BE HEALTHY AND WEALTHY

4 DISEASES DOCTORS GET WRONG

2009-12-03T23:55:00.000-08:00

Doubting your diagnosis?

Read on to find out what you might really have.

Sometimes even the best doctors miss the mark:
About 40 percent of all mistakes that M.D.s make are misdiagnoses, says the National Patient Safety Foundation. That's because many ailments have similar symptoms or can be detected only with tests that your physician might consider unnecessary if he's confident in his verdict. If you're in the know about often-confused conditions, though, you can ask the right questions to prevent or fix an error — and even save your life.

1. YOUR SYMPTOMS:

Numbness on one side, headaches, dizziness, suddenly blurred vision, lack of balance or muscle coordination, and/or slurred speech

The doctor says it's: Vertigo, migraines, or an inner-ear disorder

It could be: Stroke

Why the confusion? Research shows that 14 percent of stroke cases in people under 45 are misdiagnosed. When patients are young and otherwise healthy, ER staff might point to milder problems first. But if you leave the ER with an undiagnosed stroke, you could suffer another one. You may also miss the chance to reverse impaired speech or vision, paralysis, and brain damage.

Red flags: If one side is numb or you have any combination of the listed symptoms, rush to the ER, especially if symptoms persist more than an hour.

2. YOUR SYMPTOMS:

Headaches and/or ringing or aching ears, plus aching back, neck, and/or teeth

The doctor says it's: Migraines or an ear disorder

It could be: Temporomandibular joint syndrome

Why the confusion? When the joint connecting your jaw and skull becomes inflamed, the pain radiates and causes headaches or ear problems. TMJ is best treated by a dentist, but the symptoms will likely send you to an M.D., who might diagnose you with something else. The price you'll pay? Serious pain that could easily have been alleviated.

Red flags: If your doctor gives a tentative diagnosis without conducting any tests or prescribes meds that don't do the trick, head to a dentist.

3. YOUR SYMPTOMS:

Fatigue or trouble breathing plus chest pain or tightness and/or palpitations

The doctor says it's: Stress or panic attack

It could be: Heart attack or heart disease

Why the confusion? Heart attacks tend to be more subtle in women than in men: Fatigue or shortness of breath might be your only sign of a problem. In fact, up to half of female heart attack victims are initially misdiagnosed — and heart disease remains the top killer of women in America.

Red flags: If your doc's recommended treatment doesn't help, see a cardiologist, pronto.

4. THE SYMPTOMS:

Sadness plus fatigue, weight gain, insomnia, and/or muscle aches or stiffness

The doctor says it's: Depression

It could be: Hypothyroidism

Why the confusion? Doctors tend to link persistent sadness with depression and might not think to test for hypothyroidism, a condition in which your thyroid gland fails to produce enough hormones. Left untreated, hypothyroidism can cause high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease, and (ironically) clinical depression.

Red flags: If the meds your doctor prescribes don't lift your mood, request a TSH blood test to check for hypothyroidism. Better yet, ask for the test during your initial visit.

HOW ORANGE JUICE IS BETTER FOR HEART

2009-12-01T22:06:00.000-08:00

Daily Glass of Orange Juice is Heart Smart

Antioxidant in Orange Juice Linked to Better Blood Vessel Health, Lower Blood Pressure

By Kelli Miller Stacy

WebMD Health News

Reviewed by Elizabeth Klodas, MD, FACC

Nov 20, 2009 -- An apple a day is said to keep the doctor away, but orange juice may be good at the job, too.

An antioxidant in orange juice called hesperidin improves blood vessel function and helps lower a person’s risk of heart disease, researchers report.

Hesperidin is a plant-based compound called a flavonoid. (Grapes, red wine, green and black teas, and chocolate also contain flavonoids.) A growing body of evidence suggests that flavonoids can improve the health of the delicate cells that line blood vessels. The way these cells work is referred to as "endothelial function." Problems with these cells can lead to the development of clogged arteries, a major risk factor for heart attacks and strokes.

For the study, 24 healthy men at risk for cardiovascular disease each drank either 500 milliliters of orange juice each day, a "dummy" drink that contained the same calories as orange juice, or a dummy drink fortified with 292 milligrams of hesperidin. A 500 milliliter glass of orange juice naturally contains 292 milligrams of hesperidin. Over the course of the study, every man drank every beverage for one month straight.

The researchers found that when the men drank the daily orange juice or the hesperidin-fortified drink, they had better endothelial function and lower diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number of a blood pressure reading) than when they drank the non-hesperidin beverage. In addition, gene expression profiles (as related to cardiovascular disease development) were improved.

The findings are being presented this week at the American Heart Association’s Basic Cardiovascular Sciences Annual Conference in Las Vegas.

GINKGO BILOBA DOESN'T PREVENT HEART ATTACK

2009-12-01T21:40:00.000-08:00

But Herb May Help People With Peripheral Vascular Disease, Researchers Say

By Bill Hendrick

WebMD Health News

Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

Nov. 24, 2009 -- Ginkgo biloba, a popular herbal supplement, doesn’t prevent cardiovascular death or major events such as stroke and heart attack in people 75 and older, a new study shows.

However, the herb may have some benefit for people with peripheral vascular disease, scientists say in the Nov. 24 issue of Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.

Further study is needed to support the new evidence that the herb may help people with peripheral vascular disease, researchers say. Peripheral vascular disease involves poor circulation of blood vessels outside the brain and heart. Classic symptoms include pain in the lower legs, typically associated with walking.

Ginkgo biloba has been used for the treatment of peripheral vascular disease in Europe. The researchers note that some studies have suggested that Ginkgo biloba can help increase walking distance before the onset of leg pain related to peripheral vascular disease.

Researchers randomly assigned 3,069 people age 75 and older to a placebo or 120 milligrams of Ginkgo biloba extract taken twice daily. They followed the participants for an average of six years. The main purpose of the original study was to evaluate the effect of the supplement on the development of dementia. No effect on dementia was found. The current findings come from additional analysis from the original study.

