Somato-what? Ah-Sooo... Somatopause is one of those silly names someone came up with for the aging phenomenon of lowered growth hormone. Why can't I come up with this stuff? Growth hormone is secreted from the anterior pituitary gland and its self explanatory, it is responsible for growth. GH is very high in children but levels begin to drop by nearly half in adulthood. Adult somatopause is directly related to the decline of HGH produced by the body during aging. What is Growth Hormone and why would I want it? GH is released by specialized cells called somatotropes-So the Somatotropes begin to 'pause', as we get older.
Growth Hormone has many other effects on the body:
• Increases calcium retention, and strengthens and increases the mineralization of bone
• Increases muscle mass
• Promotes fat burning
• Increases protein synthesis
• Stimulates the growth of all internal organs excluding the brain
• Plays a role in fuel homeostasis
• Reduces liver uptake of glucose
• Promotes gluconeogenesis in the liver
• Contributes to the maintenance and function of pancreatic islets
• Stimulates the immune system
Stimulators of GH are - The Sex Hormones: Androgen and Estrogen (and yes, an afternoon delight with the spouse is what I mean) - Deep sleep - Fasting - Vigorous exercise - Laughter
GH is secreted in a pulsatile manner throughout the day; surges of secretion occur at 3- to 5-hour intervals. The largest and most predictable of these GH peaks occurs about an hour after onset of sleep. Nearly fifty percent of HGH secretion occurs during the third and fourth REM sleep stages. In addition to control by endogenous and stimulus processes, a number of foreign compounds (such as drugs and endocrine disruptors) are known to influence GH secretion and function. HGH can be increased 530% with anaerobic exercise - the short-burst, get-you-out-of-breath quickly, sprinting types of exercise. You don't have to spend all day in the gym, jog for hours, or starve yourself. But it does require high-intensity exercise for short periods.
The idea is to exercise above lactate thresholds to elicit the greatest stimulus of secretion of GH. There is some debate over how long, but the benefits of High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) are well documented. A catch all statement of 'vigorous energy expenditure' will most likely increase Growth hormone Laughter boosts (HGH) by as much as 87%! If you are insulin resistant-human growth hormone is definitely your friend and will help in the battle of keeping a healthy stabile blood sugar. Human Growth hormone also helps with muscle recovery and growth, and fat mobilization. As we age, Human Growth Hormone decreases dramatically, and must be boosted in differing ways.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Why Chest Breathing Reduces Blood and Brain Oxygen Levels
Over 80% of modern people use their upper chest for breathing at rest. It is easy to observe this phenomenon in public transport, restaurants, waiting rooms and many other places. Medical studies suggest that overwhelming majority of people with asthma, bronchitis, COPD, cystic fibrosis, terminal cancer, severe heart disease, and many other conditions are chest breathers.
At the same time, it is known that advance of many chronic diseases is always accompanied by lowered amount of oxygen in the brain and body cells. Furthermore, severely sick and acutely ill patients often require supplemental oxygen, regardless of the details of their chronic disease (heart disease, epilepsy seizures, respiratory disorders, neurological, hormonal, and so forth). Whatever their health condition, critically low brain and heart oxygen levels are most likely causes of possible deaths.
What are the health effects of thoracic breathing on oxygen transport? Oxygen delivery cascade is very sensitive to any abnormalities that can appear on the way from outer air to body cells. In health, as medical books suggest, we use mainly the diaphragm for breathing at rest: it does up to 80-90% of the work of breathing. Moreover, since the diaphragm stretches the whole lungs in the vertical direction, all alveoli in the lungs get fresh air supply and vital oxygen. Therefore, the diaphragm provides hemoglobin in the arterial blood with up to 98-99% of oxygen saturation.
Chest breathing means taking in air with your ribs and chest muscles. Obviously, chest breathing brings a lot of oxygen to upper portions of the lungs. What about the lower portions of the lungs? Are they important? Dr John West in his medical textbook Respiratory Physiology claims that the upper 7% of the human lung delivers 4 ml of oxygen every minute, while the lower 13% of the lung delivers in 60 ml of oxygen per minute.
Therefore, lower portions of the human lungs are about 6-7 times more effective in oxygen transport. This phenomenon is probably due to the effect of the gravitational force: more blood flows at the bottom of the lungs than at the top of the lungs. Chest breathing drastically reduces oxygenation of the blood.
Furthermore, chest breathing is a normal result of chronic hyperventilation. Consider the medical facts. People with normal breathing breathe very slowly and little: only about 10-12 breaths per minute with 500 ml for one breath. In contrast, chest breathing is larger and deeper: often more than 18 breaths per minute at rest with up to 700-900 ml for tidal volume in moderate heart disease, diabetes, bronchitis and other conditions.
For some poorly understood reasons, when we start to hyperventilate (chronic overbreathing), we breathe more with the chest muscles. Hence, it may look like a total paradox, but during large thoracic breathing (deep and fast), blood oxygen levels are reduced due to inhomogeneous gas exchange. In addition, this large breathing reduces CO2 levels in the arterial blood causing another health disaster that is called hypocapnia. (Low blood CO2 also contributes to reduced brain oxygenation due to vasoconstrictive effects.)
Therefore, it is normal that chest breathing can greatly contribute to hypoxemia (low levels of oxygen in the arterial blood) and the development of emphysema, asthma, bronchitis, cystic fibrosis, heart disease, diabetes, cancer tumor growth, and other pathologies.
Clinical experience of Soviet and Russian medical doctors practicing the Buteyko breathing technique suggests that people make a natural transition to diaphragmatic breathing when they slow down their automatic (unconscious) breathing back to the medical norm and their body oxygen levels is about 40 seconds.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
At the same time, it is known that advance of many chronic diseases is always accompanied by lowered amount of oxygen in the brain and body cells. Furthermore, severely sick and acutely ill patients often require supplemental oxygen, regardless of the details of their chronic disease (heart disease, epilepsy seizures, respiratory disorders, neurological, hormonal, and so forth). Whatever their health condition, critically low brain and heart oxygen levels are most likely causes of possible deaths.
What are the health effects of thoracic breathing on oxygen transport? Oxygen delivery cascade is very sensitive to any abnormalities that can appear on the way from outer air to body cells. In health, as medical books suggest, we use mainly the diaphragm for breathing at rest: it does up to 80-90% of the work of breathing. Moreover, since the diaphragm stretches the whole lungs in the vertical direction, all alveoli in the lungs get fresh air supply and vital oxygen. Therefore, the diaphragm provides hemoglobin in the arterial blood with up to 98-99% of oxygen saturation.
Chest breathing means taking in air with your ribs and chest muscles. Obviously, chest breathing brings a lot of oxygen to upper portions of the lungs. What about the lower portions of the lungs? Are they important? Dr John West in his medical textbook Respiratory Physiology claims that the upper 7% of the human lung delivers 4 ml of oxygen every minute, while the lower 13% of the lung delivers in 60 ml of oxygen per minute.
Therefore, lower portions of the human lungs are about 6-7 times more effective in oxygen transport. This phenomenon is probably due to the effect of the gravitational force: more blood flows at the bottom of the lungs than at the top of the lungs. Chest breathing drastically reduces oxygenation of the blood.
Furthermore, chest breathing is a normal result of chronic hyperventilation. Consider the medical facts. People with normal breathing breathe very slowly and little: only about 10-12 breaths per minute with 500 ml for one breath. In contrast, chest breathing is larger and deeper: often more than 18 breaths per minute at rest with up to 700-900 ml for tidal volume in moderate heart disease, diabetes, bronchitis and other conditions.
For some poorly understood reasons, when we start to hyperventilate (chronic overbreathing), we breathe more with the chest muscles. Hence, it may look like a total paradox, but during large thoracic breathing (deep and fast), blood oxygen levels are reduced due to inhomogeneous gas exchange. In addition, this large breathing reduces CO2 levels in the arterial blood causing another health disaster that is called hypocapnia. (Low blood CO2 also contributes to reduced brain oxygenation due to vasoconstrictive effects.)
Therefore, it is normal that chest breathing can greatly contribute to hypoxemia (low levels of oxygen in the arterial blood) and the development of emphysema, asthma, bronchitis, cystic fibrosis, heart disease, diabetes, cancer tumor growth, and other pathologies.
Clinical experience of Soviet and Russian medical doctors practicing the Buteyko breathing technique suggests that people make a natural transition to diaphragmatic breathing when they slow down their automatic (unconscious) breathing back to the medical norm and their body oxygen levels is about 40 seconds.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
Sunday, April 24, 2011
The Dangers of Herbal Supplements
Many plants have curative properties so it's no wonder that herbal medicines have been used for hundreds of years. Before today, plant parts would be gathered and ground in a poultice to be administered to a person with an ailment. Now you can get herbal extracts in the form of syrups and capsules. There doesn't seem to be any harm in modernizing ancient natural medicine-but can we become sure that is entirely safe? The answer is that no, herbal supplements cannot be guaranteed to be safe for everybody. There are herbal products that will prove to be too strong for some people, while there are some that can trigger severe allergies. These are just some of the risks that we face when we take herbal supplements, because they aren't as tightly regulated as normal medicine and moreover, herbal supplements do not have to pass Food and Drug Administration standards in order to be released to the market. People don't need prescriptions for them, so it's very easy to get your hand on practically any herbal supplement that you want.
Herbal supplements fall under a category called dietary supplements. As such, the manufacturers are allowed to claim benefits from taking their products as long as it is backed by research and they place a tag on their products that the claims are not verified by the FDA. They are safe in the sense that the FDA is mandated to monitor the products' safety while on the market, but bar any serious complaints, they will continue to be sold in the market. In order to be sure about the safety of taking a product, talk to your doctor first before taking any herbal remedy. You may need to disclose lifestyle habits as well as existing medications that you are taking since some chemical interaction with herbal formulations may have dangerous health consequences.
All herbals must contain product information that includes a list of all the ingredients used for it. The best thing to do is to go through this list and take note especially of the active ingredients. If there is something that you do not know, ask your pharmacist or do some research on the ingredient before making your purchase. On the label you will also find the benefit claims for the particular herbal supplement. While the manufacturers must back their claims with research, the FDA does not require them to submit evidence of the research. So it is best to be a wise consumer and do your own investigative work on any herbal supplement that you intend on taking, as some unscrupulous suppliers may be exaggerating their claims or covering up risks for better marketing. It is always better to err on the side of caution. There are certain instances when people are advised against taking herbal remedies altogether or when they must absolutely seek the advice of their doctor before taking them. These are for people who are under prescription medication (and even some OTC medicines), women who are pregnant or currently breast feeding, people who are about to have surgery (some supplements may reduce the effectiveness of anesthesia) and for younger (than 18) or older (than 65) people.
