Relationship Between High Blood Pressure and Loss of memory

by Armughan Riaz

When you've got high blood pressure, then it's best to remember the fact that it could additionally result in loss of memory with time (Dementia). In accordance with latest research, managing your blood pressure could possibly be the very best protective action against loss of memory (Dementia)

Loss of memory, together with Alzheimer's disease, and cognitive dysfunction in middle and elderly populations are associated with high blood pressure. It's well-known that hypertension is a risk factor for infarcts in brain and ischaemic subcortical white-matter lesions. Blood- brain barrier dysfunction can be seen in hypertensive sufferers which has been recommended to be concerned within the cause and pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Psychological stress, and the formation of free oxygen radicals may additionally play a task on this regard. The findings of relationship between dementia and hypertension may have implications for prevention and treatment.

Close relationship between high blood pressure and mind has been established in accordance with recent research and studies. These research revealed a sort of scarring or scars in brain as a consequence of high blood pressure or high blood pressure. In later years of hypertensive patients these scars can result in diseases like Alzheimer's Illness and Loss of memory. Though these hypertensive scars appear in early ages however memory loss can happen a lot later. So in case you have hypertension but haven't any memory disturbances, it does not imply that in future you will not have such problem.

There is quite simple relationship between dementia and high blood pressure. Our human brain has lot of white matter lesions which act as telephone network for the brain. These white matter lesions do present a system of nerve fibers and axons that permits communication of various brain cells with one another. Even marginal blood stress increase might destroy blood cells that nourish this white matter. This interrupts the signals that brain cells send to at least one another and leads to issues like loss of memory.

Many experts do endorse this medical reality though this is comparatively a brand new study and needs the backing of recognized health care professionals. If aggressive management of hypertension may help protect the brain, National Institute of health may quickly start a research on this regard. The basic purpose of this research might be to verify if lowering blood pressure levels than the presently advised values is helpful for both brain and the heart.

The basic premise of this study is not exactly novel as the findings of this recent study may come across as new. Primary factor is always the high blood pressure that can be managed to avert cognitive decline in old age. So we will admit here that by simply controlling hypertension can assist in delaying behavioral changes that occur in old age such as impatience, restlessness, memory loss and managing BP properly can be a substantial aid in keeping memory problems like Dementia at bay in elderly.

Quality of your life can be disturbed badly by this serious problem like dementia. So, it only makes sense that you try to prevent the problem by keeping your BP in normal range.

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Before you go anywhere, here is more detail on High Blood Pressure and Dementia and Diabetes Treatment

Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids and Heart Disease

by Lee Cole

DHA supplements are certainly something you need to think about, for anybody who is thinking about avoiding heart disease. DHA is short for docosahexaenoic acid, and it is among the many omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3's are essential to good heath. Although DHA is easily the most prevalent essential fatty acid in your brain, it is also seen to play a significant roll in avoiding heart problems. Not just DHA plays this roll, but all omega-3 essential fatty acids are necessary with your heart health.

Omega-3 Efas and Cholesterol

One diet that is full of omega-3's is a Mediterranean diet. Those that follow the dietary plan generally have high HDL, or "good" cholesterol. One reason is a Mediterranean diet contains a fair amount of fish in it. This is certainly further backed up by the fact that Eskimos also generally have high HDL cholesterol. They also eat a lot of cold water, fatty fish. These fish tend to be very rich in omega-3 essential fatty acids. You might not want to eat halibut or tuna every day, however , you might take omega3 supplements. Reports have shown that these supplements reduce triglyceride levels. In combination with fish, walnuts are recognized to be loaded with omega-3 essential fatty acids.

Omega-3 Efas and High Blood Pressure Levels

There are several studies that have already shown that diets rich in omega-3's and even fish-oil supplements, can lower hypertension. You do not prefer to self-medicate, however. High Blood Pressure is really a serious condition. Make sure you get a doctor's approval prior to deciding to do anything whatsoever.

Coronary Disease and Omega-3 Fatty Acids

It has been shown again and again that diets lower in saturated fats and high in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats (including omega-3 fatty acids) aid the prevention of heart problems. There can be a lot of clinical evidence that fish-oil, which is high in EPA and DHA (two types of omega-3 fatty acids) help lessen cases of cardiovascular disease and cardiac arrest. In addition, omega-3 fatty acids is shown to possess a positive impact on lowering triglycerides, risk of death from coronary disease, stroke, and abnormal heart rhythms. Fish-oil has been specifically proven to help mitigate and treat hardening with the arteries through slowing the development of plaque and blood clots.

In other words, omega3, which contains considerable amounts of EPA and DHA, is certainly healthy for you. Since with DHA you employ a double whammy effect of helping your heart and brain, it is likely you want to consider DHA supplements in what you eat. Like in all things medical, speak to your doctor first.

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Lee Cole is a real health and exercise enthusiast! To find out more about dha supplements, check out this article about DHA Supplements.

Nuts, Veggies And Fish Reduce Initial Indicators of Alzheimer's Disease

by Kirsten Whittaker

Whilst an individual research paper shouldn't have you making large modifications to your lifestyle, should the identical findings come from several studies, it is possibly time to take notice.

Such is the situation with some new research that echoes the information in regards to the advantages of consuming healthily and defense against illness, in this case memory robbing early indicators of Alzheimer's Illness. [Search Amazon.com for Alzheimer's Illness.]

In this case, consuming healthy food means a diet plan full of nuts, veggies and fish, such as brassicas and leafy green vegetables, at the same time as plenty of fish, nut products and tomatoes, with small red meat and high fat dairy products. Put simply, not anything like our usual Western diet plan.

For the work, 1,691 subjects over 65 years old with no indicators of dementia at the start of the research filled out detailed questionnaires that asked about the meals they consumed in the past yr. The team then examined the foodstuffs described within the science lab to see which were rich in vitamins and minerals like omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E, both linked to a lowered threat of Alzheimer's illness.

The study subjects were then split into 3 groups based upon how well they maintained to this type of diet over the past year. Inside the 4 years that followed, 211 have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's - outcomes established that those inside the top 3rd when it comes to compliance to a healthy way of eating have been 38% not as likely to develop Alzheimer's than those inside the least compliant group.

The outcomes have been adjusted for elements which may explain the link in between diet and brain health - age, cigarette smoking, bmi, calorie intake and quantity of physical activity (also connected to Alzheimer's).

Earlier investigation presented results from a study that began in 2006 that involved a number of elderly people from New York, finding people who ate most similar to the Mediterranean diet plan had roughly a 40% reduced danger of Alzheimer's disease than those who didn't eat in this way.

It is crucial to know that this Mediterranean diet plan isn't just a diet, as a means of eating that will be a portion of one's life from this point on. This strategy is

- Very low in red meat and poultry

- Uses essential olive oil as the major fat source

- Extremely high in fruits, nuts, beans and pulses, vegetables and cereal products

- Plenty of fish

- Allows low to modest intake of wines

Increasingly more analysis is displaying that whatever you put into your body can be a key part of being healthy and balanced.

These days all professionals can let you know is that eating well and being active on a frequent basis, are all-natural, successful strategies you are able to use to battle the early signs of Alzheimer's illness. [Search Amazon.com for Alzheimer's Illness.]