During the study period, 355 people died, 87 as a result of coronary heart disease, and there was no significant difference between patients taking Ginkgo biloba or the placebo. The researchers also say there were no differences in the incidents of heart attack or stroke.

Of the 355 patients who died, 197 were in the Ginkgo biloba group, and 188 in the placebo group, the researchers say.

Although there were only 35 peripheral vascular disease events, the researchers detected a possible benefit for those taking Ginkgo biloba.

Lewis H. Kuller, MD, DrPH, of the University of Pittsburgh tells WebMD that a peripheral vascular disease event "means something like amputation, or a major surgical procedure in lower extremities" such as a bypass procedure.

"This is not just people who had pain when they walked or were put on medication because their feet were cold," he says. "These were major surgical events. The numbers are small but they are very solid."

Twelve people taking the herb in the study had peripheral vascular disease events - compared to nearly twice that number, 23, in the placebo group.

“The difference between [Ginkgo biloba] and placebo was significant but based on very small numbers,” the researchers write. “The results are consistent with studies in Europe that reported increased walking time or distance without pain in trials of [Ginkgo biloba] versus placebo” among patients with peripheral vascular disease.

“It is possible that [Ginkgo biloba] has a unique effect on [peripheral vascular disease] by increasing blood flow...”

What is now needed, the researchers write, is a larger clinical trial. They say their findings aren’t sufficient to call for the use of Ginkgo biloba by people at increased risk for peripheral vascular disease, which can be a precursor of strokes and heart attacks.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF ONIONS

2009-12-01T03:03:00.001-08:00

Here are some uses and health benefits of Onions. Onions are commonly used with many food preparations, They are very popular as they can also be eaten raw mixed in salad and in our "kinilao". As for health benefits, onions increase the flow of urine, are slightly laxative and have antiseptic qualities. For sinus condition, they help to drain mucus from the cavities and loosen phlegm. Onions also have been found valuable for the hair, nails of the fingers and toes, and for the eyes.

They also have been recommended for cases of asthma (difficult breathing), bronchitis (inflammation of the bronchial tubes), pneumonia, influenza and colds. Onions has also improved cases of low blood pressure, insomnia, neuritis ( inflammation of nerves), vertigo (dizziness), and obesity. It will also help destroy worms and other parasites in the body. A poultice of crushed onions applied to the chest has been reported to relieve cases of inflammation of the lungs (pleurisy). These are some health benefits of Onions. So why don't you add this spice to your special recipe?

Same poultice preparation can also relieve boils on the skin. Even with my adobo, I put onions and ginger because of it's health benefits. Indeed by eating it raw you get many health benefits of Onions.

INSTANT NOODLES CAN CAUSE CANCER

2009-12-01T02:33:00.000-08:00

Dear instant noodle lovers,

Make sure you break for at least 3 days after one session of instant noodles before you eat your next packet! Please read the info shared to me by a doctor. My family stopped eating instant noodles more than 5 years ago after hearing about the wax coating the noodles - the wax is not just in the Styrofoam containers but it coats the noodles. This is why the instant noodles do not stick to each other when cooking.

If one were to examine the ordinary Chinese yellow noodles in the market, one will notice that, in their uncooked state the noodles are oily. This layer of oil prevents the noodles from sticking together.

Wanton noodles in their uncooked state have been dusted with flour to prevent them sticking together. When the hawker cooks the noodles, notice he cooks them in hot water and then rinses them in cold water before cooking them in hot water again. This process is repeated several times before the noodles are ready to be served. The cooking and rinsing process prevents noodles from sticking together.

The hawker then "lowers the noodles in oil and sauce to prevent the noodles from sticking if they are to be served dry. Cooking instructions for spaghetti require oil or butter to be added in the water when boiling the spaghetti to prevent the pasta from sticking together. Otherwise, one gets a big clump of spaghetti!

There was an SBC (now TCS) actor some years ago, who at a busy time of his career had no time to cook, resorted to eating instant noodles everyday. He got cancer later on. His doctor told him about the wax in instant noodles. The doctor told him that our body will need up to 2 days to clear the wax. There was also an SIA steward who after moving out from his mother's house into his own house, did not cook but ate instant noodles almost every meal. He had cancer, and has since died from it.

Nowadays the instant noodles are referred as " cancer noodles ".

DIABETES RATE MAY DOUBLE BY 2034

2009-12-01T02:31:00.000-08:00

Cost of Treating the Disease Set to Triple, Researchers Say

By Salynn Boyles

WebMD Health News

Reviewed By Brunilda Nazario, MD

Nov. 27, 2009 --

If nothing is done, the number of Americans with diabetes will nearly double in the next 25 years and spending on the disease will nearly triple, a new study shows.

An aging population combined with a dramatic rise in obesity has created a perfect storm for diabetes in the U.S., researchers say.

"A perfect storm is a good way to look at it," study researcher Elbert S. Huang, MD of the University of Chicago tells WebMD. "If things stay the way they are right now we will have massive increases in diabetes incidence in this country over the next two decades."

By 2034, as many as 44 million Americans will have diabetes, up from 23 million today, according to the new projections, published in the November issue of the American Diabetes Association journal Diabetes Care.

The cost of caring for diabetes patients is projected to rise from $113 billion to $336 annually, and that is before adjusting for inflation.

These costs will outpace the increase in cases because more diabetes patients will be older and sicker and will require more expensive medical care, experts say.

Trouble for Medicare

Age is one of the biggest risk factors for type 2 diabetes, and the transition of baby boomers from middle to old age will drive much of the increase, the study shows.

As a result, by 2034, half of all direct spending in diabetes care is projected to occur in the Medicare population.

About 8 million Americans covered by Medicare now have diabetes and it cost $45 billion to treat them in 2009.

