Heartburn

Hints on Dealing With the DiscomfortWhat is heartburn?Despite its name, heartburn doesn't affect the heart. Heartburn is a burning feeling in the lower chest, along with a sour or bitter taste in the throat and mouth. It usually occurs after eating a big meal or while lying down. The feeling can last for a few minutes or a few hours.What causes heartburn?When you eat, food passes from your mouth down a tube (about 10 inches long in most people) called the esophagus. To enter the stomach, the food must pass through an opening between the esophagus and stomach. This opening acts like a gate to allow food to pass into the stomach.Usually, this opening closes as soon as food passes through. But if it doesn't close, acid from your stomach can get through the opening and into your esophagus. This is called reflux. Stomach acid can irritate the esophagus and cause heartburn.What is hiatal hernia?Hiatal hernia is a condition in which part of the stomach is pushed up through the diaphragm (the muscle wall between the stomach and chest) and into the chest. Sometimes this causes heartburn.What factors add to heartburn?Many things can make heartburn worse. Heartburn is most common after overeating, when bending over or when lying down. Pregnancy, clothing that's so tight it puts pressure on your stomach, stress and certain foods can also make heartburn worse. The box below lists other things that can aggravate heartburn symptoms.Things that can make heartburn worse
Cigarette smoking
Coffee (both regular and decaffeinated) and other drinks that contain caffeine
Alcohol
Citrus fruits
Tomato products
Chocolate, mints or peppermints
Fatty foods or spicy foods (pizza, chili, curry)
Onions
Excess weight
Aspirin or ibuprofen (one brand name: Motrin)
Some other medicines (check with your doctor)
Can heartburn be serious?If you only have heartburn now and then, it's probably not serious. However, if you have heartburn frequently, it can lead to esophagitis (an inflamed lining of the esophagus). If esophagitis becomes severe, your esophagus might narrow and you might have bleeding or trouble swallowing.If you get more than occasional heartburn, it may be a symptom of acid reflux disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), an inflamed stomach lining (gastritis), hiatal hernia or peptic ulcer.What can I do to feel better?You might be able to avoid heartburn by making some changes in your lifestyle. The box below lists some tips on how to prevent heartburn.Tips on preventing heartburn
Place 4- to 6-inch blocks under the legs at the head of your bed to raise it.
Try to eat at least 2 to 3 hours before lying down. If you take naps, try sleeping in a chair.
Lose weight if you're overweight.
Don't overeat.
Eat high-protein, low-fat meals.
Avoid tight clothes and tight belts.
Avoid foods and other things that give you heartburn.
Will antacids take care of heartburn?Antacids neutralize the acid that your stomach makes. For most people, antacids that you can get without a prescription (over-the-counter) give fast, short-term relief.However, antacids can cause diarrhea or constipation. Look for antacids that contain both magnesium hydroxide and aluminum hydroxide. (One causes constipation while the other causes diarrhea so they counteract each other.) Some brands of antacids include Maalox, Mylanta and Riopan. Follow the directions on the package.What if my symptoms get worse?If lifestyle changes and antacids don't help your symptoms, talk with your doctor. Your doctor may want you to take medicine or schedule you for some tests.Tests might include x-rays to check for ulcers, a pH test to check for acid in the esophagus, or an endoscopy to check for other conditions. During an endoscopy, your doctor looks into your stomach through a long, thin tube which is inserted down your esophagus. Your doctor may also check for H. pylori, a bacteria that can cause ulcers.What about medicines for heartburn?Several kinds of medicine can be used to treat heartburn. H2 blockers (some brand names: Pepcid, Tagamet, Zantac) reduce the amount of acid your stomach makes. Several are available without a prescription.Other medicines, such as omeprazole (brand name: Prilosec) and lansoprazole (brand name: Prevacid), also reduce how much acid the stomach makes. Metoclopramide (brand name: Reglan) reduces acid reflux. To find out what medicine is right for you, talk with your doctor.Call your doctor if:
You have trouble swallowing or pain when swallowing.
You're vomiting blood.
Your stools are bloody or black.
You're short of breath.
You're dizzy or lightheaded.
You have pain going into your neck and shoulder.
You break out in a sweat when you have pain in your chest.
You have heartburn often (more than 3 times a week) for more than 2 weeks.
Is heartburn associated with heart attacks?No. But sometimes pain in the chest may be mistaken for heartburn when it's really a sign of heart disease. If you have any of the symptoms in the box below, call your doctor.

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Heart Attack

As many as one in three people will be dead within 24 hours of having a heart attack. But most people who survive the first month will still be alive five years later. So prompt treatment is essential, as is prevention.What causes a heart attack?The heart is a large muscular pump. It beats 70 times a minute to push blood around the body. Like any busy muscle, the heart tissues need a good supply of blood from their blood vessels, which are called the coronary arteries.Diseases that narrow the coronary arteries can cause a shortage of oxygen and essential nutrients in the heart muscle.This triggers chest pain known as angina, especially when the heart is made to work extra hard, for example during exercise. If someone has angina, the more severe the narrowing of the arteries, the less they can do before they experience pain.If the shortage is severe and prolonged, some of the heart muscle will die, resulting in permanent damage. This is a heart attack, more technically known as a myocardial infarction or MI.Blocked coronary arteriesThe most common underlying disease for heart attacks is atherosclerosis, where fatty plaques build up on the lining of the coronary arteries. This is known as coronary artery disease, and is a gradual process that slowly limits the blood supply to the heart muscle.How do heart attacks happen?What usually happens in a heart attack is that one of the fatty plaques cracks and a blood clot forms on top of it. It is this clot that finally blocks the artery completely.There are other, rarer causes of a heart attack, such as a dissection or splitting of the wall of the coronary artery.How many people are affected?The UK has one of the worst heart attack rates in the world. It's estimated that someone has a heart attack every two minutes in the UK. More than 1.4 million people have angina and each year about 275,000 people have a heart attack. Of these, more than 120,000 are fatal.Heart attacks are responsible for one in four deaths in men and one in six deaths in women. They are more common among older people.Risk factorsThe biggest single risk factor for heart attack is smoking. Other causes include high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes and a family history of heart disease.There are many steps you can take to change your lifestyle and reduce your risk.Different types of heart attackWhen someone goes into hospital with pain or other symptoms suggesting coronary heart disease, a diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is made.The next step is to work out which part of the heart is affected, and how badly. This is done by studying an electrocardiogram (ECG) and other tests, in particular a blood test that measures levels of a chemical called troponin, which is released from damaged heart muscle cells.There are several different types of heart attack. The area of the heart that's affected has important implications for what sort of complications there may be, how well the patient will recover and the treatment they should be given.For example, if a heart attack affects the inferior (underneath) surface of the heart, which sits against the diaphragm, there is a greater risk of abnormal heart rhythms, because the electrical conducting system of the heart is disrupted.If the heart attack affects the anterior (front wall) of the heart, there is more likely to be damage to the left ventricle, which is responsible for pumping blood around the body, leading to low blood pressure and heart failure.Sometimes a heart attack doesn't affect the full thickness of the heart muscle and may not produce typical changes on an ECG. This sort of heart attack may require different treatment.Rapid treatment saves livesAbout half of those who have a heart attack die within 28 days. Most people who survive the first month will still be alive five years later, but many are left with long-term heart problems.One in three people dies within 24 hours. Most of these deaths are sudden, occurring within one hour of onset of symptoms and before reaching hospital, and are often due to dangerous heart rhythms.Heart attacks must be recognised and treated as quickly as possible because once a coronary artery is blocked, the heart muscle will die within four to six hours. Rapid treatment reduces the risk of sudden death and prevents long-term complications. Don't wait to call for help - this could make treatment less effective.
If you suspect a heart attack, get medical help immediately
Everyone's experience is different but common symptoms include:
chest pain, usually a central, crushing pain, which may travel into the left arm or up into the neck or jaw, and persists for more than a few minutes
sometimes the pain doesn't fit this pattern, or is confused with indigestion
some people having a heart attack don't have any pain
shortness of breath
nausea or vomiting
sweating
feeling light-headed or dizzy
palpitations or an abnormal heart rate
TreatmentWhen a heart attack is suspected, drugs such as aspirin may be given immediately to improve blood flow through the coronary arteries. Pain relief, oxygen and other treatments may also be given.When a heart attack has been diagnosed, one of two methods may be used to try to reopen the blocked artery.Drugs that dissolve the blood clots blocking the artery have greatly improved the treatment of heart attacks. These drugs, known as thrombolytics or 'clot busters', can restore blood flow in about 60 per cent of cases, although sometimes the artery blocks again later on.These drugs aren't suitable for everyone and there is a risk of bleeding. As many as two per cent of those treated will have a dangerous brain haemorrhage as a result. Thrombolytics must be given as soon as possible after symptoms start and certainly within 12 hours.The other method is an operation called percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty or PCI. It involves inserting a tube into the coronary arteries. The tube carries a deflated balloon that can be inflated in the blocked area to push against the artery walls and open the vessel. In general, PCI produces slightly better long-term results than thrombolytic drugs but it must be carried out in a specialised centre.Recovering from a heart attackNot so long ago, a heart attack meant weeks of bed rest. Nowadays, people may spend just a few days in hospital, but a much longer process of rehabilitation is important to help the person recover fully, deal with common problems such as depression and reduce the risk of a second attack.

