- The average red blood cell lives for 120 days.
- There are 2.5 trillion (give or take) of red blood cells in your body at any moment. To maintain this number, about two and a half million new ones need to be produced every second by your bone marrow. That's like a new population of the city of Toronto every second.
- Considering all the tissues and cells in your body, 25 million new cells are being produced each second. That's a little less than the population of Canada - every second !
- A red blood cell can circumnavigate your body in under 20 seconds.
- Our blood is on a 60,000-mile journey.
- Nerve Impulses travel at over 400 km/hr (25 mi/hr).
- Our heart beats around 100,00 times every day.
- Our eyes can distinguish up to one million color surfaces and take in more information than the largest telescope known to man.
- Our lungs inhale over two million liters of air every day, without even thinking. They are large enough to cover a tennis court.
- We give birth to 100 billion red cells every day.
- When we touch something, we send a message to our brain at 124 mph.
- We exercise at least 30 muscles when we smile.
- We are about 70 percent water.
- We make one liter of saliva a day.
- Our nose is our personal air-conditioning system: it warms cold air, cools hot air and filters impurities.
- In one square inch of our hand we have nine feet of blood vessels, 600 pain sensors, 9000 nerve endings, 36 heat sensors and 75 pressure sensors.
- We have copper, zinc, cobalt, calcium, manganese, phosphates, nickel and silicon in our bodies.
- It is believed that the main purpose of eyebrows is to keep sweat out of the eyes.
- A person can expect to breathe in about 40 pounds of dust over his/her lifetime.
Showing posts with label Health Fact. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Health Fact. Show all posts
Monday, December 13, 2010
Health Facts - 1
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Cancer Cells
CANCER CELLS !
AFTER YEARS OF TELLING PEOPLE CHEMOTHERAPY IS THE ONLY WAY TO TRY AND ELIMINATE CANCER, JOHNS HOPKINS IS FINALLY STARTING TO TELL YOU THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE WAY .
Cancer Update from Johns Hopkins :
1. Every person has cancer cells in the body. These cancer cells do not show up in the standard tests until they have multiplied to a few billion. When doctors tell cancer patients that there are no more cancer cells in their bodies after treatment, it just means the tests are unable to detect the cancer cells because they have not reached the detectable size.
2. Cancer cells occur between 6 to more than 10 times in a person's lifetime.
3. When the person's immune system is strong the cancer cells will be destroyed and prevented from multiplying and forming tumours.
4. When a person has cancer it indicates the person has multiple nutritional deficiencies. These could be due to genetic, environmental, food and lifestyle factors.
5. To overcome the multiple nutritional deficiencies, changing diet and including supplements will strengthen the immune system.
6. Chemotherapy involves poisoning the rapidly-growing cancer cells and also destroys rapidly-growing healthy cells in the bone marrow, gastro-intestinal tract etc, and can cause organ damage, like liver, kidneys, heart, lungs etc.
7. Radiation while destroying cancer cells also burns, scars and damages healthy cells, tissues and organs.
8. Initial treatment with chemotherapy and radiation will often reduce tumor size. However prolonged use of chemotherapy and radiation do not result in more tumor destruction.
9. When the body has too much toxic burden from chemotherapy and radiation the immune system is either compromised or destroyed, hence the person can succumb to various kinds of infections and complications.
10. Chemotherapy and radiation can cause cancer cells to mutate and become resistant and difficult to destroy. Surgery can also cause cancer cells to spread to other sites.
11. An effective way to battle cancer is to starve the cancer cells by not feeding it with the foods it needs to multiply.
WHAT CANCER CELLS FEED ON:
a. Sugar is a cancer-feeder. By cutting off sugar it cuts off one important food supply to the cancer cells. Sugar substitutes like NutraSweet, Equal,Spoonful etc are made with Aspartame and it is harmful. A better natural substitute would be Manuka honey or molasses but only in very small amounts. Table salt has a chemical added to make it white in colour. Better alternative is Bragg's aminos or sea salt.
b. Milk causes the body to produce mucus, especially in the gastro-intes tina l tract. Cancer feeds on mucus. By cutting off milk and substituting with unsweetened soya milk, cancer cells are being starved.
c. Cancer cells thrive in an acid environment. A meat-based diet is acidic and it is best to eat fish, and a little chicken rather than beef or pork. Meat also contains livestock antibiotics, growth hormones and parasites, which are all harmful, especially to people with cancer.
d. A diet made of 80% fresh vegetables and juice, whole grains, seeds, nuts and a little fruits help put the body into an alkaline environment. About 20% can be from cooked food including beans. Fresh vegetable juices provide live enzymes that are easily absorbed and reach down to cellular levels within 15 minutes to no urish and enhance growth of healthy cells. To obtain live enzymes for building healthy cells try and drink fresh vegetable juice (most vegetables including bean sprouts) and eat some raw vegetables 2 or 3 times a day. Enzymes are destroyed at temperatures of 104 degrees F (40 degrees C).
e. Avoid coffee, tea, and chocolate, which have high caffeine. Green tea is a better alternative and has cancer-fighting properties.Water- best to drink purified water, or filtered, to avoid known toxins and heavy metals in tap water. Distilled water is acidic, avoid it.
12. Meat protein is difficult to digest and requires a lot of digestive enzymes. Undigested meat remaining in the intestines become putrified and leads to more toxic buildup.
13. Cancer cell walls have a tough protein covering. By refraining from or eating less meat it frees more enzymes to attack the protein walls of cancer cells and allows the body's killer cells to destroy the cancer cells.
14. Some supplements build up the immune system (IP6, Flor-ssence, Essiac, anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, EFAs etc.) to enable the body's own killer cells to destroy cancer cells. Other supplements like vitamin E are known to cause apoptosis, or programmed cell death, the body's normal method of disposing of damaged, unwanted, or unneeded cells.
15. Cancer is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit. A proactive and positive spirit will help the cancer warrior be a survivor. Anger, unforgiveness and bitterness put the body into a stressful and acidic environment. Learn to have a loving and forgiving spirit. Learn to relax and enjoy life.
16. Cancer cells cannot thrive in an oxygenated environment. Exercising daily, and deep breathing help to get more oxygen down to the cellular level. Oxygen therapy is another means employed to destroy cancer cells.
(PLEASE FORWARD IT TO PEOPLE YOU CARE ABOUT)
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Eye Injuries
You can treat many minor eye irritations by flushing the eye with water, but more serious injuries require medical attention.
Injuries to the eye are the most common preventable cause of blindness, so when in doubt, err on the side of caution and call your doctor for help.
What to Do:
Routine Irritations(sand, dirt, and other foreign bodies on the eye surface)
Wash your hands thoroughly before touching the eyelids to examine or flush the eye.
Do not touch, press, or rub the eye itself, and do whatever you can to keep your child from touching it (a baby can be swaddled as a preventive measure).
Do not try to remove any foreign body except by flushing, because of the risk of scratching the surface of the eye, especially the cornea.
Tilt the child's head over a basin or sink with the affected eye down and gently pull down the lower lid, encouraging the child to open his or her eyes as wide as possible. For an infant or small child, it's helpful to have a second person hold the child's eyes open while you flush.
Gently pour a steady stream of lukewarm water (do not heat the water) from a pitcher or faucet over the eye.
Flush for up to 15 minutes, checking the eye every 5 minutes to see if the foreign body has been flushed out.
Because a particle can scratch the cornea and cause an infection, the eye should be examined by a doctor if there continues to be any irritation afterward.
If a foreign body is not dislodged by flushing, it will probably be necessary for a trained medical professional to flush the eye.
Embedded Foreign Body(an object penetrates or enters the globe of the eye)
If an object, such as a piece of glass or metal, is sticking out of the eye, take the following steps:
Call for emergency medical help.
Cover the affected eye with a small cup taped in place. The point is to keep all pressure off the globe of the eye.
Keep your child (and yourself) as calm and comfortable as possible until help arrives.
Chemical Exposure
Many chemicals, even those found around the house, can damage an eye. If your child gets a chemical in the eye and you know what it is, look on the product's container for an emergency number to call for instructions.
Flush the eye (see above) with lukewarm water for 15 to 30 minutes. If both eyes are affected, flush them in the shower.
Call for emergency medical help.
Call your local poison control center for specific instructions. Be prepared to give the exact name of the chemical, if you have it. However, do not delay flushing the eye first.
Black Eye, Blunt Injury, or Contusion
A black eye is often a minor injury, but it can also appear when there is significant eye injury or head trauma. A visit to the doctor or an eye specialist may be required to rule out serious injury, particularly if you're not certain of the cause of the black eye.
