Friday, February 29, 2008

New HIV/AIDS Topic: Persons Aged 50 and Over

New HIV/AIDS Topic: Persons Aged 50 and Over
The number of persons aged 50 years and older living with HIV/AIDS has been increasing in recent years. This increase is partly due to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), which has made it possible for many HIV-infected persons to live longer, and partly due to newly diagnosed infections in persons over the age of 50.

Bacteria Make Snow And Rain
Scientists in the US have discovered that living organisms like bacteria play an important role in making rain and snow in the atmosphere. The discovery could help researchers understand the role of living organisms in the water cycle and lead to better climate forecasting, and solve problems of water shortage, said the researchers.

Fact Sheet: HIV/AIDS among Persons Aged 50 and Over
The number of persons aged 50 years and older living with HIV/AIDS has been increasing in recent years. This increase is partly due to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), which has made it possible for many HIV-infected persons to live longer, and partly due to newly diagnosed infections in persons over the age of 50.

Medtronic Announces First Human Use Of Its Bifurcation Stent

Medtronic Announces First Human Use Of Its Bifurcation Stent
Seeking to address a challenge facing interventional cardiologists and hundreds of thousands of patients with coronary artery disease worldwide, Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE: MDT), announced the first human use of its investigational bifurcation stent. The new stent employs an innovative Y-shaped design to match the anatomy of lesions that form at the junctions of coronary arteries. Dr.

Boston Scientific Announces First European Implants Of New Devices To Treat Heart Failure And Sudden Cardiac Death
Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) announced the first European implants of its COGNIS(TM) cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRT-D) and TELIGEN(TM) implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). Physicians began performing implants earlier this week. Forty implants have been performed in 14 hospitals in six countries. When choosing a high-energy device, physicians often must make trade-offs among device size, battery longevity and features.

FDA Approves Nexium For Use In Children Ages 1-11 Years
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Nexium (esomeprazole magnesium) for short-term use in children ages 1-11 years for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The agency approved Nexium in two forms, a delayed-release capsule and liquid form. Nexium is approved in 10 milligrams (mg) or 20 mg daily for children 1-11 years old compared to 20 mg or 40 mg recommended for pediatric patients 12 to 17 years of age.

Covidien Announces Tentative FDA Approval For Its Generic Myocardial Perfusion Imaging Kit
Covidien (NYSE: COV, BSX: COV) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted tentative approval for the Company's Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for its Kit for the Preparation of Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi Injection. Covidien's tentatively approved product is a generic of Cardiolite�1, which is a myocardial perfusion imaging agent used for detecting coronary artery disease.

Broomwell's Cardiac Telemedicine Service Proven To Prevent Hospital Admissions In Year-Long Study
The results of a 12-month trial of a cardiac telemedicine service supervised by the Greater Manchester and Cheshire (GMC) Cardiac Network, has proven that the service avoids immediate referral of patients with non-acute chest-pain symptoms to hospital care, in nearly 60% of cases.

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Natural Home Cures For Thyroid Disease

The only real treatment for thyroid disease, whether
hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism or any other condition of
thyroid gland, is cleansing of the system and adoption of a
rational diet thereafter, combined with adequate rest and
relaxation. To begin with, juices of fruits such as orange,
apple, pineapple, and grapes may be taken every two or three
hours from 8 am to 8 pm for five days. The bowels should be
cleaned daily with lukewarm water.

After the juice fast, the patient may spend further three days
on fruits and milk, taking three meals a day of juicy fruits
such as apple, pineapple, grapes, papaya, with a glass of milk,
at five hourly intervals. Thereafter, the patient may adopt a
well-balanced diet consisting of seeds, nuts and grains,
vegetables and fruits.

The patient should take plenty of rest and spend a day in bed
every week for the first two months of the treatment. More and
more exercise should be taken after the symptoms subside.

The appetite of the thyroid patient is usually very large and
the weight reduction cannot be prevented for some time. This is
because until the heart beat slows down and the tremors stop,
there will be incomplete assimilation of good.

But as soon as the balance is restored, weight will slowly
increase. To help the absorption of food, a narrow waist
compress and, later, a neck compress should be worn for five
nights a week. As weight increases, the almost constant hunger
will gradually disappear, on no account should any stimulants be
administered to create an appetite.

Certain foods and fluids are extremely injurious for thyroid
patients and should be avoided by them. These include white
flour products, white sugar, flesh foods, fried or greasy foods,
preserves, condiments, tea, coffee and alcohol.

No drugs should be taken as they cause irritation in the
tissues. Iodine is undoubtedly most helpful in many cases, but
it should be introduced in organic form all foods containing
iodine should be taken liberally. These are asparagus, cabbage,
garlic, onion, oats, pineapple, whole rice, tomatoes, watercress
and strawberries.

Great care must be taken never to allow the body to become
exhausted and any irritation likely to cause emotional upset
should be avoided. The cure of thyroid disease is not a speedy
one and there is often a recurrence of symptoms but these should
gradually become less pronounced. Strict adherence to diet is
essential for complete cure.

Half the daily intake of food should consist of fresh fruits
and vegetables and the starch element should be confined to
whole wheat products and potatoes. Potatoes are the most
valuable form of starch. They should preferably be taken in
their jackets. The protein foods should be confined to cheese,
peas, beans lentils and nuts. All fresh proteins must be
avoided.

The diet outlined here should be strictly adhered to for a year
and the compresses on neck and waist applied for five
consecutive nights in a week for two months and discontinued for
one month. Water treatments should be taken to increase skin
elimination. Application of sponge to the entire body before
retiring and a cold sponge on rising will be very helpful. It is
most important that the bowels are kept working efficiently to
avoid danger of a toxic condition of the blood arising from that
source.

All efforts should be made to prevent emotional stress. There
may be slight recurrence of this extremely nervous complain for
some times, but the attacks will become less severe and of
shorter duration as the treatment progresses. And above all,
there must be no lessening of the patient's efforts to help
himself because success can only be attained by assiduous
efforts.

About The Author: Author's sites:
http://www.herbalremedieslk.com , http://myshabi.blogspot.com ,
http://myaroma.blogspot.com

Broomwell's Cardiac Telemedicine Service Proven To Prevent Hospital Admissions In Year-Long Study

The results of a 12-month trial of a cardiac telemedicine service supervised by the Greater Manchester and Cheshire (GMC) Cardiac Network, has proven that the service avoids immediate referral of patients with non-acute chest-pain symptoms to hospital care, in nearly 60% of cases. More at...

Feeling Blah? Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder are Sensitive to Seasonal Changes

In my coaching practice, there are certain weeks that I
refer to as "theme weeks." These are weeks in which many of
my clients seem to be dealing with a similar challenge. For
the past week, that challenge can best be described as "The
Blahs."

It's not that things are falling apart, but stress and
overwhelm are kicking in for what seems like no particular
reason. More than anything, people are feeling tired,
bored, and just kinda "blah." Since this is a recurring
theme in my coaching, and I have to admit I've felt it a
bit myself, too, I can only conclude one thing: this
inexplicable blah feeling is a result of season changes.

While not all of us suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder
(depression often brought on by winter), adults with
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) are more neurologically
sensitive than most. So small changes in our environment
can have big effects on our mood. There are about 2 weeks
left before winter officially begins, but the days are
already much shorter and, for many of us, the temperatures
have dropped significantly. The loss of daylight hours
alone is enough to make an ADDer feel sluggish, tired, and
moody. In other words: blah.

Slowing down in fall and winter is actually quite normal
and natural, just as it's natural to feel more energy in
the spring and summer. Rather than beating yourself up over
feeling "blah," why not give yourself permission to slow
down a bit?

