November 2011

Replace bad habits with good alternatives

Pick whatever unhealthy, energy-draining habit you’ve been trying to wean yourself from as an example. Although you can intellectualize and nauseam about why you should change your ways, there’s a part of your brain that’s a screaming two-year-old-it wants what it wants when it wants it, whether that’s a cigarette, a pint of Haagen Dazs, a bottle of wine, or carte blanche at Nordstrom. And although we could argue about the wine or the shopping spree, most of the habits we want to break are the same ones that drain our energy and vitality.

I’m sure by now I don’t have to tell you that those bad habits can damage your physical, emotional, and financial health; add to your stress levels; and ultimately sap your energy.

To effectively change an ingrained habit you need to do three tings:

1. Define your reasons to change.
2. Recognize t triggers you behavior.
3. Collect a bag of diversionary tactics to occupy your inner toddler.

Change is hard, but it’s doable – with a plan. Start with this advice:

• Prepare for change. Before you try to give up the cigarettes, cut out sugar, or control your spending, write down all the reasons you want to change your behavior. Keep the list growing, and reread it often. Plan ways to work around the typical situations, experiences, and feelings that trigger your craving.

• Take one day at a time. Give yourself at least a month to focus on changing just one habit. As with any goal, commit to yourself (in writing) and to those around you. Come up with a reward (preferably something healthy, such as a day at a spa) for sticking with it, and build in consequences for giving up (donating your favorite outfit to charity). Plan each step of the process.

• Out with the old, in with the new. If you are trying to cut down on the amount of television you watch, for instance, have a prime-time replacement. Make it something pleasurable – reading a novel, playing with the kids, or socializing with friends. If you replace a bad habit with a good one, then you’ll have filled the energy drainer with an energy promoter.

• Spin to win. You see this all the time in a presidential, election cycle. Candidates attempt to lower expectations so that if they lose a primary they can declare victory by moving the goalposts. (“We were expecting to lose by 30 percent, and we only lost by 15 percent – so we actually won!”) Believe it or not, there’s a valuable lesion in this: Manage your expectations.

This is especially true when you’re trying to lose weight. Remember, there are no unrealistic goals, just unrealistic timetables. If you set a goal of losing 20 pounds and after a month you’ve only lost 4, it’s still progress, and don’t let you inner voice tell you otherwise. Celebrate small success in a healthy way.

• Wait it out. When the urge to resort to the old behavior strikes – whether it’s indulging in a pint of ice cream out of the container or having a cigarette – have a diversionary tactic ready. Those times when you’re feeling stressed and suddenly want more than anything in the world to do something you know is going to sap your energy (cigarette, sugar indulgence, fourth slice of pizza), go for a walk, take a bath, practice a few yoga moves, or call a supportive friend. Cravings are remarkably fickle, and if you can wait them out for 15 minutes they usually pass.

A good set of diversionary “plan B” actions can help you make it through. Remember that list you made for the reasons you want to replace an energy-draining habit with a more productive one? Read it. Preferably aloud. Whenever you’re feeling “weak”, remain yourself that you are in charge her. Taking steps toward a healthier life will add up to an improved self-image, a more positive outlook on life, an increased energy.

Some of my fellow teachers in the self-help movement, such as my friends Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Christine Comafrod-Lynch, and T. Harv Eker, love to say that it takes twenty-one days to form a new habit. I think ‘re right. But think about it. If you devoted three weeks to cultivating one new, energy-enhancing, life-affirming habit, at the end of the year you’d have seventeen strong new behavioral strategies for successful living.

Imagine how much energy you could create for yourself with that!

Biological Treatment Effective In Psoriasis Treatment For mild cases of psoriasis, topical treatments—those applied to the skin—often work well. But if you have moderate to severe psoriasis, or if topicals just aren’t effective for you, don’t despair. Other good options are available, including traditional systemic treatments and newer drugs known as biologics.

As with all psoriasis treatments, not every one of these drugs will work on everyone with psoriasis. Sometimes a trial-and-error approach is necessary to find what is effective for you, notes Jerome Shupack, MD, dermatology professor and chief of the dermatopharmacology unit at New York University’s Langone Medical Center. “Often there is no one single medication that fits everyone. Treatment plans must be individualized,” he says.

Trying the Traditional Route

Traditional systemic treatments are prescription drugs that treat psoriasis by working throughout the body. You take them orally, in either liquid or pill form, or by injection. There are many systemic drugs available, including acitretin (Soriatane), cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune, SangCya), and methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall), to name just a few.

Understanding Biologics

Biologics are protein-based drugs made from living cells grown in a laboratory. They are designed to target specific parts of your immune system. Although psoriasis creates a skin problem, it is actually caused by a disorder within your immune system. Immune disorders occur when the body mistakenly attacks itself, and biologics are designed to fight that internal chain of events.

Your doctor may try various biologic drugs. One group, called T-cell blockers, targets a type of white blood cell, known as a T-cell, found in the immune system. T-cells are essential because they help guard against infection and disease. When you have psoriasis, these T-cells are activated by mistake. In fact, they become so active that they set off other immune responses. As a result, your skin cells reproduce so quickly that your body is unable to shed them normally, and psoriasis plaques develop. Alefacept (Amevive) a T-cell blocker drug.

Other biologics block a type of protein called tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). These drugs are named for the specific substances involved in the development of psoriasis that they are designed to fight.

“The biggest category is the tumor necrosis factor drugs,” says Dr. Shupack. “They work by targeting a substance that gets the inflammatory reaction going, and then it becomes self-sustaining. These drugs inhibit this response, and once you slow it down, the lesions can heal.”

Biologic drugs are given by injection or intravenous infusion. Because they suppress your immune system response, you will be at an increased risk of infection and should be closely watched by your doctor. If you are or could become pregnant or are nursing, these drugs probably aren’t right for you.

Biologics carry serious risks. Some of these drugs have been associated with other diseases, such as central nervous system disorders, blood diseases, and cancers including lymphoma, although their role in the development of these diseases is not yet understood. But if you haven’t been helped by other treatments and if your psoriasis is hurting your quality of life, you might want to consider them. Talk with your doctor about all the pros and cons to see whether one might be right for you.

source: msn health

Four anti-cancer compounds identified

Sydney: Four new anti-cancer compounds have shown promise in inhibiting the growth of tumours, according to a new approach.

Jason Smith, doing his M.Phil. in biomolecular sciences from Macquarie University, combined existing knowledge of an enzyme with computational chemistry approach to identify novel (cancer) inhibitors.

The enzyme (indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase) has generated excitement amongst researchers due to its increasingly recognised role as a drug target, particularly in cancer.

Over the past 10 years, scientists have learnt that compounds inhibiting this enzyme allow the immune system to attack cancer cells, the journal Bio-organic and Medicinal Chemistry reported.

"They have found that if you use these inhibitors alone, they slow tumour growth. Even more exciting is that in combination with chemotherapy, these inhibitors have the potential to destroy a tumour entirely," explains Smith, a university statement said.

After conducting virtual screening of a database of almost 60,000 compounds, Smith found 18 compounds that could potentially act as inhibitors of this enzyme.

He then tested them and found four compounds with particularly exciting prospects.

"Computational chemistry means we don`t have to spend years testing thousands of compounds in the lab," he said.

"We can analyse all the potential compounds and narrow them down in a matter of six month`s preparation and virtual screening, instead of years. In fact, after all the preparation and groundwork, the screening itself takes around 100 hours," he further added.

Grapevine canker disease impacts California vineyards Canker diseases are known to be responsible for a significant decrease in vineyard longevity and productivity and an overall reduction of profits. However, their economic impact in California’s table grape vineyards has not yet been fully measured.

Canker diseases (e.g., measles, bot canker, eutypa dieback) are caused by a complex of fungal pathogens that infect grapevines soon after a vineyard is planted. However, it usually takes several years for the first symptoms to appear. As a vineyard ages and the disease becomes more severe, growers encounter a decrease in yield due to the collapse of fruit bearing spur positions, the dieback of cordons, and eventually the decline of the entire grapevine.

The loss in revenues is significantly measurable when vineyards turn 10 years old and canker diseases worsen each year reducing yields. Siebert (2001) evaluated this loss at 16 percent of the annual gross producer revenue in wine grape production (Fig.1), a figure that is comparable in table grape production. Conversely, table grape growers must also account for a loss in fruit marketability.

Grapevines infected with ‘measles’ (a.k.a. Esca) often have blemished berries. Vasquez et al. (2007) reported that severity of ‘measles’ on fruit at harvest ranged from 35 percent to 55 percent in 25-30 year old Thompson seedless vineyards.

The fungi that cause ‘measles’ reside in wood vessels within the grapevine spurs, cordons or trunks and produce phytotoxins that are translocated to the fruits causing

the appearance of necrotic spots on the skin. Another obvious symptom specific to ’measles’ is the development of tiger-striped leaves (Fig.3) also resulting from fungal phytotoxins. The expression of the disease and its direct consequence on revenue losses fluctuates from year to year and is unfortunately not predictable.

For example, in 2011, phone calls from San Joaquin Valley table grape growers regarding symptoms of measles impacting their crop were up 50 percent when compared to 2010.

