Health and leisure and culture in the new code and one

An apple a day may keep the doctor away.

2012-01-05T12:54:00.000-08:00

An apple a day may keep the doctor away. That’s a phrase often heard, especially in Western countries. And the latest research from experts at Cornell University proves this.
This study provides further evidence of the benefits of eating apples in reducing the risk of heart disease. Because inside the apple there is a double advantage for the benefit of cholesterol in the blood.

Studies using human liver cells, suggesting that the antioxidants contained in apples potentially in lowering LDL cholesterol (Low Density Lipoprotein) is often referred to as”bad”cholesterol, by stimulating the production of LDL receptors in liver cells. That way, will help remove cholesterol in the blood. Such effect was found in the cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins.
The second advantage is found, that apples can prevent oxidation of LDL cholesterol becomes oxidized LDL. Oxidized LDL is a dangerous form of LDL, which may cause the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Towards old age, usually people concerned with these two serious illnesses. But for men, beware, because the chances the disease will come early.
Stroke is a blood clot suddenly to the brain. Most strokes occur due to clogged arteries luran sa-carrying blood to the brain (ischemic stroke).
Moreover, it can also be caused by the entry of blood into brain tissue when a blood pulse channels cut / torn (hemorrhagic stroke). If symptoms of a stroke takes place in a short period (less than 1 hour), so-called mini-strokes or (transient ischemic atack – TIA).
Stroke is the leading cause of paralysis and is the third leading cause of death in America. More than 600,000 Americans have a stroke each year and 150,000 of them died.
Common symptoms of stroke is paralysis of the face, hands or feet, more often paralysis of half of the body.
Some early symptoms of a stroke is like: numbness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on half of the body; Confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech. Loss of vision in one or both eyes. Trouble walking, dizziness, loss of coordination. Headaches for no apparent reason.
The results of the National Cholesterol Education Project was quoted as saying a site mentioned, men aged 20-30 years with excessive levels of total cholesterol, 2 to 3.5 times the risk of dying from a heart attack than men age normally. Disturbingly, their life expectancy was 4-9 times shorter.
Many factors cause a person to have high cholesterol levels, including family history, overweight (obesity), a diet rich in fat, lack of exercise, smoking, drinking alcohol, diabetes is not well controlled, an underactive thyroid gland, an overactive pituitary gland , and kidney failure.
Ganaskan cholesterol so it? Not forever. The real reason our bodies need cholesterol. You probably never thought that cholesterol provides many benefits for our bodies. Among other things, required by the brain and nerve tissue.
Cholesterol is the raw material forming the role of bile salts bind to the blood before it had time to accumulate fat in the intestine. Cholesterol is also needed to produce sex hormones. The production of this hormone will be disrupted if cholesterol is too low. Due to insufficient intake of cholesterol-forming fat to be one cause of bone loss, in addition to calcium deficiency.
The new cholesterol will cause problems, when the amount exceeds the threshold. How does one say of excess cholesterol? People say if the amount of excess cholesterol are two major fat, cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood high.
As a rule, the ideal total cholesterol level is 140-200 mg / dl. More than the range that includes abnormal. Sebagimana known, abnormal levels of fat in the blood circulation (especially cholesterol) can bring long-term problems, such as the risk of narrowing of the arteries (atherosclerosis).
In addition, the results of another study conducted by the same researchers, also found other benefits of apples that can prevent breast cancer. Although the experiments are conducted on animals, yet the researchers are optimistic that the apple really be able to prevent breast cancer in the human body.
Until now, breast cancer is still a scary disease, especially for women who entered the age of 30 years and over. Creepy, because it was supposed this disease will lead to death. It is undeniable that this malignant disease has become one of the major killer of women in the world, after cancer of the uterus.
For women, the disease is a frequent cause of loss of confidence, because if she had suffered breast cancer has reached an advanced stage often he had to give up one of her breasts to be appointed, maybe even both.
Although breast cancer can strike men, but women have a higher risk. This risk will increase if there is a history of breast cancer in her family. For example one mother or their siblings had suffered from breast cancer.
Women who experienced menstruation early, before age 12 years, gave birth after age 35 years, giving birth and never breastfed, not married or married but no children, consume lots of fat at the age of adolescence, or obesity also includes the risk of breast cancer .

Small cell lung cancer survival rate

2012-01-05T12:42:00.001-08:00

Lung cancer is the most prevalent cancer in the United States, diagnosed more frequently than any other cancer, including breast cancer and prostate cancer. Between small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer—the two chief types of cancer of the lung and bronchus—an estimated 222,520 men and women in the US are diagnosed with this devastating disease each year, and a shocking 157,300 are expected to succumb to the disease in a calendar year.
Not all lung cancers are caused by smoking; it is believed that approximately 15% of all cases of lung cancer are unrelated to smoking altogether. Unfortunately, that still leaves almost 190,000 cases of this disease attributable to cigarettes and cigarette smoke—many of them fully preventable. Advocates look forward to a time when the only lung cancers diagnosed each year are those unrelated to smoking—the impact on lives, on families, on the public health, and on the economy if this day ever comes will be nothing shy of astounding.

Incidence and mortality of small cell lung cancer

The median age at diagnosis for patients with lung cancer is 71, while the median age at death for patients with this disease is 72. The disease is more prevalent in men than in women, and among men it is most prevalent among black men, and among women it is most prevalent among white women.

Small cell lung cancer survival rates by stage

According to figures published by the American Cancer Society, small cell lung cancer survival rates—expressed in terms of 5 year relative survival, meaning the percentage of people expected to be alive five years after initial diagnosis—are quite dismal: Even when discovered in the earliest stage, the 5 year relative survival rate is just 31%, while the survival rate for those whose cancer isn't discovered until it is in stage IV is an abysmal 2 percent, almost as low as that for pancreas cancer.

-- Stage I disease: 31%
-- Stage II disease: 19%
-- Stage III disease: 8%
-- Stage IV disease: 2%

Unfortunately, treatment options for patients with small cell lung cancer have not developed along with the incidence of the disease. Treatment options remain scarce and largely ineffective. The disease is so lethal that it has also been expressed as a 2 year survival rate: for early stage disease, the percentage is 40, while for advanced disease the percentage is just 5.

Sources

American Cancer Society: Small cell lung cancer
National Cancer Institute SEER Stat Fact Sheets: Canceer of the lung and bronchus
Boyiadzis, Michael M. et al. Hematology-Oncology Therapy. 2007. New York: McGraw Hill, Medical Publishing Division.

What is breast cancer?

2012-01-05T07:31:00.001-08:00

Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that starts in the cells of the breast. A malignant tumor is a group of cancer cells that can grow into (invade) surrounding tissues or spread (metastasize) to distant areas of the body. The disease occurs almost entirely in women, but men can get it, too.
The remainder of this document refers only to breast cancer in women. For information on breast cancer in men, see our document, Breast Cancer in Men.

The normal breast

To understand breast cancer, it helps to have some basic knowledge about the normal structure of the breasts, shown in the diagram below.
The female breast is made up mainly of lobules (milk-producing glands), ducts (tiny tubes that carry the milk from the lobules to the nipple), and stroma (fatty tissue and connective tissue surrounding the ducts and lobules, blood vessels, and lymphatic vessels).

Most breast cancers begin in the cells that line the ducts (ductal cancers). Some begin in the cells that line the lobules (lobular cancers), while a small number start in other tissues.

The lymph (lymphatic) system of the breast

The lymph system is important to understand because it is one way breast cancers can spread. This system has several parts.
Lymph nodes are small, bean-shaped collections of immune system cells (cells that are important in fighting infections) that are connected by lymphatic vessels. Lymphatic vessels are like small veins, except that they carry a clear fluid called lymph (instead of blood) away from the breast. Lymph contains tissue fluid and waste products, as well as immune system cells. Breast cancer cells can enter lymphatic vessels and begin to grow in lymph nodes.
Most lymphatic vessels in the breast connect to lymph nodes under the arm (axillary nodes). Some lymphatic vessels connect to lymph nodes inside the chest (internal mammary nodes) and those either above or below the collarbone (supraclavicular or infraclavicular nodes).

If the cancer cells have spread to lymph nodes, there is a higher chance that the cells could have also gotten into the bloodstream and spread (metastasized) to other sites in the body. The more lymph nodes that have breast cancer, the more likely it is that the cancer may be found in other organs as well. Because of this, finding cancer in one or more lymph nodes often affects the treatment plan. Still, not all women with cancer cells in their lymph nodes develop metastases, and some women can have no cancer cells in their lymph nodes and later develop metastases.

Benign breast lumps

Most breast lumps are not cancerous (benign). Still, some may need to be sampled and viewed under a microscope to prove they are not cancer.

Fibrocystic changes

Most lumps turn out to be fibrocystic changes. The term fibrocystic refers to fibrosis and cysts. Fibrosis is the formation of scar-like (fibrous) tissue, and cysts are fluid-filled sacs. Fibrocystic changes can cause breast swelling and pain. This often happens just before a woman's menstrual period is about to begin. Her breasts may feel lumpy and, sometimes, she may notice a clear or slightly cloudy nipple discharge.

Other benign breast lumps

Benign breast tumors such as fibroadenomas or intraductal papillomas are abnormal growths, but they are not cancerous and do not spread outside the breast to other organs. They are not life threatening. Still, some benign breast conditions are important because women with these conditions have a higher risk of developing breast cancer.
For more information see the section, "What are the risk factors for breast cancer?" and our document, Non-cancerous Breast Conditions.

General breast cancer terms

Here are some of the key words used to describe breast cancer.

Carcinoma

This is a term used to describe a cancer that begins in the lining layer (epithelial cells) of organs like the breast. Nearly all breast cancers are carcinomas (either ductal carcinomas or lobular carcinomas).

Adenocarcinoma

An adenocarcinoma is a type of carcinoma that starts in glandular tissue (tissue that makes and secretes a substance). The ducts and lobules of the breast are glandular tissue (they make breast milk), so cancers starting in these areas are often called adenocarcinomas.

Carcinoma in situ

This term is used for an early stage of cancer, when it is confined to the layer of cells where it began. In breast cancer, in situ means that the cancer cells remain confined to ducts (ductal carcinoma in situ). The cells have not grown into (invaded) deeper tissues in the breast or spread to other organs in the body. Carcinoma in situ of the breast is sometimes referred to as non-invasive or pre-invasive breast cancer because it may develop into an invasive breast cancer if left untreated.
When cancer cells are confined to the lobules it is called lobular carcinoma in situ). This is not actually a true cancer, and is discussed more in the section, “What are the risk factors for breast cancer?’

Invasive (infiltrating) carcinoma

An invasive cancer is one that has already grown beyond the layer of cells where it started (as opposed to carcinoma in situ). Most breast cancers are invasive carcinomas — either invasive ductal carcinoma or invasive lobular carcinoma.

Sarcoma

Sarcomas are cancers that start in connective tissues such as muscle tissue, fat tissue, or blood vessels. Sarcomas of the breast are rare.

Types of breast cancers

There are several types of breast cancer, but some of them are quite rare. In some cases a single breast tumor can be a combination of these types or be a mixture of invasive and in situ cancer.

