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Cancer Causing Agents: Tobacco & Nicotine

Smoking is the single biggest cause of cancer in the world, and accounts for one in four cancer deaths in the States. Smoking is known to cause around eighty percent of lung cancer around the world. The 1996 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse has shown that about 62 million people in the United States above 12 years or below 29 percent of the population are current cigarette smokers. So, this makes nicotine, the addictive component of tobacco, one of the most heavily used addictive drugs in the United States. Within the United States, tobacco use was responsible for nearly 1 in 5 deaths or an estimated 438,000 premature deaths per year from 1997 to 2001 & thus, smoking kills five times more people than road accidents, overdoses, murder, suicides and HIV all put together.
Nicotine: Many people believe that nicotine causes cancer but the fact is that it only leads to addiction. Whenever a person inhales cigarette smoke, the nicotine present in the smoke is rapidly absorbed into the blood and its affect on the brain is shown within 7 seconds. In the brain, nicotine activates the same reward system as do other drug abuse such as cocaine or amphetamine, but to a lesser extent. Nicotine acts on this reward system and is believed to be responsible for drug-induced feelings of pleasure and, over time, nicotine addiction. It also increases alertness and enhances mental performance. Studies indicate that nicotine by itself may not be harmful. But, when it is combined with other harmful substances such as areca nut, cancer causing catechu substitutes like gambier & magnesium carbonate, it may show damaging effects.
Apart from nicotine, cigarette smoke contains around 4,000 different compounds, many of which may cause cancer. In fact tobacco smoke contains about 70 different carcinogens or cancer-causing substances. When you inhale smoke, these chemicals enter your lungs and spread around the rest of your body. Scientists have shown that these chemicals are mutagenic & can damage DNA and change expression of various genes which may lead to cancer by making your cells proliferate and multiply uncontrollably. No wonder, smoking is the major cause of lung cancer and is also associated with the increased risk for cancer of the mouth, nasal cavities (nose), larynx (voice box), pharynx (throat), esophagus (swallowing tube), stomach, liver, pancreas, kidney, bladder, uterine cervix, and acute myeloid leukemia.
Oral tobacco products contain 28 known cancer-causing agents (carcinogens). Chewing tobacco is a known cause of oral cancer & according to Women's Health in South East Asia (WHOSEA), almost one-half of all cancer cases in men and one-quarter of all cancer cases in women in India are believed to be tobacco-related.
Not all smokers get cancer: Years of research has proven that smoking causes cancer but this doesn't mean that all smokers will definitely get cancer or that all non-smokers won't. It means that smoking greatly increases the risk of cancer & Smokers are, on average, much more likely to get cancer than non-smokers.

Migraine - headache from hell

Migraine means "half cranium" in French. This malady is so named because it is a severe headache that usually affects only one side of the head. It often begins in puberty and disappears after 50. The condition runs in families and affects more women than men.
Changes in the blood vessels of the neck are believed to cause an attack. So will high blood pressure, atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), an allergic reaction to certain drugs or foods, glandular abnormalities and emotional stress and anxiety.
"Although much about headaches still isn't understood, some researchers think migraines may be caused by functional changes in the trigeminal nerve system, a major pain pathway in your nervous system, and by imbalances in brain chemicals, including serotonin, which plays a regulatory role for pain messages going through this pathway," explained the Mayo Clinic.
"During a headache, serotonin levels drop. Researchers believe this causes the trigeminal nerve to release substances called neuropeptides, which travel to your brain's outer covering (meninges). There they cause blood vessels to become dilated and inflamed. The result is headache pain," it added.
Some patients experience sensory warning signs or auras prior or during an attack. These include flashes of light in the center of the field of vision or a flickering sensation in one eye. The patient may experience feelings of apprehension, irritability and restlessness before the headache begins. Others signs and symptoms are nausea, vomiting and extreme sensitivity to light and sound.
Extremes in temperature, cigarette smoke, perfume, glaring lights and hormones may trigger an attack. If there is one trait migraine sufferers share, it is their being neurotic perfectionists. To remedy this, plan your activities so you won't be overworked and learn to relax once in a while.
"Certain foods appear to trigger headaches in some people. Common offenders include alcohol, especially beer and red wine; aged cheeses; chocolate; fermented, pickled or marinated foods; aspartame; overuse of caffeine; monosodium glutamate - a key ingredient in some Asian foods; certain seasonings; and many canned and processed foods. Skipping meals or fasting also can trigger migraines," revealed the Mayo Clinic.
A migraine attack may occur daily, once a month or once a year. Untreated, it may last from four to 72 hours. While there's no cure for migraine, medications can reduce the frequency of migraine and stop the pain.
"Choosing a strategy to manage your migraines depends on the frequency and severity of your headaches, the degree of disability your headaches cause, and your other medical conditions. You may be a candidate for preventive therapy if you have two or more debilitating attacks a month, if you use pain-relieving medications more than twice a week, if pain-relieving medications aren't helping, or if your migraine signs and symptoms include a prolonged aura or numbness and impaired movement on one side of your body," concluded the Mayo Clinic.
To help you rest during an attack, take Sedamine - the supplement that will help you sleep naturally. Visit http://sedamine.com/ for details.

