Babies will soon be immunised against a type of meningitis that kills about 10 under-fives each year and leaves dozens more permanently disabled.
Health Minister Pete Hodgson has confirmed the National Immunisation Schedule for 2008. It includes the pneumococcal vaccine Prevenar for all babies born from January 1.
The acting manager of the National Immunisation Programme, Dr Alison Roberts, said all babies would now have free access to immunisations protecting against 11 serious diseases.
"A baby's immune system responds very well to multiple vaccines at one visit," she said.
"The ministry's advice is that it is safe and effective."
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Doc's White Coats Spread Contagious Diseases, Says Britain
LONDON — British hospitals are banning white coats, neckties, and jewelry in an effort to stop the spread of deadly hospital-born infections, according to new rules published Monday.
Hospital dress codes typically urge doctors to look professional, which, for male practitioners, has usually meant wearing a tie. But as concern over hospital-born infections has intensified, doctors are taking a closer look at their clothing.
"Ties are rarely laundered but worn daily," the Department of Health said in a statement. "They perform no beneficial function in patient care and have been shown to be colonized by pathogens."
The new regulations would mean an end to doctors' traditional white coats, Health Secretary Alan Johnson said. Fake nails, jewelry and watches, which the department warned could harbor germs, are also out.
Johnson said the "bare below the elbows" dress code would help prevent the spread of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, the deadly bacteria resistant to nearly every available antibiotic.
Popularly known as a "superbug," MRSA accounts for more than 40 percent of in-hospital blood infections in Britain. Because the bacteria is so hard to kill, health care workers have instead focused on containing its spread through improvements to hospital hygiene.
A 2004 study of doctors' neckties at a New York hospital found that nearly half of them carried at least one species of infectious microbe. In 2006, the British Medical Association urged doctors to go without the accessories, calling them "functionless clothing items."
The dress code comes into force next year.
Hospital dress codes typically urge doctors to look professional, which, for male practitioners, has usually meant wearing a tie. But as concern over hospital-born infections has intensified, doctors are taking a closer look at their clothing.
"Ties are rarely laundered but worn daily," the Department of Health said in a statement. "They perform no beneficial function in patient care and have been shown to be colonized by pathogens."
The new regulations would mean an end to doctors' traditional white coats, Health Secretary Alan Johnson said. Fake nails, jewelry and watches, which the department warned could harbor germs, are also out.
Johnson said the "bare below the elbows" dress code would help prevent the spread of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, the deadly bacteria resistant to nearly every available antibiotic.
Popularly known as a "superbug," MRSA accounts for more than 40 percent of in-hospital blood infections in Britain. Because the bacteria is so hard to kill, health care workers have instead focused on containing its spread through improvements to hospital hygiene.
A 2004 study of doctors' neckties at a New York hospital found that nearly half of them carried at least one species of infectious microbe. In 2006, the British Medical Association urged doctors to go without the accessories, calling them "functionless clothing items."
The dress code comes into force next year.
Measures forthcoming to curb Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases
PORT OF SPAIN, Trini-dad and Tobago – The government will consider legislating a ban on smoking in public places, improve physical education facilities at public schools and provide tax incentives for the creation of on-the-job exercise facilities, all as part of its ongoing commitment to stemming the incidences of chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCDs) in The Bahamas, Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham said Saturday.
Prime Minister Ingraham's remarks came during an interview with Trinidad and Tobago's C-News Station at CARICOM's Summit on Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases – diseases the Caribbean Community has dubbed one of the greatest threats to development in the region.
Back in 2001, CARICOM Heads adopted the Nassau Declaration that The Health of the Region is the Wealth of the Region, which was designed to accelerate the response to various health conditions facing the region. The 2007 summit in Trinidad was the result of progress from the Declaration adopted in The Bahamas.
"Specifically, we have a problem with respect to hypertension," Ingraham indicated. "We have high levels of diabetes.
"Apart from the fact that we are going to put in place a national program for the provision of medicines for all persons irrespective of ability to pay for their prescriptions, we are also going to have a major effort in terms of prevention."
Diseases such as hypertension, heart disease, diabetes and cancer, coupled with obesity and a lack of physical activity, are the leading cause of death and disability in The Bahamas, with the summit revealing that Bahamians are 10-times more likely to die of hypertension than their Canadian counterparts.
Highlighting the government's recent announcement of a new dietary program for all public schools, the prime minister also foreshadowed improvements to public school exercise facilities, adding that the government is going to seek to have health promotion as a major part of initiatives within the public health sector.
"We are going to seek to duplicate what we have in a few government offices, that is rooms with exercise equipment in many more government facilities and we are going to seek to encourage employers to do so by providing incentives and tax exemptions for them to acquire equipment to be able to facilitate people engaging in exercise," Prime Minister Ingraham said.
Emphasising that most CNCDs can be prevented through lifestyle changes in diet and exercise, the Trinidad summit also placed emphasis on the role of tobacco consumption in the incidences of cancer and heart disease in the region, and the need to enact tobacco control measures such as increased import taxation and the prohibition of smoking in public places.
A 2005 Ministry of Health study on CNCDs revealed that just over seven percent of the Bahamian population smokes cigarettes.
The Prime Minister pointed out that The Bahamas currently has a 200 percent tax on cigarettes and that during its previous terms in office, his government made the now Lynden Pindling International Airport a smoke-free environment.
He indicated that decisions will now have to be made regarding the way forward for tobacco control measures in The Bahamas.
"We are now going to consider banning (smoking) in public places period," the prime minister noted. "We have casinos (and) we have conflicting views as to whether or not a casino should be exempted from a policy.
"We are going to make some decisions about that but I think at the end of day we will either have a total ban on smoking in all public places, or the number of public places will be very minimal and even if that happens that will have to be for a minimal period of time, I think."
Seconded by The Bahamas, CARICOM Heads adopted its Trinidad summit declaration entitled, "Uniting to Stop the Epidemic of Chronic NCDs" Saturday afternoon.
The Declaration included the commitment from the Heads of Government to give full support for the initiatives and mechanisms aimed at strengthening regional health institutions; immediate pursuance of a legislative agenda for passage of the legal provisions related to the International Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and the development of public education programs on lifestyle management as well as through the formal education system.
The Declaration also called for the mandating of the re-introduction of physical education in schools where necessary; provide incentives and resources to effect this policy and ensure that our education sectors promote programs aimed at providing healthy school meals and promoting healthy eating.
Prime Minister Ingraham's remarks came during an interview with Trinidad and Tobago's C-News Station at CARICOM's Summit on Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases – diseases the Caribbean Community has dubbed one of the greatest threats to development in the region.
Back in 2001, CARICOM Heads adopted the Nassau Declaration that The Health of the Region is the Wealth of the Region, which was designed to accelerate the response to various health conditions facing the region. The 2007 summit in Trinidad was the result of progress from the Declaration adopted in The Bahamas.
"Specifically, we have a problem with respect to hypertension," Ingraham indicated. "We have high levels of diabetes.
"Apart from the fact that we are going to put in place a national program for the provision of medicines for all persons irrespective of ability to pay for their prescriptions, we are also going to have a major effort in terms of prevention."
Diseases such as hypertension, heart disease, diabetes and cancer, coupled with obesity and a lack of physical activity, are the leading cause of death and disability in The Bahamas, with the summit revealing that Bahamians are 10-times more likely to die of hypertension than their Canadian counterparts.
Highlighting the government's recent announcement of a new dietary program for all public schools, the prime minister also foreshadowed improvements to public school exercise facilities, adding that the government is going to seek to have health promotion as a major part of initiatives within the public health sector.