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Easy Ways To Eat A Low Carb Diet

by Stephanie Parsons

Many people assume that trying to eat low carb diet would be a huge hassle. These diets also don't seem to be reasonable. When learning about nutrition, we get taught that carbohydrates are good for us. After all, carbs are the base of the food pyramid. Good carbohydrates do exist. Some carbohydrates are bad for us, of course. This applies to cholesterol, as well. Eating a low carb diet and eating a well balanced diet are pretty much the same thing. You can easily eat a low carb diet by following the rules of nutrition. Using the following tips will help you adjust to a low carb diet. [read: The Great Cholesterol Lie]

Eggs are a great option for people on a low carb diet. Many people associate breakfast with carb heavy foods and fatty foods. Bacon is a food that many people refuse to give up, for example. But eggs and fruit juice can constitute a good breakfast. As long as you don't use high carb cheeses or other additives, eggs are a great substitute for other high carb foods. If you add fresh veggies, you can prepare delicious omelets or other dishes.

Using coconut flour is another way to cut down on carbs. Coconut flour can be used as a low carb substitute for both white and wheat flour. Using coconut flour allows you to still enjoy pancakes and other baked goods that use flour. If you want to follow a low carb diet, refined flour is terrible. Coconut flour is an excellent substitute for refined flour, however. Not to mention, coconut is rich in various nutrients. Coconut water is used as a popular health drink. Coconut flour allows you to eat "regular" breakfast foods without having to worry about the number of carbs. [read: The Great Cholesterol Lie]

If you make extra low carb food at dinnertime, you can take the leftovers for lunch the next day and cut down on the carbs you would normally eat. Having a delicious lunch waiting for you is a good way to resist grabbing fast food. You can give yourself a variety of foods to choose from by saving your leftovers for a couple days.

Many people think going low carb means eating boring foods. Many also believe they will have to give up their favorite foods and snacks. But honestly, a low carb diet isn't that different from eating a well balanced diet. The number of low carb alternatives might surprise you. You may be happy to discover that eating low carb won't affect your life much at all. These tips will make the transition to a low carb diet even easier. [read: The Great Cholesterol Lie]

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Improve Your HDL Cholesterol Levels

by Miranda Laranjo

MayoClinic outlines the lifestyle changes required to reduce cholesterol in their article, "Top 5 lifestyle changes to reduce cholesterol" as follows:

1, Lose Weight - Doctors claim that losing even ten pounds can make a difference.

2. Eat heart-healthy foods - Eat leaner meats, low-fat dairy, and healthier fats such as olive, peanut and canola oil. Eliminate all trans-fats (hydrogenated oil) and limit foods high in cholesterol (typically organ meats, egg yolks and whole milk products). Eat more whole grains, vegetables and fruit. Add foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, avocados, almonds and ground flaxseeds. [read: The Great Cholesterol Lie]

3. Exercise daily - Moderate exercise can help to raise your HDL, or good cholesterol. The American Heart Association recommends 30 minutes of exercise a day to reduce the risk of heart disease.

4. Quit Smoking - Quitting can improve your HDL cholesterol level. In their article, Mayoclinic gives us this encouragement about smoking, "Just 20 minutes after quitting, your blood pressure decreases. Within 24 hours, your risk of a heart attack decreases. Within one year, your risk of heart disease is half that of a smoker. Within 15 years, your risk of heart disease is similar to someone who never smoked."

5. Drink in Moderation - Too much alcohol can lead to various health risks. Mayo recommends keeping it to one drink per day for women and no more than two for men.

The American Heart Association recommends dietary changes over supplements to improve heart health. However, MayoClinic provides a list of supplements to consider for lowering cholesterol: [read -The Great Cholesterol Lie]

"Cholesterol-lowering supplements: Lower your numbers without prescription medication". Web MD indicates that garlic and garlic supplements have been shown in studies to lower cholesterol, and in some cases Niacin can be an alternative to Statin drugs. In all situations, it is advised to follow your doctors directions and discuss these non-drug ideas with your doctor to determine if they might be effective for you.

About the Author:

This guide will help you with raising HDL Cholesterol Levels to ensure you remain heart healthy.Learn How to Increase HDL Cholesterol Level? can save your life and how to go about lowering cholesterol levels safely.

Is Fatigue A Disease?

by Deborah Brooks

Although fatigue is a common result to physical over physical effort and stress, it could also be a sign which indicate alot of serious health related ailments. Chronic fatigue, a continuous condition that will last for a minimum of six months and a highly serious problem that must be regarded significantly. Listed here are several diseases that includes fatigue as a symptom.

Celiac disease is a digestive system sickness in which there is dysfunction of the consumption of the protein gluten and results in the immune system to damage the linings of the small intestine. Because of this, the body cannot digest nutrients and therefore the person turns into malnourished. Therefore, the individual who experience celiac disease can feel fatigue caused by minimal energy supply.

Lyme disease meanwhile is a systemic bacterial disease which is transferred by means of tick bites. It can certainly affect any part of the body and various systems also. This problem leads to serious fatigue to those who experience it seeing as the body uses energy to fight off the systemic disease.

Liver diseases which includes cirrhosis and hepatitis can also cause fatigue to those who have them. The livers ability is to clean, control and keep blood. Once the liver is impaired because of the disorder, the bloodstream will probably be loaded with toxic compounds, subsequently restricting its ability to carry oxygen and nutritional requirements that are vital for energy production. With this, those who currently have a liver disease can always experience fatigued.

Graves' disease or hyperthyroidism is also a different disorder that brings fatigue to those who have got it. This happens when ever the thyroid gland generates much more hormone, inducing bodily functions to boost to a dangerous level. Those who have this problem normally experience exhausted due to the sleep problems that comes in it. It can also brought about by stress of the body caused by other signs such as rapid heartbeat, increased blood pressure, and also diarrhea.

Crohn's disease is another disorder which causes fatigue. It is actually a chronic inflamation related bowel disease that will result in obstructions of the small intestines, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and also anemia. Stress and anxiety as well as certain foods can trigger outbreaks to those who have got the illness consequently the individual may go through weariness and exhaustion because the entire body is coping with the disease.

A chronic experience of fatigue is a major concern given that could be a symptom of any of these diseases and many other more. If your fatigue is still there, you should probably check with a medical doctor to see quickly what is absolutely wrong with your body.

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For more info visit fatigue treatment & adrenal fatigue

Disorders Associated With The Blood: Information On Sickle Cell Anemia

by Deborah Tan

The blood condition called sickle cell anemia is an inherited chronic disease. Basically, it starts taking place when red blood cells transform their shape from being disc like to sickle shaped. This causes impairment in their functioning, further affecting one's health.

The basic function of these cells is to transport oxygen to various body parts so that they get their required share in order to function smoothly. The round shape of these cells makes it easier for them to fit into, and pass through several vessels and passages in the body without any obstruction.

On the other hand, once sickle cell anemia occurs, the transformation in shape results in the cells not being able to pass through passages which are very narrow. As they are not able to travel to particular regions in the body, those places remain deprived of oxygen.

Moreover, body organs such as the heart, brain and kidneys which require constant blood flow, stop working properly and may cause a life threatening situation for the individual. This condition results in acute pain most of the time, and if the crisis seems to worsen, damage of the lungs or liver may also result.

The symptoms for sickle cell are various; however the individuals suffering from it may not experience them all at the same time. Moreover, some people may experience these symptoms in a mild form, while for others they may be so serious, that hospitalization of the sufferers may become necessary.

Even though the disease is present since the time of birth in an individual, its symptoms usually do not pop up before the baby has reached four months. Apart from pain which is the most common and frequently experienced symptom, people may also go through difficulty in breathing with ease, rapid heart rate, lethargy, dizziness, headaches and stomach pain, abdomen and chest.

