Introducing Diseases | Medicine | Nutrition | Prevention

Sure Shot Younger Looking Skin Formula!

2008-09-23T14:13:00.000-07:00

With big brands spending millions of dollars on advertising, people think that these products will be the best. But have you ever turned over the product and read the list of ingredients and checked each over the internet for the side effects or the harm it can actually cause your skin?

Don't go on the flawless face and lustrous hair of the models advertising these products as half of it is actually digital photography! Think for yourself and learn about organic skin care products. There are many home made creams and secrets that can make you look absolutely fabulous or if you do not have the time to make these concoctions, go in for healthy natural organic skin care products right from moisturizers to face washes and creams to lotions.

Skin is a good absorbent and medically many medicines are introduced into the body with the help of skin especially skin patches. So, if you apply high chemicals infused cosmetics and skin care products, think what you skin is absorbing!

So, why abuse your skin and body - go in for gentle body care products that not only nourish your skin but also help you get flawless beautiful skin with no side effects. Costs may be a little higher than the normal chemical skin care products but after all that shows the quality of the product.

Most herbal and skin acre products have essential oils, which are the real essence and extract of a plant so you have natural fragrances and the benefits of aromatherapy in these products. Your skin will absorb all the qualities of essential oils and become soft, supple and rebuild the elasticity in the skin. Lemon, sage, lavender, chamomile, cedar wood, sandal are few of the essential oils used in skin care products and each has a positive benefit on your health.

There are many reputed stores both near you and online which stock only genuine, organic skin care products. You can be sure of the product quality and your skin type before you buy any product. Choosing what is good for you may become difficult when you see so many products, but get only reputed, good quality organic beauty care products, skin care creams, oils and lotions so that you really find signs of aging eliminated while your skin starts looking fresh, hydrated and beautiful.

Leave the world of chemicals and welcome Nature's bounty and miracles into your life. It is time to say hello to fresh, younger you again!

Fantastic Method to Eliminate Cellulite!

2008-09-03T15:38:00.000-07:00

Contrary to popular myth that cellulite is irreversible, cellulite can be removed!

However, you need to have an effective treatment as cellulite is a build up of several years and is not an overnight accumulation. It is the improper distribution of fat which is joined to the connective tissues in the body. The connective tissues are those which help n the distribution of fat below the skin surface and sometimes due to accumulation of toxins in the body, uneven distribution takes place leading to cellulite or lumping. You need not be obese to have cellulite, as even models are known to suffer from it!

It has a drastic effect on your self esteem and especially in the summer months you feel embarrassed wearing short skirts and minis. However, it not restricted to women as equal number of men suffer from it. Cellulite accumulates usually on the buttocks, things and hips which makes it unsightly when you need to wear a swimsuit.

Accumulation of toxins is one of the biggest reasons for cellulite formation as built in toxins hinder proper blood circulation. You must be wondering as to what you eat to accumulate so many toxins- well, think about all the preservatives, alcohol consumption, smoking, colors and artificial flavors all contribute to some extent for the toxin built up in the body. Improper drinking of water becomes the last straw.

To completely flush out toxins, one must drink at least 8 to 10 glasses of water which goes a long way to eliminate cellulite also as all of these are inter connected. Proper exercise and inclusion of fresh fruits and vegetable also helps. With research and study, many herbal creams and oils are now available which help in smoothening out the skin. The orange peel look is attributed to lumping up of fat cells under the thin layer of the skin. Effective remedies help in breaking the fat cells accumulations while walking, leg squats, leg exercises also help in proper blood circulation. A rejuvenating massage is also a good idea to reduce the cellulite lumps as massage helps to increase blood circulation and breaks muscle, fat lumps in the body.

There are many anti-cellulite creams, essential oils and lotions available which are known to be effective in curing cellulite completely. However, left alone cellulite creams will not be effective unless you exercise and increase blood circulation in the body but it can definitely go away, is a fact.
by: Darren Brent

Why Your Diet May Not Be As Rich In Iodine As You Assume

2008-08-24T16:15:00.000-07:00

The trace mineral iodine is well known for its crucial role in enabling the body's manufacture of vital thyroid hormones, but it is also important for the health of the immune system and for optimal brain function. It is widely believed by many authorities that iodine deficiency should never be seen in the affluent West, although this problem affects millions throughout the developed world.

Some nutritionists argue, however, that this conventional view is too optimistic, because the content of all minerals in foods is heavily dependent on the mineral content of the soil from which those foods are derived. The assumption must therefore be that the continuing de-mineralisation of farm soils has led to a reduction in the amount of dietary iodine commonly consumed.

Fish and other seafood, however, remain a relatively rich source because these ocean creatures concentrate the sea's iodine in their flesh. Though not commonly eaten in the West, seaweed, or kelp, is also an excellent source of iodine for this reason, and is readily available in the form of a dietary supplements. Dairy products and certain meats may also be a good source, particularly where iodine is routinely added to farm animal feed. But in countries, including most of Western Europe, where animals are grazing fields growing on iodine depleted soils, levels are likely to be much lower.

So even in the West, those not including fish or seafood in their diets, and not using iodised or sea salt, may be at real risk of deficiency. In an effort to compensate for low levels of dietary iodine, the mineral has been routinely added to ordinary table salt in the US for many years. But the practice is not as common in the UK and other European countries, where specially iodised or natural "sea-salt" has been marketed more as a luxury alternative. The problem of insufficient dietary iodine has been compounded on both sides of the Atlantic, however, by increasing concern about the possible adverse health consequences, particularly high blood pressure, of excessive salt intake. Many nutritionists, however, regard these fears as exaggerated, and believe that any such potential problems are far less serious than the consequences of an insufficiency of iodine, and may be easily resolved by the use of the low sodium salt alternatives available.

Iodine, however, cannot in any case be regarded as a luxury. Its essential function lies in the production of the vital thyroid hormones; thyroxine, sometimes known as T4, and tri-iodothyronine, or T3. And as is well known, these hormones are crucially important in ensuring a healthy metabolic rate and the release of energy from food; so an underactive thyroid gland is commonly the villain in cases of excessive weight gain, particularly where this of sudden onset, and in cases of difficulty in losing weight even when following a sensible reducing programme. A healthy thyroid gland is also crucial for the optimal functioning of the immune system.

But perhaps even more importantly, iodine deficiency is also known as a major cause of avoidable brain damage; a problem which the World Health Organisation has estimated to affect an astonishing 50 million people worldwide. Sadly, many of these cases occur in children whose mothers were iodine deficient in pregnancy, resulting in a condition of severely retarded brain development known as congenital hypothyroidism, or "cretinism". Even where such catastrophic consequences are avoided, iodine deficiency in childhood may also have serious effects on the developing brain, leading to low energy and motivation for learning, and measurable impairment of IQ scores.

Since 2001 the Food and Nutrition Board of the US Institute of Medicine (FNB) has prescribed a Recommended Dietary Allowance for iodine of 150 mcg for all individuals over 14, rising to 220 mcg for pregnant women and 290 mcg for those breastfeeding. Somewhat confusingly, however, an excessive consumption of iodine is also associated with a malfunctioning or enlargement of the thyroid gland, as well as mouth ulcers, headaches and gastric upsets, and the FNB therefore advises an upper safe limit for daily iodine consumption of 1,100 mcg for adults. Most people eating a conventional Western diet are unlikely to exceed this level.

With the possible exception of pregnant and breastfeeding women, people in the West who use liberal quantities of iodised salt as a regular seasoning are unlikely to need further supplements. But many commercial multi-mineral preparations contain iodine in reasonable quantities, usually in the form of potassium iodide, and whilst not perhaps strictly necessary, such supplementary doses will do no harm and may be regarded as a useful insurance policy given that, like all minerals needed by the body, iodine functions best in the presence of adequate supplies of all the others. And it should be particularly noted in this context that the effects of any deficiency of iodine may be intensified by any deficiency of selenium, iron or vitamin A.

How can HIV transmission be prevented?

2008-08-12T04:48:00.000-07:00

HIV can be transmitted in three main ways:

* Sexual transmission
* Transmission through blood
* Mother-to-child transmission

Wherever there is HIV, all three routes of transmission will take place. However the number of
infections resulting from each route will vary greatly between countries and population groups.

For each route of transmission there are things that an individual can do to reduce or eliminate risk. There are also interventions that have been proven to work at the community, local and national level.

To be successful, an HIV prevention programme must make use of all approaches known to be effective, rather than just implementing one or a few select actions in isolation. The share of resources allocated to each area should reflect the nature of the local epidemic - for example, if most infections occur among men who have sex with men then this group should be a primary target for prevention efforts.

Although most of this page looks separately at each transmission route, it should be remembered
that many people don’t fit into only one “risk category”. For example, injecting drug users need access to condoms and safer sex counselling as well as help to reduce the risk of transmission through blood.

First requirements

There are three key things that can be done to help prevent all forms of HIV transmission. First among these is promoting widespread awareness of HIV and how it can be spread. Media campaigns and education in schools are among the best ways to do this.

Another essential part of a prevention programme is HIV counselling and testing. People living with HIV are less likely to transmit the virus to others if they know they are infected and if they have received counselling about safer behaviour. In particular, a pregnant woman who has HIV will not be able to benefit from interventions to protect her child unless her infection isdiagnosed. Those who discover they are uninfected can also benefit, by receiving counselling on how to remain that way.

The third key factor is providing antiretroviral treatment. This treatment enables people living with HIV to enjoy longer, healthier lives, and as such it acts as an incentive for HIV testing. It also brings HIV-positive people into contact with health care workers who can deliver prevention messages and interventions. Studies suggest that HIV-positive people may be less likely to engage in risky behaviour if they are enrolled in treatment programmes. Nevertheless, it is also possible that widespread availability of treatment may make some members of the wider population less fearful of HIV infection, and hence less willing to take precautions.

Sexual transmission

What works?

Someone can eliminate or reduce their risk of becoming infected with HIV during sex by choosing to:

* Abstain from sex or delay first sex
* Be faithful to one partner or have fewer partners
* Condomise, which means using male or female condoms consistently and correctly

There are a number of effective ways to encourage people to adopt safer sexual behaviour,including media campaigns, social marketing, peer education and small group counselling. These activities should be carefully tailored to the needs and circumstances of the people they intend to help. Specific programmes should target key groups such as young people, women, men who have sex with men, injecting drug users and sex workers.