"We are going to seek to duplicate what we have in a few government offices, that is rooms with exercise equipment in many more government facilities and we are going to seek to encourage employers to do so by providing incentives and tax exemptions for them to acquire equipment to be able to facilitate people engaging in exercise," Prime Minister Ingraham said.
Emphasising that most CNCDs can be prevented through lifestyle changes in diet and exercise, the Trinidad summit also placed emphasis on the role of tobacco consumption in the incidences of cancer and heart disease in the region, and the need to enact tobacco control measures such as increased import taxation and the prohibition of smoking in public places.
A 2005 Ministry of Health study on CNCDs revealed that just over seven percent of the Bahamian population smokes cigarettes.
The Prime Minister pointed out that The Bahamas currently has a 200 percent tax on cigarettes and that during its previous terms in office, his government made the now Lynden Pindling International Airport a smoke-free environment.
He indicated that decisions will now have to be made regarding the way forward for tobacco control measures in The Bahamas.
"We are now going to consider banning (smoking) in public places period," the prime minister noted. "We have casinos (and) we have conflicting views as to whether or not a casino should be exempted from a policy.
"We are going to make some decisions about that but I think at the end of day we will either have a total ban on smoking in all public places, or the number of public places will be very minimal and even if that happens that will have to be for a minimal period of time, I think."
Seconded by The Bahamas, CARICOM Heads adopted its Trinidad summit declaration entitled, "Uniting to Stop the Epidemic of Chronic NCDs" Saturday afternoon.
The Declaration included the commitment from the Heads of Government to give full support for the initiatives and mechanisms aimed at strengthening regional health institutions; immediate pursuance of a legislative agenda for passage of the legal provisions related to the International Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and the development of public education programs on lifestyle management as well as through the formal education system.
The Declaration also called for the mandating of the re-introduction of physical education in schools where necessary; provide incentives and resources to effect this policy and ensure that our education sectors promote programs aimed at providing healthy school meals and promoting healthy eating.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Early Detection of Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma, once a rare cancer, has become more prevalent in the past 50 years. The incidence of this aggressive disease, which has no cure, is expected to rise through 2015.
Until recently, mesothelioma was considered universally fatal. Patients treated with the best available therapy have survived 13 to 25 months in some studies, and with only supportive care the median survival is about 9 months. Studies investigating the diagnosis of mesothelioma have recently reported promising results, which may help reverse this tragic trend.
If caught before spreading beyond the lungs, there is a much greater chance of successfully treating the disease. Once mesothelioma has spread, the disease quickly overcomes its victim. With earlier detection, current treatments would be more effective, more aggressive treatment could be developed and life expectancy could rise dramatically.
One of the challenges of treatment for mesothelioma patients is the inability to detect the aggressive cancer in its early stages. Unfortunately, mesothelioma is very challenging to diagnose until the advanced stages. Because the onset of disease is delayed for as much as 30 years beyond exposure, symptoms are vague and the diagnostic tools are not efficient or specific, many cases are not diagnosed until the disease is advanced.
To date, screening through serial chest x-rays and pulmonary function testing has not been effective in detecting the disease in its earlier stages. While some asbestos related disease has been detected, these methods cannot differentiate between mesothelioma and benign lung disorders. Computer tomography (CT) can detect even small tumors, but also does not distinguish between malignant lesions and benign lung changes. Thus, the stumbling block to early diagnosis is distinguishing early stage cancer from other lung problems.
Biomarkers, or naturally occurring chemicals that can be detected in the blood have been linked to many specific cancers. Studies have shown a link between the substance TPA and mesothelioma, but this correlation had not yet been proven. Ca 125, a known marker for ovarian cancer has also shown promising but unconfirmed results in detecting early stage mesothelioma.
According to a recent article published in the December 2005 New England Journal of Medicine, a recent study of the protein osteopontin produced encouraging results. Comparing patients diagnosed with mesothelioma, patients exposed to asbestos but disease free and healthy control subjects, revealed clear differences in the patients with malignant disease. Although more research is needed to confirm the accuracy of this investigation, a strong correlation between osteopontin levels and mesothelioma was found.
A significantly higher concentration of osteopontin was detected in patients with diagnosed cases of mesothelioma compared to subjects with asbestos exposure. When compared, the levels of osteopontin were not significantly different in unexposed control subjects versus those subjects exposed to asbestos. Nearly 78% of mesothelioma patients showed elevated osteopontin levels. Levels were elevated in both patients with early stage disease (Stage I) and advanced disease. In over 85% of cases, osteopontin levels differentiated patients with mesothelioma versus benign lung conditions.
Definitive detection of mesothelioma in the earlier stages makes surgical removal of tumors possible before the disease has had a chance to spread. Once spread occurs, the effectiveness of surgical treatment drops dramatically. In end?stage disease, suurgery is simply a palliative measure to improve breathing capability with little of no curative value.
While it is not clear that this information will lead to longer survival, we do know that the earlier treatment can begin, the better chance for a prolonged life expectancy and with time, hopefully a cure.
Until recently, mesothelioma was considered universally fatal. Patients treated with the best available therapy have survived 13 to 25 months in some studies, and with only supportive care the median survival is about 9 months. Studies investigating the diagnosis of mesothelioma have recently reported promising results, which may help reverse this tragic trend.
If caught before spreading beyond the lungs, there is a much greater chance of successfully treating the disease. Once mesothelioma has spread, the disease quickly overcomes its victim. With earlier detection, current treatments would be more effective, more aggressive treatment could be developed and life expectancy could rise dramatically.
One of the challenges of treatment for mesothelioma patients is the inability to detect the aggressive cancer in its early stages. Unfortunately, mesothelioma is very challenging to diagnose until the advanced stages. Because the onset of disease is delayed for as much as 30 years beyond exposure, symptoms are vague and the diagnostic tools are not efficient or specific, many cases are not diagnosed until the disease is advanced.
To date, screening through serial chest x-rays and pulmonary function testing has not been effective in detecting the disease in its earlier stages. While some asbestos related disease has been detected, these methods cannot differentiate between mesothelioma and benign lung disorders. Computer tomography (CT) can detect even small tumors, but also does not distinguish between malignant lesions and benign lung changes. Thus, the stumbling block to early diagnosis is distinguishing early stage cancer from other lung problems.
Biomarkers, or naturally occurring chemicals that can be detected in the blood have been linked to many specific cancers. Studies have shown a link between the substance TPA and mesothelioma, but this correlation had not yet been proven. Ca 125, a known marker for ovarian cancer has also shown promising but unconfirmed results in detecting early stage mesothelioma.
According to a recent article published in the December 2005 New England Journal of Medicine, a recent study of the protein osteopontin produced encouraging results. Comparing patients diagnosed with mesothelioma, patients exposed to asbestos but disease free and healthy control subjects, revealed clear differences in the patients with malignant disease. Although more research is needed to confirm the accuracy of this investigation, a strong correlation between osteopontin levels and mesothelioma was found.
A significantly higher concentration of osteopontin was detected in patients with diagnosed cases of mesothelioma compared to subjects with asbestos exposure. When compared, the levels of osteopontin were not significantly different in unexposed control subjects versus those subjects exposed to asbestos. Nearly 78% of mesothelioma patients showed elevated osteopontin levels. Levels were elevated in both patients with early stage disease (Stage I) and advanced disease. In over 85% of cases, osteopontin levels differentiated patients with mesothelioma versus benign lung conditions.
Definitive detection of mesothelioma in the earlier stages makes surgical removal of tumors possible before the disease has had a chance to spread. Once spread occurs, the effectiveness of surgical treatment drops dramatically. In end?stage disease, suurgery is simply a palliative measure to improve breathing capability with little of no curative value.
While it is not clear that this information will lead to longer survival, we do know that the earlier treatment can begin, the better chance for a prolonged life expectancy and with time, hopefully a cure.
