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Dental Care Tips for Kids

Posted on January 20, 2012 by admin| Comments Off

Getting kids to brush their teeth is the toughest task for a parent. By the time kids learn to brush on their own, they lose their patience for it and begin procrastinating. It is not only important to make them brush, but also to supervise the activity to ensure their teeth are clean.

Tooth decay and painful cavities are commonly seen amongst kids. Most of the preschoolers get their milk teeth filled with dental cement to close cavities and prevent further decay. The lack of awareness about oral hygiene is the primary reason for deteriorating oral health and the rising cost of dental bills. Laying down strict rules about dental care for your kids will go a long way in ensuring stronger teeth and gums in the future. Proper brushing, regular flossing and timely visits to the dentist are all that it takes to maintain your oral health. Let’s take a look at a few dental care tips for kids to initiate oral cleanliness.

Dental Care Tips and Tricks for Kids

Right Toothbrush
For as long as possible, stick to using baby toothbrush. It is extremely soft on the gums and focuses on small areas, thus cleaning them properly. A baby toothbrush protects tender gums, massages them and its easygoing bristles seem encouraging. Additionally, the cartoon characters and the fancy accessories that come along with the toothbrush will keep your child engaged in the activity for a while.

Brushing
Explaining the importance of brushing teeth is one way of coaxing your child into good oral habits. Narrating fictional stories about tooth decay, role play and giving an incentive for proper brushing are a few more tips, which would promise to get your child into a regular and a proper brushing regime. It is crucial that your child learns to brush slowly and in circular motions. Brushing vigorously can lead to receding gums and weak teeth over a period of time.

Tasty Toothpaste
The first thing kids do when they learn to brush their teeth is taste the toothpaste. Some toothpastes may seem a little spicy, while a few may seem extremely powdery. Don’t let the taste of the toothpaste be a deterrent for brushing teeth. There is a range of toothpastes for kids available at most of the supermarkets. Go toothpaste shopping with your child and let him/her pick his/her favorite flavors. Ice cream, chocolate and bubble gum are some of the favorite flavors amongst kids. A tasty toothpaste is an excellent motivating tool to make your child follow important oral care habits.

Fuss Over Flossing
The habit of regular flossing is the most difficult one to get into. Children not only take time to learn the technique, but also often complain about floss hurting the gums. Child-friendly floss meant for tender gums and small teeth is easy to use and does not hurt the gums. Till your child turns 9, you will have to supervise flossing. Mindless flossing races with your child to see who finishes flossing first, is a great motivational tip. Timely visits to the dentist will help you understand whether your child is regularly flossing or shamming the task.

Prevention is always better than cure. Taking precautionary measures such as brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing every day, rinsing your mouth after every meal, using a mouthwash and avoiding excess of sugar are few more preventive dental care tips for children. These tips will definitely help your child understand the importance of maintaining oral hygiene. Learning the necessity of maintaining healthy teeth at a young age, can reap huge benefits in the future.

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Posted in BABY'S & CHILDREN'S HEALTH

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Juices That Help Prevent Cardiovascular Diseases

Posted on January 20, 2012 by admin| Comments Off

Cardiovascular diseases have become a great cause of concern for everyone around the world, especially the US. Treatments of heart disease are not only expensive but also prolonged. In most cases, medications have to be administered lifelong. For those who want to prevent or control cardiovascular diseases, fruit and vegetable ‘juicing’ is the new way to go.

Recent studies show that cardiovascular diseases are one of the most significant causes of death in the United States. Improper dietary habits play a very important role in causing heart disease. The prevalent eating habits have no care for nutrients present in fruits and vegetables. Instead of only relying on medications, a closer look at nature reveals various means to fight against lifestyle diseases, including heart diseases. Juicing fresh fruits and vegetables is an innovative and effective way to supplement the regular diet.

