The Health Hazards of Smoking

One of the biggest problems facing our world today is smoking, or more specifically smoking tobacco. Study of the respiratory system and the effects of smoking on the respiratory system is one of the examined health issues in our day. Emphysema, many different cancers, birth defects, and other severe lung problems are the result of smoking or other tobacco products.

The question posed by this laboratory experiment is to see the affects of smoking related to immediate pulmonary functions on young adults.

The direct inhalation of tobacco smoke occurs first at the mouth, the smoke travels down the trachea, through the bronchi to each lung, then down to the bronchioles and into the alveolar and alveoli. The alveoli are where the greatest destruction is caused by tobacco smoke.

This experiment is a perfect opportunity to study the affects of smoking on young adults in particular, and tobacco's initial health effects on the user. If smoking is directly related to a decrease in pulmonary function, then people who smoke more than one pack a week or heavy smokers will show a dramatic difference in pulmonary measurements such as vital capacity (VC), functional residual capacity (FRC), forced vital capacity (FVC), and the ratio of forced expired volume in one second (FEV1) to forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC), Compared to mild-smokers (less than or equal to one pack of cigarettes per week) or non-smokers. These will be the hypotheses tested in this lab report. If smoking does in fact affect these pulmonary functions then there will be a noticeable difference in these values between the heavy smokers, mild-smokers, and non-smokers.

The expected results of these tests would be anticipated to yield a great difference in the pulmonary functions to be tested among the groups of individuals. Greater differences among these results should be present in the data for after exercise was preformed in the group of smokers.

A previous study indicated that "Abnormal spirometry (i.e., limitation of expiratory airflow, airways obstruction, or a low FEV1/FVC ratio the degree of airways obstruction correlates closely with pathologic changes in the lungs of smokers and patients with COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)". This provides more evidenced that the tests should provide noticeable differences in the FEV1/FVC ratio. Another study specifies that "smokers, ex-smokers, and never-smokers had similar FVC and static lung volumes". Which indicates this lab report should not yield any differences in FVC values between the groups of individuals studied. An alternative study also suggested that "mean FRC and RV were higher of smokers had a significantly reduced FEV1" (Clark et al. 2001). This provides more support for the hypotheses presented in this lab report will yield expected results. The final piece of supportive data states that "Smokers tended to have a greater reduction in VC, FVC, and FEV1/FVC relative to nonsmokers and an elevated RV/TLC ratio". All of these previous experiments clearly support the hypotheses stated in this laboratory experiment report, except for FVC which shouldn't be affected by tobacco smoke according to this support data, this information goes against what was previously hypothesized for the affects of smoking on FVC values.

The data was gathered using a spirometer connected via Powerlab software and measured a broad range of pulmonary functions.

Materials and Methods:

This experiment was preformed to examine the lung volumes and capacities, and many other pulmonary functions. The experiment was conducted on the students from all sections of biology 153 at the University of Kentucky. A spirometry test was preformed while at rest and after exercise, all data was collected with Powerlab software. All data was correlated and compiled using Microsoft Excel. This data should be relatively precise given that it was all gathered and collected by computer software. Procedures were followed as prescribed by the respiration bulletin-experimental guide.

As detailed previously many pulmonary functions were tested and correlated using data gathered by the spirometer, and Powerlab software. It effectively measured all of the values that are to be examined in this lab report (FVC, VC, and FEV1/FVC ratio). FRC was calculated using information gathered by the spirometer.

The level of treatment in this experiment was the amount of smoking. The three categories included level 1 (heavy smokers) and is indicated by the consumption of more than one pack per week, level 2 (mild smokers) who consume less than but up to one pack per week, and level 3 (non-smokers) which consume zero cigarettes per week.

The data was not replicated among individuals but was replicated 62 times over the entire Bio 153 department among the students; two measurements of pulmonary function were conducted on each student that preformed the test once at rest and once after exercise. The control group for this experiment was the non-smoker group, since they should have normal and unaltered pulmonary functions, given that none of the students measured have any restrictive or obstructive disorders.

The population studied contained 62 individuals, 36 females and 26 males. 34 non-smokers, 19 heavy smokers, and 5 mild smokers, this population size and characteristics were sufficient for the experiment conducted. Data was correlated into their respective groups and measured for each of the values to be tested; graphs were used to make it easy to see immediate differences among the group's variables.

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The article was produced by the writer of masterpapers.com. Sharon White has many years of a vast experience in Essay Writing and custom essays writing consulting. Get free samples of essays and courseworks and buy essays .

Acne Cyst

Acne is a skin ailment that affects millions of people at some point in their life. Over ninety percent of the world’s total populace is affected by acne with a immense number of teenagers. Just like some skin disorders, acne varies to a great extent from mild to severe typically characterized by the incidence of pimples, blackheads, and acne cyst on the face, neck, chest, and back.

When it comes to acne cyst, it is significant to note that it is in reality the outcome of the bacterial infection of cysts itself deep within the skin. The acne cyst, in contrast to the blackheads and whiteheads, is generally huge inflamed lesions that are filled with pus. A concrete reason for its expansion lies on the idea that when the contents of a clogged pore seeps into the skin, a major local immune response is produced. Acne cyst may look like a nodule, and perhaps the only difference between them is that an acne cyst is pus-filled. It is also worth noting that acne cyst typically have a diameter of 5mm or more across. And, acne cyst is just one of the few signs of severe acne that it can be painful and can cause scarring if treated unsuitably.

Acne cyst can be treated and prevented. A number of ways to fight acne cyst and its scarring are in fact there. But of all the approaches, conceivably the best way to treat and prevent ace cyst from forming is in essence not to squeeze, pick or pinch the lesions as it may only cause a deeper infection and much painful inflammation, which may last longer than if you had left it alone.

Basically, an acne cyst is treated with oral and topical antibiotics for these greatly combat acne and acne scarring from forming. In the case of modest to severe acne cyst, the therapy usually relies upon the antibiotherapy that will get rid of the microorganisms like the propionibacterium spp that has been colonizing the sebaceous follicles in the skin.

An acne cyst can also be treated with certain bacterial resistances against certain antibiotics. This is essentially a new trend in the medical field that it emerged just lately. With its introduction, many experts have noted that both the antibiotic and its administration modalities must be addressed so to control the threat of having an acne cyst. One tangible example of this kind of treatment is the oral minocyclines as they are powerful anti-acne therapies. A number of treatments are actually now available on the market, but for a much better result, it is prudent to see your doctor first before opting for one of them.

For the latest information about Acne, its causes, treatment, control, cures, remedies, surgery, medication, prevention, products, skin care...Please Visit www.acne-all-about-it.com

Tension Type Headaches

Copyright 2006 TriggerOptics.com

Nothing can put you down as fast as a headache of any type - but tension type headaches, which are also called stress headaches often keep us from accomplishing things that we have set out to do. Tension headaches commonly come on in the middle of the day - when we need to be at our best - making it difficult to get our work done or live our lives normally in many cases.

Most sufferer’s of tension headaches report a constant dull ache on both sides of their heads. These headaches come on slowly, and gradually increase in intensity. A tight feeling in the head and neck may also be experienced. Sometimes the pain is only mild, and sometimes they are severe. Some people report that their tension headaches are worse than a migraine headache. As with most headaches, sensitivity to light is often reported as well.

Tests are not usually required to diagnose a tension headache. Most doctors recognize the problem when the symptoms are reported. However, if you experience tension headaches on a regular basis, especially when there is nothing going on that might cause regular tension headaches, your doctor may order x-rays, a CT scan, an MRI, or blood tests just to rule out other, more serious, possibilities.

How tension headaches are treated is usually determined by the frequency of the headaches. For occasional tension headaches, over the counter pain relievers are often used. You should always read the labels of any type of headache pain relief medication you choose, and do not take it for an extended period of time. If the headaches are not occasional, see your doctor.

For frequent tension headaches, over the counter pain reliever may not work, or may eventually stop working as your body becomes accustomed to the medication. Stronger pain relief medication will most likely be prescribed. You may also need to take anti-anxiety medications as well. Again, this will be determined by your doctor based on the severity and frequency of the headaches.

Because light tends to make tension headaches worse, you should wear a pair of sunglasses to reduce light rays. Sunglasses can often even prevent the headaches. There are companies that offer sunglasses designed specifically for headache sufferers. These sunglasses not only help prevent headaches, they also prevent headache pain from becoming worse.

It is important to know that as headache pain increases it becomes harder to treat the pain. Tension headaches should be treated at the first sign, not when the pain becomes worse. You can treat the headache, from the onset, by putting on sunglasses to reduce the light, taking pain reliever - even though the pain isn’t very bad, and by getting away from a stressful situation that may have caused the headache.

You don’t have to completely forget about the stressful situation, but you can get away from it for just a little while and relax a bit. In more serious cases, a vacation may even be required. Sometimes, stress can become overwhelming it does more than cause a headache. It can make us very sick, and cause high blood pressure as well! This, in turn, can lead to even more serious health problems.

Other treatments include taking a hot bath or shower and/or using heat or ice on your neck or head. Tension headaches can be prevented, again, by wearing sunglasses in bright light, and also by making sure that you get plenty of sleep at night. Regular exercise will also reduce tension headaches. Avoiding stressful situations also helps.

