get the maximum benefit of selenium consume it with vitaminE rich foods.Fish particularly redsnapper, shrimp, lobster, whole grain, vegetables are rich in selenium.
10.Acidophilus and cancer prevention.
Acidophilus are intestine friendly bacteria that can act as anti cancer agent and prevent colonic cancer
How it prevent cancer?
The growth of other intestine friendly bacterias is stimulated by them. They reduce bile acid to carcinogen conversion.
Lacto bacillus acidophilus reduces the colonic enzyme that produce carcinogen formation in the intestine.
Consume yogurt with the L.A.C. (live active cultures) seal 

Drink green tea to reduce skin wrinkles and premature ageing

Wrinkles are creases produced in the skin,as a part of skin ageing. As age advances your skin will get thinner and less elastic,it fails to protect itself from damage, exposure to sunlight will intensify premature wrinkling of skin. To protect your skin drink green tea.

Green tea is regarded as a storehouse of antioxidants that benefits for your skin. These antioxidants are effective against free radicals. These free radicals are formed when your skin is exposed to the UV rays of the sun, they are accountable for premature ageing.

Green tea is the most beneficial food for your skin.

Green tea contains the following nutrients  
Vitamins-Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin K, Riboflavin.
Minerals-Zinc, Calcium, Magnesium, Iron.
If you drink green tea daily it will defenitely help to keep your skin glowing and healthy. Green tea is also an ingradient in certain beauty creams.

Why green tea is effective in preventing wrinkles?
Green tea has cell renewal property. It contains polyphenol compounds, these compounds will energize the aged keratinocytes cells. Thus it stimulate the DNA synthesis and prevent the premature ageing of the cells.

Other skin benefits of green tea are the following
1. If applied locally green tea is very effective in protecting your skin against sunburn and tanning.
2. Prevent skin cancer by fighting against the enzyme that produce skin cancer.
3. Green tea act as soother in certain inflammatory skin disease such as psoriasis.
4. Helps to reduce acne and pimples.
5. Improve the skin complexion.

15 Apr 2015

Food triggers of migraine and their control

Migraine attack in a particular patient is precipitated by certain triggers.One of the important trigger is food that you eat.Food trigger vary from person to person.The intensity of attack of headache produced by particular food also vary.If you have another trigger apart from food on the particular day there is increased chance of getting migraine.

Food related triggers is seen in approximately 10 percentage of people with migraine.It can be due to intake of certain food substances or food additives and preservatives or lack of food.Sometime there may be craving for particular food before an attack of migraine.

Missing meals and insufficient food intake is one of the most common and important trigger for your migraine attack.This is because decreased food intake lead to decrease in blood glucose level which is strong migraine trigger.If you are a migriane sufferer avoid skipping meals.Donot eat sugary snacks instead you should take care to eat a balanced diet.If you want to control your attacks consume nutritious snacks at regular interval. 

