Traffic Pollution Linked to Birth Weight

Scientist has found the relationship between exposure to traffic pollution and the affect of the development of babies in the womb. A mother who has a high level of exposure in early and late stages of pregnancy are more likely that the baby would not grow properly although more detailed research into the link was necessary.

The researchers have recorded details including each mother's ethnicity, marital status, education, whether or not she was a smoker and the location of the mother prior to the birth of the baby. A mother who has lived near the roadway during pregnancy has a higher chance that the high levels of pollutants in the air were linked to restricted fetal growth thus lower birth weight overall.

Baby Fat Key to Obesity

Hard to believe but studies have shown that adults who retain their high-quality baby fat is a buffer against obesity and type 2 diabetes. Unlike the regular adult white fat which stores only energy, good brown fat vigorously burns calories for heat, but has been thought only to exist in childhood. But Researchers have found that adults still had brown fat left over from their childhood and slimmer adults had more of it than fatter ones.

Scientist are not developing ways to stimulate brown fat growth to control weight gain and improve glucose metabolism thereby preventing obesity and type 2 diabetes that ‘s practically considered a scourge these days. While this is far from being a miracle cure and is still a couple of years before the treatment becomes available, scientist are optimistic about the results and the treatments future.

Tropical Countries Produce More Baby Girls

Studies have shown that people who live in the tropics produce more baby girls than boys compared to other parts of the world. Research has concluded that it may be down to the hotter weather or the longer days as the hot climate may change miscarriage rates and sperm quality. Also, there seems to be some evolutionary advantage to having more girls than boys if you live by the equator. But further studies are still needed to this conclusion to be validated. Plus experts already agree that the birth rates of boys and girls vary across the globe.

Aside from the weather, extreme environmental stress like war, the birth rate of girls far outstrips that of boys. That proof of natural evolutionary process in action. But globally, the gender balance still favors the males at around a rate of 106 males for every 100 females. But this maybe due to a wide variety of other factors like culture and tradition. Not necessarily nature in action. But nevertheless, nature and evolution will kick into action once the gender imbalance becomes critical to a point it endangers us as a species.

Staying Mentally Sharp

Brain researchers used to equate age-related memory loss with brain cell death. Thanks to better imaging techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), doctors have discovered that aging does not cause significant loss of neurons in the hippocampus, a part of the brain involved in storing and retrieving memories. What’s more, research has shown that new neurons may even be added to the hippocampus in adulthood, driving a stake through the old belief that adults can’t grow new brain cells anymore. Now, studies suggest that the main aging related loss of neurons probably occurs in areas of the brain that produce chemicals that function as chatty go-betweens, facilitating communication and coordination between the different parts of the brain.

These new findings may mean, first, that memory loss isn’t an inevitable, anatomical withering away and second, that it is worth striving to keep your brain cells busy, making new connections and preserving old ones, and doing what you can to guard them against damage and deterioration. A variety of thing, such as keeping your mind active throughout your life controlling stress, and remaining physically fit, will help you do just that. While the jury’s still out on whether supplements such as ginkgo biloba can enhance memory, by taking care of yourself - both body and mind, you can perhaps keep your memory at it’s best.

Schizophrenia Misconceptions

Schizophrenia can affect anyone from any culture, race, religion or social-economic level, anywhere in the world. Statistics show that one person in every 100 will develop it before they reach the age of 45, Men and women are equally at risk. This chronic, severe and disabling brain disorder can seriously impair a persons ability to think clearly, elate to others and function productively in society. This disorder typically affects the persons thought process, often resulting in visual and or auditory hallucinations, delusions and unusual speech or behavior.

There are misconceptions that contrary to widespread belief that people with schizophrenia often think, feel and act in normal fashion. Being out of touch with reality does not mean that the individual is totally living in another world. But there are certain aspects of the person’s world that has no real basis. They are often perceived as dangerous but are more often not, provided they are receiving appropriate medical attention. In some cases, individuals can become aggressive during an acute episode but usually as a response to feeling extreme fear of false beliefs.

