Archive for June 29th, 2006
By: CFSAN FDA
The following are the primary complications that can result from tattooing:
Infection . Unsterile tattooing equipment and needles can transmit infectious diseases,such as hepatitis. The risk of infection is the reason the American Association of Blood Banks requires a one-year wait between getting a tattoo and donating blood.
It is extremely important to make sure that all tattooing equipment is clean and sterilized before use. Even if the needles are sterilized or never have been used, it is important to understand that in some cases the equipment that holds the needles cannot be sterilized reliably due to its design. In addition, the person who receives a tattoo must be sure to care for the tattooed area properly during the first week or so after the pigments are injected.
Removal problems . Despite advances in laser technology, removing a tattoo is a painstaking process, usually involving several treatments and considerable expense. Complete removal without scarring may be impossible. See “The Most Common Problem: Dissatisfaction” and “Removal Techniques,” below.
Allergic reactions .Although allergic reactions to tattoo pigments are rare, when they happen they may be particularly troublesome because the pigments can be hard to remove. Occasionally, people may develop an allergic reaction to tattoos they have had for years.
Granulomas .These are nodules that may form around material that the body perceives as foreign, such as particles of tattoo pigment.
Keloid formation . If you are prone to developing keloids — scars that grow beyond normal boundaries — you are at risk of keloid formation from a tattoo. Keloids may form any time you injure or traumatize your skin, and according to Office of Cosmetics and Colors (OCAC) dermatologist Ella Toombs, M.D., tattooing or micropigmentation is a form of trauma. Micropigmentation: State of the Art, a book written by Charles Zwerling, M.D., Annette Walker, R.N., and Norman Goldstein, M.D., states that keloids occur more frequently as a consequence of tattoo removal.
MRI complications . There have been reports of people with tattoos or permanent makeup who experienced swelling or burning in the affected areas when they underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This seems to occur only rarely and apparently without lasting effects.
There also have been reports of tattoo pigments interfering with the quality of the image. This seems to occur mainly when a person with permanent eyeliner undergoes MRI of the eyes. Mascara may produce a similar effect. The difference is that mascara is easily removable.
The cause of these complications is uncertain. Some have theorized that they result from an interaction with the metallic components of some pigments.
However, the risks of avoiding an MRI when your doctor has recommended one are likely to be much greater than the risks of complications from an interaction between the MRI and tattoo or permanent makeup. Instead of avoiding an MRI, individuals who have tattoos or permanent makeup should inform the radiologist or technician of this fact in order to take appropriate precautions, avoid complications, and assure the best results.
The Most Common Problem: Dissatisfaction
According to Dr. Toombs, the most common problem that develops with tattoos is the desire to remove them. Removing tattoos and permanent makeup can be very difficult.
Skill levels vary widely among people who perform tattooing. According to an article by J.K. Chiang, S. Barsky, and D.M. Bronson in the June 1999 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, the main complication with eyelid tattooing is improperly placed pigment. You may want to ask the person performing the procedure for references and ask yourself how willing you are to risk permanently wearing someone else’s mistake.
Although tattoos may be satisfactory at first, they sometimes fade. Also, if the tattooist injects the pigments too deeply into the skin, the pigments may migrate beyond the original sites, resulting in a blurred appearance.
Another cause of dissatisfaction is that the human body changes over time, and styles change with the season. The permanent makeup that may have looked flattering when first injected may later clash with changing skin tones and facial or body contours. People who plan to have facial cosmetic surgery are advised that the appearance of their permanent makeup may become distorted. The tattoo that seemed stylish at first may become dated and embarrassing. And changing tattoos or permanent makeup is not as easy as changing your mind.
June 29th, 2006
By: Michael Roark
Cindy Griffith had difficulty breathing while at work.
A trip to the St. Mary’s Hospital emergency room revealed that she had cancer, and that the disease had spread from her breast and into her lungs. Until the moment that doctors told her she had cancer, she didn’t know she was ill.
