Banana and Apple Keeps the Bones Strong

Banana and Apple Keeps the Bones Strong


Banana Benefits

Bananas are known for being high in potassium, one of the essential minerals that help regulate heartbeat, normal growth, muscle-building, and fluid balance in the body.
. It is also important for bone strength, as optimal intake of potassium reduces loss of calcium in urine, which in turn minimizes the risk of kidney stones.


Potassium helps to oxygenate the brain. Studies have shown that the potassium-rich fruit can improve learning by making students more alert.

Bananas are rich in iron, which is needed for the production of hemoglobin to make red blood cells

Apple Benefits

Apples have been found to help prevent the growth of prostate cancer cells thanks to Quercetin; which is a type of flavonoid in the apples.

Help keep your bones nice and strong, especially with older women struggling with osteoporosis.

They are an easy way to lower your cholesterol; apples are high in pectin which can help slow or stop the amount of LDL cholesterol into your body.



Kinds of Apples

* Red Delicious - The most popular American apple which is a great easy snack any time of the day.
* Granny Smith - This is the most durable apple you can get, it has a long natural shelf life and is great for cooking.
* Gala Apples - My personal favorite (great in the MG Tuna melt).
* Golden Delicious - Used usually for making apple pie, they are not related to the Red Delicious apple however.
* Other less known types include: Mcintosh, Rome and Gravenstein apples.

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Beauty Tips For You

Beauty Tips For You

My dear sisters in Islam, please take a look at this advice, so thatyou can stay attractive and....... beautiful for the rest of your life.

1- To beautify your eyes, lower your gaze towards strange men, this will make your eyes pure and shiny.

2- To have attractive lips, always remember to speak the truth.

3- As for blush and rouge, "Modesty" (Haya') is one of the best brands
and it can be found in any of the Islamic centers.

4- To remove impurites from your face and body, use a soap called
"Istighfaar". Insha'Allah this soap will remove any bad deeds.(Ameen)

5- Now about your hair, if any of you has a problem of hair split ends, then I suggest "Islamic Hijaab" which will protect your hair from damage.

6- As! for jewellery, beautify your hands with humbleness and let yourhands be a power to forgive people who hurt your feelings. And the necklace should be a sign to pardon you fellow brothers and sisters.

Insha'Allah, if you follow this advice given to you by the Creatora beautiful and attractive inner and outer appearance.

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What is Environmental Allergy (Allergic Rhinitis) – Information

What is Environmental Allergy (Allergic Rhinitis) – Information

Just about every body knows someone who suffers from allergy. It is estimated that 33% or more of the American population have allergies of some kind. And yet these figures do not even include food allergy and chemical sensitivity! Asthma in children has increased over 200% in the past twenty years.

It is our opinion that this increase in allergy seen today is the result of the assault on our immune systems from today’s chemically laden environment. Particularly the refining of foods, the use of food additives, the use of infant formula, the widespread use of and contamination of our food and water with pesticides and insecticides, heavy metal accumulation in our body’s tissues, the constant and daily exposure to volatile organic solvent type chemicals (VOC’s) in our homes, schools and offices, and societal stress all play a role in the development of allergy and environmental sensitivity. Our modern “21st Century” environment essentially bathes us in a sea of chemicals and the resultant effect is environmental illness.

VOC’s deserve special mention as one of the prime contributors to environmental illness. VOC’s are solvent-type chemicals that are toxic to life, some extremely so. VOC’s are very commonly present at high levels in indoor air of buildings. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has designated this problem as the Sick Building Syndrome. The causes are two fold: first, there has been a massive increase in commercial production of VOC’s, and second, the energy efficient building codes adopted following the Arabian oil embargo in the 1970's which has resulted in little or no ventilation of buildings with outdoor air.

VOC’s are fat soluble and therefore have a special affinity for the fatty tissues of the body, especially the brain. VOC effects on the brain are responsible for the majority of the mental and emotional symptoms seen in the environmentally ill patient. Additionally, reports have demonstrated that they damage the lining of the nose and respiratory tract causing increased susceptability to inhalant (pollen, dust, mold, dander) allergy symptoms. Common sources of VOC’s include new buildings which have high air levels of formaldehyde, plastic vapors, glues, adhesives, and paints. New wall to wall carpets may out gas a number of harmful VOC’s.

Others on this nemesis list of VOC’s include pesticides (which may remain in indoor air for up to 21 days after spraying), tobacco smoke, recent renovations such as indoor painting, heavy use of disinfectants, air fresheners, and new mattresses which may exude toxic fire-retardant fumes.

There is also a genetic component to developing allergies. It appears that those with the hereditary pre-disposition to develop allergy will manifest symptoms to the degree of environmental insult they happen to incur. For instance, someone born with a mild predisposition to develop allergy will need a higher dose of environmental triggers than one who is born with a large predisposition to develop allergy.

It is important to understand this concept so we can best modify our environment to meet our unique genetic influences. We are all dealt a personal genetic “deck of cards” to be used our entire life. Although we cannot obtain a different deck, we can alter our lifestyle and behavior, thus shuffling our deck to find the best possible hand it allows; the better our hand, the better our health! Our center specializes in finding ways to shuffle your deck and modify your environment and health behaviors to maximize your personal strengths and minimize your hereditary weakness. This approach best describes Environmental Medicine.

Environmental medicine is the practice of directly correcting or improving environmentally triggered problems with the minimal use of drugs and toxic therapies. Environmental medicine takes of two-pronged approach: find and then reduce your particular harmful environmental exposures while at the same time building up your body’s natural ability to deal with these exposures. This is best understood as the total load concept. Our immune and detoxification systems can be compared to a barrel. The larger our barrel, the more environmental insults it can hold and the less symptoms and reactions we incur.

However, once our individual threshold is reached our barrel then overflows and we manifest symptoms. The smaller our barrel, the quicker it can overflow when environmental triggers (exposures) are poured into it and the sooner we develop symptoms. We thus see the importance of reducing our exposures and environmental triggers (keeping our barrel as empty as possible) while at the same time trying to support and strengthening our immune and detoxification systems (increase the size of our barrel).

As we review the types of allergy and sensitivity, the many different testing methods and treatment modalities, keep in mind this barrel and total load concept to best understand the concept of environmental illness.

What Is Allergy?

Much confusion and misunderstanding centers around the word “allergy”. The word allergy is derived from two Greek words meaning “altered reaction”. The substance which provokes a reaction in an individual is called and “allergen” or “antigen”. This can be dust, mold, pollen, food or other substances. When medicine began to scientifically understand allergy in the 1930's, they discovered a biochemical pathway in the body that caused the typical Hayfever symptoms we all know so well. This involved an immune compound in our blood and tissues called Ig E which was responsible for an immediate allergy reaction: exposure to ragweed caused sneezing, itching and watery nose.