If you do decide to take herbal supplements you should do so with care. First of all, you should follow the manufacturer's instructions and resist the urge to overdose. You should also check the expiration date to make sure that you are not taking expired medication. Also, it is better not to take herbal supplements that are made outside of the US, for safety reasons. Moreover, best to stick with proven and tested products with no history of serious complaints and avoid products that are still in their experimental phase.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
Herbal supplements fall under a category called dietary supplements. As such, the manufacturers are allowed to claim benefits from taking their products as long as it is backed by research and they place a tag on their products that the claims are not verified by the FDA. They are safe in the sense that the FDA is mandated to monitor the products' safety while on the market, but bar any serious complaints, they will continue to be sold in the market. In order to be sure about the safety of taking a product, talk to your doctor first before taking any herbal remedy. You may need to disclose lifestyle habits as well as existing medications that you are taking since some chemical interaction with herbal formulations may have dangerous health consequences.
All herbals must contain product information that includes a list of all the ingredients used for it. The best thing to do is to go through this list and take note especially of the active ingredients. If there is something that you do not know, ask your pharmacist or do some research on the ingredient before making your purchase. On the label you will also find the benefit claims for the particular herbal supplement. While the manufacturers must back their claims with research, the FDA does not require them to submit evidence of the research. So it is best to be a wise consumer and do your own investigative work on any herbal supplement that you intend on taking, as some unscrupulous suppliers may be exaggerating their claims or covering up risks for better marketing. It is always better to err on the side of caution. There are certain instances when people are advised against taking herbal remedies altogether or when they must absolutely seek the advice of their doctor before taking them. These are for people who are under prescription medication (and even some OTC medicines), women who are pregnant or currently breast feeding, people who are about to have surgery (some supplements may reduce the effectiveness of anesthesia) and for younger (than 18) or older (than 65) people.
If you do decide to take herbal supplements you should do so with care. First of all, you should follow the manufacturer's instructions and resist the urge to overdose. You should also check the expiration date to make sure that you are not taking expired medication. Also, it is better not to take herbal supplements that are made outside of the US, for safety reasons. Moreover, best to stick with proven and tested products with no history of serious complaints and avoid products that are still in their experimental phase.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Reduced Blood Flow: An Overview
Unless there is an existing medical disorder in a younger person, blood circulation is normally more of a concern for older adults. Many factors can be at work in reduced movement, but it does look to happen with advancing age. However, there really is little reason for that to necessarily be a predicament. Behavior and means are obtainable to increase the movement when needed. Prevailing medicine and other areas have discovered many lifestyle behaviors that can impact circulation.
The advantages of consuming enough water are well acknowledged to most of us. Our bodies are more or less 75% water which is marvelous and that has significant implications. For efficient operation of our bodies, we must be certain to supply the appropriate things. Some specialists used to suggest a daily water ration of eight ounces, which is looked at as obsolete today. One thing we have read very frequently, though, is that you should in no way allow yourself to feel thirsty. Moderate dehydration has already begun as soon as we experience the sensation of thirst. Also, do not depend on non-water beverages as your primary source of water. Consume water throughout the day. Make sure that it is free from impurities.
Numerous U.S. residents maintain active lifestyles, but there's been a major general trend toward sedentary living. But it is much more widespread for older adults to embark on settling into a inactive life. This is never a good idea for general health. But it's mostly poor for the blood circulation. This shouldn't come as a shock. After all, your muscular tissues are just accomplishing more effort when you're body is in motion. The act of expanding as well as contracting your muscle groups, and increasing heart rate, will robotically get the blood moving more. Take a hike. It will get your blood moving better each time.
There are several bad behaviors that eventually hurt your overall level of blood flow. One culprit, which has numerous harmful effects on health, is a bad diet. High-quality food, proper sources of energy, result in a very well-tuned metabolism. You could obtain energy from fats and sugars, but you will not be getting all the natural vitamins and minerals desired by your body. To better your blood circulation, be sure to incorporate all those factors -- get enough water, enough nutrients, and enough exercise.
If there's oodles of tension in your life, believe it or not, this could also lower your blood flow. If you stay in a continuous state of tension, the stress hormones produced in the body can actually damage the body itself. Among the effects of stress is constraint of your cardiovascular system. The stress hormones your body releases into the blood in fact create this outcome. This method will moreover cause your blood pressure to climb and your blood to clot more easily.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
The advantages of consuming enough water are well acknowledged to most of us. Our bodies are more or less 75% water which is marvelous and that has significant implications. For efficient operation of our bodies, we must be certain to supply the appropriate things. Some specialists used to suggest a daily water ration of eight ounces, which is looked at as obsolete today. One thing we have read very frequently, though, is that you should in no way allow yourself to feel thirsty. Moderate dehydration has already begun as soon as we experience the sensation of thirst. Also, do not depend on non-water beverages as your primary source of water. Consume water throughout the day. Make sure that it is free from impurities.
Numerous U.S. residents maintain active lifestyles, but there's been a major general trend toward sedentary living. But it is much more widespread for older adults to embark on settling into a inactive life. This is never a good idea for general health. But it's mostly poor for the blood circulation. This shouldn't come as a shock. After all, your muscular tissues are just accomplishing more effort when you're body is in motion. The act of expanding as well as contracting your muscle groups, and increasing heart rate, will robotically get the blood moving more. Take a hike. It will get your blood moving better each time.
There are several bad behaviors that eventually hurt your overall level of blood flow. One culprit, which has numerous harmful effects on health, is a bad diet. High-quality food, proper sources of energy, result in a very well-tuned metabolism. You could obtain energy from fats and sugars, but you will not be getting all the natural vitamins and minerals desired by your body. To better your blood circulation, be sure to incorporate all those factors -- get enough water, enough nutrients, and enough exercise.
If there's oodles of tension in your life, believe it or not, this could also lower your blood flow. If you stay in a continuous state of tension, the stress hormones produced in the body can actually damage the body itself. Among the effects of stress is constraint of your cardiovascular system. The stress hormones your body releases into the blood in fact create this outcome. This method will moreover cause your blood pressure to climb and your blood to clot more easily.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
Friday, April 8, 2011
Treating Leg And Ankle Pain
If you are an athlete or are involved in heavy physical activities all the time, one of the things you would usually suffer from is leg or ankle pain. The pain may be a result of conditions such as a strained calf muscle, tendonitis or shin splints. Whatever the reason, you can be sure that the injury can affect your life greatly especially when the condition is ignored. With the help of basic treatment, you will be able to ease or even get rid of the pain.
Total rest is perhaps the best way to treat any kind of bodily pain regardless of its cause. When you rest, you give the injured part of your body (in this case the leg or the ankles) the time to heal and recover. Along with rest, hot or cold compressions are also recommended. While the coldness of the ice prevents further swelling by reducing blood flow to the injured area, a warm compress right after can help ease the veins and muscles, promoting healing and fast recovery.
Taking anti-inflammatory drugs also work effectively to reduce pain and inflammation on the affected area. Common anti-inflammatory medications may include Naproxen, ibuprofen and the well-known aspirin. Using these kinds of medication along with proper rest and ice treatment is a suggested technique to treat leg and ankle injuries. Using topical cream to help alleviate the pain may also be an effective idea.
A more natural way of treating leg and ankle injuries is through stretching. Stretching exercises can help relax tensed joints and muscles. This is usually used when there is a desire to engage in physical activity again after the doctor has given approval. Simple exercises such as light walking or cycling are good examples of light exercises you can try when recovering from a leg or ankle injury.
The period set for recovery from leg or ankle injury usually depends on the degree of the severity of the pain. It can also depend on how you are improving in your treatment or therapy. That means, the more dedicated you are in improving your condition, the faster you are going to recover from the pain or injury.
You never know whether a pain in the leg or the ankle is simply pure pain due to a minor injury or a more serious one that requires further treatment. In case the pain you are experiencing extends to more than four days, you would need to consult your doctor and find out the underlying cause for such condition.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
Total rest is perhaps the best way to treat any kind of bodily pain regardless of its cause. When you rest, you give the injured part of your body (in this case the leg or the ankles) the time to heal and recover. Along with rest, hot or cold compressions are also recommended. While the coldness of the ice prevents further swelling by reducing blood flow to the injured area, a warm compress right after can help ease the veins and muscles, promoting healing and fast recovery.
Taking anti-inflammatory drugs also work effectively to reduce pain and inflammation on the affected area. Common anti-inflammatory medications may include Naproxen, ibuprofen and the well-known aspirin. Using these kinds of medication along with proper rest and ice treatment is a suggested technique to treat leg and ankle injuries. Using topical cream to help alleviate the pain may also be an effective idea.
A more natural way of treating leg and ankle injuries is through stretching. Stretching exercises can help relax tensed joints and muscles. This is usually used when there is a desire to engage in physical activity again after the doctor has given approval. Simple exercises such as light walking or cycling are good examples of light exercises you can try when recovering from a leg or ankle injury.
The period set for recovery from leg or ankle injury usually depends on the degree of the severity of the pain. It can also depend on how you are improving in your treatment or therapy. That means, the more dedicated you are in improving your condition, the faster you are going to recover from the pain or injury.
You never know whether a pain in the leg or the ankle is simply pure pain due to a minor injury or a more serious one that requires further treatment. In case the pain you are experiencing extends to more than four days, you would need to consult your doctor and find out the underlying cause for such condition.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Grow Taller
It is important for men to grow taller. After all, it is no small thing to be short. You get looked down up on by half the world, you draw the short straw (no pun intended) while looking for a date, and half the job interviewers pass right over your head. Sports coaches ask for a better height, as do modeling companies, and movie and theater directors and producers relegate you to the status of subordinates and supports (unless the script demands it). Truly, to grow taller seems to be the only way forward. Here are some things which might help -
1. Height Increase Exercises - There are exercises that specifically target your knees, thighs, and spine. These might help you add inches to your body. For the best effects, you need to combine the exercises with good protein rich low carbohydrate diet and adequate restful sleep. You should also add cardio to these routines. These would help the release of HGH (human growth hormone) which along with the height increase exercises might help you grow taller. Some implements such as door gym, inversion boots, inversion table, stationary bicycle, and ankle weights could also help.