For a black eye:
Apply cold compresses intermittently: 5 to 10 minutes on, 10 to 15 minutes off. If you use ice, make sure it's covered with a towel or sock to protect the delicate skin on the eyelid.
Use cold compresses for 24 to 48 hours, then switch to applying warm compresses intermittently. This will help the body reabsorb the leakage of blood and may help reduce discoloration.
If the child is in pain, give acetaminophen — not aspirin or ibuprofen, which can increase bleeding.
Prop the child's head with an extra pillow at night, and encourage him or her to sleep on the uninjured side of the face (pressure can increase swelling).
Call your doctor, who may recommend an in-depth evaluation to rule out damage to the eye. Call immediately if any of the following symptoms are noted:
increased redness
drainage from the eye
persistent eye pain
any changes in vision
any visible abnormality of the eyeball
visible bleeding on the white part (sclera) of the eye, especially near the cornea
Injuries to the eye are the most common preventable cause of blindness, so when in doubt, err on the side of caution and call your doctor for help.
What to Do:
Routine Irritations(sand, dirt, and other foreign bodies on the eye surface)
Wash your hands thoroughly before touching the eyelids to examine or flush the eye.
Do not touch, press, or rub the eye itself, and do whatever you can to keep your child from touching it (a baby can be swaddled as a preventive measure).
Do not try to remove any foreign body except by flushing, because of the risk of scratching the surface of the eye, especially the cornea.
Tilt the child's head over a basin or sink with the affected eye down and gently pull down the lower lid, encouraging the child to open his or her eyes as wide as possible. For an infant or small child, it's helpful to have a second person hold the child's eyes open while you flush.
Gently pour a steady stream of lukewarm water (do not heat the water) from a pitcher or faucet over the eye.
Flush for up to 15 minutes, checking the eye every 5 minutes to see if the foreign body has been flushed out.
Because a particle can scratch the cornea and cause an infection, the eye should be examined by a doctor if there continues to be any irritation afterward.
If a foreign body is not dislodged by flushing, it will probably be necessary for a trained medical professional to flush the eye.
Embedded Foreign Body(an object penetrates or enters the globe of the eye)
If an object, such as a piece of glass or metal, is sticking out of the eye, take the following steps:
Call for emergency medical help.
Cover the affected eye with a small cup taped in place. The point is to keep all pressure off the globe of the eye.
Keep your child (and yourself) as calm and comfortable as possible until help arrives.
Chemical Exposure
Many chemicals, even those found around the house, can damage an eye. If your child gets a chemical in the eye and you know what it is, look on the product's container for an emergency number to call for instructions.
Flush the eye (see above) with lukewarm water for 15 to 30 minutes. If both eyes are affected, flush them in the shower.
Call for emergency medical help.
Call your local poison control center for specific instructions. Be prepared to give the exact name of the chemical, if you have it. However, do not delay flushing the eye first.
Black Eye, Blunt Injury, or Contusion
A black eye is often a minor injury, but it can also appear when there is significant eye injury or head trauma. A visit to the doctor or an eye specialist may be required to rule out serious injury, particularly if you're not certain of the cause of the black eye.
For a black eye:
Apply cold compresses intermittently: 5 to 10 minutes on, 10 to 15 minutes off. If you use ice, make sure it's covered with a towel or sock to protect the delicate skin on the eyelid.
Use cold compresses for 24 to 48 hours, then switch to applying warm compresses intermittently. This will help the body reabsorb the leakage of blood and may help reduce discoloration.
If the child is in pain, give acetaminophen — not aspirin or ibuprofen, which can increase bleeding.
Prop the child's head with an extra pillow at night, and encourage him or her to sleep on the uninjured side of the face (pressure can increase swelling).
Call your doctor, who may recommend an in-depth evaluation to rule out damage to the eye. Call immediately if any of the following symptoms are noted:
increased redness
drainage from the eye
persistent eye pain
any changes in vision
any visible abnormality of the eyeball
visible bleeding on the white part (sclera) of the eye, especially near the cornea
Head Injuries
Head injuries fall into two categories:
external (usually scalp) injuries
internal head injuries, which may involve the skull, the blood vessels within the skull, or the brain
Fortunately, most childhood falls or blows to the head result in injury to the scalp only, which is usually more frightening than threatening. An internal head injury could have more serious implications because the skull serves as the protective helmet for the delicate brain.
External (Scalp) Injury
The scalp is rich with blood vessels, so even a minor cut there can bleed profusely. The "goose egg" or swelling that may appear after a head blow is the result of the scalp's veins leaking fluid or blood into (and under) the scalp. It may take days or even weeks to disappear.
What to look for and what to do:
Call the doctor if your child is an infant; has lost consciousness, even momentarily; or if a child of any age has any of these symptoms:
won't stop crying
complains of head and neck pain
becomes difficult to console
isn't walking normally
If your child is not an infant, has not lost consciousness, and is alert and behaving normally after the fall or blow:
Apply an ice pack or instant cold pack to the injured area for 20 minutes. If you use ice, always wrap it in a washcloth or sock; ice applied directly to bare skin can cause frostbite.
Observe your child carefully for the next 24 hours. If you notice any of the signs of internal injury (see below), call your doctor immediately.
If the incident has occurred close to bedtime or naptime and your child falls asleep soon afterward, check in every few hours to look for twitching limbs or disturbances in color or breathing.
If color and breathing are normal, and you observe or sense no other abnormalities, let your child sleep (unless the doctor has advised otherwise). There's no need to keep a child awake after a head injury.
If color and/or breathing are abnormal, or if you aren't comfortable with your child's appearance (trust your instincts), arouse your child partially by sitting him or her up. Your child should fuss a bit and attempt to resettle. If he or she doesn't protest, try to awaken your child fully. If your child can't be awakened or shows any signs of internal injury (see below), call the doctor or an ambulance.
Suspected Internal Injury
The brain is cushioned by cerebrospinal fluid, but a severe blow to the head may knock the brain into the side of the skull or tear blood vessels. Any internal head injury — fractured skull, torn blood vessels, or damage to the brain itself — can be serious and possibly life threatening.
Different levels of injury require different levels of concern. It can be difficult to determine the level of injury, so it's always wise to discuss a head injury with your doctor. A clear indicator of a more serious injury is when a child loses consciousness or has signs of confusion.
What to Look for and What to Do
Call an ambulance if your child shows any of these symptoms:
unconsciousness
abnormal breathing
obvious serious wound or fracture
bleeding or clear fluid from the nose, ear, or mouth
disturbance of speech or vision
pupils of unequal size
weakness or paralysis
dizziness
neck pain or stiffness
seizure
vomiting more than two to three times
loss of bladder or bowel control
If your child is unconscious:
Do not try to move your child in case there is a neck or spine injury.
Call for help.
If you've been trained in CPR, follow the recommendations if they're appropriate.
Turn a child who is vomiting or having a seizure onto his or her side while trying to keep the head and neck straight. This will help prevent choking and provide protection in case of neck and spine injury.
If there's swelling, apply an ice pack or cold pack.
If your child is conscious:
Do your best to keep your child calm and still.
If there's bleeding, apply a sterile bandage.
Do not attempt to cleanse the wound, which may aggravate bleeding and/or cause serious complications if the skull is fractured.
Do not apply direct pressure to the wound if you suspect the skull is fractured.
Do not remove any object that's stuck in the wound.
Concussions
Concussions are also a type of internal head injury. A concussion is the temporary loss of normal brain function due to an injury. Repeated concussions can result in permanent injury to the brain. However, it's possible to get a concussion that's mild and just requires observation.
One of the most common reasons kids get concussions is through sports, so make sure they wear appropriate protective gear and don't continue to play if they've had a head injury.
If your child sustains an injury to the head, watch for these signs of a possible concussion:
"seeing stars" and feeling dazed, dizzy, or lightheaded
memory loss, such as trouble remembering what happened right before and after the injury
nausea or vomiting
headaches
blurred vision and sensitivity to light
slurred speech or saying things that don't make sense
difficulty concentrating, thinking, or making decisions
difficulty with coordination or balance (such as being unable to catch a ball or other easy tasks)
feeling anxious or irritable for no apparent reason
feeling overly tired
If you suspect a concussion, call your doctor for further instructions.
Preventing Head Injuries
It's impossible to prevent kids from ever being injured, but there are ways to help prevent head blows.
