Month: January 2008

Categories
Healthy Tips

A Little Alcohol ‘can be healthy’

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A little alcohol combined with a healthy active lifestyle may be the best recipe for a longer life.

.Experts warned that over-indulgence could pose severe health risks

A European Heart Journal study suggests the combination can cut the risk of heart disease.

A Danish team found people who led an active lifestyle were less prone to heart disease – but the risk was cut still further if they drank moderately.

However, UK experts warned people should not be encouraged to drink, as too much alcohol can be very damaging.

The researchers followed nearly 12,000 men and women for nearly 20 years, during which 1,242 died from ischaemic heart disease (IHD).

Overall, they found people who did not drink or take any exercise had the highest risk of heart disease – 49% higher than people who either drank, exercised or did both.

When comparing people who took similar levels of exercise, they found that those who drank moderately – one to 14 units of alcohol a week – were around 30% less likely to develop heart disease than non-drinkers.

This finding held good for people who were completely inactive, through to those who took vigorous regular exercise – with the overall risk declining as exercise levels increased.

Non-drinkers who were physically active had a 31%-33% reduced risk of IHD compared to physically inactive non-drinkers.

But their reduced risk was dwarfed by physically active people who drank at least one drink a week – their risk was up to 50% lower than that of physically inactive non-drinkers.

Biochemical effects :

Past research has suggested that alcohol consumption may decrease the risk of heart disease by increasing the levels of “good” cholesterol and possibly thinning the blood.

It was a similar story when the researchers looked at deaths from all causes: physical activity appeared to reduce the risk, while moderate drinkers fared better than their abstemious peers across all physical activity levels.

Researcher Professor Morton Gronbaek, from Copenhagen’s National Institute of Public Health, said: “Our study shows that being both physically active and drinking a moderate amount of alcohol is important for lowering the risk of both fatal IHD and death from all causes.”

Ellen Mason, a cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said: “The combination of moderate drinking and physical activity appears to be a winning one in reducing the risk of fatal heart disease.

“However, drinking too much starts to outweigh the benefits of alcohol intake and can increase your blood pressure.

“Physical activity has shown greater benefits to heart health and overall health in previous research compared to drinking alcohol.

“Alcohol is a depressant whereas exercise releases mood-enhancing hormones which can benefit quality of life as well as reduce the risk of death.”

A unit of alcohol is defined as half a pint of normal strength beer, or a single shot of a spirit. A medium-sized glass of wine is two units.

CLICK TO SEE ALSO :
Drink lowers blood pressure risks

Alcohol ‘makes fruit healthier’

Alcohol ‘may prevent arthritis’

Sources: BBC NEWS: 9TH. Jan “08

 

Categories
Ailmemts & Remedies

Trapzius Myalgia

Other Name(s): Cervical myalgia, neck tension syndrome, cervical strain

Definition: Pain the trapezius muscle.

Areas of Body Directly Affected: Shoulder and/or Neck

Symptoms:
Recurrent pain in the trapezius muscle, which is a very large but thin muscle located between the shoulder and neck. May be accompanied by a tender “knot” in muscle. Worse after stressful events at work or home.

Treatment:
Try to find the aggravating factors and eliminate them (see below). Train in shoulder relaxation methods (controlled breathing, visualization, etc.). Ice-use a sheet of blue ice or a bag of frozen peas for 15 minutes at the end of work or after stressful events. A brief period of use of anti-inflammatory agents, such as Motrin or ibuprofen may be useful. After the constant pain has resolved and is less intense, gentle shoulder strengthening can be started. These can be directed by a physical therapist.

Click to learn: Chiropractic view to releve neck pain

Click to read :Exercise-induced pain in women with trapezius myalgia

Prevention:

Click to read :Possible workplace causes & solutions

Modifying Computer Work
The keyboard or other frequent handwork may too high-the keyboard should be at the level of the elbow. A high keyboard will require you to elevate or shrug your shoulders when keying. The mouse may be too far away-bring it close to the keyboard so that you do not have to reach for the mouse. Increase the acceleration on the mouse so that you can move the cursor over the whole screen just by moving the wrist. Change your position so that you can rest your forearm(s) on the desk-this will help reduce the load to the trapezius muscle.

