Knowledge Is Power

Greetings!

2011-01-06T16:24:00.004-04:00

Greetings and a happy new year to you all...

It's been a long while since I've made a post. I've been relatively busy as my journey to becoming a qualified doctor continues. I truly believe that anything you put your mind to, you can do. It just takes a lot of effort and strong will to make it happen. I'm grateful to be where I'm at and I thank God for all he is doing in my life and continues to do...

I would like to extend my appreciation to all my readers and I hope that in the near future I will be able to add a multitude of topics that may cover the topic areas that persons would like to be more familiar with. I'll try not to go too in depth and detail with the topics and try to keep the info relatively concise.

All the best for the new year...
Nicole.

~ Greetings ~

2009-07-30T13:25:00.002-04:00

Greetings everyone,

I've finally finished my second year of study and I'm awaiting the next academic year. I got my highest mark in the course 'Muscles, Bones & Joints'.

As usual, I'm trying to keep myself busy and trying to learn what I can. I'm currently assisting in a medical lab. I like it here and I'm lucky enough to be given the chance to perform some medical tests without supervision...guess I'm doing a good job :). I'm spending most of my time in the Haematology department, where tests like Full Blood Count (FBC/CBC), Blood grouping, etc are done. Today I got a chance to view some blood taking and interact with patients. I enjoy listening to what patients have to say. I'm going to practice using the needle and syringe and get a chance to do some blood taking using my work colleagues. I'm excited.

As always, I'll try to make some new posts before my summer vacation is over and then I'm back to studying in September.

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog and may God continue to bless each and everyone of you despite the circumstances you may face. Stay faithful.

Nicole.

So Sorry

2009-03-16T18:46:00.002-04:00

I'm disturbed that I don't really have the time to post anything new at the time. This summer I will start back posting.

I'm currently studying all the muscles, bones and joints of the body. This is the last bodily system I have to study. I also have end of year exams coming up so I'm trying to study a little each day. I'm awaiting results for my last course (Endocrine & Reproduction).

Have a wonderful day and God bless you all.

Thanks for understanding...
Nicole.

Home Sweet Home For The Holidays

2008-12-26T08:20:00.004-04:00

I've been home for almost 2 weeks now but I didn't really get a chance to check up on my blog. I've been to two christmas parties, shopping and spending time with my significant other. I really love the christmas season and I hope all of you enjoy it as well.

Before I return to med school, I'll try to make some posts. I think my next post will be peripheral artery disease, depending on what I decide.

Once again, Merry Christmas and God's richest blessings!
Nicole.

Still Here...

2008-11-01T22:54:00.004-04:00

Hi readers,

So sorry that it has been so long since I last posted. My laptop stopped working about 2 weeks ago and I just got an Acer. I love it so far. Compared to my other laptop that was just a year, I think it's a great improvement. I was pretty unhappy that my 1yr old laptop was giving so much trouble. I guess Compaq is really not a good brand for laptops.

Anyways, I'm currently into my neurosciences and behaviour course. It's suppose to be very interesting but so far I don't think it is that interesting to study but I guess it's not that bad. The brain is quite interesting. I'm still awaiting my mark from my last course (Respiration). I have about 5 weeks and it's back home. Yay!

Have a wonderful day and God bless!
Nicole.

Update

2008-09-05T23:26:00.002-04:00

Hi all readers,

Unfortunately I won't be able to post anytime soon. Medical school is time-consuming and I hardly have free time. I try to stay on top of my work so that I learn as much as I could since it's alot of information to grasp. So far, my class schedule doesn't seem too full but I need as much time to keep up with the information taught and possibly read ahead when I could.

At the moment I'm studing respiration which is known to be the hardest course here for some reason. The course is for 5 weeks and then I have two exams (practical & written). I'll continue to keep in touch. I appreciate all the feedback I receive through linkreferral and otherwise and I will continue to work on my posts, etc to better serve those interested. Thank you for your support! May God continue to bless each and every one of you and keep you in good health.

Nicole.

Greetings

2008-08-25T21:03:00.003-04:00

Good day all,

I haven't posted for days because I've been busy dancing, working and playing housewife (just kidding) and I'm now preparing to go back to school. It has been a long and very rewarding vacation and it has been one of the best I've had yet. The next topic I'll be posting on is peripheral artery disease. If you have any suggestions on any topic you'd like me research and summarize feel free to leave me a comment.

Do enjoy your day!

Nicole.

Coronary Artery Disease

2008-08-08T23:10:00.002-04:00

Coronary artery disease (CAD), also known as coronary heart disease and ischemic heart disease, is a special type of atherosclerosis that occurs in the coronary arteries. The coronary arteries, which supply most of the tissues of the heart, become narrowed with plaque and this can lead to blood clot formation (thrombosis). Blood clots can partially or completely block blood flow. Reduced blood flow to the heart muscle can cause angina (chest pain or discomfort usually relieved by rest) or a heart attack (myocardial infarction). It is also possible to develop shortness of breath or extreme fatigue on exertion due to a reduced blood flow to the rest of the body secondary to reduced flow to the heart muscle. Ultimately, coronary artery disease may weaken the heart muscle extensively, as it is deprived of oxygen and other nutrients, and furthermore lead to heart failure and arrhythmias (abnormalities in the rhythm or speed of the heartbeat).

Causes and Associated Risk Factors
Coronary artery disease usually begins with any damage to the inner layer of a coronary artery that may lead to the accumulation of plaque. This can start as early as childhood at times. The initial insult to the inner lining of the coronary artery may be as a result of:
· Diabetes
· High blood pressure
· High cholesterol
· Radiation therapy to the chest, which may be used for certain types of cancers
· Smoking
Risk factors for coronary artery disease include:
· Age - the older you are, the greater the risk.
· Diabetes - high blood sugar can encourage plaque formation.
· Gender - males are more susceptible but the risk for post-menopausal women is high.
· Family history - a family history of heart disease is associated with a higher risk for developing CAD, especially if the parent developed it at an early age.
· High cholesterol levels - this increases the risk for plaque formation and eventually atherosclerosis.
· High blood pressure - this can lead to the hardening and thickening of the arteries, eventually narrowing the space through which blood flows.
· High stress - unrelieved stress can cause damage to arteries as well as worsen other risk factors for CAD such as high blood pressure.
· Obesity - excess weight can worsen other factors such as high cholesterol levels and diabetes.
· Physical inactivity - lack of exercise can contribute to the development of CAD and may be associated with some of the other risk factors, for instance obesity.

Research is also being done on these possible risk factors:
1. C-reactive protein - produced by the liver in response to injury or infection. It plays a central role in atherosclerosis.
2. Fibrinogen - a protein present in the blood which is activated in response to injury or inflammation and plays an important role in blood clotting.
3. Homocysteine - an amino acid (basic unit of proteins) used to make certain proteins and to build and maintain tissue. Excessive levels of this amino acid may increase the risk of CAD and other cardiovascular diseases.
4. Apoprotein A - a structural component of high density lipoprotein (HDL or ‘good’ cholesterol). It may disrupt the body’s ability to dissolve blood clots. High levels of apoprotein A may be associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular diseases, including CAD and heart attack.

Diagnosis
One or more of the following diagnostic tests may be performed to determine whether coronary artery disease is evident:
· Blood tests - check the levels of certain fats, cholesterol, sugar and proteins in the blood.
· Cardiac catheterization - a long, thin, flexible tube called a catheter is placed into a blood vessel in the arm, groin (upper thigh) or neck and directed towards the coronary arteries. This is used with coronary angiography.
· Chest X-ray – gives a picture of the organs and structures inside the area of the chest.
· Coronary angiography – uses dye and special x-rays to show the insides of the coronary arteries.
· Electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG) - measures the electrical activity of the whole heart. Certain patterns may suggest CAD is likely. Other signs such as a previous heart attack may also be detected.
· Echocardiography - uses sound waves to create a moving picture of the heart and can identify areas of poor blood flow to the heart, whether the heart muscle isn’t contracting properly and there was previous injury to the heart caused by poor blood flow.
· Electron-Beam Computed Tomography (EBCT) – finds and measures calcium deposits in and around the coronary arteries. This test is not routinely done to diagnose coronary artery disease because of uncertainty or its accuracy.
· Magnetic Resonance Angiogram (MRA) – uses magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology to check for areas of narrowing or blockages. The details are not as clear as those from coronary catheterization.

Treatment
Medical treatment for coronary artery disease may consist of medicines and medical procedures. Lifestyle changes are also very important for the treatment process. Treatment seeks to:
· Lower the risk of blood clot formation.
· Reduce any risk factors in order to delay, stop or reverse the progression of plaque build-up.
· Relieve any related symptoms.
· Prevent complications associated with CAD.
· Widen or bypass clogged arteries.

Medicines may be prescribed to:
· Decrease the workload on the heart
· Decrease the possibility of having a heart attack or sudden death
· Lower cholesterol levels and blood pressure
· Prevent blood-clotting
· Prevent the need for medical procedures to treat CAD.
Drugs/medicines used to treat CAD include:
· Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors – decrease blood pressure and may help prevent CAD progression.
· Aspirin – can reduce the blood’s tendency to clot but should not be taken if you have a bleeding disorder orypu’re already taking another blood thinner.
· Beta-blockers – slow heart rate and decrease blood pressure while decreasing the heart’s oxygen demand
· Calcium channel blockers – relax the heart muscle that may surround coronary arteries and encourage the vessels to open, increasing blood flow to the heart. They may also control high blood pressure.
· Cholesterol-modifying medications – lower the amount of ‘bad’ cholesterol in order to decrease the primary material involved in the accumulation of deposits in the coronary arteries. For example: statins, niacin, fibrates and bile acid sequestrants.
· Nitroglycerin – can control chest pain and pressure by dilating (opening up) the coronary arteries and reducing the heart’s demand for blood.

The following medical procedures are usually opted for to treat severe forms of CAD:
· Angioplasty and stent placement – a long, thin tube (catheter) is inserted into the narrowed part of the affected artery. A wire with a deflated balloon is passed through the catheter to the narrowed area. The balloon is then inflated, compressing the deposits against the artery walls. A stent may be left in the artery to keep it open. Some stents release medication slowly to keep the artery open.
· Coronary artery bypass surgery – a graft is created to bypass (make an alternate pathway) coronary arteries using a vessel from another part of the body, e.g. a segment of the great sephenous vein of the lower limb, which does not possess valves to control blood flow. This allows blood to flow around the blocked or narrowed coronary artery. This procedure is usually only done when there are multiple narrowed coronary arteries, since open-heart surgery is required.

Heart Failure

2008-07-25T11:11:00.003-04:00

Heart failure doesn’t suggest that the heart has completely stopped or is in the process of stopping but indicates the inefficiency of the cardiovascular system to function properly. This means that, for some reason, the pumping action of the heart is limited in such a way that sufficient blood is not being pumped or any part of the heart (heart chamber) does not fill with an adequate amount of blood to be pumped elsewhere and as a result fluid congestion manifests. Fluid congestion, simply, refers to the excess fluid that develops due to the compensatory response of the body. This fluid collects as it fails to flow to where it is needed. This fluid congestion may result from the actions of the kidney, in response to reduced blood flow, by fluid retention, which causes an increase in blood volume. Consequently, excess fluid enters the lungs and other parts of the body and swelling occurs. It is important to note that heart failure is not the only reason swelling can occur in certain parts of the body.

Heart failure is a progressive disorder in which the body tries to overcome any serious change in the circulatory system (the cycle that transports blood from the heart to bodily tissues and back to the heart) that prevents the heart from functioning as it should. As the condition worsens, the heart’s capability to do its job lessens and many circulatory problems may surface. With treatment, this condition can be controlled and cured. However, if heart failure is not diagnosed and continues to progress, years of survival are reduced with time. The incidence of heart failure increases as you get older.

Heart Failure Classifications/Terms
Depending on the location of the insult affecting the heart or the way in which the heart functions as a result of heart failure, heart failure can be classified in the following terminology:

§ Right Heart Failure – the inability of the right side of the heart, which receives deoxygenated (low oxygen content) blood from the veins of the body, to adequately pump the venous blood towards the lungs, which plays a role in the pulmonary circulatory system.

§ Left Heart Failure – the inability of the left side of the heart to pump oxygenated blood received from the pulmonary circulation (lungs) to the other parts of the body (systemic circulation).

As a result of left and right heart failures, these heart failures can be further classified into:
§ Backward Heart Failure – the heart is able to pump blood efficiently ONLY when filling pressure of the heart is abnormally high (in other words, only when a chamber of the heart is filled with a greater amount of blood than usual).

§ Congestive Heart Failure – fluid collects in the lungs or body due to inadequate pumping from the heart and high heart filling and venous pressures.

§ Forward Heart Failure – the inability of the heart to pump blood sufficiently to meet the oxygen demands of the body at exercise or at rest.

