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Archive for April, 2009

It sounds bizarre but it is true that children tend to suffer from acid reflux. Under normal conditions, food passes via the esophagus and the muscle existing at the bottom part of the esophagus closes off. The process is to facilitate food and liquids to remain inside the stomach.

This muscle is known as Lower Esophageal Sphincter or LES. If the LES is not able to close properly, the contents of the stomach and acid have the tendency to settle in the esophagus.

Usually GER, Gastroesophageal Reflux, starts in infancy. However, only a few infants continue to live with GER when they become old. It usually fades away when the physician advices medicines for the child.

A) Here are some symptoms of acid reflux in children:

a) Pain in the abdomen, especially above the belly button

b) Pain in the chest, Intolerance of pressure on the stomach

c) Burning sensation in the esophagus

d) Drooling or excessive salivation

e) Being extremely choosy about food, Refusing food

f) Frequent ear infections, Congestion in the ear

g) Eating less despite hunger

h) Poor sleep, Frequent walking from the sleeping

i) Hoarseness, Choking

j) Nagging dry cough

k) Poor weight gain, Weight loss

l) Cough especially at night

m) Respiratory problems

It is very easy to diagnose acid reflux in children. Usually the paediatrist will base a diagnosis on the symptoms of your child as well as a physical examination. You may also require to produce certain tests in order to verify the diagnosis.

B) Here are some of the tests you can require to be produced:

a) Lab tests

These consist of different blood and urine tests in order to determine the actual causes of recurring vomiting or weight loss.

b) pH monitoring

The esophageal PH monitoring is required to measure the acidity present inside the esophagus.

c) Upper endoscopy

A tube having a camera lens and light is inserted into stomach and esophagus via the child’s mouth. This procedure is of utter importance to determine the narrowness or inflammation of the stomach.

C) The treatment:

The course of the treatment depends on the age and symptoms of the child. The doctor may prescribe certain lifestyle changes in order to see if it provides relief from acid reflux symptoms. In case, the problem persists, the doctor will suggest any of the following remedies.

a) Acid suppressors

Help in suppressing the production of acid inside the stomach. Some of the main acid suppressors include Axid, Tagamet, Zantac and Pepcid.

b) Antacids

Work towards neutralizing stomach acid. Some of the antacids include Tums, Maalox and Mylanta.

c) Acid Blockers

These block the production of acid completely inside the stomach, and they are Protonix, Prevacid, Nexium and Aciphex.

It is not difficult to treat acid reflux condition in children. All you need to do is to keep track of all the symptoms of this disease and treat on time. Visit the doctor as soon as you see any of the symptoms of this disease.

Anything that causes a deficiency in the formation or production of red blood cells, or that leads to the too-rapid destruction of red blood cells, can result in anemia.

Some things that can lead to anemia:

* Drug use
* Hormonal disorders
* Chronic inflammation in the body
* Surgery
* Infections
* Peptic ulcers
* Hemorrhoids
* Diverticular disease
* Heavy menstrual bleeding
* Repeated pregnancies
* Liver damage
* Thyroid disorders
* Rheumatoid arthritis
* Bone marrow disease
* Dietary deficiencies (especially deficiencies of iron, folic acid and vitamins B6 and B12)

There are also a number of hereditary disorders, such as sickle cell disease and thalassemia, that cause anemia.

Pernicious anemia is a severe form of anemia that is due to vitamin B12 deficiency. Persons with this disorder cannot absorb any form of vitamin B12 from the gastrointestinal tract.

Millions of Americans suffer from anemia, a reduction in either the number of red blood cells or the amount of hemoglobin in the blood. The results in a decrease in the amount of oxygen that the blood is able to carry.

Anemia reduces the amount of oxygen available to the cells of the body. As a result, they have less energy available to perform their normal functions.

Important processes, such as muscular activity and cell building and repair, slow down and become less efficient. When the brain lacks oxygen, dizziness may result, and mental faculties are less sharp.