Mesothelioma- treatment and side effects
Questions you may wish to ask about your treatment are:
How many treatments will I be given?
What drug or combination of drugs will I receive?
How will the drug/drugs be administered, i.e., pill, intravenous, etc.?
Where will I go for my treatment, i.e., doctor's office, hospital, etc.?
How long will each treatment last?
Questions you may wish to ask about side effects are:
What side effects are associated with the drug/drugs I will be given?
Which of these side effects are likely to occur?
What can I do to relieve these side effects?
Are there certain side effects I should report immediately?
How can I contact a health professional after hours if I need to call?
Once chemotherapy is completed, normal cells usually recover, so most side effects will gradually disappear after treatment ends. The amount of time it takes to get over side effects is dependent on many things, including your overall health and the type of chemotherapy you have been receiving.
Ask your doctor for more information about these medications. Contact us if you need more ideas about what to ask your doctor or to learn about clinical trials using these drugs.
How many treatments will I be given?
What drug or combination of drugs will I receive?
How will the drug/drugs be administered, i.e., pill, intravenous, etc.?
Where will I go for my treatment, i.e., doctor's office, hospital, etc.?
How long will each treatment last?
Questions you may wish to ask about side effects are:
What side effects are associated with the drug/drugs I will be given?
Which of these side effects are likely to occur?
What can I do to relieve these side effects?
Are there certain side effects I should report immediately?
How can I contact a health professional after hours if I need to call?
Once chemotherapy is completed, normal cells usually recover, so most side effects will gradually disappear after treatment ends. The amount of time it takes to get over side effects is dependent on many things, including your overall health and the type of chemotherapy you have been receiving.
Ask your doctor for more information about these medications. Contact us if you need more ideas about what to ask your doctor or to learn about clinical trials using these drugs.
The World's Most Deadly Disease Mesothelioma Cure Possible
Mesothelioma is one of the deadliest diseases known to man; the average life span of an inflicted person from the time of diagnosis until death is less than 24 months.
It’s a disease that strikes approximately 3,000 United States citizens each and every year; hard working people who have labored for a lifetime to provide for their families, doing the work that keeps this country running and a great place to live. They worked in factories, at shipyards, in mines, for the US military, as engineers, as pipefitters, as steel workers, as auto mechanics, and in so many other professions.
They came home to their loved ones exhausted and covered in dirt and dust; tired, but content that they had a job and were providing for their family. Content that they were putting food on the table and a house over their loved one’s heads. Content that they were working to make a better life for their families in this generation and the next...
But what they didn’t know was that while they were working so hard, they were not only slowly killing themselves, but those that they were working so hard to help; their family, their loved ones.
It’s a disease that strikes approximately 3,000 United States citizens each and every year; hard working people who have labored for a lifetime to provide for their families, doing the work that keeps this country running and a great place to live. They worked in factories, at shipyards, in mines, for the US military, as engineers, as pipefitters, as steel workers, as auto mechanics, and in so many other professions.
They came home to their loved ones exhausted and covered in dirt and dust; tired, but content that they had a job and were providing for their family. Content that they were putting food on the table and a house over their loved one’s heads. Content that they were working to make a better life for their families in this generation and the next...
But what they didn’t know was that while they were working so hard, they were not only slowly killing themselves, but those that they were working so hard to help; their family, their loved ones.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Arthritis and Joint Pains
Arthritis is one of the most common chronic diseases in the world. Despite lot of research and effort, an effective cure has still eluded us. All that can be offered are the anti inflammatory and pain killers like Aspirin. According to Ayurveda arthritis is primarily a vata (air) disease which is due to accumulation of toxins in the joints and is known as amavata.
Symptoms
The main symptom of this disease is severe pain in the affected joints. The tissues in and around the joints become inflamed and movement of the joint becomes extremely painful. Untreated arthritis may lead to permanent deformity of the affected joints.
Causes
Causes include internal and external factors. It is more common in cold, damp and windy climates. Internally it is a condition which is related to low Agni (poor digestive fire) and poor digestion which leads to the accumulation of toxins (ama). The toxins (ama) produced in the colon are taken up by various parts of the body and depending on the site of deposition, it causes many diseases in the body. For example, if it deposits in the lungs, it causes cough and asthma, in the intestines it causes dysentery. When it deposits in the joints and at the same time there is aggravation of vata, that means if biological humor air is also disturbed, it results in a disease called amavata or arthritis.
Remedies
The first step in treatment is to burn up the accumulated toxins and this can be achieved by reviving the digestive fire.
Short fasting is very beneficial for digesting the ama.
Eating habits should be regularized and heavy, damp, ama forming foods should be avoided.
Hot spicy herbs can be very useful like, cayenne, cinnamon, dry ginger and galangal.
Hot gemstones such as ruby or garnet set in gold can be used.
Bake one or two egg plants (about 250gms.). Mash it properly and fry it in about 50ml. Castor oil. Some spices like cumin, coriander, turmeric and salt can be added to it while frying. This recipe can be taken once daily for two to three months. Adding two cloves of garlic while cooking makes it very beneficial.
Medicated oils used for massage are very helpful in relieving stiffness and pain in the joints, whole body massage with sesame or mustard oil helps to reduce the vata and thus reduce the pain.
Camphor, wintergreen and cinnamon oils are beneficial for external application. They can be combined with herbs like ashwagandha in sesame oil for external applications.
Daily use of the Ayurvedic compound Triphala is recommended to cleanse the colon.
Guggul is a very helpful herb for curing arthritis. It is most specific for cleaning and strengthening the bone tissue. If available it can be taken in one to 3gm dose twice a day after meals with warm water.
Taking 2gm turmeric powder twice a day along with warm water helps in curing arthritis.
Symptoms
The main symptom of this disease is severe pain in the affected joints. The tissues in and around the joints become inflamed and movement of the joint becomes extremely painful. Untreated arthritis may lead to permanent deformity of the affected joints.
Causes
Causes include internal and external factors. It is more common in cold, damp and windy climates. Internally it is a condition which is related to low Agni (poor digestive fire) and poor digestion which leads to the accumulation of toxins (ama). The toxins (ama) produced in the colon are taken up by various parts of the body and depending on the site of deposition, it causes many diseases in the body. For example, if it deposits in the lungs, it causes cough and asthma, in the intestines it causes dysentery. When it deposits in the joints and at the same time there is aggravation of vata, that means if biological humor air is also disturbed, it results in a disease called amavata or arthritis.
Remedies
The first step in treatment is to burn up the accumulated toxins and this can be achieved by reviving the digestive fire.
Short fasting is very beneficial for digesting the ama.
Eating habits should be regularized and heavy, damp, ama forming foods should be avoided.
Hot spicy herbs can be very useful like, cayenne, cinnamon, dry ginger and galangal.
Hot gemstones such as ruby or garnet set in gold can be used.
Bake one or two egg plants (about 250gms.). Mash it properly and fry it in about 50ml. Castor oil. Some spices like cumin, coriander, turmeric and salt can be added to it while frying. This recipe can be taken once daily for two to three months. Adding two cloves of garlic while cooking makes it very beneficial.
Medicated oils used for massage are very helpful in relieving stiffness and pain in the joints, whole body massage with sesame or mustard oil helps to reduce the vata and thus reduce the pain.
Camphor, wintergreen and cinnamon oils are beneficial for external application. They can be combined with herbs like ashwagandha in sesame oil for external applications.
Daily use of the Ayurvedic compound Triphala is recommended to cleanse the colon.
Guggul is a very helpful herb for curing arthritis. It is most specific for cleaning and strengthening the bone tissue. If available it can be taken in one to 3gm dose twice a day after meals with warm water.
