Why waist to hip ratio is a better indicator than body mass index?

Body mass index (BMI) is a simple way to measure body fat using your height and weight as a basis for the calculation. BMI measurements have long been considered the standard indicator to determine if someone is overweight.BMI works best when used to study a large segment of the population.

BMI Classification

Below 18.5 Underweight

18.5 - 24.9 Normal weight

25.0 - 29.9 Overweight

30.0 and above Obese

But it has so many disadvantages.BMI does not differentiate between muscle and fat and will therefore underestimate in some and overestimate for others. For the same reason BMI can give a false result for body builders and other athletes with a muscular build. These people have extra weight due to the large amounts of muscle mass on their bodies. It can underestimate the results for elderly people because older people have lost so much muscle mass.

Waist to hip ratio is the ratio of the circumference of the waist and the circumference of the hips to measure body fat. This method is considered a better measurement because it considers the amount of belly fat. It serves as a better indicator of cardiac status than BMI..Waist-to-hip ratio shows a graded and highly significant association with myocardial infarction risk worldwide.

· Waist circumference: It is measured by putting an unstretched tape measure around the narrowest level of your waist

· Hip circumference: It is measured by putting a tape around the widest part of your hip area over minimal clothing.

Waist - hip ratio -For females the normal WHR is about 0.80, while for men it is 0.95

LINKS

Waist-to-hip ratio, body mass index, and subsequent kidney disease and death.

Waist-to-hip ratio versus BMI as predictors of cardiac risk in obese adult women

Waist-to-Hip Ratio vs BMI may Be More Accurate Predictor of CV Risk

Research shows that “apple-shaped” bodies (with more weight around the waist) face more health risks than those with “pear-shaped” bodies who carry more weight around the hip. Waist-to-hip ratio Calculator

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Dr.G.Madhu (patron)

Ph:+919447787255, email: dr_madhuin@yahoo.com

Dr.Abhilash.M (chief advisor)

Ph:+919446072887, email: abhildr@yahoo.co.in

Dr.Nithin Dev.S (Editor in charge)

Ph:+919446541238, email: devnithin@rediffmail.com

Dr.Sankaranarayanan.J (Editor in charge)

Ph:+919446052366, email drsankaranarayanan@gmail.com

What Homoeopathy can offer to AIDS ?

Homoeopathy uses an individualistic and holistic approach towards the sick individuals treats them at the physical, mental,and emotional levels by balancing their constitution. Same medicine may not be indicated in two patients with the same diagnosis as homoeopathy is based on individualization. 

HIV patients are more likely to get viral infection than usual.Even though there are no homoeopathic anti-viral agents, even correctly prescribed homoeopathic medicine has the potential of strengthening person’s own immune and defense system in a way that helps to fight the viral infection.So by using the homoeopathic medicine the patient can be made comparatively less susceptible to the day –to-day infections. since it is free from side effects it can be used as an adjunct with the allopathic treatment. Medical community must give more attention and research toward ways to enhance immune response, rather than ways to inhibit viral replication.
 
Homoeopathy medicine can provide positive results for people who are HIV positive, for those with early onset of AIDS, and for those with nonextreme cases of AIDS.It is also seen that a specific homoeopathic medicine can delay the onset of AIDS in HIV positive persons, delay the process of depletion of CD4 cells in such patients, increase in the T4 helper cells and a marked weight gain among AIDS patients.

Contribution of Central council for research in Homoeopathy(CCRH)New Delhi, India

A pilot study undertaken at its regional research institute Mumbai(1989-1991) showed homoeopathic medicines were effective in managing intercurrent illness and other clinical events related to HIV

Later, study on the same center (1995-1197) showed that an increase in CD4 cell count in the medicine group. These favourable results made the council to carry out a multicentric clinical trial in HIV infection at its institutes. It was observed that Homoeopathy can be safely used for delaying or slowing down the progression of infection in people who are not covered by anti retroviral therapy.

Council also undertook collaborative study with the university of California and Los angels entitled ‘AIDS prevention with traditional system of medicine’

A follow up study in 2005 by the council collaboration with UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) entitled ‘Delivery of model HIV prevention and health promotion programmes in India by homoeopathivc physician’ in India and abroad.

Further reading

Cyclosporin homoeopathically

Alternative therapies for HIV treatment

Homeopathy in HIV infection: a trial report of double-blind placebo controlled study

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Emerging risk factors of cardiovascular diseases

Most important indicators for cardiac risks are your personal health history. Age, hereditary factors, weight, cigarette smoking, blood pressure, and diabetes. Certain other factors like High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) Homocysteine, Lipoprotein A Lp(a) and Fibrinogen also have some role  in predicting your cardiac risks.

