HEALTH TODAY

Ways to tackle Low blood pressure..

2011-12-24T04:39:00.000-08:00

Low blood pressure or also known as hypotension is a condition in which the pressure of the blood pumping through the arteries is abnormally low. People with a reading of around 90/60 or less are commonly regarded as having low blood pressure.

In fact, it affects a large number of people worldwide. Very often people don't realize they are suffering from it and often dismiss it as an one-off case of feeling dizzy or ill. It could be a sign of a serious issue with the heart, endocrine or even signal neurological disorders. Severe low blood pressure can block oxygen and vital nutrients from flowing to the brain and hence shouldn't be taken lightly.

v Increase water and salt intake - When the water and salt content of your body is reduced, it may lead to low blood pressure. Drink at least eight glasses of water a day. Water helps increase the volume of your blood, and having more blood in your arteries will increase your blood pressure. People who are diagnosed with hypotension are usually advised to increase the salt intake in their food. However, too much of salt is not good for the health, so it should not exceed certain limit.

v Avoid alcohol drink - Alcohol is dehydrating which can cause low blood pressure, even if you drink in moderation.

v Eat small frequent meals - To help prevent postprandial hypotension (low blood pressure after meals), eat in small portions several times a day and lying down after eating, or sitting still for a while may also help.

v Follow a healthy diet - Get all the nutrients you need for good health by focusing on a variety of foods, including fish, fruits, vegetables, whole grains and limit high-carb foods such as rice, potatoes, bread and pasta.

v Have Beetroot - The juice of raw beetroot is one of the best remedies for low blood pressure. You should drink a cup of beetroot juice twice a day to treat hypotension. Substantial improvement will be seen within a week.

v Wear support stockings - Support stockings or also called compression stockings are a tight elastic socks or stockings. They provide extra pressure to the feet, legs, and stomach, which will help stimulate circulation and increase blood pressure.

v Stand up gradually - Before getting out of bed in the morning, try some physical movements first to increase your heart rate and the flow of blood around your body. For example, stretching in bed before you get up, or crossing and uncrossing your legs if you are seated and about to stand.

The symptoms of low blood pressure usually can be treated by making these small changes to your lifestyle. However, if the symptoms are not treatable and progress over time, then you must talk to your doctor, they will establish the underlying cause of your hypotension in order to determine the best treatment for you.

Skin care in Winter

2011-12-14T04:37:00.000-08:00

Winter is just not about warm clothes or fireside reading. It is time to battle the cold winds that hampers your body. A little care will keep the wintry troubles at bay.

Your skin texture depends not only on external treatments, but also on the intake. A proper nutritious intake helps in rejuvenating the skin from within. Fruits and vegetables in your daily diet release a lot of water to your system. Primrose syrup and olive oil in your diet also aids in softening your skin.

v Moisturize More: Moisturizers and cold creams are a must in the winters. You may have found a moisturizer that works just fine in spring and summer. But as weather conditions change, so, too, should your skin care routine. Apply some good cold cream on your face before going to bed. Moisten your skin with a good moisturizer or a creamy hand and body lotion.

v Slather on the Sunscreen: Sunscreen isn't just for summertime. Winter sun - combined with snow glare - can still damage your skin. Try applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen to your face and your hands (if they're exposed) about 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply frequently if you stay outside a long time. Even if you're not hitting the slopes, you still need the protection of a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more.

v Avoid Wet Gloves and Socks: Wet socks and gloves can irritate your skin and cause itching, cracking, sores, or even a flare-up of eczema.

v Hydrate for Your Health: Drinking water helps your skin stay young looking. In fact, it's a myth. Water plays an important role in keeping your skin alive. A good amount of water helps in retaining the moisture of your skin as well keeping skin disorders at bay.

v Grease Up Your Feet: Painful, cracked heels are a common skin condition, especially in winter. They are often caused by dry skin. Some minty foot lotions are lovely in the hot summer months, but during the winter, your feet need stronger stuff. Try finding lotions that contain petroleum jelly or glycerine instead. And use exfoliants to get the dead skin off periodically; that helps any moisturizers you use to sink in faster and deeper.

v Use Super-Fatted Soap: If your facial skin is uncomfortably dry, avoid using harsh peels, masks, and alcohol-based toners or astringents, all of which can strip vital oil from your skin. Clearing away dead skin cells lets a moisturizer better penetrate dry skin. The same products that keep your face looking fresh in the spring and summer may cause skin problems during winter. Choose a gentle, super-fatted, fragrance-free soap bar or liquid for cleansing. Super-fatted means the soap is loaded with oils.

v Ban Superhot Baths: Sure, soaking in a burning-hot bath feels great after frolicking out in the cold. But the intense heat of a hot shower or bath actually breaks down the lipid barriers in the skin, which can lead to a loss of moisture. A shower can add water to your skin -- as long as you keep it short and sweet. Long, hot showers can actually draw water from your skin

Pain free future ahead!

2011-09-26T20:31:00.000-07:00

Pain in the lower back or low back pain is a common concern, affecting most of the people at some point in lifetime. Strain in the lumbar muscle is one of the most common causes of back pain especially in the lower back. Often, back pain is actually a symptom of something that you can control, like your activity level or the way you sit in your chair at work. Though there are other causes as well, most cases of back pain can be resolved

Reasons:

· Obese people experience back pain frequently. The pain is felt in the neck and lower back. Weight loss can help in reducing this type of back pain.

· Sleeping Posture: The position and surface on which one sleeps may cause back pain, such as hard surfaces and mattresses. The soft surface tends to put strain on the spine. Some positional changes can reduce this type of back pain.

· Injury to the back may happen from an accident or a torn rotator calf in the shoulder. During accidents the body receives large amount of energy or shock within a small period that damages the muscles, tendons and ligaments.

· Faulty postures and poor body mechanics will cause lower back pain and be at least partially attributed to these faults.

Do’s:

· Have a break at regular intervals and do stretching exercises like neck rolls, chin tucks, cupping head in hands behind the head and extension exercises.

· Back pain can be caused by sitting in an improper position for a prolonged period of time. Maintaining a good and straight posture, using ergonomically designed chairs.

· Standing: keeping one foot forward of the other, with knees slightly bent, takes the pressure off your low back.

· Avoid taking pain or anti-inflammatory medication when in pain from using a computer. This will serve to mask the symptoms but can lead to serious injury or permanent nerve damage in the long term.

· Yoga and meditation is considered to be beneficial not only in back pain but also improves your posture and plays a vital role in a treatment for back pain.

· Heat therapy: Apply heat to your aching back by using a hot compress, a dry or moist heating pad, or hydrotherapy (hot bath). Heat therapy can help decrease muscle spasms, relax tense muscles, relieve pain, and can increase range of motion.

· The best position for relief when your back hurts is to lie on your back on the floor with pillows under your knees, with your hips and knees bent and your feet on a chair or just with your hips and knees bent. This takes the pressure and weight off your back.

Don’ts:

· Do not slouch in front of the computer or lie in bed and work on a laptop.

· Do not ignore back twinges and back pain, hoping that the problem will resolve itself.

· Do not sit on one leg or sit with legs crossed as this causes additional strain to the back.

· Do not perch a laptop on the lap and stare down at the screen - this places extra strain on the neck, spine and arms.

· If you are a smoker, quitting smoking can benefit your health in many different ways and will reduce your risk of future back pain.

Healthy way for a healthy mind!

2011-09-15T09:09:00.000-07:00

Choosing healthy food is important for your physical and mental health. Improve your mood naturally with more nutritious food choices. Food choices affect your mood, ability to concentrate and energy level. There has been more research to show how food does affect your mental health.

The psychological relationship between people and food is significant. For example, when people have tea or coffee, they may also socialize with friends, which may result in positive feelings. Such interactions are important to account for when considering how mood and food are connected.

A Quick Guide to a healthy, balanced diet:

· Exercise: The healing effect of exercise on the mind is truly astonishing. Regular exercise can reduce stress, increase self-esteem and improve your mood. Exercise for 30 minutes three to five days a week to significantly decrease symptoms of depression.

· Drink more water: Drinking more water can mollify several health maladies and depression is no exception. Dehydration has been linked to anger, fatigue and confusion. Cut your body weight in half; that is how many ounces of water you should drink each day. (Example: Someone who is 200 pounds should drink 100 ounces of water a day.) Not only will this help your mind feel balanced, it will do wonders for your physical health.

· Regular meals: Missing meals, especially breakfast, leads to low blood sugar and this causes low mood, irritability and fatigue. If you feel hungry between meals you may need to include a healthy snack eg. fruit, nuts and cereals.

· Refined foods: East fewer high sugar foods and more wholegrain cereals, nuts, beans, lentils, fruit and vegetables. Sugary foods are absorbed quickly into the bloodstream. This may cause an initial ‘high’ or surge of energy that soon wears off as the body increases its insulin production, leaving you feeling tired and low. Wholegrain cereals, pulses, fruit and vegetables are more filling and, because the sugar in these food is absorbed more slowly, don’t cause mood swings.

· Protein in your diet: Include protein at every meal to ensure a continuous supply of the amino acid tryptophan to the brain. You can ensure your brain gets a regular supply of tryptophan by including at least one good sized portion of protein at each meal ie. meat, fish, eggs, milk, cheese, nuts, beans, lentils (dhal), or a meat substitute such as textured vegetable protein or mycoprotein.

· Weight: Both excessive weight loss or weight gain can make your mood worse and should be avoided. Weight loss and lack of good nutrition will deprive the brain of glucose and the other nutrients that control mood.

· Healthy Fats: Unsaturated fats provide the fatty acids essential for brain function, a healthy heart, a strong immune system, and supple skin. Good sources of unsaturated fats include fish, nuts, olives, olive and corn oils, and avocados. An average adult should consume 5 to 7 teaspoons of unsaturated fats per day.

· Good sleep: Your mind and body will feel better if you sleep well. Your body needs time every day to rest and heal. For adults, 7-9 hours of sleep is essential in a day. If your sleep is frequently interrupted or cut short, you're not getting quality sleep which might disturb your mental well being.

· Reduce caffeine: If you’re a coffee junkie, you may not realize the effects caffeine has on your body system. However, you can reduce your stress levels and improve your mental performance throughout the day if you gradually wean yourself off of large amounts of caffeine.

Start Your Day with a tablespoon of Honey

2011-09-08T21:21:00.000-07:00

HONEY, a most assimilable carbohydrate compound, is a very much acceptable, practical and most effective aliment to create and replace energy. It has long been used as a health aid. Honey by nature is a antibacterial and antimicrobial. Hydrogen Peroxide is naturally produced by the enzymes contained in honey. This makes honey good for medicinal purposes.

Sweetener:
Sugar can be substituted with honey in many food and drinks. Honey contains about 69% glucose and fructose enabling it to be used as a sweetener.

Energy Source:
It contains about 64 calories per tablespoon. Hence honey is also used by many as a source of energy. On the other hand, one tablespoon of sugar will give you about 15 calories. Further the carbohydrates in the honey can be easily converted into glucose by even the most sensitive stomachs. Hence it is very easy to digest honey.

Weight Loss: Though honey has more calories than sugar, honey when consumed with warm water helps in digesting the fat stored in your body. Similarly honey and lemon juice and honey and cinnamon help in reducing weight.

Energy booster: Honey is an excellent ergogenic aid and helps in boosting the performance of athletes. Honey facilitates in maintaining blood sugar levels, muscle recuperation and glycogen restoration after a workout. The glucose in honey is absorbed by the body quickly and gives an immediate energy boost, while the fructose is absorbed more slowly providing sustained energy.

Source of Vitamins and Minerals: Honey contains a variety of vitamins and minerals. The type of vitamins and minerals and their quantity depends on the type of flowers used for apiculture. Commonly, honey contains Vitamin C, Calcium and Iron.

Antibacterial and Antifungal Properties: Honey has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties and hence it can be used as a natural antiseptic.

Antioxidants: Amongst the many health benefits of honey, what is most impressive– it can be a powerful immune system booster. It contains nutraceuticals, which are effective in removing free radicals from our body. Honey’s antioxidant and anti-bacterial properties can help improve digestive system and help you stay healthy and fight disease.

Skin Care with Milk and Honey: Milk and honey are often served together as both these ingredients help in getting a smooth soothing skin. Hence consuming milk and honeydaily in the morning is a common practice in many countries.

Honey in Wound Management: It speeds up the healing process by stimulating wound tissues and also helps in initiating the healing process in dormant wounds. Honey also helps in promoting moist wound healing.
Supports blood formation: Honey provides an important part of the energy needed by the body for blood formation. In addition, it helps in cleansing the blood. It has some positive effects in regulating and facilitating blood circulation.

Good Remedy: For stomach ulcers, gastritis, dyspepsia and sore throats, 1-2 teaspoons on an empty stomach (½ hour before meals), 1-4 times a day to assist in healing and provide pain relief.

Milk in your daily diet..

2011-08-26T07:48:00.000-07:00

Drinking milk has many benefits on body as it contains more nutrients. Milk is one of the most commonly consumed beverages by all section of the people.

Milk deficiency can cause severe anemia, osteoporosis and other related illnesses. Milk consumption is very essential to maintain good health and doing normal activities. It is the best source of calcium for all age groups.

What makes milk so special?

· Milk has been universally recognized as a balanced diet. It practically suits almost all the age groups. It is rich in nutrients.

· The main sugar present in the milk is Lactose.

· It has the essential minerals present in the milk are Calcium, Phosphorous, Sodium and Potassium.

· It also contains Vitamin A, C, and D, riboflavin, thiamine and amino acids.

Health benefits of milk

· Milk provides a unique balance of nutrients. It contains unique proportions of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals.

· More milk- stronger bones, as it contains abundant calcium. Calcium also aids in muscular and circulatory function. It also prevents osteoporosis.

· Low fat or fat free milk consumers are thinner and maintain a good overall health. It also helps in reducing weight in obese individuals.

· Fighting cavities: protein, calcium, phosphorus content in the milk protects the tooth enamel, stimulates saliva production, and neutralizes food acids.

· Reducing Blood pressure and diabetes- Calcium, magnesium and potassium content in milk helps to reduce the blood pressure and diabetes.

· Reduces the risk of colon cancer: Consuming at least one glass of milk per day reduces 15% risk of developing colon type of cancer

· Consumption of milk products can also help in reducing acidity

Other benefits of milk consumption

· Milk is an excellent post exercise beverage

· Milk helps in acidity and gastric ulcers, especially cold milk.

· Milk with pepper and turmeric helps to fight cough, asthma and allergy

· Milk with honey boost the immune system, to fight against infection

Stay away from heat, Stay cool!

2011-08-19T06:05:00.000-07:00

Excessive body heat may result in generalized weakness and lethargy in an individual. Reducing body heat becomes crucial when the environmental temperature is high. Sweating is a natural process to reduce body heat; however your diet and food play a crucial role in controlling body temperature.

Fruits to Reduce Body Heat:

There are certain fruits that can help reduce body temperature and also aid in balancing of the internal environment of the body

· Fresh fruits juices are very beneficial in reducing body heat. Orange and Grape fruit juice is considered beneficial in maintaining an average body temperature

· Excessive heat may result in excessive sweating which in turn may result in electrolyte imbalance and hence consuming fruits that help restore electrolyte balance is crucial in maintaining ideal body temperature.

· Banana is rich in potassium and helps restore electrolyte balance in the body. Other fruits that help to maintain electrolyte balance include lemon, pineapple, jackfruit and watermelon.

Foods that Reduce Body Heat:

Excessive body heat can result in dehydration, as sweating is the natural process of controlling body heat. Hence remaining adequately hydrated is crucial to prevent tiredness and lethargy which may be attributed to body heat and dehydration.

· Avoid intake of alcohol and caffeine. These foods may result in dehydration and in turn result in increase in the body temperature

· Foods that are astringent are good for reducing body heat.

· Vegetables are cooling and consuming of lots of vegetables and vegetable juices are very helpful.

· Increase the intake of dairy products like buttermilk and yogurt. These foods tend to aid in cooling the body internally.

· Nuts are highly acidic and result in generation of heat in the body. Avoid meat and restrict your diet to purely vegetarian to reduce body temperature.

· One should eat well during the day and less at night as the food is required in the stomach during the day time to prevent acid build up.

· Drink plenty of liquids, coconut water, butter milk, fruit juices and at least 10 glasses of water daily.

· Opt for foods high in water content including fruits, salads, soups and buttermilk.

· Barley has a cooling effect on the body and should be included in your daily diet.

Pranayama – Sheetali (cooling breath):

The practice of sheetali breathing calms the mind, reduces the stress or fight - flight response. It cools the body and mind. The blood pressure is also lowered. This pranayama is very effective in hyperacidity or even ulcers. This pranayama removes excess heat accumulated in the system.

The purpose of the Sheetali breathing is to reduce the body temperature; this may have positive effect on the endocrine glands and nervous system.

Few other Remedies:

· Add a pinch of salt, a teaspoon of sugar and few drops of freshly squeezed lemon juice to a glass of water and drink about four to five glasses a day.

This drink supplies essential electrolytes to the body that are lost through perspiration due to heat. Further studies have shown that Vitamin C can help reduce body temperature and lemon is packed with Vitamin C.

· Local application of sandalwood paste can help reduce body temperature. Apply sandalwood paste on the forehead, chest or back. This will help your body cool faster and reduce perspiration.

Papaya - Powerhouse of Nutrients

2011-08-11T09:03:00.000-07:00

Papaya is packed with number of health benefits for us. Papaya is a very common fruit and the best part is it is available throughout the year. It is good for overall health and is specially considered good for stomach and is helpful in digestion.

Immune Support

Vitamin C and vitamin A, which is made in the body from the beta-carotene in papaya, are both needed for the proper function of a healthy immune system. Papaya may therefore be a healthy fruit choice for preventing such illnesses as recurrent ear infections, colds and flu.

Anti-oxidants in Papaya It is a fruit high in fiber which lowers cholesterol levels. It contains antioxidants which prevents the cholesterol from oxidizing. When cholesterol in the body gets oxidized, it can lead to heart-attacks. The anti-oxidants in papaya also help in controlling premature ageing, which helps to give a young look.

Papaya for the Skin A papaya face pack can also be made using the fruit. Papaya is a product from nature which is used in many skin lightening creams. Many of the lotions or creams which are used to make the face lighter or fairer contain papaya as an ingredient. It also helps in getting rid of acne because when papaya is applied as a face pack it helps to open the pores and makes the skin glow. It contains the enzyme papain which helps to dissolve dead skin ,thus imparting a fresh and clean glow to the face.

Here are some more interesting Papaya nutrition facts -

·         Papaya contains a high amount of potassium and its is very high in Vitamin A.

·         It contains protein which is a digestive enzyme that helps in natural digestion process.

·         Papaya juice helps in alleviating infections of the colon by clearing away the infection, pus and mucus. Regular consumption will help in improving the problem.

·         The skin of papaya is excellent for treating skin wounds and places that do not heal quickly.

·         Papaya is low in calories and high in nutritive value hence it is an excellent food for those on a diet.

· Regularly consuming papaya helps to relieve morning sickness and nausea.

·         Papaya has anti-inflammatory properties and anti-cancerous properties. The anti-inflammatory properties will help reduce pain for those suffering from arthritis, edema and osteoporosis.

·         It is also very good for the hair and helps in controlling dandruff. Papaya shampoos are good for the hair and are available in many health stores.

·         Papayas may be very helpful for the prevention of atherosclerosis and diabetic heart disease.

·         Papaya cleans the stomach and studies have shown that papaya alone eaten for 3 to 4 days has a highly beneficial tonic effect upon the stomach and intestines.

All the parts of the papaya fruit are useful and beneficial. Right from the seeds to the papaya leaves and the flesh of the fruit, all of it has some value. Both the inside and the outside of the fruit can be utilized. Thus, no part of the fruit is useless or goes as a waste.

Thus, if you love to eat papaya, it is great because along with savouring the taste you are also ingesting all the benefits associated with eating the fruit, which will result in good health for you!

Top Five Weightloss Myths/Misconception

2011-05-21T22:35:00.000-07:00

I came across this interesting article from Yahoo Lifestyle and found it bit hilarious and interesting. So I'd like to share it here in my blog.

Among the numerous myths floating around us all the times, myths about weight loss keep on surfacing every now and them.

They are all around us: on the Web, friends keep delivering sermons on them or they can be found in the latest issue of a celebrity magazine. On this World Health Day, MensXP tries to rip apart five grave misconceptions related to weight loss.

Myth 1: Giving Up the Breakfast

Skipping breakfast would only undo your efforts of losing weight. A high-nutrient breakfast gives our body the much-needed calorie burning start. Just make sure that your breakfast is composed of healthy stuff like sprouts, juices, etc and it's not equivalent to the heavy meals you enjoy at weddings.

Myth2: Carbs are My Worst Enemy

All carbs aren't bad. Soda, a carbohydrate, is bad but broccoli, another carbohydrate, is good. All you need to figure out is which carbs are good for you instead of worrying about the overall carb intake. Rely on veggies, fruits, and high-fiber whole grains (but do not indulge in gluttony). If you can't resist a tempting carb, say an ice-cream, burn it off with exercise.

Myth3: I Shouldn't Eat After 6 in the Evening

There's no magic time to get done with food for the day. Just stop devouring food which is bad for your health. For instance, if you're watching a late night movie on television force yourself to not eat junk food like ice creams, chips, burgers etc, rather go for salads, fruits etc.

Myth4: All I have to do is to Cut Down Calories

Not entirely true. While total intake of calories does matter, the source from which you get them is also important. You get almost the same number of calories from a handful of almonds and 3 apples as you would get from a cheeseburger and coke. But you know that you have to choose the former.

Myth5: All I Need is that Magic Pill to Help Me Shed Pounds

We're sorry to inform you but there are no miracle pills, potions, creams, belts and shoes which can help you grow muscles or cut flab in no time (as they might claim). These supplements may help but then you have to supplement them with right dietary and fitness programmes to extract the benefit out of them. (MensXP.com)

Courtesy: Yahoo Lifestyle

Blood test tells you how long you will live?

2011-05-19T08:43:00.000-07:00

Courtesy: Yahoo Lifestyle.

Soon, it will cost just 435 pounds to keep tab on your ageing process. Scientists have developed a blood test, which can show the speed of ageing and give an estimate of how long a person is going to live.

