Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Cockroaches Brains To Prolong Antibiotics Era!

According to the results of the research conducted by Simon Lee and colleague of the University of Nottingham, powerful antibiotics properties are found in brains of cockroaches. Yes, that is not a bad joke. Cockroaches may make your skin crawl, but the insects - or, to be exact, their brains - could one day save your life.
It was discovered that the tissues in cockroaches contain nine different molecules that were toxic to bacteria and which could lead to novel treatments for multi-drug resistant bacterial infections.
They found that the brain and nervous system tissues of these insects can kill more than 90% of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) without putting at hazard human cells.
Mr. Lee noted that their discovery is advantageous to pharmaceutical industry because it will pave the way for the development of drugs to treat E. coli and MRSA infections, which are known to be resistant to the antibiotic drugs used at present days. He believes that the new antibiotics could be a good substitution for what we are having now available in the market.
The professor asserts these insects have their own antimicrobial in their bodies to protect themselves from unsanitary and unhygienic environments, containing various types of bacteria, they lived in.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

How to Relieve Neck & Shoulder Tension: Massage & Stress Relief | eHow.com

How to Relieve Neck & Shoulder Tension: Massage & Stress Relief | eHow.com

Relieving neck and shoulder tension is one of the most common advantages of getting a massage, and usually requires more pressure in the tense areas. Get rid of your neck and shoulder tension with tips from a licensed massage therapist in this free video on massages.


Monday, August 23, 2010

Can I Consume Alcohol When Taking Antidepressants?


The incredible popularity of antidepressant pills has, according to some experts, changed the way Americans think about depression. With the introduction of these pills, depression began to be accepted as a neurochemical imbalance to be corrected with the medications, more like high blood pressure or diabetes. For many people, these compounds are lifesavers. They relieve depression, improve outlook and make life worth living. They can provide a sense of optimism and energy. In addition to restoring hope, some of these drugs have also been employed to battle bulimia (an eating disorder) and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).

Since a lot of people are on antidepressants, a question about alcohol consume when taking antidepressants has become quite common today. Although it's generally best to avoid combining antidepressants with alcohol, practically many people are not willing to completely give up alcohol when taking antidepressants. That's why many health care providers take a moderate approach, recommending abstinence from alcohol as the best choice but also providing some guidance for the use of alcohol and antidepressants.

What is moderate drinking?

When health care providers recommend a moderate consume of alcohol, they mean just one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men. Because the alcohol content in drinks varies, what counts as one drink also varies. When health care providers talk about one alcoholic drink, they are referring to one of the following examples:

  • 12 ounces of beer
  • 5 ounces of wine
  • 1 ounce of 80-proof whiskey, or 1 ounce of 100-proof spirits.

Remember that having a little food and drinking your alcohol slowly can help minimize any problems caused by combining alcohol with antidepressants.

Still, there are some side effects which may happen when mix alcohol with antidepressants and you should be aware of them:

  • You may feel more depressed. Alcohol can worsen depression symptoms, so by drinking it, you could counteract effects of your medication and lessen its benefit.

  • You may become more intoxicated than usual. Some antidepressants may cause you to feel more intoxicated than normal when combined with alcohol, which can impair your judgment and ability to drive or do other tasks that require focus and attention.

  • The side effects from your medication may worsen. Some antidepressants cause drowsiness, dizziness, slow reaction time or even passing away, and so does alcohol. Mixing the two could make you sleepy, which is dangerous in situations where you need to be alert. So combining antidepressants with alcohol may affect twice your ability to perform certain functions as driving a car or operating machinery.

  • Deadly reactions can occur with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). Examples of MAOIs include isocarboxazid (Marplan) phenelzine (Nardil) and tranylcypromine (Parnate). When combined with certain types of beverages and foods, these antidepressants can cause a dangerous spike in blood pressure, leading to a stroke. If you take an MAOI, be sure you know what's safe to eat and drink, and which alcoholic beverages can cause a reaction.

