Having lived almost a century, with a magnificent reign of seven decades, Queen Elizabeth II became the world’s second-longest reigning monarch, after France’s Louis XIV. Until the final days in her life, the Queen still attended royal engagements. Two days prior to her unfortunate demise, she had officially appointed Liz Truss as Britain’s new Prime Minister.

While the late Queen’s dedication to her people and her country was unwavering, the 96-year-old did not have a smooth sail through the years. With time, she experienced several ups and downs in respect to her health.

Photo: Jane Barlow/PA

Also read: THIS is what helped Queen Elizabeth II to stay active even at 96

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Reportedly, Queen Elizabeth II suffered from back pain over the years and had undergone a knee surgery in 2003. The operation was conducted to remove a torn cartilage from her right knee.

However, this did not stop the head of state from resuming her royal engagements.

Buckingham Palace issued a statement, which read, “The Queen is expected to be fully active again within a few weeks.

“Her Majesty will rest at Sandringham over the next two weeks and will then resume a limited programme of engagements until she has made a full recovery.”

However, in 2018, the Queen’s knee was reportedly in distress again.

Photo: Instagram/The Royal Family

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In 2013, the then 86-year-old Queen Elizabeth II was hospitalized with what seemed like a bout of gastroenteritis.

She was taken to a hospital “as a precaution” after experiencing symptoms of gastroenteritis, Buckingham Palace officials said.

“She is otherwise in good spirits and in good health,” the spokesman had said then.

Photo: Instagram/The Royal Family

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In 2018, besides having some trouble with her knee, the late Monarch also underwent a cataract procedure.

A cataract refers to the clouding of the lens of the eye. This can lead to clouded vision, which is why in such cases, people usually undergo cataract surgery.

However, it didn’t take much time for the Queen to recover and she was back to business.

Forced to miss the annual Remembrance Day Service due to a back injury

In November 2021, the Queen had experienced a back injury, which is why she had to miss the annual Remembrance Day Service.

“The Queen, having sprained her back, has decided this morning with great regret that she will not be able to attend today’s Remembrance Sunday Service at the Cenotaph,” the palace said in a statement at the time.

“Her Majesty is disappointed that she will miss the service.”

Photo: Instagram/The Royal Family

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Earlier this year, the Queen had tested positive for COVID-19, Buckingham Palace has said.

She experienced “mild cold-like symptoms,” and continued with “light duties” at Windsor.

“She will continue to receive medical attention and will follow all the appropriate guidelines,” the official statement read.

Photo: Instagram/The Royal Family

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“The Queen continues to experience episodic mobility problems, and in consultation with her doctors has reluctantly decided that she will not attend the State Opening of Parliament tomorrow,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement in May 2022.

“At Her Majesty’s request, and with the agreement of the relevant authorities, The Prince of Wales will read The Queen’s speech on Her Majesty’s behalf, with The Duke of Cambridge also in attendance,” the statement had further read.

It was following these episodes of health issues that the Queen started using a cane from October 2021. Reportedly Her Majesty used her late husband Prince Philip’s cane. “I recognized the stick instantly as it was always kept in a pot by the front door,” she had said.

Photo: Instagram/The Royal Family

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At her Balmoral residence in Scotland, the Queen spent the last few days of her life.

Buckingham Palace announced that Queen Elizabeth’s doctors were “concerned” for her health. “The Queen remains comfortable and at Balmoral,” the statement read, noting that the monarch will remain “under medical supervision.”

However, later that day, on September 8, the Queen passed away “peacefully”.

“The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon. The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow,” Buckingham Palace said.

Photo: Instagram/The Royal Family

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Even when it comes to one of the vital organs of the body, we do not attempt to verify facts! Yes, we are talking about hearts. The human heart is prone to several complications and is the ramification of a number of infections and diseases. However, our knowledge about heart diseases is often degraded by fake information and myths.

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Of the several myths associated with heart diseases, few important and serious ones have been debunked here:

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People often switch to a sedentary lifestyle after surviving a heart attack. Health experts have said it to be a bad idea for health. This can lead to blood clots in the legs and can deteriorate the overall health condition of the person, says Dr. Richard T. Lee, co-editor in chief of the Harvard Heart Letter.