Ductal carcinoma in situ

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS; also known as intraductal carcinoma) is the most common type of non-invasive breast cancer. DCIS means that the cancer cells are inside the ducts but have not spread through the walls of the ducts into the surrounding breast tissue.
About 1 in 5 new breast cancer cases will be DCIS. Nearly all women diagnosed at this early stage of breast cancer can be cured. A mammogram is often the best way to find DCIS early.
When DCIS is diagnosed, the pathologist (a doctor specializing in diagnosing disease from tissue samples) will look for areas of dead or dying cancer cells, called tumor necrosis, within the tissue sample. If necrosis is present, the tumor is likely to be more aggressive. The term comedocarcinoma is often used to describe DCIS with necrosis.

Lobular carcinoma in situ

This is not a true cancer, and is discussed in the section “What are the risk factors for breast cancer?.

Invasive (or infiltrating) ductal carcinoma

This is the most common type of breast cancer. Invasive (or infiltrating) ductal carcinoma (IDC) starts in a milk passage (duct) of the breast, breaks through the wall of the duct, and grows into the fatty tissue of the breast. At this point, it may be able to spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body through the lymphatic system and bloodstream. About 8 of 10 invasive breast cancers are infiltrating ductal carcinomas.

Invasive (or infiltrating) lobular carcinoma

Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) starts in the milk-producing glands (lobules). Like IDC, it can spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body. About 1 in 10 invasive breast cancers is an ILC. Invasive lobular carcinoma may be harder to detect by a mammogram than invasive ductal carcinoma.

Less common types of breast cancer

Inflammatory breast cancer: This uncommon type of invasive breast cancer accounts for about 1% to 3% of all breast cancers. Usually there is no single lump or tumor. Instead, inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) makes the skin of the breast look red and feel warm. It also may give the breast skin a thick, pitted appearance that looks a lot like an orange peel. Doctors now know that these changes are not caused by inflammation or infection, but by cancer cells blocking lymph vessels in the skin. The affected breast may become larger or firmer, tender, or itchy. In its early stages, inflammatory breast cancer is often mistaken for an infection in the breast (called mastitis). Often this cancer is first treated as an infection with antibiotics. If the symptoms are caused by cancer, they will not improve, and a biopsy will find cancer cells. Because there is no actual lump, it may not show up on a mammogram, which may make it even harder to find it early. This type of breast cancer tends to have a higher chance of spreading and a worse outlook (prognosis) than typical invasive ductal or lobular cancer. For more details about this condition, see our document, Inflammatory Breast Cancer.
Triple-negative breast cancer: This term is used to describe breast cancers (usually invasive ductal carcinomas) whose cells lack estrogen receptors and progesterone receptors, and do not have an excess of the HER2 protein on their surfaces. (See the section, "How is breast cancer diagnosed?" for more detail on these receptors.) Breast cancers with these characteristics tend to occur more often in younger women and in African-American women. Triple-negative breast cancers tend to grow and spread more quickly than most other types of breast cancer. Because the tumor cells lack these certain receptors, neither hormone therapy nor drugs that target HER2 are effective treatments (but chemotherapy can still be useful if needed).
Paget disease of the nipple: This type of breast cancer starts in the breast ducts and spreads to the skin of the nipple and then to the areola, the dark circle around the nipple. It is rare, accounting for only about 1% of all cases of breast cancer. The skin of the nipple and areola often appears crusted, scaly, and red, with areas of bleeding or oozing. The woman may notice burning or itching.
Paget disease is almost always associated with either ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) or infiltrating ductal carcinoma. Treatment often requires mastectomy. If no lump can be felt in the breast tissue, and the biopsy shows DCIS but no invasive cancer, the outlook (prognosis) is excellent. If invasive cancer is present, the prognosis is not as good, and the cancer will need to be staged and treated like any other invasive cancer.
Phyllodes tumor: This very rare breast tumor develops in the stroma (connective tissue) of the breast, in contrast to carcinomas, which develop in the ducts or lobules. Other names for these tumors include phylloides tumor and cystosarcoma phyllodes. These tumors are usually benign but on rare occasions may be malignant.
Benign phyllodes tumors are treated by removing the tumor along with a margin of normal breast tissue. A malignant phyllodes tumor is treated by removing it along with a wider margin of normal tissue, or by mastectomy. Surgery is often all that is needed, but these cancers may not respond as well to the other treatments used for more common breast cancers. When a malignant phyllodes tumor has spread, it can be treated with the chemotherapy given for soft-tissue sarcomas (this is discussed in detail in our document, Soft-tissue Sarcomas.
Angiosarcoma: This is a form of cancer that starts in cells that line blood vessels or lymph vessels. It rarely occurs in the breasts. When it does, it usually develops as a complication of previous radiation treatments. This is an extremely rare complication of breast radiation therapy that can develop about 5 to 10 years after radiation. Angiosarcoma can also occur in the arms of women who develop lymphedema as a result of lymph node surgery or radiation therapy to treat breast cancer. (For information on lymphedema, see the section, "How is breast cancer treated?") These cancers tend to grow and spread quickly. Treatment is generally the same as for other sarcomas. See our document, Sarcoma - Adult Soft Tissue Cancer.

Special types of invasive breast carcinoma

There are some special types of breast cancer that are sub-types of invasive carcinoma. These are often named after features seen when they are viewed under the microscope, like the ways the cells are arranged.
Some of these may have a better prognosis than standard infiltrating ductal carcinoma. These include:

Adenoid cystic (or adenocystic) carcinoma
Low grade adenosquamous carcinoma (this is a type of metaplastic carcinoma)
Medullary carcinoma
Mucinous (or colloid) carcinoma
Papillary carcinoma
Tubular carcinoma

Some sub-types have the same or maybe worse prognosis than standard infiltrating ductal carcinoma. These include:

Metaplastic carcinoma (most types, including spindle cell and squamous)
Micropapillary carcinoma
Mixed carcinoma (has features of both invasive ductal and lobular)

In general, all of these sub-types are still treated like standard infiltrating ductal carcinoma.

Last Medical Review: 09/29/2011
Last Revised: 12/09/2011

What is Cancer? What Causes Cancer?

2012-01-04T03:05:00.000-08:00

Cancer is a class of diseases characterized by out-of-control cell growth. There are over 100 different types of cancer, and each is classified by the type of cell that is initially affected.
Cancer harms the body when damaged cells divide uncontrollably to form lumps or masses of tissue called tumors (except in the case of leukemia where cancer prohibits normal blood function by abnormal cell division in the blood stream). Tumors can grow and interfere with the digestive, nervous, and circulatory systems, and they can release hormones that alter body function. Tumors that stay in one spot and demonstrate limited growth are generally considered to be benign.

More dangerous, or malignant, tumors form when two things occur:

a cancerous cell manages to move throughout the body using the blood or lymph systems, destroying healthy tissue in a process called invasion
that cell manages to divide and grow, making new blood vessels to feed itself in a process called angiogenesis.

When a tumor successfully spreads to other parts of the body and grows, invading and destroying other healthy tissues, it is said to have metastasized. This process itself is called metastasis, and the result is a serious condition that is very difficult to treat.
In 2007, cancer claimed the lives of about 7.6 million people in the world. Physicians and researchers who specialize in the study, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer are called oncologists.

What causes cancer?

Cancer is ultimately the result of cells that uncontrollably grow and do not die. Normal cells in the body follow an orderly path of growth, division, and death. Programmed cell death is called apoptosis, and when this process breaks down, cancer begins to form. Unlike regular cells, cancer cells do not experience programmatic death and instead continue to grow and divide. This leads to a mass of abnormal cells that grows out of control.

What is cancer? - Video

A short, 3D, animated introduction to cancer. This was originally created by BioDigital Systems and used in the Stand Up 2 Cancer telethon.

Genes - the DNA type

Cells can experience uncontrolled growth if there are damages or mutations to DNA, and therefore, damage to the genes involved in cell division. Four key types of gene are responsible for the cell division process: oncogenes tell cells when to divide, tumor suppressor genes tell cells when not to divide, suicide genes control apoptosis and tell the cell to kill itself if something goes wrong, and DNA-repair genes instruct a cell to repair damaged DNA.
Cancer occurs when a cell's gene mutations make the cell unable to correct DNA damage and unable to commit suicide. Similarly, cancer is a result of mutations that inhibit oncogene and tumor suppressor gene function, leading to uncontrollable cell growth.

Carcinogens

Carcinogens are a class of substances that are directly responsible for damaging DNA, promoting or aiding cancer. Tobacco, asbestos, arsenic, radiation such as gamma and x-rays, the sun, and compounds in car exhaust fumes are all examples of carcinogens. When our bodies are exposed to carcinogens, free radicals are formed that try to steal electrons from other molecules in the body. Theses free radicals damage cells and affect their ability to function normally.

Genes - the family type

Cancer can be the result of a genetic predisposition that is inherited from family members. It is possible to be born with certain genetic mutations or a fault in a gene that makes one statistically more likely to develop cancer later in life.

Other medical factors

As we age, there is an increase in the number of possible cancer-causing mutations in our DNA. This makes age an important risk factor for cancer. Several viruses have also been linked to cancer such as: human papillomavirus (a cause of cervical cancer), hepatitis B and C (causes of liver cancer), and Epstein-Barr virus (a cause of some childhood cancers). Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) - and anything else that suppresses or weakens the immune system - inhibits the body's ability to fight infections and increases the chance of developing cancer.

What are the symptoms of cancer?

Cancer symptoms are quite varied and depend on where the cancer is located, where it has spread, and how big the tumor is. Some cancers can be felt or seen through the skin - a lump on the breast or testicle can be an indicator of cancer in those locations. Skin cancer (melanoma) is often noted by a change in a wart or mole on the skin. Some oral cancers present white patches inside the mouth or white spots on the tongue.
Other cancers have symptoms that are less physically apparent. Some brain tumors tend to present symptoms early in the disease as they affect important cognitive functions. Pancreas cancers are usually too small to cause symptoms until they cause pain by pushing against nearby nerves or interfere with liver function to cause a yellowing of the skin and eyes called jaundice. Symptoms also can be created as a tumor grows and pushes against organs and blood vessels. For example, colon cancers lead to symptoms such as constipation, diarrhea, and changes in stool size. Bladder or prostate cancers cause changes in bladder function such as more frequent or infrequent urination.
As cancer cells use the body's energy and interfere with normal hormone function, it is possible to present symptoms such as fever, fatigue, excessive sweating, anemia, and unexplained weight loss. However, these symptoms are common in several other maladies as well. For example, coughing and hoarseness can point to lung or throat cancer as well as several other conditions.
When cancer spreads, or metastasizes, additional symptoms can present themselves in the newly affected area. Swollen or enlarged lymph nodes are common and likely to be present early. If cancer spreads to the brain, patients may experience vertigo, headaches, or seizures. Spreading to the lungs may cause coughing and shortness of breath. In addition, the liver may become enlarged and cause jaundice and bones can become painful, brittle, and break easily. Symptoms of metastasis ultimately depend on the location to which the cancer has spread.

How is cancer classified?

There are five broad groups that are used to classify cancer.

Carcinomas are characterized by cells that cover internal and external parts of the body such as lung, breast, and colon cancer.
Sarcomas are characterized by cells that are located in bone, cartilage, fat, connective tissue, muscle, and other supportive tissues.
Lymphomas are cancers that begin in the lymph nodes and immune system tissues.
Leukemias are cancers that begin in the bone marrow and often accumulate in the bloodstream.
Adenomas are cancers that arise in the thyroid, the pituitary gland, the adrenal gland, and other glandular tissues.