Sources:http://www.healthycomputing.com/health/conditions/trapezius_myalgia.html

Categories
Positive thinking

Now Is The Time

Bloom Where You Are Planted
Having a vision for our future that differs from our current circumstances can be inspiring and exciting, but it can also keep us from fully committing to our present placement. We may become aware that this is happening when we notice our thoughts about the future distracting us from our participation in the moment. We may find upon searching our hearts that we are waiting for some future time or situation in order to self-actualize. This would be like a flower planted in North Dakota putting off blooming because it would prefer to do so in Illinois.

There are no guarantees in this life, so when we hold back we do so at the risk of never fully blossoming. This present moment always offers us the ground in which we can take root and open our hearts now. What this means is that we live fully, wherever we are, not hesitating because conditions are not perfect, or we might end up moving, or we haven’t found our life partner. This can be scary, because we might feel that we are giving up our cherished dreams if we do not agree to wait for them. But this notion that we have to hold back our life force now in order to find happiness later doesn’t really make sense. What might really be happening is that we are afraid to embrace this moment, and ourselves, just exactly as we are right now. This constitutes a tendency to hold back from fully loving ourselves, as we are, where we are.

We have a habit of presenting life with a set of conditions—ifs and whens that must be fulfilled before we will say yes to the gift of our lives. Now is the time for each of us to bloom where we are planted, overriding our tendency to hold back. Now is the time to say yes, to be brave and commit fully to ourselves, because until we do no one else will. Now is the time to be vulnerable, unfolding delicately yet fully into the space in which we find ourselves.

Sources: Daily Om

Categories
Anti Drug Movement

A Strange Addiction

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The girl’s mother sounded really upset. “She shuts herself up in her room and sniffs a cloth soaked in petrol. I don’t understand it at all,” she said. “Strange behaviour… How did it start,” asked the doctor. Apparently innocently enough, as it turned out, smelling the rags discarded by her mother after cleaning the petrol spills from the generator. The girl looked tired, despondent and disoriented. She twitched and dithered, anxiously eyeing the door, hoping to escape, probably to get her next “fix”.

click & see
…………IInhalant abuse can occur with common household items such as permanent markers, adhesives, moth balls or shoe polish

Further questioning revealed that the girl’s academic performance had also deteriorated in the last few months. She suffered from an addiction to petrol fumes, a recognised form of inhalant abuse. This is defined as the intentional inhalation of any volatile substance for the purpose of achieving an altered mental state, a “high”.

Inhalants are easily addictive. Abuse was first documented among children in slums and ghettos in Africa. Now this addiction is found all over the world, among all ethnic and socioeconomic groups. It can start in elementary school and continue throughout adolescence. The extent of the problem is under reported as it often goes unrecognised. Addiction to inhalants is easy as unlike alcohol, marijuana, crack, heroin and other hard core “recreational” drugs these are cheap, plentiful, appear innocent and can be easily purchased without arousing suspicion.

In addition to petrol, any product containing volatile chemicals like acetone, butane, chlorinated hydrocarbons, fluorocarbons, propane and toluene can be addictive. These chemicals are found in common household products such as permanent markers, adhesive, glue, paint thinner, shoe polish, room fresheners and correction fluids. There are several innovative ways of inhaling fumes like “sniffing” or “snorting” from containers. Alternatively, aerosols are sometimes sprayed directly into the nose or mouth. Kids can “huff” these products by soaking rags in inhalants and then pressing the damp cloth to the mouth. Fumes can also be inhaled from the products poured into plastic bags. Inhalants can be fatal as they can cause palpitations and irregular heart beats. They can also cause suffocation, especially when inhaled from plastic bags.

Parents may not be aware that their child is addicted to inhalants. They may only note inexplicably bizarre behaviour like euphoria, drowsiness, giddiness, loss of coordination, slurred speech, irritation and agitation.

