Hypothyroidism is a disease caused by the inability of the thyroid gland to produce sufficient thyroid hormones. Severity of this disease varies from case to case and oftentimes, the milder symptoms can be misdiagnosed as a different disease. Extreme cases of hypothyroidism can lead to myxedema. Cases of this disease are often found in women after pregnancy because of the draining of the woman’s mineral stores.

If you have hypothyroidism, you will experience different symptoms, depending on your age. If you are an adult you may experience slower speed in your movement, a hoarse, breaking voice; memory loss; sensitivity to changes in temperature; slow heart rate; poor reflexes; dry puffy skin, especially on the face; hair loss, especially on the eyebrows; depression; weight gain; anemia; constipation; fatigue; tendency to choke or difficulty swallowing; shortness of breath; the need to sleep more; muscle cramps and joint pain; decreased sex drive; brittle finger nails; paleness; irritability; and thin, fragile or absent cuticles.

Women may experience infertility or difficulty in becoming pregnant. Infants experience feeding problems, constipation, and excessive sleep. Symptoms for later toddlers include a protruding abdomen, rough and dry skin, and delayed teething. Children may experience delayed growth and a puffy, bloated appearance. A blood test is necessary to determine and diagnose the disease.

Menieres disease has four symptoms: periodic episodes of vertigo; fluctuating, progressive unilateral or bilateral hearing loss; tinnitus of one or both ears; a sensation of fullness or pressure in both ears. You may notice only one symptom at first that later leads to the others. The vertigo you experience might last for hours or for as long as days. After you experience a tinnitus attack, it can feel better at first but later on become worse. It is believed that Menieres disease is caused by endolymphatic hydrops or excess fluid in the inner ear. Proper clinical testing is necessary, as Merieres disease shares symptoms with a number of other diseases.

Tags: Health, Illness

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The largest organ in your body is your liver. It regulates your ability to metabolize fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. It is also involved in many other different functions throughout your body that will keep you alive. Many contaminants, as well as disease-causing elements will pass through the liver. This is the reason why there are so many different diseases that can affect this organ, and this is the reason why it is very important to keep it healthy.

Factors that can Damage the Liver

Some form of infection or a cancer will damage the liver, which can have the potential to affect your entire body. Due to the fact that the liver stores blood, and is connected to both the portal vein and the hepatic artery. This extra blood supply increases the chance that a tumor in a different organ that has spread into the blood stream will end up in the liver.

The problem with developing cancer in this organ is due to the fact that it is very difficult to detect the cancer in the liver at an early stage. This is because the liver’s ability to function normally for a prolonged period of time, even if it is damaged or infected. Therefore, the earliest time to detect liver cancer is when it is already well established in the organ.

Cancer Stages

There are four stages of liver cancer a person can potentially go through. During the first two stages, it is very difficult to detect the cancer in the liver. This is unfortunate due to the fact that it is during these two stages when the cancer is easy to cure. The third stage is when it is easier to detect the cancer. However, during this time it is very difficult to cure cancer that has advanced up to this point.

Tags: Aging, Cancer

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The primary function of your liver in your body is to regulate your metabolism. Without the liver, you will not be able to metabolize your intake of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. It accomplishes this function by working closely with your other systems such as you lymphatic system, circulatory system, as and endocrine system. In order for your liver to metabolize the fats, carbohydrates, and proteins in your body, it must be healthy and free of any diseases.

Bile Production

Your liver produces and secretes a product called bile. This is what makes it possible for your liver to metabolize your intake of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. This fluid is a very important presence in your body due to the fact that it aids in the elimination of contaminants in your body, such as drugs. The bile system is also responsible for re-circulating your red blood cells.

Failure to Produce Bile

It is possible for a type of liver disease to cause the liver to stop the secretion of bile. When this happens, the liver loses the capability to metabolize the fats, carbohydrate, and proteins.

The only way fats can be absorbed into your blood system is if bile is present. This is why it would be impossible for your body to absorb the fat-soluble vitamins without bile. These vitamins, such as vitamins A, K, D, and E, are essential for your liver to function properly. Without bile present in your system, your body will not be able to absorb and metabolize these vitamins.

Red Blood Cell System

Another important function the liver performs is that it cleanses your body from the damaged, or old, red blood cells. The liver will also store iron in your body, as well as breakdown hemoglobin. This is the reason why many people who suffer from liver disease may suffer from anemia. Along with the spleen, the liver stores blood. Therefore, in case of blood loss severe enough to threaten your life, the liver will expel its stored blood to replace the lost blood in your bloodstream.

Tags: Health, Illness

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Food restrictions for patients with liver disease are prescribed by doctors or dieticians individually. Diets depend on the cause of disease and the stage of liver disease. Other conditions of the body, such as heart problems and diabetes, also need to be taken into consideration before dieting. In general, taking meals every two hours in small quantities is ideal for patients with liver disease. This makes it easier to digest and absorb food. Diets that aim at a balance of necessary nutrients are good for a damaged liver. Each of the following nutrients plays a role in easing the function of a damaged liver.

Vitamins

Vitamins are nutrients that are metabolized by the liver. Vitamins in excess may cause problems in digestion even for normal persons, so patients with liver disease may need to limit vitamin intake. Depending on the severity of liver damage, some patients may require vitamin supplements.

Minerals

Minerals like calcium, sodium, and iron play an important role in the balance and functioning of the human body. Calcium content usually decreases when the liver becomes damaged. So, calcium supplements are beneficial for persons with liver disease. On the other hand, sodium (salt) and iron should be minimized for better functioning of a damaged liver.

Proteins and Amino Acids

Animals and vegetables are two sources of protein. Animal protein sources are also high in fat and can prove harmful for people with cirrhosis. Hence, vegetable protein is more beneficial than animal protein. Excess of both proteins and amino acids, taken in the form of supplements, forces the liver to work hard. This can harm the already damaged liver.

Carbohydrates and Fats

A diet containing 400grams of carbohydrates is a well-balanced liver disease diet. Carbohydrate intake should neither be too low nor too high. The diet should be low in saturated fats to avoid clogging of arteries and increasing in cholesterol levels.

Thus, a well-balanced diet is absolutely essential for persons suffering from liver disease.

Tags: Medical, Aging

Tags: Disease, Health, Medical, Illness, Treatment, Disease+Information

The liver is the organ that is responsible for a variety of functions of the human body, including removal of toxins and filtration of waste products. The liver has many enzymes that aid in drug metabolism. With increasing use of various drugs, drug-induced liver disease has become quite common. Symptoms may or may not be similar to other liver diseases. When the symptoms are similar, it becomes difficult to understand whether the symptoms have been caused by disease or drugs. Drug-induced liver disease can be classified as predictable and unpredictable.

Predictable Drug-induced Liver Disease

Intrinsic drug reactions can cause liver damage. Predictable drug-induced liver disease is related to the dosage of drugs that cause liver injury. Certain drugs, when taken in excessive amounts, have toxic effects on the liver. This kind of liver disease can be treated easily upon careful examination of the patient’s drug history. Toxic doses of acetaminophen that result in hepatocellular necrosis is the most frequently recorded case of drug induced liver failure. Other drugs that cause different liver diseases are amiodarone, bromfenac, tetracycline, niacin, cyclosporine, and certain oral contraceptives.

Unpredictable Drug-induced Liver Disease.

Idiosyncratic drug reactions can cause liver injury. This type of drug reaction occurs mostly in persons who cannot tolerate a particular drug. Use of one particular drug may cause liver disease only in a fraction of individuals. It is not related to dosage, i.e., even small amounts of the drug can cause adverse reactions and are usually due to some genetic disorder. Enzymes required to metabolize certain drugs may not be present in liver cells causing damage to the liver. Isoniazid and diclofenac may cause hepatocellular necrosis. Drugs like chlorpromazine and estrogen may cause cholestasis. Use of certain oral contraceptives and anabolic steroids may result in hepatic or liver tumor.

Toxicity of the drug administered is determined and methods are then adopted to detoxify the patients suffering from drug induced liver disease.

Tags: Disease, Health

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The liver is very well connected to the other organs and systems in your body. This is the reason why it is very difficult to diagnose a disease that is connected to the liver. The only way to find out for certain that the disease is indeed related to the liver is by doing a very thorough examination. It is not uncommon for a person who is suffering from a liver disease to experience symptoms that is characteristic of another disorder relating another organ or system.

Medical History

Since the symptoms of liver disease are very subtle, it is very difficult to diagnose during its early stages. This is why it is very important to have routine checkups, along with urine and blood samples if you know that you have a family history of liver disorders. Liver problems can also occur in situations where a person?s diabetes is poorly controlled.

Physical Exam

There are many symptoms that may show up during a physical examination that will indicate possible liver problems. Some of the possible symptoms that may be detected if you have liver problems would be enlarged lymph nodes. This could be caused by a secondary bacterial infection. Other symptoms include bruising and a high fever.

Urinalysis

There are many things a urine examination can tell about what is going on with the body. They can tell us what types of toxins there might be in the body, as well as tell what your body is lacking.

Blood Panel

Getting a complete blood count, as well as a biochemistry panel done by your health care provider would be a smart decision if you know that you are at risk for a potential liver disorder. This is to make sure that you are in good health and that your liver is in good working order. If you are already suffering from any symptoms that might indicate a liver disorder, then you should get these tests performed as soon as possible.

Tags: Cancer, Medical

Tags: Disease, Health, Medical, Illness, Treatment, Disease+Information

The liver is one of the largest organs in the human body and is essential to the proper functioning of the body. The liver synthesizes proteins, bile, acids, and cholesterol. It maintains a balance of many nutrients and chemicals like glucose, fat, cholesterol, vitamins, and hormones and aids in the excretion of many waste products such as bilirubin, cholesterol, poison, and drugs. Liver disease is thus a serious condition that can be cured if it is cared for in the early stages. There are four stages for any malfunction of liver: inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and cancer.

Inflammation

The liver can get inflamed due to certain conditions, use of alcohol and certain chemicals. The conditions that can cause liver inflammation are Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Autoimmune Hepatitis, and Wilson’s disease. Extensive alcohol use also causes inflammation of the liver. Some drugs and industrial pollutants may affect the liver. Inflammation is characterized by redness, swelling, heat and possible pain in the liver.

Fibrosis

The second stage of liver disease is fibrosis or scar tissues. After the liver has been inflamed for a long period, connective tissues of the liver accumulate. At this stage the liver functions slowly degrade.

Cirrhosis

The third stage of liver disease is called cirrhosis. When liver has been damaged due to inflammation and fibrosis, it does not function properly. Accumulation of scar tissues blocks blood flow through the liver, preventing it from functioning normally. Some of the symptoms of end stage cirrhosis are edema, bruising and bleeding, jaundice, gallstones, and an increase of toxins in the blood, enlarged blood vessels, and diabetes.

Cancer

If liver disease is not treated in the earlier three stages, cancer may develop. Liver cancer, or hepatocellular carcinoma, affects approximately 4% of patients with cirrhosis. A liver transplant is one of the options for treating liver cancer.

Tags: Medical, Disease

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Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive, neuro-degenerative disease characterized in the brain by abnormal clumps and tangled bundles of fibers composed of misplaced proteins. Age is the most important risk factor for AD; the number of people with the disease doubles every 5 years beyond age 65. Symptoms of AD include memory loss, language deterioration, impaired ability to mentally manipulate visual information, poor judgment, confusion, restlessness, and mood swings. Eventually AD destroys cognition, personality, and the ability to function. The early symptoms of AD, which include forgetfulness and loss of concentration, are often missed because they resemble natural signs of aging.

Alzheimer’s disease itself cannot be prevented, but there are steps people can take in order to reduce memory loss and dementia when it comes to the development of the disease. Also, some scientists speculate that even though it cannot be completely prevented, there are some things people can do in order to reduce their risk of developing the disease. There are many different medications and vitamin supplements that can be used to relieve and manage some of the symptoms of AD. Also, other medications may help control behavioral symptoms such as sleeplessness, agitation, wandering, anxiety, and depression. AD is a progressive disease, but its course can vary from 5 to 20 years. The most common cause of death in AD patients is infection.

Research has shown that vitamins C and E do help to reduce the risk of memory impairment as people age by about 30 percent. The vitamins have also been shown to reduce the chance of developing the disease by approximately 70 percent. A study published in the Archives of Neurology showed that people who ate Omega 3 rich fish such as salmon once a week or more had a substantially lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease. In fact, the seven-year study of 815 nursing home residents found those who reported eating fish at least once a week had a 60 percent lower risk of Alzheimer’s compared to those who rarely or never ate fish. If the mercury content in the fish you are eating is a concern or if you are just not eating enough Omega 3 rich fish, you may want to consider adding Omega 3 fatty acids to your diet. When taking vitamins it is important to consult your doctor, as vitamins can carry risks, too.

