Health
Health•18 NOV 2024
Don't Ignore These! 15 Signs of High Blood Sugar & How to Lower It
Repeatedly elevated blood sugar can lead to health problems such as diabetes, cataracts, retinopathy, and damage to the blood vessels and nerves in the heart. Therefore, it is important to recognize the signs of high blood sugar early and take action promptly so these risks can be prevented or at least minimized.
What Do You Feel When Your Blood Sugar Is High?
These conditions may be a sign that your blood sugar levels are rising:
1. Difficulty Focusing Your Eyes and Blurred Vision
Rapid fluctuations in blood sugar can cause the lenses of your eyes to swell. As a result, you may have trouble seeing objects in front of you clearly and focusing on them.
2. Numbness or Tingling in the Feet
Blood sugar spikes affect nerves throughout the body, but the nerves in the feet are especially sensitive. As a result, you may experience tingling or numbness.
3. More Frequent Urination
This is more common during the day. However, it may also disrupt your sleep at night.
This happens because your body experiences osmotic diuresis, which is an increase in urine output caused by substances filtered by the kidneys.
4. Weight Loss or Gain
Your body shape may change, whether you become thinner or heavier, even if your diet and lifestyle remain unchanged.
5. Wounds That Won't Heal
Cuts, such as those you might get while chopping fruits and vegetables, usually take 4 to 24 days to heal.[1]
If a wound takes longer to heal, this is because less oxygen and nutrients reach the affected area as blood vessels narrow when blood sugar is high.
6. Unusual Fatigue
Another sign of high blood sugar is feeling tired even when you haven't done anything strenuous. This happens because your body doesn't have enough insulin to deliver sugar to your cells for energy.
7. Frequent Illness
Blood sugar levels above the normal range contribute to a poorer inflammatory response and weaken the immune system.[2] As a result, you may be more vulnerable to illness.
8. Flaky Skin
A sign of high blood sugar on the skin is skin that looks drier and flakier.
This occurs when your body excretes too much fluid through urine to get rid of excess sugar.
9. Vaginal Dryness
This sign of high blood sugar in women occurs because high blood sugar damages the blood vessels in the vagina, reducing lubrication in the area. As a result, you may feel discomfort or pain during sex.
10. Breath That Smells Like Overripe Fruit
This unpleasant breath odor occurs because the mouth becomes dry as urination becomes more frequent. The main cause is a lack of saliva, which helps kill microbes in the mouth.
11. Increased Thirst
When your body excretes urine more often than usual, you become dehydrated. As a result, you often feel thirsty.[3]
12. Headaches
High blood sugar can cause dehydration, dilation of blood vessels in the brain, and hormonal changes, all of which can trigger headaches. Pain in the temples is a characteristic feature of this type of headache.[4]
13. Nausea
A sudden spike in blood sugar can disrupt your metabolism. This sudden change makes it difficult for your body to adjust, causing unpleasant sensations such as nausea.
14. Difficulty Concentrating
Over time, excess sugar can damage the blood vessels in the brain, which carry oxygen-rich blood to it. When your brain receives too little blood, brain cells can die. This can make it difficult for you to concentrate, focus, or remember things.
15. Bad Mood
This condition can affect children as well as adults. Signs of high blood sugar in children include a bad mood. They may become irritable, anxious, easily upset, and aggressive.
How to Manage High Blood Sugar
Do these signs sound familiar? Here are some things that can help bring your blood sugar back to a safe level:
Exercise Every Day
Set aside 30 minutes a day to exercise. You don't need to do anything strenuous—a walk around your neighborhood or a morning jog in the park is enough to make your body more responsive to insulin and lower your blood sugar.
Eat Vegetables
Sulforaphane found in green vegetables may help lower blood sugar.[5] Try adding broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, or bok choy to your meals to enjoy the benefits.
Drink Herbal Tea
Herbal teas such as green tea and turmeric tea may help lower fasting blood sugar. Replace sugary drinks with these herbal teas to support your health.
If the signs of high blood sugar above sound familiar, visit your nearest healthcare facility promptly to have your blood sugar checked. This will help you determine what steps to take next if the results show elevated levels.
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Health•17 NOV 2024
Stay Healthy and Avoid These 12 Causes of High Blood Sugar
At first, high blood sugar may only make you feel sleepy and need to urinate frequently. However, over time, this condition can cause permanent organ damage. Taking preventive measures by avoiding the causes of high blood sugar is therefore a wise choice.
Remember, prevention is better than cure!
Causes of High Blood Sugar
Various factors around you can also cause blood sugar to rise, such as:
1. Drinking Sweetened Instant Beverages
Don't be fooled by claims that a drink is sugar-free when the bottled beverage you buy contains artificial sweeteners.
While this does not directly cause a spike in blood sugar, consuming artificial sweeteners over a long period can make your body resistant to insulin.[1] The body's ability to respond to insulin is essential for maintaining balanced blood sugar levels.
2. Staying Up Late Frequently
Do you still like watching movies or playing games until dawn? Try to cut back on this habit. Lack of sleep can affect how your body manages sugar and the hormone insulin.[2]
If you continue this habit without making any changes, you risk becoming one of the patients who end up in the hospital with diabetes.
3. Skipping Breakfast
What can cause high blood sugar? One factor is the habit of skipping breakfast.
Skipping breakfast can affect insulin secretion and increase HbA1c, a marker indicating that your body is not using sugar properly.[3]
4. Drinking Coffee
Long-term caffeine consumption from coffee can increase the body's response to insulin and boost sugar metabolism.[4] However, adding sugar or creamer to coffee, as in cappuccinos and lattes, can cause blood sugar spikes.
5. Dehydration
Besides food, another cause of high blood sugar is dehydration. The more dehydrated you are, the more concentrated the glucose in your bloodstream becomes, resulting in a high blood sugar reading when tested.
6. Lack of Physical Activity
Lack of physical activity is one of the causes of high blood sugar in older adults. Exercise helps the body become more responsive to insulin.
Conversely, if you rarely move, as can happen to older adults with mobility difficulties, your body may become resistant to this hormone.
However, older adults aren't the only ones affected. Young people who prefer to take it easy can experience the same problem.
In fact, one study found that people who stayed in bed for five days without engaging in physical activity had already begun to show signs of insulin resistance.[5]
7. Stress
Stress can affect many aspects of your health, including causing blood sugar to rise. How?
When you're stressed, the release of catecholamine hormones stimulates glycogenesis, or sugar production in the body. As a result, you may experience hyperglycemia.[6]
8. Taking Medication
Using various types of medication, including steroids, birth control pills, asthma medications, and diuretics, can trigger a blood sugar spike. To protect your health, consult your doctor if you take any of these medications
9. Smoking
If cigarettes are something you enjoy every day, be aware that the nicotine in them can make your body's cells less responsive to insulin.[7] This makes smokers more vulnerable to various diseases, including diabetes.
10. Snacking After Dinner
Snacking after dinner, especially on foods high in carbohydrates, can cause you to wake up with high blood sugar. Common high-carb snacks include potato-based snacks, tortilla chips, and various types of pastries.
11. Eating High-Sugar Fruits
It's not just cakes and sweet treats that can raise your blood sugar; some fruits are also among the foods that cause high blood sugar because they contain sugar and carbohydrates.
Fruits that can cause high blood sugar include overripe bananas, pineapples, watermelons, grapes, and mangoes.
12. Drinking Alcohol
Some alcoholic beverages, such as whiskey, beer, and coffee liqueur, contain carbohydrates that the body later converts into sugar. If you consume too much, your blood sugar is sure to rise.
Ways to Lower Blood Sugar
If your test results show high levels, here are some steps you can take to bring your blood sugar back to normal:
Exercise regularly: Set aside at least 30 minutes each day for light physical activity, such as walking, running, or swimming.
Give up unhealthy habits, such as smoking, drinking alcohol, or buying unhealthy, high-sugar convenience snacks.
Do things that can reduce your stress, such as pursuing a hobby or taking a relaxing trip.
Avoid the things that cause high blood sugar and enjoy a better quality of life with a healthy body.
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Health•16 NOV 2024
Not the Same: Here Are 10 Differences Between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes
In the medical world, diabetes, a condition associated with high blood sugar levels, is classified into two types: type 1 and type 2 diabetes. These two conditions are often mistakenly thought to be the same. In fact, the differences between type 1 and type 2 diabetes are quite varied, from their causes to their treatment.
To help you better understand these two conditions and provide appropriate care, here are the differences between type 1 and type 2 diabetes:
1. Underlying Cause
What is the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus? The most fundamental difference is what triggers them.
With type 2 diabetes, the condition you experience is the result of habits you often engage in every day. Examples include eating fatty or sugary foods and rarely exercising.
Type 1 diabetes, on the other hand, is not related to a person's habits or lifestyle. This disease is primarily caused by an autoimmune condition linked to genetic factors and certain viral infections, such as enteroviruses, rotavirus, or the mumps virus.[1]
2. Insulin Levels in the Body
In type 1 diabetes, insulin levels in the body are extremely low or even nonexistent. This is because an autoimmune condition damages the cells in the pancreas, preventing the body from producing this hormone properly.
In type 2 diabetes, the body still produces insulin, but its ability to respond to insulin declines due to high blood sugar levels, or hyperglycemia.
In the advanced stages, insulin levels may also decline. When the body does not respond well to insulin, the pancreas works hard to produce more insulin so that the body's cells can respond. Over time, however, this extra effort weakens the pancreas, eventually causing insulin production to fall.
3. Age of Onset
It is important to note that neither type of diabetes is limited to a particular age group. In other words, anyone can develop either condition, whether young or old.
