High Stress-Culture | Anaemia & Iron Deficiency

The Lord will sustain him upon his sick bed; In his illness, You restore him to health! Psalm 41:3

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Constant stress – work pressure, busy schedules; no time for fun, family or a day of rest; emotional trauma, undealt anger, hatred, resentment and alike – wreaks havoc on our health. Stress itself is not malignant, but a lifestyle of constant stress, evident in our present society, is. During our ‘fight or flight’ response to stress, a hormone called cortisol, which has vital and varied functions, is secreted by adrenal glands into our blood stream. It causes a quick burst of energy and increased immunity, heightened memory function and lower sensitivity to pain, and helps maintain homeostasis in our body. However, it’s important that our body’s functions return to normal, to avoid collateral damage, following a stressful event. Unfortunately, in our current high stress-culture, our body’s stress response is activated so often that our body doesn't always have a chance to return to normal; and this leads to chronic stress and morbidity.

Most people under stress realize the need to relax their bodies. Unfortunately, many of them resort to either deceptive habits or to a bleak and irresolute lifestyle, as a quick fix. This only leads to a seared mind, body and soul, adding to the already ruining health. For example, alcohol, smoking, excessive use of caffeine, nicotine, or tobacco, or any other drug abuse will only further impair our health. On the other hand, pornography, paedophilia, premarital or extramarital relationships, or any other pervert pursuits will only abandon us either to quarantined and incurable depression or to be abusive and monstrous psychopaths. Therefore, it’s exceptionally imperative that we take care of our health, and meet the needs of our mind, body and soul the right way. Only then can we achieve wholesome and thrive vibrant. Remember, our body is the temple of The Spirit of Holiness and we are not our own [1 Corinthians 6:19.]

Now, let’s continue with our case studies that we started in the previous article – three different anomalies with a common condition, anaemia.

(i)                A guy with allergic rhinitis, or hay fever;

(ii)             A woman under psychiatry treatment; and

(iii)           Pregnancy.

Case (i) – A guy with allergic rhinitis, or hay fever

Suffering allergic rhinitis for about ten years, as mentioned in my previous articles, and with the help of some tests I came to know I was anaemic too.

Red Blood Cells - Iron deficiency anaemia

Anaemia is a deficiency in the number or healthy red blood cells, or erythrocytes. The cytoplasm of healthy erythrocytes contain iron-rich protein called haemoglobin, which functions in carrying oxygen from lungs to dispensing the same throughout the circulatory system to every part of our body, organ and cell.

There are several types and classifications of anaemia. The one we’re concerned here with is iron deficiency anaemia, which is common among adolescents, children, patients aged over the age of 50, and women during pregnancy.

Signs and symptoms:

1. Reduced amounts of oxyhaemoglobin in skin and mucous membrane – Pallor
2. Anxiety, irritability or a low feeling, fatigue, general weakness, constant feeling of being unwell, and sleeplessness or insomnia
3. Allergic to certain smells, pollen, dust, weedy air, etc.
4. Constipation, common cold, runny nose, wheeze, and breathing difficulty

Causes:

1. Lack of iron in diet
2. Food with very low or zero nutritional value
3. Inability to absorb iron due to intestinal disorder. Since iron from food is absorbed into the bloodstream in the small intestine, intestinal disorder could be the cause.
4. In patients over the age of 50 and adults in common can suffer anaemia due to gastrointestinal disorders
5. Loss of blood caused by heavy menstruation among women
6. Initial stomach cancers can also bleed into the stomach. Losing blood over a period of time can result in anaemia

Anaemia could be very subtle. Blood tests only reveal reduced level of haemoglobin, but not its actual cause. We should never interpret it as a mere iron deficiency. 

   Moreover, our current medicine and research still lacks the sophistication to detect the root cause, if it’s anaemia due to cancer. With our current endeavor in medicine, cancer can go undetected for almost a decade.

   Personally, I've suffered irrevocable loss. It is this subtleness of anaemia, and the unawares of how limited our medical venture is, that took my dad away from me. Sadly, there are numerous cases of such mortality, where the true cause goes undetected, and finally when detected, it’s too late.

Treatment for Anaemia and Side effects:

Prescription of iron supplements seems to be the usual practice. However, running the risk of its side effects is high. Side effects include diarrhea or constipation leading to piles or fissures, and epigastric abdominal discomfort.

Iron overdose can be fatal to both children and adults. The absorption of excessive quantities of ingested iron results in systemic iron toxicity: cellular toxicity. Severe overdose causes impaired oxidative phosphorylation and mitochondrial dysfunction, which can result in cellular death. The liver is one of the organs most affected by iron toxicity, but organs such as the heart, kidney, lungs, and hematologic systems also may be impaired.