Comprehensive sex education for young people is an essential part of HIV prevention. This should include training in life skills such as negotiating healthy sexual relationships, as well as accurate and explicit information about how to practise safer sex. Studies have shown that this kind of comprehensive sex education is more effective at preventing sexually transmitted infections than education that focuses solely on teaching abstinence until marriage.

Numerous studies have shown that condoms, if used consistently and correctly, are highly effective at preventing HIV infection.10 Also there is no evidence that promoting condoms leads to increased sexual activity among young people. Therefore condoms should be made readily and consistently available to all those who need them.

There is now very strong evidence that male circumcision reduces the risk of HIV transmission from woman to man by around 50%, which is enough to justify its promotion as an HIV prevention measure in some high-prevalence areas.12 However, studies suggest that circumcision does not reduce the likelihood of male-to-female transmission, and the effect on male-to-male transmission is unknown.

Some sexually transmitted infections - most notably genital herpes - have been found to facilitate HIV transmission during sex. Treating these other infections may therefore contribute to HIV prevention.
Trials in which HIV-negative people were given daily treatment to suppress genital herpes have found no reduction in the rate at which they become infected with HIV. Nevertheless,there is evidence to suggest that treating genital herpes in HIV positive people may reduce the risk of them transmitting HIV to their partners. Further research is ongoing.

One group that shouldn’t be overlooked by HIV prevention programmes is those who are already living with the virus. Regular counselling can help HIV positive people to sustain safer sexual behaviour, and so avoid onward transmission.

What are the obstacles?

It is usually not easy for people to sustain changes in sexual behaviour. In particular, young people often have difficulty remaining abstinent, and women in male-dominated societies are frequently unable to negotiate condom use, let alone abstinence. Many couples are compelled to have unprotected sex in order to have children. Others associate condoms with promiscuity or lack of trust.

Some societies find it difficult to discuss sex openly, and some authorities restrict what subjects can be discussed in the classroom, or in public information campaigns, for moral or religious reasons.

Particularly contentious issues include premarital sex, condom use and homosexuality, the last of which is illegal or taboo in much of the world. Marginalisation of groups at high risk - such as sex workers and men who have sex with men - can be a major hindrance to HIV prevention efforts; authorities are often unwilling to allocate adequate resources to programmes targeting these groups.

Safe male circumcision demands considerable medical resources and some cultures are strongly opposed to the procedure.

AVERT.org has more about preventing sexual transmission of HIV.

Transmission through blood
What works?

People who share equipment to inject recreational drugs risk becoming infected with HIV from other drug users. Methadone maintenance and other drug treatment programmes are effective ways to help people eliminate this risk by giving up injected drugs altogether. However, there will always be some injecting drug users who are unwilling or unable to end their habit, and these people should be encouraged to minimise the risk of infection by not sharing equipment.

Needle exchange programmes have been shown to reduce the number of new HIV infections without encouraging drug use. These programmes distribute clean needles and safely dispose of used ones, and also offer related services such as referrals to drug treatment centres and HIV counselling and testing. Needle exchanges are a necessary part of HIV prevention in any community that contains injecting drug users.

Also important for injecting drug users are community outreach, small group counselling and other activities that encourage safer behaviour and access to available prevention options. Transfusion of infected blood or blood products is the most efficient of all ways to transmit HIV.

However, the chances of this happening can be greatly reduced by screening all blood supplies for the virus, and by heat-treating blood products where possible. In addition, because screening is notquite 100% accurate, it is sensible to place some restrictions on who is eligible to donate, provided that these are justified by epidemiological evidence, and don’t unnecessarily limit supply or fuel prejudice. Reducing the number of unnecessary transfusions also helps to minimise risk.

The safety of medical procedures and other activities that involve contact with blood, such as tattooing and circumcision, can be improved by routinely sterilising equipment. An even better optionis to dispose of equipment after each use, and this is highly recommended if at all possible. Health care workers themselves run a risk of HIV infection through contact with infected blood. The most effective way for staff to limit this risk is to practise universal precautions, which means actingas though every patient is potentially infected. Universal precautions include washing hands and using protective barriers for direct contact with blood and other body fluids.

What are the obstacles?

Despite the evidence that they do not encourage drug use, some authorities still refuse to support needle exchanges and other programmes to help injecting drug users. Restrictions on pharmacies selling syringes without prescriptions, and on possession of drug paraphernalia, can also hamper HIV prevention programmes by making it harder for drug users to avoid sharing equipment.

Many resource-poor countries lack facilities for rigorously screening blood supplies. In addition a lot of countries have difficulty recruiting enough donors, and so have to resort to importing blood or paying their citizens to donate, which is not the best way to ensure safety. In much of the world the safety of medical procedures in general is compromised by lack of resources, and this may put both patients and staff at greater risk of HIV infection.

AVERT.org has more about preventing HIV transmission among injecting drug users and in health care settings.

Mother-to-child transmission

What works?

HIV can be transmitted from a mother to her baby during pregnancy, labour and delivery, and later through breastfeeding. The first step towards reducing the number of babies infected in this way is to prevent HIV infection in women, and to prevent unwanted pregnancies. There are a number of things that can be done to help a pregnant woman with HIV to avoid passing her infection to her child. A course of antiretroviral drugs given to her during pregnancy and labour as well as to her newborn baby can greatly reduce the chances of the child becoming infected. Although the most effective treatment involves a combination of drugs taken over a long period, even a single dose of treatment can cut the transmission rate by half.

A caesarean section is an operation to deliver a baby through its mother’s abdominal wall, which
reduces the baby’s exposure to its mother’s body fluids. This procedure lowers the risk of HIV
transmission, but is likely to be recommended only if the mother has a high level of HIV in her
blood, and if the benefit to her baby outweighs the risk of the intervention.

Weighing risks against benefits is also critical when selecting the best feeding option. The WorldHealth Organisation advises mothers with HIV not to breastfeed whenever the use of replacements is acceptable, feasible, affordable, sustainable and safe. However, if safe water is not available then the risk of life-threatening conditions from replacement feeding may be greater than the risk from breastfeeding. An HIV positive mother should be counselled on the risks and benefits of different infant feeding options and should be helped to select the most suitable option for her situation.

What are the obstacles?

In much of the world a lack of drugs and medical facilities limits what can be done to preventmother-to-child transmission of HIV. Antiretroviral drugs are not widely available in manyresource-poor countries, caesarean section is often impractical, and many women lack the
resources needed to avoid breastfeeding their babies.

HIV-related stigma is another obstacle to preventing mother-to-child transmission. Some women areafraid to attend clinics that distribute antiretroviral drugs, or to feed their babies formula, in case by doing so they reveal their HIV status.

AVERT.org has more about preventing mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) and why PMTCT programmes are failing to reach most women in need.

Policy measures

To be successful, a comprehensive HIV prevention programme needs strong political leadership. This means politicians and leaders in all sectors must speak out openly about AIDS and not shy away from difficult issues like sex, sexuality and drug use. An effective response requires strategic planning based on good quality science and surveillance, as well as consideration of local society and culture. All sectors of the population should be actively involved in the response, including employers, religious groups, non-governmental organisations and HIV-positive people. Many of the world's most successful HIV prevention efforts have been led by the affected communities themselves.

HIV epidemics thrive on stigma and discrimination related to people living with the virus and to marginalised groups such as sex workers. Their spread is also fuelled by gender inequality, which restricts what women can do to protect themselves from infection. Protecting and promoting human rights should be an essential part of any comprehensive HIV prevention strategy. This includes legislating against the many forms of stigma and discrimination that increase vulnerability.

Sure Shot Younger Looking Skin Formula!

2008-08-02T22:58:00.000-07:00

Health Center Staff Take Lead Role In Preparing Their Campuses For Pandemic Flu

2008-07-28T18:31:00.000-07:00

It sounds like the plot of the next blockbuster movie. A third of the world’s population is struck down by a deadly virus that spreads across the globe so rapidly that there is no time to develop a vaccine. Up to half of those infected – even young, healthy adults – die. But as health professionals know, this scenario is not just a flight of fancy. It could be the very real effects of the next pandemic flu outbreak, particularly if H5N1 (also known as highly pathogenic avian flu) is the virus in question, and it is this knowledge that is pushing not just federal and state government but organizations and businesses throughout the world to develop a strategy to tackle it.

Within colleges and universities, the burden of pandemic flu planning is likely to fall upon many student health directors, even at institutions with environmental health and safety departments. John Covely, a consultant on pandemic flu planning and the co-author of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s pandemic plan, explains why this is so.

“Traditionally, emergency planning originates from public safety, or environment health and safety, but a communicable disease poses the biggest threat to students in group quarters. Thus, student health directors are often leading the emergency planning effort for the whole university, because the entire plan - not just the student health component - could be the difference in life or death for their students.”

The importance of having a campus-wide plan that is ready – not just in the preliminary stages – when the pandemic strikes is all the more clear when you consider that, unlike seasonal flu, H5N1 has an increased risk for the typical student demographic of young, healthy adults. The startlingly high mortality rate of up to 60 percent is partly due to a protein, also found in the strain of virus responsible for the 1918 pandemic flu outbreak, which causes a response in a healthy immune system known as a “cytokine storm”, often leading to respiratory failure and death.

Planning for such a massive and yet unpredictable event may seem a formidable task, but Dr. Anita Barkin, chair of the American College Health Association’s pandemic planning committee, counsels that those universities and colleges that have yet to formulate a pandemic plan shouldn’t feel overwhelmed by the work that lies before them. “Pandemic planning is about good emergency preparedness. The things we do to prepare for any emergency are the things we would do to prepare for pandemic flu,” she explains.

Although the tragic Virginia Tech shootings this spring were a different kind of emergency, the issues are similar to the issues faced in the event of a pandemic flu outbreak. Coordinating resources, communicating with everyone on campus and deciding at what stage classes should be called off are questions that have to be answered in most emergency situations. Take your pandemic planning one step at a time, advises Barkin. “The first step is to find out whether there is an existing emergency plan on campus,” she says. “If

there is, who is in charge of it? Health providers on campus should then take charge and begin to formulate the plan.”

There are many unknown factors, but build the framework of the plan first with the elements you can be sure of. Form a committee with all key areas represented, including executive leadership.

