Self Health Pages

How to be responsible parents and to decide the family size you can live with?

The figure of neglected children all over the world is indeed increasing. Responsible parenthood is ignored and taken for granted, and what is alarming about this is most couples that have the most number of children are suffering from the clutches of poverty. Is contraception offered by artificial and natural planning method the solution to end the woes about having many children? Is it right to plan the size of one’s family?
World Health Organization reports that about 50 percent of pregnancies worldwide are unplanned and unplanned. In other words the budget will spread thin further as a parent will attempt to work doubly hard to make both ends meet, to provide the clothing, milk and other necessities of would be children for the nth time.
Many tried to keep away from pregnancy, since health, housing, or work problems are already inflicting some difficulties as they rely instead contraceptive methods, such as birth-control pills or condoms to stave-off any unplanned pregnancy. The merciless abortions as well as sterilization are also utilized as birth control methods. The newspaper O Estado de S. Paulo of Brazil states that: “The World Health Organization estimates that annually 5 million of the 13 million women who get pregnant in Brazil interrupt the pregnancy clandestinely.” Moreover, Time magazine stated that 71 percent of Brazilian women are capable of bearing a child and lives with a partner apply birth control methods to prevent pregnancy. Of these Brazilian women, 41 percent relies on taking birth pills and 44 percent were sterilized.
There is long standing debate about Family Planning. Who should make a decision about the size of the family, is it the couple themselves or national norms or of religious interests? In China there is the so-called One-Child Policy that is performed and observed, in some Third World and Developing Countries couples are given freedom to bear as many children as they could which is backed by religious beliefs, although national government provides information about family planning and even promotes different forms of contraceptives to avoid unplanned and unwanted pregnancy.
The Roman Catholic Church without qualms permits natural forms of planning method like the Rhythm Method, largest religion in Brazil and even the Philippines, is against the proliferation and usage contraceptive methods, whether they can be abortive or not. Pope Paul VI stated that: “Every conjugal act [has] to be open to the transmission of life.” Pope John Paul II further added: “Contraception, judged objectively, is so profoundly illicit that it can never, for any reason, be justified.” The outcome is Catholics hesitate to control the size of their family, bearing in mind that contraception is form sinning.
Then again, the medical journal Lancet asserts that: “Millions will spend their lives uneducated, unemployed, ill-housed and without access to the most elementary health, welfare and sanitary services, and unchecked population increase is a major causal factor.” Out of fear of experiencing overpopulation and neediness, certain governments worldwide would egg on family planning, in spite of objections of the church. For instance, “Costa Rica reduced the average number of children [per family] from 7 to 3,” states biologist Paul Ehrlich.
According to UN publication Facts for Life—A Communication Challenge: “After a woman has had four children, further pregnancies bring greater risks to the life and health of both mother and child. Especially if the previous births have not been spaced more than two years apart, a woman’s body can easily become exhausted by repeated pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and looking after small children.”
Large families are still widespread where infant death is high, chiefly in rural areas of Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Many are not accustomed with using the different contraceptive methods. The culprit could be a man’s perception about having his wife pregnant as one legislator believed, “a man still considers himself a real man only if his wife gets pregnant every year.” Another factor could be from the woman’s point of view: “The children are one of their rare sources of pleasure and bring a sense of personal accomplishment.”
Interestingly, the New Catholic Encyclopedia states: “Except for birth control, which they leave to the couple’s own decision, their conjugal and sexual morality is quite rigid.” It adds: “They regard the Bible as their only source of belief and rule of conduct.”
Responsible parenthood should be observed to make most out of the available resources of each household to cope up what life’s necessities. Additional kids are proportional to more expenses, when purchasing a car or perhaps a house and careful planning is carried out, same through with pregnancy wherein thorough planning should be dished out to meet the demands of adding a child to the family, besides having a new kid is not a joke and not returnable. Moreover, to be genuine loving parents, proper education should be given to their kids and would be child, ability to provide adequate food, shelter and clothing to the family should be a top priorities as well as inculcating kids some necessary skills, moral values and love. Time, effort and work should also be part of the equilibrium in making decisions in having a family size to live with. The price of being a good parents is indeed very valuable, the happiness we could get from our children cannot be measured, whilst, and cannot be bought