Current research points to the increase of measles symptoms resulting from high winter and spring rains, which was characteristic of 2011.

Over the past two years, we conducted a survey to evaluate the presence of canker producing pathogens in California’s table grape production areas. Our survey conducted in 2010-2011 in the Coachella Valley and Fresno County showed that two to 35 year old vineyards showed signs of canker diseases (e.g. dieback, decline, foliar and fruit symptoms) and that 96 percent of these vineyards were infected with fungi associated with measles while 65 percent were infected with bot canker fungi.

Additionally, at least 12 different fungal species were identified residing in symptomatic wood. Two fungi causing ‘measles’ were commonly found at both locations in the Coachella Valley and Fresno County (i.e., T. minima and P. chlamydospora) but each location also had pathogens unique to each growing area (Table 2). Different environmental conditions and viticulture practices in the Coachella Valley and the southern San Joaquin Valley likely influence diseases etiology. For example, some fungi are more adapted to surviving in the hot, dry environment of the Coachella Valley. Also, Coachella Valley grape growers improve chilling units by using overhead sprinkler irrigation systems during the months of November and December to induce dormancy.

The use of overhead sprinklers provides ideal conditions for these fungi to spread and reproduce, Contrast the manmade environmental conditions with those found in the southern San Joaquin Valley where the pathogens spread with rainfall.

Table grapes are most vulnerable to infection during the pruning period. Fungal spores become airborne with water (rainfall, drip or sprinkler irrigation), land on pruning wounds, colonize the wood, and start degrading the wood, causing cankers. Because pruning is necessary to achieve economically viable yields and quality coupled with the fact that methods do not exist to eradicate these fungi, grapevine cankers are a persistent problem. During our preliminary survey we diagnosed an alarming number of young vineyards (under five years) already showing signs of canker diseases, which means the vineyards will not be profitable due to an early decline.

source: westernfarmpress

Helpful Supplements to Balance Estrogen Levels

The best way to increase energy depletion that has been the result of an estrogen imbalance is to support the liver in detoxifying some of the environmental estrogens.

Below is a list of some supplements that are helpful:

DM: Diindolylmethane, or DIM, is an isolated substance found in cruciferous vegetables that balances estrogen levels. (It’s actually a refined, improved version of one of the indoles, or estrogen traffic cops, mentioned above). DIM increases the good, protective form of estrone (2-hydroxy-estrone) while also raising progesterone levels when necessary. DIM also induces certain liver enzymes to block the production of the toxic estrogens and enhance the production of the gens and enhance the production of the beneficial forms. A recommended amount is 70 to 400 mg per day.

Calcium D-glucarate: Calcium D-glucarate is found in all fruits and vegetable, with the highest concentrations in apples, grapefruit, and broccoli. This is one of the most important nutrients to help enhance liver functions, so it will help rid the body of toxins and remove excess estrogens and xenoestrogens. The suggested dose is 250 to 1,000 mg per day.

Liver support nutrients: Antioxidants, such as alpha=-lipic acid, N-acetyl-cysteine, and silymarin (the active ingredient in milk thistle), help clear estrogen from the liver and support the detoxification process.

Grapeseed extract: Grapeseed extract contains proanthycyanidins (PCOs), which are powerful antioxidant nutrients from the bioflavonoid family of plant compounds. By scavenging free radicals, PCOs can help fortify an important part of the liver detoxification pcoess, increasing estrogen clearance.
Green tea extract: Green tea extract (known as EGCG, for epigallo-catechingallate) is a powerful antioxidant. It increases the detoxification of carcinogens and even increases the activity of other antioxidants.

Curcumin (turmeric): Curcumin is the yellow pigment of turmeric – one of the chief ingredients in curry. It is powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agent that works to inhibit all steps of cancer formation – initiation, promotion, and progression. Curcumin also helps eliminate cancer-causing estrogens and environmental toxins. The recommended dosage is 50 to 100 mg per day.

I know people, both regular folks and doctors, whose practices center around responsible hormone replacement therapy, who swear that correctly balancing hormones is the absolutely most important thing you can do for yourself to increase your energy (and sense of overall well-being). Don’t underestimate the roles of these hormones. Figuring out what you need to do regarding the restoration of hormonal balance, and then doing it, may be the biggest energy booster of them all.

Get rid of the xenoestrogens. Reducing reliance on plastics and pesticide-laden foods, and easting plenty of organic vegetables, will ensure that you are also reducing the xenoestrogen load. Water in plastic bottles can contain residues of polycarbonate plastics called phthalates, which are clear endocrine disrupters. Pure water is a must if you’re trying to decrease your exposure to xenoestrogens.

Unfortunatley, grabbing any old bottled water doesn’t guarantee that you’re getting anything good; the rules governing the regulation of all water sources are more complicated than a 750-page government manual. Just do some due diligence and get the best water you can afford, or install a reverse-osmosis filter (RO) system in your home.

Maintain an ideal body weight. Fat cells increase estrogen production. We used to think that fat was just this insert, passive substance whose only purpose was to sit on your hips and thighs and annoy you. But it’s way more complicated than that. We now know that fat is an endocrine organ, and fat cells release all kinds of compounds, including hormones, and especially including estrogen. They’re little estrogen factories (which may be part of the reason we’re seeing puberty so early these days, especially in overweight kids). SO do as much as you can to lose the fat.

How Does a “Good” Protein Hurt Brain Cells After Clot-induced Stroke? The National Institutes of Health has awarded a four-year, $1.4 million grant to Cedars-Sinai’s Department of Neurology to study an unexpected recent discovery: After ischemic stroke – the type caused by a clogged artery but with no bleeding into the brain – a normal protein that plays a positive role in blood clotting escapes intact arteries and damages healthy brain cells.

“We knew thrombin leaked out during hemorrhagic strokes – those in which an artery ruptures – and we knew that in large amounts it killed brain cells. But we decided to see if there was thrombin after ischemic stroke, and, surprisingly, there was a lot, and it was causing major damage to brain cells. When we injected a drug that counters the effects of thrombin, stroke symptoms got better,” said Patrick D. Lyden, MD, chair of the Department of Neurology and the Carmen and Louis Warschaw Chair in Neurology at Cedars-Sinai.

He was senior author of a 2010 article in the journal Stroke that described this phenomenon and suggested possible underlying mechanisms. The new grant, he said, will let researchers delve more deeply: Where is the thrombin coming from? What kinds of cells does it kill? What factors inhibit or enhance its effects?

Lyden will continue his work with Roger Y. Tsien, a scientist at the University of California, San Diego. He is one of three winners of the 2008 Nobel Prize in chemistry for development of green fluorescent protein.

Lyden’s study will use fluorescence in rats and mice to light up thrombin and follow its migration and interactions with other molecules in blood vessels and brain tissue.

This is the first NIH funding directly awarded to the Department of Neurology, evidence of its growth since Lyden’s arrival in 2009. He and other researchers are also supported by other NIH grants received before he joined Cedars-Sinai.

Lyden is principal investigator of the “ICTuS” (Intravascular Cooling in the Treatment of Stroke) trials evaluating post-stroke hypothermia therapy in a variety of patient populations and circumstances. The rapid, controlled cooling of a patient’s body temperature is intended to reduce long-term neurological damage. He also was one of the key researchers in the major clinical trial leading to Food and Drug Administration approval in 1996 of tPA – tissue plasminogen activator – which remains the only proven and approved drug for stroke treatment.

source: newswise

The return of electric shock therapy?

Alzheimer's 'could be eased by bursts of electricity to the brain'

* Region linked to memory stopped shrinking in small study
* Tests also appeared to prevent other areas from 'shutting down'
* Electrodes placed deep in brain released 130 pulses a second
* Same technique used to successfully treat symptoms of Parkinson's Disease
* Researchers in Canada described results as 'amazing'

Alzheimer’s could be eased by bursts of electricity to the brain, research suggests.

In a small-scale study, regular fleeting pulses of electricity stopped the brain shrinkage linked to the memory-robbing disease.

The bursts of energy also appeared to prevent key brain regions from ‘shutting down’, this week’s New Scientist reports.

The research is very preliminary, with just six patients treated, but the results have been described as ‘amazing’.

Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia affect more than 800,000 Britons, and the number is expected to double in a generation as the population ages.

Current drugs can halt the progression of the disease, but do not work for everyone and their effects wear off over time, leaving the disease free to take its cruel course.

To try to halt and even reverse the brain wasting effects, the Canadian researchers turned to a technique called deep-brain stimulation.

This involves implanting electrodes deep within the brain and programming them to give off tiny pulses of electricity 130 times a second.

While this may seem radical, it is already successfully used to ease the tremors, stiffness and walking problems of Parkinson’s Disease.

In Alzheimer’s, the hippocampus, the brains’ memory hub, shrinks.

In addition, brain scans show that the temporal lobe, the region which contains the hippocampus, and another region called the posterior cingulate, use less sugar than normal, suggesting they have slowed or shut down.

To try to combat this, the Canadian researchers inserted electrodes into the brains of six patients, each of whom had been diagnosed with the disease at least a year earlier.

During the brain surgery, the electrodes were carefully placed next to a bundle of brain cells that carry signals to and from the hippocampus.

