Health Maintenance

Self care

Achieving health and remaining healthy is an active process. Effective strategies for staying healthy and improving one's health include the following elements:

Nutrition is the science that studies how what people eat affects their health and performance, such as foods or food components that cause diseases or deteriorate health (such as eating too many calories, which is a major contributing factor to obesity, diabetes, and heart disease). The field of nutrition also studies foods and dietary supplements that improve performance, promote health, and cure or prevent disease, such as eating fibrous foods to reduce the risk of colon cancer, or supplementing with vitamin C to strengthen teeth and gums and to improve the immune system.

Personal health depends partially on the social structure of one’s life. The maintenance of strong social relationships is linked to good health conditions, longevity, productivity, and a positive attitude. This is due to the fact that positive social interaction as viewed by the participant increases many chemical levels in the brain which are linked to personality and intelligence traits. Essentially this means that positive reinforcement from a third party make one more socially adept, in control, and relaxed physically and mentally, all of which are proven to effect the nervous system(UHF).

Health Tip: Limit Ageing Of The Skin

Ageing is an inevitable part of growing older. However, certain factors can minimise the appearance of blotchy skin, age spots, and wrinkles. Limit the amount of alcohol you consume, quit smoking, avoid crash diets, increase intake of dietary antioxidants (whole grains, fresh fruits, vegetables) & vitamin C and reduce saturated fats in diet. Manage your stress, get regular exercise, avoid harsh skin products, get enough rest, use sunscreen, avoid harsh winds and drink plenty of water.

Breast cancer mortality may increase with body mass index

WEIGHT AND HEIGHT SHOULD ALIGN

A higher body mass index (BMI) is associated with lower survival rates in women with breast cancer, according to a report in the July 10th issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

“We have found strong evidence that high BMI and a recent pregnancy are associated with a poorer prognosis after a diagnosis of breast cancer. Our study suggests that advice on weight loss should be given to all obese patients with breast cancer,” Dr Gillian C Barnett told Reuters Health. Dr Barnett from Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK and colleagues investigated the impact of established risk factors for incident breast cancer on overall survival after a diagnosis of breast cancer, using data from the Studies of Epidemiology and Risk Factors in Cancer Heredity.

Women with the highest BMIs were 52 percent more likely to die than women with the lowest BMIs, the investigators report. BMI is the ratio of weight to height, which is often used to see if a patient's weight is outside normal parameters.

“The Women's Interventional Nutritional Study reported improved event-free survival in women randomly assigned to a reduced fat diet (associated with weight loss),” Barnett pointed out. “Further definitive clinical weight loss intervention trials in breast cancer populations are required to further clarify the relationship between breast cancer mortality and BMI.”Survival was also significantly worse in women who had four or more full-term pregnancies and in women whose last pregnancy was more recent, the report indicates. In contrast, the team found that prognosis improved with recent alcohol consumption, with light to moderate drinking reducing the risk of dying by 22 per cent.

“The association between alcohol consumption and improved survival is surprising. The results of several other studies have not shown such an association," Barnett commented.

source:timesofindia

Medical Transcription (MT) Industry In INDIA

Medical transcription comes of age

Medical transcription (MT) industry in India is no longer a smalltime activity beset with quality problems. In fact, it is truly becoming global, what with thrust on research and development for technological improvements, better orientation programmes, and Indian companies acquiring USbased MT companies and healthcare BPOs in the last one year, Raman Kumar, chairman and CEO of CBaySystems Holdings tells Padmaja Shastri

Q: How much of the global medical transcription business comes to India?
A: The medical transcription (MT) business is primarily US-based. This is because voice dictations of patient get recorded by doctors, which need to be transcribed, as case sheets are not acceptable in that country. Of the $6 billion organised MT services outsourced globally, Indian entities get around $120 million. This is growing at the rate of 11-12 per cent every year and is set to become a $400 million business by 2010, according to Nasscom. The MT industry in India has 15-20 medium to large players, who employ 50-5000 people and some 200 one-man outfits.

Q: Quality of Indian medical transcriptionists was a big suspect a few years ago. How is it now?
A: India currently has around 25,000 trained and certified medical transcriptionists. We have an intensive training programme of six months internally for our employees. Apart from medical and pharmocology jargon/terminology, they are also given orientation in the American usage of the English language in terms of spelling, grammar and cultural context. We have also begun to look at the psychographic profile of the candidates and that has helped us zero in on the right people and bring down attrition considerably. Then there are the technological advancements, which have automated a large part of the work, improving efficiency and reducing the grunt factor, traditionally associated with transcription. Earlier, for $1 mn revenue, we needed to use 100 people, while it is 50 people today because of technology. It has also helped us do some real time work, for jobs which require short turn around time,

Q: What are these technological advancements?
A: Voice recognition software and other technology that big players like us use takes care of 25-30 per cent of the work and improves accuracy, speed and thereby capability quite a bit. Some of the other tools being used include auto correctors, word builders/expanders and databases that do not allow you to type a wrong word, based on past case histories dictated by the same doctor. Infact, we have a 100-people R&D team that has built a lot of IP on automatic templates in the MT field.

Q: What are the other avenues in healthcare outsourcing?
A: Patient financial services is the next big thing waiting to happen in healthcare outsourcing. It includes coding (into a language the insurance companies understand for reimbursement purposes), billing and account receivables management (the process of managing the bills raised by the hospital to the insurance companies, in terms of completedness and accuracy as per the changing schemes/policies of the various insurance companies).

Q: How will US slowdown impact ?
A: There will be lay-offs in the IT industry, if it continues for the next 12-18 months. That will throw more people into the job market and we would be able to hire easily without any problem. Also, healthcare services outsourcing will actually prosper during recession.

Q: After acquiring majority stake in MedQuist Inc. what are your plans ?
A: We plan to add 5,000 people in India over the next 18-24 months to become a 10,000-people company. Of them, 5,000 would be in the Hyderabad hub.

source:timesofindia

Drinking Orange Juice Daily May Cause Diabetes in Women

Daily intake of orange juice could lead to the onset of type two diabetes in women, a new study published in the journal Diabetes Care revealed.

While drinking orange juice is deemed healthy since it contains a high percentage of vitamin C, the absence of any fibre in it could raise the body blood sugar which increases the risk of contracting diabetes by more than 18 percent.

Researchers from the Harvard Medical School in United States studied the eating habits of more than 70,000 female nurses over a period of 18 years. The researchers found that drinking just one glass of orange juice increased the risk of diabetes by more than 18 percent while eating three servings of the whole fruit reduced the risk by 24 percent.

One of the reasons given for the increased risk of diabetes in women drinking orange juice is the absence of fibre and is hence absorbed very quickly by the stomach while eating the orange fruit contains fibre which slows down its absorption. Packaged orange juices also have a high amount of sugar in them which increases blood sugar in the body.

However the study also found eating oranges could reduce the risk of diabetes by 18%. This indicates the natural sugars added in the juice may be the culprit in increasing the risk of diabetes.

What To Expect From Your Regular Check Up ?

When you go in for your check up, expect the following tests.

1. Vision

2. Blood Pressure

3. Weight

4. Temperature

5. Heart, lungs and breathing ( performed with the aid of a stethoscope )

6. A blood test for estimation of Haemoglobin, Serum Cholesterol, presence of antibodies ,bacteria or virii.

7. A urin analysis ( under certain circumstances )

8. Electro Cardio Graph to estimate the heart beat

9. A breast examination ( for women to estimate the presence of lumps )

10. An examination designed to evaluate the state of any specific conditions you may suffer from or suspect.

Cancer center director warns of cell phone risks

Sara Loughran, a 24-year-old graduate student at the University of Pittsburgh, talks on her cell phone while waiting for a bus on campus in Pittsburgh on July 23, 2008. The head of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute released a memo advising faculty and staff to limit cell phone use because of "the growing body of literature linking long-term cell phone use" to cancer and other possible health problems.

PITTSBURGH - The head of a prominent cancer research institute issued an unprecedented warning to his faculty and staff Wednesday: Limit cell phone use because of the possible risk of cancer.

The warning from Dr. Ronald B. Herberman, director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, is contrary to numerous studies that don’t find a link between cancer and cell phone use, and a public lack of worry by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Herberman is basing his alarm on early unpublished data. He says it takes too long to get answers from science and he believes people should take action now — especially when it comes to children.

“Really at the heart of my concern is that we shouldn’t wait for a definitive study to come out, but err on the side of being safe rather than sorry later,” Herberman said.

No other major academic cancer research institutions have sounded such an alarm about cell phone use. But Herberman’s advice is sure to raise concern among many cell phone users and especially parents.

In the memo he sent to about 3,000 faculty and staff Wednesday, he says children should use cell phones only for emergencies because their brains are still developing.