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Avoiding allergens

There are plenty of steps you can take to cut down on allergens in your home. Time to open the windows and get cleaning... Some basic rulesTake the following immediate actions to cut down on allergens in your home:
Keep your home dry and well ventilated.
Open windows regularly and keep vents open, particularly in kitchens and bathrooms. A useful guide is to open windows for at least one hour, twice a day.
However, if you suffer from hay fever, you should keep the windows closed as much as possible during the peak of the pollen season.
Don't dry clothes indoors, especially in your bedroom or living room.
If you have central heating, turn it down by a few degrees.
Increase the ventilation if your home is very humid - a dehumidifier might help.
House dust mitesHousehold dust is a great breeding ground for house dust mites and may also contain animal dander and mould or mildew spores. There are various ways to keep a lid on house dust mites:
Choose wooden or other hard vinyl floorings instead of carpets, and fit roller blinds, which can be wiped clean, rather than curtains.
Remove cushions, soft toys and other fabric accessories.
Avoid indoor houseplants, as they are also dust traps.
Don't use woollen blankets or feather bedding in your home. Try synthetic pillows and acrylic duvets instead.
If you can, buy a high-filtration vacuum cleaner. Most standard cleaners stir up dust as you clean and release most of the dust back into the air in your home.
Always wipe surfaces with a clean, damp cloth, as dusting will just spread the allergens further.
The most beneficial action you can take is to buy barrier covers for your beddingThe most beneficial action you can take is to buy barrier covers for your bedding. These are designed to prevent house dust mites and their tiny droppings escaping from your pillows, mattresses and duvets. They are made from a soft micro-porous material, which is comfortable to sleep on. And wash your sheets, duvet covers and pillowcases once a week in a hot wash (60°C), then iron your sheets and bedclothes with a hot iron, which will help to kill mites.If your child is unhappy about giving up soft toys, machine wash them instead in a hot wash once a fortnight. Then place the toys in the freezer for 24 hours after which they should be thoroughly dried.On a final note, acarosides are chemicals that kill house dust mites. They are expensive and only offer temporary benefit, and the dead mites still have to be removed from carpets and furnishings by intensive vacuuming.Pets in the homeAnother priority is to remove pets from the home. If this is too traumatic, then try the following:Keep pets outside as much as possible or limit them to one room only, preferably one without carpeting.Don't allow pets into bedrooms, as dander can remain airborne for long periods. The cat dander allergen can also be carried on clothing to school or work. Wash your pets regularly - fortnightly if possible.
Female animals produce less allergen and castration will reduce the production of allergen by male cats and dogs.If you are allergic to cats and are visiting the home of a cat owner, ask them not to dust, sweep or vacuum on the day you arrive. Disturbing the dust could make your allergy worse as stirred-up cat allergen can remain in the air for over 24 hours. You might want to take anti-histamine medication if entering a cat-inhabited home.

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Allergic rhinitis

Perennial allergic rhinitis is usually triggered by indoor allergens such as house dust mite and pet skin flakes. It's similar to hay fever - the allergen causes inflammation and irritation of the delicate linings in the nose and eyes. More and more people are developing allergic rhinitis. Some have symptoms all year round, while others have seasonal symptoms (such as hayfever). As with asthma and eczema, it can run in families.What causes it?Perennial allergic rhinitis starts in early childhood and occurs all year round. It's caused by allergy to the droppings of house dust mites or pet skin flakes. Occasionally, indoor mould spores and, in rare cases, food allergy can be causes.There is often a family predisposition to developing rhinitis and other allergies.What are the symptoms?The following symptoms can be observed:
Symptoms of a 'permanent cold'
Blocked stuffy nose
Headaches and earache
Constant sore throats and postnasal drip
Sleep disturbances and snoring
Loss of taste and smell
Poor concentration
What's the treatment?Low-dose steroid nasal sprays and nose drops are the most effective treatment, but need to be used continuously on a daily basis throughout the year.Decongestant tablets and sprays will help relieve a stuffy, blocked nose with catarrh, but should be used for short periods only.Antihistamine medication may helpAntihistamine medication may help, but it's more effective for hay fever. Anti-allergy nasal sprays and eye drops are ineffective in perennial allergic rhinitis. Ipratropium nasal sprays treat the constantly 'dripping' nose of rhinitis.Immunotherapy, when available, might be considered in severe house dust mite allergic rhinitis.Can I prevent it?The only way to prevent perennial allergic rhinitis is to avoid the allergen that causes it. Allergy testing is, therefore, important to identify the exact indoor allergen that provokes the allergy.

