Healthy Life and Sexual Life

Abortion: Yes or No?

2010-02-24T01:59:00.002-08:00

Abortion tends to be one of the leading taboo topics that no one wants to discuss until it comes time to argue whether it is right or wrong. In the late 1800s, the Comstock Law was passed and put into effect to stop pornographic type articles and books. Abortion was outlawed along with all forms of birth control and contraceptive devices, as well as what little was known about sexually transmitted diseases.

History

While abortion was still outlawed, a federal judge decided to allow birth control in 1938 in a law suit involving a woman. Abortion was an illegal act until 1965 when certain states decided that abortion could be a way out if a woman’s life was in jeopardy or if that woman had been the victim of a rape and if there was a chance of the child being mentally or physically disabled. Finally in 1973, in the case of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court found that laws concerning abortion were unconstitutional. On December 25, 1984, a heinous crime occurred when three abortion clinics were bombed by religious protestors.

In the year 2005, twenty-six bills that restricted abortion were put into effect while seventeen bills that were pro-abortion were considered, and only five were put into effect. While states are constantly trying to outlaw abortion, the Supreme Court found amendment submissions to be unconstitutional. Seven states have proposed bills to make amendments to remove the federal and state protection on abortions. Many states are unsure of what to do about abortions, while twenty-four have proposed abortion bans, thirty-one have only proposed restrictions on access to women under the age of eighteen. This would cause problems for the some 240,000 teenage women who become pregnant and choose abortion as their way out.

Religious and Moral Arguments

People with religious backgrounds will tell you that abortion is murder and that a woman or a couple will go to hell if they choose to have an abortion. Churches sponsor the “Day of Life”, one Sunday a month where church goers, young and old, stand on street corners with posters and signs protesting abortion. These posters can be as tame as small sayings like “Abortion is Murder” to as morbid as showing an aborted fetus. Religious people believe that the minute an egg is fertilized it is a living and breathing human being. Doctors will argue, however, that it takes at least nine weeks until the fetus resembles a life form.

Side Effects and Dangers

There are many side effects that attack not only the body but also the mind. The mental side effects that are most common are depression, repression and denial, guilt, suicide, and post abortion psychosis. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is mostly associated with soldiers who have been in battle, have seen death and don’t know how they are supposed to cope and recover from the images that play over and over in their heads each time they close their eyes or they hear loud noises that sound like gunshots or cannon fire. However, a woman who has gone through abortion can develop PTSD approximately ten years after the abortion, approximately the same amount of time that soldiers take to develop the syndrome. To them, the shock of their abortion finally hits home.

Guilt and suicide go hand in hand. For many of the women that go through an abortion, after guilt sets in, suicide seems to be the only way out for them unless they seek counseling. Even then, there is still the risk. Repression and denial tend to set in approximately five to twenty years after the procedure. The woman represses the memory then denies the fact that the abortion ever happened and causes stress and depression.

Not only are there the mental repercussions of abortion, there is a list of physical repercussions and risks that a woman faces. When a woman has an abortion, she risks infection, future childbearing problems and in some cases even death. However, should a woman die due to hemorrhaging during and after an abortion, many deaths are not reported. The widest known infection that can be contracted due to an abortion is Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, more commonly referred to as PID. This infection causes inflammation of the upper genital area, including reproductive organs, and normally enters the body through a perforation in the uterus or a laceration in the cervix. In February of 2003, a group of doctors, in coalition with the National Cancer Institute, concluded that having an abortion does not increase the risk of a woman contracting any type of cancer. Popular belief would have a woman believe that if she has an abortion, she will develop cancer at some stage in her life.

Placenta previa only occurs in approximately one out of two hundred pregnancies. Bleeding usually occurs during the latter part of the pregnancy, but hemorrhaging can occur during birth. This extensive hemorrhaging is fatal to both the mother and the child, due to amount of blood that the mother loses during labor. Another side effect in later births is the possibility of an ectopic pregnancy, also referred to as tubal, cervical, or abdominal pregnancy. In an ectopic pregnancy, the fertilized egg is displaced. Ninety-five percent of the time, the egg is displaced in the fallopian tubes. Approximately fifty percent of women that endure an ectopic pregnancy have a history of PID. While an ectopic pregnancy doesn’t sound like a life threatening problem, it can cause death. Fortunately, only 5% or less of woman having a first trimester abortion will get PID, it is only those who have uterine scarring that are at risk. However, early treatment of PID can prevent all of this.

Women who have abortions need to rest and take it easy for the week or two that follow in order to start the healing process and start recovery, both mentally and physically. Statistics say that every one out of two and a half women have had an abortion by the time they reach the age of forty-five in the United States. While physical healing starts almost immediately, mental healing can take years to even begin. Women who start to feel depressed or suicidal should seek medical help, counseling, and should join a support group.

How to Handle the Effects

There are many resources that a woman can tap into that will help her deal with her grief, guilt, and depression. The internet has numerous sites, groups, and message boards where a woman can share her story, and receive feedback, advice, and the much needed support to get through the pain. The internet can provide some support and relief, but the woman’s family needs to support her too, or she will begin to feel like she is a disappointment. She will begin to feel like she let her family down by choosing what she thought was right for herself at the time. She needs to speak with her family, explain why she chose abortion, and explain to them that she needs their unconditional love and support.

For women who are daughters of religious parents, this could be a very hard, very emotional time because of the fear of being rejected and disowned by their families. Religious fanatics will tell a woman that she needs to seek divine forgiveness, to ask god to forgive her for her sins. If the woman is a Catholic, she can go to confession and can be absolved by her priest. However, many of the women that decide to have abortions are not religious, though some do become religious after their experience.

Infection, depression, guilt, and death are all possible after effects of abortion. While infection and depression rates are nearly the same as they were three decades ago, suicide rates are nearly one third lower now than they were then. However, post-abortion suicide is two and a half times the rate of normal suicides, and nearly six times the rate of post-partum suicides. The pros and cons of abortion can be weighed in an unknown number of ways. Whether facts, morals, or religion drives your beliefs, the negatives and positives of abortion are out there for everyone to take into account and make their own decisions. Statistics show that while abortion can solve problems in the short term aspect, it can cause a world full of problems in the long run.

Everything from depression to pain to death can come from an easy fix when problems start to arise and life gets tough. When it comes down to that time, the time to solve what you may consider a problem, consider the facts and statistics first. There are better, guilt free solutions to abortion. Adoption rates have hit an all time peak in the last ten years. More and more families who have realized that they can’t have children but want them, can’t have anymore children but want another, and those who just want to make a positive difference in an adult or child’s life that adoption is a good solution. Whether or not a woman gets an abortion is up to her. She needs to be aware of the risks. She needs to be warned of the emotional, physical, and mental side effects that are caused by abortion and can cause her pain. Facts and statistics show that it is better to give birth than to get rid of the child at any point during the pregnancy.

Consequences of over-masturbation

2010-02-24T01:59:00.001-08:00

First, we have to clear one thing: in this article we are not trying to lobby anti-masturbation behaviour and we are not doing this for religus reasons. We think masturbation is a very healthy and perfectly normal sexual behavior. But, like any other behaviors, when over practiced it can lead to both psychological and physiological imbalances. So, this is our goal: to explain psychological and physiological imbalances that can be caused by over-masturbation.

How much is over-masturbation?

Well for start over-masturbation would be several times a day. Some doctors even recommend to keep ejaculation (not masturbation) frequency down to two or three times a week. That leads to conclusion that sexual activity can be experienced more often if man learns how to achieve orgasm without ejaculation, which is one of tantric sex principles. According to “old knowledge” achieving orgasm without ejaculation stores bioenergy and makes penis firmer, hence your erections last longer and the volume man ejaculates is bigger.
But we would agree that masturbation and its frequency also depends on persons age and sometimes even period in life. It is normal that 16 year old masturbates more often than 40-year old. Isn't it? A 16-year old just started to show some affection for his (all of a sudden erected part), while 40-year old is "over" it. (We are talking about frequency).
Some people relax this way. Well, on steadyhealth we are not really sure whether this is best way to relax. Guess not. Maybe occasionally, but if you simply don't feel horny and if you feel tense, rather take a walk or go play basketball than developing a behaviour that could potentially lead to addiction.

So, what about effects of over-masturbation?

Internal body temperature is a bit higher than external body temperature. Internal body temperature increases with masturbation- this is the reason you feel more hot or sometimes even sweaty after masturbating. Considering that, we found following information: when person ejaculates, a “peristaltic movement of absorption takes place and by effect of the emptiness, the seminal vesicle tries to fill and humid air is absorbed through the penis which is later absorbed from the seminal vesicle to the lymphatic system, arriving at the brain producing a thermal shock and cold spaces between the cerebral neurons and cells and this affects cerebral, physical and nervous normality” (anael.org). Well, the same thing happens when having sex and not ejaculating in partner, but using removal method (which is very popular among steady couples), and not one source mentions that. Later on same source mentions that seminal vesicle absorb air, which is transferred into brain, which may leads to stupidity and insanity. We think this is nonsense! Simply ask yourself- do you feel more stupid or more insane before/ after masturbation?!

Sperm contains DNA, which is carrier of the heredity genetic code, and RNA which contains enzymes, proteins, glucosides, lecithin, calcium, phosphorus, biological salts, testosterone, etc. However, the sperm is by far not the only substance in our body that contains DNA and RNA. When ejaculation is carried out, a very small percentage of this components (enzymes, proteins, glucosides, lecithin, calcium, phosphorus, biological salts, testosterone) are eliminated from the body. For example, when extracting calcium from the body one could cause him/ herself fatigue and pain in the bones. But we all know calcium (and all other components) are easily substituted with food. Actually, it is normal to extract 'old' components and replace them with new ones.

Over-masturbation, or more accurately said over-ejaculation stimulates parasympathetic nervous functions, which results in the over production of sex hormones: acetylcholine, dopamine and serotonin. Abnormally high levels of sex hormones cause brain and adrenal glands to perform excessive dopamine-norepinephrine-epinephrine conversion. In other words: there is a big change of body chemistry when man or woman practices over-masturbation.
Hmm... is something wrong with body chemistry? Well, actually not- if there is balance. But if there is no balance, some other symptoms might occur. We are still talking about over-masturbation, not just masturbation!
Another source (herballove.com) points out that people who over-masturbate could experience problems with concentration and memory, which is supposedly a clear sign of “being over drained of acetylcholine”. According to herballove.com over-masturbating can also drain the motor nerves, neuro-muscular endings, and tissues of acetylcholine and replace it with too much stress adrenalin which is where absentmindedness, memory loss, lack of concentration, and eye floaters come from.
They also point that over-masturbation may be linked to male pattern baldness. Male baldness is namely directly related to DHT (dihydrotestosterone), the same as the production of DHT is related to sex and masturbation. If person over-masturbates (over-ejaculates) testosterone is converted into DHT. Following that high levels of DHT overload the body causing baldness. This thesis needs more debate! We all know baldness is hereditary, and that older people that didn't used to be bals eventually start loosing their hair. What about their DHT levels?

We at steadyhealth say these are myths! But they are not alone, here are some others, like masturbation leads to blindness, baldness, impotence, mental illness. Myth is also thesis that it can permanently reduce libido, sexual performance and the quantity or quality of semen. All myths! And not only that: Masters and Johnson (physicians who pioneered the field of sexuality) have demonstrated no negative short-term or long-term medical health effects from masturbation.
However, there is psychical aspect to masturbation. For example, if masturbation occurs in marriage as a substitute for sex, it could potentially damage the self-esteem of the partner not involved. However, it is not the the masturbation – it is another problem: lack of communication. Over-masturbation could also lead into addition or obsession, which may consequently lead to diversion of income toward sex merchandises (all sort of sex toys, pornography...) and may limit person to participate in other (social) activities.
It is also true (and you might already experience that): frequent and vigorous masturbation (again over-masturbation) may produce skin irritation/ abrasions or even superficial bruising, sometimes temporary discoloration. The condition improves with time, if of course not masturbating.

In conclusion

Generally – masturbation (nor over-masturbation) is a perfectly normal and safe sexual behaviour for both men and women. Actually, it is recommended to explore yourself: this way you'll know what you like and what you don't like, it may help you become more comfortable with your own sexuality. You'll be more able to develop stronger and satisfying sexual relationship. It may even be helpful to reduce stress (although we also recommend other relaxation techniques). And most of all it is better to masturbate than to play around with no protection: masturbation eliminates the potential for transmission of sexually transmitted diseases. Same is true for pregnancy.

Implantation bleeding or period?

2010-02-24T01:58:00.003-08:00

Implantation bleeding is vaginal discharge that usually contains small amount of pinkish or brownish blood. Only about a third of all pregnant women experience this implantation bleeding. You could suspect it is implantation bleeding if it occurs a bit earlier than expected, if it were scanty, spotty, pinkish and not red and heavy like a period. If your bleeding does not follow the normal pattern of a period it is probably implantation bleeding and not period.
How does implantation bleeding look like?

There is often the feeling that it is a period with light cramps and bloating, but the bleeding is shorter, lighter and simply not normal. If a woman is usually regular, and now all of a sudden develops this type of early spotting, and of course is at risk for a pregnancy, conception is recommended. Each woman should understand that implantation bleeding occurs during implantation of the egg cell. It occurs towards the end of implantation process. Trophoblast is a highly specialized tissue, which develops from the fertilized egg and surrounds the egg. It attaches the egg to the endometrium and as it is continuously growing it invades the endometrium, so as it eats its way into the endometrium it pulls the egg into the endometrium. The trophoblast also invades the mothers blood vessels and divert her blood to cavities inside the trophoblast. These cavities are than filled by maternal blood becoming blood lakes, and most of these lakes are connected. The trophoblast on the outer surface of the egg are thinner and slower growing but also contains cavities that are connected to other deeper cavities. Some of these outer cavities communicate or open into uterine cavity. Blood that leaks from these cavities are causing implantation bleeding, and it occurs shortly before the egg is completely implanted and completely covered with endometrium. Typical implantation bleeding occurs about four weeks after the last menstrual period, it is usually less and darker than the person’s normal menstruation. The diagnosis of typical implantation bleeding is made in retrospect and duration of the pregnancy is four weeks more than expected, because commonly, the last period recorded by the patient was the implantation bleeding and not her last menstruation. Implantation bleeding has no adverse effects on a pregnancy, although some experts doubt the existence of implantation bleeding . If you search for implantation bleeding you will come across sites that doubt if it ever occurs, but the fact is that some women, about 1%-2%, has a bleeding about four weeks after the last menstrual period with a pregnancy duration four weeks longer than expected.
When does implantation bleeding usually occur?

It can happen at the time the fertilized egg implants in the uterus, on average between six to twelve days past ovulation. Unless accompanied by cramping, backache or increased bleeding, a small amount of blood being discharged should be considered as implantation bleeding, which is nothing to be concerned about.
Home pregnancy tests

Home pregnancy test detect hormone Human Chorionic Gonadotropin or hCG in a woman’s urine. This hormone is a hormone secreted by the developing placenta shortly after a fertilized egg has been implanted in the uterine lining, so if a woman is pregnant, the amount of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin in her system should be around 25 mIU at 10 dpo. Dpo means days past ovulation. It is also 50 mIU at 12 dpo, and 100 mIU at around two weeks dpo. Because of their high sensitivity factor in detecting human hCG, pregnancy tests can confirm pregnancy as early as 6-8 days past ovulation. To help lower the chances of a false negative, the best time to test at 9-10 days past ovulation would be advisable
What else can cause spotting?

