Most recent international health newscast in addition to examination from our health explore band.

Cancer actually helped me develop more confidence and to be able to look after myself.      GiulianaMany writers on cancer use a ‘journey’ metaphor to illustrate the process of the whole path from beginning to end of recovery and its outcomes. We also view it as a series of fun park adventure rides: the highs and lows like a ‘roller coaster’, the fear of the unknown similar to the ‘ghost house’ and the calming serenity of a ‘merry-go-round’. There is no way of really knowing what your reactions to the ride will be like until you have actually experienced it. Yes we can anticipate and have a sense of it based on others experiences, and like a roller coaster all our reactions whatever they might be are totally normal. A human response to uncertainty.Coming to terms with a cancer diagnosis, its treatment and impact on all elements of life provides one of the biggest challenges of living with cancer. There was a consistent theme of grieving for some changed aspect of themselves – physical, emotional, sexual, psychological and professional. Most felt that the ‘physical’ management of cancer was the easy part. During the cycle of recovery, this sense of loss initially created a total preoccupation with their illness, many felt that their life had changed forever. None felt adequately aware or prepared for it. Few had previously given time to reflect or have high levels of sell-awareness on how they might react when extremely challenged. Some kept a diary that helped ‘get’ their feelings out, and helped them see how they had progressed. This was an excellent means of communicating when they had trouble-communicating with others. Despite their reactions, all 0u contributors have rebuilt a meaningful life, resulting in stronger physical, emotional and psychological identity.It was never ‘why me?’ it was ‘why now?’ It was never an appropriate time at all for this to happen. Just take it into stride and move on. It never fazed me. I was never devastated that I had vulva cancer.Lillian*45/144/5*

Comments (0) Jul 22 2011

As we established earlier, wisdom and competence come with age. Does this mean that as we age, we acquire these precious traits as a matter of course, the way we acquire gray hair and wrinkled skin? (That would be nice, wouldn’t it?) But it does not happen in an assured, preordained way. In a book of interviews published by the renowned Australian radio journalist Peter Thompson, the subtitle is as important as the title: Wisdom: The Hard-Won Gift. The gift of wisdom is a reward, not an entitlement. It has to be earned. And likewise you have to work for your competence.To revert to the language of the brain, both wisdom and competence are attained through the accumulation of attractors allowing pattern recognition in important situations. Well, then, it stands to reason that some people spend a lifetime accumulating such patterns, and others… less so. Every human being accumulates a certain pattern-recognition capability in the course of his or her lifetime. But not every human being accumulates the patterns necessary for the solution of problems of genuine importance to a significant number of other people. Generally speaking, people who have spent their lifetime dealing with strenuous mental challenges and who have been good at it, in other words people who are both bright and have been mentally active most of their lives, are rewarded with extra mental resistance to the effects of aging.This became quite apparent when the relationship between reasoning ability and general knowledge (including language vocabulary) was examined. In people with low reasoning ability, general knowledge and vocabulary were either constant as they aged or showed actual decline. But in people with high reasoning ability both knowledge and vocabulary actually continued to increase with age—all the way to the age of eighty years old!So it appears that the gift of effortless and powerful pattern recognition as a way of solving problems that faze other people is the culmination of and the reward for a lifetime of facing up to such mental challenges. In those who earned this reward, the gift of wisdom, to use Peter Thompson’s turn of phrase, has an amazing staying power in the face of aging and of all manner of neurological assaults on the brain. The great American psychologist William James was right when he said: “Could the youth but realize how soon they will become mere walking bundles of habits, they would give more heed to their conduct while in their plastic state.”Those in whom “the bundles of [acquired] habits” include genuine competence continue to reap its benefits well into old age. Today, an increasing number of aged individuals elect to remain active in the workplace. This is a very welcome and demographically realistic development. But it has also triggered the concerns that their performance on the job would be compromised because of age. But the concerns proved to be basically unfounded: Studies have shown that there is no relationship between aging and job performance. It simply does not decline with age.Job-related competencies are reflected in so-called “tacit knowledge,” the kind of procedural knowledge helpful in solving everyday problems arising in the workplace that is not taught explicitly as part of formal training. Research has shown that tacit knowledge does not suffer any appreciable decline with age, which may explain the lack of a negative relationship between aging and job performance. In fact, tacit knowledge declines far less than the isolated mental faculties (memory, attention, and so forth) usually assessed through formal neuropsychological tests. This means that an aging professional is likely to continue to be sound on the job, despite the decline in memory and attention.*30\302\2*

