Medical Terms

Lower your heart rate to prevent a heart attack

2010-02-07T01:40:00.001-08:00

Try interval training, add fish oil to diet and get a good night’s sleep

Italian researchers found that having a resting heart rate above 70 beats per minute (bpm) increases your risk of dying of heart disease by at least 78 percent. Follow the tips below to help drop your bpm and improve your odds.

Attack your cardio
Run hard, don't just jog. "Exercise increases your heart's efficiency, reducing the number of heartbeats you need to achieve bloodflow," says Dr. John Elefteriades, the chief of cardiothoracic surgery at Yale University. Interval training can increase your heart's stroke volume (the amount of blood it pumps with each heartbeat) by about 10 percent, but slower, sustained running has no effect on it, according to an American College of Sports Medicine study. Try a four-minute run at 90 percent of your maximum heart rate, and then jog for three minutes at 70 percent. Repeat the interval three times. Do this routine three times a week, as the study participants did. Keep track with a Suunto t3c Heart Rate Monitor. ($170, suuntowatches.com)

Trade massages with her
Regular massages may soothe a rapid heartbeat. Relaxation techniques reduce your body's production of adrenaline, norepinephrine, and epinephrine, stress hormones that rev up your heart in the face of danger, says Atman P. Shah, M.D., an assistant professor of medicine at UCLA. A 2007 British study found that people who received an hour of reflexology treatment (a type of foot or hand massage) had rates that averaged almost 8 bpm lower than when they went without.

Steps Toward a Healthy Heart (and Long Life)

2010-02-03T11:23:00.000-08:00

Want an "ideal" heart? The American Heart Association defines the most important factors.

7 People Past 90With Lots Left to Do

When you talk wit

h people who are nearing or have reached the century mark, still

vital, you realize that they have arrived not by running for hours a week on a treadmill, downing vitamins by the handful, or spending their free time in the plastic surgeon's office. They've been too busy living—working, traveling, engaging in creative pursuits, spending time with friends and family, doing with gusto whatever it is that gives them joy.

Herb

al Supplements Don't Always Go Well With Heart Drugs

Herbs and other natural supplements are becoming

increasingly commonplace in medicine cabinets as Americans get more proactive about preserving health and defying the diseases of aging. But in some people, pills and extracts often dubbed "all natural"

don't play nice, say some expe

rts.

Red Flags Warning Of Serious Infection In Children In Developed Countries

2010-02-03T02:06:00.000-08:00

An article published Online First and in an upcoming edition of The Lancet reports that a systematic review of published research shows that a number of factors are considered in confirming or excluding the possibility of serious infection in children presenting to general practice or other outpatient care. These factors include rapid breathing, poor peripheral circulation (circulation of blood to the skin and extremities), and parental concern and doctor's instinct (in one primary care study). The article is the work of Dr Ann Van den Bruel, Department of General Practice, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium, and colleagues.

The authors analysed generally used electronic databases and reference lists of relevant studies. They contacted experts to find articles assessing clinical features of serious infection in children. A total of 1,939 potentially relevant studies were identified. Studies were selected on the basis of six criteria:

• design (studies of diagnostic accuracy or prediction rules)
• participants (otherwise healthy children aged 1 month to 18 years)
• setting (ambulatory care)
• outcome (serious infection)
• features assessed (assessable in ambulatory care setting)
• sufficient data reported

A total of 30 studies were included in the final analysis. The authors calculated 'likelihood ratios' for the presence (positive likelihood ratio) or absence (negative likelihood ratio) of each clinical feature. Clinical features with a positive likelihood ratio of more than 5•0 were deemed as red flags or warning signs for serious infection. Features with a negative likelihood ratio of less than 0•2 were deemed rule-out signs.

Red flags identified in several studies:

• Cyanosis (blue colouration of the skin caused by deoxygenated haemoglobin in the blood vessels near the skin surface): positive likelihood ratio range 2.7 - 52•2
• rapid breathing: 1•3 - 9•8
• poor peripheral perfusion: 2•4 - 38•8
• petechial rash (petechiae are small purple or red spots on the body, and can be indicative of serious infection such as meningitis):6•2 - 83•7

Strong red flags identified in one primary care study:

• Parental concern: positive likelihood ratio 14•4
• clinician instinct: positive likelihood ratio 23•5

Temperature of 40°C (104F) or more has value as a red flag in settings with a low prevalence of serious infection, such as general practice (GP) or paediatric assessment units. However, it is not so useful in emergency departments. The patient populations in emergency departments are different from those in GP practices because they were either referred by their GP because the patient's condition was serious, or self-referred because parents felt it was serious. In general, these patients will have a higher risk of having a serious infection. If they do not have a serious infection, they have a higher risk of having another serious illness or illnesses that are not serious but mimic serious illnesses. Because of the selection process, more children will have higher temperatures at the emergency department and a higher temperature in itself is no longer sufficient to distinguish children with or without a serious infection.

No single clinical feature was deemed to have rule-out value but some combinations could be used to exclude the possibility of serious infection. For instance, pneumonia is very unlikely (negative likelihood ratio 0•07) if the child is not short of breath and there is no parental concern.

The authors explain: "The main strength of this systematic review is that it highlights the nature and difficulty of the diagnostic task facing primary care and hospital clinicians responsible for identifying seriously ill children at initial presentation in countries where serious childhood illness is now rare."

They write in conclusion: "Most of the red flags already recommended by WHO for use in developing countries can be used in the initial assessment of children presenting to ambulatory care settings in developed countries. There should be more emphasis on parental concern in the diagnostic process. However, we now need to identify the level of risk at which clinical action should be taken. Additionally, the relative inability of any combination of clinical features to effectively exclude the possibility of serious illness in a one-off consultation means that parents need to be more actively involved in monitoring red flags and taking precautionary measures."
In an associated note, Dr Martin Dawes, McGill University, Montreal, Canada, comments: "What is clear is that in 2010 we do not know how to effectively recognise or rule out severe disease in ill children and what is more, we do not even have a cohesive national or a global research strategy to address this problem. Notably, of the 30 studies included in today's review, only one was in primary care, where the problem is most frequently present."

He says in closing: "Are we really this poor at undertaking good primary care research on important common problems? We need better-designed diagnostic and prognostic studies in primary care. Such studies require properly documented histories and examination as well as follow-up, but both are well within the scope of an organised practice and if centrally coordinated we could have ten times the evidence within a year or two. This research cannot be done without adequate funding and should be a priority for national and international research foundations."

"Diagnostic value of clinical features at presentation to identify serious infection in children in developed countries: a systematic review" Ann Van den Bruel, Tanya Haj-Hassan, Matthew Thompson, Frank Buntinx, David Mant, for the European Research Network on Recognising Serious Infection investigators

What is anorexia nervosa?

2010-01-24T07:27:00.000-08:00

Anorexia nervosa is characterized by an irrational dread of becoming fat coupled with a relentless pursuit of thinness. People with anorexia go to extremes to reach and maintain a dangerously low body weight. But no matter how much weight is lost, no matter how emaciated they become, it’s never enough. The more the scale dips, the more obsessed they become with food, dieting, and weight loss.

The key features of anorexia nervosa are:

Refusal to sustain a minimally normal body weight
Intense fear of gaining weight, despite being underweight
Distorted view of one’s body or weight, or denial of the dangers of one’s low weight

There are two types of anorexia. In the restricting type, weight loss is achieved by restricting calories. Restricting anorexics follow drastic diets, go on fasts, and exercise to excess. In the purging type, people get rid of calories they’ve consumed by vomiting or using laxatives and diuretics.

Anorexia is most common in adolescent girls and young women, with a typical age of onset between the ages of 13 and 20. But people of all ages—including men and children—can suffer from anorexia.

The difference between dieting and anorexia

Eating disorders, including anorexia, often begin with normal dieting. A person may start dieting and exercising to get in shape, but as the pounds come off, a desire to lose even more weight is triggered. This cycle continues until the person almost completely stops eating.

Many factors influence this destructive progression from healthy dieting to full-blown anorexia. For many anorexics, self-starvation is a way to feel in control. People with anorexia may feel powerless in their everyday lives, but they can control what they eat. Restricting food is a way to cope with painful feelings such as anger, shame, and self-loathing. Saying “no” to food, getting the best of hunger, and controlling the number on the scale make them feel strong and successful—at least for a short while.

Unfortunately, this boost to self-esteem is short-lived. Anorexics believe that their lives will be better—that they’ll finally feel good about themselves—if they lose more weight. But no amount of dieting or weight loss can repair the negative self-image at the heart of anorexia. In the end, anorexia only leads to greater emotional pain, isolation, and physical damage.

Is it a Diet or Anorexia?
Healthy Dieting	Anorexia
Weight loss is viewed as a way to improve health and appearance.	Weight loss is viewed as a way to achieve happiness.
Self-esteem is based on more than just weight and body image.	Self-esteem is based entirely on how much you weigh and how thin you are.
Is an attempt to control weight	Is an attempt to control your life and emotions
The goal is to lose weight in a healthy way.	Becoming thin is all that matters; health is not a concern.

The Care & Feeding of Healthy Kids

2010-01-23T08:02:00.000-08:00

Everyone knows an infant needs regular feedings in order to grow and develop. The trouble begins when people start giving month-old babies tastes of ice cream, pieces of candy, cookies, or even meat, sometimes before they've even grown teeth. Baby foods also contain sugar, an absolutely unnecessary ingredient, but cheap filler for the manufacturer.
The early introduction to overly sweet and nutrient devoid foodstuffs sets you and your baby up for a lifetime struggle of refusing healthful foods in favor of treats. First the struggle is to get them to eat, "Come on honey, just one more bite for mommy," then later you struggle to get them to stop, "No, honey, you can't have another cookie."
Children that are not given sugar during infancy have a greater resistance to disease and are less likely to become sugar addicts in later life. For your sake and theirs, wait to introduce your babies to processed foods, and especially "fast foods" for as long as possible.

Overweight Kids - Don't be Too Quick to Restrict their Eating

Kids learn to overeat at an early age. Cookies and candy are offered instead of hugs when the child falls, or gets his feelings hurt. Food, especially gooey, sweet treats are offered as a reward for good behavior, instead of a small toy, trip to the zoo or park or special favors.

Once a fondness for sweets sets in, it's difficult to change. Many kids are much less active than in previous generations. TV watching, the Internet, Nintendo and PlayStation have all contributed to the "coach potato" lifestyle. The lack of exercise and excess food consumption equals overweight and even obesity.

So what do most parents do when they realize their kids are getting too fat? They put them on the same dangerous fad diets they've tried themselves. Popular diets ("fad diets") are proven ineffective -- they simply don't work. Restrictive dieting for children can be outright dangerous and should be avoided in nearly all circumstances.

Children Need Good Nutrition

Children need good nutrition, meaning a clean diet. The occasional treat is fine but a diet that is primarily based on fast foods, chips, sodas, and hot-dogs is not going to provide adequate nutrition for their growing bodies and minds.

Additionally giving a youngster a lot of junk foods during infancy and the toddler years, then suddenly attempting to restrict a child's foods and choice, is laying the groundwork for eating disorders.

The worst thing that a parent can do is give unrestricted junk foods during infancy and the toddler years, then suddenly restrict a child's foods and choice, or refuse a child enough to eat in the name of "dieting." That is a sure fire way to set up a youngster for an eating disorder, or at best a mistrust of their receiving the basic necessities of life such as love and nurturing.