While there is still no cure for schizophrenia, the illness can be managed with appropriate treatment, especially when medical intervention is received early in the illness. Effective treatment involves the combination of medication, psychological counseling and support in managing the patient’s day-to-day living. Since it is vital to treat schizophrenia early in the course of the disease, family members of friends should immediately bring their loved one to a qualified psychiatrist or mental health specialist for proper diagnosis and treatment should that family member or friend show any sign of symptoms of schizophrenia.

Benefits Of Testosterone Patch

Testosterone treatments have a lot of benefits, especially for aging men. Treatment with testosterone can actually curb the gain in abdominal fat as well as the loss of skeletal muscle seen in non obese aging men. Though the use of testosterone therapy as a means of defying the aging process is gaining popularity, data from scientific trails have been very limited in this area.

Findings indicate that maintaining testosterone at young adult levels may indeed prevent the adverse changes in body composition associated with the aging process. In a test conducted with 60 healthy men aged at least 55 years old with low-normal testosterone levels wore a testosterone patch or a placebo path for 12 months.

Men taking testosterone experienced a 30 percent increase in serum testosterone while the control group saw their testosterone levels fall by 10 percent. Men who wore the testosterone patch also experienced increases in fat-free mass and skeletal muscle and loss of thigh skeletal muscle also decreased. Analysis also showed that the change in abdominal fat also correlated with the change in testosterone levels.

Oral Maintenance

Oral maintenance is where post people fail their hygiene due to ignorance,, bad habits or just plain laziness. Most of us overlook our mouths thinking that once it is closed, everything unpleasant within would be out of sight and out of mind hidden from scrutiny. But according to a survey, after the eyes the mouth is the next thing people notice especially when you smile and begin to talk. The mouth is so important because it is the gateway that receives food, drinks and even air into your inner organs, and it’s the cavity wherein you shape your words and throw your speech. No designer stuff could mask bad teeth, unhealthy gums and offensive breath. Here are some tips that will keep your mouth healthy and your breath sweet.

1.) Take care of your lips using a lip balm or moisturizer for softer and tender lips.

2.) After eating, use a toothpick or floss and then gargle with water or mouthwash.

3.) Brush you teeth properly.

4.) Use a tongue scraper to remove food particles caught in your mouth.

5.) Drink with a straw when you are drinking colored beverages like tea or cola to minimize the contact the liquid will have on your teeth that may darken it through out the years.

6.) Use a dental instrument or cotton buds to dislodge stubborn plaque.

7.) Control your tobacco, alcohol, coffee, soda drinks, commercial fruit juices and sugar intake.

8.) Be careful about highly abrasive toothpaste and tooth whiteners since teeth are not white; they are various shades of yellow. Strong teeth whiteners contain bleach that can weaken teeth and increase sensitivity.

9.) To quickly freshen up your breath, chew on a mint candy or gum.
Consult a professional in case of oral, throat and respiratory problems, visit your dentist or doctor for preventive maintenance and cure.

Health Screening Test You Utterly Need

Most of us tend to take health screening for granted. How many of us actually take the time to conduct our annual physical checkups? Many conditions like heart disease, cancer and stroke are major killers in adults. The tragedy with these diseases is very much preventable with lifestyle changes and careful screening. People tend to be afraid of taking these tests in the fear of finding out that they might have some sort of incurable disease. But this type of thinking may lead to problems later on. Here are some test that we should regularly take.

1.) Blood pressure – This is the force of blood that is moving through your artery. The higher the blood pressure, the harder the body has to work to keep the blood moving throughout the body. Having a high blood pressure can increase your risk for stroke, heart failure and heart attack.

2.) Lipid panel – This test measure the amount of cholesterol and triglycerides. A type of fat the body uses to store energy in you blood. Both cholesterol and triglycerides have been linked to heart disease.