The number of diabetes patients whose treatment is paid for by Medicare is projected to nearly double to 14.6 million in the next 25 years, and the cost of caring for them is expected to quadruple.

By 2034, annual Medicare spending on diabetes care is projected to rise to $171 billion.

Although little can be done about the aging of the population, much can be done about the other major risk factor for type 2 diabetes -- obesity.

About 65% of Americans are overweight, and about one-third are obese, the CDC says.

The obesity rate among adults in the U.S. doubled between 1980 and 2004, but it appears to have leveled off since then.

The new diabetes model developed by the Huang and colleagues predicts a slight decline in obesity rates in the U.S. over the next two decades.

Target Obesity, Change the Future

All agree that a bigger decline in obesity, achieved though successful public health initiatives, could make a huge difference.

The future projected in the newly published study does not have to become reality, experts say.

"The cost of doing nothing is clearly going to be quite high," study co-researcher Michael O'Grady, PhD, said in a news conference. "To do nothing right now is going to cost billions and billions of dollars."

American Diabetes Association chief scientific and medical officer David M. Kendall, MD says it is now clear that even modest lifestyle changes, such as losing a few pounds or taking a walk most days a week, can drastically reduce a person's risk for developing diabetes.

The Diabetes Prevention Program was one of the largest studies ever to examine the impact of diet, exercise, and drug treatments on diabetes rates in patients at high risk for developing the disease.

The study found that these people cut their diabetes risk dramatically by losing just 7% of their body weight and engaging in moderate exercise for at least 30 minutes, a minimum of five times a week.

Early treatment with the diabetes drug metformin also helped delay or prevent diabetes, but to a lesser extent.

"Even modest weight loss and as little as 30 minutes of exercise five or more days a week and inexpensive treatments can keep people healthy," he tells WebMD. "That is really the big message."

SOURCES: Elbert S. Huang, MD, MPH, assistant professor of medicine, department of medicine, University of Chicago.

David M. Kendall, MD, chief scientific and medical officer, American Diabetes Association.

Michael O'Grady, PhD, National Opinion Research Center, University of Chicago, Chicago.

News release, American Diabetes Association, Nov. 27, 2009.

CDC National Center for Health Statistics: "Obesity Among Adults in US - No Significant Change Since 2003."

Diabetes Prevention Program results, New England Journal of Medicine, Feb. 7, 2002.

SALT REALLY DOES BOOST HEALTH RISKS

2009-11-30T02:49:00.000-08:00

It's known that eating a lot of salt puts people at greater risk of high blood pressure. Now there's confirmation of a corollary: High salt intake also translates to significantly greater risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke.

A review published in the Nov. 25 online edition of BMJ found that a difference of just 5 grams of regular daily salt intake spells a 23% difference in the rate of stroke and a 17% difference in the rate of cardiovascular disease.

According to the review, the World Health Organization recommends that people consume only 5 grams -- about a teaspoon -- of salt each day. But people in the West typically eat around 10 grams a day, and those in Eastern Europe consume even more.

The review authors analyzed 13 studies, involving more than 170,000 people, that assessed the link between salt and cardiovascular disease and stroke.

The researchers estimated that reducing daily salt intake by 5 grams around the world could prevent more than 1 million stroke deaths and nearly 3 million deaths from cardiovascular disease each year. And because it's hard to measure salt intake, those numbers could actually be even higher, the authors noted.

-- Randy Dotinga

SOURCE: BMJ, news release, Nov. 25, 2009

MOUTH ULCER

2009-11-17T02:38:00.000-08:00

Mouth Ulcers are small, painfull lesions that appear in the mouth. They can affect the inside of your cheeks, the edge of your tongue or underneath it and more rarely, the roof of your mouth.

Mouth Ulcers usually go away by themselves in one or two weeks, but can be a recurring problem in some people. Treatment can numb the pain, protect the ulcer from further damage or decrease the chances of a bacterial infection. Some medicines may speed up the healing of used early enough.

What causes mouth ulcers?

Some people tend to get mouth ulcers more often than others, especially if there is a family history of mouth ulcers. Mouth ulcers are common in children and young adults.

Students and people who are under a lot of stress may get them more often. Some woman tend to get mouth ulcers before their periods or during prgnancy. Occasionally they can be the sign of a more serious condition.

Common causes of mouth ulcers

Damage to the inside lining of your mouth by very hot or acidic food and drink
Biting you inner cheeks
Brushing your teeth and gums very hard.
Poor fitted dentures.
A very dry mouth – due to a medical condition or from some medications.
Eating food to which you are allergic scraping of the mouth lining by sucking hard sweets.
Being stressed, or lacking certain vitamins and minerals in your body such as folic acid and B-group vitamins or iron.
Certain medications.

Signs and symptoms of mouth ulcers

Mouth ulcers are round or oval and usually less than 1cm in diameter. They are yellow to grey in colour on the inside and red and swollen around the edge.

They can be very painful, especially when eating or drinking.
Some people get a tingling or burning feeling, 1 – 2 days before the mouth ulcer appears.
Small blisters or sores on the outside of your lips are usually cold sores.

Mouth ulcer treatment

Mouth ulcers can heal within 7-14 days without treatment but medicine and treatment may provide relief.

Treatment can numb the pain, protect the ulcer from further damage or decrease the chances of a bacterial infection. Some medicines may speed up the healing of used early enough.

Paste Treatments

Form a protective layer over the ulcer, helping the medicine stick to the ulcer. This allows the ulcer to heal faster and can help relieve the pain.
Some pastes contain anti-inflammatory medicines that, if applied at the tingling stage, can prevent the mouth ulcer from developing further. You may need to dry your mouth first before applying the paste. Dab it on rather than rub it in.

Gel Treatments

Form a protective layer over the ulcer.
Some also contain treatments that numb the pain. Avoid using large amounts of gels, especially in children under 12 years of age.
Mouth Washes
Are useful for hard to reach ulcers and when there are many at one time.
Can help prevent bacteria causing an infection
Some can also numb the pain
Work best if you start to use them as soon as you feel the tingling sensation.