The electrodes released 130 bursts of electricity a second and, after a year, the brain’s use of sugar had returned to normal in all six patients.

And while the brain’s memory hub shrunk in four of those taking part, it grew in the remaining two, a neuroscience conference heard last week.

Describing the result as ‘amazing’, researcher Andres Lozano said: ‘Not only did the hippocampus not shrink, it got bigger – by 5 per cent in one person and 8 per cent in the other.

Tests showed that their minds also seemed to be sharper than expected.

Dr Lozano isn’t sure how the treatment works, but it may be through the electrical current driving the birth of new brain cells.

And, in mice, deep brain stimulation triggers the production of proteins that encourage brain cells to form new connections.

Dr Lozano, of Toronto Western Hospital, is starting a bigger trial involving 50 people.

Answering criticism about the practicalities of using brain surgery to treat a common disease, he pointed out that deep brain stimulation has already been used 90,000 times in Parkinson’s patients from around the world.

He told New Scientist that Alzheimer’s is just five times more common than Parkinson’s.

And added: ‘If it can be used in Parkinson’s, it can be used in Alzheimer’s.’

source: dailymail

Choline-rich diet tied to sharper memory People who get plenty of choline in their diets may perform better on memory tests, and be less likely to show brain changes associated with dementia, a new study suggests.

The study can only point to a correlation between memory and dietary choline -- a nutrient found in foods like saltwater fish, eggs, liver, chicken, milk and certain legumes, including soy and kidney beans.

The findings, researchers say, do not mean that choline is the answer to staving off Alzheimer's disease -- the memory-robbing disease that affects 26 million people globally.

But the findings do add to evidence that your lifetime diet may make a difference in how your brain ages, said senior researcher Rhoda Au, of Boston University School of Medicine.

A number of studies, though not all, have found links between diet and Alzheimer's risk. Some suggest that Mediterranean-style eating, for instance, might be protective; that typically means a diet high in fish, vegetables and fruit, whole grains and unsaturated fats like those in olive oil.

Because of these broad associations, Au cautioned against looking to any one nutrient as a magic bullet against dementia. "I think the message is that eating a healthy, balanced diet in mid-life is important," she told Reuters Health.

For their study, Au's team combed through data from a long-running heart health study. Nearly 1,400 adults ages 36 to 83 answered dietary questionnaires between 1991 and 1995. Then, between 1998 and 2001, they underwent tests of memory and other cognitive abilities, and had MRI brain scans.

In general, the study found, men and women in the top quarter for choline intake performed better on the memory tests than those in the bottom quarter.

The differences in test performance were small. "As far as your day-to-day functioning, it would not be an appreciable difference," Au said.

However, she added, the findings suggest that people with lower choline intakes were more likely to be on a "pathway" toward mental decline than their counterparts with higher intakes.

The researchers were able to account for some other factors -- such as education, and people's intake of calories, fat and certain vitamins, like B6 and B12. And choline itself was still linked to participants' memory test performance.

In addition, people with higher choline intake at the outset were less likely to show areas of "white-matter hyperintensity" in their MRI brain scans. Those areas are thought to be a sign of blood vessel disease in the brain, which may signal a heightened risk of stroke or, eventually, dementia.

None of that proves that choline, per se, protects memory or wards off unhealthy brain changes. One possibility, Au noted, is that some other nutrients present along with choline are responsible.

But there's also reason to believe that choline matters. The nutrient is a precursor to the brain chemical acetylcholine, which plays a key role in memory and other cognitive functions; low acetylcholine levels are associated with Alzheimer's.

Experts generally recommend that men get 550 milligrams of choline per day, while women should get 425 milligrams.

And research in rats has found that choline supplements tend to improve memory, Au pointed out.

But rats are rats. And more studies in humans are needed to back up the current findings, Au said. That, she added, should include studies that follow changes in people's cognitive abilities over time -- which the current study did not.

For now, Au said people concerned about brain health should pay attention to overall lifestyle, which includes a healthy diet, regular exercise and not smoking.

source: reuters

How not to add calories in your drink

With a little handy information you can enjoy a drink or two and still manage to keep diet your on track

Never thought it was possible to drink and watch your weight at the same time? It's time to get smart about it. No one can really ignore the empty calories additional sugar alcohol and its mixers bring into your body, but there are a few tricks to enjoying an occasional drink and keeping the love handles at bay. Here are a few dietfriendly drinking tips that can come in handy, especially as the festive and barbecue seasons comes calling.

Choose wisely
There are a few diet-friendly alcohols that pack in fewer empty calories and weight clinchers than others. If you are watching your weight and counting calories, you don't have to sit sipping juices at parties. Don't forget portion control in addition to selecting the right drink. A few good choices (less than 100 calories) are - a shot (25ml) of gin with diet tonic, a shot of white rum with a soda, a small glass of wine or champagne, or a single measure of whisky or brandy. Opt for light beer. Keep away from cream liqueurs or sangrias since they ride heavy on the calorie count.

Pace yourself
Alternate alcoholic drinks with mineral water or diet soft drinks. Make a glass of wine last longer by turning it into a spritzer - add sparkling water or lemonade. Not only does this reduce your chances of getting tipsy, it also hydrates the body and reigns in far fewer calories than the other heavy weights.

Be prepared
Avoid alcohol induced binges and cut down on calorie intake overall by being prepared. Fortify yourself with a healthy breakfast and lunch based on starchy carbohydrates (bread, rice, pasta, potatoes or cereal) along with a little protein (lean meat, fish or soya bean). If you think you won't be able to eat while you drink, have a pre-drink meal or light snack, ideally with some fat, to line the stomach and slow down the alcohol absorption into your system. A hearty sandwich or a bowl of porridge or yogurt is ideal.

Steer clear
A handful of peanuts have around 150 calories and a bag of chips has a deadly 183 calories. If it's a pre-meal lunch or dinner drink you're having, avoid these snacks altogether. Try waiting for your starters to arrive before you start drinking. If nibbles are necessary, breadsticks are a good option.

One at a time
Don't let others top up your glass. Finish a whole glass of your drink before you get another. This will ensure you know exactly how much you are consuming during the course of your session.

Morning after
If the next morning, you feel like you grossly overshot your limit and are nursing a headache, there is a healthier option for a fry-up that doesn't call for oodles of calories.

Try a lighter option of poached or scrambled eggs on a whole wheat bread. Eggs contain cysteine, which is siadi to break down the destructive chemicals that build up in the liver after a night of drinking. Milk, yogurt with fresh fruits, and poha are also simpler, healthier alternatives that will help ease your discomfort without much drama.

Yuvraj Singh's Fighting Life Threatening Lung Cancer MUMBAI: Just a few weeks after winning the World Cup, its man of the tournament - Yuvraj Singh - was diagnosed with 'lung cancer'.

"He was coughing and vomiting all through the tournament. But we thought it was just the stress, and his desire to excel on the biggest stage... so we ignored it," his mother Shabnam Singh told TOI in an exclusive chat.

"After all the excitement and the celebrations, we went for medical advice when the problem persisted," she revealed. "To our horror, we found a golf-ball sized lump over his left lung," she said.

The entire family was incredulous, to begin with. "We were devastated. We just couldn't accept it. He has had bouts of cough for a long time; but we were told it was common allergy... to dust and pollution."

Yuvraj Singh, a known fighter, was indignant though. "I didn't believe the reports," he said. "I felt fine, and deep inside, I felt good too," he said, almost embarrassed to go into the painful details.

For over three months or so, as he went for one scan after another, and one test after another, he all but looked death in the eye every day. He had a smile on his face, though, and the faith instilled by his guruji, in his heart.

"We were all worried. But he would only keep telling us one thing. 'I am a brave boy. I will come out of this,'" his mother said.

Finally, in October, his self-belief triumphed: the third biopsy confirmed that the tumour was benign. "Until then, we believed it was malignant, that it could be life-threatening," Shabnam said.

(Media was privy to Yuvraj's condition for quite some time; but it chose not to break the story till now, given the delicate nature of his state.)

"We couldn't take it initially; it was too painful even to look at Yuvi," the mother explained. "It wasn't just the fear that is associated with the dreaded word that gnawed at us; it was unbearable to see the way he suffered. He was in excruciating pain all the time."

Yuvraj himself had gone into a shell. "He became quieter and endured everything in the privacy of his home; he made sure nobody got to know about it," his mother revealed. He, however, never gave up hope or, indeed, on life.

He skipped the tour to West Indies, citing lung infection; he underwent rigorous treatment and, at the same time, gingerly resumed his practice. After all, he still had a raging, old dream: cement his place in the Test squad.

When he arrived in England, looking overweight and not in top shape, he was almost ridiculed; nobody knew the trauma he was going through or the fact that, for quite some time, he couldn't even do basic drills.

Indeed, only his closest friends in the Indian team were aware of his condition or mental state. He scored a gritty 62 in the second Test; but sadly, he broke his finger and had to cut short his tour. It has been the story of his Test career.

For a long time, he had to wait in the wings as the Indian middle order was bristling with extraordinary talent; only when Sourav Ganguly retired, he got a longish run. Just last year, in Sri Lanka, when things seemed to be falling into place, he was hit by dengue.