This raises the question of how to combat iron deficiency anaemia safely.

In a case of severe anaemia, consulting a gastroenterologist would be salvific for diagnosing intestinal disorder. Otherwise, intake of iron-rich foods, that has high nutritional value, along with supplementing multivitamins must help fight anaemia more effectively than iron supplements: the quick fix with long term consequences.

In the successive articles, we will further discuss anaemia and its undetected root cause, if any, and the precautionary measures to save unawares.

However, in the next article, we’ll continue with the same case study and build a strong and detailed emphasis for food and nutrition. Until then, HASHEM BLESS US ALL!!!

PS: Dear readers, please feel free to leave your comments, or to share any related scriptures, or any tips that can help improve one's health. We just encourage you to keep learning and living vibrant health everyday. Never lose the joy, the passion, and most importantly, never let anybody say that you can't live life to its fullest. Because that's just not true. God Bless You!!

Blood and Diseases

Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true wisdom. All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom. To Him belongs eternal praise! Psalm 111:10

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What does it mean when the Bible says that the life of every creature is in its blood…?

Per the World health statistics 2012 report, one in three adults worldwide suffer raised blood pressure – a condition that causes about half of all deaths from stroke and heart disease, and one in ten adults suffer diabetes. In this article, we’ll focus on blood and diseases, and my personal experience that eventually led me to create this blog.

Our blood is the principal focal point in exploring our health. Blood tests reveal anomalies, sometimes obvious and sometimes hidden, that we might be suffering. However, a medical practitioner’s interpretation of it is vital. Diagnosis and follow up tests are crucial. A mistake could mean wrong treatment. Wrong treatment fails to nail down the monster deteriorating our health, and this could succumb to serious morbidity, putting our life in jeopardy. I can’t describe the horror, if any of our loved ones should go through it. God forbid! This blog is, expressly, created to educate and equip us in defense against non-communicable disease, or NCD, which is the leading cause of the present mortality (of all ages) in the world, representing over 60% of all deaths. The only shield against this global threat is wholesome and vibrant health.

The good news, though, is that wholesome and vibrant health is not only possible but affordable too.

Blood - an important fluid connective tissue

Our blood comprises of red blood cells (RBC), white blood cells (WBC), platelets, and other chemical and biological components. Together, the complex composition and the intricacies of its various function, dispensing life to our body, is undoubtedly an absolute masterpiece; and it is beyond the scope of this blog to attempt any discussion over the subject. However, we will discuss the existential issue of pain and suffering that creates a twilight zone, heaping an emotional trauma, and leaving us susceptible to chronic diseases. We will do lots of case studies of various chronic and pre chronic conditions, one at a time. We will study their related blood deficiencies and ailing symptoms (in lay terms, of course); and, our definite and practical steps in defense against such disorders and, thereby, achieving wholesome and vibrant health.

Let’s begin with anaemia, a condition where the level of haemoglobin in the blood is below the normal range. If we are anaemic, the symptoms could be constipation, leading to internal or external pile or fissure; allergies, common cold and runny nose; itchy eyes/nose/ears, sore throat, wheezing and breathing difficulty; fatigue and constant feeling of being unwell.

Among women, anaemia during pregnancy is a common health concern and significant contributor to maternal mortality and morbidity worldwide.

Now let’s take up three different cases, one at a time, facing a common threat, anaemia:

(i)                A guy with allergic rhinitis, or hay fever;

(ii)             A woman under psychiatry treatment; and

(iii)           Pregnancy.

Case (i) – A guy with allergic rhinitis, or hay fever

This is none but me. Suffering for about 10 years, as explained in the previous article, with immunoglobulin shots, running high on its side effects, trying alternative medications, and then with the help of some blood tests, confirming anaemia, and finally with the new found key – “the life of every creature is in its blood…” Leviticus 17:14.

The key hit me naturally. Nothing really spooky happened, but I had been praying and meditating the Word. It was my only source of hope and comfort amidst my ill health, fatigue and constant feeling of being unwell.

Ten years were enough for me, so I thought, and moreover, it was about time. I realized that if I can have my blood – deficient of nothing – but wholesome, then I can thrive vibrant! Out of this resonating impulse, I rushed to a nearby physician. He scribbled a prescription of iron tablets for a course of two months. In a week or two, I was able to feel something good, tangible. My metabolic activity was promising. I was able to breathe, unlike before, without being afraid of allergies, cold or even jasmine fragrance or other smells alike. However, like Job resents, “what I feared the most has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me” Job 2:11, something uninvited swat me really, really bad. It was my iron supplements!

In the next article, we’ll continue with our case studies, beginning with my misadventure; and how it all worked together in leveraging me in the right direction – a direction toward wholesome and vibrant health. Until then, HASHEM BLESS US ALL!!