Adults with ADD have a nasty habit of punishing themselves
for not being productive enough. You set big goals, get mad
at yourself when you don't finish them quickly enough (or
at all), and you tell yourself that you're not allowed to
have fun until you get all that work done. But does that
approach work? Nope.

If you don't feel up to going out as much, or taking on too
many projects, don't push yourself. If you find yourself
getting tired earlier in the evening, get some extra sleep.
Humans, like all animals, are programmed to take our cues
from nature. So when the sun goes down early, the animals
begin to hibernate, and many of the plants around us go
dormant, it's natural for us to want to slow down, too.

Of course, if at any point you find yourself wanting to
sleep all the time or feel extreme sadness or hopelessness,
then you may be depressed and it's important to talk to
your doctor.

For most of us, however, the seasonal blahs will visit us
every year around this time. Instead of pushing yourself to
be "productive" and beating yourself up because you're not
getting as much done as you were a month ago, try putting
your energy into cooking nourishing meals, enjoying good
books, and catching up on the movies you want to see.

I'm willing to bet that when you take the pressure off,
those seasonal blahs will begin to fade. Remember, it's
okay to slow down when the seasons change. Just be sure to
take good care of yourself!

About the Author:

Jennifer Koretsky is the Founder of the ADD Management
Group, Inc. and the author of Odd One Out: The Maverick's
Guide to Adult ADD. Jennifer and her team work with ADD
adults who are overwhelmed with everyday life in order to
help them simplify, focus, and succeed. For free resources
and information on adult ADD, visit
http://www.ADDmanagement.com .

Scientists Studying Sepsis In Mice Find Potential Drug Targets For Deadly Disease

Scientists Studying Sepsis In Mice Find Potential Drug Targets For Deadly Disease
"We have identified a key connection of signaling pathways in the cascade of events leading to sepsis. This defines a crucial point where the immune system spirals out of control to cause severe sepsis and where there is an opportunity for therapeutic intervention," says Scripps Research Professor Wolfram Ruf, who led the research with his postdoctoral fellow Frank Niessen. Their results are published in the February 27 advance, online issue of Nature.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

The Importance of Brain Fitness as We Age

Taking care of ourselves now includes things we may not have considered in the past, like brain fitness - the idea of working our mental muscles keep our minds sharp. Complete news at...

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

U.S. Provides Additional Funding For Avian Flu Fight In India

U.S. Provides Additional Funding For Avian Flu Fight In India
The U.S. Consulate in Kolkata announced that the United States will provide an additional Rs. 4.4 million (US$110,000) for control of Avian Influenza in India following the recent outbreaks in the country. This funding, provided through the U.S. Agency for International Development, will support technical assistance to the Government of India and state governments' communication programs to prevent the further spread of Avian Influenza.

Software Identifies Overlooked Diabetes Patients
New software developed by a GP can find people with potential risk for diabetes who have passed blood test, but have been overlooked by doctors.

Life is Good

This is a true story by Stephen Hunter, a cancer survivor. He is is a Pulitzer Prize-winning movie critic for The Post. He had a heart attack in 2004 and survived. I hope you enjoy this story.
 
I GUESS I'm the bad boy of heart attack survivors. Mine played like low comedy from the start. It felt not like shearing pain; I had no revelations of mortality and sense of end times and lost opportunities. Actually, it seemed Bill Clinton was sitting on my chest playing the saxophone. 

My initial diagnosis was hunger, so I left my apartment, bought a hamburger and returned to see the end of the game. When the game was over and the burger gone, Bill hadn't left, so I drove to a famous hospital's emergency room and promptly got into a fight with a line-butter who said he had asthma.  

I thought a heart attack trumped that, but there was no order, no authority in that place. Just pure Hobbesian angst. Not for me, thank you very much. 

So I drove across town to a smaller hospital, where I was well treated from the start and even – I love this part! – recognised. (The head of medicine was a fan of my books.) I got my stent in 45 minutes, which I remember mostly for the one-liners, the best of which belonged to the young doctor who put the thing in. She said, "If you write about this, make me taller and cuter." 

Please click here to read the rest of the story.

Friday, February 22, 2008

8 Signs of Panic Disorder in Children and Teens-from Algonquin and Lake-in-the-Hills, IL

What is panic disorder? The symptoms are almost the same for kids as they are for adults. Children and adolescents with panic disorder have repeated periods of intense fear and panic that appear to come from nowhere and for no good reason. Other symptoms include a racing heartbeat, a feeling of shortness of breath and sometimes a fear of going crazy. These symptom episodes are called panic attacks and can last from a few minutes to several hours.

They usually occur without warning. Additional symptoms can include:

An episode of intense fear that something terrible is happening or is about to happen,

Racing heartbeat; intense palpitations, sometimes wrongly labeled as a heart attack,

Dizziness or lightheadedness,

shortness of breath or smothering sensations,

Trembling, shaking, panicky sensations,

Feeling of being outside of reality, a foreboding eeriness and feeling of danger,

A fear of dropping dead, losing control, or going crazy.

More than 3 million Americans will suffer from the symptoms of panic disorder at some point in their life. It frequently has its onset during adolescence, although occasionally it begins during childhood. Genetics might play a role because there are times it seems to run in families.

Panic disorder and its very troubling symptoms can devastate ones sense of well-being and quality of life. These predatory-like attacks can interfere with your child or teenagers relationships, ability to focus and concentrate and ability to be mobile and go places with their friends. Kids with untreated panic disorder may begin to feel nervous or fearful much of the time, even during those times when they do not experience symptoms.

Often, sufferers start to avoid situations where they fear an attack may occur and do not want to go places where help may be inaccessible. For example, your child may be hesitant to attend school, go on normal social outings or be separated from you.

As symptoms worsen, he or she may even be afraid to leave home. Agoraphobia is the diagnosis used when a panic disorder sufferer feels so terrified of having an anxiety attack in public, that he or she does not want to leave the safety of home.

This is a very hard way to live: Kids with panic disorder can also develop severe depression and may be at risk for suicidal behavior. Even more worrisome, is that in order to decrease anxiety, some teens with this disorder will resort to medicating themselves with alcohol or drugs.

Your kid will be starting life way behind his or her peers if the panic disorder is not recognized and treated. However, it can be difficult to diagnose in children. Unfortunately, this may lead to excessive visits to doctors and multiple orders for tests which are expensive and sometimes, painful.

The good news is, however, that when properly diagnosed, panic disorder usually responds well to treatment. If any of your kids have symptoms of panic attacks he or she should first be evaluated by your family physician or pediatrician. If no physical illness or condition is found, then you should obtain a comprehensive evaluation by a clinical psychologist or other mental health professional.

There are various treatments that can be utilized effectively. For example, specific medications may stop or reduce the intensity or frequency of panic attacks. Psychotherapy may also help your child; you and other members of your family learn ways to reduce the stress or tension that might otherwise trigger an attack.

Through cognitive behavioral counseling, your child can also be taught new ways to control the anxiety or panic attack symptoms when they occur. Kids and teens often respond well to a combination of medication and counseling.

As a parent, it is your responsibility to see that your child is evaluated, properly diagnosed and treated appropriately. Remember that panic attacks can be effectively treated and their early treatment can prevent more severe complications, such as agoraphobia, depression, plummeting self-esteem and substance abuse.

Dr Shery is in Cary, IL, near Algonquin, Crystal Lake, Marengo, Woodstock and Lake-in-the-Hills. He provides day and evening appts and accepts all insurance. Call 1 847 516 0899 or learn more at: http://www.carypsychology.com

The Spectrum By Dean Ornish: How To Reverse Heart Disease

Can chronic disease be reversed?

Absolutely.