Another study suggests that high homocysteine levels are linked with mental declines associated with Alzheimer’s disease in elderly people. High levels of a substance in the blood called homocysteine tops the list of potentially new risk factors for heart disease, stroke, and now dementia. Elevated levels of homocysteine is an indication of inadequate folate and vitamin B-12 in the diet. High homocysteine levels can be treated very easily with vitamins, including folate, niacin, and B-12. Though nutritional deficiencies can be the cause, some medications like the seizure drug Dilantin can elevate homocysteine levels in the blood. Kidney disease, alcohol use, and too little physical activity can also elevate homocysteine.

Not everyone with Alzheimer’s Disease has the same symptoms. You can use the information on the vitamins listed in the above paragraphs to discuss with your doctor. He or she will be able to help you determin what is best for you. Remember not to add to your medications or stop taking any without first consulting your physician. Certain vitamins, minerals and herbal supplements can react adversely with medications you may already be taking.

Copyright (c) 2006 PillFreeVitamins.com

Tags: Health, Medical

Tags: Disease, Health, Medical, Illness, Treatment, Disease+Information

Holiday time is coming up, and for caregivers of loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease, it can be a very challenging time of the year. Here are some suggestions to help you and your loved one to have a safe and happy season together in spite of the obstacles.

In the midst of putting up decorations, rearranging furniture and putting up Christmas trees, the person with Alzheimer’s will do better in an environment that is as consistent as possible. Try not to move the furniture more than absolutely necessary, and watch for danger spots, like electrical cords or throw rugs that could cause a fall. Don’t have candles burning in places that could easily be brushed up against with clothing. Avoid using blinking lights or decorations that look edible. Use your loved one’s best-loved decorations to spark memories and increase their ability to enjoy the festivities. Play familiar Christmas songs, and fix traditional foods that they will enjoy.

Have young children play in a separate room to keep noise levels down and avoid causing your loved one to feel panicked or agitated. Alzheimer’s patients pick up on the moods of others around them, and the atmosphere needs to feel serene and peaceful for them to enjoy visitors. Have just a few guests at one time, and avoid large crowds of people. Name tags are very helpful and will keep your loved one from feeling frustrated and embarrassed when they can’t remember people they should know. Have a quiet room that the Alzheimer patient is accustomed to in case they feel overwhelmed by too much noisy activity. If you notice signs of increased confusion or agitation, assist them to their quiet place to rest for a while.

Christmas stories from years gone by will help draw your loved one in and keep them involved in the celebration. It’s much easier for people with Alzheimer’s Disease to remember things that happened long ago than something that happened yesterday, so reminisce! Try simple tasks to occupy the time, like frosting cookies, stamping envelopes for cards, or making simple ornaments. Look at catalogs together and help your special one to order gifts for people they care about. Take time to look at photo albums and talk about happy holiday times together. This could be just what they need to reconnect and appreciate the holidays, creating more memories that you will hold dear for years to come.

Tags: Illness, Cancer

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According to medical scientists, BMI, which stands for Body Mass Index, is a possible indicator of developing a series of conditions such as excessive cholesterol levels, arteriosclerosis, hypertension, heart disease, diabetes mellitus and kidney disease. The Body Mass Index calculates the ratio between one’s height (and physical constitution) and weight, also taking in consideration one’s gender and age. An abnormally high BMI (characteristic to overweight and obese people) points to serious health risks at a certain stage in life. While some persons with abnormally high BMI develop cholesterol problems and heart disease at more advanced ages (usually over the age of 40), others may be confronted with serious health problems by the age of 25 or even earlier.

At present, two out of three Americans are rendered overweight or obese by BMI criteria. By contrast, several studies conducted in the late 60’s indicate that only one in four persons were defined as such by BMI criteria at that time. Today’s increasingly larger number of people confronted with excessive weight comes as a very disturbing fact, considering that persons with serious weight problems are very susceptible to developing an entire series of interrelated disorders. According to statistic studies, obesity and elevated cholesterol are responsible for causing more than 280,000 annual deaths among the population of the United States. Obesity and high cholesterol levels have even surpassed smoking as the leading preventable cause of death in the United States and many European countries.

Medical scientists inform that a normal BMI ranges anywhere from 18 to 24, with several exceptions registered among persons with handicap and persons with other special conditions. Persons who have a BMI over the value of 24 are exposed to a serious risk of increased blood pressure, arteriosclerosis, heart disease and congestive heart failure due to elevated blood cholesterol (cholesterol levels are considerably higher in overweight and obese persons than in persons with normal weight). Having a BMI over 24 also renders one more susceptible of developing diabetes mellitus due to impaired glucose tolerance and an entire series of disorders associated with diabetes: decreased vision, impairments of the nervous system, kidney failure and so on.

Persons who are classified as overweight or obese by BMI criteria are advised to take special measures for controlling their weight. Healthy diet and regular physical exercise are the best methods of losing weight without the aid of doctor-prescribed medications. Persons who can’t lose weight by only with the means of diet and exercise should ask for support from their doctor or nutritionist. Persons with abnormally high BMI should realize the risks involved and make efforts to efficiently control their weight before it is too late.

Tags: Cancer, Aging

Tags: Disease, Health, Medical, Illness, Treatment, Disease+Information

Although no one knows what causes Alzheimer’s disease, many research studies indicate that those who regularly eat fatty fish or who supplement with fish oil have a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease later in life. Why this is the case remains an interesting topic of investigation but it is believed to be due, at least in part, to the role Omega 3 fatty acids play in the general functioning of the brain itself.

Omega 3 fatty acids are known to improve mental function, mood, memory and concentration and have already demonstrated considerable success in the treatment of conditions such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, ADD and ADHD. Currently there is no cure for Alzheimer’s, although research does indicate that Omega 3 fatty acids can slow down the ageing of the brain and possibly delay the onset as well as slow down the progress of Alzheimer’s too.

One research team from Aberdeen and Edinburgh University led by Professor Lawrence Whalley, questioned approximately 300 people aged 64 on their Omega 3 intake, they also tested their blood levels of Omega 3. The participants had previously taken part in a survey on IQ in 1947 when they were 11 years old. They found that those who had taken Omega 3 supplements showed better results on mental speed tests and there was even an association between the results and the level of Omega 3 in the blood of the participants. The team reported that the evidence seemed to suggest that Omega 3 could slow down the ageing of the brain and help it to work faster.

Another study conducted by Uppsala University in Sweden looked at the effect of Omega 3 fatty acids on patients who already had Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers gave 89 patients the Omega 3 fatty acids Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) for a period of 6 months and another 85 were given a placebo in the form of corn oil. After the initial 6-month period, the placebo group also switched to Omega 3 for a further 6 months. Although there was no real differences noted between the two groups in general, there was an interesting result where 32 patients who had milder mental impairment showed less of a decline whilst taking Omega 3.

The results of both these studies indicate that Omega 3 supplementation might not only improve mental function in the twilight years, it could possibly be beneficial in slowing down the progress of Alzheimer’s disease, particularly in the early stages, however, more research is required to substantiate this.

DHA deficiency and the “fatty acid paradox”

The brain is composed mostly of fat, in particular, the Omega 3 fatty acid Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Patients with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia have shown very low concentrations of DHA in the brain indicating a possible DHA deficiency. This has naturally led to the conclusion that supplementing with DHA might offer therapeutic help.

However, what has been dubbed the “fatty acid paradox” is the belief that the best way to correct any DHA deficiency is not by increasing intake of DHA as what one might expect, but to increase intake of EPA instead. If enough EPA is present, the body can produce DHA as required.

EPA is believed to inhibit the activity of the enzyme phospholipase A2. Over-activity of this enzyme is associated with neurotoxicity and death of brain cells and is a feature of Alzheimer’s disease as well as other neurodegenerative diseases.

What is Alzheimer’s disease?

Alois Alzheimer first identified Alzheimer’s disease in the early 1900’s. It affects over half a million people in the UK alone. It is characterised by progressive mental decline and begins with periods of memory loss, confusion, and personality changes before proceeding to full-blown dementia with complete loss of most cognitive abilities and even physical abilities. No one knows what causes it, it is irreversible and there is no cure. It is relatively rare under 50 years of age but the chances of developing it increase the older you become. Medication is aimed at slowing down the progression of the disease. It is not the same as normal age-related cognitive decline where some impairment in mental function is considered a normal part of the ageing process.

Conclusion

Although no evidence exists that Omega 3 fatty acid supplementation prevents you from developing Alzheimer’s disease, the indications are that increasing intake of Omega 3 does decrease your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease later in life. There are indeed many other health benefits afforded by getting an adequate amount of Omega 3 in the diet including increased protection against cardiovascular disease, arthritis and many other inflammatory conditions. Bearing in mind the toxicity risk involved in eating too much fresh fish, supplementing with high quality fish oil would seem the best way to gain the protective benefits associated with Omega 3 fatty acids.

Tags: Cancer, Medical

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Osteoporosis is a condition which affects up to 50% of women by older age, and 1 in 8 men. This condition is responsible for major bone trauma, loss of independence, and fatalities amongst the elderly. Osteoporosis can devastate lives, and yet is one of the most preventable diseases. So what preventative measure can we employ to reduce our chance of developing this condition?

The single most important factor in preventing osteoporosis is to achieve peak bone density as a child and young adult. Bones continue to grow into young adulthood, and then they stop growing and start a cycle of renewal called remodeling. In order to achieve peak bone density (optimum bone health) an individual must have a healthy diet rich in vitamins and minerals, and be physically active. Bones thicken and strengthen as a response to stress such as running, jumping, carrying weight, and generally bumping around; as children should. Unfortunately, children are becoming less active, and also eating diets which are insufficiently fresh and healthy. Lack of exercise and poor diet will result in a generation of children who never achieved peak bone density, and who are at risk of developing osteoporosis at younger ages, and in greater numbers. Step one to lower your kids risk of getting this disease is to encourage them out of the house and to spend as much time as possible running, skipping, jumping, and taking part in organized sports.

Diet is also extremely important in avoiding this disease. We all know that we need to eat calcium to have strong teeth and bones (eat lots of green leafy vegetables), but we also need vitamin D to be able to use this calcium. Exposure to sunlight will allow the body to produce vitamin D, even in the winter months. This summer saw a warning to parents not to be too fastidious in keeping children out of the sun, amid concerns that they may not make enough vitamin D. There is also a link between the over-consumption of protein and osteoporosis, as eating large amounts of protein encourages the body to use its calcium supplies from the bones. Last week research was published which links an intake of cola drinks to low bone mineral density in women. Those who had a cola drink each day had a 4% lower than average bone mineral density; a considerable loss to the skeleton. Although tests were not conducted on children the scientists involved suggested that regularly drinking cola drinks could prevent young women from achieving that all-important bone density, leaving them vulnerable in later life.

Other behaviors which will put you at greater risk are smoking and drinking alcohol. There are hundreds of reasons why smoking is bad for you, and this is another big one to add to the list. Consumption of alcohol is on the increase among women, especially among young women, and is linked to increased risk of many cancers such as breast cancer, and also dementia and osteoporosis. Both men and women should try and limit alcohol consumption, and if you avoid alcohol altogether, you have a good head start in health.

Adult bones also respond to the stresses placed upon them, and so all adults will benefit from increasing the amount of weight bearing exercise in their lives (walking, gardening, jogging, dancing, racket sports etc) even a mile of walking a day will contribute to better bone density. All forms of exercise help guard against osteoporosis; varied exercise should encourage greater muscular strength around the joints, better coordination, balance, and don’t forget that flexibility also plays its part; make a chest stretch part of your daily routine. This will help prevent rounding of the spine which may cause tiny spinal fractures in later life, leaving the sufferer stooped. Developing a good sense of body awareness and balance will guard against falls, so get down to your Yoga class or practice balancing exercises at home, such as single leg squats, arabesques and simply balancing on one leg whilst moving the arms around; get a nice pink feather duster and do the dusting on one leg! Developing good spine and hip stabilizer muscles will protect the two main sites of fracture; all exercise will help with this, but in particular Pilates. Practice good posture to contribute to spinal health, and try as many different varieties of exercise throughout the week to keep all of the muscles and joints in good working order.

Because osteoporosis is linked strongly to the menopause, hormone-replacement therapy is also an option available to women at risk, although as this treatment carries other risks such as a greater chance of developing uterine cancer, individuals need to make a careful decision along with their GP as to what is best for them. When a diagnosis has been made, there are positive ways to control and live with this condition. Drugs are available, and these treatments can be reinforced with healthy diet, and a specialized exercise programme. The exercises which will benefit all people at risk, and also those post-diagnosis will include range of movement exercises to keep joints working efficiently, balance and coordination work to lessen the risk of falling, flexibility exercises, especially to stretch out those chest muscles, and postural work to take the strain out of the spine and hip. Aerobic work such as walking is also important, as is some weight training to target problem areas. These exercised should be part of a programme designed for the individual with osteoporosis. Your GP may be able to refer you to a specially-qualified personal trainer, physiotherapist, or local class which is suitable.