The first time you combine alcohol with an antidepressant, be sure to do so in a safe situation, in the company of someone you trust. And of course, while it's generally better not to drink at all if you are depressed, ask your doctor. It may be OK to have an occasional drink depending on your particular situation, but it's better to tell your doctor in advance about any other health conditions you might have and any other medications you take. Each, even insignificant detail can be very important and create side effects you would never expect.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/antidepressants-and-alcohol/AN01653

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Antidepressants Treatment – Pros And Cons.


Modern life sets incredibly high requirements for the society. It resembles the biggest race of mankind. Far not everyone can follow it, which creates nervous break-downs and deep depressions. The latter, as a result, leads to the weakening of the immune system – creating a fertile ground for diseases.

Sometimes medication is necessary to treat symptoms of depression and anxiety if these symptoms interfere with a person's ability to handle daily life events.

For example, anxiety and fear is a common part of person's life. Feeling anxious before a stressful event or while walking down a dark street is not bad - these kinds of responses can make you more alert or careful. Normal, healthy anxiety usually ends soon after a person is out of the situation that caused it. But for 40 million adults in the United States, feeling of anxiety does not go away and get worse over time. Anxiety disorders range from feelings of uneasiness to immobilizing bouts of terror. People experiencing an anxiety disorder may have chest pains or nightmares or even be afraid of leaving home.

In this case the medication treatment is not just recommended, but necessary. According to the National Institutes of Mental Health, 90 percent of people with emotional illnesses can improve or recover if they receive treatment. With proper antidepressants, many people experiencing anxiety disorders can live a full life. The incredible popularity have received such antidepressants as Zoloft, Prozac and Lexapro. But these strong medications have their own pros and cons, which a person should consider when decides to take it.

Pro: Effective Treatment of Depression

Like the name suggests, antidepressants do treat depression effectively when therapy might have failed or when they are used concurrently with psychotherapy.

Pro: Help Against Eating Disorders

Antidepressants also help battle eating disorders, such as bulimia and anorexia.

Con: Decreased Sexual Abilities

Some antidepressants cause delayed ejaculation in men, inability to achieve orgasm and decreased sexual appetite in general. Some people are willing to forego sexual activity to feel better. Others find this trade-off unacceptable.

Con: Wide Variety of Side Effects

Antidepressants cause a variety of side effects, differing from person to person, thus making it hard to guess how the medication will negatively affect someone. However, not everyone who takes antidepressants will experience side effects. In fact, most patients taking antidepressants tolerate them well.

The most widely prescribed antidepressants come from a class of medications known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). The SSRIs include: Fluoxetine (Prozac), Fluvoxamine (Luvox), Sertraline (Zoloft), Paroxetine (Paxil), Escitalopram (Lexapro), Citalopram (Celexa).

Common side effects of SSRI antidepressants:

  • Nausea
  • Insomnia
  • Anxiety
  • Restlessness
  • Decreased sex drive
  • Dizziness
  • Weight gain or loss
  • Tremors
  • Sweating
  • Sleepiness
  • Fatigue
  • Dry mouth
  • Diarrhea
  • Constipation
  • Headaches

We hope that learning the facts about antidepressants and weighing the benefits against the risks can help you make an informed and personal decision about whether medication is right for you.

Friday, July 23, 2010

Where Can I Buy Amoxicillin Antibiotics Online?


First of all, lets clear up, what Amoxicillin antibiotic is. Amoxicillin is an antibiotic in the penicillin group of drugs. It fights bacteria in your body. Amoxicillin is used to treat many different types of infections caused by bacteria, such as ear infections, bladder infections, pneumonia, gonorrhea, and E. coli or salmonella infection. Amoxicillin is also sometimes used together with another antibiotic called clarithromycin (Biaxin) to treat stomach ulcers caused by Helicobacter pylori infection. This combination is sometimes used with a stomach acid reducer called lansoprazole (Prevacid).

