Complete Medical Guide

Mesothelioma Information

2010-03-26T07:40:00.000-07:00

Mesothelioma

is an uncommon form of cancer,where cancer cells are located in the pleura, the peritoneum and the pericardium of the affected individual. Thus, the three main forms of mesothelioma are pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma and pericardial mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma targets the lining of the lung, peritoneal mesothelioma affects the abdominal cavity, and pericardial mesothelioma targets the lining around the heart.

Generally, people suffering from this disease have worked on jobs where they were in close contact with asbestos. Others have contracted the disease without any direct exposure to asbestos. There is a dormant period of 20 to 50 years between the first exposure to the mineral and the appearance of mesothelioma symptoms. There are rare occasions when the effects have been felt before 20 years, after first exposure to asbestos.

There are cases where people have been affected by the disease some four decades after a summer construction job brought them in contact with asbestos. It is not uncommon for housewives to catch the disease after washing asbestos-dust-infected clothes of their husbands and sons who work with asbestos-related products. There are several reported cases of people working in the Navy years back, who have contracted the disease now.

Some jobs put you at risk of the disease more than others. They are: insulators (people who install insulation); pipe fitters and steam fitters (who regularly work in claustrophobic conditions in ships and work with insulation); electricians; carpenters; mechanics; shipyard workers; maintenance workers; laborers, etc. Industrial sites characteristically are the most affected.

Though the survival rate for mesothelioma is low, there are some conventional treatments that can be tried. They are: surgery

, where the tumor is removed; chemotherapy, where specific drugs are used to fight the malignancy; and radiation therapy, where high energy rays are deployed to kill the malignant cells.

Breast Cancer Treatment With Fruit

2010-03-20T10:52:00.000-07:00

New research indicates that substances found in pomegranates and mangoes may be natural alternatives to breast cancer medication and other treatment options. If you love sinking your teeth into juicy delectable fruits, you are in luck, particularly if you know someone with breast cancer or are a breast cancer patient yourself. Pomegranates and mangoes are considered to be superfruits, or fruits that are known for their exceptional nutritional richness and antioxidant qualities. Fruits are delicious, contain a variety of nutrients, and there are no side effects as a result of their consumption, which makes them an excellent form of medicine.

Mangos

At Texas A& M University s AgriLife Research department, laboratory experiments indicated that mango fruit prevented or stopped cancer growth in certain breast and colon cell lines. The experiments also showed that mango extract demonstrated some anticancer abilities when tested on prostate, leukemia and lung cancer cells. When tested on the most common breast and colon cancers, however, mango compounds were found to have even stronger cancer fighting abilities than when tested on the other types of cancer cells.

In the experiments, the researchers documented that the cancer cell division process was interrupted by the mango extract. In fact, the mango extract caused the colon and breast cancer cells to undergo apoptosis, or programmed cell death.

What do mangoes contain that may eventually have the scientific and medical communities singing their praises as worthwhile adversaries of breast cancer? The answer is polyphenols, the natural phytochemicals found in plants. Polyphenols are antioxidants with the potential to protect the body from disease.

When husband and wife food scientists Dr. Suzanne and Steve Talcott performed the experiments at Texas A& M, they evaluated specific polyphenols for effectiveness. What they found was that gallotannins were the most active cancer fighting agents in mangoes. Gallotannins are a class of natural polyphenolic compounds believed to aid in the prevention or halt the growth of cancer cells.

Pomegranates

In reference to the results of a study published in the January issue of Cancer Prevention Research, researchers say they ve found a natural substance in pomegranates that could prevent the development of hormone dependent breast cancer and stop the growth of estrogen responsive tumors. Pomegranate fruit contains phytochemicals, specifically Urolithin B, that work like aromatase inhibitors.

Aromatase inhibitors are used by physicians to block the synthesis of estrogen in an attempt to subdue the growth of estrogen dependent breast cancer tumors. According to the Mayo Clinic website, AI drugs come choc full of side effects such as severe joint pain, muscle aches, hot flashes, headaches, bone fractures, fatigue, and even a risk of heart disease.