“They didn’t expect me to live,” she said of the diagnosis of the stage-four cancer that invaded her body. But it has now been more than three months since that fateful day at the hospital, and a visit with Griffith reveals that she seems to be doing well. She has experienced no pain and has stopped using the portable oxygen bottle that doctors gave her to help her breathe easier. “They can’t understand why I have no pain,” she said. “They can’t believe I am doing so well. They said I would be in the grave by now.”
How can it be that Griffith is doing so well in the wake of such life-altering news? “I keep trusting the Lord that I am being healed. I feel that I am getting better every day,” she explained.
Dr. Stephan Rosenfeld, an oncologist with the Highlands Oncology Group, told The Hometown News that stage four-cancer means the disease is incurable and has spread from one organ to another.
But he agreed that Griffith is doing well and that her faith gives her a peace that causes her not to worry about the disease. He added this allows her to direct more energy toward fighting the cancer.
Rosenfeld also called Griffith “a fighter” and said her faith and strong will allowed her to accept the diagnosis.
Griffith seems to downplay any mention of her ability to fight the disease and gives all of the credit to how good she feels to God.
At a service at the First United Pentecostal Church of Rogers, Griffith said the Lord healed her. “I believe the Lord is healing me one day at a time,” Griffith stressed.
Her pastor, Russell Hamby, said a missionary who serves in Africa was visiting the Rogers church at a recent service. He shared a story about how he prayed for a woman on the mission trial and she was healed.
Hamby said Griffith’s is a special story. “Now I am telling you that I was raised in the church and this is one of the most amazing things I have ever seen,” Hamby said.
At the end of the service, Hamby said people wanting prayer for healing were invited to the church’s alter and Griffith came forward. “She was standing there with her oxygen bottle when he prayed for her. She just crumpled back into the arms of God. After a little while she got up,” Hamby said. “I was slain in the spirit,” Griffith explained. “I felt the presence of the Lord, and I was rejoicing in the Lord.”
That night at the evening service, the crowd worshipped to the music the church’s band played.
While the band played “When the Saints Go Marching In” there was a real moving of the Holy Spirit, Hamby said. The crowd was clapping and worshipping with the music. “All of a sudden, Cindy Griffith, of all people, came marching forward to the music,” Hamby said. “She had never made a peep in church. She had her oxygen bottle in a sling and she was dancing down the aisle. I had to look twice and it was Cindy.
And when she got down to the front of the church, the expression on her face was the most brilliant calmness I have ever seen. It was just jubilation, like someone who would received something they didn’t ever expect.”
Hamby said he was concerned for Griffith and came to her. “She was dancing and told me ‘the Lord commanded me to shout… All I know that God commanded me to shout.’”
Hamby said this is the last time he saw Griffith using the oxygen and that the color had returned to her face. “She told me she doesn’t need it any more,” he said. “She hasn’t used it since that night.
“I know that God does honor faith, “the pastor said.” This is one of the most phenomenal things I have ever seen in my whole life.”
Rosenfeld couldn’t talk about Griffith’s specific condition because of federal privacy laws. He did stress, however, the importance of getting regular physicals and women having regular breast examinations.
“Lung cancer is the number one killer of women, “he said.” And it is almost completely preventable.”
The doctor said when a cancer is found in its early stages, there is a much greater chance of a patient’s recovery. He again stressed the importance of every person having an annual physical. He also said that women over 40 should have a mammogram each year.
Griffith is receiving chemotherapy each month but reports she has had little problems because of the treatment.
She does believe the medical treatment is part of the healing process.
She likes to get out into the yard of her south Rogers home and walk some and enjoy each day. She also likes to catch a ride to church with one of her friends. These days, her life is peaceful and she seems carefree.
“I get up every morning and thank the Lord for the day and for healing me,” Griffith said.
