Health News

GYNECOLOGICAL CANCER GUIDE: IMPACT OF CANCER ON SEXUAL ACTIVITY

admin — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 15:27:13 +0000

Although it is easy to blame ‘cancer’ for everything that is amiss in one’s life after treatment is finished, it must be recognized that sexual activity and intimacy may be disrupted, in most cases for a short time, after surgery or treatment.Some women are hesitant to resume normal patterns of intercourse due to a lack of awareness that it is ‘safe’ to do so. All women interviewed for this book experienced a dramatic compromise to intimate and sexual activity, usually for a short time only. Sexual activity was reduced for up to the first three years and frequent activity less of a priority for some. This was more so for older women in long-term partnerships. Most felt too tired or distracted with the process of getting well during and immediately after treatment to even consider intercourse. Despite the lack of physical activity, many felt a huge need for intimate activity and fell ‘guilty’ at the ‘inability to perform’. Generally, most women resolved these dilemmas once they began to feel physically well, and had accepted themselves again as worthwhile.The fact that many women do not resume normal sexual or intimate activity within a reasonable time frame is often based on a number of factors. Some couples remain ignorant, if there has been a lack of adequate discussion with the doctor regarding body changes or the impacts of treatment on sexual activity. They may be fearful of causing internal damage. Some women are frustrated by a perceived lack of consideration by the partner. If there is a (subconscious) perception that the partner was responsible for the cancer, the relationship may deteriorate into unfair blaming and resentment. Inadequate communication between couples will only worsen such a situation, and professional counseling is recommended. Sometimes, as in Gestational Trophoblast disease or Choriocarcinoma, it may be due to a fear of the risk of recurrence through pregnancy in the first twelve months.Did you know that all gynecological doctors are well trained in discussing sexuality and intimacy issues? They will understand that you may be embarrassed in discussing sexual issues. They will not be shocked, however, by your experiences and needs, and are able to discuss ways that you can resume a normal intimate life.*37/144/5*

IMMUNE POWER DIET: DO YOU HAVE LOW BLOOD SUGAR?

admin — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 14:22:17 +0000

Low blood sugar, hypoglycemia, is a widespread, but often overlooked, condition. Ask yourself these questions:Do you often suffer from “the blues,” small depressions that pass quickly?Do you often find it difficult to concentrate before lunch or in the late afternoon?Does your energy go from very high to very low during the course of a normal day?Do you frequently get bouts of anxiety or nausea?At certain times in the day do you get irritable and tense for no clear reason?If you haven’t eaten for a while, do you get severe headaches, or feel light-headed or faint?Are you constantly hungry?Are you excessively nervous or do you have trouble sleeping?Do you often have cold, clammy skin?If you answered yes to three or more of these questions, you may have hidden hypoglycemia, and should ask your doctor for a five-hour glucose tolerance test.If you recognize yourself here, the Immune Power Diet will bring you tremendous, prompt relief. Its balanced amino acid program is specifically designed to level out these exaggerated swings.*62\242\2*

TREATING MIGRAINE WITH DRUGS: DIHYDROERGOTAMINE

admin — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 16:17:50 +0000

This has a lesser vasoconstrictive effect than ergotamine and is less effective during the acute attack although it is more frequently used as a preventive drug. It became available in 1943 but it is not used as widely in the U.K. as it is in the rest of Europe. The difference in drug usage between countries is of interest and even the way the drug is administered varies widely, depending on ‘national character’. To generalize, the French like suppositories, the Italians prefer injections, and drops are preferred in Poland. It is possible that differences in dietary habit may have an effect on absorption and interaction of medication.Many patients feel that their migraine attack is ‘something from outside’, and that calming down the headache only postpones the development of the full cycle; they feel that prevention of vomiting only prolongs the time during which they feel nauseated and that it is only after they vomit that they start to feel better. If this is true, then treatment may only prolong the suffering. The mechanism of such a reaction could be explained by a long-lasting chemical change lurking in the background which must be allowed to settle naturally, and it is only by careful study that the basis of the cyclical nature of migraine will be understood.Although the most potent treatment for an acute attack may well be ergotamine, this drug can cause problems and, for this reason, an analgesic such as Paracodol together with an anti-emetic, such as Maxolon, is often preferable.The fact that there are many medications used in the prevention of migraine attacks indicates not only that the production of migraine is highly complex with many stages at which intervention is possible, but also that no single drug is much better than the others. No two sufferers are the same and each patient needs to be treated as an individual. It may be necessary to try a variety of drugs in order to find the one that suits him best.
*57/152/5*