3.) Colon cancer screening – Colorectal cancer almost always develop from growth s called polyps. Colonoscopy can detect polyps before they turn cancerous. Fecal occult blood test (FOBT) and the more sensitive fecal immunochemical blood test (FIBT) detect the presence of blood from which the fragile surfaces of polyps.

4.) Blood sugar – This test measures the amount of sugar in our blood. High blood sugar could indicate that you have pre-diabetes or diabetes.

5.) Bone density for women – The density of calcium and other minerals that are packed into a segment of your bone. The less dense your bones are, the more likely they are to break. A bone mineral density test can detect whether you have osteoporosis.

6.) Abdominal ultrasound for men – This detects the presence of abdominal aneurysm, a ballooning of the vessel that supplies blood to the lower part of your body. It can be life threatening if the aneurysm ruptures.

Bodys Optimal Function Equals Cell Regeneration

Getting old is inevitable, as we move on with our lives, we will come to realize that our body and certain functions are not what it is used to be and the feeling of invincibility is coming to an end. Because due to aging, our body looses its ability to regenerate, a process of healing and repair that holds the key to our sustained well-being and longevity. Cell regeneration is a daily process by which the cells n our body continue to replace and restore themselves to maintain the body’s normal function.

The body in order for it to function normally and optimally needs cell regeneration. It’s a natural process responsible for keeping our mind sharp, muscles strong and bones sturdy. Our cells demonstrate this wonderful ability to adapt when injuries are persistent to the body. While continuously proliferating, the cells never cease to replicate themselves. Some cells can take quite a long time to divide like cells found in kidneys and liver, but they will react and multiply faster once an injury occurs.

Proper nutrition is the key to have a normal and healthy cell regeneration rate. Too much stress, inadequate sleep and a deficient diet tend to interrupt the normal cell regeneration process. Aging also adds to the problem. The good news about this is that we can influence the factors that cause its decline. Developing a healthy lifestyle like eating healthy foods, getting enough sleep and exercising daily can boost our cell regeneration rate. Some nutritional supplements can also aid our body to boost cell regeneration rate.

Safety Of Our Food|Water|Medicines|Cosmetics

All of us are exposed to pollutants of some degree when we go about our business everyday. Due to the number of substances floating around amid the increasing worries about how safe is the water we drink, take a bath in, the trans fats present in our food and even possible carcinogens present in the cosmetics we use, medicines and supplements we routinely take in daily. We now even face the dangers of toxic chemicals that are present in the toys our children play with. Because of these, consumers must be made more aware the dangers of acquiring cancer in the everyday things we are exposed to.

Already, major cities like New York have already banned trans fats in all its restaurants, eateries and all fast food chains to help protect consumers. Steps are already being undertaken between the Consumer Welfare Counsel and the food manufacturers with fast food chains to state the nutrition facts in the food they are serving. This simple step is empowering consumers to make healthy choices in the food they eat to avoid cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

We must also make it a habit to familiarize ourselves with the potentially harmful and cancer inducing chemicals that are used in the manufacturing of the cosmetics and beauty products so when we pick up a bar of soap or face powder, we can confidently scan through the ingredients for these toxic chemicals. Toys that were recently found to have harmful chemicals in them from a certain country should immediately placed out of reach by children. Although there is not much we can do about this matter, paying attention to current events will keep us up to date on what’s the latest development for us to better prepare ourselves.

Cosmetic Surgery Treatment

Normally when we hear the term plastic surgery, vanity is the first thing that comes to our mind when we hear people going to undergo that kind of procedure. But there are some conditions that warrant the use of plastic surgery to lessen the psychological impact of a potentially disfiguring disease, and this is the original intent of this procedure until it is discovered that the procedure can restore the contour to improve appearance. If you thought this field is relatively new to us, nothing can be farther from the truth as this is one of the world's oldest healing arts. Written evidence has suggest that this medical treatment for facial injuries for more than 4000 years ago.

