Screening for cancer?

 There are different types of cancer screening tests for men and women, and certain cancers can be screened for better than others.

THERE are several hospitals now advertising that they are offering cancer screening tests. I’m wondering if it is worth my while to get a check-up. What are cancer screening tests?

Cancer screening tests are tests that are done to try and detect cancer in people who have no symptoms or signs of cancer. In short, you are a healthy individual going for a medical check-up, and one of the plethora of tests that you may request for is cancer screening.

There are different types of cancer screening tests for men as opposed to women. Certain cancers can be screened for better than others.

Some tests are also more effective in detecting cancer than others. But it’s very important to detect cancer early, because at the early stages, some cancers can be cured. Or at least, you’ll have a far better chance of survival rather than if you detect it late.

What types of cancer screening tests are there? Do they all require taking my blood?

Cancer screening tests can be divided into the following:

·History taking – Here, the doctor asks you for family history of cancer or environmental factors which have been known to cause cancer, such as working in an asbestos-heavy environment. Breast cancer has a known genetic correlation, and it runs in families.

·Physical examination – The doctor then proceeds to examine you for signs of possible disease, such as a breast lump, lumps in other places, skin lesions or anything that seems out of the ordinary. A rectal examination may be done for men to look for enlargement of the prostate gland.

·Laboratory tests – Your blood, urine and maybe even tissue samples are then taken. Blood tests may include specific cancer markers. If you have a breast lump, it is advisable that you go for further investigations like a breast ultrasound and mammogram, and far more importantly, get the lump biopsied.

·Imaging tests – These include x-rays, ultrasounds, mammograms, CT scans, MRI and other such similar tests.

·Procedures – Some cancers are best detected by more invasive tests, such as a colonoscopy (procedure that allows the doctor to send a scope up your colon) to detect suspicious polyps or masses in your colon, which may or may not be cancer.

·Genetic tests – These look for certain gene mutations which are linked to certain types of cancer. 

What types of cancer screening are there for women? I have heard of the mammogram.

Breast self-examination is actually the commonest. By practising self-examination, you can detect warning lumps which you can act upon by going to see the doctor.

Mammograms are recommended for breast cancer screening, especially in women aged 40 to 70. By doing regular mammograms, studies have shown that this can decrease death related to breast cancer for women.

A mammogram is basically an x-ray of the breast. It is not a foolproof way of detecting lumps and such, especially in women below 50, because the breast tissue tends to be very dense. If a lump is detected, a mammogram is usually followed up with a breast ultrasound.

A Pap smear is a screening test for cervical cancer. It can also detect other cervical conditions, such as cervical dysplasia, which occurs more often in women aged between 20 and 30. A lot of these conditions may be precursors to cervical cancer, and so it is worth having a yearly Pap test if you are sexually active.

What about types of cancer screening for men?

A very common test is the PSA or Prostate Specific Antigen, which is not deemed to be that accurate as a cancer screening test.

The Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) is a protein that is produced by the cells of the prostate gland. The PSA test is a blood test that measures this level in your blood.

The PSA is often elevated in men with prostate cancer. And until recently, it was a test that was recommended for all men aged 50 and beyond. However, more recently, it has been shown that some men with low PSA levels have prostate cancer, and some men with high PSA levels do not have prostate cancer.

Additionally, your PSA levels can fluctuate with factors such as prostatitis, urinary tract infection and prostate surgery. Apparently, only about 25% of the men who went for prostate biopsy after an elevated PSA turned out to have prostate cancer.

Is there any type of lung cancer screening?

A routine chest x-ray may detect a lesion or a shadow which can be further investigated. But this has not been shown to have decreased the death rate from lung cancer.

However, low dose spiral CT scans have been shown to decrease the death rate from lung cancer in heavy smokers if done routinely.

There is also the squamous cell carcinoma antigen, which can appear in many squamous types of cancers. It is better used as a monitoring factor in people who already have been diagnosed with squamous lung cancer.

source:thestar

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Posted in: cancer news,Cancer screening

Burn Calories In Bed With No S***x

Get your mind out of the gutter ! While s***x does burn calories, you can perform a legitimate workout in your bed. I've designed this one to focus on symmetry and balance while tightening and toning those places that you might otherwise want to keep covered up.

Best of all, you can literally do it in your pajamas.

Don't dismiss this as some gimmick: This workout is backed by science and based on the idea of proprioception. If you haven't been following my blog, this is basically the feedback loop between the body and the brain.

 When you perform a workout on an unstable surface, which in this case will be your bed, you train your brain to fire more rapidly in order for it to adjustment your body's position. The body reacts by re-stabilizing, which results in greater muscle recruitment, balance, and symmetry in your hips (great for post-baby bodies or preparing your body for labor) and working stability muscles, especially in and around ball-and-socket joints such as the shoulders and hips.

And, to top it all off, you are going to burn more calories working out on an unstable surface versus performing these same movements on the floor of your bedroom .

Perform the following moves back-to-back without rest for 30 seconds each, doing as many reps as possible. Repeat the entire sequence for a total of two to four circuits.

1. Inchworms: Begin in a push-up position with your hands directly under your shoulders and your legs fully extended. In one movement, reach your right hand back toward your navel while driving your left knee to your right hand, connecting just under your belly button. Return to the starting position and repeat with the opposite hand and knee. Continue alternating until time is up. 