However, when it comes to age groups that are more susceptible, type 1 diabetes is generally more common in children, especially those aged 10 to 14.[2] In contrast, most cases of type 2 diabetes occur in adults aged 45 and older.[3]
4. Prevalence
Another difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes is their prevalence. Type 1 diabetes accounts for only about 5 to 10% of all diabetes cases, while nearly 90% of cases are type 2 diabetes.[4]
5. Early Symptoms
Signs of type 1 diabetes appear gradually, but over a relatively short period, as pancreatic function can worsen over the course of days, weeks, or months.[5]
The signs of type 2 diabetes also appear gradually, but they develop less quickly and less aggressively than those of type 1. As a result, many people with this condition do not realize that something is wrong.
6. Prevention
Since type 1 diabetes is linked to genetic factors and viral infections, you cannot prevent it, as its causes are beyond your control. Type 2 diabetes is different: maintaining a healthy lifestyle can lower your risk of developing the disease.
7. Treatment
In mild cases, choosing the right foods, such as foods high in fiber and low in fat, can improve type 2 diabetes. Treatment does not always depend on medication.
This does not apply to type 1 diabetes, as it requires daily insulin injections to prevent the condition from worsening. In other words, patients will always depend on insulin injections to manage their condition.
8. Potential for Remission
Can type 2 diabetes be cured? It cannot be completely cured, but the condition can go into remission, meaning that a person no longer needs glucose-lowering medication to go about their daily life normally. Even in remission, however, they still need to make careful food choices to prevent the disease from returning.
This is not the case with type 1 diabetes. To this day, there is no definitive solution for this condition.
9. Risk Factors
For type 1 diabetes, the risk of developing the disease increases if a family member also has it.
Type 2 diabetes is different: it is not passed from parent to child. You may be at risk of developing it if you have poor eating habits and rarely exercise.
10. Diagnostic Methods
The way to diagnose type 1 and type 2 diabetes also differs. Both are diagnosed using blood sugar tests, but type 1 diabetes requires an additional test: an antibody test. If autoantibodies are detected, the patient will be diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.
The differences between type 1 and type 2 diabetes are quite significant. So, if you experience any suspicious symptoms, it is best to get a health checkup to identify which type of diabetes you have so that you can receive more appropriate treatment.
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Health•16 NOV 2024
Gestational Diabetes During Pregnancy: Facts, Risks, and Solutions
The changes that occur in the body during pregnancy can have several effects, one of which is gestational diabetes. In Indonesia, the reported incidence is relatively low, at around 1.9% to 3.6% of all pregnancies.[1] However, that does not mean you cannot develop it.
What is gestational diabetes, and is it dangerous? Find the answers here!
Understanding Gestational Diabetes
This health condition occurs when an expectant mother is diagnosed with diabetes as a result of her pregnancy. It is different from type 1 diabetes, which is caused by an insufficient amount of insulin. Instead, it is caused by changes that occur in the body during pregnancy.
Is it dangerous? Most women have normal pregnancies and give birth to healthy babies. Even so, there are several health risks you should be aware of:
The baby’s skin and eyes may appear yellow after birth.
The baby may grow larger than average, making delivery more difficult.
Preterm birth, before 37 weeks of pregnancy.
In serious cases, the fetus may stop developing.
Causes of Gestational Diabetes
During pregnancy, a woman’s body produces placental hormones. These hormones trigger physiological changes in the mother that are necessary to meet the needs of the fetus.[2]
However, these hormones can also make the body resistant to insulin. As a result, glucose builds up in the mother’s blood, causing high blood sugar.
The risk of developing the condition is higher if the mother has any of the following:
Obesity.
An unhealthy lifestyle.
Prediabetes before pregnancy.
A previous birth of a baby weighing more than 4 kg.
PCOS.
Diagnosing Gestational Diabetes
A doctor will diagnose this condition after the patient undergoes the initial and follow-up Oral Glucose Tolerance Tests.
During the initial test, the doctor will check the patient’s blood sugar level after she drinks a glucose solution (without fasting beforehand). If the result is 140 mg/dL or higher, the patient will proceed to the follow-up test.
For the follow-up test, the patient will drink a glucose solution after fasting for at least 8 hours. The doctor will check her blood sugar every two or three hours. If two test results show high blood sugar levels, the patient has gestational diabetes.[3]
Symptoms
Symptoms usually appear only when blood sugar levels become very high, and may include:
Excessive thirst.
Needing to urinate more often.
Dry mouth.
Frequent tiredness and fatigue.
Itching in the genital area.
Blurred vision.
Treatment
Can gestational diabetes be cured? Yes, the condition can resolve on its own after childbirth. However, if the mother experiences symptoms that are particularly bothersome, the doctor will provide treatment to help improve her condition.
Treatment for gestational diabetes during pregnancy generally involves making healthier lifestyle changes. In more serious cases, however, the doctor may also recommend medication to improve health more effectively. Here’s what that involves:
1. Limiting Food Choices
The focus of treatment is to lower blood glucose levels, which means limiting the mother’s food choices. This includes:
Choosing healthier sources of carbohydrates, such as brown rice, whole-wheat bread, sweet potatoes, and oats.
Reducing the intake of foods and drinks high in sugar, such as soda, syrup, and packaged beverages.
Choosing healthier, low-salt snacks, such as nuts, yogurt, and fruit.
2. Regular Exercise
Staying active helps maintain a healthy body weight and reduce insulin resistance, making blood sugar easier to control. Therefore, pregnant women are advised to engage in physical activity for at least 30 minutes.[4][5]
3. Medication
If the condition does not improve after one or two weeks of healthier lifestyle changes, the doctor may recommend medication to control blood sugar. This may include tablets such as metformin or insulin injections.[6]
Prevention
Take preventive steps well before trying to conceive. Start by doing the following:
Avoid unhealthy foods, such as fatty dishes, foods high in sodium or sugar, fried foods, and fast food.
Exercise for at least 30 minutes a day by walking, cycling, swimming, or going to the gym.
Maintain a healthy weight. If you are obese, it may be a good idea to follow a healthy diet first.
Gestational diabetes may sound frightening, but with proper care and attention, both mother and fetus can stay healthy until delivery.
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Health•15 NOV 2024
A Comprehensive Guide to Type 2 Diabetes: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
The unhealthier your lifestyle is—such as eating unhealthy foods, not managing your weight, and avoiding exercise—the greater your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
The effects of this disease go beyond simply feeling thirsty and unbearably tired. In severe cases, you may be at risk of blindness, nerve damage, kidney problems, and amputation.
Come learn more about type 2 diabetes and find out how to prevent it so you can protect yourself from this dangerous risk!
What Is Type 2 Diabetes?
This disorder occurs when the body stores more sugar than it should. More specifically, blood sugar levels exceed 200 mg/dL in a random blood sugar test.
These high sugar levels are associated with the body's cells being unable to respond properly to the hormone insulin. Put simply, the body develops insulin resistance.
Causes
The body's inability to respond to insulin in type 2 diabetes is caused by fat buildup, especially around the abdomen, as well as high blood glucose levels. This can result from unhealthy habits, such as:
Eating Foods That Are Unhealthy for the Body
These include low-fiber refined carbohydrates, such as white bread, white rice, crackers, and pasta. They also include sugary drinks and foods containing saturated fat, such as instant foods.
Lack of Exercise
When you are inactive and rarely exercise, your body stores excess energy from food as fat.[1]
The combination of unhealthy eating habits and a lack of exercise can also lead to obesity. For context, around 85% of people with type 2 diabetes are also obese. This shows how much lifestyle can affect this condition.[2]
What Is the Difference Between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes?
Both are associated with excessively high blood sugar levels. Here are the differences between type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes:
1. Causes
While type 2 diabetes can result from neglecting to take care of your health, type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune response that attacks the pancreas and disrupts insulin production.
2. Age of Onset
Both types of diabetes can affect anyone, regardless of age. However, type 2 diabetes is more commonly found in middle-aged adults, particularly those aged 45 and over.[3]
Type 1 diabetes, meanwhile, is more common in children aged 10 to 14.[4] Of all diabetes cases found in children, 98% are type 1 diabetes.[5]
3. Treatment Methods
For people with type 2 diabetes, treatment involves lifestyle changes and medications that improve the cells' sensitivity to insulin. For type 1 diabetes, treatment involves lifelong insulin injections because the condition cannot be cured.
Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Here are some common symptoms of type 2 diabetes mellitus:
Frequent thirst and hunger.
Frequent trips to the bathroom to urinate.
Wounds take a long time to heal.
Blurred vision.
The body tires easily and feels fatigued.
Frequent tingling in the hands and feet.
Darkening of the armpits and neck.
Treating Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Treatment for patients involves medical care and lifestyle changes, such as:
1. Taking Medication
Patients may take medications that improve the body's condition, including:
Meglitinides: Stimulate insulin production.
Sulfonylureas: Lower blood sugar.
DPP-4 inhibitors: Inhibit the enzyme that breaks down carbohydrates into sugar.
2. Adjusting Food Choices
The diet will focus on high-fiber, low-fat foods while limiting carbohydrates and sugar. Examples include sardines, salmon, apples, avocados, broccoli, tomatoes, and carrots.
3. Exercise
To prevent fat buildup, regular exercise is essential for people with diabetes, for at least half an hour a day. Examples include brisk walking, aerobics, running, or swimming.
Preventive Measures
As the third-leading cause of death in Indonesia, it is understandable to be concerned about this disease. Here are some steps you can take to prevent it:
1. Develop Healthy Eating Habits
Focus your diet on foods that are low in calories, low in fat, and low in sugar. Also, cut back on red meat and instant foods.
2. Maintain a Healthy Weight
Since obesity increases your risk of developing this disease, it is important to maintain a healthy weight. If you are overweight, start an exercise and diet program to lose weight.
3. Don't Smoke
Smoking can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes by 30% to 40%.[6] Find healthier habits to replace smoking, such as exercising.
Type 2 diabetes is a serious condition that poses a threat to people who lead unhealthy lifestyles. So, start living a more active and healthy life to help prevent this disease.
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Health•15 NOV 2024
Type 1 Diabetes: A Closer Look at Its Causes and Symptoms
When discussing diabetes, people often associate the condition with poor eating habits. However, not all cases of diabetes are triggered by food, as with type 1 diabetes.