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Eye Allergies

Eye allergies can vary from mild irritation of the conjunctiva - the membrane that covers the eyeball and extends to the inside of the eyelids - to severe conjunctival inflammation with corneal scarring.'Hay fever eyes'Seasonal allergic conjunctivitis is the eye equivalent of hay fever and affects up to 25 per cent of the general population. The eyes become itchy, watery and red in the summer pollen season - usually from exposure to grass and tree pollen.The eyes are very sticky with a stringy dischargeA more severe form of this disease seen in children is vernal conjunctivitis where the symptoms are more intense. The eyes are very sticky with a stringy discharge and pain occurs especially when opening the eyes on waking. The eyelid inner membranes swell with the conjunctiva developing a cobblestone appearance, corneal damage may even occur if the condition is left untreated.Perennial allergic conjunctivitis tends to occur all year round with house dust mite and cat allergy. The symptoms are usually milder than those in seasonal allergic conjunctivitis.'Eczema eyes'Atopic keratoconjunctivitis although rare is the most severe manifestation of allergic eye disease occurring predominantly in adult males. It is the eye equivalent of severe eczema. This persistent condition results in constant itching, dry eyes, blurred vision and is associated with corneal swelling and scarring. Eyelid eczema and infection are common and lens cataracts may develop over time.Contact lens allergyContact lens wearers may develop giant papillary conjunctivitis triggered by the constant local irritation of the contact lenses on the conjunctival surfaces. The lining of the upper eyelid is usually most affected. Disposable contact lenses may help settle symptoms but occasionally contact lens wearing has to be suspended.Never use steroid eyedrops unless under the direct supervision of a doctor. Steroid eyedrops although very effective for treating eye allergies can lead to unwanted side effects such as glaucoma, cataract formation and encourage infections of the eye with resultant corneal scarring.What treatment can you get?The treatment for allergic conjunctivitis involves the regular use of eyedrops. Anti-allergy eyedrops such as sodium chromoglycate, nedocromil sodium, olopatidine and lodoxamide help treat mild seasonal disease. Anti-histamine solutions such as levocabastine work for mild to moderate disease.
The oral anti-histamines - cetirizine, loratadine, mizolastine and fexofenadine - also help, especially when there is associated nasal allergy. In more severe eye allergies corticosteroid eyedrops occasionally have to be used, but this should be for short periods only.

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Eating out - choosing healthier options

Your weightExpert advice to help you maintain a healthy weightDissatisfied with your weight?We're bombarded with scare stories about weight, from size zero to the obesity 'epidemic'. But a healthy weight is determined by different factors for each of us. Our expert advice is designed to help you achieve and maintain a healthy, life-enhancing weight.Overweight or underweight?Being the right weight has a positive effect on wellbeing but also on our health, as being the wrong weight can cause a range of medical problems.
More and more of us are eating out on a regular basis, whether it's for a business lunch, a girls' get together, or for a family meal. The 2006 Family Food Survey found that households where the head of the household was under 30 years old were spending more than 40 per cent of their food budget on eating out. Eating out usually means that we have little control over how the food is prepared or how large the portion is. Foods eaten out tend to be higher in fat and research has shown that those who eat out regularly generally have higher intakes of fat, salt and calories. Studies have also shown that eating with friends can tempt us to overeat. Meals with multiple courses eaten over longer periods and with alcohol are all associated with overindulgence. Large serving bowls and spoons increase the likelihood of piling more food on your plate than you usually eat. Unlike packaged food, foods bought from cafes, restaurants etc don't have to carry nutritional information and so opting for the healthiest option might not always be obvious, or easy. However, with some knowledge and thought, eating out can be enjoyable and healthy!General tipsIf you're unsure as to what something is, or what it contains - ask! If the waiter/waitress doesn't know, then the chef will.Think ahead, if you know you're eating out later and it could be a lavish affair, choose wisely earlier in the day to keep calories, fat, sugar and salt intakes under control. Don't eat an extra course just to be polite. Only order a sweet after the main course, and only if still hungry. Opt for sorbets, or fruit dishes to balance out a heavy main course. Think about sharing a course with a companion if the portions look large. Speak up about how you'd like a dish prepared eg ask for no mayonnaise, dressing on the side. You're more likely to overeat at an 'all you can eat' style buffet. Choose side orders of salad or vegetables to fill up on. Cut off any visible fat from meat to keep saturated fat intake down. Look out for smaller portions ie a main meal option as a starter size. Opt for dishes which are grilled, baked, steamed, poached or cooked in own juice rather than fried. Check the menu for dressings on salads and ask for it to be served separately. An otherwise healthy and nutritious salad could be drowned in a high fat sauce, bumping up its calorie content. Avoid cheese, cream or butter-based sauces If you're a cheese lover, think about sharing the cheese board option to keep saturated fat, salt and calorie intakes in check.

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Choking - child

A choking child needs first aid to prevent them losing consciousness.First, encourage the child to dislodge the obstruction by coughing. If this does not clear it, apply the following techniques in sequence until the child is able to breathe freely again.First stage - back blowsBend child forwards and give up to five blows between shoulder blades with heel of your handCheck mouth for removable obstructionSecond stage - abdominal thrustsStand or kneel behind child, bend them forwards and put your arms around their upper abdomenPlace your fist against lower part of child's breastboneGrasping fist with your other hand, pull sharply upwards and inwards, trying with each thrust to clear the obstructionCheck mouth for obstructionRepeat up to five times, if necessaryThird stageIf the obstruction still hasn't cleared, continue a cycle of five back blows and five abdominal thrusts up to three times. Further actionsIf the child is still in difficulties, call for emergency help. If the child loses consciousness, begin resuscitation. See babies choking if the child is less than a year old.Choking - adultsChoking can result in the loss of consciousness but is often not as serious as this.What is it?A severe obstruction is when a person is unable to speak, cry, cough or breathe. A mild obstruction is when a person finds it difficult to breath, but is able to speak, cry, cough or breathe. They are able to clear the obstruction without help.First aid aimsRelieve the obstructionArrange for medical help if necessaryActionsIf the obstruction seems to be mild, get the casualty to continue coughing. If the obstruction is severe, follow this patternFirst stage - back blowsGive up to five blows between the shoulder blades with the heel of your handCheck the mouth quickly after each one and remove any obvious obstructionSecond stage - abdominal thrustsIf obstruction is still present, give up to five abdominal thrustsPlace a clenched fist above the casualty's navel, grasp your fist with your other hand and and pull inwards and upwardsCheck the mouth quickly after each oneThird stageIf obstruction does not clear after three cycles of back blows and abdominal thrusts, dial 999Continue until help arrives and resuscitate if necessaryIf casualty loses consciousnessBegin resuscitation and continue until help arrivesPanic attackA panic attack is distressing for the person experiencing it and difficult to respond to, but it isn't harmful. What is it?A panic attack is a sudden rush of overwhelming fear that often occurs without warning or any obvious reason.SymptomsHyperventilation and fast breathing result in lack of carbon dioxide in blood PalpitationsNervous behaviourDifficulty swallowing or breathingTremblingFirst aid aimsCalm the casualtyEncourage them to regain control and seek medical adviceActionsTake casualty to a quiet placeBe reassuring but firmRemain with casualty until panic attack is overAdvise casualty to see their GP.