Cancers are often referred to by terms that contain a prefix related to the cell type in which the cancer originated and a suffix such as -sarcoma, -carcinoma, or just -oma. Common prefixes include:

Adeno- = gland
Chondro- = cartilage
Erythro- = red blood cell
Hemangio- = blood vessels
Hepato- = liver
Lipo- = fat
Lympho- = white blood cell
Melano- = pigment cell
Myelo- = bone marrow
Myo- = muscle
Osteo- = bone
Uro- = bladder
Retino- = eye
Neuro- = brain

How is cancer diagnosed and staged?

Early detection of cancer can greatly improve the odds of successful treatment and survival. Physicians use information from symptoms and several other procedures to diagnose cancer. Imaging techniques such as X-rays, CT scans, MRI scans, PET scans, and ultrasound scans are used regularly in order to detect where a tumor is located and what organs may be affected by it. Doctors may also conduct an endoscopy, which is a procedure that uses a thin tube with a camera and light at one end, to look for abnormalities inside the body.

Extracting cancer cells and looking at them under a microscope is the only absolute way to diagnose cancer. This procedure is called a biopsy. Other types of molecular diagnostic tests are frequently employed as well. Physicians will analyze your body's sugars, fats, proteins, and DNA at the molecular level. For example, cancerous prostate cells release a higher level of a chemical called PSA (prostate-specific antigen) into the bloodstream that can be detected by a blood test. Molecular diagnostics, biopsies, and imaging techniques are all used together to diagnose cancer.

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After a diagnosis is made, doctors find out how far the cancer has spread and determine the stage of the cancer. The stage determines which choices will be available for treatment and informs prognoses. The most common cancer staging method is called the TNM system. T (1-4) indicates the size and direct extent of the primary tumor, N (0-3) indicates the degree to which the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes, and M (0-1) indicates whether the cancer has metastasized to other organs in the body. A small tumor that has not spread to lymph nodes or distant organs may be staged as (T1, N0, M0), for example.
TNM descriptions then lead to a simpler categorization of stages, from 0 to 4, where lower numbers indicate that the cancer has spread less. While most Stage 1 tumors are curable, most Stage 4 tumors are inoperable or untreatable.

How is cancer treated?

Cancer treatment depends on the type of cancer, the stage of the cancer (how much it has spread), age, health status, and additional personal characteristics. There is no single treatment for cancer, and patients often receive a combination of therapies and palliative care. Treatments usually fall into one of the following categories: surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hormone therapy, or gene therapy.

Surgery

Surgery is the oldest known treatment for cancer. If a cancer has not metastasized, it is possible to completely cure a patient by surgically removing the cancer from the body. This is often seen in the removal of the prostate or a breast or testicle. After the disease has spread, however, it is nearly impossible to remove all of the cancer cells. Surgery may also be instrumental in helping to control symptoms such as bowel obstruction or spinal cord compression.

Radiation

Radiation treatment, also known as radiotherapy, destroys cancer by focusing high-energy rays on the cancer cells. This causes damage to the molecules that make up the cancer cells and leads them to commit suicide. Radiotherapy utilizes high-energy gamma-rays that are emitted from metals such as radium or high-energy x-rays that are created in a special machine. Early radiation treatments caused severe side-effects because the energy beams would damage normal, healthy tissue, but technologies have improved so that beams can be more accurately targeted. Radiotherapy is used as a standalone treatment to shrink a tumor or destroy cancer cells (including those associated with leukemia and lymphoma), and it is also used in combination with other cancer treatments.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy utilizes chemicals that interfere with the cell division process - damaging proteins or DNA - so that cancer cells will commit suicide. These treatments target any rapidly dividing cells (not necessarily just cancer cells), but normal cells usually can recover from any chemical-induced damage while cancer cells cannot. Chemotherapy is generally used to treat cancer that has spread or metastasized because the medicines travel throughout the entire body. It is a necessary treatment for some forms of leukemia and lymphoma. Chemotherapy treatment occurs in cycles so the body has time to heal between doses. However, there are still common side effects such as hair loss, nausea, fatigue, and vomiting. Combination therapies often include multiple types of chemotherapy or chemotherapy combined with other treatment options.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy aims to get the body's immune system to fight the tumor. Local immunotherapy injects a treatment into an affected area, for example, to cause inflammation that causes a tumor to shrink. Systemic immunotherapy treats the whole body by administering an agent such as the protein interferon alpha that can shrink tumors. Immunotherapy can also be considered non-specific if it improves cancer-fighting abilities by stimulating the entire immune system, and it can be considered targeted if the treatment specifically tells the immune system to destroy cancer cells. These therapies are relatively young, but researchers have had success with treatments that introduce antibodies to the body that inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells. Bone marrow transplantation (hematopoetic stem cell transplantation) can also be considered immunotherapy because the donor's immune cells will often attack the tumor or cancer cells that are present in the host.

Hormone therapy

Several cancers have been linked to some types of hormones, most notably breast and prostate cancer. Hormone therapy is designed to alter hormone production in the body so that cancer cells stop growing or are killed completely. Breast cancer hormone therapies often focus on reducing estrogen levels (a common drug for this is tamoxifen) and prostate cancer hormone therapies often focus on reducing testosterone levels. In addition, some leukemia and lymphoma cases can be treated with the hormone cortisone.

Gene therapy

The goal of gene therapy is to replace damaged genes with ones that work to address a root cause of cancer: damage to DNA. For example, researchers are trying to replace the damaged gene that signals cells to stop dividing (the p53 gene) with a copy of a working gene. Other gene-based therapies focus on further damaging cancer cell DNA to the point where the cell commits suicide. Gene therapy is a very young field and has not yet resulted in any successful treatments.

How can cancer be prevented?

Cancers that are closely linked to certain behaviors are the easiest to prevent. For example, choosing not to smoke tobacco or drink alcohol significantly lower the risk of several types of cancer - most notably lung, throat, mouth, and liver cancer. Even if you are a current tobacco user, quitting can still greatly reduce your chances of getting cancer.
Skin cancer can be prevented by staying in the shade, protecting yourself with a hat and shirt when in the sun, and using sunscreen. Diet is also an important part of cancer prevention since what we eat has been linked to the disease. Physicians recommend diets that are low in fat and rich in fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains.
Certain vaccinations have been associated with the prevention of some cancers. For example, many women receive a vaccination for the human papillomavirus because of the virus's relationship with cervical cancer. Hepatitis B vaccines prevent the hepatitis B virus, which can cause liver cancer.
Some cancer prevention is based on systematic screening in order to detect small irregularities or tumors as early as possible even if there are no clear symptoms present. Breast self-examination, mammograms, testicular self-examination, and Pap smears are common screening methods for various cancers.

How to eat to prevent cancer - Video

A guide to some everyday foods that contain nutrients that may help reduce your risk of getting cancer. Video by Howcast.

Analysis of breast milk to detect breast cancer

2012-01-04T03:02:00.000-08:00

Breast cancer can be detected earlier by examining cells in breast milk, according to presentations made by the American Association for Cancer Research.

Analysis of epithelial cells may determine the risk of each mother to cancer.

Doctor Kathleen Arcaro at the University of Massachusetts Amherst said that about 80% of women give birth to children and non-invasive testing of breast milk for early detection of cancer indicators could provide early screening for most women when it is difficult to diagnose breast cancer. Early diagnosis increases the chances of making the necessary treatment at time.

Breast cancer - things to know

What is breast cancer?
Every month a woman's breasts go through a series of temporary changes associated with menstruation, which include the formation of a nodule. Although most of these lumps are not cancerous, any lump that occurs should be examined by a doctor immediately.

Nodules are most common in the lobules -the small sacs that produce milk - or the ducts that carry milk to the nipple. But sometimes they form in other tissues. The two main types of breast cancer are lobular and ductal carcinomas.

Breast cancer
Breast cancer usually begins with the formation of a small and well-defined tumors. Some tumors are benign meaning they don`t invade other tissues, others are malignant, or cancerous. Malignant tumors have the potential to metastasize, that is to spread. Once such a tumor reaches a certain size, is more likely to irradiate cells spread to other parts of the body through the bloodstream and lymphatic system.

Different types of breast cancer grow and spread with different speeds, some tumors need years to spread outside the breast, while others are spreading rapidly.

Men also can get breast cancer, but their number is less than half percent of all cases. Among women, breast cancer is the most common type of cancer, is the second leading cause of cancer deaths - after lung cancer.

Statistics show that among the eight women who could reach 85 years,one will have this disease at some point in her life. Two thirds of women with breast cancer are over 50 years, and that the remaining, most have between 39 and 49 years.

Breast cancer is treatable
Fortunately, breast cancer is treatable if is detected early. The tumors finded can usually be treated with successfull before the cancer spread, and in 9 of 10 cases, sick woman will live at least another five years. Experts generally believe that during the 5-year survival is a cure.

Once the cancer begins to spread, getting rid of it completely is more difficult, although treatment can often keep it under control for years. Improved procedures for screening and better treatment options that are more than seven in ten women suffering from breast cancer survive five years after initial diagnosis, and half of them survived more than 10 years.

What are the causes for breast cancer?
Although the precise causes of breast cancer are unclear,they are known major risk factors for this disease. The risk is slightly higher for women who have benign breast lump and increases significantly for women who have had breast or ovarian cancer.

Family Factor
A woman whose mother, sister or daughter had breast cancer, risk is two to three times more likely to develop disease, especially if in the family are affected by this disease at least two first-degree relatives . Researchers have already identified two genes responsible for some occurrences of breast cancer in the family - called BRCA1 and BRCA2. Approximately one in 200 women carries the genes. Woman who has the gene is prone to cancer, but that does not warrant the onset.
Age
In general women older than 50 years have a higher risk of breast cancer than younger women and women of African-American race had a higher risk than those of Caucasian race to develop breast cancer before menopause.

Exposure to estrogen
Gradually it becomes increasingly clear link between breast cancer and hormones. Researchers believe that withthe increase exposure of women to estrogen,the risk of getting sick of breast cancer is higher. Estrogen control the divide of cells, as cells divide more, so is more likely to be abnormal, possibly becoming cancerous.

Women's exposure to estrogen and progesterone varies in life, being influenced by the age at which she has her the first or last menstruation, average length of her menstrual cycle and age at first child birth.
The risk that a woman exposed to breast cancer increases if:
•she had first menstruation before age 12
•her first child is born after 30 years
• has the last period menstrual after 55 years , or
• the length of her menstrual cycle is outside the range of 26 to 29 average days (that is shorter or longer).
Current information indicates that probably the hormones in birth control pills do not increase breast cancer risk. Some studies suggest that taking hormone replacement therapy after menopause may increase risk, especially when the therapy lasts more than five years. High doses of radiation may also be a factor, but not low-dose mammography hardly shows any chances.

PICTURES OF TONGUE CANCER

2012-01-04T02:59:00.000-08:00

Squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue in a 32 year-old chronic smoker.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue, in a chronic smoker.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the base of the tongue.