What is type 1 diabetes, and how does it differ from type 2 diabetes? Find the full explanation here!
Understanding Type 1 Diabetes
This condition occurs when the body cannot produce enough insulin to meet its needs, either because it produces too little or none at all. Without insulin, blood sugar cannot enter the body's cells and instead remains in the bloodstream.
Without proper treatment, this condition can pose a serious threat and may even be fatal. Even more troubling, children are the most vulnerable to its effects.
Statistically, this condition accounts for only 5%–10% of all diabetes cases, so it is understandable that many people are still not fully familiar with it.[1]
Causes of Type 1 Diabetes
This condition is not caused by poor or unhealthy eating habits. It occurs when the immune system, which is supposed to protect the body, instead attacks the pancreas.
As a result, the pancreatic cells that should produce insulin are unable to function properly. This causes insulin levels in the body to become extremely low or even nonexistent.
To date, two main factors are believed to trigger this autoimmune condition: genetic susceptibility and viral infections from the surrounding environment.[2]
What Is the Difference Between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes?
Although both are associated with blood sugar levels exceeding the normal range, there are several differences between type 1 and type 2 diabetes, namely:
1. Causes
In type 1 diabetes, genetics and viral infections are the main causes. This makes the condition particularly unfair to those affected, as it results from factors beyond their control.
In other words, a person may be born with a certain genetic predisposition or be exposed to a virus through no choice of their own, leading to the development of type 1 diabetes.
This differs from type 2 diabetes, which is primarily triggered by unhealthy lifestyle habits.
2. Age Groups Affected
People with type 2 diabetes are most commonly aged 45 and older.[3]
By contrast, people with type 1 diabetes are more commonly children, particularly those aged 10 to 14.[4] However, this does not mean adults cannot develop the condition, as it can affect people of any age.
3. Treatment Methods
People with type 1 diabetes must rely on insulin injections for life, whereas medication and lifestyle changes can help people with type 2 diabetes manage their condition.
Diabetes Symptoms
Here are some symptoms people commonly experience:
Sudden weight loss.
Excessive thirst.
An increasingly frequent need to urinate, or even bed-wetting.
Feeling tired more easily.
A constant desire to eat.
Difficulty focusing and blurred vision.
Treating Type 1 Diabetes
This disease cannot be cured. But don't lose hope! People with the condition can still live comfortably and peacefully with insulin injections.
Every day, people with the condition must check their blood sugar levels and receive hormone injections to maintain their blood sugar levels. Medical teams therefore generally teach patients and their families how to administer these injections themselves, while following the doctor's prescribed dosage.
Preventive Measures
So far, there is no definitive method for preventing this condition, as its exact cause is still not clearly understood.
Although there is strong reason to believe that the onset of this autoimmune condition is linked to genetic factors, these factors themselves cannot easily be changed or modified.
So, what can you do? Although their effectiveness is still uncertain, there is no harm in trying these steps:
Keep Your Surroundings Clean
Since viral infections are believed to contribute to this condition, it is important to keep your home environment clean. Also, make sure to maintain good hygiene in public places by avoiding indiscriminate contact with objects and avoiding food that is not hygienically prepared.
Adopt a Healthy Lifestyle
Another option is to adopt a healthy lifestyle. This includes staying physically active, avoiding foods high in sugar and excessive carbohydrates, and steering clear of unhealthy habits such as smoking and drinking alcohol.
When your body is in good condition, it will be better able to resist disease.
Type 1 diabetes is a serious condition that you should not ignore. If you or someone close to you experiences concerning symptoms, do not hesitate to consult a doctor to get the help you need.
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Health•14 NOV 2024
What Is Diabetes Insipidus? Learn About Its Causes and Symptoms
Diabetes is not just about blood sugar or insulin resistance. There is also diabetes insipidus, which is different because its cause is unrelated to blood sugar levels.
Let’s take a closer look at what diabetes insipidus is, its symptoms, and how it is treated.
Understanding Diabetes Insipidus
This condition causes people to feel very thirsty and be unable to hold their urine. While a person normally urinates about 2 liters per day, someone with this condition may produce 3 to 20 liters of urine every day.
Compared with other, more familiar types of diabetes, this condition may sound less well-known. This is understandable, since it is very rare, affecting only about 1 in 25,000 people.[1]
What Causes Diabetes Insipidus?
Broadly speaking, this condition occurs when the body produces and absorbs too little vasopressin. This hormone helps control the urge to urinate.
A lack of this hormone in the body can be caused by many factors, depending on the type of diabetes insipidus a person has.
Central Diabetes Insipidus
This condition is initially caused by damage to the back of the brain, which plays a role in regulating the release of hormones, including vasopressin. Some possible triggers include infection, tumors, and blocked blood vessels.
As a result, the hypothalamus cannot function properly to meet the body’s need for vasopressin. Consequently, the body is unable to hold urine for as long.[2]
Nephrogenic Diabetes Insipidus
This type of diabetes insipidus is caused by the kidneys’ inability to respond to vasopressin. Causes include impaired kidney function, high calcium levels, and the use of certain medications, such as lithium, demeclocycline, and ofloxacin.[3]
Gestational Diabetes Insipidus
As the name suggests, this condition affects only pregnant women. It is triggered by the production of an enzyme by the placenta that breaks down vasopressin.
This health condition is very rare. Only 2 to 4 out of every 100,000 pregnant women experience it.[4]
Dipsogenic Diabetes Insipidus
In this medical condition, the cause is a malfunction in the hypothalamus’s thirst-regulating mechanism. This disorder is not triggered by diet, but is more often associated with psychiatric disorders or psychosis.[5]
What Is the Difference Between Diabetes Mellitus and Diabetes Insipidus?
As explained, diabetes insipidus is caused by the amount of vasopressin. This is, of course, different from diabetes mellitus, which is caused by blood glucose and insulin levels.
Symptoms of Diabetes Insipidus
Although only a doctor can make a definitive diagnosis, there are several signs you can watch for that may indicate this health condition, including:
Feeling lethargic.
A stronger urge to urinate at night.
Producing more urine than the normal limit of 2 liters per day.
Bed-wetting.
Uncontrollable thirst.
Reduced appetite due to frequent drinking.
Body aches.
Pale-colored urine.
Treatment for Diabetes Insipidus
There are several ways to treat this health condition. The treatment will depend on the type of diabetes insipidus a person has.
Central Diabetes Insipidus
Treatment involves medication with a synthetic analog of the hormone arginine vasopressin (desmopressin) to make up for the body’s vasopressin deficiency. This medication is available as a pill, injection, or nasal spray.
Nephrogenic Diabetes Insipidus
Hormone medications such as desmopressin are ineffective for this condition because kidney function is impaired. Therefore, treatment usually involves reducing salt intake to minimize urine production.
In addition, if the condition is caused by medication, the doctor will stop the medication.
Gestational Diabetes Insipidus
As with treatment for central diabetes insipidus, people with this condition will also take desmopressin, which is safe for both mother and fetus.
Dipsogenic Diabetes Insipidus
Treatment involves addressing the underlying mental health condition. People with this condition are also advised to reduce their fluid intake, limit spicy and salty foods, and stop drinking alcohol.
Preventing Diabetes Insipidus
Although this condition is rare, it is still worth taking preventive steps. One way is to maintain kidney health, for example:
Reducing the Use of Medications That Affect Kidney Health
One step you can take is to reduce long-term medication use. If possible, consult your doctor about whether you can stop taking the medication and switch to another treatment.
Reducing Salty Food Consumption
Salt is necessary because the body cannot produce it. However, eating foods high in salt too often is also unhealthy, as it can make the kidneys work harder to filter toxins from the blood.
It is best to consume no more than one teaspoon of salt. Following this advice can help you estimate the right amount of salt to add to your meals.[6]
If you or someone close to you experiences symptoms such as frequent urination and excessive thirst, do not hesitate to consult a medical professional to check for possible diabetes insipidus. Getting an early diagnosis can speed up the treatment you need.
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Health•14 NOV 2024
Nauseous but Not Vomiting? Here Are 9 Causes & How to Treat Them
Nausea without vomiting is a common complaint experienced by many people. This condition is generally nothing to worry about and is often triggered by mild, temporary health issues. That’s why nausea can come on suddenly and subside once the underlying problem is addressed.
Want to know what health issues can cause nausea without vomiting? Read on to learn about the causes and how to relieve nausea!
Why Do I Feel Nauseous but Not Vomit?
Various temporary health issues can trigger this condition, including:
1. Dehydration
Although dehydration does not directly cause nausea, it can make you feel dizzy, which may eventually trigger nausea. Some things that can cause dehydration include diarrhea, excessive sweating due to a busy schedule, and increased urination that is not balanced by sufficient water intake.
2. Acid Reflux
What does feeling nauseous without vomiting indicate? If nausea occurs after you eat acidic or spicy food, lie down after a meal, or drink soda or coffee, it may be caused by acid reflux.
Spicy and acidic foods can irritate the stomach. Meanwhile, drinking coffee and lying down immediately after eating can relax and put pressure on the valve between the stomach and esophagus, allowing stomach acid to rise and cause nausea.
3. Catching a Chill
You may also feel nauseous without vomiting and dizzy when you catch a chill. This often happens when your immune system is weakened, especially if you are very active and exposed to cold air.
You will generally also experience body aches, bloating, and a fever.
4. Motion Sickness
If nausea suddenly comes on while you are on a bus, in a car, or on a boat, you may be experiencing motion sickness. You will generally feel dizzy as well as nauseous.
