Health is Wealth

Breast Cancer

2011-02-04T16:52:00.002+06:00

Overview

Breast cancer is a common cancer, with approximately 194,000 new cases diagnosed in the United States each year. The disease occurs most frequently in women, but can also occur in men.

The normal breast has 6 to 9 overlapping sections called lobes and within each lobe are several smaller lobules that contain the cells that produce milk. The lobes and lobules are linked by thin tubes called ducts, which lead to the nipple in the center of the breast. The spaces around the lobules and ducts are filled with fat. Lymph vessels carry colorless fluid called lymph, which contains important immune cells. The lymph vessels lead to small bean-shaped structures called lymph nodes. Clusters of lymph nodes are found in the axilla (under the arm), above the collarbone, and in the chest.

The suspicion of breast cancer often first arises when a lump is detected in the breast during breast examination or a suspicious area is identified during screening mammography. In order to diagnose the cause of the suspicious area or lump in the breast, a physician will perform a biopsy. A biopsy can be performed on an outpatient basis. During a biopsy, a physician removes cells for examination in the laboratory to determine whether cancer is present. Other information obtained from the biopsy sample will play an important role in treatment decisions. If the biopsy indicates that cancer is present, additional surgery may be performed after the patient and doctor select a course of treatment.

There are many types of breast tumors. Some breast tumors are benign (not cancerous). Benign breast tumors such as fibroadenomas or papillomas do not spread outside of the breast and are not life threatening. Other breast tumors are malignant (cancerous). The most common type of breast cancer is called ductal carcinoma and begins in the lining of the ducts. Another type of cancer is called lobular carcinoma, which arises in the lobules.

Personalized Cancer Care Center

When cancer is identified in the biopsy specimen, several other tests may be performed on the specimen in order to further classify the cancer and determine the optimal treatment strategy. Based on the stage of the cancer and the results of these tests, treatment of breast cancer is personalized for each individual. Treatment may involve surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and/or hormonal therapy.

Stage: Stage is a measure of the extent of the cancer, and is based on the size of the tumor and the presence or absence of lymph node metastases and distant metastases. Determining the stage of the cancer may require a number of procedures, such as blood tests, chest x-rays, mammography, computed tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). For patients with early-stage cancer, the spread of the cancer to the axillary (under the arm) lymph nodes may be assessed through either sentinel lymph node biopsy or axillary lymph node dissection. Axillary lymph node dissection involves the removal of many axillary lymph nodes; the procedure can be associated with chronic side effects such as pain, limited shoulder motion, numbness, and swelling. Sentinel lymph node biopsy is a more recent procedure that involves the removal of only a small number of nodes, or even a single node. If the sentinel lymph nodes are negative (show no evidence of cancer), then no further lymph node surgery is required. Sentinel lymph node biopsy is becoming more widely adopted in the clinical setting for determining whether cancer has spread to the lymph nodes in women with localized breast cancer.

HER2 status: Twenty to thirty percent of breast cancers overexpress (make too much of) a protein known as HER2. Overexpression of this protein leads to increased growth of cancer cells. Fortunately, the development of treatments that specifically target HER2-positive cells – such as Herceptin® (trastuzumab) and Tykerb® (lapatinib) -- has improved outcomes among women with HER2-positive breast cancer. For this reason, HER2 status should be accurately measured on all breast cancers.

Hormone receptor status: Some breast cancer cells express an abundance of receptors for the female hormones estrogen and/or progesterone. These cancers-- called hormone receptor-positive --are typically associated with a better prognosis and are treated differently from breast cancers that are hormone receptor-negative. Patients with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer often receive treatment with hormonal therapy, such as tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor. For more information, go to Hormonal Therapy.

Predicting the need for chemotherapy: Among women with early-stage breast cancer, the expression, or activity, of certain genes has been linked with the likelihood of cancer recurrence and chemotherapy benefit; testing tumor tissue for the expression of these genes can provide important information about prognosis and likely response to treatment.

A genomic test that is included in guidelines from both the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) is Oncotype DX®. Based on the expression of 21 genes, this test provides information about recurrence risk and likely chemotherapy benefit among women with newly diagnosed breast cancer that has not spread to the lymph nodes (node-negative) and is hormone receptor-positive. Oncotype DX has also shown promising results in women with node-positive breast cancer.

Predicting drug metabolism: Another type of test that may prove important is the assessment of inherited genetic variation that influences drug metabolism (the processing of drugs by the body). In the case of tamoxifen, for example, differences in effectiveness may be explained at least in part by inherited differences in a gene known as CYP2D6. Most people have two functional versions of this gene and are able to effectively process tamoxifen. Some people, however, have versions of this gene that are less effective at processing tamoxifen. Testing patients for these gene variants could help doctors identify patients who are less likely to respond to tamoxifen. A currently available test is AmpliChip®, which assesses CYP2D6 as well as CYP2C19 (another gene involved in drug metabolism). Additional data are required, however, before formal recommendations can be developed about this type of testing.

Patients who have already undergone surgery and lymph node evaluation and know their stage of cancer may select from the options below. In order to learn more about surgery and sentinel lymph node dissection, go to Surgery for Breast Cancer.

Carcinoma In Situ: Approximately 15-20% of breast cancers are very early in their development. These are sometimes referred to as carcinoma in situ and consist of two types: ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), which originates in the ducts and lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS), which originates in the lobules. DCIS is the precursor to invasive cancer and LCIS is a risk factor for developing cancer.

Stage I: Cancer is confined to a single site in the breast, is less than 2 centimeters (3/4 inch) in size and has not spread outside the breast.

Stage IIA: Cancer has spread to involve underarm lymph nodes and is less than 2 centimeters (3/4 inch) in size or the primary cancer itself is 2-5 centimeters (3/4-2 inches) and has not spread to the lymph nodes.

Stage IIB: Cancer has spread to involve underarm lymph nodes and/or the primary cancer is greater than 5 centimeters (2 inches) in size and does not involve any lymph nodes.

Stage IIIA: Cancer is smaller than 5 centimeters (2 inches) and has spread to the lymph nodes under the arm or the lymph nodes are attached to each other or to other structures or the primary cancer is larger than 5 centimeters (2 inches) and has spread to the lymph nodes under the arm.

Stage IIIB: Cancer directly involves the chest wall or has spread to internal lymph nodes on the same side of the chest.

Inflammatory: Inflammatory breast cancer is a special class of breast cancer that is rare. The breast looks as if it is inflamed because of its red appearance and warmth. The skin may show signs of ridges and wheals or it may have a pitted appearance. Inflammatory breast cancer tends to spread quickly.

Stage IV: Cancer has spread to distant locations in the body, which may include the liver, lungs, bones or other sites.

Recurrent/Relapsed: The breast cancer has progressed or returned (recurred/relapsed) following an initial treatment.

Bone Cancer - Treatment and Prevention of Bone Metastases

2011-02-04T16:46:00.003+06:00

The management for bone metastases depends largely on the degree of bone damage once the metastases are diagnosed. An initial step in managing bone metastases is often controlling the associated pain, which can be accomplished with pain medications, bisphosphonate drugs, or radiation therapy. Radiation therapy may also be used to kill the cancer cells in the bone in patients whose bones have not already been weakened. If bone metastases have progressed to the point that the bones are unstable or fractured, surgery may be necessary to stabilize them.

Prevention of bone metastases may be possible in some patients who are at high risk of developing bone metastases through treatment with bisphosphonate drugs. Bisphosphonate drugs can effectively prevent loss of bone that occurs from metastatic bone damage, reduce the risk of fractures, and decrease pain.

The following is a general overview of treatment and prevention for bone metastases. Treatment may consist of pain medication, bisphosphonate drugs, radiation therapy, surgery, or a combination of these treatment techniques. In some cases, participation in a clinical trial utilizing new, innovative therapies may provide the most promising treatment. Circumstances unique to each patient's situation may influence how these general treatment principles are applied. The information on this website is intended to help educate patients about their treatment options and to facilitate a mutual or shared decision-making process with their treating cancer physician.

Pain Medications

Since pain is a common complication, and often the initial symptom of bone metastases, management of bone pain is an important step in treatment. Without treatment, bone pain can be debilitating to the point that it compromises a patient's ability to manage normal day-to-day activities.

The World Health Organization recommendations for relief of cancer pain indicate that the severity of a patient's pain, rated on a scale of 1-10, will dictate what type of pain medication is used.

Mild to Moderate Pain (1-3) Non-opioids are the first choice of treatment for mild to moderate pain. This includes medication such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®) or a non-steriodal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), such as ibuprofen.
Moderate to Severe Pain (4-6) Patients with moderate to severe pain who have not responded to the first step should receive an opioid. These medications may include codeine, hydrocodone, dilhydrocodiene, oxycodone, propoxyphene, and tramadol. Acetaminophen or a NSAID may be added.
Severe Pain (7-10) Patients with severe pain or patients whose pain has not been relieved by the previous recommendations will usually receive a stronger opioid. Opioids for severe pain may include morphine, oxycodone, hydromorphone, methadone, levophanol, or fentanyl. A non-opioid medication such as aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen may be added in some cases.

Pain medications may have side effects, including sleepiness, constipation, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. Relief from pain medications is temporary and the pain may return in a short time; thus, medications are best used at the onset of pain or at regular intervals.

Bisphosphonate Drugs in the Prevention and Treatment of Bone Metastases

Bisphosphonate drugs can effectively prevent loss of bone that occurs from metastatic lesions, reduce the risk of fractures, and decrease pain. Bisphosphonate drugs work by inhibiting bone resorption, or breakdown. Bone is constantly being “remodeled” by two types of cells: osteoclasts, which break down bone; and osteoblasts, which rebuild bone. Although the exact process by which bisphosphonates work is not completely understood, it is thought that bisphosphonates inhibit osteoclasts and induce apoptosis (cell death) in these cells, thereby reducing bone loss. There is also evidence that these drugs bind to bone, thereby blocking osteoclasts from breaking down bone.

Cancer cells release various factors that stimulate osteoclastic activity, causing increased breakdown of bone. By inhibiting osteoclasts, bisphosphonate drugs effectively reduce the detrimental impact that cancer cells have on bone density. An analysis of the results from 30 clinical trials demonstrates that patients with bone metastases treated with a bisphosphonate had a delayed time to skeletal fractures, a reduced need for radiation therapy to treat bone metastasis, a reduction in hypercalcemia (high blood levels of calcium), and a reduction in the need for orthopedic surgery.

Bisphosphonate drugs that are FDA-approved for the treatment of cancer-related skeletal complications include Zometa® (zoledronic acid) and Aredia® (pamidronate). Of these two drugs, Zometa® appears to demonstrate the strongest activity. An added benefit of Zometa® is that it is administered in a dose ten times lower than Aredia®, which considerably reduces the administration time from several hours to 15 minutes, resulting in a more convenient regimen for patients.

Bisphosphonates have been shown to prevent or delay bone destruction and related pain in clinical trials involving patients with bone metastases related to:

Breast cancer: Bisphosphonate therapy has been shown to prevent or delay bone destruction and related pain in women with breast cancer that has spread to the bone. In a large clinical trial, a total of 751 women with metastatic breast cancer were randomly assigned to receive the bisphosphonate drug, Aredia®, or placebo (inactive substitute). The results showed that 64% of women who received the placebo had significant bone damage, compared with only 51% of those who received the bisphosphonate. The average time to the occurrence of the first bone complication was 13 months in the bisphosphonate group, compared to only 7 months in the placebo group. Furthermore, women who did not receive the bisphosphonate experienced significantly more pain and received more pain medications.

Prostate cancer: Zometa® has been shown to be a safe and effective treatment in prostate cancer patients with bone metastases. Zometa® significantly reduces the proportion of patients who experience skeletal complications, extends the time to first skeletal complication, and reduces the risk of skeletal complications .

Zometa® also appears to benefit patients with prostate cancer undergoing androgen deprivation therapy, or “hormonal therapy”. Hormonal therapy in the treatment of prostate cancer has been shown to cause bone loss.

Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital and 5 other medical institutions conducted a clinical trial evaluating Zometa® in patients with localized prostate cancer being treated with androgen deprivation therapy. This study included 106 men who were randomly selected to receive either Zometa® or a placebo for one year. Bone mineral density in the spine, hips, and legs increased among patients who were treated with Zometa® and decreased in patients who received placebo.

Lung cancer: Zometa® is a safe and effective treatment for bone metastases associated with lung cancer. In a clinical trial, 773 patients with lung cancer were randomly assigned to receive Zometa® or placebo via a 15-minute infusion every 3 weeks for 21 months. Results from the two groups were directly compared and showed that the number of patients experiencing at least one skeletal-related event was lower among those who were treated with Zometa® (39%) than patients who received placebo (46%). The patients who received Zometa® went nearly 3 months longer without developing a skeletal-related event and also experienced fewer skeletal-related events.

Multiple myeloma: A major complication suffered by patients with multiple myeloma is destruction of the bones, causing fractures and pain. A comparison of treatment with chemotherapy plus the bisphosphonate drug Aredia® to chemotherapy alone showed that patients who received the bisphosphonate had fewer bone fractures and decreased pain. In addition, some patients lived longer.

Research indicates that Zometa® is as effective as Aredia®. Among 1,648 patients with multiple myeloma or advanced breast cancer who had at least one bone lesion, pain and the use of pain medication was decreased with both treatments. However, patients who received Zometa® experienced significantly less need for radiation therapy to treat bone complications.

Renal cell carcinoma: Researchers from Pennsylvania have reported that Zometa® improves outcomes and reduces skeletal-related events in patients with renal cell carcinoma and associated bone metastases. The researchers analyzed data from 74 patients with renal cell carcinoma who were involved in a larger trial that involved patients with other types of cancers. Patients with renal cell carcinoma may be at a greater risk for developing skeletal-related events than patients with other types of solid cancers. The proportion of patients with renal cell carcinoma was nearly twofold greater than the proportion of patients in the entire population (44% vs. 74%).

The patients were treated with Zometa® or placebo (inactive substitute) and compared for the development of skeletal-related events, which included bone fracture, spinal cord compression, or the need for radiation or surgery for the treatment of bone metastasis.

Patients treated with Zometa® had a 61% reduced risk of developing a skeletal-related event than those who received a placebo. Also, the patients who received Zometa® had less cancer progression in their bones and lived longer.

Radiation Therapy in the Treatment of Bone Metastases

For metastatic lesions that do not represent an immediate risk of fracture, radiation is effective for reducing bone pain and progression of the cancer. Radiation is especially useful when metastatic lesions are limited to a single area.

One type of radiation therapy is called radiopharmaceutical therapy. This approach involves injecting a radioactive substance, such as strontium-89, into a vein. This substance is attracted to areas of bone that contain cancer. Providing radiation directly to the bone in this way destroys active cancer cells in the bone and can relieve symptoms. Two possible side effects of radiopharmaceutical therapy are decreased blood counts with increased risk of bleeding, and rarely, leukemia.

Surgery in the Treatment of Bone Metastases

When there is an immediate or significant risk of fracture, surgery may be necessary to stabilize the weakened bone. Metal rods, plates, screws, wires, nails, or pins may be surgically inserted to strengthen or provide structure to the bone damaged by metastasis.

Strategies to Improve Treatment and Prevention of Bone Metastases

The development of more effective cancer treatments requires that new and innovative therapies be evaluated with cancer patients. Clinical trials are studies that evaluate the effectiveness of new drugs or treatment strategies. Future progress in the treatment and prevention of bone metastases will result from the continued evaluation of new treatments in clinical trials. Participation in a clinical trial may offer patients access to better treatments and advance the existing knowledge about treatment of this cancer. Patients who are interested in participating in a clinical trial should discuss the risks and benefits of clinical trials with their physician. Areas of active investigation aimed at improving the treatment of bone metastases include the following:

Bisphosphonate Drugs

The bisphosphonate drugs Zometa® and Aredia® continue to be evaluated in clinical trials in order to determine their ability to decrease skeletal complications from cancer, reduce osteoporosis, and prevent the spread of cancer in bones. Other bisphosphonate drugs such as clodronate and Boniva ® are also being evaluated in clinical trials. Results from a clinical trial presented at the 2004 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology suggest that clodronate may prevent or delay bone metastases from occurring and improve survival for patients with early stage breast cancer.

