Health Tips: August 2009

Monday, August 31, 2009

Dry Skin Problems

How can I keep my skin from getting dry?
Dry air can cause your skin to become dry and itchy. In your home, use a humidifier to put moisture in the air during the winter and in dry weather.
How do I treat dry skin?
Moisturizers work well to treat dry skin. Choose a moisturizer that is hypoallergenic (it should say so on the label). The best moisturizers are also the most "gooey." Ointments (or oils) are best, followed by creams, and then lotions. Petroleum jelly (one brand name: Vaseline) is an excellent skin lubricant, but it can be messy to use.
Put a moisturizer on your skin 3 or 4 times during the day. Put moisturizer on right after you wash or bathe. This will hold in the moisture from the water. If you have very dry hands, put petroleum jelly on them before you go to bed at night and sleep with your hands in cotton-lined gloves.
Changing your bathing habits can also help. If you bathe too often, it may dry out your skin. Try to take short, lukewarm baths or showers. Oatmeal baths (one brand name: Aveeno) may be soothing to dry skin. After a bath or shower, pat your skin dry and put a moisturizer on your skin right away. Use a mild soap every day to clean your genital area and under your arms. Only clean other parts of your body 2 or 3 times a week with soap.
Some people use bath oils to help make their skin less dry. However, these oils can be dangerous because they make your tub slippery. To avoid slipping and falling, put the oil on your skin after you get out of the bathtub. Plain baby oil works well.
When should I see my doctor because of itchy skin?
Dry, irritated skin is more likely to get infected. Infected skin is red, warm and swollen. It may ooze fluid. You may need antibiotics to get rid of this kind of infection.
Severe itching or pain, especially in older adults, sometimes is caused by a serious medical problem. Call your doctor if you are an older person who has severe itching or pain that doesn't have an obvious cause and doesn't get better within 2 weeks.
What medicines treat itching?
A moisturizer might be all you need to relieve itching. If a moisturizer does not help enough, you could try using 1 percent hydrocortisone steroid skin cream for a week. If this is not helpful, your doctor may prescribe stronger steroids or antihistamine pills.
If you use a steroid cream to treat itching, you should not use the medicine for longer than 1 to 2 weeks. Be very careful when you put a steroid cream on your face or genital area. Steroid creams may make your skin get very thin and may cause other skin problems. Be sure to talk with your doctor if you are using a steroid cream or ointment to treat your itching.

Candida Yeast Overgrowth

A general sense of unwellness characterized by fatigue, muscle weakness, sleep disorders, anxiety, digestive complaints, vaginal yeast infection, skin complaints such as rashes, hives and itching, tinea, diminished sex drive, frequent headache, sinus complaints, chemical sensitivities, depression, brain-fog, muscle and joint pain and genito-urinary problems are frequently mis-diagnosed or dismissed as being psycho-somatic, caused by stress or simply imaginary, by most conventional medical practitioners. Individuals suffering of any of these often candida generated complaints would be well advised to investigate the links between candida albicans yeast overgrowth referred to as systemic candidiasis and its many symptoms and signs.
Candida albicans yeast, as well as several other strains of candida, is frequently a significant underlying if not causative factor in many of today's most common, chronic health disorders. Candida albicans, a naturally occurring strain of yeast, occupies a place in the normal microbial ecology of the human intestinal environment, as an organism responsible for the neutralization of certain species of harmful gut bacteria. Candida albicans yeast is found in low concentrations in healthy intestinal systems, where it performs its normal, health promoting functions assisting in the maintenance of ideal intestinal flora levels. Candida albicans yeast can however easily proliferate out of control do to the prevalence of health undermining factors so common in our modern world. Candida infection can be successfully treated, but a rational approach to candida treatment must start with a healthy diet and common-sense lifestyle modification.

Natural Progesterone & Natural Progesterone

Natural progesterone is typically produced by a woman's ovaries in the normal monthly menstrual cycle assuming there's ovulation. Natural progesterone's presence in the body is important for many reasons.
Natural progesterone balances - and controls - estrogen and its actions. Estrogen promotes cell growth, and natural progesterone keeps that growth from going farther than is either necessary or healthy.
If you don't have a suitable amount of natural progesterone in your body, your estrogen is NOT balanced and NOT controlled. And unbalanced estrogen is NOT HEALTHY and causes symptoms of hormone imbalance!
Most men and women begin to produce less progesterone when they reach their early 30's and accelerates in their 40's. This progesterone deficiency causes several symptoms of premenopause and menopause and creating several health issues for men and women.
Here's a list of symptoms that natural progesterone can be used for to help support women's health:
• irregular menstrual flow, • cramping, • bloating, • natural antidepressant, • irritability, • migraine headaches, • insomnia, • hot flashes, • night sweats, • vaginal dryness, • infertility,• incontinence, • endometriosis, • restores sex drive, • normalizes blood sugar levels, • natural diuretic, • normalizes blood clotting, • uses fat for energy, • protects against breast fibrocysts, • prevents migraines, • thyroid imbalance, • important for the survival and development of the embryo, • is the primary precursor for adrenal corticosteroids, estrogens (estriol, estrone and estradiol) and testosterone produced by testes in males
It's worth noting that in the third trimester of pregnancy, the female's placenta produces 300-400mg of natural progesterone PER DAY! Since progesterone is a natural anti-depressant, it comes as no surprise that new mothers suffer the "post-partum depression" when their major source of natural progesterone, the placenta, is lost when the baby is born!
But, as outlined in the "Hormone Imbalance" section of this site, natural progesterone will not be produced by the body with missed ovulations or after menopause. So natural progesterone supplementation or natural progesterone cream is a key element in a woman's health and well-being.
The "Risk of HRT" section on this site talks about the problems of synthetic hormones and how patented synthetic progesterones (called "progestins") present problems for women.
Hormone replacement therapy using SYNTHETIC drugs? See the Women's Health Initiative study to understand why synthetic HRT is RISKY! Go to the Women's Health Initiative study here.
So how do you add natural progesterone to your system? How does natural progesterone replacement therapy work?
According to Dr. John Lee, the easiest and most effective form to use is the natural progesterone CREAM. All you do is apply it directly to your skin, and from there it's absorbed into the underlying fat layer. Then, the natural progesterone can be absorbed into the blood stream as the body needs it.
You can also take other forms of natural progesterone supplements like capsules taken by mouth. These "Herbal Equilibrium" capsules will raise the levels of progesterone, estrogen and testosterone in the blood. Using both the herbal capsules and the natural progesterone cream like it is recommended, is a good idea.
Besides being healthy, these products will eliminate hormone imbalance and natural progesterone has a number of cosmetic advantages by way of producing softer, younger looking skin and how bad can THAT be?!
Remember Hormone IMBALANCE causes MENOPAUSE SYMPTOMS! It's time YOU bring your body into balance! To balance your hormones, natural progesterone and progesterone cream is what you need to safely reduce or eliminate menopause symptoms.
Balance your hormones yourself with natural progesterone replacement therapy.
How much herbal capsules or natural progesterone cream should you use?
Herbs for menopause should be taken twice a day to improve symptoms of hormonal imbalance. Women today need as much support as possible to deal with their different types of symptoms and stresses.
This herbal product is composed of several herbs like passionflower, chasteberry, black cohosh, red clover, ashwagandha, wild yam and many more... this herbal formula will provide natural support and balance to your system.
When using natural progesterone cream, make sure you follow the packaging usage instructions, but using 1/4 teaspoon once or twice a day for 2-3 weeks a month will simulate normal progesterone presence in the body. Natural progesterone creams that you should use should contain 2-3% USP Progesterone, or 450-500mg per ounce of cream.
Remember, you're using natural progesterone replacement therapy to re-create what your body would produce were it ovulating, and you "time" the usage to mimic its appearance in your regular monthly menstrual cycle.
Check out recommended suppliers of natural progesterone in the natural progesterone cream sources section.
During menopause, the estrogen levels in the body drop 40 to 60 percent while natural progesterone levels drop to nearly zero.
It is possible that fluctuating estrogen levels in the body - sometimes too high, sometimes too low - result in a temporary estrogen deficiency that causes menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, memory lapses, osteoporosis, wrinkly skin, and vaginal dryness.
Go to natural estrogen sources here.
Another approach is to test your own natural progesterone and estrogen levels first. Your hormone levels can best be determined with a saliva test.
This allows you to determine exactly how deficient in natural progesterone (or estrogen) you are before beginning supplementation, or what your levels are as you proceed with supplementation. Go to the hormone testing section here.
It is important to restore your hormone levels in the body because doing so will give you improved health and vitality.
Lifestyle changes that correct hormone imbalance!
• 1- Improve your diet by including protein (organic meats and poultry that contain no growth hormones and antibiotics, plus eat cold-water fish - not farmed raised - 3 times a week), whole grains, fruits and vegetables.
A healthy diet will improve your long term health, will certainly reduce your hormone imbalance symptoms and will allow you to live longer.
• 2- Increase your physical activity by exercising. Women who exercise will begin sleeping better, having more energy, looking younger, and bones and connective tissues will be stronger.
You will start losing weight and maintaining a more positive outlook. The list goes on! The key is to make exercise a lifelong habit. With exercise, women have better sex lives and reduce hormone imbalance.
Exercise is known to improve your mood, and it also boosts your immune system, which helps protect you from infectious diseases.
• 3- Reduce stress in your daily life! Stress stimulates your body to produce more cortisol, androgens, epinephrine and adrenaline.
According to Dr. John R. Lee, "Cortisol inhibits progesterone production by the ovaries. Also with stress, your body will produce high levels of cortisol that can significantly reduce progesterone production and cause estrogen dominance."
Too much cortisol in the body reduces progesterone production, causes diabetes, high blood pressure, weakens your immune system, leads to overeating, and eliminates essential minerals and vitamins in the body.
If women stay 'hormone balanced' and take care of themselves by having a balanced diet and exercise, their aging process will happen later in life and will be more gradual and less debilitating.