Restrictive Diets Dangerous for Very Young

Placing a very young child on a diet is dangerous. It places the child's most basic biological needs at risk, i.e. not feeding a hungry child is an emotional trauma. A recent report by the CDC (Center for Disease Control) indicated that very young children (0 - 7 years of age) should not be placed on "diets" but rather should be on a program to maintain their weight, thereby decreasing their overall fat percentage as they grow.

If your child is obese, meaning more than 30% over their ideal weight (and ideal weight is difficult to measure in a child as they are of such varied sizes and shapes), then rather than providing less to eat, instead encourage more movement. Exercise will make the difference. Get the kids up off the couch and moving.

Get Out and Play

Play outdoor sports with them, organize play groups, build or visit a playground. Encourage your kids to race, jump, ride bikes. You get the idea? When I was young we would ride our bikes up and down the street for hours, nearly every day. We climbed trees and played on the swings. Obviously all children don't have nice backyards in which to play, but most neighborhoods have some type of facility. Check your yellow pages or even call your local Chamber of Commerce.

Get yourself and your kids out to play.

Cataract Disease

2010-01-20T08:02:00.000-08:00

Introduction
The most common condition related to aging is cataract. More than quarter of all Indians aged 65 and older have a cataract. A cataract is a clouding of the eye's natural lens. When the lens becomes cloudy, the light is blocked and scattered, and therefore the image that appears is blurred. As a cataract develops, it becomes harder for a person to see. The lens is that part of the eye which helps to focus light on the retina. The retina is the eye's sensitive layer that sends visual signals to the brain. To produce a sharp image, the lens must remain clear.

What are the causes of Cataract ?

Cataracts are most often found in persons over the age of 55, but they are also occasionally found in younger people. A cataract can develop in one or both eyes, and it may or may not affect the entire lens. Usually, cataracts develop slowly and cause no pain. For most people, cataracts are the natural result of aging. Some children are born with cataracts or develop it during childhood. These cataracts may not affect vision. Family history can be a genetic predisposition. Cataracts can develop soon after an eye injury, or years later. It is likely to develop in people who have certain other health problems, like diabetes. Certain medications like steroids and cigarette smoking also cause cataracts. Excessive long-term exposure to sunlight and exposure to heavy doses of radiation, as in cancer therapy can also result in a cataract.

What are the symptoms of Cataract ?

Although cataracts develop without pain or discomfort, there are some indications that a cataract may be forming. These include:-

Blurred or hazy vision.

Sensitivity to sunlight (glare) or the feeling of having a film over the eyes.

Appearance of spots in front of the eyes.

Double vision or ghost images.

Loss of ability to see brightness of colors.

Discolored (white) pupil.

Difficulty with daily activities such as driving and reading.

Poor night vision.

Temporary improvement in near vision may also indicate the formation of a cataract.

How can we diagnose Cataract ?

By doing a comprehensive eye examination, an opthalmologist can diagnose a cataract and monitor

its development. A comprehensive eye examination usually includes: Visual acuity test: This is an eye chart test Your eye doctor will ask you to read a letter chart to see how sharp your sight is at various distances. Pupil dilation: In this test, the pupil (the round black centers of your eyes) is widened with eye drops to allow your doctor to see more of the lens and retina and look for other eye problems.

Other eye tests:

A. Glare test.

B. Contrast sensitivity test.

How can Cataract be treated ?

There is no non-surgical treatment for a cataract. Preventive measures include wearing good ultraviolet (UV) blocking sunglasses as a protection from the sun. Anti-oxidant vitamins may retard cataract changes. There are no medications, dietary supplements, exercises or optical devices to cure cataracts. If symptoms from a cataract are mild, prescription glasses

may be sufficient to function more comfortably. Surgery is the only way a cataract can be removed and cured. This treatment involves removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with a substitute lens.
Removal of Cataract There are two important ways to remove a cataract:
Phacoemulsification, or phaco: In this technique the doctor makes a small incision on the side of the cornea, (dome-shaped surface that covers the front of the eye). The doctor then inserts a tiny probe into the eye. This device emits ultrasound waves that soften and break up the cloudy center of the lens. Most cataract surgery today is done by this method and is done by using local anaesthesia. This is also called "out patient" or minor cataract surgery.

Extracapsular surgery: A longer incision on the side of the cornea is made to remove the hard center of the lens. The remainder of the lens is then removed by suction and replaced by an intraocular lens (IOL). An IOL is a clear, artificial lens that requires minimal care and becomes a less than permanent part of the eye and improves vision. The operation usually lasts 1 hour and is almost painless.

Can a Cataract Return?
A cataract cannot return because all or part of the lens has been removed. However, in some people who have had extracapsular surgery or phacoemulsification, the lens capsule becomes cloudy after a year. It causes the same vision problems as a cataract does. To correct this, laser capsulotomy can be performed. In laser (YAG) capsulotomy a laser (light) beam is used to make a tiny hole in the capsule to let light pass. This surgery is painless and does not require stay in the hospital.

Frequently asked questions about Cataract...

Which doctor should I visit when I develop cataract?
You should consult an Opthalmologist.

What are the common problems encountered after surgery?
Problems after surgery rarely occur. These can include infection, bleeding, inflammation or light flashes. With prompt medical attention, these problems can be treated.

How soon can vision return to normalcy?
Improvement in vision usually begins within 1 or 2 days of surgery. As the eye takes time to heal from surgery, for complete improvement in vision can take up to 4 weeks after surgery.

What are the common problems encountered after surgery?
Problems after surgery rarely occur. These can include infection, bleeding, inflammation or light flashes. With prompt medical attention, these problems can be treated.

How soon can vision return to normalcy?
Improvement in vision usually begins within 1 or 2 days of surgery. As the eye takes time to heal from surgery, complete improvement in vision can take upto 4 weeks after surgery.

Glossary

Cataract - A condition in which the crystalline lens of the eye becomes opaque.

Contact lenses - Lenses which fit directly on the eyeball under the eyelids.

Cornea - The clear tissue in front of the eye resembling a crystal of a watch.

Diplopia - The seeing of one object as two.

Nystagmus - An involuntary, rhythmical movement of the eyeballs.

Opthalmoscope - Device for viewing the interior of the eye or the retina.

Optic nerve - The nerve which carries visual impulses from the retina to the brain.

Optician - A technician who designs, verifies and dispenses lenses, frames and other fabricated optical devices upon the prescription of an ophthalmologist or an optometrist.

Opthalmologist - A physician who is qualified and specially trained to diagnose and treat all eye and visual system problems, as well as diagnose general diseases of the body.

Photophobia - Abnormal sensitivity to light.

Refractive error - A defect in the eye that prevents light from being brought to a single focus exact on the retina.

Pupil - Apeture allowing light to enter into the eye regulated, by the iris and ciliary muscles.

Retina - Light sensitive membrane at the back of the eye. Light is focused onto this membrane and the retina then transmits this information to the brain as impulses which the brain interprets as sight.

Sclera - The firm white fibrous membrane that forms the white part of the eye.

Visual acuity - Clarity of vision, with corrective glasses.

HIGHLIGHTS
A cataract is a clouding of the eye's natural lens.

Cataracts develop slowly and cause no pain.

Likely to develop in people who have diabetes.

Healthy Fast Food

2010-01-18T10:11:00.000-08:00

Tips for Making Healthier Fast Food Choices

America has been called a "fast food nation" and for good reason. Everyday, one out of four Americans eats fast food. If you are eating out, fast food restaurants are often the cheapest option, but unfortunately, not usually the healthiest one. Eating just one fast food meal can pack enough calories, sodium and fat for an entire day, but the quick-and-cheap temptation can be hard to resist.

As an informed customer, you can make healthier choices and still enjoy the con

venience of fast food restaurants.

Learning to make healthier choices at fast food restaurants

Making healthier choices at fast food restaurants is easier if you prepare ahead by checking guides that show you the nutritional content of meal c

hoices at your favorite restaurants. Free downloadable guides help you evaluate your options. If you have a special dietary concern, such as diabetes, heart health or weight loss, the websites of national non-profits provide useful advice. You can also choose to patronize restaurants that focus

on natural, high quality food.

If you don’t prepare ahead of time, common sense guidelines help to make your meal healthier. For example, a seemingly healthy salad can be a diet minefield when smothered in high-fat dressing and fried toppings, so choose a salad with fresh veggies, grilled toppings and a lighter dressing. Portion control is also important, as many fast food restaurants serve enough food for several meals in the guise of a single serving.

Top tips for healthy eating at fast food restaurants

Make careful menu selections – pay attention to the descriptions on t

he menu. Dishes labeled deep-fried, pan-fried, basted, batter-dipped, breaded, creamy, crispy, scalloped, Alfredo, au gratin or in cream sauce are usually high in calories, unhealthy fats or sodium. Order items with more vegetables and choose leaner meats.

Drink water with your meal. Soda is a huge source of hidden calories. One 32-oz Big Gulp with regular cola packs about 425 calories, so one Big Gulp can quickly gulp up a big portion of your daily calorie intake. Try adding a little lemon to your water or ordering unsweetened iced tea.

“Undress” your food. When choosing items, be aware of calorie- and fat-packed salad dressings, spreads, cheese, sour cream, etc. For example, ask for a grilled chicken sandwich without the mayonnaise. You can ask for a packet of ketchup or mustard and add it yourself, controlling how much you put on your sandwich.

Don't be afraid to special order. Many menu items would be healthy if it weren't for the way they were prepared. Ask for your vegetables and main dishes to be served without the sauces. Ask for olive oil and vinegar for your salads or order the dressing "on the side" and spoon only a small amount on at a time. If your food is fried or cooked in oil or butter, ask to have it broiled or steamed.

Watch portion size - an average fast food meal can run as high as 1000 calories or more, so choose a smaller portion size, order a side salad instead of fries, and don't supersize anything. At a typical restaurant, a single serving provides enough for two meals. Take half home or divide the portion with a dining partner. Sharing might make dessert (or something else indulgent) more of an option.

Watch your salt. Fast food restaurant food tends to be very high in sodium, a major contributor to high blood pressure. Don’t add insult to injury by adding more salt.

Avoid buffets – even seemingly healthy ones like salad bars. You'll likely overeat to get your money's worth. If you do choose buffet dining, opt for fresh fruits, salads with olive oil & vinegar or low-fat dressings, broiled entrees and steamed vegetables. Resist the temptation to go for seconds, or wait at least 20 minutes after eating to make sure you're really still hungry before going back for more.

Eat mindfully. Pay attention to what you eat and savor each bite. Chew your food more thoroughly and avoid eating on the run. Being mindful also means stopping before you are full. It takes time for our bodies to register that we have eaten. Mindful eating relaxes you, so you digest better, and makes you feel more satisfied.

Remember the big picture – Think of eating out in the context of your whole diet. If it is a special occasion, or you know you want to order your favorite meal at a nice restaurant, make sure your earlier meals that day are extra healthy. Moderation is always key, but planning ahead can help you relax and enjoy your dining out experience while maintaining good nutrition and diet control.

Healthy Weight Loss and Dieting

2010-01-17T07:13:00.000-08:00

How to Lose Weight and Keep It Off

No matter how peaceful your nature, when it comes to the battle of the bulge, you have to put up a good fight. In our eat-and-run, massive-portion-sized world, maintaining a healthy weight can be hard enough, and healthy weight loss can be a real struggle. Adding to the difficulty is the abundance of fad diets and “quick-fix” plans that tempt and confuse us and ultimately usually do not work.

Weight management not only makes you look and feel better, it influences your future health. A healthy weight decreases your chances of developing serious health risks such as heart disease or diabetes.