Healthy Eating Habits and Things You Need to Know About the Foods You Eat

Berries (Strawberry, Blackberry, Blue Berry, Choke Berry, Raspberry) – Taken for granted for many years, the berries especially the black types are now considered to be a versatile and healthy fruits to eat. This utilitarian fruit was usually made to delicious jams, jellies and ice cream and bulk of them were used to create purple dye by processors.
But all of these reputations of berries changed significantly as a study published by biologist Gary Stoner of Ohio State showed that his wonderful fruit can reduce risk of colon tumors.
Berries of various types are found to be one of the healthiest diets. This consumption of berries may help reduce risk of cancer, heart diseases and age-related brain declines.
Moreover aside from its Vitamin C contents berries are also in abundance of antioxidants, that may help avoid cellular damage caused by harmful free radicals. The potency of antioxidant found in berries emanates from the anthocyanin pigment (that gives the berries the pigments of red, purple and blue). The vivid the color of the berry the more it has protective pigments and benefits.
One of the dark berries, the chokeberry’s extracts can shield coronary arteries from harmful free radicals that cause heart diseases.
The blueberry is considered to be the brain berry, for this kind of the berry family is packed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds.
Strawberries and raspberries can stop toxic carcinogens that cause cancer. The US Department of Agriculture Food Guide Pyramids recommends five (5) to nine (9) servings of berries of any kinds.
Iceberg Lettuce – One of the most famous produce in US is not actually nutritious; it tastes so delicious yet not loaded with vitamins and nutrients like that provided by broccoli, peas, soy beans and other green-leafy vegetables. To enjoy this vegetable why not mix this vegetable with those nutritious vegetables.
Potatoes and other potato-based products (French fries, potato gravy, potato chips)
Potatoes and other potato-based products are short in fat and laden with nutrients but also have lots of carbohydrates that can be immediately changed to sugar in your body. You can afford to skip eating potatoes, if you are diet conscious though.
Apple – Many people said “An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” which is true, to take pleasure in this natural energy rich fruit attempt to create variations, look for possibilities to include apple to after each meals or during snacks, like having it with segmented banana, evaporated milk, and sugar, blend with berries on cereals or perhaps pair off it with peaches or melons after eating your meal or make other exciting ideas of taking pleasure in eating apples.
Catsup (Tomato-based, salsa, tomato paste and plain tomatoes) – Catsup is a very rich in Lycopene, individuals that has an enormous quantity of catsup on their meal will assist them to prevent the risk of heart disease and certain cancers.
Salad – The majority of salad dressings contains large amount of sugar and salt and lack nutrients. Salad with oil-and-vinegar is packed with heart friendly monounsaturated fats.
Cookies – Decrease cookies when you are in a diet for they have lots of carbohydrates. If you have many kinds of cookies your family and you tends to consume more of these.
Vegetables – If you don’t love eating some kind of vegetables do not force yourself to eat. Making variations could be made, eat other vegetables, and make an effort to make them pleasant to eat by adding them to your salad, soup, stews, sides, salsas, and sauces.
The phytochemicals are usually found in vegetables. Well known phytochemicals, includes Flavonoids, which can lessen risk of cancers, and usually present in citrus fruits, onions, and apples. Indoles one of the phytochemical is also rich in vegetables such as broccoli and Brussels sprouts, and could help prevent chronic diseases. Caretonoids (that gives color to carrots, oranges and yellow produce), Lutein, Xeanthin, and Lycopene may provide our body defense against coronary-artery disease, cataracts, macular degeneration and cancer.
Juice – Drinking juice are truly good and invigorating the majority people have the routine of drinking it every morning but as a reminder juice has more calories and less fiber compared with fruit and has more sugar.
Tofu – If you are not fond of this soybean-based food, you can still acquire the benefits of Soya beans, by having it roasted as a good snack, or having soymilk as a shake.
Soy foods a plant estrogen, are rich in Isoflavones. The benefits of eating risk foods are lessen blood-lipid levels and reduce risk of breast, ovaries, endometrium and prostate cancers and menopausal symptoms will pose no worries.
Meat -Meat is a great source of total protein; you can take pleasure in bacon, salami, sausages, burgers and any processed meats. You can enjoy these foods but just once a month. If you’re aware about your weight, you can put together a small amount of meat to many dishes like stir-fries, salads and pasta source. Meat is also considered as brain foods.