Amoxicillin is a broad spectrum antibiotic so it is very popular worldwide. Since e-commerce is a common thing today, even drugs are sold online. People browse the Web to find reliable pharmacies with cheap prices. Moreover, online pharmacies do not need a prescription, selling medications much cheaper than you can find it at the corner drugstore. Nevertheless, people often ask: Where can I buy amoxicillin antibiotics online?" They expect to receive references, recommendations because not all online sources are equally save!

What should you consider when buy amoxicillin antibiotic online:

  • First consult your doctor about dozing before taking amoxicillin.

For most infections in adults the dosing regimens for amoxicillin are 250 mg every 8 hours, 500 mg every 8 hours, 500 mg every 12 hours or 875 mg every 12 hours, depending on the type and severity of infection.

For the treatment of adults with gonorrhea, the dose is 3 g given as one dose.

For most infections, children older than 3 months but less than 40 kg are treated with 25 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 12 hours, 20 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 8 hours, 40 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 8 hours or 45 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 12 hours depending on type and severity of the infection.

Amoxicillin can be taken with or without food.


  • Secondly, it is important to check if you are not allergic to amoxicillin or to any other penicillin antibiotic.

  • Before using amoxicillin, do not forget to tell the doctor if you are allergic to any drugs (especially cephalosporins such as Ceftin, Ceclor, Duricef, Keflex, and others), or if you have: asthma, liver disease, kidney disease, a bleeding or blood clotting disorder, mononucleosis (also called "mono", a history of diarrhea caused by taking antibiotics; or a history of any type of allergy. If there is any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take amoxicillin.

  • Online pharmacy where you are going to order antibiotics must have VALID LICENSE for selling drugs otherwise buying medications from this online source is not safe.

  • Check if the antibiotic you want to purchase is FDA and WHO approved. Otherwise it is not recommended to buy such drugs.

  • Do not forget to check the origin of the medication. There are a lot of European and Indian drugs, selling online today. Indian are usually cheaper, but European ones are better quality.

  • As to Brand and Generic antibiotics, Brand are more expensive but good generic ones are equally effective and safe, although cost much cheaper than their Brand counterparts.

  • There is important that the pharmacy you want to order antibiotics, gives the comprehensive information about side effects, mode of administration and all this sort of information.

  • Before making an order it's better to call customer support service to see how professional the personnel is, how fast the agent answers your question, how qualified and competent he is.

  • Do not forget to check about the terms of delivery.

  • Ask if the pharmacy can make you a refund or charge back in case you are not satisfied with the medications you received. If the pharmacy is reliable and has a lot of orders, it usually can do it for the customer.

Use this guideline when ordering antibiotics online to reduce your chances of getting fake medication.

Source: www.drugs.com/amoxicillin.html

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Breast Cancer Awareness.



Cancer can be easily called the plague of XX – XXI-th centuries. No one can stay indifferent to the sufferings of people, died of cancer. Almost each family has cancer cases - statistics is terrifying. Cancer can happen to everyone. It doesn't make preferences according to the bank account, celebrity or marital status. However the more we know about this fatal disease, the higher chances we've got to escape it. We decided to start with the breast cancer, being one of the most spread cancer cases among women.

Statistics.