Testicular cancer

2012-01-04T02:53:00.001-08:00

Testicles are responsible for producing the male sex hormone as well as the sperm for the purposes of reproduction. They are located in a loose sac of skin underneath the penis and inside the scrotum. Testicular cancer is cancer of the testicles. Testicular cancer is the most common cancer for male patients between the ages of 15 and 34, although due to public embarrassment, testicular cancer is very low on the public awareness scale. There has yet to be a determining factor as to the direct cause of testicular cancer. Male patients from the age of 13 and up should be taught to do monthly self examinations to help detect the early stages of testicular cancer. Just like all cancers, early detection can lead to a higher survival rate.

The early signs of testicular cancer may be hard to detect. Initially there may not be any symptoms at all, however, in the secondary early stages, there may be a host of symptoms. If a patient is experiencing symptoms this does not mean that the cancer was detected too late for a good chance of survival.

Symptoms of testicular cancer may include unexplained fatigue, a sense of feeling generally ill, a sudden development of fluid in the scrotum, pain or discomfort in either the testicles or the scrotum, a dull ache in the abdomen or groin, a lump in one testicle, and a feeling of heaviness in the scrotum. It is very uncommon for testicular cancer to affect both testicles at once and usually only attacks on testicle.

Risk factors for testicular cancer can include race, as more white males are affected than any other race, age, striking young men between the ages of 15 and 34, an undescended testicle, and HIV. Research has proven that young men with HIV or AIDS are more prone to developing certain cancers, including testicular cancer.

Diagnosing testicular cancer is almost always simply confirming what the patient already knows. Through the signs and symptoms and the discovery of the lump in a testicle the patient usually is already aware that they most likely have testicular cancer. Confirming the diagnosis usually means tests such as a physical examination, laboratory testing, and an ultrasound examination. These tests are usually enough to confirm the diagnosis. There really aren’t many other causes for a lump inside the testicle except for testicular cancer. Occasionally a cyst may develop that is not cancerous, although this tends to be obvious to the patient. A biopsy will be the final determining factor at diagnosing testicular cancer.

There are two basic types of testicular cancer. The first type, known as Seminoma testicular cancer usually strikes men between the ages of 35 to55 and has a high survival rate. Nonseminoma testicular cancer tends to strike younger men and boys and creates a more difficult battle for the patient. While testicular cancer in general has a high survival rate, nonseminoma cancer is more difficult to beat.

Complications from testicular cancer may include losing a testicle. However, men do not need both testicles in order to be fertile, virile men. Even with the loss of both testicles, men can still be sexually active. However, if they want to father children, they made opt for freezing some of their sperm. Other fertility options may include injections, patches, and gels.

There are four basic treatment options for testicular cancer. These include chemotherapy, external beam radiation, radical inguinal orchiectomy, and a self donating bone marrow transplant. A radical inguinal orchiectomy is the removal of the affected testicle. In some cases, the lymph nodes in the abdominal region may be removed as well. A self donating bone marrow transplant involves the removal of bone marrow from the patient, which is the treated to kill cancer cells. The patient then undergoes normal rounds of chemotherapy and radiation treatments. When it is deemed appropriate, the bone marrow is then re-introduced back into the patient’s body. Some patients opt to have an artificial testicle surgically implanted once they lose one to testicular cancer, although there is no physical or medical need for this.

Coping skills related to testicular cancer include the basic self care needs of nutritional therapy, and physical rest as well as listening to the body’s needs. However, most men benefit from counseling as they believe that testicular cancer affects their manhood and their ability to perform sexual intercourse. While this is not true, men sometimes need a little counseling to deal with the loss of a testicle.

Testicular cancer videos

skin cancer

2012-01-04T02:51:00.000-08:00

There are three main types of skin cancer:

Melanoma
Basal cell skin cancer
Squamous cell skin cancer

Of these, melanoma is the least common and most aggressive kind. There is a separate article on melanoma. The rest of this article is specifically about basal cell skin cancer and squamous cell skin cancer, which are collectively known asnonmelanoma skin cancer.

Understanding skin cancer

Skin cancer begins in cells, the building blocks that make up the skin. Normally, skin cells grow and divide to form new cells. Every day skin cells grow old and die, and new cells take their place.

Sometimes, this orderly process goes wrong. New cells form when the skin doesn't need them, and old cells don't die when they should. These extra cells can form a mass of tissue called a growth or tumor.

Growths or tumors can be benign or malignant:

Benign growths are non-cancerous:
- Benign growths are rarely life-threatening.
- Generally, benign growths can be removed. They usually do not grow back.
- Cells from benign growths do not invade the tissues around them.
- Cells from benign growths do not spread to other parts of the body.
Malignant growths are cancerous:
- Malignant growths are generally more serious than benign growths. They may be life-threatening. However, the two most common types of skin cancer cause only about one out of every thousand deaths from cancer.
- Malignant growths often can be removed. But sometimes they grow back.
- Cells from malignant growths can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs.
- Cells from some malignant growths can spread to other parts of the body. The spread of cancer is called metastasis.

Skin cancers are named for the type of cells that become cancerous. Basal cell cancer and squamous cell cancer and the two commonest kinds. These cancers usually form on the head, face, neck, hands, and arms. These areas are exposed to the sun. But skin cancer can occur anywhere.

Basal cell skin cancer grows slowly. It usually occurs on areas of the skin that have been in the sun. It is most common on the face. Basal cell cancer rarely spreads to other parts of the body.

Squamous cell skin cancer also occurs on parts of the skin that have been in the sun. But it also may be in places that are not in the sun. Squamous cell cancer sometimes spreads to lymph nodes and organs inside the body.

If skin cancer spreads from its original place to another part of the body, the new growth has the same kind of abnormal cells and the same name as the primary growth. It is still called skin cancer.

Risk factors

Doctors cannot explain why one person develops skin cancer and another does not. However, we do know that skin cancer is not contagious. You can't catch it from another person.

Research has shown that people with certain risk factors are more likely than others to develop skin cancer. A risk factor is something that may increase the chance of developing a disease.

Studies have found the following risk factors for skin cancer:

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation: UV radiation comes from the sun, sunlamps, tanning beds, or tanning booths. A person's risk of skin cancer is related to lifetime exposure to UV radiation. Most skin cancer appears after age 50, but the sun damages the skin from an early age.

UV radiation affects everyone. But people who have fair skin that freckles or burns easily are at greater risk. These people often also have red or blond hair and light-colored eyes. But even people who tan can get skin cancer.

People who live in areas that get high levels of UV radiation have a higher risk of skin cancer. In the United States, areas in the south (such as Texas and Florida) get more UV radiation than areas in the north (such as Minnesota). Also, people who live in the mountains get high levels of UV radiation.

UV radiation is present even in cold weather or on a cloudy day.

Scars or burns on the skin

Infection with certain human papillomaviruses

Exposure to arsenic at work

Chronic skin inflammation or skin ulcers

Diseases that make the skin sensitive to the sun, such as xeroderma pigmentosum, albinism (seealbino, and basal cell nevus syndrome

Radiation therapy

Medical conditions or drugs that suppress the immune system

Personal history of one or more skin cancers

Family history of skin cancer

Actinic keratosis: Actinic keratosis is a type of flat, scaly growth on the skin. It is most often found on areas exposed to the sun, especially the face and the backs of the hands. The growths may appear as rough red or brown patches on the skin. They may also appear as cracking or peeling of the lower lip that does not heal. Without treatment, a small number of these scaly growths may turn into squamous cell cancer.

Bowen's disease: Bowen's disease is a type of scaly or thickened patch on the skin. It may turn into squamous cell skin cancer.

If you think you may be at risk for skin cancer, you should discuss this concern with your doctor. Your doctor may be able to suggest ways to reduce your risk and can plan a schedule for checkups.

Prevention

The best way to prevent skin cancer is to protect yourself from the sun. Also, protect children from an early age. Doctors suggest that people of all ages limit their time in the sun and avoid other sources of UV radiation:

It is best to stay out of the midday sun (from mid-morning to late afternoon) whenever you can. You also should protect yourself from UV radiation reflected by sand, water, snow, and ice. UV radiation can go through light clothing, windshields, windows, and clouds.

Wear long sleeves and long pants of tightly woven fabrics, a hat with a wide brim, and sunglasses that absorb UV.

Use sunscreen lotions. Sunscreen may help prevent skin cancer, especially broad-spectrum sunscreen (to filter UVB and UVA rays) with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. But you still need to avoid the sun and wear clothing to protect your skin.

Stay away from sunlamps and tanning booths.

Symptoms

Most basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers can be cured if found and treated early.

A change on the skin is the most common sign of skin cancer. This may be a new growth, a sore that doesn't heal, or a change in an old growth. Not all skin cancers look the same. Skin changes to watch for:

Small, smooth, shiny, pale, or waxy lump

Firm, red lump

Sore or lump that bleeds or develops a crust or a scab

Flat red spot that is rough, dry, or scaly and may become itchy or tender

Red or brown patch that is rough and scaly

Sometimes skin cancer is painful, but usually it is not.

Checking your skin for new growths or other changes is a good idea. A guide for checking your skin is below. Keep in mind that changes are not a sure sign of skin cancer. Still, you should report any changes to your health care provider right away. You may need to see a dermatologist, a doctor who has special training in the diagnosis and treatment of skin problems.

Diagnosis

If you have a change on the skin, the doctor must find out whether it is due to cancer or to some other cause. Your doctor removes all or part of the area that does not look normal. The sample goes to a lab. A pathologist checks the sample under a microscope. This is a biopsy. A biopsy is the only sure way to diagnose skin cancer.

You may have the biopsy in a doctor's office or as an outpatient in a clinic or hospital. Where it is done depends on the size and place of the abnormal area on your skin. You probably will have local anesthesia.

There are four common types of skin biopsies:

Punch biopsy: The doctor uses a sharp, hollow tool to remove a circle of tissue from the abnormal area.
Incisional biopsy: The doctor uses a scalpel to remove part of the growth.
Excisional biopsy: The doctor uses a scalpel to remove the entire growth and some tissue around it.
Shave biopsy: The doctor uses a thin, sharp blade to shave off the abnormal growth.

You may want to ask your doctor these questions before having a biopsy:

Which type of biopsy do you recommend for me?
How will the biopsy be done?
Will I have to go to the hospital?
How long will it take? Will I be awake? Will it hurt?
Are there any risks? What are the chances of infection or bleeding after the biopsy?
What will my scar look like?
How soon will I know the results? Who will explain them to me?

Staging

If the biopsy shows that you have cancer, your doctor needs to know the extent (stage) of the disease. In very few cases, the doctor may check your lymph nodes to stage the cancer.

The stage is based on:

The size of the growth
How deeply it has grown beneath the top layer of skin
Whether it has spread to nearby lymph nodes or to other parts of the body

These are the stages of skin cancer:

Stage 0: The cancer involves only the top layer of skin. It is carcinoma in situ.
Stage I: The growth is 2 centimeters wide (three-quarters of an inch) or smaller.
Stage II: The growth is larger than 2 centimeters wide (three-quarters of an inch).
Stage III: The cancer has spread below the skin to cartilage, muscle, bone, or to nearby lymph nodes. It has not spread to other places in the body.
Stage IV: The cancer has spread to other places in the body.

For treatment options, go to the article on skin cancer treatment.

