Uric Acid / Purine ~ Gout

"Uric acid is a chemical created when the body breaks down substances called purines. Purines are found in some foods and drinks, such as liver, anchovies, mackerel, dried beans and peas, beer, and wine.

Most uric acid dissolves in blood and travels to the kidneys, where it passes out in urine. If your body produces too much uric acid or doesn't remove enough if it, you can get sick. High levels of uric acid in the body is called hyperuricemia"

Intake of foods containing purines is directly linked to the body's production of uric acid. In most cases, the body is able to dispose of uric acid, regardless of how much is made. However, in some cases, uric acid cannot be properly processed, which can lead to a very painful condition called gout. A person who is suffering from gout should either eliminate or severely limit certain purine-rich foods in his diet because these foods produce too much uric acid.

Relationship

Purines are found in all plant and animal cells. When the cells die after they are consumed in foods the body metabolizes the purines, converting them to uric acid. In most cases, the uric acid is expelled from the body as waste. However, if a large quantity of purine-rich foods is consumed, the uric acid levels in the body rise. This can be a problem for certain people whose systems are not equipped to handle the increase in uric acid.

Gout

Gout attacks develop when high levels of uric acid are not properly controlled by the body. When uric acid remains the body, it crystallizes around the joints of the toes, ankles, fingers and wrists. These crystals lead to painful redness, stiffness and swelling that lasts for five to 10 days. Gout strikes without warning, but can sometimes by controlled by monitoring the intake of purine-rich foods.

High-Risk

Certain foods contain such a concentrated amount of purine that they are exceptionally high-risk for those with gout. This category of foods includes organ meats and certain fish and seafood, such as herring and mussels. It also includes mushrooms and yeast. Those who are concerned about having elevated uric acid levels should avoid these foods.

Moderate-Risk

Some foods pose a moderate uric-acid risk, but can still be consumed by those with gout. These items include turkey, anchovies, asparagus, bacon, liver, trout, goose, scallops, pheasant and mutton. Those with gout may choose to eat these items on a very limited basis, or just eliminate them altogether.

Alcohol

Alcoholic beverages contain a low-to-moderate amount of purines, but they can also affect the body's ability to process uric acid efficiently. Therefore, most doctors recommend that anyone who already has an increased risk for gout should not drink alcohol. Beers contain the highest level of purines, but all types of alcohol can bring on a gout attack.

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Gout (podagra or uric acid)

What is gout?

Gout, otherwise known as podagra or uric acid arthropathy is a rheumatic complaint, that usually attacks a single joint at a time.

The disease has a preference for the big toe of middle-aged men - it swells, turns red and becomes sore. The soreness is such that just walking through a room can cause severe pain.
It is more common in men than women by a factor of 10 to 1.

What is the cause of gout?

The disease is caused by the deposition of sodium urate (uric acid) crystals in the joints. Uric acid is a by-product of the body's metabolism.

Normally the uric acid is removed when urinating, but among patients with a predisposition for gout, the uric acid accumulates in the blood.

Among some of these patients, the concentration in the blood is so high that the uric acid 'overflows' and settles in the joints and possibly in the skin.

How do you get gout?

The are two kinds of gout.

Primary hyperuricaemia and gout

Hyperuricaemia means an increased level of uric acid in the blood. It is usually caused by an hereditary abnormality in the system that changes the nucleic acid into uric acid. In this case the body is incapable of excreting uric acid fast enough even during normal circumstances.

Secondary hyperuricaemia and gout

Is caused by another disease or because of consumption of certain medicines (eg diuretic preparations, which increase the output of urine, and acetylsalicylic acid derivatives including aspirin). In these cases, the problem is that the body produces such large quantities of uric acid that the kidneys cannot keep up.

What are the signs of gout?

Prior to the onset of symptoms of gout, there is usually a latent period of several years in which the concentration of uric acid in the blood has gradually increased. This condition is called asymptomatic hyperuricaemia.

Some 95 per cent of the people with this condition never develop gout.

The first gout attack is often at night. Typically, the afflicted person wakes up in the middle of the night with extreme pain near the joint of the big toe (if the pain is in the knee it is called gonagra). The joint is swollen and may turn a shining purple.