Such a person's hands and feet become quite cold and the skin may turn out to be pale. The person might also experience blood while urinating, decreased fertility and pain in the penis.

Children who are suffering from sickle cell anemia may feel pain in the stomach, chest or bones as the blood vessels start clogging up. The degree and duration of pain may vary from one to another, as it may last a few minutes or may linger for several days.

About the Author:

This author additionally regularly contributes articles regarding things including the Wasp barcode scanner and Metrologic barcode scanners.

What Are the Symptoms of Chronic Bronchitis?

by Arielson Suttle

Bronchitis is one disease that manifests itself largely within the lungs and the windpipe. It of course will extend and may grow into something else with time. The bronchial tubes become inflamed and react to irritants entering, resulting in generation of mucus that demand expulsion to pave way for air to come in and out of the bronchioles with ease.

It develops into chronic bronchitis when a cough associated with it persists and is accompanied with sputum production for a period of three months or more.

The glaring chronic bronchitis symptoms are basically excess or more than usual mucus production, inflammation and swelling of the bronchi and the narrowing of the bronchioles. This stresses the terminuses of the lungs, that is the alveoli and more pressure exerted during coughing ends up damaging cilia completely. The moment cilia function is gone, expulsion of particles within the trachea, bronchial tubes, and nasal cavities becomes difficult and this stagnation precipitates more injuries to the entire system. Obstructive breathing may occur resulting in much more life threatening conditions. The many environmental irritants are largely the cause of this problem including smoking of cigarettes. Mucus production may increase and thicken and end up squeezing the available passage for air to pass through. Progression of chronic bronchitis may occur and may lead to the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

COPD comprises the conditions of emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and chronic asthma. In situations that coughing becomes chronic in the fight towards expulsion of particles and mucus; inflammation may occur and if not handled well by a medical doctor, may end up becoming life threatening. Prolonged inflammation develops scars inside the bronchial tree thus narrowing the airways and causing complete blockage.

In many languages, chronic bronchitis symptoms are isolated by looking at least at all of the following three items namely: the size of damage that has been done to the lungs, impaired breathing and the quantities of oxygen in the blood stream. One may pay attention to the shortness of breath especially during exertion, an ongoing productive cough with sputum, fatigue, absence of mental alertness, dizziness, excess mucus secretion, mild chest pain, persistent cough, wheezing and mild fever. Mucus in most cases is greenish or yellowish; it may also pinkish or orange, depending on the pathogen causing the infection.

Unlike acute bronchitis which may not take long to heal, chronic bronchitis portrays persistence and in most cases will need to be attended to without delay lets it becomes worse. Often the causative agent is bacterial and sometimes viral or both. While smoking is an old habit that has refused to die in most societies, smoke has been isolated as the main pollutant of the lungs. Other agents include air pollutants, chemical fumes, dust and exposure of second hand smoke; all combined brew nothing short of chronic bronchitis. It is only reasonable to state that any healthy human being must avoid all areas that pose any risk of infection. Smoking zones are there for smokers; thanks to the enforcers of this rule; without forgetting also to remind our brothers and sisters working in hazardous environments to wear protective gear at all times and be in good shape.

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Learn more about chronic bronchitis symptoms, please visit Arielson Suttle's site: bronchitis symptoms

Hepatitis C Virus Lives In Your Liver

by Edith Green

Your liver works 24 hours a day, performing more than 500 important functions for your body. Most of the blood that returns to your heart passes through the liver. Your body can't function with out it.

The hepatitis C virus lives in your liver. It inflames liver cells, which, over time, impacts the way your liver functions. The effect of the hepatitis C virus varies from person to person. There is no way to predict how your body will react to it. You will find, nevertheless, some things that are recognized:

You are able to live with hepatitis C for several years with out experiencing any main signs, or you may merely feel tired. Symptoms can come & go over time. Their presence or absence doesn't tell you the degree to which liver harm might or might not be occurring.

Chronic, long-term inflammation of the liver can cause liver cell damage & result in fibrosis (liver scarring), or even cirrhosis. This damage can occur in as little as five years, or as long as 30 years.

About 20% of chronic hepatitis patients develop cirrhosis inside 10 to 20 years.

Use of recreational drugs or alcohol can speed up swelling and also the development of fibrosis or cirrhosis.

There is an increased risk of liver cancer in people with cirrhosis.

The good news is that current drug treatments could be very efficient for individuals with hepatitis C. Coupled with proper nutrition (eg. engaging yourself in a Fatty Liver Diet Plan) plenty of rest, and avoidance of recreational drugs and alcohol, these remedies help many who have the virus lead relatively healthy lives.

If you believe you may be at danger of getting hepatitis C, see your doctor. The virus can be detected by an easy blood test. For more info on how you can keep your liver happy and healthy, visit Health Canada's Web site at www.healthcanada.ca/hepc.

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Chronic Kidney Disease Diet Plan

by Jane Scott

There are certain foods that should be limited if you have chronic kidney disease. There are also some foods you want to include in your diet that may help curve symptoms and possibly avoid dialysis. If you are already on dialysis, follow the eating plan provided by your physician. Before beginning any kind of kidney disease diet always check with your health care professional.

It can be a tricky process deciding what and how to eat properly with kidney disease. There are several types of foods that need to be eliminated or limited. However, you will also need to consume enough calories to keep up a decent energy level and stay healthy. A good healthy weight needs to be maintained as well. You do not want to lose too much weight as this will put you at a risk for other diseases or health issues.

Please remember to discuss your diet plans thoroughly with your health care professional. Also it would be advantageous to sit and talk with a nutritionist or dietitian to help plan healthy options while observing the kidney disease diet.

As a general rule, those suffering with chronic kidney disease need to limit their intake of the minerals potassium and phosphorus. Sodium and as well as protein will need to be consumed at lower levels and you'll want to monitor how much liquids you ingest.

About 5 to 7 ounces a day of high protein foods can be eaten. Protein is a tricky one as you will need enough to have energy and fight offdisease; but too much can stress the kidneys. Being knowledgeable about how much protein different foods contain will help monitor it more closely.

Sodium retention can cause problems for a lot of people. If the kidneys are already in distress it will be difficult for them to keep up with too much salt in the body. They will have to work harder to get rid of excess sodium. Limiting sodium has other benefits as well, such as helping fight against fluid retention which is a common problem with kidney disease.

Another item to monitor closely when observing a kidney disease diet is fluid intake. Talk with your physician or dietician to determine what amount of liquids is needed in a day. Careful monitoring will help you keep at the recommended amounts of fluids.

Always check with your doctor before making any major changes to dieting habits or plans. Read labels closely to be familiar with included ingredients. Eating a healthy kidney disease diet can help avoid dialysis or further kidney damage.

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Learn more about kidney disease symptoms. Stop by www.chronickidneydiseasesymptoms.com where you can find out all about kidneydisease treatment and what it can do for you.

Facts About Chronic Kidney Disease

by Jane Scott

Kidneys are a vital organ in the human body. Fluid and waste are removed from the body by the two kidneys. They also have several other important functions. They rid the body of pollutants and drugs, regulate chemicals and water in the body and release hormones into the body. These hormones help the body make red blood cells and regulate blood pressure.

Chronic kidney disease is a condition wherein the kidneys stop working properly because of some sort of damage. They stop filtering the blood and other sicknesses can develop. Eventually, they may shut down totally leaving only the options of dialysis or transplants. Chronickidney disease is diagnosed only if the kidney disorder has continued for three months or more.