Physical attractiveness is a quality that is fast turning out to be a premium as Western influences redefine standards of beauty. Gone are the days when plastic surgery is spoken in hushed tones and people no longer try to hide a cosmetic surgical procedure. Standing out from the crowd is a remarkable asset. There are some clinics that are termed as convenience store surgery where a clients walks into a doctors clinic to emerge later instantly more beautiful.

But despite all the modern improvements in this procedure, this is not for everybody. Checkups done prior to the procedure must include a general good state of health, people who are suffering from illness like hypertension and heart disease must secure a medical clearance before going under the knife. All surgery brings some level of uncertainty including the possibility of infections and allergic reactions to anesthesia. People who are already decided to go with the procedure can minimize risks by choosing a qualified plastic surgeon and closely follow their advice before and after surgery.

Migraine And Memory Loss | Clearer Nose Passages

Migraines

People get migraines all the time. Whether you are a student trying to cram to pass an exam, a secretary feeling the pressure from your boss or a business man having a tough time keeping his business a float. For what ever reason migraine head aches happen to all of us. But did you know that a research has been conducted the people with migraine suffer less memory loss over time than people who do not suffer from migraines?

Researchers concluded that while migraineurs scored lower on memory test at the start of their study, they have shown a 17 percent less cognitive decline than non migraineurs 12 years later. Migraine medications such as ibuprofen might have a protective effects on memory. It is more likely that there might be an underlying biological mechanism such as changes in blood vessels or differences in brain activity contributing to this phenomenal condition.

Clearer Nose

Blocked nose does not only happen to people who suffer from colds or flus, but to people who suffer allergy or some other conditions that make breathing hard. Most of the time, over the counter decongestants and antibiotics will work. But for some, these treatment and medications do not work. Now there is a novel procedure called balloon sinuplasty. This procedure involves the insertion of a balloon catheter through the nostril. This procedure has been proven successful for sinus sufferers.

Once the balloon has been inserted inside the sinus, the balloon is inflated to gently widen and restructure the blocked passageway, allowing the return of normal sinus function. It is less invasive than the traditional endoscopic sinus surgery. The most common difference with this procedure compared to the more conventional sinus surgery is how fast the patients recover from this procedure because there is much less bleeding and pain.

Eating Beef To Reduce Weight

Eating beef has have its shares of ups and downs in recent times. The Atkins diet and other low carb diets have made beef very popular with people wanting to loose weight. However, news about mad cow disease and the recent findings that there is maybe a link between high consumption of red meat to colorectal cancer made people think twice about having the meat at their lunch and dinner table.

But consuming beef in moderation is not only healthy to the body, but the protein in them helps you maintain your muscle mass and reduce the fat out of our bodies during weight loss. Of course, sitting down eating beef all day will not help you loose weight and the opposite may happen with you ending up being overweight with a high cholesterol count with all kinds of conditions and diseases. Exercise is much more effective when couple with a high protein diet such as beef. protein makes you feel fuller than fat so increasing the consumption of lean beef and other protein in your diet may help you consume fewer total calories thus helping you with the weight loss.

All beef are not created equally. When shopping around for meat, choose the cuts that have the least amount of visible fat. When preparing to cook the meat, trim off any excess visible fat. A serving of beef is an excellent source of nutrients like protein, zinc, vitamin B12, selenium, phosphorus, niacin, vitamin B6, iron and riboflavin. Older people are also advised to eat small portions of lean beef because of they are the one that are most at risk of inadequate levels of zinc which helps the body's immune system, wound healing and appetite control.