It is this definition of allergy that became accepted by the medical community. As time and medicine progressed, it was discovered that other pathways in the body also lead to specific symptoms and could produce delayed reactions. Whereas immediate reactions occur within minutes to several hours after exposure to an allergen, delayed reactions can occur anywhere from 12 to 72 hours after exposure to an allergenic substance. These delayed pathways are still not well understood and are probably the mechanism by which chemicals and other substances produce physical symptoms.

Unfortunately, this does not fit into the classic example of “immediate type Ig E allergy” and thus the concept of chemical allergy has been very difficult for the medical community to accept. Consequently, we prefer the word “sensitivity” to describe any reaction to a chemical, food or other substance that does not fit the classic “immediate type Ig E allergy” mechanism.

There are many clinical pictures of the person with allergy and sensitivity. We can, however, list five basic categories:

Inhalant Allergy:

Those that have essentially nose, eye, respiratory, and skin allergy symptoms to common airborne substances such as dust, dust mites, molds, animal dander and pollen. Pollens include grasses, trees, and weeds. The symptoms may be all year long or just at certain seasons (ie., spring and fall). Hayfever is an allergy to ragweed and is the classic example of an Ig E inhalant allergy. It is this type of allergy that most people think of when they say “My allergies are acting up!” Measures to help avoid common inhalant allergies are listed at the end of this article.

Food Allergy:

Those that have predominately food allergy. They usually do not have seasonal variations in their symptoms but the symptoms vary depending upon their exposure to the foods that cause reactions. Food reactions and symptoms may be immediately apparent or be delayed for up to 3-4 days after eating the particular offending food. Refer to our separate handout that explains food allergy in detail.

Chemical Sensitivities:

Those who have a variety of both physical and mental symptoms upon exposure to chemicals such as perfume, gasoline, tobacco smoke, cleaning products, pesticides, detergents and many other chemical compounds. They may not have inhalant or food allergy. Some of these patients may even be sensitive to electromagnetic fields. It is important to understand that chemicals can cause both injury (toxic) reactions and at the same time cause sensitivity reactions in our bodies. Most chemically sensitive individuals also have some degree of chemical injury. This may have occurred from a single large exposure or from a long term low level exposure to one or many chemicals. Chemicals that have such disrupting effects on the body’s hormones and metabolism are called “xenobiotics”; “xeno” meaning chemical and “biotic” meaning biological action. In our extensive experience in this field, we have found that nearly all individuals with significant chemical sensitivity have other concomitant allergies, weak digestive function and hormonal imbalances, especially the adrenal. This leads us to the next category.

Multiple Allergy and Sensitivity:

Those who have a combination of inhalant, food and chemical sensitivities. There are in infinite number of these combinations, varying in degree and severity, and largely dependent on the genetic makeup of the individual (size of their barrel) and the amount of exposures they have incurred. The majority of those with environmental illness fall into this category of multiple allergies and sensitivities.

Universal Reactor:

Those with such severe allergies and environmental sensitivities that they seem to react to “everything”. This condition is the deterioration of the above person who has multiple allergies and sensitivities. They usually have many health problems and are often labeled as “crazy” or “depressed” by their doctors and peers. They often need to take extreme avoidance measures to stay well and require the best that environmental medicine can offer them.

We can now see that environmental illness is the result of adverse reactions to substances in the air we breathe, the food we eat, the water we drink, the medications we take and to substances found in our everyday home and office. These reactions can be mild, moderate, or severe, and can involve just about any organ or system in the body.

This includes the eyes, nose and throat, respiratory system, nervous system and brain, immune system, endocrine (hormonal) system, reproductive system, urinary system, gastrointestinal system, system and musculoskeletal system. Those organs that show symptoms upon allergen or chemical exposure are known as “target organ(s)”. Your target organs may stay the same over time or change as your condition changes.

Environmental illness can also be the underlying factor in many diseases and medical syndromes seen today such as depression, anxiety, high blood pressure, diabetes, autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, asthma, bronchitis, frequent ear infections and sinus infections, attention deficit, hyperactivity and learning problems in children, colitis, irritable bowel syndrome and many other conditions. Because environmental illness often masquerades as other types of diseases it is often undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. Herein lies the critical need for an environmentally trained practitioner.

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What is Indoor Allergens?

What is Indoor Allergens? | Indoor Allergens Overview


Many people with allergic rhinitis also can be at risk of developing allergic asthma. Symptoms to watch for are a persistent cough or wheezing.

Most people with asthma or hay fever or other outdoor allergies think of their home as a haven where they can escape their allergies. Unfortunately, houses and apartment buildings harbor their own allergens (agents that cause allergy symptoms). The inside of your home actually traps allergens, making them impossible to avoid.

    * Although many allergens in your environment can trigger allergic symptoms, house dust is the main culprit in indoor allergies. What is house dust?
          o It varies depending on the type and age of your home, the temperature and humidity in the home, what you keep in the home (everything from food to clothes to furniture), and who lives in the home (human, pet animal, and plant).
          o Some dust is present in every home, regardless of how often or how thoroughly the house is cleaned.
          o House dust is an airborne mixture that might contain fine particles of soil and plant material from indoors or outdoors, particles of human and animal skin (dander) and hair, fabric fibers, mold spores, dust mites, fragments of insects that have died and their waste, food particles, and other debris.
          o Although many substances in dust can trigger allergic symptoms, the most important indoor allergens are dust mites, pet dander, cockroaches, and molds.
    * Unlike seasonal allergies such as hay fever, indoor allergies may last all year long. Indoor allergens may provoke or worsen asthma symptoms, depending on a person’s unique sensitivities.
          o Indoor allergies tend to be at their worst in the late summer, when dust mites are at their peaks.
          o Allergy symptoms can actually be worse in the winter when the windows are closed and people are shut in with the allergens.
          o Keeping your windows open at night during seasons of high outdoor pollen and mold count may worsen your allergy symptoms or asthma because these high-concentration outdoor allergens are allowed into your house to settle.
          o If you are sensitive to indoor allergens, you will continue to have symptoms as long as you are exposed to your allergens.
    * Sensitivity to indoor allergens is very common and occurs at every age. It is less common in children younger than 5 years. People most likely to experience allergic rhinitis are those in early school and early adult years.

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What is The Causes of Indoor Allergies

What is The Causes of Indoor Allergies

An allergic sensitivity is a reaction of the immune system to a foreign “invader,” a substance that is not native to your body. Exposure to this invader, an allergen, triggers the reaction.

When the allergen particles come to rest in the linings of the eyes, nose, or airway of a susceptible person, an allergic reaction can occur.

    * When the immune system has been previously “sensitized” to a specific invader, it overreacts to the invader; this overreaction to a harmless substance is known as a hypersensitivity or allergic reaction.

    * This reaction sets in motion a series of responses that culminates in release of chemicals called “mediators.” Histamine is an example of a mediator.

    * It is the effects of the mediators on cells and tissues that cause allergic symptoms.

Dust mites

    * Dust mites are common indoor allergens. They can be found in most homes, usually in beds and bedding, upholstered furniture, or any cloth material.

    * Often, when people believe they are sensitive to dust, they are actually sensitive to the dust mites and their waste particles and fragments of dust mites that have died that can be found in household dust.