Managing editor Michael Roark can be reached by e-mail at michaelr@nwanews.com at NWAnews.com
June 29th, 2006
By: Baylor College of Medicine
Modern women need more than Calgon™ to `take them away’ from their stressful days.
“Women and Stress: Successfully juggling your busy life,” a brochure produced by the Office of Health Promotion at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, gives women strategies on dealing with stress and preventing it from interfering with their lives.
“Women are particularly vulnerable to stress because we juggle multiple roles,” said Dr. Jennifer Hays, director of the Center for Women’s Health at Baylor and an associate professor in the department of medicine. “We often try to balance traditional roles at home along with full-time jobs.”
Some stress can help women perform at their peak. But too much is destructive to their physical and emotional well being. Stress can even come from good events, such as planning a wedding or receiving a promotion. Unfortunately, your body doesn’t know the difference between “good stress,” and “bad stress.”
Stress makes a person more susceptible to disease, which then aggravates any existing illness or chronic condition such as heart disease, depression, ulcers, irritable bowel disease, diabetes, the common cold, urinary tract infections, arthritis and asthma. Some people seek comfort from stress by engaging in behaviors such as alcohol and drug abuse, smoking, or overeating, which have negative physical and emotional health consequences of their own.
Some common physical and emotional symptoms of stress are:
• Fatigue
• Head, back, neck, and shoulder aches
• Stomach problems
• Eating too much or too little
• Sleeping too much or not enough, or interrupted sleep
• Colds
• Changes in menstrual cycles
• Crying easily
• Forgetfulness
• Feeling anxious
• Feeling isolated
• Frustration
• Irritability
• Difficulty concentrating
June 29th, 2006
By: Kathy
Natural Breast Enlargement is a much safer and cheaper way to enlarge your breasts. In fact, breast enlargement surgery can cost $10,000 or more.
There are many alternative, natural breast enlargement options on the market today for you to choose from though. Let’s look at some of the most popular herbs included in these and why…
Feneugreek Seed Extract contains some of the highest concentrations of the plant elements recommended by herbalists for breast enlargement. Also hormone regulator that that has been used to treat menopausal symptoms and balances the female system.
Fennel Seed is rich in flavonoids that cause estrogenic effects. This boosting of secretion is key to the formation of new breast cells and tissue, and the boosting of excretion is key to the cleansing of the estrogen receptor sites which get clouded with environmental toxins that mimic estrogen. By acting to remove these and other toxins from the body, it acts as a tonic and stimulant as well.
Dong Quai Root aids the body in the efficient use of hormones. Also used as treatment for some menopause symptoms and it’s been used successfully to alleviate PMS (premenstrual syndrome) and menopausal symptoms (Hardy 2000). Scientists believe that one mechanism of action of Dong Quai is to promote natural progesterone synthesis. Progesterone (to be discussed in more detail later) is another hormone whose production declines at menopause. The plant nutrients can help to wash these out of the system, aiding in increasing the health of the breast tissue.
Blessed Thistle Herb is used to treat a variety of female concerns including painful menstruation and associated aches and pains. Also used as a hormonal regulator and aid in digestion and circulation. Because of it’s powerful estrogenic properties, it is chiefly used now for nursing mothers, the warm infusion scarcely ever failing to procure a proper supply of milk. It is considered one of the best medicines which can be used for this purpose.
Dandelion Root is a perennial plant found almost everywhere. Dandelion root effects all forms of secretion and excretion from the body. This boosting of secretion is key to the formation of new breast cells and tissue, and the boosting of excretion is key to the cleansing of the estrogen receptor sites which get clouded with environmental toxins that mimic estrogen. By acting to remove these and other toxins from the body, it acts as a tonic and stimulant as well.
Watercress Leaf. J.E. Meyers, Botanical Gardens of Hammond, Indiana informs us that Watercress is one of the best sources of vitamin E. This is the fertility vitamin, essential to breast enlargement, Vitamin E helps the body to use oxygen, which increases physical endurance and stamina and improves heart response.
