Ugonjwa wa Kisukari: Tafakari juu ya Chanzo, Dalili na tiba yake

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Magonjwa yasiyo ya kuambukiza ni magonjwa ambayo hayasambazwi kwa mtu mwingine kwa kuwa hakuna vimelea mwilini vinavyohusiana na magonjwa hayo. Magonjwa yasiyo ya kuambukiza ni kama ya moyo na mishipa ya damu, figo, saratani, kifua sugu, kisukari, magonjwa ya akili na mengine ya kurithi kama vile ugonjwa wa selimundu (Sickle Cell Disease).

Ripoti ya Shirika la Afya Ulimwenguni (WHO) ya 2013, inadai magonjwa yasiyo ya kuambukiza ndio chanzo kikubwa cha vifo ulimwenguni, yakifanya asilimia 63 ya vifo vyote kwa mwaka. Magonjwa yasiyo ya kuambukiza huua watu zaidi ya milioni 36 kila mwaka. Asilimia 80 ya vifo vinasababishwa na magonjwa hayo hutokea nchi zinazoendelea, Tanzania ikiwa miongoni mwa nchi hizo. Inakisiwa kuwa mwaka 2020 magonjwa haya yasiyo ya kuambukiza yatasababisha asilimia 73 ya vifo vyote duniani na asilimia 60 ya ukubwa wa tatizo la magonjwa duniani.

Nchini Tanzania, katika mpango wa upimaji wa afya kwa magonjwa yasiyoambukiza jijini Dar es Salaam, Mfuko wa Taifa wa Bima ya Afya (NHIF) umebaini kuwa idadi kubwa ya wanaume wanapatwa na magonjwa hayo kuliko wanawake. Uchambuzi huo umeonyesha magonjwa yasiyoambukiza kama kisukari, shinikizo la damu na saratani zote ambazo zimekuwa chanzo cha vifo hivyo, huku serikali ikisema imeamua kuongeza juhudi za makusudi kupambana nayo.

Kwa mujibu wa taarifa ya Mfuko wa Bima ya Afya, athari ya magonjwa yasiyoambukiza ni mara nne zaidi ya watu waliopo mijini kuliko vijijini, huku asilimia 12.8 ya wanaougua wakiwa wako mijini na asilimia 3.1 wako vijijini kutokana na mfumo wa maisha.

Uchunguzi mwingine uliofanywa na jopo la madaktari bingwa kuanzia mwaka 2011 hadi 2014 ulibaini asilimia 79 ya watanzania wazee waligundulika kuugua magonjwa ya kisukari, macho na shinikizo la damu. Pia walidai magonjwa hayo yamekuwa kikwazo cha maendeleo kutokana na kuwasumbua wazee na hata wenye umri wa kati ya miaka 40 na 50.

Kisukari ikiwa ni moja ya muuaji wa kimya kimya katika kundi hili la magonjwa yasiyo ya kuambukiza. Watu milioni 285 duniani kote wameathiriwa na kisukari ambayo ni sawa na asilimia 6.6 ya idadi ya watu wote ulimwenguni pia ikishika nafasi ya 5 kwa kusababisha vifo duniani.

Nchi zinazoongoza kwa idadi kubwa ya watu wenye kisukari ni China wagonjwa milioni 43.2, India wagonjwa milioni 40.9, Marekani wagonjwa milioni 25.8, Urusi wagonjwa milioni 9.6 na Brazil wagonjwa milioni 6. Nchi zenye idadi kubwa ya watu wazima wenye kisukari ni Nauru kwa asilimia 30, Bahrain kwa asilimia 25.5, Umoja wa Falme za Kiarabu (UAE) kwa asilimia 25, Saudi Arabia kwa asilimia 23.7 na Mauritius kwa asilimia 20.

KISUKARI NI NINI HASWA?

Sukari mwilini hutokana na vyakula pamoja na vinywaji tunavyotumia kila siku na hutumika kuupa mwili nguvu. Glukosi ni aina ya sukari ambayo huzipa chembe za mwili nishati. Hata hivyo ili glukosi iingie ndani ya chembe hizo inahitaji insulini. Insulini ni kemikali (Homoni) ambayo hutokezwa na kongosho (Pancrease).

Kisukari ni ugonjwa unaotokana na mtu kuwa na sukari nyingi kupita kiasi kwenye damu. Ugonjwa huo huvuruga utaratibu wa kuingiza sukari ndani ya chembe kutoka kwenye damu kwa kuwa chembe huhitaji sukari ili kupata nishati.