Adults should keep the phone away from the head and use the speakerphone or a wireless headset, he says. He even warns against using cell phones in public places like a bus because it exposes others to the phone’s electromagnetic fields.


The issue that concerns some scientists — though nowhere near a consensus — is electromagnetic radiation, especially its possible effects on children. It is not a major topic in conferences of brain specialists.

A 2008 University of Utah analysis looked at nine studies — including some Herberman cites — with thousands of brain tumor patients and concludes “we found no overall increased risk of brain tumors among cellular phone users. The potential elevated risk of brain tumors after long-term cellular phone use awaits confirmation by future studies.”

Studies last year in France and Norway concluded the same thing.

“If there is a risk from these products — and at this point we do not know that there is — it is probably very small,” the Food and Drug Administration says on an agency Web site.

Still, Herberman cites a “growing body of literature linking long-term cell phone use to possible adverse health effects including cancer.”

‘Evidence is still controversial’
“Although the evidence is still controversial, I am convinced that there are sufficient data to warrant issuing an advisory to share some precautionary advice on cell phone use,” he wrote in his memo.

A driving force behind the memo was Devra Lee Davis, the director of the university’s center for environmental oncology.

“The question is do you want to play Russian roulette with your brain,” she said in an interview from her cell phone while using the hands-free speaker phone as recommended. “I don’t know that cell phones are dangerous. But I don’t know that they are safe.”

Of concern are the still unknown effects of more than a decade of cell phone use, with some studies raising alarms, said Davis, a former health adviser in the Clinton Administration.

She said 20 different groups have endorsed the advice the Pittsburgh cancer institute gave, and authorities in England, France and India have cautioned children’s use of cell phones.

Herberman and Davis point to a massive ongoing research project known as Interphone, involving scientists in 13 nations, mostly in Europe. Results already published in peer-reviewed journals from this project aren’t so alarming, but Herberman is citing work not yet published.

The published research focuses on more than 5,000 cases of brain tumors. The National Research Council in the U.S., which isn’t participating in the Interphone project, reported in January that the brain tumor research had “selection bias.” That means it relied on people with cancer to remember how often they used cell phones. It is not considered the most accurate research approach.

The largest published study, which appeared in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute in 2006, tracked 420,000 Danish cell phone users, including thousands that had used the phones for more than 10 years. It found no increased risk of cancer among those using cell phones.

A French study based on Interphone research and published in 2007 concluded that regular cell phone users had “no significant increased risk” for three major types of nervous system tumors. It did note, however, that there was “the possibility of an increased risk among the heaviest users” for one type of brain tumor, but that needs to be verified in future research.

Earlier research also has found no connection.

Joshua E. Muscat of Penn State University, who has studied cancer and cell phones in other research projects partly funded by the cell phone industry, said there are at least a dozen studies that have found no cancer-cell phone link. He said a Swedish study cited by Herberman as support for his warning was biased and flawed.

“We certainly don’t know of any mechanism by which radiofrequency exposure would cause a cancerous effect in cells. We just don’t know this might possibly occur,” Muscat said.

Cell phones emit radiofrequency energy, a type of radiation that is a form of electromagnetic radiation, according to the National Cancer Institute. Though studies are being done to see if there is a link between it and tumors of the brain and central nervous system, there is no definitive link between the two, the institute says on its Web site.

‘No conclusive evidence’
“By all means, if a person feels compelled that they should take precautions in reducing the amount of electromagnetic radio waves through their bodies, by all means they should do so,” said Dan Catena, a spokesman for the American Cancer Society. “But at the same time, we have to remember there’s no conclusive evidence that links cell phones to cancer, whether it’s brain tumors or other forms of cancer.”

Joe Farren, a spokesman for the CTIA-The Wireless Association, a trade group for the wireless industry, said the group believes there is a risk of misinforming the public if science isn’t used as the ultimate guide on the issue.

“When you look at the overwhelming majority of studies that have been peer reviewed and published in scientific journals around the world, you’ll find no relationship between wireless usage and adverse health affects,” Farren said.

‘The jury is out’
Frank Barnes, who chaired the January report from the National Research Council, said Wednesday that “the jury is out” on how hazardous long-term cell phone use might be.

Speaking from his cell phone, the professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Colorado at Boulder said he takes no special precautions in his own phone use. And he offered no specific advice to people worried about the matter.

It’s up to each individual to decide what if anything to do. If people use a cell phone instead of having a land line, “that may very well be reasonable for them,” he said.

Susan Juffe, a 58-year-old Pittsburgh special education teacher, heard about Herberman’s cell phone advice on the radio earlier in the day.

“Now, I’m worried. It’s scary,” she said.

She says she’ll think twice about allowing her 10-year-old daughter Jayne to use the cell phone.

“I don’t want to get it (brain cancer) and I certainly don’t want you to get it,” she explained to her daughter.

Sara Loughran, a 24-year-old doctoral student at the University of Pittsburgh, sat in a bus stop Wednesday chatting on her cell phone with her mother. She also had heard the news earlier in the day, but was not as concerned.

“I think if they gave me specific numbers and specific information and it was scary enough, I would be concerned,” Loughran said, planning to call her mother again in a matter of minutes. “Without specific numbers, it’s too vague to get me worked up.”

source:www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25821899/page/2/

Tobacco Plant To Fight Against Cancer

A personalized vaccine made using tobacco plants — normally associated with causing cancer rather than helping cure it — could aid people with lymphoma in fighting the disease, US researchers said.

The treatment, which would vaccinate cancer patients against their own tumour cells, is made using a new approach that turns genetically engineered tobacco plants into personalized vaccine factories.

"This is the first time a plant has been used for making a protein to inject into a person," said Ron Levy of Stanford University School of Medicine in California, whose research appears in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

"This would be a way to treat cancer without side effects," Levy said in a statement on Monday. "The idea is to marshal the body's own immune system to fight cancer."

Levy was working with a team of scientists from the now defunct Large Scale Biology Corp, which helped fund the study, as well as Bayer AG's Bayer HealthCare, CBR International Corp, Integrated Biomolecule Corp, The Biologics Consulting Group Inc and Holtz Biopharma Consulting.


They were working on a type of cancer known as follicular B-cell lymphoma, a kind of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that attacks the immune system. The cancer makes a specific antibody that is not found in healthy cells.

The technology exploits the tobacco plant's vulnerability a virus that only attacks tobacco plants, which most people associate with causing cancer, and not curing it.

The researchers altered the virus, adding the specific antibody gene from a patient's cancer cells. Then, they infected the tobacco plants with the gene-carrying virus.

"You scratch it on the leaves and it turns the plants into a protein-producing factory for the protein of interest," Levy said.

Other approaches that use animals to make the vaccines can take months, but the plant-based approach is very fast.

"A week later, you extract the protein. It's that fast."

In a test of 16 patients with follicular B-cell lymphoma, 70% of people injected with a made-to-order vaccine developed an immune response, and none had any side effects.

Levy said the study suggests personalized cancer vaccines could be produced efficiently and cheaply using plants. The early-stage study only focused on the safety and immune-stimulating ability of the plant-produced vaccines.

Future studies will be needed to show how effective they are as a treatment.

source:timesofindia

Protect Y ourself From And Get Rid Of Pregnancy Constipation

How to Protect Yourself from and Get Rid Of Pregnancy ConstipationPregnancy is that stage in woman’s life when she carries ababy in her. It is usually accompanied by various bodily and hormonal changes. The more popular ones are morning sickness -where the woman has the urge to throw up first thing in the morning- nausea, headaches, hot flushes, increased desire to eat. The not so popular ones are those like constipation. Like it or not, this happens to many women as a result of either their eating habits -some eat lots of junk foods during pregnancy- or just irregular bowel movements.

This usually continues during the very early stages until after delivery.The reasons behind the occurrence of constipation during the pregnancy phase and even after the delivery are varied. In post delivery cases, certain women end up tearing their rectal tissue during the process of birthing. This is usually repaired after she gives birth.


However, the pain that accompanies this when she wants to pass stool can be intense. This could lead to an agonizingly, painful constipation for her. In some cases, because of the pain accompanying it, the women hold it in for a long period which actually ends up worsening the situation as it just leads to a build up of toxic waste in the colon.Some other women who may have been delivered using the caesarian section may find that their bowel movements are just deferred for a short period of time after delivery.