Taking 2gm turmeric powder twice a day along with warm water helps in curing arthritis.
Childcare
Being at a very small age, the child is not able to express his symptoms clearly and he is more prone to small diseases, so it is necessary to take the utmost care in choosing remedies for children. His diet should be both good in quality as well as adequate in quantity because it adversely affect his weight gain and body growth.
Ayurveda has a special focus on children. Ayurvedic preparations have been used to build healthy body and sharp intellect right from the time of infancy for thousands of years. A large chunk of the population is now turning towards herbal medicine to shield their children from unwanted chemicals.
Ayurveda has a special focus on children. Ayurvedic preparations have been used to build healthy body and sharp intellect right from the time of infancy for thousands of years. A large chunk of the population is now turning towards herbal medicine to shield their children from unwanted chemicals.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Asbestos Killed My Husband
When most people think of Asbestos , what comes to mind is usually basic information that's not particularly interesting or beneficial. But there's a lot more to Asbestos than just the basics.
He was lone a lamb when it begun - again he played as children do - in his yard shroud his toy cars and tip trucks But his sand was asbestos blue?
Rule December 1999, my husband again I were walking home from a game of lawn bowls when I became aware of his shortness of breath. I was surprised and really into when he told me that he had experienced this on several occasions. Believing this to be due to chest a infection, I make-believe a doctor's capacity in that him the next day.
LINK
LINK2
He was lone a lamb when it begun - again he played as children do - in his yard shroud his toy cars and tip trucks But his sand was asbestos blue?
Rule December 1999, my husband again I were walking home from a game of lawn bowls when I became aware of his shortness of breath. I was surprised and really into when he told me that he had experienced this on several occasions. Believing this to be due to chest a infection, I make-believe a doctor's capacity in that him the next day.
LINK
LINK2
Asbestos Related Diseases
The following article covers a topic that has recently moved to center stage--at least it seems that way. If you've been thinking you need to know more about it, here's your opportunity.
Asbestos is used in over 3000 modern products and most people have suffered at least some degree of exposure to it at one point or another. Most asbestos exposure is dinky to minute portions of chipper maintained building materials such as concrete, insulation and siding. Regular maintenance of these materials is important for preventing asbestos from degenerating into airborne fibers.
Asbestos is used in over 3000 modern products and most people have suffered at least some degree of exposure to it at one point or another. Most asbestos exposure is dinky to minute portions of chipper maintained building materials such as concrete, insulation and siding. Regular maintenance of these materials is important for preventing asbestos from degenerating into airborne fibers.
Avoid Further Mesothelioma Injury Through Prompt Treatment By Peter Lenkefi
Do you ever feel like you know just enough about Mesothelioma to be dangerous? Let's see if we can fill in some of the gaps with the latest info from Mesothelioma experts.
Mesothelioma injury can be classified into three main groups, Pleural ( chest ), Peritoneal ( abdominal ) and Pericardial ( heart ). Unabridged three types of Mesothelioma injury are mainly cause through exposure to an Asbestos related substance.
Mesothelioma injury can be classified into three main groups, Pleural ( chest ), Peritoneal ( abdominal ) and Pericardial ( heart ). Unabridged three types of Mesothelioma injury are mainly cause through exposure to an Asbestos related substance.
MESOTHELIMA
Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that most frequently arises from the cells lining the sacs of the chest (the pleura) or the abdomen (the peritoneum). It is usually caused by exposure to asbestos. Arizona mesothelioma lawyers are there to help you claim damages when a former company may have been at fault by not telling you that you were working with asbestos. Settlements can often bring a million dollars - most of which will go to cover the cost of medical treatment.
Arizona ranks 22 in the nation for mesothelioma cases. If you are living with mesothelioma or with someone who has it, you are not alone in your struggle. Anyone suffering from this dangerous disease has a right to file a lawsuit. In Arizona, mesothelioma laws come under the personal injury category, and there are many lawyers who specialize in these cases.
Arizona ranks 22 in the nation for mesothelioma cases. If you are living with mesothelioma or with someone who has it, you are not alone in your struggle. Anyone suffering from this dangerous disease has a right to file a lawsuit. In Arizona, mesothelioma laws come under the personal injury category, and there are many lawyers who specialize in these cases.
Influenza injection is suggested for heart disease patients
It has been proved from several reports that taking injection against influenza once a year can reduce death rates in all ranges of age for people with heart disease. The ratio of patients who had a flu shot in 2005 was one to three adults.
Dr. Matthew M. Davis, lead author of the study and an internist at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, said:” we can save hundreds of people from death and thousands from influenza, if we injected at least 60% of cardiac disease patients in the US who are about 13.2 million patients. He also added:” although most heart disease patients visit their doctors in the time that they should get the influenza injection, the influenza injection can be found only in half of the cardiologists clinics.
Dr. Matthew M. Davis, lead author of the study and an internist at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, said:” we can save hundreds of people from death and thousands from influenza, if we injected at least 60% of cardiac disease patients in the US who are about 13.2 million patients. He also added:” although most heart disease patients visit their doctors in the time that they should get the influenza injection, the influenza injection can be found only in half of the cardiologists clinics.
Heart disease symptoms in women
Women’s most killer in the west is heart disease, actually heart disease kills more women than men. “Women are less likely to have a heart attack than men, despite heart attack emergence increases with age” said Dr. Vernon V. S. Bonarjee.
The researches tested the short- and long-term sex-related variations in survival between high-risk patients with heart attack. An overall of 5,477 subjects were followed for a mean of 2.7 years.
By comparing, women were older than men and they had more heart disease symptoms, high blood pressure and cholesterol. Moreover, women who were treated with clot-busting drugs were fewer.
A total of 619 men and 327 women died during the study. As mention, there were no differences between men and women in long-term survival, but the death rate in women was higher than men by 57%.
The usual symptoms of heart attack may be missing in women which leads to a late in treatment and, therefore the results are worse in women.
As the study found heart disease symptoms could be missing in women, so they should be careful and heart disease check regularly.
The researches tested the short- and long-term sex-related variations in survival between high-risk patients with heart attack. An overall of 5,477 subjects were followed for a mean of 2.7 years.
By comparing, women were older than men and they had more heart disease symptoms, high blood pressure and cholesterol. Moreover, women who were treated with clot-busting drugs were fewer.
A total of 619 men and 327 women died during the study. As mention, there were no differences between men and women in long-term survival, but the death rate in women was higher than men by 57%.
The usual symptoms of heart attack may be missing in women which leads to a late in treatment and, therefore the results are worse in women.
As the study found heart disease symptoms could be missing in women, so they should be careful and heart disease check regularly.
Your teeth health affects your heart health
A new scientific research proved that the condition of teeth and gum does not not create problems in the mouth only, but also affect the health of the body as a whole and also contribute to deepening heart diseases and increases the risk of acute respiratory sewerage.
The study pointed out that in pursuing the people who died by heart attacks found in the blood with microbic objects usually located in the mouth and is known for causing oral infections.
Studies have shown various medical conducted in the recent period, people who have gum infection suffering mostly from a disease that narrow arteries, and has experts examined the quality of the bacteria found in the mouths of those who are not already affected by heart attack and Measure the thickness strength of arteries which move the blood from the heart to the brain show them that people who have bacteria in the mouth that cause gum disease had also caused problems in the arteries.
The study advises people to pay more attension to their teeth health by cleaning them at least two times a day and see the dentist two times every year.
Stomach Surgery May Save Teenagers From Heart Disease
Sao Camilo Hospital, heart disease reasearches said that teenagers who reduced their stomachs size by surgery have lost approximately half of their weight. And laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery removed high blood pressure and diabetes of type 2 from the teenagers who had these surgeies. Forty two teenagers aged between 13 to 18 with average weight 269 pounds were involved in the study.Four years after the surgeries the average weight felt to 135 pounds.The result was 16 teenagers were Cured from hypertension and trhree from type 2 diabetes.