Pet Dander

    * For some people, pets trigger allergic reactions. They simply cannot be around animals such as dogs, cats, gerbils, hamsters, and other fur-bearing animals without developing uncomfortable symptoms such as sneezing, stuffy nose, itchy eyes, and asthma.

    * Contrary to what many people believe, an allergic reaction to an animal is not caused by the animal’s hair.
          o An allergic reaction is actually caused by substances in the animal’s saliva, urine, and especially dander.
          o Dander is dead skin flakes (like dandruff) that become loosened from the animal’s skin.
          o The allergens become crusted on the animal’s hair or skin from urination or the animal licking or scratching itself; once dry, the allergens are released into the air, where they join the other components of house dust.
    * Many different small animals that are popular as house pets trigger allergic reactions.
          o Animals such as cats and dogs are most likely to cause allergic reactions.
          o Birds may also cause reactions, although less often than other animals.
          o Animals such as fish, reptiles, and amphibians rarely cause allergic reactions.
    * An allergic reaction may be triggered by any of the following:
          o Directly touching the animal
          o Being in an indoor area with the animal
          o Being in an indoor area with furniture, carpets, bedding, drapes, clothing, animal beds or cages, even countertops and walls on which animal allergen has landed
          o Being in an indoor area with another person whose clothes carry the allergen
          o Cleaning animal beds, cages, or litter boxes
          o Touching toys, bedding, towels, or other items that the animal has touched

Molds

    * Molds are a type of fungus that has no stems, leaves, or roots.
          o Molds generally live outdoors but can normally be found in almost any indoor environment. They can trigger hay fever and asthma symptoms and reproduce by releasing spores into the air, which float around until they find a hospitable environment.
          o They easily pass through open doors and windows and settle indoors, especially where there is excess heat and humidity. They grow and produce mildew. Many of us have seen mildew growing in a shower.
          o Mold is not always visible, however; it can grow in unseen areas of the house, such as under flooring materials and behind walls.
    * To grow, mold requires water; this can be either liquid water, as from a leaky pipe or roof or a puddle, or condensation on windows.
          o It also requires something to grow on, and mold is not picky, although it is most likely to grow on wood, sheet rock, or fabric.
          o As it grows, mold releases more spores, many of which become part of house dust.
    * While molds can trigger allergic symptoms, like any other allergen, they rarely cause serious health problems, except in people who are seriously immunocompromised or on chemotherapy.

Cockroaches

    * Most of us don’t want to think about insects in our home, especially cockroaches, but they are a fact of life. If you live in a crowded urban area, an older multifamily dwelling, or a warm climate such as the southern part of the United States, you almost surely have cockroaches living in your home, even if you don’t see them.
    * Cockroaches like moist places where food is available.
          o Although the kitchen is their favorite room, they can be found just about anywhere in the house.
          o When they die, usually not in plain sight, their bodies become dried and break apart. These body pieces, as well as their dried waste, become part of house dust.

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What is Food Allergy?

Introduction About Food Allergy | What is Food Allergy?



Either food allergy or food intolerance affects nearly everyone at some point. When people have an unpleasant reaction to something they ate, they often think that they have an allergy to the food. Actually, however, only up to 3% of adults and 6%-8% of children have clinically proven true allergic reactions to food.

This difference between the prevalence of clinically proven food allergy and the public’s perception of the problem is due primarily to misinterpreting food intolerance or other adverse food reactions to food as food allergy. A true food allergy is an abnormal response to food that is triggered by a specific reaction in the immune system and expressed by certain, often characteristic, symptoms.

Other kinds of reactions to foods that are not food allergies include food intolerances (such as lactose or milk intolerance), food poisoning, and toxic reactions. Food intolerance also is an abnormal response to food, and its symptoms can resemble those of food allergy. Food intolerance, however, is far more prevalent, occurs in a variety of diseases, and is triggered by several different mechanisms that are distinct from the immunological reaction responsible for food allergy.

People who have food allergies must identify and prevent them because, although usually mild and not severe, these reactions can cause devastating illness and, in rare instances, can be fatal.

How Do Allergic Reactions to Food Occur?

The allergens in food are those components that are responsible for inciting an allergic reaction. They are proteins that usually resist the heat of cooking, the acid in the stomach, and the intestinal digestive enzymes. As a result, the allergens survive to cross the gastrointestinal lining, enter the bloodstream, and go to target organs, causing allergic reactions throughout the body. The mechanism of food allergy involves the immune system and heredity.

Immune system:

An allergic reaction to food involves two components of the immune system. One component is a type of protein, an antibody called immunoglobulin E (IgE), which circulates through the blood. The other is the mast cell, a specialized cell that is found in all tissues of the body. The mast cell is especially common, however, in areas of the body that are typical sites of allergic reactions, including the nose and throat, lungs, skin, and gastrointestinal tract.

Heredity:

The tendency of an individual to produce IgE against something seemingly as innocuous as food appears to be inherited. Generally, people with allergies come from families in which allergies are common — not necessarily to food but perhaps allergies to pollen, fur, feathers, or drugs. Thus, a person with two allergic parents is more likely to develop food allergies than someone with one allergic parent.

Mechanism:

Food allergy is a hypersensitivity reaction, meaning that before an allergic reaction to an allergen in food can occur, a person needs to have been exposed previously, that is, sensitized, to the food. At the initial exposure, the allergen stimulates lymphocytes (specialized white blood cells) to produce the IgE antibody that is specific for the allergen. This IgE then is released and attaches to the surface of the mast cells in different tissues of the body.

The next time the person eats that food, its allergen hones in on the specific IgE antibody on the surface of the mast cells and prompts the cells to release chemicals such as histamine. Depending upon the tissue in which they are released, these chemicals cause the various symptoms of food allergy.

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What is The Causes of Food Allergy – Report

What is The Causes of Food Allergy – Report

In a true food allergy, your immune system mistakenly identifies a specific food or a substance in food as a harmful substance. Your immune system triggers cells to release antibodies known as immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies to fight the culprit food or food substance (the allergen). The next time you eat even the smallest amount of that food, the IgE antibodies sense it and signal your immune system to release a chemical called histamine, as well as other chemicals, into your bloodstream.

These chemicals cause a range of allergic signs and symptoms. They are responsible for causing allergic responses that include dripping nose, itchy eyes, dry throat, rashes and hives, nausea, diarrhea, labored breathing, and even anaphylactic shock.

The majority of food allergies are triggered by certain proteins in:

    * Shellfish, such as shrimp, lobster and crab

    * Peanuts

    * Tree nuts, such as walnuts and pecans

    * Fish

    * Eggs

In children, food allergies are also commonly triggered by proteins in:

    * Eggs

    * Milk

    * Peanuts

    * Tree nuts

Chocolate, long thought by some parents to cause food allergies in children, rarely triggers a food allergy.

