Treat Swine Flu – how to treat swine flu and health tips

By Sharon Barbour
BBC News

The anti-cancer properties of carrots are more potent if the vegetable is not cut up before cooking, research shows.

Scientists found “boiled before cut” carrots contained 25% more of the anti-cancer compound falcarinol than those chopped up first.

Experiments on rats fed falcarinol have shown they develop fewer tumours.

The Newcastle University study will be presented at NutrEvent, a conference on nutrition and health, to be held in France.

Lead researcher Dr Kirsten Brandt, from Newcastle University’s School of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, said: “Chopping up your carrots increases the surface area so more of the nutrients leach out into the water while they are cooked.

“By keeping them whole and chopping them up afterwards you are locking in nutrients and the taste, so the carrot is better for you all round.”

The Newcastle scientist, along with colleagues at the University of Denmark, discovered the health benefits of falcarinol in carrots four years ago. Read more…

What Is Restless Legs Syndrome?

Restless legs syndrome is a movement disorder that causes uncomfortable sensations in the legs. These sensations typically are worse during periods of rest, especially just before sleeping at night, but they may happen during daytime periods of inactivity, such as watching a movie, attending a long business meeting, or flying in a plane.

The discomfort of restless legs syndrome usually is accompanied by an overwhelming urge to move the legs, which may relieve leg discomfort temporarily. At night, people with restless legs syndrome often find that their leg symptoms make it difficult to fall asleep. Because of this, insomnia is common, together with extreme drowsiness and fatigue during the daytime.

Restless Legs Syndrome Symptoms :-

Restless legs syndrome causes a wide range of uncomfortable leg sensations, which may be described as any of the following: tingling, prickly, boring, crawling, pulling, drawing and, sometimes, pain.

Although the muscles of the lower legs are affected most often, restless legs syndrome occasionally can cause symptoms in the arms as well. The discomfort of restless legs syndrome is almost always accompanied by an irresistible need to move the legs. Leg movement, such as walking, stretching and deep knee bends, seems to bring temporary relief. A leg massage or a warm bath also may help.

In addition to leg discomfort, restless legs syndrome also can cause periodic jerking leg movements during sleep. These involuntary leg movements often disturb both the patient and the patient’s bed partner. Also, because symptoms of restless legs syndrome tend to be worse at bedtime, people with restless legs syndrome may find it hard to fall asleep and to stay asleep. This can cause insomnia and severe daytime drowsiness that may interfere significantly with work, school and social life.

Restless Legs Syndrome Prevention :-

Although there is no way to prevent restless legs syndrome, it may help to avoid caffeine, alcohol and cigarette smoking.

Restless Legs Syndrome Treatment :-

Treatment of restless legs syndrome depends on the severity of your symptoms. If your symptoms are mild, simply exercising, stretching or massaging your legs, or taking a hot bath may bring relief. Lifestyle changes also may help, especially following a balanced diet and avoiding caffeine, alcohol and cigarette smoking. If your restless legs syndrome is linked to iron deficiency anemia, your doctor may prescribe iron.

When medication is used to treat restless legs syndrome, the following drugs are used individually or in combination:

Restless Legs Syndrome Medication :-

Dopaminergic agents :- These drugs usually relieve the discomfort of restless legs syndrome symptoms and improve sleep quality. They include carbidopa/levodopa (Sinemet), pramipexole (Mix) and ropinirole (Requip).

Benzodiazepines :- These drugs are sedatives that improve sleep quality. They include clonazepam (Klonopin), temazepam (Restoril), triazolam (Halcion) and diazepam (Valium).

Opioids :- These are narcotics, such as codeine (several brand names), propoxyphene (Darvon) or oxycodone (OxyContin and others), that relieve pain and suppress restless legs syndrome in people with severe, unrelenting symptoms.

Anticonvulsants :- These medicines are especially useful in patients whose symptoms are painful. They include gabapentin (Neurontin), carbamazepine (Tegretol and others) and valproic acid (Depacon, Depakene, Depakote).

Others :- Tramadol (Ultram), clonidine (Catapres), amantadine (Symadine, Symmetrel) and propranolol (Inderal) also may be useful to treat this condition. Tramadol is a non-opiod pain reliever that sometimes is recommended.

Many people with restless legs syndrome also have periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD), a common movement disorder that causes involuntary, periodic, jerking leg movements during sleep. The movements occur 1 to 10 times per minute.

By : Patricia Wagner

It’s a well-known fact that you are what you eat — as far as your physical health goes.

But it’s so easy to get off the track and fill up on empty calories instead of eating wholesome energy-packed foods. For example, how many times have you heard chocolate chip cookies in your cupboard calling for attention?

It’s all right to eat sweets as a special treat but not as a steady diet.

What’s passed is passed. You can’t un-eat what you’ve eaten, but you can decide to use wisdom in the future to choose more wholesome foods. And if you do, there’s the anticipation of having lots more energy today and in your tomorrows too.

For you to function at your best, you need essential vitamins, minerals and fiber, so here’s a short list of energizing vitamins with foods to select for your daily diet:

1. Vitamin A is essential for your vision, growth, healthy skin and hair, mucous membranes and immunity to disease.

Make a selection from this list: sweet potatoes, carrots, mangos, turnip greens, raw spinach, papaya, red bell pepper, apricots, cantaloupes, eggs, raw tomatoes, broccoli, green bell pepper and oranges.