The 1,069 patients with early stage breast cancer involved in this study were randomly assigned to receive clodronate or placebo for 2 years. Compared to placebo, clodronate significantly reduced the risk of patients developing bone metastases by 45-50% during the 2 years that medication was administered. Patients continued to experience a significant benefit from the clodronate 5 years after treatment. In addition, patients who received oral clodronate lived more than 2 years longer than patients who received placebo. Clodronate is currently under evaluation by the FDA for approval in the U.S.

New Biological Therapy

In one clinical trial, the biological therapy atrasentan (Xinlay™) slowed progression of prostate cancer, including progression to the bones, and produced a small improvement in quality of life. The results of this study were reported at the 40th annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in mid 2004.

Biological therapy involves the administration of naturally occurring substances that increase the body's natural immune defenses or interrupt the unnatural growth patterns of cancer cells. These therapies may be produced in a laboratory to closely resemble the natural substances produced in the body. Atrasentan is a biological therapy that interrupts the activity between a protein located on the outside of the cancer cell, called a receptor, and a molecule circulating in the blood, called endothelin. Under normal conditions, these cellular components stimulate cell growth and survival, hallmark characteristics of cancer cells.

Endothelins are small peptides comprised of 21 amino acids, the building blocks of protein. These molecules occur naturally in the body and are known to be involved in constricting blood vessels, stimulating cell growth, and increasing cell survival. Endothelins cause these processes by binding to receptors located on the outside of some cells, called endothelin receptor A and endothelin receptor B. Atrasentan works by blocking the endothelin receptor A, so that the endothelins cannot bind and increase cell growth and survival.

The recent phase III clinical trial of atrasentan involved 809 patients with metastatic prostate cancer that has become resistant to hormonal therapy. Patients received atrasentan or placebo (inactive substitute) and the two groups were compared for clinical and x-ray indications of cancer progression and change from baseline in bio-markers of progression, including prostate specific antigen (PSA), bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP), and total alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Alkaline phosphatase is an enzyme that is involved in bone formation and other processes. Blood levels of alkaline phosphatase are increased in patients with bone metastases.

Atrasentan significantly delayed cancer progression in patients with bone metastases, but not in the overall group of patients involved in this trial. Results also suggest that atrasentan appears to delay progression of bone metastases, as it was shown to delay BAP progression. Compared to patients that received placebo, patients treated with atrasentan experienced a twofold longer period (a total of 505 days, 251 days more than placebo) before measures of their BAP increased 50% or more from the low point (nadir).

Researchers determined that treatment with atrasentan provided a small improved quality of life over placebo. Quality of life was evaluated using two questionnaires that measure symptoms related to prostate cancer, including pain, fatigue, weight loss, and urinary problems. Higher scores indicate better quality of life and fewer symptoms. The questionnaires were filled out before and after treatment. Scores for the patients treated with placebo dropped more between baseline (initial) measurement and post-treatment, indicating a greater reduction in quality of life and increase in symptoms, compared to those treated with atrasentan. The benefit with atrasentan was most apparent with patients who had cancer that had spread (metastasized) only to bone.

Bone Cancer

2011-02-04T16:43:00.001+06:00

Overview of Bone Cancer

The two types of bone cancer are primary and secondary. Primary bone cancer originates in the bone or tissues adjoined to the bone such as connective tissue. Secondary bone cancers, also known as bone metastases, are cancers that originated in another place in the body and then spread to the bone. The cells in bone metastases resemble the cells from the cancer's origin. They are not bone cells that have become cancerous, as in the case of primary bone cancers.

Primary bone cancers: The most common types of primary bone cancers include Osteosarcoma, Chondrosarcoma, and Ewing's sarcoma. Osteosarcoma develops in new tissue of growing bones and occurs most commonly in children or adolescents. Chondrosarcoma originates in cartilage, which is a type of connective tissue that serves as a protective layer between bones ends. Ewing 's sarcoma originates in immature nerve tissue within bone marrow. This type of bone cancer also occurs more frequently in children and adolescents. Less common bone cancers include malignant fibrous histocytoma and fibrosarcoma. These cancers are similar to Osteosarcoma in that they occur mainly in the extremities, except they occur in adults.

Cancers Metastatic to Bone or (Secondary bone cancers): Although most cancers can spread to or invade bone, the most common cancers that spread to bone are multiple myeloma, breast, prostate, lung, kidney, and thyroid cancer. The ribs, pelvis and spine are normally the first bones impacted by bone metastases, while bones more distant from the central skeleton are less frequently affected. It is not well understood why certain cancers metastasize to bone more than others. However, some general observations about bone metastases are as follows:

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer to spread to bone, followed by prostate, then lung.
Carcinomas, or cancers that arise from tissues that line or cover organs, are much more likely to metastasize to bone than sarcomas, cancers that originate in connective tissue (cartilage, fat, or muscle).
Bone metastases from kidney cancer may occur many years after the primary cancer has been treated.

Signs and Symptoms of Bone Cancer

The first symptom of bone cancer is usually pain or tenderness near the cancer. Bone pain is caused by stretching of the periosteum (thick membrane that covers bone) by the cancer, or by stimulation of nerves within the bone. Bone pain may be hard to differentiate from ordinary low back pain or arthritis. Usually the pain due to bone metastasis is fairly constant, even at night. It can be worse in different positions, such as standing up, which may compress the cancer in a weight bearing bone. If pain lasts for more than a week or two, doesn't seem to be going away, and is unlike other pain that may have been experienced, it should be evaluated by a physician.

A patient may also experience a pathological fracture as the first sign of bone cancer. A pathological fracture is a break in a bone due to problems within the bone itself rather than by external factors, such as force. Pathological fractures are caused when the cancer destroys enough bone that the skeleton can no longer support normal body functions adequately.

Diagnosing Bone Cancer

Bone cancer may be evaluated by the use of either radiological tests, surgical biopsy, or blood tests.

Radiological Tests

Radiological tests, including X-ray, bone scan, and skeletal survey, remain the best method for evaluating cancer in the bones.

X-ray When a patient experiences pain that is suspected to be a result of bone cancer, the first step in diagnosis is usually to X-ray the area near the pain. When enough of the healthy bone in any area is worn away by metastatic lesions, the damaged area will show up as a dark spot on the X-ray that look like holes in the bones.

Bone Scan A more comprehensive test used to diagnose bone cancer is a type of X-ray called a bone scan. In this test, low level radioactive particles are injected into a vein. They circulate through the body and are selectively picked up by the bones. A high concentration of these radioactive particles indicates the presence of rapidly growing cancer cells.

Skeletal Survey In order to diagnose blastic lesions, or lesions where extra bone has built up, a skeletal survey may be utilized. This is a form of X-ray. Normally an X-ray is selective for a particular area of concern, but with a skeletal survey, all areas are imaged. All patients with multiple myeloma and many with breast cancer undergo a skeletal survey to detect bone metastases that have not yet developed observable symptoms.

Other Occasionally, other radiological procedures may be used to assess bone cancer, such as a computed axial tomography (CAT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, or PET scan.

Surgical Biopsy

Either a needle biopsy or an incisional biopsy may also be useful for diagnosing bone cancer. During a needle biopsy, the surgeon makes a small hole in the bone and removes a sample of tissue from the tumor with a needle-like instrument. In an incisional biopsy, the surgeon cuts into the tumor and removes a sample of tissue. The tissue is then examined under a microscope to determine whether it is cancerous. Biopsies are best done by orthopedic oncologists—doctors experienced in the diagnosis of cancer involving the bone.

Blood Tests

The early detection of bone cancer is important for effective management. In the past, pain and fractures were often the first signs of cancer involving bones. Unfortunately, by the time these signs occur, the cancer cells are already present and have begun to impact the patients overall bone health. Relying on these signs typically results in a late diagnosis of bone cancer. Blood tests that can detect the presence of bone cancers before they manifest in pain or fractures may be useful for identifying patients that would benefit from treatment before complications develop.

Cancers in the bone cause an increase in bone remodeling activity. Normal bone is constantly being remodeled, or broken down and rebuilt. Cancer cells disrupt the balance between the activity of osteoclasts (cells that break down bone) and osteoblasts (cells that build bone). When cancer cells are in the bones, some proteins, genes, or byproducts from the building blocks of bone are produced at a higher rate than during normal remodeling.

Measuring blood levels of these substances, called biological markers, can be useful for diagnosing cancer involving the bones. Higher levels can indicate that a cancer has progressed. Though most biological markers are not routinely used for the diagnosis of bone cancers at this time, some are very useful, while others show promise for the future.

Bone specific alkaline phosphatase (BSAP) is an enzyme that is present in the cells that participate in bone formation, called osteoblasts. BSAP has been used for many years to detect increases in bone formation activity. Blood levels of BSAP are increased in patients with bone cancer and other conditions that result in increased bone remodeling. Increases in BSAP have been detected in patients with bone metastasis caused by prostate cancer, and to a lesser degree, in bone metastases from breast cancer. Unfortunately, BSAP is not completely specific for cancer because alkaline phosphatases are also produced by other organs and can be elevated by other conditions. Nonetheless, BSAP can be monitored in patients who are known to be at risk of bone metastases.

Other biochemical markers are under investigation, but at this time, none have been approved for use in the clinical setting.

Ankle Injuries - Prevention and Treatment (Muscle Balance, Static dynamic and reactive stabilization phases)

2010-08-17T13:57:00.001+06:00

The ankle takes the full weight of the body and this makes it scecptible to injury. When running and jumping the forces that are exerted on the ankle are considerable. The most common ankle problems are sprains and fractures. A sprain is an injury to the ligaments, which may take many months to heal completely. You can also injure other parts of the ankle such as tendons and cartilage.

1. Band resistance work

Push against a resistance band, and you should feel this strengthening the calf muscles and Achilles tendon. Start with 3 sets of 10 once a day.

2. Small foot circles

Move foot around in circles against the resistance band. You should feel medial and lateral ankle ligaments lengthening.

3. Seated calf raise.

You should do this exercise seated to build up strength slowly. 3 sets of 10 should be performed.

Progressions

3b. Seated calf raise with barbell

Add barbell onto knees while doing calf raise

3c. Seated lateral calf raise with barbell

Add barbell onto knees while doing calf raises in a lateral direction to strengthen both lateral and medial ligaments.

4. Calf raise on stable swiss ball with base

5.Wobble board ankle ligament exercise

6. Single leg calf raises on swiss ball with base

Heel Pain

2010-08-17T13:48:00.003+06:00

Heel pain can be caused by a variety of problems. It may be due to a traumatic injury, such as landing on the heel on a hard surface, or may be an overuse injury, such as plantar fasciitis. Here are the most common causes of heel pain:
A bruised heel can be caused by either a sudden impact (such as landing heavily) or repetitive pounding. The heel bone (calcaneus) is protected by a pad of fat. Repeated pounding of the heel can cause the fat pad to be pushed up the side of the heel leaving less of a protective layer causing heel pain. This injury is also sometimes known as Policeman's heel. It is common in sports requiring a lot of impact onto the heel and in particular soldiers marching up and down on the parade square.

Treatment of Heel Pain

What can the athlete do about heel pain?

Rest until there is no more heel pain
Pad the heel of shoes with shock absorbing insoles or heel pad
Replace running shoes if they are old (more than 400 miles of running) or the soles are weakened through use

What can a professional do?

A sports injury professional will confirm the diagnosis
Advise on insoles heel pads to protect the fat pad in the heel
Tape heel to provide pain relief and compress the soft tissue under the heel giving more protection to the bone

How long will it take to recover?

If you catch heel pain early and rest then it should recover quite quickly - within a few days. If you ignore the first onset of pain and the fat pad gets damaged beyond easy repair then this is a very difficult injury to treat. Rest means rest. There is no point you stopping running for a week if you put up scaffolding for a living and are on your feet every day. If you have to be on your feet then ensure you put a shock absorbing and cushioning heel insert into your shoes.

Muscle Cramps

2009-12-08T16:50:00.002+07:00

Muscle Cramps Causes

Muscle cramps are felt to be caused by excessively excited nerves that stimulate the muscles. This can occur particularly after injury to nerve and/or muscle; dehydration; with low blood levels of calcium, magnesium, or potassium; from certain medications; and even at rest. The pain that is associated with muscle cramps that are caused by poor circulation to the legs that worsens with walking is referred to as claudication. Deficiencies of certain vitamins, including thiamine (B1), pantothenic acid (B5), and pyridoxine (B6), can also cause muscle cramps.
Common medications that can cause muscle cramps include furosemide (Lasix diuretic), donepezil (Aricept for Alzheimer's disease), neostigmine (Prostigmin for myasthenia gravis), raloxifene (Evista to prevent osteoporosis in postmenopausal women), tolcapone (Tasmar for Parkinson's disease), nifedipine (Procardia for angina, high blood pressure), and the asthma drugs terbutaline (Brethine) and albuterol (Proventil, Ventolin, and others). Some medicines used to lower cholesterol, including clofibrate (Atromid-S), pravastatin (Pravachol), atorvastatin (Lipitor), and lovastatin (Mevacor), can also cause cramps.

Muscle Cramps Symptoms

Muscle cramps cause local pain, tenderness, and firmness of the involved muscle. This disturbs the function of the involved extremity. When a hand muscle is affected, it can lead to difficulty in writing (writer's cramp) or grasping. When the muscles of the calf or foot are affected, it can lead to difficulty walking.

When to Seek Medical Care

Muscle cramps usually cause a temporary nuisance and typically resolve on their own without treatment. When muscle cramps continually recur, it is time to seek an evaluation by a health-care professional.

Exams and Tests

The health-care professional will review your history to analyze the character, location, intensity, and frequency of your muscle cramps. Your medications will be reviewed to determine if they may be playing a role in causing your muscle cramps. The physical examination will include evaluation of muscle strength, dexterity, and nerve function. Blood tests for the muscle enzymes (CPK, aldolase, LDH, ALT, AST) can be helpful to determine if muscle injury is occurring. Other blood testing may include evaluation of the levels of calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium, as well as thyroid function. Occasionally, testing with a neurologist might include tests of nerve conduction velocity (NCV) and an electromyogram (EMG).

Muscle Cramps Treatment

The primary treatment of muscle cramps involves methods to relax the affected muscle. This typically involves stretching, massage, and heat application. Other treatments are directed toward the underlying cause of the muscle cramps and can include rehydration, electrolyte repletion, hormone treatment, calcium supplementation, etc.

Self-Care at Home

Most cramps can be stopped if the involved muscle can be stretched. For many cramps of the feet and legs, this stretching can often be accomplished by standing up and walking around. For a calf muscle cramp, the person can stand about 2-2½ feet from a wall (possibly farther for a tall person) and lean into the wall to place the forearms against the wall with the knees and back straight and the heels in contact with the floor. Another technique involves flexing the ankle by pulling the toes up toward the head while still lying in bed with the leg as straight as possible. For writer's cramp (contractures in the hand), pressing the hand on a wall with the fingers facing down will stretch the cramping finger flexor muscles.

Gently massaging the muscle will often help it to relax, as will applying warmth from a heating pad or hot soak. If the cramp is associated with fluid loss, as is often the case with vigorous physical activity, fluid and electrolyte (especially sodium and potassium) replacement is essential. Medicines are not generally needed to treat an ordinary cramp that is active since most cramps subside spontaneously before enough medicine would be absorbed to even have an effect.