Ugonjwa wa Kisukari hutokea pale ambapo tezi ya kongosho inaposhindwa kutengeneza kichocheo (Homoni) aina ya insulin au pale mwili unaposhindwa kutumia vizuri kichocheo hicho na kusababisha kuongezeka kwa sukari (Hyperglycemia) au kushuka kwa kiwango cha sukari (Hypoglycemia). Ugonjwa wa kisukari unaweza kusababishwa na kuwa na kiwango kidogo cha insulin mwilini, mwili kutosikia kichocheo hicho au yote mawili.

TAKWIMU MBALIMBALI ZA UGONJWA  WA KISUKARI

Kulingana na ripoti mbalimbali karibu watu milioni 316 ulimwenguni pote wana kiwango kikubwa cha sukari kwenye damu, ingawa wengi wao hawajui wana kiwango hicho. Kwa mfano, nchini Marekani pekee asilimia 90 ya watu wenye sukari nyingi kwenye damu hawatambui kama wana tatizo hilo. Ingawa asilimia 8.3 ya watu watu wa Marekani wana Kisukari ambayo ni sawa na watu milioni 25.8 na kufanya Kisukari cha 7 kusababisha vifo vya watu Marekani.

Mamilioni ya watu wana ugonjwa huo lakini hawana habari! Ni ngumu zaidi kutibu ugonjwa wa kisukari kwa kuwa mtu anaweza kuishi nao kwa muda mrefu kabla haujagunduliwa. Hiyo ndiyo sababu watu husema kwamba ugonjwa huo huua kimyakimya.

NINI CHANZO HASA CHA KISUKARI?

Ili kuelewa vyema ugonjwa wa kisukari ni muhimu kwanza kuelewa namna chakula kinavyovunjwa vunjwa na kutumiwa na mwili ili kuzalisha nguvu. Wakati chakula kinapoyeyushwa matukio kadhaa hutokea. Moja ni sukari inayoitwa glucosi ambayo ni chanzo cha nishati/nguvu mwilini huingia katika damu. Tukio la pili ni kiungo kinachoitwa kongosho (Pancrease) kutengeneza kichocheo cha insulini. Kazi ya insulini ni kuondoa glucosi katika damu na kuingiza katika misuli, seli za mafuta na ini, ambako hutumika kama nishati.

Watu wenye kisukari huwa na kiwango kikubwa cha sukari kwenye damu kuliko inavyotakiwa kwa sababu miili yao haiwezi kupeleka sukari kwenye seli za mafuta, ini na misuli ili ihifadhiwe kwa ajili ya kuzalisha nguvu. Hii ni kutokana na moja ya sababu zifuatazo, huenda kongosho zao haziwezi kutengeneza insulini ya kutosha au seli za mwili wao haziathiriwi na insini kama inavyotakiwa au sababu zote hizo mbili.

Kama wewe ni mnene kupita kiasi, hufanyi mazoezi kwa ukawaida au una watu wa ukoo walio na kisukari, huenda tayari una kiwango cha juu cha sukari kwenye damu. Ongezeko la sukari kwenye damu mbali na kuwa kisababishi cha kisukari, hali hiyo inahusianishwa na hatari ya kupatwa na ugonjwa wa akili uitwao 'DEMENTIA'.

Kula sukari nyingi sio sababu ya ugonjwa wa kisukari. Lakini lazima tuseme kwamba kula sukari nyingi si nzuri kwa afya yako kwani utaongeza uzito wa kuweza kuathiri uwezo wa mwili wako kujikinga na maradhi tofauti. Ugonjwa wa kisukari umeitwa kwa kufaa "ugonjwa unaoathiri kiini cha nishati ya mwili". Mwili unaposhindwa kutumia glukosi, mifumo mbalimbali ya mwili inaweza kuacha kufanya kazi au hata kusababisha kifo.

