Archive for February, 2008
Most cases of depression if not all can be helped with treatment, but many people are too scared to seek treatment. They may be afraid of the questions that a therapist might ask, or they may be afraid of the medication that is designed to help with depression, but untreated depression is a very dangerous thing. There are some natural remedies that can at least help with depression. It is best to talk to a doctor before following a natural course of treatment for depression.
5-HTP
5-hydroxytryptophan, or 5-HTP, is a supplement that works to boost the serotonin levels of the body. Studies have not produced conclusive results yet, however it is known that 5-HTP should not be used in conjunction with antidepressants.
Alternative Medicine
There are natural remedies like yoga, color therapy, flower therapy, aromatherapy and acupuncture or acupressure that can have some effect. These effects vary from person to person, so try to see if any appeal to you and check them out if you are interested.
Diet
It might be hard to hear that giving up your beloved coffee or your daily sweets might help you feel better, but removing sweets from your diet can help to keep your mood more stable, preventing the false highs and exaggerated lows as your blood sugar soars and then plummets.
Avoiding caffeine and alcohol can also both help, as both of these dampen moods. The alcohol is a relaxant while the caffeine is an energy booster, but the effects of both quickly wear off leaving us feeling worse than ever and producing symptoms like insomnia, anxiety, mood swings and even depression.
Since vitamin B6 and Magnesium can both be gotten from your diet and can help you keep your natural serotonin levels up, it is important to add food to your diet that include one or both of these. Magnesium can be found in nuts, whole grains, legumes and vegetables. As a side effect, eating healthier can also help your depression by helping you to feel healthier and boosting your self-image.
Exercise
Like diet, exercise is something that most of us avoid as much as possible when we are depressed, preferring inactivity and isolation. Regular exercise, however, can boost your mood by eliminating the stress hormones in your body as well as by boosting your own self image as you begin to look and feel better. Exercise itself releases mood-boosting chemicals in your brain, and gives you something productive and hopefully fun to focus your mind on.
Folic Acid
Folic Acid or Folate is a particular kind of B vitamin that is often found to be deficient in depressed people. You can get Folate from eating leafy greens as well as some beans or fortified grains. It is a very common deficiency because of poor diet, certain medical conditions, and various medications such as birth control pills that eliminate it in the body.
Light Therapy
Getting enough sunlight is a natural mood booster, and a lack of sunlight can lead to depression. Getting out in the air and the sunlight for a walk or a run or other exercise can be helpful to boost your mood and can be a double-threat to depression because you are getting exercise as well. If you cannot get out in the sunlight for any reason or if you can’t get enough sunlight, you can use lamps that simulate natural sunlight to help you boost your mood with this light therapy. Don’t forget to wear sunscreen to protect your skin while you are out on your walks.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in fish like salmon, and offer many benefits including improved mental functioning. Omega-3 fatty acids can be used in conjunction with antidepressants to help these medications function more effectively. Depression is less common in countries like Taiwan and Japan, which have a culture that consumes much more fish.
SAM-e
SAM-e is short for S-adenosyl-L-methionine, and is a chemical that is found naturally in the body. It has been shown in studies to be more effective than a placebo at treating depression, and is available in the United States as an over the counter supplement in health food stores and drug stores as well as online. It is somewhat expensive, but it can be argued that it is worth the expense as long as it helps.
St. John’s Wort
St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) is traditionally used for worry, nervousness, poor sleep and sadness. Over 20 clinical trials conducted to date suggest that St. John’s Wort is about as effective as medication for mild to moderate depression, although it is not effective in severe cases.
Stephanie Larkin is a freelance writer who writes about mental health topics including <a href="http://www.CareLink-svs.org">Community Support Services | Depression Anxiety Treatment</a>
In regular day it is very usual for people to overlook some important symptoms for depression. If you come across any type of hectic disorder or you are in a depressive mood then you should immediately consult a doctor. A doctor is a best person that can direct you with all the symptoms for depression.
It is not easy to find the most ordinary symptom for depression. It is hard because there are lots of symptoms that you may come across. You will also see that there are lots of people who suffer from depression. And each and everyone will have different symptom for depression. These symptoms for depression will differ according to the significance of the trouble. There are some symptoms that are very easily identified. These identified symptoms are the base of the depression problem. Loneliness, lack of confidence, thoughts of despondency, and a worried thought towards the life are general symptoms of depression.
Nonstop extraction from oneâs enjoyable actions and belongings is also a symptom for depression. If you start running away from the hobbies then you can consult a doctor as it is also a cause of depression. This will end up having loss of power and interest in each and every stage of your life. You will not be able to eat and sleep properly. It will be difficult to live during these hours of loneliness. You will not be able to live a standard life. All these are symptoms for depressions. If these symptoms of depression are not identified then it can be problematic for you health.