Medications

Muscle relaxants such as cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), orphenadrine (Norflex), and baclofen (Lioresal) can be helpful to relax cramping muscles. Some people benefit by drinking simple quinine water (tonic water) before bedtime. In recent years, injections of therapeutic doses of botulism toxin (Botox) have been used successfully for some spastic muscle disorders that are localized to a limited group of muscles.
A good response may last several months or more, and the injection may then be repeated.

Ankle Fracture

2009-12-08T16:46:00.002+07:00

Ankle Fracture
Medical Treatment

Doctors usually place a splint on your injured ankle for a few days to 2 weeks until the swelling goes down around the joint. The type of fracture and the stability of your joint will determine the type of splint that will be used.

If your bones are not aligned properly, the doctor may realign them before placing the splint.
If the bones cannot be realigned properly in the emergency department, then you may require an operation.

An operation will also be needed if any bone has broken through the skin. If the bone breaks through the skin, the fracture is then called a compound fracture. This is more serious than a simple fracture.

Some minor ankle fractures do not require a splint or cast. In these cases the fracture will be managed as an ankle sprain.

Because these fractures are very small, they heal well with this management.
With any injured ankle, however, you should not bear weight until a cast is placed or you are pain free.

After the swelling decreases and you are reexamined, then an orthopedic doctor or your primary care doctor may place a better-fitting cast on the ankle. Depending on the type of fracture, you may be placed in a walking cast, which can bear some weight, or you may still need a non-weight-bearing cast that will require the use of crutches to help you walk.

Depending on the degree of pain you are experiencing, your doctor may give you prescription-strength pain medication. These should be used only as needed. You should not drive or operate heavy machinery while using these medications.

Depression And Your Diabetic Child

2009-08-04T13:53:00.001+07:00

As parents of a child with Type 1 Juvenile Diabetes we need to be very aware of the possibility that our children may become depressed. The emotional wear of daily diabetes care on a child is a fact of life. This usually occurs well after the diagnosis. As parents and caregivers we settle into a rhythm. The exact opposite is true for our diabetic children. Sometimes we may not even recognize the symptoms. Trouble sleeping, irritability, apathy, less interest in friends, and less interest in activities they used to enjoy are just some of the signs that our child may be depressed. They may just seem generally sad. Other symptoms to watch for may include temper tantrums, low self-esteem, or maybe they stop doing well in school. Adjusting to life with type 1 diabetes is tough. It strikes at a time in life when children really don't have any experience in dealing with these types of emotions. If any of these symptoms are present in our children we must not ignore them. It can't be overstated; depression should be treated by a mental health professional. That's the bad news.

The good news is that depression is very treatable. Social workers, psychologists, and psychiatrists agree that depression, if treated quickly and properly is only a temporary condition. We as parents can also help. We can find ways to spend extra time with our child. We need to let them know that they are not alone, that we will be with them every step of the way. At a time like this our children need our total presence and support. We also need to let them know that these feelings won't last forever and the steps we are taking will help them feel better. We might also encourage our children to join in group activities. Scouts, after school sports, and church groups are usually led by adults who really care about the children they are responsible for. We may also want to speak with our child's teacher and the school social worker. If we make them aware they may be able to help and encourage our children. They will be much closer during the day to your child than you can be. Most communities have a variety of mental health organizations that we can turn to. Your family doctor or the hospital that is treating your child may also be a source of information for finding help. When we recognize the symptoms and take action we can help our children live a healthy normal life.

About the Author Russell Turner :

USA info@mychildhasdiabetes.com http://www.mychildhasdiabetes.com Russell Turner is the father of a 10 year old diabetic daughter. After she was diagnosed he soon discovered he could find all sorts of medical information on the internet. What he couldn't find was how to prepare his child and family for living with this disease. He started his own website for parents of newly diagnosed diabetic children http://www.mychildhasdiabetes.com

Nutrition Standards for Juvenile Diabetics

2009-08-04T13:47:00.003+07:00

The nutritional recommendations for juveniles with diabetes are much the same as the general population in this country. Children with diabetes need to eat a well balanced and healthy diet in order to keep their blood sugar levels in the normal range. Because of this need to control blood sugar they must eat foods in specified amounts depending on how they affect blood sugar levels.

Finding out that their child has diabetes can be quite shocking for many parents. One of the most challenging parts of any diabetics lifestyle change is learning how to prepare meals and snacks. This can be doubly hard for the parents of a diabetic child because following the dietary advice of the doctor and dietician can affect the entire household.

Attempting to learn what foods to feed a juvenile with diabetes can be confusing at first. There is a wealth of information in books and on websites but for most parents in can be overwhelming trying to figure it all out. The important thing for parents with newly diagnosed diabetic children to do is learn to spot the good information from the bad.

The best place to start is the American Diabetes Association where they will find the Diabetes Food Pyramid. This pyramid is much like the USDA food pyramid that everyone is familiar with with one difference. The USDA pyramid classifies food by the group they are in whereas the diabetic food pyramid groups foods based on their carbohydrate, protein, and fat content and breaks them down into the amount of servings for each. There are six groups that make up the diabetic pyramid and they include starches, proteins, fats, meats, fruits and vegetables.

If we take a look at each category we can get a better understanding of each and how they fit into a well balanced diabetic diet plan.

Starches and Grains: These are the primary sources of carbohydrates for everyone. These include foods like whole grains, rye, oats and the starchy vegetables such as potatoes and corn. This group also includes the dry beans such as pinto beans and black eyed peas. The suggested number of serving per day is between six to eleven. This is a range and must be personalized to the individual's needs and goals with the help of a registered dietician.

Vegetables: Vegetables should always be a part of every dietary plan. They are full of many vital nutrients, are low in fat, and high in fiber all of which contribute to good health. Diabetics should have three to five servings per day. It is important to note that the starchy vegetables are not included in this category and should not be substituted into this group of the pyramid.

Fruits: Fruits are loaded with vitamins, minerals and fiber as well as carbohydrates. Serving sizes are determined by the individual fruit and suggested serving are two to four per day.

Milk: Milk and dairy products are essential in that they contain protein, calcium and many of the vitamins we need each day. Because they can contain a substantial amount of fat it is best to choose low fat or non fat versions of these products. The pyramid recommends two to three servings per day.

Meat and Meat Products: Meat and meat products are a primary supply of protein for all people. They also provide essential vitamins, minerals and amino acids the body needs to function in a healthy fashion. Choose only lean cuts and trim any visible fat to help keep the amount of saturated fat ingested to a minimum.

Fats, Sweets and Alcohol: While diabetics can partake of these it is recommended to keep their use in meal preparation and snack to a minimum. For the juvenile with diabetes this is important in that it teaches them food habits that will stay with them for the rest of their life.

The American Diabetes Association is a good place to start when it comes to learning about feeding a juvenile with diabetes. They have everything needed for healthy meal planning, exchange lists, weight control and recommended exercise programs.

Allergic Food Reactions

2009-08-04T13:42:00.002+07:00

The topic of allergic food reactions is undoubtedly one of the most confused of clinical immunology. The term â€˜allergicâ€™ is frequently used inappropriately to describe all conditions where reproducible reactions are triggered by food ingestions, disappear on an elimination diet and recur on a blind challenge. â€˜Food intoleranceâ€™ is the appropriate term to define the entirety of these conditions.

Allergic food reactions should be confined to those cases where an immune mechanism can be demonstrated. Most instances of food intolerance are not explained by a clear immunological mechanism, being caused by toxics (spices, sulphites) and pharmacological (caffeine, sodium nitrite) stimuli or by enzymatic deficiencies (lactose deficiency in some cases of milk intolerance). In these non-immune food reactions, however, many of the manifestations may be accounted for by activation of the alternative complement pathway.
It is postulated that this pathway is triggered by non-immune stimuli such as food contaminants, leading to formation of anaphylotoxins such as C5a.

In the first year of life, food intolerance is relatively common, with cowâ€™s milk being the most frequent initiating stimulus. It appears as gastrointestinal symptoms and possibly wheezing. In adults the foods most frequently involved in intolerance are milk, eggs, fish, nuts, wheat and chocolate. These food reactions frequently have an allergic pathogenesis. Symptoms include urticaria, angioedema, asthma, anaphylaxis and less frequently, nausea and vomiting. Such manifestations, but even more those comprising the oral allergy syndrome-swelling of the lips within minutes of food ingestions and tingling in the mouth and the throat-closely correlate with the presence of specific IgE and implicate a type I hypersensitivity as the mechanism responsible for the clinical manifestations.

Involvement of type I hypersensitivity can be documented by the detection of specific IgE using the RAST or, less expensively, with a skin prick test. The prick test, unfortunately, is only as good as the antigen it uses.
Therefore, while antigenic preparations from eggs, milk or shellfish may provoke a positive skin reaction in sensitized individuals, highly purified preparations from apple are rarely do, even if a hypersensitive subject gives strikingly positive reactions when challenged with cruder preparations from apple juice or apple peel.

The main diagnostic procedure in food intolerance is an elimination diet from which suspect foods are gradually removed until symptoms disappear. A positive diagnosis is made when symptoms reappear upon reintroducing a specific food. This challenge should be done in a double-blind manner using placebo controls.
The challenge should be avoided, however, if the food is suspected to have caused systemic anaphylaxis in the past.

by: Wong Lai Teng

How to Relief with Allergies?

2009-08-04T13:35:00.002+07:00

An allergies is an abnormal reaction to ordinarily harmless substance or substances. These sensitizing substances, called allergens, may be inhaled, swallowed or come into contact with the skin.Substances that cause allergic reactions, such as certain foods, dust, plant pollen, or medicines, are known as allergens.

An allergy is actually a malfunction of the immune system, which attacks invaders or antibodies.Allergic reactions can be mild, like a runny nose, or they can be severe, like difficulty breathing.Allergic asthma caused by allergens such as mites and pollens, and stinging insect allergy.Allergic reaction to something that is breathed into the lungs in a person who is susceptible.

Medications such as pills or nasal sprays are often used to treat allergies.Many effective medications are available to treat common allergies.
AANGAMIK DMG:
AANGAMIK DMG is the only pure DMG product that contains no fillers or binders and is therefore pure and non-allergenic.

Allercetin Allergy & Sinus:
Allercetin is a Bio-Aligned Formula that utilizes natural homeopathic remedies for the treatment of allergies.
Allergiemittel AllerAide:
Allergiemittel AllerAide temporarily relieves minor allergic symptoms such as sneezing, itching, runny nose, watery eyes, eczema, wheezing, and shortness of breath caused by allergies.

How to care with Allergies?
1.Wear a mask whenever dusting or mowing a lawn Stop smoking.
2.Keep family pets out of certain rooms, like your bedroom, and bathe them if necessary. 3.Avoid using aspirin, which has been reported to allow food allergens to be more effectively absorbed by the body.
4.Remove carpets or rugs from your room.Install an air-purification system at home.

Author By Michal John

Caution ! ! !

2009-07-12T11:37:00.002+07:00

Don't Take Medicine Without Doctor's Prescribe

Don't Take Medicine Without Doctor's Prescribe

Don't Take Medicine Without Doctor's Prescribe

General Information About Diabetes

2009-04-21T19:22:00.002+06:00

Diabetes is a growing health problem in the world today. Did you know that approximately 20.8 million children and adults are diagnosed with diabetes in the United States alone? These numbers are growing every day.
The exact cause of diabetes is not clear, however, lack of exercise and obesity are huge factors in the development of diabetes. This article will give some general information about diabetes.

Glucose is considered the body's fuel. We get glucose from the foods that we eat. It is not just sugar alone that is converted into glucose, but also starches and carbohydrates are chemically broken down into glucose. Without glucose your body would not function. All muscles and major organs in your body need glucose. But how does the glucose get to the proper destinations?

Insulin is the hormone that distributes the glucose to the liver, fat cells and muscles. A diabetic does not produce enough insulin or for some reason, his body is not able to process it effectively. When this happens the glucose stays in the blood and produces high blood sugar.

Diabetes can be classified into the following three types:

Type 1 Diabetes
In type 1 diabetes the body produces little or no insulin and daily injections of insulin are necessary to sustain life. This type is usually present from childhood and is also called insulin dependent diabetes.

Type 2 Diabetes
It is the more common type of diabetes and usually develops in adulthood. With type 2 diabetes, the body is unable to effectively use the insulin produced. Most type 2 diabetics are managed by diet and oral medications.

Gestational Diabetes.
This type develops during pregnancy and usually goes away after the birth of the baby.

It is important to know the risks factor of diabetes. One of the biggest risks factors is a family history. If you have a parent or sibling with diabetes, your chances of developing diabetes are very good. Also being over 45 years of age, being obese, having poor eating habits or being of African American or Native American descent can increase your chance of becoming a diabetic.

If you have any of the above risk factors, be aware of the warning signs of diabetes. Contact you doctor if you have any of these signs and symptoms:-

-Increased appetite
- Increased thirst
- Frequent urination
- Slow healing cuts or infections
- Increased amount of infections
- Blurry vision

If you are diagnosed with diabetes, treatment will usually involve diet changes and oral medications. In more severe cases, insulin injections may be prescribed.

Diabetes is manageable if the proper treatment regimen is followed. Talk with your doctor and a good diabetic educator. Have your doctor set you up an appointment with a registered dietician. She can show you what you can and cannot eat on a diabetic diet.
Check your blood sugar levels frequently. Educate yourself about all the treatment options out there. Lose weight and become more active. Getting a diagnosis of diabetes is no reason to stop living.

source:www.freearticles.com/article/General-Information-About-Diabetes/1515

Possible Herbal Treatments For Diabetes

2009-04-21T19:11:00.002+06:00

Many people are turning to herbal remedies for the treatments of diseases. The reason for this is natural herbs have less side effects that traditional prescription medicine. There are vast variety of herbs for every medical condition.
Before trying any type of herbal supplement, talk with your doctor. Some herbs may have in interaction with medications that you may be on.

If you start an herbal treatment for your diabetes, monitor you blood sugar levels frequently. There are many types of herbs for the treatment of diabetes. Some work better than others and what works for one person may not work for you.
Do your research and talk with a holistic healer or herbalist. This article is going to list a few of the herbs that are used in the treatment of diabetes:

Garlic and onions are best known for their cardiovascular benefits, however a few studies have shown that they can be beneficial in lowering blood glucose levels. Onions can increase the production of insulin in your body, which will lower high glucose levels in your blood.

Bitter melon has long been used for it's glucose lowering properties. It must be taken in small doses however, because larger doses can cause abdominal pain and diarrhea.

Aloe Vera has been called the healing herb. It is known for it's ability to treat burns and cuts.But the dried sap and gel taken from the inner portion of the leaves have been effective in treating diabetes.

Asian ginseng is a traditional Chinese medicine. It has long been used in the treatment of diabetes. Asian ginseng can increase the release of insulin from the pancreas and enhance the function of insulin receptors.

Gymnema is an Ayurvedic herb that has been shown to help the pancreas produce insulin. It has been beneficial in lowering blood sugar levels in both type 1 and type 2 diabetics.

Stevia has long been used to lower blood glucose levels. It has had animal studies but has not undergone any human trials.

Cinnamon bark will make fat cells more accessible to insulin. It blocks the formation of dangerous free radicals and increases the conversation rate of glucose to energy.

These are just a few of the herbs used to treat diabetes. You must remember, that just because you can buy it over the counter does not mean that it is completely safe. People with renal disease or liver disease are at a higher risk for complications.
If you are on blood thinning medicines be aware that taking ginkgo, ginseng and garlic will increase your risk for bleeding.