The risk of transmission of heart disease Hereditarily
If you have a first-class relative suffers coronal arteries disease, this makes you in risk from heart disease larger than had been thought in the past. A new study pointed that by looking at arteries of people who have a father or sister diseased by coronal arteries disease showed that half had signs of Atherosclerosis. However, they do not complain of any symptoms. This is what was said by researchers from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Texas in Houston. This ratio is higher than researchers expected. These people are not classified with high risk for other heart disease such as high cholesterol level, high arterial tension. If some one of your family is diseased by coronal arteries diseases, you must be controlled more precisely, and be alert of any symptoms of chest pain when doing physical exercises.
Vitamin D reduces the risk of human heart disease between women
A medical results conducted at the University of California American elderly ladies who are over sixty-fifth birthday and abusing complement vitamin "d" are less vulnerable to death from human heart disease by about one third. The studies conducted by the American Heart Association showed that low levels of certain types of vitamin "d" associated with an increase in the risk of injuries of heart. During follow-up of about 9700 women over the age of sixty who used 4272 tablets of vitamin "d" for 11 years. The researchers found that the risk of death due to human heart disease was lower by 31% in women who used as vitamin capsules compared with those who did not use it. That is after checking 420 women died due to coronary heart disease. Scientists pointed out that vitamin "d" is one of the most important organizations to absorb Calcium in the body. Coronary heart disease is usually accompanied by the hardening of arteries caused by the accumulation of fat and cholesterol Calcium on arteries.
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Stopping aspirin effects on coronary heart disease patients.
A new study found that people who suffer coronary artery disease are still in danger of developing a heart attack if they stop taking aspirin. Doctors do no advice to stop aspirin except when it is suggested by the patients is doctor.
The study which was done by Biondi-Zoccai from the University of Turin, looked at the effects of cutting aspirin for coronary heart disease patients.
The results showed that stopping aspirin increases the risk of developing heart attack by three times. This results concluded that stopping aspirin should be avoided except in operations as doctors suggests.
The study which was done by Biondi-Zoccai from the University of Turin, looked at the effects of cutting aspirin for coronary heart disease patients.
The results showed that stopping aspirin increases the risk of developing heart attack by three times. This results concluded that stopping aspirin should be avoided except in operations as doctors suggests.
Heart disease and air pollution
A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that heart disease, attacks and strokes can be caused by air pollution. This study found that women who live in areas with polluted air like tiny particles are more likely to develop a heart attack or stroke and other heart disease.
The study which was done in the U.S included around 66,000 women older than 50 years.
The study which was done in the U.S included around 66,000 women older than 50 years.
Heart attack symptoms
Check your heart health regularly, by taking care of your blood sugar and pressure and the cholesterol level in your body. Furthermore, to prevent heart attacks read the latest news. Finally avoid the main causes of heart attacks and diseases such ass smoking eating too much. Heart attack symptoms are the reflection of your heart health.
Statin treatment reduces the risk of developing a second heart attack
In a new study Japanese researches found that treatment with statin after a heart attack, is so helpful to reduce the long-term effects of heart attacks. As Michitaka Nagashima from the Heart Institute of Japan in Tokyo.
The study included 702 participants. Those patients treated with statin after they experienced a heart attack. After four years of detecting, the results showed that about 36 percent of the patients reduced the risk of developing another heart attack.
The study included 702 participants. Those patients treated with statin after they experienced a heart attack. After four years of detecting, the results showed that about 36 percent of the patients reduced the risk of developing another heart attack.
Oral health and heart disease doubts
A new Medical study found that youth people who lose their teeth due to cavities or gum diseases might face an increased risk of death from heart disease in future.
The results of the study were published in the journal heart, which was an addition to many studies which found a relationship between oral health and heart health. Some Studies found that gum disease may lead to heart problems over time. However it is not completely proved that oral disease causes heart disease.
The study included 12,000 U.K adults. The participants were detected starting from the college up to 57 years. Researchers found that those with a great number of lost teeth in young adulthood (nine or more) were one-third more possible to die of heart disease than the others with fewer than five missing teeth.
Tooth loss is a sign of poor oral health. Scientists say that the bacteria in the mouth which is the reason for cavities and gum disease could enter the bloodstream and moreover damage the blood vessel lining straight and affect the heart health.
The results of the study were published in the journal heart, which was an addition to many studies which found a relationship between oral health and heart health. Some Studies found that gum disease may lead to heart problems over time. However it is not completely proved that oral disease causes heart disease.
The study included 12,000 U.K adults. The participants were detected starting from the college up to 57 years. Researchers found that those with a great number of lost teeth in young adulthood (nine or more) were one-third more possible to die of heart disease than the others with fewer than five missing teeth.
Tooth loss is a sign of poor oral health. Scientists say that the bacteria in the mouth which is the reason for cavities and gum disease could enter the bloodstream and moreover damage the blood vessel lining straight and affect the heart health.
Statin drug and heart diseases
Another good news about statin drug reported recently. The heart benefits from statin drug can long time even after stopping taking statin drug. It is found in the University of Glasgow that men who took pravastatin had lower risk of heart attack even after 10 years of stopping it.
The results showed that those who used pravastatin around 11 percent of danger of developing heart disease. However, those who used placebo had about 15 percent during the study period( 5 years).
The results showed that those who used pravastatin around 11 percent of danger of developing heart disease. However, those who used placebo had about 15 percent during the study period( 5 years).
Heart attack percentage drop in diabetics
A recent report in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly report, showed that the percentage of heart disease and attack among diabetics has dropped by 11 percent from the year 1997 to 2005. This result of cardiovascular disease comes from a study of data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS).
About Parkinson Disease
What is Parkinson disease?
Parkinson disease is a brain disorder. It occurs when certain nerve cells (neurons) in a part of the brain called the substantia nigra die or become impaired. Normally, these cells produce a vital chemical known as dopamine. Dopamine allows smooth, coordinated function of the body's muscles and movement. When approximately 80% of the dopamine-producing cells are damaged, the symptoms of Parkinson disease appear.
What are the signs and symptoms of Parkinson disease?
The loss of dopamine production in the brain causes the primary symptoms of Parkinson disease. The key signs of Parkinson disease are:
- Tremor (shaking)
- Slowness of movement
- Rigidity (stiffness)
- Difficulty with balance
Other signs of Parkinson disease may include:
- Small, cramped handwriting
- Stiff facial expression
- Shuffling walk
- Muffled speech
- Depression
- Who gets Parkinson disease?
Parkinson disease affects both men and women in almost equal numbers. It shows no social, ethnic, economic or geographic boundaries. In the United States, it is estimated that 60,000 new cases are diagnosed each year, joining the 1.5 million Americans who currently have Parkinson disease. While the condition usually develops after the age of 65, 15% of thosediagnosed are under 50.
How is Parkinson disease diagnosed?
The process of making a Parkinson disease diagnosis can be difficult. There is no X-ray or blood test that can confirm Parkinson disease. A physician arrives at the diagnosis only after a thorough examination. Blood tests and brain scans known as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be performed to rule out other conditions that have similar symptoms. People suspected of having Parkinson disease should consider seeking thecare of a neurologist who specializes in Parkinson disease.
What is the treatment for Parkinson disease?
There are a number of effective medicines that help to ease the symptoms of Parkinson disease. Most symptoms are caused by lack of dopamine. The medicines most commonly used will attempt to either replace or mimic dopamine, which improves the tremor, rigidity and slowness associated with Parkinson disease. Several new medicines are being studied that may slow
the progression. Many promise to improve the lives of people with Parkinson disease.