ACHA’s Guidelines for Pandemic Planning provides a list as an example that may help you collate this. Identify the functions that will be critical in the case of a pandemic and the personnel on campus responsible for each of these, making sure there are enough people representing each function that should some become sick, the plan is not compromised. Identify decision makers, a chain of command, and what channels of communication are to be used. Finally, decide on the role of student health services. Many campuses will have the student health director as the key decision maker in the event of a pandemic, but for some it will be more appropriate for the student health director to have an advisory role instead. In any case, college health professionals will be crucial to the success of every plan.

The biggest question that is central to every campus-wide pandemic plan: when is the right time to send students home? Covely warns that universities cannot necessarily wait for cues from state public health departments before they make their decisions. “The university has to have its own in-depth criteria in advance of a pandemic, and the student health director should be very involved in developing those criteria.”

Don't wait too long to send your students home. Nor should your trigger for this decision rely on the geographical proximity of the virus to your campus alone.

The factors that will determine how early you make the call to send students home will center on the composition of your student population. If your students are mostly from in-state, they will probably be traveling home by car and so you can wait slightly longer before canceling classes and closing the campus down. If many students live a long way away and are going to need to use mass transportation, you may have to act more quickly or risk being swamped with very ill students at a time when the local hospitals will not have the resources to help.

There are three main elements that will shape the logistics and the scale of your plan, and help you figure out the best trigger to send students home. Remember that, as Barkin comments, “The longer you wait, the higher the rate of infection, the less chance of being able to get students home and the less likely you can manage the burden of disease.”

These factors are as follows:

* Student demographics, particularly the number of students who live on campus and the number of non-local students who are likely to be dependent on care.

* The size of your staff (taking into account that up to 50 percent may be sick at one time).

* Your ability to stockpile enough basic supplies, including medications, as well as personal protective equipment such as respirators.

This is where things start to get more complicated, however. Most student health services can’t afford to stockpile many medical supplies. “ACHA is running a survey on pandemic planning,” reveals Barkin. “Of the schools that have responded, most have not stockpiled, or if they have, it’s not a lot.” This could clearly prove disastrous, and for many colleges is a manifestation of what Covely cites as one of the biggest challenges of pandemic planning for some universities: “getting buy-in from the executive leadership.” Pandemic planning is by no means a cost-free exercise.

One tip if you are facing resistance from campus decision-makers over spending money on
pandemic planning is to emphasize the fact that once you’ve formulated a response to a possible pandemic, you will have a robust emergency response strategy that can be adapted to fit virtually any emergency, whether it’s evacuation in the event of wildfires, such as Pepperdine University faced recently, a terrorist threat, or an “active shooter”. Investment in, say, developing a Web site with emergency information and updates can be a public relations bonus and a reliable resource.

Villanova University’s plan includes broadcasting SMS text messages and e-mails and using an emergency Web page for mass communication.

Dr. Mary McGonigle, director of the student health center at Villanova University, says that their dialogue with their local health department led to Villanova being assessed and labeled a “push” site, a location that is self-sufficient in this type of emergency. She explains:

“In the event of a pandemic, we’d go and pick up supplies from the county and then administer medicine to our Villanova community. That includes students, faculty and their families.”

Help from the county is a financial boon but being self-sufficient and staying local also lowers the risk of spreading the virus so rapidly. The dialogue helps your local health services too. If your local hospitals are likely to have a shortage of beds, they may want to use college dorms for surge capacity at the peak of a pandemic. In return, they may be able to offer you some resources, although research suggests that most hospitals have not had the budget to be able to stockpile effectively either.

The ongoing and fluid nature of pandemic planning is very much evident in some of the complex and thorny issues that have no definitive answer. These may need to be revisited and rethought as scientific discoveries are made, as you approach a pandemic, and if your college’s resources change. One such issue is the availability of expensive antivirals. The federal government has announced that it is stockpiling them and coming up with a strategy for distribution, which might seem to take some of the financial pressure off student health services. Barkin however has a caveat. “I’m concerned that stockpiles would not be distributed in enough of a timely fashion to make an impact on the community. Katrina is a situation that has to come to mind.”

Even if you did manage to persuade campus decision-makers to invest budget in stockpiling
antivirals, a potentially challenging feat, there’s a chance that they would be ineffective by the time a pandemic occurs, as overuse can cause the emergence of a resistant strain. Barkin explains that infectious disease experts are talking about using a treatment cocktail – Tamiflu plus one or two other agents - to protect against the emergence of resistant strains, but this would be prohibitively expensive for the average college health center.

Another ethical dilemma surrounding pandemic planning concerns who should get prepandemic
vaccines. Scientists are developing vaccines based on the strain of avian flu that has been
circulating in Asia, hoping that the vaccine would be enough of a match to combat the illness until a proper vaccine could be developed six months after the pandemic’s emergence. But supplies of this prepandemic vaccine will be limited.

“Some of the conversations around who should get these prepandemic vaccines are very complex,” says Barkin. “Should it be health care workers that get it, or public safety workers such as firemen? Should it be government officials, or the very young and elderly?” Recently, the federal government has announced a three-tiered approach to vaccination that it has developed in consultation with public focus groups and ethicists that places health care workers in the second tier.

Whether your health center staff will receive the vaccine, whether it will be in a timely fashion, and how effective it will actually be, are all factors that will affect your pandemic plan greatly – and demonstrate how much of your planning has to leave room for the unknown.

One thing that is beyond question is the importance of student health services acting now.
Formulating a pandemic plan may be a slow and ponderous task, but there’s one vital aspect that will slow the spread of a pandemic and can be tackled by your department immediately without getting tangled in red tape and endless meetings.

This public health education can be a collaborative effort with human resources and residence life staff. Covely agrees and even suggests extending the scope beyond campus boundaries. “It’s part of being a good and responsible neighbor to the community,” he says.

Acne Vulgaris, the 8 Stages of Acne, Skin Care, Adult Acne, and Scar Removal Options.

2008-07-26T20:21:00.000-07:00

What is Acne Vulgaris? This is a medical term used to describe most cases of acne. It really isn't as bad as it sounds! Vulgaris doesn't mean that the acne is vulgar, only that it means that it is common.

Be aware that there are many factors that contribute to acne. First, research indicates a propensity for acne may well be inherited. Parents who had acne in their teenage and young adult years may have children who are likewise prone to having acne in their teen and young adult years.

Next, clogged skin pores are certainly a major contributing factor for acne out-breaks. When pores become clogged with an excess production of sebum and mix with dead skin cells or makeup that isn't sufficiently cleaned from the skin, problems start to develop. When skin pores are clogged, bacteria are produced and pus starts to form causing a pimple, a white head or a black head.

The most commonly accepted causes for acne are hormonal imbalances. Hormones in boys and girls may become unbalanced during puberty, during menstrual cycles, when starting or stopping birth control pills, during times of extreme stress, and at other times as well.

All of the above situations can cause the body to over produce a male hormone which causes the sebaceous glands to produce sebum. The sebum combines with dead skin cells to block pores and acne develops. So, basically, it still comes back to blocked pores.

Other causes for acne include a lack of vitamins, minerals and trace elements that the body needs to maintain a healthy skin. Vitamins A, E and B6 are especially important in maintaining healthy skin as are zinc, essential fatty acids (EFA), Chromium and Selenium.

Most diets of teenagers and young adults do not contain these vitamins, minerals, and trace elements in sufficient quantity to maintain healthy skin and to help prevent the onset of Acne.

Acne: The 8 Stages:

Full blown, Stage 8 acne doesn't usually develop overnight. Acne is progressive condition. Acne is one of the diseases that are so common that it is sometimes just disregarded as a serious problem...like the common cold. It has been estimated that 95 of people will have at least a mild case of acne at some point in their lives.

Acne, much like the common cold, is usually treated by the sufferer with over-the-counter medications that alleviate the symptoms of the disease in the belief that it will simply go away all by itself....eventually. And, it usually does but not always.

Most people throughout their life will have the occasional pimple, zit, white head or black head.

Although these pesky little outbreaks do seem to appear at the most inopportune times, they really aren't a serious problem that requires medical attention. A little over-the-counter acne facial wash to help prevent another outbreak will usually take care of the problem. It isn't a big deal. This kind of acne is referred to as Stage 0 and really nothing to be concerned about unless the acne progresses to subsequent stages.

Acne stages are graded from 0 through 8. Zero is the least severe and 8 is the most serious of the stages. The stages are as follows:

Stage 1: There will be white heads and black heads with some mild inflammation. The outbreaks will start to occur more frequently. Using products that contain Benzyl Peroxide are in order.

Stage 2: There will be some papules in addition to the white heads and black heads. Papules are skin lesions that are solid and raised but usually small. This is still considered to be a very mild case of acne. Treatment can be continued using over-the-counter products that contain Salicylic Acid.

Stage 3: Stage 3 is the same as stage 2 but with more frequent occurrences.

Stage 4-5: Pustules begin to appear. Now, it's time to schedule an appointment at a dermatologist.

Stage 6-7: Nodules and cysts are forming. Scarring is going to start happening at this stage. Your dermatologist will begin to take more drastic action.

Stage 8: Breakouts are almost continuous and include nodules and cysts. There are modern technologies that will help and your dermatologist will advise you.

Acne Skin Care:

As we know, our hair follicles secrete sebum. Sebum makes its way up the hair follicles to the skin pores where it lubricates and protects the skin. Sometimes there are oil glands which get overworked, get enlarge, and produce too much sebum. The sebum can get trapped in the hair follicle.

When this happens the pores get clogged and black heads or white heads form and the bacteria start to multiply at an alarmingly fast rate.

Once you understand this process, you can see the reasoning behind the advice about caring for skin that has black heads, white heads and pustules on it.

The first piece of advice about caring for acne infected skin is to never pick at the pimples. Don't try to pop them and drain them. This will not cure them no matter what anybody tells you. Popping them will only serve to make them worse...not better.

However, there are things that you can do that really will help.

The first thing you can do is to wash your face with a mild soap or a sulfur based soap. Wash your face with just your finger tips. Don't ever use a wash cloth as it holds germs and bacteria. Rinse your face with clean water several times to ensure you remove all traces of soap, and then pat it dry with a clean towel. Do not rub your face with the towel and never use the same towel twice without it being clean.

Take a good multi-vitamin and multi-mineral supplement every day and drink at least 8 full glasses of water (not soda) every day. The vitamins and minerals will supply nutrients that are absent from most diets and the water will help to hydrate the skin as well as to flush toxins out of your system.