PMS Symptoms and Pregnancy Symptoms

PMS symptoms and Pregnancy Symptoms share some of the same symptoms. The degree of effect is different for every woman. For one woman, the symptoms may vary from month to month and in intensity. Ladies, the good news is there are treatments available to help relieve symptoms especially of PMS. Pregnancy symptoms may be treated but only under the direct care of your OB/GYN (obstetrics and gynecology). There may be a chance that any medication you take could affect your baby.
PMS Symptoms
The general belief is that symptoms of PMS may be caused by one of two things - low levels of Serotonin - a brain chemical that helps control mood, sleep cycles, and appetite. Serotonin also helps signals to travel from nerve to nerve. The other possible cause is the variations in hormone levels that occur during a woman's menstrual cycle.
If Serotonin levels are suspected, you may experience one or more of the following symptoms. Mood changes, irritability, anger and aggressive behavior may occur. Anxiety, Depression, and sleep problems might also occur as well as fatigue. Food cravings and an increased appetite may also be a symptom.
If hormonal levels are believed to be the cause, then you may experience head aches or migraines. Sore breasts and back aches have been noted. Bloating and weight gain have also been experienced by some women.
Treatment of PMS symptoms may include prescribed medications including ant-depressants, pain relievers-prescribed and over the counter, and in some cases a woman may be put on birth control to help stabilize her periods. Your doctor is the best source of information about various treatments.
Pregnancy Symptoms
Early pregnancy may cause a woman to feel a variety of things and is usually indicated by missing one or more periods in a row. If you suspect you are pregnant, see a physician as soon as you can. This is to confirm your pregnancy and if you are not pregnant determine the cause for your missed periods.
Pregnancy symptoms include nausea and/or vomiting, morning sickness, and sore breasts or nipples. You may experience headaches and fatigue as well. Mood swings also can occur in early pregnancy and through out. Frequent urination also is a bothersome symptom of pregnancy. Cravings and aversions may occur around food and smells.
Treatments of pregnancy symptoms can be tricky. There are medications that are known to have some effects on a developing baby. Good pre-natal care for both you and your baby will help keep both healthy. It is important that you do not take anything without talking to your doctor for your sake and your baby's sake.
Possible Treatments for PMS symptoms and Pregnancy Systems
Due to the many serious side effects associated with many prescribed medications, many women are seeking out more natural treatments such as herbal supplements. Herbal supplements have few if any negative side effects. Whether you are pregnant or have PMS, herbal supplements may benefit you. It is strongly recommended that you do not take anything without checking with your doctor because some herbs can affect the performance of any prescriptive medications.
The best herbal supplements are those that have undergone intense testing. The ingredients' metabolic paths at the molecular level will have been evaluated. Interactions between the ingredients are also studied. They should have been made to meet pharmaceutical grade standards. This guarantees that the quality of the supplement is the same throughout the bottle and in subsequent bottles. The consumer is guaranteed that they are getting what the product label says they are.
Conclusion
It is known that PMS symptoms and pregnancy symptoms are similar. They may include headaches, back aches, and nausea/vomiting (morning sickness). Treatment of PMS symptoms includes prescribed drugs or herbal supplements. Treatment of pregnancy symptoms is a bit more difficult because many medications can harm your unborn baby.

Benefits and Risks of Liposuction

Liposuction is a " Artificial, Painful and expensive" way of removing excess fat from fat accumulating parts of the body. It is expensive process. Generally those who are suffering from over weight are go through this surgery.
• My sincere advise is , If you are a diabetic patient / suffering from heart diseases / have irregular blood pressure then remove the word Liposuction from your mind. Because Liposuction's disadvantages are more than its benefits.
The main disadvantage of this process is its recovery. Recovery is painful and tedious. Some times it leaves some unwanted scars or marks or blood clots on the place from where the fat was removed.
• The only benefit is it gives you attractive figure as desired by you by decreasing the weight instantly.
• My suggestion is try to reduce the weight gradually. Maintaining good figure is not a difficult task. It just need interest and self confidence.
• Eating fresh vegetables, fruits, balanced food and drinking plenty of water along with regular exercise is the best solution to reduce the weight and extra fat than liposuction.
• Because, trying to reduce is gradually , is natural, less expensive and not painful. Where as liposuction is "artificial, painful and expensive" way of removing excess fat.

Hair and Nail Vitamins

Hair and nails are very good indicators of the general health condition of the body. Any kind of illness or stress is reflected through the skin, hair and fingernails. Hair and nails show symptoms such as brittleness, thinning, breaking, and splitting when neglected or when the body goes through extreme pressure conditions. Even when the body is deficient in essential nutrients, the hair and fingernails shows the signs.
Nutrition is very important for the body. Even though hair and fingernails are just dead cells, they are an important indicator of the general well being of a person. Nutrition for the body is derived from the food we take. When the body does not receive the essential nutrients, or if it loses the ability to absorb nutrients from the food it receives, it causes the body to use up internal resources. This causes weakness in the body parts and is reflected in the skin, hair and fingernails. In order to have healthy hair and finger nails, it is very important to consume food that contains some major vitamins like vitamin A (produces healthy sebum in the scalp), vitamin C (antioxidant), vitamin E (improves scalp circulation), Biotin (produces Keratin), Inositol (keeps hair follicles healthy), Niacin (promotes scalp circulation) and pantothenic acid, Para-Aminobenzoic Acid, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 that prevent graying and hair loss. Of these, vitamin E is found to have a significant influence on the health of not just hair but also skin and fingernails.
Most vitamins are derived from food. The most common food-based sources of vitamins are: citrus fruits, green vegetables, fruits like pineapple, strawberries, kiwi, potatoes, green peppers, cheese, vegetable oils, soybean, raw seeds, dried beans, wheat germ oil, brewer’s yeast, whole grains, eggs, liver, rice, milk, fish, turkey, chicken and red meat. Other nutrients required by the body are proteins and minerals like iron, calcium, zinc, magnesium and essential fatty acids.
There are several products in the market today that act as essential vitamins for hair and nails. These are in the form of oils, shampoos, gels, sprays, lotions and creams. These are generally prescribed by specialists but some are also available over the counter. However, it is better to consult a specialist before using these products. There are also hundreds of websites that provide information about these products. They can also be ordered online.