Certain Cosmetic Ingredient's A Danger To Health

Millions of men and women buy beauty products every, but few are aware of what actually in those beautifully packed products. Most of us who are looking to buy beauty products often ask what kinds of soaps, moisturizers and cosmetics should we use to make our skin softer or make our face look younger. But unlike food, we never bother to look at the ingredients these cosmetics have and some ingredients in the market today have been linked with cancer and all sorts of conditions and diseases. Here are some ingredients that may be found in everyday products that we need to be aware of.

1.) Alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) – Are found in hundred of beauty products ranging from anti-aging creams to lip balms. AHA increases sun sensitivity leading to sunburn and sun damage. These can only be sold in concentrations of up to four percent.

2.) Coal tar - Found in dandruff shampoos, there is enough evidence that coal tars are carcinogenic in humans.

3.) Hydroquinone – Found in skin bleaching creams. Research says its only effective when used ling term but safe only when used briefly and discontinuously in products which must be thoroughly after use. I can cause allergic response like itching, burning and blistering.

4.) Lead acetate – Found in progressive hair dyes used primarily by men. Suspected to damage the reproductive system in humans.

5.) Nitrosamines – Found in half of the cosmetic products sold in the US. This substance is readily absorbed through the skin and accumulates in the organs where it induces chronic toxic effects.

6.) Parabens – Found in skin and hair products, baby care lines, deodorants and nail polishes. Parabens, according to scientist may alter hormone levels increasing the risk for certain types of cancer.

7.) Petrolatum – Found in many personal care products. Research says that impurities created during the manufacturing process of some petrolatum are linked to breast cancer

8.) Phenol – Found in medicated lip moisturizers. Fatal poisoning occurs when large quantities are absorbed through the skin.

9.) Phenylenediamine – Found in permanent hair dyes found in women. It is a possible human carcinogen. Highly allergic and can cause eczema, bronchial asthma, gastritis, skin irritation and even death.

10.) Phthalates – Found in hair sprays, nail polishes and fragrances. Phthalate DEHP leads to premature breast development in girls.

11.) Resorcinol – Found in hair dyes and dandruff shampoos. Studies show that it can cause methemoglobinemia, a blood disease if it enters a wound.

Traditional Asian Medicines

Traditional Chinese medicine or TCM has been long part of Asian culture in the remedy of diseases and is more than 5,000 years old and has been used through out the region. Except India, 58 percent of the region takes TCM with the highest percentage of usage found in Hong Kong with 74 percent. But through the years, The use of Chinese medicines has expanded to the west with scientist conducting test reveals that there is some ailments that current medicines has no cure for but Chinese medicines can cure.

Some commercial drugs may prove to be harmful or produce side effects when taken, so an alternative choice is using Chinese medicine which is usually made up to plants, roots and herbs and contain no chemicals that may prove to be harmful and is relatively safe even if you overdose in small doses. It's popularly used for treating coughs, colds, sore throat, back pains and indigestions. It's popularity in Asia has long been based on traditional trust or cultural faith.

There are different types of TCM that may be taken for different ailments and they may also be taken for major illnesses like certain types of cancer as a complementary medicine to other treatments and offers excellent value for your money. This is particularly true because over the counter drugs are expensive, even with generic brands. TCM offers an alternative to people who cannot afford to pay such expensive medicines. Most Asians favor ginseng and chicken essence as a way to boost energy levels and birds nest for cell regeneration although it's prohibitively expensive.

The Indian equivalent to TCM is homeopathic medicine where, according to statistics eight out of ten would use it. Homeopathic medicine is good fro chronic ailments where there are limited treatments for it and for ailments such as allergies and arthritis where there is no specific medications. homeopathic medicines treat the symptoms well and has a relatively low drug toxicity level and has far fewer side effects compared to more over the counter ones.

