tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32442614912628349632024-03-06T06:51:20.648+03:00HEALTHY LIVINGConspiracy to the blog only for the temporaly owing to living in Kuwait and to improve the knowledge about everything
FAMILY HEALTH, MEN HEALTH, WOMEN HEALTH, CHILDREN HEALTH, WORKING LIFE, FITNESS AND NUTRITION, HEATH TOPICS, DRUG-ANTIDOTSUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244261491262834963.post-31345994058230617542008-06-26T09:34:00.003+03:002008-12-09T14:03:57.522+03:006 Sex Mistakes Men MakeHey guys, think you know everything there is to know about having sex with women? That erotic encyclopedia you carry around in your head may contain a lot of basic errors and omissions about women's sexuality -- errors that can lead to sex mistakes.<br />That's because -- after learning the facts of life -- most of us are left to figure out sex for ourselves. Guys tend to take a lot of cues from adult movies, and we all know how true-to-life those are. Experience may help, but many women can be shy when talking about what they like. <br />To help us with some sex tips, WebMD asked two acclaimed sex educators, Tristan Taormino and Lou Paget, to tell us what they think are the most common sex mistakes men make with women.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUQYrIE7E43Yoj9Mmt4fs8VAa4U9rTjdaMPcHfAJhcjouKDChzul-hHptrlKeNjXdHs3cosR_8TnefnChHU6WoR0OKdv11WntqtqisSZbq3LlK8P4ERcQrp5BtUuD8gzm98gctsmb5sxGL/s1600-h/sex+mistake.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUQYrIE7E43Yoj9Mmt4fs8VAa4U9rTjdaMPcHfAJhcjouKDChzul-hHptrlKeNjXdHs3cosR_8TnefnChHU6WoR0OKdv11WntqtqisSZbq3LlK8P4ERcQrp5BtUuD8gzm98gctsmb5sxGL/s400/sex+mistake.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216076342275678626" /></a><br />Taormino is a prolific author, lecturer, and video producer. Her latest project is the Expert Guide educational video series from Vivid Ed.<br />Paget is author of The Great Lover Playbook and other sex manuals, and she gives seminars nationwide.<span class="fullpost"> <br /><br />Sex Mistake No.1: You Know What She Wants<br />Men often make assumptions about what a woman wants based upon what they've done with other women. But women aren't all the same.<br />"You develop a repertoire as you mature sexually, but you should never assume that what worked for the last person is going to work for this person," Taormino says.<br />That applies not only to sexual predilections, but also to relationships, she says. "There are women who can have no-strings-attached sex, and women who can get attached very easily, and then everyone in between."<br /><br />Sex Mistake No. 2: You Have All She Needs<br />Some women can't have an orgasm with less than 3,000 rpm. No human tongue or fingers can generate that kind of vibration. But men typically think something is wrong if a woman needs a vibrator. <br />"If the only way that a woman can achieve orgasm is with a vibrator, she's not broken," Taormino says.<br />Think of a vibrator as your assistant, not your substitute. Many couples use vibrators together. "While you're doing one thing, or two things, the vibrator can be doing something else," Taormino says.<br /><br />Sex Mistake No. 3: Sex Feels the Same for Men and Women<br />Paget says there tends to be a "huge disconnect" between men and women in the ways that sex feels good.<br />"When a man has intercourse with a woman, and his penis goes into her body, that sensation is so off the charts for most men, they cannot imagine that it isn't feeling the same way for her," Paget says. "It couldn't be further from the truth."<br />The inside of the vagina is probably less sensitive than the outer parts for most women. Also, deep thrusting may not feel so nice on the receiving end. If the penis is too long, "it feels like you're getting punched in the stomach," Paget says. "It makes you feel nauseous."<br /> <br />Sex Mistake No. 4: You Know Your Way Around a Woman's Anatomy<br />Most guys know generally what a clitoris is and where to find it. That's not to say that they really understand it.<br />More than 30 years ago, at the start of the "sexual revolution," a best-selling book called the Joy of Sex got Americans hip to the orgasmic importance of the clitoris. But the belief that women must be able to orgasm from vaginal penetration stubbornly persists.<br />"I still get letters from people who say things like, my wife can't [orgasm] from intercourse unless she has clitoral stimulation -- please help," Taormino says. "I want to write back and say, 'OK, what's the problem?'"<br />"For the majority of women, it's not going to happen that way," Paget says.<br />Men also lack information about how to touch it and how sensitive it is, Taormino says.<br />A touch that's bliss for one woman may feel like nothing special, or may even be painful for someone else. Some prefer indirect stimulation.<br />How can you find out how she likes to be touched? Try asking her. <br /><br />Sex Mistake No. 5: Wet = Turned On<br />Guys sometimes get hung up if a woman doesn't get slippery enough for easy penetration. Don't worry about it.<br />"I think there's a myth that if you're turned on, you're wet," Taormino says. Not necessarily.<br />Some women tend to get wetter than others, and how much natural lubrication a woman has can change from day to day. It varies by the phase of her menstrual cycle, and it's subject to influences like stress and medications.<br /><br />Sex Mistake No. 6: Silence Is Golden<br />A lot of guys think they should be silent during sex, but unless you speak up, your partner has to guess what's doing it for you and what isn't.<br />If you're respectful about it, a woman who wants to please you will probably appreciate some directions.<br />"I'm not saying push her head in your lap," Taormino says. "I think that, 'this is how I like it,' is a very useful conversation to have."<br /><br /><br /><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244261491262834963.post-59169166669046982692008-06-26T09:23:00.003+03:002008-12-09T14:03:57.647+03:00Pap Smear<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9aCD8HkU6Sj96r4yuVGm6rjk0ALXmX-AvSWZ1Lr3Xl-bs9G4rxerZY-xfFmSEkqWkZmFxgdIcs5NQwhOB2P0BJaaSeFmhurLKo2-VTjmmr-F1Zkbweb2_Coo7FfpEEbnu_y-vqBwxn1lN/s1600-h/pap_smear_pap_smear.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9aCD8HkU6Sj96r4yuVGm6rjk0ALXmX-AvSWZ1Lr3Xl-bs9G4rxerZY-xfFmSEkqWkZmFxgdIcs5NQwhOB2P0BJaaSeFmhurLKo2-VTjmmr-F1Zkbweb2_Coo7FfpEEbnu_y-vqBwxn1lN/s320/pap_smear_pap_smear.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216074467972885634" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What Is a Pap Smear?</span><br />A Pap smear (Pap test) is a way to look at a sample of cells taken from a woman's cervix. The test is used to look for changes in the cells of the cervix that show cervical cancer or conditions that may develop into cancer.<br />All women who are or who have been sexually active, or who have reached age 21, should have an annual Pap smear. It is your best tool to detect pre-cancerous conditions and hidden, small tumors that may lead to cervical cancer. If detected early, cervical cancer can be cured.<br /><span class="fullpost"> <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />How Is a Pap Smear Performed?</span><br />The Pap smear is done during a pelvic exam. A doctor uses a device called a speculum to widen the opening of the vagina so that the cervix can be examined. A plastic spatula and small brush are used to collect cells from the cervix. After the cells are taken, they are placed into a solution. The solution is sent to a lab for testing.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Is the Pap Smear Painful?</span><br />A Pap smear is not painful, but the pelvic exam may be a little uncomfortable.<br />When Will I Know the Results of the Pap Smear?<br />It may take several weeks to get the test results. If you haven't heard from your doctor's office after 3 weeks, give them a call to see if your results have come back. <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />What Do the Results of a Pap Smear Mean?</span><br />A normal Pap smear means the cells from the cervix look normal. An abnormal Pap smear means the cells do not look normal. Sometimes repeat Pap smears are needed. Different tests also may need to be done, such as a colposcopy (the use of a special microscope to examine the cervix and vagina). Pap smears can occasionally show signs of infection but cannot be relied on to screen for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Other tests are necessary to determine the presence of an STD.There are several things you can do to help make the Pap smear as accurate as possible. These include avoidance of sex, douching, and vaginal creams for 48 hours before the test.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />What Happens If the Results Are Abnormal?</span><br />An abnormal Pap smear does not necessarily mean that cancer cells were found during the examination. There are many causes for abnormal Pap smear results. Your doctor will evaluate the results to determine if further testing is necessary.<br />Why Would I Need to Repeat the Pap Smear?<br />A repeat Pap smear may be necessary if you had an infection at the time of the test or if there were not enough cells collected during the test. Since decreased levels of the female hormone estrogen also can influence Pap smear results, menopausal women may need to take estrogen before they repeat the test.<br />If the results of the repeat Pap smear are still abnormal, your doctor may recommend that you have a colposcopy to further evaluate the problem.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />What Is a Colposcopy?</span><br />Colposcopy is an examination of the cervix and the walls of the vagina. During the examination, a speculum is inserted into the vagina (as done in a Pap smear). Your doctor looks through a magnifying instrument called a colposcope to detect cervical problems that cannot be seen by the eye alone. During the colposcopy, the colposcope remains outside the vagina. Biopsies (tissue samples) of the abnormal cervical area may be taken.<br />Colposcopy is not always necessary immediately after an abnormal Pap smear. Be sure to ask your doctor about other options.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />How Often Should I Get a Pap Smear?</span><br />You should get a Pap smear once a year if you are having or have had sex or if you have reached the age of 21. Some women who have a higher risk of cancer may need a Pap smear more often. Women who have had normal Pap smears for several years in a row, and have had only one sex partner may need the test less often.<br />Women with certain risk factors, such as being HIV positive (carrying the virus that causes AIDS), a weakened immune system due to chemotherapy, organ transplant, chronic steroid use, or have a history of diethylstilbestrol (DES) exposure before birth, should continue to be screened more frequently.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />What Symptoms Should I Watch for Between Pap Smears?</span><br />Pre-cancerous conditions of the cervix seldom cause symptoms. For problems to be detected, a pelvic examination and a Pap smear are usually required.<br />When cancer is present in the cervix, the most common symptom is abnormal bleeding. Bleeding may start and stop between regular menstrual periods, or it may occur after sexual intercourse or douching. Abnormal vaginal discharge is another symptom. Pain is NOT an early warning sign of the disease. These symptoms are not sure signs of cancer. But be sure to see your doctor if any of these symptoms develop.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Do I Need to Get Pap Smears If I Have Had a Hysterectomy?</span><br />Pap smears may be discontinued after a total hysterectomy (removal of the uterus and cervix), unless the surgery was performed for cervical pre-invasive or invasive cancer or other uterine cancers. Women who have had a partial hysterectomy with the cervix remaining should continue to have routine Pap smears. Check with your doctor to determine if you still need Pap smears. Even women who no longer require Pap smears should see their doctor annually for pelvic exams.<br /><br /><br />Source:<a href="http://women.webmd.com/guide/pap-smear%20">www.webmd.com</a><br /><br /><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244261491262834963.post-2675604092001101972008-05-02T14:38:00.003+03:002008-12-09T14:03:57.742+03:00Tips for a Healthy Diet<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpt0zyXYJGeen7YNJkVp0UqTephRr-GLD-LEuRGBPE8oTXSrLh8owt4e0YJCb6BDFcc-wYa7f8FRxoGOxI3g3eHx_41Nl7z0GDu50yL5YkkEy2kaLL2XxVvMwW4qdbuobONROaT8eJaMnY/s1600-h/350x233_food_pyramids.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpt0zyXYJGeen7YNJkVp0UqTephRr-GLD-LEuRGBPE8oTXSrLh8owt4e0YJCb6BDFcc-wYa7f8FRxoGOxI3g3eHx_41Nl7z0GDu50yL5YkkEy2kaLL2XxVvMwW4qdbuobONROaT8eJaMnY/s200/350x233_food_pyramids.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195745146359265394" /></a><br />By committing to eating better, you can reduce your risk of many chronic diseases – including heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis and certain cancers – while increasing your energy and stamina. Healthy eating can even lower “bad” LDL cholesterol as much as low-dose statin drugs! <br /><br />By developing your own plan for healthy eating, you’ll be able to expand your range of healthy choices to include a variety of foods, especially delicious vegetables, grains, and fruits that you may have previously ignored. This article provides guidelines and tips for creating a healthy, satisfying diet.