2. The B-complex vitamins are needed for your energy, healthy nervous system, skin, hair, eyes and liver.

Choose some of these: whole-grain cereals, rice, nuts, milk, eggs, meats, fish, fruits, leafy green vegetables, brewer’s yeast, and liver.

3. Vitamin C helps your body to stay well. Read more…

Healthyday

FRIDAY, May 29 (HealthDay News) — Settling into a warrior or tree pose a few times a week seems to improve symptoms and quality of life for people with asthma.

In fact, participants in a recent trial studying the effects of Hatha yoga also reported that they had been able to cut back on some of their asthma medication, said Amy Bidwell, senior author of a study presented this week at the American College of Sports Medicine’s annual meeting, in Seattle.

“It’s dramatic but not surprising,” said Dr. Jonathan Field, director of the allergy and asthma clinic at New York University School of Medicine/Bellevue Medical Center in New York City. “There have been some smaller studies that have stated this before, but I don’t think they’ve ever used a standardized scale of this sort.”

Bidwell, a doctoral student in the department of exercise science at Syracuse University, had injured her back when she was working as a personal trainer. “I opted for yoga, not surgery, and it pretty much healed me,” she noted.

And while previous studies had been positive, most had looked at immediate physiological responses following a rigorous yoga practice, for example, twice a day for 10 days.

That regimen, Bidwell said, “really wasn’t feasible,” Bidwell said. “Three times a week for 10 weeks was more realistic.”

Bidwell and her co-authors, one of whom is a physician, randomly assigned 20 individuals aged 20 to 65 to practice Hatha yoga two-and-a-half hours a week or to join a (non-yoga) control group, for a total of 10 weeks.

Results were based on a questionnaire that measured frequency and severity of symptoms, activities associated with breathlessness and social and psychological functioning.

“We hold poses up to a minute and focus on deep breathing, which is critical to asthmatics” said Bidwell, who is also a yoga instructor.

Heart rate variability, oxygen consumption and ventilation were also assessed while volunteers performed each of two tasks: handgrip for three minutes and an upright tilt for five minutes.

Overall, scores of individuals participating in the yoga arm of the trial improved an average of almost 43 percent. Read more…

(1) Flu Vaccine :-

Who should have the flu vaccine ?

Get the flu vaccine if you:

(1) Are 50 or older

(2) Have a chronic illness, such as diabetes, heart disease or asthma

(3) Have a weakened immune system

(4) Work in a health care setting

(5) Live in a long term care facility

(6) Are pregnant (inactivated vaccine only)

(7) Want to reduce your chances of missing work because of flu

When and how often ?

Once a year, ideally in October or November.

Flu Vaccine Side Effects :-

Who should not have it?

Talk with your doctor about whether it’s safe if you

(1) Are allergic to chicken eggs

(2) Have had an allergic reaction to a previous dose of flu vaccine

(3) Have a history of Guillain-Barre syndrome after previous flu vaccination

(2) Hepatitis A :-

Who should have the hepatitis A Vaccine ?

Get the vaccine if you want one, or if you :-

(1) Have a clotting factor disorder

(2) Have chronic liver disease

(3) Are a health care worker who might be exposed to the virus in a lab setting

(4) Travel or work in countries with a high incidence of hepatitis

When and how often ?

You need two doses — you’ll receive the second dose between six and 18 months after the first. Hepatitis A vaccine can be combined with the hepatitis B vaccine in a three-dose series.

Hepatitis A Vaccine Side Effects :-

Who should not have it?

Don’t get a vaccination if you’re moderately or severely ill or you’ve had an allergic reaction to the vaccine or its components before.

(3) Hepatitis B :-

Who should have the hepatitis B Vaccine ?

Get the vaccine if you:-

(1) Inject illegal drugs

(2) Are a hemodialysis patient

(3) Are a health care or public safety worker who might be exposed to infected blood or (6) body fluids

(4) Live in a household with someone who has chronic hepatitis B infection

When and how often ?

A series of three shots once in your lifetime.

Hepatitis B Vaccine Side Effects :-

Who should not have it?

Don’t get the vaccine if you are allergic to baker’s yeast or have had an allergic reaction to the vaccine before or if you are currently sick

(4) Human Papillomavirus :-

Who should have the Human Papilloman virus(HPV) Vaccine ?

The HPV vaccine is routinely recommended for 11- and 12-year-old girls. However, it’s also recommended for girls and women between the ages of 13 and 26 who didn’t receive the vaccine earlier.

When and how often ?

A series of three doses — the second at two months after your first dose and the last at six months after your first dose.

Human Papillomanvirus(HPV) Vaccine Side Effects :-

Who should not have it?

Don’t get this vaccine if you have ever had a life-threatening reaction to yeast or to the HPV vaccine, or you’re pregnant or moderately to severely sick.

(5) Chickenpox :-

Who should have the chickenpox(varicell) Vaccine?

Get the varicella vaccine if you:

(1) Have never had chickenpox, especially if you live with someone who has a weakened

(2) immune system

(3) Aren’t sure whether you’ve had chickenpox

(4) Are considering becoming pregnant and don’t know if you’re immune to chickenpox

When and how often ?

Two doses, four to eight weeks apart.

Chickenpox(Varicell) Vaccine Side Effects :-

Who should not have it?

Do not get if you are pregnant,might become pregnant within four weeks of the vaccine or have a weakened immune system.