The mesothelioma is the thin lining on the surface of the body cavities and the organs that are contained within them. Most mesothelioma begin as one or more nodules that progressively grow to form a solid coating of tumor surrounding the lung, abdominal organs or heart.Mesothelioma most commonly occurs in the chest cavity and is associated with exposure to asbestos in up to 90% of cases. It has been shown that some asbestos fibers that are inhaled quickly work their way through the lung tissue and into the chest cavity.
There are two major cell types of mesothelioma, Epithelial and Sarcomatoid. Sometimes both of these cell types can be present. The sarcomatoid type is rarer and occurs in only about 15% of cases. It portends a poorer prognosis. In very rare cases, mesothelioma can originate from benign, non-malignant cells. This so-called benign mesothelioma can be cured surgically.
There are four known types of mesothelioma :
1. Pleural Mesothelioma
This type of mesothelioma develops in the lining of the lungs known as the pleura. It is the most common form of malignant mesothelioma with around 70 percent of cases being pleural in origin.
2. Peritoneal Mesothelioma
This form of mesothelioma develops in the lining of the abdominal cavity known as the peritoneal membrane.
3. Pericardial Mesothelioma
This form of mesothelioma develops in the lining of the heart known as the pericardium.
4. Testicular Mesothelioma
Testicular mesothelioma develops in the tunica vaginalis of the testicles and is the rarest form of the cancer.
Usually, this mesothelioma involves men over 40 years of age. Others have been exposed to asbestos in a household environment often without knowing it. Asbestos is a naturally-occurring fibrous substance that was widely used in the 20th century in a number of different industries.
Mesothelioma symptoms
often resemble less-serious conditions which can make diagnosis difficult. Below is a list of several common symptoms mesothelioma patients may experience.
1. Pleural Symptoms
Shortness of breath, chest pain, persistent cough, fatigue, lumps under the skin on the chest, swelling of the face and arms
2. Peritoneal Symptoms
Weight loss, abdominal pain and swelling, bowel obstruction, nausea, fever
3. Pericardial Symptoms
Heart palpitations, irregular heartbeat, chest pain, difficulty breathing, night sweats
4. Testicular Symptoms
Painful or painless testicular lumps
Treatment depends on the location of the tumor, how far it has spread, and your age and general health. Whatever the stage of mesothelioma, there are several types of treatments that can be used.
There are three traditional kinds of treatment for patients with malignant mesothelioma.
1. Surgery
Surgery has traditionally referred to the cutting out or reconstruction of physical parts of the body
2. Radiation therapy: The use of high-energy radiation from x-rays, gamma rays, neutrons, and other sources to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors
3. Chemotherapy
Application of the beneficial effects of drugs to control or cure diseases or abnormal states in living organisms or tissues
Experimental treatments are also available to patients who participate in a clinical trial, conducted to test up-and-coming procedures and medications.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Monday, December 7, 2009
Hair Regrowth For Men
If there is one medical problem that unites the whole world into one it has to be hair loss. Almost everybody losses hair at some point in their life and then they start looking for ways to put a stop on it or search available options that can grow their back.In this article we are going to discuss about the most common causes of hair loss and how some natural herbs can help combat hair loss and in some cases even re- grow them.Main Causes Of Hair Loss Although there are a lot of reasons for hair loss but the main cause is the excess production of dihydrotestosterone in the body which blocks the supply of vital minerals and nutrients to the hair follicles thereby making them week and as a result hair starts to fall off.
Other causes also include aging, depression and a polluted environment.
How To Naturally Combat Hair Loss The main thing about hair loss is that you should start the treatment as early as possible. To combat hair loss the main line of treatment is to decrease the level of DHT in the body for this you can try a number of herbs like saw palmetto or nettle extracts which have been used for thousands of years in ayurvedic system of medicine to treat hair loss problems. Preventive Measures To keep your hair healthy and prevent hair loss you can do a lot of things like massaging your hair gently with natural herbal oils like jujube oil or almond oil. Also avoid regular usage of shampoos as almost all of them contain sodium laureth which is very bad for the health of your hair and in the long run your hair will start to fall off. Instead you can use herbal shampoos which are easily available in the market these days and help rejuvenate the scalp.
Other causes also include aging, depression and a polluted environment.
How To Naturally Combat Hair Loss The main thing about hair loss is that you should start the treatment as early as possible. To combat hair loss the main line of treatment is to decrease the level of DHT in the body for this you can try a number of herbs like saw palmetto or nettle extracts which have been used for thousands of years in ayurvedic system of medicine to treat hair loss problems. Preventive Measures To keep your hair healthy and prevent hair loss you can do a lot of things like massaging your hair gently with natural herbal oils like jujube oil or almond oil. Also avoid regular usage of shampoos as almost all of them contain sodium laureth which is very bad for the health of your hair and in the long run your hair will start to fall off. Instead you can use herbal shampoos which are easily available in the market these days and help rejuvenate the scalp.
Alopecia Areata: Youthful Hair Loss
Most of the time, balding is equated to aging. But the truth is hair loss affects children as much as it affects adults. In fact, around 3% of pediatric visits are attributed to hair loss. Alopecia is a serious condition and can be a devastating one at that. On the bright side, with proper diagnosis, Alopecia in children can be treated successfully. Hence it is advised that hair loss of even the smallest amount shall be dealt with accordingly. There are different conditions that can cause balding in children. One of which is Alopecia Areata which affects one child in every 1,000.
Alopecia Areata is a condition that occurs without warning. It can happen overnight. It is characterized by the appearance of bald patches in the head. It is believed to be the result of an immune system imbalance which causes it to attack hair follicles which in turn, causes hair loss or prevents hair growth in the affected area.
Alopecia Areata cases are handled by seeing a dermatologist. Unfortunately researchers have not come up with a standard procedure to diagnose Alopecia Areata cases yet. So dermatologists perform a process of elimination in determining the cause of hair loss in a patient. However, the distinctive quality of Alopecia Areata makes it easier to identify by a simple visual examination of the bald patch. These bald lesions appear as smooth surfaces that do not show any signs of broken hairs or even inflammation. The following are other known facts about the condition:
For the first lesion that appears within 24 hour period, patients may experience a sensation of pain in the affected area.
The scalp is usually the area that is affected but Alopecia Areata can also be present in other parts of the body.
25% of children with Alopecia Areata condition also experience ridging of the nails.
5% of Alopecia Areata patients are likely to develop a more advances condition such as total loss of hair in the head, Alopecia Totalis. While others develop Alopecia Universalis or the total loss of body hair.
Hair pull tests are usually performed to determine the particular area is actively affected or if further loss of hair shall be expected.
There is no cure for Alopecia. But the good news is given proper treatment, a considerable percentage of Alopecia Areata patients have a chance to get their hair back within twelve months or with more luck, their hair may grow back sooner.
People who are affected by the disorder despite losing hair, are perfectly healthy.
Research studies on Alopecia Areata are unsuccessful in determining other possible causes or cure for the condition. Treatments and drugs are available to help grow hair. Unfortunately, the continuous appearance of bald patches cannot be stopped or prevented.
Alopecia Areata is a condition that occurs without warning. It can happen overnight. It is characterized by the appearance of bald patches in the head. It is believed to be the result of an immune system imbalance which causes it to attack hair follicles which in turn, causes hair loss or prevents hair growth in the affected area.
Alopecia Areata cases are handled by seeing a dermatologist. Unfortunately researchers have not come up with a standard procedure to diagnose Alopecia Areata cases yet. So dermatologists perform a process of elimination in determining the cause of hair loss in a patient. However, the distinctive quality of Alopecia Areata makes it easier to identify by a simple visual examination of the bald patch. These bald lesions appear as smooth surfaces that do not show any signs of broken hairs or even inflammation. The following are other known facts about the condition:
For the first lesion that appears within 24 hour period, patients may experience a sensation of pain in the affected area.
The scalp is usually the area that is affected but Alopecia Areata can also be present in other parts of the body.
25% of children with Alopecia Areata condition also experience ridging of the nails.
5% of Alopecia Areata patients are likely to develop a more advances condition such as total loss of hair in the head, Alopecia Totalis. While others develop Alopecia Universalis or the total loss of body hair.
Hair pull tests are usually performed to determine the particular area is actively affected or if further loss of hair shall be expected.
There is no cure for Alopecia. But the good news is given proper treatment, a considerable percentage of Alopecia Areata patients have a chance to get their hair back within twelve months or with more luck, their hair may grow back sooner.
People who are affected by the disorder despite losing hair, are perfectly healthy.
Research studies on Alopecia Areata are unsuccessful in determining other possible causes or cure for the condition. Treatments and drugs are available to help grow hair. Unfortunately, the continuous appearance of bald patches cannot be stopped or prevented.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Negativ Impact Whitening injection Glutathione
According to the survey, women in Asia tend to want himself white. Skin-whitening products are the best-selling products in Asia including in Indonesia. But because the products on the market does not provide a comprehensive white results, it is not a little girl trying to bleach injection. Readers of this blog too much to ask about the whitening injection.
Is Glutathione whitening injection have implications for serious health? This is the fact that I found a place in Hong Kong.
Killer cosmetics consumer warning from council (Hong Kong)
Beginning in 2008 in Hong Kong Consumer Council (Consumer Council) countries began to encourage governments to tighten regulations beauty practices of non-operation, because according to the findings in the field, which proved fatal impact if not done correctly. Many people who wish to have skin whiter and younger through various non-operative treatment of this. One of them by making the skin whitening injection.
According to the council, these innovative treatments including bleach, placenta extract, carbon dioxide injections and facelift using gold thread. As a category of cosmetic treatments, praktik2 is not under the Medical Registration Regulations Pharmacy and Poisons.
The main raw material in the bleach is glutathione which is a powerful antioxidant to treat cancer and AIDS. According to the Health Department of glutathione side effects of nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and can be fatal if excessive. Other raw materials that tranexamic acid, can cause liver damage if excessive. According to the law in Hong Kong, if the substance is used in 'cosmetic injection' including skin injection is not a pharmaceutical product, such as glutathione, that it is illegal to use.
According to the Consumer Council, but it's not satu2nya gap in non-operating perawatan2. Dermal Fillers such as collagen, are also not classified as medical efforts in Hong Kong but only intended for administrative control.
Council has received 5 complaints during the past 3 years. One of them is a failure in the injection of collagen in skin whitening injection to make skin soft, while other cases were injected in the nose that made her nose swollen.
Indeed dangerous cosmetic treatments such as skin injection and other frightening events highlighted by the council is the gold thread facelift by entering a golden thread to build a network under the skin. This treatment claims to be increasing collagen production and improve skin elasticity. Last year the medical journal Aesthetic Plastic Surgery have reported a 40-year-old patient suffered pain in her face after doing this treatment for 3 times. Radiograph found that the tissue under the skin disintegrated.
Currently there is no such treatment in Hong Kong, but the centers of local cosmetic clients can arrange for treatment in South Korea. Board has proposed rules for beauty treatment of non-operation. Also recommended that increased dermal fillers into medical practice. The council said consumers should seek medical opinions and the risks before doing treatment.
Is Glutathione whitening injection have implications for serious health? This is the fact that I found a place in Hong Kong.
Killer cosmetics consumer warning from council (Hong Kong)
Beginning in 2008 in Hong Kong Consumer Council (Consumer Council) countries began to encourage governments to tighten regulations beauty practices of non-operation, because according to the findings in the field, which proved fatal impact if not done correctly. Many people who wish to have skin whiter and younger through various non-operative treatment of this. One of them by making the skin whitening injection.