Signs & Symptoms
With respect to the effect of heart failure on the body, certain signs and symptoms may be acquired. The most common signs and symptoms of heart failure are shortness of breath or difficulty breathing (dyspnea), fatigue (tiredness), and swelling in the ankles, feet, legs, abdomen and sometimes the veins in the neck. Fluid congestion can cause shortness of breath and oedema (swelling as a result of pooling of fluid into certain parts of the body). Reduced blood flow to the bodily tissues can cause difficulty exercising, fatigue and dizziness (due to low blood pressure). Other signs and symptoms are angina, loss of appetite, weight gain or loss.

Causes and Risk Factors
Conditions which damage the heart muscle (myocardium) or make it work too hard to pump sufficient blood to where it is needed can cause heart failure. The heart then weakens with the continued stress it endures. Certain proteins and other substances may be released into the blood.

The major causes of heart failure are coronary artery disease (CAD), diabetes, high blood pressure (hypertension). Some other causes of heart failure include, but are not limited to: arrhythmias (irregular heart beats), heart defects present at birth (congenital heart defects), heart muscle diseases (e.g. cardiomyopathy), heart valve disorders (e.g. valvular heart disease). Alcohol abuse, cocaine and other illegal drug use, HIV/AIDS, intake of too much vitamin E, thyroid disorders, and treatments for cancer such as radiation and chemotherapy may damage the heart muscle and lead to heart failure. Conditions such as lung impairment, anemia, kidney impairment and pericardial disease (very rare) can surface heart failure symptoms.

Some risk factors for heart failure are having a family history of heart failure, being obese, having a large salt intake in diet, consuming large amounts of alcohol or abusing drugs and having sustained rapid heart rhythms.

Diagnosis
Based on medical and family histories, a physical examination, and tests, a heart failure diagnosis can be made. The symptoms of heart failure are also common in other conditions and so the doctor will seek to: (i) discover any damage to the heart and determine how well the heart pumps blood, (ii) find out whether there is an underlying disease causing heart failure symptoms, (iii) rule out any other causes of heart failure symptoms.

In the physical exam, the doctor will look for swelling in your ankles, feet, legs, abdomen, and the veins in the neck, and listen to the lungs for sounds that aren’t normal and for sounds of excess fluid build-up.

For testing, initially the doctor may order for an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), a chest xray and a BNP blood test to be done. If you are referred to a cardiologist, other tests may be ordered such as a Doppler test, which measures the speed and direction of blood flow, a nuclear heart scan to give an indication of how well blood is passing through the heart and how much blood is reaching the heart muscle, a cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which shows the structures and beating of the heart and can help the doctor determine if the heart has been damaged, and thyroid function tests.

Treatment
Treatment for heart failure depends on the type of heart failure presented and how severe it is (stage of heart failure). Generally, treatment seeks to:
o Deal with the underlying cause of the type of heart failure, such as coronary artery disease (CAD), high blood pressure or diabetes.
o Reduce symptoms.
o Stop heart failure from worsening.
o Increase survival years (lifespan) and improve quality of life.

Treatment will also include lifestyle changes, medicines and ongoing care. If you or your loved one have/has a severe heart failure, surgery may be necessary and other medical procedures.

In depth, heart failure therapy pays particular attention to three things: (1) the reduction of the loading condition on the heart as the heart muscle relaxes to be filled with blood (preload), (2) the reduction of the load against which the ventricle of the heart must contract when it ejects blood into the arteries (afterload), and the inhibition of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) and vasoconstrictor factors produced by the sympathetic nervous system in patients with heart failure. The RAAS involves actions of the kidney and a few other bodily tissues which work together to increase blood volume in an attempt to maintain an adequate amount of blood flow to bodily tissues. Vasoconstrictor factors refer to those hormones which cause constriction of blood vessels. The sympathetic nervous system is a part of the nervous system which responds to ‘life or death’ or ‘flight or fright’ situations. This system is responsible for the ‘adrenaline rush’.

A number of medications can be used to accomplish heart failure therapy, for example nitroglycerine (for preload reduction), loop diuretics such as furosemide, vasodilators which reduce both preload and afterload, digoxin which can aid the heart in contractility, sympathomimetic agents like dopamine and adrenaline, beta-adrenergic blocking agents such as metoprolol and carvedilol.

Myocardial Infarction (Heart Attack)

2008-07-09T16:08:00.006-04:00

Myocardial Infarction is a vascular (relating to blood vessels) disease of the heart characterized by changes to the myocardium (heart muscle) due to inadequate or interrupted blood flow to the heart muscle. It is most commonly caused by coronary insufficiency resulting from atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries. In this event, a coronary artery may become blocked by a blood clot. Blockage of the coronary artery deprives the heart muscle of blood and oxygen causing injury to the heart muscle. From then on, the heart muscle dies unless the coronary artery is unblocked or the dying heart muscle receives blood and oxygen from elsewhere by surgical intervention. Chest pain and chest pressure sensation are usually felt at the onset of injury to the heart muscle. If blood flow to the heart muscle is not restored within up to about 40 minutes, the heart muscle irreversibly dies until completely dead and scar tissue replaces the dead heart muscle.

Coronary arteries are the blood vessels responsible for taking blood to all the tissues of the heart, excluding certain layers of the pericardium (protective sac that encloses the heart and functions to prevent the sudden overfilling of the heart). They originate from the aorta, which is the major artery that receives oxygenated blood from the heart and allows the blood to flow to all parts of the body, and are commonly two in number (right and left). The branches of the coronary arteries are referred to as ‘end arteries’ because the area in which they are distributed is not supplied by any other branch of another large artery. In this way, the death of tissue of a particular area of the heart muscle can be appreciated more. When a branch of a coronary artery is blocked, loss of blood supply to the area results in dead tissue in a matter of hours. The most common site of atherosclerosis, leading to a heart attack, is the anterior interventricular branch of the left coronary artery, which supplies the left and middle aspects of the heart in front.

Causes

The most common cause of myocardial infarction is the narrowing of blood vessels of the heart due to atheromatous (referring to atherosclerosis) plaques. Plaque rupture can result in a blood clot and further blockage of the coronary arteries, along with varying degrees of vasospasm (narrowing of the artery).

Besides atherosclerotic causes, the inflammation of the coronary arteries, a stab wound to the heart, a blood clot forming elsewhere in the body (for instance, in a heart chamber), cocaine abuse which can cause spasms of the coronary arteries, use of amphetamines, complications from heart surgery, coronary artery vasospasm, chest trauma and some other rare heart problems may cause the onset of a heart attack.

Risk Factors

Similar to other cardiovascular diseases, the risk factors for myocardial infarction are smoking, hypertension, high cholesterol level, lack of exercise, obesity, a poor diet and excess alcohol intake. Having diabetes can also contribute to its occurrence. Ethnicity, gender (being male), and having a family history of heart disease or a stroke that occurred in a father or brother aged below 55 or in a mother or sister below 65.

Diagnosis

ECG
An electrocardiogram (ECG) or heart tracing, which measures the electrical activity of the whole heart, is used to point out changes to the normal pattern of a heart tracing, indicating the occurrence of a heart attack. Among the abnormal patterns for myocardial infarction are ‘pathological Q waves’, ST elevation (when the infarction spans the entire thickness of the heart wall) and possibly T wave inversions. Note that it is possible to have had a heart attack and not be detected by an ECG but this usually occurs if a lot of time has passed since the heart attack or it could have been a very mild heart attack.

Blood Tests
A blood test that measures certain substances, which may be associated with heart muscle cells, can also be used to confirm a myocardial infarction. A substance, troponin, is present in heart muscle cells and, in the event of damage to heart muscle, it is released into the bloodstream at a level above normal. Creatinine kinase may also be released into the bloodstream in response to damage to heart muscle. These substances are usually at their highest level in the blood stream within 1-2 days of having a heart attack but soon decrease in level after a few days up to a couple weeks.

Other tests may also be used to verify the diagnosis such as an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart), etc.

Severity

A substantial number of people die from myocardial infarctions each year. Most of the time, a heart attack may go unnoticed or is not paid special attention to because it may have been minor. Once you’ve had a heart attack, it does not usually end there. You may seem fine for the time being, until a couple of years later when your heart might have suffered more damage. Note that many people do recover from a myocardial infarction and have no complications, which may be associated with a change from bad lifestyle habits. The larger the myocardial infarction, the more life-threatening it is and the more complications may result. Some possible complications are heart failure, as the heart muscle becomes unable to pump an adequate amount of blood to the rest of the body, and abnormal heart rhythms, e.g ventricular fibrillation, which can result in collapse and sudden death.

Treatment

Treatment may vary depending on the situation. The possibilities include but are not limited to:
1. Restoration of Blood Flow
Emergency angioplasty – a tiny wire with a balloon is carefully guided to the blocked coronary artery and is used to open up the artery wide enough for adequate blood to pass through.

An injection of a thrombolytic (clot-busting) drug, e.g. streptokinase.

2. Beta-blocker Drug
Beta-blockers block the action of certain hormones which can increase the rate and force of contractions of the heart. They also help to prevent abnormal heart rhythms from developing.

After having a myocardial infarction, normally it is advised to take regular medication for the rest of your life. To prevent further myocardial infarction and to help prevent complications, the following may be prescribed:

Aspirin – helps to prevent blood clots from forming.

A beta-blocker – (mentioned previously)

An Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitor – has a number of actions that prove to be protective to the heart.

A statin drug – can lower cholesterol levels in the blood (see post on high cholesterol).

Atherosclerosis

2008-06-17T21:49:00.006-04:00

Atherosclerosis is a subtype of arteriosclerosis. Arteriosclerosis is a general term for the hardening of arteries and, in its progression, the walls of arteries become thick and stiff, sometimes preventing the flow of blood to organs and tissues. Atherosclerosis is a disease in which fatty substances, cholesterol, cellular waste products, calcium and some other substances accumulate in the inner lining (intima) of artery. Collectively, the accumulated substances are referred to as plaque. Over time, plaque continues to accumulate, hardens and eventually narrows the lumen of arteries. Ischaemia or reduced blood flow can lead to serious problems, depending on the specific artery affected.

The typical progression of atherosclerosis begins when tears or fatty streaks in the inner lining of blood vessels attract monocytes (type of white blood cell) and stimulate the cellular immune response. Advanced lesions (any abnormality of tissue in any area of the body) develop when cholesterol, calcium crystals, and cellular debris builds up within the inner lining (intima). The increase in size of the affected intima narrows the lumen of the vessel. Clotting factors (substances produced in response to injury) and platelets (smallest type of blood cell) are activated by contact with the lesions. Thrombi (blood clots) may build on lesions or move downstream, potentially blocking the artery.
A condition or disease masy result due to the advanced progression of atherosclerosis in particular areas of the body. For instance:

Peripheral arterial disease develops when arteries supplying the limbs are affected, consequently circulation problems in the arms and legs may occur.
Coronary artery disease develops when arteries supplying the heart are affected and there’s a possibility of experiencing chest pain (angina) or a heart attack (myocardial infarction).
Transient ischemic attack or stroke arises when arteries supplying blood to the brain are affected.

Also, atherosclerosis can possibly also lead to a bulge in the wall of an artery, which may be referred to as an aneurysm.

Signs & Symptoms
Atherosclerosis usually doesn’t show signs or symptoms until it progresses to a point where an artery is partially or fully blocked. In most cases, it takes a medical emergency to give an indication of progressing atherosclerosis. Otherwise, the signs and symptoms experienced depend on which arteries are severely affected. For instance:

Obstruction of arteries supplying the brain, i.e. carotid arteries in the neck, may cause symptoms of a stroke, such as dizziness, sudden numbness or weakness.

Obstruction of arteries to the heart (coronary arteries) may cause symptoms of a heart attack, e.g. angina pectoris (chest pain which is normally relieved after a few minutes of rest, in contrast to a heart attack in which the pain is more intense and is not relieved by rest.)

Obstruction of the arteries supplying the arms and legs may cause symptoms of peripheral arterial disease, such as leg pain when walking, numbness or sometimes serious infections.

Men may go through sexual dysfunction because of hardening of the arteries.

Causes and Associated Risks

Although the exact cause of atherosclerosis is unknown, it is suspected to begin with damage to the inner layer of an artery. The damage may be as a result of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, an irritant such as nicotine or certain diseases like diabetes. Thus, the risk factors of atherosclerosis include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, smoking and having a family history of an aneurysm or early heart disease.

Screening and Diagnosis

Diagnosis is normally based on three (3) things:

your medical and family histories

risk factors

results of a physical exam and dianostic tests.

During a physical exam, signs of narrowed, enlarged or hardened arteries may be found. These signs may include:

Whooshing sounds over arteries, heard with a stethoscope.

Evidence of poor wound healing in the area where blood flow is being restricted.

A weak or absent pulse below the narrowed area of the artery.

Decreased blood pressure in an affected limb.

Signs of a pulsating bulge (aneurysm) in the abdomen or behind the knee.

