Archive for July, 2006
By: Baylor College of Medicine
With sweltering temperatures this summer, knowing what UVB, UVA and SPF stand for is important to keeping your skin healthy.
Ultraviolet B (UVB) rays are the sun’s burning rays and are the primary cause of sunburn and skin cancer. Ultraviolet A (UVA) rays, which pass through window glass, penetrate deeper into the skin. They also contribute to sunburns and skin cancer. Both UVA and UVB rays can cause suppression of the immune system which helps to protect you against the development and spread of skin cancer.
Before you decide to lay out by the pool, make sure that your sunscreen’s Sun Protection Factor (SPF) is strong enough.
“Sunscreen is extremely important during these hot summer months, because the sun is an important factor in the development of skin cancer and in the aging of the skin,” said Dr. Jodi Markus, an assistant professor of dermatology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.
The sunscreen SPF rating is calculated by comparing the amount of time needed to produce a sunburn on sunscreen protected skin to the amount of time needed to cause a sunburn on unprotected skin.
Markus recommends that everyone use a broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB rays. It should have an SPF of at least 15, which offers 93 percent protection from the sun’s UVB rays. If you burn easily, try SPF 30, which offers 97 percent protection, or go even higher. Sunscreen should be applied liberally, at least 30 minutes before going outdoors in order to allow it to be completely absorbed into the skin.
Sunscreen works by absorbing, reflecting, or scattering the sun’s rays on the skin. Visible opaque sunblock creams can be either white or colored. These creams prevent light from entering the skin. They are useful for high-risk areas such as the nose, lips, and shoulders.
Another way of protecting your body from the sun’s harmful rays is by adding sun protection products to your laundry. These laundry aids work by washing an invisible shield into clothing and lasts for up to 20 washes.
Sun protection helps prevent skin damage, wrinkles, and reduces the risk of developing skin cancer. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, more than one million new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed each year.
Sun safety tips for good skin care:
• Plan outdoor activities early or late in the day to avoid peak sunlight hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Use a sunscreen with a SPF of at least 15 on all exposed skin, including the lips, even on cloudy days.
• Wear protective, tightly-woven clothing, a broad-brimmed hat and sunglasses.
• Re-apply sunscreen every two to four hours, even on cloudy days, and after swimming or sweating.
July 31st, 2006
By: Indian Foundation of Scientific Yoga
A lot has been publicized in media about benefits of Yogasana the third limb of Rajayoga (popularly understood as Yoga).
The benefits of yoga are ranging from Stress management, flexibility, helping in cancer etc.
However, like every other science, Yogasana (yoga) is a science that benefits most when one follows it under right health conditions.
The same yoga posture may benefits some people and may be harmful for other depending upon your body health conditions. For example, yoga posture The Shoulder-stand (Sarvangasana) is called the Queen of all asanas as it benefits the whole body. It is a forward-bending posture engaging all parts of the body and stretching the shoulders, neck and upper back. As the body is inverted the blood flows to the heart without any strain by force of the gravity. During holding this yoga posture the blood pressure in the brain will be an average of 110mmHg.
The Shoulder stand yoga posture nourishes the thyroid gland which: regulates the body’s metabolism, controls the heart rate, promotes the growth and balances the digestive and nervous system. This asana tones the legs and abdomen increasing circulation to those areas. It massages the abdominal organs and it relieves stress. Because of the enriched blood flow to the brain it also relieves emotional and mental stress, headaches and it is very tranquilizing.
However among many body conditions following are three physical conditions under which this same yoga posture shoulder stand which is quite beneficial is not recommended.
• If you have High Blood Pressure the posture is better to avoid.
• Anyone who has Cervical Spondylitis should not attempt to practice this pose because as you hold the pose the weight of the body is taken through the neck.
• If you have Glaucoma or Detached Retina please, avoid the Shoulder stand as it could worsen the condition.
