Alzheimer's - boost your brainpower


Of course, sometimes you can not remember where you put your keys. But that does not mean that your steel-trap mind is doomed to turn into a colander as you get older. "You can build up your brain, just like a muscle," says Stephen Kritchevsky, Ph.D, director of the Sticht Center on Aging at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C. Researchers haven't yet found a way to prevent Alzheimer's disease, but they have uncovered plenty of defenses against the mental missteps we all experience.

Eat salad every day
People who consumed about three servings of vegetables daily had a 40 percent slower rate of cognitive decline over 6 years than those who shunned veggies, leaving the produce lovers the mental equals of someone 5 years younger. Green leafy vegetables seemed to have the strongest effect, perhaps because of their high vitamin E content, say researchers. Add vitamin E–rich spinach, almonds, or sunflower seeds to the mix for a smarter salad.

Test your hearing
Have your hearing tested every 3 years after age 50. Prevent further hearing loss by turning down the volume. If you have an MP3 player, make sure you set it no higher than 80 percent of the maximum, says Brian Fligor, ScD, director of diagnostic audiology at Children's Hospital Boston.

Give better attention
As you get older, you become less efficient at sifting through different types of sensory information — so much so that a distracting environment can interfere with memories forming in your brain. But a recent study suggested a fix: Participants were asked to pick out certain letters among a jumble of them while ignoring superfluous sounds. Those who first completed an attention-training course in noisy rooms had significantly higher scores.

Keep your BMI below 25
In memory tests, people with a healthy BMI of 20 recalled an average of 9 out of 16 words, while those with a BMI of 30 — the threshold for obesity — remembered just 7, found a study in Neurology. That difference sounds small, but researchers say it can be enough to have a noticeable impact.

Eating a fish
Eat two fish dishes weekly. If you're not a seafood fan, experiment with mild (and low-mercury) varieties such as tilapia, scallops, or shrimp.

Eat for lower blood pressure
Consume at least three servings of calcium-rich foods daily. Doing so slashes your risk of developing hypertension, research has found.

Check your blood sugar
Have your blood sugar checked once a year, take a 30-minute walk, Eat four to six small meals a day; this also keeps your blood sugar on an even keel.

Be like a boy scout
Spend 20 minutes a day tidying the house to nurture this trait.

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Allergic to Wireless?


EHS (Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity Syndrome) is a condition in which people are highly sensitive to electromagnetic fields. In an area like a wireless hotspot, they experience pain or other symptoms. People with EHS experience a variety of symptoms including burning and itchy skin, headache, panic attacks, chest pain and heart problems, nausea, fatigue,confusion/poor concentration and/or memory loss, ear pain/ringing in the ears, paralysis, insomnia, feeling a vibration and muscle aches. These symptoms are subjective and vary between individuals, which makes the condition difficult to study.

More than 30 studies conducted to determine what link the condition has to exposure to electromagnetic fields from sources such as radar dishes, mobile phone signals and, Wi-Fi hotspots.

Why is WiFi Potentially Worse than Other Radiation?

These day, electomagnetic fields are all around us, no matter where you live. They emanate from power lines, household electrical wiring, appliances and microwaves, televisions. Then you have the information-carrying radio waves of cell phones, cell phone towers and wireless internet connections.

WiFi is a kind of radio wave that operates at either 2.4 or 5 gigahertz – slightly higher than your cell phone. Since they’re designed to allow for transmission of very large amounts of data, WiFi radio waves also emit greater amounts electromagnetic radiation.


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Signs and Symptoms of EHS (Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity Syndrome)


The director of the U.S. support group Electrical Sensitivity Network, and author of two books: The Electrical Sensitivity Handbook and Workstation Radiation, Lucinda Grant, compares electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) to that of multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), which is an apt comparison as both groups are environmental canaries.

Chemical sensitivity was also once thought to originate in the minds of hysterical housewives. Many times, those suffering from electromagnetic hypersensitivity will also be highly sensitive to chemicals or suffer from MCS. Other at-risk groups for developing EHS include those with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and people who experiencing mercury toxicity from dental amalgams. This makes logical sense since your nervous system is a primary site impacted by both chemicals and electromagnetic fields. And if your nervous system has been damaged from toxic exposures you may also be more susceptible to EHS as well.

The five most common symptoms of electromagnetic hypersensitivity are:
1. confusion/poor concentration, and/or memory loss
2. skin itch/rash/flushing/burning, and/or tingling
3. headache
4. fatigue and weakness
5. chest pain and heart problems

Less commonly reported symptoms include:
* panic attacks
* ear pain/ringing in the ears
* insomnia
* seizures
* feeling a vibration
* nausea
* dizziness
* paralysis

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Vitamin C Is Illegal


Beware, just for taking vitamin C, you could be thrown in jail for up to 2 years and fined up to $5,000,000.