Some other common factors are medicinal side effects, increased level of stress, changed diet, a lack of sufficient sleep, low fluid intake, consumption of caffeinated fluids and drinks.To treat and possibly cure pregnancy constipation, there are varied solutions to take on. Chief among them is consuming and eating foods that are only rich in fiber, lots of fruit, exercise -avoid the stressful ones- such as a walk around the block is a great one as it reduces the incidence of bloating. Also, take in lots of fluid. As much as possible, avoid caffeinated drinks as they only cause dehydration. Also take calcium or vitamin supplements specifically designed for pregnant women. Another option is using stool softeners. Only use this in the short term as it has side effects when used for long period of time. You might also want to try using Bowtrol. It’s a highly effective herbal colon cleanser that not only does a good job of cleansing you, but also, repairing and healing worn colon tissues.

source:alternativemedicinebuy.com

Being The Beautifully Balanced Bipasha Basu

Actress Bipasha Basu balances a fitness routine of yoga, cardio and a nutritious diet

Bips has strong views, knows her plus points and is quite clear where she wants to be. In the time we spent on an outdoor shoot in Bangkok, I couldn’t help but notice Bipasha Basu’s change in attitude. Having known her from her modelling days in 1997, where she was laidback about fitness, it’s great to see she actually had a personal trainer accompany her on an outdoor of 25 days! This sudden change happened as late as 2004, and I strongly suspect her super-fit boyfriend must have something to do with it. She has no vices like drinking or smoking.

Obsessed with the Suryanamaskar (she does a 108 of these a day!), the exotic face and voluptuous body of the ‘90s has given way to a more sculpted face and a fit body to die for. A trim exterior is backed by a strong core (thanks to some disciplined yoga with BharatThakur’s team). She spends two hours, six days a week in the gym.


For someone who used to dread dance sequences, she’s become the Bidi Jalailay girl, who also happens to be the only nonsporting person to endorse Reebok! She trains in the morning. Her routine is Day 1 — upper body,Day 2 — abdomen workout, Day 3 — legs and lower body, Day 4 — gluteus maximus, Day 5 — upper body, Day 6 — abdomen and gluteus maximus, accompanied by 108 Suryanamaskars daily with 50 minutes of cardio, and a 10-minute warm-up, which includes stretching, and holding dance postures with emphasis on breathing. Weekly four times, the 50 minutes of cardio is split up into 20 minutes on the treadmill, 10 minutes on the elliptical machine and 20 minutes on the rowing machine, twice a week.


She also does a spinning class a week. She believes in weak-point training, works especially hard on her triceps and does the Bhujangasana really well. A victim of an injured left knee, she does physio for it. Being flat-footed, she grips paper with her feet to overcome the problem. Post a trip to Rio, she started working on the gluteus maximus, as a ‘good butt’ is a sign of a great body! She is a strong believer in circuit training, which keeps the heart rate up. To break monotony, she adopts a new routine every four months. She uses yoga to strengthen her lower back, core muscles and redevelop her left knee muscles.

Equipped with little knowledge three-and-a-half years ago (which included running with bad shoes), she caught on by reading and with help from her trainer Paul. She doesn’t train when very tired and averages six-and-a-half hours of sleep.


Bipasha’s diet starts with tea, almonds soaked overnight and warm water. At 9 am, she has six egg whites, mushroom and toast with porridge, skimmed milk and fruits. At 11 am, one apple. Lunch sharp at 1 pm consisting of green vegetables, dal, grilled chicken or fish, green salad, two soya chapattis and strictly no rice except her birthday, which is quite an achievement for a Bengali! She has tea at 5 pm with digestive biscuits. Dinner is at 9 pm with dal, salad, three vegetables cooked in olive oil, grilled fish or chicken with a miniscule portion of dessert.
Sounds exotic? Well, that she is, dark and Indian in essence, and now very fit!

HAVING RESTLESS NIGHTS

HAVING RESTLESS NIGHTS? GET SOME RE-ENERGISING SHUT-EYE WITH THE LATEST IN BEDDING TECHNOLOGY

Ever woken up groggy thanks to a case of allnight wheezing? Got rashes that mysteriously appear every morning? It just might be because of the bacteria and dust mites that have made themselves comfortable in your mattress or pillow. Bed sheets, mattresses and pillows are a breeding ground for these tiny organisms.

Allergens in our homes

Around the world, millions of people suffer from allergies, skin irritations, asthma and other respiratory aliments. Research shows that most of these infections are caused by household allergens. The most common allergens are dust mites, bed mites, animals (pets) dander, insect parts, mold spores and pollen. These can be found in various parts of the house, and a particular hotspot is bedrooms.

Modern houses have a host of surfaces such as carpets, window plants and pets that breed dust mites and allergens. The scary part? On an average, over two million dust mites thrive in our pillows and mattresses. Dander (skin scales) shed by people and pets is their primary source of food. Also, moisture from the body is most prevalent in bed sheets and bedding, making them an ideal breeding ground for dust mites. And routine activities such as housecleaning, walking or playing on carpets, or making the bed, cause these tiny organisms to become airborne and inhaled, thereby causing asthma and other respiratory aliments. A recent study on stem cell research at Mumbai University revealed that dust mite allergens can even be passed from the mother to her unborn child.


Symptoms of a dust mite allergy
So how do you know you have a dust mite allergy? Symptoms of a dust mite allergy include a stuffy or runny nose, sneezing, coughing and watery eyes. And when individuals prone to allergies inhale allergens, it can result in acute attacks of bronchial asthma, along with wheezing, shortness of breath and at times even death. Allergens are also known to be a leading cause of eczema, an inflammatory skin condition.

Also, diagnostic tests and clinical studies have shown dust mites to be the most common allergy among asthmatics and an important cause of the development of asthma in young children. Recent studies suggest that at least 45 per cent of young people who suffer from asthma are allergic to dust mites. Unlike ‘seasonal’ allergies caused by molds and pollen, people who are allergic to dust mites often have these symptoms throughout the year.

Ideal bedding

Pretty scary isn’t it? To think that your mattresses and pillows are conspiring against you. That the one place you go to relax and unwind is the probably the one causing your health problems in the first place. But there is a big bright spot in this scary scenario. Furnishing manufacturers have caught on to the problem and have started creating revolutionary bedding that protects you from dust mites and other allergens. The bed sheets have allergen-control technology, that keeps the allergy-inducing organism at bay, and energy-boosters that help you sleep peacefully, resulting in general good health and well-being. That’s six to eight hours of wonderfully relaxed sleep that’ll help you wake up refreshed and rejuvenated. Now that’s more like it.

Innovative technology

Wondering how it works? The innovative technology involved in the manufacture of these products traps, immobilises and limits exposure to microscopic irritants and allergens. This technology is scientifically designed to ensure maximum effectiveness, while remaining eco-friendly. The fabric used in bed sheets is biocompatible and free from all toxic substances that could be injurious to your health. Allergens are permanently eliminated from the fabric through regular household washing, while the bed sheet retains all its protective attributes.
These bed sheets are different from traditional anti-bacterial, anti-mite products which may contain harmful chemicals and often have unpleasant smells, can irritate human skin, may be uncomfortable and may go away with some washes.

Bedding with ionic energy-boosters

If you think that’s all there is to it, you’re wrong. The technology involved in the making of this innovative bedding also acts as an energy booster thanks to the bionic application that empowers the fabric, with a permanent negative ion treatment. Often called ‘Vitamin of Air,’ negative ions, found in abundance at waterfalls and seafronts, remove bacteria, vitalise our cells, increase the oxygen holding capacity of blood, improve metabolism, do away with fatigue, boost resistance to disease and have a substantial healing effect on headache, insomnia, constipation, allergy, asthma and so on.

Researchers believe that through the control of electrical charges in our surroundings, our moods, energy levels and health can be markedly improved. Clinical studies done with negative-ionised mattress covers have shown that ionised bed linen promotes the body’s ability to reenergise and stimulates the flow of energy. This technologically-advanced bed linen and mattress assures a hygienic environment and restful sleep. That’s some powerpacked bedding!

source:tinesofindia

Beauty And Health For Vegetable Juices

Put the squeeze on health

Why would you voluntarily drink up a blended bitter gourd? Norbert Rego asks around and comes up with some tasty pointers

SO, do you really enjoy that blended bottle gourd or bitter gourd first thing in the morning? Well, a lot of people surprisingly do. And what’s more, juice bars are not just
mushrooming all around town, but are becoming popular hot spots too. Health aficionados across age groups are flocking to freshly made juices that are even quickly replacing those from tetra packs.

Tarana Masand, fashion designer, takes a combination of vegetable juices everyday. “I take any three different juices. It makes me feel better and keeps me full. Vegetable juices make you feel active, lighter, your skin and hair feel better,” she says.

Karnvir Bohra, film personality, feels juices should not be kept for more than half an hour. “Every morning, my wife and I drink spinach and tomato juice, which is good for our eyes and complexion. Amla juice is good for our hair,” he says. What’s the fuss about juices anyway? Well, firstly, many people eat the same vegetables everyday. This violates the principle of regular food rotation and increases your chances of developing an allergy to a certain food.