If your last diet attempt wasn't a success, or life events have caused you to gain weight, don’t be discouraged. The key is to find a plan that works with your body’s individual needs so that you can avoid common diet pitfalls and instead make lasting lifestyle changes that can help you find long-term, healthy weight loss success.

Circumventing roadblocks to healthy weight loss

Why do some weight loss programs fail?

Diets, especially fad diets or “quick-fix” pills and plans, often set you up for failure because:

You feel deprived. Diets that don’t allow certain types of food (carbs, fat, sugar) in moderation are simply not practical, not to mention unhealthy – eliminating entire food groups doesn’t allow for a healthy, well-rounded diet and creates imbalances in our bodies.
You “plateau” after losing a few pounds. There’s actually a second component to healthy weight loss: exercise. Often your body adjusts to a new way of eating, and it’s only with increased physical activity that the pounds will continue to melt away.
You lose weight, but can’t keep it off. Diets that severely cut calories, restrict certain foods, or rely on ready-made meals might work in the short term. However, once you meet your weight loss goal, you have no means of lifelong, healthy diet maintenance, and the pounds quickly come back.
After your diet, you seem to put on weight more quickly. Restricting your food intake slows down your metabolism – another reason why starvation or “fasting” diets are counterproductive.
You break your diet and feel too discouraged to try again. Just because you gave in to temptation and overindulged, doesn’t mean all your hard work goes down the drain. Healthy eating is about the big picture – an occasional splurge won’t kill your efforts. And again, diets that are too restrictive are conducive to cheating – when you feel deprived, it’s easy to fall off the wagon.
You lose money faster than you lose weight. Special shakes, meals, and programs may be cost-prohibitive and less practical for long-term weight loss and healthy weight maintenance.
You feel isolated and unable to enjoy social situations revolving around food. Without some practical, healthy diet strategies, you may feel lost when dining out or attending events like cocktail parties or weddings. If the food served isn’t on your specific diet plan, what can you do?
The person on the commercial lost 30 lbs in 2 months – and you haven’t. Diet companies make a lot of grandiose promises, and most are simply not realistic. Unfortunately, losing weight is not easy, and anyone who makes it seem that way is doing you a disservice. Don’t get discouraged by setting unrealistic goals!

Why do some weight loss programs succeed?

While there is no “one size fits all” solution to lifelong, healthy weight loss, try these tips:

Lifestyle Change – Permanent weight loss is not something that a “quick-fix” diet can achieve. Instead, think about weight loss as a permanent lifestyle change. You are making a commitment to your health for life. Various popular diets can help to jump-start your weight loss, but permanent changes in your lifestyle and food choices are what will work long term.
Find a cheering section – Social support means a lot. Programs like Jenny Craig and Weight Watchers use group support to impact weight loss and lifelong healthy eating. Seek out support, whether in the form of family, friends, or a support group, so that you can get the encouragement you need.
Commit to a plan and stick to it – Experiment until you find a good, long-term plan that helps you lose the weight and maintain that loss in a way that works for you. If you cut out just 100 calories a day you could lose 10 pounds in a year. Remember one 12 oz can of a popular soda contains 150 calories.
Lose weight slowly. Losing weight too fast can take a toll on your nervous system, making you feel sluggish, drained, and sick. When you drop a lot of weight quickly, you’re actually losing mostly water and muscle rather than fat. Aim to lo se 1 to 2 pounds a week to ensure healthy weight loss.
Stay motivated and keep track – Short-term goals, like wanting to fit into a bikini for the summer, usually don’t work as well as goals like wanting to feel more confident or become healthier for your children’s sakes. Keep a food journal or weigh yourself regularly. Find and use tools that help keep you motivated. Stay focused: when frustration and temptation strike, concentrate on the many benefits you will reap from being healthier and leaner.

Tips for Healthy Weight Loss your Way

Eating and drinking tips

Focus on fruits and veggies – The high water and fiber content in many fruits and vegetables make them ideal for healthy snacking and incorporation into meals. Add veggies to your favorite main courses (made from lean meats and whole grains) to make your dish “go” further. In addition, vitamins and nutrients in fruits and vegetables can help your overall health and vitality.
Upgrade your carbohydrates – Switch from simple to complex carbohydrates. This means eating fewer products like white bread and white rice and eating more whole grains such as whole wheat bread, whole grain brown rice, millet, quinoa and barley. They give you long-term energy, and have a high-fiber content so you feel full longer.
Experiment with protein. Protein keeps you full longer than carbohydrates, but most of us in the U.S. eat more animal protein than our bodies need. In addition, animal protein often comes with high amounts of fat. Figure out how much and what type of protein is the right amount for your body. Choose lean, high quality protein or vegetarian options like beans and nuts.
Drink more water. You can easily reduce your daily calorie intake by replacing soda, alcohol or coffee with water. Thirst can also be confused with hunger, so by drinking water, you may avoid consuming extra calories, plus it will help you break down food more easily.
Take a multivitamin. This will help you be sure that there are no nutrient gaps in your diet. But remember that it does not substitute for eating a healthy well balanced diet.

Orgiastic AIDS Awareness Ads

2010-01-16T07:43:00.000-08:00

Orgiastic AIDS Awareness Ads

We’ve seen our fair share of safe sex ads in Trend Hunter, but these new HIV awareness ads by One Life are one of the most effective ones I have come across.

Eye-popping visuals of simulated and Photoshopped orgies are coupled with the copy, “Each time you sleep with someone, you also sleep with his past. Get tested for HIV.”

The effect is instant and the message is strongly driven home.

The ads were photographed by Alain Desjean for ad agency Bleublancrouge, Montréal, Canada.

A Citizen Who Will Not Stay Silent

Government’s view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.” —Ronald Reagan

Apparently Ronald Reagan had it right when he said" if it stops moving subsidize it". The "IT" he was refering to was not the it that is being subsidizes(aka given), but money given to the non-earners from hard working tax payers.

When you compare the billions given to Wall Street bankers with the amount that is now given in Detroiy,15 million dollars, it is insignificant. But when you realize that 99% of the recipients are minorities who will vote for Democrats in 2010, and the bankers will not only vote but contribute large sums of money to re-elect those who gave them the money. You can understand that this is just another example of reditribution of wealth only to those who support Obama and the Democrats!

The stimulus bill was sold to the public as a "shovel ready program" that would put people back to work, but with the unemployment hovering around 10% it appears that all the stimulus is doing is reassuring that Obama and his Congressional sycophants get re-elected!

The assistance in Detroit, announced by the media today, is from a 15 million dollar pile of money coming to Detroit, Michigan as part of the stimulus package.
I believe in charity for the homeless in the form of food kitchens and temporary housing for the really homeless, but it should come from the private sector via the Churches and Community organizations like San Francisco's Glide Memorial Center, which has been doing GODS work for decades. Not from the tax payers!

The thing that is going on Detroit has two fatal flaws that make it a non-starter before it began. One is that if you give money in the form of cash or check how do you know that the people whom you are giving it to will spend it on the intended purpose for which you gave the money?
The second is the final qualification sentence in the list of things that woul qualify a person or family for the assistance. "That they must be able to maintain housing after receiving assistance. How can a homeless person do this?And by the wat how will those giving away the money determine that those who apply as homeless have bee residents of Detroit for at least six months. Will they evn try?
Also, a resident must make 50 percent less than the median area income, which would be less than $24,850 for single Detroit residents and less than $35,500 for a family of four.

All this is accomplishing is redistributing the wealth as we know Obama has promised he will do.
But there is a brewing problem with this seemingly good deed. The Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center recently disclosed that close to half of all households will pay no income tax this year. Some will pay less than zero -- that is, they'll get money from those of us who do pay taxes.

The Tax Policy Center adds that this year the average income-tax rate for the bottom 40 percent of earners will be negative and that their cash subsidy will equal 10 percent of the total amount the income tax brings in, thanks to the Earned Income Tax Credit and President Obama's "Making Work Pay" program.

The view from the top also shows the lopsidedness of the tax system. The top 20 percent of earners makes about 53 percent of the income in America but pays 91 percent of the income tax. The top 1 percent pays 36 percent. The IRS says the bottom half of earners pays less than 3 percent.
This presents a serious problem because government has such vast powers to dispense favors. As Shaw suggested, people who pay no tax will not hesitate to vote for politicians who promise big spending. Why not? They will get stuff without having to pay for it. Source:PatriotPost.com

And to the insult of the tax payers. The City of Chicago was visited today by the U.S. Attorney General and the Secretary of Education to meet with officials of the Chicago leadership. The meeting was held because of the national outrage from the TV pictures of an honor high school student being beaten to death with large boards.Why did they not visit Los Angeles or New York where crime is rampant?
Why now? I believe that the Obama administration lost the bid to bring the Olympics to Chicago which would have brought millions to Chicago politicians. So now they are going to get money from Obama that will be handed over in the name of reducing the killing of teens, but will in fact be used to buy continued support for Democrats and Obama.
The amount is unspecified as is what they will use it for. Clinton when he was president sent millions to major cities including Chicago to establish midnight basket ball. But the plan failed to stop the killing!

Not one of the participants in the "meeting" mentioned increasing law enforcement and severe punishment for offenders. This is a dirty thought for Liberals who believe, as they have for decades, if you throw money at problems they will fade away. As Thomas Sowell says; ".the problem with the political left is that they seem to have no sense of the tragedy of the human condition. All problems seem to them to be due to other people not being as wise or as noble as they are".
So unknown millions will go to Chicago and it will still have a crime rate among the youth unless the law enforcement people begin a war against the gangs!.

Don't hold your breath until that happens, as long as the Daley machine and the Obama machine believe in spending other peoples money will stop crime and solve all of societies problems!

Family Fitness

2010-01-14T11:16:00.000-08:00

Fit families are healthy families who have an active lifestyle. Frequently, they enjoy the things they do together, and the things they do together foster better communication and closer relationships than watching TV does.

Family fitness takes some parental commitment, leadership, and imagination, and you may have to listen to a lot of grousing and whining to start with, but the entire family will benefit as a result. Five factors that affect your family fitness plan are cost, convenience, family-friendly environment, fun, and success.

Cost

Family fitness doesn’t have to be expensive. Sure, you can drop a couple of hundred dollars or more taking the family skiing. But you can find a slope and sled down it on plastic trash bags for free. Most communities have free or low-cost family activities at community centers or parks. Check your local newspaper or parks and recreation department, and use your imagination to come up with activities your family can do together that don’t break the bank.

Convenience

Families are busy, and convenience is essential to a family fitness plan. If you have to go through a lot of hassle or travel a long way on a regular basis, you won’t follow through. Plan activities that you can do in your own backyard or neighborhood, like play Frisbee. You can also stay home to rake up leaves and jump in them, or make snow angels in the winter months. If you join a club or team, make it one that’s convenient to get to, and one the entire family can be a part of. Joining a bowling league is a great way to keep the family involved.

Family-Friendly Environment

When you join a club or plan an activity, make sure your whole family is welcome. It’s not much fun to look forward to an outing, and then discover that your kids are the only ones there. You want an appropriate environment for young children, too, where they will be safe and not exposed to “adult” language or behavior.

Fun

Fun is the key to successful family fitness. If everybody has fun, you’ll all want to do it again. Ask the kids what kind of activities they enjoy. You could even let them choose some family activities and help with the planning. Have a family meeting, and come up with a list of activities your family wants to try.