Again, if you have tension headaches on a regular basis, you should really seek the advice of your health care provider. Over the counter medication won’t always help in these situations, and it may even signal a more serious problem.

Rick Cosby is a professor of Electro Physics. He has a deep practical and theoretical understanding of headaches. His highly specialized education and experience make him uniquely qualified to create special lenses that might help prevent headaches. For more headache related articles see their website at: www.triggeroptics.com

Thermage

If you, like so many others are beginning to notice that your skin no longer has the youthful appearance that it once had, the skin is starting to loosen and lines are starting to form but don’t feel you are ready for surgery or surgery is not an option for you, then Thermage may be a solution. Thermage is clinically proven to be a safe and effective way to tighten and contour the skin, visibly improving the overall tone, contour and texture. The procedure is completely non-invasive; there is no surgery or injections involved.

The Thermage system has been featured on several talk shows and has been termed “ The non-surgical facelift.” Still the treatment can only be performed by a qualified professional in the office of a physician who specializes in cosmetic procedures. While the procedure does produce similar effects to that of a facelift, it should not be considered a substitute for the surgery. The most dramatic effects and the best outcome from the procedure can be best seen on those who are starting to see the signs of aging. Fine lines, wrinkles and creases around the nose and mouth, skin that appears loose and slight jowls.
For those who have several deep creases and wrinkles, very loose skin and sagging jowls, there may be some slight improvement but the results will most likely not be as vivid.

The skin in our face is made up of three distinct layers. The outermost layer that is visible is the epidermis, just beneath the surface is a collagen rich layer called the dermis and the inner most layer beneath the dermis has a web of collagen fibers that runs through it and is known as the fat, or subcutaneous layer. As the collagen starts to break down and diminish, the epidermis starts to thin resulting in the appearance of loose, or sagging skin, and lines and wrinkles. This process occurs naturally due to sun exposure, heredity and the normal process of aging.

Thermage uses a unique process of delivering radio frequency energy to the deeper layers of the skin. Through a unique patented capacitive radio frequency (CRF) technology called ThermaCool volumetric tissue heating, which is controlled and sustained heat is delivered to the deeper layers of the skin resulting in contracting and tightening of the collagen and the skin. The ThermaCool system uses a highly developed treatment tip called ThermaTip, which allows for the controlled application of heat to the dermis while using a cryogen cooling spray to keep the temperature of the epidermis constant to prevent burning. By safely and uniformly delivering heat to the deeper layer of skin, the collagen initially shrinks resulting in some tightening of the skin and subsequently new collagen will develop resulting in the visible improvement of the tone, contour, texture and overall appearance of the skin.

The procedure itself usually consists of one session and can last for anywhere from 20 minutes to 2 hours depending on the size and the area that are being treated. Upon arriving for the procedure you will be asked to remove all make-up. For your comfort you may be given an oral pain medication and/or a topical anesthetic depending on the physician who is performing the treatment. The Thermage machine then delivers several pulses of energy, each lasting only a few seconds. You may feel a sensation of heat each time the machine pulses but the sensation lasts only a fraction of a second and is preceded and immediately followed by a cooling sensation. Most patients report only mild to moderate pain during the procedure. Some areas are more sensitive then others and of course everyone has their own tolerance for pain.

There is no downtime or special care required after treatment so you may resume your normal activities almost immediately after the process is completed. If however you are given pain medication you will probably be asked to have someone drive you home. Thermage almost never results in any pain or discomfort following the procedure. You may experience some redness and/or swelling after the procedure that will last from a few hours to a few days. Results vary based on age and skin condition and some may notice immediately that their skin has a smoother, firmer appearance while others may not see any visible difference right away. Most occur and appear gradually over a 6-month period of time with maximum results usually being seen between 3 and 5 months. Unlike other treatments where several sessions are required, one session is usually sufficient. Sometimes a second treatment will be indicated or requested by a patient after 6 months in an attempt to achieve greater results.

Thermage has proven to be the safest non-surgical procedure. Side effects are extremely rare, short lived and may consist of minor skin irritation, redness or swelling and altered sensation. Even more infrequently burning or discoloration of areas of the skin may occur and are generally temporary. The risks associated with the procedure are thought to be minimal at best. There is no clear cut time frame as to how long the effects of Thermage will last. Current studies have shown that the effects can last from 3 to 6 years. The effects have been proven to last for at least 2 thus far.

Unlike other procedures, Thermage works on all complexions, types and tones of skin and all areas of the face. The treatments are being tested on other areas of the body including the neck, chest, elbows, knees and abdomen. For many, the benefits of Thermage include tighter skin and jaw line, improved jowls and tighter skin under the chin, softer lines and creases on the forehead, cheeks and around the nose and mouth, softer crows feet and scowl lines around the eyes, enhanced appearance of the eyes, and the softening of acne scars and reduction of active acne.

Thermage is FDA approved and most physicians offer a free initial consultation to determine if you are a good candidate for the procedure and to discuss possible outcomes. The cost of the procedure is variable and depends on the size of the area being treated.

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The Inseparable Connection Between Diet and Nutrition

The act of food being used to aid the health of the human body is called nutrition. For each part of the body to perform its function at the optimal capacity, the body needs to be acquiring a sufficient supply of food and supplements. Although nutrients have many different roles and have different levels of importance, a good state of health cannot be maintained without all of the six types of nutrients the body needs: carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water. These nutrients must each have a proper balance. A consistent exercise routine is also necessary for a healthy body. In order for the body to have the proper energy level, the body consumes food. Food is mandatory for the body to keep up a healthy level of performance. The five major food groups are: fruits and vegetables, fats and oils, grains and meats, and dairy products. In order for us to maintain the best level of health for our body, we need to understand the inseparable connection between diet and nutrition.

When first starting this assignment I didn’t think that I was going to learn anything new that I didn’t already know about my eating habits. After writing down a days worth of food and drink and then analysing all the information and actually calculating out everything, I realized that there is so much more that I could learn in the future and will lean in the future about myself and the food that I eat. After assessing my diet throw the week and recording and analysing its nutrition value, relative to my gender, weight and age I had chance to learn, the food that I intake what are they consist of.

I found my energy intake to be a lower than the recommended 1940 kcal per day. I consumed 1472.5 kcal. Food calories are nutrients and supply energy to the body. To increase this I should eat more fresh fruits and vegetables.

Fats are essential nutrients. Fats produce more than twice the energy of carbohydrates. Our body use fats when is short of carbohydrate. Another function of fats is to protect body temperature. Fats are found in the plants and animal foods. I found my fat intake to be at 33.94g. It is bad for our bodies to have too much fat. High fat intake can cause heart disease, heart attack and stroke. The body needs fats for growth and repair. There three types of fats: saturated fats, which are often “favourite fats” such as: ice cream, butter, cheese. Unsaturated fats contain essential fatty acids.

These are needed by our bodies to help tend off a variety of ailments, including heart disease and help lower cholesterol. They also contain vitamin E. These can be polyunsaturated or monosaturated fats. Monosaturated types have a greater beneficial effect on cholesterol levels. Saturated and monosaturated fats are not essential nutrients, although they can be used by the body to make energy. My intake of essential fatty acids is very low as only 6.2. This is only about 33% of daily recommendation. To increase it and get the right amount and kind of fat in my diet I could eat more seeds, nuts and minimize my intake of fried food and saturated fats from meat and dairy products.

Carbohydrates are the most important nutrients in our bodies. Carbohydrates give all the cells in our body the energy that they need. This energy is used to keep body active. Body breaks carbohydrates into two different types of fuel. There are 3 types of carbohydrates; starches, fibre, and sugar. We find starches in gains, legumes, and sugar in plant and fruits. Starches and fibre are essentially chains of sugar molecules. Some chains are straight; some branch wildly. Carbohydrates are divided into two forms: complex and simple. Complex carbohydrates (grains vegetables and fruits) have all the basic nutrients. They are more useful of our body. There are two groups of complex carbohydrates: high fibre and low fibre. High fibre, complex carbohydrates are not digestible by human beings, because we don’t have the enzyme to do the job. Simple carbohydrates such as food made from sugar (candy and soft drinks) are less useful because they are high in calories and low in nutrients.

For carbohydrate intake the norm is 300g. My intake was a little low being 207.9. This shows that I need to eat more carbohydrates. I should also balance each of my meals on complex carbohydrate as brown rice, wholemeal pasta or bread. Include vegetables and fruit to finish the meal and this should ensure I get a balance of complex carbohydrate. My fibre intake is 40 per cent lower than recommended 18g. Fibre is an extremely important component of a balanced and healthy diet. It has numerous roles and function within the body including helping to control blood glucose levels, improving the efficiency of the absorption of nutrients, decreasing cholesterol and controlling the appetite. To promote health and well being, fibre should be included in my diet. A good way to increase my daily intake is to start a day with muesli or a high-fibre cereal. I should also gradually increase my intake of fibre over a three to five day period and ensure I also increase my intake of water to six to eight glasses a day. I will cut down on my use of white bread and replace it with a wholegrain or wholemeal variety.