Because of an increase in the blood supply to your cervix and greater blood flow to the area, you might spot after having a Pap smear. You can commonly bleed after an internal exam, or sex. Other causes include common implantation bleeding You may have very scant implantation bleeding, possibly around 11 or 12 days after fertilization. It is close to the time you might notice a missed period. It may be caused by the fertilized egg burrowing into the wall of your uterus, a process that starts just six days after fertilization, but no one knows for sure. The bleeding is very light, lasting only a day or two, and only a minority of pregnant women have this kind of spotting. Miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy could also cause spotting. Spotting can be an early sign of miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy, especially if accompanied by abdominal pain or cramping. About a quarter of pregnant women have some spotting or bleeding in early pregnancy, and about half of these women miscarry, but if you have an ultrasound that shows a heartbeat between 7 and 11 weeks, your chances of continuing the pregnancy are greater than 90 percent. Spotting can also be caused by conditions unrelated to pregnancy, for example because of vaginal infection, such as a yeast infection or bacterial vaginosis. In some cases sexually transmitted infections, such as trichomoniasis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, or herpes can cause your cervix to become irritated or inflamed. An inflamed cervix is particularly susceptible to spotting after sex or after a Pap smear, and you may also spot or bleed after sex or a Pap smear if you have a cervical polyp. Placental problems or premature labor is also cause that some women might spotting. In the second or third trimester, bleeding or spotting can be a sign of a serious condition such as placenta previa, placental abruption, a late miscarriage, or premature labor. A mucus discharge that is tinged with blood after 37 weeks is most likely just a sign that the mucus plug has dislodged and the cervix is beginning to soften or dilate in preparation for normal labor. You should still report any bleeding or spotting at this point to your practitioner. In some cases, the cause of the spotting will remain a mystery. It is also important to know if your blood is Rh-negative, you will need a shot of Rh immune globulin whenever you have vaginal spotting or bleeding. It is necessary unless you know for sure that the baby’s father’s blood is also Rh-negative.
Pregnancy signs

Most likely you will not notice any symptoms until about the time you have missed a period or a week or two later. If you are not keeping track of your menstrual cycle or if it varies widely from one month to the next, you may not be sure when to expect your next period. However, if you start to experience some of the symptoms below and you have not had a period for a while, you may very well be pregnant. You could take a home pregnancy test to find out for sure. The most common pregnancy sings are:
Tender and swollen breasts

One of the early signs of pregnancy is sensitive, sore breasts caused by increasing levels of hormones during pregnancy. The soreness may feel like an exaggerated version of how your breasts feel before your period, and your discomfort should diminish significantly after the first trimester, as your body adjusts to the hormonal changes.
Fatigue

If you feel tired all of a sudden or even exhausted it could also be the pregnancy sign. No one knows for sure what causes early pregnancy fatigue, but could possible be that rapidly increasing levels of the hormone progesterone are contributing to woman’s sleepiness. You should start to feel more energetic once you hit your second trimester. However, fatigue usually returns late in pregnancy when you are carrying around a lot more weight and some of the common discomforts of pregnancy make it more difficult to get good night’s sleep.
Implantation bleeding

Some women have a small amount of vaginal bleeding called implantation bleeding, around 11 or 12 days after conception, close to the time you might notice a missed period. The bleeding may be caused by the fertilized egg burrowing into the blood-rich lining of the uterus. This process starts just six days after fertilization, but as I already said, no one knows that for sure. The bleeding is very light, appearing as red spotting or pink or reddish-brown staining, and lasts only a day or two. You should let your practitioner know if you notice any bleeding or spotting, particularly if it is accompanied by pain, since this can be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy.
Nausea or vomiting

If you are like most women, morning sickness will not hit you until about a month after conception. A lucky few women escape it altogether. However, some women do start to feel queasy a bit earlier and not just in the morning, either pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting can be a problem morning, noon, or night. About half of women with nausea feel complete relief by the beginning of the second trimester while for most others it takes another month or so for the queasiness to ease up.
Increased sensitivity to odors

If you are newly pregnant, it is not uncommon to feel repelled by the smell of a bologna sandwich or cup of coffee and for certain aromas to trigger your gag reflex, which could be a side effect of rapidly increasing amounts of estrogen in your system. You may also find that certain foods you used to enjoy are suddenly completely repulsive.
Abdominal bloating

Hormonal changes in early pregnancy may leave you feeling bloated, similar to the feeling some women have just before their period arrives, which is why your clothes may feel snugger than usual at the waistline, even early on when your uterus is still quite small.
Frequent urination

Shortly after you become pregnant, you may find yourself hurrying to the bathroom all the time, mostly because during pregnancy the amount of blood and other fluids in your body increases, which leads to extra fluid being processed by your kidneys and ending up in your bladder.

A missed period and basal body temperature stays high are signs for pregnancy you probably already know to recognize.

Tubal ligation side effects

2010-02-24T01:58:00.001-08:00

Women interested in a permanent form of birth control should look into an attractive procedure called tubal ligation. This surgical procedure serilizes a woman very effectively, preventing pregnancy with a failure rate as low as 0.4%.

So, what exactly is tubal ligation? This surgical procedure involves a woman’s fallopian tubes being cut, clamped or blocked, preventing eggs from traveling down to the uterus. Not only that, it also blocks the sperm from traveling along the tube to meet the egg.

Women should be aware of one important fact –tubal ligation is generally regarded as a permanent type of birth control, although reversal surgery may be available, but there is no guarantee reversal will work. Success rates for pregnancy after a tubal ligation reversal range between 70% and 80%.

There are also several possible side effects and possible complications that could occur during and after the operation. Although tubal ligation is an effective way of preventing pregnancy, in no way does it protect against sexually transmitted diseases, which is why safety measures will still be necessary if a patient enjoys a high-risk sexual life.

Statistical data

More then 700,000 tubal ligation procedures are performed each year in the United States, and almost 50 percent are performed right after a woman gives birth. Eleven million US women between 15-44 years of age rely on sterilization, and more than 190 million couples worldwide use surgical sterilization. It obviously represents a very safe and reliable method of permanent birth control.

Indications for the operation

Tubal ligation may be the best option for women who are certain that they wish to prevent future pregnancies - in other words, to be permanently sterilized. Some women regret their decisions later on, however, and the rule is that the younger the woman, the more likely it is that she will eventually want a reversal procedure. However, this operation should be considered as a permanent procedure, and it isn’t recommended as a temporary or reversible one. Although tubal ligation can sometimes be reversed, this requires a major surgical procedure and a great majority of women will not be able to get pregnant again in life.

Procedure

Although highly effective, a tubal ligation is a relatively simple operation done in a clinic, doctor's office, or hospital, and it can be performed under local or general anesthesia.

Post-op treatment

Most surgeons will advise a patient to take 2 to 3 days off after the surgery. Some patients are concerned about how much time will have to pass until sexual activity becomes an option again. The answer is, sexual activity can start again as soon as the woman feels comfortable, usually after a week or so.

Recovery time depends on a patient’s pain tolerance, the type of anesthesia used, and overall healing ability. Some patients feel slight abdominal pain and tiredness. Less often, patients may experience dizziness, nausea, shoulder pain, abdominal cramps, a gassy or bloated feeling, or general fatigue, but most or all of these symptoms usually go away within two to five days, and most women return to their usual routines a couple of days after surgery.

Non-surgical method of tubal ligation

About four or five years ago a new, non-surgical method of blocking the fallopian tubes was presented to the patients. It is based on one specific form of tubal ligation which involves having a small coil placed into the fallopian tubes, thereby creating a barrier. The only problem is that it takes between three and six months before this type of tubal ligation becomes effective. During this time, a woman should use other available forms of contraception.

Results and possible risks of tubal ligation

As with any other type of surgery, there are risks involved with having one’s tubes tied, including infection and uterine perforation. Besides these possible side effects, women who have had their tubes tied and still become pregnant are more likely to experience an ectopic pregnancy, which is considered to be a life-threatening condition. Other possible risks include menstrual cycle disturbances and gynecological problems.

Bleeding, infection, or reaction to anesthetics may also occur. Other possible but very rare complications include damage to organs, including bowels, bladder, uterus, ovaries, blood vessels, and nerves. Although rare, deaths have also been reported in tubal ligation procedures, and patients should be made aware of this.

Tubal ligation - pros and cons

Advantages

• Permanent birth control.
• Immediately effective.
• Allows sexual spontaneity.
• Requires no daily attention.
• Not messy.
•Cost-effective in the long run.

Disadvantages

• Does not protect against sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS
• Requires surgery.
• Has risks associated with surgery.
• More complicated than male sterilization.
• May not be reversible.
• Possible regret.

Sexuality

Effects on sexuality are an improtant concern for almost all patients, because women are worried whether the operation will have an effects on sexual intercourse. The answer is simple – women are fully able to enjoy sex after a tubal ligation. In a great majority of cases, hormone levels and the menstrual cycle are left unaffected by this method of sterilization, which means that ovaries continue to release eggs, but they are stopped in the tubes and reabsorbed by the body.

Costs of tubal ligation

The initial cost of a tubal ligation can be high, ranging between $1,000 and $3,000. However, because the effects are permanent, it may be a more cost-effective solution for some women. The bottom line is, only women who are sure that they do not want any more children should consider a tubal ligation as a best possible successful means of birth control.

Tubal ligation procedure and age issues

The incidence of menstrual problems after tubal ligation may be higher in women who undergo the procedure in their 20s. The technique does sometimes impair blood flow to the ovary, and can lead to menstrual irregularities earlier than normal, which is why young women are at higher risk.

Reversal of tubal ligation

Women who are planning to have tubal ligation done should know that, generally, this procedure is done with no intentions of being reversed. Most patients are satisfied with their permanent sterilizations. However, experts are saying that some types of the procedure can be reversed with surgery. Best candidates for the reversal are those women who have left a sizable amount of tubal tissue in place. However, tubal ligation with the use of cauterization generally leaves very few candidates for reversal,likely none.

What does high white blood cells count indicate?

2010-02-24T01:57:00.001-08:00

Blood is the fluid that circulates throughout the body carrying nutrients and oxygen to all the cells and tissues and at the same time removes waste materials and carbon dioxide. During a complete physical test, your doctor will order a Complete Blood Count (CBC) test to evaluate Red Blood Cell (RBC) count, White Blood Cell (WBC) count, the platelet count, hemoglobin and mean red cell volume.

The complete blood count is usually ordered to help evaluate the blood and the bone marrow as well as the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood, to identify infections, look for anemia and leukemia and monitor the effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

White blood cells, also known as leukocytes, play an important role in the immune system of an individual.
They fight infections in a process known as ‘phagocytosis’ where they surround the foreign organisms and destroy it. White blood cells also help in production, transportation and distribution of antibodies in order to build the body’s immune system. When acute infection occurs, the white blood cells produce colony-stimulating factor (CSF), which further stimulates the bone marrow to increase the production of the white blood cell. This production can be doubled within a few hours.

However, too much of white blood cells doesn't always mean a good thing. A high white blood cell count (also called leukocytosis) isn't a specific disease but could indicate an underlying problem. This is why high white blood cell count always requires further medical evaluation.

A normal white blood cell count is between 4,500 and 10,000 cells per microliter. In the absence of any disease, they form just about 1% by volume of the total blood in the body. There are five different types of white blood cells and each serves a different function in the body. They are the neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils and the basophils.
The differential blood count gives a clearer picture for the cause of a disease.

In a normal person, the number of white blood cells ranges:

• Neutrophils: 3150 to 6200
• Lymphocytes: 1500 to 3000
• Monocytes: 300 to 500
• Eosinophils: 50 to 250
• Basophils: 15 to 50
per micro liter of blood.

These counts serve as indicators to specific diseases. For example, a high neutrophil count would indicate an infection, a cancer or physical stress while high lymphocytes counts would indicate AIDS. High monocyte and eosinophil count usually pinpoint bacterial infection.

High white blood cell count could indicate

• Infection
• Inflammation
• Trauma
• Tissue damage (from burns)
• Use of certain medications, such as corticosteroids, antibiotics or anti-seizure drugs
• Allergy
• Chronic bone marrow diseases such as a myeloproliferative disorder
• Acute or chronic leukemia
• Diverticular Disease
• Intense exercise
• Severe physical or emotional stress

It is important to say that high white blood cell count would be considered normal in certain situations:

• Pregnancy in the final month and labor may be associated with increased WBC levels.
• Spleen removal could grant persistent mild to moderate increased WBC count.
• Normal newborns and infants have higher WBC counts than adults
• Too much smoking could also cause an increased WBC count.

The WBC count tends to be lower in the morning and higher in the late afternoon and they are age-related.
When the white blood cell counts continue to rise or fall to abnormal levels it means that the condition is getting worse.
Scientists are still not certain if, besides being a good indicator or a problem, high white blood cell count could also trigger a serious disease or if it naturally rises after an illness.

One thing is certain though. You should not ignore your doctor's orders to have a white blood count done. It is a reliable and inexpensive way that enables better and sooner prognosis.

Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO)

2010-02-24T01:56:00.000-08:00

Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO) is a rare condition in which a child’s bones become inflamed and painful. The important thing is that this condition is not caused by an infection though the symptoms are very similar to bone disease caused by the infection called osteomyelitis. CRMO has periods of remission and exacerbation which means that symptoms are sometimes present and sometimes they are not. It primarily affects the skeletal system although sometimes ‘extra-skeletal’ sites can be affected too. The most common sites are the metaphyses of long bones, spine, pelvis, and shoulder girdle. Even though this disease has been recognized as a clinical entity for almost three decades now, its origin and pathogenesis are not entirely clear.
The clinical and radiological features on the disease are variable and the diagnosing can be difficult.

Multiple names have been used to describe this condition and they include

* chronic multifocal osteomyelitis,
* chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis, and
* SAPHO syndrome (synovitis, acne, pustulosis, hyperostosis, osteitis).

Incidence of the condition

This disease is rare and it mostly affects children. It is more common in girls than boys, at a ratio of five to one. However, the adults can also be affected. In children it may develop between the ages 4 and 14, with the age of 10 being the most common starting point for the development of this condition. No epidemiological data on incidence and prevalence have been published so far. However, the incidence might be estimated at 1:1,000,000.

What are the common symptoms?

Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis is a disorder that damages the affected area of the bone and creates characteristic formations also known as bone lesions. The problem is that, when these lesions flare-up they cause

* deep aching pain,
* limping,
* fever,
* possible constitutional upset,
* swelling
and occasionally
* skin redness.

The pain can be quite severe and may limit the child’s activities. Not only that it may prevent the kid from going to school, but sometimes it may even require hospitalization. It mainly affects the metaphyses of the long bones, in addition to the spine, the pelvis and the shoulder girdle. Some bones seem to be more affected by CRMO than others and this includes the shinbone, thighbone and clavicle (collarbone). Many young people with CRMO have pain in more than one area of the bone.

Possible cause of CRMO

The cause of this condition is unknown, despite the intensive investigation over a period of more than 30 years. Carefully done culture and tissue sampling on bone lesions in children with this disease, using the best available techniques, has failed to yield any apparent infectious agents.
The main suggestions for possible causes include:

* infectious disease,
* autoimmune reaction (where white blood cells instead of seeking out and destroying foreign invaders turn on the body and attack normal cells instead) or
* a defect in the immune system.

Propionibacterium acnes has been postulated to be involved in the pathogenesis. However, in larger cohorts and by using state of the art microbial techniques, no apparent infectious agents have been detected at the site of the bone lesion in pediatric patients.
There are also some experts who believe it is an inherited condition and that genetics play a major role in its development. They have found a significant association of CRMO with a rare allele of marker D18S60, resulting in a haplotype relative risk (HRR) of 18.
This suggests the existence of a gene in this region contributing in a significant manner to the etiology of CRMO and concomitantly demonstrates evidence for a genetic basis of CRMO. This gene is different from RANK, which is mutated in familial expansile osteolysis (FEO), but not in CRMO.

Differential diagnosis

The differential diagnosis includes

* bacterial osteomyelitis,
* Ewing sarcoma,
* leukemia,
* lymphoma,
* rhabdomyosarcoma,
* neuroblastoma metastasis,
* eosinophilic granuloma
or
* Langerhans cell histiocytosis.

Some experts have named a few precise criteria for diagnosing this condition:

* two or more bone lesions mimicking osteomyelitis,
* radiological and bone scan findings consistent with osteomyelitis,
* six months or more of chronic and relapsing symptoms,
* failure of response to at least one month of appropriate antibiotic therapy,
and
* A lack of other identifiable cause.

Clinical manifestations

Skeletal manifestations

* Unifocal or multifocal, initially osteolytic, later hyperostotic and sclerotic lesions mainly in the metaphyses of the long bones and shoulder girdle, but any bone can be affected. Relapses are frequent even under therapy.
* Arthritis of adjacent and distal joints is frequent. CRMO can be a feature of enthesitis-related arthritis at onset or during the disease course.

Other organ involvement

* Palmoplantar pustulosis, psoriasis or acne conglobata
* Uveitis
* Inflammatory bowel disease

Diagnosis of chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis

Clinical diagnosis in affected children can be difficult because the clinical picture and course of the disease may vary significantly. CRMO can have similar symptoms to other conditions, for example arthritis. Radiological and magnetic resonance imaging features of CRMO have been described, but differential diagnosis remains difficult, including rheumatic diseases, bacterial osteomyelitis, and malignancy. To get a diagnosis the person needs to have a series of tests and scans.

* Bone biopsy
Bone biopsy is often the best way to do this. During this procedure, a small sample of the inflamed bone is removed with a needle, usually under anaesthetic, to be examined under the microscope. The gold standard for diagnosis of CRMO is histopathology of bony lesions. Lesions consist of chronic inflammatory cells and cultures are characteristically negative. In very early lesions granulocytes can be observed, and later on there are mainly lymphocytes or monocytes. All bacterial and fungal cultures from native biopsy tissues should be negative.

* Plain radiographic findings
Findings made by plain radiographic imaging are variable. CRMO can present as an osteolytic, sclerotic, or a mixed lytic-sclerotic lesion.

* MRI
This is a very good and effective diagnostic method. Magnetic resonance imaging scans have been used to evaluate the activity of lesions and to identify the most appropriate site for biopsy.

Treatment of chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis
The effective and definite treatment is still impossible. The aim of the treatment is to try to prevent flare-ups and treat them if they occur. Long term treatment is usually required to monitor any growth disturbances in the affected bones.

* Antibiotics are no good
Experience has shown that antibiotic treatment is not effective in dealing with CRMO flare-ups as there is no underlying infection to treat. This is probably because no bacteria can be found in the bone biopsy specimens.

* Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Affected bones respond well to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and they are the primary choice for the effective treatment. Azithromycin has been used in the treatment of this condition because of its anti-inflammatory and immuno-modulatory effects.

* Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy has shown to be a very effective therapeutic method. It is proven that physiotherapy can also help improve movement and flexibility of the affected bones and the surrounding joints.

