Meniere's Disease

Meniere's Disease (MD or endolymphatic hydrops) is a disorder of the inner ear associated with a change in the volume of fluid inside a portion of the inner ear called the labyrinth, which includes the membranous labyrinth and the bony labryinth.

When the head moves, endolymph fluid in the membranous labyrinth shifts, telling nerve receptors to signal the brain about the body's motion. If the amount of endolymph increases, doctors believe, the membranous labyrinth can balloon or dilate. If it then ruptures, endolymph fluid can mix with perilymph fluid in the bony labyrinth, causing Meniere's symptoms. The underlying cause of Meniere's is still unknown, though many hypotheses have been advanced.Symptoms include dizziness, nausea, vomiting, unsteadiness, a sense of fullness in the ear, ringing in the ear (tinnitus), headache, abdominal discomfort and hearing loss, which can increase if the disease progresses. These symptoms occur in three stages of severity, as the disease advances, and can happen with varying frequency, duration and intensity. Usually, attacks are sudden and may last several hours. The very first episode may last longer than 24 hours, but subsequent episodes do not. While children can get MD, it most commonly affects men and women between 20 and 50.

Obesity in Children

Causes of overweight:

The most common causes of obesity are genetic factors, lack of physical activity, unhealthy eating patterns, or a combination of these factors. Only in rare cases is being overweight caused by a medical condition such as a hormonal problem.

Although weight problems run in families, not all children with a family history of obesity will be overweight. Children whose parents or brothers or sisters are overweight may be at an increased risk of becoming overweight themselves, but this can be linked to shared family behaviors such as eating and activity habits.

A child's total diet and activity level play an important role in determining a child's weight. Today, many children spend a lot time being inactive. For example, the average child spends approximately 4 hours each day watching television. As computers and video games become increasingly popular, the number of hours of inactivity may increase.

Risk:

Obese children are at risk for a number of conditions, including:
High cholesterol
High blood pressure
Early heart disease
Diabetes
Bone problems
Skin conditions such as heat rash, fungal infections, and acne.

Help your overweight Child:

The best person to determine whether or not your child is overweight is your child's doctor. In determining whether or not your child is overweight, the doctor will measure your child's weight and height. The doctor will also consider your child's age and growth patterns. Assessing obesity in children can be difficult because children can grow in unpredictable spurts. For example, it is not unusual for boys to appear overweight, but they may grow taller and "grow into the weight" a few years later.

If you have an overweight child, it is very important that you allow him or her to know that you will be supportive. Children's feelings about themselves often are based on their parents' feelings about them and if you accept your children at any weight, they will be more likely to feel good about themselves. It is also important to talk to your children about their weight, allowing them to share their concerns with you.

Involve your Family in Healthful Habits:

There are many ways to involve the entire family in healthy habits, but increasing the family's physical activity is especially important. Some ways to accomplish this include:

Lead by example. If your children see that you are physically active and having fun, they are more likely to be active and stay active for the rest of their lives.

Plan family activities that provide everyone with exercise, like walking, biking, or swimming.

Be sensitive to your child's needs. Overweight children may feel uncomfortable about participating in certain activities. It is important to help your child find physical activities that they enjoy and that aren't embarrassing or too difficult.

Make an effort to reduce the amount of time you and your family spend in sedentary activities, such as watching TV or playing video games.

Whatever approach parents choose to take regarding an overweight child, the purpose is not to make physical activity and following a healthy diet a chore, but to make the most of the opportunities you and your family have to be active and healthy.

How can I prevent swine flu infection

The CDC recommends taking these steps:

1.Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Or use an alcohol-based hand cleaner.
2.Avoid close contact with sick people.
3.Avoid touching your mouth, nose, or eyes.

If you think you have swine flu, what should you do?

If you have flu symptoms, stay home, and when you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue. Afterward, throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands. That will help prevent your flu from spreading.
If you've got flu symptoms, and you've recently been to a high-risk area like Mexico, CDC officials recommend that you see your doctor. If you have flu symptoms but you haven't been in a high-risk area, you can still see a doctor -- that's your call.
Keep in mind that your doctor will not be able to determine whether you have swine flu, but he or she would take a sample from you and send it to a state health department lab for testing to see if it's swine flu. If your doctor suspects swine flu, he or she would be able to write you a prescription for Tamiflu or Relenza. Those drugs may not be required; U.S. swine flu patients have made a full recovery without it.

