The Sweet Smell of a Perfume Allergy

Ah….the sweet, smell of perfume! Today’s market is flooded with hundreds and hundreds of different fragrances ranging from floral to woodsy. Most women love the smell of perfume, wearing it even when going to the grocery store. The problem is that perfume allergy for some women, is anything but nice.

Keep in mind that a perfume allergy is not limited to the woman who wears it. For some people, men and women, just being around someone wearing perfume can have a devastating effect. Even regular household cleansers, air fresheners, fabric softener, scented candles, potpourri, hair spray, and shampoo can produce the same reaction. Although the smell of perfume might trigger a headache or rash, the more severe problem is a full-blown asthma attack.

Having a perfume allergy is not something new. Unfortunately, many people are affected by the smell of perfume, especially when in a confined space. For instance, individuals working in an office environment might not have a choice but to be around someone wearing perfume. In this case, the only real solution is to request those individuals to stop wearing perfume to work (some may) or to ask if your desk can be seated in a different area. The problem is that not all companies are accommodating, meaning a new job must be found.

The good news is that because a perfume allergy can produce such a serious reaction as asthma or an anaphylactic shock, you will find a number of products now on the market that are fragrance free. Many of these items are found in organic stores although traditional grocery stores are now trying to cater to all customers. Because you cannot control who does and does not wear perfume, you have to take steps to protect yourself if you have a perfume allergy. This might include letting a job interview know, wearing a mask, or perhaps taking medication.

If you notice that you have symptoms of itchy eyes, runny nose, wheezing, or coughing when wearing perfume or being around other people that do then chances are you are having a reaction. Interestingly, many people have a perfume allergy but blame it on other things, never even considering that fragrance could be the problem. Sometimes, even doctors miss a perfume allergy simply because they are more accustomed to treating seasonal allergies, pet allergies, and other forms of allergy.

In addition, remember that while you might be allergic to some perfumes, it is possible that not all fragrances will create a reaction. The reason is that performs are made up of varying chemicals so while one chemical may trigger a reaction, other chemicals might not. Therefore, it is important that you pay attention to your surroundings, taking note if you can pinpoint these symptoms specific to fragrance.

by Grant Segall

Vitiligo Disorder White Patches & Theories

White patches on the skin, premature graying of the scalp, eyelashes, eyebrows, and beard, and sometimes a loss of color inside the mouth—these are some of the distinct signs of vitiligo. Some people might mistake it as a disease brought about by too much sun exposure. While signs of this disease commonly appear in the sun-exposed areas of the body, the cause of vitiligo is generally unknown. Doctors and researchers have formulated several theories....

One would be that people develop antibodies (produced by the immune system, these are protective proteins which fight infectious agents including bacteria and viruses) which destroy melanocytes (special skin cells that produce melanin) in their own bodies; two, that melanocytes destroy themselves; and three, that a particular event, such as sunburn or emotional distress, triggers these distress—all of which have no scientific backing yet. Another theory says that is hereditary, making children whose parents are affected, prone to the disorder.

This disorder affects 40 to 50 million of the world’s population, excluding no race or sex type. Majority of the people affected by vitiligo usually develop it before turning 40. Given the shady causes of vitiligo, doctors make it a point to find out about important factors in an affected person’s medical history—family history, a rash or a skin trauma two to three months before depigmentation began, stress, physical illness, and / or premature graying of the scalp. While a scientific breakthrough is yet to be done determining the cause of vitiligo, several preventive measures have been developed over the years.

by Jason Herbert - Vitiligo Support

Walking for Weight Loss and Fitness - Pedometer Basics

A pedometer is a neat little gadget that will help you track how much walking you have done in a day. It can be a helpful tool in getting into and sticking with an exercise schedule. Let’s take a look at how you can use a pedometer to get into shape.

Why should I walk? Walking is one of the easiest forms of exercise to get into. You don’t need any special equipment, just a pair of comfortable shoes. There are no new techniques to learn, since you already know how to walk. Walking is a very low impact activity, that doesn’t put much stress on your joints. You can start out at any pace that is comfortable to you and walk for as long as you’d like. Over time you will gradually increase the intensity of your walking workout by walking for longer periods of time, increasing the speed as well as the incline you walk at.

What should I keep in mind when purchasing a pedometer? You can spend anywhere from $10 - $100 and more for a pedometer. A basic model will work just fine, as long as it tracks your steps accurately. Basic models may only give you the number of steps you walked, while more advanced models will also calculate the distance walked, calories burnt and usually also keep track of several days worth of walking. Some even come with some tracking software you can use on your computer. It will be up to you to decide how many bells and whistles you would like on your pedometer.

How do I wear the pedometer properly? There are two ways to wear a pedometer that have been working well for me and have given me very accurate results. The first is to wear the pedometer on your belt or directly on your waistband right over your front pocket. The pedometer should be in line with your foot. The second option is to clip the pedometer to the top of your shoe. On the side, right below my ankle is the most comfortable position for me. Some people also get good results by carrying the pedometer in their back pocket or clipping it to their waistband on their side. Try something that seems comfortable to you and walk 100 steps. If your count and the pedometers count are within 5 steps of each other, you’re in good shape.