Fish – A better substitute to foods that are laden with fats like meat is the fish & shellfish that are a great source of omega-3 fatty acids that lowers risk of heart disease and prostate cancer.Shellfish, flounder, cod, tilapia, herring and  sardines are rich in omega-3s and have toxin contents.
Although seafood is not perfect, for fish particularly the oily types (swordfish, shark, tilefish, and king mackerel) have the capability to concentrate toxins (heavy metal mercury in their flesh). These fishes have the highest levels of mercury. Salmon also have high level of PCBs which is indeed bothering, children, and pregnant or nursing women are recommended not to eat 340 grams or less of fish per week & to avoid sword, shark, mackerel & tilefish to play safe.
Eggs – Also loaded with complete proteins and packed with vitamins A, B-12, folic acid & riboflavin but egg’s cholesterol is double than that of beef. The biggest steal in a grocery, it is advisable to eat less than three to four eggs a week.
Nuts and Beans – Nuts and beans are loaded with protein, vitamins, minerals and oils that can be helful for you. Instead of eating junk foods, almonds, walnuts, pecan and peanuts are better alternatives.
Junk Foods - Most experts opposes to junk food not only for having a low nutritional contents but the many health threats it could mete out.
Junk foods are usually is high in fat, that comes from hydrogenated oils which are unhealthy than unhydrogenated oils. Hydrogenation transforms unsaturated fats into saturated fatty acids which could choke arteries causing problems in the cardiovascular system. Junk food’s high level of sodium salt or sugar is worrisome. More intake of salt that has sodium could lead to hypertension. Sugar, meanwhile not only causes cavities in your teeth, but can also be the main cause of obesity.
Flavor enhancers, artificial coloring, artificial sweeteners and antioxidants poses also threat to your health.
These additives like BHT (Butylated hydroxytoluene), BHA (Butylated hydroxyanisole), saccharin and aspartame had been linked to cancer in guinea pigs in laboratory.
BHT and BHA are antioxidants commonly utilized in oils, while saccharin and aspartame are used as synthetic sweeteners.
Apartame can be associated with other health troubles.
Brain Foods – The diet of a mother is vital for the brain growth of her unborn child. The human brain is so complex that it takes quite a few years to complete the trillions of connections and circuits among its billions of brain cells. The brain keeps “growing” on the inside and this is surprising. Thus to study that of all the body’s organs, the person’s brain is the most particular and demanding with respect to the fuel it burns and materials it requires for growth. Thus, the chemistry of intelligence needs superb diets.
What does the brain employ? Is there such a thing as brain food? When early brain chemists found out that the brain was in abundance of potassium, several people concluded that more potassium in the diet would surely facilitate or aid the brain but this did not turn out to be the case. Other brain chemists stressed that when brain is rich in phosphorous will also allow better brain function.
Latest studies have shown that substances present in only little quantity proved to be the ones most necessary for optimal brain function.
The brain runs on chemical transmitters. Acetylcholine, the one which is the most known, has been connected with intelligence for numerous years. Brain cells create acetylcholine and accumulate it in microscopic-sized packets. When a nerve cell is being drawn on, it shoots thousands of acetylcholine molecules across a narrow gap called a synapse at a target cell nearby. Moreover, the acetylcholine unfastens up the target cell membrane so that an electric impulse can go by into the cell.
Can the amount of acetylcholine be increased? The answer would be a resounding Yes. Vitamin E can increase the ability of cells to produce acetylcholine. Whole grain products, such as not yet milled wheat and unpolished rice contain this essential vitamin in the so-called “germ.” In the refining process, unfortunately, the germ is eliminated from the grain. So also, white flour products are lacking in vitamin E. The B vitamins, furthermore found in whole grains, sustain enzyme systems for making acetylcholine.
Harmful breakdown products resultant from undigested rich meals crates false nerve hormones. A false nerve transmitter is also dubbed as tyramine, a substance which is very similar to norepinephrine, a true nerve hormone. Tyramine can actually stop the genuine nerve hormone, norephinephrine, and may enable the brain not to function well.
The mixture of overindulgence in a large variety of rich foods accompanied with high stress emphasizes the creation of tyramine and other destructive breakdown products from proteins. This “static” chemical tends to hinder with one’s decision-making process so that, for example, business discussions are thoughtless and unproductive!
What then would be the secret brain food? A simple diet rich in whole grains, and avoidance of varieties of rich foods that are fatty meats and gravies.