According to the council, these innovative treatments including bleach, placenta extract, carbon dioxide injections and facelift using gold thread. As a category of cosmetic treatments, praktik2 is not under the Medical Registration Regulations Pharmacy and Poisons.
The main raw material in the bleach is glutathione which is a powerful antioxidant to treat cancer and AIDS. According to the Health Department of glutathione side effects of nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and can be fatal if excessive. Other raw materials that tranexamic acid, can cause liver damage if excessive. According to the law in Hong Kong, if the substance is used in 'cosmetic injection' including skin injection is not a pharmaceutical product, such as glutathione, that it is illegal to use.
According to the Consumer Council, but it's not satu2nya gap in non-operating perawatan2. Dermal Fillers such as collagen, are also not classified as medical efforts in Hong Kong but only intended for administrative control.
Council has received 5 complaints during the past 3 years. One of them is a failure in the injection of collagen in skin whitening injection to make skin soft, while other cases were injected in the nose that made her nose swollen.
Indeed dangerous cosmetic treatments such as skin injection and other frightening events highlighted by the council is the gold thread facelift by entering a golden thread to build a network under the skin. This treatment claims to be increasing collagen production and improve skin elasticity. Last year the medical journal Aesthetic Plastic Surgery have reported a 40-year-old patient suffered pain in her face after doing this treatment for 3 times. Radiograph found that the tissue under the skin disintegrated.
Currently there is no such treatment in Hong Kong, but the centers of local cosmetic clients can arrange for treatment in South Korea. Board has proposed rules for beauty treatment of non-operation. Also recommended that increased dermal fillers into medical practice. The council said consumers should seek medical opinions and the risks before doing treatment.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Why does Breast Cancer Spread?
Breast cancercan spread to any part of your body through the blood and lymphatic system. The metastasis of breast cancer cells
is what makes the disease very dangerous. Metastatis means the cancer cells have traveled from the place of origin, i.e. the breast, to other parts of the body.
When the cancer cells travel from the breast to the underarm lymph nodes, it is still considered to be early stages of breast cancer and it has a high potential to be completely cured. With surgery and treatment there is a very high chance that all the disease can be completely eradicated from the body.
When the cancer cells travel beyond the lymph nodes to other distant parts of the body, the patient is said to have distant metastasis. The bones, lungs and liver are the most commonly affected places in the body that breast Cancer cells spread to. Though treatment is available for breast cancer and for metastasic breast cancer, once the cancer has traveled beyond the breast and underarm lymph nodules, it can no longer be totally cured.
Scientists have recently discovered a molecule that could be the main reason behind the spreading of breast cancer cells to different parts of the body. The molecule known as Brk is found in almost 60% of breast cancers and they accelerate the growth of the tumor cells, encouraging metastasis to other parts of the body.
The study was conducted on breast cancer patients who had extremely poor responses to the treatments. The Brk molecule was found in very high concentration in these patients, which means that not only does it cause the cancer to grow more aggressively; it also encourages its rapid spread to other parts of the body.
The study also came out with another crucial finding. The tumor cells died when the Brk molecule was inhibited, but the cancer cells re-emerged when the molecule was introduced again. This points to a significant level of involvement that the Brk molecule has in encouraging the breast cancer cells to survive, grow and spread.
Scientists are currently studying how exactly the Brk molecule promotes the growth of breast cancer cells so that they can develop ways to prevent that from happening. The findings are quote encouraging and shed new light on the age old battle of mankind against cancer.
is what makes the disease very dangerous. Metastatis means the cancer cells have traveled from the place of origin, i.e. the breast, to other parts of the body.
When the cancer cells travel from the breast to the underarm lymph nodes, it is still considered to be early stages of breast cancer and it has a high potential to be completely cured. With surgery and treatment there is a very high chance that all the disease can be completely eradicated from the body.
When the cancer cells travel beyond the lymph nodes to other distant parts of the body, the patient is said to have distant metastasis. The bones, lungs and liver are the most commonly affected places in the body that breast Cancer cells spread to. Though treatment is available for breast cancer and for metastasic breast cancer, once the cancer has traveled beyond the breast and underarm lymph nodules, it can no longer be totally cured.
Scientists have recently discovered a molecule that could be the main reason behind the spreading of breast cancer cells to different parts of the body. The molecule known as Brk is found in almost 60% of breast cancers and they accelerate the growth of the tumor cells, encouraging metastasis to other parts of the body.
The study was conducted on breast cancer patients who had extremely poor responses to the treatments. The Brk molecule was found in very high concentration in these patients, which means that not only does it cause the cancer to grow more aggressively; it also encourages its rapid spread to other parts of the body.
The study also came out with another crucial finding. The tumor cells died when the Brk molecule was inhibited, but the cancer cells re-emerged when the molecule was introduced again. This points to a significant level of involvement that the Brk molecule has in encouraging the breast cancer cells to survive, grow and spread.
Scientists are currently studying how exactly the Brk molecule promotes the growth of breast cancer cells so that they can develop ways to prevent that from happening. The findings are quote encouraging and shed new light on the age old battle of mankind against cancer.
Easy Weight Loss Tips For All Ages
Before getting to the part of easy weight loss tips, one has to have a perspective on why people lose and gain weight. There are 4 prime reasons for this: nutrition, lifestyle, age and genetic disposition.
Nutrition is of course the things we put in our bodies to give us energy and more essentially to keep us alive. There are certain food types that give us quick energy boosters and others store energy for us. There are natural elements when taken that can aid our digestive and metabolism
albeit to this, the preparation of food likewise affects our weight. We all know the positive effects of carbohydrates and protein but we are now beginning to learn and understand the effects of certain herbs to our bodies. Simple things like lime and citrus aid to the digestive tract by quickly breaking down meats and proteins. Green Tea has the effect of giving us extra energy, enhancing our metabolism. Fruits like apples and papayas do help through its laxative and purgative effects, cleansing our system of unwanted toxins and the like. Knowing what to eat and drink, and how to eat and drink is one easy weight loss tips.
Our lifestyles most certainly affect our weight loss and gain. Alcohol in excess is detrimental to our health if taken in excess since it overworks the liver. The highs one gets from drinking alcohol can easily be substituted either through dietary supplements of exercise
. Sleeping well is another important aspect to our lifestyle. Getting the right amount of sleep helps balance our system and efficiently tells our brain on how much energy to use and the like. The lack of sleep stresses our mind and in effect, stresses our body as signals from our brain to our muscles and limbs may be over or underdone. Ever feel sluggish with the lack of sleep, that's because our brain isn't providing enough stimulation for our body to produce the right amount of energy to our muscles. Muscles also need recovery time as well. Get healthier is another easy weight loss tips.
Age is a factor in gaining or losing weight. As we get older, it gets harder for us to lose weight. That's because our bodies don't need to produce a lot of energy as compared to children. Ever notice how energetic kids are and they never seem to tire, and the amount of food they can eat is easily converted into energy. When we get older, that turbo like metabolism quality has died down for most of us. We don't need as much energy as adults but if our appetites are the same like when we were younger, there is a possibility that we gain extra weight as well. Knowing this factor, then we may be able to adjust our eating habits that is more consistent with our age group.
Our genetic disposition is something that we may have less control over, but we still have some degree of control. Some people are able to convert energy faster than others. Knowing that you have a disposition to be overweight enables you to take the necessary supplements, be it natural or combined, to help counter such conditions. The right combination of herbs and vitamins are key to this. But consult your doctor first and one should have a baseline of tests to find out one's genetic disposition.
Nutrition is of course the things we put in our bodies to give us energy and more essentially to keep us alive. There are certain food types that give us quick energy boosters and others store energy for us. There are natural elements when taken that can aid our digestive and metabolism
albeit to this, the preparation of food likewise affects our weight. We all know the positive effects of carbohydrates and protein but we are now beginning to learn and understand the effects of certain herbs to our bodies. Simple things like lime and citrus aid to the digestive tract by quickly breaking down meats and proteins. Green Tea has the effect of giving us extra energy, enhancing our metabolism. Fruits like apples and papayas do help through its laxative and purgative effects, cleansing our system of unwanted toxins and the like. Knowing what to eat and drink, and how to eat and drink is one easy weight loss tips.
Our lifestyles most certainly affect our weight loss and gain. Alcohol in excess is detrimental to our health if taken in excess since it overworks the liver. The highs one gets from drinking alcohol can easily be substituted either through dietary supplements of exercise
. Sleeping well is another important aspect to our lifestyle. Getting the right amount of sleep helps balance our system and efficiently tells our brain on how much energy to use and the like. The lack of sleep stresses our mind and in effect, stresses our body as signals from our brain to our muscles and limbs may be over or underdone. Ever feel sluggish with the lack of sleep, that's because our brain isn't providing enough stimulation for our body to produce the right amount of energy to our muscles. Muscles also need recovery time as well. Get healthier is another easy weight loss tips.
Age is a factor in gaining or losing weight. As we get older, it gets harder for us to lose weight. That's because our bodies don't need to produce a lot of energy as compared to children. Ever notice how energetic kids are and they never seem to tire, and the amount of food they can eat is easily converted into energy. When we get older, that turbo like metabolism quality has died down for most of us. We don't need as much energy as adults but if our appetites are the same like when we were younger, there is a possibility that we gain extra weight as well. Knowing this factor, then we may be able to adjust our eating habits that is more consistent with our age group.
Our genetic disposition is something that we may have less control over, but we still have some degree of control. Some people are able to convert energy faster than others. Knowing that you have a disposition to be overweight enables you to take the necessary supplements, be it natural or combined, to help counter such conditions. The right combination of herbs and vitamins are key to this. But consult your doctor first and one should have a baseline of tests to find out one's genetic disposition.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Natural Weight Loss Pills vs Prescription Alternatives
It is a fact that everyone wants to have a slimmer body. This is what drives many to subscribe to several exercise routines and even equipment. Furthermore, many recognize that constant muscle toning and visits to the gym will not be enough to get the body that they want. Hence, they turn to ways of reducing what they have by following several diet programs. If these are still not enough, there are a lot of available products that one can take that will help you burn fat faster. Today people who want to slim quickly have two options. It will be up to you to decide who will be your choice between natural weight loss pill and prescription alternatives.
What Can Natural Weight Loss Pills Do?
As the name implies these are pills that promote weight loss by introducing several natural ingredients into the body. These ingredients are often found naturally in fruits and vegetables but have been synthesized in the lab in order to be mass produced. Of course, there are also completely synthetic chemicals that are as effective. The main purpose of such chemicals in natural weight loss pills would be to burn fat. Depending on the active ingredient in a pill, it can help by bonding with fat or by increasing the metabolism of the body.
The biggest advantage of pills would be the number of clinical tests they have to undergo before they get released. This basically ensures the effectiveness of the pills in making a person slim down. Essentially, they can easily boast of these numbers whenever they market to everyone and indeed to do produce results. Their biggest drawbacks, on the other hand, unfortunately can be found on the tests they have conducted. Side effects of taking weight loss pills have also been well documented. These include headaches, vomiting, to more serious though less frequent cases such as allergies and uncontrollable bowel movement.
A Take on Prescription Alternatives
Context clues should tell you that prescription alternatives can be obtained without the prior approval of a doctor. Some of them can even be bought directly over the counter. These alternatives may come in the form of pills (though not FDA approved as they are considered as supplements) or simply a diet program were one eats a focused amount of specific food groups. The biggest advantage is that they are all natural, which means one will most likely not experience any side effects while taking them.