How do I get started? Establish a base figure of how many steps a day you take right now on average. To do this, wear your pedometer each day for a week and record your daily steps. Calculate your daily average by adding up all the steps you walked for the week and dividing the number by 7. Now that you have a base figure to start with, let’s see how you can increase the steps you take each day.

How should I increase my steps? Increase the amount of steps you take by adding 1000 – 2000 extra steps per week until you reach 10,000 steps if you are trying to stay fit and healthy or 12,000 if you are trying to loose weight. 2000 extra steps may seem like a lot at first glance, but you can spread them out over the course of the day. Park a little further away while running errands or when you go to work. Take a quick stroll during your lunch break or walk around the block with your spouse in the evening. Chase your kids around the yard. Once you get started, you will find all sorts of creative ways to get a few more steps in here and there.

Now what? Once you have worked your way up to your target steps, stick with it. Of course there will be days when you can’t walk 10,000 steps, but do your best to average 10,000 a day during the week. If you didn’t walk much during the week, go for a hike on the weekend. Pretty soon walking will become a habit for you and you will miss your daily walk when you can’t work it in.

by Susanne Myers - Walking for Weight Loss

Herpes and Pregnancy

Herpes, both oral and genital, are highly communicable diseases caused by the two strains of the Herpes Simplex Virus: HSV-1 and HSV-2. Genital herpes is transmitted sexually and is rarely transmitted from a pregnant mother to her unborn child, but could prove fatal for the unborn infant if it is transmitted.

It is possible, though unlikely that someone can transmit the virus through the placenta during pregnancy. If this happens, chances of the baby being born with a defect or a miscarriage increase.

The transmission also depends upon the stage of pregnancy in which the primary episode of herpes sets in. If the women had primary genital herpes during the first trimester, then there are less chances of the baby being infected. This is because it usually takes the body three to four weeks to buildup antibodies against the virus.

So if herpes happens at the onset of pregnancy, the body gets enough time to build up the immune system. As a result, these antibodies are also passed onto the baby. Generally, mothers can have a normal vaginal delivery.

But this is not so if the woman gets the infection in the second or third trimester of pregnancy. If the blood tests confirm that the women has never had herpes before the experts will recommend a caesarian delivery. This is because at these stages, the body does not get enough time to build up the immune system and the chances of transmission are extremely high.

It is easier to prevent herpes than it is to cure it. The highest risk to an infant comes from an infected mother who contracts HSV-1 or 2 during pregnancy and the best way to avoid this is by preventing this situation. Since Genital Herpes is a sexually transmitted disease, steps should be taken to ensure that you don’t transmit herpes during this crucial time.

by Kent Pinkerton
Herpes provides detailed information about herpes, herpes symptoms and more. Herpes is affiliated with Impotence Treatments.

You may also want to read Oral Herpes.

Oral Herpes

Herpes, both oral and genital, is caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus. While oral Herpes is caused by HSV-1, genital Herpes is a sexually transmitted disease caused by the HSV-2 virus.

The common symptoms for both oral and genital herpes include the appearance of sores on the body. These sores appear on different parts of the body. In case of genital herpes, they appear on the genital area. In oral herpes, they appear on or in the mouth.

Most people infected with oral herpes are not even aware of the fact that they have the disease. This is because people usually don’t associate these blisters or soars with herpes. These soars usually last for a few weeks and then gradually dry out.

Oral herpes is an infectious disease that can spread by touching, kissing, or sexual contact. It is prominent amongst children because they pass on the disease to the non-infected children also.

Herpes can also be passed from adults to children through a simple good night kiss. Oral herpes is usually not frightening and can be controlled by treatment and preventive measures, but for a person with an impaired nervous system, it can prove to be fatal.

People can take some precautions to prevent further spread of herpes. Frequent and washing and avoiding touching infected areas are two good ideas. Also, remember that you need to take precautions with infants because their nervous systems may not be able to cope with the pressure of the disease. Adults with babies should avoid cuddling or touching them till the symptoms subside.

Oral herpes can be painful if people don’t take the necessary preventive measures. One measure is to take anti-viral tablets. Generally, herpes recurrence will not happen if you take medication. The other thing is people should try to remain stress free because higher stress levels prolong the disease.

by Kent Pinkerton
Herpes provides detailed information about herpes, herpes symptoms and more. Herpes is affiliated with Impotence Treatments.

Breast Cancer Treatment Reduced From Six Weeks To Five Days

A new therapy to treat breast cancer reduces the radiation time from six weeks to five days. This is very useful for the patients as it is less convenient. Doctors can point the radiation source at the tumor killing the cancer cells.

The study compares the usefulness of the new therapy over the conventional six-week treatment. They are also in the process of analyzing the suitable subjects for this therapy.

But the Canadians are working on a new therapy for breast cancer, which reduces the treatment time to just 24 hours.

This can be possible by implanting radiation seeds permanently in the patient’s breast thereby facilitating the destruction of cancer cells. This method helps the patient o continue with their normal routine.