Food substance that act as migraine trigger are the following
According to national headache foundation following are the foods commonly associated with migraine (list is partial).Food agents that are frequently associated are aged cheese,processed food,salted foods.
1. Ripened cheeses (such as cheddar, Emmentaler, Brie ,Camembert and Stilton)
As the cheese ripenes or ages the proteins in it break down to a substance called Tyramine.Tyramin is the culprit substance for headache aggrevation.Longer the cheese ages the higher the tyramin contents it has.This tyramin content is high especially in  soft cheeses like brie and camembert blue cheese,Swiss cheese,all hard cheeses and  moldy  cheeses.If you want to avoid a migraine attack avoid these aged cheese.
2. Chocolate 
Many people experience food craving and increased appetite just before a migraine attack.So just before the migraine you may have a tendency to eat chocolate, so reaching for chocolate seems to be a result of migraine attack than its cause.Studies have showed that cocoa in chocolate may protect the nerves that is involved in migraine attack about 22 percentage of people experience it as a migraine trigger.
3. Ice Cream
Some migraine sufferes experience migraine aggrevation following intake of ice cream and other cold foods.This is especially when you eat cold ice cream too fast.If you are overheated there is increased chance of headache.This headache rapidly subsides.If you want to eat icecream and cold food drink or eat slowly.
4. Certain fruits especially banana.
Banana contains tyramin and the concentration of tyramin is 10 times higher in banana peel than banana pulp.So if you have identified it as your trigger while eating banana avoid the delicate inner peel that might stick on to it.
Other fruits such as citrus fruits,figs,papaya,avocado,red plums are all migraine triggers.
5. Caffeine
Excessive amounts that is more than 2 cups of caffeinated beverages such as tea, coffee or cola.
Effect of caffeine on migraine depends on its dose so it is included in headache medications.At lower doses caffeine actually reduces headache,but it act as a trigger when your daily intake is high.To experience the withdrawal headache you need to take about 200 mg that is about 2 to 3 cup daily.
6. Tannins
Tannins are that agent which give the astringent taste to food, and  act as a strong migraine trigger in some people.Food that contain tannins are tea, apple juice and cider,red-skinned apples and pears, and red wine.
7. Alcohol
Alcohol precipitate migraine headache through different mechanism. 
a. Beer, red wine vermouth  and sherry, all have high tyramine content.Tyramine is the agent that produce migraine trigger.
b. Alcohol also produce headache by decreasing the hydration.If  you have migraine better avoid alcohol.
c. Alcohol dilate the blood vessels in brain and increases the blood flow resulting in migraine. 
Among alcohol redwine is strongly related to migraine because of it high tyramine content and sulfite in redwine which is used as a preservative.
Other migraine triggers are
• Marinated, pickled, or fermented food
• Sour cream
• Nuts, peanut butter
• Sourdough bread
• Broad beans, lima beans, fava beans, snow peas
Leftovers
If the food is improperly stored the levels of tyramine increases and migraine sufferers experience headache following intake of such food.
Dehydration can produce migraine attack ,so drink atleast 10 to 12 glasses of water daily.
Food additives are commonly associated with migraine.

What you should do to avoid food trigger for migraine?
1.To identify your food trigger make  a list of food substance that you have consumed daily.Identify what all food that you have consumed on the day of migraine exacerbation.Avoid those foods.
2.There are certain foodsubstances that helps to reduce the migraine headache such as gingerjuice,ghee,butter and green tea.Antioxidants in green tea helps to reduce the headche.It is better to use green tea mixed with lemon juice.
3.Take food at regular time. 
4.Avoid fasting and skipping meals which  reduce the blood glucose level and  produces headache.
5.Adequate hydration helps to reduce headche, so drink plenty of water.
6.If you have migraine avoid alcohol especially redwine and whisky.

5 Apr 2015

Bittergourd juice for weightloss

Overweight is a pre runner of many disease, so everyone want to reduce body weight and desire is to achieve a slim and fit body.Many people wont get enough time to spend for weight reduction because of their busy schedule, this home made remedy for weight reduction does not need too much time.It is an healthy way to become slim and fit.It works from within your body.
Bittergourd
It is a green vegetable which is also called as bitter melon.This is first cultivated in Amazon rain forest by the tribes, later in Asia, Southamerica, South Africa.This is used as food and has medicinal effect.

How bittergourd juice help to reduce weight?
1.Bittergourd help to reduce blood glucose.
2.Prevent extra sugar absorption.
3.Bittergourd has high fiber content that reduces the absorption of fat and sugar.
4.It has low carbohydrate and calorie content.

How to make bittergourd juice? 
Here are 2 recepies  
1.Take a bittergourd, peel off it with knife, thoroughly wash it under the running water.
2.Slice it into 2 pieces at its center,scoop out the seeds and white flesh.
3.Cut it into small pieces and soak it in a bowl full of water for half an hour.
4.Add half teaspoon lemon juice or salt into the bowl.
5.Put bittergourd pieces into the juicer, and take the juice
6.To overcome bitter taste you can use the following
    Lemon juice
    Apple juice 
    Honey and black pepper
7.With a strainer filter out the  vegetable pieces.
8.Refrigerate the juice for 1 or 2 hour. 
This healthy juice will help to remove some calories from your body and and help you to get slim and fit body.

Mixed vegetable and fruit juice containing bitter gourd
You need the following
1.Bitter gourd
2.Sticks of celery
3.Cucumber
4.2-3 apples
5.1 peeled lemon
Prepare bittergourd as mentioned above,then add all the vegetables and fruits.
You can add any vegetables and fruits of your choice.

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