Medical Transcription: Its Past, Present, and Future

Medical Transcription has become a common term today and is about human beings listening and typing out physician dictations. Technological advances have always defined the medical transcription process. It will continue to be so and one wonders what the future could bring for the medical transcription professional.
Looking back into the past history of medical transcription one has to mention about the clumsy medical record keeping methods of yesteryears. All early records were hand written medical records that were highly abbreviated because it was quickly written /scribbled by the physician who was also actually treating the patient. Files kept in wooden filing cabinets, that consisted of collections of handwritten notes/scribbles along with typed documents had to be physically retrieved from shelves every time the physician wanted to have a second look at them. Further development for years just involved the duplication of medical records /documents using carbon paper. (I remember doing it myself)
Medical transcription need not actually only be associated with insurance claiming. Storage of medical records by transcription must have begun ever since computers came into use. It was the equivalent of stenography and writing in shorthand the dictations of business. We know various automation systems had started evolving right from the year 1960. Computer systems were not useful enough for years to be used in transcribing records in the medical / health sector. Only much later in the early 90s did actual medical transcription come into existence.
Today when we talk of medical transcription it automatically encompasses infrastructure, the desktop computer, the Internet, digital transmission, information systems, PDAs, dictation systems, foot pedals, headphones and more. The evolution toward the electronic patient record and HIPAA compliance is forcing everyone to catch up with technology and there is no looking back. Globalization has enabled the medical transcription professional to even sit at home and work for clients who may be located anywhere else on the globe or beyond.
The current developments in VRS (voice recognition software) and its evolution may some day totally automate and even remove the human element in the medical transcription process. Medical transcriptionist (MT) is already happy enough to just edit the documents produced by the VRS. Future, technology may grow to replace the human element and medical transcription can mean just another chip on a board. (I don't mean to be sarcastic). But then we still value art don't we? Like a hand printed dress or an antique furniture, manual medical transcription work will have its value and may become more precious. Won't it?

วันพุธที่ 26 มีนาคม พ.ศ. 2551

Sitting on the job a sure way to get hemorrhoids

Sitting may be a relaxing way to do one's job. But too much time on the chair may also encourage the growth of hemorrhoids which are not only annoying but painful as well. Those who suffer from this occupational disease include bus drivers, judges and writers.
Sedentary occupations, however, are not entirely to be blamed for the disease. Constipation, straining and being overweight are other factors that contribute to the condition. Doctors say a third of adults have or have had hemorrhoids. Other high risk groups are pregnant women and those who have just given birth.
"A sometimes embarrassing topic of discussion, hemorrhoids are common. By age 50, about half of adults have had to deal with the itching, bleeding and pain that often signal the presence of hemorrhoids," according to the Mayo Clinic.
It all starts when there is too much pressure in the veins in the rectum or anus. When these veins are strained and interfere with the normal circulation of blood, they become swollen, causing blood clots to form in the surrounding area. These swollen or varicose veins can be found either inside or outside the muscular ring or sphincter that closes the anus.
Eventually internal hemorrhoids will find themselves pushed outside the ring of the anus through the action of the bowels. These protruding hemorrhoids may later break and bleed as a result of scratching or strain. But don't be alarmed since bleeding actually helps treat hemorrhoids. The anal sphincters partially strangle them to prevent their return.
If bleeding is internal, you should consult your doctor to be sure the condition is not caused by other serious ailments.
The itching sensation that accompanies hemorrhoids is caused by fungal infections. Violent scratching and over treatment with commercial oint¬ments won't help and may help spread the infection. Hemorrhoids can be cured by identifying and eliminating the factors responsible for the disease.
A simple remedy is to place a soft cushion on a hard chair. If you are overweight, get some exercise to keep in shape and improve circulation. There is much to gain by drinking plenty of water and eating a lot of fruits and vegetables to correct constipation. Itching can be relieved by rectal suppositories and mild skin anesthetic ointments.
"If your hemorrhoids are producing only mild discomfort, your doctor may suggest over-the-counter creams, ointments or pads containing witch hazel or a topical anti-inflammatory agent containing hydrocortisone. This local treatment, in combination with daily warm baths, may relieve your symptoms," said the Mayo Clinic.
Those bothered by painful hemorrhoids may turn to surgery or other procedures. The swollen veins are either tied with rubber bands or exposed to infrared light to cut off circulation until the hemorrhoids fall off or they are injected with a chemical solution that shrinks them.
"If other procedures haven't been successful or if you have large hemorrhoids, your doctor can remove tissue in a procedure called hemorrhoidectomy. The surgery is done with either a local anesthetic combined with sedation, a spinal anesthetic, or a general anesthetic. Surgery can be performed on an outpatient basis or you may require an overnight hospital stay. While you may experience discomfort after the procedure, medications can be used to relieve your pain. Soaking in a warm bath also can ease your discomfort," concluded the Mayo Clinic.
To avoid hemorrhoids, keep your weight down with the help of Zyroxin, a safe and natural supplement that will maximize your weight loss through its unique fat-burning ingredients. For details, visit http://www.zyroxin.com/.