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The article was produced by the writer of masterpapers.com. Sharon White has many years of a vast experience in Essay Writing and custom essays writing consulting. Get free samples of essays and courseworks and buy essays

Natural Medicine A 5000 Year-Old Medical Secret Could Help Relieve Stress

When you get sick, you go to the doctor. And the doctor will, of course, prescribe medicines. You will go and buy medicines. You take them, and hopefully, you get well. This is how the health profession goes on nowadays a cycle of diagnosis and prescription.If anyone were to give you herbs for medicine, you would probably say that that person was a quack but a few natural herbs can help relieve stress But nowadays, studies are being conducted to see if there are really is any merit to what is called natural medicine. Natural medicine is the use of natural methods, herbal medicines, and traditional practices to heal ailments. Every culture has a form of natural medicine. In ancient cultures, village medicine men served as the doctors of the community, passing on medical knowledge to the apprentices that followed them. Many categories of the healing methods fall under natural medicine. Among these are traditional medicine, complementary medicine, and alternative medicine. Usually, natural medicine refers to medical practices that were in place before the advent of modern medicine. This includes herbal medicine, or phytotherapy, which is prevalent in Chinese, Ayurvedic(or Indian), and Greek medicine. Upon the advent of modern medicine, many professionals discarded the use of herbs in favor of man-made medicine. The fact that these treatments are based on the healing properties of some herbs was forgotten. For example, opium, digitalis, quinine, and aspirin all have their roots in traditional medicine. Natural medicine can be considered as a lost art. This does not mean that it has lost efficacy over time. In some cases, natural therapy is actually better than modern medicine. This leads some doctors to seriously consider and study the possible uses of natural medicine Before we continue, it is important to stress that not all the natural remedies are legitimate. It would help to only try those remedies which have been thoroughly studied and are relatively risk free. Take herbal medicine for example. There are many well-documented and studied herbal remedies available. However, only those that deal with minor ailments such as cough, colds, fever, skin rashes, and its ilk are likely to be recommended by health professionals. These remedies are sometimes superior to synthetic medicine. This is because herbal medicines are less likely to cause negative side effects. Currently there are numerous organizations that study the effects and advocacy of natural medicine among which is herbal medicine. Some governments and health agencies openly advocate the use of natural methods since they are inexpensive and relatively risk-free. As their studies compile, more herbs and treatments are added to the list of accepted medicines. However, many herbs and treatments have been proven to be bogus medicine. This represents a challenge for both the user and the agencies because they have to ascertain that the treatments they either use or advocate are legitimate. There exist today many alternative medical treatments that fall under natural medicine. However, not all of them have been proven to be effective. You could mention homeopathy, aromatherapy, acupuncture, and other alternative medical treatments. It would pay to consult the experts as to the legitimacy of these treatments. Natural medicine should also be thought of as an accompanying medicine. Right now, the current collective medical thought suggests that natural medicine be used only to supplement accepted modern medical practices. In that case of minor ailments your expert we actually advise you to take natural therapies instead. The practice of modern medicine revolves around diagnosing an illness and prescribing treatments for such. Natural medicine is helpful because it suggests that treatment be not necessarily given only when sick. Natural medicine strives to make each patient practice good health habits. These habits include good diet, healthy living, and the regular natural treatment. It is this same line of thought that leads our parents to tell us to eat our vegetables. Yes, a healthy lifestyle and will do no harm to our well-being. And this is the foundation of natural medicine,may it be massage, herbal medicine, aromatherapy or others. It is funny but true that science, in its quest for excellence, is studying the knowledge of sages past. This, surprisingly, leads us back to the remedies nature offers. The possibilities of finding remedies to everyday illnesses in natural medicine are encouraging. So staying tuned to studying these remedies is worthwhile until we can verify that these therapies are truly helpful to our health and our society. Article Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/

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Subscribe to my "How To Relieve Stress" tips and secrets mailing list and receive a free copy of "Reduce Stress Now" ebook. 54 pages on how to reduce stress in your life. http://stress-management.ideas-from.us/

Natural Remedy For Arthritis

Pain relief is the main area of concern for the sufferers of arthritis. These people have often tried traditional medications without success, they are often not eligible for surgery and as a result, they will see relieve through natural remedies for arthritis. Because of the increasing cost of the prescription medications, most of the arthritis sufferers are seeking natural remedies for arthritis. Many natural remedies of arthritis and supplements are helpful in reduction of cartilage deterioration and even rebuild a patient’s lost cartilage. Supplements However it is advisable to consult a healthcare advisor before starting any natural remedy for arthritis as supplements can cause adverse reactions and may not be right for your situation. You should remember one thing that the FDA does not regulate dietary supplements. This is because, plants, fats, proteins and animal organs and tissues as well as herbs, minerals and vitamins doesn’t need approval from FDA. So some supplements may be beneficial to arthritic patients and some may not. Note also that producers of supplements may very well promote that their supplements work great, but they do not have to use standardized ingredients or recipes, disclose side effects that have been reported, nor prove that the products are indeed effective. Chondroitin, Fish Oil and Glucosamine The most popular dietary supplements for arthritis sufferers are chondroitin, fish oil and glucosamine. Chondroitin is helpful in drawing fluid into the cartilage, improving the ability of shock-absorbing and weight control, as more weight leads to more joint pressure. Fish oils are helpful in controlling the inflammation in the body. According to a recent study, glucosamine is a cartilage-building substance, which is effective in long-term relief of osteoarthritis pain. In some people, glucosamine appears to even slow the deterioration of joints over time and strengthen the joint cartilage. It is still unclear whether glucosamine is helpful in curing arthritis or not. In some occasions, glucosamine can be used in conjunction with MSM, a substance that appears to slow down the deterioration but is not yet proven and approved. Natural Remedy For arthritis In Brief: • Vitamin E – This antioxidant is used primarily for osteoarthritis. • Vitamin B is also an effective pain reliever. It works best on the knee and can help stop degeneration that is caused by free-radical molecules, not only in the joints but in other areas of the body as well • Ginger – Ginger is an antioxidant that acts as an inflammatory with no major side effects. • Glucosamine sulfate – This builds cartilage with very few side effects. • MSM - This organic sulfur is used in the reduction of inflammation. • Nettle leaf - Nettles can reduce a patient’s need for NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) by up to 70 percent. • Chondroitin - Helps draw fluid into cartilage, improving shock-absorbing ability. • Magnets – Although magnets that are worn as jewelry or placed on bed linens have been reported by some to be effective pain relievers, results are still preliminary; doctors claim that these magnets are not strong enough. These are merely a few instances of what an arthritis sufferer can use when he wants to go for natural remedy for arthritis. However, due to the lack of scientific study and testing on many of these alternate arthritis treatments, there is no proof of their effectiveness. Unfortunately, there is no cure available for arthritis. But you can delay the effects of arthritis by maintaining a healthy weight. Exercise regularly and eat a healthy and avoid repetitious movements that cause you pain. Actually osteoarthritis is not curable, but nutritional supplements, exercise, weight loss, and the application of heat or cold to affected joints can improve the function and flexibility of your joints, and perhaps even slow the progress of the disease. There's no doubt that the topic of Arthritis remedies can be fascinating. If you still have unanswered questions about arthritis cure, you may find what you're looking for in our website. Article Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/

About the Author

Nishanth Reddy is an author and publisher of many health related websites. For more information on how to live with arthritis and relief methods visit his website: http://www.arthritis-treatment-guide.com

Mesothelioma Information

Mesothelioma in itself is one of the deadliest diseases ever to have been discovered by mankind. Medically, Mesothelioma as a word itself means a tumor that is more likely to transform in a fast proliferating cancer which affects the mesothelial cells of an organ, which form the protective thin covering over the organs like heart, lungs and abdomen.

Whatever is the verbal definition given out to this deadly disease, but those can never for sure weigh the deadliness of this fatal disease. It is an absolutely fatal disease which has taken many a people into its deadly grip. The maximum period of survival after the disease has been diagnosed, has come to the most of a year or two. It is worse form of cancer which is not curable.

However, recent studies have suggested that if the disease can be diagnosed at a very early stage then the life of the individual who gets affected by this deadly disease, can be stretched till at the most of 5 years. The treatment of this disease is very expensive but the treatment doesn’t assure life but a few more days, to procure the huge lump-sum required for the treatment, people also file lawsuits to cover the huge incurring expenses for the treatment.

The main cause of mesothelioma has been detected as to the prolonged exposure to asbestos. Most of the patients that have been diagnosed with the disease, had acquired the disease cause of prolonged exposure to asbestos. The statistics of the mesothelioma patients has revealed the connection between the asbestos and the dangerous cancer syndrome.

And usually this disease is found to affect people and workers who work in industries. Usually, industries use asbestos as an imperative input for carrying on different processes; it is being used in factories, automobile, shipyard and construction. Direct exposure to loose asbestos fibers can develop the symptoms of mesothelioma, but the infected cells can remain dormant in the body for a long period of about 15-20 years.

But the worst par of the disease is the fact that this disease generally gets detected in older days i.e. at the age of 50-60 years and also mostly in the last stage. Thereby, reducing the chances of the individual’s recovery. So this is very necessary that people who are likely to take in much asbestos particles should be scanned regularly for any symptoms of mesothelioma.
Government policies have empowered the mesothelioma patients to claim for compensation.