Comments (0) Jul 15 2011

“Idiopathic” comes from a Latin word that, in rough translation, means “we don’t know what causes it.” As an example of this poorly defined disorder, let me cite the incident of a patient whose nightly ritual after dinner was to load the dishwasher and take out the garbage. One night before retiring, however, she went to unload the dishwasher—and found the sealed plastic bag of garbage sitting in it, all freshly washed, rinsed, and dried. She found the dinner dishes, of course, in the garbage can. To this day we don’t know what caused her problem.Also called non-REM narcolepsy, idiopathic hypersomnia can make patients feel constantly sleepy without overwhelming them with sleep attacks or cataplexy. Sufferers usually sleep well at night, although their sleep may be prolonged and they may have difficulty rousing. If they take naps, as they often do, the naps are long and unrefreshing. Clinical tests reveal that these patients fall asleep relatively quickly, but REM sleep is not usually present during naps as it is in narcolepsy. In some cases treatment with CNS stimulants or methysergide (Sansert) may help.*165\226\8*

Comments (0) Jul 09 2011

Epiglottitis occurs mainly in children and is a rare form of upper respiratory tract infection in adults. Epiglottitis refers to acute inflammation and edema of the epiglottis and aryepiglottic folds. It can cause airway compromise and death, especially in children over the age of 2 years. Haemophilus influenzae type В is the most common bacterial cause. In adults, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Klebsiella species may also cause epiglottitis.Epiglottitis classically manifests with acute onset of dyspnea, dysphagia, dysphonia, and drooling. Cough is usually not a prominent feature. High fever may also be present. Adults and young children (<10 years) may have less severe symptoms. Physical examination may reveal an erythematous epiglottis. A tongue blade should not be used because it can precipitate total airway obstruction. A lateral neck radiograph may show an enlarged epiglottis (the “thumb sign”). However, even a patient with severe epiglottitis can be present with a normal appearing radiograph. An emergency consultation with an otorhinolaryngologist should be requested, and the diagnosis can be confirmed with laryngoscopy.The most important issue in the treatment of epiglottitis is to secure the airway. In children, it is recommended that intubation be performed to ensure airway patency. Intubation for adults must be decided on an individual basis, and careful observation during the first day is crucial. Antibiotics are required for the treatment of epiglottitis. Antibiotics should cover H. influenzae, S. pneumoniae, S. aureus and Klebsiella species. Appropriate choices of antibiotics include ceftriaxone, cefuroxime, cefotaxime, or ampicillin/sulbactam. Consultation with an infectious diseases physician is recommended.*39/348/5*