Osteoporosis is a truly awful disease with one in four fractures proving fatal, and yet is hugely preventable. The younger generation needs our help to ensure that they do not develop this condition, and there is plenty that people of all ages can do to improve their chances. It all boils down to doing the things which you already know are right; eating well, increasing exercise, and importantly the variety of exercise that you do, giving up smoking, drinking moderately, chucking out the fizzy drinks and junk food, and getting the kids involved in activity.

Tags: Aging, Disease

Tags: Disease, Health, Medical, Illness, Treatment, Disease+Information

In 1975, a pediatrician named Allan Walker reported a startling link between formula-fed infants and the occurrence of infectious diseases like neonatal meningitis and food allergies. In that report, he suggested that the this link was due to antigen absorption through the intestinal walls, and that breastfeeding infants for the first three months of life would prevent this absorption and decrease their susceptibility to disease.

He concluded that the passive immunity provided by colostrum and breast milk might play an important role in protecting infants from infection and disease by blocking the passage of pathogens and toxins through the intestinal walls and into the bloodstream. Dr. Walker’s report initiated decades of further research, and we now know that he was right.

Colostrum and breast milk do much more than provide nutritional support. They also provide developmental support that is necessary for the maturation of the gastrointestinal tract, and immunological support that is vital for the continued growth and strengthening of the immune system.

Colostrum is the first milk provided to breastfeeding newborns during the first few days of life. This special milk is yellow to orange in color, thick and rather sticky, and very easily digested. It is richer in proteins than mature breast milk—both nutritional proteins for utilization in the body, and non-nutritional proteins that remain in the gut to aid in its closure to pathogens and toxins.

Infants who receive colostrum early and often have mature digestive tracts that are more robust throughout their first six months of life, and strong immune systems that are better able to resist infection and disease. Colostrum is the perfect source of nutrition for infants, providing them with the nutrients required to ensure proper growth and the development of the brain and nervous system.

Colostrum changes gradually to mature milk during the first two weeks after birth. During this transition period, the breast milk will become thinner in its consistency and whiter in its appearance. The concentration of antibodies in the transition milk will begin to decrease, while its overall volume will begin to increase.

The antibodies and other immune factors in mature human breast milk do not disappear completely; in fact, immunological protection against viruses and bacteria continues to be passed along from the mother to the baby as long as the baby continues breastfeeding. Like colostrum, breast milk is the perfect source of nutrition for infants, and tailor-made to their changing needs over time.

It contains an optimal balance of carbohydrates, protein, and fat for energy, and it provides the digestive enzymes, minerals, vitamins, and hormones for a baby’s optimal health and continued growth.

Most commercially prepared formulas are based on non-fat bovine milk, whey protein, or soy protein. These formulas must be fortified with carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals in order for them to match the nutritional content of colostrum and breast milk.

But the active antibodies and other immune factors contained in human colostrum and breast milk cannot be added to these formulas, and they cannot provide the same developmental stimulus or immunological protection. As a result, babies receiving fluids other than mother’s colostrum/breast milk for first three days of life have an increased incidence of diarrhea during their first six months, and formula-fed infants are more prone to a variety of common infections to which they are particularly vulnerable.

Click Here to Find Out More About Bovine Colostrum At :

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The headline article in Arizona Woman, October 2006—”The Fight Against Breast Cancer Expands,” prompted me to write this article.

Many books have been written on the important fact that our thoughts and feelings create our reality. I am sharing these insights with you because I want you to know you have greater control of your health than you know. I know from my own experience and from the experience of my clients whom I help heal from dire dis-eases—cancer, diabetes, lupus, Hepatitis C, Fibromyalgia, MS, high blood pressure, mitral valve prolapse and the list goes on. I hope I can explain the origin of dis-ease that will inspire you to transcend victim consciousness and live the life you were born to live—healthy, happy and with peace of mind.

Nothing can be healed through a process of ‘fighting against it.’ First we need to look at how reality is created. Thoughts are created in the mind and feelings follow. Thoughts and feelings are impulses of energy. The human body is made up of trillions of cells. Cells of the nervous system, called nerve cells or neurons, are specialized to carry “messages” through an electrochemical process. The human brain has approximately 100 billion neurons.

Neurons have specialized projections called dendrites and axons. Dendrites bring information to the cell body and axons take information away from the cell body. Information from one neuron flows to another neuron across a synapse. The synapse is a small gap separating neurons. The synapse consists of:
1. a presynaptic ending that contains neurotransmitters, mitochondria and other cell organelles,
2. a postsynaptic ending that contains receptor sites for neurotransmitters and,
3. a synaptic cleft or space between the presynaptic and postsynaptic endings.

Thoughts and feelings are impulses of energy and information. They send out vibrational pictures, patterns, and colors (not words or language). This energy affects the atmosphere (energy field) around the person thinking the thought or feeling the feeling. Once they go out they can never be retracted. What we see in the outer world is a reflection of collective humanity’s thoughts and feelings.

Radio and TV programming create our future. It’s simple to understand how reality is created when you understand the Science of Consciousness. But what is consciousness and how can you influence it? Collective consciousness is the sum total of humanity’s beliefs, thoughts, feelings and actions. Media, public relations firms, and advertising constantly send out thought-forms that program us for sickness, drugs, violence, fear, and materiality. These thoughts go into collective consciousness and create a huge cesspool of dysfunctional beliefs from which we draw our personal thoughts. Perception is carefully and precisely regulated by pharmaceutical and medical practices.

Most conventional wisdom is implanted into the public consciousness by a thousand contrived media clips per day. Whose Thoughts Are You Thinking? Where attention goes—reality is created. Have you wondered why most people in America generally think the same thing about most issues? Have you wondered why a entire community has a high incidence of a particular disease? These perceptions are perpetrated and continuously reinforced by spin-doctors. The thought is created first-then it manifests in everyday life. For example, constant awareness to medical problems creates more drug customers. Constant awareness to being a victim creates more people feeling victimized.

Cancer was rare until someone told us about it and programmed fear thoughts into consciousness. People did not think about flu shots until the media promoted them. Have you ever wondered about the ethics of TV Allergy Reports being sponsored by a drug company? Do you believe allergy medicine will cure allergies or are pharmaceuticals a profit making industry? What’s true is that awareness to allergies promotes allergies. Remove those thoughts from your energy field and your allergies will be gone. Now inspite of all the research, chemotherapy, etc. cancer is on the rise. Thoughts and feelings create disease!

Let’s explore conventional thought streams promoted in today’s society which are creating public consciousness:
1) An education guarantees financial success,
2) war will create peace,
3) fluoride protects your teeth,
4) take out your gall bladder, tonsils, spleen, appendices and after a certain age, remove breasts, uterus, ovaries, etc., because they aren’t really needed or that is the way to create health. Think about it—if these body parts weren’t needed why did the human body evolve with them in tact?

5) HIV causes AIDS,
6) without vaccines infectious diseases will return,
7) the FDA thoroughly tests all drugs before marketing them,
if it’s written in the newspaper, on TV or professional journal, it’s true,
9) flu shots prevent flu,
10) menopause complications are something every woman can expect,
11) pharmaceutical drugs restore health. Think about it—if drugs restored health why are thousands of people taking numerous drugs?
12) pets need drugs, shots and surgery,
13) scientists and doctors are god-like,
14) be afraid of sun causing cancer,
15) “own a piece of the rock”, makes you wiser, wealthier
16) the purpose of life is shopping—shop ‘till you drop.

Do yourself a favor, ‘Dare To Think For Your Self’ even though you might be considered a weirdo. Being a weirdo is healthier, than allowing yourself to be programmed to have all the diseases the pharmaceutical companies want you to have so they can sell drugs. Most people are ignorant-not evil. But, as the saying goes ignorance of the law is no excuse. The result of ignorance however, is why I rely on Universal Laws. These laws transcend man-made laws, and hold true without fail. If you jump out of a window on the 10th floor you will go down … and if you plant potato seeds you will get potatoes—not corn. Thoughts are planting seeds. Feelings follow thoughts. Thoughts and feelings create disease!

“We cannot create solutions to problems with the same consciousness that created them.”—Einstein. Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results is the definition of insanity.—Anonymous.

When you understand the truth about how reality is created, you will think beyond living in only a “physical world” and think in terms of an “energy world”. To break free of collective programming you will need to shift your thought programming and then vigilantly select each thought and feeling. Shifting your thought programming is much like installing an upgraded computer program onto your computer. “Fight Against” Energy Creates More Of What You Don’t Want and Collapses Your Energy Field.

For example, if you are in a relationship with someone and they are stuck in their doldrums, what you need to do is observe what makes you feel good, or what brings you joy-and do it. Don’t waste your energy fighting against what you don’t want. This only creates more of what you don’t want. Another example: Many people are dissatisfied with management or the company they work for. Most of their energy is wasted ruminating about the boss and co-workers. It’s more productive to decide what makes you fulfilled and create it. Only invest in positive thoughts. Make the necessary changes to your preferred state of functioning. Your energy, time and money will increase because you’re not “fighting against something” or “ruminating about getting rid of something.” It’s impossible to get “far enough away” from anything or anyone, because separation is only an illusion. People or experiences are never more than a thought away.

The Internet is helping people learn about being connected. Just as you can send e-mail via the Internet, we constantly send people “energy e-mail” messages. It doesn’t matter whether the person is in the same room or across the globe. They instantly, consciously or unconsciously, get your “energy e-mail.” To create the reality you prefer – you need to be very selective with each thought you allow to enter your mind, and carefully monitor the thoughts and feelings you send to others. “Hedging Against” and “Ruminating.” To Protect Yourself Most people have been programmed to hedge against inflation, to purchase insurance to protect against disability, fire, death, and illness, etc. The “save for a rainy day” mindset is also “hedging against.” This attracts to you what you don’t want in your life. The hidden motivation to save for retirement is usually driven by a desire to protect against old age.
“Has the campaign, “Say NO to drugs” worked, if not, why not? It can’t work because, the brain only records the last word … drugs … drugs … drugs. The saying, needed to be, “Say, “NO” to drugs…and Say, “YES to Life.”

The mindset of AGAINST vs. FOR … profits huge industries. People buy vitamins, hair and beauty aids, their children’s education, and get regular medical tests and checkups for the negative reasons of protecting themselves. All of the above scenarios are fear-based motivations that dis-empower you, collapse your energy field and create the opposite of your intentions.

PR Firms Raise Lots Of Money For Organizations “Hedging Against” something. I know several people who had a health crisis, after training for today’s popular fund raising events. Well-intended participants are running, walking or biking, with the intent to avoid cancer or honor someone they knew who experienced cancer. What they have not understood is that by putting these thoughts into their minds—the disease gets created. What if people knew they get what they are thinking and feeling—not what they think they are thinking and feeling … AND that whatever they give attention to will expand. Would they still participate? Words and feelings are powerful creators of reality. Avoid putting cancer thoughts in your consciousness (consciously or unconsciously)—you won’t create cancer in your life. A magnet does not stick to wood—only to metal. Remove the thoughts from millions of people’s consciousness (and even from your family genetic consciousness)-and the disease or conditions disappear.

Your brain can’t hold two thoughts simultaneously. You can’t simultaneously hold a happy and sad thought, or healthy and sick thought. It’s impossible to think about “Fighting Breast Cancer” and simultaneously hold the thought of total health and vibrant aliveness. So what are you doing when you are fighting against something? The answer is, the more attention you put on the disease—the more people experience it.

Health is our natural state. Disease is abnormal and can’t exist in a healthy body. Remove the thoughts of victim, fear, worry, war, disease, etc., and the thoughts are deleted from the collective thought cesspool. Your “search engine” will come up with nothing. Spell check makes sure words are spelled right. Empower yourself by using a “thought-check” system for the next 30 days and see how your life changes. Allow only thoughts of health, joy, peace, integrity, and harmony. Watch how everything changes. We need to hold the pharmaceutical and medical profession liable for the results of their actions.

A well-known PR firm claims they have netted more dollars for breast cancer and AIDS charities more quickly than any known private event enterprise in United States history. But the goals are not aligned to natural laws and universal principles. Dis-ease consciousness creates dis-ease-and that is why there have been no solutions, no real cures for a variety of dis-eases. This is why there have been no solutions, no real cures for a variety of dis-eases. To quote the promotional brochures for this event, “3 Days Of Walking from Santa Barbara to Malibu to FIGHT breast cancer with 3,000 others like you. 3 Days Of Kindness, commitment and friendship. 3-Days of Meaning you’ll remember for the rest of your life.” Some good will comes from these events. There will be some heart-warming experiences, new friendships will be made, and money will be raised. But what will be deposited in the collective thought/feeling bank to prevent dis-ease in the future?