Food intolerance and other reactions

There are a number of reactions to food that cause similar symptoms to a food allergy. If you have digestive symptoms, chances are it’s not a true food allergy, but a food intolerance. Depending on the type of food intolerance you have, you may be able to eat small amounts of problem foods without a reaction. By contrast, if you have a true food allergy, even a tiny amount of food may trigger an allergic reaction. Because a food intolerance may involve some of the same signs and symptoms as a food allergy does — such as nausea, vomiting, cramping and diarrhea — people often confuse the two.

One of the tricky aspects of diagnosing food intolerance is that some people are sensitive not to the food itself but to a substance or ingredient used in the preparation of the food.

Common conditions that can cause symptoms mistaken for a food allergy include:

    * Absence of an enzyme needed to fully digest a food. You may not have adequate amounts of some enzymes needed to digest certain foods. Insufficient quantities of the enzyme lactase, for example, reduces your ability to digest lactose, the main sugar in milk products. Lactose intolerance can cause bloating, cramping, diarrhea and excess gas.

    * Irritable bowel syndrome. Certain foods may trigger the signs and symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. You may find that certain foods will cause cramping, constipation or diarrhea. Steer clear of these foods to avoid the symptoms.

    * Food poisoning. Sometimes food poisoning can mimic an allergic reaction. Some types of mushrooms and rhubarb can be toxic. Bacteria in spoiled tuna and other fish also can make a toxin that triggers harmful reactions.

    * Sensitivity to food additives. Some people have digestive reactions and other symptoms after eating certain food additives. For example, sulfites used to preserve dried fruit, canned goods and wine can trigger asthma attacks in sensitive people. Other food additives that could trigger bad reactions include monosodium glutamate (MSG), artificial sweeteners and food colorings.

    * Recurring stress or psychological factors. Sometimes the mere thought of a food may make you sick. The reason is not fully understood.

    * Celiac disease. While celiac disease is sometimes referred to as a gluten allergy, it isn’t a true food allergy. Like a food allergy, it does involve an immune system response, but it’s a unique immune system reaction that’s more complex than a simple food allergy. This chronic digestive condition is triggered by eating gluten, a protein found in bread, pasta, cookies, and many other foods containing wheat, barley or rye. If you have celiac disease and eat foods containing gluten, an immune reaction occurs that causes damage to the surface of your small intestine and an inability to absorb certain nutrients. Symptoms of celiac disease include diarrhea, abdominal pain and bloating. In some cases, celiac disease causes malnutrition and nutrient deficiencies.

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How to Treat an Allergic Reaction

How to Treat an Allergic Reaction

Avoid triggers! If you know you have an allergic reaction to peanuts, for example, do not eat them and go out of your way to avoid foods prepared with or around peanuts (see Food Allergy).

Self-care at home is not enough in severe reactions. A severe reaction is a medical emergency.

    * Do not attempt to treat or “wait out” severe reactions at home. Go immediately to a hospital emergency department.

    * If no one is available to drive you right away, call an ambulance for emergency medical transport.

    * Use your epinephrine auto-injector if you have been prescribed one by your doctor due to previous allergic reactions (see “prevention” below).

Slight reactions with mild symptoms usually respond to nonprescription allergy medications.

    * An oral antihistamine, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl). Caution: These may make you too drowsy to drive or operate machinery safely. They can affect concentration and interfere with children’s learning in school. These medications should be taken for only a few days.

    * For rashes, an antiinflammatory steroid cream such as hydrocortisone can be used.

For small, localized skin reactions, try cold, wet cloths or ice. Try applying a bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel as an ice pack.

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Natural Remedies for Allergic Reaction Treatment at Home

Natural Remedies for Allergic Reaction Treatment at Home

An allergic reaction occurs when the body’s immune system becomes hypersensitive to dust, pollen, animal dander or plants. Certain foods or medications can also trigger allergies. A reaction may be a rash, sneezing, coughing, itchy or watery eyes, swelling or wheezing. Treatment for an allergic reaction can be done at home if it’s mild. Long term allergies may require a prescription while severe allergies require a hospital visit.

For tips to help relieve symptoms of an allergic reaction, see home treatment for:

    * A severe allergic reaction. If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, call911or other emergency services immediately.

    * Itching or hives. Avoid further contact with whatever you think is causing the hives.

    * A sore throat caused by postnasal drip. Gargle with warm salt water to help ease throat soreness.

    * Hay fever symptoms. Take an antihistamine to reduce symptoms of itchy, watery eyes; sneezing; or a runny, itchy nose. Be sure to read and follow any warnings on the label. Don’t give antihistamines to your child unless you’ve checked with the doctor first.

    * Allergies that are worse in damp weather. Mold may be the cause of allergies that get worse in damp weather. Mold produces spores that move, like pollen, in outdoor air during warmer months. During winter months, indoor molds can also be a problem.

    * Indoor allergies. Newer, energy-saving homes that are built with double- or triple-paned windows and more insulation keep heat as well as allergens indoors.

    * Allergies to a pet or other animal. When allergies are worse around pets, symptoms may be caused by your pet’s dead skin (dander), urine, dried saliva, or hair.

    * Seasonal allergies. These are often caused by exposure to pollen.

For tips on how to treat dry and irritated skin, see the topic Dry Skin and Itching.

For information on how to treat an insect bite or sting, see the topic Insect Bites and Stings and Spider Bites.

Symptoms to Watch For During Home Treatment

Use the Check Your Symptoms section to evaluate your symptoms if any of the following occur during home treatment:

    * Difficulty breathing, wheezing, or tightness in the chest develops.

    * Swelling of the throat, tongue, lips or face develops.

    * Hives develop or get worse.

    * Swelling gets worse.

    * A skin infection develops.

    * Symptoms have not improved after 1 to 2 weeks of home treatment.

    * Symptoms become more severe or more frequent.

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The Real Truth About Water

The Real Truth About Water

There are some things I'm about to tell you about water that will not only blow your mind, but will also have an almost immediate impact on your energy.

First - most of the advice you get about drinking water is dangerously wrong.

No one really knows for sure exactly how much water you should drink, and the blanket advice we get is pure hogwash.

For example ...

"Drink 8 glasses a day."

Now, that may look like sound advice, but further analysis shows it's an overly simplified "wives tail."

To be more blunt: "8 glasses a day" is actually a well established urban legend.

As recently revealed by the American Journal of Physiology, there is absolutely no scientific evidence to support the popular 8-glasses-a-day theory.

Now, none of these scientists at AJP are saying we don't need water (that would be silly). It's just that these overly simplified platitudes are not helping anyone's health.

What's needed is real scientific information and not half-truths.

What we do know is that "8 glasses a day" by itself is not good advice.

First, you need to drink water regularly throughout the day. Drinking 8 glasses in the morning and thinking you're "golden" for the day is actually dangerous.

You should, in fact, hydrate every single hour.
Many people who simply take up the habit of drinking a glass (or even half a glass - more about that in a minute) every hour notice their energy levels skyrocket.

Why?

Because most of us are chronically dehydrated.

You're tired all the time and you can't figure out why.

Dehydration making you tired?