Ugonjwa wa Kisukari kitaalamu hujulikana kama 'DIABETES MELLITUS'. Jina 'Diabetes Mellitus' linatokana na neno la Kigiriki linalomaanisha 'kunyonya' na neno la Kilatini linalomaanisha 'tamu kama asali'. Maneno hayo yanafafanua vizuri sana ugonjwa huo, kwani maji hupita mwilini mwa mtu aliye na ugonjwa wa kisukari kana kwamba yananyonywa na mdomo na kupitia kwenye njia ya mkojo kisha kutoka nje ya mwili. Isitoshe mkojo huwa na ladha tamu kwa kuwa una sukari. Ndiyo sababu kabla ya kuvumbua njia bora za kupima ugonjwa huo, mbinu moja ya kutambua kama mtu ana ugonjwa wa kisukari ilikuwa kumwaga mkojo wa mgonjwa karibu na kichuguu cha sisimizi. Ikiwa sisimizi wangevutiwa na mkojo huo basi hilo lilimaanisha kwamba mkojo una sukari.

NI NANI ANAWEZA KUWA NA UGONJWA WA KISUKARI?

Watu walio katika makundi yafuatayo wana uwezekano mkubwa wa kupata ugonjwa wa kisukari:-

– Wenye uzito uliozidi,

– Wenye historia ya kuwa na wagonjwa wa kisukari katika familia zao,

– Wanawake waliozaa watoto wenye kilo 4 au zaidi,

– Watu wasiojishughirisha au wasiofanya mazoezi,

– Wenye shinikizo la damu,

– Wenye msongo wa mawazo na

– Wenye matumizi makubwa ya pombe na sigara.

Watu hawa wanashauriwa kupima sukari yao kila mwaka wakiwa na umri wa miaka 45 na kuendelea.

Kuna hatari kubwa ya kuugua ugonjwa huo ikiwa mtu ana mafuta mengi katika tumbo na kiuno chake kuliko katika mapaja yake. Mafuta katika kongosho na ini huvuruga uwezo wa mwili wa kudhibiti kiasi cha sukari kwenye damu.

Wavutaji wa sigara wanakabiliwa na hatari kubwa zaidi kwani zoea hilo hudhuru moyo na mfumo wa mzunguko wa damu na kubana mishipa ya damu. Kitabu kimoja kinasema kwamba asilimia 95 ya watu wanaougua kisukari ambao hulazimika kukatwa viungo ni wavutaji wa sigara.

DALILI ZA UGONJWA WA KISUKARI

~ Kunywa maji mengi kuliko kawaida na kusikia kiu kila wakati.
~ Kwenda haja ndogo mara kwa mara. Watoto kukojoa kitandani.
~ Kuwa dhaifu, kukosa nguvu na kujisikia mchovu kila wakati.
~ Kupungua uzito au kukonda licha ya kula vizuri.
~ Kusikia njaa kila wakati na kula sana.
~ Wanawake kuwashwa ukeni.
~ Kutoona vizuri.
~ Kupungua nguvu za kiume au hamu ya kujamiiana kwa wanawake.
~ Ganzi, kuchomwachomwa au kutohisi unapoguswa sehemu za miguu, viganja na vidole.
~ Miguu kuoza na hata kupata gangrini.
~ Kukaukwa na ngozi na pia kupata aina ya ngazi katika miguu.
~ Vidonda au majeraha sehemu yoyote ya mwili kutopona haraka.
~ Majipu mwilini.

Wenye dalili hizi wanashauriwa kupima sukari ili kubaini kama wana kisukari.

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Taarifa MPYA ya Wizara ya Afya kuhusu ugonjwa wa Ebola kuingia Tanzania.

Ugonjwa wa Ebola ambao kwa sasa umeingia kwenye headlines za dunia kutokana na kuripotiwa kwenye nchi mbalimbali za Afrika sasa umeingia kugusa vichwa vya habari na kuihusisha Tanzania.

 

 Waziri wa Afya wa Seif Rashid amesema wagonjwawaliohisiwa kupata maambukizo hayo kutokana na dalili za awali ni kutoka Benin na Mtanzania lakini baada ya vipimo wameonekana hawana maambukizo hayo.

 

Waziri Seif Rashid amesema kuwa tayari eneo maalumu limetengwa kwa ajili ya kufanyia uchunguzi wagonjwa wanaotiliwa shaka kuwa na ugonjwa huo ikiwa ni kauli iliyotoka baada ya kufanyiwa uchunguzi kwa wagonjwa wawili waliohisiwa.

 

Kupitia ukurasa wake wa facebook, Waziri Seif amesema vifaa maalumu vitakavyotumiwa na watoa huduma katika kuhudumia wagonjwa vimewekwa pia huku wizara ya afya ikiongeza uwezo wa kufanya uchunguzi katika uwanja wa ndege wa kimataifa wa Mwalimu Nyerere ambao wasafiri wengi kutoka nje huutumia.