My high school peers who are zealots for long term care insurance, and fighting against every disease imaginable are dying at very young ages. They constantly think about how awful it is for people to get ill and lose their life savings and retirement money. Their real motivation was FEAR. From their fear, they manifested their greatest fear in their own life. Another analogy how thoughts create reality—did the campaign, “Say, NO to drugs” work, if not, why not? It can’t work because the brain only records the last word … drugs … drugs … drugs. The saying needed to be, “Say, “NO” to drugs…and Say, “Yes to Life.”

Think about this, grocery stores are now “Food & Drug Stores.” Where are we headed? Unless you own stocks in pharmaceutical companies and don’t care about the future world or yourself, your children and grandchildren will live in … please take heed. Now that you are more informed and aware about how thoughts/feelings create reality, how would you like to work for the Orange County Financial Abuse Specialist Team? They specialize in training financial abuse specialists in agencies and organizations that serve the elderly. Or are you willing to support the National Drug and Alcohol Awareness Week, where a PTA organization puts a “death toll poster car” on display at the high school campus depicting people killed last year by drunk drivers in Orange County. Their stated objective “We hope to increase a greater awareness of substance abuse through this project.” How awful that our children have to suffer because of ill informed, dysfunctional thinking adults; Or the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society … Fighting Blood-Related Cancers; Or TV evangelists, who play on people’s emotions using starving children’s pictures or pictures of the helpless and hopeless; Or a concert to “STOP THE ABUSE of Afghanistan women or children;” Or “Help Stamp Out Hunger.” Or, America’s Walk For Diabetes; Or, run or walk the marathon in Honolulu for the Arthritis Foundation? Joints In Motion with a slogan, “Take it on!” Or, Race for the Cure-112 events nationwide and this organization is the leading catalyst in the FIGHT AGAINST this devastating disease…every woman is at risk-great perks, extra mammograms, T-shirts, and complementary refreshments; Or you can create more awareness to arthritis by becoming a member of the Arthritis Foundation’s Joints in Motion Training Team, take a vacation, and run the “I Love Paris In The Springtime Marathon.” What about, “Prevent CHILD ABUSE?” Again, the brain records child abuse; Or Alzheimer’s Memory Walk-a fun way to join the FIGHT AGAINST Alzheimer’s Disease, where participants are instructed to bring pictures of their loved ones to remind them of why they are walking. The brochure shows four generations with only two generations with Alzheimer’s disease; Or Project Sister …sexual assault crisis services educating the communities we serve about the nature and causes of sexual violence; Or these internet sites: The Hunger site, The Kids AIDS site, The Landmine site, The Rainforest site, or The Child Survival site. What solutions do any of these examples provide? Is it any wonder why hospitals, doctors and drug companies have so many patients? In addition to all the previous information in this article, many magazines use full front page headlines like, “The Diabetes Epidemic…a killer disease. This creates conscious awareness to diabetes and creates patients for the medical profession.

Consider this: A Walk For Peace in Celebration of the United Nations; Walking the Camino for the purpose of a spiritual and physical challenge… and with the intention to find one’s deepest “spiritual meaning,” and write a book about it, as Shirley McClaine did. Can you hear the difference in the motivations and energetic vibration?

These examples are FOR health and FOR very different motivations than the previous examples. Polarized Thinking Presenting information with polarized viewpoints is another way to increase negative results through creating apathy. The back and forth bantering does the same thing to your psyche as a cat that bats a mouse back and forth until it’s lethargic. Many people today are confused and don’t know who to believe or what to trust. This is the result of strategic spin-doctors who practice the science of creating public opinion. They can put a particular product or concept in a desirable light. They know the best public relations takes place when people are unaware that they are being manipulated. To create public opinion PR firms select specific radio, TV, magazines and newspapers and use third party endorsements, institutes, foundations, celebrity endorsements, scientists for hire, attack strategies, and the media uses press releases from pharmaceutical companies ostensibly as investigative news. The sole purpose of press releases as news is to keep you in fear and uncertainty so you will watch again and be subjected to more advertising. Polarized talk show participants keep consciousness stuck in no-win situations. Dowsing and Kinesiology Testing has been used for eons to find water, oil and gold. . What Dowsing proves is the impact on a person’s energy field of all the information I’ve been sharing. If it’s truth—the field expands. If it isn’t—the field collapses. It’s amazing to witness testing someone who doesn’t even know what the “pink cancer ribbon” means, yet we get negative test results.

There is a disease of the month celebrated every month—What are we creating when we celebrate a disease? What do you think Breast Cancer Awareness month will create—more health or dis-ease? Do you want to be part of the problem, or part of the solution? Think about this and then determine what you will do.

Who You Are and What You Do Makes A Difference. “We are not only responsible for what we do, but also, for that what we don’t do.”—Voltaire

One of the greatest gifts we can give to the world is to monitor everything we think and feel. Stop reading popular magazines and newspapers…stop watching TV and listening to radio…and you will be amazed at how different you think and feel.

It takes great courage to pull out of the cesspool of dysfunctional thinking … and live the Universal Laws of truth. It’s time to wake-up and take responsibility for your health, wellness and happiness. What we envision is what we will create. Consider how different the world would be if TV and radio programming only broadcast information about the positive aspects of life, instead of all the ills and deviants. Their negative thought forms are a major factor in creating society today. Think about the world our children and grandchildren will live in. Be discerning, selective—and only support people and empowering causes that truly make this world a better place to live.

Tags: Disease, Health

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Hernia and especially inguinal hernia is a very common and widespread illness that affects millions but although many suffer from it and the pain that it causes can be excruciating if left untreated, there aren’t too many discussions about it in the medical community and very seldom you hear news about hernia or inguinal hernia. It is a pretty serious disease so more people should be made aware of it and it’s symptoms so they know how to handle it if they or someone from their family starts suffering from hernia, because as mentioned before, this disease is very spread and a large number of people have or have had hernia problems.

Hernia (as a general term) occurs when some muscles weaken and allow a part of the tissue beneath to slip through a small opening created due to the weakness. Inguinal hernia appears when the muscles of the inguinal canal weaken and the intestine that lies beneath slips through an opening in the inguinal canal. The first sign that appears is a small lump near the thigh, which is soon followed by pain in that area. A person suffering from inguinal hernia will feel pain in the groin and in the thighs area while coughing or lifting heavy objects.

Muscle weakening occurs as time passes and the body ages, but the origins of this weakness date back at birth where at many people the peritoneum does not fully close. If you have the muscle weakness then the intestine will pass through the opening if you lift something heavy, or if you suffer from obesity. Sometimes pregnancy may cause the intestine to slip too, in women’s case. More women have inguinal hernia then men, but everyone can contract the illness at any age.

Inguinal hernia is not a dangerous disease, and many prefer to delay the surgery and live with their condition, trying to keep away from heavy object lifting. But this is a misconception, you may delay the surgery but eventually you must fix hernia because in many cases complications appeared when inguinal hernia was left untreated. These complications can be severe and life-threatening, so try to avoid any problems by doing the hernia surgery. It’s not a painful surgery with long weeks of recovery, the tehniquies have improved so now it’s not painful at all and you’ll recover in a few days, much better than living wilt the illness and avoiding some thigh for years. If the bulge caused by hernia is quite painful and it’s growing you must go through surgery as soon as possible because that’s a sign that complications are on the way.

So, inguinal hernia is a very common disease that has been treated and dealt with for centuries so there’s no need to be afraid or avoid surgery if you find out that you are suffering from it. As soon as you see a bulge on the groin visit your doctor and listen to his advises about the treatment.

Tags: Aging, Health

Tags: Disease, Health, Medical, Illness, Treatment, Disease+Information

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Since the number of people that are diagnosed with the gallbladder disease is alarmingly increasing, and gallbladder surgery is one of the most performed surgeries in the United States, it is important that you understand this illness and its symptoms so that you can discover it as soon as possible and avoid surgery if you can.

The gallbladder is a small organ that can be found between the liver and the duodenum, that is connected to the liver in its upper part and to the stomach in its lower part. The liver produces the bile, a substance needed whenever you eat fat foods, because fat can’t be digested through the normal procedure because it does not dissolve in water. Therefore, the liver makes the bile and then it stores it in the gallbladder for whenever it’s needed. When you eat fat food the gallbladder starts pouring the bile needed for the food’s digestion. Due to the ingredients of the bile, sometimes small stones can form in it and these stones can cause problems that can only be fixed through surgery in some cases, or they may cause gallbladder attacks in more extreme situations.

If you learn the symptoms of the gallbladder disease well, and those of a gallbladder attack too, you will be able to detect both of them early and call for a doctor. If you discover the illness as early as possible the treatment will be easier and perhaps you will be able to avoid surgery.

You may be experiencing gallbladder symptoms for years and you don’t realize it until its too late. The first sign that it shows is constipation. But the first symptoms that appear don’t necessarily indicate that you have the gallbladder disease. These symptoms are very common in many problems, so the best thing to do is visit a doctor and listen to his advice.

After the constipation, the gallbladder starts to hurt, making you feel pain in the liver area. Then as the disease advances you may experience dizziness, indigestions after consistent meals, gas, and dark-colored stools. If you eat too much fat and the ill gallbladder can’t provide enough bile to digest it all than you will have diarrhea. Also, if a gallstone is obstructing the bile duct you will have yellow-ish eyes.

If the gallstones leave the bile and start to obstruct the duct or reach the duodenum, then a gallbladder attack will occur. Gallbladder attacks need to be immediately treated by a doctor. These are the most common symptoms of gallbladder attacks:

-vomiting

-pain in the right side, near the liver. This pain radiates in the whole body, especially to the right shoulder.

-a lot of gas

-severe pain occurs at night or after a very fatty meal

These are the most encountered symptoms of the gallbladder disease or of gallbladder attacks. If you are experiencing any of them, do not hesitate to consult a doctor in short time. If not, try to remember them, because they may save you or a family member from a bad condition.

Tags: Medical, Aging

Tags: Disease, Health, Medical, Illness, Treatment, Disease+Information

Research teams hailing from various countries, such as Switzerland, have concluded that chocolate may aid in the prevention of diseases that are known to attack the heart. Through numerous studies, it has been stated that the best kind of chocolate to ingest for your health is the dark bitter variety. A group of Swiss researchers implied that eating this type of chocolate on an everyday basis is most beneficial.

Conclusions were made regarding the health benefits of chocolate after conducting a series of tests on a group of about 30 volunteers. The test group consisted of people who smoked, but did not appear to have any health ailments to deal with. The test subjects had to abide by a few guidelines in order for researchers to obtain the results they needed.

For starters, the volunteers were not allowed to eat any foods that contained any antioxidants. Some of these edible items included cabbage, onions and apples. This was a requirement to be followed after they were given doses of different kinds of chocolate. About 40 grams of the sweet stuff was given to them.

After two hours passed from the consumption of the chocolate, the findings appeared on an echograph. One of the points that were revealed involved the consumption of dark chocolate, which consist of at least 75% cocoa. The echograph showed that the test subjects enjoyed an improvement with the flow of their blood. Additional tests revealed that a decrease in blood incidents, as well as blockages was seen from the initial observations. The risk for these occurrences had significantly decreased. It was also shown that white chocolate did not possess the same characteristics or results as darker versions.

This is probably because dark chocolate has a high level of antioxidants per one gram of substance. These levels are higher that other popular food items, including green tea, some fruits and red wine.

There is no doubt about the amount of helpful and healthy antioxidants contained within a piece of chocolate. The reason that it is often viewed as an undesirable food item is due to the large amounts of fats that chocolate possesses. The levels of glucose are also seen as an unhealthy characteristic. If this type of sweet is consumed at a high rate, numerous other problems may arise, including obesity and diabetes.

If you are interested in the incorporation of chocolate into your daily diet to accompany your efforts towards a healthier lifestyle, keep in mind that moderation is the key. You should focus on fixing the amount of chocolate you consume to match your weight and how much exercise you complete throughout the day. If you are a person that is constantly on the move, then consuming chocolate shouldn’t pose any threat of weight gain. For those who are confined to working in an office all day or spend most of their time in a chair, you may face a brick wall. Without much exercise or participation in sports, you run the risk of adding a few extra pounds to your frame with increased amounts of chocolate consumption.

Tags: Aging, Disease

Tags: Disease, Health, Medical, Illness, Treatment, Disease+Information

There is an old saying in Spain: “To be a bullfighter, you must first learn to be like a
bull.” You want to be a good fisherman, think like the fish. Then you will understand
where the fishes normally like to hide so that you can cast your line or net at the right
spot. In the medical context, the best way to learn about the disease is to learn to be the
patient. Usually, the patient knows very well about the disease that is afflicting him.
Besides researching about the disease, he will also strive to find a cure for the ailment as
he is suffering from the pain of the disease.

In business, a manager needs to be on the ground – talk and interact with the various
people: staff, suppliers, customers, business partners and even competitors. Through
these various channels, the manager is able to acquire more knowledge of the industry
and have better feel of the market. The manager does not operate in a vacuum and is
better equipped to make sound decisions and take timely action. All these will curtail
declining trends and may even result in future improvements. This is why the worst
place for a manager is his air-conditioned room, where he is cut off from the realities and
dynamics of the marketplace.