<br /><span class="fullpost"><br /><br /><strong>Tips and advice for a healthy diet </strong><br />A healthy diet helps improve your overall health and well being. A healthy diet can help you feel better, provide you with more energy, help you stay fit and active, and help you fight stress.<br /><br />Healthy eating can prevent most cases of heart disease and diabetes and help ward off high blood pressure, osteoporosis, and some forms of cancer.<br /><br /><strong>Eating smart: The first step towards healthy eating</strong><br />Healthy eating begins with learning how to “eat smart”. -- It's not just what you eat, but how you eat. <br /><br /><em>Take time to chew your food</em>:Digestion begins in the mouth. Chewing breaks the food into smaller particles and mixes the food with saliva that contains digestive enzymes. Thorough digestion is key to the absorption of nutrients and to good health! Chew your food slowly, savoring every bite. We tend to rush though our meals, forgetting to actually taste the flavors and feel the textures of what is in our mouths. Reconnect with the joy of eating. <br /><em>Avoid stress while eating</em>. When we are stressed, our digestion can be compromised. Avoid eating while working, driving, or watching TV (especially disturbing programs or the news). Also avoid confrontations, serious discussions or worry during meals. If you feel stressed or upset, stop eating and relax before continuing with your meal. Try taking some deep breaths prior to beginning your meal, or light candles and play soothing music to create a relaxing atmosphere. <br />Listen to your body: Stop eating when you feel full. It actually takes a few minutes for your brain to tell your body that it has had enough food, so eating slowly can help you get a more accurate read on this, as well. Eating just enough to satisfy your hunger will help you remain alert, relaxed and feeling your best, rather than stuffing yourself into a “food coma”! <br /><em>Eat early, eat often</em>: Remember this old saying: breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, dinner like a pauper. Starting your day with a healthy breakfast can jumpstart your metabolism, and eating the majority of your daily caloric allotment early in the day gives your body time to work those calories off. Also, eating six small, healthy meals throughout the day, rather than the standard three large meals, can help keep your metabolism going and ward off snack attacks. <br /><br /><strong>Healthy Eating Tips: The Basics </strong><br />You don’t need a degree in nutrition to ensure that you get a well-balanced diet that provides the daily nutrients you need – simply focus on six basic food groups:<br /><br /><em>Whole Grains</em>: Whole grains include whole wheat, brown rice, oatmeal, whole grain barley and millet. Avoid food with refined grains including many breads, pastas, and breakfast cereals. <br /><em>Vegetables</em>: Go for the brights: the deeper the color, the greater the concentration of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Dark green and orange vegetables, from broccoli, kale and mustard greens to butternut squash and sweet potatoes, are several excellent choices. <br /><em> Fruits</em>: Enjoy fruits in a number of ways: fresh, canned, frozen, dried, whole, cut-up, or pureed. Fruit juices can contain up to 10 teaspoons of sugar per cup; avoid or dilute with water <br /><em>Milk and other dairy</em>: Choose low-fat dairy products. It is important to choose dairy products that DO NOT contain rBST (bovine growth hormone). Organic dairy is best. If you're lactose-intolerant, choose lactose-free and lower-lactose products, such as hard cheeses and yogurt. <br /><em>Protein</em>: Vary your healthy eating protein choices with a variety of fish, poultry, eggs, beans, peas, nuts and seeds. Minimize red meats containing high levels of saturated fat. <br />Oils: We’ve been taught to fear fats and oils, but fresh, high quality fats from olive oil, avocado, raw nuts & seeds, coconut and fish actually provide excellent (and necessary) sources of healthy fatty acids in your diet. <br />Source: http://www.helpguide.org/life/healthy_eating_diet.htm<br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244261491262834963.post-23477792937402899082008-04-02T22:08:00.000+03:002008-12-09T14:03:57.841+03:00How to Approach Hair Loss in Women<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjEc6l5fwyQCzCNu5XdpK8NKZRK5cKtbn1OjPG58_Ms3nAkF9NEqUtPnviu_Y7dVnCTRXCtGbczrQUuktJidjQ6KGYHcIoeMUKLQ4ncyq1nl2Kyps6qbrS0PnixzDd0MDLL1pl97-H-Y1H/s1600-h/hair2.bmp"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjEc6l5fwyQCzCNu5XdpK8NKZRK5cKtbn1OjPG58_Ms3nAkF9NEqUtPnviu_Y7dVnCTRXCtGbczrQUuktJidjQ6KGYHcIoeMUKLQ4ncyq1nl2Kyps6qbrS0PnixzDd0MDLL1pl97-H-Y1H/s320/hair2.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184726652406324354" /></a><br /><br />Hair is considered one of the most defining aspects of human appearance. Hair loss, or alopecia, in women is often met with significant emotional distress and anxiety (Cash, Price, & Savin, 1993). Clinicians play a key role in providing women with a thorough evaluation, a specific diagnosis, evidence-based treatment options, and counseling. In this review article, a systematic approach to history taking, examination, and diagnosis of hair loss is provided. Specific types of hair loss are discussed in the context of disturbances of the hair cycle, damage to the hair shaft, and disorders affecting the follicle. Lastly, recommendations for effectively counseling women with hair loss are provided.<br /><span class="fullpost"><br /> <br />Hair is considered one of the most defining aspects of hu man appearance. Through out history, hair length, style, and color have been used to make statements about virility, sexuality, religion, military status, and more. Alopecia, or hair loss, is a common and distressing problem and is often met with feelings of grief and a lost sense of "self" (Cash et al., 1993). Women with alopecia must not only face the loss of their hair, but they often feel isolated, embarrassed to seek care, and may be frustrated by misdiagnosis or poor treatment options. Clinicians play a key role in providing women with a thorough evaluation, a specific diagnosis, evidence-based treatment options, and counseling.<br /><br />During our lifetime, each hair follicle undergoes continuous cycles of growth (anagen), resorption (catagen), and rest (telogen). The portion of hair that is seen is called the hair shaft. That which is below the surface of skin is the follicle. Hair loss can occur due to disturbances of the hair cycle, damage to the hair shaft, or disorders affecting the follicle. A systematic approach to the patient with hair loss will enable the clinician to classify and diagnose the hair problem accurately in the majority of cases. The correct diagnosis is based on a detailed history, physical examination, and in some cases, scalp biopsy and pertinent laboratory tests. With the appropriate diagnosis, proper patient counseling and treatment can be initiated (Han & Mirmirani, 2006).<br /><br /> <a href="http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/569800"><strong>More article ....</strong></a><br /> <br /> <br /><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244261491262834963.post-9361097095827293712008-02-20T16:18:00.002+03:002008-12-09T14:03:58.040+03:00Music 'can aid stroke recovery'<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXU5FpVmceFJ-Kze7s1IOb0SF0DUj6F7Jm_ab-CjT2qXKLlwdccemMndIrlYvR5GdZg7FUj7WTZYmiwOlU_BNR16_lZKJvtGqQTU3k47tO8gh7CFYOZPDP_-2XpzA5L-Te-8NPcb6hyphenhyphennIe/s1600-h/headphone.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXU5FpVmceFJ-Kze7s1IOb0SF0DUj6F7Jm_ab-CjT2qXKLlwdccemMndIrlYvR5GdZg7FUj7WTZYmiwOlU_BNR16_lZKJvtGqQTU3k47tO8gh7CFYOZPDP_-2XpzA5L-Te-8NPcb6hyphenhyphennIe/s320/headphone.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169051827553055570" /></a><br /><strong>Listening to music in the early stages after a stroke can improve a patient's recovery, research suggests. </strong><br />The researchers compared patients who listened to music for a couple of hours a day, with those who listened only to audio books, or nothing at all. <br /><br />The music group showed better recovery of memory and attention skills, and a more positive general frame of mind. <br /><br />Writing in journal Brain, the Finnish team who studied 60 patients said music could be a useful addition to therapy. <br /><span class="fullpost"> <br />Lead researcher Teppo Sarkamo, from the University of Helsinki, said music could be particularly valuable for patients not yet ready for other forms of rehabilitation. <br /><br />It also had the advantage of being cheap and easy-to-conduct. <br /><br /><strong>Quick action </strong><br /><br />The study focused on 60 stroke patients who took part in the research as soon as possible after they had been admitted to hospital. <br /><br />The aim was to offer music therapy before the changes in the brain that can take place in the aftermath of a stroke had a chance to kick in. <br /><br />Most of the patients had problems with movement and with cognitive processes, such as attention and memory. <br /><br />Patients in the music group were able to choose the type of music they listened to. All patients received standard stroke rehabilitation. <br /><br />After three months, verbal memory improved by 60% in the music group, compared with18% in the audio book group, and 29% in the non-listeners. <br /><br />Focused attention - the ability to control and perform mental operations and resolve conflicts - improved by 17% in the music group, but not at all in the other two groups. <br /><br />In addition, patients in the music group were less likely to be depressed, or confused. <br /><br />Mr Sarkamo said: "Other research has shown that during the first weeks and months after stroke, the patients typically spend about three-quarters of their time each day in non-therapeutic activities, mostly in their rooms, inactive and without interaction, even although this time-window is ideal for rehabilitative training from the point of view of brain plasticity. <br /><br />"Our research shows for the first time that listening to music during this crucial period can enhance cognitive recovery and prevent negative mood, and it has the advantage that it is cheap and easy to organise." <br /><br />However, he admitted that further work was needed to confirm the study, and that it should not be assumed that music therapy would work all patients. <br /><br />He said: "Rather than an alternative, music listening should be considered as an addition to other active forms of therapy, such as speech therapy or neuropsychological rehabilitation." <br /><br /><strong>Possible theories </strong><br /><br />The researchers said it was possible that music directly stimulated recovery in the damaged areas of the brain. <br /><br />Alternatively, it might stimulate more general mechanisms related to the ability of the brain to repair and renew its neural networks after damage. <br /><br />Or it might specifically act on the part of the nervous system that is implicated in feelings of pleasure, reward and memory. <br /><br />Dr Isabel Lee, of The Stroke Association, welcomed the research. <br /><br />However, she said: "Further research into the effect of music on stroke patients needs to be undertaken before any widespread use, as presently the mechanisms of any effect remain unclear."<br /> <br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244261491262834963.post-74584665594577018982008-02-20T15:58:00.001+03:002008-12-09T14:03:58.242+03:00Brain control headset for gamers<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjEGqQ1URGptgRHFkBXUk-kTJMejgOLOBb9Dm-fEUdbJRa2dkiFGY-wkx5y9Puz0D7xoJa505P5yIxaH1uv_U6r6lscoCX0WYvPkGeigTTVyv4-5uVyJBuzXLqqH47rV8cFTb8rFGxeZ8j/s1600-h/gamers.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjEGqQ1URGptgRHFkBXUk-kTJMejgOLOBb9Dm-fEUdbJRa2dkiFGY-wkx5y9Puz0D7xoJa505P5yIxaH1uv_U6r6lscoCX0WYvPkGeigTTVyv4-5uVyJBuzXLqqH47rV8cFTb8rFGxeZ8j/s320/gamers.