They can file lawsuits with the help of their attorneys for claiming such compensation. The mesothelioma victims can sue the company in which he had been employed into, for not being socially rational, but being more inclined towards the flowing profits, and not undertaking any steps to slacken the use of asbestos or using in a more protective way which has resulted in endangering the lives of the employees.

Does Alcohold Decreases The Risk Of Diabetes?

Drinking Alcohol Really Does Decreases the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Among Older Women

It is absurd. For the longest time, we have believed that alcohol has no real benefits. However, recently, a study has found that drinking moderate amounts of alcohol really does decreases the risk of Type 2 Diabetes, and this is especially true among Older Women! There are 20.8 million children and adults in the United States, or 7% of the population, who have diabetes. While an estimated 14.6 million have been diagnosed with diabetes, unfortunately, 6.2 million people (or nearly one-third) are unaware that they have the disease.



Recent studies have shown that drinking moderate amounts of alcohol (as compared to drinking too much alcohol or no alcohol at all) can lower the chances of getting type 2 diabetes. However, only a few studies on alcohol and type 2 diabetes have included women, and very few have included older women.



Previous studies on the effects of drinking moderate amounts of alcohol (1-2 drinks) and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes have mostly been done on men or both men and women who were younger than 55 years old. The researchers wanted to study how drinking alcohol affects older women’s (more than 50 years old) chances of developing type 2 diabetes. (see Diabetes Symptoms)



Questionnaires were mailed to the women in the study. The women were asked where they lived and if they had conditions that put them at risk for any other diseases. Waist and hip, height, weight, and blood pressure measurements were taken at the beginning of the study. Diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol were also reported if these conditions were diagnosed by a doctor. The questionnaire asked about how much each woman exercised and how much they ate.



The questionnaire also contained questions about how much alcohol the women drank, how often they drank, and what types of alcohol they drank, both currently and in the past. The researchers sent out two follow-up questionnaires every 3 to 5 years. These questionnaires asked the women whether they developed type 2 diabetes, what year they were diagnosed, who diagnosed them, and whether they were being treated by diet, drugs, and/or insulin.



Conclusion

The researchers found that blood pressure was lower in the women who drank moderately, but it increased in women who drank more. During the study, a total of 760 new cases of diabetes were diagnosed. The research shows, however, that drinking alcohol in moderate amounts did lessen the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. This is rather significant piece of news as we can now safely drink our favourite wine and not feel guilty about it!

7% of the population has Diabetes! Information on Diabetes Symptoms at http://DiabetesSymptoms.eask.info

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10 Options in Treating Mesothelioma

As with any cancer, treatment for Mesothelioma depends on the location of the cancer, the progression of the disease, the age as well as state of health of the patient.

It is the oncologist who specializes in the disease who will decide on the line of treatment. The disease is difficult to treat and in most cases the prognosis is poor. Treatment options include:

1. If the diagnosis is done in the early stages surgery may be recommended to remove all cancerous tissues. This means thoracoscopy, VATS or video assisted thoracic surgery, mediastinoscopy (used for staging), or laproscopy. Often, doctors will advise palliative procedures like chest tube drainage and pleurodesis, thoracoscopy and pleurodesis, pleuroperitonial shunt, or pleurectomy, which treat the symptoms of mesothelioma rather than the disease.

2. Radiation is prescribed aggressively for mesothelioma patients and is often given in combination with surgery or in order to control symptoms, palliatively. Research on using radiation therapy using implants or UV light therapy is in progress as traditional radiation therapy damages surrounding healthy tissue.

3. Chemotherapy is an option and around 12-20% of patients respond to the drugs. Anti-cancer drugs destroy cancer cells and prevent their spread. In mesothelioma, chemotherapy is not considered to be curative. The aim is to prevent spread of the disease; shrink the tumor prior to surgery, known as neoadjuvant therapy; to annihilate any remains of the tumor in the body post surgery; and to relieve pain and other discomfort, palliative chemotherapy. Experts recommend prescribing premetrexed along with cisplastin. These drugs have shown positive results and this is now standard care for Mesothelioma not treatable by surgery.

4. Biological therapy using interleukin 2.

5. Immunotherapy where the body’s own immune system is stimulated to fight the disease. Biological response modifiers, BRMs, are used in treatment. These enhance the functions of the immune system; regulate metabolic reactions that promote growth of cancers; alter cancer cell division; block or reverse processes that lead to formation of cancers; and prevent spread of cancer.

6. Gene therapy, where attempts are made to correct the gene sequence that causes the cancer. This is of two kinds, replacement gene therapy and knockout gene therapy.

7. Administration of lovastatin, a cholesterol lowering drug.

8. Photodynamic treatment where a photosensitive medication is activated using a laser. This is done during the surgical removal of cancerous tissues.

9. Draining of fluid in the chest or abdominal cavity followed by introduction of medications into the cavity to prevent fluid accumulation is done for patients who have uncontrolled fluid accumulation and intense discomfort stemming from it.

10. Combination therapy or Trimodal therapy which means surgery accompanied by radiation and chemotherapy.

Often, complementary medicines are also used. Termed to be holistic this kind of treatment focuses on a patient’s physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well being.

In the case of Mesothelioma which is untreatable one can opt for clinical trials of new treatments that are in progress in several research laboratories and centers. The best advice on the line of treatment would be that recommended by the oncologist or physician.

About the Author : Paul Wilson is a freelance writer for http://www.1888Discuss.com/health/ , the premier REVENUE SHARING discussion forum for Health Forum including topics on health care, Children's Health Issues, addiction, Cancer, fitness equipment, Burns & Injuries and more. His article profile can be found at the premier Health Article Submission Directory http://www.1888Articles.com/health-articles-8.html

Controlling Acne Through Aromatherapy

Acne is a widespread illness, which not only teenagers suffer from but also adults and it can be a very traumatic condition depending on its severity. Acne is caused by certain glands that block up hair follicles and pores, and then bacteria begin to form. This of course results pimples and sometimes they can be boil like in appearance and we all know that they can leave scars.

The occurrence of acne is not fully understood yet but some factors seem to come in to play, such as heredity. This is thought to be because families share the same hair types or it may be they share the same overactive Sebaceous glands. Hormones are another culprit, teenagers may seem to have more of a problem with acne do to hormone changes. Medications, especially steroids, have a link to acne as well.

Due to the physical unattractiveness acne can leave more than just unsightly scars but can also scar the ego mostly in adolescents. We all are aware how teenagers feel that physical appearance is so important. Acne can leave emotional scars such as depression and feelings of isolation from their peers which will result in low self esteem. Adolescence is a time of self discovery, and if you discover that you are not as attractive as others this can lead to adverse psychological problems and can affect you for years to come.

There is a misunderstanding of what causes acne, most people, especially young people (hence the low self esteem) still believe it is caused by unsanitary hygiene. But it is not something that is cured by washing it away, the causes are much deeper than that. The root of acne is below the skin surface so having acne doesn’t mean that you are not a clean person.

Acne is an infection caused by bacteria from the blocked hair follicles and since it is caused below the skin surface antibiotics can be very useful in controlling acne. Also the use of antibacterial treatments is helpful. When the acne appears on the skin surface is when most people begin to treat it.

You may not know this by aromatherapy has many benefits in controlling acne. There are many topical chemical treatments out there for acne but sometimes they can have unwanted side effects like red, sore skin areas or flaking and then sometimes they just out right don’t work well. Certain natural plants and herbs have been proven to have many beneficial effects with topical use. In aromatherapy one of the best treatments is tea tree oil because it is a natural antiseptic

You may want to give this all natural and effective recipe a try:

- One ounce of tea tree oil
- One ounce of apricot oil with ten drop of lavender
- Seven drops of tea tree oil
- One drop of geranium oil

Mix them together thoroughly and place in an amber colored receptacle. It will feel very nice on your skin and smell good too.

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Karina Jacobsen is a staff writer at Alternative Health Advisor and is an occasional contributor to several other websites, including Wellness Digest.

Modern and Natural Medicine

Modern medicine seems to be winning the war against infectious diseases and is good at repairing the body from trauma, these used to be the main causes of ill health and death in western societies. The major cause of ill health and death in the 21st century in the western world is now from degenerative diseases such as coronary artery disease, arthritis, osteoporosis, Alzheimer's and cancer. Modern medicine is less effective against these degenerative diseases because it has a blinkered approach of using drugs to suppress the symptoms and does not to look at the bigger picture of why the disease has come about in the first place.

Modern medicine uses drugs to stop a single step in the overall process leading to illness which is ineffectual and has a high risk of side effects. Many people are ill in hospitals from side effects caused by their drug therapy for their original illness, this is called iatrogenic illness. For example painkillers can cause ulcerations and gastrointestinal pain, anti-ulcer drugs can cause impotence and Viagra a treatment for impotence can cause structural damage to the penis. As illustrated with modern medicine you can start with one symptom and end up with a multitude of health problems. This is most evident with the therapies to treat cancer - chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery are all debilitating, painful and disfiguring treatments which use a multitude of drugs to combat side effects. This is a typical approach of modern medicine in that it practices crisis management; it waits until the diagnosis then bombards the patient with drugs. This is all too late as by the time the symptoms of degenerative disease appear, the damage has already been done and drugs cannot address this. Modern medicine does not look at the overall picture and asks itself why are people getting these diseases in the first place and how can we prevent them.