This condition is more common in children aged 2 to 12. However, in adults, factors such as menstruation, pregnancy, or headaches can also trigger it.[1]
5. Early Pregnancy
Nausea without vomiting during pregnancy is common in the early stages, around weeks 6 to 8. This happens because of hormonal changes in a pregnant woman’s body. It usually improves by week 16 or 20.[2]
6. Stress
When you are stressed, your brain releases chemicals to prepare your body to face “danger.” The problem is that these substances can sometimes enter the digestive system and disrupt its function. As a result, you may experience stomach pain or nausea when stressed.[3]
7. Fatigue
Often feel nauseous but aren’t pregnant? You may be pushing yourself too hard. When your body is exhausted, it produces the hormone cortisol. This change in the body’s hormonal balance can then trigger acid reflux, so it’s perfectly normal to feel nauseous.
8. Drinking Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can increase the production of stomach acid. This can irritate the stomach, causing abdominal discomfort and nausea.
9. Medication Reactions
If you are taking medication such as antibiotics, antidepressants, or pain relievers, your nausea may be a side effect of these medicines.
This reaction is not dangerous and is quite normal. However, if you feel very uncomfortable, consider consulting a doctor to prevent more serious problems.
How to Relieve Nausea Without Vomiting
To relieve the urge to vomit without actually throwing up, first address the underlying cause, for example:
1. Have a Snack
In cases of acid reflux, motion sickness, pregnancy, or stress, having a snack can help relieve nausea. Choose snacks that won’t irritate your stomach, such as crackers or nuts, and avoid acidic or spicy foods.
To help manage stress, choose a sweet snack that can reduce stress and help you feel calmer.
2. Rest
If you are exhausted, take some time to rest so your nausea can improve. Sitting upright with your back straight may help ease the nausea.
You can also enjoy a cup of warm tea while you rest. The aroma of the tea can help you relax, while its warmth can soothe an upset stomach.[4]
3. Take Sido Muncul Jamu Tolak Angin
With ginger and mint, Sido Muncul Jamu Tolak Angin can help relieve the symptoms of catching a chill, including bothersome nausea.
Ginger contains compounds that speed up stomach emptying, while mint has a relaxing effect on the body, so the two ingredients together can help relieve nausea. What’s more, its warming sensation can also soothe your stomach.
Is nausea without vomiting bothering you? Try Sido Muncul Jamu Tolak Angin! A convenient herbal remedy that can help safely relieve your nausea.
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Health•13 NOV 2024
10 Natural Ways to Treat Cold Sweats and Prevent Them from Coming Back
Cold sweats are not the same as sweating when you are tired, but they can still make your body smell and leave your clothes wet. To keep this condition from affecting your comfort, there are several natural ways to deal with cold sweats so they no longer bother you. What are they?
How to Deal with Cold Sweats
Many health conditions can cause cold sweats, including heart disease, allergies, hypotension, colds, hypoglycemia, stress, and anxiety. Depending on the underlying cause, here are some natural ways to deal with them:
1. Drink Water
Hydrating your body with water can cool you down, which may reduce sweat production. However, you should avoid caffeine and alcohol, as both can increase your heart rate and trigger sweating.
2. Eat Sugary Foods
When blood sugar is low, eating or drinking something sweet can ease symptoms such as trembling and sweating. Some options include candy, honey, chocolate, bananas, and apples.
3. Control Your Breathing
You can reduce sweating caused by anxiety and stress by first addressing those feelings. One of the easiest ways to do this is to control your breathing.
Take a deep breath, then exhale slowly and steadily. In addition to easing stress and anxiety, this method can also regulate your heart rate.[1]
4. Inhale Fragrances
Certain scents can reduce stress levels and indirectly help curb cold sweats caused by stress.[2] Some scents you can try include jasmine, lavender, chamomile, and bergamot. All four have stress-relieving properties that can help calm a troubled mind.[3]
5. Cool Down the Room
To deal with night sweats, make your bedroom cooler by using an air conditioner or fan. A lower body temperature tends to reduce sweat production.
Note that this way to deal with cold sweats while sleeping may not be suitable if the sweating is caused by a cold or fever.
6. Drink Tomato Juice
What should you do when you have cold sweats? You can try drinking pure tomato juice.
Tomatoes contain various bioactive compounds that help shrink the skin's pores. Because of this, drinking tomato juice regularly may help reduce sweat production.
7. Eat Salty Foods
In cases of low blood pressure, foods that can help with cold sweats include savory foods. Salty foods can help raise blood pressure.
However, you should avoid foods containing coconut milk, as they can raise cholesterol levels, which is bad for heart health.
8. Exercise Regularly
Exercise can help you maintain heart health and improve your mood. These benefits may also help with cold sweats caused by heart problems or excessive anxiety.
Adults are advised to exercise for around 150–300 minutes each week. That means you can exercise for about 30 to 40 minutes a day.[4]
9. Get Enough Rest
Getting enough rest—7–9 hours a day—can help strengthen your immune system so your body can fight viruses and bacteria more effectively. This can make it easier to deal with cold sweats caused by an infection.
10. Take Sido Muncul Jamu Tolak Angin
To deal with cold sweats caused by a fever, take Sido Muncul Jamu Tolak Angin.
Made with ginger, mint, kayu ules, fennel fruit, and clove leaves, Sido Muncul Tolak Angin can help relieve various cold-like symptoms, including fever and cold sweats. In addition, this herbal remedy can help maintain your health so you are less likely to get infections caused by bacteria or viruses.
How to Prevent Cold Sweats
Prevention is better than cure! To keep cold sweats from bothering you repeatedly, here are a few ways to prevent them:
1. Meditate
Stress can trigger cold sweats. To prevent this, training your mind to stay calm may help—for example, by meditating regularly to cultivate inner peace.
2. Follow a Healthy Diet
Eating unhealthy foods can affect heart health and trigger diabetes. To maintain your health, try to cut back on sugary, fatty, coconut-milk-based, and high-salt foods.
3. Avoid Habits That Harm Your Body
Smoking and drinking alcohol are two habits that harm your body. In serious cases, both can trigger heart problems and narrowed blood vessels, which can cause cold sweats.
The natural ways to deal with cold sweats above can be easy solutions to try at home. However, it is important to note that this condition can have various causes. For more effective treatment, consulting a doctor and following their care is the right choice!
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Health•13 NOV 2024
6 Causes of Cold Sweats and Weakness, and How to Treat Them
The weather isn’t hot and you’re not being physically active, yet you’re breaking out in a cold sweat and feeling weak? A number of conditions can cause cold sweats and weakness.
Find out more here!
Causes of Cold Sweats and Weakness
Neither cold sweats nor weakness is a disease; they are responses by your body to an underlying health issue. Here are some conditions that can trigger them:
1. Low Blood Pressure
Cold sweats, weakness, and dizziness can be caused by a drop in blood pressure. This can happen suddenly, such as while standing during a flag-raising ceremony or standing for too long. This occurs because the brain does not receive an adequate supply of blood, nutrients, and oxygen.
2. Low Blood Sugar
Suddenly breaking out in a cold sweat and feeling like you might faint? Your blood sugar may have dropped sharply.
For people with diabetes, too much insulin or taking too much diabetes medication can cause blood sugar levels to drop sharply. You may also experience trembling, a pale complexion, dizziness, and numbness in your mouth.
3. Shock
A serious injury or shocking incident can cause you to go into shock. In this state, your blood pressure drops sharply and your pulse becomes irregular, making your skin feel cold and causing you to start sweating.
4. “Masuk Angin” (Feeling Unwell)
What illness causes cold sweats? If you’ve recently taken a long trip, been exposed to cold air, and are feeling tired, you may be experiencing “masuk angin” accompanied by a fever.
When you have a fever, your immune system raises your body temperature to fight off invading germs. This rise in temperature causes you to sweat.
5. Your Heart Is Working Too Hard
Excessive sweating, even when you’re not physically active, may be a sign that your heart is working too hard. This can happen, for example, when blood vessels are blocked and the heart has to pump harder.
6. Medication Side Effects
Medications such as antidepressants, diabetes medications, migraine medications, and anti-inflammatory drugs can often cause increased sweating, weakness, and drowsiness.
If this sweating is bothering you, talk to your doctor about whether you can switch medications or adjust your dosage.
In addition to the causes listed above, many other conditions can cause cold sweats, including dehydration, excessive anxiety, fear, stress, cancer, and thyroid disorders.
Don’t hesitate to get a comprehensive health checkup to find out exactly what’s causing your symptoms.
How to Relieve Weakness and Cold Sweats
To address these symptoms, focus on treating their underlying causes. Here are some things you can do:
1. Take Antidepressants
Antidepressants can improve your mood and help relieve anxiety and stress.[1] You need a doctor’s prescription to get this medication.
2. Take Sido Muncul Jamu Tolak Angin
For symptoms caused by “masuk angin,” taking Sido Muncul Jamu Tolak Angin may help relieve your symptoms. Made with ingredients such as ginger, mint, kayu ules, and fennel fruit, this herbal remedy may help reduce fever and cold sweats.
3. Control Your Breathing
When you’re experiencing shock or anxiety, taking slower, deeper breaths can help regulate your heartbeat and reduce stress.[2]
4. Drink Water
Drinking water can lower your body temperature and reduce sweating. You can also drink beverages with electrolytes, such as coconut water and milk, to improve circulation and fight infection.
5. Raise Your Blood Sugar
If your blood sugar is low, eating something sweet can help restore normal body function. Try honey, bananas, or grapes.
6. Raise Your Blood Pressure
If you have low blood pressure, foods high in folate and vitamin B12 may help raise it. Examples include asparagus, broccoli, eggs, shellfish, beef, and avocados.
7. Drink Herbal Tea
Drinking herbal beverages such as ginger tea and peppermint tea may strengthen your immune system, helping prevent and treat conditions such as fever and other infections.
8. Use Antiperspirant
For a quick fix before seeking medical advice, you can reduce sweating by using antiperspirant. Antiperspirants work by blocking the sweat ducts, so you don’t have to worry about excessive perspiration soaking your clothes.
9. Exercise Regularly
Physical activity improves circulation and boosts your mood, making it an excellent way to manage stress while supporting heart health.
10. Find Ways to Relax and Feel Better
If you’re feeling anxious, make time for activities you find calming and enjoyable, such as pursuing a hobby or exploring nature.