The biggest doubt about prescription alternatives would be the lack of convincing research about their efficacy. Most of them gained notoriety because they have been used for centuries in treatment of certain conditions or have been discovered in remote parts of the planet only to be found to have weight loss properties. This means that there have not been enough trials to confirm if they do produce concrete results. Even if they do, since they are not strictly regulated, there are some unscrupulous individuals who would release supplements promising to contain alternative ingredients only to deliver subpar products or even fake ones.
In the end, it would help to at least consult physicians and ask their opinions before committing to buy alternatives.
What Can Natural Weight Loss Pills Do?
As the name implies these are pills that promote weight loss by introducing several natural ingredients into the body. These ingredients are often found naturally in fruits and vegetables but have been synthesized in the lab in order to be mass produced. Of course, there are also completely synthetic chemicals that are as effective. The main purpose of such chemicals in natural weight loss pills would be to burn fat. Depending on the active ingredient in a pill, it can help by bonding with fat or by increasing the metabolism of the body.
The biggest advantage of pills would be the number of clinical tests they have to undergo before they get released. This basically ensures the effectiveness of the pills in making a person slim down. Essentially, they can easily boast of these numbers whenever they market to everyone and indeed to do produce results. Their biggest drawbacks, on the other hand, unfortunately can be found on the tests they have conducted. Side effects of taking weight loss pills have also been well documented. These include headaches, vomiting, to more serious though less frequent cases such as allergies and uncontrollable bowel movement.
A Take on Prescription Alternatives
Context clues should tell you that prescription alternatives can be obtained without the prior approval of a doctor. Some of them can even be bought directly over the counter. These alternatives may come in the form of pills (though not FDA approved as they are considered as supplements) or simply a diet program were one eats a focused amount of specific food groups. The biggest advantage is that they are all natural, which means one will most likely not experience any side effects while taking them.
The biggest doubt about prescription alternatives would be the lack of convincing research about their efficacy. Most of them gained notoriety because they have been used for centuries in treatment of certain conditions or have been discovered in remote parts of the planet only to be found to have weight loss properties. This means that there have not been enough trials to confirm if they do produce concrete results. Even if they do, since they are not strictly regulated, there are some unscrupulous individuals who would release supplements promising to contain alternative ingredients only to deliver subpar products or even fake ones.
In the end, it would help to at least consult physicians and ask their opinions before committing to buy alternatives.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
why are women reluctant to make love
In marriage, sexual relations can serve as a means to achieve physical and emotional pleasure together. Therefore, do not there those who feel burdened.
Unfortunately, not all men understand the needs of his partner in bed. If not immediately talk about, sex can turn into an unpleasant experience that was reluctant to be repeated. Here are some things that often make women lazy romantic.
1. Trying new positions
Creativity is needed to avoid saturation intercourse. In the case of sex positions, are now countless more information about this, ranging from ancient style to modern Kamasutra style blue movies.
However, not a few women who are afraid when her partner asked her to make the position of "strange" or activities that surprising. Moreover, for many positions in the book often makes forehead frown and need for improvisation more difficult. When smooth communication with partners, of course this can be discussed, but if the husband likes to force, of course this can lead to trauma.
2. Rough
Biting the shoulder area, neck, or ear may be something that adds intimacy. Some people also unconsciously scratching or squeezing a particular body part. Without realizing it, these actions are often done too hard, causing pain.
3. Oral sex
For women this activity often leads to embarrassment. Many of the women who still perceive oral sex as something taboo, disgusting, and made uncomfortable. Seksologi experts say, many women are afraid to perform oral sex because they felt uncomfortable in the form of the body. Some women also fear their bodies out the smell was delicious.
4. High libido
Great partners in bed would be a dream of many women. But if the husband excessive sexual drive, can be overwhelmed his wife. Especially when the husband asked for sex timeless and tireless. This may be a punishment for a wife.
5. Trauma
Psychological trauma due to sexual experience was not pleasant in the past can make a woman being frigid or cold in bed. Can Penyebabkan forced sexual activity or had experienced sexual harassment. Trauma is often not visible from the outside. However, by identifying the subject of this trauma, the trauma can usually be eliminated. Ask the expert assistance to overcome the trauma.
6. Pain
Complaints of pain intercourse burning pain in the vaginal area (dyspareunia) would interrupt sex. The reason is the lack of lubrication in the vaginal area. To have sexual relations go smoothly, the husband must be smart in order to stimulate arousal wife so miss V mucus.
Unfortunately, not all men understand the needs of his partner in bed. If not immediately talk about, sex can turn into an unpleasant experience that was reluctant to be repeated. Here are some things that often make women lazy romantic.
1. Trying new positions
Creativity is needed to avoid saturation intercourse. In the case of sex positions, are now countless more information about this, ranging from ancient style to modern Kamasutra style blue movies.
However, not a few women who are afraid when her partner asked her to make the position of "strange" or activities that surprising. Moreover, for many positions in the book often makes forehead frown and need for improvisation more difficult. When smooth communication with partners, of course this can be discussed, but if the husband likes to force, of course this can lead to trauma.
2. Rough
Biting the shoulder area, neck, or ear may be something that adds intimacy. Some people also unconsciously scratching or squeezing a particular body part. Without realizing it, these actions are often done too hard, causing pain.
3. Oral sex
For women this activity often leads to embarrassment. Many of the women who still perceive oral sex as something taboo, disgusting, and made uncomfortable. Seksologi experts say, many women are afraid to perform oral sex because they felt uncomfortable in the form of the body. Some women also fear their bodies out the smell was delicious.
4. High libido
Great partners in bed would be a dream of many women. But if the husband excessive sexual drive, can be overwhelmed his wife. Especially when the husband asked for sex timeless and tireless. This may be a punishment for a wife.
5. Trauma
Psychological trauma due to sexual experience was not pleasant in the past can make a woman being frigid or cold in bed. Can Penyebabkan forced sexual activity or had experienced sexual harassment. Trauma is often not visible from the outside. However, by identifying the subject of this trauma, the trauma can usually be eliminated. Ask the expert assistance to overcome the trauma.
6. Pain
Complaints of pain intercourse burning pain in the vaginal area (dyspareunia) would interrupt sex. The reason is the lack of lubrication in the vaginal area. To have sexual relations go smoothly, the husband must be smart in order to stimulate arousal wife so miss V mucus.
Vitamin K, Blood and Bones friend
Once your child suddenly bounced from the bike. Calves graze so dripping blood. Small wound was then cleaned using cotton with a slightly suppressed. Before long, the blood stopped dripping and minor injuries were closed so the kids played tape bicycle again.
What makes the blood stops dripping with itself so you do not have to deal with reporters? Yes .. That is one important use of vitamin K. This vitamin is a vital requirement for the synthesis of several proteins including blood clotting. Also called coagulation vitamin, this vitamin in charge of guarding konsitensi the blood flow and freeze when needed. Soluble vitamins fat also plays an important role in bone formation and maintenance of the kidney. Type
Vitamin K is found in three different forms. The first is vitamin K1 or phylloquinone, which is kind of found and produced plants. The second is the K2, or menaquinone are also called, prepared by the beneficial bacteria in the digestive systems. And the third is a K3 or menadione is a vitamin made for those who are unable to absorb from food.
The entire vitamin K in your body is processed in the liver which will be used to produce substances that can make your blood freeze. Besides a role in coagulation, this vitamin is also essential for bone formation, especially species K1. Vitamin K1 was required for the absorption of calcium for bones to be the maximum and make sure no one target.
What is the need?
According to the standard RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowance), vitamin K, a person needs depends on the weight. For adults, at least take 1 microgram per day per kg of body weight. So, if you weigh 50 kg then the need to reach 50 micrograms per day.
Source of vitamin K
To meet the needs of vitamin C is quite easy because in addition to relatively small numbers, our digestive systems contain bacteria that can synthesize vitamin K, which partially absorbed and stored in the liver. But as soon as the body needs to get more vitamin K from food.
Most sources of vitamin K in the body is synthesized by bacteria in the digestive system, but you can get vitamin K from foods such as liver, vegetables, green leafy vegetables similar kobis (cabbage) and milk.
Vitamin K in high concentrations are also found in soy milk, green tea, milk cows, and beef and liver. The types of probiotic foods, like yogurt that contains active healthy bacteria, can help stimulate the production of this vitamin.
Deficiency Symptoms
If vitamin K is not contained in the body, blood can not be frozen. This may mislead bleeding or hemorrhagic. However, vitamin K deficiency is rare because almost all of orag acquire and bacteria in the intestines from food. But the shortage may occur in infants because their digestive systems are sterile and do not contain bacteria that can synthesize vitamin K, breast milk contains only small amounts of vitamin K. For that baby is given a number of vitamin K at birth.
In adults, deficiency can occur due to lack of consumption of vegetables or taking too long antobiotik. Antibiotics can kill beneficial bacteria in the gut that produce vitamin K. Sometimes vitamin K deficiency caused by liver disease or digestive problems.
Poisoning
You also may experience toxicity of vitamin K. This occurs only in people who received vitamin K replacement water soluble. The symptoms are hemolysis (destruction of red blood cells), jaundice and brain damage.
What makes the blood stops dripping with itself so you do not have to deal with reporters? Yes .. That is one important use of vitamin K. This vitamin is a vital requirement for the synthesis of several proteins including blood clotting. Also called coagulation vitamin, this vitamin in charge of guarding konsitensi the blood flow and freeze when needed. Soluble vitamins fat also plays an important role in bone formation and maintenance of the kidney. Type
Vitamin K is found in three different forms. The first is vitamin K1 or phylloquinone, which is kind of found and produced plants. The second is the K2, or menaquinone are also called, prepared by the beneficial bacteria in the digestive systems. And the third is a K3 or menadione is a vitamin made for those who are unable to absorb from food.
The entire vitamin K in your body is processed in the liver which will be used to produce substances that can make your blood freeze. Besides a role in coagulation, this vitamin is also essential for bone formation, especially species K1. Vitamin K1 was required for the absorption of calcium for bones to be the maximum and make sure no one target.
What is the need?
According to the standard RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowance), vitamin K, a person needs depends on the weight. For adults, at least take 1 microgram per day per kg of body weight. So, if you weigh 50 kg then the need to reach 50 micrograms per day.
Source of vitamin K
To meet the needs of vitamin C is quite easy because in addition to relatively small numbers, our digestive systems contain bacteria that can synthesize vitamin K, which partially absorbed and stored in the liver. But as soon as the body needs to get more vitamin K from food.
Most sources of vitamin K in the body is synthesized by bacteria in the digestive system, but you can get vitamin K from foods such as liver, vegetables, green leafy vegetables similar kobis (cabbage) and milk.
Vitamin K in high concentrations are also found in soy milk, green tea, milk cows, and beef and liver. The types of probiotic foods, like yogurt that contains active healthy bacteria, can help stimulate the production of this vitamin.
Deficiency Symptoms
If vitamin K is not contained in the body, blood can not be frozen. This may mislead bleeding or hemorrhagic. However, vitamin K deficiency is rare because almost all of orag acquire and bacteria in the intestines from food. But the shortage may occur in infants because their digestive systems are sterile and do not contain bacteria that can synthesize vitamin K, breast milk contains only small amounts of vitamin K. For that baby is given a number of vitamin K at birth.
