Hypertension

Hypertension is very common health problem about 70% of population is suffering from this disease so if you are also suffering from the problem of high blood pressure so do not take it lightly but like many people you have also fear about doctor’s list of medicine so just read it you can find most effective tips to remove the problem of blood pressure.

Natural and herbal remedies for the people with hypertension include Hawthorn berries, Garcinia most effective herbs in treatment of blood pressure
First simple tip to remove the problem of high blood pressure take one teaspoon of lemon juice mixed with 2-3 drops of honey every morning can assist in lowering blood pressure, strengthening blood vessels and heart muscle and this also you to provide healthy blood flow in the arteries.
And second one is regularly eat fruits for a blood pressure patient the recommended fruits apples, bananas, tomatoes, boiled potato, spinach and other leafy vegetables, cucumbers, watermelon, papaya, oranges, guava, pumpkin, berries and many more and with these effective tips one more very essential idea that works for each and every health and keeps you healthy is techniques of relaxation, including yoga, deep breathing, distraction, positive thinking etc. Aromatherapy
and relaxing massages can also be helpful.Via

“This is a major concern,” said study lead author Dr. Rowan Chlebowski and the “In current smokers, one in 100 experience avoidable death from non-small cell lung cancer. Women almost certainly shouldn’t be using both combined hormone replacement therapy and tobacco at the same time,” he said ASCO.

“We want to do everything we can to prevent lung cancer,” added Dr. Jeffrey Crawford and the “But if you’re a current or former smoker, in particular, this is another reason not to consider hormone replacement therapy.”

“Median survival was 9.4 months versus 16.1 months in favor of the group that did not receive estrogen plus progestin,” Chlebowski said.

“Such a large trial helps to bring that information home and, especially in smokers, we know that there’s an interaction between HRT, lung cancer and smoking from prior observational studies and pre-clinical studies,” said Dr. Karen Reckamp.

“We see more and more non-smoking women getting lung cancer in general and often younger women. We know that there are estrogen receptors in the lung and in lung cancers and so there’s definitely an interaction between the development of lung cancer and hormones.” Via

“Flexible sigmoidoscopy screening looks promising, but the effect on a population level appears less than expected and further follow-up is required,” said lead researcher Dr. Geir Hoff.

“The results suggest that flexible sigmoidoscopy screening may be a very efficient way of screening with an aim of reducing mortality and the risk of getting colorectal cancer, but the effect may be less than anticipated and certainly occurs later than expected in the follow-up period,” Hoff added.

“Still, colonoscopy is recommended in several European countries and the U.S.,” he added.

“A major reason for non-compliance to screening is that people are not convinced that there is ‘anything in it for them,’” Hoff said. “Being able to quantify an effect to present potential screening participants requires randomized trials like this one. The study illustrates the need for randomized population screening trials before recommending widespread use of screening.”

“These are early results. They show some promising findings,” Imperiale said, but “we would not yet expect to see a reduction in colorectal cancer.”

“There are options, which is good,” Imperiale said. “The bottom line is that people should do something. What they do depends on their preferences and their risk, but they should do something — do a test.”

“One of the questions is, is seven years too short a window? If they look at this again in another four or five years will the difference be statistically significant?”

“because it is lot more available and less expensive than trying to screen everyone with colonoscopy. Flexible sigmoidoscopy is one of the methods recommended for screening by all of the major organizations.” Via

Picking up the pieces after mood swings can be hard. The people whom you need most — especially your friends and family — may be angry with you or reluctant to help.

The best way to avoid these mood swings is to get treatment for bipolar disorder. But unfortunately, periods of hypomania, mania, or depression aren’t completely preventable. Even people who always take their medication and are careful with their health can still have mood swings from time to time.

So that’s why it’s important to catch changes in your mood early before they develop into something serious.