This statement could become a reality in Canada. The Canadian Government is trying to pass a bill known as Bill C51. According to some interpretations of the bill, it would remove all supplements from over-the-counter availability, by only allowing MD’s to prescribe them as they see fit. That would mean that if you wanted to take a vitamin, you must have to book an appointment with your doctor . If your doctor decides a certain drug would be better for you, then you won't have access to your vitamin anymore.

Consequences of the bill could include:
* No more supplement stores
* Supplements made illegal unless obtained through a prescription; 70 percent of all current supplements on the market could be removed
* Fines of up to $5,000,000.00 and/or 2 years in jail per incident of being caught breaking this law

What do you think about that?


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How To Quit Smoking

Prepare yourself
You don't have to stop immediately, but set a date for quitting. Choose a time when you will not have much stress in your life. Get rid of ashtrays, lighters, cups or spit before leaving. Do not let people smoke in your home.

Change to brand that you find unpleasant
Change to a brand that is low in tar and nicotine a few weeks before the deadline. This will change your smoking behavior. However, do not smoke more cigarettes, inhale more often or more deeply, or place your hand over the holes in the filters. All these will increase your intake of nicotine, and the idea is to get your body to function without nicotine

Reducing the number of cigarettes that you smoke
  • Each day, delay lighting your first cigarette 1 hour.
  • Decide you only smoke during or even odd hours of the day.
  • Decide in advance how many cigarettes you smoke during the day. For each cigarette, give a dollar to your charity :)
  • Smoke only half of each cigarette.
  • Remember: Cutting down can help you, but this is not a substitute for quitting. If you are about seven cigarettes a day, it is time to put your date and get ready to take.

Change your routine
Change your eating habits to help you reduce them. For example, drink milk, which many people consider incompatible with smoking. End meals or snacks with something that will not lead to a cigarette.

Do not smoke "Automatically"
  • Smoke cigarettes that you really want. Catch yourself before lighting a cigarette.
  • Put yourself aware of each cigarette using hand or putting cigarettes in an unknown location or another pocket to break the automatic reach.
  • Do not empty your ashtrays. This will remind you how many cigarettes you've smoked each day and the sight and smell of cigarette butts will be very unpleasant.
  • If you light many times during the day without even thinking about it, try to look in a mirror whenever you put a match to your cigarette - May you decide that you don't need it.
  • Stop carrying cigarettes with you at home and at work. Make them difficult to get to.
  • Stop buying cigarettes by the carton. Wait until a package is empty before buying another.

Make smoking unpleasant
  • Collect all you cigarette butts in one large glass container as a visual reminder of the filth smoking represents.
  • Smoke only under circumstances that aren't especially pleasurable for you. If you like to smoke with others, smoke alone. Turn your chair toward an empty corner and focus only on the cigarette you are smoking and its many negative effects.

Stop Smoking!!!
  • Throw away all your cigarettes and matches. Hide your lighters and ashtrays.
  • Tell yourself you won't smoke today, and then don't.
  • Don't think of NEVER smoking again. Think of quitting in terms of 1 day at a time.
  • Keep busy!!!
  • Clean your clothes to rid them of the cigarette smell.
  • Remind your family and friends, ask them to help you over the rough spots of the first couple of days and weeks.
  • Make a list of things you'd like to buy for yourself or someone else. Estimate the cost in terms of packs of cigarettes, and put the money aside to buy these presents.
  • Drink large quantities of water and fruit juice.
  • Try to avoid alcohol, coffee, sodas that contain caffeine, and other beverages that you associate with cigarette smoking.

Use medicine
It can help with appetite and stress. You can buy nicotine gum, lozenges, or patches without a prescription. Your doctor may also give you medicines such as bupropion (Zyban) or varenicline (Chantix). Using products nicotine replacement and / or medicine doubles your chances of quitting smoking for good.

Get help.
Ask your family, friends, doctor and help you. Stopping smoking is difficult, but if you have help and a plan, it is much easier.

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What Is Mesothelium?

The mesothelium is a membrane that forms the lining of several body cavities: the pleura (thoracal cavity), peritoneum (abdominal cavity including the mesentery) and pericardium (heart sac). Mesothelium derives from the embryonic mesoderm cell layer, that lines the coelom (body cavity) in the embryo. It develops into the layer of cells that covers and protects most of the internal organs of the body.

