Sunday, June 24, 2012

Shingles Otherwise Known As Herpes Zoster

Shingles or Herpes Zoster as it is officially known, is caused by the same viral disease as chickenpox. This very painful condition which attacks the dorsal root nerve ganglia is seen mostly in adults over 50, producing blisters in areas of the skin innervated by the effected nerves.

Most people only ever have one attack but the pain can persist for months. The Shingles virus is nowhere near as contagious as chickenpox but it can be passed on through contact for about a week after the appearance of the rash.

As long as the rash does not spread to the brain it is not particularly dangerous to healthy individuals but those with immune deficiencies such as HIV patients or those being treated for cancers can be at great risk.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Even a completely healthy person may contract certain diseases if they have intercourse with a person carrying these diseases. Because intercourse involves the exchange of bodily fluids, several diseases that cannot be transmitted any other way are easily passed from person to person during sex, and several common diseases that can sometimes be transmitted by other means are much more likely to pass to a sexual partner during intercourse.

Below, you will find some quick facts about some of the most problematic sexually transmitted diseases; these facts should help you understand why these diseases pose so many risks, how you can protect yourself against them, and what you can do if you suspect that you have contracted one or more of them.

Sexual Health: 3 Macrobiotic Home Remedies for Women

Is your love life suffering from low libido or lack of desire? Macrobiotics offers the natural secrets to revitalizing sexual health and libido.

A macrobiotic diet is a natural way to boost your metabolism and discharge toxins from the body, but there's much more to health than just the foods you eat. A macrobiotic lifestyle focuses on eliminating mucous-causing foods-like dairy products, animal products, and unhealthy fats-from your diet. It also incorporates specific home remedies that cleanse and restore health.

Whole foods, herbs and supplements, and regular exercise are all part of the macrobiotic approach to maintaining all of the body's organs - including women's sexual and reproductive organs. If you're looking for safe, natural, and powerful ways to spice up your love life, the following three macrobiotic home remedies may provide exactly the boost your sexual health needs:

1. Body Scrub

A body scrub not only helps improve sexual and overall vitality, it also increases blood and lymph circulation, removes dead skin cells, opens pores, and cleanses toxins. It's easy to take a few minutes every day to add a body scrub to your regular cleansing routine:

1. Fill a basin with hot water. Wet an organic cotton washcloth and wring it out.
2. Scrub your extremities in a back-and-forth direction toward the heart.

Senior Health - Making It Affordable on a Small Budget

Getting health insurance as a senior is more important than it is at any other point in your life. The only problem is that as a senior, you may be on a low fixed income. How can you afford senior health care with a minimal budget then? What can you do to lower your costs to prices that fit your financial abilities? Read over the tips below and you will see some of the options you have as a senior to lower the cost of your health insurance. There is always a way to find a policy you can afford.

One way you may be able to lower the cost of your senior health insurance is by packaging it together with a few other insurance coverage plans you need. Life insurance is just as much of a necessity as health insurance may be, and by combining the two of them together, you can save money on each policy individually. Do this with any insurance you have, assuming your insurance provider offers those different policies. Then you can afford everything you need a month and still have money left over to live on.

Advances in Medical Engineering Benefits Public Health

Medical engineering is a vital component of the healthcare industry and, in turn, a vital component of public health. By supplying health practitioners with the latest advancements in medical equipment and technology, the field of medical engineering supports the health and wellbeing of millions of people every year.

Many advances in the field of medical engineering today seem commonplace. But the development of essential life-saving and life-improving tools like hip replacements, pacemakers, medical imaging, life support systems and medical lasers would not have been possible without research and development in the field of medical engineering.

12 Healthy Prostate Tips

Nowadays prostate disorders growth is becoming a more and more serious problem for men's health worldwide. Small prostate dysfunctions can cause more dangerous diseases and even prostate cancer. By the official statistics data, prostate diseases cases quantity has almost doubled for the last 20 years.

1. Minimize alcohol consumption - alcohol drinks neutralize both zinc and vitamin B6 (which works for zinc absorption).

2. Drink low fat level milk and eat lean meat dishes - some researchers believe that saturated fats from dairy products and meats are factors increasing the risk of prostate cancer development.

Europe Has Pneumonia - China Catches A Cold

Stock and commodity markets were not happy at the start of this week when it became clear that Europe's long-anticipated recession is helping to slow the Chinese economy, global commerce's power plant in recent years.

The European Union and China are each other's largest trading partners, if you consider the 27-member EU to be a single entity. (Among individual nations, the United States, Japan and South Korea occupy China's top spots, with Chinese-ruled Hong Kong sitting between Japan and South Korea.) It is not surprising that a downturn in Europe would have significant effects back in China. In fact, what may be most encouraging about the situation is how mild those effects could be, at least if things ago according to the Communist-led government's latest plan.