Issued in interest of people practicing Yoga by Subodh Gupta, Yoga Expert based in London.Mr.Subodh Gupta, a Corporate Yoga Trainer has conducted more than 500 workshops on Yoga and Stress Management. He has been interviewed by various TV channels in India and London. For more information on yoga see subodhgupta.com.
July 31st, 2006
By: Baylor College of Medicine
Picking the wrong nail care expert is an easy way to catch a number of nasty infections, and consumers should be extremely careful when
choosing a pedicure and manicure specialist, said a Baylor College of Medicine dermatologist.
Dr. Ida Orengo, an associate professor in the department of dermatology, said the most common ailments spread by unsanitary nail care facilities are fungal infections, yeast infections, hepatitis C and HIV.
All nail salons are required to sterilize instruments between clients, she said. However, many salons get busy and don’t always do it properly.
“One of the best ways to be safe is to buy your own manicure or pedicure tools,” she said. “Then, you know they are sanitary no matter who does the work.”
Orengo said beauty supply stores sell the sets for between $25 and $60.
“You might just want to talk to whoever does your nails,” she said. “They may be able to order a set for you at wholesale cost that you can bring with you each time you visit the salon.”
Make sure the person doing your nails does not push back or cut the cuticle, she said. The cuticle seals the skin and the nail, and keeps fungus and yeast from getting inside.
“If you want to do something with the cuticle, just use a cuticle dissolver,” she said. “Those are lotions that will soften them up without detaching them.”
Consumers should also think twice before getting acrylic, or “fake,” nails.
“Not only are some people allergic to them, they also provide a great place for infections to grow between your real nail and the acrylic nail,” she said.
Orengo recommends keeping the hands clean, applying nail moisturizer and keep nails filed.
Vitamins, such as Biotin, can also help strengthen nails.
July 31st, 2006
By: Baylor College of Medicine
When it comes to protecting your skin from the sun’s harmful rays, it’s best to mind your SPFs.
Many people have heard of Sun Protection Factor, but few understand the difference between SPF 15, 30 and 45. SPF indicates how much protection from the sun the product will provide. To determine what works best for you, multiply the SPF by the amount of time it normally takes you to burn. In the example below, 10 minutes has been designated.
• SPF 15 x 10 minutes = 150 minutes. This means you can be in the sun approximately 2.5 hours without getting burned.
• SPF 30 x 10 minutes = 300 minutes. This indicates you can be in the sun 5 hours without getting burned.
• SPF 45 x 10 minutes = 450 minutes. You can stay in the sun approximately 7.5 hours without burning. SPFs higher than 30 or 45 offer only slightly more protection and need to be used by people who are extremely sensitive to the sun.
“Sunblocks may work better than sunscreens because they physically block the ultraviolet (UV) radiation from penetrating the skin, unlike sunscreens which contain chemicals that absorb a portion of the UV radiation,” said Dr. Ramsey Markus, an assistant professor of dermatology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. “Sunblocks containing zinc oxide or titanium dioxide are excellent at preventing UV damage, however some patients prefer sunscreens to sunblock because they tend to be less ‘pasty’ appearing.”
An SPF of 15 is best for daily use by people who spend the majority of their day indoors. An SPF of 30 or greater is better for those who are out in the sun for extended periods of time.
Too much sun early in life can lead to conditions including premature aging, freckling, liver spots, broken blood vessels and skin cancer.
Markus offers the following tips to protect skin from the sun’s harmful rays:
• Stay inside or seek shade during peak hours of radiation, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tightly woven clothing helps to block radiation from reaching your skin, while loosely woven fabrics allow radiation to pass through.
• Use a wide brimmed hat or sun visor to protect your head and neck. Baseball caps do not provide protection for your neck, the sides of your face or your ears.
• Even if your sunblock is waterproof or sweatproof, reapply every two hours. Apply generously to all exposed skin surfaces 30 minutes before going outside, and reapply after swimming or after heavy perspiration.
“Applying sunblock daily is the most important thing we can do to protect and preserve our skin,” Markus said. “Taking the necessary steps to prevent sun damage early in life decreases the chance of developing sun-related conditions later in life.”
