Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Snoring may help diagnose sleep disorder

Good morning friends. Some of the people have a sleeping habit like snoring. Snoring may help diagnose sleep disorder.

Researchers have developed a computer programme, which can analyze the snoring pattern of people to help diagnose a specific sleep disorder.

Doctors at University of Queensland and the Princess Alexandra Hospital assessed the snoring of 20 patients with sleep apnoea by first recording it. Similarly, they observed another 66 potential patients.
It was found that the recordings diagnosed the condition successfully in 94 per cent of cases. "An accurate device to diagnose sleep apnoea from recordings of snoring would be extremely helpful," the Telegraph quoted Dr Neil Stanley, a sleep expert as saying.
"Many patients are told about their snoring by their bed partner, but some can go years not even realizing there is a problem, only that they are constantly exhausted.”This (method) seems to be very accurate for low level sleep apnoea.
"Such a device this could also mean that we are forced to revise upwards the number of people that we think have this condition.”At the moment the only thing many GPs think they know about this illness is that it affects fat, middle-aged men, which suggests many cases among people who do not fit that profile are not being picked up," the expert added.
Sleep apnoea can turn dangerous being linked to increased risk of high blood pressure and heart attack. The results of the study were presented at the Australasian Sleep Association Conference in Melbourne, Australia.

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Fight diabetes with Tai Chi

Good morning friends. There is one good way to fight diabetes. We know that diabetes is a hereditary ailment so we have to be careful for those families who have this kind of disease. For those who were not much of exercise this will make you interested with.

Doing tai chi exercises regularly can help diabetics lower their blood glucose levels, says a new study.

Tai chi is an ancient martial art that combines deep breathing and relaxation with slow, gentle circular movements.

Adults diagnosed with type-2 diabetes, who took part in a tai chi programme two days a week, with three days of home practice for six months, cut down their fasting blood glucose levels, enhanced quality of life, including mental health, vitality and energy.

"Tai chi really has similar effects as other aerobic exercises on diabetic control. Tai chi is a low-impact exercise, less stressful on the bones, joints and muscles than more strenuous exercise," said Beverly Roberts, professor at the University of Florida (UF) College of Nursing.

Roberts studied tai chi's effect on older Korean residents with Rhayun Song of Chungham National University.

Sixty-two participants, mostly Korean women, took part in the study. Half the group participated in at least 80 per cent of two supervised sessions one hour per week, with three days of home practice for six months, and the other half served as a control group.

About 23.6 million children and adults in the US or 7.8 per cent of the population have diabetes. It occurs when the body does not produce or properly use insulin, a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life.

Risk factors include obesity, sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy eating habits, high blood pressure and cholesterol, a history of gestational diabetes and increased age, many of which can be reduced through exercise.

"People assume that for exercise to be beneficial you have to be huffing and puffing, sweating and red-faced afterward," Roberts said.

"This may turn people off, particularly older adults. However, we have found that activities like tai chi can be just as beneficial in improving health."

Those who completed the sessions had significantly improved glucose control and reported higher levels of vitality and energy. -
AhmedabadMirror