YOUR HEALTH
Financial crisis to "increase" mental illness
The global financial crisis is likely to cause
increased mental health problems and even suicides
as people struggle to cope with poverty and unemployment,
the World Health Organization warns.
Hundreds of millions of people worldwide are
already affected by mental problems such as
depression and bi-polar disorders and the current
market meltdown could exacerbate feelings of despair.
The UN agency says the impact could be especially
marked for those living in low and middle income
countries where access to treatment is often limited.
Poverty and its associated stresses including
violence, social exclusion and "constant insecurity"
are linked to the onset of mental disorders, Dr Chan says.
"It should not come as a surprise that we continue
to see more stresses, suicides and mental disorders."
Chan denounces the "abysmal lack of care" for
some mental health patients, especially in low
and middle income countries, home to three out of
four sufferers. Governments must make mental health
a vital part of primary health care, she says.
Benedetto Saraceno, director of WHO's mental health
and substance abuse department, says mental health disorders
affect one in four people at some point in their lives.
Mental and neurological disorders are often chronic
and disabling, he says. Nearly 1 million people
commit suicide worldwide every year, a large
proportion of them young adults.
Asked about the financial crisis, Saraceno says
"There is a clear evidence that suicide is linked
to financial disasters. I am not talking about
the millionaire jumping out of the window but
about poor people."
The global crisis could be expected to affect the
"stability of communities and families", says Saraceno.
The WHO launches a programme aimed at increasing funding
and services for the mentally ill over the next six years.
More than 75% of people suffering, receive no
treatment or care, and many are stigmatized and
subject to neglect and abuse.
Globally, the WHO says most countries spend less
than 2% of their national health budget on mental health.
FOR YOUR INTEREST
Cancer Update from John Hopkins
(This information is also being circulated
at Walter Reed Army Medical Centre.)
No plastic containers in microwave.
No water bottles in freezer.
No plastic wrap in microwave.
**********************************************
A dioxin chemical causes cancer,
especially breast cancer.
Dioxins are highly poisonous to the cells of our bodies.
Don't freeze your plastic bottles with water in them
as this releases dioxins from the plastic.
Recently, Edward Fujimoto, Wellness Program Manager
at Castle Hospital, was on a TV program to
explain this health hazard. He talked about
dioxins and how bad they are for us. He said
that we should not be heating our food in the
microwave using plastic containers...
This especially applies to foods that contain fat.
He said that the combination of fat, high heat,
and plastics releases dioxin into the food and
ultimately into the cells of the body...
Instead, he recommends using glass, such as
Corning Ware, Pyrex or ceramic containers for
heating food... You get the same results, only
without the dioxin.
So such things as TV dinners, and soups, etc.,
should be removed from the container and heated
in something else. Paper isn't bad but you don't
know what is in the paper. It's just safer to
use tempered glass, Corning Ware, etc.
He reminded us that a while ago some of the fast
food restaurants moved away from foam containers
to paper. The dioxin problem is one of the reasons...
Also, he pointed out that plastic wrap, such as Saran,
is just as dangerous when placed over foods to
be cooked in the microwave. As the food is nuked,
the high heat causes poisonous toxins to actually
melt out of the plastic wrap and drip into the food.
Cover food with a paper towel instead.
This is an article that should be sent to
anyone important in your life!
ALSO -------------------------------------
Bottled water in your car is very dangerous.
This is how Sheryl Crow got breast cancer.
She was on the Ellen show and said this same
exact thing. This has been identified as the
most common cause of the high levels in breast
cancer, especially in Australia.
A friend whose mother was recently diagnosed with
breast cancer said the Doctor told her: women
should not drink bottled water that has been left in a car..
The doctor said that the heat and the plastic of
the bottle have certain chemicals that can lead
to breast cancer. So please be careful and do
not drink bottled water that has been left in a car,
and, pass this on to all the women in your life.
This information is the kind we need to know
and be aware of, and just might save us!
The heat causes toxins from the plastic to leak
into the water and they have found these toxins
in breast tissue. Use a stainless steel Canteen
or a glass bottle when you can!
CHEERS !!!
TOP TEN HEALTHY DRINKS
Scientists at the University of California, Los Angeles
give this list of the healthiest drinks in the world.
1. Pomegranate juice. It contains calcium, phosphorus,
magnesium, iron and natrium and is highly beneficial
to the cardiovascular system. (This juice is NOT
recommended for those suffering with ulcers or acidity.)
2. Red wine. Known for its ability to prevent the
development of cancer. Many dietitians recommend
drinking approx. 30 grams of each day with food.
3. Grapefruit juice. Contains many group B vitamins,
which are very good for hair and nails, as well as
ascorbic acid, which fights microbes. In addition,
grapefruit juice allows us to keep a good memory,
fights breast cancer and maintains skin elasticity.
4. Blackberry juice. Blackberries are known for
their ability to enhance eyesight and fight diarrhea.
They also fight diabetes, prevent the development
of gum diseases and preserve the youthfulness
of the entire body.
5. Cherry juice. Contains vitamin A necessary for
healthy teeth and eyes; iron and vitamin C, which
fights infections and cuts the risk of developing
many types of cancer.
6. Acai juice. This fruit contains special herbal pigments
that moisturize skin and prevent its aging.
The fruit also has many fatty acids required for
the normal working of the brain and the nervous system.
7. Cranberry juice . Produces antipyretic action
and helps during the common cold. The juice also
relieves the body of toxins, produces a strong
diuretic action and helps retain potassium.
8. Orange juice. Increases the body's resistance
to flu, removes fatigue, activates brain functions
and strengthens blood vessels.
9. Tea. An invigorating beverage which fights
heart diseases and various infections.
10. Apple juice. Can be used to relieve atherosclerosis,
liver, urinary bladder and kidney diseases.
WHO WILL LIVE.... AND WHO WILL DIE.
A major United Nations report finds a huge difference
between the life expectancy of the children
of the rich and those of the poor.
Some countries are closing the gap - some are not.
The report, headed by Sir Michael Marmot, says
poverty has CUT UK life expectancy to 79 years.
In Japan, Australia, Sweden, Canada and Italy,
theirs has GROWN to an average of 83 years.
The report says the conditions children grow and live in,
are fundamental to their chances of good health.
The social injustice that leads to health inequality
the report argues, COULD be ended "within a generation".
The report says a "toxic combination of bad policies,
economics and politics is in large measure responsible...
Social injustice is killing on a grand scale."
The commission calls for action to stop
the injustices in social policy which
lead to shorter lives. It wants EVERY
government policy and programme to be assessed
for its impact on health.
People and governments should invest in high-quality
education, intervening in the earliest years,
from the womb to the age of eight.
Housing, transport, food and alcohol all play
their part. As does good available employment.
The health secretary, Alan Johnson, gives the
work of the commission his "strong support".
The Department of Health has a conference in
November to discuss the report's findings.
Did you know that meetings cause back problems...?
Many come out of meetings with a long yellow streak
running all the way down their back bones.
TEENAGE WOMEN FACE HUGE RISK FROM ALCOHOL
Drinking Alcohol may delay childbearing for women
but has little or no effect on men, according to a new study.
Researchers at the Washington University School
of Medicine analyzed data from two groups of
Australian twins born between 1893-1964 (3,634
female and 1,880 male twins) and between 1964-
1971 (3,381 female and 2,748 male twins).
The study compared women's and men's lifetime
history of alcohol dependence and their age
when they had their first child.
The results show that alcohol dependence can
cause reproductive dysfunctions for both teen
and adult females, the researchers say today.
The study is to be published in the November issue
of "Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research".
The finding that alcohol dependence has more
reproduction-related impact on women than on men
may be because women reach higher blood alcohol
concentrations than men while consuming similar
amounts of alcohol, the researchers suggest.
"Reproductive dysfunctions include a range of
menstrual disorders, sexual dysfunctions, and
pregnancy complications that include spontaneous
abortion or miscarriage. Teenagers who drink tend
to have disruptions in their menstrual cycle as
well as unplanned pregnancies," says author Mary
Waldron, assistant professor of psychiatry at
Washington University School of Medicine.
"To our knowledge, this is the first study to
examine alcohol's effects on reproductive onset
across reproductive development," she says.
"Most previous research has examined risks to
teens or adults but not both. Our findings
highlight a risk associated with AD (alcohol
dependence) in women that is not widely recognized
- a risk that has assumed increasing importance
given the increased rates of alcohol misuse by
women and particularly young women," Waldron says.
"Young women who drink alcohol may want to consider
the longer-term consequences for later childbearing," Waldron warns.
"If drinking continues or increases to levels of
problem use, their ability and/or opportunity to
have children may be impaired."