During his tenure, Lou Gertsner, the turnaround CEO of IBM became IBM’s most
hardworking salesperson – logging thousands of miles to visit key customers and
prospects. His approach sent an unmistakable signal to every employee to be hands-on
and created a new image for IBM. By staying in contact with the market, Gertsner was
able to make the right decision to turn troubled IBM around.
Sun Tzu, in the art of war also advocated a “staying on the ground” policy. “Generally,
in the case of armies you wish to strike, cities you wish to attack, and people you wish to
assassinate, you must know the names of the garrison commander, the staff officers, the
ushers, gatekeepers and the bodyguards. You must instruct your agents to inquire into
these matters in minute detail.”

A design engineer who never goes out to see the machines and work with the technicians,
the banker who never uses the online services or queue up at the banks, the taxi owner
who has not driven the taxi but takes his own car, the restaurant owner who has not been
to the kitchen – these people will not understand and make good decisions about the
customers’ needs and the issues encountered by the staff.

Many managers do not know the actual situation on the ground and only blame and fire
their staff whenever the company encounters financial difficulty. This does not solve the
problem as they do not know the actual cause and make the situation worse by making
hasty decisions. Taking impulsive actions taken without full understanding of the events
on the ground is like dispensing the wrong medication to the patient. It may cause more
harm as the disease spreads unabatedly.

Good decision can only be made when you possess first-hand knowledge on the ground.
Many senior managers particularly those in the staff functions such as the financial,
accounting, human resource and legal departments do not meet with the customers. By
exposing these support staff to the problems on the ground, it will help them immensely
in understanding the problem faced by the line personnel such as the sales and operations
staff. This will in turn foster better rapport and co-operation among the line and support
staff.

Therefore, get your feet wet by going to the grounds.

Tags: Health, Cancer

Tags: Disease, Health, Medical, Illness, Treatment, Disease+Information

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I heard a comedian the other day being very funny because what he was saying was true. I find that the “funniest” things in life are the things that everyone knows to be true, but are afraid to mention, note or admit to. While slapstick is “funny” in the sense of being silly, it is not really true, which is why many can sit through as slapstick routine and not crack a smile. It doesn’t hit home. A funny face is not near so hilarious as something that some brave soul is willing to bring up that none would dare, but when they do, we laugh because we thought we were the only ones to notice that in life, or have that thought about it. Jokes about husbands and wives are funny because they are true and everyone laughing at “take my wife…please!” knows exactly what is meant and why it is funny. In many cases, it is true at some level something not so funny and admits that something is not working so well in some areas.

One comedian got his audience laughing at the fact that the three great religions of the world, Judaism, Islam and Christianity aren’t making life much better or giving anyone he knew much hope or comfort. He made various observations about how many people were dying in the name of Jesus or being blown up,” Allah Be Praised.” He observed that God he remembered from Sunday School in the Old Testament, you know the one that drowns and slays, smites and destroys, seems to be back in town. It was all very funny and it was all very true, which made it uncomfortably funny.

Our planet is divided into “isms” of beliefs, or maybe we can call them “beliefisms.” There are many that seek to define the nature of God and millions belong to each school of thought, if not literally, then at least in mind when they read the definitions. Here are the main ones.

Theism holds that God is both transcendent and immanent; thus, God is simultaneously infinite and in some way present in the affairs of the world. Catholic theology holds that God is infinitely simple and is outside of time. Most theists hold that God is omnipotent, omniscient, and benevolent, although this belief raises questions about God’s responsibility for evil and suffering in the world. Some theists ascribe to God a self-conscious or purposeful limiting of omnipotence, omniscience, or benevolence. Open Theism, by contrast, asserts that God has limits. “Theism” is sometimes used to refer in general to any belief in a god or gods, i.e., monotheism or polytheism

Deism holds that God is wholly transcendent: God exists, but does not intervene in the world beyond what was necessary for God to create it. In this view, God is not anthropomorphic, and does not literally answer prayers or cause miracles to occur.

Monotheism holds that there is only one God, and/or that the one true God is worshipped in different religions under different names. It is important to note, however, that monotheists of one religion can, and often do, consider the monotheistic god of a different religion to be a false god. For instance, many Christian fundamentalists consider the God of Islam (Allah) to be a false god or demon (although theologians and linguists argue that “Allah” is merely the Arabic word for “God,” and not the literal name of a specifically Muslim god). Many Jews consider the messiah of Christianity (Jesus) to be a false god and some monotheists (notably fundamentalist Christians) hold that there is one triune God, and that all gods of other religions are actually demons in disguise (as in 2nd Corinthians, verse 14). Eastern religious believers and Liberal Christians are more likely to assume those of other faiths worship the same God as they.

Pantheism holds that God is the universe and the universe is God.

Panentheism holds that God contains, but is not identical to, the Universe. The distinctions between the two are subtle, and many consider them unhelpful. Kabbalah, Jewish mysticism, paints a pantheistic/panentheistic view of God, which has wide acceptance in Hasidic Judaism, particularly from their founder The Baal Shem Tov. It is also the view of the Liberal Catholic Church, Theosophy, Hinduism, some divisions of Buddhism, and Taoism, along with many varying denomintions and individuals within denominations.

Pandeism combines the major elements of deism and pantheism, and holds that a transcendent God existed before the universe was created, but that this God became the universe in the course of creating it, and thereby ceased to be an active participant in its operations.

Dystheism is a form of theism which holds that God is malevolent as a consequence of the problem of evil. Dystheistic speculation is common in theology, but there is no known church of practicing dystheists.

Most believers allow for the existence of other, less powerful spiritual beings, and give them names such as angels, saints, Djinn, demons, and devas.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God

Of all these “ISMS”, it is the Big Three of Judaism, Islam and Christianity that embrace MONO-Theism.
It is this practice of Monotheism that is killing us these days. Read it again.

“Monotheism holds that there is only one God, and/or that the one true God is worshipped in different religions under different names. It is important to note, however, that monotheists of one religion can, and often do, consider the monotheistic god of a different religion to be a false god. For instance, many Christian fundamentalists consider the God of Islam (Allah) to be a false god or demon (although theologians and linguists argue that “Allah” is merely the Arabic word for “God,” and not the literal name of a specifically Muslim god). Many Jews consider the messiah of Christianity (Jesus) to be a false god and some monotheists (notably fundamentalist Christians) hold that there is one triune God, and that all gods of other religions are actually demons in disguise (as in 2nd Corinthians, verse 14). Eastern religious believers and Liberal Christians are more likely to assume those of other faiths worship the same God as they.”

Monotheism is divisive, warlike and ego inflating by nature. It pretends that someone is all right, and the rest are all wrong. It is us vs. them, me vs. you, we vs. they, the true people vs the false, God’s people vs. the pagans, the chosen people vs. the unchosen, converted vs. unconverted, of God vs. of the Devil and on and on. It is the idea that one group of people can find the true God to the exclusion of others that is the basis for so much carnage and killing on the planet. It is why your news reads as it does, why your government acts as it does, why your Church thinks as it does and why others react as they do. For all the chosen, there are the unchosen. For all the called, there are the uncalled. For all those that just know they are right, there are those they know are just wrong. For all that understand the one true truths, there are those that understand nothing, are deceived, pagan, of the devil, rebellious, stiff necked, hard of heart and generally uncooperative when a monotheist pushes their truth in your face or endeavors to shove it so far down your throat, you choke.

Everyone believes with all their heart that they are in the right religion and certainly undertand the one true God and attend the right synagogue, mosque or church. No one would say, “I am in the false church and believe bullshit, but I like it.” One can in fact be in a false group, in terms of the information given being accurate to life and reality, and one can certainly believe bullshit, but while everyone else might suspect this, they are oblivious to it. If you mention that they might do a bit more homework on the topic, or lighten up a bit…well, you are of the Devil and here we go again!

What’s the solution? There are a few concepts which are true, but will never be admitted to being true by those that hold onto the exclusivity of monotheism. Monotheists are working for a world, a Kingdom, a government and a way of being that reflects what they see as how their one true God thinks. They have a vision of how the world is going, why it is the way it is and how it will all end. Many love to say things like, “I know the end of the story, and WE win.” That’s the problem right there. We win, you lose. We are in charge now, you do as we say. We know the mind of God, so just listen and we’ll fill you in. Oh yes, and if you don’t, well then our God has ways of dealing with you. The war in Iraq and Lebanon is currently how God is working out his plan for these lost souls according to one form of monotheism, or two depending, which two will no doubt be hearing from the third form for a long time to come.

So what is a more positive reality that we all are going to have to come to so we can get past this madness that has erupted from the one true Church, God, Government, Belief and Way to Be? Here are a few realities that most will never adopt, few will ever admit to being true and none of those who are God haunted by the exclusive nature of monotheism which demands that, “my God’s bigger than your God” will ever accept.

So here we go. Truths, and no these are not things that are “true for you”, that are true no matter what one believes.

1. We are all one and the same. It is belief that divides humans. The literal differences in human beings are superfluous. If we are genetically 99.6% the same as a chimp, then Israelis and Palestinians, Lebanese, Americans and Iraqis are at least that close.

2. All humans only have today and NOW in which to live. Those that live in the past usually are busy venting their anger, whinning about how it should be, trying to get even, or depressed in the rage of unexpressed anger, because someone might make your life difficult if you do. If humans could let the baggage of their past go, including what the Jews did to Jesus (it was the ROMANS), the Christians did to the Muslims or the Muslims did to the Jews, we might make some progress. There will never be any progress if we don’t drop the past. We know everyone in the Middle East has lost someone in some war fighting someone else at sometime. NOW is still all we have in which to live our short lives.

3. Everyone needs a place to live, food to eat and a way to earn a living honorably without being used, abused, taken advantage of, driven out, marginalized or demonized.

4. It’s not right to kill grandmas, grandpas, parents, all their relatives and siblings, much less their children. Got that! It’s not right to kill people and take their lives from them. We all only get one like this one NOW.

5. There are no chosen people. There are just people.

6. No one has a corner on knowing the nature, mind, plan, purpose or desires of the Deity. We can seek it, but NO ONE knows. NO ONE KNOWS. It’s all human reasoning as that’s the only kind we have to work with.

7. War is what the unenlightened wage when they completely run out of ideas or lack the abillity to see the world through the eyes of anyone but themselves. Most governments are run by the least enlightened of our species. Most Fundamentalists Religions are run by our most insecure and least spiritually minded. Don’t confuse religious for spriritual.

Monotheism is divisive by nature. That we can see by just reading the news. Will we ever get past “My God can beat up your God?” We’d better…

Tags: Health, Cancer

Tags: Disease, Health, Medical, Illness, Treatment, Disease+Information

Is a messy toothpaste tube driving you crazy?

Let me tell you – you’re not the only one. I’m quite sure that toothpaste has been a popular reason for fights between spouses or family members since its appearance in our daily routine which (at least for some people) happened a long time ago…

Toothpaste History

3000 to 5000 years B.C. the Egyptians were already making a dental powder/crème out of powdered ashes of oxen hooves, myrrh, burned egg shells, pumice and water. This powder or paste was probably applied onto the teeth by fingers since the toothstick (predecessor ot the toothbrush) had not been invented yet.

Persians chose different ingredients in about 1000 B.C. Burnt shells of snails and oysters with gypsum were their magic formula.

Romans improved the recipes by adding (among others) some flavoring agents, which also counteracted bad breath.

Half a millennia later, around 500 B.C., we find records of toothpaste use in China and India as well.

Modern toothpastes appear in 1800 A.D., developed by doctors, dentists and chemists in Britain. They contained some very abrasive substances (brick dust, crushed china, earthenware, cuttlefish) and even sugar. The poor still rubbed their teeth using fingers and for the rich toothbrushes were available.

Mass production started in 1873 (by Colgate). Toothpaste was packed in a jar and for the first time in history it smelled good. U.S. Army included the brushing of teeth in their standard hygiene procedures in 1941.

Toothpaste Today

Nowadays, toothpastes come in a variety of colors, flavors, aromas, with fluoride or without it, with synthetic or natural ingredients, packed in plastic or tin tubes, dispensers etc. There’s one thing that hasn’t changed, however. Some people simply don’t mind spreading the toothpaste not only onto the toothbrush but all over the dispenser, the sink and probably other places also. Uppermost, they probably forget to put the cap back on the tube after use…

These sorts of (bad) habits can become a serious problem when such person shares the same bathroom with another kind of person who prefers toothpaste in a tube (always with the cap on when not in use) and on the toothbrush only.