How to do a skin self-exam

Your doctor or nurse may suggest that you do a regular skin self-exam to check for skin cancer, including melanoma.

The best time to do this exam is after a shower or bath. You should check your skin in a room with plenty of light. You should use a full-length mirror and a hand-held mirror. It's best to begin by learning where your birthmarks, moles, and other marks are and their usual look and feel.

Check for anything new:

New mole (that looks different from your other moles)
New red or darker color flaky patch that may be a little raised
New flesh-colored firm bump
Change in the size, shape, color, or feel of a mole
Sore that does not heal

Check yourself from head to toe. Don't forget to check your back, scalp, genital area, and between your buttocks.

Look at your face, neck, ears, and scalp. You may want to use a comb or a blow dryer to move your hair so that you can see better. You also may want to have a relative or friend check through your hair. It may be hard to check your scalp by yourself.
Look at the front and back of your body in the mirror. Then, raise your arms and look at your left and right sides.
Bend your elbows. Look carefully at your fingernails, palms, forearms (including the undersides), and upper arms.
Examine the back, front, and sides of your legs. Also look around your genital area and between your buttocks.
Sit and closely examine your feet, including your toenails, your soles, and the spaces between your toes.

By checking your skin regularly, you will learn what is normal for you. It may be helpful to record the dates of your skin exams and to write notes about the way your skin looks. If your doctor has taken photos of your skin, you can compare your skin to the photos to help check for changes. If you find anything unusual, see your doctor.

Thumb Pain

2012-01-04T02:43:00.001-08:00

Thumb Pain

The hand contains a number of complex joints; one part often affected by inflammation is the thumb. This article will discuss thumb pain.

The thumb is the first “digit”, or finger, of the human hand. Humans have opposable thumbs, which allow our hands to perform elaborate movements. Thumb pain occurs when the thumb suffers injury or inflammation. Since the thumb is in itself complex and capable of a wide range of motion, the causes of thumb pain are varied.
Types of Thumb Pain

Blackberry Thumb, as it is referred to, is also called “texting thumb”. Those mostly afflicted are today’s youth who text message constantly on small keypads, using their thumbs. Such keypads are undersized and the motion is excessive and unnatural. As a result, damage can occur in the ulnar collateral ligament.
Skier’s Thumb can also damage the ulnar collateral ligament. This ligament is large, and a frequently injured part of the thumb. A sprain in this ligament results in difficulty moving and gripping (as one would do using ski poles).
Injuries to the thumb (from physical trauma) often result in more serious or long lasting pain – up to several months depending on the severity of the injury. Again, typical injuries occur in the ulnar collateral ligament. Soft tissue injuries (such as those to ligaments) may result in pain that takes time and therapy to resolve.
Arthritis of the thumb is the most common cause of long-term pain in the thumb joint. As with other joints in the body, the thumb can be affected by arthritis. The result may be inflammation, visible swelling, stiffness, clicking or pain, depending on the type and severity of the arthritis.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome often causes thumb pain, in addition to numbness. Carpal tunnel pain is caused when the median nerve in the wrist, between the carpal bones and the transverse carpal ligament, is compressed. The muscles in the thumb (the thenar muscles) become numb. This numbness can also spread, affecting the first three fingers and much of the hand. Carpal tunnel is best treated with physiotherapy.
A broken thumb is both painful and common. The result of a broken thumb is pain, swelling and throbbing. Broken thumbs should be stabilized; they generally heal on their own.
What can be done to prevent thumb pain?
Many of the outlined causes of thumb pain are forms of repetitive stress or strain injuries. In light of this, individuals who engage in physically repetitive activities, such as athletes, tradespeople and computer workers, should maintain good posture when they work. Ergonomic workstations and tools should be used where possible, and regular breaks should be taken. Stretching and strengthening the hands can improve their resistance to injury. Protective gloves can be worn during sports.
When it comes to dealing with thumb pain, different routes may be taken. Some people opt for painkillers; conventional forms abound through doctors and drug stores; natural painkillers are found through naturopaths and health food stores. Physiotherapists can be of help with soft tissue injuries. Foods that reduce inflammation are beneficial. Surgery for thumb pain is not usually advised unless other avenues have not been explored.

Arthritis Basics

2012-01-04T02:40:00.000-08:00

What Is Arthritis?

The word "arthritis" means "joint inflammation." Inflammation is one of the body's natural reactions to disease or injury, and includes swelling, pain, and stiffness. Inflammation that lasts for a very long time or recurs, as in arthritis, can lead to tissue damage.

A joint is where two or more bones come together,

such as the hip or knee. The bones of a joint are covered with a smooth, spongy material called cartilage, which cushions the bones and allows the joint to move without pain. The joint is lined by a thin film of tissue called the synovium. The synovium's lining produces a slippery fluid called synovial fluid that nourishes the joint and helps reduce friction. Strong bands of tissue, called ligaments, connect the bones and help keep the joint stable. Muscles and tendons also support the joints and enable you to move.

With arthritis, an area in or around a joint becomes inflamed, causing pain, stiffness and, sometimes, difficulty moving. Some types of arthritis also affect other parts of the body, such as the skin and internal organs.

How to Treat Gout Effectively? – Gout Treatment Guidelines

2012-01-04T02:39:00.000-08:00

Unlike most types of arthritis gout is a condition with known causes. It appears when large amounts of uric acid deposits in the joints, making it impossible for the body to eliminate it on its own. However, with this article we hope to advise you on how to treat gout effectively and eradicate this painful and distressing condition. Complete treatment for gout involves physical therapy, medication and home remedies.

Treatment for Gout

Despite the fact that a real cure for gout isn’t available at the moment, many gout treatments have helped people to regain control of their lives and self-esteem. With an optimistic attitude and and an effective gouty arthritis treatment strategy, you too can say goodbye to gout pain and even avoid the risk of obesity.

Although steroids have many times been proven effective in treating the different types of arthritis, doctors recommend non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as a possible treatment of gout. These medications are usually prescribed for oral consumption and have a fast impact on the immune cells, reducing swelling and pain to a bearable minimum.

Due to the fact that gout is often triggered by various foods – such as yeast, gravies, organ meats and alcohol – elaborate research is being undertaken to find effective ways of neutralizing the uric acid, which accumulates within the joints. In other words, if you wish to start your treatment at home, you can do so by including fresh fruits (such as cherries, citrus, bananas and blueberries), fresh water, tea and fruit juices in your daily meals. Also, limiting the consumption of the before mentioned foods that cause uric acid accumulation. Gout diet is another method you can try as it can have a dramatic effect on this condition.

Footwear is also being developed as part of the treatment for gout. Those people, whose feet have been affected by uric acid deposits, can now find some relief in these shoes specifically designed for this purpose.

Physical therapy and weight reduction are also a good answer for how to treat gout. As you probably know already, if the uric acid levels in your body keep increasing unhindered, they could cause obesity and also increase the odds for a serious injury.

However, preventing the accumulation of uric acid from your body is not the only way you can fight this type of arthritis. Now you can try one of the many medications out there that stimulate the kidneys into removing the uric acid from the body.

Last but not least, if no other gouty arthritis treatment works, surgery is an option. The procedure is rarely suggested by doctors and only when all other options have been proven uneffective against the excruciating gout pains. Gout surgery usually consists of the removal of the nodules that form within the joints. These nodules (tophi) need to be removed as soon as they have been identified, or else there is a risk of serious infection.

The Above Gout Treatment Guidelines are Definitely Worth the Effort!

Although the exact causes of gout are widely known, it is still difficult to avoid the condition from developing altogether. This is exactly why a simple, yet efficient treatment for gout can include only physical therapy, gout home remedies and some prescribed medication, yet when the sudden and intense pain occurs, the sufferer is more likely to consider a diet for gout, steroids therapy and even surgery.

No matter how depressing and weakening your condition is, keep in mind that you are not alone. Continuing with your physical therapy, maintaining your healthy gout diets and takecomplications ing your medication will prove to be a source of success.

What is Gout and How to Effectively Treat it?

2012-01-04T02:37:00.001-08:00

Do you think you might be suffering from the symptoms of gout? Or perhaps you might have just been identified by a doctor as having this uncomfortable and painful condition. In order to effectively manage and permanently eliminate this common form of arthritis, it is important to understand why it forms, what causes the symptoms of gout, how it progresses in its development if untreated and what is gout in the first place.

What is gout?

“Grout”, as many people aptly refer to it, is said to be the curse of too much high living. Being overweight, eating steak frequently and drinking red wine will elevate your chances of having a flare up. However, you don’t necessarily have to lead the high life to be at risk.

Gout is much more common in men than in women and if you have experienced an attack, you are at risk of having another.

Gout Causes

Gout can develop if there is a build-up of a chemical called uric acid in your system. Uric acid is taken into your body through diet as well as being produced

during the natural turnover of your body’s cells. Normally the excess is excreted from your body in your urine, but people suffering from the symptoms of gout retain above average levels of uric acid.

The Symptoms of Gout

In most affected individuals the symptoms of gout recur and flare up periodically. During these flare ups the the affected joints become swollen, red and excruciatingly painful. The symptoms of gout are most likely to manifest on the big toes, although any joint can become affected. The ankles and wrists are other common sites for gout to develop.

BACH FLOWER REMEDIES

2012-01-02T12:19:00.002-08:00

Bach Flower Remedies were introduced in the 1930s by the English Physician and Homeopath Dr. Edward Bach and can be most easily defined as natural remedies for the emotions. Unlike conventional medicine, the flower remedies do not work to treat physical complaints, but instead work on balancing the emotions of the indivdual. They can be used to help the fight against illness by addressing the negative emotions which can impede our physical healing or alternatively they can be used at times of stress and anxiety to prevent physical illness. The link between mind and body has long been documented and balancing the mind and body is a vital step in maintaining our physical health.

Dr Bach believed that disease was the result of imbalance between mind, body and soul and committed his life to developing a "medicine of the future" which could be used by everyone to treat themselves. During the course of his short career, Dr. Bach developed 38 remedies in total. 37 of the 38 remedies are prepared from wild flowers and trees blossoms, the other remedy is made from water derived from a natural spring containing healing properties. Each remedy works to treat a specific emotion and mental state. Through his life work, Dr Bach established that there are 38 principal human emotions, most of which every one of us will feel at some stage during our life. Problems can occur when our emotions become out of balance and cause negative attitudes, often as a result of a specific event or trigger. Dr Bach divided the flower remedies into seven groups of fundamental emotions: fear, uncertainty, insufficient interest in present circumstances, loneliness, over-sensitivity to influences and ideas, despondency or despair, over-care for the welfare of others. How to take Bach Flower Remedies?

When choosing the correct flower remedies for you it is important to consider how you are feeling at that particular moment in time. It is possible for more than one remedy to be suitable at any one time and a remedy bottle containing a combination of 6 or 7 remedies can be prepared if this is the case. Bach Flower Remedies are completely safe for everyone to take, even pregnant women, babies and children can take the remedies without complication. 4 drops of the remedy should be taken 4 times a day. The drops can be added to drinks, food, dropped directly onto the skin or under the tongue. If the incorrect remedy is chosen it will not be harmful, at worst case it will simply not have an effect. How do the flower remedies work?