July 31st, 2006
By: M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
When mice with ovarian cancer are stressed, their tumors grow and spread more quickly, but that effect can be blocked using a medication
commonly prescribed for heart disease, according to a preclinical study by researchers at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.
The finding, published in the journal Nature Medicine, now available on-line, provides the first measurable link between psychological stress and the biological processes that make ovarian tumors grow and spread. Specifically, the researchers showed that stress hormones bind to receptors directly on tumor cells and, in turn, stimulate new blood vessel growth and other factors that lead to faster and more aggressive tumors.
“This study provides a new understanding of how chronic stress and stress factors drive tumor growth,” says Anil Sood, M.D., associate professor of gynecologic oncology and cancer biology and director of ovarian cancer research.
In fact, when the researchers blocked the stress hormone receptors in their experimental system using a heart disease drug called propranolol, also known as a “beta blocker,” they were able to stop the negative effects of stress on tumor growth. The researchers used the beta blocker because the same hormone receptors, called beta adrenergic receptors, are found in the heart and normally work to maintain blood flow.
“The concept of stress hormone receptors directly driving cancer growth is very new,” says Sood, the study’s senior author. “Not much had been known about how often these receptors are expressed in cancer, and more importantly, whether they had any functional significance. Our research opens a new area of investigation.”
The research began when Sood and his colleague Susan Lutgendorf found an association between ovarian cancer patients who reported high levels of stress in their lives and an increase in a factor that stimulates blood vessel growth in tumors. By contrast, patients who had more social support in their lives had lower levels of this factor. Sood wondered if hormones associated with chronic stress might affect how cancers grow.
Sood’s research team, led by investigators Premal Thaker, M.D., Liz Han, M.D., and Aparna Kamat, M.D., in the Department of Gynecologic Oncology, developed a mouse model of ovarian cancer to study the link. In their experiments, the researchers confined the mice in a small space for zero, two or six hours during the day.
The confinement caused the mice to produce the same stress hormones as humans produce when they are under stress. These beta adrenergic hormones are sometimes called the “fight-or-flight” hormones because they are released when people are fearful or threatened, and are also responsible for causing the heart to beat harder and faster.
Sood and his colleagues found that, surprisingly, cancer cells make receptors for these hormones on their surface and that when these receptors are activated they set in motion a chain of events that leads to formation of new blood vessels that feed tumors, a process called angiogenesis. New blood vessel formation is known to allow tumors to grow and spread more rapidly.
“We were quite surprised to find these beta adrenergic receptors on ovarian cancer cells,” says Sood. “In fact, we found them in 17 of 19 ovarian cancer cell lines we tested.”
After three weeks, the researchers measured the number and size of tumors in the mice. The number of tumors was 2.5 times greater in the mice that had been in the 2-hour stress group and 3.6 times greater in the 6-hour stress group compared to the mice with no stress. In addition, tumor growth was confined in the no-stress mice, but had spread to the liver or spleen in half of the stressed mice.
In additional experiments, the researchers gave the stressed mice propranolol, which blocked the effect of stress hormones. The medication completely neutralized the effect of stress on tumor growth,” says Sood.
“Beta blockers have been shown to be protective against cardiac disease,” he says. “No one has studied their effect on chronic stress as it relates to cancer in humans. There is a lot of interest now in this area of combining behavioral interventions to reduce stress, as well as using beta blockers in cancer patients.”
July 31st, 2006
By: Baylor College of Medicine
If you have ever had swimmer’s ear, chances are you have wanted to pull the plug on the pain.
“When water is trapped in the ear canal for a long time, the skin barrier is weakened,” said Dr. Jeffrey Vrabec, an associate professor of otorhinolaryngology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. “Bacteria can then enter the skin, causing an infection that can become very painful.”
Swimmer’s ear, or otitis externa, is an inflammation of the outer ear that is most often caused by the accumulation of excess moisture from swimming or daily showering. Symptoms of swimmer’s ear include swelling, redness, itching, muffled hearing and/or discharge from the ear. Antibiotic drops are used to treat the condition, and pain can be lessened by applying a warm cloth to the ear or by using a heating pad.