Today, I'm going to introduce you to my friend and colleague,
Dr. Dean Ornish. Thirty years ago, he bravely made the radical
suggestion that heart disease, cancer, and other chronic
illnesses can be reversed with diet and lifestyle changes.

That's reversed -- not just prevented or treated.

In his breakthrough book, Reversing Heart Disease, Dr. Ornish
explained just how this is possible: Eat a high-quality diet,
get regular exercise, manage stress, and connect to a community
-- and you can actually unclog your arteries.

In fact, he proved that his program works better than
conventional approaches like drugs or surgery -- and without
dangerous side effects.

Now Dr. Ornish has published a new, even more compelling book,
The Spectrum -- and it's filled with scientific details about
why the program works and how to make it your own.

What's the secret?

Nutrigenomics.

That's the name for the way that food talks to your genes and
controls your health. When your genes are expressed well, you're
healthy. Disease occurs when your genes are expressed poorly.

And the quality of the food you eat has huge effects on your
health.

It matters whether you eat whole, real food, or processed,
high-sugar, and high-fat food, for example.

In The Spectrum, Dr. Ornish tells you how and why choices like
these can make a difference in whether we're healthy or sick.

But it isn't a one-size-fits-all approach.

Dr. Ornish believes -- as I do -- that the future of medicine
is personalized medicine. And in The Spectrum, he explains how
to match your genes and your health needs by customizing your
diet and lifestyle.

If you were a 25-year-old athlete with no family history of
heart disease, your approach would be different from a
65-year-old man who has type-2 diabetes and has had two heart
attacks.

He also shows us that there's a spectrum of choices for being
healthy and feeling great. There are no "good" or "bad" foods --
it's the overall way that we eat and live that matters.

Dr. Ornish gets past all of the nutrition confusion out there
and tells you the truth: that our genes were meant to be fed a
diet of whole, unprocessed foods.

A Groundbreaking Pioneer

He didn't know it, but Dr. Ornish was the first researcher and
practitioner of functional medicine, more than 30 years ago.

He was the first person to suggest that addressing the roots of
illness not only helps prevent disease, but reverses it -- and
more effectively than conventional treatment.

That's just what functional medicine is. It's a system that
addresses the underlying causes of illness by understanding the
interaction between your genes and your environment.

And it's what Dr. Ornish talks about in The Spectrum.

His roadmap for good health shows us how to increase energy,
lose weight, improve mood, feel more connected to your own
life's purpose and meaning, and even have better sex.

It's a recipe for feeling your best.

I have a lot of respect for Dr. Ornish. He wanted to make his
program accessible for everyone, but for that to happen, it has
to be reimbursed by insurance.

So he asked Medicare to fund a demonstration project based on
the research in major medical he'd already published in major
medical journals.

But it wasn't so easy.

They told him that, before they'd find the project, he needed
approval that it was safe.

Of course, Dr. Ornish's lifestyle plan is much safer than heart
surgery or angioplasty or medications with severe, damaging side
effects -- and much less expensive.

Still, he needed a letter from the National Heart, Lung and
Blood Institute saying it was safe to eat fruits and vegetables,
walk, meditate, and quit smoking!

But he persevered and his program is now approved. Dr. Ornish
is also creating an international research collaboration to
grain even more understanding about why food is the best
medicine.

And his book isn't just helpful, it's enjoyable.

He shares his story with wit and humor, keen intelligence, and
lots of tools for successfully implementing his ideas.

These tools include clear nutrition guidance, guided
meditations by his wife Anne (with an additional DVD included),
an exercise prescription, and more than 100 wonderful, delicious
life-giving recipes by a master chef.

So I urge you to get your hands on The Spectrum now and see
what you think. It truly is life-changing.

About The Author: Mark Hyman, MD is a pioneer in functional
medicine, practicing physician and best-selling author. A sneak
preview of his book "The UltraSimple Diet" is available. See The
UltraWellness Blog for more on Heart Disease:
http://ultrawellness.com/blog/

Tuberculosis Risk In Male Smokers With High Vitamin C Intake May Be Increased By Vitamin E

Tuberculosis Risk In Male Smokers With High Vitamin C Intake May Be Increased By Vitamin E
Six-year vitamin E supplementation increased tuberculosis risk by 72% in male smokers who had high dietary vitamin C intake, but vitamin E had no effect on those who had low dietary vitamin C intake, according to a study published in the British Journal of Nutrition.Previous studies had suggested that vitamin E might improve the immune system. In animal studies vitamin E seemed to protect against various infections.

BIOTRONIK Home Monitoring For Patients With Cardiac Devices Launched In India
BIOTRONIK, the pioneer in remote monitoring technologies for patients with cardiac devices, has launched its revolutionary Home Monitoring� system in India. This wireless telecardiology solution was introduced on February 12th with the implant of BIOTRONIK's newest pacemaker, Cylos DR-T with Closed Loop Stimulation (CLS), at the Escorts Heart Institute & Research Center in New Delhi.

Understanding Atherosclerosis
It's the leading cause of heart disease and stroke: atherosclerosis--a disease characterized by the thickening of arterial walls, restricting blood flow like a narrow pipe. Preventing and reversing this disease is still largely a puzzle to scientists working to put all the right pieces into place and form a complete picture of health for millions of patients who suffer its devastating effects worldwide.

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Test For Blood Sugar Not Accurate In Diabetic Dialysis Patients

The standard test for measuring blood sugar control in people with diabetes is not accurate in those on kidney hemodialysis, according to new research at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.Wake Forest investigators reported in Kidney International that the hemoglobin A1c test (HbA1c) underestimates true glucose control in hemodialysis patients and could give false comfort to patients and physicians. More at...

Scientists at a US biotechnology company implanted immature beta-cells derived from human embryonic stem cells (hES cells) into mice and showed that they generated insulin-secreting cells that responded to raised blood sugar. They hope the discovery will one day lead to a renewable source of insulin-producing cells for the treatment of diabetes. More at...

Among those with diabetes, Hispanics had higher levels than non-Hispanic whites on a test that indicates how well patients are controlling their blood sugar, according to a study in the February issue of Diabetes Care, the Winston Salem Journal reports. More at...

It's not just your imagination. Providing the first-ever definitive proof, a team of scientists has shown that emerging infectious diseases such as HIV, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), West Nile virus and Ebola are indeed on the rise. More at...

Type 1 diabetes, formerly called insulin-dependent diabetes, juvenile diabetes or childhood onset diabetes, affects 1 to 2 million people in the U.S. and millions more worldwide. In this country, it is second only to asthma as the most common chronic disease in children. However, it may begin at any age, when for yet-unknown reasons, a person's immune system mistakenly attacks beta cells that produce insulin. More at...

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Binge Eating - A Component of All Eating Disorders!

Binge eating is a critical component is all eating
disorders, including anorexia and bulimia. Understanding
binging is the key to resolving all weight-related
disorders.

What is binge eating? Do we all binge occasionally? Is
binging synonymous with love of food?

Binge eating is uncontrolled eating, often accompanied by
shame and guilt. In other words, it is an act with full
awareness as well as helplessness. Binging episodes occur
quite frequently - often at least once or twice a week.

Shame and guilt often propel the resultant purging, which
is getting the excessive amount of food out of the body
system. Purging out of fear of weight gain is a critical
component of bulimia, which is a disorder alternating
between binging and purging.

Binge eating plays a pivotal role in any eating disorder,
which is a psychological disorder using food to cope with
disturbed emotions.

Many people have emotional problems, but they may not have
an eating disorder. So how does one develop binge eating,
or who are vulnerable to this disorder?