Functional Jaw Orthopedics for Children

To understand the most common problems related to jaw and teeth, one must first look beyond the realm of dentistry.

Problems like malocclusion, buck teeth, overcrowding of teeth etc. can all be solved later in the life by surgical/orthodontic procedures. But understanding their cause will help to prevent the development of such conditions in young children.

Mouth is a part of the complex neuromuscular network of the facial region. Thus, problems like the ones mentioned above, are not inconvenient for teeth, but also cause difficulty in breathing, ear congestions and temporomandibular joint pains. Malocclusions and overcrowded teeth can be repaired through brief dental procedures like extractions and braces. But trying to cure problems related to ear, nose and mouth require complicated surgical procedures; often several of them.

Gene Obesity

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) the prevalence of overweight or obese people has tripled since 1980. Over 65% of people in the U.S. and over 50% of people in the U.K. were overweight or obese in 2010. Alarmingly the number of overweight children is also increasing.

The massive change in our eating habits is now leading to obesity linked diseases of epidemic proportions. But is it all down to society and poor eating habits? Research has shown that there appears to be another cause, or at least another contributory factor.

Our DNA may hold the key. When you consider how complicated new life is to create on a molecular level it's no wonder that sometimes there are mutations in DNA. If the mutation allows you to successfully reproduce and pass on the mutated DNA then the possibility of passing on future disease is immense.

Nutrition for Female Triathletes

Most women triathletes know intellectually that the right diet will enhance their training and produce far better results. In practice though, this is often harder to implement. When the chocolate bar, cream cakes and cola are calling our name it is easy to justify to ourselves that we exercise so much that it won't matter!

However success comes from the little things done well day after day after day.

In fact a good diet makes a huge difference! It will decrease overall stress levels, help maintain or achieve optimum racing weight and give us more energy to train before and after a hard day at work (even when we don't feel like it!).

Treating Muscle Spasms and Cramps

Tentative statistics show that around 95 percent of people in the world experience muscle spasms and cramps at least once, at some stage in their lives. This means that 19 in every 20 individuals suffer from muscle cramps and spasms. Laws of probability state that it is likely that you have suffered muscle spasms or cramps and know how painful and excruciating they can be. However, while most people know what happens when muscle spasms or cramps set in, they do not really understand the problem in detail.

Defining the Problem

Whenever a muscle or even small fibres of the muscle contract without you consciously making it happen, it is known as a muscle spasm. When the muscle or fibres that have contracted sustain this contraction, the spasm becomes a fully-fledged cramp. Muscle spasms and cramps vary in intensity from person to person and from situation to situation. Therefore, while you may get a minor twitch another person may be suffering from a spasm that is so intense that it leaves a bruise.

Bipolar Disorder - Not A Mental Disorder

Expert Author Ray J Tyler

Bipolar disorder is not a specific diagnosis. Rather, it covers a spectrum of mood disorders. It is on that basis that I state that it is not A mental disorder. Rather, it is collection of specific independent diagnoses which, grouped together, are referred to as the bipolar spectrum. This collection of mental disorders are considered to be amongst the hardest mental disorders to accurately diagnose.

There are a number of factors which make diagnosing it as being from within the bipolar spectrum difficult. If that is correctly achieved there can be further difficulty in specifying exactly which type of specific disorder is present. An accurate diagnosis makes a successful treatment far easier to achieve.

Causes of Kidney Disease

Kidney disease is quite a danger to your overall health due to the role your kidneys play in a wide range of important bodily functions. Damage typically develops gradually over a long period of time. Just one kidney may be affected, but generally, damage occurs in both.

Symptoms often don't appear until it has progressed to a dangerous stage. In fact, kidneys can keep working when only 15 percent of normal function remains, and there will be few symptoms that anything serious is wrong.

The Most Common Causes of Kidney Disease

Kidney disease is more likely to take place in the following situations.

Infectious Diseases of Scalp and Hair

There are two main types of hair and scalp diseases: infectious and non-infectious. Infectious diseases are those that they can go contagiously from one man to another. The most common examples of them are: impetigo, head-lice, ringworm, scabies, warts and some more.

Severity of these infections and their danger to surrounding people may differ greatly. Therefore, it is of primary importance to note the symptoms, define the cause and begin the proper treatment as soon as possible. For this purpose, let's have a look at some common infectious diseases of the scalp and hair.

Impetigo. This is a highly infectious disease that is most common among children. The cause of it is bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus/pyogenes) that enters through cut or injured head-skin. Impetigo is characterized by large moist blisters that gradually dry and form a yellow crust.

Treat Your Immune System to a Natural Dose of Probiotics

Probiotics are the new buzz words these days, simply because we are learning more about their incredible benefits to digestive health and applying the knowledge to ward off illnesses and lead to longer, more productive lives. Probiotics are typically used in the same sentence (or two) with our immune system; the relationship between both are inextricably linked and they function together to keep our internal systems in check. This is mainly due to there being 70% of our immune system in the intestines, the health of which is governed by gut flora.