If you use over-the-counter acne medications, be certain that you follow the directions carefully and that you use a good sunscreen when you are outdoors as some acne medications make the skin more prone to sunburn.

Adult Acne:

Acne is not just a problem for teenagers and young adults. Once a person survives the teenage years, you would think that they don't have to deal with the embarrassment of acne any longer, right? Well....not exactly.

The sad truth is that about 25 of women will have acne at some time in their 20s, 30s or even 40s. Although there has never been a real cause established, it is believed that most adult acne is caused by the same thing that causes teenage acne...hormonal changes.

A doctor will sometimes prescribe hormonal treatments that will clear a case of adult acne right up. As with teenage acne, adult acne is not caused by diet. Stress has often been cited as one possible cause of adult acne but that assertion has never been verified.

Treating adult acne is a bit more difficult than treating teenage acne. Adults have the concern of drying out their skin that teenagers don't normally have to deal with. Adults don't want pimples; but, they don't want wrinkles, either. A dermatologist should be consulted if the acne is long lasting or is severe.

There are many treatments that are available to adults who suffer from acne. Most of the effective treatments are only available by prescription. Adults should not use over-the-counter acne medications that are intended for the treatment of teenage acne. These products tend to dry the skin and adults need to be concerned about wrinkling as well as acne.

A case of adult acne is not a happy occurrence to say because those ugly bumps always seem to occur at the most inopportune times and while a teenager may be embarrassed by acne, an adult is even more devastated.

Fortunately, there are treatments and a dermatologist has a lot of weapons in his arsenal to fight adult acne.

Acne Scar Removal Options:

Life hardly seems fair sometimes! First, a teenager or a young adult must suffer through acne, treat it, and have to live with it...sometimes for years. Then the acne is gone; but, the scars are there as a painful reminder of the mental and emotional agony the acne sufferer had to endure.

You're right, life doesn't seem fair; but, acne is one of those sad facts of life that some if not most of us have to deal with. The good news is there is help; unfortunately, it isn't free or cheap!

There are two basic procedures that are used to remove ugly pits and scars left over from a bad case of teenage or young adult acne. Laser resurfacing is the least expensive of the two available acne scar removal procedures. Dermabrasion is the second procedure.

Laser resurfacing can be done in the dermatologist office instead of a hospital so that provides a much greater financial savings. A laser is used to remove the top layer of skin and also to tighten the middle layer of skin.

The dermatologist will use a local anesthetic to help reduce the procedure pain. It usually takes several days for the skin to heal after a laser resurfacing procedure is completed. Very often, multiple resurfacing treatments must be done to achieve the desired results.

The second procedure used to remove acne scarring is called dermabrasion. In this procedure, a rotating wire brush is used to remove the top layer of skin. The body continually produces new skin and the new layer will be smoother than the layer that was removed. It usually takes between 10 days and 3 weeks for the skin to heal after a dermabrasion treatment. Once again, multiple treatments may be required to eliminate the scarring.

Acne may seem to be a devastating condition but with proper skin routine, vitamins, and over the counter products, most cases will not be severe. Remember, proper cleansing goes a long way towards minimizing outbreaks, so don't be afraid to cleanse your face 5 - 6 times a day of more if needed.

Fight acne by being smart. Take as many preventative steps as possible to avoid situations that create the opportunity for acne to develop. If acne does afflict you, consult a qualified medical professional before deciding on a course of action.

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2008-07-14T06:04:00.000-07:00

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Take a few moments to think about what it would mean to you if you could take control of your weight and achieve the body that you have always dreamed about. Imagine feeling fantastic when you reach your target weight and you can finally fit into the clothes you desire.

Evidence Featured In The Daily Express, 5 Dec 2006

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Diet Fitness - A Buddy Will Help You Lose Weight

2008-07-09T07:57:00.000-07:00

One of the best ways to increase your diet fitness and stay consistent with your diet and exercise plan is to team up with a buddy. A diet buddy is a friend or co-worker who you partner up with so that the two of you help each other lose weight by staying focused and accountable for your actions. Many fitness experts agree that if you have a friend to rely on then you are much more likely to stick to your program and successfully lose weight.

Choosing a diet buddy is not hard but it can be a challenge to finds someone who you can trust and who will be honest with you. You need someone who will remind you not to eat junk food when you confess that you have fallen off the wagon and who will also be sympathetic to your guilty feelings. Try to find a person who has similar weight loss goals because if you want to lose 20 pounds and your buddy wants to lose 50 then you may not be compatible. Avoid choosing someone you live with, if possible, since the constant interaction will make you feel like your every move is being watched so try to choose a co-worker or close friend to help you out.

You should also choose a diet buddy who you will see on a regular basis. A really great way to stay on track is to meet at the gym every morning and then get something to eat afterward. You can compare notes and talk about what’s going on and how you are progressing. If breakfast doesn’t work then lunch is another good alternative.

You and your diet buddy should set goals and rewards for each other. When you hit a weight goal, you can celebrate by shopping for a new outfit that shows off your weight loss or you can go out together for a healthy dinner at a nice restaurant. You and your buddy are working together to help each other reach your goals so if you lose weight faster than your friend, be supportive and help them realize that everyone has a different body type and some people take longer to lose weight. On the flip side, be prepared for your friend to lose weight quicker than you and if that happens, be sure to cheer them on and reassure yourself that your consistency will pay off for you in the near future.
by: Michael Maroun

How to Cure High Blood Pressure- 7 Blood Pressure Secrets Doctors Won’t Tell You

2008-07-03T05:10:00.000-07:00

Do you know how to cure high blood pressure with no medication? Most people would probably say to eat healthy (lower your salt-intake) and make sure you exercise. Unfortunately, most doctors tell you this and forget to tell you the other treatments you can be doing to lower your score and eventually be med-free.

The truth is that doctors are educated in medical schools were natural health and simple 'common sense' secrets are not taught. Unfortunately, medicine and antibiotics are only being taught because our medical industry is completely reliant upon pharmaceutical companies.

But new research is now showing the sometimes medicines are not the only treatment. In fact, some natural treatments are just as effective as their medicine counterpart.

Which is making some think, "Is there something doctors are NOT telling us?"

Naturally Treat High Blood Pressure

High Blood Pressure Medications (Diuretics, Beta Blockers, Alpha Blockers, and Vasodilators) work because they lower your blood pressure. The problem is that they make it look that you are healthy but are your numbers showing the truth?

High Blood Pressure medications work because they synthetically alleviate the pressure of the arteries and blood. For instance, with diuretics the blood will become less salty (less thick) and your pressure with drop. Another example would be beta blockers which synthetically cause the heart to beat slower.

Though these medications look good on paper, they are NOT treating the disease known as the 'silent killer'. In fact, they could be prolonging your life but they will never fully treat the disease. And statistics show that users will eventually die from the high blood pressure.

But what if you could naturally treat high blood pressure.

7 Hypertension Tips Your Doctor Won't Share with You

So you want to know, 'how to cure high blood pressure'? First, you need to know how to prevent high blood pressure holistically. Because curing high blood pressure starts with a holistic treatment. Holistically treating hypertension simply means using the 'whole' body to cure the problem. This is completely different than taking a pill to synthetically thin out the blood.

1. Three Miracle Minerals- If you are suffering from high blood pressure, you should be supplementing your diet with 3 miracle minerals that lower high blood pressure. Magnesium, Calcium and Potassium have been shown to help lower blood pressure.

2. Garlic- Garlic has been shown to benefit the heart, lower cholesterol and lower high blood pressure naturally. The compound in garlic, allicin, is thought to naturally lower high blood pressure. Find a quality supplement today.

3. Folic Acid- Vitamin B which is found in green leafy vegetables reduces homocysteine levels in the blood. This vitamin will lower the risk of heart disease and alleviate the pressure naturally.

4. Apple Cider Vinegar- Many or my customers have found success with apple cider vinegar which contains vitamins C, A, E, B1, B2 and B6, in addition to potassium, magnesium, and copper.

5. Relieve Stress- Do you know there are numerous ways to relieve stress? Breathing exercises, exercising, or reading a book are simple ways to relieve stress and lower high blood pressure. And there are even more than this!

6. Your Diet! You know the major Do's and Don'ts about high blood pressure dieting. Just remember to be eating your water-soluble fibers (fruits and vegetables). Fibers, especially water-soluble, will flush your system and plaque. Also, switch to whole grains! With less plaque in the arteries you will eventually be hypertension-free! Our HBP report goes into great detail about how you can treat hypertension with your diet.

7. Green Tea! It is loaded with antioxidants and research shows it lowers high blood pressure. Whether it is the 'relaxing' factor or the natural herbs in green tea, 1 cup of green tea will be helpful for your health!

Normalize your High Blood Pressure in 3 Weeks or Less

What foods should you be eating? What other vitamins are a must? What exercises are an absolute do? What herbs are making doctors scratch their heads? Why is chocolate now good for you?

Are you interested in lowering blood pressure naturally, with out drugs? We offer a 100% guaranteed, medical doctor-approved HBP Remedy Report which shares numerous natural health tips and guarantees to normalize your pressure in 3 weeks or less. If you are serious about living young again, please visit our How to Cure High Blood Pressure Website.

Why Your Diet May Not Be As Rich In Iodine As You Assume

2008-07-01T07:14:00.000-07:00

Acne Fact and Fiction! Do Stress, Facials and Concealer's Help to Promote or Reduce Acne Breakouts?

2008-06-18T07:38:00.000-07:00

What is Acne? People have differing opinions as to what acne really is. So, what exactly is acne? Do a couple of occasional but recurring zits qualify as a case of acne or do you have to have a lot of zits?

Believe it or not, the answer is that occasional pimples or zits do not constitute a true case of acne. Although zits do seem to have the ability to appear almost instantaneously and at the most inopportune times like picture day, prom night, spelling bees, sporting events, dates, and special award ceremonies, they are not a true acne outbreak.

The dictionary defines acne as "an inflammatory disease of the sebaceous glands, characterized by comedones and pimples, especially on the face, back, chest, and, in severe cases, by cysts and nodules resulting in scarring."

The anatomical definition of sebaceous glands is: "small subcutaneous glands usually connected with hair follicles. The follicles secrete an oily semi-fluid matter, composed in great part of fat, which softens and lubricates the hair and skin."