In adults, deficiency can occur due to lack of consumption of vegetables or taking too long antobiotik. Antibiotics can kill beneficial bacteria in the gut that produce vitamin K. Sometimes vitamin K deficiency caused by liver disease or digestive problems.
Poisoning
You also may experience toxicity of vitamin K. This occurs only in people who received vitamin K replacement water soluble. The symptoms are hemolysis (destruction of red blood cells), jaundice and brain damage.
How To Reverse the Hair Loss Process and Regrow Hair Naturally
This question, "Can I reverse the hair loss process?" is asked many times a day by many people. The answer is there may very well be a treatment that will stop your particular type of hair loss.What can you do to make sure you will stop losing hair? The thinning seems to be increasing on a daily basis.
The one thing you should know is there are many causes of losing hair. You will need to find out what the specific cause of yours is related to.
The most common reason today is hormone related. The hormone DHT is the culprit when it comes to losing your hair.
Made by the body when too much testosterone is present, DHT is responsible for a large percentage of the population's hair loss. Cutting back on this hormone has had amazing results.
The hair loss process is stopped once the DHT is eliminated. The only way to do this is to use a product that will block DHT.
There are a number of ingredients that can help in this matter. Saw palmetto is one that has shown remarkable improvements when it comes to putting a stop to the damage DHT can cause.
Adding other ingredients such as magnesium and zinc as well as Biotin and Vitamin B6
are also beneficial. The help they provide is to encourage new hair to grow while allowing the remaining hair to be healthy.
Are you at risk for balding? If you believe you are, this is as good a time as any to try this solution and see if it works for loss of your hair.
The use of all natural products is beginning to be seen as the most important way to stop the hair loss process. Not so long ago the answer was to either have hair transplants or buy a hairpiece.
Today, however there are options that will help your natural hair to re-grow. This is becoming a more accepted process every day.
There are many people who have had excellent results for stopping the hair loss process when they use these natural ingredients. Although this may be a new process for today's men, these products have been used many years ago for a variety of problems.
The use of saw palmetto is a way of maintaining prostate health for men. In addition, as you have seen it has shown to be beneficial for stopping hair loss.
When we look to the past for solutions, we often find that our ancestors were pretty smart when it came to using natural ingredients. Be aware that the natural products are not just for men.
Women suffer from loss of hair as well, although it is not as noticeable. The female may produce too much testosterone after menopause which causes DHT to become a force to be reckoned with.
When the correct mixture of ingredients is used, the hair loss process is stopped and new hair will grow. Vitamins, herbs and minerals are the key to the successful treatment of hair loss.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/
The one thing you should know is there are many causes of losing hair. You will need to find out what the specific cause of yours is related to.
The most common reason today is hormone related. The hormone DHT is the culprit when it comes to losing your hair.
Made by the body when too much testosterone is present, DHT is responsible for a large percentage of the population's hair loss. Cutting back on this hormone has had amazing results.
The hair loss process is stopped once the DHT is eliminated. The only way to do this is to use a product that will block DHT.
There are a number of ingredients that can help in this matter. Saw palmetto is one that has shown remarkable improvements when it comes to putting a stop to the damage DHT can cause.
Adding other ingredients such as magnesium and zinc as well as Biotin and Vitamin B6
are also beneficial. The help they provide is to encourage new hair to grow while allowing the remaining hair to be healthy.
Are you at risk for balding? If you believe you are, this is as good a time as any to try this solution and see if it works for loss of your hair.
The use of all natural products is beginning to be seen as the most important way to stop the hair loss process. Not so long ago the answer was to either have hair transplants or buy a hairpiece.
Today, however there are options that will help your natural hair to re-grow. This is becoming a more accepted process every day.
There are many people who have had excellent results for stopping the hair loss process when they use these natural ingredients. Although this may be a new process for today's men, these products have been used many years ago for a variety of problems.
The use of saw palmetto is a way of maintaining prostate health for men. In addition, as you have seen it has shown to be beneficial for stopping hair loss.
When we look to the past for solutions, we often find that our ancestors were pretty smart when it came to using natural ingredients. Be aware that the natural products are not just for men.
Women suffer from loss of hair as well, although it is not as noticeable. The female may produce too much testosterone after menopause which causes DHT to become a force to be reckoned with.
When the correct mixture of ingredients is used, the hair loss process is stopped and new hair will grow. Vitamins, herbs and minerals are the key to the successful treatment of hair loss.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
10 The Male Sex Lower Ability
Male sexual performance is identical to an erection. Once the importance of this capability, so many things must be preserved and cared for by the men.
Here are some things that can affect male sexual decline, according to Prof. Dr. Djoko Rahardjo, Sp.BU, sub-section of Urology, Surgery Section Faculty of Medicine University of Indonesia / RSCM: 1. Age. Older men usually experience condition called andropause. This is the period in which decreases testosterone production.
2.Diabetes. Blood sugar levels causes high blood vessel constriction and nerve damage, including blood vessels to the area of reproduction. This is what causes erectile dysfunction.
3. Hypertension. High blood pressure causes blood vessel walls become stiff, so that over time will be narrowed vessel lumen. This incident not only in the heart or brain vessels, but also in the genitals. As a result, blood flow to the genital reduced. Erectile disorders were highly likely to occur.
4. High cholesterol levels. Cholesterol accumulated continuously in the blood vessels causing hardening and narrowing of blood vessels. Refinement of the penis causing an erection difficulties.
5. Nervous breakdown. Parkinson's, diabetes, stroke, can lead to decreased nerve function. As a result, reduced neurotransmitter activity and decrease of nerve stimulation. Erectile disorder ensued.
6. Trauma. Direct trauma of the pubic area will destroy the corpus cavernosa, nerves, and blood vessels which ultimately cause an erection.
7. Psychological factors. Stress either because of physical or psychic capable of exhausting work mentally and inhibit neurotransmitter, so that does not happen smooth muscle relaxation. As a result, erection disturbed.
8. Infectious disease. Chronic infections such as tuberculosis, HIV, hepatitis resulted in deterioration of work and decrease neurotransmitter levels of estrogen which then lead to lower libido.
9. Drugs. Stimulants, narcotics, and some blood pressure-lowering drugs may interfere with erectile ability.
10. Smoking. Besides can trigger lung cancer, also constrict blood vessels.
Here are some things that can affect male sexual decline, according to Prof. Dr. Djoko Rahardjo, Sp.BU, sub-section of Urology, Surgery Section Faculty of Medicine University of Indonesia / RSCM: 1. Age. Older men usually experience condition called andropause. This is the period in which decreases testosterone production.
2.Diabetes. Blood sugar levels causes high blood vessel constriction and nerve damage, including blood vessels to the area of reproduction. This is what causes erectile dysfunction.
3. Hypertension. High blood pressure causes blood vessel walls become stiff, so that over time will be narrowed vessel lumen. This incident not only in the heart or brain vessels, but also in the genitals. As a result, blood flow to the genital reduced. Erectile disorders were highly likely to occur.
4. High cholesterol levels. Cholesterol accumulated continuously in the blood vessels causing hardening and narrowing of blood vessels. Refinement of the penis causing an erection difficulties.
5. Nervous breakdown. Parkinson's, diabetes, stroke, can lead to decreased nerve function. As a result, reduced neurotransmitter activity and decrease of nerve stimulation. Erectile disorder ensued.
6. Trauma. Direct trauma of the pubic area will destroy the corpus cavernosa, nerves, and blood vessels which ultimately cause an erection.
7. Psychological factors. Stress either because of physical or psychic capable of exhausting work mentally and inhibit neurotransmitter, so that does not happen smooth muscle relaxation. As a result, erection disturbed.
8. Infectious disease. Chronic infections such as tuberculosis, HIV, hepatitis resulted in deterioration of work and decrease neurotransmitter levels of estrogen which then lead to lower libido.
9. Drugs. Stimulants, narcotics, and some blood pressure-lowering drugs may interfere with erectile ability.
10. Smoking. Besides can trigger lung cancer, also constrict blood vessels.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Beware Impotence Drug Side Effects!
Sex was always burning. There are times when the dim, even extinguished. One possible cause is the penis can not erect and become tense. But, people do not have to impotency discouraged because the world has found the drug treatment of impotence.
One of the anti-impotence drug most widely used all over the world are on the market that sildenafil is often called the blue pill. The research has been done extensively in many countries is to prove that this drug has a high success rate, up 89 percent to trigger an erection.However, these drugs also have side effects. In a systematic review and meta-analysis of 49 clinical research, Dr. Alexander Tsertsvadze of the Ottawa Health Research Institute, Canada and his team reported that the man wearing Sildenafasil citrate has 1.5 times the risk of greater side effects compared with those using the placebo.Side effects The most common of these impotence drugs include headache, chest palpitations, shortness of breath, and vision problems, flushing (red face due to dilation of blood vessels on the face), and indigestion. Research also shows that the risk of side effects increases with dosage viagra and a drink.
"Every drug has certain side effects - none of the free drug side effects, including sildenafil citrate," said dr. Budhi Damian Widjojo, Primary Care Medical Advisor of PT. Pfizer Indonesia.
Sildenafil citrate should only be used when doctors said a man suffering from erectile dysfunction is indicated. "Surely a man who may use this drug," he said.
In addition to avoiding side effects that are not desirable, Budhi explained sildenafil citrate not allowed in patients who are taking heart medications nitrate groups. "The use of sildenafil citrate to patients suffering from heart disease have to be careful because there is the possibility of their taking nitrate drugs such groups or because of heart conditions are not optimal for sexual intercourse," he explained.
In men, blood flow is an important part to produce a good sex. Sildenafil relaxes smooth muscle to work, by inhibiting the enzyme fosfodiestrase. Smooth muscle is responsible for impotence is called the corpus cavernosa, a network that supports the erection of the penis. In the relaxation condition, the blood flow into the penis so that erection occurs.
One of the anti-impotence drug most widely used all over the world are on the market that sildenafil is often called the blue pill. The research has been done extensively in many countries is to prove that this drug has a high success rate, up 89 percent to trigger an erection.However, these drugs also have side effects. In a systematic review and meta-analysis of 49 clinical research, Dr. Alexander Tsertsvadze of the Ottawa Health Research Institute, Canada and his team reported that the man wearing Sildenafasil citrate has 1.5 times the risk of greater side effects compared with those using the placebo.Side effects The most common of these impotence drugs include headache, chest palpitations, shortness of breath, and vision problems, flushing (red face due to dilation of blood vessels on the face), and indigestion. Research also shows that the risk of side effects increases with dosage viagra and a drink.
"Every drug has certain side effects - none of the free drug side effects, including sildenafil citrate," said dr. Budhi Damian Widjojo, Primary Care Medical Advisor of PT. Pfizer Indonesia.
Sildenafil citrate should only be used when doctors said a man suffering from erectile dysfunction is indicated. "Surely a man who may use this drug," he said.
In addition to avoiding side effects that are not desirable, Budhi explained sildenafil citrate not allowed in patients who are taking heart medications nitrate groups. "The use of sildenafil citrate to patients suffering from heart disease have to be careful because there is the possibility of their taking nitrate drugs such groups or because of heart conditions are not optimal for sexual intercourse," he explained.
In men, blood flow is an important part to produce a good sex. Sildenafil relaxes smooth muscle to work, by inhibiting the enzyme fosfodiestrase. Smooth muscle is responsible for impotence is called the corpus cavernosa, a network that supports the erection of the penis. In the relaxation condition, the blood flow into the penis so that erection occurs.