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169046467433870146" /></a><br />Gamers will soon be able to interact with the virtual world using their thoughts and emotions alone. <br /><br />A neuro-headset which interprets the interaction of neurons in the brain will go on sale later this year. <br /><br />"It picks up electrical activity from the brain and sends wireless signals to a computer," said Tan Le, president of US/Australian firm Emotiv. <br /><br />"It allows the user to manipulate a game or virtual environment naturally and intuitively," she added. <br /><br />The brain is made up of about 100 billion nerve cells, or neurons, which emit an electrical impulse when interacting. The headset implements a technology known as non-invasive electroencephalography (EEG) to read the neural activity. <br /><br /><br />Ms Le said: "Emotiv is a neuro-engineering company and we've created a brain computer interface that reads electrical impulses in the brain and translates them into commands that a video game can accept and control the game dynamically." <br /><br />Headsets which read neural activity are not new, but Ms Le said the Epoc was the first consumer device that can be used for gaming. <br /><br />"This is the first headset that doesn't require a large net of electrodes, or a technician to calibrate or operate it and does require gel on the scalp," she said. "It also doesn't cost tens of thousands of dollars." <br /><br />The use of Electroencephalography in medical practice dates back almost 100 years but it is only since the 1970s that the procedure has been used to explore brain computer interfaces. <br /><br />The Epoc technology can be used to give authentic facial expressions to avatars of gamers in virtual worlds. For example, if the player smiles, winks, grimaces the headset can detect the expression and translate it to the avatar in game. <br /><br />It can also read emotions of players and translate those to the virtual world. "The headset could be used to improve the realism of emotional responses of AI characters in games," said Ms Le. <br /><br />"If you laughed or felt happy after killing a character in a game then your virtual buddy could admonish you for being callous," she explained. <br /><br />The $299 headset has a gyroscope to detect movement and has wireless capabilities to communicate with a USB dongle plugged into a computer. <br /><br />The Emotiv said the headset could detects more than 30 different expressions, emotions and actions. <br /><br />They include excitement, meditation, tension and frustration; facial expressions such as smile, laugh, wink, shock (eyebrows raised), anger (eyebrows furrowed); and cognitive actions such as push, pull, lift, drop and rotate (on six different axis). <br /><br />Gamers are able to move objects in the world just by thinking of the action. <br /><br />Emotiv is working with IBM to develop the technology for uses in "strategic enterprise business markets and virtual worlds" <br /><br />Paul Ledak, vice president, IBM Digital Convergence said brain computer interfaces, like the Epoc headset were an important component of the future 3D Internet and the future of virtual communication. <br /><br /><br />By Darren Waters <br />Technology editor, BBC News website, San FranciscoUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244261491262834963.post-8110868156481797642008-01-12T11:35:00.000+03:002008-01-12T11:38:12.683+03:00Top 4 Nutrients For Brain PowerThe key strategy for tuning up the nervous system is to provide your body with the nutrients it needs to make healthy nerve cells, to protect them from damage, and to enhance their ability to carry out their functions. The results can be astounding. You can boost your mental alertness, increase concentration, promote learning, enhance both short-term and long-term memory, and keep your senses sharp. Your brain requires a constant source of high-quality nutrition. The brain is so metabolically active that a deficiency of any of a number of nutrients can lead to poor mental function, depression, or other serious mental disorders. Since the neurons in your brain communicate through neurotransmitters, you need to supply your body with the raw materials needed to keep a constant supply of neurotransmitters available. There are more than fifty known neurotransmitters. Some are found only in the central nervous system, while others are active there and elsewhere in the body. Here are some nutrients for boosting your brain and nerve function. <br /><br />1. Boost Choline Intake <br /><br />Choline, a B vitamin-like substance, is a crucial ingredient in the membranes found in every one of your cells. Dietary or supplementary choline can boost the production of acetylcholine and thus is important for memory, learning, and mental alertness. Rich food sources of choline include lecithin, peanuts, wheat germ, and soy foods. Choline is also found in good levels in Brussels sprouts, oatmeal, soybeans, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, spinach, lettuce, and potatoes. The best forms of choline for supplementation are phosphatidylcholine, glycerophosphocholine, and cytosine diphosphocholine, but supplementation is usually not necessary if you boost dietary sources. <br /><br />2. Boost Your Antioxidant Intake <br /><br />Vitamins C and E are found in high levels in the brain and nervous system. Because the brain cells are high in unsaturated fat, they are especially vulnerable to damage by free radicals. There is mounting scientific and clinical evidence that the higher the intake of antioxidants over time, the better the mental function later in life. A high intake of these nutrients is also associated with a significantly lower risk for both Alzhemier’s and Parkinson’s disease. Taking 500 to 1,500 mg of vitamin C and 400 to 800 IU of vitamin E is recommended. <br /><br />3. Balance Your Electrolytes <br /><br />The ability of a nerve to fire depends on the presence of electrolytes – minerals such as potassium, sodium, chloride, and magnesium dissolved in water. They are termed electrolytes to signify their critical role in conducting electricity in the human body. If you have too much sodium and too little potassium in your diet, the imbalance can slow down the ability of neurons to conduct signals. Boosting potassium and magnesium while restricting sodium intake is a very important dietary recommendation for tuning up brain and nervous system function. Eating more whole, unprocessed foods and avoiding high-salt processed foods and table salt is all that is needed for most people to get their potassium and sodium in balance. <br /><br />4. Take B Vitamins <br /><br />These vitamins are crucial for brain and nerve function. B1 and B2 help control the use of glucose by neurons. They also help your body make fatty acids needed to preserve the integrity of nerve cell membranes. Along with vitamin B5, they are important for making acetylcholine and thus for helping memory function. Vitamin B2 (niacin) is vital for proper mental function. People who suffer from niacin deficiency often exhibit signs of dementia. Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) acts like a biological shuttle service, ferrying amino acids into the brain for its use in making neurotransmitters. Lack of B6 can cause abnormal brain wave patterns and a decrease in nervous system activity. Vitamin of B12 helps your brain make use of carbohydrates and proteins. It is also vital for producing the myelin sheath that protects the axons of your nerve cells. Folic acid works as a partner with vitamin B12 in many biochemical processes in the brain, including the manufacture of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine. Impaired mental acuity (or dementia) and depression are common symptoms of folic acid or B12 deficiency. Deficiencies of these nutrients are common, especially in elderly subjects, and are an often overlooked cause of dementia and depression.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244261491262834963.post-80097980296049536912008-01-12T11:33:00.000+03:002008-01-12T11:35:20.379+03:00How To Be A Man And Have Healthy SkinNowadays, men are as concerned about maintaining their youthfulness and clear skin as women. It is already commonplace to see straight men putting on sunscreen, lip gloss, and even a concealer in public places. In fact, there has been a sharp rise in the number of skin care products and anti-aging creams specifically designed for men.<br /><br />If you are one of those men who want to know how to make the skin look younger and wrinkle-free but are afraid of going to the mall to ask what products to use, read on and find out more about anti-aging and skin care tips for men:<br /><br />Quit Smoking<br /><br />Quite a number of studies have shown that smoking can make you age faster and look older. Enzymes released while smoking wears down elastin and collagen, which are main components of the skin. Furthermore, ditching your regular nicotine fix is not only good for your skin, but for your general health as well.<br /><br />Keep Away From The Sun<br /><br />Although man is gifted with thicker and less-prone-to-aging skin, the sun's rays, especially from 10AM to 3PM, can still damage your skin and speed up development of wrinkles and other skin blemishes. Thus, it is still best for you to not expose yourself outdoors during this time. However, if you must, then it is wise to wear a sun screen. Just chose a sun screen that has a high SPF, probably 60 or more. You can also buy sun screen that is specifically designed for men so you can be sure that it is not greasy and thick.<br /><br />Get Adequate ZZZs<br /><br />If you have watched the movie Machinist starring Christian Bale, you will get a picture of what you will look like if you do not have adequate sleep. Aside from the dark circles around your eyes, your skin will sag.<br /><br />According to experts, sleep deprivation releases extra cortisol, which is a type of hormone that is responsible for breaking down your skin cells. On the other hand, if you have enough sleep, you will be producing an excess of human growth hormone, which is crucial in maintaining skin's elasticity and thickness.<br /><br />Be Gentle With Your Face<br /><br />Men have a tendency to scrub their face just as the way they are scouring a dirty pan. You have to realize that your face is very delicate so you have to treat it with care and gentleness. If you continue to mistreat your face, you will be having sagging skin and wrinkles. But if you don't want to look 10 years older, you should try to be a little gentler on your skin.<br /><br />When washing your face, use a facial wash that is appropriate for your skin type. If you have regular acne breakouts and your face is almost always shiny and greasy, then use a facial wash that is for oily skin. It is more common for men to have oily skin. Meanwhile, if your skin is flaky, then you may have dry skin. If your skin is neither flaky nor oily, then you are blessed with normal skin.<br /><br />Load On Fruits And Vegetables<br /><br />Vegetables and fruits are high on antioxidants that are known to be effective in cell regeneration and cell growth. Furthermore, antioxidants are also effective in combating damages caused by sun exposure and free radicals.<br /><br />Drink Lots Of Water<br /><br />Studies have shown that water helps moisturize the skin from within. People who do not meet their water needs for the day usually have dry skin.<br /><br />Use A Good Anti-Aging Cream<br /><br />If you don't want to look two decades older than your wife even if you are just about the same age, you better use a good anti-aging cream. Look for natural ingredients and extracts, such as chamomile, olive leaf, and sunflower oil extracts. These ingredients have been proven to help moisturize your skin.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244261491262834963.post-27346210866486236912008-01-12T11:31:00.000+03:002008-01-12T11:32:33.557+03:00Alternative Asthma TreatmentIf you are an asthma sufferer and particularly if you are diagnosed with allergic asthma, it can seem at times that even the treatment or treatments you are receiving through conventional sources can sometimes seem somewhat experimental. You try one medicine and see how it works. Then you talk to your doctor about your malady and he might give you something els to elevate some other aspect of your symptoms, until you find what works and what doesn't and in what combination they should be used and at what dosage.<br /><br />Then there is the tests and diagnosis you go through to determine what you are actually allergic to and how it can be controlled or eliminated. It is important to understand that a doctor is trained in the medical process of elimination and fully understands the effects and side effects of the drugs he is screening you for during this process. So when the treatment that works best for you is finally determined and your schedule treatment is having positive effects, one might be led to belive that further trials might bring even more relief.<br /><br />So you might start thinking about the natural or alternative medicines you might have heard about. What can be the problem? They are only herbs and natural herbs at that. You use herbs in cooking every day and you are just fine. Before you grab a handful of any medicine,herbal, or conventional, you should think twice before brewing it up in a cup of tea. herbal medicines can be very powerful and some can have toxic side effects. Some may have a negative reaction to the medicines you are taking now.<br /><br />Opium is an herbal derivitive and a spoon full of it can kill you. I make this point only to point up the potential for strength and potency in herbal medicines. Never ever discontinue your prescribed medicines you doctor has given you without having a serious talk with your doctor. There are herbal remedies for bad breath that can be purchased at your drug store and might actually work but not as good as a tooth brush and dental floss. No one has ever died as a result of bad breath though. No matter what you hear about any herbal treatments always consult your doctor and let him or her explain what exactly it is in the medicine you are thinking of consuming.<br /><br />There are other complimentary or alternative medicine therapies that are out there. As long as you consult your doctor some are no risk at all. Acupuncture is one. The only risk here is having to walk around with sore spots on your body, as long as you continue your prescribed medicine. If you are going to experiment with food avoidance it is also important to let your doctor know what you are doing so if you begin to suffer from malnutrition he knows what the cause is. If you suffer from food allergies it is wise to have a medical professional supervise and document your food elimination program.<br /><br />If you are a severe asthma patient you can at times feel desperate and might be willing to try anything at times. It can leave you alone and isolated and unable to do the things you like to do. Many asthma patients have found relief from group therapy. Being able to talk with others who have the same problems is always a help and has no risk of side effects other than possibly making some new friends. So never underestimate the power of positive thinking as a part of your treatment and before you ever consume any type of herbal concoction, talk to your doctor first.