Cancer Drives Families Into Debt- A Charity Report

According to a charity report parents of children with cancer borrow money to make ends meet driving them into debt.

A survey carried out by the Children's Cancer Charity found that the illness has a major impact on finances and loss of earnings.

The survey involved 245 families; 76% reported that it had a major impact on their finances and 2 in 3 parents reported a loss in earnings.

Parents also reported a substantial amount of money spent on cancer related expenses each month.


Read more on this report.

This report is about children with cancer, but adults with cancer are affected financially too. Loss of income as a result of disability is common.

When we give gifts for health we are also contributing to the financial needs that often accompany ill health.

Depression-Suicide Linked To Sexting

In a cross- sectional study involving 23,000 students researchers found a linked between sexting and psychological distress.

When compared with teens who didn't sext, twice as many teens who reported sexting had depressive symptoms.

In the study 'sexting' was defined as sending or posting sexually suggestive or explicit nude photos or videos.

Read more on this study and about the cautions given by experts.

Estrogen Use Linked To Urinary Incontinence

According to a recent study women who use estrogen for 5 or more years have increased risk of developing urinary incontinence.

The study involved post-menopausal women who had not reported urinary incontinence. The women were from an ethnically diverse community in Baltimore, USA and were followed for 10 years.

46 reported using hormone therapy containing estrogen and 14 reported using hormone therapy containing estrogen for more than 5 years.

In 2004 28.1% of the women reported new incidences of urinary incontinence and 18.6% reported incontinence with functional loss.

Researchers say that those who reported use of estrogen for more than 5 years were linked to incontinence with condition-specific functional loss.

Risk Of Depresssion Reduced With Caffeine

Researchers found that women who drink more than 2 cups of coffee per day had a lower risk for depression.

The study was a 10 year longitudinal study involving 50,739 women, a mean age of 63 years.

Researchers recorded the number of women who developed clinical depression and compared it with:

1. Coffee ( 80% cafeine


2. Tea (12% caffeine)


3. Soft drinks of 5% caffeine

1-They found that those drank 2-3 cups of coffee per day had a 15% lower risk for depression.
2- Those who drank 4 cups or more had a 20% lower risk.

The results of the study support coffee as a protection against depression.

Read more info on this study.

Vitamin-A Pills Can Save The lives Of 1000's Children

One hundred and ninety million children under the age of 5 may have vitamin-A deficiency, this is according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Researchers believe by giving children vitamin-A pills 600.000 lives could be saved each year.

In the study involving 200,000 children, researchers found that deaths were reduced by 24 % if the children were given vitamin-A supplements.

The body needs vitamin-A for its immune system, the vitamin can prevent diseases such as diarrhoea and measels.

Vitamin-A is found in foods such as cheese, eggs, liver and fish.

Read about this report from the BBC news.

Researchers Found A Cause of Hypoglycaemia

One in 100.000 babies are born with a genetic defect, these children develop hypoglycaemia even when there is no insulin in their blood.

Hypolgycaemia is when the blood sugar level is too low usually due to an imbalance between insulin and sugar.

Researchers analysed the genetic code of three children with this severe form of hypoglycaemia and found that mutations in the AKT2 gene are the cause.

All three children in the study had a mutation in the AKT2 gene.

Read more about the study.

Taking Care of The Family's Heart Health

You can be an advocate for the family's healthy heart by taking certain actions at home.

Each year cardiovascular diseases take the lives of 17 million people, with 80% of these deaths occuring in low and middle income countries. 7.3 percent of these are due to heart disease and 6.3 % due to strokes.
Cardiovascular disease is a major non-communicable disease and the # 1 cause of deaths globally. Fortunatley most of these deaths cna be prevented.

Cardiovascular diseases are:

• Strokes



• Coronary heart disease



• Congenital heart disease



• Peripheral artery disease



• Rheumatic heart disease

It is important that the global efforts to fight heart disease do not rest on policy makers and world leaders only, but on individual homes and families.

This year the them for World Heart Day was: 'One World.One Home. One Heart.'