This new method of treatment of breast cancer is called partial-breast radiation therapy.

But experts have their reservations and tell the patients who opt or the new therapy to enroll them in the study wherein they are testing the feasibility of the new approach.

But Dr. Norman Coleman working at the national cancer institute questions the researchers the effectiveness of the new therapy as this can work well in few patients and only very few patients are followed to ensure that this is therapy works better than the conventional one.

Read more...

Fizzy drinks 'boost memory'

Fizzy drinks, the scourge of healthy diet campaigners, can improve your memory, according to experts today.

Consuming the equivalent of two cans of soft drink can boost memory retention by a fifth and combat dementia in older people, found neuroscientists from Glasgow Caledonian University.

Psychology lecturer Dr Leigh Riby, who led the research, said people studying for exams could benefit from increasing the amount of sugar in their diet.

He focused on an area of the brain known as the hippocampus, which creates new memories but declines with the onset of dementia.

Dr Riby used a series of memory tests and brain- imaging techniques to assess how volunteers responded after guzzling sugary drinks.

He found the hippocampus lit up with activity after participants had a sweetened drink and they were able to recall 17 per cent more than without a drink.

But you should be aware that prolonged over-use of sugar will cause harm for many different reasons.

News source

Drug firms eye fat profits from new obesity pills

A marijuana joint might seem an odd starting point in the search for weight-loss secrets.

Yet a compound switching off the same brain circuits that make people hungry when they smoke cannabis looks set to become the world's first blockbuster anti-obesity medicine, with sales tipped by analysts to top $3 billion a year.

Sanofi-Aventis SA's Acomplia, or rimonabant, which could be approved by U.S. regulators as early as next month, is the first of a new wave of treatments that may spell fat profits for some pharmaceutical companies.

Another two experimental drugs from Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc and Alizyme Plc, with different mechanisms of action, have also produced promising clinical results in recent weeks, prompting some investors to start laying big bets on weight-loss medicine.

It is a risky area, however.

Slimming pills have had a checkered history, due to modest effectiveness and adverse side effects -- most notoriously with the diet drug combination "fen-phen," which was linked to heart-valve problems and has cost Wyeth more than $21 billion in provisions related to patient claims.

But past upsets have not deterred drug manufacturers from investing heavily in a new generation of possible winners.

Read more...

Exercise May Reduce Risk of Alzheimer's Disease

Raymond was one of 1,700 volunteers in a study that showed exercise also may be good for mental conditioning as well.

In a study published in the latest issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine, volunteers 65 years and older were given a battery of memory tests and questioned about their weekly exercise habits.

After six years, researchers detected a remarkable pattern. Seniors who were physically active at least three time a week were 38 percent less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease, which causes a slow, irreversible decline in brain function.

"It says the decline the brain experiences late in life is not inevitable. It can be affected by things like habitual exercise," said lead study author Dr. Eric Larson of the Group Health Coopertive in Seattle.

In the study, "exercise" was anything from simple aerobics to walking or hiking to 15 minutes of stretching.

Researchers emphasize that this study is not proof that exercise reduces the risk of Alzheimer's disease, but they say the results are consistent with several previous studies.

The theory is that exercise not only increases blood flow and oxygen to the brain — it may also reduce the telltale "plaque" in the brain associated with Alzheimer's disease.

Source

Xinhua also has a report on benefit of exercise to reduce dementia risk: Regular exercise helps delay dementia

Haldi and Gobhi can keep prostate cancer at bay

Adding haldi to your vegetables while cooking is not only good for enhancing its taste, but also very effective at the prevention and treatment of prostate cancer, say researchers.

The scientists tested turmeric, also known as curcumin, along with phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), a naturally occurring substance particularly abundant in a group of vegetables that includes watercress, cabbage, winter cress, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale, cauliflower, kohlrabi and turnips.

The team from the Rutgers' Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy noted that in contrast to the high incidence of prostate cancer in the United States, the incidence of the disease was very low in India, which has been attributed to the dietary consumption of large amounts of plant-based foods rich in phytochemicals, i.e. nonnutritive plant chemicals that have protective or disease-preventive properties.

For the purposes of their study, researchers used mice bred so that their immune systems would not reject foreign biological material, and injected the mice with cells from human prostate cancer cell lines to grow tumors against which the compounds could be tested.

Source

FDA warns 2 Brazilian diet pills contain amphetamines

The Food and Drug Administration warned consumers Friday not to use two brands of popular Brazilian diet pills imported and distributed by Miami firms because they "could lead to serious side effects or injury."

The agency said dieters should avoid Emagrece Sim and Herbathin, expensive over-the-counter pills that "contain several active ingredients, including controlled substances, found in prescription drugs," the FDA said in a press release.

As The Herald had previously reported, the FDA confirmed on Friday the pills contain a type of amphetamine as well as tranquilizers (the generic for Librium) and antidepressants (generic Prozac).

All three drug types require a prescription in the United States, and amphetamines are classified as a controlled substance because they have addictive qualities.