  • Breast cancer incidence in women in the United States is 1 in 8 (about 13%).
  • In 2009, an estimated 192,370 new cases of invasive breast cancer were expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S., along with 62,280 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer.
  • About 1,990 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in men in 2008. Less than 1% of all new breast cancer cases occur in men.
  • Following a 20-year increase in breast cancer incidence rates in women, 1999-2006 saw these rates decrease by 2%. One theory is that this decrease was due to the reduced use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) by women after the results of a large study, called the Women’s Health Initiative, were published in 2002. These results suggested a connection between HRT and increased breast cancer risk.
  • About 40,170 women in the U.S. were expected to die in 2009 from breast cancer, though death rates have been decreasing since 1990. These decreases are thought to be the result of treatment advances, earlier detection through screening, and increased awareness.
  • For women in the U.S., breast cancer death rates are higher than those for any other cancer besides lung cancer.
  • Besides skin cancer, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among U.S. women. More than 1 in 4 cancers are breast cancer.
  • Compared to African American women, white women are slightly more likely to develop breast cancer, but less likely to die of it. One possible reason is that African American women tend to have more aggressive tumors, although why this is the case is not known. Women of other ethnic backgrounds — Asian, Hispanic, and Native American — have a lower risk of developing and dying from breast cancer than white women and African American women.
  • As of 2008, there are about 2.5 million women in the U.S. who have survived breast cancer.
  • A woman’s risk of breast cancer approximately doubles if she has a first-degree relative (mother, sister, daughter) who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. About 20-30% of women diagnosed with breast cancer have a family history of breast cancer.
  • About 5-10% of breast cancers are caused by gene mutations inherited from one’s mother or father. Mutations of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are the most common. Women with these mutations have up to an 80% risk of developing breast cancer during their lifetime, and they often are diagnosed at a younger age (before age 50). An increased ovarian cancer risk is also associated with these genetic mutations. Men with a BRCA1 mutation have a 1% risk of developing breast cancer by age 70 and a 6% risk when they have a BRCA2 mutation.
  • About 90% of breast cancers are due not to heredity, but to genetic abnormalities that happen as a result of the aging process and life in general.
  • The most significant risk factors for breast cancer are gender (being a woman) and age (growing older).

Signs and Symptoms

The first symptom, or subjective sign, of breast cancer is typically a lump that feels different than the surrounding breast tissue. According to the Merck Manual, greater than 80% of breast cancer cases are discovered as a lump by the woman herself. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), the first medical sign, or objective indication of breast cancer as detected by a physician, is discovered by mammogram.

Indications of breast cancer other than a lump may include changes in breast size or shape, skin dimpling, nipple inversion, or spontaneous single-nipple discharge. Pain is an unreliable tool in determining the presence of breast cancer, but may be indicative of other breast-related health issues such as mastodynia.

When breast cancer cells invade the dermal lymphatics, small lymph vessels in the skin of the breast, its presentation can resemble skin inflammation and thus is known as inflammatory breast cancer (IBC). Symptoms of inflammatory breast cancer include pain, swelling, warmth and redness throughout the breast, as well as an orange peel texture to the skin referred to as peau d’orange.

Another reported symptom complex of breast cancer is Paget’s disease of the breast. This syndrome presents as eczematoid skin changes such as redness and mild flaking of the nipple skin. As Paget’s advances, symptoms may include tingling, itching, increased sensitivity, burning, and pain. There may also be discharge from the nipple. Approximately half of women diagnosed with Paget’s also have a lump in the breast.

Occasionally, breast cancer presents as metastatic disease, that is, cancer that has spread beyond the original organ. Metastatic breast cancer will cause symptoms that depend on the location of metastasis. More common sites of metastasis include bone, liver, lung and brain. Unexplained weight loss can occasionally herald an occult breast cancer, as can symptoms of fevers or chills. Bone or joint pains can sometimes be manifestations of metastatic breast cancer, as can jaundice or neurological symptoms. These symptoms are “non-specific,” meaning they can also be manifestations of many other illnesses.

Most symptoms of breast disorder do not turn out to represent underlying breast cancer. Benign breast diseases such as mastitis and fibroadenoma of the breast are more common causes of breast disorder symptoms. The appearance of a new symptom should be taken seriously by both patients and their doctors, because of the possibility of an underlying breast cancer at almost any age.

Recommendations for finding breast cancer early.