Coach's tip: Focus your eyes toward the bed. Looking forward or up toward the ceiling will cause unwanted stress on your neck.

2. Caterpillars: For this advanced version of the inchworm, begin in a push-up position. In one movement, reach your right hand back toward your navel while driving your left foot to your hand. The two will connect just under your belly button. Retract and repeat, alternating sides. 

Coach's tip: To keep your body from twisting side to side, squeeze and contract both your abdominals and glutes.

3. Unicorns: Begin in a push-up position. Simultaneously raise your right arm and left leg as high as possible. Be sure to keep both limbs fully extended. Retract and repeat with your left arm and right leg, and continue alternating. 

Coach's tip: Your goal eventually is to drive both limbs past the point of parallel to the bed. Keep your eyes focused toward the bed to remain stable.

4. Geisha-ups: Begin in a modified push-up position with both hands directly under your shoulders, knees on the bed. Lower your body to perform a push-up. As you raise your body up, push backward until your butt rests firmly on your heels and both arms are fully extended as if you are performing child's pose. Retract and repeat. 

Coach's tip: Be sure your head, hips, and knees form one straight line at the beginning of the movement.

5. Bottle caps: Begin in a seated position, feet flat on the bed with arms fully extended behind you. Push both your hands and feet into the bed while elevating your hips and belly button to the ceiling so that you form a table with your body. In one movement, lift your right hand and left knee to meet over your navel. Return to the tabletop position and repeat with your opposite hand and knee. Continue alternating until time is up.

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Posted in: latest health news

A new test to detect cancer, HIV with naked eye

 Scientists have developed a new ten times cheaper ultra-sensitive sensor test to detect the early stages of several cancers and viruses, including HIV, with the naked eye.Researchers from the Imperial College London claim that their visual sensor technology is ten times more sensitive than the current gold standard methods for measuring biomarkers. 

These indicate the onset of diseases such as prostate cancer and infection by viruses including HIV. The colour of a liquid changes to give either a positive or negative result.Researchers say their sensor would benefit countries where sophisticated detection equipment is scarce, enabling cheaper and simpler detection and treatments for patients. 

The team tested the effectiveness of the sensor by detecting a biomarker called p24 in blood samples, which indicates HIV infection."Unfortunately, the existing gold standard detection methods can be too expensive to be implemented in parts of the world where resources are scarce," Professor Molly Stevens, from the Departments of Materials and Bioengineering, said. 

"Our approach affords for improved sensitivity, does not require sophisticated instrumentation and it is ten times cheaper, which could allow more tests to be performed for better screening of many diseases," said Stevens.Researchers also tested samples for the biomarker called Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA), which is an early indicator for Prostate Cancer. The team say the sensor can also be reconfigured for other viruses and diseases where the specific biomarker is known. 

The sensor works by analysing serum, derived from blood, in a disposable container. If the result is positive for p24 or PSA, there is a reaction that generates irregular clumps of nanoparticles, which give off a distinctive blue hue in a solution inside the container.

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Posted in: HIV and Cancer detection

LADIES: Why You Must Go For Br***st Screening Immediately!

At the start of 2012 all seemed to be going well for Kemi Thomas and her family. Their first child had just gained admission into a university, her husband’s business was beginning to turn around after a difficult year and they had finally completed their own home and recently moved in; it seemed like it was going to be a good year.

In April, Kemi noticed a small but palpable lump on her left br**st. Her doctor referred her to a teaching hospital and a biopsy confirmed that she had br**st cancer.

Kemi had surgery in May at a cost of N100,000 to remove the lump and she is now having a course of chemotherapy which is costing her N35,000 each week. She will need six sessions in the first instance. She will require a second operation in due course, followed by radiotherapy for which a down payment of N100,000 is required. 

Beyond this she is told that she will require treatment for at least five years for ultrasound scans, blood tests, kidney and liver function tests, chest X-rays, and so on; some of these will have to be repeated. Before the end of the first year, her illness had gulped N1.25 million and the costs kept piling up.

Members of Kemi’s extended family rallied round as best they could but the exorbitant costs over a prolonged period of time made it impossible for them to continue to contribute as they had done in the early stages of her treatment. Her husband had no choice but to put their new home up for sale to release badly needed funds to try to save her life. Their finances were being quickly depleted.

As October, “br**st cancer awareness month” draws to a close, it is important for us to spend a little time focusing on this dreaded disease. Most people tend to overlook the financial implications of a serious illness. In our society it is seen as tempting fate to even consider the possibility that one could become really ill let alone the fact that one could die.

A key message for Br**st Cancer Awareness Month in the United Kingdom is that one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. Without being absolutely certain of statistics here in Nigeria, it is clear that it is becoming more and more prevalent and provides us with another reminder about the importance of having health insurance in place that can help you access the health care you will need if you are diagnosed with a serious illness. 

Whilst this will give you a better chance of survival, it is important to note that it is largely prevented through a healthy lifestyle with an appropriate diet, regular exercise and early detection through breast examinations and regular screening that improves ones chances of beating the disease. Encourage your loved ones to do the same.