The most common cause of anemia is iron deficiency. Iron is an important factor in anemia because this mineral is used to make hemoglobin, the component of red blood cells that attaches to oxygen and transports it.

Red blood cells exist only to oxygenate the body, and have a life span of about 120 days. If a person lacks sufficient iron, the formation of red blood cells is impaired.

Iron-deficiency anemia can be caused by insufficient iron intake and/or absorption, or by significant blood loss. The latter is commonly seen in women who suffer from menorrhagia (heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding), which in turn may be caused by a hormonal imbalance, fibroid tumors, or uterine cancer.

Women who use intrauterine devices for contraception are also at a higher risk of blood loss, as are those who overuse anti-inflammatory medications such as aspirin or ibuprofen, which can cause blood loss through irritation of the digestive tract. Excessive aspirin usage, particularly by elderly people, may cause internal bleeding.

Of those suffering from anemia, 20 percent are women and 50 percent are children. It is often a hidden disease, because the symptoms can easily go unrecognized. The first signs of developing anemia may be:

* Loss of appetite
* Constipation
* Headaches
* Irritability, and/or difficulty in concentrating

Established anemia can produce such symptoms as:

* Weakness
* Fatigue
* Coldness of extremities
* Depression
* Dizziness
* Overall pallor
* Most noticeable in pale and brittle nails
* Pale lips and eye lids
* Soreness in the mouth
* In women, cessation of menstruation

Herbs that are good for anemia:

* Alfalfa
* Bilberry
* Cherry
* Dandelion
* Goldenseal
* Grape skins
* Hawthorn berry
* Mullein
* Nettle
* Oregon grape root
* Pau d’arco
* Red raspberry
* Shepherd’s purse
* Yellow dock

Include the following in your diet:

* Apples
* Apricots
* Asparagus
* Bananas
* Broccoli
* Egg yolks
* Kelp
* Leafy greens
* Okra
* Parsley
* Peas
* Plums
* Prunes
* Purple grapes
* Raisins
* Rice bran
* Squash
* Turnip greens
* Whole grains
* Yams

Also eat foods high in vitamin C to enhance iron absorption.

Blackstrap molasses is a good source of iron and essential B vitamins. Consume at least 1 tablespoon of blackstrap molasses twice daily (for a child, use 1 teaspoon in a glass of milk or formula twice daily).

Avoid beer, candy bars, dairy products, ice cream, and soft drinks. Additives in these foods interfere with iron absorption. For the same reason, avoid coffee (which contains polyphenols) and tea (which contains tannins).

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer occuring in men in the United States today. It generally appears after the age of 50 and its incidence increases with age. Prostate cancer usually doesn’t show any noticeable symptoms in its early stages and most men tend to ignore these early symptoms as being nothing more than a normal part of the ageing process. By the time they are aware of the symptoms, the cancer would have reached terminal stages of its development. So, what are the prostate cancer symptoms that we should be on the lookout for to prevent this situation from happening?

Early signs and symptoms of both benign and malignant prostate cancer can include the following:

- A need to urinate frequently, especially at night;

- Difficulty starting urination or holding back urine;

- Weak or interrupted flow of urine;

- Painful or burning urination;

- Difficulty in having an erection;

- Painful ejaculation;

- Blood in urine or semen; or

- Frequent pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips and upper thighs

These early prostate cancer symptoms are the body’s warning signs that something is wrong inside our body. It may indicate the presence of other diseases or disorders such as the enlargement of the prostate gland (a condition called ‘benign prostatic hyperplasia’ or ‘BPH’ for short), prostatit, or some other forms of prostate infections which are usually benign. If left untreated, these conditions may become malignant and the cancer may start spreading beyond the prostate to the other part of our body. The only way to find out the truth of the condition and to control prostate cancer at its infancy is to undergo routine checkups with tests known as prostate-specific antigen, or a PSA test, and a digital rectal exam or DRE. Some statistics indicate that an early detection of the prostate cancer at its early stages increases your chances, by as high as 98%, for a full recovery from the cancer.

