Preventing Infectious Disease in the Wake of Natural Disaster

 

Natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis and hurricanes gain international media coverage—spurring quick international response to aid the victims. While initial intervention delivers medical attention to the wounded and shelter to the displaced, some diseases can quickly become epidemics if certain steps aren’t taken to prevent their spread.

 

Water Supply

A clean water supply is vital to all humans, and in the wake of disaster water is the most critical component to be delivered to the masses. While potable water is the first concern, citizens also require sanitary water for washing and food preparation in order to prevent the onset of diseases. Bottled water is vital to the survival of the populace, as well as water sanitizing chemicals and the training in their use.

 

Disease Control

Typhoid and cholera are both contracted via contaminated food or water, and teaching food safety to the displaced needs to be quickly implemented to avoid epidemics. Other diseases such as measles, influenza and pneumonia can spread quickly in crowded temporary housing, and isolation of the contagious is vital. In areas where mosquitoes breed freely, malaria can become rampant. Malaria can be confused with influenza in a clinical setting because the diseases share the same initial symptoms. Newer quick-detection malaria tests can help identify the disease, as well as alert medical professionals to mosquito breeding areas, which can be treated to prevent further outbreaks.

 

Food Safety and Health Education

If potable water is not provided, displaced people will use what is available. Early aid responders must quickly teach food safety—such as boiling water for drinking, avoiding unwashed food and cooking food thoroughly. Additional health education should include personal hygiene when preparing food, learning not to share eating utensils and keeping the living quarters as clean as possible. Learning how diseases spread is important, especially in overcrowded emergency shelters.

 

Human Waste Disposal

Human waste can quickly become a disease breeding ground, and proper disposal areas should be organized immediately. If portable latrines are not available, waste pits should be dug, similar to traditional outhouses. When designating human waste sites, remember the Three Ds: distant, downhill and downstream from human quarters. Because emergency shelters are usually overcrowded, a citizen safety program may need to be implemented so the residents do not avoid the latrine for fear of being mugged or raped.

 

Solid Waste Disposal

Garbage is another germ-breeding zone, and solid waste disposal should round out the list of emergency measures. A waste disposal site should be set up away from emergency shelters and water supplies, and all survivors should be encouraged to use the area for disposal of everyday solid wastes.

 

 

During times of natural disaster, urgent care and shelter are required to keep displaced citizens from facing further disasters, such as epidemics. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, water that is safe for drinking and washing is the most vital key to survival, followed by disease control, food safety, health education and the disposal of both human and solid waste.

 

Categories: Disease, infectious, natural disaster, preventing

5 Remedies to Prevent Gum Disease

 

Gum disease is a bacterial infection in the tissues and bones around the teeth. Healthy gums should not bleed easily with brushing. They should appear pink and fit tightly around teeth. Gums that are swollen, tender, red, bleed easily, or are receding from teeth are likely infected with gum disease. It is a serious problem that can affect oral health, lead to tooth loss, and cause infection and ailments in other areas of the body as well if left untreated. There are some steps you can take to help prevent gum disease.

 

1. Practice Good Oral Hygiene

According to Smith Family Dental, gum disease starts in areas where bacteria is allowed to grow and thrive. The better oral hygiene you practice, the less likely you are to suffer from gum disease. You should brush your teeth twice a day and floss and use a fluoride mouth rinse at least once a day. These basic practices are extremely important.

 

2. Visit the Dentist

Your mouth produces plaque, which is a clear sticky bacteria filled substance. Brushing at home can help eliminate plaque from your mouth. Plaque turns into tartar, which is a hard substance that cannot be removed with at home brushing. Visiting a dentist every 6 months for a routine cleaning is essential to tartar removal and a key component to good oral health.

 

3. Watch what you Eat

Watching what you eat is not as simple as just avoiding sticky sugar filled candy, although this is important. It is important to make conscious and intentional decisions about what you eat and try to choose foods that actually improve oral health. Crunchy fruits and vegetables high in water content help trigger the flow of saliva, which naturally washes small food particles away from teeth. Include healthy sources of calcium such as cheese and unsweetened yogurt to encourage strong tooth development. Avoid sugary drinks and stick with water as your primary drink. Eating a diet rich in vitamins and minerals is good for your dental health, as well as your overall well-being.

 

4. Avoid Frequent Snacking

nearly as important as what you eat is when you eat. Frequent snacking bombards your teeth with sugars, which feed bacteria. Allowing time between meals and snacks gives saliva time to wash food away from teeth. Always follow a snack with a drink of water and brush teeth after snacking when possible.

 

5. Know your Risk Factors

Certain factors put you at greater risk for developing gum disease. As you age, the likelihood of gum disease developing increases. Hormonal changes in women can also increase your risk. Smoking or use of chewing tobacco both are huge contributing factors to gum disease. Know your risk factors and do what you can to minimize or eliminate them.

 

Taking good care of your mouth translates into better overall health. Early gum disease often does not cause pain, so it is important to know the indicators and work with your dentist to ensure the best oral health possible.

 

Categories: bleed easily, dental care, Disease, disease nbsp, eat healthy, frequent snacking, Gum Disease, Healthy Eating, oral health, oral hygiene, prevent gum, risk factors

Exploring the Link Between Oral Health, Asthma, Allergies & Eczema

 

The mouth is teeming with bacteria. Most of this bacteria is the good sort which helps in the normal function of your teeth and gums, but there is still a chance you may be suffering from periodontal or gum disease.

Gum disease is said to be one of the most common ailments in the world. There’s almost as many people suffering from gum disease as the common flu at any given moment in time. But most people don’t realize that gum disease could have much more fatal consequences. In the past, studies have linked the seemingly benign disease to various other forms of bodily ailments such as- diabetes, heart disease, asthma and, in severe circumstances, cancer.

