Strategies for Prevention of Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is a very common disease among males in the United State. If
skin cancer is excluded, prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer
among men living in the United States. Prostate cancer may have much
variation in the stage and extend of disease at presentation and in many
people the cancer might linger for a long period of time without causing any
significant problems to the person. Because of this reason, number of men
who would die from prostate cancer is much smaller than the number of men
who would be diagnosed with prostate cancer.

There are several factors that might increase the risk of developing
prostate cancer and by modifying some of these factors it might be possible
to decrease the risk of this disease in some people. Also some attempts at
modification of the external environment may also reduce the risk of
developing prostate cancer.

Chemoprevention: The term chemoprevention is generally referred to the use
of synthetic drugs, vitamins, or other agents to prevent the development of
a cancer. Several drugs have shown potential benefits as prostate cancer
prevention agents. These drugs are still in early stages of clinical trials
and much more studies are required to authoritative state that these drugs
indeed prevent the development of prostate cancer. Some of the drugs which
are in active clinical trial for prevention of prostate cancer include,
difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), isoflavonoids, selinum, vitamin D, vitamin E
and lycopene.

Changes in diet and life-style: Diets rich in animal fats might increase the
risk of developing prostate cancer, so theoretically decreasing the amount
of animal fat in the diet might decrease the risk of developing prostate
cancer. Active clinical trials are ongoing focusing on the issues of dietary
modification as a way of prostate cancer prevention. Some of the ongoing
studies might answer the question if food low in animal fats and high in
fruits and vegetables would ultimately decrease the risk of prostate cancer.
Some recent studies have shown that dietary products and diets rich in
calcium might increase the risk of developing prostate cancer. Future
studies may answer the question with regard to benefit of dietary
modification in the context of prostate cancer.

Hormonal prevention: Prostate cancer is treated with suppression of male
hormone testosterone. In theory drugs that would cause a decrease in the
testosterone levels might decrease the risk of prostate cancer development.
Studies are undergoing using some of the male hormone blocking drugs to see
if this strategy would be effective in prostate cancer prevention. An
example of one such drug is finasteride, which causes a decrease in the
amount of male hormone (testosterone) produced by the body.

In summary there are several strategies that might be effectively used to
prevent the development of prostate cancer. Some of these strategies are
more promising than other ones and only more work and research would
ultimately show us, which of these strategies are better and if so if these
strategies could be used in combination.

Author of this article is a freelance health information writer. Author
contributes articles to various websites including <a
href="http://medicineworld.org/">Medicineworld</a>. You may read more about
prostate <a
href="http://medicineworld.org/cancer/prostate/index.html">Prostate
cancer</a> at this webpage.

Cancer – The Missing Point

If one were to judge by television advertising and news reports, it would seem that the “war on cancer” is all but won. What are the weapons being heralded? Drugs, research, tests and exams. They miss the point.

“Prevention” is promoted as meaning catching the disease early. Really. That also misses the point. Is it “prevention” if you call 911 when you come home and see smoke billowing from all your windows? Do we just live with a carpe diem philosophy and wait for the doctor to tell us we have a lump in our breast or a swollen nodular prostate? Is the cause of cancer a lack of one of the new cancer drugs? Is the cause of cancer really unknown, requiring endless research?

First, let me put to rest the propaganda that the war is being won. Since President Nixon declared the war (1971) and after over 200 billion dollars have been spent on research (remember, one billion is a thousand million), more Americans will die of cancer in the next 14 months than have died in all U.S. wars ever fought combined! (Where are the protest marches?) Soon, cancer will overtake heart disease as the number one killer.

Decades ago, early in the war, there were some dramatic successes such as with Hodgkin’s disease and some forms of childhood leukemia. There can be little doubt that debunking (surgical removal) of large cancers brings benefits. But the big killers such as colorectal, lung, prostate and breast cancer remain as threatening as ever. Survival gains are measured primarily in additional months (not years) added to life, not in cures. The placebo effect is by and large ignored. (People getting a sugar pill placebo in cancer studies have been known to lose their hair and some actually cure themselves by simply thinking they will be cured.) A percentage of people can experience remissions spontaneously and from simple lifestyle adjustments, but the cancer therapy is always credited with the cure.