Juices That Help Prevent Heart Diseases

Fruits and vegetables have always been considered as essential parts of a balanced diet. But in the fast-paced lives that all of us seem to lead today, there just isn’t enough time to actually try out recipes for these. So, the next best option is to include fruits and vegetables that are essential for preventing cardiovascular diseases in our diet, by ‘juicing’ them. The recent ‘Green Smoothie Revolution’ is aimed at encouraging people to increase intake of fruit and vegetable juices that help prevent cardiovascular diseases. Some of the fruits and vegetables that are beneficial to heart health, their prominent nutritional value and some health benefits are listed below. Two or more vegetables and fruits can be blended as per your preference to make them tastier.

NAME NUTRITIONAL VALUE IMPORTANCE TO HEART RELATED PROBLEMS
FRUIT JUICES
Orange Hesperidin, Vitamin C • Lowers diastolic blood pressure
• Improves endothelial function
Grape (especially red and purple) Flavonoid, Resveratrol • Improves health of cells lining the blood vessels
Pomegranate Polyphenols (high in quality and quantity) • Prevents and lowers atherosclerosis (thickening of artery wall)
• Controls cholesterol (reduces LDL (bad) cholesterol, increases HDL (good) cholesterol)
Apple Phytonutrients (phytochemicals), Pectins • Acts as an antioxidant
• Lowers cholesterol (LDL)
Cranberry Phytonutrients (phenolic acids, proanthocyanidins, etc.), Manganese • Acts as an anti-inflammatory agent
• Acts as an antioxidant
Avocado Potassium, Sodium • Controls tension in the arteries and cholesterol levels
Red Grapefruit Polyphenols, Flavonoids, Lycopene • Reduces levels of cholesterol and serum triglycerides
• Acts as a powerful antioxidant
Strawberry Potassium, Magnesium, Vitamin C • Regulates blood pressure
• Acts as an antioxidant
• Helps in relaxation of artery muscles
Cantaloupe (muskmelon) Beta-carotene, Vitamin C, B complex vitamins • Acts as an antioxidant and anticoagulant
• Prevents atherosclerosis and high blood pressure
Blueberries Polyphenols, Phytonutrients, Proanthocyanidins • Prevents formation of harmful fats
• Assists in free radical scavenging
Kiwi Vitamin C (high content) • Very good antioxidant
• Increases elasticity and strength of arteries
VEGETABLE JUICES
Beetroot Nitrates, Anthocyanin • Dilates blood vessels
• Reduces blood pressure
Aloe vera Beta-sitosterol • Lowers cholesterol levels
• Improves blood circulation
• Strengthens veins and arteries
Carrots Beta-carotene, Glutathione (GSH) • Reduces cholesterol levels
• Decreases systolic blood pressure
Tomato Lycopene, Phytonutrients (glycoside-esculeoside A), Flavonoid (chalconaringenin), 9-oxo-octadecadienoic acid • Curbs platelet aggregation
• Lowers cholesterol and triglycerides levels
• Acts as an antioxidant
Broccoli Magnesium, Beta-carotene, Vitamin C, Phytochemicals • Acts as an anti-inflammatory agent
• Acts as an antioxidant
• Regulates blood pressure
Cauliflower Omega-3 fatty acids, Glucosinolates (including glucobrassicin, glucoraphanin, and gluconasturtiin) • Promotes anti-inflammatory activity in cardiovascular system
• Prevents and may even reverse blood vessel damage
Cucumber Beta-carotene, Manganese • Acts as an antioxidant
• Assists rapid free radical scavenging
Bell Peppers (especially red) Phytochemicals (chlorogenic acid, zeaxanthin, and coumeric acid), Lycopene • Prevents blood clots
• Reduces cholesterol
• Acts as an antioxidant
Celery Phytonutrients, Aplin • Lowers cholesterol levels
• Regulates blood pressure
• Acts as an antioxidant
Cabbage Phytochemicals, Manganese, Anthocyanin, Glucosinolates • Acts as an antioxidant
• Prevents cardiovascular diseases

A little bit of caution can go long way in preventing or controlling various kinds of cardiovascular diseases. But prevention and control also depend on the causes of cardiovascular diseases. All the same, most of the other lifestyle diseases can be brought under control by appropriate dietary change. However, consult a dietician or a regular physician before including anything new in your diet, especially if you are on medication or are undergoing any treatment. Happy juicing!