Symptom of swine flu

The symptoms of swine flu in people are expected to be similar to the symptoms of regular human seasonal influenza and include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing. Some people with swine flu also have reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza virus that regularly causes outbreaks of influenza in pigs. Swine flu viruses normally doesn’t infect humans, but there have been sporadic cases, most commonly among people who have had direct contact with infected pigs, such as farm workers or children near pigs at a fair. There have been cases of the virus spreading from human-to-human, probably in the same way as seasonal flu, through coughing and sneezing. Swine influenza viruses are not transmitted from eating pork or pork products

Crohn's Disease

Crohn's is a chronic inflammatory disease of the bowel and treatment is focused on reducing inflammation. Treatment options include medications, nutritional supplements and surgery either alone or in combination. Complementary and alternative treatments are used to help relieve symptoms in conjunction with other therapies. Treating Crohn's disease effectively is complex - goals of therapy are to alleviate symptoms and to prevent flare-ups. It is important to develop a strong partnership with your gastroenterologist and nutritionist.

When should you receive the flu vaccine

The flu vaccine should be administered between September and mid November. It takes about one to two weeks after vaccination for antibody against influenza to develop and provide protection. Groups at increased risk of influenza complications include
people aged 65 years or older;
residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities housing patients of any age who have chronic medical conditions;
adults and children with chronic disorders of the pulmonary, cardiovascular, or immune systems, including children with asthma;
adults and children who have required regular medical follow-up or hospitalization during the preceding year because of chronic metabolic diseases (including diabetes mellitus), renal dysfunction, hemoglobinopathies, or immunosuppression (including immunosuppression caused by medications);
children and teenagers (6 months to 18 years) who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy and therefore may be at risk for developing Reye syndrome after influenza; and
women in the third trimester of pregnancy or in the early postpartum period. There is some evidence to suggest that women who are in the third trimester of pregnancy or in the early postpartum period may be at increased risk for serious medical complications after influenza infection. Pregnant women who will be in the third trimester of pregnancy between December and April should consult their health-care provider about receiving influenza vaccine during the period from September to mid November.
In addition, the following groups should be vaccinated because if they become infected, they may transmit influenza to people who are at high risk for complications:
Physicians, nurses, and other health-care personnel in both hospital and outpatient-care settings
Employees in nursing homes and chronic-care facilities who have contact with patients or residents
Providers of home care to people at high risk-for example, visiting nurses and volunteer workers
Household members (including children) of high-risk people
Furthermore, the CDC advises that all children ages 6 to 59 months get a yearly vaccination since each year there are over 20,000 children that require hospitalization because of the flu and flu is easily passed from child to child.
Finally, the flu vaccine may be administered to any person who wishes to reduce his or her chances of acquiring influenza infection. People who provide essential community services should be considered for vaccination to minimize disruption of essential activities during influenza outbreaks. Students or other people in institutional settings, such as those who reside in dormitories, should be encouraged to receive the vaccine to minimize the disruption of routine activities during epidemics. People needing further information regarding the use and availability of the influenza vaccine should consult with their health-care provider or their local health de

What to Do if You Get the Flu

Influenza, or the "flu," is a illness of the breathing system (respiratory system) and muscles caused by a virus. While a vaccine is available to prevent the flu, its effectiveness varies according to the degree of match between the viral strains used to prepare the vaccine and those strains actually in circulation in a given year. Not everyone receives the flu vaccine, and even some of those who do can develop symptoms of the flu.
Mild cases of the flu may seem like common colds. But most cases of the flu can be distinguished from colds because the symptoms (cough, muscle aches and pains, sore throat, fatigue, and headache) are more severe than those of the common cold. Flu symptoms also tend to occur suddenly and include high fevers (temperatures of 101 degrees F or more). In children, fevers are typically even higher than those in adults.
The flu is a serious illness that can be fatal in people whose immune systems are weakened, the elderly, and those with chronic medical conditions. Even healthy people who develop the flu cannot work, attend school, or participate in normal activities for several days. Complications of the flu can develop in anyone and include pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections, or bronchitis.

Breast-feeding a Boon to Mom's Heart

Breast-feeding isn't just good for baby, it may also boost mom's cardiovascular health as she ages, new research suggests."We found that the longer women breast-feed, the lower their risk of heart attacks, strokes or heart disease," said Dr. Eleanor Bimla Schwarz, an assistant professor of medicine, epidemiology, obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at the University of Pittsburgh Center for Research on Health Care.

Tips For Better Sleep

The following sleep tips may prove helpful to insomniacs.