Many things can cause cold sweats and weakness. Before your condition gets worse, it’s best to see a doctor to get a clearer understanding of your health.
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Health•12 NOV 2024
Understanding the Benefits of Kerokan for Wind-Induced Ailments: Fact or Myth?
As an Indonesian, you’re undoubtedly familiar with the term kerokan. After all, whenever you feel under the weather, especially when you have masuk angin, your parents will usually suggest kerokan as a remedy.
But have you ever wondered whether kerokan for masuk angin is actually effective or just a placebo? Let’s find out!
Benefits of Kerokan for Masuk Angin
Can kerokan really get rid of masuk angin? Although more research is needed to confirm its benefits, kerokan can indeed help improve how you feel when you’re under the weather, especially when you have masuk angin.
The effectiveness of this method is linked to the body’s response to kerokan. It involves rubbing the skin, after applying oil, with an object such as a coin, spoon, piece of onion, or ginger.
This method can have several beneficial effects on the body, such as:
1. Relieving Bloating
Kerokan for masuk angin can help relieve uncomfortable bloating.
This isn’t because wind escapes through your pores after kerokan, as many people believe, but because kerokan raises your body temperature, creating a warming effect that can help ease bloating.
2. Relieving Neck Aches and Stiffness
Neck aches and stiffness are generally caused by tight muscles resulting from poor walking or sitting posture, as well as an awkward sleeping position. Interestingly, applying gentle pressure to the muscles can help relax and loosen them.[1]
When you do kerokan on your neck, the principle is similar: gently pressing the skin can help loosen tense muscles, making your neck feel more comfortable and relieving pain.
3. Relieving Headaches
In addition to easing neck pain and stiffness, kerokan on the neck can also relieve headaches. During kerokan, the capillaries dilate, helping restore healthy blood flow and reduce the intensity of headaches.
4. Relieving Mild Fever
Kerokan may also help relieve chills or a mild fever accompanied by a feeling of warmth and nausea.
After body kerokan, blood flow throughout the body improves, helping distribute oxygen and nutrients. With this optimal distribution, the body can recover faster.
5. Helping You Sleep Better
A warm body and reduced pain after kerokan are the perfect recipe for a good night’s sleep. You’ll wake up feeling fresh and energized in the morning.
How to Do Kerokan for Masuk Angin
To avoid skin irritation or causing other problems, follow these steps to do kerokan correctly:
Whether you use a coin, spoon, sliced onion, or ginger, make sure to clean it first to prevent germs and dirt from infecting your skin.
Apply oil to the affected area to reduce friction, minimize skin irritation, and provide a warming sensation. You can use eucalyptus oil, telon oil, lemongrass oil, or tawon oil.
Use light pressure when doing kerokan, and make sure to move in only one direction.
Try not to scrape directly over bones. Instead, choose the areas alongside them to help relax the muscles more effectively.
Things to Consider Before Kerokan
Before doing kerokan, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure you benefit from this method without experiencing side effects, such as:
1. Skin Condition
If you’re wondering why people with masuk angin get red marks from kerokan, it’s because of the friction against the skin.
For sensitive skin, this friction can cause further irritation. People with sensitive skin should consider a safer alternative instead of doing kerokan.
2. How Often You Do Kerokan
Kerokan can be addictive because of its relaxing sensation, but doing it too often can also be dangerous. It may cause blood vessels to rupture.[2] Make sure you don’t use this method too often!
3. Oil Used
Some people may have an allergic reaction to certain types of oil. Make sure the oil you use is suitable for you and doesn’t cause an allergic reaction.
4. Areas of the Body You Shouldn’t Scrape
Avoid scraping the front of the neck, the heart area, and the stomach. Applying pressure to these areas could pose risks that interfere with the function of vital organs.
What Not to Do After Kerokan
After kerokan, you should avoid bathing or going outside. When your pores are open after kerokan, taking a cold shower may increase the risk of muscle cramps or masuk angin. You should also avoid exposure to cold air when going outside.
Although kerokan can relieve symptoms of masuk angin, this method isn’t suitable for everyone. As an alternative, you can choose Sido Muncul Jamu Tolak Angin to help with masuk angin. Its ginger, kayu ules, and clove leaf ingredients work effectively to ward off symptoms of masuk angin.
So, what are you waiting for? Switch to Sido Muncul Jamu Tolak Angin today and take care of your health in a more convenient and safe way that’s just as effective as kerokan for masuk angin!
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Health•11 NOV 2024
15 Fruit Juice Options for People with Acid Reflux: Safe and Helps Reduce Nausea!
Including fruit in your diet is a natural way to improve acid reflux symptoms.[1] You can enjoy these fruits by turning them into refreshing juices, especially in hot weather. What kinds of fruit juice are safe for people with acid reflux to drink?
The good news is that you can use fruit that is easy to find nearby and affordable. Here are some fruits you can choose from to make juice for acid reflux:
1. Bananas
If you have bananas at home, whether Ambon or uli bananas, blending them into a drink with milk can help support stomach health.
This drink helps protect the stomach lining from potential damage caused by stomach acid. In addition, the fruit's high potassium content may help neutralize acidity.[2]
2. Cucumber
Often served as a side dish, cucumber is actually classified as a fruit. Containing up to 96% water, it may help reduce acidity in the body.
As a juice, its flavor may not be very appealing. However, cucumber has another benefit: it helps the body flush out toxins naturally.[3]
3. Avocado
Who can resist delicious avocado juice, especially when mixed with chocolate or coffee? However, if you have acid reflux, it's best to enjoy this juice with honey only, as other ingredients could worsen your condition.
Research on drinking avocado juice for acid reflux has also shown that consuming this fruit helps minimize damage to the mucous lining that protects the stomach wall from gastric juices.[4]
4. Pears
What juice is good for acid reflux? Try pear juice. This fruit contains vitamin B6, which may relax an upset stomach and help ease nausea.
5. Watermelon
In general, eating fruit with a high water content is good for digestion. So, making watermelon juice can also be beneficial for acid reflux. Watermelon is 92% water.[5]
6. Kiwi
Kiwi may relieve various gastrointestinal symptoms, including severe pain in the upper abdomen and bothersome bloating.[6]
7. Dragon Fruit
This fruit contains magnesium, the same compound found in antacids used to treat acid reflux.[7] Dragon fruit is also neutral, making it gentle on the stomach and unlikely to cause irritation.
8. Red Apples
The potassium in this fruit may help neutralize stomach acidity. Therefore, drinking apple juice may make digestion feel more comfortable.
9. Melon
With its distinctive sweetness, melon juice is an enticing choice. But that's not its only benefit. Its ability to neutralize acid may help your stomach feel more comfortable and less irritated.
10. Pineapple
What fruit is good for acid reflux? Pineapple is one option. The fruit's unique compound, bromelain, is believed to have an alkalizing effect and neutralize acid. When digested in the stomach, it may help make the stomach less acidic and ease discomfort.[8]
11. Strawberries
With their potassium content, strawberries may help relieve GERD symptoms, which occur when stomach acid flows back up into the esophagus. To balance the fruit's distinctive tartness, you can add honey to your juice.
12. Mango
Another fruit that may be good for acid reflux is mango. Its ascorbic acid may increase saliva and mucus in the stomach, which help protect the body from the effects of stomach acid.[9]
13. Red Guava
Like mangoes, red guavas also contain ascorbic acid, and their levels are considered the highest among fruits. For a more enjoyable drink, make sure to strain the guava seeds from the juice before serving.
14. Mangosteen
Mangosteen flesh has long been used to treat various stomach disorders. Its benefits are linked to its high antioxidant content, which may reduce stomach acid production.[10][11]
15. Papaya
Thanks to the enzyme papain, eating ripe papaya may help improve GERD symptoms.[12]
In addition to drinking the recommended juices, people with acid reflux may also need other care. One approach is to rest with your upper body elevated. This can help prevent stomach acid from rising further into the esophagus.
You can also use an H2 antagonist. This medicine is available at pharmacies, but consulting a doctor is recommended to avoid possible side effects.
The fruit juices for people with acid reflux listed above are just natural options to complement medication. If your condition does not improve, consider seeking medical advice for a more effective solution.
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Health•11 NOV 2024
Blood Sugar Dropping? Don’t Panic—Here’s How to Raise It!
Not only can high blood sugar levels potentially harm your health, but low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, can too. In severe cases, the effects of low blood sugar can lead to organ failure, cardiac arrest, and even coma.
To prevent this, there are ways to raise blood sugar that you can try!
How to Raise Low Blood Sugar?
You may be considered hypoglycemic when your measurement shows that your blood sugar level is below 70 mg/dL. To help bring it back to normal, here are some steps you can take:
1. Eat and Drink
The easiest way to raise your blood glucose level is by consuming food and drinks. Choose foods containing carbohydrates or sugary drinks.
Carbohydrates are broken down by the body into sugar during digestion. The sugar is then absorbed into the bloodstream and distributed throughout the body.[1] Meanwhile, sugary foods or drinks directly increase the body's glucose supply within 15 to 40 minutes of consumption.[2]
To benefit from this method, you can eat and drink using the 15-15 method. What is it?
With this method, you can consume 15 grams of food or drink. Then, after 15 minutes, check your blood sugar again using a glucometer.
If your blood sugar remains below the normal range, you can consume another 15 grams of food until your test result shows a level above 70 mg/dL.
2. Get a Glucagon Injection
Another way to raise a sudden drop in blood sugar is with a glucagon injection. This injection is an emergency treatment for people with diabetes whose blood sugar levels have fallen well below normal.
You can receive this treatment at a nearby clinic or hospital. In addition, some healthcare professionals can teach you how to use the injection device so you can administer it yourself at home in an emergency.