"Wow, I got goose bumps," said Thomas Moore, a Baptist Health human resources staffer when he heard the news. The Miami Herald reported three months ago about problems with the pills after Moore said three women failed pre-employment hospital drug tests after taking the nonprescription Brazilian pills. "It's really appropriate the FDA acted."

The FDA said the two brands of pills are made in Brazil by Fitoterapicos and Phytotherm Sim, which may be two names for the same company.

Source

Smoking In Pregnancy May Cause Finger, Toe Defects

If pregnant smokers need another reason to quit, a new study may have found it. The habit, researchers say, may raise the risk of having a baby with extra, missing or webbed fingers and toes.

Using information from a national database on U.S. births, researchers found that babies born to women who smoked during pregnancy were 31 percent more likely to have such birth anomalies as babies of non-smokers. And the more a woman smoked, the greater the risk.

Li-Xing Man and Dr. Benjamin Chang of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia conducted the study, which is the largest one to date on smoking and birth defects of the fingers and toes. They report the findings in the medical journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

It's estimated that about 1 in 600 infants are born with an extra finger or toe -- an anomaly known as polydactyly. Webbed fingers or toes, called syndactyly, are less common, occurring in one in every 2,000 to 2,500 births. Adactyly refers to the absence of fingers or toes.

While it's well known that prenatal smoking can have serious consequences such as miscarriage, premature delivery and low birth weight, studies have yielded conflicting results on whether smoking can cause birth defects of the fingers and toes.

Source

You may also want to read:

• Vitamin D 'Makes Stronger Babies'
  
• Childhood Weight Problems Linked to Obesity Before Pregnancy
  
• Pregnant Smokers Failing to Quit
  
• Vitamins 'Cuts Smoke Harm to Baby'

Caloric restriction keeps heart young

Eating a nutritionally balanced diet with the amount of calories reduced by 30 percent can significantly slow the aging process in the heart, according to a new study scheduled to appear in the Jan. 17 issue of the American College of Cardiology.

The study showed the hearts of those whose caloric intake was restricted functioned like the hearts of much younger people.

Dr. Luigi Fontana, of Washington University in St. Louis, and colleagues, examined 25 people who were voluntarily using a diet with 1,400 to 2,000 calories per day for an average of six years. The study compared their heart function with age- and gender-matched individuals who ate a typical Western diet with 2,000 to 3,000 calories per day.

Ultrasound scans showed the hearts of those on a calorie-restricted diet seemed more elastic compared with the control and they were able to relax between beats, which is commonly found in younger people. Also, those on the calorie-restricted diet had one-third of the body fat found in those who ate the Western diet.

Cardiac function is on the decline as people age. As people get older, the heart pumps less blood in the diastolic phase. This prompts the atrium to work harder to pump a sufficient amount of blood into the ventricle in a second phase.

"This decline in diastolic function is a marker of primary aging," Fontana said.

Continue reading: Caloric restriction keeps heart young.

Dental Implants are the Closest Replacement to a Natural Tooth

Dental implants provide you with a way to replace any missing teeth that you may have. If you are one of the many people who feel ashamed of their smile because of gaps or missing teeth, then dental implants can provide you with a tooth replacement that looks and feels like a natural tooth.

Cosmetic dentists like Dr. O’Neil in Miami, Florida, use dental implants to replace missing teeth, support bridges, support dentures, and eliminate the need for removable partial dentures. If you have good overall dental health and bone structure, dental implants are an excellent option for replacing one or several teeth.

A dental implant is the artificial root of a tooth that a replacement tooth or bridge is attached to. A dental implant provides the secure, durable feeling that your natural teeth have and allows you to bite and chew like normal.

Bridges require crowns to placed on either side of the gap so that the replacement tooth can be anchored. A dental implant is attached only to the replacement tooth that is holds. This means that there is no need to have any natural tooth structure removed to fit a crown; the dental implant is secure without any support.

Partial dentures are tooth replacements that can be removed. These do not offer the security that a dental implant provides. A dental implant is a permanent replacement that looks and feels like your natural teeth, so there is no extra maintenance or change in biting habits that is normally associated with partial dentures.

Finally, dental implants can provide a secure way to attach your full dentures to your gums. With other dentures, adhesives are used to keep the dentures attached to your gums. With dental implant supports, dentures are held securely against the gums, allowing you to retain as much biting and chewing ability as possible.

“Dental implants provide you with the closest replacement to natural teeth, preserve the bone in the jaw, and remove the need for having natural tooth structure removed. If you need to have a tooth replaced, dental implants are the best option for you,” says Dr. O’Neil.

Please click here for more information about dental implants and cosmetic dentistry in Miami, Florida.

Are You Salt Sensitive?

The human body needs salt in order to function. How much salt is enough? The American Heart Association recommends 2,3000 milligrams of salt a day for healthy adults. That's ONE TEASPOON of salt. People who are extremely salt sensitive should eat less.

Many Americans are eating way too much salt and putting their health at risk. If you're overweight, have cardiovascular disease, or high blood pressure you should cut back on salt. A 2001 Indiana University School of Medicine study, "Salt Sensitivity, Pulse Pressure, and Death in Normal and Hypertensive Humans," details the health risks associated with salt sensitivity.