Mood Swing Triggers in Bipolar Disorder

At first, mood swings may take you by surprise if you have bipolar disorder. But over time, you might start to see patterns or signs that you’re entering a period of mania or depression. Aside from a shift in your mood, look for changes in your:

* Sleep patterns
* Energy level
* Alcohol or drug use
* Sex drive
* Self-esteem
* Concentration

You may also discover particular “triggers” — situations or events that can provoke a period of mania or depression. Some people find they’re more likely to become depressed or manic during stressful times at work or during holidays. Many people see seasonal patterns to their mood changes. Of course, not everyone can identify triggers. Also, some triggers can’t be anticipated or avoided, like a serious illness or a traumatic event.

One good way to see patterns or triggers in your bipolar disorder is to keep a journal. Make note of big events, stresses, your medication dosage, and the amount of sleep you’re getting. Over time, you might see some patterns emerge.

If you know what your triggers are, you can prepare for times when you might be most vulnerable. Ask for more help from coworkers. Have your family and friends check in more often so you get extra support.

If you see the signs of potential trouble, get help. Don’t wait for the mood swing to pass on its own. With quick intervention, you might be able to stop a very minor mood swing from becoming a serious problem.

The Appeal of Mania in Bipolar Disorder

When people with bipolar disorder are depressed, they almost always know that something is wrong. Nobody likes feeling that way.

But it’s different for people who are hypomanic or manic. Often, they don’t think anything is wrong. Or if they notice a difference in their mood and personality, they think it’s an improvement.

Mania and hypomania can be seductive. You might feel more energized, creative, and interesting. You might be able to get extraordinary amounts of work done. So what’s the problem?

The fact is that manic phases often turn destructive. Some consequences of a manic episode can’t be undone. You can wipe out your savings account. You can have affairs that ruin your marriage. You can lose your job. Most dangerous of all, mania can make you do things that risk your life or the lives of others.

Although hypomania or mania can feel good at the moment, in the long run, you’ll be happier, healthier, more productive, and more successful if you can maintain a stable mood.
WebMD

Heart Health

BLOOD PRESSURE
What Age: 20s, 30s, 40s, 50+
How Often: At least every two years.
Details: Get checked by your doc. Over-the-counter wrist and finger monitors aren’t the most accurate for diagnosing high blood pressure.

CHOLESTEROL
What Age: 20s, 30s, 40s, 50+
How Often: Blood test every five years if normal, more frequently if not.
Details: Get total cholesterol number and HDL, LDL, and triglycerides.

Eyes, Teeth

EYE EXAM
What Age: 20s, 30s, 40s, 50+
How Often: Every two to three years if normal; every one to two years after age 40.
Details: Not just for eyeglasses; checks if you’re at risk for cataracts, glaucoma, or macular degeneration. Can also reveal increased pressure in the brain, caused by bleeding, tumors and more.

TEETH
What Age: 20s, 30s, 40s, 50+
How Often: One to two times a year.
Details: Exam is about more than cavities. Dentists check for oral cancer and gum disease (which can be a harbinger of heart disease and pregnancy problems).

Cancer

CLINICAL BREAST EXAM
What Age: Start at age 25.
How Often: Every one to three years until age 40, then every year.
Details: Breast check by your health practitioner.

MAMMOGRAM
What Age: 40s, 50+
How Often: Every year.
Details: If you’re under 50 and/or have dense breasts, ask for a digital mammogram, which detects more tumors than traditional film mammograms. Many insurance companies cover a baseline mammogram in your 30s, though it’s not clear whether that helps with cancer detection later on.

SKIN-CANCER CHECK
What Age: 20s, 30s, 40s, 50+
How Often: Self check monthly; doc check every three years until age 40, then every year.
Details: Keep track of your self-checks with a mole map like the one on mdanderson.org

CHECKS FOR OTHER CANCERS
What Age: 20s, 30s, 40s, 50+
How Often: Every three years until age 39, then every year.
Details: Visual/Manual check for signs of cancers of thyroid, lymph glands, mouth, and skin as part of regular physical exam. Colon-cancer screenings start at age 50 (45 for African-Americans.)

Sexual Health

CHLAMYDIA
What Age: Anyone who is sexually active.
How Often: Every year for women under age 25; repeat annually if you have new sexual partners.
Details: A swab test detects this common STD that can cause fertility problems and pelvic pain.