The test results may be vital to life-insurance companies offering medical cover that depends on a person's lifetime risk of falling seriously ill or dying prematurely.

The controversial blood test is to go on sale to the general public in Britain later this year.

The test has been designed to measure vital structures on the tips of a person's chromosomes called telomeres, which scientists believe are one of the most important and accurate indicators of the speed at which a person is ageing.

According to scientists, the test will be able to tell whether a person's "biological age", as measured by the length of their telomeres is older or younger than their actual chronological age.

"We now that people who are born with shorter telomeres than normal also have a shorter lifespan. We know that shorter telomeres can cause a shorter lifespan," the Independent quoted Maria Blasco, of the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre in Madrid as saying.

"But we don't know whether longer telomeres are going to give you a longer lifespan. That's not really known in humans," she added.

Scientists are hopeful that the test could prove to be a breakthrough in satiating the curiosity of the people regarding their mortality, who can accordingly, plan their life.

However, scientists do not yet believe that the test predictions can be narrowed down to calculate the exact number of months and years a person has yet to live.

Additional Link:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/19/business/19life.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

Working woman please take care of your hair..

2011-05-18T01:48:00.000-07:00

Healthy and Lustrous Hair has been a dream for everyone, especially woman. Every woman wants to wear different hair style and look beautiful. But todays way of living is becoming a barrier in achieving their dream.

Now a days taking care of hair has become an important task in our day to day life and we rarely find time to take care of it in our busy speedy life style. What everyone wants is a beautiful, shiny and a healthy hair.Do we take proper hair care and are we taking care in the right path? This question popups to almost everyone of us.

In olden days, woman stayed at home, taking care of their household things. They had an ample time in taking care of their beauty. But woman now are working, spending most of their times at their workplace,being stressed and pressured. And when they return back home, all they have time is to eat and sleep. Do you think the food we have now a days is nutritious enough?

Ok enough of stories and here i dive into the information of hair care tips especially for working woman. So what you need to do?

1. Understand your hair:

Just take a look at your hair. You can clearly understand whats lacking isn't it. You can easily get what your hair wants in clearly looking at your hair.Most of the woman tends to have dry hair and can see split-ends over their hair mainly because of the following reasons:

a. Over Expose to Sun

b. working at air-conditioned place for hours

c. Food habits

d. Some people do not even drink water

e. Unhealthy ways of treating hair like using hair

straightening irons in incorrect way.

f. too much usage of blow driers

g. Over shampooing and using any hair care

lotions/shampoos which they find attractive in shops.

h. If your showering in hard water.

2.Spend time

All you need to do is to have confidence and trust in your hair. Spend atleast 10 mins of your time daily for your care . Most women tend to shower their hair daily so that they feel fresh and oil free. Oily hair sometimes feels irritated and they tend to smudge over the face and makes our day at work frustrated. So it ok to wash your hair as it removes excess oil and dirt and keeps your hair fresh. But please note to avoid shampoo's with too much chemicals especially the ones which comes under SLS category.They make your hair more dry.

Go for shampoo rich in moisturizers and proteins, preferably with Sea Kelp and Almond.

You spend atleast 10 hours outside (work+travel+parties+restaurants etc) and dont laze away when you are back at home. Spend a little time for your hair and skin :) It wont cost you more than 10 mins isn't it.

Apply coconut oil or Almond oil to your hair and gently comb it. Remove tangles and keep it conditioned. Coconut oil is the best and natural hair care expert and it is also a natural conditioner. That is why Indian woman tend to have black and shiny hair. If possible plait your hair before you go to sleep.

3. Weekends Massage

At weekends massage your hair with heated coconut oil or olive oil. Olive oil is one of the best hair conditioner and you can see it with your own eyes after you've applied it.

Read the below link for more details.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4884793_use-olive-oil-hair.html

You can also prepare herbal hair mask using curd, egg white etc. Please avoid wearing henna hair mask frequently as it adds more dryness to your hair.

Please avoid mechanisms that make your hair dry as much as possible. Because dry hair tends to go thin and become brittle and at last they break off. And make your hair more moisturized.

Just perform these changes and see the difference.

4. Healthy Diet

It is not enough to take care of your hair externally. It also requires to take care of your body health. Proper diet is also a key factor that promotes healthy hair. Consume more leafy vegetables and fruits. Drink lots of water and have fresh juices. Try to maintain your body temperature normal.

5. Exercise Regularly

http://ezinearticles.com/?Exercise-Helps-Promote-Natural-Growth-Of-Hair&id=1020192

Just perform these changes and see the difference. I do not recommend any artificial products or cosmetics as I am a total believer in herbal way of treating things as the latter, at least helps to an extent. So people it is in your hands. All you need to have is patience and your time for your hair's health. And have a great and beautiful hair. :)

The following links may also helps you additionally to what i've written above:

http://health2dy.blogspot.com/2008/07/want-to-make-your-hair-always-lengthy.html

http://health2dy.blogspot.com/2008/06/eight-tips-for-naturally-beautiful-hair.html

Tomato - Fat Zero , Weight watchers check out..

2011-05-15T03:16:00.000-07:00

People say that 'an apple a day keeps the doctor away' but I would substitute tomato for apple in this saying. A century ago the tomato was considered poisonous and acidic. Today we know that it actually has the most amazing health properties and is alkaline in nature. Did you know that tomato is actually a fruit and not a vegetable?

Due to its highly versatile preparation options - Tomato soup,puree,salsa,gravy,chopped in salads and as a juice,cooked in your vegges,used in pulaos, dals etc.- It can easily be included as part of your diet.

A weight watchers delight, the tomato has zero fat content. The fruit has a very powerful anti-oxidant called lycopene that cuts the risk of prostrate cancer. In fact the cooking process released more lycopene. Due to its powerful anti-oxidant content, the tomato is very good for cardio-vascular diseases.

The vitamin C content in tomato increases immunity levels and keep common colds abd coughs at bay. It also helps in cases of congestion of liver (protects liver from Cirrhosis) as well as dissolving gallstones.

The tomato is a treasure house of nutrients, including vitamin A for skin and eyes,potassium for muscle cramps and folic acid. Tomatoes are especially recommended for people with high Homocysteine levels because of all these nutrients

Related Links:

How to Prepare Tomato juice ?

Health benefits of Tomatoes

Movie popcorn not good for health

2011-05-15T03:11:00.000-07:00

Ready to make and eat stuff is what we gorge on these days. Our good old snack 'Popcorn' also fell in this line. You get ready-to-pop kernels with butter smeared sumptuously.

When you put them on pan, your heart pops as you see the kernels pop up in beautiful patterns. At the cinemas, you finish off a big pack of it, followed by an ice cream, a cool or got beverage. But what you had finished off contains large amounts of sodium and saturated fat, and the butter flavor is not really butter.

Popcorn which formed an essential selling stuff was part of a South American menu some thousands of years ago. Pop kernels are stores of starch, sugar and water, the energy a plant needs to grow. The water in it turns into stream when heated and pops the corn.

The early populations that had to indulge in quite a lot of physical activity, burnt up the energy easily. But for people like, say present generation, whose physical activity is restricted, popcorn is very rich snack. Popcorn energy is simply stored body fat. Movie popcorn is still more harmful.

The XL size super pack sold at cinemas and shopping malls smells heavenly, crunchy. Though it is softer than sugar-rich boiled sweets, store-bought pack of junk, it should be consumed with some limitations.

This fluffy delight can be consumed if you skip the butter and stick to healthy, old fashioned, air-popped corn. You can air-pop raw kernels in a cooker, with a spot of vegetable oil. Add only natural salt. This air popped popcorn is a good alternative to other snacks such as potato chips, candy or cookies.

According to the experts, microwave pack, no doubt contains less fat, but the inner lining of the bag has cancer causing chemicals that leach into the pops and its savory aroma is linked to lung disease called popcorn-workers lung - which is under intense study.

Corn as a Vegetable:

Actually corn is a natural vegetable. Raw corn kernels are rich in fibre which is good for the system. They are low in calories too. One cup of air popped corn has 30 calories. Contains no saturated fat, trans-fats or cholesterol. Besides fibre and protein, it has traces of manganese, folate, niacin, vitamins, iron, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, zinc, copper, and selenium.

Which is better, home made air popped popcorn or the pack of popcorn you munch at the theatre or shopping malls. Now you decide your choice.

Women and Silent Heart Attack

2011-05-14T02:24:00.000-07:00

We generally feel that men are more prone to heart attacks. Think again to think so! Recently statistics show that women are nearly as much at risk of heart diseases and fatal attacks as men.

There could be many reasons for this - complaints in women often go undiagnosed until it is too late for effective treatment.

Studies show that heart diseases kills six times as many women than breast cancer. Also the number of women affected by heart disease is growing with changing lifestyles. Women today cope with increasing pressures. Coronary Artery disease (CAD) is mostly seen in post-menopausal women. Diabetic women get affected even at younger age.

What is CAD?

CAD is a condition where cholesterol deposits at the lining of the coronary arteries that supply to the heart. This narrows arteries and obstructs blood flow to the heart. The blocked artery thus causes a heart attack.

Interventional cardiologists opine that unknown to many people, heart disease is the number one killer of women and often acts differently than the way it affects men. Risk factors include diabetes, hypertension, hyper lipidemia,smoking,obesity and a sedentary lifestyle. Family history also plays a role. During heart attacks women experience nausea, vomiting,indigestion, shortness of breadth or extreme fatigue- but surprisingly many times no chest pain.

Unfortunately these symptoms are easy to attribute to something other than the heart. Women are also more likely than men to have 'silent heart attacks' - an attack without any acute symptoms, that are diagnosed only later when subsequent cardiac symptoms are re-evaluated and tests are performed.

Before menopause, the estrogen hormone plays a vital role in protecting and maintaining adequate levels of 'good' high-density lipoprotein(HDL) cholesterol, which inturn protects the body's overall cardio vascular health.

Estrogen also works to relax the smooth muscle of arteries helping to maintain normal blood pressure and prevent some forms of blood vessel damage.

There are many factors that can contribute in increasing risks of heart diseases in post-menopausal women - diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol are the main culprits. Other factors include stressful lifestyle, women with a family of the disease, ones who do not indulge in any physical activity and those who use birth control pills indiscriminately.

What should we do?

Dietary changes, weight loss, lipid lowering medications, quitting smoking, and under taking regular exercise are important lifestyle measures. Heart attacks in women often strike without any warning, so make sure we go for regular health checks.

Prevention is better way to deal with health conditions.

Make your nails stronger...

2011-05-12T00:52:00.000-07:00

Many faces problems with brittle nails. Besides good nourishment, a little more care is what is needed.
When your nails are too brittle, soak the fingertips for 10 mins in warm pure almond oil or olive into the nails. Then massage the oil into the nails.

The best source of heathier nails is your diet. So include adequate protein and calcium in your diet, such as skimmed milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, egg, fish and sprouts. You can even dissolve a teapoon of gelatin in a little boiling water, then cool it and to fruit juice. You can do so for about ten days. So instead of applications, nourish yourself with balanced diet.

How important is Breakfast

2011-02-13T10:21:00.000-08:00

Eat Breakfast like a king, lunch like a Prince and dinner like a Beggar, so goes on old saying. But in today's world of hurry, breakfast is the biggest casualty.

People often ask as to why breakfast is important. The answer lies in the word 'breakfast' itself. The word originated from the fact that after dinner, we do not eat whole night (minimum 8 hours) and this is a long time for a body to go without food. During daytime, we keep on eating and munching after every 3-4 hours. But the duration between dinner and breakfast is often long, sometimes even 12 hours. So it is equivalent to a fast. Hence the meal that is taken in the morning is breakfast.

Those who avoid breakfast are less productive and less efficient than those who eat breakfast. Children who regularly eat breakfast think faster and clearer, solve problems more easily and are less likely to be restless and irritable early in the day. So the message is loud and clear to 'be particular about breakfast'.

Many people skip meals to lose weight. But the first meal of the day is important for a healthy start. The reason for it is simple. Skip breakfast, and the gap between dinner and lunch next day is almost 16 hours. During this time the level of blood sugar drops. Glucose, the principle fuel for the brain and the central nervous system helps, carry on routine activities like talking, thinking, even walking. For effective functioning of the brain, any stored carbohydrates have to be broken or fat and protein turned into a usable form. Without breakfast the body is deprived of vitamins C and D, calcium, iron and fibre. This is the one reason people find it difficult to concentrate, solve problems, memorize things and often become moody. A Canadian study says breakfast boosts memory and those who eat breakfast perform better.

A study also found remarkable improvement in those people suffering from memory problems and those with early signs of adult-onset diabetes. Another report states that school students consuming breakfast were less absent and had higher math grades and were less likely to suffer from depression, anxiety and hyperactivity. Moreover, breakfast helps determine and maintain a desired weight. A wholesome breakfast ensures one does not indulge in calorific-ally dense food or overeat later in a day. Due to prolonged hunger one eats more food higher in calorie count.

Eating something is better than nothing. It helps raise blood sugar levels. So have an apple on the way to work.

This proves that why we should eat a proper and wholesome breakfast. The body's stress hormone levels are highest in the morning due to hunger. Eating food helps the body to overcome this stress. Try not to skip this most important meal of the day and see how your health and performance at work improves.

Ginger - Effective Curative

2011-02-13T09:50:00.000-08:00

Ginger is considered as small medicine cabinet by itself. It is effective in lessening motion and morning sickness and protect one against stomach upset.

A cup of ginger tea or a glass of ginger ale can quicken relief from stomach flu.

Ginger herb is richly loaded with anti-viral compounds that help fight rhinovirus which causes common cold. But if we take beyond a certain dose, it might overheat our body.

When we are down with a cold, intake of water wherein which, a piece of ginger is well boiled and a table spoon of honey added, will have a soothing effect.

The same ginger tea can be made with a table spoon full of ginger added to water and let it steep for 10 mins and then drain it.

Ginger tea, which is free from caffeine is an ideal drink for the cold and flu season.

Baking Soda for treating Failing Kidneys

2009-07-24T21:19:00.000-07:00

Baking soda is known to be useful for cooking, cleaning, treating sunburn and kidney health? New research suggests sodium bicarbonate, or baking soda, may slow the progression of chronic kidney disease.

Researchers studied 134 patients with advanced chronic kidney disease and low bicarbonate levels. Patients were divided into two groups, one receiving a small daily dose of sodium bicarbonate in tablet form, and the other continuing their routine treatment. In the group receiving the baking soda tablets, the decline in kidney function was reduced by two-thirds. Only 9 percent of those taking the tablets experienced a rapid progression of kidney disease, compared with 45 percent in the second group.

Baking soda may be an inexpensive and simple way to treat patients with chronic kidney disease. However, researchers note during the study, they were aware of which patients received the tablets and there was no placebo group. Future studies will be necessary for validation.

Dental implants

2009-07-08T02:40:00.000-07:00

Dental implants are changing the way people live! They are designed to provide a foundation for replacement teeth which look, feel, and function like natural teeth. The person who has lost teeth regains the ability to eat virtually anything and can smile with confidence, knowing that teeth appear natural and that facial contours will be preserved.

What are Dental Implants?
The implants themselves are tiny titanium posts which are inserted into the jawbone where teeth are missing. These metal anchors act as tooth root substitutes. They are surgically placed into the jawbone. The bone bonds with the titanium, creating a strong foundation for artificial teeth. Small posts are then attached to the implant which protrude through the gums. These posts provide stable anchors for artificial replacement teeth.

Implants also help preserve facial structure, preventing the bone deterioration which occurs when teeth are missing.

The Surgical Procedure
For most patients, the placement of dental implants involves two surgical procedures. First, implants are placed within your jawbone. For the first three to six months following surgery, the implants integrate with the jawbone. You should be able to wear temporary dentures and eat a soft diet during this time. At the same time, your dentist is forming new replacement teeth.

After the implant has bonded to the jawbone, the second phase begins. The dentist uncovers the implants and attaches small posts which will act as anchors for the artificial teeth. These posts protrude through the gums. When the artificial teeth are installed, these posts will not be seen. The entire procedure usually takes six to eight months. Most patients do not experience any disruption of their daily life.

Beetroot Juice -- have you ever tried it out???

2009-05-05T22:20:00.000-07:00

The rich color of beetroot is a testimony of the rich benefits it provides to the body. Various kinds of benefits ranging from blood cooling and purification to digestive help have been linked to beetroot. These days beetroot juice is gaining in popularity as it is believed to have a stimulating effect for warding off general weakness and specific ailments.

Given below is a detailed mentioning of the various benefits of beetroot juice and how its intake can enhance your health and well being.

Beetroot juice has lately been linked with digestive health. This is because it aids in the digestion of fat and also stimulates the nerves in the intestine. Moreover, the chlorine present in beet juices helps in regulating digestion.

Along with helping in the digestive process of the body, beetroot juice aids in absorption of iron. Thus, people with low Haemoglobin are often recommended the intake of beetroot, either in raw form or in the form of juices as beetroot are usually taken as a blood builder. The rich red color of beet roots help in the reddening and improvement of the quality of blood. If you are feeling low, fatigued and weak, then a glass of beetroot juice can ward off all your weakness.

Beetroot juices are also seen as natural remedies for sexual weakness, kidney stones and for problem of liver and gall bladder. Beetroots are also believed to be a powerful recovery agent in case of cancers.
Along with providing you various benefits, beetroot also contains good amounts of folic acid, vitamin C, potassium and silica which helps in lowering blood pressure, thereby keeping your heart healthy and fit. Thus, drinking a glass of beneficial beetroot juice daily can help you to remain energetic, healthy and fit throughout your life.

Video-game-playing kids showing addiction symptoms

2009-04-27T08:24:00.000-07:00

Nearly one in 10 children and teens who play video games show behavioral signs that may indicate addiction, a new study reports.

The study found 8.5% of those who played had at least six of 11 addictive symptoms, including skipping chores and homework for video games, poor test or homework performance and playing games to escape problems. The research, which is published in the May issue of the journal Psychological Science, is based on a 2007 Harris poll of 1,179 U.S. youngsters, the first nationally representative poll on the subject.

Exhibiting six of 11 symptoms can lead to a diagnosis of addiction, such as pathological gambling. Iowa State University researcher Douglas Gentile adopted the addiction criteria for gambling because there is no current medical diagnosis of video-game addiction.

"This study shows there are a substantial number of kids ... taking damage to multiple areas of their life," Gentile says.

On average, the number of symptoms per person was small: boys, typically more than two, girls, less than two. But more boys exhibited at least six symptoms — 12%, vs. 3% of girls. Other symptoms included excessive thinking about games and planning the next opportunity, trying to play less and failing, restlessness or irritability when trying to reduce or stop playing, lying about play time, stealing a game or stealing money to buy a game.

The survey does not end the debate over whether gaming can be addictive in the way gambling or substances can be, Gentile says. Nor does it "tell us who's most at risk (or) how long it lasts. Is it something that only lasts for a couple months when the game system is new, then the kids learn to get it back into balance?"

Jerald Block, a psychiatrist at the Oregon Health Science University, called the study "valuable" to the American Psychiatric Association's decision on whether compulsive computer and Internet use should be considered a mental disorder.

Block, an APA adviser, warns that the study has weaknesses. The research should be replicated because it is supported by the National Institute for Media and the Family, which he likens to a lobbying group. And the survey could have found higher game use because it was collected in January as opposed to summer. It also classifies 8.5% as addicted without a physician interview: "The people they are claiming have a problem, it's not entirely clear that they do have a problem."

Fish may be brain food for teenage boys

2009-04-07T09:03:00.000-07:00

Teenage boys who regularly eat fish may be doing their brains some good, a new study suggests.

Swedish researchers found that among nearly 5,000 15-year-old boys they surveyed, those who ate fish more than once per week tended to score higher on intelligence tests three years later.

The findings, published in the journal Acta Pediatrica, add to evidence that fish may indeed be brain food.

Researchers believe that the omega-3 fats found in fish -- particularly oily fish like salmon, mackerel and, to a lesser extent, albacore tuna -- are important to early brain development and to maintaining healthy brain function throughout life.

Past studies have found, for instance, that children whose mothers who ate fish regularly during pregnancy tend to have higher intelligence scores than their peers, and older fish-eaters have been shown to have a lower risk of cognitive impairment.

The new study appears to be the first large-scale one to look at the effects of fish on teenagers' intelligence, lead researcher Dr. Maria Aberg, of Goteborg University, told Reuters Health.

This is important, she explained, because the late-teens are a critical period for the brain "plasticity" that underlies intelligence and emotional and social behavior. Plasticity refers to the brain's ability to reorganize the connections among cells in response to normal experience, like learning a new skill, or to injury.

The findings are based on data from 4,792 male adolescents who completed detailed questionnaires on diet and lifestyle when they were 15 years old, then underwent standard intelligence tests when they were 18.

On average, Aberg's team found, those who ate fish more than once per week scored higher than those who ate fish less than weekly. This remained true when the researchers accounted for several other factors that influence both children's diets and their intelligence scores -- like parents' education levels and the family's socioeconomic status.

"These findings are significant," Aberg said, "because the study was carried out between the ages of 15 and 18, when educational achievements can help to shape the rest of a young man's life."

It's too soon to make specific diet recommendations for teenagers, according to the researcher. "But for the time being," she said, "it appears that including fish in a diet can make a valuable contribution to cognitive performance in male teenagers."

What is Dementia?

2009-03-20T08:31:00.000-07:00

The term dementia originated from the Latin word de- "apart, away" + mens (genitive mentis) i.e. "mind", often we call dementia as the memory disorder disease. Wherein a person going through dementia experience from a gradual loss of memory, it also affects that persons capability to solve problems, discuss and yet use language.

Dementia adversely affects main functions of a person like the motor skills, comprehension, as well as executive functioning. Dementia mostly refers to the multiple sets of disorder and not to some specific set(s) of reason. Dementia mostly causes damage to the mind and leads to a gradual decrease of the cognitive performance of the brain. Dementia might be caused via scarcity of oxygenated blood flow, glucose, minerals, plus vitamins to the brain and as a consequence of which there is an increase in toxins within the brain.

Effect of dementia on the patients

Particularly affected parts could be attention, memory, language along with problem solving, though particularly in the further stages of the condition, the affected persons might be disoriented in time such as not knowing exactly what day or what week, or perhaps what month or what year it is, sometimes he might not remember the place: not knowing where he is and person by not knowing who he is. Sign of dementia are categorizing as either on the reversible or irreversible factor all depending upon the etiology of the dementia disease.