* Steroids
Severe cases of CRMO can often be treated with regular doses of steroids, which damp down the inflammation and allow the bone to heal. Oral steroids, bisphosphonates, and sulfasalazine have been used in specific cases. Other medicines that have the same ‘damping down’ effect may also be recommended, either alone or in the conjunction with steroids.

* Surgical operations
If the bone lesions are obvious and cause problems, they can be removed with an operation. Aggressive surgical treatments, and procedures that increase the risk of pathological fracture in particular, should be avoided.

Disease course and prognosis

The long term outcome of CRMO is poorly understood. However it may induce:

* school difficulties,
* bone deformities,
* psoriasis,
and
* inflammatory bowel disease

Most children with CRMO go into remission in late childhood, but some have relapses in late adolescency or early adulthood. However, if certain areas of bone are affected, this may cause the limb not to develop properly leaving it shorter than the other. This can be treated in various ways including surgery. Although children and young people with CRMO may need to miss some schooling due to their illness, most of them grow up to lead normal lives, working and raising a family.
Recently, evolvement of CRMO into arthritis or spondyloarthropathy has been documented in several cohort studies of children and young adults. It seems that tht inflammatory joint involvement at the time of thediagnosis and during the course of the disease might have been underestimated until recently. Pathogenetically, CRMO is linked to juvenile arthritis and features of CRMO can overlap features of enthesitis-related arthritis or psoriatic arthritis.
The bottom line is that, generally, the outlook for children and young adults with CRMO is excellent. The majority respond well to treatment and suffer few long-term effects.

Marijuana: Pros and cons

2010-02-24T01:55:00.002-08:00

People have used marijuana as a medical treatment for thousands of years. Marijuana has been hailed as a prescription for many ills and physicians once used it to stimulate the appetite, relieve chronic pain, and treat asthma and migraines. Many people are not aware of the fact that this has been so even in modern America as this plant was listed in the US Pharmacopeia, a list of the approved drugs in the United States, up until the 1940s.

Statistical data

There were an estimated 2.6 million new marijuana users in 2001. This isn't anything unusual and this figure is similar to the figures got in the reserches that have been performed each year since 1995. In 2002, over 14 million Americans age 12 and older have used marijuana at least once in the month prior to being surveyed, and 12.2 percent of the marijuana users who have been using it the previous year, used marijuana on 300 or more days in the past 12 months. This means that 3.1 million people are using marijuana on a daily or almost daily basis over a 12-month period.

Percentage of 8th-Graders Who Have Used Marijuana:
Monitoring the Future Study, 2003

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

Ever Used

16.7%

19.9%

23.1%

22.6%

22.2%

Used in Past Year

13.0

15.8

18.3

17.7

16.9

Used in Past Month

7.8

9.1

11.3

10.2

9.7

Daily Use in Past Month

0.7

0.8

1.5

1.1

1.1

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

Ever Used

22.0%

20.3%

20.4%

19.2%

17.5%

Used in Past Year

16.5

15.6

15.4

14.6

12.8

Used in Past Month

9.7

9.1

9.2

8.3

7.5

Daily Use in Past Month

1.4

1.3

1.3

1.2

1.

What exactly is marijuana?

Marijuana, also called the grass, pot or weed, is the common name for a crude drug made from the plant called Cannabis sativa. It is a green, brown, or gray mixture of dried, shredded leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers of this plant. Other forms of cannabis include

* sinsemilla,
* hashish, and
* hash oil

Marijuana is usually smoked as a cigarette called a joint, or in a pipe or a bong. Marijuana is also being used as a blunt, which is a cigar that has been emptied of tobacco and refilled with marijuana, sometimes in combination with another drug, such as crack. It can also be mixed into foods or used to brew tea.

Human consumption

Smoking

This is one of the most common usage methods.There are several methods of smoking Cannabis and the most popular include the joint, the bong, the pipe, the shotgun, and the one-hitter.
To create a joint, cannabis is rolled up into a cigarette, using a rolling paper. Cannabis cigars or blunts, can also be created by using the wrapper of a standard cigar.
A bong is a water-pipe through which cannabis smoke is filtered. Pipes are usually made of blown glass, wood, or non-reactive metals.
A shotgun involves two people. During the procedure one person takes a hit then puts the joint into his mouth, while another person then places his mouth over the front end, and first person exhales through the joint.

Oral consumption

Cannabis sativa may be consumed orally by blending it with ethanol or lipids. What are the “benefits” of this way of consumption? It takes longer for the effects to start but they last longer and may be perceived as more physical than mental.

Vaporization

Cannabis can be heated to a temperature of about 185 °C. On this temperature, all the active ingredients are released into gaseous form.

Knifing

Knifing is a process in which the tips of two knives are heated to a very high temperature, and then the marijuana is pressed between the heated knife-tips, rapidly combusting it. A consumer then uses plastic bottle-top, empty pen, or other hollow tube or funnel to inhale the vapors.

Marijuana effects

There are several effects of marijuana and some of the most common are:

* Impairment of the short-term memory in some users – It is proven that Marijuana's damage to short-term memory seems to occur because THC alters the way in which the information is processed by some parts of the brain such as hippocampus

* Enhancement of many other drug effects such as alcohol, Ecstasy, tobacco, heroin, cocaine…
* Auditory or visual hallucinations
* Amnesia
* Increased appetite
* Induced sense of novelty
* Increased or decreased sexual pleasure
* Increased sensations
* Increased awareness of patterns and colors
* Respect for music and other arts
* Increased mental activity
* Meditative states of mind
* Gain or loss of some inhibitions
* Varying degree of euphoria, ranging from feelings of general well-being to lengthy pointless laughter
* Relaxation or stress reduction
* Mild tachycardia
* Mild, temporary dry mouth
* Varying amounts of paranoia and anxiety in some users

It is proven that people who smoke marijuana regularly may have many of the respiratory problems that tobacco smokers have. These problems include daily cough and phlegm production, more frequent acute chest illnesses, a heightened risk of lung infections and a greater tendency toward obstructed airways. In fact, more cancer-causing agents have been found in Marijuana smoke than in tobacco smoke.

Active components

The active ingredient in marijuana is a substance called delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) - a very strong psychoactive substance. It is responsible for the potency and effects of marijuana intoxication. Different types of marijuana have different levels of THC in it, but it is evidenced that, over the past two decades, THC levels of marijuana in the United States have increased.

Other active components include:

Cannabinol and cannabidiol

These compounds have some of the properties of THC, but cause less psychoactive effects.

Dronabinol (Marinol)
Dronabinol is a man-made version of THC available by prescription. It's used to prevent nausea and vomiting after cancer chemotherapy and to increase appetite in people with AIDS.

Mechanism of action

When smoked or ingested, THC and other active components that can be found in marijuana are targeting and attaching to two types of receptors on the cells in the body.

CB1 receptors

These receptors are found mainly in the brain, especially in the areas that control body movement, memory and vomiting. This is why marijuana affects balance and coordination and impairs short-term memory and learning, and why it can be useful in treating nausea, pain and the loss of appetite.

CB2 receptors

These receptors are found mainly in the immune system tissue, such as your spleen and lymph nodes, although in much smaller numbers. The function of these receptors is not well understood.

How fast do the effects occur and how long do they last?

* When marijuana is smoked, its ingredients reach their peak levels in the body within minutes and the effects can last up to an hour and a half.
* When marijuana is eaten the ingredients may take several hours to reach their peak levels in your body, and their effects may last for hours.
* When used as a pill or an oral capsule (Marinol),it takes effect in about 30 minutes, and can continue to stimulate appetite for more than a day.

Possible medical uses of marijuana

Experts who have been studying marijuana's potential found out that it can be used to treat many different conditions in order to cure them or speed up the recovery time. Some of these conditions are:

Glaucoma and high blood pressure

This disease is caused by the increased pressure in the eyeball, which can lead to vision loss and complete blindness. However, the experts in this field discovered that smoking marijuana reduces the pressure in the eyes. The exact reason is still unknown. Smoking marijuana may reduce the blood pressure too, which also isn't explained yet.
Problem with this type of therapy is that it can lose its effectiveness over time. Experts are working on the development of the cannabis-based medications that can be put directly on the eyes.
Pain

People have used marijuana for pain relief for hundreds of years. It is proven that THC may work as a mild pain reliever in treating cancer pain.

Multiple sclerosis

Several researches done in the past have shown effectiveness of Cannabis in the treatment of the muscle spasms and pain in multiple sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis is a serious disease of the nervous system which can cause a lot of pain because of the severe nerve damage.
It is proven that Marijuana may protect nerves from the kind of damage that occurs due to this disease.

Other purposes

There are several other effects that can be considered beneficial such as:

o Increased appetite due to the fact that food subjectively tastes better.
o Reduced nausea
o Dilation of air sacs in lungs, resulting in deeper respiration.
o Increase in productive coughs
o Dilation of blood vessels (vasodilatation)
o Increased blood flow and heart rate
o Reddening of the conjunctivae
o Induces drowsiness , so it can be beneficial to sufferers of insomnia and sleep deprivation
o Relaxation
o Reduced stress

Is there a lethal dose?

It is generally considered impossible to achieve a lethal overdose by smoking cannabis. According to the several researches and experiments, the lethal dose for 50% of rats tested is 42 mg/kg of body weight although it was done by inhalation. If we transfer these results to humans, that is equivalent to a 75 kg man ingesting the 21 gram cigarettes of high-potency cannabis buds at once.

Marijuana addiction

A lot of young users are saying that it’s not possible to be addicted to marijuana. This, of course, isn’t true. Long-term marijuana use can lead to addiction for some people, which means that they use the drug compulsively even though it interferes with their family, school, work, and recreational activities. When a person is chemically dependent on marijuana, it means that he needs to use more and more to get the same effect. The most common withdrawal symptoms are: depression, trouble sleeping and nausea.

Pimple-like Bumps on Penis and Testicles

2010-02-24T01:55:00.001-08:00

Everyone is familiar with pimples, condition that effects the oil glands of the skin. We are not worried if pimple occurs on our nose or cheeks, but what if pimple pops up on penis or testicle? Is that still normal? What to do then? Call a doctor or wait until the pimple subsides?

What are pimples?

Pimple is actually a result of a blockage of the skin's pore and it can happen anywhere on the body: face, back, legs, even genitals and elsewhere. Pimples is a common and frequent condition that effects the oil glands of the skin. Oil glands are found in every hair follicle and when they become clogged or inflamed, they can lead to pimples breakouts.

Are pimples on penis and testicles normal?

Yes and no. Some types of so-called pimples (bumps,...) are normal and represent very common condition, but in some cases those bumps can be dangerous and demand prompt medical attention.
Pimples on penis or testicles typically occur in teenage years, but it is also possible men will experience pimples at some time later in their life. Statistics claim that eight out of ten men will experience pimples on penis and/ or testicles at some time in their life. Most of the time penis and testicle pimples go away as person grows, or if they occur later in life, they subside in a matter of week or two. But the fact is that if they don't, it is not wise to sit at home miserable, hoping they will go away. If you notice any new lumps or bumps, ask your doctor to check, or go to a genitourinary medicine clinic. I know it can be suffering, not to mention the psychological effect pimples on genitals can cause.

What spots are normal on penis?

* So called (and looking like) pimples are normal. They are pearly penile papules, small in size (approximately 1-2 mm) and they look just like pimples, but are not pimples. They are actually tinny glands, and you shouldn't pick on them. They occur around the margin of the penis head, and can be seen when foreskin is pulled back. They usually develop in teenage years, but may occur up to the age of 40. They are visible in some men, while in others are less noticeable. Around 10% of men is affected by pearly penile papules.
* After masturbation or sexual intercourse hard swelling might appear near the foreskin, in the shaft of the head of the penis. This swelling is called lymphocele, and is caused by temporary blockage of the lymphatic channels at the area described. This condition is also normal and goes away on its own without any after-effects.

What spots on penis are not normal?

* Ulcers

Ulcers. If ulcer develops, you must immediately visit your doctor. Ulcers appear as craters on the skin and represent a full-thickness loss of skin (epidermis). Typically of ulcer is crust, clear liquid (serum) or pus in the crater. Ulcers may occur due to genital herpes, infection, virus or may even be form of skin cancer.

* Papules

Papules are small lumps (less than than 1 cm), raised above the skin surface. Most penile papules do not have a serious cause (pearly penile papules for example), but some are infectious and may lead to more serious conditions.

Types of papules:
Molluscum contagiosum is form of papules, which is very common, but must be supervised by doctor. They are pinkish-white round lumps, each about 1–5 mm in diameter, and are caused by a virus.
Hair follicles are a normal and are usually found on the underside of penile shaft. They may be visible or only felt as small lumps in the skin. They are recognized by having a hair arising from them.Pearly penile papules (described above as very normal condition)
Fordyce spots are small (1-5mm) bright red or purple papules that can appear on the penis or testicles. They usually affect younger men, and appear in crops. They are painless and not itchy, but are embarrassing because of their appearance.
Genital warts are very common and are caused by a virus. In case of genital warts seek medical help.

* Plaques

Plaques are raised, flat-topped lesions, greater than 1cm in diameter. Usually they do not have a serious cause, but some are infectious and others may develop into more serious conditions, such as Erythroplasia of Queyrat, lichen sclerosis and balanitis xerotica obliterans, which may lead to the development of penile cancer
Erythroplasia of Queyrat appears as a sharply demarcated bright red plaque with a velvety surface. Disease is not infectious, but needs prompt medical attention since it represents an early manifestation of penile cancer. Treatment usually involves excision of the affected area.
Lichen sclerosis looks like white plaques on the glans, foreskin or shaft of the penis. The severe form of lichen sclerosis is balanitis xerotica obliterans, and it occurs on the opening of the foreskin, which becomes white and firm. Both conditions may lead to penile cancer, but rarely. Medical care is necessary.

What spots are normal on testicles?

* Chicken-skin: it is normal that the skin on testicles looks similar to the skin of plucked chicken.
* Sebaceous cysts: they are swollen, blocked grease glands that look like yellowish pimples. They occur in dozens or more. If they become infected, they can be treated.
* Angiokeratoma of Fordyce: tiny, bright-red blood-blisters; can be itchy, but are otherwise harmless.

What spots are not normal on testicles?

* Genital warts
* Varicoceles, which are caused by the swelling of veins; are more noticeable when standing. Approximately 15% men have this condition, and usually occurs on left side.
* Lump(s) in the testicles, which usually isn't visible, but can be felt through the skin. In most cases these lumps are armless cysts, but they may develop into testis cancer. Consult your doctor if you find a lump in your testicle.

In conclusion

Men are understandably concerned when they notice spots on the penis. So, what is best to do in this case?
First of all- do not make the situation worse! For that reason do not try to squeeze anything! Squeezing might cause an additional inflammation, which can spread the bacteria that caused pimple, which leads to spreading pimples and possible scarring. Clean your skin several times daily with pH neutral soap, but do not exaggerate, since this could lead to other problems. If you suffer from swelling, apply ice pack, which should reduce swelling, redness and pain.
However, if you feel your condition isn't just pimples, it is highly recommended to see doctor or dermatologist as soon as possible.

Holistic Medicine - Reiki

2010-02-24T01:54:00.002-08:00

East Meets West
Throughout recorded history cultures all over the globe have known that a “higher power” existed, and almost every culture has shown evidence, of some kind, that certain individuals among them had “knowledge” of this higher power that other members of the culture did not possess.

In traditional Western cultures, we call these individuals priests, ministers, rabbis, mystics, medicine-men, shamans, healers, and yes, doctors, scientists, and even nurses.

In Eastern cultures, for thousands of years, many have been in touch with the universal Life Force Energy present in the universe.

Today, we have begun to understand how traditional Western thinking can be complimented and enhanced and enriched through a blending with ancient Eastern thinking.

Energy healing is one of the predominant ways that this blending takes place. Some of the methods that have gained great acceptance in recent years are acupuncture, herbal remedies, meditation, many forms of message therapy, and a variety of “hands-on” healing techniques, such as Therapeutic Touch, Healing Touch, and REIKI (pronounced ray-key)

What is Reiki?
Simply put, Reiki is Universal Life Force Energy.

It’s what we are, our essence. The universe is composed of nothing more than energy. Everything that we perceive, everything we can conceive of, is made of energy. Every particle, molecule and atom is arranged and held together by ENERGY.

Reiki is the ancient Japanese practice that recognizes and honors this universal energy. It is a gentle, elegant and beautiful method of energy balancing that has been in use in Eastern cultures for centuries. We, in the Western hemisphere are only now beginning to appreciate this wonderful practice.

Reiki is NOT a religious practice. In fact, Reiki compliments all spiritual and religious practices. Anyone can practice Reiki, and everyone has the ability to learn and use Reiki.

At its most fundamental level, Reiki assists the cells of the body to function in a normal manner. The intention of all Reiki energy is for the highest healing good, no matter what that may be for the recipient.

The intentional use of Reiki cannot, by its very nature, cause any harm whatsoever to either the practitioner or the recipient.

History of Reiki

Most traditional Reiki Master/Teachers agree that Reiki originated as an “oral” tradition and has been handed down since about 1850 from Dr. Mikao Usui from Japan. The tradition was passed down to Dr Chujiro Hayashi, also in Japan, who initiated Ms. Hawayo Takata, who introduced it to the United States in 1973.