Most of the time chronic kidney disease is caused by one of two things: high blood pressure or diabetes. When sugar levels are too high, as in diabetes, organs including the kidneys can be damaged. High blood pressure, or hypertension, is caused by too much pressure on the blood vessels. This causes difficulty with the kidneys. On the other hand, chronic kidney disease can also cause hypertension.

A few of the common symptoms of chronic kidney disease are swollen feet and ankles, fatigue, the need to urinate more frequently and trouble sleeping at night. Usually at the onset, there are very little warning signs but symptoms increase in severity and frequency as the malady worsens.

Early detection is key to managing chronic kidney disease. Physicians use three tests to diagnosis this disease, blood pressure, serum creatinine and urine albumin. If it is diagnosed early on it may be controlled by diet and other small changes in health habits. If managed correctly treatments such as dialysis can be avoided or at least delayed.

There are two kinds of dialysis available to treat chronic kidney disease and there is also a kidney transplant that is an option. Dialysis basically does the work of the kidneys, allowing the blood to be filtered through and cleansed. One kind of dialysis uses a machine which runs the blood through a filter to strip out impurities and excess fluids. Another kind uses a membrane found in the abdomen as a filter to cleanse the blood.

If dialysis is not an option and there is a matching kidney donor, a transplant may be an option. Usually the original kidneys are left in place and a working kidney is implanted. The kidney donation may be from a living donor or a cadaver with matching blood and tissue types.

Talk to your doctor if you suspect you have or are likely to get chronic kidney disease. The earlier it is diagnosed the easier it is to manage.

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Learn more about kidney disease symptoms. Stop by www.chronickidneydiseasesymptoms.com where you can find out all about kidneydisease treatment and what it can do for you.

Mammograms Can Help Cause Cancer, Consider Thermography

by Angelina Grove

Breast cancer is second to lung cancer as the leading cause of cancer deaths amongst women. In 2008, it is estimated that 182,460 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer with an estimated death toll being close to 40,480. It seems as if a good percentage of these deaths should not be occurring. Why? Because many of them seem to be caused by the very thing that is suppose to protect them, mammograms. With billions of dollars being donated towards prevention and research, we can't help but scratch our heads and wonder why organizations such as The National Cancer Institute (NCI) and The American Cancer Society (ACS) continue to assure the public of the safety of mammography when there are so many studies that clearly show not only how dangerous they are, but also how unreliable their results are. Isn't it time that these organizations and the overall industry take a step back and look at what is going on? Shouldn't alternative methods be given a chance, or at least more money for their research? Or is it that government connections and pharmaceutical corporate profits are more important than making sure a safe and reliable product is provided to consumers that will not harm them or cause them to catch the very disease they are trying to avoid.

The industry standard for the early detection of breast cancer is mammography. A mammogram is a type of imaging system that entails using a low dose ionizing x-ray to take a picture of the breast. That image is then analyzed to see if there is any unusual tumor growth. This procedure is beginning to receive lots of opposition because it has been shown to be inaccurate with high false negative rates; dangerous because with each test done, the chances of creating breast cancer are increased due to the radiation from the x-ray; and it has lead women to undertake unnecessary and extremely dangerous biopsies and surgeries.

Radiation From Mammograms Lead To Cancer

The bottom line is that mammograms help cause cancer. Every year, millions of women are advised to get a mammogram without any warning whatsoever of the hazards of being exposed to its cancer causing x-rays. What's even worse is that woman are being brainwashed into believing that a yearly mammography is necessary. However, studies have shown that taking a mammogram on an annual basis may in fact increase your risk of developing cancer. Much like fetal tissue, the breast is an area of the body extremely sensitive to radiation exposure. Here are just a few studies that have alerted us to the dangers of mammograms.

For almost 100 years, doctors have been warned that a cancerous breast must be handled with care for fear of accidentally spreading or metastasizing a growth that is already present. Mammography basically ignores that warning. A mammogram includes the process of painfully and tightly compressing the breast in order to attain a "better" image, that pressure upon the breast has the potential to rupture blood vessels in or near an unknown breast cancer growth thus causing the spread of cells that are malignant.

Radiation expert and nuclear physicist, Dr. John Gofman, concluded in his book that medical radiation was not only responsible for 60% of all general cases of cancer but that it was the cause for 83% of all breast cancer cases.

For a percentage of women who are silent carriers of the ataxia-telangiectasia gene, their risk of developing cancer from a mammogram test is increased by 4 times. Because of this A-T gene, these women are extremely sensitive to the negative effects of carcinogenic radiation. It is estimated that this is responsible for at least ten thousand breast cancer cases per year. Also, research has shown that another gene named oncogene AC is extremely sensitive to even minimal radiation doses. Women with this gene are at a higher risk of developing cancer when receiving a mammogram.

According to a leading medical journal, The Lancet, since the start of mammograms, the occurrence of Ductal Carcinoma In Situ breast cancer has realized a 328% increase, and in women under the age of 40, that increase was more that 3000%. This accounts for approximately 40,000 breast cancer cases per year.

Russell L. Blaylock, MD, estimates that receiving a mammogram on an annual basis will result in an increased risk of breast cancer by 2%. Over a 5 year period that equates to a 10% risk and after 10 years you would be at risk by 20%.

With negative results such as these, and these are just a few of many other studies, is there any reason why this industry should continue at this pace? The industry would like us to believe that the risks far outweigh the dangers, but why would anyone consider taking those risks when there are other safer alternatives. Yes, on "occasion" there are cases when a medical x-ray must be used, but to do so on a regular basis makes no sense at all and should be considered malpractice.

This is part one in a two part series of articles on mammograms. The complete article can be found at www.anthonynunes.net/monthly_article/mammograms.html.

About the Author:

After curing his Joint Pain and Chronic Fatigue using natural methods, Anthony Nunes decided to create Healthy For Life; a free website that helps people get on the natural path to self healing. He also helps people get higher search engine rankings with his best seo services.

How To Treat Chronic Tinnitus

by Dr Pam Rogers

People with tinnitus often experience ringing in the ears intermittently or constantly. For those that are subjected to the constant sounds of tinnitus the condition can be quite a trial. The never relenting ringing in the ears can be extremely frustrating and tiresome to the sufferer and they may become irritable, fatigued and highly stressed.

Chronic forms of tinnitus are divided into two groups:

1. Pulsatile tinnitus produces a pulsating sensation and sound similar to a heartbeat, within a person's ear. Other people listening close enough may actually be able to hear the same noise. As the name suggests, this condition is often related to circulatory problems, like high blood pressure levels, hardening of the arteries or damaged arteries.

2. Ringing in the ears, this is the more common condition most people associate tinnitus with, its easily recognizable as the patient will hear a ringing or humming in the ears. There are many causes for this form of the condition, some we have discovered and many more that remain a mystery. It can often be a result of meniere's disease, trauma to the ear, stress and hyper tension, unhealthy lifestyle, wax build up and exposure to loud sounds.

Remedies for tinnitus:

There are a number of remedies for tinnitus, there are medications which can reduce the severity of the noises produced, devices to mask the sounds of tinnitus which replace the offending noise with a more pleasant one and relaxation therapies which have been shown to be successful for some people, in particular meditation and yoga.