Less than 10% of every dementia is reversible. Thus, Dementia is an imprecise term that encompasses numerous disease procedures, just as fever is attributable to a lot of etiologies.

Symptoms of Dementia

You will see patients often suffering from dementia that occurs in the later period of ones life, when a person is going through his 60ies. The affected person occasionally recognizes the primary signs of dementia. Frequently family or friends formerly notice the problem. Distinctive early symptoms might include memory loss, plus difficulty in performing complex tasks. Dementia patients may perhaps mislay items, turn out to be lost while driving, find confused in between conversation or lose a previous capability to poise a checkbook. As the state progresses, the deficits turn out to be more distinct as well as interfere more with every day activities Most common form of symptoms of dementia is:

Clear Loss of recall for fresh Events

* Losing items.
* Getting lost in ‘known’ Places
* Absent in Appointments

Loss of aptitude for Abstract thinking,

* Planning plus Doing intricate Tasks
* Problem with Cooking, Driving, Paying Bills,
* Can’t recognize Movies, Books, or News Items

Difficulty Finding Common Words and Names

* Replacement of Approximate saying
* Misidentifying common People (Confusing own sister amid [deceased] mother)
* Employ of "unfilled Phrases" for ex "You know", "That thing".

Difficulty restraining Behavior
The Impulsivity, patients is ‘Thoughtless’ commentary, and have communally Inappropriate Behaviors. These symptoms are commonly seen on various form of dementia such as

#senile dementia
# vascular dementia

Cocoa for Diabetes??

2009-03-05T07:34:00.000-08:00

A cup of hot cocoa may seem like a no-no for people with diabetes, but the beverage may actually serve up a healthy dose of prevention and ward off heart disease, the leading cause of diabetes-related death.

New research published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology provides substantial evidence that compounds in cocoa called flavonols improve the function and overall health of blood vessels. Unhealthy blood vessels are a leading cause of cardiovascular complications in people with diabetes.

Flavonols are naturally occurring plant compounds found in chocolate, red wine, and certain fruits and vegetables. A growing body of evidence suggests that cocoa flavonols have circulatory health benefits.

For the study, Malte Kelm, MD, a professor and chairman of cardiology, pulmonology and vascular medicine at the University Hospital Aachen and the Technical University Aachen, in Aachen, Germany, and colleagues examined the effect of a specially made flavonol-rich cocoa on patients with stable, treated type 2 diabetes.

The study participants randomly received cocoa containing either 25 milligrams or 321 milligrams of flavonol per serving. They drank the cocoa three times a day for 30 days. Researchers calculated each patient's blood vessel function before and after cocoa consumption at the start of the study and on days 8 and 30, using a combination of ultrasound images and blood pressure measurements.

Patients who drank the high-flavonol cocoa for one month had their blood vessel function improve from severely impaired to normal. Drinking the low-dose flavanol cocoa did not result in any significant changes in blood vessel function.

Researchers caution that the high-dose flavonol cocoa used in their study greatly exceeds the typical U.S. dietary intake of 20 to 100 milligrams daily, and you can't buy the extra-strength version in stores. Rather, they are optimistic that flavonol-containing diets offer an innovative approach to preventing heart disease.

"This research focuses on what's at the true heart of the discussion on 'healthy chocolate' -- it's about cocoa flavonols, the naturally occurring compounds in cocoa," Kelm writes. "While more research is needed, our results demonstrate that dietary flavonols might have an important impact as part of a healthy diet in the prevention of cardiovascular complications in diabetic patients."

In an accompanying editorial, Umberto Campia, MD, calls the study "important and thought-provoking," adding that "this is the foundation we need for doing a much larger prospective study that looks at the effect of cocoa flavonols not just on endothelial function, but also on the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other serious forms of cardiovascular disease."

Brush your teeth regularly for healthy heart

2009-02-24T01:31:00.000-08:00

Brushing teeth regularly not only provides protection against tooth decay but can also help reduce an individual’s chances of developing heart disease, a new study has revealed.

In recent years, some studies indicated a link between gum disease and an increased likelihood of suffering from heart disease or a stroke, but they were failed to explain the connection.
Now researchers from the University of Otago Dunedin, New Zealand, have found that similar link between gum disease and heart disease but they claim their findings may help find ways to save lives.

The researchers discovered that the body's own defenses could "overreact" to the threat of gum disease and destroy its own protective cells. This chronic gum infection can lead to a build up of the arteries called atherosclerosis, the primary cause of cardiovascular attacks.

"This is a significant step towards a more complete understanding of heart disease and improving treatment and preventive therapies," said lead researcher Greg Seymour of the University of Otago in New Zealand.

"An understanding of all the possible risk factors could help lower the risk of developing heart disease and lead to a significant change in disease burden."

Seymour and colleagues reached their findings after analyzing the effects of brushing on a group of people with heart disease that can cause heart attacks and obstruct or blocks the flow of blood to the vital body organ.

Several theories have been put forward to explain the association between oral infection and heart disease, said Seymour. One of those theories is that certain proteins from bacteria initiate atherosclerosis and help it progress. Inorder to prove this theory, we looked at the role of heat shock proteins, which are produced by humans as well as bacteria, he added.

As the heat shock proteins are produced by both humans and bacteria, the immune system define may not be able to differentiate between those from the body and those from invading pathogens, leading it to launch an attack on its own proteins.

"When this happens, white blood cells can build up in the tissues of the arteries, causing atherosclerosis," said Seymour.

"We found white blood cells called T cells in the lesions of arteries in patients affected by atherosclerosis. These T cells were able to bind to host heat shock proteins as well as those from bacteria that cause gum disease. This suggests that the similarity between the proteins could be the link between oral infection and atherosclerosis," he added.

Presenting their findings at the Society for General Microbiology's Autumn meeting at Trinity College, Dublin, Seymour and colleagues said they believe their breakthrough research could alter health policy, underlining the significance of oral hygiene to overall well being.

Tooth decay, also known as dental decay and dental caries, is one of the most common health complaints in the world. Particularly common in children and young adults, the condition results from a bacterial infection of human teeth. The problem occurs when our teeth are frequently exposed to foods containing carbohydrates such as starches and sugars like soda pop, candy, cake and even sticky fruits.

Tooth decay is one of the most widespread health problems in the UK, where more than 2.5 million people suffer from heart disease.

The best way to keep your teeth healthy is to ensure that you clean them regularly to get rid of any plaque build up. Most dentists recommend that you clean your teeth at least twice a day. Using a toothpaste containing fluoride is probably a good idea as this provides the teeth with added protection from the effects of acid.

Jam and jelly curbs cancer

2009-02-20T08:39:00.000-08:00

A new British research has found that Jam and jelly, flavorful preserves which are sure to delight everyone, can do more than just make breakfast delicious. They can help ward off cancer

According to an ongoing study by the Institute of Food Research in Norwich, both jam and jelly contain a basic ingredient called pectin that could help prevent the spread of cancer

Pectin, a natural fibre found in fruits and vegetables, is widely used in food processing. The modified pectin releases a molecular fragment that blocks all stages of cancer progression, the researchers explain.

Lead researcher Professor Vic Morris said in their research they have found that the modified pectin used in jellies and jams was likely to have the anti-cancer effect.

"The treatments used by the food industry to modify pectin would emphasize the release of the fragment we've identified," Prof Morris said. However, he added, "I expect you would get some protection from jam, but it's packed full of sugar. It might be better to get the same protection from fruit and vegetables which would give you other anti-cancer magic bullets as well."

The findings, published in the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) Journal, support earlier research by Scientists at the University of Georgia in the US that suggested last year that pectin can slow the growth of prostate cancer

In the U.S. study, which was published in the journal Glycobiology last year, it had been established that up to 40 per cent of prostate cancer cells had died when exposed to pectin powder or heat-treated citrus pectin through a natural process called apoptosis, which halts the creation of tumors. In other studies, pectin also helped fight lung and colon cancers among rats and cell cultures.

Nutritionists hail jam as an ideal snack to replace lost energy after a work-out, explaining that the fast-releasing sugars help people to get glycogen back into muscles quickly and efficiently.

According to the British Nutrition Foundation, two level teaspoons or 15g of jam on a slice of bread provides less than 10 percent of an adult's Guideline Daily Amount (GDA) of sugar and fewer than 40 calories.

Pectin supplements that claim to detoxify the body and have cancer-protecting properties are already sold on the internet. Worldwide production of pectin is estimated at 35,000 tonnes per annum. Most pectin comes from the peel of citrus fruits and apple pulp. Besides jams and jellies, the substance is also used to make confectionery, bakery fillings, yoghurts and milk drinks.

Cup of Curd

2009-02-09T02:53:00.000-08:00

Curd is highly nutritious as it provides most of the vital substances required by us.

It provides :

>High quality proteins that can be easily digested.
>Easily absorbable calcium than the one present in milk.
>Replaces milk in case of lactose intolerance when the patients cannot digest lactose (A kind of sugar found in milk).
>Fermentation of milk to curd increases the level of vitamins like niacin and folic acid.

Higher concentration of lactic acid bacteria in curd cut short the action of harmful microorganisms in the intestine and stop digestive disorders.

Curd helps us to fight against infections, asthma and gastro-intestinal disorders as they strengthen our immune system. intake of Curd without a break protects us against Brest, ovarian and colon cancer. Curd can lower the cholesterol present in blood. Regular intake of curd protects us from heart disease.

One should enjoy the benefits of curd- the wonder food by consuming atleast one cup per day.

Cauliflower help to fight BREST CANCER

2009-02-02T04:31:00.000-08:00

Eating vegetables like cauliflower and cabbage are known to prevent breast cancer. But the mechanism by which the active substances in these vegetables inhibit cancer cell proliferation was unknown - until now.Leslie Wilson, professor of biochemistry at the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB) and Mary Ann Jordan, adjunct professor in molecular, cellular and developmental biology, have shown how the healing power of these vegetables works at the cellular level.

“Breast cancer, the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women, can be protected against by eating cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage and near relatives of cabbage such as broccoli and cauliflower,” said co-author Olga Azarenko, a graduate student at UCSB.

“These vegetables contain compounds called isothiocyanates which we believe to be responsible for the cancer-preventive and anti-carcinogenic activities in these vegetables. Broccoli and broccoli sprouts have the highest amount of the isothiocyanates.

“Our paper focuses on the anti-cancer activity of one of these compounds, called sulforaphane, or SFN,” Azarenko added. “It has already been shown to reduce the incidence and rate of chemically induced mammary tumours in animals. It inhibits the growth of cultured human breast cancer cells, leading to cell death.”

The paper was published in this month’s journal Carcinogenesis.

Azarenko made the surprising discovery that SFN inhibits the proliferation of human tumour cells by a mechanism similar to the way that the anti-cancer drugs taxol and vincristine inhibit cell division during mitosis.

Mitosis is the process in which the duplicated DNA in the form of chromosomes is accurately distributed to the two daughter cells when a cell divides, said an UCSB statement.

“SFN may be an effective cancer preventive agent because it inhibits the proliferation and kills precancerous cells,” said Wilson. It is also possible that it could be used as an addition to taxol and other similar drugs to increase effective killing of tumour cells without increased toxicity.

Plumbism in Children

2009-01-27T04:55:00.000-08:00

Plumbism is a medical term. It is used to refer to lead poisoning. Plumbism occurs when lead blood level is equal or greater than 10 Mgm per decilitre. At this level cognitive deficits may become visible. Lead poisoning in childhood results from the indigestion of lead-based paint or plasters etc.

Children are the most easy lead poisoning targets. This is most likely to occur in children who live in houses containing paint or plaster in poor condition or houses undergoing renovation; Children living near lead smelting or processing plants; having parents or other household members working in lead related occupations; having diet deficit in iron,calcium, or zinc; having developmental delays and those who eat non-food objects throughout childhood.

The other most common sources of plumbism or lead poisoning are toys, cribs, furniture, crayon, plaster putty, soil, paint,contaminated food stuffs, calcium supplements, floor, some cosmetics, crafts like ceramic glaze, paint pigments,stained glass making material, dust, burning painted wood, and some occupations such as auto repairing, mining, smelting, battery manufacturers, construction painting,pipe fitting,plumbing,welding.

SYMPTOMS OF PLUMBISM

Irritability
Insomnia
Aggressiveness
Lack of Focus and attention deficit disorder
Hyperactivity
Poor appetite
Speech delay
Learning Difficulties
Anemia
Abnormal pain
Seizures
Behavior and cognitive disorders
Developmental delays

PREVENTION

To prevent plumbism especially affected, diet rich in iron, calcium and zinc must be provided. the treatment which is given only after the source of exposure is removed, is known as chelation therapy. Furthermore, to keep the disease at bay, certain measures can be taken. They include

> Cleaning up any paint or plaster chips; keeping all floors window frames, and sills by cleaning them with an all purpose cleanser.

>The hands of the children must be washed often, especially before eating and at bed time. The play area of children must also kept clean.

> Keeping them away from chewing window sills or other painted surfaces.

>Frequent vacuuming that reduces household dust.

>Damaged painted surfaces must be repaired immediately or covered with duct tape or paper and the base soil in play area must be covered with grass.

First Image of BLEEDING HEART

2009-01-20T02:23:00.000-08:00

Scientists have produced the first images of a heart attack taken from inside a human heart.

The team from Imperial College say their breakthrough could radically improve treatment for victims of heart attacks.

It allows doctors to see just how much internal bleeding is occurring in the patient, and means more effective treatment can be given.

Blood red: a cross-section of the heart

For the new study, researchers captured images of bleeding inside the heart in 15 patients from Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust who had recently suffered a heart attack, using Magnetic Resonance Imaging machines.

Computer analysis of the MRI scans revealed that the amount of bleeding can indicate how damaged a person's heart is after suffering an attack.

'Our study gives us a new insight into the damage that heart attacks can cause,' said Dr Declan O'Regan, who led the study.

Dr Declan O'Regan led the study which produced the first images of a heart attack taken from the inside of a human heart

'This new scanning technique shows us that patients who develop bleeding inside their damaged heart muscle have a much poorer chance of recovery. We hope this will help us to identify which patients are at most risk of complications following their heart attack.'

Heart disease is Britain's biggest killer; every six minutes someone dies following a heart attack. Heart attacks happen when an artery feeding blood to the heart becomes blocked, depriving the heart muscle of oxygen.

Currently, most people treated for a heart attack are fitted with a metal tube called a stent to keep the blocked artery clear.

Recent research has shown that some people experience bleeding inside the heart muscle once blood starts to pump into it again.

Dr Stuart Cook, from the Medical Research Council's Clinical Sciences Centre at Imperial College London, said: 'The more we understand about what happens during and after a heart attack, the greater the chances are of scientists finding new ways to combat the damage that heart attacks cause.'

Whats Passion Fruit??

2009-01-15T22:56:00.000-08:00

Passion fruit is a small egg-shaped tropical fruit, which is also known by the name of Purple Granadillas. Passion fruit contains several seeds and has wrinkled purple brown rind on maturing. The seeds and the pulp inside, both are edible, making it easier to consume the fruit. Moreover, the pulp of the fruit has a distinct aroma and has a slightly sweet taste. In tropical countries, passion fruit is primarily used for juicing. The fruit is about 1 - 3 inches wide, with a smooth and waxy coating outside. Apart from its pleasant taste and appearance, the fruit is known for its various health benefits. To know about the nutritional value and benefits of Passion fruit, read on.

Nutritional Value of Passion Fruit

Given below is the nutrient value per 100 g of Passion Fruit
* Total Fat -1g
* Sodium - 28mg
* Total Carbohydrates - 23g
* Dietary Fiber - 10g
* Sugars - 11g
* Protein - 2g
* Vitamin A - 1272 IU
* Retional Activity Equivalent - 64 mcg
* Beta Carotene - 743 mcg
* Beta Cryptoxanthin - 41 mcg
* Vitamin C - 30 mg
* Vitamin E - 0.02 mg
* Vitamin K - 0.7 mcg
* Riboflavin - 0.13 mg
* Niacin - 1.5 mg
* Vitamin B6 - 0.1 mg
* Folate - 14 mcg
* Food Folate - 14 5.6 mcg
* Dietary Folate Equivalents - 14 mcg
* Calcium - 12 mg
* Iron - 1.6 mg
* Magnesium - 29 mg
* Phosphorus - 68 mg
* Potassium - 348 mg
* Sodium - 28 mg
* Zinc - 0.1 mg
* Copper - 0.086 mg
* Selenium - 0.6 mcg
* Total Fat - 0.7 mg
* Saturated Fat - 0.059 mg
* Monounsaturated Fat - 0.086 mg
* Polyunsaturated Fat - 0.411 mg

Health & Nutrition Benefits of Eating Passion Fruit

* The juice of passion fruit reduces cancer cell growth. Though research is underway on this issue, the phytochemicals in the fruit juice are considered to inhibit cancer cell growth.
* The phenolic acids and flavonoids present in the fruit are supposed to possess heart-protecting function.
* The phenolic profile of the fruit is known for its anti-microbial activity.
* Passion fruit is a good source of antioxidants, both water soluble and fat soluble ones.
* Passion fruit is considered good for products which require pasteurization.
* The fruit is quite high in carbohydrates and simple sugars, which improves athletic performance.
* It contains plant sterols, which help in lowering the levels of cholesterol.
* Passion fruit is a reservoir of Vitamin C, Vitamin A and Potassium.
* The seeds of the fruit are very vital sources of fiber.
* It is supposed to possess somniferous properties, which when taken before going to bed, help the person to relax and have a restful sleep.
* It is very good for attaining optimum health and to reduce weight.

Nutritional Value of Common Figs

2008-12-21T08:02:00.000-08:00

Figs are thought to be originally from small Asia and are one of the first fruits cultivated ever.
It is said that humans could live on Figs alone as a source of food -- such is the goodness and nutrition in the fruit!

Figs are a rich source of calcium, iron, magnesium, Vitamin B6, and potassium. Figs are low in fat and high in fibre. They provide more fiber than any other common fruit or vegetable.
Figs have many health benefits. Fresh and dry figs are high in pectin, a soluble fibre that can reduce blood cholesterol. The fruit is also believed to have a laxative effect and can aid those who suffer from chronic constipation.

Listed below are some common problems and illnesses and how they can be avoided by the use of figs:

Insomnia
Figs contain a nutrient called tryptophan. This promotes good sleep and helps the brain use glucose properly, encouraging and stimulating good circulation.

Memory loss
Figs contain a lot of natural sugar - up to 60%. Sugar stimulate the brain so we can think faster and recall information more quickly. So that you can think more clear and faster. Figs are the ultimate brain fuel!

Fatigue
Fresh Figs contain up to 80% of water, as well as being one of the fruits with the highest levels of natural sugars. So they are a brilliant source of energy and stimulant for the brain. Making you more alert, responsive, fresh, as well as de-toxing the self.

Skin
Due to the Fig's high water content, they are ideal for improving the skin. The skin requires a good level of water. This will clear the skin, act as a cleanser, improve acne, oil, and general well-being.

Constipation
Figs are a natural laxative. So they can aid those suffering from constipation. They have a high level of fibre.

The heart
Due to the Fig's high level of natural sugars, they are an excellent way to replace the bleached (white) sugars with a more healthy alternative. They contain a natural fructose and glucose sugar.

A high fibre diet is one of the best ways to improve cholesterol levels, and as a result aid oneself against heart related diseases.

The nutrient 'tryptophan' contained in Figs encourages good circulation, allowing blood to flow more easily around the body.

Figs contain the ingredient Pectin (and soluble Fibre) which is known for its colesterol lowering effects. Thus, Figs are beneficial for those of Old age, those suffering from High Blood-pressure, Diabetes, heart-disease, hyper-tension, and other such related illnesses.

Calcium
Studies show that 80% of Americans don't consume adequate amounts of calcium daily.
The majority of the calcium consumed by those in the US comes from dairy products. However, Figs are another source where much calcium could be obtained. This is also beneficial for those who are lactose intolerant.
Five figs provide about 250 mg of the daily recommended level of calcium.

Blood pressure
Figs are beneficial for those with heart-related diseases. Lowering colesterol, they are advantageous for those with high blood pressure.
Figs are a particularly good source of Poatassium. Potassium is a mineral crucial to the control of blood pressure. People who eat potassium-rich foods tend to have lower blood pressure and, subsequently, have less risk of related conditions such as strokes.

Stress
Physical stress results from having high levels of work to do, illnesses, not eating properly, lack of sleep. Emotional stress is triggered from dunya things, such as family woes, work/school troubles and so on. Figs are extreamely nutritious, and over-all an ideal fruit to overcome stresses and anxieties.
Figs are high in calories – about 50 calories per fig – but are highly nutritious snacks.

Anemia
Figs contain Iron which enriches the blood, and helps to produce it. Thus, they are ideal for women, girls and those suffering from Anemia (lack of Iron).

Digestion
Five figs provide more than 20 percent of the daily recommended allowance of fibre. Hence, they are excellent in aiding digestion and improving the condition of the stomach and bowels.

Hemorrhoids (piles)
Muhammad is recorded to have said to make use of Figs in order to curb Hemorrhoids.

Bones
Figs, with their high level of calcium are ideal for young growing children and for the development of bones. They are also invaluable for those suffering from Osteoporosis and brittle bones.

Weight control
Three figs, fresh or dried, contain about five grams of fibre. The soluble fibre contained in Figs can help people cut down on snacking because it causes nutrients to be absorbed more slowly, making people feel more satisfied after a meal. However, it should be remembered that Figs are high in calories.

Strokes

2008-12-10T05:07:00.000-08:00

Due to modern lifestyle, many people are becoming victims of mini heart strokes, says a recent survey..