-Only use your bed for sleeping or having sex, not for reading, doing paperwork, watching TV, snacking, or making phone calls.
-If you've been lying in bed but are beginning to fear you're not going to drop off, try some of these techniques: Count sheep or count backwards from 100 . Stop thinking about the problems of yesterday or tomorrow; breathe deeply for awhile; or visualize some peaceful place.
-If you can't get to sleep after lying in bed for 30 minutes or more, get up for awhile and try reading something incredibly boring.
-Develop a bedtime routine.
-Keep regular bedtime hours.
-Before bedtime, avoid tobacco and caffeinated beverages (not just coffee, but other drinks like tea, cola, and Dr. Pepper).
-Avoid alcohol right before bedtime — a nightcap might get your mind fuzzy enough to put you to sleep, but such sleep may be interrupted by periods of awakening. By contrast, the stress-lowering effect of a drink with dinner may help to promote sleep later.
-Avoid naps
-Try to get up at the same time every day rather than sleeping in on weekends.
-Exercise every day, but not shortly before bedtime since exercise gets the adrenaline going.
-If you use an illuminated clock for a wakeup alarm, place it where you can't keep looking at it to check the time.
-Buy a firm mattress and keep your bedroom well ventilated (a cool temperature works best for me).
-And you might also try some of these: a warm bath, warm milk, light bedtime snack, massage, or quiet music (which turns itself off automatically).
-Use earplugs for extreme quiet.
-If you have a painful joint or a headache, take a pain pill before bedtime (but be sure it doesn't contain caffeine).
-Avoid stimulating reading or television shows late at night.
-If the insomnia stubbornly persists, check with your doctor to make sure some underlying health problem (such as depression, anxiety, hyperthyroidism, heart failure, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) isn't keeping you awake. If all is well, you might ask for one of the several types of prescription sleeping pills that can be useful in the short term.

Suggestions to Help Improve Memory

The U.S. National Library of Medicine offers these suggestions to help strengthen your memory:

-Make associations between words or names. As the NLM puts it, "If Alex introduces you to Patty, you might remember them as A and P."
-Relax if you forget something, and try again to think of it or let it come to you.
-Read, do crossword puzzles and play games to keep your brain active.
-Limit how much alcohol you drink.
-When you want to remember something, repeat it out loud.
-Associate names with faces.
-Ask your doctor if any medications you take could be impairing your memory.

If you've had too much caffeine,it can lead to significant side effects

The National Sleep Foundation offers these symptoms of excessive caffeine consumption:

-A decline in fine motor coordination.
-Inability to sleep.
-Headaches.
-Anxiety, increased nervousness and feeling dizzy.
-Feeling irritable.
-Increased heart rate.
-Excessive urination.
-Feeling down once the caffeine is out of your system .

8 foods to die for- Avoid this if you can

Avoid fats, carbs, and sugar if you want to stay healthy and slim. But what foods could be holding you back? Here are eight foods that could be hurting your health and waistline.

-Cheese fries top the list.
-Fried desserts are another worst.

-Soda is number three.

-A large serving of movie theatre popcorn with butter has more than 1,000 calories. One study showed you'll eat nearly twice as much.

-It's no surprise that bacon cheeseburgers made our list. One can have more than 1,100 calories and 85 grams of fat.

-Crackers, breads and other "white" foods come in at number six.
- Ramen noodles are number seven.

-Last, but not least: that sugary coffee is one of the worst.

Nutrition experts say load up on foods that are high in nutrients, protein and fiber. Some of the best include blueberries, oatmeal, salmon, almonds, low-fat yogurt and dark greens like spinach or kale.

Exercise During Pregnancy appears to boost fetal development.

Aerobic exercise for at least 30 minutes three times per week has a potential benefit on fetal development because of the link between fetal breathing movements and the developing autonomic nervous system. Researchers saw improved fetal development when moms-to-be worked out .

Antithyroid drug (PTU)may be dangerous for kids with graves' disease

In the New England Journal of Medicine, two experts wrote that PTU can cause severe liver disease in children and should no longer be used as a first-line treatment for children with Graves' disease, a disorder in which the thyroid gland produces more thyroid hormone than the body needs.PTU can cause liver disease.

Flus complications can be so flu vaccien is a good idea for your family.

The flu season is from November to April, with most cases occurring between late December and early March, but the vaccine is usually offered between September and mid-November (and may be given at other times of the year).

