Scientists Use Stem Cells to Generate Human Eggs
February 27, 2012 by uncoverthenews
Filed under Health News
Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital say they have extracted stem cells from human ovaries and made them generate egg cells. The advance, if confirmed, might provide a new source of eggs for treating infertility, though scientists say it is far too early to tell if the work holds such promise.
Women are born with a complement of egg cells that must last throughout life. The ability to isolate stem cells from which eggs could be cultivated would help not only with fertility but also with biologists’ understanding of how drugs and nutrition affect the egg cells.
Diet soda tied to heart attack, stroke risks: study
February 19, 2012 by uncoverthenews
Filed under Food Watch, Health News
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Diet soda may benefit the waistline, but a new study suggests that people who drink it every day have a heightened risk of heart attack and stroke.
The study, which followed almost 2,600 older adults for a decade, found that those who drank diet soda every day were 44 percent more likely than non-drinkers to suffer a heart attack or stroke.
The findings, reported in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, don’t prove that the sugar-free drinks are actually to blame.
Breastfed babies less likely to grow up angry and irritable
February 10, 2012 by uncoverthenews
Filed under Health News
Breastfed babies are less likely to become angry and irritable adults, say scientists.
A long-term study found children who were fed milk directly from their mothers in the first six months of life displayed lower levels of hostility aged 24 compared to their peers who were bottle fed.
Researchers now believe the feeding method, even in the short-term, could have a positive psychological impact and are encouraging maternity clinics to promote the method.
Indiana health officials issue warning on measles
February 9, 2012 by uncoverthenews
Filed under Health News
State officials have notified health departments in New York and Massachusetts that a Hamilton County resident with measles visited Super Bowl Village on Friday.
The person did not go inside the NFL Experience in the Indiana Convention Center, officials at the Indiana State Department of Health said Wednesday.
Measles cases must be reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Another measles case has been confirmed in Hamilton County, and there are two probable cases in Boone County, the state said.
HPV vaccination for boys recommended by CDC; Health experts believe rates will fall if boys and girls receive vaccine
February 6, 2012 by uncoverthenews
Filed under Health News
Health authorities on Friday urged all boys age 11-12 to get a routine vaccination against the most common sexually transmitted disease, human papillomavirus, or HPV.
Other changes as part of an annual update to immunization schedules included a recommended hepatitis B vaccine to the protect the livers of adults up to age 60 who have diabetes and a vaccine against whooping cough for pregnant women.
The updates, agreed upon by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), were published in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly report of February 3.
The HPV vaccine has been approved for girls since 2006 but the CDC had not expressly urged it for boys, though boys were included among those who could receive it to prevent certain cancers and genital warts.
Green tea could be secret to healthy old age, study suggests
February 6, 2012 by uncoverthenews
Filed under Health News
Elderly adults who regularly drink green tea may stay more agile and independent than their peers over time, according to a Japanese study that covered thousands of people.
Green tea contains antioxidant chemicals that may help ward off the cell damage that can lead to disease. Researchers have been studying green tea’s effect on everything from cholesterol to the risk of certain cancers, with mixed results so far.
For the new study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers decided to examine the question of whether green tea drinkers have a lower risk of frailty and disability as they grow older.
Yasutake Tomata of the Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine and his colleagues followed nearly 14,000 adults aged 65 or older for three years.
They found those who drank the most green tea were the least likely to develop “functional disability,” or problems with daily activities or basic needs, such as dressing or bathing.
THREE HUNDRED 9/11 cops diagnosed with cancer… with average age of just 44
February 6, 2012 by uncoverthenews
Filed under Health News
Hundreds of young police officers who responded to the 9/11 attacks have been diagnosed with cancer following the horrific tragedy, it has emerged.
A staggering 297 cops – with an average age of just 44 – have been diagnosed, according to figures obtained by The New York Post.
The data shows almost three times the number of officers are applying for cancer-related disability pensions than before the tragedy.