 

The Window to Your Health

There is a substantially growing amount of evidence supporting the notion that the mouth is the window to our body’s overall health and wellbeing. Particularly gum disease or periodontal disease has been observed by experts to be closely correlated to other forms of ailments people generally suffer.

The bacteria associated with gum disease was, at first, thought to be the primary contributing factor. It was believed that as gum disease worsened the bacterial growth increased and spread to other parts of the body and created different sorts of issues there. Recently, though, there is a growing consensus that inflammation is the leading cause for this link between deteriorating oral health and overall wellness issues.

 

Asthma & Allergies

Studies have shown that the most common ailment associated with gum disease is asthma. Researchers in the United Kingdom have found that when adjusted with other factors, such as age, sex, height, weight, smoking habits and lifestyle choices, the patients suffering from gum disease were most at risk for developing asthma.

The debate on whether gum disease is related to other forms of health issues is still ongoing. Whether it’s bacteria or inflammation or both which cause these problems is still relatively unknown. Research is ongoing but there is a lot of evidence to show that the irritants present in the body can migrate to other parts, sometimes leading to minor allergies.

Bacterial infection is considered to be the main cause for gum disease leading to respiratory problems such as asthma. Pneumonia is also said to be caused in certain cases where the bacteria in the mouth is transmitted to the lungs via the windpipe.

 

Eczema

Asthma is itself closely associated with a sort of skin irritation whose cause has not yet been uncovered – atopic eczema. Eczema is a sort of skin inflammation which cause the skin to redden, dry out, itch and crack. Patients, especially children, suffering from asthma are said to be at a higher risk for this sort of skin ailment. Dry and irritated skin is a fairly common problem and this sort of eczema is mainly triggered by allergens in the body.

Susceptibility to allergies, asthma and eczema are all correlated to developing gum disease. The best way to combat these ailments is to take much better care of oral hygiene.

 

Preventative Care

Brushing the teeth twice a day, once before bed at night and once in the morning, is a common staple of good oral care. But a lot of people don’t understand the importance of brushing for longer, preferably two minutes, for better results.

Also, a lot of people are unaware of the amount of fluoride their toothpaste contains or the amount that is actually recommended for use. Fluoride is highly effective in protecting your teeth from tooth decay, which is why it is being added to mainstream toothpastes by manufacturers. The element is naturally present in food sometimes and is known to also eradicate your mouth of almost all its bacteria. The recommended level of fluoride is 0.7-0.2 parts for every million parts of water.

 

Oil Pulling

You’ve no doubt heard about the health craze, oil pulling. Though it’s taken on a new life in the health world these days, it’s not new at all – the practice actually has old roots in Ayurveda Indian medicine.  It simply involves swishing around with a plant-based oil (coconut, sesame, sunflower) for about 15 minutes, which is said to improve oral health and draw out toxins from the body.

A casual perusal of online article on oil pulling will present a whole host of health issues that the practice supposedly cures; everything from hangovers to sinus infections to eczema.  While there doesn’t seem to be definitive proof of any of this, it makes perfect sense that faithful oil pullers would see a variety of health benefits.

Oil pulling is a great way to keep your mouth very clean, and having a very clean mouth helps to maintain health in the rest of your body as well.  So while I’d hesitate to endorse oil pulling as a cure-all for anything, it is one way to ensure good oral health, which has a myriad of benefits.

You can protect yourself from all the issues caused by gum disease by simply brushing and flossing regularly, replacing the toothbrush you use once every 3 months and eating a healthy diet. Regular dental checkups will also be useful in spotting signs of gum disease early and treating it effectively. Detecting gum disease early will be your best chance at avoiding any of the other health issues correlated with it.

 

 

About the Author:  Dr. Kimberly Dyoco is a Chicago dentist who founded One Mag Smile, a practice that specializes in both general and cosmetic dentistry.  Dr. Dyoco loves exploring the many links between oral health and the rest of the body and enjoys sharing her knowledge and passion as a guest author on a wide variety of health and lifestyle publications. To find out more, check out www.1magSmile.com.

Categories: Asthma, Disease, disease early, Eczema, exploring, Gum Disease, health, health issues, oil pulling, oral health, oral heath, people don

Behind Alzheimer"s: The Latest in Disease Research

 

 

Alzheimer’s disease was named after Dr. Alois Alzheimer. It was originally called presenile dementia when first discovered in 1901. A female patient of Dr. Alzheimer’s had developed unusual short term memory loss. After she died in 1906, Alzheimer gave her brain to his colleague Emil Kraepelin to study. He found plaque and tangles in her brain. In 1910, Kraepelin renamed the disease Alzheimer’s. 5.1 million people currently suffer from this disease. Research for Alzheimer’s is in prevention, or lowering the odds and drug trials.

 

 

Prevention

In France and Canada, researchers looked at 1800 patients over age 66 who were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and were prescribed benzodiazepines. There were findings that benzodiazepines, which include Xanax and Valium taken over a three to six year period, had an increased 51 percent chance of getting Alzheimer’s compared to 7,000 healthy adults.

Increasing Vitamin D levels, particularly if you are 65 or over, can lower the risk of getting Alzheimer’s. If you are under 65 to 70, you will need 600 units of Vitamin D. If you are over 70, you will need 800 units of Vitamin D. Keeping your blood pressure in check, a healthy diet, plenty of sleep, and regular exercise can help lower the chances of getting Alzheimer’s. Unfortunately, there is no magic potion that will absolutely prevent the disease, but doctors and scientists are working on it.