In my own personal journey to find relief from constant ringing in the ears, I found the solution that worked for me was a natural, non-invasive solution, some simple changes to my lifestyle and daily routine has allowed me to leave free from the sounds of tinnitus for over a year now. - 39969

About the Author:

So as you can see there are now a number of effective treatments forr tinnitus to chose from. This article brought to you by, does extenze really work and diy solar panels

New Advances in Psoriatic Arthritis Treatment

by Peter Alexis

The following paragraphs detail a drug-free approach to the management of psoriatic arthritis. Alternative medicine or natural cures have always been a particular interest of mine. I think that modern medicine handles medical emergencies of things like stitches and broken bones very well. Where it comes up short in is the management of chronic conditions and diseases and promoting health. The modern medical approach really is just symptom based with no real desire to discover or treat the root cause of the problem. I have never been a big fan of painkillers for headaches or antibiotics for sickness. I loved trying out new alternative cures for a sore throat or skin condition. But this love for natural remedies was really pushed to the edge when I was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis.

I am the first one to admit that helping a common cold with some garlic and vitamin C, is different from helping an auto-immune diseasesuch as psoriatic arthritis. But how different is it? The basic premise should be the same, as it was famously said 'you are what you eat'. Diet and nutrition certainly play a role in helping problems such as psoriatic arthritis. This article will briefly introduce that concept but for more detail about the psoriatic arthritis diet please see my article on the psoriatic arthritis diet. Also this article will look at emotional and mental aspects of the disease and cover the best nutritional supplements that can help your psoriatic arthritis.

I believe a psoriatic arthritis diet should have a heavy focus on vegetables and fruits. Good clean sources of protein that are organic, so this basically includes beef, chicken and fish. A healthy focus on fats. Do not ever use vegetable oil or canola oil for cooking or for anything. Forget what you have heard about saturated fat, get back to how we use to cook food. In good stable fats like lard and butter. Add coconut products to your diet. Eliminate wheat and diary. This is vital, as these food promote inflammatory and auto-immune responses in the body. Now this diet probably sounds a bit extreme, for more information see my article on the psoriatic arthritis diet.

It has been said that stress is the cause of 90 percent of all illness. Regardless of the exact figure the role of stress or the mental aspect ofdisease cannot be ignored. It is a testament of the amazing capabilities of the human body to endure all the stresses we put on it. People are able to eat a poor diet, not exercises, ingest toxins and poisons etc, and the still live. But while they may not be dying they are far from healthy. Just because the body can survive on a poor lifestyle does not mean it is living in an optimal state of health and that is what we want to achieve in times of illness. Learn to handle your mental stress. I recommend meditation and yoga. These should become part of your daily schedule. Start slowly and modify the yoga to suit your current joint capabilities. Put your life and everyday situations in perspective, step back a little bit, just breathe and relax a bit more.

The last part of a psoriatic arthritis to talk about is nutritional supplements. Over the last few years there have been a lot of new anti-inflammation supplements and this is good news for psoriatic arthritis. Supplements are a pay for what you get products. I do not believe in buying supplements from the supermarket, go to a certified health practitioner and buy practitioner only supplements. These will be better quality and more potent. For anti-inflammatory purposes a good place to start is high doses of fish oils. To help with digestion and gut health a good quality probiotic. And an anti-inflammatory mixture. Try to find a product with turmeric, cat's claw and boswelia in it. What you want is a good combination product with all the best anti-inflammatory herbs.

This article is a starting point for an outline of a natural approach to dealing with psoriatic arthritis. It is simply offering an option besides just taking medication. Some people may not be aware that there are medication free alternative available. If the above recommendations seem very different to what you are currently doing, then that is good. Because obviously what you have been doing is not working, so you need a change. Start slowly with the recommendations. Take each day one at a time and try to make it an improvement on the previous day. This is not something that will happen overnight, it will take some time, effort and patience.

About the Author:

For more hints and tips on psoriatic arthritis treatment, visit author Peter Alexis' website which is all about the most powerful psoriatic arthritis treatment.

Cardiovascular Diseases - Know The Treatment Of Angina In Women

by Ann Louise

Symptoms of angina in women can be very stressful if they start to appear. Stress could even trigger the symptoms in getting worst. And the bad part is they could be signs for a pending heart attack. Let's discuss how angina in women in this article.

Cardiovascular Diseases or CVD are the world's top killer diseases. It could attack any age, race, and gender, especially the highly risked ones. Risk factors have contributed a lot to precipitate or trigger heart diseases. They are classified into 2 types: The non-modifiable and modifiable risk factors.

Non-modifiable risk factors are gender (WOMEN are more prone), family history of heart diseases, genetics and other congenital problems. These factors can't be prevented. Thus people who have these factors must be careful enough not to get any heart disease. He/she may prevent it in altering the modifiable risk factors.

Modifiable risk factors include cigarette smoking and alcohol abuse, chronic stress or depression, weakened immune system, recurrent infections, sedentary lifestyle and lack of exercise, and high cholesterol diet. These factors can be prevented or altered. Prevention or alteration of these factors could result into reversal of the symptoms.

The most common sign of all heart diseases is Angina Pectoris. It is indicated by chest pains accompanied by chest congestion. The pain usually radiates from the chest to the shoulders. It is usually regular in frequency and duration and is precipitated or triggered by strenuous activities, heavy loads, stress, fatigue or depression.

If angina becomes irregular in rhythm, it is now called Unstable Angina. This type of angina is a common sign for a pending heart attack. The pain becomes sharper and cannot be relieved by rest. It could radiate into the shoulders, neck and jaws. This could occur though the person is at rest. When you happen to encounter these symptoms, you should call your doctor or go to the hospital immediately.

Knowing what you should do in emergency situations is a must. The first step you should take is to learn about your condition and how to prevent it from becoming worst. Consult your doctor for more information.

About the Author:

Want to find out more about treatment of angina, then visit Ann Louise's site on how to choose the best angina in women for your needs.

Protein and Stages One Through Four of Kidney Disease

by Jim Duffy

Over 26 million Americans have chronic kidney disease with many millions more at serious risk of developing it. Early detection is vital to keep the disease from progressing from kidney disease to complete kidney failure. The major cause of death for people who have CKD is heart disease usually related to chronic and uncontrolled hypertension. Chronic kidney disease and high blood pressure are linked with one another: hypertension causes CKD and CKD causes hypertension. Excessive amounts of protein in the urine, medically known as proteinuria suggests the presence of CKD (Source: The National Kidney and Urologic Disease Information Clearinghouse)

Risk factors for kidney disease include diabetes, hypertension, family history and being African American, Hispanic, Pacific Islander or Native American. Doctors start suspecting kidney disease with the following warning signs: increased urination, fatigue, decreased appetite, nausea and/or vomiting, swelling of the hands and feet, itchy skin, numbness, drowsiness, trouble concentrating, darker skin color and muscle cramps. Diagnosis is completed by several tests which may include urine albumin and serum creatinine. Blood pressure tests might suggest kidney damage especially in those who are young or have no other risk factors for hypertension.

CKD tends to develop slowly though, and may have no initial symptoms at all. A person can have both chronic kidney disease and acute kidney disease at the same time. Acute kidney disease is a rapidly progressive loss of renal function with a decrease in urine, body fluid disturbances and electrolyte imbalances will develop and may be caused by a number of other conditions. Acute kidney disease can be more serious than chronic kidney disease because it starts so suddenly, often without any kind of warning before hand. All possible symptoms of kidney disease should be checked by a doctor so that appropriate treatment can be started before the disease can get started.