Binge eating often begins with having an unhealthy abnormal
food relationship. If you ear normally, you have reduced
risk of binge eating even if you do have emotional problems.

Any dieting is abnormal eating. Initially, an individual
may want to control weight through dieting, but without
much success. Then that individual may try one diet after
another with no substantial solution to the weight problem.
It is this feeling of deprivation of food (feeling the
unfairness of being deprived of the joy of eating),
accompanied by despair and frustration (feeling the
inability to lose weight despite the efforts), which
ultimately turns the individual from the diets into binge
eating. As a result, cyclical eating problems develop and
persist, indefinitely perpetuating the eating disorder.

Binge eating, a self-deprecating eating disorder out of
subconscious fear of not being able to stop eating
voluntarily, may begin in the formative years of an
individual with unhealthy eating patterns, or in young
adulthood as a result of incapability of handling
emotional, social and environmental stress. Binge eating
may also have a physiological connection with depletion of
serotonin, a neurotransmitter, leading to unbalanced brain
chemistry. Interestingly, many depressive patients are
vulnerable to binge eating, often turning to foods to calm
their nerves.

To confront someone close to you with binge eating may
result in relentless control battles. It is important to
understand the importance of disengaging yourself from food
issues, and that striving to control someone's eating
behavior, in spite of your good intentions, may only
aggravate the problem and interfere with the patient's
capacity to change.

Accepting your own limitations and removing yourself from
the problem are critical to disengaging someone from binge
eating. The eating-disordered individual is responsible for
the consequences of eating behavior, such as over spending
on food, or cleaning up the mess from vomiting. Do not make
excuses for the eating-disordered individual. It is
important for the individual to learn to take
responsibility for the consequences of the eating behavior.

Do not proffer advice or opinions. Remember, an individual
with an eating disorder is looking for approval, often a
sign of anxiety or insecurity. Your reassurances or
suggestions may at best provide only temporary relief. The
individual must learn to develop own judgment and
perception of self-worth - which are often absent in an
eating-disordered individual. Just be supportive and
demonstrate your love and care. Don't play the role of a
therapist!

Quite often, an eating disorder may be due to an unfilled
void in one's life. Something may be missing in one's life,
and that void needs toe be addressed in order to pave the
way for recovery.

Develop a healthier relationship with the eating-disordered
individual through better communication, establishing
responsibilities, and respecting rights (the right to grow
up, and the right to take full responsibility for one's
actions, among others).

Gradually, the eating-disordered individual will see the
abnormal eating behavior patterns, and make the necessary
changes or to seek professional help. Yes, this takes
patience and perseverance. Don't forget that it takes time
to develop the binge eating disorder; accordingly, it may
take a while to disengage oneself from that eating disorder.

About the Author:

Stephen Lau is a researcher, writing medical research for
doctors and scientists. His publications include "NO
MIRACLE CURES" a book on healing and wellness. He has also
created several websites on health and healing, including
the following:
http://www.longevityforyou.com
http://www.rethinkyourdepression.com

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Chances Of Survival Depends On What Time Cardiac Arrest Occurs

If you are in the hospital and have cardiac arrest at night or on theweekend, you have a significantly lower chance of survival to dischargethan if you had the arrest during day or evening times on weekdays,according to Mary Ann Peberdy of Virginia CommonwealthUniversity in Richmond, VA and colleagues. The results oftheir study are published in The Journal of the AmericanMedical Association (JAMA). Complete news at...

PLx Pharma Inc. announced that is has initiated a Phase 1 clinical trial of PL 2100, also known as Aspirin-PC, its oral drug candidate for equivalent label claims for aspirin under a 505(b)(2) regulatory path. There are two active Investigational New Drug (IND) applications for PL 2100, for prescription and non-prescription uses, with this trial designed to address the regulatory requirements of both. Complete news at...

Eating Disorders

Eating disorders can take on many different disguises and have
a variety of symptoms. The 3 most commonly identified eating
disorders are Anorexia, Bulimia and Binge Eating.

The symptoms of Anorexia tend to be that the sufferer will eat
very little, or not eat at all for a number of days, for fear of
gaining weight. This obviously has a dangerous impact on general
health as the body is not receiving all of the nutrients it
requires. In some cases Anorexia is fatal, so it is important to
get this condition treated as soon as possible. Sufferers of
this condition have a distorted perception of their body when
they look in the mirror. This may lead you to think that the
problem is just with their body image, but the problem is really
with their need to feel in control. Quite often, sufferers of
anorexia are constantly seeking perfection, but rarely find it.

Hypnotherapy in St Albans can help to alleviate the anxiety
that comes from the pressure an anorexic puts themselves under.
It can also be used to explore any unresolved negative emotions
from events in the past, which may have contributed to the
condition arising. NLP in St Albans and Hypnotherapy can be used
to increase self esteem, which is probably very low and this can
be done by focusing on solutions for how the anorexic is feeling
instead of creating more pressure by focusing on food and weight
gain, which, certainly at the early stages is not what the
anorexic wants to have to think about.

With Bulimia, the symptoms of the eating disorder are
different. The Bulimic will eat large amounts of food (possibly
because they have starved themselves), usually very quickly and
will then make themselves sick. Sometimes they may also use
laxatives which force the food they have eaten, out of their
body. The person may go through phases of this behaviour every
few weeks or months or even daily. They may also be binging in
private.

As with anorexia, bulimia is largely linked to self esteem and
other emotional problems however, despite being more common than
anorexia, it is more difficult to detect because the bulimic
will probably maintain a normal body weight (or just above
normal) but the condition is still just as dangerous and will
have a detrimental effect on overall health.

Hypnotherapy In St Albans and NLP can also be used in this
instance to overcome the emotional challenges the bulimic faces.
Hypnotic suggestions for more positive behaviours can be given
and early relationships and emotional events can be explored. It
is also worthwhile using hypnotic suggestions to recognize the
body's own queues for fullness.

Not all eating disorder cause severe weight loss, obesity is a
growing problem and within the next few years, it is expected
that a third of the UK population will be obese. Whilst obesity
is commonly linked with unhealthy diet, there is also the issue
of binge eating to consider. Binge eating is when the person
binges throughout the day and/or continues to eat when their
stomach is already full. There are many long term health issues
to consider here- such as heart problems, diabetes and high
blood pressure.

Binge eating is often triggered by negative emotions. Eating
when bored or to feel comfort can lead to a negative pattern
being created, so that later when the feelings of boredom, or
need for comfort occur, the person feels drawn to food.
Hypnotherapy and NLP techniques can help to refocus the mind on
what needs it is seeking to fulfill. Motivation to fulfil these
needs in more positive ways can be created using hypnotic
suggestions. When these suggestions are followed consistently,
new habits will begin to be created.

About The Author: Gemma Bailey is a Hypnotherapist and NLP
Master Practitioner in St Albans, Hertfordshire. Please visit
http://www.gemmabailey.co.uk for more information.

Monday, February 18, 2008

Stressed Women Inclined To Cervical Cancer

Stressed Women Inclined To Cervical Cancer
Cervical cancer and HPV infection are more likely to risk the health of stressed women.

Bypass Surgery Outcomes Still Good Despite Ageing Population, Australia

Bypass Surgery Outcomes Still Good Despite Ageing Population, Australia
Despite an ageing population, outcomes for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery patients in Victoria remained steady between 2001 and 2006, and 30-day mortality rates are still low, according to a study published in the latest Medical Journal of Australia.

Sunday, February 17, 2008

Bypass Surgery Outcomes Still Good Despite Ageing Population, Australia

Despite an ageing population, outcomes for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery patients in Victoria remained steady between 2001 and 2006, and 30-day mortality rates are still low, according to a study published in the latest Medical Journal of Australia. Continue reading ...