Physical activity is a must irrespective of medical conditions. It is advisable to take a doctor’s help and suggestion on the type of workout that you can do and would be suitable for your health.

No! Age is just an excuse. High blood pressure is the result of an unhealthy lifestyle and poor diet habits. Though age is a contributing factor, one should not completely put the blame on age and do nothing about managing this condition.

Incidence of high blood pressure at a higher age will increase your risk for heart attack and stroke but that does not rule out the fact that youngsters are prone to this complication with the same severity.

While there is a close association between diabetes and heart attack, it is not true that having diabetes medication can lower the risk of heart attack.

The risk of heart attack arises when the blood vessels are damaged or are narrowed down.

Health experts suggest, while diabetes medication can prevent microvascular complication, lowering cholesterol level can actually reduce the risk of heart disease.

No heart attack is fine by nature. A heart attack should never be measured as minor or major.

The silent killer can sometimes go unnoticed but that does not make it less fatal.

Every disease is preventable or at least manageable if the warning signs are spotted at the right time. Heart diseases are manageable by simply making small changes in daily habits. The person should have a clean diet and should be physically active to avoid the risk of heart disease.

Though both of these are related to heart, they are not the same. For an onlooker, both the conditions may seem alike but there is a huge difference between them.

A heart attack is when the coronary arteries are blocked and the heart muscles are unable to pump sufficient blood.

A cardiac arrest is when a person’s heart stops pumping blood and the patient stops breathing normally.

In other words, in heart attack blood flow to the heart stops and in cardiac arrest the heart malfunctions and suddenly stops.

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Fatty liver disease is a condition wherein one develops extra fat in their liver, which is why it is also called hepatic steatosis. Usually, people who have this disease do not show any symptoms and therefore experience no serious problems, hence leading to delayed diagnosis and a possible liver damage.

Fatty liver disease can occur in anyone, those who drink alcohol and those who don’t. Alcohol-induced fatty liver disease is the type in which people develop this condition due to heavy drinking, whereas people who aren’t heavy drinkers may have nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Both ways, it can be life-threatening and may need treatment.

Depending on your risk factors, you must take certain precautions to reduce your chances. While obesity, underlying health conditions and unhealthy lifestyle habits are some of the major risk factors of the disease, a recent research suggests that your sleeping habits can also determine whether you’re at a greater risk or not.

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There are two main types namely Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) Alcoholic fatty liver disease, also called alcoholic steatohepatitis.

While a simple fatty liver means you have fat in your liver, but it is not because of alcohol consumption.

NAFLD is much more serious and indicates inflammation in your liver. It is usually caused by heavy drinking and may lead to fibrosis and cirrhosis, which are types of liver scarring, and liver cancer.

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Sleep is an essential part of our lives that helps us keep sane and full of energy. Without sleep, we would be tired all the time and it could even have a psychological impact on us. But interestingly, a report from the Endocrine Society suggests how someone sleeps could impact their risk of developing fatty liver disease. The people involved in the study found that certain sleeping habits could affect the way our body and certain organs function.

As is known, fatty liver disease is the excess build-up of fat in the liver, which is often an outcome of poor diet choices and a sedentary lifestyle, researchers like Yan Liu say that sleeping habits such as napping, snoring, and staying up late can also play a role in increasing one’s risk of this disease.

“People with poor night time sleep and prolonged daytime napping have the highest risk for developing fatty liver disease. Our study found a moderate improvement in sleep quality was related to a 29 percent reduction in the risk for fatty liver disease,” Liu said.

The study analysed self-reported sleep behaviours from 5,011 adults with fatty liver disease.

Through the study, it was found that napping, sleeping late, and snoring were associated with the disease.

“Our study found a moderate improvement in sleep quality was related to a 29 percent reduction in the risk for fatty liver disease,” Liu said.

“Given that large proportions of subjects suffering from poor sleep quality are underdiagnosed and undertreated, our study calls for more research into this field and strategies to improve sleep quality,” he adds.

However, it was also noted that further research is needed to back the claims.

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Here are some effective tips which can help you sleep better and avoid any health risks that develop due to poor sleep quality.