The results of the 25-year study were announced in a February 2001 NIH News Release. In the release Dr. Myron Weinberger, Director of Indiana University's Hypertension Research Center, is quoted as saying, "Salt sensitivity increases the risk of death, whether or not a person has high blood pressure."

Weinberger thinks this finding has implication for all Americans. Older Americans, African Americans, and those who come from salt sensitive families are more apt to become salt sensitive. Salt sensitive people are more apt to develop high blood pressure as they age, according to Weinberger, and he describes America as a "salt abundant" environment.

How do you live in this environment?

The U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services says you check every food label for sodium. Remember, this number is for one serving. Make sure you check the serving size because this is where food processors may cheat. Let's use canned sauerkraut as an example.

The sauerkraut contains 175 milligrams of salt per serving. When you look at the serving size, however, it's a mere two tablespoons. If you eat two servings of saurkraut (about half a cup) you're eating 700 milligrams of salt. Add a salty hot dog, a salty bun, and salty condiments and you've probably eaten a teaspoon of salt.

The NIH also wants you to look at the Percent Daily Value number. This number tells you if the product is high or low in salt. You should choose food products with the lowest percentage and salt free products. Be on the lookout for foods that contain surprise salt - soda pop, seasoned pepper, lemon pepper, and others.

Since there's no test for salt sensitivity you'll have to devise your own. Start by watching for symptoms: swollen hands, knees, and feet, bulging leg and ankle veins, droopy eyelids, "chipmunk cheeks" (puffy, swollen cheeks), shortness of breath, and weight gain. Some salt sensitive people also get headaches.

Keep a salt diary for two weeks. Record every meal and snack in your diary and their salt contents. Compare your salt intake with medical symptoms. Report any symptoms of salt sensitivity to your physician. Your physician will be able to determine if you have high blood pressure. If your blood pressure is going up or you have high blood pressure your physician may prescribe a diuretic.

The best thing you can do for yourself is to take the salt shaker off the table and eat a low salt diet. The American Heart Association has posted tips for reducing sodium on its Website. Here are the tips and comments about them.

• Cook without salt. This is really hard if you're making soup, but you may balance the lack of salt with flavorful ingredients, such as mushrooms.
  
• Substitute spices and herbs for salt. Fresh herbs are best, though dry herbs will work. Citrus juice and zest also add flavor to foods.
  
• Buy low fat milk, cheese and yogurt. Cheese contains lots of salt, so use small amounts in your recipes. You want just enough to taste the cheese, not be overpowered by it.
  
• Choose unsalted nuts and seeds for snacks. Better yet, keep carrot sticks, celery sticks, jicima sticks, and cut up fruit on hand for snacking.
  
• Avoid salty seasonings: bullion, soy sauce, steak sauce, Worstershire sauce, meat tenderizers, and MSG. You'll find salt free soup stock on store shelves, but check the fat content before you buy these products.
  

You may also limit restaurant meals, which are usually high in salt. Many of these meals are made with processed foods. An article on Mayo Clinic's Website, "Processed Foods: Why So Salty?" tells why these foods are salty. Food processors use salt to enhance flavor, increase sweetness (like sprinkling salt on melon), decrease the dryness in foods, and mask metallic and chemical aftertastes.

It's okay to eat out occasionally, but don't make it a habit. Being salt sensitive doesn't mean you eat alfalfa the rest of your life. On the contrary, you may eat delicious meals. All it takes is careful planning and shopping. You may want to subscribe to "Salt Free Life" magazine. To learn more about the magazine call 1-877-2588 or go to http://saltfreelife.com.

Salt sensitivity is serious business, so make it your business to eat less salt and get regular checkups. After a while you won't miss the salt and you'll taste the true flavors of food. Bon appetit!


Copyright 2006 by Harriet Hodgson

Fitness for Life with The Alexander Technique

To achieve a high level of fitness for life sounds like hard work - and not just from a the physical point of view. Many fail to maintain fitness because, and let's be honest, exercise routines can be boring! Where is the fun in doing the same exercises week in week out. Yes there are many who do stick to their regimes, but why devote so much time to something that doesn't really engage you? Do you remember how much fun a trip to the park was with your friends, a bat and a ball? How much exercise did you get in one afternoon playing a few games?

You may have heard of The Alexander Technique as a method to improve your health by correcting your posture, but it has far more to offer. Learning this highly practical technique can add a new dimension to training giving you a totally new attitude to fitness and physical activity and increasing your chances of staying with a fitness program.

Whether interested in developing total fitness or just looking for relief from the all too common aches and pains, a subtle change in attitude and approach will help you get more from your body. Learning The Alexander Technique helps you develop a better understanding of your body, how it works, how it moves and how to make movement easier so you can do more with less effort. Achieving a high level of fitness for life is within your reach when you know how to use your body correctly. It is ironic that people frequently injure themselves doing activities they believe should be keeping them fit and healthy!