Degenerative diseases are the result of a mechanism within the body being tipped off balance causing slow deterioration into disease. For example, coronary artery disease happens when the speed of fats being oxidized and deposited in the artery walls is quicker than which the body can remove them. These problems arise when the body's natural defense mechanisms are undernourished or overloaded. Even a slight imbalance if unchecked will lead to major problems many years down the line. The self-destructive ways that many people now live, tip their body's scales from self-repair to self-destruction.

Nutritional therapy recognizes that the body can self-repair itself over a period of time by increasing vital micro-nutrients, exercising and restricting the intake of harmful substances such as tobacco smoke, sugar, salt and alcohol. It recognizes that prevention is better than cure. A lot of people who look and feel healthy are in fact 'pre-ill' due to their self-destructive lifestyles, which in time will lead to a degenerative illness such as cancer and coronary artery disease. Nutritional therapy addresses the pre-ill problem and rectifies it before it becomes clinical.

Most people in the developed world are depleted in most micro-nutrients which will over years develop into ill

health; drugs cannot rectify this only good micro-nutrient repletion plan can.

The main reasons for why we are depleted in micro-nutrients are:

We don't eat enough resulting in less micro-nutrients being consumed.

We eat too much process foods that are depleted in micro-nutrients.

The soil that animals and plant are raised on is depleted in key minerals which are due to use of intensive farming. Bad habits such as smoking, sunbathing and heaving drinking all deplete the body of anti-oxidants.

As we get older we become more depleted in micro-nutrients this is because older digestive systems are less efficient in absorbing them.

No one person's nutritional requirements are the same, for example a 60 year old who has been a heavy smoker all his/her life would be different from a teenager who likes to eat junk food. A Nutritional Therapist would analyze each individual nutritional status and then tailor make a dietary plan specifically for him/her.?

Nutritional therapy aims at reaching optimum nutritional levels which research shows will protect the body against degenerative diseases. A healthy diet which is rich in vegetables, fruits, soy, oily fish combine with moderate exercise plus cutting out smoking and heavy drinking and adding a good supplement plan will keep the body healthy.?

In Dr Paul Clayton's book 'Health Defence' he illustrates the complex subject of nutritional defence by visualizing a nine piece jigsaw which once put together will form the bigger picture of a nutritional plan which will defend against degenerative diseases and promote good health.?

This is a concise version of his nutritional jigsaw.

To protect your cells against free radicals by consuming anti-oxidants such as Vitamin C, Vitamin D, the flavonoids Q10 and the mineral Selenium.

To consume Carotenoids such as beta carotene, lutein and lycopene which have anti-oxidant and anti-cancer properties. To take Flavoniods such as grapeseed extract, green tea extract and pycnogenol which are strong anti-inflammatory and anti-aging agents, these will also protect against heart disease, cancer, asthma and arthritis.

To consume Omega 3 oils which are found on oily fish and certain plants, these defend against conditions such as asthma and arthritis.

To protect against cancer and help with the menopause take Isoflavones (such as Genistein), they are found in Soy. To help against heart disease and Alzheimer's take Betaine. Use pre-biotics such as FOS and inulin to help and protect the bowel against cancer.

Take A-Z type multi-vitamin and mineral supplement. To protect the body's cellular structures take the co-enzyme Q10 and glucosamine.?

To conclude, modern medicine waits for something to go wrong then tries to suppress the symptoms by using chemicals that are alien to the body which intern normally causes more problems with side effects. Whereas Nutritional therapy uses compounds that the body is familiar with to repair, support and protect the body against disease and infection.?

Anti Aging Tips & Techniques

Aging occurs due to the growth of the tissues and other elements in side the body. Even the cells grow and die as time passes "there was nothing to stop these changes" but this sentences is no more existing. Man has found ways to slow stop and even reverse the growth of human bodies. Anti aging is a process in which a person can stay young for a long time.

Anti aging techniques slows down the aging process so that the person stays young and fit. The main part of the anti aging techniques is the nutrition that is taken by a person in his lifetime. Healthy food habits are the key to anti aging techniques.

Creams have become the widely used products among the products used for anti aging. There are sub types in the creams they are natural creams, artificial creams and the last important one is herbal creams. Herbal creams are basically preferred by some people because every one believes that herbal will not give any side effects. But be careful that before using the treatment consult with your doctor or with your beautician so that it doesn?t give negative results. There are separate treatments for every individual. As both men and women are equally interested in this anti aging treatment we should be able to carefully differentiate the treatments.

We should also be careful in using these treatments because supervision is a must for several treatments. And in some cases diagnosis is needed to know the condition of the patient. Only by knowing the condition treatments are started because there are

separate treatments for every individual depending upon their health. If you follow all these safety measures you will lead a very good young and energetic life as you have lived in your youth.

Nowadays people are interested in using natural anti aging treatment. A mixture of collagen cream and the active ingredients from plants is a familiar natural anti aging treatment that works perfect on wrinkles in the skin. There is another one eating good vitamins rich food is a very well known anti aging treatment. As we have seen many treatments about the anti aging we should not get confused about using these treatments. These treatments are helping us to grow younger.

There are many types in anti aging treatment. One type is anti aging medicine it includes improving the skin texture and moisture of our body. The anti aging treatment can increase energy levels, sexual performance, immune system vigilance and they also work on the age related growth factors. The anti aging treatment also helps to re-contour the body, restore muscle tone, and reduce the fat in body. The results through the anti aging treatment are wonderful changes in biochemistry which enables the look and make you feel that you have got back your youth.

42 Years Of Smoking

It is amazing I am not dead.

Why and how I managed to quit smoking.

Fifty three years ago I had a friend who was a girl (not an official Girlfriend).

Her mom smoked and worked away from home all day, an opportunity her daughter utilized to pinch her smokes and share them with me. Both our parents smoked as well.

So off and on I became accustomed to smoking; my smoking habit got a real boost when I joined the merchant marine service at the age of seventeen, because sailors are allowed to purchase cigarettes tax-free outsideof territorial waters.

Eventually I began smoking more and even more cigarettes and had to get out of bed two or three times nightly for an additional nicotine fix.

Life without cigarettes was just not imaginable.

Going on an airline was sheer torture because I was not allowed to smoke for two or three of hours.

On a flight from Canada to Singapore I sneaked a few of smokes in the washroom in spite of the fact that airplanes were already putting people in jail for smoking on board.

As the years went by half of my mother's family died of lung cancer.

My father's only sibling died of lung cancer.

My mother died of a brain tumor - she used to be a heavy smoker.

My father developed lung cancer.

After he got lung cancer he visited me; he looked like a pathetic skin on bones human, wearing a corduroy suit, however even at this point he still stood outside SMOKING IN OUR GARAGE.

My brother's wife has breast cancer; my brother smokes cigars, and second-hand smoke is known to cause breast cancer.

I personally began having coughing spells in the nighttime and the vision in my left eye began to deteriorate.

Me quitting smoking? Impossible :

I've no willpower.

Because I knew I couldn't possibly quit I never even bothered to acquire Nicorette or any other smoking-cessation product.

So after a whole lifetime of smoking I knew I was going to die of lung cancer too.

However WAIT: the story isn't finished yet.

On September fourth, 2002 I was browsing in a Calgary bookstore called Black and Noble and a book jumped out at me.

It was a 385 page book called "How to Stop Smoking" by a British accountant named Allan Carr.

I glanced at the 1st couple of pages where the author boasted that his book was the only way to quit smoking without any withdrawal symptoms or even without a nocotine patch.

I bought the book because I was curious to see how anyone could write 385 pages about how to quit smoking.

I finished the book in 9 days.

On September 13, 2002 at 3 pm I took my last drag from a cigarette and exhaled it through a Kleenex.
That was my last cigarette. Since then I have never even thought about smoking again. People can smoke all around me and I'm not even slightly tempted.

This book really changed my mindset. The book "How to Stop Smoking" by Allan Carr is not available in American bookstores, but can be found in Canada and at internet bookstores such as Amazon. I no longer have my smoker's cough and the vision in my left eye is back to normal.

THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF CABBAGE

HEALTH BENEFITS OF CABBAGE: What cabbage has for you, what is it good for, what kinds are there, what to do with them.

Sadly, most American households wrinkle their noses at the mere mention of this valuable, all powerful and sorely misunderstood vegetable. The word cabbage is usually enough to send children to their rooms with a myraid of excuses as to why they may not wish to eat their evening meal. While cabbage is a delicious and healthful staple in other countries, it is almost foreign to Americans, with the exception of good old fashioned cole slaw. Do recognize that this American cabbage specific, mayonnaise laden dish full of hydrogenated oils and other unmentionables, absolutely ruins the reason for eating such a healthful food in the first place.