You bet.

~Dizziness

~Chronic fatigue

~Impotence

~Hair loss

~Headaches

~Low back pain

~Constipation

And more ..

Dehydration has been shown quite clearly to be linked to all of these. (Merck Manual of Health)

OK, so you want to fix this ...

What next?

Before you start gulping down, you need to know that "how much" depends on a lot of factors.

It depends on your body size, how much you exercise, the climate in which you live, and more ...

Obviously if you live in a hot climate where you're sweating all the time (a lot of the sweat is invisible - you don't have to be dripping to be rapidly losing water all day long), you need more - a lot more.

If you exercise even mildly - same thing.

But there's something important here.

You may think drinking more water by itself is enough, but if you drink too much you can actually "overdose" on water.

It sounds crazy, but there was even a widely publicized case where people were "holding their wee for Nintendo Wii" for a radio contest.

The contestants were ordered to drink a high volume of water and hold their "wee" for as long as they could.

One of the contestants died as a result.

True story.

Too much water can harm you by either "water intoxication" (as the above Wii casulty, may she rest in peace) or by "electrolyte" imbalance.

Ah, electrolytes ...

Listen to this:

See, the more water you drink, the more you need to replace your electrolytes.

But before you go thinking you're going to need to purchase some expensive fancy "electrolyte replacement" sports drinks, here's the real deal:

All you have to do is add a tiny pinch of sea salt to every gallon of filtered drinking water you drink and - voila! - you have all the electrolytes you need.

Of course, the sports drink peddlers won't tell you that. They'd have to sell you a whole lot of sea salt to make the same profit off your back!

Not bad, huh?

If you were simply to apply what we have shown you so far is that you'd see a pretty significant bump in your energy.

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Allergic Reaction Overview – Information

Allergic Reaction Overview – Information

An allergic reaction is simply the human body’s way of trying to fight off a foreign invader it perceives to be dangerous. An allergic reaction is a response of the body’s immune system, and although not all aspects of how exactly an allergic reaction functions are understood, the basic function is fairly simple.

The body is wired to detect what are known antigens, which are foreign objects that the body has decided might be harmful. Once these antigens are detected, a reaction is triggered to get them out of the body as quickly as possible, before anything bad can happen. The trick is that the body isn’t always that good at figuring out what is a dangerous invader and what isn’t. When it makes a mistake, and over-reacts to a foreign invader, the triggered immune response is called an allergic reaction.

An allergic reaction is often the least serious form of immune system dysfunction, and is classed as a Type I hyper-reaction. In extreme cases, however, Type I reactions can trigger anaphylaxis that can lead to death. Type II reactions are also known as cytotoxic hypersensitivity, and can trigger the body destroying its own cells, such as in thrombocytopenia or autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Type III reactions are often called immune complex diseases, an include Arthus reaction and serum sickness. Type IV reactions are delayed reactions, and the most common Type IV reactions are contact dermatitis reactions, such as poison oak or poison ivy.

An allergic reaction can be to virtually anything found in the world. Dust is an incredibly common mild allergic reaction, as is pollen and many different types of food. Bee stings and ant bites, various plants, and some common medication are also common causes of allergic reaction. In some cases, as with many people’s tree nut or bee sting allergies, they may be quite severe. In these cases the body goes into an extreme allergic reaction which can induce shock and may prove fatal.

When the body first encounters a new allergen, it triggers a type of T cell, which then go off an interact with the B cells responsible for producing antibodies. The B cells then begin to produce the antibody IgE in large quantities. The IgE then makes its way through the body, and links up with mast cells and basophils, two types of immune cell. Newly coated with IgE, which acts as a sort of messenger, these cells now know what the allergen looks like, and to be on the lookout for it. When the cells run into the allergens, they’re now able to capture them.

At the same time, they release various mediators, which cause the outward effects of the allergic reaction. Depending on the allergen itself, the allergic reaction may take different forms. The cells may, for example, release histamine, making the skin itch severely. They may also release chemicals that trigger mucus production, making the nose runny. They can also cause vasodilation, which can cause asthma if it takes place in the lungs. After running their course, the allergic reaction may subside, in which case it was simply an acute response, or it may change form and continue as other cells, such as neutrophils or macrophages make their way to the allergen clumping.

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Causes of Allergic Reaction

Causes of Allergic Reaction

Almost anything can trigger an allergic reaction.

    * The body’s immune system involves the white blood cells, which produce antibodies.
          o When the body is exposed to an antigen, a complex set of reactions begins.
          o The white blood cells produce an antibody specific to that antigen. This is called “sensitization.”
          o The job of the antibodies is to detect and help destroy substances that cause disease and sickness. In allergic reactions, the antibody is called immunoglobulin E or IgE.
    * This antibody promotes production and release of chemicals and hormones called “mediators.
          o Mediators have effects on local tissue and organs in addition to activating more white blood cell defenders. It is these effects that cause the symptoms of the reaction.
          o Histamine is one of the better-known mediators produced by the body.
          o If the release of the mediators is sudden or extensive, the allergic reaction may also be sudden and severe, and anaphylaxis may occur.
    * Your allergic reactions are unique to you. For example, your body may have learned to be allergic to shellfish or other foods from repeated exposure.

    * Most people are aware of their particular allergy triggers and reactions.
          o Certain foods, vaccines and medications, latex rubber, aspirin, shellfish, dust, pollen, mold, animal dander, and poison ivy are well-known allergens.
          o Bee stings, fire ant stings, penicillin, and peanuts are known for causing dramatic reactions that can be serious and involve the whole body.
          o Minor injuries, hot or cold temperatures, exercise, or even emotions may be triggers of allergic reactions.
          o Often, the specific allergen cannot be identified unless you have had a similar reaction in the past.
    * Allergies and the tendency to have allergic reactions run in some families. You may have allergies even if they do not run in your family.

    * Many people who have one trigger tend to have other triggers as well.

    * People with certain medical conditions are more likely to have allergic reactions:
          o severe allergic reaction in the past
          o asthma
          o lung conditions that affect breathing, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
          o nasal polyps
          o frequent infections of the nasal sinuses, ears, or respiratory tract
          o sensitive skin

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How to Treat for Colon Cancer? – Treatment

How to Treat for Colon Cancer? – Treatment


Surgery is the most common treatment for colorectal cancer. During surgery, the tumor, a small margin of the surrounding healthy bowel, and adjacent lymph nodes are removed. The surgeon then reconnects the healthy sections of the bowel.

In patients with rectal cancer, the rectum is permanently removed. The surgeon then creates an opening (colostomy) on the abdomen wall through which solid waste in the colon is excreted. Specially trained nurses (enterostomal therapists) can help patients adjust to colostomies, and most patients with colostomies return to a normal lifestyle.

The long-term prognosis after surgery depends on whether the cancer has spread to other organs (metastasis). The risk of metastasis is proportional to the depth of penetration of the cancer into the bowel wall. In patients with early colon cancer which is limited to the superficial layer of the bowel wall, surgery is often the only treatment needed. These patients can experience long-term survival in excess of 80%. In patients with advanced colon cancer, wherein the tumor has penetrated beyond the bowel wall and there is evidence of metastasis to distant organs, the five-year survival rate is less than 10%.