Ayurvedic Herbal Medicine gets boost
February 3, 2012 by Steve
Filed under Health News
Believe me folks Ayurvedic herbal medicine works! I have first hand experience. As with any modality one has to be diligent in finding that one practitioner that is effective.
At EnerHealth Botanicals we use some of these herbs in our Enerfood and Meal Replacement formula and as 1000s of people know, those formulas are extremely effective!
California College of Ayurveda Receives $10,000 Dollar Sponsorship from ORGANIC INDIA to Build a Teaching Herbal Garden
Boulder, Colorado (PRWEB) February 03, 2012
In a show of tremendous generosity and support for Ayurvedic education and the promotion of herbs as medicine, ORGANIC INDIA, an herbal company based in Lucknow (India) and Boulder, Colorado (USA), has committed to helping the college build the first teaching herb garden and outdoor classroom of its kind in the United States.
The garden, to be known for at least the next 3 years as the “ORGANIC INDIA Herb Garden,” is the first of its kind in the United States. Designed as a mandala with a water feature at its center, the garden will consist of 8 large beds that will house between 50 and 100 species of medicinal plants. Ayurvedic students and students in the herbal apprenticeship programs at the college will care for the plants under the supervision of the director of the herb department, Brenda Igler who will work with the students to take the herbs from seed to medicine. Students in the program will grow and pick the herb and then learn to prepare a variety of medicines including herbal salves, oils and ghees.
The California College of Ayurveda (CCA), located in Nevada City, California has been pioneering professional ayurvedic training since 1995 when it began offering the first state-approved program of its kind in the United States. Founded by Dr. Marc Halpern, CCA has become the largest, fully dedicated college for the study of Ayurveda in the United States. Say’s Dr. Halpern; “I am so happy that ORGANIC INDIA has stepped up to support ayurvedic education in the United States. It is important that companies who are aligned with ayurveda and herbalism support education. ORGANIC INDIA has set itself apart from other organizations through its humanitarian efforts. Their generosity will benefit students, graduates, patients and all humanity.”
ORGANIC INDIA works with thousands of family farmers in India, cultivating tens of thousands of acres of certified organic farmland. The farmers are commissioned to grow organic crops, which ORGANIC INDIA purchases at a premium market price. The company supports their farmers by providing training, health care and education that enable them to be self-sufficient and to develop organic farming skills that will be passed on to future generations.
ORGANIC INDIA is most well-known for it’s Organic Tulsi Tea products, which are found in health food stores nation-wide. It was organized in the mid 1990′s in Lucknow India. The founders are followers of the teachings of Sri H.W.L Poonja, lovingly known as Papaji, whose simple teachings can be summed up as “Keep quiet. The eternal truth exists with you. Listen within and the truth of itself will be revealed to itself.”
For more information contact Dr. Marc Halpern by phone at 1-866-541-6699 or by email at drh@ayurvedacollege.com. Contact Penny Cole, representing ORGANIC INDIA, at penny(at)organicindiausa(dot)com
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2012/02/03/prweb9134893.DTL#ixzz1lLYyDAuZ
The organic tulsi teas are really very good daily tonics and tasty as well. I have purchased these in the past and found them useful!
Ladies, Heart Problems Are Just as Common for You as Men!
February 3, 2012 by Steve
Filed under Health News
I hope that you ladies are aware that Heart Problems are just as common among Women as Men! The warning signs are virtually the same as for men and birth control pills can lead to heart/blood pressure issues as well.
If you think you have a family history and/or lifestyle that might indicate heart problems I would highly suggest that you take some preventive measures to mitigate any current and/or future problems.
I advocate a highly natural approach, combining herbs and proper foods known to reduce/mitigate issues. Hey even Dr. Oz is talking about these issues now and advocating natural treatments. Of course, if you are in a serious symptomatic condition go to the hospital or doctor. Western medicine can get you over an immediate crisis if necessary.
Don’t forget to excercise often. Cardio exercise, walking even, will definitely imporve your cardiac outlook!