Investigations
“Placebo Learning: The Placebo Effect as a Conditioned Response,” 1985; 2(1):23.
O’Regan B, et al. 1993. Spontaneous Remission: An Annotated Bibliography. Sausalito, CA.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0943951178/103-3301155-6416668?v=glance

Talbot M. 1991. The Holographic Universe. New York. Harper Collins Publishers
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0060922583/103-3301155-6416668?v=glance

Townsend Letter, 2004; 251:32-3
http://www.townsendletter.com/June2004/June2004.htm

Statistics can always be massaged to create the result desired. This practice is rampant in cancer research. Animal models (euphemism for real living and feeling caged creatures being tortured by the millions) do not prove effectiveness across species boundaries to humans. Neither do laboratory cell lines. That’s why all the “breakthroughs” based on tumor shrinkage never pan out. For-profit drug companies and National Cancer Institute grant-based research ignore metastases (the spreading cells of cancer through the body) in their positive reports. Instead they highlight and focus on more easily obtained lab results, such as “tumor shrinkage,” and on easily manipulated clinical data such as “five-year survival.”

Twelve new “improved” drugs introduced in Europe between 1995 and 2000 were no better than the drugs they replaced. But the prices were all higher, in one instance by a factor of 350 times. One new “revolutionary” drug, Erbitux™, found to “shrink” tumors but not extend the lives of patients at all costs $2,400 per week. Avastin™, another costly chemotherapeutic, by the best calculation, extended the lives of 400 colorectal patients by 4.7 months. Tamoxifin™ is proven to be effective in decreasing breast cancer. Risk is decreased by about 15% but what is not equally heralded is the fact that it increased the risk of endometrial uterine cancer by about 15%. (Patient Information: Nolvadex, Zeneca Pharmaceuticals)

Are such results worth the financial devastation and miserable life that chemotherapy, radiation and surgery impose? Is that the way to spend one’s remaining days? If such therapy does add a couple of months, are those couple of months really worth the poking, prodding, pain, unrelenting nausea, disfiguring, destruction of the immune system and increased susceptibility to other diseases? “Yes” would be a hard answer to justify.

In the face of a cancer diagnosis most people just throw up their hands in terror and surrender to the conventional cancer therapy death process. The feeling is that something must be done, and, since “doctors know best,” one must begin the “fight” by following the advice of the doctor. But fighting does not mean surrendering to the will of another person who has their own personal agenda and narrowed field of view dictated by the club they belong to. That misses the point. You must do something.

Here’s the on-point best approach:
1. Prevention means adjusting your life right now so that you are living in tune with your design. Cancer is, quite simply, the reaction of cells subjected long enough to an environment they are not designed for. The genetic apparatus loses its bearings, becomes insane, if you will, and regresses to embryonic infancy and just begins multiplying recklessly. What is the proper environment? It is that food, air, water and lifestyle you are genetically designed for. The proper healthy preventive living context is encapsulated in the Wysong Optimal Health Program™ http://www.wysong.net/optimal_health_page1.shtml.

2. If you get cancer, don’t panic. First thing is follow #1 advice. Learn. Gather as much information as you can from all resources, not just what the medical establishment provides. We try to gather such information for you in: The Wysong Directory of Alternative Resources
http://www.wysong.net/page/WOTTPWS/PROD/EDUAIDS/MM028

3. Think about what has happened in your life that has caused the disease. It is caused, it does not just happen. Correct your life.

4. You take control of your own body and you make the decisions. Determine to set right what is wrong and do it. Taking control is essential to not feeling like a helpless victim and sinking into hopeless despair — a sure mindset to speed the disease along.

5. Think long and hard before submitting to unproven cancer therapies. If the doctor cannot prove effectiveness (at least prove that you will be better off with the therapy than without) and if you are not willing to take the risk of all the contraindications, then don’t submit because you think it is “all that can be done.” It isn’t. See #2 above.