The flower remedies aim to balance negative emotions by transforming them into positive emotions. They do not suppress negative emotions, but instead the negative emotions are removed by encouraging the corresponding positive emotion. For example, if you are suffering from a lack of confidence and fear of failure, the relevant remedy would be taken to increase confidence and remove feelings of despondency. The remedies are invaluable for restoring emotional balance before symptoms of physical ailments appear. They allow us to take a step back from our emotions and deal with them in a more positive way.

There have been various theories over the years as to how exactly the flower remedies can work to restore our out-of-balance emotions and indeed it is still not fully clear. One theory is that the flower remedies work to subtly change our own energy or vibrations, other theories are that the flower remedies trigger chemical releases in the brain which cause our emotions to change. What is clear however is that Bach Flower Remedies are an extremely subtle and effective way of putting our emotions back on track.

HEALING WITH HYPNOTHERAPY

2012-01-02T12:16:00.000-08:00

Hypnotherapy is a combination of hypnosis and therapeutic intervention. The therapist leads the patient to positive change while the patient is deeply relaxed in a state of heightened suggestibility called trance.

Hypnosis, when using proven therapeutic procedures, can be a highly effective form of treatment for many mental, psychosomatic, and physical disorders. For example, through the use of regressive techniques, an adult patient may mentally voyage back to a point in youth that was particularly troublesome, allowing the healing of old emotional wounds. Another patient can be led to understand that emotional pain has been converted to physical pain, and that the pain can be eliminated once the source has been addressed. Or, a person suffering from chronic pain can be taught to control the pain without use of medications. There are a number of techniques for correcting dysfunctional behaviours such as self-destructive habits, anxiety disorders, and even managing side effects of various medical treatments and procedures.

Hypnotherapy has been used to stop self-destructive and addictive habits like smoking. It has also been used to curb the urge to eat for overeaters, to stem the disruptive actions of tics, cure insomnia, stop bed-wetting, and minimize anxiety. Excessive stress can be generated from any number of sources and can be the springboard for anxiety. Some of the more prominent sources of anxiety and stress for which people seek hypnotherapy are: public speaking, test taking, and job stress. Hypnotherapy also works well for other anxiety disorders such as phobias and has proven to be an effective treatment for mild to moderate depression. Hypnotherapy was also more effective at enhancing quality of life of cancer patients and relieving anxiety and depressive symptoms, when compared to patients receiving traditional care.

Confusion can occur when one seeks a hypnotherapist, as a result of the various titles, certifications, and licenses in the field. Care must be exercised when selecting someone to see. Care must be taken also by the therapist to ensure adequate training and sufficient experience for rendering this specialized service. The therapist must be well grounded in a psychotherapeutic approach before undertaking the use of hypnotherapy.

Homeopathy...The Medicine of the 21st Century!

2012-01-02T12:15:00.000-08:00

Homeopathy is used not only to relieve symptoms but to prevent illness and maintain health. It treats the whole person (physical, mental, and emotional). Two hundred years of clinical experience along with research published in medical journals such as The Lancet, Pediatrics, and the British Medical Journal (to name a few) have confirmed its effectiveness for people with a wide range of conditions including asthma, depression, arthritis, migraine, PMS and many more.

Homeopathy is a safe, effective system of medicine used by millions worldwide for over 200 years. It's a form of alternative medicine that recognizes your uniqueness. You are an individual with particular strengths and weaknesses, so it isn't surprising that when you become ill your body will react in its very own special way. Even if you catch the ''same'' cold as your spouse or co-worker, your response to that cold may be very different from their response.

Using the time-honored principle that ''like cures like,'' homeopathy has taken a wide range of natural substances, from the plant, animal and mineral kingdoms, and carefully recorded the symptoms these substances cause in healthy people. By matching these substances closely with the particular symptoms you are experiencing encourages your body's own healing mechanism to kick-in and return you to health. The results are often remarkable, bringing about relief on all levels: mental, emotional, physical and spiritual. Homeopathy is used not only to relieve symptoms but to prevent illness and maintain health. It treats the whole person (physical, mental, and emotional). Two hundred years of clinical experience along with research published in medical journals such as The Lancet, Pediatrics, and the British Medical Journal (to name a few) have confirmed its effectiveness for people with a wide range of conditions including asthma, depression, arthritis, migraine, PMS and many more.

Remember, with homeopathy the focus is on the total YOU, and not just your disease.

Why do millions visit a homeopath every year?

Homeopathy is a rational, scientific form of medicine that does not depend on belief. The results are real and lasting, with the additional benefit of it being a natural healing system that is rapid, gentle and permanent.

Some of the reasons people choose homeopathy are:

Concerns about the safety of conventional drugs have them looking for alternatives.

They don't like the side effects of medications. They want to limit the number of medications they take because they worry about about the possible drug interactions.

Their doctors say there's no treatment for their condition, or after receiving treatment they are still feeling ill. Many people use homeopathy because they want to heal, and not mask their symptoms any longer.

Homeopathy is now gaining popularity among other holistic practitioners and medical doctors alike. However, it takes many years to learn correct case taking procedures. A good practitioner doing full case analysis should spend a considerable amount of time gathering information and studying for each client. The difficulty is choosing one of 2000 remedies listed in the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia, knowing what potency to use and being able to observe and determine when those remedies should be changed. If you want the best results, use a professional with certifications in homeopathy. You should see noticeable improvements in a reasonably short time.

HOLISTIC SOLUTIONS

2012-01-02T12:14:00.000-08:00

Holistic therapies are an array of self help and healing techniques which involve working with the body mind and soul. These therapies include traditional healing medications and techniques from different cultures (mostly eastern).

Though modern medicine does not accept the validity of most holistic therapies, many people claim to have benefitted from them. The biggest advantage of holistic therapies is that they are natural, non-invasive and usually side-effect free. The disadvantage is that not all of them have scientific validity, therefore replacing allopathic medicine with holistic healing therapies may not be a great idea, but adopting a combination of holistic therapies and conventional medicine can have (and has had according to many) almost miraculous effects.

Some of the most popular holistic therapies are :

Acupuncture
Acupressure
Ayurveda
Biofeedback
Energy healing
Flower Remedies
Herbal Medicine
Hydrotherapy
Hypnotherapy
Light Therapy
Color therapy
Crystal therapy
Meditation
Naturopathy
Neurolinguistic Programming
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Yoga
Aromatherapy
Reiki; etc

Every holistic healing therapy has its roots in ancient wisdom and texts, before choosing one it is important to learn about the fundamentals of the therapy. The therapy whose principles you believe in the most is most likely to be effective for you.

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)

2012-01-02T12:13:00.001-08:00

EFT is a simple, powerful process that can profoundly influence gene activity, Health and behavior. - Bruce Lipton PhD author of THE BIOLOGY OF BELIEF

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is a simple yet powerful technique that re-balances the energies of the body, releasing painful and unwanted emotions connected to our past, present or future. The technique was developed by Gary Craig, In essence, it is a psychological version of acupuncture. While in acupuncture we use needles, in EFT there is no use of needles. EFT is designed to directly access the body's energy system by tapping on and into the nervous system, where trauma is held on a cellular level. Working with energy and consciousness in this way enables deep levels of healing to take place very quickly.

The body’s energy system is stimulated and balanced by tapping with fingertips on a specific combination of 14 major meridian points. Meridians are energetic pathways within the body that relay information to the entire system, including the mind. They are interlinked with each other in a continuing energy loop. Traumatic memories and thoughts cause energetic disturbances within the body. Such disturbances are experienced as negative emotion that can limit our functioning, creativity and potential. By removing a blockage from one meridian, the entire circuit automatically clears.

EFT is not about denying, repressing or disassociating from your feelings. It will not mask important symptoms that require medical attention nor will it suppress illness to a deeper level. While focusing on the disturbing feeling or traumatic issue, you are guided to gently tap a specific sequence of meridian points on your body, using your fingertips. These points are connected to your nervous system where all traumas are held... in the cells. With this process, it is not necessary to re-live or re-experience traumatic events.

Typically, the session ends with resolution and most importantly, a neutral emotional response when thought is given to the chosen issue. This tapping technique can be self administered whenever and wherever the need arises. It is very easy to learn and once grasped, it rarely takes more than a few minutes to carry out.

By analogy, think of the meridians as rivers. Upsets in emotional or physical health lead to the equivalent of blockages or overflows in the rivers EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) is a simple yet remarkable healing system that reduces the stress that underlies much disease. It has proven itself successful in many scientific studies. It works on a variety of health issues, psychological problems, and performance issues, even those that have been resistant to other methods. It can be learned and applied rapidly, which has contributed to its popularity among millions of people.

One of the EFT practitioners put it very nicely thus:

“Some day the medical profession will wake up and realize that unresolved emotional issues are the main cause of 85% of all illnesses. When they do, EFT will be one of their primary healing tools.... as it is for me."

Learning EFT Technique:

There are two basic areas to learn EFT

-the tapping technique and
-the positive affirmations.

The basic EFT sequence is straight forward and generally takes few minutes to learn. With practice one will be able to perform each round in under a minute. There are number of acupuncture meridians on our fingertips. When we are tapping with fingertips, we are not only tapping on the meridians but also on the points in the fingertips. Traditionally we tap with one hand and with two fingers but we can come out with different creative ways. On each point we can tap 6-7times.And always be connected with the breath.

Tapping is a simple and easy-to-use process where you:

1) tune into your body-mind,
2) speak a truth about how you feel right now, and
3) choose how you’d like to feel…
4) all while tapping on specific natural comfort points.

This unique combination helps you shift your physical and emotional energy in the direction of relief… towards feeling really good

Starting in the 1960’s and 70’s with George Goodheart and John Diamond and further refined in the 80’s and 90’s by Roger Callahan, Patricia Carrington, Gary Craig, Fred Gallo, Donna Eden, Carol Look, and many others, the benefits of tapping on the meridian acupoints has been extensively documented. Experience shows that tapping can shift our beliefs and thoughts quickly and with much less pain than conventional therapies.

There are lots of theories on how and why it works, but no one can say for sure. (We just see the positive results.) Scientific studies do show that the electrical resistance in the skin at the meridian acupoints is much lower than the rest of the body. Brain wave studies show energy tapping affects the deep subconscious.

However it works. Tapping seems to activate our body’s innate self-healing intelligence and allows us to transform our lives. Case histories abound showing astounding changes in anxieties, fears, and phobias. Hundreds of thousands of people use it to improve their relationships, their ability to work, and how much they enjoy life.

Quick Relief

Some people report “one minute miracles” where long lasting changes occur in minutes. Astonishingly rapid, permanent relief has “sold” many people on using Tapping for themselves and with others. There are thousands of cases of quick, permanent relief for phobias, physical pains, and more… all using Energy Tapping (EFT). These have been recorded and could be found in many websites dealing with EFT.

“To discover your own authentic strengths and develop them, so that they are strong and resilient… to be able to see life from new, more empowering perspectives… to love and co-create within healthy relationships” - To us, that’s true emotional freedom. And it is what Tapping is really perfectly suited to help you achieve.

EFT Emotional Freedom Techniques in brief:

• EFT is a meridian energy therapy - just like acupuncture, it works directly on the meridian system in the body. But instead of needles, you stimulate the major meridian points by tapping on them or massaging them lightly.