Like most “oral traditions” the story has been told many times and gained much richness over time, however, certain fundamental elements exist and are part of the story of Reiki. One of the basic elements is that Reiki is passed from one person to another through a ritual called an “Attunement”. No other form of “Energy Healing” is known to be passed along through attunements.

Another widely acknowledged principle of Reiki is the concept that it can do no harm, and will always work for the highest healing good.

Many, many beautiful stories are told about Reiki, such as Dr. Usui’s 21 day fast on Mt. Kurama where he is said to have received the Reiki symbols that are used in traditional Reiki attunements and healing sessions.

Another traditional element of Reiki are the “precepts” that most Reiki practitioners agree on:

# Today, I let go of anger
# Today, I let go of worry
# Today, I show gratitude
# Today, I work with honor
# Today, I show kindness to another of God’s creatures.

Reiki Attunements
Reiki is practiced in many different forms, by many diverse practitioners, but one of the unifying elements is that only those individuals that have received an “attunement” are considered to be true Reiki practitioners.

Although the actual rituals of the attunements may vary, the traditional Reiki community seems to agree that attunements follow the pattern described below:

Reiki Level 1 – During this attunement the initiate can expect to be given a description of the origins of modern Reiki as developed and taught by Dr. Mikao Usui. The fundamental aspects of Reiki energy are discussed, and the initiate is asked to sit quietly and receive the Reiki energy attunement. After receiving the energy from the Master, the initiate is taught to do self-treatment, along with infusing Reiki energy to both other living things, such as plants and animals and inanimate objects such as crystals. A tradition has grown in popularity lately that discusses infusing Reiki energy into teddy bears and sharing these bears with friends and loved ones.

Reiki Lever 2 – During the second level the initiates is given the Reiki “symbols” that have been passed down to them by their Masters. In the most traditional forms of the Level 2 attunement the symbols are demonstrated by the Master and the initiates are given paper and crayons to practice drawing the symbols while the Master explains the significance and use for each of the 3 basic symbols. It has been said that one must commit the symbols to their memory so that they may rest in their heart. Once the symbols have been completely learned by the initiate they are told never to speak them out loud, or draw them on any paper that will be kept. At this time, the initiates receive the actual attunement from the Master. To finalize the ritual all of the papers are gathered up and burned in a ceremonial manner.

Master Level Attunement – During this ritual the initiate is given the Master symbol and is instructed in the traditions and lineage of the practitioner. Master Level attunements are very spiritual in nature and not to be taken lightly.

Master Teacher – This level of attunement is a further level of enrichment intended for those who are ready to devote their lives to making Reiki available to others.

Master of Masters – Can only be conferred on those who have demonstrated their
dedication to the traditions of Reiki and can take years to reach this level.

How Reiki is Used

The most significant place that Reiki has emerged is in the medical field. We are now seeing Reiki integrated into western medicine all over the country. The National Institutes for Health, through their division of Complimentary & Alternative Medicine have conducted research into the use of Reiki in various clinical settings, and continue to fund studies aimed at understanding how Reiki can be used along with traditional medicine to enhance patient outcomes.

The popularity of Reiki has exploded in recent years and can be found integrated in almost every aspect of metaphysical practice. Reiki has been introduced into magical arts, native-American ceremonies, crystal healing, Angel-healing practice, among others.

In my opinion, the most significant use of Reiki is for self-treatment. One need only receive a Level 1 Attunement to be able to experience the many benefits of this life-affirming form of energy. Everyone has access to this energy, and anyone can be attuned. You do not need anything more than an open mind to receive Reiki energy and to use it for yourself.

Just a small sample of the uses of Reiki for self-treatment are to become centered and grounded when starting out your day. In just a few minutes (I do it in the shower each morning) you can become calm and focused and approach your day from a place of peace and calmness. During the course of the day, you can use Reiki at any time to reconnect to a sense of peace and calmness. During any physical, or emotional, crisis Reiki can be used to reduce the pain and stress in any situation. Using Reiki on others, after a Level 2 Attunement, enhances and enriches your own sense of “connectedness” and revitalizes both the practitioner and the recipient.

# Down syndrome: Prenatal Screening During Pregnancy

2010-02-24T01:54:00.001-08:00

Down syndrome is a condition in which extra genetic material causes delays in the way a child develops, and often leads to mental retardation. It affects 1 in every 800 babies born.
Only good thing is that prenatal screening for Down syndrome is available. There are several different prenatal screening procedures such as a relatively simple, noninvasive screening test that examines a drop of the mother's blood to determine if there is an increased likelihood for Down syndrome. There is no cure for Down syndrome, nor is there any prevention for the chromosomal accident that causes Down syndrome.
Incidence of Down syndrome
The incidence of Down syndrome is estimated at 1 per 800 births, about 95% of which are trisomy 21, making it the most common human aneuploidy- genetic disorder with presence of an extra copy of genetic material on some chromosome. According to the National Down Syndrome Society, there are approximately 350,000 individuals with Down syndrome in US.
Maternal age influences the chance of conceiving a baby with the syndrome. At age 20 to 24, it is 1/1490, while at age 40 it is 1/106, and at age 49 is 1/11. Although the chance increases with maternal age, most children with Down syndrome (80%) are born to women under the age of 35. That represent a big diagnostic problem. Most Down syndrome cases occur spontaneously. There is no known prevention, although some factors, such as increased maternal age, can increase the chance of occurrence. The genetic basis itself cannot be treated, and the variety of expression requires targeting treatment to each individual
What exactly is a Down syndrome?
Down syndrome is a disorder that includes a combination of birth defects. Most common are:

* some degree of mental retardation,
* Characteristic facial features - A child with Down syndrome usually have eyes that slant upward and small ears that may fold over a little at the top. Mouth may be small, making the tongue appear large and nose may also be small, with a flattened nasal bridge. Some babies with Down syndrome have short necks and small hands with short fingers and, due to less muscle tone.
* Heart defects- Almost half of babies with Down syndrome have heart defects, of which some are minor and may be treated with medications, while others may require surgery. That’s why- all babies with Down syndrome should be examined by a pediatric cardiologist, a doctor who specializes in heart diseases of children, and have an echocardiogram in the first 2 months of life so that any heart defects can be treated.
* Increased infections- Children with Down syndrome tend to have many colds and ear infections, as well as bronchitis and pneumonia. They also are at increased risk of thyroid problems and leukemia
* Intestinal malformations - About 10 percent of babies with Down syndrome are born with that some intestinal malformations that require surgery soon after birth.
* Problems with vision and hearing - Common visual problems include crossed eyes (amblyopia), near- or far-sightedness and cataracts. Most can be improved with glasses, surgery or other treatments.
* Other health problems…

Genetic abnormalities
Normally, each egg and sperm cell contains 23 chromosomes. The union of these creates 23 pairs, or 46 chromosomes in total. Sometimes, although the reasons are still unknown- an accident occurs when an egg or sperm cell is forming, causing it to have an extra chromosome number 21. This is Down syndrome! So, the bottom line is that Down syndrome is nothing more then one chromosomal abnormality characterized by the presence of an extra copy of genetic material on the 21st chromosome, either in whole (trisomy 21) or part (such as due to translocations).
Causes of Down syndrome
Several researches done in the past have shown that Down syndrome has four root causes:
Non-disjunction event

Trisomy 21 is caused by a meiotic non-disjunction event. In this case the child has three copies of every gene on chromosome 21. This is the most common cause because about 96% of Down’s syndromes, with 88% coming from the maternal gamete and 8% coming from the paternal gamete, are caused by this non-disjunction!
Translocation

The extra material is due to a change called translocation. The long part of 21 is attached to another chromosome. The parent with the translocation is missing information on the short arm of 21, but this does not have apparent effects. Through normal disjunction during meiosis, gametes are produced with extra copies of the long arm of chromosome 21. This isn't so common cause of Down syndrome because it is the cause of 2-3% of the observed cases.
Normal arrangement and trisomy - combined

The individual is a mosaic of normal chromosomal arrangements and trisomy 21. This can occur in one of two ways:

* A non-disjunction event during an early cell division leads to a fraction of the cells with trisomy 21; or
* A Down syndrome embryo undergoes non-disjunction and some of the cells in the embryo revert back to the normal chromosomal arrangement.

This is the cause of 1-2% of the observed Down syndromes.
Duplication

Rarely, a region of the 21st chromosome will undergo a duplication event. This will lead to extra copies of some, but not all, of the genes on chromosome 21.
PRENATAL SCREENING AND DIAGNOSIS
A new study supports screening for Down syndrome in pregnancy weeks earlier than what has traditionally been recommended. These are very good, easy to do and effective prenatal diagnostic tools that can help in detecting abnormalities characteristic to Down syndrome!
Maternal serum screening

The proven fact is that this maternal serum screening allows the detection of trisomy 21 pregnancies in women in younger than 35 years who give birth to about 70 percent of infants with Down syndrome.
The serum markers most widely used are

* Alfa-fetoprotein
* Unconjugated estriol
* Human chorionic Gonadotropin

That’s why - this combination is known as "triple test"! The test is usually performed at 15 to 18 weeks of pregnancy. The chances of trisomy 21 is calculated on the basis of each of the serum marker results and the patient’s age.
Results - The triple test can detect 60 percent of trisomy 21 pregnancies. Young mothers also must understand that a normal result reduces the likelihood of trisomy 21 but does not exclude it.
There are several factors that have influence on test. The factors are:

* Gestational age
* Maternal weight
* Maternal race
* Maternal insulin-dependant diabetes
* Multiple fetal pregnancy
* Family history of Down syndrome

Test results also can help a woman manage her pregnancy more effectively.
Ultrasound assessment

It is proven that ultrasound test improves the performance of the triple test. This test uses sound waves to take a picture of the fetus. Ultrasound can help determine the gestational age of the fetus and show if a woman is carrying twins.
Simple Ultrasonographic test can detect many abnormalities associated with fetal Down syndrome. Some of the common findings are:

* Increased nuchal fold thickness >5 mm
* Intrauterine growth restriction
* Flat facies
* Small ears
* Choroids plexus cysts
* Congenital heart defects
* Renal pelvis dilation
* Shortened humerus and femur
* Increased iliac wing angle
* Incurving of the fifth finger
* Increased space between first and second toes
* Two-vessel umbilical cord

If the ultrasound does not provide an explanation for an abnormal test result, additional diagnostic testing is recommended.
Chorionic villus sampling
Women who receive abnormal results on other screening test may be offered a prenatal test called chorionic villus sampling, which is done between 10 and 12 weeks of pregnancy. Chorionic villus sampling is one very good and effective prenatal test used to identify various genetic problems, including Down syndrome. Using a thin tube guided through mother’s cervix or a needle inserted into your uterus, doctor takes a sample of chorionic villi from the placenta. What's so good about this diagnostic tool? Chorionic villus sampling can provide genetic information about your baby earlier in your pregnancy than can other diagnostic tests, such as amniocentesis. The test might be offered if your baby has an increased risk of a specific chromosomal or genetic disorder. On the other hand - chorionic villus sampling cannot detect neural tube defects, such as spina bifida.
Amniocentesis
Amniocentesis is a prenatal test used to identify various genetic problems. It is done by using a thin needle which is being inserted into uterus by doctor! Then, he withdraws a sample of the amniotic fluid that surrounds and protects the baby. This fluid contains fetal cells and various chemicals produced by the baby. With genetic amniocentesis, the chromosomes and genes in these cells or the chemicals in the amniotic fluid can be tested for certain abnormalities, such as Down syndrome and spina bifida. What's also good? With maturity amniocentesis, the amniotic fluid could be also tested to determine whether a baby's lungs are mature enough for birth.
Indications for the amniocentesis:

* A chromosomal abnormality or neural tube defect in a previous pregnancy
* Abnormal results from a prenatal screening test, such as first trimester screening or the quad marker screen
* A family history of central nervous system defects, Down syndrome or other genetic disorders

Problem with amniocentesis is that it carries various risks, including:

* Miscarriage.
* Rupture of the amniotic sac
* Cramping
* Light vaginal bleeding.
* Rh sensitization
* Needle injury
* Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome
* Neonatal pneumonia
* Limb reduction defects
* Bleeding

# What a Plastic Surgeon Can Offer – Explore the Possibilities

2010-02-24T01:53:00.000-08:00

You may not realize how many diverse physical issues a plastic surgeon can address. The medical specialty of plastic surgery encompasses major portions of the body, including the face, neck, chest, and torso. A plastic surgeon can correct or repair physical problems caused by birth defects or injury, and a plastic surgeon works with people to perform cosmetic procedures that benefit their appearances and personal happiness.

To get an idea of what a plastic surgeon might be able to do for you, here are some descriptions of common plastic surgery procedures.

Tummy Tuck

Also known as abdominoplasty, the tummy tuck is a surgical solution for stubborn belly bulge and/or loose abdominal skin. Ideal candidates for a tummy tuck are reasonably fit people that are unable to rid themselves of fat deposits on the stomach. Sometimes diet and exercise just cannot burn away all the bulge, especially when muscle and skin have been stretched by pregnancy. Now, more and more people are having a tummy tuck procedure following large amounts of weight loss, or after bariatric or weight loss surgery such as gastric bypass or stomach stapling.

During the tummy tuck operation, the plastic surgeon will make a long incision along the lower abdomen, remove excess skin, and possibly use liposuction as well to aid in fat removal, and stitch abdominal muscles into a firmer and smoother contour.

Liposuction

This is a fat removing procedure in which a plastic surgeon removes fat by sucking it out through tubes inserted through very small incisions. Liposuction is a very common plastic surgery procedure and patients are often pleased with the results. The best candidates for liposuction have specific areas that are overly full and out of proportion to the rest of the body. This often includes the thighs in women, and the chest of “love handles” in men.

Breast Augmentation

Women from many walks of life seek breast augmentation. A plastic surgeon can perform breast augmentation to correct a figure that has breasts of differing sizes or to increase the overall size of a woman's bustline. Incisions are made either at the crease where the breasts meet the chest, around the nipples, or in the armpits depending on the surgical approach selected by the plastic surgeon. Then breast implants are placed under the breast tissues or chest muscles to increase the breasts' size.

BOTOX

Although BOTOX ® Cosmetic treatment is not a surgery, it remains a common treatment given by plastic surgeons. BOTOX ® provides temporary reduction of frown lines around the brow and near the eyes. Injections of BOTOX ® paralyze the small facial muscles around the brows and this effectively smoothes lines away. It takes two or three days for the lines to fade and the effect typically lasts about four months. BOTOX ® treatments can be repeated as desired.

Presented here is only a short list of procedures offered by plastic surgeons. Although many types of plastic surgery exist, you should be aware that a plastic surgeon is not necessarily an expert in all areas. You should seek a plastic surgeon who specializes in the procedure you are considering for yourself.

Fibromyalgia ve Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

2010-02-24T01:52:00.002-08:00

Chronic fatigue syndrome, or CFS, is a disease named in the 1980s. Although it is not a new disease and doctors referred to it by other names since the 1700’s, it is still the subject of a great deal of controversy. Even now, as increasing numbers of people are being diagnosed with CFS, many still doubt its existence or maintain that it is a psychological ailment. However, several years of research have confirmed that CFS is indeed a physical illness, but one that we do not completely understand. An estimated half a million people in the United States have a CFS-like condition.

What is fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia, or FM, is sometimes referred to as fibrositis. Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder that causes pain and stiffness throughout some body tissues. Most commonly, those tissues support and move the bones and joints. Pain and localized tender points occur in the muscles. A patient feels it particularly in the muscles that support the neck, spine, shoulders, and hips. Signs of fibromyalgia involve widespread pain lasting more than three months, tenderness in at least 11 of 18 tender point sites, fatigue and sleep disturbances, which is why doctors are connecting fibromyalgia to chronic fatigue syndrome.

What is chronic fatigue syndrome?

The hallmark symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome are overwhelming fatigue and weakness that make it extremely difficult to perform routine and daily tasks. Patients experience problems with routine jobs, like getting out of bed, dressing, and eating. The fatigue does not let up after bed rest, as you might think. The illness can severely affect school, work, and leisure activities. It causes physical and emotional symptoms that can last for months or even years. Chronic fatigue syndrome is more common in females than in males. This disorder affects all racial and ethnic groups, but usually strikes people between the ages of 20 and 40. However, it could also occur in teens. A chronic fatigue syndrome illness has also been determined to occur in children under the age of 12. The actual number of children and teens affected by this illness is unknown.

What causes chronic fatigue syndrome?

Unfortunately, doctors do not know the exact cause of chronic fatigue syndrome. Current research is exploring the possibility that people with CFS may have a dysfunction of the immune system. Commonly, these patients have dysfunction of the central nervous system as well. Scientists are also studying various metabolic abnormalities and risk factors. These risk factors are genetic predisposition, age, sex, prior illness, environment, and stress. All these factors may affect the development and course of the disease. Some researchers have suggested that a virus causes chronic fatigue syndrome, but no research prove this theory as of yet. At one time, researchers thought that the Epstein-Barr virus played a role in the development of CFS. However, many people diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome have no evidence of EBV infection. Despite this, a viral cause for CFS is still a suspect. The reason is that symptoms of CFS often mimic a viral infection, such as chronic infectious mononucleosis. Researchers today are hard at work trying to prove a possible viral link to this illness. Other theories suggest there are more factors we could also blame for chronic fatigue syndrome. Those factors are iron-poor blood (anemia), low blood pressure or sugar, environmental allergies, body-wide yeast infections, psychiatric or neurological problems, and endocrine dysfunction.