SKIN DISORDERS IN ADULTS: BALDING TREATMENT

admin — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 15:29:14 +0000

There are a number of options open to men who are going bald:- Topical Minoxidil is useful, especially when combined with Retin-A. It is best to start using it when thinning begins, before complete baldness occurs. It is only effective while it is being used but becomes more effective over time.- Hair transplantation has been available now for over thirty years. Early hair transplants looked extremely unnatural, but the technique has now been refined, producing a better aesthetic result. - Scalp reduction is a useful technique for large bald areas, which can be reduced by cutting them out and sewing the scalp back together. It is still too early to say how effective scalp reduction is, although so far good results have been achieved.- Hair pieces have never really taken off in Australia although toupees are very popular in both Europe and the United States. Hair pieces now look much more natural and are also more durable than they used to be.- Hair fusion is a technique whereby hair is either glued or sewn (or melted if synthetic hair is used) to a person’s own hair. This creates the illusion of thicker hair and although it is an expensive process it does not have any side effects. As the hair grows out, however, the glue loses its effectiveness and the artificial hair becomes loose, so the process must be repeated every month or so in order to maintain the appearance of thicker hair.- Hair integration is a custom-made network of hairs which is applied to the scalp. One’s own hair is tied to the meshwork to create a fuller appearance.- Make-up can be applied to the bald spots on the scalp to decrease the colour contrast between the scalp and hair. This creates an optical illusion of thicker hair. These special make-ups, such as Hair Thickener and Mane, can be bought from the chemist.- Hair styling can also create ‘thicker’ hair. Women do this with hair gels, hair sprays and perms. There is no reason why men cannot become expert in these grooming techniques.
*35/150/5*

THE PLACEBO RESPONSE FOR PAIN TREATMENT: ANIMALS

admin — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 14:27:55 +0000

People tend to assume that the placebo phenomenon must be the result of some complex, sophisticated, cognitive process and must therefore be unique to humans. However, we are moving to the conclusion that the phenomenon has to do with expectations, and animals have expectations and learned predictions. Rodents have a highly developed one, learning through trials to avoid any food which makes them sick. That is why rats and mice are so difficult to control by poisoned bait. If a rat is given an injection of a small dose of apomorphine in a space with which he is familiar, he salivates, his hair stands on end and he curls up looking miserable for half an hour. Months later, if the same rat is put in the same space and injected with a dose of saline, he puts on an identical performance as though he was again injected with apomorphine. This is a learned nocebo response.If a rabbit has experienced a series of small insulin injections that decrease the blood glucose and is then given a saline injection in the same conditions, the animal reacts by raising its blood glucose. The animal has learned to counteract the effects of the drug by raising its blood sugar. With a saline injection, it reacts as though it has received the insulin. This is neither nocebo or placebo but shows that even an animal learns to counteract the expected effect. The discovery of this type of preemptive reaction in animals led to the whole phenomenon being classed as simple Pavlovian conditioning, and it was suggested that the same explanation must apply to the human placebo response. As I will explain below, I think that label is misleading.*68\219\2*