Real acne outbreaks are actually a disease of the skin. However, the great news is that acne is treatable. Although it can be very embarrassing, cause great emotional distress, and lower your personal self-esteem for a period of time, acne is not fatal.

There are new and effective treatments being sought by researchers and great advances have been made in the treatment of acne in the last few years. Years ago, when a person had acne, they were pretty much stuck with the problem. There were very few treatments available and the medical profession didn't even consider acne a disease.

It was long thought that acne was the direct result of a diet that was too high in fat and/or sweets. That is no longer the case. Acne is most often associated with puberty and the onset of pre-teen and teenage years but it can and does develop in adults as well. When acne does finally heal, there can be permanent scars left (from picking and popping) that are unsightly and cause patients to suffer long term emotional distress and low self- esteem.

New and very effective skin resurfacing treatments have been developed over the last several years that have, if not completely removed acne scars, at least diminished their appearance and severity.

Acne Fact or Fiction:

You can hear a lot of tall tales about acne today, so let's take a look at the fact or fiction of acne. It is always better to be well armed with factual information so that you don't get fooled by the fictional facts that surround acne.

Fictional Fact #1: Acne is caused by a lack of sexual activity.

Factual Fact: Acne and sexual activity are two entirely separate issues. One has no bearing on the other. Hormones secreted during puberty and young adulthood does have a bearing on acne. They also have a bearing on sexual arousal and activity. However, acne has no bearing on sexual activity nor does sexual activity have any bearing on acne.

Fictional Fact #2: People have acne because they are dirty.

Factual Fact: Dirt has no part in acne. Dirt is dirt. Acne is acne. One has nothing to do with the other. Acne is a build up of oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria. Dirt isn't involved. Keeping the face clean can and will help to prevent clogged pores but dirt does not cause acne.

Fictional Fact #3: Dermatologists can cure acne.

Factual Fact: Dermatologists can TREAT acne. They can help to alleviate the symptoms and help to clear up the pimples, black-heads, and white heads. They can prescribe antibiotics and topical ointments, lotions, and creams that will help but there is no cure at this time for acne.

Fictional Fact #4: Acne is simply a skin problem.

Factual Fact: It's true that acne affects the skin but it can also affect the way a person sees himself or herself. Acne and the scarring it can leave behind may cause a sufferer to become depressed and develop low self-esteem, both of which can lead to larger and more complex life socialization problems. Acne sufferers need the loving support and reassurance from their family and friends.

Acne and Stress:

Can stress actually cause acne? There is ample evidence available to suggest that stress can most assuredly cause an acne breakout or make an existing breakout worse. Our bodies are highly developed chemical laboratories that produce all sorts of stuff.

At puberty, our body begins to produce an abundance of male hormones and this happens in both boys and girls. This overproduction of male hormones can happen at other times in life besides puberty; for example, when a girl or woman starting or stops taking birth control pills.

These male hormones cause the bodies sebaceous glands to shift into overdrive and begin producing sebum. The sebum then travels up hair follicles, clogs the pores and begins the acne development cycle. However, male hormones are not the only cause for the sebaceous glands to begin producing an overabundance of sebum. When we become extremely stressed or overly emotional, our bodies react by causing the adrenal glands to produce a substance known as Cortisol, which is released directly into the bloodstream. Then the chemical chain reaction continues as the sebaceous glands release sebum, the sebum travels up the same hair follicles, clogs the pores and acne develops.

The physical changes in the body can cause exactly the same chemical chain reaction as the emotional changes in the mind. The mind/body connection is very real. Maybe some of it really IS in your head. If that's the case, there is help available to help people deal with the acne that is caused by stress. Reducing stress will just naturally reduce sebum production by the sebaceous glands and reducing sebum production will help to alleviate an acne breakout. Therefore, when you learn to reduce and control you stress levels, this part of the chemical chain reaction is minimized.

It really it isn't any different than restoring a hormonal balance to your body that reduces sebum production. So, in the final analysis, both factors that cause excessive sebum production should be addressed. Solving one problem might help; however, solving both problems could eliminate acne altogether.

Acne Facials:

If you are part of the 95 of the population who suffer from acne, you have more than likely seen TV or print media advertisements for acne facials. Have you ever wondered if there is anything to the claims that their manufacturers make?

In general, the answer is yes! Most acne facials are very effective, pretty much worth the price, and can be used in conjunction with your usual acne fighting regime. They won't necessarily replace any part of what you are already doing; but, rather enhance the overall effects.

You can find acne facials in most health stores, at many cosmetic counters, and online. As a matter of fact, you can probably complete a better comparison of available products online than you can anywhere else.

Most of these acne facial products provide for a three-step program. The first step is a complete facial cleansing. The next step is a steam massage. The final step is a facial mask. The first two steps are designed to prepare the face. The steam massage softens the black heads and the white heads to remove toxins from your skin. The facial mask serves to remove the dead skin cells from the face and to moisturize it as well. The overall effect of the acne facial is a very relaxing, calming, and cleansing experience. It just plain feels good. Anything that helps to calm and sooth your stress can't be bad because we all know that acne is aggravated by high stress levels. Acne facial masks can be used in addition to other parts of your acne prevention and treatment regime or you may find that the facial can, in fact, actually replace some things that you are currently doing.

Acne Concealer's:

One of Newton's laws of physics laws says that, "For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction." That law of physics spills over into a lot of our life situations. For example: A young woman gets a zit and wants to cover it up. The cosmetics industry has a multitude of products designed to do just that. Okay, that's a little far out there but you get my point.

The acne pimples, whether they are white heads or black heads should never be picked at or popped. If they are popped or picked, it can and normally does result is a scar that is much harder to get rid of than the actual pimple, black head or white head. Popping a pimple is not going to make it go away. In fact, popping a pimple is only going to make the acne worse.

Still when you get a zit, you have to go out and face the world so you are looking for ways to make your skin look clear. You want to disguise the zit and make it as unnoticeable as possible. Here is where the cosmetic industry can help. There are a multitude of products designed to make a zit less noticeable. You don't want to use a product that just adds to the problem by adding additional oil to already oily skin. So, you do need to remember, that when you use a cover product to make the zit less noticeable, you need to totally clean the product from your skin immediately when you return home.

Some of the better known as well as more effective cosmetic concealer's on the market today are:

1. Dermablend Smooth Indulgence Concealer: This product produces a smooth matte appearance and was designed specifically for covering acne blemishes as well as for covering Rosacea and dark circles under the eyes.

2. Flawless Skin by Prescriptives: This product will not aggravate acne but will supply a medium to full coverage and it contains SPF 25 for protection from the sun.

Don't let acne control you; but rather, become smart and learn how to control the negative influences in your life that create a positive situation for acne to develop!

by: Stephen M. Seabrook

Natural Health Clinic Colon Center Stone Mountain

2008-06-03T07:32:00.000-07:00

Detoxification Diet: Truth About Colon Cleansing

Detoxification From Alcohol Toronto

The opposite is actually true as has been proved over and over again ever since Prof Yudkin launched his attack on sugars and starches in the 1960s. "Incorporate all of them and you're well on your way to seriously detoxing without ever going on a program. If you are in the urban area it is recommended that you find an oxygen rich area where you can perform deep breathing. Regular bathing helps the body to get rid of toxins that accumulate on the skin, and also opens the pores. Saunas and oil massages help the body to cleanse completely. Many different approaches to detoxification and wellness will work even though they attack the problem at different levels.Physicians with a spiritual orientation tend to be more inclined than others to employ fasting both personally and medically. Any deficiency of these in the diet causes problems removing toxins.

Morgans Detox Diet Plan

nor can the cells' waste products get out. One common detox diet is the combination of nothing but fruits and water for a given period. The promotion of chemicals being matabilized by our bodies can be helped with certain vitamins. Think of it detox as a spring clean for the body. Often people end up with side-effects from a detox program thus highlighting the importance of medical consultation an supervision when undergoing a diet change. Who should detoxify? Although everyone can benefit from a detox cleanse those of us who are overweight have unhealthy diets take medications drink alcohol have health problems or are exposed to chemicals in the workplace need it more than others. Most detox programs start with strict diets.

Foods That Detoxify

Your body will need to be properly primed and readied for the detox program so it can respond well. You simply can't demand your body to cleanse itself immediately. Over time consumption of processed foods non-vegetarian foods and sugars leads to clogging of the inner walls of the colon with waste matter. Seventy percent of all disease processes have some emotional component to them. So if you are doing all the right things and taking all the right drugs supplements and diet for something and it still isn't working these drops may be your ticket. Our body is designed to use natural substances. Any foreign substance will elicit a response from the immune system to try and remove it. The liver reduces toxins into compounds that the body can handle and eliminate through the kidneys (as urine), skin (as sweat), lungs (as expelled air) and bowels (as feces). Consuming three servings EACH of raw fruits raw vegetables and cooked vegetables (that's nine servings total) is the minimum for optimal health but you will want to take in five servings of each per day for a total of 15 servings servings/day on a detoxification program. See diet detox free plan Because most commercial coffees are not made for this detox purpose they are not likely to be effective. This detoxification method can be done at home and at your convenience all you need is fresh organic coffee beans and a French press coffee pot. Toxic substances have penetrated every part of our living; the food we eat. Since the presence of these toxic substances are known to cause the deficiency of several important vitamins and minerals in the body the third step involves restoring these deficient vitamins and minerals; essentially through nutritional supplements.

Body Detox Diet Plans

The cars we drive emit emissions that are detrimental to our health. When we fill up at the gas station we breathe in the fumes of the gasoline which adds toxins to our body. The transit time in a normally functioning digestive system should be less than 21 hours. The average person eating a normal western diet will have eight full meals of undigested food and waste matter within their digestive system. Experts agree that it's not good to try and loose excess weight in a quick manner. It's better to take your time and incorporate a package of exercise. Your body has an amazing self-healing mechanism built right in it but in order to let it work you have to give it the rest it needs. See more Home Detox For Alcoholics There are alternatives to costly colonics though you can find many products do a wonderful job of eliminating toxins from our body by converting them into a form more easily excreted by the body.