The research team for the aforementioned study discovered that natural phytochemicals found in pomegranates suppress estrogen production, thereby preventing the spread of breast cancer cells and the growth of estrogen responsive tumors. One particular substance found in pomegranates dubbed Urolithin B significantly inhibited the growth of cultured breast cancer cells in the laboratory.

So, mango and pomegranate lovers, eat and drink up! Both fruits have the potential to alter some of those dismal breast cancer statistics by preventing the spread of breast cancer!
By : Jenny Heart

SKIN CARE

2010-02-05T06:56:00.000-08:00

Cleansing

Cleansing is the first essential step in your daily skin care routine.

Cleansing the face 2-3 times a day; is adequate for normal skin. If your skin is oily a more frequent cleansing i.e. 4-5 times a day is necessary. If your skin is dry it is best to avoid frequent washing and you may have to use a suitable oil-based cosmetic cleanser instead of soap, which has a dry effect.

There are several alternatives to soap and water cleansing. Cleansers can be in the form of creams, milks, lotions, gels and liquids. All are, a mixture of oil, wax and water which have been formulated to suit different skin types. A cotton -pad dipped in fresh milk available at home, is an equally effective cleanser.

The right way to apply cleansers and creams on your face is in an upward and outward movement. The skin should not be stretched, dragged or pulled. Leave the cleanser on for a minute or two so as to loosen the dirt and make up. Remove it either using a cotton wool or with a tissue paper, again using an upward and out ward movement. Finally rinse with water.

Masks

Basically all face masks have some sort of a cleansing action. Various ingredients are used in the masks, depending on the skin type. Clay, form an important constituent of many face masks. They help to remove dirt, sebum, and dead skin so that the skin looks clean, soft and youthful.

Fullers earth is a special type of clay often used in face packs. It contains aluminium silicate. As it dries on the skin, it absorbs the superficial dead cells and blots up any excessive oil on the skin. It is therefore excellent for an oily skin but should not be used on dry skin. Kaolin is also a fine clay which has been used for tummy upsets because it absorbs toxins from the system. It removes grime, oils and dead cells. Kaolin is also best for oily skin and best avoided for dry skin.

Another ingredient of some of the masks is the peeling or the exfoliating agent-these remove the top layer of dead cells from the skin, leaving behind fresh youthful skin. Oatmeal and bran are the commonly used peelers. Oatmeal is obtained from oats which is rich in Vitamin B and Vitamin E

Also added to many masks are natural ingredients-cucumbers, curds, lemon juice and Brewer's Yeast. It restores the acid / alkali balance of the skin.

Freshening

The skin care products include cosmetics like skin fresheners, toners and astringents which basically contains alcohol and water. These products are used after cleansing the skin to freshen and tone up the skin, they also restore the acid/ alkali balance of the skin. Having cleansed, wipe away any last traces of dirt or oil with a skin freshener or toner (cleansing milk) which suits your skin type. Non alcoholic freshener are for dry and sensitive skin. Those with alcohol (astringent) are for oily skin. People with combination skin should use toner and astringent.

Mosturising

Regular use of a suitable moisturiser benefits your skin. The moisturiser not only replaces the water lost from the skin but also prevents its loss to the surroundings. It protects the skin against the drying influences of the environment such as the effects of the sun, cold and heat. Tinted moisturiser are very helpful under foundation. It always keep the make up moist.

A moisturiser is particularly helpful for dry skins. Oil free moisturisers can be used for oily skins.

There are two types of moisturisers: Oil - in water emulsions and water -in -oil emulsions. The moisturiser you select should suit your skin type. For normal skins, a water based moisturiser containing a little oil is suitable. Sensitive skins and dry skins need moisturisers having a high oil content.