Suresh Raina took his place, and scored a debut century; Yuvraj was back on the sidelines. "I want to be known as a Test player," he had once told this writer. "It is my biggest ambition and I will do anything to prove myself there."

Once the fear was banished from his mind, he began his journey back to life, and cricket. "He couldn't return to full gym-work yet. He would be breathless in no time. But, he would just not give up," Shabnam revealed.

"He has slept so many days with big needles in his body. I remember when he realized that he could get a chance to play in the Tests against the West Indies he was going to play a Twenty20 match for Punjab. The previous night he had done some tests and his arm was all swollen up. He couldn't even move it properly.

"But he refused to listen. He didn't want to lose another opportunity." Sadly, again, he didn't have a good run, scoring only 23 & 18 and 25 in the two Tests. His bowling, which had been the hallmark in the World Cup, was not even required.

The selectors unexpectedly dropped him from the third Test, choosing to give the youngsters a chance. The message was loud and clear: Yuvraj was not going to Australia for the Test series. It must have been the saddest day in his life.

As the day neared to pick the squad for the one-dayers against West Indies he decided to share a part of his agony. He had been advised total rest for a month, after which he is expected to be as good as new. He hopes to be back in shape and in form for the ODIs in Australia.

The worst is behind him, he knows; it's just a question of cracking the last frontier in Tests: his mind. He has enough faith in himself to believe that he will do that too.

source: TOI

Rhodiola-for Fighting Depression and Fatigue

Rhodiola is another herb with a pretty strong resume of published research documenting its ability to fight fatigue, improve reaction time, improve attention, and reduce stress. It’s a plant (also known as golden root and roseroot) that grows in cold and mountainous places, including the Arctic, the Central Asian and Rocky Mountains, the Alps, the Pyrenees, Scandinavia, Iceland, and other regions. In fact, in Russia it has been used for hundreds of years specifically to help cope with the harsh Siberian climate, and it is said to have been used by the Vikings as well.

Rhodiola is a valuable adaptagen. In one study, published in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, rhodiola improved endurance exercise capacity. In another study, pubished in the Nordic Journal of Psychiatry, Aermenian researchers found that patients from eighteen to seventy years of age with mild to moderate depression improved significantly on measures of overall depression, insomnia, and emotional instability following doses of either 340 mg a day or 680 mg a day.

Other studies have shown pronounced anti-fatigue effects for the supplement. One particularly well-known study (from the Departmnet of Neurology at Yerevan State Medical University in Armenia) investigated the effect of low-dose treatment with rhodiola on fatigue in young, healthy physicians, working night duty. One group received a placebo and one group was given a standardized extract of rhodiola. The researchers wanted to see whether rhodiola supplementation would have any effect on total mental performance, so they used a measure calculated as the Fatigue Index, consisting of five different standardized tests for perception and cognitive function 9such as short-term memory and ability to concentrate).

Sure enough, they found a statistically significant improvement in the Fatigue Index for the rhodiola group, with no improvement shown in the group given the placebo. The Fatigue Index was also significantly improved in a group of 161 healthy cadets ages nineteen to twenty-one after a single dose of rhodiola was administered.

Want more? A 2000 double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study-considered the gold standard in research designs – investigated the effect or rhodiola supplementation on forty foreign students during a stressful exam period. Russian researchers divided the students into two groups, and gave one group rhodiola and the other a placebo. The rhodiola group demonstrated significantly improved scores in physical fitness and mental fatigue. The rhodiola group also had significantly higher scores in a self-assessment of general well-being.

Rhodiola has low toxicity and extremely low occurrences of side effects. According to the Physicians Desk Reference for Herbal Medicines, most users find that it improves their mood, energy, and mental clarity. For that reason, you shouldn’t take it at night, because it can easily disrupt sleep.

If you want to try this herb, a good place to start is with 50 to 200 mg a day. And remember not to take it at night.

WORTH KNOWING
Because rhodiola does have an antidepressant effect, people with bipolar disorder shouldn’t use it. Like many other antidepressants, natural or pharmaceutical, rhodiola has the potential for inducing mania in people with bipolar disorder.

Dietary Supplements Instill Illusion of Invincibility Imagine a pill that can make you invincible to the dangers of smoking, overeating or other hedonistic pursuits? Some people might think such a pill exists at the local pharmacy in the form of a daily vitamin, two new studies reveal.

Researchers from Taiwan found that smokers instructed to take a daily multivitamin smoked more cigarettes than smokers not taking a multivitamin. These results appear in the December issue of the journal Addiction.

The study is a follow-up to research published in August in the journal Psychological Science by the same investigators, who reported that subjects thinking they were taking a daily vitamin were less likely to exercise and more likely to eat poorly.

The subjects in both studies were in fact taking a placebo, which is ironic, the researchers said, because there's no consensus among health experts that a daily multivitamin is more effective than a sugar pill for promoting good health.

Vitamin I, for invincible

Both studies were led by Wen-Bin Chiou of National Sun Yat-Sen University in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Chiou said he was inspired to conduct such studies upon seeing a colleague indulging in an unhealthy meal, rationalizing that his actions were justified because he had taken a multivitamin earlier that day.

Chiou's team pursued this psychological angle. In one experiment, participants were given a coupon for a free lunch, with a choice of an unhealthy buffet or a healthy meal of organic foods known to be the same price. Nearly three-fourths of the participants thinking they were taking daily vitamins chose the buffet, compared with about 40 percent in the control group.

Similarly in the smoking study, participants thinking they were taking a daily vitamin smoked nearly twice as much, on average, compared with the control group. Chiou also found that the vitamin group was more likely to engage in risky behavior, too, such as casual sex and drinking parties.

But do they work?

The studies did not examine the usefulness of multivitamins and other supplements. About half of the U.S. population, including 70 percent of adults who are 71 years of age or older, uses dietary supplements, according to a study published in the Journal of Nutrition in February 2011.

Studies on whether such supplements are healthy, however, have produced a mixed bag of results. Several studies have shown that vitamin supplements — in particular, vitamin E and beta-carotene, the precursor to vitamin A — increase cancer risk among smokers.

One problem with daily supplements is the high dose. Certain pills come in doses that are 10 times higher or more than the recommended daily dose. For the non-smoking general population, most health experts say there is no convincing evidence to recommend taking a daily multivitamin yet no reason to stop taking one, assuming the doses are modest.

Some people may need to supplement their diet with certain vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin D. Women of childbearing age might benefit from iron supplements; and some vegetarians and vegans have low levels of iron, zinc and vitamin B12. Yet nearly across the board, doctors recommend that food — fruits, nuts, vegetable and certain meats — are the better source of nutrients. [9 Good Sources of Vitamin D]

Taiwan vs. U.S.

There are a few caveats in the recent studies by Taiwanese researchers. The population studied is Taiwanese, and these Asians might have a different perception of the power of a pill compared with the U.S. population.

Also, the studies involved only a few hundred people examined over a very short period. Extrapolating to the broader U.S. population may be shortsighted. One could envision an opposite effect in the United States, with health-conscious consumers more inclined to take a daily vitamin for the perceived long-term health benefit.

It is clear, however, that the rise in the use of dietary supplements in recent years — unlike the dawn of food fortification a century ago to provide basic nutrients to combat rickets and the like — has not mirrored an improvement in U.S. health standards, as evidenced by the high rates of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis and other chronic diseases.

source: foxnews

Mood Disorders May Not Hinder Cancer Diagnosis

Mood Disorders May Not Hinder Cancer Diagnosis Psychiatric disorders are believed to be a barrier for appropriate and timely medical care among vulnerable populations.

A new investigation studied if pre-existing depression (with and without anxiety) would influence the time to diagnostically resolve an abnormal mammogram and/or Pap test.

Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) discovered suffering from depression was not associated with a prolonged time to diagnostic resolution in a vulnerable population of urban women.

Cancer outcomes are influenced by the time to treatment after an abnormal cancer screen. Some studies have found that women with psychiatric disorders are less likely to receive cancer screening and may also have delays in diagnostic resolution after an abnormal screening test.

Vulnerable populations of women, as defined by low income or with racial/ethnic minority status, are less likely to receive standard preventive health care, which contributes to worse breast and cervical cancer outcomes.

Depression is prevalent in these populations, and may lead to worse health care outcomes.

In recognition of these variables, researchers conducted a retrospective chart review of electronic medical records to identify women who had a diagnosis of depression or anxiety in the year prior to the abnormal mammogram or Pap test.

They used time-to-event analysis to analyze the outcome of time to resolution after abnormal cancer screening.

Of the women with abnormal mammogram and Pap tests, the researchers found 19 percent and 16 percent, respectively, suffered with depression.

The time to resolution for the abnormal mammograms and for the abnormal Pap tests were similar for depressed and non-depressed women (median time of 27 days for mammograms and 85 days for Pap tests).

As a result, researchers believe documented mood disorders are not an additional barrier to resolution after an abnormal cancer screening test in this vulnerable population of women who already had barriers to receiving health care.

“Although we found delays in diagnostic resolution after abnormal cancer screening, women with a depression diagnosis did not have increased delays compared to those who were not depressed,” explained lead author Andrea Kronman, M.D., M.Sc.