Far too many people ignore the need for insurance until a major mishap or setback occurs; it is only then that the impact of inadequate insurance coverage becomes glaring. No matter how meticulous you are with your finances, failure to purchase adequate insurance can impair your financial future and put you or your loved ones in a desperate situation. Dire medical conditions are difficult enough to cope with; if you become ill, the last thing you need to have to worry about is mounting financial woes.

How healthy are you? If you or anyone in your family were to ever become gravely ill, can you afford the best medical treatment available? Do you have health insurance in place? Health insurance will cover at least some of the costs of treating the insured person’s illnesses or injuries. Some policies will pay for preventive care, such as annual physicals and diagnostic tests. 

You may have health insurance as an employee benefit from your job or you may buy an individual health insurance policy for yourself and your family directly from an insurance company. You then pay premiums to purchase coverage and the insurer is obliged to pay some or all of your health care costs, based on the terms of your contract. Health insurance varies significantly from plan to plan.

As morbid as it might sound, can your loved ones afford to lose you? Can your family or dependants pay for the funeral, organise the family finances, service any outstanding debt and continue in their current standard of living? Or, would they face extreme hardship in the event of the d**th of their breadwinner? The main objective of life insurance is to replace income that will be lost should the policyholder become incapacitated or die.

- BY NIMI AKINKUGBE

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Posted in: breast cancer news,latest health news

Warning to all Ladies – Makeup On The Eyelashes May Damage your Eyes

Every lady need to be aware of the threats some of the chemicals contained in make ups pose to their health. While trying to look beautiful, the health implications of the products we use must be taken into consideration. 

 A consultant Optometrist, Dr Michael Nwoko, on Sunday advised women not to apply eyelashes as makeup to avoid damaging the eyes.

 Nwoko, who is the Chairman, National Optometric Association, Edo chapter, gave the advice in an interview with the NANA saying that the product contained chemicals that could damage the eyes. 

 He said the eye reacted with any chemical that came close to it, adding: “When you apply chemicals, such as makeup on the eyes, the eyes must react and this could lead to itching of the eyes.

 ”Some of the patients that have recurrent conjunctivitis which is an eye infection that affects the outer eyeball, is sometimes due to chemical reaction with the eyes.”

 The optometrist also said that rubbing an itching eye could lead to the introduction of microorganisms to the eyes. He, however, advised that the makeup should be applied on the eyebrow and not on the eyelashes. 

“if it is on the eyebrow, which is far away from the eye, it’s okay but anything that gets to the eyelashes must react with the eyes. ”People that apply makeup on the eyelashes must reduce it or if possible they should stop it”, Nwoko said.(NAN)

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Posted in: latest health news

Girl, 14, 'died from heart attack after just two cans of Monster Energy drink'

Monster Beverage has been sued by the family of a 14-year-old girl who died after she had just two cans of the energy drink.

The Food and Drug Administration announced today it was investigating reports of five deaths associated with the drink and one non-fatal heart attack, prompting the company's shares to fall 14 per cent.

Anais Fournier, died on December 23, 2011 from a heart attack brought on by 'caffeine toxicity' after drinking two 24-ounce Monster cans within 24 hours. 

The FDA reported people had adverse reactions after they consumed Monster Energy Drink, which comes in 24-ounce cans and contain 240 milligrams of caffeine - or seven times the amount of the caffeine in a 12-ounce cola.

The wrongful death suit, filed in California Superior Court in Riverside, said that after drinking two 24-ounce cans of Monster Energy on consecutive days, Anais went into cardiac arrest.

An autopsy revealed the teenager, from Hagerstown, Maryland, died of cardiac arrhythmia due to caffeine toxicity that impeded her heart's ability to pump blood.

The medical examiner also found that she had an inherited disorder that can weaken blood vessels.

Miss Fournier's parents Wendy Crossland and Richard Fournier claim Monster failed to warn about the risks of drinking its products.

Ms Crossland told the Record Herald: 'I was shocked to learn the FDA can regulate caffeine in a can of soda, but not these huge energy drinks. 

'With their bright colors and names like Monster, Rockstar, and Full Throttle, these drinks are targeting teenagers with no oversight or accountability. These drinks are death traps for young, developing girls and boys, like my daughter, Anais.'

Monster is the leading U.S. energy drink by volume with nearly 39 per cent of the market, but Austria's Red Bull has the highest share by revenue due to its premium price.

The company touts Monster Energy Drink on its website as a 'killer energy brew' and 'the meanest energy supplement on the planet'.

The cans bear labels stating that the drinks are not recommended for children and people who are sensitive to caffeine.

Monster Beverage has been sued by the family of a 14-year-old girl who died after she had just two cans of the energy drink.

The Food and Drug Administration announced today it was investigating reports of five deaths associated with the drink and one non-fatal heart attack, prompting the company's shares to fall 14 per cent.

Anais Fournier, died on December 23, 2011 from a heart attack brought on by 'caffeine toxicity' after drinking two 24-ounce Monster cans within 24 hours. 

The FDA reported people had adverse reactions after they consumed Monster Energy Drink, which comes in 24-ounce cans and contain 240 milligrams of caffeine - or seven times the amount of the caffeine in a 12-ounce cola.