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Multiple sclerosis or MS

Multiple sclerosis (abbreviated MS, also known as disseminated sclerosis or encephalomyelitis disseminata) is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks the central nervous system, leading to demyelination. Disease onset usually occurs in young adults, and it is more common in women. It has a prevalence that ranges between 2 and 150 per 100,000. MS was first described in 1868 by Jean-Martin Charcot.MS affects the areas of the brain and spinal cord known as the white matter, destroying a fatty layer called the myelin sheath, which wraps around nerve fibers and electrically insulates them. When myelin is lost, the axons of neurons can no longer effectively conduct action potentials. The name multiple sclerosis refers to the scars (scleroses – better known as plaques or lesions) in the white matter. Although much is known about the mechanisms involved in the disease process, the cause remains unknown. Theories include genetics or infections. Different environmental risk factors have also been found.Almost any neurological symptom can appear with the disease, and often progresses to physical and cognitive disability. MS takes several forms, with new symptoms occurring either in discrete attacks (relapsing forms) or slowly accumulating over time (progressive forms). Between attacks, symptoms may go away completely, but permanent neurological problems often occur, especially as the disease advances.There is no known cure for MS. Treatments attempt to return function after an attack, prevent new attacks, and prevent disability. MS medications can have adverse effects or be poorly tolerated, and many patients pursue alternative treatments, despite the lack of supporting scientific study. The prognosis is difficult to predict, it depends on the subtype of the disease, the individual patient’s disease characteristics, the initial symptoms and the degree of disability the person experiences as time advances. Life expectancy of patients is nearly the same as that of the unaffected population.

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Infants birth to six months

Dissatisfied with your weight?We're bombarded with scare stories about weight, from size zero to the obesity 'epidemic'. But a healthy weight is determined by different factors for each of us. Our expert advice is designed to help you achieve and maintain a healthy, life-enhancing weight.Overweight or underweight?Being the right weight has a positive effect on wellbeing but also on our health, as being the wrong weight can cause a range of medical problems.
Making the right choices when it comes to feeding new babies will help them get a good start in life. BreastfeedingThe Department of Health recommends that, wherever possible, infants are breastfed exclusively until six months of age.Breastmilk is the best source of nutrition for newborn babies, as it provides easily digestible nutrients in the right quantities. It's also packed with antibodies and helps to establish the baby's immune system.Babies breastfed exclusively are reported to be at less risk of stomach upsets and ear, respiratory and urinary tract infections than those who are bottle-fed formula milk. They're also less likely to become obese or experience constipation and vomiting. If there's a family history of allergies or diabetes, breastfed babies are less likely to develop these.Breastmilk contains substances that help the development of a baby's brain, retinas, gut lining and protective sheath for the central nervous system. Breastmilk also contains hormonal factors that help the baby's growth and development. It carries digestive enzymes, too, which help to digest the nutrients in milk, helping the baby's immature digestive tract.When not to breastfeedBreastfeeding isn't recommended for all women. For example, those who are HIV-positive risk transmitting the disease to their baby through their milk. If you're taking any medication, you should also check with your doctor or midwife before breastfeeding.Types of breastmilkDuring the first few days after birth, the mother's breasts produce a substance called colostrum. This yellowish fluid is packed with antibodies and is rich in protein, making it ideal for newborn babies. The colostrum soon changes and becomes thin and white (transitional milk). Then, after three or four days, the mature breastmilk starts to come through. At each feed the breasts produce two types of milk: foremilk, produced at the beginning of a feed; and hindmilk, which has more fat, energy and essential nutrients. As babies grow, it's important they receive the hindmilk in order to meet their nutritional needs.

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Health And Beauty: Tackling nutritional problems for older people

Dissatisfied with your weight?We're bombarded with scare stories about weight, from size zero to the obesity 'epidemic'. But a healthy weight is determined by different factors for each of us. Our expert advice is designed to help you achieve and maintain a healthy, life-enhancing weight.Overweight or underweight?Being the right weight has a positive effect on wellbeing but also on our health, as being the wrong weight can cause a range of medical problems.
Maintaining health as we age can be challenging, so a diet rich in nutrients is increasingly important as we grow older. Factors that affect nutritionThere are many factors that influence nutritional status in older adults, and they can be broadly grouped into four main areas: Those that naturally occur during the ageing process, such as a reduced ability to absorb nutrients efficiently, or a sore mouth due to denturesDisease-specific conditions such as cancer, which place greater nutritional demands on people Some drugs that interact with nutrients and prevent absorption, for example aspirin, which can interfere with the absorption of vitamin CSocial influences, such as not being able to get to shops, or social isolationContinuing to enjoy food and to eat a diet that maintains nutritional status is key to coping with illness. Poor nutrition has been shown to increase the risk of infections, bed sores, chest infections and poor wound healing. Good nutritional status will help ensure a quicker recovery. Other common problems:Loss of tasteThe ability to taste flavours declines as we age. Food can often taste bland to older people so try:Using herbs and spices, tomatoes and other flavouring such as lemon juice to flavour food, but avoid using too much saltChoosing foods with a strong taste - go for strong-flavoured meats, sauces, dressings, mustards and picklesLoss of interest in foodOlder people can lose interest in food for a variety of reasons. Depression due to loss of independence or bereavement, or simply eating alone can reduce appetite.Explore the possibility of lunch clubs in your areaEat with company when you canMake meal times special by laying the table and presenting food in an attractive wayChoose a variety of foods where possible to keep the experience interesting Poor appetiteIf you're unable to eat much, try small appetising meals and calorie-rich snacks in between meals to boost nutrient intake. To increase your calorie intake, try the following tips:Fats and sugars provide energy and help food to taste good, so use these generously. Add extra cheese to sauces or grate on potatoes, add butter or margarine to vegetables, or enrich full-fat milk by adding dried milk powder. Try using sugar or honey on breakfast cereals.Eat pudding once or twice a day, such as yoghurt, milky puddings, ice cream, trifle, cake, fruit pie, sponge puddings with custard and ready prepared desserts. Cakes, biscuits, chocolate and crisps provide extra energy when eaten with meals, but ensure they don't spoil the appetite for more nourishing foods.Enriched-nourishment drinks, available from pharmacies and supermarkets, may be taken between meals to increase calorie intake, but shouldn't replace meals.Alcohol in small amounts can actually stimulate the appetite, but check with your GP first, especially if you're taking medication.

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Health And Beauty: Children's weight