PMS Natural Remedy

Women usually go through this premenstrual cycle that can sometime be too irritating and creates a nuisance to the everyday living of an individual. It hinders the activities planned ahead for the day because the pain would sometimes be too unbearable.
PMS Signs and Symptoms
When an individual experiences premenstrual syndrome, they usually experience the following:
Swelling of breasts: This is associated with slight tingling and aching feeling of the breasts.
* Menstrual cramps: Mild cramps usually occur as the uterus tries to contract and shed off the tissues.
* Irritable behavior: Due to the pain and hormonal fluctuations, women during their premenstrual period would tend to be irritable.
* Bloated feeling: This is due to the rise and fall of estrogen and progesterone. These hormones have an effect on the homeostasis of fluid in the body.
* Mood swings usually would occur as well and is fairly common. This is because of the fluctuation of the hormones that causes the emotional upsets and outbursts.
Preventing PMS
There is no such thing as stopping the body from going through this process because it is normal. The only measure you can do is to try to lessen and to alleviate the discomforts that come along with it. Here are the following natural cures and remedies for PMS.
* Drink plenty of fluids
* To treat the swelling of the breasts, cold and warm compress usually will help. Wearing a good and supportive brassiere would also be helpful.
* There’s not much you can do about the irritable behavior, but the only remedy for it is to go with your emotions. If you feel like crying, then cry. If you feel like eating out, go for it. Don’t hold your emotions for it is natural and normal to feel in such way.
* With the menstrual cramps, you can alleviate the pain by placing a hot compress on your groin area. Let it sit for about 15 to 30 minutes till the pain subsides.
The best way to avoid premenstrual pain is to deal with it through exercising, drinking plenty of fluid, eating healthy and eating right, getting some rest, and avoiding too much stress. You should also cut off the caffeine and soda intake and stop smoking and drinking alcohol. You need to switch to a healthy lifestyle.

PMS and Pregnancy Symptoms and Treatments

How could one possibly tell you that you are suffering from PMS? Signs of the two issues are very similar. But, the treatments for the two of them are not the same and should be closely watched.When having signs of pregnancy always consult your doctor.
Signs of PMS
A woman's PMS symptoms are believed to be the result of low levels of the chemical Serotonin. Some of the symptoms of PMS include: mood changes, such as aggressive behavior, anger, irritability, depression and anxiety, and cravings for food, increased appetite and / or decreases, and the problems of sleep. Some women may even experience cramping, headaches, sore breasts and bloating. If your having early pregnancy signs it is always good to know the difference between pms and pregnancy signs and symptoms.
PMS Treatment
There are many treatments for PMS some of which may include prescription medication like antidepressants and pain relievers.
Remedy's of PMS
Several remedies for PMS might consist of doctor's prescriptions with medicines like antidepressants and pain blockers. Medications can help the women who has pregnancy symptoms. Birth control pills help regulate periods for women who have severe PMS symptoms.
Signs of Pregnancy
Women who are pregnant will experience a large assortment of symptoms including missed periods, morning sickness, sore breasts, headaches, excessive tiredness and mood swings. She might also experience cravings for food or avoid specific foods as well as urinate more frequently while pregnant. Women can test for pregnancy through her OBG/YN doctor or a home pregnancy test.
Pregnancy Treatment
Treating symptoms of pregnancy can pose a problem. For starters, some medications can cause harm to the baby. This means that you should never take any kind of medicine while pregnant without it being approved by your doctor.
Other Possible Treatments For Both PMS and Pregnancy Symptoms
Herbal supplements are very popular in treating symptoms of PMS and pregnancy; if you are pregnant, you should never take anything including herbal supplements without your doctor's approval.
Disclaimer Again if your having any pregnancy signs always talk to your doctor, the information provided here is not a replacement for medical advise that should always be a professional.

Menopause Facts

One menopause fact is that it occurs naturally as a part of the aging process and therefore it cannot be prevented. This condition occurs when a woman’s body no longer releases eggs and the ovaries significantly reduce the production of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. A woman is only considered menopausal when she goes for 12 consecutive months without having a menstrual period. Another fact is that this condition normally occurs between the ages of 45 and 55 although sometimes it can come earlier or later. When this condition occurs naturally, it is usually preceded by a transition period referred to as perimenopause. This transition period is characterized by irregular periods.
Although perimenopause normally begins in the mid to the late 30s, it can also begin anytime between a woman’s early 30 and the late 50s. Another menopause fact is that the related symptoms usually occur because of the absence of the eggs as well as the reduction in the levels of estrogen and progesterone.
Common symptoms of this condition include hot flashes, night sweats and vaginal dryness. Other symptoms include mood changes, urinary problems and lack of interest in sex. A woman may also experience memory or concentration problems as well as changes in physical appearance.
Another fact is that hormone replacement therapy or HRT is the most common and usually the most effective way to relive the menopausal symptoms. This condition can also be induced by an operation that removes the uterus and the ovaries. The symptoms normally begin immediately after the surgery and are normally more intense.

Female Menopause

A term that few women are familiar with is climacteric. The climacteric period in a woman’s life is that period which begins as a counterpoint to puberty, and ends sometime after menopause. It encompasses the series of physical, emotional and psychic changes a woman encounters during her later sexual maturity.
How does the Climacteric Period Relate to Menopause?
Just as one goes through a series of changes leading up to and through puberty, culminating in reproductive maturity, a woman also has a climacteric period which transitions her from ovarian function, to hormonal decline, and through termination of fertility (menopause). Menopause takes place within the climacteric period.
Menopause is a biological “event” heralded by the cessation of menses and the termination of fertility, which can take from 1 – 7 years to complete, and generally occurs between the ages of 48 and 52. The climacteric is a long series of changes that may last from 15 – 20 years and generally falls between the ages of 40 and 60.
What Happens During the Climacteric Period and Menopause?
As menopause approaches, a woman’s monthly cycle begins to change due to changes in ovarian function. It is usual for the cycle to shorten from an average of 28 days to approximately 26 days by the time she reaches her early forties. During this period ovaries begin to lose their ability to produce estrogen and progesterone in quantities and ratios that would produce mature eggs, and fertility drops.
The menstrual cycle becomes irregular for most women. It is typical to have both longer and shorter periods between menstruation, and heavier and lighter menstrual periods, until eventually menstruation ceases.