The wrongful death suit, filed in California Superior Court in Riverside, said that after drinking two 24-ounce cans of Monster Energy on consecutive days, Anais went into cardiac arrest.

An autopsy revealed the teenager, from Hagerstown, Maryland, died of cardiac arrhythmia due to caffeine toxicity that impeded her heart's ability to pump blood.

The medical examiner also found that she had an inherited disorder that can weaken blood vessels.

Miss Fournier's parents Wendy Crossland and Richard Fournier claim Monster failed to warn about the risks of drinking its products.

Ms Crossland told the Record Herald: 'I was shocked to learn the FDA can regulate caffeine in a can of soda, but not these huge energy drinks. 

'With their bright colors and names like Monster, Rockstar, and Full Throttle, these drinks are targeting teenagers with no oversight or accountability. These drinks are death traps for young, developing girls and boys, like my daughter, Anais.'

Monster is the leading U.S. energy drink by volume with nearly 39 per cent of the market, but Austria's Red Bull has the highest share by revenue due to its premium price.

The company touts Monster Energy Drink on its website as a 'killer energy brew' and 'the meanest energy supplement on the planet'.

The cans bear labels stating that the drinks are not recommended for children and people who are sensitive to caffeine.

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Posted in: latest health news

Natural Ways to Increase Height

Natural Ways to Increase Height - There аrе many advantages tо bеing tall. When yоu arе tall yоu can get farther bеcаuѕe of the long strides you take аnԁ also reach higher thаn anybody else nоt to mention havе a bird’s eye view оf everything.

But let’s face it, а majority of thе people аre nоt happy with thеіr current height. They wish thеу werе taller аnԁ believe thеrе іs nothing thеy can ԁo once theу havе reached а certain age.

People who are short suffer frоm lack оf confidence аnd find іt difficult to assert thеmsеlveѕ ԁurіng situations in thеіr home anԁ at work. People sometimes never tend to take short people seriously. And just like the shortest kid is always bullied оn the playground, іt iѕ no different in thе adult world either.

What are the reasons fоr people being short?

A person’s height depends on theіr genes as well аs thе growth hormone. So іf the parents аre tall therе іs а good chance оf the kid growing tall too. However thаt іs nоt always thе case, thеrе are many people whо come frоm а family of tall people аnԁ yet arе short. So thе genes theory does nоt apply fоr everybody.

One mоre reason iѕ lack of growth hormone, if thіѕ hormone іѕ not produced in sufficient quantities іt cоuld lead tо stunted growth. Besides theѕе, there are three morе reasons why people ԁо nоt grow tall оr as tall aѕ theу wish. These 3 reasons arе:

- Lack of Exercise

- Lack of enough rest

- Lack of a balanced diet

How to Increase Height Naturally

So how can an individual grow taller naturally without the need for artificial growth supplements оr surgery. Well it іs quite simple now thаt wе know the reasons for whу people dо nоt grow tall enough.

Good Exercise - Different types оf exercises tо target the different parts оf а human body havе known to almost always show results. Just like there are exercises to lose weight, thеrе also exist exercises thаt will help yоu grow taller naturally.

One оf thе mоst basic exercises tо grow tall iѕ sit ups anԁ push-ups. Besides thеѕe you also need exercises that will target the foundation оf yоur body whіch іs yоur back and abdominal muscles.

Enough rest - Your body needs enough rest whіch is а minimum оf 7 оr mоre hours per day. When you rest it allows yоur body to repair іtself. As yоu аre nоt spending yоur energy on moving оr ԁoіng аnу othеr tasks оthеr thаn the core functions of уour body, уоur body can divert its resources to repairing the wear anԁ tear caused tо уоur tissues due tо the rigors of daily life.

When you rest well it also triggers thе production of growth hormones anԁ уou verу well know by now whу уоur body needs thesе hormones.

A balanced diet - I could not stress enough thе importance that а balanced diet will play in yоur growth. A balanced diet will nourish your body аnԁ help уоu grow.

Proteins as well aѕ calcium and magnesium are what yоu need to grow well. This means уоu need to eat food ѕuch as meat, fish, eggs, milk аnԁ other dairy products. Avoid saturated fats аѕ they can do morе harm than good in most cases. Do nоt starve your body of othеr food as уou dо nоt need tо ԁo thаt. What iѕ important іѕ to maintain a balanced diet аt аll times.

The rinse and repeat cycle оf a good diet, proper exercise followed by enough rest will help уou see results. However dо not expect уоur head to shoot thrоugh the roof, уоu won’t grow tall instantly аnԁ that is precisely whу you need to stick to thіѕ routine and not give uр when уou dо nоt see results іn the beginning.

Grow Taller 4 Idiots System: 2 – 4 Inches in 8 Weeks

If уou go systematically, the book has been divided intо three parts аnd thеy аll give а vеry scientific explanation of thе factors thаt boost thе growth аnd development of thе person. Once thаt concept has bеen verу effectively understood anԁ analyzed then іn that case іt will bе vеry easy fоr thе reader tо understand the process оf the growth аnd also ԁо everything that will bring abоut thе growth оf height. 