So how does it work? Medical Researchers are finding that one of the unlocked keys to good health is right within our gut, specifically in the world of microbes that live in it. It is also where tissues of the immune system reside. The volume of studies are mounting that "good" bacteria are not only beneficial for digestive health but are also extraordinary in stimulating immune system function. Some researchers are already working on understanding new found benefits of probiotics as an essential component in the connection with obesity. The total advantagges for probiotic health just keep adding up.

According to the World Health Organisation, probiotics can be defined as live micro-organisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host. A diet rich in naturally occurring probiotics is now advised and encouraged.

Before our relatively recent discovery of good bacteria, all bacteria were outcasts and were not given the respect they deserved. One of the first probiotic strains that was discovered and used as an antibiotic treatment came from the bowels of a soldier during the First World War. He did not succumb to the spread of infectious bacteria that caused chronic diarrhoea (shigellosis) and killed many. The bacterium, Escherichia coli Nissle strain was found to be an effective method of treatment, when antibiotics were not yet available, for individuals with acute gastrointestinal infections.

Good versus bad bacteria

An imbalance of friendly versus harmful bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract or gut can lead to digestive complaints that can cause far more serious health problems. Some researchers feel that symptoms such as irritable bowel syndrome are directly related to a bacterial imbalance.

Harmful bacteria or microbes proliferate in conditions where there is an imbalance; when there are insufficient good bacteria to maintain good health. These symptoms can be mild to severe gastrointestinal complications and immune breakdown.

Some of the friendly microbes commonly found in foods are:
• Lactobacillus
• Bacteroides
• Bifidobacteria
• Proprionbacteria

Harmful bacteria include:
• Salmonella
• Shigella
• Escherichia Coli
• Clostridium difficile

The interesting fact about microbes is that they are unique to each individual, beginning at birth and evolving through life. The GI (gastro-intestinal) tract of a human foetus is completely free of bacteria and fungi. But just before infants enter this world they ingest friendly microbes present in the mother's birth canal as they move through. Those born by Caesarean section acquire microbes from the environment. In fact, we are bombarded with 10 times more microbes in our bodies than the number of cells that exists within us.

Natural sources of Probiotics

Getting plenty of probiotics is now an important part of a healthy immune system. Choices of probiotics in foods can seem limited. One option you can use is to take probiotics in capsule supplements or add the powder form to your favourite yoghurt to increase the amount in your diet. You can also obtain probiotics from naturally cultivated foods, such as:

• Cottage cheese
• Kefir
• Kimchi
• Miso
• Pickled ginger
• Tempeh
• Yoghurt
• Tamari
• Sauerkraut

Making your own fermented Probiotic food

Not all probiotics are created equal. Because of the popularity of probiotics these days, there are questionable products on the market with deceptive labelling. When choosing a Brand of probiotics opt for one which shows the results of an independent assay.

Preparing your own probiotic through fermentation is easy to do and can be just as effective. The Lactobacillus bacteria are responsible for fermentation; they also inhibit the process of putrefying bacteria that cause foods to rot. Vegetables, fruits, and dairy are commonly used for fermentation and even people who are lactose intolerant can usually enjoy fermented dairy products, as the lactose is converted to lactic acid.

When you consume homemade probiotics use them as condiments and not as significant portions of your meal, such as fermented tomatoes used as "ketchup" and applied modestly on foods.

Fermented fruits or vegetables are the easiest and healthiest to make:
• Wash the fruits/vegetables and cut into pieces
• Place cut pieces in a bowl, add sea salt and pound the pieces. Add herbs and spices for added flavour
• Gather all parts, including the juice, and place in a wide-mouth jar leaving about an inch of space at the top. Seal the jar tightly preventing air from getting in.
• Keep jar at room temperature for 2 to 4 days
• Store in a cool dark place, approximately 4 - 6 degrees Celsius.

Probiotics are not exactly nutrients, nor are they exactly food. They are living bacteria that exist in a symbiotic relationship with the human body. They secrete compounds that regulate cell function and there are many strains of bacteria that are good for your health that help to resist the growth of pathogens and infectious agents.

Benefits of probiotics to immune system health

Also known as intestinal flora, micro flora and gut flora, probiotics can reduce autoimmune diseases (cancer, allergy), enhance nutrient absorption, reduce bloating, fight yeast overgrowth, treat halitosis, treat diarrhoea and constipation.

Good bacteria can stabilise the digestive tract's bacterial environment by improving gastrointestinal IgA antibody responses and tightly controlling inflammation associated with infections.