In addition to making sure your family fitness activities are fun, you can make sure your family fun activities center around fitness. Take everybody miniature golfing for a birthday instead of having a cake-and-ice-cream party. Celebrate Independence Day by going on a 10K walk together (which you’ll have to train for together). Walk around your neighborhood at Christmas and enjoy the lights, or sing carols. Bring fun and activity together as often as you can, and you and your kids will begin to associate an active lifestyle with having fun.

Success

Every member of your family needs to feel successful at whatever activities your family chooses. They don’t all have to be good at the activity as long as they enjoy it and feel good about themselves doing it. Family fitness can become an unhealthy competition that leaves less athletic family members feeling like failures, and that can defeat the purpose. Choose activities that everybody can participate in and enjoy at least moderate success at.

When our families pursue fitness together, we benefit in other ways, too. Your kids will remember and treasure family camping trips, going swimming together, and having family snowball fights. You’re building good health habits and good childhood memories at the same time, and the whole family is having fun doing it.

Blood Pressure

2010-01-10T05:36:00.000-08:00

Traffic Noise Raises Blood P

ressure

Living in areas with high traffic noise may lead to higher blood pressure and a concurrently higher risk of heart attack or stroke, according to a study conducted by researchers from Lund University Hospital in Sweden and published in the journal Environmental Health.

"Road traffic is the most impor tant source of community noise," said lead author Theo Bodin. "We found that exposure above 60 decibels was associated with high blood pressure among the relatively young and middle-aged, an important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack and stroke."

Previous studies have found connections between living near airports and higher blood pressure. Scientists believe that constant noise may place the body in a state of chronic stress, leading to higher heart rate and blood pressure. It may also harm health by disturbing sleep patterns.

Researchers examined health and residence data on more than 24,000 adult residents of Sweden, using their home addresses to determine the average level of ambient traffic noise in their neighborhoods. Young and middle-aged adults being regularly exposed to average noise levels between 45 and 65 decibels were significantly more likely to have high blood pressure than those in quieter neigh borhoods, with risk increasing proportionally to noise level.

Among the middle-aged, 28 percent of those living in areas with noise averaging above 64 decibels reported high blood pressure. Only 17 percent of adults in the same age group and quieter neighborhoods suffered from hypertension. The numbers in younger adults were similar.

The researchers did not know why there appeared to be no link between noise and blood pressure in the elderly.

"The effect of noise may be come less important, or harder to detect, relative to other risk factors with increasing age," Bodin said. "Alternatively, it could be that noise annoyance varies with age."

Sixty-five decibels is a little louder than a normal conversation. Recent data suggest that 30 percent of the European Union's population is exposed to average traffic noise of 55 decibels or higher continually.

Potassium normalizes high blood pressure

High blood pressure isn't a disease, it's just a noticeable symptom of a physiological imbalance with a biological cause. One of the most common biological causes of this symptom is a mineral deficiency.

Specifically: Potassium.

Potassium is a crucial mineral for restoring healthy blood pressure balance in your body, and when you don't have enough potassium, symptoms can start to emerge that may eventually be diagnosed and labeled as "high blood pressure."

Here, we bring you a collection of useful information about how potassium can help regulate and normalize your blood pressure.

Potassium and high blood pressure

The sudden death that can occur in fasting, anorexia nervosa or starvation is often a result of heart failure caused by potassium deficiency. Many population studies have found links between low potassium intakes and an increased risk of high blood pressure and death from stroke. Increasing the amount of potassium-rich foods in the diet can lead to a reduction in high blood pressure. The ratio of sodium to potassium in the diet appears to play an important role in the development of high blood pressure. The typical Western diet is low in potassium relative to sodium.
- The New Encyclopedia of Vitamins, Minerals, Supplements and Herbs by Nicola Reavley

The effects of either low potassium or high potassium can be life-threatening. Since potassium is necessary to the healthy functioning of nerves, cells, and membranes, it is an important electrolyte to monitor. Low potassium is a major cause of cardiac arrhythmia; diuretics for the treatment of high blood pr essure or congestive heart failure may interfere with potassium absorption and excretion. Although potassium supplementation is usually not necessary, individuals on diuretics or laxatives or who have excessive diarrhea may require extra potassium.
- Optimum Health - A Cardiologist's Prescription for Optimum Health by Stephen T., M.D. Sinatra

When it comes to lowering blood pressure, potassium packs a powerful punch. Scientists began studying the effects of potassium on high blood pressure as early as 1928. Now a major study of 300 nurses shows that potassium can lower your blood pressure even if it's in the n

ormal range. Good sources of potassium are dried apricots, avocados, dried figs, acorn squash, baked potatoes, kidney beans, cantaloupe, citrus fruits, and bananas. You can also buy potassium supplements. If you're taking a diuretic, your body is getting rid of potassium along with fluid.
- Natural Cures and Gentle Medicines: That Work Better Than Dangerous Drugs or Risky Surgery by Frank K. Wood

For example, a diet low in potassium and high in sodium is associated with high blood pressure. By contrast, a diet high in potassium and low in sodium can protect against elevation of blood pressure. It has become common knowledge that too much salt in our diet may contribute to high blood pressure. Not so commonly known is that high blood pressure is also related to too little potassium in our diet. In fact, restricting salt alone may not be enough to lower the blood pressure. Potassium must be increased. Most Americans ingest twice as much sodium as potassium.

Garlic is natural medicine for treating high blood pressure

Garlic is one of the most amazing medicinal herbs on the planet. It has been among my top-recommended healing foods and medicines for years. Most people know garlic as being anti-cancer. Others recognize its ability to naturally lower high cholesterol. But did you know that garlic also helps normalize high blood pressure?

Here, we present a collection of powerful quotes about garlic and high blood pressure, documented in some of the best health books ever written. Enjoy this collection of knowledge!

Garlic vs. high blood pressure

Onions have similar characteristics and are often used in combination with garlic. To preserve the beneficial effects of garlic it should not be boiled. The fresh juice is the most effective preparation. For nervous spasms, cramps and seizures, crush one clove of garlic in a glass of hot milk. For high blood pressure, take one clove of garlic each morning. Prepare oil of garlic by placing eight ounces of peeled minced garlic in a wide-mouthed jar with enough olive oil to cover. Close tightly and shake a few times each day; allow to stand in a warm place for three days.
- The Way of Herbs by Michael Tierra

Garlic has achieved a legendary reputation as an antihypertensive medication. It's been used in China for centuries for that purpose, and the Japanese government officially recognizes garlic as a blood-pressure depressor. American scientists first tried garlic against high blood pressure in 1921. Garlic consistently lowers blood pressure in laboratory animals.
- The Food Pharmacy: Dramatic New Evidence That Food Is Your Best Medicine by Jean Carper

Eat more garlic. It is another legendary folk remedy for high blood pressure, and it is effective, according to recent studies. Long used in China and widely used today in Germany as a blood pressure medication, garlic can have a striking impact. In a recent double blind German test of Kwai, an over-the-counter garlic preparation, doses comparable to a couple of daily garlic cloves pushed diastolic blood pressure down in patients with mild high blood pressure.
- Food Your Miracle Medicine by Jean Carper

I heard a lot about garlic being a good remedy for colds, but I was hesitant to try it because I also heard it lowers high blood pressure. Since my blood pressure is normal, I thought the garlic might cause it to drop. Fortunately, I read where a medical doctor said that garlic normalizes high or low blood pressure, but does not disturb normal blood pressure. With this assurance, I tried Kyolic garlic tablets the next time I felt I was starting to come down with a cold. Within a few days, I felt fine.
- Secrets of the Chinese Herbalists by Richard Lucas

The confidence the Egyptians had in garlic is demonstrated by the fact that they reportedly used it to strengthen the workers who built the pyramids. Pliny recommended garlic for 61 maladies in his Historia Naturalis; Hippocrates recommended it as a laxative, diuretic, and cure for tumors of the uterus. Garlic has been used to treat high blood pressure for centuries in China and Japan. In first-century India, garlic and onion were thought to prevent heart disease and rheumatism. Garlic even had a reputation as an aphrodisiac in Shakespearean England.

High Blood Pressure Linked to Mental Decline for Young and Old

Researchers from the University of Maine reported in a journal published by the American Heart Association, Hypertension, that mental function is measurably affected by high blood pressure in otherwise healthy adults between the ages of 18 and 83. The study was begun in 1974 by Merrill Elias and David Streeten, Professor of Medicine, of the Health Sciences Center, State University of New York at Syracuse and spanned 20 years.

In the same issue of Hypertension an editorial from medical researchers in Belgium and the Netherlands said the Maine-Syracuse Longitudinal Study (MSLS) of the last 20 years breaks new ground and has far reaching public health implications. Other studies have measured high blood pressure, hypertension and high pulse pressure in older adults and found worse cognitive performance than those having normal readings, but none had examined both younger and older individuals over an extended time period.

A more recent study conducted on participants over the age of 45 underscores the association between high blood pressure and reduced mental ability. For every 10-point increase in diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number in a blood pressure reading), the odds of mental impairment increase by 7 percent, though it's not clear why.

In the August 25th issue of Neurology, the official journal of the American Academy of Neurology, results of the study were reported by a team including George Howard, chairman of the department of biostatistics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health. He says other studies have found such a relationship, but this particular one carries significant weight because of its size and efficacy. Dr. David Knopman, a professor of neurology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, says this new study supports a large body of literature that shows hypertension has an impact on cognition.

Dr. Georgios Tsivgoulis, the neurologist who compiled the data and spends his time between Greece and the University of Alabama, believes more research is needed to confirm the findings. He states, "It is possible that by preventing or treating high blood pressure, we could potentially prevent cognitive impairment, which can be a precursor to dementia. That`s an important possibility considering the world's population is aging with a forecast of increased dementia for 100 million people by the year 2050.

Deputy director of the U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Dr. Walter J. Koroshetz, agrees with Dr. Tsivgoulis's statement and says the National Institute of Health will organize a large clinical trial to further evaluate the association between lowering blood pressure and health issues including cognitive decline.

Whether you are young or older, if lowering high blood pressure can keep your mind sharp and prevent dementia, here are a few ways to do so without medication.

Drink plenty of pure, unadulterated water. Chronic dehydration is often the cause of high blood pressure. The body tries to hold on to water reserves by constricting blood vessels, raising your blood pressure. Soft drinks or fruit juices won't have the same effect as clean filtered water.

Sodium chloride, sodium, and table salt can raise blood pressure. When using salt choose a healthy salt from the ocean-sea salt (often called Himalayan or Celtic) which has important minerals and elements unlike sodium chloride.

Stress is a major contributor to high blood pressure. Research has shown physical exercise is the best tension reliever. Any exercise that gets your heart pumping will get those endorphins (stress-busters) flowing.

Train your mind to become less responsive to stress through meditation, yoga, visualization and deep breathing.

When we think of the health risks associated with high blood pressure, the first one that usually comes to mind is coronary heart disease followed by heart failure, stroke, kidney failure and a host of other insidious health problems. These are just a few of the reasons it is imperative to keep your blood pressure numbers in the optimal range of 120/80. There is certainly an added incentive now that we learn optimal control of blood pressure is vital at any age for protecting your mind.

Hibiscus Tea Significantly Lowers Blood Pressure

Drinking hibiscus tea can significantly reduce blood pressure among people with elevated risks of cardiovascular or kidney disease, according to a new study presented at the annual conference of the American Heart Association.

High blood pressure is a dangerous health condition that triples the risk of heart attack and is responsible for 60 percent of all strokes. The condition is very common in the developed world; one in three people in the United Kingdom, for example, are considered to suffer from high blood pressure.