Picture this..You are watching an Alfred Hitchcock flick, and suddenly, you are unable to understand the dialogues. You start feeling uncomfortable, a sudden sense of numbness runs through your body, and you feel dizzy, and tend to lose your control and co-ordination. Many might ignore it as an after effect of a spooky film, but very often they can be symptoms of a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) or more commonly ‘mini strokes’).
A recent survey by Gallup, a data-related news provider, reveals that 97 per cent of adults over the age of 50 fail to recognise the warning signs of a stroke, and in recent times, this has fueled the number of strokes-related deaths. Knowing the symptoms of a stroke becomes vital for patients, as there is a time factor associated with it. Experts say that treatment usually has to begin within 60 minutes of a stroke to prevent the death of the brain cells, which are significant enough to cause paralysis.
However, they also added that symptoms can begin anywhere from a few minutes to days before the stroke, making it very difficult for the patient as well as his peers to spot them.
Says Dr Vikram Kumar, neurologist, Metro Hospital, "Strokes have a wide variety of symptoms, making it difficult for patients, and at times doctors, to recognise them. I think there should organise awareness campaigns, as they can often mislead patients, and can be hazardous to health."
Stressing on the time factor associated with strokes, Dr Kumar says, "The most important thing is to get the patient medical treatment within an hour after spotting the symptoms. They should be immediately treated with a clot dissolving drug or Thrombolysis."
According to the data provided by the Global Burden of Diseases (GBD), India experiences 6,19,000 stroke-related deaths in a year, suggesting a mortality ratio of 73 per 1,00,00 persons.
Experts opines that with rapid urbanisation and industrialisation, the older generation is increasingly getting exposed to the risk factors of stroke — diabetes, obesity, tobacco use, high blood pressure, and hence are falling prey to strokes, giving it a shape of an epidemic.
Doctors also add that the risk of having a stroke is directly proportional to one’s eating habits, as consumption of high-energy food with little dietary fibre (indigestible parts of a plant food) and micronutrients can lead to strokes.
Opines neurologist Dr Bhasir A. Ahmedi, "It is true that due to modern lifestyle, more and more people are falling prey to diseases such as strokes. Due to hectic schedules, people hardly get time to enquire about the nutrient value of the food they take, which is very important to curb strokes, and other such health hazards."

What are the warning signs of stroke?

Know that not everyone gets all of the following warning signs. And, sometimes these signs can go away and return. Treatments are most effective if given within one hour of when the attack begins. If you have any of these symptoms, call 911 right away!

Sudden numbness or weakness of face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body.
Sudden confusion or trouble speaking or understanding speech.
Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination.
Sudden severe headache with no known cause.
Blurred or double vision, drowsiness, and nausea or vomiting.

What is a stroke?

A stroke is the sudden loss of brain function caused by the interuption of blood flow to the brain or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. This interuption of blood flow or the rupture of blood vessels causes the brain cells in the affected area to die. Your brain needs the oxygen and nutrients supplied by the blood to keep your body and systems functioning properly.

What is a "mini-stroke" or TIA?

A "mini-stroke" refers to a transient ischemic attack (TIA). In a TIA, there is a short-term reduction in blood flow to the brain. This causes temporary stroke symptoms (often just for a few minutes) such as weakness or tingling in an arm or leg.

TIAs don't cause brain damage, but they are important warning signs that a person is at risk of having a stroke. If you have a TIA, you should seek medical care right away to prevent a full stroke.

Hemorrhagic Stroke : the most common type of stroke

In a healthy, functioning brain, neurons do not come into direct contact with blood. The vital oxygen and nutrients the neurons need from the blood come to the neurons across the thin walls of the cerebral capillaries. The glia (nervous system cells that support and protect neurons) form a blood-brain barrier, an elaborate meshwork that surrounds blood vessels and capillaries and regulates which elements of the blood can pass through to the neurons.

When an artery in the brain bursts, blood spews out into the surrounding tissue and upsets not only the blood supply but the delicate chemical balance neurons require to function. This is called a hemorrhagic stroke. Such strokes account for approximately 20 percent of all strokes.

Hemorrhage can occur in several ways. One common cause is a bleeding aneurysm, a weak or thin spot on an artery wall. Over time, these weak spots stretch or balloon out under high arterial pressure. The thin walls of these ballooning aneurysms can rupture and spill blood into the space surrounding brain cells.

Hemorrhage also occurs when arterial walls break open. Plaque-encrusted artery walls eventually lose their elasticity and become brittle and thin, prone to cracking. Hypertension, or high blood pressure , increases the risk that a brittle artery wall will give way and release blood into the surrounding brain tissue.

A person with an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) also has an increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke. AVMs are a tangle of defective blood vessels and capillaries within the brain that have thin walls and can therefore rupture.

Bleeding from ruptured brain arteries can either go into the substance of the brain or into the various spaces surrounding the brain. Intracerebral hemorrhage occurs when a vessel within the brain leaks blood into the brain itself. Subarachnoid hemorrhage is bleeding under the meninges, or outer membranes, of the brain into the thin fluid-filled space that surrounds the brain.

The subarachnoid space separates the arachnoid membrane from the underlying pia mater membrane. It contains a clear fluid (cerebrospinal fluid or CSF) as well as the small blood vessels that supply the outer surface of the brain. In a subarachnoid hemorrhage, one of the small arteries within the subarachnoid space bursts, flooding the area with blood and contaminating the cerebrospinal fluid. Since the CSF flows throughout the cranium, within the spaces of the brain, subarachnoid hemorrhage can lead to extensive damage throughout the brain. In fact, subarachnoid hemorrhage is the most deadly of all strokes.

Healthy steps to prevent a stroke

The more stroke risk factors you have, the greater the chance that you will have a stroke. You can't control some risk factors, such as aging, family health history, race and gender. But you can change or treat most other risk factors to lower your risk.

Here are some healthy ways to prevent stroke:

Eat a healthy diet low in saturated fat and rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
Don't overeat, and keep your weight under control.
Get regular exercise (30 minutes a day, most days of the week, or more).
Find ways to manage stress in your life.
If you have high blood pressure, take your blood pressure medicine as prescribed by your health care provider.
If your cholesterol level is too high, talk to your health care provider about ways to lower it.
If you smoke, stop smoking. If it is hard to quit on your own, there are products like nicotine patches, support groups, and programs to help you stop smoking.
If you have heart disease or diabetes, take good care of yourself. See your health care provider and take your medicine as prescribed.
Get help if you have a TIA ("mini-stroke"). Talk to your health care provider to see if you need medicine or surgery.
Aspirin therapy may be useful, but check with your health care provider before starting to take aspirin on a daily basis.

WHAT CAUSES YOUR HEAD TO ACHE

2008-10-18T02:06:00.000-07:00

HEADACHES ARE very common, everyone experiences them. There are two broad categories:
Primary, in which headache and its associated features are the disease in themselves,
and secondary, those caused exogenously, such as headache associated with fever.

Primary headache disorders:
? Migraine
? Migraine without aura
? Migraine with aura
? Tension-type headache
? Cluster headache

Secondary headache disorders:
Headache attributed to:
? Head and neck trauma
? Cranial or cervical vas cular disorder
? Non-vascular intracra nial disorder
? A substance or its with drawal
? Infection
? Disturbance of home ostasis
? Disorders of cranium, neck, eyes, nose, ears, sinuses, teeth, mouth or other cranial or facial structures
? Psychiatric disorder

Tension headaches, the most common type, generally develop gradually and often involve the entire head as well as the neck and shoulders. They probably are not caused by increased muscle tension, although muscle relaxation techniques can be very useful in treatment.

Migraine headaches are ‘bad headaches’. With classic migraine, a feeling that a headache will develop precedes the actual headache, followed by visual phenomena such as dark or bright spots, streaks of light, or tunnel vision (aura). The headache usually develops on one side. It is throbbing in nature, accompanied by nausea and increased sensitivity to light and noise.

Migraine headaches are vascular headaches, because they involve changes in the diameter or size and chemistry of blood vessels that supply the brain. These are treatable and often preventable, and most people with migraine headaches do not even experience prodrome or aura.

Cluster headaches are those lasting from minutes to hours and occurring every day at a similar time over a period of weeks. They are sharp and typically have a sudden onset (explosive in quality). People with cluster headaches often describe the pain as similar to an ice pick. They are typically one-sided and usually begin around the eyes or temple area.

TREATMENT
? To avoid headaches, employ good health habits.
? Get adequate sleep, healthy diet and regular exercise.
? Quit smoking.
? Relaxation and stress reduction therapies can diminish the frequency and intensity of headaches.
? Alternative therapies like yoga and other physical relaxation exer cises help.
? Any over-the-counter pain medication like aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen sodium or acetaminophen can be very useful.
? Any headache medica tion, prescription or over-the-counter, can cause headaches if taken on a daily basis. They have other more serious and noxious side effects.

WHEN TO SEEK A DOCTOR:
? Severe, sudden headaches.
? Headaches accompanied by loss of conscious ness, alertness or sensa tion, confusion, a seizure or other neuro logical and/or personality changes.
? Recurring in one partic ular area such as an eye or temple.
? Recurring with high intensity or frequency.
? Accompanied by neck stiffness and fever.
? Those associated with head injury, even if the injury was a week ago.
? Change in the nature or frequency of headaches.
? Temporary change in vision or visual acuity.

Healthy relationships can help you to overcome Professional Stress

2008-10-04T08:26:00.000-07:00

Do you go crazy over heaps of files while making presentations and filing reports in the office? Does meeting deadlines and working under pressure send your blood pressure soaring? If your answer is yes, then get alarmed because it might lead to many lifestyle disorders in the long run. Instead of building up the tension and crashing, you can easily beat the stress right in your office by following simple techniques and exercises.

Mostly stress starts due an undisciplined lifestyle. Skipping meals and having fast food at the wrong time disturbs the body clock. Avoid overeating, sugar, fatty food and caffeine. Fix a timetable for your lunch or dinner and make sure you stick to it. This will not only help in reducing stress, but also prevent from gaining more weight, which is a common problem faced by employees working on the desk. Dr Deepak Raheja, a psychologist at The Hope Foundation gives more tips on how to de-stress at the workplace. He says, "One should avoid having more than two cups of tea or coffee and tobacco because initially it stimulates the mind, but in the long run it leads to a crash. On the other hand, sipping green tea, herbal tea, fruit juices or lemon juice helps in detoxification and clears the lactic acid formation that causes stiffness in the muscles."

Another important factor that helps in preventing stress at the workplace is to maintain a good relationship with colleagues and bosses. It is very important to define boundaries of the work, advices Dr Raheja. He says, "Pressure in office usually builds up when there is mismanagement or no planning. To begin with, maintain a healthy relationship with your co-workers so even if you get stuck at a point, there are people around to help you. Do not complicate or mess up your relationship with colleagues and if there are issues with deadlines clear them with your boss directly."

Most of the physical and mental problems also rise due to a sedentary lifestyle that most office employees lead. Sitting at one place all the time and being immobile for many hours at a stretch is harmful. Dr Raheja says, "People working on the desk for long hours should take frequent breaks and do some stretching exercises. This helps in removing stiffness of limbs. Simple breathing exercises like inhaling and exhaling for five minutes will also bring a relief."

Apart from limbs other body parts like eyes, fingers and the brain also need rest. While working on the computers for long time, use an anti-glare screen. Do easy exercises to keep the eye muscles strain free.

Says Dr Raheja, "Shut your eyes for five minutes and do the progressive muscle exercises (PMR). These simple contraction and relaxation techniques relax the eye muscles. Visualising something beautiful and pleasant with your eyes closed helps in relaxing the mind and body."

World Heart Day 2008

2008-09-27T07:01:00.000-07:00

Heart disease and stroke are amongst the world's largest killers, together claiming 17.5 million lives each year. World Heart Day is celebrated every year to create public awareness of the risk factors for heart disease and stroke and to promote preventive measures. The theme of this year's World Heart Day is ‘Know Your Risk!’. It is a call to action to help people better understand their personal risk for cardiovascular disease, including hypertension (high blood pressure). World Heart Day activities include free heart health screenings, walks, runs, fitness events, public talks, scientific forums, exhibitions and much more. Heart health screening and other activities for the public are being planned in over one hundred countries worldwide. The number of those affected by high blood pressure is predicted to increase by 50 per cent over the coming years. But by adopting suitable lifestyle changes and reducing the risk, the picture can change for the better. The level of risk for heart disease and stroke is a combination of modifiable and non-modifiable factors, of which high blood pressure is one of the most important. High blood pressure, or hypertension, currently affects more than a billion people worldwide and can damage the body. By knowing the level of risk one can take simple but significant step towards preventing life being affected by hypertension. Heart disease and stroke can be better prevented by regular exercise, no smoking and a healthier diet, low in salt and fat and rich in fibres, fresh vegetables and fruit

Be aware of your risk

An excellent way to find out your risk of heart attack or stroke is to know your parametres specifically those associated with fat (both abdominal and as a proportion of height and weight), cholesterol and blood pressure. Too much fat, especially around the abdomen or waist area, increases the risk for heart disease and stroke. So do high blood cholesterol and high blood pressure. Fortunately, all three risk factors can respond to changes in diet and physical activity. Medication also can help. Also,

* Know your blood pressure: High blood pressure usually has no symptoms, but can cause a sudden stroke or heart attack. Get your blood pressure checked.
* Know your blood sugar: Raised blood glucose (diabetes) increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes. If you have diabetes it is very important to control your blood pressure and blood sugar to minimise the risk.
* Know your blood lipids: Raised blood cholesterol increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Blood cholesterol needs to be controlled through a healthy diet and, if necessary, by appropriate medications.

Take Action

* Eat healthy. Eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables as well as a variety of whole grains.
* Exercise. Make exercise a regular part of your life. Each day, do at least 30 minutes of physical activity that raises your heart beat. Recommended activities include brisk walking, dancing and sports such as tennis and basketball.
* Drink lots of water. At least six glasses a day
* Reduce salt intake. It can help to reduce blood pressure
* Watch your cholesterol. Choose foods containing unsaturated or monosaturated fats. Avoid foods containing saturated fats, trans fats and cholesterol. Eat fewer fried foods. Eat lean meat and fish.
* Maintain a healthy weight. By avoiding obesity and overweight, you’ll reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes.
* Stay on track. If you miss some exercise or eat an unhealthful meal, just get back on track.
* Monitor progress. Keep track of your achievements and reward yourself each time you reach a goal.
* Check up. Get your blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels tested regularly.

A Hearty Diet

Diet is a significant modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). An unhealthy diet is high in saturated fats, salt and refined carbohydrates and low in fruits and vegetables.

Fat

* A diet high in saturated fats and trans fats leads to abnormal levels of fats in the blood, a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD).
* Saturated fats are found in animal products. Trans fats are oils that have been hydrogenated to turn them into semi-hard fats; they adversely alter the fat levels in the blood.
* Saturated fats should be replaced with unsaturated, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, which are beneficial for heart health. Olive and canola oils and nuts are sources of monosaturated oils. Soyabean and sunflower oils are sources of polyunsaturated fat.
* The essential fatty acids omega-3 and omega-6 are found in oily fish, nuts and seeds and actually protect the heart. Where fish consumption is high there is a reduced risk of death from CVD. One should eat 1 to 2 servings of fish a week as part of a heart protective diet.
* Saturated fat intake should not exceed 10% of total energy and for high-risk groups, like people with diabetes, total saturated fat intake should be 7% or less of total energy. Total fat intake should not be greater than 30% of total calories consumed.

Salt

* A diet high in salt increases the risk of developing high blood pressure, a risk for CVD.
* A universal reduction of about 3g of salt a day would lead to a 50% reduction in the number of people needing treatment for high blood pressure.
* A universal reduction of 3g of salt a day would lead to a 22% drop in the number of deaths resulting from strokes and a 16% fall in the number of deaths from coronary heart disease (CHD).

Fruits and vegetables

* Low fruit and vegetable intake accounts for about 20% of cardiovascular disease worldwide.
* Adults should consume at least 500g of fresh fruit and vegetables a day or 5 to 7 portions a day.

Nuts

* Eating nuts regularly is associated with decreased risk of CHD.
* Nuts are high in unsaturated fatty acids, low in saturated fats and improve the fat levels in the blood.
* Nuts are an energy dense food source and must be eaten as part of a balanced diet.

Wholegrain cereals

Whole grains have dietary fibre that has a positive effect of blood fat levels, lowering the risk of CHD.

Spinach juice curbs acidity

2008-09-17T22:08:00.000-07:00

Being vegetarian is the in thing these days. I come across many people, typically from metros who profess to being vegetarian, but unfortunately, are anything but that. I’m amazed at the distorted concept people hold of being "vegetarian" because unfortunately, most vegetarians these days eat inadequate amounts or no vegetables at all. Apart from being powerhouses of good health, we now have substantial evidence about the healing properties of vegetables.

An inadequate or reduced intake of vegetables and fruits could precipitate chronic diseases such as heart ailment and cancer. You cannot call yourself a vegetarian in the true sense if your diet revolves around dal, rice, curd kadi, potatoes, puri-chole, idlis, dosas, pav bhajis (overcooked), pickles, parathas and perhaps a whole range of veg convenience or fast foods which come with oil laden, overcooked and mashed vegetables.

The biggest drawback in such diets is that it is devoid of fresh, raw or partially cooked vegetables and it is in these forms that we can derive and benefit from the healing properties of vegetables. However, broths and soups made from certain vegetables like carrots, tomatoes and spinach do retain their nutrient value.

Spinach: Its succulent green leaves emit health. Spinach is rich in chlorophyll, carotenoids, foliates, trace minerals and antioxidants. It displays blood building properties because the structure of chlorophyll simulates hemoglobin.

The laxative fibre present in spinach helps prevent constipation and raw spinach juice helps reduce acidity caused by smoking or excessive alcohol intake. Research indicates that regular spinach intake could check age-related damage to the retina of the eye which in turn, prevents progressive eye degeneration.

Potatoes: If you’re trying to reduce blood uric acid levels, try raw potato juice or potato skin. To derive the benefits of the skin, peel a few potatoes, collect the skin peels and boil till tender in a litre of water. Strain and drink three to four times a day, between meals. This decoction helps to make the blood alkaline and reduces symptoms of gout.

Raw potato juice is also beneficial for relieving inflammation and pain caused by gout. Take a raw unpeeled potato. Wash thoroughly. Ensure that the skin does not have any traces of green colour which indicates the presence of solanine which is an alkaloid toxin that could have adverse effects, then push it through a juicer. Drink this juice twice a day before meals.

Potatoes are highly alkaline in nature and assist in maintaining the alkali reserves of the body. They’re also a natural antidote for burning and acidity caused by factors such as a prolonged intake of antibiotics.

Pumpkin: Sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds are amongst the richest sources of zinc as compared to other foods.

It is due to its high zinc content that pumpkin seeds are effective in correcting prostrate gland problems. One tablespoon of powdered pumpkin seeds taken regularly could reduce pain associated with prostrate gland enlargement. You could also consume this powder mixed with honey. Remember, sound food choices and knowledge of the healing power of everyday foods could be your best defense against numerous ailments and your ticket to good health.

By Anjali Mukherjee

Nutritionist and Founder of Health Total

Direct your queries to query@health-total.com.

Contact numbers: 2673 2883/5604 4001

Movable CAMERA PILL

2008-09-08T22:33:00.000-07:00

Scientists have developed a controllable camera that you swallow like a pill. As this report explains, the key feature is a tether that allows doctors to steer it.

What if swallowing a pill with a camera could detect the earliest signs of cancer? The tiny camera is designed to take high-quality, color pictures in confined spaces. Such a device could find warning signs of esophageal cancer, the fastest growing cancer in the United States.
A fundamentally new design has created a smaller endoscope that is more comfortable for the patient and cheaper to use than current technology. Its first use on a human, scanning for early signs of esophageal cancer, will be reported in an upcoming issue of IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering.

“Our technology is completely different from what’s available now. This could be the foundation for the future of endoscopy,” said lead author Eric Seibel, a University of Washington research associate professor of mechanical engineering.

In the past 30 years diagnoses of esophageal cancer have more than tripled. The esophagus is the section of digestive tract that moves food from the throat down to the stomach. Esophageal cancer often follows a condition called Barrett’s esophagus, a noticeable change in the esophageal lining. Patients with Barrett’s esophagus can be healed, avoiding the deadly esophageal cancer. But because internal scans are expensive most people don’t find out they have the condition until it’s progressed to cancer, and by that stage the survival rate is less than 15 percent.

“These are needless deaths,” Seibel said. “Any screen that detected whether you had a treatable condition before it had turned into cancer would save lives.”

An endoscope is a flexible camera that travels into the body’s cavities to directly investigate the digestive tract, colon or throat. Most of today’s endoscopes capture the image using a traditional approach where each part of the camera captures a different section of the image. These tools are long, flexible cords about 9 mm wide, about the width of a human fingernail. Because the cord is so wide patients must be sedated during the scan.

The scanning endoscope developed at the UW is fundamentally different. It consists of just a single optical fiber for illumination and six fibers for collecting light, all encased in a pill. Seibel acted as the human volunteer in the first test of the UW device. He reports that it felt like swallowing a regular pill, and the tether, which is 1.4 mm wide, did not bother him.

Once swallowed, an electric current flowing through the UW endoscope causes the fiber to bounce back and forth so that its lone electronic eye sees the whole scene, one pixel at a time. At the same time the fiber spins and its tip projects red, green and blue laser light. The image processing then combines all this information to create a two-dimensional color picture.

In the tested model the fiber swings 5,000 times per second, creating 15 color pictures per second. The resolution is better than 100 microns, or more than 500 lines per inch. Although conventional endoscopes produce images at higher resolution, the tethered-capsule endoscope is designed specifically for low-cost screening.

Using the scanning device is cheap because it’s so small it doesn’t require anesthesia and sedation, which increase the cost of the traditional procedure.

“The procedure is so easy I could imagine it being done in a shopping mall,” Seibel said.

A wireless scope manufactured by a different group, originally designed to pass through the body and detect intestinal cancer, is now being marketed for esophageal cancer screening. The competing technology comes in a pill about the width of an adult fingernail and twice as long. By contrast, the UW’s scanning fiber endoscope’s dimensions are about half as big and the device fits inside a standard pill capsule. The pill could be even smaller, Seibel said, but the researchers chose a size that would be easy to handle and swallow.

Another disadvantage of wireless capsules is they only allow a single fly-by view.

“You have no control over the other pill once it’s swallowed. It just flutters down,” Seibel said. But since the UW scope is tethered, the doctor can move it up and down along the region of interest.

Only a small percentage of people who get Barrett’s esophagus, about 5 percent to 10 percent, develop cancer. So any screening method must have a low price to be cost-effective.