All good things in life are hard. In our modern world, good health takes effort and attention. Preventing and reversing disease also takes effort — your effort. Begin today to take charge of your health and be the best you can be. Most chronic degenerative diseases have long latency periods, the time between when the disease begins and it manifests in overt symptoms. Most everyone reading this has such disease brewing within at this very moment. So take advantage of the window of opportunity and give your body a chance by living the life you were designed to live. That will not only prevent disease from gaining a foothold, but reverse disease that is incubating within.

For further reading, or for more information about, Dr Wysong and the Wysong Corporation please visit www.wysong.net or write to wysong@wysong.net. For resources on healthier foods for people including snacks, and breakfast cereals please visit www.cerealwysong.com

Dr. Wysong: A former veterinary clinician and surgeon, college instructor in human anatomy, physiology and the origin of life, inventor of numerous medical, surgical, nutritional, athletic and fitness products and devices, research director for the present company by his name and founder of the philanthropic Wysong Institute. http://www.wysong.net. Also check out http://www.cerealwysong.com.

What is Asthma?

What are its Symptoms?

An asthma attack may begin dramatically, with the person experiencing many severe symptoms at once. But sometimes it begins slowly, causing gradually increasing respiratory distress. Typically, the person becomes increasingly short of breath, with worsening cough, wheezing, and chest tightness or some combination of these symptoms.

During an acute attack, the cough sounds tight and dry. fu the attack subsides, thick, sticky sputum is produced (except in young children). The lungs overinflate, causing use of accessory breathing muscles, particularly in children. An increased pulse, abnormally fast breathing, and profuse sweating are also common. In severe attacks. the person may be unable to speak more than a few words without pausing for breath. A bluish skin discoloration, confusion, and sluggishness signal the start of respiratory failure.

How is it Diagnosed?

In people with asthma, lab tests often show these abnormalities:

• Pulmonary fUnction studies reveal signs of airway obstruction. (However, between attacks, these studies may be normal.)

•  Pulse oximetry may reveal decreased arterial oxygen saturation.

• Arterial blood gas analysis provides the best indication of an attack’s severity. In acutely severe asthma, the partial pressure of arterial oxygen measures less than 60 millimeters of mercury, the partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide is 40 millimeters of mercury or more, and pH usually decreases.

• Complete blood count with white blood cell differential reveals an increased eosinophil count .

• Chest X-rays may show overinflated lungs with areas of collapsed air sacs.

Before ordering tests for asthma, the doctor rules out other causes of airway obstruction and wheezing. In children, such causes include cystic fibrosis, chest rumors, and acute viral bronchitis. In adults, other causes include obstructive pulmonary disease, heart failure, and epiglottitis.

How is it Treated?

Treatment of acute asthma aims to ease bronchoconstriction, reduce bronchial airway swelling, and improve pulmonary ventilation. After an acute episode, treatment includes avoiding or removing factors that trigger asthma, such as environmental allergens or irritants.

If the person knows which substances trigger the asthma, he or she may receive limited amounts of the offending substance in a series of injections. This desensitizing therapy curbs the person’s immune response to the substance. If asthma is caused by an infection, the doctor prescribes antibiotics.

Drug therapy for asthma is most effective when started soon after signs and symptoms begin. It usually includes:

• bronchodilators that open blocked airways; commonly used bronchodilators include methylxanthines (Theo-Dur and Aminophyllin) and beta-2 adrenergic agonists (Ventoline and Brethaire)

• corticosteroids (Solu-cortef, Orasone, Medrol, and Beconase) to reduce inflammation and suppress the immune response, thereby easing airway inflammation and swelling

• Nasalcrom and Tilade to help block the release of the chemical mediators active in asthma

• anticholinergic bronchodilators, such as Atrovent, which block acetylcholine, another chemical mediator of asthma attacks.

For the most part, medical treatment of asthma is tailored to each person. However, the following treatments are generally used:

• Chronic mild asthma. A betaradrenergic agonist by metered-dose inhaler is used (alone or with Nasalcrom) before exercise and exposure to an allergen to prevent symptoms. The person uses the drug every 3 to 4 hours if symptoms occur.