Researcher Diane McKay and colleagues conducted the study on 65 people between the ages of 30 and 70 whose high blood pressure levels placed them at increased risk of kidney disease, heart attack and stroke. Participants were assigned to drink either hibiscus tea or a placebo three times per day for six weeks.

At the end of the study, blood pressure levels had fallen an average of 7.2 percent in the hibiscus group, compared with only 1.3 percent in the placebo group. Some patients in the hibiscus group actually experienced a 13.2 percent reduction.

"Hibiscus is now the most promising herb for treating blood pressure," said alternative medicine expert Andrew Weill. "Studies have found that people who drank two cups of hibiscus daily for four weeks lowered their diastolic blood pressure by 12 percent -- results similar to those for common blood pressure medication."

Scientists do not know exactly what compounds in hibiscus contribute to its protective effect, but the flowers are known to contain chemicals known as anthocyanins, which have been shown to improve the functioning of blood vessels and strengthen the protein collagen, which helps give structure to cells and tissues, including blood vessels.

Anthocyanins and other components of hibiscus tea are also known to function as antioxidants, cleansing the body of dangerous free radicals that can have been linked to heart disease, cancer and the symptoms of aging.

Beverages made or flavored from the flowers of the plan Hibiscus sabdariffa are popular in many African, Asian and Caribbean countries.

AIDS

2010-01-08T01:50:00.000-08:00

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome occurs as a result of infection with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). It belongs to the family of human retroviruses and the subfamily of lentiviruses. There are 2 types of HIV that result in AIDS in humans:

HIV-1: common
HIV-2: Africa

Mode of transmission

Sexual transmission: both homosexual and heterosexual. It is particularly more common among homosexual men during receptive anal intercourse. Vaginal transmission to both partners is a common mode of transmission. Oral sex is a much less effective mode of transmission although there have been documented cases.
Transmission through HIV contaminated blood products.
Occupational transmission: Health care worker and lab worker maybe infected. Infections resulting from self puncture resulting from a needle or a sharp object is rather low being estimated at a rate of approximately 0.3%
Vertical tran
smission from the mother to the fetus (through placental blood) or infant (through breast milk).
There is no convincing evidence of transmission through other body fluids (e.g. saliva).

Mechanism of disease

The hallmark of HIV disease is a profound immunodeficiency resulting primarily from a progressive deficiency of a the subset of T lymphocytes referred to as helper T cells, or inducer T cells. This subset of T cells is identified by the presence of a the CD4 molecule on its surface which also serves as the primary cellular receptor for HIV.

Clinical picture

Initial acute retroviral syndrome: affects 50% of those infected and starts 3 to 6 weeks after primary infection.
Asymptomatic stage
Generalized lymph node enlargement
Symptomatic infection:

constitutional disease (fever, loss of 10% body weight, diarrhea).
neu rological
secondary infection
secondary neoplasm
other

Diagnosis and screening

Using the CDC system for diagnosis of AIDS, any HIIV-infected individual with a CD4+ T cell count of <200/ul>

The currently used screening methods include various ELISA techniques that may require confirmation with Western Blot or other tests such as DNA PCR, RNA PCR, the (b)DNA assay, or p24 antigen capture that usually take days.

Treatment

There is currently no cure or vaccine for HIV or AIDS. Newer treatments, however, have played a part in delaying the onset of AIDS, on reducing the symptoms, and extending patients' life spans. Over the past decade the success of these anti-retroviral treatments in prolonging, and improving, the quality of life for people with AIDS has improved dramatically.

Current optimal treatment options consist of combinations ("cocktails") of two or more types of anti-retroviral agents such as two nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), and a protease inhibitor. Patients on such treatments have been known to repeatedly test "undetectable" (that is, negative) for HIV, but discontinuing therapy has thus far caused all such patients' viral loads to promptly increase. There is also concern with such regimens that drug resistance will eventually develop. In recent years the term HAART (highly-active anti-retroviral therapy) has been commonly used to describe this form of treatment. The majority of the world's infected individuals, unfortunately, do not have access to medications and treatments for HIV and AIDS.

There is ongoing research into developing a vaccine for HIV and in developing new anti-retroviral drugs. Human trials are currently underway. Research to improve current treatments includes simplifying current drug regimens to improve adherence and in decreasing side effects.

Swine flu may drag into 2011

2010-01-06T23:32:00.000-08:00

China's Margaret Chan, director general of the World Health Organization, said the swine flu epidemic has shown that there are numerous gaps in the health systems of many countries.
GENEVA - Many more people could become sick with swine flu this winter even though it has peaked in North America and some European countries, the head of the World Health Organization said Tuesday.

The worst of the swine flu outbreak is over in the United States, Canada, Britain and some other countries in the northern hemisphere, said Dr. Margaret Chan.

But there is still intensive flu activity in Egypt, India and elsewhere, she said.

"It is too premature and too early for us to say we have come to an end of the pandemic influenza worldwide," Chan told reporters. Health experts should monitor the pandemic for another six to 12 months, she said, adding that the virus could still mutate and become more dangerous.

Over 11,500 people are known to have died around the globe from the disease since the outbreak began in April, according to WHO. Between 250,000 and 500,000 people around the world die from regular flu each year.

When the U.N. health agency declared swine flu to be a pandemic in June, it described it as "moderate."

While most people recover from the illness without needing medical treatment, officials are also continuing to see severe cases in people under 65 — people who are not usually at risk during regular flu seasons.

As many countries have rolled out massive swine flu vaccination programs, demand for swine flu shots in some European countries has been lower than expected, said Chan.

WHO is talking to these governments to see if superfluous vaccines can be shipped to developing countries, she said.

Virus could be devastating in Africa
The agency has warned that the virus could have a devastating impact in countries across Africa with high numbers of people with health problems like malnutrition, AIDS, and malaria.

Drug makers and countries have promised to donate nearly 190 million doses of vaccines to WHO, she said. The figure is up from about 150 million doses two months ago.

Chan acknowledged she had yet to get her own swine flu shot. Only just back from leave, she said she asked her medical service to find out where she can get vaccinated.

Since flu viruses constantly evolve, experts have feared swine flu could mutate into a more dangerous form.

"One thing we need to guard against is the sense of complacency," Chan said, adding that flu viruses are highly unpredictable.

"We will watch this virus with eagle's eyes," she said.

Last month, WHO warned that with fresh bird flu cases reported in poultry in Egypt, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam, the risk of bird flu and the H1N1 pandemic swine flu virus mixing was heightened.

H1N1 moderate, but harsher on young
5 million doses of nasal H1N1 vaccine recalled
60 million in U.S. vaccinated against swine flu

Scientists fear that bird flu, which remains hard for people to catch but kills about 60 percent of those infected, could combine with the current swine flu virus, which spreads easily among people but kills a low percentage.

Chan said although countries are now better prepared to cope with a global disease outbreak than a few years ago, the swine flu epidemic has shown that there remain numerous gaps in the health systems of many countries.

She said she hopes the world can avoid a pandemic triggered by the avian flu virus, which she said was more toxic and deadly than swine flu.

"The world is not ready for a pandemic caused by H5N1," she said, referring to the scientific name of bird flu.

Broken Nose

2010-01-06T07:15:00.000-08:00

Broken Nose Causes

Causes of a broken nose are related to trauma to the nose or face. Common sources of trauma include the following:

Sports injury
Personal fights
Motor vehicle accidents
Falls
Broken Nose Symptoms
Signs that suggest a person has a broken nose may include the following:
Tenderness when touching the nose
Swelling of the nose or face
Bruising of the nose or under the eyes (black eye)
Deformity of the nose (crooked nose)
Nosebleed
When touching the nose, a crunching or crackling sound or sensation like that of rubbing hair between 2 fingers
Pain and difficulty breathing out of the nostrils
When to Seek Medical Care

Call the doctor if any of the following occur:
The pain or swelling does not go away in 3 days.
The nose looks crooked.
Breathing through the nose is not possible after the swelling has gone down.
A fever develops.
Recurring nosebleeds develop.
A significant injury that requires medical attention possibly exists.

Go to a hospital's emergency department immediately if the following signs or symptoms are present:

Bleeding for more than a few minutes from one or both of the nostrils
Clear fluid draining from the nose
Other injuries to the face or the body
Loss of consciousness (fainting)
Severe or unrelenting headaches
Repeat vomiting
Decrease or change in vision
Neck pain
Numbness, tingling, or weakness in the arms
Significant injury that may require immediate medical attention

Broken Nose Treatment

Self-Care at Home

Taking the following actions at home may help reduce the symptoms of a broken nose.

Place some ice wrapped in a cloth over the nose for about 15 minutes at a time and then remove the ice. This process can be repeated multiple times throughout the day. Use ice at the time of injury and for 1-2 days afterward to reduce pain and swelling. Be sure to take breaks between applications, and do not apply the ice directly to the skin.
Take acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) to reduce pain. Only use these medications as directed.
Take an over-the-counter nasal decongestant to aid in breathing through the nostrils.
- Be sure to read warning labels associated with these medications.
- These medications should not be used for more than 3 days.
Elevate the head, especially when sleeping, to avoid increased swelling of the nose. Prop the head up with pillows or lift the head of the bed by placing large blocks or phone books under the mattress

What Causes A Headache?

2010-01-05T09:55:00.000-08:00

You may say, "I know what causes my headaches. Staying up late or drinking too much coffee will bring on a headache every time." But a trigger is not the same as a cause. Aged cheese, cigarette smoke, alcohol, excessive caffeine, bright sunlight, disrupted sleep patterns, and many other factors can trigger headaches in some migraine- or headache-prone patients. However, even a known trigger does not always lead to a headache. Therefore, these factors cannot be said to be a cause of headache the way a particular virus is the cause of a head cold or flu. Instead, the nervous system of the headache sufferer is somehow predisposed to respond to these triggers and other stresses with a series of biochemical changes that result in the pain and other symptoms of headache.

Until recently, medical researchers believed that tension-type headache was caused by contraction of muscles of the head and neck, and that migraine headache resulted from the expansion (or dilation) of blood vessels in the brain and scalp. The migraine aura was thought to be due to a constriction of the blood vessels, which preceded the dilation and which reduced blood supply to the eyes and brain. These theories made sense to both physicians and patients, since they accounted for the tenderness and the throbbing experienced with these forms of headache, as well as the visual disturbances of aura. However, the vascular (involving blood vessels) theory could not explain many of the other symptoms of migraine, including the mood changes before and after the attack, and the nausea and vomiting that occur during the attack.

The use of new noninvasive technology, such as MRI, PET and CT scans, along with the great advances in understanding the brain's biochemistry, have taught us much more about the causes of head pain. As we now know, vascular changes may be an important factor in a headache attack, but they are not the whole story nor the root cause. A reduction in brain activity, rather than blood supply, seems to be linked to the migraine aura. Similarly, there is little evidence that muscle contraction causes tension-type headache. Some researchers think that several stages in the complex pain-producing process are similar for these two distinct headache disorders.

Realizing The Impact Of Headaches On Your Life

How bad are your headaches? When a migraine strikes, it may seem like the worst pain in the world and you would do anything to stop it. Once the attack is over, you may push the problem out of

your mind, hoping you’ve had your last horrible migraine and your life will never again be turned upside down by pain.

Ironically, while coworkers or family members sometimes suspect them of exaggerating their pain, migraine sufferers may tend to deny or underestimate the severity of their illness during their headache-free periods. That denial can create a powerful barrier to finding effective treatment. Studies have shown that only about one-third of U.S. migraine sufferers are receiving medical care at any given point in time. When over-the-counter medications relieve pain and disability they are an excellent option, but many people who rely on self-treatment would benefit from medical care.