BREAST IS BEST !
Mothers in the Philippine capital of Metro Manila
now have a bank to deposit and withdraw not money
but breast milk, according to local media.
The country's first community milk bank is open
to help sick newborn babies who are too weak to
suck breasts or mothers who can't immediately breastfeed.
Some 200 mothers donated at least five ounces of
breast milk at Guadalupe Nuevo Barangay Hall in
the capital at the bank's opening day. The breast
milk was collected using a manual breast pump
for at least 15 minutes per donor.
Medela, a supplier of post-natal care equipment,
donated 10 manual breast pumps worth 1,800 pesos
(40 U.S. dollars) each, local news network GMA News says.
According to the network, the milk collected from
each mother is stored in a sterilized container,
transferred to a cooler, and sent to a local hospital.
The hospital maintains a milk bank which has
pasteurizing equipment and three freezers that
can preserve the milk for up to six months.
Senator Pia S. Cayetano, who led the launch, says
the initiative aims to revive the dying practice of breastfeeding.
"The idea is to tell moms who are breastfeeding
to take it a step forward, to help other moms
who cannot immediately breastfeed."
Cayetano has drafted a bill to require the
establishment of human milk banks in hospitals
which provide maternity services. The bill has
passed its third and final reading in the Senate.
Study: Kids' popular fast foods dangerous
Letting kids eat at popular fast-food and chain
restaurants can be downright dangerous because
the servings are far too high in calories, says
a report by the Centre for Science in the Public Interest.
The centre, a U.S. consumer group, examined the
menus at 13 popular restaurants that promote children's meals.
It finds that in most chain restaurants, more
than 90% of the kid's menu meals included more
than the recommended 430 calories per meal.
"Nearly every single possible combination of the
children's meals at KFC, Taco Bell, Sonic, Jack
in the Box, and Chick-fil-A is too high in calories."
More than 90% of meals offered at hamburger
chains would fill virtually all of a child's
calorie needs for the day, CSPI says.
The findings showed that overall 45% of the meals
are too high in saturated (animal) and trans fat,
and 86% are too high in sodium.
CSPI nutrition policy director Margo Wootan says
that most meals appear to be designed to put
children on the fast track to obesity, disability,
heart attack, or diabetes.
"PLASTIC PEOPLE - OH BABY, YOU'RE SUCH A DRAG !"
Plastic was lampooned by Frank Zappa in the '60s.
Now, it seems to be good from every point of view.
It cannot be smashed like glass, weighs less and
there is no need to wash it, as it's very cheap
so it is simply thrown away.
People now make a variety of things from plastic – even houses !
Many people use plastic kitchenware in their everyday lives.
It seems that developed countries, especially
the US and UK, have turned other materials down.
Many people now drink coffee from plastic cups,
and are led to believe that glass or china
is only available now in expensive restaurants.
Even if you buy high-quality coffee in shops,
you will get it in a plastic container.
Yet this plastic way of life is very dangerous
to both human and animal health, and even our survival !!!
Scientists say that molecules of plastic packaging,
ingested during eating or drinking, CAN produce
an extremely harmful effect on human metabolism.
Bisphenol A, or diphenylpropane, is especially active,
and can cause acute hormonal imbalances.
This chemical is a basic constituent of plastic
used for the production of bottles for mineral water,
other alcohol-free drinks, and even baby food.
Experiments conducted on animals reveal that Bisphenol A
suppresses the production of sperm with males
and accelerates pubescence with females.
Specialists analyzed the urine of about 2,500 healthy humans
and discovered high concentrations of Bisphenol A with 92% of the people tested.
The concentrations were much higher than in lab animals.
A report from the National Toxicology Program says
that Bisphenol A, which has been proven as harmful
to animals even in small doses, can be found in almost every human being.
Therefore, this chemical threatens human embryos,
infants and teenagers. The chemical destroys hormones
and affects genes at the very beginning of a human life,
programming the development of breast or prostate cancer,
sexual precocity with girls, attention disturbances
and other reproductive and neurological disorders.
Specialists at the US National Toxicology Program
conducted about 500 experiments on rats.
The report says Bisphenol A can cause behavioral
and precocious puberty in female embryos and babies,
as well as affect the brain, the prostate gland and mammalian glands.
Canadian scientists say that the chemical,
which is used in the production of bottles,
DVDs and CDs can be hazardous to health.
Canada’s Health Minister Tony Clement says that the chemical
"most likely" jeopardizes the health of children and newborns,
so Canada has now banned plastic feed bottles for babies.
PLASTIC PEOPLE - YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED !!!
"UNACCEPTABLE"
Britain's leading psychiatrist launches a critique
of the state of Britain's acute psychiatric care system:
"I would not use them, and neither would I let
any of my relatives do so."
Professor Dinesh Bhugra, the new president of
the Royal College of Psychiatrists, delivers a
damning verdict on the system:
"Some acute psychiatric inpatient ward conditions
are absolutely unacceptable. They are uninhabitable.
The system often leaves patients feeling lost and abandoned.
I predict the situation will become worse in coming years.
There are plenty of wards that consistently run
with 120% occupancy, despite the fact that no ward
should ever be more than 80% full if patients are
to be safe, properly treated and cared for.
This pressure on beds means that patients are commonly
discharged without any warning or preparation.
They frequently return to their wards after being
out in the community on weekend leave to find they
have been discharged, their possessions packed and
someone else is sleeping in their bed. They feel
lost and abandoned. Who wouldn't?
Overcrowding acute wards in this way also means
the units become like pressure cookers. Patients
suffer and can become unmanageable because staff
are too overstretched to treat them. Their recovery
is affected because their key workers have too
heavy a workload to be accessible.
You don't go into hospital to get hurt, but that's
what's happening. There are too many wards that
are not safe, which is the one thing these most
vulnerable of people should be able to rely on
them to be. We would not accept these conditions,
any of these conditions, in surgical wards so why
is it happening in psychiatric wards?
We are not asking for anything extreme. Just for
comfortable and unfrightening wards of a good enough
quality, that these most vulnerable of people
have a chance of recovering.
Until there is a compulsory kitemarking scheme,
my prediction is that, as overcrowding increases,
funding becomes more stretched and morale of patients
and staff fall, overall conditions are likely to
continue to deteriorate."
EXERCISE AND A VEGAN DIET CAN ALTER YOUR GENES !
A new study reveals that frequent changes in diet,
physical activities and reduction of stress
changes the expression of hundreds of genes.
Changing your lifestyle can show a positive
influence on genes, making them fight cancer,
or turning off the genes that develop cancer.
Dr. Dean Ornish, lead scientist of the research,
clinical professor at the University of California, San Francisco;
"These findings are very exciting. They counter
the genetic nihilism I hear so often. People
say, 'It's all in my genes, there's nothing I can
do,' but actually you can do quite a lot."
Research earlier showed incidents of prostate cancer
are a lot less frequent where people are used to
low-fat diets based on vegetables and fruit.
This prompted an initiative to find out whether
diet and lifestyle could decrease the amount of
prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in men diagnosed
with early prostate cancer.
The new research reveals that intensive changes
in lifestyle, particularly a dietary change,
allows men to lower their PSA scores by 4%.
Men in the control group report a rise in their
PSA score of 6%.
Vegan food, daily walks and stress management
help us fight the disease, scientists conclude.
Prostate cancer may cause pain, difficulty in urinating,
erectile dysfunction and other symptoms.
Around 35,000 men in the UK are diagnosed per year;
where around 10,000 die of it. However, many men
who develop prostate cancer never have symptoms,
undergo no therapy, and eventually die of other causes.
That is because malignant neoplasms of the prostate are,
in most cases, slow-growing, and because most of those affected
are over 60. Hence they often die of causes unrelated
to the prostate cancer, such as heart/circulatory
disease, pneumonia, other unconnected cancers or old age.
Many factors, including genetics and diet, have been
implicated in the development of prostate cancer.
Early prostate cancer usually causes no symptoms.
Sometimes, however, prostate cancer does cause symptoms.
These include frequent urination, increased urination
at night, difficulty starting and maintaining a
steady stream of urine, blood in the urine, and
painful urination. Prostate cancer is associated
with urinary dysfunction as the prostate gland
surrounds the prostatic urethra. Changes within
the gland therefore directly affect urinary function.
Prostate cancer may also cause problems with
sexual function, such as difficulty achieving
erection or painful ejaculation. Because the
vas deferens deposits seminal fluid into the
prostatic urethra, and secretions from the prostate
gland itself are included in semen content,
prostate cancer can affect sexual performance
and cause painful ejaculation.
*******************************
Less than half of NHS staff believe patient care
is the top priority for trusts, an annual staff survey shows.