HIV
What Age: If you have unprotected sex at any age.
How Often: Before having sex with someone new, four to six weeks after unprotected sex, and again six months later.
Details: New rapid tests swab your cheek (no needles), and results are ready in 20 minutes. They’re 97 to 99 percent accurate though you need to get a blood test to verify a positive result.

HPV-DNA
What Age: 30s, 40s, 50+ (20s if you have an abnormal Pap)
How Often: Every year. If HPV and Pap are normal, repeat both every three years.
Details: With a sample collected on a swab, this test looks for 13 strains of the human papilloma virus (HPV) associated with cervical cancer. Get this test even if you’ve had the HPV vaccine.

PAP
What Age: 20s, 30s, 40s, 50+
How Often: Repeat every year; after three consecutive negative Paps in your 30s, you can test every two to three years.
Details: Ask for a liquid based cytology test (ThinPrep or SurePath) – the better sample can eliminate the need for immediate retesting (the test feels the same; the change is on the slide). You need a Pap even if you’ve had the HPV vaccine.

PELVIC EXAM
What Age: 20s, 30s, 40s, 50+
How Often: Every year.
Details: Checks for infections, some STDs, growths, cysts, and to see if you need additional test for ovarian cancer.

Diabetes

BLOOD GLUCOSE TEST
What Age: Start at age 45; 25 if your insurance covers it.
How Often: Every three years if normal, more frequently if levels are above normal.
Details: Ask for a fasting blood-sugar test (it’s a blood test). Get clarity on your results; even if you don’t have diabetes, you may have pre-diabetes, which may be reversed with lifestyle changes.

Hormones

THYROID FUNCTION
What Age: Before pregnancy.
How Often: Do what your insurance will cover.
Details: Blood test checks for low or high thyroid levels. Test if you have symptoms like low energy, weight gain, or hair loss. Since many women don’t have symptoms, some docs say every woman should be tested, at least before pregnancy. Get it if your insurance will pay.

HIGH-RISK RULES
Start testing sooner if you’re at above-average risk for these medical conditions:

LOW BONE DENSITY:
Get a bone scan every two years starting now if you’ve taken a glucocorticoid drug (like Prednisone) for two months or more. (Otherwise, get one at 50+.)

BREAST CANCER:
If you have a first-degree relative (parent or sibling) who has had breast cancer, get a clinical breast exam every three to six months and an annual mammogram starting 10 years earlier than your relative’s age at cancer diagnosis. Ask your doctor about adding an MRI.

COLON CANCER:
Colonoscopy every five years starting at age 40, or younger if a first-degree relative had colon cancer or a polyp before age 60.

DIABETES:
Annual blood-sugar test starting at age 30 if you’re overweight and have/had any of these: polycystic ovarian syndrome, family history, gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, low HDL cholesterol and high triglycerides, or are of African, Hispanic, Asian, Pacific Islander, or Native American descent.

OVARIAN CANCER:
Transvaginal ultrasound plus a CA-125 blood test starting between 30 and 35 if you have genetic risk (mutated BRCA1 or other ovarian-cancer gene). Start between 35 and 40 if you have a mutated BRCA2 gene.

SKIN CANCER:
Consult a dermatologist about a screening schedule if you have a family history of melanoma in two or more blood relatives, multiple unusual moles, or actinic keratoses—gray to pink scaly skin patches.

2. Cut Fat
Avoid the obvious such as fried foods, burgers and other fatty meats (i.e. pork, bacon, ham, salami, ribs and sausage). Dairy products such as cheese, cottage cheese, milk and cream should be eaten in low fat versions. Nuts and sandwich meats, mayonnaise, margarine, butter and sauces should be eaten in limited amounts. Most are available in lower fat versions such as substitute butter, fat free cheeses and mayonnaise. Thought for the day: Lean, mean, fat-burning machine…. Then be one!