Symptoms of the chronic fatigue syndrome

Because symptoms of this illness are so vague and can vary widely from person to person, there is now a definition for diagnosing chronic fatigue syndrome. According to that definition, a person must have both severe, chronic fatigue for at least 6 months or longer that is not alleviated by rest (with other known medical conditions having been excluded by a doctor's diagnosis) to be diagnosed with CFS. A patient should also have four or more of the following symptoms: forgetfulness or difficulty concentrating, sore throat, tender lymph nodes in the neck or armpit, and muscle pain or multi-joint pain without swelling. A patient should also have headaches of a new type, pattern, or severity, and un-refreshing sleep and vague feelings of illness or depression after exerting oneself, lasting more than 24 hours following exertion, as well as tiredness lasting longer than 24 hours. In addition, any of these symptoms associated with the fatigue must have occurred for at least six or more months in a row.
Other symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome can include mild fever, blurry vision, chills, night sweats, diarrhea, and fluctuations in appetite and weight.

Diagnosing chronic fatigue syndrome

The truth is chronic fatigue syndrome is hard to diagnose. This is because a single diagnostic test does not exist and there is no identifiable cause of the illness. Another problem is that symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome often mimic other disorders such as viral infections, cardiac disease and neurological illnesses. Doctors first have to make sure that a person’s fatigue and other symptoms are not there because of another illness, a sleep disorder, or hormone problems. It would be much easier to diagnose CSF if doctors would remember that symptoms of CFS often develop suddenly and include a strong, noticeable fatigue that comes and goes or remains for months.

When examining a child, a doctor will be looking to first rule out diseases that appear similar to CFS. In addition to doing a physical examination, the doctor will ask about any concerns and symptoms the patient may have, past health, family health, any medications the child is taking, any allergies the child may have, and other issues. This is medical history, an essential important part of the diagnosing process. Blood tests will help to identify any other possible causes of illness. A child will also probably meet with a psychologist or therapist, who can help assess the symptoms in relation to his or her cognitive skills, concentration, memory, personality, and overall psychological state. This is helpful because chronic fatigue syndrome is often witnessed in people who also have depression or anxiety. In fact, this is why some health professionals mistake CFS for a psychiatric condition.

Treatment of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome

Unfortunately, there is no proven or reliable cure for CFS, although some studies have found that individuals with the best chance of improvement are those who remain as active as possible. People who seek some degree of control over the course of their illness have statistically the best chances of overcoming it. If you suspect that you or your child have CFS, look for a doctor who is willing to consider the problem as a medical condition along with psychiatric symptoms. The doctor should be supportive, concerned, and familiar with the diagnostic process all the time.

Although there is no hard and fast treatment available for CFS, experts say that some lifestyle changes can help. Try to have regular, carefully planned exercise. This will help by providing healing movement, increased energy, and feelings of wellbeing. However, exercise should not be extreme, because people with CFS should always pace themselves while doing any physical activity that requires exertion. Stress management and reduction techniques are also important, teaching strategies for taking control over certain aspects of the illness. A healthy diet, minimizing the symptoms and general discomfort could also improve fybromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Most doctors agree that people with CFS should avoid heavy meals, alcohol, caffeine, and large quantities of junk food that surrounds all of us. Some people find that a registered dietitian or nutritionist can suggest menu plans to help reduce symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome. Acupuncture, massage, stretching, yoga, and tai chi have been helpful for many people suffering from CFS.

In addition to lifestyle changes, sessions with a licensed therapist or counselor or involvement in a support group can help these patients. The main goal of therapy is to help people cope with the limitations brought on by the illness. The goal is also to change negative or unrealistic thoughts or feelings into positive, realistic ones. It can also help children with CFS and their families learn how to deal with academic or social problems brought on by the illness. Common problems are missed school, poor performance, or withdrawal from friends and social situations. Some people with CSF find that antidepressant medications can help ease the symptoms. Pain medications and anti-inflammatory drugs are also beneficial to some individuals.

Coping with chronic fatigue syndrome

CFS is a misunderstood and chronic illness, and feeling well is often a challenge for the patients. Because there is no real treatment for CFS, emotional difficulties such as depression, frustration, anxiety, and helplessness can develop in most patients. To help yourself or your child cope with the emotional symptoms of CFS, you should consider following the advice of the American Academy of Family Physicians: Try encouraging your child to keep a daily diary to identify times when he or she has the most energy, and help plan activities for these times. Have your child’s doctor plan an exercise program to maintain strength at whatever level possible. Beside this, maintaining some level of activity and exercise, within your child’s abilities, can help your child feel better.

signs and Symptoms of Asthma

2010-02-24T01:52:00.001-08:00

In the United States, about 20 million people have been diagnosed with asthma; nearly 9 million of them are children.

Asthma is closely linked to allergies. Most, but not all, people with asthma have allergies. Children with a family history of allergy and asthma are more likely to have asthma. Although asthma affects people of all ages, it most often starts in childhood. More boys have asthma than girls, but in adulthood, more women have asthma than men. Although asthma affects people of all races, African Americans are more likely than Caucasians to be hospitalized for asthma attacks and to die from asthma.

Common asthma symptoms include:

* Coughing. Coughing from asthma is often worse at night or early in the morning, making it hard to sleep.
* Wheezing. Wheezing is a whistling or squeaky sound when you breathe.
* Chest tightness. This can feel like something is squeezing or sitting on your chest.
* Shortness of breath. Some people say they can't catch their breath, or they feel breathless or out of breath. You may feel like you can't get enough air in or out of your lungs.
* Faster breathing or noisy breathing.

Not all people have these symptoms, and symptoms may vary from one asthma attack to another. Symptoms can differ in how severe they are: Sometimes symptoms can be mildly annoying, other times they can be serious enough to make you stop what you are doing, and sometimes symptoms can be so serious that they are life threatening. Symptoms also differ in how often they occur. Some people with asthma have symptoms only once every few months, others have symptoms every week, and still other people have symptoms every day. With proper treatment, however, most people with asthma can expect to have few or no symptoms.

How Is Asthma Diagnosed?

Some things your doctor will ask about include:

* Periods of coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, or chest tightness that come on suddenly, occur often, or seem to happen during certain times of the year or season
* Colds that seem to "go to the chest" or take more than 10 days to get over
* Medicines you may have used to help your breathing
* Your family history of asthma and allergies
* Things that seem to cause your symptoms or make them worse

Your doctor will listen to your breathing and look for signs of asthma or allergies. Your doctor will probably use a device called a spirometer (speh-ROM-et-er) to check how your lungs are working. This test is called spirometry (speh-ROM-eh-tree). The test measures how much air you can blow out of your lungs after taking a deep breath, and how fast you can do it . The results will be lower than normal if your airways are inflamed and narrowed, or if the muscles around your airways have tightened up. As part of the test, your doctor may give you a medicine that helps open narrowed airways to see if the medicine changes or improves your test results.

Spirometry is also used to check your asthma over time to see how you are doing. Spirometry usually cannot be used in children younger than 5 years. If your child is younger than 5 years, the doctor may decide to try medicine for a while to see if the child's symptoms get better. If your spirometry results are normal but you have asthma symptoms, your doctor will probably want you to have other tests to see what else could be causing your symptoms.

These include:

* Allergy testing to find out if and what allergens affect you.
* A test in which you use a peak flow meter every day for 1-2 weeks to check your breathing. A peak flow meter is a hand-held device that helps you monitor how well you are breathing.
* A test to see how your airways react to exercise.
* Tests to see if you have gastroesophageal reflux disease.
* A test to see if you have sinus disease.

Other tests, such as a chest x ray or an electrocardiogram, may be needed to find out if a foreign object or other lung diseases or heart disease could be causing your symptoms. A correct diagnosis is important because asthma is treated differently from other diseases with similar symptoms. Depending on the results of your physical exam, medical history, and lung function tests, your doctor can determine how severe your asthma is. This is important because the severity of your asthma will determine how your asthma should be treated. One way for doctors to classify asthma severity is by considering how often you have symptoms when you are not taking any medicine or when your asthma is not well controlled.

Based on symptoms, the four levels of asthma severity are:

* Mild intermittent (comes and goes)—you have episodes of asthma symptoms twice a week or less, and you are bothered by symptoms at night twice a month or less; between episodes, however, you have no symptoms and your lung function is normal.
* Mild persistent asthma—you have asthma symptoms more than twice a week, but no more than once in a single day. You are bothered by symptoms at night more than twice a month. You may have asthma attacks that affect your activity.
* Moderate persistent asthma—you have asthma symptoms every day, and you are bothered by nighttime symptoms more than once a week. Asthma attacks may affect your activity.
* Severe persistent asthma—you have symptoms throughout the day on most days, and you are bothered by nighttime symptoms often. In severe asthma, your physical activity is likely to be limited.

Anyone with asthma can have a severe attack—even people who have intermittent or mild persistent asthma.

Premature ovarian failure

2010-02-24T01:51:00.003-08:00

If you have been diagnosed with POF, you must feel alone and confused. This is not what you've expected. It might help you to know that there are thousands of other young women who must deal with the same problem too: POF namely affects 1 out of 1000 women between age 15 and 29. The number is even higher for age group 30 to 39: 1 out of 100 women suffer from POF. The average age of onset of POF is 27 years, but it has been diagnosed in girls as young as 14.
In this article we will explain symptoms and consequences of premature ovarian failure, referred later in article as POF, or also known as early menopause. This article was created to help answer your questions about POF, or as some health care providers describe this condition: primary ovarian insufficiency.

What is premature ovarian failure?

Premature ovarian failure (POF) is term that describes a stop in normal functioning of the ovaries in woman under the age of 40. Naturally, many women experience decline in fertility around late 40s or early 50s: this age usually marks the beginning of the onset of menopause. Menopause does not happen overnight: it starts with irregularities in menstrual cycles and this may take several years before 'definite' menopause occurs.
In the past, health care providers called premature ovarian condition premature menopause, but this is not very accurate description of what happens with women with POF. For example, woman who has gone through menopause has no chance of getting pregnant naturally, while woman with POF can still get pregnant. There are some other differences, but we will get back to them later in this article.

Symptoms of POF

The two most common physical symptoms of POF among adolescent women are lack of breast development and lack of menstrual periods.

Most common physical symptoms of POF:
lack of breast development during puberty or decrease in breast size
lack of menstrual periods
vaginal dryness
hot flashes
mood swings
insomnia

Most common psychical symptoms of POF:
depression
anger
sadness
feelings of loss

Is premature ovarian failure the same as early menopause?

As briefly mentioned early in article: no, it is not. Although the symptoms are very similar and POF also was once considered to be a form of early menopause.
There are differences in two conditions:
menopuse occurs as result of aging (results as follicle depletion)
with POF up to 50% of patients may ovulate once in any given year and 5-10% may become pregnant, therefore POF is better understood as follicular dysfunction rather than complete ovarian failure

POF diagnose

POF is diagnosed by blood test to check the hormone level- FSH. In women with POF, FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) is high. This is because women with POF do not produce enough (or right) amounts of estrogen (this is consequence of not having period). Because of low amounts of estrogen, pituitary gland in the brain starts releasing hormone called the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). This hormone sends a signal to the ovaries telling them to start making estrogen. If your ovaries are 'healthy', they will do so, but if you have POF, your ovaries cannot make estrogen, so the amount of FSH in your blood stays high. Hence the correlation between POF and high levels of FSH.

POF treatment

POF is a condition that is usually permanent, but it can be unpredictable, and unfortunately, at this time there are no medical tests that can tell for sure whether your POF condition will be premanent or not.
POF treatment is called hormone replacement therapy (or HRT), because hormones that are necessary for menstrual periods, breast development and healthy bones need to be replaced. The hormones that need to be replaced are estrogen, progesterone, or both.
HRT is available as pills, birth control pills, which also contain estrogen and progesterone, skin patches, shots and vaginal rings. Pills or skin patches are usually the easiest form of HRT to take.
Besides taking detailed clinical histories and performing careful physical evaluations, and undergoing hormone replacement treatment, women with POF should also undergo serum calcium, phosphate and protein determination. This determinations are done for the exclusion of often associated thyroid disease and thyroid antibody determination.
Some women, on the other hand do not want to take pills or injections, or only use them for a short time. If you are one of them, there are other options available. For example, if you have problems with osteoporosis, there are drugs that are used to prevent it or treat it. If vaginal dryness is your concern, use lubricants that can be helpful. However, consult with your doctor what you can do (besides HRT) to manage your POF symptoms.

Fertility issues

Many women with POF, especially those who face it as early as their 20s and 30s have not had the chance to make a decision about having children and find that opportunity denied to them. This can be a shattering experience!
However, 50% of women with POF may ovulate once in any given year and 5-10% may become pregnant! We don't want to raise false hope, but everything is possible. And if the natural way fails, there are many other options if you want to become mother one day.
Women with POF have available fertility treatment if they want to have a baby! First, you should talk to your gynecologist or reproductive endocrinologist can talk to you about this issue and then you'll be given advice based on your specific situation.
One option is called 'In-Vitro Fertilization' (IVF) with donor eggs. IVF is a procedure that involves removing another woman's egg from her ovary, fertilizing it with your partner's sperm, and putting that fertilized egg into your uterus. Then you carry and give birth to the baby. The success rate of the procedure depends on many factors, thus it is important to discuss this with a fertility expert whenever you feel ready to have children.
Another option is adoption. There are many children who need a home and are adopted by couples who can't have their own children.

Important notification about information and brand names used in this article!

# Air Pollution, High-Fat Diet Cause Atherosclerosis in Laboratory Mice

2010-02-24T01:51:00.001-08:00

Test results with laboratory mice show a direct cause-and-effect link between exposure to fine particle air pollution and the development of atherosclerosis, commonly known as hardening of the arteries. Mice that were fed a high-fat diet and exposed to air with fine particles had 1.5 times more plaque production than mice fed the same diet and exposed to clean filtered air.

Plaque, a fatty deposit on the inner lining of the blood vessels, can predispose individuals to conditions such as heart attacks and strokes. The fine particle exposure also led to increased inflammation of the artery walls and reduced function of the artery wall’s inner lining.

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, part of the federal National Institutes of Health, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provided funding to researchers at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and the New York University School of Medicine for the two-year study. The study results are published in the December 21, 2005 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The study showed that the combination of fine particle pollution and high-fat diet can promote the development of atherosclerosis, and may explain why people who live in highly polluted areas have a higher risk of heart disease. The findings are also important because the fine particle concentrations used in the study were well within the range of concentrations found in the air around major metropolitan areas.

The researchers did not observe significant differences in plaque production and artery wall inflammation in fine particle-exposed mice given the normal diet. However, among mice given clean air, those on the high-fat diet had greater plaque production and artery wall inflammation than those given the normal diet. These results suggest that both diet and fine particle pollution contributed to the development of atherosclerosis in the mice.

“This is one of the first studies to demonstrate measurable changes in plaque production and artery inflammation following exposure to fine particle matter,” said NIEHS Director David A. Schwartz, M.D. “These findings have important implications for the long-term impact of fine particle air pollution on urban populations.”

Fine particle pollution consists of microscopic particles of dust and soot less than 2.5 microns in diameter — about thirty times smaller than the width of a human hair. These tiny particles primarily come from motor vehicle exhaust, power plant emissions, and other operations that involve the burning of fossil fuels. Fine particles can travel deep into the respiratory tract, reducing lung function and worsening conditions such as asthma and bronchitis.

To evaluate the effects of fine particle exposure on cardiovascular health, the researchers used mice that were genetically programmed to develop atherosclerosis at a higher-than-normal rate. Half of the mice were placed on a regular diet, while the remaining half received chow with a high fat and calorie content. Mice from both groups were then exposed to either concentrated air particles or clean, filtered air for 6 hours per day, 5 days per week, for a total of 6 months.

Following the exposures, the researchers measured plaque concentration in the aorta, the largest artery in the body. They found that among mice fed the high-fat diet, those exposed to fine particles had plaque concentrations more than 1.5 times higher than those exposed to clean air. “These results suggest that the fine particle exposure is actually accelerating the development of atherosclerosis in the high-fat group,” said Sanjay Rajagopalan, M.D., a vascular medicine specialist and cardiologist with the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and senior author of the study.

Further comparison of the high-fat groups showed that the artery walls of the mice exposed to fine particle pollution were significantly more inflamed than their clean-air counterparts. “We noted a significant increase in the number of inflammatory cells and enzymes in the arteries of the mice exposed to air particles,” said Rajagopalan.

In addition, the fine particles had a measurable effect on the ability of the arteries to dilate, an important indicator of artery wall function. “We found that the constrictive effect of certain stress hormones was increased in the arteries of the particle-exposed mice, while the ability of the arteries to dilate was impaired,” said Rajagopalan. “This suggests the artery function had been compromised.”