Do not take extra doses of the herbs thinking that more is better. It can actually do more harm than good.
Monitor your blood sugar frequently and keep your doctor informed of what you are doing. If you find the right herb that works for you, prescription medication for your diabetes may become a thing of the past!

Sometimes the best offense against diabetes is a good defense

source: www.freearticles.com/article/Possible-Herbal-Treatments-For-Diabetes/1512

Understanding Impaired Glucose Tolerance

2009-04-21T19:00:00.002+06:00

Be Aware of the Signs, Symptoms and Risk Factors

People who develop type 2 diabetes usually experience two preliminary stages:
insulin resistance and impaired glucose tolerance. Insulin resistance is a condition in which the pancreas manages to pump enough insulin to bring down blood sugar levels, but with levels of insulin much higher than normal.

Over time, a person with insulin resistance secretes more and more insulin to move the same amount of glucose into the cells, where it is needed for energy. In many people, this ability to compensate eventually breaks down. When this happens, blood sugar levels begin to climb, despite the high levels of insulin produced by the pancreas.

Many times, despite having higher-than-normal blood sugar levels, people with impaired glucose tolerance are not aware of their condition. Symptoms may be mild, such as slightly increased thirst or more frequent urination, or not present at all. However, higher-than-normal blood sugar levels can begin to cause damage in many organs, such as the kidneys, eyes, and blood vessels. Health care providers and diabetes experts recommend that everyone older than age 45 be tested for diabetes.

People with the following risk factors should be tested earlier:

a. People with a body mass index greater than 25.

b. Women who had a baby weighing more than 9 pounds at birth.

c. People who have a parent, sister and/or brother with diabetes.

d. Anyone who is sedentary.

e. People of certain races, including Hispanics, African Americans and Native Americans.

source: www.diabetescontrolforlife.com

African women: a long battle for equality

2008-10-31T19:33:00.000+06:00

For Ms. Sibongile Msimela, the UNAIDS gender adviser for East and Southern Africa, the solution to soaring HIV infection rates among women is the full empowerment of women. "None of it is rocket science," she told Africa Renewal from her Johannesburg office. "If the international community had done the things we know we need to do around women's empowerment issues, the impact of HIV and AIDS wouldn't be as severe as it is today."

As welcome as the current focus on women is, much of the debate seems to imply that "African women are doing nothing," she continued. "It's important to keep in mind that African women themselves are very actively pushing for change. The notion that people will come from outside to save African women is wrong. The battle for women's rights has been fought by African women for a long time now."

Women are organized to work for their rights in much of Africa, she noted. They are particularly strong in places like South Africa and Zimbabwe, where they participated in the struggle against white minority rule. "That history of organizing," she said, "has really helped women keep their communities together through some of the darkest times. It's not all gloom and doom."

Prevention, Wellness, Education and Support

2008-10-31T18:27:00.001+06:00

In 2003, the National Urban League began a new, stronger focus on health issues, prevention and health education. In particular, the movement is addressing some of the most pressing health-care concerns facing African-Americans today.

The National Urban League's State of Black America 2004 reports that Blacks are impacted by higher rates of obesity, substance abuse, HIV/AIDS and diabetes. Specifically:

Blacks experience diabetes at twice the rate of whites

Blacks are 10 times more likely to be HIV positive than whites

Blacks are likely to be more obese than their white counterparts

Blacks have an average life expectancy of 72 years versus 78 years for whites

Blacks are less likely to have health insurance and likewise receive lower health care benefits throughout their lifetime

Not only is the African American community more susceptible to and less likely to recover from certain illnesses than other groups, there is an alarming lack of affordable healthcare available to help them do so.

To overcome these hurdles, National Urban League has been working with such organizations as The Center for Disease Control, the National Eye Institute of the National Institutes of Health, and the American Legacy Foundation, among others, to address such health crises as diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer's and depression. Two main initiatives are:

The Lift Every Voice Diabetes Education Program - targeting the prevention and treatment of diabetes

The National African-American Wellness Initiative - promoting proper nutrition, physical fitness, healthcare and prevention of disease through a new website launched in 2004

As a result, over the last year National Urban League provided diabetes testing and health-care education to over 130,000 people, and has raised awareness about everything from obesity prevention and smoking-cessation to obtaining health care/Medicare benefits.

Taking the term "early prevention" to heart, the League is currently counseling schools on how to provide healthful activities for their students.

Natural Cures For Diabetes

2008-10-16T17:45:00.002+06:00

A good diet is the key to good health. While in some cases diabetes is caused due to genetic factors or other triggers, more often than not it is diets rich in sugar that lead to blood sugar problems later in life. Every diet has the scope to be tweaked a little bit so that you can ward off the danger of diabetes. If you are overweight, have high blood pressure, low HDL, and eat a lot of processed foods, you fall in the high-risk category.

Everyone ought to slowly wean themselves off highly processed junk food and shift to leaner, more natural alternatives. You can also use the three natural cures for diabetes tips which are listed below:

Diabetes and magnesium

In a study done in England on 11,000 women in the high-risk category, it was shown that those with a high magnesium intake were 27 per cent less susceptible to diabetes. According to research, magnesium is known to lower blood pressure, relax the heart muscles, and controls homocysteine, which is a known trigger for heart disease and diabetes. Magnesium also catalyzes the enzyme system in the body to convert nutrients into energy. Magnesium also relaxes the muscles and reduces muscle spasms.

Dark green leafy vegetables, nuts, avocados and whole grain are excellent sources of magnesium.

Diabetes and Cinnamon

Research has shown that using cinnamon in your diet on a regular basis helps reduce blood glucose levels by 18-29%. In addition, it also reduces other diabetes risk factors like triglyceride (which shows a 30% decline) and LDL cholesterol (a 25% decrease).

Cinnamon contains an extract called Cinnulin PF. This extract works at the cellular level and increases the sensitivity of insulin cell receptors by three times. Poor response of insulin cell receptors is often a major problem in diabetics, which makes cinnamon an important diabetes inhibitor. TI is advisable to consume about 500mg of cinnamon extract, twice a day.

Glucotor 2-a Diabetics' Formulation

Glucotor 2 is a completely natural formula prepared with the specific needs of diabetics in mind. It contains prickly pear cactus, fenugreek, cinnulin PF, bitter melon and gymnema sylvestre, all of which are very beneficial in diabetes control. Glucotor 2 which follows its very successful predecessor Glucotol 1, has been rendered even more powerful by the addition of cinnulin PF cinnamon extracts.
Glucotol 1 has a very illustrious history in battling high blood sugar, with a number of true life testimonies to its credit. Glucotor 2 only improves on it, as it adds Cinnulin PF and magnesium, both of which are effective in controlling diabetes. Both these components have been proved efficacious not just for blood sugar control, but also in preventing heart disease.

So, while you may have actually tweaked your eating habits to avoid fatty, high processed foods, you should surely also add a daily dose of Glucotor 2 to your diet plan to ensure even better protection against diabetes and cardiovascular problems.

And you need not fear any harmful side effects from Glucotor 2-it is a tried and tested natural remedy that is uses no artificial chemicals in its preparation.

Beauty Tips - Choosing The Right Dental Floss

2008-10-16T17:41:00.002+06:00

Flossing your teeth is as important as brushing is. Dental floss actually helps clear out pieces of food that may be left between your teeth. However choosing the right dental floss for your teeth is imperative but not a difficult task.

When it comes to oral care, dental floss is one of the top recommended tools dentists recommends for keeping your teeth healthy and clean, this is of course after the toothbrush. However, you may think that just any dental floss will do. The reality is, you have some things to consider when looking for the right dental floss.

Keeping your teeth healthy, clean, and your overall mouth in good hygienic condition is crucial to proper oral care, therefore, your dental floss makes all the difference in the world. There are thousands of different kinds of floss available, you will see this when you go to purchase one, however, one floss might be better than the one next to it and vice versa. No two people's teeth are the exact same, so what works for someone else, might not work for you.

With that being said, here are some things you need to consider when choosing the right dental floss.

Space – The space between the teeth has a big impact on the type of dental floss you use. Remember, no two people have the same teeth; this applies to spacing as well. If you have very little spacing with your teeth, you will want to choose floss with wax; this will allow easier access and be more pleasant at the same time. Those with wide gaps should be choosing floss with tape. This kind of dental floss is both wider and thicker, allowing you to floss more efficiently and easily than you may experience with waxed floss.

Strength – If you have problems with floss breaking when using, you will want something that is more durable and sturdy to floss with, again, floss with wax is good for this situation.

Taste – The last thing you want to do is put something in your mouth that tastes bad, right? Then you should consider flavored dental floss. Flavored dental floss has extra benefits. Not only does it help clean your teeth, but it also freshens your breath at the same time.

Reach – Some people have a hard time reaching their teeth to implementing a floss regimen correctly. These people may require special devices that allow them to floss easier and more efficiently, such as power flossing.

You certainly have your choices when it comes to dental floss in your oral care regimen. You can choose from nylon or waxed floss, corded or polymer floss, and even old fashioned or high tech flosses, you definitely have some decision making to do.

The floss you choose will really depend on the type of teeth you have. If you are looking for a stiff floss then a nylon floss is great and works well when it comes to removing grease from your teeth. On the other hand a waxed floss is smooth and works great when it comes to removing sticky substances from between your teeth.
When flossing your teeth you don’t need to be very quick about it, just make sure that you take your time and floss all the areas that you can reach.

The Dentist

2008-10-16T17:38:00.001+06:00

He dentist is a very important doctor in the lives of people. Dentists help to keep teeth and gum's healthy for their patients. Dentistry is defined as the evaluation, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases and conditions of the oral cavity. The treatment can involve cleaning, surgery or other procedures. Dentists enlist the help of dental assistants, technicians and therapists. Dentists are key to the health of the oral cavity of their patients and can help to prevent gum disease or tooth decay with a simple visit to their office to have a check up. Check ups involving the dentist are recommended every six months instead of the normal once a year check up with a physician.

When at the dentist the patient will go through a variety of procedures to have their teeth cleaned and kept healthy. The first person to see the patient will be the dental assistant. The dental assistant will clean the teeth, top and bottom, with a sharp utensil to remove any and all plaque that has accumulated on the teeth and around the gum's. Then the dental assistant will use a motorized toothbrush with toothpaste to clean the patient’s teeth and gum's. The toothbrush is able to reach the back of the mouth to clean the molars as well.

Even though patients are recommended to have a dental check up once every six months, x-rays are required by a dentist once a year. So once per year a dental assistant will take x-rays of the patient’s teeth and gum's. This is to make sure that the teeth are not infected with any cavities and the gum's do not have any infections that can lead to gum disease. Once the cleaning is complete and the x-rays are done the dental assistant will then find the dentist.

The dentist’s examination of the patient’s oral cavity is the final part of the visit to the office. The dentist will use the same sharp prodding utensil to pull on the teeth of the patient to make sure that they are not loose and will also examine the gum's for any inflammation. Inflammation can be caused by the buildup of plaque as well as sleeping with a wide open mouth. When people snore a lot they leave their mouth open and air dries out the gums, causing them to become inflamed.

Once the dentist has finished examining the patient’s oral cavity he or she will determine whether or not the patient needs any further treatment or surgery. If cavities are found, the dentist will either work on the cavity at the time of the visit or will tell the patient to schedule another appointment. If everything looks good the dentist will tell the patient to schedule their next appointment for six months down the road. For inflamed gums, the dentist will recommend proper flossing twice a day, after brushing the teeth.
Proper flossing includes making sure the floss goes all the way down to the gums in between the teeth to clean the gums too. The dentist can also produce dentures for patients that need false teeth because their original teeth fell out or they had them removed.

Methods to Get Rid of Anxiety and Depression

2008-10-16T17:35:00.002+06:00

When people suffer from anxiety and depression, they seek out the ways that they can get treatment. They realize that they need to do something in order to feel better, so they explore all of the available avenues. There are a lot of different treatment options for mental illnesses, and the choices can be overwhelming. They vary in price and effectiveness, and each one should be explored before a decision is made.

Some people choose to use a psychiatrist. When using a psychiatrist, people get medication for their problems. The dosage of the medication is adjusted as the problems persist. This can cost people a large sum of money. It can be several hundred dollars per visit with the psychiatrist, along with the cost of medication. This method works for some people, but not for others. The main problem with seeing a psychiatrist for treatment for anxiety and depression is that it does not get to the root of the problem.

Other people seek out the advice of a counselor. They see a counselor every week in order to talk about their problems. They do not necessarily take medication when they use this process, although they can get medication by going to a psychiatrist as well. This can also cost quite a bit of money. Counselors charge around $100 for each session, which turns out to be $400 a month. If the counselor cannot find the cause of the problem, this will not be an effective treatment.

Some people seek the help of friends. This can put a burden on relationships. People come to realize that their friends do not actually have the answers that they need to help them, and it causes the relationship to falter under the strain and the pressure. Friends care about each other, but they are not able to fix the mental problems that afflict one another.

Others try to treat their anxiety and depression on their own. They do not seek any kind of help at all. This method is almost never successful. Instead of helping the problem, the problems tend to get even worse. People who try to help themselves often end up self medicating through drugs and alcohol instead of facing their problems. That causes them to have even more problems that must be dealt with.

Energy psychology is another method that people use to help with their mental problems. This method can help erase fear and self doubt in people. Those who use energy psychology learn how to eliminate the cause of their problems. While the price for this kind of service varies, it can be incredibly inexpensive.

Beautiful Skin At Any Age

2008-10-16T17:20:00.002+06:00

Beautiful skin can be marred by acne which affects about 85% of teenagers and can be seen in 60% of adults as well. It is most likely to be seen during periods of hormonal changes such as puberty and menopause (or in women starting or stopping birth control pills).

Elevated hormone levels can cause the sebaceous (oil producing) glands to form greater amounts of sebum (oil). These glands are attached, under the skin, to the sides of each hair shaft, and together form a unit called a follicle. The opening of the skin is referred to as a pore. The oil produced is necessary to lubricate the hair and skin. Most of the time the oil glands produce the right amount of sebum, and the pores are fine. When excess oil production is triggered, the pores can get clogged and bacteria begin to multiply, which leads to acne.
Sometimes the pore is so blocked that it ruptures the skin and spills the contents into the surroundings. This causes inflammation, irritation and results in the deep "underground" pimple we know as an acne nodule or cyst.

Recent studies have shown that the typical Western diet contributes greatly to the incidence and severity of acne. Our diets are rich in refined carbohydrates and sugars. This triggers our bodies to produce a surge in insulin. It also causes an excess of male hormones which encourage the skin to excrete more oil and subsequent abundant growth of bacteria. Studies have shown that populations not fed on a Western diet are virtually acne-free. Yet when they move to cities and change their diet, they begin to experience acne for the first time ever.

Tips for Clear, Beautiful Skin:

– Cleanse twice daily. It is not necessary to wash your face every hour, as this can strip off too much oil from your skin and trigger over-production to compensate.
– Maintain a healthy, well-balanced diet.
– Eat organic whenever possible. Your body does not need the extra hormones and antibiotics found in typical meats, chicken or even farm-raised fish.
– Refrain from touching the area.
– Take care to keep hair sprays and gels on your hair but off your face.
– Use a moisturizer if you need one. You don't have to dry out your skin to treat acne.
– Try an over-the-counter homeopathic remedy.
– Some dermatologists offer a new laser treatment (SmoothBeam) which can help to clear acne in a few monthly sessions.

Beautiful skin is pleasurable to behold. Following these steps you can help create and maintain beautiful skin throughout your life.