Until today, I haven’t heard of any cure that would heal the "messy toothpaste disease". But I’ve had a chance to learn about an interesting and at the same time amusing method a young lady just started using in her bathroom. We’ll call it "Doro-Method". It involves putting up conspicuous post-it stickers with instructions around the area in question. By "conspicuous" I mean the size, the color and the wording you really can’t miss or disregard easily. And she’s told me so herself – it’s been working so far…

There’s no guarantee that the "Doro-Method" will work for you. In that particular house nobody ever comments on warnings or directions but they are being followed by every member of the household without exception.

See the photos of the "Doro-Method" used on toothpaste at: http://www.greetingcardservice.citymaker.com/page/page/3846992.htm

Tags: Cancer, Medical

Tags: Disease, Health, Medical, Illness, Treatment, Disease+Information

If you’re acting as the caregiver for your aging or disabled parent, then you will probably notice the small changes in your parent before anyone else. Whether it is misplacing keys or forgetting names of people and places, or more noticeable changes in your parent’s personality or lifestyle, could you distinguish the signs between Alzheimer’s disease and dementia? Oftentimes forgetfulness and eccentric behavior is simply blamed on growing old, but how can you be sure?

Experienced home health care workers and family members of individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s can testify to the life-altering effects of the disease. Though the early stages of Alzheimer’s could in fact be mistaken for dementia, or even adverse side effects of medications, the incidences of forgetfulness will increase as Alzheimer’s begins to take its toll on your loved one. In the early stages, you may also observe significant changes in your parent’s personality or increased moodiness.

Alzheimer’s is a disease that progresses over time effecting your parent’s thought and intellect functions, ranging from forgetting how to perform simple daily tasks to experiencing difficulty in communicating with others. There are also certain noticeable changes in your parent’s personal hygiene and living environment that you should be aware of, not only in order to make a correct and early diagnosis, but also to ensure your parent’s safety.

In the last stages of Alzheimer’s, 24-hour supervision and complete care is usually required. This is especially the case if your parent becomes extremely anxious, has the mobility to wander away, or can no longer physically take care of him or herself. While a patient suffering from Alzheimer’s typically lives for six to eight years from the diagnosis to death, advanced or prolong cases may range from less than two, to over 20 years.

Dementia, on the other hand, is not a disease and does not take such a toll on an individual. Dementia is defined as a significant loss of memory capacity. Although providing care to a parent with dementia may prove to be a daunting task, it is usually less involved than caregiving to an Alzheimer’s care recipient.

There are several factors that can contribute to dementia. Aging is among the top factors. Dementia may also occur due to the symptoms of certain diseases or other physical illnesses. If your parent is suffering from memory loss, it’s important to visit a physician for an accurate diagnosis, especially if the loss of memory is due to another underlying health issue.

Acting as a caregiver to your aging parent can certainly be overwhelming and stressful at times, especially when you’re trying to determine if your parent’s memory loss and mood changes are due to age-related dementia or the early signs of Alzheimer’s.

There are many helpful resources and agencies that can provide you with information on how to recognize serious illness. Educating yourself as the caregiver not only provides your parent with the best care possible, but also reduces the worry and frustration you may experience as a caregiver.

Tags: Disease, Aging

Tags: Disease, Health, Medical, Illness, Treatment, Disease+Information

We know what we know and we like it that way. We all have our own ideas on how our parent are supposed to be. Maybe they are our rock. Maybe they were never there for us. One thing is for sure we feel they are supposed to be there for us no matter what. Our image of parents, tells us they are to nurture us, give us strength, and provide for our needs. Our society dictates this. We all have our own unique perspective on how our childhood went. Some think their parents failed the parenting test, other feel blessed to have had the parents they had. Whatever our perspective, our childhood definitely has a lot to do with who we are now, and how we deal with the trials and tribulation life sends our way.

Fear of the unknown and of thing we do not understand. Alzheimer’s falls into this area very well. No one is quite sure what causes it, how to prevent it, or what to expect from it. The disease is as unpredictable and unique as the individual that has it. The only definite is that it causes great emotional pain and fear for every one involved.

Fear surrounds Alzheimer’s, nobody wants it, everybody is afraid of it. Families of people who have it are afraid of what they see happening. How can we over come the fear? We over come our fear by acknowledging the roots of our emotions. The time to start is in the every beginning. When we notices the subtle little changes such as the forgetfulness, repetitive questions or thoughts. There is a lot of fear involved with just those simple changes. How we react to those changes sets the stage for what’s to come. It is a normal response to react to fear with anger, aggression, impatience’s, we go into the defense mode. We have little time for patience and understanding because we are to busy protecting our hearts. If we ignore it or get angry at it, maybe it will go away. We block or put off thought of the future because the future holds pain and sorrow. We feel guilty for being afraid and not being able to deal with the changes. This is not the way we had our lives planned in our imagination of what life is suppose to be.

Understanding loss is one-step to understanding some of the emotion that surface when a loved one has Alzheimer’s. When we think of losing a loved one we automatically think of death. Loss is loss; the emotions of loss are the same regardless of the cause. The cycle of grief is the same, denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. What makes the losses caused by Alzheimer’s so difficult is that you see a person you are very familiar with, one who has played a certain role in your life. They look the same, they sound the same, but nothing is the same. What is not realized is that this is where your common ground is found. For the person that has Alzheimer’s, People, places and things look familiar, but they have no idea why. They can’t put together the, who, where, what or why of things. They have the same emotional confusion you are experiencing.

When it comes to matters of the heart, logic is quickly replaced with emotion. Our emotions are influenced by our life experiences and from the foundation that we have chosen to build our lives. We can’t always control our emotions, but we can learn from them. By taking the time to look closely at our emotions and finding there roots, we can come to accept what is before us. Acceptance does not remove the fear or pain, life doesn’t instantly become joyful and bliss. Acceptances teaches us how to live in spite of our fear and pain. We learn to accept and acknowledge life on life’s terms. We admit we are powerless over many of the thing we want to control. Most of all we learn to have faith. We also learn what is deep inside ourselves that makes us uniquely who we are.

Researching Alzheimer’s and reading all the information about the disease and the entire practical how to care for someone with Alzheimer’s is important. However, it is not going to be very useful until you can come to terms with the emotional effects Alzheimer’s has on everyone involved. Come to terms with your feelings and emotions then you can process the practical information from a completely new perspective.

Tags: Cancer, Aging

Tags: Disease, Health, Medical, Illness, Treatment, Disease+Information

Nearly everyone has a digestive problem, but many people develop these diseases because of lifestyle, poor diet and lack of physical activity. The digestive system is the corridor by which food and drink enters the stomach. This passage is the esophagus, which is part of the digestive tract that consists of the stomach and other muscles that aid in the breakdown of food. Once the food reaches the stomach it releases acid and pepsin as part of the digestion process. Heartburn or acid reflux is a common digestive disease that irritates the esophagus because of acid that backs up from the stomach. When the esophagus fails, stomach acid can seep back into it. This is known as acid reflux or heartburn.

The leading symptom of this disease is a burning sensation in the digestive tract. Other symptoms are the presence of acid in the mouth, hoarseness and chest pain. Severe indications of acid reflux are serious and cause respiratory problems, such as constant coughing and feeling out of breath. Prolong acid in this area can be damaging. Acid reflux or heartburn can happen to anyone, including infants and children. Even though infants are otherwise healthy, they can develop acid reflux due to an immature digestive system. However, most infants grow out of the disease by the time they are one year old. In older children, the causes are often the same as those in adults. When anything causes the muscular valve between the stomach and esophagus to relax, or increased pressure below the esophagus, can cause acid reflux. Heartburn or acid reflux is common during pregnancy because of increased hormone levels and pressure in the stomach. Certain other factors may also cause acid reflux, including obesity, overeating, certain foods, some beverages and specific medications. Some natural remedies for treating or curing acid reflux are sustaining a normal body weight, avoiding strenuous exercise immediately after eating, maintaining good posture, eliminating alcohol and nicotine, scheduling meals several hours before bedtime and maintaining a healthy diet. Avoid fatty and fried foods which are hard to digest and limit chocolate, coffee and others beverages that produce high levels of acid in the stomach.

The esophagus and stomach, the first part of the intestines, is called the GI tract or digestive tract. This area can be compromised by esophageal cancer or peptic ulcers, which can result from tumors in portions of the digestive tract that is exposed to acid and pepsin. Symptoms of esophageal cancer include difficulty when swallowing, weight loss, pain in the chest, coughing, hoarseness, indigestion and heartburn. Some factors that increase the risk of developing esophageal cancer are use of nicotine, excessive drinking of alcohol and acid reflux. Certain groups, including men, the elderly and African-Americans, are at greater risk for esophageal cancer. Ulcers can be caused by infection, use of painkillers and drugs such as aspirin and other prescription drugs.

Other diseases associated with the digestive system are liver disease, stomach cancer and colon cancer. Liver disease is the destruction of liver tissue over time. One particular type of liver disease is fibrosis of the liver. This disease is usually caused by drinking excessive amounts of alcohol. Colon cancer is the result of a high fat diet and cancer of the stomach is known as gastric cancer, a malignant tumor on the lining of the stomach. The exact cause of stomach cancer is unknown, but factors such as male gender, a diet low in fruits and vegetables, a diet high in salt, smoked or preserved foods and nicotine can increase the risk of the disease. This common type of stomach cancer can be cured if found and treated at an early stage. Fiber is a powerful weapon against cancer. It improves overall health by moving wastes faster through the digestive tract. This gives toxic wastes less time to come into contact with intestinal cells. Good sources of fibers are whole-grain cereals and breads, prunes, berries, fresh fruits, vegetables and brown rice. Recently, studies suggested that calcium and vitamin D not only strengthen bones, but also fight off colon cancer. High sources of calcium are found in dairy products, sardines and dark green leafy vegetables. Vitamin D are found in salmon and fortified cow’s milk. Most of your food nutritional sources should come from plants.

There is a variety of treatments for these diseases such as over the counter medications, prescriptions, at home medicines, lifestyle and even surgery. Treating these diseases depends on its cause. While these are remedies for the symptoms, the best and safest way to treat diseases of the digestive system is by prevention. Eliminate what is causing the problems such as an unhealthy diet, smoking, drinking alcohol or using aspirin and other painkillers. Proper nutrition and diet can improve and even help to prevent many diseases, including esophageal and liver cancers. Dietary fat is one of the biggest causes of digestive diseases and other health problems. Dietary fats and trans fat must be avoided, along with products like margarine, packaged baked goods, fast food, prepared foods, chips and crackers. Make sure your nutrients come from the food you eat rather than from supplements.

You will know that your condition is serious when symptoms are interfering with your sleep and daily activities. It is wise to seek medical help. Your physician will talk to you about your lifestyle and take tests of the digestive tract. Digestive diseases can cause severe damage to your health, make sure that the doctor knows all the symptoms that you are experiencing and if you are taking any over the counter medication. Prevention of digestive diseases is the best treatment and can help you maintain a normal lifestyle. Consult your doctor and other health organizations on further treatment and prevention of digestive diseases.

Tags: Illness, Health

Tags: Disease, Health, Medical, Illness, Treatment, Disease+Information

Scarlet, canary yellow and shimmering blue feathered birds flecked with iridescent green, chirp songs to greet the sunrise as you awake. But you do not notice. Thor’s hammer pounds your head in fury. Your eyes close from the pain. The smell of your breakfast sends waves of queasiness through your rumbling mid-section. The nausea increases as you rise. Your back is a slab of concrete. Again you try getting up and your muscles scream so loudly you move in the slow motion of a special effects film. Your palm burns from the 102 plus degrees F radiating from your forehead as you brush your hair back trying to stimulate yourself to alertness. A trip hammer thunders inside you at 100 to 110 beats per minute where your heart should be. Good morning. You have Yellow Fever.

A few days after the sudden onset of symptoms, as you worsen, you’ll become jaundiced and watch as your skin yellows to the point you more resemble a Halloween caricature than a dying person. The destruction of your liver cells results in the accumulation of yellow bile pigments in your skin, giving the disease its name. Your heart will slow to around 50 beats per minute. The rumbling in your stomach is your gastrointestinal tract bleeding. You vomit the characteristic black blood of Yellow Fever. It will become much worse. You don’t have long to suffer though. Death usually occurs between the fourth and eighth day after the onset of the disease.

As little as three days, but more than likely around two weeks ago you were bitten by a species of an Aëdes aegypti mosquito that was itself infected by sucking the blood of an infected monkey or other infected primate or a sick person. If you are one of the rare cases who recovers, the disease will never recur, one attack providing immunity for life.
Yellow Fever is an untreatable, mosquito-borne disease which is endemic in Central America, some parts of South America and much of sub-Sahara Africa. Along both the Gulf of Mexico and Pacific coasts from Mexico to Panama, Colombia and Ecuador an alert caused by outbreaks of Yellow Fever is currently raging. From November of 2003 until mid-January of this year nearly a score of deaths from Yellow Fever have been recorded. Immunization is of extreme importance. There is a good vaccine available which protects you for up to ten years. Many countries require an international vaccination certificate if you are traveling to or from an infected or endemic area because “many parts of the world are inhabited by mosquitoes capable of carrying this devastating disease and no one wants to see it spread beyond its present range”, according to Dr. Jane Wilson Howarth in “Bugs, Bites & Bowels”.