Antibacterial Cleaning Products Harmful To Your Health!

Store shelves are lined with cleaners shouting "antibacterial kills 99% of bacteria". The public is convinced that they must use cleaning products that contain antibacterial properties to clean their homes and in their personal hygiene. However, the use of antibacterial products can be detrimental to you, your family's health and the environment.
A report on the Center for Disease (CDC) website stated "no evidence suggests that there is evidence that the use of antibacterial soap containing 0.2% triclosan (active ingredient in antibacterial cleaning products) provides a benefit over plain soap in reducing bacterial counts and rate of infectious symptoms in generally healthy persons in the household setting." Plain soap and water, in other words, gets rid of the majority of germs that linger on the hands and body".
Additionally, another study concluded that there was no difference in infectious disease symptoms over a one year period in 228 inner city households using antibacterial cleaning products and those products that did not contain antibacterial agents. These findings further highlight the need to educate consumers on the limitations of antibacterial cleaning products.
The use of these so called antibacterial cleaning products claims to kill 99% of bacteria. However what becomes of the remaining 1%. This 1% remaining becomes the super germ. The overuse of antibacterial cleaning products breeds stronger and stronger organisms and thus less resistance to cleaning agents.
Furthermore, in order for antibacterial products to really remove 99% of bacteria, the cleaning agent should be left on the area which is being cleaned for at least two minutes for it to be effective. Most people do not have the patience to properly use antibacterial cleaning products.
Our bodies have an immune system to fight off bacteria, germs and virus. When we continually fight germs and bacteria with antibacterial cleaners we are hindering our immune system to naturally fight off these germs and viruses. Thus are immune system is continually weakened.
In Scientific American journal, it states "It appears that after, say, spraying a counter with an antibiotic cleaner, some chemicals linger and continue to kill bacteria but don't get all of them. The ones that survive develop a tolerance: "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger" Soon we have populations of antibiotic resistant bacteria.
"What is this stuff doing in households when we have soaps?" asks molecular biologist John Gustafson of New Mexico State University in Las Cruces. These substances really belong in hospitals and clinics, not in the homes of healthy people."
In June of 2000, the World Health Organization warned that antibacterial products directly contribute to the rise in antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The American Medical Association (AMA) says "(bacterial) resistance ascribed to overuse of antibiotics is a growing problem, and there is concern that some types of infections will eventually not be treatable with antibiotics".
On June 13, 2000, the AMA advised consumers to avoid extensive use of "antibacterial soaps, lotions, and other household products". The AMA has also urged the Food and Drug Administration to increase regulation of antibacterial products.
So next time you purchase that antibacterial cleaning product keep in mind that they are hindering your natural immune system, and these products are very detrimental to the environment.
For safe and effective household cleaners and personal hygiene products visit A Clean and Green Home