Allergy Relief With Soap Nuts

2008-10-16T17:09:00.002+06:00

Soap nuts are the fruit of Sapindus Mukorossi found in North India, Nepal, China, Indonesia and South America. There are five to twelve species of Sapindus genus as shrubs and small trees all over the world. Soap nuts contain saponin which is a natural detergent. Saponin is also found in bark of Quillaia Saponaria tree in South Africa. Saponin‘s detergent properties come forth when it comes in contact in water, it acts as natural surfactant. The fabric gets cleaned as it allows the water enters and dirt gets removed. Soap nuts contain 12% of Saponin approximately.

The ripe soap nuts are brown or golden in color. It is environment friendly to chemical detergent as it uses less water and waste water from washing using soap nuts can be used for watering plants. It can be good alternative to chemical detergents, as these are increasingly unacceptable to consumer for fears of safety of chemicals. In addition soap nut is bio- degradable unlike chemical detergents an important factor for environmentally sensitive consumer.

Environmental degradation is a major concern, ecologist and biologists and other scientist are engage in job of coming with harmless products to nature and mankind. Soap nuts being non-toxic and bio-degradable are blessing in disguise. The studies have also reveal that the Saponin in soap nuts helps environment by controlling fish population and combating harmful micro organism.

The use of soap nuts for washing, hair wash and as medicinal uses in traditional medical system of Ayurveda in India. The soap nuts are also mentioned Tibetan and Unani Medical system. Use of Soap nuts is recommended in these ancient medical systems for constipation, common cold, pimples, control of dandruff, removing lices from scalp, epilepsy, nausea, eczema and psoriasis.

It has also been used in small doses in enthelmintic and expectorant. Nepal and India people have used the soap nuts for a long time not only for washing but treatment of various medicinal uses, now this is getting popular all over the world.

It is recommended that people with allergy and skin diseases should use the soap nuts for bathing due to its anti- microbial properties. Washing hair help not only beautifully washed hairs but also control dandruff. Soap nuts are very effective for people having allergies as these are mild.
The chemical detergents and cleansers such as sodium laureth sulphate and other chemical surfactants can leave skin dry and irritated. This is especially in case of person suffering from eczema and psoriasis.
Soap nuts gives relief as there are no such chemical and are gentler on body, it is 100% natural, safe and hypoallergenic. People suffering from eczema and psoriasis and other serious skin aliments are advised not to use cleansers.

It is extremely difficult to avoid using cleansers as these are required for personal hygiene and cleanliness. Soap nuts offer the best solution for chemical free detergent that is why soap nut is a key element in Ayurvedic soaps and shampoos.
The soap nut cleanser due to property of soap nuts kill disease causing germs thus giving allergy relief, also as there are no toxin, dyes or enzymes makes them an ideal medicine for treatment of allergy. The soap nut cleansers are suitable for either sex or all ages including children.

Global studies on psoriasis and eczema have confirmed that soap nuts help as medicine and reduce the disease, whilst using conventional chemical soaps and cleansers have increase in skin disease.

Glaucoma and the Optic Nerve

2008-10-16T17:04:00.002+06:00

Glaucoma is a disease involving the optic nerve that affects the loss of retinal ganglion cells. If glaucoma is left untreated it will eventually lead to permanent damage of the optic nerve and then blindness. Glaucoma is caused most commonly by intraocular pressure on the nerves in the eye. A damaged visual field can never be fixed or recaptured. Glaucoma is a tricky disease because its progression is so slow. It can gradually wear down one’s eyesight without the person noticing much of a difference and once the disease is detected; there isn’t much a doctor can do to prevent it from getting worse, because it was detected at such a late stage.

People with ocular pressure, diabetes, and African American decent are three times more likely than others to develop Glaucoma. People that have a family history of Glaucoma have a six percent chance to develop the disease than people without a family history of it. The use of steroids has also been linked to the development of Glaucoma. Studies have also shown, in rare cases, that Glaucoma could be linked to hypertension (high blood pressure).

Glaucoma is usually diagnosed after a routine eye examination with an optometrist or ophthalmologist. The doctor will test the eye for changes in intraocular pressure, changes in the size or shape of the eye and an examination of the optic nerve. Glaucoma could also be examined by looking at the patient’s background; their sex, race, history of drug use, refraction, inheritance and family history. The majority of treatments for Glaucoma is the continued use of eye drops to help lower the level of intraocular pressure.

There is yet to be a cure for Glaucoma but surgery is one way to treat the disease. The surgery will help to lower intraocular pressure by allowing fluid to leave the eye after a hole has been opened up in the meshwork. Surgery can be performed with a laser or conventionally. A patient could also undergo a canaloplasty.
A canaloplasty is when the Schlemm Canal is opened, allowing fluids to flow freely, ultimately lowering the pressure of the eye. Glaucoma patients that don’t respond to these normal treatments could look into Glaucoma drainage implants. This is the final option for patients if the eye does not respond to any other treatment. A flow tube is inserted in the eye to allow for fluid to flow out of the eye, thus lowering the intraocular pressure.

There are a handful of different stages of Glaucoma. They are primary, developmental, secondary and absolute Glaucoma. All of these stages develop over time and can eventually lead to blindness if the disease is not treated properly. Not all people with elevated pressure in the eye develop Glaucoma. Some patients of Glaucoma have developed the disease without elevated pressure in the eye. This could just be from their family history. In fact, the most common type of Glaucoma disease is hereditary.
Everyone is at risk for the disease and in most cases there are little to no symptoms.

Gastric Cancer

2008-10-16T16:53:00.002+06:00

The stomach plays a hugely vital role in our body. It is the organ to our digestion. It’s main function is to break down the foods we eat in order for it to be distributed and then absorbed to the different organs of our body. The stomach is attached to the lower end of our esophagus (a tube that is connected to the throat at its upper end). Above the stomach lies the diaphragm and beneath it the pancreas.

One of the diseases involving the stomach is gastric cancer. This kind of disease is more common in men than in women and is often seen in individuals aged 50 years and above. However, it is believed that stomach cancer is caused by an infection by helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria and dietary patterns.

How do I know if I have Gastric Cancer?

Gastric cancer at an early stage is very hard to diagnose. Initial symptoms are usually very general and tricky. But in most cases, symptoms would appear only when the condition is already advanced and have already made some serious damages. These are the symptoms that you may experience when you have stomach cancer.

• Anorexia or Loss of appetite
• Difficulty swallowing or dysphagia which increases over time
• Vague abdominal fullness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Presence of blood in vomit
• Abdominal pain
• Excessive belching
• Breath odor
• Excessive gas (flatus)
• Unintentional weight loss
• A general decline in health
• Premature abdominal fullness after meals

Am I at risk for stomach cancer?

• FAMILY HISTORY
Individuals who have family members diagnosed with gastric cancer are at greater risk for developing the disease.

• SEX
Men are more likely to develop stomach cancer more than women.

• AGE
People who are 50 years and above pose a greater risk for the disease.

• SMOKING
Smokers pose a immense risk of acquiring the disease than non-smokers.

• DIET
The kinds of foods you eat will greatly help you determine your risk for gastric cancer. Diet high in foods preserved by smoking, salting or pickling increases your risk of stomach cancer. Eating processed meats, bacon and ham is also a risk factor.

• TYPE A BLOOD
It is discussed and debated by many experts that individuals with Type A Blood are more prone to gastric cancer.

• YOUR COUNTRY
Stomach cancer have been observed to be more prevalent in some countries especially Japan, Korea, parts of Eastern Europe, and Latin America.

• OBESITY
How can I prevent stomach cancer from developing?

• Establish a healthy diet for your stomach

One must eat an ample amount of fruits and vegetables, especially those that contain Vitamin C and beta carotene. Pick dark, green leafy vegetables. Fruits such as strawberries and red bell pepper are believed to protect out stomach from cancer. On the other hand, you should limit foods that are smoked pickled and heavily salted. You should also avoid eating too much red meat.

• Avoid nitrates and Nitrites

These substances are usually found in processed meats such as bologna, salami and corned beef. They are also present in cured meats such as ham and bacon.

• Limit Alcohol Consumption

• Don’t Smoke

Prostate Cancer

2008-10-16T16:46:00.001+06:00

Prostate cancer is a disease that develops in the male reproductive system; specifically in the gland called the prostate. How does prostate cancer develop? Prostate cancer occurs when the cells of the gland mutate and begin to multiply out of control. They can spread to other parts of the body including the lymph nodes and the bones. Most sufferers of prostate cancer have difficulty when they urinate, develop erectile dysfunction among other symptoms. One of the major side effects of the disease is a discomfort in the area or severe pain in the groin.

Prostate cancer is most common amongst men in the United States and is least common in South and East Asia. The disease occurs most frequently in men over the age of 50. It is the second leading cancer killer among United States men aside from lung cancer. Two factors that cause prostate cancer are genetics and a person's diet. The most common way to discover prostate cancer is by a screening and not usually by physical detection. Just like lung cancer, prostate cancer is confirmed with a biopsy and then examining that biopsy with a microscope. CT scans and bone scans are used to see if the cancer has spread to any other areas of the body.

Some treatments for prostate cancer are surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, proton therapy, and hormonal therapy.

What is the prostate?
The prostate is a gland that makes and stores seminal fluid. It is located in the pelvis area under the urinary bladder. When prostate cancer develops men suffer from urination and ejaculation problems. It is difficult to pinpoint prostate cancer in the early stages because there are practically no symptoms. Most cases are discovered via tests during a routine checkup. If prostate cancer does cause symptoms, which is rare, they are frequent urination, increased urination at night, difficulty maintaining a steady stream of urine, blood in the urine and painful urination.

Some protective measures against prostate cancer are a healthy diet that includes a high volume of Vitamin D, vitamin E, lycopene and soy foods. Some studies suggest that drinking a large amount of Green Tea will also help prevent prostate cancer because of the polyphenol in its ingredients. The National Cancer Institute advises men not to take more than the suggested level of multivitamins in the span of a week because this could increase the risk of contracting the disease.

Doctors recommend that men over the age of 50 begin to get screened for prostate cancer at their yearly checkups. Most men who die when suffering from prostate cancer usually don't die from the cancer itself. The disease takes so long to progress that the man usually dies from other health related issues such as heart disease, pneumonia, or old age.

Prostate cancer can be treated with watchful waiting, surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and cryosurgery. Determining which treatment method to use depends on which stage the cancer is in. Hormonal therapy and chemotherapy are usually used for treatment when the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

Will a Mammogram Save Your Life?

2008-10-16T16:42:00.002+06:00

Mammogram - How Does a Mammogram Work?

A mammogram can help to detect breast cancer at the earliest stage and it's an important part of our fight against the breast cancer epidemic. Mammography has been available to women for decades now - and yet even in countries like the UK where these tests are available to all women for free, there is still not full participation by all women in the screening programs.

Some of these tests are performed when there is nothing at all to find on breast examination - no lumps and no suspicious problem areas. This is called a screening mammogram. In some countries these screening tests are offered on a mobile basis - with a large truck staffed by specialist nurses and doctors and with all the necessary gear turning up at a supermarket or at a factory and providing all that is needed for a drop in one stop shop approach.

The other kind of mammogram is called a diagnostic mammogram and this is done when a screening test shows a suspicious area or when the person is aware of a lump in the breast or of some other symptom that could relate to breast cancer. The actual technique of the test is pretty much identical - but extra views or more targetted views might be needed if the test is being done on someone who actually has a lump.

New digital techniques allow the images to be enhanced and make the screening and diagnostic tests easier for doctors to read. Digital mammography is probably more accurate at picking up problems in women under the age of fifty, or for those who have not yet had their menopause.

The latest versions of breast cancer guidelines say that if a woman over the age or thirty discovers a lump in the breast then both a diagnostic mammography test and an ultrasound scan of the breast should be performed. Ultrasound is a good test to show if a lump is solid or full of fluid - like a simple cyst might be for example. A lump with fluid in it looks dark or black on ultrasound - a solid area looks white because of the way that the sound waves from the ultrasound bounce off it.

When a breast mass is solid, its alignment and shape provide clues as to whether it is benign or cancerous. Usually a benign mass is horizontally aligned with smooth borders, while one that is malignant is vertically aligned with irregular borders. The nature of a solid mass can be clarified by performing an image-guided core-needle biopsy. During this procedure, ultrasound or mammography is used to help a radiologist extract a tissue sample from the mass with a needle. A pathologist evaluates the sample.

But ... for some women who have found a lump in the breast, both the mammogram and the ultrasound might be normal. This is obviously good news but if the lump persists then doctors advise having repeated checks - and in rare cases, if the lump is still present after a month or two - a minor operation to remove it or biopsy it should be performed.

Mammograms and breast ultrasound can save lives. So can self examination of the breasts. When did you last check yourself? Are you breast aware?

Breast Cancer: Symptoms, Prevention and Treatment

2008-10-16T16:26:00.002+06:00

Breast cancer is a kind of cancer which can occur in the breast cells of both men and women. It is the second most common form of cancer. It is also considered to be the fifth most common cause of cancer related deaths.

Breast cancer is a type of cancer which originates from the breast cells of men and women. In the world, this is the second most common form of cancer after lung cancer. It is also said to be the fifth most common cause of deaths related to cancer. The breasts of both men and women have identical tissues. Thus, this type of cancer can occur in both male and female. However, it is 100 times more common in men than in women.

Symptoms:

The initial subjective sign or symptom of breast cancer is usually a lump in the breast which is different from the surrounding tissues of the breast. According to surveys, over 80% of cases originate from a lump. Lumps found in armpits or collarbone may also indicate this disease.

Other indications include changes in the size or shape of breast, nipple inversion, skin dimpling or impulsive discharge from a single nipple. In breast cancer, you usually do not feel any pain in the initial stages. Symptoms of an inflammatory breast cancer may include pain, warmth, redness and swelling in the breast along with an orange texture of the skin. Unexplained loss of weight and chills and fevers can also be an indicative sign of breast cancer.

Prevention:

Breast feeding can prevent breast cancer to a great extent. Folic acid is said to counteract the risk of breast cancer. It has been found that women who consume 3-4 glasses of alcohol everyday have more prone to breast cancer.

However, if they consume sufficient amount of folic acid, then they have lower risks of the disease. Foods rich in folic acid include citrus juices and fruits, peas, dried beans and green leafy vegetables like spinach. In order to prevent breast cancer, avoid being a second hand smoker.

Getting your ovaries removes not only reduces the chances of breast cancer by at least 60% but it also reduces the risk of ovarian cancer by as much as 96%.

Screening:

The common methods of breast cancer screening are clinical and self breast examinations, x-ray mammography, genetic testing and MRI. In the process of self-examination, you need to examine your own breasts in order to detect lumps in the breast tissues. Mammography examines the breast for any unusual lumps or masses.

Regular mammography is recommended for prevention of breast cancer, especially for high-risk individuals and older women. MRIs can also be used for spotting possible cancerous masses.

Treatment:

The main treatment procedure for breast cancer is surgery in which the tumor is localized. Other methods are aromatase inhibitor, tamxifen, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Depending on the age, size, metastasis and type of cancer of the patient, they are roughly categorized into low risk and high risk individuals and all of them have different treatment procedures. Other possibilities may include chemotherapy, immune therapy and hormone therapy.

ILT or Interstitial laser thermotherapy is an innovative way of treating this disease. Radiation treatment may also be used for destroying cancerous cells which may linger even after surgery.

Your Essential Eye Care Tips

2008-10-12T22:18:00.002+06:00

The eye is an important part of the body. It is likewise said to be the window to one’s soul. With the advent of modern technology, computers and other technological gadgets are nowadays widely available. However, the abuse in the use of these technological accessories often leads to the problems that deal with one’s eyesight.

So, how should you take care of your eyes to guarantee good eyesight?

Getting Rid of Tired Eyes

Nevertheless, an unhygienic setting worsens the deterioration phase of the eye. This should then drive you to concert a valuable effort to ensure that you properly take care of your own eyes. After all, they are said to be the strongest among your senses. The following are the important tips for caring for your eyes which you need to follow.