There is no specific medical treatment for Yellow Fever once it is contracted. Care consists of treating the symptoms of the disease by preventing dehydration and reducing fever. Bed rest is also important states Dirk G. Schroeder, ScD., MPH, in “Staying Healthy in Asia, Africa and Latin America”. In 1939 the South African physician Max Theiler developed a vaccine that confers immunity to the disease. The vaccine is not recommended for people with a severe allergy to eggs, children under 9 months of age, during pregnancy or in people who are immuno-supressed (e.g. cancer and AIDS sufferers, or people on high dose steroids). Before traveling, you should discuss your options with a doctor or immunization center. If you are considering travel to Mexico (or other countries in Central and South America), get vaccinated and carry the yellow health/vaccination records card you will be issued to avoid future problems. Take care. Don’t be a victim.

NOTE: You cannot enter a Yellow Fever area (i.e. Panama, Colombia, Brazil, etc.) without being vaccinated and you MUST show proof of vaccination within the past ten years.

Tags: Cancer, Health

Although Crohn’s Disease is a difficult disorder, you should not keep yourself from living the best life possible because you suffer from this disorder. You should continue in your life as you would without Crohn’s, although a few more precautions may be necessary. When traveling, this will ensure a smooth and enjoyable trip.

The first thing you should do, whether you are traveling abroad or close to home, is locate a doctor in the area you will be visiting. There are several organizations available to utilize in your search or you can simply ask your doctor for referrals.

If you are taking prescription medication, you should be sure to take plenty for the duration of your trip. You should also keep it with you when you travel on the plane to avoid it being lost in the heaps of luggage. Always keep your medication in its original container and a typed statement from your doctor regarding what medications you are taking and what they are for. You will also need to get copies of all of your prescriptions, including foreign names, in case you have to refill them abroad. However, you should avoid this by carrying enough medication with you, as filling prescriptions in other counties can sometimes be difficult.

A common ailment among travelers to less developed countries is known as “traveler’s diarrhea”. This can be especially dangerous for sufferers of Crohn’s Disease and special care should be taken to avoid it from occurring. Basically, traveler’s diarrhea occurs from the ingestion of water or food that is not as stringently processed as in the United States. Steps that should be taken include being very careful about what you eat or drink; do not drink water unless you boil it; avoid drinks made from tap water, like tea or juices that may have been mixed from concentrate; use bottled water to drink and to brush your teeth with; avoid ice, ice cream, and uncooked fruits, vegetables, and meat; avoid diary products as they may not be pasteurized; and do not eat any questionable food. If you become affected with traveler’s diarrhea, take an over the counter medication and be sure to intake plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.

Also watch for signs of a medical emergency, such as high fever or chills, which may be a sign of infection; profuse rectal bleeding; extreme abdominal pain; dizziness; or dehydration. If any of these occur, seek medical attention immediately.

Tags: Disease, Aging

Tags: Disease, Health, Medical, Illness, Treatment, Disease+Information

It was so tough in those early years. Not knowing what was wrong. I didn’t know what to think. Was I going crazy? The doctor said I have a nervous stomach. I’m not a nervous person.

Then I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease. Even though it’s a chronic disease without a cure, it was a relief to know what was wrong. But then the reality set in. How was my life going to change?

And change it did. In 1985 I was admitted into a hospital suffering from a stomach obstruction. A surgeon had to remove a foot and a half from my small intestines. The pain was terrible. I never, repeat never , want to go through that pain again. Ever.

After going through the pain of an operation, knowing that people with Crohn’s Disease can have more than one operation, I couldn’t help but wonder what I could do to help my situation? It occurred to me that, in the least, I could learn to handle the stress from the disease and the stress from life itself. I knew that stress, in and of itself, could cause my symptoms to worsen.

No, the stress didn’t cause Crohn’s Disease, but it sure could affect the amount of pain I would experience. I knew it was possible for me to deal with my stress better than I had dealt with it in the past. Before the operation, I was fairly motivated to work at controlling my stress. After the operation, I was highly motivated. I was determined to do everything in my power to improve my situation.

So how could I handle life’s stress better? I had to learn what I could about dealing with stress and to then develop the necessary skills to make it happen. I learned about the close relationship between relaxation and stress relief. I learned to meditate, I learned to set reasonable expectations about my life and desires, and I learned to be more objective about what was happening to me physically and mentally.

I’ve come to the conclusion that people with Crohn’s Diseases can do a lot to help themselves with the stress in their life. Not only can we do a lot to help ourselves, but we can also get support from loved ones as well as others going through the same circumstances.

I have three steps to offer others to help them control the stress in their lives. The first is to learn to meditate, the second is to learn visualization and the third is to get support.

By watching my emotions closely, I could know quickly when the stress in my life was building up too fast. I could then take a little time to meditate. I learned the different strategies of meditation and found one that worked good for me.

In addition to meditation, I learned visualization. Whenever I felt myself getting stressed out, I could visualize myself at St. Simon Island, a place I love and go to once a year. Just thinking of the different locations on the Island, I could feel myself relax. And with practice I’ve got quite good at visualization.

Finally, there’s the Crohn’s Disease message boards on the internet. What a wonderful resource they are. To be able to talk with people who are going through the same situation. You can’t put a price on that. It’s invaluable. I highly recommend everyone with Crohn‘s Disease to use this resource.

I believe that anyone with Crohn’s Disease (or any chronic disease) can improve their life by taking the time to learn and implement the three part strategy I’ve outlined above. It’s has worked wonderfully for me and I believe it can work for others as well.

Tags: Disease, Medical

Tags: Disease, Health, Medical, Illness, Treatment, Disease+Information

Naomi was hopelessly lost. As she drove, absolutely nothing looked familiar. She noticed a fluttering in her stomach. She had to admit that she was in a lovely area, with large shade trees and a lovely lawn, but there were no houses where she could stop to ask directions. And the road seemed so narrow. She was starting to feel confused again. And there was nowhere to turn around. So she stopped the car and placed the gearshift into park.

Some time passed before a groundskeeper noticed the car on the golf course cart path. He called the police. A patrolman checked Naomi’s identification and called her husband. The police officer then notified the state driver’s licensing authority that Naomi should be retested.

Knowing when and how to take away the keys to the car is one of the most troublesome issues facing families who have a loved one with the illness. As we age, our eyesight and hearing may worsen. Depth perception plays tricks. Our reaction time slows. These elements of normal aging may interfere with our ability to drive a motor vehicle safely. For someone with Alzheimer’s disease, these normal processes are complicated by additional symptoms related to the disease’s effect on the brain. In fact, studies show that a person with Alzheimer’s disease has twice the chance of being involved in a motor vehicle accident as a driver of the same age without the illness.

While a person in early stages of Alzheimer’s disease may retain the ability to drive a motor vehicle, as the disease progresses, the time is likely to come when he or she is no longer safe behind the wheel. At the same time, the person with Alzheimer’s disease will cling to whatever sense of independence he or she can.

The American Psychiatric Association says that some Alzheimer’s patients with moderate impairment and all severely impaired patients pose unacceptable risks to themselves and others behind the wheel of a motor vehicle. Even those in early stages of the disease may be unable to drive even short distances safely. Depending on the individual, family members and others have a responsibility to assess the situation and, when necessary, step in and take away the keys.

Warning Signs

How do you know when to restrict driving privileges in a person with Alzheimer’s disease? Trust your instincts. If you feel uncomfortable riding with him or her-or letting your children ride along-you may have unconsciously decided that the time has come. Another indicator is the person’s inability to follow a recipe or perform simple household tasks. These types of activities require some of the same mental abilities necessary for safely operating a motor vehicle.

Deterioration in the ability to concentrate, as well as impairment of judgment seen in people who have Alzheimer’s disease, add to the concern about such patients driving motor vehicles. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, some things to watch for include the following:

1. Getting lost.

Anyone can get lost in an unfamiliar area. Those with Alzheimer’s disease may become disoriented and be unable to find his or her way in familiar locales.

2. Ignoring traffic signals.

Failure to notice or obey stop signs, traffic lights or other highway markers may mean the driver didn’t notice them. In addition, the driver may have lost the ability to associate the sign with its meaning. He or she may see the sign, but not know what it means.

3. Lack of judgment.

Inability to estimate the speed of oncoming traffic, deciding whether to stop for a yellow light or slide through the intersection, or becoming confused at a four-way stop sign are some examples of poor judgment while driving. Being slow to make decisions-or making poor ones-when driving can result in accidents that can harm the driver, as well as others on the road.

4. Driving too fast or too slowly.

Erratic driving at inappropriate speeds can indicate a lack of concentration, as well as poor physical coordination. It may also indicate poor judgment.

5. Anger and confusion.

You don’t have to have Alzheimer’s disease to experience road rage. Frustration during driving can make anyone flustered or angry. If the driver has Alzheimer’s disease, however, watch for frequent occurrences of anger or confusion, as well as inappropriate or exaggerated reactions, while driving.

Taking Away the Car Keys

If your family member’s ability to drive is impaired, you have a moral responsibility to take action to keep him or her off the road. However, accomplishing this goal may not be easy. Any suggestion that car keys be relinquished could be met with resistance, frustration, anger, or hostility-especially when it comes from a family member who may already be providing care by assisting with activities of daily living like bathing, dressing, and meal preparation.

Ask the Doctor

Many Alzheimer’s families turn to the loved one’s physician for help with the issue. Your loved one may more easily accept advice not to drive from a health care professional he or she has an established trust relationship with. For one thing, a doctor is often seen as an authority figure. For another, such a third party can discuss the situation objectively and dispassionately with less chance of offending your loved one on a personal level. Many doctors understand the need for this intervention and will be willing to comply with requests of this nature from family members. In some cases, doctors will write the words “Do Not Drive” on a prescription slip. In others, you may need to ask the doctor to file a request for re-examination of your loved one’s driving abilities by the state driver’s licensing authority.

Contact the State Licensing Authority

All states have a system in place to require retesting of persons with mental or physical impairments. However, state laws and re-examination processes vary. They may include medical evaluation, as well as written and road tests. Laws also vary concerning who is authorized to request re-examination. They may include police officers, judges, state’s attorneys, physicians, family members, neighbors, friends, or other drivers. In some states, all older drivers must take driving tests for annual renewals. Check with your state’s driver’s licensing authority to see what rules and procedures exist for revoking driver’s licenses for impaired drivers.

If your loved one’s driver’s license is ultimately revoked, he or she should get a state issued photo identification card to use for check cashing, air travel, and other uses.

Protecting Insurance Coverage

Even with a doctor’s advice not to drive, or a driver’s license revocation, a person with Alzheimer’s may still get behind the wheel. He or she may forget that driving is no longer allowed. Or, stubbornness, anger, or frustration may encourage him or her to grab the keys and hit the road. If that happens and an accident occurs, serious consequences-beyond the risk of personal injury or death to the driver, passengers, or others-may result.

For example, although some state laws require insurance companies to honor claims involving insured motor vehicles, even if driven by an unlicensed driver, an insurance claim can be challenged. Insurance coverage may be cancelled. And future applications for motor vehicle insurance can be denied. In some states, insurance companies can cancel policies if a driver’s license is revoked, regardless of whether an accident has happened or not. Should a driver without coverage become involved in a motor vehicle accident, his or her assets will be at risk from claims by accident victims for property damage or personal injury.

These issues are particularly important for an unimpaired spouse of a person with Alzheimer’s disease. Insurance cancellation will jeopardize the spouse’s insurability. Acceptance under a new policy may be difficult because of the spouse’s older age. And the new policy may cost much more than the previous one. State insurance laws vary, and some states have regulations pertaining to such situations.

One option is for the impaired driver to exclude himself or herself from the policy, enabling the unimpaired spouse to continue insurance coverage. But if the excluded driver drives anyway, a claim for personal injury or property damage to the driver’s car may not be honored to the full extent of the policy’s limits. (Liability claims by others would likely be paid, however.) If that happened, the policy would most likely be canceled.

Action Steps for Family Members

Depending upon your loved one’s abilities and desire to drive, regardless of driver’s license status or doctor’s orders, family members can take steps to prevent an impaired driver from operating the car. Here are six steps you can take:

1. Sell the car. If the car won’t be driven, it makes sense to sell it. However, Americans love their cars. Some even name them the way they would name a pet dog or cat. If your loved one is attached to his or her motor vehicle, your suggestion to sell it may meet strong objection, even if the impaired driver seems to understand that driving is no longer allowed. If the loved one wants to keep the car, or is comforted by seeing it in the garage or driveway, you can disable the car so it can’t be driven.

2. Hide the car keys. If the car remains in the family, someone must control access to all copies of the keys. Lock them in a safe place unknown to the impaired driver.