*****************
The Journal of the American Medical Association
calls for laws to prevent data manipulation by drug companies
as it publishes revelations of the manipulation
of data from clinical trials in Vioxx, by Merck.
The editors allege that internal company reports
show a death rate higher than that published.
Internal company records from 2001,
give 34 deaths among the 1,069 Vioxx patients
from two of the Alzheimer's trials
and 12 among the 1,078 on placebo.
But the published data of the first study in 2004
states there were 11 deaths which were "non drug-related",
and two among those on placebo.
COLOURINGS TO BLAME FOR HYPERACTIVITY IN CHILDREN
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) now says
that added fake food colours ARE linked
to hyperactive behaviour in children.
The FSA wants six artificial colourings to be removed
- by the end of next year - because of
"an accumulating body of evidence"
Officials say ministers should call for a voluntary ban
in Britain, and press for compulsory phasing out of
the use of these E-number additives across Europe.
The colourings are;
sunset yellow (E110),
quinoline yellow (E104),
carmoisine (E122),
allura red (E129),
tatrazine (E102)
and ponceau 4R (E124).
Research commissioned by the FSA at Southampton University
finds a "measurable effect" on children's
activity and attention when they consume
a mixture of these additives, together with
sodium benzoate, a very contraversial ingredient,
used in many fizzy drinks.
Hyperactivity shows through increased movement,
impulsiveness and inattention, and can damage
a child's ability to learn.
Often children diagnosed are "treated" with
extremely strong sedatives - an approach
described by psychologists as the "liquid cosh".
The Southampton research team, led by Jim Stevenson,
states that the colours have no nutritional value.
Sodium benzoate, which industry says is difficult
to replace, is described in a further article;
to read the article on Sodium Benzoate...
just scroll down this page, 'til you see a photo' of cans!
Options to be considered include doing nothing,
requiring point of sale notices in stores,
removing colours only from foods consumed by children
and restricting the use of colours in the EU
to products where there are no alternatives.
Campaign groups from across Europe call on
the European commission to suspend the six additives.
Anna Glayzer, Food Commission's Action on Additives campaign,
says the revised government and FSA attitude is
"stronger than their present position,
which is to advise parents they might look
to avoid additives, which is not practical".
FRYING TONIGHT?
Since mobile phones were first introduced,
people have been concerned about
their potential impact on our health.
A new Cleveland study reviews the link
between cell phones and sperm quality.
This study finds that men who speak
more than 4 hours per day have
significantly less viable sperm.
361 men under the age of 40 participated.
The men were divided into 2 groups
according to their daily cell phone usage.
Men who talked more than four hours a day
had abnormally formed sperm.
The researchers suggest the reason
could be a thermal effect, as heat
is known to have adverse effects on male fertility.
Sperm placed next to a cell phone for an hour
showed a decrease in quality.
A study at the University of Segeda, Hungary,
shows that mobile phones carried in trouser pockets
and/or worn on belts can result in the loss of
quantity and quality of a man's active sperm cells.
Scientific theory suggests that a healthy
and loving relationship is good for the heart.
Being involved in any type of
healthy and close relationship
has a lot of positive health benefits,
says Julie Damp, a cardiologist at the
U.S. Vanderbilt Heart and Vascular Institute.
"There are a couple of different theories behind why that might be.
There is a theory that people who are in loving relationships
may experience neuro-hormonal changes
that have positive effects on the body,
including the cardiovascular system."
"This has not been proven, but the idea is that
being in a relationship that is positive
may have positive effects on your cardiovascular system
over long periods of time," Damp says.
Dark chocolates and red wine are popular gifts for lovers.
Studies suggest they are good for the heart, as well.
Dark chocolate contains flavonoids, which are antioxidants.
Antioxidants have proven positive effects
on many different body systems
including the cardiovascular system.
Flavonoids can also be found in red wine.
Studies have shown that moderate alcohol consumption
- which is one drink a day for women
and one to two for men -
is associated with lower rates of heart attacks.
*************
and if you don't want - or can't find - a partner,
new research suggests that frequent masturbation
is great for your health - as it lowers the
risk of developing prostate cancer.
An Australian research team led by Graham Giles,
of The Cancer Council Australia, examined
1,000 men with prostate cancer and 1,250 without
between the ages of 20 and 50.
They found that men who masturbate more than five times a week
are one-third less likely to develop prostate cancer.
The study suggests masturbation can be more helpful
than ejaculation through sexual intercourse
because intercourse can transmit diseases
that may increase the risk of cancer.
So.... your future health is in your own hands !
DON'T WORRY - BE HEALTHY !
Want to cause your gums to deteriorate,
as well as your heart, and be susceptible
to illnesses from the common cold to cancer?
Worry about your health.
That's the answer according to a review essay
in the Dec. 27 issue of the Association for
Psychological Science's magazine, "Observer",
that reveals new research crossing the disciplines
of psychology, medicine, neuroscience and genetics.
PAIN IN THE NECK?
Following very clear recent research results,
supervised high-intensity dynamic strength training
of the painful muscle three times a week for 20 minutes
should be recommended in the treatment of trapezius myalgia.
Depression and suicide rates FALL during holidays,
contrary to past reports, according to a new study.
The number of suicides goes DOWN,
by as much as 40% ....
according to a study by a team of U.S. researchers.
The researchers examined hundreds of thousands of suicides
in the United States and around the world.
Drug or alcohol overdoses, self-poisoning with gas
or other harmful substances and self-inflicted injuries
- with or without the deliberate intention to die -
all DECREASED from average levels
during the week of December 19th - 26th,
and these lowered levels stayed 'til New Year's Day.
Even people with family relationship problems
were less inclined to attempt to hurt themselves.
Bergen suggests that problems within the nuclear family
ease up instead of intensify when the extended family is around.
Another possible reason is that the season,
more than other times, is one of giving.
Dr. Douglas Jacobs, a psychiatrist at Harvard Medical School:
"People tend to reach out over the holidays.
Elderly people in nursing homes might suddenly get visitors.
People who haven't heard from friends all year
might get a card or a phone call."
Amen to caring and reaching out to others !
Here's wishing YOU a HEALTHY 2008 !!!
HRT, Hormones and Petro-chemicals....
KILLING US with HORMONES !!!
READ THE AWFUL TRUTH;-
PRESS THE LINK BELOW
HORMONE HERESY
Scientists at Cardiff University
have tested cod liver oil...
"Scientists at Cardiff University, Wales,
have confirmed what thousands of people
with arthritis have believed for years:
cod liver oil is effective in treating joint pain
and can slow, or reverse destruction of joint cartilage."
Head researcher, Professor Bruce Caterson:
"Our most recent work shows that by exposing
human osteoarthritic cartilage to cod liver oil
in the laboratory for just 24 hours we can turn
off, or reverse, the action of the derogative
enzymes and inflammatory factors affecting the tissue."
What he's saying in plain English is:
Cod liver oil transforms joint tissue overnight!
Cod liver oil is packed with omega-3 fatty acids;
that means cod liver oil can not only reverse arthritis,
but also normalize cholesterol, lower blood pressure,
keep your arteries open and a whole lot more !
What makes cod liver oil so special?
It's loaded with natural Vitamin D.
NEW STUDY:
The Vitamin D in cod liver oil keeps your immune system from
attacking your joints...
...and people in this study who got the most Vitamin D
had the lowest risk of arthritis!
So maybe now you'll actually try cod liver oil
for your arthritis?
+ + +
! ! ! !
Eat more fish, remember?
You may be able to lessen the frequency of those
"why am I in this room?" moments,
simply by eating more fish.
And the more fish you eat,
the bigger the effect.
Investigators found that elderly men and women
who more frequently ate fish scored better on memory,
visual conception, spatial motor skills,
attention, orientation, and verbal fluency tests.
"All six cognitive tests were performed
better by those who ate fish,"
principal author Dr A. David Smith
of the University of Oxford said.
Furthermore, he added, the effect was stronger
as fish consumption increased up to
a limit of about 80 grams per day.
"We need to discover what components of fish are important.
Since we found that lean fish was as good as fatty fish,
it may not just be the omega-3 fatty acids
that confer cognitive benefit."
New mams need more time to breastfeed
Women should be given more maternity leave
to better breastfeed their babies,
in line with World Health Organization recommendations,
a leading pediatrician suggests.
Normally, exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for up to six months.
"New mothers should have at least six months' maternity leave
to meet the WHO's recommendation,
or working will affect the quality of the milk.
Also, the physical condition of new mothers
should not be neglected.
A healthy, happy mother can provide
more nutritious milk to her baby."
One mother said:
"People without such experience cannot imagine
how tough it is to feed your child while working."