Liquid paint Treatments

Form a protective layer over the ulcer but need to be re-applied often.
Ask your pharmacist to help you choose the most suitable treatment for your mouth ulcer. Apply pastes and gels during the day. Also apply at bedtime to allow longer contact with the mouth ulcer.
Take a pain reliever like paracetomol if pain from the ulcer is severe. Check with your pharmacist if you are pregnant or breastfeeding or before giving children medication for mouth ulcers.

Self care of mouth ulcers

There are many things you can do to keep more comfortabe while affected by mouth ulcers.

Suck on ice to help reduce the pain of mouth ulcers.
Avoid spicy or acidic food and drink when you have a mouth ulcer.
Avoid very hot food or drink
Brush your teeth with a soft toothbrush straight after eating. If you cant brush, rinse your mouth with warm water or chlorexidine bought from your pharmacy.
If dentures cause your mouth ulcers, have their fitting re-checked.
Take Vitamin B and C supplements if you are run down, especially for students and women who get mouth ulcers often.
Learn some relaxing tips to help with stress.
Drink lots of water to avoid a dry mouth.
Eat a healthy well balanced diet of fresh fruit and vegetables, especially green vegetables.

Important

See your doctor if you have mouth ulcers that:

Are larger than 1 cm or you have lots of small ulcers join together to form a large ulcer.
Do not heal within 3-4 weeks even with treatment.
Bleed allot
Occur often in a very short space of time, e.g. every 1 -2 weeks.
Come with a sore throat, or rash on any part of your body.
Are not painful at all
Occur with diarrhoea as well.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF SEX

2009-11-13T01:14:00.000-08:00

Sex is more than just about hormonal discharge and momentary pleasure. In fact, sex has much more to it than most of us think and know. Around 300 AD a philosopher named Ko Hung wrote, "the more a man copulates, the greater will be the benefit he derives from the act...". However, modern science took a little time to come around to the fact that sex is good for both mental and physical health.

Sex is good for adults. Indulging on a regular basis, at least once a week, is even better. The obvious benefits like it can burn calories, relieve stress and help you fall asleep more easily are there, but these are just the tip of the iceberg. Given below are some more reasons why sex may help you live a longer, happier life:

1. SEX RELIEVES PAIN:

Immediately before orgasm, the level of the hormone oxytocin rises to five times normal levels. This in turn releases endorphins, which alleviate pain. So if your headache, arthritis pain, or PMS symptoms seem to improve after sex, you can thank those higher oxytocin levels.

2. SEX INCREASES IMMUNITY:

Sexual intercourse once or twice a week raises the body's level of the immune-boosting antibody immunoglobulin A (IgA). This secretion increases the overall immunity level of the body which keeps cold and flu away.

3. SEX REDUCES STRESS:

Satisfying sexual activity can, of course, be an exhilarating mood lifter. Recent research revealed that people who have more sex reported that they felt more at ease, happier and learned how to handle stress better. During orgasm, there is a surge in oxytocin, which may account for both the stronger emotional connection between partners and tension relief.

4. SEX PROMOTES LONGEVITY:

Having an orgasm releases the hormone DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone), which works as an anti-depressant and improves immunity levels in the body. DHEA can repair tissue, improve cognition, keep skin healthy. Also, according to a british study of 1,000 men found those who had at least two orgasms a week had half the death rate of their countrymen who indulge less than once a month.

5. SEX INCREASES BLOOD CIRCULATION:

Sex increases blood circulation, beneficial especially for the brain, due to increased heart rate and deep breathing. As fresh blood supply arrives, your cells and organs are saturated with fresh oxygen and hormones, and as the used blood is removed, you also remove waste products that cause fatigue and even illness.

6. SEX HELPS YOU SLEEP BETTER:

Not only does the oxytocin released during orgasm make you feel all coupled up, but research has shown it also helps you sleep. And getting enough restful sleep has been linked with a host of other good things, such as maintaining a healthy weight and blood pressure.

7. SEX IMPROVES CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH:

In a recent study, scientists found the frequency of sex was associated with strokes in the 914 men they followed for 20 years. The researchers also found that having sex twice or more a week reduced the risk of heart attack or stroke by half for the men, compared with those who had sex less than once a month.

8. SEX REDUCES PROSTATE CANCER RISK:

Prostate gland-related disorders are known to be caused by or worsen as a result of the secretions from the gland. Regular sexual activity eliminates these harmful secretions and also helps protect the gland from cancer. According to researchers, frequent ejaculations, especially in 20-something men, may reduce the risk of prostate cancer later in life. Another study found that frequent ejaculations, 21 or more a month, were linked to lower prostate cancer risk in older men compared with less frequent ejaculations of four to seven monthly.

9. SEX HELPS IN WEIGHT LOSS AND OVERALL FITNESS:

While you might not want to hang up your gym shoes just yet if you're looking to lose weight, regular sex can help add activity to your lifestyle. Thirty minutes of sex burns 85 calories or more. It may not sound like much, but it adds up: 42 half-hour sessions will burn 3,570 calories, more than enough to lose a pound (or 0.45 kg). Sex also boosts production of testosterone, which leads to stronger bones and muscles.

10. SEX BOOSTS TESTOSTERONE AND ESTROGEN:

Regular sexual activity boosts both testosterone and estrogen levels in both men and women. Testosterone is what makes the sex drive in men and women more aggressive. Besides boosting your libido, testosterone fortifies bones and muscles. It also keeps your heart healthy and good cholesterol high. In women, sex increases estrogen levels, which protects against heart disease. It is estrogen that makes a woman want to be touched and feel romantic, it is testosterone that evokes sexual arousal. Estrogen also plays a huge role in a woman's body scent.