Also there іѕ а section thаt deals wіth thе things аnԁ concepts like hоw ԁoеѕ diet and lifestyle help in growth aѕ well as the process оf development. This iѕ important bеcаuse it makes thе reader think оf bringing positive changes like diet, exercises aѕ well аѕ the correct posture thаt will add tо the overall bettering оf life in general.

 This iѕ also thе reason for believing in Grow Taller 4 Idiots becauѕе it ԁoes nоt promote or talk about things like pills and diet supplements tо be height boosters. This іѕ whаt makes thе book аnԁ must read as уоu оnly stand tо gain оut оf іt. Get the Guide by Visiting the Official Website Here

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Posted in: latest health news

GUYS:8 Great Ways To Put A Woman In The Mood

The media will have us believe that dudes are the only ones with any s*****x drive. I call bulls*****t on that one.

As a female with a *ahem* s**x drive, I'd like to point out that I am not the ONLY woman in the world to look forward to a down-and-dirty session between the sheets!

You want to turn us on, boys? Here's how.

1) Take care of some manscaping. We're not asking you to be metro, boys, we just don't want to be flossing with your hair!

2) Keep an eye on your appearance. Everyone gets bad hair and blackheads sometimes, but how about you pretend to care a bit about looking s***x-ay for us.

3) Nibble our ears. There's something super sensitive about the ears, and a gentle nibble is sure to get us rocking and rolling. That said, please don't stick your tongue in there -- that gives us the heebie-jeebies.

4) Talk a little dirty to her and see how she responds. It can be wicked hot to hear, "I want you," while we're out at the bar together.

5) Couples' porn is NEVER a bad thing. I'm not saying we have to bust out the hardcore stuff, but a little softcore p**rn can absolutely get us in the mood.

6) Lick her neck. Again, not like a slobbery dog or anything, but a gentle nibble-n-lick is damn s*****xy. Oh, and don't suck -- we're too old for hickeys.

7) Get some nice scented body oil and give your lady a massage. But don't touch her naughty bits (not yet, at least) -- just tease her a bit.

8) Get spooning -- curl up together and begin to softly kiss her neck as she lays there curled into you. You keep at it? She's going to go crazy for you.

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Posted in: latest health news

It's not me, it's you: Why women can't always blame their bad moods on PMT

Premenstrual syndrome in women has been over-estimated and may not be the cause of women’s bad moods at certain times of the month.

That’s the controversial suggestion by Canadian researchers, who have suggested that symptoms such as irritability are often unfairly blamed on a woman’s period when other factors such as stress or a lack of support may be to blame.

In a new study published in the journal Gender Medicine, researchers at the University of Toronto assessed a wealth of research relating to premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

They concluded it ‘failed to provide clear evidence in support of the existence of a specific premenstrual negative mood syndrome’.

The problem is we tend to dismissively blame everything on PMS, disregarding other reasons why women may be angry or upset.

‘The idea that any emotionality in women can be firstly attributed to their reproductive function  - we're sceptical about that,’  lead researcher Dr Sarah Romans told The Atlantic
‘I think most would assume that PMS is much more firmly evidence-based than in fact it is.’

Dr Roman and her colleagues assessed more than 40 studies relating to PMS. While many found some association with mood at various times of a woman’s cycle, there was no clear pattern as to which part of the cycle was affected and sometimes no relationship at all.

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Mothers are selling their BR***ST MILK on Facebook

Doctors agree that breast milk is better than formula as it is packed with disease-fighting substances. However, many women struggle to express enough milk and resort to bottle feeding

Women in the UK and U.S are selling their breast milk online, despite serious concerns that it could be harmful for babies. Mothers are using community forums, including Facebook, to make some quick cash out of their extra milk.

 Buying br***st milk is tempting to new parents struggling to express their own, as it provides babies with better protection against illnesses and allergies compared to formula.

Websites such as onlythebreast.co.uk appear to answer this need, saying: 'Our discrete breastfeeding breast milk classified system makes it possible to sell or buy breast milk in a clean, private way.'

 Donor mothers list their milk under the age of their baby and if they can provide fresh milk on demand. A search around the site reveals women from Essex to Newcastle are offering it either fresh or frozen for around £1 per fluid ounce, while $2 per ounce is the standard rate in the U.S . 

There are legitimate ways to both donate and receive breast milk for free via milk banks. These centres store breast milk for babies whose mothers can't breastfeed. The banks collect expressed milk from pre-screened mothers who have a plentiful supply and a baby under six-months old. It is then pasteurised before it is offered to nearby hospitals.

New mothers buy and sell breast milk on various social networks including Facebook

But today doctors in Germany warned new parents against privately obtaining their baby's food through social networks such as Facebook. The Professional Association of Pediatricians said that although breast is generally the best option for newborns, mothers unable to breastfeed should not turn to the internet.

 'Donors can be taking medicines or drugs, have infectious illnesses like AIDS or Hepatitis,' Wolfram Hartmann, president of the association, said. 'Nobody can check whether the unknown mother's milk is harmless for the particular child' he warned, adding that the milk's quality could also be affected during its transportation. 

The warning follows a report by the online edition of German news weekly Der Spiegel and the association's own research, it said.

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Posted in: breast milk news,latest health news

10 ways to Get Rid of Stretch Marks During or After Pregnancy

Stretch marks are common among women.This is because when women reaches her puberty they start gaining weight quickly.