The Importance of Abstinence and Monogamy in Preventing AIDS and STD

People have been infected within the vicinity 30 million with the AIDS virus and over 6 million have died, in 2008. About 8,500 new cases are diagnosed every day, and unfortunately, 1,400 of which are children, who usually pass away within the first year of life, which is indeed a disturbing and alarming. The alleged safe-sex campaigns have stimulated public attention, but to no avail some feel that this endeavor is not getting a resounding success. “AIDS is a killer disease,” says Dr. Steven J. Sainsbury in The Tampa Tribune, as he added “…and any measures taken to prevent its transmission must be 100 percent effective.”
Dr. Sainsbury comments about the usage of condoms as a means of preventing AIDS: “Look at it this way. Suppose that, for unknown reasons, automobiles suddenly begin to explode every time someone turns the ignition. Motorists are getting blown up all over the country. Finally, the government comes out with a solution. Just put this additive in the fuel, they say, and the risk of explosion will go down 90 percent. Would you consider the problem solved? Would you still keep driving your car? I doubt it. Then why do we accept condoms as the solution for AIDS?”
Knowing that AIDS is most recurrently caused by sexual contact, Dr. Sainsbury offers an answer: “No sex until one is ready to commit to a monogamous relationship with an uninfected person. The key words are abstinence and monogamy.”
Abstinence should be always practice by single persons and monogamy is a must for every couple.
AIDS in Brazil
Ever since the first case of AIDS is discovered in Brazil the numbers of people infecting with this dreaded disease are increasing at a rapid rate.” Twelve new cases emerged between January and March (2008). According to Paulo R. Teixeira of the São Paulo Health Department, these “Are cases originating right here” in Brazil. Twenty persons have succumbed from AIDS in São Paulo State. Moreover, Brazil’s first ever case of AIDS among hemophiliacs surfaced in January. A teenage boy, a 13-year-old boy contracted AIDS. His doctor senses that the boy “contracted the disease from the frequent blood transfusions” he receives as a hemophiliac. “We do not have conditions to make thorough examinations of every blood donor,” the doctor reportedly said.