But with juicing, you can have a wide variety of vegetables that you may not normally eat. Vegetable juices cannot be made from every vegetable, unlike fruit juices. They help you absorb all the nutrients from the vegetables and allow you to consume an optimal amount of vegetables in an efficient manner. Juices in short, are almost a one-stop dose of everything your body needs.

“It is water, flavours, pigments, enzymes, vitamins, minerals and nutrients work i synergistically to give your body the materials that promote healing, energy and protection from disease. But there is still a mystery left undefined. There is a miracle of energy supplied by live plants and fruits that comes from nothing else,” says Dr Ashwani Chopra, Delhi-based physician and gastroenterologist.

But there are still rules that you must follow while juicing. The juice must be prepared fresh and consumed soon after, or else it will lead to loss of essential vitamins and antioxidants. Vegetables must be washed thoroughly before preparing the juice. Avoid straining/discarding the pulp of the vegetables, as it will lead to loss of fibre. Use a pinch of rock salt instead of adding sugar.

Limejuice enhances iron absorption, and ginger, garlic and cardamom add not just flavour but also aid digestion. Mix it up — use different vegetables every day. Avoid consuming any food an hour before or after a glass of juice for enhanced nutrient absorption. If you must buy, choose juices without preservatives or added sugar. Dudhi, amla, mix-vegetables, tomato, cabbage, spinach, karela and wheat grass are healthier options for diabetics and people on weight loss. And don’t try juices of vegetables you are allergic to.

“Juices should be a part of your diet but they should be of high quality and junk-free. Besides nutrients, there are certain things called ‘helper nutrients’ and these are all found in raw fruits and vegetables. Drinking raw vegetable or fruit juice is basically eating food the way God made it,” adds Dr Chopra.

Juice bars have now become new health hotspots. Amorettos, a juice bar chain, has positioned itself as a health and fitness brand with outlets in Mumbai, Kolkata and Delhi. Juice Zone, North America’s juice brand, has set shop in Gurgaon and New Delhi with franchisees in Ahmedabad, Jodhpur, Faridabad, Pune and Mumbai. HAS Juice Bar in Mumbai offers you a vast range of vegetable juices.

“Vegetable juices are good for all age groups. However, at no cost should they replace your daily katori of vegetables. When it is a choice between bowls of raw and home-cooked vegetables, then vegetables win hands down as compared to juices. Vegetable juices are a good way to meet the recommended allowances for the vegetable group. An average Indian adult is recommended 5-6 servings of vegetables per day. At least one third of this requirement can be met with a glass of juice,” says Dr Richa Anand, executive dietician, Dr L H Hiranandani Hospital, Mumbai.

JUICING FOR LIFE
l Cabbage juice has ulcer-healing capabilities, but should be used in conjunction with a doctor’s prescribed therapy. However, patients with gas trouble should avoid it. l Cucumber juice cleanses your kidneys, lowers high blood pressure and improves skin problems. l Beet juice cleanses the blood and strengthens the gall bladder and liver. l Carrot juice is an excellent source of betacarotene, potassium, trace minerals, and anticancer nutrients, including phthalide and glutathione (antioxidants). l Celery juice contains the anti-cancer nutrients phthalide and polyacetylene (antioxidants). It is rich in potassium and sodium and helps lower BP
.
l Garlic acts as a natural antibiotic
and blood thinner and can reduce cholesterol levels. Add a clove to your vegetable mix. l Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties and will also protect the stomach from irritation. Migraines and motion sickness can also be relieved by ginger juice. l Wheat grass juice is used as an enema. It helps detoxify the walls of the piles. It can be mixed with spinach and lime. l Bitter gourd juice is used as an anti-diabetic medicine. It also helps in purifying the blood. l Bottle gourd juice is used in the treatment of stomach acidity, indigestion, ulcers, epilepsy and other nervous diseases.

Rare twin boys born - one black, one white

new twins into the world is always a momentous event.

But when brothers Ryan and Leo arrived they had an extra surprise for their parents - they were born with different coloured skin.

For one twin to be black and one to be white is so rare that it is thought by medical experts to be a one-in-a-million occurrence.

The twins' mother, Florence, 35, is from Ghana, west Africa while their father, Stephan, is German.

Stephan, 40, said though the couple were surprised by the colourings, the most important thing was the babies were healthy.

The infants caused a sensation at the Sana Hospital in Lichtenberg, Germany, where they were born last week, with guests crowding around to greet the new arrivals.

And the twins are already revealing opposing personalities.

Light-skinned Ryan is described as a "spirited" baby, while Leo is laid back.

33 Health Benefits of Drinking Tea

Tea has been an important beverage for thousands of years and has been a huge part of culture in countries around the world, forming major parts of ceremonies, trade routes and even starting revolutions. But tea isn’t just appreciated for its good taste and worldwide appeal, it also offers numerous health benefits. Here are a few health conscious reasons you should add a cup of tea to your daily routine.

Overall Health

Tea can be beneficial to your whole body as you can see from these great effects.

1. Tea contains antioxidants. Antioxidants can help slow down aging and help your cells to regenerate and repair. Teas of all varieties contain high levels of antioxidant polyphenols that can help keep your body healthier and some studies suggest even ward of some cancers.

2. Tea has less caffeine than coffee. While there are some potential health benefits to consuming moderate amounts of caffeine, drinking loads of it is hard on your heart and other organs. Tea can provide the pick me up of coffee but without the high levels of caffeine making you less jittery and helping you get to sleep when you want.

3. Tea helps keep you hydrated. Conventional wisdom held that caffeinated beverages actually dehydrated you more than they hydrated you. Recent research has shown, however, that caffeine doesn’t make a difference unless you consume more than 5 to 6 cups at a time. Tea has been shown to actually be more healthy for you than water alone in some cases because it hydrates while providing antioxidants.

Mental Health

Boost your brain and mental state with these benefits of tea.

4. Tea can create a calmer but more alert state of mind. Studies have shown that the amino acid L-theanine found in the tea plant alters the attention networks in the brain and can have demonstrable effects on the brain waves. More simply, tea can help you relax and concentrate more fully on tasks.

5. Tea lowers the chance of having cognitive impairment. Research on Japanese adults who consumed at least 2 cups of green tea daily found that those individuals had cut their risk of cognitive impairment by half.

6. Tea lowers stress hormone levels. Black tea has been shown to reduce the effects of a stressful event. Participants in a study experienced a 20% drop in cortisol, a stress hormone, after drinking 4 cups of tea daily for one month.

7. Tea eases irritability, headaches, nervous tension and insomnia. Red tea, also known as rooibos, is an herbal tea that originated in Africa. It has been show to have many relaxing effects that help reduce a wide range of irritations and inflammations on the body.

8. Tea can cause a temporary increase in short term memory. Not feeling on your game today? Try drinking some tea. The caffeine it contains may give you the boost you need to improve your memory, at least for a few hours.

Heart and Other Organs

Help protect your heart and other organs with these beneficial effects of tea.

9. Tea may reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke. Tea helps to prevent the formation of dangerous blood clots which are very often the cause of heart attacks and strokes. Some studies have even found that black tea drinkers were at a 70 percent lower risk of having a fatal heart attack.

10. Tea protects your bones. You don’t have to put milk in your tea for it to help out your bones. Studies have shown that regular tea drinkers have stronger bones than those of non tea drinkers, even when other variables were adjusted for. Scientists have theorized it may be a benefit of the phytochemicals in tea.

11. Tea may protect against heart disease. While more studies are needed for conclusive evidence, it has been suggested that regular consumption of green and black tea leads to a significant reduction in the risk of heart disease related heart attacks.

12. Tea can help lower cholesterol.A recent study in China has shown that the combination of a low-fat diet and tea produced on average a 16% drop in bad cholesterol over 12 weeks when compared to a control group simply on a low-fat diet. If you’re struggling to get your cholesterol under control, try adding tea to your diet to see if it helps.

13. Tea can help lower blood pressure. Drinking only half a cup of green or oolong tea a day could reduce your risk of high blood pressure by up to 50% and those that drink more can even further reduce their risk, even if they have additional risk factors.

14. Tea aids in digestion. Tea has been used in China for thousands of years as an after-meal digestive aid and it can help you as well due to the high levels of tannins it contains.

15. Tea helps inhibit intestinal inflammation. The polyphenols in green tea have been shown to have an effect on the intestinal inflammation caused by conditions like Irritable Bowel Syndrome allowing sufferers more comfort from a natural remedy.

16. Tea can reduce stomach cramps. Properties of red tea cause it to acts as anti-spasmodic agent and allowing it to aid in the relief of stomach cramps or even colic in infants.