Liver Detox Symptoms

Detoxification is unarguably very important for a long lasting health. There are several ways to achieve detoxification of the system some depend on the type of chemicals we are attempting to rid the body of while others have a general effect. " Critics also believe that it's extremely likely that the weight gain will occur quickly after finishing this diet. Natural health therapists claim that a periodic detox can confer a host of health benefits. You may find your skin will get worse before it gets better, but soon you'll see a clearer more radiant complexion. Acne will improve, your eyes will look clearer and, as a bonus, you may find your appetite decreases and sugar cravings diminish. A detox programme may also incorporate complementary therapies such as massage homeopathy aromatherapy or even colonic irrigation. Learn more at http://www.detoxwithmastercleanse.info These are not becoming any less important to your family's health. Internal cleansing is a live long process similar to cleaning teeth and detoxing is a vital part in it.

Diabetes and Food Style: Turn Your Food into Your Medicine

2008-05-30T21:22:00.000-07:00

Fast paced life of modern world has necessitated us to give only lower priority to nutrition. This is at a time when nutrition awareness of everyone is high. Instead of taking well cooked food items, fruits and juices, people go after carbonated drinks, fast 'junk' food, frozen and preserved food, microwave food. People also don’t take the time to enjoy and appreciate the food they eat. Today most of us just need any food that fills the belly for sometime.

This food habits have given rise to a variety of health problems. Significantly important one among them is diabetes.

Ayurvedic principles tell us food is one important element that keeps a person in a balanced state of body, mind and soul. Taking healthy food translates into healthy body.

Ayurvedic view on diabetes is no different. There are times when diabetes can attack without any warning sign. Ayurvedic food style combined with certain herbal applications helps one effectively manage his or her condition of diabetes.

High sugar level is the most dreaded thing about diabetes. Ayurveda recommends food items that don't release excess sugar into the blood. Food items that are too sweet, ice cream, chocolate, friend food items, white flour, preserved food, fast food, junk food etc are to be avoided. Bad habits like smoking and drinking should be given up.

Ayurveda recommends Ayurvedic herbal tea for diabetic patients. Replace sugar with honey or jaggery (thickened molasses - sarkkara) or better still palm jaggery (thickened palm molasses - karippatti).

The advantages or drinking more than eight glass of water everyday is not easily told in an essay. Drink a minimum of 8-15 glass of water in the day time. After sunset take only minimal quantities of water. Another thing is to drink plenty of water an hour before a meal and an hour after the meals. Drinking water close to meals dilute the digestive fire (in Ayurveda it is called pitta) and makes the process of digestion difficult.

Take fruits like grapes, fig, pomegranate, citrus fruits etc. Bitter melon (bitter gourd, karela) is used as medicine for diabetes.

The point about Ayurvedic management of diabetes is never a hard task. All you will have to do is to incorporate Ayurvedic principles as your daily routine. Having healthy food and exercise regime itself can help one control his or her diabetes to a great extent.

Include turmeric and garlic as spices, bitter gourd as vegetable, triphala as a laxative and drinking lot of water as daily habit. These are not very difficult to follow. You can't eat or drink all the food items you have. But living a sweeter life sometimes means giving up some sweet for tongue food items.

About The Author
Dev Sri provides insider information about Kerala Ayurvedic practices at http://keralaayurvedics.com/

Aloeride Helping The Heart

2008-05-01T16:36:00.000-07:00

One of the most important health challenges of our time is the preventing of hardening of the arteries. Hardening of the arteries is one of the major consequences of aging. Fortunately now days there are a number of things, which can be done, to prevent and in some cases reverse arteriosclerosis or hardening of the arteries.

Because of the aloe, Aloeride can benefit the circulatory system. Aloe lowers triglycerides and LDL or the “bad cholesterol” and raises HDL the “good cholesterol”. Several studies have shown when aloe is added to the diet, symptoms and signs of coronary artery disease disappeared. The people in the study never developed heart problems. The same studies noted patients were able to discontinue their prescriptions of the pills they had taken the in past for chest pain, blood pressure and blood sugar control.

A study done in 1985 before the information regarding aloe vera and Aleride was known used 5,000 people with acknowledged coronary artery disease and angina pectoris, which is chest pain on physical exertion, which indicates a lake of circulation of blood to the heart muscles, were fed with aloe vera added to their diet. The results were no more signs of angina pectoris, no development of lethal heart attacks and prescription drugs were no longer needed to control symptoms, but didn’t cure them.

Hardening of the arteries is a complex disease, which involves microscopic damage to small and large arteries alike. Hardened plague lines the arteries. When the small arteries have a plague line, which builds up, the smaller the passageway making blood circulation difficult. The organs and tissues needing the blood and the oxygen are deprived, which causes damage to the organs and tissue due to the lack of oxygen and blood, and the build up of carbon dioxide and other toxic waste, which should be carried away by the arteries.

When the coronary arteries are blocked, blood no longer flows freely; it will sludge through the arteries. With physical exertion the heart muscle needs more oxygen. When it request for more oxygen and blood is not delivered, a heart muscle is damaged and it dies. When the heart muscles dies, it is called a heart attack. If the right muscle of the heart dies, the person will die instantly.

By reducing the platelet stickiness, Aloe vera alleviates the coronary syndrome the same thing aspirin and Plavex are currently used for. The usual job for the platelet is blood clotting to stop bleeding when blood vessels are injured. When the platelets become sticky more than normal, the platelet will form a clot in a blood vessel whose walls are lined with too much plaque. Sometimes it will permanently shut off the blood flow through that artery or blood vessel.

The clotting can cause damage to the tissue of the brain by causing a stroke and kidneys in people with hardening of the arteries and those with diabetes. The diabetes will accelerate the process of small vessel disease and the damage to organs and tissues.

Aloe vera has the ability to reduce platelet stickiness and decrease the inflammation caused by microvascular injury. It reduces the build up and can even reverse the hardening of the arteries as well as prevent it.

Is your multivitamin hurting you?

2008-04-29T18:09:00.000-07:00

Do you take antioxidants or a regular multivitamin? Turns out you might not need to, according to new research in the Cochrane Review that refutes the long-held belief that antioxidants prevent disease or cancer.
Researchers conducted a meta-analysis of existing studies, pertaining to more than 200,000 people, and found that antioxidant supplements--vitamins A, C, and E; beta-carotene; and selenium--do not prevent heart disease or cancer, do not forestall death, and may even increase mortality risk slightly.

But the phrase "may increase mortality risk slightly" is important to put any risk in context. Given the large pool of people analyzed, researchers would have noticed right away if there was any significant risk of death associated with the supplements. So if all we have is a hint of modest harm, the risk is clearly quite small.

This finding is disappointing and counter-intuitive. How can antioxidant supplements fail to help us and maybe even harm us slightly?

There are several likely answers. First, we may have the doses wrong. Just because some of a thing is good does not mean more is better. Second, maybe we have the wrong combinations. Antioxidants in foods come packaged with many other nutrients, and they all work together. When we separate that harmony, we may wind up with sour notes. Third, the participants in most of these trials were already ill. Perhaps antioxidants have different effects before chronic disease begins. They might even help prevent disease if taken earlier.

In general, my advice about a supplement is to remember it's not a substitute for a healthy diet and lifestyle. Use supplements thoughtfully. Talk to your doctor to be sure there is a sound reason, tailored to your health, for each one you take. Don’t assume that just because a clever ad makes a supplement sound good that it truly is.

I take an Omega-3 fish oil supplement every day, and recommend the same for most of my patients. I believe a multivitamin or mineral supplement is a good idea for many of us, despite a lack of research that shows a clear benefit. (I also like a supplement called Juice Plus, which compresses the nutrients from fruits and vegetables into capsule form, while preserving their native proportions.) Based on the science we have at present, there is no reason to fear any antioxidant supplements you may have been taking--the potential for harm is minimal. But remember: No pill bottle holds an alternative for a healthy, active lifestyle.

Vitamin Supplements Found Ineffective Against Lung Cancer

2008-04-23T09:47:00.000-07:00

The development of lung cancer appears to overwhelm any putative protective effects of prolonged use of vitamins C, E, and folate supplements, found researchers here.

Moreover, extended use of vitamin E supplements was associated with a small increased risk of lung cancer, more so in smokers, Christopher G. Slatore, M.D., of the University of Washington here, and colleagues reported in the first March issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

The findings came from a prospective cohort of 77,126 men and women, ages 50 to 76, in Washington state who participated in the VITAL (VITamins And Lifestyle) study. If patients ask, explain that vitamins C, E, and folate supplements failed to reduce the risk of lung cancer and vitamin E supplements may actually be harmful.Explain that eating two daily helpings of fruit and not smoking may be the best form of protection. From October 2000 to December 2002, patients were identified through the Seattle-Puget Sound SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results) cancer registry. In a mean of four years, 521 individuals developed lung cancer. Non-small-cell lung cancer accounted for 75% of the total. After adjustment for smoking, age, and sex, after an average 10 years' use, no benefit was found for any of the supplements But when modeled continuously, the researchers found that over 10 years, for every 100 mg/d of supplemental vitamin E, there was a small increased risk of lung cancer.
This translated to a 28% increased risk of non-small-cell lung cancer at a vitamin E dose of 400 mg/d for 10 years, the investigators said. The lung cancer risk of supplemental vitamin E was largely confined to current smokers. When analyzed by current smoking status, the researchers found an increased risk over 10 years for every 100 mg/d increase in vitamin E value for interaction of 0.06. The risk was greatest for non-small-cell lung cancer. Current smokers in the highest dose category (>215 mg/d) had a significantly increased risk of lung cancer One possible mechanism for this effect is that although vitamin E is considered an antioxidant, it might act as a pro-oxidant, as well, the researchers said. After adjusting for intake of vitamin E from food sources, the point estimate for supplemental vitamin E was unchanged, although the results were no longer significant. The risks for supplemental vitamin C and folate did not change substantially when adjusted for dietary intake. Among the study limitations the researchers noted that residual confounding, such as education and BMI, might have biased the results, although after adjustment, the results did not change. Other limitations included the fact that the cohort was mainly white and there were fewer current smokers than in the U.S. as a whole. Future studies may focus on other components of fruits and vegetables that may explain the decreased risk of lung cancer associated with fruits and vegetables, Dr, Slatore said. Meanwhile, he said, these results, in combination with other studies, should prompt clinicians to counsel patients that these supplements are unlikely to reduce the risk of lung cancer and vitamin E supplements may be harmful, especially for smokers. In an accompanying editorial, Tim Byers, M.D., M.P.H., of the University of Colorado, wrote, "How could a beneficial effect of consuming fruits be consistent with adverse effects of a nutrient derived in large part from the same food group?" The answer, he said, is that fruit contains not only vitamins but also many hundreds of other phytochemicals whose functions are not well understood. Recommendations advising eating at least two servings of fruit each day would likely lead to a reduced risk for lung cancer as well as a reduced risk for other cancers. However, Dr. Byers said, any benefit to smokers from increasing fruit intake would be more than offset if even a small proportion of smokers decided to continue tobacco use.