Things you need to know about cancer and its causes

The word cancer seems to be a terrible and horrible word then. Moreover phrases pertaining to this word like, “spreading like a fatal, dangerous cancer” gives somebody a chill, for cancer really is deadly and most of its different forms have no treatments so as to speak.
But thanks to some breakthroughs and advancement in Science, instead of referring cancer as deadly it is now curable, while the disturbing word spreading can now be eradicated.
The formidable British tandem of Sir Richard Doll and Richard Peto reveals: “The various human cancers are diseases in which one of the many cells of which the human body is composed is altered in such a way that it inappropriately replicates itself again and again, producing millions of similarly affected self-replicating descendant cells, some of which may spread to other parts of the body and eventually overwhelm it.”
Present researches about cancer, doctors  still doesn’t have a complete answer to the onslaught of cancer scourge. According Drs. John C. Bailar III and Elaine M. Smith who said in The New England Journal of Medicine: “From 1973 to 1981 the crude incidence rate for all neoplasms [cancers] combined rose by 13.0 percent. . . . There is no reason to think that, on the whole, cancer is becoming any less common.”
To a large extent, professional specializing in cancer ailments is troubled by a dilemma of providing a sufficient medication for malignant tumors and the necessity to sustain evasion by tracing the correct causes. The elusive quests for the causes leads to a confusing web of contradicting theories, does the cause could be in viruses, genes, immune responses, chemicals, environment, toxics in the body, in combinations of these, or how about in something else? Alas, by what course of action does a cell develop into malignant and migrate?
Professor Stephan Tanneberger, a cancer expert said, “It is now an established fact that this is a process involving several stages whereby a normal cell with a certain genetic make-up is transformed into a tumour cell under the influence of several factors. We know that viruses, radiation and chemical substances constitute such factors, but it is safe to say that only the interaction of several such factors produces a cancer cell in a multistage process.”
Does your lifestyle have a bearing in our life as far as the dreaded cancer ailment is concerned? Dr. Charles A. LeMaistre, president of the American Cancer Society, stated in Ebony Magazine that our daily living habits have a remarkable impact on the causes of cancer: “Most scientists now believe that our daily habits—what we eat and drink, whether we smoke and how often we expose ourselves to the sun determine to a great extent our risk of getting many cancers.”
This standpoint is back upped by the research conducted by the University of Oxford experts Doll and Peto as they stated: “Observations of the vagaries of human behavior may suggest ideas that might never occur to a laboratory investigator. Historically, they provided the starting point for a large part of all cancer research by pinpointing the risks associated with exposure to the combustion products of coal, sunlight, X-rays, asbestos, and many chemical agents. They drew attention to the hazards associated with chewing various mixtures of betel, tobacco, and lime and with smoking tobacco.”
Life-styles and environments vary from one country to another; there is a propensity for some countries to have more of some types of cancer and less of others. In England for instance, where the use tobacco has been rampant for decades, leads in lung cancer. Nigeria, which is not known to be a penchant fan of tobacco usage, as expected, have a much lower occurrence of that ailment at present. United States have the most in colon and bladder cancer cases; on the other hand Nigeria has the lowest levels.
One more case of how life-style can be lead to acquiring cancer is Kaposi’s sarcoma, which is usually rare cancer. Homosexuals suffers from this ailments for the past few years as one of the outcome of having AIDS, which wear off the patient’s immune system and makes him vulnerable to infections and sarcoma.
As stated in the Holistic Medicine by Dr. Kenneth R. Pelletier of the University of California School of Medicine a potential extra factor in causing cancer is pointed out by: “Numerous animal and human experimental studies have demonstrated that stress, psychological depression, and other psychosocial factors compromise an organism’s capacity to prevent the induction of disease such as cancer or limit its spread.”
Other doctors also support the veracity of this point of view that too much stress have an effect on the immune system and hence makes a person at risk with cancer and other diseases.
Here are some causes of cancer:
Tobacco usage has been has been connected to cancer. In a press released published by The New York Times: “The World Health Organization, citing a report that nearly one million deaths each year can be attributed to tobacco use, has issued a strong condemnation of smoking and tobacco use.” And futher added, “Smoking is responsible for 90 percent of all cases of lung cancer, 75 percent of all cases of chronic bronchitis and emphysema and 25 percent of ischemic heart disease as well as other types of cancer, pregnancy complications and respiratory diseases.”
Tobacco plays a vital role in cancer, Dr. Byron J. Bailey, University of Texas Medical Branch, considers that tobacco addiction should be given an alternative label tobaccoism, and its effect, the dreaded cancer. In his writings in JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) stated that: “We must realize that tobaccoism is the most deadly drug addiction in the United States today and that it is exacting a heavier toll in lives and dollars than cocaine, heroin, the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, traffic accidents, murder, and terrorist attacks combined.”
The usage “smokeless tobacco,” snuff and chewing tobacco, are now widely prevalent with millions of people worldwide. The New England Journal of Medicine said that “in India, parts of Central Asia, and Southeast Asia, oral cancer is common than in the United States. In effect, it is the most common cancer in that region.” Moreover: “Smokeless tobacco taken orally, alone or together with such ingredients as areca nut and piper betel leaf and lime, has been shown to increase the risk of mouth cancer greatly.”
Drs. Doll and Peto affirm that when drinking alcohol and smoking interacts, their respective agent enhances each other’s effects. Alcohol being involved in the yielding cancer has been suspected for 60 years, since studies shows that cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, and esophagus were usual than average in men who were engaged in trades that encouraged the intake of large quantity of alcohol.
This conclusion is established by the German cancer specialist Professor Tanneberger, who reported that: “Smoking and excessive drinking are a risk factor of the first order. . . . There’s no escaping the fact that a causal relationship exists between a person’s mode of life and the development of cancer.”
Sunrays which plays an important role in plant’s photosynthesis, gives excitement to those who go to beach to have picnics and give us the much needed Vitamin D which is essential to our body is actually a random and a silent killer. Too much sunbathing that could lead to severe sunburn in teens can promote melanoma, a dark pigmented cancer of the skin. According to The Causes of Cancer: “The conditions that maximize risk may be those that involve sudden exposure of untanned skin to sunlight.”
In the United States alone, 23,000 new cases and 5,600 deaths are expected this year. Generally affected are people with light complexions, blue eyes, blond or red hair, and freckles.
Extreme exposure to X rays in medical examinations may cause cancer. For example the “Rapid increase in incidence. . . is greater for thyroid cancer than for any other type of tumor and may in part be explained by the epidemic of non-fatal thyroid cancers induced by medical use of X-rays,” said The Causes of Cancer.
Hardly suspected foods that we consume may lead to cancer. Studies imply that particular foods and some nutrients contained in those foods may be associated with the growth of cancer. Moreover, high consumption of dietary fat is a risk factor for cancer according to studies.
“Scientists have found some relationship between a lack of certain vitamins—A and C—and cancer. For example, diets low in vitamin A have been linked to cancers of the prostate gland, cervix, skin, bladder and colon,” Quoted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
For instance aflatoxin which is “a product of the fungus Aspergillus flavus that commonly contaminates peanuts and other staple carbohydrate foods stored in hot and humid climates.” According to Drs. Doll and Peto, it “is a major factor in the production of liver cancer in certain tropical countries.”
There are less than 200 various types of cancer with many distinct or interrelated causes. The causes are still not known for sure in some cases. Chemicals used in food, as well as industrial pollutants, have been blamed as possible causes. In some cases, delay in having a first child, thus delaying natural lactation, also has some bearing on the incidence of breast cancer.