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244261491262834963.post-36238742627768427332007-08-04T01:16:00.000+03:002008-12-09T14:03:58.547+03:00Your Printer May Be Hazardous To Your Health<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQF3_ZsmX16uWLU63P0V57dXu-bl6JKrBUUyXu36OBr-2j8cqBIFY-yXMBNNp2klZFV0gMxSfJqpGIyaeZrqbdW2YL0lE12RiUaeWGpsxROYsp_JuKbvvcicV4BcOABw8WtHVWWKUsgRfs/s1600-h/null-580087264-1185924741_thumb.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQF3_ZsmX16uWLU63P0V57dXu-bl6JKrBUUyXu36OBr-2j8cqBIFY-yXMBNNp2klZFV0gMxSfJqpGIyaeZrqbdW2YL0lE12RiUaeWGpsxROYsp_JuKbvvcicV4BcOABw8WtHVWWKUsgRfs/s320/null-580087264-1185924741_thumb.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094602810014467218" /></a><br />I've long heard rumors that the fine particulate dust used in laser printer toner cartridges may be a health risk. It certainly makes sense: Not all of that stuff can stick to the paper, and if you've ever spilled toner you know there's no way it can be good for your lungs. Now a controlled study is confirming the information, saying that 30 percent of all laser printers tested emit dangerous particles described as "causing lasting damage on the scale of inhaled cigarette smoke." These tiny particles lodge deep in the lungs and can lead to anything from lung irritation to full-on cancer.<br />The tests come from an Australian technology university and were conducted in a "large open-plan space," and found that printers could increase particulate matter in the air by up to 400 percent.<br /><br />While I'm still trying to obtain the list of high vs. low particle emitters from the university, there appears to be a lot of variability among machines and even among different toner cartridges. New cartridges, for example, produce more particle matter than old ones. Printing graphics pages also produces more particle matter than text, since more toner is used, and obviously, air quality gets worse the more pages you spit out. I'll post the full list of printers tested here (or a link to it) as soon as I can obtain one.<br /><br />The upshot is that printer emissions should potentially be regulated much the way that auto emissions are, but even in the absence of government intervention, use common sense around your printer: Limit use when possible (tell the guy that prints out every single email to cut it out), sequester printers in their own rooms and away from workers, ventilate offices appropriately, and have your own air and printer tested before it becomes a serious health problem.<br /><br />Source: <a href=" http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/36077"><strong>tech.yahoo.com </strong></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244261491262834963.post-66441133388853443422007-07-18T20:36:00.000+03:002008-12-09T14:03:58.713+03:0011 Things Women Don't Know About Men<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHOPj15GzdFFjm8Of-vqea2zMLeh9LU2QALs-YibGayoessNnHMUXFqfe1nu20LMbbZ6LRCYz_Dpy8tiAqoQ0zlD4k-HEyGc7LV7yhxxBL12Tpfy0KfQCoW3bzrBDdpWIELgH7THFkiIxn/s1600-h/cewek+perwira.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHOPj15GzdFFjm8Of-vqea2zMLeh9LU2QALs-YibGayoessNnHMUXFqfe1nu20LMbbZ6LRCYz_Dpy8tiAqoQ0zlD4k-HEyGc7LV7yhxxBL12Tpfy0KfQCoW3bzrBDdpWIELgH7THFkiIxn/s400/cewek+perwira.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088594009753395186" /></a><br />1. Getting angry at us for not reading your mind is like getting angry at yourself for not being able to fly. It's not just futile, it's physically impossible. <br />2. Yes, we do think Jessica Alba is hot. Sometimes we're even dumb enough to admit it.<br />3. Don't ask us to understand your shoe fetish. Asking us to respect it is even sort of pushing it.<br />4. You do look good without makeup, just not as good as you look with it.<br />5. Ever notice how we don't fight with our male friends? That's why we get so frustrated when we fight with you.<br />6. You care what you're wearing infinitely more than we do. In fact, if you're naked when you open the front door, you won't hear an argument from us.<br />7. You don't like to get hit on in public, you don't want to date online and you don't want to be set up on blind dates. Tell us if sending messenger pigeons is an appropriate way of courting. Because if it is, we're all over it.<br />8. <br />There should a statute of limitations on stupid things that we said that can come back to haunt us <br />There should a statute of limitations on stupid things that we said that can come back to haunt us. I propose 24 hours.<br />9. Cooking dinner for a man is like buying flowers for a woman, except it takes a lot more time, effort and thought for you to do it. Thanks. We appreciate it.<br />10. We actually like your girly pet-names for us, but please, not in front of the guys!<br />11. Just because we like looking at the women in Maxim doesn't mean we want to actually converse with the women in Maxim. Not for long, anyway.<br />12. Your nice guy friends are the most reliable source for telling you if your new boyfriend's a jerk. And he probably is. (By the way, you might want to consider marrying that nice guy who's giving you advice about the jerk.)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244261491262834963.post-51019392609692995252007-06-29T09:02:00.000+03:002007-06-29T09:03:27.702+03:00Yoga combats evils of modern living; Yoga nourishes body and soulDespite the fact that the world is moving forward at a maddening pace, taking along its wake the somewhat mindless, hapless millions who are struggling to stay afloat, trying their best to keep their souls intact, there is a beacon of hope that reaches across thousands of years, promising Man, relief from the debilitating maladies of modern living. According to the World Health Organization, about 121 million people worldwide are affected by depression. It is the leading cause of disability among people from the ages of 15 to 44. Despite our ever-expanding knowledge, as a species we’ve lost our connection with who we are. Yoga, the ancient science of India, with more than 5000 year old history promises us succor and a profound insight into the nature of existence. “An hour of yoga everyday changes your whole personality,” promises Dr Rakesh Singh, yoga guru who has been imparting the knowledge of yoga in Kuwait for the last six years. With a PhD in yoga from Benares University, he staunchly believes that the adoption of Yoga in our daily life will keep away all illnesses both physical and mental. “If you observe your own state of mind after an hour of yoga you shall see the difference. You start thinking positive and are able to combat all negative thoughts. Yoga also gives you stronger will power,” he notes. <br /><br />Depression<br />As a science, yoga is able to keep at bay depression, stress and obesity the three killer diseases of modern living. Amy Weintraub, in her book “Depression and Our Forgotten Magnificence,” notes, “Our everyday yoga practice brings us home, allows us to abide in our natural state, that universal place inside ourselves – changeless, eternal, whole – a place that contains and embraces all the emotions.” There are two kinds of depression, informs Dr Singh. “The first type occurs because of hormonal imbalance in our body while the other is due to stress.” Yoga, he says, provides good cure for both kinds of depression. “Depression due to hormonal imbalance takes place when the pituitary gland gets retarded, and fails to produce enough hormones for the nervous system, thus leading to weaker memory power, enthusiasm and lowered zeal.” The art of Yoga includes poses and breathing exercises that activate these glands thus improving the hormonal system. Dr Singh gives the instance of his students who were able to forego their medicines for thyroid and hormonal imbalance after practicing yoga. <br /><br />Habits<br />Meditation and asanas help attack the root cause of depression - the feeling that you can’t handle the demands of your life. It tones the nervous system, brings back hormonal balance, stimulates circulation, promotes concentration, and energizes both mind and body. Depression arising out of stress can also be fought with Yoga. “It gives you strength of mind which makes you composed even while living in a stressful situation.” It is through pranayam or breathing exercises and meditation that one achieves tranquility. “Pranayam recharges our whole body battery. It supplies enough oxygen and activates the lobes of our lungs. When we start breathing correctly our whole body system is overhauled,” said Dr Singh while breathing deeply. But in order to keep depression and stress away, we have to change our lifestyle and adopt a way of life prescribed by Yoga. “The moment we leave yoga, our will power weakens, we tend to eat wrong food and get demoralized and that’s when depression begins.” Depression, says Dr Singh, is directly related to our lifestyle that includes our eating habits. “Human intestines are very long, they are about 28 feet. We should eat food that quickly passes through and is easily digested like vegetables and fruits.” He recommends a vegetarian diet, rich in fibre. “ If people stop and analyze their mind after eating meat they will find their concentration going low and a general feeling of lethargy.” <br /><br />Obesity<br />The science and art of yoga is something that Dr Rakesh Singh received as legacy from his parents. “From the very beginning I was interested in teaching spiritual science.” He proceeded to study yoga first in an ashram ( retreat) and then at the famed Benares University where they teach Vedas, ayurveda, yoga, astrology and other Indological sciences. Dr Singh has some very interesting facts to share about this ancient discipline. “Yoga,” he says, “can have an effect on the total lifestyle from the first day of a man’s life till the very end.” Even unborn babies can feel the benefits, ensconced in their mother’s wombs. “In my own experience, children whose mothers practice yoga during pregnancy, grow up to very energetic and active. The child also tends to be creative because yoga is not something that is merely physical; there is a spiritual and mental side to it as well.” As a discipline, yoga is still regarded difficult by many. “Those who say yoga is difficult are unaware of the science” says Dr Singh, who teaches yoga to many Kuwaitis in Qurtoba, Sabah Al-Salem and Surra. “In fact the West has concentrated more on the poses, which is a very limited aspect of yoga. The rest ninety percent remains untouched.” <br /><br />Obesity too finds its cure in yoga. A malady which grows out of wrong living and thinking, it is slowly becoming a growing menace in Kuwait. According to yoga, our present lifestyle is one of the most important factors behind the different mental and physical illnesses. In obesity, lifestyle is the determining factor. The way we live our lives is what really determines our susceptibility to the different causes of disease, whether physical, chemical or infectious agents, immunological reactions, genetic, environmental or nutritional imbalances. “There are two reasons for obesity,” says Dr Singh. “One is poor metabolism. Our metabolic system has become very slow because we have abused our body with the wrong diet.” A direct consequence of this abuse results in more and more calories being deposited in the body. “The internal system of the body gets confused as to how much to hold in the body for survival and how much to discharge. <br /><br />Poor metabolism is one major reason for people accumulating fat even though they might be on a low calorie diet. Obesity is also due to the lack of exercise. Walking, he says, is no proper substitute because it exercises only the legs and the lower limbs of the body. “Yoga has a number of poses that exercises every tiny muscle in our body thus giving it an overall tone.” One should practice the asanas that activate the digestive organs, the stomach and the liver for a better fight against obesity. In yoga, the real therapy begins with self-awareness. The true motivation for change arises when we reach self realization that our body needs to rebalance itself. In order to fight self inflicted woes like depression and obesity we need to make changes in our behaviour, habits and lifestyle. But this will be possible only when we realize our real needs, strengths and weaknesses. This will help us develop greater self-confidence, and the changes thus implemented will last lifelong.<br /><br /><a href=" http://arabtimesonline.com/client/faqdetails.asp?faid=142&faqid=13"><strong>By Chaitali B. Roy<br />Special to the Arab Times</strong></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244261491262834963.post-76660953285292687042007-06-12T22:35:00.000+03:002007-06-12T22:37:37.170+03:00Autism Spectrum Disorders (Pervasive Developmental Disorders)Not until the middle of the twentieth century was there a name for a disorder that now appears to affect an estimated 3.4 every 1,000 children ages 3-10, a disorder that causes disruption in families and unfulfilled lives for many children. In 1943 Dr. Leo Kanner of the Johns Hopkins Hospital studied a group of 11 children and introduced the label early infantile autism into the English language. At the same time a German scientist, Dr. Hans Asperger, described a milder form of the disorder that became known as Asperger syndrome. Thus these two disorders were described and are today listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV-TR (fourth edition, text revision)1 as two of the five pervasive developmental disorders (PDD), more often referred to today as autism spectrum disorders (ASD). All these disorders are characterized by varying degrees of impairment in communication skills, social interactions, and restricted, repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior.<br /><br /><br />The autism spectrum disorders can often be reliably detected by the age of 3 years, and in some cases as early as 18 months.2 Studies suggest that many children eventually may be accurately identified by the age of 1 year or even younger. The appearance of any of the warning signs of ASD is reason to have a child evaluated by a professional specializing in these disorders.<br /><br /><br />Parents are usually the first to notice unusual behaviors in their child. In some cases, the baby seemed "different" from birth, unresponsive to people or focusing intently on one item for long periods of time. The first signs of an ASD can also appear in children who seem to have been developing normally. When an engaging, babbling toddler suddenly becomes silent, withdrawn, self-abusive, or indifferent to social overtures, something is wrong. Research has shown that parents are usually correct about noticing developmental problems, although they may not realize the specific nature or degree of the problem.<br /><br /><br />The pervasive developmental disorders, or autism spectrum disorders, range from a severe form, called autistic disorder, to a milder form, Asperger syndrome. If a child has symptoms of either of these disorders, but does not meet the specific criteria for either, the diagnosis is called pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS). Other rare, very severe disorders that are included in the autism spectrum disorders are Rett syndrome and childhood disintegrative disorder. This brochure will focus on classic autism, PDD-NOS, and Asperger syndrome, with brief descriptions of Rett syndrome and childhood disintegrative disorder on the following page.<br />Rare Autism Spectrum Disorders<br />Rett Syndrome<br /><br /><br />Rett syndrome is relatively rare, affecting almost exclusively females, one out of 10,000 to 15,000. After a period of normal development, sometime between 6 and 18 months, autism-like symptoms begin to appear. The little girl's mental and social development regresses—she no longer responds to her parents and pulls away from any social contact. If she has been talking, she stops; she cannot control her feet; she wrings her hands. Some of the problems associated with Rett syndrome can be treated. Physical, occupational, and speech therapy can help with problems of coordination, movement, and speech.<br /><br /><br />Scientists sponsored by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development have discovered that a mutation in the sequence of a single gene can cause Rett syndrome. This discovery may help doctors slow or stop the progress of the syndrome. It may also lead to methods of screening for Rett syndrome, thus enabling doctors to start treating these children much sooner, and improving the quality of life these children experience.*<br />Childhood Disintegrative Disorder<br /><br /><br />Very few children who have an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis meet the criteria for childhood disintegrative disorder (CDD). An estimate based on four surveys of ASD found fewer than two children per 100,000 with ASD could be classified as having CDD. This suggests that CDD is a very rare form of ASD. It has a strong male preponderance.** Symptoms may appear by age 2, but the average age of onset is between 3 and 4 years. Until this time, the child has age-appropriate skills in communication and social relationships. The long period of normal development before regression helps differentiate CDD from Rett syndrome.<br /><br /><br />The loss of such skills as vocabulary are more dramatic in CDD than they are in classical autism. The diagnosis requires extensive and pronounced losses involving motor, language, and social skills.*** CDD is also accompanied by loss of bowel and bladder control and oftentimes seizures and a very low IQ.<br /><br /><br />*Rett syndrome. NIH Publication No. 01-4960. Rockville, MD: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, 2001. Available at http://www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubskey.cfm?from=autism<br /><br /><br />**Frombonne E. Prevalence of childhood disintegrative disorder. Autism, 2002; 6(2): 149-157.<br /><br /><br />***Volkmar RM and Rutter M. Childhood disintegrative disorder: Results of the DSM-IV autism field trial. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 1995; 34: 1092-1095.<br />What Are the Autism Spectrum Disorders?<br /><br /><br />The autism spectrum disorders are more common in the pediatric population than are some better known disorders such as diabetes, spinal bifida, or Down syndrome.2 Prevalence studies have been done in several states and also in the United Kingdom, Europe, and Asia. A recent study of a U.S. metropolitan area estimated that 3.4 of every 1,000 children 3-10 years old had autism.3 This wide range of prevalence points to a need for earlier and more accurate screening for the symptoms of ASD. The earlier the disorder is diagnosed, the sooner the child can be helped through treatment interventions. Pediatricians, family physicians, daycare providers, teachers, and parents may initially dismiss signs of ASD, optimistically thinking the child is just a little slow and will "catch up." Although early intervention has a dramatic impact on reducing symptoms and increasing a child's ability to grow and learn new skills, it is estimated that only 50 percent of children are diagnosed before kindergarten.<br /><br /><br />All children with ASD demonstrate deficits in 1) social interaction, 2) verbal and nonverbal communication, and 3) repetitive behaviors or interests. In addition, they will often have unusual responses to sensory experiences, such as certain sounds or the way objects look. Each of these symptoms runs the gamut from mild to severe. They will present in each individual child differently. For instance, a child may have little trouble learning to read but exhibit extremely poor social interaction. Each child will display communication, social, and behavioral patterns that are individual but fit into the overall diagnosis of ASD.<br /><br /><br />Children with ASD do not follow the typical patterns of child development. In some children, hints of future problems may be apparent from birth. In most cases, the problems in communication and social skills become more noticeable as the child lags further behind other children the same age. Some other children start off well enough. Oftentimes between 12 and 36 months old, the differences in the way they react to people and other unusual behaviors become apparent. Some parents report the change as being sudden, and that their children start to reject people, act strangely, and lose language and social skills they had previously acquired. In other cases, there is a plateau, or leveling, of progress so that the difference between the child with autism and other children the same age becomes more noticeable.<br /><br /><br />ASD is defined by a certain set of behaviors that can range from the very mild to the severe. The following possible indicators of ASD were identified on the Public Health Training Network Webcast, Autism Among Us.4<br />Possible Indicators of Autism Spectrum Disorders<br /><br /><br /> * Does not babble, point, or make meaningful gestures by 1 year of age<br /> * Does not speak one word by 16 months<br /> * Does not combine two words by 2 years<br /> * Does not respond to name<br /> * Loses language or social skills<br /><br /><br />Some Other Indicators<br /><br /><br /> * Poor eye contact<br /> * Doesn't seem to know how to play with toys<br /> * Excessively lines up toys or other objects<br /> * Is attached to one particular toy or object<br /> * Doesn't smile<br /> * At times seems to be hearing impairedUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244261491262834963.post-3791854090398838292007-06-12T14:06:00.000+03:002008-12-09T14:03:58.865+03:00Benefit of YoGa<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kK7itN81MnY/Rm5rcXeujiI/AAAAAAAAAV0/O_HcFVx-Nxo/s1600-h/yoga.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075111965176532514" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kK7itN81MnY/Rm5rcXeujiI/AAAAAAAAAV0/O_HcFVx-Nxo/s400/yoga.jpg" border="0" /></a> At the physical level, yoga and its cleansing practices have proven to be extremely effective for various disorders. To get a sampling of how yoga benefits health disorders, please visit the Yoga Therapy section.<br />More importantly, yoga is extremely effective in:<br /><strong>Increasing Flexibility</strong> – yoga has positions that act upon the various joints of the body including those joints that are never really on the ‘radar screen’ let alone exercised.<br /><span class="fullpost"><strong>Increasing lubrication of the joints, ligaments and tendons</strong> – likewise, the well-researched yoga positions exercise the different tendons and ligaments of the body.<br />Surprisingly it has been found that the body which may have been quite rigid starts experiencing a remarkable flexibility in even those parts which have not been consciously work upon. Why? It is here that the remarkable research behind yoga positions proves its mettle. Seemingly unrelated “non strenuous” yoga positions act upon certain parts of the body in an interrelated manner. When done together, they work in harmony to create a situation where flexibility is attained relatively easily.<br /><br /><strong>Massaging of ALL Organs of the Body</strong> – Yoga is perhaps the only form of activity which massages all the internal glands and organs of the body in a thorough manner, including those – such as the prostate - that hardly get externally stimulated during our entire lifetime. Yoga acts in a wholesome manner on the various body parts. This stimulation and massage of the organs in turn benefits us by keeping away disease and providing a forewarning at the first possible instance of a likely onset of disease or disorder.<br />One of the far-reaching benefits of yoga is the uncanny sense of awareness that it develops in the practitioner of an impending health disorder or infection. This in turn enables the person to take pre-emptive corrective action<br /><br /><strong>Complete Detoxification</strong> – By gently stretching muscles and joints as well as massaging the various organs, yoga ensures the optimum blood supply to various parts of the body. This helps in the flushing out of toxins from every nook and cranny as well as providing nourishment up to the last point. This leads to benefits such as delayed ageing, energy and a remarkable zest for life.<br /><br /><strong>Excellent toning of the muscles</strong> – Muscles that have become flaccid, weak or slothy are stimulated repeatedly to shed excess flab and flaccidity.<br /><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244261491262834963.post-82551482929389796532007-05-27T21:57:00.000+03:002007-05-27T21:58:42.073+03:00Strength training may reverse muscle agingStrength training may not only make older adults' muscles stronger, but younger as well, a small study suggests.<br /><br />It's well known that resistance exercises improve muscle strength and function in young and old alike, but the new research suggests that strength training also affects older muscles on the level of gene expression -- essentially turning back the clock on muscle aging.<br /><br />The study, published in the online journal PLoS One, looked at whether strength training affects the "gene expression profile" in older adults' muscle. Genes hold the instructions from which the body manufactures proteins; gene expression refers to the processes that translate these instructions into proteins.<br /><br />Analyzing small samples of muscle tissue from a group of healthy young and older adults, researchers found that older and younger muscle tissues differed significantly in their gene expression profiles. The difference indicated that older muscle tissue had impaired functioning in mitochondria -- structures within cells that act as the cell's "powerhouse."<br /><br />That impairment was reversible, however. After 14 of the older adults underwent 6 months of strength training, the gene expression profile in their muscles showed a more youthful appearance.<br /><br />"In a very real sense, the muscle was younger," said lead study author Dr. Simon Melov of the Buck Institute for Age Research in Novato, California.<br /><br />Experts have long known that exercise is good for younger and older adults alike, Melov told Reuters, but the new findings suggest that it can "actually rejuvenate muscle" in older individuals.<br /><br />The study included 25 healthy men and women older than 65, and 26 healthy adults ages 20 to 35 who had diet and exercise habits similar to the older group. By analyzing muscle tissue from each volunteer, Melov's team found age-related differences in the expression of hundreds of genes -- such that mitochondrial function in older adults appeared "dramatically impaired."<br /><br />Fourteen of the older adults then went through a strength training program, working out two days a week for 6 months.<br /><br />As expected, the researchers found that these volunteers boosted their muscle strength, coming closer to their younger counterparts' performance. But their muscle also showed a turnaround in gene expression that Melov described as surprisingly stark.<br /><br />He said more studies are needed to see whether aerobic exercise, like walking or cycling, has similar effects on muscle -- and whether exercise might reverse molecular aging in other types of body tissue.<br /><br />For now, the researchers say, their findings show that it's never too late to start exercising.