Probiotic consumption is associated with a range of health benefits specifically the balance of micro-flora within the gastrointestinal tract. Numerous studies show that the body's natural defence against infections namely, lymphocytes and antibodies are enhanced with a diet that includes probiotic ingredients.

Their beneficial effects have gone full circle becoming popular, waning, and then returning more popular than before. When antibiotics were first introduced into health practices, it was at the same time that probiotics became known in science as a necessary part of a healthy immune system. Probiotics could not compete with the quick-acting, potent antibiotic. This unfortunately pushed probiotics out of the limelight and back into relative obscurity for a few decades, even though Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of Penicillin himself, advised the use of a probiotic alongside the antibiotic. This is still good advice, just remember to take them at a different time; the probiotic before a meal and the antibiotic a while after.

Today we know how harmful long-term use of antibiotics is to our immune system. Antibiotics work by destroying both harmful and friendly bacteria resulting in a weakened immune system. The more we are exposed to antibiotics the more dangerous are microbes that evolve to infect our weakened system. Also, any bad bacteria not destroyed by the antibiotic are stronger by nature and thus we are left with a gut now populated by a much stronger strain. This is the reason for antibiotic-resistant pathogens.

Make it a habit to incorporate foods rich in probiotics to aid the micro-flora of your GI tract and boost immune system function.

Margaret Le Monnier has over 20 years-experience as a qualified natural health professional in the UK. She is now writing articles for a website solely devoted to bringing a comprehensive range of natural health advice to everyone. To find out more about the immune system visit her website at Natural Health 4 Life.

Potassium Supplements - Maintaining The Body's Balance

Potassium is a very important mineral required by our body and it is available in various foods like fruits, vegetables and pulses. The balance of the body's chemicals and fluids is regulated by this mineral. Potassium helps our cells to carry out the important bodily functions. When there is a lack of potassium in the body, we are recommended potassium supplements. These supplements will then help in maintaining the balance that will help us perform our bodily functions.

Deficiency of potassium is referred to as hypokalemia and if this condition is ignored, it may lead to improper functioning of our nervous system. Supplements also help in effective working of our heart and muscles. With age, the intake of food reduces and this is when potassium supplements are prescribed. Deficiency of potassium may lead to tiredness, fatigue, restlessness, depression, mood swings, weak bones and so on. Potassium deficiency is generally found in adults, due to an imbalanced and improper diet.

HIV and AIDS

HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS.
While many viruses can be controlled by the immune system, HIV targets and infects the same immune system cells that are supposed to protect us from illnesses. These are a type of white blood cell called CD4 cells. HIV takes over CD4 cells and turns them into virus factories that produce thousands of viral copies. As the virus grows, it damages or kills CD4 cells, weakening the immune system.

About AIDS

AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. AIDS is the most advanced stage of HIV infection. HIV causes AIDS by attacking the immune system's soldiers - the CD4 cells. When the immune system loses too many CD4 cells, you are less able to fight off infection and can develop serious, often deadly, infections. These are called opportunistic infections because they take advantage of the body's weakened defenses.

How to Lower High Blood Pressure Using Natural Remedies

Hypertension. This is a condition that millions of people have, and many don't even know it. Learning how to lower high blood pressure without taking prescription drugs is very important. Why? Because medications can cause many adverse side effects, and are mostly synthetic. So, what are some of the natural remedies to control hypertension?

One thing you already know - stop eating salt. This is the most important thing you can do, although this by itself won't cure your high blood pressure. There are several steps you can take, and here are a few tips on how to lower high blood pressure using totally natural methods.

Teaching Chair Yoga for Heart Health

When my teacher first started talking about using a chair in yoga classes I really wasn't interested. Then he invited me to see classes in progress at the local senior and rehabilitation centers. The students are friendly, dedicated, and really see the benefits of steadily practicing yoga. To see therapeutic vinyasa flows in a chair wasn't what I expected - at all. In fact, I had a preconceived notion that they would practice a few asanas, relaxation, pranayama and some relaxation. Instead, it was a full-blown class with an opening, centering, and some challenges. They laugh when doing Lion Face! I was hooked and took a chair yoga teacher training course.

Heart Health Fitness Options

Jogging, running or power walking usually come to mind when people think of exercising for heart health, but such pulse-pounding exercises are not always appropriate for those who need it the most. Yoga in chairs provides seniors of all health and fitness levels with an opportunity to give their heart the exercise it needs to be in good, strong shape. The heart still needs exercise, regardless of the health of the individual.

The Causes of Recurring Headaches

A headache is a pain - literally and figuratively. It can interfere with life, causing lost time or missed work and frustration. But when the pain comes back again and again, what does it mean? What causes recurring headaches?

Identifying the type of headache is key to prevention. There are five main types of headaches; migraine, tension, cluster, sinus, and rebound.