Protecting

The sun, is the environmental factor that is most harmful to the health and appearance of the skin. Ultraviolet radiation from sunlight can cause permanent damage to the skin. It can cause the skin to sag, lose elasticity and form wrinkles. Severe sunburn can even cause skin cancer.

Sunscreen and foundation protects the skin against the damaging ultraviolet rays. It also shields your face from direct contact with dirt or pollutants in the air and helps the skin against loosing its necessary moisture.

Sunscreen's come in lotions and creams. A sunscreen with the sun protection factor (SPF) of number 10 can block most of the sun's ultraviolet radiations before it can damage the skin. The SPF number indicates the length of time, the product will protect the skin. Sunscreen's should be applied at least 10 minutes before you go out in the sun.

5 Ways to Prevent Hair Loss

2009-12-05T08:06:00.000-08:00

Baldness is a distressing problem for many men and women. While not every case of premature baldness can be prevented, it is possible for some people to avoid losing their hair. Here are five ways you can potentially prevent hair growth problems:

#1 Know Your Family History

It's important to understand your family history regarding premature balding. Many cases of hair growth problems are genetic, which means there is little you can do to stop your hair from falling out. What you can do is be on the lookout for the first signs, and head to your dermatologist for treatment options as soon as possible.

The sooner you begin treatment, the better. You might not be able to reverse your genetics, but you can reduce the severity of your premature baldness by giving the problem prompt attention.

#2 Avoid Stress

Stress is a leading factor for non-genetic baldness in both men and women. When people are under severe physical or emotional stress, their hair often falls out at an accelerated rate. Therefore, make an effort to reduce stress in your life.

This might be by meditating, exercising, or simply cutting back on your work schedule and taking more time for yourself.

#3 Eat a Healthy Diet

Diet can play an important role in hair health. If your body is deficient in certain vitamins or minerals, it can lead to hair growth problems.

This is why many anorexics experience hair loss in patchy clumps. You don't have to be anorexic to be deficient in vitamins, however. Even healthy eaters may not get the right amount of nutrients. That's why it's a good idea to take a daily multivitamin to make up for any diet deficiencies.

#4 Avoid Harsh Chemicals

It's a common practice for women (and even some men) to color their hair and use harsh treatments like permanent waves and relaxers. Many types of hair color, perms and relaxers are made with harsh chemicals which can damage the hair and lead to breakage and loss.

If enough hair breaks off close to the root, it can lead to serious thinning and balding. So to avoid this type of premature balding, limit your use of these products or avoid them altogether. If your hair is already damaged, hot oil treatments and deep conditioners can help.

#5 Keep Your Hormones Balanced

Women are especially susceptible to hormonal hair loss. The best example of this type of hair loss is that which occurs following pregnancy. Menopause and perimenopause may also lead to balding problems in some women.

Make sure you are getting annual checkups and having your thyroid checked at each visit. Keeping your hormones in proper balance, at least for women, can help prevent unnecessary hair loss.

By: James Briggs

Dengue Fever: The Cause, Symptoms & Preventions

2009-11-11T18:50:00.000-08:00

As we entered the raining season and that with widely spread of the dengue fever occurring in and around Medan, known as Demam Berdarah (DBD) in Indonesia, we would like to create some awareness of this infectious disease. Although Dengue may not be a deadly a disease, it is dangerous and is vital to take precautions especially for the elderly and young children.

“1 child die of Dengue Fever every 20 minutes in the World” – World Health Organization

What is dengue fever?
Dengue fever is a flu-like illness spread by the bite of an infected mosquito.

How is dengue spread?
Dengue is spread by the bite of an Aedes mosquito. The mosquito transmits the disease by biting an infected person and then biting someone else.

Where is dengue found?
Dengue viruses occur in most tropical areas of the world. Dengue is common in Africa, Asia, the Pacific, Australia, and the Americas. It is widespread in the Caribbean basin. Dengue is most common in cities but can be found in rural areas. It is rarely found in mountainous areas above 4,000 feet.