According to Rajagopalan, the effects on plaque production and artery wall inflammation were obtained with relatively low exposure concentrations. “The average particle exposure over the course of the study was 15 micrograms per cubic meter, which is typical of the particle concentrations that urban area residents would be exposed to, and well below the federal air quality standard of 65 micrograms per cubic meter in a 24-hour period,” he said.

A number of human population studies have confirmed an association between exposure to airborne particles and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, particularly among those with underlying risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, or prior cardiovascular disease. “These results support the need for additional studies that can identify the underlying mechanisms linking fine particle exposure and atherosclerosis in human populations,” said Rajagopalan.

New Body Art-Body Modification

2010-02-24T01:50:00.000-08:00

Body modification is not a new age hype. Although many people think body art or body modification is a creation of Western civilization, body art has been around since the dawn of man and has player a major part in all Eastern and other cultures. People look at body modification from different perspectives: parents look at it as a form of rebellion, Christians see it as a destruction of a body and thus a sin etc.
While some people consider body modification to be a sign of non-conformity, others see body modification as trend. However, this is not always the case.

What is body art?

Body art is art made on human body. Most common forms of body art are tatoos, piercings, body painting, scarification or branding and scalpelling.
More extreme body art involves mutilation or pushing the body to its physical limits. Example of body mutilation is Lizard man and many other examples, while good example of pushing the body to its physical limits would be Marina Abramovic's works involved dancing until she collapsed from exhaustion.
As such expression, body art often appears as sub-category of performance art, where artists (ab)use their own body to make particular statements.

Tattoos

Tattoo is a injected ink into a person's skin, commonly via needle, which forms a picture or a design. In technical terms, tattooing is dermal pigmentation, since the ink is injected in dermis, the second layer of the skin.
Tattoos have been used ornamentally and religiously by humans for thousands of years, despite having social stigma, as many other body modifications. Tattoos are used on humans and animals- on humans as a form of body modification, while in animals for identification.
Tattooing has been practiced worldwide for thousands and thousands of years, and despite some taboos following tattooing, like tattoos are worn by sailors, motorcyclers and some other 'lower' classes, the art of tattooing is still popular all over the world.

Piercings

Piercing is puncturing any part of the body in order to add jewelry or ornamentation. This jewelry or ornamentation is also simply called 'piercing'. People practice piercings from cultural or religious reasons. However, in Western world body piercings are used mostly for ornamental, and also for sexual reasons.
What body parts can be pierced? Almost every body parts- from the most common ear piercings (which are by my opinion even not considered as body art), to nose, tongue, lips, brows, navels, nipples, genitals, pocketing, etc.
Ear piercing has been the most popular, and has existed continuously since ancient time. I western culture ear piercing seems most conventional, even among men, which is the case from late 60s, while in non-western cultures ear piercing has always been practised by men.
Today, in Western culture, single or multiple piercing of either or both ears is extremely common among women and fairly common among men.

Body painting

Body painting is one of the oldest forms of body art. Unlike tatoos, body painting is temporary and lasts only several hours, or in case of henna tatoo, two to three weeks.
Form of body painting, expressed only on face, is known as face painting and is very popular for special occasions, like festivals etc. Most recognizable example of face paining is among clowns.
And do women paint their faces everyday? Yes, they do. We could hardy call this an art, but subdued forms of face paints for everyday occasions evolved into the cosmetics we know today.

Scarification or branding

Scarification or branding is permanent body modification that uses scar tissue to form pictures, words, designs in the skin. Scarification is not a precise art: the type of scarification depends on the skin type, depth of the cut, healing process, etc. During the healing process scars spread and their shape cannot be predicted exactly. For that reason scarifications are very simple designs without any details, since they can be easily swallowed during the healing process. Scarification is a body modification where body, and not artist, creates its own 'art'.
Scarification has been often used as a rite of passage in adolescence, or in some cultures the willingness of a woman to receive scarification shows her maturity and willingness to bear children.
Scarification is still common among Australian Aboriginal tribes, which seems reasonable, since compared to tattoos, which is often not visible on darker skin, scarifications is much more evident.
Branding is a type of scarification, which has been historically used to mark slaves and criminals. The brand was usually visible (on neck, hand) and was often letter-coded to reflect the crime.

Scalpelling

Scalpelling is a form of body art, very similar to body piercing, and is most commonly used as replacement for ear piercing. Scalpelling is performed with a scalpel and can produce holes with a larger diameter than can be achieved by piercing, which is typically performed with a hollow piercing needle or machine specifically designed for ear piercing. Since the hole, produced by scalpelling is larger, also larger can be accommodated in the hole.
Negative side effect of scalpelling is that hole created by the process is less likely to close naturally over time, but can be closed with some surgical procedures.
Scalpelling is most often used on earlobes, although theoretically it can be used to grow on almost every part of the body. Scalpelling is fairly new body modification technique, although it is more and more popular among younger population, especially in Europe.

Body Art as Art and Development

In western culture body art became subcategory of art, in which artists use their (own) bodies in order to make specific statement. With the development of new technologies, artists, and not only them, but also doctors and other members of society are trying to bring human body in symbiosis with technological development: body in symbiosis with implants and/ or new technologies. New approach in body art is opening with the absence of body.

Relationship end- Caught unprepared

2010-02-24T01:49:00.002-08:00

I love you, but not like that, more like a friend. I though it will go away, and this is just one of my phases, but it is not. I can't live like that. It's not honest. Not for you, not for me. Everything turned into routine and I hate it!
I really thought I loved you- I wasn't lying when I said those words. If I could force myself to love you till the end of my life, I would, cos the last thing I wanna do is hurt you. You've been my best friend for the past 3 years... but I can't live like this. I thought I can, but I can't. I am sorry... “
Heard those words? And caught unprepared? Don't worry! It is not the end of the world! We will help you get through this!
Read on!

Feelings...

First of all, lets analyze feeling that occur when relationship ends. Of course, there are no right or wrong feelings, we are all unique, but still: there are just feeling that typically occur when relationship ends. All these feelings are 'normal' and actually necessary to the process of healing so that we can move on and engage in other relationships.
Loss. Yes, relationship end is a loss- you loose all your dreams of future love life. It hurts!
Sadness. Sadness for we have suffered a great loss.
Denial. This is not happening to me!

Self-blame. We blame ourselves that we didn't do that, we should have done that. It is not that simple...
Guilt. We feel guilty for loosing relationship, especially if we end relationship. We don't want to hurt our partner, and yet we don't want to stay in a relationship that has no future. It is not easy for noone.

Fear. Fear of new feelings, fear of future, fear of sleeping alone, fear of not being loved again, fear that we may never survive our loss.
Confusion. Our world has collapsed. We are not who we thought we were.
Hope. We hope that partner will return, that the parting is only temporary. Accept the truth and hope for better day for yourself, not for relationship.
Bargaining. We plead. “Don't go!”
Relief. Relief that pain, fighting and routine has come to the end.

Before you forget- you must grieve and forgive

Grieving and forgiving takes time. For most the hardest step in dealing with grief and loneliness.
According to all psychotherapists it is very important to allow time for adequate grieving, not just in terms of ending relationship, but in terms of great loss.

Bob Carver, psychotherapist in Dallas, Texas, states, "When any relationship ends, friendship, kinship, or a male/female relationship, it is important to grieve that ending. Allowing adequate time to evaluate what was right and wrong about the relationship is of great significance for the next relationship. Don't go from one bad relationship to another without doing this."

And yes, he is right! Stepping into new relationship without understanding failure of previous one cannot result in success.
Carver continues, "A friendship or any other relationship fails because of three things:

* Unexpressed expectations,
* Undelivered communication
* And/or thwarted attention."

Breath in- breathe out

First of all know- it is nobody's fault. It is hard, but perhaps it is the best thing it could happen to you- you just don't that yet. It might take some time to accept the fact that the relationship has ended, but this is a perfect opportunity to learn more about yourself, to meat your old friends, and do the things you always wanted to do, but didn't have the time.
Here are also few advices what to do when relationship comes to end, you might find helpful:
Talk to someone you trust. At times like this you need either someone that will listen to you or someone's shoulder to cry on. It is essential for you to get some emotional support from someone you trust and work through how you're feeling. You may find it helpful to talk to your friends, sister or brother, parents, doctor or counsellor or someone else you trust.
Keep busy. Be active and do things you enjoy doing. They will help you keep your mind off the break up. Hang out with your friends, listen to music, attain sport activities or cultural activities, read a good book - do whatever you enjoy doing.
Try something new. Something you always wanted to do, but didn't really have the time. I am sure there are things and activities like that. For example: take diving class, or drama class, if your wish were to become an actor/actress; or singing classes, learn how to play a guitar. There are so many things you need to learn. Follow Mahatma Gandhi: “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever!” Beautiful worlds, aren't they? Actualize them!
Look after yourself. I know these are times you would want to feel sorry for yourself and pour gallons of alcohol and forget about the world around you, but behavior like that does not lead you nowhere. It is difficult times – and this is one reason more to look after yourself. Eat healthy and combine that with exercising. Treat yourself with saunas and massages, manicures and pedicures, or simply just with a pierce of cake. Do what you love doing- all that matters is that you're having fun.
Practice healthy avoidance. Avoid seeing or interacting with your former partner, and most important - avoid excess in the use of alcohol, food, and medications. The first impression may be you are reducing emotional pain, but you are actually setting up to continue it for a longer time. Calling your former partner to relieve the pain is simply continuing the connection where your recovery will be destined to start over and over again. Don't do that.
Smile again! You are OK and you will survive! Think about the person you were before relationship, about all the people that respect you and think high of you. Think about your friend and achievements! Think about people you love and all the people in this world that love you!

Remember, not all love matches work forever. Although this might be initial hope when starting relationship, relationship is path of inquiry- looking for a life partner. There is no guarantee there will be one. This is life -as cruel as it might sound, or as cruel as it might be. Ups and downs are simply part of this great big mess. And after rain, there is always sun! It is, it really is. You just don't see it! Not yet. Give yourself time and most of all rely on yourself. You will survive! You always did!

# Alternative Treatment Strategy for Common, Complex Skin Disorders and Asthma

2010-02-24T01:49:00.001-08:00

A genetic finding by researchers at the National Institutes of Health provides new insight into the cause of a series of related, common and complex illnesses – including hay fever and asthma as well as the skin disorders eczema and psoriasis – and suggests a novel therapeutic approach. These illnesses are essentially inflammatory disorders of the tissues that separate the inside of the body from the outside world, such as the skin and the linings of the throat and lungs.

In the May issue of The Journal of Clinical Investigation, researchers from the National Human Genome Research Institute, the National Eye Institute, and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, all part of the National Institutes of Health, report that excessive production of a specific protein disrupts the protective properties of the skin barrier. Once the skin barrier is compromised, immune-system-stimulating chemicals — allergens — can enter the body and cause an inflammatory reaction that, in turn, stimulates skin cells to grow rapidly, further diminishing the protective function of the skin. The compromised barrier, in turn, becomes more porous to allergens that then stimulate more inflammation in a cycle that eventually produces common skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema.

It may, however, be possible to break the cycle by creating a temporary, artificial barrier on the skin that blocks incoming allergens. The solution could be as simple as developing a lotion that effectively blocks allergens from getting through damaged skin. Keeping allergens out of the skin would keep the immune system from over-stimulating cell growth, giving the skin time to re-create a normal barrier. Current therapies for these skin conditions principally focus on suppressing the immune system, but the medicines used can produce undesired side-effects.

“The human body is an incredibly complex system,” said Elias A. Zerhouni, M.D., director of the National Institutes of Health. “Only by conducting this kind of basic research can we hope to understand the causes of complex diseases. And only by understanding disease can we produce a future in which we can predict who is at risk, pre-empt the illness from ever occurring and personalize the treatment when it does.”

Several recent studies have suggested that defects in the skin barrier may be as important to eczema and psoriasis as the hyperactive response of the immune system. In addition, doctors have observed that individuals with eczema are also likely to develop hay fever and asthma, suggesting a common mechanism for both disorders. The other risk factor for these conditions is having a relative with the disorder, suggesting a genetic connection.

To test whether a defective skin barrier can actually produce these diseases, a team of NIH researchers focused on a specific gene called connexin 26, which makes a protein that forms connections between skin cells that create the normal barrier. When the skin is intact, the production of connexin 26 is turned off once there is enough to hook all the skin cells together. When skin is damaged by a cut or a scrape, connexin 26 is produced while new skin cells reproduce and heal the wound. Researchers have shown that connexin 26 production is turned on in the sore skin of people with psoriasis, but it wasn’t clear what role connexin 26 played in the disorder.

To determine connexin 26’s role in psoriasis, NIH researchers created a line of transgenic mice that over-produce connexin 26. The resulting mice develop psoriatic-type skin sores, just like humans with psoriasis.

“This discovery demonstrates the power of animal models to unravel complex conditions of medical importance,” said Eric D. Green, M.D., Ph.D., NHGRI’s scientific director and the director of the institute’s Division of Intramural Research, where the research was conducted. “Our current abilities to rapidly create new genetically altered animal models allow researchers to move from conception of an idea to its implementation at an incredible pace.”

The discovery broadens the basic understanding of the causes of skin disorders such as psoriasis and eczema, and may well contribute to the basic understanding of asthma and hay fever, conditions that arise when allergens penetrate the tissue barrier in the lungs and nose, respectively.

“Hopefully, this will help us understand the complex genetics of psoriasis,” said Julia A. Segre, Ph.D., an investigator in NHGRI’s Genetics and Molecular Biology Branch and the senior author on the paper. “Previous genetic studies have focused on the genes that regulate immune response. We are now examining the effect of genes that are involved in both regulating the growth of skin cells and signaling to the immune cells.”

The problem causing these related disorders may simply be the body over-reacting to an allergen getting through the barrier that is supposed to block it. “The skin goes into a stress response and overcompensates by trying to rebuild the barrier too fast, actually becoming less effective,” Dr. Segre said. “The skin cells grow so fast that they fail to make a normal barrier, and the body is stimulating the immune response because of material (chemicals and allergens) coming through the barrier.”

Understanding the genetics of skin disorders may well have important implications for more serious illnesses, such as asthma. It is not uncommon for a family doctor to face the dilemma of a child who has eczema and then having to decide how aggressively to treat the disease. Eczema is not particularly dangerous, but children presenting with eczema commonly go on to develop asthma, which severely compromises quality of life and in rare cases can be lethal. Treating eczema with immune-suppressing drugs, which may also prevent asthma from developing, may cause undesirable side effects.

The genetic studies suggest that researchers now need to focus on both turning down the immune response, as well as restoring a normal skin barrier to keep the outside world out of the body.

“The barrier function of epithelial surfaces is important in all tissues that have contact with the outside world. In addition to the skin and respiratory tract, it includes the gastrointestinal tract, and the ocular surface,” said Ali Djalilian, M.D., formerly a research fellow and medical officer at the National Eye Institute but now at the University of Illinois in Chicago, and the lead author of the paper. “These findings underline the importance of this barrier function and suggests a new strategy for restoring it in human diseases.”

What is albinism?

2010-02-24T01:47:00.000-08:00

Albinism is a hereditary condition that results that results from the bodies inability to produce adequate amounts of the dark brown pigment called eumelanin that gives the skin its tan and the iris and the hair its color.

What different forms of albinism exist?

The most well-known form of albinism is oculocutaneous albinism, with its most severe form being called Oculocutaneous Albinism type I. Patients who suffer from this condition are completely unable to produce eumelanin and have therefore very white or pinkish skin, white hair and red eyes independently from their ethnicity. The condition is due to a defect in the gene that encodes for the enzyme tyrosinase. Tyrosinase catalyzes the last step in the synthesis of eumelanin.

Oculocutaneous Albinism Type II, is due to a defect in a gene that regulates the production of tyrosinase, called OCA2. Depending on its residual activity, patient with Oculocutaneous Albinism Type II, can appear like Type I patients completely without pigment, or they can have lightly colored skin and hair. Moles can also be pigmented, and the eye color ranges from red to blue and hazel. Both forms of albinism also have characteristic vision problems.

Patients have significantly reduced acuity, are often cross-eyed (a symptom that is called strabismus), have a refractive error and astigmatism, an involuntary movement of the eyes called nystagmus, and an increased sensitivity to light and glare called photophobia.

In contrast to theses two forms of albinism that affect the skin, hair and the eyes, ocular albinism affects mainly the eyes. Patients with ocular albinism can have skin and hair that is lighter colored than the average of their ethnicity, but it is usually within the normal range.

Ocular albinism is an X-linked hereditary disease which means that most females who carry the defective gene do not know that they carry this genetic defect since they have a functioning copy of the gene on the other X-chromosomes and therefore have little or no symptoms. 50-80% of female carriers, however, have mottled pigmentation of the retina that can be detected in an eye examination. Female carriers can also have depigmented areas on their skin, but they never have the other eye symptoms like macular hypoplasia and transillumination of the iris.

Males have only one X-chromosome. Therefore they will develop the disease, if they have inherited a X-chromosome with the defective version of the gene.

What are the symptoms of ocular albinism?

The eye color appears normal in patients with ocular albinism at first glance. However, on further examination by a specialist the iris turns out to be able to let light through. This is called iris transillumination. In healthy people, independently of their eye color, the iris epithelium contains a dark layer of eumelanin, rendering the iris impenetrable to light.