The mesothelium produces a lubricating fluid that is released between these layers, allowing moving organs (such as the beating heart and the expanding and contracting lungs) to glide easily against adjacent structures. Mesothelial tissue also surrounds the male internal reproductive organs (the tunica vaginalis testis) and covers the internal reproductive organs of women (the tunica serosa uteri). Mesothelium that covers the internal organs is called visceral mesothelium, while the layer that covers the body walls is called the parietal mesothelium.

The mesothelium has different names, depending on its location in the body. The peritoneum is the mesothelial tissue that covers most of the organs in the abdominal cavity. The pleura is the membrane that surrounds the lungs and lines the wall of the chest cavity. The pericardium covers and protects the heart. The mesothelial tissue surrounding the male internal reproductive organs is called the tunica vaginalis testis. The tunica serosa uteri covers the internal reproductive organs in women.

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What Is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is almost always caused by previous exposure to asbestos. In this disease, malignant cells develop in the mesothelium, a protective lining that covers most of the body's internal organs. Its most common site is the pleura (outer lining of the lungs and chest cavity), but it may also occur in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity) or the pericardium (a sac that surrounds the heart).

Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles, or they have been exposed to asbestos dust and fibre in other ways, such as by washing the clothes of a family member who worked with asbestos. Unlike lung cancer, there is no association between mesothelioma and smoking. Compensation via asbestos funds or lawsuits is an important issue in mesothelioma.



Mesothelioma Tumor



Tumor Mesothelioma


The symptoms of mesothelioma include shortness of breath due to pleural effusion (fluid between the lung and the chest wall) or chest wall pain, and general symptoms such as weight loss. The diagnosis can be made with chest X-rays and a CT scan, and confirmed with a biopsy (tissue sample) and microscopic examination. A thoracoscopy (inserting a tube with a camera into the chest) can be used to take biopsies. It allows the introduction of substances such as talc to obliterate the pleural space (called pleurodesis), which prevents more fluid from accumulating and pressing on the lung. Despite treatment with chemotherapy, radiation therapy or sometimes surgery, the disease carries a poor prognosis. Research about screening tests for the early detection of mesothelioma is ongoing.


Source: Wikipedia

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How To Reduce Risks of Breast Cancer in Women

It May be a new reason for physical education classes in schools and a new engine for women to reach the gym. New research has shown that physical activity helps reduce the risk of breast cancer among women. The researchers found that women between the ages of 12 and 35 who exercised regularly may reduce their risk of the disease by 23%.

A prospective study, funded by the National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society, was conducted involving approximately 65000 pre-menopausal women, a nurse Health Study II. The survey focused on researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and Harvard University in Boston. For the survey, women explained their physical activities carried out from 12 years now. The survey results revealed that women who walked 13 hours per week or 3.25 lasted hours have 23 percent lower risk of developing breast cancer before menopause than women who were less active. Five hundred and fifty women and about 65000 enrolled in the investigation developed breast cancer before menopause within six years.

There are many factors that increase women's chances of developing breast cancer and many of those, like early onset of menses, when menopause occurs and family history are uncontrollable. However, there are several factors that can be controlled and can help prevent breast cancer, such as exercise, alcohol consumption, body weight, and taking hormones.

Breast cancer deaths have declined nationally during recent years, perhaps because of early detection and diagnosis. It is still the second leading cause of death among women (after lung cancer in the number one spot). All the risk of cancer increases with age. At 30 years, women over a period of 10 years has a 1 in 234 chance to develop breast cancer, but at 60 this opportunity has increased by 1 to 28.

The exercise! It contributes not only to your physical well-being, it has also been found to help ward off breast cancer. Studies have shown that even if you were a books increasingly, it is never too late to start exercising. A researcher has found that two hours of walking per day prevented quarter cases of breast cancer. Walk to the mailbox, walk to your neighbor rather than driving, do not park in the parking spot closest, and take the stairs whenever possible. Find ways to walk or exercise during your normal daily activities. It might help you in more ways than you realize.

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Breast Cancer in Younger Women

Beware: Breast Cancer May Be More Aggressive in Younger Women

Breast cancer! The words tend to spread fear in the heart of most women. They are, in short, scary, although usually spoken or heard the conversation on the news. The latest news, with the permission of Norwegian researchers, is that the rate of breast cancer develops varies and tends to have a growth rate faster among young women, which offers little solace.