Holiday Lipstick and the Right Shade for your Teeth

2010-01-02T23:57:00.000-08:00

Holiday Lipstick and the Right Shade for Your Smile
It's the time of year for holiday parties. A Perfect Smile knows an ugly lipstick can ruin even the best look. A Perfect Smile gives 6 tips to choose the best lipstick for your smile.
Getting ready for a holiday party? You can get your smile noticed and put your best face forward by choosing the right lipstick. A good lipstick can make teeth look whiter and take years off of your look if you choose carefully. Here are some tips from the hygienists at A Perfect Smile to make your holiday smile shine bright:
Do's:
Look for rich reds and berry colored lipstick to lighten the appearance of your teeth. Unlike bright reds, these will make your teeth look whiter without aging your look.
Many deep red lipsticks have subtle blue undertones that will make your teeth look whiter and give a boost to yellowed teeth. A nice plum colored gloss is a great choice if you have fair skin.
Glossy, wet look finish lip color reflects light and adds depth to your lips. Shiny colors make your teeth shine too, so even coffee stained teeth can look deceivingly white with the perfect sheen. Go for a glossier shade if you have thin lips, as they generally make lips appear fuller.
Don'ts:
Skip the pale or neutral pink shades. They will make teeth look dull.
Frosted lipsticks should also be avoided as they can make your teeth appear the same shade as the lipstick (or worse yet, they will look dark!)
Avoid orange toned or bright reds which accentuate discolored teeth, and make them look more stained and yellow.

Vitamin A

2010-01-02T02:51:00.001-08:00

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that is necessary for cell growth and differentiation, bone growth, and reproduction. It is also important for maintaining the health of the respiratory, urinary, and intestinal tracts. Most people get plenty of vitamin A through their diet; supplementation is not considered necessary for the average person, but is helpful for people

What Is Vitamin A?

Vitamin A is the name for a group of closely related fat-soluble compounds. Vitamin A deficiency is rare in the United States, but is a common cause of blindness in developing countries. Although this vitamin is essential for many important functions of the body, taking too much can cause more harm than good.

How Does It Work?

Retinoids (such as retinol) are types of vitamin A that come from animal sources. They are the most readily usable forms of the vitamin. Carotenoids (such as beta-carotene) are types of vitamin A from plant sources. The body uses carotenoids to make retinol. Vitamin A is stored in the liver, and the liver helps maintain the proper blood levels of the vitamin.

Vitamin A is necessary for cell growth and differentiation (the process that makes stem cells into different types of cells), bone growth, reproduction, good vision, and a healthy immune system. It is important for maintaining the health of the lining of the respiratory, urinary, and intestinal tracts. It also helps control the genes for numerous different structural proteins, such as certain important proteins in the skin.

Most importantly, vitamin A is used for the transduction of light into nerve signals that are essential for vision.

Is Vitamin A Effective?

As you might expect, this vitamin is effective for treating vitamin A deficiency. However, there is not enough evidence to suggest that it works for most other uses.

Side Effects of Vitamin A

Most people do not experience side effects with this vitamin, as long as the maximum dosage is not exceeded. Taking too much, however, can result in significant vitamin A toxicity. Some side effects may include:

Nausea and vomiting
Peeling of the skin
Liver problems
Dizziness
Headaches
Birth defects (if taken during pregnancy)
Osteoporosis.

Efficacy Of Low-Level Laser Therapy In The Treatment Of Neck Pain

2010-01-01T01:47:00.000-08:00

An article published Online First and in a future edition of The Lancet reports that low-level laser therapy (LLLT) reduces pain after treatment for non-specific neck pain. The article is the work of Dr Roberta Chow, Nerve Research Foundation, Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Sydney, Australia, and colleagues.

In the next thirty years, chronic pain is predicted to reach epidemic proportions in developed countries with ageing populations. Affecting 10 to 24 percent of the population, chronic neck pain is a highly prevalent condition. LLLT uses laser irradiation to help tissue repair, relieve pain, and stimulate acupuncture points. LLLT is non-invasive, painless, and can be easily administered in primary-care settings. The incidence of adverse effects is low and similar to that of placebo. There are no reports of serious events. The authors in this study carried-out a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials to assess the efficacy of LLLT in neck pain. Using a 100-point scale, they determined difference in pain experienced.

Sixteen different randomised controlled trials including a total of 820 patients were identified by the team. For acute neck pain, evidence was limited to two trials with mixed results. They indicated that patients were around 70 percent more likely to experience reduced pain following LLLT compared with placebo. Five trials of chronic neck pain showed patients given LLLT were around four times more likely to have reduced pain compared with placebo. Patients in eleven trials reported reductions of chronic pain of around 20 points on the 100 point scale. In seven of these trials there was follow-up data for 1 to 22 weeks after completion of treatment. It showed short-term pain relief persisting in the medium term with a reduction of 22 points on the scale. Side-effects from LLLT were mild and similar from those of placebo.

The authors explain that the mechanisms for LLLT- mediated pain relief are not fully understood, but could involve reducing inflammation, nerve conduction of painful stimuli, and muscle fatigue. They remark: "Which of these mechanisms are most important cannot be determined, because all of the trials irradiated several points overlying joints, nerves, and muscles."

They add: "Whatever the mechanism of action, clinical benefits of LLLT occur both when LLLT is used as monotherapy and in the context of a regular exercise and stretching programme. In clinical settings, combination with an exercise programme is probably preferable. The results of LLLT in this review compare favourably with other widely used therapies, and especially with pharmacological interventions, for which evidence is sparse and side-effects are common."

They write in conclusion: "[This study] shows that LLLT reduces pain immediately after treatment in acute neck pain and up to 22 weeks after completion of treatment in patients with chronic neck pain."

In an associated comment, Dr Jaime Guzman, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada, remarks: "Today's findings of low-level laser therapy indicate that this non-invasive treatment provides pain relief in the short and medium term for people with neck pain. This evidence is more solid than that for many current interventions. Although mechanisms of action and effects on function and occupational outcomes are not clearly understood and warrant further impartial study, low-level laser therapy is an option worthy of consideration for management of non-specific neck pain."

"Efficacy of low-level laser therapy in the management of neck pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised placebo or active-treatment controlled trials"

Vaginismus

2009-12-31T00:26:00.000-08:00

What is Vaginismus?

Vaginismus is vaginal tightness causing discomfort, burning, pain, penetration problems, or complete inability to have intercourse.

Vaginismus Treatment

Vaginismus is considered one of the most successfully treatable female sexual disorder. Many studies have shown treatment success rates approaching nearly 100%. Treatment resolution follows a manageable, step-by-step process.

Overview

Vaginismus is highly treatable. Successful vaginismus treatment does not require drugs, surgery, hypnosis, nor any other complex invasive technique. Effective treatment approaches combine pelvic floor control exercises, insertion or dilation training, pain elimination techniques, transition steps, and exercises designed to help women identify, express and resolve any contributing emotional components. Treatment steps can often be completed at home, allowing a woman to work at her own pace in privacy, or in cooperation with her health care provider.

The sexual pain, tightness and penetration difficulties from vaginismus are fu lly treatable and can be completely overcome with no remaining pain or discomfort.
Women experiencing sexual tightness/pain, penetration problems, or unconsummated relationships can expect remarkable resolution of their vaginismus, allowing full, pain-free intercourse.
Treatment steps can usually be completed at home using a self-help approach, allowing a woman to work at her own pace in privacy, or in cooperation with her health care provider or specialist.
Vaginismus treatment exercises follow a manageable, step-by-step process (see Steps below).

Vaginismus is Highly Treatable

The sexual pain, tigh

tness, burning or penetration difficultie

s caused by vaginismus are completely treatable, with high success rates for treatment. Couples are often amazed by the sudden life-changing effects of treatment. Those with penetration difficulties, or pain during intercourse, normally transition to pain-free and pleasurable intercourse following a step-by-step approach.

Is vaginismus really treatable; and if so, how long does it take to resolve?

Vaginismus is considered one of the most successfully resolved female sexual disorders. High treatment success rates are typical within reasonable time frames.

A Treatment Program is Important

Many of the steps to treat vaginismus are counter-intuitive and not immediately obvious. As failure at any point inhibits recovery (experiencing discomfort tends to intensify vaginismus - see 'cycle of pain') and can cause avoidance or abandonment of progress, it is best to approach vaginismus with an educated understanding to ensure success in dealing with it.

What is involved in the successful treatment of vaginismus?

Outline of 10 step vaginismus resolution process

To aid women in getting proper treatment direction, we have assembled a comprehensive program in book/kit form as outlined below. The self-help program is a straight-forward, step-by-step approach used by many treatment professionals to successfully guide women through the complete process of overcoming vaginismus.

Treatment steps can usually be completed at home using a self-help appro

ach, allowing a woman to work at her own pace in privacy, or in cooperation with her health care provider or specialist. Easy-to-follow instructions, supplemented with descriptive illustrations and helpful strategies, make the process a positive, successful experience. At the completion of the steps, pain and penetration problems due to vaginismus are typically fully resolved.

Step 1 - Understanding vaginismus

Step 1 provides an overview of vaginismus and how sexual pain, tightness, burning sensations or penetration difficulties may result from it. This approach helps women to get started by being proactive about their sexual health as understanding vaginismus is fundamental to the process of overcoming it. Topics also include how to obtain a solid diagnosis, treatment methods, relationship issues, pelvic/relaxation techniques, conditioned responses and muscle memories.

Step 2 - Sexual history review & treatment strategies

A balanced approach is taken to help women review and analyze their history. Exercises help identify and evaluate any events, emotions, or triggers contributing to vaginismus sexual pain or penetration problems. Checklists and detailed exercises map out a woman's sexual history and pelvic pain events, working toward appropriate treatment strategies. Emotional reviews help detail any negative events, feelings, or memories that may collectively contribute to involuntary pelvic responses. Topics also include blocked or hidden memories and how to move forward when there have been traumatic events in a woman's past.

Step 3 - Sexual pain anatomy

Women often lack complete information about their body's sexual anatomy, function, and the causes of pelvic pain and penetration problems. Confusion regarding problems with inner vaginal areas and vaginal muscles frequently lead to misdiagnosis and frustration. Step 3 educates about these sexual body parts with emphasis on their role in sexual pain and penetration issues. Topics include how to distinguish what kind of pain or discomfort is normal with first-time or ongoing sex and what physical changes take place during arousal to orgasm cycles in the context of sexual pain or penetration problems. Anatomy areas such as the hymen and inner vulva are explained and demystified (for example there are six diagrams of hymen varieties to help distinguish hymen problems).

Step 4 - Vaginal tightness & the role of pelvic floor mu

scles

Female sexual pain and penetration difficulties typically involve some degree of i

nvoluntary tightening of the pelvic floor. This step focuses on the role of pelvic floor muscles, especially the pubococcygeus (PC) muscle group, explaining in great detail how once they are triggered they continue to cause involuntary tightness with attempts at intercourse. Effective vaginismus treatment focuses on retraining the pelvic floor to eliminate involuntary muscle reactions that produce tightness or pain. Learning how to identify, selectively control, exercise and retrain the pelvic muscles to reduce pain and alleviate penetration tightness and difficulties is an important step in vaginismus treatment.