Your weightExpert advice to help you maintain a healthy weightDissatisfied with your weight?We're bombarded with scare stories about weight, from size zero to the obesity 'epidemic'. But a healthy weight is determined by different factors for each of us. Our expert advice is designed to help you achieve and maintain a healthy, life-enhancing weight.Overweight or underweight?Being the right weight has a positive effect on wellbeing but also on our health, as being the wrong weight can cause a range of medical problems.
In the UK, the number of obese children continues to rise. Currently, just under one in five children between the ages of two and ten is obese.Obese children tend to become obese adults. This increases the risk of developing certain diseases, such as type 2 diabetes. If you think your child might be overweight or obese, check with your GP. They'll be able to advise you on how to provide the right support for your child to help slow or halt their weight gain and allow them to grow into their weight.Even if your child doesn't have a weight problem, it's important to establish healthy eating habits early on so they don't gain any excess weight.Good nutrition in childhood is vital for growth and development. Establishing healthy eating and activity patterns while children are young can lead to life-long habits that will help to determine whether or not they're healthy as adults.What's a healthy diet?Children need a varied diet that provides enough energy and protein for growth and repair, and contains all the essential vitamins and minerals. Encouraging by exampleThe best way to improve your child's diet is for them to see you enjoying healthy food options.Introduce new foods from an early age. It's normal for children to reject new foods at first, but this doesn't mean they'll never like them. Research shows most children will eat them if you try again a few days later.Don't pressure your child to clear their plate. Encouraging them to eat when they're not hungry can result in them eating more calorie-rich foods. It may also lead weaken your child's innate ability to respond to signals of hunger or fullness, so that they overeat.Small children need to eat regularly, but keep snacks to defined times rather than allowing continual grazing. Snack foods don't have to be sweets or biscuits. Try slices of fruit or vegetable sticks instead.Portion sizePortion sizes have increased over the years, especially when it comes to ready meals and snacks. This means children have become used to eating more calories than they need. High nutritional quality is more important than large quantities. Small children don't need as much food as adults. Think twice when serving meals and make sure theirs is smaller than a typical adult serving.Avoid the supersize, kingsize and '25 per cent extra' foods. Seek out mini and fun-size foods instead.TreatsSnacks during the day should be planned rather than spontaneous, so children can establish feelings of hunger and fullness. Offering a sweet pudding as a reward when your child eats their greens reinforces the idea that vegetables are unpleasant and something to be endured, while desserts are a treat. Try offering non-food rewards, such as a story or trip to the park, instead.Foods such as cakes, sweets, crisps and sugary drinks should be kept as party or holiday foods, not everyday items.How many calories?The following table shows the estimated average daily calorie requirements for young children. The figures assume the child is of average weight with reasonable physical activity levels. It should be used as a guide only.[an error occurred while processing this directive] Encouraging activityChildren are naturally active, so don't stop them tearing round the house even if you're craving a few minutes of peace and quiet.Some sedentary behaviour, especially watching TV, is linked to increased intake of food, especially those high in fat, salt and sugar. If your child demands snack foods, try plain popcorn, vegetable sticks or slices of fruit instead.Better still, turn off the TV or computer and get them out riding their bike, playing in the park or doing any physical activity they enjoy.

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Health And Beauty: Hearing Loss Tests

Audiologists specialize in hearing loss and related disorders. If you’re suffering from hearing loss or tinnitus (ringing in the ears), your doctor might refer you to an audiologist for a complete evaluation. Let’s take a look at what you can expect from an audiology examination.When you arrive at the audiologist’s office, you’ll be asked several questions about your medical history and your hearing loss. Your answers will help the audiologist become familiar with your needs, formulate a treatment plan, and make referrals if necessary.Next, the audiologist will perform a physical examination of your ear using a tool called an otoscope. This tool allows the doctor to peer inside your ear canal to check for excessive wax, blockages, infection, or irregularities that need to be addressed. Once the physical exam is done, the audiologist will conduct a tympanometry test. During this test, the audiologist uses a probe to determine how your eardrum responds to a change of pressure inside the ear. It’s a painless test that helps identify problems which would decrease the eardrum’s flexibility, such as infection or fluid build-up.After the tympanometry test, the audiologist will administer an audiometry test. This test evaluates how well you can hear different tones at different volumes. First you’ll listen to sounds through a pair of headphones. Then the doctor will put a bone vibrator behind your ear to determine how well your inner ear conducts sounds. The results of the testing will tell the audiologist whether you have conductive hearing loss, sensorineural hearing loss, or a mixture of both.When all the testing is complete, the audiologist will explain the results to you. They will make a recommendation based on their findings. Then you can ask any questions you have regarding your treatment plan.Some of the tones you hear during the audiometry test might be uncomfortable for a brief time, but audiology exams are generally painless and very useful for diagnosing and treating your hearing problems.For answers to your hearing loss questions and to learn more about Bay Area hearing loss treatments, contact the skilled Los Gatos audiologist at Los Gatos Audiology and Hearing Aid Center.

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Health And Beauty: The Role Of Protein As A Fat Burner

Scientific studies have recently been conducted to verify the fact that if you eat more protein, especially during a lowered calorie diet, you will wind up losing less muscle tissue than those who don't. It should be pointed out here that the number one thing to remember when losing weight with any method, is to make sure you don't lose too much muscle mass. Muscles increase the metabolism greatly which means if we lose enough of it, our metabolism can drop sharply.Muscles burn fat because they need calories for maintenance. So the more muscle you have, the more calories you will burn daily. People who go on starvation diets lose large amounts of muscle tissue. When these people return to normal eating habits, their metabolism will actually work slower from the lost muscle mass. They will tend to put on even more weight than they initially lost from dieting and losing weight becomes even harder and frustrating.Protein is a word that literally means "of prime importance". It is an essential nutrient that is used to build the body, especially the muscles. It's also used to build organs, hair, hormones, nails and many more body parts. The human body cannot operate or survive without adequate protein. People who tend to have issues with their weight were found to eat much less protein than needed. Your protein needs will be much higher if you regularly engange in exercise or are very mentally active.Protein is such a useful tool for weight loss in many ways, one of them being for it's thermic value. Of all the food types, protein has the highest thermic value which means that it is the hardest to digest and uses up more calories in the process. Taking longer to digest, it will leave you feeling satisfied for a longer period of time. It also doesn't cause your blood sugar level to spike too quickly.An important aspect of protein is that it's made up of what's called amino acids. There are actually 12 essential amino acids that the body is unable to produce by itself and has to acquire them from external food sources. The majority of people are deficient in certain amino acids. This is either because they simply don't consume enough, or that they don't eat foods that have high quality protein within them that the body can easily assimilate. Eggs and yogurt contain protein of high biological value. What this means is that we can use this type of protein much easier than other types. Another good source is whey protein powder.If the foods that you eat regularly are low in nutrients and amino acids, your body will be hungry more often. This is because it needs to eat a lot to get those nutrients that it needs. If on the other hand, you started to eat nutrient-dense foods, the body will need less food and only need food when it needs calories for energy. This is actually one of the biggest reasons why people fail on crash or fad types of diets. They feel intense hunger when depriving their body from what it really needs.It needs to be mentioned here that when cook protein, parts of it actually get transformed and destroys certain key amino acids. Protein is sensitive to heat, so it is a good idea to add a few raw protein sources to your current diet. These could include seeds, yogurt, nuts, fruit, some vegetables, whey and cheese that have not been cooked. This will provide you with all 12 of those essential amino acids that the body craves. It can then produce the other acids from the initial 12.To also help preserve the muscle tissue in the body, you can do more exercise or weight training. If your body needs it's muscle for frequent motion, it will tend not to use them as fuel. It will begin using stores of fat to feed the muscles and cells in the body.

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A great article with Ten easy steps to help you get great 6 Pack Abdominals. Lots more exercises on our website, link is at the end of this article.