-Stick to a sleep schedule

-Don’t go to bed hungry or stuffed

-Avoid nicotine, caffeine and alcohol

– Create a calm and restful environment before bedtime

-Limit daytime naps

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According to the Cleveland Clinic, being overweight or obese, having type 2 diabetes or metabolic syndrome, or taking certain prescription medications can increase one’s chances of fatty liver disease.

Those who have high levels of fat in the blood, have high blood pressure, have infections such as hepatitis C or have been exposed to some toxins are also at risk, as per experts.

There is no particular medication to treat fatty liver disease. However, doctors may recommend making certain lifestyle changes that can improve your overall health. Depending on which type of fatty liver disease you have, they may ask you to quit drinking alcohol and smoking.

Losing weight should be your top priority, which also means you must switch to healthier food choices and indulge in regular physical activity. If you’re already on certain medications to control diabetes, cholesterol and triglycerides, then take them sincerely as guided by the doctor.

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Your guide to treatment and prevention of fatty liver disease are almost the same. The best way to reduce your risk is by eliminating fat-friendly foods that can increase your cholesterol and triglycerides levels in the body. Maintain a healthy weight and exercise regularly. Limit alcohol consumption and take your medications on time.

In case of fatty liver disease, avoiding certain foods is crucial. These include: alcohol, added sugar, fried foods, added salt, white bread, rice, pastea and red meat.

Furthermore, increase your activity levels, maintain a low blood lipid levels and if you have diabetes, control and regulate your blood sugar levels.

Long COVID, which refers to the continuance of COVID-related symptoms beyond 12 weeks of the initial infection, is a condition impacting a growing number of people everyday, whose routine activities are getting affected from these varied symptoms.

Some of these common symptoms include fatigue, brain fog, eye-redness, headaches and heart palpitations. Although there is currently no proper cure for dealing with long COVID, there are some ways to alleviate the symptoms. One such includes dietary modification and nutrition experts believe foods with histamine content could be worsening your symptoms.

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Histamine is a chemical released in the body when it is defending against potential allergens. This triggers us to sneeze, tear up, or itch.

Experts have found that long COVID symptoms are quite similar to the symptoms experienced by people with histamine intolerance. They have also seen that some long COVID patients feel better after taking doctor-recommended antihistamines medication.

If your long COVID signs are actually a result of histamine intolerance, then swapping to a low-histamine diet may help manage your symptoms. You can give it a shot by changing your diet, though if there is another cause behind your symptoms, then foods that induce or contain histamine may not be impacting your health.

One way of determining this is by observing your body’s response to histamine-containing foods. If eating these leads to any kind of inflammation, then breaking away from these foods can turn out beneficial.

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Popular foods containing histamine include:

• Yoghurt
• Beer
• Wine
• Processed meats
• Fermented foods like kefir
• Aged cheeses
• Smoked fish

Ready-to-eat meals and tinned foods can also cause inflammation-related symptoms in people with a sensitivity to histamine. It is also found in artificial food colours such as tartrazine, and preservatives such as benzoates and sulphites.

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Histamine regulates our immune response and is released when we encounter allergens, cytokines, stress hormones, alcohol, and hormones.

Too much histamine in the body – such as from eating good quantities of histamine-rich foods – may cause histamine build up in the body and it will not be broken down correctly. This can lead to an immune system response with symptoms like diarrhea, shortness of breath, headaches, or skin irritation.

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Nutritionists recommend eating fresh, home cooked foods to provide nutrition to your body and improve your overall health. Avoid eating leftovers. Eat foods rich in vitamin C – oranges, peppers, strawberries, broccoli and potatoes. Eat foods containing quercetin – red apples, grapes, onions, and berries. Include plenty of foods high in fibre and protein in your diet. Remember to eat fresh veggies everyday.

These healthy food choices, along with plenty of rest and practicing mindfulness, can support their immune system and reduce inflammation-related symptoms after COVID like fatigue, brain fog, joint pain, skin conditions and headaches.

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Prostate cancer is the type of cancer that occurs in the walnut shaped gland in men, known as prostate, which produces the seminal fluid. The prostate is below the bladder and in front of the rectum.