Breastfeeding is recommended by the WHO
as the best way to provide infants
with the nutrients they need
for healthy growth and development.
CARROTS FOR TEA, or, DID YOU FORGET?
Beta carotene taken as a dietary supplement for many years
may protect against declines in memory, thinking
and learning skills that often precede
Alzheimer's disease, new research suggests.
The study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine,
indicates that beta carotene may be an important weapon
in warding off memory problems that may foreshadow Alzheimer's
and other forms of dementia, the researchers said.
"This is the first trial that has found any way
to help your memory if you're healthy.
I think it does tell us that we can change
how our memory improves or worsens,"
Francine Grodstein of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston,
who led the study, said.
"Beta carotene is an antioxidant vitamin.
So the reason we thought it might help your brain
is because there is now a lot of evidence that
oxidative damage harms your brain.
And that may be one of the initiating factors
which leads to memory problems," Grodstein said.
In this study, researchers examined the effects
of beta carotene on cognitive ability in two groups of men.
Those in a group of 4,052 men were randomly assigned
in 1982 to take either 50 milligrams of beta carotene
or a placebo every other day.
Another 1,904 men between 1998 and 2001
were also randomly assigned to take either the same amount
of beta carotene or a placebo every other day.
The men in the long-term group took the supplements
for an average of 18 years. The men in the
short-term group did so for an average of
a year, with the longest being three years.
Men who took beta carotene in the long-term
group recorded significantly higher scores on
several cognitive tests - particularly tests of
verbal memory - compared with those who took a
placebo, the study found. In the short-term group,
the men taking beta carotene did no better in cognitive tests.
Another recent study also examined the link between diet and dementia.
French researchers, writing in the journal Neurology,
tracked the diets of 8,085 men and women over age 65.
They were followed for four years, during which
183 of the participants developed Alzheimer's
and 98 developed some other dementia.
Risk for developing dementia was found to be lower
in those with diets heavy in fish, omega-3 oils,
fruits and vegetables.
D H Lawrence was RIGHT:
WE THINK WITH OUR BLOOD !
Researchers at U.S. university MIT think it's possible
that oxygen-rich blood delivered to brain cells may help us think.
Their research indicates that in addition to
providing nutrients and oxygen to the body's cells,
blood may affect the activity of neurons in the brain as it flows through,
changing how they transmit signals to each other
and regulating the flow of information through the brain.
"We hypothesize that blood actively modulates
how neurons process information," said researcher Christopher Moore
in an invited review in the Journal of Neurophysiology.
"Many lines of evidence suggest that blood does something
more interesting than just delivering supplies.
If it does modulate how neurons relay signals,
that changes how we think the brain works."
This relationship between blood flow and brain function
has implications for understanding neurological diseases,
such as Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy,
multiple sclerosis and schizophrenia.
"Most people assume the symptoms of these diseases
are a secondary consequence of damage to the neurons.
But we propose that they may also be
a causative factor in the disease process," Moore said.
For example, epileptics often have abnormal blood vessels
in the regions of the brain where seizures occur,
which suggests that abnormal blood flow could trigger the seizure.
Moore has a few theories that could explain
just how blood affects neural activity,
based on studies in his lab.
Blood contains diffusible elements that could
leak out of blood vessels and affect brain activity,
and changes in blood volume could affect
the concentrations of these factors.
Neurons may also react to the mechanical forces applied to them
when the blood vessels expand and contract.
Blood also influences the temperature of brain tissue,
which affects the activity of cells.
Utter utter fascination !
Home spray cleaners can cause asthma?
The use of spray cleaners as little as once a week
increases the risk of developing asthma
by nearly 50%, a new study finds.
But whether or not the cleaning products
are a direct cause of asthma,
or simply a trigger for people who already have the disease,
is not clear from this epidemiological study,
which was published in the October issue of
the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
Researchers, however, believe that spray cleaners
can be a cause of new-onset asthma, because
the people included in this study did not have asthma
or asthma symptoms at the start of the study.
"Cleaning sprays, especially air fresheners,
furniture cleaners and glass cleaners,
had a particularly strong effect.
The risk of developing asthma increased with the
frequency of cleaning and number of different sprays used,
but on average was 30 to 50% higher in people
regularly exposed to cleaning sprays than in others,"
says the study's lead author, Jan-Paul Zock,
a research fellow at the Center for Research
in Environmental Epidemiology at the Municipal
Institute of Medical Research in Barcelona, Spain.
The most important thing consumers need to know,
cautions Zock, is that
"cleaning sprays - for sale in all supermarkets -are not harmless,
and their use may involve serious health risks."
Rhondda ambulance cuts to be investigated
The Health Minister is to investigate
planned cuts to ambulance cover in the Rhondda
following concerns raised by Plaid Assembly Member Leanne Wood.
Responding to Leanne Wood's questions at the
National Assembly, the Health Minister agreed
to 'look further' into the proposed cuts in ambulance cover hours.
Leanne Wood and Plaid's Jill Evans MEP recently
met Alan Murray, Chief Executive of the
ambulance trust to raise their concerns.
Welcoming the news of the investigation,
the Plaid Assembly Member said:
"I am glad that the Minister has agreed to
investigate the planned cuts to hours of cover
provided by ambulance stations in the Rhondda.
Along with Jill Evans MEP, I raised these concerns
with the chief executive of the ambulance trust,
but he indicated that he is unlikely to rethink his plans.
Staff have strongly expressed their concerns
both to myself and Jill Evans. They believe
that the reorganisation of ambulance services
could mean fewer hours of ambulance cover
in certain parts of the Valleys.
It's good to see that the Minister is
taking these concerns seriously, and I
look forward to discussing the findings
of her inquiries in the near future."
"Unfortunately there are times when ambulances
are being called to non urgent cases
because many are being used for people who
could be served by other transport.
Certainly there is a need for change,
but there must be more notice taken
of local circumstances.."
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GOOD NEWS!
"Fastest ever" Welsh Ambulance Service.
The Welsh Ambulance Service' is "the best in its history".
In April the service reached 66.3% of life
threatening emergencies inside eight minutes.
That's the second month running the service has
beaten the 60% target set by the Welsh Assembly Government.
The improvements are down to modernisation and
staff commitment, said chief executive Alan Murray.
Mr Murray, who became chief executive only last August,
said a modernisation plan entitled Time to Make a Difference
- drawn up in consultation with staff,
unions and other healthcare providers -
would further improve the service.
At the time of his appointment, the figure
for calls reached in eight minutes was 55.4%.
A series of measures, including using GPs in control centres
and more use of rapid response vehicles, have since been introduced.
Mr Murray said the Welsh Ambulance Services Trust
was a very different organisation from the one
heavily criticised in the reports of the Auditor General,
the Healthcare Inspectorate Wales and the Wales Audit Office.
"All those reports pointed out there was good reason
to be optimistic about the future and their faith is
being borne out by the improvement in our performance," he said.
"Our modernisation plan is a patient care-led strategy
although there is obviously a correlation between
the speed with which ambulances arrive and good patient outcomes."
As a result of the improved performance,
the service reaches an extra 70 people
suffering life-threatening emergencies
within the target time every week.
Nigel Rees, a paramedic supervisor in Swansea,
said the number of rapid response vehicles had doubled
in the last six months which had made a difference.
"The cars get to the 999 call roughly
three to four minutes before the ambulance,
or it's supposed to anyway, and that means
that treatment can start that much sooner
so the patient will benefit.
"We had a problem with our meal break situation
before whereas now they have improved.
So generally morale has improved but it's still
a very stressful job."
The improved performance had been spearheaded
by director of ambulance services Mike Cassidy
who also took personal control of south east region.
He praised staff for responding to calls more quickly.
"We are not pursuing these response times for
their own sake but because it leads to a better
chance of survival for patients," he said.
AND THE BAD NEWS?
Ambulances still waiting "50 MINUTES" at A&E.
Patients still regularly wait in ambulances at casualty units
in south east Wales, despite work to tackle the problem.
*************************************************
A yoga workout for your face !
Hanging your tongue out and rolling your eyes
can help you get a seat on a train!
It can also reduce facial wrinkles and help you look younger,
says New York yoga instructor Annelise Hagen.
Hagen teaches several facial exercises
designed to stretch and tone facial muscles.
A group of women practice moves including "The Lion,"
showing the tongue hanging out and eyes rolled up.
Hagen recently released a book,
"The Yoga Face: Eliminate Wrinkles with the Ultimate Natural Facelift."
She developed a workshop using facial yoga
because women wanted to look their best,
"but they weren't really thinking about how
to exercise their facial muscles."
She said facial muscles become weak and flabby
and need regular workouts and circulation to reduce wrinkles.