Can surgery help Parkinson disease?
Surgery can ease the symptoms of Parkinson disease, but it is not a cure. Because of the risks associated with brain surgery, it is usually not considered unless all appropriate medications have been tried unsuccessfully. When considering surgery, it is important to see both a neurologist and brain surgeon who specialize in the treatment of Parkinson disease.
Parkinson disease is a brain disorder. It occurs when certain nerve cells (neurons) in a part of the brain called the substantia nigra die or become impaired. Normally, these cells produce a vital chemical known as dopamine. Dopamine allows smooth, coordinated function of the body's muscles and movement. When approximately 80% of the dopamine-producing cells are damaged, the symptoms of Parkinson disease appear.
What are the signs and symptoms of Parkinson disease?
The loss of dopamine production in the brain causes the primary symptoms of Parkinson disease. The key signs of Parkinson disease are:
- Tremor (shaking)
- Slowness of movement
- Rigidity (stiffness)
- Difficulty with balance
Other signs of Parkinson disease may include:
- Small, cramped handwriting
- Stiff facial expression
- Shuffling walk
- Muffled speech
- Depression
- Who gets Parkinson disease?
Parkinson disease affects both men and women in almost equal numbers. It shows no social, ethnic, economic or geographic boundaries. In the United States, it is estimated that 60,000 new cases are diagnosed each year, joining the 1.5 million Americans who currently have Parkinson disease. While the condition usually develops after the age of 65, 15% of thosediagnosed are under 50.
How is Parkinson disease diagnosed?
The process of making a Parkinson disease diagnosis can be difficult. There is no X-ray or blood test that can confirm Parkinson disease. A physician arrives at the diagnosis only after a thorough examination. Blood tests and brain scans known as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be performed to rule out other conditions that have similar symptoms. People suspected of having Parkinson disease should consider seeking thecare of a neurologist who specializes in Parkinson disease.
What is the treatment for Parkinson disease?
There are a number of effective medicines that help to ease the symptoms of Parkinson disease. Most symptoms are caused by lack of dopamine. The medicines most commonly used will attempt to either replace or mimic dopamine, which improves the tremor, rigidity and slowness associated with Parkinson disease. Several new medicines are being studied that may slow
the progression. Many promise to improve the lives of people with Parkinson disease.
Can surgery help Parkinson disease?
Surgery can ease the symptoms of Parkinson disease, but it is not a cure. Because of the risks associated with brain surgery, it is usually not considered unless all appropriate medications have been tried unsuccessfully. When considering surgery, it is important to see both a neurologist and brain surgeon who specialize in the treatment of Parkinson disease.
Teeth Bleaching Facts
nlike whitening toothpastes,which only remove surface stains to reveal the underlying whiteness of teeth, bleaching agents actually make teethwhiter.
The most common teeth bleaching agents are hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide.
The effectiveness of teeth bleaching depends on the color of your teeth. Bleaching works best for yellow stains,while gray teeth, which can result from certain antibiotics, are much harder to whiten.People who have stains from smoking,red wine or coffee can get very good results with teethwhitening.
There are two different ways to get whiter teeth:dental (in-office) whitening, and using a home bleaching kit available through a dentist.
A dentist applies a whitening gel,containing a high concentration of hydrogen peroxide, to your teeth, which is then activated by a special blue high intensity light or laser,causing the gel to release the oxygen molecules.The laser merely activates the bleaching gel,it doesn't actually
penetrate the teeth
The results depend on the shade of your teeth before bleaching.
While in-office teeth bleaching is the safest route to go, home teeth bleaching can be also be safe,and effective,if done properly and under thesupervision of a dentist.
Tray teeth whitening technique involves the use of a plastic tray that is filled with bleaching gel and then fitted over your teeth.By keeping the bleaching gel in contact with your teeth, for the prescribed period of time, your teeth will get whiter.Persons who are using the teeth bleaching
products should always ask a dentist for advice.
Increased tooth sensitivity and gum irritation and are the most common side effects of teeth bleaching.Some people even experience extreme pain.Your dentist will advise you on the appropriate steps to take if yourteeth become sensitive during the bleaching process.
The most common teeth bleaching agents are hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide.
The effectiveness of teeth bleaching depends on the color of your teeth. Bleaching works best for yellow stains,while gray teeth, which can result from certain antibiotics, are much harder to whiten.People who have stains from smoking,red wine or coffee can get very good results with teethwhitening.
There are two different ways to get whiter teeth:dental (in-office) whitening, and using a home bleaching kit available through a dentist.
A dentist applies a whitening gel,containing a high concentration of hydrogen peroxide, to your teeth, which is then activated by a special blue high intensity light or laser,causing the gel to release the oxygen molecules.The laser merely activates the bleaching gel,it doesn't actually
penetrate the teeth
The results depend on the shade of your teeth before bleaching.
While in-office teeth bleaching is the safest route to go, home teeth bleaching can be also be safe,and effective,if done properly and under thesupervision of a dentist.
Tray teeth whitening technique involves the use of a plastic tray that is filled with bleaching gel and then fitted over your teeth.By keeping the bleaching gel in contact with your teeth, for the prescribed period of time, your teeth will get whiter.Persons who are using the teeth bleaching
products should always ask a dentist for advice.
Increased tooth sensitivity and gum irritation and are the most common side effects of teeth bleaching.Some people even experience extreme pain.Your dentist will advise you on the appropriate steps to take if yourteeth become sensitive during the bleaching process.
Losing Weight While Keeping Your Skin Firm
Considering you don't have an excessive amount of loose skin already it is possible to lose weight and keep your skin firm in the process. The idea is to keep your body well hydrated day in and day out. NEVER EVER let yourself become dehydrated. Drink plenty of water throughout the day and NEVER EVER totally eliminate your carbohydrate intake. From my experience most people who have lost weight too fast by eliminating their carbohydrates ended up with a lot of excess skin afterwards. The whole idea is to lose the weight to get healthier and of course to look betterwith your clothes ON and with your clothes OFF. Here are some tips
1. Follow a well rounded balanced diet such as my insulin response diet located at http://www.tbfinc.com
2. Follow a full body exercise routine alternating with a split routine every 4 weeks. For example, full body routine 4 weeks, split routine 4weeks, full body routine 4 weeks, and so on.
3. Considering you don't have stomach ulcers and you are not on blood thinners you should also take ONE TEASPOON of cold artic cod liver oilONCE PER DAY with your evening meal.
4. Take 1000-1500mg of lecithin per day. Lecithin has been known to increase the elasticity of the skin.
5. Anything you can do to increase circulation will also help. Skin brushing techniques are very good. Do a search on the internet for skin brushing to get all the info you need. Deep massages are also good.
6. Most importantly if you are more than 75 pounds overweight DO NOT try to lose weight too fast. The more you weigh the easier it will be to lose weight on this program so ease into it slowly so you only lose about 3 pounds per week. Doing this will prevent the sagging skin. If you loseweight too fast you will end up with loose skin 90% of the time.
7. Some of my clients have done weekly body wraps with great success but it can get messy. You can do this as an option but it's really notnecessary.
As an option you can also take a supplement called collagen.
As I stated above one key to increasing the elasticity of your skin is to keep your body well hydrated. Yes, drinking water will do this. The average person needs at least ½ an ounce of water per pound of body weight. Possibly more depending on the type of exercise you do on a daily basis. The reason why so many people end up with loose skin after losing weight is because they go on low carbohydrate diets that will in turn dehydrate the body. If you lose weight and are dehydrated in the process you will see the scale weight go down but unfortunately most of the weight being lost is nothing more than water weight. If you are losing 2-3 pounds per week you are doing great. If you are losing 4-6 pounds you are pushing the limit. Any more than 6 pounds per week and you are sure to end up with loose skin after losing the weight because chances are you are restricting too many carbohydrates from your diet. Cutting out refined flours/breadsand sugars will yield the best results.
