Britain's Prince Philip in hospital with bladder infection

LONDON - Britain's Prince Philip was hospitalized Wednesday with a repeat of the bladder infection that made him miss part of his wife Queen Elizabeth II's jubilee celebrations in June, Buckingham Palace said.

The 91-year-old was likely to spend several days in hospital after his third health scare in the space of eight months, having also suffered a blocked coronary artery over Christmas last year.

Buckingham Palace said the Duke of Edinburgh, as he is formally known, was taken by ambulance to the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary in northeast Scotland from Balmoral Castle about 40 miles (60 kilometres) away.

"The Duke of Edinburgh has had a recurrence of the bladder infection that he had in the summer and has been admitted to hospital for investigation and treatment," a palace spokesman said.

"His royal highness is likely to remain there for the next few days."

Buckingham Palace earlier said it was a "precautionary measure." It said he and the queen had been staying at Balmoral.

The outspoken prince had only returned to the estate on Wednesday after visiting the Isle of Wight off southern England and appeared to be in good health as he carried out several public engagements.

Michael Dunkason, who saw Philip before he left the island, said he had "steadily walked up the steps and walked briskly along the jetty.

"The duke seemed in very good spirits and gave a final wave before entering the car," he told the BBC.

Philip had also watched several events at the London Olympics in the last fortnight, including the Olympic debut of his granddaughter Zara Phillips, who eventually won a silver medal.

Philip was hospitalised with a bladder infection for five nights in June, forcing him to miss the end of the huge diamond jubilee celebrations marking his wife's 60th year on the throne.

The infection came after he and the rest of the royal family spent several hours standing on a royal barge in the pouring rain as part of a jubilee pageant on the River Thames in London.

On the night he was taken ill, hundreds of thousands of revellers chanted his name to wish him well at a star-studded jubilee concert outside Buckingham Palace.

He also spent four days in hospital at Christmastime in December after undergoing a surgical procedure for a blocked coronary artery.

Greek-born Philip is the longest-serving royal consort in British history, and has been a constant fixture by the queen's side throughout her reign.

He is famous for his politically-incorrect jokes, but behind the scenes is said to be a key source of support for the queen.

Born Prince Philippos of Greece and Denmark, Philip fled politically unstable Greece with his family when he was just 18 months old.

A respected officer in Britain's Royal Navy during World War II, he had met Princess Elizabeth in 1939, but the couple did not marry until 1947.

He had to give up his titles as prince of Greece and Denmark and join the Church of England in order to marry the future queen.

He was placed in command of a ship after the wedding, but his career was cut short by the death of king George VI in 1952, which brought Elizabeth to the throne.

He once admitted the curtailment of his career was "disappointing", but said that "being married to the queen, it seemed to me that my first duty was to serve her in the best way I could".

They have four children, including heir to the throne Prince Charles. — AFP

source: gmanetwork.com

UNDERSTANDING DIABETES

DIABETES Mellitus is a disease in which blood sugar (glucose) levels are abnormally high because the body does not produce enough of the hormone insulin or the body fails to respond to insulin.

When sugar from food is absorbed into the bloodstream, the pancreas responds by producing insulin. Insulin plays a key role in moving the sugar from the bloodstream into the cells, where it is then converted into energy. The body uses this energy to function; sugar is the fuel on which the body runs. If the body cannot adequately produce or respond to insulin, sugar cannot enter the cells, instead, sugar accumulates in the blood, and the cells must turn to other sources for energy.

Diabetes is extremely common in older people, of whom about 15 to 25% have the disease. Statistically, there are about 500 daily diagnosed cases of diabetes in the Philippines . Diabetes can lead to such complications as chest pain, (angina pectoris) and heart attacks, heart failure, stroke, kidney failure, erectile dysfunction, blurred vision and blindness, pain and loss of sensation in the hands and feet, and amputation. Many of these complications arise because elevated blood sugar leads to narrowing and hardening of the blood vessels, which impairs circulation and damages tissues. These complications are even more likely in people who smoke or have high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels, both of which often accompany diabetes. Fortunately, many complications can be prevented by quitting smoking and by taking steps to control blood pressure and cholesterol levels as well as blood sugar levels.

Causes of Diabetes

Diabetes is categorized as Type I or Type II, each with a different cause. Type II diabetes is the main form of diabetes among older people. Obese older people with a family history of diabetes have the highest risk of developing type II diabetes which accounts for 90% of the entire diabetes population worldwide.

In type I diabetes, the type that usually becomes evident in childhood or young adult, the pancreas cannot produce insulin or produce tiny amount of insulin. Symptoms include intense thirst, frequent urination, extreme hunger, and rapid weight loss. It can be controlled by regular lifetime doses of insulin in the proper amounts. Keeping the balance between insulin dose and sugar intake is one of the major challenges faced by people with Type I diabetes.