Definitions of Cancer Terminology
Tumor—an abnormal mass of tissue; any unhealthy swelling; also called a neoplasm, or new growth. It can be benign or malignant.
Benign—cells that do not invade or infiltrate other tissue. However, a benign tumor can cause dangerous pressure.
Malignant—cells that invade and infiltrate surrounding tissues and, unless arrested, eventually overwhelm the patient.
Cancer—a malignant tumor. Cancers are listed under two main groups: sarcomas and carcinomas.
Sarcomas—cancers of the structural and connective tissues, including bones, cartilage, fat, and muscle.
Carcinomas—cancers that affect the tissues that cover or line body organs such as the skin, intestines, lungs, and breasts.
Carcinogen—a cancer-causing substance.
Metastasis—transmission of a disease from its original source to additional sites in the body.
Lymph—a clear fluid circulating through the body. It contains white blood cells, antibodies, impurities, and nourishing substances.
Lymph glands—or nodes. These normally filter impurities from the body. The lymph system is vital in the body’s defense against infection.

(Based on Cancer and Vitamin C, by Drs. Ewan Cameron and Linus Pauling; The Facts About Cancer, by Dr. Charles F. McKhann.)

Some Established Cancer-Causing Agents in Humans
Cause Cancer site
Aflatoxin (on moldy peanuts) – Liver
Alcoholic drinks in excess—— Mouth, throat, esophagus, liver
Asbestos—————————- Lung, pleura, peritoneum
Chewing betel, tobacco, lime– Mouth
Furniture (hardwood)————- Nasal sinuses
Leather goods———————- Nasal sinuses

Over nutrition (causing obesity) — Endometrium, gallbladder
Late age for first pregnancy ——- Breast
Childless or very few children—— Ovary
Parasitic Infections:
Schistosoma haematobium, Africa—Bladder
Chlonorchis sinensis, China——– Liver
Sexual promiscuity——————– Cervix uteri; skin
Steroids ——————————— Liver
Tobacco ——————————– Mouth, throat, lung
Virus (hepatitis B) ——————– Liver

Things You Need to Know About Diabetes and its Causes

The word “diabetes mellitus” is derived from a Greek word meaning “to siphon” and its equivalent meaning in Latin is “sweet like honey.”
According to “The New York Times” the data from the International Diabetes Federation shows that in the past 20 years, the cases of diabetes diagnosed has risen from a staggering 30 million to 230 million. Seven out of ten countries with the highest diabetes incidents belongs to the developing world. “Diabetes is one of the biggest health catastrophes the world has ever seen,” quips Dr. Martin Silink, the federation’s President, and further added, “In some of the world’s poorest nations, the disease is a quick death sentence.”
The alarming increase in diabetes worldwide made Britain’s Professor George Alberti, president of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) remarked diabetes as “one of the biggest health catastrophes. More than 300 million people worldwide have impaired glucose tolerance that could pave the way of having diabetes according to the IDF numbers. Type two 2 diabetes, some time ago affects mostly older people, is now becoming prevalent in British youngsters who have grown to have problems regarding obesity due to intake of junk foods and lack of exercise. “The enormous frustration is that most of this is preventable through lifestyle,” says Alberti. Developing countries may also see diabetes soar as they adopt “the unhealthy diet and urban lifestyles of the affluent world,” said The Guardian. In India where diabetes has the highest incidents of diabetes cases, experts pointed to diet and life-style changes as the main reasons.
Diabetes has been dubbed as “a disorder of the very engine of life”. When the body fails to metabolize glucose, chain reaction will take place as a number of essential mechanisms go wrong, sometimes with leading to life-threatening consequences. “People don’t die directly from diabetes,” says Dr. Harvey Katzeff, “they die from complications. We do a good job of preventing complications, but a poor job of treating [them] once they occur.”
But there is still hope for those who are badly affected with diabetes, that is knowing the degree of the seriousness of the disorder and
Is there hope for those who? Yes—if they recognize the seriousness of the disorder and agree to a series of vital treatment programs.
Even though Type 1 diabetes cannot be barred, scientists are immersing in a study about the genetic risk factors and are attempting to find answers to stifle an immune attack, but with type 2 diabetes cases, “the picture is much brighter,” according to the book Diabetes—Caring for Your Emotions as Well as Your Health. “Many of those who might be genetically susceptible avoid showing any sign of this disease simply by eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly, thereby staying physically fit and keeping their weight within normal limits.”
Underscoring the value of exercise, the Journal of the American Medical Association reported on a large study involving women. The large study done by the Journal of the American Medical Association discovered that “a single bout of physical activity increases insulin-mediated glucose uptake [by the body’s cells] for more than 24 hours.” Thus, the report reckoned that “both walking and vigorous activity are associated with substantial reductions in risk of type 2 diabetes in women.” The researchers advise at least 30 minutes of modest physical activity in as many days in a week. This includes a simple exercise like walking, says the American Diabetes Association Complete Guide to Diabetes, “is probably the best, safest, and least expensive form of exercise.”
Moreover exercise by people with diabetes should be undertaken with the supervision of a professional. The reason is that diabetes can injure the vascular system and nerves, thus have an effect on blood circulation and feeling. Therefore, a simple scrape on the foot may go unobserved, get infected, and eventually become an ulcer which could pose a serious condition that may lead to amputation if not treatment are not done right away.
An exercise routine can assist one to manage diabetes well. “The more researchers study the benefits of regular exercise,” according to the ADA Complete Guide, “the better the news gets.”
Scores of people with diabetes must augment their diet and exercise program with daily testing of glucose levels together with numerous insulin injections. Improved health through diet and a good regular of exercise will indeed reap fruits; some of those with Type 2 diabetes have been able to discontinue insulin therapy.
If insulin is needed, those with diabetes need not feel disheartened. There is no failure on the part of the sufferers, for whatever types of diabetes one has, careful control of blood sugar will minimize other health problems afterwards.
In a recent study reports that people with Type 1 who keeps an eye in controlling their blood-sugar levels reduce risk of the occurrence of diabetic eye, kidney, and nerve diseases. The risk of eye disease (retinopathy) was reduced by a significant 76 percent. Same results to those with Type 2 who kept strict control of their blood-sugar levels.
To put together insulin therapy easier and less traumatic, syringes and insulin pens must have microfine needles decrease distress and uneasiness. The first shot proves to be the most difficult, after that; however, the majority of the patients say they barely feel some aches. Other methods of injection include automatic injectors that spurt a needle into the skin with no pain at all, jet injectors that shoots insulin through the skin literally by virtue of a fine jet blast, and infusers that uses a catheter that settle in place for two or three days. The insulin pump which is about the size of a pocket pager has secured popularity nowadays. This programmable device give out insulin through a catheter at a stable rate according to the body’s daily needs, making insulin dispensation more accurate and convenient.