Step 5 - Insertion techniques

For women with penetration difficulties or pain, techniques must be learned to allow initial entry without pain. In this step, women practice pubococcygeus (PC) muscle control techniques as they allow the entry of a small object (cotton swab, tampon, or finger) into their vagina, working completely under their control and pace. Any involuntary muscle contractions that had previously closed the entrance to the vagina and prevented penetration are overridden. Women begin to take full control over their pelvic floor and learn how to flex and relax the pelvic floor at will, eliminating unwanted tightness and allowing entry.

Step 6 - Graduated vaginal insertions

When used properly, vaginal dilators are effective tools to further help eliminate pelvic tightness due to vaginismus. Dilators provide a substitute means to trigger pelvic muscle reactions. The effective dilator exercises in Step 6 teach women how to override involuntary contractions, relaxing the pelvic floor so it responds correctly to sexual penetration. Graduated vaginal insertion exercises allow women to comfortably transition to the stage where they are ready for intercourse without pain or discomfort.

Step 7 - Sensate focus & techniques for couples to reduce pelvic floor tension

Helping with the transition to pain-free intercourse, this step explains sensate focus techniques for couples to use to reduce pelvic floor tension and increase intimacy. Couples begin to work together during this step as exercises teach how to successfully practice sensate focus (controlled sensual touch) and prepare for pain-free intercourse using techniques from earlier steps. The exercises are designed to build trust and understanding and assist in the process to adjust to controlled intercourse without pain.

Step 8 - Pre-intercourse readiness exercises

Finalizing preparations for couples to transition to fully pain-free intercourse, this step completes pre-intercourse readiness. Couples review and practice techniques that eliminate pelvic floor tension and prepare to transition to full intercourse. Preparing ahead of time to be able to manage, control and eliminate pain or penetration difficulties, the exercises assist with the final transition to pain-free intercourse.

Step 9 - Making the transition to intercourse

Step 9 explains the techniques used to eliminate pain and penetration difficulties while transitioning to normal intercourse. Many troubleshooting topics are covered (with supporting diagrams) such as positions to use to maximize control and minimize pain, tips to ensure more comfortable intercourse, etc.

Step 10 - Full pain-free intercourse & pleasure restoration

The final step toward overcoming vaginismus includes penis entry with movement and freedom from any pain or tightness. Step 10 exercises are designed to educate, build sexual trust and intimacy, and complete the transition to full sexual intercourse free of pain. Couples can begin to enjoy pleasure with intercourse, initiate family planning, and move forward to live life free from vaginismus.

How To Prevent Pain In The Neck, Back And Shoulders This Holiday Season

2009-12-30T01:50:00.001-08:00

To most of us the holiday season is all about tradition, fun, and family, but if we're not careful, the holidays can also be a pain in the neck-literally-says the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). Typical holiday activities, such as shopping "till you drop," lifting heavy boxes and presents, and countless hours of cooking and baking, can cause muscles to work harder than usual, many times resulting in neck, shoulder, and back pain.

This holiday season APTA recommends taking precautions-from distributing the weight of shopping bags equally on both sides of your body to lifting boxes carefully-in order to keeps aches and injuries at bay.

"The added demands of the holidays stresses the body, which may increase the risk of injuries related to the extra activities," says APTA spokesperson and physical therapist E. Anne Reicherter, PT, DPT, PhD. "Using proper body mechanics can help prevent muscle and joint discomfort this holiday season."

Lifting

- Test an object's weight before attempting to lift heavy packages or luggage. Try pushing it with your foot. If it seems too heavy then take smaller loads, which are less likely to strain your back and are easier on arm and shoulder muscles.
- Keep the load close to your body when lifting.
- Ask for help or use an assistive device to lift heavy objects.
- Seek help from a physical therapist if your back pain lasts more than a few days or gets worse.

Shopping Without Dropping

- Distribute the weight of shopping bags equally on both sides of your body.
- Consider carrying a small backpack rather than a heavy purse.
- Wear comfortable shoes; carrying packages while wearing high heels on hard surfaces can contribute to foot and ankle injuries.
- Don't carry overstuffed shopping bags for extended periods.
- Consider using a shopping cart or getting help to carry packages to your car.
- Make frequent trips to the car to drop off purchases.
- Avoid prime shopping times to decrease wait times that can increase or exceed standing/walking time tolerances.
- Plan your shopping trip ahead of time. Having a set list of gifts you intend to buy will help you plan for extra help, if needed, to carry purchases.

Baking

- Choose a work surface that is approximately at the level of your forearms when your elbows are bent at a right angle (90 degrees) or at elbow height. Shoulders and upper back will be in better position and this will decrease the risk of upper back, neck, and shoulder strain.

- Work on a padded surface. If you have tile, vinyl, or wood flooring, for cushioning consider purchasing an inexpensive area rug that has grippers on the back to keep the rug from moving and you from slipping or tripping. Standing long periods on a hard surface can lead to muscle fatigue and back ache.

- Use good lifting mechanics when retrieving small kitchen appliances from lower shelves or drawers. Kneel down if necessary and keep the object close to your body.

- Be careful when bending to take items in and out of a conventional floor-model stove.

- Frequently perform gentle movement exercises to keep the muscles in your neck and shoulders loose.

Cardiology & Cardiothoracic Surgery

2009-12-28T23:16:00.000-08:00

Procedure

Coronary angioplasty is a procedure that opens blocked arteries and allows blood to flow to your heart muscle. Angioplasty is not surgery. It opens a clogged coronary artery by inflating a tiny balloon in it. This information sheet discusses what the procedure is, who needs it, how it is done, and recovery afterwards.
Purpose

An angioplasty is done to reopen a partially blocked blood vessel so that blood can flow through it again at a normal rate. In patients with an occlusive vascular disease such as atherosclerosis, the flow of blood to other organs or remote parts of the body is limited by the narrowing of the vessel's lumen due to fatty deposits or patches known as plaque. Once the vessel has been widened, an adequate blood flow is restored. The vessel may narrow again over time at the same location, however, and the procedure may need to be repeated.

Before Angioplasty

A cardiologist (a doctor who treats people with heart conditions) performs coronary angioplasty at a hospital. If your angioplasty isn't done as emergency treatment, you'll meet with your cardiologist before the procedure. Your doctor will go over your medical history (including the medicines you take), do a physical exam, and talk about the procedure with you. Your doctor also will order some routine tests, including:

Blood tests
An EKG (electrocardiogram)
A chest x ray

Could Acetaminophen Ease Psychological Pain?

2009-12-26T04:01:00.000-08:00

Headaches and heartaches. Broken bones and broken spirits. Hurting bodies and hurt feelings. We often use the same words to describe physical and mental pain. Over-the-counter pain relieving drugs have long been used to alleviate physical pain, while a host of other medications have been employed in the treatment of depression and anxiety. But is it possible that a common painkiller could serve double duty, easing not just the physical pains of sore joints and headaches, but also the pain of social rejection? A research team led by psychologist C. Nathan DeWall of the University of Kentucky College of Arts and Sciences Department of Psychology has uncovered evidence indicating that acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol) may blunt social pain.

"The idea - that a drug designed to alleviate physical pain should reduce the pain of social rejection - seemed simple and straightforward based on what we know about neural overlap between social and physical pain systems. To my surprise, I couldn't find anyone who had ever tested this idea," DeWall said.

According to a study due to be published in the journal Psychological Science, DeWall and colleagues were correct. Physical and social pain appear to overlap in the brain, relying on some of the same behavioral and neural mechanisms.

Swine Flu

2009-12-25T01:52:00.000-08:00

Introduction

Swine influenza is a highly contagious respiratory disease in pigs caused by one of several swine influenza A viruses. In addition, influenza C viruses may also cause illness in swine. Current strategies to control swine influenza virus (SIV) in animals typically include one of several commercially available bivalent swine influenza virus vaccines.

Transmission of swine influenza viruses to humans is uncommon. However, the swine influenza virus can be transmitted to humans via contact with infected pigs or environments contaminated with swine influenza viruses. Once a human becomes infected, he or she can then spread the virus to other humans, presumably in the same way as seasonal influenza is spread (ie, via coughing or sneezing).

History

The ability to trace outbreaks of swine flu in humans dates back to investigation of the 1918 Spanish influenza pandemic, which infected one third of the world’s population (an estimated 500 million people) and caused approximately 50 million deaths. In 1918, the cause of human influenza and its links to avian and swine influenza was not understood. The answers did not begin to emerge until the 1930s, when related influenza viruses (now known as H1N1 viruses) were isolated from pigs and then humans.¹

In humans, the severity of swine influenza can vary from mild to severe. From 2005 until January 2009, 12 human cases of swine flu were reported in the United States. None were fatal. In 1988, however, a previously healthy 32-year-old pregnant woman in Wisconsin died of pneumonia as a complication of swine influenza.

A 1976 outbreak of swine influenza in Fort Dix, New Jersey, involved more than 200 cases, some of them severe, and one death.²The first discovered case involved a soldier at Fort Dix who complained of feeling weak and tired. He died the next day.

ALCOHOL

2009-12-23T23:29:00.000-08:00

The results of a paper published in the journal Chest (129(5):1219-25) show that alcoholic and ex-alcoholic individuals have a higher risk of suffering from community acquired pneumonia.

Although mortality did not differ significantly, an increase of the severeness of the disease was shown, and consequently, an increase of the morbidity and the complications was revealed. This study was conducted by the Pneumonia Multidiscipline Group of Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, led by Dr. Antoni Torres, from the Institut Clínic del Tórax, and leader of the IDIBAPS Group Management and Prevention of the Pulmonary Disease.

The increase of the risk of suffering from pneumonia in alcoholic patients exists due to the fact that the activity of their immune system decreases. This decrease not only is observed in alcoholic, but also in ex alcoholic patients. The daily quantity of alcohol consumption in order to include patients in the group of alcohol abuse was of 80 g in man and 60 g in women, the equivalent of 2 or 3 beers and 3 or 4 cups of wine.

Results are especially relevant since alcohol is the more abused drug in Spain, and causes a total of 12,000 deaths every year. In addition, pneumonia is a very frequent disease, with 10 patients every 1,000 inhabitants in Catalonia. This number is much higher if we take into account in the population over 65. This is the reason why the consequences of this study, and the possible vaccination of alcoholic of ex-alcoholic individuals against Pneumococcus, would affect a very high number of people. Alcohol consumption could turn into a new risk factor or a worsening factor to take into account in cases of community acquired pneumonia.

Swine Flu

2009-12-23T01:11:00.000-08:00

Investigators at Burnham Institute for Medical Research (Burnham), Mount Sinai School of Medicine (Mount Sinai), the Salk Institute for Biological Studies (Salk) and the Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation (GNF) have identified 295 human cell factors that influenza A strains must harness to infect a cell, including the currently circulating swine-origin H1N1. The team also identified small molecule compounds that act on several of these factors and inhibit viral replication, pointing to new ways to treat flu. These findings were published online on December 21 in the journal Nature.

Influenza A virus contains only enough genetic information (RNA) to produce 11 proteins and must co-opt host cellular machinery to complete its life cycle. Sumit Chanda, Ph.D., of Burnham, Megan Shaw, Ph.D., of Mount Sinai, John Young, Ph.D., of Salk, Yingyao Zhou, Ph.D., of GNF and others used RNAi screening technology to selectively turn off more than 19,000 human genes to determine which human factors facilitate viral entry, uncoating, nuclear import, viral replication and other necessary functions of the virus.

"Because influenza mutates so readily, it has become a moving target for therapeutic intervention, making it difficult to treat circulating strains, including the H1N1 swine flu," said Dr. Chanda. "As a result, there is now widespread resistance to two classes of antiviral drugs. However, by targeting more stable human host factors, we may be able to develop therapies that prevent or treat a variety of influenza A strains and are more likely to maintain their effectiveness."