Fitness and Appearance

Tea can not only help you feel good but look good too.

17. Tea helps protect your smile. While the stereotype of the tea-drinking Brits with horrible teeth may make you think otherwise, tea actually contains fluoride and tannins, both of which help reduce plaque buildup and tooth decay. Combined with a good dental hygiene regimen, this could keep your teeth healthier for longer.

18. Tea is calorie-free. Tea itself has no calories unless you choose to add sweeteners or milk, making it a satisfying, low-cal way to wake up and maybe even shed a few pounds.

19. Tea increases your metabolism. Is a slow metabolic rate keeping you from losing the weight you want? Some studies suggest that green tea may be able to boost your metabolic rate slightly, allowing you to burn an additional 70-80 calories a day. While this may not seem like much, over time it could add up.

20. Tea helps keep your skin acne-free. The antioxidants in green tea may have an effect on acne, and in some cases have been shown to work as well as a 4% solution of the much more harsh benzoyl peroxide.

21. Tea can help bad breath. A study at the University of Chicago has suggested that the polyphenols in tea can help to keep the bacteria that causes bad breath in check.

Illness and Disease

Check out these benefits of tea which may help prevent you from getting sick.

22. Tea strengthens your immune defenses. You may want to drink a cup of tea the next time a cold is going around your office. A recent study compared the immune activity in coffee drinkers to that of tea drinkers and found it to be much higher (up to five times) in those that chose tea. While it’s no guarantee against a cold, it sure couldn’t hurt.

23. Tea protects against cancer. While the exact types of cancer tea protects against are debated, recent research has suggested that lung, prostate and breast cancer see the biggest drop when green tea is consumed regularly. Again, there is no surefire way to prevent getting cancer, but having a cup of tea a day may is definitely worth the preventative benefits.

24. Tea can help prevent arthritis. Research suggests that older women who are tea drinkers are 60 percent less likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis than those who do not drink tea. The same effect has not been measured in older males, however, but additional studies may prove otherwise.

25. Tea can help fight the flu. Black tea may bolster your efforts to fight the flu as participants in a study who gargled with a black tea extract solution twice daily where more immune to the flu virus than those who didn’t.

26. Tea helps fight infection. Tea contains chemicals called alkylamine antigens which act similarly to some tumor cells and bacteria, boosting the body’s immune response. It has even been shown to have an effect on severe infections like sepsis.

27. Tea may reduce the risk of Parkinson’s Disease. New studies are suggesting that regular tea consumption may help protect the body from developing this neurological disorder.

28. Tea can prevent food poisoning. Catechin, one of the bitter ingredients found in green tea has been shown to effectively kill the bacteria which cause food poisoning and minimize the effects of the toxins that are produced by those bacteria.

29. Tea can lead to the inhibition of HIV. New research from the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology has found that a substance found in green tea may inhibit the HIV virus from binding and can be a healthy part of a suppression regiment.

30. Tea may help prevent diabetes. There is some evidence to suggest that green tea helps lower the risk of getting Type 2 Diabetes, though future research is needed to confirm the association.

31. Tea can lower blood sugar. Tea contains catechin and polysaccharides which have been demonstrated to have a noticeable effect on lowering blood sugar.

32. Tea can prevent iron damage. Those suffering from iron disorders like haemochromatosis may be helped by drinking tea, which contains tannins that limit the amount of iron the body can absorb.

33. Tea can help with nasal decongestion. If you’ve got a bit of a cold, drinking black tea with lemon may help clear up some of the congestion that’s bothering you. Just make sure your body doesn’t become dependent on the treatment.

By Christina Laun
source:nursingdegree.net

How To Improve Your Love Life By Improving Your Health

A lot of people say they'd like to have a super love life, but it all boils down to the question, "Are you willing to work for it?"

1. Consider your health. In a world where most people would choose a twinkie over an apple, you'll have to be the one who has the wisdom and willpower to choose the apple. In a world increasingly addicted to TV, you and your mate will have to come up with the willpower to go out on a nature walk or bicycle ride. Because you can't have a super love life unless you treat your body with the kind of love and respect that we're discussing. We're not talking about a six-week diet, we're considering a life-long program of better nutrition. We are not advocating a three-month exercise program here to take off two inches from the waist; we're pushing for regular exercise every day of our lives!

2. Do some cardiovascular exercises. The Harvard School of Public Health reports that men who were physically inactive were 40 percent more likely to experience erectile dysfunction than men who exercised a half hour a day. A foundation of correct nutrition and regular exercise is necessary before we can begin to think about a super love life.


3. Eat to live and love. Most of us do not realize how foods affect our moods, feelings, energy level, and behavior. When we get down in the dumps, we don't automatically say, "Gosh, I must not have been eating right." On the other hand, when we're feeling on top of the world we don't stop to think, "I'd like to feel this good more often." We don't relate how we feel to what we've been eating, but foods, vitamins, and minerals can make all the difference in the world between a so-so love life and the kind of love life that makes you smile every time you think about it. Many people who think they have sex problems are actually victims of poor nutrition. They don't have sex problems. They have food problems. And food problems can be solved.

4. De-stress and relax. The physical effects of long-term stress include colds, ulcers, asthma, heart attack, stroke, and chronic fatigue--all ailments that can erode your health and your love life. Couples can de-stress together at the end of the day in more romantic ways, such as enjoying a lathery bubble bath for two, complete with scented candles, and a mug of warm milk and honey. Or just watch a movie together!

Tips

* The goals are to spend quality time together and put you on the path to total relaxation.
* It all takes effort to improve your love life. There is no substitute for balanced foods, and no shortcut to good health. But if you work at it, you can achieve a super love life.
* Many couples find that watching an adult film with their loved one can really enhance their love life. Some couples prefer love making guides or books to learn the proper techniques.


Warnings

* Cut out or cut down on the use of alcohol, cigarettes, and coffee.
* Avoid sugary foods and drinks and fried, fatty foods. Sugar interferes with the sex life and reduces its pleasure.But sometime the proper amount of sugar or say sweet things could bring some good mood.
* Cut back on milk and wheat products.
* Substitute herbal teas for coffee and regular teas, juices for commercial soft drinks.

http://www.wikihow.com/Improve-Your-Love-Life-by-Improving-Your-Health

Holiday Care For Your Tresses

More damage can be done to the hair during a two-week holiday in the sun than the damage accrued during the rest of the year. The ultraviolet rays, or radiation, (UVRs) from sunlight that can cause damage to the skin can also have an adverse effect on the hair, depleting the natural oils and removing moisture. Strong winds whip unprotected hair into a tangle, causing breakage and split ends. Chlorinated and salt water cause colour fading and result in drooping perms. Wear a hat or a scarf on the beach, or use a sun protective spray to shield the hair from the sun’s harmful rays.

After a swim, rinse the salt or chlorinated water thoroughly from the hair using plenty of fresh, clean water. Sunscreen gels are available for the hair and these offer a good deal of protection. On windy or blustery days, keep long hair tied back to prevent tangles. Long hair can also be braided when it is wet and the braid left in all day. When evening comes and you undo the braids you will have a cascade of rippling.


Before you leave

Any hair colouring you are planning should be done at least one week prior to your holiday. This will allow the color to "soften"and allow time for some intensive conditioning on any dry ends. If you want to have a perm before your holiday, book the appointment at least three week before departure to allow your hair to settle. Remember to pack all your holiday hair needs — your favorite shampoos, conditioners and styling products. And pack a selection of scarves and hair accessories. Soft, bendy rollers are a good alternative to heated ones —they are also kinder to the hair. Have a trim before you go, but not a new style, as you won’t want to worry about coping with a new look. The sun’s rays are intensified by reflection from the snow, so hair needs extra protection in the form of a hair sunscreen. Wind, blasts of snow, and sunshine are a damaging combination for hair, so wear a hat whenever possible. In freezing temperatures, hair picks up static electricity, making it flyaway and unmanageable. Calm the hair static by spraying your brush with hairspray before brushing your hair. With sudden temperature changes — from icy cold slopes to a warm hotel — and constantly changing headgear, your hair may need daily shampooing. Use a mild shampoo and light conditioner.

— The writer is a hair expert and runs Peaches Salon and Spa in Bengaluru

How To Lose Belly Fat For Women

Have you tried everything under the sun to get a flat stomach, only to come up disappointed? Have you fallen prey to all the gimmicks, fad diets and shameless infomercials promising you that elusive flat stomach that you desire?

Well fret no more, I'm going to let you in on the two secrets that will help you shed unwanted fat and reveal your toned, flat stomach once and for all.