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Posted in HEALTH & WELLNESS, HEALTHY LIVING

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Muscle Spasm Prevention

Posted on December 22, 2011 by admin| Comments Off

A muscle spasm can be extremely painful and cause a lot of discomfort for quite some time. If you have experienced these muscle spasms then you probably understand what I am talking about. This article will help you understand various ways of muscle spasm prevention and treatment.

While peacefully sleeping in the night, have you suddenly experienced a sudden ‘pop’ in the muscle which was so painful that you woke up with a painful scream. Or while exercising in the gym, did you ever have to stop because of a sudden muscle contraction in your legs? A muscle spasm is nothing but the sudden contraction of one or more than one of your muscles. Though these sudden contractions are absolutely harmless, in the fatal sense, but they can lead to extreme pain which can actually make you stop your movement for quite some time, varying from a few minutes to an hour. What causes muscle spasms? Well, usually the main cause of muscle contractions is considered to be excessive physical movements, or movements that the body isn’t used to. Muscle spasms are known to appear more during hot weather. Which is why you must take effective measures for muscle spasm prevention in order to get rid of the unexpected and obviously, an unwanted discomfort.

How to Prevent Muscle Spasms?

Muscle spasms are easily preventable by some simple and effective self-care measures. Before we discuss on the prevention, let us briefly discuss the more about the causes of muscle spasms as knowing these would help you understand how to prevent the condition. Apart from the physical exertion, other causes of muscle contraction could be inadequate blood supply; may be due to narrowed arteries, compression of the nerves, or certain nutritional deficiencies in the body. It is also important for you to keep your body well hydrated as dehydration can also cause muscle spasms. Mentioned below are some effective tips to prevent muscle spasms. Read on…

Keep Yourself Well Hydrated

As mentioned earlier, dehydration can cause muscle cramps. Therefore it is very important for you to keep your body well hydrated and maintain a healthy balance of fluids and electrolytes in the body. Well hydrated muscles contract easily and also stay relaxed. Therefore make sure that you keep on sipping on water and healthy fluids regularly to prevent muscle spasms.

Warm Up Before Exercising

For any physical activity and movement, it is very important for you to prepare your body beforehand. Therefore, it is very important for you to perform some warm up exercises like jogging, stretching, jumping, crunches, sit ups, etc. If you have been experiencing leg cramps at night, then it would be advisable to do some stretching exercises before going to bed.

Have a Healthy and Balanced Diet

It is more or less the key to all your health related solutions. As muscle spasms can occur because of nutritional deficiency, it is important to eat a diet that gives you all the essential nutrients. In fact, there are many foods that can prevent muscle spasms. Food items like beet greens, potassium rich foods like bananas, dried peaches, potatoes, calcium rich foods like yogurt, skim milk etc can actually help prevent muscle spasms. On the contrary, it would be advisable to stop consuming acidic foods like tomatoes, vinegar etc as they lead to calcium deficiency.

Use Hot Packs

Experts also say that applying hot packs on the affected area also helps in preventing muscle spasms. You can also take a hot bath right before going to bed if you get muscle contractions in the middle of the night. It is known to improve blood circulation which in turn helps in preventing muscle spasms.

Wear Comfortable Shoes

Studies reveal that an uncomfortable footwear can cause a lot of problems in the body, one of which is muscle contraction. Which is why women who wear heels all the time usually get a muscle spasm after removing their heels. Even while exercising, it is very important for you to wear a footwear that relaxes your foot and not add strain to it.

Live an Active Lifestyle

Though muscle spasms may be associated with physical activity, but even inactivity can lead to muscle contractions. Which is why you should live a healthy and active lifestyle and maintain a balance between too much or too little activity.