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MGONJWA WA EBOLA' ASABABISHA TAFRANI SHINYANGA

Wakazi wa Manispaa ya Shinyanga, kwa siku mbili mfululizo walikumbwa na kiwewe, baada ya kuenea uvumi kwamba kuna mgonjwa wa mwenye homa hatari ya ebola, aliyefikishwa katika Hospitali ya Mkoa wa Shinyanga. 

Taarifa za kuwepo kwa mgonjwa huyo, zilidai kuwa mgonjwa huyo alitoka katika moja ya mitaa ya Manispaa ya Shinyanga na  alikuwa akitokwa damu puani na mdomoni kabla ya kuzimia.
Akizungumzia hali hiyo jana, Mganga Mkuu wa Mkoa wa Shinyanga, Dk Ntuli Kapologwe alisema mgonjwa huyo ambaye alikuwa akitokwa damu mdomoni na puani, alifika hospitalini hapo juzi na baada ya kufika wauguzi na madaktari walitaharuki.
Kwa mujibu wa Dk Kapologwe, mgonjwa huyo alipelekwa chumba cha wagonjwa mahututi (ICU), huku baadhi ya wauguzi na madaktari wakimkimbia hali iliyotia hofu kwa baadhi ya wahudumu na hata wagonjwa hospitalini hapo.
Hata hivyo, Dk Kapologwe alisema baada ya uchunguzi wa awali, ilibainika kuwa mgonjwa huyo ana matatizo ya kutokwa damu mara kwa mara na hajaambukizwa virusi hao wa ebola.
Akielezea namna mkoa ulivyojiandaa kukabiliana na ugonjwa huo uliokwishaua zaidi ya watu 1,000 katika nchi za Afrika Magharibi, Dk Kapologwe alisema waganga wakuu katika halmashauri zote sita za wilaya mkoani Shinyanga, wameshajiandaa.
Alisema wamekubaliana atakapogundulika mtu mwenye dalili za ugonjwa huo, taarifa itolewe mara moja katika ngazi ya mkoa, ambako kuna timu maalumu ya wataalamu iliyoandaliwa kushughulika na ugonjwa huo hatari.
Baada ya taarifa kutolewa kwa mujibu wa Dk Kapologwe, timu hiyo itathibitisha kama mgojwa ana dalili zote za ebola na taarifa kutolewa kwa umma.
Wakati ugonjwa huo ukisababisha kiwewe mkoani Shinyanga,   mkoani Kagera, Mkuu wa Mkoa, Fabian Massawe ameshauri wakazi wa mkoa huo kuwa macho na tayari kutoa taarifa kwenye vituo vya afya vilivyo jirani waonapo mtu mwenye dalili  za ugonjwa huo.
Alitoa mwito huo kupitia kwa waandishi wa habari aliozungumza nao jana ofisini kwake mjini hapa, baada ya kuibuka taarifa kuwa Rwanda kulikuwa na mtu anayehisiwa kuwa na ebola.
Hata hivyo, Waziri wa Afya wa Rwanda, Agnes Binagwaho alisema juzi kuwa mwanafunzi mmoja wa Ujerumani aliyefika nchini humo akitokea Liberia,  alihisiwa kuwa na ugonjwa huo lakini baada ya sampuli ya damu yake kupimwa katika maabara za kimataifa, hakukutwa na ugonjwa huo.
Massawe alisema Mkoa wa Kagera unapakana na nchi mbalimbali za Afrika Mashariki na pia upo mwingiliano wa watu na shughuli mbalimbali za kijamii.
Alisema nchi jirani zikipata mlipuko wa ugonjwa huo, upo uwezekano wa kuvuka mipaka na kuingia mkoani Kagera, hivyo ni  wajibu wa kila mmoja kutoa taarifa akiona mtu anayedhaniwa kuwa na ugonjwa huo.
Dalili za ugonjwa huo unaoenezwa na virusi vya ebola ni pamoja na  kutokwa na damu sehemu mbali mbali za mwili, kuumwa na kichwa, mwili kuishiwa nguvu, maumivu ya misuli na hatimaye kifo.
Ugonjwa huo unaambukizwa kwa kugusa damu na majimaji ya mgonjwa pamoja na kugusa vifaa au nguo za mgonjwa.
Massawe alisema Kagera wamechukua hatua kwa kuweka mikakati kuhakikisha mlipuko wa ugonjwa  hauingii nchini  kupitia mipakani.
Miongoni mwa halmashauri ambazo zimeelekezwa kuchukua hadhari kutokana na kuwa mpakani mwa nchi, ni wilaya ya Bukoba, Missenyi, Karagwe, Kyerwa