The mosquitoes that transmit dengue live among humans and breed in discarded tires, flower pots, old oil drums, and water storage containers close to human dwellings. Unlike the mosquitoes that cause malaria, dengue mosquitoes bite during the day.

How soon after exposure do symptoms appear?
The time between the bite of a mosquito carrying dengue virus and the start of symptoms averages 4 to 6 days, with a range of 3 to 14 days. An infected person cannot spread the infection to other persons but can be a source of dengue virus for mosquitoes for about 6 days.

Symptoms of Dengue Fever
The list of signs and symptoms mentioned in various sources for Dengue fever includes the 21 symptoms listed below:

· High fever – up to 105 degrees Fahrenheit
· Severe headache
· Retro-orbital pain – pain behind the eye
· Severe joint pains
· Muscle pains
· Muscle aches
· Swollen lymph nodes
· General weakness
· Nausea
· Vomiting
· Rash
· Children get non-typical symptoms
· Fever
· Weakness
· Prostration
· Severe headache
· Pain behind the eyes
· Severe muscle pain
· Slowed heart rate
· Enlarge lymph nodes
· Maculopapular rash

How is Dengue treated?
Dengue fever is a severe, flu-like illness that affects infants, young children and adults. There is no specific treatment for dengue fever. Dengue haemorrhagic fever is a potentially lethal complication but early clinical diagnosis and careful clinical management by experienced physicians and nurses often save lives.

How can dengue be prevented?
There is no vaccine to prevent dengue. Prevention centers on avoiding mosquito bites when traveling to areas where dengue occurs and when in U.S. areas, especially along the Texas-Mexico border, where dengue might occur. Eliminating mosquito breeding sites in these areas is another key prevention measure.

Avoid mosquito bites when traveling in tropical areas:

· Use mosquito repellents on skin and clothing.

· When outdoors during times that mosquitoes are biting, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants tucked into socks.

· Avoid heavily populated residential areas.

· When indoors, stay in air-conditioned or screened areas. Use bednets if sleeping areas are not screened or air-conditioned.

· If you have symptoms of dengue, report your travel history to your doctor.

Eliminate mosquito breeding sites in areas where dengue might occur:

· Eliminate mosquito breeding sites around homes. Discard items that can collect rain or run-off water, especially old tires.

· Regularly change the water in outdoor bird baths and pet and animal water containers.

By Medan Indonesia
Filed under Information

Swine Flu Precautions

2009-11-11T18:49:00.000-08:00

What Is Swine Flu?

Like humans, pigs get the flu. Four different type A swine flu strains commonly circulate among pigs. Most recent swine flu viruses have belonged to the H1N1 and H3N2 subtypes. Pigs typically get sick but usually don’t die from swine flu.

The new swine flu virus infecting humans is very unusual. It’s somehow acquired genes from swine, bird, and human flu bugs. And it’s also got genes from Eurasian swine flu viruses that aren’t supposed to be in North America.

Do Humans Get Swine Flu?

Normally, swine flu bugs don’t infect people. Historically, there’s a case every year or two in the U.S. among people who have contact with live pigs.

But from December 2005 to January 2009 there was an uptick in swine flu cases. There were 12 human swine flu infections during this time. Eleven of these people had direct or indirect contact with pigs; in the twelfth case it was not known whether there was pig contact.

It’s possible this uptick was due to improved reporting systems, but the CDC says “genetic changes in swine flu viruses and other factors might also be a factor.”

The new swine flu virus is different. It’s not yet clear that it’s here to stay. But it is infecting humans, and that has world health officials keeping a close eye on it.

Can Swine Flu Spread From Person to Person?

The U.S. residents infected with swine flu virus had no direct contact with pigs. The CDC says it’s likely that the infections represent widely separated cycles of human-to-human infections.

Have There Been Previous Swine Flu Outbreaks?

If swine flu sounds familiar to you, it’s probably because you remember or have read about the 1976 swine flu outbreak at Fort Dix, N.J., among military recruits. It lasted about a month and then went away as mysteriously as it appeared. As many as 240 people were infected; one died.