Killer diseases around the world are difficult to halt

Killer diseases around the world are indeed difficult to halt. Although medical knowledge and advance technologies have made significant improvements and breakthroughs, there are still infectious diseases that continue to ravage and claim millions of lives. Moreover some of these diseases continue to take a heavy toll. HIV-AIDS, diarrhea, malaria, measles, and tuberculosis pass on a disease to million of individuals, killing numerous children and young adults.

HIV-AIDS
There are about six million people that are infected with HIV, and about 20 million people succumbed to AIDS.
In 2005 there were about five million cases of new infections and 3 million cases of AIDS-related deaths.
Diarrhea
There are about four billion cases every year, dubbed as a potent killer among the poor, is caused by various infectious diseases that can be transmitted by contaminated water, or food, or even lack of a good personal hygiene. These infections result in deaths toll of not less than two-million people annually. One of friend succumbed to diarrhea several years ago, which he took lightly but left him dehydrated eventually die.
Malaria
There are about 300 million people that are infected with this dreaded and deadly disease. About one-million victims die each year. In Africa one child dies of malaria every 30 seconds which is indeed an alarming rate. “Science has no magic bullet for malaria and many doubt that such single solution will ever exist.” According to World Health Organization.
Measles
In 2003, this deadly disease killed over half-million people. One of the leading cause of death among children, measles is vastly contagious. Each year about 30 million people contract measles although effective and cheap vaccine against measles was available for the past four decades.
Pneumonia
According to WHO, pneumonia is the leading cause of deaths among children than any other infectious deaths. Around two million children five years below die of pneumonia every year, and most of these deaths take place in Africa and South East Asia. In many parts of the planet, inadequate access to health facilities foils victims from acquiring medical treatments that could’ve save them.
Tuberculosis
In 2003, tuberculosis (TB) caused the death of more than 1.7 million people around the world. The appearance of drug-resistant TB germs is one of the main worries of health officials. Some of these strains have developed resistance to all major anti-TB treatments and medications. Drug-resistant TB strains normally develop in patients who go through poor supervision or have an incomplete medical treatment.