Sleep Sideways

Another way to prevent muscle spasms while asleep is to sleep sideways with your toes pointed. Make sure that you don’t tuck yourself too tightly as the pressure may lead to muscle spasms. Sleeping after a brief stretching would also help.

So, these were some of the simple and effective techniques of muscle spasm prevention. However, if self-care isn’t helping and you have been getting muscle spasms more often, with unexplained reasons, this can mean that there is probably an underlying health condition behind it. Conditions like diabetes, anemia, thyroid problems, hormonal changes can also cause muscle spasms. Therefore you must get in touch with your doctor as soon as you find that the self-care measures and home remedies for muscle spasm are of no help at all.

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Posted in BONES & JOINTS, HEALTH TIPS

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What Causes Gallbladder Cancer

Posted on December 19, 2011 by admin| Comments Off

Gallbladder cancer is commonly observed in Central and South America and is also observed in Native American Indians and Hispanics. Though the causes of gallbladder cannot be pinpointed, a few ‘risk factors’ have been elicit. Learn about them in this article.

In the human body, the gallbladder is sandwiched between the liver and the duodenum. The gallbladder is a small organ that plays a role in the metabolism of fat in the body. When food containing fat is consumed, a hormone cholecystokinin is secreted in the body. This cholecystokinin then stimulates the gallbladder to release its contents into the duodenum. Gallbladder functions in the concentration of bile produced by the liver. This bile, when released in the duodenum, emulsifies partially digested fat.

Gallbladder is found in most vertebrates but is absent in invertebrates. The removal of gallbladder does not affect survival of the organism, as no crucial functions are impaired. Gallbladder cancer is one of the rare cancers that plague human beings. Gallbladder cancer is peculiar in its geographical distribution as well as racial distribution – it is found commonly in South America, Japan, Central and Eastern Europe, South Asia, also it is commonly seen in Native American Indians and Hispanics. This could probably provide some clues about the possible risk factors and causes of gallbladder cancer, but no such trend has been yet elicit.

How Does Gallbladder Cancer Set In

As like any other cancer, gallbladder cancer is caused by mutations in the gallbladder cell. In the human body, each cell has something known as tumor suppressor genes. A tumor suppressor gene prevents cells from becoming cancerous. Take the example p53. p53 is a tumor suppressor protein encoded by the gene TP53 gene. The main function of p53 is to arrest the cell cycle if the DNA in the cell has been damaged. If however, there is a mutation in the p53 encoding gene, the cell will continue to replicate in spite of any DNA damage. To add to this, if the DNA damage is such that it makes the cell cancerous, it will lead to growth and proliferation of a cancer cell, leading to tumor.

Apart from oncogenes, mutations in tumor suppressor genes are one of the major causes of many types of cancer, especially gallbladder cancer. Typical tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes related to gallbladder cancer include BRAF, KRAS, HER2, FHIT and CDKN2. A carcinogen is a substance that induces cancerous mutations in the cell. The exact manner in which a carcinogen acts need not always be evident. Different carcinogens act in different ways. At the same time, certain conditions can also prove to be ‘carcinogenic’; they make a person more susceptible to develop cancer. In case of gallbladder cancer, the exact causes are unknown, but several conditions have been elicit to increase the risk of developing gallbladder cancer.

Risk Factors of Gallbladder Cancer

Primary gallbladder cancer arises in the connective tissue present between the different layers of the gallbladder wall. From here the cancer spreads to the gallbladder, the liver and then other parts of the body. The risk factors enlisted below have been shown to increase susceptibility to gallbladder cancer.

Gallstones

Gallstones (or cholelithiasis) is a condition in which stone-like deposits of either cholesterol or bilirubin collect in the gallbladder. Many causes of gallstones have been indicated; these include diabetes, liver cirrhosis, rapid weight loss induced by following a very low-calorie diet also causes gallstones, chronic hemolytic anemia etc. In general women are twice more prone to gallstones than men (menopausal women even more). The direct connection between gallstones and gallbladder cancer cannot be yet laid down. However, exposure to hepatocarcinogens along with a gallstones-inducing diet made more than 50% test animals develop gallbladder cancer. Even in humans, around 70 to 90% patients suffering from gallbladder cancer have been detected with the presence of gallstones as well.