“The next big challenge is to make this cheaply,” Seibel said. The researchers are negotiating a contract to commercialize the technology. In the future they hope to not only take pictures, but also deliver treatments through the device, and to apply it to other diseases..Source: University of Washington.

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Headphones may cause heartache

2008-09-04T06:49:00.000-07:00

For those 'staying tuned' to FM songs through headphones of mobile sets, here's some news that might not be music to the ears.

Non-stop and high-decibel radio programmes are sure to damage ear nerves, leading to gradual degrading of the hearing
system, doctors say. Moreover, the habit may develop psychogenic disorders and hypertension which will end up in cardiac ailments, they warn.

"Prolonged use of headphones is injurious to our hearing system as it has adverse impacts on the nerves. Excess of anything is harmful. Though the habit may not damage the ear diaphragm, the harm done to the nerves is irreversible," said Alok Agarwal of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. Cochlea (the spiral cavity of the inner ear where sound impulses are produced) bears the brunt of head phone sounds. Any damage done to it will certainly cause hearing complications, he stressed.

Noting that the number of call centre employees approaching him with hearing problems was on the rise, he said, "they are susceptible to hearing impairments. Extended working hours using unhealthy devices may cause health risks." Disturbed sleep, headache and ear pain are some of the common abnormalities that stem from overuse of headphones.

According to J C Passey of Maulana Azad Medical College, the possible damage to hearing system depends on duration,volume and programme. Listening to high-decibel rock music for long hours is undoubtedly harmful.

Ever been guilty of gulping a bar of chocolate?

2008-08-30T00:51:00.000-07:00

Well, now there are reasons to feel better.

Chocolate – the thought of it leaves your mouth watering, doesn’t it? Well, chocolate is one of the few food items that are liked by people of all ages. So what makes chocolate so irresistible? Firstly, more than anything it is a rich blend that has the potential to please every palate. But according to nutritionist Hira Ranjan, “Several chemical reactions also take place. Chocolate leads to the secretion of endorphins that makes you feel happier or in other words ‘a high’.” Unlike the popular belief that it is an unhealthy snack, chocolate also has many health benefits.

Myth buster

When it comes to talking about health hazards, there are several myths that are making the rounds, and all you chocoholics would be glad to know that it is not as bad as it is assumed to be. Here’s a quick myth buster:

Myth: Chocolate leads to increase in weight
Fact: Chocolate does not lead to an increase in weight. The butter/cream, and sugar in milk chocolates lead to an increase in weight.

Myth: Chocolate can lead to tooth decay
Fact: According to Eastman Dental Center in Rochester, New York, chocolate contains phosphate and is therefore least likely to contribute to tooth decay. In fact, cocoa contains certain antibacterials that fight tooth decay.

Myth: Chocolate causes acne
Fact: Chocolate has no effect on acne, unless you are allergic to it or any other ingredient in the chocolate.

According to Samir Vadalar (name changed), nutritionist,“Chocolate contains a number of nutrients like potassium and magnesium. It also has vitamins like A1, B1, B2, D and E, and most health hazards attributed to a bar of chocolate are due to other ingredients that are added in the chocolate.” Ranjan further adds, “A bar of chocolate brings a smile on everyone’s face and remember there is nothing more healthier than a happy mind and a satisfied heart.”

So, are we trying to then say that chocolate has no health hazards? Not really. Says Vadalar, “In India, most people consume milk chocolates that are high in calorie count due to the butter and sugar content in it. So it could be harmful. Remember, it is always advisable to indulge in dark chocolate rather than milk chocolate.”

10 Reasons to eat chocolate

1. Chocolate is a high-energy food and contains many essential nutrients

2. Chocolate increases antioxidants in the blood

3. Apparently, people who eat chocolate regularly live longer!

4. Chocolate helps prevent cardiovascular diseases

5. According to an Italian study, dark chocolate can be used to control blood pressure and diabetes

6. Chocolates made from cocoa are one of the richest sources of magnesium

7. Eating moderate amount of dark chocolate can lead to health and well being

8. Chocolate reduces anxiety and acts as a painkiller

9. Chocolate can trigger the brain's natural opiates

10. And finally, it is indeed yummy!

So all you chocoholics can now rejoice as you can actually boost your health with chocolate! But remember the darker your chocolate is, the better it is for your health.

Anaemia -- Too Few RBC( Red Blood Cells)

2008-08-25T07:43:00.000-07:00

About Anemia

Just over half the volume of your blood is made up of a yellowish watery fluid called plasma, which contains proteins, salts and other substances.
The rest of your blood is made up of the following cells and cell fragments, which are all produced in the bone marrow.

• Red blood cells make up more than 99 percent of the cells in the blood and carry oxygen around the body in a substance called hemoglobin, which gives blood its red colour. Iron is an important ingredient of hemoglobin.
• White blood cells are larger than red blood cells and make up less than one percent of the blood cells. There are several different types and they are important in protecting the body against infection.
• Platelets are tiny fragments of cells that are involved in blood clotting.

Anemia occurs when you don't have enough red blood cells, or enough of the oxygen-carrying pigment called hemoglobin. There are different types of anemia, including pernicious anemia, hemolytic anemia, aplastic anemia and sickle cell anemia.

Symptoms of anemia

The symptoms of anemia include:
• breathlessness with little exercise
• feeling very tired
• looking pale
• being intolerant of cold temperatures
• a rapid pulse
• palpitations
• headaches

Less common anemia symptoms can include tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and an altered sense of taste. There may also be other symptoms of anemia, which result from the underlying condition that is the cause of anemia.

Causes of anemia

There are many possible causes of anemia but they fall into the following three groups.

Loss of blood

Blood loss can result from an obvious injury, or surgery, but it's not always easy to detect, especially if it's happening inside the body (eg a bleeding stomach ulcer). Women who have heavy periods can develop anemia.

Not making enough red blood cells and/or hemoglobin

The bone marrow may not be able to make enough good-quality red blood cells because of a lack of essential vitamins such as vitamin B12 or folic acid, or because of a serious bone marrow disorder such as leukemia or aplastic anemia. Long-term (chronic) inflammation, for example in rheumatoid arthritis or long-term infections, may also suppress your bone marrow.

The most common cause is lack of hemoglobin due to iron deficiency. This usually results from long-term bleeding, for example in women, the monthly period (menstruation). The kidneys also have an important role because they produce a hormone called EPO, which tells the bone marrow to make red cells. If you have long-term kidney problems you may have anemia due to the lack of EPO.

Red blood cells broken down too quickly

Red blood cells normally live for about 120 days before they are broken down and replaced. Various inherited problems with the red blood cells, or their hemoglobin, or an attack on normal red cells by the immune system, may cause them to be broken down too soon. This is called hemolytic anemia. Some medicines may also be involved in causing hemolytic anemia.
People with a condition called sickle-cell anemia tend to have red blood cells that are broken down too soon. Sickle-cell anemia is an inherited condition in which the red blood cells can become crescent-shaped rather than round due to the presence of an abnormal type of hemoglobin (hemoglobin S) These cells don't survive as well as normal red blood cells.

Diagnosis of anemia

If you have symptoms of anemia, such as breathlessness and fatigue, you should visit your GP. He or she will ask about your symptoms, any previous illnesses or treatments and your eating habits. You will probably have a physical examination.

If your doctor thinks you have anemia, he or she will probably ask you to have a blood test. This involves taking samples of blood from one of the veins in your arm. The needle used is narrow and the amount of blood taken is small. For most people having a blood test is virtually painless.
The tests on your blood will include a full blood count (FBC), which is done by a machine in a hospital laboratory on a sample of your blood.

A full blood count gives information about your hemoglobin levels and how many of each of the different types of blood cells you have, as well as information about the size of your red cells (MCV) and the amount of hemoglobin each one contains (MCH). In America, the same test is known as a complete blood count (CBC).

The normal amount - or concentration - of hemoglobin for men is at least 13g/dl (13 grams of hemoglobin per decilitre of blood - a decilitre is 100ml) and 11.5g/dl for women. If your hemoglobin level is lower than this you have anemia.

If your hemoglobin level is low, the other results from a full blood count can give clues about what might be causing anemia. For example, if your hemoglobin is low and your red blood cells are small, you may have iron deficiency. However, if the hemoglobin is low and the red cells are large, you are more likely to have a deficiency of vitamin B12 or folate.

If the cause of anemia isn't clear, your GP may recommend further tests. These might include investigations into possible blood loss from the stomach or bowel, so you may need to have a test to see if you have blood in your faeces. This is called a faecal occult blood test. If your doctor suspects that you are losing blood into your gastro-intestinal tract you may also be offered an endoscopy. This is an examination of the lining of the stomach (gastroscopy) or large bowel (colonoscopy) using a thin, flexible telescope.

Your GP may also refer you to a haematologist - a doctor specialising in conditions of the blood - for further tests, which may include taking a sample of your bone marrow.

Treatment of anemia

Treatment of anemia depends on its underlying cause. You may need to improve your diet or your doctor may recommend that you take supplements of iron, folic acid or vitamin B12. If you are severely anaemic due to a serious underlying condition, you may need a blood transfusion. Or, if you have a condition such as chronic kidney disease, you may need to have injections of the hormone EPO.

Prevention of anemia

The best way to prevent anemia is to eat a healthy, balanced diet. For most people, this sort of diet provides enough essential nutrients, without the need for supplements.

As a guide, the main nutrients you need to make healthy red blood cells are:

• iron - in meat, liver, green vegetables, dried fruit, pulses (eg chick peas and lentils) and fortified foods such as some breakfast cereals and bread

• vitamin B12 - in meat, milk, cheese, eggs and fortified foods such as some breakfast cereals and bread. It is not found in vegetables

• folate - in liver, yeast extract, green leafy vegetables (such as peas and spinach), oranges, milk and fortified foods such as some breakfast cereals and bread

If you don't eat animal products (a vegan diet) or have a condition that affects how well you can absorb nutrients (eg coeliac disease), you may need to take supplements of nutrients. You should also get advice from a doctor or a registered dietitian.

If you are pregnant, you are more likely to get a form of iron-deficiency anemia. Your antenatal checks will include regular blood tests to check your hemoglobin levels. Your doctor or midwife will prescribe iron supplements if you need them.

Understanding Stomach Cancer

2008-08-20T02:18:00.000-07:00

What is Stomach For?

The stomach is a storage organ for food. When you eat your meals, food stays in the stomach for a while, and this is where digestion starts. Food is churned up, and mixed with acid until it is partly liquefied, when it is passed on into the rest of the bowel for further digestion, and for the nutrients to be absorbed. The stomach is actually a large hollow muscle, whose movement is controlled by nerves and hormones, triggered by the sight, smell or sound of food.

How does stomach cancer start?

Cancers of the stomach are not all the same, and it is likely
that there are different causes.

Certain conditions of the stomach may predispose to stomach cancer. These include pernicious anaemia, chronic inflammation, ulcers and large polyps. Smoking, and a high salt or high nitrate/nitrite diet may also cause problems. Nitrites are found in cured meats, pickled fish, and may also originate in fertilisers.

Helicobacter pylori is a bacterium which can infect the stomach. This may lead to ulcers, and is also thought to predispose to stomach cancer.

Stomach cancer does not often run in families; a family history of stomach cancer is found in less than one in ten patients with the condition.

How does an ulcer turn into a cancer?

The genes that control the growth of stomach cells become disorganised, making the cells grow quickly, and beyond their normal boundaries. As the tumour enlarges, the cells grow through the lining of the stomach, and can invade adjacent structures such as fat or the pancreas. Some cells can break away, travel up the bloodstream and go to other sites such as the liver or lungs. These are known as secondaries, or metastases.

What protects against stomach cancer?

A healthy diet containing fruit, vegetables and some animal fat and protein may help to prevent stomach cancer. The widespread use of frozen rather than pickled foods may have influenced the reduction in the incidence of the problem over the last fifty years.

Medical advice

Does early diagnosis make a difference?

The earlier a diagnosis can be made, the more likely it is that the problem can be cured. The longer a cancer is present in the stomach, the more likely it is that it will spread to other parts of the body such as lymph glands and the liver.

What are the symptoms of stomach cancer?

Stomach cancer can present in many different ways depending on which part of the stomach is involved. Indigestion (pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen related to eating or drinking), and loss of appetite are common, and associated with weight loss. If the cancer is at the top of the stomach near the gullet, it may cause difficulty with swallowing food. If it is at the bottom of the stomach, it may cause vomiting of food. Cancers can sometimes bleed, leading to symptoms of anaemia such as tiredness and shortness of breath.

Aren’t some symptoms similar to those of a peptic ulcer?

Many of the symptoms of stomach cancer are similar to those of a benign ulcer. It is very important that any new occurrences of the symptoms listed above are reported to your doctor if you are over 40.

How is the diagnosis made?

Occasionally a lump can be felt in the abdomen, but other tests are always needed.

• Endoscopy (video examination of the stomach). This is a simple test carried out under local anaesthetic. A small sample of tissue is taken for examination under a microscope (histology) and a test is taken for Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium which can infect the stomach and is thought to increase the risk of stomach cancer.

• CT scan – this is an X-Ray which takes 3 dimensional pictures of the chest, abdomen and pelvis areas. It gives information about the stomach itself, and also about other areas that disease may have spread to.

What happens once cancer is diagnosed?

If the tests show that you have stomach cancer, you will be referred to a cancer specialist – usually a surgeon – for further assessment. It is likely that you will have a staging laparoscopy. Under a general anaesthetic, a small telescope is passed through the belly button into the abdomen to examine the stomach and other areas closely. The results of your tests will then be discussed by a group of cancer experts, and a decision will be made on the best form of treatment.

How are cancers of the stomach treated?

Once checks have been made that it has not spread anywhere else, most stomach cancers will be removed by surgery. Either a part of the stomach or the whole stomach is removed, with lymph
glands that are close by. The stomach or gullet is then joined to the bowel (anastomosis). Once the cancer has been removed it is examined closely under the microscope to decide exactly what stage it is at. If the cancer is an early one that has not spread through the stomach wall, then no
further treatment may be necessary. If the cancer has spread through the wall, or involved lymph glands you may be offered further treatment such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy or a
combination of both. Sometimes chemotherapy is given before surgery.

What happens after surgery?

You will stay in hospital for about 10 days after your operation. You will take 6 to 8 weeks to recover fully. You will see a dietician who will advise you on the best foods to eat. The main advice will be to eat a balanced diet, little and often. All the test results will be discussed to decide if any further treatment is necessary. You will be told the results when you come back to see your surgeon about a month after surgery. You will be seen regularly in clinic over the months and years after your treatment, and will be offered regular blood tests. Sometimes further scans and endoscopies are needed to see if the cancer has come back. If the problem does recur, it can be treated again, usually with chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

What is advanced stomach cancer?

If the cancer has already spread beyond the stomach to other structures when it is diagnosed, it is sometimes not amenable to surgery. In this case it is treated by chemotherapy, and sometimes radiotherapy. There are some new minimal access (endoscopic) ways of dealing with problems such as blockages, by using fine mesh tubes called stents. Cancer can sometimes become advanced even after treatment, and careful follow up is usually necessary.

If I have had stomach cancer, what can I do to stop it coming back?

A healthy lifestyle, with a balanced diet and a positive mental attitude are good advice. Regular medical follow up is also important.

Are there any implications for my family?

Only about 4% of patients with stomach cancer have a close relative with the same problem. It is therefore not likely that other members of your family will need to be screened. They should however be advised on a healthy diet.

Is there a screening programme for stomach cancer?

In some areas of the world such as Japan, the incidence of stomach cancer is so high that endoscopic screening is carried out on everyone. In the UK, the incidence of the problem is a lot lower, so screening is not necessary.

What research is going on?

Recent research into the treatment of stomach cancer has centred around how medical treatment may improve the results of surgery. Treating some patients with chemotherapy before surgery may improve long term outcome, and some patients with more advanced disease may benefit from post-operative chemotherapy, sometimes with radiotherapy as well. Trials are in progress to study these factors in more detail.

Oh My GOD.. HEARt Attack!!!!! ( DONT PANIC )

2008-08-14T07:02:00.000-07:00

How to Treat a HEART ATTACK?

A heart attack victim whose heart is still beating has a much better chance of survival than a victim whose heart has stopped! Most heart attack victims who die succumb within 2 hours after having their heart attack. Many of these victims could be saved if bystanders recognize the symptoms of a heart attack and get the victim to a hospital quickly! Indeed, many victims of heart attacks think they are experiencing HEARTBURN or other minor discomfort when in fact their life is in jeopardy! This is why this article provides basic information for emergency first aid.

Steps

# Comfort & reassure the victim

# Don’t panic. The casualty will likely clutch their chest and may fall over. Sit them down if they are conscious, with their knees up and back leaning on something. Call an ambulance immediately.

# If they are unconscious then lie them on their back, check that nothing is obstructing their airways (could be tongue) and listen with your ear just over their mouth for breathing.

# If you are on their right, rotate your head to the right, so that you can watch for the rise and fall of their chest. If they are not breathing after you have listened for a count of ten, then give two breaths, pinching their nose to prevent loss of air, and breathing away from them to maximize oxygen content.

# Check for circulation – if they have an obvious pulse that’s great, but any movement is a sign of circulation, and blueness and other discolouration is a sign of a lack of it. Pinching a digit (fingers) and watching for recolouring – if there is fast recolouring, this is a sign of circulation.

# Don’t waste time checking for circulation if it is slowing down the process. Someone else can do that as you check for airways.

# If there is not circulation, then start cardio resuscitation. This means putting a hand on the split of the casualty’s lungs (the top of the inverted V) and your other hand on top.

# Interlock and raise your fingers so the heel of your hand is all that touches them. Straighten your arms and depress their chest 5cm (if they’re over 8rys old) with your whole weight.

# Raise again and do this 30 times. Then perform two rescue breaths. Someone else can take over the chest compressions if they’re competent or if you’re tired but it is best just one person does the breaths.

# Continue the 30:2 cycle until help arrives or until you’re likely to become a casualty too. Don’t endanger yourself.

# The most important thing to remember is that you should call an ambulance the second you suspect it is a heart attack, or if you have an unconscious casualty.

Tips

Keep them calm and keep everyone else calm if you can. Assign jobs to prevent panic.

Warnings

This is only a guide to assist the person, not cure the heart attack. This care should be given to them while emergency crews are on their way.

People with sleep apnea run higher death risk

2008-08-11T08:14:00.000-07:00

WHAT IS SLEEP APNEA??

The term “apnea” means without breath and sleep apnea is a disorder characterized by stopping or pausing breath during sleep. This is not a mild sleep disorder as longer pauses between breaths can lead to fatal consequences. Each pause in breathing spans between ten to twenty seconds or more but these pauses occur more than twenty to thirty times every hour.

Sleep apnea occurs because adequate air is unable to flow in to the lungs through the mouth or nose as one tries to breathe regularly causing a pause in the breathing activity. Normal breathing resumes with a sudden snort or choking sound but the oxygen levels in blood drop every time there is a pause in breathing.

Sleep apnea is broadly classified into two types: Central and Obstructive. Central sleep apnea is caused due to lack of effort in breathing regularly while Obstructive Sleep Apnea is caused due to a physical block in regular breathing despite effort.

If left untreated sleep apnea can cause: hypertension, stroke, irregular heart beat, heart failure or heart attack.

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

- Loud snoring
- Dry or parched throat on waking up
- Gasping or choking for breath
- Poor quality of sleep leading to sleepiness during the day
- Memory problems
- Morning headaches
- Relatively higher levels of irritation
- Inability to concentrate for a longer duration
- Depression or mood swings

Causes of Sleep Apnea

The causes and concerns that lead to sleep apnea as a disorder are:

- Inability of the air to flow to the lungs from the mouth or nose due to physical obstruction or lack of effort
- Brief collapsing of the throat causing pauses in breath
- The extra soft tissues in the throat among obese or over weight persons make it difficult to keep the throat area open for circulation of air
- Large tonsils or adenoids may also cause disruption in air flow to the lungs causing pauses in breath
- Hereditary or genetic features of the body such that the shape of the head and neck result in a relatively small airway between the mouth and throat area

Remedies for Sleep Apnea

- Quit smoking and lose weight if a person is overweight
- Avoid alcohol and consumption of sleeping pills
- Change sleep positions to ensure regular breathing
- Tie a ball in socks and tie it across your waist such that you will change your position regularly
- Avoid sleeping on the back and try sleeping laterally
- Conduct polysomnography, a diagnostic test which measures and records a number of physiologic variables during sleep.

Diet for Sleep Apnea

There is no specific diet or particular foods that can help treat or prevent sleep apnea

People with sleep apnea run higher death risk

People with severe sleep apnea face a much higher risk of mortality than 'normal' people, which increases when the condition is untreated.

Results show that people who have severe sleep apnea, which involves breathing pauses during sleep, have three times the risk of dying due to any cause compared with people who do not have sleep apnea.

This risk is represented by an adjusted hazard ratio of 3.2 after controlling for age, sex and body mass index. When 126 participants who reported regular use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy were removed from the statistical analysis, the hazard ratio for all-cause mortality related to severe sleep apnea rose to 4.3.

Thyroid Imbalance causes Tiredness

2008-08-08T07:19:00.000-07:00

Medical doctors of the Thyroid Society, based in Houstan say that if You are sleeping a lot, longer than usual , yet still have to drag yourself through a day, CAUTION: You may have a Thyroid Problem !!!

The Thyroid Gland , located in the neck just below the Adam's apple, produces hormones that tells your cells how fast you work.

For more information about Thyroid Glance at http://health2dy.blogspot.com/2008/07/interesting-faqs-about-thyroid.html

If the gland produces less than normal amount of thyroid hormone , the body suffers a metabolic slowdown; your heart rate may decline; you may ge constipated and experience muscle cramps; your skin can become dry, your hair thin and your voice husky, and you may gain weight for no obvious reason. This is called Hypothyroidism.

Having too much Thyroid hormone- Hyperthyroidism can also cause fatigue. It is because high hormone levels can weaken muscles Other symptoms are rapid heart beat, sweating and weight loss. Hyperthyroidism can strike at any age and unusually results from any age auto-immune disorder known as Grave's disease.

Doctors test for Thyroid trouble by feeling for an enlarged gland and by ordering special blood tests. Both Hyperthyroidism and Hypothyroidism require medication.