The scientists used a new mathematical model that enabled them to estimate the number of breast cancers that are detected by mammography. The principal researcher Harald Weedon-Fekjr, Department of etiological research, Cancer Registry of Norway, said: "We found that mammography test sensitivity of the screen increases with the size of tumors has increased, as Not surprisingly. detection rate is only 26% for a 5 millimeter tumor, but increase to 91% once a tumor is 10 mm in size. "

Researchers model was tested by mammography results of the age of 50 to 69 in a study of 395188 women. A complex formula was used to determine the size of tumors were when they were detected; surgically removed tumors were measured, as well as other data have been compiled in the study. Researchers say these findings May aid in the evaluation and planning of screening programs, and other studies and clinical trials. "There are enormous implications for the sensitivity of breast cancer screening programmes," Weedon-Fekjr added.

The growth rate of tumors showed a significant difference between patients. About one in 20 tumors doubled in size-10-to 20 millimetres in just over a month, yet in other cases, the same number of tumours took over six years to double in size. The research team believes it takes an average of 1.7 years for tumors to double in size depending on their results. And tumor growth seems to be fastest among young women and slowed as older women. The research team's report reads as follows: "tumour growth seems to vary considerably between tumors, with higher growth rates among young women."

How many times a woman must obtain a mammogram? Some studies have reported evidence to support mammography and whether or not it saves lives. All experts agree that if the cancer is detected early, it is much easier to treat.

According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among women worldwide. At the global level, in 2007 it is estimated that 465000 women died of breast cancer and 1.3 million new cases were diagnosed.

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Heart Attack and Stroke Warning Signs

Here are some warning signs of a heart attack:
  • The discomfort in the chest. Most heart attacks discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or it may disappear and come back. It may feel uncomfortable as a pressure, fullness, pressure or pain.
  • Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms may include discomfort and pain in one or both arms, jaw, back or stomach.
  • Shortness of Breath. This feeling can occur with or without the discomfort in the chest.
  • Other signs of discomfort may occur such as nausea, break into a cold sweat, or lightheadedness.
  • As with men, the most common sign of a heart attack in women is chest discomfort or pain. However, women are more likely to experience other symptoms, especially in shortness of breath, back or jaw pain and nausea / vomiting.


The warning signs of stroke:
  • A sudden weakness or numbness of the face, legs or arms, especially focusing on one side of the body.
  • A sharp sense of confusion, difficulty speaking or understanding.
  • Trouble see on one eye or both.
  • A sudden problems with walking, loss of balance or coordination or dizziness.
  • A sudden severe headache with a cause that is not known.

If you or someone you know are showing signs of having a stroke or heart attack, immediately call 9-1-1. An emergency medical team can begin treatment as soon as they arrive. This means that the treatment can begin sooner than if the patient arrived at the hospital by car. Also, the EMS team is also trained to revive someone whose heart has stopped, which has saved hundreds of lives every year.

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Go Red For Women

The new movement, Go Red for Women, is the celebration of energy, passion, and power we have as women to band together and eliminate heart disease and stroke. Thanks to the millions who participated across America, the color red and the red dress now stand for the ability all women have to improve their heart health and live longer, stronger lives. Today, the American Heart Association short-term goal is nothing less than 25% reduction in the risk of stroke and coronary heart disease by the year 2010. Like everyone else working on this goal, the American Heart Association is working hard to change the perception that heart disease is just a "man's disease," and it is beginning to work. By teaching more women how to talk to their doctors about heart disease, we can save thousands of lives each year. Because the good news is that we can often prevent heart disease.

If you hear about heart disease for the first time and wonder what it is, here's a little information:
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) are diseases of the heart and blood vessels. Most heart and blood vessel complications develop over time and occur when your arteries develop atherosclerosis, a process that may begin in childhood and is a progressive accumulation of plaque in arteries.

The plate contains fat, cholesterol and other substances, and it can grow so large that it will reduce the blood flow through the artery. Most damage occurs when plaque become so fragile it breaks. The plaque rupture can cause blood clots from forming and training they can block the flow of blood to the rupture site, or it may break off and travel through the artery to other parts of the body. If any of these situations occur and blocks an artery that feeds the brain or the heart, it can cause a stroke or a heart attack.

(For Heart Attack and Stroke Warning Signs, read: here)

As doctors have learned more about cardiovascular disease, they have also discovered some steps that you can take to help keep your heart healthy. It is easy to learn how to lead a heart-healthy lifestyle. You can begin with engaging in regular physical activity, then move to eating healthy, and that leads to reducing stress. You will not only keep your heart happy, it will also put a smile on your face too.