Lower Your Risk of Heart Disease without Drugs

Today, I am going to tell you how to lower your heart disease
risk using a comprehensive dietary and lifestyle approach.

Dietary Recommendations

The first step in preventing heart disease is to eat a healthy
diet. First, eat more whole foods rich in phytonutrients, plant
molecules that give your body the nutrients it needs.

Here are some tips:

1. To avoid blood sugar imbalances that increase heart-disease
risk, eat protein with every meal, even at breakfast.
2. Use lean animal protein like fish, turkey, chicken, lamb, and

vegetable protein like nuts, beans, and tofu.
3. Combine protein, fat, and carbohydrates in every meal.
4 .Avoid white flour and sugar.
5. Eat at least 50 grams of fiber daily. Beans, whole grains,
vegetables, nuts, seeds, and fruit all contain fiber.
6. Avoid processed junk food, including soda and juice.
7. Increase omega-3 fatty acids by eating wild salmon, sardines,

herring, flaxseeds, and seaweed.
8. Reduce saturated fat and use more grass-fed or organic animal

products, which contain less saturated fat.
9. Eliminate hydrogenated fat, found in margarine, shortening,
processed oils, baked goods, and processed foods.
10. Use healthy oils, like olive, cold pressed sesame, and other

nut oils.
11. Avoid alcohol, which increases triglycerides and fat in the
liver and creates blood sugar imbalances.
12. Eat every three to four hours to keep your insulin and blood

sugar normal.
13. Don't eat three hours before bed.
14. Have a protein breakfast every day.
15. Eat two to four tablespoons of ground flaxseeds every day in

salads or whole grain cereal. This can lower cholesterol by

18 percent.
16. Drink green tea.
17. Use soy foods, which can help lower cholesterol by 10
percent.
18. Eat at least eight to ten servings of colorful fruits and
vegetables a day.

Supplements

Along with a healthy diet and exercise program, supplements can
dramatically affect your risk of cardiovascular disease:

1.Take a good multivitamin/mineral, plus a purified fish oil
supplement containing 1,000 to 2,000 grams a day of EPA/DHA.
2.Try policosanol (10 mg to 20 mg twice a day). 3.Red rice yeast
(two 600-mg capsules twice a day). 4.Plant sterols (2 grams a
day). 5.Soy protein isolate shakes. 6.Fiber supplements such as
PGX (Konjac fiber) -- 4 before each meal with a glass of water.

Lifestyle and Exercise

Get 30 to 45 minutes of cardiovascular exercise at least six
times a week.

You may try interval training (described in "UltraMetabolism") if
you are feeling stronger. I also encourage strength training to
build muscle and reduce body fat composition.

Stress Reduction

Stress alone can cause a heart attack. It also contributes to
heart disease by creating inflammation, raising your cholesterol
and blood sugar, causing high blood pressure and increasing blood
clotting. Reduce stress by doing regular relaxation exercises.

Medications

Many of my patients can lower their cholesterol over 100 points
by following the comprehensive program I outline above.
Occasionally I recommend medications if I feel that my patient is
swimming upstream genetically, or if there is significant heart
disease present already.

When I do need to use medications, here are the ones I have to
choose from:

Statins

These block the production of cholesterol in the liver, lower
inflammation, and may even reverse plaque in the arteries.

Statins deplete the body's stores of the vital component
Coenzyme Q10. If you're on statins, take at least 100 mg of
CoQ10 a day.

Statins can also cause muscle pain and aching and require regular
liver function tests.

Niacin

Very high doses (1000 to 3000 mg a day) of niacin can raise good
cholesterol (HDL) and lower high triglycerides.

The major side effect is flushing, which you can prevent by
taking a baby aspirin (81 mg) half an hour before your take the
niacin.

I usually recommend long-acting Niaspan and build up slowly over
the course of 2 to 6 weeks to the desired dose of 1,500 to 2,000
mg daily.

Ezetimbe (Zetia)

Zetia prevents absorption of cholesterol from the intestine. It
can interact with statins to increase the risk of liver
toxicity.

Fibrates

These medications include fenofibrate (Tricor) and gemfibrozil
(Lopid), which help to lower triglycerides and raise HDL.

The verdict is still out on their effectiveness and safety. I
prefer to use niacin, which achieves the same results, at lower
cost with less risk.

Bile Acid Binding Agents

Drugs like Questran and WellChol bind up bile in the gut and
promote the elimination of cholesterol from the body. Bile is
comprised of cholesterol among other things, and getting rid of
bile helps lower your cholesterol.

Summary

Remember, cholesterol is only one of many factors that lead to
cardiovascular disease.

Diet, supplements, exercise, and other lifestyle approaches can
have dramatic effects on cholesterol, lowering it by 100 points
or more within a few months of comprehensive therapy.

Medications are a last resort. I never start them without trying
an integrated approach to cholesterol management.

If you are willing to make the changes in diet and lifestyle and
take a few supplements, your numbers will change dramatically --
and so will your life.

----------------------------------------------------------
Mark Hyman, MD is a pioneer in functional medicine, practicing
physician and best-selling author. A sneak preview of his book
"The UltraSimple Diet" is available. See The UltraWellness Blog
for more on testing for Insulin Resistance:
http://www.ultrawellness.com/blog/insulin-resistance

Saturday, February 16, 2008

Hispanics Have More Difficulty Controlling Diabetes Than Non Hispanic Whites

Results of an analysis of multiple studies show diabetes control is more challenging for Hispanics than non-Hispanic whites, according to researchers at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center and colleagues.The results revealed that Hispanic patients with diabetes have approximately 0.5 percent higher levels on a test that measures blood sugar control, called the A1C test, than non-Hispanic white patients. Read more ...

Focus Diagnostics, Inc., the infectious disease diagnostics company of Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX), today announced the first laboratory developed test in the U.S. for detecting the mosquito-borne chikungunya virus. Commercial availability of the molecular polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test will enable physicians in the U.S. to test patients who may have contracted the virus, such as individuals returning from regions in Africa and Asia where chikungunya is endemic. Read more ...

Friday, February 15, 2008

Tumor Diagnosed By A Single Handshake

A doctor diagnosed Mark Gurrieri to have acromegaly, rare type of cancer, by shaking his hand. Read more ...

Researchers suggest that obesity is linked to numerous types of cancer. Read more ...

New Guidelines: Antibiotic Prophylaxis

New Guidelines: Antibiotic Prophylaxis
Until recently, it was recommended that many patients with cardiac conditions receive short-term antibiotics prior to receiving dental treatment to prevent the risk of infective endocarditis (IE). The American Heart Association (AHA) has since revised those guidelines and the revisions bring good news for most cardiac patients: many patients who have taken prophylactic antibiotics routinely in the past no longer need them.

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Americans Can Monitor Cardiovascular Risk Factors at Home During American Heart Month

Today, we can also use new technologies to monitor the success of our efforts to lower our risks for heart disease. More at...

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Cook Medical Enrolls First U.S. Patient In STABLE Aortic Dissection Trial

Cook Medical Enrolls First U.S. Patient In STABLE Aortic Dissection Trial
Cook Medical announced enrollment of the first U.S. patient in the STABLE global clinical trial designed to evaluate the Cook Zenith� Dissection Endovascular System for the treatment of Type B thoracic aortic dissections. This is the first device designed specifically to treat aortic dissections, the condition that took the life of actor John Ritter.

St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Performs First Visually Guided Laser Catheter Ablation For Atrial Fibrillation In Northeast
Recently Jonathan S. Steinberg, MD, Chief, Division of Cardiology at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York, used an investigational, endoscopically guided laser catheter to treat "short-circuiting" heart tissue that was causing a potentially dangerous arrhythmia. It was the first time this minimally invasive procedure has been performed in the Northeast.