2. Other Body Techniques - Some other body and mind techniques which might help you grow taller include pilates, Alexander technique, Tai Chi Chuan, and Rolphing. Pilates is a set of five hundred exercises which are good for the body as well as the mind. These are good for the abdominal muscles and could increase your height as well. Alexander technique is a series of breathing and posture and mind control exercises which would help you improve your posture and control your body's position so as to achieve a better height.
Tai Chai Chuan is a martial arts technique of the east like the yoga. Practicing Tai Chi would help improve your body's control, its health, and its fitness. A couple of inches could also be added. Rolphing is a deep massage technique which would help you control your body movements. It goes beyond chiropractic since it concentrates on body as well as mind.
3. Hypnosis - Hypnosis is another technique which has been seen to help some people grow taller. It does not work on everybody though.
4. Natural Supplements - Taking calcium, multi vitamins, vitamin D, and Chondroitin and Glucosamine could help you grow taller. These are some of the supplements which would have the most effect on your bone strength and height.
You should learn the exercises and techniques from the proper instructors. It must be noted that while all these techniques have helped many grow taller, not all of them have helped everybody. In any case most of these would help you become healthy and energetic. You need to complement these with a healthy diet and sleep.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
1. Height Increase Exercises - There are exercises that specifically target your knees, thighs, and spine. These might help you add inches to your body. For the best effects, you need to combine the exercises with good protein rich low carbohydrate diet and adequate restful sleep. You should also add cardio to these routines. These would help the release of HGH (human growth hormone) which along with the height increase exercises might help you grow taller. Some implements such as door gym, inversion boots, inversion table, stationary bicycle, and ankle weights could also help.
2. Other Body Techniques - Some other body and mind techniques which might help you grow taller include pilates, Alexander technique, Tai Chi Chuan, and Rolphing. Pilates is a set of five hundred exercises which are good for the body as well as the mind. These are good for the abdominal muscles and could increase your height as well. Alexander technique is a series of breathing and posture and mind control exercises which would help you improve your posture and control your body's position so as to achieve a better height.
Tai Chai Chuan is a martial arts technique of the east like the yoga. Practicing Tai Chi would help improve your body's control, its health, and its fitness. A couple of inches could also be added. Rolphing is a deep massage technique which would help you control your body movements. It goes beyond chiropractic since it concentrates on body as well as mind.
3. Hypnosis - Hypnosis is another technique which has been seen to help some people grow taller. It does not work on everybody though.
4. Natural Supplements - Taking calcium, multi vitamins, vitamin D, and Chondroitin and Glucosamine could help you grow taller. These are some of the supplements which would have the most effect on your bone strength and height.
You should learn the exercises and techniques from the proper instructors. It must be noted that while all these techniques have helped many grow taller, not all of them have helped everybody. In any case most of these would help you become healthy and energetic. You need to complement these with a healthy diet and sleep.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Stress Fractures - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
A stress fracture is sometimes also known as a hairline fracture or a fatigue fracture. They are basically an incomplete fracture, or a crack in the bone, caused by repetitive forces, rather than one sudden incident. Stress fractures are particularly common in runners due to the repetitive impacts and the forces this passes through the bones. The most common areas for this to happen include:
* Metatarsals (long bones in the foot)
* Tibia (shin bone)
* Femur (thigh bone)
* Calcaneus (heel bone)
* Talus (ankle bone)
The Metatarsals and Tibia are by far the most common stress fracture locations in runners.
Symptoms include a generalised area of pain which develops gradually, is worse with repeated weight-bearing and often eases with rest. There may be mild swelling in the area and it may be possible to feel a tender area directly over the bone.
As already mentioned, stress fractures are common in runners, but there are certain factors which may increase the risk of developing a stress fracture. Increasing mileage too quickly is the most common culprit. Not sticking to the 10% increase per week rule means that the body does not have time to adapt and build the strength required to sustain this level of intensity. Consistently running on hard surfaces, especially concrete pavements is another factor which is easily corrected by adding in grass, track and sand training sessions. Wearing extra cushioned running shoes, or adding in a shock absorbing insole may also be beneficial.
Stress fracture treatment mostly involves rest. For weight-bearing bones this will usually mean avoiding full weight-bearing with the help of crutches or a walking boot. This type of fracture is not usually put in a plaster cast.
The healing time for a weight-bearing stress fracture is between 4 and 8 weeks. During this time the activity which caused the injury should be avoided completely, although after 2 weeks of complete rest, other non-weight bearing exercises such as swimming or cycling may be undertaken, provided they are pain-free.
After the bone is healed, a return to sport can be initiated, although should be very cautious and gradual to prevent a re-injury. Exercises to strengthen the surrounding area may be used, as should stretching exercises to make sure a full range of motion at the joints above and below.
Before returning to sport, it is important that all contributing factors are corrected to reduce the risk of a re-injury. If unsure, get a professional to look at your training programme and your running shoes.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
* Metatarsals (long bones in the foot)
* Tibia (shin bone)
* Femur (thigh bone)
* Calcaneus (heel bone)
* Talus (ankle bone)
The Metatarsals and Tibia are by far the most common stress fracture locations in runners.
Symptoms include a generalised area of pain which develops gradually, is worse with repeated weight-bearing and often eases with rest. There may be mild swelling in the area and it may be possible to feel a tender area directly over the bone.
As already mentioned, stress fractures are common in runners, but there are certain factors which may increase the risk of developing a stress fracture. Increasing mileage too quickly is the most common culprit. Not sticking to the 10% increase per week rule means that the body does not have time to adapt and build the strength required to sustain this level of intensity. Consistently running on hard surfaces, especially concrete pavements is another factor which is easily corrected by adding in grass, track and sand training sessions. Wearing extra cushioned running shoes, or adding in a shock absorbing insole may also be beneficial.
Stress fracture treatment mostly involves rest. For weight-bearing bones this will usually mean avoiding full weight-bearing with the help of crutches or a walking boot. This type of fracture is not usually put in a plaster cast.
The healing time for a weight-bearing stress fracture is between 4 and 8 weeks. During this time the activity which caused the injury should be avoided completely, although after 2 weeks of complete rest, other non-weight bearing exercises such as swimming or cycling may be undertaken, provided they are pain-free.
After the bone is healed, a return to sport can be initiated, although should be very cautious and gradual to prevent a re-injury. Exercises to strengthen the surrounding area may be used, as should stretching exercises to make sure a full range of motion at the joints above and below.
Before returning to sport, it is important that all contributing factors are corrected to reduce the risk of a re-injury. If unsure, get a professional to look at your training programme and your running shoes.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Turmeric: Key to a Stroke Cure
Turmeric can prevent cell-death and can also encourage new cells to grow - and that too after a stroke! In other words, this oriental curry spice has properties that can repair a significant number of physical damage a body undergoes following a stroke. This has been revealed by medical researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center here recently.
It is worth mentioning that Ayurveda, a traditional Indian medical science, has been using turmeric since centuries as a medicine.
Strokes generally cut off oxygenated blood to the brain cells, and thus kill the brain cells. Strokes further set off a chain reaction that may extend the affected region. In this way, the patients become vulnerable to an increased level of disability.
Curcumin, one of the turmeric components, has beneficial properties on human physique. The American team reported their findings at a stroke conference along with their dovetailed version of the turmeric compound - Curcumin. They had to modify the turmeric component as it could not pass the 'blood brain barrier' that shields the patient's brain from toxic molecules. Christened 'CNB-001', the modified compound of curcumin can have beneficial effects on stroke patients.
The head of this research team, Dr Paul Lapchak, told the conference that the drug had an effect on "several critical mechanisms" that keep brain cells alive for several critical hours following a stroke. CNB-001 appeared to repair the four "signaling pathways" that help fuel the runaway destruction of brain cells, Dr Lapchak said.
These laboratory tests on rabbits indicated that in humans suffering a stroke, their drug could be effective up to three hours - approximately the identical time-period the presently used drugs particularly the "clot-busting" ones take.
Lauding their findings, The Stroke Association has dubbed it as the "first significant research". The Association also hinted that the compound 'CNB-001' could aid stroke patients. Dwelling on the significance of the drug, Dr Sharlin Ahmed of the Association has commented, "This is the first significant research to show that turmeric could be beneficial to stroke patients by encouraging new cells to grow and preventing cell death after a stroke." She further said, "There is a great need for new treatments which can protect brain cells after a stroke and improve recovery... The results look promising, however it is still very early days and human trials need to be undertaken."
Dr Lapchak stated that researches are on to develop a viable medicine for human use. Clinical trials on mankind are being scheduled following the successful clinical tests on rabbits. Their drug not only reached the brain cells but also controlled movement and muscle problems. He, however, pointed out that drugs for human might take some more time.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
It is worth mentioning that Ayurveda, a traditional Indian medical science, has been using turmeric since centuries as a medicine.
Strokes generally cut off oxygenated blood to the brain cells, and thus kill the brain cells. Strokes further set off a chain reaction that may extend the affected region. In this way, the patients become vulnerable to an increased level of disability.
Curcumin, one of the turmeric components, has beneficial properties on human physique. The American team reported their findings at a stroke conference along with their dovetailed version of the turmeric compound - Curcumin. They had to modify the turmeric component as it could not pass the 'blood brain barrier' that shields the patient's brain from toxic molecules. Christened 'CNB-001', the modified compound of curcumin can have beneficial effects on stroke patients.
The head of this research team, Dr Paul Lapchak, told the conference that the drug had an effect on "several critical mechanisms" that keep brain cells alive for several critical hours following a stroke. CNB-001 appeared to repair the four "signaling pathways" that help fuel the runaway destruction of brain cells, Dr Lapchak said.
These laboratory tests on rabbits indicated that in humans suffering a stroke, their drug could be effective up to three hours - approximately the identical time-period the presently used drugs particularly the "clot-busting" ones take.
Lauding their findings, The Stroke Association has dubbed it as the "first significant research". The Association also hinted that the compound 'CNB-001' could aid stroke patients. Dwelling on the significance of the drug, Dr Sharlin Ahmed of the Association has commented, "This is the first significant research to show that turmeric could be beneficial to stroke patients by encouraging new cells to grow and preventing cell death after a stroke." She further said, "There is a great need for new treatments which can protect brain cells after a stroke and improve recovery... The results look promising, however it is still very early days and human trials need to be undertaken."
Dr Lapchak stated that researches are on to develop a viable medicine for human use. Clinical trials on mankind are being scheduled following the successful clinical tests on rabbits. Their drug not only reached the brain cells but also controlled movement and muscle problems. He, however, pointed out that drugs for human might take some more time.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
Thursday, March 3, 2011
A Guide to the E Vitamin
The e vitamin is extremely important for a variety of functions in the body. A healthy heart needs plenty of the e vitamin as it has been shown to actually prevent heart disease. The e vitamin can also help contain any existing heart disease and stop it from getting worse.