Cabbage is a sturdy, strong and abundant vegetable. Hardy and easy to grow, it is almost universally available in all countries and cultures. Cabbage belongs to the all important family of cruciferous vegetables. The members of this family of vegetables are so named for their cross shaped (crucifer) flower petals. Rich in nutrition and fiber, cabbage is an absolutely phenomenal source of Vitamin C. Even more impressive is that cabbage is famous for a specialized, naturally occurring, nitrogenous compound known as indoles. Current research indicates that indoles can lower the risk of various forms of cancer.

Cabbage was popular with the ancient Greeks and Romans. An early Roman medicinal preperation blended lard with the ashes of burnt cabbage to make an ointment for disinfecting wounds. Throughout history, the Asian diet has been rich and abundant in cabbage and its various varieties. Epidemiological studies have found that men living in China and Japan experience a much lower rate of prostate cancer than their American counterparts. Similar data has been uncovered regarding breast cancer rates among women.

It is no wonder that the lowely, plain, boring cabbage gets rave reviews from the world of nutritionists. Cabbage is relatively cheap yet one of the richest when it comes to protective vitamins. Talk about the original weight loss food! One cup of cabbage contains only around 15 calories.

Cabbage is rich in the following nutrients:

Vitamin A: responsible for the

protection of your skin and eyes. Vitamin C: an all important anti-oxidant and helps the mitochondria to burn fat. Vitamin E: a fat soluble anti-oxidant which plays a role in skin integrity. Vitamin B: helps maintain integrity of nerve endings and boosts energy metabolism.

Modern science has proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the health benefits and therapeutic value of cabbage, which also plays a role in the inhibition of infections and ulcers. Cabbage extracts have been proven to kill certain viruses and bacteria in the laboratory setting. Cabbage boosts the immune system's ability to produce more antibodies. Cabbage provides high levels of iron and sulphur, minerals that work in part as cleansing agents for the digestive system.

There are many different varieties of cabbage, so please, be brave and innovative. Green cabbage is the most popular, common and of course the one we are most familiar with. Take a walk on the wild side with Savoy cabbage. With yellow crinkled leaves, you can use this variety of cabbage as an alternate in many recipes. Let's not forget Bok Choy, a routine addition to Chinese recipes that has a sweet, light, celery type familiarity. Red Cabbage. It goes without saying in that it simply has to be good for you given all that beautiful plant pigment where the majority of nutrition is stored. Red cabbage is good in salads and is commonly pickled. Napa cabbage has a mild sweet taste and is incredible in stir fry dishes.

Whatever your choice of cabbage may be, enjoy a serving at least once a week along with your other valuable and health promoting cruciferous vegetables. Try to cook your cabbage lightly. Steaming and quick stir fry dishes are considered to be the best methods for preserving the power packed natural nutrition given so freely by Mother Nature. Cabbage soup anyone?

Muscle Fitness ? Can Yoga Make You Stronger?

Many people wonder if yoga can improve their muscle fitness. They recognize that yoga can help reduce stress and increase flexibility, but when it comes to increasing muscle fitness, they think it might be a little too 'weak' to do the job. The fact is that yoga can definitely make you stronger.

A study was conducted at the University of California at Davis. Ten college 'coach potatoes' adopted a yoga routine for eight weeks. Each week, they attended from two to four classes during which they spent 10 minutes on breath control, 15 minutes of warm up exercises, 50 minutes doing yoga asanas, and then 10 minutes of relaxation/mediation. At the end of the eight-week period, the researchers measured the students' fitness and discovered that their muscular strength had increased by up to 31%, their muscular endurance improved by 57%, their flexibility increased by 188%, and their cardio respiratory fitness improved by 7%. These results are pretty amazing when you consider that the study was only conducted for eight weeks.

How can something that seems so benign have such a major impact on muscle fitness?

MUSCLE STRENGTH - Unlike traditional weight building exercises, in yoga your body provides the resistance. While you are not likely going to produce the bulked up muscles of some weight lifters, you will certainly increase your muscle strength.

Many poses in yoga are done very slowly or you stay in the posture for several breaths. It is much more challenging to your muscles to hold a pose or do it slowly than it is to allow momentum to move you through an action. I have been working out with weights for many years so my muscles are used to being strengthened. Yet, I have practiced certain yoga routines during which my

muscles screamed for mercy and I actually had to get out of the pose and then resume it because my muscles were so challenged. I don't often experience this during weight training sessions.

In addition, some balance postures such as Tree Pose and Shoulderstand require enormous muscle control in order to prevent you from falling over. This helps to build and strengthen your muscles.

MUSCLE BALANCE - In weight training, you isolate a specific muscle as you perform an exercise and this leads to a short, tightened muscle. The muscles you develop during yoga are more likely to be elongated, because while you are strengthening them, you are simultaneously lengthening them. You also do not focus on an isolated muscle, but actively recruit the smaller muscle groups as well. You truly work your entire body when you practice yoga.

Practicing yoga can help realign your muscles, so they are more balanced. Since you are not overworking any specific muscle group, you are less likely to get injured.

In addition to all its other benefits, yoga can help you improve muscle fitness. Whether you choose to use it as your primary means of strength training or you want it to supplement your other exercises, yoga can help your muscles grow fit, balanced, and strong.

Why Not Try Bikram Yoga?

There are many types of yoga, but Bikram yoga tends to stand out from the rest. Even though the practice is largely the same, you'll immediately notice the difference in the environment -- the room in which Bikram yoga is performed is heated between 90 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit!

Bikram yoga follows a consistent program, employing 26 various poses, each of which you practice twice during a session.

The poses flow as follows. You'll start with Standing Postures, then progress to Backbends. Then you'll practice Forward Bends and Twists. You will do the poses using the Kapalabhati Breath or the Breath Of Fire techniques, which are advanced techniques known for their energizing and cleansing qualities.

It's Getting Hot in Here

The purpose of the heat in Bikram yoga is to help you ease in to a deeper, safer pose. The heat helps your body's flexibility, making it easier to achieve better postures and making your overall practice more effective. Some of the poses you'll do in Bikram yoga are quite challenging, and the heat will help you enter them more comfortably, and ideally get more out of them. Also, with the increased temperature, your body will sweat more readily, releasing more toxins from your pores. The heat also lowers your risk for injuries.

When you practice Bikram yoga, you aren't simply stretching the muscles in your body. You're also working and massaging the internal organs, which helps to strengthen and lubricate the body's glands and improve the nervous system. With Bikram yoga, you'll work and strengthen your muscles, joints and ligaments. All this work -- especially with the help of Bikram's

specialized environment -- helps to flush toxins out of your body and provides the kind of exercise your muscles crave.

Can You Stand the Heat? Get Into the Kitchen!

Aptly named, this yoga practice was developed by Yogi Bikram Choudhury, who first began his yoga practice at the age of three, then studied yoga for a long while with the renowned physical culturalist, Bishnu Ghosh. Together they developed this form as one of the ultimate ways to help the body through series of especially challenging stretches and poses. It goes without saying that the Bikram beginner requires a skilled instructor to get started, as these poses are more challenging than some. The high temperature is also key to the process. As a result, more than other forms, you'll need to take instruction at a yoga school or some of the higher end fitness clubs.

You can easily learn more about Bikram yoga to any of the on-topic books available on the Web. You'll find that Bikram yoga offers a wide range of challenging poses, and many people find it a wonderful way of widening their yoga experience. If you're ready to branch out and try something new, be sure to try Bikram yoga.

Your Health is Your Most Prized Possession

Do you ever think about just how important good health really is? The decisions we make now may determine whether we have choices later.

Our bodies are constantly waging a 24 hour war against a myriad of microbes and toxins that continually try to sabotage our health. Our day to day survival depends on the state of our immune system. When it becomes impaired (as it often does), our risk of infections, autoimmune diseases and even cancer significantley increases - but that's just the tip of the iceburg. New research strongly suggests that undetected microbes can live in the body for years causing everything from heart disease to obesity.

Poor nutrition, stress, exposure to toxins etc., all hurt immune function.Consequently, diseases can take hold and life span is shortened and you may not even know it's happening. For example, sugar consumption impairs the ability of white blood cells to destroy bacteria. Likewise, even a relatively small deficincy of iron or selenium can considerably weaken immune function and many diets are lacking in these very minerals. And before you eat

that cheese burger consider the fact that high fat diets can also compromise immunity.

Heart diease is not just an old person's diease. In the summer of 2002 Darryl Kyle a 33-year-old professional baseball pitcher died in his sleep. The autosy showed that he had 80% to 90% narrowing of two of the three cornary arteries. As important as exercise is, it is clearly not the entire answer. A scientific study found that every 15-year-old already had plaque build up! The obvious conclusion was that cardiovascular diease was starting in childhood.

The efficiency of our immune system will, to a large degree, determine our cardiovascular health. Nutrionally supporting our cardiovascular system with a combination of transfer factor and other key ingredients is something we can do to help insure a long healthy life.

Tips for Staying Fit and Healthy at Home

by Lesley Spencer, MSc; Founder & President HBWM.com Inc.

Many Americans these days are finding themselves out of shape and overweight. Why is that? The bottom line is we are taking in more calories than we are burning. It takes a conscious effort to reduce calories, eat healthier and get regular exercise.