Friday, October 30, 2009
What is Cancer? What Causes Cancer?
Cancer is a class of diseases characterized by out-of-control cell growth. There are over 100 different types of cancer, and each is classified by the type of cell that is initially affected.
Cancer cell
Cancer harms the body when damaged cells divide uncontrollably to form lumps or masses of tissue called tumors (except in the case of leukemia where cancer prohibits normal blood function by abnormal cell division in the blood stream). Tumors can grow and interfere with the digestive, nervous, and circulatory systems, and they can release hormones that alter body function. Tumors that stay in one spot and demonstrate limited growth are generally considered to be benign.
More dangerous, or malignant, tumors form when two things occur:
1. a cancerous cell manages to move throughout the body using the blood or lymph systems, destroying healthy tissue in a process called invasion
2. that cell manages to divide and grow, making new blood vessels to feed itself in a process called angiogenesis.
When a tumor successfully spreads to other parts of the body and grows, invading and destroying other healthy tissues, it is said to have metastasized. This process itself is called metastasis, and the result is a serious condition that is very difficult to treat.
In 2007, cancer claimed the lives of about 7.6 million people in the world. Physicians and researchers who specialize in the study, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer are called oncologists.
What causes cancer?
Cancer is ultimately the result of cells that uncontrollably grow and do not die. Normal cells in the body follow an orderly path of growth, division, and death. Programmed cell death is called apoptosis, and when this process breaks down, cancer begins to form. Unlike regular cells, cancer cells do not experience programmatic death and instead continue to grow and divide. This leads to a mass of abnormal cells that grows out of control.
Genes - the DNA type
Cells can experience uncontrolled growth if there are damages or mutations to DNA, and therefore, damage to the genes involved in cell division. Four key types of gene are responsible for the cell division process: oncogenes tell cells when to divide, tumor suppressor genes tell cells when not to divide, suicide genes control apoptosis and tell the cell to kill itself if something goes wrong, and DNA-repair genes instruct a cell to repair damaged DNA.
Cancer occurs when a cell's gene mutations make the cell unable to correct DNA damage and unable to commit suicide. Similarly, cancer is a result of mutations that inhibit oncogene and tumor suppressor gene function, leading to uncontrollable cell growth.
Carcinogens
Carcinogens are a class of substances that are directly responsible for damaging DNA, promoting or aiding cancer. Tobacco, asbestos, arsenic, radiation such as gamma and x-rays, the sun, and compounds in car exhaust fumes are all examples of carcinogens. When our bodies are exposed to carcinogens, free radicals are formed that try to steal electrons from other molecules in the body. Theses free radicals damage cells and affect their ability to function normally.
Genes - the family type
Cancer can be the result of a genetic predisposition that is inherited from family members. It is possible to be born with certain genetic mutations or a fault in a gene that makes one statistically more likely to develop cancer later in life.
Other medical factors As we age, there is an increase in the number of possible cancer-causing mutations in our DNA. This makes age an important risk factor for cancer. Several viruses have also been linked to cancer such as: human papillomavirus (a cause of cervical cancer), hepatitis B and C (causes of liver cancer), and Epstein-Barr virus (a cause of some childhood cancers). Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) - and anything else that suppresses or weakens the immune system - inhibits the body's ability to fight infections and increases the chance of developing cancer.
What are the symptoms of cancer?
Cancer symptoms are quite varied and depend on where the cancer is located, where it has spread, and how big the tumor is. Some cancers can be felt or seen through the skin - a lump on the breast or testicle can be an indicator of cancer in those locations. Skin cancer (melanoma) is often noted by a change in a wart or mole on the skin. Some oral cancers present white patches inside the mouth or white spots on the tongue.
Other cancers have symptoms that are less physically apparent. Some brain tumors tend to present symptoms early in the disease as they affect important cognitive functions. Pancreas cancers are usually too small to cause symptoms until they cause pain by pushing against nearby nerves or interfere with liver function to cause a yellowing of the skin and eyes called jaundice. Symptoms also can be created as a tumor grows and pushes against organs and blood vessels. For example, colon cancers lead to symptoms such as constipation, diarrhea, and changes in stool size. Bladder or prostate cancers cause changes in bladder function such as more frequent or infrequent urination.
As cancer cells use the body's energy and interfere with normal hormone function, it is possible to present symptoms such as fever, fatigue, excessive sweating, anemia, and unexplained weight loss. However, these symptoms are common in several other maladies as well. For example, coughing and hoarseness can point to lung or throat cancer as well as several other conditions.
When cancer spreads, or metastasizes, additional symptoms can present themselves in the newly affected area. Swollen or enlarged lymph nodes are common and likely to be present early. If cancer spreads to the brain, patients may experience vertigo, headaches, or seizures. Spreading to the lungs may cause coughing and shortness of breath. In addition, the liver may become enlarged and cause jaundice and bones can become painful, brittle, and break easily. Symptoms of metastasis ultimately depend on the location to which the cancer has spread.
How is cancer classified?
There are five broad groups that are used to classify cancer.
1. Carcinomas are characterized by cells that cover internal and external parts of the body such as lung, breast, and colon cancer.
2. Sarcomas are characterized by cells that are located in bone, cartilage, fat, connective tissue, muscle, and other supportive tissues.
3. Lymphomas are cancers that begin in the lymph nodes and immune system tissues.
4. Leukemias are cancers that begin in the bone marrow and often accumulate in the bloodstream.
5. Adenomas are cancers that arise in the thyroid, the pituitary gland, the adrenal gland, and other glandular tissues.
Cancers are often referred to by terms that contain a prefix related to the cell type in which the cancer originated and a suffix such as -sarcoma, -carcinoma, or just -oma. Common prefixes include:
* Adeno- = gland
* Chondro- = cartilage
* Erythro- = red blood cell
* Hemangio- = blood vessels
* Hepato- = liver
* Lipo- = fat
* Lympho- = white blood cell
* Melano- = pigment cell
* Myelo- = bone marrow
* Myo- = muscle
* Osteo- = bone
* Uro- = bladder
* Retino- = eye
* Neuro- = brain
How is cancer diagnosed and staged?
Early detection of cancer can greatly improve the odds of successful treatment and survival. Physicians use information from symptoms and several other procedures to diagnose cancer. Imaging techniques such as X-rays, CT scans, MRI scans, PET scans, and ultrasound scans are used regularly in order to detect where a tumor is located and what organs may be affected by it. Doctors may also conduct an endoscopy, which is a procedure that uses a thin tube with a camera and light at one end, to look for abnormalities inside the body.
Cancer testing
Extracting cancer cells and looking at them under a microscope is the only absolute way to diagnose cancer. This procedure is called a biopsy. Other types of molecular diagnostic tests are frequently employed as well. Physicians will analyze your body's sugars, fats, proteins, and DNA at the molecular level. For example, cancerous prostate cells release a higher level of a chemical called PSA (prostate-specific antigen) into the bloodstream that can be detected by a blood test. Molecular diagnostics, biopsies, and imaging techniques are all used together to diagnose cancer.
After a diagnosis is made, doctors find out how far the cancer has spread and determine the stage of the cancer. The stage determines which choices will be available for treatment and informs prognoses. The most common cancer staging method is called the TNM system. T (1-4) indicates the size and direct extent of the primary tumor, N (0-3) indicates the degree to which the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes, and M (0-1) indicates whether the cancer has metastasized to other organs in the body. A small tumor that has not spread to lymph nodes or distant organs may be staged as (T1, N0, M0), for example.
TNM descriptions then lead to a simpler categorization of stages, from 0 to 4, where lower numbers indicate that the cancer has spread less. While most Stage 1 tumors are curable, most Stage 4 tumors are inoperable or untreatable.
How is cancer treated?
Cancer treatment depends on the type of cancer, the stage of the cancer (how much it has spread), age, health status, and additional personal characteristics. There is no single treatment for cancer, and patients often receive a combination of therapies and palliative care. Treatments usually fall into one of the following categories: surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hormone therapy, or gene therapy.
Surgery
Surgery is the oldest known treatment for cancer. If a cancer has not metastasized, it is possible to completely cure a patient by surgically removing the cancer from the body. This is often seen in the removal of the prostate or a breast or testicle. After the disease has spread, however, it is nearly impossible to remove all of the cancer cells. Surgery may also be instrumental in helping to control symptoms such as bowel obstruction or spinal cord compression.
Radiation
Radiation treatment, also known as radiotherapy, destroys cancer by focusing high-energy rays on the cancer cells. This causes damage to the molecules that make up the cancer cells and leads them to commit suicide. Radiotherapy utilizes high-energy gamma-rays that are emitted from metals such as radium or high-energy x-rays that are created in a special machine. Early radiation treatments caused severe side-effects because the energy beams would damage normal, healthy tissue, but technologies have improved so that beams can be more accurately targeted. Radiotherapy is used as a standalone treatment to shrink a tumor or destroy cancer cells (including those associated with leukemia and lymphoma), and it is also used in combination with other cancer treatments.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy utilizes chemicals that interfere with the cell division process - damaging proteins or DNA - so that cancer cells will commit suicide. These treatments target any rapidly dividing cells (not necessarily just cancer cells), but normal cells usually can recover from any chemical-induced damage while cancer cells cannot. Chemotherapy is generally used to treat cancer that has spread or metastasized because the medicines travel throughout the entire body. It is a necessary treatment for some forms of leukemia and lymphoma. Chemotherapy treatment occurs in cycles so the body has time to heal between doses. However, there are still common side effects such as hair loss, nausea, fatigue, and vomiting. Combination therapies often include multiple types of chemotherapy or chemotherapy combined with other treatment options.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy aims to get the body's immune system to fight the tumor. Local immunotherapy injects a treatment into an affected area, for example, to cause inflammation that causes a tumor to shrink. Systemic immunotherapy treats the whole body by administering an agent such as the protein interferon alpha that can shrink tumors. Immunotherapy can also be considered non-specific if it improves cancer-fighting abilities by stimulating the entire immune system, and it can be considered targeted if the treatment specifically tells the immune system to destroy cancer cells. These therapies are relatively young, but researchers have had success with treatments that introduce antibodies to the body that inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells. Bone marrow transplantation (hematopoetic stem cell transplantation) can also be considered immunotherapy because the donor's immune cells will often attack the tumor or cancer cells that are present in the host.
Hormone therapy
Several cancers have been linked to some types of hormones, most notably breast and prostate cancer. Hormone therapy is designed to alter hormone production in the body so that cancer cells stop growing or are killed completely. Breast cancer hormone therapies often focus on reducing estrogen levels (a common drug for this is tamoxifen) and prostate cancer hormone therapies often focus on reducing testosterone levels. In addition, some leukemia and lymphoma cases can be treated with the hormone cortisone.
Gene therapy
The goal of gene therapy is to replace damaged genes with ones that work to address a root cause of cancer: damage to DNA. For example, researchers are trying to replace the damaged gene that signals cells to stop dividing (the p53 gene) with a copy of a working gene. Other gene-based therapies focus on further damaging cancer cell DNA to the point where the cell commits suicide. Gene therapy is a very young field and has not yet resulted in any successful treatments.
How can cancer be prevented?
Cancers that are closely linked to certain behaviors are the easiest to prevent. For example, choosing not to smoke tobacco or drink alcohol significantly lower the risk of several types of cancer - most notably lung, throat, mouth, and liver cancer. Even if you are a current tobacco user, quitting can still greatly reduce your chances of getting cancer.