Men's bodies also produce estrogen. Some estrogen helps a man to develop the softer, more nurturing, feminine side of his personality. As men age, the testosterone-estrogen balance begins to shift, with testosterone decreasing and estrogen increasing, and this is one reason why many men seem to mellow out as they get older.

Good, healthy sex with someone that you love has survival benefits. The caressing, hugging, stroking and cuddling promote feelings of love, nurture and care. Any expression of love and emotional intimacy encourages healing. Thus, sex with the touching and caressing related to being in love puts a smile on our face for health benefits as well.

BUT DOES NOT MEAN THAT TOO MUCH SEX IS BETTER FOR HEALTH........

TOO MUCH SEX ALSO NOT GOOD FOR OUR HEALTH!

Your honeymoon is when you and your husband are at your physical maximum. But did you know that frequent and strenuous sex can cause an infection called Honeymoon Cystitis? Read on to know how you can get infected and what you can do to prevent the infection.

SEX IS NATURAL, BUT NOT FUN!
“Honeymoon cystitis is a condition that happens when you have frequent and strenuous intercourse. This is due to the friction and injury caused to the urethra after having sex for the first time," says Dr Rishma Dhillon Pai, gynaecologist. Remember, this condition can be caused because of a urinary infection as well.
It is also a bladder infection and an inflammation of the urethra. This is what causes painful sex. It is caused by the introduction of the E-coli bacteria (in the bowel) into the urethra.
Besides frequent, strenuous intercourse, it is also caused by unclean fingers, penis or other objects that is inserted into the anus and then the vagina.
However, remember that you get honeymoon cystitis mainly because of the force and friction caused by intercourse for the first time. This is because the vagina is tight and the repeated force on it injures the area.
Even though the condition has two causes, the symptoms for both are the same.

LOOK OUT FOR
Here are a few symptoms that could indicate you have honeymoon cystitis:
• Burning sensation when urinating
• Pain while urinating
• Urinating frequently
• Traces of blood in the urine
• Odour in the urine
• Cloudy colouration of urine
• Pain at or just above your pubic bone

AVOID, AVOID, AVOID
Remember, there a few things you can do to avoid the condition. You can begin by drinking at least eight glasses of water everyday as this will help you flush out all the toxins.
Try and urinate immediately before and after sex to flush the bacteria away.
You could apply a water-based lubricant. This may make intercourse easy but remember, there are no guarantees.

TREAT IT
If you have any of these symptoms, make sure you visit your gynaecologist immediately. Once your doctor diagnoses honeymoon cystitis, she will prescribe antibiotics to clear the infection.
She will also prescribe painkillers to get rid of the pain. The course of your treatment depends on the severity of the infection.
There are a few urinary painkillers and anti-spasm drugs that she may prescribe as well.
Remember, this infection does not affect your chances of conception at all. And you can resume sexual intercourse once you are comfortable.

ORGANIC FOOD

2009-11-12T04:39:00.000-08:00

STRAIGHT FROM THE LAP OF NATURE
The nature has taken a complete circle. We are back to from where we possibly started. The advancement in science and technology brought green revolution in agricultural sector that helped in increasing not only quantity but also the size of farm products. This was achieved by the use of various chemically oriented fertilizers and genetic treatments given to plants and vegetables. This certainly made the life of people comfortable but it also weaned them away from nature. Unnatural food and the pressure of modernity have compelled us to adopt food habits which have destroyed our health system.

But today’s man is becoming more and more alert to the hazards posed by the intake of such food, thus they coined in the concept of Organic Food. Organic food is the kind of natural food that is produced from plants and animals without the use of pesticides, herbicides and genetically modified organisms. Fresh vegetables and fruits which are grown by the age old process of using natural manure (i.e. animal dung, leaves and other plant manure, earthworms) belong to the top category of organic food.

NUTRITIOUS, HAGIENIC & SAFELY CULTIVATED

Organic food differs from other food in various areas like taste, nutrition, hygiene and safety. Organic food is more appealing to the palates as compared to the inorganic food which is more appealing to the eyes. Organic food is rich in vitamins, minerals and amino acids. The food which are prepared through chemical fertilizers ie inorganic, contain minimum nutrition level. Herbicides like Acifluorfen (Blazer) deactivate plant cells and reduce its growth. The product of such plant doesn’t help us in any way. Inorganic food contains fat, sugar and salts in maximum level and minerals, amino acids in minimum level therefore the natural balance stands disturbed. Organic food is processed by maintaining harmony with the environment while in the production of inorganic food environmental welfare takes a backstage. In organic farming chemical fertilizers reduce the fertility of the soil making its recycling absolutely impossible. It is safe to cultivate organic food as it poses no health hazard to the farmer. But in inorganic cultivation the chemicals used can harm the plant as well as the planter.

A PERFECT COMBINATION WITH HERBS

Organic food in combination with certain herbs like Basil and curry-patta can work wonders for our health. Such food is very famous in countries like India, Malaysia, China and Nepal where a lot of spices i.e. dry powdered herbs like turmeric, cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, cloves etc are used even in day to day cooking. These spices not only give an aromatic flavor to the food but also make it delicious to the extent that one just can’t stop licking one’s fingers till the end of the meal.

WHAT IS ORGANIC FOOD, ANYWAY?

Though organic food can be produced with certain synthetic ingredients, it must adhere to specific standards regulated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Crops are generally grown without synthetic pesticides, artificial fertilizers, irradiation (a form of radiation used to kill bacteria), or biotechnology. Animals on organic farms eat organically grown feed, aren't confined 100 percent of the time (as they sometimes are on conventional farms), and are raised without antibiotics or synthetic growth hormones.