Exercise does not have to be a dreaded word either. The good news is that exercise gives you more energy, stress relief, better health, clearer focus, sharper mind, better sleep, better bone health, better sex life, and it
decreases the risk of cancers, heart attacks and heart problems. Forget
the benefits of just looking good and realize exercise not only makes you
feel good, it can help you live a longer, healthier life.

Here are some tips to get you on your way to a healthier lifestyle:

-- Put your workout clothes on first thing in the morning. You'll feel
more "obligated" to exercise once you are dressed in your workout clothes.

-- Use music to energize and motivate you to exercise. Get a few great
CDs that energize you. Turn it up and jam out! The music will motivate you
and help the time pass by more quickly!

-- Always keep a water bottle and a healthy snack with you. When you get
hungry, go for the healthy snack instead of heading to the pantry. Try
to keep your water bottle full so that you can drink plenty of water throughout
the day.

-- Follow the two-bite rule. If there's something you absolutely must have, take two bites and be done!

You'll get your fix and be proud of your will power to put it down!

-- No time for exercise? Make a goal to walk for 30 minutes at least three times a week. You'll find if you make it a priority, you can fit it in.
Try going right after breakfast or after taking your kids to school.

-- Need to be motivated to exercise? Find one or two workout partners to
motivate one another. If you don't have anyone near by, find a virtual
workout buddy on the http://www.HBWM.com Self-Care message boards. Share successes, motivate one another and just enjoy doing something for yourself!

-- Keep a diary of what you eat for a few days. Calculate your intake and decide where you should cut back. (You can find nutritional charts on the Mom's Assistant section of http://www.HBWM.com.)

-- If you have cravings for something sweet, try eating something tart to curb the craving such as a pickle. If you crave crunchy salty snacks, try having an apple instead.

Take the leap. Commit to exercising a few days a week and before you know it, the benefits will be their own motivator! You will feel better, look
better and be better.

Strep Symptoms: When to Use Antibiotics

By JANE E. BRODY

Published: October 10, 2006

All physicians and most parents by now know the importance of recognizing and adequately treating a throat infection caused by Group A streptococcal bacteria. These organisms, if not stopped in their tracks by appropriate antibiotics, can result in rheumatic fever and permanently damaged heart valves, among other serious complications.

Thanks to penicillin, which readily kills strep bacteria, rheumatic fever has all but disappeared in countries like the United States. Now physicians are worried about overtreatment, the prescription of antibiotics for children whose sore throats are caused not by bacteria but by viruses that do not cause long-term damage and are not susceptible to antimicrobial therapy.

Some children and adults are healthy carriers of strep bacteria; the organisms reside in their throats but do not make them sick. They rarely, if ever, spread the infection to others. But when such carriers develop a sore throat for any reason, a positive test result for strep typically leads to treatment with antibiotics, which is often needless and possibly hazardous.

Complicated Decision

Symptoms of a strep throat and a sore throat caused by a virus can overlap (children may experience stuffy noses, coughs and sneezing with a strep infection as well as with a cold), further complicating a doctor’s decision on whether to treat the illness or to let nature take its course. Nationally, 70 percent of children with sore throats who are seen by a physician are treated with antibiotics, though at most 30 percent have strep infections. And as many as half who are treated with antibiotics because a throat culture was positive for strep are healthy carriers and actually have a cold or some other viral infection, says Dr. Edward L. Kaplan, a pediatrician at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and an expert on streptococcal illness.

Antibiotic treatment is best reserved for illnesses in which it is likely to be effective. Overuse of antibiotics can give rise to dangerous antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Antibiotics can wipe out friendly bacteria in the gut, and they sometimes cause life-threatening allergic reactions.

Both Dr. Kaplan and Dr. Alan L. Bisno, an internist at the University of Miami School of Medicine and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Miami, say there are usually good ways for physicians and parents to distinguish between sore throats caused by a strep infection and those caused by a virus or some other bacterium.

Group A strep causes 15 percent to 30 percent of sore throats in children, Dr. Kaplan and Dr. Bisno reported in the September issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings. The illness is most common in school-age children as old as 15.

Strep infections are less common in adults, who are also far less likely than children to develop a serious complication like rheumatic fever if a strep infection goes untreated.

Strep bacteria are shed from the nose and throat of infected people and easily spread to others. This is why strep often makes the rounds in classrooms and day care centers. Occasionally, strep infections “ping-pong” among family members, but “there’s no strong evidence that the family pet is a source,” Dr. Bisno said.

In a small proportion of children, strep infections occur repeatedly over the course of several years. Jennifer L. St. Sauver and colleagues at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., analyzed cases of strep throat occurring at least one month apart among children ages 4 to 15 in Rochester between Jan. 1, 1996, and Dec. 31, 1998. They found that 1 percent of the children (2 percent of those from 4 to 6 years old) had repeated episodes.

Dr. Kaplan and Dr. Bisno point out, however, that as thorough as the Rochester study was, in all likelihood the incidence of repeated strep throat infections is lower than what the researchers found. In only about a third of the cases counted as strep were data available that showed the cases met the accepted clinical profile of a strep infection.

Classic Symptoms

Here are the classic symptoms of strep throat:

¶Sudden onset of a very sore throat.

¶A beefy red throat and tonsils, sometimes with white patches and pus.

¶Difficulty swallowing.

¶Fever over 101 degrees.

¶Tender and often swollen lymph nodes in the neck.

¶Headache.

¶Shivers and shaking alternating with cold sweats.

¶In children, often nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.

When someone with a painfully sore throat and fever is taken to the doctor, the appropriate exam includes a rapid strep test — a throat swab that checks for the presence of the strep antigen. The test, which can be done in the doctor’s office, takes 5 or 10 minutes to process and is 70 to 80 percent accurate. If the test is positive and the patient has at least some of the classic symptoms of strep, a prescription for an antibiotic — usually penicillin or a derivative — is considered an appropriate course of action.

If the rapid test is negative, a throat culture should also be done in which the throat swab is plated on a laboratory dish and incubated for 24 to 48 hours. This test, when the throat swab is properly done, is considered the gold standard for detecting the presence of strep bacteria. A positive result, when combined with symptoms of a strep infection, warrants antibiotic treatment.

Two Options for Treatment

Dr. Bisno explained that the examining physician has two options. The preferred course of treatment, as described in the 2002 practice guidelines of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, is to wait for the results of the throat culture before starting antibiotic therapy. The physician can write a prescription for antibiotics but suggest that it not be filled unless the throat culture is positive.

The second option, considered less than ideal, is to start antibiotic therapy right away and then stop it if the throat culture is negative, which almost always means the throat infection is caused by a virus, Dr. Bisno said. But, he added, this course of action is reasonable if, in spite of a negative result on the rapid test, “the child is really sick” with symptoms that suggest a strep infection.

An advantage of this option is that if the infection is indeed strep, 24 hours on an antibiotic renders the patient noncontagious, allowing a return to school or work after just a day’s absence.

With or without treatment, Dr. Bisno said, strep infections are limited, and most people are better within three or four days. Furthermore, he said, it is safe to wait several days — and perhaps as many as nine days — before starting antibiotic therapy without compromising the chances of preventing rheumatic fever.

In addition, the decision to treat or not to treat can be simplified, Dr. Bisno said, if children with sore throats have symptoms of a cold — “no fever, no red throat, a runny nose and a cough.” Such children, he said, “shouldn’t be tested at all for strep” and should not be given antibiotics.

Childhood Cancer Survivors Face Increased Risks Later

People who were cured of cancer as children often suffered later in life from health problems caused by chemotherapy and radiation, a study of more than 10,000 survivors has found.

Patients treated from 1970 to 1986, when they were younger than 21, later developed unusually high rates of heart disease, second cancers, infertility, damaged joints, learning disorders and other problems.

The most severe ailments occurred in those who had had Hodgkin’s disease or cancers of the bones or central nervous system, and women generally fared worse than men. The incidence of problems increased over time and did not plateau.

Though the study did not include anyone who started treatment after 1986, the findings are still relevant for children being treated today, researchers said. Treatments have improved, but some of the same drugs are still in use, and radiation remains essential for certain cancers.

“Our hope and anticipation is that patients undergoing therapy today will not have quite that burden, but they will certainly face long-term health conditions,” said Dr. Kevin C. Oeffinger, the director of the program for adult survivors of pediatric cancer at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York, and the first author of a report being published today in The New England Journal of Medicine. “It is unavoidable, given the toxicity of the therapies.”

The illnesses are a price of success. Nearly 80 percent of children and teenagers with cancer now live at least five years, and many are cured. Before the 1970’s, few survived. Today, there are about 270,000 long-term survivors of childhood cancer in the United States. But the strong measures needed to kill cancer can eventually take their toll on normal cells and organs as well, especially when added to the usual declines that occur with aging.

It may seem cruel to give more bad news to people who have already been through one dreadful ordeal, but cancer experts say the picture is not all bleak. Many of the later conditions are treatable, especially if found early, so patients can help themselves by realizing they are at risk, finding out what therapies they received (some are riskier) and having regular checkups with doctors who understand the delayed effects of chemotherapy and radiation.

