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

BBC News

Women who are optimistic have a lower risk of heart disease and death, an American study shows.

It pays to be optimistic

The latest study by US investigators mirrors the findings of earlier work by a Dutch team showing optimism reduces heart risk in men.

The research on nearly 100,000 women, published in the journal Circulation, found pessimists had higher blood pressure and cholesterol.

Even taking these risk factors into account, attitude alone altered risks.

Optimistic women had a 9% lower risk of developing heart disease and a 14% lower risk of dying from any cause after more than eight years of follow-up. In comparison, cynical women who harboured hostile thoughts about others or were generally mistrusting of others were 16% more likely to die over the same time-scale. Read more…

BBC News

The notion of exposing young children to infections in a bid to protect them from later allergies is wrong, latest research suggests.

Catching infections early on in life may do no good

The decades-old “hygiene hypothesis” holds that early exposure to microbes somehow challenges the immune system and strengthens it against allergies.

Studies have shown children exposed to bugs by older siblings or attending nursery cut their future allergy risk.

But new work published by the American Thoracic Society casts doubt on this.

No benefit

The study by Dutch investigators at the Erasmus University found although children in day care got more colds and other infections, they were just as likely as other children to go on to develop asthma or another allergy by the age of eight.

The children who went to nursery and who had older siblings had more than quadruple the risk of frequent chest infections and double the risk of wheezing in early life, with no obvious pay off in terms of later protection from allergy.

The infections may, therefore, do more harm than good, contrary to common belief, the authors told the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. Read more…

By Sudeep Chand
Health reporter, BBC News

A UK survey has revealed that myths about contraception may be widespread.

One in five women said they had heard of kitchen items, including bread, cling film and even chicken skin, being used as alternative barrier methods.

Others had heard food items such as kebabs, Coca-cola or crisps could be used as oral contraceptives.

The survey questioned 1,000 women aged 18 to 50 and was carried out by market research company Opinion Health, sponsored by Bayer Schering Pharma.

Contraceptive myths have been around for thousands of years.

Ancient methods have varied from crocodile dung and honey before sex, to sea sponges and beeswax after.

Perhaps the most intoxicating was alcohol made from stewed beaver’s testicles.

However, it seems that a variety of unsafe and unproven methods might still exist in modern Britain. Read more…

BBC News

Men and women with thighs over 60cm (23.6in) in circumference have a lower risk of heart disease and early death, a study of 3,000 people suggests.

The crucial measurement is taken just below the bottom

The relationship remains even when body fat, smoking and blood cholesterol are taken into account, a Danish team says.

Those with narrow thighs may not have enough muscle mass to deal with insulin properly, raising the risk of diabetes and, in turn, heart disease, they say.

Experts cautioned that the research needed corroborating.

Some said it was too early to change current advice on eating and exercise for heart health, but the researchers said thigh size could be used as a marker for at-risk patients.

The study, published in the British Medical Journal, followed men and women in Denmark for more than 10 years.

They were measured for height, weight and thigh, hip and waist circumference and their overall percentage of body fat was calculated.

The thigh measurement was taken just below the gluteal fold, which is the crease caused by your buttocks.

Researchers also looked at the activity levels of the participants, whether they smoked, their blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Read more…

What is Varicose Veins? / Varicose Veins Definition:-

Varicose veins are enlarged, discolored veins. They appear swollen and twisted. They are commonly found on the backs of the calves or on the thighs. Varicose veins are often painful and itchy. Scratching them can cause open sores to appear. Varicose veins occur more frequently with women than men and with people over the age of 50.

Varicose Veins Types:-

There are four types of Varicose Veins,

(1) Abdominal Varicose Vein, (2) Pelvic Varicose Veins, (3) Vulvar Varicose Vein, (4) Varicose Veins on the Uterus

Varicose Veins Symptoms Risk Factors:-

There is also something known as internal hemorrhoids. It has the same symptoms as pruritus ani.

The first signs of varicose veins is a swelling along the course of the veins. This may be followed by muscular cramps and a feeling of tiredness in the legs behind the knees. In some cases, the normal flow of blood towards the heart may be reversed when the patient is in an upright position. This results in venous blood collecting in the lower part of the legs and the skin becomes purplish and pigmented, leading to what is known as varicose eczema or varicose ulcers. Both conditions cause severe pain.

Varicose Veins Causes:-

Family history.An inherited weakness of the valves in the veins.

With age, the elasticity of the walls along the veins are weakened which stretches the veins.

Hormonal changes within the body during pregnancy and menopause relaxes the walls of the veins. In addition, during pregnancy the veins may receive extra pressure from the expanding uterus (womb) causing dilation. Also, the use of birth control pills or estrogen replacement therapy alters the female hormone levels which might lead to varicose veins.

Deep vein thrombosis (economy-class syndrome), a blood clot in the deep vein.

Obesity and lifting heavy objects are also contributing factors.

Varicose veins can show up as a result of liver disease.

Varicose Veins Care Home Natural Remedies Cures Treatment:-

Ligation and stripping are the two most common procedures you can have done in surgery. They remove the veins that are causing the varicose veins in a simple procedure.

Radiofrequency ablation- This is where a high frequency electric current to bring heat to the dilated veins.