A great article with Ten easy steps to help you get great 6 Pack Abdominals. Lots more exercises on our website, link is at the end of this article.1. Dance! If you don't like the gym, dancing & aerobics are a great social way to get a weeky dose of exercise. The upbeat music and the new friends that you will make mean the time will pass very quickly.2. New food. Put down the ice cream, hide the biscuits and change your butter to low fat spread. Change your eating habits so you are eating more fresh fruit and vegetables. Eating less salt, sugar & fatty foods will give you plenty of energy.3. Drown the fat in water. Make sure you always have plenty of water around to drink, you'll automatically eat less and your body will be in a much better conditon overall.4. Walking to skinnyville. Take the stairs instead of the lift, everytime you do that you're giving yourself a cheap work out.5. Watch a funny film. When you laugh your stomach muscles tense up naturally, giving them a mini work out. You will notice that if you have a laughing fit that you double over because your muscles do start to hurt after a while.6. Scrub like Cinderella. Put your back into the weekly clean and concentrate on tensing your stomach muscles each time you are scrubbing or using the vacuum.7. Game time. Another great way of escaping the dull gym routine is by playing games instead, soccer, basketball & tennis will give you a great work out. You will also be more likely to push yourself a little bit harder if you are competing with someone else.8. Swimming is a great way to warm down after a work out, its also an intense session all on its own. You'll get a great work out for the muscles & you'll find it relaxing.9. Ramble on! A nick walk or a cycle will help burn off even more pounds & its always nice to see the great outdoors.10. It’s crunch time. Embark on a short set of sit ups or crunches at a time rather than throwing yourself into 3000 in one go. Making it more achievable will make it easier to begin. Those 6 pack abdominals are just round the corner.If you'd like to learn some great strategies for improving your health check out our website for 6 Pack Abdominals

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Using Smoke Assist To Stop Smoking

Everyone knows that smoking is extremely dangerous for our health. In spite of this, there are a large number of people who are posing a risk to their precious lives by smoking cigarettes. This may cause incurable diseases like mouth and lung cancer. If you want to find an alternative to cigarettes... More....

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Acai Force Max Review

Acai Force Max is a new acai berry supplement that uses all natural ingredients to powerfully eliminate toxins that will harm your health and body. It’s a product that is meant just for men, so it’s important to only take it if you want to lose weight and get a ripped, sexy, and healthy body that nobody can keep their eye. More..

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How to follow a healthy diet for children

A parent is always concerned about the health of the child. Children are always fussy when it comes to eating nutritious food. They like eating junk foods like burgers, chocolates, ice creams and chips etc. Eating junk food will not be beneficial to the health but on the contrary will create a bad impact on [...]

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Healthy Benefits of Cranberries

Cranberries are a fruit that grows in low, creeping shrubs or vines. These vines can grow from a mere 2 meters to about 20 cm in height.Cranberries are sold commercially in the United States and Canada, but this is not a fruit that has come out in value as a result of modern research. [...]

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How metabolism is regulated by a balanced diet

Metabolism is the result of processes anabolism and catabolism. While Anabolism results in the synthesis of protoplasm for growth and repair, Catabolism results in breaking down of food into simpler compounds to produce energy. It is these processes which help to distribute nutrients into the blood after digestion.Your body’s metabolic rate is determined by the [...]

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What are the ill effects of junk food?

Junk food is very tasty and no one goes by not noticing it and wanting to bite into it. Resisting junk food is difficult, but with age, taking in junk food is something to be desisted as they do not have a healthy effect on the body. How harmful can junk food be exactly on [...]

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Things to know about Fulvic Acid

Fulvic acid is know or referred to as nature’s miracle cure to combating the effects of aging and helping to maintain a healthy body. This acid is a naturally occurring organic acid, and is created by the action of millions of microbes, that work in the soil. It is a natural product and does [...]

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Flu And Cold Symptoms Causes Suggestions

FLU & COLD :The flu is a disorder caused by a virus. This virus is most frequently found in the respiratory ducts, even though it may also be located in other parts of the body, like the muscle and causing pains and crampsIt is evidenced by body discomfort and headache, breathing difficulty, fever, weeping eyes, [...]

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Cold and Flu Medications

The thing about a cold or flu is that there is no medication to rid the actual infection itself. There are only medications which help relieve the symptoms and pain occurring from the flu or cold. The major symptoms with a cold or flu are fever, cough, and congestion.Decongestants are great ways to treat [...]

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Cold and Flu Prevention

Cold and flu do not have any known cure so the best way to deal with them is to prevent them. Flu shots are the most effective way of preventing flu. However, there are other means as well which help prevent the incidence of cold and flu. These are;• Keeping your hands clean: Cold and flu [...]

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Cold and Flu Remedies

Although there is no actual treatment behind a cold or flu, there are ways of bringing down the symptoms in order to bring temporary relief and shorten the effects of the symptoms. There are many different medications available, but the most effective way is to deal with a cold and flu properly.It is extremely important [...]

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Cold and Flu Treatment

Cold and flu virus comes as the blessing of winters. There are diseases which are not fatal but they can make your life miserable. Cold and flu embarrasses you in crowd, in classrooms, in office making your life wretched. Rubbed nose turn out to be red which spots you as the cold and flu patient [...]

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Cold Symptoms vs Flu Symptoms

Cold and flu are the most common types of respiratory illnesses in the world. They affect almost everyone annually and although several drugs have been produced to inoculate against the diseases, most people still remain unaware of the differences between the two.Flu Symptoms usually come between 3-6 hours of the person acquiring the virus. These [...]

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Difference Between a Cold and the Flu

Although a cold and a flu, or influenza, affect our respiratory system, they are different from one another. The biggest difference is that most colds are usually a lot milder than flu, although some flu viruses have been known to cause mild illnesses.They both appear at the start of cold weather, when the temperature may [...]

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Cholesterol and Heart Disease

Cholesterol is a soft waxy substance found in all of the body cells. It is a necessity since it is used to form the cell membranes, hormones and other important functions of the body. Cholesterol and other fats do not dissolve in the body and thus have to be transported by special carriers called lipoproteins.There [...]

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Diet for Cholesterol Control

After being informed of having high cholesterol level, of the bad kind, there really is a need for diet, exercise, and weight loss in order to bring the levels down and in control. There is a specific diet which reduces saturated fats and cholesterol through weight control and physical control.The first step is to limit [...]

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Stages of Colon Cancer

Colon cancer is among the most common and serious forms of cancer in the world. Its high rate of incidence and the fact that people remain unaware of the precautionary measures needed makes it a very dangerous ailment. Its rate of incidence starts by the age of 40 and increases multifold after 65. Although predominantly [...]

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Symptoms of Breast Cancer

There are many different symptoms which may occur in a woman when she is affected with breast cancer. Some major symptoms to look out for will be discussed. Overall it is usually the change or an affect on the breasts directly.Lumps or thickening may occur within the breast or near the lymph nodes in the [...]

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Treatment for Colon Cancer

Colon Cancer is among the most common cancers affecting humans. Although adequate checks and regular visits to the doctor have reduced the risk of Colon cancer, it is still highly common and poses a risk for both men and women.There are 5 stages of Colon cancer and therefore the treatment for Colon cancer varies for [...]

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Treatments for Breast Cancer

Prevention is better than cure, it holds true for breast cancer. However there are methods to cure breast cancer, though great deal of time and money is involved in these treatments. There are four basic types of treatments that are used to cure breast treatments.SurgeryMost of the cancer patients go through the surgery to remove [...]