 

 

Research

Research in Alzheimer’s has been growing by leaps and bounds since the 1980′s, unfortunately it is incurable at the moment. Biomarkers is a blood test being used on healthy adults to see if they could get the disease in the next few years. Until there is something that can cure Alzheimer’s there are drugs available to manage and slow the progression of the disease. These drugs improve cognitive and behavior symptoms. Researchers and graduates with aging master’s degrees know people who are diagnosed with the disease today, may have had it for twenty years. The neurons that have since died, cannot be brought back to life.

 

 

Tomorrow Study

Seventeen states are going to be involved in a study called TomorrowStudy.com that will study the mild forms of Alzheimer’s. People age 65 to 83 in good health are eligible. It will take place in fifty centers throughout North America, Europe, and Australia. The Alzheimer’s Association is also running a study. It’s called Trial Match and it is available through the Alz.org website.

 

 

Researchers are not done trying to find a cure, and might just find the answer soon. We need to keep hope alive and do all we can to prevent this devastating disease.

 

Categories: alzheimers, Disease, latest, Research

War on the Homefront: Best Ways to Win Against Disease in Your House

 

By Brooke Chaplan

 

The home is where families feel the most comfortable and relaxed. It is the place where you are tucked away from the world, safe within your own haven. But germs can post a threat to your health and happiness even at home. From the laundry room to the bedroom, bacteria is surprisingly resilient when it comes to surviving and even thriving within a home. For those that are ready to win the war against viruses and diseases lingering in their own home, it is important to take a methodical approach to cleaning.

 

Start with Hand Washing

Hand washing should be a consistent habit for any family, especially when flu season begins to roll around. Every sink in the home should have anti-bacterial soap, and the entire family should thoroughly wash their hands for at least 20 or 30 seconds when they first get home, before touching anything in the kitchen, and after exercising.

 

Replacing Hygienic Items

Hygienic items are actually a breeding ground for bacteria, and one of the most likely places to contract an illness. Some of the most common items to be careful of include toothbrushes, hairbrushes, and razors. These items should be changed as often as possible, and replaced immediately after a family member has gotten ill.

 

A Look at the Laundry Room

While a washing machine was designed to remove bacteria from the clothes, the actual tub within these appliances is the ideal environment for bacteria. With heat and moisture, bacteria can spread to clothing with each and every load, and this is why these appliances should be sterilized at least once a week. This can be done by running the washing machine on empty and the highest settings with one cup of bleach.

 

Removing Bugs and Critters

Having bugs and other critters around the home is pretty natural for most of us, yet many do not realize that it is one of the most common ways pathogens are spread. Animals such as cockroaches and rats can spread diseases ranging from E. coli to salmonella. This is why all homeowners should regularly schedule appointments with a Surrey pest control pest detective at least twice a year, or any time visible signs of an infestation are seen.

 

Beds and Pillows

Beds and bedspreads are not only a good place for mold and germs to spread, residents will continue to be exposed to them night after night. All linens should be washed once a week, and pillows should be replaced yearly. The mattresses themselves should be replaced every seven years, dependent on use.

From dust mites to microbes, one can never be too careful in their own home. With a wealth of bacteria throughout your property, these habits should become second nature in order to avoid common illnesses.

 

Categories: Disease, homefront, house, ways

Healthy Home: Places You Never Knew Were Breeding Disease

 

By Brooke Chaplan

 

Everyone knows the bathroom is home to some of the most germ-ridden spots in your house, but you might be surprised to discover what other places are a hotspot for disease. Not all of them are as predictable as you may think. According to NSF International, here are some of germs’ favorite places to collect.

 

 

Stove Knobs

You might wash your hands before you start preparing food, but you might not wash them regularly as you go. Stove knobs are subject to hands covered in unprepared food and food splatters, leaving them wide open to collecting germs. Take off the stove knobs once a week and wash them in hot, soapy water to keep them clean.

 

 

Kitchen Countertops

Everything is put on countertops in the kitchen. Meat, vegetables, fruits, wallets, purses, stacks of papers, toys, and everything else that needs a temporary home. For a place that’s supposed to be clean and ready for food preparation, kitchen counters collect a surprising amount of bacteria. Clean your countertops daily with hot water, and sanitize them with an appropriate, manufacturer-approved cleaner once a week to keep the bacteria levels down.

 

 

Kitchen Sponge

You’ve probably heard that sponges are a breeding house for bacteria, and it’s absolutely true. Sponges are the single most germ-infected item in your home. The NSF study found that 75% of sponges tested had coliform bacteria on them. It makes sense—we use sponges to clean up everything in both the kitchen and the bathroom, but they aren’t washed nearly as often as they should be. The moisture and grime incubates in the sponge between uses and becomes a perfect haven for germs.Wash your kitchen sponge daily; you can even run it through the dishwasher with a load of dirty dishes. Replace it approximately every two weeks.

 

 

Toothbrush Holder

You might keep your toothbrush as clean as possible, but when you put it back in the holder, water from the sink and your own saliva are going to drip off the end. Fortunately, it’s easy enough to keep clean—just run it through the dishwasher once a week.

 

 

Bathroom Floor

The dirtiest part of your bathroom isn’t the toilet seat like you might think. It’s the floor. An article on ABC in 2005 related a study in which the toilet seat was actually found to be the cleanest part of the bathroom. That doesn’t mean you don’t still need to clean your toilet, but make sure that you scrub the floor and bathtub just as often.

 

 

Bathtub

The bathtub is a breeding ground for bacteria, partially because dirty water tends to get trapped in the pipes. When you turn on the shower or bath, the germy water that’s been incubating in the pipes shoots out into the tub. If you think your pipes or plumbing are ready to be replaced, give Richmond plumbers like CampbellCare Plumbing, Heating & Air a call. Keeping your pipes up to date and disinfected will keep the germs to a minimum.