Colon Cancer Information and Prevention

Cancer is something that nobody wants to face in their lifetime. The big "C" emits feelings of helplessness and fear in most people. Of all cancers, colon cancer is the third leading cause of cancer in men and the fourth in women.
If you notice in the above statement, colon cancer is said to be a leading "cause" of cancer. The truth is that cancer of the colon, commonly called colorectal cancer, has a fairly high cure rate when treated aggressively in the early stages.
It is important to know some information about this type of cancer in order to avoid it.
The colon is the lowest part of the large intestine where solid waste is stored. The rectum (anus) is the end of the colon and is where this solid waste is eliminated from the body. Tumors sometimes arise along the inner wall of the large intestine. Benign (harmless) tumors are called polyps while malignant (cancerous) tumors are called cancers.
The exact causes of colon cancer are not completely known but are known to be related to high fat in the diet, hereditary occurrences of colon cancer and a chronic condition known as ulcerative colitis. This last inflames the inside walls of the large intestine and colon and thus increases the possibility of a colon cancer occurring.
Knowing these facts about colorectal cancer will help you in preventing the disease from affecting you. Colon cancer prevention is very easy and virtually painless.Since the presence of high fat content is known to be a factor in colon cancer, you can take a big step towards prevention by watching the fat intake.
Start eating low fat foods, foods high in fiber and grain or vegetables. The fat content in high fat foods is thought to form cancer causing materials called carcinogens in the intestines and colon, so dietary monitoring is an important prevention tool.
The main factor in preventing colorectal cancer from occurring is simply early detection. Unfortunately, colon cancer tends to go undetected until they are well advanced. The best way to detect a cancer of this type is by having an annual physical that includes a colonoscopy.
A colonoscopy is the most effective tool to detect colon cancer in its early stages, thus having a high success rate.
Polyps that can cause the cancer will be detected and removed during the procedure. Your physician can distinguish a benign polyp from a malignant one immediately. The removal of polyps greatly decreases the occurrence of a cancer.
If your physician does find a malignant tumor during the test, he will tell you and even then, surgery can be done to remove the tumor completely. The cure rate is high in these cases as well as the survival rate.
A yearly physical with a colonoscopy is your best prevention tool next to watching the fat intake in your diet. Combined, these two practices will lower your chances of having a colon cancer and extending your life.
Men over the age of 50 and women over 55 should have this test on an annual basis to detect colon cancer early.

Anti-Cholesterol Drugs: A Background

As the waistlines in America grows, so does the risk of heart disease and high cholesterol. With a nearly 30 million prescriptions written for anti-cholesterol medication each year, it's hard to ignore the extremely dangerous levels of which our country exists in.
The cholesterol cure-all for the pharmaceutical industry came in the form of a kind of drugs called statins. Initially, statins were prescribed in a pharmaceutical regimen designed to fight high cholesterol. Enzymes, which are inhibited by statins lowering cholesterol, stimulate bad cholesterol, also known as LDL, in the liver and thus create an increase of LDL clearance from the blood stream. Results are almost immediate; within a week, the first results of the drug are apparent, but after only four to six weeks, the drugs effect is maximized. It is considered a popular option because the LDL levels are usually reduced anywhere from 30 percent to 50 percent.
Recently, drug manufacturer Merck and chemical research company Schering-Plough announced a new medication to combat high cholesterol. Zetia, known chemically as Ezetimibe, is an anti-hyperlipidemic medication which is used to lower cholesterol levels. Available as an alternative to statin therapy is Zetia. It acts by decreasing cholesterol absorption in the intestine. Zetia has also been combined with statin therapy in a single pill marketed as Vytorin.
At the beginning of 2008, a report was released showing the adverse affects of Zetia, where growth of plaque occurred, was released by a national newspaper. The ENHANCE trial from the two companies ended in the middle of 2006, with results not scheduled for relase until nearly a year later in March 2007. After the news reported several missed deadlines from the companies, they agreed to publish the results. Additionally, the American College of Cardiology stated in their press release for the ENHANCE study that, "The results of the trial show no benefit from the combination of ezetimibe (Zetia) and simvastatin (sold together as Vytorin) over simvastatin alone in terms of affecting the rate of atherosclerosis(fatty plaque) progression." They went on to say that, "this study deserves serious thought and follow-up."
The evidence of some less scrupulous actions continues. A congressional investigation into the companys' actions was announced. The delayed results and the questionable study surrounding Zetia have led many to question its worth on the pharmaceutical market.
If you or anyone you know has taken Zetia and is concerned about possible Zetia side effects or lower Zetia effectiveness, it may be in your best interest to contact a Zetia law firm or a Zetia lawyer for counsel on Zetia and a possible Zetia lawsuit.