Make sure that:
your home is childproofed to prevent household accidents
your kids always wear appropriate headgear and safety equipment when biking, in-line skating, skateboarding, snowboarding or skiing, and playing contact sports. Wearing a bike helmet, for instance, reduces the risk of concussion by about 85%.
kids always use a seat belt or child safety seat
your child takes it easy after a head injury, especially after a concussion, and doesn't go back to rough play or playing sports until the injury has healed. (If your child reinjures the brain while it's still healing, it will take even more time to completely heal. Each time a person has a concussion, it does additional damage.)
external (usually scalp) injuries
internal head injuries, which may involve the skull, the blood vessels within the skull, or the brain
Fortunately, most childhood falls or blows to the head result in injury to the scalp only, which is usually more frightening than threatening. An internal head injury could have more serious implications because the skull serves as the protective helmet for the delicate brain.
External (Scalp) Injury
The scalp is rich with blood vessels, so even a minor cut there can bleed profusely. The "goose egg" or swelling that may appear after a head blow is the result of the scalp's veins leaking fluid or blood into (and under) the scalp. It may take days or even weeks to disappear.
What to look for and what to do:
Call the doctor if your child is an infant; has lost consciousness, even momentarily; or if a child of any age has any of these symptoms:
won't stop crying
complains of head and neck pain
becomes difficult to console
isn't walking normally
If your child is not an infant, has not lost consciousness, and is alert and behaving normally after the fall or blow:
Apply an ice pack or instant cold pack to the injured area for 20 minutes. If you use ice, always wrap it in a washcloth or sock; ice applied directly to bare skin can cause frostbite.
Observe your child carefully for the next 24 hours. If you notice any of the signs of internal injury (see below), call your doctor immediately.
If the incident has occurred close to bedtime or naptime and your child falls asleep soon afterward, check in every few hours to look for twitching limbs or disturbances in color or breathing.
If color and breathing are normal, and you observe or sense no other abnormalities, let your child sleep (unless the doctor has advised otherwise). There's no need to keep a child awake after a head injury.
If color and/or breathing are abnormal, or if you aren't comfortable with your child's appearance (trust your instincts), arouse your child partially by sitting him or her up. Your child should fuss a bit and attempt to resettle. If he or she doesn't protest, try to awaken your child fully. If your child can't be awakened or shows any signs of internal injury (see below), call the doctor or an ambulance.
Suspected Internal Injury
The brain is cushioned by cerebrospinal fluid, but a severe blow to the head may knock the brain into the side of the skull or tear blood vessels. Any internal head injury — fractured skull, torn blood vessels, or damage to the brain itself — can be serious and possibly life threatening.
Different levels of injury require different levels of concern. It can be difficult to determine the level of injury, so it's always wise to discuss a head injury with your doctor. A clear indicator of a more serious injury is when a child loses consciousness or has signs of confusion.
What to Look for and What to Do
Call an ambulance if your child shows any of these symptoms:
unconsciousness
abnormal breathing
obvious serious wound or fracture
bleeding or clear fluid from the nose, ear, or mouth
disturbance of speech or vision
pupils of unequal size
weakness or paralysis
dizziness
neck pain or stiffness
seizure
vomiting more than two to three times
loss of bladder or bowel control
If your child is unconscious:
Do not try to move your child in case there is a neck or spine injury.
Call for help.
If you've been trained in CPR, follow the recommendations if they're appropriate.
Turn a child who is vomiting or having a seizure onto his or her side while trying to keep the head and neck straight. This will help prevent choking and provide protection in case of neck and spine injury.
If there's swelling, apply an ice pack or cold pack.
If your child is conscious:
Do your best to keep your child calm and still.
If there's bleeding, apply a sterile bandage.
Do not attempt to cleanse the wound, which may aggravate bleeding and/or cause serious complications if the skull is fractured.
Do not apply direct pressure to the wound if you suspect the skull is fractured.
Do not remove any object that's stuck in the wound.
Concussions
Concussions are also a type of internal head injury. A concussion is the temporary loss of normal brain function due to an injury. Repeated concussions can result in permanent injury to the brain. However, it's possible to get a concussion that's mild and just requires observation.
One of the most common reasons kids get concussions is through sports, so make sure they wear appropriate protective gear and don't continue to play if they've had a head injury.
If your child sustains an injury to the head, watch for these signs of a possible concussion:
"seeing stars" and feeling dazed, dizzy, or lightheaded
memory loss, such as trouble remembering what happened right before and after the injury
nausea or vomiting
headaches
blurred vision and sensitivity to light
slurred speech or saying things that don't make sense
difficulty concentrating, thinking, or making decisions
difficulty with coordination or balance (such as being unable to catch a ball or other easy tasks)
feeling anxious or irritable for no apparent reason
feeling overly tired
If you suspect a concussion, call your doctor for further instructions.
Preventing Head Injuries
It's impossible to prevent kids from ever being injured, but there are ways to help prevent head blows.
Make sure that:
your home is childproofed to prevent household accidents
your kids always wear appropriate headgear and safety equipment when biking, in-line skating, skateboarding, snowboarding or skiing, and playing contact sports. Wearing a bike helmet, for instance, reduces the risk of concussion by about 85%.
kids always use a seat belt or child safety seat
your child takes it easy after a head injury, especially after a concussion, and doesn't go back to rough play or playing sports until the injury has healed. (If your child reinjures the brain while it's still healing, it will take even more time to completely heal. Each time a person has a concussion, it does additional damage.)
Insect Bites - What to do
The two greatest risks from most insect stings and bites are allergic reaction (which may occasionally be fatal) and infection (more likely and less serious).
What to Do:
Bee, Wasp, Hornet, and Yellow Jacket Stings
A bee will leave behind a stinger attached to a venom sac. Try to remove it as quickly as possible. One way is to gently scrape it out with a blunt-edged object, such as a credit card or a dull knife.
Wash the area carefully with soap and water. Do this two to three times a day until the skin is healed.
Apply a cold pack, an ice pack wrapped in a cloth, or a cold, wet washcloth for a few minutes.
Give acetaminophen for pain.
For pain and itching, give an over-the-counter oral antihistamine, if your child's doctor says it's OK; follow dosage instructions for your child's age and weight. You could also apply a corticosteroid cream or calamine lotion to the sting area.
A sting anywhere in the mouth warrants immediate medical attention. That's because stings in the mucous membranes of the mouth can quickly cause severe swelling that may block airways. You should seek medical care if you note a large skin rash, a large area of swelling around the sting site, or if swelling or pain persists for more than 72 hours. You should seek immediate medical care if you notice any of the following signs, which may indicate a serious or even potentially life-threatening allergic reaction:
wheezing or difficulty breathing
tightness in throat or chest
swelling of the lips
dizziness or fainting
nausea or vomiting
Spider Bites
Most spiders found in the United States are harmless, with the exception of the black widow and the brown recluse (or violin) spider. Both of these are found in warm climates.
Wash the area carefully with soap and water. Do this two to three times a day until skin is healed.
Apply cool compresses.
Give acetaminophen for pain.
To protect against infection, apply an antibiotic ointment and keep the child's hands washed.
If you have any reason to suspect your child has been bitten by a black widow or brown recluse spider, apply ice to the bite site and head for the emergency room. Symptoms include:
a deep blue or purple area around the bite, surrounded by a whitish ring and a large outer red ring
body rash
muscle spasms, tightness, and stiffness
abdominal pain
headache or fever
general feeling of sickness
lack of appetite
joint pain
nausea or vomiting
In the southwest United States, an unidentified bite may be caused by a scorpion. Take your child to the emergency room immediately.
Tick Bites
Check your children and pets for ticks carefully after you've been in or around a wooded area. Common types of ticks include dog ticks and deer ticks (deer ticks may be carriers of Lyme disease).
If you find a tick on your child:
Call your child's doctor. The doctor may want you to save the tick after removal (you can put it in a jar of alcohol to kill it).
Use tweezers to grasp the tick firmly at its head or mouth, next to your child's skin.
Pull firmly and steadily on the tick until it lets go, then swab the bite site with alcohol.
Don't use petroleum jelly or a lit match to kill and remove a tick.
What to Do:
Bee, Wasp, Hornet, and Yellow Jacket Stings
A bee will leave behind a stinger attached to a venom sac. Try to remove it as quickly as possible. One way is to gently scrape it out with a blunt-edged object, such as a credit card or a dull knife.
Wash the area carefully with soap and water. Do this two to three times a day until the skin is healed.
Apply a cold pack, an ice pack wrapped in a cloth, or a cold, wet washcloth for a few minutes.
Give acetaminophen for pain.
For pain and itching, give an over-the-counter oral antihistamine, if your child's doctor says it's OK; follow dosage instructions for your child's age and weight. You could also apply a corticosteroid cream or calamine lotion to the sting area.