3. Quit Smoking
The jury is definitely in on this verdict. Ever since 1960 when the Surgeon General announced that smoking was harmful to your health, Americans have been reducing their use of tobacco products that kill. Just recently, we’ve seen a surge in smoking in adolescents and teens. Could it be the Hollywood influence? It seems the stars in every movie of late smoke cigarettes. Beware. Warn your children of the false romance or ‘tough guy’ stance of Hollywood smokers. Thought for the day: Give up just one cigarette…. the next one.

4. Reduce Stress
Easier said than done, stress busters come in many forms. Some techniques recommended by experts are to think positive thoughts. Spend 30 minutes a day doing something you like. (i.e.,Soak in a hot tub; walk on the beach or in a park; read a good book; visit a friend; play with your dog; listen to soothing music; watch a funny movie. Get a massage, a facial or a haircut. Meditate. Count to ten before losing your temper or getting aggravated. Avoid difficult people when possible. Thought for the day: When seeing red, think pink clouds….then float on them.

5. Protect Yourself from Pollution
If you can’t live in a smog-free environment, at least avoid smoke-filled rooms, high traffic areas, breathing in highway fumes and exercising near busy thoroughfares. Exercise outside when the smog rating is low. Exercise indoors in air conditioning when air quality is good. Plant lots of shrubbery in your yard. It’s a good pollution and dirt from the street deterrent. Thought for the day: ‘Smoke gets in your eyes’…and your mouth, and your nose and your lungs as do pollutants….hum the tune daily.

6. Wear Your Seat Belt
Statistics show that seat belts add to longevity and help alleviate potential injuries in car crashes. Thought for the day: Buckle down and buckle up.

7. Floss Your Teeth
Recent studies make a direct connection between longevity and teeth flossing. Nobody knows exactly why. Perhaps it’s because people who floss tend to be more health conscious than people who don’t? Thought for the day: Floss and be your body’s boss.

8. Avoid Excessive Drinking
While recent studies show a glass of wine or one drink a day (two for men) can help protect against heart disease, more than that can cause other health problems such as liver and kidney disease and cancer. Thought for the day: A jug of wine should last a long time.

9. Keep a Positive Mental Outlook
There’s a definitive connection between living well and healthfully and having a cheerful outlook on life. Thought for the day: You can’t be unhappy when you’re smiling or singing.

10. Choose Your Parents Well
The link between genetics and health is a powerful one. But just because one or both of your parents died young in ill health doesn’t mean you cannot counteract the genetic pool handed you. Thought for the day: Follow these basic tips for healthy living and you can better control your own destiny.

However, there are other means of belly fat removal, some are fairly safe while others can potentially be fatal. You can look into undergoing an operation. Gastric banding is considered to be a fairly safe procedure and the outcomes can be pretty good. There are many downsides associated with this method though.

Stomach stapling or gastric bypass is another surgical option for removal of belly fat but unfortunately there is the inherent risk of death associated with it. Both the gastric bypass and the gastric banding procedures though require you to be excessively overweight and unfortunately will not really help you to loose just belly fat so your six pack can show through.

Liposuction can be performed though as a means of belly fat removal. Matter of fact, this procedure requires you to be healthy in order to undergo it which means that it is specifically suited for sculpting out the fat from your abdominal region.

Of course, the cheapest and best way to get rid of belly fat though is and always will be exercise and diet. Walking, swimming and biking are considered exercise to and diet refers to the type of foods that you eat, not how little you eat.

John Ku is a expert on losing tummy fat and currently is the author of reduce tummy site which mainly focus information on how to get rid of belly fat.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Ku

Here are your best bets for eating well. These 10 health foods are some of the healthiest because they meet at least three of the following criteria:

• Are a good or excellent source of fiber, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients

• Are high in phytonutrients and antioxidant compounds, such as vitamins A and E and beta carotene

• May help reduce the risk of heart disease and other health conditions

• Are low in calorie density, meaning you get a larger portion size with a fewer number of calories

• Are readily available

Almonds

Why eat almonds? These tear-shaped nuts are packed with nutrients – fiber, riboflavin, magnesium, iron and calcium. In fact, almonds have more calcium than any other nut – 75 milligrams (mg) in one serving (about 23 almonds). Also, one serving of almonds provides half of your body’s Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of vitamin E.