Depending or the results of a physical exam, one or more diagnostic tests may be performed, including:

1. Angiogram - a special dye may be injected into the arteries before a chest x-ray is done to give an indication of how blood is flowing through the vessels and whether there are any blockages.

2. Ankle-Brachial Index - used to compare the blood pressure in the ankle to that in the arm. Any abnormal difference may indicate peripheral vascular disease.

3. Blood tests - increased levels of cholesterol, blood sugar and other substances that may increase the risks of atherosclerosis may be detected.

4. Doppler Ultrasound - a special ultrasound device is used to measure blood pressure at various points of the arms and legs to determine the degree of any blockages, as well asthe speed of blood flow in the arteries.

5. Electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG) – records electrical signals as they move through the heart. It can give an indication of how nerve impulses pass through the heart and whether a myocardial infarction is progressing or has occurred recently.

6. Other imaging tests – can also be used to study the arteries, such as an ultrasound, computerized tomography (CT) scan or a magnetic resonance angiogram (MRA).

Treatment
The main treatment for atherosclerosis is lifestyle changes. Medicines and medical procedures may also be required. Treatment seeks to: relieve any symptoms; reduce risk factors in an effort to slow, stop or reverse the build-up of plaque; lower the risk of blood clots forming; widen or bypass clogged arteries; prevent diseases related to atherosclerosis.

Lifestyle changes can promote healthier arteries. Sometimes, these changes may be the only treatment necessary. Otherwise, medication or surgical procedures may be recommended as well.

Medication

Anticoagulants – such as heparin, can aid in blood thinning to prevent clots from forming.
Anti-platelet medications – such as aspirin, can lessen the likelihood of platelets clumping in narrowed arteries.
Blood pressure medications – can help slow the progression of atherosclerosis.
Cholesterol medications – (see post on high cholesterol)
Other medications – can be used to control specific risk factors or treat symptoms of atherosclerosis.

Procedures
In severe cases, any one of the following procedures may be necessary:

1. Angioplasty – a long, thin tube (catheter) is inserted into the narrowed part of the artery. Then a wire with a deflated balloon is passed through the catheter to the narrowed area. The balloon is inflated, compressing the deposits against the artery walls in the hopes of reopening the artery, if blocked.

2. Bypass surgery – a graft bypass using a vessel from another part of the body or a tube made of synthetic fabric is created to give rise to an alternate path for blood to flow.

3. Endarterectomy – fatty deposits are surgically removed from the walls of a narrowed artery.

4. Thrombolytic therapy - a clot-dissolving drug may be inserted into the artery to break up a blood clot blocking the artery.

High Cholesterol (Hypercholesterolemia)

2008-06-04T22:02:00.011-04:00

Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a sterol (a group of unsaturated alcohols of the steroid group) present in cell membranes, the brain and lipoproteins. It can be utilized to produce all the steroids of the body. About 1g of cholesterol is synthesized per day in humans. Cholesterol is normally converted into bile salts, vitamin D3 and steroid hormones, which includes testosterone, estrogen and progesterone. Cholesterol is mainly excreted in the form of bile salts in stool. Free cholesterol is transported by lipoproteins in the circulation. Cholesterol ester is a storage form of cholesterol found in most tissues. Cholesterol esters are formed by the esterification of cholesterol to fatty acids. This esterification occurs in the body by transfer of PUFA (polyunsaturated fatty acids). This step is important in the regulation of cholesterol level. The normal blood level is 150-220 mg/dL. Increased cholesterol levels lead to atherosclerosis as cholesterol accumulates in the arteries causing narrowing of blood vessels. Dietary intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids help in the transport and metabolism of cholesterol and, in so doing, prevents atherosclerosis.

Note that hypercholesterolemia is more common in men younger than 55 and in women older than 55 years. The risk for high cholesterol increases with age.

Causes

With more than enough cholesterol in the bloodstream, which is usually due to an unbalanced diet, cholesterol is carried throughout the blood bound to proteins along with a few other substances, e.g fatty acids, and is called a lipoprotein. Lipoproteins can directly contribute to atherosclerosis progression. The main types of lipoproteins are: Low-density lipoprotein (LDL), which is also known as 'bad cholesterol' and is responsible for transporting cholesterol throughout the body, and High-density lipoprotein (HDL), which transports cholesterol from the bodily tissues back to the liver for excretion. With an adequately balanced diet, the HDL and LDL levels can be altered to maintain acceptable cholesterol levels. Increasing the intake of linoleic acid (and other related polyunsaturated fatty acids) lowers cholesterol levels, although not as significantly as saturated fatty acids raise it.

Other factors that influence the amount of 'bad cholesterol' in the blood include genetics, body weight, viscous dietary fiber, soy protein, plant sterols, antioxidants and flavonoids (fat-soluble antioxidants). In a rare cholesterol disorder, the NPC(Neiman-Pick type C)1 gene malfunctions impairing the normal movement of cholesterol within cells. The genetic makeup of a person may change the way LDL cholesterol is removed or cause the liver to produce too much cholesterol. Being overweight tends to increase cholesterol and so, losing weight can help lower LDL and total cholesterol levels, as well as raise HDL and lower triglyceride levels. Oxygen free radicals (hydrogen peroxide, superoxide, etc) are sometimes generated by cellular activities of the body. These compounds bring about damage to blood vessels by oxidizing/altering lipids (primarily LDL) and turning certain cells called macrophages into foam cells, which contribute to plaque formation in blood vessels. Water-soluble antioxidants, e.g Vitamin C, and fat-soluble antioxidants protect against free radicals.

Risk Factors

Cigarette smoking damages the walls of blood vessels making them more susceptible/vulnerable to fatty deposit accumulation. Smoking may also lower HDL cholesterol levels, which is the 'good cholesterol'.

High blood pressure can damage arteries, contributing to the rate of fatty deposit accumulation.

High blood sugar alters LDL and HDL cholesterol levels (LDL cholesterol becomes high while HDL cholesterol becomes low). High blood sugar can also damage the lining of arteries.

Treatment

After having a blood test to determine a complete lipid profile, which measures total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides, and hypercholesterolemia is evident, the choices of medication include:

Statins - prevent the liver from making cholesterol and with this cholesterol is depleted in the liver cells, allowing them to take up cholesterol for excretion. They may also aid in reabsorbing fatty deposits that may have accumulated in the wall of arteries.

Examples: atorvastatin (Lipitor), fluvastatin (Lescol), lovastatin (Altoprev, Mevacor), pravastatin (Pravachol), rosuvastatin (Crestor) and simvastatin (Zocor).

Bile-acid-binding resins -binds to bile acids produced by the liver, preventing them from being recycled. This causes cholesterol to be taken up by the liver cells to be converted to bile acids, reducing blood cholesterol levels in the process.

Examples: Cholestyramine (Prevalite, Questran), colesevelam (Welchol) and colestipol (Colestid).

Cholesterol absorption inhibitors- prevents the absorption of cholesterol by the small intestine.

Example: ezetimibe (Zetia), which can be used in combination with any of the statin drugs.

For high triglycerides:

Fibrates- decrease triglycerides by reducing the production of very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), precursor to LDL (meaning that VLDL is used to make LDL), and by speeding up the removal of triglycerides from the blood. Triglycerides are the major component of VLDL.

Niacin (Niaspan)- decreases triglycerides by limiting the production of VLDL and LDL by the liver.

Most medications do not cause complications. However, the most common side effects are constipation, diarrhea, stomach pain and nausea.

Why Is A Change In Lifestyle Important?

Lifestyle changes can improve your cholesterol level significantly. Regular physical activity can help raise HDL and lower LDL and is especially important for those with high triglyceride and/or low HDL levels who are overweight with a large waist. Weight management plays a central role in prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Dietary recommendations include saturated and trans fatty acid intake less than or equal to 8% of total calories; cholesterol intake less than 300 mg/day; at least 2 servings of fish per week; a diet which includes fruits,vegetables, and whole grains; limiting sodium intake to less than 2300mg/day; limiting alcohol to 2 drinks or less per day for men and 1 drink per day for women; and limiting added sugar. This healthy eating pattern should assist in acheiving desirable body weight, cholesterol and lipoprotein profile and blood pressure. Lifestyle changes can reduce excessive LDL concentrations by 20-40%. For this reason, lifestyle changes are essential in the treatment process.

Update

2008-04-20T20:11:00.002-04:00

Greetings all!

I'm finally almost over my first year in med school. I must admit it's pretty challenging but I've found my balance and to me, the most important aspect of studying and preparing for exams, is making sure you understand the information; that is what i try to do with my posts make them understandable.

Studying is coming along pretty good. I'll be home by next month. I will try to add some more info and make some changes to my previous posts where i can.

Enjoy your day.
Nicole.

Greetings

2008-03-01T23:35:00.002-04:00

Greetings all! It's amazing how time goes by. I look forward to my summer vacation so i can finally have actual free time to make some posts and do whatever i desire. I'm doing well in my classes. I try to stay focussed and try to manage my time efficiently and so on. My grades get better each time and for that I'm pleased. I want to be a medical professional so much. I'm grateful to be where I'm at and I'm thankful for this opportunity.

God bless to all my readers....
Have a great day!
Nicole.

I'm Back

2008-01-16T10:12:00.000-04:00

Back to medical school....aww

I hate not having the internet at my finger tips but I'll get accustomed since my internet back home has been cut off since i'm not staying there. It sucks but what can i do. I've begun studying my first system in the body and that is the digestion and metabolism. So far it is pretty interesting.

Have a good day folks. I'll check back in every now and then to see how many visitors have been stopping by and keep everyone informed in where i'm at.

Until next time...
Nicole.

Good Day

2007-10-10T10:19:00.000-04:00

Hi all...I've been very busy with classes but I intend to post on some more conditions and disorders. It's so much better now since I have a medical library a few minutes away at my disposal. To allow time for study and posting I'll try to post information on the conditions I've researched for my classes. I'll try not to be to technical and break down terms as I've tried to before. It however sucks now that the wireless internet I've been using is not working so I have to go the medical library to get a chance to use the internet. Can't wait to start posting again.

Enjoy your day folks and thanks for visiting!!

Greetings

2007-09-01T14:26:00.000-04:00

I'm currently on campus and having a splendid time. I've met people from many countries including Botswana and Caribbean islands such as Bahamas and St. Lucia. I arrived here on the 25th August 2007 and I must say I'm not really missing home as much. I feel somewhat like a new person. I know this is where I want to be and where my heart is. I've spent the past couple of hours trying to make sure I'm not 'in the dark' pertaining to financial clearance and registration. God has brought me this far and I hope I'm here to stay...until I finish my degree.
I've settled into my new residence and I know the names of most of the females in my flat. Everyone seems to be cooperating so far. I hope everything stays well. Classes begin 7th September 2007. Until next time...God bless and peace be with you.

Nicole.

Preparation

2007-08-24T11:49:00.000-04:00

At the moment, I'm still preparing to get ready for Medical School. Classes are starting soon and I want to be as organized as possible. It's going to be a while until i get a chance to post again :-(. I appreciate all the good comments I've been receiving through linkreferral and on my blog. I enjoy reading and researching information on health and summarizing it for all to understand.

My prayers are with those who've suffered and continue to suffer from the many illnesses out there in the world and may God continue to give you strength and courage in your time of need.

I hope to post again soon.

Nicole.

Diabetes And Nutrition

2007-08-21T14:52:00.011-04:00

Importance of A Proper Diet For Diabetics

The impairment of carbohydrate metabolism, that is the breakdown of glucose, from which energy is gained, due to impaired insulin action or absence of insulin can cause some problems if not properly dealt with. Insulin is required for the cells of the body to absorb/take up the glucose from the blood for utilization (to be used). Insufficient (not enough) insulin can cause the accumulation of glucose in the blood leading to a state of hyperglycemia. Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus causes the fat stores of the body to be the main source of energy and are degraded very quickly. This excessive breakdown results in the production of a substance called acetyl CoA. In excess, acetyl CoA is converted to ketone bodies, namely acetoacetate, beta-hydroxybutyrate and acetone. A high level of ketone bodies in the blood is referred to as ketonemia while a high level of them in the urine is referred to as ketonuria. Prolonged starvation can also lead to ketone body formation. For this reason, maintaining just the right amount of glucose in the blood is important. You may ask yourself "what is so harmful about these ketone bodies?". There is usually a small quantity of ketone bodies in the blood but with overproduction and insufficient glucose levels, the vital organs of the body switch over to utilizing ketone bodies, in place of glucose. The preferred energy source for the vital organs of the body, especially the brain, is normally glucose. The liver makes ketone bodies in response to high levels of acetyl CoA but cannot utilize themfor energy.

Alcohol should be avoided in excessive amounts. Alcohol causes inflammation of the stomach, pancreas and intestines which impairs the digestion of food and absorption into the blood. The liver is responsible for the preparation of its removal and, in this process, acetaldehyde is produced, which interferes with the activation of vitamins. The conversion of alcohol can also prevent gluconeogenesis (the formation of glucose by the liver, most importantly, and kidneys) and cause hypoglycemia from the lack of production of glucose. Alcohol conversion by the liver can also encourage higher lipid (fats and oils) levels in blood which contributes to the progression of a heart attack.