 

 

Office Desk

According to a study done by the BBC in 2004, an office desk has nearly 400 times more bacteria than a toilet. It’s not surprising if you think about it—bathrooms are cleaned regularly. How many times do you thoroughly clean your home office or work station? Your keyboard, telephone, and desk are touched constantly, food and drinks are spilled, and germs are free to incubate. Bring sanitizing wipes to work with you and wipe down your station regularly. Wash your hands often, and try to keep your space organized and free of food.

 

 

Keeping yourself clean is the best way to keep your home sanitary; the more often you wash your hands, the fewer germs travel between your hands and the surfaces in your home. No one can keep all the germs at bay, of course, but it’s always possible to keep the germ count below 1,000 bacteria per square inch (the threshold at which it is safe to eat off of, according to Gerba). Clean, sanitize, and keep an eye on those surprising trouble spots!

 

 

Categories: breeding, Disease, healthy homes, places

Medical Discoveries That Have Helped Us Learn More About Our Health

It seems that new medical discoveries are being made every day. Breakthroughs with the potential to improve the accuracy of diagnosis, treat and cure diseases, help us make wise food choices, and allow us to live healthier and longer lives are all over the news. These exciting developments would not be possible without momentous discoveries made in previous centuries.

 

Electrocardiograms

The 1600s saw the discovery of electricity and the determination that electrical impulses feature in muscle contraction. In the late 1700s, two devices were invented: the galvanometer, which could detect but not measure electrical current, and the rheotome or flowslicer, which could. The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw the birth of electrocardiography as we know it today, thanks in large part to the efforts of researcher Augustus Waller, who coined the word “cardiograph.”

 

Vaccinations

Even before the advent of the germ theory of disease in the 19th century, an English doctor made a startling discovery. During an outbreak of smallpox in 1788, Edward Jenner noted that individuals who had been exposed to cowpox did not come down with the rampant disease. The physician developed a cowpox vaccination which provided immunity against smallpox. From these chance beginnings came the ability to control and even eradicate the most fearsome diseases.

 

Microscopes

Back in 1590, Zaccharias Janssen and his son Hans, Dutch eyeglass makers, discovered that a number of lenses in a tube made objects appear much larger. 75 years later, English physicist Robert Hooke noted what he called “pores” or “cells” in a piece of cork. Over the centuries, developments culminated in the electron microscope in 1931 and the scanning tunneling microscope, making 3D viewing possible, in 1981. Today, there are microscopes for everyone from researchers to high school students to young science aficionados and accessories like headrests and cameras. Different varieties of these important tools can be seen at www.microscope.com.

 

Vitamins and Nutrition

In the early 1900s, William Fletcher and Frederick Hopkins and co-researchers discovered that certain disorders were the result of nutritional deficiency and that food components were necessary for optimum health. After Hopkins and Polish scientist Cashmir Funk (who coined the term “vitamine” in 1912) developed the vitamin theory of disease, individual nutrients, with the exception of vitamin C, began to be identified. (Scottish naval surgeon James Lund in 1747 determined that a nutrient in citrus fruit warded off scurvy.) These discoveries became the basis for the science centered on the tremendous role nutrition plays in our overall health.

 

While medicine has come a long way over the centuries, we have the discoveries made by earlier generations to thank for the life-saving technologies and treatments available today.

Categories: centuries, discoveries, Disease, health, Medical, medical discoveries, microscope, nbsp

Could Your Own Stomach Re-Infect You With An STD?

Doctors have found that it may be harder to get rid of a sexual disease than was ever previously thought. Recent findings from scientists represent a serious blow to the wellness and wellbeing of anyone who has previously suffered from a sexually transmitted disease.

 

The scientists behind this discovery have revealed that your own stomach could re-infect you with a sexually transmitted disease: tests revealed that chlamydia can linger on in the stomach even after a course of antibiotics.

 

Although antibiotics can often eliminate the disease chlamydia from the genital region, it struggles to remove it from the gut. The disease then lingers on in the gut, albeit benignly, and has the ability to re-infect the body at a later date.

 

Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases throughout the world, and becoming reinfected is surprisingly common.

 

This means that if you are diagnosed with an STD, having had one previously which ‘cleared up’ it is not a clear-cut case where you can point an accusing finger at your partner. This new research means that people should think twice before pointing the finger of blame, particularly if they have had chlamydia in the past.

 

Researchers from the Arkansas Children’s Research Institute found that this reservoir in the gut of benign chlamydia is the most common source of reinfections. This is a breakthrough in the world of sexual health treatment, as, although reinfections are common, the source has previously been unknown.

 

Another source of reinfection could be continued intercourse with a partner who is carrying an active infection. This often occurs because chlamydia in men usually doesn’t have any symptoms.

 

This new study was carried out on mice, where it was shown that even those who had eradicated chlamydia from their genitals still carried the disease in their gut.

Categories: Chlamydia, common, Disease, gut, nbsp, previously, sexually transmitted, stomach, transmitted disease

Could Lyme Disease Be The Newest Recurring STD?

When you think about sexual wellness and wellbeing, we are betting that Lyme disease isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. Nevertheless, around 300,000 Americans are diagnosed with Lyme disease every year. This illness comes from ticks and can cause serious health problems including facial paralysis, arthritis and even a heart attack. The disease is even on the rise in the states, particularly in the North East, and last year a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that 10 times more Americans have suffered from the disease than was previously thought.

 

To add fuel to the fire, a team of international researchers has published an astounding study that looks into a very controversial theory, looking at whether or not Lyme disease could be sexually transmitted.

 

These findings could change the way in which Lyme disease is viewed and treated, both by doctors and patients. The lead author of the study, Marianne Middelveen, works as a microbiologist in Canada, and she says that the sexual transmission theory explains why the disease is far more common than we might expect.