“Pre-screening the electronic medical records of women for mood disorders may not be the most reliable approach to identify a group of patients at higher risk of delayed diagnostic resolution of abnormal cancer screening tests in a vulnerable population,” added Kronman.

These findings currently appear in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.

Source: Boston University Medical Center

Study's predictions on diabetic conditions 'staggering' More than half of all adults in the U.S. will suffer from diabetes or pre-diabetic conditions by 2020, Northwestern University researchers say.

The staggering health risk relates to the fact that more than half of adults are expected to be overweight by 2020. The problems could signal the reversal of a 50-year trend of declining cardiovascular disease deaths in the nation, because obesity is linked to heart disease.

"We've seen substantial declines in age-adjusted heart disease mortality rates since the 1960s," said the study's lead author, Dr. Mark Huffman, a cardiologist who teaches preventive medicine at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine. "But, these trends are stalling and can lead to increases in health care costs and mortality."

The positive trend is stalling particularly among children and young adults, he said. People who are overweight have a body mass index of 25 to 29 kg/m2, or weight divided by height squared. Someone who is 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs 180 pounds would be defined as overweight with a BMI of about 26.

Feinberg researchers looked at data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys from 1988 to 2008. They reviewed health records of about 35,000 Americans across the country. Researchers surveyed adults age 20 and older, and then Huffman and his colleagues made projections for 2020 based upon data patterns. The study has not been published.

About 11 percent of men had diabetes and about 51 percent of men had dysglycemia by 2008, Huffman said. Dysglycemia is a term encompassing both diabetes and pre-diabetic conditions.

When Huffman's team projected the data forward based on increasing rates of obesity, more than 75 percent of men would have some form of dysglycemia by 2020, a result he said is "staggering." For women, the dysglycemia outlook would be about 50 percent.

"Blood pressure, blood cholesterol and smoking are getting better," he said, but not enough to offset the toll of body weight and dysglycemia. "So, it's not looking too favorable."

One limitation of the study is sampling variability. A study subject might not remember, for instance, what types of food she ate throughout the past week.

Many people who read the Feinberg study might not feel implicated, said Jessica Crandall, a registered dietitian and spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association.

"Rarely do you make changes until you're diagnosed," she said. "People have blinders on."

Holly Herrington, a registered dietitian at Northwestern Memorial Hospital who was not involved in the study, reinforced Huffman's projections. She works with people 18 and older to help with weight loss and managing diabetes.

"What did stick out was that it says currently 60 to 70 percent of people are overweight or obese," she said. "But, these people often don't realize they are. They think, 'Oh, I look just like everybody else.' People are getting into a mindset that this is a normal thing."

While being overweight is not inherently unhealthy, Herrington urges people to live healthy lives. She cited a limited intake of refined sugar, which is included in items such as white bread and candy, as one method of mindful eating.

Huffman said deterring people from smoking is also imperative. He said policies must be enacted to reduce cigarette smoke, increase access to healthy food such as fish and vegetables and offer more public transportation options.

"I'm supportive of (Chicago) Mayor (Rahm) Emanuel's efforts to expand bike-lane access throughout the city," he said. "There are also expansions of access to fruits and vegetables through the Link Card program, which offers voucher assistance throughout the state."

He also advocates continuing smoking controls in the city, possibly through increased state-level excise taxes.

An excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages would reduce soft drink consumption among young people, he said, noting that such policies have not been enacted anywhere in the U.S.

Dr. Rasa Kazlauskaite, an endocrinologist at Rush University Medical Center who was not involved in the study, shares Huffman's view that policy change is important for Chicago.

"We need to think of how we can restructure the environment. Imagine right now if our mayor said, 'We'll have a soda-free Chicago,' and what kind of uproar that would create. 'I won't have my diet pop?' We are not ready for that, but maybe someday."

The food industry is seductive, she said, but she contends that human beings manufacture the temptations that we succumb to.

"Probably half of us have some sort of diabetes gene that predisposes us to having diabetes, but if we wouldn't have the environment that was conducive to this, it would never manifest."

Crandall wants people to understand that losing even one pound helps reduce the risk of diabetes.

"It doesn't have to be a 360 degree makeover," Crandall said. "Before 2020, we still have some time to turn these results around and embrace these changes."

source: nwtimes

Why You Should Disconnect for a Day

Consider for the moment one of the great energy drainers of the twenty-first century: information overload.

Now think for a moment about what you might do about it.

The answer is quite a lot, actually. And it start with a disconnect vocation.

These days we’re deluged with information, coming at us from every possible angle. It’s relentless: emails, RSS feeds, blogs, social networking sites, YouTube, televisions, magazines, newspapers, memos, DVDs, radio, fax machines, BlackBerrries, satellite radio – it’s exhausting just listing the sources, let alone reading or listening to them. And more will be invented tomorrow.

I sometimes thing that if I had an X-ray photo of the average person’s mind it would look like a personalized cable news channel, with breaking news crawling at the bottom, headline themes on top, and somewhere in between sports scores, weather reports, calendars, appointments, and people’s names and titles flashing by in an instant.

THE ENERGY DRAIN OF INFORMATION SATURATION
Knowledge may be power; however, information overload is anything but. Information overload is just, well, noise.

When we gorge on media, it’s about as satisfying as downing a vat of cotton candy, and in both cases, we eventually feel the after effects (either with an upset stomach or a throbbing headache). The age of information saturation has rewired our brains and given us all a mild case of ADD. More than that, it’s left most of us feeling more than a little overwhelmed and exhausted.

The great philosopher, social critic, and historian Theodore Roszak once said, “A weekday edition of the New York Times contains more information than the average person was likely to come across in a lifetime in seventeenth-century England”. Even if you don’t read the Times on a daily basis, you can probably relate to the sentiment. And Roszak made that statement almost twenty years ago.

We spend countless hours trying to keep up, to the detriment of important things such as relationships, health, and energy.

TUNE OUT AND REV UP
So here’s my suggestion for an immediate boost in energy: have a media-free day. No Internet, no email, no television, no iPods, no radio, no newspaper, no magazines. And no Black Barries (you know who you are!). For one day consider the possibility that there is nothing you need to know. Instead, spend that attention on your own experience, feeling your own energy accumulate rather than letting it dissipate as you attend to millions of distractions, most of which, when you really think about it, won’t make much difference in the long run anyway.

Now you may have to do this on a weekend, but that’s okay. With your free hours, enjoy leisurely meals with family or friends, have real conversations, take time to think, take a hike, take a swim, take a nap, and, at the end of your day off, take stock. Did the world as we know it end because you weren’t plugged in?

Now let me be honest: No one is more guilty of being overly plugged I than I am. That’s why I know the truth of what I’m saying. When you take a break (however temporarily) and disconnect, you will be amazed at the ultimate boost you’ll get in your energy. Learning how to do so may actually make you a more discerning and discriminating consumer of information once you reconnect. You’ll be amazed to find how much time you waste attending to things that really, ultimately, don’t matter, at least not to you or anyone you care about.

If you end the day more relaxed, more satisfied, and more energized, consider limiting your media intake every day – perhaps do without television on Mondays, ban Web-surfing on Tuesday, leave your BlackBerry in the office during lunch, and so on. You might find that a little less useless information makes you a lot more productive and energized.

How Heart Disease Is Linked To Restless Legs Syndrome Is there a connection between restless legs syndrome and a host of other conditions, including heart disease and hypertension? Researchers are conducting studies to see how certain disorders affect one another. Their conclusions may surprise you. Read on for Lifescript’s roundup of the latest advances in RLS research...

On paper, restless legs syndrome (RLS) sounds about as serious as an itchy toe. That may explain why, despite afflicting about 12 million people in the U.S., the condition often goes misdiagnosed.

In fact, it may be the most common disorder that nobody has heard about, says Arshad Jahangir, M.D., professor of medicine at Mayo Clinic in Arizona.

Restless legs syndrome is characterized by a creeping, painful feeling in the legs and an irresistible urge to move. It’s worse when you sit still or lie down, and is more troublesome in the evening.

For some patients, the condition is merely an annoyance.

But new research has revealed that some patients with RLS may be at higher risk of heart disease, hypertension, recurring bouts of RLS after pregnancy and other diseases.

“Don’t take [RLS] lightly,” says Jahangir, who is one of several researchers in the past year who has published new studies on the nervous system disorder.

Read on for the latest research breakthroughs from Jahangir and other medical scientists.

1. Heart Conditions Linked to Restless Leg Syndrome
What it’s about: Older restless legs syndrome patients with more severe cases of the disease also are more likely to also have a condition marked by a tightening of the heart muscles, according to a new study. That may be a sign of high blood pressure, a precursor to such life-threatening health risks as heart attacks, experts say.

The 2010 study, led by Jahangir, included 584 patients with RLS. Researchers measured patients’ leg twitches at night, when RLS symptoms typically worsen.

Those results were compared with the results of patients’ echocardiograms, diagnostic tests that look for left ventricular hypertrophy.

That’s a heart condition in which the muscle tissue making up the wall of the heart’s main pumping chamber, the left ventricle, is enlarged, according to Mayo Clinic.

Those whose legs were most affected by RLS symptoms were more likely to suffer from the heart ailment.