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Blood Disorders and Diseases

There are many types of blood disorders and diseases that can occur in any person due to natural causes as well as hereditary reasons. These disorders and diseases affect our red blood cells, white cells, platelets, plasma, and enzymes which control what the blood is supposed to do.Looking over just two of the major types [...]

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Blood Pressure Disorders

There are many blood pressure disorders, but the main one is hypertension, or more commonly known as high blood pressure. High blood pressure is when there is an abnormally high blood pressure within the arteries of a person.Antihypertensive drugs are given to a person as well as advice to lose weight, stop smoking, and decreasing [...]

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Common Blood Disorders

Blood has been keeping the history by inheriting the masculine traits from generation to generations. However every man dose not make the history, he might be inheriting something that may end the future of his generations. Blood disorders are commonly inherited diseases. This inheritance may not make you siblings be proud of you.Common blood disorders [...]

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Beauty Tips

Lipsticks bring out your smile and can make your lips look totally kissable. No makeup has to power to transform like long lasting lipsticks and most women say they feel naked without it. A necessary part of a polished look and often the last thing a woman will do is apply lipstick before leaving the house. No other cosmetic is easier to apply and lip liners, lip gloss, and lipsticks help make a woman feel sexy and self-assured. If you can color in a coloring book, you can color your lips and with enough practice you won't even need to use a mirror.
Lipsticks are composed of pigment, which determines its color; wax, which gives lipstick its shape and emollients or oils which moisturize and carry the color. The five basic formulas are sheer, shimmer, cream, matte and long-lasting. Flavored lip-gloss and moisturizing glosses are also desirable for a different twist and shiny lips. Lip liners shape your lip and make it easier to apply the lipsticks.
The lips are an extremely vulnerable part of the body, and lipsticks should provide protection. A good lipstick will moisturize the lips and shield them from the sun. These days the most lubricious lipsticks contain moisturizers like Vitamin E, collagen and amino acids and some contain sunscreen for protection. Women over 50 usually look better with a cream lipsticks rather than a matte or gloss and in a pinch your lipsticks can double as a blush. Carry a stash of different lipsticks in daring shades in your purse for different occasions, outfits, and moods.

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10 Essential Health Tips

1. Move MoreMake it a daily challenge to find ways to move your body. Climb stairs if given a choice between that and escalators or elevators. Walk your dog; chase your kids; toss balls with friends, mow the lawn. Anything that moves your limbs is not only a fitness tool, it's a stress buster. Think 'move' in small increments of time. It doesn't have to be an hour in the gym or a 45-minute aerobic dance class or tai chi or kickboxing. But that's great when you're up to it. Meanwhile, move more. Thought for the day: Cha, Cha, Cha…. Then do it!2. Cut FatAvoid the obvious such as fried foods, burgers and other fatty meats (i.e. pork, bacon, ham, salami, ribs and sausage). Dairy products such as cheese, cottage cheese, milk and cream should be eaten in low fat versions. Nuts and sandwich meats, mayonnaise, margarine, butter and sauces should be eaten in limited amounts. Most are available in lower fat versions such as substitute butter, fat free cheeses and mayonnaise. Thought for the day: Lean, mean, fat-burning machine…. Then be one!3. Quit Smoking The jury is definitely in on this verdict. Ever since 1960 when the Surgeon General announced that smoking was harmful to your health, Americans have been reducing their use of tobacco products that kill. Just recently, we've seen a surge in smoking in adolescents and teens. Could it be the Hollywood influence? It seems the stars in every movie of late smoke cigarettes. Beware. Warn your children of the false romance or 'tough guy' stance of Hollywood smokers. Thought for the day: Give up just one cigarette…. the next one.4. Reduce Stress Easier said than done, stress busters come in many forms. Some techniques recommended by experts are to think positive thoughts. Spend 30 minutes a day doing something you like. (i.e.,Soak in a hot tub; walk on the beach or in a park; read a good book; visit a friend; play with your dog; listen to soothing music; watch a funny movie. Get a massage, a facial or a haircut. Meditate. Count to ten before losing your temper or getting aggravated. Avoid difficult people when possible. Thought for the day: When seeing red, think pink clouds….then float on them. 5. Protect Yourself from Pollution If you can't live in a smog-free environment, at least avoid smoke-filled rooms, high traffic areas, breathing in highway fumes and exercising near busy thoroughfares. Exercise outside when the smog rating is low. Exercise indoors in air conditioning when air quality is good. Plant lots of shrubbery in your yard. It's a good pollution and dirt from the street deterrent. Thought for the day: 'Smoke gets in your eyes'…and your mouth, and your nose and your lungs as do pollutants….hum the tune daily.6. Wear Your Seat BeltStatistics show that seat belts add to longevity and help alleviate potential injuries in car crashes. Thought for the day: Buckle down and buckle up.7. Floss Your TeethRecent studies make a direct connection between longevity and teeth flossing. Nobody knows exactly why. Perhaps it's because people who floss tend to be more health conscious than people who don't? Thought for the day: Floss and be your body's boss.8. Avoid Excessive Drinking While recent studies show a glass of wine or one drink a day (two for men) can help protect against heart disease, more than that can cause other health problems such as liver and kidney disease and cancer. Thought for the day: A jug of wine should last a long time.9. Keep a Positive Mental Outlook There's a definitive connection between living well and healthfully and having a cheerful outlook on life. Thought for the day: You can't be unhappy when you're smiling or singing. 10. Choose Your Parents Well The link between genetics and health is a powerful one. But just because one or both of your parents died young in ill health doesn't mean you cannot counteract the genetic pool handed you. Thought for the day: Follow these basic tips for healthy living and you can better control your own destiny

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Types of Birth Control

Birth controls are effective tools to prevent from unexpected and unwanted pregnancies. There are some natural methods that can be used to prevent the pregnancy. Fertility awareness is one of those natural methods, and is known as the natural family planning. In this method couples are advised not to have sex when the girl has [...]

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Types of Birth Control Pills

Birth control pills are one of the most effective birth controls, since they work inside the body of the girl. These pills decrease the fertility of the girl making her unable to get pregnant for that time. These pills prevent ovulation by marinating consistent hormone levels; they do not let the ovary resale a [...]

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Types of Breast Cancer

There are many types of breast cancer, but two are more common in most women. They generally are named after the parts in the breast in which they start occurring. The first is ductal carcinoma and the second is lobular carcinoma. Those two are the most common types, and they appear in the breast’s milk [...]

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What is Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a substance that is produced from the liver and found in certain foods. It is specifically needed to make vitamin D along with some other important hormones, as well as to build cell walls, and creating a specific type of salt, bile salt, which helps in digesting fat. Our bodies can produce enough [...]

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White Blood Cell Disorders

White blood cells are the crucial players of immune system. To kill and digest the harmful substance, white blood cells should receive the message about the entrance of harmful substance in the body. To kill the organism an equate number of white blood cells are used. White blood cells are produces in bone marrow like [...]

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Blood Infection

Blood infection is perhaps one of the most lethal diseases that any one can ever have. We have heard about the cancer, aids and what not. However, the interesting point to notice is that what makes blood infection the most lethal disease. Blood infection is usually referred as septicaemia or Sepsis. This is a very [...]