Food Options for Raising Blood Sugar
The easiest way to raise low blood sugar is by consuming food and drinks. Here are some food options you can try:
1. Fruit
As mentioned, carbohydrates are essential in this situation. One option is to eat fruit that contains carbohydrates. Here are some fruits you can eat to get the recommended 15 grams of carbohydrates:
15 grapes
1 small apple
1 large kiwi
1 small bowl of melon
1 bowl of watermelon
1 small pear
1 small banana
½ mango
½ papaya
¾ bowl of pineapple
2. Bread and Pastries
Bread is a type of complex carbohydrate that takes longer for the body to digest. Because of this, bread can help raise blood sugar gradually and steadily.
Here are some types of bread and pastries you can eat in the recommended portions:
1 small slice of cake
1 small croissant
1 plain donut
1 slice of white bread
1 muffin
1 pancake
1 waffle
3 crackers
3. Pasta
All types of pasta can help raise your blood sugar. However, whole-wheat pasta or pasta made from lentil, buckwheat, or pea flour is recommended because it contains more fiber. This fiber helps keep your blood sugar levels stable.
To get 15 grams of carbohydrates from pasta, you can eat about one-third of a bowl of cooked pasta.
4. Vegetables
Carbohydrate-rich vegetables can also be a good choice, especially if you want a healthier and more filling option. Here are some vegetables for raising blood sugar that you can enjoy:
½ bowl of sweet potatoes
½ bowl of potatoes
½ bowl of peas
½ bowl of corn
1 bowl of pumpkin
In addition to the foods above, in an emergency you can also look for easy-to-consume alternatives. For example, a spoonful of honey or syrup.
If you're away from home, items available at a convenience store can also be a solution.
For example:
half a cup of ice cream
half a cup of yogurt
twelve jelly candies
five hard candies
28 grams of potato chips
To keep your blood sugar stable, it is important to pay attention to things that can trigger a drop in blood sugar. Examples include drinking alcohol, taking too much diabetes medication, and skipping meals.
Start building healthy habits into your daily lifestyle. You surely don't want to keep relying on the ways to raise blood sugar discussed above, do you? By making positive changes to your diet and daily activities, you can achieve better health.
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Health•10 NOV 2024
Recognizing the Signs of Vertigo Caused by Acid Reflux and How to Treat It
Stomach acid problems often cause headaches, so it is not uncommon for people to mistakenly assume that they can trigger vertigo. Is this true? Let’s learn more about vertigo and the signs of vertigo caused by stomach acid if the two are indeed related.
Is There Really a Link Between Stomach Acid and Vertigo?
If we look at the origin of vertigo—which is an inner ear disorder—stomach acid has no direct connection to vertigo. However, this is different when you have GERD, a condition in which stomach acid travels up into the esophagus.
Recent research has found that GERD can trigger peripheral vertigo, a type of dizziness in which it feels as though your head is spinning. Stomach acid rising into the esophagus can affect and irritate the passage connected to the inner ear, causing peripheral vertigo.
Research has shown that 74% of patients with peripheral vertigo also have GERD.[1]
So, can stomach acid cause vertigo? The answer may be yes, especially when stomach acid refluxes into the esophagus.
What are the signs of stomach acid rising into the esophagus? You may experience chest pain, a sore throat, difficulty swallowing, a hoarse voice, and coughing.
Given that GERD is more common among women, peripheral vertigo may also be more common in women.[2]
Signs of Vertigo Caused by Stomach Acid
To determine whether what you are experiencing is peripheral vertigo, look for these early signs of peripheral vertigo:
1. The World Seems to Spin
When you experience peripheral vertigo, you may feel dizzy or as though the world around you is spinning. This dizziness can be very disruptive and make it difficult to maintain your balance.
2. Hearing Problems
Since this condition is caused by inflammation around the ear, you may experience hearing problems. You may lose hearing in one ear or experience ringing in one or both ears.
3. Blurred Vision
When you try to focus on a particular object, your vision may become blurred, making it difficult to judge the distance to or details of the object.
4. Loss of Balance
When a vertigo attack occurs, blurred vision and the sensation that the world is spinning can make it difficult to stay balanced. If you are not careful, you can easily lose your balance and fall.
How to Manage Vertigo Caused by Stomach Acid
To keep dizziness from continually disrupting your comfort, here are some ways to treat vertigo caused by stomach acid:
1. Rest
Take time to rest with your upper body elevated, or relax while sitting upright. This posture can prevent stomach acid from rising into the esophagus and irritating the passage in the inner ear.
2. Avoid Bright Lights
Exposure to bright light can make your condition worse, especially when your vision is spinning and unfocused.
Therefore, it is highly recommended that you rest in a dark room, away from TV or phone screens that emit harsh, high-contrast light. This can help ease the disruptive sensation of spinning dizziness.
3. Drink Water
Drinking water may help suppress stomach acid and dilute it. In addition to water, you can also drink alkaline beverages to reduce acidity in the stomach, such as coconut water, low-fat milk, and plant-based milk.
4. Take Medication to Manage GERD
Taking medications that help manage stomach acid, such as antacids, ranitidine, and H2-receptor antagonists, may help soothe stomach acid symptoms. Some of these medications are available over the counter. However, for safer and more appropriate use, it is strongly recommended that you consult a doctor before taking any medication.
Things to Avoid with Vertigo and Stomach Acid
To prevent the distressing effects of vertigo caused by stomach acid from recurring, here are some things you should avoid:
1. Eating Foods High in Salt and Fat
Salty foods can affect the fluid balance in the ear, triggering increased pressure that may worsen vertigo. Meanwhile, fatty foods, such as fried foods and fatty meats, can cause stomach acid to rise.
2. Staying Up Late
Lack of sleep and poor sleep quality can increase your risk of stomach acid problems. Try to get at least 7 to 9 hours of rest each day to maintain your health.
3. Smoking and Alcohol
Smoking can cause stomach acid to rise. As a result, smokers are 23% more likely to develop GERD than nonsmokers.[3]
Similarly, alcohol consumption can worsen GERD and even damage the lining of your stomach.
Vertigo and stomach acid problems are both highly unpleasant, especially when you experience them at the same time. To keep them from disrupting your life, learn to recognize the signs of vertigo caused by stomach acid and take steps to manage it promptly. If necessary, consult a doctor to receive prompt treatment.
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Health•10 NOV 2024
Can Acid Reflux Be Cured? Here Are the Facts and Effective Treatments
Can acid reflux be cured? This question may often cross your mind if you’re tired of dealing with its symptoms, from nausea to bothersome chest pain.
Let’s take a closer look at acid reflux, including some interesting facts about the condition and whether it can be cured!
Understanding Stomach Acid
Stomach acid is actually a thin, colorless fluid in the stomach that is acidic. It helps digest food in the stomach and kills bacteria that enter with food, preventing them from infecting the body. This is why stomach acid is necessary for the body.
However, under abnormal conditions, stomach acid production can increase and irritate the stomach lining. This is what many people know as a stomach acid disorder.
If this condition worsens and stomach acid rises into the esophagus, it can lead to a condition known as GERD.
Signs of severe acid reflux:
A burning sensation and pain in the chest
A bitter taste in the mouth
Bloating
Nausea
Frequent burping
Facts About Stomach Acid
Here are some interesting facts about stomach acid that are not widely known:
1. This Condition Is More Influenced by an Unhealthy Lifestyle
An unhealthy lifestyle can play a major role in the onset of acid reflux. Some triggers include rarely exercising, uncontrolled weight gain, smoking, and eating foods that are hard on the stomach.
This became increasingly evident as GERD cases rose during the Covid-19 pandemic, when many people had to stay home, got less physical activity, and tended to eat whatever they wanted without a regular schedule.[1]
2. Acid Reflux Is More Common Among Young Adults of Working Age
It is true that older people are at greater risk of acid reflux because the ring of muscle separating the stomach from the esophagus weakens with age. Nevertheless, severe acid reflux, or GERD, is most commonly experienced by young adults aged 20–29.[2]
The high rate among young people is attributed to several factors, including irregular eating habits, eating late at night, and drinking coffee too often.[3]
3. Acid Reflux Is More Common in Women
As they get older, women are more susceptible to this condition than men.
This is due to two main factors: hormonal changes that occur with age and hiatal hernia, in which part of the stomach pushes up into the chest cavity. Hiatal hernia is more common in obese women over the age of 50.[4]
Can Acid Reflux Be Cured Completely?
Acid reflux can be cured completely with treatment and a healthier lifestyle.
However, it is important to remember that even after you have recovered, the condition may recur if you do not maintain healthy habits and watch what you eat.
So, how can you completely recover from acid reflux? During recovery, there are several important steps you need to take, such as:
1. Take Medication
During treatment, your doctor may prescribe medications to control stomach acid, such as esomeprazole, lansoprazole, and omeprazole. These medications require a prescription and should be taken as directed.
In general, treatment usually lasts between 6 and 12 weeks, depending on the severity of your condition.[5]
2. Make Lifestyle Changes
Lifestyle changes involve not only avoiding foods that can trigger increased stomach acid, but also quitting smoking and starting a regular exercise routine.
3. Take Supplements
Want to recover from acid reflux? In addition to treatment from your doctor and adopting a healthier lifestyle, you should also take supplements that support stomach health, such as Sido Muncul Natural Turmeric Extract.
This herbal supplement is made from carefully selected turmeric, which helps maintain stomach health. It not only effectively relieves nausea, burning pain, and bloating during acid reflux flare-ups, but can also protect the stomach lining from irritation thanks to the curcumin in turmeric. Your stomach will be better protected!
How Long Does It Take to Recover from Acid Reflux?
How long it takes for your condition to improve and resolve depends on its severity and how consistently you maintain a healthy lifestyle. The more disciplined you are, the faster your recovery will be.
Can acid reflux be cured? Yes! Start making healthier lifestyle changes and take Sido Muncul Herbal Turmeric Extract regularly every day to support optimal stomach health.
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Health•09 NOV 2024
What Is the Normal Blood Sugar Level at Age 40? Here’s the Answer.