The swine flu that spread at Fort Dix was the H1N1 strain. That’s the same flu strain that caused the disastrous flu pandemic of 1918-1919, resulting in tens of millions of deaths.

Concern that a new H1N1 pandemic might return with winter led to a crash program to create a vaccine and vaccinate all Americans against swine flu. That vaccine program ran into all kinds of problems — not the least of which was public perception that the vaccine caused excessive rates of dangerous reactions. After more than 40 million people were vaccinated, the effort was abandoned.

As it turned out, there was no swine flu epidemic.

I Got a Flu Shot. Am I Protected Against Swine Flu?

No. There is currently no swine flu vaccine.

It’s possible that the seasonal flu vaccine might provide partial protection against H3N2 swine flu bugs. But the strain that appeared in California is the H1N1 swine flu strain. It is very different from the H1N1 human flu strain included in the seasonal flu vaccine.

It’s not known whether previous infection with human type A H1N1 flu might provide partial protection against the type A H1N1 swine flu in the current outbreak.

However, the CDC has made a “vaccine seed” from swine flu isolated from an infected person, and has begun the process of developing a vaccine should the need arise. Whether a vaccine could be produced in quantity by next flu season is a huge question.

How Serious Is the Public Health Threat of a Swine Flu Epidemic?

Any flu epidemic is worrisome, especially when a new strain of flu bug is involved.

“Influenza A viruses new to the human population that are able to efficiently transmit from person to person and cause illness may represent a pandemic threat,” the CDC warns.

It’s worrisome that, unlike seasonal flu, the swine flu outbreak in Mexico is attacking healthy young people. That’s a hallmark of pandemic flu bugs.

But it takes more than a new virus spreading among humans to make a pandemic. The virus has to be able to spread efficiently from one person to another, and transmission has to be sustained over time. In addition, the virus has to spread geographically.

Is There a Treatment for Swine Flu?

Yes. While the swine flu bug is resistant to older flu medicines, it remains sensitive to Tamiflu and to Relenza.

Can You Get Swine Flu by Eating Pork?

No. You can only catch swine flu from being around an infected pig — or, if it’s the new swine flu virus, from an infected person.

Top 20 Benefits of Exercise

2009-11-09T07:08:00.000-08:00

Elevates your metabolism so that you burn more calories everyday.
Increases your aerobic capacity (fitness level). This gives you the ability to go through your day with less relative energy expenditure. This enables a "fit" person to have more energy at the end of the day and to get more accomplished during the day with less fatigue.
Maintains, tones, and strengthens your muscle. Exercise also increases your muscular endurance.
Decreases your blood pressure.
Increases the oxidation (breakdown and use) of fat.
Increases HDL (good) cholesterol.
Makes the heart a more efficient pump by increasing stroke volume.
Increases hemoglobin concentration in your blood. Hemoglobin is part of the red blood cell that carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body.
Decreases the tendency of the blood to clot in the blood vessels. This is important because small clots traveling in the blood are often the cause of heart attacks and strokes.
Increases the strength of the bones..
Causes the development of new blood vessels in the heart and other muscles.
Enlarges the arteries that supply blood to the heart.
Decreases blood levels of triglycerides (fat).
Improves control of blood sugar
Improves sleep patterns.
Increases the efficiency of the digestive system which may reduce the incidence of colon cancer.
Increases the thickness of cartilage in joints which has a protective effect on the joints.
Decreases a woman's risk of developing endometriosis by 50%.
Increases the amount of blood that flows to the skin making it look and feel healthier.
Exercise, in addition to all the physiological and anatomical benefits, just makes you feel GREAT!