If you are suffering from a problem of depression then it will be hard for you to concentrate on any particular task. The interest level in each and every task will decrease that can definitely affect on the concentration. If you are not able to concentrate then you will also get frustrated.
If you come across a friend or relative who are suffering from all these symptoms then it would be better for you to discuss it with a doctor. A doctor is the best judge who can guide a patient. Doctor can understand the problem of the patient and he will be able to let you know the cause of the problem.
Strange habits for sleeping, immediate weight loss, immediate weight gain, are the most common symptoms for depression. If you come across a person who has attempted suicide or even thinking for a suicide then you should consult a doctor as it is also a symptom for depression. Other symptoms for depression are agitation and short-tempered behavior, or week mental condition life like headaches, mess in the digestive system, and body ache.
It is true that problem of depression is becoming common. It is a type of illness that is be solved once the symptoms are recognized. However, there are no technical tests that can identify the problem of depression. Only symptoms can help you to identify the cause of depression. The doctor is the best person who can help you to solve the problem of depression.
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A strong skeleton is less likely to be penetrated by metastasizing cancer cells, so a fortified glass of milk might be the way to block cancerâs spread, according to researchers at the ANZAC Research Institute in Concord, Australia. Using a mouse model of breast cancer metastasis, the researchers found that a calcium deficiency may increase the tendency of advanced breast cancer to target bone. Dietary calcium, they reason, might help prevent the spread of breast cancer to bone and serve as an adjuvant treatment during therapy.
Their findings are presented in the Oct. 1 issue of Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
According to the researchers, about 70 percent of patients who develop advanced breast cancer will have secondary tumors in the bone. The spread of cancer to bones leads to cellular processes that physically break down existing bone, leading to further pain and illness. In fact, the breakdown of bone and subsequent bone re-growth forms what senior author Colin R. Dunstan, Ph.D., terms a âvicious cycleâ that turns bone into an environment conducive to cancer growth.
To better understand the role of bone turnover in the spread of cancer, Dunstan and his team compared the effects of a low- and high-calcium diet in mice. They found that dietary calcium deficiency â” independent of the chemical factors that control turnover â” was related to a significantly higher increase in cancer cell proliferation and the total proportion of bone that had been penetrated.
âThese results could have implications for patients with breast cancer bone metastases or who are at high risk for developing metastatic disease,â Dunstan said. âMany older women in our community are known to be calcium deficient due to low calcium dietary intake or due to vitamin D deficiency. These women could be at increased risk for the devastating effects of bone metastases.â
According to Dunstan, his results call for further, directed clinical trials âto investigate how calcium and vitamin D status influence progression to metastatic disease, and to determine if corrections of calcium and vitamin D deficiencies are important in breast cancer patients.â
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The ANZAC Research Institute study was funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia and the New South Wales Government.
The mission of the American Association for Cancer Research is to prevent and cure cancer. Founded in 1907, AACR is the world’s oldest and largest professional organization dedicated to advancing cancer research. The membership includes nearly 26,000 basic, translational, and clinical researchers; health care professionals; and cancer survivors and advocates in the United States and more than 70 other countries.
AACR marshals the full spectrum of expertise from the cancer community to accelerate progress in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer through high-quality scientific and educational programs. It funds innovative, meritorious research grants. The AACR Annual Meeting attracts more than 17,000 participants who share the latest discoveries and developments in the field. Special Conferences throughout the year present novel data across a wide variety of topics in cancer research, treatment, and patient care.
AACR publishes five major peer-reviewed journals: Cancer Research; Clinical Cancer Research; Molecular Cancer Therapeutics; Molecular Cancer Research; and Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. Its most recent publication, CR, is a magazine for cancer survivors, patient advocates, their families, physicians, and scientists. It provides a forum for sharing essential, evidence-based information and perspectives on progress in cancer research, survivorship, and advocacy.
Bayho Health News
http://www.bayho.com/article.php?id=203
Contact: Colin R. Dunstan
ANZAC Research Institute
Bayho Health News
ISSN 1533-6220
Diabetes and eye have a very strong relation. Diabetes can affect the eyes and vision in a number of ways. The high blood glucose, can damage many parts of the body, such as the heart, blood vessels, brain, and kidneys (as commonly known). Diabetes can affect the eyes also and in a similar fashion.
The parts of the eye which are affected by diabetes are: –
⢠Retina – The retina is the lining at the back of the eye. The retina’s job is to sense light coming into the eye.
⢠Vitreous – The vitreous is a jelly-like fluid that fills the back of the eye, in front of the retina.
⢠Lens – The lens is at the front of the eye. It focuses light on the retina.
⢠Optic nerve – The optic nerve is the eye’s main nerve to the brain.
⢠Eye muscles.
