Diabetes is the fourth-leading cause of death by disease in the United States. Each year, 650,000 Americans are diagnosed with it. Ask your doctor whether you should be checked for diabetes. And if you have it:
•       See a doctor skilled in diabetes.
•      Discuss the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial with your doctor.
•      Have your doctor or laboratory draw a glycolated hemoglobin blood test. The test reveals how well your blood sugars have been controlled for the previous 2 to 4 months.
•       Check your blood sugar regularly. If you don’t have a test kit (blood meter and/or blood strips), get one and use it.
•      Tight control is not for everyone (particularly the very young or old), because of the danger of too-low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia. This can cause sweats, confusion, loss of consciousness, shock, and (rarely) death. However, if you are like most people with diabetes, you probably should improve your blood sugar control.
•      See an eye specialist experienced in diabetes at least once a year.
•      Support research.
*11/266/5*

This is an opening between the ventricles (the pumping chambers of the heart) that increases blood flow, under high pressure, to the lungs. Increased blood flow to the lungs overworks the heart; this may lead to high blood pressure in the lung arteries or congestive heart failure. If the defect is not repaired, eventually the blood shunts from the right to the left side of the heart, causing blueness from inadequate oxygen in the tissues.
Ventricular septal defect is the most common heart malformation, accounting for 25 percent of the cases of congenital heart disease. Almost 50 percent of all ventricular septal defects close by themselves without an operation, mostly during the first few months after birth, because they are small.
Small ventricular septal defects that do not cause symptoms usually do not require surgery, but people with ventricular septal defects should receive preventive antibiotics before dental and certain surgical procedures.
In children with large defects, major problems, including heart failure, may develop in early infancy. Treatment for these babies is aimed at controlling the heartfailure with drugs. If this is unsuccessful, surgery to close the defect is usually done before age 1 year. After successful closure, a normal life-style is usual.
*116\252\8*

Cancer of the esophagus is a disease in which cancer cells are found in the tissues of the esophagus. The esophagus is the hollow tube that carries food and liquid from the throat to the stomach.

Symptoms
The most common symptom of cancer of the esophagus is difficulty in swallowing. Pain may be felt while swallowing and also from behind the breastbone.

Causes
The most important causes of esophageal cancer are high intake of spicy foods, animal fats and smoking. Vitamin deficiency may also cause injury of esophageal lining and ultimately lead to cancer.

Diagnosis
Barium meal x-ray is the most common way to diagnose this cancer. A patient is made to drink a liquid containing barium, which makes the esophagus easier to see in the X-ray.
A doctor may also loom at the inside of the esophagus with a thin, lighted tube called esophagoscope. This test is called an esophagoscopy. If the tissue is abnormal, biopsy will be necessary.

Treatment
The chance of recovery and choice of treatment depend on the stage of the cancer and the patient’s general state of health. Medical treatments for esophageal cancer are surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. However, surgery is the most common treatment for this cancer.

Natural Methods
Some Natural methods can be implied for managing pain and mitigating the symptoms and side effects of medical treatment. These include warm water enema, daily dry friction, cold sitz or hip bath, relaxation methods and meditation.
Ginger may be used to prevent or minimize nausea, a common complication of radiation treatment and chemotherapy.
*59/355/5*