Comments (0) Jun 29 2011

Speaking of dependency, anyone working with alcohol-troubled people is bound to hear this one some time: “Sending someone to AA just creates another dependency.” The implication of this is that you are simply moving the dependency from the bottle to AA, and ducking the real issue. That the dependency shifts from alcohol to AA or a counselor for the newcomer is probably true. We think that is a plus. We also think no one should get stuck there. By “there,” we mean in a life-style just as alcohol-centered as before. The only difference is that the center is “not drinking” instead of “how to keep drinking.” Granted, physical health is less threatened, traumatic events are less frequent, and maybe even job and family stability have been established. Nonetheless, it is a recovery rut (maybe even a trench!). That some do get stuck is unfortunately true, but that is no reason to condemn the whole process. After all, weaning takes time, and no one implies it is easy or without the possibility of some setbacks. The infant doesn’t usually go from the breast to the coffee mug in one easy jump.Many factors probably account for the “stuckness.” One might be an “I never had it so good, so I won’t rock the boat” feeling, a real fear of letting go of the life preserver even when safely ashore. Another factor is that some recovering alcoholics, particularly those who began drinking as teenagers, have spent the bulk of their adult lives as active alcoholics. Therefore, they have no baseline of adult healthy behaviors to return to. They are confronted with gaining sobriety, growing up, and functioning as adults simultaneously. This is a tall order that can be an overwhelming prospect. To make it more manageable, it may well be tempting for these recovering alcoholics to keep their world narrowed down to alcoholism recovery. The only thing they now feel really competent to do, the only area where they have had support and a positive sense of self, is in getting sober. Giving up the status of “newcomer” to be replaced by that of “sober responsible adult” may be scary, so a relapse or drinking episode may ensue. They then can justify and ensure that they can keep doing the only thing they feel they do well—being a client, an AA newcomer, a recovering alcoholic.Another factor could be that some counselors (and some AA members) are better equipped to deal with the crisis period of getting sober than with the later issues of growth and true freedom. Time constraints are too often the cause of the counselor’s inability to encourage the letting go—stretching phase. They are quite often overwhelmed with numbers of clients truly in crisis. They simply have no time or energy to put out for the clients who are “getting along okay.” Counselors who are not content with their clients’ just getting by could aid the process by referring them to extra types of therapy and groups that promote personal exploration and growth. This is a delicate situation; the adjunctive treatments are not to be seen as substituting for whatever has worked so far. Rather, they are an addition to it, whether it is AA, individual counseling, or some other regimen.The counselor who does have time and does work with clients on a long-term basis should beware of getting stuck in back-patting behavior. The phrase, “Well, I didn’t do much today, but at least I stayed sober,” is okay once in awhile. When it becomes a client’s standard refrain, over a long period of time, it should be questioned as a satisfactory life-style. Those who work around treatment facilities are all too aware of groups of alcoholics who hang around endlessly, drinking coffee, talking to other alcoholics exclusively, and clearly going nowhere. For some who, for instance, may have suffered brain damage or some other disability, this may be the best that can be hoped for. However, we suspect that many are there simply because they are not being helped and encouraged to proceed any further. These are the alcoholics most clearly visible to the health care professionals; thus, they may be one reason for the low expectations professionals have for recovering alcoholics. They don’t see the ones who are busy, involved, highly functioning individuals. Our contention is that counselors and caregivers can increase the number of the latter and unstick more and more, if they are sensitive to this issue.*107\331\2*

Comments (0) Jun 16 2011

Complex Partial SeizuresBecause the functions located in the temporal lobe and in the frontal lobe are complex, seizures beginning there can be very complex. There are, in addition, many interconnections of both frontal and temporal lobes to areas of the brain—centrally located—that control alertness and awareness. Thus seizures beginning in the temporal or frontal lobe may alter consciousness. If they do, they are termed “complex partial seizures.”With Simple Partial OnsetA simple partial seizure may spread quickly to the areas that affect consciousness and result in staring, confusion, loss of alertness, or aimless movements. These are called complex partial seizures “with simple partial onset.” They are simple partial seizures with a secondary spread sufficiently slow so that we can recognize where they started. These seizures are most likely to begin in the temporal lobe.*71\208\8*

Comments (0) Jun 05 2011

In the positive Chestnut Bud state the person keenly observes all happenings about him, assimilates the various experience, around him – his personal experiences and the experiences of others to which he has access. The knowledge and wisdom thus gained serves him as a ready reckoner to find a solution pf similar problems in future. “He lives to learn”, and is mentally flexible. In the words of Dr. Bach “This remedy is to, help us to take full advantage of our daily experiences, and to see ourselves and our mistakes as others do”. To summarise the various traits of the negative Chestnut Bud Type which are common:1. The person is too slow to learn any new thing – cycle riding, a new language, a new art or craft etc. and he may even stop learning the same.2. He makes the same mistakes again and again. Never learns from past experience.3. He is inattentive and does not closely observe the things about him.4. He forgets his past experiences without learning any lesson from them, especially the unpleasant experiences5. He develops an escapist mentality, and seeks some excuse to postpone doing the work.6. Attempts to rush into new ventures without assessing the effect of the past ones.7. Physical illness appear regularly at periodic intervals without apparent reason.*80\308\8*