This develops fine lines on their body which is known as stretch marks. Stretch marks is also seen when one is pregnant or trying to gain muscles. Sometimes hormonal changes also leads to stretch marks.

Eliminating stretch marks is not an instant process and if market products are claiming for instant result then they are certainly lying. If you passionately want to eliminate your stretch marks then you need to have patience for it.

It is possible to diminish them if not completely eliminate them. Generally stretch marks are scene along the side of your stomach ,chest ,bottom of belly and on your thighs.

So you will notice that stretch marks appears on places where lot of fat has been accumulated.

Here is a comprehensive list of remedies through which you can get rid of stretch marks:

1.Olive oil is considered as quite an famous remedy for stretch marks.Rub olive oil until you start seeing the marks diminishing.Its a long process but it works.Get into the habit of applying olive oil on stretch marks immediately after you take bath.This will slowly become your habit and you will see the result without much of an effort. Getting rid of stretch marks on the breasts is possible by gently exfoliating the area using raw sugar and almond oil.

2.There are other oils also which are considered to be helpful in stretch marks such as almond oil,castor oil,avocado oil and vitamin E oil.If you don’t have vitamin E oil then you can buy vitamin E capsules and break the capsule in any oil and then apply on the effected area.Vitamin E capsule can be used on your hair and face also .This gives nutrition and add shine to your hair and face.

3. Massaging body with aroma oil during your pregnancy reduces your chances many fold of getting stretch marks during pregnancy.

4. Aloe vera is also known to diminish stretch marks. All you have to do is to take aloe Vera gel ,cod liver oil and if you don’t have cod liver oil then take vitamin E oil and apply on the stretched mark area. This is considered to be a quite a speedy process in healing stretch marks.

5. Rubbing Vaseline intensive care cream on stomach twice a day during pregnancy prevents from stretch marks.

6. Apply generous amount of castor oil on the affected area and rap it with a plastic bag and place a hot water bottle on it. Do it for half an hour and wash it off. This helps in treating stretch marks .Many parlors also gives sitting of this in exorbitant amount.

7.You can make a lotion for stretch marks and apply it daily. Mix ½ cup extra virgin oil and1/4th cup aloe vera gel and add the liquid of 6 Vitamin E capsules and 3-4 Vitamin A capsules.(These capsules are easily available in any chemist shop).Blend all the ingredients and store the mixture in a bottle and put it in the refrigerator. Apply daily on the stretch marks area .Don’t forget to shake the bottle well before you apply the lotion.

8. Eggs are a rich source of protein and apply egg white on your skin greatly effects in helping stretch marks.

9.Cocoa butter is a very famous remedy for stretch marks. You can make a 100 dollar stretch marks cream with it at home. Just mix 1/2cup cocoa butter ,1 tbsp vitamin E oil,2 tsp grated bees wax .Heat the mixture till the wax get melted .Store and refrigerate the mixture. You can add wheat germ oil and apricot kernel oil into the mixture or speedy recovery. Apply this cream every day on the affected area.

10.Shea butter has become one of the most popular beauty product. It has high source o vitamin E and Vitamin A which makes skin healthy. Rubbing them twice a day helps in stretch marks.

All the above remedies are inexpensive and can be made easily at home. You have to be patient in trying these remedies. For instance cocoa butter works for some and olive oil doesn’t.So keep on trying . It is best to do something rather than completing ignoring it.

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Posted in: latest health news,strech marks news

Neighbours Bedridden With Leg-Swelling Disease After Being Bitten By Mosquitos (PHOTOS)

TWO neighbours have been bedridden for years suffering from a rare leg-swelling disease in the first case of its kind.

Esther Ntshanlintshali and Busisiwe Zulu developed elephantiasis after being bitten by mosquitos.

The pair live a stone’s throw from each other — and thought to be the first case of sufferers living so close.

Esther, 69, has been bedbound for 12 years since the condition made her legs swell to four times their normal size.

She said: "I have battled this disease for a long time. I cannot move around in my house or go outside. It is so difficult and painful." And mum-of-three Busisiwe, 53, has been suffering the same for 18 years in Alexandra township in South Africa.

Her daughter Mbali, 32, said: "She is trapped in this room and always in pain."

The disease - made famous by John Hurt's portrayal of real-life sufferer John Merrick in 1980 film The Elephant Man - is caused by a parasite carried by mosquitos.

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Posted in: latest health news,Mosquitos

Into the blue: Girl, 9, with rare liver disease has to sleep under bright lamps

A schoolgirl has to spend up to 12 hours a day under a bright blue ultra violet light to prevent her skin from turning yellow because of a rare liver condition. 

Brianna Minnich, nine, spends each night sleeping under UV lights that help battle a rare disease that can sometimes lead to brain damage.

Her skin and eyes turn yellow whenever she has a sudden change in mood caused by illness, injury, stress, being bullied at school or even arguing with her brother.

Brianna, from Whitehall, Pennsylvania, has Crigler-Najjar syndrome - a condition so rare that only around 200 patients in the world suffer from it.

Her illness means she has dangerously high levels of bilirubin - a naturally occurring waste product from the blood that is usually broken down by an enzyme in the liver - that the UV rays help to lower.

