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The Facts about blood pressure Why is blood pressure important? Blood pressure is important because the higher your blood pressure is, the higher your risk of health problems in the future. If your blood pressure is high, it is putting extra strain on your arteries and on your heart. Over time, this strain can cause the arteries to become to become thicker and less flexible, or to become weaker. If your arteries become thicker and less flexible, they will become more narrow, making them more likely to become clogged up. If an artery becomes completely clogged up (known as a clot), this can lead to a heart attack, a stroke, kidney disease or dementia. More rarely, if an artery has become weakened, the extra strain may eventually lead to the artery bursting. This may also cause a heart attack or stroke. The good news is that there are many ways in which you can lower your blood pressure and put less strain on your arteries and heart. Read More

The health of both women and children can be significantly improved by spacing births at least two years apart, by avoiding pregnancies before the age of 18 and by limiting the total number of pregnancies to three or less. Some basic parenting tips are: * To reduce the danger of childbearing, all pregnant women should go to a health worker for pre-natal care and all births should be assisted by a trained midwife. * For the first few months of a baby's life, breast milk alone is the best possible food and drink. Infants need other foods, in addition to breast milk, when they are four to six months old. * Children below three years have special feeding needs. They need to eat 5 to 6 times a day. Mashed vegetables and small amounts of fats or oils should be added to their food to enrich their diet. * Diarrhoea can kill by draining too much liquid from a child's body. So the liquid lost each time the child passes a watery stool must be replaced by giving the child plenty of...

The History and Causes of Tooth and Teeth Disease: Essentially, the definition of tooth and teeth disease is anything which causes teeth to be malformed or suffer increasing damage in some way, over a period of time. So tooth and teeth diseases can be caused by genes or the environment. The key to the definition is that it is a process that occurs over time. Tooth and teeth disease has been around since ancient times. From autopsies of Egyptian mummies, we know that some of the ancient Egyptians died agonizing slow deaths because of uncontrolled tooth disease / decay. Some mummies had all their teeth and jaws infected by tooth disease. In the 1700's and 1800's we know from published cartoons that toothache was around and was treated often by blacksmiths and, often in public, even on public stages in front of large audiences. In the late 1800's early 1900's, America was known as having the highest rates of tooth and teeth disease anywhere in the world. The cause of t...

Google is back in the hot seat today following a CNET report that suggests the search giant's Street View cars collected the locations of countless Wi-Fi devices. Along with mapping Wi-Fi access points (the intended purpose), the vehicles also charted the street addresses and unique identifiers of wireless Internet devices such as laptops and smartphones -- a practice that has been confirmed by the CNIL (France's data privacy commission). What's worse, the search giant reportedly releases that information online, and you can't opt out of it. Harvested MAC addresses and their last known coordinates are published on the company's public geolocation database for all to access. Although this isn't inherently dangerous (it's effectively just a snapshot of where your device last was, so it's not like someone can stalk you with the information), it still raises valid privacy concerns. For instance, someone could use the data to show you were at a specific pla...

What is Normal Blood Pressure? Buy and use an automatic blood pressure monitor. Compare your BP reading with the numbers on the chart above. Draw a line from your systolic pressure to your diastolic pressure. Is the slope of the line about the same as shown on the chart? Where do YOU fit in? What are your risk factors? Are your blood pressure readings within the normal blood pressure range? Should you take anti-hypertension medication to lower your blood pressure? Normal human daily Blood Pressure Range can vary widely, so any single blood pressure monitor reading is not reliable. BP monitor readings must be taken at different times of day, to determine AVERAGE blood pressure levels over time. What is important is your AVERAGE BP, or MAP (Mean Arterial Pressure) over time. Or, where are those numbers sitting MOST of the time? Normal MAP is about 93 mm of mercury. Read More

Research suggests that antioxidants and other important nutrients may reduce your risk of cataracts and macular degeneration. Specific antioxidants can have additional benefits as well; for example, vitamin A protects against blindness, and vitamin C may play a role in preventing or alleviating glaucoma. Omega-3 essential fatty acids appear to help the eye in a variety of ways, from alleviating symptoms of dry eye syndrome to guarding against macular damage. Eye Benefits of Vitamins and Micronutrients The following vitamins, minerals and other nutrients have been shown to be essential for good vision and may protect your eyes from sight-robbing conditions and diseases. Incorporating the following foods in your diet will help you get the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of these important eye nutrients. Established by the Institute of Medicine (National Academy of Sciences), the RDA is the average daily dietary intake level of a nutrient sufficient to meet the requirements of nearly...