  • A complete breast exam should be done by a health care provider at least every 3 years for women age 20-40.
  • Women age 40 and older should have a screening mammogram at least every year and should keep on doing so for as long as they are in good health. While mammograms can miss some cancers, they are still a very good way to find breast cancer.
  • Women at high risk: Women with a higher risk of breast cancer should talk with their doctor about the best screening plan for them. This might mean starting mammograms when they are younger, having extra screening tests (such as an MRI), or having exams more often.

Breast Cancer Prevention.

Breast cancer can sometimes be associated with known risk factors for the disease. Many risk factors are modifiable though not all can be avoided.

Hormonal Factors: Hormones produced by the ovaries appear to increase a woman's risk for developing breast cancer. The removal of one or both ovaries reduces the risk. The use of drugs that suppress the production of estrogen may inhibit tumor cell growth. The use of estrogen-progestin therapy, also called combination hormone replacement therapy (HRT), is associated with an increased risk of developing breast cancer. The use of oral contraceptives may also be associated with a slight increase in breast cancer risk.

Beginning to menstruate at an older age and having a full-term pregnancy reduces breast cancer risk. Also, a woman who has her first child before the age of 20 experiences a greater decrease in breast cancer risk than a woman who has never had children or who has her first child after the age of 35. Beginning menopause at a later age increases a woman's risk of developing breast cancer.

Radiation: Studies have shown that reducing the number of chest x-rays, especially at a young age, decreases the risk of breast cancer. Radiation treatment for childhood Hodgkin's lymphoma may put women at a greater risk for breast cancer later in life. A small number of breast cancer cases can be linked to radiation exposure.

Diet and Lifestyle: Diet is being studied as a risk factor for breast cancer. Studies show that in populations that consume a high-fat diet, women are more likely to die of breast cancer than women in populations that consume a low-fat diet. It is not known if a diet low in fat will prevent breast cancer. Eating a diet rich in beta-carotene may decrease the risk of breast cancer. Exercise, especially in young women, may decrease hormone levels and contribute to a decreased breast cancer risk. Breast feeding may also decrease a woman's risk of breast cancer. Postmenopausal weight gain, especially after natural menopause and/or after age 60, may increase breast cancer risk.

Fruits and vegetables are the superstars for breast cancer protection. It includes all cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprouts, cauliflower) ; dark leafy greens (collards, kale, spinach) ; carrots and tomatoes. The superstar fruits include citrus, berries and cherries. Note: it is best to eat cruciferous vegetables raw or lightly cooked, as some of the phytochemicals believed to offer protection against breast cancer are destroyed by heat.

Minimize consumption of omega-6 fats (sunflower, safflower, corn and cottonseed oils), saturated fats and trans fats. Maximize your intake of omega-3 fats, especially from oily fish (salmon, tuna, mackerel, sardines, lake trout and herring). Consume monounsaturated oils (canola, olive oil, nuts/seeds, avocados) as your primary fat source, as these foods have potential anticancer properties. Specifically, canola oil is a good source of omega-3 fats; extra virgin olive oil is a potent source of antioxidant polyphenols, including squalene; and nuts and seeds provide you with the cancer protective mineral, selenium.

Alcohol: Drinking alcohol may be linked to increased breast cancer risk. The more alcohol a woman drinks, the more the risk of breast cancer may increase, compared to a woman who drinks no alcohol. In addition, a diet rich in beta-carotene, folate, and vitamins A and C may reverse the higher risk of breast cancer linked to alcohol use.

Prophylactic Mastectomy: Following cancer risk assessment and counseling, the removal of both breasts may reduce the risk of breast cancer in women with a family history of breast cancer.

Genetics: Women who inherit specific genes are at a greater risk for developing breast cancer. Research is underway to develop methods of identifying high-risk genes.

Remember – early cancer detection will significantly reduce the risk of dying!

Acknowledgement given to the National Cancer Institute as originator of the information provided herein, with the NCI website www.cancer.gov as the source.


Thursday, June 24, 2010

Childhood Obesity – We Are Responsible For Future Generation.