Generally, diabetics should limit sweets, eat less fat, limit alcohol usage, eat often in adequate proportions being careful about when and how many carbs (carbohydrates) they eat, and eat lots of whole-grain foods, fruits and vegetables.

Everyone has their individual requirements so speak to your doctor about what is necessary for you.

Here's a link you can take a look at--- Eating and Diabetes

Gestational Diabetes

2007-08-07T13:24:00.001-04:00

Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that only pregnant women develop. Gestational diabetes affects around 4% of all pregnant women. In gestational diabetes, the woman's blood sugar is higher than normal as other hormones produced during pregnancy interfere with insulin produced normally. Generally, women enduring gestational diabetes have a normal blood sugar level through the critical first stages of their pregnancy. However, around the 26th week of pregnancy (just before 7 mths), gestational diabetes is diagnosed. Once the baby is born, this type of diabetes goes away.

Having gestational diabetes does not mean there is a risk for a baby with birth defects but complications can be caused if particular attention to diet and blood sugar levels is not taken.

Two main signs and symptoms of gestational diabetes are: excessive thirst; and increased urination.

Some complications that may affect the baby after birth are:

Macrosomia - Extra glucose can cross the placenta and end up in the baby's blood. When that happens, the baby's pancreas makes extra insulin to process the extra glucose, and this can cause the baby to grow too large (macrosomia). For a full-term pregnancy, this means a birth weight of 4,500 grams (9 pounds, 14 ounces) or more. Very large babies may have difficulty during delivery and are more likely to sustain birth injuries or be born by Caesarean delivery.
Jaundice - This involves yellowish discoloration of the skin and the whites of the eyes. It can occur up to 1 week after birth. Although not a disease, it should be carefully monitored by a doctor.
Hypoglycemia - Sometimes babies of mothers with gestational diabetes develop low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) shortly after birth.
Stillbirth or death.

Some complications that may affect the mother are:

Preeclampsia - involves a significant increase in blood pressure.
Operative delivery
Gestational diabetes in another pregnancy
Type 2 diabetes - women who've had gestational diabetes have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Here's a nice video on gestational diabetes....click here.

Types of Diabetes

2007-08-01T23:04:00.001-04:00

Above, the diagram on the left shows the range of blood glucose levels for the Fasting Plasma Glucose Test (FPG) while the diagram on the right shows the range of blood glucose levels for the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT).

Pre-Diabetes
Pre-diabetes is a serious condition in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal but are not high enough to diagnose diabetes. Those who have pre-diabetes almost always develop type 2 diabetes.

Pre-diabetes does not only affect adults, it can also affect adolescent males and females aged 12 through 19. Having pre-diabetes does not necessarily mean that you will develop type 2 diabetes but it is very likely if no action is taken. With the help of maintaining a nutritiously balanced diet, managing your blood glucose and engaging in physical activity, the affected can bring their blood glucose levels back to normal and avoid developing type 2 diabetes.

Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes (previously known as Juvenile diabetes) is a form of diabetes which most commonly affects children and young adults but can also develop in matured adults. Persons with this type of diabetes produce no insulin to support his/her daily intake of food. As a result, the affected must receive daily injections of insulin to maintain normal blood sugar levels. Without insulin, sugar (glucose) in the blood cannot be converted to energy to be used by the cells of the body, and so the end result is high blood sugar also known as Hyperglycemia. Long-term health problems are evident if this condition is left untreated. Living with type 1 diabetes can be challenging but all hope is not lost. Learning as much as you can about this type of condition can help you to stay healthy and avoid any complications by monitoring blood sugar levels and routinely taking insulin or other medication as prescribed.

Some of the signs and symptoms are: frequent urination along with increased thirst, fatigue, weight lost, extreme hunger even though you may have just eaten and feel bloated, and blurred vision.

Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. It is more common in African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans and Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders, as well as the aged population. Those who have type 2 diabetes produce insufficient insulin and may be incapable of utilizing the insulin made by his/her body.

The signs and symptoms of type 2 diabetes include: flu-like symptoms; red, swollen, tender gums; weight fluctuations; slow-healing sores and some women may have frequent bladder or vaginal infections; nerve damage; and blurred vision. Some risk factors are: being overweight; family history; inactivity; and women who developed gestational diabetes during their pregnancy. In terms of treatment, some affected by type 2 diabetes can keep it under control by balancing their blood sugar and engaging in adequate exercise alone, while others may require medication in addition to lifestyle changes.

Good News

2007-07-23T12:05:00.000-04:00

Good day to all,

I've been recently accepted in to medical school. As soon as I get everything in order, I'll continue posting. I'm going to continue with a breakdown of the types of diabetes and then continue from there.

Have a blessed and wonderfully enriched day...

Nicole.

Diabetes

2007-07-15T23:21:00.000-04:00

Diabetes (Diabetes Mellitus, in contrast to Diabetes Insipidus) is a non-communicable (not transmitted by direct contact) disease in which the body does not produce insulin or sufficient insulin or doesn't properly utilize the insulin made. Insulin is a hormone, produced by the pancreas, which regulates the amount of glucose (sugar) in the bloodstream. In humans, the blood glucose levels normally vary from about 70 milligrams per decilitre of blood to about 110 milligrams per decilitre. After a meal, the blood glucose levels are maintained by a process called homeostasis, which in this case involves a combination of specific hormones.

The illustration above shows two cycles occurring separately to maintain homeostasis in the body. When glucose levels are too high the pancreas secretes insulin to convert excess glucose to gycogen for storage. When glucose levels are too low the pancreas produces glucagon to convert stored glycogen to glucose, resulting in an increase in glucose levels.

Diabetes prevents the body from converting ingested food into energy and, with the constant rise in blood glucose levels, balance is not maintained as required. Complications are very likely to occur as the blood glucose levels continue to rise. Long term complications include cardiovascular disease, retinal damage (which may lead to blindness), nerve damage and microvascular damage, which commonly causes erectile dysfunction and poor healing of wounds.

The cause of diabetes is not exactly known. A Fasting Plasma Glucose Test (FPG) or an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) is conducted to determine whether pre-diabetes is evident. A fasting blood glucose level between 100 and 125 mg per dl signals pre-diabetes while a level above 126 mg per dl signals diabetes. With the OGTT, a person's blood glucose level is measured after a fast and two hours after drinking a glucose-rich beverage. If the two-hour blood glucose level is between 140 and 199 mg per dl, the person tested has pre-diabetes. If the two hour blood glucose level is over 200 mg per dl, that person has diabetes.

The best way to prevent diabetes is to maintain a balanced diet that suits you and increase the level of physical activity, if you hardly exercise on a weekly basis. If you are curious about your risk for diabetes take this simple risk test.....Diabetes Risk Test

Aspartame In Diet Soda and As A Sweetener

2007-07-11T11:00:00.000-04:00

The information seen below was sent to me via email. Although emails tend to be very slanderous at times. I think this is a 'must-read'. Thank you Auntie Esme.

True Story
In October of 2001, my sister started getting very sick. She had stomach spasms and she was having a hard time getting around. Walking was a major chore. It took everything she had just to get out of bed; she was in so much pain. By March 2002, she had undergone several tissue and muscle biopsies and was on 24 various prescription medications. The doctors could not determine what was wrong with her. She was in so much pain, and so sick...she just knew she was dying. She put her house, bank accounts, life insurance, etc., in her oldest daughters name, and made sure that her younger children were to be taken care of. She also wanted her last hooray, so she planned a trip to FLORDIA (basically in a wheelchair) for March 22nd. On March 19th I called her to ask how her most recent tests went, and she said they didn't find anything on the test, but they believe she had MS. I recalled an article a friend of mine E-mailed to me and I asked my sister if she drank diet soda? She told me that she did. As a matter of fact, she was getting ready to crack one open that moment. I told her not to open it, and to stop drinking the diet soda !!! I e-mailed her the article my friend, a lawyer, had sent. My sister called me within 32 hours after our phone conversation and told me she had stopped drinking the diet soda AND she could walk!!!! The muscle spasms went away. She said she didn't feel 100% but she sure felt a lot better. She told me she was going to her doctor with this article and would call me when she got home. Well, she called me, and said her doctor was amazed! He is going to call all of his MS patients to find out if they consumed artificial sweeteners of any kind... In a nutshell, she was being poisoned by the Aspartame in the diet soda...and literally dying a slow and miserable death. When she got to FL, March 22nd, all she had to take was one pill, and that was a pill for the Aspartame poisoning! She is well on her way to a complete recovery and she is walking!!! No wheelchair!!! This article saved her life If it says "SUGAR FREE" on the label, DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!!!

I have spent several days lecturing at the WORLD ENVIRONMENTAL CONFERENCE on "ASPARTAME", marketed as 'NutraSweet,' 'Equal,' and 'Spoonful.' In the keynote address by the EPA, it was announced that in the United States in 2001 there is an epidemic of multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus. It was difficult to determine exactly what toxin was causing this to be rampant. I stood up and said that I was there to lecture on exactly that subject.

I will explain why Aspartame is so dangerous: When the temperature of this sweetener exceeds 86 degrees F, the wood alcohol in ASPARTAME converts to formaldehyde and then to formic acid, which in turn causes metabolic acidosis. Formic acid is the poison found in the sting of fire ants. The methanol toxicity mimics, among other conditions, multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus. Many people were being diagnosed in error. Although multiple sclerosis is not a death sentence.. methanol toxicity is! Systemic lupus has become almost as rampant as multiple sclerosis, especially with Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi drinkers. The victim usually does not know that the Aspartame is the culprit. He or she continues its use; irritating the lupus to such a degree that it may become a life-threatening condition. We have seen patients with systemic lupus become asymptotic, once taken off diet sodas.

In cases of those diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, (when in reality,the disease is methanol toxicity), most of the symptoms disappear. We've seen many cases where vision loss returned and hearing loss improved markedly. This also applies to cases of tinnitus and fibromyalgia. During a lecture, I said, "If you are using ASPARTAME, NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, etc.) and you suffer from fibromyalgia symptoms, spasms, shooting, pains, numbness in your legs, cramps, vertigo, dizziness, headaches, tinnitus, joint pain, unexplainable depression, anxiety attacks, slurred speech, blurred vision, or memory loss...you probably have ASPARTAME poisoning!" People were jumping up during the lecture saying, "I have some of these symptoms." Is it reversible?" Yes! Yes! Yes! STOP drinking diet sodas and be alert for Aspartame on food labels! Many products are fortified with it!!!

This is a serious problem. Dr. Espart (one of my speakers) remarked that so many people seem to be symptomatic for MS and during his recent visit to a hospice; a nurse stated that six of her friends, who were heavy Diet Coke addicts, had all been diagnosed with MS. This is beyond coincidence! Diet soda is NOT a diet product! It is a chemically altered, multiple SODIUM (salt) and ASPARTAME containing product that actually makes you crave carbohydrates. It is far more likely to make you GAIN weight! These products also contain formaldehyde, which stores in the fat cells, particularly in the hips and thighs. Formaldehyde is an absolute toxin and is used primarily to preserve "tissue specimens". Many products we use every day contain this chemical but we SHOULD NOT store it IN our body!!!

Dr. H. J. Roberts stated in his lectures that once free of the diet products" and with no significant increase in exercise; his patients lost an average of 19 pounds over a trial period. Aspartame is especially dangerous for diabetics. We found that some physicians, who believed that they had a patient with retinopathy, in fact, had symptoms caused by Aspartame. The Aspartame drives the blood sugar out of control. Thus diabetics may suffer acute memory loss due to the fact that aspartic acid and phenylalanine are NEUROTOXIC when taken without the other amino acids necessary for a good balance. Treating diabetes is all about BALANCE. Especially with diabetics, the Aspartame passes the blood/brain barrier and it then deteriorates the neurons of the brain; causing various levels of brain damage, seizures depression, manic depression, panic attacks, uncontrollable anger and rage. Consumption of Aspartame causes these same symptoms in non-diabetics, as well Documentation and observation also reveal that thousands of children diagnosed with ADD and AHD have had complete turnarounds in their behavior when these chemicals have been removed from their diet.

So called "behavior modification prescription drugs" (Ritalin and others) are no longer needed. Truth be told, they were never NEEDED in the first place! Most of these children were being "poisoned" on a daily basis with the very foods that were "better for them than sugar." It is also suspected that the Aspartame in thousands of pallets of diet Coke and diet Pepsi consumed by men and women fighting in the Gulf War, may be partially to blame for the well-known Gulf War Syndrome. Dr. Roberts warns that it can cause birth defects, i.e. mental retardation, if taken at the time of conception and during early pregnancy. Children are especially at risk for neurological disorders and should NEVER be given artificial sweeteners. There are many different case histories to relate of children suffering grand mal seizures and other neurological disturbances due to the use of NutraSweet. Unfortunately, it is not always easy to convince people that Aspartame is to blame for their child's illness.