Cholecystitis

Formation of gallstones in the gallbladder can lead to a painful condition called cholecystitis. Cholecystitis is marked by severe inflammation of the gallbladder. If neglected, the inflammation can progress to severe necrosis. This in turn can lead to a secondary infection by the normal gut microflora, such as Escherichia coli and Bacteroides. The other end of the spectrum is if the inflammation remains a low-level chronic type of inflammation. This condition is known as chronic cholecystitis and is characterized by a fibrotic and calcified gallbladder.

Porcelain Gallbladder

Porcelain gallbladder is the medical condition in which there is heavy calcification in the gallbladder. Porcelain gallbladder can be regarded as the last stage of gallstones, or the most progressed version of gallstones. If the gallstones formed in the gallbladder are not removed and are allowed to accumulate, it may lead to calcification of the stones. Porcelain gallbladder is a rare condition in itself, but it has been shown to be linked to gallbladder cancer. According to a study conducted by Stephen and Berger at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, “the incidence of cancer depends on the pattern of calcification“. In general, obese female patients over the age of 40 are at a greater risk of developing porcelain gallbladder, and are hence at a greater risk of developing gallbladder cancer as well.

Environmental Factors

Every disease has certain factors that cannot be controlled. These are factors that increase the risk of certain individuals developing a particular disease. They include traits like gender, age, lifestyle or race. With respect to gallbladder cancer, peculiar observations have been made. It has been seen that gallbladder is twice more common in women than in men. Gallbladder cancer is also more likely to occur in individuals who are 40 years or older (particularly the age group of 50 to 60 years). In terms of lifestyle, gallbladder cancer has been observed more commonly in obese individuals. Obesity is a major cause of concern in most developed countries, including the US.

As with many other cancers, the exact causes of gallbladder cancer remain a mystery. However, the above factors are known to be linked with gallbladder cancer. Since early diagnosis of the disease is not possible, it is advisable that you get a check up done if you fall under any of the predisposed groups as discussed above. One of the surest way to eliminate the risk of developing gallbladder cancer is to remove gallstones. Treatment most often includes cholecystectomy (surgical removal of the gallbladder). However, as mentioned earlier, cholecystectomy does not impair any major functions of the body, and persons can live a long life after surgery. 

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Posted in CANCER, DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

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Stage 3 Cervical Cancer: Prognosis and Treatment

Posted on December 16, 2011 by admin| Comments Off

Did you know that in the year 2011, more than 12,000 new cases of cervical cancer were detected in the US, and that more than 4000 people died of cervical cancer? In spite of the incidence of cervical cancer having considerably declined, it still continues to pose a serious threat to women’s health.

Cervical cancer is the third most common type of cancer in women. It originates in the cervix, which is the lowermost part of the uterus, that opens right on top of the vagina. Cervical cancer usually originates in the squamous cells of the cervix. Cervical cancer is very closely associated with HPV, or Human Papilloma Virus; most cases of cervical cancer can be rooted to an HPV infection in women. As cervical cancer is most commonly caused by an HPV infection, early diagnosis and treatment of the disease is possible.

The staging system for cervical cancer was set by the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO). According to this system, there are, in all, four broad stages of cervical cancer. The prognosis and treatment for each of these stages is different; it depends on a lot of factors such as progress of the disease, age and health of the woman, tumor size and shape, etc. The details for prognosis and treatment of stage 3 cervical cancer are discussed below.

Stage 3 Cervical Cancer

The staging of cervical cancer is done on the basis of clinical examination. Different tests such as colposcopy, hysteroscopy, cervical conization to name a few need to be carried out to detect and stage a case of cervical cancer. Cervical cancer can progress from the cervix to other parts of the female body. The tumor may metastasize from the cervix to the interior of the body, such as uterus, pelvic wall, pelvis, bladder and rectum; on the other hand, it may metastasize to the exterior of the body as well, viz., the middle and lower third of the vagina. It may also affect the functioning of kidneys.