Other exercises include "Satchmo,"
blowing cheeks out like trumpet player Louis Armstrong,
and "Marilyn," in which seductive kisses are blown
to strengthen mouth muscles for full and firm lips.
"It uses the same principles of exercise you would use
for any other parts of your body," Hagen said.
"Facial muscles also become more toned,
so it is a natural way of getting a lift."
A belly dance is arguably the most harmonious
and feminine way of keeping fit.
Performing “figures of eight”
with swinging movements of the hips
can help slim your waist elegantly;
shimmying is guaranteed to break down fat deposits
and improve the workings of your intestine,
enhancing the appearance of your skin.
Striking wavelike motions in the shoulders
can strengthen your pectoral muscles
and “straighten out” your backbone:-
your posture and grace in walking improves.
You acquire an improved sense of well-being,
better body image and self-esteem.
Your weight, your height or the elasticity of your hips
make no difference because a woman’s individuality
is the keynote of a belly dance.
"Standard movements" of belly dancing
differ with each individual.
Imagine you take the first step.
You enroll in belly dance classes
or buy a DVD and dance at home.
To start, ideally,
you wear shorts,
an open top....
and ballet shoes.
You will only be allowed to perform a belly dance barefoot
when able to keep full control over your body.
An inexperienced barefoot belly dancer
is prone to accidents.
(You can wear your oriental costume
for the third or fourth lesson !)
A long light paneled skirt
and a fitted top will do.
A hip belt with a fringe of beads or coins is a must.
A warm-up is part of any lesson.
A belly dance instructor will teach you
how to warm up your muscles and tendons and
straighten your backbone correctly.
Once you learn the basic steps and techniques
used in belly dance e.g. circular motions isolated in one part of the body,
you will be able to move various muscles or muscle groups independently.
Then an instructor will help you use all the elements
to create a dance of your own.
Now, you are fully prepared
to continue training sessions independently.
A variety of "props" can be used:
- A veil used in part to frame movements of the dancer.
- A candlestick (shamadan) ......part of belly dancing
traditionally performed during a wedding party.
(A lit candle at the top of a dancer’s head
symbolizes the purifying force of fire.)
It is thought that a dancer
who can perform the shamadan
is an "accomplished" dancer.
- A cane ......power woman holds over man.
A bamboo cane decorated with beads and tassels -
sits firmly in the hand and helps
improve the dancer’s arm carriage.
- A sword .....the epitome of recalcitrance.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO KNOW WHERE TO START;-
PRESS THE LINK BELOW.
ARABESQ Web site: Belly Dancing in Wales.
PURE WHITE AND DEADLY....
is a book which warns against
the dangers of refined sugar.
NOW - COMES EVIDENCE
that fructose and other refined sugars
are destroying our livers... and creating
false "appetites" for MORE FOOD ! MORE !!!
If you'd like to examine the evidence...
PRESS THE LINK BELOW.
Blog copy of ABC Report.
Drinking one or more soft drinks a day
may increase the risk of getting heart disease.
Research published in the U.S.
Heart Association's journal "Circulation"
finds that adults who drink one or more soft drinks a day
have about a 50 percent higher risk of metabolic syndrome,
which in turn boosts the chance of getting heart disease.
In the five criteria to diagnose metabolic syndrome,
the study finds a 30% increased risk
of developing a large waistline,
a 25% increased risk of developing high blood triglycerides
as well as high blood sugar,
and a 32% higher risk of having "bad" cholesterol levels.
Prior studies have linked consumption
of sugar-laden soft drinks
with multiple risk factors for heart disease,
but Ramachandran Vasan of Boston Uni. of Medicine,
and his colleagues, also find the link
extends to diet soft drinks.
After adjusting for intake of fat, fibre consumption,
total calories, smoking, and physical activity,
there is still a link between
soft drink intake and metabolic risk factors.
"Even one soda per day increases your risk
of developing metabolic syndrome
by about 50%," says Vasan.
But Vasan adds that the observational study
could not discern any evidence that drinking
soft drinks actually caused the metabolic syndrome.
More study is needed.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Peter Piper wouldn't pick a pack of Pepsi..
Research from Sheffield University, U.K.,
into a common food and drink preservative
suggests that it can damage DNA.
Sodium benzoate, a mold inhibiter commonly found in
Pepsi, Coke, Sprite, other soft drinks, pickles, and sauces, is the culprit.
Peter Piper, professor of molecular biology
and biotechnology, who has been working on
sodium benzoate since 1999, tested sodium
benzoate on living yeast cells. He was
alarmed to find that it damaged their mitochondria's DNA.
Concerned, Piper has made his research public:
"These chemicals have the ability to cause
severe damage to DNA in the mitochondria to the
point that they totally inactivate it — they
knock it out altogether."
"The mitochondria consume the oxygen to give you
energy, and if you damage it — as happens in a
number of diseased states — then the cell starts
to malfunction very seriously. And there is a
whole array of diseases that are now being tied
to damage to this DNA — Parkinson's and quite a
lot of neurodegenerative diseases, but above all,
the whole process of aging."
Sodium benzoate occurs naturally in cranberries,
apples, milk products, cinnamon, and cloves.
Sodium benzoate occurring naturally in foods is about 40 mg per kg.
Used as a preservative, it is about 2,000 mg per kg.
Historically, benzoic acid came from a dry
distillation of gum benzoin.
Industrial preparation is now cheaply made from toluene.
Sodium benzoate is made from benzoic acid.
Sodium benzoate and benzoic acid are considered safe by the FDA.
The Hyperactive Children's Support Group of Great Britain
takes exception to that and recommends the avoidance
of both sodium benzoate and benzoic acid.
Piper considers tests done by the FDA "out of date."
A short-term study on rats — feeding them
1,800 mg/kg of sodium benzoate/benzoic acid —
produced central nervous system damage.
Benzoic acid caused liver pathology and reduced weight.
However, these studies are deemed inadequate to determine safety.
The vitamin C (ascorbic acid) added to soft drinks
reacts with sodium benzoate to make benzene,
a known carcinogen and air pollutant.
CHILDREN AND DRUGS
Of course, we all worry and are concerned about
children taking drugs outside the law.
But what kind of messages are we sending about drugs,
when the amount of drugs prescribed to school children
has QUADRUPLED IN THE LAST TEN YEARS.
How can children take ANY anti-drug message seriously,
when so many adults drink regularly,
or take prescription drugs for "depression"
or Irritable bowel "syndrome" - (Once known as "itchy arse" !)
The number of prescriptions for
antidepressants and other mind-altering drugs
given to children under 16 !
has more than quadrupled in the last decade,
according to official figures.
There were more than 631,000 such prescriptions
recorded in the last financial year,
according to government figures,
compared to 146,000 in 1996-97.
The new figures come amid growing concern about
rising levels of childhood depression
and pressures faced by young people.
The figures were released in a House of Commons written answer
to MP David Laws, Liberal Democrat spokesman
for children, schools and families.
He says: "I think it is a major concern
that drugs seem to be prescribed so easily
these days to children of school age.
In the past, not only were there not as many
of these types of drugs on the market,
there was an assumption, I think, that people
would try to get to the source of the problem
rather than simply prescribing drugs.
"I think a lot of people are concerned that there
is an over-prescription of drugs when we ought to
be looking more at the underlying causes of people's behaviour."
A Department of Children, Schools and Family spokesperson:
"The government's Every Child Matters agenda
commits to supporting every child to have a
happy and healthy childhood."
The above figures are for England,
and for prescriptions OUTSIDE HOSPITALS ONLY !
(They do NOT include Wales....
as figures are not readily available.)
EAT YOUR VEG, AND CHEER UP !
British researchers confirm a link
between depression and low levels of folate,
a vitamin which comes from vegetables.
The link emerges after a review of 11 studies with 15,315 participants,
researchers at the University of York, UK, report.
The research led by Simon Gilbody suggests
the introduction of mandatory fortification of
either bread or flour with folic acid could help
in the fight against depression.
"Although research does not prove that low folate causes depression,
we can now be sure that the two are linked.
Interestingly, there is also some trial evidence
that suggests folic acid supplements can benefit
people with depression. We recommend that large
trials should be carried out to further test this suggestion."
Another piece of research by the same team
proves that people with depression commonly have a gene,
which could cause them to process folate less efficiently.
Folate is linked to the production of some of the
"feel good" chemicals in the brain, such as serotonin,
and the identification of this gene provides a
plausible explanation as to why folic acid
supplements may help people with depression,
according to the researchers.
LATEST NEWS
75% of Welsh diet... to lose a stone.