In case of the formation of the dark circles under the eyes, a good tip to follow is placing two slices of potatoes over the eyes. Leave them for around 20 minutes. The results likewise appear in no time at all.

An alternative to the use of potatoes is the use of warm tea bags. Leave the tea bag over the eyes for about 15 minutes. This is similarly another effective method which you can trust.

After a long and hard day, your mind and body get drained off energy. And such feeling shows through your eyes. In order for you to refresh them, squeeze out ice water from the cotton pads and then place them over the eyelids for approximately 20 minutes. You will then feel a soothing and calming effect to the eyes.

You can therefore try the traditional remedy which concerns the use of slices of cucumber onto the eyelids. These are best used when taking a hot bath or simply relaxing for quite some time.

Most importantly, don’t sleep with your makeup on. Wash your face before bedtime especially those that are within the eye area. Washing off the makeup allows your skin to breathe.

Other Eye Care Tips for You

Through all of the electronic and visual appliances and elements that totally pose an effect on the eyes, it is but very important that you know of the ways on how to keep away this integral organ away from damages. The rays of these electronic gadgets can harm your sensitive eyes, so to speak.

For one, sitting in front of the television set for long hours or watching a book gives you the tired eyes look. Overworking your eyes is never a sensible idea. It is essential that you spare at least a couple of minutes to rest them. Here are some other eye care tips which you must keep in mind.

Give your eyes ample time to rest.

Wear sunglasses to keep your eyes away from direct exposure to sunlight.

Regularly wash your eyes using cold and clean water.

Do some eye exercises.

Use a couple of eye drop products which contain minerals.

Protect your eyes from dust particles.

Eat vegetables and fruits which promote good eyesight.

You are only endowed with one pair of eyes. Thus, do your best to take care of it.

The Importance of a Healthy Diet

2008-10-12T22:14:00.000+06:00

Picture this: The year is 2030 and you’re at the annual family reunion. It’s you and 99 of your dearest loved ones. Glancing around, you see people laughing, dancing, and barbequing. Then you notice something that isn’t so rosy. Only 14 people out of the entire bunch are at a healthy weight. Think having 86% of your extended family labeled as fat is farfetched? It isn’t. A recent study at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health is projecting that 86% of Americans will be either overweight or obese by the year 2030. What can be done to prevent you and your family from becoming part of that 86%? The easiest step toward weight loss is healthy nutrition. And one of the best healthy eating tips is as simple as opening up a healthy recipe book.
Healthy nutrition is something that nearly everyone has access to and can easily incorporate into their lifestyle. The National Cancer Institute reports on their website that the number of obesity-related cancer deaths is at a staggering 14% for men and 20% for women. Furthermore it has been shown that, weight loss, fueled by healthy nutrition, is a key component in the prevention of cancer. Obesity is attributed to a number of cancers, including breast, ovarian, and colon cancer.
According to the American Heart Association, an estimated one-third of Americans are living with high blood pressure. Kidney disease, stroke, and heart disease are all complications that can arise from having high blood pressure. To combat these risks, you should be consuming a diet that is low in cholesterol, sodium, saturated fat, and trans fat. When preparing your meals, include plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, fish, and lean meats. High blood pressure isn’t the only thing that can lead to stroke and heart disease. High cholesterol is another killer.
Healthy eating tips that will help lower your cholesterol include: eating at least 25 grams of fiber a day, limiting alcohol consumption to one or two glasses daily, and reducing your intake of trans and saturated fats. The modern American diet creates a daily dose of toxins in our system.
Poor nutrition can cause poor digestion. When this occurs toxins build up in our bodies. Over time your liver weakens, it can't do it's job. When your liver is weaken chemicals and poisons pass unchecked into your bloodstream,to your brain,heart,lungs,bones reproductive organs,literally every organ and cell in your body. At this point you get diseases.
You can safely detox your body and feel better with healthy nutrition. To change your diet, your first purchase should be a healthy recipe book. It is a must-have if you are serious about healthy nutrition and weight loss! Having a healthy recipe book at your fingertips makes it easy to identify nutritious foods that act as natural remedies for common illnesses.

Reduce Cancer Risk

2008-10-12T22:10:00.002+06:00

Cancer is now the leading cause of death globally. It is estimated that cancer will kill 84 million people in the next ten years. While the causes of cancer are complex, it is well known that that certain things can lower the risk of getting it. The most important recommendations are to avoid toxins and eat healthy foods. Nature foods has many nutrients that are known to help protect against cancer.

Studies have shown that Sterol/Sterolins and Omega 3, 6 and 9 can increase natural killers (NK) cell activity and act as a potent immunomudulator for the treatment and restoration of immune dysfunction.

Gamma Oryzanol (Ferulic acid) is know to be anti-mutagenic. Inositol, IP6, Polyphenol, Fiber, Tocotrienols and Antioxidants are all known to be anti-carcinogenic. Polyphenols and Tocotrienols have been shown to inhibit Phase 1 microsomal enzymes, and the lipoprotein fraction of nature foods has been shown to inhibit abnormal cell prolifeation.

Numerous epidemilogic studies reported an association between high fiber intake and reduced incidence of colon cancer and breast cancer. A 1992 study by Harvard Medical School found that men who consumed only 12 grams of fiber a day were twice as likely to develop precancerous colon changes as men whose daily fiber intake was about 30 grams. Scientist theorize that insoluble fiber adds bulk to stool, which in turn dilutes carcinogens and speeds their transit through the lower intestines and out of the body.

12 studies found a link between high fiber intake and reduced risk of breast cancer. In the early stages, some breast tumors are stimulated by estrogen circulating in the blood stream. Scientist believe that fiber may hamper the growth of these tumors by binding with estrogen in the intestine, preventing it from being reabsorbed into the bloodstream.

IP6 has been shown to exhibit significant anti-cancer activity and to inhibit tumor cell growth in colon, intestinal, and liver cancers. Carotenoids (including the Alpha Carotene, Beta Carotene, Lutein, Lycopene, Zeaxanthin and Precrytoxanthin/Crypthoxanthin found in nature foods) offer powerful protection against many different types of cancer. Lycopene in particular has been associated with lower rates of prostate cancer.

Pangamic Acid (B15) has shown to have a unique ability to release a type of cyanide only at cancer sites, thereby destroying cancer cells while at the same time, nourishing non-cancerous tissue.

Sterols and sterolins (found in plants) are great immune supporters. They help the immune system to stop cancer, kill bacteria, destroy viruses and slow down the aging process. They have also been shown to keeep patients infected with the HIV virus from developing AIDS.

When a person has a weakend immune system, even a simple cold or flu can esclate and becoming a life threatening illness. Having a strong immune system is the best defense against illness and disease.

One of the most important nutrients CoQ10 which is a immune booster routinely recommended as part of people suffering from cancer such as cardiovascular disease, Muscular Dystrophy, periondontal Disease and many more.

Nutritionally strengthening and supporting the immune system is essential, especially after the age 50 because the body's natural defenses decline with age.

Delayed Cancer Diagnosis – How Will it Effect You?

2008-10-12T22:07:00.001+06:00

It has been stated that one in three people will develop a form of Cancer at some point within their lives, making it one of the most prolific diseases that we are now seeing. Due to this doctors have to be highly aware of the possibility of Cancer when making a diagnosis.

The importance of an early diagnosis when it comes to Cancer cannot be emphasised enough; in many cases an early diagnosis is the difference between life and death. An early diagnosis is also the deciding factor on your life expectancy. Early diagnosis is crucial regardless of what type of Cancer you have; this is especially true in the case of lung, ovarian and stomach Cancer as they have a much lower mortality rate if they receive a prompt diagnosis.

Sadly some people aren’t treated as early as they should be. There are many reasons for this such as a patient didn’t think anything of their symptoms and dismissed them as something else so they didn’t bother going and seeing their doctor. Also many people go to their doctor with symptoms but these symptoms are similar to another disease with the same symptoms so they could easily be dismissed. All of these are common human error but it is important that a doctor goes down all avenues when they are diagnosing you.

An example of why it is so important to catch any form of cancer early is people who are diagnosed with ovarian cancer at the earliest stage they have a 92% to 93% of a five year survival but this can quickly be reduced to 11% or 12% if the cancer has seriously advanced.

An example of when a diagnosis goes beyond simple human error is if a smoker goes to see a doctor with a cough and the doctor merely puts it down to the fact that they smoke. This is completely unacceptable as a cough is one symptom of lung cancer. In a case such as this the doctor should have examined the matter further and investigated the possibility of lung cancer, if for nothing else than to rule it out.

There are many different types of cancer so in order to make an accurate diagnosis you need a medical professional to correctly interpret your symptoms and by looking at your test results thoroughly. Failure to accurately diagnose allows the cancer to spread and grow, which can be at an alarming rate depending on where the cancer is and how advanced or aggressive it is.

If a cancer diagnosis is failed to be made then your correct treatment will be delayed, which will increase your chance of dying from the disease; however this problem can also be turned around, which basically means that if a doctor makes a diagnosis of cancer and there is no cancer present then this can cause a person a lot of unnecessary emotional suffering and shock and it may even lead to them receiving the incorrect treatment. Any situation such as this will be viewed as a form of medical negligence.

If you feel that you have suffered from medical negligence in the past three years due to actions that were taken or actions that were failed to be taken when it comes to your Cancer diagnosis then you could be entitled to make a claim for compensation.

Thousands of men and women across the UK have already claimed the compensation that they deserve after being involved in some form of a medical negligence claim, now it’s your turn so get in touch with a legal team today to find out where you stand with making a claim for compensation.

Uses For Photodynamic Therapy

2008-10-12T22:04:00.001+06:00

Cosmetic treatments have come a long way in a relatively short period of time. Today, many of the procedures that are done in this area do not require traditional surgical methods to complete. With the advent of many skin resurfacing treatments and the introduction of laser surgery, conventional surgical methods are much less common than they once were. The good news is that current procedures are being refined all the time to make them less invasive and more effective. In addition, new treatments are being introduced all the time.

Photodynamic therapy is one of the newest treatments used for cosmetic purposes today. This therapy combines the use of specialized light sources with medications that sensitize the body to receive the light treatment most effectively. The process of this treatment is threefold. First, administer the medication either topically or intravenously. Second, allow an incubation period for the medication to take effect, which can range from a few minutes to a few hours. Once the medication has properly sensitized the body to the light, the treatment can begin. There are different types of light that can be used for photodynamic therapy, including light-emitting diodes (LEDs), blue light, red light and lasers. The type of light used will be determined by the type of treatment that is being administered.

There are many uses for this new photodynamic therapy. One of the first functions of this procedure was for cancer treatment. Currently this therapy is used to treat certain types of lung cancer, esophageal cancer and pre-cancerous conditions found in the esophagus known as Barrett's syndrome. It can also be effective in removing cancer and pre-cancerous lesions found on the skin. In addition, this therapy is currently being studied for use in treating cervical cancer, prostate cancer and some types of brain cancer.

On the dermatology front, in addition to treating pre-cancerous skin conditions, this therapy can also be used on acne, psoriasis and rosacea. It has been used on warts, scars and wrinkles with some success as well. It has not been shown to be particularly effective in removing birthmarks or moles. The type of treatment that is being conducted helps the doctor know what type of light to use, how long the sessions need to be and how frequently treatments should be repeated.

Photodynamic therapy is beneficial to the patient on many levels. First, this treatment has proven to be a highly effective means of treating many diseases and conditions that do not necessarily respond will to other forms of treatment. Risk and side effects are fairly minimal and may include some pain and redness in the area. However, this therapy is still very new to the medical community, and it is difficult to predict what the long term effects of these treatments might be.

Photodynamic therapy is quickly gaining popularity with patients and the medical community alike, which is making it easier to find clinics and doctors that are equipped to handle this procedure correctly. If you have any of the conditions listed above, it might be worth talking to your doctor about whether this therapy is the right choice for you.

Malignant Neoplasm; Cancer

2008-10-12T21:57:00.003+06:00

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death not only in the United States but also around the world. Cancer is defined as class of diseases that is caused by a group of cells to have uncontrolled growth, the potential to spread throughout the body and to invade surrounding tissues and organs. The difference between malignant tumors and benign tumors are that benign tumors do not spread and do not invade surrounding tissue and organs. Benign tumors are self-limited.

Cancer can affect anyone. That is anyone of any age, any race and any background. The majority of cancers are more likely to develop in people as the people increase in age. 13 percent of all deaths worldwide are caused by cancer and according to the American Cancer Society, 7.6 million people died from cancer in the year 2007. Cancer is one of the world’s deadliest diseases and cannot be prevented. It can be treated to an extent. There has yet to be a cure developed for cancer.

Cancer is caused by tobacco smoke, chemicals, infectious agents and radiation. Cancer can be detected through CT Scans, blood tests, MRIs, x-rays and biopsies. A biopsy entails the testing of a piece of skin or organ by a pathologist. The pathologist tests the piece of skin or organ for cancerous cells and their histological grade. Cancer can be detected by the detection of lumps or swelling, random bleeding, pain, ulcers, jaundice, weight loss, poor appetite, night sweats, fatigue and anemia. Symptoms of cancer after the disease has been diagnosed are metastasis (spreading), constant cough, bone pain, an enlarged liver, fractures and enlarged lymph nodes.

Cancer is treatable through surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and immunotherapy. Surgery is used to remove a tumor, if it is on an organ that is operable, and will hopefully get the entire tumor before it spreads to other areas of the body. If the tumor is located in an inoperable area then the treatment will be chemotherapy; which will shrink and hopefully kill off the tumor completely before it begins to spread throughout the body.

There are a couple of ways to try and prevent developing cancer. Such methods are having a proper diet, cancer screenings and taking vitamins on a daily basis. One major player in the development of cancer is being obese. Eating a healthy diet and maintaining a healthy body weight will help in the prevention of cancer. Cancer screenings are used to detect cancer in its early stages; its infancy. If cancer is detected other procedures can be used to confirm the presence of cancer. Those other procedures are surgery and biopsies. Early detection can lead to a longer life.

There are hundreds of forms of cancer known to man today. Some of the most common are lung, colon, thyroid, lymphoma (various types), leukemia (various types), melanoma, oral, pancreatic, testicular, throat and vaginal cancer. Not all cancers are deadly because the majority of them, if detected early, can be controlled with chemotherapy, surgery and radiation.

Liver Function and Detox For Health

2008-10-12T21:36:00.002+06:00

The liver is a reddish brown organ weighing in at about 3 to 5 lbs., resides under the diaphragm on the right hand side of the body, and has many functions. It has two large arteries, the heptic artery, which has the job of carrying oxygen rich blood from the heart into the liver, and the portal vein that carry’s out the blood with digested foods.

The liver is one of the hardest working organs in the body, and excellent liver health means wellbeing, an overstressed liver however, means ill health and potential poor quality of life.

Its functions are:

1. Filters harmful toxins, chemicals, preservatives, alcohol etc. The liver is the main line of defense against poisons entering and damaging our system.
2. Turns glucose into glycogen which is fuel for your body. Some glycogen is used immediately and the rest may be stored in fat to be used at a later date. It processes protein and fats from digested foods and makes it available for transportation through the blood, which also includes proteins used to make beneficial clotting (such as for cuts and scrapes). - The liver also produces bile which further enhances the digestive process and waste products are carried away.
3. The liver also is a place of storage for vitamins such as B, A, D and K for use as needed. - It is the major producer of cholesterol and triglycerides which are necessary for all then tissues of the body. Most cholesterol we get is from consuming animal fats but when we do not receive dietary cholesterol; our liver makes it and then distributes it to the bloodstream for transportation throughout the body. - The liver also produces immune factors for the body that assist in removing bacteria from the blood, enhancing our resistance to infections.