Does all of this sound like you will have to change your whole life? here's some fun ways you can add heart healthy habits into your daily routine.
  • For physical activity, you can try walking, jogging, or even dancing with someone you love.
  • For a healthy diet, you can eat more whole grains and fruits delicious.
  • To reduce stress, you can take time to work on your hobby.
  • If you smoke, you can also consider quitting. You can think this way, the money you save you may want to spend on a family trip instead of a pack of cigarettes and you are improving your health.

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Go Green With Feminine Hygiene

As the world becomes increasingly aware of environmental concerns, many people have found ways to integrate "green" alternatives in their daily lives. Women can play a role in these recycling and conservation of time if they consider that the products they use per month during menstruation. There are many products currently on the market which serve as a reasonable, if not better, alternatives to traditional ones.

Although these alternative products such as tampons and pads, lining fabric, and reusable menstrual cups are not for everyone, those who went to these eco-options are generally satisfied with the results. In addition, many of the products will cost less than major brands, and the reusable products can save a great deal of money for female consumers in the long run.

Disposable Products

Several brands have recently entered the market, which offer security and chlorine-free tampons and pads for those who seek to continue to use the types of products to which they have become accustomed. The advantage of using new products is that they are free of chemicals and 100% natural, organic cotton.

Natracare is the most common brand, which manufactures and sells tampons and pads that are disposable but free of chemicals. The product line was conceived as a response to health and environmental concerns on the use of radiation, dioxin pollution caused by chlorine bleaching, and widespread use of pesticides on most cotton. Dioxin has also been linked to cancer and other health problems, so as to reduce exposure to dioxins has been an important factor in the creation of buffer, and certified organic cotton was the answer.

Other brands that meet the eco-consumer include organic essential and Seventh Generation, both of which use certified organic cotton and are free of dioxin and bleach. Stores like Whole Foods and Trader Joe's carrying some natural products, but they can also be ordered online at Amazon or private companies that specialize in "green" products.

Menstrual Cups

Menstrual cup are small, bell-shaped cups inserted into the vagina to catch the menstrual flow. Although there are disposable cups, the most popular environmentally friendly type is the type reusable because they last up to ten years. Most are made of rubber or silicone.

The Keeper is a common brand that is made of natural rubber gum, but for women with latex allergies, DivaCup is preferred, as it is made of silicone. Both products can be raised from 6 to 12 hours at a time, depending on flows, and then gutted, cleaned and reinserted. They are also in two sizes - one for those who have children born, and one for those who have not. Women seem to appreciate the convenience of a single product, which comes with a cloth bag, and the absence of any need for back-up pad protection.

Pads reusable

A few years ago, it was common for women to use cloth diapers for babies, and in the light of developments become environmentally friendly, many parents are iron. The same goes for women and menstrual pads. Considering the large amount of waste disposable pads, reusable fabric products are increasingly popular with women. Clothes can be washed and reused, and while the cruise line and owners are not exactly cheap, quite a bit of money is saved in time due to the recycling of all products concerned.

There are many brands available, including GladRags and LunaPads that are made in different sizes, colors and styles and can be accessorized with carrying cases and containers soaking. What many women as on clothing reusable is their softness and comfort, all are made of cotton - the most organic cotton - and free of chemicals and other materials found in disposable plates. Some brands, like organic Sorella Luna platelets are all-in-one products that do not require the holder of another line and be purchased.

In principle, after use, platelets are stored in a container filled with water to soak, which helps prevent stains, until the garments can be washed. Some people let it dry, then soak in cold water before washing, but May stains will not come so easily. Despite this, the process is simple and prevents waste and discomfort that most women find a store, disposable pads.

Stamps reusable

It does not seem the most obvious point of reuse, but it can be done with the proper equipment. Wednesday sponge tampons are actually extracted from the ocean floor and are about as natural as one can get. There is no applicator, only that the sponge is flushed out every few hours and reinserted. At the end of the menstrual cycle, it must be cleaned and dried in the air, care and allow the buffer to be reused for about six months.

There are several companies that manufacture sea sponges to this end, sea pearls and Jade and Pearl. Considering that a woman typically uses 11000 tampons - a widely accepted estimate - in its rules, be able to buy two sponges for $ 10 or $ 12 and use them for a whole year makes it very economically and environmentally.

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Hormone Replacement Therapy: Pill or Patch?

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is regularly prescribed to women for the relief of hot flushes, night sweats and other symptoms of menopause. Currently, about 1 million women taking Hormone replacement therapy, with an estimated three out of four using the pill. Previous studies have shown HRT to be associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease, breast cancer and venous thromboembolism (VTE), a potentially fatal blood clot in the veins. Although these studies has prompted millions of women to abandon HRT drugs, they did not access the benefit / risk to women or if the risk varies depending on the type of treatment.