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MWANAMKE MWENYE UJAUZITO WA MIEZI 9 AOGELEA KWA KUTUMIA MABOGA KUVUKA MTO KWENDA KUJIFUNGUA HOSPITALINI

Mwanamke mmoja nchini India ameogelea kwenye mto uliokuwa umejaa maji mengi yaliyotokana na mvua kubwa ilhali akiwa na ujauzito wa miezi tisa.

Anasema sababu ya safari yake majini ni ili aweze kufika katika kituo cha afya aweze kujifungulia hospitalini.

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Mama huyo kwa jina Yellawa alitumia maboga makavu yenye maganda magumu yaliyomsaidia kuogelea kwa umbali wa karibu kilomita moja kutoka kwenye kijiji chake kusini mwa jimbo la Karnataka.

Alishikwa na uoga lakini alitaka kujifungua salama, hakuna kituo cha afya kijijini kwake na hakutaka kujifungulia nyumbani.

Wanakijiji na madaktari wamesifu hatua yake ya kuogelea kuwa ni mafanikio makubwa.

Yellawa ni binti wa miaka 22, kutoka kijiji cha Neelakantarayanagadde, kijiji kidogo kando kando ya mto Krishba kaskazini mwa mji wa Bangalore.

Namna pekee ya kusafiri kutoka katika kijiji hicho kwa kuvuka mto ni kwa kutumia miti iliyotengenezwa kwa kuunganishwa mithili ya boti, kifaa ambacho hata hivyo si imara na hakifanyi kazi nyakati ambazo mto huwa umejaa maji.

Wakati Yellawa akiogelea kuvuka mto juma lililopita, maji yalikua yameongezeka ambapo alishuhudia waogeleaji wakisita kuingia kwenye maji.

Binti huyu alishikwa na hofu lakini alijipa moyo kuwa anafanya vile kwa usalama wa mtoto wake.

Yellawa alisaidiwa na baba yake, kaka na ndugu zake ambao waliogelea pamoja naye.

Ingawa alikua amechoka lakini daktari aliyekuwa akimchunguza alipowasili katika hospitali ya serikali karibu na kijiji cha Kekkera alisema kuwa anaendelea vizuri na yuko nyumbani kwa nduguye amepumzika.

Yellawa anasifiwa kwa ushujaa wake wa kuvuka mto kwa hali ya ujauzito aliokuwa nao

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MGANGA WA JADI AUA MGONJWA WAKE KWA KUMTANDIKA FIMBO NA KITU KIZITO KICHWANI WAKATI AKIMTIBU NYUMBANI KWAKE

Kijana mmoja aliyejulikana kwa jina la Vicent Kawawa(28) ameuawa kwa kupigwa na fimbo na kitu kizito kichwani na mganga wa kienyeji aliyekuwa anamtibu ugonjwa wa akili nyumbani kwake katika kijiji cha Buduba kata ya Nyandekwa wilayani Kahama mkoani Shinyanga.

Kamanda wa jeshi la polisi mkoa wa Shinyanga SACP Justus Kamugisha alisema tukio hilo limetokea Agosti 5 mwaka huu saa 12 jioni.

Alisema  Vicent Kawawa(28) mkazi wa kijiji cha Buduba akiwa nyumbani kwa mganga wa jadi aitwaye Mihayo Isheli akitibiwa ugonjwa wa akili aliuawa kwa kupigwa na fimbo na kitu kizito kichwani na mganga huyo na watu waliokuwepo eneo la tukio na kusababisha kifo chake papo hapo.

Kamanda Kamugisha alisema chanzo cha tukio hilo ni kwamba mgonjwa alipandisha kichaa na kuanza kumpiga mganga wa jadi na watu waliokuwa eneo hilona ndipo katika kumtuliza mganga alianza kumpiga akisaidiwa na watu hao ambao idadi yao haijajulikani na kusababisha kifo chake papo hapo.

Alisema baada ya tukio hilo mganga Mihayo Isheli alikimbia na familia yake  pamoja na watu waliokuwa katika eneo hilo na kamba jeshi la polisi linaendelea na uchunguzi sambamba na kumtafuta mganga huyo  wahusika wengine waliokuwa katika eneo la tukio.