Even the smallest stimuli produce severe pain, for instance a blanket on the toe. The first attack usually subsides after about a week.

About 10 per cent of sufferers will never again experience gout whereas others will experience more frequent and longer lasting attacks if they are not treated.

If it is not treated, repeated cases of gout over several years can produce permanent damage in the joint.

If no preventive treatment is undertaken, over time, sodium urate will collect under the skin. In this case the crystals are seen as small bumps near the joints or on the outer side of the ear called tophi.

Occasionally they rupture or ooze out yellowish chalky materials.

Who is at most risk?

Gout attacks are brought on by several factors including:

• overconsumption of alcohol, especially beer.
• some foods with a high content of protein and purines, such as liver, kidneys, sardines, and anchovies.
• being overweight.
• haemorrhages in the gastrointestinal canal.
• bodily trauma with extensive tissue destruction.
• major surgery.
• conditions in which there is a high rate of cell turnover, eg leukaemia, lymphoma, psoriasis.

Good advice

• Cut down on alcohol consumption.
• Avoid food that you know can cause attacks.
• Watch your weight.

The uric acid crystals can be secreted in the urinary system as calculi (stones). Therefore you have to drink plenty of water, preferably 10 to 12 glasses a day, in order to wash out the urinary system and prevent any stones from developing.

How does the doctor diagnose gout?

The diagnosis is usually made from the way the patient presents the symptoms, plus the clinical picture.

In order to rule out other rheumatic complaints, the doctor will usually take a blood sample to measure the concentration of uric acid. He may also undertake an X-ray examination and an examination of the synovial fluid (found within joints), where uric crystals will be visible by using special equipment.

Future prospects

About 60 per cent of the people who experience a gout attack will have a similar or more severe attack within the next year.

The disease can become complicated with calculi (stones) in the urinary system.
With modern treatment it has become much easier to relieve gout.

How is gout treated?

Treatment is concentrated on three areas:
during the actual attack the most important thing is to soothe the pain with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (ordinary analgesics like paracetamol will not relieve the pain, and aspirin must not be used). Colchicine is used to relieve the pain in people who cannot take NSAIDs.
once the attack has passed, you are offered preventive treatment, usually with allopurinol (eg Zyloric), which will reduce the level of uric acid in the blood. The preventive treatment can - if it is used during an active attack of gout - actually aggravate an attack, because it causes a large quantity of uric acid to be released at the same time.

finally it is important to change your lifestyle, as described above.

The goals of the treatment are to remove the pain and the swelling, prevent further episodes, prevent and treat tophi and to stop the production of stones in the urinary system.

Dangers of Smoking

There are many dangers of smoking to the body, to the immediate family, to the society, to the environment and to the economy. More than 700 chemical additives are found in cigarettes. Some of them are classified as toxic and are not allowed in food.

Once lit, a cigarette reaches a temperature of nearly 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. This high heat helps release thousands of chemical compounds, including:

• poisons like carbon monoxide
• poisons like hydrogen cyanide
• at least 43 carcinogens, and
• numerous mutagens.

All of these are drawn into the body when a smoker inhales.

Dangers Of Smoking With Nicotine

One of the main dangers of smoking is due to Nicotine. Nicotine is found naturally in tobacco. It has no odor and no color. It is, however, both physically and psychologically addictive, and it causes those who use it to want to smoke one cigarette after another.

Nicotine enters the body as tiny droplets resting on particles of tar in cigarette smoke. Inhaled into the lungs, the drug passes quickly into the bloodstream, reaching the brain within about 10 seconds. In another 5 to 10 seconds the nicotine has spread to all parts of the body.

The nicotine raises both the heart rate and blood pressure. The smoker quickly feels more alert and relaxed. In less than 30 minutes, however, about half of the nicotine has left the bloodstream, and the smoker starts feeling less alert, more edgy.

So he or she reaches for another cigarette to get a new “hit” of nicotine. Over time, the smoker starts needing more cigarettes throughout the day to satisfy the craving.

Dangers Of Smoking With Tar

There are other dangers of smoking as well. The tar from tobacco smoke starts to accumulate on the bronchial tubes leading to the lungs. The hot smoke burns the tiny hairlike projections (called cilia) that trap harmful particles before they enter the lungs.