“If severe swelling occurs, it helps to place a cotton wick in the ear to prevent further inflammation and help to control pain,” Vrabec said.
To help prevent swimmer’s ear, Vrabec recommends the following for susceptible individuals:
• Wear earplugs and a cap when swimming to reduce the chance of water becoming trapped inside the ear.
• Use alcohol-based drops before and after swimming and showering.
• Use a hairdryer to dry the ear canal to prevent water build-up and infection.
• After getting out of the shower or pool, lie down on the affected ear to help remove excess water. Dry ears are less likely to become infected.
• Do not use cotton swabs to remove excess water from the ear. This can pack material deeper into the narrow ear canal, which can irritate the skin and make it bleed.
“It is important not to clean the ear excessively in an attempt to prevent infection,” Vrabec said. “Vigorous cleansing could damage and break down the skin barrier, making a bacterial infection more likely.”
July 31st, 2006
By: Wiley
Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates can be significantly improved using a dedicated health educator empowered with culturally appropriate
educational tools, according to a new study. Published in the September 1, 2006 issue of CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, a randomized, controlled trial found low income Chinese-speaking patients were six-times more likely to be screened for Colorectal cancer when a clinic-based, multilingual health educator provided culturally and linguistically appropriate counseling, educational materials, and screening test instructions.
More than 148,000 men and women will be diagnosed with Colorectal cancer in 2006, according to the American Cancer Society, and more than half will present with advanced disease with poor prognoses. Because patients with localized CRC have excellent prognoses, early detection of the disease through screening is critical. To reduce Colorectal cancer mortality, screening tools, like fecal occult blood testing (FOBT), flexible sigmoidoscopy, and colonoscopy are currently recommended for average risk individuals who are 50 years or older. Still, screening rates are disappointingly low, with just over half of adults 50 and over reporting having had a recent test.
Until a few decades ago, Colorectal cancer was predominantly a Western disease afflicting Caucasians. Studies of immigrants from low-incidence countries to the U.S. show that CRC incidence increases within one generation. In Hawaii and Los Angeles, Colorectal cancer incidence rates among one Asian and Pacific Islander group, the Japanese Americans, are among the highest in the world. Moreover, the Asian Pacific Islander population is at risk for presenting with more advanced diseases. One study has shown that foreign-born Asians and Pacific Islanders in the U.S. are particularly more likely to present with metastatic disease.
Led by Shin-Ping Tu, M.D., M.P.H. of the Harborview Medical Center/University of Washington and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, researchers investigated the effectiveness of a clinic-based, multilingual intervention to increase Colorectal cancer screening by FOBT within six months among low income, poorly acculturated Chinese in the U.S. In this randomized control clinical trial, one group received standard of care and the other group received counseling from a trilingual and bicultural health educator and were given multilingual educational materials (i.e., video, pamphlets), FOBT instructions, and three FOBT cards.
Within the six months of the intervention, seven out of ten people (69.5 percent) in the intervention arm had completed FOBT screening compared to fewer than three out of ten (27.6 percent) in the control arm.
“Our results confirm the notable effectiveness of a multi-component, culturally appropriate health education program to promote FOBT screening within an ethnic minority group,” the authors write. In the context of interventions for other at-risk populations, “the large effect of our intervention suggests the remarkable impact of culturally appropriate health education among populations with limited health information,” they conclude.
July 31st, 2006
By: DukeMed News
Women typically reach menopause in their early 50s. Fluctuations in hormonal levels and cycles can make this a time of profound emotional
and physical changes for many women. It’s also a time when a program of regular exercise can be especially beneficial.
Shan James, exercise physiologist and fitness manager at the Duke Center for Living, part of Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., says exercise benefits menopausal and post-menopausal women in several ways.
“The hormonal changes affect not only mood swings, behavior and emotions, but also the way our body works,” says James. “The endorphins that are released in exercise can actually help with a lot of these mood swings that women experience.”