Tooth loss might raise cancer risk

2008-08-06T01:52:00.000-07:00

Tooth loss and periodontal disease might increase the risk of developing various cancers. Periodontal disease is a chronic bacterial infection that affects the gums and bone supporting the teeth and eventually results in tooth loss.

Previous studies have suggested that tooth loss and periodontal disease might increase the risk of developing various cancers, but the role of smoking in the association has been unclear so far.

To assess whether periodontal disease or tooth loss is associated with cancer risk, American researchers collected data on more than 48,000 men, aged between 40 and 75 years. The most common cancers reported were colorectal, melanoma, lung and bladder and advanced prostate cancer.

After taking into account other risk factors, such as smoking and diet, the researchers found that men with a history of gum disease had a 14 percent higher risk of developing cancer compared with men did not have a history of the condition. The risk for specific cancers was typically higher. Compared to men with healthy gums, men with a history of gum disease had a 36 percent increased risk of lung cancer, a 49 percent hike in risk of kidney cancer, a 54 percent higher risk of pancreatic cancer, and a 30 percent increased risk of white blood cell cancers. Further, men who had fewer teeth at the beginning of the study had a 70 percent increased risk of developing lung cancer, compared with men who had 25 to 32 teeth.

It was also noted that the association between gum disease and lung cancer disappeared among men with gum disease who had never smoked. However, men with gum disease who did not smoke had a 35 percent increased risk for blood cancers and a 21 percent overall increased risk for cancer.

The findings indicate a small, but significant association between periodontal disease and increase in overall cancer risk, which persisted in never-smokers. However, more elaborate studies are expected to flow in to confirm the associations.

Fish prevents brain damage

2008-08-06T01:37:00.000-07:00

Adults who regularly eat fish may have a lower risk of subtle brain damage that contributes to stroke and dementia.
Previous studies have shown that fish and fish oil can help prevent stroke but no study has yet looked into the impact of fish on silent brain infracts. To investigate the association between fish consumption and brain abnormalities, Finnish researchers studied the MRI scans of 3,660 adults aged 65 years and older. Food frequency questionnaires were used to assess the dietary intakes of the participants. The participants were scanned again after five years.

It was found that those who ate more fish were less likely to show certain silent brain infarcts, tiny areas of tissue that die because of an insufficient blood supply. Silent or subclinical brain infracts raise a person's longer-term risk of having a stroke or developing dementia. The participants who reported that they ate tuna and other baked or broiled fish at least three times per week were one-quarter less likely to have subclinical brain infarcts at the start of the study than those who rarely ate fish. Fish eaters also tended to be less likely to develop new infarcts over the next five years. No such benefits were linked to fried fish consumption.

The findings were attributable to two major omega-3 fatty acids found in fish-eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) that have clinically important health benefit of lowering the odds of developing silent brain infracts among adults.

Improve your CONCENTRATION...

2008-08-02T09:02:00.000-07:00

We all have ability to concentrate on some of the time. But at other times our thoughts are scattered, and our minds race from one thing to another. HEALTH2DY tells you how to concentrate effectively.

Have you ever felt that you had been watching a movie for long and end up clueless what the story was about?

How many times have you ended up reading the same line in a book over and over again?
This can be frustrating,right?

It's time you got working on improving your concentration. Concentration is the ability to focus on one's thoughts in a particular direction without getting distracted. Here are some tips to improve your concentration skills.

GOOD SLEEP

A good Night's sleep will do wonders for your body and mind. Make sure you have an undisturbed sleep of eight hours. It is the best way of recharging your tired cells.

EAT BALANCED MEALS

Always have a balanced diet. An empty stomach will distract you more than a full stomach. Take good care of your body and mind and you ll be able to concentrate better.

REMOVE SURROUNDING DISTRACTIONS

Don.t let your surroundings disturb your attention. Clean up all the mess on your table. Keep things in order. Turn off your mobile phone and if you feel tempted to surf the net, shut down the computer.

BLOCK EXTERNAL DISTRACTIONS

Redirect your thoughts. When you find that you are staying from your thoughts, REDIRECT IT.Do not let yourself be distracted with petty worries and problems.

MEDITATION
Wake up early in the morning and try to meditate in a calm and peaceful surrounding. Meditation is sure to help you improve your concentration.

REWARD YOURSELF

Every time you increase your concentration time, reward yourself. This will motivate you to work better.

Improving your concentration will help you accomplish more in shorter period of time.

BIOTIN for FAST HAIR GROWTH ????

2008-07-30T09:10:00.000-07:00

Biotin plays a significant part in the prevention of hair loss. Most nutritionists agree that biotin is one of the important vitamins for supporting hair growth. It is also commonly advised to take biotin to supplement medical treatments such Minoxidil or Propecia.

A deficiency of biotin may cause hair to become frail and unhealthy, and hair breakage, which may result in hair loss. Biotin also keeps your skin and nails healthy as well as being an important element of new hair growth.
Supplements are sometimes needed to return biotin levels to normal, but it is recommended to include biotin regularly in your diet. Two foods containing good quantities of biotin are liver and egg yolks. You would have to eat thousands of calories worth daily to get enough for your hair needs, which is why I would also suggest biotin supplements.

Foods full of biotin include brewer's yeast, green peas, oats, soybeans, walnuts, sunflower seeds, green peas, bulgur and brown rice. In terms of the egg yolks, your body's ability to digest and assimilate biotin decreases with high intake levels of protein. Biotin binds easily to proteins, making it unavailable to your body, which in turn causes biotin deficiency and hair loss. Try to steer clear of raw eggs in your diet, and cut down on protein powders and bars. Use one of the many shampoos that contain biotin and silica.

Additionally, those with type A blood don't have the ability to fully absorb B vitamins. Biotin is classified as a Vitamin B, so if you have Type A blood, adding higher doses of 5-8 grams twice daily will be needed to help prevent hair loss. At this time, there are no known side effects at this dosage level.

People suffering from heartburn, acid reflux, or GERD and who are taking antacids may absorb biotin less and hair loss may occur as a result. Therefore watch your use of over-the-counter antacids if you are worried about hair loss.

Interesting FAQs about Thyroid..

2008-07-28T00:29:00.000-07:00

What is thyroid?

Thyroid is a butterfly shaped organ (or gland) located in the front of the neck, just below the voice box. Like the liver, heart, kidney and brain, thyroid has a specific function and role to play. In a normal adult the thyroid weighs 15 to 25 grams. It is known that it starts functioning even before birth! Thyroid secretes two metabolically very important hormones, called T3 and T4 that are vital for physical and mental growth.

What are thyroid hormones?

The word hormone is derived from a Greek term meaning "To excite" or "To spur on". Hormones are chemical messengers that alter the activities of cells and tissues. Hormones regulate many important body processes and functions, including growth, reproduction, and metabolism. Various glands produce specific hormones, which controls specific events in the body. Thyroid gland secretes 2 hormones called T3 and T4 and these two hormones are required by every organ, every tissue and every cell in the body at every minute. They control various important metabolic activities including energy productions and growth and development.

What is the role of Iodine in Thyroid functioning?

Iodine, a trace mineral, is required by the body for the synthesis of the thyroid hormones. T4 contains 4 iodine atoms. When one of the iodine atoms is stripped off of T4, it becomes T3, with 3 iodine atoms remaining. In case of Iodine deficiency, the human body is unable to synthesize these hormones. Goiter, or enlargement of the thyroid gland, is usually the earliest symptom of iodine deficiency. The enlargement of the thyroid results from over stimulation of the thyroid gland by thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), as the body attempts to produce thyroid hormones despite the lack of available iodine.

What is the relation between weight and thyroid?

What we eat should be converted into energy for a normal and healthy life. In hypothyroidism, due to paucity of the hormones, the energy conversion is reduced. Hence, fat accumulation and weight increase are very common in hypothyroid patients. In hyperthyroidism, the hormones are in excess. So they burnout the energy more than what is required, resulting in heavy loss of weight. Thus weight and stamina are two criteria in thyroid evaluation.

What Importance does thyroid function have during pregnancy?

During pregnancy, the requirement of thyroid hormones is increased (for the child also) and hence a thyroid patient should be monitored closely in the first and second tri semester. Both the mother and foetus require optimum hormone levels. It is known that the deficiency of thyroid hormones can cause irreversible damages to both the physical and mental growth of the child. Hence it is recommended that a good endocrinologist is consulted.

What are the types of Thyroid Disorders?

There are basically two types of thyroid disorders:
-Goiter , which is an abnormal size and structure of the thyroid gland. The goiter may not have any symptoms and an associated disorder.
- Thyroid Dysfunction, which is the under functioning
( hypothyroidism ) or over functioning ( hyperthyroidism ) of the thyroid gland. this may happen without a goiter.

What are the symptoms of thyroid disorders?

Hyperthyroidism - Signs and Symptoms
Heat intolerance
Nervousness
Insomnia
Breathlessness
Increased Bowel movements
Light or absence of menstrual periods
Palpitations
Fatigue
Fast heartbeat rate
Trembling hands
Weight loss
Weakness
Staring gaze

What other diseases are associated with thyroid dysfunction?

Patients having autoimmune disorders may have more than one organ affected. With chronic thyroiditis, there is a higher incidence of other autoimmune diseases such as:

* Vitiligo
* Rheumatoid Arthritis
* Addison's Disease
* Diabetese Mellitus
* Pernicious anaemia

What is Grave's disease?

Grave's disease, an autoimmune disorder is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. Instead of TSH, antibodies against the TSH receptors bind to and stimulate the thyroid gland , leading to continuous and uncontrolled production of thyroid hormones. These patients are likely to have a diffuse goiter, "Protrusion of eyes" (exophthalamos). Some patients have enlarged spleen and neck nodes

How can a laboratory help in diagnosis of thyroid function?

The most effective and efficient way to diagnose the thyroid dysfunctions is by measuring FT3, FT4 and TSH blood levels These tests are done with either the Nobel prize Winning Technology called RIA or with a fully automated technology called CLIA These tests cannot be conducted in any laboratory because it required huge infrastructure and investments.

Are these tests very costly?

More than 100 good laboratories in India are doing these tests with good quality, but majority of them charge rates ranging from Rs.500 to Rs.1,200 for the three investigations namely FT3, FT4 and TSH. However under the new concept of specialization, networking and blending the breakthrough in laboratory technologies and with the advent of information technology, the most reliable Thyroid diagnosis service is available for Rs.200 to Rs.300* in any part of the country. The major contribution in such a breakthrough is from Thyrocare, the world's largest thyroid testing laboratory.

What is thyroid scanning?

There are many tests available to understand various diseases of thyroid. However, majority of the functional thyroid disorders are identified using a simple blood test called "T3 T4 TSH". This test estimates the levels of three hormones in blood namely T3 & T4, both thyroid hormones and TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) stimulates or controls the activity of Thyroid gland.

Once the levels of these hormones are known from the laboratory tests, doctors can easily classify if there is a functional disorder into hypo or hypothyroidism. Usually, in hypothyroidism the levels of T3 and T4 are below normal and that of TSH is above normal. In case of hyperthyroidism, the levels of T3 and T4 are above normal and that of TSH will be very low.

How thyroid testing is done?

Like any other organ, Thyroid gland also is known to harbour cancer. However once diagnosed the gland is removed and radio iodine treatment is given it will ensure that the patient is completely safe and free of cancer. It is known that Thyroid Cancer is one of the safest cancer.

Where can I find more info on Thyroid?

There are lot of Information on thyroid over this website. You can use the internal search to find out more. Some useful weblinks for thyroid:

thyroid.about.com
thyroid.miningco.com
thyroid-info.com
btf-thyroid.org
nap.edu

WORRIED or SICK???

2008-07-20T22:10:00.000-07:00

Is Worrying about your health making you SICK?

ARE you one of those who fix an appointment with the doctor for every bout nausea or get a CT scan done at the hint of a head ache?

If the answer is YES, then you are actually suffering from something serious. It's called ORTHOREXIS, or health perfectionism in common parlance.

A health perfectionist is a person obsessed with his/her own health. There are various issues pertaining to such an obsession which might cause numerous side-effects,one such extreme being panthological in nature.

"Sadness which does'nt get a vent in tears makes the organs cry. This sums up the underlying panthology of health perfectionism. It's seems in people who find it difficult to express emotions or talk things out, They fall to recognize conflicts or interpersonal problems in their lives. As general emotional distress is not dealth with,it expresses itself physically, some times even after many years,"says Dr Jyoti Sangle, Phychiatrist, Dr L.H Hiranandani Hospital, Mumbai.

According to the International Association for Cognitive Psychotherapy, anxieties about health are common and often result in a pattern of health perfectionism, in which every physical discomfort or imperfection is interpreted as a sign of disease. With the media constantly heaping on the perfect bofy and face, the existence of the perfect form becomes believable.

"Being a health perfectionist can cost you a great deal and it is important to be aware of the problems that it can lead to. Perfectionists are likely to experience decreased productivity, impaired health, troubled inter-personal relationships and low self-esteem. They are vulnerable to depression,performance ,anxiety,compulsiveness,suicidal thoughts,loneliness,impatience,frustration and anger", informs Dr Bhavna Burmi, senior clinical psycologist. Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre, New Delhi.

Then there are also hypochrondriasis are worked about getting a disease or are certain they have it, even after medical tests prove otherwise. "Hypochrondriacs often misinterpret minor health problems or normal body functions as smptoms of a disease", says Dr Burmi.

A person who is true that is headaches are caused by brain tumour is a hypocondriac. According to Dr Burmi, symptoms associated with hypocondriasis are not under the person's voluntary control, and can cause great distress and/or can interfere with a person's normal functioning. It can occur at any age, but mostly begins in early adulthood. It affects men and women alike.

HOW TO CRUSH THE DOUBT?

1. Identify the connection between obsessional thoughts and impulses.

2. Engage in anxiety management

3. Engage in relaxation therapies to control your stress levels.

4. Keep a check on suicisal thoughts

5. Tackle the tendency to fall into depression

6. Get engaged in activities to avoid lonliness

7. Don't believe in whatever you read(Cybercondria)

8. Stay in regular contact with a healthcare provider

Do u blink regularly??? CAUTION : Computer Vision Syndrome.

2008-07-16T08:35:00.000-07:00

Tired of looking at the computer screens for hours?
A research says that reduced rate of blinking due to long hours of working on the computer screens can lead to acute eye problems like computer vision syndrome.

According to a study published in the Live Science Journal, reduced rate of blinking due to long working hours on the computer screens can lead severe eye problems. The condition, known as " Computer Vision Syndrome", CVS is affecting employees worldwide at an alarming rate.
Due to excessive and prolonged exposure to computer screens, the workforce of most professions is falling prey to this condition, which, in turn, is adversely affecting their efficiency.

A common ailment which most employees suffer from is the " Dry Eye Syndrome".

The medical fraternity recommends blinking after every few seconds to relax the eye and maintain its natural moisture. But since most professions involve long hours of computer usage, it is becoming increasingly difficult for people to blink at the optimum frequency. According to studies , computer users blink around three times less than they normally should.
The Eye normally blinks about 10-12 times in a minute , but computer usage reduces this by nearly 30% .

Says Sanjeev Gupta, senior eye specialist, " Computer Vision Syndrome is a complex set of eye problems linked to prolonged exposure to the computer screen. One of these problems is dryness of the eyes, which is attributes to the fact that blinking reduces considerably when the eye is focussed on something for long durations. Another problem is the light emanating from the screen. When the monitor is switched on, many dust particles stick to it due to electrostatic force. And this causes scattering of light which is harmful to the eye."

So how is CVS caused??

"Long hours of continuous computer usage is the main cause of this condition. Also, factors like poor lightening in the office, positioning of the monitor and improper posture can also cause CVS.
Ideally the monitor should be at an arm's length from the eyes, but this is not in practice in many office environments",says Gupta.

Another interesting facet of CVS is that even the letters we type and view on screen are harmful for the eyes. According to the experts, reading texts from computer screen should be done with caution. The brightness of the text is highest at the centre of the screen and lowest at the periphery. The unequal composition of colors is harmful for the eye.

Says Gupta,"Headaches and fatigue are the primary symptoms of CVS in a person. Many develop a reddish hue in the eye due to excessive dryness. But it is advisable to consult an ophthalmologist if one feels a burning sensation in the eye."

But CVS is not proven to permanently damage the eyes . Still , those suffering from it find it hard to concentrate at work, which affects their professional lives. Though there is no cure for CVS since most professions involve serious usage of computers, one can take preventive meaures.
Says Gupta. " I suggest people apply an anti-reflective coating on the screens. The monitor should be kept dust free and the brightness and contrast levels should be set to ensure minimal reflection of light. Also one should try to prevent dryness. Application of eye drops is also known to be beneficial in some cases."

Want to make your hair always lengthy and glossy??

2008-07-15T04:35:00.000-07:00

If you want your hair to be always lengthy and glossy, if your hair is becoming grey, here is a tip for you to follow. Take half a coconut shell and remove the coconut out of it. Add a cup of hot water to it. You get a thick milky liquid thereby. Filter it into a glass.

Cut a lime into two pieces. Add the lime juice into the coconut milk liquid and stir it. Wash your hair with soapnut powder or shampoo. Apply this thick liquid and massage it. Leave some time and have a head bath. Dry the hair and apply coconut oil. Do like this, off and on....

Calories burned in various activities

2008-07-10T11:07:00.000-07:00

The following table gives you an average of calories burned per minute for selected activities and will help you in planning your exercise schedule.

Activity	Calories burned per minute
Standing	2 to 2.5
Walking 2 miles an hour	2.5 to 4
Bicycling 5 miles an hour	2.5 to 4
Walking 3 miles an hour	4 to 5
Bicycling 6 miles an hour	4 to 5
Walking 4 miles an hour	5 to 6
Bicycling 10 miles an hour	6 to 7
Skating	6 to 7
Walking briskly 5 miles an hour	7 to 8
Jogging 5 miles an hour	8 to 10
Bicycling 12 miles an hour	8 to 10
Basketball	8 to 10
Jogging 6 miles an hour	10 to 11
Squash and handball	10 to 11
Swimming	12
Sitting Quietly	1 to 1.5
Standing Quietly	1
Office work	4
Cleaning house	4
Playing golf	4
Gardening	6 to 6.5
Dancing	6 to 6.5
Swimming	9 to 9.5
Jumping rope	11.5
High intensity, low-impact aerobics	9 to 9.5
Walking on a treadmill, (3.5 mph)	5 to 5.5
Riding a stationary bike, (60 mph)	6 to 6.5
Climbing stairs	6 to 6.5
Weightlifting	6 to 6.5
Volleyball (recreational)	4.4
Football (touch, vigorous)	4.5 to 5
Scrubbing floors	7.5 to 8
Badminton	7 to 7.5
Hockey	9 to 10
Table tennis	5.5 to 6
Tennis	7 to 8

Athletes Foot........!!!

2008-07-03T02:27:00.000-07:00

Ringworm of the feet is more commonly known as Athlete's Foot.

It is caused by fungus and infects the spaces between the web spaces of the toes. The infection begins with being infected on the surface of the skin and it slowly runs its way down to the skin tissue. It is very important to stop the progress and the spreading of the infection as it might create further severe problems. A natural athletes foot remedy is to apply baking soda.

Take a tablespoon of baking soda apply it directly on the infected area. Spread the baking soda properly, covering the entire area. You can also heat the baking soda in a cup of water and apply the solution thoroughly on the feet. Rinse after 15 minutes of application.

This practice should be done at least three times in a day for about two weeks.

Another athletes foot remedy is the application of a garlic extract called Ajoene. This compound is considered to be very helpful in the speedy treatment of athlete's foot. The extract can either be applied on the affected area or consumed at least twice in a day by mixing it in the meals. Application of hydrogen peroxide and rubbing alcohol on the infection is also an effective athletes foot home remedy.

Urinating on the infected area is considered to be one of the valuable athletes foot natural remedies. The compound present in the urine clears the fungus and alleviates the symptoms. The feet should not stay wet for a longer period of time as fungus usually grows in moist situations. You can either use a dry towel or a hair dryer for drying the feet. Wear thin cotton socks instead of thick nylon.

Thin socks will make your feet sweat less and keep odor free. These are considered to be some of the most effective athletes foot home remedies.

Aromatherapy is also a surefire method of curbing athlete's foot. Add two to three drops of thyme oil, geranium oil and tea tree oil on the affected area twice in a day. You can add three to four drops of oils in a vessel of warm water and soak your feet in it for 15 to 20 minutes.

The area will heal completely in a period of five to six days. Witch hazel is a well known herbal remedy for the treatment of athlete's foot. Witch hazel should be added to your meals or beverages for at least four days and you will see a remarkable improvement. Homeopathy is also known to be very instrumental for the cure of athlete's foot. It is also very important to clear the dead skin, as the fungus might appear again. In case the infection rises to an intense level, it is highly recommended to consult a doctor immediately.

Prevent Hair Loss

2008-06-25T05:27:00.000-07:00

Although hair is not essential to life, it is of sufficient cosmetic concern to provoke anxiety in anyone when it starts thinning, falling, or disappearing. To a woman, the sight of a comb or brush covered with lost hair can cause intense mental strain. Hair is formed in minute pockets in the skill called follicles. An upgrowth at the base of the follicle, called the papilla, actually produces hair when a special group of cells turn amino acids into keratin, a type of protein of which hair is made. The rate of production of these protein 'building blocks' determines hair growth. The average growth rate is about 1.2 cm per month, growing fastest on women between fifteen to thirty years of age.

Hair loss Symptoms

Lose hair found after combing, baths

Seeing hair on your clothes, after you comb, bald patches appearing gradually, receding hairline. Symptoms are pretty obvious for hair loss!

Hair Loss Causes

Lack of vitamins, inadequate nutrition

The most important cause of hair loss is inadequate nutrition. Persons lacking in vitamin B6 lose their hair and those deficient in folic acid often become completely bald. But the hair grows normally after the liberal intake of these vitamins.

Stress, Prolonged Illness, unclean conditions

Other important cause of hair loss are stress such as worry, anxiety, and sudden shock, general debility caused by severe or long standing illnesses like typhoid, syphilis, chronic cold, influenza, and anaemia; an unclean condition of the scalp which weakens the hair roots by blocking the pores with the collected dirt; and heredity.