Why does this happen? It is a sad fact that many adults have lost the art of natural movement. We unknowingly develop poor habits that puts excessive stress on joints and muscles. The more you move poorly the better you will get at doing it in this way. End result - injury! I was alarmed when I started learning The Alexander Technique aged twenty-six at just how badly I moved, especially when I considered myself fit and well-informed about my body following years of martial arts, swimming and running!

The term ‘fitness’ generally relates to how far or fast you can run or how well you can perform physical tasks. Yet we should recognise that fitness is important for maintaining health and functionality. Yet fitness is about more than physical abilities - its about being able to do what you want, when you want and to do it well. The right mental attitude and approach are essential for performing at your peak. Of course, you still need to have the body that can meet your demands so you must work on both your physical and mental skills. The good news is that they can be worked on together.

How well do you know your body? If you are looking to maintain fitness for life you are going to be asking a lot from your body, but just how good is your body knowledge? Many are surprised at how their knowledge and understanding of their body differs from your true physical structure when taking Alexander lessons. How you move is based on your concept of how it works. If there are discrepancies between concept and reality this will effect your movement. Again if your objective is to maintain fitness this will have implications.

That's the bad news, now for the good. Learning The Alexander Technique will not only help you identify where you may be making movement harder, its practical techniques will give you the means to eradicate them altogether. Movement becomes a whole lot easier when you take the habitual brake off!

It also helps to develop your ability to focus which can take you into The Zone a place where athletes achieve peak performance with little perceived effort. This is where learning The Alexander Technique will deliver real lasting benefits to help you achieve fitness for life. With a new understanding of your body you can approach physical activity and exercise better informed about what works for you. Injury need not be something you need to suffer in order to maintain fitness.

Sports training and exercise should not be viewed as purely a way to physical fitness. With the right approach promoted by The Alexander Technique your training becomes a way to self-improvement beyond physical ability. Fitness now means more than just putting on your tracksuit and going for a run - it can be another path to self-fulfilment and development. Exercise need never be boring or routine again!

by Roy Palmer

Doctors warn against using cough syrups

Doctors are warning that a commonly-used remedy --cough syrups -- may not work.

The American College of Chest Physicians has reviewed dozens of studies of cough syrups and concluded "(there's) little efficacy in patients with coughs due to upper respiratory infections. Their long-term effectiveness has not been established."

The dose of drugs in over-the-counter cough syrups are generally too low to be effective or contain combinations of drugs that have never been proven to treat coughs, said Dr. Richard Irwin, chairman of a cough guidelines committee for the American College of Chest Physicians.

"Some of the products contain medications that have no chance of working at all," Irwin said.

About 40 per cent of adult Canadians use cough medicine annually, Gerry Harrington of the Non Prescription Drug Manufacturers of Canada told CTV.ca. Canadians spend about $100 million annually on these medicines.

Coughs are classified as either acute (lasting less than three weeks) or chronic (lasting three to eight weeks or longer). Acute coughs are usually caused by the common cold while chronic coughs are caused by post-nasal drip syndrome, asthma or gastroesophageal reflux disease.

The ACCP has issued guidelines on managing coughs, in the January issue of their journal Chest.

These guidelines discourage use of newer, non-sedating antihistamines.

Read more...

Study Questions Prostate Cancer Screening

Two widely used tests for prostate cancer failed to save lives in a new study, adding to the debate over whether men should be screened for the disease.

The study was small _ only 1,002 men _ and will not be the final word on the issue. But it may hint at what lies ahead when the results of two large studies of prostate cancer screening appear in a few years.

The researchers looked at two screening tests that are performed millions of times a year in the United States: a blood test that measures prostate specific antigen, or PSA, and a digital rectal exam, the rubber-glove test in which a doctor feels for abnormalities in the prostate through the rectal wall.

Study co-author Dr. John Concato, a clinical epidemiologist at the VA Connecticut Healthcare System, said that for now, doctors should tell men that screening tests for prostate cancer are not perfect, and men should decide for themselves whether to get screened.

Read the full report here.

Vegetables to Cut Blood Pressure

A vegetable-rich diet can help to reduce blood pressure, researchers say.

A team led by Imperial College London, which studied 4,680 people aged 40-59, said it was not clear why eating more vegetable protein had such an effect.

But amino acids - the building blocks of protein - or vegetable components, like magnesium, may be key, they said.

However, they found no strong evidence that high meat consumption is linked to high blood pressure. The study features in Archives of Internal Medicine.

Some types of amino acid have been shown to influence blood pressure, for instance arginine has been shown to dilate the blood vessels.

Different forms of amino acids are found in meat and vegetarian matter.

Healthy lifestyle

Writing in the journal, the researchers, led by Professor Paul Elliott, said more research was needed to pin down exactly why vegetables helped lower blood pressure.

High blood pressure is associated with an increased risk of heart disease and stroke.

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Thalomid Slows Blood Cancer

Blood specialist Celgene said Monday its final-stage trials of Thalomid show the drug significantly delayed progression of a common blood cancer by nearly a year.

