Category Archives: Recent Blogs

You can protect your kidneys by preventing or managing health conditions that cause kidney damage, such as diabetes and high blood pressure. The steps described below may help keep your whole body healthy, including your kidneys. Early kidney disease may not have any symptoms, so getting tested may be the only way to know your kidneys are healthy. Your doctor will help decide how often you should be tested.

See a doctor right away if you develop a urinary tract infection (UTI), which can cause kidney damage if left untreated.

Choose foods that are healthy for your heart and your entire body: fresh fruits, fresh or frozen vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat or fat-free dairy products. Eat healthy meals, and cut back on salt and added sugars.

Tips for making healthy food choices

• Cook with a mix of spices instead of salt.
• Choose vegetarian food.
• Serve foods without gravy or added fats.
• Try to choose foods with little or no added sugar.

Be active for 30 minutes or more on most days. If you are not active now, ask your doctor about the types and amounts of physical activity that are right for you.

If you are overweight or have obesity, work with your doctor or dietitian to create a realistic weight-loss plan. View more weight control and physical activity resources to help you get and stay motivated.

Aim for 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night. If you have trouble in sleeping take help of your doctor.

If you smoke or use other tobacco products, stop. Ask for help so you don’t have to do it alone.

Drinking too much alcohol can increase your blood pressure and add extra calories, which can lead to weight gain. If you drink alcohol limit yourself to one drink per day if you are a woman and two drinks per day if you are a man.

Learning how to manage stress and cope with problems can improve emotional and physical health. Physical activity can help reduce stress, as can mind and body practices such as meditation and Yoga.

Irregular periods aren’t always a sign of a problem. We break down what you should know about how to identify irregular periods, what causes them and when to see a doctor.

During a normal menstrual cycle, an egg is released from one of your ovaries during ovulation. If the egg is not fertilized by a sperm, then changing hormone levels send your body a signal to shed the blood and tissues that line your uterus. This bleeding typically lasts about five days. Then, the monthly cycle repeats itself.

But some women have what is called abnormal uterine bleeding — another term for irregular periods — which can happen for a variety of reasons, from stress and lifestyle factors, to more serious underlying medical conditions.

An irregular period is when the length of your menstrual cycle unexpectedly falls outside of your regular range. Irregular periods can include abnormal uterine bleeding, such as:

• Bleeding or spotting between periods
• Bleeding after sexual intercourse
• Heavy bleeding during your period
• Menstrual bleeding that lasts longer than normal
• Bleeding after you’ve reached menopause

There are a number of reasons why you may have an irregular, missed or late period, ranging from stress to more serious medical conditions.

Common causes of irregular periods include:

• Uncontrolled diabetes: If you have uncontrolled diabetes, you may have irregular periods because the interaction between your blood sugar levels and hormones can disrupt your menstrual cycle.
• Eating disorders: If you have an eating disorder, such as anorexia or bulimia, you may have irregular or missed periods. This is because your body is not producing and circulating enough hormones to control your menstrual cycle.
• Hyperprolactinemia: Women who have too much of a protein hormone called prolactin in their blood can have irregular periods.
• Medications: Certain medications, including anti-epileptics and antipsychotics, can cause irregular periods.
• Polycystic ovary syndrome: PCOS is caused by imbalanced sex hormones, which can disrupt regular menstruation.
• Stress: Stress hormones can affect menstruation and prolonged stress can cause your period to be delayed or for you to skip it entirely.

If you experience any of the following symptoms, it may be time to talk to your doctor:

• You haven’t had a period for 90 days
• Your period suddenly becomes irregular
• You have a period more often than every 21 days
• You have a period less often than every 35 days
• Your period lasts for more than a week
• Your period becomes unusually heavy
• You bleed between periods
• Your periods are extremely painful