The first secret for a flat stomach is eating supportively. While this doesn't seem like a secret at all, most women get this wrong in spite of their best - but misguided - efforts. Women have fallen prey to low-fat, low-carb, Hollywood, grapefruit, South Beach and every other over hyped diet that marketers can dream up, all in hopes of shedding those unwanted pounds. But eating supportively is isn't about dieting or deprivation; it's about moderation and balance. While cutting carbs or fats out of your nutrition plan might give you a temporary loss of a couple of pounds, it's typically followed by a drop in metabolism and a weight gain of more than you lost in the first place once you go back to your old eating habits.

So what is eating supportively? Eating supportively is having protein and carbohydrates at every meal. It's grazing on 4-6 meals or snack each day instead of missing meals and then gorging yourself. It's enjoying a healthy breakfast and not drinking your calories. But most of all, eating supportively is enjoying the foods you love in moderation instead of in excess.


If eating supportively is the first secret to a flat stomach, then what's the second? The second flat stomach secret is resistance training. Unfortunately, just as fad diets have stood in the path of women achieving the flat stomachs they so desired, so have the myths of spot reduction and cardio being the best method for fat loss. Late night infomercials have long promoted gadgets that promised to spot reduce those trouble spots that women struggle with and sucked us in with testimonials from fitness models that undoubtedly picked up a nifty paycheck for endorsing their wares. But spot reduction is a myth. Think about it - have you ever met someone with a flat stomach and fat arms? Didn't think so. If spot reduction was possible then undoubtedly one of these happy customers would have toned and tightened their stomach, yet kept their flabby arms.

The other myth that has led women astray is the belief that cardio is the best solution for fat loss. Treadmill manufacturers have sold the virtues of the 'fat burning zone' and led us to believe that we could plod along on a treadmill watching Oprah and before long a flat stomach would be ours. These two myths have diverted us from the path of what really does work -

And there's another benefit of resistance training when it comes to getting a flat stomach. The lean muscle that you gain will raise you're resting metabolic rate and help you burn more fat all day long, each and every day.

source: zimbio.com

Start Thinking About your health As You Age.

Who doesn’t want to look their best no matter his or her age? With modern science, a nutritious diet and a dedication to your overall health, there’s no reason why you can’t look healthy and vibrant well into your retirement. Whether you’re still young and trying to stave off the effects of aging or someone older hoping to turn back the clock a few years, these tips can give you some insight into how you can look great no matter what decade of your life you’re in.

Basics

These general suggestions are a great place to start thinking about your health as you age.

1. Act young: Those who remain active and social will likely not only be happier but will appear to others as being younger and more vibrant than those who sit at home and wallow in their advancing age. So get out there as much as you can, stay active and act as young as you feel.

2. Get enough sleep: Getting enough rest can have a huge impact on how you look and feel so try to get enough each night to allow you to wake up refreshed and without huge dark circles under your eyes.

3. Quit smoking: Everyone knows smoking is bad for your heart and lungs but it can also prematurely age your skin and give you wrinkles around the mouth from constantly puffing. Quit smoking or cut way back to reduce the harmful effects.

4. Stay hydrated: Your body needs water to stay healthy and to feel your best you’ll want to drink enough each day to keep your body in tip top shape. It can improve the look of your skin and have a positive effect on numerous body functions.

5. Take note of your posture: If you’re slouching over you’re probably not doing your body any favors nor are you making yourself look younger. Make a concentrated effort to sit up straight and walk with your shoulders back.

6. Lower your stress: Everyone has occasional stress in their lives but if you feel yours is being taken over by stressful situations it could be causing you to age prematurely. Reduce the amount of stressful situations you have in your life or allow yourself to take breaks and relax each day.


7. Get energized: Moping around or constantly yawning isn’t going to give anyone the appearance of youth. Find ways to get yourself up, moving and motivated each day whether it’s through a workout or from a fun favorite activity.

8. Find happiness: Going through life feeling alone and unhappy isn’t going to make you look or feel any younger. Reach out to friends and family for companionship, find new groups to meet up with and make an effort to do things in your life you truly love and you’ll take years off your age.

9. Get involved: Don’t sit at home waiting for life to come to you, get out there and take it on. Find groups that share your interests, start playing a sport or volunteer with local organizations. You’ll feel better about yourself and look better in the process.

10. Make your health a priority: Paying attention to health issues is often something people put off in favor of convenience or lack of time. This attitude can allow health issues to become major concerns instead of providing them with preventative measures. Make taking care of yourself a big priority in your life to look better and live longer.

DRINK WATER ON EMPTY STOMACH

Pls read till the end ------ DRINK WATER - HEALTH TIP OF THE DAY!!!!

It is popular in Japan today to drink water immediately after waking up every morning. Furthermore, scientific tests have proven its value. We publish below a description of use of water for our readers. For old and serious diseases as well as modern illnesses the water treatment had been found successful by a Japanese medical society as a 100% cure for the following diseases:

Headache, body ache, heart system, arthritis, fast heart beat, epilepsy, excess fatness, bronchitis asthma, TB, meningitis, kidney and urine diseases, vomiting, gastritis, diarrhea, piles, diabetes, constipation, all eye diseases, womb, cancer and menstrual disorders, ear nose and throat diseases.

METHOD OF TREATMENT
1. As you wake up in the morning before brushing teeth, drink 4 x 160ml glasses of water
2. Brush and clean the mouth but do not eat or drink anything for 45 minute
3. After 45 minutes you may eat and drink as normal.
4. After breakfast, lunch and dinner do not eat or drink anything for 2 hours
5. Those who are old or sick and are unable to drink 4 glasses of water at the beginning may commence by taking little water and gradually increase it to 4 glasses per day.
6. The above method of treatment will cure diseases of the sick and others can enjoy a healthy life.

The following list gives the number of days of treatment required to cure/control/reduce main diseases:

1. High Blood Pressure (30 days)
2. Gastric (10 days)
3. Diabetes (30 days)
4. Constipation (10 days)
5. Cancer (180 days)
6. TB (90 days)
7. Arthritis patients should follow the above treatment only for 3 days in the 1st week, and from 2nd week onwards – daily.

This treatment method has no side effects, however at the commencement of treatment you may have to urinate a few times.

It is better if we continue this and make this procedure as a routine work in our life. Drink Water and Stay healthy and Active.

This makes sense .. The Chinese and Japanese drink hot tea with their meals ..not cold water. Maybe it is time we adopt their drinking habit while eating!!! Nothing to lose, everything to gain...

For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you.
Cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion.

Once this "sludge" reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine.
Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer. It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.


A serious note about heart attacks:

* Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line.
* You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack.
* Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms.
*60% of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up.
* Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know, the better chance we could survive...

A cardiologist says if everyone who gets this mail sends it to everyone they know, you can be sure that we'll save at least one life.

Please be a true friend and send this article to all your friends you care about . Thank you

Wish you a good health...

allinone.co.in

Internet Addicts Require Hospital Treatment

Internet addicts require hospital treatment
And medication to quell their passion for porn, MMOs and email

It's one of those stories that just refuses to go away, with yet more psychiatrists claiming that internet addiction should be recognised as a 'clinical disorder'.

British psychiatrists have previously reported that up to 10 per cent of internet users are addicts who spend unhealthy amounts of time playing MMOs, viewing porn or emailing causing them to forgo food and sleep and crave the latest tech.

Disconnect anxiety

They also experience genuine symptoms of withdrawal and 'disconnect anxiety' when away from their computers and the internet.

Psychiatrist Dr Jerald Block, from the Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, has recently claimed that some internet addicts required medication or hospital treatment to deal with the problem.

Computer as significant other

Block told the American Journal of Psychiatry: "The relationship is with the computer. It becomes a significant other to them. They exhaust emotions that they could experience in the real world on the computer through any number of mechanisms: emailing, gaming, porn."

He added: "It's much more acceptable for kids to talk about game use, whereas adults keep it a secret. Rather than having sex, or arguing with their wife or husband, or feeding their children, these adults are playing games."
By Adam Hartley

WASH YOUR HANDS

Avian influenza is dominating conversations in Korea. Everyone is talking about how to avoid the disease ― cook the poultry at 75 degrees or more for more than five minutes or avoid touching bird excrement.

Experts say, washing hands will not only prevent transmission of the bird flu but also the measles, chicken pox and mumps. They washing hands properly can drop the risk of infection in large amount.

Experts at Movement for Washing Hands, consisting of 25 health authorities and doctors, said avian influenza was infecting people mostly because they had influenza on the hands, which they transferred to other body parts.

Doctors warned that hands could be dirtier than feet covered with socks. But not many people really know the exact way to wash them. The group says washing hands for 30 seconds, eight times a day would be important.

The group to promote the necessity of washing advised that people need to wash hands after a trip outside, before touching infants, after having coughing, touching money, trash or pets.