MIGRAINE HEADACHE

A migraine headache is cause by a neurological disorder and can last from 4 - 15 hours. Women make up 75% of adult migraine suffers. However migraines strike prepubescent boys and girls equally. For most, a typical migraine headache is unilateral or only affecting one side of the head. Migraine headache symptoms include nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light and sound, and can be triggered by every day activities. About one-third of people suffering from migraines also experience what is known as an aura, or some kind of signal or warning that a migraine is on its way. An aura can be visual, such as blind spots or wavering lines, or physical, like numbness in a hand or arm. At this time, the cause of migraines is unknown, but it is thought to be the body's excessive reaction to stimuli. Changes in sleep patterns, skipping meals, menstrual cycles in women, weather changes, bright lights, and a host of other stimuli can all bring on a migraine headache.

Slowing Down Hair Loss

A woman's hair is her crowning glory. That has been the old proverb that women have held true for years. Unless you're a woman who's trying to make a fashion statement with bald hair, like Natalie Portman or the famous Demi Moore in her role in G.I. Jane, most women often feel uneasy about the idea of losing hair, or worse, going bald. A lot of women ask if there is a natural way to slow down the progression of hair loss. If you are one of them, you should check out this list below.

Caffeine

This may be something you have never heard of, but caffeine can also help in slowing down female baldness. Caffeine can help decrease DHT which is known to damage hair follicles. You can get caffeine with either coffee or tea, not only does it slow down hair thinning, but it can also ease the associated mood swings as well.

Practical Gout Relief Using Simple Natural Gout Remedies

Gout is an extremely painful and debilitating condition, so fast gout relief is extremely important for the sufferers of this incredibly painful type of arthritis. It is caused by uric acid crystals that form in a person's joints usually as a result of having high uric acid levels in the bloodstream. It commonly occurs in the big toe, especially for people suffering with an attack for the first time.

When someone keeps getting this condition it may also appear in ankle and elbow joints. Gout attacks tend to occur suddenly without warning as a flare up and then disappear with treatment and sometimes even without treatment. And as stated at the beginning, the reason victims want to be treated quickly when an attack occurs is that it is one of the most painful, if not the most painful, episodes people will have in their lives. This is why fast relief from gout is just so important.

Gall Bladder Disease - What Are the Causes?

The gall bladder disease is very frequent today, and it affects an increasing number of people. Some researchs show that this disease mainly affects older people, over 50 years old, and unluckily, women are more affected. It is thought that estrogen is the main factor for this. Younger people and children are not affected with severe symptoms of the gall bladder disease. Other people who are in the high-risk group are: people experiencing weight problems, people with digestive problems, and people who have high-cholesterol levels in their blood.

We can say that gallbladder stones are the main cause of gallbladder disease. When the gall bladder doesn't empty completely gallstones are formed. This also happens when there is too much cholesterol in the bile. Gallstones accumulate in the gallbladder and block the access of the bile. This affects the function of the gall bladder, and the symptoms start to appear.

Diabetes and the Adrenal Glands

Diabetes Mellitus or simply diabetes is a medical condition caused by extremely high blood sugar in the body. The elevation of blood sugar in diabetics occurs either because the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or there is an ineffective usage of insulin in the cells. There are two main types of diabetes, Type I or the Insulin Dependent Diabetes (IDD) and Type II diabetes or the Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes (NIDD). Of these types, Type 2 diabetes is the most common, affecting 90% of diabetics worldwide. Common symptoms of diabetes are known as the 3 Ps of diabetes including polyuria (frequent urination), polydipsia (increased thirst), and polyphagia (extreme hunger). Diabetes is often a result of multiple conditions, one of which is hormonal imbalance in the adrenal glands.

Adrenal glands or suprarenal glands are hormone releasing (endocrine) glands located on top of both kidneys. The functions of the adrenal glands are influenced by the hypothalamus and the pituitary "master" gland situated under the brain. These glands are composed of two main parts, the adrenal medulla or the inner section, and the adrenal cortex or the outer section. Each section produces specific hormones essential to life and total wellness. The adrenal cortex produces cortisol, aldosterone, and androgen hormones while the adrenal medulla manufactures adrenaline and noradrenaline. Of all the adrenal hormones, cortisol is implicated in diabetes as it is involved in the production of blood sugar.

Best Detox Diet

What is the best detox diet?

That is a good question and the answer is simple. It depends on what you are detoxing for. Most people know very little about why you should detox your body. They've heard of The Master Cleanse, the 3,4,5,6,7, and up to 28 day cleanses, but most people don't know*any more about it than, "it's good to do it for dieting.

That would make it very difficult to define the best detox diet.

But the reason to do any detox diet is to remove things in your body that cause your body to react in inappropriate ways. Detoxifying means removing poisons from your body. It's much more than a "diet."