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244261491262834963.post-30629985490404899852007-05-22T02:14:00.000+03:002007-05-22T02:16:40.671+03:00Lungs affected in healthy kids of smoking parents"Healthy" children of smokers may not show any signs of breathing difficulties, but they may still be experiencing reduced lung function -- which could progressively worsen with continued exposure -- according to a study reported Sunday at the American Thoracic Society's meeting in San Francisco.<br /><br />"Smoking parents are bad news for children," even if the children are "healthy," Dr. Bert Arets from the University Medical Center Utrecht in the Netherlands told Reuters Health ahead of the meeting.<br /><br />Multiple studies have shown that children of smokers have more breathing problems than children of non-smokers, but until now it's been unclear whether lung function is impaired in children of smokers who don't have any breathing complaints or diagnosed lung problems like asthma.<br /><br />Arets and his colleagues assessed the lung function of 244 children aged 4 to 12 without any lung or airway disease and found that children of smoking parents had significantly reduced lung function.<br /><br />"In contrast to earlier studies, the current study included only children totally free of respiratory disease (asthma) in the past and respiratory symptoms at the moment of measurement," Arets emphasized. "Other studies included all children, irrespective of respiratory disease or symptoms. If you find abnormal lung function in the latter group, this appears logical."<br /><br />"However, our study," said Arets, "shows that disease-free and symptom-free does not mean normal lung function."<br /><br />The trend today is to ban smoking in public places. Arets worries that this might cause parents to smoke more in their own homes, "which might increase the harmful effects for children."<br /><br />The researchers are expanding their study to include 2,000 healthy children of smoking parents. Data from this larger group are expected to be available within 2 years.<a href=" http://uk.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUKCOL15339520070521"><strong>NEW YORK (Reuters Health) </strong></a>-Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244261491262834963.post-1750843565215051742007-05-22T02:02:00.000+03:002007-05-22T02:04:51.638+03:00Viagra shown to aid jet-lagged travelersThe male impotence drug Viagra may be useful for treating jet lag as well, according to Argentine researchers who gave it to hamsters made to feel like rodent globe-trotters.<br /><br />The researchers manipulated the schedule of turning lights on and off to induce jet lag in the laboratory animals, they reported on Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.<br /><br />Adult male hamsters given Viagra, also called sildenafil, recovered from jet lag up to 50 percent faster than hamsters that were not given it, the researchers said.<br /><br />The scientists stopped giving the hamsters the highest dose they had been using in the experiment due to a certain side effect.<br /><br />"However, we used the intermediate dose for the rest of the experiments because at that dose animals did not manifest the effects of sildenafil-induced penile erections," they wrote.<br /><br />Flying across multiple time zones can confuse one's sleep-wake cycle, resulting in the condition called jet lag, marked by insomnia, sleepiness and difficulty concentrating.<br /><br />Researchers Patricia Agostino, Santiago Plano and Diego Golombek of the Universidad Nacional de Quilmes in Buenos Aires gave doses of Viagra to the hamsters at night, then switched on bright lights six hours early to simulate eastbound flight.<br /><br />They judged how well the hamsters adjusted to the changes by observing when they began running on exercise wheels.Continue to <a href=" http://uk.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUKN2133567420070521"><strong>Reuters</strong></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244261491262834963.post-26657437237424299082007-05-01T10:06:00.000+03:002007-05-01T10:17:42.662+03:00alcohol boosts breast cancer riskA study in mice shows that moderate alcohol consumption stimulates the growth and progression of breast cancer by fueling the development of new blood vessels -- a process called "angiogenesis." It does this by boosting expression of a key growth factor known as vascular endothelial growth factor or VEGF.<br /><br />Drinking alcohol -- even moderate amounts - is a well-established risk factor for breast cancer in women. A recent study found that 60 percent of breast cancer cases in women worldwide were attributable to alcohol consumption. But the mechanism(s) of alcohol-induced breast cancer are poorly understood.<br /><br />Dr. Jian-Wei Gu and colleagues from the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson examined the effects of alcohol on tumor growth and progression of breast cancer in mice.<br /><br />For 4 weeks, 6-week old female mice consumed regular drinking water or water containing 1 percent alcohol, which is equivalent to about 2 to 4 drinks in humans. In week 2, the animals were inoculated with mouse breast cancer cells.<br /><br />"We found after about 4 weeks that breast tumor size almost doubled in mice that drank alcohol compared to control mice given plain water," Gu noted in a telephone interview with Reuters Health. Moderate alcohol intake also caused a noteworthy increase in tumor blood vessels compared with no alcohol intake.<br /><br />The team also observed a significant increase in VEGF levels in the tumors of mice consuming alcohol compared to the tumors of control mice.<br /><br />"VEGF can promote the formation of new blood vessels," Gu said. "This suggests that alcohol can induce tumor angiogenesis."<br /><br />He presented the research at the American Physiological Society's annual meeting, part of Experimental Biology 2007, underway in Washington DC.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244261491262834963.post-35215128790883667802007-03-24T19:27:00.000+03:002007-04-14T21:10:18.361+03:00Court strikes down Internet porn lawA federal judge on Thursday dealt another blow to government efforts to control Internet pornography, striking down a 1998 U.S. law that makes it a crime for commercial Web site operators to let children access "harmful" material.<br />In the ruling, the judge said parents can protect their children through software filters and other less restrictive means that do not limit the rights of others to free speech.<br />"Perhaps we do the minors of this country harm if (free speech) protections, which they will with age inherit fully, are chipped away in the name of their protection," wrote Senior U.S. District Judge Lowell Reed Jr., who presided over a four-week trial last fall.<br />The law would have criminalized Web sites that allow children to access material deemed "harmful to minors" by "contemporary community standards." The sites would have been expected to require a credit card number or other proof of age. Penalties included a $50,000 fine and up to six months in prison.<br />Sexual health sites, the online magazine Salon.com and other Web sites backed by the American Civil Liberties Union challenged the law. They argued that the Child Online Protection Act was unconstitutionally vague and would have had a chilling effect on speech.<br />The U.S. Supreme Court upheld a temporary injunction in 2004 on grounds the law was likely to be struck down and was perhaps outdated.<br />Technology experts said parents now have more serious concerns than Web sites with pornography. For instance, the threat of online predators has caused worries among parents whose children use social-networking sites such as News Corp.'s MySpace.<br />The case sparked a legal firestorm last year when Google challenged a Justice Department subpoena seeking information on what people search for online. Government lawyers had asked Google to turn over 1 million random Web addresses and a week's worth of Google search queries.<br />A judge sharply limited the scope of the subpoena, which Google had fought on trade secret, not privacy, grounds.<br />To defend the nine-year-old Child Online Protection Act, government lawyers attacked software filters as burdensome and less effective, even though they have previously defended their use in public schools and libraries.<br />"It is not reasonable for the government to expect all parents to shoulder the burden to cut off every possible source of adult content for their children, rather than the government's addressing the problem at its source," a government attorney, Peter D. Keisler, argued in a post-trial brief.<br />Critics of the law argued that filters work best because they let parents set limits based on their own values and their child's age.<br />The law addressed material accessed by children under 17, but applied only to content hosted in the United States.<br />The Web sites that challenged the law said fear of prosecution might lead them to shut down or move their operations offshore, beyond the reach of the U.S. law. They also said the Justice Department could do more to enforce obscenity laws already on the books.<br />The 1998 law followed Congress' unsuccessful 1996 effort to ban online pornography. The Supreme Court in 1997 deemed key portions of that law unconstitutional because it was too vague and trampled on adults' rights.<br />The newer law narrowed the restrictions to commercial Web sites and defined indecency more specifically.<br />In 2000, Congress passed a law requiring schools and libraries to use software filters if they receive certain federal funds. The high court upheld that law in 2003.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244261491262834963.post-44974037353519766602007-03-24T19:22:00.000+03:002008-12-09T14:03:59.290+03:00Cell phones unlikely to cause brain cancer: study<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHn9QZkHM5c2bH3l8DgXM17EMJezmItnHHMeJZx8iDRsQVGQjyoh3lIBflqoyxbN-f5wkhyphenhyphenYQeBzEjMyuNc25ZidlH7ntBxesX0L3ot1eTSxrL51SSYzFrsSs8V3qytYtbCDF0G34a9h_8/s1600-h/3220388436.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5045528317387086754" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHn9QZkHM5c2bH3l8DgXM17EMJezmItnHHMeJZx8iDRsQVGQjyoh3lIBflqoyxbN-f5wkhyphenhyphenYQeBzEjMyuNc25ZidlH7ntBxesX0L3ot1eTSxrL51SSYzFrsSs8V3qytYtbCDF0G34a9h_8/s400/3220388436.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Cell phone use does not appear to be associated with an increased risk of glioma -- the most common type of brain tumor, according to a new study. The story may be different, however, for intense use of cell phones over many years.<br /><br />"Public concern has been expressed about the possible adverse health effects of mobile telephones, mainly related to (brain) tumors," Dr. Anna Lahkola, of the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, Helsinki, and colleagues explain in the International Journal of Cancer.<br />The researchers examined the relationship between mobile phone use and risk of glioma by studying 1,521 glioma patients and 3,301 controls.<br /><br />The vast majority of both groups reported using cell phones. Overall, 92 percent of glioma patients and 94 percent of controls reported ever using a mobile phone.<br />Overall, there was no evidence of increased glioma risk related to regular mobile phone use.<br />There were no significant associations observed with duration of use, years since first use, cumulative number of calls, or cumulative hours of use.<br />No increased glioma risk was observed when analog and digital phones were analyzed separately.<br />There was, however, a trend toward increased risk of glioma in people who used a cell phone for more than 10 years exclusively on one side of the head, which was on the same side as the tumor. The association reached "borderline statistical significance."<br />"This may be due either to chance or causal effect or information bias, i.e., overreporting of mobile phone use on the affected side by the cases with brain tumors," the investigators comment.<br />Source: NEW YORK (Reuters Health) -Sat Mar 24, 2007 1:07AM GMTUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244261491262834963.post-6934471317722807442007-03-18T22:45:00.000+03:002007-03-20T12:47:26.159+03:00Cervical cancer: Can you get it if you haven't had sex?Most cervical cancer is associated with the human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection. But not all cervical cancers are due to HPV infection. So, yes, it is possible to have cervical cancer if you've never had sex.<br />HPV is primarily transmitted during vaginal intercourse. However, it is important to know that it may also be transmitted during oral sex. Factors that put you at increased risk of HPV infection include:<br />-Multiple sexual partners <br />-A history of other sexually transmitted infections <br />-Cigarette smoking <br /><span class="fullpost"><br />Regular Pap tests are the best tool for early detection of cervical cancer. The American Cancer Society recommends that you have your first Pap test about three years after first having sexual relations or at age 21 if you haven't been sexually active. After age 21, the guidelines recommend annual Pap tests until age 29 and every two to three years from ages 30 to 69.<br /><br /><br /><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244261491262834963.post-1613214027136036202007-03-18T22:42:00.000+03:002007-03-20T12:48:22.914+03:00HPV infection: How does it cause cervical cancer?Human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection, is the most common cause of cervical cancer. When a woman is exposed to HPV, her immune system usually prevents the virus from doing any harm. But in a small number of women, the virus survives for years and eventually converts some cells on the surface of the cervix into cancer cells. These changes happen very slowly. At first, the cells only show signs of a viral infection. Later, the cells become precancerous. Doctors refer to this as cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. In time, it progresses to invasive cervical cancer.