Diabetes Drug Helped Slow Heart Disease

2008-04-05T17:46:00.000-07:00

Doctors say they have shown for the first time that a diabetes drug can prevent the progression of coronary heart disease.
The Cleveland Clinic-led study involved 543 patients with Type 2 diabetes. It compared two drugs, Actos and Amaryl, which act in opposite ways: Actos is part of a newer class of drugs that reduce insulin resistance, while Amaryl is an older drug that increases insulin production.
Using intravascular ultrasound, researchers found that after 18 months, Actos was significantly better at reducing progression of plaque buildup in arteries of the heart.

"Seventy-five percent of diabetics will die of a cardiovascular-related cause," study leader Dr. Steven Nissen, the Clinic chief of cardiovascular medicine, said in an interview Monday. "If you can find a therapy that reduces progression of heart disease and atheroslcerosis, that will potentially have a very big impact."

The study is published in Wednesday's Journal of the American Medical Association. Results were released Monday, after presentation at the American College of Cardiology scientific conference in Chicago.
Previous studies have shown that Actos may lower risk of heart attack and stroke. The drug also carries increased risk of heart failure and bone fractures.
The question of whether blood-sugar control can reduce heart disease has been controversial, an editorial that accompanied the study said. Part of a federally sponsored trial was stopped earlier this year, after an unexpected number of patients died while undergoing aggressive therapy to lower blood sugar.
Warnings have also been raised about the diabetes drug Avandia -- a chemical relative of Actos -- after Nissen last year tied Avandia to increased risk of heart attack.
Doctors said the new results suggest that lowering blood sugar may not be as important for heart health as the choice of drug.
"There's clearly more to the story than just getting the sugars down," said Dr. Emil Hayek, medical director of Akron General Medical Center's Heart and Vascular Center. "I think it should change clinical practice. There's clearly a benefit to using some of the more novel ways to treat diabetes."
Hayek added that the results suggest Actos may prevent heart attacks and strokes, but "that's a much more difficult question to answer."
Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America Inc., which makes Actos, paid for the study.

Regular Drinking Raises Blood Pressure, Meta-Analysis Affirms

2008-03-31T07:29:00.000-07:00

BRISTOL, England, March 4 -- Even moderate alcohol intake over a lifetime may have a marked effect on blood pressure, researchers said.
Action Points
________________________________________
• Explain to interested patients that the meta-analysis supported but does not prove a link between alcohol and blood pressure.
• Note that the studies in the meta-analysis included primarily Japanese men.

Men who averaged three drinks a day had more than twice the risk of hypertension as those who drank little, if at all, reported Sarah J. Lewis, Ph.D., of the University of Bristol, and colleagues online in Public Library of Science -- Medicine.
Men who had one drink a day were at 70% elevated risk, the researchers found.
Systolic and diastolic blood pressure was also elevated "to a much greater extent, even among moderate drinkers, than previously thought," they wrote.
Observational studies have generally found lower blood pressure with moderate alcohol intake compared with nonuse or heavy intake, but those studies had limited ability to control for diet, smoking, exercise, income, and reporting bias.
So to eliminate these sources of confounding, the investigators did a meta-analysis of studies that focused on genetic variations for the enzyme that removes alcohol from the body. "Analyzing individuals by genotype," they said, "is akin to a randomized controlled trial of different lifetime levels of alcohol intake."
While the aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) genotype is not associated with confounding factors, people who inherit two copies of the ALDH2 *2*2 variant tend to drink little because their body does not efficiently metabolize alcohol and they become flushed and nauseated after drinking, the researchers said.
The meta-analysis included 10 studies reporting on associations between ALDH2 and hypertension or blood pressure. Most were cross-sectional; all were population-based.
The studies were mainly done in Japan, where the ALDH2 gene variant is common. One small study came from England.
As expected, the investigators found that alcohol intake was highest at around 20 to 30 g per day for men with the *1*1 genotype and lowest at 2 g or less per day for *2*2 homozygotes. Men with the *1*2 genotype had intermediate intake at 10 to 15 g per day on average.
Alcohol intake was minimal among the relatively few women included in the studies, "but studies showed trends in the same direction as men," the researchers said.
Smoking status, sex, and physical activity did not differ between genotype groups. Body mass index tended to be higher among men with the more common *1*1 genotype.
"As alcohol is an energy-dense macronutrient and has an appetite-enhancing effect," the researchers said, "it is likely that the increase in BMI among individuals with the *1*1 genotype is due to their increased alcohol consumption."
In the three studies that reported hypertension outcomes for a total of 4,219 participants, men who drank more were at higher risk.
Men with the *1*1 genotype had 2.42-fold higher risk than those with the *2*2 genotype (95% CI 1.66 to 3.55, P=0.0000048). Men with the *1*2 genotype had 1.72-fold higher risk than those with the *2*2 genotype (95% CI 1.17 to 2.52, P=0.006).
The same effect was seen in the five studies that reported blood pressure outcomes for a total of 7,658 participants.
Mean diastolic blood pressure was 3.95 mm Hg higher among men with the *1*1 genotype and 1.58 mm Hg higher among men with the *1*2 genotype compared with *2*2 homozygotes (P<0.00001 and P=0.016, respectively).
Mean systolic blood pressure was 7.44 mm Hg higher for men with the *1*1 genotype and 4.24 mm Hg higher among men with the *1*2 genotype compared with *2*2 homozygotes (P<0.00001 and P=0.00005, respectively).
Each gram per day of alcohol consumption was estimated to increase diastolic blood pressure 0.16 mm Hg (95% CI 0.11 to 0.21) and to raise systolic blood pressure 0.24 mm Hg (95% CI 0.16 to 0.32).
Although findings could have been caused by pleiotropic effects of ALDH2, "if either pleiotropic effects or confounding by linkage disequilibrium were operating, an effect on blood pressure would be seen in both sexes," they said.
Further large-scale studies are needed to confirm the findings, they noted.
The editors' summary pointed out that "although the Mendelian randomization approach [used by the investigators] avoids most of the confounding intrinsic to observational studies, it is possible that a gene near ALDH2 that has no effect on alcohol intake affects blood pressure, since genes are often inherited in blocks."
The editors also pointed out that in the U.S., one standard drink contains about 14 g of alcohol and in the U.K. 8 g. Recommended daily limits in these countries, they said, are 1-2 units and 3-4 units, respectively.

Diabetes Information Has Many Sources

2008-03-29T21:43:00.000-07:00

When a person is newly diagnosed as being diabetic many thoughts go through their mind, as well as numerous questions about the ailment. There are many good resources for obtaining diabetes information, not least of which is your medical care provider.

Principal among the diabetes information you will want to have is what to do in case of emergency such as a hypoglycemic event, which is a sudden drop in blood sugar level, which if left untreated, could lead to unconsciousness or a coma. It is important that not only the diabetic understand what steps need to be taken, by those caring for them should know this as well.

While an exact cause of diabetes is unknown and how it affects a person is different for each, the basic symptoms are the same. There are two commonly known types of diabetes, Type I, when the body fails to produce enough insulin to do it job, and Type II, when the insulin is produced but does not function as it should. Most diabetes information refers to Type II being the most common form.

Diabetes occurs when the body fails to produce enough insulin, or to properly use the insulin produced to convert sugars and starch to energy for the body to burn as fuel. Diabetics require insulin to help their body perform this function and the amount of insulin and the method of ingestion will vary based on the diabetes information available for each patient.

Tracking Sugar Levels Necessary For Health

A person with diabetes must track the glucose level in the blood several times throughout the day to help establish a normal reading for them at different times. For example, it may be acceptable for sugar levels to be slightly elevated immediately after eating and if the level drops after a meal, there may be some cause for concern. Without the diabetes information based on that person’s history, it is not possible to know.

Keeping current on medical records can provide much needed diabetes information for medical professionals supplying emergency care. Not all medications can work together and knowing a person is a diabetic and what medications they are on because of it can eliminate the possibility of mixing incompatible medicines.

The American Diabetes Association along with the American Medical Association are also great resources for diabetes information and can refer those believing they have symptoms of diabetes to appropriate medical professionals.

HEART DISEASE

2008-03-29T10:14:00.000-07:00

Heart Disease Reduction by Reducing Salt
"Across populations, the level of blood pressure, the...rise in blood pressure with age, and the prevalence of 'high blood pressure disease] are directly related to sodium 'salt] intake...
"In the continued absence of voluntary measures adopted by the food industry, new regulations will be required to achieve lower 'salt] concentrations in processed and prepared foods."
Editor's Comment: Whether or not one calls it Alternative Health, reducing salt and in a more concerted effort, adding to your intake of potassium-rich foods (potassium reduces sodium in the body) such as beans, orange juice and coffee should be helpful. Bananas are widely believed to contain much potassium and they are over-rated as an Alternative Health adjunct, though not useless.
From: Archives of Internal Med., vol. 167, July 23, 2007. By: Drs. Dickinson & Havas, for the Council on Science & Pub. Health, Amer. Med. Assn.

VITAMIN D AND CARDIOVASCULAR RISK

2008-03-28T04:51:00.000-07:00

A national survey designed to estimate the prevalence of common chronic conditions and associated risk factors was conducted in the US between 1988 and 1994 (NHANES III). It provided a database which is constantly mined for information about specific questions. A study based on this data was recently published which addresses the question of the association between vitamin D status and the prevalence of risk factors for cardiovas cu lar disease (CVD) using the vitamin D serum marker 25-hydroxyvitamin D.

Data for over 15,000 adult participants were available. When individuals with 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels less than 52 nmol/L were compared with those with levels equal to or greater than 92 nmol/L, it was found that those in the low-level group had significantly higher probabilities of have hypertension, abnormal blood glucose, history of diabetes, obesity, and high triglycerides. However, for two prominent risk factors, high total cholesterol or non-HDL cholesterol, no correlations were found.

The authors claim that to the best of their knowledge this is the first study to demonstrate significant association between low vitamin D status and CVD risk factors in a nationally representative International Health News November 2007 Page 7 sample.