PS: Dear readers, please feel free to leave your comments, or to share any related scriptures, or any tips that can help improve one's health. We just encourage you to keep learning and living vibrant health everyday. Never lose the joy, the passion, and most importantly never let anybody say that you can't live life to its fullest. Because that's just not true. God Bless You!!

Health and Allergies

Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. 3 John 1:2

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December 1st, World Aids Day, an opportunity for us worldwide to unite and fight against HIV. Promoting awareness of how to protect oneself, from its epidemic, via various preventive measures, what are we doing about those children, women and men, who are infected and suffering morbid immunity, deteriorating to death? 

If you are a volunteer or medical professional assisting and helping the persons, who are infected, with their health, please feel free to share information, in the comments, related to immunity status/role once a person gets infected and the scope for maintaining it to par. 

What does it take to be in good health? I believe, it's not just a good question, but categorically vital that we ponder, research and live out the answers. In this article, we'll not focus on HIV, but the rising issue of health worldwide, and my personal experience, which led me to create this blog. 

Today, both developed and developing countries alike are facing global threat, which is unprecedented. It is not HIV/AIDS, though we have marked December 1st as World Aids Day, or some other infectious disease, but non-communicable disease, or NCD, meaning, it's non-infectious and non-transmissible between persons. However, ironically, per World Health Organization (WHO), it's by far the leading cause of mortality (of all ages) in the world, representing over 60% of all deaths. 

Dying too long and living too short, best characterizes NCDs. NCDs may be chronic diseases of long duration and slow progression, or they may result in more rapid death as in some types of sudden stroke. They include autoimmune diseases, heart disease, stroke, cancers, asthma, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, osteoporosis, Alzheimer's disease, cataracts, and more. And this blog is dedicated to promote lifestyle that fights against and defies all these chronic conditions – belaboring toward a true preventive measure; motivating you (or, your loved ones) get back to your vibrant health or a whole brand new opportunity to exciting and enduring health!

A view of KGF Club

Growing up in Kolar Gold Fields, or KGF – one of the oldest mining areas in India, I suffered allergies and cold. At times, I wouldn't even get sleep – wheezing all night, with spasm in my lungs, I would literally feel my lungs shattering every time I sneezed or coughed. It was really, really painful and hurting to death. And then, as usual, this would follow up with doctor’s consultation, diagnosis and medication. When I asked, why I’m prone to it while none of my parents or grandparents suffered any allergies? I would only get eluded and pointed to the polluted air caused by weedy pollen and huge hilly dumps – decades of mining deposit; and I’m simply susceptible to it. I would feel I was simply shushed and made to follow a dogmatic diet of "avoidance". I didn't know back then if it was reasonable. So, I strictly followed the dogma. Most food items that I had to abstain from were – curds, peanuts, lemons, lady’s finger (or okra), fruits and fruit salads, chocolates, etc. Though the diet helped me control my allergies for a while, I was growing weaker and weaker – fatigued to do even the simplest chores of everyday. The worst part was during rainy and winter, I would catch hay fever, or allergic rhinitis – feeling feverish with runny nose, itchy eyes, sneezing, sleeplessness, and wheezing. I can never forget the ENT specialist, or Otolaryngologist, without having me referred to allergy tests, administering those immunoglobulin shots. That is it! My body ran high on its side effects – blocked nose and tightness of chest causing breathing difficulties, feverish, and a constant feeling of being unwell.

At this point, I completely gave up hopes on mainline doctors, and started seeking help from alternative medications like Homeopathic and Ayurvedic. In spite of all these efforts, nothing seemed to change my health. I suffered allergies yet more, and grew more fatigue.

One of my friends suggested that I have my blood checked. So, I went through a couple of tests and found my haemoglobin level was way below par, a condition called anaemia, and I was suffering its symptoms – constipation and very low immunity. I knew this was the key.

Ten years, by then, it was an odd journey of constant distraction and discouragement! Despite all hell, there was one true hope and comfort that I usually received. It was from God’s very own word that He made me and knew everything about me (Psalm 139). Since I knew God’s word, I was able to relate my blood test results to my new found key – “the life of every creature is in its blood…” Leviticus 17:14. The key was always there and I knew it. However, it never occurred to me until then. 

In the succeeding articles, you’ll read about my trial and error attempts to achieve wholesome health. And with the new found key, being my common denominator, you’ll see how it all led to a progressive expedition of learning, application and adventure! Until then, HASHEM BLESS US ALL!!!



PS: Dear readers, please feel free to leave your comments, or to share any related scriptures, or any tips that can help improve one's health. We just encourage you to keep learning and living vibrant health everyday. Never lose the joy, the passion, and most importantly never let anybody say that you can't live life to its fullest. Because that's just not true. God Bless You!!