It’s possible, he says, that RLS may simply exacerbate an existing heart problem, rather than cause one.

“If someone already has borderline tightening of the heart muscle, and you add the restless legs syndrome symptoms, they are more at risk,” he says.

But Jahangir cautions that more research is needed before applying this study to the general population.

“It’s a little early to say what can be recommended for every [RLS] patient,” Jahangir says.

Bottom line: In the meantime, people with restless legs syndrome should avoid well-established risk factors for heart conditions, such as smoking, lack of physical activity, uncontrolled diabetes and too much stress, Jahangir advises.

2. Hypertension and Restless Legs Syndrome
What it’s about: Middle-aged, female RLS patients are at higher risk for hypertension and should monitor their blood pressure regularly, experts advise.

Women who experience RLS symptoms frequently may be up to 41% more likely to also have hypertension than women without the condition, according to a Harvard University study published in the journal Hypertension in October 2011.

The researchers analyzed data from 65,500 female nurses who participated in the Nurses’ Health Study II, one of the largest, longest-lasting studies ever undertaken on women. Their average age was 50.

Bottom line: Although unable to determine the cause, “the results were significant enough to suggest that women who have restless legs syndrome have a higher prevalence of hypertension,” says Salma Batool-Anwar, M.D., M.P.H., of Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. (She was the study’s lead researcher.)

“Future studies are needed to confirm this association,” Batool-Anwar tells Lifescript, adding she already has launched additional projects.

However, women with RLS shouldn’t wait for further results.

Sometimes treatment for RLS is minor, “as simple as changing the iron” women take, Batool-Anwar advises.

(For more on the connection between iron and RLS, read A Holistic Approach to RLS Treatment.)

3. Recurrence of Restless Legs Syndrome After Pregnancy
What it’s about: It’s well-established that pregnant women have about five times the risk of getting restless legs syndrome during pregnancy compared with the general population, says Daniel Picchietti, M.D., clinical associate professor at the University of Illinois School of Medicine.

But what researchers recently discovered is that women with RLS during pregnancy may face a higher risk of developing a chronic form of the condition later in life, according to an Italian study published in the medical journal Neurology in December 2010. The women also may face the same RLS symptoms in subsequent pregnancies.

As one of the first long-term studies to assess a connection between RLS in pregnancy future recurrences, it included 207 women, 74 of whom experienced RLS and 133 who didn’t.

About 24% of the women who had RLS during pregnancy still had it at the end of a follow-up analysis 6-1/2 years later, compared with 8% of women who didn’t have RLS during pregnancy.

Women with RLS during pregnancy were four times more likely to get it later than those who didn’t have it.

About two-thirds of the women with RLS during pregnancy also reported experiencing symptoms in subsequent pregnancies, according to the report.

Bottom line: Don’t fret. “In most cases, RLS symptoms are transient and disappear after pregnancy,” Picchietti says.

Still, be aware that there’s a strong risk of it showing up years later, says study author Mauro Manconi, M.D., Ph.D. of Vita-Salute University in Milan, Italy.

4. Restless Legs Syndrome and Fibromyalgia
What it’s about: RLS shares sleep and fatigue symptoms with fibromyalgia, a disorder in which a person has long-term pain and tenderness in the joints, muscles, tendons and other soft tissues.

“It can be difficult to distinguish fibromyalgia symptoms from RLS symptoms,” says Theodore Omachi, M.D., assistant professor of medicine at the University of California: San Francisco School of Medicine. That's because the two often go hand in hand.

In fact, adults with fibromyalgia are 11 times more likely than those without the disorder to have RLS, and 33% of those with fibromyalgia also have RLS, according to a new study reported in the October 2010 issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.

What’s the connection? Sleep disruption, which also is a prominent fibromyalgia symptom.

Fibromyalgia patients with RLS suffered worse sleep problems than those without it, the study reported.

Bottom line: A large portion of sleep disturbance among fibromyalgia patients is caused by RLS, says Nathaniel F. Watson, M.D., associate professor of neurology at the University of Washington in Seattle. The study suggests that treating RLS may help improve the rest of patients with fibromyalgia.

5. Dialysis Patients and Restless Legs Syndrome
What it’s about: Diabetes patients undergoing dialysis often have RLS too.

Researchers at the University of Thessaly, Larissa in Thessaly, Greece, studied patients with dialysis and RLS and compared their quality of life with dialysis patients who didn’t suffer from RLS. The study results, published in the journal PLoS One in October 2011, were dramatic.

The dialysis group with RLS showed signs of thigh-muscle atrophy, compared with patients without RLS, and their quality-of-life scores – including mental health – were significantly lower than their non-RLS counterparts, according to the researchers.

Bottom line: The low quality of life reported by dialysis patients with RLS, compared with patients without the disorder, was due primarily to increased depression symptoms and sleep-related issues, the scientists concluded.

The muscle atrophy also was attributed to lack of good, “restorative” rest.

“About 30% of end-stage renal-failure patients also have RLS,” says Picchietti, who didn’t participate in the Greek study, but is an RLS expert.

“Patients with renal failure and RLS are more likely to discontinue dialysis and die," he says. "They get very despondent over RLS.”

6. Genetic Origins of Restless Legs Syndrome
What it’s about: Until recently, researchers were uncertain what caused RLS. Now a team of scientists from the United States, Canada and Europe has discovered new genetic risk factors for the disorder, according to their study published in PLoS Genetics in July 2011.

The scientific group, led by Juliane Winkelmann, a professor in the neurology department at Technical University in Munich, Germany, studied about 5,000 RLS patients and 7,280 patients without the disorder.

The researchers uncovered two new genetic mutations that play a role in the development of RLS. A mutation is an event that changes the genetic structure of an organism.

One mutation, called TOX3, involves a gene that helps regulate brain activity. The connection between that mutation and RLS still is uncertain.

But scientists do know that RLS runs in families in up to two-thirds of patients, meaning a parent, sibling, grandparent, aunt or uncle may have it too, according to a paper by Paul E. Cotter and Shaun T. O’Keefe, of the Department of Geriatric Medicine, Galway University Hospitals, Galway, Ireland, published in 2006 by Dovepress.

The “Family Study of restless legs syndrome in Quebec, Canada,” published in Archives of Neurology in 2010, reported that 192 out of 249 RLS subjects interviewed as part of a 15-year RLS study had first-degree relatives with RLS.

Researchers in the coming year will continue to seek connections between RLS and other conditions, and look for better treatments, some of which may improve symptoms of both RLS and the related disorders.

Source: Lifescript

Top 8 Winter Health Tips

Time to switch into the hibernation mode as most will agree that this is what chilly winters bring along with them. So, 8 winter health tips are right here to tell you what else can be done apart from cozily wrapping in a blanket. True, the weather is overwhelming, but all the more irresistible are the pathogens to the body. With broad daylight dwindling on one end, and stretchy long night ensuing thereafter, the alternating weather is bound to increase our vulnerability to illnesses. Read on for 8 winter health tips that will make this season truly enjoyable.

Maintain hygiene – Apart from the primary reason of staying tidy, this is a major step towards resisting cold and flu. With infectious agents on the prowl this season, you may have to be at your hygienic best. Be it washing hands with a sanitizer or covering the mouth with a napkin during cough, cleanliness tops the list of tips. In case you are allergic to cold ice-creams and desserts in winter, it will be better off to skip them entirely to avoid common illnesses.

Beat the blues – Ever wondered why you feel down all the more during winters? It could be a phase of seasonal affective disorder as it is natural for stress to pile on, considering that we are lazy, less active and more prone to wishful eating in this period. These factors are likely responsible for the bouts of depression we tend to encounter during this weather, since our mind is less occupied and we are totally by ourselves. The best way to combat it would be to remain active, engage in activities that boost the spirit both at an intellectual and physical level.

Get naughty with snow balls – This winter health tip is for all those who live in snowclad regions. Employing someone to shovel snow looks like an intelligent move, but in case that looks remote, then adopting the right posture while doing it, is important. The job is known to strike hard at the back which can even turn into a significant back problem. Do it in the right way and enjoy skiing this winter.

Combat illnesses – Many individuals also go through a phase of frostbite and hypothermis. While hypothermia is a condition characterized by drop in body temperatures, frostbite is numbness felt in the skin. Both these conditions are not to be taken with a pinch of salt. It is advisable to visit a physician at the earliest. Avoid using instinctive remedies and always seek guidance from a professional person.

Adopt a healthy diet – Experts believe that the best way to remain healthy all through winter is drinking plenty of fluids. This doesn’t mean you drink several cups of coffee or tea each day. Opt for healthy drinks that keep your immune system active. Avoiding sugary drinks and drink lots of water. During these months, we don’t usually feel as thirsty as during summer months, but keeping the body well hydrated is of utmost importance for a healthy body.

Be active – Sure, it is tempting to feel like polar bears lying fast asleep at home, but, you may be surprised to know that it can be really fun jogging or exercising during cold months. Sweating it out will uplift and activate all your bodily senses that can keep all sorts of health issues afar. Practicing yoga and meditation techniques also looks like a clever alternative to be relaxed this winter.