Chronic kidney disease can be affected by the diet, especially protein intake. When protein is digested and used by the body, it creates waste products. In a healthy kidney, these waste materials are filtered and removed by millions of cells called nephrons. An unhealthy kidney will be unable to filter protein waste which is then backed up into the blood stream. For this reason, the doctors recommend protein intake be decreased especially in the first four stages of the disease. However, stage five will mean a change in the entire diet which is completely opposite of the diet for the first four stages of the disease.

The five stages of chronic kidney disease is based on glomerular filtration rate (GFR), or the amount of blood that the kidneys can filter. Normal, healthy kidneys filter 18 gallons of blood per hour, filtering over half of all of the fluid taken into the body and eliminating about two quarts of urine every day (Source: MacLean, 1993).

- In Stage I of the disease, GFR is 90 or above which is normal, but there will be an abnormal amount of protein in the urine.

- Stage II has a GFR of 60-89.

- Stage III, GFR equals 30-59

- Stage IV, GFR equals 15-29.

- Stage IV is the last stage before dialysis becomes necessary.

During this stage of the disease, excessive amounts of protein will cause nausea and/or vomiting, weakness, a loss of appetite, possible changes in taste and itchiness. At this point, it is important to get good control of the blood pressure and control the amount of protein in the diet. (Diabetics must also maintain blood sugar control).

In the first three stages of chronic kidney disease, the protein intake should be around 12-15% (a commonly accepted amount for most diets). For instance, a typical vegan diet consists of about 10-12% protein (Source: Mangels, PhD, RD).

Once a patient reaches Stage IV of chronic kidney disease the protein intake should drop to ten percent which can, not only be hard to reach but can lead to deficiencies as well and should only be done with the direct advice of the doctor and under a nutritionist's guidance (Source: Davita.com).

Protein comes from two sources in the diet: animals and plant based. Animal protein is the most common source of the nutrient in most diets, however it may increase the level of protein waste products in the blood stream, a serious problem for already struggling kidneys. Some of the most common sources of protein may also increase levels of phosphorous in the system to an unsafe level. These include milk, yogurt and cheese. Several plant proteins also increase this mineral and includes dried beans, peas, nuts and seeds.

Vegetarian protein may slow the progression of chronic kidney disease, within reason. The primary goals of a plant based diet:

- To get appropriate protein needs while minimizing waste products building up in the bloodstream.

- To maintain sodium, potassium and phosphorous balance.

- To make sure there is good nutrition so that optimal health level can be reached and maintained.

(Source: Brookshyer, RD, CSR)

Protein is needed in the body, even in light of chronic kidney disease. Next to water, it is the most plentiful substance in the body and even though it is restricted, it is still necessary. Protein is used to create and maintain lean muscle mass, it is also necessary to regulate digestion, sleep, and ovulation as well as playing an important role in the central nervous system.

Protein also plays a role in keeping fluid levels in balance which is very important especially if there is nausea and vomiting. If the kidneys are not functioning well, there might be a fluid restriction imposed as well as a limit on protein.

Why Protein Supplements Might Be Beneficial

Drinking a protein shake or a liquid protein supplement shot might be easier on the body than trying to eat a meal would be, especially if the patient is feeling ill. Supplements also have more easily digestible protein than other options which may in turn lead to fewer protein wastes in the blood stream. A good protein supplement:

- Should have the right amount of protein to be within the established diet

- Should have high quality protein and other nutrients

- Should be free from other ingredients that might be considered harmful in the diet

- Should be palatable, in appealing flavors

One option, Profect from Protica is a liquid protein supplement shot which is 25 grams of protein, 100 calories and zero fats and carbohydrates. It provides 100% of the daily supply of Vitamin C and 10% of the B Vitamins. Profect or other protein supplements should be discussed with the doctor before they are added to the diet. Diabetics, especially have some concerns that they must keep in mind when choosing a protein supplement in addition to the protein restrictions that they must follow. There are some brands of protein supplements that are specifically designed for the diabetic.

About the Author:

Protica Research (Protica, Inc.) specializes in the development of Capsulized Foods. Protica manufactures Profect, IsoMetric, Pediagro, Fruitasia and over 100 other brands, including Medicare-approved, whey protein supplements for immunodeficiency patients. You can learn more at Protica Research - Copyright

Stage Five Chronic Kidney Disease and Protein Intake

by Jim Duffy

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is one of the many diseases and conditions that can affect the kidneys. These two small organs (each about 4 inches long and they weigh less than a pound altogether) filter the blood at a rate of about eighteen gallons per hour. Over half of all of the fluid in the body will also be filtered by the kidneys at some point, removing waste products and sending those to the bladder to be excreted via urine. By the end of the day, the body will have created and excreted about two quarts of urine (more or less, depending on liquid intake) (Source: The National Kidney and Urologic Disease Information Clearinghouse).

Chronic kidney disease may be slow to develop, while acute kidney disease can develop very quickly and can be very dangerous. Because the kidneys are important to the body, any symptom that could indicate problems should be investigated by a doctor. Acute kidney diseasecan lead to a rapidly progressing loss of renal function. Symptoms of acute kidney disease can include decreased urinary output, bodily fluid disturbances and electrolyte imbalances. CKD may have no initial symptoms at all.

Additional symptoms of progressing kidney disease include increased urea in the blood, vomiting, diarrhea which can lead to dehydration, weight loss, increased nocturnal urination, foamy or bubbly urine, and increased frequency or increased amounts of urine, typically with very pale color. (Alternately, the symptoms can include decreased frequency and amounts with very dark colored urine.) Blood in the urine, a sense of pressure and difficult urination are also indicative of advanced kidney disease.

As the body's fluid and electrolyte imbalance becomes even more unbalanced, there will be increasing levels of phosphates in the blood, itching skin, bone damage and muscle cramps as a result of the low levels of calcium in the blood. A buildup of potassium (hyperkalemia) can lead to abnormal heart rhythms and eventual muscle paralysis. Kidney disease may also cause swelling of the legs, ankles, feet, face and hands as well as shortness of breath.

Protein and the Kidneys

When protein is digested in the body, it is first broken down into amino acids which are used to create other amino acids, hormones, and enzymes for a variety of functions and uses. After the protein is completely broken down, it will generate waste products which travel through the digestive tract walls and out into the bloodstream, where they will be filtered and removed by the kidneys.

A healthy kidney has millions of nephrons which work to filter these and other waste products out of the blood stream, however, an unhealthy kidney is not able to filter these wastes which are then allowed to not only build up in the kidney but to back up into the blood stream as well.

Chronic kidney disease is rated by the doctor in stages (I through V) based on the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), which is the rate of filtration of the blood through the kidneys. The test rates actual filtration through the glomerulus of the renal capillaries to the fluid in Bowman's capsule. Bowman's capsule is the small cup-shaped part of the kidney that removes liquid from the blood and converts it to urine before it is sent to the bladder. The rate of this conversion is typically about 120 mL per minute (Source: The New American Pocket Medical Dictionary).

Using the GFR, the doctor can not only diagnose chronic kidney disease but can diagnose its stage as well. Of course, the stage refers to the severity of the disease. Stages and the scores for the GFR are as follows:

Stage GFR Score

Stage One 90 or above (normal GFR, abnormal amount of protein noted in urine)

Stage Two 60-89

Stage Three 30-59

Stage Four 15-29 (Typically final stage before dialysis becomes necessary)

Stage Five End Stage Renal Disease Below 15, dialysis is necessary, kidney transplant is considered

(Source: Davita.com)

During the first four stages of CKD, as well as with other types of kidney disease, the need to restrict protein intake is important. Excess protein can cause nausea and vomiting, a loss of appetite, weakness, some taste changes and skin itching which may be intense, all because the body cannot handle the waste products created from digesting protein.