The World Heart Federation and The World Health Organization (WHO) are challenging us all to take charge of our family's heart health and become our home's advocate for healthy living.


We have one heart and not two, if the heart is bad it leaves us without a good one. Fortunately most of the deaths by heart attacks can be prevented by:
1-Preventing cardiovascular disease
2-Knowing the warning signs of a heart attack

Prevention
Heart disease can be prevented by eliminating the risk factors that cause cardiovascular disease. Awareness of these risk factors and their impact on heart health is a major step in preventing heart attacks.

The majority of deaths can be prevented by healthy eating, regular exercise and no smoking. These lifestyle habits are the key actions in preventing heart attacks.

This year for World Heart Day we are raising awareness of the actions that families can take at home to prevent premature deaths due to heart disease.

These are some of the actions:
*Ban smoking from home
* Stock your home with healthy food for health eating.
Click Here for a guide to healthy eating and shopping.

*Limit the amount of time spent sitting for leisure- Less than two hours of watching TV

*Increase physical activity- Go cycling, hiking or on walking trips
* Walk or bicycle instead of using the car whenever possible
Click Here for easy ways to keep physically active

*Have your blood pressure, glucose levels and cholesterol checked by a health professional

*Assess your weight health using the body mass index (BMI)
Click Here to start

If your body mass index is over 25, plan to lose 5-10% of body, this applies to each member of the family.
Click Here To start

The Warning Signs
Over 70% of heart emergencies occur in the home with another family member present.
Knowing the warning signs of a heart attack can save the life of a family member.

The warning signs are:

• Chest discomfort


• Discomfort or pain spreading to one or both arms, the back, the neck, jaw or stomach


• Shortness of breath without discomfort


• Shortness of breath with discomfort


• Cold sweats


• Nausea or vomiting


• Unexplained weakness

If you suspect a person is having a heart attack, call for emergency help immediately.

Children Not Getting Enough Vitamin D3-Study

According to a recent study children in the USA are not getting enough vitamin-D during the Summer months.

Researchers found that only children with fair, white skin living in the northern United States do, and if no sunscreen is used.

Experts believed that everyday outdoor exposure to the sun was sufficient to give people the recommended daily dose.

Researchers wanted to know if that type of exposure was enough to give children 600 iu per day.

Data from a survey of nearly 10,000 people including 2000 children were examined. They used a skin-type scale which placed them into categories based on skin complexion and tolerance to sunlight.

There were six categories ranging from type 1 ( very fair, usually burns, difficulty tanning) to type 6 (black, never burns, tans easily).

The results of the study showed that only the fair skin children (type 2) were able to achieve the minimum recommended daily dose of vitamin D3 from the sun.

Children with skin type 3-4 may achieve the recommended daily requirements, but without the use of sunscreen.

The children with the darker skin ( type V and type VI) may never achieve optimal production.

Read the report

Childhood Obesity Needs Medical Intervention

In a survey of 2,179 Americans including 728 parents, only 54% said they would consider it very important to seek medical attention for an overweight or obese child.

More than 80% said it was important to seek help for symptoms of asthma and diabetes.
More that 70% said they would do so for learning disability.

The survey shows that many parents would not seek medical intervention for childhood obesity, but would do so for the problems associated with it.


Of those who took the survey:
1-80% of the parents said they were best suited to prevent obesity in the child.
2- 83% said they look to schools for assistance.
3- More than 90% said they would take their child to a doctor for weight related issues if the teacher said the child had a health problem.

Only 54% consider it very important to seek the help of a doctor.

Childhood obesity has tripled in the last 30 years and parents lack of understanding of its seriousness is a major concern.

Based on the results of the survey, for childhood obesity to be treated, parents and teachers need to be educated not only in mangaging weight, but in knowing when medical intervention is necessary.

There is an affordable way to learn weight control and management at home.
Click Here for details.

Early Exposure To Molds Linked To Childhood Asthma

According to a recent research study, infants' exposure to molds play a role in childhood asthma.
Researchers analyzed data over 7 years on 176 children. It was an allergy and air pollution study using the environmental relative moldiness index (ERMI).