Keep your skin soft and supple – The most sensitive facet of winter is skin. Dry skin is one of the most reported problems in cold weather. Apply soft lotions to the skin throughout the day at regular intervals. Keep your skin supple and sustain the natural oils in your skin. Cracking of lips is also commonly seen in winters where keeping a lip balm ready at hand should keep the lips moist and free from infections.

Keep arthritis at bay – This could be the worst period for arthritis sufferers. Researchers from the Northwestern University have shown how shrinking day light affects the physical activity of individuals suffering from arthritis. Physical activity is crucial for such patients as it improves their gait and pain. A simple brisk walk should be enough to dampen the inactivity.

Seasons come and go, but our body takes time to adapt to the altering temperatures each time. It is only natural to feel euphoric at one point and totally gloomy the next point. Nevertheless, doing away with the qualms for a while, winter time is adorable for many reasons and to add to it, you can also keep this list of winter health tips right by your side. So what are your plans this winter?

source: healthjockey

Scientists track mercury poisoning risk from diets

Scientists track mercury poisoning risk from diets
Washington: Mercury in diets could whittle down the power of antioxidants and cause serious threats to health by accumulating in the body, aver scientists.

Antioxidants, playing a critical role in protecting cells, could also -- if they are not functioning properly -- damage them or cause their deaths.

This damage, known as oxidative stress, is tied with Alzheimer`s, Parkinson`s disease and diabetes, the journal Environmental Research Letters reports.

As such, antioxidants are widely used in dietary supplements and have been investigated in the prevention of cancer and cardiovascular disease, according to a University of Alaska statement.

University of Alaska Fairbanks researchers analysed groups of 12 huskies, a working dog breed, in four villages each with similar lineage, sex and age and in their peak racing years.

These huskies are exposed to the same environmental hazards as humans, sharing similar responses to ageing, immune function, toxicology and cognitive disorders.

Fairbanks professor Kriya Dunlap, who led the study, said: "The amounts of mercury in the salmon (fish species) are well below Environmental Protection Agency limits and the health benefits compared to processed food are still quite significant.

"However, the fact that health indices may be impaired by mercury levels indicates that monitoring should continue and that mercury generation should be monitored."

Data taken from the huskies` diet, comprising flesh and fish, showed that as their mercury exposure increased, their antioxidant status decreased.

source: zeenews

Dystonia: stepping out of the shadow of Parkinson’s disease Matthew Sheppard can spend hours playing the video game Minecraft, but he has trouble pouring water into a glass. Like other 13-year-old boys, he loves hurtling through nature on an ATV. But when a waitress asks for his order, he blinks uncontrollably and shakes all over.

Matthew has dystonia, a movement disorder that causes involuntary muscle contractions and spasms.

Tremors rattle through his body, especially when he’s nervous, says his mother, Cathy Sheppard. His inability to write, feed himself and perform other simple tasks has put him behind in school and affected his emotional health, she adds.

Matthew hasn’t reacted well to medications used to treat dystonia, but the Sheppards, who live in Toronto, are hopeful that brain surgery will help. Research has shown that deep brain stimulation, in which an implanted device sends electrical signals to the brain, can lessen the symptoms of dystonia in some patients.

If a battery of tests reveals he is a good candidate, Matthew may be booked for the surgery before next summer.

Ms. Sheppard realizes that deep brain stimulation is not a cure, but, she says, “I’m crossing my fingers that it will improve Matthew’s life enough that he won’t shake whenever someone looks at him.”

Dystonia affects tens of thousands of Canadians and is the most common movement disorder after Parkinson’s disease. Nevertheless, dystonia is little known by the public as well as general practitioners, says Robert Chen, a neurologist at the Morton and Gloria Shulman Centre for Movement Disorders at Toronto Western Hospital.

Although awareness is growing, Dr. Chen says, “many doctors are not well aware of the symptoms and signs of dystonia.” He adds that family doctors sometimes mistake it for anxiety, depression or abnormalities in the neck and spine.

Dystonia causes involuntary muscle contractions that force the body into repetitive and often twisting movements. The condition may affect a single body part, such as a hand or foot, or multiple areas including the limbs and torso.

Symptoms may be mild, such as “writer’s cramp,” or severe enough to interfere with a patient’s ability to walk, talk and function in daily life. For example, dystonia of the eyes can force them to blink incessantly or remain shut, leaving the patient functionally blind.

Dystonia takes many forms, of which some are heredity. Others are caused by repetitive motions, such as playing an instrument, or result from taking certain medications, including anti-psychotics. “In some cases we don’t know what caused it,” Dr. Chen says.

Primary dystonia may appear in childhood or adulthood, while secondary dystonia may develop with other conditions and diseases, including stroke and Huntington’s disease. In the case of actor Michael J. Fox, Parkinson’s disease is his main diagnosis but dystonia is responsible for his uneven gait.

There is no cure for it and treatment options are limited.

Injections of botulinum toxin A (Botox) can help relax muscles in patients with dystonia focused in a specific area, such as the hands or feet. But results are short lived and injections must be repeated every three or four months.

Wendy Paul, 61, says Botox injections have done little to improve her dystonia of the ankle and foot. Diagnosed at age 31, Ms. Paul has tried everything from physiotherapy to energy healing, she says, but therapies have been unsuccessful aside from improving her balance.

People with dystonia often feel isolated because of the stigma of being unable to stand up straight or walk normally, says Ms. Paul, president of the Toronto Chapter of Dystonia Medical Research Foundation Canada. Many are vulnerable to snake-oil remedies, she adds. “We’re a desperate lot, we dystonic people.”

Some patients improve with medication, including drugs that affect neurotransmitters such as dopamine, Dr. Chen says. Others benefit from deep brain stimulation, which involves drilling holes into the skull, implanting electrodes in the brain and inserting wires that connect them with a modulator and battery pack in the chest.

A study published in October, 2011, in the journal Movement Disorders, concluded that the brain’s plasticity – its ability to change in reaction to new input – may explain why patients with dystonia show gradual improvement with deep brain stimulation.

“I think in most patients with primary dystonia, it’s quite effective,” Dr. Chen says.

William Orlowski, an award-winning Canadian tap dancer, says dystonia cut his career short in the mid-1990s and progressed until he was wheelchair-bound. Diagnosed with generalized dystonia, which affects muscles throughout the body, Mr. Orlowski underwent a 10-hour surgery for deep brain stimulation in 2006.

Mr. Orlowski, now 59, says he made a remarkable recovery after the procedure. Soon, he was able to walk, and a year later, he performed a simple tap routine at an international music festival in Bamfield, B.C., on Vancouver Island.

But his condition has deteriorated since then, he says. Mr. Orlowski has limited use of his feet and relies on powerful muscle relaxants and anti-seizure medications to allow him to continue working as a teacher, choreographer and Chinese brush painter. Recently, he dislocated his shoulder after a bad fall. “Getting out of the bed in the morning is really difficult,” he says.

Nevertheless, Mr. Orlowski describes the surgery as a “miracle.” Over the long term, deep brain stimulation has resulted in a 60-per-cent improvement in his symptoms, he says.

Being awake during the surgery was unnerving, he adds, but “you don’t remember it as a nightmare but as a help.”

source: theglobeandmail

Master Cleanser: Most Effective For High Energy

It’s impossible to talk to people who have done the “Master Cleanse” without hearing them talk about the effect it has on their energy.

So that is the Mater Cleanse, anyway? It’s a controversial program that was first developed in the 1970s by a man named Stanley Burroughs, whose only claim to eternal fame is that he published a little booklet about it – The Master Cleanser – that is still sold in health food stores everywhere.

Although many conservative dietitians dismiss the Master Cleanse as hogwash, the fact is that it’s been used for decades with great results by many people, including some that I have great respect and regard for, including Elson Haas, M.D. Don’t let its periodic appearance in celebrity magazines as the ‘secret” behind some star’s weight loss and newfound energy blind you to its value for some people some times. I’m including it in this book, not because I recommend it for everyone, but because so many people swear by it that I thought you should at least know what it is and how to do it, should you want to try it.

GROUND ZERO FOR THE MASTER CLEANSE
One of the best-known proponents of the Master Cleanse is a man named Peter Glickman, who has devoted his life to teaching people how to incporate the Master Cleanse into their lives as part of a program of healing and renewal. When I interviewed him, he explained how he developed this passion.

“Around 2002, food had become my enemy”, he explained. “I was feeling exhausted. I had no energy. My wife had gotten into the whole raw vegan diet thing, and for two months I watched as she got skinnier and healthier. Her eyes sparkled. Meanwhile, I just felt more tired. Finally, I decided to give raw vegan eating a try for six months”.

Glickman lost 42 pounds. Not surprisingly, his energy went through the roof. When I asked him what prompted him to try the Master Cleanse, he was refreshingly frank. “I just woke up one morning and felt like I needed a cleanse”. He’s been a convert – and a proponent – ever since.

RECIPE FOR REVIVING ENERGY
Many people use the Master Cleanse as an energy tonic, and more than a few have used it for weight loss, though like all juice fasts, that shouldn’t be the main reason you do it. The Master Cleanse, also known as the Lemonade Diet, is basically a fast in which you take in nothing but the following drink all day long, as wanted, for a period of time ranging from one to ten days.