Stevia, which is a sweet herb, NOT A MANUFACTURED ADDITIVE, helps in the metabolism of sugar, which would be ideal for diabetics. It has now been approved as a dietary supplement by the FDA. It is known that for many years the FDA outlawed this true sweet food," due to their loyalty to MONSANTO Chemical Company." Books on this subject are available: EXCITOTOXINS: THE TASTE THAT KILLS written by Dr. Russell Blayblock Health Press 1-800-643-2665) AND: DEFENSE AGAINST ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE-written by DR H. J. Roberts, also a diabetic specialist. These two doctors will soon be posting a position paper with case histories on the deadly effects of Aspartame on the Internet. According to the Conference of the American College of Physicians, "We are talking about a plague of neurological diseases directly caused by the use of this deadly poison." Herein lies the problem: There were Congressional Hearings when Aspartame was included 100 different products and strong objection was made concerning it's use. Since this initial hearing, there have been two subsequent hearings and still, nothing has been done. The drug and chemical lobbies have very deep pockets. Sadly, MONSANTO'S patent on Aspartame has EXPIRED!! There are now over 5,000 products on the market that contain this deadly chemical and there will be thousands more introduced. Everybody wants a "piece of the Aspartame pie."

I assure you that MONSANTO, the creator of Aspartame, knows how deadly it is. And isn't it ironic that MONSANTO funds, among others, the American Diabetes Association, the American Dietetic Association and the Conference of the American College of Physicians? This has been recently exposed in the New York Times. These cannot criticize any additives or convey their link to MONSANTO because they take money from the food industry and are required to endorse their products. Senator Howard Metzenbaum wrote and presented a bill that would require label warnings on products containing Aspartame, especially regarding pregnant women, children and infants. The bill would also institute independent studies on the known dangers and the problems existing in the general population regarding seizures, changes in brain chemistry, neurological changes and behavioral symptoms. The bill was killed. It is known that the powerful drug and chemical lobbies are responsible for his, letting loose the hounds of disease and death on an unsuspecting and uninformed public. Well, you're informed now!!!! YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW!!!!

What You Must Know
This was circulated by a lady who believes that all the research showing that aspartame is harmless and is tainted because it's funded by the company that makes aspartame. Even worse, she says, there's a conspiracy by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and others to keep this information from the public.

However, her arguments have been rebutted numerous times since the email was discovered in 1998. The FDA has reconfirmed the safety of aspartame following a review of the 2005 study conducted by the Ramazzini Institute. Please view that document here entitled 'FDA Confirms Aspartame Safety'. You can also view 'A Web of Deceit'.

My Thoughts
I believe the public has a right to know all of this information so they can decide whether or not they are going to continue using the products containing aspartame or desist from its use and be precautionary or even limit its use. All of us may never be chemists or do chemical research but we should never be left out in the dark when information like this is out there, slander or not. I feel very disturbed and ignorant (uninformed) knowing that I've never heard or seen this before.

Please leave a comment.....Please share your thoughts on this matter.

Female Sexual Dysfunction

2007-07-08T12:50:00.000-04:00

Sexuality is very complex and is coordinated by the neurologic (involving the nervous system), vascular (in relation to the vessels that transport and circulate fluids, i.e blood and lymph), and endocrine (relating to endocrine glands or the hormones secreted by them) systems.

Sexual dysfunction in it simplest sense is basically having problems with sex, whether it may be desire, arousal, orgasmic or pertaining to sexual pain. Sexual pain disorders include dyspareunia (medical term for difficult or painful sexual intercourse) and vaginismus (medical term for muscular contraction or spasm that causes the vagina to close). Up to 70% of couples have a problem with sex at some point in their relationship and about 40% of women suffer from sexual dysfunction.

The female equivalent of impotence is known as Female Sexual Arousal Disorder (FSAD). FSAD is the inability of a woman to complete sexual activity with adequate lubrication. FSAD patients have the desire to have sex but their genital area fails to respond in the normal way, making sex painful or even impossible.

The symptoms of sexual dysfunction may include lack of sexual desire, an inability to enjoy sex, insufficient vaginal lubrication, or a failure to achieve an orgasm despite being sexually aroused. Several factors contribute to this condition and these include, but are not limited to: alcohol, anxiety, depression, illness, stress, emotional problems, negative body perception (how you feel about your bodily appearances). In addition to these factors, things like particular medicines, vaginal infections and diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure and cancer may effect sexual dysfunction. Most importantly, hormonal changes in a woman can also cause sexual problems. Lower estrogen levels during menopause may lead to differences in genital tissues and sexual responsiveness. The folds of skin that cover the genital region (labia) shrink and become thinner, exposing more of the clitoris, resulting in reduced sensitivity of the clitoris or may cause an unpleasant tingling.

Treatment of this condition involves: understanding your body and its needs whether emotional, physical or otherwise; may include hormone replacement therapy; vascular treatment, which may require the use of Viagra; or seeking counselling and using certain medications. Performing Kegel exercises helps strengthen the pelvic floor muscles that are involved in pleasurable sensations by tightening the pelvic muscles as if stopping the flow of urine, then hold for a few seconds and release. On-going research suggest that Viagra, the anti-impotence drug for men, may help to treat sexual disorders in women by increasing blood flow to the sexual organs and consequently increase physical stimulation in the area. This treatment is however not absolute and is still being tested.

Erectile Dysfunction

2007-07-04T12:48:00.000-04:00

Erectile Dysfunction (ED), formerly known as impotence, is a condition for males who have difficulty having or maintaining an erection at any point in time. ED varies from the total inability to have an erection, to an inconsistent ability to do so, to having brief erections. At times erectile dysfunction may be associated with being impotent but the word impotence is generalised and, in addition to ED, refers to other problems concerning ejaculation and production of normal sperm (as mentioned in Infertility).

ED is most common in men over 65 but can affect any male at any age. Although it becomes more common as you get older, it is not a natural part of aging. It is possible to categorize ED as two types: chronic ED and transient (temporary) ED. Transient ED prevails in as many as half the population of males while chronic ED is incident in about 5% of men in their 40s and around 15-25% of men 65 and older.

Causes of ED

Damage to nerves, arteries, smooth muscles, and fibrous tissues in or around the penis is the most common cause of erectile dysfunction. Causes may be related to arousal , the response of the nervous system, the response of the blood vessels, physiological problems (e.g. anxiety, stress, depression, guilt), negative feelings, nerve damage from diabetes, certain prescribed medications (e.g. appetite suppressants), multiple sclerosis, hormonal disorders, alcoholism and drug use.

Treatment Options

Erectile dysfunction is treatable at all ages. For some men, altering their diet, losing weight, exercising to stay in shape and dismissing unhealthy habits such as smoking and 'over-drinking'. If necessary other treatment options available include, but are not limited to: psychotherapy, drug therapy (e.g the use of inhibitors such as Levitra and Viagra), hormone replacement therapy (for those with testosterone deficiency), the use of vacuum devices, implantation, and surgery.

Infertility

2007-07-01T08:40:00.000-04:00

Infertility refers to the inability of becoming pregnant after at least one year of having frequent unprotected sex with the expectations of having a baby. Infertility can be equally traced to the male or the female or both. If a year has passed in the efforts of making a baby, chances are that something is hindering you or your partner from reproducing or possibly a combination between both of you. Most preganancies happen within six months of trying and, after a year, almost 90% of couples succeed in reproduction.

Infertility In Men

-> Causes

Male fertility is conditional and depends on the ability to have and sustain an erection, having an acceptable sperm count, having enough sperm to transport sperm to the egg, and possessing sperm of the right shape and mobility (movement). Fertility in males may also be be linked to hormonal problems and general health, lifestyle or environmental factors including: stress; testosterone deficiency; smoking; use of drugs or alcohol; medications; health problems e.g. obesity, diabetes, hypertension. The choice of clothing and underwear may also be an issue.

Infertility In Women

-> Causes

Female infertility is most commonly associated with the damage or blockage of the fallopian tubes, endometriosis (a condition, usually resulting in pain and dysmenorrhea, characterized by the abnormal presence of functional endometrial tissue outside the uterus, frequently as cysts containing altered blood), ovulation disorders, elevated prolactin (a pituitary hormone that stimulates and maintains the secretion of milk), premature ovarian failure, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) - production of too much androgen hormone which affects ovulation, benign uterine fibroids, and early menopause. Similarly to male infertility, a woman's chances of being infertile may be due to certain lifestyles and environmental factors such as: stress, smoking, use of alcohol and drugs, medication, poor diet, being overweight or underweight.

How is it diagnosed?

After seeing a gynaecologist (for female), a urologist (for males) or a family doctor, several tests may be performed and questions asked. Tests for women include: hormone testing, pelvic ultrasound, and ovulation testing. Tests for men include: semen analysis, hormone testing, and general physical examination. Not all tests are performed. Your doctor determines which tests are necessary. Be aware that at times there is no known cause for infertility but fortunately couples experiencing this difficult have a high pregnancy rate after seeking medical advice and through the support of family and friends.

How is it treated?

Infertility may be treated by medication, surgery, artificial insemination and assisted reproductive technology such as in vitro fertilisation and assisted hatching. Additionally, lifestyle changes are encouraged to reduce the causes and risks of infertility such as stress and diet. Certain complications may arise with treatments like multiple pregnancy, bleeding or infection, low birth weight and birth defects.

Testicular Cancer

2007-06-27T10:41:00.000-04:00

Testicular cancer is the cancer of the male sex glands, which are the testicles (also known as testes or gonads). This type of cancer is very rare and is prominent in males aged 15-40 and is common in males who have a family history of the cancer, have an undescended testicle, have fertility problems, have had abnormal testicle development, have carcinoma in situ of the testicle or abnormal cells in the testicle. Testicular cancers develop in the tissues of the testis (singular for testes), which actually germ cells or sexually reproductive cells, e.g cells that make sperm. The main types of testicular cancers are seminomas and non-seminomas. Almost half of testicular cancers are seminomas while the remainder are non-seminomas. Seminomas grow quite slowly and are sensitive to radiation while non-seminomas have different cells that grow more quickly than seminomas. Non-seminomas usually develop at an earlier age than seminomas.

The signs and symptoms of testicular cancer include, but are not limited to:

A lump or enlargement in either testicle.
A feeling of heaviness in the scrotum.
A sudden collection of fluid in the scrotum.
Pain or discomfort in a testicle or the scrotum.
Enlargement or tenderness of the breasts.
Unexplained fatigue or a general feeling of not being well.

Testicular cancer is more common in white men than in black men. The presence of a cancer gene, TGCT1, may increase the risk of testicular cancer. This gene is passed on by the male's mother and cannot be passed on to his offspring through him.

Most cases of testicular cancers can be treated, with an even better chance if it is discovered at an earlier stage. It is possible to become infertile with treatment so considering sperm banking prior to treatments is encouraged. As the cause of testicular cancer is unknown, the best prevention is to carry-out monthly testicular self-examinations. Take care.

KIP

Testicular Self Examination

2007-06-22T15:04:00.001-04:00

Strangely enough I've never heard of a Testicular Self Examination until recently, but I've researched it and here's my presentation...

What Is TSE

Testicular Self Examination (TSE) is a personal check-up performed by males aged 15 and over, to detect any signs of a common cancer in males under the age of 40, testicular cancer (will be discussed in next post). Similarly to breast self-examination, TSE should be done at least once a month.

How To Carry Out A TSE

Stand in the shower or alternatively stand in front of a mirror after having a warm shower or bath. Hold or cup your scrotum in one hand and look for any swelling on the skin around testes.
Using your index, middle and 'ring' fingers, initially separate the epididymis and the testicle by squeezing gently on the top of the testicle with one hand and hold it there. Now you should be able to see the rounded (actually oval) shape of the testicle more vividly. Now using the other hand, gently roll the testicle between your fingers and feel for any lumps or unusual swelling.
Make sure you've checked each testicle at least twice. Lumps can be very small so be sure to check more than once if necessary.
Make a note of any change(s) you've noticed and take them with you to your next doctor visit.

Some common signs of testicular cancer:

Any enlargement of a testicle.
A significant loss of size in one of the testicles.
A feeling of heaviness in the scrotum.
A sudden collection of fluid in the scrotum.
Pain or discomfort in a testicle or in the scrotum.

You may ask why should you do this check-up while having a warm bath or just after and the answer is that, with response to changes in temperature, the testes may be drawn closer to the body (contraction) or be relaxed. With cold temperature, they are drawn inwards while with warm temperature, they droop (relaxation).

Performing a testicular self examination is just as important as carrying out a breast self examination so males take care of yourselves and also make it a routine to check your testes and be familiar with your personal assets. It will only take a few minutes. If you like, both you and your spouse may perform the TSE, but have it done each month. Don't forget, it's worth it!