RESULT- According to the report, 31 of the 176 children were asthmatic at age 7.
Children living in a high ERMI home at age 1 had twice the risk of developing asthma as children who lived in an ERMI home of less that 5'2. A high ERMI is one with an ERMI value of 5.2 or more.

There was no link between children living in a high ERMI home at age 7 and asthma at age 7.
The findings indicate that exposure to molds in infancy can lead to the disorder in childhood.

Risk of Autism in Siblings Higher Than Thought - US News and World Report

Risk of Autism in Siblings Higher Than Thought - US News and World Report

Not Enough Children Participate In Clinical Trials

To improve the participation rates ofchildren in clinical trials researchers and institutions need to do more.

According to a recent report only 30% of FDA approved medications have been studied on children.

One reason given was parents lack of awareness of the opportunities for their children.

As the report said only 16 % of adults know of opportunities for their children; although, 68% know about opportunities for themselves.

Researchers and institutions are taking the blame for not doing a good enough job to increase parents awareness.

To help pediatricians explain to parents the importance of children's involvement in medical research and to increase their awareness there is a webite:
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/childrenandclinicalstudies/index.php








Read more on this report.

Urinary Incontinence A Risk For Postpartum Depression

In a prospective cohort study researchers evaluated 1,897 women 16 years of age and over.

They used telephone interview and labour and delivery records to determine the relationship between Postpartum depression and mode of delivery.

All the women in the study gave birth to a single live baby and were at term. About 1/3 were delivered by cesarean section.

Result: Researchers found that urinary incontinence almost doubled the risk for postpartum depresssion but the mode of delivery was not associated.

Incontinence Has Greater Effect On Quality Of Life

If you know a family member or friend with incontinence, this study would interest you.

Researchers found that urinary incontinence had a stronger influence on quality of life than diabetes, arthritis and some forms of cancer.

They surveyed 15,000.

The participants were 5000 respondents 65 years of age and older.

More than 35 % reported having urinary incontinence.

The study also found that obesity and women were at greater risk for urinary incontinence.

Here is a report on this study.

Myths & Misconceptions About Diabetes

There are many mistaken beliefs about diabetes, there are myths surrounding the causes and treatment. This article will create awareness by identifying them and disclosing the facts.

They are:
1-Diabetes is not that serious

2-Eating too much sugar causes diabetes

3-Being overweight causes diabetes

4-Having diabetes means you must eat foods different from everyone else

5-A diabetes diagnosis means you automatically need insulin

6-Only older people get diabetes

Read the report and view the slides for details

Screening For Prostate Cancer May Not Reduce Deaths

According to a recent research report screening men for prostate cancer may not reduce the number of deaths from the disease.

With the blood test prostate specific antigen (PSA) doctors look for high levels of the antigen in the blood to make a diagnosis. PSA and a physical examination are the routine screening for prostate cancer

PSA and a physical examination have become the routine screening for the disease but became controversial and in some cases viewed as risky.

According to the study there was no difference in the number of prostate cancer deaths between those who were screened and those who where not.

The study involved 9,026 men, 1,500 were randomnly selected and screened every three years from 1987-1996. The others were not screened.

Researchers reported that the death rates from prostate cancer was similar in both groups.

Read More:
Prostate Cancer Test Doesn't Cut death risk.

Have a "true" snack.: 10 Healthful Snacks That Won't Break the Calorie Bank - US News & World Report

May be you feel like snacking, but you are on a calorie-control diet.
May be you missed lunch today.
May be you just feel hungry.
Well! Don't be despair, there are some healthy snacks that wouldn't cost you in calories.

View the slides Here:
Have a "true" snack.: 10 Healthful Snacks That Won't Break the Calorie Bank - US News & World Report

Tai Chi Has Health Benefits-Study

The ancient practice of Tai chi has gained favour at Harvards Medical School for its health benefits with people of all ages.

The alternative medicine is a combination of martial arts and deep breathing and has benefits for everyone from children to seniors.

Several research studies have linked it to reducing health risk factors that cause disease.