• Chronic moderate asthma. At first, the person receives an inhaled beta-adrenergic bronchodilator, an inhaled corticosteroid, and Nasalcrom. If symptoms persist, the doctor may increase the inhaled corticosteroid dosage and add sustained-release Theo-Dur or an oral betaradrenergic agonist (or both). Brief therapy with oral corticosteroids also may be used.

• Chronic severe asthma. Initially, the person may need around-the­clock oral bronchodilators with a long-acting theophylline or a beta-2 adrenergic agonist. This therapy is supplemented with an inhaled betaradrenergic agonist and an inhaled corticosteroid with or without Nasalcrom. In acute attacks, the doctor may add an oral corticosteroid.

• Acute asthma attack. Acute attacks that don’t respond to self-treatment may require hospital care, inhaled or injected beta-2 adrenergic agonists and, possibly, oxygen. The doctor may prescribe intravenous therapy. People who don’t respond to this treatment, whose airways remain blocked, and who have increasing breathing difficulty are at risk for a potentially lethal condition called status asthmaticus. To maintain their breathing, they may require mechanical ventilation.

• Status asthmaticus. A person with status asthmaticus (an acute, severe, prolonged asthma attack) needs aggressive drug therapy. He or she receives a beta-2 adrenergic agonist by nebulizer every 30 to 60 minutes. The doctor may also give an Adrenalin injection; intravenous corticosteroids, aminophylline, and fluids; and oxygen. Some people need mechanical ventilation to assist breathing.

What can a person with Asthma do?

•  Avoid known allergens and irritants.

• If you have trouble using a metered-dose inhaler, you may need an extender device to improve drug delivery and lower the risk of yeast infection with orally inhaled corticosteroids.

• If you have moderate to severe asthma, learn how to use a peak Howmeter to measure the degree of airway obstruction. Keep a record of peak How readings and bring it to medical appointments. Call the doctor at once if the peak How drops suddenly. (A drop may signal severe respiratory problems.)

• Notify the doctor if you develop a fever above 100° F (37.8° C), chest pain, shortness of breath without coughing or exercising, or uncontrollable coughing. An uncontrollable asthma attack requires immediate attention.

• To manage asthma attacks, learn diaphragmatic and pursed-lip breathing as well as effective coughing techniques.

•Drink at least 6 eight-ounce glasses of fluids daily to help loosen airway secretions and maintain hydration

For Diseasesblog.org <br>
Get information and tips on <a href="http://www.diseasesblog.com">diseases </a>, causes, symptoms and <a href="http://www.diseasesblog.com">preventions tips </a>, so as to prevent them from occurring in future. <br>
For any querries, contact author at: <a href="mailto:nikhil@diseasesblog.org">nikhil@diseasesblog.org </a>.

Natural Depression Treatments

Depression is a serious illness, and it has been shown to affect no less than 6% of any sample population (America for example) at any given period. This means that many people in any given population, especially in the more industrialized countries, will be taking prescription drugs like Paxil or Prozac. These drugs have been out for many years now, even decades, and their production increased every year, yet there is also a steady increase in the number of depressed people in the U.S. and throughout the world. One can only infer from these facts that synthetic prescription medications for depression are not curing people of depression.

What’s more, most antidepressants have very serious, sometimes even fatal, side effects or withdrawal effects. Many studies have shown that large percentages of people will experience at least one side effect from any given depression medication, and one recent study found the average side effect rate for the most effective depressions medications to be around 60%, or 6 in 10 people. Perhaps most daunting when taking any depression medication is the chance that you may be one of those rare people who suffer serious side effects like suicidal thoughts or kidney failure.

The combination of the above two factors for depressed people taking prescription medications has led many of them to seek healing from natural cures, and the demand for natural depression remedies continues to grow. Many natural methods for treating depression involve simple common sense and have been proven to work at least to some degree, most of which are not supplements or organic compounds. These include Bright Light Therapy, daily exercise, yoga, meditation, prayer or other spiritual exercises, building better relationships with the people around us and creating new and good relationships, and spending time in Nature everyday or as much as possible.