Use soap, make it foam and rub it thoroughly. Make sure you get underneath of fingernails. Spend at least 20 seconds on it and then dry the hands thoroughly.

When using public bathrooms, the doorknob could be contaminated. Try to open the door without using the door handles. Also, do not turn pages of a book with one's saliva. Try to use a wet sponge.

But still, one needs to remind that washing hands cannot prevent all infection. Prof. Kim June-myung of Yonsei University warned that the idea of washing hands is a very basic step and its effect is very restricted in a way.

source:koreatimes.co.kr

First Kiss Tis

First kiss

A woman places a lot of importance on the first kiss. Here's how to get it right:
Solitude: It's a moment to remember, so get out of the restaurant or the party and take a walk or be alone for the sparks to fly.

Good breath: Golden rule, guys! So, keep a pack of mints or gum handy. Try kissing with bad breath and that's the end of the road. Don't ask: Never ask for permission, just read the unspoken words. Go slow: The moment should feel like a slow motion. Don’t rush through it. Enjoy it and appreciate the special moment.

Naturopath And An Allopath To Get Both Sides Of The Story

THE DETOX DEBATE

To detox or not is the question. naturopath and an allopath to get both sides of the story

Detox! That's the latest health fad the city junta is swearing by. Juice fasts, water-only diets, saltfree diets coupled with body massages, mud packs, steam baths, saunas and yoga are the rage these days. But, are these procedures safe, or for that matter even necessary?
"The human body has a built in detoxifier called the liver. The very function of the liver is to break down toxic substances, so that they get excreted. So, why do people need to go for a detox diet?" asks Dr M V Rao of Yashoda Hospitals. But Dr N R Nirmala Jyothi, a naturopathy and yogic science expert, prefers to differ, "Just as vehicles need regular overhaul to keep them in good condition, even human bodies need to go through a cleansing process on a regular basis. Diseases are caused by build up of toxins and 90 per cent of the cases that come to us are patients who have tried all sorts of medication and come to naturopathy as a final resort."

The common grouse about detox treatments is that they border on the extreme. Especially techniques like vamanakriya where the patient is made to drink large amounts of salt water in order to vomit, given enemas or made to go on rigorous fasts. "No treatment is prescribed without a thorough study of the patient. Most treatments have contraindications. For example vamanakriya is contraindicated in pregnant women, heart patients and hypertensive people. A qualified doctor studies the patients and prescribes the diet or treatment that he or she can withstand. It is not like the patients come and pick up a treatment of their choice!" rebuts Dr Jyothi.

But then it is difficult to stop people from picking up tips from those who have gone to some exotic detox spa. Even simple fads like drinking too much water to flush out toxins can have a fatal effect because along with the toxins vital salts are flushed out. "I get at least one patient in a week, mostly elderly, suffering from hyponatremia (low sodium in the body) because of the new fad where people are told to drink as much water as possible. People with sedentary lifestyles need to drink about 1.5 to 2 litres per day, but those who are into rigorous activity need more. The rule of thumb is to listen to your body. Drink water when you are thirsty, that suffices," says Dr Rao as he lists out the symptoms of hyponatremia that includes confusion, followed by drowsiness, fits, coma and even death.

Another disturbing trend in the city is the growing cases of obesity and Type II diabetes – from school children to adults. Both Dr Rao and Dr Jyothi confirm the trend and people’s inability to stick to healthy balanced diets.


"Instead of gorging on pizzas and fried food laden with transfatty acids that put a great load on the liver, why don't we go for a non-toxic regular balanced diet with the right amount of carbs, proteins and fresh vegetables and fruit?" questions Dr Rao bringing to the fore the ancient adage that prevention is better than cure. At the other end of the spectrum are young girls, who in a bid to lose weight, eat raw vegetables and fruits alone that they do not get the required protein for muscle growth at a stage when they need it the most, says Dr Rao.

Most detox diets have their roots in Ayurveda, the ancient Indian science. Dr Jyothi tells us about the various diets and treatments for chronic gout, arthritis, asthma, kidney stones and other ailments that get cured with Ayurveda without the drastic side-effects associated with allopathy. Dr Rao too agrees that Ayurveda is an ancient science, but voices the need for conducting research and randomised studies to prove the efficacy of the medication that people swear by. Well this will take quite some time, meanwhile some treatments need to be taken with a pinch of salt!

I get at least one patient in a week, mostly elderly, suffering from hyponatremia (low sodium in the body) because of the new fad where people are told to drink as much water as possible.
Dr M V Rao
Toxic foods to avoid are all fried foods and fast foods.
The rule of thumb is to drink when you are thirsty.

How to Remove Baby Spit-Up Stains from Clothing

Remove Baby Spit-Up Stains from Clothing

Babies have special laundry needs. When spit-up gets on that adorable outfit, try this simple method to remove those stubborn stains.

Things You’ll Need:

* Club Soda
* Baking Soda
* Scrub Brush
* Damp Cloth

Step1
Lay the soiled garment on a flat surface. Scrape away as much of the spit-up as possible.

Step2
Cover the stain with baking soda. Pour club soda directly onto the baking soda. The combination will fiz a bit.


Step3
Using a scrub brush, gently scrub the stain. Immediately place into the washer and launder as usual.

source:ehow.com

Eat Well to Live Longer!

A new study suggests a link between what women eat and whether they die from certain diseases.

Researchers led by Christin Heidemann from Harvard’s School of Public Health and the German Institute of Human Nutrition tracked more than 72,000 women, 30 to 55 years old, who had no history of health problems at the beginning of the study. The study spanned 18 years, from 1984 to 2002; every two to four years, the women answered questionnaires about what they ate.

Researchers called one pattern the "high prudent" diet. This included lots of vegetables, fruit, legumes, and whole grains, as well as lean protein sources such as fish and poultry.

The other dietary pattern, dubbed "Western," included more red and processed meat, refined grains, french fries, sugary foods, and desserts.

During 18 years of tracking, 6,011 of the participants died.

Women with the most "prudent diet" had a 28% lower risk of dying from heart disease. They also had a 17% lower risk of death from all the diseases studied, including cancer, diabetes, and stroke.

Women who followed a diet highest in meats, processed and refined foods, and sweets had a 22% higher risk of dying from heart disease. They also had a 21% increased risk of dying from all causes combined.


"These results highlight the importance of intensifying public health efforts to promote the adoption of a healthy overall diet including high intakes of vegetables, fruit, legumes, whole grains, fish and poultry and low intakes of red and processed meat, refined grains, French fries and sweets," says Heidemann in a prepared statement.

"Traditionally, there has been a focus on single nutrients or foods, but in terms of longevity a greater focus on dietary patterns can take into account the complexity of the overall diet," Heidemann says.

Here are some lifestyle and diet guidelines from the American Heart Association, which are in line with following a "prudent" diet:

* Limit saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, and sodium.

* Minimize sugary foods and beverages.

* Eat lots of vegetables, fruits, and whole-grain and high-fiber foods.

* Eat fat-free and low-fat dairy products.

* Eat fish at least twice a week.

* Be physically active and keep weight at healthy levels.

* Avoid using or breathing tobacco smoke।
*Achieve and maintain healthy cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood glucose levels।

source:latest-news-portal.blogspot.com

Vitamin D During Pregnancy May Impact Baby's Teeth

Women who have low vitamin D levels during pregnancy are more likely to have babies who develop tooth enamel problems, which can lead to tooth decay, new Canadian research says.

Researchers from the University of Manitoba examined data from 135 babies between the ages of seven and 16 months. They found that 21.6 per cent of them had tooth enamel defects and 33.6 per cent had early childhood tooth decay.

Mothers of children with tooth decay had significantly lower vitamin D levels than mothers of children with healthy teeth.

As well, mothers of children who had enamel problems had slightly lower vitamin D levels during pregnancy than mothers of children without enamel problems.

The researchers found that having enamel defects significantly increased the risk of developing tooth decay.


The findings were presented Friday at the General Session of the International Association for Dental Research in Toronto.

For their study, the researchers analyzed data from pregnant women in their second trimester. Only 10 per cent of them were deemed to have adequate levels of vitamin D, which is defined as 80 nanomoles per litre.

The mean vitamin D level among the women in the study was between 24.4 and 48.1 nanomoles per litre.

Women in the study who drank more milk and took pre-natal vitamins had higher vitamin D levels.

This is the first study to analyze vitamin D levels during pregnancy and how they might influence a baby's early dental health.

source:www.ctv.ca

Drinking Green Tea Helps Prevent Heart Disease

Green Tea For Long Life?

Diet & Health : Heart & Blood

A few cups of green tea a day may keep heart disease away, a Greek study suggests.