In addition, they pointed out that favorable trends for the risk factors for obesity, diabetes and hypertension may well continue to increase at levels greater than 92 nmol/L conferring additional health benefits. In addition, their results were regarded as consistent with the established literature that suggests a role for vitamin D in promoting insulin sensitivity and preventing diabetes. They also present plausible biological mechanisms for some of the observed dependencies on vitamin D.

Penyakit kulit karena jamur

2008-03-10T07:11:00.000-07:00

Banyak orang beranggapan bahwa penyakit panu atau kurap sekadar masalah kosmetik. Pernah menikmati tempe atau tapai? Di masyarakat Indonesia kedua makanan ini sangat akrab sebagai hidangan di atas meja. Makanan dari kedua jenis bahan itu cukup lunak dan nikmat ketika dimakan. Ini tentu berbeda bila kita menyantap bahan bakunya. Tidak lunak, bukan?

Kenikmatan rasa tempe, tapai, roti, oncom, dan masih banyak jenis makanan yang lainnya itu dihasilkan dari proses fermentasi jamur. Kehadiran jamur dimanfaatkan untuk hal lain, seperti untuk melengkapi sayuran dan lauk-pauk bagi keluarga, dan untuk menghasilkan obat antibiotik.

Di dunia diperkirakan terdapat 100 ribuan jenis jamur. Tergolong ke dalam kelompok fungi, jamur bisa saja terdiri atas satu sel yang besarnya beberapa mikrometer, atau dapat juga membentuk tubuh buah yang besarnya mencapai satu meter. Sel-selnya tersusun berderet satu per satu dan membentuk hifa atau benang-benang (filamen). Alat perkembangbiakannya berupa spora.

Karena tak punya hijau daun, jamur menjadi makhluk konsumen dan sangat bergantung pada medium yang menyediakan karbohidrat, protein, vitamin, dan persenyawaan kimia lainnya. Semua itu didapatkannya dengan cara menyerap unsur yang dibutuhkan dari lingkungan hidupnya melalui sistem hifa.

Selain bisa melakukan fermentasi medium karbohidrat menjadi gula, jamur pun juga sangat penting dalam kehidupan manusia. Dengan jamur, sampah dan bangkai makhluk hidup lainnya bisa terurai. Namun, seringkali jamur juga dapat menguraikan bahan yang diperlukan manusia sehingga bisa mendatangkan kerugian. Pembusukan pada makanan dan pelapukan pada kayu cukup merepotkan manusia. Tak hanya itu, jamur bisa beracun dan menyebabkan penyakit tertentu.

Jamur pada manusia
Jamur memang sangat erat hubungannya dengan kehidupan manusia. Sedemikian eratnya sehingga manusia tak terlepas dari jamur. Jenis fungi-fungian ini bisa hidup dan tumbuh di mana saja, baik di udara, tanah, air, pakaian, bahkan di tubuh manusia sendiri.

''Jelasnya, di mana pun jamur bisa hidup, terutama di lingkungan yang cocok baginya berkembang biak. Manusia itu termasuk salah satu tempat bagi jamur untuk tumbuh, di samping bakteri dan virus,'' jelas pakar kesehatan kulit dan kelamin, Dr Kusmarinah Bramono dari FKUI (RSUPN-Cipto Mangunkusumo) dalam pemaparan tentang jamur di Jakarta, beberapa waktu lalu.

Jamur bisa menyebabkan penyakit yang cukup parah bagi manusia. Penyakit tersebut antara lain mikosis yang menyerang langsung pada kulit, mikotoksitosis akibat mengonsumsi toksin dari jamur yang ada dalam produk makanan, dan misetismus yang disebabkan oleh konsumsi jamur beracun.

Pada manusia jamur hidup pada lapisan tanduk. Jamur itu kemudian melepaskan toksin yang bisa menimbulkan peradangan dan iritasi berwarna merah dan gatal. Infeksinya bisa berupa bercak-bercak warna putih, merah, atau hitam di kulit dengan bentuk simetris. Ada pula infeksi yang berbentuk lapisan-lapisan sisik pada kulit. Itu tergantung pada jenis jamur yang menyerang.

Menurut Jimmy Sutomo dari perusahaan Janssen-Cilag, sebagai negara tropis Indonesia menjadi lahan subur tumbuhnya jamur. Karena itu, penyakit-penyakit akibat jamur sering kali menjangkiti masyarakat.

''Kita lihat, banyak masyarakat tak menyadari bahwa dirinya terinfeksi oleh jamur. Bahkan, jamur bisa mengenai manusia dari kepala hingga ujung kaki, dari bayi hingga orang dewasa dan orang lanjut usia,'' ujar Jimmy. Janssen-Cilag merupakan perusahaan farmasi yang memimpin pasaran dengan obat antijamur yang mengandung miconazole nitrate dua persen.

Jimmy menjelaskan, banyak orang meremehkan penyakit karena jamur, seperti panu atau kurap. Padahal, penyakit ini bisa menular lewat persentuhan kulit, atau juga dari pakaian yang terkontaminasi spora jamur. Banyak anggapan, katanya, penyakit panu atau kurap sekadar masalah kosmetik.

Anggapan ini dibenarkan Kusmarinah. ''Kami sering menangani pasien karena jamur. Mereka baru datang ke dokter kalau sudah merasakan gangguan kosmetik yang parah akibat infeksi jamur. Sebelumnya, mereka tak begitu memperhatikan penyakit ini.''

Pengobatan
Seharusnya, lanjut ahli kulit dari FKUI itu, masyarakat perlu memperhatikan kebersihan diri dan menjaga kekebalan tubuhnya bila ingin terhindar dari infeksi jamur. Bahaya infeksi jamur tak sekadar menyebabkan panu atau kurap saja, tapi juga bisa menyebakan kematian bila infeksinya meluas dan bahkan masuk ke organ dalam tubuh.

Karena itu, bila mendapati dirinya terkena infeksi jamur maka seseorang itu perlu segera diobati. Pengobatan yang dilakukan biasanya dengan antijamur. Lamanya pengobatan tergantung pada tingkat infeksi yang terjadi. ''Pengobatan diusahakan dilakukan sampai penyakit hilang dan sembuh benar. Kami pun harus memilih jenis obat antijamur yang efektif membasmi jamur dengan efek samping yang minimal,'' sambung Kusmarinah.

Dia mengemukakan, ada jenis obat yang bersifat iritan. Maksudnya, cara kerja obat tersebut memapas jamur dengan mengikis permukaan yang terkena jamur tiap lapisan. Biasanya obat ini memerlukan waktu 1-4 minggu untuk jenis panu atau kurap. Tapi, kondisi inipun tergantung pada tingkat keparahannya. Jenis obat lainnya bersifat fungisida. Ini lebih mengarahkan sasaran pada jamur itu sendiri tanpa mengiritasi kulit.

Kusmarinah dan Jimmy mengakui, banyak produk farmasi khusus untuk obat jamur kulit yang dijual bebas di pasaran. Umumnya masyarakat pun melakukan self medication atau pengobatan sendiri dengan membeli obat antijamur yang bebas itu. ''Bisa-bisa saja penderita melakukannya. Hanya saja, asal tahu jelas jenis infeksi jamur yang dideritanya. Namun, saya sering menemukan, masyarakat salah menggunakannya. Mereka biasanya berlebihan dalam menggunakan obat. Akibatnya, ketika kami diagnosis sulit bagi kami untuk melihat gejalanya,'' demikian Kusmarinah merincinya.

Itu juga karena persoalan informasi yang tak sampai pada masyarakat pengguna produk. ''Untuk informasi produk seharusnya disampaikan oleh ahli farmasi. Di negara kita, fungsi ini tak berjalan,'' cetus Jimmy.

Maka, masyarakat diharapkan berhati-hati dalam menggunakan obat. Sebab, infeksi jamur tak bisa dianggap enteng dan tak selalu bisa diatasi dengan pengobatan sendiri. Apalagi, dari seluruh penyakit kulit yang ditemui, masalah infeksi jamur ternyata tergolong cukup tinggi. Dengan demikian, masyarakat diharapkan meminta saran pengobatan kepada dokter dan melakukan pencegahan terhadap infeksi jamur.

Kenali Jenis Infeksi Jamur Kulit
* Panu (pitiriasis versikolor): menyerang kulit, bercak putih, merah, atau hitam.
* Kurap (dermatofitosis) yang terdiri atas Tinea Apitis menyerang kulit kepala, Tinea Korporis pada permukaan kulit, Tinea Kruris pada lipatan kulit, Tinea Pedis pada sela jari kaki (athlete's foot), Tinea Manus pada kulit telapak tangan, Tinea Imbrikata berupa sisik pada kulit di daerah tertentu, dan Tinea Ungium (pada kuku). Umumnya berbentuk sisik kemerahan pada kulit atau sisik putih. Pada kuku, terjadi peradangan di sekitar kuku, dan bisa menyebabkan bentuk kuku tak rata permukaannya, berwarna kusam, atau membiru.

* Ketombe (Pitiriasis Sika).
* Infeksi Kandida (kandidosis) pada lipatan kulit, sela jari, sela paha, ketiak, bawah payudara, mulut (sariawan), genetalia (keputihan), dan ruam popok.

Faktor-faktor Pencetus Infeksi
- Lembab dan panas dari lingkungan, dari pakaian ketat, dan pakaian tak menyerap keringat.
- Keringat berlebihan karena berolahraga atau karena kegemukan.
- Friksi atau trauma minor, misalnya gesekan pada paha orang gemuk.
- Keseimbangan flora tubuh normal terganggu, antara lain karena pemakaian antibiotik, atau hormonal dalam jangka panjang.
- Penyakit tertentu, misalnya HIV/AIDS, dan diabetes.
- Kehamilan dan menstruasi. Kedua kondisi ini terjadi karena ketidakseimbangan hormon dalam tubuh sehingga rentan terhadap jamur.

Cara Memastikan Penyakit Jamur
- Pemeriksaan tampilan secara klinis.
- Pemeriksaan dengan bantuan sinar lampu Wood (UV), kerokan kulit, mukosa, kuku untuk pemeriksaan mikroskopik, dan pemeriksaan biakan untuk mengetahui jenis jamurnya.wed

Sumber : Republika Online - Selasa, 25 Mei 2004 - Penulis : wed