E vitamin is also vital in protecting the cell membranes from the harmful free radicals that are present in the body. Without e vitamin, amongst others, the cell membranes would be damaged and this could lead to serious health problems, including cancer. The reason that the e vitamin is so effective against free radicals is that it is fat soluble so it can be absorbed into the cell membranes. The e vitamin is therefore essential for the immune system.
The recommended daily amount of the e vitamin that a person requires depends on their body weight. This is connected to the fact that the more fat a diet contains then the more of the e vitamin that is needed. However, the only foods that really contain any reasonable amount of the e vitamin are vegetable oils, seeds, wheat germ, and nuts. It is for this reason that most people should take some form of e vitamin supplement.
A deficiency of the e vitamin does not affect a person immediately. In fact, it can take months for the effects of insufficient e vitamin to be detected. After years of e vitamin deficiency there may e some detectable damage to the nerves of the spinal cord or retina of the eye but this is very rare. Most people obtain enough e vitamin from a normal diet but it is essential that the food that a person eats contains a little fat to help with the absorption of the e vitamin.
There are a few medical conditions that may lead to a deficiency of the e vitamin and may require the person to take e vitamin supplements. Cystic fibrosis causes a person to be unable to digest fats well which leads to less of the e vitamin being absorbed. Crohn’s disease causes to lower absorption rates of the e vitamin and a supplement may be necessary. Some forms of liver disease can also lead to problems absorbing the e vitamin, especially through the intestine. Of course, as fat is required to help absorb sufficient amounts of the e vitamin, anyone on an extremely low-fat diet will need to discuss their options for increasing the amount of e vitamin that their body needs.
E vitamin is also vital in protecting the cell membranes from the harmful free radicals that are present in the body. Without e vitamin, amongst others, the cell membranes would be damaged and this could lead to serious health problems, including cancer. The reason that the e vitamin is so effective against free radicals is that it is fat soluble so it can be absorbed into the cell membranes. The e vitamin is therefore essential for the immune system.
The recommended daily amount of the e vitamin that a person requires depends on their body weight. This is connected to the fact that the more fat a diet contains then the more of the e vitamin that is needed. However, the only foods that really contain any reasonable amount of the e vitamin are vegetable oils, seeds, wheat germ, and nuts. It is for this reason that most people should take some form of e vitamin supplement.
A deficiency of the e vitamin does not affect a person immediately. In fact, it can take months for the effects of insufficient e vitamin to be detected. After years of e vitamin deficiency there may e some detectable damage to the nerves of the spinal cord or retina of the eye but this is very rare. Most people obtain enough e vitamin from a normal diet but it is essential that the food that a person eats contains a little fat to help with the absorption of the e vitamin.
There are a few medical conditions that may lead to a deficiency of the e vitamin and may require the person to take e vitamin supplements. Cystic fibrosis causes a person to be unable to digest fats well which leads to less of the e vitamin being absorbed. Crohn’s disease causes to lower absorption rates of the e vitamin and a supplement may be necessary. Some forms of liver disease can also lead to problems absorbing the e vitamin, especially through the intestine. Of course, as fat is required to help absorb sufficient amounts of the e vitamin, anyone on an extremely low-fat diet will need to discuss their options for increasing the amount of e vitamin that their body needs.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Cold sores are commonly caused by herpes simplex virus. It is a blister that is filled with fluid and appears on the mucous membranes. The area where a group of cold sores are formed can be swollen and painful. The blisters will heal, likely without leaving a scar, but there is a great possibility that it will recur.
Herpes simplex virus is the virus responsible for the development of cold sores. This virus is contagious and can be spread by exchanges of body fluids. Active blisters are the ones that are very contagious. As the blister dries, the contagiousness will decrease. On the other hand, cold sores are not just the mode of transferring the herpes simplex virus. The virus can still be transmitted to other people even if blisters are not present. Symptom of cold sores includes tingling sensation on the skin and after a while blisters will appear.
Since a cold sore is contagious it is still best to avoid contact with someone who has active sores. When exposed to someone with these, it is important to wash hands thoroughly. Avoid touching your genital area and eyes for these are the areas where virus can rapidly multiply.
Natural remedies for cold sores are available. Several studies have proved that these remedies are effective in treating cold sores.
Lysine is an amino acid that fights back with arginine. Arginine is also an amino acid that is utilized by the herpes simplex virus to duplicate itself. Our body cannot produce lysine; we need foods and additional supplement in order to obtain lysine. Lysine is use to produce protein which is vital in manufacturing antibodies, hormones, body tissues and enzymes. It is obtained from dairy products, eggs, red meat and wheat germ. It is important to have a higher lysine level than arginine. That is why it is also important to take note to avoid foods that are rich in arginine such as peanuts, chocolate and almonds.
Lemon balm is another cold sore treatment. It has an antiviral property that will help combat herpes simplex virus. Studies have proved that lemon balm ointment, when applied to the blisters, may heal the blister in less than six days. Peppermint oil has also an antiviral property. It penetrates deep into the skin and helps in killing the virus.
Reishi and astragalus belongs to the family of mushrooms that is known to boost the immune system. Numerous studies have confirmed that reishi reduce the multiplication of herpes virus.
Red grapes contain resveratrol which helps in treating herpes simplex virus. It has been proven to suppress sores when applied on the blister two to five times a day. Propolis aids in inhibiting the virus to enter body cells and be a hindrance in the duplication of the virus. Propolis is also called bee propolis because it is collected by bees from poplar.
Even though these remedies are effective in treating cold sores caused by herpes simplex it is still important to consult your physician before using the natural remedies.
Herpes simplex virus is the virus responsible for the development of cold sores. This virus is contagious and can be spread by exchanges of body fluids. Active blisters are the ones that are very contagious. As the blister dries, the contagiousness will decrease. On the other hand, cold sores are not just the mode of transferring the herpes simplex virus. The virus can still be transmitted to other people even if blisters are not present. Symptom of cold sores includes tingling sensation on the skin and after a while blisters will appear.
Since a cold sore is contagious it is still best to avoid contact with someone who has active sores. When exposed to someone with these, it is important to wash hands thoroughly. Avoid touching your genital area and eyes for these are the areas where virus can rapidly multiply.
Natural remedies for cold sores are available. Several studies have proved that these remedies are effective in treating cold sores.
Lysine is an amino acid that fights back with arginine. Arginine is also an amino acid that is utilized by the herpes simplex virus to duplicate itself. Our body cannot produce lysine; we need foods and additional supplement in order to obtain lysine. Lysine is use to produce protein which is vital in manufacturing antibodies, hormones, body tissues and enzymes. It is obtained from dairy products, eggs, red meat and wheat germ. It is important to have a higher lysine level than arginine. That is why it is also important to take note to avoid foods that are rich in arginine such as peanuts, chocolate and almonds.
Lemon balm is another cold sore treatment. It has an antiviral property that will help combat herpes simplex virus. Studies have proved that lemon balm ointment, when applied to the blisters, may heal the blister in less than six days. Peppermint oil has also an antiviral property. It penetrates deep into the skin and helps in killing the virus.
Reishi and astragalus belongs to the family of mushrooms that is known to boost the immune system. Numerous studies have confirmed that reishi reduce the multiplication of herpes virus.
Red grapes contain resveratrol which helps in treating herpes simplex virus. It has been proven to suppress sores when applied on the blister two to five times a day. Propolis aids in inhibiting the virus to enter body cells and be a hindrance in the duplication of the virus. Propolis is also called bee propolis because it is collected by bees from poplar.
Even though these remedies are effective in treating cold sores caused by herpes simplex it is still important to consult your physician before using the natural remedies.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Chocolate For Health Benefits
The word chocolate comes from xocoatl (Aztec language) which means a bitter drink. Aztecs and Maya in Mexico believe that the god of Agriculture has sent a chocolate that comes from heaven to them. Cortes then took him to Spain between the years 1502-1528, and by the Spaniards bitter drink was mixed with sugar, so it feels more comfortable. Brown then spread to France, Holland and England. In the year 1765 chocolate factory was established in Massachusetts, USA.
In the development chocolate is not only a beverage but also become the preferred snack of children, adolescents, and adults. Besides it feels good, chocolate was nutritious to make age a person becomes longer. An epidemiological study has been conducted at Harvard University students who enrolled between the years 1916-1950. By using a food frequency questionnaire collected information about the habits of eating candy or chocolate at Harvard University students.
By controlling the physical activity undertaken, smoking, and eating habits found that those who love to eat candy / chocolate age older than one year are not eating. Allegedly phenol antioxidants contained in chocolate is the reason why they can outlive. Phenol is also found in red wine that is well known as the drink is good for heart health. Brown has the ability to inhibit oxidation of LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) and improve immune function, which can prevent the risk of coronary heart disease and cancer.
So far, there is the notion that chocolate causes of dental caries and may also be responsible for the problem of obesity. Undeniable that obesity is one risk factor for degenerative diseases. But a study at Harvard University shows that if you balance the consumption of chocolate candy with enough physical activity and eat a balanced diet, then the negative effects of chocolate candy need not worry.
According to Mayan belief, chocolate is the food of the gods. Original flavor from the cocoa bean is actually a bitter alkaloid content, but after going through the engineering process to produce chocolate as the food liked by anyone. Cocoa beans contain 31% fat, carbohydrate 14% and 9% protein. Chocolate is rich in protein amino acid tryptophan, phenylalanine, and tyrosine. Although chocolate contains high fat, but relatively easy to rancidity because chocolate also contains polyphenols (6%), which functions as an antioxidant deterrent.
Chocolate consumption in the United States contributes only 1% of total fat intake as stated by the National Food Consumption Survey (1987-1998). This amount is relatively small, especially when compared with the contribution of meat (30%), cereals (22%), and milk (20%). Fat in chocolate, often called cocoa butter, mostly composed of saturated fat (60%), especially stearic. But the brown fat is a vegetable fat which does not contain cholesterol. To keep pressing the saturated fat that is not too high, it is better to limit eating chocolate just one cigarette per day and consume restrict supplement or other food containing catechins such as apple and tea.
In research involving human subjects, found that consumption of brown fat to produce total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol lower than the consumption of butter or beef fat. So even though both contain saturated fat but the effect was produced different cholesterol. High stearate content of the chocolate is suppose to be the reason why brown fat is not as bad as animal fat. Has long been known that stearic acid is a neutral fat that will not trigger blood cholesterol. Why? Stearate was slowly digested by our bodies and also absorbed less.