In order to disseminate right information around prostate cancer, September is observed as the prostate cancer awareness month. There is a dire need to create awareness around this form of cancer which is accountable for the majority of deaths worldwide. As per research studies, prostate cancer is the second most frequent cancer diagnosis made in men and the fifth leading cause of death worldwide.

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Apart from cancer, the male prostate is also vulnerable to inflammation or prostatitis and prostate enlargement. There is no concrete link between these complications and prostate cancer, however, it is wise to get these tested at an early stage.

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Though it is one of the major forms of cancer seen in men, early signs of prostate cancer are overlooked.

The signs of this cancer, which seem minor but are actually not are given below:

trouble in urinating

decreased force in the urine stream

pain in bone

unexplained weight loss

erectile dysfunction

blood in urine

blood in semen

burning sensation while urination or ejaculation

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Prostate cancer incidence and mortality rates are strongly related to age with the highest incidence being seen in elderly men who are more than 65 years of age. However, this does not rule out the incidence of this disease in younger males.

As per the estimates of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force quoted by the Harvard Medical School in one of its reports, the prostate cancer risk for men between 50 to 59 years of age is 10-42%. The overall risk for those between 60 and 79 years of age is 17-66%. On the incidence of cancer, another report of Harvard Medical School says that a man whose father or brother has been diagnosed with prostate cancer is two to three times more likely to develop prostate cancer than a man who doesn’t have family members with the disease.

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A 2017 study by researchers at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India (AIIMS) sheds light on the incidence of prostate cancer in young men. The subject, a 28 year old man, presented with lower urinary tract symptoms and was diagnosed with advanced stage prostate cancer.

“Our case demonstrates that prostate cancer is not only “disease of old age”, as believed earlier, and should be kept as differential when treating young males for lower urinary tract symptoms,” the researchers have said. The study is published in Current Urology journal.

The patient showed symptoms of lower abdominal pain, weak urine stream, nocturia and urinary hesitancy for 3 weeks, lower back ache and pressure.

“Prostatitis can present as urinary tract infection, but on digital rectal examination the prostate was non-tender and also urinalysis was unremarkable and had no leukocytes or any microorganism. Also transrectal ultrasonography didn’t reveal any signs of prostatitis. Digital rectal examination revealed nodular hard prostate which raised the suspicion of prostate cancer which was then confirmed by transrectal ultrasonography and biopsy,” the study report says.

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Health experts have particularly warned those with a family history of the disease to be more careful of it and always be observant of the symptoms. While older men are definitely at a higher risk, several other factors like diet habits and other lifestyle habits are independent of age and can cause cancer even in young people.

“Men who eat a lot of red meat or high-fat dairy products seem to have a higher risk of prostate cancer,” a Harvard report says.

The treatment for prostate cancer depends on the spread of the disease. It also depends on the symptoms, the levels of prostate specific antigen, the health history of the individual, the quality of life, and other medical conditions.

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If it is localised or confined to the organ then radical surgery can treat it. However, for cases where it has already spread to peripheral regions like bones, lymph nodes, and other parts of the body, hormone therapy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy will be used for the treatment.

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If you are at risk of developing prostate cancer, it is prudent to follow certain preventive measures.

A healthy diet, which is essentially low in fat and high in seasonal fruits and vegetables can lower the risk of prostate cancer.

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Several studies have also found a link between dairy products and prostate cancer. Though there are mixed responses to this, studies have said that daily consumption of milk, cheese and yogurt increases the risk of prostate cancer.

A healthy weight and engagement in physical activities are crucial for people of every age group.

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One of the biggest myths around prostate cancer is that it only affects elderly men. Several research studies and hospital cases have shown that young men, as young as 28 years old, can also develop this health complication.

Though the incidence of prostate cancer in elderly men is higher than the incidence of the disease in young men, this is not an exclusively age-specific disease.

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Another myth is that prostate cancer kills. The fact is this is a treatable cancer and there are several advanced medical techniques to treat this disease and reverse it.

PSA level determines the cancer level? No. PSA level is just one part of the cancer diagnosis. Do not assume the intensity of the cancer on your own. In order to understand it properly, take help from your doctor.

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