Skin cancer can be prevented by staying in the shade, protecting yourself with a hat and shirt when in the sun, and using sunscreen. Diet is also an important part of cancer prevention since what we eat has been linked to the disease. Physicians recommend diets that are low in fat and rich in fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains.
Certain vaccinations have been associated with the prevention of some cancers. For example, many women receive a vaccination for the human papillomavirus because of the virus's relationship with cervical cancer. Hepatitis B vaccines prevent the hepatitis B virus, which can cause liver cancer.
Some cancer prevention is based on systematic screening in order to detect small irregularities or tumors as early as possible even if there are no clear symptoms present. Breast self-examination, mammograms, testicular self-examination, and Pap smears are common screening methods for various cancers.
Cancer cell
Cancer harms the body when damaged cells divide uncontrollably to form lumps or masses of tissue called tumors (except in the case of leukemia where cancer prohibits normal blood function by abnormal cell division in the blood stream). Tumors can grow and interfere with the digestive, nervous, and circulatory systems, and they can release hormones that alter body function. Tumors that stay in one spot and demonstrate limited growth are generally considered to be benign.
More dangerous, or malignant, tumors form when two things occur:
1. a cancerous cell manages to move throughout the body using the blood or lymph systems, destroying healthy tissue in a process called invasion
2. that cell manages to divide and grow, making new blood vessels to feed itself in a process called angiogenesis.
When a tumor successfully spreads to other parts of the body and grows, invading and destroying other healthy tissues, it is said to have metastasized. This process itself is called metastasis, and the result is a serious condition that is very difficult to treat.
In 2007, cancer claimed the lives of about 7.6 million people in the world. Physicians and researchers who specialize in the study, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer are called oncologists.
What causes cancer?
Cancer is ultimately the result of cells that uncontrollably grow and do not die. Normal cells in the body follow an orderly path of growth, division, and death. Programmed cell death is called apoptosis, and when this process breaks down, cancer begins to form. Unlike regular cells, cancer cells do not experience programmatic death and instead continue to grow and divide. This leads to a mass of abnormal cells that grows out of control.
Genes - the DNA type
Cells can experience uncontrolled growth if there are damages or mutations to DNA, and therefore, damage to the genes involved in cell division. Four key types of gene are responsible for the cell division process: oncogenes tell cells when to divide, tumor suppressor genes tell cells when not to divide, suicide genes control apoptosis and tell the cell to kill itself if something goes wrong, and DNA-repair genes instruct a cell to repair damaged DNA.
Cancer occurs when a cell's gene mutations make the cell unable to correct DNA damage and unable to commit suicide. Similarly, cancer is a result of mutations that inhibit oncogene and tumor suppressor gene function, leading to uncontrollable cell growth.
Carcinogens
Carcinogens are a class of substances that are directly responsible for damaging DNA, promoting or aiding cancer. Tobacco, asbestos, arsenic, radiation such as gamma and x-rays, the sun, and compounds in car exhaust fumes are all examples of carcinogens. When our bodies are exposed to carcinogens, free radicals are formed that try to steal electrons from other molecules in the body. Theses free radicals damage cells and affect their ability to function normally.
Genes - the family type
Cancer can be the result of a genetic predisposition that is inherited from family members. It is possible to be born with certain genetic mutations or a fault in a gene that makes one statistically more likely to develop cancer later in life.
Other medical factors As we age, there is an increase in the number of possible cancer-causing mutations in our DNA. This makes age an important risk factor for cancer. Several viruses have also been linked to cancer such as: human papillomavirus (a cause of cervical cancer), hepatitis B and C (causes of liver cancer), and Epstein-Barr virus (a cause of some childhood cancers). Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) - and anything else that suppresses or weakens the immune system - inhibits the body's ability to fight infections and increases the chance of developing cancer.
What are the symptoms of cancer?
Cancer symptoms are quite varied and depend on where the cancer is located, where it has spread, and how big the tumor is. Some cancers can be felt or seen through the skin - a lump on the breast or testicle can be an indicator of cancer in those locations. Skin cancer (melanoma) is often noted by a change in a wart or mole on the skin. Some oral cancers present white patches inside the mouth or white spots on the tongue.
Other cancers have symptoms that are less physically apparent. Some brain tumors tend to present symptoms early in the disease as they affect important cognitive functions. Pancreas cancers are usually too small to cause symptoms until they cause pain by pushing against nearby nerves or interfere with liver function to cause a yellowing of the skin and eyes called jaundice. Symptoms also can be created as a tumor grows and pushes against organs and blood vessels. For example, colon cancers lead to symptoms such as constipation, diarrhea, and changes in stool size. Bladder or prostate cancers cause changes in bladder function such as more frequent or infrequent urination.
As cancer cells use the body's energy and interfere with normal hormone function, it is possible to present symptoms such as fever, fatigue, excessive sweating, anemia, and unexplained weight loss. However, these symptoms are common in several other maladies as well. For example, coughing and hoarseness can point to lung or throat cancer as well as several other conditions.
When cancer spreads, or metastasizes, additional symptoms can present themselves in the newly affected area. Swollen or enlarged lymph nodes are common and likely to be present early. If cancer spreads to the brain, patients may experience vertigo, headaches, or seizures. Spreading to the lungs may cause coughing and shortness of breath. In addition, the liver may become enlarged and cause jaundice and bones can become painful, brittle, and break easily. Symptoms of metastasis ultimately depend on the location to which the cancer has spread.
How is cancer classified?
There are five broad groups that are used to classify cancer.
1. Carcinomas are characterized by cells that cover internal and external parts of the body such as lung, breast, and colon cancer.
2. Sarcomas are characterized by cells that are located in bone, cartilage, fat, connective tissue, muscle, and other supportive tissues.
3. Lymphomas are cancers that begin in the lymph nodes and immune system tissues.
4. Leukemias are cancers that begin in the bone marrow and often accumulate in the bloodstream.
5. Adenomas are cancers that arise in the thyroid, the pituitary gland, the adrenal gland, and other glandular tissues.
Cancers are often referred to by terms that contain a prefix related to the cell type in which the cancer originated and a suffix such as -sarcoma, -carcinoma, or just -oma. Common prefixes include:
* Adeno- = gland
* Chondro- = cartilage
* Erythro- = red blood cell
* Hemangio- = blood vessels
* Hepato- = liver
* Lipo- = fat
* Lympho- = white blood cell
* Melano- = pigment cell
* Myelo- = bone marrow
* Myo- = muscle
* Osteo- = bone
* Uro- = bladder
* Retino- = eye
* Neuro- = brain
How is cancer diagnosed and staged?
Early detection of cancer can greatly improve the odds of successful treatment and survival. Physicians use information from symptoms and several other procedures to diagnose cancer. Imaging techniques such as X-rays, CT scans, MRI scans, PET scans, and ultrasound scans are used regularly in order to detect where a tumor is located and what organs may be affected by it. Doctors may also conduct an endoscopy, which is a procedure that uses a thin tube with a camera and light at one end, to look for abnormalities inside the body.
Cancer testing
Extracting cancer cells and looking at them under a microscope is the only absolute way to diagnose cancer. This procedure is called a biopsy. Other types of molecular diagnostic tests are frequently employed as well. Physicians will analyze your body's sugars, fats, proteins, and DNA at the molecular level. For example, cancerous prostate cells release a higher level of a chemical called PSA (prostate-specific antigen) into the bloodstream that can be detected by a blood test. Molecular diagnostics, biopsies, and imaging techniques are all used together to diagnose cancer.
After a diagnosis is made, doctors find out how far the cancer has spread and determine the stage of the cancer. The stage determines which choices will be available for treatment and informs prognoses. The most common cancer staging method is called the TNM system. T (1-4) indicates the size and direct extent of the primary tumor, N (0-3) indicates the degree to which the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes, and M (0-1) indicates whether the cancer has metastasized to other organs in the body. A small tumor that has not spread to lymph nodes or distant organs may be staged as (T1, N0, M0), for example.
TNM descriptions then lead to a simpler categorization of stages, from 0 to 4, where lower numbers indicate that the cancer has spread less. While most Stage 1 tumors are curable, most Stage 4 tumors are inoperable or untreatable.
How is cancer treated?
Cancer treatment depends on the type of cancer, the stage of the cancer (how much it has spread), age, health status, and additional personal characteristics. There is no single treatment for cancer, and patients often receive a combination of therapies and palliative care. Treatments usually fall into one of the following categories: surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hormone therapy, or gene therapy.
Surgery
Surgery is the oldest known treatment for cancer. If a cancer has not metastasized, it is possible to completely cure a patient by surgically removing the cancer from the body. This is often seen in the removal of the prostate or a breast or testicle. After the disease has spread, however, it is nearly impossible to remove all of the cancer cells. Surgery may also be instrumental in helping to control symptoms such as bowel obstruction or spinal cord compression.
Radiation
Radiation treatment, also known as radiotherapy, destroys cancer by focusing high-energy rays on the cancer cells. This causes damage to the molecules that make up the cancer cells and leads them to commit suicide. Radiotherapy utilizes high-energy gamma-rays that are emitted from metals such as radium or high-energy x-rays that are created in a special machine. Early radiation treatments caused severe side-effects because the energy beams would damage normal, healthy tissue, but technologies have improved so that beams can be more accurately targeted. Radiotherapy is used as a standalone treatment to shrink a tumor or destroy cancer cells (including those associated with leukemia and lymphoma), and it is also used in combination with other cancer treatments.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy utilizes chemicals that interfere with the cell division process - damaging proteins or DNA - so that cancer cells will commit suicide. These treatments target any rapidly dividing cells (not necessarily just cancer cells), but normal cells usually can recover from any chemical-induced damage while cancer cells cannot. Chemotherapy is generally used to treat cancer that has spread or metastasized because the medicines travel throughout the entire body. It is a necessary treatment for some forms of leukemia and lymphoma. Chemotherapy treatment occurs in cycles so the body has time to heal between doses. However, there are still common side effects such as hair loss, nausea, fatigue, and vomiting. Combination therapies often include multiple types of chemotherapy or chemotherapy combined with other treatment options.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy aims to get the body's immune system to fight the tumor. Local immunotherapy injects a treatment into an affected area, for example, to cause inflammation that causes a tumor to shrink. Systemic immunotherapy treats the whole body by administering an agent such as the protein interferon alpha that can shrink tumors. Immunotherapy can also be considered non-specific if it improves cancer-fighting abilities by stimulating the entire immune system, and it can be considered targeted if the treatment specifically tells the immune system to destroy cancer cells. These therapies are relatively young, but researchers have had success with treatments that introduce antibodies to the body that inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells. Bone marrow transplantation (hematopoetic stem cell transplantation) can also be considered immunotherapy because the donor's immune cells will often attack the tumor or cancer cells that are present in the host.
Hormone therapy
Several cancers have been linked to some types of hormones, most notably breast and prostate cancer. Hormone therapy is designed to alter hormone production in the body so that cancer cells stop growing or are killed completely. Breast cancer hormone therapies often focus on reducing estrogen levels (a common drug for this is tamoxifen) and prostate cancer hormone therapies often focus on reducing testosterone levels. In addition, some leukemia and lymphoma cases can be treated with the hormone cortisone.
Gene therapy
The goal of gene therapy is to replace damaged genes with ones that work to address a root cause of cancer: damage to DNA. For example, researchers are trying to replace the damaged gene that signals cells to stop dividing (the p53 gene) with a copy of a working gene. Other gene-based therapies focus on further damaging cancer cell DNA to the point where the cell commits suicide. Gene therapy is a very young field and has not yet resulted in any successful treatments.
