The benefits of clean drinking water

Water was known to be the most powerful healing substance to man. It has always been an important and life-sustaining drink to humans and is essential to the survival of all organisms. Excluding fat, water composes approximately 70% of the human body by mass. A mere 2% drop in our body`s water supply can trigger signs of trouble with basic math or focusing on smaller prints such as a computer screen.

The following are the functions of water in the body:

1.       Serves as lubricant

2.       Forms the base of the saliva

3.       Forms the fluid around the joint

4.       Regulates body temperature

5.       Helps to alleviate constipation

6.       Regulates metabolism

In addition to the daily maintenance of our bodies, water also plays a key role in the prevention of disease. Drinking eight glasses of water daily can decrease the risk of colon cancer by 45%, bladder cancer by 50% and it can potentially even reduce the risk of breast cancer.

Nowadays, sodas and other health drinks are available. None of them can replace clean drinking water. Here are some reasons why:

1.      The sugar in soda, usually containing 9 teaspoons, can over time cause you to pack on the pounds. Much sugar can compromise the immune system for up to 12 hours.

2.      Caffeine consumption can cause dehydration and when not consumed, terrible headaches, shakes and irritability. While a morning boost may not have serious long-term effects, constant consumption will indeed take a toll on the body.

3.      Sports drinks are said to be helpful for athletes to replenish minerals.However, regular intake may lead to increase potassium leading to irregular heartbeat

Understanding the healthful effects of drinking clean water, lets drink to that…

Sources:

Free Drinking Water.com accessed September 24,2010

Wikipedia The Free Dictionary accessed September 24, 2010

Health Recipes.com accessed September 24, 2010

Hypotension Vs Anemia

We always hear people saying, "Oh I am anemic" after getting a low blood pressure. Anemia (low Oxygen in the blood) is different from Hypotension(Low Blood Pressure). Blood pressure is defined as the amount of force exerted against the arterial wall per unit area in mm Hg. It has 2 components. Systolic Pressure is the peak arterial pressure. Averages about 120mmHg in healthy adults. 


Diastolic Pressure is the lowest arterial pressure. The normal is 70-80mmHg in healthy adults.


BP can be affected by the following factors: 


1. Blood volume- the amount of blood circulating in our body which is normally 4-5 liters.


2. Peripheral resistance- this refers to any hindrance to the blood flow to the different parts of the body.A common cause of increase peripheral resistance is an obstruction due to fats or lipids or clots. Another is the diameter of the blood vessel.Decreased diameter of the blood vessels or vasoconstriction increases peripheral resistance therefore increases BP while and increase in the diameter of the blood vessels or vasodilation decreases peripheral resistance therefore decreasing BP.


Anemia on the other hand, is identified by decreased hemoglobin in the blood. Hemoglobin is the pigment that gives the red blood cells its color and is the protein that carries Oxygen. The normal hemoglobin count is 120-140mg/dl for females and 140-180mg/dl for males. The reason for the difference is blood loss during pregnancy and menstruation. 


Anemia can be due to either defect in  RBC production or increased RBC destruction.  Defect in RBC production can be due to:

1. Aplastic anemia which is due to a defect in the Red Bone Marrow
2. Thalassemias are due to a genetic defect in the formation of the  RBC structure
3. Deficiency in Iron and Folate which is needed by the RBC in its development

Destruction in RBC can be due to:

1. Infections like Malaria or due to hemorrhagic toxin producing bacteria like Escherichia 
2. ABO incompatibility

Anemia due to defective RBC production may lead to decrease blood volume therefore hypotension. Hypotension on the other maybe due to a lot of causes not only anemia eg. dehydration or heart failure.

Complete Blood Count

CBC or complete blood count is a routine blood test done on most patients admitted in the hospital or for medical clearance. It is comprised of six parameters:

1) Hemoglobin- is used to determine the amount of a carrier protein for O2. A decrease in Hemoglobin indicates anemia.

2) Red blood Cell count- this is used to determine adequate RBC production or the presence of RBC destruction.

3) White Blood Cell Count- these cells are the soldiers of the body. They protect as in cases of bacterial, viral or parasitic infection. Elevation of these cells indicates infection.

4) Hematocrit-the percentage of the solid components of the blood in relation to the whole blood. This is used to assess possible dehydration or significant increase in the  different blood cell types.

5) WBC differential count- This represents percentage of the different WBC. An increase in neutrophil indicates bacterial infection, Eosinophils increases due to allergic or parasitic infection, Basophils rises due to aalergic reactions because they release histamine, leukemias or cancers. Lymphocytosis (increase in lymphocyte count is associated with viral infections. Monocytes rise due to chronic illnesses.

6) Platelet count is important in clotting of blood to prevent it from hemorrhage.