Also, instead of getting on the scale every week to measure your progress go more by how your clothes are fitting. I always tell my clients to try on the tightest pair of pants they have and then follow my program for 4 weeks and then try them on again. After 4 weeks those tight fitting pantswill be a thing of the past.
1. Follow a well rounded balanced diet such as my insulin response diet located at http://www.tbfinc.com
2. Follow a full body exercise routine alternating with a split routine every 4 weeks. For example, full body routine 4 weeks, split routine 4weeks, full body routine 4 weeks, and so on.
3. Considering you don't have stomach ulcers and you are not on blood thinners you should also take ONE TEASPOON of cold artic cod liver oilONCE PER DAY with your evening meal.
4. Take 1000-1500mg of lecithin per day. Lecithin has been known to increase the elasticity of the skin.
5. Anything you can do to increase circulation will also help. Skin brushing techniques are very good. Do a search on the internet for skin brushing to get all the info you need. Deep massages are also good.
6. Most importantly if you are more than 75 pounds overweight DO NOT try to lose weight too fast. The more you weigh the easier it will be to lose weight on this program so ease into it slowly so you only lose about 3 pounds per week. Doing this will prevent the sagging skin. If you loseweight too fast you will end up with loose skin 90% of the time.
7. Some of my clients have done weekly body wraps with great success but it can get messy. You can do this as an option but it's really notnecessary.
As an option you can also take a supplement called collagen.
As I stated above one key to increasing the elasticity of your skin is to keep your body well hydrated. Yes, drinking water will do this. The average person needs at least ½ an ounce of water per pound of body weight. Possibly more depending on the type of exercise you do on a daily basis. The reason why so many people end up with loose skin after losing weight is because they go on low carbohydrate diets that will in turn dehydrate the body. If you lose weight and are dehydrated in the process you will see the scale weight go down but unfortunately most of the weight being lost is nothing more than water weight. If you are losing 2-3 pounds per week you are doing great. If you are losing 4-6 pounds you are pushing the limit. Any more than 6 pounds per week and you are sure to end up with loose skin after losing the weight because chances are you are restricting too many carbohydrates from your diet. Cutting out refined flours/breadsand sugars will yield the best results.
Also, instead of getting on the scale every week to measure your progress go more by how your clothes are fitting. I always tell my clients to try on the tightest pair of pants they have and then follow my program for 4 weeks and then try them on again. After 4 weeks those tight fitting pantswill be a thing of the past.
Heart Disease
Even the most mindful woman may not recognize her number one health threat - heart disease.
"Women and Heart Disease: Myths, Magnitude, and Management," the recent edition of the We Care for You brochure series produced by the Office of Health Promotion at Baylor College of Medicine, provides the fundamentals of heart disease that are all too often ignored by women and the medicalfield.
"We are so worried about breast cancer that we tune out the fact that heart disease is the number one killer of women older than 25 years old," said Dr. Karla Kurrelmeyer, assistant professor of medicine-cardiology at BCM. "Cardiovascular diseases kill twice as many women as all forms ofcancer combined."
Due to this lack of attention, women are generally under-treated for heart disease. To avoid becoming a statistic, Kurrelmeyer encourages women to take a proactive role in their health care. The following are simple wayswomen can reduce their risk of heart disease:
* Don't smoke.
* Eat a healthy diet.
* Exercise regularly.
* Maintain mental wellness.
* See a physician regularly.
* Get enough sleep.
"Although all women are susceptible to heart disease, they can manage their health through awareness, healthy behaviors, aggressive treatment, and a partnership with their physicians," said Kurrelmeyer. "The controllable risk factors for heart disease can be improved through simplelifestyle changes."
"Women and Heart Disease: Myths, Magnitude, and Management," the recent edition of the We Care for You brochure series produced by the Office of Health Promotion at Baylor College of Medicine, provides the fundamentals of heart disease that are all too often ignored by women and the medicalfield.
"We are so worried about breast cancer that we tune out the fact that heart disease is the number one killer of women older than 25 years old," said Dr. Karla Kurrelmeyer, assistant professor of medicine-cardiology at BCM. "Cardiovascular diseases kill twice as many women as all forms ofcancer combined."
Due to this lack of attention, women are generally under-treated for heart disease. To avoid becoming a statistic, Kurrelmeyer encourages women to take a proactive role in their health care. The following are simple wayswomen can reduce their risk of heart disease:
* Don't smoke.
* Eat a healthy diet.
* Exercise regularly.
* Maintain mental wellness.
* See a physician regularly.
* Get enough sleep.
"Although all women are susceptible to heart disease, they can manage their health through awareness, healthy behaviors, aggressive treatment, and a partnership with their physicians," said Kurrelmeyer. "The controllable risk factors for heart disease can be improved through simplelifestyle changes."
MESOTHELIOMA TREATMENT
Treatment
Pleural effusion caused by heart failure or infection can usually be resolved by directing treatment at the cause, however, when testing has realized no diagnosis, and fluid continues to build or recur, doctors may recommend chest tube drainage and chemical pleurodesis. Chemical pleurodesis is a technique in which a sclerosing agent is used to abrade the pleural surfaces producing an adhesion between the parietal and visceral pleurae. This will prevent further effusion by eliminating the pleural space. Talc appears to be the most effective agent for pleurodesis, with a success rate of nearly 95%. It is highly effective when administered by either poudrage or slurry. Poudrage is the most widely used method of instilling talc into the pleural space. Before spraying the talc, the medical team removes all pleural fluid to completely collapse the lung. After the talc is administered, they inspect the pleural cavity to be sure the talc has been evenly distributed over the pleural surface. Some doctors prefer to use talc mixed with saline solution which forms a wet slurry that can roll around the pleural cavity.
Pleural effusion caused by heart failure or infection can usually be resolved by directing treatment at the cause, however, when testing has realized no diagnosis, and fluid continues to build or recur, doctors may recommend chest tube drainage and chemical pleurodesis. Chemical pleurodesis is a technique in which a sclerosing agent is used to abrade the pleural surfaces producing an adhesion between the parietal and visceral pleurae. This will prevent further effusion by eliminating the pleural space. Talc appears to be the most effective agent for pleurodesis, with a success rate of nearly 95%. It is highly effective when administered by either poudrage or slurry. Poudrage is the most widely used method of instilling talc into the pleural space. Before spraying the talc, the medical team removes all pleural fluid to completely collapse the lung. After the talc is administered, they inspect the pleural cavity to be sure the talc has been evenly distributed over the pleural surface. Some doctors prefer to use talc mixed with saline solution which forms a wet slurry that can roll around the pleural cavity.
MESOTHELIOMA SYMPTOMS
Symptoms
As the volume of fluid increases, shortness of breath, known as "dyspnea", and sometimes pain, ranging from mild to stabbing, may occur. Some patients may experience a dry cough. When the doctor listens to the patient’s chest with a stethoscope, normal breath sounds are muted, andtapping on the chest will reveal dull rather than hollow sounds.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of pleural effusion is usually accomplished with a simple chest x-ray, although CT scans or ultrasound may also be used. A special x-ray technique, called a lateral decubitus film, may be used to detect smaller effusions or to enable the physician to estimate of the amount of fluid present. If the underlying cause of the effusion is readily apparent (such as in the case of severe congestive heart failure), sampling of the fluid may not be necessary, however, because pleural effusion may be symptomatic of a number of disease processes from benign to malignant, a fluid sample is generally taken. Diagnostic thoracentesis, in which cells are extracted from the pleural cavity, is commonly done when the possibility of mesothelioma exists, however, in up to 85% of cases, the fluid tests negative or inconclusive even though cancer is present. It is ultimately a needle biopsy of the pleura (lining of the lung) or an open surgicalbiopsy which confirms a mesothelioma diagnosis.