In some patients, there is no evidence of distant metastasis at the time of surgery, but the cancer has penetrated deeply into the colon wall or reached adjacent lymph nodes. These patients are at risk of tumor recurrence either locally or in distant organs. Chemotherapy in these patients may delay tumor recurrence and improve survival.

Chemotherapy is the use of medications to kill cancer cells. It is a systemic therapy, meaning that the medication travels throughout the body to destroy cancer cells. After colon cancer surgery, some patients may harbor microscopic metastasis (small foci of cancer cells that cannot be detected). Chemotherapy is given shortly after surgery to destroy these microscopic cells.

Chemotherapy given in this manner is called adjuvant chemotherapy. Recent studies have shown increased survival and delay of tumor recurrence in some patients treated with adjuvant chemotherapy within five weeks of surgery. Most drug regimens have included the use of 5-flourauracil (5-FU). On the other hand, chemotherapy for shrinking or controlling the growth of metastatic tumors has been disappointing. Improvement in the overall survival for patients with widespread metastasis has not been convincingly demonstrated.

Chemotherapy is usually given in a doctor’s office, in the hospital as a outpatient, or at home. Chemotherapy is usually given in cycles of treatment periods followed by recovery periods. Side effects of chemotherapy vary from person to person, and also depend on the agents given. Modern chemotherapy agents are usually well tolerated, and side effects are manageable.

In general, anticancer medications destroy cells that are rapidly growing and dividing. Therefore, red blood cells, platelets, and white blood cells are frequently affected by chemotherapy. Common side effects include anemia, loss of energy, easy bruising, and a low resistance to infections. Cells in the hair roots and intestines also divide rapidly. Therefore, chemotherapy can cause hair loss, mouth sores, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Radiation therapy in colorectal cancer has been limited to treating cancer of the rectum. There is a decreased local recurrence of rectal cancer in patients receiving radiation either prior to or after surgery. Without radiation, the risk of rectal cancer recurrence is close to 50%. With radiation, the risk is lowered to approximately 7%. Side effects of radiation treatment include fatigue, temporary or permanent pelvic hair loss, and skin irritation in the treated areas.

Other treatments have included the use of localized infusion of chemotherapeutic agents into the liver, the most common site of metastasis. This involves the insertion of a pump into the blood supply of the liver which can deliver high doses of medicine directly to the liver tumor. Response rates for these treatments have been reported to be as high as eighty percent.

Side effects, however, can be serious. Additional experimental agents considered for the treatment of colon cancer include the use of cancer-seeking antibodies bound to cancer-fighting drugs. Such combinations can specifically seek and destroy tumor tissues in the body. Other treatments attempt to boost the immune system, the bodies’ own defense system, in an effort to more effectively attack and control colon cancer.

In patients who are poor surgical risks, but who have large tumors which are causing obstruction or bleeding, laser treatment can be used to destroy cancerous tissue and relieve associated symptoms. Still other experimental agents include the use of photodynamic therapy. In this treatment, a light sensitive agent is taken up by the tumor which can then be activated to cause tumor destruction.

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Different prevention of Colon Cancer

Different prevention of Colon Cancer

Regular colon cancer screening should begin at age 50 for people at average risk of colon cancer. The American College of Gastroenterology recommends African-Americans, who have an increased risk of colon cancer, begin screening at age 45.

Colon cancer is one of the most common, and yet preventable, cancers. To help protect yourself and your loved ones from the disease, follow these ten colon cancer prevention tips.

Go to a doctor if you have any colon cancer symptoms.

Usually, colon cancer doesn’t have any symptoms. However, in the later stages, symptoms may include thin stools, cramping, unexplained weight loss, and bloody stools.

If you’re 50 or older, schedule a colon cancer screening.

Then actually go to the appointment. More than 90 percent of people diagnosed with colon cancer are 50 or older and the average age of diagnosis is 64. Research indicates that by age 50, one in four people has polyps (colon cancer precursors). Getting screened is an excellent colon cancer prevention method.

Eat a balanced diet.

Diets high in fat and cholesterol (especially from animal sources) have been linked to increased colon cancer risk. High-fiber diets, however, have shown a protective effect.

Maintain a healthy weight.

All other things equal, obese men seem to be more at risk for colon cancer than obese women. Also, certain body types seem to influence risk more than others. Studies indicate that extra fat in the waist (an apple shape) increases colon cancer risk more than extra fat in the thighs or hips (a pear shape).

Maintain an active lifestyle.

Research indicates that exercising can reduce colon cancer risk by as much as 40 percent. Exercise also tends to reduce the incidence of other risk factors for colon cancer, like obesity and diabetes.

Consider genetic counseling.

People who carry genetic mutations linked to hereditary colon cancer are the most likely to develop the disease. If someone in your family has FAP or HNPCC, or if you’re of Ashkenazi Jewish descent, you should seriously consider adding genetic counseling to your colon cancer prevention plan.

Learn your family medical history

Did you know your family medical history can impact your chances of developing colon cancer? When discussing colon cancer prevention with your doctor, remember to mention if family members have had polyps or colon cancer. Other cancers (such as stomach, liver, and bone) may also be relevant.

Talk to a doctor about your personal medical history.

As you may have guessed, discussing your own medical history is extremely important when it comes to colon cancer prevention. Sometimes we feel like doctors aren’t interested in what we have to say, so we try to answer their questions as quickly and succinctly as possible. But it’s alright – and advisable – to talk about your health history. Of particular concern are polyps, certain cancers, and chronic inflammation of the bowel – all of which can increase the risk of developing colon cancer.

Don’t smoke.

Yes, it’s a risk factor for colon cancer too. Smoking increases your risk for two main reasons. First, inhaled or swallowed tobacco smoke transports carcinogens to the colon. Second, tobacco use appears to increase polyp size.

Reduce radiation exposure.

Is radiation really relevant to colon cancer prevention? The short answer is yes. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, colon cancer has been caused by doses of about 1,000 millisieverts. So, what the heck is a millisievert and how do you keep from racking up 1,000 of them?

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How to Waxing at Home – Simple Steps

How to Waxing at Home – Simple Steps

Waxing will never go out of style. When you choose waxing for body hair removal, we have some tips here:

Don’t attempt waxing the three days prior to, and the first three days of your menstrual cycle. You skin is much more sensitive at that time, and waxing then can be much more painful.

Although often seen as a fairly modern invention, leg waxing has its roots in ancient Egypt. Members of the Royalty and the more affluent Egyptians would use waxing as a method of hair removal. It was seen as a way to retain youth and beauty.

Waxing is a temporary method of hair removal which removes the hair from the hair follicle at the root. Because the entire hair has been removed, a new hair will not grow in the same place until the next hair growth cycle which is usually around 8 weeks.