Depression Self Help

If you experience depression frequently or in an ongoing manner, it's important to seek professional help. Nonetheless, there are things that you can do on a daily basis to help lift your spirits and shed the mantle of depression - at least temporarily - and perhaps permanently. In this article, we will share a series of practical, doable tips to help you cope with depression in your daily life.

1. Do your best to develop supportive relationships. Sometimes, when we are depressed, it's hard to even notice other people. Be that as of may, try to keep your eyes open and notice the many small kindnesses that people bestow upon you every day. You may be surprised to find that people are generally concerned about you.

Constipation Problem

Help your Pekingese dog with Constipation

When your Pekingese dog has to forcefully defecate, it is understood that the dog is suffering from constipation. From the colon, the feces find it extremely difficult to evacuate and bowel movements become infrequent. This lead to a condition called constipation in dogs. When certain medications are administered or there is indiscretion in the diet, constipation is caused. Just as humans suffer from constipation in the same way, this symptoms are seen in Pekingese dogs. This disorder causes lots of discomfort. It can be treated only by effective and quick treatment.

Constipation Symptoms:Symptoms include putting in a lot of strain to defecate which is nonproductive. If at all the dog defecates, the fecal matter is hard and small. Defecation is very painful resulting to swelling, soreness and redness around the anal area. Since for defecating attempts are made repeatedly, mucus or liquid in small amounts is also discharged in Pekingese dogs. Depression, loss of weight, vomiting, lethargy, scooting, appetite loss, discomfort and bloating of the abdomen are some of the symptoms experienced. If in case the constipation is mild then it gets resolved on its own. Immediate treatment is needed in severe forms of digestive disease.

Common Cold Symptoms

Runny nose and nasal congestion are typical signs of a common cold. There are, however, other signs that allow one to come to a conclusion that they are suffering from a cold. Those signs are: coughing, sore throat, headaches and constant sneezing as well. The common cold is a viral infection that affects the respiratory tract. There are more than two hundred viruses that can cause this disease. You should know that a cold is not a detrimental condition. The medical indicators affiliated with the common cold are examined in this editorial and it gives you the opportunity to decide if your condition is in fact the common cold or something worse.

Signs and Causes of Common Cold

Once you are infected with the cold virus, the signs will take around two to three days to show, sometimes is may take as long as one week. The first sign of this viral infectious disease is an irritated nose or throat. Other symptoms that will manifest are:

    Runny or stuffy nose
    Sneezing
    Coughing
    Watery eyes

Cholesterol and Heart Disease - The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

"And if you have high cholesterol, you would feel the same as if you had low cholesterol because there are no side effects, no symptoms of having high cholesterol. " Mark Spitz, winner of 9 Olympic gold medals in swimming.

Heart disease remains the leading killer of men and women in the United States. Each year, 1,200,000 people suffer a coronary heart attack, and about 40% of them die. An American dies of a coronary event roughly every 65 seconds. Abnormal cholesterol, besides smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity and physical inactivity, remains one of the main modifiable risk factors for coronary heart disease.

"I drive way too fast to worry about cholesterol." Comedian Steven Wright. But we should. Abnormal cholesterol levels can clog up your arteries. There are several hundred studies confirming the dangerous health effects of abnormal cholesterol levels. The Framingham Heart Study found that under age 50, total cholesterol levels directly correlated with 30-year overall and cardiovascular mortality. For each 10 mg/dl increase in cholesterol, there is an overall increase in death of 5% and cardiovascular death of 9%. Abnormal cholesterol levels are also implicated in contributing to stroke, limb amputation, erectile dysfunction, Alzheimer's disease and kidney failure.

Cholesterol is not totally a bad thing. Cholesterol keeps cell membranes fluid, flexible and functional. Cholesterol helps in the manufacture of bile, and thereby helps in the digestion of fats. It is also important for the metabolism of fat soluble vitamins, including vitamins A, D, E and K. It is involved as a major precursor in the synthesis of vitamin D and many steroid hormones, including the adrenal hormones cortisol and aldosterone, and the sex hormones progesterone, estrogen, testosterone, and their derivatives. Cholesterol is water insoluble, and is carried to its destinations by lipoproteins. About 80% of the cholesterol is made by the liver via carbohydrate metabolism through the HMG-CoA reductase pathway. This amounts to about 1000 mg per day. Diet in the Western countries adds about 200 - 300 mg for intestinal intake. Most of dietary cholesterol comes from animal food, including meat, poultry, fish, egg yolk, butter, cheese and whole milk. Trans fats are hydrogenated fats and are found in margarine and many commercially prepared processed and deep fried foods like cookies, cakes, crackers, french fries and donuts. These are also unhealthy and consumption is associated with atherosclerosis. Plant sources of food ( fruits, vegetables, nuts and cereals ) are free of cholesterol. Phytosterols found in certain plant products like flax seed and peanuts may actually help lower serum cholesterol. However, cooking oils of plant origin, especially palm and coconut oil, are high in saturated fats and are heart unhealthy. But there's another kind of fat called essential fatty acids. These are unsaturated fats and include omega-3 and omega-6 fats. These help are cell membranes and are required for the production of certain hormones that are essential for blood clotting, blood pressure control, and eye and brain function. Overall, they lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and reduce mortality from heart disease.