In ocular albinism patients, the fundus of the eye which is the inner side of the back part of the eyeball is blonde, or too light in color. The most severe defect is in the fovea centralis, the small part of the retina that is responsible for the acuity of central part of the picture we see. The fovea is not completely developed in patients with ocular albinisms. This is also the case for patient with other forms of albinism like oculocutaneous albinism of either Type I or II.

Scientists believe that normal pigment is needed in the eye for the correct development of the fovea during the development of the child in the womb. The malformation of the fovea that is seen in albinism is called macular hypoplasia. Another malformation found in different forms of albinism including ocular albinism is that the nerves from the eye that in healthy person connect to the same half of the brain and the other half in equal parts, cross over to the other half of the brain to a much larger extend than normal.

The skin is also affected in people with ocular albinism. The cells in the skin produce enlarged granules with pigment in them called macromelanosoms. However, this might only be visible by microscope. The skin of people with ocular albinism is more sensitive to the sun and other sources of UV-radiation.

How is ocular albinism treated?

The treatment for ocular albinism is symptomatically. This means the treatment aims at the symptoms rather than the cause, since the cause is a genetic defect that leads to malformations in the early development of the eye before birth. Treatment consists of regular eye exams, corrective lenses for the refractive error and astigmatism and treatment of the strabismus, as it can lead to further vision loss, if left untreated. Corrective lenses can be in the form of glasses or contact lenses. In more severe cases, glasses with small telescopes mounted on the lenses or hand held telescopes can improve the results. If the vision fields of the eyes cross (strabismus), the brain receives a double picture. To be able to interpret this picture, the brain disregards the information from one of the eyes. This can lead to permanent vision loss in this eye. Early treatment of strabismus with eye drops, patches, or corrective eye surgery are therefore very important to preserve the vision in both eyes. Therapy to facilitate and stimulate vision development in infants and toddlers is also important. Protecting the skin from the harmful effect of the sun and other UV-radiation sources by staying out of the sun as much as possible, covering the skin with light clothing and applying sun tan lotion with a high sun protection factor can help avoiding permanent damage to the skin.

Extended Sexual Pleasure for Women through Tantra

2010-02-24T01:42:00.000-08:00

In an earlier lesson, we explored the concept of tantric sex to keep both you and your partner in the moment. In this lesson, you'll learn how tantric sex can provide extreme pleasure for the woman.

Moving toward what is known as "the wave of bliss" in tantric sex involves expanding extreme sensual pleasure by using breathing and visualization techniques. When this state is achieved, the act of sex becomes a whole new experience, leading to multiple orgasms without stress, strain or worry (or the need to "get there or fail").

To move your woman toward this state, prepare your lover either
through a sensory awakening practice or massage. Stroke her entire body with love and care, keeping in mind that the slow, delicate touch heightens arousal.

Once she is aroused, rub almond oil over her genitals. Gently play with her pubic hair and carefully explore her nether. Take everything slowly, pay attention to her body and to what she tells you as you continue rousing and sating her in turns...

The ultimate goal of this lesson is to help your female partner gain and maintain a high level of arousal, thus helping her achieve multiple orgasms with maximum enjoyment and little effort.

Shopping As Therapy: Good Health Comes In Small Packages

2010-02-10T11:44:00.000-08:00

"Certainly, we're all aware of how shopping means different things to different people at different times," writes author Paco Underhill in his book, Why We Buy: The Science of Shopping.

Underhill is a unique researcher who, for almost 20 years, has used the tools of the anthropologist to study people in retail environments. "We use shopping as therapy, reward, bribery, pastime, as an excuse to get out of the house, as a way to troll for potential loved ones, as entertainment, as a form of education or even worship, as a way to kill time," he says. As Underhill's studies have made clear, shopping meets a variety of needs.

"I love to take my favorite catalogs, after they arrive in the mail, and curl up in bed for an hour or two before I go to sleep. I turn down pages with items I like on them, imagining what it would be like to own them," says one woman from Rochester, New York.

"Buying stuff for the grandchildren gives me a new lease on life," says a grandmother in Fairfax, Virginia.

"I remember going to the local variety store with my mom. She would buy stuff we didn't really need, little things…a little reward system against the annoyances/disturbances of life," recalls a keenly perceptive daughter.

Shopping Lifts Spirits
Whatever the motivator, shopping, in contrast to buying, lifts our spirits. It makes us feel better about ourselves and our place in the universe. It is a form of therapy. It is good to occasionally reward or affirm yourself with a purchase. Shopping is an easy way to assert self-worth, one of the simplest ways, says Judith Mueller, executive director of the internationally known resource, The Women's Center in Vienna, Virginia.

A classic example is the purchase of bath salts and perfumed oils, the ingredients of a personally pampering and perhaps luxurious spa experience. It takes some thought. It's affordable and there is an investment of time, Mueller explains. All the steps are important.

Ten Little-Known Sexual Dysfunction Facts

2010-02-10T11:43:00.002-08:00

Sexual problems occur in 43 percent of American women.

Sexual problems occur in 31 percent of American men.

About 10 percent of women have never had an orgasm.

Painful intercourse has been experienced by almost two out of three women at some time in their lives.

It is common for breast-feeding women to have inadequate vaginal lubrication.

About 15 percent of postmenopausal women experience a decrease in their sexual desire.

The success rate for women's orgasmic dysfunction treatment by sex therapists tends to range from 65 percent to 85 percent.

About 22 percent of women experience low sexual desire (compared to 5 percent of men).

Some 21 percent of men experience premature ejaculation.

A woman's level of androgen (a hormone that develops and maintains masculine characteristics) typically falls 50 percent during and after menopause (but it's unclear whether the drop translates into decreased sex drive in a large percentage of women).

Sources: National Library of Medicine; National Women's Health Resource Center; Journal of the American Medical Association

Orgasm

2010-02-10T11:43:00.001-08:00

Orgasm is the sudden discharge of accumulated sexual tension resulting in rhythmic muscular contractions in the pelvic region that produce intensely pleasurable sensations followed by rapid relaxation. Orgasm is also in part a psychological experience of pleasure and abandon, when the mind is focused solely on the personal experience. It is sometimes called climaxing or coming.

In Masters and Johnson's original research of the human sexual response cycle, orgasm is the third of four stages, occurring after the plateau phase and before the resolution phase. Another widely accepted model of the sexual response cycle, developed by Helen Singer Kaplan, M.D., PhD., involves just three stages: desire, excitement and orgasm.

Orgasms vary from person to person and for each individual at different times. Sometimes orgasm is an explosive, amazing rush of sensations, while others are milder, subtler, and less intense. The differences in intensity of orgasms can be attributed to physical factors, such as fatigue and length of time since last orgasm, as well as to a wide range of psychosocial factors, including mood, relation to partner, activity, expectations, and feelings about the experience.

Orgasm — A Total Body Response
There are several physiological components of orgasm. First, orgasm is a total body response, not just a pelvic event. Brain wave patterns have shown distinct changes during orgasm, and muscles in many different areas of the body contract during this phase of sexual response. Some people experience the involuntary contraction of facial muscles resulting in what looks like a grimace or an expression of discomfort or displeasure, but it is actually an indication of high sexual arousal.

The most characteristic physical feature of orgasm is the sensation produced by the simultaneous rhythmic contractions of the pubococcygeus muscle (pc muscle). Along with contractions of the anal sphincter, rectum and perineum, the uterus and outer third of the vagina (the orgasmic platform) for women, and the ejaculatory ducts and muscles around the penis for men, this constitutes the reflex of orgasm.

The first few contractions are intense and close together, occurring at about 0.8-second intervals. As orgasm continues, the contractions diminish in intensity and duration and occur at less frequent intervals.

Orgasm Differences Between Men and Women
Despite the anatomical differences between male and female genitals, orgasms in men and women are physiologically and psychologically, or subjectively, very similar.

In fact, studies have been done in which "experts" could not reliably determine gender when reading descriptions of orgasms with all anatomical references removed.

Women have described the sensations of orgasm as beginning with a sense of suspension, quickly followed by an intensely pleasurable feeling that usually begins at the clitoris and spreads throughout the pelvis. The genitals are often described as becoming warm, electric or tingly, and these physical sensations usually spread through some portion of the body. Most women also feel muscle contractions in their vagina or lower pelvis, often described as "pelvic throbbing".

The subjective feeling of orgasm in men has been described quite consistently as beginning with the sensation of deep warmth or pressure that corresponds to ejaculatory inevitability, the point when ejaculation cannot be stopped. It is then felt as sharp, intensely pleasurable contractions involving the pc muscles, anal sphincter, rectum, perineum and genitals. Some men describe this part as a sensation of pumping. Finally, a warm rush of fluid or a shooting sensation describes the actual process of semen travelling through the urethra during ejaculation.

It is important to note that orgasm and ejaculation are not one in the same event. Although they typically occur together, a man may have an orgasm without ejaculating.

A major difference between the female and the male orgasmic phase is that far more women than men have the physical capability to have one or more additional orgasms within a short time without dropping below the plateau of sexual arousal.

Being multi-orgasmic depends on both continued stimulation and sexual interest. Because neither of these is present every time for most women, multiple orgasms do not occur with every sexual encounter.

On the other hand, upon ejaculation, men enter a recovery phase called the refractory period. During this time, further orgasm or ejaculation is physiologically impossible. However, some men can learn to have an orgasm without ejaculating, thereby making it possible to experience multiple orgasms.

Marriage and Sex

2010-02-10T11:41:00.000-08:00

If you're married or thinking about getting married, at some point or another you've wondered what better sex in marriage would be like or how sex in marriage could be improved.

Keeping the sexual spark alive in a marriage or in a long-term relationship is easier said than done. However, couples who take time to cultivate and maintain healthy and satisfying sexual relations tend to be more connected with each other and do not suffer from depression, heart problems and other health maladies, experts say.

The daily routines of life — whether careers, children or financial responsibilities — challenge couples to keep alive that flame that initially brought them together. From a practical standpoint, there's less time for sex and intimacy as relationships develop and individual partners take on more responsibilities.

Furthermore, aging brings on a host of physical conditions that can affect life in the bedroom. These include sexual dysfunction, cardiovascular conditions, arthritis and rheumatism, and a host of other problems.

Whatever the reasons for brewing trouble in the bedroom — whether emotional or physical in nature — the good news is that many such problems are easily treated. Moreover, troubles in a couple's sexual relationship are often signs of other problems, and can serve as a warning sign for still bigger troubles ahead.

"A good sex life is an important part of an individual's overall health," says Mark Schoen, Ph.D., director of sex education for the Sinclair Intimacy Institute. "People who have a good sex life feel better [mentally and physically]."

"Sex can be a wonderful cementer or a terrible wedge" for relationships, says Dr. Linda Banner, Ph.D., a licensed sex therapist specializing in marriage and relationship counseling and a researcher associated with Stanford University Medical School.

Adults Have Sex 61 Times a Year
Adults, on average, have sex about 61 times per year, or slightly more than once a week, according to University of Chicago's National Opinion Research Center. Marital status and age are key influences in sexual activity.

Sexual activity is 25 percent to 300 percent greater for married couples versus the non-married, depending on age. The 1998 University of Chicago report that compiled available sex research also concluded that intercourse is more frequent among couples in happier marriages.

Warm Chicken & Cream Pasta Salad

2010-02-10T11:40:00.003-08:00

Ingredients:
- 250g Natural Alternative Rice and Corn Penne
- 300g chicken breast fillets
- 1/4 cup Healthy Life Olive Oil
- 1/2 sliced brown onion
- 1 crushed garlic clove
- 150g chopped semi-dried tomatoes
- 1/4 teaspoon chilli flakes
- 200ml pure cream
- A pinch of ground nutmeg
- 50g baby rocket

Method:
1- Cook penne until tender in a saucepan of lightly salted boiling water. Drain.
2- Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Add chicken. Cook for 4-5 minutes or until cooked through. Remove from pan and allow to rest for 5 minutes. Thinly slice.
3- Heat remaining oil in frying pan over medium heat. Add onion. Cook until onion is soft. Add garlic, tomatoes, nutmeg and chilli. Cook for a further 2 minutes.
4- Add cream, stirring until mixture thickens.
5- Place pasta, chicken and rocket in a dish. Pour onion mixture over the top, toss to combine.

Very Berry Organic Apple Crumble

2010-02-10T11:40:00.001-08:00

Ingredients:
- 3 large apples
- 30g butter
- 150g sugar
- Pinch of cinnamon
- 40g blueberries
- 40g raspberries
Crumble:
- 100g wholemeal flour
- 100g Healthy Life Rolled Oats
- 100g butter
- 100g brown sugar

Method:
1- Preheat oven to 200C
2- Peel, core and thickly slice the apples
3- In a pan heat the butter and than add apples and cook gently.
4- Stir through the sugar and cinnamon until the apples are softened. Remove from heat and gently stir through the blackberries and raspberries
5- Cut the butter into small pieces.
6- In a mixing bowl, combine the wholemeal flour, rolled oats, butter and sugar by rubbing the ingredients together until they form a course crumble.6. Pour the fruit into an ovenproof dish and spread the crumble evenly on top.
7- Cook for around 15/20 minutes until topping is browned. Serve with low fat ice-cream.

Tuna, Tomato And Pasta Salad

2010-02-10T11:39:00.004-08:00

Ingredients:
- 250g Natural Alternative Buckwheat Pasta
- 120g feta cheese.
- ¼ tsp dried chilli flakes
- 2 tbs Healthy Life Olive Oil
- 1 garlic clove, crushed
- ½ tsp caster sugar
- 1 cup basil leaves
- 1 punnet red cherry tomatoes

Method:
1- Cook the pasta in a saucepan of boiling salted water until tender.
2- Add the feta to a bowl and sprinkle with chilli flakes, season with sea salt and pepper and lightly toss.
3- Heat oil in a frypan, add tomato and garlic and stir gently over medium heat.
4- Add sugar and cook for approximately 3 minutes.
5- Add to chilli feta mix.
6- Reheat the buckwheat pasta quickly in boiling water, drain, then toss with chilli feta and tomato mixtures.
7- Add basil leaves and serve

Tomato & Chilli Buckwheat Pasta

2010-02-10T11:39:00.003-08:00

Spaghetti Bolognese

2010-02-10T11:39:00.001-08:00

Ingredients:
- Natural Alternative Gluten Free Spaghetti
- 500g lean beef mince
- 1 tablespoon Healthy Life Olive Oil
- 2 onions
- two cloves of garlic crushed
- 1 green capsicum
- 50g tomato concentrate
- 1 can of chopped tomatoes
- one glass (125ml) red wine
- 200 grams mushrooms chopped roughly
- 100 grams kalamata olives pitted
- 2 tablespoons oregano
- 1 teaspoon of fresh basil
- Ground black pepper to taste

Method:
1- In a heavy based pot heat the olive oil until it bubbles when you put a wooden spoon into it.
2- Chop onions up (not too finely) and cook in the hot olive oil with the crushed garlic until the onion browns.
3- Add the mince meat and capsicum and stir until the meat has no large clumps in it and is browned.
4- Stir through the can of chopped tomatoes and tomato paste. Pour in the red wine and bring the sauce to boil for a couple of minutes.
5- Add in the mushrooms and olives and stir through carefully to avoid breaking the mushrooms.
6- Sprinkle the oregano and basil into the sauce and season with black pepper.
7- Cover the pot and cook on low temperature for an hour. Before serving make sure there is still
enough liquid in the sauce, and add more red wine if needed.

Pasta:
Cook the pasta for approximately 12 minutes or untill the pasta is still firm but soft to eat.
Drain the pasta in a colander and serve into bowls.
Spoon the hot sauce over the top of the pasta and sprinkle with fresh parmesan cheese.
Any left over Bolognese sauce can be frozen, or keep in the fridge for up to two days.

Red Cherry Rocky Road

2010-02-10T11:38:00.006-08:00

Ingredients:
- 85g (1 cup) desiccated coconut
- 115g (1 cup) Healthy Life Walnut Pieces, roughly chopped
- 400gms dark Belgium chocolate
- 30g copha, finely chopped
- 250gms marshmallows
- 100gms red glace cherries chopped

Method:
1- In a small pan cook coconut over low heat until lightly toasted. Allow to cool.
2- In a small pan cook the walnuts until lightly toasted. Allow to cool.
3- Melt chocolate and copha in a bowl over boiling water. Stir frequently until smooth.
4- Add the coconut, walnuts and marshmallows into the melted chocolate. Carefully mix in the chopped cherries.
5- Line a 16.5cm x 26xm pan with baking paper and pour the mixture into pan.
6- Allow to set in the fridge for 2 hours. Cut into squares.
Rocky Road will keep in the fridge covered for up to one week.

Prawn & Kalamata Pasta

2010-02-10T11:38:00.005-08:00

Ingredients:
- 250g Natural Alternative Rice Spiral Pasta
- 400g jar tomato basil and oregano pasta sauce
- 10 kalamata olives, pitted, halves
- 1 tsp finely grated lemon rind
- 1 garlic clove, Finely chopped
- 14 medium cooked prawns, peeled, deveined
- 2 tbs chopped fresh basil
- 1-1/2 tbs chopped fresh continental parsley

Method:
1- Cook the pasta in a saucepan of boiling salted water until just cooked. Drain
2- Bring sauce to a simmer over medium heat. Add olives, lemon rind and garlic, and simmer for 5 minutes. Add prawns, basil and parsley, and cook for I minute. Remove from heat.
3- Divide pasta among bowls. Pour over pasta sauce and serve.