Breast Pain Pill

It is the babys natural food and is easily digested limiting stomach problems and wind causing pain and discomfort to the baby. It is also provides antibodies reducing the risks of gastro-intestinal infections, urine infections, chest and ear it infections, breathing difficulties including asthma, diabetes, eczema and childhood obesity.
It’s alarming but it is true that there’s more breast cancer now than ever before. It is true that between 1979 and 1986 the incidence of invasive breast cancer in the United States alone has increased 29 percent among white women and 41 percent among black women, and incidences of all breast cancers doubled.
Surprisingly, even women who already have relatively endowed chests are seeking the help of science in further improving their breast sizes. To this date, many women turn to breast enlargement pill with high hopes of achieving breasts big enough to fill the cup size of their fantasies. It doesn’t matter to some of these women if they have to spend a fortune just to have breasts humongous enough to rival that of Dolly Parton or Baywatch babe, Pamela Anderson.
It is known that women who have their first menstrual period before age 11, or who have a late menopause, seem to be at increased risk of developing this cancer, probably because they are exposed to high levels of estrogen for longer. The number of menstrual cycles before a first pregnancy is also significant. And a woman who has her first child before age 20 has chances. Breast feeding is thought to have an additional protective effect.
Taking a pill that is filled with commonly used herbs is the way to natural breast enlargement. Any woman who is skeptical about natural breast enlargement can easily take a few minutes to look up these herbs and their benefits. It is worth it to take the time to do the research. Peace of mind is important, especially when it comes to out bodies and our health. Choosing a reputable supplier with a guarantee on all their natural breast enlargement products should be first on your list.
The most popular solution for women who wish to have smaller breasts is breast reduction surgery. Surgery can indeed work wonders when done by a capable surgeon. Many doctors recommend surgery as the best means to avoid the many physical discomforts of having oversized breasts. However, surgery does have its drawbacks: possible complications, infection, scarring, and a painful recovery period.
Herbal breast enhancement pills utilize a wide range of herbs to stimulate breast growth. And while all are different, these use a wide array of commonly utilized herbs. Herbal breast enhancement can either be through pills, creams, or liquids. Some products even offer them in a spray. The herbs used and mixed in different combinations of herbal breast enhancement vary, and usually include Saw Palmetto, Damiana, Dong Quai, Blessed Thistle, lunatic Yam, and Fennel Seed.
No matter how your breast impresses you, the question will be, is the size will permanently voluptuous? Yes, if you maintain it regularly by visiting your doctor, and of course it also means you must spend more dollars, more time, and more effort. This is where Bountiful Breast Pill can reduce the pain after surgery, once the breast pills take action, considering to its ingredients, it will help to maintain your health and faster the recovery and finally give you the breast you desire.

Painful Breast Cancer

Weightlifting often is discouraged for breast cancer survivors, but a new University of Minnesota study has found it can prevent the very complications it was feared to cause.
Comparing cancer survivors in a structured training program with those who didn't lift weights, the study found that the lifters had fewer problems with lymphedema, a painful and chronic swelling of the arms and legs.
Muscle injuries can cause lymphedema in cancer survivors, which is why they are discouraged from lifting anything heavier than five pounds, said Dr. Rehana Ahmed-Saucedo, a co-author of the study and a dermatology resident at the U. But when done carefully, she said, the lifting builds strength and prevents these injuries from occurring in daily life.
Survivors feel empowered in the process, she added. "They told me they weren't afraid now, if they needed to lift the groceries or if their grandchildren ran into the street and they had to run after them and grab them.
The federally funded study, released Wednesday, is being published in the latest New England Journal of Medicine. Lead author Kathryn Schmitz moved from the University of Minnesota to Pennsylvania, which is where the weight training took place.
The study enrolled 141 women with mild levels of lymphedema in their arms. After one year, only 14 percent of the lifters were found by their doctors to have flare-ups compared with 29 percent of the women in the comparison group.
Lymphedema is more common in cancer patients because the harsh treatments of chemotherapy and radiation can damage the body's ability to drain fluids from the limbs. There is no cure, but Ahmed-Saucedo said weightlifting appears to help by stimulating the body to add muscle and new blood vessels that improve drainage.
The study was heartening to breast cancer survivor Wendy Rahn, who created the Survivors Training group to offer fitness classes to other survivors and to teach professional trainers how to work with them. The nonprofit had to close a studio in White Bear Lake for financial reasons but offers classes at the HealthPartners Specialty Center in St. Paul.
This new study kind of closes the deal," she said. "It says (weightlifting) is not going to hurt you but that it might actually have some benefit. My hope is this is going to get oncologists on board.
Ahmed-Saucedo, who serves on the board of Survivors Training, said cancer survivors must be careful and ideally work with trainers who understand their particular needs. Survivors might just go through the lifting motions first before gradually adding weights.
Preventing or reducing lymphedema can have a psychological benefit, the doctor added. Other studies have shown that more women are troubled by the change in physical appearance caused by the swelling than by the surgical removal of a breast, which can be addressed with implants.
You can't hide, Ahmed-Saucedo said, "when your hand is swollen.
Follow-up research is needed, but a Houston specialist in cancer recovery said weightlifting has cost-saving benefits not only by reducing direct health care costs, but also by potentially reducing the risk of disability and allowing women to return to work at full capacity, either within or outside the home.
The specialist, Wendy Demark Wahnefried, said this especially would benefit low income patients, who suffer higher rates of lymphedema because their cancers are discovered later and require more aggressive treatments.

Friday, August 28, 2009

Cheap Colored Contact Lenses

Colored contact lenses are exactly like regular contacts, but they give the illusion of a new eye color. Colored contact lenses come at cheap rates, yet in wide ranges. They can be discarded after using for a week or two. Also, one can change color combinations in accordance with the outfit and occasions.
Cosmetic Fresh look contact lenses that change eye color are on sale for $29.95 a pair. For even greater savings, there are packages for festive occasions. Purchase three pairs or more and you will receive two free pairs, for a savings of $59.90. There are other handy price combinations as well. These contact lenses can be of the same color, or different. With each order, the dealers offer a sample colored contact lens for trial purposes.
Colors and color blends are designed to change even the darkest eye color. Opaque lenses can block the natural color of the eyes. They are designed to enhance or add color to light-colored eyes. For the lowest price, one can purchase Wild Eyes contact lenses around Halloween. These special-effect lenses usually go on sale at that time of the year. They are very comfortable to wear. These novelty lenses come in a variety of crazy designs such as white, black, red, vampire, and cat eyes for those special effects or a theatrical costume.
Make-up suggestions are also available with dealers. Depending on the skin tones and the color of the contact lenses, these make-up suggestions will enhance one’s look. However, cheap lenses might not meet the quality requirements of the user.
Colored Contact Lenses provides detailed information on Colored Contact Lenses, Cheap Colored Contact Lenses, How Colored Contact Lenses Work, Non Prescription Colored Contact Lenses and more. Colored Contact Lenses is affiliated with Non Prescription Color Contacts.