Sunscreen and Cancer of the Skin

Lately, some oils (polyunsaturated) in the diet have been implicated as promoters of cancer of the skin, if the fats under the skin are oxidized by sunlight, cancerous changes in the surrounding skin may happen.
Scaly, red, and rough areas may emerge on the uncovered skin such as the face, nose and backs of the hands. These gashes can be simply get rid off by a dermatologist and normally do not reappear. However, if they are ignored and the cancer builds up, it may widen in the skin and finally involve the local glands. Therefore, any lately developed growing lesion should be noticed by a doctor and without delay removed.

The worst type of skin cancer is the dreaded malignant melanoma. It develops in an aggravated mole which becomes increasingly blacker and in due course begins to ooze blood. This deadly form of cancer can spread and increase sharply throughout the body, so early removal is very vital. Seventy-five percent of skin-cancer causing deaths are due to melanoma.

How to avoid cancer of the skin
The prospect of acquiring skin cancer can be lowered by keeping away from sunburn (even mild, and recurring sunburn), reduction of the use of cooking oils, increasing the fiber content of the diet, and intake of foods with sufficient vitamin A (green and yellow vegetables) and vitamin C.
Moderate sunbathing is fine.
The body lives on a small and rational amount of sunshine! For prolong exposures, hats and long sleeves should be dressed in. A second way of defense is to employ a sunscreen lotion which absorbs ultraviolet rays (UV rays) emanating from the sun and averts any damage to the skin.
Sunscreen Lotion
Sunscreen lotion comes in different potency. The number indicated on its bottle gives you an idea you how much safety you will obtain. If you normally catch sunburn in half an hour, a sunscreen lotion with a sun protection factor (SPF) of two (2) will permit you to stay in the sun twice as long (60 minutes) before having sunburn. An SPF of fifteen (15) will permit you to stay in the sun 15 times protected. Bear in mind though that you are also losing the useful properties of sunlight. The sunscreen lotions wash-off if the skin is damp, and therefore lose their effectiveness in a couple of hours, hence the lotion need to be reapplied.
Dangers of sunscreens
Overuse use of sunscreen can really deteriorate your bones. To build the bones, the body normally creates vitamin D with the aid of the sun’s ultraviolet light on the skin. While most sunscreens filter out these UV rays, vitamin D deficiency may took place (rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults) with reduction and deteriorating of the bones. A little sunshine is also vital.

Bowel Cancer, what you need to know.

Scientists have the attention of the several risk factors related with bowel cancer. One can be attributed to age as the older one becomes, the fragile the normal immune forces becomes. At present, diet is now well thought-out to be the most vital thing factor in bowel cancer. An intake of rich diet of fried and broiled meats loaded with enormous fats accompanied with small amount of fiber content, and poor protective vitamins and trace minerals, leads an individual to colon cancer.

The golden days for avoidance of colon cancer take place early in life. Now it is so important for children and youth to know the probable dangers of a poor way of life. Early detection can play vital role as this is one of the best treatment of colon cancer.

Then US president Ronald Reagan’s cancer of the bowel paved the way to inform people about this leading killer which is the cancer of the bowel. The early detection of Reagan’s enabled vital surgery performed swiftly and saved his life.

Here are seven healthy ways to ward off bowel cancer.
1. Do not consume large amount foods or avoid overeating.
2. Avoid foods with great amount of fats.
3. Avoid intake of fried meat.
4. Make use of whole grains in your diet, it has ample fiber content, which can dilute and soak up many dangerous chemicals in the bowel.
5. Eat fruits and vegetables often, which have an amount of anti-cancer properties. Yellow and green vegetables are loaded with Vitamins A and C, also essential in preventing cancer.
6. Drinking ample amount of water will maintain a healthy bowel. It will also be of great help if you’ll eat fiber foods (beans, potatoes, whole grains, etc.) and fresh fruits which prevent constipation and exercise.
7. Medical check-ups must be observed regularly. An important sign to look for is change in bowel habits. A test for invisible blood in the bowel should be part of the examination.

Keeping yourself in ignorance of this basic knowledge will give you a false peace of mind. Keep updated with us. Always visit Selfhealthpages.com to keep you inform. Being alive and healthy is sweet.

Obesity and Diabetes

Overeating is the basically the most common cause of sugar diabetes. A prolong intake of calories makes the fat cells of the body to refuse to accept insulin, which usually controls the glucose level in the blood and this result to diabetes. Reducing weight bring back the usefulness of the insulin. It has also been discovered that more than one of every three people that has blood pressure also has diabetes.
When is one considered to have obesity? More than twenty percent of those over the ideal weight based on a person’s height might imply obesity. Overweight means carrying more than 10 to 19% over one’s ideal weight and this is indeed excessive so as to speak.