Restricting the amount of protein as well as sticking to certain types of protein can reduce a number of these symptoms and allow the kidneys to function better so that the progression of the disease can be slowed. The amount of protein that is typically suggested for stages one through three is only slightly less than in the typical diet (12-15% of daily calories should be protein as opposed to 15-30%). In stage four, however, it is typically further reduced to around ten percent.

The most important aspect for these stages of the disease is control: control of the blood sugar and control of the protein intake. Diabetics must also control their blood sugar as well. Plant based protein, the basis of the vegetarian diet, may slow down some of the progression ofchronic kidney disease and can give the body the protein that it needs while lessening some of the waste product which can build up in the system (Source Brookshyer RD, CSR).

In stage five of chronic kidney disease, the kidneys are working at only ten percent of their normal capacity. Instead of filtering about 18 gallons of blood per hour, it may only manage to filter 2. The patient will need to use a machine to filter the blood stream in a process called dialysis. While dialysis does remove the waste products from the bloodstream, it is not as efficient as the kidneys because it also removes the amino acids that the body actually needs. In this stage of the disease, the body must be given additional amounts of protein not only to meet basic needs but to ensure that the lost amino acids are made up for as well. The added protein works to ensure that there is no muscle loss and also works to help the body fight infection.

While increasing the protein intake at this time, the patient will have to watch for the increased levels of phosphorous which are found in a number of common protein food sources, including halibut, nonfat yogurt, salmon, skim milk, chicken breast, oatmeal, and extra lean ground beef. Phosphorous is needed for many of the chemical reactions that occur in the body, including as part of the regulation of energy production in the body. It binds with calcium to help form strong bones and teeth. 85% of the body's phosphorous is located in the bone. Too much phosphorus coupled with a high protein diet equals a loss of calcium, which in turn equals osteoporosis (Source: Feinstein 1996).

The goal for the diet in stage five is to increase calories and increase protein intake to keep the strength up, to maintain lean muscle mass and to make sure that the immune system is able to continue doing its work. If the body does not have enough protein available, it will turn to the muscles and start breaking them down, which is one of the major reasons why it is important for elite athletes to refuel after an intense workout. To preserve lean muscle mass, the protein intake for stage five may be as high as two grams per kilogram of dry weight (weight minus fluid retention), or double the average intake. About 25% of this protein should be eaten at each meal, and most people will also need protein supplements and snacks to reach this level of intake (Source: Maree 2002).

There are a number of different kinds of protein supplements that you can choose from. Protein powders (whey, soy, rice and egg) supply high quality protein and can be either single protein or a combination of two or more. Protein bars may give a high level of protein but may also have high sugar content, a problem for those who have weakened immune systems. Profect, from Protica, is a liquid protein supplement which has zero sugars or fats but supplies a good amount of high quality protein - 25 grams per serving in a very small size (2.9 fluid ounces).

About the Author:

Protica Research (Protica, Inc.) specializes in the development of Capsulized Foods. Protica manufactures Profect, IsoMetric, Pediagro, Fruitasia and over 100 other brands, including Medicare-approved, whey protein liquid for bariatric surgery patients. You can learn more atProtica Research - Copyright

Coronary Artery Disease and Good Nutrition

by Jim Duffy

Everyone should remember from their basic anatomy lessons that their arteries are the blood vessels that bring oxygen and nutrients to the heart and then throughout the entire body. However, some of the foods that we eat as well as some of our other bad habits can lead to damage and/or disease to these arteries, which makes it hard for them to function the way that they should.

The most common cause of this disease is fatty deposits inside of the artery called plaque that work to narrow the arteries so they do not allow enough blood to flow into the heart. It is actually this diminished blood flow that causes the symptoms that alert us to possible problems. These symptoms include angina (chest pain) and shortness of breath. The plaque can continue to grow until the artery is completely blocked, which could in time cause a heart attack.

The plaque can accumulate for years, even decades, without producing many symptoms and can even go completely unnoticed until there is a heart attack, which makes it important to prevent coronary artery disease from happening rather than trying to treat it once it has started. The best way to prevent coronary artery disease is by committing to a healthy lifestyle.

Alex is 68 years old and retired from a job he worked for more than 30 years. He has never been a big fan of going to the doctor, convinced that that the only thing that the doctor's treat is what he calls "full walletitis." He is also convinced that the drug companies and the doctors are all in cahoots so that they can sell expensive pills to people who may not really need them. He has had high blood pressure for years but stopped taking the meds because of the cost. The last checkup he actually went to also revealed high blood cholesterol levels and diabetes, both of which are known risk factors for coronary artery disease. He is slightly overweight but not obese, which is also a risk factor.

One day Alex wakes up and feels different but is not able to tell exactly how. As the day progresses however, he starts to feel worse. By late afternoon, he has severe pressure in his chest with a pain that is traveling down his arm as well. He is short of breath and sweating when he finally calls for an ambulance. He is rushed to the nearest hospital where it is discovered that he is having a heart attack. He is lucky, this time. The heart attack was relatively minor and there is no major damage done to the heart itself. But now the doctors can see the extent of the coronary artery disease that contributed to this heart attack and Alex will have to make some big changes to his lifestyle.

Risk Factors and Causes for Coronary Artery Disease

A survey of the risk factors and causes should have been a wake up call to Alex long before his heart attack. Not only does he have high blood pressure that he stopped treating as directed and high cholesterol, but he is also a cigar smoker as well. At 68, Alex has entered a higher risk category for this disease and he should have known that he was at greater risk simply by being a man. His family history is also filled with heart disease and stroke, including his father who had his first stroke at the age of 65 and his first heart attack two years later. After leaving his job, Alex has been pretty sedentary, content to go out and feed the birds once a day and then come back in to listen to sports talk radio and read the newspaper or watch television. There are several other possible risk factors for developing coronary artery disease including:

- C-reactive protein: This compound is produced in the liver in response to injury, infection or inflammation in the body. There are several things that can cause this inflammation to occur, including a poor diet filled with fatty foods that irritate the system.

- Homoscysteine: This amino acid is used to build and maintain tissue, however excessive levels in the body can lead to coronary artery disease or other forms of cardiovascular disease.

- Fibrinogen: This is a protein in the blood that plays a role in blood clotting. Too much of this protein can cause clumping of the platelets, which in turn can lead to a blood clot in the artery.

- Lipoprotein: This is a substance that forms when low density lipoprotein particles become attached to a certain and specific protein, which disrupts the body's ability to dissolve blood clots.

(Source: The Mayo Clinic)

Not only does coronary artery disease lead to possible heart attacks, it can also lead to heart failure, chest pains (also called angina) and abnormal heart rhythms, which can also lead to heart attacks.

Following his heart attack and his subsequent diagnosis, Alex has been instructed to make several changes in his lifestyle. First and foremost, he needs to control his high blood pressure and his stress levels. He will need to take his medications as directed for not only this condition but for the others that have contributed to his development of coronary artery disease. In addition, he is instructed to get more physical exercise and to eat a healthy and balanced diet that is low in sodium and fat and is high in fiber-rich fruits and vegetables, complex carbohydrates, and lean protein sources. He is also strongly urged to stop smoking.

His weight is not far from the normal range so the doctors are not as concerned with him gaining weight; they are more concerned with him getting adequate nutrition from a variety of healthy food sources so that he can rebound from this incident and continue on with a healthy and full life for many more years to come.