However, French researchers recently completed an investigation into the risk of blood clots from two different forms of HRT, the pill and patch. Dr. Pierre-Yves Scarabin, research director at the National Institute of Health and Medical Research and his colleagues examined data from eight studies observation and nine randomized controlled trials on HRT and VDTs and found that Women taking oral HRT had double the risk of blood clots compared to women who use skin patches, and 2.5 times the risk for women not taking estrogen. They also found the risk to be significantly higher during the first year of treatment and women who were overweight or prone to develop blood clots. The increased risk translates into another group of 11 cases per 10000 women each year based on a combination HRT, in both cases by 10000 for estrogen only HRT, according to the study authors. Women who stopped taking HRT risks have seen their return to normalcy.

The researchers said that the reason for this difference in risk between oral, and the patch may be due to how estrogen is absorbed into the bloodstream. When taken orally, estrogen entering the digestive system and is processed by the liver. This process could undermine the balance between clotting and the fight against clotting factors in the blood. The authors added that, like most data came from observing trials, the results should be interpreted with caution.

Other experts, like Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum, director of women and heart disease at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, agrees. "It is observation and very interesting, but it is clear that more studies should be made. Perhaps this opens the door to a way of giving hormones to more safely to those in need, "she said.

Dr. John Stevenson, president of Women's Health Concern, which provides advice to women in menopause, said that the increased risk of VTE for HRT users is well recognized. "It is linked to estrogen and is dose-dependent, so that the risk can be reduced by using lower doses or non-oral such as patches."

Still others see the study as flawed. The International Menopause Society (IMS) issued a statement just days before the French study was published in the online edition of the British Medical Journal indicating that for women in their 50, HRT was safe and effective and not not increase the risk of heart disease. The group also concluded that HRT had a "minimal" impact on the risk of breast cancer. "The SSI Group of Experts concluded that the only residual risk of HRT in the age group 50-59 years was that of an event thromboembolic a blood clot," said Dr. David Sturdee, British gynaecologist and President of IMS. "This very slight increased risk of a blood clot should not discourage healthy women using HRT if it is needed."

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Straight Women And Gay Have Similar Brains

Gay peoples' brains share similar characteristics to those of the opposite sex, a new study says.

Researchers found resemblances in the brain's physical structure and size as well as the strength of neural connections among gay people and straight people of the opposite sex.

In some ways the brains of straight men and lesbians are on similar wavelengths, the research suggests. Likewise, gay men and straight women appear to have similar brains, in some respects. The findings are new evidence that homosexuals may be born with a predisposition to be gay.

"[Our] data are more difficult to explain by a specific learned behavior related to … sexual orientation," study leader Ivanka Savic, a neuroscientist at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, said in an email.

Past studies have shown that brain activity linked to sexual behavior differs between homosexuals and heterosexuals. But this study is the first to show that the cerebral networks themselves are also different, Savic said.

Fight or Flight?

Differences both in the brain activity and anatomy were observed in a study involving 90 men and women, including homosexuals and heterosexuals of both genders.

The researchers monitored neural activity in the brain by charting blood flow.

The scans were carried out when the volunteers were resting and exposed to no external stimuli.
Researchers focused in particular on the amygdala, an almond-shaped structure inside each brain hemisphere associated with processing and storing emotions.

In homosexuals, brain activity most closely matched that of heterosexuals of the other sex.

For example, the study found that straight men and gay women are both wired for a greater "fight or flight" response than gay men or straight women, the team reports this week in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Also, homosexual men and straight women showed significantly more neural connections across the two brain hemispheres than heterosexual men did.

Symmetrical or Asymmetrical

The two sides of the brain also changed in symmetry depending on the person's sexual orientation.

To determine brain volume, Savic and colleagues also compared the left and right cerebral hemispheres using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and previous research data.

The right hemisphere was found to be slightly larger than the left in heterosexual males and lesbians, whereas those of gay men and straight women were symmetrical.

The results compliment previous research that found differing brain reactions in homo- and heterosexuals in response, for instance, to sexual images and certain pheromones, the authors said.

The latest findings imply that "human sexuality has neurobiological underpinnings," the mechanisms of which are complex and "require humbleness and restraint from quick judgments," Savic said.

Born Gay?

Sandra Witelson, a neuroscientist at the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada, wasn't involved in the new study.

"This was a study that was waiting to be done, because it leads so clearly from the current literature," she said.

Recent work by Witelson and colleagues indicated that the corpus callosum, a long fiber tract that connects the two brain hemispheres, was larger in gay men than in heterosexual men.