New Centre To Be At The Heart Of UK's Cardiovascular Research
Expertise from across the University of Leeds is to be channelled into a new research centre that aims to progress the understanding, treatment and prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

Few Blacks Know Of Connection Between Cardiovascular Health, Dementia, Survey Shows
While many blacks have high blood pressure and high cholesterol, few are aware that such factors put them at risk for dementia, according to a survey to be released this week, USA Today reports. The survey, by Richard Day Research for the

Northwestern Memorial's Heart Center Pioneers Minimally Invasive Surgery That Corrects Irregular Heart Beat
Atrial fibrillation, a type of abnormal heartbeat, affects approximately 180,000 Chicagoans and upwards of 6 million people in the United States. While this condition can be managed with medication, the only way to cure atrial fibrillation is through surgical intervention, which until recently required a large incision in the chest, putting the heart on bypass and an average six - eight week recovery time.

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Coupling Keeps Your Heart Healthy

Coupling Keeps Your Heart Healthy
Coupling has cardiological, as well as emotional benefits. Moreover, breakups can strain, or literally break your heart.

Heart Disease Related Deaths May Increase
Coronary artery disease cases were decreasing during the last decades, but the cases have started increasing.

Cure For Type 1 Diabetes Found
New treatment gives hope of cure to type 1 diabetes patients.

The Top Five Diseases Associated With Being Overweight

The obesity epidemic is on everyone's mind lately, as it should, given that the number of people battling the bulge has doubled in the last 30 years. Unfortunately, most of us are more concerned with how those extra pounds make us look instead of what those extra pounds are doing to the health of our bodies. In fact, scientists are consistently discovering new facts linking obesity to many different health problems.Generally speaking, men whose waist circumference exceeds 40 inches, and women whose waist circumference exceeds 36 inches are at increased risk of getting these diseases:

Heart Disease and Stroke
Hypertension (high blood pressure) is a symptom of developing heart disease, and is a risk factor for having a stroke. One-third to one-half of all individuals with high blood pressure are overweight. Your Blood pressure rises as you gain weight, and usually begins to drop as you start losing weight. Once you reach the ideal weight for you height, your blood pressure usually stabilizes at a normal range..

Breast, Endometrial, Gallbladder and Colon Cancer
Post menopausal women who are obese have a 50% higher risk of getting breast cancer, and obese men have a 40% higher risk of colon cancer. Men and women have five times the risk of getting endometrial or gallbladder cancer if they are obese. Most recent research is beginning to indicate a higher risk of kidney, pancreas, rectum, esophagus, and liver cancer also.

Type 2 Diabetes
Although the exact mechanism behind it is not yet known, it is known that over 80% of patients with type 2 diabetes are overweight. Reduce your risk of this chronic illness, which can cause blindness, amputation, kidney and nerve disease, by walking at least 30 minutes everyday. Daily exercise has been proven to decrease the risk of getting type 2 diabetes.

Osteoarthritis
The most common form of joint disease in the United States (with over 21 million people suffering), osteoarthritis is a major cause of disability in people over 55. Obesity is one of the top ten causes of osteoarthritis, and makes healing more difficult should joint replacement surgery be required.

Sleep Apnea and Respiratory Problems
Sleep apnea (also known as obstructive sleep apnea) is a diagnosis that within the last 10 years has been link to obesity or being overweight. In the past, many patients who snored loudly and stopped breathing during the night were simply considered to have nasal irregularities. It has been shown that many of these actually have a condition called obstructive sleep apnea and are therefore at a higher risk of stroke, heart disease, insomnia and mood disorders. They also usually have high blood pressure. Most people diagnosed with sleep apnea are overweight, and in many cases, losing weight reverses the condition.

Unfortunately, knowing about the risks of being overweight may give impetus to the decision to lose weight, but it does not make losing weight any easier. There is good news though; research shows that losing just 10% of your body weight reduces the risk of these diseases significantly. So whether you are 20 pounds overweight or 100 pounds, losing just 10% of your total body weight is enough to decrease the risk of these top five diseases. Keep that 10% goal in mind for whenever you begin to feel discouraged about how slowly the pounds are coming off. In the end, it is not what you look like that counts, it is how healthy you are, and it only takes a 10% weight loss to significantly increase the odds your future will be a healthier one.

Kerry-Ann Matthews successfully lost 75 pounds three years ago and still maintains it.During her four years of post secondary studies, she focused on health, nutrition and healthy weightloss.For free information on a guaranteed way to lose weight visit http://www.deliciousdieting.com

Dealing With Compulsive Disorders

A definition of what compulsion means is usually worded in the
following kind of way: A psychological and usually irrational
force that makes somebody do something, often unwillingly.

These "irrational forces" are, in the case of compulsive
disorders, caused by repetitive thoughts, or mental activity.
This is an important factor in understanding and beginning to
alter the way that the person with the compulsion represents the
problem to themselves. By understanding that the irrational
force is caused by the persons own thoughts and activities, we
begin to move the problem away from some outside force that is
making them do something, and towards understanding that the
problem is something that is caused by themselves. They may not
yet feel as if they are in control of their own thoughts because
they have got into such an automatic pattern with their thinking
that it is occurring as if they have no control of it. And it
absolutely will feel that way. After all, whose thoughts are
they? In whose head? Whose mind is that? Who is the only one
listening to those thought? If there is no one else in your
head, they must be your own thoughts! And this is a great thing
to acknowledge because it means that accepting responsibility
for those thought puts the "thinker" back in control so that
they have a much greater potential to create changes.

The first thing I would explore with a compulsive client is
what Complex Equivalence exists in their mind about this
problem. What does this problem mean? What is it trying to
achieve? What does it allow them to do? What do they believe
would happen if they stopped this behaviour? Quite often fear is
a big driver of the compulsive behaviour, and frequently the
fear exists to keep the person safe. When you know what this
problem means, its truth and validity can be explored. Quite
often there is no logical link between the behaviour / thoughts
and the "reasons" why it is occurring. For example, one lady I
met felt compelled to check the locks on her car (to the degree
that she had to have new ones fitted every 6 months) and her
greatest fear was linked to the safety of her father after he
had nearly died. The was no obvious link between her father's
incident and the repeated behaviour of locking her car. Knowing
this didn't make the problem stop, but it did encourage her to
question the validity of the problem which had felt like a very
solid problem before she had thought about it in this way.

The next step can be taken if you believe that the client's
problem may be related to a significant emotional event. A
values elicitation can be very worthwhile for discovering what
"away from" values exist in their values hierarchy and can help
uncover SEE's that the client might not have consciously
realised were still having a negative impact.

As well as, or instead of this, I would use the fast phobia
technique. The fast phobia technique doesn't have to be
restricted to phobias only. It is a process which is very useful
at desensitising the negative emotions that occur when trigger
by stimuli so that the person can be around the stimuli without
feeling negative emotions. This means there is the opportunity
to be around things that used to make them feel a compulsion and
no longer feel it.

The compulsion blowout method can be used to demolish the
submodalities associated to the stimuli. Submodalities are the
codes that we use to make meaning of our experiences and
memories. When these are adjusted, the memory / experience will
no longer work in the same way as it did in the past.

There is of course a lot of room for manouver, as a therapist I
am flexible in my approach and will adjust techniques that I
already know if I think there is a way of having them work in a
more appropriate way for that specific client. Other techniques
I have used have included advising the client that they can do
as much as they like of one compulsion, but have to trade off
another. This works really well for multiple compulsions as the
list slowly whittles down until there is just one compulsion to
deal with. By this time they have also built up confidence in
their own abilities.