High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP)   ( This test is different from the regular CRP test, which detects elevated levels of CRP in people with infections and inflammatory diseases. High levels of hs-CRP consistently predict recurrent coronary events in patients with unstable angina and acute myocardial infarction. High normal levels of hs-CRP in otherwise healthy individuals have been found to be predictive of the future risk of heart attack, stroke, sudden cardiac death, and peripheral arterial disease, even when lipid levels are within acceptable ranges. Several groups have recommended that this test be used in people with moderate risk of heart attack over the next 10 years. If hs-CRP is between 1.0 and 3.0 mg/L, a person has an average risk. If hs-CRP is higher than 3.0 mg/L, a person is at high risk.

Homocysteine:It is an amino acid that is produced in the human body. Homocysteine is normally changed into other amino acids for the use by the body. Dietery deficiency of ,folic acid,vitamin B6 and B12 associated with high levels of Haemocystein.To reduce haemocystein level ,you  require foods  rich in folic acid,vitaminB6 &B12.Other possible causes of a high homocysteine levels include low levels of thyroid hormone, kidney disease, psoriasis,some medicines or the condition runs in your family.Homocysteine may be requested as part of a cardiac risk assessment, depending on your age and other risk factors. It may also be used following a heart attack or stroke to determine treatment. Evidence suggests that measurement of homocysteine may be an even better indicator of  having a heart attack or stroke than other tests, such as cholesterol and the lipid profile.

Lipoprotein A (Lp(a): Lp(a) is a lipoprotein consisting of an LDL molecule with another protein (Apolipoprotein (a)) attached to it. Since the level of Lp(a) appears to be genetically determined and not easily altered,Lp(a) does not respond to typical strategies to lower LDL such as diet, exercise, or most lipid-lowering drugs. Studies have shown that Lipoprotein(a)act as a risk predictor for cardiac mortality in patients with acute coronary syndrome

Fibrinogen: It is circulating glycoprotein involved in final steps of coagulation,other actions include vasoconstriction at sites of vascular injury,stimulation of platelet aggregation,Influence on blood viscosity It is an acute phase reactant, increasing up to 4-fold after infectious or inflammatory stimuli,levels also increased by cigarette smoking diabetes, hypertension, obesity,sedentary lifestyle.Levels lowered with fibrates and niacin

Besides this, Certain studies reveled that an increased serum uric acid levels were independently and significantly associated with the risk of cardiovascular mortality.Elevated levels of serum uric acid level increases the risk of heart attack.Support has been given to the concept of a bacterial infection component of heart disease. The organisms chlamidia pneumonia and cytomegalovirus  both increase CRP and are associated with increased heart disease risk. 

ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND INAUGURATION OF BLOG OF IHMA KARUNAGAPPALLY

The annual conference of Indian homoeopathic medical association , karunagappally chapter was held on march 15th at town club hall. A continuing medical education class was also conducted as part of it. The class was on Repertory of mind rubrics by Dr.Narayana Prasad, pg scholar of ghmct.the class was very infotaining. The election of new office bearers for the years 2009 - 2011 was also held. The name and contact details of the newly elected office bearers are posted separately on the blog. The blog of karunagappally chapter was officially inaugurated by Dr.G.Madhu of our chapter.

IHMA KARUNAGAPALLY CHAPTER OFFICE BEARERS 2009-2011

PRESIDENT

Dr.Nithin dev.S

krishna vihar

pada south 

karunagappally

ph:04762621238,9446541238

SECRETARY

Dr.Abhilash.M

abhilash sadanam

chavara bridge po

kollam-691583

ph:04762680737,9446072887

VICE PRESIDENT

Dr.Rosaline Ninan

karunya homoeo clinic

victory building 

karunagappally po

kollam-690518

JOINT SECRETARY

Dr.Indumol

tharayil

putenthura po

kollam

TREASURER

Dr.Jyothylekshmy.M.G

jyothy nivas

south mynagappally

mynagappally po

kollam-690519

S.W.C MEMBER

Dr.Sankaranarayanan.J

kasuthubham

thazhava po

kollam-690523

ph:04762662366,9446052366

EXECUTIVE MEMBERS

Dr.Biju

anaswara

kakkakunnu po

kumaranchira 

kollam-690522

ph:04762830401,9447025648

Dr.G.Madhu

vellengattu soubhagya

adinadu north pokarunagappally 

kollam-690542

ph:07462897255,9447787255

Dr.Sreedevi bose.S.K

mullapallil

amrithapuri po

karunagappally

kollam

Dr.Dhanya Raj

sankar vilasam

koivila po

kollam