 

The team also included two molecular biologists from the USA, and they tested vaginal and semen samples from three separate groups of subjects. First, there was a control group who did not have the disease. Next, there was a group of people who had all tested positive for the disease. The final group was a group of married couples (all heterosexual) who both had the disease and who were regularly having unprotected sex with one another). Both the semen and vaginal samples tested positive for the disease, indicating that it is possible to transmit the disease sexually. In addition to this, the researchers found that one married couple had an identical strain of the Lyme bacteria.

Categories: Disease, group, lyme, lyme disease, nbsp, Sex, tested, tested positive

Could a Test Determine Your Risk of Prostate Cancer?

While prostate cancer can be so slow to develop in some men that it never affects their wellbeing at all, for others the health concern can be a real killer. Up to now, there is no way to identify those whose wellness is at a high risk of dying from the disease, but scientists believe they have come one step closer. This breakthrough, which comes from the Institute of Cancer Research in London, means that we could soon have genetic tests that can identify high-risk men with prostate cancer – enabling them to be monitored throughout their lives – and other men who can avoid unnecessary treatment.

 

Award-winning wellness writer Sarah Boseley explains, ‘In some men, prostate cancer is so slow-growing that it will not cause them any harm in their lifetime – they will die with it, rather than of it. But in others, it is aggressive and a killer. Because side-effects of treatment can include impotence and incontinence, it has long been recognised that there is a need for tests to establish which men are in real danger and which are not.’ The researchers screened men from families with a history of prostate cancer, and, as a result have established that 14 mutations in known cancer genes can predict life-threatening disease. The investigators, who published their findings in the British Journal of Cancer, also found that men with these mutations were likely to have more aggressive disease.

 

Study co-leader Ros Eeles, professor of oncogenics at the Institute of Cancer Research and honorary consultant at the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, commented, ‘Our study shows the potential benefit of putting prostate cancer on a par with cancers such as breast cancer when it comes to genetic testing. Although ours was a small, first-stage study, we proved that testing for known cancer mutations can pick out men who are destined to have a more aggressive form of prostate cancer. We already have the technical capabilities to assess men for multiple mutations at once, so all that remains is for us to do further work to prove that picking up dangerous mutations early can save lives. If so, then in the future, genetic testing may be needed as part of the prostate cancer care pathway.’

 

As a result of these findings, doctors could screen men with prostate cancer in the family for their risk, much in the same way that doctors can now screen women for the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, which gives them a 50% chance of developing breast cancer. The 14 mutations which predict aggressive prostate cancer are in eight genes, which include BRCA1 and BRCA2. The others are ATM, CHEK2, BRIP1, MUTYH, PALB2 and PMS2. According to Dr Iain Frame, director of research at Prostate Cancer UK, ‘The minefield of prostate cancer diagnosis is one of the biggest hurdles facing treatment of the disease today. Current tests fail to differentiate between aggressive cancers that could go on to kill, and cancers that may never cause any harm.’

 

He continues, ‘This lack of clarity means that too often men and their doctors are left having to make incredibly difficult decisions on whether to treat the disease or not. We urgently need to understand more about which men are at risk of developing prostate cancer and in particular aggressive forms of the disease. Genetic testing to predict risk could revolutionise how we treat the 40,000 men diagnosed with the disease every year in the UK. These results are exciting as they add to the growing weight of evidence that men with a family history of prostate cancer who possess certain genes may be at higher risk, providing us with another crucial piece of the jigsaw.’

Categories: breast cancer, cancer, cancer research, Disease, genetic testing, high risk, prostate, prostate cancer, Research, risk, risk assessment

What Everyone Ought to Know About Catching Poliomyelitis

When it comes to health, you are likely to have never considered the effects of poliomyelitis (polio for short) as the disease has largely been eradicated in the western world. Unfortunately, the disease has proliferated in other countries, and a recent epidemic has been seen in India. This has meant that the disease has come to the attention of the World Health Organisation again.

The impact of the virus on children can be very serious, and so the WHO is now charged with the job of making sure that travellers stay as healthy as they possibly can.

Polio comes from a virus, and is very infectious indeed, usually passed from person to person through inhalation. Symptoms begin in a similar way to the flu virus, such as with vomiting, fever, headaches and extreme tiredness. In addition to these fluey type symptoms, many people with polio exhibit some kind of respiratory distress. Polio can leave the sufferer with all kinds of debilitating after effects, such as lower leg paralysis. It can even lead to death in around ten percent of all cases.

Polio generally affects children under the age of five, and can be a very dangerous and debilitating disease. For this reason, if you are planning to travel to a country such as India with your child, you must ensure that all of their vaccinations are up to date, in line with what is recommended by the immunisation programs in the United States and anything else that your GP recommends.

Polio is also more prevalent at certain times of the year, in particular times when the temperatures are volatile, such as in the summer or autumn. There is no cure available for polio, so taking the right preventative measures is extremely important, especially for the very young and those who have underlying health conditions.

 

Categories: Disease, health, India, polio, poliomyelitis, Virus

The 5 Most Common Causes of Lung Disease & How to Avoid Them

 

Lung disease, whatever form it takes, is an insidious condition. Diseases which affect the lungs take a long time to manifest, then take an equally long time to make a person very ill. With the exception of obvious causes like smoking, most people aren’t even aware they’re inhaling toxins into their lungs. The best way to protect yourself from lung disease is to be educated about the causes of lung disease and what you can do to avoid them:

 

1. Smoking

This is easy. The damage smoking causes to the lungs (among other organs) has been well-documented and discussed for ages. Fortunately for those who smoke, the damage can be almost completely undone after quitting. For smokers, ten years without tobacco usually reduces the risk of lung cancer to that of a non-smoker.

