Kiwi The New Artery Sweeper For Healthier Hearts

It may easily top the charts as one of the most inedible looking fruits. The outside of Kiwi (Chinese goose berry) looks dull, drab and most unappetizing.

Cut one open and the results are not likely to get any better. Worse may be, the neon green flesh speckled with black seeds isn’t likely to whet your appetite either, considering the fancy price you may pay for one. But this is no time for kiwi-phobia. In fact it is time to hear some good news, especially for those few who really and truly love this fruit. Continue reading “Kiwi The New Artery Sweeper For Healthier Hearts”

The Gen on Gastric Cancer

Cancer cells growing uncontrollably in the lining of the stomach form tumors that can attack normal tissues and spread to other parts of the body this is how gastric cancer develops.

Gastric cancer does not always show up with recognizable symptoms early on. The symptoms it may be identified with such as nausea, vomiting, blood in stool, and unexplained weight loss, loss of appetite or bloating after meals, and fatigue can also be linked with other diseases such as peptic ulcer or gastritis.

So it is important to refer to a doctor when there is discomfort or pain in the stomach. While you may be treated for the lesser diseases, if the symptoms persist then you should go in for a second opinion. Continue reading “The Gen on Gastric Cancer”

Does Hormone Replacement Treatment During Menopause Increase Cancer Risk?

If you or someone you know is going through menopause and the doctor suggests HRT  i.e. Hormone Replacement Treatment. Before taking the treatment its better know how will it affect your overall health.

Some researches suggest that Hormone Replacement Treatment during menopause may increase risk of several types of cancer. We shall discuss each one of them  taking Hormone Replacement Treatment.

Hormone Replacement Treatment is a therapy involves female sex hormones to replace hormones that the patient’s body has stopped producing after menopause.

Doctors at one point of time thought that HRT acted as a shield and protected against heart diseases but after some more researches it has been proved that Hormone Replacement Treatment doesn’t help reduce risk related to heart.

HRT basically helps to reduce discomfort and symptoms women undergo during menopause and it also helps to reduce osteoporosis risk. Osteoporosis affects women where in bones start to thin or say reduced bone density. However it may be noted that HRT is not prescribed to prevent osteoporosis. Continue reading “Does Hormone Replacement Treatment During Menopause Increase Cancer Risk?”

When Fat is Good-All About DHA

Fat has always had a bad name but some kinds of fat are good. In fact, research studies suggest that more than 50% of the brain and nervous system are made up of fat. Fat constitutes the major part of the diet of most people in the world.

But this doesn’t necessarily add to the intelligent quotient and the reason is because the intake is not of the right kind of fat.This is where DHA or docosahexaenoic acid comes in. DHA is an omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid. It is present in great quantity in fish such as tuna and bluefish and in marine animal oils. Continue reading “When Fat is Good-All About DHA”

The Problem with Stomach Ulcers

Experiencing burning or pain in your stomach? You could have a peptic or stomach or gastric ulcer.

It used to be thought that very spicy food frequently eaten and a stressful life led to a gastric ulcer. But now doctors are of the opinion that some bacterial infections and medications can cause these ulcers.

Gastric ulcers are open sores that come up on the inside stomach lining or upper small intestine or gullet. These ulcers are quite common and can be successfully treated over a few weeks. Continue reading “The Problem with Stomach Ulcers”

Leukemia Now Has a New Drug Treatment

One of the most dreaded forms of cancer Leukemia or blood cancer as it is commonly called has a new drug treatment that has raised hopes across the world.

In an extensive research being carried out at the Children’s Cancer Hospital at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, scientists have observed that a new kind of highly targeted treatment effectively treats acute leukemia.

In the animal models used by them, they observed that the growth of cancer cells was very effectively inhibited by not letting the cancerous cells being cleaned of their damaged proteins. Continue reading “Leukemia Now Has a New Drug Treatment”

Oral Cavity and Lip Cancer Risk Factors, Symptoms and Treatment

Squamous Cells is where most Oral Cavity and Lip Cancer start. These are thin and flat cells lining oral cavity and lips. When cancer cells affect this area it is very likely that they will affect the nearby areas also. In majority of the cases it shows its affect on the lining of the inside of the cheeks, 2/3rd of the front part of the tongue, gums, under the tongue, roof of mouth, behind wisdom tooth etc.

Risk Factors of Oral Cavity and Lip Cancer: Use of alcohol or tobacco is a definite risk that increases the chances of one getting affected with Oral Cavity and Lip Cancer. If you are a male, affected with HPV and use alcohol and tobacco beyond a certain point can be a major risk. Continue reading “Oral Cavity and Lip Cancer Risk Factors, Symptoms and Treatment”

Knowing Your Family Medical History

It’s a delightful game parents play whose nose the child has got, whose hair and eyes. This links the child to the family and creates a bond. But there is another more serious side to heredity and that is a family’s medical history.

Knowing which aunt had breast cancer and which uncle or grandparent had Alzheimer’s would help a person far more. You are likely to have inherited anything from diabetes and alcoholism to heart disease along with the brown hair and green eyes.

So nowadays doctors make it a point to ask you to research your family medical background so they can find out what disease you are at genetic risk for. Continue reading “Knowing Your Family Medical History”

Friedrich’s Ataxia A Neurological Disorder

Friedrich’s Ataxia (FA) is a rare genetic disease that affects and damages the neurological system and causes problems with coordination and balance. Ataxia can affect the eyes, speech, fingers, limbs, and the whole body.

It is not considered fatal but it does progressively affect the body and can eventually affect the heart and lungs. (It is named after Nikolaus Friedrich who first diagnosed and described it.

It is the first kind of inherited ataxia that was differentiated from other kinds of ataxia.) People with FA will sooner or later need the help of a wheelchair or walker as they will not be able to walk without support. FA strikes men and women equally. Continue reading “Friedrich’s Ataxia A Neurological Disorder”