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Blood Platelet Disorders/Blood Coagulation Disorders

Another growing problem which we witness everyday is the growing problem of blood platelet disorder. We hear it everyday and yet most of us are not fully aware of what exactly this disease is. Blood platelet disorder is basically the inability to make platelets which help to stop clotting process in blood. Therefore, if a [...]

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HDL or Good Cholesterol Levels

HDLs are the smallest lipoprotein particles, however highest proportion of protein makes it dense for the blood. There is a group of lipoproteins which is responsible for the transportation of cholesterol in the blood. Therefore for a healthy, HDL carries about thirty percent of the blood. Their job is to collect the fat on the [...]

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LDL or Bad Cholesterol Level

Low-density lipoproteins are considered as bad cholesterol which circulates throughout the blood streams and they slowly build up within the inner walls of the arteries that connect to the heart and brain. When these low density lipoproteins are combined with other substances, they often form plaque, which can be a thick and hard deposit that [...]

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Prevention of Implants and Surgical Methods

With the help of modern science and never ending research being carried out in field of the medical, there are more and more medical solutions being invented. A common practice which has been carried out since a considerable amount of time is implantation. Implantation has been a significant factor of medical studies since a long [...]

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Swine Flu Tests Public Health System

Swine flu has now caused more than 100 deaths in Mexico and more than 20 confirmed cases in five U.S. states, making the issue of public health—global, national and local—a paramount national concern once again. Officials are also monitoring six confirmed cases in Canada and investigating suspected cases in France, Israel, New Zealand and Spain. Prudent steps being taken by governments at all levels demonstrate a basic capacity to detect, identify, and respond to the outbreak of disease, following investments made in the aftermath of significant recent episodes involving SARS and avian flu.
Still, authorities do not yet have the benefit of full information about this dangerous flu strain. Are we experiencing the tail-end of an outbreak, or the tip of a global pandemic? Why are mortality rates higher in Mexico? What are the chances this flu strain will fade away only to reappear during the regular flu season later this year? Having answers to these questions is essential to gauging risk and crafting the appropriate policy interventions.
In the meantime, even if the outbreak is well contained, it will yield important lessons that should inform future national security and public health decision-making. We can think of several questions to consider even though we are in the early stages of an event that could still develop into a crisis.
The first is, did international institutions and individual governments collaborate and cooperate effectively? So far, the answer is “yes” and “pretty well.” Contagious disease knows no boundaries, a strong argument for why the United States should help build competent institutions of government in other countries, even during a period of economic turmoil.
Felipe Calderon’s government in Mexico deserves much credit for its response to the outbreak. Despite having its hands full with a war against drug cartels, Mexico aggressively responded to the outbreak and shared its knowledge in a timely way with its neighbors and the World Health Organization. Mexico’s response to this crisis has been broadly effective and demonstrates that the country possesses real capabilities and resources. A recent military report suggested that Mexico was in danger of becoming a failed state. These events show that the Obama administration was right to debunk that conclusion.
A second issue involves cooperation both within the U.S. federal government and among federal, state, and local governments. Again, the early signs are positive. The Department of Homeland Security is now the centerpiece of the federal response, and there is solid evidence of effective coordination among DHS and the Departments of Defense and Health and Human Services. Federal stocks of medical supplies, including antivirals, have been authorized for release and distribution around the country as a precautionary measure.
The Centers for Disease Control is in contact with and closely monitoring actions taken at the local level, which leads us to the third and arguably most important question going forward. Since public health is first and foremost a local responsibility, how well will local authorities perform, particularly if the disease spreads further?
The public health system in the United States—the network of federal, state, local, and private-sector entities responsible for the health of the nation’s population—has been under stress for decades, even before the current economic crisis. While medical surveillance systems have improved, particularly in rural areas, they are largely dependent on an informal network of public health, veterinary, and natural resource professionals and are not yet incorporated into a national system of public health. And despite our state-of-the-art medical technology and dedicated health professionals, we do not have sufficient medical infrastructure in many parts of the country to accommodate everyone who might need medical care in a crisis.
Public health became a national security concern in the aftermath of the 2001 anthrax attacks. But this emerging swine flu epidemic poses a more significant and more likely threat to the United States and the region. It will be important to act aggressively and sensibly, deepen national and international relationships and trust, learn valuable lessons, and continue to make prudent investments to improve public health capabilities across the country and around the world.

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Unnecessary services are inappropriate and potentially dangerous

We are fortunate to benefit from dramatic new advances in medicine that have undoubtedly saved and improved countless lives. But the new advancements do not always provide better care for everyone. Some of the reliable older treatment might still be the best choice for some patients.
Heart stents, for example, have saved numerous lives since their introduction, yet evidence now indicates that stents are being overused with some dangerous outcomes. The procedure for placing a stent is quite invasive: It requires an angioplasty, can be painful, and is not without side effects. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that it is less expensive and just as effective to treat many heart attack patients with drugs instead of angioplasty with stent. Researchers found that the stents were unnecessary in many cases and that those receiving the drug treatment only had a slightly longer life expectancy. Other studies found the overuse of unnecessary stents is leading to thousands of heart attacks and deaths each year. Unnecessary use of heart stents is also expensive—providing unnecessary stents to the 100,000 heart attack patients in the United States that do not need them costs $700 million a year.
Researchers estimate that the cost of overuse of spinal surgery for low back pain is even more expensive than stents, and exceeds $11 billion each year. Another study estimates that 70 percent of the women receiving a hysterectomy did not need this major abdominal surgery and would have benefited from less severe therapies. In this case nearly 450,000 women undergo an unnecessary surgery, which requires weeks of recovery, at the cost of an additional $1.1 billion each year.

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The Price Isn't Right: The Facts on Affordable Health Care

Health care costs are escalating four times faster than wages, and policymakers agree that affordable health care is an important goal. But it can’t be achieved through conservatives' proposed flat tax. Affordability requires consideration of both premiums and out-of-pocket expenditures. This brief provides a point-counterpoint on how to make care more affordable and includes background information on the issue.

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Small Businesses, Large Problems: Health Care Costs Hit Small Employers

Since President George W. Bush took office, the number of businesses that offer health insurance to their workers has declined 8 percent, from 69 percent in 2000 to 63 percent in 2008. This issue brief looks at the hurdles small businesses must overcome to offer health care to their workers, reasons and recommendations why they should offer coverage, and a point-counterpoint on common arguments for and against these businesses offering coverage.

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Changing the Course of Mental Health

One in four adults in America, approximately 60 million people, experiences mental illness in any given year. Health care reform must include a discussion of care and delivery for mental illness. This brief details the challenges Americans face in obtaining affordable mental health treatment, a detailed look at mental health parity legislation, and a point-counterpoint on why market-based medicine alone cannot cure mental illness.

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An Unhealthy Individual Insurance Market

Although 45 million Americans are uninsured, only 14.5 million Americans buy insurance on the individual market. This brief explores the problems with the individual market, including the absence of risk pooling and health status discrimination, and ways the individual market could be improved

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Building on Success: The Role of Public Coverage Programs in Health Reform

A reformed health system will likely include both public and private coverage choices. Public programs are not perfect, but current health reform proposals provide an opportunity to expand on their strengths and improve weaknesses—not to do away with them completely.

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