Waxing can be performed on almost any part of the body. As a method of hair removal, waxing is not only used by women alone. In recent times, men have taken to having their backs and chests waxed. Athletes have been waxing for years.

Mainly, the wax used is comprised of a mixture of beeswax, paraffin and some oils and fats. Before undertaking a waxing session, it may be helpful to know that there are two methods. The cold method and the hot method.

The Hot Wax Method

Hot waxing is where the wax that is going to be applied is gently warmed. A thin layer of this wax is then spread over the area in the direction of hair growth. Usually a cotton strip is laid over the hot wax. The wax is then allowed to cool. Once the wax has cooled, it is quickly pulled off by the strip. This process removes the hairs from the area.

The Cold Wax Method

Cold waxing is where pre-made strips of wax are used on the area of hair to be removed. A strip of wax is laid on the area and then rubbed over to make the hairs underneath adhere. The strip is then pulled off bringing the hairs with it.

The advantage of cold waxing is that it is less messy although many people feel that hot waxing achieves better results.

Waxing can be quite painful and will often leave a reddened soreness to the skin. This can be combated by applying a non-perfumed moisturizer to the area that has been treated. Some creams come with nutritional supplements like vitamins and Aloe Vera.

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Natural Tips for Healthy Hair – Use at Home

Natural Tips for Healthy Hair – Use at Home

Being able to obtain tips for healthy hair is an excellent way to ensure you know about the latest products, best available tools, and more current techniques for taking care of hair. Some people appear never to have bad hair days. They look as though they have just stepped out of a salon, no matter what day of the week. However, if you are like most people, you probably have the typical morning hair and do not look “put together” 24 hours a day, even though you may want to.

The good news is that you can have great hair, simply by knowing the following secrets, which we have provided as tips for healthy hair. Best of all, these are things that every person can do without excessive fussing. Instead of putting on the old ball cap to hide and unsightly head of hair, try the following and enjoy great looking hair all the time. Keep in mind that the first step is changing your mindset.

No matter what type of hair nature blessed you with, there are things you can do to keep it healthy, lustrous, looking its best. Here are some tips for a healthy head of hair from the tradition of Ayurveda, the 5,000-year old healing tradition that originated in India:

   1. Like everything else about true, lasting beauty, healthy hair begins within your body. Start with your diet. Include lots of green leafy vegetables and sweet juicy fruits. Dairy products such as milk and fresh yogurt will also help. Fresh coconut is also considered excellent “hair food” – sprinkle grated coconut over salads, diced fresh fruit, or rice.
   2. Cut down on refined, processed and canned foods. Ayurveda considers foods with artificial preservatives and chemical additives stripped of their inherent “intelligence” and therefore not helpful in supplying nutrition to your body and mind. Ice-cold beverages also hamper the process of digestion and assimilation of nutrients.
   3. Cooking with certain spices adds flavor to your food and provides nourishment for your hair. Cumin, turmeric and black pepper are some “hair-friendly” spices. Add a healthy pinch of each to single-portion soups and stews as they are cooking. Saut – 1/8 – 1/4 teaspoon each of the three spices in a teaspoon of ghee (clarified butter) or olive oil and add to cooked veggies. Roasted ground cumin and ground black pepper can be sprinkled over fresh yogurt.
   4. Stress can be seriously injurious to long-term health and color of hair. Try and manage your time and tasks to minimize time-related pressures. Practice relaxation techniques such as meditation. Seek out tranquil sights in nature to help restore balance to your mind. Relaxing or uplifting music can be therapeutic. Get adequate, good quality sleep to help the natural process of rejuvenation.
   5. Ayurvedic herbs that help hair health include Eclipta alba and Gotu Kola. Eclipta alba is called “Bhringaraj” – literally, king of tresses. It nourishes the hair and helps resistance to stress as well. Brahmi, sometimes called Gotu Kola, also helps balance the mind and nourishes the hair and scalp. Since Ayurveda considers the health, color and luster of hair so dependent on overall mind/body health, synergistic Ayurvedic herbal preparations for hair can also include herbs such as Country Mallow, which is supposed to strengthen the physiology, and Winter Cherry, which aids resistance to stress.
   6. Stay away from harsh chemical topical products that can damage hair over time. Look for gentle, natural cleansers and conditioners, especially if you wash your hair more than three times a week. Shampoos and conditioners that contain nourishing botanicals are even better. Read labels carefully – sometimes, products that say “herbal” or “natural” can include no-no chemicals.
   7. A warm oil scalp massage two or three times a week will help stimulate and moisturize the scalp. You can use good quality coconut, almond or olive oil Ayurvedic hair oils also contain some of the herbs mentioned earlier. Apply some mildly warmed oil to your hair and gently massage into your scalp evenly with your fingertips. Leave on overnight if you can, if not, leave on for at least an hour or two, then get it out by shampooing your hair. The scalp massage helps you relax and aids sound sleep as well.
   8. Never attack wet hair with a brush, no matter how rushed for time you are. Tangles in wet hair are best removed with a wide-toothed comb. Use a wooden comb if you can find one; it won’t generate static electricity. Excessive blow-drying can damage hair in the long-term, making it brittle and causing split ends. If you can, let your hair dry naturally, then brush into place.
   9. Last, but not least, brushing your hair regularly to stimulate the scalp will keep it looking healthy and lustrous. Brush each night in all directions in turn – left to right, right to left, front to back and back to front Use smooth long strokes from scalp to hair-tips.

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What is The Signs and Symptoms of Lung Cancer? – Complete Information

What is The Signs and Symptoms of Lung Cancer? – Complete Information

Symptoms of lung cancer are varied depending upon where and how widespread the tumor is. Warning signs of lung cancer are not always present or easy to identify. A person with lung cancer may have the following kinds of symptoms:

No symptoms:

In up to 25% of people who get lung cancer, the cancer is first discovered on a routine chest X-ray or CT scan as a solitary small mass sometimes called a coin lesion, since on a two-dimensional X-ray or CT scan, the round tumor looks like a coin. These patients with small, single masses often report no symptoms at the time the cancer is discovered.

Symptoms related to the cancer:

The growth of the cancer and invasion of lung tissues and surrounding tissue may interfere with breathing, leading to symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath, wheezing, chest pain, and coughing up blood (hemoptysis). If the cancer has invaded nerves, for example, it may cause shoulder pain that travels down the outside of the arm (called Pancoast’s syndrome) or paralysis of the vocal cords leading to hoarseness. Invasion of the esophagus may lead to difficulty swallowing (dysphagia). If a large airway is obstructed, collapse of a portion of the lung may occur and cause infections (abscesses, pneumonia) in the obstructed area.

Symptoms related to metastasis:

Lung cancer that has spread to the bones may produce excruciating pain at the sites of bone involvement. Cancer that has spread to the brain may cause a number of neurologic symptoms that may include blurred vision, headaches, seizures, or symptoms of stroke such as weakness or loss of sensation in parts of the body.