Breast Self-Examination

2007-06-18T22:00:00.000-04:00

What is BSE

Breast self-examination (BSE) is a scheduled or regular check-up performed personally by women, who are normally over 20 years, to detect any signs of abnormaility (difference) in their entire breast area (see picture) and to become familiar with their personal assets. BSE allows the individual to be aware of unnatural changes within their breast tissue and to be prepared, with any signs of change, to be examined by their doctor for a second opinion. Note that your doctor relies on you to tell him/her what is normal for you and what has changed, so make it your priority to check your breast at least once a month, preferably just after your period or just before the end of your period, and 'stay on top' of your bodily changes. After the age of 40, ensure you have a yearly breast exam and mammogram.

How To Carry Out A BSE

First, stand up before a mirror that allows you to see at least from your collar bone to your 'bra line' (just below your breasts). Hands at your side, look at your entire breast area. Notice the size and shape of your breasts. Then, hands akimbo (on your hips), look at your breasts again. Lean slightly forward and look.
Now assume your initial position with your hands at your side and raise your arms straight in the air and look once more. While still looking in the mirror, squeeze each nipple between your index finger and your thumb and check for any signs of unnatural nipple discharge (bloody or watery with a red, pink or brown colour or sticky and clear in colour or brown to black in colour).
Lie on your back with the palm of your hand resting under the middle top region of your back, and possibly some support from a soft pillow or towel, use your index, middle and 'ring' fingers, of the other hand, together to gently feel your entire breast area moving from the region under your armpit to the middle of your chest, in a vertical up-and-down pattern. Increasing slightly the pressure of your touch, repeat this two more times. Then, repeat with the other breast.

Finally, make a note of any changes you've noticed. If you've noticed a change but you are skeptical about seeing a doctor, wait a few weeks and redo the BSE. Note changes again and compare them to the one(s) you've noted initially. Then decide whether or not you need to see a physician. Always remember, most changes seen or felt are benign (non-cancerous) so don't you worry.

So Ladies and Gents (who have a woman or women in their lives, e.g. mother, daughter, wife, girlfriend) encourage each other in this fight for well-being. Make it your business and routine to have your breasts checked as often as possible, and take care of yourselves. It's well worth it!

Click Here To See One of The Best Videos I've Seen On BSE

~KIP~

Least Common Types of Breast Cancer

2007-06-13T17:10:00.000-04:00

Although most types of breast cancer are localized in a lobule or duct of the breast, not all of them do. In fact, there are a number of types that are much less common in men and women than ductal or lobular carcinoma. These include but are not limited to: adenoid cystic carcinoma, inflammatory breast cancer (discussed in an earlier post), medullary carcinoma, metaplastic carcinoma, micropapillary carcinoma, mucinous carcinoma, and paget's disease of the breast.

Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma (ACC)

ACC is a relative rare form of cancer which has a tendency to develop in specific sites of the body, e.g. salivary glands, or less commonly in the skin, breast, prostate gland in men, and some other areas. It may be confused with intraductal carcinoma and invasive ductal carcinoma with a sieve-like pattern. ACC is recognised mainly by small basaloid cells (a basaloid cell is a cell usually of the epidermis resembling a basal cell) either with solid, cribriform (perforated like a sieve) or tubular growth patterns which may be mixed but any one may occur more regularly than another. ACC tumors are slow-growing and tend to become progressively worse but are are more likely to be detected than other forms of breast cancer. Fortunately, this type of breast cancer does not usually affect the lymph nodes and is unlikely to spread. There have been reported cases of ACC of the breast ranging from the ages of 19 through 90, in both males and females.

Click here to see images of adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast.

Medullary Carcinoma

Medullary breast cancer is a special type of invasive breast cancer which has a distinct boundary between normal tissue and tumor (also spelt tumour) tissue. It is also defined by the presence of white cells, also known as immune system cells, which surround the borders of its significantly large cancer cells. This variant of breast cancer has an incidence of 5 in 100 breast cancers and is likely to spread to other areas of the body. Like ACC, medullary carcinoma of the breast may be difficult to distinguish from invasive ductal carcinoma and is treated similarly.

Metaplastic Carcinoma

Metaplastic carcinoma is a very rare variant of invasive ductal carcinoma where its cancer cells may be of two or more cell types. Some types of cells present are not indicative of other breast cancer types. These cancer cells tend to remain localized. Metaplastic carcinoma of the breast is also treated similarly to invasive ductal carcinoma but tends not to be sensitive to hormone therapy.

Click here to get an idea of what these cells look like.

Micropapillary Carcinoma

Micropapillary carcinoma is a rare variant of invasive ductal carcinoma which is characterised by small, tightly cohesive tumor cell clusters within clear spaces resembling lymphatic vessels. This type of breast carcinoma is aggressive and favours to spread to the lymphatic system in most cases. Micropapillary growth is normally associated with invasive ductal carcinoma and is rarely seen separately.

Mucinous (Colloid) Carcinoma

Mucinous carcinoma is another rare type of invasive breast cancer which involves mucus-producing cancer cells which grow into a jelly-like tumor. This variant grows quite slow and is very unlikely to spread to the lymph nodes. It has an incidence of about 2 in 100 breast cancers and once treated, further treatment may not be required.

Paget's Disease of the Breast

This begins in the milk ducts of the breast as either an in situ or invasive cancer and spreads to the skin of the nipple before affecting the areola (dark circle around nipple). It appears similar to eczema. The skin of the nipple and areola may look crusted, scaly and red and there may be possible bleeding. The area may also become sore or itchy or may burn. Paget's disease affects 1 or 2 out of 100 women with breast cancer and is usually diagnosed in women aged 50-59.

Common Types of Breast Cancer

2007-06-10T12:47:00.000-04:00

Breast cancer normally originates in the ducts or lobules of the breast. If the cancer cells spread outside the ducts or lobules of the breast into the surrounding tissue, this is called invasive (infiltrating) breast cancer.

The two major types of breast cancer are:

In situ breast cancer / Pre-Invasive Breast Cancer

- This refers to a type of cancer in which the cancer cells remain confined to site of origin and have not invaded surrounding breast tissue around the duct or lobule. There are two types of in situ breast cancer, depending on site of origin:

+ Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) results as a result of abnormal cells in the lining of a milk duct that have not invaded the surrounding breast tissue. Because this is an early stage, when left untreated it may eventually develop into invasive breast cancer.

+ Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) involves abnormal cells contained within a lobule of the breast, without invading surrounding tissue. With LCIS, there is an increased risk of developing breast cancer in either breast in the future.

Invasive breast cancer

- This includes breast cancers that begun to invade surrounding tissues that support the ducts and lobules of the breast. The cancer cells are able to travel to other parts of the body. There are generally two types of invasive breast cancer:

+ Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) accounts for the majority of invasive breast cancers. Here, cancer cells form in the lining of the milk duct and eventually break free of the ductal wall to invade surrounding breast tissue. Cancer cells may remain near the origin or spread throughout the body via blood vessels or the lymphatic system.

+ Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) is less common than IDC but acts in a similar manner. ILC begins in the milk-producing lobule and then spreads to the surrounding breast tissue and, furthermore, any part of the body. Sometimes a lump is not detected instead you may feel a thickening or you may sense that your breast tissue feels different. Unfortunately, as it is hard to detect by touch, one could understand the likelihood of it being detected using a mammogram.

Inflammatory Breast Cancer

2007-05-31T13:41:00.001-04:00

The image above is an example of obvious signs and symptoms of Inflammatory Breast Cancer displaying the swollen breast, redness, inverted nipple and peau d'orange (orange-peel texture).

Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC) is one of the least common types of breast cancer which more commonly affects African Americans than any other ethnic group. IBC is an advanced and accelerated form of breast cancer usually not detected by mammograms or ultrasounds. It is, in fact, the most aggressive form of breast cancer. Treatment is different from the more common types of breast cancer, where surgery is usually performed with chemotherapy, prior to surgery, in order to reduce the size of the breast and eliminate other symptoms. Signs and symptoms observed closely resemble a benign (non-cancerous) infection like Mastitis than expected signs and symptoms of breast cancer types.

Despite its name, inflammatory breast cancer isn't caused by an inflammation or infection. Inflammatory breast cancer occurs when cancer cells clog the lymphatic vessels in the skin overlying the breast. The blockage in the lymphatic vessels causes the red, swollen and dimpled skin that's a known sign of inflammatory breast cancer.

Typical Symptoms of IBC:

swelling, usually sudden, sometimes a cup size in a few days
itching
pink, red, or dark coloured area sometimes with texture similiar to the skin of an orange.
a bruise that doesn't go away
nipple retraction (nipple is drawn inwards).
nipple discharge, may or may not be bloody.
breast is warm to the touch
breast pain (from a constant ache to stabbing pains).
change in colour and texture of the areola.

Some women who have IBC may remain undiagnosed for long periods, even while seeing their doctor to learn the cause of her symptoms. The symptoms are similar to mastitis, a breast infection and some doctors, not recognizing IBC, will prescribe antibiotics. If there is no response to antibiotics after a week, a biopsy should be performed or you may be referred to a breast specialist.
IBC has been diagnosed in very young women. An unexpected portion of young women with IBC had their first symptoms during pregnancy and lactation. Although young women are normally at lower risk for breast cancer, the fact that IBC is more aggressive than most forms of breast cancer, this type of cancer progresses to about stage IV by the time of diagnosis, when the cancer has already began to spread.
Some reasons why IBC is not detected as soon as it should:

Each case of IBC is different in each individual so there may be some signs but not others.
Sign and symptoms are comparable to a relatively minor breast infection.
Some women and men who are diagnosed with IBC are misdiagnosed initially.
IBC can diffuse through the breast without palpable (capable of being touched or felt) mass.

Note:
Inflammatory Breast Cancer is typically abbreviated as IBC. Non-inflammatory breast cancer may include in its diagnosis the terms "in situ breast cancer," "infiltrating breast cancer," or "invasive breast cancer" all of which may be abbreviated with "ibc," but those terms alone do not specify inflammatory breast cancer. To add to the possible confusion, the diagnosis may include more that one kind of breast cancer; for example "inflammatory breast cancer, invasive ductal carcinoma, and mucinous carcinoma" all in the same breast. So if a person you know has been described as having IBC or ibc, it may be well to ask what that is abbreviating, since it may not be "inflammatory breast cancer" and therefore the symptoms and other information presented here may not apply.

Breast Cancer (Intro)

2007-05-30T22:25:00.000-04:00

Breast cancer is the leading cause of death in women, apart from lung cancer. Every two minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer while every twelve minutes a woman dies of it. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK. One in every nine women in the UK will develop breast cancer at some point in her life. It is the leading cause of death for women aged 34 to 54. Breast cancer affects Caucasian women most often followed by African American, Asian American and Pacific Islander, Hispanic or Latinas, and Native American women.

Breast cancer, also known as breast carcinoma, is a cancer formed in tissues of the breast, usually the ducts (tubes that carry milk to the nipple) and lobules (glands that produce milk). It occurs in both men and women, although male breast cancer is rare. No one knows why some women get cancer, but there are a number of risk factors. Risks that cannot be changed include:

Age - the chances of developing breast cancer rises as a woman gets older.

Genes - Most inherited cases of breast cancer have been associated with two genes: BRCA1, which stands for BReast CAncer gene one, and BRCA2, which stands for BReast CAncer gene two. The functions of these genes is to keep breast cells growing normally but when abnormalities, or mutations exist in these genes, they are associated with a greater breast cancer risk. Women diagnosed with breast cancer who have an abnormal BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene often have a family history of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, or both. However, research on these genes are still in progress.
Personal factors - beginning periods before age 12 or going through menopause after 55.

Other risks include being overweight, using hormone replacement therapy, taking birth control pills, drinking alcohol, not having children, having your first child after age 35 or having dense breast.

Symptoms of breast cancer include a lump in the breast, a change in size or shape of the breast or discharge from a nipple. Treatment may consist of radiation, lumpectomy, mastectomy, chemotherapy and hormone therapy.

Women who were treated for Hodgkin's disease with radiation, or also endured frequent X-rays during treatment for scollosis at a young age are at higher risk.

Interesting fact:

Pregnancy seems to give some protection against breast cancer, and the protection is greater the younger a woman is at her first pregnancy.

Prostate Screening

2007-05-28T12:12:00.000-04:00

Digital rectal exam (DRE). The doctor inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum and feels the prostate to check for anything abnormal.

In the diagram on the left, urine flows normally while, on the right, urine flow is hindered.

Screening involves the detection of cancer through diagnostic test(s) performed before any symptoms occur. There is no standard or routine screening test for prostate cancer. Test for prostate cancer detection are still being tested but, for the time being, the main test are:

Digital Rectal Exam - The doctor inserts a lubricated, gloved finger into the rectum and feels the prostate through the rectal wall (seen above). The prostate is checked for hard or lumpy areas or anything unusual.
Blood test for PSA (Prostate-specific Antigen) - A lab checks the level of PSA in a man's blood sample. A high PSA level is commonly caused by BPH ( Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia) or inflammation of the prostate (prostatitis). However, high levels of PSA in men also give a possible indication of prostate cancer.