<br /><span class="fullpost"><br />It's not clear why some women are more likely to develop cervical cancer. Some types of HPV are more aggressive than others and that plays a role. Cigarette smoking increases the risk of both precancerous changes and cancer of the cervix. The best way to prevent sexually transmitted infections is to have fewer sexual partners and use condoms.<br />In June 2006, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Gardasil, a vaccine that offers protection from the most dangerous types of HPV. The national Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends routine vaccination for girls age 11 and 12, as well as girls and women ages 13 to 26 if they haven't received the vaccine already. The vaccine is most effective if given to girls before they become sexually active.<br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244261491262834963.post-51596763310962405532007-03-17T10:02:00.000+03:002007-03-18T12:09:55.391+03:00Hearing loss may raise risk of meningitis in kidsFindings from a study of Danish children suggest that hearing loss greatly increases the risk of meningitis. Therefore, parents of children with hearing loss should familiarize themselves with the signs and symptoms of meningitis.<br />Researchers conducted a review of all children born in Denmark between 1995 and 2004. Out of 663,963 children, the researchers identified 39 who had both hearing loss and meningitis, including five cases in which the hearing loss preceded the meningitis.<br />Children with hearing loss were five times more likely to develop meningitis than those without hearing loss, lead author Dr. Erik T. Parner, from the University of Aarhus in Denmark, and colleagues note. <span class="fullpost"> <br />"This is the first study to report on the risk of meningitis in children with hearing loss...and warrants further investigation in other populations and databases," the researchers conclude.<br />"If children with hearing loss have a higher risk of meningitis, then parents and healthcare providers should be made aware of the need to be alert for possible signs and symptoms of meningitis, and vaccination should be considered."<br />An increased risk of meningitis has been reported in children with cochlear implants, the authors note, but until now the "baseline" rate of meningitis among children with hearing loss had not been established.<br />Meningitis is a relatively rare but potentially deadly disease that produces swelling of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. It can cause seizures, brain damage, memory loss, deafness, and even death in otherwise healthy children and adults.<br />SOURCE: Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery March 2007. //reuters health </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244261491262834963.post-83221202308201034452007-03-11T20:08:00.000+03:002007-03-18T12:11:14.387+03:00Asbestos triggers mesothelioma more often in men than womenAfter asbestos exposure, men are more likely than women to develop malignant mesothelioma, according to an Australian study.<br />Mesothelioma, a lethal cancer of the lining of the lungs and the chest cavity, is caused mainly by exposure to asbestos.<br />Alison Reid told Reuters Health that she and her colleagues are studying people exposed to asbestos at Wittenoom in Western Australia. "This was an asbestos mining and milling town that closed in 1966, but still provides us with a legacy of asbestos-related diseases."<span class="fullpost"><br />In the medical journal Chest, Ms. Reid, at the University of Western Australia, Crawley, and her associates report findings from follow-up through the end of 2000 among more than 4700 former residents of Wittenoom. These subjects were not employed in the milling and mining industry but were nonetheless exposed to the mineral.<br />Deaths rates from mesothelioma were higher with increasing length of residence, and were consistently lower for women than for men. <br />Men had more than four times the rate of mesothelioma as women, after accounting for cumulative asbestos exposure and age at first residence.<br />People who were at least 15 years old when they were first exposed to the asbestos-laden environment were 2.4-times more likely to die of mesothelioma than those who were younger than 15 years at first exposure, the researchers note.<br />"The asbestos epidemic is almost past its peak in the developed world," Ms Reid pointed out, "but elsewhere it will just be starting. It is still being used in many developing countries -- where they have little or no regulation about its use, worker protection, or means of treatment." </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244261491262834963.post-16539900922466269342007-03-05T22:20:00.000+03:002007-03-18T12:13:00.708+03:00MesotheliomaMalignant mesothelioma is a rare cancer that occurs in the thin layer of tissue that covers the majority of your internal organs (mesothelium). Doctors divide mesothelioma into different categories based on what part of the mesothelium is affected by cancer. Mesothelioma that occurs in the tissue that surrounds the lung (pleura) is called pleural mesothelioma and is the most common form. Mesothelioma that occurs in the tissue in your abdomen (peritoneum) is called peritoneal mesothelioma and accounts for 10 percent to 20 percent of all mesotheliomas. In rare cases, mesothelioma can also occur in the lining around the heart (pericardium) and in the lining around the testicles (tunica vaginalis).<br /><br />Between 2,000 and 3,000 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma in the United States each year. Men are more likely to develop mesothelioma than are women. It's more common in older adults — most people with mesothelioma are 65 and older — though mesothelioma can be diagnosed at any age.<span class="fullpost"><br /><br />Mesothelioma is closely linked to exposure to asbestos — a natural fiber that was once used in manufacturing a wide variety of industrial and household products. Mesothelioma rates have increased during the past 20 years in response to the widespread use of asbestos in the past. Many industrialized countries now limit asbestos use and enforce laws to protect workers who may be exposed. Researchers predict these efforts will lead to fewer cases of mesothelioma in the future<br /><br /><strong>Signs and symptoms</strong><br />Signs and symptoms of mesothelioma vary depending on where the cancer occurs.<br /><br /><em>Pleural mesothelioma signs and symptoms may include:</em>-Shortness of breath <br />-Painful breathing <br />-Chest pain under the rib cage <br />-Unusual lumps of tissue under the skin on your chest <br />-Unexplained weight loss <br />-Dry (nonproductive) cough <br /><span class="fullpost"><br /><em>Peritoneal mesothelioma signs and symptoms may include:</em>Abdominal pain <br />-Abdominal swelling <br />-A change in your bowel habits, such as more frequent diarrhea or constipation <br />-Lumps of tissue in the abdomen <br />-Unexplained weight loss <br />Signs and symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma and mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis are unclear. These forms are so rare that not much information is available. Mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis may be first detected as a mass on a testicle. Pericardial mesothelioma signs and symptoms may include difficulty breathing and fever.<br /><br />Signs and symptoms of mesothelioma that has spread to other parts of the body include:<br />-Pain in the area where cancer has spread <br />-Difficulty swallowing <br />-Swelling in the neck and face <br /><br /><br /><strong>Causes</strong><br />In general, cancer begins with a genetic mutation that turns normal, healthy cells into abnormal cells. Healthy cells grow and multiply at a set rate, eventually dying at a set time. Abnormal cells grow and multiply out of control, and they don't die. The accumulating abnormal cells form a mass (tumor). Cancer cells invade nearby tissues and can break off from an initial tumor to spread elsewhere in the body (metastasize).<br /><br />It isn't clear what causes the initial genetic mutation that leads to mesothelioma, though researchers have identified factors that may increase the risk. It's likely that cancers form because of an interaction between many factors, such as inherited conditions, your environment, your health conditions and your lifestyle choices.<br /><br /><strong>Risk factors</strong><br />Asbestos exposure plays a role in 70 percent to 80 percent of mesothelioma cases, though the actual percentage could be higher. Asbestos is a mineral that is found naturally in the environment. Asbestos fibers are strong and resistant to heat, making them useful in a wide variety of applications. Asbestos fibers have been used to make insulation, cement, brakes, shingles, flooring and many other products.<br /><br />People who work around asbestos fibers are thought to have the greatest risk of mesothelioma. When asbestos is broken up — for instance, in the mining process or in removing asbestos insulation from a building — dust may be created. If the dust is inhaled or swallowed, the asbestos fibers may settle in the lungs or in the stomach, where they can cause irritation that may lead to mesothelioma, though how exactly this happens isn't understood. Although asbestos is still used in a limited number of industries, the federal government limits the amount of asbestos fibers workers may be exposed to and sets rules to protect workers.<br /><br />Mesothelioma risk is believed to be increased in people who are exposed to high levels of asbestos, in people who are exposed to asbestos over a long period of time and in people exposed to asbestos at a young age. It can take 30 to 40 years or more for mesothelioma to develop as a result of asbestos exposure.<br /><br />People who live with workers exposed to asbestos may also have an increased risk of mesothelioma. Asbestos dust is thought to have been carried home on workers' clothes. Today workers are required to shower and change clothes after working with asbestos to protect their families.<br /><br />Some people with years of asbestos exposure never develop mesothelioma. Researchers estimate only about 5 percent of the people with the highest exposure to asbestos will develop mesothelioma. And yet, others with very brief exposure develop the disease. This indicates that other factors may be involved in determining whether someone gets mesothelioma or doesn't. For instance, you could inherit a predisposition to cancer or some other condition could increase your risk. Risk of mesothelioma is increased greatly in smokers who are exposed to asbestos.<br /><br /><em>Other possible risk factors</em><br />Researchers have identified other factors that may increase the risk of mesothelioma, including:<br /><br />-<em>SV40</em>. Some research indicates a link between mesothelioma and simian virus 40 (SV40), a virus originally found in monkeys. Millions of people may have been exposed to SV40 when receiving polio vaccinations between 1955 and 1963, because the vaccine was developed using monkey cells. Once it was discovered that SV40 was linked to certain cancers, the virus was removed from the polio vaccine. There is some evidence that SV40 may also be passed between people, though it isn't clear how. Whether SV40 increases the risk of mesothelioma is a point of contention, and more research is needed. <br />-<em>Radiation</em>. The radioactive substance thorium dioxide was used along with X-rays to diagnose various health conditions from the 1920s to the 1950s. Thorium dioxide was later found to cause cancer and was no longer used. Some research links thorium dioxide to mesothelioma. <br />-<em>Asbestos-like minerals</em>. A naturally occurring asbestos-like mineral called zeolite has been linked to mesothelioma cases in Turkey, where the mineral is used to construct homes. <br />-<em>Family history.</em> Research into the same region of Turkey where zeolite is used reveals that family history may play a role in mesothelioma there. More research is needed to determine whether family history may predispose some people to mesothelioma. <br /><br /><strong>When to seek medical advice</strong><br />See your doctor if you have signs and symptoms that may indicate mesothelioma. Signs and symptoms of mesothelioma aren't specific to this disease and may be related to other conditions. If any signs and symptoms seem unusual or bothersome to you, ask your doctor to check them out.<br /><br /><strong>Screening and diagnosis</strong><br />If you have signs and symptoms that might indicate mesothelioma, your doctor will conduct a physical exam, paying particular attention to areas where you're experiencing pain. He or she checks for any lumps or other unusual signs. Your doctor may order other tests to determine the cause of your signs and symptoms, including:<br /><br />-<em>Chest X-ray.</em> X-rays may show abnormalities if you have pleural mesothelioma. <br />-<em>Chest or abdominal CT scan.</em> Computerized tomography (CT) may reveal abnormalities in your chest or abdomen if you have mesothelioma. <br />It's not uncommon for mesothelioma to be misdiagnosed initially because mesothelioma is rare and its signs and symptoms aren't specific. Your doctor will likely rule out other more common conditions before considering mesothelioma.