At one study at Harvards researchers reviewed 26 different studies in english and chinese and found that in 85% of trials it lowered blood pressure.


Other health benefits reported are:
-Improve quality of life for breast cancer patients
-Improve quality of life for Parkinsons sufferers
-Maintainance of bone density in postmenopausal women
-Cardia vascular fitness
-relief of stress and anxiety

Tai chi is also known to improve balance, flexibilty and strength.

Your iPod and BlackBerry Can Hurt Your Health - US News and World Report

The way you use your iPod or Blackberry could be risky to your health.

According to a recent report there are ways to promote health while using them:
-Don't multi-task
-Take a break from texting to exercise
-Keep the volume down

Read the report:
Your iPod and BlackBerry Can Hurt Your Health - US News and World Report

Do your texting while standing or walking,this will burn excess calories and keep you physically active.

Orthorexia: An Unhealthy Obsession With Healthy Eating - US News and World Report

This is an article on 'Orthorexia'; although not formerly recognized as a psychiatric diagnosis, it is an eating disorder. Orthorexic individuals are obsessed with healthy eating alienating anything but their perfect diet. Healthy eating is important for health and longevity, but persons with orthorexia, according to experts, take it to the extreme and would eliminate certain classes of food altogether. Experts believe that the problem is more common because of the large number of messages on the risks of obesity and benefits of healthy eating. Read the report: Orthorexia: An Unhealthy Obsession With Healthy Eating - US News and World Report. Consumer health education is available online to teach and educate people about healthy eating and making the right choices.

This article highlights the importance of consumer health education and not just the sharing of information. Healthy eating is about eating a variety of food from all four food groups. This healthy eating guide is based on Canada Food Guide and is easy to follow, it is a useful tool for developing a healthy eating pattern.

Read about this health program.


The health education blog. Orthorexia: An Unhealthy Obsession With Healthy Eating - US News and World Report

Obesity Could Raise Risks of General Anesthesia - US News and World Report

Obese patients are at risk for serious complications during anaesthesia.

According to a recent study, they are twice as likely to develop air way complications as non-obese ones while under general anaesthetic.

Read about this study:
Obesity Could Raise Risks of General Anesthesia - US News and World Report

Obesity is an avoidable health risk factor that can be reduced by consumer/patient health education. Online programs are available to teach people how to eliminate or reduce it.

Knowledge and awareness of these health risk factors can prepare one for medical interventions such as general anaesthetic.

Read about one program:
http://wellingdigital.wordpress.com

How To Determine Your Risk For A Heart Attack

Do you know whether your blood is flowing freely or becoming blocked?
 You probably don't if you didn't have them checked out.

According to a recent study we can determine if we are at risk for a heart attack because we all fall into one of three categories:
1- High risk-You have existing diseases such as diabetes, heart and kidney disease.
2-At risk- You have more than one of the following:
-The risk factors mentioned in our program,
-A family history of early heart disease
-High blood pressure
-High cholesterol
-Metabolic syndrome
3-Optimal Risk-No risk factors.

The study involving women showed that only 4 percent were in the 'optimal risk' category. Almost 75 % fell in the 'at risk' category, many with the risk factors mentioned in our program. Fortunately most of those in this category can reverse their risk by making lifestyle changes.

This article has a video on things that one can do to correct blocked arteries.
How to Determine Your Heart Attack Risk - On Women (usnews.com).

By participating in this consumer health program one can learn to reduce these risk factors by making lifestyle changes.

8 Ways to Stick to Your Diet While Friends Indulge - On Fitness (usnews.com)

8 Ways to Stick to Your Diet While Friends Indulge - On Fitness (usnews.com)

Can Diet Soda Boost Your Stroke Risk? - US News and World Report

According to  recent research, people who drink diet soda are more liklely to develop strokes than those who don't.

The study involved 2, 564 participants age 69 on average,  they were asked about the type of soda they drink and how often.
Researchers found those who drank the diet soda were 61% more likely to have a vascular event.
 

Read the report:
Can Diet Soda Boost Your Stroke Risk? - US News and World Report