James says an exercise program during and after menopause should include weight-bearing and resistance exercise to help increase or maintain bone density and prevent osteoporosis. She recommends weight-bearing exercises, such as walking or jogging, as well as resistance exercise, which is the most effective way to help strengthen the major muscle groups.
Aerobic exercise reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and also helps to combat weight gain.
“As our metabolism slows down, we gain weight more quickly,” James says. “So you absolutely have to add in cardiovascular exercise, at that time, getting the heart rate up for 30 to 60 minutes, to be able to counteract the weight gain.”
James has two important recommendations for anyone planning to begin an exercise program. First, always be sure to talk with a qualified fitness professional and to your physician before starting out; and, second, remember that your fitness program is much more likely to be successful if it’s combined with an appropriate diet and nutrition plan.
July 31st, 2006
You are what you eat, in more ways than one. Subsisting on fat-laden fries, sugar-filled drinks, and salt-packed convenience foods can leave you sluggish and weak.
You drag all day, hit an afternoon slump and your body immediately demands more sugar for energy. Enjoying a variety of vitamin-, mineral-, and fiber-packed foods, on the other hand, builds a strong body and allows you to power effortlessly through the day. A well-balanced diet can also help you fight off colds, daily stressors and disease.
• Nutrition Basics
• Sample Menu
• Putting Ideas into Action
Nutrition Basics
Don’t Skip Meals
Missing meals on a regular basis is a bad idea no matter what your reason. No time? Make time. Trying to lose weight? This won’t work. Skipping meals leads to overeating later in the day. In addition, the body becomes very efficient to prevent starvation. Translation: your metabolism slows down and stores more fat. Finally, without the continuous energy food supplies, you become run down and more susceptible to sickness. The solution: During the day try to eat every 3 to 4 hours. That means breakfast, perhaps a snack, lunch, a snack, and dinner.
Eat Breakfast
Certainly every meal is important, but the first meal after a long night’s rest is crucial in many ways. It’s the first shot of energy to rev you up and get your day started. It’s a great opportunity to eat your first servings of calcium-rich dairy foods, fruits, and whole grains–common ingredients in morning meals. A good breakfast also helps you steer clear of high fat/sugar vending machine fillers.
Eat Protein With Your Carbs
No need to avoid carbs altogether, just don’t over do it. Pairing protein-rich foods with your carbs makes this task easier. Carbohydrates provide much-needed energy to your body; however they are digested quickly leaving you feeling hungry soon after eating. Bagels and muffins for breakfast, candy bar snacks and large portions of pasta and rice at lunch and dinner become an unending cycle resulting in hunger pangs and the need for a pick-me-up. Proteins digest more slowly therefore you feel satisfied longer. The solution: Enjoy complex carbs in moderate amounts and along with low-fat protein. Instead of a bagel and cream cheese, try an English muffin with peanut butter. Instead of a candy bar, how about dried cranberries and almonds. Instead of a big bowl of pasta, dish out three-quarters a cup of pasta along with a grilled chicken breast.
Break Down Your Dish
Chances are your dinner (or lunch) plate looks a bit like this: a pile of meat, chicken, or fish and a pile of rice, potatoes, or pasta and on a good day maybe a smidgen of veggies or a salad on the side. Well its time to put your math skills to work. Divide your plate into three parts. One quarter is for the protein of the meal–meat, chicken, beans, etc.–three ounces or about the size of the palm of your hand. One quarter is for the starchy foods–rice, potato, corn, etc.–about a half cup. And the remaining half should be loaded up with fruits and veggies. With the exception of the starchy vegetables like corn, peas, and potatoes, veggies can be eaten as often as and as much as you want. They help fill you up but contribute few calories.
This menu is based on the needs of a 140-pound, lightly active woman.