As you enter middle age, maintaining healthy blood sugar levels can no longer be overlooked. After all, levels outside the ideal range in older age are more likely to trigger more serious health problems. So, what is the normal blood sugar level at age 40?
Let’s find out!
What Is the Normal Blood Sugar Level for Adults in Their 40s?
The threshold for normal blood sugar levels varies quite a bit, depending on when you take the measurement. There are two applicable ranges: before meals and after meals.
The pre-meal level is measured after you have not eaten for 8–12 hours. By contrast, the post-meal level refers to the reading taken after you have eaten and had something to drink. So, what is the normal blood sugar level at age 40?
For healthy individuals without diabetes, the following are the normal blood sugar levels for women aged 40 and men:
Before meals: 70–99 mg/dL
After meals: 70–140 mg/dL
If your test results show a glucose level below 70 mg/dL, based on the ranges above, you have hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar.
Conversely, if your reading is above 100 mg/dL or 140 mg/dL, this indicates hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar. You may also fall into the prediabetes category. At this stage, you should be vigilant to prevent the condition from progressing to diabetes.
You may be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes if several test results show a pre-meal glucose level of 125 mg/dL. Meanwhile, if someone is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, test results usually show a level above 250 mg/dL.[1]
Factors That Affect Blood Sugar Stability
Normal blood sugar levels for people aged 40 and older can rise or fall due to several factors, such as:
1. Carbohydrate Intake
Complex carbohydrates are the type of food that has the greatest impact on blood sugar. Therefore, the amount of carbohydrates you consume will affect your blood sugar levels.[2] Foods that contain complex carbohydrates include rice, pasta, bread, potatoes, and sweet potatoes.
2. Stress
Significant stress can trigger the production of hormones that raise blood sugar. If it happens once or twice, this condition has no significant impact. The bad news is that prolonged stress can cause insulin resistance and increase the risk of diabetes.[3]
3. Alcohol Consumption
When you drink alcohol, your liver stops producing glucose, causing your blood sugar levels to drop sharply. When this happens, you may feel dizzy, experience blurred vision, or even faint.
4. Lack of Sleep
Staying up late and not getting enough rest can interfere with insulin function in the body. Insulin plays an important role in controlling spikes in glucose levels.[4] Studies show that people with sleep problems have blood sugar levels that are 14% higher.[5]
Tips for Keeping Blood Sugar Levels Normal
Prevention is better than cure! To keep your body healthy, try these simple tips to keep your blood sugar stable:
1. Get More Active
Being inactive and not moving for extended periods can cause glucose levels in the body to rise. This can happen even if you have cut back on sweet foods and drinks.
So, start being active by doing aerobic exercise or strength training regularly, such as push-ups, squats, and deadlifts.[6] Stop lounging around and sitting for too long. Start exercising for at least 20 minutes a day.
2. Choose Your Meals Carefully
Cut back on sweet and overly salty foods, refined carbohydrates, and instant meals. Instead, eat nutritious meals made up of vegetables, fruit, and healthy sources of fat, such as sardines, avocados, and nuts.,
Also, remember to eat more protein. This nutrient can slow the rate at which glucose enters the bloodstream after a meal, helping you keep your blood sugar under better control.[7] Good sources of protein include eggs, chicken, beef, catfish, mackerel, tofu, and tempeh.
3. Get Enough Sleep
Avoid staying up late and get at least 7–9 hours of sleep every night. If you have trouble sleeping, using scents such as lavender, listening to soothing music, and dimming the lights in your room may help you fall asleep more easily.
Normal blood sugar levels in your 40s are one of the keys to staying healthy. By paying attention to your food choices, exercising regularly, and managing stress, keeping your blood glucose levels in check doesn’t have to be difficult. So, start living a healthy lifestyle today and keep your blood sugar under control!
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Health•09 NOV 2024
Getting to Know Diabetes Better: Symptoms & Treatment
As the country with the 5th-highest percentage of diabetes in the world, Indonesians should be starting to worry about this disease. And for good reason: of the 19 million people living with diabetes, this number is predicted to keep rising—by as much as 68%.[1]
To prevent diabetes or at least reduce your risk of developing it, it is important to learn more about this health condition. Here is everything you need to know about its types, causes, symptoms, treatment, and prevention.
What Is Diabetes?
Diabetes mellitus, commonly known as diabetes, is a chronic, long-term condition that occurs when glucose levels in the blood rise. It is caused by the liver producing too little insulin or the body's cells becoming less able to respond to insulin.
Without proper treatment, this condition can lead to other health problems, such as kidney failure, nerve damage, retinal disorders, and even amputation.
Diabetes Classification
As a relatively complex disease, this health condition is classified into several types, including:
1. Type 1 Diabetes
In this condition, the body has little to no insulin. The culprit is your own immune system, which attacks the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Ironically, children are the age group most commonly affected by this condition.
2. Type 2 Diabetes
In this condition, the main cause is the body's inability to respond to insulin when blood sugar levels rise, a condition known as insulin resistance. Interestingly, this type accounts for up to 90% of all diabetes cases.[1]
3. Gestational Diabetes
This condition refers to elevated blood sugar during pregnancy. It is primarily triggered by hormones from the placenta that prevent the body from producing or using insulin.[2]
Data show that 1.9% and 3.6% of pregnancies in Indonesia are affected by this condition, underscoring the need for extra attention to the mother's health and the fetus's development.[3]
Causes of Diabetes
The factors that trigger diabetes in you or your family vary widely, depending on the type.
Type 1 Diabetes
Autoimmunity
A combination of hereditary factors and infection
Genetic mutations
Type 2 Diabetes
Damage to the pancreas
Insufficient insulin
Obesity
The body becoming resistant to insulin
Physical inactivity
Gestational Diabetes
Hormonal changes
Diabetes Symptoms
The signs of diabetes are most apparent in type 1 diabetes. In other types, however, the body rarely shows any signs.
So, what are the common early symptoms of diabetes to look out for?
Persistent thirst.
An increased urge to urinate, or even bed-wetting.
Feeling easily fatigued.
Persistent hunger.
Blurred vision.
Sudden and significant weight loss.
Diabetes Treatment
Each type of diabetes requires a different treatment approach. Here are the treatment options for each type:
Type 1 Diabetes
People with this condition need lifelong insulin replacement, along with blood sugar monitoring and a healthy lifestyle. They need to inject insulin several times a day.[4]
Type 2 Diabetes
Medication is one treatment option for this condition. For example, some medications increase insulin production, improve the cells' sensitivity to insulin, or inhibit enzymes that break down carbohydrates into sugar.[5]
Lifestyle changes are also recommended, such as reducing your intake of saturated fats, carbohydrates, and foods high in fructose. People with diabetes are also encouraged to exercise, such as doing aerobics, for 90 to 150 minutes per week.[6]
Gestational Diabetes
Treatment focuses on a healthy diet that is good for both mother and fetus, such as eating foods low in fat and calories. People with this condition are also encouraged to be more active—for example, by walking, swimming, or cycling for at least 30 minutes a day—to control their blood sugar.[7]
Diabetes Prevention
Diabetes is becoming an increasingly serious threat in this country. Don't become the next victim! Protect yourself with these simple steps:
1. Exercise
Staying active plays a major role in preventing obesity and improving insulin sensitivity. You don't need to push yourself too hard; activities such as walking, cycling, and swimming for at least 20 minutes a day are enough to help you stay healthy.
2. Eat Healthy, Balanced Meals
Be sure to include a variety of foods in your diet. Choose foods rich in fiber and healthy fats. Some options include sardines, mackerel, salmon, broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, tomatoes, and whole-wheat pasta.
3. Quit Smoking
Smoking can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes by 30% to 40%.[8] If you care about your health, quit this habit now!
Don't let yourself become one of the people living with diabetes. Make healthier lifestyle changes now and protect yourself from the threat of this disease in the future.
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Health•08 NOV 2024
What Is Cold Sweating? Learn the Symptoms, Causes, and Solutions
Sweating after exercise or physical activity is perfectly normal. But that’s not the case with cold sweats. Their appearance may be a sign that something is wrong with your body.
Learn more about the causes, symptoms, treatment, and prevention of cold sweats so you’ll be better prepared to deal with them!
What Are Cold Sweats?
Cold sweats are a condition in which sweating occurs suddenly due to an underlying health issue. You may also feel the sweat all over your body.
This differs from sweating caused by physical exhaustion, lifting heavy objects, or tiring activities, as regular sweat only appears in specific areas, such as the forehead or neck.
Causes of Cold Sweats
If they aren’t caused by physical exhaustion, what else could cause cold sweats?
1. Menopause
85% of people going through menopause (ages 45–55) experience cold sweats, especially women. This is influenced by hormonal fluctuations that begin in later life.[1]
2. Diabetes
For people with diabetes, sudden sweating may be a sign of low blood sugar. If this happens, you should immediately find something sweet to eat or drink, such as honey, soda, or candy, to prevent fainting.
3. Infection
When the body is attacked by bacteria or viruses, such as when you have a fever or a cold, the immune system responds by raising your body temperature to fight the invaders. This rise in temperature makes you sweat, so it’s not surprising that you may experience cold sweats when you have a fever.
4. Hyperthyroidism
Having too much thyroid hormone in your body can make you sensitive to warm temperatures, causing you to sweat easily. You can recognize this condition by other symptoms, such as thinning hair, bulging eyes, and a swollen-looking neck.[2]
5. Panic Attacks
Along with chills, shortness of breath, and a rapid heartbeat, panic attacks can make your body sweat profusely. This is a natural bodily response that you can’t avoid.
What do cold sweats indicate? In addition to the five conditions above, cold sweats can also be caused by cancer, a heart attack, medication use, allergies, and withdrawal symptoms in people dependent on alcohol or drugs.
To better understand what’s causing your condition, it’s recommended that you undergo medical testing.
Symptoms of Cold Sweats
The signs of cold sweats can vary from person to person, depending on the underlying cause.