Here’s the recipe for a single serving:

2 tablespoons (30 ml) organic lemon juice (about ½ lemon)
2 tablespoons (40 g) organic Grade B maple syrup (not the commercial kind use don pancakes)
1/10 teaspoons cayenne pepper
8 to 10 ounces (235 to 285 ml) filtered water, boiled or heated to the temperature at which you’d make a cup of tea.

Combine all the ingredients in a glass and drink.

There’s some good tradition behind the ingredients in the drink. Lemon juice and hot water is a drink of choice for singers, and in Indian (Ayruvedic) and traditional Chinese medicine, lemon is thought to cause the liver to excrete more bile. Because bile salts are one of the ways that the body detoxifiers itself, prompting the secretion of bile is thought to be a good thing. Lemon is also a diuretic, and it contains a number of antioxidants to boot. (My friend, Ann Louise Gittleman, Ph.D., has used the hot water and lemon drink as a component of her very popular “fat flush diet” for years). The cayenne pepper is thought to stimulate metabolism. And Grade B maple syrup is less filtered and processed than the more common Grade A, and therefore believed to contain more minerals and enzymes than the latter.

Whether you can go for a day – or ten – on just that drink is a personal matter. Since the Master Cleanse is really just a slight variation on a water fast (with lemon and maple syrup adding a few nutrients), it’s possible you might not feel really perky during the first day or so as your body starts dumping whatever it’s holding on to in the fat cells. That said, I’d be lying if I told you that it doesn’t work for certain folks. After just a few days on the program, some people report that they feel more energetic than they have in years.

Also, some people find that even drinking it throughout the morning and afternoon and then having one small, “clean” meal in the late afternoon or early evening (not technically a Master Cleanse, since on the Master Cleanse the drink would be all you’d have) can still produce some energy benefits. But this is one detox program where I’d truly recommend checking with a health professional familiar with detoxification diets before starting it. There may be other ways to get the same result hat aren’t as challenging.

Fasting Through the Ages for Energy, Penance, and Clarity

Fasting as a strategy for enhancing health and attaining spiritual enlightenment has been around since the beginning of recorded history. The Greek philosophers Plato and Scorates were said to have fasted for mental clarity and physical discipline. Hippocrates appreciated the therapeutic benefits of fasting.

Throughout both the Old and the New Testaments there are stories of people fasting, including the forty days and forty nights that Christ was said to have abstained from food. It has been used (and is still being used) by many religious sects – including Christians, Jews, Muslims, and Buddhists – as penance or for purification. Fasting has been a tool of political prisoners and disciples of civil disobedience. From Mohandas Gandhi to guests at high-end spas, from religious awakening to simple rejuvenation, fasting has served many people and purposes throughout the ages.

How to Cure Bile Reflux Naturally

Bile reflux is the secretion of yellow juice known as bile. This bile is secreted from the liver and its main function is to break down fats in the body. A bile reflux occurs when the bile juice moves upward from the intestines to the stomach and throat. This bitter fluid is known as bile reflux and it often causes vomiting, nausea, stomach ache or discomfort and heartburn. Bile reflux is similar to an acid reflux and sometimes, these two can occur together. Here are the natural remedies to cure bile reflux and get rid of bile.

Natural remedies to cure bile reflux:

1. Generally, bile reflux is due to overeating. Have dinner 3-4 hours before going to sleep. This helps digest the food easily and also get rid of bile.

2. Have small meals frequently to reduce the chances of excessive bile production. Follow a low fat diet especially at night.

3. Avoid having oily and spicy food for dinner. This increases the bile production in the liver to burn the fats.

4. Never have juice at night if you get bile reflux frequently. Acidic juices such as lemon juice can increase the bile production in the liver as lemon has citrus acids. Also avoid having alcohol especially at night.

5. Exclude caffeine, chocolate, tomatoes, mint, citrus fruits, sodas and fatty foods which relaxes the stomach sphincter.

6. Keep the head elevated to prevent the bile from coming upwards. Take a small walk before going to bed. This helps digest the food and get rid of bile easily.

7. Exercise regularly to cure bile reflux. This is one of the best natural remedies to get rid of bile.

8. Stay hydrated. Prefer hot water at night before going to sleep. This is an effective remedy to cure bile reflux.

Try these natural remedies to cure bile reflux.

Stem Cell Treatment For Parkinson’s Disease

Australian scientists have developed a stem cell treatment for the Parkinson’s disease. The technique could be applied in other degenerative conditions too.

In Parkinson’s, there is a progressive and permanent loss of a group of dopamine-producing brain cells that form an essential pathway in the brain circuitry controlling movement. The new technique seeks to use stem cells to replace the dopamine-producing brain cells.

Drs Clare Parish and Lachlan Thompson lead the research from the Florey Neuroscience Institutes and the University of Melbourne. They are members of the newly established Stem Cells Australia collaboration launched at the University of Melbourne.

Stem Cells Australia is a new $21m Australian Research Council Special Research Initiative bringing together Australia’s leading stem cell scientists.

Led by internationally renowned stem cell expert Professor Martin Pera and administered by the
University of Melbourne, the Initiative links Australia’s leading experts in bioengineering, nanotechnology, stem cell biology, advanced molecular analysis and clinical research to solve some of the our biggest health challenges. 

“Stem Cells Australia will not only play a major role in leading Australian research into stem cell science, it will help the Australian community to understand the impact of scientific breakthroughs in this fast-paced and fascinating field,” he said.

Opening Stem Cells Australia on behalf of Innovation Minister Senator Kim Carr, ARC Chief Executive Officer Professor Margaret Sheil said the Initiative would make an important contribution to life-changing research.

“It will enable the delivery of stem cell research breakthroughs that will help ease suffering and save lives,” Professor Sheil said.

Key areas of research include investigating the use of stem cells to rejuvenate and repair damaged and diseased cells in organs such as the heart, brain and blood that are affected in conditions such as heart disease, Parkinson’s disease, stroke and Leukemia.

The first step of the technique is led by Dr Clare Parish’s team which has expertise in generating the dopamine brain cells that are missing in Parkinson's disease.

“By following what we know about brain development we have been able to re-create an environment in the culture dish that allows us to generate specific cell types that may be therapeutic,” she said.

"A limitation of the procedure, however, is that it is inefficient. This means that only around 30 per cent of the cells become dopamine brain cells while the others may remain as stem cells. This poses significant risks in a transplantation setting because the stem cells may continue to grow and form tumours,” she said.   Dr Lachlan Thompson's team is working on an innovative approach using a state of the art cell-sorting technology to solve this problem.

"Overall we have identified some interesting findings that help us to isolate the dopamine brain cells and discard the stem cells prior to transplantation,” he said.

“It's a strategy that we hope will bring us a step closer to clinical trials for a stem cell based treatment for Parkinson's. The broader significance is that this novel approach will likely be applicable to the development of stem cell-based treatments for other neurological conditions such as stroke, motor neuron disease and Huntington’s disease,” he said.

“There is still a lot of basic research to do to develop this technology to a point where it would be safe to proceed with trials in patients, however, there’s no reason to think that it couldn’t happen within the next 5-10 years with the proper funding.”

source: medindia.net

Diagnosing nonalcoholic fatty liver disease An ultrasound on a 51-year-old man with mild alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevation (77 units/L) showed gross, grade 3 fatty infiltration of the liver. He does not drink alcohol or use IV drugs, nor does he complain of abdominal pain. A hepatitis panel was negative, and random glucose was normal. Of what significance is the ultrasound finding? Does it require follow-up? — Leigh Bears, NP, New London, Conn.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is rapidly emerging as one of the most common "incidental findings" identified with radiographic testing. One in four adults is found to have the condition when undergoing abdominal ultrasound.

Although common, NAFLD is anything but benign. Liver biopsy reveals advanced fibrosis in up to 50% of those with NAFLD, and up to 16% have cirrhosis. The mild elevation of ALT described here suggests mild liver inflammation.

NAFLD commonly occurs in the presence of such conditions as diabetes mellitus, obesity, hyperlipidemia, hypertriglyceridemia and hypothyroidism as well as with rapid weight loss, such as that seen with starvation diets, and with a number of pharmacologic agents. Since treatment of underlying conditions is necessary, these entities should be considered when managing patients with NAFLD.

Liver biopsy is the gold standard for diagnosing NAFLD. Ultrasound analysis is not very specific because other liver diseases, such as iron overload (hemochromatosis), can resemble fatty liver. Fortunately, a biopsy is generally not necessary unless the condition resists treatment. Since the patient described has already been tested for diabetes, he should now be evaluated for thyroid disease and hyperlipidemia/hypertriglyceridemia.

A thorough medication history should also be obtained. In addition, if he is overweight, a referral to a dietitian for gradual weight loss is in order. Liver enzymes should be rechecked after three to six months and, if still elevated, liver biopsy should be considered. A biopsy showing fibrosis often provides much-needed incentive for lifestyle modification. For more information, refer to Sleisenger M, Fordtran J, eds. Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease: Pathophysiology/Diagnosis/Management. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders; 2002:1393-1401.—Bruce D. Askey, MSN, CRNP (157-10)

source: clinicaladvisor

The Demo Site

Health Topics

Resources

Blog Directory

Archive

Must Read

Quick Health Tips