<br /><br /><strong>Biopsy</strong><br />Biopsy, a surgical procedure to remove a small portion of the mesothelium for laboratory examination, is the only way to determine whether you have mesothelioma. Depending on what area of your body is affected, your doctor selects the right biopsy procedure for you. Options include:<br /><br />-<em>Fine-needle aspiration</em>. The doctor removes fluid or a piece of tissue with a small needle inserted into your chest or abdomen. <br />-<em>Thoracoscopy.</em> Thoracoscopy allows the surgeon to see inside your chest. In this procedure, the surgeon makes one or more small incisions between your ribs. He or she inserts a tube with a tiny video camera to see inside your chest cavity — a procedure sometimes called video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). Special surgical tools allow your surgeon to cut away a piece of tissue. <br />-<em>Laparoscopy</em>. Laparoscopy allows the surgeon to see inside your abdomen. Using one or more incisions into your abdomen, the surgeon inserts a tiny camera and special surgical tools to obtain a small piece of tissue for examination. <br />Thoracotomy. Thoracotomy is surgery to open your chest to allow a surgeon to check for signs of disease. He or she removes a sample of tissue for testing. <br />-<em>Laparotomy.</em> Laparotomy is surgery to open your abdomen to allow a surgeon to check for signs of disease. He or she removes a sample of tissue for testing. <br />Once the tissue sample has been collected through biopsy, the sample is analyzed under a microscope. This determines whether or not the abnormal tissue is mesothelioma. Biopsy samples also allow your doctor to test for the type of cells involved in your mesothelioma. The type of mesothelioma you have is used to determine your treatment plan.<br /><br /><strong>Staging</strong><br />Once mesothelioma is diagnosed, your doctor orders other tests to determine the extent of the cancer and whether it has spread — a process called staging. Imaging procedures allow doctors to see inside your chest or abdomen to determine the stage of mesothelioma. Options include:<br />-Chest X-ray <br />-CT scans of the chest and abdomen <br />-Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) <br />-Positron emission tomography (PET) <br />Once the extent of mesothelioma is determined, a stage is assigned. Staging helps your doctor determine your prognosis and the best treatment plan. The stages of mesothelioma are:<br /><br />-I. Stage I mesothelioma is considered localized cancer, meaning it's limited to one small area of the chest or abdomen. <br />-II. Stage II mesothelioma is considered advanced cancer. Mesothelioma at this stage involves the mesothelium and has also spread to other structures directly adjacent to the tumor, such as the lungs or the diaphragm. <br />-III. Stage III mesothelioma is also considered advanced cancer. Mesothelioma at this stage meets the same requirements as stage II, but has also spread to the lymph nodes in the region. <br />-IV. Stage IV mesothelioma is an advanced cancer that has spread to distant areas (metastasized). Mesothelioma most commonly spreads (metastasizes) to the brain and areas of the lung that are away from the tumor<br /><br /><strong>Complications</strong><br />As pleural mesothelioma spreads in the chest, it puts pressure on the structures in that area. This can cause complications, such as:<br /><br />-Difficulty breathing <br />-Chest pain <br />-Difficulty swallowing <br />-Swelling caused by pressure on the large vein that leads from your upper body to your heart (superior vena cava syndrome) <br />-Pain caused by pressure on the nerves and spinal cord <br /><br />Mesothelioma that progresses can lead to death. People who die of mesothelioma usually die from related complications, such as lung failure, bowel obstruction, heart problems, stroke and other causes<br /><br /><strong>Treatment</strong><br />What treatment you undergo for mesothelioma depends on your health and certain aspects of your cancer, such as its stage and location. Unfortunately, mesothelioma often is an aggressive disease and for many people a cure won't be possible. Mesothelioma is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage — when it isn't possible to remove the cancer through surgery. Instead, your doctor may work to control your cancer and its signs and symptoms to make you more comfortable.<br /><br />Discuss your treatment goals with your doctor. Some people want to do everything they can to treat their cancer, even if that means enduring side effects for a small chance of a cure. Others prefer treatments that make them comfortable so that they can live their remaining months as symptom-free as possible.<br /><br />Mesothelioma treatment options may include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and clinical trials.<br /><br /><strong><em>Surgery</em></strong><br />Surgeons work to remove mesothelioma from your body. Sometimes it isn't possible to remove all of the cancer. In those cases, surgery may help to reduce the signs and symptoms caused by mesothelioma spreading in your body. Surgical options may include:<br /><br />-<em>Surgery to decrease fluid buildup</em>. Pleural mesothelioma may cause fluid to build up in your chest, causing difficulty breathing. Surgeons insert a tube or catheter into your chest to drain the fluid. Surgeons may also inject medicine into your chest to prevent fluid from returning (pleurodesis). <br />-<em>Surgery to remove the tissue around the lung or abdomen.</em> Surgeons may use scalpels and other surgical tools to remove the tissue lining the ribs and the lungs (pleurectomy) or the tissue lining the abdominal cavity (peritonectomy) in order to relieve signs and symptoms of mesothelioma. <br />-<em>Surgery to remove as much of the cancer as possible (debulking). </em>If all of the cancer can't be removed, surgeons may attempt to remove as much as possible. <br />-<em>Surgery to remove a lung and the surrounding tissue.</em> Removing the affected lung and the tissue that surrounds it may relieve signs and symptoms of pleural mesothelioma. This procedure also allows doctors to use higher doses of radiation against any remaining mesothelioma, since doctors won't need to worry about protecting your lung from damaging radiation. <br /><em><strong>Chemotherapy</strong></em><br />Chemotherapy uses chemicals to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy drugs travel throughout your body and kill rapidly growing cells. This works against cancer cells, but also affects other rapidly growing cells in your body, such as those in your hair follicles and those in your gastrointestinal system. Chemotherapy may slow the growth of pleural mesothelioma. Chemotherapy can be used before surgery (neoadjuvant chemotherapy) or after surgery (adjuvant chemotherapy) to reduce the signs and symptoms you may experience from mesothelioma.<br /><br />People with peritoneal mesothelioma may receive adjuvant chemotherapy drugs that have been heated (hyperthermic chemotherapy). Rather than being distributed throughout the body, chemotherapy drugs are often injected directly into the abdominal cavity (intraperitoneal chemotherapy), where they can reach the peritoneal mesothelioma directly without injuring healthy cells in other parts of the body. This allows doctors to administer higher doses of chemotherapy drugs. Intraperitoneal chemotherapy may also be used to reduce the signs and symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma that can't be removed through surgery.<br /><br /><em><strong>Radiation therapy</strong></em><br />Radiation therapy focuses high-energy radiation to a specific spot or spots on your body. Radiation may reduce signs and symptoms in people with pleural mesothelioma. Doctors aim radiation at the entire chest to obtain the best result. However, many sensitive organs reside in the chest, such as the heart, lungs and spinal cord, so doctors must use low doses of radiation to spare these organs. Radiation therapy is sometimes used after biopsy or surgery to prevent mesothelioma from spreading to the surgical incision.<br /><br />Radiation therapy is used occasionally in people with peritoneal mesothelioma. Radiation may reduce signs and symptoms of mesothelioma.<br /><br /><em><strong>Combination therapy</strong></em><br />Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy may be combined. This aggressive therapy can be grueling and may not be appropriate for everyone. Younger, healthier people and those with earlier stage mesothelioma may be more able to endure this treatment. Combination therapy has shown the most promise in treating mesothelioma. However, most people will eventually experience a recurrence of this cancer despite this aggressive treatment. Combination therapy has been used in both pleural mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma.<br /><br /><em><strong>Clinical trials</strong></em><br />Clinical trials are studies of new mesothelioma treatment methods. People with mesothelioma may opt for a clinical trial for a chance to try new types of treatment. However, a cure isn't guaranteed. Carefully consider your treatment options and talk to your doctor about what clinical trials are open to you. Your participation in a clinical trial may help doctors better understand how to treat mesothelioma in the future.<br /><br /><em><strong>Treatment for other types of mesothelioma</strong></em><br />Pericardial mesothelioma and mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis are very rare and can be very aggressive. Early-stage cancer may be removed through surgery. Doctors have yet to determine the best way to treat later stage cancers, though. Your doctor may recommend other treatments to improve your quality of life.<br /><br /><strong>Prevention</strong><br />Reducing your exposure to asbestos may reduce your risk of mesothelioma. Most people with mesothelioma were exposed to the asbestos fibers at work. Workers who may encounter asbestos fibers include:<br />-Miners <br />-Factory workers <br />-Insulation manufacturers <br />-Railroad workers <br />-Ship builders <br />-Gas mask manufacturers <br />-Construction workers <br />Follow all safety precautions in your workplace, such as wearing protective equipment. You may also be required to shower and change out of your work clothes before taking a lunch break or going home. Talk to your doctor about other precautions you can take to protect yourself from asbestos exposure.<br /><br />Older homes and buildings may contain asbestos. In many cases, it's more dangerous to remove the asbestos than it is to leave it intact. Breaking up asbestos may cause fibers to become airborne, where they can be taken into your body as you breathe. Consult experts trained to detect asbestos in your home. These experts may test the air in your home to determine whether the asbestos is a risk to your health. Don't attempt to remove asbestos from your home — hire a qualified expert.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Coping skills</strong><br />Shock. Anger. Sadness. Despair. Confusion. You may be feeling one or all of these emotions after receiving a mesothelioma diagnosis. A cancer diagnosis is devastating not only to you, but to your family and loved ones. Take time to experience the sadness and despair and to grieve. As you're shuffled between appointments with various doctors and specialists, know that you can take control of the time you have remaining. You decide how you'll spend your time and whom you'll spend your time with. Along with your doctor, you determine which treatments you'll undergo.<br /><br />In order to regain a sense of control, try to:<br /><br />-<em>Learn everything you can about mesothelioma.</em> Write down a list of questions to ask your doctor. Ask your health care team for reading materials and other resources to help you better understand your disease. Consult the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the American Cancer Society (ACS) for more information. Both organizations can provide you with information through their Web sites or toll-free telephone information lines. Call the NCI at 800-4-CANCER, or 800-422-6237. Call the ACS at 800-ACS-2345, or 800-227-2345. Information may help you feel more confident in your treatment decisions, and it may help you better understand what's going on inside your body. <br />-<em>Surround yourself with a support network.</em> Whether it's close friends or family or a combination of both, surround yourself with people who love you. These people can help you with the everyday tasks, such as getting you to appointments or treatment, and they can help support you by providing someone to talk to or to reassure you. If you have trouble asking for help, learn to be honest with yourself and accept help when you need it — your friends and family feel helpless too, and they want to help you. <br />-<em>Seek out other people with cancer</em>. Ask your health care team about cancer support groups in your community. Sometimes there are questions that can only be answered by other people with cancer. Support groups offer a chance to ask these questions and receive support from people who understand your situation. Online support message boards can offer similar benefits while allowing you to remain anonymous. <br />-<em>Plan for the unknown.</em> Ask your health care team about advance directives that give your family guidance on your medical wishes in case you can no longer speak for yourself. Talk to a lawyer about your will, if you haven't already done so. <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com"><strong>Source; MayoClinic</strong></a><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0