The Diseases 🦠

  What are Chronic Diseases? Chronic diseases are long-term medical conditions that persist for more than three months and often require ongoing management. Unlike acute illnesses, which develop suddenly and resolve quickly, chronic diseases progress slowly and last for years or a lifetime. 1. Characteristics of Chronic Diseases ✅ Long duration – Typically lasts for months or years. 
✅ Slow progression – Symptoms may worsen gradually.
 ✅ Not always curable – But they can be managed with medication, lifestyle changes, and medical care.
 ✅ Require ongoing medical attention – Regular check-ups and treatments are often necessary. 2. Common Types of Chronic Diseases A. Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD) 🫀 Affects the heart and blood vessels 🫀 High blood pressure (Hypertension) 🫀 Heart disease (Coronary artery disease, Heart failure) 🫀 Stroke B. Metabolic Diseases ⚖️ Affects metabolism and energy regulation ⚖️ Diabetes (Type 1 & Type 2) ⚖️ Obesity ⚖️ High cholesterol (Hyperlipidemia) ...

  Processed foods can raise blood pressure 1. High Sodium Content: How it affects blood pressure: Sodium makes your body retain more water to balance the excess salt in your bloodstream. This extra water increases the volume of blood, which raises blood pressure. Example: Processed foods like canned soups, frozen dinners, instant noodles, chips, and processed meats (such as bacon, sausages, and ham) are often high in sodium. Daily limit: The World Health Organization recommends limiting sodium intake to less than 2,000 mg per day (about 1 teaspoon of salt). Processed foods often exceed this limit quick. 2. Unhealthy Fats (Trans Fats and Saturated Fats): How it affects blood pressure: Trans fats and saturated fats can increase bad cholesterol (LDL) levels and lower good cholesterol (HDL), leading to clogged arteries and higher blood pressure. Example: Baked goods (cookies, cakes, pastries), margarine, fast foods, and fried snacks often contain trans fats. 3. Added Sugars: How i...

  I nfluenza viruses create influenza, also referred to as the flu, which is an infectious respiratory disease. Mild to severe symptoms might result from its effects on the nose, throat, and lungs. It may occasionally result in major difficulties, particularly in young children, the elderly, expectant mothers, and those with weakened immune systems. Causes Influenza is caused by  influenza viruses , which are classified into four main types: Influenza A  – Most severe, responsible for seasonal flu and pandemics. Influenza B  – Causes seasonal flu but does not lead to pandemics. Influenza C  – Typically mild and less common. Influenza D  – Affects cattle, not known to cause illness in humans. Symptoms Flu symptoms often appear suddenly and can include: Fever or chills Cough Sore throat Runny or stuffy nose Muscle or body aches Fatigue (tiredness) Headache Some may experience vomiting or diarrhea (more common in children). Transmission The major way that the ...

  What is the thyroid that Chinese medicine treats differently?  There isn't a direct one-to-one equivalent for the thyroid gland in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) compared to Western medicine. The thyroid's role in controlling metabolism, energy, and body temperature, for example, is seen by TCM as part of the general balance of blood, Qi (vital energy), and the interaction of the Zang-Fu (organ) systems, especially the kidney, liver, and spleen. The broad TCM conceptualization of thyroid-related functions and diseases is as follows: 1. TCM's Functional Concepts The Spleen converts food into Qi and Blood, and the kidneys, which store Jing, or essence, necessary for growth and reproduction, are primarily responsible for the management of metabolism and energy in TCM. The symptoms of an imbalance in these organs may resemble those of thyroid disease in the West. The growth of goiters or nodules may result from an accumulation of phlegm-damp or internal heat in the body. ...

  The term " A nxiety " has no specific equivalent in Chinese medicine. However, anxiety is strongly related to several old Chinese illness categories. Anxiety is associated with two primary illness entities: "Panic Throbbing" (Zheng Chong) and "Fear and Palpitations" (Jing Ji). Palpitations are often linked to worry or panic attacks that stem from the Penetrating Vessel's rebellious Qi, as this vessel passes through the heart. The Penetrating Vessel's rebellious Qi in the abdomen is also the cause of the pounding sensation that may accompany this kind of anxiety or panic attack. From this perspective, the Penetrating Vessel's Rebellious Qi might be viewed as a type of "Panic Throbbing" (Zheng Chong). The Penetrating Vessel's rebellious Qi produces a range of symptoms at various levels of the chest and belly. It mainly results in pain, distension, or fullness in these locations. The Penetrating Vessel's journey can be plotted...