These tests cannot show whether the problem is cancer or a less serious condition. Further tests, according to the outcome of the previous tests, must be performed to detect signs of cancer.

Prostate Cancer Questionnaire

Prostate Cancer

2007-05-27T15:19:00.000-04:00

Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in America, affecting 1 in 6 men. A man dies from prostate cancer every 19 minute. More than 65% of all prostate cancers are diagnosed in men over the age of 65 with African American men 56% more like than Caucasian men to develop prostate cancer and nearly 2.5 times as likely to die from the disease. Prostate cancer is less common in Asian and American Indian men. The cure rate is very high, when caught and treated in the early stages.

Prostate cancer occurs when the cells of the prostate begin to grow uncontrollably. The prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system found below the bladder and in front of the rectum (as seen above). It's primary function is to produce seminal fluid, which nourishes and transports sperm out of a man's body. Male hormones, androgens, which are produced in the testes, make the prostate grow. If it grows too large, it squeezes the urethra and and may slow or stop the flow of urine from the bladder to the penis. Prostate cancer usually grows slow and if left untreated can begin to invade tissues and cause damage. It may spread to other areas of the body where it can cause significant harm. Some forms of prostate cancer are aggressive and can spread quickly to other parts of the body.

Noone knows the exact causes of prostate cancer. However, the risk factors are: age, family history, race, certain prostate changes and diet.

Nutrition

Increased consumption of cruciferous vegetables (e.g. broccoli, cabbage,radish,etc) can provide some benefit in prostate cancer prevention and consumption of specidic foods, particularly those derived from tomatoes, have been shown to have a significant effect on the development and progression of prostate cancer.

Lycopene, a naturally occurring chemical found mostly in tomatoes, but also in watermelon, pink grapefruits, guava and papaya, has long been known as the most "prostate healthy" compounds available.

Lung Cancer Diagnosis

2007-05-25T11:16:00.000-04:00

Doctors use a wide range of diagnostic procedures and tests to diagnose lung cancer. These include but are not limited to:

A complete medical history (to check for risk factors and symptoms) and a physical examination which may reveal the presence of symptoms or signs that give an indication of lung cancer. In addition to asking about symptoms and risk factors for cancer development, doctors may detect signs of breathing difficulties, airway obstruction, or infections in the lungs.

Blood tests - Although routine blood tests cannot diagnose lung cancer alone, they may reveal abnormalities in the body that may be associated to cancer.

The chest x-ray is the most common first diagnostic step when any new symptoms of lung cancer are present. The chest x-ray procedure often involves a view from the back to the front of the chest as well as a view from the side. Like any x-ray procedure, chest x-rays expose the patient briefly to a minimum amount of radiation. Chest x-rays may reveal suspicious areas in the lungs but are unable to determine if these areas are cancerous.

Bronchoscopy - the examination of the bronchi (the main airways of the lungs) using a rigid or a flexible tube (bronchoscope). Bronchoscopy helps to evaluate and diagnose lung problems, assess blockages, obtain samples of tissue and/or fluid, and/or to help remove a foreign body. The procedure can be uncomfortable and require sedation or anesthesia. After this procedure patients may cough up dark-brown blood for one to two days. More serious complications may arise as well.

Sputum cytology - The diagnosis of lung cancer always requires confirmation of malignant cells by a pathologist, even when symptoms and x-ray studies are suspicious for lung cancer. The simplest method to establish the diagnosis is the examination of sputum (a secretion that is produced in the lungs and the bronchi) under a microscope. If a tumor is centrally located and has invaded the airways, this procedure, known as a sputum cytology examination, may allow tumor cells to be visible for diagnosis. This is the most risk-free and inexpensive tissue diagnostic procedure, but its value is limited since tumor cells will not always be present in sputum even if a cancer is present. Unfortunately, noncancerous cells may occasionally undergo changes in reaction to inflammation or injury that makes them look like cancer cells.

Positron emission tomography (PET) - a specialized imaging technique that uses short-lived radioactive substances to produce three-dimensional colored images of those substances functioning within the body. Combining glucose (a common energy source in the body) with a radioactive substance will show where glucose is being used in a growing tumor. Tissues that use the glucose more than normal tissues (such as tumors) can be detected by a scanning machine. PET scans can be used to find small tumors or to check if treatment for a known tumor is working.

Lung Cancer

2007-05-23T15:09:00.000-04:00

The choice is yours.....

Healthy Lung or Unhealthy Lung ?

Lung cancer is uncontrollable growth of abnormal cells in one or both of the lungs. As a result of these abnormal cells reproducing rapidly, cancer cells (tumors) form and damage the lung, making it dysfunctional.

There are two main types of lung cancers: non-small cell and small cell. Non small cell lung cancer accounts for about 80% of lung cancers while small cell lung cancer accounts for the other 20%. Non small cell cancers are named for the kinds of cells found in the cancer and how the cells look under a microscope. They spread much more slowly than small cell. Among non-small cell cancers are these types of tumors:

Epidermold carcinoma (also called squamous cell carcinoma)
- This forms in the lining of the bronchial tubes (the smaller air passages leading from the bronchi deeper into the lung tissue). This is the most prevalent type of lung cancer in men.
Adenocarcinoma is found in the mucus glands of the lungs. This is the most common type of lung cancer in women and among people who have not smoked.

In small cell lung cancer, the cells are small, they multiply quickly and form large tumors that can spread throughout the body. In fact, small cell lung cancer is much more likely to spread to another organ in the body than non small cell lung cancer. Smoking is almost always the cause of small cell lung cancer.

Some important facts:

Most cases of lung cancers are related to smoking.
Not all smokers develop lung cancer.
African American women have the highest incidence rates of lung cancer followed by Caucasians, Asian-Pacific Islanders, Hispanics, and American Indians/Native Alaskans.
African American men are at least 50% more likely to develop lung cancer than caucasian men.
Annually, lung cancer kills more men than prostate cancer and more women than breast cancer.

Cancer Treatment

2007-05-22T12:44:00.000-04:00

Each type of cancer must be dealt with specifically.The major types of treatment are:

Chemotherapy
A drug or combination of drugs are administered to kill cancer cells by hindering their growth and reproduction, with minimal side effects. The drug used are usually given through injection or by mouth. Chemotherapy may be used alone or along with radiation therapy or surgery. Although many unpleasant side effects may result from this treatment, e.g nausea or mouth sores, new and improved approaches have been developed to prevent or moderate these effects.

It is very important to stay positive and take care of yourself during treatment. Eating right can boost your strength and also have as much rest as possible.

Surgery
Certain types of cancer are treated most effectively by simply removing the tumor surgically. Surgery is the oldest form of treating cancer and can also have an important role in diagnosing and staging of cancer.

Surgery is done for many reason which include, but are not limited to: preventative surgery, diagnostic surgery, supportive surgery, reconstructive surgery.

Cryosurgery is a technique for freezing and killing abnormal cells. It is used to treat some kinds of cancer and some precancerous or noncancerous conditions, and can be used both inside the body and on the skin. The technique is still under study, and its long-term effectiveness is not known.

Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy specifically acts against cells that are reproducing rapidly. Radiation therapy uses high energy x-rays to damage the DNA of cells, thereby killing the cancer cells, or at least stopping them from reproducing. Radiation also damages normal cells, but because normal cells are growing more slowly, they are better able to repair this radiation damage than are cancer cells. In order to give normal cells time to heal and to reduce a patient's side effects, radiation treatments are typically given in small daily doses, five days a week, over a six-or seven-week period. It is estimated that more than 50% of cancer patients will receive radiation at some point during their treatment.

Radiation therapy is considered to be a "localized" therapy because it treats a specific localized area of the body. This is in contrast to systemic therapies, such as chemotherapy, which travel throughout the body. There are two main types of radiation therapy: external radiation therapy, where a beam of radiation is directed from outside the body, and internal radiation therapy, also called brachytherapy or implant therapy, where a source of radioactivity is surgically placed inside the body near the tumor.

There are many other treatment options so don't refuse to explore your options. Speak with a health care professional and/or your personal physician and get as much information you need.
Knowledge is power so know your facts and be informed. God bless!

Carcinogens or Cancer-Inducing Agents

2007-05-21T11:38:00.000-04:00

Some known human carcinogens...

Agents:
Asbestos, benzene, cyclosporin (ciclosporin), Diethylstilbestrol (DES), Estrogen therapy (postmenopausal), Hepatitis B virus (chronic infection with),
Hepatitis C virus (chronic infection with), Human papillomavirus type 16,
Human papillomavirus type 18, Oral contraceptives, combined (Note: There is also conclusive evidence that these agents have a protective effect against cancers of the ovary and endometrium), Vinyl chloride.

Mixtures:
Alcoholic beverages, Salted fish (Chinese-style), Tobacco products, oral tobacco products, Wood dust.

Exposure Circumstances:
Arsenic in drinking water, furniture and cabinet making, Involuntary smoking, Painter (occupational exposure as a), strong inorganic acid mists containing sulfuric acid (occupational exposure to).

Causes of Cancer

2007-05-21T11:01:00.000-04:00

Nearly all types of cancer are common in middle-aged and elderly people than in young people. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer for both men and women. The most common type of cancer among men is prostate cancer; among women, it is breast cancer. Brain cancer and leukemia are the most common cancers in children and young adults.

As stipulated by years of research, clearly cancer does not develop as a result of injury. Cancer develops gradually as a result of a complex mix of factors related to environment, lifestyle and heredity. Though certain viruses may increase the risk of some types of cancer, cancer is not contagious. This means that cancer cannot be passed on through contact with another individual.

About 80% of all cancers are related to the use of tobacco products, to what we consume or ingest and to a lesser extent, to exposure to radiation or cancer-causing agents in the environment and the workplace. Some people are more sensitive to these cancer-causing factors than others.

Cancer

2007-05-17T12:51:00.001-04:00

Some general info I compiled on cancer...

Cancer develops when cells in a particular part of the body begin to grow out of control. There are many kinds of cancer, all arise because of out-of-control growth of abnormal cells. Normal cells usually divide a multiple of times during the growth period of our life-span and after this period passes, new cells replace old cells when necessary. In contrast to normal cells, cancer cells continue to grow and divide. These cancer cells outlive normal cells and endlessly form new abnormal cells.

Damage to the DNA can result to the development of cancer cells. Damaged DNA can be inherited which accounts for inherited cancers.

Cancer usually forms as a tumour. Some cancers, like leukemia, do not form tumours. Instead, these cancer cells involve the blood and blood-forming organs and circulate through other tissues where they grow. It is characterized by multiplication of blood cells, usually white blood cells.

Regardless of where a cancer may spread, it is always named for the place it began.

Not all tumours are cancerous. Benign (noncancerous) tumours do not spread to other parts of the body and with very rare exceptions, are not life threatening.

Stomach Cancer

2007-05-16T12:51:00.000-04:00

The most common cancer that affects the stomach is adenocarcinoma, which arises in the glands of the innermost layer of the stomach. This tumor tends to spread through the wall of the stomach and from there into the adjoining organs (pancreas and spleen) and lymph nodes. It can spread through the bloodstream and lymph system to distant organs (metastasize).

The cause of stomach cancer is unknown. Age and gender are risk factors. The disease is more common in men over the age of 55. A diet high in salt and nitrates and low in vitamins A and C increases the risk for stomach cancer. Other dietary risk factors include food preparation (e.g., preserving food by smoking, salt-curing, pickling, or drying) and environment (e.g., lack of refrigeration, poor drinking water). A diet high in raw fruits and vegetables, citrus fruits, and fiber may lower the risk for stomach cancer.

Acquired risk factors:

Cigarette smoking

Infection with Heliobacter pylori bacteria (a bacteria related to stomach ulcers) or Epstein-Barr virus

Obesity

Occupational factors (e.g., working in rubber and coal industries)

Personal history of gastrointestinal cancer, previous abdominal radiation, or stomach surgery

Signs and Symptoms
Early stomach cancer usually does not cause symptoms . Symptoms usually indicate advanced disease and include the following:

Abdominal discomfort or pain

Blood in stool

Bloating (especially after eating)

Diarrhea or constipation

Fatigue

Gastrointestinal bleeding

Indigestion or heartburn

Loss of appetite (anorexia)

Nausea and vomiting

Weight loss

Treatment

A treatment plan is designed to fit each patient's needs. Treatment for stomach cancer depends on the size, location, and extent of the tumor, the stage of the disease, the patient's general health, and other factors.

Final note:
The reduction in the use of salt, nitrates, as well as smoked products, combined with an increased use of fruits and fresh vegetables in the diet, is the best way of avoiding stomach cancer, according to current knowledge.

The Banana

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Bananas contain three natural sugars along with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost energy. Research has proven that just two bananas provide energy for a strenuous 90-minute work out. Energy is not the only way a banana can keep us fit, it can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions.