Hair Loss Remedies, Hair loss prevention

Treatment for Hair Loss using Rubbing of Scalp

A vigorous rubbing of the scalp with fingers after washing the hair with cold water is one of the most effective among the several home remedies for the prevention and treatment of hair loss. The scalp should be rubbed vigorously till it starts to tingle with the heat. It will activate the sebaceous glands and energise the circulation of blood in the affected area, making the hair grow healthy.

Hair Loss home remedy using Amla Oil

Amla oil, prepared by boiling dry pieces of amla in coconut oil, is considered a valuable hair tonic for enriching hair growth. A mixture of an equal quantity of fresh amla juice and lime juice, used as a shampoo also stimulates hair growth and prevents hair loss.

Treatment for Hair Loss treatment using Lettuce

Lettuce is useful in preventing hair loss. A mixture of lettuce and spinach juice is believed to help the growth of hair if taken to the extent to half a litre a day

Hair Loss home remedy using Amaranth

Amaranth is another valuable remedy for hair loss. Its fresh leaf juice should be applied to the hair. It will help the growth of the hair and keep it soft.

Hair Loss treatment using Alfalfa

The juice of alfalfa, in combination with equal quantities of carot and lettuce juice, taken daily, also helps the growth of hair to a remarkable extent. The combination of these juices is rich in elements which are particularly useful for the growth of hair. While preparing alfalfa juice, the leaves of the plant may be used when they can be obtained fresh.

Hair Loss treatment using Margosa

The leaves of the margosa tree are also beneficial in the treatment of hair loss. If hair has been falling or has ceased to grow it should be washed with the decoction of neem leaves. This will stop hair from falling and stabilise its blackness. It will also make the hair longer and kill lice and other infesting insects.

Home remedies for Hair Loss using Mustard Oil and Henna Leaves

Mustard oil, boiled with henna leaves, is useful for healthy growth of hair. About 250 ml of mustard oil should be boiled in a tin basin. About sixty grams of henna leaves should be gradually put in this oil till they are burnt in the oil. The oil should then be filtered using a cloth and stored. Regular massage of the head with the oil will produce abundant hair.

Treatment for Hair Loss using Coconut Milk

The application of coconut milk all over the scalp and massaging it into the hair roots is also beneficial in the treatment of hair loss. It nourishes the hair and promotes hair growth. Coconut milk is prepared by grinding the coconut shavings and squeezing them well.

Hair Loss treatment using Lime-Pepper Seeds

Certain home remedies have also been found beneficial in the treatment of patchy baldness. The most valuable of these remedies is the seeds of lime and black pepper, ground together to get a fine paste. This paste applied on the patches, has a mildly irritant action. This increases blood circulation to the affected area and stimulates hair growth. This paste should be applied twice a day, for a few weeks.

Hair Loss treatment using Liquorice

The paste of liquorice, made by grinding the pieces in milk with a pinch of saffron, is another valuable remedy for patchy baldness. This paste should be applied over the bald patches at night before going to bed.

Hair Loss treatment using Onion

Onion has also been found beneficial in patchy baldness. The affected part should be rubbed with onions morning and evening till it is red. It should be rubbed with honey afterwards.

Hair Loss treatment using Pigeon Pea

A fine paste made from pigeon pea or red gram can also be applied regularly on bald patches for beneficial results.

Hair Loss treatment using Other Remedies

Daily application of refined coconut oil, mixed with lime water and lime juice on the hair, prevents hair loss and lengthens it. Application of the juice of green coriander leaves on the head is also considered beneficial. Washing the hair with a paste of cooked black gram and fenugreek lengthens the hair. Regular use of castor oil as hair oil helps the luxuriant growth of the hair.

Hair loss prevention diet

Well balanced food intake

The healthy condition of the hair depends, to a very large extent, on the intake of sufficient amounts of essential nutrients in the daily diet. Persons with a tendency to lose hair should take a well-balanced and correct diet, made up of foods which, in combination, should supply all the essential nutrients. It has been found that a diet which contains liberal quantities of seeds, nuts, grains, vegetables and fruits would provide adequate amounts of all the essential nutrients. Each food group should roughly form the bulk of one of the three principal meals. These foods should, however, be supplemented with certain special foods such as milk, vegetable oils, honey, wheat germ, yeast and liver.

Other hair loss prevention treatment

Proper cleaning of the hair is essential.

Proper cleaning of the hair, and rubbing of the scalp with a towel after a hairwash, are necessary.

Get Rid of your Eye dark circles

2008-06-18T07:28:00.000-07:00

So you look older than you really are, all thanks to those dark circles under your eyes. Don't sweat. We have handy 'homemade' tips to rid you of those dark circles.

Causes of under eye dark circles

1. Lack of sleep.
2. Inherited condition having a family with the kind of skin that makes dark circles more likely.
3. Fluid retention which causes puffiness that may cast shadows.
4. Aging which thins and relaxes the skin around the eyes.

Dark Circles - Treatments and Remedies

Dark Circles can be removed by applying peeled and grated potato overnight at least three times a week.

Make cotton pads and dip them in cucumber juice. Place on your eyes for 15 minutes. The effect is cooling and relaxes your eyes. It is a very common and effective home remedy for dark circles.

Massaging eyes with almond oil is of great help. Massage at bed time daily, and in two weeks you will see the difference. It is also a good remedy for dark circles.

Dark circles can be removed by doing pranayam daily for at least five minutes.

Pressing the mount below index finger of the palm is good for eyesight and removing dark circles.

When stressed, keep your eyes covered with cucumber slices for some time. It will help you to get rid of dark circle.

Dip cotton balls in rose water and keep for 5-10 minutes.

Drink as much water as you can drink.

Dip cotton balls in chilled water and keep for 5-10 minutes on the eyes.

Take a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and avoid reading late at night, lying down

Every morning, after washing your face, gently apply mixture of equal parts of tomato and lime juice; wash after half an hour.

Alternate hot and cold compresses under your eyes for 10 minutes. Then apply a teaspoon of almond oil mixed with half teaspoon of lime juice on the dark surface every night before going to bed. It is also a good home remedy for dark circles.

For cooling effect to eyes paste of the herb nutmeg (Jaiphala) made with milk may be applied all around the eyes and over the eyelids. It will remove dark circles under eyes.

Tips to prevent Wrinkles !!!

2008-06-12T23:52:00.000-07:00

The good home remedy for wrinkles include gently massaging coconut oil on the affected area every night at bedtime at least for 15-30 days.

A paste of turmeric made with sugarcane juice is another good home remedy for wrinkles. It also slower downs the aging process.
Apply juice of green pineapples on the affected area. This is to be done for 10-15 minutes and then, rinse your face with lukewarm water. This is valuable homemade remedy for treating wrinkles.
Application of white matter of eggs under your eye shows better results in prevention of further wrinkles.
Application of odor free castor oil also helps to prevent the formation of new wrinkles. It must be applied under eyes as well as on the throat. This is one of the best home remedies for wrinkles.
Make a mixture of one fourth cup of witch hazel, ten drops of patchouli essential oil and one fourth cup of comfrey infusion. Apply this solution on affected parts with the help of tampon. This solution can be stored in clean bottle. This is also found as a best remedy to prevent new formation of wrinkles. This is one of the popular home remedies for wrinkles.
Eat more apples. They rejuvenate the skin.

Cut a green Thompson seedless grape in half and crush it on the affected area. Leave this crushed grape there for about ½ hours and rinse it with lukewarm water. This works as excellent home remedy for wrinkles.
Try to avoid sunlight on your face. Protect your skin from burning sunrays.
Avoid using chemical soaps and face packs. One should use the herbal cosmetics instead.
Milk cream can be applied as an effective remedy for wrinkles.
Do not let your sweat stay for longer time on your face. Wipe if out gently with cotton cloth piece.

Take three to our vitamin A capsules, open it and remove the content in a small bowl, add half teaspoon of honey, two teaspoon of yoghurt and half teaspoon of lemon juice. This mixture must be applied on the face by the mean of tampon, keep this mask for about ten to fifteen minutes and then wash it off. This gives best results in condition of wrinkles. This is one of the useful home remedies for wrinkles.
Wash your face regularly with mild herbal soap/face wash containing some blood purifiers like neem and turmeric.

Hearty Laugh For A Healthy Heart

2008-06-10T02:38:00.000-07:00

Laughter , along with a strong sense of humor, ensures a healthy heart.

A Study shows that people with heart diseases are 40% less likely to laugh in a comic situation, compared to the people of the same age without heart disease.

A lot of research is being done the world over on the effect of humor on health and it has been scientifically proved that with laughing, body's defense systems are stimulated, anxiety is reduced and body is relaxed.

Mental stress is associated with impairment oft he protective lining of one's blood vessels. This can cause a series of inflammatory reactions that lead to fat and cholesterol build up in the coronary arteries and ultimately lead to a heart attack. So, laughing off the stress is one of the best ways to ensure a health heart.

Humor is used extensively in alternate therapies. It is an essential part of psychotherapy treatment. Joggers having a hearty laugh, early morning in parks, is a common sight now-a-days. More and more hospitals are walking up to the power of laughter and even planning to have humor specialists and humor therapy departments.

It is possible to incorporate laughter into our daily activities, just as we do with heart-healthy exercises like taking the stairs instead of the lift. We can read something humorous or watch comic serials on TV.

Laughter is considered as one of the best muscle relaxants. It expands blood vessels and sends more blood to all parts of the body. It is also known to reduce the level of stress hormones.

The T-Cells, which fight infections, become more active when a person laughs. Laughter is also said to increase immunoglobin A and B. When you laugh, you inhale more oxygen and thus feel refreshed. This means that laughter stimulates blood circulation equivalent to any other standard aerobic exercise. Laughter exercise is best suited for people who do the work always sitting.

People suffering from mind related diseases like anxiety, depression, nervous breakdown and sleeplessness have benefited from laughter therapy.

Laughter helps to control blood pressure by reducing the release of stress-related hormones and brings relaxation. It also helps in stopping the further progress of heart disease of heart disease as it improves blood circulation and oxygen supply to the heart muscles.

Laughter increases the levels of endorphins in our bodies, which are natural painkillers. Endorphins released as a result of laughter also help in reducing the intensity of pain in people suffering from arthritis, spondylitis and muscular spasms. It is also said to give relief from migraine and head-aches caused due to tension.

Laughter is considered a very good exercise, as it improves lung capacity and oxygen levels in the blood.

It helps in toning up the face muscles and improves facial expressions. When you laugh , your face becomes red due to increase in blood supply, which nourishes the facial skin and make it shine

LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE !!!!!

Eight Tips For Naturally Beautiful Hair

2008-06-06T04:42:00.000-07:00

Looking for a more natural approach to hair care? Here are some tips to help your hair look and feel its best.

1. Avoid shampoos that contain sodium laurel sulfate, or sodium laureth sulfate. These chemicals are synthetic detergents that are used in dishwashing liquid and other cleansers. They are valued because they lather well, but they are very harsh, and can dry out your hair. Instead, look for shampoos made with decyl glucose, or decyl glucoside, which are much gentler.

2. Give yourself a hot oil treatment to deep condition your hair. Warm oil penetrates the hair shaft making the hair more flexible and giving it shine. This can also help to prevent split ends which result from dry hair.

3. Eat right and consider taking vitamin and mineral supplements to encourage healthy hair. Several vitamins and minerals have been shown to help hair growth and condition including biotin, vitamin E, vitamin B, vitamin C and MSM.

4. If you are an African American, or if you have extra curly hair, avoid brushing your hair. Use a wide toothed comb, or your fingers to work with your hair. Brushes can destroy African American or extra curly hair by shearing it out of the scalp.

5. Look for essential oils, herbs and vegetable oils in your hair care products. Essential oils such as rosemary, ylang-ylang and west Indian bay help to stimulate hair growth. Lavender and tea tree are naturally antiseptic and help to fight dandruff. Vegetable oils such as soybean oil, safflower oil and corn oil are moisturizing and conditioning to the hair shaft.

6. Avoid sleeping in hair accessories such as barrettes, scrunchies, head bands, etc. This can lead to hair damage.

7. Massage your scalp to help stimulate hair growth. Massaging helps stimulate hair growth by increasing the blood flow to the scalp. This nourishes the hair roots and helps to stimulate the hair growth process.

8. If your hair ends are damaged, give yourself a trim every so often to remove damage.

Some home remedies!!!

2008-06-02T09:11:00.001-07:00

>Cut fresh ginger into small bits, sprinkle some salt and eat it for loss of appetite.

>To cure general weakness, drink one cup of milk and eat a banana once in the morning and again in the evening.

>To clear sour throat, chew half teaspoon ordinary sugar and four pepper corns.

> If you suffer from cold and cough, chew some cloves

Simple remedies for Common Ailments

2008-05-14T07:21:00.000-07:00

HONEY

Honey is a rare gift in the treatment of any illness.

Common Cold ~
For a common cold mix a tablespoonful of lime juice with half a cup of boiling water. Add enough honey to sweeten it. Drink it hot and take rest. The effect is almost immediate.

Sore Throat ~
Mix honey and chunnam(lime) and smear it over the depression below the Adam's apple on the throat.

Indigestion and pain in the stomach ~
Mash a raw piece of ginger ans squeeze out the juice by adding some hot water. Add honey to the juice and drink it warm.

Keep some powdered dry ginger in an air-tight bottle. For this you must dry the ginger, pound it and strain through a piece of muslin. Take a teaspoonful of honey and eat it. It is better not to drink water immediately after drinking this. This takes away all feeling of sickness and creates desire for food.

SALT

Insect in your ear ~
In case any insect gets into ear, put few drops of salt solution in the ear. Immediately the insect dies or comes out.

Throat Infection ~
Gargle with a teaspoonful of salt solution in warm water.

Recover from thorn pricks ~
Salt fomentation is useful when pricked by a thorn or when stepped over a sharp stone. Take a clean piece of cloth and tie some common salt within it. Heat some gingly oil, dip the bundle of salt in it and foment the afflicted part. Repeat the treatment till the pain disappears completely.

Burns and Scalds ~
In the kitchen, salt water is an unfailing aid for burns and scalds.
At once apply salt water to prevent thin bubbles on the skin and other complications.

NEEM OIL

Neem oil can be used in cases of Rheumatism, arthritis, chest infections and especially in fits. The whole body is massaged with warm neem oil.

Earache ~
Severe earache can be relieved by dropping a few drops of warm neem oil. A few pods of garlic should be added while heating. A fresh piece of garlic should be put in hole to block the hole.

GARLIC
After confinement a halva is made with milk and garlic. This is given to pregnant mothers as a special nourishment.

Heart burn & Gas Trouble (acidity) ~
Garlic roasted in the fire without removing the outer skin and then peeled and eaten gives relief from heart burn and gas trouble.

CLOVES

Headache ~
Take a few cloves of garlic and rub them over a stone adding a few drops of water. Heat the paste in a spoon and smear it over the forehead with bearable warmth. Dry ginger may also be ground to a paste, heated and applied in the same manner. This treatment will give some relief to a person having headache.

Other Ailments

The extract of pepper and jaggery or honey is a check on influenza.

A piece of camphor placed on some coconut oil kept in a saucer and lighted gives a good medicinal oil to cure sick person. When rubbed over chest it relieves congestion. It is very useful in the care of small babies.

Strong tea without milk or sugar is a treatment for dysentry.

For insect bites and stings , a half cut onion rubbed over the offending spot takes away the poison immediately. Lime is also good. When smeared on the particular spot reduces swelling and relieves pain.

Long-term aspirin and death risk for women: new study

2008-04-13T09:41:00.001-07:00

Women who took low to moderate daily doses of aspirin had a reduced death rate, especially from heart disease, according to decades-long research. The research, based on data from a major trial that has tracked almost 80,000 women since 1976, found women who reported using aspirin on a regular basis had a 25% lower risk of death from any cause than women who didn't take the drug.

The risk of death from cardiovascular disease was 38% lower for aspirin users, and there was also a 12% reduction in cancer deaths that took effect after a decade of aspirin use, the researchers found in their report based on the Nurses' Health Study.

The results were published in the March 26 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.

However, an accompanying editorial in the journal cautioned that the results were open to debate and far from definitive.

The dissenting editorial, by Dr John A. Baron of Dartmouth Medical School, was based in large part on results of a different trial, the Women's Health Study, which followed almost 40,000 women for 11 years and found no reduction in overall deaths or cardiovascular mortality associated with aspirin therapy.

Therefore, Baron said, the new findings "cannot overcome the accumulated evidence that aspirin is not particularly effective for the primary prevention of death from cardiovascular disease in women."

"This is a complicated issue," said Dr Andrew T. Chan, an assistant professor of medicine at the Harvard Medical School, and lead author of the new report. "We understand that aspirin has potential health benefits, but who would aspirin therapy be appropriate for?" There are "areas of disagreement that need further study" before that question can be answered, Chan said. But there is information from the two large studies and other trials that can help guide women and their physicians, he said.

For starters, some studies suggest aspirin has benefits for older women and those who have cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol and obesity, Chan said. "Our study and the Women's Heath Study do suggest that there is a potential role of aspirin for women who have subclinical cardiovascular disease," he added.

That statement meshes with prevention guidelines issued in 2004 by the American Heart Association. The guidelines recommend aspirin for women at high risk of heart disease or who already have cardiovascular disease, but they don't apply to women at low risk for the disease. For intermediate-risk women, aspirin can be considered if blood pressure is under control and the benefits are believed to outweigh risks, such as gastrointestinal bleeding.

But the decision to take aspirin, or any other medication, should not be made by an individual alone, Chan said. "I tell women that, at this point, the decision calls for consultation with a doctor," he said. "Aspirin does have side effects, so it is something that has to be individualized. It would be very naive to recommend that treatment for all women across the board."

The new study included information on 29,000 participants in the Nurses' Health study who took between one and 14 standard 325mg aspirin tablets a week and 5002 women who took more than 14 tablets weekly.

The reduction in cancer risk that became evident after 10 years was an intriguing finding, Chan said. The Women's Health Study found no such reduction over a decade, he said. "One important message is that the study suggests the mechanisms at play for cardiovascular disease and cancer are potentially common," Chan said. "This provides further grounds for research into these mechanisms."

Dr Jeffrey Berger, a cardiology fellow at Duke University who has done related research, said the new report describes "another very large study that tells us individuals who take aspirin live longer. You can't argue with that. We can't prove cause-and-effect, but we can say that when you take aspirin, there is a reduction in overall deaths."

It's important to remember that aspirin has benefits for both men and women, Berger added. "How it benefits men, how it benefits women, that is an important issue at this time," he said.

And anyone who is thinking about daily aspirin "should really talk with doctors about the benefits and risks," Berger said.

Cell phones not linked to tumours

2008-03-26T03:22:00.000-07:00

Mobile phone users can take heart. A new British research, part of a worldwide study initiated by the World Health Organization (WHO), has found that there is no link between cell phones and brain tumours.

The study conducted at the Institute of Cancer Research involved researchers from several universities. The experts looked at links between mobile use and the incidence of glioma, the most common kind of tumour found in the head.

The study looked at 966 patients with a glioma tumour over more than three years, alongside a control group of 1,716, probing their use of phones.

The team found nothing that indicated that using a mobile phone increased the risk of suffering a brain tumour, although they did find that the probability risk was slightly increased.

But the increase was statistically insignificant, according to German specialist Frank Gollnick, a biologist and scientific adviser to a research association looking into mobile telephony.

The recently published results are only part of the Interphone study being coordinated by the WHO. The study, which was launched in October 2000, is the largest of its kind into the possible link between mobile phone use and brain tumours.

Bernd Rainer Mueller, mobile telephony expert of the German Association for the Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND) sees no reason to doubt the recently released conclusions.

"Scientific methodology is not selective enough to record and represent the additional burden caused by these electromagnetic fields," Mueller said.

No previous study has covered so many subjects, who include not only a high number of tumour patients, but also many long-term mobile phone users.

In 2004, the results of a partial study conducted in Sweden were released that indicated that mobile phone users did in fact incur a higher risk of an acoustic neurinoma, a growth in the nerves governing hearing and balance.

These growths are seen as benign but as the conclusion came out of a partial study, experts are reluctant to base too much on them.

A final conclusion, however, will be possible only with the publication of the whole international body of work, which is expected by the end of this year.

Children and Television

2008-03-23T08:39:00.000-07:00

Children between the ages two and 11 spend an average of one full day per week watching television. This is a very familiar scenario in many Indian homes today. With both parents away at work, in the urban, middle class families this trend is very common. Even when parents are at home, watching television is still the favoured family pastime. Research shows that on an average, a typical Indian household has the television set turned on for about seven hours each day. Kids and teenagers between six to 17 watch three to four hours of television a day. Watching television is a passive event. Children and adults remain completely immobile while viewing televisions. Most of these viewing experiences are quiet and non – interactive. Children absorb millions of images from the television set depending upon his choices.

What are the guidelines for watching TV?

Here are some of the guidelines to help you judge what kind of programmes will be beneficial for your children.

Television is fine when it deals with:

>Promotion of creativity and critical thinking
>Engages children to think and ask questions
>Encourages positive behaviours
>Encourages your child to read
>Reinforces the values that are important to you
>Inspires them to learn more
>Helps them to appreciate other cultures
>Entertains your children

Television is a problem when:

>Exposes children to violence as a means of problem solving
>Occupies too much of your their time
>Introduces subject matter that is not appropriate for children
>Allures children to buy different products
>It might promote negative behaviours

Can TV be a worthwhile teacher?

Moderate amounts of television viewing may be beneficial for the child, depending entirely on the type of programmes the child is watching, and the kind of supervision they are getting from their parents. Television can teach a child about the world and about people that they may not have access to. There are quite a few interesting as well as very informative programmes on television. A well – guided television viewing increases the general vocabulary of the child, provides the opportunities for them to learn about all kinds of things, which helps them in making choices regarding the area of interest. They get exposure to a wide range of activities that they may not get a chance to encounter. Television is probably the most effective of all media that aims to create social awareness.

Some tips for balanced viewing:

>Work together to keep a time chart of your child’s activities, including television viewing, homework, and play with friends. Then discuss what you believe to be a balanced set of activities.
>Set a weekly viewing limit. At the beginning of the week have your child select programmes you approve fit for watching.
>Encourage planned viewing. Have programme choices in mind before turning the set on so that it does not hamper their studies.
>Remember that children learn from their parents. If you watch a lot of television, the chances are that your child will also develop the same habit.
>If you want to improve the quality, look for the programmes that are designed for your child’s age group.
>It is very important to balance entertainment with other activities for the all round development of your child.