Grilled Lamb Cutlets With Quinoa Tabouleh

2010-02-10T11:38:00.003-08:00

Ingredients:
- 6 small lamb cutlets
- ½ tbs Healthy Life Olive Oil
- 1 clove of garlic
- 1 teaspoon of lemon juice
- cracked black pepper.
Quinoa Tabouleh
- ½ cup quinoa
- 1 cup parsley, roughly chopped
- ½ cup fresh mint, roughly chopped
- 2 tbsp Healthy Life Sesame Seeds, toasted
- 1 cup fresh tomatoes, finely chopped
- 1½ tbsp Healthy Life Olive Oil
- ½ lemon juiced
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed

Method:
1- Trim the fat from the lamb and brush each side with a mixture of olive oil, garlic, lemon juice and cracked black pepper. Set aside at room temperature.
2- Thoroughly rinse and drain the quinoa in cold water.
Quinoa Tabouleh
1- Place the quinoa in a pan with one cup of water and a pinch of sea salt and bring the water to the boil.
2- Reduce the heat to simmer, cover the pan and cook for 15 minutes, set aside to cool.
3- Combine the herbs, sesame seeds, and tomatoes through the quinoa.
4- Mix through the olive oil, lemon juice and garlic together and stir through the salad.

- Grill the lamb for 4 to 6 minutes each side depending on their thickness and how you like it and serve with the quinoa tabouleh.
Serves 2

Chocolate Self-Saucing Pudding

2010-02-10T11:38:00.001-08:00

Ingredients:
- 180g sugar free Sweetlife Chocolate Fudge Brownie bake mix
- 125g cream cheese
- 30g sour cream
- 3 eggs (50g each) separated
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons Healthy Life Almond Meal

Method:
Preheat oven to 180ºC.
Chocolate Sauce
1. Spoon 2 tablespoons sugar free Sweetlife Chocolate Fudge Brownie bake mix into a small bowl. Stir in 2 tablespoons boiling water and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract. Set aside.
Chocolate Mixture
1- Beat cream cheese, sour cream, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract & egg yolks until pale.
2- Add almond meal and the remaining bake mix to egg yolk mixture. Combine on a low speed then beat on a high speed for 2 minutes.
3- In a separate bowl beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Add ¼ of the beaten egg whites into the chocolate mixture to loosen. Gently fold in the remaining egg white.
4- Divide the chocolate sauce into 6 ovenproof dishes (150 ml capacity). Top with chocolate mixture (3 rounded dessert spoons per dish). Slowly pour 1 tablespoon of boiling water over the back of a large metal spoon to cover each pudding. Place each dish on an oven tray.
5- Bake for 10 minutes at 180ºC, reduce temperature to 150ºC & bake for 15-20 minutes. Puddings should bounce back when pressed gently in the centre. Serve hot with berries.

Bolognese Lasagne

2010-02-10T11:37:00.003-08:00

Ingredients:
- 60g butter
- ¼ cup plain flour
- 450ml milk
- 500g prepared bolognese sauce
- 9 Natural Alternative lasagna sheets
- 1/3 cup grated mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese

Method:
1- Preheat oven to 180C. Melt butter and flour in saucepan over medium heat.
2- Cook until mixture is just bubbling.
3- Remove from heat and add milk, stir until mixture is smooth.
4- Return to heat. Continue stirring and cook until mixture boils.
5- Add 1/5 bolognese sauce into base of baking dish. Top with three lasagne sheets. Spoon over half the remaining Bolognese sauce. Top with 1/3 of the white sauce. Spread evenly over bolognese.
6- Repeat these three layers again
7- Add a final lasagne sheet and spoon remaining white sauce over entire dish.
8- Add tasty cheese to top as desired.
9- Bake uncovered for 35 minutes and serve.
Makes 4 servings.

Butter Cake

2010-02-10T11:37:00.001-08:00

Ingredients:
- Natural Alternative Butter Cake Mix.
- 2 eggs
- 60g polyunsaturated margarine
- 165ml water
For the frosting:
- 20ml milk
- 33g polyunsaturated margarine

Method:
1- Preheat oven to 180C (160C fan forced).
2- Grease tin or spray with vegetable oil.
3- For best result, prepare mix using electric mixer.
4- Place 60g polyunsaturated margarine, eggs and water into small mixing bowl. Add cake mix.
5- Using an electrical mixer blend on a slow speed for 1 minute. Scrape down sides of bowl
6- Mix on medium speed for 3 minutes, don’t over beat.
7- Pour batter into cake tin and bake for approx. 30-35 minutes. (As all ovens are different, this may vary).
8- Cake is baked if it bounces back when gently pressed at the peak of the cake.
9- Remove from oven and leave cake to cool.

For the frosting:
1- Using an electrical mixer, beat 30g polyunsaturated margarine, 25mlmilk and icing mixture on slow speed until combined.
2- Allow cake to cool before frosting the top and sides.

Blueberry & Orange Breakfast Granola

2010-02-10T11:36:00.002-08:00

Ingredients:
- 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1 tablespoon finely grated orange rind
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 3 cups Healthy Life Oats
- 1/2 cup Healthy Life Rice Bran
- 1/2 cup wheatgerm
- 1/4 cup Healthy Life Sunflower Seeds
- 2 tablespoons Healthy Life Linseed
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup dried blueberries
- 1/2 cup Healthy Life Dried Cranberries
- 1/3 cup Healthy Life Almonds

Method:
1- Preheat oven to 170°C/150°C fan-forced.
2- Line a large baking tray with baking paper.
3- Place maple syrup, honey, orange rind and orange juice in a saucepan over low heat. Stir over low heat for two minutes or until smooth.
4- Combine oats, bran, wheatgerm, sunflower seeds, linseed and cinnamon in a large bowl. Add syrup mixture and stir until all the oat mixture is coated.
5- Spread over prepared tray and bake, stirring every 10 minutes, for 40 minutes or until dry and crisp. Cool on tray.
6- Stir through berries and almonds.
7- To serve place half a cup of granola into a bowl and serve with low fat yogurt, fresh berries and drizzle with honey.
This can be kept for up to two weeks in an air tight container.

Banana, Honey and Blueberry Smoothie With Added Fibre

2010-02-10T11:36:00.001-08:00

Ingredients:
- 1 banana (large)
- 60 g blueberries (half punnet approx)
- 1/2 tablespoon honey
- 1 cup low-fat milk (try high calcium kind)
- 2 tsp Healthy Life Psyllium Husks

Method:
1-Add banana, blueberries and cup of milk to your mixer/blender.
Blend very well, the mixture will go a nice lavender colour.
2- Add the Psyllium Husks and honey. Blend again very well, ensuring the honey has fully dispersed through the mix.

Serve in a tall glass and drink immediately.

Banana & Cinnamon Pancakes

2010-02-10T11:33:00.000-08:00

Ingredients:
- 270ml water
- 2 eggs
- 375g Natural Alternative Pancake Mix
- 2 medium bananas mashed
- 1 tablespoon of cinnamon

Method:
1- Pour Natural Alternative Pancake Mix into bowl.
2- Add water and eggs and beat with whisk into smooth batter.
3- Stir through the mashed bananas & cinnamon.
3- Preheat frying pan and spray with vegetable oil.
4- Pour desired amount of batter into frying pan.
5- Cook over medium heat for 1-2 minutes or until golden brown.
6- Turn over and cook other side.

Serve with a drizzle of maple syrup & fresh blueberries or seasonal fruit.
Makes 10 large pancakes.

Diet for employees

2010-02-10T11:32:00.001-08:00

If you start to diet and weekend, you missed the Monday meal disrupts regime, this diet is for you ...

Prepared for working people, this diet, total calories is 1280. Diet before you start the morning on an empty stomach weighed up from the dressing. With the help of a tape dispensers save it to a location you specify your body measurements. Also, before starting the diet or a diet specialist to be sure to consult your doctor. If you apply the same diet, working people, approximately 4.6 pounds a month you can give.

1. Day:
Breakfast: Sugar-free tea, 30 grams white cheese, 25 grams of bran bread, tomatoes and salad.
Hours 10 am: 100 grams of fruit (except bananas)
Lunch: 2 eggs scrambled with a prepared, 25 grams of bread and salad light
Hours from 16 to 100 grams of fruit.
Dinner: 200 grams of grilled chicken, 1 fat-free salad plate

2. Day:
Breakfast: Sugar-free lemon tea, 1 thin slice of salami, 25 grams of bread, tomatoes and cucumbers.
Hours 10 am: 100 grams of fruit.
Lunch: Half portions lean back, 1 cup buttermilk and salad.
Hours from 16 to 100 grams of fruit.
Dinner: 200 grams beef, low fat salad.

3. Day:
Breakfast: Sugar-free lemon lime, 1 fat-free toast and salad.
Hours 10 am: 100 grams of fruit.
Lunch: 3 pieces grilled sausage, ½ boiled potatoes and salad.
Hours from 16 to 100 grams of fruit.
Dinner: Fish (release preparation), 2 pieces matchbox-sized candy, salad.

4. Day:
Breakfast: 250 grams light milk, 100 grams of fruit, 1 slice of bread.
Hours 10 am: ¼ wheel.
Lunch: 150 grams grilled meatballs, eggplant salad, 1 serving, 25 grams light bread and salad.
Hours from 16 to 100 grams of fruit.
Dinner: Fruit salad, free.

5. Day:
Breakfast: Sugar-free tea, 25 grams of bran bread, 30 grams parmesan cheese, 1 tomato and cucumber.
Hours 10 am: 100 grams of fruit.
Lunch: ½ pizza, 1 cup buttermilk and salad.
Hours from 16: 1 cup fruit juice, 4 diet biscuits.
Dinner: 4 items chops, 1 olive oil, artichokes, 1 slice light bread and salad.

6. Day:
Breakfast: 1 cup fruit juice, 1 poğaça, 6 of olive.
Hours 10 am: 100 grams of fruit.
Lunch: 400 grams light yogurt, 25 grams of bran bread, 200 grams of boiled carrots.
Hours from 16 to 100 grams of fruit.
Dinner: Mixed grill, free, low fat salad.

7. Day:
Breakfast: Sugar-free tea, 2 pieces of grilled sausage, 1 slice wholemeal bread, tomatoes and salad.
Hours 10 am: 100 grams of fruit.
Lunch: 1 portion ton fish sandwich, 1 cup buttermilk.
Hours from 16: ½ corn.
Akşam: 180 gram steak sauce, 100 grams of boiled potatoes and mushrooms, 1 portion low fat salad.

Fat-free diet as you want soup and drained green leafy vegetables can be added. To save time, ready to use frozen vegetables.

5 makes it plain abdominal exercise

2010-02-10T11:31:00.001-08:00

Waist circumference to weaken the age progresses, becomes difficult. In general, no weight, even not, fats, your body will accumulate in this section. You can not get rid of this fat sitting! Exercise waist circumference and 5 suggested the weakening of your body allows. Healthy diet and exercise between 60 to 90 minutes for a flat stomach is known to be the best way. Do not worry you do not exercise regularly during the day to do a short exercise in periyodlarda can have a flat stomach.

To have a flat stomach, do them!

1 - to lie down on the floor face up and your fingers behind your head, combine. Try to bring your knees toward your chin and your shoulders at the time, remains the same as the position of your neck upwards to remove from the ground. Keeping your left leg straight 45-degree angle from the ground to the right to remove and gently try to return. Inpatient use, such as bicycles can think of. changing pedals seem to follow the leg 12-16 times.
2 - Quit and firmly hold onto the chair. Your knees toward your chin in order to try to remove curl, repeat this movement 12-16 times.
3 - lie down on the floor face up. Extend your hands straight out from side to side. 90 degrees angle of your legs upward to twin remove and cross one's legs as straight as if after a period of steady change. Repeat movement 12-16 times.
4 - lie down on the floor face up. 45-degree angle with your hands flat on the reverse side of your ear, extend. As you extend your legs straight to 45 degree range curl. Raise your shoulders toward you.
5 - lie down on the floor face down. On the tip of your toes and hands based on your elbows, try to lift your entire body.

The war against cholesterol apple cider vinegar

2010-02-10T11:27:00.000-08:00

Prepared with a simple mixture of vinegar to cure a lot you can find trouble. Can be easily prepared at home and miracle potions in, cholesterol, heart and vascular diseases, memory versus the weakness and cramps will find relief.

Cholesterol
Apple cider vinegar, slowing the absorption of nutrients and fluid in the intestine, a water-soluble fiber that is rich in pectin. Pectin, while moving slowly in the digestive system prevents the absorption of cholesterol by intestinal adhesion. As for honey vinegar before meals regularly, your cholesterol will return to normal. If you would like your fruit or vegetable juice mixed with vinegar also can drink can.

Heart and vascular diseases
Pectin in apple cider vinegar as a powerful antioxidant beta carotene, reduces the risk of heart and vascular diseases. Tablespoon of vinegar before each meal, a glass of warm water or a glass of apple juice to the floor.

Memory weakness
A memory weakening sooner or later affect us all, but is more common in older people. Some foods to be missing or it leads. B12 and folic acid and memory loss rates are very low in humans more frequently. Scientists who study Alzheimer's disease, which is one of basic elements of a healthy diet, calcium, Tyamin, niacin and vitamin B12 deficiency, draws attention to. Apple vinegar, it contains rich vitamins, minerals and amino acids with a variety, even for people infected (which, in addition to a healthy condition be fed) are sufficient. The value of preventive medicine is invaluable!

Contraction and cramps
Calcium or dinner Multimineral tablets, apple vinegar-honey water is received with a mixture of day or night cramps in the legs which have been observed to be good. Muscle fatigue against a cloth moistened with apple cider vinegar gives better results to wrap. Into a little vinegar can be added sweet red pepper.

Diarrhea
50 gr. dry powdered mint and half a liter of apple cider vinegar, three weeks rest secure in a closed jar. Fresh mint leaves into boiling, and then add a teaspoon of the vinegar. Every 3-4 hours in the old inscriptions, one, one cup vinegar in water are proposed. Vinegar water, a tablespoon of vinegar and one liter of water is a mixture. You can also add dandelion.

Against arthritis
Apple cider vinegar, which is necessary for bone structure, calcium, magnesium, silica, oligo-elements such as manganese and is rich in potassium. At the same time, such as calcium, are important for a strong skeletal structure also contains boron element. Boron, a complex role in the release of steroid hormones are. Menopause in women against osteoporosis is an essential mineral. To increase the amount of hormone was observed.
Apple cider vinegar for this situation again is a miracle!

Egg shells during an overnight rest in the apple vinegar. This process melts the shell of calcium. A glass of warm water, add this mixture to a teaspoon. If you are using a calcium tablet, taken with a glass of vinegar water. You'll get much better results.

Sedef
A teaspoon marjoram sarıyonca boiling water (or apple cider vinegar) and put, for twice daily. To make vinegar oregano 50 gr. dried marjoram crushed into, 1 / 2 liter, add apple cider vinegar. The mixture rest for 3 weeks. Then süzün.

Valentine's Day mild aphrodisiac foods

2010-02-10T11:26:00.000-08:00

Some foods to feed your wife is also an aphrodisiac effect. Some vegetables, fruits and plants to feed the soul and the libido. Some foods in the abdomen is known to feed as well as an aphrodisiac effect. That spirit and the aphrodisiac effect of feeding and libido increase sexual desire of experts to advise the Food ...

Chocolate for women, increases the level of seratonin in the brain and gives the feeling of happiness. Women to men is relatively more sensitive to this feature of chocolate. Food is more effective, raspberries, yogurt, red pepper, curry and other spices ...

Aphrodisiac effect on men, the list of foods is very rich, parsley, mint, cinnamon, thyme, vanilla, sharp pepper, mustard, celery, sunflower, grapefruit, sesame, eggs, asparagus, artichokes, peas, almonds, walnuts, turkey (containing zinc is, moreover cheap and rich in protein). Arugula (lots of iron and contains vitamin C), turnip greens, and pistachio nuts (they contain unsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E because of are used as an aphrodisiac), cucumber, asparagus, onion, tomato, basil, watermelon, coconut, honey, molasses, kiwi, mango.

Fruit juices also aphrodisiac
Healthy and balanced nutrition an important place of the fruit juices of the body potential increase in sexual activity would be required to specify when, more efficient for a sex life with plenty of vitamin A include apricots of magnesium on a regular basis is recommended to consume.

1 day per week 2 cup strawberries are an aphrodisiac effect. According to the studies, it contains vitamin E with the amount of sperm and sexual organs go into accelerating the blood circulation that increases the sexual urge is eaten bowl of strawberries a day within 1 week aphrodisiac 2 shows the effect.

Basic fatty acids and antioxidants that accelerate the production of sex hormones with the avocado, eaten 3 times per week within 2 weeks when the effect provides a significant increase in the amount of sperm. Moreover, bananas, strawberries, figs, peaches, pears, dates, grapes, apples, grapefruit, watermelon, kiwi and raspberry fruit with a very powerful aphrodisiac effect takes place between.