Breast Augmentation Risks

There are numerous breast augmentation risks associated with the surgical implantation of breast prostheses. Breast augmentation is a surgical procedure which involves incisions and placement of a non-organic object inside the body. Breast enlargement shares many of the same risks as all surgical procedures, as well as having some procedure specific risks unique to the particular operation chosen. There is additional information concerning the potential dangers of augmentation surgery available on the Breast Enlargement Risks resource page.
General Breast Augmentation Risks
As an invasive surgical procedure performed under anesthetic, breast enhancement has some inherent general risks including:
* Allergic reaction to local or general anesthetic can create health risks or even induce anaphylactic shock. Other anesthesia related complications include prolonged headache or nausea. Anesthetic is not advised for patients with serious health problems such as cardiac or pulmonary conditions.
* Blood clots are a risk of all surgeries and can be fatal if they break free and travel to the lungs, brain or heart.
* Continued or excessive blood loss can cause post-operative complications and might necessitate a follow up surgery to fix the problem.
* Infection can be a big problem due to poor operating conditions or unhygienic aftercare. Infection is one of the most common breast enlargement complications and is also one of the main causes of capsular contracture and implant removal. Infection rates are highest using periareolar incisions due to the bacteria which normally live in that anatomical region.
Specific Breast Augmentation Risks
There are many specific risks of all breast augmentation operations and some which are unique to a particular procedure:
* Poor surgical results can make any women regret her decision to undergo augmentation. Carefully choosing your surgeon and procedure will minimize the chances for poor post operative results.
* Neurological damage can occur to the sensitive nerve tissues of the breast or nipple. This might reduce or eliminate sensory stimuli, causing partial or complete numbness. Breast numbness is most commonly caused during inframammary augmentation, while nipple numbness is most common during periareolar augmentation.
* Breastfeeding ability can be lost or reduced with any enlargement procedure. Damage to the breast nerves or glands is most common with inframammary and especially periareolar incisions.
* Scarring might be a permanent side effect of some procedures. TUBA is the only procedure which will not leave a visible scar. Periareolar and inframammary incisions will scar the actual breast to one extent or another. Transaxillary incisions might be visible, but only in rare circumstances.
* Mammography results might be tainted by the actual breast implant, especially if the implant is placed in the subglandular position. Scar tissue and capsule formation around the implant can also render false positive results or hide growing tumors while they are small enough to treat.
* Implants are not permanent and will likely require replacement at some point in time. Some women require multiple sets of implants during their lives. If implants are simply removed rather than replaced, severe cosmetic damage to the breast will be visible.
* Capsular Contracture is a big problem for some women. Contracture can occur quickly after surgery or at any time in the future. However, there are many highly effective methods of preventing capsular contracture from occurring.
* Hematomas and Seromas can form around the surgical site. These often resolve by themselves, but might require aggressive treatment if they become problematic. Bruising around the breast is normal and somewhat expected during augmentation surgery.
* Placement or position issues can result from poor augmentation technique or migration of the implant once inside the body. Conditions such as double bubble, synmastia and bottoming out can occur in some women. Asymmetry is also possible in conjunction with any other possible problems which might occur.
* Continuing pain affects some women with implants. This is often a difficult to treat condition which might necessitate implant revision or removal.
Recommendation on Breast Augmentation Risks
Make sure to learn about all the general and procedure-specific risks and complications associated with your chosen surgery. Discuss these breast augmentation risks openly with your cosmetic surgeon and learn about any preventative measures which might be able to reduce the likelihood of experiencing a problem. While any surgery has inherent risks, cosmetic surgery is generally a safe and satisfying experience which can make drastic positive changes in your life. While it is never advised to ignore any risk factors, it is also not wise to dwell on the negative and prevent your own emotional fulfillment due to fear and indecision. Careful planning and preparation are the most important factors in preventing negative post-operative issues from affecting your final results. Take your time to do everything the RIGHT WAY and you have an excellent chance of being among the women who report 100% satisfaction from their procedure.

Natural Cure For Acne !

Where skin disorders are concerned, it is best to stick as much as possible to natural cure options; these are less likely to have an adverse side-effect. A variety of Natural Acne Cure Products are available in the market and you can consider these, after consulting with your doctor. Please do not try anything without a consultation, however appealing and promising the description.
What is Acne?
Acne is a disorder that causes skin eruptions and inflammation in human beings. It occurs principally during the adolescence/teenage years – the Pimple Phase, so to speak, which is suffered or endured by nearly 90% of the young population. But Acne is also quite commonly seen in adults.
What causes Acne?
It is thought that the increased production of the Testosterone hormone and natural oils in the body during the teenage years is responsible for the formation of pimples. However other physical and genetic factors may also play a role. Stress, psychological disturbances, and irregular living habits can also bring on Acne.
Impact of Acne
While Acne is not life-threatening, it can have a very adverse psychological impact on it's young sufferer. At the very time of your life, when you're extra-conscious about your looks and want to fit in, being marked out by acne can be extremely difficult to live with. Teenagers with acne are often prone to depression and often show poor self-esteem and a general lack of confidence.
The large incidence of Acne is the reason there are so many skin products in the market, designed to fight and cure it.
Some Natural Anti Acne Products you will find in the market
Tea Tree Oil, Aloe Vera, Zinc, and Vitamin A are some natural products that have been used with some success to cure Acne. A word of caution about 'natural' skin care items. They often contain certain chemicals for preservation purposes. Some of these may not be advisable for you if you're pregnant or have certain special health considerations. As mentioned, it is best to consult with your doctor before embarking on any therapy.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea Tree Oil is obtained from the Melaleuca alternifoliais tree from Australia. It is very effective against Acne as it contains bacteria-fighting substances called Terpenes. Acne is often caused by bacteria and the Terpenes either outright kill them or weaken them enough to be destroyed by protective antibodies. There are very little side effects from using Tea Tree Oil.
Aloe Vera
The watery gel from Aloe Vera plant is also a highly effective natural cure against Acne. The enzyme-rich gel has very soothing anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. It can also be taken internally and helps clean up and detox the digestive tract. This in turn can help clear up the skin.
Zinc
Zinc is taken in the form of capsules. It helps to strengthen the human immune system and to repair the skin.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A tablets are also a natural and effective Acne cure. Vitamin A promotes healthy skin.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E also helps in countering Acne. It is a natural antioxidant and beneficial for the skin. Vitamin E comes in soft gelatin capsules that contain Vitamin E, Soybean Oil, Glycerin, and Water.
Some Natural Homemade Cures to counter Acne
The most important thing to do if you suffer from Acne is to drink at least four pints of water every day. Drinking a lot of water is very beneficial to your skin. Including fresh fruit and leafy green vegetables in your daily diet will also bring about a marked improvement in the quality of your complexion.
Before bathing, apply a mixture of tomato pulp – real tomota pulp, not packaged one – honey and rose water to your face and keep for twenty minutes before washing off.
At night, before going to bed, apply a mix of cream, glycerine, and lemon juice to your face and again keep it on for a short while before washing.
Regular Yoga exercises will also improve skin and overall health.
Things to Avoid
Avoid touching your face all the time, keep your hair away from your face, and avoid picking at pimples.
Another important thing if you're prone to Acne is to avoid using heavy make-up – in fact, it is preferable to avoid make-up altogether. For an effective cure, stay as natural as possible.

Natural Oral Health Care

Contrary to what television commercials and magazine advertisements would have you believe, you don't need the chemicals in most toothpastes, mouthwashes, and other oral health care products to tackle gingivitis, periodontal gum disease, dry mouth, or bad breath. In reality, many of those advertisements mislead you into believing that simply using mouthwash will combat periodontal infection. In fact, the plant soaps, essential oils, vitamins, and herbs in natural oral health care products are often more effective in the treatment of gingivitis, in periodontal disease prevention, in dry mouth treatment, and in the everyday care of healthy teeth and gums.
Although most people don't make the connection, your teeth and gums can have a dramatic impact on your health and well-being. Gum problems, tooth decay, and even mercury fillings can have a negative impact on your health.
The Signs of Healthy Gums
When your gums are healthy, they have a nice pink color, and don't bleed when you brush your teeth. In addition, your gum line tightly hugs your teeth. Unfortunately, however, periodontal disease affects three-quarters of the population. Because it's often painless, most people are unaware that they have a problem.
Warning Signs of Periodontal Disease
The symptoms of periodontal infection range from bleeding in the gum pockets; red, swollen, or tender gums; an abscess on the gum surface; gums that have pulled away from the teeth; and persistent bad breath.
Bad breath is more than an embarrassment; it's a warning sign that unhealthy bacteria are growing in your mouth. If you floss your teeth and the floss smells like rotten eggs, you most likely have periodontal disease that is causing the hydrogen sulfide compounds in your mouth to multiply.
Similarly, dry mouth is more than an annoyance; a persistent lack of salivation can actual accelerate tooth decay and gum problems because saliva helps keep the bacteria and fungi in your mouth in check.
How Natural Oral Health Care Products Can Help
Natural oral health care products address the root of the problem, rather than simply the symptoms. For example, dry mouth can occur as a side effect of many medications, or as the result of a medical condition. Many commercial oral care products contain alcohol or sodium lauryl sulfate, which can further irritate and dehydrate your mouth. A refreshing, natural gel, on the other hand, can actually stimulate the salivary glands to produce more saliva, which in turn will help control the bacteria and fungi.
Similarly, there are many products on the market that advertise a solution to bad breath. In fact, most of these products contain alcohol, which over time dries out your gums and makes the problem worse. Natural oral health care products avoid alcohol and instead use a blend of ingredients that discourages the growth of the organisms that cause bad breath.
Good oral health care is a habit worth developing. And, by using natural oral health care products, you can be assured that you are doing all you can to treat the problems you have, or to prevent the development of gingivitis, periodontal gum disease, bad breath, and dry mouth.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Stages of Breast Cancer