There are also many proven and well-known natural supplements that those with depression can use. These include St. John’s Wort, 5 HTP, any of the Omega-3 fatty acids, amino acid compounds of several types, DHEA, SAMe, and a variety of herbs, including ginseng, ginko biloba, and Kava Kava. The two best natural supplements with the most research proving their effectiveness are St. John’s Wort and 5HTP, both of which anyone should be able to fund at your local health food store, and which you should start out with when searching for natural depression supplements.

Depression is now known to affect the mind, body, and even the spirit, not just the mind as originally thought, so with whatever natural treatments you find, make sure that you have at least one treatment each for the mind, body, and spirit, for example Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (mind), exercise (body), and meditation (spirit). This holistic approach has proven to be the most effective way to treat depression.

Don’t forget to make use of the Internet in finding natural treatments for your depression. I recommend the following extremely useful sites for information, support, and natural treatments for depression:

http://www.add-adhd-help-center.com/Depression/statistics.htm
http://depression.about.com/
http://www.overcome-depression.net/supplements/

My name is Jonathan Antenucci, and I have been depressed for about 2 years now. I have also just recently started a blog on depression, which you can visit at http://naturaldepressiontreatments.blogspot.com/. There isn’t any new information there yet, but it will be coming soon.

My name is Jonathan Antenucci, and as mentioned in the abstract, I have suffered from depression myself for about 2 years now, and have researched the illness and treatments for it as much as the next depressed person.

I have taken the above information from various websites on the Internet, but I have summarized and paraphrased all of it, in order to create my own arguments and theme.

Also, coming soon I will be updating this article and adding more research at my blog website, which you can visit at http://naturaldepressiontreatments.blogspot.com/2007/07/natural-depression-cures.html.

The Top Seven Reasons People Don’t Buy Nutritional Supplements… and Why They Should!

People have plenty of reasons for not buying nutritional supplements… but none of them outweigh the true benefits of boosting your overall health with vitamins and minerals!

It’s a fact: People generally don’t like change. In fact, they are so hesitant to make any adjustments to their daily routines that they will sabotage their good health by not even considering nutritional supplements.

Here, we’ll look at the top seven reasons that individuals don’t purchase nutritional supplements, followed by some reasons that they should.

1. I tried nutritional supplements before and they didn’t work for me.

First of all, when did this person try nutritional supplements and from whom did he or she purchase them? Also, how long did he or she take the vitamins and minerals…was it just for a few days (not long enough for them to work)? A few weeks? Were they taken on a regular basis? The answers to these questions could immediately negate this reason for not taking nutritional supplements!

2. My friend told me nutritional supplements were dangerous.

It’s true that some herbs and nutritional supplements have been deemed unsafe; however, if you purchase nutritional supplements from a reputable supplier, you’re typically guaranteed a quality product or your money back (in most cases.) Remember that legitimate nutritional supplement distributors want to keep the customer satisfied, not sell them toxic merchandise.

3. I can’t afford nutritional supplements.

Ah, the old “I can’t afford that…” reasoning. While it’s true that nutritional supplements aren’t cheap, it’s important to ask whether you would WANT them to be? An inexpensive health product like ninety-nine cent vitamins isn’t likely to be all that potent (if at all.) Besides, most individuals waste tons of money on cigarettes, alcohol, sugar-laden lattes, and other habits and treats. Chances are that you could afford a dollar or two a day to put towards nutritional supplements to improve your health.

4. I don’t need nutritional supplements.

Unless you have an impeccable diet and exercise program, vitamins and minerals could be amazingly beneficial to you. In fact, even athletes with low body fat and incredible stamina take nutritional supplements to become even stronger, faster, and healthier! Therefore, it’s unlikely that this reason could be true, as almost everyone could benefit from taking nutritional supplements.

5. I wouldn’t know which nutritional supplements to buy.

It can absolutely be overwhelming to decide where to start when considering nutritional supplements. However, most reputable suppliers will be able to assist you in making choices. For instance, many online distributors provide information about vitamins, minerals, and herbs so you can make an informed decision.

6. I don’t believe in all that natural health mumbo-jumbo.

Skepticism is a healthy and (often) admirable trait, but don’t let it get in the way of understanding just how advantageous it can be to ingest nutritional supplements regularly. After all, millions of people are enjoying a better quality of life thanks to their openness toward vitamins and minerals; therefore, its illogical to assume they are all kidding themselves.