IBS AND NEGATIVE EMOTIONS: TENSION AND ANGER

admin — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 14:03:27 +0000

Negative emotions can affect the harmony of the digestive system -anger, prolonged grief, frustration, anxiety and depression all take their toll.Extreme fear can cause the bowel to evacuate spontaneously. A lesser form of this is the constant worrier who always has diarrhoea.TensionPeople who continually suppress their emotions with tension are more likely to be constipated. They might experience tension headaches or pain in the neck and shoulders, but not associate their constipation with tension. When there is an inability to relax, the abdominal muscles can be affected with the result that a person cannot ‘let go’ of the stool.AngerIf you are continually angry you certainly risk digestive problems, and not only these but also high blood pressure and heart disease.Can you imagine an angry person enjoying and fully digesting a hearty meal? Unlikely, I think.You might justifiably be angry about the situation you have to cope with, but need to ask yourself what purpose is it serving. You are only hurting yourself and probably others around you. Consider whether you are really angry with yourself because of your inability to deal with the situation. If you cannot resolve the situation by honest, open communication with the person or persons who are upsetting you, perhaps it is time to seek counselling. If the relationships in your life are under threat then it is certainly time to take your anger seriously.Often an angry partner comes home seething with problems from the workplace and vents this on his or her partner who, in turn, becomes angry or irritable with the children. Children, no matter how young, are thinking, feeling human beings who only want to be loved and to love. They are very sensitive to atmosphere. Like little sponges they absorb the tension around them and often blame themselves for being ‘naughty’. They can become very fearful. Parents often see this as being difficult and cannot see that they are the cause of the bedwetting, tantrums, failure to keep up at school, the nightmares, disturbed sleep, withdrawal, wanting to spend time in friends’ homes rather than their own. Older children might become truculent, play truant or turn to drugs or drink. Some children will start to bully younger children in the home or at school.The repercussions from one person’s anger are frightening. Misplaced anger is a form of bullying. If children are seeing this at home it is not surprising that they react in this way.If you are in a position of authority and display anger towards your staff, think hard about how many lives you could be affecting.*92\326\8*

ANSWERED QUESTIONS ON CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE IN OBESE PEOPLE

admin — Tue, 24 May 2011 13:44:39 +0000

How does this affect clinical practice?In practice, it is important to make an accurate assessment of cardiovascular risk by using, for instance, Framingham or Sheffield tables. However, obesity was not considered important enough by the Framingham investigators to be given the status of independent risk factor, although it was measured accurately during the study. This could be because of the relatively low prevalence of the condition when the study was conducted (in the mid- to late 1980s) compared with today’s epidemic. Whatever the reason, it does diminish the usefulness of the tables when considering the cardiovascular risk of an obese person. It is reassuring for doctor and patient alike to see the cardiac risk factors tumble as weight is reduced, and other parameters, for example, blood pressure and cholesterol, follow suit.
Is there a link between obesity and cardiac arrhythmias?There are various reasons why obesity can cause arrhythmias, including hypoxia, hypercapnia, coronary artery disease, sleep apnoea, myocardial hypertrophy and fatty infiltration of the conducting system.
What is the association between obesity and stroke?The incidence of stroke is increased in the presence of obesity, although the relationship is less clear than in the case of heart disease. It seems self-evident that the risk of stroke in obesity is increased because of the simultaneous presence of dyslipidaemia and hypertension, but it is an area that has not been closely studied. The Northern Manhattan Stroke Study concluded that abdominal obesity is an independent, potent risk factor for ischaemic stroke in all ethnic groups. A waist : hip ratio in the highest quartile was associated with a risk ratio of 3 (adjusted for other risk factors) in men and women of all ethnic groups, but the effect was most pronounced in young people.*3/312/5*

BACH FLOWER REMEDIES: CRAB APPLE IS A UNIQUE REMEDY

admin — Thu, 12 May 2011 13:26:07 +0000

In the matter of false sensations it is a unique remedy. We have found it so effective in our daily practice that we have literally put away our books on “Sensations as if’, and have never felt the necessity to open the book. Whether the patient complains that he feels his left foot heavy like a log. or he says that any food or drink does not descend the food pipe, or he feels ants creeping on his body (when there are none to be seen anywhere), CRAB APPLE alone will take care of one and all false sensations. To desire cleanliness is a good thing, but when the concept of cleanliness is stretched to impractical limits, it becomes oppressive.Consider the case of a mother who would not breastfeed the baby because she feels it is an unclean habit or take the case of a nurse who would not attend her ward because of bad smell, or a wet-nurse refusing to change the clothes of the orphaned infant because they are soiled.Such unrealistic fads about cleanliness are easily brought within the orbit of realism by the administration of CRAB APPLE.A person has somehow developed a dirty habit which he abhors and which he wants to get rid of, but fails to do so, because of some circumstances. CRAB APPLE will help him to get rid of the same.In the highly misunderstood ideal of purity, the negative Crab Apple person forgets that to keep harmonious relationship of various organs of the body functions such as perspiration, urination and passing stool are necessary, although they are unclean.The unconscious stress upon cleanliness gives them the feeling of being unclean, constipated and in the need of cleaning. They may resort to frequent washing of hands or taking many showers a day.*98\308\8*