• EFT is a true mind/body healing technique because it combines the physical effects of meridian treatments with the mental effects of focusing on the pain or problem at the same time.

• EFT is a self help protocol, designed for ease of use and so everyone can benefit from Emotional Freedom Techniques without prior knowledge about meridians.

Crystals for healing

2012-01-02T12:12:00.001-08:00

Crystal healing is the use of crystals to influence the body’s energy field or aura in order to bring about healing and harmony. The belief that crystals (precious and semi-precious gems such as diamonds, rubies and emeralds are all crystals) have magical and healing properties has a long history. Many spiritual healers now use crystals to help with a wide range of physical and emotional conditions.

Crystal therapists believe that crystals can tap into the energies of the universe, focus healing energy and resonate with the energies of the body to bring about healing. Crystals are individually selected for their energy. Crystals such as amethyst and rose quartz are particularly thought to possess healing energy which they can store and release like a battery. Practitioners claim that the crystals do not actually heal a person but rather act as a focus to help people heal themselves.

You can either buy your own crystals or visit a therapist. If you choose to visit a therapist you may be questioned about your lifestyle, diet and medical history. You will then be asked to sit or lie on a couch or the floor. You will not need to undress. The therapist will then use his or her intuition to scan your energy without actually touching you to assess which crystals to use. They may place crystals around you or on the part of your body that needs healing. They may also hold the crystals themselves or ask you to hold them. Some practitioners place the crystals on acupuncture points or chakras. Others combine crystal healing with spiritual healing and aura work. The skill of the practitioner is in choosing which crystal to use and applying it in the most effective way for the person being treated.

Crystal therapists do not treat specific conditions, instead that they take a holistic approach using crystal healing to improve health and well-being. Some people report that holding, wearing, being covered in or surrounded by crystals makes them feel better and more energized. Research has also shown that if a quartz crystal is held in the hand for more than 30 minutes brainwave patterns change from beta (fully alert) to alpha (relaxed).

The following is a list of some crystal types and the health/emotional conditions they are believed to relieve:

Amethyst: Headaches, eyes, scalp, hair, pituitary gland, balancing blood sugar, spiritually uplifting

Aquamarine: Heart, immune system, thymus, lymph nodes, calming, uplifting, joy, creativity, confidence, purpose

Carnelian: Circulatory system, kidneys, stimulate appetite, emotions, sexuality, physical energy, reproductive system, menstrual cramps, arthritis, kidneys, gall bladder, pancreas, confidence, assertiveness

Citrine: Acid indigestion, food disorders, allergies, cleansing spleen, kidneys, liver, urinary system, intestines, mental and emotional clarity, problem-solving, memory

Coral: Muscles, blood, heart, reproductive system, thyroid, metabolism, spine, bone and tissue regeneration, not to be used with high blood pressure

Diamond: Increase personal clarity, trust, confidence, prosperity, generosity, love, spirituality

Emerald: Respiratory system, heart, lymph nodes, blood, thymus, balance blood sugar, childbirth, eyesight, depression

Jade: Heart, immune, kidneys, nervous system, courage, knowledge, compassion, emotional balance, longevity

Lapis: Anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, shyness, nervous system, speech, hearing, pituitary, inflammation, pain

Malachite: Stomach, liver, kidney stones, respiratory system, immune system, vision, circulatory system

Rose Quartz: Emotional balance, love, beauty, peacefulness, forgiving, kindness, self-esteem, emotional healing

Ruby: Infections, cholesterol, blood clots, blood cleansing, impotency, circulation, menses, love, courage, confidence, vitality, stamina, strength, triumph over adversity

Sapphire: Reducing inflammation, fevers, nosebleeds, hearing problems, burns, depression, intuition, clairaudience, mental clarity, calm

For those who would like to ‘test the waters’ with crystals or who are simply curious about how it all works, there are a number of sources that explain crystal healing and crystal therapy in depth. If you’re open to the metaphysical and the energies of the universe, who knows? Crystal therapy may be the perfect complement to your physical and/or emotional health regimen.

Ayurveda

2012-01-02T12:08:00.001-08:00

Ayurveda is the ancient art of healing that deals with all aspects of a person's life as an entity. This holistic system of medicine from India uses a constitutional model for every person is an individual, unique and complete being. Its aim is to provide guidance regarding food and lifestyle so that healthy people can stay healthy and persons with health challenges can improve their health.

Ayurveda is a Science of Life as well as a medical system. Hence, the meaning of Ayurveda; two Sanskrit words: Ayu which means life and Veda which means the knowledge of. To know about life is Ayurveda and according to the ancient Ayurvedic scholar Charaka, "ayu" is comprised of four essential parts: the combination of mind, body, senses and the soul. With Ayurveda healing, the purpose is not just to bring remedy to an illness but also to bring harmony to out-out-balance factors.

In Ayurveda, when the body doshic balance of vata-pitta-kapha is agitated or in disorder, or if any of these types are accumulated, the individual may become unwell. Ayurveda philosophy views a person as a unique individual made up of five primary elements: ether (space), air, fire, water, and earth just as in nature. Should any of these elements be present in the environment, they will have an impact on us. Two examples are the weather and the food in our diet.

In addition, certain elements are seen to have an ability to combine and form various physiological functions as follows:

Ether + air = Vata dosha

Vata governs the principle of movement and therefore can be seen as the force which directs nerve impulses, circulation, respiration, and elimination.

Fire + water = Pitta dosha

Pitta is the process of transformation or metabolism, metabolism in the organ and tissue systems as well as cellular metabolism. An example is the transformation of foods into nutrients that our bodies can assimilate.

Water + earth = Kapha dosha

Kapha is responsible for growth, adding structure unit by unit and protection. Types of Kapha found in the body, for example, are cerebral-spinal fluid protecting the brain and spinal column and the mucousal lining of the stomach protecting the tissues.

Ayurveda sees each person as a special mixture because ratios of the doshas: vata, pitta and kapha vary in each individual, giving us diversity and uniqueness.

Ayurveda healing first deal with any emergency or life-threatening symptoms like high fever or asthma attacks, and then look into the problem of the fundamental causes. Remedies like herbal medication, changes in diet and nutrition, cleansing procedures like bathing, yoga postures, exercises and even breathing techniques in Ayurveda, remove symptoms and eradicate the underlying causes of a disease or health problem. If these underlying problems are not dealt with, it will manifest again either in the same way or another form.

Ayuveda disease management

Chikitsa, also known as disease management, is the Ayurveda approach to restoring health. There are eight traditional components in the complete healing program and its purpose are:

Identify health problem Eliminate underlying cause of illness Purify the body Reestablish and restore balance Strengthens and revitalizes affected organs, tissues and system to prevent recurrence

The 8 Essential Components of Ayurveda Healing are:

1. Locate person's constitution (prakruti): vata, pitta or kapha

2. Locate the present imbalance of doshas in the body (vikruti)

3. Find the reason and causes of illness such as lifestyle, diet, genetic predisposition, emotional and relationship factors, psychological stress, etc.

4. Initial treatment is to remove the cause

5. Give appropriate regimen like exercise, yoga, diet and relaxation accordingly to person's constitution, vikruti and environemnt changes, etc.

6. Detoxification treatment by either:

elimination like panchakarma or shodana, or palliation like shamana

7. Rejuvenate the body in general in order to strenthen specific ogans and tissues

8. Two types of therapies based on the principle that opposite qualities give balance:

Antagonistic therapy to the provoked dosha Antagonistic therapy to the disease

When a person becomes ill, the illness is not likely completely cured unless you change behaviours that caused it such as poor diet, inadequate exercise, bad lifestyle habits like excessive alcohol or smoking, even stress (caused by work or other factors), unresolved relationships and related psychological factors. Getting to the bottom of these factors is important in the process of healing and complete recovery.

Diagnosis:

It is necessary to identify the health problem discriminatingly and determine whether the constitutional condition of the individual. The specific treatment will not be benefit the person if diagnosis is inaccurate. So it is important to look at all symptoms physically to help you determine if it is a vata, pitta or kapha condition.

Treatment:

Once the condition is diagnosed, the treatment is given according to constitutional type. Some general treatment can benefit all types of constitutional types.

Ayurveda remedies are simple and natural, using common household herbs and strategies such as a warm bath and soothing herbal tea. Common Ayurveda herbs are also recommended in the remedies. There are several remedies for each health condition. Every person is unique and the remedies will work differently so you do not have to try all of them. Some may work better for you and not others. If it dissolves the problem, stick with it, otherwise, try the other approaches.

Always keep a fundamental therapeutic guideline when using self-treatments like Ayurveda principles and remedies. If they do not work, do not be discouraged. Sometimes it's hard to determine constitutional type and your diagnosis may not be correct. Reassess your illness and the reactions to the approach taken, and treat your actual condition. Its very rare but possible that your illness may not coincide with your own constitutional type. So be discerning to select the right remedy that fits your symptoms of your sickness, and not just body type. However, if your health condition is critical or fatal, consult your doctor immediately. Should your problem be chronic, give some time for healing and it may be months before symptoms diminish. Ayurveda is not a quick remedy so allow your body healing mechanism to process at its own pace, momentum and duration.

In Ayurveda healing, each condition comes with not only medication and herbal formulas, but also other measures like special diets, exercise, yoga, relaxation therapies like massages, tea and healing paste, among others, to provide healing. Together with medicinal treatment, changing your daily routine can help you improve health and live harmoniously in your surrounding with nature. The human body is always resilient, working to restore balance and complete health so the natural process of healing recommended in Ayurveda will support the body and bring benefits in keeping you in the pink of health and your life in harmony.

ACUPUNCTURE FACTS

2012-01-02T12:07:00.001-08:00

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture can be defined as the insertion of dry needles into the skin at specific locations called acupuncture points. Acupuncture is performed by certified practitioners and physicians to treat certain medical disorders. Depending on the training and experience of the practitioner and the problem being treated, acupuncture techniques may include electrical current through the needles (electro acupuncture) or heat (moxibustion) and pressure (acupressure).

Acupuncture began in China more than 2000 years ago. It is now practiced throughout the world, particularly in China, Korea and Japan. In the United States, acupuncture started gaining popularity in the early 1970s.

How Does Acupuncture Work?

The basic idea behind acupuncture, according to ancient theory, is that energy flows within the human body and can be stimulated to create balance and health. The energy flow (or vital force)—called qi and pronounced “chee”—moves throughout the body along 12 main channels known as meridians. These meridians represent the major organs and functions of the body although they do not follow the exact pathways of nerves or blood flow.

The goal of acupuncture is to correct imbalances of flow and restore health through stimulation, generally by inserting needles through the skin at points along the meridians of the body. Current acupuncture information lists up to 400 different acupuncture points for various health problems. Scientists have attempted to explain the actual physical effects of acupuncture on the human body. Some researchers suggest that pain relief happens when acupuncture needles stimulate nerves. Another well accepted theory is that acupuncture releases pain-relieving chemicals, such as endorphins and serotonin.

Acupuncture may also be effective because it targets painful tender points, sometimes called trigger points. Additionally, acupuncture may decrease pain-causing inflammation by stimulating the body’s pituitary gland to release cortisol, a hormone that is known to reduce inflammation. Although the exact manner in which acupuncture works is unknown, the treatment appears helpful for certain medical illnesses in certain people at certain times.