HEALTH

2009-11-08T00:12:00.000-08:00

The English word "HEALTH" comes from the Old English word hale, meaning "wholeness, a being whole, sound or well,". Hale comes from the Proto-Indo-European root kailo, meaning "whole, uninjured, of good omen". Kailo comes from the Proto-Germanic root khalbas, meaning "something divided". Medilexicon's medical dictionary has three definitions for health:

The state of the organism when it functions optimally without evidence of disease or abnormality.
A state of dynamic balance in which an individual's or a group's capacity to cope with all the circumstances of living is at an optimal level.
A state characterized by anatomic, physiologic, and psychological integrity, ability to perform personally valued family, work, and community roles; ability to deal with physical, biologic, psychological, and social stress; a feeling of well-being, and freedom from the risk of disease and untimely death.

World Health Organization's (WHO's) definition of "health"

The most famous modern definition of health was created during a Preamble to the Constitution of the World Health Organization as adopted by the International Health Conference, New York, 19-22 June, 1946; signed on 22 July 1946 by the representatives of 61 States (Official Records of the World Health Organization, no. 2, p. 100) and entered into force on 7 April 1948.

"Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity."

The Definition has not been amended since 1948.

During the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion in 1986, the WHO said that health is: "a resource for everyday life, not the objective of living. Health is a positive concept emphasizing social and personal resources, as well as physical capacities."

The Lancet questions WHO's definition of health
An article in The Lancet states that health is not a "state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being". Neither is it "merely the absence of disease or infirmity". The article says the WHO definitions of health will not do in an era marked by new understandings of disease at molecular, individual, and societal levels. (The Lancet, Volume 373, Issue 9666, Page 781, 7 March 2009).

Two aspects to health
Most people accept that health can be divided into two broad aspects - physical and mental health.

Physical health
For humans, physical health means a good body health, which is healthy because of regular physical activity (exercise), good nutrition, and adequate rest.
As a country's or region's people experience improved nutrition, health care, standards of living and quality of life, their height and weight generally increase.
In fact, most people, when asked for a definition of health talk about physical health. Physical health relates to anything concerning our bodies as physical entities. Physical health has been the basis for active living campaigns and the many nutrition drives that have swept the industrialized world. People are exposed to so much "physical health" data these days that it is hard to decide what is relevant and what is not.
Another term for physical health is physical wellbeing. Physical wellbeing is defined as something a person can achieve by developing all health-related components of his/her lifestyle. Fitness reflects a person's cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular strength, flexibility, and body composition. Other contributors to physical wellbeing may include proper nutrition, bodyweight management, abstaining from drug abuse, avoiding alcohol abuse, responsible sexual behavior (sexual health), hygiene, and getting the right amount of sleep.

Mental health
Mental health refers to people's cognitive and emotional well-being. A person who enjoys good mental health does not have a mental disorder. According to WHO, mental health is "a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community".

No matter how many definitions people try to come up with regarding mental health, its assessment is still a subjective one.

People have always found it easier to explain what mental illness is, rather than mental health. Most people agree that mental health refers to the "absence of mental illness". For some, this definition is not enough. They argue that if you pick 100 people who do not suffer from any mental disorder or illness that could be diagnosed by a psychiatrist, some people within those 100 will be mentally healthier than others. Most people also agree that mental health includes the ability to enjoy life, the ability to bounce back from adversity, the ability to achieve balance (moderation), the ability to be flexible and adapt, the ability to feel safe and secure, and self-actualization (making the best of what you have).

Determinants of health
The health of individual people and their communities are affected by a wide range of contributory factors. People's good or bad health is determined by their environment and situations - what is happening and what has happened to them, says WHO. WHO says that the following factors probably have a bigger impact on our health than access and use of health care services:
• Where we live
• The state of our environment
• Genetics
• Our income
• Our education level
• Our relationship with friends and family

WHO says the main determinants to health are:
• Our economy and society ("The social and economic environment")
• Where we live, what is physically around us ("The physical environment")
• What we are and what we do ("The person's individual characteristics and behaviors")

As our good health depends on the context of our lives, praising or criticizing people for their good or bad health is wrong. Most of the factors that contribute towards our good or bad health are out of our control. According to WHO, these factors (determinants), include the following, among others:

• Socioeconomic status - the higher a person's socioeconomic status is, the more likely he/she is to enjoy good health. The link is a clear one. Socioeconomic status affects all members of the family, including newborn babies. An Australian study found that women of lower socioeconomic status are less likely to breastfeed their newborn babies - a factor which will have an impact on the health of the baby just as he/she enters the world. A South Korean study revealed a clear link between low socioeconomic status and heart attack and stroke risk.

• Education - people with lower levels of education generally have a higher risk of experiencing poorer health. Their levels of stress will most likely be higher, compared to people with higher academic qualifications. A person with a high level of education will probably have higher self-esteem. A study carried out by researchers at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, found that elderly people who had a higher level of health literacy were more likely to live longer. Another study from San Francisco VA Medical Center found that Literacy at less than a ninth-grade level almost doubles the five-year risk of mortality among elderly people.

• Physical environment - if your water is clean and safe, the air you breathe is pure, your workplace is healthy, your house is comfortable and safe, you are more likely to enjoy good health compared to somebody whose water supply is not clean and safe, the air he/she breathes is contaminated, the workplace is unhealthy, etc. A study carried out by researchers at Zuyd University, The Netherlands, found that just an hour of sniffing car exhaust fumes induces a stress response in the brain's activity. Another study carried out at Indiana University-Purdue University found that chronic lead poisoning, caused in part by the ingestion of contaminated dirt, affects hundreds of thousands more children in the United States than the acute lead poisoning associated with imported toys or jewelry.

• Job prospects and employment conditions - if you have a job, statistics show you are more likely to enjoy better health than people who are unemployed. If you have some control over your working conditions your health will benefit too. A study by researchers at State University of New York at Albany found that workers who lost their job through no fault of their own were twice as likely as continuously employed workers to report over the next 18 months that they developed a new illness, such as high blood pressure, diabetes or heart disease.