An essential mission of every woman - to give birth to a child. But this is only half the battle. The crucial thing is to bring up healthy and right-minded person. This is the responsibility of nobody but parents and government.

Unfortunately, childhood obesity has become a national problem today. It has actually tripled in the past 30 years. Only statistics about Philadelphia shows that overall childhood obesity is about 55% in the city, with North Philadelphia children being the most overweight - 70 percent of them are too heavy, according to Dr. Donald Schwarz, the pediatrician who serves as both the city's deputy mayor for health and health commissioner. The situation in other states does not differ drastically.

The majority of parents don't know and will be shocked to find out that many American teens have arteries so clogged they could suffer a heart attack and high cholesterol can begin as early as age 3!!!

“Our goal is to end the epidemic of childhood obesity in a generation,” Michelle Obama said during the event in Columbia Heights, near downtown Washington. “We are making this a big, huge generational goal, with the notion that kids born today are going to have a different idea of what it means to be healthy, so that they grow up at a healthy weight, with good habits that they can then teach the generations to follow.”

But of course, everything begins with the family traditions. It's tough being a parent, but for the sake of our children and their health, we must take a revolutionary stand about our eating and exercise habits. If we are going to lick the obesity epidemic, parents cannot remain passive and must make some serious changes in their family's nutrition.

We should stop thinking that a little baby fat is cute. We should stop humoring child's fancy about food. Our children must be accustomed to the healthy lifestyle from the very beginning. When children eat and drink more than their bodies need, they gain excess weight. Left unchecked, this excess weight could spell big health problems down the line like diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol.

A hot sausage sandwich is not the breakfast of champions. A bowl of whole grains or a whole-grain English muffin with a tablespoon of nut butter is far more nutritious, quicker and less expensive, too.

Sure, getting kids to eat healthy can be challenging, especially when they see their parents with huge plate of chips, hot wings, pizza and a supersized soft drink.

So first of all, we should model good eating behavior, buy only healthy food, establish meal times and, of course, encourage exercises.

Don't keep any junk food in your house. It will be tempting and a child may think that if you buy it, it cannot bring any harm and it's nothing more than your will to forbid him eating it.

Establish family traditions by going outside for a walk or a quick run in the evenings, buy basket-ball and fix backboard in your house yard, do your best to promote love of physical activity and exercising to your children.

Here are some recommendations concerning healthy nutrition.

Have a healthy lunch

Instead of pizza, try lasagna stuffed with spinach or low-fat ground turkey, skim ricotta and mozzarella cheese and low-sodium tomato sauce.

Instead of a hamburger, substitute lean ground turkey or go vegetarian with a Boca brand burger. Serve with a side of broccoli.

Instead of hot wings, make your own chicken strips, either baked or grilled, and serve with your favorite wing sauce.

Go green

Be sure to eat something green at both lunch and dinner and indulge freely in nature's candy - fresh or dried fruit.

Cook together

Cooking meals together is a great opportunity to bond with your child, share and upgrade some old family recipes, and get the kids practicing their math and reading, too. Besides, most kids like helping out in the kitchen.

The bottom line is that kids need to understand the importance of nutrition and how to eat healthy. Ultimately, parents are the No. 1 influence on their children, and it is our responsibility to make family meals a priority, to be a good role model by eating healthy ourselves and to keep the house stocked with healthy food.

You should provide your child with healthy nutrition. Meat, fish, eggs and milk are the essential part of it. If a person doesn't consume proteins, the organism will take it from bones and muscles. Moreover, a new study by UB researchers shows that among children ages 2 to 5, poor nutrition may be a common thread connecting obesity and tooth decay. So to eat properly and to fight with obesity doesn't mean to eat little and cheap – remember it!

The article was provided according to the health nutrition advisory of Kimberly Garrison, a certified personal trainer and owner of One on One Ultimate Fitness in Philadelphia (www.1on1ultimatefitness.com).