The company's phase III trial was stopped by an external monitoring committee after analysis showed multiple myelomas in patients taking Thalomid, and the steroid dexamethasone took about three times as long to progress as those in patients taking dexamethasone alone.

Patients who weren’t taking Thalomid were then given the opportunity to start.

"We also met our secondary endpoint, to increase progression-free survival," Celgene president and COO Sol J. Barer told an audience at the JPMorgan Annual Healthcare conference in San Francisco.

Multiple myeloma is an incurable blood cancer in which the bone marrow makes too many malignant immunoglobulin-producing white blood cells. About 50,000 people in the United States alone have the disease, and about 16,000 new cases are diagnosed annually.

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Tomatoes may protect against lung cancer

Tomatoes may help protect smokers against lung disease, new research on mice suggests.

Japanese scientists found that mixing tomato juice into the animals' drinking water completely prevented them suffering emphysema triggered by tobacco smoke.

Emphysema is predominantly a smokers' condition which prevents the lungs working properly, resulting in breathlessness and wheezing.

Together with chronic bronchitis it is one of the chief causes of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, which kills about 28,000 people each year in the UK.

Emphysema damages the elastic supporting structure of the lungs, leading to the breakdown and collapse of airways.

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Coffee: A future female Viagra?

Could something as simple as caffeine be the answer to women's prayers for female version of Viagra? May be!

Going by a research study by Fay Guarraci, an assistance professor of psychology at south-western university, and Stacey Benson, a 2005 graduate, it sure could be a female Viagra.

The study titled 'coffee, tea and me: moderate doses of caffeine effect on sexual behaviour in female rats,' is the first of its kind and examines the interaction between caffeine and sex in females.

Guarraci and Benson gave 108 female rats a moderate dose of caffeine before a mating test to determine if the caffeine had any effect on female mating behaviour.

The study published in a forthcoming issue of pharmacology, biochemistry and behaviour found that administration of caffeine shortened the amount of time it took the females to return to the males after receiving an ejaculation, suggesting that the females were more motivated to be with the male rats.

While it is tempting to speculate that caffeine exposure could also effect sexual motivation in other female mammals such as humans, Guarraci cautioned that may not be the case since most humans consume moderate doses of caffeine on a daily basis.

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School to trial fish-oil therapy

Thousands of families could be helped by a ground-breaking trial starting in Norfolk today measuring the effect of fish-oil supplements on youngsters with autism, dyslexia and Asperger Syndrome.

A group of 38 boys aged 10 to 16 at Eaton Hall Special School in Norwich will begin taking the eye q omega 3 fish oil supplements daily for the next six months.

The official trial - the first in the country involving children with special needs - could have far-reaching implications in the treatment of the conditions for thousands of youngsters and their families.

Drugs such as Ritalin, prescribed to those with attention deficit disorder and ADHD, often have side-effects such as loss of appetite and insomnia. The trial will look at whether omega fish oils can reduce those symptoms and enable the youngsters to return to mainstream education.

Lianne Quantrill, project co-ordinator at the school, said it was the first detailed look at children with special needs and it could help improve their concentration levels and mood.

“There is already mounting evidence to suggest benefits from taking omega 3 fish oils, particularly for those with behavioural problems who may already have fatty acid deficiencies,” she said.

“The results of the trial could well go on to effect national attitudes towards the link between dietary supplements and this kind of behaviour.

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Breast Cancer Fatigue Often Lingers

Years after treatment for breast cancer, many women still face fatigue, especially those with depression or other health problems, a new study shows.

The study, published in Cancer, included 763 women who were disease-free survivors and had been treated for early breast cancer.

Nearly a third of the women (34%) reported fatigue 5 to 10 years after diagnosis. More than one in five had also noted fatigue in an earlier survey.

Fatigue was most common in women with low incomes, depression, and conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure, heart problems, and arthritis, the study shows.

Survivors who report fatigue should be carefully screened for depression, write the researchers. They included Julienne Bower, PhD, of the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA).

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Viral Infections at Birth Linked to Brain Damage, Study Shows

Exposure to viral infections such as herpes shortly before and after birth are associated with brain damage and cerebral palsy, according to a study published in tomorrow's issue of the British Medical Journal.

Infections with some herpes viruses double the risk of cerebral palsy, said Catherine Gibson, a research fellow at the Women's and Children's Hospital in Adelaide, Australia. Gibson compared 443 babies with cerebral palsy to 883 without.

"Herpes group B nucleic acids were found more often in neonatal blood spots of babies who were diagnosed subsequently to have cerebral palsy," Gibson said.

Cerebral palsy are brain injuries acquired during birth that lead to limited motor, speech and learning skills. Babies who are premature or prone to infections are also more likely to suffer brain damage, Gibson said.

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Vitamin D 'makes stronger babies'

Giving pregnant women vitamin D could mean their babies grow stronger bones in later life, a study suggests.

A study of 198 mothers indicated the children of those who lacked the vitamin, crucial for calcium absorption, had weaker bones at nine.

Those who took supplements or were exposed to more sunlight, which helps the body grow its own vitamin D, had children with greater bone densities.