A friend once told me that he felt compulsed to run indoors
whenever a helicopter flew overhead. He was not too sure where
this fear had come from or why. One day he was picnic in a large
open field with his girlfriend. A helicopter flew overhead and
there was nowhere to run to. His fear occurred and he had to sit
through it, and as a result of doing so realised that actually
he was o.k. His fear was pushed beyond its threshold and as a
result ceased to exist in that context any longer.

Obviously the best course of therapy may not be to use the
"going beyond the threshold" technique but it is certainly a
good idea to test the reaction to the stimuli once some work has
been done so that the client is able to confirm their level of
improvement.

About The Author: Gemma Bailey is a hypnotherapist, NLP Master
practitioner and Life Coach based in Markyate, St Albans. Visit
http://www.gemmabailey.co.uk for more information.

Monday, February 11, 2008

Research To Examine Connection Between Cancer, Genetics Among American Indians

The Montana Cancer Institute Foundation and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Health Department are collaborating on a new program to determine whether American Indians possess certain genetic traits that could fight cancer or make them respond less effectively to cancer treatments, the Complete news at...

Elderly nursing home residents whose care is funded by Medicaid, a state-administered scheme in the US that pays for healthcare for people with low incomes, receive limited cancer services, with only a small proportion undergoing surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy, warns a study. Approximately one in 10 people living in elderly nursing homes have cancer, but very little research has previously looked at this group. Complete news at...

What is your probability to live at age 90 and beyond? How can one live health and without disease? It turns that there are things people can do to improve their health and live longer, shows the research published at Archives of Internal Medicine. Complete news at...

Sunday, February 10, 2008

RNA-Associated Introns Guide Nerve-Cell Channel Production

RNA-Associated Introns Guide Nerve-Cell Channel Production
Introns associated with RNA are an important molecular guide to making nerve-cell electrical channels.

Imaging Study Reveals Rapid Formation Of Alzheimer's-Associated Plaques
The amyloid plaques found in the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients may form much more rapidly than previously expected.

Black Raspberries May Prevent Esophageal Cancer
Eating black raspberries may protect against esophageal cancer among people at high-risk for developing the deadly disease.

High Blood Pressure Pill Cuts Risk Of Parkinson's Disease
People taking a widely used group of drugs known as calcium channel blockers to treat high blood pressure also appear to be cutting their risk of Parkinson's disease.

Hope For Breast Cancer Patients Suffering From Chemobrain
Training on the Posit Science Brain Fitness Program improves mental function in breast cancer patients with chemobrain.

Diuretics Is Better Than Other Drugs For Treating Hypertension
Use of calcium-channel blockers appears to offer no advantages in improving clinical outcomes compared with use of diuretics when treating hypertension among individuals with metabolic syndrome.

Autophagy Is The Key To Survival And Virulence For A Fungal Pathogen

Autophagy Is The Key To Survival And Virulence For A Fungal Pathogen
Autophagy is a process whereby cells recycle material during stress situations, such as when nutrients are scarce. Some cells also use this process as an immune defense mechanism to eliminate pathogens.

Saturday, February 9, 2008

Autophagy Is The Key To Survival And Virulence For A Fungal Pathogen

Autophagy is a process whereby cells recycle material during stress situations, such as when nutrients are scarce. Some cells also use this process as an immune defense mechanism to eliminate pathogens. Continue reading ...

Mild Alzheimer's Patients Show Rapid Decline In Financial Skills Over One Year

Mild Alzheimer's Patients Show Rapid Decline In Financial Skills Over One Year
New research from UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) shows that patients with mild Alzheimer's disease (AD) have a dramatic decline in their ability to make financial decisions over a one year period. The findings, published Feb. 8 online in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, have strong implications for caregivers and health care providers in the areas of estate planning and fraud prevention.

Friday, February 8, 2008

Diabetes Worsens With Impaired Fat-Burning Gene

Diabetes Worsens With Impaired Fat-Burning Gene
Researchers at the Swedish medical university Karolinska Institutet have in collaboration with researchers from Finland, China, Japan and the US discovered new cellular mechanisms that lead to insulin resistance in people with diabetes. The results are published in the scientific journal Cell.

Team-Based Approach Improves Diabetes Care
Due to the success of the first three years of the American College of Physicians (ACP) and the American College of Physicians Foundation (ACPF) Diabetes Initiative, the program has received additional funding from Novo Nordisk Inc. to continue the initiative for an additional two years through December 2009.

New Resource For Preventing Diabetes In African-Americans
A new diabetes prevention resource designed to encourage and help faith-based and community organizations get actively involved in deterring preventable diabetes among African-Americans was released by the National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP), a joint venture of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health.

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Comatose locusts may help relieve human migraines

Biologists link locust comas with human migraine, saying the research may lead to migraine treatment reducing painful effects of migraine. More at...

California Assembly to approve legislation that would require the state Department of Health Care Services to set up the Hepatitis B Prevention and Management Pilot Program Fund. More at...

Comatose locusts may help relieve human migraines

Comatose locusts may help relieve human migraines
Biologists link locust comas with human migraine, saying the research may lead to migraine treatment reducing painful effects of migraine.

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

CMS Proposes Medicare Coverage For Artificial Hearts Manufactured By Abiomed, SynCardia

Artificial heart manufacturers Abiomed and SynCardia Systems on Monday announced that CMS has proposed to extend Medicare coverage to the devices for beneficiaries who participate in clinical trials approved by FDA, the More at...

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Helping Women Cope With Breast Cancer Diagnosis

There are great racial and socioeconomic disparities that make some women more likely to lose their fight against breast cancer than others. More at...

Black men with kidney disease and high blood pressure are more likely than others to not have their blood pressure under control, which could worsen their kidney disease. More at...

Monday, February 4, 2008

How To Deal With Acid Reflux Disease

Once you've been diagnosed with acid reflux disease, there are
some changes you'll have to make to your diet and lifestyle in
order to feel better permanently. While you may have experienced
severe symptoms in the beginning, continuing to eat the foods
that cause reflux symptoms could prove to be harmful to the body
in the long run. Here are some of things you can do to minimize
this condition in your life, one step at a time.

In order to get rid of the lingering symptoms that can
sometimes be a part of reflux, such as slight headaches, stomach
pain, or hoarseness, you'll want to make sure that you reduce
your stress level as much as possible. You can do this may
making sure that you enjoy yourself by laughing with friends and
family, and even taking time out for yourself a few times a
week. You should also make sure that you're getting your
exercise in every week; riding a bike, brisk walking, and
jogging are all great ways to make sure that your acid reflux
disease doesn't flare up again, and taking up activities like
yoga and meditation are good ways to center your mind and body
as well.

Wearing loose clothing can also help you to reduce the
discomfort you feel from acid reflux disease. Many times, tight
belts or shirts can make your chest pain even worse, so wear
clothes that are comfortable for you, especially if you will be
eating while on a trip. If you drink or smoke often, reducing
these activities, and eventually stopping them, will help you to
regain the strength of your heart, and reduce the erosion of the
esophagus that comes with reflux.

Changing your eating habits will also help you to get rid of
acid reflux disease. If you are used to eating a large meal
every night, or if you have a large breakfast,you may find that
your discomfort starts right after eating, making it hard to
sleep--or stay awake. Instead, try eating 4 or 5 small meals
every day, so that your body will be able to process the food at
its own pace. Eating too much or too fast can also cause stomach
contents to be pushed back into the esophagus, so smaller meals
may be best for awhile. You should also make sure that you are
active after eating; don't lie down right after a meal. Help out
with the dishes, take a walk, or spend some time playing with
the kids so that your food can digest properly.