Diet and fitness expert Joanna Hall says
more than three-quarters of Wales' population
are currently dieting, and the average desired weight-loss is almost a stone.
But she says that people need to be aware of
the healthiest and most effective ways of keeping weight off.
“In many cases dieters believe that skipping breakfast
or even starving themselves completely can be
a fast-track to weight-loss success.
But studies show that those who make time to eat breakfast
actually tend to be slimmer than those who skip.
Many forms of dieting are a false economy
and will simply leave you devoid of energy
and your diet doomed to failure.
We live in a society of the quick fix –
but it’s best to focus on a balanced diet
and regular exercise.”
Juliette Kellow, a registered dietician,
says dieters should lose weight by following
a sensible diet and not by starving themselves
or cutting meals completely.
“People end up cutting out foods that they like
and begin eating foods that they don’t like
on a limited intake.
When you cut out your favourite foods you
can start to miss them to the point that
you end up with cravings that get the better
of you, leading to over-indulgence.
Crash dieters often skip meals and miss out on nutrients.
Crash diets are not sustainable – the word diet
implies that you start one day, end another and
change your eating patterns in between.
The best way to lose weight is to eat five fruit
and vegetables a day, fibre-rich wholegrain
bread, cereals and brown pasta and rice.
Reduce your intake of sugary and salty foods
and eat lean meat, poultry, fish and eggs.
Take lots of exercise.”
Hannah Jones, author of
Diary of a Diet: A Little Book of Big;
“Common sense can go out of the window because
people on diets can lose interest in themselves
and what they eat just to get a quick-fix solution
– months can seem too long to wait.
And you know the curse of dieters?
Not fat and sugar, but running out of patience
and a slim boredom threshold.”
Mary Sheppard, director of Cardiff-based Fitness Wales,
says she tries to balance the calories she takes in
with what she burns up and has never been on a diet.
“All the research shows that
people who lose weight quickly
tend to put it back on and pile on
even more pounds than before.
This is because they revert back to their old
eating habits which caused the problem in the first place.
Quick-fix yo-yo dieting does not work for long
because when the diet is over,
all the good work is undone.
A two-weeks-to-the-beach diet can cut calories
and lead to rapid weight loss, with advice from nutritionists.
But a gradual approach with lifestyle changes
is the long-term answer.”
Insulin pill for diabetics?
Patients who need daily injections of insulin may soon
be able to take a pill instead of repeated injections.
UK company Diabetology, with experts at Cardiff University,
says it has solved a crucial problem with oral insulin.
A special coating protects the drug from acids in the stomach,
allowing it to pass into the small intestine to be absorbed.
***********************************************
IN A DOG-EAT-DOG WORLD....
In a country like the U.K.,
where a pensioner
was recently described as: "waste product",
you might as well stay as "independent" as possible !
Tai chi keeps hips and joints supple,
provides balance and helps blood flow.....
less strokes, heart failures, etc., etc.
Here, people join together
every morning in Havana,
in the Old Plaza, Cuba, for each refreshing dawn.
How ironic that where selfish individualism rules,
the practice of Tai chi drops !
**************************************************
Cash crisis closes centres.
Health centres providing advice and exercise in deprived areas
across Wales are closing because of a lack of funding.
Many of Wales' 29 healthy living centres,
set up to tackle social and health inequalities,
have closed and the others face an uncertain future.
They were created five years ago with £18m of lottery money
which was matched by other public bodies.
**************************************************
Wales Reaches The TOP !!!
(Just in case we all get carried away!!!)
Wales is top of Britain's sick list.
Eight of the top 10 sickest places in Britain
.......... are in south Wales..
Merthyr Tydfil is named as the most unhealthy place in the UK,
with Rhondda Cynon Taf and Neath Port Talbot coming 3rd and 4th.
Carmarthenshire, Caerphilly, Torfaen and Bridgend
also have the highest levels of serious illness
and the poorest diets.
The Report's researchers warn that the results
are a "time bomb" for the health service.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Mams and The Consumer Dream..
Barbara Kingsolver is a writer famous for
her love of nature and of all things rural.
Her farm is in deepest Virginia, within a
U-shaped mountain ridge in the Southern Appalachians.
Kingsolver, 52, has a long list of bestselling books.
She is best known for The Poisonwood Bible.
It has sold more than two million copies,
and was recently voted by members of British
book clubs as their favourite novel of all time.
Out now, is her latest:
"Animal, Vegetable, Miracle".
Part of the motivation for this book is
repulsion at America's advanced state of
"alimentary alienation"; where food is
mass-produced and has little or no bearing
on the lives of those who eat it.
With the help of her husband Steven Hopp,
an environmental studies lecturer, she lays
out in the book the shocking scale of the crisis.
"The average food item on the American shelf
has travelled 1,500 miles - further than most
families go on annual holidays.
The US consumes about 400 gallons of oil a year
per person for agriculture, a rate of guzzling
second only to the car.
And here's a fact straight out of Alice in Wonderland:
the US exports 1.1m tonnes of potatoes,
and imports 1.4m tonnes.
The side-effects of America's fast-food culture are legion:
global warming caused by high food airmiles;
obesity due to the poor diet, particularly among
American children, who are predicted to be the
country's first generation with a shorter life
expectancy than their parents;
the destruction of farming habitats to clear the
way for mass cropping of corn and soya beans;
the detachment of millions of Americans who have
absolutely no inkling of what they are consuming
or where it comes from."
As Kingsolver sums it up:
"Woe is us, we overfed, undernourished US citizens.
We are a nation with an eating disorder, and we know it."
She has finally, after many years, come to accept
as a compliment the idea of being a "housewife".
She argues that women of her generation made
a "devil of a bargain" when they traded home
making for careers.
"We lost a lot - we traded our aprons for
children with health problems because
we pick up junk food on the way.
That's the great hoodwink of my generation."
"Farming has become an extractive industry, like mining.
It used to be about the American dream, with
families working hard to enrich themselves and their communities;
now it's about large powerful corporations
pulling out the good stuff and leaving behind a mess."
THERE'S NONE SO SHORT-SIGHTED....
Elderly patients are paying up to
£2,000 a month for sight-saving injections.
Some sufferers have paid thousands for
a condition which can lead to blindness.
This is even though Wales' local health boards
have been told they can pay for the treatment now.
Plaid Cymru AM Rhodri Glyn Thomas,
chair of the assembly health committee,
says the situation is immoral.
"That is totally unfair on those people
living on low incomes or benefits who are
not in a position to even consider going privately."
Every year 1,000 people in Wales
- mostly over 60 - are diagnosed with the condition
"wet age-related macular degeneration."
If not treated quickly, the condition
leads to the loss of central vision.
If both eyes are affected ...
it means registered blindness.
Until last year most cases were untreatable
but new drugs are now offering hope
of helping 90% of patients.
The drugs - macugen and lucentis -
are being used privately under licence.
They are currently being assessed for
NHS use across the UK by the
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE !).
The Wales Assembly Government has told health boards in Wales
they can issue the drugs now
....but they are not.
Shirley Possart, 71, from Horton in Gower,
has already spent £12,000 of her savings
on six injections of lucentis after
developing the condition in both eyes.
Although her sight has improved dramatically
and she can now see to drive, read the papers
and do the crossword again, she is worried
about paying for more injections.
"It's my savings and they're rapidly dwindling.
I sincerely hope that they go on the NHS
so that I don't have to go blind."
RNIB Cymru says it knows of no patients in Wales
who are receiving the drugs on the NHS.
The charity's Ceri Jackson says:
"We feel that the local health boards
should be providing this treatment.
It is a sight-saving treatment and
the cost of providing it is cheaper than the cost of
taking care of somebody once they lose their sight."
**************************************************
GO ON, YOU OLD GITS..... HAVE A LAUGH!!!....
PRESS THE LINK BELOW
FOR A WONDERFUL VIDEO
Hope I die.... before I get old..... !
***********************************************************
CARE FOR THE ELDERLY.
Iwan Rhys Roberts, of Help the Aged in Wales:
"There's a saying that we advocate at Help the Aged:
'Nothing decided about us, without us'.
"We've got a population of older people
who are more aware than ever of
how powerful a lobby they are.
And people are actually starting to stand up and say:
'If you want my vote, you are going to have to earn it."
He says older people are a political force
to be reckoned with, adding:
"Ignore them at your peril."
Help the Aged in Wales has launched its
"Agenda for Older People in Wales".
It says consultations with older people across Wales finds
* OPPOSING HOME CARE CHARGES
* PROMOTING INDEPENDENCE
* EQUALITY
are areas they want addressed.
Also important is to ensure that
the new commissioner for older people in Wales
is adequately resourced to promote and protect
the interests, dignity and rights of older people in Wales.