L-Tyrosine is a direct precursor to Thyroxine, a primary thyroid hormone, as well as Adrenaline and Nor-adrenaline. Thyroxine has been found to increase metabolic rate and control growth rate. L-Tyrosine is a necessary amino acid in the production of neurotransmitters including epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine. L-Tyrosine also appears to have a mild stimulatory effect on the central nervous system.
Kelp is the common name for seaweed. It absorbs fats and has been shown to have efficacy for obesity, cellulitis and rheumatism. It is rich in nutrients, containing 30 minerals, so it is especially beneficial for anyone who is mineral deficient. It is reported to be beneficial for the brain and nervous system and the spinal chord. Kelp contains iodine which stimulates the thyroid. Kelp has also been reported to improve skin, nails and hair, protect against radiation, soften stools and treat obesity and ulcers.
Vitamin E, an anti-oxidant, plays a role in the body’s ability to utilize oxygen. It also protects Vitamin A from destruction in the body and unsaturated fats from abnormal breakdown. Vitamin E prolongs the life of red blood cells and promotes cell respiration and is reported to be the anti-aging vitamin. In addition, Vitamin E helps minimize scarring and assists in the healing of wounds, retards blood clotting, keeps youthful elasticity in tissues and alleviates hot flashes and menopausal distress.
So there you have it. Using natural breast enlargement herbal supplements not only makes your breasts larger, it can also help alleviate many of the common health problems women have.
For additional information on natural breast enlargement supplements, and how all of these great herbs work together to grow your breasts, please visit www.123Breast.com
June 29th, 2006
By: Harvard School of Public Health
A prospective study by researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) has found that obesity and smoking are strongly associated with a greater risk of erectile dysfunction (ED).
Meanwhile, regular physical activity appeared to have a significant impact on lowering the risk of Erectile Dysfunction. This is the first large-scale prospective study to examine the links between Erectile Dysfunction and smoking, obesity, alcohol and a sedentary lifestyle. The study will appear in the July 2006 issue of The Journal of Urology.
The researchers, led by Constance Bacon, a former post-doctoral fellow at HSPH, and Eric Rimm, associate professor of epidemiology and nutrition at HSPH, surveyed 22,086 healthy subjects between the ages of 40 and 75 from the Health Professionals Follow-up Study who reported good or very good erectile function and no major chronic disease before 1986. Among the participants, 17.7 percent (3,905) reported new onset of Erectile Dysfunction between 1986 and 2000. The researchers adjusted the results to take into account those with and without prostate cancer during the follow-up period, since prostate cancer treatments, such as radiation or surgery, may lead to Erectile Dysfunction.
The results showed that both smoking and obesity were associated with a higher risk of the development of Erectile Dysfunction among previously healthy men with good erectile function. The researchers also found that regular physical activity showed a strong inverse association with Erectile Dysfunction risk. “We found a 2.5-fold difference in risk of Erectile Dysfunction when we compared obese men who did little exercise with men who were not overweight and averaged 30 minutes of vigorous exercise a day. (Obesity was defined as a body mass index of more than 30 kilograms in weight divided by the square of height in meters.) For men younger than 55 there was a 4-fold difference in risk for the same comparison,” said Rimm. Alcohol consumption did not increase the risk of Erectile Dysfunction. In general, men without prostate cancer showed stronger associations with these lifestyle factors than those with prostate cancer.
These results suggest that Erectile Dysfunction and coronary heart disease may share many of the same risk factors. Rimm said the results should encourage men to follow a more healthy lifestyle. “Many men may choose not to change to a healthier lifestyle, which includes exercise and a prudent diet, because they perceive heart disease as something that may only develop decades in the future. Hopefully, these results will help to motivate men to adopt a more active lifestyle to avoid a problem which may be more immediate,” he said.