A sting anywhere in the mouth warrants immediate medical attention. That's because stings in the mucous membranes of the mouth can quickly cause severe swelling that may block airways. You should seek medical care if you note a large skin rash, a large area of swelling around the sting site, or if swelling or pain persists for more than 72 hours. You should seek immediate medical care if you notice any of the following signs, which may indicate a serious or even potentially life-threatening allergic reaction:
wheezing or difficulty breathing
tightness in throat or chest
swelling of the lips
dizziness or fainting
nausea or vomiting
Spider Bites
Most spiders found in the United States are harmless, with the exception of the black widow and the brown recluse (or violin) spider. Both of these are found in warm climates.
Wash the area carefully with soap and water. Do this two to three times a day until skin is healed.
Apply cool compresses.
Give acetaminophen for pain.
To protect against infection, apply an antibiotic ointment and keep the child's hands washed.
If you have any reason to suspect your child has been bitten by a black widow or brown recluse spider, apply ice to the bite site and head for the emergency room. Symptoms include:
a deep blue or purple area around the bite, surrounded by a whitish ring and a large outer red ring
body rash
muscle spasms, tightness, and stiffness
abdominal pain
headache or fever
general feeling of sickness
lack of appetite
joint pain
nausea or vomiting
In the southwest United States, an unidentified bite may be caused by a scorpion. Take your child to the emergency room immediately.
Tick Bites
Check your children and pets for ticks carefully after you've been in or around a wooded area. Common types of ticks include dog ticks and deer ticks (deer ticks may be carriers of Lyme disease).
If you find a tick on your child:
Call your child's doctor. The doctor may want you to save the tick after removal (you can put it in a jar of alcohol to kill it).
Use tweezers to grasp the tick firmly at its head or mouth, next to your child's skin.
Pull firmly and steadily on the tick until it lets go, then swab the bite site with alcohol.
Don't use petroleum jelly or a lit match to kill and remove a tick.
Dehydration - What to do
Under normal conditions, we all lose some body water every day in our sweat, tears, urine, and stools. Water also evaporates from our skin and leaves the body as vapor when we breathe. We usually replace this body fluid and the salts it contains with the water and salts in our regular diet.
Sometimes, however, children lose abnormally large amounts of water and salts through fever (more water evaporates from the body when body temperature is increased), diarrhea, vomiting, or long periods of exercise with excessive sweating. Some illnesses might also prevent children from taking fluids by mouth. If they're unable to adequately replace the fluid that's been lost, kids can become dehydrated.
Recognizing Dehydration
If your child has fever, diarrhea, or vomiting, or is sweating a lot on a hot day or during intense physical activity, you should watch for signs of dehydration, which can include:
dry or sticky mouth
few or no tears when crying
eyes that look sunken into the head
soft spot (fontanelle) on top of baby's head that looks sunken
lack of urine or wet diapers for 6 to 8 hours in an infant (or only a very small amount of dark yellow urine)
lack of urine for 12 hours in an older child (or only a very small amount of dark yellow urine)
dry, cool skin
lethargy or irritability
fatigue or dizziness in an older child
Preventing Dehydration
The best way to prevent dehydration is to make sure kids gets plenty of fluids, whether they're sick or just physically active. In other words, you need to make sure that they're consuming more fluids than they're losing (from vomiting, diarrhea, or sweating).
The way you should keep a child adequately hydrated will differ depending on the circumstances. For example, a child with a sore throat may become dehydrated due to difficulty drinking or eating. Easing the pain with acetaminophen or ibuprofen may help. Cold drinks or popsicles can also soothe a burning throat while supplying fluids at the same time.
Infants with blocked noses who have trouble feeding can be helped by flushing their nostrils with saltwater, or saline, nose drops and suctioning out the mucus with a bulb syringe.
Fever, which can be a factor in dehydration in any infectious disease, can be controlled with medications or room-temperature sponge baths and dressing the child in light clothing.
On hot, dry, and windy days, it's important that children drink often. Those who participate in sports or strenuous activities should also drink some extra fluid before the activity begins. They should also drink at regular intervals (every 20 minutes) during the course of the activity and after the activity ends.
Thirst is not a good early indicator of dehydration. By the time a child feels thirsty, he or she may already be dehydrated. And thirst can be quenched before the necessary body fluids have been replaced. That's why it's recommended to start drinking before thirst develops and to drink some additional fluid even after thirst is quenched. Sports practices and competitions should be scheduled in the early morning or late afternoon to avoid the hottest part of the day.
Children with mild gastroenteritis (an infection, sometimes called the "stomach flu," that can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea) who aren't dehydrated should continue to eat normally but should be encouraged to drink additional fluid to replace fluid losses. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, recent studies have shown that most children with gastroenteritis can safely eat a regular age-appropriate diet while they're sick. In fact, feeding a regular diet to children who have diarrhea may even reduce the duration of diarrhea, while offering proper nutrition at the same time. Infants with mild gastroenteritis who aren't dehydrated should continue to drink breast milk or regular-strength formula. Older children may continue to drink full-strength milk.
Foods that are usually well tolerated by children with gastroenteritis who aren't dehydrated include: complex carbohydrates (such as rice, wheat, potatoes, bread, and cereals), lean meats, yogurt, fruits, and vegetables. Avoid fatty foods or foods high in simple sugars (including juices and soft drinks). If the child is vomiting and isn't dehydrated, give fluids frequently, but in small amounts.
Sometimes, however, children lose abnormally large amounts of water and salts through fever (more water evaporates from the body when body temperature is increased), diarrhea, vomiting, or long periods of exercise with excessive sweating. Some illnesses might also prevent children from taking fluids by mouth. If they're unable to adequately replace the fluid that's been lost, kids can become dehydrated.
Recognizing Dehydration
If your child has fever, diarrhea, or vomiting, or is sweating a lot on a hot day or during intense physical activity, you should watch for signs of dehydration, which can include:
dry or sticky mouth
few or no tears when crying
eyes that look sunken into the head
soft spot (fontanelle) on top of baby's head that looks sunken
lack of urine or wet diapers for 6 to 8 hours in an infant (or only a very small amount of dark yellow urine)
lack of urine for 12 hours in an older child (or only a very small amount of dark yellow urine)
dry, cool skin
lethargy or irritability
fatigue or dizziness in an older child
Preventing Dehydration
The best way to prevent dehydration is to make sure kids gets plenty of fluids, whether they're sick or just physically active. In other words, you need to make sure that they're consuming more fluids than they're losing (from vomiting, diarrhea, or sweating).
The way you should keep a child adequately hydrated will differ depending on the circumstances. For example, a child with a sore throat may become dehydrated due to difficulty drinking or eating. Easing the pain with acetaminophen or ibuprofen may help. Cold drinks or popsicles can also soothe a burning throat while supplying fluids at the same time.
Infants with blocked noses who have trouble feeding can be helped by flushing their nostrils with saltwater, or saline, nose drops and suctioning out the mucus with a bulb syringe.
Fever, which can be a factor in dehydration in any infectious disease, can be controlled with medications or room-temperature sponge baths and dressing the child in light clothing.
On hot, dry, and windy days, it's important that children drink often. Those who participate in sports or strenuous activities should also drink some extra fluid before the activity begins. They should also drink at regular intervals (every 20 minutes) during the course of the activity and after the activity ends.
Thirst is not a good early indicator of dehydration. By the time a child feels thirsty, he or she may already be dehydrated. And thirst can be quenched before the necessary body fluids have been replaced. That's why it's recommended to start drinking before thirst develops and to drink some additional fluid even after thirst is quenched. Sports practices and competitions should be scheduled in the early morning or late afternoon to avoid the hottest part of the day.
Children with mild gastroenteritis (an infection, sometimes called the "stomach flu," that can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea) who aren't dehydrated should continue to eat normally but should be encouraged to drink additional fluid to replace fluid losses. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, recent studies have shown that most children with gastroenteritis can safely eat a regular age-appropriate diet while they're sick. In fact, feeding a regular diet to children who have diarrhea may even reduce the duration of diarrhea, while offering proper nutrition at the same time. Infants with mild gastroenteritis who aren't dehydrated should continue to drink breast milk or regular-strength formula. Older children may continue to drink full-strength milk.
Foods that are usually well tolerated by children with gastroenteritis who aren't dehydrated include: complex carbohydrates (such as rice, wheat, potatoes, bread, and cereals), lean meats, yogurt, fruits, and vegetables. Avoid fatty foods or foods high in simple sugars (including juices and soft drinks). If the child is vomiting and isn't dehydrated, give fluids frequently, but in small amounts.
Smoking: Steps to Help You Break the Habit
Why does it seem so hard to stop smoking?
Smoking causes changes in your body and in the way you act. The changes in your body are caused by an addiction to nicotine. The changes in the way you act developed over time as you bought cigarettes, lit them and smoked them. These changes have become your smoking habit.