The UV rays from the blue light affect the bilirubin in her system when they come into contact with her red blood cells and skin tissue.

By helping to manage bilirubin levels in her body and keep them at an acceptable level, Brianna is saved from any long term damage.

Currently Brianna has to sleep under a 4ft bank of photo-therapy lights over her be but as she gets older it’s likely she’ll need a liver transplant.

Her father Bob, 29, said: 'Her bilirubin levels were considerably high, right up in the high twenties for the first month or so after being born.

'We were told soon after the diagnosis that she was only the 52nd person in the country to have the disorder and just the 212th in the world.

'In the past three or four years her body has maintained a much more steady level of around 10-15 - the average person has a level of around 0.5 so it’s still very high.

'She was started on Phenobarbital immediately, and used what was called a "bili blanket" which is a small photo-therapy blanket until she grew out of it.

'Whenever she is unwell and whenever she has a sudden change in her mood such as getting upset at her brother or if she gets bullied then her skin tone changes drastically to a much more visible yellow until she calms herself back down.

'She also sleeps under a 4ft long bank of photo-therapy lights every single night, for at least 9 hours a night which typically keeps her skin tone fairly ‘normal’.

'The only thing you can really see is her yellow eyes - people ask us all the time "why are your daughter’s eyes yellow?"'

After being born Brianna underwent tests and was constantly in and out of the hospital for two weeks before finally being transferred to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

She was eventually diagnosed with Crigler-Najjar syndrome at two-and-a-half weeks old and spent the best part of a month in hospital before being released.

Photo-therapy has helped Brianna but it becomes less successful as she grows up so her dosage of phenobarbital must increase.

The daily medication helps jump start her liver but whenever the dosage is increased it causes her to feel lethargic for weeks and constantly falls asleep at home and school as well as leaving her feeling depressed.

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Posted in: Brianna Minnich news,latest health news,liver disease gist

Trying to have a baby? New formula predicts woman's chance of becoming pregnant

A formula that predicts a woman’s chances of pregnancy has been devised by scientists.

It combines information about how fertility drops with age with the length of time a woman has been trying to start a family, to come up with their odds of conceiving.

For example, they have worked out that the average 25-year-old who has been trying to get pregnant for six months has a 15 per cent chance of doing so in the following month.

By the age of 30, her odds are 13 per cent and, at 35, they have dropped below 10 per cent.

The speeding up of the biological clock mean the chances of pregnancy plummet after 35.

The average 40-year-old who has been trying for six months has just a 5 per cent chance of getting pregnant in the next month – or odds of one in 20.

The calculations also show that when a woman is 25, it will take 13 months for her odds of conceiving quickly to fall below ten per cent.

But a 35-year-old woman has just six months before her chances are so slim.

The long-standing rule of thumb is that those trying for a family should wait a year before seeking help, although doctors are increasingly acknowledging the impact of age.

The researchers, from the University of Warwick and the London School of Economics, say that more detailed information could make it easier for couples to discuss fertility issues with their GP.

Professor Geraldine Hartshorne said: ‘People feel embarrassed and upset and don’t want to go to the doctor. Men, in particular, can be a little bit reluctant.

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How Facebook could prevent you from catching an STD

If you worry about spending hours on Facebook, then relax - it could be good for your health. 

The social networking site may help prevent the spread of s**xually-transmitted diseases, a new study suggests.

Researchers from the University of Colorado found that s**xual health advice on the site encouraged condom use among teenagers, decreasing the chance of them spreading STDs.

They recruited 1,578 young adults between 18 and 24 for the study. Some were asked to ‘Like’ and receive news from a s**xual-health Facebook page called Just/Us, which shared articles about condom use and s**xually transmitted infection testing.

Another group signed up to a Facebook page called 18-24 News, which provided general news items targeted to the age group.

The idea was to see whether receiving updates from a s**xual health-based page - rather than a general news page - made the young adults more likely to wear condoms.

When the researchers conducted a survey two months later, they found 68 per cent of people signed up to the s*xual advice site had used condoms during their last sexual encounter, compared to just 56 per cent in the news group.

Furthermore, the proportion of s**xual acts where a condom had been used was 63 per cent in the first group, but only 57 per cent in the news group. 

The study is published in the November issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Unfortunately, the effects of the s**xual health information appeared to wane over time. 

After six months there was no difference in condom use between the two groups.

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Women's hearts 'get twice the benefit from fish oil than men's

Eating oily fish may boost women’s heart health more than men’s, claim researchers.

The oils - found in fish like salmon, mackerel and tuna - are known to improve chances of surviving a repeat heart attack.

But a new study suggests women could benefit more from their effect on the heart.

Researchers at the University of Reading found fish oils have a direct impact on the muscle cells that control the elasticity of our blood vessels.

In tests, women got double the benefit compared with men as elasticity improved four-fold in women compared with two-fold in men.

In fact the beneficial effect of the fish oil in women was as potent as that of drugs that are prescribed to people with poor blood vessel elasticity, such as those with diabetes.

At least 39,000 women a year in the UK suffer heart attacks and their chances of dying are higher than a man’s.

Study leader Professor Christine Williams, the University’s first Hugh Sinclair Professor of Nutrition and Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation, said: ‘Studies examining women’s heart health are much less common than those which study men, partly because the studies are harder to carry out in women due to the varying effects of hormones during the menstrual cycle.