(The Health Professionals Follow-Up Study was launched in 1986 to examine diet and chronic disease among male health professionals in the U.S.)
The study was supported by Pfizer, Inc., and by grants from the National Institutes of Health.
June 29th, 2006
By: CFSAN FDA
The following are the primary complications that can result from tattooing:
Infection .
Unsterile tattooing equipment and needles can transmit infectious diseases,such as hepatitis.
The risk of infection is the reason the American Association of Blood Banks requires a one-year wait between getting a tattoo and donating blood.
It is extremely important to make sure that all tattooing equipment is clean and sterilized before use. Even if the needles are sterilized or never have been used, it is important to understand that in some cases the equipment that holds the needles cannot be sterilized reliably due to its design. In addition, the person who receives a tattoo must be sure to care for the tattooed area properly during the first week or so after the pigments are injected.
Removal problems . Despite advances in laser technology, removing a tattoo is a painstaking process, usually involving several treatments and considerable expense. Complete removal without scarring may be impossible. See “The Most Common Problem: Dissatisfaction” and “Removal Techniques,” below.
Allergic reactions .Although allergic reactions to tattoo pigments are rare, when they happen they may be particularly troublesome because the pigments can be hard to remove. Occasionally, people may develop an allergic reaction to tattoos they have had for years.
Granulomas .These are nodules that may form around material that the body perceives as foreign, such as particles of tattoo pigment.
Keloid formation . If you are prone to developing keloids — scars that grow beyond normal boundaries — you are at risk of keloid formation from a tattoo. Keloids may form any time you injure or traumatize your skin, and according to Office of Cosmetics and Colors (OCAC) dermatologist Ella Toombs, M.D., tattooing or micropigmentation is a form of trauma. Micropigmentation: State of the Art, a book written by Charles Zwerling, M.D., Annette Walker, R.N., and Norman Goldstein, M.D., states that keloids occur more frequently as a consequence of tattoo removal.
MRI complications . There have been reports of people with tattoos or permanent makeup who experienced swelling or burning in the affected areas when they underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This seems to occur only rarely and apparently without lasting effects.
There also have been reports of tattoo pigments interfering with the quality of the image. This seems to occur mainly when a person with permanent eyeliner undergoes MRI of the eyes. Mascara may produce a similar effect. The difference is that mascara is easily removable.
The cause of these complications is uncertain. Some have theorized that they result from an interaction with the metallic components of some pigments.
However, the risks of avoiding an MRI when your doctor has recommended one are likely to be much greater than the risks of complications from an interaction between the MRI and tattoo or permanent makeup. Instead of avoiding an MRI, individuals who have tattoos or permanent makeup should inform the radiologist or technician of this fact in order to take appropriate precautions, avoid complications, and assure the best results.
The Most Common Problem: Dissatisfaction
According to Dr. Toombs, the most common problem that develops with tattoos is the desire to remove them. Removing tattoos and permanent makeup can be very difficult.
Skill levels vary widely among people who perform tattooing. According to an article by J.K. Chiang, S. Barsky, and D.M. Bronson in the June 1999 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, the main complication with eyelid tattooing is improperly placed pigment. You may want to ask the person performing the procedure for references and ask yourself how willing you are to risk permanently wearing someone else’s mistake.
Although tattoos may be satisfactory at first, they sometimes fade. Also, if the tattooist injects the pigments too deeply into the skin, the pigments may migrate beyond the original sites, resulting in a blurred appearance.
Another cause of dissatisfaction is that the human body changes over time, and styles change with the season. The permanent makeup that may have looked flattering when first injected may later clash with changing skin tones and facial or body contours. People who plan to have facial cosmetic surgery are advised that the appearance of their permanent makeup may become distorted. The tattoo that seemed stylish at first may become dated and embarrassing. And changing tattoos or permanent makeup is not as easy as changing your mind.
June 29th, 2006