When you have a smoking habit, many things seem to go along with having a cigarette. These might include having a cup of coffee or an alcoholic drink, being stressed or worried, talking on the phone, driving, socializing with friends or wanting something to do with your hands.
How can I stop smoking?
You'll have the best chance of stopping if you do the following:
Get ready.
Get support and encouragement.
Learn how to handle stress and the urge to smoke.
Get medication and use it correctly.
Be prepared for relapse.
How should I get ready to stop smoking?
Set a stop date 2 to 4 weeks from now so you'll have time to get ready. Write down your personal reasons for stopping. Be specific. Keep your list with you so you can look at it when you feel the urge to smoke.
To help you understand your smoking habit, keep a diary of when and why you smoke. Using information from this diary, you and your doctor can make a plan to deal with the things that make you want to smoke.
Just before your stop date, get rid of all of your cigarettes, matches, lighters and ashtrays.
How can I get support and encouragement?
Tell your family and friends what kind of help you need. Their support will make it easier for you to stop smoking. Also, ask your family doctor to help you develop a plan for stopping smoking. He or she can give you information on telephone hotlines or self-help materials that can be very helpful. Your doctor can also recommend a stop-smoking program. These programs are often held at local hospitals or health centers.
Give yourself rewards for stopping smoking. For example, with the money you save by not smoking, buy yourself something special.
What about stress and my urges to smoke?
You may have a habit of using cigarettes to relax during stressful times. Luckily, there are good ways to manage stress without smoking. Relax by taking a hot bath, going for a walk, or breathing slowly and deeply. Think of changes in your daily routine that will help you resist the urge to smoke. For example, if you used to smoke when you drank coffee, drink hot tea instead.
What will happen when I stop smoking?
How you feel when you stop depends on how much you smoked, how addicted your body is to nicotine and how well you get ready to stop smoking. You may crave a cigarette or feel hungrier than usual. You may feel edgy and have trouble concentrating. You also may cough more at first and you may have headaches.
These things happen because your body is used to nicotine. They are called nicotine withdrawal symptoms. The symptoms are strongest during the first few days after you stop smoking, but most go away within a few weeks.
What about nicotine replacement or medicine to help me stop smoking?
Nicotine replacement products are ways to take in nicotine without smoking. These products come in several forms: gum, patch, nasal spray, inhaler and lozenge. You can buy the nicotine gum, patch and lozenge without a prescription from your doctor. Nicotine replacement works by lessening your body’s craving for nicotine and reducing withdrawal symptoms. This lets you focus on the changes you need to make in your habits and environment. Once you feel more confident as a nonsmoker, dealing with your nicotine addiction is easier.
A prescription medicine called bupropion SR (brand names: Zyban, Wellbutrin SR) helps some people stop smoking. It is taken as a pill. Bupropion SR does not contain nicotine, but it helps you resist your urges to smoke.
Talk to your doctor about which of these products is likely to give you the best chance of success. For any of these products to work, you must carefully follow the directions on the package. It's very important that you don't smoke while using nicotine replacement products.
Will I gain weight when I stop smoking?
Most people gain a few pounds after they stop smoking. Remember that any weight gain is a minor health risk compared to the risks of smoking. Dieting while you're trying to stop smoking will cause unnecessary stress. Instead, limit your weight gain by having healthy, low-fat snacks on hand and exercising on a regular basis.
What if I smoke again?
Don't feel like a failure. Think about why you smoked and what you can do to keep from smoking again. Set a new stop date. Many ex-smokers did not succeed at first, but they kept trying.
The first few days after stopping will probably be the hardest. Just remember that even one puff on a cigarette can cause a relapse, so don't risk it.
Smoking causes changes in your body and in the way you act. The changes in your body are caused by an addiction to nicotine. The changes in the way you act developed over time as you bought cigarettes, lit them and smoked them. These changes have become your smoking habit.
When you have a smoking habit, many things seem to go along with having a cigarette. These might include having a cup of coffee or an alcoholic drink, being stressed or worried, talking on the phone, driving, socializing with friends or wanting something to do with your hands.
How can I stop smoking?
You'll have the best chance of stopping if you do the following:
Get ready.
Get support and encouragement.
Learn how to handle stress and the urge to smoke.
Get medication and use it correctly.
Be prepared for relapse.
How should I get ready to stop smoking?
Set a stop date 2 to 4 weeks from now so you'll have time to get ready. Write down your personal reasons for stopping. Be specific. Keep your list with you so you can look at it when you feel the urge to smoke.
To help you understand your smoking habit, keep a diary of when and why you smoke. Using information from this diary, you and your doctor can make a plan to deal with the things that make you want to smoke.
Just before your stop date, get rid of all of your cigarettes, matches, lighters and ashtrays.
How can I get support and encouragement?
Tell your family and friends what kind of help you need. Their support will make it easier for you to stop smoking. Also, ask your family doctor to help you develop a plan for stopping smoking. He or she can give you information on telephone hotlines or self-help materials that can be very helpful. Your doctor can also recommend a stop-smoking program. These programs are often held at local hospitals or health centers.
Give yourself rewards for stopping smoking. For example, with the money you save by not smoking, buy yourself something special.
What about stress and my urges to smoke?
You may have a habit of using cigarettes to relax during stressful times. Luckily, there are good ways to manage stress without smoking. Relax by taking a hot bath, going for a walk, or breathing slowly and deeply. Think of changes in your daily routine that will help you resist the urge to smoke. For example, if you used to smoke when you drank coffee, drink hot tea instead.
What will happen when I stop smoking?
How you feel when you stop depends on how much you smoked, how addicted your body is to nicotine and how well you get ready to stop smoking. You may crave a cigarette or feel hungrier than usual. You may feel edgy and have trouble concentrating. You also may cough more at first and you may have headaches.
These things happen because your body is used to nicotine. They are called nicotine withdrawal symptoms. The symptoms are strongest during the first few days after you stop smoking, but most go away within a few weeks.
What about nicotine replacement or medicine to help me stop smoking?
Nicotine replacement products are ways to take in nicotine without smoking. These products come in several forms: gum, patch, nasal spray, inhaler and lozenge. You can buy the nicotine gum, patch and lozenge without a prescription from your doctor. Nicotine replacement works by lessening your body’s craving for nicotine and reducing withdrawal symptoms. This lets you focus on the changes you need to make in your habits and environment. Once you feel more confident as a nonsmoker, dealing with your nicotine addiction is easier.
A prescription medicine called bupropion SR (brand names: Zyban, Wellbutrin SR) helps some people stop smoking. It is taken as a pill. Bupropion SR does not contain nicotine, but it helps you resist your urges to smoke.
Talk to your doctor about which of these products is likely to give you the best chance of success. For any of these products to work, you must carefully follow the directions on the package. It's very important that you don't smoke while using nicotine replacement products.
Will I gain weight when I stop smoking?
Most people gain a few pounds after they stop smoking. Remember that any weight gain is a minor health risk compared to the risks of smoking. Dieting while you're trying to stop smoking will cause unnecessary stress. Instead, limit your weight gain by having healthy, low-fat snacks on hand and exercising on a regular basis.
What if I smoke again?
Don't feel like a failure. Think about why you smoked and what you can do to keep from smoking again. Set a new stop date. Many ex-smokers did not succeed at first, but they kept trying.
The first few days after stopping will probably be the hardest. Just remember that even one puff on a cigarette can cause a relapse, so don't risk it.
The Flu and Colds: Tips on Feeling Better
How can I tell if I have a cold or the flu?
A cold and the flu cause many of the same symptoms. But a cold is generally mild, while the flu tends to be more severe.
A cold often starts with feeling tired, sneezing, coughing and having a runny nose. You may not have a fever or you may run a low fever--just 1 or 2 degrees higher than usual. You may also have muscle aches, a scratchy or sore throat, watery eyes and a headache.
The flu starts suddenly and hits hard. You'll probably feel weak and tired, and have a fever, dry cough, a runny nose, chills, muscle aches, severe headache, eye pain and a sore throat. It usually takes longer to get over the flu than a cold.
What causes colds and the flu?
Viruses. Over 100 different viruses can cause colds. There aren't as many viruses that cause the flu. That's why there's a shot for the flu and not for colds.
Should I take medicine for a cold or the flu?
No medicine can cure a cold or the flu. Medicine can, however, help relieve some of your cold or flu symptoms. Check with your doctor before giving any medicine to children.
What about prescription medicines for the flu?
Some prescription medicines can relieve flu symptoms. These medicines may help reduce the severity of symptoms if they are started soon after you begin to get sick.