In its advanced stages, prostate cancer can spread to other parts of the body and have many other symptoms. For instance, if it spreads to the bones, it may cause pain in your back, hips, pelvis, and other bony areas. Other suspicious symptoms included weight loss, particularly in elderly men, and difficulty in getting an erection (where you haven’t had difficulty before).

What you need to know about the stages of prostate cancer:

* Stage of prostate cancer depend on tumor size, its characteristics, and possibly spread.
* On system Dzhyuit-Whittemora prostate cancer is classified by stages A, B, C and D.
* Cancer stages A and B restricted most prostate gland.
* In addition, for classification of prostate cancer is used and applied and the international system TNM (tumor size, nature and the presence of lymph node metastases).

Thus, the physician classifies the stages of prostate cancer tumor size, its characteristics and the presence of metastases. As already mentioned, for the classification of stages of prostate cancer used two systems: a system Dzhyuit-Whittemora and the international system of TNM.

System Dzhyuit-Whittemora

In this classification system for prostate cancer allocates stage A, B, C and D. Stages A and B are treatable. Stages C and D are treated, but their adverse prognosis. In order to clarify certain conditions of each stage are used substages, which are indicated by numbers. For example, stage B1 cancer is characterized by a single node, which is located in one lobe of the prostate.

Stage A

This is the earliest stage, it does not show any symptoms. Cancer cells are located in the prostate.

* A1 – cancer cells are well differentiated, marked their moderate anomaly.
* 2 – moderately or poorly differentiate cancer cells in several locations of the prostate.

In Stage

The tumor is located within the prostate, but it is palpable (ie, detectable finger doctor) and / or determined by elevated levels of PSA.

* B0 – a tumor within the prostate, nepalpiruetsya; PSA level increased.
* B1 – a single tumor site in one lobe of the prostate.
* B2 – extensive growth of tumors in one or both lobes of the prostate.

Stage C

Cancer cells were found outside the prostate capsule (membrane that covers the prostate). Tumor extends to adjacent organs and / or seminal vesicles.

* C1 – tumor grow beyond the prostate capsule.
* C2 – blocks a tumor of the urethra or bladder.

Stage D

It is noted metastases in regional lymph nodes or to distant organs and tissues (liver, lungs, bones).

* D0 – metastases, clinically detectable, it increases the level of PSA.
* D1 – affected regional lymph nodes.
* D2 – affects the distant lymph nodes, organs and tissues.
* D3 – metastases after treatment.

TNM system

T – Primary tumor.

* TX – insufficient data to assess the primary tumor.
* T0 – the primary tumor is not determined.
* T1 – tumor clinically manifested, not palpable nor visualized by special methods
- T1a – tumor accidentally found during histological examination and less than 5% of resected tissue.
- T1b – tumor accidentally found during histological examination and is more than 5% of resected tissue.
- T1s – a tumor is diagnosed via needle biopsy (produced in connection with high level of prostate-specific antigen).
* T2 – tumor limited to prostate or distributed in the capsule.
- T2a – tumor affects half of one share or less.
- T2B – cancer affects more than half of one share, but not both lobes.
- T2c – tumor affects both share. Note. The tumor, diagnosed using needle biopsy in one or both lobes, but palpable and nevizualiziruemaya classified as T1s.
* T3 – tumor extends beyond the capsule of the prostate gland.
- T3a – tumor extends beyond the capsule (one-or two-sided).
- T3b – tumor extends to the seminal vesicle (s). Note. The tumor on the tip of the prostate gland or in the capsule (but not beyond) the prostate is classified as T2, not T3.
* T4 – nesmeschaemaya tumor or tumor spread to neighboring structures (but not the seminal vesicles): bladder neck, external sphincter, rectum, muscle that lifts the anus, and / or pelvic wall.

N – regional lymph nodes.

Regional lymph nodes for prostate cancer are lymph nodes in the pelvis below the bifurcation of common iliac arteries. Category N does not depend on the localization of regional metastases.