Paraneoplastic symptoms:

Lung cancers frequently are accompanied by symptoms that result from production of hormone-like substances by the tumor cells. These paraneoplastic syndromes occur most commonly with SCLC but may be seen with any tumor type. A common paraneoplastic syndrome associated with SCLC is the production of a hormone called adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) by the cancer cells, leading to oversecretion of the hormone cortisol by the adrenal glands (Cushing’s syndrome). The most frequent paraneoplastic syndrome seen with NSCLC is the production of a substance similar to parathyroid hormone, resulting in elevated levels of calcium in the bloodstream.

Nonspecific symptoms:

Nonspecific symptoms seen with many cancers, including lung cancers, include weight loss, weakness, and fatigue. Psychological symptoms such as depression and mood changes are also common.

When should one consult a doctor?

One should consult a health-care provider if he or she develops the symptoms associated with lung cancer, in particular, if they have

    * a new persistent cough or worsening of an existing chronic cough

    * blood in the sputum,

    * persistent bronchitis or repeated respiratory infections

    * chest pain

    * unexplained weight loss and/or fatigue

    * breathing difficulties such as shortness of breath or wheezing.

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Lung Cancer Treatment Options – Recent Research

Lung Cancer Treatment Options – Recent Research

Chemotherapy and radiation therapy

    * Chemotherapy and radiation may lead to a cure in a small number of patients. These therapies result in shrinking of the tumor and are known to prolong life for extended periods in most patients.

    * Chemotherapy and radiation are very effective at relieving symptoms.

    * Inoperable NSCLCs are treated with chemotherapy or a combination of chemotherapy and radiation.

    * If SCLC is in an early stage (confined to the thorax), the standard of care is chemotherapy and radiation therapy given at the same time.

    * In later stages (spread outside of the thorax), SCLC is treated with chemotherapy and palliative radiation therapy to areas where metastases may be present.

    * The brain is sometimes treated with radiation even if no tumor is present there. Called prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI), this therapy may prevent a tumor from forming. PCI is not suitable for all patients, however, and side effects may occur.

    * Limited SCLC (has not spread outside the chest cavity) has an 80%-90% rate of response to combination chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Remission (no cancer detected by physical examination or X-ray studies) occurs in 50%-60% of cases.

    * Of all cases of advanced-stage lung cancer (spread outside the chest cavity), approximately 50%-60% of SCLC and 15%-40% of NSCLC will go in to remission with chemotherapy.

    * If relapse occurs, a different type of chemotherapy regimen may offer symptom relief and modest survival benefit.

    * Even with an initially favorable response to treatment, SCLC tends to relapse within one to two years in most patients, particularly in those with extensive disease.

    * Recent research has shown benefits of adjuvant chemotherapy in early stage NSCLC in preventing or delaying recurrence of the tumor, even after surgery that is felt to be successful at removing all of the cancer.

    * Chemotherapy uses toxic chemicals that travel through the bloodstream. It affects healthy cells as well as cancerous cells, and this accounts for the many well-known side effects of chemotherapy, including nausea and vomiting, hair loss, skin problems, mouth sores, and fatigue.

    * Radiation therapy does not affect cells throughout the body the way chemotherapy does. However, it does affect healthy tissues overlying or directly adjacent to the tumor. To a large extent, the side effects of radiation depend on which part of the body is targeted with radiation.

    * Based on clinical trial data, chemotherapy has been found to be beneficial for all stages of non-small cell lung cancer, including stage I or II. People with lung cancer should be referred to an oncologist for discussion of options.

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Exercise For the Heart - Some Useful Pointers to Help You Get Started

Exercise For the Heart - Some Useful Pointers to Help You Get Started


Exercise for the heart is vital for promoting circulation and strengthening heart function. Sedentary life is counterproductive to good circulation. Making it a habit to include moderate cardiovascular exercise in your regular routine will greatly help reduce heart problems.



Effective moderate exercise for the heart includes walking briskly, general calisthenics, sports such as table tennis and swimming with moderate effort, cycling at a moderate speed, as well as canoeing and rowing at a speed of about 2 to 4 miles per hour. As you can see, exercising for heart wellness doesn't necessarily mean that you have to rush to get the best gym membership, all you need to do is look for a physical activity that you enjoy doing. As you do more, you increase your fitness levels!

Here are some simple ways on how you can exercise by increasing your activity levels. Yes, I am talking about everyday activities that you can increase to enhance your heart fitness.

1. Opting for the stairs or walking up escalators to tone buttocks and legs.


2. Instead of driving, walk to the shops or on your way to work. If you did groceries, carry the bags home to give your arms a nice workout.


3. You can choose to get off the train or the bus earlier. This will give you the perfect opportunity to walk a bit.


4. Walk short miles or use the bicycle instead of using the car.


5. Make the most out of your lunch break. Opt to go for a stroll.

If it's not possible for you to do some cardiovascular exercises in 30 minutes straight, you can choose to divide the time into manageable chunks. For instance, you can take a 5-minute walk to the shops and back to your home or take a 10 minute walk to and from the bus stop to school or to your workplace.

You can also do some exercise for the heart while you do some household chores! Washing the windows, ironing clothes, doing the laundry, gardening and vaccuming also count as exercise. You can use the weekends as an opportunity to stay active. From busy shopping trips to country walks and health spas to leisure centers, there is a wide range of activities and venues that you can choose from.

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What Are The Different Types Of Skin Cancer Cells? – Information

What Are The Different Types Of Skin Cancer Cells? – Information

There are many different types of skin cancer, each with its own cause and course of treatment. Primarily, skin cancer falls into three categories, which are melanoma, basal, and squamous cell.

Skin cancer is one of the most preventable types of cancer. Excessive exposure to the sun’s UV rays are the most common cause of the disease. In fact over 1,000,000 people are affected each year.

Skin cancer can be dvided into three different types of cancer.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

These carcinomas are found usually in places on the body that have been exposed to the sun, like ears, the face and the mouth.

Symptoms include a bump that turns in to an open sore (ulceration, reddish, flat spot that is sometimes crusty, a bump that gets larger and a sore that won’t heal.

Left untreated, it can spread quickly to other parts of the body, like the lymphatic system, bloodstream, and nerve routes.

Basal Cell Carcinoma

Accounting for more than 75% of skin cancers diagnosed, basal cell carcinoma is the most commonly developed skin cancer.

These carcinomas are most commonly found on the face, neck, and hands. It is considered highly treatable and rarely spreads to other parts of the body.

Symptoms include a sore that oozes or bleeds, a redness area that is irritated, a yellow or white area that resembles a scar, and a pink pearly bump.

Melanoma

Melanoma is the most dangerous and deadly type of skin cancer.It can develop on any part of the body, however the arms, legs and trunk are the most common area of the body. When detected early, it is considered highly treatable.

Symptoms include a mole, freckle, or new/existing spot that changes color in size, shape, and color. It may have an irregular outline and possible be more than one color.

Your best defense in preventing skin cancer is to avoid excessive exposure to the sun. When you are outdoors, be sure to always wear a sunscreen, and stay in a shady area if possible!

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