Breakfast:
One hard boiled egg, 2 slices 100% whole wheat toast with a teaspoon of tub margarine, a half cup of sliced strawberries, 6-ounces of low-fat yogurt, and a cup of tea
Lunch:
Two cups of salad (lettuce, tomato, cucumber, carrot, etc.) topped with 2 ounces of sliced turkey, 2 tablespoons of crumbled feta cheese, and 3 tablespoons of low-fat balsamic vinaigrette dressing, with 6 whole wheat crackers (such as Triscuits), a plum and an 8-ounce glass of skim milk
Dinner:
4 ounces salmon sauteed in a tablespoon of olive oil and brushed with 2 tablespoons of teriyaki sauce, a cup of steamed broccoli, a half cup of quick-to-cook brown rice (such as Uncle Ben’s Ready Rice), and an 8-ounce glass of skim milk
Snacks:
3 tablespoons of cashews mixed with 3 tablespoons of raisins
A fat-free chocolate pudding snack cup
Nutrition Information:
1784 calories, 60 grams of fat, 12 grams of saturated fat, 95 grams protein, 2800 milligrams of sodium, 237 grams of carbohydrates, 23 grams of fiber
Putting Ideas into Action
Not only is eating every meal important, snacks help prevent over-hunger which leads to over-eating. This sample day includes 2 snacks. When you eat them depends on your mealtimes. For example, if you have an early breakfast and late lunch, a mid-morning snack is for you. Not crazy about nuts and dried fruit? How about an apple with peanut butter or cheese and crackers. Both give you the needed protein/carb mix to satisfy you and tide you over until mealtime.
This day starts with a serving from almost every food group to fill you with fiber, vitamins and minerals. Not into breakfast foods? A turkey sandwich, an orange and a glass of milk gives you the same benefits as the more traditional breakfast fare.
Each of these meals provides a balanced mix of protein and carbs, as well as meats, starches and veggies/fruit. But there’s many ways to achieve those goals. Try a slice of pizza and a salad on the side, with some yogurt mixed with a half cup of blueberries. Or, a cup of tuna noodle casserole with steamed carrots and a glass of milk.
July 31st, 2006
Rose water is used in cosmetics for its lovely scent, but also because it has light astringent properties. As the gentlest of all astringents, rose water is often used as toner for fair and dry skin.
You must be careful when purchasing rose water to buy only the 100 percent pure form. Often what is available in pharmacies and even some natural food stores is synthetic rose oil and water with preservatives added. Pure rose water is the distilled water of roses. It is usually made by stream distillation, and it smells heavenly and tastes delicious.
Availability: Besides health food stores and herb stores, you can often find rose water in delicatessens; it is used as a flavoring in fancy Greek pastries, puddings, and cakes.
Rose Water, Method
This recipe is the more traditional way to prepare rose water. Though it’s a little more involved, its fun to do and the results are outstanding. You can make a quart of excellent-quality rose water in about 40 minutes. However, if you simmer the water too long, you will continue to produce distilled water but the rose essence will become diluted. Your rose water will smell more like plain distilled water, rather than the heavenly scent of roses.
Be sure you have a brick and heat-safe stainless steel or glass quart bowl ready before you begin.
Ingredients
2-3 quarts fresh roses or rose petals
water
ice cubes or crushed ice
1. In the center of a large pot (the speckled blue canning pots are ideal) with an inverted lid (a rounded lid), place a fireplace brick. On top of the brick place the bowl. Put the roses in the pot; add enough flowers to reach the top of the brick. Pour in just enough water to cover the roses. The water should be just above the top of the brick.
2. Place the lid upside down on the pot. Turn on the stove and bring the water to a rolling boil, then lower heat to a slow steady simmer. As soon as the water begins to boil, toss two or three trays of ice cubes (or a bag of ice) on top of the lid.
3. You’ve now created a home still! As the water boils the steam rises, hits the top of the cold lid, and condenses. As it condenses it flows to the center of the lid and drops into the bowl. Every twenty minutes, quickly lift the lid and take out a tablespoon or two of the rose water. It’s time to stop when you have between a pint and a quart of water that smells and tastes strongly like roses.
July 31st, 2006
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