Petrol, including the unleaded variety, contains a significant amount of lead. In addition to nerve and brain damage, petrol sniffers can develop symptoms of lead poisoning. In the long term, the lead and volatile hydrocarbons can damage the fat (myelin) lining of the brain and nerves. The gait then becomes abnormal and unsteady. Visual recognition, attention, memory and learning are affected. Academic performance, too, deteriorates. Physical activity and sports become curtailed as there is poor coordination and tremor. These neurological changes increase the reaction time, thus making these young people accident prone.

Children who are addicted have additional physical and psychological problems. They may be depressed, fatigued (because of anaemia) and have subnormal hearing and vision. The kidneys may be damaged and may eventually fail. Once the habit is curtailed there is some improvement, but much of the neurological damage is permanent. Inhalant abuse must be stopped as soon as it is spotted. This can result in withdrawal symptoms, such as sleep disturbances, irritability, nausea, vomiting, sweating, rapid heartbeat, hallucinations or delusions.

Addiction can occur to many things — like food, tobacco, alcohol, drugs, sleeping tablets, painkillers, cough mixtures or even sex. Addiction occurs when there is a combination of genetic and environmental factors. In other words, it occurs when a person with such genetic makeup — which predisposes him or her to addiction — is brought up in a family where motive and opportunity are aplenty.

Sometimes, the elders in the family may be to blame. The child may observe a lack of control in his or her parents’ lifestyle. One or both of them may consistently overeat, be overweight and exhibit no restraint. There may be smoking, use of snuff or chewing tobacco. Alcohol may be misused with uncontrolled daily consumption or binge drinking.

To help addicted children, parents have to look within as their activities are often emulated by children blindly. They have to stop their addictions. At the same time, they must closely supervise and keep a watch on the child. Disappearing into a room, under the staircase or the terrace is a danger signal. They have to provide supervised activities to occupy the child from morning till night. Physical activity must be encouraged, even if there are pressures of homework, for 40 minutes a day. Yoga and training in the martial arts are also helpful as they teach mental discipline.

The road back to normalcy is long, winding, hard and full of pitfalls with plenty of opportunities for relapse. It is only with the help of supportive and dedicated family and friends that success can be achieved.

Sources:The Telegraph (Kolkata, India)

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Categories
Ailmemts & Remedies

Cervical Dysplasia

Alternative Names: Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN); Precancerous changes of the cervix
Definition:Cervical dysplasia is the abnormal growth of cells on the surface of the cervix. Although this is not cancer, this is considered a pre-cancerous condition. Depending on the extent of changes, the condition is further categorized as:

CIN I — mild dysplasia (a few cells are abnormal)
CIN II — moderate to marked dysplasia
CIN III — severe dysplasia to carcinoma-in-situ (cancer confined to the surface layer of the cervix)

click to see…>....…(01)..…....(1).…....(2).…....(3).……..(4)…..

In some women, the cells of the cervix gradually change from normal to a cancerous state. The condition between these two extremes, when the cells are abnormal with the potential to become cancerous, is known as cervical dysplasia. There are three grades of dysplasia: mild, moderate, and severe. mild dysplasia may return to a normal state, but severe dysplasia may progress to cancer of the cervix if not treated.

Many developed countries, including the US, have established screening programs to check for cervical dysplasia using the pap test. Regular testing, which helps ensure that cervical dysplasia is diagnosed and treated at an early stage before the abnormal cells become cancerous, has led to a dramatic fall in the total number of cases of cancer of the cervix.

Causes: The exact cause of cervical dysplasia is not known, but a number of different risk factors have been identified. for

example, the risk of developing cervical dysplasia appears to be slightly higher after exposure to those types of human

papilloma virus that cause genital warts. other risk factors for the development of cervical dysplasia include unprotected

sex at an early age, and becoming pregnant before age 20. however, exactly how these risk factors are connected to cervical

dysplasia is unknown. smoking also increases the risk of developing cervical dysplasia.