One third of fat contained in chocolate is oleic acid is an unsaturated fatty acid. Oleic acid is also predominantly found in olive oil. Epidemiological studies in Mediterranean populations who consume lots of olive oil is oleic acid oleic concluded positive effect on heart health.
Often the question arises how much we may consume chocolate? There are no definitive recommendations for this nutrient, however, 2-3 times a week eating chocolate or drinking chocolate milk every day would still be acceptable. Principles of nutrition that is actually easy to eat all kinds of food are moderate. Nutritional problems generally arise when we eat too much or too little.
Eating chocolate will not cause addiction, but for some delicious chocolate taste that may cause the desire to consume them again. This is called a chocolate craving. The impact of chocolate on behavior and mood (mood) is closely associated with chocolate craving. Brown could miss because of the aroma, texture, sweet-bitter and so on. It is also often associated with the content of phenylethylamine which is a substance similar amphetanine which can increase absorption of tryptophan into the brain which then in turn produce dopamine. Impact of dopamine is the show feeling happy and mood improvement. Phenylethylamine is also considered to have aphrodisiac properties that gave rise to a feeling like someone in love (heart flowers). It is said that King Montezuma in ancient times was always drunk chocolate before rotating harem-harem different every night.
Catechins are powerful antioxidants contained in chocolate. One of the functions of antioxidants is to prevent premature aging that can occur due to pollution or radiation. Catechins are also found in tea even though the amount is not high on chocolate. Parents are often ancient practice with a water wash of tea because it can make facial skin glowing and youthful. If they know that chocolate contains catechins is higher than the tea, maybe they'll suggest a shower scrub with brown.
Chocolate also contains theobromine and caffeine. Both substances have been known to give effect to those who consume them awake. Therefore when we are dozing off at the airport or waiting for long queues, eating chocolate potent enough to make us excited again.
In the development chocolate is not only a beverage but also become the preferred snack of children, adolescents, and adults. Besides it feels good, chocolate was nutritious to make age a person becomes longer. An epidemiological study has been conducted at Harvard University students who enrolled between the years 1916-1950. By using a food frequency questionnaire collected information about the habits of eating candy or chocolate at Harvard University students.
By controlling the physical activity undertaken, smoking, and eating habits found that those who love to eat candy / chocolate age older than one year are not eating. Allegedly phenol antioxidants contained in chocolate is the reason why they can outlive. Phenol is also found in red wine that is well known as the drink is good for heart health. Brown has the ability to inhibit oxidation of LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) and improve immune function, which can prevent the risk of coronary heart disease and cancer.
So far, there is the notion that chocolate causes of dental caries and may also be responsible for the problem of obesity. Undeniable that obesity is one risk factor for degenerative diseases. But a study at Harvard University shows that if you balance the consumption of chocolate candy with enough physical activity and eat a balanced diet, then the negative effects of chocolate candy need not worry.
According to Mayan belief, chocolate is the food of the gods. Original flavor from the cocoa bean is actually a bitter alkaloid content, but after going through the engineering process to produce chocolate as the food liked by anyone. Cocoa beans contain 31% fat, carbohydrate 14% and 9% protein. Chocolate is rich in protein amino acid tryptophan, phenylalanine, and tyrosine. Although chocolate contains high fat, but relatively easy to rancidity because chocolate also contains polyphenols (6%), which functions as an antioxidant deterrent.
Chocolate consumption in the United States contributes only 1% of total fat intake as stated by the National Food Consumption Survey (1987-1998). This amount is relatively small, especially when compared with the contribution of meat (30%), cereals (22%), and milk (20%). Fat in chocolate, often called cocoa butter, mostly composed of saturated fat (60%), especially stearic. But the brown fat is a vegetable fat which does not contain cholesterol. To keep pressing the saturated fat that is not too high, it is better to limit eating chocolate just one cigarette per day and consume restrict supplement or other food containing catechins such as apple and tea.
In research involving human subjects, found that consumption of brown fat to produce total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol lower than the consumption of butter or beef fat. So even though both contain saturated fat but the effect was produced different cholesterol. High stearate content of the chocolate is suppose to be the reason why brown fat is not as bad as animal fat. Has long been known that stearic acid is a neutral fat that will not trigger blood cholesterol. Why? Stearate was slowly digested by our bodies and also absorbed less.
One third of fat contained in chocolate is oleic acid is an unsaturated fatty acid. Oleic acid is also predominantly found in olive oil. Epidemiological studies in Mediterranean populations who consume lots of olive oil is oleic acid oleic concluded positive effect on heart health.
Often the question arises how much we may consume chocolate? There are no definitive recommendations for this nutrient, however, 2-3 times a week eating chocolate or drinking chocolate milk every day would still be acceptable. Principles of nutrition that is actually easy to eat all kinds of food are moderate. Nutritional problems generally arise when we eat too much or too little.
Eating chocolate will not cause addiction, but for some delicious chocolate taste that may cause the desire to consume them again. This is called a chocolate craving. The impact of chocolate on behavior and mood (mood) is closely associated with chocolate craving. Brown could miss because of the aroma, texture, sweet-bitter and so on. It is also often associated with the content of phenylethylamine which is a substance similar amphetanine which can increase absorption of tryptophan into the brain which then in turn produce dopamine. Impact of dopamine is the show feeling happy and mood improvement. Phenylethylamine is also considered to have aphrodisiac properties that gave rise to a feeling like someone in love (heart flowers). It is said that King Montezuma in ancient times was always drunk chocolate before rotating harem-harem different every night.
Catechins are powerful antioxidants contained in chocolate. One of the functions of antioxidants is to prevent premature aging that can occur due to pollution or radiation. Catechins are also found in tea even though the amount is not high on chocolate. Parents are often ancient practice with a water wash of tea because it can make facial skin glowing and youthful. If they know that chocolate contains catechins is higher than the tea, maybe they'll suggest a shower scrub with brown.
Chocolate also contains theobromine and caffeine. Both substances have been known to give effect to those who consume them awake. Therefore when we are dozing off at the airport or waiting for long queues, eating chocolate potent enough to make us excited again.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Advantages of Drinking Milk To Lower Risk of Breast Cancer
Benefits of milk had no doubt. Almost all the nutrients found in milk of good quality. Protein and fat milk has a high digestibility properties. Vitamin and mineral content of milk is relatively complete.
Milk can be consumed in various forms. There is nothing in the fresh or processed form, such as milk powder or condensed milk. Humans also consume milk from food products containing milk, such as cheese, ice cream, and yogurt.
However, there are still differences of opinion about the consumption of this milk. No group has claimed that the consumption of milk every day is not good for health, especially vascular diseases such as narrowing of blood vessels. The argument is, milk increases blood cholesterol levels risk factors for heart disease. Secondly, there is a positive relationship between average milk production per capita with deaths from heart disease in some countries.
Other groups supporting the role of milk at a reduced risk of various degenerative diseases, such as heart disease, hypertension, and cancer. Recent studies in Norway to support it.
Hjartäker together with colleagues from the Institute of Community Medicine, University of Tromso, Norway, through its publication in the International Journal of Cancer, proving that eating three or more glasses of milk every day can reduce the risk of breast cancer in premenopausal women.
Through the study cohort the Norwegian Women and Cancer Study, they examined 48 844 women for six years and two months. Consumption of milk is measured by sending the form to the respondent history of food consumption. During this period, the team found 317 cases Hjartäker breast cancer patients.
It turned out that the consumption of milk since childhood negatively associated with the incidence of breast cancer when they were aged 34-39 years (premenopausal). That means that the consumption of milk since childhood can reduce the risk of breast cancer.
Consumption of milk in adulthood also reduces the risk of breast cancer after corrected by hormonal factors, body mass index, physical activity, and alcohol consumption. Women who do not consume milk run the risk of breast cancer 2 times greater than women who consumed milk 3 cups or more of milk every day.
Milk can be consumed in various forms. There is nothing in the fresh or processed form, such as milk powder or condensed milk. Humans also consume milk from food products containing milk, such as cheese, ice cream, and yogurt.
However, there are still differences of opinion about the consumption of this milk. No group has claimed that the consumption of milk every day is not good for health, especially vascular diseases such as narrowing of blood vessels. The argument is, milk increases blood cholesterol levels risk factors for heart disease. Secondly, there is a positive relationship between average milk production per capita with deaths from heart disease in some countries.
Other groups supporting the role of milk at a reduced risk of various degenerative diseases, such as heart disease, hypertension, and cancer. Recent studies in Norway to support it.
Hjartäker together with colleagues from the Institute of Community Medicine, University of Tromso, Norway, through its publication in the International Journal of Cancer, proving that eating three or more glasses of milk every day can reduce the risk of breast cancer in premenopausal women.
Through the study cohort the Norwegian Women and Cancer Study, they examined 48 844 women for six years and two months. Consumption of milk is measured by sending the form to the respondent history of food consumption. During this period, the Hjartäker's team found 317 cases breast cancer patients.
It turned out that the consumption of milk since childhood negatively associated with the incidence of breast cancer when they were aged 34-39 years (premenopausal). That means that the consumption of milk since childhood can reduce the risk of breast cancer.
Consumption of milk in adulthood also reduces the risk of breast cancer after corrected by hormonal factors, body mass index, physical activity, and alcohol consumption. Women who do not consume milk run the risk of breast cancer 2 times greater than women who consumed milk 3 cups or more of milk every day.
Milk can be consumed in various forms. There is nothing in the fresh or processed form, such as milk powder or condensed milk. Humans also consume milk from food products containing milk, such as cheese, ice cream, and yogurt.
However, there are still differences of opinion about the consumption of this milk. No group has claimed that the consumption of milk every day is not good for health, especially vascular diseases such as narrowing of blood vessels. The argument is, milk increases blood cholesterol levels risk factors for heart disease. Secondly, there is a positive relationship between average milk production per capita with deaths from heart disease in some countries.
Other groups supporting the role of milk at a reduced risk of various degenerative diseases, such as heart disease, hypertension, and cancer. Recent studies in Norway to support it.
Hjartäker together with colleagues from the Institute of Community Medicine, University of Tromso, Norway, through its publication in the International Journal of Cancer, proving that eating three or more glasses of milk every day can reduce the risk of breast cancer in premenopausal women.