The research from Southampton General Hospital is published in the Lancet.

Professor Cyrus Cooper, who led the team, said the findings provided evidence that maternal vitamin D status during pregnancy influenced the bone growth of offspring and their risk of osteoporosis in later life.

He told the BBC News it was the vitamin deficiency of the mother carrying the child, rather than the baby in early life, which affected the child's bone strength later.

"This is completely new - no one has ever looked at the mother's vitamin D levels before."

Vitamin D is crucial for the absorption of calcium which is in itself key in the formation of healthy bones.

The team from the Medical Research Council's Epidemiological Resource Centre at Southampton General Hospital measured the levels of vitamin D in women's blood in late pregnancy as well as studying calcium levels in the babies' cord blood.

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Magnet therapies 'have no effect'

Magnet therapies which are claimed to cure conditions ranging from back pain to cancer have no proven benefits, according to a team of US researchers.

Sales of the so-called therapeutic devices, which are worn in bracelets, insoles, and wrist and knee bands, top $1 billion worldwide, they said.

But a major review showed no benefits, a British Medical Journal report said.

The team also warned self-treatment with magnets risked leaving underlying medical conditions untreated.

Professor Leonard Finegold of Drexel University in Philadelphia and Professor Bruce Flamm of the Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in California said turning to magnetic therapies could also cause "financial harm".

Debbie Shimadry, director of World of Magnets, said use of magnets was not a cure, but a treatment that was very effective for relief of symptoms of joint-related disorders.

She said: "It is important to have the right type of magnet of the right strength, placed in the right area.

"Magnetic bracelets worn around the wrist are not going to allievate pain all over the body - they need to be placed directly over the area of injury for the right length of time."

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Bleeding Disorder Patients Warned

A small number of patients with a bleeding disorder have experienced a potentially life-threatening loss of red blood cells, the FDA and the manufacturer and distributor of a medicine that treats the disorder warned Friday.

Patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura, or ITP, should immediately alert their doctors if they experience back pain, shaking or chills, fever, discolored urine or decreased urine output, sudden weight gain, fluid retention, swelling or shortness of breath, Baxter Healthcare Corp. and Cangene Corp. said.

The rare but sometime severe or fatal symptoms have been observed in ITP patients, the companies wrote in a letter to doctors last month. Reports of the most severe reactions occurred in patients treated with WinRho SDF, a medicine made and distributed by the two companies. Most reported adverse reactions within four hours of treatment, the companies said. The Food and Drug Administration released the letter Friday.

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Rotavirus vaccines cut infant deaths

Two new experimental vaccines have been shown to be effective to prevent severe childhood diarrhea caused by rotaviruses, US studies showed on Wednesday.

According to new studies in the New England Journal of Medicine, the vaccines, Rotateq and Rotarix, by drug-makers Merck and GlaxoSmithKline showed "an impressive efficacy profile".

"After a long period of waiting, the time for a rotavirus vaccine may have finally arrived," said Roger Glass and Umesh Parashar of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States.

As well as many deaths, rotavirus causes about two million hospital visits for diarrhoea and vomiting each year. In the US alone, the virus hits 2.7 million children under 5 years of age each year, 70,000 of which end up hospitalised.

Rotateq, a Merck product, is a live pentavalent human-bovine reassortant rotavirus vaccine that demonstrated 98% efficacy against severe disease.

Rotarix, a GlaxoSmithKline product, is an attenuated G1P(8) vaccine that was 85% effective against severe disease.

Neither vaccine has been licensed in the United States, although Rotarix was approved last summer in Mexico.

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Abdominal Chemotherapy Extends Lives of Ovarian Cancer Patients

For women with advanced ovarian cancer, adding doses of chemotherapy delivered directly into the abdomen can help them survive up to 12 months longer, according to a study published today in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Traditionally, women received only tumor-removal surgery followed by intravenous chemotherapy, but the study's results should change that, said Dr. Harrison G. Ball, chief of gynecologic oncology at the UMass Memorial Medical Center in Boston. His hospital participated in the study that consisted of 429 women and was supported by the National Cancer Institute.

The study included women with advanced ovarian cancer who had first undergone successful surgical removal of cancer cells. Following the surgery, the women underwent either traditional IV-only treatment or a combined treatment of IV and abdominal chemotherapy, known as IP, which is delivered through an intraperitoneal catheter that is surgically inserted into the abdomen.

"In our trial, women who received part of their chemotherapy via an IP route had a median survival time of 16 months longer than women who received only IV chemotherapy," said Dr. Deborah Armstrong in a press release from the NCI. She is the lead author of the study and a medical oncologist at Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center in Baltimore.

New Recommendations for Cancer Patients

As a result, the NCI is changing its recommendations to state that women with advanced ovarian cancer who undergo effective surgery should receive a combination of IV and IP chemotherapy.

To achieve "effective" surgical results, Ball recommends that women recently diagnosed with the disease seek out gynecologic oncologists, who are the most skilled at surgically removing ovarian cancer cells.

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Obstetric Complications Associated With Later Eating Disorder