After breast cancer has been diagnosed, tests are done to find out if cancer cells have spread within the breast or to other parts of the body.
The process used to find out whether the cancer has spread within the breast or to other parts of the body is called staging. The information gathered from the staging process determines the stage of the disease. It is important to know the stage in order to plan treatment.
There are three ways that cancer spreads in the body.
The three ways that cancer spreads in the body are:
* Through tissue. Cancer invades the surrounding normal tissue.
* Through the lymph system. Cancer invades the lymph system and travels through the lymph vessels to other places in the body.
* Through the blood. Cancer invades the veins and capillaries and travels through the blood to other places in the body.
When cancer cells break away from the primary (original) tumor and travel through the lymph or blood to other places in the body, another (secondary) tumor may form. This process is called metastasis. The secondary (metastatic) tumor is the same type of cancer as the primary tumor. For example, if breast cancer spreads to the bones, the cancer cells in the bones are actually breast cancer cells. The disease is metastatic breast cancer, not bone cancer.
The following stages are used for breast cancer:
Stage 0 (carcinoma in situ)
There are 2 types of breast carcinoma in situ:
* Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a noninvasive condition in which abnormal cells are found in the lining of a breast duct. The abnormal cells have not spread outside the duct to other tissues in the breast. In some cases, DCIS may become invasive cancer and spread to other tissues, although it is not known at this time how to predict which lesions will become invasive.
* Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) is a condition in which abnormal cells are found in the lobules of the breast. This condition seldom becomes invasive cancer; however, having lobular carcinoma in situ in one breast increases the risk of developing breast cancer in either breast.
Stage I
In stage I, cancer has formed. The tumor is 2 centimeters or smaller and has not spread outside the breast.
Stage IIA
In stage IIA:
* no tumor is found in the breast, but cancer is found in the axillary lymph nodes (the lymph nodes under the arm); or
* the tumor is 2 centimeters or smaller and has spread to the axillary lymph nodes; or
* the tumor is larger than 2 centimeters but not larger than 5 centimeters and has not spread to the axillary lymph nodes.
Stage IIB
In stage IIB, the tumor is either:
* larger than 2 centimeters but not larger than 5 centimeters and has spread to the axillary lymph nodes; or
* larger than 5 centimeters but has not spread to the axillary lymph nodes.
Stage IIIA In stage IIIA:
* no tumor is found in the breast. Cancer is found in axillary lymph nodes that are attached to each other or to other structures, or cancer may be found in lymph nodes near the breastbone; or
* the tumor is 2 centimeters or smaller. Cancer has spread to axillary lymph nodes that are attached to each other or to other structures, or cancer may have spread to lymph nodes near the breastbone; or
* the tumor is larger than 2 centimeters but not larger than 5 centimeters. Cancer has spread to axillary lymph nodes that are attached to each other or to other structures, or cancer may have spread to lymph nodes near the breastbone; or
* the tumor is larger than 5 centimeters. Cancer has spread to axillary lymph nodes that may be attached to each other or to other structures, or cancer may have spread to lymph nodes near the breastbone.
Stage IIIB
In stage IIIB, the tumor may be any size and cancer:
* has spread to the chest wall and/or the skin of the breast; and
* may have spread to axillary lymph nodes that may be attached to each other or to other structures, or cancer may have spread to lymph nodes near the breastbone.
Cancer that has spread to the skin of the breast is inflammatory breast cancer. See the section on Inflammatory Breast Cancer for more information.
Stage IIIC
In stage IIIC, there may be no sign of cancer in the breast or the tumor may be any size and may have spread to the chest wall and/or the skin of the breast. Also, cancer:
* has spread to lymph nodes above or below the collarbone; and
* may have spread to axillary lymph nodes or to lymph nodes near the breastbone.
Cancer that has spread to the skin of the breast is inflammatory breast cancer. See the section on Inflammatory Breast Cancer for more information.
Stage IIIC breast cancer is divided into operable and inoperable stage IIIC.
In operable stage IIIC, the cancer:
* is found in ten or more axillary lymph nodes; or
* is found in lymph nodes below the collarbone; or
* is found in axillary lymph nodes and in lymph nodes near the breastbone.
In inoperable stage IIIC breast cancer, the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes above the collarbone.
Stage IV
In stage IV, the cancer has spread to other organs of the body, most often the bones, lungs, liver, or brain.

General Information About Breast Cancer

The breast is made up of lobes and ducts. Each breast has 15 to 20 sections called lobes, which have many smaller sections called lobules. Lobules end in dozens of tiny bulbs that can produce milk. The lobes, lobules, and bulbs are linked by thin tubes called ducts.
Each breast also has blood vessels and lymph vessels. The lymph vessels carry an almost colorless fluid called lymph. Lymph vessels lead to organs called lymph nodes. Lymph nodes are small bean-shaped structures that are found throughout the body. They filter substances in a fluid called lymph and help fight infection and disease. Clusters of lymph nodes are found near the breast in the axilla (under the arm), above the collarbone, and in the chest.
The most common type of breast cancer is ductal carcinoma, which begins in the cells of the ducts. Cancer that begins in the lobes or lobules is called lobular carcinoma and is more often found in both breasts than are other types of breast cancer. Inflammatory breast cancer is an uncommon type of breast cancer in which the breast is warm, red, and swollen.
See the PDQ summary on Unusual Cancers of Childhood for information about childhood breast cancer.

Eye Care Tips

* Take A vitamin diet to make eyes brighter. (papaya, eggs, fish, milk, cilantro etc.,)
Wash eyes with cold water to get sparkling eyes.
* Put sliced cucumber over your eyes to treat dark circles.
* Put potato slices on your eye to get rid off those dark circles.
* Soak amla overnight in water and use this water the next morning to wash the eyes.
* Soak cotton in Luke warm milk and cover eyes with it for 15 min.
* To soothe tired eyes, dip cotton pads in chilled milk and place on closed eyes for 10 minutes. Now relax completely.
* To completely relax the eyes and the surrounding muscles, close your eyes and think of something that is pleasant or soothing and at a distance. Now gently open your eyes and look into the distance. Next focus on an object at arm's length. Do this extremely relaxing exercise four or five times a day.
* If your eye twitches, or your eyes are red and feeling itchy, massage your scalp with curd.
* Soak 1 tsp. dry amla in one cup of water overnight. Next morning strain it through a muslin cloth and then add one extra cup of water. Splash your eyes with this solution each morning. This makes your eyes sparkle.
* For Puffy Eyes: Grate a potato with its peel and apply on your closed eyelids for about 20 minutes and relax completely. You may even take a nap.
* Wash your face before sleeping, and ensure that there is no make-up on your face before you sleep, because, make-up creams may spoil your face as it will be there for the whole night. It is better if no cream is applied. What I feel is, wash your face before sleeping and if at all you want to apply any cream, just apply night cream and none other than that.

Monday, August 24, 2009

BLEPHAROPLASTY OR EYE BAGS REMOVAL

Upper Blepharoplasty is a relatively simple operation in which excess upper eyelid skin, which creates an unsightly fold, is removed under local Anaesthesia. The scar is well concealed in the natural skin crease and is not usually noticeable.
Lower Blepharoplasty is the operation for correction of puffiness of lower eyelids. This is due to excess fat which can be removed either by a scar which is well concealed under the eyelashes or without any external scar if no excess skin needs to be removed. The procedure can be performed under local Anaesthesia or general Anaesthesia.
Every surgical operation carries certain risks, but in properly selected cases, the potential benefits far outweigh these risks.
Surgeon Dr Shahab Mahdi, who has successfully performed thousands of cosmetic surgery operations in England will discuss all aspects of your operation in a confidential consultation and give you a realistic idea of what to expect.