Brain features such as the corpus callosum and amygdalae develop very early, suggesting they are primarily genetically determined, she said.

The latest findings "make it very hard to argue that these differences are a product of learning or environmental influences."

But it doesn't necessarily follow that a person's sexuality is determined at birth, Witelson cautioned.

"Sexual orientation has a large genetic component, but that doesn't mean environment is a hundred percent irrelevant," she said.

"For example, heterosexual men in prison [may] engage in homosexual behavior, but that doesn't mean that they are homosexual because, given a choice, they choose the opposite sex."

The next big research question, Witelson said, is to determine whether these brain differences influence behavior.

Source: http://news.nationalgeographic.com

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The Japanese Government Declares War On Fat

The Japanese Government Declares War On Fat, and why the Japanese government so concerned about the waistlines of nearly 44 percent of its population? They are trying to slow the ageing of society swelling cost of health care, and after the adoption of a new law in 2008, planning to spend some of these health care costs on the private sector. The new law is in response to what the government called metabolic syndrome, which is a fancy name for people overweight. (Japanese people have shortened to "metabolites", which is easier to say.) The Japanese Ministry of Health estimates that, if they can reduce the number of overweight Japanese by 10 percent over the next four years, and 25 percent over the next seven years, they can save money and reduce diseases such as diabetes and stroke.

Most Japanese are covered by health insurance or a government program or through their work, so that most of the measure is based on these companies as well as local governments. Measuring will take place during the patient's annual physical examination. The nationally designated waist for Japanese men should not exceed 33.5 inches for women and 35.4 inches. For those who do not meet the standards waist, rehabilitation will be available every three to six month intervals.

Companies work hard to get their employees measured. They will need to measure probably 80% of their employees and their families, retirees and the company. Not only that, they must obtain at least 10 percent of those who have been measured, whose size is more the norm, to lose weight by 2012, and at least 25% of overweight employees should lighten by 2015, or the company will face big fines from the government.

Private research on thousands of Japanese suggests that most citizens are not overweight, and that the men of average size falls just below the dictation new standard, but some critics disagree and say that the new guidelines are too strict, and more than half the adult male is considered overweight. Other critics believe that the government should focus more on people to stop smoking, rather than alleviate their waistlines really reduce health care costs. Japanese are known to smoke more than almost all other advanced countries.

If you are wondering what the waist is recommended by American men and women, the International Diabetes Federation has fixed at 40 inches for men and 34.6 inches for women. And the National Center for Health Statistics tells us that the average man measures size of an inch less than that, and the average women "measures the size of two inches on Women approved the measure.

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Diet And Health

At these days, when the conversation turns to diet, the question is not so much what we should eat as what we shouldn't. Deficiency diseases are almost history. Scientists have identified 19 vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients needed for good health, and our foods are laced with supplements to make sure that we get them.

Our problem today is not "too little", but "too much". Too much fat, salt, sugar ... too much to whatever the latest study has chosen to attack. We will now obtain advice on foods to avoid it is tempting to simply throw your hands and forget all of this. Unfortunately, this is not a realistic option.

Some 34 million Americans are now classified as "obese", 20 percent or more above their ideal weight. And with obesity comes increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and some forms of cancer.

Indeed, according to the American Cancer Society, 50 percent of cancers in women and 30 percent among men May be linked to food. Worse yet, it is estimated that 67 million Americans, 1 out of 4, now have some form of heart disease, and several major risk factors for heart disease, including high cholesterol, obesity, diabetes and hypertension can be aggravated by diet.

Wellbalanced Eat a healthy diet can really be a lifesaver. But decide what is healthy is not an easy task when we are faced with an attack almost every day, often controversial, sometimes even contradictory, nutritional information. To help sort out the claims, here's a quick review of basic facts that we know today.

For some women, food is a challenge for others a compulsion. But food is not like cigarettes or alcohol—you cannot quit if eating gets out of control. Instead, you have to find a balance. There is no good and bad foods, only those who should be eaten more or less often. If your usual diet is rich in complex carbohydrates and low in fat, a celebration is an opportunity you do no harm. If you eat each day, with a little knowledge and some choices, you can manage that, too. While you concentrate on reducing back on fat, increase your consumption of healthprotecting fruits, vegetables and cereals. Think about healthy eating as a lifestyle choice, not a diet. The changes you make should be livable enough to last a lifetime.