 

2. Black Mold and Other Airborne Pathogens

Black mold is a common household annoyance. If the infestation is light, a homeowner can remove the black mold themselves. If it’s heavy, a professional might need to be called in. In the worst cases, the house may become uninhabitable. This is what happened to many houses after Hurricane Sandy. Adam Robertson, a specialist from The Cleaner Image Dryer Vent Services, says that while most black mold and airborne pathogens can be removed with routine housecleaning, certain pathogens require special venting of the infested home’s vents.

 

3. Radon

Radon is a tasteless, odorless and colorless gas which is a byproduct of the breakdown of uranium. Radon can seep up from the ground into a crawlspace or basement and, from there, leak into the house. A homeowner who believes they have a radon problem should have the home tested. If the radon is above a certain level, it can be removed by a professional radon abatement service. But, if radon levels are fairly low, sometimes all it takes is giving the house a good airing out by opening doors and windows and turning on fans.

 

4. Asbestos

Exposure to asbestos can lead to a rare cancer of the lining of the lungs called mesothelioma. It can also lead to asbestosis, a slightly less serious lung disease. Asbestos was banned as a building material in the United States in the 1980s, but some older homes may still contain asbestos. It can be found in paint, insulation, roof shingles or flooring. It’s harmless as long as it’s undisturbed, but a homeowner who wants to do a renovation and suspects they may have asbestos in the home should call in an asbestos professional first.

 

5. The Flu

The flu, though often seen as only slightly worse than the common cold, has the potential to damage a person’s lungs permanently. Seniors, children, and those with compromised immune systems are most at risk of developing lung disease from the flu virus. Those in the at-risk groups should be sure to get a yearly flu shot to minimize their chances of catching the flu.

 

These five causes can wreak havoc on a person’s body, inflicting permanent damage and putting them at risk of lung disease. All of these causes, however, can be avoided or corrected through precautionary action and professional assistance.

Categories: airborne pathogens, asbestos, avoid, black mold, Causes, common, Disease, long time, lung, lung disease, nbsp, radon

How to Work Out Whether You Have Endometriosis

If you’re worried that your sexual wellness and wellbeing may be affected by endometriosis, it may be time to look further into the condition.

 

The condition cannot usually be diagnosed via a pelvic exam (unless there is a lesion or pelvic mass) but you should still start the process of diagnosis by visiting your GP and describing your symptoms. Your doctor will most likely refer you for a laparoscopy, which is a procedure whereby a small telescope is passed through the wall of the stomach (usually through the navel) to allow doctors to see if they can see endometrial tissue.

 

Laparoscopy cannot detect every case of endometriosis, however, as some women suffer from deep endometriosis, which means that the endometrial tissue is imbedded deep into the body. Many women have both types of lesions, so some extent of the disease can be seen during the procedure and yet there is more still hidden.

 

Women who have deep endometriosis usually have more pain that women who have a more superficial version of the disease.

 

The best starting place, in that case, may be a detailed medical history, listing all of your symptoms of the disease so that your health professional can ascertain what kind of level of endometriosis you may be suffering from and provide a correct diagnosis.

 

When the laparoscopy is carried out, the patient is generally put under general anaesthesia so that the laparoscope can be inserted through the abdominal wall. The surgeon can then manipulate the telescope to look for signs of adhesions or other abnormalities such as lesions, noting their size and location.

 

If lesions can be seen, it is very easy to diagnose the disease, but when the disease is not visible it can make diagnosis much more difficult. This means that some practitioners have to make a diagnosis based on clinical evaluation and the patient’s response to medication.

Categories: deep endometriosis, diagnosis, Disease, endometrial tissue, endometriosis, nbsp, Pain, Women

Could Your Office be Putting You at Risk of a Heart Attack?

Corporate environments are more stressful than ever before. The modern world is fast paced and cut throat, and that kind of ongoing stress can have a strong negative effect on your wellness and wellbeing.

 

A team of management researchers and professors in the medical field have now found an official correlation between getting stressed and burned out at work and coronary heart disease (CHD).

 

The researchers found that those who appeared I the top 20 percent of a so-called burnout scale had a whopping 79 percent increase in their risk of getting coronary disease. The results of the study were published in Psychosomatic Medicine and were described as ‘alarming’ as they suggest that burning out at work through stress can be a strong predictor of coronary heart disease – and shockingly, an even bigger predictor than any other conventional risk factor such as smoking, low physical activity or the blood lipid (fat levels) of an individual.

 

Burnout has already been associated with other risks to the heart, such as high cholesterol or fat in the human bloodstream. That is why the researchers set about testing the idea that stress could have an associated impact on coronary heart disease, and they used a group of 8,838 hardworking and apparently healthy men and women aged between 19 and 67. The individuals were given routine examinations at regular intervals for around three and a half years. Each participants was assessed for levels of burnout, and were also checked for signs of coronary heart disease. Factors such as gender, family history of the disease, smoking and age were assessed and controlled so that they did not sway the overall results. The results showed quite conclusively that there is a very strong link between stress in the workplace, burnout and associated levels of coronary heart disease.

Categories: burnout, coronary, coronary heart, Disease, heart, heart disease, Stress

Could You Be Suffering With Wilson’s Disease?

A lesser known disease, Wilson’s disease is an inherited condition that is caused by too much copper accumulating in your liver, brain and other vital organs. The medical term for Wilson’s disease is hepatolenticular degeneration. Copper is a surprising nutrient in the body, required for the healthy development of bones, nerves, collagen and the skin pigment melanin. Copper is usually absorbed by the food we eat, and the excess is excreted through bile which is produced by the liver. However, in people with Wilson’s disease, this excess copper isn’t removed from the body properly and builds up to potentially life threatening levels. If it is diagnosed early enough, this can be a treatable condition and those with it can lead normal, healthy lives. There are a number of symptoms attributed to Wilson’s disease, many of which can also be mistaken for other conditions, so it’s important that you seek medical advice if you’re concerned. Some of the symptoms include difficulty swallowing, depression, difficulties with walking, clumsiness, easy bruising, nausea, skin rashes, joint pain, yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice) and fatigue. If you’re worried about any of your symptoms you should speak to your GP – this is particularly the case if a member of your family has been diagnosed with Wilson’s disease, as you may be more likely to have it.