Female Breast Reduction

While many women these days are looking to have their breasts enhanced with implants, there are also plenty of women who are looking to enhance their figure with a breast reduction operation. Overly large bust can cause back pain and other physical limitations, and they can actually result in low levels of self-confidence just as much as a flat chest can.
There is a plastic surgery procedure called reduction mammaplasty that is designed to help large chested women find the relief they seek. If you are among the many women opting for this treatment today, you may have several questions about the procedure. Here are the answers to some of the most common breast reduction questions:
Who is a Good Candidate for This Procedure?
Women whose busts are fully developed (typically women who are at least 18 years old or older) and who have pain or discomfort associated with their large mammaries are great candidates for this treatment.
Why Should I Have This Surgery?
Large breasts can cause a number of social and physical problems including back and neck pain, shoulder strain, limited ability to participate in sports and other activities, and unwanted negative social comments and teasing. All these can be alleviated with the surgery as well as things like poor posture, skin irritation from bra straps and under-breast chafing, and trouble finding clothes that fit you properly.
How Is This Procedure Performed?
There are several common techniques. One method involves incisions made under the chest and up around the areola. Extra skin and extra tissue is then manually removed, and the areola is repositioned for a natural look. A newer method is called the tumescent technique, which basically allows the cosmetic surgeon to break down and remove excess fat by means of liposuction.
How Long Does Breast Reduction Surgery Last?
Depending on the techniques it can take anywhere between one and three hours per side.
Are The Results Permanent?
Breast reduction surgery permanently removes some of the tissue and therefore some of the fat cells. However, your chest may still get larger if you gain a significant amount of weight, but are not likely to reach the proportional size that they were before the procedure. Hormone treatments, as well as pregnancy and breast feeding can also lead to larger busts after your surgery, but those conditions are not permanent.
What Will The Recovery Period Be Like?
Immediately after the surgery, there will be some swelling, bruising, and pain in and around the breasts. Patients are instructed to wear a surgical bra for several days post-surgery to help with the healing process. While most women can return to work and other normal activities after a week or two, they may still continue to experience swelling and tenderness for several months. The full results of the treatment are typically visible six to twelve months after the operation.
How Much Does Breast Reduction Surgery Cost?
The price will vary dramatically by state and region. The cost may be anywhere in the range of $5,000 to $10,000. The good news is that insurance companies will sometimes foot all or part of the bill if the woman has been experiencing pain due to overly large chest size.

Risk Factors for Ischemic Heart Disease

Ischemic heart disease is defined as decreased blood flow to the heart due to narrowed coronary arteries. The obstruction results from cholesterol deposits sticking to the artery wall interrupting the flow of blood to the heart. The deposits harden causing hardening of the arteries. This is called atherosclerosis, which is a medical term sometimes interchanged with arteriosclerosis. Both have the same affect, whereby both impede blood flow to the heart.
Plaque buildup or arteriosclerosis is one common factor in the onset of Ischemic Heart Disease. High cholesterol and triglyceride levels are the cause for the plaque which in turn results in the blockage of blood vessels which feed the heart. As a result, blockage to the heart occurs which then leads to heart attack symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath and irregular heart beat. However, some patients may not even feel these symptoms as heart disease can also damage the nerves surrounding the heart.
Angina will eventually occur as time passes. This affliction, commonly referred to as the strangling of the heart and known in medical terms as Angina Pectoris, is a result of the lack of oxygen due to poor blood flow to the heart as a result of blockage. Anyone with this type of heart disease is at a greater risk for experiencing a heart attack or cardiac arrhythmia.
Patients at risk for Ischemic heart disease are those with diabetes, family history of heart disease or have high blood pressure. Most often, these risk factors can either be lessened or eliminated completely with simple changes to lifestyle such as losing weight and quitting smoking. These changes are beneficial no matter the situation; however it is important to note that they will not cure someone who already has ischemic heart disease. In addition, anyone who has already undergone a heart attack will most likely experience another one within five years. Visiting a healthcare provider on a regular basis will allow them to monitor its progression as well as alleviate or eliminate any future problems from occurring.
There is good news regarding ischemic heart disease. It is able to be prevented or its severity lessened with proper healthcare and lifestyle changes. Though these changes may seem a daunting task after being set in your ways for twenty to thirty years, the results of these changes are well worth the effort.

Acne Scars Treatment

Are you plagued with scars? Do you look at them and feel like they define you? When you meet a new person, you may feel like your scars are the first thing they see. Although most people do not see someones scars as a definition of the person, we tend to feel that way about our own scars. So, what can you do about it? Can you get rid of your scars. One person may heal extremely quickly while others take a longer period of time.
Teenagers as well as an adult may take several days to completely heal. While the treatments work the red marks are what take the longest to depart. In most of the cases, the treatment for cystic acne is restricted to oral medicines and therefore, it is preferred that all the cases required to be treated by some skin experts.
But there are some preventive measurements and remedies that can be helpful against cystic acne. For those people who look for some natural remedies for cystic acne should try some homemade remedies and other products that contain some potential herbs that have natural skin healing properties.
1.Chemical peel the best solution against acne scars:
Acne and acne scars has many solutions as the list will never end, from natural, herbal, or chemical creams to surgery; laser, light, masks, soaps, and many other stuff that will help you get rid of acne and the scars caused by acne.
2.Heal Acne Scars Naturally:
Biological acne cream for acne scar removal and acne treatment.Heals micro-tears in the skin, softens coarse areas and opens constricting pores, plumps up ice-pick acne scars, shrinks raised or hypertrophic scars, reduces keloid scar tissues and stops their itching.
3.Improving and Balancing Skin Tone:
One method for doing this is to apply fresh urine to the skin. Urine is completely sterile and very nutrient-rich, which is why it has been used for thousands of years to treat illnesses and skin disorders. Soak a washcloth or cotton pad with fresh urine, and apply the cloth or pad to the areas of the face with the acne scarring and discolorations.
4.Fillers:
This type of treatment involves injecting some sort of filler substance, such as collagen, into the acne scars. This basically "fills in" the craters in the skin, making it look and feel smoother.
5.Drink more water:
When your body doesn't get enough hydration, blood circulation slows down, which in turn can slow healing. To prevent acne scars, make sure you always drink enough liquids (especially water), as the water will increase circulation and contribute to the healing process.
6.Treating Early Acne Scars:
The post-inflammatory changes caused by acne are part of the skin's natural healing process. There are certain practices and medications that can help facilitate this healing process.
Unprotected exposure to the sun causes more skin damage and delays healing, therefore wearing a good sunscreen is important.
Using tretinoin (Retin-A, Renova, Avita) speeds up the skin's remodeling process and helps heal post-inflammatory changes.