"Somewhere, over the rainbow, way up tall, there's a land where they've never heard of cholesterol." Musician Allan Sherman. However, in the real world, we have to monitor its levels. Total cholesterol should be measured after a 9 to 12 hour fast. A level of less than 200 mg/dl is desirable. A level of 200 to 239 mg/dl is borderline high and a level above 240 mg/dl is associated with a higher risk of coronary heart disease. However, a lipoprotein analysis is more reliable as it better profiles the risk. A lipid profile gives the levels of the bad low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, the good high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and the triglycerides. LDL levels should ideally be less than 100 mg/dl. Levels over 160 are high and associated with an increased risk of heart disease. HDL provides protection against heart disease if it above 60 mg/dl. A level less than 40 mg/dl is associated with increased heart disease. Triglyceride levels should be less than 150 mg/dl. Higher levels, especially when associated with abnormal LDL or HDL levels, increase your risk of heart disease.

Does lowering cholesterol help? Scientific medical literature is filled with research data confirming the beneficial effects of lowering cholesterol. A 1995 study called the West of Scotland Coronary Prevention Study (WOSCOPS) followed 6500 men with high cholesterol levels for 5 years. One half the people were given a cholesterol reducing statin drug, provostatin, while the other were given a placebo. The drug reduced the total*cholesterol levels by 20 percent and the bad LDL cholesterol levels by 26 percent. The heart attack risk was reduced by 31 percent in those receiving the statin drug. The need for bypass surgery or angioplasty was reduced by 37 percent. Overall deaths from all causes were reduced by 22 percent, and deaths from cardiovascular causes by 32 percent. In 1998, the results of the Air Force/Texas Coronary Atherosclerosis Prevention Study (AFCAPS/TexCAPS) showed that cholesterol lowering with another statin drug, lovastatin, also reduced the risk of a first major coronary event by 37 percent when given to generally healthy men and women with average cholesterol levels. The total cholesterol levels in the treatment group were lowered by 18 percent and LDL-cholesterol levels by 25 percent, after a year of treatment. Like in the WOSCOPS study, significant reductions in events were also noted: heart attack was reduced 40 percent, unstable angina 32 percent, the need for bypass surgery or angioplasty 33 percent, and all cardiovascular events 25 percent. Recent scientific data suggests that higher doses of statins may provide even greater benefits.

The commonly used drugs to lower high total cholesterol or the bad LDL cholesterol are statins. The statins lower cholesterol by inhibiting the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase, which is the rate-limiting enzyme in cholesterol synthesis. Inhibition of this enzyme in the liver results in an increased clearance of LDL from the bloodstream and a decrease in blood cholesterol levels. Results are seen as early as after one week. Maximal effect occurs after four to six weeks. There are over ten statin drugs available commercially in the United States. Other agents are also available to reduce total cholesterol and LDL levels and act mainly by preventing absorption of the cholesterol in the intestines. They are often used in combination with the statins. Although the statins can raise the good HDL cholesterol, this effect is small. HDL can be raised by the common vitamin niacin. A class of drugs called fibrates not only help raise HDL but also help lower triglycerides.

There are many ways to improve the lipid profile without drugs. Reduce the amount of animal fats and saturated fats you consume. Regular exercise and weight loss not only will help reduce the LDL and triglyceride levels, but also raise the good HDL levels. Moderate alcohol intake also increases HDL cholesterol .Eating more fruits and vegetables and consuming more monounsaturated fats also improves the lipid profile. Remember, our health always seems much more valuable after we lose it. So let us listen to the motivational speaker Jim Rohn, who said, "Take care of your body. It's the only place you have to live."

Dr. Shashi K. Agarwal is a Board Certified Internist and Cardiologist with a private practice in New York City and New Jersey. He is also a Diplomat of the American Board of Holistic Medicine and the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine.

Reduce Risk Of Colon Cancer With Fish

Good news for fish lovers. A systemic review and meta-analysis conducted on 41 studies finds that those who eat lots of fish might reduce risk of colon cancer and rectal cancer.

The analysis is one of many reports to suggest eating fish is very good for your health. The work focused on fresh fish, though the study authors can't say what varieties of fish were eaten, or how they were prepared.

Doctors know that cooking temperatures may well have an impact on colorectal cancer. This comes from recent studies that have found eating meat and fish that's BBQ'd or grilled over a high heat appears to bring an increased risk of cancer.

How Asthma Can Be Avoided

This article is created just for you who have to deal with asthma. You can find some information on how to deal with asthma effectively. By reading and following this information, you will start having beautiful life without asthma.