As the volume of fluid increases, shortness of breath, known as "dyspnea", and sometimes pain, ranging from mild to stabbing, may occur. Some patients may experience a dry cough. When the doctor listens to the patient’s chest with a stethoscope, normal breath sounds are muted, andtapping on the chest will reveal dull rather than hollow sounds.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of pleural effusion is usually accomplished with a simple chest x-ray, although CT scans or ultrasound may also be used. A special x-ray technique, called a lateral decubitus film, may be used to detect smaller effusions or to enable the physician to estimate of the amount of fluid present. If the underlying cause of the effusion is readily apparent (such as in the case of severe congestive heart failure), sampling of the fluid may not be necessary, however, because pleural effusion may be symptomatic of a number of disease processes from benign to malignant, a fluid sample is generally taken. Diagnostic thoracentesis, in which cells are extracted from the pleural cavity, is commonly done when the possibility of mesothelioma exists, however, in up to 85% of cases, the fluid tests negative or inconclusive even though cancer is present. It is ultimately a needle biopsy of the pleura (lining of the lung) or an open surgicalbiopsy which confirms a mesothelioma diagnosis.
Mesothelioma part-3
Mesothelioma is a disease that is almost 100% preventable; the only known cause is via exposure to the deadly mineral Asbestos. It comes from inhaling the particles of dust as the asbestos degrades; eating away at the lining of your lungs and developing into a deadly cancer. Dust that was inhaled in clouds of white powder, dust that was carried home on the clothes of the men who built this country, dust that was cleaned from the clothes by the wives and children who supported their sole provider at home, dust that was packed around the heating systems in houses and offices and schools, dust that carried a deadly price; and dust made afortune in blood money for the companies that produced it.
Unfortunately, the effects of asbestos on the human body were known to be deadly for years by the companies who employed the ‘greatest generation’ and made hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars off of their backs. But instead of taking simple steps to alleviate the problem and save the lives of thousands of their workers, they choose to do nothing and continue to make a “healthy” profit with a “deadly” product. Many even went so far as to hide the truth from their workers and their families. And because the normal latency period for Mesothelioma (The time from exposure until the patient falls ill) is 20 to 30 years, many got away with this for years. We are only now beginning to see the full effects of the disease, and feel the terrible outcry of the people against those whoput profits before human lives to a degree that is simply unfathomable.
Unfortunately, the effects of asbestos on the human body were known to be deadly for years by the companies who employed the ‘greatest generation’ and made hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars off of their backs. But instead of taking simple steps to alleviate the problem and save the lives of thousands of their workers, they choose to do nothing and continue to make a “healthy” profit with a “deadly” product. Many even went so far as to hide the truth from their workers and their families. And because the normal latency period for Mesothelioma (The time from exposure until the patient falls ill) is 20 to 30 years, many got away with this for years. We are only now beginning to see the full effects of the disease, and feel the terrible outcry of the people against those whoput profits before human lives to a degree that is simply unfathomable.
MESOTHELIOMA STAGES
Treatment options are often determined by the stage of mesothelioma a patient is in. There are three staging systems currently in use for pleural mesothelioma and each one measures somewhat different variables;peritoneal mesothelioma is not staged.
The oldest staging system and the one most often used is the Butchart System which is based mainly on the extent of primary tumor mass and divides mesotheliomas into four stages. The more recent TNM system considers variables of tumor in mass and spread, lymph node involvement, and metastasis. The Brigham System is the latest system and stages mesothelioma according to resectability (the ability to surgically remove)and lymph node involvement.
Butchart System extent of primary tumor mass
* Stage I: Mesothelioma is present in the right or left pleura and may also involve the diaphragm on the same side.
* Stage II: Mesothelioma invades the chest wall or involves the esophagus, heart, or pleura on both sides. Lymph nodes in the chest may also be involved.
* Stage III: Mesothelioma has penetrated through the diaphragm into the lining of the abdominal cavity or peritoneum. Lymph nodes beyond those in the chest may also be involved.
* Stage IV: There is evidence of metastasis or spread through the bloodstream to other organs.
TNM System -- variables of T (tumor), N (lymph nodes), M (metastasis)
* Stage I: Mesothelioma involves right or left pleura and may also have spread to the lung, pericardium, or diaphragm on the same side. Lymph nodes are not involved.
* Stage II: Mesothelioma has spread from the pleura on one side to nearby lymph nodes next to the lung on the same side. It may also have spread into the lung, pericardium, or diaphragm on the same side.
* Stage III: Mesothelioma is now in the chest wall, muscle, ribs, heart, esophagus, or other organs in the chest on the same side with or without spread to lymph nodes on the same side as the primary tumor.
* Stage IV: Mesothelioma has spread into the lymph nodes in the chest on the side opposite the primary tumor, or extends to the pleura or lung on the opposite side, or directly extends into organs in the abdominal cavity or neck. Any distant metastases is included in this stage.
Brigham System: (variables of tumor resectability and nodal status)
* Stage I: Resectable mesothelioma and no lymph node involvement
* Stage II: Resectable mesothelioma but with lymph node involvement
* Stage III: Unresectable mesothelioma extending into chest wall, heart, or through diaphragm, peritoneum; with or without extrathoracic lymph node involvement
* Stage IV: Distant metastatic disease.
The oldest staging system and the one most often used is the Butchart System which is based mainly on the extent of primary tumor mass and divides mesotheliomas into four stages. The more recent TNM system considers variables of tumor in mass and spread, lymph node involvement, and metastasis. The Brigham System is the latest system and stages mesothelioma according to resectability (the ability to surgically remove)and lymph node involvement.
Butchart System extent of primary tumor mass
* Stage I: Mesothelioma is present in the right or left pleura and may also involve the diaphragm on the same side.
* Stage II: Mesothelioma invades the chest wall or involves the esophagus, heart, or pleura on both sides. Lymph nodes in the chest may also be involved.
* Stage III: Mesothelioma has penetrated through the diaphragm into the lining of the abdominal cavity or peritoneum. Lymph nodes beyond those in the chest may also be involved.
* Stage IV: There is evidence of metastasis or spread through the bloodstream to other organs.
TNM System -- variables of T (tumor), N (lymph nodes), M (metastasis)
* Stage I: Mesothelioma involves right or left pleura and may also have spread to the lung, pericardium, or diaphragm on the same side. Lymph nodes are not involved.
* Stage II: Mesothelioma has spread from the pleura on one side to nearby lymph nodes next to the lung on the same side. It may also have spread into the lung, pericardium, or diaphragm on the same side.
* Stage III: Mesothelioma is now in the chest wall, muscle, ribs, heart, esophagus, or other organs in the chest on the same side with or without spread to lymph nodes on the same side as the primary tumor.
* Stage IV: Mesothelioma has spread into the lymph nodes in the chest on the side opposite the primary tumor, or extends to the pleura or lung on the opposite side, or directly extends into organs in the abdominal cavity or neck. Any distant metastases is included in this stage.
Brigham System: (variables of tumor resectability and nodal status)
* Stage I: Resectable mesothelioma and no lymph node involvement
* Stage II: Resectable mesothelioma but with lymph node involvement
* Stage III: Unresectable mesothelioma extending into chest wall, heart, or through diaphragm, peritoneum; with or without extrathoracic lymph node involvement
* Stage IV: Distant metastatic disease.
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