Like all nuts, almonds provide one of the best plant sources of protein. And they’re good for your heart. Most of the fat in almonds is monounsaturated fat – a healthier type of fat that may help lower blood cholesterol levels.

Apples

Why eat apples? Apples are an excellent source of pectin, a soluble fiber that can lower blood cholesterol and glucose levels. Fresh apples are also good sources of vitamin C – an antioxidant that protects your body’s cells from damage. Vitamin C also helps form the connective tissue collagen, keeps your capillaries and blood vessels healthy, and aids in the absorption of iron.

Blueberries

Why eat blueberries? Blueberries are a rich source of plant compounds (phytonutrients). As with cranberries, phytonutrients in blueberries may help prevent urinary tract infections. Blueberries may also improve short-term memory and promote healthy aging.

Blueberries are also a low-calorie source of fiber and vitamin C – 1 cup of fresh blueberries has 84 calories, 3.6 grams of fiber and 14 mg of vitamin C.

Broccoli

Why eat broccoli? Besides being a good source of calcium, potassium, folate and fiber, broccoli contains phytonutrients – a group of compounds that may help prevent chronic diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes and some cancers. Broccoli is also a good source of vitamins A and C – antioxidants that protect your body’s cells from damage.

Red beans

Why eat red beans? Red beans – including small red beans and dark red kidney beans – are good sources of iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, copper and thiamin. They’re also an excellent low-fat, low-calorie source of protein and dietary fiber. Red beans also contain phytonutrients that may help prevent chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Salmon

Why eat salmon? Salmon is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids – a type of fat that makes your blood less likely to form clots that may cause heart attacks. Omega-3s may also protect against irregular heartbeats that may cause sudden cardiac death, decrease triglyceride levels, decrease the growth of artery-clogging plaques, lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of stroke.

In addition to being an excellent source of omega-3s, salmon is low in saturated fat and cholesterol and is a good source of protein.

Spinach

Why eat spinach? Spinach is high in vitamins A and C and folate. It’s also a good source of riboflavin, vitamin B-6, calcium, iron and magnesium. The plant compounds in spinach may boost your immune system and may help keep your hair and skin healthy.

Sweet potatoes

Why eat sweet potatoes? The deep orange-yellow color of sweet potatoes tells you that they’re high in the antioxidant beta carotene. Food sources of beta carotene, which are converted to vitamin A in your body, may help slow the aging process and reduce the risk of some cancers. Sweet potatoes are also good sources of fiber, vitamins B-6, C and E, folate and potassium. And like all vegetables, they’re fat-free and relatively low in calories – one small sweet potato has just 54 calories.

Vegetable juice

Why drink vegetable juice? Vegetable juice has most of the vitamins, minerals and other nutrients found in the original vegetables and is an easy way to include vegetables in your diet. Tomato juice and vegetable juices that include tomatoes are good sources of lycopene, an antioxidant that may reduce the risk of heart attack, prostate cancer and possibly other types of cancer. Some vegetable and tomato juices are very high in sodium, so be sure to select the low-sodium varieties.

Wheat germ

Why eat wheat germ? At the center of a grain of wheat is the wheat germ – the part of the seed that’s responsible for the development and growth of the new plant sprout. Though only a small part of the wheat seed, the germ is a highly concentrated source of nutrients, including niacin, thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin E, folate, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, iron and zinc. The germ also contains protein, fiber and some fat.

Content by MayoClinic.com

Belly fat is more dangerous for health than overall weight gain, there is a much closer link between visceral fat – the fat around your internal organs – and serious diseases.

After looking at data from various US surveys, the researchers found that:

– In 1999 10.5% of children/teens had too much belly fat
– In 2004 17.4% of boys had too much belly fat
– In 2004 17.8% of girls had too much belly fat

You can read about this study in the journal Pediatrics.

The researchers said that children can restore their long-term health outlook much more effectively than older adults if they make some adjustments to their lifestyles.

What is Visceral Fat (Belly Fat)?