Carbon Monoxide

One more of the dangers of smoking are Carbon monoxide. Smoking also increases the level of carbon monoxide in the lungs. This poisonous gas is quickly absorbed into the blood, reducing its capacity to carry oxygen.

As a result,

• the smoker has to exert more physical effort to attain a given task than does a nonsmoker.
• The heart in particular must work harder, particularly during rigorous exercise.
• Increased levels of carbon monoxide in the blood can impair vision, perception of time, and coordination.

Diseases

Smoking is the one of the main cause of death every year. Smoking cause number of smoke related diseases such as

• lung cancer (Smoking and Lung Cancer),
• respiratory problems and
• heart ailments

and these dangers of smoking are increasing yearly.

Certain breathing disabilities are also the dangers of smoking. It could also result in a decreased capability to enjoy physical capabilities because of the ailment or side effects like breathing problems. Smoking leads to reduction in life expectancy.

Over the years a smoker will be more likely to develop respiratory ailments:

• thickening of the arteries,
• blood clots,

cancer of the:

• lung,
• cervix,
• larynx,
• mouth,
• esophagus,
• bladder,
• pancreas and kidney, and
• emphysema,

as well as exhibit symptoms such as:

• reduced stamina,
• poor athletic performance,
• wheezing,
• coughing,
• dizziness, and
• nausea.

In time, a smoker suffers:

• increased resistance to the flow of air into the lungs and
• reduced lung capacity.

Besides these serious problems, prolonged tobacco use leads to:

• stained teeth and fingers and
• bad breath.

Even a smoker’s clothes and living quarters tend to smell of tobacco.

Smoking Is A Costly Affair

Smoking is a costly affair. An ordinary smoker invites enormous cost to maintain this unhealthy lifestyle and the costs do not affect exclusively to him. The most apparent cost of smoking is the daily, weekly and monthly expenditure of an ordinary smoker.
The average cost of pack of Cigarettes is $4.00. Imagine a smoker burning a pack per day, $4.00 per day. Annually the money spent on smoking would be around $1500. This money could have spent on some thing good like a decent out-of-town vacation.

Medical Expenditure

Medical expenditures will also have to be addressed as most, if not all, smoke related diseases require treatment, services and medication. Health care services do not always come free.
At the same time, due to illness the smoker has to refrain from work and forced to retire to the hospital be. This leads to reduce in income level and there after, instead of bringing in more money to the household, the money had to be taken out.

Secondhand Smoking

Another one of the dangers of the smoking is that smoking not only diminishes the health of the smokers but also diminishes the health of the non smokers around him through secondhand smoking

Facial Charm

Bad breath brought about by smoking would require gum or mints to overcome the odor. The smoker may also opt for breath fresheners, which are even more expensive. Cigarette components stain the teeth.

Having yellow teeth means extra charge from the dentist aside from the usual cleaning. Smokers were also found to have darkened gums. Smoking could also effect the wrinkling of the skin earlier than the usual.

Other Dangers Of Smoking

• Smoking gives a higher risk of starting a fire. Many fires had been discovered to originate from a cigarette left lit.
• It also leads to air pollution due to the constant release of carbon monoxide in the proximate vicinity.
• Presently, the insurance companies are charging more premium for smokers.
• Smokers who die early do not get to enjoy the fruits of their pensions. This means less social security benefits.
• Cigarette smoking also affects the overall aesthetics of the person.
• Smoking also leads to breakups with their loved ones.
• Smoke makes clothes dirty and the resulting in increase in money spent on dry cleaning.
• The smoke can also result in bad smell in the skin and hair (Bad Breath and Smoking).

Smoking also has emotional costs. The dependence to smoking when one gets addicted can be very restricting. There is also the pressure to quit smoking as the smoker realizes the harmful effects to himself and to his or her family

Nitric Oxide: The New Hero of Human Biology

Definition of Nitric oxide

Nitric oxide: A compound that is toxic but which, paradoxically, plays a number of important roles in the body, including the following:
It acts as a vasodilator (blood vessel relaxant).
It therefore controls blood flow to tissues.
It regulates the binding and release of oxygen to hemoglobin.
It thereby controls the supply of oxygen to mitochondria (cell powerhouses that generate energy).
It kills parasitic organisms, virus-infected cells, and tumor cells (by inactivating respiratory chain enzymes in their mitochondria).
It stimulates the production of new mitochondria.