“I think there is much we can do to maximize their health,” Dr. Oeffinger said. “There is a silver lining.”

But he also said that relatively few patients received the care they needed, especially when they stopped seeing cancer specialists and switched to internists or family doctors.

“Most are not followed on a regular basis,” Dr. Oeffinger said. “Most clinicians are not aware of the risks.”

The report, from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study, is not the first to blame cancer treatments for later illnesses. But it is the most comprehensive, including 10,397 young people treated at 26 hospitals in the United States and Canada from 1970 to 1986 and, for comparison, 3,034 of their healthy siblings.

The patients had cancer before age 21 and survived for at least five years. When studied, they ranged in age from 18 to 48, and the siblings from 18 to 56.

“This is the first time that anybody has been able to quantify the overall incidence of chronic illness, and it did surprise me that it was this high,” said Dr. Leslie L. Robison, another author of the study and the chairman of epidemiology and cancer control at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis.

Among the cancer survivors, 62 percent had at least one chronic health problem, compared with 37 percent of their siblings. About 28 percent of survivors had illnesses that were severe, life-threatening or disabling, compared with 5 percent of siblings. Almost 24 percent of survivors but only 5 percent of siblings had three or more ailments.

Despite the high rates of illness, many survivors are upbeat.

“Even though 60-some percent had problems, the majority said, ‘We’re doing fantastic,’ ” said Dr. Ann C. Mertens, an author of the study and an epidemiologist at the University of Minnesota. “I’d say it’s the resiliency factor. They’ve had a brush with a very serious disease, and they come out the other side and say life is good.”

Sometimes the damage from chemotherapy can set in quickly. Samantha Eisenstein, 28, had surgery and intensive chemotherapy for a large tumor in her shinbone in 2000, when she was 21 and a senior in college. Less than a year after finishing the treatment, Ms. Eisenstein developed a condition called myelodysplastic syndrome, a precursor to leukemia, almost certainly caused by the cancer drugs. She needed more chemotherapy, of a different type, and a bone marrow transplant.

“I celebrated five years of remission in August,” she said.

Ms. Eisenstein works full time at a charity organization that she started (thesamfund.org) to help other young adults with cancer, and she plans to marry next spring. But first she needs more surgery, to repair a fracture in the leg where the cancer started.

“I plan to dance at my own wedding,” she said.

She hopes to have children but is unsure whether she will be able to, because chemotherapy often shuts down the ovaries. “I think it probably will not happen, but in the back of my head there’s a tiny little part that’s still hoping,” Ms. Eisenstein said, adding that she had put off having her ovarian function tested.

Early in their relationship, she told her fiancé that she might be infertile, figuring, she said, “if this is going to be deal breaker, let it be a deal breaker now.”

“ ‘You know,’ ” she said he replied, “ ‘there are a lot of kids out there who need a home.’ ”

Dr. Oeffinger said that by the 1980’s and 90’s, doctors were trying to modify children’s cancer treatments in hopes of lessening severe side effects.

“Back in the 1970’s, whole brain radiation was very effective for preventing recurrences in leukemia,” he said. “It was one of the major advances in being able to cure the disease. But it led to significant cognitive deficits, problems with I.Q. loss, especially in those treated at a young age.”

By the 80’s, Dr. Oeffinger said, hospitals had lowered the dose or quit using the technique. But even without radiation, chemotherapy can still cause learning problems, he said.

It became clear in the 90’s that high doses of radiation to the chest, often used to treat Hodgkin’s disease in children, could predispose girls to breast cancer, even by age 30.

Today, doctors avoid irradiating girls’ breasts whenever possible, and women who had such treatment are advised to have yearly breast cancer screenings — preferably with magnetic resonance imaging instead of mammograms, to avoid more radiation, Dr. Oeffinger said.

When it comes to learning about the results of research on survivors, many patients feel torn.

Allan Goldberg, 39, who had a rare type of cancer on his palate when he was 12, said: “Part of you wants to not think about it, and part of you is like, ‘Yeah, I should.’ There’s a fine balance between living your life not in fear and being prudent.”

Mr. Goldberg, who lives in Vail, Colo., competes in triathlons and directs a camp that runs free kayaking trips for young adults with cancer (firstdescents.org).

Despite 20 years of working with other cancer patients, Mr. Goldberg did not learn until eight or nine years ago that he was at risk for heart disease and bladder cancer because of his treatments.

“I’m a fairly educated individual and I didn’t know about this,” he said. “I felt stupid.”

Just two weeks ago tests, found that the back pain he was attributing to a sports injury was because of cancerous growths on his vertebrae. Doctors suspect that the cancer spread there from a tumor that formed in his salivary glands because of the radiation he received long ago.

The growths seem to be dormant, and Mr. Goldberg is hoping that they do not need treatment.

“I’ll beat this,” he said.

What is chemotherapy?

Powerful drugs can kill cancer cells

Chemotherapy is drug treatment which is used to try and kill cancer cells or stop them spreading.

Different cancer cells respond to different drugs, so not all chemotherapy is the same.

Sometimes as many as eight different drugs is employed to get the best effect, and doctors are constantly trying out new combinations to improve treatment.

Chemotherapy is often associated with debillitating side effects, but many types of modern chemotherapy cause only mild problems.

Who gets chemotherapy?

Because chemotherapy drugs are usually injected into the blood, they travel around the body and can attack cancer cells regardless of where they find them.

For this reason, doctors will use them when they think there might be cancer cells in more than one part of the body.

If some cancers have been growing for a while undetected, bits of them can break away from the main tumour and travel to either nearby tissue, or to more distant organs like the liver and lungs - and start growing there.

A surgeon can only cut out the a main cancer tumour, and nearby tissues which may be involved.

Radiotherapy, which uses radiation to destroy cancer cells, can only be given to small areas of the body or it will cause damage to too many healthy cells.

Often, after an operation to remove cancer, chemotherapy will be given to "mop up" any remaining cells.

Some cancers, such as leukaemia, need chemotherapy because they involve cells which are found throughout the body.

Chemotherapy can be given to shrink a tumour to make it easier for the surgeon to remove.

It can also ease the symptoms of patients whose cancer is not curable.

How does it work?

Chemotherapy, in its traditional sense, is a chemical which is poisonous to cancer cells and kills them.

This is called a cytotoxic chemical - one very early chemotherapy was produced from mustard gas, which was used as chemical weaponry during the First World War.

However, anything which is poisonous to cancer cells may also be poisonous to the body's healthy cells, which it needs to survive.

The trick with chemotherapy is to find a chemical which kills as many cancer cells as possible, and as few healthy cells.

Doctors have been getting increasingly successful at developing such chemicals, by spotting the differences between the cancer cells and neighbouring normal cells, and exploiting them.

The principle difference between many cancer cells and normal cells is the speed at which they reproduce, or divide.

Cancers tend to be dividing and growing faster than other cells in the body - which is why lumps or tumours sometimes appear.

Other cancer cells may become more or less active in response to natural chemicals called hormones produced by the body.

Some chemotherapy harnesses this reaction to control the growth of the cancer cells, so rather than poisoning the cells, they starve them of something they need to grow and multiply.

Cancer cells are not attacked by the body's own immune defence system because the immune system does not recognise them as foreign.

Some chemotherapies try to programme the immune system to see the cancer cells as foreign so they can be attacked and destroyed.

How is it given?

Often, chemotherapy is delivered by injection into a blood vein.

In many cases a saline drip will be set up to dilute the drug as it enters the body. This stops it harming the vein because it is so concentrated.

If the patient needs frequent doses of different drugs, to avoid the discomfort of having to have separate injections every time by having a tube kept in the vein which attaches to the syringe. This line is often left in a vein in the chest - one type is called a "Hickman line".

Sometimes, a concentrated dose of chemotherapy is needed on a particular part of the body, and side effects can be lessened by injecting it directly onto the cancerous area.

For example, for some bladder cancers, the drug can be pumped into the bladder so it works directly on the tissue involved.

How long chemotherapy courses last varies between different cancer types, with some being given intensively over a fortnight, normally in hospital, and some over a period of months.

What about side-effects?

Because some chemotherapy targets fast-growing, or fast-dividing cells, it is more likely to harm similar cells in the body.

These include the cells in the hair follicles, which is why cancer treatment is often associated with hair loss, although hair does regrow once treatment has ended.

Other fast-dividing cells can be found in the stomach and bowel lining, which leads to nausea and diarrhoea.

There are, however, drugs which help control this, and timing meals to avoid having a full stomach when the drugs take effect can also help in some cases.

Other types of normal cell that can suffer are the blood cells.

Red cells are important to carry oxygen to keep other cells alive. Other blood cells help stave off infection.

As a result, chemotherapy patients may be more prone to infections, and find them harder to fight off.

Hospitals will take regular blood tests to monitor the levels of different cells. This is called a full blood count.

Generally, patients on chemotherapy can be expected to have less energy than usual, or perhaps even feel extreme fatigue.

Chemotherapy can also affect the fertility of both men and women, and both can now freeze their sperm and eggs with the hope of using them to produce a test-tube baby.

The thawing of eggs is a relatively new technique which has only just been approved in the UK.