*****************************************************************
SCARED OF OLD AGE?
From the moment we are born, we begin to age.
It would seem that we could have grown accustomed to this.
But no, from a certain age we stop even being happy about our birthdays.
Why are we afraid of growing old?
Although handsome grey hairs and expressive wrinkles lend a person
a certain trustworthiness, for some reason we do not want to exchange
our chestnut locks and velvety skin for them.
All right, that’s grey hairs, but what about a bald patch?
And the expanding waistline, flabbiness and hunched shoulders which go with all this…
Since changes do not catch us unawares, we could prepare for them in advance.
To begin with, it is worth remembering that a person does not just have
a chronological age, but also biological and psychological ones.
All we need to do is look in someone’s passport to find out the first one.
Biological age shows what state someone’s body is in,
and psychological age determines how old a person feels.
Since all these ages are interconnected, it is possible
to change how they relate to each other.
For example, a mature woman who feels twenty five inside will try to
look a corresponding age and keep herself in good shape.
Many items of research show that those people who put off life-changing events
“until later” usually feel and look much younger than their age.
However those who are in a hurry to live already feel old in their youth,
and people around them overestimate their age.
But it is dangerous to ignore our “passport age”:
if an elderly woman wears a bright-coloured bow and frivolous shorts,
she is not continuing her psychological youth but is setting off
down the path to senility. Our reflection in the mirror helps us to remember
that life does not stand still and we should adjust our plans accordingly.
For example, when a 40-year old man examines the bags under his eyes,
he will more quickly realize that it is time to settle down
and raise a son than a twenty-year old dandy.
Radiculitis, heart attack, stroke – just one of these names makes us uneasy -
and if you imagine that this diagnosis has been recorded onto your medical chart,
then tears of sorrow will stream into your half-drunk tea
with sugar and bread roll with butter and jam. Stop there.
What have you got with your bread roll?
Sugar is “white death”, butter is a source of increased cholesterol in the
blood and carbohydrates are a sure way of gaining weight.
Practically all illnesses connected with old age
lie in an incorrect way of life led by a person from their youth.
You can pick out former sportsmen and dancers from their posture and the way they walk.
The higher the level of a person’s usual physical activity,
the more beneficial habits will remain in old age.
Of course it is a shame to swap sweet tea and buns
for mineral water and spinach,
but getting used to keeping your health under control will
reduce the risk of problems arising in old age.
Many people identify old age with loneliness.
It is easy to avoid this problem:
Sincere relations with your children, and then your grandchildren,
will allow you to feel needed, and young again.
Chatting to childhood friends will help a woman
to feel like a girl again.
So nostalgia is an amazing means of psychological rejuvenation.
It is not surprising that many elderly people fall back on it.
On the other hand one should not lose touch with reality.
With age the amount of friends that someone has becomes less and less.
Some move away, you find that you have less and less in common with others,
and some just die.
Therefore people should not be afraid of expanding their circle of acquaintances.
For example, just one son-in-law, if you accept him as your own born son,
can bring not only his parents, but also a rich selection
of numerous relatives into your circle.
There is no need to hide from it –
when we talk about old age, we often mean imminent death.
As someone wittily put it, life is in effect
a terminal illness.
Psychologists maintain that it is only those people
who have achieved practically nothing in their lives
who experience a panicky fear of death.
If a person can look back with pride on their achievements
they can pass away a lot more peacefully.
Therefore we have to create as many of these achievements as possible,
while we have the strength and capabilities.
In conclusion, we can say, that since old age is inevitable;
we should just relax and enjoy it.
WITH AGE, COMES HAPPINESS.
A popular misconception among both young and old,
is that the happiest days of people's lives occur when they're young;
in spite of research having shown the opposite.
While old age was equated with unhappiness for other people,
individuals tend to think they'll be happier than most in their old age.
In other words older people seem to "mis-remember" how happy they were as youths,
just as youths "mis-predict" how happy (or unhappy) they will be as they age.
The research was performed by VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System and University of Michigan.
Research involved over 540 adults between the ages of 21 and 40, or over age 60.
Participants were asked to rate their happiness
at their current age, at age 30 and at age 70;
and also to judge how happy most people are at those ages.
The results are published in the June issue of
the Journal of Happiness Studies, a major research journal
in the field of positive psychology.
"Our stereotypes about aging being an unhappy time of life
are not correct... you have a lot of good times left in front of you,"
said lead author Dr. Heather Pond Lacey.
"We're probably better off expecting good things out of our futures."
Younger people predicted no decline in their own personal
happiness with time. Past research has shown, Lacey noted,
that people tend to see themselves as "above average".
"We often make judgments about ourselves that are more positive
than the judgments we make about other people," she explained.
Among older people who thought they had been happier
in their earlier life, their estimates of past happiness were higher than
current happiness self-reports for the younger group.
The older group also thought that they were
going to be less happy as they aged.
There are a number of theories about why people may get
happier as they get older, Lacey noted.
For one, people may focus less on achievement and more on
personal relationships and enjoying life,
and also get better at managing their own moods.
"People are remarkable in their ability to adapt to circumstances,
both good and bad, but they are perhaps equally remarkable
in their inability to recognize their own adaptation,"
Lacey and her team conclude.
Microwave cooking is one of the most important causes of ill health.
It is certainly one of the most ignored.
There was a lawsuit in 1991 in Oklahoma.
A woman named Norma Levitt had hip surgery,
but was killed by a simple blood transfusion
when a nurse "warmed the blood for the
transfusion in a microwave oven!"
Logic suggests that if heating is all there is
to microwave cooking, then it doesn't matter
how something is heated. Blood for transfusions
is routinely warmed, but not in microwave ovens.
There have been very few scientific studies done
on the effect of eating microwaved food.
This is rather surprising when you think about
the fact that microwaves have been with us for
only a few decades - and that in that time the
incidence of many diseases has continued to increase.
Two researchers, Blanc and Hertel, confirmed that
microwave cooking significantly changes food nutrients.
Hertel previously worked as a food scientist for
several years with one of the major Swiss food companies.
He was fired from his job for questioning procedures
in processing food because they denatured it.
He got together with Blanc of the Swiss Federal Institute
of Biochemistry and the University Institute for Biochemistry.
They studied the effect that microwaved food had on 8 individuals,
by taking blood samples immediately after eating.
They found that after eating microwaved food,
haemoglobin levels decreased.
"These results show anaemic tendencies.
The situation became even more pronounced
during the second month of the study".
Who knows what results they would have found if
they had studied people who ate microwaved food
for a year or more?
The violent change that microwaving causes to the
food molecules forms new life forms called radiolytic compounds.
These are mutations that are unknown in the natural world.
Ordinary cooking also causes the formation of
some radiolytic compounds (which is no doubt one
reason why it is better to eat plenty of raw food),
but microwaving cooking causes a much greater number.
This then causes deterioration in your blood and immune system.
In addition, they found that the number of leucocytes
increases after eating microwaved food -
something which haematologists take very seriously,
because this is often a sign of highly
harmful effects, such as poisoning.
Also, after eating microwaved food,
cholesterol levels increased. Hertel said
"Common scientific belief states that cholesterol
values usually alter slowly over longer periods of time.
In this study, the markers increased rapidly
after the consumption of the microwaved vegetables."
He believes his study tends to confirm new scientific data
that suggest cholesterol may rapidly increase in the blood
secondary to acute stress. "Also," he added,
"blood cholesterol levels are less influenced by
cholesterol content of food than by stress factors.
Such stress-causing factors can apparently consist of foods
which contain virtually no cholesterol - the microwaved vegetables."
Results were published in "Search for Health" in Spring 1992.
How was this research greeted?
A powerful trade organisation, the Swiss Association of
Dealers for Electroapparatuses for Households and Industry
made the President of the Court of Seftigen issue a "gag order".
Hertel and Blanc were told that if they published their findings
they would face hefty fines or up to one year in prison.
In response to this, Blanc recanted his findings.
Hertel went on a lecture tour and demanded a jury trial.
After World War II, the Russians also
experimented with microwave ovens.
From 1957, their research has been carried out mainly
at the Institute of Radio Technology at Klinsk, Byelorussia.