Applying Fist Aid To Accidents

Where ever we are and what ever we are doing, accident do happen. Whether you are at home, at school or in the office, accidents will occur from time to time. And although we cannot predict when they might happen, we certainly can do things to minimize their damages. A fist aid kit is essential in every establishment and every home must have one. There is the right way of applying certain medications to treat minor injuries and the wrong way. Here are some common conditions that we may encounter

1.) Sprains and strains - Especially for people who have kids running around the house. Sprains and Strains are almost a sure occurrence. Most people apply heat pack to treat them but it is not the most effective way to treat a muscle or joint injury. When you are injured, you might be bleeding internally and adding heat may make you bleed more. The correct way is to apply a wrapped icepack and also remember the term RICE. R is for rest. I is for ice, apply ice on a tea towel. C is for compress, support the injury with a bandage and E is for elevate, raise the injury above the level of the heart.

2.) Severe Bleeding - Nothing can be more nerve wracking than seeing lots of blood gush out of someone especially if its your child. Using tourniquet can do more harm than good as they can stop blood supply to the whole limb increasing the risk of tissue damage or even the loss of the limb. The right way to do it is to apply direct pressure to the wound using a pad. raise the affected area above the heart to help the bleeding slow down. If the blood continues to seep through, cover that with a second bandage and continue to apply pressure.

3.) Burns and Scalds - For accidents that may happen in the kitchen, getting burns or scalds because of cooking is the most common occurrence. Getting burns or scalds, one is inclined to apply toothpaste as it can cool the affected area but experts advice that applying toothpaste or any creams or ointments for that matter, are not advisable. It is best to place the affected area under a cold running water for atleast ten minutes. The aim is to stop the burning and relieve the pain.

Going Overseas For A Medical Treatment

If you think about it, why go through the trouble of going overseas for your medical treatment. The hassles of putting together your travel documents and actually going to be confined in another country's hospital far from home and friends. But seeking medical treatment has already been an old practice dating back to ancient times. Two of the most common problems, cancer and heart disease are at the top of the conditions being treat overseas on now what is called medical tourism. When someone requires specialized treatment without delay and at a reasonable cost, then medical tourism is the way to go. They are attracted to overseas medical institution because of the expertise of certain foreign hospitals and their medical staff especially the reputation of their doctor. It's about getting medical procedures performed by highly trained doctors using state of the art equipment.

Another reason on why people choose international hospitals is they have already exhausted all medical options in their respective country and would like a second opinion on their diagnosis, which usually requires delicate surgery that may critically affect their health and way of life a plus the required facilities may not be readily available locally. There are various criteria when deciding where to go for a treatment and is often a personal decision to make by the patient. Research and instincts plus lots of consultations and reassurance from medical experts and friends greatly influences where they decide to go for treatment. Also, look for accreditation and certifications of the hospital and find out as much as possible the qualifications of the staff, the success rate of the surgeon who is going to carry the operation and find out if the doctors are licensed and credentialed by the hospital and their respective medical boards

Hormone Replacement Therapy And Stem Cells

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has long been a widely accepted treatment for the effects of menopause on older women. In 2000, the Women's Health Initiative study (WHI)changed all this. The WHI, a group studying the effects of HRT among 16,000 women between ages 50 and 79, found the risk of the therapy far outweighs its benefits and recommended that women stop taking estrogen progestin combinations. Results of the study showed that per 10,000 women on HRT the risk of breast cancer increased by 8, colorectal cancer decreased by 6, heart attacks increased by 7, Hip fractures decreased by 5, blood clots increased by 18 and stroke increased by 8.

Stem cells have the remarkable potential to develop into many different cell types in the body. In theory, they serve as on the fly repair systems for the body, dividing without limit to replenish other cells as long as the person or animal is alive. In November 1998, a team of scientist from the University of Wisconsin reported the first successful derivation and prolonged culture of human embryonic stem cells, cells that are parent cells of all tissues in the body.

Many diseases such as Parkinson's and type 1 diabetes mellitus, occur because of the death or dysfunction of just one of a few cell types. Replacing those cells would provide lifelong treatment. To treat heart disease, for example, heart muscles could be injected directly to shore up failing heart tissue.