There are two types of fat, cutaneous fat and visceral fat. Cutaneous fat is found below the skin. Even though we may not like it, cutaneous fat is less dangerous for health than visceral fat. Visceral fat is located deep in the abdomen and surrounds our vital organs.

Visceral fat is metabolized by the liver, turns into cholesterol and circulates in the bloodstream. LDL (low-density lipoproteins), otherwise known as bad cholesterol, forms plaques and builds up in the arteries, gradually blocking them.

Previous studies have found that people who eat a lot of saturated fats have a higher risk of building up undesirable amounts of visceral fat (High-Fat Diet Ups Dangerous ‘Hidden’ Fat).

SOURCE: medicalnewstoday

Heart attacks are hitting the overweight more than a decade sooner than “normal” weight people, researchers are reporting.

A study of more than 111,000 people is one of the first to put real numbers to the risk of obesity and suggests “excess adiposity” – fat tissue – is more dangerous to the heart than smoking.

“The leading theory in cardiology right now is that the fat tissue is actually producing factors that precipitate heart attacks,” says lead author Dr. Peter McCullough, consultant cardiologist and chief of nutrition and prevention medicine at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan.

The theory is that cholesterol builds up in the coronary arteries and inflammatory or other chemicals produced by fat cells trigger the plaque to suddenly rupture, causing a blood clot to form and unleashing an acute heart attack.

But until now, earlier studies “simply just didn’t have enough patients of different body sizes having their first heart attack to really evaluate” whether obesity is associated with premature heart attacks, McCullough says.

His team analyzed data from a nationwide U.S. registry of people hospitalized for heart attack and unstable angina, or chest pain, from 2001 to 2007.

A total of 111,847 men and women who had experienced a first heart attack were included in the final analysis. They were grouped according to their body mass index, or BMI, a measure of body fat based on height and weight.

Researchers found that, the heavier the person, the younger the age of a first heart attack.

The most obese people had their heart attacks on average when they were 59. That compares to about 75 for the leanest group (average body weight 47 kilograms, or about 103 pounds, meaning they were actually considered underweight), and 71 for people of “normal” weight, where the average weight is 65 kilograms, or about 142 pounds.

The most obese group had a BMI of 40 or more and weighed on average 127 kilograms, or 280 pounds.

“It’s not uncommon in daily life to see people at that size,” McCullough says. “I’m sure there are people in your office and people you see all the time at that body weight.”

The rate of diabetes was 17 per cent in the leanest group, and 49 per cent in the most obese. “You can get a feeling of how obesity-driven diabetes is,” McCullough says.

All the patients, regardless of body size, had about the same level of LDL cholesterol, the so-called bad cholesterol thought to be a major risk factor for heart attacks. That means the excess fat is causing heart disease in other ways, McCullough says.

In addition, rates of smoking were equal across the board. “We really can’t blame it on smoking.”

“Those patients at the highest body weight on average lost 12 years of life before their first heart attack.” The second most important factor was smoking, “where they lost just under 10 years of life before a first heart attack.

“This is really the first study that shows now that some factors are more powerful than smoking in terms of the prematurity of myocardial infarction (a heart attack),” McCullough says.

The study involved a type of heart attack called non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. They always require hospitalization and have an in-hospital fatality rate of about 10 per cent, and about 20 per cent over the next six months, McCullough says. “They are not trivial events. They account for a leading cause of patients to lose time away from work and actually seek medical disability.”

The study clearly shows “that, contrary to some of the arguments out there about whether or not excess weight may be protective … there is a tremendous risk difference in terms of having your first heart attack if you are overweight or obese,” says Dr. Arya Sharma, chair of obesity research and management at the University of Alberta in Edmonton.

“You’re having a heart attack a decade before those who don’t have a weight problem,” Sharma says. “And 59 is actually a very young age. These are people who aren’t even close to retirement.”

McCullough says people could reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease by losing weight and body fat. According to the Canadian Community Health Survey, 23 per cent of Canadians aged 18 and older are obese.

The study appears in the most recent issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Source: Canada.com