Retinal damage:
Retina damage happens slowly. Diabetes affects the small vessels of the retina in the eye. First, these tiny blood vessels swell and weaken causing leakage. Severe damage can present as bleeding in the eye. Initial retinal changes might not cause and visual changes, but later on can present as blurring of vision.
Symptoms seen when retina starts getting involved are :
Blurry or double vision.
Rings, flashing lights or blank spots.
Dark or floating spots.
Trouble seeing things out of the corners of your eyes.
Treatment for this is retinal laser in mild cases and surgery in severe retinopathy.
Lens damage:
Cataract (saphed motia) is a normal aging phenomenon. In patients with diabetes are 60% more likely to develop this eye condition in younger age. Treatment for this is surgery by Phacoemulsification (sitchless cataract surgery).
Optic nerve damage:
Glaucoma (kala motia) if not treated can damage the optic nerve and cause permanent decrease in vision. Patents with diabetes are 40% more likely to suffer from glaucoma than people without diabetes. Treatment for glaucoma is medical and surgical depending on the severity.
Eye muscles and nerves:
Occasionally paralysis of one of the eye muscles can cause squinting of the eye (mostly outwards) or can cause facial nerve palsy, which presents as incomplete closure of the eye. Mostly the nerve and muscle involvement recovers in six months.
How can the effect of diabetes be reduced on eye:
A strict diabetic control.
6 monthly complete check- up of the eye.
Regular exercise.
Weight control.
Control of other chronic diseases like hypertension, high blood cholesterol etc.
Eyes are the windows to the effect of diabetes on all body organs like heat, brain, kidney, liver etc. The amount of damage in the eye is symmetrical to the effect on all the other body organs. So a strict diabetic control is very important.
Vinay Gupta is an experienced writer who is writing for <a href="http://www.simplyanswer.com">Online Doctor Help</a> and <a href="http://www.simplyanswer.com/Diabetes-and-Eye.php">Diabetes and Eyes</a> for the website http://www.simplyanswer.com since long time.
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos. This disease attacks the protective lining that covers most of the body’s internal organs and in almost all cases is fatal, although new treatments for cancer are always underdevelopment giving us hope we may live cancer free sometime in the future.
You can avoid mesothelioma by not exposing yourself to asbestos. Typically a worker was exposed to asbestos on their job. In the past asbestos was widely used in the large industrial manufacturing industry, the automotive industry and the heating and ventilating industry. Typical exposure is from inhaling asbestos dust a by product of manufacturing. When the worker goes home, their family experiences secondary exposure to the asbestos dust on their clothing.
In residential construction during 1960′s and 1970′s, asbestos was commonly use to seal leaks and seams on heating ducts in residential houses and in other heating and ventilation systems. Exposure to asbestos dust comes when the asbestos seal begins to breakdown and gives off the deadly asbestos dust particles. So, if you are buying an older home, be certain to have it inspected for asbestos. If found, asbestos can be removed or sealed with a protective cover to prevent exposure to humans.
Detection of mesothelioma and drawing the connection between work-related hazards wasn’t always realized. It has only come to light recently that large corporations were negligent in exposing their workers to asbestos dust. This is due to the fact that it takes some time for the cancer to form. Most families were so consumed with helping their loved ones; they failed to realize the cancer they were battling was actually caused by the working conditions of a loved one.
If an individual was exposed to asbestos during their working career then the corporation employing them is at fault and is responsible for the damages resulting from the asbestos caused mesothelioma. Individuals and families battling mesothelioma and facing the loss of a loved one need realize and understand their legal rights.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma then you need to consult with a mesothelioma lawyer to understand your legal rights. This type of lawyer is experienced with asbestos related cases and taking on the large corporations and winning. Typically, a mesothelioma lawyer will review your case at little or no charge to evaluate if you have a case. If it is determined you do they will handle the lawsuit for damages from the corporation responsible.
It is a shame to think your life or a loved ones life is cut short due to the negligence of a corporation not controlling the exposure to asbestos. You may be uncomfortable with a lawsuit, but it is your legal right to seek adequate compensation for your life or a loved ones being cut short and the resulting impact of not being able to provide for the family any longer.
Asbestos caused mesothelioma is a preventable disease and it’s sad to think an employee who works hard for a corporation is actually killed slowly by the exposure to asbestos. If you’re dealing with mesothelioma in your life, seek the help of a mesothelioma lawyer to ensure your financial future peace of mind while you and your family deal with the loss of a loved one.
Jeff Kimball is an independent health and business writer and the webmaster of Good-Mesothelioma-Lawyers-Info.com and Good Payday Loans.
Jeff Kimball is an independent health and business writer and the webmaster of <a href="http://good-mesothelioma-lawyers-info.com/">Good-Mesothelioma-Lawyers-Info.com</a> and <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/goodpaydayloans">Good Payday Loans</a>.