How can cancer be prevented?
Cancers that are closely linked to certain behaviors are the easiest to prevent. For example, choosing not to smoke tobacco or drink alcohol significantly lower the risk of several types of cancer - most notably lung, throat, mouth, and liver cancer. Even if you are a current tobacco user, quitting can still greatly reduce your chances of getting cancer.
Skin cancer can be prevented by staying in the shade, protecting yourself with a hat and shirt when in the sun, and using sunscreen. Diet is also an important part of cancer prevention since what we eat has been linked to the disease. Physicians recommend diets that are low in fat and rich in fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains.
Certain vaccinations have been associated with the prevention of some cancers. For example, many women receive a vaccination for the human papillomavirus because of the virus's relationship with cervical cancer. Hepatitis B vaccines prevent the hepatitis B virus, which can cause liver cancer.
Some cancer prevention is based on systematic screening in order to detect small irregularities or tumors as early as possible even if there are no clear symptoms present. Breast self-examination, mammograms, testicular self-examination, and Pap smears are common screening methods for various cancers.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Steps To Follow When Claiming Your Personal Injury
Most people have a tendency to blame self in face of accidents. Well, it is obviously good to take responsibility if you are guilty. But if not, then why take someone else's crime on our head? We must fight and seek justice for the accident that made us miserable. Suffering the pains and bruises is not easy, neither spending on hospital bills. We must therefore be courageous and file for compensationToda in UK, however, more and more people are coming forward and filing their accident claim. It is not a difficult procedure though certainly you need good lawyers
to present your case. Your work lies only in searching for good lawyers. Once this is done, your work is over. You need not be worried for any damn thing once your lawyer tells you that you stand the case and you have every chance to win. Bearing financial losses due to accident is not easy. Even if insured, it is not always easy for people to bear other charges. No wonder seeking financial help from culprits is always welcome.
However one must know the steps to follow while claiming for the accident. Let's see how one can proceed after meeting with an accident:
1) Firstly, do not waste time. Faster you act; more are your chances to win the compensation. As far as possible, run to the jury immediately upon the accident. Beforehand, get a medical examination done. If you have to be admitted in hospital, ask your family or a close friend to look into the matter, who will certainly like to help you at such critical times.
2) By law, you can file an accident claim in UK within 3 months of accident. So, search for an online firm that can help you lodge the claim and take care of the rest proceedings. This firm must comprise of experienced lawyers who are into this field of accident claim and should have resolved many such cases earlier. Surely the legitimate sites do give the names of their lawyers on team and also mention their work related experience.
3) Once you are sure you have reached a safe and legit site, go and fill their online form. This form contains information regarding the accident and its details. These details are crucial for the jury to understand the legitimacy of your claim. So, try to explain in details here. You can seek help from the lawyers if you find it difficult to fill the form. Nonetheless it is an easy job. 4) You can even call the lawyers online instead of filling the form directly to know the steps beforehand so that the lawyers can tell you exactly if you have chance to win the case/ they can even take your details on phone.
5) Once you know whether to pursue the case or not, you can start the process of claim immediately if they say yes.
6) Next all things will be done by the lawyers and you need not do anyting. Just do as the lawyers say and sit at home or take rest in hospital. Your lawyers will give you a call later when your case stands good and you receive compensation. You will get 100% compensation and still you need not pay fees to the lawyers. If you lose the case, according to No Win No Fee criterion, you don't pay anything. Even upon win, the lawyers seek fees from the accused party or insurance agency. No doubt the steps to follow are very easy!
to present your case. Your work lies only in searching for good lawyers. Once this is done, your work is over. You need not be worried for any damn thing once your lawyer tells you that you stand the case and you have every chance to win. Bearing financial losses due to accident is not easy. Even if insured, it is not always easy for people to bear other charges. No wonder seeking financial help from culprits is always welcome.
However one must know the steps to follow while claiming for the accident. Let's see how one can proceed after meeting with an accident:
1) Firstly, do not waste time. Faster you act; more are your chances to win the compensation. As far as possible, run to the jury immediately upon the accident. Beforehand, get a medical examination done. If you have to be admitted in hospital, ask your family or a close friend to look into the matter, who will certainly like to help you at such critical times.
2) By law, you can file an accident claim in UK within 3 months of accident. So, search for an online firm that can help you lodge the claim and take care of the rest proceedings. This firm must comprise of experienced lawyers who are into this field of accident claim and should have resolved many such cases earlier. Surely the legitimate sites do give the names of their lawyers on team and also mention their work related experience.
3) Once you are sure you have reached a safe and legit site, go and fill their online form. This form contains information regarding the accident and its details. These details are crucial for the jury to understand the legitimacy of your claim. So, try to explain in details here. You can seek help from the lawyers if you find it difficult to fill the form. Nonetheless it is an easy job. 4) You can even call the lawyers online instead of filling the form directly to know the steps beforehand so that the lawyers can tell you exactly if you have chance to win the case/ they can even take your details on phone.
5) Once you know whether to pursue the case or not, you can start the process of claim immediately if they say yes.
6) Next all things will be done by the lawyers and you need not do anyting. Just do as the lawyers say and sit at home or take rest in hospital. Your lawyers will give you a call later when your case stands good and you receive compensation. You will get 100% compensation and still you need not pay fees to the lawyers. If you lose the case, according to No Win No Fee criterion, you don't pay anything. Even upon win, the lawyers seek fees from the accused party or insurance agency. No doubt the steps to follow are very easy!
What is Lupus?
Lupus is an autoimmune disease where the body's immune system becomes hyperactive and attacks normal, healthy tissue. This results in symptoms such as inflammation, swelling, and damage to joints, skin, kidneys, blood, the heart, and lungs.
Under normal function, the immune system makes proteins called antibodies in order to protect and fight against antigens such as viruses and bacteria. Lupus makes the immune system unable to differentiate between antigens and healthy tissue. This leads the immune system to direct antibodies against the healthy tissue - not just antigens - causing swelling, pain, and tissue damage.
(* An antigen is a substance capable of inducing a specific immune response.)
What are the different types of lupus?
Several different kinds of lupus have been identified, but the type that we refer to simply as lupus is known as systemic lupus erythematosus or SLE. Other types include discoid (cutaneous), drug-induced, and neonatal. Patients with discoid lupus have a version of the disease that is limited to the skin. It is characterized by a rash that appears on the face, neck, and scalp, and it does not affect internal organs. Less than 10% of patients with discoid lupus progress into the systemic form of the disease, but there is no way to predict or prevent the path of the disease.
SLE is more severe than discoid lupus because it can affect any of the body's organs or organ systems. Some people may present inflammation or other problems with only skin and joints, while other SLE sufferers will see joints, lungs, kidneys, blood, and/or the heart affected. This type of lupus is also often characterized by periods of flare (when the disease is active) and periods of remission (when the disease is dormant).
Drug-induced lupus is caused by a reaction with certain prescription drugs and causes symptoms very similar to SLE. The drugs most commonly associated with this form of lupus are a hypertension medication called hydralazine and a heart arrhythmia medication called procainamide, but there are some 400 other drugs that can also cause the condition. Drug-induced lupus is known to subside after the patient stops taking the triggering medication.
A rare condition, neonatal lupus occurs when a mother passes autoantibodies to a fetus. The unborn and newborn child can have skin rashes and other complications with the heart and blood. Usually a rash appears but eventually fades within the first six months of the child's life.
Who is affected by lupus?
According to the Lupus Foundation of America (LFA), 1.5 to 2 million Americans have some form of lupus. The prevalence is about 40 cases per 100,000 persons among Northern Europeans and 200 per 100,000 persons among blacks. Although the disease affects both males and females, women are diagnosed 9 times more often than men, usually between the ages of 15 and 45. African-American women suffer from more severe symptoms and a higher mortality rate.
Other risk factors include exposure to sunlight, certain prescription medications, infection with Epstein-Barr virus, and exposure to certain chemicals.
What causes lupus?
Photograph of healthcare professionals
Although doctors are do not know exactly what causes lupus and other autoimmune diseases, most believe that lupus results from both genetic and environmental stimuli.
Since lupus is known to occur within families, doctors believe that it is possible to inherit a genetic predisposition to lupus. There are no known genes, however, that directly cause the illness. It is probable that having an inherited predisposition for lupus makes the disease more likely only after coming into contact with some environmental trigger.
The higher number of lupus cases in females than in males may indicate that the disease can be triggered by certain hormones. Physicians believe that hormones such as estrogen regulate the progression of the disease because symptoms tend to flare before menstrual periods and/or during pregnancy.
Certain environmental factors have been known to cause lupus symptoms. These include:
* Extreme stress
* Exposure to ultraviolet light, usually from sunlight
* Smoking
* Some medications and antibiotics, especially those in the sulfa and penicillin groups
* Some infections, such as cytomegalovirus (CMV), parvovirus (such as fifth disease), hepatitis C infections, and the Epstein-Barr virus (in children)
* Chemical exposure to compounds such as trichloroethylene in well water and dust
What are the symptoms of lupus?
Since no two cases of lupus are exactly alike, there is a wide range of symptoms that are known to affect many parts of the body. Sometimes symptoms develop slowly or appear suddenly; they can be mild, severe, temporary, or permanent. Most people with lupus experience symptoms in only a few organs, but more serious cases can lead to problems with kidneys, the heart, the lungs, blood, or the nervous system.
Lupus episodes, or flares, are usually noted by a worsening of some of the following symptoms:
* Achy joints (arthralgia), arthritis, and swollen joints, especially in wrists, small joints of the hands, elbows, knees, and ankles
* Swelling of the hands and feet due to kidney problems
* Fever of more than 100 degrees F (38 degrees C)
* Prolonged or extreme fatigue
* Skin lesions or rashes, especially on the arms, hands, face, neck, or back
* Butterfly-shaped rash (malar rash) across the cheeks and nose
* Anemia (oxygen carrying deficiency of red blood cells)
* Pain in the chest on deep breathing or shortness of breath
* Sun or light sensitivity (photosensitivity)
* Hair loss or alopecia
* Abnormal blood clotting problems
* Raynaud's phenomenon: fingers turn white and/or blue or red in the cold
* Seizures
* Mouth or nose ulcers
* Weight loss or gain
* Dry eyes
* Easy bruising
* Anxiety, depression, headaches, and memory loss
Lupus can also lead to complications in several areas of the body. These include:
* Kidneys - serious kidney damage is a primary cause of death for lupus sufferers.
* Central nervous system - lupus can cause headaches, dizziness, memory problems, seizures, and behavioral changes.
* Blood and vessels - lupus causes an increased risk of anemia, bleeding, blood clotting, and vessel inflammation
* Lungs - noninfectious pneumonia and difficulty breathing due to inflammation of the chest cavity are more likely with lupus
* Heart - heart muscle and artery inflammation are more likely with the disease, and lupus increases the chances of cardiovascular disease and heart attacks.
* Infection - lupus treatments tend to depress the immune system making your body more vulnerable to infection.
* Cancer - lupus increases the risk of cancer, especially of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, lung cancer, and liver cancer
* Bone tissue death - a lower blood supply to bone tissue leads to tiny breaks and eventual death of bone. This is most common in the hip bone.
* Pregnancy - lupus increases the risk of miscarriage, hypertension during pregnancy, and preterm birth.
How is lupus diagnosed?