When you are ready to turn in for the night, make sure your
food has had at least three hours to digest, and try to sleep
with your torso somewhat elevated. Acid reflux disease is easy
to manage if you follow a few simple rules in order to get your
health back; for more information and prescription information,
be sure to consult your doctor.

About The Author: Learn exactly how to cure your acid reflux,
heartburn or bile reflux using safe home remedy for acid reflux
using natural treatments. Visit :
http://www.Acid-Reflex-Remedy.com

Drug Helps Brain Tumor Patients Live Longer

People who receive high doses of the chemotherapy drug methotrexate to treat a certain type of brain tumor appear to live longer than people receiving other treatments. More at...

Hoping to piece together the intricate series of interactions that lead to Huntington's disease, Indiana University Bloomington scientists have determined the shape and structure of a binding site that may prove useful in combating the neurodegenerative disease. More at...

Neurological are using an FDA-approved liquid system for treating wide-necked brain aneurysms, which could eventually replace current treatments. More at...

Patients with insomnia who are diagnosed with accompanying mental health ailments often are not prescribed medication that will help them sleep - which could then make related anxiety or depression worse. More at...

Physicians are leading a new clinical trial to treat hypertension by implanting a medical device that stimulates the body's own natural system to lower blood pressure. More at...

Sunday, February 3, 2008

Blood Vessels Struggle To Relax In Diabetics

Blood Vessels Struggle To Relax In Diabetics
One way diabetes is bad for your blood vessels is by creating too much competition for an amino acid that helps blood vessels relax, researchers say.That amino acid, L-arginine, is broken down by the enzyme arginase to urea, which helps the body eliminate toxins resulting from the proteins we eat. Diabetics have a lot of arginase activity, which means they use a lot more L-arginine, says Dr.

European Medicines Agency Recommends Approval Of Novel Oral Anticoagulant, Dabigatran Etexilate (Pradaxa�)

Boehringer Ingelheim announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products in Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency has issued a positive opinion to recommend marketing authorisation of their novel, oral direct thrombin inhibitor, dabigatran etexilate. The CHMP recommends approval of dabigatran etexilate for the prevention of venous thromboembolic events in patients who have undergone total hip replacement surgery or total knee replacement surgery. More at...

Friday, February 1, 2008

CDC Statement: CDC Underscores Current Recommendation for Preventing HIV Transmission

An article recently published by Switzerland’s Federal Commission for HIV/AIDS states that HIV-positive individuals on effective antiretroviral therapy are not at risk for transmitting HIV to their sexual partners under certain circumstances. The Commission acknowledges that there are no scientific data that the risk of transmission in these circumstances is zero.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) underscores its recommendation that people living with HIV who are sexually active use condoms consistently and correctly with all sex partners. Continue reading ...

Lead Poisoning Linked to ADHD, Other Disorders

Lead paint and lead poisoning have long been known to cause a host of health problems, including hearing loss, stunted body growth and even reduced I.Q. But new research points to another danger of lead paint and lead poisoning - attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD.

Boys at Greater Risk

The study proved that boys are at a greater risk than girls, pointing to a specific variation in a genetic dopamine receptor (DRD4-7). Children with this genetic variation who have exposure to lead are at a greater risk of developing ADHD. The connection between lead poisoning and attention problems has long been known, and it was this connection that spurred doctors to research a potential link between ADHD and lead poisoning.

Doctors split the children studied into two groups - a high- and low-risk category of DRD4 variation. Though exposure to lead paint and other lead did not seem to increase the risk for children with the high-risk variety, the low-risk group was significantly affected by the presence of lead.

A Series of Disorders

ADHD children are not the only victims of lead poisoning - lead exposure can lead to disorders in almost every part of the body. The nervous system is a common casualty of lead exposure, with reduced strength and inability for different body parts to effectively communicate with one another. The potential for miscarriage is increased by lead exposure, and sperm production can be endangered in men who are exposed to lead paint or particles. Though there is no conclusive proof that lead is carcinogenic (cancer-causing) to humans, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that lead is a potential human carcinogen.

Protecting Children from Lead Poisoning

Children are by far the most vulnerable to lead poisoning. Children ingest lead in a number of ways - through chewing on paint chips in old houses, eating soil or dust that has been contaminated with lead, or biting ceramics or other objects that have been coated in lead-based paint. Young children are at significant risk through their ingestion habits, but fetuses and babies are at risk, too: premature birth and even miscarriage are well-known side effects of lead exposure.

In order to reduce the risk of lead poisoning for children, parents should be vigilant about what goes in their children's mouth. They should keep close watch on children who chew or lick painted surfaces and keep cosmetics and other lead-based pigments away from children. Frequent hand and face washing can keep lead dust from getting in the mouths and mucus membranes of children. In addition, your child should be tested for lead at one or two years of age.

Legal Options for Lead Poisoning

If you or your child have been injured by lead poisoning, contact a medical professional immediately. You may be liable for damages due to your lead-based medical problems. It is best to consult an experienced lead poisoning attorney who can provide you with legal consultation and support as you litigate your lead poisoning claim. You may be eligible for compensation or damages to help pay for medical bills and pain and suffering.

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Utilizing Information On Crohns Disease To Win The Battle Against The Condition

Crohns disease is an exceedingly difficult condition to cope with. Most sufferers seek information on the disease so as to find a cure to the problem. Unfortunately, so far no cure has been found for it. However, firstly it is best to use information on the disease to understand the condition properly.

It would be in order to begin with information about what really is this disease. When any part of the alimentary canal, right from the mouth to the anus, though mostly the terminal part, gets inflamed causing pain and damage to it, it is called Crohns disease. Rectal bleeding, diarrhoea and ulceration are some of the common symptoms of the condition. It is also called regional enteritis or ileitis and also bears resemblance to ulcerative colitis. Together these diseases are called inflammatory bowel diseases. This is a chronic condition that remains incurable so far and characteristically shows flare ups and remissions.

The next fundamental question is regarding the cause of the disease. Here, there are no clear answers.The information on the disease that is present expounds on several theories as possible explanations. The most widely accepted theory is that the bodys immune system goes haywire and behaves abnormally confusing food and other such things for foreign particles, consequently attacking them. This leads to an unusual collection of white blood cells in the digestive tract causing inflammations, ulcerations, injury to the bowels and of course, extreme pain. At the same time, information on the disease is unclear whether the immune system theory is actually the cause or a consequence of the disease.

Some important information on the disease is with respect to the predisposing factors. It has been observed that the disease strikes people between the young age of 15 and 35. Information on Crohns disease also points out that it is common in Europe and North America, with USA being the world leader and Asia and South America having the lowest incidence rates. The white population, Jews and smokers are more susceptible to the disease. Going by information available on disease, heredity too plays a role in predisposing a person to the disease. Men are more afflicted by the disease as compared to women and urban areas show greater prevalence of the disease than rural areas.

To conclusively determine whether or not a person has the disease, physical examination, blood and stool tests are necessary and the medical history of the person has to be considered. Barium xrays and endoscopic examinations are used for detecting the disease.

While most of the information on the disease available is inconclusive, it has been accepted that heredity, immunity and environment together do contribute to the disease. Emotional and physical stress are major aggravators and management of the disease entails alterations in diet and lifestyle.

Keeping in mind all the information on Crohns disease and its different aspects, it is quite possible to keep a hold on the condition so as to lead a normal life.

Rohit Chopra has written several useful articles on health and wellness topics like Crohns Disease, Crohns Disease Symptom, crohns disease Treatment,Crohns Disease Diet, etc.Get more useful information on Crohns disease at http://www.ailmentcontrol.com/