If you have asthma problem and you have to use your inhaler in more than three times a week to get your asthma gone, you should visit your doctor and ask them to change your medication. Sometimes, the medication in the inhaler doesn't work properly. That's why you need to consult with your doctor about your inhaler.

Arthritis Treatment: Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs (DMARDS) and Their Side Effects

Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common inflammatory form of arthritis, affecting about two million Americans. It is a chronic, systemic, autoimmune disease for which there is no cure. However, there are medications available that can control it and put it into remission.

The key is early diagnosis and aggressive treatment.

This article will discuss some of the commonly used disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDS.) Another article will discuss biologics.

Methotrexate is the "workhorse" of DMARDS. It acts by blocking an enzyme called dihydrofolate reductase, in effect, preventing the proliferation of inflammatory cells. It can be given orally, subcutaneously, and intravenously. Potential side effects include fatigue the day after taking the medication, nausea, hair loss, mouth ulcers, damage to the liver, drop in blood counts, particularly the white blood count, and lung damage which can occur acutely or develop chronically. Methotrexate is also a teratogen, and can cause significant birth defects.

Pet Allergies and Air Quality

Although there are many allergies people suffer from that are caused by the consumption of food and drink, there are a lot of allergies that come from allergens that are airborne. These airborne allergens get ingested through a person's nose and mouth when they breathe and they get an allergic reaction which can be mild through to severe.

Pets, particularly cats and dogs, produce many allergens which for most people have little no effect on their health. But for some, it can be very distressing and can cause severe respiratory problems, skin rashes and other medical conditions.

Acne Treatment Methods

Acne is of several types ranging from mild breakouts to severe inflammations. The good news is that several treatment methods are available in the form of topical applications, laser acne treatment, prescription medications and herbal remedies. Most of us are familiar with a lot of products and brand names associated with acne treatment, but what really matters is the active ingredient present in each of the products.

Most acne treatment products and methods function via one of the following ways:

    Targeting the acne bacteria
    Keeping the pores free from blockages
    Reducing inflammation

A few natural methods based on vitamins, antioxidants and herbal remedies work by changing your metabolism for the better. If you read Clearade reviews, you can discover how the product, a drink mix, uses Vitamin B5 with other supportive ingredients to enhance your skin's oil metabolism rate. Thus, it makes way for natural clear skin without any adverse side effects. If your skin is prone to acne, you will have to follow a regimen that treats the current blemishes as well as those developing inside the pores.

Acne is the commonest skin disorder that occurs due to hyperactivity of the oil glands. Though it is prevalent during the adolescent period when hormonal changes take place, it affects people of all age groups. Some people suffer their whole life with relentless outbreaks of acne. So, how does it develop? The hair follicles in our skin are linked to oil glands that produce sebum to lubricate the skin. When sebum is delivered to the external surface of your skin, simultaneously, dead skin cells are pushed out from the follicle lining. When too much sebum is secreted due to hormonal imbalance a few pores get clogged up, obstructing the release of sebum and dead skin cells onto the surface. Bacterial build-up aggravates the situation and causes swelling leading to acne breakouts.

Acne can be caused by any of the reasons mentioned below:

    Heredity
    Increased secretion of male hormones during adolescence
    Oily skin and hair
    Hormonal imbalance in women
    High levels of stress

Heartburn is a Symptom of GERD & Acid Reflux That Can Eventually Lead to a Serious Medical Condition

First, heartburn has nothing to do at all with your heart. It is called heartburn because the people that suffer from it feel pain or a burning sensation located close to there heart. If you regularly experience heartburn, more than likely you have already advanced to what is known in medical terminology as "Acid Reflux".

Acid Reflux is defined by "patients that experience it two or more bouts of heartburn a week". I am sure you are wondering, why is acid reflux dangerous for my overall health?

Your stomach has a lining of mucus that protects it against the acid it produces to help you digest your food. Your lower esophageal sphincter (LES) does not have this same protection.

Ab Exercises For Women - the Most Effective Way to Tone Up Your Tummy at Home

Most women desire to have a toned flat stomach and are willing to work hard to get it. Many adhere to the myth that ab exercises for women will actually burn the belly fat off of the abdominals by isolating them as a muscle group. This is not the best approach for abdominal exercises. For women with stubborn fat around the tummy the best approach is to use exercises that challenge the entire body as a whole in order to stimulate the metabolism to burn more fat. This can be done at home and you may be surprised how thorough of a workout you can get when you choose the best ab exercises to give you more bang for your buck.

The first thing you should know is that ab exercises for women are about the same as what men do. Some of the most effective abdominal workouts may require a little upper body strength which is why you see many men doing these but challenging yourself to do these movements you will reap the benefit of toning your entire body and burning more calories which of course leads to more fat being burned.