NX – insufficient data to assess regional lymph nodes.

* N0 – Metastasis in regional lymph nodes are absent.
* N1 – has metastasized into regional lymph nodes.

M – distant metastases.

* MX – to determine the presence of distant metastases is not possible.
* M0 – no evidence of distant metastasis.
* M1 – distant metastases.
* M1a – the defeat neregionarnyh lymph nodes.
* M1b – the defeat of the bones.
* M1c – other sites of distant metastases.

Many people take garlic, either in supplement form, or in their diet, for its health benefits. Garlic is promoted for improved immune system, improved cardiovascular health, and perhaps even cancer prevention. But what does the science say and can it really benefit you? And, if it doesn’t really benefit you, can it actually harm you? These are the questions addressed in this article.

How does garlic work?

Garlic has long been considered a natural remedy for many illnesses, including bacterial, viral and fungal infections. The antibiotic activity of garlic has been associated with its primary active ingredient, thiosulfinate allicin, but there are other active ingredients that have been found to have antibiotic properties, including polysulfides, which have been shown to kill certain cancer cells. Scientists are still trying to understand the exact biological activity of these polysulfides, and many are hopeful that this understanding will help lead to ‘natural’ antiobiotics, fungicides and anticancer agents, with fewer side effects.

What researchers have learned is that garlic has effects on many health conditions, such as high blood lipids, blood pressure and fungal, bacterial and viral infections, to name just a few. The effectiveness is determined by the amount of allicin, which triggers the production of other active constituents. Intact, fresh garlic cells contain an amino acid called alliin, which is actually odorless. However, when the cells are broken, they react with an enzyme, producing allicin, which is the smelly part. The more alliin, the more allicin is produced. The amount of allicin is dependent on the method of preparation. Crushing the garlic increases the allicin, but freeze-drying results in producing very little. Some companies will enterically coat their product to protect the active chemicals from stomach acid. The process to produce odorless garlic extract also reduces the amount of alliin. However, when looking for a garlic supplement, aged garlic extracts usually are standardized to S-allyl-L-cysteine content, which has also been shown to be an effective active ingredient.

What does the science say?

There has been a lot of research into the effectiveness of garlic constituents and how it works. Studies have primarily investigated the effectiveness of fresh garlic, powdered products and aged garlic extracts. Here is some of what has been found:

o For atherosclerosis (hardening and narrowing of the arteries), taking low doses of garlic powder daily, around 300 mg per day, appears to lessen age-related decreases in aortic elasticity. This elasticity is important for keeping the vessels healthy.

o Multiple studies have investigated fresh garlic and various garlic supplements and colorectal and gastric cancer. The overwhelming evidence shows that eating garlic is beneficial, but most studies do not find the same benefit from supplements of any kind. Fresh garlic may also lower the risk of prostate cancer by as much as 50%, but more research is necessary. Garlic in any form doesn’t seem to decrease the risk of breast cancer or lung cancer, however.

o Garlic supplements may help reduce blood pressure by 2% to 7% after 4 weeks.

o Eating high doses of garlic over 20 weeks may actually help reduce the likelihood of tick bites. So, if you plan a hiking trip, start 20 weeks early to ward them off on your trip. However, the amount studied was eating 1200 mg per day, which comes to more garlic than anyone would usually eat.

o It appears that a garlic jell might be as effective as Lamisil for various skin conditions.

o There have been many studies looking at how garlic may help with high blood cholesterol and triglycerides. These studies are very mixed, however. Early studies were showing a positive trend until more modern researcher started looking at these studies and found serious flaws. One analysis of all the studies suggested that there may be short-term benefits on blood lipids after 1-3 months, but no benefit after 6 months. When only the higher-quality studies were examined, the conclusion was that there is no reduction in cholesterol or triglyceride levels.

o For any other condition, research has either shown garlic to not be of any benefit or there is just not enough research to say one way or another.

o Something that studies do consistently seem to show is that often there is no active ingredient in the odorless products.

How should you take it?