7. My doctor doesn’t want me to take nutritional supplements.

This is an interesting protest that is occasionally spoken. If your physician truly has told you outright that you should not take vitamins and minerals, it might be wise to get a second opinion. Many old school doctors are hesitant to prescribe alternative or complementary remedies to their patients; on the other hand, newer medical school graduates are typically open to considering nutritional supplements as a route to good health.

So… what’s keeping you from enjoying the benefits of vitamins and minerals?

<p>Author Bio: </p>
<p>Mitamins team</p>
<p>bd@mitamins.net</p>
<p>Find Authoritative Health Information on Vitamins & Nutritional Supplements; Get Custom Vitamins & Nutritional Supplements for all Your Health Needs.</p>

<p><b><a href="http://www.mitamins.com">Vitamin health and Nutritional Supplements</a></b></p>

Acne Scar Treatment

Normally as the acne begins to heal whilst being treated it will often leave some sort of spot on the skin which usually fades after a period of time. In fact in some cases it can take up to a year before it has faded completely and disappears. Yet for some people they find that it does not disappear within the year and they are then left with scarring. However there are a number of different acne scars treatments available to use in order to treat the condition. In this article I will take a look at some of the methods that have proved to be fairly effective in treating this particular problem. 1. Retin A This form of treatment should only be used after talking with a doctor as there are a number of side effects associated with it. However it has been proved to be extremely beneficial in treating not just scarring but skin conditions as well. 2. Mederma This is a topical medication and is believed to be effective in helping to heal the scars associated with acne. There is a website that the manufacturers of this product have set up where you can learn more comprehensive data about this particular product if you so wish. 3. Copper Peptides In recent years these have begun to gain widespread popularity as the modern way for treating acne scars. The properties of the copper peptides help to improve the skins elasticity as well as firm it up. Plus it helps to neutralize those free radicals which can cause damage to your skin as it contains anti-oxidant properties. When choosing an acne scar treatment medication or program, you should first ascertain which products is best suited to you. You should discuss this matter with your doctor or dermatologist first. As there are so many products now available for a person to use in order to treat acne scars carrying out some research first will help to find out just how efficient each one is before you start any treatment.

Visit <a href="http://www.acneskincareproduct.org">AcneSkinCareProduct.org</a> today for more <a href="http://www.acneskincareproduct.org/acne-skin-care-reviews.html">acne skin care articles</a>.

Different diabetes types

When the transformation of blood sugar into energy is checked, it results in diabetes. The energy produced by the breakdown of glucose is required by the cells to perform various bodily functions. This conversion of glucose is facilitated by the hormone insulin produced by the pancreas. Insufficient insulin causes the excess glucose to remain in the blood causing diabetes. This excess glucose is excreted through the urine. If untreated, diabetes could lead to serious complications. There are 3 types of diabetes- 1) Type1diabetes- since it starts in childhood, it is also called juvenile diabetes. It is an autoimmune disorder where the body attacks the beta cells of the pancreas, preventing it from producing insulin. As a result, insulin injections are needed every day. However, timely diagnosis can ensure a normal life for the patient. 2) Type2diabetes- here, the insulin produced in the body is not properly used causing increase in blood sugar level. This type affects about 80% of the people around the world and especially those who are overweight. 3) Type3diabetes- it is also called gestational diabetes and affects pregnant women. A woman with some previous sign of diabetes is more at risk. There is usually a correlation between type2 and type3diabetes. Excess body weight is a common factor for the development of both kinds of diabetes. Pregnant women with type3 but not type2diabetes may develop the latter in the coming years. Diabetes is a disease, which, with some concerted effort and the help of medications, diet and exercise can be controlled allowing a person to lead a normal life. However, if proper and timely treatment is not provided it could lead to serious complications and even death. For more such articles visit http://www.home-gyms-fitness.com

Ravi Agarwal is publisher of diabetes tips website – http://www.ailmentcontrol.com , He has written several informative articles on diabetes topics.