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Yet another good reason to avoid annoying people

It’s irritating enough being around someone you don’t like.

Now, to make matters worse, scientists have discovered that bad company could also affect your brain.

Whether you like someone or not can affect how your brain processes their actions, according to new research from the University of Southern California.

Most of the time, watching someone else move causes a ‘mirroring’ effect — that is, the parts of our brains responsible for movement are activated by watching someone else in action.

But being around someone you don’t like can send this process awry – you might think the person is moving more slowly than they actually are, for example.

Past research has shown that race or physical similarity can influence brain processes, and we tend to have more empathy for people who look more like us.

However this study took differences in race, age and gender into account – everyone who took part was a Jewish man.

The researchers split the men into two groups – half were presented as neo-Nazis, with the aim of making them disliked, the others were presented as likable and open-minded. 

When the men viewed someone they disliked, the part of their brain that was otherwise activated in ‘mirroring’ — the right ventral premotor cortex — had a different pattern of activity for the disliked individuals compared to the likeable ones.

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Posted in: annoyance gist,latest health news

S****x addiction IS a real disorder

It has traditionally been written off as an 'excuse' for philandering celebrities, but a new study suggests that s***x addiction is a real disorder.

The disorder, in which sufferers have relentless sexual urges that feel out of their control, is even being considered for inclusion in America's 'bible' that lists all mental conditions, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 

Until now, however, researchers have been struggling to define what hypers**xual disorder, as s***x addiction is formally known, actually is.

Under one proposed definition, a person who simply has frequent s***x would not be diagnosed with it, said study researcher Rory Reid, an assistant professor and research psychologist at the University of California, Los Angeles.

But a person whose s**xual activities are excessive, frequently used to cope with stress and interfere with their ability to function in daily life may meet the criteria for the disorder.

In a new study from the university, the researchers emphasised  they are not trying to turn common behaviours — such as having a lot of s**x, or watching pornography — into disorders.

Instead, people with hypers**xual disorder report feeling out of control, and act on their s**xual urges, disregarding the repercussions.

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South African doctor held in UAE jail on 10-year-old charge

 The family of a 77-year-old South African doctor, known for his work treating black children with cancer during the apartheid era, expressed fears for his health yesterday as a court in the United Arab Emirates ruled that a medical panel should investigate a decade-old case against him.

Cyril Karabus, a leading paediatric oncologist, has already spent two months in Abu Dhabi's Al Wathba prison, which is notorious for its human rights abuse, after being arrested in Dubai for the manslaughter of a three-year-old girl in 2002. He was tried and convicted in absentia 10 years ago, but claims to have had no knowledge of the charge against him.

Abu Dhabi Criminal Court assigned a medical committee yesterday to examine records of the case, which are reported to have gone missing, and set the doctor's bail at Dh100,000 (£17,000).The case against the doctor centres on whether or not he administered a blood transfusion to the infant, Sara Adel, who suffered from terminal leukaemia, while working as a locum at the Sheikh Khalifa Medical Centre in the UAE capital.

He claims that he treated the child, but she died anyway.Close to tears, Dr Karabus' daughter Sarah, a paediatrician based in Cape Town, described the effect her father's detention is having on the family. "It's completely traumatic for all of us, utterly traumatic. He's an old man, he's unwell. He's a father of five and a grandfather of two, with another on the way who we just hope he will be back to meet."

Ms Karabus was with her father as he was pulled aside by police at the airport on 18 August as they were leaving the country after a 10-hour stop over in Dubai on their way back from a wedding in Canada."He had no idea what it was about," she said. She was forced to fly out of the country with the rest of family, as their visas were valid for only 24 hours, leaving her elderly father to face the charges alone. "He remembers the girl and he had talked about her before, but he had no idea there was a case against him."

Ms Karabus has said that her father – who worked at the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital in Cape Town for 35 years, where he set up the haematology and oncology unit – appeared "broken" at previous court appearances and has been unable to call his family from jail, though he has told his lawyer he is generally being treated well. After his bail is paid, he will be allowed to leave jail, though his passport has been confiscated and he will not be allowed to leave the country.

"He's a man of integrity; he's not someone who deserves this," Ms Karabus said. "He stayed and worked in the public health service all his life because he wanted to save lives, not make money."Dr Karabus, who was given a three-and-a-half-year term in absentia, was accused of failing to give a transfusion to the girl at the required time, and of falsifying medical records to make it appear as though he had. He had left the country by the time the child died. The British Medical Association has joined other professional groups around the world to condemn the detention of the doctor.

"Karabus is an elderly man in a fragile state of health, who is being held in conditions designed to break him and to weaken his health further. He is also a doctor being held in prison over his medical practice, apparently because that practice did not lead to a 100 per cent success rate," it said in an open letter. "Doctors considering working in the UAE should be aware that the conclusion of this case may have implications for how they practise."

The medical panel have until 20 November to report their findings, and the family remain cautiously hopeful. "The system is very different to any system we are used to, but they have now found the medical file, and if the file is intact it will exonerate him," said Sarah Karabus."We are hopeful but don't expect anything any more. I'm scared to get my hopes up."

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