Through the study cohort the Norwegian Women and Cancer Study, they examined 48 844 women for six years and two months. Consumption of milk is measured by sending the form to the respondent history of food consumption. During this period, the team found 317 cases Hjartäker breast cancer patients.
It turned out that the consumption of milk since childhood negatively associated with the incidence of breast cancer when they were aged 34-39 years (premenopausal). That means that the consumption of milk since childhood can reduce the risk of breast cancer.
Consumption of milk in adulthood also reduces the risk of breast cancer after corrected by hormonal factors, body mass index, physical activity, and alcohol consumption. Women who do not consume milk run the risk of breast cancer 2 times greater than women who consumed milk 3 cups or more of milk every day.
Milk can be consumed in various forms. There is nothing in the fresh or processed form, such as milk powder or condensed milk. Humans also consume milk from food products containing milk, such as cheese, ice cream, and yogurt.
However, there are still differences of opinion about the consumption of this milk. No group has claimed that the consumption of milk every day is not good for health, especially vascular diseases such as narrowing of blood vessels. The argument is, milk increases blood cholesterol levels risk factors for heart disease. Secondly, there is a positive relationship between average milk production per capita with deaths from heart disease in some countries.
Other groups supporting the role of milk at a reduced risk of various degenerative diseases, such as heart disease, hypertension, and cancer. Recent studies in Norway to support it.
Hjartäker together with colleagues from the Institute of Community Medicine, University of Tromso, Norway, through its publication in the International Journal of Cancer, proving that eating three or more glasses of milk every day can reduce the risk of breast cancer in premenopausal women.
Through the study cohort the Norwegian Women and Cancer Study, they examined 48 844 women for six years and two months. Consumption of milk is measured by sending the form to the respondent history of food consumption. During this period, the Hjartäker's team found 317 cases breast cancer patients.
It turned out that the consumption of milk since childhood negatively associated with the incidence of breast cancer when they were aged 34-39 years (premenopausal). That means that the consumption of milk since childhood can reduce the risk of breast cancer.
Consumption of milk in adulthood also reduces the risk of breast cancer after corrected by hormonal factors, body mass index, physical activity, and alcohol consumption. Women who do not consume milk run the risk of breast cancer 2 times greater than women who consumed milk 3 cups or more of milk every day.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Distress behind Food Packaging
Food packaging is part of everyday foods that we consumption. For most people, just food packaging food wrappers, and tends to be regarded as a "protector" of food. Actually, not exactly, depending on the type of packaging material. We recommend that you carefully pick from now on food packaging.
Packaging on food has the function of health, preservation, convenience, uniformity, promotion and information. There are so many materials used as a primer on food packaging, ie packaging in direct contact with food. But not all of this material is safe for foods that are packed. This is the top ranking of packaging materials food that you need to be aware.
PaperSome non-packaging paper and packaging (newsprint and magazines) that often used to wrap food, containing detectable lead (Pb) exceed specified limits. In the human body, lead entering through the respiratory or digestive tract into the system blood circulation, and then spread to various other tissues such as kidney, liver, brain, nerves and bones. This lead poisoning in adults characterized by symptoms 3 P, namely pallor (pale), pain (pain) and paralysis (paralysis). Poisoning that occurred could be chronicand acute.
To avoid food contaminated heavy metals lead, indeed easy bother. Many snack foods such as bananasfried, tofu and tempeh fried gorengm wrapped in newspaper because knowledge is less than the seller. Though hot and greasy materials facilitate the migration of lead food. As prevention efforts, put these street food on a plate.
StyrofoamStyrofoam or polystyrene packaging materials has become one The most popular choice in the food business. However, recent research prove that the styrofoam questionable safety.
Styrofoam is made from the copolymer is a choice styren business food because it can prevent leaks and keep the its shape when held. In addition, the material is also capable of retain heat and cold but still comfortably held, maintain freshness and integrity of the packaged materials, low cost, more secure, and lightweight.
In July 2001, the Food Safety Division of the Government of Japan revealed styrofoam residues in food that is very dangerous. Residues can cause endocrine disrupter (EDC), which is a disease occur due to interference with the system and reproductive endocrinology human due to chemical carcinogens in food.
Currently, there are many fast food restaurants that are still using styrofoam as a container for food or drink.Wherever possible you should avoid using styrofoam for hot food or drink, because as well as plastic, high temperature causes the movement of chemical components of Styrofoam into your food.
TinIn general, food products are packaged in cans will lose image of the fresh flavor and nutritional value due to decreased processing with high temperature. One thing that is also quite disturbing is the emergence of a sense of taint or taste like metal cans that arise from tin coating is not perfect.
The main danger in canned food is the growth of the bacteria Clostridium botulinum which can cause poisoning botulinin. Signs botulinin poisoning among others throats a stiff, eyes dizzy and convulsions that brought death due to difficult breathing. Usually these bacteria grow in canned foods that do notperfect processing or in cans that leak so that the food in contaminated inside air from the outside.Fortunately this botulinin poison sensitive to warming.
Carefully select the tin packaging is an attempt to avoid hazards such unwanted. Choose is finea slightly dented cans, provided there are no leaks. In addition immediately move the rest of the canned food to another place for destruction cans that happens then it would not mmepengaruhi quality food.
PlasticEvery day we use the plastic, either for processing, storing or repacking food. Rather than traditional packaging such as leaves or animal skin, plastic is more practical and durable. The disadvantage is that plastic is not heat resistant and durable. The disadvantage is that plastic is not heat resistant and can contaminateproduct due to migration of the monomer component which would be bad on the health of consumers. In addition, the plastic is also problematic for environment because it is a material that can not be destroyed byquickly and naturally. (Non-biodegradable).
Keep in mind that the plastic is actually odorless and colorless. So, avoid the use of plastic odor and color. So avoid the use of plastic odor and dark color to wrap food directly.
Crackle black plastic that is often used as a wrapper fried, plastic cups used for boiling water, bottled water packaging minerals in the sun every day, and the use of plastic kilogram to make a diamond, tends to be examples of the use of plastic packaging is wrong and very dangerous. As a result of the use of plasticnot in accordance with this function, it is feared will happen transfer of chemical components from the plastic into the food.
Some plastic packaging material derived from polyethylene polypropilenpolyvinylchlorida which, if burned or heated to causing dioxin, a highly toxic substance and is cause cancer and can reduce the immune systemsomeone. Keeping the plastic to change during use as packaging is a peaceful way to avoid these hazards.
Packaging on food has the function of health, preservation, convenience, uniformity, promotion and information. There are so many materials used as a primer on food packaging, ie packaging in direct contact with food. But not all of this material is safe for foods that are packed. This is the top ranking of packaging materials food that you need to be aware.
PaperSome non-packaging paper and packaging (newsprint and magazines) that often used to wrap food, containing detectable lead (Pb) exceed specified limits. In the human body, lead entering through the respiratory or digestive tract into the system blood circulation, and then spread to various other tissues such as kidney, liver, brain, nerves and bones. This lead poisoning in adults characterized by symptoms 3 P, namely pallor (pale), pain (pain) and paralysis (paralysis). Poisoning that occurred could be chronicand acute.
To avoid food contaminated heavy metals lead, indeed easy bother. Many snack foods such as bananasfried, tofu and tempeh fried gorengm wrapped in newspaper because knowledge is less than the seller. Though hot and greasy materials facilitate the migration of lead food. As prevention efforts, put these street food on a plate.
StyrofoamStyrofoam or polystyrene packaging materials has become one The most popular choice in the food business. However, recent research prove that the styrofoam questionable safety.
Styrofoam is made from the copolymer is a choice styren business food because it can prevent leaks and keep the its shape when held. In addition, the material is also capable of retain heat and cold but still comfortably held, maintain freshness and integrity of the packaged materials, low cost, more secure, and lightweight.
In July 2001, the Food Safety Division of the Government of Japan revealed styrofoam residues in food that is very dangerous. Residues can cause endocrine disrupter (EDC), which is a disease occur due to interference with the system and reproductive endocrinology human due to chemical carcinogens in food.
Currently, there are many fast food restaurants that are still using styrofoam as a container for food or drink.Wherever possible you should avoid using styrofoam for hot food or drink, because as well as plastic, high temperature causes the movement of chemical components of Styrofoam into your food.
TinIn general, food products are packaged in cans will lose image of the fresh flavor and nutritional value due to decreased processing with high temperature. One thing that is also quite disturbing is the emergence of a sense of taint or taste like metal cans that arise from tin coating is not perfect.
The main danger in canned food is the growth of the bacteria Clostridium botulinum which can cause poisoning botulinin. Signs botulinin poisoning among others throats a stiff, eyes dizzy and convulsions that brought death due to difficult breathing. Usually these bacteria grow in canned foods that do notperfect processing or in cans that leak so that the food in contaminated inside air from the outside.Fortunately this botulinin poison sensitive to warming.
Carefully select the tin packaging is an attempt to avoid hazards such unwanted. Choose is finea slightly dented cans, provided there are no leaks. In addition immediately move the rest of the canned food to another place for destruction cans that happens then it would not mmepengaruhi quality food.
PlasticEvery day we use the plastic, either for processing, storing or repacking food. Rather than traditional packaging such as leaves or animal skin, plastic is more practical and durable. The disadvantage is that plastic is not heat resistant and durable. The disadvantage is that plastic is not heat resistant and can contaminateproduct due to migration of the monomer component which would be bad on the health of consumers. In addition, the plastic is also problematic for environment because it is a material that can not be destroyed byquickly and naturally. (Non-biodegradable).
Keep in mind that the plastic is actually odorless and colorless. So, avoid the use of plastic odor and color. So avoid the use of plastic odor and dark color to wrap food directly.
Crackle black plastic that is often used as a wrapper fried, plastic cups used for boiling water, bottled water packaging minerals in the sun every day, and the use of plastic kilogram to make a diamond, tends to be examples of the use of plastic packaging is wrong and very dangerous. As a result of the use of plasticnot in accordance with this function, it is feared will happen transfer of chemical components from the plastic into the food.
Some plastic packaging material derived from polyethylene polypropilenpolyvinylchlorida which, if burned or heated to causing dioxin, a highly toxic substance and is cause cancer and can reduce the immune systemsomeone. Keeping the plastic to change during use as packaging is a peaceful way to avoid these hazards.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
How to Streamline Body
There are many ways to lose weight, ranging from the various methods of diet, exercise, liposuction surgery, acupuncture, to take medicine slimming. Which is safe and effective?
Referring to the World Health Organization, WHO, noted that a good weight loss can not be done instantly, but it is a long-term therapy. All it takes to lose weight rather than reduce the size of the meal, but also needed guidance from a nutritionist before making dietary changes, along with physical activity and behavioral therapy.