 

The genetic mutation that leads to Wilson’s disease is usually passed on through generations, meaning that you are more likely to develop it if it is in your family’s history. Wilson’s disease is an inherited as an autosomal recessive trait, which means that you need to inherit two copies of the defective gene in order to develop the disease. Usually, if you have one abnormal gene, you won’t become ill but you will be a carrier of the disease, which you may then pass on to your children. The mutation that leads to Wilson’s disease results in problems with the protein that’s responsible for moving excess copper from your liver. The food in your diet acts as a source of copper for this process, which is then transported to the liver for everyday bodily processes.

There could be complications for your health caused by this condition, including scarring of the liver as they try to repair the damage caused by the excess copper. You may be at risk of liver failure as well, which may occur suddenly or develop over a number of years. If the failure progresses, you might require a transplant or a treatment to resolve the issue. Wilson’s disease has been known to increase the risk of liver cancer, due to the damage caused by the excess copper build-up. You could be at risk of persistent neurological problems if you don’t seek treatment for Wilson’s disease, though these improve with treatment.However, some people do continue to suffer with neurological problems despite having treatment for it. Kidney problems are also common with Wilson’s disease, as you could be at an increased risk of kidney stones and an abnormal number of amino acids excreted in the urine. If you’re displaying any of the symptoms previously listed, you should speak to your GP about your concerns. If they believe that you may have a problem with your liver, you might be referred to a liver specialist for further examination and treatment. It may be useful to make a note of your symptoms and when you experience them, in case it helps with your diagnosis.

Categories: copper, Disease, excess copper, Liver, neurological problems, treatment, wilson, wilson's disease

The Secrets to Protecting Your Family Dog from Cancer

A dog is as much a part of the family as anyone else, and keeping his or her wellness as a top priority is vital if you want to enjoy a long and happy relationship with your pet.

 

One of the biggest threats to your dog’s wellbeing is cancer. Just as in humans, there are some important lifestyle decisions that you should make when it comes to your dog to help prevent your canine friend from succumbing to the deadly disease.

 

Not only is cancer just as serious in dogs as it is in humans, it can also become very expensive, with vets bills and medication costs stacking up. It can also be very upsetting to watch your dog’s health deteriorate. Although it is curable in some cases, it is far better to make sure that your dog doesn’t get cancer in the first place.

 

One of the things you should be mindful of is avoiding unnecessary vaccinations. If your vet suggests that you need to get your dog vaccinated against some kind of illness, do a little research of your own and work out whether the disease is the biggest risk or whether the possible damage caused by the vaccine is more of a consideration. A recent study has shown that some of the additives used in vaccines can cause problems with your dog’s autoimmunity, and this can lead to organ failure and cancer.  Certainly, if your dog has been diagnosed with cancer it would be extremely wise to avoid vaccinations where possible, as the immune system is often suppressed by cancer (and by the drugs that treat cancer) and this can lead to vaccinations making your pet very ill.

 

Getting your dog spayed or neutered is always a very important part of their care, but it is also worth remembering that removing the sites where some cancer lurks can be a preventative measure. One of the benefits of spaying or neutering is that it can decrease your dog’s chance of cancer, especially if you do it at the right time (i.e. not too early and not too late).

Categories: cancer, Disease, dog, lead, nbsp, pet, Vaccinations

The Secret Life of Fibromyalgia: What Causes This Disease?

If the truth must be told, right now no one really knows what causes fibromyalgia. Some medical experts believe that it’s a type of autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks its own cells. Other people theorize that microscopic tears in the muscles are what cause the pain and stiffness of the disease. These tears are caused by even the mildest sort of exercise, or even everyday activities and don’t affect other people. Other professionals believe that fibromyalgia may have a genetic component, which means it may be at least partially inherited. And some people develop symptoms after a trauma or after an illness.

 

Who Gets It?

Most of the sufferers of this mysterious disease are women of middle age. They not only suffer from pain in the “tender points” of their bodies but also suffer from insomnia, headaches, dysmenorrhea, numbness, and tingling in their extremities, cloudy thinking, mood problems, memory problems, and stiffness in the mornings. But even these symptoms can flare up and then become quiet for months. These women often find themselves going from one doctor’s office or clinic to another to find a remedy for fibromyalgia. The disease as yet has no cure, but it can be managed.

 

Women who do have autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, are more at risk for getting fibromyalgia. They also seem to be more at risk if they suffer from depression, anxiety, and irritable bowel syndrome.

 

How Is It Diagnosed?

There’s no definitive test for fibromyalgia, but it can often be inferred by the tender points that cause the patient pain if pressure is put on them. These are places that start on the neck, and migrate down to the legs. They’re found on both sides of the patient’s body. One good thing about fibromyalgia is that it doesn’t lead to complications, or other life-threatening diseases. It is simply painful, and frustrating to endure.

 

How Is It Treated?

The nature of fibromyalgia can make it difficult to treat, though medical supplements can be given to the patient to ease the discomfort and the stiffness. Some doctors prescribe NSAIDs like ibuprofen or other pain relievers such as acetaminophen or Ultram. Antidepressants can also help to elevate the patient’s mood, and at least help her to get a good night’s sleep. Some doctors have found that prescribing drugs for epilepsy sometimes help. Vitamin C, which helps the body produce collagen, as well as Vitamin A and the B complex vitamins also help.

 

Though the causes of this disease remain elusive, it’s hoped that ongoing research will one day find both the cause and the cure.