Getting the shot before the flu season is in full force gives the body a chance to build up immunity to, or protection from, the virus. Although you can get a flu shot well into flu season, it's best to try to get it earlier rather than later. However, even when there are only 2 or 3 months left in the flu season, it's still a good idea to get protection if the vaccine is available in your area

There's no guaranteed way — including being vaccinated — to prevent anyone from getting the flu. But precautions that can help protect you and your family include:
~avoiding large crowds whenever possible
~practicing good hand washing.
~never picking up used tissues
~never sharing cups and eating utensils
~staying home from work or school when someone is sick with the flu
~covering your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze

Limit how much alcohol you drink

This means no more than 2 drinks a day for men and 1 drink a day for women. One drink is equal to 1 can of beer (12 ounces), a 4-ounce glass of wine or a jigger (1 ounce) of liquor.Too much alcohol can damage the liver and contribute to some cancers, such as throat and liver cancer. Alcohol also contributes to deaths from car wrecks, murders and suicides.

Don't sunbath or use tanning booths.

Sun exposure is linked to skin cancer, which is the most common type of cancer in the United States. It's best to limit sun exposure and wear protective clothing and hats when you are outside. Sunscreen is also very important. It protects your skin and will help prevent skin cancer. Make sure you use sunscreen year round on exposed skin (such as your face and hands). Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least an SPF of 15 and one that blocks both UVA and UVB light.

Low Vitamin E, C Intake Tied to Asthma Risk

People who don't get enough of the antioxidant vitamins A and C in their diet may be at increased risk for asthma, British researchers say.

Mild Flu Season Coming to a Close

Confirming earlier reports, U.S. health officials said that the 2008-09 flu season was one of the milder seasons in recent years.Flu vaccines are often 70 percent to 90 percent effective.

Coffee, tea tied to lower uterine cancer risk

Women who drink a few cups of coffee and tea each day may have a lower risk of endometrial cancer, new study findings suggest.Endometrial cancer arises in the lining of the uterus. Some risk factors have been established -- including older age, obesity and factors that expose women to more estrogen, such as late menopause and estrogen therapy after menopause.Women who drank more than four cups of coffee and tea each day were only half as likely as non-drinkers to have endometrial cancer. Similarly, women who drank only tea -- more than two cups per day -- had a 44 percent lower risk of the disease.

How to avoid toxic shock syndrome

Wearing the same tampon for an extended amount of time could lead to a rare, but sometimes deadly disease called toxic shock syndrome (TSS).
#Always follow the instructions in the package on inserting and using the product.
#Use the lowest absorbency tampons that will work for you.
#Change your tampon every four to eight hours; never leave one in longer than that.
#Consider switching between tampons and pads.
#Only use tampons when you have your period, never between cycles.

Diet changes are usually the first step in lowering cholesterol before medicines are added.

You can reduce the saturated fat in your diet by limiting the amount of meat and milk products you eat. Choose low-fat products from those food groups instead. Replace most of the animal fat in your diet with unsaturated fat, especially monounsaturated oils, such as olive, canola, or peanut oil. Monounsaturated fat lowers LDL ("bad") cholesterol if it is substituted for saturated fat and keeps HDL ("good") cholesterol up.

Nutrition in Cancer Care

Nutrition plays major (but not always fully understood) roles in many aspects of cancer development and treatment. Malnutrition is a common problem in cancer patients that has been recognized as an important component of adverse outcomes, including increased morbidity and mortality and decreased quality of life.Good nutrition practices can help cancer patients maintain weight and the body's nutrition stores, offering relief from nutrition impact symptoms and improving quality of life.

How to prevent Hepatitis A

-Wash your hands with soap after going to the toilet
-Only consume food that has just been cooked
-Only drink commercially bottled water, or boiled water if you unsure of local sanitation
-Only eat fruits that you can peel if you are somewhere where sanitation is unreliable
-Only eat raw vegetables if you are sure they have been cleaned/disinfected thoroughly
-Get a vaccine for Hepatitis A if you travel to places where hepatitis may be endemic

Gluten free diet is a lifetime requirment for Celiac disease

People with celiac disease cannot tolerate gluten, a protein in wheat, rye, and barley.
Untreated celiac disease damages the small intestine and interferes with nutrient absorption.
Without treatment, people with celiac disease can develop complications such as osteoporosis, anemia, and cancer.
Celiac disease is treated by eliminating all gluten from the diet.A gluten-free diet means not eating foods that contain wheat, rye, and barley. The foods and products made from these grains should also be avoided. They can use potato, rice, soy, amaranth, quinoa, buckwheat, or bean flour instead of wheat flour. They can buy gluten-free bread, pasta, and other products from stores that carry organic foods, or order products from special food companies. Gluten-free products are increasingly available from mainstream stores.

Spinal implant for Parkinson's

"An implant that stimulates nerves in the spinal cord could erase the suffering of Parkinson's disease sufferers," the Daily Mail reported.