Twenty minutes on a treadmill will certainly help you fit into that one-size-too-small dress. But new research suggests that exercise may also help increase the production of nitric oxide, a substance that does a variety of important jobs in the body, perhaps none more valuable than to help prevent heart disease.
"Nitric oxide does a variety of jobs," explains Dr. Jason Allen of Duke University. "It tends to be antiatherogenic, which means that it helps prevent your arteries from becoming clogged. From start to finish, this is a 40-year process which depends on lifestyle." That is, it's a function of what you eat, how you exercise, and the stresses you are under.
Allen and colleagues have been studying the production of nitric oxide synthase, the enzyme that is responsible for producing nitric oxide. They have found that exercise increases production of the enzyme, which then increases the chances that the nitric oxide levels in the blood will increase and protect the artery lining.
The Duke researchers' first report, which was released in November 2003, found that exercise especially helped those people who were labeled "at-risk" for heart disease. In blood samples taken after exercise, they had an "almost doubling of the brachial artery reactivity," said Allen. This means that while exercise is beneficial for everyone, those with more risk factors may get extra benefit from exercise.

Amino Acid L-Arginine: Food Sources, Health Benefits and Side Effects

What is l-arginine?

Arginine is one of the 20 amino acids that constitute protein. It exists as L-arginine and D-arginine form. However, the L-arginine is the more compatible form to our body. Because L-arginine can be synthesized in our body, it is called non-essential amino acid. The exception is newborn infants are unable to produce L-arginine and therefore their only source for it is food.
Health Benefits of L-arginine

L-arginine is a precursor of nitric oxide and other metabolites, a component of collagen, enzymes and hormones (eg. vasopressin), ejaculate (seminal fluid and sperm), skin and connective tissues. L-arginine plays important roles in the synthesis of various protein molecules (eg. creatine and insulin). It may have antioxidant property and reduces accumualtion of compounds such as ammonia and plasma lactate, byproducts of physical exercise. It inhibits platelet aggregation and can also decrease blood pressure.

L-arginine is converted to nitric oxide which aids in the relaxation of blood vessels. The effect is better blood circulation in the body and especially in the extremities (eg. genitalia). For this reason L-arginine helps in stimulating and maintaining erection (at least in males). Men with erectile dysfunction may benefit from intake of L-arginine rich foods or l-arginine supplement. L-arginine is a major component of ejaculate (seminal fluid and sperm) and there fore it is important for maintaining healthy ejaculate volume.

Other L-arginine benefits include maintainance of nitrogen balance, removal of excess ammonia, liver detoxification, reduction of alcohol toxicity effects, wound healing, and treatment of sterility in men.

L-arginine Side effects

L-arginine undermines the effect of lysine in suppression of viral infection. Therefore, for a person infected with viruses (eg. person with herpes), it is recommended to reduce L-arginine supplement dosage or not to eat foods high in L-arginine. Pregnant and lactating women are advised to be cautious with their arginine intake and dosage. Other side effects of L-arginine (when taken in high dosage and for long term) are thickening and coarsening of skin.
According to some human studies, arginine-HCL consumed at high doses (> 9 g/d) has been associated with nausea, gastrointestinal discomfort, and diarrhea.

Arginine Deficiency

Deficiency of arginine could result delay in sexual maturity, impairment of the production of insulin, glucose tolerance, and liver lipid metabolism.

Food Sources of L-arginine

L-arginine is found in high content in protein rich foods such as peanuts, walnuts, brazilnuts, cocunut, animal products (milk and milk products, pork, beef, chicken, turkey), seafoods, cereals (oats and wheat), and chocolate. Legumes such as soybean and chickpea are also rich natural sources of L-arginine.