The study showed green tea relaxes arteries and improves blood flow, said Charalambos Vlachopoulos, coauthor and a cardiologist at the Athens Medical School in Greece.

The findings were published in the European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation.

Early studies have linked green tea to reduced risk of a range of cancers and other health benefits.


Evidence has also merged suggesting that drinking black tea also benefit cardiovascular health.

But researchers said green tea beats black tea when it comes to their cardiovascular benefits because the former contains higher amounts of beneficial compounds called flavonoids.

Flavonoids are a group of different phytochemicals and some are also found in cocoa, tomatoes and grapes.

For the current study, the researcher assigned 14 healthy volunteers either green tea, diluted caffeine or hot water. And they tested the function of endothelial cells lining the circulatory system.

They found within as short as 30 minutes of drinking green tea the function of these cells, which help relax arteries and make it easy for the blood to flow, was improved.

Drinking green tea is not as common as drinking black tea in the West where more people die each year from heart disease.

The observed effect was a short-term impact. But Reuters cites Vlachopolous as saying that not-yet-published studies indicate the benefit is long lasting.

source:consumer.org

Muscle And Joint Pain Relief Tips

How To Keep Old Age Ailments

Aging is an inevitable part of life and as we age, we lose muscle mass, flexibility, bone mass and our strength. As a result, we become more immobile and less independent. However not all is doom and gloom that comes with aging. There are steps we can take to counter the effects of aging.

Being inactive is a sure way to hasten the onslaught of aches, pains and illness.Make it a part of your daily activities to take part in aerobics, strength training and flexibility exercises early on in life and you could delay and even prevent the loss of physical mobility well into your late years.

The world’s population is getting older on the whole with the old vastly outnumbering the young. This phenomenon has given rise to a group of professionals who promote “active aging”.

Active aging works on the premise that if you adopt an active lifestyle when you are young and continue on till your advanced years, you can prevent many of the ailments such as arthritis, muscle aches and back pains that are common among the elderly.

They also believe that even if you have a chronic health problem, there are ways to improve fitness and health safely. The most important point to note is that in order to achieve this, you should go slow and build up your strength and fitness gradually.

Among the recommended activities are that help with cardio-vascular conditioning such as aerobics, cycling, swimming and jogging. They should be done half an hour a day, 5 or more days a week. The good news is that you don’t have to complete the half hour at one go. To make it easier, you can break up the activities into three 10-minute intervals a day. If you have trouble starting this routine, you can start with shorter intervals and slowly build up.

This is the minimum requirement for a basic workout but if more is done, risk of chronic disease such as arthritis is reduced. Muscle pain relief and other forms of pain relief can be helped by strength training that reduces stress on joints, bones and soft tissues. Knee pain relief is also commonly sought among those who have trouble carrying on with normal daily activities such as climbing stairs or even just getting up from a chair.

When exercising, remember to work different parts of your body to ensure that different muscle groups in the hips, legs, chest, back, arms and abdomen receive an even workout. Exercising need not take place only in the gym. When you are at home, you can use dumbbells or resistance bands for strength training. This should be done 2 or 3 times a week on alternate days.

Our bodies become less flexible as we age, so we can include some exercises that improve flexibility and balance to reduce the risk of falls that are so common among the elderly. Spend 10 minutes a day stretching your arms, legs, shoulders and hips to ensure that joints do become hardened and inflexible due to inactivity. To help with balance, stand on one foot and then the other.

None of these exercises are strenuous and probably the hardest thing would be to get started. But once you have adopted an active lifestyle, the benefits you reap are boundless.

source:hubpages.com

Home Remedies for Dry skin

Skin is called dry skin when the skin lacks hydration or is incapable of maintaining hydration. Sometimes it’s hormonal or due to the weather or the lack of moisture in the air like in winter season. And the basic rule still stands no matter which skin type you are always apply moisturizer and sunscreen irrespective of the weather.

Main Drawback of Dry Skin

The main problem with dry skin is not acne and pimples but the discoloration of the skin. If the skin is not hydrated then there is a dry patch in that area and generally leads to dark pigmentation of the skin.

Wrinkles

Dry skin usually leads to more wrinkles than any other skin type as we age. So moisturizing the body is very essential to maintain a youthful skin.

Here are some home remedies that you can find right in your kitchen.

Body Wash : Use Spit green gram flour if it is not available in stores buy some split green grams and grind it, another alternative is Chickpea flour (besan) in it your can mix milk and use as a body wash and in the end for the smell you can add few drops of aromatic oil such as sandalwood oil or lavender oil, this will ward off the smell of the flour and you will come out smelling fresh and if you want to use flour. Don’t use soap instead use a body wash specially for dry skin with has natural moisturizer.

Oil Massage : Weekly once treat yourself to a oil massage to keep your skin well hydrated and a healthy glow. You can use oil such as coconut oil, olive oil or sesame oil and add few drops of lemon juice and glycerin in it and massage yourself.

For Wrinkles : Apply a face pack containing olive oil, honey and egg yolk and apply for 20 minutes on your face and neck next apply the egg white with a drop of lavender oil for 10 minutes. Egg white should not be applied for more than 10-15 minutes. Egg white helps to firm the skin and eventually reduce wrinkles.

Face packs for dry skin

1. Take lukewarm olive oil or coconut oil and add a vitamin A, vitamin D and vitamin e capsules in the oil and apply it in your face and neck for 10 minutes. Then take a warm towel steam i.e place it on your face for about 5-7 minutes and wash your face with cold water. This pack not only hydrates the skin but also gives a healthy glow to the skin.

2. Full Cream (malai), honey and glycerin with few drops of lemon juice is great for dry skin can be applied for an hour or for a minimum of 20 minutes. When washing the face it will be greasy so instead of soap use wheat flour and use it like a scrub on the wet face this way not only your face is well hydrated but also the dirt and blackheads and whiteheads are removed.

3. Watermelon and grape juice is also great to moisturize the skin and can be applied with the help of cotton on face and neck this besides hydrating the skin also is loaded with vitamin c which gives a healthy glow.

4. Curd, honey with lemon juice is another great face pack which can be applied for over an hour or for a minimum of 20 minutes.
5. Lukewarm Honey on its own can be applied and be left for over an hour or for a minimum of 20 minutes.

Common Causes For Children’s Back Pain

Common Causes for Children’s Back Pain--Pain Relief

Many causes of adult back pain can be treated simply by resting and relaxing the back, but unlike back pain in adults, children’s back pain usually has a serious underlying disorder.

According to a 1999 report from the Radiological Society of North America, 1/3 of the children who complained about back pain actually had a serious back problem.

Back pain in children may be caused by a variety of different conditions. Often a brief episode of back pain is nothing more than a minor ‘strain’ associated with athletic activities or carrying a heavy backpack, but if your child’s back pain is severe or doesn’t go away in a few days, this needs to be investigated.

Obvious injuries with pain or difficulty walking should always be evaluated immediately evaluated by your doctor.

If your child has back pain it will generally be accompanied by:


* Fever or weight loss
* Weakness, numbness, trouble walking or pain that radiates down one or both legs
* Bowel or bladder dysfunction
* Pain that interferes with sleep

Children’s back pain is typically attributed to disorders and diseases of the spine. Notwithstanding injury, children’s back pain tends to be uncommon. So, if your child suffers from back pain, consult a physician as soon as possible. The pain may be due to a condition, such as:


Spondylolysis—This disorder affects almost 5% of children age 10 and under. It is caused by a defect in the lower vertebra. Those with spondylolysis will find that their back pain will worsen during and after activity and lessen during rest. For children who have severe spondylolysis, a back brace may be necessary. This is a very common cause of children’s back pain.


Scheurman's kyphosis—This is a disorder, which occurs mainly in adolescent males. It causes a round shape to the upper back. If the kyphosis cannot be corrected with proper posture, this will cause children’s back pain. Mild cases usually do not require treatment; however moderate to severe cases may need bracing.


Spondylolisthesis—Spondylolisthesis is a slipping of a vertebra onto another. If this condition worsens and develops into children’s back pain, spinal fusion surgery may be necessary.


Infection—Infection of the spine, otherwise known as discitis, is a dangerous condition that can cause children’s back pain. With a physical exam, doctors can usually suspect discitis. A symptom of infection may include swelling on the skin covering the spine. If bacteria are the cause of infection, discitis can be cured with antibiotics and rest.

Tumor—Tumors in the spine are rarely the cause of children’s back pain, but must be taken into consideration. The treatment of a spine tumor depends on the diagnosis and skill if your doctors.

Do not ignore your child if he or she complains of back pain.

If your child experiences weight loss; numbness, weakness or pain that shoots down the legs; bladder or bowel dysfunction; or severe pain that interferes with sleep, make a doctor’s appointment immediately.

source:steadyhealth.com