According to US researcher William Kopp, who
gathered much of the results of Russian and German research
- and was apparently prosecuted for doing so -
the following effects were observed by Russian forensic teams:
1. Heating prepared meats in a microwave
sufficiently for human consumption created
- d-Nitrosodiethanolamine (a well-known cancer-causing agent)
- Destabilization of active protein biomolecular compounds
- Creation of a binding effect to radioactivity in the atmosphere
- Creation of cancer-causing agents within
protein-hydrosylate compounds in milk and cereal grains;
2. Microwave emissions also caused alteration in the catabolic
(breakdown) behaviour of glucoside and galactoside
- elements within frozen fruits -
when thawed in this way;
3. Microwaves altered catabolic behavior of plant-alkaloids
when raw, cooked or frozen vegetables were exposed
for even very short periods;
4. Cancer-causing free radicals were formed
within certain trace-mineral molecular formations
in plant substances, especially in raw root vegetables;
5. Ingestion of micro-waved foods caused a
higher percentage of cancerous cells in blood;
6. Due to chemical alterations within food substances,
malfunctions occurred in the lymphatic system,
causing degeneration of the immune system's
capacity to protect itself against cancerous growth;
7. The unstable catabolism of micro-waved foods
altered their elemental food substances,
leading to disorders in the digestive system;
8. Those ingesting micro-waved foods showed a
statistically higher incidence of stomach and
intestinal cancers, plus a general degeneration
of peripheral cellular tissues with a gradual
breakdown of digestive and excretory system function;
9. Microwave exposure caused significant decreases
in the nutritional value of all foods studied.
As a result microwave ovens were banned in Russia in 1976;
the ban was lifted after Perestroika.
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Sore legs? - getting the hump?
Press this Pravda link below to view a sexy Hot-doll
for YOUR over-sexed pet dog!!!!
Is your dog humping legs?
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DON'T WORRY - BE HAPPY !
U.S. research suggests that people with
optimistic, cheerful personalities
are far less likely to develop memory problems
that are early predictors of Alzheimer's disease
than people who are often stressed out or depressed.
Researchers say those who are most often anxious or depressed
are 40 times more likely to develop mild cognitive impairment,
a form of memory loss that is often a
transitional stage between normal aging and dementia.
"Not only are these individuals losing cognition,
but they are showing many of the changes in the brain
that are associated with Alzheimer's disease,"
says Robert Wilson of Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.
In prior studies, Wilson found people more susceptible
to distress are more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease
than their more carefree counterparts.
"We now see that chronic distress is related to
the first clinical manifestation of Alzheimer's disease," he says.
People with mild cognitive impairment
have some trouble remembering things,
but they do not have significant disability.
Not all develop Alzheimer's disease,
a much more serious impairment,
but about 10 to 15 percent do,
according to the Alzheimer's Society.
Wilson and colleagues analyzed data from two large studies
involving 1,256 older people who started the studies with no memory problems.
After up to 12 years of follow up,
482 people in the study developed mild cognitive impairment.
Participants were rated on how prone they were to worry and depression.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In our novel, "Come On Home", a pop concert is described
where sound is contained within the concert area
by the use of special frequency sound waves.
Now we know that this technology actually exists !!
It's called: HyperSonic Sound (HSS).
Essentially, HSS for the first time
does for sound what the laser did for light
— intensely focuses and channels it so it can
travel great distances without dispersing.
To the listener, the sound comes across as if it were through headphones.
Take two steps to the side, out of the sound beam,
and you hear nothing at all.
Step back in, and there it is again.
"I am certain that in time, HSS will be used everywhere,"
says Dionyssis Angelopoulos of Athens, Greece.
He read about HSS, came to San Diego to hear it
and went back to his Greek company to build it
into commercial sound systems.
What's this got to do with health?
.... I hear you ask.... or do I?
When the Branch Dravidian cult was under siege,
before police stormed the compound,
their leader complained of "voices in his head".
Security has always taken new technology for its own sneaky use.
If you start hearing voices, perhaps it's the police,
directing HSS waves to confuse you.
Too far-fetched? Maybe.
Paranoid?
Hopefully.
BEAUTIFUL PETS
It was probably in the Stone Age that animal therapy
was practiced for the first time by humans.
'Though people of that era had no notion that it was ‘animal therapy’
when they were stroking their tame dogs and cats.
Many of us are unaware that patting cats and dogs
brings us not only pleasure but is very good for our health.
Cats help relieve people from stress and fatigue.
The psychologist Boris Levinson used animal therapy
in the sixties,for treating children suffering from autism.
Yet, in the 18th century, doctors at the psychiatric hospital
York Retreat in England were keeping cats, dogs, rabbits
and birds especially for treating their patients.
The hospital’s head physician believed that taking care
of animals gave his patients lots of positive emotions.
Treatment with the help of a cat is the most popular.
It is curious, but everything in a cat’s behaviour
turns out to be healing for humans.
A cat’s purr at a frequency of 4-16 Hz
in some way improves people’s immunity.
Cats have the mysterious ability of
identifying people’s aching organs.
When a cat feels that her owner has something ailing
she settles down close to the person, purrs,
tramples him down and from time to time
slightly scratches him with her claws.
Good feline therapy helps relieve people from
stress, fatigue, sickness and headaches;
it brings down blood pressure, normalizes the pulse,
and also eases pains caused by rheumatism and stomach ulcers.
Those who advocate feline therapy insist that
different breeds of cats can treat various diseases.
Fluffy cats such as Persian cats are wonderful for those
who suffer from osteochondritis, neuralgia or insomnia.
People with diseased liver or kidneys,
and those who suffer from gastritis or colitis,
should have a smooth-haired cat.
Also, it is known that she-cats are good
treatment for neural ailments while tom-cats
better treat radiculitis, arthrosis and the like.
Dogs stand second to cats on the list of animal therapists.
People who walk their dogs several times a day
do not suffer from hypodynamia.
Also, a dog’s saliva contains lycozyme,
an anti-infective agent that helps wounds heal
within a very short period of time.
Big dogs have a high-activity alpha rhythm,
so patients with cardiac insufficiency can hold
their hands for at least half an hour a day
close to a dog’s heart to feel better.
Horse riding is the third most popular therapy
after feline and canine therapies.
Hippocrates said that sitting in a saddle
saves people from having gloomy thoughts.
Horse riding is a perfect treatment for rehabilitation
of patients having spinal traumas,
muscular dystrophy, paralytic legs and arthritis.
In England, horse riding therapy is even used
for the treatment of drug addicted patients.
Dolphins are good for psychological rehabilitation
after traffic accidents.
In Africa, elephants help people cure some diseases
and kangaroos act as therapists in Australia.
Unlike cats - which enjoy the process of treating their masters -
dogs experience the ailments of their masters too emotionally.
The breed of a dog also matters.....
People with grave psychological problems
need a quiet friendly dog such as a Labrador,
golden retriever or Shar pei.
The last is especially good for hot-tempered, unbalanced people
and those who have hyper tension and suffer from frequent headaches.
German and Central Asian sheep dogs help co-ordination of movement, after traumas.
These dogs are used to help patients with walking problems.
Families who want to keep a dog to treat
or amuse their children should consider breeds such as
collies, St Bernards, Newfoundlands, Mittelschnauzers,
Riesenschnauzers, boxers or Airedales.
Terriers can perform wonderfully the role of a babysitter.
A good-natured and lively spaniel can be
a good friend for an active baby.
The Chinese crested dog can relieve its master of
a wide range of diseases: asthma,
blood pressure problems and cardiac rates;
they also help treat allergies, and some skin diseases.
Some experts say that such dogs slow down the clinical course of cancer.
* * *
BI-LINGUALISM DELAYS DEMENTIA !
People who are fully bilingual
and speak both languages every day for most of their lives
can delay the onset of dementia by up to four years
compared with those who only know one language,
Canadian scientists say.
Researchers say the extra effort involved
in using more than one language appears
to boost blood supply to the brain and ensure
nerve connections remain healthy -
two factors thought to help fight off dementia.
"We are pretty dazzled by the results,"
Professor Ellen Bialystok of
Toronto's York University says in a statement.
"In the process of using ... two languages,
you are engaging parts of your brain,
parts of your mind that are active and need
that kind of constant exercise and activity,
and with that experience (it) stays more robust."
The leading cause of dementia among the elderly is Alzheimer's disease,
which gradually destroys a person's memory.
There is no known cure.
Bialystok's team focused on 184 elderly patients with signs of dementia
who attended a Toronto memory clinic between 2002 and 2005.
Of the group, 91 spoke only one language while 93 were bilingual.
"The researchers determined that the mean age of onset
of dementia symptoms in the monolingual group was 71.4 years,
while the bilingual group was 75.5 years," the statement says.
"This difference remained even after considering
the possible effect of cultural differences, immigration,
formal education, employment and even gender
as (influences) in the results," it adds.
Bialystok stresses that bilingualism helps delay the start of dementia
rather than preventing it altogether.
Psychologist Fergus Craik, another member of the team,
says the data shows that being fully bilingual has
"a huge protective effect" against the onset of dementia
but he adds that the study is still a preliminary finding.
The team plans |