Menopause Timing Can Affect Women's Parkinson's Risk

Parkinson's is a nervous system disorder that occurs when special brain cells that make dopamine, a chemical messenger in the brain, die or become impaired. It leads to trembling and movement problems.According to the latest research, women who count more years between their first period and menopause actually have a lower risk of developing Parkinson's disease. These findings which appeared in a USA Today article by Mary Brophy Marcus, will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 61st annual meeting in Seattle in April.
Women who had menopause from surgery had almost twice the risk of developing Parkinson's if they had taken hormone therapy in the past and stopped, than if they had never taken hormones had no effect on natural menopause women.

Fish is uniquely important for brain development in babies

Women who are pregnant should include fish in their diet for optimal maternal health and fetal growth and development. There's simply no other way to get the omega-3s for brain development that you can from fish.

Warning Signs of Mental Illness

This list of symptoms that may signal a need to be evaluated by a professional:

1. Feeling anxious all the time, or fearing things that you know are irrational.
2. Persistent feelings of sadness or depression.
3. Significant mood swings or differences in your personality.
4. Finding it hard to deal with daily issues and responsibilities.
5. Experiencing delusions or unusual thoughts.
6. Significant changes in your eating and sleeping habits.
7. Turning to drugs or alcohol for relief.
8. Feeling very angry or behaving violently.
9. Thoughts of suicide.
If you have them, seek immediate help

reducing meat intake would have benefits beyond improved health

Who ate large amounts of red meat had a 20 percent higher risk of dying of cancer and a 50 percent higher risk of dying of heart disease than who ate less.Meat should be a supporting actor on the plate, not the main character."

Lots of red meat increases mortality risk

CHICAGO - The largest study of its kind finds that older Americans who eat large amounts of red meat and processed meats face a greater risk of death from heart disease and cancer. The federal study of more than half a million men and women bolsters prior evidence of the health risks of diets laden with red meat like hamburger and processed meats like hot dogs, bacon and cold cuts.

You should follow food safety tips to decorate Easter eggs

When you decorate hard-cooked eggs or emptied eggshells, be sure to follow these food safety tips:
Wash your hands well in hot, soapy water before handling eggs at every step, including cooking, cooling, dyeing and decorating.
If you want to eat decorated hard-cooked eggs:
Refrigerate hard-cooked eggs whenever you’re not working with them. Put them in their cartons if you won’t be decorating them right after cooking. Refrigerate them again right after dyeing or decorating them.
Make sure the eggs you color aren’t cracked. If any crack during dyeing or decorating, throw them away. Also throw away any eggs that have been out of the refrigerator for more than 2 hours.
Use food coloring or specially-made, food-grade egg dyes. Dissolve the dye in water that is warmer than the eggs. Be sure the label says nontoxic on any crayons, pens, paints or other art materials you use. Or, use edible decorations like herbs. (You can use any art materials you like if you’re not going to eat the eggs.)

Bird flu , it's risk to human

The Ministry of Health in Viet Nam has reported a new confirmed case of human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus. The case has been confirmed at the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE).
Avian influenza (“bird flu”) is an infectious disease of birds caused by type A strains of the influenza virus.The risk of avian influenza to humans is almost entirely confined to those who have had close contact with infected domestic poultry. For people who have no contact with domestic or wild birds the risk is almost non-existent.

Foodborne diseases take a major toll on health.

Millions of people fall ill and many die as a result of eating unsafe food. Food safety encompasses actions aimed at ensuring that all food is as safe as possible. Food safety policies and actions need to cover the entire food chain, from production to consumption.

Fat burner pills don't work

You DON'T need to waste your money on expensive "extreme fat burner" pills or other bogus supplements. A special class of natural foods is much more effective.

What's That Smell? Ask a Woman.

Women's noses can penetrate fancy colognes and detect male body odor, but men don't have the same ability, say U.S. researchers.women may be more sensitive to biologically relevant information in sweat that might, in fact, help them select a mate.Women are more aware of underarm odor, and they appear to be detecting differences in odor quality.

Jump Rope for Fitness

The American Council on Exercise suggests these tips to help you enjoy a safe, fun workout by jumping rope:

Keep a firm but gentle grip on the handles at the end of the rope.
Tuck your elbows in near your body, and relax your shoulders.
Slightly bend your knees, and use your wrist to swing the rope in a smooth arc over your head.
Keep your head up and your back straight as you jump. Don't curve your back forward.
Don't jump too high, which can adversely affect your ankles and knees.

Broccoli Sprouts can Control H.pylori Bacteria

H pylori infections are one of the most common bacterial infections worldwide and can lead to stomach cancer. Broccoli sprouts which contain sulforaphane, previously found to act as an antibiotic can control H.pylori bacteria, Japanese research suggests.