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Lung Cancer

What you should know about Lung Cancer
The first warning of lung cancer is usually a spot on a chest X-ray, which revealed a tumor in the lungs and ends up as a place on a chest X-ray. Like all cancers, the disease is the result of the uncontrolled proliferation of cells. Normal cells divide in a planned way, creating more cells only when needed. Cancerous cells grow and divide without control or order, often making excess tissue that becomes a tumor. The cells become cancerous in May nearby healthy tissue, or May break with the tumor and travel through the bloodstream or lymphatic system to other body parts, such as liver, bone, or the brain.

Signs / Symptoms of Lung Cancer
At the beginning of lung cancer are usually no symptoms. Later, signs include:
Difficulty breathing
Constant coughing
Achy, non-localized pain in the chest
Cold frequent
Sifflante
Expectorations bloody
The cough a lot of spat
Fatigue
Weakness
Weight loss
If the cancer has spread, May you also have other problems.


Lung Cancer Risks
Without treatment, the cancer eventually spread. Almost all forms of cancer, have unpleasant side effects, and May fail to halt its spread. However, treatment especially when performed early enough are generally improves your chances.

Lung Cancer Causes
Scientists do not know why one person develops cancer while another is not. However, factors that increase the chances of lung cancer are well known:
Smoking is the most common cause of lung cancer. The more you have smoked cigarettes and more that you smoke each day, the greater your risk. Constant exposure to secondhand smoke increases the chances.
Some industrial chemicals, if they are present in the air in your workplace, are also known culprits. Among them are asbestos, arsenic, chromium, beryllium, and radioactive materials.

Lung Cancer Care
To find out what stage the cancer is, your doctor will measure the size, check if the cancer has spread, and perform tests such as bone and lung scans, and tissue or bone biopsies. Test results will help you and your doctor decide on a treatment plan. There are many ways to treat cancer. Often, doctors use two or more types of treatment. For example, you get May medicine and radiation therapy or medicine and surgery. The main options for lung cancer are:

Biological Therapy (also known as biotherapy or immunotherapy). This approach uses special IV medicine to strengthen the body's ability to fight against the growth of cancer cells. The drug also May cancer cells weaker and easier to kill. Salaries May give you flu-like symptoms.

Chemotherapy Often called "chemotherapy", this type of therapy uses drugs to kill tumor cells or reduce new lymph nodes that contain cancer cells. Once the tumor is smaller, you May surgery to remove the remaining cancer. Some forms of cancer may be completely cured by medicines alone.
Many chemo drugs are available. May they be regarded as a pill, a shot or one IV. You'll probably need frequent blood tests to determine how your body is fact and how much you need chemotherapy. The drugs can produce many side effects, and you leave May susceptible to infection for some time.

Radiation: X-rays or gamma rays can kill cancer and help prevent its spread. They can also be effective in reducing pain, control bleeding, and shrinking cancerous tumors. The doctors also use this type of treatment on cancerous lymph nodes. Radiation and chemotherapy are often used at the same time. Radiation is also used after surgery to kill any cancer cells that were missed May.

Surgery
: depending on the stage of your lung cancer, you May need surgery to remove all or a portion of the lung. May You also need to have lymph nodes taken to help prevent the cancer from spreading to other parts of your body.
Thoracentesis (Lucidity-uh-sen-Tee-SIS): If the air or fluid is trapped between the chest wall and outside of the lung, May you have difficulty breathing. To alleviate the problem, the doctor may drain the region with a needle inserted between the two coasts. You'll have numbness coup before the procedure.

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Health care for female military veteran lags

Healthcare for women military veterans lags behind the care offered to men veterinary many VA facilities, an internal agency report said, even as women are serving on the frontlines at historical levels. There are clearly needs more doctors trained to care for women and more equipment to meet their health needs. He did add that progress is being made, such as the creation of mammography services on site and setting up clinics women in most VA medical centers. The department is also seeking to recruit more doctors who care training women.

For now, veterans do not receive the same quality of ambulatory care than men in about one third of the VA of 139 facilities that offer, according to the report. This seems to validate the complaints from lawyers and some members of Congress who have said more emphasis should be placed on women's health.

Women represent about 5 percent of the VA of the population, but is expected to almost double in the next two years.

Among other conclusions in the report include:
Senior Citizens and young veterans seem to receive the same quality of care;
About 86 percent of homeless veterans seen by VA received primary care, mental health and/ or addiction;
Approximately 98 per cent of commitments have been completed within 30 days in primary care clinics and about 97 percent were completed during this period, specialty clinics;
Overall quality of care seems to be good when examined under commonly accepted health care reference;
Minority veterans interviewed were generally less satisfied with inpatient and outpatient care than white veterans, but it was unclear if the quality of care is different. A more comprehensive care to veterans minority should be completed this summer.

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