Symptoms of a sluggish liver:

- chronic fatigue
- jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)
- frequent headaches - sleep disorders, nightmares
- dizziness
- hot flashes
- hormonal imbalances
- bloating of the stomach
- smelly diarrhea
- chronic constipation
- gallstones
- skin problems
- weak eye sight

There are many reasons a liver can become over burdened. We live in a world today where toxins are everywhere. There are literally hundreds of FDA approved chemicals, pesticides, fungicides, preservatives, MSG and now genetically modified foods. Processed food is so prevalent in north America’s daily diet that there is absolutely no wonder why we have such an obesity problem.
We are also bombarded with petro chemicals every single time a car, truck or bus etc., passes by us. Living in any city makes it impossible to get away from inhalation of these toxins.

Then there is industrial smoke that plumes out on a daily basis. Anyone living near one of these huge stacks will tell you that when the wind blows in their direction, the smell is definitely present.
Our water sources are also cause for some of the toxins our bodies absorb with chlorine and in some places, fluoride. In some states, they have to deal with toxins reaching underground water (the aquifer) from chemicals used on golf courses etc. It may look pretty but the environmental effects are very evident.
The point is, we live in a toxic environment and unless you are eating organic and live in the wilderness far away from mainstream life, you can benefit from periodic detoxing, especially the hardworking liver.

Some things you can do to unburden the liver are:

- Reduce stress in your environment
- Start your day with lemon juice in warm water, then eat fruit and drink non sugary juices.
- Make sure you eat salads and veggies at lunch.
- Drink a lot of water throughout the day. You can also get some of your water intake through herbal teas. They have beneficial anti-oxidants and depending on what kind you get, some have calming properties, detox properties etc.
- Get enough fiber in your diet. Fruits and vegetables are excellent sources of fiber.
- Get at least 15 minutes of sunshine per day.
- Get yourself more exposure to negative ions.

These are present in nature, in forests, at the beach, and in the country. In short, get out of the city whenever you can. If you cannot get out of the city, consider getting an ion generator of some kind. Negative ion therapy is great for helping one detox and rebalance the body, plus negative ions gives you that feeling of wellbeing.

Why is it Important to Detoxify Your Liver

2008-10-12T21:26:00.001+06:00

Our liver plays a vital role in most of the metabolic processes especially detoxification. It goes through various complex chemical reactions and detoxifies all the harmful substances in it. It becomes critically important to protect the liver and keep it detoxified of all the micro-organisms.

Today almost fifty percent of people are suffering from fatty livers. This is commonly seen in the people of the age over fifty. The healthy liver helps converting all these fat soluble toxins into water soluble substances which are further excreted through urine out of the body. It may be changed into bile useful in digestion as per the chemical characteristics of the end product. These toxic chemicals are mainly far soluble i.e. soluble in oily or fatty substances solely and not in water. It is difficult for the body to excrete such products as it is. And the liver helps in doing so.

Causes for liver detoxification:

Poor diet is the main cause for liver detoxification. Other reasons may be excessive alcohol intake, reactions of various drugs and toxic chemicals or viral hepatitis. Do not intake food prepared in unhealthy conditions and by the people who have various bacteria, viruses and parasites on their body. Especially meat that is not fresh is the bundle of such germs which can harm your liver badly.

Ways to detoxify liver:

The liver filter helps you be free of various micro-organisms as bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites from the blood stream. It is greatly essential as you’ll not want all these harmful things to enter your body and harm it. Although these may enter your body through various sources but it is mainly through unclean water in most of the cases. So, to keep yourself safe, boil water at least for 5 minutes before consumption or drink bottled water.

The fatty tissues of the body may keep on adding various toxins from years which are only released during exercising or fasting. It is very crucial to dissolve them to keep your liver detoxified but you may experience headaches, stomach pain, nausea, dizziness, fatigue and palpitations while doing so. Otherwise it may result in poor health and various chronic infections in long run. You may also discover cancer due to unhealthy liver. Your liver is very important to having a healthy immune system. This is the main reason why it is important to keep the liver detoxified.

Keep your intestines moving regularly and intake high fiber food to sweep off the walls. Change your dietary plan time to time adding certain nutrient supplements and helping your liver to function better always. There are certain natural compounds found in food which are strongly ‘lipotropic’ i.e. can hugely remove fat from your liver. Amino acid methionine called Sadenosyl Methionine protects liver from various harmful chemicals. It is essential to be passed through the liver to make it detoxified and to function in a natural manner. It also increases the bile flow which is essential for the digestion of fats and for fat absorption as well.

So, to avoid any chronic illness and to improve over all body functioning keep your liver detoxified by consuming healthy food.

A look at Tooth Whiteners

2008-09-12T16:57:00.000+06:00

All we see on television in the movies is bright white smiles. With the release of several over the counter teeth whitening products over the past few years, it can be hard to know which one is going to give you the Hollywood smile that you dream about. Whitening Toothpastes Whitening toothpastes generally cost between $2-$10.
Several studies have been done on these toothpastes to see if they really can whiten your teeth just while you brush. Studies have shown that you they can help a bit, and also that the same results can be achieved with normal toothpastes with a little extra brushing every day. The simple fact is that the toothpastes doesnâ€™t sit on your teeth for long enough to actually bleach any discoloring that is present. Bleaching Trays Bleaching trays are usually obtained through a dentist. What happens is that the dentist will take an impression of your teeth, and make a mold. You will then have to wear that mold with bleaching solution in it for a certain amount of time each day.
Experts all agree that this is the most effective method however the price is more than most people are willing to pay. Bleaching trays can cost between $300-$2000. If this is a method you are interesting in I would recommend talking to your dentist for more information. Over the Counter There are several brands of over the counter whiteners. The two largest ones that I am familiar with are Crest Whitestrips, and Colgate Night Effects. Both of these products work in a similar way although have completely different application.
Crest Whitestrips are small plastic strips, that you rap around the upper and bottom sections of your teeth. The bleaching solution is on one side of the strip, and rests along your teeth while you wear the strips. You must wear the product twice a day for 30minutes for two weeks. Colgate Night Effects is a paste, that is â€œpaintedâ€ on your teeth before you go to bed, for 14 days as well. I have personally tested out both of these products and have found that most others agree that the Crest Whitestrips are the superior method. I noticed a much greater level of whitening after using the Whitestrips, and was much more impressed with the ease of application, and the time involved in using them.
Whitestrips are simple to use, and can be used anywhere. Iâ€™ve popped them on at work, and no one will even notice that Iâ€™m wearing them. Crest Night Effects are a bit cheaper of a solution and if you donâ€™t mind waking up with a chalky feeling in your mouth, they might be the product for you. Before trying out any bleaching solution I would recommend talking to your dentist, as he or she knows your teeth the best, and will be able to guide you in the right direction.
Feel free to reprint this article as long as you keep the following caption and author biography in tact with all hyperlinks.

A Guide to Female Hair Loss

2008-09-12T16:56:00.000+06:00

Hair loss usually occurs because of hormonal factors. As a consequence, biological events like puberty, pregnancy and menopause that effect female hormone levels can also cause female hair loss. In the case of pregnancy, hair loss is simply a consequence of the stress the body undergoes during labor and should stop approximately 6 months after birth. Discontinuation of taking birth control pills can also cause temporary female hair loss.
The most common type of female hair loss is androgenetic alopecia or female-pattern baldness. This type of hair loss is associated with hair thinning predominantly over the sides and top of the head. Female hair loss affects about one-third of all susceptible women and usually onsets after menopause although it can begin earlier. Other causes of female hair loss include dieting. Rapid weight loss over a short period of time promotes hair loss and some supplements such as excessive vitamin A also contribute to hair loss. Physical and emotional stress can cause hair loss but this usually only occurs when the trauma is excessive and of a long duration. Everyday stress does not promote hair loss.
Some common myths related to female hair loss are that frequent washing and shampooing, and wearing of wigs and hats all cause hair loss. In addition, rumors abound that permanents, coloring, and other cosmetic treatments can cause permanent hair loss. Other myths are that brushing your hair everyday will create healthier hair, that shaving your head will cause hair to grow back thicker, and that stress causes permanent hair loss.
Finally, other myths are that there is a cure for female-pattern baldness and that dandruff causes permanent hair loss.These are just a few common myths associated with female hair loss. If you experience excessive hair loss, you should see a licensed dermatologist for a thorough diagnosis and treatment options.

7 Steps to Protect Yourself from the Winter Sun

2008-09-12T16:53:00.000+06:00

What outdoor activities did you do this past summer? Maybe you went on a vacation to the beach. Maybe you spent some time playing your favorite sports such as baseball, golf, or tennis. Maybe you went swimming or had a barbeque in the backyard with family and friends. Regardless of the outdoor activities you did over the summer, most likely you were aware that it was important to protect yourself from sun while outdoors.
Now winter is approaching. I am turning my attention to putting away my summer items to make room for the winter ones; long sleeve shirts for short sleeve ones, corduroy pants for shorts, and boots for sandals. Most of the sports equipment I have been using is going to get put away as well. But what about those items I have been using to protect myself from the sun? Things like my sunscreens, sunglasses, and sun protective hats and clothing.
You may be putting these items away and not using them during the winter. The National Council of Skin Cancer Prevention reported in their January 2003 newsletter that research shows only 3 percent of Americans routinely wear sunscreen during the fall months, and only 2 percent during the winter months. However, you can still get a sunburn and snow blindness during these months. The colder temperatures do not block the UV rays and reflections off the snow and higher altitudes can make matters even worse. You may be causing yourself significant, long-term damage by not properly protecting yourself.
How do you protect yourself from the winter sun (or any other season)? Follow these simple sun safety action steps recommended by the US Environmental Protection Agency:
1. Limit Time in the Midday Sun - The sun's rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Whenever possible, limit exposure to the sun during these hours.
2. Wear a Hat - A hat with a wide brim offers good sun protection to your eyes, ears, face, and the back of your neck - areas particularly prone to overexposure to the sun.
3. Cover Up - Wearing tightly woven, loose-fitting, and full-length clothing is a good way to protect your skin from the sun's UV rays.
4. Wear Sunglasses that Block 99-100% of UV Radiation -Sunglasses that provide 99-100% UVA and UVB protection will greatly reduce sun exposure that can lead to cataracts and other eye damage. Check the label when buying sunglasses.
5. Always Use Sunscreen - Apply a broad spectrum sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15 or higher liberally on exposed skin. Reapply every 2 hours, or after working, swimming, playing, or exercising outdoors. Even waterproof sunscreen can come off when you towel off, sweat, or spend extended periods of time in the water.
6. Avoid Sunlamps and Tanning Parlors - The light source from sunbeds and sunlamps damages the skin and unprotected eyes. It's a good idea to avoid artificial sources of UV light.
7. Watch for the UV Index - The UV Index provides important information to help you plan your outdoor activities in ways that prevent overexposure to the sun. Developed by the National Weather Service (NWS) and EPA, the UV Index is issued daily in selected cities across the United States.
I am going to keep my sun protective items out to use this winter. I am trusting that you will do the same so that you can enjoy the outdoors while in the cold, on the ice, or in the snow. Have a terrific and safe winter!

Exercise For Better Sex

2008-09-12T16:52:00.000+06:00

Do you get winded by simply walking up a flight of stairs? Are you straining to pick up a gallon of milk? Do you crawl into bed shortly after arriving home from work? If so, you shouldn't expect to have the energy for a sexual marathon. But with proper exercise, one can get on the right track to feeling young and energetic in bed again.At Ask UncleTerry.com we regularly have people emailing us - asking how they can improve their sexual stamina, get better aroused, last longer in bed and enjoy better enjoy sex.
One of the best ways to achieve all of these desires and a whole lot more is exercise. Unless you're a cold fish, there's a great deal of body movement during sex. Together as a couple, go running or bike riding. This is a great way to spend quality time together while building physical endurance. Having healthier arteries will allow the blood to flow better to the genitals. With a healthier blood flow, men will develop a harder erection, and women will be more easily aroused.With a conditioned body, one is able to last longer in bed and have sex numerous times. After climaxing once, break the habit of falling asleep afterward.
Pleasure your mate for a while, instead. When the blood gets flowing again, "round two" can commence. This will keep both of you interested, and make your mate go wild with anticipation during intermission.With endless positions to choose from during intercourse such as those found at AskUncleTerry.com, don't stick to the same routine. If you work your upper body, it will be easier to grab your mate with authority and try a new position. Different positions will keep the spark alive. Use each muscle. Guys, this doesn't mean you should just lay back and let the woman do all the work. You need to be engaged, as well. Sexual energy will increase exponentially if both bodies thrust towards one another.
Exercising your legs, arms and chest is great, but working the hidden muscles will help build stamina, as well.Kegel exercises work for both men, and women. This exercise will thoroughly help each partner to gain control of his or her body. To do Kegel exercises, participants must tighten the muscle as if they are holding back urine. This is not about squeezing your stomach, or rear end. Next time you are going the bathroom, try holding back the stream. This should give you a feel of where that muscle is. Once you have found it, try working the muscle with reps of about 10 to 30 times. Then try repeating this at least 50 times a day. Once you are able to do 50, step it up to 30 reps at 200 times a day. It may seem like a lot of work, but you can do these while reading the paper or typing on the computer. If you are faithful to the routine, you should feel results within a month. A woman who does Kegel exercises can control and tighten her vagina.
To help stimulate the male, she can use this muscle to get a firmer grab on the penis. Men who are going to climax should tighten their pubococcygeal (PC) muscle and release as desired. This will help them develop a skill to control ejaculation. Every time you hold back an orgasm, try to last a little longer than the previous one. Remember, practice makes perfect and the ladies love a man who can hold his own.Climb the stairs to your bedroom without feeling exhausted. Pick up that gallon of milk after a glorious morning of sex. After work, you should plan on another sexual marathon.
Sex is a great stress reliever and an amazing way to show the teamwork of a couple. Although exercising may seem hard at times, your body and your spouse will thank you.

Muscle Building Tips: Do's and Dont's

2008-09-12T16:42:00.002+06:00

Packing on Muscle mass involves a lot of dedication and care. At times, trying too hard can have its negative effects too. Right guidance and proper techniques make the perfect recipe to MUSCLE BUILDING. Muscle Building is no joke, but at the same time, very much possible. The bottomline is to workout in the right direction and not to harm your body. Here are some Do's and Dont's for Muscle Building.
Muscle Building Tips: Do's and Dont's
1) Popping a pill to reach your health and fitness goal is not the answer! Results are temporary and effects the body adversely in the long run.
2) Remove the tag " Short cut" from your workout schedule. There is no such thing as quick-fix. Dedication and hardwork hold the key for MUSCLE BUILDING.
3) Dietary Supplements can be helpful in achieving your goals. Supplementation is designed to supplement your healthy eating and exercise habits.
4) Dont go in for any supplement you come across. Before taking a supplement, consult your trained or a physician. Always buy supplements from a reputed DRUGSTORE. Do your research before taking in a supplement.
5) Supplements shouldnt be misunderstood as steroids. Steroids should be a BIG NO.
6) Muscle Building Diet: It occupies a prominent area in MUSCLE BUILDING pie-chart. You should be highly careful related to your muscle building diet. Always ask your trainer to write down a diet schedule for you.
7) Give rest to your body between two sets, say for two minutes.
8) Not work on more than two muscle groups at a time. Train those mucles in a group which work with each other. This technique has proven to be effective. For eg: Chest and Triceps or biceps and backs.
9) The most effective time to do muscle building exercises is in the morning. You have consumed a lot of carbs by evening. So, carbs become the source of energy for you when you do your exercises in evening. But in morning, body depends on its alternative source i.e FAT for energy. Hence fats get burned up more in morning.
10) Last but not the least, Dont be biased to any body part. Proper balance is a necessity. Having big upper body and skinny legs is no good. Work out on entire body.