3. Replace the car key. If the impaired driver resists or refuses to hand over his or her set of keys, quietly replace the car key with one that looks like it, but that doesn’t work in the vehicle.

4. Remove the tires. Removing the tires will disable the vehicle, but in some residential areas, parking a car on blocks is not allowed, except-perhaps-in an enclosed garage. Check with your local jurisdiction before taking this step.

5. Disable the vehicle. Ask a mechanic to show you how to disconnect the car’s battery or how to disconnect the coil wire between the coil and distributor. If a spouse or other household member needs to use the car, reconnecting them is relatively easy.

6. Park the car elsewhere. Park the car down the street, around the corner, or out of sight in a neighbor’s garage to make it inaccessible.

Look for Alternatives

A person who has been driving for decades and who takes pride in his or her independence will likely resist attempts to restrict driving privileges. That independence is difficult to give up, especially in neighborhoods without good public transportation systems. The person may not want to burden friends or family to get where he or she wants to go.

In modern American culture, driving is important. For many, it involves self-esteem and status as well as mobility. For these reasons, those who have Alzheimer’s disease are unlikely to admit difficulties they are experiencing when driving. So, family members and physicians must balance the person’s convenience with the safety of the driver, as well as passengers and other drivers on the road.

When restricting driving privileges becomes an issue, you can ease the transition by investigating alternative methods of getting from place to place. Here are some choices you can make available to your loved one in place of a personal motor vehicle.

1. Friends and family.

Are you willing to provide all or part of your loved one’s transportation needs? What about other family members? If friends say, “let me know if I can do anything to help,” suggest they give your loved one a ride to the grocery store, hairdresser, or doctor’s appointment. You can also ask for volunteers at your place of worship.

2. Public Transportation.

Gather information about bus routes, train schedules, and taxi services. See whether they offer discounts for older individuals or those with disabilities. Calculate round-trip fares from your loved one’s home to frequently visited locations, such as the grocery store, doctor’s office, barber shop, or library.

3. Government ­funded transportation.

Investigate availability of government-funded transportation for people with disabilities. Inquire about how to qualify for such programs.

4. Delivery Services.

To reduce the need for trips outside the home, look for pharmacies, office supply stores, restaurants, and other businesses and organizations that deliver goods and services to the home. Find a courier service that operates in your area, or see whether a taxi service will perform that function. Look into the Meals on Wheels program in your area.

Tags: Aging, Illness

Tags: Disease, Health, Medical, Illness, Treatment, Disease+Information

Quitting smoking is of utmost importance to reduce the risks of heart disease.

As a former two and a half packs a day smoker, I am well aware of the great difficulties we face in quitting smoking.

Starting to smoke as a teenager, the cigarette was my crutch, my friend and my aide in my formative years, which increased my reliability and dependability on my nicotine habit, defining my identity as a smoker.

Quitting smoking wasn’t an option, fearing failure, fearing loss of identity I convinced myself that mortality rates that were directly linked to cigarette smoking, didn’t apply to me.

They did.

Having a massive heart attack at age 37 surely convinced me that I am no different then anyone else.

If we smoke, we get heart disease, when we get heart disease; we get heart attacks, when we get heart attacks we die.

I quit smoking.

How can you do the same, before you get heart disease, before you get a heart attack?

Starting the process

Although it may be a difficult process, it can be done. It all begins in the mind following these two steps

1. We must train our minds to associate smoking with pain, sickness, disease, and suffering, through educating ourselves of the disastrous consequences smoking causes.

2. We must train our minds to associate quitting smoking, living smoke free with health, joy, satisfaction and pleasure.

No one really wants to hurt himself. It is just that we trained our minds and bodies over the years to believe that cigarettes causes us joy and pleasure, and not smoking causes us pain and anxiety.

We can begin by reading material from the Center of Disease Control, from the American heart association from the American cancer society and from the American lung association. They describe in great detail the truly devastating consequences of heart disease.

We must change our belief and attitude towards smoking

When we are able to change our belief, we are able to change our attitude, when we change our attitude, our behavior begins to change, we begin the process of really desiring to quit.

When we really desire something we tend to pursue it, we tend to stay the course, we don’t give up.

Quitting smoking follows the same pattern, we must truly desire to stop, if we have that burning desire, we will succeed, and we will enjoy a healthy active life.

Deciding that we really want to live a healthy active lifestyle and quit

When we truly begin to desire something, we start thinking about ways of getting it. We don’t think I don’t want not to have something; we start thinking I want something.

Generally when we think about the things that we want, we day dream about it we fantasize about it and we visualize ourselves as having it.

It becomes real to us. When it does, the potential of it occurring increases. Our attitude towards it does, and our behavior toward it does.

When we begin thinking, I want to be healthy. I want to be active. I want to look good. I want to exercise. I want to live a long life. We create those images in our mind. The more we think about them the more these images grow in our minds.

The clearer they become the more we want them. When we truly desire them, we begin to take action, we decide that we will quit.

It can work like this:

I want to:

Be healthy, be strong, be fit

I don’t want to:

Be sick, be weak, be unhealthy

I want to:

Smell good, smell fresh, smell clean

I don’t want to:

Stink, reek, smell bad

I want to:

Have clean fingers

I don’t want to:

Have yellow fingers

I want to:

Have control over our lives

I don’t want to:

Be dependent on our addictions

I want to:

Be active

I don’t want to:

Be sedentary

I want to:

Be accepted socially by all not only by 28% of smokers

I don’t want to:

Be socially unaccepted by 72% of the non smoking population

I want to:

Enjoy a meal in a restaurant without having to run out for a cigarette

I don’t want to:

Have to avoid going to social settings because we fear we wont be able to smoke

I don’t want to:

I want to:

Be able to swim, run, hike, play and enjoy our vacations and leisure time

I don’t want to:

Be forced to sit in one place not being able to participate in any activities

I want to:

Spend my cigarette money on better things

I don’t want to:

Waste my money on cigarettes which has become such an expensive habit

I want to:

Use your imagination and enter anything else you really want to do but you are inhibited because of smoking

I don’t want to:

Use your imagination and enter anything else you really don’t want to do but you are inhibited because of your smoking habit

Once we make a clear decision and resolution that we will quit

We must select a method that we are comfortable with, let us not kid ourselves nicotine is a drug and an addictive one.

At times we may need aides to overcome the cravings. The aides alone won’t cause us to stop. They are called aides, because, that is what they are, helpers. Really quitting smoking, must come with a burning desire, as written earlier.

Once we have the desire, it is easier for us to overcome the withdrawal symptoms which are our difficulties in the beginning of the process.

Especially when we know that they are only temporary and are replaced by a satisfying active lifestyle.

The withdrawal symptoms are:

• Cravings
• Irritability
• Anxiety
• Headache
• Depression
• Restlessness
• Difficulty concentrating

These can, and have been overcome, by all of us that have stopped smoking, using these two methods

• Cold Turkey, deciding to quit, and then actively replacing the cigarette with other enjoyable activities
• Nicotine replacement therapy, which release low dosages of nicotine into the blood stream that include

• Nicotine gum
• Nicotine patches
• Nicotine inhalers
• Nicotine nasal sprays

We must then make a clear decision and resolution that we will exercise and enjoy life

Once we begin the process, we must start doing all those things we really wanted to.

We must start becoming active. We must start walking, exercising, hiking, playing sports or any other enjoyable activities that we weren’t able to do when we were smokers.

I have given this advice to several of my friends after my heart attack. I am happy to say, that the ones who followed this advice have stopped smoking, they are now my exercise buddies. It works, try it, and you will succeed.

Tags: Medical, Aging

Tags: Disease, Health, Medical, Illness, Treatment, Disease+Information

Your doctor tells you your stomach problems are from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). So he treats (or mistreats) you for your symptoms when in fact you don’t have IBS. What your doctor may have missed is that you have a little known condition, celiac disease, and you don’t have to suffer anymore because relief of your problems is only a change of diet away.

The National Institute of Health, estimates that over three million Americans have undiagnosed celiac disease. Why so many? Because on average it takes 11 years to get a proper diagnosis. That’s 11 years millions of people are needlessly suffering. Could you be one of them?

The symptoms of celiac disease are very similar to a host of other intestinal disorders. They are: diarrhea, abdominal pain, gas, bloating, and weight loss. And many patients don’t experience those signs but instead report so-called atypical symptoms, including: a blistering, itchy skin rash, anemia, short stature, delayed puberty, infertility, and tooth enamel defects. Because there are a broad range of symptoms that may be readily associated with other conditions or ailments, celiac can be difficult to diagnose and often goes undiagnosed or misdiagnosed.

So what exactly is celiac disease?

It’s a genetic autoimmune disorder also known as gluten-intolerance. Gluten is found in wheat, rye, and barley and its derivatives. Therefore foods and ingredients to be avoided include such staples as most flours, bread, and pasta. If you have celiac disease your body recognizes gluten as a toxin. Toxins are essentially poisons to your body. Gluten reeks havoc on a celiac’s body by causing the villi, which line the intestinal wall, to become flattened and lose the ability to absorb nutrients from food.

It is important to properly diagnose and treat celiac disease for two reasons. First, with proper treatment the small intestine will heal and your symptoms will disappear over time. The other more important reason is that if a persona with the disorder continues to eat gluten, chances of gastrointestinal cancer can increase by 40 to 100 times that of the normal population. In addition, gastrointestinal carcinoma or lymphoma develops in up to 15 percent of patients with untreated celiac disease. Osteoporosis is another condition that can be caused by failing to treat this disease.

The only acceptable treatment for celiac disease is strict adherence to a 100% gluten-free diet for life. That measure can prevent almost all complications caused by the disease – without medication – as the small intestine will steadily heal and start absorbing needed nutrients and, therefore, eliminate painful symptoms.

But a gluten-free diet is not easy. It means avoiding all products that contain wheat, rye, and barley or any of their derivatives. That challenge can prove to be a daunting task as many hidden sources of gluten are found in the ingredients of several processed foods. However, the health rewards are tremendous.

Being diagnosed with celiac is a life-changing experience. Imagine having to give up bread, pasta, and beer among other things. Where can you go out to eat? Where can you vacation? Where can you find substitutes for the foods you crave? The doctors will not have the answers to these questions. The best source of information on living with celiac is hearing from others who have “been there, done that.”

If you have been suffering from intestinal problems and have not gotten relief, find out all you can about celiac disease. Educate your doctor about it. It can be diagnosed with a simple blood test. There are many support groups across the country and several books that can give you information and put you on the road to recovery.

Remember, relief may be just a change of diet away.

©2005, A Personal Touch Publishing, LLC.

Tags: Cancer, Aging

Tags: Disease, Health, Medical, Illness, Treatment, Disease+Information

I once asked a relative of mine what he believed to be the biggest advancement in the treatment of mental illness, and his succinct reply, the invention of the tranquillizer.

Unfortunately, as we have no doubt have come to realize, the tranquillizer is not exactly the cure all. Just look at the terrible side effects of such medication as Prozac.

Sheryl J. Stevens, who has first hand experience in dealing with the mentally ill, or as she prefers to call these individuals “lost souls,” has written a wake up call in her book Operation Soul Recovery (From Default To Purpose).

The author strikes just the right tone: direct and passionate, in pointing out to her audience that the treatment of these lost souls is very low down on the health care totem pole. Furthermore, as the author asserts, we are lacking in sensitivity in our understanding that there is no physical pain comparable to that of a broken spirit.

As pointed out, we would hardly expect someone with a broken leg to run a race. Instead, we would promptly treat the fracture by a qualified medical doctor. Why then is it so difficult to understand the basic requirements needed to treat the mind and spirit? There seems to be a tendency to cop out and either ignore the gravity of the situation or rely solely on medication. Do we really believe, as Stevens asserts, that these illnesses are incurable?

The book is an engrossing and soul searching read that provides a window into the mistreatment of the mentally ill and in particular with society’s obsession in looking for whom to blame, rather than trying to find a solution to the cure. As mentioned, “it is the cure that should be capturing our attention.”

After lambasting the system, Stevens does present several constructive ideas for improving the system in her chapter entitled A Manor Of Eden. It is here where she emphasizes the principle that no human being is a hopeless case, and it is essential that we treat the body, mind and the soul simultaneously, and not giving more importance to one over the other.
Furthermore, the program of treatment is to be divided into a series of steps that considers the whole gamut from dealing in depth with the past, recovering the wisdom and value of the inner-child, developing knowledge of healthy living and formal education, job training, and job placement.

There is a great deal here to ponder about, and as Stevens mentioned in her interview with me, the book definitely presents ideas and suggestions that are outside of the box. However, the question that remains is, who will be listening?

Title: Operation Soul Recovery (From Default To Purpose)
Author: Sheryl J. Stevens
ISBN: 155395442-4

Tags: Cancer, Health

Tags: Disease, Health, Medical, Illness, Treatment, Disease+Information