However, common symptoms include:
Skin feels wet and cold
Rapid heartbeat
Sudden dizziness
Nausea
Pale appearance
Sudden shortness of breath
How to Treat Cold Sweats
Since this is not an illness but a sign that something is going on in your body, the best approach is to address the underlying cause. Consulting a medical professional can help you determine what’s causing it.
However, for mild cases, such as those caused by a panic attack, here are a few things you can try:
1. Breathe Slowly and Focus on Positive Thoughts
If your cold sweats are caused by panic, try slowing and regulating your breathing to help ease the feeling. Focusing on positive, calming thoughts can also reduce panic, helping you better manage your body’s stress response, including sweating.
2. Get Plenty of Rest and Take Medication
When you have a fever or a cold, getting extra rest can help. This allows your body to direct its energy toward fighting the viruses or bacteria causing the fever, which may help you recover faster.
In addition to resting, you can also take Sido Muncul Jamu Tolak Angin. Clove leaves, ginger, fennel fruit, and ules wood in this herbal formula can help relieve fever and cold symptoms, such as nausea, bloating, and cold sweats.
3. Use Antiperspirant
For conditions that require long-term management, such as diabetes or menopause, cold sweats can be managed with antiperspirant. Antiperspirants work by blocking the pores through which sweat exits, helping reduce sweat production.
How to Prevent Cold Sweats
As long as there’s no serious underlying condition, you can take a few steps to prevent cold sweats, such as:
Keep yourself and your surroundings clean to prevent germs from entering your body.
Avoid foods that trigger allergies.
Stay healthy by following a healthy lifestyle and exercising regularly.
If your cold sweats persist or get worse, don’t hesitate to consult a medical professional. Remember, your health is the best investment you can make!
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Health•08 NOV 2024
Feeling Weak and Sleepy? Find Out the Causes and Solutions!
Feeling weak and sleepy can dampen your enthusiasm for activities and make you less productive. This may be influenced by an unhealthy lifestyle, stress, or even an underlying health condition.
There are several ways you can address this problem. But first, let’s understand what may be causing it!
Causes of Feeling Weak and Sleepy
Lacking the motivation to get through the day, feeling weak, and having heavy eyelids can be caused by several things, including:
1. Lack of Sleep
When you stay up late, your body uses energy that should have been saved for daytime activities.[1] That’s why you often feel tired after not getting enough sleep.
2. Stress
Stress can make it difficult to calm your mind, which can lead to poor-quality sleep. In other words, you may not fully replenish your energy while sleeping, leaving you feeling tired and sleepy throughout the day.
3. Alcohol Consumption
Although alcohol has a sedative effect that can help you fall asleep, it’s important to know that it can also increase levels of epinephrine, a stress hormone that may cause you to wake suddenly at night. As a result, your sleep quality may suffer.
4. Inactive Lifestyle
Lounging around can be enjoyable. But if you’re too sedentary, don’t exercise, and get too comfortable doing nothing, your body’s functions can be affected. That’s why doing very little can actually leave you feeling tired and weak.
5. Nutrient Deficiencies
What vitamin deficiency can make you feel weak and sleepy? You may be low in vitamin D. Research shows that around 77% of people who report feeling easily tired and weak are deficient in vitamin D.[2]
This may happen if you don’t get enough sunlight or take medications such as Orlistat and steroids, which can interfere with vitamin D absorption.
6. Medication Use
Frequent weakness and fatigue can also be side effects of medications you take. Antidepressants, blood pressure medications, and allergy medications can cause drowsiness and make you feel weaker.
7. Burnout
Burnout refers to a state of physical exhaustion that also affects your mental health. It can leave you feeling constantly tired and unmotivated in your day-to-day life.
Burnout is more common among women, affecting 75% of women and 25% of men.[3]
8. Anemia
When you have anemia, a lack of red blood cells can make oxygen delivery throughout your body less efficient. Your body needs oxygen to produce energy.
As a result, people with anemia may often feel weak and low on energy.
9. Heart Disease
Feeling weak with a racing heartbeat may signal a heart problem. The fatigue and palpitations you experience may be caused by your heart working harder to pump blood.
10. Diabetes
Feeling weak and sleepy after eating may be a sign that you have diabetes. People with diabetes often develop insulin resistance, which prevents the body from transporting glucose into cells, where it serves as an important energy source.
11. Dehydration
The human body needs at least 2.5 to 3 liters of water each day. If you don’t drink enough, you may become dehydrated, which can cause thirst, a dry mouth, dizziness, weakness, and difficulty concentrating.
12. Kidney Problems
Unhealthy kidneys can lead to a buildup of toxins in the body, which can make you feel tired easily. In addition, treatments for kidney problems, such as dialysis, often cause side effects like lethargy and stress.[4]
13. Excess Thyroid Hormone
Hyperthyroidism, or excess thyroid hormone, can make it difficult to sleep at night and cause anxiety. As a result, you may experience weakness and sleepiness as symptoms.
How to Address Feeling Weak and Sleepy
Aside from underlying health conditions, there are a few quick ways to help you feel energized again and stay alert. What are they?
1. Drink Coffee
If you haven’t had a chance to rest and recharge, a quick fix is to drink coffee. The caffeine it contains can help fight fatigue.[5]
2. Smell Fragrances
Fresh scents such as orange, lemon, peppermint, coffee, and eucalyptus can help you feel more alert. Use these aromas as air fresheners or with a diffuser for the best effect.[6]
3. Drink Sido Muncul Jamu Sehat Pria Instan
What should you drink when you feel weak and sleepy? Men who need an energy boost can try Sido Muncul Jamu Sehat Pria Instan.
Its blend of ginseng, honey, and eucalyptus fruit will help you feel refreshed and revitalized. This herbal drink can help you get through the day with more enthusiasm and energy.
Feeling weak and sleepy? Don’t hesitate to try Sido Muncul Jamu Sehat Pria Instan! An ideal solution for men who want to stay healthy and energized!
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Health•07 NOV 2024
Why Do You Feel Weak Even After Eating? Here Are the Causes and Solutions
Eating is meant to restore your strength and give your body an energy boost. But various conditions can have the opposite effect, leaving you feeling weak and drained. Why do you feel weak even after eating?
This phenomenon may be caused by several things you may not be aware of. Let’s take a closer look at the causes and how to address them!
Causes of Feeling Weak Even After Eating
Several things can cause you to feel weak after eating, from food choices to health issues. Here’s an explanation:
1. Eating Foods That Contain Tryptophan
Tryptophan is an amino acid that, when metabolized by the body, prompts it to produce serotonin. The presence of serotonin can make you feel sleepy and tired, and reduce your motivation to be active.[1]
Some foods that contain tryptophan include tofu, salmon, crab, chicken, eggs, potatoes, bananas, and apples.
2. Eating Foods High in Carbohydrates
For Indonesians, a meal without rice can feel incomplete. That’s why rice is a staple of Indonesian cuisine.
As a primary source of carbohydrates, rice is filling, but eating it can also make you feel tired and sleepy, especially about 30 minutes afterward.[2]
3. Having Diabetes
People with diabetes often experience insulin resistance. This occurs when the insulin in the body can’t do its job of carrying glucose into the body’s cells. Since glucose is an important source of energy, this failure of insulin to do its job can leave you feeling weak.[3]
4. Eating Too Much
Why do I feel so weak after eating? Eating too much could be one of the reasons.
Fluctuations in cytokine levels after eating a high-calorie meal are closely linked to the fatigue you may feel.[4]
5. Eating Fatty Foods
The interaction between dietary fat and fat in the body can leave you feeling weak and sluggish. In addition, high-fat foods can also reduce sleep quality, make you wake up more easily, and leave you feeling tired the next day.[5]
6. Not Getting Enough Physical Activity
Lack of physical activity can weaken the body’s musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems and lower your mood. As a result, you may feel tired and unmotivated, even after eating.
7. Stress
One of the main causes of chronic fatigue is stress, which can make you feel completely drained, no matter how much you sleep or eat.
8. Alcohol Consumption
On some occasions, such as at dinner, you may be served alcoholic drinks like wine or champagne to complement the meal. Given alcohol’s sedative effects, it’s no surprise that you may feel weak after eating.
9. Anemia
Have you eaten but still feel weak and dizzy? You may have anemia, or a lack of red blood cells.
This condition prevents oxygen from being properly delivered throughout the body, leaving you feeling weaker even after eating.
10. Eating Foods High in Sugar
Sweet snacks and sugary drinks can cause a spike in blood sugar. But when your blood sugar drops again, you may quickly start to feel weak.
11. Food Intolerance
For people with an intolerance to certain foods, such as gluten, the resulting adverse reactions may include not only stomachaches but also fatigue.
When the body encounters food it perceives as a threat, it works hard to fight it off. This reaction uses a lot of energy and can make you feel more tired than usual.
12. Taking Medication
Taking medications such as antihistamines, benzodiazepines, and blood pressure medicines after eating can make you feel sleepy and weak. That’s why medication instructions often warn against taking them while driving or working.
How to Address Weakness After Eating
Feeling weak after eating can make it hard to focus on work or studying. Here are some ways to address it:
1. Drink More Water
Drinking water does more than quench your thirst; it can also reduce fatigue, improve focus, and help you feel less sleepy.[6] So, make sure you get enough water each day—at least 2.5 to 3 liters.
2. Get Moving
Another way to address weakness is to exercise. Physical activity can help deliver oxygen throughout the body, so you feel less weak and more energetic. Try taking a leisurely walk after eating to promote oxygen circulation.
3. Take Sido Muncul Jamu Pria Perkasa
For men experiencing sluggishness and fatigue, taking Sido Muncul Jamu Pria Perkasa can help restore your energy and enthusiasm. With red ginger, white pepper, and lempuyang, this herbal supplement can help you feel refreshed and ready to take on the day.
So, don’t let wondering why you feel weak even after eating affect your productivity. By addressing the causes and trying the solutions above, you can get back to feeling energetic and refreshed!
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