L-arginine related articles:

List of foods high in arginine content L-arginine, nitric oxide and erection (erectile dysfunction) Eating watermelon increases arginine level

Herbs and sexuality:Yohimbe: health benefits and side effectsGinseng: health benefits and side effectsGinkgo Biloba: health benefits and side effectsL-arginine, nitric oxide and erection (erectile dysfunction)

Erectile dysfunction related articles: What is erectile dysfunction? How does erection occur? What are the causes of erectile dysfunction? What are the treatments for erectile dysfunction?

What is the Gallbladder?

The gallbladder is a small pear-shaped organ that stores and concentrates bile. The gallbladder is connected to the liver by the hepatic duct. It is approximately 3 to 4 inches (7.6 to 10.2 cm) long and about 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide.
The gallbladder is also called a 'gall bladder'.

What is its Function?

The function of the gallbladder is to store bile and concentrate. Bile is a digestive liquid continually secreted by the liver. The bile emulsifies fats and neutralizes acids in partly digested food. A muscular valve in the common bile duct opens, and the bile flows from the gallbladder into the cystic duct, along the common bile duct, and into the duodenum (part of the small intestine).

Conditions and Diseases of the gallbladder

Sometimes the substances contained in bile crystallize in the gallbladder, forming gallstones. These small, hard concretions are more common in persons over 40, especially in women and the obese. They can cause inflammation of the gallbladder, a disorder that produces symptoms similar to those of indigestion, especially after a fatty meal is consumed. If a stone becomes lodged in the bile duct, it produces severe pain. Gallstones may pass out of the body spontaneously; however, serious blockage is treated by removing the gallbladder surgically.

Liver

What is the Liver?

The liver is the largest glandular organ of the body. It weighs about 3 lb (1.36 kg). It is reddish brown in color and is divided into four lobes of unequal size and shape. The liver lies on the right side of the abdominal cavity beneath the diaphragm.

Blood is carried to the liver via two large vessels called the hepatic artery and the portal vein. The heptic artery carries oxygen-rich blood from the aorta (a major vessel in the heart). The portal vein carries blood containing digested food from the small intestine.

These blood vessels subdivide in the liver repeatedly, terminating in very small capillaries. Each capillary leads to a lobule. Liver tissue is composed of thousands of lobules, and each lobule is made up of hepatic cells, the basic metabolic cells of the liver.

What is its major function?

The liver has many functions. Some of the functions are:

• to produce substances that break down fats,
• convert glucose to glycogen,
• produce urea (the main substance of urine),
• make certain amino acids (the building blocks of proteins),
• filter harmful substances from the blood (such as alcohol),
• storage of vitamins and minerals (vitamins A, D, K and B12) and
• maintain a proper level or glucose in the blood.

The liver is also responsible for producing cholesterol. It produces about 80% of the cholesterol in your body.

Diseases of the Liver

Several diseases states can affect the liver. Some of the diseases are:

• Wilson's Disease,
• hepatitis (an inflammation of the liver),
• liver cancer, and
• cirrhosis (a chronic inflammation that progresses ultimately to organ failure).

Alcohol alters the metabolism of the liver, which can have overall detrimental effects if alcohol is taken over long periods of time.
Hemochromatosis can cause liver problems.

Medications that negatively effect the liver

Medications have side effects that may harm your liver. Some of the medications that can damage your liver are:

• serzone,
• anti-cancer drugs (tagfur, MTX, and cytoxan), and
• medications used to treat diabetes.
  

Serzone is a prescription drug manufactured by Bristol-Myers Squibb for the treatment of depression. The possible side effects of Serzone® are:

• agitation,
• dizziness,
• clumsiness or unsteadiness,
• difficulty concentrating,
• memory problems,
• confusion,
• severe nausea,
• gastroenteritis,
• abdominal pain,
• unusually dark urine,
• difficult or frequent urination,
• fainting,
• skin rash or
• hives yellowing of the skin or
• whites of the eyes (jaundice) or
• a prolonged loss of weight or loss of appetite.

If you or a family member have suffered serious side effects or a fatal injury after taking Serzone®, you or the family member may be eligible to file a claim against the manufacturer. You should contact an attorney that specializes in class action lawsuits immediately.

To help prevent liver damage, let your doctor know about your liver condition when being treated for other conditions. Medications come in many forms and it is best to find out what is in them and what it can do to your liver.