Heart disease just as common in women
If you’re a woman, you may not believe you’re as vulnerable to a heart attack as men – but you are. In some instances, women may not notice the signs of heart attack. They may think that other health problems are causing their symptoms or that the symptoms will go away on their own. As a result, women don’t always receive medical care quickly enough to prevent complications or death from a heart attack.
Today, we know that heart disease affects as many women as men. In fact, heart disease is the number one cause of death in Canada for women over the age of 55 and almost as many women as men die from heart attacks.
To support you and your family in preventing or in managing heart disease, Agassiz Community Health, together with its partners, will be hosting a public information day on Tuesday, February 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the District of Kent Fitness/Activity Centre located at 6660 Pioneer Avenue in Agassiz. You will be able to have your blood pressure tested, observe exercise classes in session, have access to advice from health professionals, and gather important information to take home and read.
Not too long ago, heart disease was considered predominantly a man’s disease. Men were the breadwinners and their hard work sometimes led to chest pain and heart attacks. Women, on the other hand, had “female problems” and heart disease was not one of them. Symptoms reported by women that would have been considered signs of heart disease in men were often dismissed as meaningless or even fictitious. As a consequence, until recently, research on heart disease focused mainly on men.
From those studies emerged the “classic” symptoms of heart attack: chest pain (a painful, crushing feeling behind the breastbone), tingling down the arm (usually the left arm), accompanied by shortness of breath, sweating, nausea indigestion-like symptoms and clammy skin.
In the past, it was believed that women and men had different warning signs of heart attack. This may not be the case. Both women and men may experience typical or non-typical symptoms such as pain in the arm, throat, jaw or pain that is unusual, pain that may feel like burning, squeezing, heaviness, tightness or pressure, difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting, sweating, fear, anxiety, and denial. Although women may describe their pain differently from men, nevertheless, the most common symptom in women and men is still chest pain.
So what puts women at risk for heart disease and heart attacks? Some of the risk factors like age, gender, family history of heart disease, or ethnicity cannot be controlled. But, there are risk factors like high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, diabetes, being overweight, excessive alcohol consumption, lack of exercise, smoking, and stress which can be controlled.
While these risk factors are the same as those for men, there are unique aspects related to women’s heart health:
• Role of estrogen — During a woman’s reproductive life cycle, about age 12 to 50, the naturally-occurring hormone estrogen provides a protective effect on women’s cardiovascular health. However, estrogen’s protective effect can change depending on a variety of factors.
• Birth control pills — In a small percentage of women, oral contraceptives increase the risk of high blood pressure and blood clots. This risk is increased by smoking and other existing risk factors.
• Pregnancy — Over the nine months of gestation, women may develop certain conditions like pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes that might put them at higher risk of heart disease.
• Menopause — The overall risk of heart disease may increase due to the reduction of the hormones estrogen and progesterone produced by the body.
• Cholesterol — After menopause, as natural estrogen levels drop, more and more women tend to develop high cholesterol.
• Triglycerides — They are the most common type of fat in the body. A high triglyceride level often goes with higher levels of total cholesterol and LDL (“bad” cholesterol), lower levels of HDL (“good” cholesterol) and an increased risk of diabetes. Research suggests that having high triglycerides may increase the risk of heart disease.
For women, knowing about the risks of heart disease and recognizing the signs of a heart attack is critical. But, what is even more important is understanding that you can take steps to prevent heart disease. That means eliminating – or at least – minimizing the risk factors you can control by stopping smoking, becoming physically active, eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, maintaining a healthy weight, controlling diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and following your doctor’s recommendations.
Some women believe that making just one healthy change will take care of all of their heart disease risk. To protect your heart, it is vital to make changes that address each risk factor you have – each has the individual potential to greatly increase a woman’s chance of developing heart disease. You can make the changes gradually, one at a time. But making them is very important. The take-away message? Be aware of your risk factors and take them seriously. The actions you take now to lower your risk may just save your life.
- Submitted by Agassiz Community Health
You might try the Enerfood, Heart toner and some other food and herbal based products offered by EnerHealth botanicals!