Depression:
In a recent survey amongst people suffering from depression, many felt better after having a banana. This is because bananas contain a type of protein that the body converts to serotonin, improve your mood and generally make you happier.

Anaemia:
High in iron, bananas stimulate the production of haemoglobin in the blood.

Blood Pressure:
Bananas are high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to combat blood pressure.

Constipation:
High in fiber, bananas can help restore normal bowel action.

Heart Burn:
Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body.

Morning Sickness:
Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Nerves:
Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Ulcers:
The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It also neutralizes over acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Smoking and Tobacco use:
Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress:
Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heart beat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body’s water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes:

According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%.

Mineral-> Magnesium

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Strawberries contain a wide range of mineral salts, among them magnesium, which makes them a diuretic valuable in the treatment of kidney diseases.

Magnesium has increased in importance over the years due to its role in many physiological functions.

It frequently happens that ordinary diet provides insufficient quantities of this important mineral. This is due to the infrequent use of whole cereals and nuts, which are rich in magnesium.

Functions

It acts as a catalyst of many chemical reactions which take place in the body. It exerts an especially important function in the nervous system, regulating the transmission of its impulses to the peripheral nerves.

With a lack of magnesium you can expect:

A general sense of fatigue.

Muscular cramps, rigidity, spasms in the eyelids or in other muscles.

Neurological alterations with a tendency toward spasms in different organisms which are manifested by: stomach aches, irritated colon, menstrual cramps, a feeling of tightness in the chest, and heart palpitations among others.

Nuts, cereal, legumes and vegetables are the most important sources of magnesium.

Mineral-> Iodine

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The body needs iodine to synthesize the hormones produced in the thyroid gland. These hormones fulfill important metabolic functions:

Accelerates the combustion of nutrients that provide energy requirements.
Develop the nervous system in children, so that when iodine is insufficient, a form of mental retardation may develop.

The need for iodine is very small: about 0.14 milligrams per day. Normally fruit and vegetables supply sufficient iodine if the soil they were grown in contains it.

Fish have an abundance of iodine, although their use is not indispensable in satisfying the daily needs.

Iron In The Vegetarian Diet

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Iron is found widely throughout all animal and vegetable foods, and a varied diet abundantly provides for the daily needs, including that of women.

The lesser absorption of iron coming from plants is compensated in two ways:

The concentration of iron found in plant foods in higher than in meats, except liver. Milk hardly has any iron.
It has been demonstrated that vitamin C, very abundant in the vegetarian diet, greatly increases the absortion of iron, even doubling it. This is an important reason for including vegetables and/ or fruit, rich in vitamin C, in each meal.

Against popular belief, there is no reason for vegetarian diets to be poor in iron. The fact is that anaemia caused by poor nutrition is quite frequent, affecting both those who eat meat and those who are vegetarians. For a time it was thought that meat was necessary because of its iron content, and those who did not eat meat ran the risk of having anaemia. But today we know that the vegetarian diet is superior in its iron content and that its absorption presents no problems if fresh foods rich in vitamin C are consumed.

Nuts, legumes and cereals contain more iron than meat, except liver. Spirula algae, brewer's yeast, sesame seed, and pollen are, together with soybeans, the vegetarian foods richest in iron.

Persons who have low iron absorption, or when the daily requirements increase, could well use a supplement of this mineral.

Mineral -> Iron

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Image shows sesame seeds which are a good source of iron.

The organism of an adult contains between three and four grams of iron. Although small, this quantity performs a function of vital importance. The larger part of iron is found in the blood, forming part of the haemoglobin, which causes the typical red colour and allows the transportation of oxygen from lungs to all cells.

Iron does not exist as an isolated chemical element within the body, which would behave as an authentic poison, but combines with proteins.

Daily Need of Iron
The major part of iron found in the body recycles itself for minimal loss.

In certain situations the need for iron increases:

Menstruating women.

During pregnancy and breast-feeding.

During adolescence the need for iron increases because of growth and the beginning of menstruation in young women.

Any abnormal hemorrage causes a significant loss of iron which may easily produce anaemia.

An Excess of Protein Leads to a Loss of Calcium

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It's important to emphasize a fact in relation to calcium. Proteins are necessary so that calcium will remain fixed in the bones, but an excess can be harmful. This seems to be an important factor in the cause of osteoperosis.

The more proteins ingested, especially if they are of animal origin, the more blood is acidified by the action of lactic and uric acids which are formed when proteins are metabolized. This forces the body to use part of its calcium reserves to compensate for the excess of acid. For one of the functions of calcium is to maintain the balance between the acid and alkaline substances in the blood.

Furthermore, calcium forms soaps which cannot be absorbed by the intestines as it binds with the fatty acids coming from the digestion of fats. Therefore a rich supply of fats makes the absorption of calcium difficult.

However, it must be understood that, aside from this, osteoporosis has other causes of a hormonal or metabolic nature. But it has been demonstrated that the use of meat in large quantities and cured cheese increases loss of calcium, and worsens the illness. On the other hand, a balanced vegetarian diet which contains the needed proteins has an alkalizing effect, diminishes the loss of calcium and acts as a preventive of osteoporosis, especially if it is accompanied with physical exercise.

Mineral -> Calcium

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It is the most abundant mineral in the body, whose salts form the substance that hardens the skeleton and teeth. The body of an adult contains between 1 and 1.5 kilos of calcium, the larger quantity (99%) is found in bones and teeth. and a small portion (1%) in the blood and the rest of the organism.

In addition to being part of the skeleton, calcium performs other interesting functions in the body:

It intervenes in the transmission of nerve impulses, especially in the heart, thus maintaining the cardiac rhythm.
It is needed to maintain a normal coagulation of the blood.
It regulates the basic acid balance of blood, keeping it from becoming too acidic. In this way it neutralises the acid which normally is produced through the metabolism of proieins.

Calcium needs vitamin D to be absorbed into the intestines and thus be passed on to the blood.

The deficiency of calcium is first manifested in a condition known as tetany, which is characterized by muscular cramps which can actually become spasms. When this persists, it causes changes in the heart rhythm (palpitations), nervous irritability, loss of the normal hardness of the bones (rickets in children, and osteoorosis or osteomalacia in adults), pain in the joints and loss of teeth.

Suggestions for The Reduction of Cholesterol Levels

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Decrease the use of meat, especially beef and pork, as well as viscera, sausages, etc.
Learn to cook without egg yolks.
Do not eat more than three whole eggs per week. There is no limit to egg whites (cholesterol is found only in the yolk).
Preferably use low fat or fat free milk and dairy products, especially avoiding cream, butter and fatty cheeses
Reduce the use of commercial sweets, pastries, and desserts containing animal fats.
Increase the use of vegetable fiber (whole grains, fruits, especially apples, and vegetables), which absorb the biliary salts needed for the formation of cholesterol in the intestines.
Use olive oil, alternating with seed oils (corn, wheat germ, sunflower, grape seeds,etc.)
Avoid nervous tension and stress.
Perform physical exercise daily (for at least one hour).
Keep your weight down.

Practical Norms For The Culinary Use of Fats

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Limit the use of foods high in fats. Both carbohydrates and proteins are digested more slowly when they have been cooked in fats.
Use fats obtained from vegetables (olive or seed oil) instead of animal fats (butter, bacon, or lard)
Avoid fried foods, especially when dealing with animal products (meat and fish). Fats, especially the animals fats, decompose at high temperatures, as happens during the frying process. Thus, irritating substances are formed such as acrolein, which is highly indigestible, producing a feeling of heaviness in the stomach, and intestinal discomfort. If you must fry, it is preferable to use vegetable products, at not excessively high temperatures, thus being more adequate for frying.
Do not use more than two foods rich in fats in one meal (for example, avocados, mayonnaise, ice cream, or cream).
Control the use of hidden fats which often accompany prepared or canned foods, such as chocolate, crackers, pastries or preserves.

Functions Performed By Linoleic Acid

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Building nerve tissue
Formation and renewal of skin and its annexes (hair, nails, etc)
Synthesis of the prostaglandins
Body growth
Lowers blood cholesterol and heart attack risk.

Linoleic acid and linolenic acid are found principally in grain germs (wheat, corn, oats, etc.) and in nuts. Animal foods also contain these acids, although in a proportion ten times smaller and always accompanied by saturated fatty acids and cholesterol harmful to health.

Deficits of these essential fatty acids are revealed in growth retardation, dryness of the skin, dermatitis, and nerve and genital diseases.

Nutrients Which Can Not Be Substituted

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Some nutrients are incapable of being synthesized from other chemical components, and this requires that they come from the outside.

Essential Amino Acids
They are a part of proteins, whether they be of animal or vegetable origin. There are certain amino acids which may be obtained from the essential amino acids, but the latter cannot be substituted.

Essential Fatty Acids
These are the polysaturated fatty acids (linoleic and linolenic) which are found above all in vegetable oils and oily dried foods, especially in nuts.

Vitamins and Minerals
These are found in all foods, especially in vegetables. Excess vitamins can be dangerous. An excess of vitamin A in its final state (retinol) is toxic to man. Poisoning symptoms, known as hypervitaminosis A, are: fatigue, nervousness, pain in the bones, decalcification, headaches, and dizziness.

Water
It is found in all foods but in a quantity insufficient to provide daily needs. Because of this, 6-8 cups of water should be taken daily, a quantity which, in summer time, may need to be doubled, or even more.

Fiber
Fiber is found only in plant foods, especially in whole grains, fruit and garden products. Though it is not a nutrient in the strictest sense, because it cannot be assimilated, it is indispensable for the good functioning of the organism.

Proteins

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Daily Need of Proteins According To Age

Age/years Grams

0-1 13-14

1-3 16

4-6 24

7-10 28

Males 11-24 45-58

Adult Males 63

Females 11-24 46

Adult Females 50

Pregnant women 60

Lactating women 65

Some Situations in Which An Increased Comsumption of Proteins Is Recommended

Times of growth(children and adolescents)
Pregnancy and lactation
Convalescence from infectious diseases or from surgery.
In cases of persistent excessive perspiration.

Persistent conditions of nervous tension.

Combinations Which Provide Proteins of Good Quality

Milk or Milk Products with Cereals

+ Dried cereal with milk

+ Oat flakes with other cereals cooked in milk

+ Rice with cottage cheese

+ Bread and cottage cheese

Cereals with Legumes

+ Rice with lentils

+ Wheat or oat flakes with chick peas

+ Rice and beans

Legumes with Vegetables

+ Green beans and tomatoes

+ Vegetable soup with beans

+ Lentils with potatoes

Cereals with Vegetables

+ Corn with green beans

+ Rice with vegetables

Painful Hunger

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Some persons feel an irressistible hunger which even becomes painful, with an intense sensation of emptiness in the stomach eased only by eating. This generally happens at night.

This is a symptom of gastroduodenal ulcer. This is due to an excess of gastric juices in the stomach which irritate the lining, provoking violent contractions known as hunger pains. In this case eating supper is recommended. It is good to eat a small quantity of cold alkanizing foods, such as:
cold milk, bananas or apples, crackers or cereals.

Very hot foods, sauces, coffee, fried and heavy foods should be avoided.

Diet and Beauty

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The Skin
Eat an abundant quantity of fruit and vegetables which provide vitamins A and C. Eliminate foods overloaded with spices and abstain from alcoholic beverages. Replacing the use of animal fats with vegetable oils may be sufficient to restore health to abused skin.

Hair and Nails
To have silky and shiny hair,and resistant and well-formed nails, we should have a diet rich in vitamins and minerals which may be found mainly in fruits and vegetables. Iron and silicon are two minerals whose lack will especially affect the firmness of nails.

Eyes
Sufficient vitamins A and B2 enhance the appearance of eyes. The so-called coloured vegetables(peppers, carrots, tomatoes) are good sources of vitamin A in the form of carotene.

Smiles
Foods rich in calcium, such as dry fruit or milk provide the needed ingredients to sustain healthy teeth.

Weight
In order to maintain weight within correct limits; it is good to base the diet on vegetarian foods: fruit, cereals(grains) and garden products.

Healthy Lifestyle

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So many people nowadays concentrate on their nutrition for obvious reasons. Over the years, nutrition has become more and even more critical to our daily lifestyles, habits and common ailments.

Some positive habits for a healthy lifestyle are:
- Eating at least three pieces of fruit each day.
- Eating at least one plate of raw vegetables a day.
- Regularly eating whole cereals.
- Using olive, seed or vegetable oils.
- Drinking 4 to 8 glasses of water everyday.
- Engaging in some physical exercise each week.
- Maintaining a good mental attitude is very important.
- Maintaining a regular schedule of meals, trying not to eat too much at a time.

*Important*
-> Often eat fresh fruit, vegetables and cereals with high fiber content.
-> The time and manner in which food is eaten affects one's health.
-> Acquire the habit of taking all things calmly; of not worrying about yourself; of not holding grudges against others or 'yourself'; of confidently smiling as you face the problems of life.