These medicines come as pills or as an inhaler. The inhaled type may cause problems for some people with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
A cold and the flu cause many of the same symptoms. But a cold is generally mild, while the flu tends to be more severe.
A cold often starts with feeling tired, sneezing, coughing and having a runny nose. You may not have a fever or you may run a low fever--just 1 or 2 degrees higher than usual. You may also have muscle aches, a scratchy or sore throat, watery eyes and a headache.
The flu starts suddenly and hits hard. You'll probably feel weak and tired, and have a fever, dry cough, a runny nose, chills, muscle aches, severe headache, eye pain and a sore throat. It usually takes longer to get over the flu than a cold.
What causes colds and the flu?
Viruses. Over 100 different viruses can cause colds. There aren't as many viruses that cause the flu. That's why there's a shot for the flu and not for colds.
Should I take medicine for a cold or the flu?
No medicine can cure a cold or the flu. Medicine can, however, help relieve some of your cold or flu symptoms. Check with your doctor before giving any medicine to children.
What about prescription medicines for the flu?
Some prescription medicines can relieve flu symptoms. These medicines may help reduce the severity of symptoms if they are started soon after you begin to get sick.
These medicines come as pills or as an inhaler. The inhaled type may cause problems for some people with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Depression: You Don't Have to Feel This Way
What is depression?
When doctors talk about depression, they mean the medical illness called major depression. Someone with major depression has symptoms like those listed in the box below nearly every day, all day, for 2 weeks or longer.
If you're depressed, you may also have headaches, other aches and pains, digestive problems and problems with sex. An older person with depression may feel confused or have trouble understanding simple requests.
What causes depression?
Depression seems to be related to a chemical imbalance in the brain that makes it hard for the cells to communicate with one another. Depression also seems to be genetic (to run in families).
Depression can be linked to events in your life, such as the death of someone you love, a divorce or job loss. Taking certain medicines, abusing drugs or alcohol, or having other illnesses can also lead to depression. Depression isn't caused by personal weakness, laziness or lack of willpower.
How is depression diagnosed?
If you're having symptoms of depression, be sure to tell your doctor so you can get help. Don't expect your doctor to be able to guess that you're depressed just by looking at you. The sooner you seek treatment, the sooner the depression will lift.
Once you tell your doctor how you're feeling, he or she may ask you some questions about your symptoms, about your health and about your family history of health problems. Your doctor may also give you a physical exam and do some tests.
How is depression treated?
Depression can be treated with medicines, or a special type of counseling called psychotherapy, or with both.
What about medicines?
Many medicines can be used to treat depression. These medicines are called antidepressants and they work very well. They correct the chemical imbalance in the brain that causes depression.
Antidepressants work differently for different people. They also have different side effects. So, even if one medicine bothers you or doesn't work for you, another may help. You may notice improvement as soon as 1 week after you start taking the medicine. But you probably won't see the full effects for about 6 to 8 weeks. You may have side effects at first but they tend to lessen after a couple of weeks.
How long will I need medicine?
How long you'll need to take the medicine depends on your depression. Your doctor may want you to take medicine for 4 to 6 months or longer. You need to take the medicine long enough to reduce the chance that the depression will come back. Talk with your doctor about any questions you have about your medicine.
What is psychotherapy?
In psychotherapy, you talk with your family doctor, a psychiatrist or a therapist about things that are going on in your life. The focus may be on your thoughts and beliefs or on your relationships. Or the focus may be on your behavior, how it's affecting you and what you can do differently. Psychotherapy often lasts for a limited time, such as 8 to 20 visits.
Will I need to go to the hospital?
Depression can usually be treated through visits to your doctor. Treatment in the hospital may be needed if you have other medical conditions that could affect your treatment or if you're at high risk of suicide.
How long will the depression last?
This depends on how soon you get help. Left untreated, depression can last for weeks, months or even years. The main risk in not getting treatment is suicide. Treatment can help depression lift in 6 to 8 weeks, or less.
When doctors talk about depression, they mean the medical illness called major depression. Someone with major depression has symptoms like those listed in the box below nearly every day, all day, for 2 weeks or longer.
If you're depressed, you may also have headaches, other aches and pains, digestive problems and problems with sex. An older person with depression may feel confused or have trouble understanding simple requests.
What causes depression?
Depression seems to be related to a chemical imbalance in the brain that makes it hard for the cells to communicate with one another. Depression also seems to be genetic (to run in families).
Depression can be linked to events in your life, such as the death of someone you love, a divorce or job loss. Taking certain medicines, abusing drugs or alcohol, or having other illnesses can also lead to depression. Depression isn't caused by personal weakness, laziness or lack of willpower.
How is depression diagnosed?
If you're having symptoms of depression, be sure to tell your doctor so you can get help. Don't expect your doctor to be able to guess that you're depressed just by looking at you. The sooner you seek treatment, the sooner the depression will lift.
Once you tell your doctor how you're feeling, he or she may ask you some questions about your symptoms, about your health and about your family history of health problems. Your doctor may also give you a physical exam and do some tests.
How is depression treated?
Depression can be treated with medicines, or a special type of counseling called psychotherapy, or with both.
What about medicines?
Many medicines can be used to treat depression. These medicines are called antidepressants and they work very well. They correct the chemical imbalance in the brain that causes depression.
Antidepressants work differently for different people. They also have different side effects. So, even if one medicine bothers you or doesn't work for you, another may help. You may notice improvement as soon as 1 week after you start taking the medicine. But you probably won't see the full effects for about 6 to 8 weeks. You may have side effects at first but they tend to lessen after a couple of weeks.
How long will I need medicine?
How long you'll need to take the medicine depends on your depression. Your doctor may want you to take medicine for 4 to 6 months or longer. You need to take the medicine long enough to reduce the chance that the depression will come back. Talk with your doctor about any questions you have about your medicine.
What is psychotherapy?
In psychotherapy, you talk with your family doctor, a psychiatrist or a therapist about things that are going on in your life. The focus may be on your thoughts and beliefs or on your relationships. Or the focus may be on your behavior, how it's affecting you and what you can do differently. Psychotherapy often lasts for a limited time, such as 8 to 20 visits.
Will I need to go to the hospital?
Depression can usually be treated through visits to your doctor. Treatment in the hospital may be needed if you have other medical conditions that could affect your treatment or if you're at high risk of suicide.
How long will the depression last?
This depends on how soon you get help. Left untreated, depression can last for weeks, months or even years. The main risk in not getting treatment is suicide. Treatment can help depression lift in 6 to 8 weeks, or less.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Health Facts of Blood Type
There are four blood types in humans: A, B, AB and O:
- Type O represents approximately 50% of the population of the world;
- Type A 40%;
- Type B around 8% and
- Type AB less than 2%
Blood Type O
Blood type O is the thinnest blood and it is responsible for the strongest immune systems (with the exception of some diseases), Individuals with blood type O have strongest stomach acid and live longest of all blood types at present. Genetically, strongest stomach acid was needed to break down the high protein diets(animal protein was one of our original food source) on which our original ancestors thrived.
A negative side effect of strong stomach acid is that it can lead to ulcers when no food is available, or when food is not eaten at regular intervals. Since the ancestors of type O were hunters, descendants carrying this gene tend to be larger, stronger individuals. If you check the blood type of American Indian or Eskimos, who were and in some cases still are, hunters almost all of them are blood type O.
Although Type O has a strong immune system, they are more susceptible to certain diseases such as typhoid, cholera, smallpox, malaria and plague. These diseases are eradicated from first world countries but still exist in third world countries and that's why you don't find many type O individuals over there. Individuals with type O blood lack several blood clotting factors. For this reason, it is suggested that they eat food rich in vitamin K such as spinach and egg yolk. Due to the fact that type O blood is thinnest, it is lot more difficult for plaque to build up in arteries and it reduces the incidence of heart disease in type Os until later years. This is not to say that individuals of type O blood do not get heart disease or cancer, but research indicates the onset of heart disease is later than for all other blood types. Type O individuals are more susceptible to blood disorders such as hemophilia and leukemia. Artheritis or swelling and inflammation of the joints is also an area of concerns for type O individuals. Whether it is their thin blood, that tends to be protective against heart disease until later in life, or the fact that cancer is not as likely to attack this blood group, the statistics of longevity are clearly in favor of the Os.