OSTEOPOROSIS AND HOME REMEDIES

admin — Wed, 04 May 2011 13:07:46 +0000

Osteoporosis is mainly a disease of women. It affects one third of post menopausal females, causing their bones to dissolve, increasing the risk of fractured vertebrae, wrists and hips. Conventional wisdom had it that calcium supplementation could prevent the progression of osteoporosis in 30 per cent of affected women. Extensive research has failed to substantiate this formerly held belief.Oestrogen replacement therapy has consistently displayed its capacity to prevent the course of osteoporosis in post menopausal women. With or without progesterone, there is little reason why all women entering the menopause should not seek advice as to the need for Hormone Replacement Therapy. There is still some question as to which women should be taking Hormone Replacement Therapy. Remember that 60 per cent of post menopausal women were never going to suffer from osteoporosis in the first place.Treatment is best initiated, after the procedure of Bone Densiometry, which demonstrates the presence of active bone disease. The cost of this investigation is not born by Medicare and this factor still comes between many women and appropriate management of this unwanted and untoward outcome of “natural” female aging.
Home RemediesWhite women that smoke and don’t exercise are at higher risk of osteoporosis. No smoking, walking for an hour and 15 minutes of sunlight a day are the health promotional corollaries.Noteworthy is Germain Greer’s articulate response to the menopause. She adopts the attitude that nature knows best. She advances the “liberating” message of grow old with good grace.Don’t try to avoid the inevitable. Osteoporosis and fractured hips are not inevitable. Let’s see if Germain Greer advances the same argument when she is lying in bed with a painful crush fracture of an osteoporotic vertebral spine.
*1/131/5*

DIABETES: DIETARY CONSIDERATIONS

admin — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 12:56:00 +0000

Most biological doctors specializing in diabetes agree that diabetes is a “prosperity” disease, primarily caused by systematic overeating and resultant obesity. Four out of five diabetics were overweight before diabetes was diagnosed. Not only the overeating of sugar and refined carbohydrates, but also of protein and fats (which are transformed into sugar if eaten in excess), is harmful, and may lead to diabetes. Too much food taxes the pancreas and eventually paralyzes its normal activity. Diabetes is unknown in countries where people can’t afford to overeat.Consequently, the number one dietary consideration for diabetes must be a strict, lacto-vegetarian, low calorie, alkaline diet of high quality natural foods. Plenty of whole grains, especially buckwheat, and raw vegetables – especially Jerusalem artichokes and green beans – and fruits, especially grapefruits and bananas. Contrary to popular notion, fruits are beneficial in the diabetic’s diet. Fresh fruits contain sugar, fructose, which does not need insulin for its metabolism, and is well tolerated by diabetics.Natural carbohydrate foods are necessary in the diet of diabetics. The diabetic needs carbohydrates, but they must be natural, unrefined, slow-digesting carbohydrates, such as whole grains, especially buckwheat, millet and oats.Emphasis should be on raw foods. About 80 percent of the diet should be raw. Raw foods stimulate the pancreas and increase insulin production. For protein, homemade cottage cheese and various forms of soured milks (yogurt, kefir, etc.) are best. Also, nuts and avocados.Avoid overeating. Four to five small meals a day is better than a few large meals. Avoid all refined carbohydrates, such as sugar and white flour, and everything made with them. Avoid salt.Diabetics have a tendency for over-acidity because of slowed down protein and fat metabolism. Therefore, the diet should be alkaline, with emphasis on alkaline foods: vegetables, fruits and milk and milk products. Cucumbers, string-beans, Jerusalem artichokes and garlic are especially beneficial. Garlic has been shown to be able to reduce blood sugar in diabetes.
*1/103/5*