Na Kadama Malunde-Shinyanga

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Does A Laptop Harm Your Sexual Health?

Men often worry about their sexual health especially as they grow older, but now it is becoming a growing concern among the younger generation. While problems with performance and even penile size will always be some of the most common concerns of men at any age, fertility is now becoming an issue with men under the age of 40. A man’s sperm count is not only important to their sexual health, but also for their emotional well being. It is often seen as a sign of a man’s virility and it also affects his ability to father a child.
There are several different factors that can affect a man’s sperm count, including diet, exercise, and lifestyle habits. While all of these contributing issues can be addressed and corrected, many men never consider whether or not their laptop could also be affecting their sexual health. This everyday device that almost all men use continuously, could be having a negative effect on a man’s sperm count.
Does a Laptop Harm Your Sexual Health?
In a study performed by researchers and urologists in 2004, it was discovered that holding laptop computers on the knees could be affecting male fertility. With an estimated 20 percent of all couples who are trying to become pregnant unable to do so, it was noticed that a majority of the problem with infertility could be traced to men and had been occurring only in the past few decades. One of the main causes of low sperm counts are temperatures around the scrotum that are higher than his core body temperature. The higher temperatures can be caused by wearing tight, restrictive underwear and frequent prolonged use of hot tubs and saunas. While these causes for elevated scrotum temperatures are already well documented, researchers also found another way more men are experiencing low sperm counts. In the study researchers included 29 physically healthy men aged 21 to 35 for one hour periods in a controlled environment.
What the Study Learned
With all of the men participating in the study dressed similarly, researchers recorded their body temperatures and then allowed them fifteen minutes to become adjusted to the constant room temperature. To ensure accuracy in their results, all of the men were given laptop computers with only some of them actually in working order. Once the participants had balanced the devices on their laps, researchers removed the non functioning computers. This was done to ensure that body temperature did not change according to which subject’s laptop would be turned on.
For the hour long session, participants help the computers on their laps with their scrotal temperature being automatically recorded every three minutes. At the end of the hour long period, the results of the test were recorded. Researchers were surprised to discover that both groups of men experienced a rise in scrotal temperature, which adds more support to the theory that sitting for long periods of time can cause a man to experience a decline in his sperm count. It was noted that the men who did hold a working computer in their laps experienced a more drastic increase in scrotal temperature, around 2.7 degrees Celsius or 5 degrees Fahrenheit.
Preventing Infertility Problems From a Laptop
Researchers with the study are also quick to point out that will holding a computer on the lap can cause a decrease in a man’s sperm count, it is normally not the only factor. Several things can also cause the temperature to rise in his scrotum, and laptops normally only add to the existing problem. One way to help prevent laptops from causing a problem is to not place it across the upper legs or groin area. While using a desk or table is not always an option, placing the laptop closer to the knees can help prevent a dramatic rise in scrotal temperatures.
Conclusion
Laptop computers are a integral part of daily lives, and the chances of men never placing these devices on their laps is rather slim. While it is always best to never restrict air flow to the testes, there are times when it can be difficult to avoid. For men who are worried about their sperm counts and ability to father a child, simply remember that only a one degree change in temperature can cause up to a 40 percent decrease in your sperm count.

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10 Reasons You Should Eat Cucumber

As summer heats up and gets full of warm days, barbeques and afternoons at the beach, remember that one of the best summer vegetables, the cucumber, is good for more than just salads. Read on for ten reasons why it is a good idea to include them on the bill of fare.

Contributes to Hydration
When the summer days get long and hot, getting enough to drink can be a problem. Cucumber, being 90% water, can help replace lost fluids and keep the hydration levels adequate, though of course it is no substitute for drinking water frequently througho

ut the day.

Helps Burns of all Kinds
Cucumber is a cooling plant and can help with burns inside and out. If the barbeque was too spicy and heartburn is setting in, a helping of this vegetable can help soothe an irritated stomach. If a day at the beach has left behind a sunburn, cucumber applied to the skin can help soothe it just as well as aloe.

 Eliminates Toxins
Cucumbers can be a great part of a light, detoxifying summer diet. Because they are mostly water, they can help the body to eliminate unwanted toxins from the body and boost the energy levels, especially with regular consumption. They can also help dissolve kidney stones.