Comments (0) May 25 2011

Freckles occur in early childhood, particularly in children of Celtic background with blond or red hair and blue eyes, and appear following sun exposure. It seems that ultraviolet A light, which penetrates even windows and most sunscreens, is the major cause of freckles.Freckling is hereditary but needs ultraviolet light to become apparent. It is almost impossible to completely protect children from ultraviolet A light, as regular sunscreens do not completely block it out. Good ultraviolet A sunscreens contain benzophenone, dibenzoyl methane and titanium dioxide, for example, Ego SunSense Toddler Milk, Ego Sunsensitive, Clinique City Block and UV Low Allergenic Formula.The only way to remove freckles is by chemical peeling of the skin, which should be done by a qualified medical practitioner. An acid called 35% Trichorecetic acid is applied to the skin, which removes the top layers, including the freckles. New skin, which has not been exposed to the sun, forms from the hair follicles. After chemical peeling people should conscientiously avoid sun exposure to avoid freckles re-appearing. Freckles cannot be removed by fading or bleaching creams which can be bought from chemists.
*13/150/5*

Comments (0) May 16 2011

Frankly, the balanced meal is a sham. If you understand nothing else, appreciate this. Know that the carb portion of that infamous balanced meal is getting stuck in your stomach, that it is not being digested properly because the protein digestion takes precedence. Take meat and potatoes. The potatoes get locked in your stomach and ferment. What are fermented potatoes? Vodka. Why do you think so many people fall asleep after such a meal? Another giveaway? Passing gas, which means the food is fermenting.The only part of a balanced meal that provides any nutritional value is the protein. Everything else is nullified.It’s the proper balance of carbs, fats, and proteins in our diets that is going to keep us slim, healthy, and energetic. But think about it. Now that you understand the physical laws, isn’t the idea of eating them all together as ridiculous as wearing two pairs of shoes at the same time? If the traditional “balanced” meal worked, do you think more than seventy million Americans would be fat?The enzymatic laws that govern the human body are the same for everyone. Each individual’s capacity to stretch these laws is different. In creating your diet based on my methodology we are going to see just how much you can get away with.*55\251\8*

Comments (0) Apr 26 2011

One of the many peculiarities of HIV is the amount of guilt it seems to inspire. People feel guilty for having become infected. They feel they are somehow to blame for having gotten the virus, that they brought it on themselves. “I feel a little guilt,” said Steven. “I should have known to practice safer sex, even though at the time I got infected, no one even knew the virus was around. I know how stupid that sounds, but I feel guilty anyway.” They feel guilty about bringing HIV infection into the lives of other people: about putting their partners or spouses at risk, about having those closest to them go through the trauma of caregiving, about telling their children they have HIV infection, about distressing their parents, their families, and their friends.     Many people also feel guilt about the behavior that put them at risk in the first place. The behaviors that exposed most people to the virus—gay lovemaking and intravenous drug use—are behaviors of which society often disapproves. For many people, social disapproval is distressing, and they feel isolated and punished. Sometimes they unconsciously take social disapproval on themselves as guilt. “A lot of us took society’s view,” said Dean, “and felt guilty about being gay.” The same is generally true for IV drug users: “I was real upset with myself,” said Helen. “This disease makes me feel like I’ve been a dirty person, and I’m not. I’m a clean person.”     Even those whose exposure to the virus came through conditions society does not disapprove of—blood transfusions, hemophilia—still feel guilty. They feel they are to blame for involving their families in a disease that is socially isolating, and for putting their spouses at risk. Lisa said her husband had been afraid their daughters would say, “What did you do to our family?”     Even caregivers feel guilt. Steven’s mother feels that if she had been a better mother, Steven would not have been gay and come in contact with the virus. June feels guilty that she will probably survive her son.
*76\191\2*

Comments (0) Apr 19 2011