Type II diabetes, also known as adult-onset diabetes, usually doesn’t appear until the early to mid forties. In most cases, the problem is not a simple lack of insulin, but a defect in the receptors for insulin in the cell walls. The body does not respond normally to the insulin produced by the pancreas. Long-term complications of Type II diabetes are similar to those of Type I, but include higher incidence of heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke. So it’s worth it to have blood sugar monitoring regularly.

The main risk factor for Type II diabetes is obesity. Obesity causes insulin resistance, possibly by increasing the blood levels of building blocks of fats and certain proteins that interfere with the action of insulin.

Aging itself puts people at higher risk of developing diabetes. As people age, insulin secretion tends to decrease slightly and insulin resistance tends to increase slightly, even among people without obesity or diabetes.

Heredity is a risk factor as well.

Signs and Symptoms

People with Type II diabetes may have no symptoms for months or even years before the disease is diagnosed. When the blood sugar level rises too high, sugar spills into the urine. The kidneys then must excrete additional water to dilute the sugar. Therefore, a person with high blood sugar urinates large volumes (Polyuria). The loss of water due to excessive urination also creates abnormal thirst (Polydipsia). Also, as the body cannot use sugar as energy, a person with diabetes may experience excessive hunger and thus eat more (Polyphagia) and yet still lose weight. Other symptoms include blurred vision, drowsiness, lightheadedness, irritability, fatigue and weakness, decreased endurance during exercise, numbness in the hands and feet, body itchiness, hard-to-heal wounds, frequent vaginal discharges, recurring skin infections, hard to maintain or achieve an erection in men.

Diagnosis and Screening

A simple blood test called Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS) or Glucose test is most commonly used to make a diagnosis. The level of sugar (glucose) in the blood is measured, usually after the person has fasted for at least 8 hours. Sometimes the blood sugar level is measured randomly without regard to when the person last ate, but this is not as accurate.

In a person who does not have diabetes, blood sugar levels after fasting range from 70 to 110 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl) of blood. Diabetes is the likely diagnosis if the blood sugar level is 126 mg/dl or higher if the person fasted before the test or 200 mg/dl or higher if the test was performed at random.

People who have two or more fasting blood sugar levels between 110 and 125 mg/dl (a condition called impaired fasting glucose) should repeat the test yearly.

The diagnosis of diabetes mellitus is confirmed if any one of the following results is obtained:

Two fasting levels are 126 mg/dl or higher.

Two random levels are 200 mg/ml or higher.

Fasting level of 126 mg/dl or higher and a random level of 200 mg/dl or higher.

Prevention

Diabetes often can be prevented. Losing weight through dietary changes, increased physical activity, or both is a very effective measure. Brisk walking for 30 minutes daily is one type of beneficial physical activity.

Treatment

The goal of treatment is to maintain blood sugar levels within the normal range so as to prevent or control symptoms and reduce the risk of complications. There are maintenance drugs that could help control blood sugar levels but these are not substitute for proper diet, exercise and weight reduction.

article source: mb.com.ph

Back Pain Treatments

Back pain is a frustrating symptom to have to deal with. There are varying degrees of agony; sufferers experience any range from minor irritating soreness to severe debilitating pain. It can occur anywhere in the spine; however, the lower back is where the majority of individuals experience the sensation. This discomfort can be caused by any number of reasons. More severe problems, such as degenerative disks or scoliosis can cause discomfort. There are also external factors, such as heavy lifting, that would cause pain. Pregnancy and the mother who carries around a small child have most likely felt the effects of this discomfort.

Different types of treatments or therapies work uniquely for the people using them. It is not uncommon to have two people react differently to the same treatment. Many people opt to see a chiropractor. A chiropractor is a doctor who specializes in the spine. By using this type of physician, they are able to see what is the underlying problem causing the discomfort and then correct it. Sometimes tests or other work is necessary. Chiropractors utilize: blood work, X-Rays, and MRIs, among other things. Once the cause is located, it can be corrected. The amount of visits or length of time it takes depends on the severity of the problem.

Outside of medical attention, heat therapy is one of the most popular ways in healing discomfort. Applying a warm to hot patch to the area relaxes the muscles in the affected area. The patch can be anything from a hot water bottle to a face cloth. There are also patches available that stick on the skin and apply consistent heat for up to eight hours. In the same way that heat is used, cold can also be used to achieve the same effect. The most popular item to apply to the area is an ice pack wrapped in cloth.

Medicines, such as ibuprofen, can be helpful in achieving comfort. When using medicines, it is important to follow the directions closely to not overdose on the pills. Over the counter medicines have a label that specifies how many pills can be taken in a twenty-four hour period. It is crucial to not exceed this limit; taking more than the recommended dose can cause other health issues. Stretching exercises can also help to strengthen and heal the affected part of the body.

There are several options to help back pain. While uncomfortable, it is not a permanent state. Healing back pain is important to maintain the highest quality of life possible.

If you are interested in information on healing back pain, be sure to visit pain tips.

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