To find out how slimming where a healthy, safe, and effective, please read the following descriptions to complete.
Liposuction
How to get rid of fat that is now the trend is liposuction surgery and tummy-tuck. This operation was chosen because of weight loss can be decreased drastically without the need to tired to exercise and dieting, it is proved by the testimony of a famous artist. But why do so even though the fat is removed, his body is still too stretchy?
Basically, liposuction is surgery to remove fat under the skin, and made to achieve harmony of body, not to lose weight. While tummy-tuck is the removal of excess fatty tissue and overlying skin to form a more aesthetic body. Fat should not be reduced any more than 3-5 kg once operations
According to nutrition specialist, dr.Johanes Chandrawinata, MND, SpGK, both types of surgery are commonly performed on patients who have a doctor's body sagged after her body weight decreased. So, to lose weight first before surgery, not surgery to lose weight because after 3 months the body will be fat again.
Gastric bindings & gastric by-passThis action is selected if any slimming method did not work. Gastric bindings is the installation tool "binder stomach" which causes a smaller stomach pouch so that we will not eat too much because your body feel full faster. Through this act of weight loss can be reduced 35-60 percent in 12 months.
Unlike the gastric binding temporary, gastric by-pass is permanent, the physician will make a 'road' liaison between the base of the stomach with the small intestine so that food through the stomach but not directly into the small intestine. With gastric bypass, weight loss can be reduced to 80 percent. To perform these two types of action, patients should be aged over 35 years.
Acupuncture
Until now acupuncture method has not been scientifically proven to lose weight. Generally, the patients had stopped in the middle of the road because never get the ideal weight expected.
Drugs and supplements slimmingPrior to believe by the lure of advertising, you should first carefully the content of drugs and supplements. Drug control agency and the U.S. Food Administration (FDA) even forbade the consumption of slimming supplements containing ephedrine content akftif E.sinica or because it has side effects of psychiatric symptoms, interfere with the digestive tract and makes the heart pounding.
Although states could reduce levels of fat, not a slimming drug that is only capable of reducing body weight of 1.2 kg for 6-14 weeks, equivalent to redah calorie diet for 1250 a day at 0.5-week period without any medication.
Popular Diets
Popular diets often referred to as "Fad Diets", has a characteristic, among others; promising rapid weight loss, can cure various illnesses, encourage the use of supplements, eating on time, limit or prohibit certain foods and only for a period of view.
Which can be classified into fad diets such as low-carb diet, food combining, diet based on blood type, mayo clinic diet. Since the number of prohibitions to eat certain foods, usually the body's nutritional needs are not met because of lack of vitamins, iron, and fiber.
In terms of nutrition, all meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) are encouraged to eat foods that vary in the amount of balance, because the body needs various nutrients as well.
Lose weight in a healthyAlthough no definitive answer where the most appropriate diet to lose weight, but dr. John recommends dietary patterns conducted by the National Weight Control Registry (NWCR) in the U.S.. NWCR is a data set of people (there are 4000 people) who have lost weight over 13 kg and survive for over 5 years.
Characteristic diet is low in fat (24 percent of calorie intake), intake of high carbohydrate, low-calorie (1300-1500 kcal / day). Because we can not know how many calories are contained in food, dr.Johanes suggested to reduce the intake is smaller than normal portions.
Described by dr.Johanes, the majority of members enrolled in the NWCR do eat breakfast regularly, monitor their own weight and exercising regularly. With low-fat diet low in calories such as these have proven to reduce weight more than 13 kg and can be maintained over 5 years.
Referring to the World Health Organization, WHO, noted that a good weight loss can not be done instantly, but it is a long-term therapy. All it takes to lose weight rather than reduce the size of the meal, but also needed guidance from a nutritionist before making dietary changes, along with physical activity and behavioral therapy.
To find out how slimming where a healthy, safe, and effective, please read the following descriptions to complete.
Liposuction
How to get rid of fat that is now the trend is liposuction surgery and tummy-tuck. This operation was chosen because of weight loss can be decreased drastically without the need to tired to exercise and dieting, it is proved by the testimony of a famous artist. But why do so even though the fat is removed, his body is still too stretchy?
Basically, liposuction is surgery to remove fat under the skin, and made to achieve harmony of body, not to lose weight. While tummy-tuck is the removal of excess fatty tissue and overlying skin to form a more aesthetic body. Fat should not be reduced any more than 3-5 kg once operations
According to nutrition specialist, dr.Johanes Chandrawinata, MND, SpGK, both types of surgery are commonly performed on patients who have a doctor's body sagged after her body weight decreased. So, to lose weight first before surgery, not surgery to lose weight because after 3 months the body will be fat again.
Gastric bindings & gastric by-passThis action is selected if any slimming method did not work. Gastric bindings is the installation tool "binder stomach" which causes a smaller stomach pouch so that we will not eat too much because your body feel full faster. Through this act of weight loss can be reduced 35-60 percent in 12 months.
Unlike the gastric binding temporary, gastric by-pass is permanent, the physician will make a 'road' liaison between the base of the stomach with the small intestine so that food through the stomach but not directly into the small intestine. With gastric bypass, weight loss can be reduced to 80 percent. To perform these two types of action, patients should be aged over 35 years.
Acupuncture
Until now acupuncture method has not been scientifically proven to lose weight. Generally, the patients had stopped in the middle of the road because never get the ideal weight expected.
Drugs and supplements slimmingPrior to believe by the lure of advertising, you should first carefully the content of drugs and supplements. Drug control agency and the U.S. Food Administration (FDA) even forbade the consumption of slimming supplements containing ephedrine content akftif E.sinica or because it has side effects of psychiatric symptoms, interfere with the digestive tract and makes the heart pounding.
Although states could reduce levels of fat, not a slimming drug that is only capable of reducing body weight of 1.2 kg for 6-14 weeks, equivalent to redah calorie diet for 1250 a day at 0.5-week period without any medication.
Popular Diets
Popular diets often referred to as "Fad Diets", has a characteristic, among others; promising rapid weight loss, can cure various illnesses, encourage the use of supplements, eating on time, limit or prohibit certain foods and only for a period of view.
Which can be classified into fad diets such as low-carb diet, food combining, diet based on blood type, mayo clinic diet. Since the number of prohibitions to eat certain foods, usually the body's nutritional needs are not met because of lack of vitamins, iron, and fiber.
In terms of nutrition, all meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) are encouraged to eat foods that vary in the amount of balance, because the body needs various nutrients as well.
Lose weight in a healthyAlthough no definitive answer where the most appropriate diet to lose weight, but dr. John recommends dietary patterns conducted by the National Weight Control Registry (NWCR) in the U.S.. NWCR is a data set of people (there are 4000 people) who have lost weight over 13 kg and survive for over 5 years.
Characteristic diet is low in fat (24 percent of calorie intake), intake of high carbohydrate, low-calorie (1300-1500 kcal / day). Because we can not know how many calories are contained in food, dr.Johanes suggested to reduce the intake is smaller than normal portions.
Described by dr.Johanes, the majority of members enrolled in the NWCR do eat breakfast regularly, monitor their own weight and exercising regularly. With low-fat diet low in calories such as these have proven to reduce weight more than 13 kg and can be maintained over 5 years.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Childhoot Vaccinations
WEIGHING THE BENEFITS AND RISKS OF CHILDHOOD VACCINATIONS
The discovery of safe vaccines to prevent childhood diseases has been one of the most powerful medical tools developed to save the lives of babies, children and adults. Most of these vaccines are scheduled to pick up when the naturally inherited immunizations from the mother start decreasing during the first year. It may seem like a heavy schedule to parents of babies and toddlers, but the protection they are gaining can save them from discomfort, pain, irreparable damage and even death. It is estimated that, globally, more than 1.4 million children under the age of 5 die each year from preventable diseases. Most of these deaths occur in countries that do not have a rigorous vaccination program.
While vaccinations are constantly being monitored and improved, there is no question that there is a miniscule risk factor involved when live, inactive or dead disease-carrying antigens are injected into any human being. The plan is that your body will produce its own antibodies to destroy these perceived threats and that memory cells will be developed to return to fight should the real disease ever show up in later years. As you age, your defenses may weaken and boosters may be be required to maintain a vigilant, disease-fighting immune system.
THE IMPORTANCE OF VACCINATING YOUR CHILD
Diseases that have had high mortality rates in the recent past and still do in some parts of the world today are now controlled in the United States by an active vaccination program, which is supported by family doctors and organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians. Not only is the individual child offered protection against destructive and contagious bacteria and viruses, but also the community at large is also guarded, especially its most vulnerable members. Babies under 12 months of age, the very elderly, those who cannot be vaccinated for other medical reasons, those who do not respond to standard vaccinations and those whose parents choose not to have them vaccinated are all safer when the majority around them pose no threat of infecting. Epidemics are slowed down if not eliminated in regions where childhood vaccinations are available and accepted by the majority of parents.
THE ROLE OF BACTERIA AND VIRUSES
Most preventable diseases are triggered either by viruses or bacteria. Diptheria, hib, and pertussis (whooping cough) are the result of an invasion of harmful bacteria. Viruses produce diseases such as measles, mumps, and polio. Meningitis can be caused by either. Fortunately, vaccinations given singly or in combination, usually in more than one dose, can protect against these diseases. Other easily preventable diseases include hepatitis, A, B and C (liver diseases); rotavirus (severe diarrhea); tetanus; influenza, and varicella (chicken pox) and pneumococcal disease ("strep").
NEW VACCINES OFFER EVEN GREATER PROTECTION
Newer vaccinations have been or are in the development process for HIV-AIDS, malaria, TB and parasitic diseases such as hookworm. The HPV vaccination has now been approved for boys 9-18 for preventing some form of genital warts. It was originally introduced for girls age 11-12 for extra cervical cancer protection. Other vaccinations may soon be available for ear, respiratory and diarrheal infections.
While risks exist with virtually any medical treatment, the number of children who have been protected and saved through proper vaccination far surpasses the rare few who have suffered harmful side effects. Our world is a much safer place today because of the discovery and acceptance of vaccination procedures for preventing childhood diseases.
The discovery of safe vaccines to prevent childhood diseases has been one of the most powerful medical tools developed to save the lives of babies, children and adults. Most of these vaccines are scheduled to pick up when the naturally inherited immunizations from the mother start decreasing during the first year. It may seem like a heavy schedule to parents of babies and toddlers, but the protection they are gaining can save them from discomfort, pain, irreparable damage and even death. It is estimated that, globally, more than 1.4 million children under the age of 5 die each year from preventable diseases. Most of these deaths occur in countries that do not have a rigorous vaccination program.