Author and exercise Physiologist, Greg Landry

Weight Loss Online – Using the Internet to Lose Weight

2009-11-08T09:05:00.000-08:00

Obesity has become a global epidemic; over 65% of the United States alone is overweight. Because of this dieters are seeking out new nontraditional means to lose weight. The internet is the biggest driving force behind these new means and methods. The internet is home to millions of pages of information devoted to helping people lose weight. There are weight loss articles, diet forums, weight loss blogs, online diet planners, diet pills, weight loss tools and calculators and much more.

Whether you need to lose 10 pounds or 100 you will find amazing weight loss support online. For example if you want some great weight loss tips to get you started on your diet, Weight Loss Center has many at a click of a mouse: Weight Loss

If you want to get one on one support and have experts answer your dieting questions, why waste your time at Jenny Craig or LA weight loss when you can just go to a weight loss forum and get answers within minutes without ever leaving your house? Weight Loss Forum You can even start your own blog and have people post helpful suggestions to it.

Indeed the evolution of weight loss is taking place right before our eyes on the internet. It is an exciting time for dieters because there are many more options available. These new options should help bring about a decrease in obesity in the near future.

12 Keys To Super-Charging Your Metabolism For Weight Loss!

2009-11-05T09:10:00.000-08:00

You hear it all the time - "metabolism", but what is it? It's the process of converting food to energy (movement and heat). Metabolism happens in your muscles and organs and the result of it is what we commonly refer to as "burning calories". Metabolism is essentially the speed at which your body's motor is running.

"Basal metabolism" is the metabolic rate or caloric expenditure needed to maintain basal body functions such as your heart beating, breathing, muscle tone, etc. It's how fast your "motor" is running when you're still in a reclined position or sleeping. Basal metabolism accounts for about 75% of the calories you expend on a daily basis!

The good news is that there are 12 ways you can "boost" your metabolism! The more of these you're able to incorporate into your life, the more you'll boost your metabolism. That means you'll be expending ("burning") more calories 24 hours a day!

1. Always eat breakfast! Skipping breakfast sends the message to your body that you're starving because you haven't had food in 18+ hours. As a protective mechanism, your metabolism slows down. Food, especially complex carbohydrates, fuels your metabolism.

2. Eat earlier in the day! Research has demonstrated that you can lose weight simply by eating a substantial breakfast and lunch, and a light dinner. Dinner should be eaten as early as possible, preferably at least four hours before bedtime.

3. Never eat less than 1200 calories per day! Less than 1200 is usually not enough to support your basal metabolism and thus will slow your metabolism.

4. Snack frequently! Complex carbohydrates (fruits, vegetables, and grains) fuel your metabolism. Also, snacking prevents you from becoming too hungry. The hungrier you are, the less control you have over what and how much you eat.

5. Eat more carbohydrates (food from plants), and less fat (food from many animals and other food with added fat)! Carbohydrates boost your metabolism and have fewer calories per weight than fat.

6. Do some type of aerobic exercise (walking, jogging, swimming, stationary cycling, aerobic dancing, etc.) on a daily basis (preferably in the morning)! Forget this twice-a-week stuff. Our bodies were designed to be active on a daily basis! When we are, our metabolism soars!

7. In addition to your regular aerobic exercise, take a brisk 10 to 15 minute walk at lunch or in the evening. This serves to boost your metabolism even more!

8. Tone your muscles with weight training three days per week. Toned muscles send your metabolism through the roof. Do it!

9. Look for situations to be active. Park as far from the store as you can rather than looking for the closest parking spot. Use the stairs rather than the elevator, a broom rather than a blower, etc. Look for the "hard" way to do things!

10. Avoid alcohol! Alcohol depresses your metabolism and stimulates your appetite.

11. Drink 60+ ounces of water a day. Your metabolism needs plenty water to function properly. Carry a bottle of water with you and drink frequently throughout the day.

12. Avoid the"3 P's".....pills, powders, and potions! There are NO quick fixes!

Get started today! You'll feel better and your metabolism will be in "great shape"!

Author and exercise Physiologist, Greg Landry, offers free weight loss success stories and articles, and unique weight loss programs.

Thank You Greg Landry!