Blood Type A
The first mutation from type O was A. Individual of type A have the thickest blood of all type. There are two types(A1 and A2). Since A2 is partial mutation of Type O, individuals of this trait carry much of the muscle genetics of Os and can eat a variety of animal protein that A1 can not tolerate. Vast majority of type A individuals are A1. Type A1 must avoid all animal proteins in favor of vegetarian diet. Meat eating type A2 individuals develop heart disease early and while they look strong physically, internally they are ticking time bombs. In United States, due to the meat enriched diet, Type A individuals live shortest life span today. When Type As continue to east meat diet that is inconsistent with their blood enzymes, aggulutination or thickening of their already thick blood takes place and disaster follows. Type A are more susceptible to heart disease and cancer. But there is one exception. In Japan, where people east a staple of fish, rice and green tea - the perfect diet for type A individuals. In fact Japanese life span is longer, as a country, than any other.
When the type As eat animal fat, meat or diary food inconsistent with their blood type - their already thick blood agglutinates or get thicker and stickier. The thick blood requires the heart to pump harder, inevitably causing high blood pressure and enlarged heart muscle, and an increase in heart disease. Also, type A has very low stomach acid by genetc standards. Researchers agree that most cancers are type A related and when they eat meat diet, there are overwhelming number of high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and cancer cases. Type A individuals seem to be affected more by stress than any other blood groups. Stress is attributed as a great killer of type As.
Due to all these factors, individuals of type A blood are at higher risk for heart disease and cancer. Type A individuals should follow vegetarian diet with nutritional supplements such as vitamin E, resveratrol(plentiful in red wine and grape juice), which prevents clots from forming and appears to inhibit the oxidation of LDL cholesterol that offers protection from both heart disease and cancer. In addtion, Type As should incorporate green tea, soybeans and tofu in their regular diets. These provide numerous antioxidants and estrogen that research has shown inhibit cancer.
Blood Type B
Type B is the third mutation through man's adaptation after type O and A. Type B blood is not as thin as type O blood, nor it is as thick as type A blood. For the most part type B can eat meat in moderation without great fear of developing heart disease. Although meat is not type B's best food, it is not particularly harmful either. On the other hand, type B individuals have the ability to eat and metabolize dairy products, which both type O and A do not tolerate well at all.
It is believed that improper foods, or the improper metabolism of specific foods, lowers the immune system of type Bs and makes them susceptible to auto-immune diseases. Some of these are life threatening, others just cause untold misery for life.
Another aspect of type B individuals that surprised researchers is the intelligence level. Almost all the type B individuals interviewed were highly intelligent. As a group they were deep thinking individuals who appeared to see the world from a slightly different viewpoint. Although they are obviously bright, they tend to be more introvert and disliked by other blood types. In spite of this, percentage-wise there are more B millionaires than any other blood type.
Type B individuals average second longest lifespan after type Os. This is probably due to the fact that animal protein, which contains all the essential amino acids, is good food for Bs. Additionally, since type Bs can eat a large variety of foods, they are able to acquire all or most of their essential vitamins, minerals and amino acids from food more easily than type As and ABs.
Research indicates that most type Bs are healthy with some unique medical problems. A large proportion of type B individuals tend to suffer from multiple sclerosis, skin disorders such as psoriasis, eczema and fungus. Another problem that keeps popping up for type Bs is foot problem of one kind or another. Numerous subjects had required food surgery, or had problems with their feet that were painful and made everyday walking difficult.
Blood Type AB
Type AB is the only blood type that did not evolve in the same way as other blood types. While the other blood types have been around for thousands of years, Type AB has been in existence for only about 2,000 years. The genetic mistry of this blood type is complex. While the other blood types evolved because of change of environment and food availability, type AB did not.
It is believed that type AB is the result of mixing type A and B. However, since both A and B are dominant genes, genetically speaking, the offspring should have been A or B. Usually mutation come about to gurantee the survival of the species and that might well be the reason for AB mutation. Proponent of this theory would argue that Type AB is less susceptible to all the diseases that strike Os the hardest, and as such, this is nature's way of evolving to ensure the survival of the species. AB represents about 2% of the population worldwide.
On positve side type AB usually has engaging personality, keen mind and are very charismatic. Type AB possessed qualities quite unique as they all influence people in positive way. On average most ABs are likable, outgoing, gregarious and intelligent people at work and play. They are very self-confident and assertive individuals. On the negative side, type ABs are susceptible to both type A & B illnesses. Women of this blood type usually have many menstrual problems such as excessive bleeding, clotting, cramping and irregular menstrual cycles. Additionally, many women also experience migraine. Studies also suggest that type ABs individuals often suffer from harmonal imbalance more than others.
Eating properly for an AB requires guidlines similar to As, but with small amounts of animal protein. Like As, type ABs should acquire their vitamins, minerals and essential amino acids through plants and vegetables. ABs shoul also incorporate green tea, soybeans, and tofu in their diet.
- Type O represents approximately 50% of the population of the world;
- Type A 40%;
- Type B around 8% and
- Type AB less than 2%
Blood Type O
Blood type O is the thinnest blood and it is responsible for the strongest immune systems (with the exception of some diseases), Individuals with blood type O have strongest stomach acid and live longest of all blood types at present. Genetically, strongest stomach acid was needed to break down the high protein diets(animal protein was one of our original food source) on which our original ancestors thrived.
A negative side effect of strong stomach acid is that it can lead to ulcers when no food is available, or when food is not eaten at regular intervals. Since the ancestors of type O were hunters, descendants carrying this gene tend to be larger, stronger individuals. If you check the blood type of American Indian or Eskimos, who were and in some cases still are, hunters almost all of them are blood type O.
Although Type O has a strong immune system, they are more susceptible to certain diseases such as typhoid, cholera, smallpox, malaria and plague. These diseases are eradicated from first world countries but still exist in third world countries and that's why you don't find many type O individuals over there. Individuals with type O blood lack several blood clotting factors. For this reason, it is suggested that they eat food rich in vitamin K such as spinach and egg yolk. Due to the fact that type O blood is thinnest, it is lot more difficult for plaque to build up in arteries and it reduces the incidence of heart disease in type Os until later years. This is not to say that individuals of type O blood do not get heart disease or cancer, but research indicates the onset of heart disease is later than for all other blood types. Type O individuals are more susceptible to blood disorders such as hemophilia and leukemia. Artheritis or swelling and inflammation of the joints is also an area of concerns for type O individuals. Whether it is their thin blood, that tends to be protective against heart disease until later in life, or the fact that cancer is not as likely to attack this blood group, the statistics of longevity are clearly in favor of the Os.
Blood Type A
The first mutation from type O was A. Individual of type A have the thickest blood of all type. There are two types(A1 and A2). Since A2 is partial mutation of Type O, individuals of this trait carry much of the muscle genetics of Os and can eat a variety of animal protein that A1 can not tolerate. Vast majority of type A individuals are A1. Type A1 must avoid all animal proteins in favor of vegetarian diet. Meat eating type A2 individuals develop heart disease early and while they look strong physically, internally they are ticking time bombs. In United States, due to the meat enriched diet, Type A individuals live shortest life span today. When Type As continue to east meat diet that is inconsistent with their blood enzymes, aggulutination or thickening of their already thick blood takes place and disaster follows. Type A are more susceptible to heart disease and cancer. But there is one exception. In Japan, where people east a staple of fish, rice and green tea - the perfect diet for type A individuals. In fact Japanese life span is longer, as a country, than any other.
When the type As eat animal fat, meat or diary food inconsistent with their blood type - their already thick blood agglutinates or get thicker and stickier. The thick blood requires the heart to pump harder, inevitably causing high blood pressure and enlarged heart muscle, and an increase in heart disease. Also, type A has very low stomach acid by genetc standards. Researchers agree that most cancers are type A related and when they eat meat diet, there are overwhelming number of high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and cancer cases. Type A individuals seem to be affected more by stress than any other blood groups. Stress is attributed as a great killer of type As.
Due to all these factors, individuals of type A blood are at higher risk for heart disease and cancer. Type A individuals should follow vegetarian diet with nutritional supplements such as vitamin E, resveratrol(plentiful in red wine and grape juice), which prevents clots from forming and appears to inhibit the oxidation of LDL cholesterol that offers protection from both heart disease and cancer. In addtion, Type As should incorporate green tea, soybeans and tofu in their regular diets. These provide numerous antioxidants and estrogen that research has shown inhibit cancer.
Blood Type B
Type B is the third mutation through man's adaptation after type O and A. Type B blood is not as thin as type O blood, nor it is as thick as type A blood. For the most part type B can eat meat in moderation without great fear of developing heart disease. Although meat is not type B's best food, it is not particularly harmful either. On the other hand, type B individuals have the ability to eat and metabolize dairy products, which both type O and A do not tolerate well at all.
It is believed that improper foods, or the improper metabolism of specific foods, lowers the immune system of type Bs and makes them susceptible to auto-immune diseases. Some of these are life threatening, others just cause untold misery for life.