While vaccinations are constantly being monitored and improved, there is no question that there is a miniscule risk factor involved when live, inactive or dead disease-carrying antigens are injected into any human being. The plan is that your body will produce its own antibodies to destroy these perceived threats and that memory cells will be developed to return to fight should the real disease ever show up in later years. As you age, your defenses may weaken and boosters may be be required to maintain a vigilant, disease-fighting immune system.
THE IMPORTANCE OF VACCINATING YOUR CHILD
Diseases that have had high mortality rates in the recent past and still do in some parts of the world today are now controlled in the United States by an active vaccination program, which is supported by family doctors and organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians. Not only is the individual child offered protection against destructive and contagious bacteria and viruses, but also the community at large is also guarded, especially its most vulnerable members. Babies under 12 months of age, the very elderly, those who cannot be vaccinated for other medical reasons, those who do not respond to standard vaccinations and those whose parents choose not to have them vaccinated are all safer when the majority around them pose no threat of infecting. Epidemics are slowed down if not eliminated in regions where childhood vaccinations are available and accepted by the majority of parents.
THE ROLE OF BACTERIA AND VIRUSES
Most preventable diseases are triggered either by viruses or bacteria. Diptheria, hib, and pertussis (whooping cough) are the result of an invasion of harmful bacteria. Viruses produce diseases such as measles, mumps, and polio. Meningitis can be caused by either. Fortunately, vaccinations given singly or in combination, usually in more than one dose, can protect against these diseases. Other easily preventable diseases include hepatitis, A, B and C (liver diseases); rotavirus (severe diarrhea); tetanus; influenza, and varicella (chicken pox) and pneumococcal disease ("strep").
NEW VACCINES OFFER EVEN GREATER PROTECTION
Newer vaccinations have been or are in the development process for HIV-AIDS, malaria, TB and parasitic diseases such as hookworm. The HPV vaccination has now been approved for boys 9-18 for preventing some form of genital warts. It was originally introduced for girls age 11-12 for extra cervical cancer protection. Other vaccinations may soon be available for ear, respiratory and diarrheal infections.
While risks exist with virtually any medical treatment, the number of children who have been protected and saved through proper vaccination far surpasses the rare few who have suffered harmful side effects. Our world is a much safer place today because of the discovery and acceptance of vaccination procedures for preventing childhood diseases.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Study Shows That Asthma Sufferers Find Relief Using A Nebulizer
To live with asthma means that you are at risk of experiencing an asthma attack at any moment. As your body does not get enough oxygen then you run the risk of causing further damage to the cells of your body as they are not getting the oxygen-rich supply of blood that is necessary to sustain life. To avoid this physicians have been widely recommending to asthma sufferers the use of a nebulizer. This device is made specifically for the function of transforming respiratory medication into vapor form so that it can be breathed in through the lungs.
In a study performed at the Freeman Health Clinic in Texas it was found that those patients who had this respiratory condition and used a nebulizer were far more likely to quickly find relief and to prevent an asthma attack. Essentially, the study was conducted by utilizing 100 different patients with basically the same level of lung condition. With all things being equal 50 of these patients were allowed the ability to utilize this medical device and the other 50 were not. The subjects were studies in detail over a period of 30 days by paying particular attention to the number of times that they actually did experience an attack.
The study did show conclusively that those patients that did in fact utilize a nebulizer on a regular basis were less likely to get an attack and were better able to suppress their symptoms. The general agreement among the subjects allowed to use the product was that it was extremely convenient as it could be taken anywhere that the individual desired to go. There were many subjects that due to their work restrictions had to go on business trips either to other states or even outside the continental U.S. Feedback from these specific persons showed the consensus that they were able to easily take their device with them wherever they went and to administer the medication whenever they felt that it was needed.
The other 50 individuals that were not given this device to utilize did in fact experience a great deal of asthma attacks and some even were required to go to the emergency room to seek further medical treatment. A supplemental study was conducted by the clinic six months after the initial study whereby those same subjects that were not allowed access to the device where now given it and monitored closely to track their occurrences of attacks. The report showed that 75% of those individuals did in fact have an enormous drop in the number of attacks.
In a study performed at the Freeman Health Clinic in Texas it was found that those patients who had this respiratory condition and used a nebulizer were far more likely to quickly find relief and to prevent an asthma attack. Essentially, the study was conducted by utilizing 100 different patients with basically the same level of lung condition. With all things being equal 50 of these patients were allowed the ability to utilize this medical device and the other 50 were not. The subjects were studies in detail over a period of 30 days by paying particular attention to the number of times that they actually did experience an attack.
The study did show conclusively that those patients that did in fact utilize a nebulizer on a regular basis were less likely to get an attack and were better able to suppress their symptoms. The general agreement among the subjects allowed to use the product was that it was extremely convenient as it could be taken anywhere that the individual desired to go. There were many subjects that due to their work restrictions had to go on business trips either to other states or even outside the continental U.S. Feedback from these specific persons showed the consensus that they were able to easily take their device with them wherever they went and to administer the medication whenever they felt that it was needed.
The other 50 individuals that were not given this device to utilize did in fact experience a great deal of asthma attacks and some even were required to go to the emergency room to seek further medical treatment. A supplemental study was conducted by the clinic six months after the initial study whereby those same subjects that were not allowed access to the device where now given it and monitored closely to track their occurrences of attacks. The report showed that 75% of those individuals did in fact have an enormous drop in the number of attacks.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Smell Loss Often Causes Taste Loss
Many people wonder why it is that if your nose is stuffed up from a cold, it becomes much more difficult to taste food. Smell plays such an important role in taste that it is hard to tell the difference between foods with a similar texture if the olfactory (smell) system isn't working properly.
The reason that smell plays such a big role in taste is that these two senses work in harmony. All foods have odor molecules which get picked up by a specialized patch of cells in the upper nasal tract and through the roof of the mouth. Messages about these molecules (called odorants) then get sent to the brain. The brain then interprets the message and we then "know" what we are about to eat because the brain has identified it for us.
Since we smell our food before we eat it, the odorant molecules reach the brain even before food enters the mouth. This helps us to know if foods are spoiled so we don't eat foods that will make us sick. This means that smell plays a critical role in our survival. This is why smell and taste are so connected to each other. Smell loss can be dangerous - especially to the elderly - if they eat spoiled food. The tendency to forget how long something has been in the refrigerator coupled with an inability to smell if it is safe to eat and overall frail health can cause serious illness and even death.
Moreover, smell also triggers our appetite and makes us want to eat. The wonderful smells of our favorite foods actually help jumpstart the digestive processes. Many people with smell loss find that food loses its appeal and food is no longer desired. This too can lead to significant health problems especially for those with existing illnesses and the elderly. A thorough evaluation by a doctor who specializes in smell and taste loss should be considered because of the serious effects that this can have on health. If your older parent is complaining that food doesn't taste good any more, then you should keep a close eye on them for weight loss. Malnutrition in the elderly can worsen their other health problems and even lead to premature death.
More often than not, taste loss is actually occurs because of an underlying the underlying smell loss - that's how important smell is to our sense of taste. In fact smell disorders are much, much more common than true taste disorders and more often found in men than women. Usually smell loss occurs slowly over time - so slowly in fact - that people don't even know it is happening. As a result many folks are unaware that they have a smell loss problem. We know this is true because only 1-2% of people report having this problem, but test results show they do. Over the age of 65 as many as 50% of people will have smell loss, but by age 75 - that number jumps to 75%! This means that most of us will be affected by smell loss in our later years. You may already know someone suffering from this problem, especially if you have older parents.
Although aging is one of the most common causes of smell and taste loss, there are quite a few other causes. These include: vitamin deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, dental problems, sinus infections, exposure to toxins, respiratory infections, certain medications, nasal polyps, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, uncontrolled diabetes, thyroid problems, and Alzheimer's disease.
One of the keys to overcoming taste loss is proper identification of the underlying cause, but the other is learning how to manage it. Be sure to learn as much as you can so that you can start enjoying your food again!
The reason that smell plays such a big role in taste is that these two senses work in harmony. All foods have odor molecules which get picked up by a specialized patch of cells in the upper nasal tract and through the roof of the mouth. Messages about these molecules (called odorants) then get sent to the brain. The brain then interprets the message and we then "know" what we are about to eat because the brain has identified it for us.
Since we smell our food before we eat it, the odorant molecules reach the brain even before food enters the mouth. This helps us to know if foods are spoiled so we don't eat foods that will make us sick. This means that smell plays a critical role in our survival. This is why smell and taste are so connected to each other. Smell loss can be dangerous - especially to the elderly - if they eat spoiled food. The tendency to forget how long something has been in the refrigerator coupled with an inability to smell if it is safe to eat and overall frail health can cause serious illness and even death.
Moreover, smell also triggers our appetite and makes us want to eat. The wonderful smells of our favorite foods actually help jumpstart the digestive processes. Many people with smell loss find that food loses its appeal and food is no longer desired. This too can lead to significant health problems especially for those with existing illnesses and the elderly. A thorough evaluation by a doctor who specializes in smell and taste loss should be considered because of the serious effects that this can have on health. If your older parent is complaining that food doesn't taste good any more, then you should keep a close eye on them for weight loss. Malnutrition in the elderly can worsen their other health problems and even lead to premature death.
More often than not, taste loss is actually occurs because of an underlying the underlying smell loss - that's how important smell is to our sense of taste. In fact smell disorders are much, much more common than true taste disorders and more often found in men than women. Usually smell loss occurs slowly over time - so slowly in fact - that people don't even know it is happening. As a result many folks are unaware that they have a smell loss problem. We know this is true because only 1-2% of people report having this problem, but test results show they do. Over the age of 65 as many as 50% of people will have smell loss, but by age 75 - that number jumps to 75%! This means that most of us will be affected by smell loss in our later years. You may already know someone suffering from this problem, especially if you have older parents.
Although aging is one of the most common causes of smell and taste loss, there are quite a few other causes. These include: vitamin deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, dental problems, sinus infections, exposure to toxins, respiratory infections, certain medications, nasal polyps, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, uncontrolled diabetes, thyroid problems, and Alzheimer's disease.
One of the keys to overcoming taste loss is proper identification of the underlying cause, but the other is learning how to manage it. Be sure to learn as much as you can so that you can start enjoying your food again!
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