One of the changes that Alex is going to be making in his diet is the method that he uses to cook foods. Instead of frying foods, he will learn to make nutritious meals that taste good by using other means such as baking, roasting, or grilling so that he gets the flavor but not the fat. He will also learn to use flavorful ingredients so that he does not have to rely on added salt for taste. Instead of eating a lot of red meat such as pork or beef, he will substitute leaner protein choices such as turkey and salmon and will also get a lot of his protein from plant sources including soy and soy products, which have been shown to have heart healthy benefits.

In addition to these changes, he will be including Profect, a liquid protein supplement from Protica in his diet as a between meal snack. It is only 2.9 fluid ounces in size so he can open it and consume it in seconds and then not have to think about being hungry for a while, which is helping keep him away from his weakness - chocolate chip cookies - especially in the late afternoon when he is feeling a little tired. Profect gives him 25 grams of protein, which keeps him feeling full, and has only 100 calories so it does not put him over the count the doctor set for him.

About the Author:

Protica Research (Protica, Inc.) specializes in the development of Capsulized Foods. Protica manufactures Profect, IsoMetric, Pediagro, Fruitasia and over 100 other brands, including Medicare-approved, whey protein drinks for immunodeficiency patients. You can learn more at Protica Research - Copyright

Mysterious Physical Conditions

by Penny Logan

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is actually a very treatable but serious physical condition, not a mysterious illness as it is treated by conventional medicine. One to four million Americans suffer from CFS (abbreviation for chronic Fatigue Syndrome), according to research records from the Center for Disease Control. The extreme tiredness associated with this syndrome does not get better with bed rest, and because of the duration of the disease, many have to quit working. At least one fourth of the people who have this disease are unemployed because of this condition, living on welfare.

Unlike flu (influenza) symptoms, which usually subside in a few days or weeks, the signs and symptoms of CFS can last much longer. They may come and go frequently with no identifiable pattern. Chronic fatigue syndrome may precipitate after an infection, such as a cold or viral illness or after a time of great stress. It can also come on gradually without a clear starting point or obvious cause.

Women are diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome far more of ten than men are. CFS is a flu-like condition that can drain your energy and sometimes last for years.

Current medical practice is to assume the disease is psychological - that is, it's all in your head. A patient is given psychological counseling and sometimes physical therapy and exercise specialists are brought in. Sometimes a sleep therapist or dietitian is recommended. But these are just band-aids to allow the patient to "live with" the disease. Nothing is apparently available to relieve the misery and actually make the patient well.

At Angel Longevity Medical Center in Los Angeles, the doctors and staff are aware that the fatigue, pain, discomfort and depression felt by patients who have CFS are not "all in your head." These do have an underlying cause and Angel Longevity Medical Center has the technology and treatments that can help identify and treat this disease. They not only treat the disease but also reverse the condition by increasing your energy and vitality.

Fibromyalgia also falls in the category of mysterious diseases when addressed by the conventional medical community. Both CFS and fibromyalgia are greatly affected by what the person eats. In every case saturated fats and refined vegetable oils will increase the pain and refined carbohydrates will worsen the condition. Slow burning carbs rich in fiber will increase energy and omega-3 fatty acids in fish and flaxseed oil will alleviate pain.

A patient at Angel Longevity Medical Center will also be evaluated for food allergies, which are often overlooked but are a frequent cause of fatigue and pain. Many patients with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome suffer from depression. They also tend to have low levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin, which plays a crucial role in regulating mood. In addition to contributing to depression, low levels of serotonin can cause the sensation of pain to be greatly heightened.

Prescription anti-depressants such as Prozac have not been proven to work at all, and the side effects of these drugs are horrendous. Angel Longevity Medical Center uses only natural supplements to boost serotonin and thereby improve mood and alleviate pain. St. John's wort, SAMe and 5 HTP are also natural remedies useful for treating CFS and fibromyalgia. Pain and fatigue and suffering from these mysterious diseases is no longer necessary. One can get help.

About the Author:

Want to find out more about Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue, then visit the Angel Longevity Medical Center site for your needs.

Back Pain and Swimming Exercises

by Kenny Montgomery

Since swimming is a great social and fun pass-time, people tend to think of it as a strictly recreational activity. However, swimming is actually a great therapeutic exercise to deal with chronic back pain and back-related injuries. This is due, in large part, to the fact that swimming is not a weight bearing activity and there is no impact stress in the pool.

Almost all of your major muscle groups are engaged during active swimming. Additionally, it is an incredibly healthy workout for the heart and lungs and it builds endurance. The swimmer's physique is an ideal example of a desired fitness state. Swimmers are noted for their immense upper body strength and lean lower torsos. Here are some basic, effective exercises to help you get your back stronger and burn a few calories at the same time. Remember to hydrate when working out in the pool. Even though you are surrounded by water, you need to drink it in order to keep your muscles from tightening.

Stand with your back against the wall of the pool. Adjust your feet so they are shoulder width apart or maybe even a little bit wider. Move your feet so that the backs are a few inches away from the base of the wall. Start to crouch down as if you are going to sit in a chair. When your knees are at a 90 degree angle, hold it. Count to five and slowly begin standing. When you are upright, start again. Try to do three sets of ten. As you gradually begin to build strength, you can increase your sets and reps.

For 10 to 15 minute intervals, march or walk through the water. Going against the flow of the pool is high-resistance and low-impact. You are strengthening the muscles in both the back and the abdomen. This is helpful because you are strengthening your lower back muscles and conditioning the abs at the same time. It is very important to create strong muscles in your abdominal wall to support your back. This prevents future injury and decreases pain because you are creating a source of protection around your back's discs and muscles.

A physician should be consulted before beginning your swimming regimen. This is true in engaging in any new form of exercise. Ask your doctor if they have any preferred routines for strengthening back muscle in the water.

About the Author:

For great priced pools, supplies, accessories, and pool safety equipment check out NationWidePools.com.

Artery Blockage Treatment - Information

by Ann Louise

Artery blockage is one of the dilemmas most people are getting concerned as of today. Due to the newly acquired lifestyle in this generation, people are now prone in having heart problems than before. In this article, I'll discuss about carotid artery blockage symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and prevention.

Artery blockage is one of the most common problems a man could encounter in his entire life. It is one of the world's top killing diseases in humans and could also be a threat to any age groups. What you should know about this disease? How will you prevent it when start to strike you?

People who are highly risk for having heart problems are those who are obese, have sedentary lifestyle, lacks proper and regular exercise and those who have poor diet or those who eat excessive fatty foods. Other risk factors include cigarette smoking, alcohol abuse, family history of heart problems and congenital problems of the heart.

One of the most common symptoms of artery blockage is Angina Pectoris. It is a pain felt in the chest precipitated by activities and heavy workloads. Chronic stress, severe depression and anxiety could also trigger the symptom. Other symptoms include irregular heart rates, chest congestion, body fatigue and clamminess.

When Angina become unstable and is triggered in inactivity could indicate an emergency situation. In this situation, the patient must be taken immediately in the hospital for early management. If left untreated, it could cause complications like carotid artery blockage symptoms, complete heart blockage, heart attack or stroke.

Management for artery blockage is done through angioplasty or an open heart surgery. In some cases, there is no requirement for a surgery but a couple of drug regimens that could melt down the plaques that blocks the arteries. But whatever you want to decide as a treatment, it is better that you consult your doctor for advice.

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Learn more about artery blockage treatment. Stop by Ann Louise's site where you can find out all about carotid artery blockage symptomsand what it can do for you.