• Support from people around you - if you have family support, as well as support from friends and your community your chances of enjoying good health are far greater than somebody who has none of these things. A study carried out at the University of Washington found that strong family support, not peer support, is protective in reducing future suicidal behavior among young adults when they have experienced depression or have attempted suicide.

• Culture - the traditions and customs of a society and how a family responds to them play an important role in people's health. The impact could be either good or bad for health. The tradition of genital mutilation of women has an impact on infection rates and the mental health of millions of girls and women in many countries. A study published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health found that when young people dress according to the customs of their own ethnic group, they may be less likely to have mental health problems later in life.

• Genetic inheritance - people's longevity, general health, and propensity to certain diseases are partly determined by their genetic makeup. Researchers from Vrije Universiteit, Holland, the Medical College of Georgia, USA, and Duke University, USA showed that people's genes play a key role in how they respond both biologically and psychologically to stress in their environment.

• What we do and how we manage - what we eat, our physical activity, whether or not we smoke or drink or take drugs, and how we cope with stress play an important role on our physical and mental well-being.

• Access and use of health services - a society that has access and uses good quality health services is more likely to enjoy better health than one that doesn't. For example, developed countries that have universal health care services have longer life expectancies for their people compared to developed countries that don't.

• Gender - men and women are susceptible to some different diseases, conditions and physical experiences, which play a role in our general health. For example, childbirth, ovarian cancer, and cervical cancer, are experienced only by women, while prostate cancer, testicular cancer are only experienced by men. During wars more men than women tend to be called up to fight, and subsequently become injured or die. Adult women are more likely to be the physical victims of domestic abuse, compared to adult men. In some societies women are not given the same access to education as men - education is a factor that influences health. Many studies have revealed gender disparities in healthcare services, even in developed countries.

WELLNESS

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What is WELLNESS?

The term wellness was first used by a doctor called Halbert L. Dunn, USA, who published a small booklet entitled "High Level Wellness" in 1961. The term is much more widely used in North American than in the United Kingdom.

According to the Mickinley Health Center, University of Illinois, wellness "is a state of optimal well-being that is oriented toward maximizing an individual's potential. This is a life-long process of moving towards enhancing your physical, intellectual, emotional, social, spiritual, and environmental well-being."

The University of East Carolina defines wellness as "the integration of mind, body and spirit. Optimal wellness allows us to achieve our goals and find meaning and purpose in our lives. Wellness combines seven dimensions of well-being into a quality way of living. Overall, wellness is the ability to live life to the fullest and to maximize personal potential in a variety of ways. Wellness involves continually learning and making changes to enhance your state of wellness. When we balance the physical, intellectual, emotional, social, occupational, spiritual, and environmental aspects of life, we achieve true wellness."

According to Medilexicon's medical dictionary, wellness is "A philosophy of life and personal hygiene that views health as not merely the absence of illness but the full realization of one's physical and mental potential, as achieved through positive attitudes, fitness training, a diet low in fat and high in fiber, and the avoidance of unhealthful practices (smoking, drug and alcohol abuse, overeating)".

LEADING CAUSES OF GLOBAL DEATHS

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In 1997, of a global total of 52.2 million deaths, 17.3 million were due to infectious and parasitic diseases; 15.3 million were due to circulatory diseases; 6.2 million were due to cancer; 2.9 million were due to respiratory diseases, mainly chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; and 3.6 million were due to prenatal conditions.
Leading causes of death from infectious diseases were acute lower respiratory infections (3.7 million), tuberculosis (2.9 million), diarrhea (2.5 million), HIV/AIDS (2.3 million) and malaria (1.5-2.7 million).
Most deaths from circulatory diseases were coronary heart disease (7.2 million), Cardiovascular (CVD) disease (4.6 million), and other heart diseases (3 million).
Leading causes of death from cancers were those of the lung (1.1 million), stomach (765 000), colon and rectum (525 000) liver, (505 000), and breast (385 000).

AGE STRUCTURE OF DEATHS

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In 1955, 40% of all deaths were among children under 5 years, 10% were in 5-19 year-olds, 28% were among adults aged 20-64, and 21% were among the over-65s.
In 1995, only 21% of all deaths were among the under-5s, 7% among those 5-19, 29% among those 20-64, and 43% among the over-65s.
By 2025, 8% of all deaths will be in the under-5s, 3% among 5-19 year-olds, 27% among 20-64 year-olds and 63% among the over-65s.

LIFE EXPECTANCY

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Average life expectancy at birth in 1955 was just 48 years; in 1995 it was 65 years; in 2025 it will reach 73 years.
By the year 2025, it is expected that no country will have a life expectancy of less than 50 years.
More than 50 million people live today in countries with a life expectancy of less than 45 years.
Over 5 billion people in 120 countries today have life expectancy of more than 60 years.
About 300 million people live in 16 countries where life expectancy actually decreased between 1975-1995.
Many thousands of people born this year will live through the 21st century and see the advent of the 22nd century. For example, while there were only 200 centenarians in France in 1950, by the year 2050, the number is projected to reach 150 000 - a 750-fold increase in 100 years.

POPULATION

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POPULATION

The global population was 2.8 billion in 1955 and is 5.8 billion now. It will increase by nearly 80 million people a year to reach about 8 billion by the year 2025.
In 1955, 68% of the global population lived in rural areas and 32% in urban areas. In 1995 the ratio was 55% rural and 45% urban; by 2025 it will be 41% rural and 59% urban.
Every day in 1997, about 365 000 babies were born, and about 140 000 people died, giving a natural increase of about 220 000 people a day.
Today's population is made up of 613 million children under 5; 1.7 billion children and adolescents aged 5-19; 3.1 billion adults aged 20-64; and 390 million over 65.
The proportion of older people requiring support from adults of working age will increase from 10.5% in 1955 and 12.3% in 1995 to 17.2% in 2025.
In 1955, there were 12 people aged over 65 for every 100 aged under 20. By 1995, the old/young ratio was 16/100; by 2025 it will be 31/100.
The proportion of young people under 20 years will fall from 40% now to 32% of the total population by 2025, despite reaching 2.6 billion - an actual increase of 252 million.
The number of people aged over 65 will rise from 390 million now to 800 million by 2025 - reaching 10% of the total population.
By 2025, increases of up to 300% of the older population are expected in many developing countries, especially in Latin America and Asia.
Globally, the population of children under 5 will grow by just 0.25% annually between 1995-2025, while the population over 65 years will grow by 2.6%.
The average number of babies per woman of child-bearing age was 5.0 in 1955, falling to 2.9 in 1995 and reaching 2.3 in 2025. While only 3 countries were below the population replacement level of 2.1 babies in 1955, there will be 102 such countries by 2025.