 Replenishes Vitamins
Another reason why cucumbers are such a healthy choice is that they are loaded with vitamins that the body needs to stay healthy. Sliced and added to a salad of leafy green vegetables, they make a potent summer lunch loaded with the nutrients the body needs.

 Nourishes the Skin
Between sun, warmth and wind, the summer can be tough on skin. Applications of cucumber can help to nourish and restore it. It is rich in minerals like magnesium and silicon and there is a good reason why cucumber treatments are so popular at spas!

Aids Digestion and Weight Loss
Cucumber is an excellent diet food since it is low in calories and high in fiber, making it a great choice for those trying to lose weight. Because of the high fiber content, it is also great to strengthen the gastrointestinal tract and prevents constipation.

Revives the Eyes
Because it is mineral-rich and cooling, cucumber can revive the eyes as well as the skin. One of the oldest beauty tricks in the book is placing cucumbers over the eyes to reduce under-eye bags and puffiness.

Fights Cancer
Cucumber is also a food which has been shown to help fight cancer. That is because of chemicals called lignans, which have been showed to help reduce the risk of developing cancer of the ovaries, breast, prostate and uterus.

Promotes Heart Health
Cucumbers promotes heart health because of compounds called sterols that can help lower cholesterol levels. Because it is rich in fiber, potassium and magnesium, it can also decrease the blood pressure. High blood pressure and cholesterol levels are major risk factors for cardiac disease.

Treats Diabetes
Cucumbers are an excellent food for diabetics. Its juice contains a hormone which stimulates the pancreas to produce insulin, which can be very therapeutic for managing blood sugar levels.
So consider adding this wonder vegetable to the diet. Cucumbers are not only delicious, but will help with everything from puffy eyes to weight loss and be a great addition to summer soups and salads.

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8 Most Effective Herbs for Heart Health

  8 Most Effective Herbs for Heart Health

Those concerned with a healthy lifestyle naturally want to make sure that they are doing all they can to promote the strength and stamina of the heart. Balanced meals, regular exercise and stress management can go a long way to promoting cardiac health. Including the following herbs in the diet can help with this as well.
Oregano
This staple herb of the Mediterranean diet helps keep the heart healthy in a number of ways. Its antioxidant properties fight against free radicals and thus fend off heart disease, while at the same time reducing inflammation which can also have a negative impact on cardiac health. It has also been shown to help reduce high cholesterol levels, a major risk factor for heart attacks.
Green Tea
Long used for its ability to boost immunity and energy levels, green tea is becoming increasingly valued for its cardiotonic properties. It nourishes the delicate cells that line the vessels in and around the heart and improves the efficiency of their performance. It has been found that this can happen as soon as 30 minutes after consumption.
Garlic
Medicinal use of garlic dates back to the Egyptians and the Chinese, both of whom have cultivated this plant for its special properties. Like green tea, it is known to help strengthen immunity but also has a positive impact on the heart by reducing both cholesterol levels and blood pressure, two factors which greatly increase the chance of developing cardiac disease.
Hawthorn
Compounds extracted from the hawthorn tree act as natural vasodilators. This means that they increase the circumference of the blood vessels and thus cause increased blood flow and decreased blood pressure, both of which can promote heart health. It also helps the body to use Vitamin C effectively, which improves the function of capillaries and other small blood vessels.
Lavender
This fragrant herb has antiseptic and antibacterial properties which promote overall health and its balancing effects help to improve the strength and performance of cardiac muscles. Its sedative properties, meanwhile, can help calm palpitations and decrease the blood pressure.
Chokeberry
These little berries are rich in antioxidants as well as Vitamins A, C and K. They have been shown to help ameliorate metabolic syndrome, a collection of symptoms characterized by weight gain, increased abdominal fat and elevated blood pressure and blood sugar levels, all of which are risk factors for cardiac disease.
Ginseng
Used in China for thousands of years as an immune system booster, ginseng also has properties which make is desirable for heart health. Studies have shown that there is a definite correlation, for instance, between use of ginseng and a reduction in blood pressure.
Gingko biloba
Most people in the United States know about this herb because of its ability to improve forgetfulness and boost mental clarity. However, it can benefit the heart by, like hawthorn, acting as a vasodilator to increase blood flow. It also has anti-platelet properties which can prevent the formation of clots that cause heart attacks and strokes.
Heart health is important. And these herbs, in conjunction with a healthy lifestyle, can help keep the heart healthy and prevent serious health complications in the future.

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