Another aspect of type B individuals that surprised researchers is the intelligence level. Almost all the type B individuals interviewed were highly intelligent. As a group they were deep thinking individuals who appeared to see the world from a slightly different viewpoint. Although they are obviously bright, they tend to be more introvert and disliked by other blood types. In spite of this, percentage-wise there are more B millionaires than any other blood type.
Type B individuals average second longest lifespan after type Os. This is probably due to the fact that animal protein, which contains all the essential amino acids, is good food for Bs. Additionally, since type Bs can eat a large variety of foods, they are able to acquire all or most of their essential vitamins, minerals and amino acids from food more easily than type As and ABs.
Research indicates that most type Bs are healthy with some unique medical problems. A large proportion of type B individuals tend to suffer from multiple sclerosis, skin disorders such as psoriasis, eczema and fungus. Another problem that keeps popping up for type Bs is foot problem of one kind or another. Numerous subjects had required food surgery, or had problems with their feet that were painful and made everyday walking difficult.
Blood Type AB
Type AB is the only blood type that did not evolve in the same way as other blood types. While the other blood types have been around for thousands of years, Type AB has been in existence for only about 2,000 years. The genetic mistry of this blood type is complex. While the other blood types evolved because of change of environment and food availability, type AB did not.
It is believed that type AB is the result of mixing type A and B. However, since both A and B are dominant genes, genetically speaking, the offspring should have been A or B. Usually mutation come about to gurantee the survival of the species and that might well be the reason for AB mutation. Proponent of this theory would argue that Type AB is less susceptible to all the diseases that strike Os the hardest, and as such, this is nature's way of evolving to ensure the survival of the species. AB represents about 2% of the population worldwide.
On positve side type AB usually has engaging personality, keen mind and are very charismatic. Type AB possessed qualities quite unique as they all influence people in positive way. On average most ABs are likable, outgoing, gregarious and intelligent people at work and play. They are very self-confident and assertive individuals. On the negative side, type ABs are susceptible to both type A & B illnesses. Women of this blood type usually have many menstrual problems such as excessive bleeding, clotting, cramping and irregular menstrual cycles. Additionally, many women also experience migraine. Studies also suggest that type ABs individuals often suffer from harmonal imbalance more than others.
Eating properly for an AB requires guidlines similar to As, but with small amounts of animal protein. Like As, type ABs should acquire their vitamins, minerals and essential amino acids through plants and vegetables. ABs shoul also incorporate green tea, soybeans, and tofu in their diet.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Contaminated Water Health Fact
Rain is the original source of all our drinking water. Raindrops are formed from the heavy vapor arising from the sea. As the clouds pass over the land, they condense into drops of rain. We are familiar with the fact that a rainstorm clears the air, washing it clean and free from dust and smoke.
Raindrops are usually free from germs, although they may contain a little dust and perhaps a few harmless microbes. Trouble starts when the raindrops strike the surface of the earth. The rain that collects on cultivated fields, farmyards, and city streets contains many different kinds of germs, some of which are harmful to man. Many of these germs have come from the digestive organs of animals and human beings and may cause serious intestinal diseases.
But the trouble is now always with water that falls onto the ground. People who use tanks and cisterns must also be careful. Roof water may be badly contaminated with germs from dust blowing up from the street. There is also the problem of germs from the droppings of birds. Tank or cistern water should always be boiled or sterilized.
The water from ponds and lakes is always contaminated. Much of this water may have washed down from the streets and highway. Or it may have been contaminated by people living in the vicinity. Even though this water may be sparkling and clear, it often contains harmful germs, such as intestinal parasites, liver flukes, hookworms, amoeba, typhoid, dysentery, and many more.
The most polluted water of all may be the rivulet rushing down a hillside just after a heavy shower of the rain. This is particularly true following a long spell of dry weather.
When rain strikes the ground, it divides and travels in two different routes toward the sea. Part of the water remains on the surface and flows into small streams, then into larger rivers, and finally reaches the sea. This surface water is always badly contaminated at first, but it does tend to purify itself by various means after some time elapses.
The other part of rainfall penetrates the surface soil. It supplies the needs of the plant world. Part of this water flows underground toward some stream or pond.
Most spring water is pure and free from germs. In passing through the different layers of earth, the germs either die or are largely filtered out. Well water is also pure, provided there is no surface contamination near the vicinity of the well itself. People living in the country need to take great care to keep their own water supplies free from contamination. Farmyards and barns are a constant menace because of the animal wastes on the surface of the ground. To guard against this, the mouth of the well should be set at a higher level and preferably some distance away from the barnyard, as shown in the picture. This will help to prevent pollution from animal droppings or human carelessness.
Raindrops are usually free from germs, although they may contain a little dust and perhaps a few harmless microbes. Trouble starts when the raindrops strike the surface of the earth. The rain that collects on cultivated fields, farmyards, and city streets contains many different kinds of germs, some of which are harmful to man. Many of these germs have come from the digestive organs of animals and human beings and may cause serious intestinal diseases.
But the trouble is now always with water that falls onto the ground. People who use tanks and cisterns must also be careful. Roof water may be badly contaminated with germs from dust blowing up from the street. There is also the problem of germs from the droppings of birds. Tank or cistern water should always be boiled or sterilized.
The water from ponds and lakes is always contaminated. Much of this water may have washed down from the streets and highway. Or it may have been contaminated by people living in the vicinity. Even though this water may be sparkling and clear, it often contains harmful germs, such as intestinal parasites, liver flukes, hookworms, amoeba, typhoid, dysentery, and many more.
The most polluted water of all may be the rivulet rushing down a hillside just after a heavy shower of the rain. This is particularly true following a long spell of dry weather.
When rain strikes the ground, it divides and travels in two different routes toward the sea. Part of the water remains on the surface and flows into small streams, then into larger rivers, and finally reaches the sea. This surface water is always badly contaminated at first, but it does tend to purify itself by various means after some time elapses.
The other part of rainfall penetrates the surface soil. It supplies the needs of the plant world. Part of this water flows underground toward some stream or pond.
Most spring water is pure and free from germs. In passing through the different layers of earth, the germs either die or are largely filtered out. Well water is also pure, provided there is no surface contamination near the vicinity of the well itself. People living in the country need to take great care to keep their own water supplies free from contamination. Farmyards and barns are a constant menace because of the animal wastes on the surface of the ground. To guard against this, the mouth of the well should be set at a higher level and preferably some distance away from the barnyard, as shown in the picture. This will help to prevent pollution from animal droppings or human carelessness.
Health Facts : Our worst Enemies
All too often we are out own worst enemies. Nature has been wonderful kind of us, endowing us with enormous vitality and power to overcome almost every types of illness. Then why are we so many sick? Usually because of their own foolish ways of living. Such as habits tend to weaken and destroy there marvelous bodies of ours, and then the victim wonder why they are sick!
Hidden enemies abound on every side. Tiny germs and viruses, tooo small to be seen bu the unaided eye, floating around the air breath. They lurk in the food we eat, in the water we drink, and even in the clothes we wear! Not all germs are harmful. Some are beneficial, but others are highly dangerous.
Everything we touch, taste, or handle carries with the possibility of disease. This means that within your body and mine there is a constat battle for survival against hidden villains that that are trying to destroy us. Fortunately, the forces within are usually more than a match for these dangerous parasites, other wise we would all quickly perish.
The remarkable powers of resistance against disease are always at work. They are even stimulated by the presence of germs and viruses, so that the hidden enemies may actually play as a usual part in helping to keep strong and healthy. But the great deal of our success will depend on how willing we are to be the wise and sensible law of health. Thanks to the modern scientific medicine, millions of people are now living longer and enjoy life more completely
Thus, modern medical discoveries are not only adding years to our lives but life to our years…
Hidden enemies abound on every side. Tiny germs and viruses, tooo small to be seen bu the unaided eye, floating around the air breath. They lurk in the food we eat, in the water we drink, and even in the clothes we wear! Not all germs are harmful. Some are beneficial, but others are highly dangerous.
Everything we touch, taste, or handle carries with the possibility of disease. This means that within your body and mine there is a constat battle for survival against hidden villains that that are trying to destroy us. Fortunately, the forces within are usually more than a match for these dangerous parasites, other wise we would all quickly perish.
The remarkable powers of resistance against disease are always at work. They are even stimulated by the presence of germs and viruses, so that the hidden enemies may actually play as a usual part in helping to keep strong and healthy. But the great deal of our success will depend on how willing we are to be the wise and sensible law of health. Thanks to the modern scientific medicine, millions of people are now living longer and enjoy life more completely
Thus, modern medical discoveries are not only adding years to our lives but life to our years…
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)