K-LINK INTERNATIONAL

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K–LINK International is an very esteem organization started from Malaysia in December 2000. K–LINK International is promoted by Mr. Darren Goh - Group Managing Director and Mr. Lawrence Yap - Group Executive Director. They are ably supported by Mr. K. K. Khor - Group Finance Director. The Company’s primary focus is to bring to light various health products, which are made of natural herbs. K - LINK is the only company, which initiated a health principle, which is pre-dominantly created by medical models like Ayurvedic, Homoeopathy, Allopathic, Chiropractics, etc. K-LINK’s health principle is CLEANSING, BALANCING and ACTIVATING, which ultimately leads to DEFENDING i.e. having an improved immune system. All the products have been introduced to do either Cleansing, Balancing or Activating, some of our products can do more than one function. K-LINK’s never ending search has brought more than 50 products - all of them based on its strong Health principle. There are 4 Principles

Cleansing:-

Cleansing the organs from toxins which has been accumulated in the body via air, water, food, emotional stress etc. Toxins has been identified as the major cause for all de-generative diseases.

Balancing:-

Balancing the body’s acid/alkaline balance and nutritional balance.

Activation:-
Activates the cells to improvise the metabolic functions to an optimum level.

Defending:-
Improvises the immune system of our body.

K-Link started with a few products to market with and now has an array of products in HealthCare brought from various countries. K-LINK had a modest RM 700,000 as its first month sales. K-LINK management is out to set a foundation, and make its presence seen and felt in all the six continents of the world . K-Link International is dedicated to help improve lives of people Globally regardless of their race, religion, color, creed, age and educational background. K-Link ensures that most of its products are manufactured at ISO certified, GMP certified and other relevant certification are obtained before they agree to market the products. Extra care and diligent QA processing is administered as most of the products are healthcare products.

Due to visionary board of directors, efficient management, unique and dynamic health concept and the revolutionary healthcare products it beats various record in Malaysia as well as Asia pacific region in very short span of time and it is emerging as the fastest growing direct selling company in the world which is now serving people in more than 60 countries around the globe. It has now created a glorious history and has been recognized nationally and internationally as well .Its been successful to bag various prestigious awards and recognition as-

Sharing the same notion k-link International is serving Nepalese people since July 2004. Greenlink International, Lazimpat promoted by two dynamic young entrepreneur Mr. Sonam Sherpa and Mrs. Kelsang Gurung is working in Nepal on its behalf is a master stockiest. Greenlink has more than 30 outlets to provide the health awareness program to the general public and providing them K-Link products regularly and effectively. So far there are more than 60 thousand satisfied costumer and user of this product in Nepal and the number is increasing day by day.

About online web

2009-10-05T01:14:00.000-07:00

How to use it
As with standard RSS Feeds, you need a feed reader—this is a tool like an email program. It's like getting an email every time one of your subscriptions updates their content, except no email address is required. There are many feed readers—some are online (like a webmail account), some are offline (you download the program to your computer), some are free and some aren't.

You may have come across feed readers already. If you use personalized home page services like My Yahoo! or My MSN, you have a feed reader—that's how content like news, weather and stock quotes appear on your personal page. You can also add content from any site with feeds to your page to get updates. Internet Explorer 7 has an inbuilt RSS aggregator.

There are websites now that serves as a Job Feed Aggregator. As the term suggest, its primary purpose is to gather all job feeds offered by major job sites and corporate job boards into one. This practice has gained wide acceptance by the user and the source of the job feeds since both have benefited from this. Easier job searching for Job-seekers while increasing traffic to the job feed source. Typical example of this type of sites are Jobzter!, Indeed and SimplyHired
New technology: semantic web for job feed
Semantic web is emerging as a new layer in the web, where any information such as job opening can be coded in machine-readable object. Standard languages like RDF and OWL are used to present these data objects. With semantic web technologies, data feed becomes more powerful because data and relationships between data can be described in any level of details. This new approach, particularly RDF feed, has just started to be applied to job feeds as well. For example, Ufeed, a free online data feed service, allows user to create job feed in RDF format in addition to RSS2.0 format. Since job opening information in RDF feed represents every attributes of job description in separate fields, such job feed enables much more fine-grain search and comparison at search engine that consumes the job feed.
Mediabistro.com is a Web site that publishes various blogs and job listings for journalists. The site was founded in 1993 by Laurel Touby as "a gathering place for professionals in journalism, publishing and other media-related industries in New York City"[1], mediabistro.com has since grown[2] into an international resource for media professionals.

The site claims 900,000 users have registered for its various services including job postings, educational courses, events, forums and its premium subscription service, AvantGuild. mediabistro.com is also home to a number of industry-specific blogs including TVNewser (covering broadcast & cable news), GalleyCat (book publishing), UnBeige (design), AgencySpy (advertising), PRNewser (public relations) and MobileContentToday (mobile apps).

On July 17, 2007, the site was acquired[3] by Jupitermedia for $20 million in cash plus a two year earn-out that could result in an additional $3 million.

The site publishes several popular blogs such as TV Newser, about the broadcast industry, and various FishBowl blogs, covering gossip in the journalism communities of New York, Los Angeles and DC