Back Pain and Irritable Bowel

Is there a correlation between lower back pain and Irritable Bowel Syndrome? Researchers have long argued that IBS may be caused by abnormal functioning of the nerves and muscles of the bowel. No indication or explanation is ever given as to why this malfunction might occur. To my knowledge there has been no adequate evidence to support this assumption. More over, I have not seen, heard of or read about any studies which were specifically implemented to test this hypothesis. Because of my own observations about my own IBS symptoms, I am inclined to believe and support this hypothesis.
Some of us who suffer Irritable Bowel Syndrome have tried for many years, without success, to eliminate the often debilitating affects of this mysterious disorder. Generally those who suffer have spent a great deal of time and money, having test after test only to be told that nothing conclusive was found.
Often after years of diagnostic procedures and expensive studies, patients are told there was nothing wrong with them. Their complaint of symptoms are brushed off as imaginary or more properly put in medical terms, psychosomatic. But with the ever increasing number of patients complaining of the same generalized list of symptoms, the medical community has been forced, in at least a small part, to acknowledge the malady as something more then imaginary symptoms of hypochondria.
So what can we surmise about IBS? It is a condition or disease in and of itself? Or is IBS is a condition caused by or a symptom of some other physical, neurological or possibly even psychological problem that is as yet undetected or undiagnosed as being relative to the IBS condition? I find this to be a more plausible conclusion and will provide some insight for my personal belief that IBS is a secondary condition rather then a condition unto itself.
For years doctors have proposed the secondary condition concept in relation to Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Unfortunately, they have not yet been able to successfully document any evidence to conclusively say what might be the root cause of IBS. Moreover, I believe there is not just one cause, but several causes, all with the same secondary symptoms, which make up what is termed as IBS.
Please don't think that it is my intent to say the IBS condition is not real, or the symptomology is psychosomatic in nature. I know from painful experience the condition and symptoms of IBS are very real. I also would venture to say because of the sheer number of reported cases, the medical community had been forced to re-evaluate their approach while dealing with patients with complaints of Irritable Bowel Syndrome-like symptoms. I am merely going to express what I personally have concluded about another possible causation for IBS which may be overlooked by the medical profession.
I would like to also toss up for consideration that IBS, with its list of many symptoms, may be a traceable progression of symptoms stemming from a single causation. I believe, in my case, this is a very valid assumption. I have as yet been unable to get any physician to agree with me, at least to the point of taking up the position on the record.
Before going any further, I think it would be a good idea to review a partial list of Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms. IBS may be characterized by a combination of any or all of the following symptoms:
• Abdominal discomfort or pain, usually in the lower abdomen
• Altered bowel habit
• Chronic or recurrent diarrhea, constipation, or both. May be mixed or in alternation.
• Bloating
• Heartburn
• Nausea
• Abdominal fullness
• Feelings of urgent need to evacuate the bowel
• Feeling of "incomplete" bowel emptying
• Low back pain
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Muscle pain
• Sleep disturbances
• Sexual dysfunction
More and more it is generally believed that the symptoms of IBS are produced by abnormal functioning of the nerves and muscles of the bowel. More and more I personally agree with this as a valid and plausible perception of at least one of the causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. With some personal observations, I hope to give light as to why I believe this to be a possible causation for many IBS sufferers. Unfortunately, what I have come to believe as the causation for my particular brand of IBS, most assuredly will not be a diagnosis for all cases of IBS.
I think we who have suffered Irritable Bowel Syndrome tend to minimalize our symptoms and pain. We have been led to believe that other than common sense changes to diet and exercise there is nothing we can do because there is no cure. Many people who suffer will suffer in silence for years before seeking medical treatment. By then, and I include myself in this group, we may have subconsciously lessened or even put aside some of the lesser symptoms that IBS causes, focusing only on the ones that cause the most pain and discomfort.
Worse yet, we are less likely to bring symptoms to the attention of a doctor by mere assumption that it is just another facet of our complex disorder. This could become a dangerous scenario for anyone who suffers from IBS. We may ignore persistent symptoms that have gotten more intense or new symptoms that seem to be related only because we are discouraged by being told there is nothing anyone can do.
Doing these kinds of things could lead to serious life threatening symptoms being overlooked. Symptoms of conditions that, unlike IBS, can be treated if caught in time. Things like colon cancer, stomach cancer, esophageal cancer or many others, might be missed because we want to ignore our IBS symptoms after so many trips to the doctor.
My story of IBS starts over 20 years ago when I was a young man of 26. While helping lift a very heavy cast iron wood burning stove from the back of a pickup truck, the other person lost their grip and the load all shifted down hill onto my back. I felt my back give way as the stove went crashing to the ground at my feet. I knew I had sustained a serious injury. I couldn't erect myself from the 90 degree bent forward position I was in. I had to literally pull my self up by using my hands and arms against the side of the pickup.
Being 26 and stubborn and thinking that I was invincible, I had my wife help me home and to bed, not bothering to go to the emergency room. I had some left over pain killers which numbed the pain enough to allow me to sleep. When I awoke in the morning I was horrified as I could not feel my legs. They were both cold and numb to the touch. I could move them, I just couldn't feel them. After about 30 minutes of movement the feeling began to return to my legs and at that point I knew it was time to get to the doctor.
After the examination and x-rays what the doctor had to say wasn't pleasant to hear. He told me I had two options. One was to go to a surgical specialist and have fusion surgery on several of my lower lumbar vertebra because the discs between them had been severely compressed. He mentioned that having this type of surgery would reduce my physical mobility by as much as 30% or more. At best, he explained, the surgery was about 40% effective.
My other option, he told me, was time... time allow let my body try to heal itself. He explained I would probably never be as good as I was before the accident, but with time my body should partially heal it self. He told me the inflammation which was causing the pain and partial paralysis should lessen. At age 26 loosing permanently 30% or more of my mobility was an unthinkable option. At least the second option offered some hope of recovery. He gave me muscle relaxants and pain pills and that was that.
I trusted this doctor...we were good friends. We had a good personal and professional relationship. I took him at his word. By today's medical standards, his medical advice probably wouldn't hold water, but over 20 years ago, it was most likely a very good perception of my problem.
For the next 6 months, I would wake up to cold, numb legs and each day, but as he said, the symptoms gradually got better. I was so focused on my back injury improving; I didn't pay attention to other, minor things going on which had become bothersome.
The first and most prevalent symptom was a change in my bowel habit. Not a big change, but it seemed that instead of a daily movement, it was now once every other day, and it took a bit more effort. But with the back issue, it seemed minor in comparison and for several years seemed to be the only symptom. My back continued to get better but my bowel never did return to normal.
I have always been a large person, in 1986 at the age of 26: I weighed about 220 pounds, standing 6 feet tall. Slowly, my weight began to rise. I attributed my initial weight gain to a lessening of physical activity over the first year or two of my back problem. By the end of the second year, my physical ability and activity had almost returned to normal. I learned to deal with the pain and my legs no longer went numb. I was able to function fairly well. Only occasionally did the pain in my back become such that I was unable to function in my "new" normal fashion, and usually only lasted a day or two. I now had added 70 pounds to my weight with no real explanation.
Only in the past couple of years (over 20 have passed since my back injury) have I begun considering the original injury being related to my bowel and stomach problems. Because I believed there was little I could do to rectify the situation, I have done as well as I could to manage the pain mentally. I did this well until the pain in my back started to worsen to the point that again my legs started going numb again. Not that this happened all the time, it was only occasional, but these bouts of pain have gotten much worse.
Only now that the back pain is impossible to ignore have I come to realize the cycle of events which have taken place. Now when I notice my legs are beginning to go numb on a more frequent basis, I have also noticed an increase in my IBS symptoms. More frequent and painful symptoms seem to begin with chronic constipation, lasting for many days. This is followed by the gas distress fatigue, head aches, bloating, acid indigestion, heartburn and eventually explosive diarrhea. Along with other symptoms, all interwoven into a cycle I now believe to be directly related to some type of nerve injury due to my original back injury.
I have since gone to a neurosurgeon and been diagnosed with severe disk compression and degeneration and spinal stenosis in the lower lumbar region. The treatment is as yet to be mapped out, but I now have at least one doctor who agrees that many, if not all, of my symptoms could be tied directly to nerve dysfunction resulting from my present spinal condition.
If you have sustained a back injury, or have IBS with lower back pain, it may be prudent to have a spinal study, to find out if an underlying back problem might be involved in the causation of your IBS symptoms. It stands to practical reason that if there is injury to the spine or lower back from where the nerves controlling lower bowl function stem, there could also be bowel dysfunction. With bowel dysfunction, the progression of symptoms in logical sequence right up the line to the top of the digestive tract would be a very plausible scenario.
If you have IBS and low back pain you really have nothing to lose and everything to gain by having a spinal examination. At the very least you may find out that there is no problem with your spine thereby eliminating one more source.