Conditions

Acupuncture can be helpful in maintaining good health and in treating patients with a wide range of health problems. Acupuncture may be used alone or in combination with other complementary or conventional medicine treatments.

Acupuncture can be used to treat a number of condition and health problems, including:

Side Effects of Cancer Treatment — Acupuncture can help ease the nausea associated with chemotherapy, increase the immune response, relieve pain and improve energy levels.

Headache— Acupuncture can help reduce the severity and frequency of chronic headaches, including tension headaches and migraines.

Chronic Neck and Back Pain — Acupuncture may be helpful in relieving chronic pain caused by spinal stenisis, disc herniation etc.

Women's Reproductive Health Issues — Acupuncture can be used to enhance fertility, relieve symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and minimize bothersome symptoms of menopause, including mood changes, hot flashes and insomnia

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome — Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a disorder that causes debilitating fatigue, including exhaustion and reduced stamina, neurological problems, and a variety of flu-like symptoms.

Chinese medicine considers symptoms of fatigue and exhaustion as originating from weakened organs. Acupuncture may help to revive and stimulate the affected organs from their depleted states.

Fibromyalgia — Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain disorder characterized by fatigue and widespread pain in the fibrous tissues of the muscles, ligaments and tendons. Acupuncture may help relieve the pain associated with this condition.

Asthma — Research in the past decade has shown that acupuncture can be very effective in alleviating the symptoms of respiratory diseases, including asthma. It may also reduce the frequency and intensity of asthma attacks.

Sports Injuries — Acupuncture can be used to treat various sports and repetitive stress injuries.

Gastrointestinal Disorders — Acupuncture may be helpful in relieving some of the discomfort caused by gastrointestinal disorders, including chronic liver disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and inflammatory bowel movement.

Benefits of Acupressure

2012-01-02T12:06:00.002-08:00

Acupressure is an ancient healing art that uses the fingers to press key points on the surface of the skin to stimulate the body’s natural self-curative abilities. More than 5,000 years ago, the Chinese discovered that pressing certain points on the body relieved pain where it occurred, and benefited other parts of the body more remote from the pain and the pressure point. When these points are pressed, they release muscular tension and promote the circulation of blood and the body’s life force, sometimes called qi or chi, to aid in healing. Acupuncture and acupressure use the same points, but acupuncture employs needles, while acupressure uses the gentle, but firm pressure of hands and feet. Acupressure continues to be the most effective method for self-treatment of tension-related ailments by using the power and sensitivity of the human hand.

Acupressure can be effective in helping:

- relieve headaches

- eye strain

- sinus problems

- neck pain

- backaches

- arthritis

- muscle aches

- tension due to stress

- ulcer pain

- menstrual cramps

- lower backaches

- constipation

In acupressure, local symptoms are considered an expression of the condition of the body as a whole. The healing touch of acupressure reduces tension, increases circulation, and enables the body to relax deeply. Go! Fight! Win! Let the massages begin!

Alternative Medicine

2012-01-02T12:06:00.000-08:00

Alternative medicine benefits and advantages

Alternative medicine treatment generally uses natural medicine to heal health ailments. That is why, it is also called as complementary medicine. Even today, a large number of natural health care providers use traditional medicines to treat different kinds of health diseases. There are some advantages of alternative medicine treatment over modern medicines such as..

Alternative therapy is comparatively cheaper than modern medicines and treatments Complementary therapy or treatment is easily available (as home remedies or kitchen remedies) Unlike allopathic medicines, natural and traditional medicines using herbs, vegetables and fruits are free from any unwanted, undesired side effects.

Natural medicine generally does not produce any reaction unless intake of such medicine (the dosage) is not followed as per advice.

There are some other benefits that come with alternative medicines for health ailments cure such as...

Complementary treatment or alternative medicine is less likely to affect other bodily systems and hence is comparatively safe.

Alternative medicines, being general daily health supplements, not only help in curing the main disease but also soothe other body systems.

Holistic medicines help in rejuvenating and revitalizing the human health.

Rather than working precisely on signs and symptoms, alternative natural herbal medicines treat the root-cause. Thus, helps in terminating health ailment permanently.

Alternative medicines have a huge demand across the globe due to its word-of-mouth spread. Special treatments such as Ayurvedic Panchakarma, Aromatherapy, Swedish massage, Thai Massage, Chinese Traditional therapies, Acupressure/acupuncture etc have been few of the most sought after treatment ways due to increasing hazards of modern medicines.

UK crackdown on alternative medicine claims

2012-01-02T12:02:00.000-08:00

The UK's Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has taken the long-overdue step of requiring people selling alternative therapy products for prevention and treatment of diseases in animals to actually show that the products are safe and do what they claim. The effort includes products like homeopathic nosodes, nutraceuticals and herbal preparations.

Historically, alternative medicines have received little regulatory scrutiny, and manufacturers have blatantly disregarded rules about what they can and can't say about their products. As a result, many products have claims of safety and effectiveness that are not based on any evidence whatsoever. While this may simply result in people wasting money in many situations, there are concerns that the products could actually do harm in some cases, and that some people may use untested "alternative" treatments instead of proven traditional therapeutics. In these situations, using poor quality ineffective products can obviously also harm an animal's health. Since the alternative medicine industry has shown an obvious lack willingness to self-regulate, the government is required to step in.

It's hard to say how aggressive the VMD will be, and it's likely that it will take some time to straighten out the false advertising. To start, the VMD will be contacting manufacturers to request proof of safety and evidence supporting any health claims that they make.

This doesn't mean that these products will be banned. While there are basically no studies supporting the effectiveness of close to all of these products, they are not being taken away from consumers. Rather, the key is making sure the label claims are accurate so consumers can make a better informed choice. If a product hasn't been shown to cure disease X, it shouldn't say on the label that it does. If manufacturers don't want to do the studies to show effectiveness, they can still sell the product, they just can't make these claims on the label. Assessing safety is tougher, since these products typically lack any safety trials, and it's unclear what degree of safety testing/evidence the VMD will require.

This is a welcome change. Alternative therapies are still therapies. It doesn't matter if they are herbal, otherwise "natural" or manufactured. They can be (or contain) powerful substances and it should be the legal (and ethical) duty of manufacturers to properly test and advertise their products. Only with good quality control and proper research will we be able to understand the role of alternative therapies in patient care.

In the interim (to bring this back to an infectious disease-focused post), it is critical that unproven therapies not be used in place of standard approaches when dealing with the treatment or prevention of infectious diseases. Using these products as supplemental therapies is usually fine. Just don't risk a pet's health using unproven treatments alone when better-investigated options are available.

New Study Shows Modified Citrus Pectin Activates Powerful Immune Responses

2012-01-02T12:00:00.000-08:00

by Dr. Isaac Eliaz

"I have seen first-hand the transformative power of MCP in helping to fight disease and restore health," says Dr. Isaac Eliaz.

I am thrilled to share with you groundbreaking research demonstrating the ability of a specific form of Modified Citrus Pectin (MCP) to greatly enhance immune function. The study found that MCP activated B-cells in a dose-dependent manner, and induced a highly significant dose-dependent activation of T-cytotoxic cells and Natural Killer (NK) cells. The NK-cell's cancer killing activity was demonstrated against live leukemia cancer cells. The study is published in the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

The research focuses on MCP's immune-stimulatory properties in human blood samples, resulting in modulation of different arms of the immune system. Immune researchers at the Dharma Biomedical LLC (Miami, FL) are excited. "The dramatic ability of MCP to activate different components of both the innate (NK-cells) and adaptive (T-cytotoxic) arms of the immune system, demonstrates that MCP can be used in a very strategic manner to support immune function, which may prove useful for a variety of immune compromised health situations," says lead researcher Dr. Steve Melnick. MCP induced an increase in B-cells, T-cytotoxic cells, and NK-cells in a dose dependant manner, meaning the higher the dosage, the greater the effect. Researchers demonstrated that MCP induced a dramatic ten-fold increase in NK-cell activation, and furthermore a significant 53.6% increase in the NK-cells' functional ability to identify and destroy leukemia cancer cells.

Mechanism of Action (How MCP Works)

Melnick further explains, "The Modified Citrus Pectin used in this study consists of various polysaccharides that come in contact with different receptors or proteins on the membranes of immune cells. The immune cells become activated as a consequence of this very specific interaction." Melnick continues, "What I found impressive was the selectivity, and in those cases the magnitude of the effect. For example, polysaccharides derived from mushroom species are known for their immunomodulatory effect. However, in my experience, those effects are considerably lower than observed in the case of T cytotoxic and NK cell activation with this Modified Citrus Pectin." USDA scientists that co-authored the study analyzed the specific structure of this MCP.

Critical Information for Optimal Immune Support

There are two important aspects to the end results of this study when it comes to NK cells. The first one is how many of our NK cells, a specialized subset of T-lymphocytes that destroy infected and cancerous cells are activated by MCP. In other words, how many are awakened from their "sleep" and ready to fight harmful invaders and cancer. MCP exerted a dramatic 10 fold increase in their activation, greater than the positive control Interleukin-2 (IL-2). Additionally, once the NK cells were activated, their actual functional activity level, and specifically against cancer, was demonstrated to be statistically significant.

MCP's Multiple Cancer-Fighting Properties

This significant increase in T-cytotoxic and NK-cell activation, together with a remarkable increase in NK-cells' ability to identify and destroy human leukemia cells, proves that the tested MCP is a powerful immune enhancing agent, with the ability to selectively increase cytotoxic immune activity against cancer and infections. With this new data on Modified Citrus Pectin's powerful immune effects, together with the extensive research on its ability to block cancer-promoting galectin-3 molecules, we now have a much greater understanding of MCP's significant benefits in fighting and protecting against cancer. Ongoing research continues to demonstrate that MCP possesses numerous anti-cancer mechanisms of action that work to fight cancer from multiple angles.

I have seen first-hand the transformative power of MCP in helping to fight disease and restore health. While I was recommending MCP in my clinical practice for the treatment of cancer and heavy metal toxicity, I had always known that the benefits reached far beyond what had been scientifically proven at the time. After all, many of my patients who came to me for solutions to their chronic diseases became the vibrant examples of how MCP, used as part of an integrative and holistic health program, had not just added years to peoples' lives, but quality as well. Thanks to this recent landmark immune study, we now know that the powerful immune supporting actions offered by Modified Citrus Pectin represent a significant factor of this vibrant health equation.

Source: Ramachandran, C., Wilk, B.J., Hotchkiss, A., Chau, H., Eliaz, I., Melnick, S.J. Activation of Human T-Helper/Inducer Cell, T-Cytotoxic Cell, B-Cell, and Natural Killer (NK)-Cells and induction of Natural Killer Cell Activity against K562 Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Cells with Modified Citrus Pectin. BMC Complem. Altern. Med.2011, 11:59.

For more information vist Dr. Eliaz' web site.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine

2012-01-02T11:58:00.000-08:00

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is the term for medical products and practices that are not part of standard care.

Standard care is what medical doctors, doctors of osteopathy and allied health professionals, such as registered nurses and physical therapists, practice.

Alternative medicine means treatments that you use instead of standard ones.

Complementary medicine means nonstandard treatments that you use along with standard ones.

Examples of CAM therapies are acupuncture, chiropractic and herbal medicines. (from the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)