How is television linked to violence?

The risk of viewing any form of violence on television is that the child learns to behave in a violent manner. However viewing television violence does not necessarily cause a child to act in a violent manner, but can contribute to promoting a view that violence is common and acceptable in everyday life.Research done study the effects of brutality in television programmeson aggression in children, showed that the group of children who were exposed to violent television programmes exhibited a noticeably greater degree of aggression towards their toys and other children. On the other hand, the group that was not allowed to watch violent programmes displayed less aggression.

What should parents do?

It is important that parents limit the hours that a child watches television, besides censoring what he watches. Television should not be allowed to interfere with meal times and sleeping hours. Parents should work out a timetable for watching television with their children. This should reduce the need for parents to constantly nag their children about watching television.Television need not be viewed solely as a negative force. It has its advantages. Even if a child is watching a good educational programme, he will not learn as much if he is watching alone. If he is watching with another child or an adult who makes comments or asks questions about the programme, this will help the child to develop new ideas. Children who are interested in a particular programme may be motivated to read more about the subject of these programmes or question adults about it.Parents have to resign themselves to the fact that television is here to stay. So they just have to learn to deal with the problem.

Contact Lenses

2008-03-12T08:12:00.000-07:00

Contact lenses

When light rays enter the eye, they are absorbed and converted into electrical signals by retinal nerves. These signals are subsequently sent to the brain where they are interpreted as visual images. In a normal eye, light rays enter the eye through the cornea (window of the eye) and are focused with the help of a crystalline lens behind the pupil at a point directly on the retina (the light sensitive nervous tissue at the back of the eyeball). However, only about four in ten people have normal visual acuity. For the rest, clear vision may be achieved by refocusing light rays with the use of corrective lenses.

How does a contact lens work?
Contact lenses are delicately crafted, very thin optical discs generally worn directly on the eye. They are comfortably held in place by a natural layer of tears present between the contact lens and the cornea. Contact lenses eliminate the barriers encountered with spectacles that interfere with the line of sight above, below and to the sides of the eye. They offer outstanding peripheral vision. In addition, contacts can reduce or eliminate the image distortion sometimes caused by eyeglasses.

What are the different types?
There are several types of contact lenses designed to fit the most common vision conditions:

Daily-wear soft lenses
These are made of soft, flexible plastics that allow oxygen to pass through to the eyes.
Benefits:

very short adaptation period
more comfortable and more difficult to dislodge
available in tints and bifocals too
great for active lifestyles
while careful cleaning is required, lens care maintenance products are simple and effective

Daily-wear disposable soft lenses
Single-use, daily wear lens that are designed to be worn for a single day, discarded at night, and replaced with a brand new pair.
Benefits:

typically no lens care is required
assures fresh and clean lenses when replaced
great for active lifestyles

Extended-wear soft lenses
Available for overnight wear. Made of soft, flexible plastics that allow oxygen to pass through to the eyes.

can usually be prescribed for up to seven days of wear without removal

Extended-wear disposable soft lenses
Soft lenses worn continuously from one to six nights, and then discarded.

require little or no cleaning
available in tints and bifocals too
spare lenses conveniently on hand

Frequent and planned replacement soft lenses
Soft daily or extended wear lenses that are replaced on a planned schedule, most often every two weeks, monthly or quarterly.

Assures fresh and clean lenses when replaced
available in most prescriptions
spare lenses conveniently on hand

Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP)
Made of slightly flexible plastics that allow oxygen to pass through to the eyes

vision may be sharper than with soft contact lenses
easy to put on and to care for durable with a relatively long life (1-2) years
available in tints (for handling purposes) and bifocals
daily-wear and extended-wear designs available
planned replacement schedule also available

How to insert contact lenses properly?

Wash, rinse and dry your hands before touching the contacts. A wet finger could cause a soft lens to flatten. Do not use fingernails when handling your lenses. If you are near a sink, close the drain to avoid any mishaps. Always insert your contacts in the same order to eliminate mix-ups. Pour the lens and storage fluid from the case into your palm. Examine your lens for particles, deposits or tears. Place the lens, cup side up, on your forefinger. Be sure the lens is right side out—the lens’ edge will appear almost straight up. If the lens is inside out, the edges will bow out slightly. If the lens is inside out, reverse it before proceeding.
Insertion:

Hold your upper eyelid or lashes to hinder blinking.
Pull your bottom eyelid down using your middle finger
Look up at the ceiling so that the white part of your eye shows and position the lens onto the white part
or, you can look forward at the lens and gently situate it in the centre of your eye
Remove your finger and let the bottom eyelid go before the top
Look down to position the lens
Close your eye for a moment.
Apply one to two eye drops (lens lubricant) if your lenses feel dry or vision blurs.
Repeat the same steps for inserting the lens for the left (or second) eye.
Be sure to have your eye doctor demonstrate these steps prior to your first attempt at inserting your lenses

Removal:
Bend over so that your head is parallel to the floor, cup your left hand under your right eye. Place your thumb, index or forefinger of your right hand at the outer corner of your eyelids. Look straight down and open both eyes wide. Pull your finger in an upward and downward direction and remove the lens.
Cleanse, rinse and disinfect your lenses after removal and before wearing them again as contact lens cases can be a source of bacterial growth. Enzyme cleaners and cleaning solutions alone cannot substitute for disinfecting, although there are multipurpose products that can perform many of these functions if used as directed. Never use non-sterile homemade saline, distilled water or tap water for any part of your lens care regimen. Use products recommended by your eye care professional. Not all solutions can be used for all contact lenses. Solutions can become contaminated during use. Do not let the bottle tip touch any surface including your contact lenses.
Normal wearing schedules:
You should not wear lenses during the first 2 days, but frequently practice insertion and removal until proficient.

It is essential to build up tolerance gradually
You should wear lenses 2 hours a day for 2 days, increase the wearing time to 3 hours for 2 days and then add one hour every third day until all day tolerance is achieved.

What are the benefits?

For those who lead an active lifestyle, contacts can provide close to natural vision, with no side effects if worn and fitted correctly. Excellent peripheral vision for sports, for driving, for safety etc.
For those who prefer the way they look without glasses or find glasses to be cumbersome and awkward, contacts can provide ease, convenience and comfort.
For those who have always wanted to change their eye colour.
For those who work or play in an environment in which spectacles are not an option, contacts allow for comfortable wear.
For those who think laser surgery and its risks are frightening and prohibitively expensive, contacts can provide a safe, comfortable and time-tested alternative.

Safety tips for contact lens wearers:

Visit a reputable eyecare professional for a complete eye examination every 12 months or more frequently if directed by your doctor
Use only contact lenses if they are medically approved and only if prescribed by a licensed eye care practitioner
Never swap contact lens with another person
Do not wear lenses longer than prescribed, nor when sleeping unless otherwise directed
If eyes become red or irritated, remove the lenses immediately and consult your doctor

Replace contacts as recommended by your doctor because they wear out over time. Throw away disposable lenses after recommended wearing period

Suicide

2008-03-09T05:26:00.000-07:00

Suicide is a complex behaviour. Many medical, psychological and social factors such as depression, substance abuse, personal crisis, and the availability of firearms or a lethal supply of drugs can put a person at risk of suicide. Response to these risk factors varies dramatically from person to person. It is impossible to predict with certainty who will kill themselves, or attempt to do so.

A suicide attempt is a clear indication that something is gravely wrong in a person’s life. Irrespective of the race or age of the person; or how rich or poor they are, most people who commit suicide have a mental or emotional disorder. The most common underlying disorder is depression, 30% to 70% of suicide victims suffer from major depression or bipolar (manic-depressive) disorder. Alcoholism and other drug abuse increase the risk of suicide.

Any one of these symptoms does not necessarily mean the person is suicidal, but several of these symptoms may signal a need for help:
> Verbal suicide threats
> Expressions of hopelessness and helplessness
> Previous suicide attempts
> Daring or risk-taking behaviour
> Personality change
> Depression
> Giving away prised possession
> Lack of interest in future plans

Eight out of ten suicidal persons give some sign of their intentions. People who talk about suicide, threaten to commit suicide, or call suicide crisis centres are 30 times more likely than average to kill themselves.

If someone is suicidal:

> Trust one’s instincts that the person may be in trouble
> Talk with the person about his concerns. Communication needs to include listening.
> Ask direct questions without being judgmental. Determine if the person has a specific plan to carry out the suicide. The more detailed the plan, the greater the risk
> Get professional help, even if the person resists
> Do not leave the person alone
> Do not swear to secrecy
> Do not act shocked or judgmental
> Do not counsel the person oneself

No single therapeutic approach is suitable for all suicidal persons or suicidal tendencies. The most common ways to treat underlying illnesses associated with suicide are with medication, talk therapy or a combination of the two.

Cognitive (talk therapy) and behavioural (changing behaviour) therapies aim at relieving the despair of suicidal patients by showing them other solutions to their problems and new ways to think about themselves and their world. Behavioural methods, such as training in assertiveness, problem-solving, social skills, and muscle relaxation, may reduce depression, anxiety, and social ineptitude.

Cognitive and behavioural homework assignments are planned in collaboration with the patient and explained as experiments that will be educational even if they fail. The therapist emphasises that the patient is doing most of the work, because it is especially important for a suicidal person not to see the therapist as necessary for their survival.

Recent research strongly supports the use of medication to treat the underlying depression associated with suicide. Antidepressant medication act on chemical pathways of the brain related to mood. There are many very effective antidepressants. The two most common types are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs). Other new types of antidepressants (e.g. alpha-2 antagonist, selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) and aminoketones), and an older class, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) are also prescribed by some doctors.

Antidepressant medications are not habit-forming. Although some symptoms such as insomnia, often improve within a week or two, it may take three or four weeks before one feels better; the full benefit of medication may require six to eight weeks of treatment. Sometimes changes need to be made in the dosage or medication type before improvements are noticed. It is usually recommended that medications be taken for at least four to nine months after the depressive symptoms have improved. People with chronic depression may need to stay on medication to prevent or lessen further episodes.

People taking antidepressants should be monitored by a doctor who knows about treating clinical depression to ensure the best treatment with the fewest side effects. It is also very important that the doctor be informed about all other medicines that are taken, including vitamins and herbal supplements, in order to help avoid dangerous interactions. Alcohol or other drugs can interact negatively with antidepressant medication. One should not discontinue medication without discussing the decision with the doctor.

Suicide survivors: those left behind

When an individual commits suicide or tries to, that person's family and close friends often are devastated and experience intense and persistent pain. Suicide survivors may suffer through repeated nightmares and flashbacks of the suicide scene, and they may avoid people and places that remind them of the suicide. Some survivors lose interest in activities they once enjoyed and grow emotionally numb feeling incapable of caring. Beyond bereavement, suicide survivors may themselves become depressed or develop another mental illness due to severe stress.

It is fairly common for suicide survivors to develop a mental illness, especially depression. Counselling or psychotherapy can help one cope with the crisis. Support groups made up of other suicide survivors also can help one find one’s way through the maze of emotions and physical changes one may be experiencing. Counselling or support groups led by trained professionals are especially important if one does not one have adequate support from family and friends. Many suicide survivors refuse to seek help because they think it is a sign of weakness. But it is just the opposite. Seeking help when one needs it is a sign of strength.

Causes of Cancer

2008-03-06T02:45:00.000-08:00

Smoking is very often the main cause of cancer. It kills us silently and drains money from us quietly. There are 4000 harmful chemicals(though in diluted form) in one stick of cigarette. Taking one puff is 600 times worst than inhaling the exhaust fumes from vehicles.

Some Food that causes cancer are:
> Barbecued Food
> Deep Fried Food
> Overheating Meat
> Food that is high in fat causes our bile to secrete acid that contains a chemical which is a promoter of cancer cells.
> Food that contains preservatives, too much salt or nitrates(e.g. Canned food, Salted Egg & veggies, sausages, etc. )
> Overnight Rice (where Aflatoxin is accumulated)
> Food that is low in fibre : our body need 25 gm of both soluble & insoluble fibre daily. We must drink atleast 1.5 litres of plain water a day.
> Contaminated Food (e.g. moulded bread causes our body to secrete toxins that may eventually lead to liver cancer in the long run. Never eat bread that is kept in room temperature for more than 2 days especially in a humid weather like Chennai's.

Types of fat and which is the best

Highly Recommended for Health :

> Olive Oil - The best of all oils. It does not absorb in our body
> Fish Oil - Omega 3 (contained in NI's Circulytes) has poly-unsaturated fat. It's good for our brain cells.
> Peanut Oil - It contains Vitamin E. A small dosage is recommended only.

Not Recommended for Health

> Vegetable fat - Palm oil is worst than coconut oil. It is high in cholesterol and highly unsaturated.
> Coconut Oil - It has saturated fat.

Specific Food & Beverages

> Egg when eaten too much can cause high colon cancer. Risk Ovary cancer, Prostate Cancer.
> Cabbage is highly recommended for health reason.
> Tomato is best eaten raw with a bit of olive oil for better absorption. Other alternative is to take tomato sauce.
> Coffee is good because it contains2 anti-oxidants, Inhaling the coffee aroma for half each day is equivalent to 2 oranges a day. However the residue of over-burned coffee is extremely bad for health. It can cause cancer.
> Tea,as long as it is in original tea leaves and not processed into BOH or Lipton packets, it is good for health. tea contains 30 anti-oxidants. Recommended dosage is 4 cups daily.

Danger of Soft Drinks

2008-03-04T21:50:00.000-08:00

The average pH of soft drinks is pH 3.4. This acidity is strong enough to dissolve teeth and bones! Our Human body stops building bones at around the age of 30. After that it'll be dissolving about 8-18% of the bones each year through the urine, depending on the acidity of the food intake( acidity does not depend on the taste of food, but on the ratio of potassium/ calcium/ magnesium/ etc. to phosphorus).

All the dissolved calcium compounds accumulate in the arteries,veins, skin tissue and organs. This affects the functioning of the kidney(kidney stones). Soft drinks do not have any nutritional value( in terms of vitamins and minerals). They have higher sugar content, higher acidity, and more additives such as preservatives and colorings. Some people like to take cold soft drinks after each meal, guess what's the impact? Our body has an optimum temperature of 37 degrees for the functioning of digestive enzymes. The temperature of cold soft drinks is much less than 37, sometimes quite close to 0. This will lower the effectiveness of the enzymes and put stress on the digestive system, digesting less food. In fact the food gets fermented. The fermented food produce bad smelling gases, decays and forms toxins, which absorbed in the intestines, get circulated in the blood and is delivered to the development of various diseases. Think before you drink any soft drink.

Have you ever thought what you drink an aerated drink? You gulp down carbon dioxide, something that no sane person in the world would advise you to do. Few months ago, there was a competition in Delhi University "Who can drink the most soft drink?". The winner drank 8 bottles of soft drink and died on the spot because too much of carbon dioxide in the blood and not enough oxygen. From then on, the principle banned all soft drinks from the university canteen.

Someone put a broken tooth in a bottle of soft drink and in 10 days it is dissolved! Teeth and bones are the only human organs that stay intact for years after death. Imagine what the drink must be doing to your delicate soft intestines and stomach lining!

It rarely pays to lose your TEMPER

2008-02-29T23:56:00.000-08:00

Anger is a negative expression. Refuse to allow others control. Love yourself. If you do, you will never burden yourself with that self-destructive anger.
Severe anger is a form of temporary mental illness. Replace anger with curiosity about the person who is annoying you. Be capable of avoiding anger.

Anger does not server any purpose . It rarely pays to lose your temper. Anger can produce high blood pressure, ulcers, sleeplessness, tiredness and even heart disease. "Anger" is one letter short of "Danger".
Anger interferes with communication and results in guilt. Refusal to listen to other side destroys any hope of a workable solution. Anger never works in changing others. Express anger in non-destructive ways.
A lady lost her child because of a drunken driver. She got very angry. She made up her mind not to tolerate this kind of behavior in society. She organized people all over the United State's of AMERICA to fight drunken driving. Today her association has become a force, with thousands of members and they give chase to drunken driving.
Be angry with the right person, to the right degree at the right time and for the right purpose. Anger is a choice as well as a habit.
Develop a sense of humor. Try to understand yourself and others. See the other person's point of view. Accept people as they are. When provoked become aware of what you are doing.
Keep the anger journal and record the exact time, place and incident. The very act of having to write will induce you to anger less often.
Try postponing anger.Postpone anger for sixty seconds. The first 10 seconds are most crucial.
Keep the anger emotions under control. Seek the positive approach and the day will become bright.

High Heels - Foot Related Problems

2008-02-22T07:25:00.000-08:00

There are many types of heels available in the market as beautiful footwear. Today's make over of youngsters is incomplete without these fashionable accessories. But the question is whether they are really conductive to physical comfort, especially foot-related.

As we are aware footwear is one of the most important factors, leading to foot-related ailments. About 80% of all foot problems, especially among women are caused by defective footwear, the culprit being the high-heels.

Heels more than 2 inches high can not only damage a woman's posture, and can increase the risk of falling, but can also cause permanent damage. Though it is presumed that high heels are style statements and enhance personality, few realize that it would cost dearly.

We must also know that stiletto heels transmit a large amount of force in a small area, and are therefore often strengthened by a metal rod, and a metal or hard plastic tip. Such a heel exerts much pressure.

Here are some high heel problems that might occur:

Osteoarthritis:
Knee is the common site of Osteoarthritis among woman. Constant use of high-heeled shoes cause the feet to lose the ability to absorb the shock of impact, which is therefore transferred to knee.

Achilles Tendonitis:
This problem occurs when the large tendon that connects the calf muscles to the heel bone becomes shortened. It then becomes irritated and swells.

Muscle Tear:
Sprains and muscle tears occur due to lack of stability.

Callouses and Corns:
These are caused by pressure and friction. Such a tendency is found when the foot presses against the inside of shoe or when toes are pressed together. This leads to the formation of thick hard areas of skin called corns.

Hammertoes:
This foot ailment occurs when the second toe buckles under itself to relieve pressure. Then it rubs against the inside of shoe. In due course of time, this causes the toe to take on a claw-like appearance and a hard corn develops on top of the toe.

Metatarsaigia:
Inflammation of bones near the ball of the foot.

Neuromas:
Neuromas are pinched nerves near the ball of the foot. In-grown toenails are caused by tight stockings. The edge of a toenail grows into the surrounding skin causing swelling and pain. Bunions occur when the big toe is forced inward and the joint is forced outward, causing swelling, pain and eventually bony growth.

Yoga : The Eight-fold path to health

2008-02-21T07:13:00.000-08:00

Yoga is a Hindu way of life leading t spritual liberation. It is included among the six orthodox schools of Indian philosophy. As early as the 5th century A.D., Patanjali arranged in an orderly way its basic principles in his 'Yogasutra'.
According to yoga, spritual liberation occurs when the soul is freed from the bondage of matter. The yoga process includes eight stages. The first two are ethical preparations. They are yama or abstinence from violence,stealing,falsehood,lust and greed for riches and niyama or observance of cleanliness,contentment,austerity and study.
The next two stages are physical preparations that include asanas, a series of exercises to enable the aspirant to hold one posture for an extended period without physical discomfort; and pranayama, or breathing exercises to encourage complete respiratory relaxation. The 5th stage 'pratyahara',involves control of the senses.
These first five stages constitute the external aids to yoga. The remaining three stages are the internal aids. They are dhaarana,the ability to hold awareness of one object for a long period of time;dhyana,concentrated meditation and samaadhi, the final stage,in which the object of meditation and the meditator become one.
Today , it is the external aspect of the yoga method that is attracting universal attention. It has great importance in promoting overall physical wellbeing. In India, Tv programmes demonstrating yogic exercises are popular. Also an increasing number of schools are incorporating yogic asanas in their curriculum.

The Value of Vaccines

2008-02-13T12:19:00.000-08:00

Vaccines are the most significant global health promoters with ar reaching benefits. Vaccines prevent diseases in individuals and also prevent their spread. They had already been used in the eradication of most deadly and disfiguring disease like small pox. It also showed good results in bringing down the cases of polio and death caused by Hepatitis B, Tuberculosis, Meningitis, Measles, Tetanus and Diphtheria.
Vaccines assist the body's defence system. They enable the defence mechanisim of the body to create an immune response memory. Immune response and memory are so very important that the defence circle produced by vaccines can react and fight against the infection when it actually arises. In the making of vaccine a dead or harmless or less severe version of the infection is used . A vaccine given thus can create body's ability to fight against disease. So vaccines are used as a preventive measure to build an effective defence mechanism.

Eye Care - Take care of your Vision

2008-02-13T07:01:00.000-08:00

Keep at least 10 feet away from the television
Eat green leafy vegetables, carrots,milk,eggs.
Do not read in dim light
Do not read while sitting in moving vehicles.
Have a good sitting posture while reading and writing.
Check up your Eye-Sight one in one or two years above 40 years of age is required.
Sun gazing should be avoided.
Two wheeler drivers and lathe operators must wear protective glasses.
Diabetes,hypertension,glaucoma can seriously affect the eyes. So check up your eyes periodically by qualified doctors.
Do not neglect cataract (cloudiness in lens of eyes) for surgery.
Persond with astigmatism (defect in a lens of the eye causing distortion of the image of an object) should be checked before sitting in front of computers.
Correction of power of lenses should be done by qualified opthalmologist and accurately dispensed by good opticians.
Do not allow children to play with sharp object.

Tips to tackle Stress

2008-02-13T05:35:00.000-08:00

Don't bottle up your emotions. Talking with your friends and family,listening to them,exchanging ideas can reduce stress.

Mild exercise gives relief from stess.When you get angry, take a break. Music influences the mind.listen to some relaxing music. Find hobbies that really satisfy you.

Laugh a little everyday.Spend extra time with people who make you feel good. Live in the moment. Worrying about the past,the future and the things you can't control is not good. Focus on what is happening now.

Think positively. Having positive attitude will help you to assert yourself and feel more in control. Negative thoughts generally produce negative results.

Using cigarettes,alcohol and caffeine cannot help overcome the problems. They can only temporarily mask stress. Setting goals is one of the good ways you can take better control of your life.

Always take time to care for both mind and body. Relaxed breathing is quickest and easiest way to release stress.

Meditation is an effective stress reducing method.