An Introduction to Cholesterol

Introduction
Lipids are the building blocks of the fats and fatty substances found in animals and plants. They are microscopic layered spheres of oil, which, in animals, are composed mainly of cholesterol, triglycerides, proteins (called lipoproteins), and phospholipids (molecules made up of phosphoric acid, fatty acids, and nitrogen). Lipids do not dissolve in water and are stored in the body to serve as sources of energy.

Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a white, powdery substance that is found in all animal cells and in animal-based foods (not in plants). In spite of its bad press, cholesterol is an essential nutrient necessary for many functions, including:

• Repairing cell membranes
• Manufacturing vitamin D on the skin's surface
• Producing hormones, such as estrogen and testosterone
• Possibly helping cell connections in the brain that are important for learning and memory
  

Regardless of these benefits, when cholesterol levels rise in the blood, they can have dangerous consequences, depending on the type of cholesterol. Although the body acquires some cholesterol through diet, about two-thirds is manufactured in the liver, its production stimulated by saturated fat. Saturated fats are found in animal products, meat, and dairy products.

Saturated fats are found predominantly in animal products such as meat and dairy products, and are strongly associated with higher cholesterol levels. Tropical oils -- such as palm, coconut, and coconut butter -- are also high in saturated fats.

Triglycerides
Triglycerides are composed of fatty acid molecules. They are the basic chemicals contained in fats in both animals and plants.

Lipoproteins
Lipoproteins are protein spheres that transport cholesterol, triglyceride, or other lipid molecules through the bloodstream. Most of the information about the effects of cholesterol and triglyceride actually concerns lipoproteins.

Lipoproteins are categorized into five types according to size and density. They can be further defined by whether they carry cholesterol or triglycerides.

Cholesterol-Carrying Lipoproteins. These are the lipoproteins commonly referred to as cholesterol.

• Low density lipoproteins (LDL). (Often called the "bad" cholesterol.)
• High-density lipoproteins (HDL), the smallest and most dense. (Referred to as the "good" cholesterol.)

Triglyceride-Carrying Lipoproteins.

• Intermediate density lipoproteins (IDL). They tend to carry triglycerides.
• Very low density lipoproteins (VLDL). These tend to carry triglycerides.
• Chylomicrons (largest in size and lowest in density).
  

Lipoprotein(a). Lipoprotein(a), or lp(a) has a size and density somewhere between LDL and HDL. The molecules carry a protein that may interfere with the body's ability to dissolve blood clots. Lipoprotein(a) is being investigated as a possible marker or cause of heart disease.

Remnant Lipoproteins.

Remnant lipoproteins are byproducts of chylomicrons, very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL), or both. Some research indicates that high levels may be an important risk factor for coronary artery disease, particularly in patients who have otherwise normal cholesterol levels.

Cholesterol Guidelines
Reducing LDL and total cholesterol levels, while at the same time boosting HDL levels, can prevent heart attacks and death in all people (with or without heart disease). Reducing LDL is the primary goal of most cholesterol therapy.

Blood tests can easily measure both HDL and overall cholesterol levels. It is very difficult to measure LDL levels by themselves, but LDL levels can be reliably calculated by subtracting HDL and triglyceride levels from total cholesterol. The exact formula is:

LDL = TOTAL CHOLESTEROL - HDL - TRIGLYCERIDES/5.

In 2004, the National Cholesterol Education Program updated its clinical practice guidelines. The new recommendations set lower treatment goals for LDL levels based on a patient's risk factors for heart disease.
The risk factors include:

• Having a first-degree female relative diagnosed with heart disease before age 65 or a first-degree male relative diagnosed before age 55
• Being male and over age 45 or female and over age 55
• Cigarette smoking
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Metabolic syndrome (risk factors associated with obesity such as low HDL levels and high triglycerides)

Two or more of these risk factors increases by 20% the chance of having a heart attack within 10 years.

The LDL cholesterol level is one of the most important factors in determining whether a patient needs cholesterol therapy and whether the treatment is working properly. In particular, the new guidelines emphasize lower LDL levels and earlier treatment for people with coronary artery disease, or other forms of atherosclerosis, and diabetes.