Spain, a replay of U.S. financial disaster
February 2, 2012 by Steve
Filed under Health News
Reading about the steps taken to ‘remedy’ the economic/finanical disaster in Spain (all of Europe looks pretty much the same) is like looking at 2008/2009 here in the U.S. all over again!
Merging banks, huge write downs on real estate etc. My issue is why did it take so long to hit Europe? Did they think they were immune to financial mismangement?
Spain to Unveil Bank Overhaul to Clean Up Real Estate
Q
By Emma Ross-Thomas – Feb 2, 2012 5:51 AM MT
Spain is set to announce today its plan to shepherd struggling banks into mergers and make the industry set aside 50 billion euros ($66 billion) for real- estate assets left over from the bubble that burst in 2008.
The government will issue debt and inject the funds into banks via contingent convertible bonds, or CoCos, which convert into equity if capital ratios fall below a certain level, a person familiar with the process said yesterday. It will only support banks that merge and those lenders will also have more time to apply new provisioning rules, the person said.
Economy Minister Luis de Guindos speaks to reporters at 5:30 p.m. in Madrid today and the plan is due to be approved by the Cabinet tomorrow. The ministry gave no more details in an e- mailed statement.
Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, in power since December, has pledged a “true restructuring” of the industry at no cost to the taxpayer four years after the decade-long property boom collapsed. Lenders have about 176 billion euros of what the Bank of Spain terms “troubled” assets linked to real estate on their books, including land and unfinished apartments, and have provisioned about a third of that.
“They don’t want it to cost the taxpayer anything, they don’t want to use EU bailout funds and they need it to be credible for the market, and those three conditions are apparently incompatible,” Fernando Fernandez, a professor at IE business school in Madrid and a former International Monetary Fund economist, said in a telephone interview.
Previous Efforts
The former Socialist government’s first initiative to help banks was to create the FROB bailout fund in 2009, which spent about 10 billion euros buying preference shares in lenders it encouraged to merge. In a second phase, the government bought ordinary shares in struggling lenders last year and in October, in a bid to shield the budget from further strain, it decreed that any losses generated by the overhaul would be absorbed by the industry.
Rajoy, who leads the pro-business People’s Party, had considered creating a so-called bad bank to buy toxic real- estate assets from lenders, two people familiar with the situation said in November. A bad bank may have clashed with Rajoy’s election pledge not to spend taxpayers’ money cleaning up lenders. Rajoy and Guindos have also ruled out using the euro region’s bailout funds to finance the overhaul.
Bond Sale
Spain, which pays about less than 4 percent to borrow for five years, will issue debt to fund its purchase of the CoCos, which will yield 8 percent, said the person, who declined to be identified because the plan isn’t yet public. The Treasury sold five-year bonds today at 3.455 percent, down from 4.021 percent last month, as the European Central Bank’s policy of extending longer-term loans to banks bolstered demand for sovereign debt.
The plan to be unveiled today won’t have any impact on the budget deficit, the person familiar with the process said yesterday. Still, the CoCos may end up being converted into equity, Fernandez said, as the IMF forecasts Spain’s economy will shrink for the next two years, adding to pressure on banks.
“Barring positive surprises on economic growth, it’s probable the CoCos will end up being converted into shares and so we would be just postponing the cost to the taxpayer,” said Fernandez, who used to be chief economist at Banco Santander SA.
De Guindos said on Jan. 27 that banks were themselves capable of funding the 50 billion euros of additional provisions he wants them to make for real-estate. Provisioning efforts will be “especially dedicated” to foreclosed assets, particularly “land and other kinds of property,” he said in an interview in Davos, Switzerland, last week. Lenders the government thinks aren’t viable in the medium term will have to merge, he said.
To contact the reporter on this story: Emma Ross-Thomas in Madrid at erossthomas@bloomberg.net
The liklihood of a strong economic rebound worldwide is not a very high probablility in my mind, regardless of our stock market having the best January in many years etc…Economic outlook is still very bleak in my mind!