Description

Stage 3 cervical cancer is characterized by tumor in the cervix, and/or the pelvic wall. It may even involve tumor in the lower third of the vagina. As stage 3 cervical cancer progresses, normal functioning of kidneys may also be impaired. A painful condition called hydronephrosis may be observed in the patient; in this condition, the free flow of urine is obstructed. If left untreated, it may lead to renal failure as well.

Prognosis

An important aspect of any disease is the symptoms caused by the disease. As symptoms become evident, diagnosis can be carried out. However, cervical cancer may not always have evident symptoms. Due to this, a patient may already be suffering from stage 3 (or even stage 4) cervical cancer by the time she is diagnosed.

Prognosis of stage 3 cervical cancer is difficult. This is mainly because, as the cancer progresses to later stages, the treatment strategy used focuses more on treating local lesions rather than on whole body chemotherapy or radiology. Also the fact that it is a stage 3 cervical cancer indicates that a good measure of metastasis has already occurred; this means the disease has already progressed beyond the initial stages in which it can be cured. The 5-year relative survival rate of stage 3 cervical cancer is only around 25 to 35%. (As opposed to this, the overall 5-year relative survival rate of cervical cancer is around 72%.)

With respect to diseases such as cancer, prognosis is expressed in terms of “5-year relative survival rate”. This is calculated by dividing total number of patients alive 5 years after diagnosis, by the total number of people of corresponding age, sex, etc., alive 5 years from diagnosis of patients. For a disease with high mortality, 5-year relative survival rates are very low, for example cancers. Cervical cancer, however, has a comparatively greater 5-year relative survival rate, at 72%; that of stage 1 cervical cancer is even more, at 92%.

Treatment

Effective treatment of cervical cancer includes early diagnosis. Diagnosis of cervical cancer can be done by routine Pap smears. Pap smears help to identify a case of HPV infection in women. If this infection is effectively treated, an instance of cervical cancer can be avoided. An HPV infection can be detected by the presence of precancerous cells, which may progress to cancerous cells if the infection is not treated or if the precancerous tissue is not removed.

Treatment in the early stages focuses mainly on removal of the affected tissue (precancerous or cancerous). The invasiveness of this procedure can be controlled, so as to remove only the affected tissue without damaging the cervix, uterus or other organs. This will enable a woman to have children in the future.

However, if cervical cancer unfortunately goes undetected in the initial stages, then treatment strategies need to be changed. Stage 3 cervical cancer treatment strategy mainly includes hysterectomy. Hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the uterus but not the ovaries. If the tumor has metastasized to a greater extent, radical hysterectomy may also be required (removal of uterus and surrounding tissue, lymph nodes, and sometimes even the upper part of the vagina). Pelvic exenteration may also be done (removal of all pelvic organs, including bladder and rectum).

Finally, radiology, chemotherapy and other strategies used to treat other forms of cancer can also be used to treat cervical cancer that has spread beyond the pelvis. Internal radiation as well as external radiation may be used. As for chemotherapy, drugs like cisplatin, carboplatin, ifosfamide, cyclophosphamide, etc., are commonly used. Sometimes, radiology and chemotherapy may be used in combination, before and/or after a surgery.

The best way to protect yourself from cervical cancer is to routinely get your Pap smear done. According to the guidelines published on the PubMed Health website, if you are a sexually active woman, or if you are above 20 years of age and have never had a Pap smear done before, call your doctor today and inquire about Pap smears. One of the things about cervical cancer is that it is completely curable, IF diagnosed early enough. Pap smear is not even an invasive, painful or lengthy technique. It is a small step towards securing a healthy future.

Disclaimer: This article is purely for informative and educational purposes and does not advise. If users need medical advice, they should consult a doctor or other appropriate medical professionals.

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Posted in CANCER, WOMEN'S HEALTH

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