Generally, the most effective form of garlic is fresh. Fresh garlic typically contains 1% alliin, where most aged garlic extracts only contain 0.03% alliin. So, for those who like to work with numbers, here are the details:

For every milligram of alliin, 0.458 mg of allicin is typically generated. Therefore, a dose of 4 grams of fresh garlic (approximately 1 clove) containing 1% alliin will produce about 18,300 mcg of allicin. A dose of garlic extract of 600 mg, containing 1.3% alliin will produce 3,600 mcg allicin. So, you decide.

To now answer the question how to take and how much, again, here is what the majority of research has concluded:

- For high blood pressure and high blood lipids, a garlic extract of 600-1200 mg divided up and taken three times a day may be effective, but aged garlic extract of 600 mg to 7.2 grams per day has also been used. Aged garlic extract contains less alliin than the powdered form.

- To prevent stomach or colorectal cancer, fresh or cooked garlic of 3.5 to 29 grams per week is recommended.

- Garlic in the form of the garlic constituent ajoene as a 0.4% cream, a 0.6% gel or a 1% gel has been shown effective for such conditions as tinea infections, warts and corns.

Will it harm you?

In studies, garlic has been used safely for up to 7 years in healthy subjects. For the most part, garlic can be safe, especially as a food ingredient. Just about anyone can take garlic in its food form. Nursing mothers may notice unhappy babies, as garlic can affect the taste of breast milk. Other negative side effects include breath and body odor, mouth and gastrointestinal burning or irritation, heartburn, gas, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

The biggest concern with garlic is its effect on bleeding time. Therefore, if you intend to have surgery, discontinue it one to two weeks before surgery. Documentation of garlic’s effect on platelet function is very well-known. As a consequence, anyone taking any medications or herbs that affect bleeding, such as warfarin (Coumadin), fish oil tablets, vitamin E, willow bark, aspirin, Plavix, should discuss this use with their health care professional. Garlic has also been shown to be extremely reactive with antiviral medications.

Garlic a day keeps the doctor away

So, after all of this, what is the basic conclusion? Eat your garlic! Enjoy it in stir fry, raw, cooked, baked, you name it, just enjoy it! If you have a health condition that requires you to take any medications, it’s always best to discuss how garlic will alter the absorbency of that medication. Also remember that herbs are just natural drugs and either discuss them with your doctor or do your research. With a few precautions, however, fresh garlic is an excellent addition to any dish and to a healthy lifestyle.

Eyes with a new color and the skin perfectly bronzed. That’s heaven for the fashion freaks. The eyes, as we know, do not change colors automatically or naturally. Something needs to be done with them, and the same goes for the tanned skin. So, where do the two things meet, you might ask. They meet when you go out in the sun for tanning with your lenses on because you need your lenses to see clearly and you need to be in the sun to tan yourself.

There are no problems with sunbathing with your contacts on. They can stand that much of heat. However, you might feel slight discomfort in your eyes due to the swelling of your cornea, which makes the lenses sit tighter. Consequently, temporary irritation and redness may occur in the eyes. You need not worry about it, just put some kind of lubricating fluid in your eyes before going out so that the friction between the lens and your cornea is reduced lowering the irritation in your eyes.

Additionally, you may also consider wearing glasses in order to to block harmful UV radiation from damaging your eyes. UV rays are very harmful for the eyes and have been found to encourage cataract and other serious eye ailments.

Despite all precautions, if you are persistently getting your eyes red, do not ignore it. It may be something as simple as allergy to the lens cleaning solution or pollens or dirt itself. But, on the other hand, it might also be indicative of insufficient supply of oxygen to your eyes. Either way, you must approach your eye specialist right away in order to know the cause and the solution for it.

Forget not that despite their being used as cosmetic accessories, contact lenses are primarily medical devices. So, the proper way to wear them is under medical guidance. Therefore, before and during the use of contacts keep your eye specialist informed. Take no decision regarding the contacts without consulting a specialist. He is the best person to seek an advice from.

Eyes are precious, take no risks with them.