"This study has provided us with crucial knowledge of the cellular pathways and factors the influenza virus exploits to replicate" added Dr. Shaw. "Each of these represents an 'Achilles heel' of the virus and vastly increases the number of potential targets for new influenza antiviral drugs."

The team screened human A549 (lung epithelial) cells infected with a modified influenza virus against the genome-wide siRNA library. Conducting two independent screens, they confirmed that selectively impairing each of 295 cellular genes reduced viral infection, effectively illuminating the path followed by influenza viruses during the infection of a cell. Importantly, they found that inhibiting proteins in known drug target classes, such as kinases, vATPases, and tubulin, impairs influenza growth, suggesting that small molecular weight compounds may be developed as host factor-directed antivirals. Protein interactions dataset analysis confirmed 181 host cellular factors that mediate 4,266 interactions between viral or cellular proteins.

Renate Koenig, Ph.D., of Burnham and Peter Palese, Ph.D., Silke Stertz, Ph.D., and Adolfo Garcia-Sastre, Ph.D., of Mount Sinai also collaborated on this research.

"Trying to identify all the host proteins that are required for the replication of influenza viruses is a wonderful challenge and we have come closer to 'knowing' all the genes involved," said Dr. Palese.

Dr. Young added, "These findings, combined with those from other RNAi screens, provide a blueprint of the cellular processes that are exploited more generally by viruses, pointing towards development of future broad-spectrum antiviral approaches."

What is Cancer? What Causes Cancer?

2009-12-17T01:57:00.000-08:00

Cancer is a class of diseases characterized by out-of-control cell growth. There are over 100 different types of cancer, and each is classified by the type of cell that is initially affected.

Cancer harms the body when damaged cells divide uncontrollably to form lumps or masses of tissue called tumors (except in the case of leukemia where cancer prohibits normal blood function by abnormal cell division in the blood stream). Tumors can grow and interfere with the digestive, nervous, and circulatory systems, and they can release hormones that alter body function. Tumors that stay in one spot and demonstrate limited growth are generally considered to be benign.

More dangerous, or malignant, tumors form when two things occur:

a cancerous cell manages to move throughout the body using the blood or lymph systems, destroying healthy tissue in a process called invasion
that cell manages to divide and grow, making new blood vessels to feed itself in a process called angiogenesis.

When a tumor successfully spreads to other parts of the body and grows, invading and destroying other healthy tissues, it is said to have metastasized. This process itself is called metastasis, and the result is a serious condition that is very difficult to treat.

In 2007, cancer claimed the lives of about 7.6 million people in the world. Physicians and researchers who specialize in the study, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer are called oncologists.

What causes cancer?

Cancer is ultimately the result of cells that uncontrollably grow and do not die. Normal cells in the body follow an orderly path of growth, division, and death. Programmed cell death is called apoptosis, and when this process breaks down, cancer begins to form. Unlike regular cells, cancer cells do not experience programmatic death and instead continue to grow and divide. This leads to a mass of abnormal cells that grows out of control.

2009-12-14T10:23:00.000-08:00

KNEE PROCEDURE

The discounted average cost of unilateral total Knee Replacement surgery (TKR) facilitated by Life Smile at the top rated hospital in India is USD $ 5292 including the cost of implant / prosthesis. The discount cost of Bilateral complete Knee Joints Replacement surgery at the high rated best hospitals in India is USD $ 9792 including the cost discounts for implants / prosthesis.

KNEE TREATMENT

Visiting India for Unilateral Knee Joint arthroplasty Surgery would require a total stay of 15 days including 06 days of post-surgery in-patient stay at the hospital. For Bilateral Knee Joint Replacement surgery the minimum total stay in India would be for 22 days including 09 days of pre-surgery and post-procedure inpatient stay at the hospital.

KNEE PACKAGES

Lowest price inexpensive unilateral complete Knee Joint Replacement surgery procedure at the best equipped modern private hospitals in India can be availed for USD 5292. This procedure cost would usually include: Procedure cost, Post-operative private room (Air Conditioned) hospital stay for 06 days with one attendant / companion, Attending Knee replacement expert Orthopedic surgeon fee, Anesthetist's fee, Surgery team fee, Physical therapist fee.

2009-12-14T09:58:00.000-08:00

Men, unless you take action now, you will probably experience Prostate deterioration which will interfere with your life through urination problems, impotence, chronic pain, and even death.

Over 100 million men in the world suffer from symptoms of BPH (Prostate Enlargement). By the time you are 60, there is a 50% chance that you'll have BPH. By the time you are 85, there is a 90% probability that you'll have BPH.
Prostate Cancer is the second most common cancer in men and the second leading cause of cancer death in men. 1 in 6 men will be diagnosed with Prostate Cancer during their lifetime.
Approximately 10% of men will suffer from Prostate inflammation or infection (Prostatitis).

Drugs, surgery, and radiation treatments for the above conditions have a wide range of damaging side effects including incontinence and impotence.

The best alternative is a natural approach to Prostate Rejuvenation which deals with the underlying causes and not just the symptoms. Ayurstate is based on Herbal Ayurvedic Medicine which has proven over the course of thousands of years to be especially effective in treating male health concerns.

90% of men that have taken Ayurstate consistently for a period of 4 to 6 months and have implemented recommended lifestyle changes, have enjoyed long-term relief from BPH. And men with Prostate Cancer have experienced a decrease in PSA levels after taking Ayurstate!

We invite you to try Ayurstate for a 4 to 6 month period and follow guidance provided by our doctors through a medical consultation. You will be satisfied with the results. If for some reason you are not completed satisfied, we will provide a 110% refund - no questions asked.

Normal Glucose Range

2009-12-13T01:19:00.000-08:00

The glucose range in the body is dependent on a number of factors. The factors, which influence the glucose range are - when have you eaten, what have you eaten, how much have you eaten and how does your exercise schedule look like, depending upon whether, you have one or no. The normal glucose range is also dependent on how was the glucose range tested. We will see what is glucose, before we see the normal glucose range.

What is Glucose?
Glucose is the primary source of energy for human and also animal cells. It is actually a type of sugar, which transverses through the blood stream. The body gets its supply of glucose when carbohydrates are consumed. The levels of glucose in the body are regulated by insulin and glucagon. Insulin is a hormone,which is produced by the pancreas to keep the glucose levels under check. Glucagon is also a hormone, which is also secreted by the pancreas. It works in opposition to insulin and makes sure, that there is sufficient amount of glucose present in the body. You may want to read about blood glucose monitors.

Normal Glucose Range
We will now see the normal range for glucose at different times of the day.

Fasting Normal Blood Glucose Range
This is the range of glucose after a person has fasted without food or liquid although, water is permissible for eight hours straight prior to testing. The normal range for glucose after fasting should be between 70 to 110 milligrams/deciliter. If it is 126 mg/dl or more than 126 for two consecutive glucose tests, a diagnosis for diabetes may be carried out on the person. The readings were lowered to 126 mg/dl from 140 mg/dl in 1997, by the American Diabetes Association. Read about fasting blood glucose test, here.

Random Normal Glucose Level Range
The blood sample for random blood test is taken at any time. The readings should be in the range of low to mid 100’s. If during random sampling, the glucose range is seen around 200 mg/dl or more, diagnosis for diabetes will then have to be carried out. It can be diabetes, if there are symptoms like fatigue, excessive urination and thirst and/or unplanned weight loss.

Normal Glucose Range Before Eating
The normal glucose range before eating is 70 to 130 mg/dl. According to the doctors, it is better to keep the blood glucose level in this range to avoid nerve, kidney or blood vessel damage. If glucose accumulates in the blood, it can cause damage to the vital functions of the body.

Normal Glucose Range After Eating
After a meal, the blood glucose range is always higher, as the body has just got a fresh supply of carbohydrates, which are being converted into glucose for future use. It takes approximately anywhere between one to three hours for the glucose levels to come down to normal after a meal. The normal glucose range after a meal should not be more than 180 mg/dl. Read more on glucose after eating.

Normal Glucose Range
For a person without diabetes, the normal glucose levels should be in the range of 70 to 120 mg/dl. According to American Diabetes Association, the normal glucose range for diabetics should always be less than 154 mg/dl. The normal glucose range for children before breakfast should be in the range 70 to 99 mg/dl. Two to four hours after a meal, the normal glucose range should be between 70 to 139 mg/dl. For more information on glucose levels in children, click here.

Nail Biting Treatment

2009-12-13T01:12:00.000-08:00

Nail biting is a highly addictive habit where an individual tend to bite every bit of extra nails from the nail bed. The habit starts in the childhood or teens and continues till the adult age of 20-22 years. Usually, adults above the age of 30 do not have the habit of nail biting. Boys are more prone to nail biting than girls. That is why nail biting treatment is important. The main nail biting causes are stress, anxiety, excitement, boredom etc. Children can learn the behavior from some family members who have the habit of nail biting. Most of the times, people who have the habit of nail biting are not conscious when they are actually biting the nails. Read more on nail biting causes.

Treatment for Nail Biting

Here we have discussed all those nail biting remedies that can force you to keep off your nails away from your mouth till you can get rid of nail biting habit.

Nail Biting Solution: You have to apply the solution on the top of the nails. Nail biting solution has a bitter and unpleasant taste. Therefore, if you unconsciously put the fingers in your mouth, the taste of the solution will remind you of not to bite the nail. This solution is available in any of the pharmacy stores. It has helped many people to get rid of this habit. As the solution wears off fast, you have to apply it again and again.

Acrylic Nails: These are artificial nails made up of synthetic materials that you can use to cover up your natural nails till they become a full grown nail. It will take around 2-3 weeks for the nails to grow completely, till then you can make conscious efforts to quit the habit of biting nails. However, do not wear acrylic nails for a long time as they can cause damage to the natural proteins of the natural nails.

Manicure: This is one of the most effective nail biting remedies for women. The properly trimmed and filed nails look so attractive that they do not feeling like biting them and make them ugly. After a manicure, apply a bitter tasting nail polish that can stop you from biting nails. Such nail polish are available in colorless form as well which can be used by men.

Covering the Hands: When you are sitting at home reading a book or watching TV, then you start biting nails without being aware of it. It can be avoided if you cover your hand with gloves. When you go out, you can cover each of the fingernails with adhesive bandages so that you do not get the scope to bite the nails.

How to Stop Nail Biting?

Those who have the habit of nail biting know very well that it is not very easy to control the habit. You need a lot of will power to stop yourself from biting nails. Here we have spoken about some of the techniques that can help you control your urge to bite the nails.

Instead of trying to stop biting all the nails at the same time, you can set aside one finger of each hand every week that you are not going to bite. You can bite the nails of the other four fingers. In one week, you will find that the urge to bite those two nails have gone down to a great extent. Exclude two more nails for the next week. After few weeks, you will have only one nail on each hand to bite. This will make it easier for you to quit the habit.

Keep a record of when you tend to bite the nails more. You may find that when you are not doing anything you feel like biting nails. Therefore, involve in such activities like painting, writing or simply squeezing a ball where your hands are kept busy and you cannot bite the nails. If you get an instinct to chew something and so you bite nails then chewing gum or toothpick can be used to keep the urge at bay.

If you bite your nails to release the tension within you then you have to learn some stress management techniques. There are several methods of relaxation that can help you to calm down your tensed nerves. Meditation is an excellent relaxation technique for this purpose. Yoga and deep breathing can help to develop control over breathing and relax your muscles.

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