Categories: Causes, Disease, fibromyalgia

Could You Beat Your Bipolar Disorder by Changing Your Diet?

Bipolar disease is a common health problem affecting the mental/emotional wellness of both men and women of all ages. Their wellbeing is affected by extreme mood swings, and the condition is also known as manic depression.

 

The first stage of the disease is called ‘mania’, where the patients feel really happy and confident and think that they can do absolutely anything. They may talk very rapidly. Then the next stage – depression – comes over them, and they feel symptoms such as low energy, anger, irritation and that nothing in their life has any meaning. Many depressives talk or think about ending their life. Bipolar patients swing between these two extremes regularly, and there is no cure. There are certain medications that can help to keep the disease under control.

 

One of the biggest problems with bipolar disease is that it is not easy to identify. As it often appears in teenagers, people mistake it for normal mood swings. The difference between normal mood swings and bipolar disorder is that mood swings tend to last for a day or two at most, whereas in bipolar disorder they often continue for a week. The disease is thought to be caused by genetics, hormone problems or even environmental trauma, such as the loss of a loved one.

 

People with bipolar disorder can live a fairly normal lifestyle in spite of their disease, as long as they take regular medication. There is also a strong link between food and mood. Bipolar patients often eat too little and are starved of nutrients. They should aim to boost their intake of healthy food, and at the same time they should decrease their intake of caffeine. They should also avoid fatty red meat and instead go for lean meat, salmon and tuna. They should steer clear of additional sugars and go for naturally sweet food instead.

Categories: bipolar, bipolar disease, bipolar disorder, bipolar patients, Disease, Disorder, health, mood, Mood Swings, normal mood

Six Common Diseases You Might Not Know About

There are many different disease that people have to live with, some of which are quite common and well known, while others are little known and sometimes not well understood. These six diseases commonly occur in human populations around the world though many people may not have heard of them.

 

Marfan Syndrome

Marfan Syndrome is a disease that affects the connective tissue of the body that helps to support organs and skeleton. Those who have this disease are usually tall and slender, with very long arms, legs, fingers and toes. The disease can worsen as the person ages, with increased heart problems, eye problems and skeletal problems. No cure exists for this disease, but it is treated with blood pressure medications, eye implants to assist vision and surgery to correct heart problems.

 

Lymphedema

Lymphedema is a condition of the lymphatic system of the human body. It causes swelling of an arm or leg and is often associated with cancer treatment. It occurs when a lymph gland becomes blocked and cannot drain lymph fluid from the body. Treatment is done by massaging the area, wrapping the area, exercising the body part to help drain fluid and compressing the area with special bandages. Surgery is sometimes needed to relieve swelling and pressure.

 

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a condition that affects the muscles and connective tissue of the body, causing pain, tender points, fatigue and sleep problems that are characteristic of the disease. Current treatments include medications such as Cymbalta and Lyrica, antidepressants and pain relievers.

 

Polymyalgia

Polymyalgia, also called polymyalgia rheumatica, is a disorder that causes inflammation and stiffness in the muscles. The person may experience both pain and stiffness in arms, legs, shoulders, neck or hips. Polymyalgia can also cause weight loss, lethargy and depression. Information about polymyalgia is not widely available, which can make it difficult to diagnose. Corticosteroid medication, methotrexate, and anti tumor necrosis factor drugs can be helpful for this condition.

 

Raynaud’s Disease

Raynaud’s disease is a rare condition that affects the blood vessels of the fingers, toes, tips of the ears and tip of the nose. It can cause extreme coldness and numbness in these areas or even stinging pain from lack of proper circulation. Calcium channel blockers, alpha blockers and vasodilators can help relax blood vessels to assist blood circulation.

 

Cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy is a disease that weakens the heart. It is a serious condition that can cause death. Treatment attempts to manage symptoms to prevent further damage to the heart muscle. Medications and surgery to install a pacemaker can be helpful for these patients.

 

Although these diseases are not well known, many people live with them everyday, some people don’t even know they have it. If you have pain, or a medical issue that is bothering you, the best thing you can do is see a doctor and get an examination. The key to minimizing pain and avoiding future complications is knowledge. When you know if you are affected by a disease, you can treat it properly.

Categories: arms legs, blood vessels, body, common, connective tissue, Disease, diseases, Heart Problems, marfan syndrome, nbsp, Pain, syndrome

Could Rheumatoid Arthritis Give You Deep Vein Thrombosis?

New research has found that rheumatoid arthritis greatly increases your risk of having both a pulmonary embolism and a deep vein thrombosis. This adds to an already extensive list of health concerns associated with rheumatoid arthritis, and has serious implications for the wellness and wellbeing of suffers of the debilitating disease. Arthritis causes swelling and inflammation of the joints, and it is only now that the associated health concerns of this disease are truly coming to light.

 

In the most recent study, the researchers found that just having the disease put the sufferer at much greater risk of developing a more serious condition such as DVT or PE, which is when the blood causes clots in the veins in the legs or in the lungs, respectively. For the purposes of the study, researchers in Taiwan looked at data taken from over 30,000 patients whose details were in Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database, which was gathered between 1998 and 2008. Those who were suffering from rheumatoid arthritis were directly compared to people who were healthy and of roughly the same age and gender.

 

Looking at the data, it became evident that those who had RA were over three times as likely to develop DVT as the people who were completely healthy. They also had almost twice the risk of developing PE as the general healthy population. As part of the research, the team also discovered that patients with RA had an increased chance of developing other diseases too, such as hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, diabetes, heart failure and fractures of the lower leg. The disease appears to attack the body in more ways than just the obvious inflammation of the joints.

Categories: Arthritis, clots, deep vein, Deep Vein Thrombosis, developing, Disease, health concerns, Rheumatoid, Rheumatoid Arthritis, risk, vein thrombosis