Less than 5% of all Pap smear test results find cervical dysplasia. While the cause is unknown, a number of risk factors have

been identified. Most cases occur in women aged 25 to 35.

Other risk factors include:

Multiple sexual partners
Starting sexual activity before age 18
Having children before age 16
DES exposure
Having had sexually transmitted diseases, especially HPV (genital warts) or HIV infection .

Symptoms: There are usually no symptoms.

Diagnosis: Cervical dysplasia does not produce symptoms. the condition is only normally diagnosed after a pap test, during which a sample of cells is taken from the cervix and sent for examination under a microscope. If you are found to have abnormal cells, your doctor may arrange for you to have a colposcopy, so that the cervix can be seen through an instrument and examined for abnormal-looking areas. A small sample of tissue may also be removed from the cervix and examined under the microscope for abnormalities.

Exams and Tests:

A pelvic examination is usually normal.

The following tests may indicate cervical dysplasia:

Pap smear showing mild, moderate, marked, or severe dyspepsias.
Colposcopy revealing “white epithelium.” These are mosaic-like patterns on the surface of the cervix, caused by changes in the surface blood vessels.
Colposcopy-directed biopsy to confirm dyspepsias and the extent of cervical involvement.
Endocervical curettage to rule out involvement of the cervical canal.
Cone biopsy may be necessary to rule out invasive cancer.

Treatment:If you are diagnosed with cervical dysplasia, the treatment depends on the degree of abnormality cells revert to normal in up to 4 in 10 cases. however, the disorder will be monitored by pap tests every 6 months. If cervical dysplasia persists or worsens, treatment to destroy or remove the abnormal cells will be needed. after treatment you may have a bloodstained discharge for a few weeks.

The treatment depends on the degree of dysplasia. Mild dysplasia, which may go away on its own, usually involves careful observation with repeat Pap smears every 3 to 6 months. Other forms may require methods to destroy the abnormal tissue, including electrocauterization, cryosurgery, laser vaporization, or surgical removal.

Consistent follow-up, every 3 to 6 months or as prescribed, is essential.

Ayurvedic Recommended Therapy: Basti

Click to learn about Alternative Cervical Dysplasia Treatment…(1)….(2).………(3)

Click to learn about homeopathic medication for Cervical Dysplasia…….(1).…..(2)…..(3)

Prognosis: In many cases of cervical dysplasia, the cells of the cervix will return to normal after treatment. However, your condition will be monitored for the next few years to ensure that no further abnormalities develop. about 3 months after treatment, you will have a pap test and colposcopy, followed by regular pap tests every 6 months. The risk of developing cancer of the cervix is higher in cases of severe cervical dysplasia.
Nearly all cervical dysplasia can be cured with early identification, proper evaluation and treatment, and careful, consistent follow-up.

Without treatment, 30-50% cases of cervical dysplasia may progress to invasive cancer. The risk of cancer is higher for severe dysplasia (CIN III) that is not treated.

When to Contact your Medical Professional :
Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you are a woman who is sexually active or aged 20 or older, and you have never had a pelvic examination and Pap smear.

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you have not had regular Pap smears at these intervals:

Every year initially
For women up to age 35 or 40: every 2-3 years after having three negative, consecutive annual Pap smear tests and a single sexual partner or no sexual partner
*Every year for women over age 35 or 40
*Every year for women who have had multiple sexual partners
*Every year for women who are taking oral contraceptives (birth control pills)
*Every 6 months for women who have a history of HPV (genital warts)
*Every year for DES daughters (women whose mothers took DES during the pregnancy)
The frequency recommended by your health care provider after an abnormal Pap smear or prior dysplasia

Prevention :
To reduce the chance of developing cervical dysplasia:

Wait until you are 18 or older before becoming sexually active
Practice monogamy and use condoms during intercourse

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advise or help. It is always best to consult with a Physician about serious health concerns. This information is in no way intended to diagnose or prescribe remedies.This is purely for educational purpose.

Resources:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001491.htm
http://www.charak.com/DiseasePage.asp?thx=1&id=200

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