As signs and symptoms vary considerably from person to person, there is no single diagnostic test that can confirm lupus. In addition, signs and symptoms tend to change over time and are similar to those of other disorders and diseases. These fluctuations in disease activity make lupus extremely challenging to diagnose.
Currently, doctors use guidelines established by The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) to diagnose lupus (SLE). The guidelines focus on eleven abnormalities that, when combined, suggest that the patient has lupus. To be classified as having SLE, a patient must meet 4 of the following 11 symptoms at any time since the onset of the disease:
1. Serositis - inflammation of the membrane around the lungs (pleuritis) or the heart (pericarditis)
2. Mucosal ulcers - small sores found in the lining of the mouth and nose
3. Arthritis - nonerosive arthritis (tenderness, swelling, pain) of two or more peripheral joints
4. Photosensitivity - skin rash or other symptoms caused by exposure to ultraviolet light
5. Blood disorder - hemolytic anemia (low red blood cell count), leucopenia and lymphopenia (low white blood cell count), or thrombocytopenia (low platelet count)
6. Renal (kidney) disorder - high protein count in urine
7. Antinuclear antibody test positive
8. Immunologic disorder - positives on anti-Smith, anti-ds DNA, antiphospholipid antibody tests.
9. Neurologic disorder - seizures or psychosis
10. Malar rash - rash on cheeks
11. Discoid rash - red, scaly patches on skin that cause scarring
In addition to the above tests, doctors will often conduct a variety of blood tests such as:
* Complete blood count (CBC) to detect anemia, low platelet count, and low white blood cell count
* Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) to determine the rate at which red blood cells settle to the bottom of a tube in an hour. Rates faster than normal may indicate lupus or another systemic disease, inflammatory condition, or infection.
* Kidney and liver assessment to look for certain enzymes and albumin
* Urinalysis to measure protein levels or red blood cells in the urine
* Syphilis test to determine if anti-phospholipid antibodies are in the blood.
How is lupus treated?
Photograph of Doctor making notes
There is currently no cure for lupus, nor has there been a new drug to treat the disease in the last 50 years, although there are a number of new drugs currently being researched or in clinical trials. However, early diagnosis and proper medical treatment can significantly help control the disease and its symptoms. Treating lupus effectively consists of minimizing symptoms, reducing inflammation and pain, helping maintain normal function, and preventing serious complications.
Since the disease affects each person differently, treatments are usually tailored to the specific problems that arise in each person. Medications and dosages will also vary depending on the severity of the disease.
When lupus presents with mild or moderate symptoms, the following medications are commonly used in treatment:
* Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, naproxen sodium (Aleve), and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others). Common side effects of NSAIDs include stomach bleeding and an increased risk of heart problems.
* Antimalarial drugs such as Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil). There is no known relationship between lupus and malaria, but malaria medicines have been useful in treating lupus symptoms and haven prevented flares of the disease. Side effects include vision problems and muscle weakness.
* Corticosteroids to counter inflammation. Serious long-term side effects include weight gain, easy bruising, osteoporosis, hypertension, diabetes, and increased risk of infection. The risk of osteoporosis can be reduced by taking calcium and vitamin D supplements.
When lupus presents with severe or aggressive symptoms, the following treatments are commonly used:
* High-dose corticosteroids. These may be taken intravenously or orally to control dangerous signs or symptoms of lupus. However, serious side effects have been observed such as infections, mood swings, hypertension and osteoporosis. Doctors tend to administer the lowest dose possible that will control symptoms, reducing the dosage over time.
* Immunosuppressive drugs such as cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) and azathioprine (Imuran). These drugs suppress the immune system and may be helpful in serious lupus cases. They also carry a risk of serious side effects such as an increased risk of infection, liver damage, infertility and an increased risk of cancer.
Other common treatments for specific signs and symptoms include:
* Staying out of the sun and wearing sun block to prevent skin rashes. Indoor fluorescent lighting can also trigger skin rashes in some people with lupus. Topical corticoid steroids may be used to treat skin rashes in addition to oral steroids and antimalarial drugs.
* Medication to treat fatigue. Difficulty sleeping, depression and poorly controlled pain are all potential causes of fatigue, and doctors will treat these underlying causes. Medications such as corticosteroids and antimalarial drugs may be used if the cause of fatigue cannot be determined.
* NSAIDs, antimalarial drugs or corticosteroids to treat swelling around the heart and lungs that causes chest pain.
In addition to medications, physicians recommend that lupus patients take good care of themselves. Patients may see a reduction in the frequency and severity of flares if they make healthy lifestyle choices such as:
* Regular exercise.
* Becoming educated about lupus.
* Not smoking.
* Eating a healthful, balanced diet.
* Surrounding oneself with a support system of family, friends, and health professionals.
Living with lupus
Although there is no cure for lupus, there are several measures that patients can take to cope with the disease.
* Sun care - Use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 that can block both UVA and IVB rays.
* Diet - Eat a nutritious and well-balanced diet with limited sugar and salt intake if on corticosteroids. There is some evidence that fish has anti-inflammatory properties, but alfalfa sprouts may increase inflammation.
* Pain management - Apply moist heat to painful joints or soak in a hot tub or Jacuzzi.
* Exercise - Low-impact walking, swimming, aerobics, and bicycling may help prevent muscle atrophy and lower the risk of osteoporosis.
* Rehabilitation - Physical, occupational, and vocational therapists can help you to strengthen muscles, exercise, lower stress, recommend assistive devices, train for a job that does not exacerbate symptoms
* Don't smoke. Quit if you are a smoker.
* Climate - Changes in pressure can exacerbate symptoms. Try to live somewhere with minimal changes in climate and pressure.
* Fatigue - Control fatigue by remaining active and resting for an appropriate amount of time.
* Relationships - Maintain good relationships with the physicians that are helping you to manage lupus. Keep appointments, be honest, take medicines, and respect their time.
* Pregnancy - Keep aware and consult with a doctor about risks associated with pregnancy for you and your child.
* Cognitive function - A psychologist or cognitive therapists may be helpful if lupus leads to cognitive dysfunction or memory loss.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Impotence Treatments and The Many Varieties
Since the late twentieth century until now, men have been more open to the idea of receiving treatment of impotence, an issue that is often avoided in the past for fear of embarrassment. Today, with television commercials for this disease cleaning 24 / 7 is no longer considered an unspeakable subject, and the number of men seeking treatment continues to rise.
Sex therapy is a treatment for impotence that can succeed, especially if the sexual problem is psychological in nature, and both partners are involved in the therapy session. The results are not as good, if only one of the two partners involved.
Vacuum pump devices have been tried for many years with varying degrees of success. An acrylic cylindrical pump is placed over the p.., and the air is removed from the device or by hand or with batteries. Blood is drawn into the p.. by the vacuum, causing an erection, and a rubber constriction ring at the base of the pump slip on the base of the pe.., the use of lubricants, trapping blood inside to maintaining an erection.
Penile implant surgery is another option for treatment of impotence or using bendable rods that are implanted into the erection chambers of the p.. and remain semi-rigid at all times, or hydraulic, inflatable prosthesis that is more natural and easier to hide. This type of treatment of impotence is often used when there is an underlying medical condition that results in little chance of a return to normal sexual function.
The most common treatments for impotence of today are drugs such as Via.. and Ci.., and herbal supplements such as Hot Rod for men who are very effective and no side effects associated with chemical based drugs.
Sex therapy is a treatment for impotence that can succeed, especially if the sexual problem is psychological in nature, and both partners are involved in the therapy session. The results are not as good, if only one of the two partners involved.
Vacuum pump devices have been tried for many years with varying degrees of success. An acrylic cylindrical pump is placed over the p.., and the air is removed from the device or by hand or with batteries. Blood is drawn into the p.. by the vacuum, causing an erection, and a rubber constriction ring at the base of the pump slip on the base of the pe.., the use of lubricants, trapping blood inside to maintaining an erection.
Penile implant surgery is another option for treatment of impotence or using bendable rods that are implanted into the erection chambers of the p.. and remain semi-rigid at all times, or hydraulic, inflatable prosthesis that is more natural and easier to hide. This type of treatment of impotence is often used when there is an underlying medical condition that results in little chance of a return to normal sexual function.
The most common treatments for impotence of today are drugs such as Via.. and Ci.., and herbal supplements such as Hot Rod for men who are very effective and no side effects associated with chemical based drugs.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Lack of vitamin D, Caution Hypertension
The results of the study presented in the meeting of the American Heart Association in Chicago is well put in a group of adolescent girls at risk for hypertension due to lack of intake of vitamin D.Researchers in Michigan, U.S., 559 women testing data that began in 1992, found that those who are deficient in vitamin D had hypertension 15 years later. "Our results indicate long-term risk of vitamin D deficiency are hypertensive at the age of around 30's," said Flojaune Griffin, from the School of Public Health, University of Michigan, USA.
Besides produced naturally by the body that comes from exposure to sunlight, vitamin D can also be found in fish, dairy products, and supplements. Vitamin D deficiency is now not only associated with healthy bones and teeth but also the risk of cancer, immune problems, and respiratory diseases.
Currently almost half the population in the world are deficient in vitamin D. The experts argued, this problem will get worse if the person is working more in the room. People of African-Americans are also considered at risk of vitamin D deficiency because dark skin makes them more difficult body to absorb ultraviolet light.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Breast Cancer Patients Need Vitamin D
The majority of breast cancer patients have vitamin D levels are low. This can cause bones to become brittle and fracture risk. In addition, vitamin D deficiency also accelerate the deterioration of cancer.
"Vitamin D is essential for maintaining healthy bones and general bone density of women with lower breast cancer as a side effect of hormone therapy and chemotherapy," said luke Peppone, assistant professor of radiation oncology at the University of Rochester Medical Center.Peppone and his team studied 166 women undergoing breast cancer treatment therapies. The researchers found that nearly 70 percent of patients had vitamin D levels are low in the blood. Levels of vitamin D research respondents an average of 27 nanograms per milliliter of blood. Based on the U.S. Institute of Medicine, a sufficient level is 32 nanograms per milliliter.
Therefore, the researchers suggested that the patients taking vitamin D supplements to increase the high-dose vitamin D. In addition to bone health, vitamin D also plays a vital role in cell growth and keep the immune system remains strong.
A study by experts from Canada also shows that breast cancer patients have vitamin D levels are not enough experienced the spread of tumors when compared with patients who have vitamin D deficiency
Aside from supplements, vitamin D can be obtained from foods that contain calcium and exposure to sunlight.
"Vitamin D is essential for maintaining healthy bones and general bone density of women with lower breast cancer as a side effect of hormone therapy and chemotherapy," said luke Peppone, assistant professor of radiation oncology at the University of Rochester Medical Center.Peppone and his team studied 166 women undergoing breast cancer treatment therapies. The researchers found that nearly 70 percent of patients had vitamin D levels are low in the blood. Levels of vitamin D research respondents an average of 27 nanograms per milliliter of blood. Based on the U.S. Institute of Medicine, a sufficient level is 32 nanograms per milliliter.
Therefore, the researchers suggested that the patients taking vitamin D supplements to increase the high-dose vitamin D. In addition to bone health, vitamin D also plays a vital role in cell growth and keep the immune system remains strong.
A study by experts from Canada also shows that breast cancer patients have vitamin D levels are not enough experienced the spread of tumors when compared with patients who have vitamin D deficiency
Aside from supplements, vitamin D can be obtained from foods that contain calcium and exposure to sunlight.
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