Allergy Testing

2008-05-02T15:34:00.002+06:00

Allergy is a type of illness we face when some products or substances are consumed. Those products or substances trigger allergic reaction to the skin and blood of the person. We need to avoid such products or situations which cause allergy in our body. For this we have at least the knowledge of such substances by testing ourselves. Those substances are called allergen. To know which substances causes allergy in our body allergists or immunologists generally tests our blood or skin using little amounts of trouble some allergens. Generally adults and children of any age can go through allergy tests. The symptoms may appear in respiratory systems, in skins or in some other systems. Itching in eyes, nose or throat, nasal congestion, watery eyes or chest congestion are come under respiratory allergy symptoms. Hives, atopic dermatitis and generalized itchiness are part of skin allergies. Anaphylaxis, cramping and diarrhea are some other type of allergies found in our body.

Allergy testing is of three type's skin, blood and elimination test. Skin tests are conducted by placing a small amount of substances which cause allergy on a scrapped skin. Blood tests are generally done if the person is unable to go through a skin test due to presence of some skin disease. Blood tests are done by radio allegro sorbent testing (RAST). In blood test the antibody known as immunoglobulin E (IgE) is measured in the blood and determines what the chances of the person to allergic reactions are. Elimination test is a type of diet where food consumption is controlled to know whether the person is prone to any food allergies. You can determine the elimination test yourself without the doctor but a doctor could provide you a list of foods you must avoid.

Before going through a test the doctor needs to check all your medical history because it may help in testing the process and though it might look like a hindrance in the preparation it is necessary. Consumption of illicit drugs and substances are not allowed prior to the testing. In both testing for allergy the concerned person will feel a temporary itchiness and discomfort whilst a tiny needle is used to prick a small portion of skin. However in blood testing the person would not feel any discomfort due to drawing of blood from the vein. Though allergy testing meant for improving the condition of the patient it has its own risks. In skin testing the person might face the problem of swelling of the face, severe itching and sometimes serious reactions such as anaphylaxis. Profuse bleeding and inflamed veins are two common disorders found during blood testing. Sometimes stable red areas caused by allergen occur due to negative skin test but in positive skin test red areas are 1/8 larger than normal.

Natural Heavy Metal Detox HMD? is a natural, oral, heavy metal chelator backed by a 3-year, $1 million double blind, placebo-controlled study with 350 people. For more information please visit http://www.detoxmetals.com/

How to Have Beautiful Skin Year Around

2008-05-02T15:28:00.003+06:00

All women want to have beautiful skin; to enjoy the warmth and healing that the sun can bring without worrying about it damaging their skin. Skin damage is a valid concern. Research shows that 70 to 90 percent of damage to the skin is caused by ultraviolet rays. The damage typically can be seen by lines, wrinkles, age spots, sagging and thickening of the skin. In addition, another unfortunate effect if the increase in skin cancer. The good news is that there is a way to reduce the damage done by the sun's rays.

Dr. Regina Hamlin, a leading dermatologist has this to say: "The most effective way to reduce this damage and slow the signs of aging is through a holistic approach that combines the best in dermatological and nutritional science with common sense, like wearing a hat and sunglasses. Scientists have recently made new discoveries in skin care technology that will allow many people to breathe a sigh of relief and enjoy the sun again without the worry." There are five steps in a complete skin care regimen that can combat the sun?s damage. These are sunscreens, topical nutrition, non-irritating preservatives, natural complexes, and proper nutrition and hydration. Sunscreen Sunscreen must be used on a daily basis. SPF 15 works well on most skin types. Another thing that can help is to look for a product that helps the body's cells renewal process plus minimize the effects of sun damage. Topical Nutrition The skin can be damaged free radicals, which can cause it to look aged. Antioxidants such as vitamin c, green tea extract, and vitamin e are examples of supplement that can help decrease free radical damage.

Natural Complexes It is important to look for products with natural ingredients such as lupine proteins, which help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and increase smoothness. Products such as these also prevent the skin from losing its elasticity; in other words, the skin will look firm and youthful! Non-Irritating Preservatives Many skincare products contain harsh, irritating chemicals. It is best to stay away from such products. Instead, look for skincare products that have no parabens and other chemicals that release formaldehyde as well as those that are packaged in closed containers to avoid contamination after opening. Proper Nutrition and Hydration Not only is taking care of the skin from the outside important, but also nourishing cells on the inside is important.

Therefore, taking high quality supplements is essential. The good news is that there is a product out there that:
(1) has no added preservatives,
(2) is self-preserving,
(3) contains regenisomes which assist in cell renewal, and
(4) has dermal surface renewal technology.

This product also has powerful antioxidant complexes in the form of Proteo-C and Proflavanol-T. The company, USANA Health Sciences, not only manufactures a line of skin care products called Sense that has all these essential elements, but also offers a line of vitamin supplements that support internal cell heath.

Everyone can have healthy, youthful looking, and smooth skin year around. Everyone can have fantastic cell health.

Caution for Smoking

2008-05-02T15:22:00.004+06:00

"Smoking is injurious to health"; this is the caution advice that we read on all cigarettes packets. Still we go ahead to take that puff of ecstasy. Why? Are we trying to be ignorant or is it something else. Tobacco intake is the single most preventable cause of premature death in today’s times. Tobacco or nicotine is the chemical that narrows our blood vessels thereby reducing the life giving air that we intake, which in turn forces us to fight for that extra air. Why we are drawn towards smoking The younger generation of today’s times is the one, which is the most stricken by this deadly disease. The biggest reason for which is they are in a haste to prove them selves to be grownups and mature.

A 13 yr old boy standing in the streets with his friends puffing the circles of smoke in air, feels he is mature and big enough to take his decisions and thinks that now it is that he has broken free from the shackles of his parents boundations which say that "smoking is injurious to health". He does so in pure enjoyment and fun, not realizing that he is indeed letting the shackles of a deadly disease trap him and is not in fact breaking free from any. Hey! Boy, QUIT SMOKING, or
else soon you will be in the clutches of the deadly disease. Ill effects of smoking It is smoking that triples the risk of dying from various heart diseases, bronchitis and emphysema. It is smoking that leads to asthma and lung cancer in many people. It is smoking that makes a person baffle for air 3 times more that a non-smoker. Smoking makes you weak and unfit for athletics and various other sports. Smoking makes people avoid you because it makes your hair and clothes stink. It stains your teeth and you have bad breath. Your lips are often cracked and you look pale. Is that what you call looking mature. No.

So quit smoking because it will do no good to you. Smoking is a contagious disease because it not only weakens it victim but also those who are around him. This is better known as passive smoking where the smoke puffed out by a smoker does harm to the lungs and chest of the person who inhales that air.

It is thus the need of the hour that we should take up the matter seriously and do something constructive to free our society from the grips of this deadly disease.

Defining Better Health Care

2008-03-18T16:55:00.001+06:00

Our world and its environment already has adverse conditions, that many people can identify with, exposure to pollutants through water food and air, the extreme weather conditions, clinically undesirable HIV infection, irregular palpitation from substances abuse, adverse cardiovascular reactions to over active indulgency, unemployment and homelessness, mental health and the quality of decent lifestyle, unidentifiable related exposure to the occult and extreme behavior, mutating disease and adverse effect, which increases the risk of heart disease in stroke and death.

Modern unhealthy lifestyle means we are no nearer to eternal youth than our predecessors were, Despite every effective remedy and cost effective diagnostic treatments that we are privilege to have woven into the infrastructure of our modernistic society, our unhealthy habits have targeted high blood pressure levels, and the cure for cancer and other colostomy complications are very rarely reached, millions find themselves in this painful category, even though the price of medication has become affordable in most countries, the cost of medication is not an issue, rather, it's the recovery process which is still playing catch up. Government from time to time speedily rushes through legislations which please themselves and the democratic process, on face value, caring very little for citizen's rights, privileges and health, rightly assimilating National Security, by adopting a zero tolerance and taking no chances with the shadow of terrorism, nor supporting anything below the standards of human rights, with we mostly are all in agreement with, but they have omitted the weightier matters of prevention, cause and cure. Take blood pressure for instance it is a like bargain within the brain sending acute messages to the kidneys and other blood vessels, a lot of streams flow from the brain to water different parts of the body, likewise this is a theory of mine, that high blood pressure may lie within the brain, rather than with problems relating directly to the heart, kidneys or blood vessels, and we need to find new ways of treating the condition. And I am a great believer that we can help ourselves in a perfectly normal way.

Blood pressure is pump around the body by the forceful thrust of the heart, and is measure by two numbers; the first figure is the maximum pressure in the arteries when the heart beats and pushes blood out into the body, the second figure is the minimum pressure in the arteries between beats when the heart relaxed to be filled with blood, the maximum pressure is always listed first, then the minimum pressure a typical normal blood pressure reading may look something like 110/70 elevated maximum and minimum pressure.

High Blood pressure which causes strain on the arteries may result in increase of severe heart attack, possible disease and stroke. What are some of the main causes of high blood pressure? And I want to cover briefly how to avoid the risk factor of heart disease, stroke and kidney failure, and you may ask yourself, what can I do to stabilize elevated blood pressure levels, well first of all, Some of the most common areas are resulted in family history, your progressing age, smoking and your diet, including alcohol intake, over indulgence of salt and the complete lack of physical exercise, overweight and other medical problems, blood pressure symptoms may go on unnoticed for a long time, until it causes a major blow requiring immediate treatment, it is important therefore and essential that a person gets regular check to detect any change in blood pressure, Naturally the older a person gets the more prone they become to certain illness. The symptoms of elevated blood pressure may not be noticeable at first, but very severe hypertension symptoms can cause headache, drowsiness and confusion, however, your lifestyle will soon have to change after you have consulted with your doctor, but lifestyle may not be the only change that Has to be made in order to reduce high blood pressure, you will need medical treatment, and if left untreated it could result in severe complications.

Your health is the most important gift in life so treasure it well; give yourself the best possible chance for recovery. And reduce the risk of blood pressure. Too much alcohol can raise blood pressure levels, even though individuals with hypertension can reduced their risk of a heart attack by having a drink each day, but with alcohol there is a fine line between the benefits and the side effects, in actual practice and prevention warning there is a risk element in alcohol consumption, and further to that warning, alcohol should never be mixed with medication it will soon become a recipe for disaster and can fatal consequences, it needs to be made clear that alcohol is not a medicine but can act as a stimulant in limited circumstances, moderate alcohol consumption has in the past proven to actually reduce the risk of heart attack even if a person has had high blood pressure, and some individuals are more healthy than none drinkers. But also remember that drinking to dangerous excess levels carries serious health risks. However sociable you may feel, always be practical and act responsible this will keep your brain still in check.

By increasing the levels of cholesterol and possible thinning the blood, moderate alcohol could decrease the risk of heart attack, but to make serious impact upon your lifestyle with healthy living, there are a few basic advisory instruction that you may be advantageous to you, If you are keen to go further and have a grand desire to improve your heart rate, keep blood pressure low, my dispensing health advice is to avoid smoking, eat a well planned balanced diet, steam retains ninety per cent of the goodness in food so be especially careful about the spicy seasoning and take very little salt and saturated fat with your meals, help yourself more effectively by participating with regular physical exercise.

Some suggestion for reducing your blood pressure and prevent further complications are straight forward, but may require a little personal and physical effort on your side, two areas that I personally partake in are healthy dieting, by eating a well balance diet, this gives me a sharp edge, and not over indulging with junk food or salty products, physical exercise is a must, for the past twenty years I taken part in charity races and fund raising for various charity organization, it's a great way to stay healthy, regular exercise also reduces stress and gives me a real sense of achievement in my life, not to mention the comrades that you meet, so just those two suggestion alone will give you a great start, then of course you could cut down on alcohol and smoking, frankly smoking should be band from all public places and individuals could go further and make a personal pledge to kick the habit.

Why Health Is Important

2008-03-18T16:48:00.001+06:00

Our Health is perhaps the most important gift that has been given to us next to the breathe of life, and we often take it for granted that we will live a long happy and prosperous life, but good health does not come easy it must be worked at, naturally it is not an automatic machine, practicing good health requires commitment to exercise, which includes physical efforts by taking brisk walks and eating healthy nourishing food, supplemented by the vital vitamins required to maintain a healthy immune system we begin to come somewhere near significant, physical health can become over emphasized leaving out what I would say is the most important area of our existence.

Our health is important because it gives us the ability to be independent and to do daily the little things that makes us feel special. Having a great body should be complimented with an equally great mind. mental and emotional health can cope with threatening disease if the supportive knowledge is in place, good health is achievable weather you are wealthy are poor, its not conditional upon your status, but you are the greatest motivation for who you are and what you want to be, come so cherishing what is precious and completely so amazingly beautiful can pose several thought provoking questions. What is standing in your way? Risk assessment can eliminate future pain and allow individuals to have a great life, we can help ourselves by doing these necessary things to reduce health hazards, eating, sleeping, and dieting correctly can reduce painful and nervous anxieties, but Not every individual person is a blessing with perfect health; there are individuals born impaired and some have made society diminished their ambitions, and many are suffering with mild disabilities and severe mental trauma, which require corrective medication process, and people who are in high risk employment daily are encountering a higher level of stress, can function normal if they apply the training that has been given to them relating to their task.

Every apposing conflict has been created by humans, between the essential nature of conflict, and our desire to find peaceful resolution and a life free of conflict. We have slowly removed ourselves from the immediacy of the food chain, rather than been hunted, we have instead become a wall to protect ourselves from the conflict of other predators and prey. We find then that we still seem to need those dialog battles, and candidly we try alertedly to turn against our own species to find them in survival fighting on the streets and battlefields. We have reached close to sheltering ourselves from the oncoming evil elements of misunderstanding in the present atmosphere, only to find that our removal from them creates a deeper conflict with our basic need to be connected to each other. An emptiness of soul begins to develop inside our evasive shelter a sense of bordering conflict with ourselves.

Earth in conflict challenges the very purposeful thoughts we hold about our neighbors, seeking a solution to define our ulterior motives, our isolation is not good for health reasons, mankind need each other, the good needs the bad so education can be taught, parallel comparison can also be made. Through medical dispensing and other means of safety solution we have dedicated our narrow brilliant self to removing the conflict against time and inner negative painful forces. Medication is useful but dependence upon drugs will result in side effects, however, as we get older, developing experience along the way, power becomes addicted possession difficult to relinquish, and in democratic stand, the vacuum self willed opinionated view becomes unhealthy, the longer the problem takes to find settled answers, the more stronger the conflict grows, making inhospitable condition more determine than ever before. And again, mistrust finds a damaged route into previously established good relationship, and ethics indirectly questions the belief in our existence and our purpose here on earth.

We find that the end result is engage in only a greater conflict between different nationalities, Diluting themselves on impoverish system scoring points with violent threats to myriads of weaker nations, the potentially strong nations have use military strength to complicate our relationship with each other and to produce a colony of swimming serpent a snake like predator securing its prey by injecting fast acting venom, killing the victim before it has time to swim away, our chances of survival is no longer dependent on size but the ability to camouflage within a negative confine, many countries are cut off from the international circle because of their conflicting behavior accumulation misery to its our citizens, dwelling in poor and neglected areas, the division will pile up high into awful pits which lengthens over time to create a bar as well as a barrier. And mankind draw those same battle lines, And even beyond this is the conflict within our soul the seat of our emotions,: the health struggles over bacteria and viruses and other tiny lives living comfortable inside our single body hosts, coincides with, the many battles not seen by eyes on a level too microscopic for awareness to reach.

Beyond even this, there is also the conflict with time itself, the on going force that moves through all, and ultimate