Depression is a serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act. Depression has a variety of symptoms, but the most common are a deep feeling of sadness or a marked loss of interest or pleasure in activities. Other symptoms include: • Changes in appetite that result in weight losses or gains unrelated to dieting • Insomnia or oversleeping • Loss of energy or increased fatigue • Restlessness or irritability • Feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt • Difficulty thinking, concentrating, or making decisions • Thoughts of death or suicide or attempts at suicide Depression is common. It affects nearly one in 10 adults each year—nearly twice as many women as men. It’s also important to note that depression can strike at any time, but on average, first appears during the late teens to mid-20s. Depression is also common in older adults. Fortunately, depression is very treatable. How Depression and Sadness Are Different The death of a lov...

Eating healthy is about making choices. When it comes to cholesterol- free food, there are many choices. In addition to cholesterol-free foods, a heart- healthy diet often calls for foods that contain some cholesterol. Cholesterol -free foods originate from plants — fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes. A low cholesterol diet will usually include a combination of cholesterol- free foods and low cholesterol foods, such as low-fat dairy products, poultry, and fish. By choosing cholesterol-free foods, one can easily lower risk of heart disease. Types of cholesterol -free foods include vegetables, fruits, whole-grains and legumes. Eat at least three to five servings of fruits and vegetables and six to 11 servings of whole grains and legumes each day as part of a cholesterol lowering diet. Fruits and vegetables are low in saturated fat and total fat, and have no cholesterol. A diet high in fruit and vegetables may also help keep cholesterol levels low. Fruits and vegetables are gre...

Fish is an excellent source of lean protein and omega-3 fatty acids called eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). A diet rich in fish oil may help reduce inflammation and decrease your risk of cardiovascular disease. The omega-3 fatty acids found in fish are also essential for brain and eye development. The American Heart Association suggests that we each eat at least two servings of oily fish each week to help keep our hearts healthy. So when is fish not so good for your health? Almost all fish is contaminated with trace amounts of mercury. While most healthy adults have no problem eliminating the mercury from their bodies, children and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should avoid some types of fish and shellfish to reduce their risk of mercury exposure. Fish that contain the highest level of mercury are larger and older sharks, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish. It is probably a good idea for most people to avoid eating much of these fish. They can b...

Regular physical activity -- even walking -- may be key to maintaining a sharp mind as we get older, two new studies suggest. While that's not a new discovery, the studies plug critical gaps in the scientific literature and corroborate previous reports linking exercise to reduced rates of mental impairment in older adults. The message is now clearer than ever: "If you stay physically active, you're buying protection for your brain ," says Eric B. Larson, M.D., the vice president for research at Group Health Cooperative, a nonprofit health-care system based in Seattle. The studies appear in the July 25 print edition of the Archives of Internal Medicine and were published online today to coincide with the International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease, taking place this week in Paris. One of the studies included 2,809 women over the age of 65 who had a history of heart disease or stroke, or at least three risk factors for those conditions. That's noteworthy bec...

Optimism helps protect against risk of stroke, a new study suggests. The study included 6,044 adults aged 50 and older who self-rated their health and optimism on a 16-point scale. They were followed for two years. Optimism is the expectation that more good things, rather than bad, will happen. Each point increase in optimism was associated with a 0.90 times lower risk for stroke, after adjusting for age, U.S. psychologists found. "Optimism may play an important role in protecting against stroke among older adults," Eric Kim, a doctoral student at the University of Michigan and his co-authors concluded in Thursday's online issue of the journal Stroke. Over the two-year followup period, there were 88 strokes, the researchers found. "Our work suggests that people who expect the best things in life actively take steps to promote health," Kim said. The self-reported stroke history and limited followup were limitations of the study. Previously, a sunny attitude has b...

Vicodin Vicodin and other hydrocodone products: Hydrocodone is a semi-synthetic opioid similar in effects to morphine. Vicodin is hydrocodone mixed with acetaminophen. Hydrocodone products, when abused, can lead to dependence, tolerance, and addiction. Vicodin is one of the most frequently prescribed medications for pain. Other products include Vicoprophen, Tussionex, and Lortab. OxyContinand OxyContinand other oxycodone products: Oxycodone is used as an analgesic and is formulated into numerous pharmaceuticals including OxyContin (a controlled-release product) and with aspirin (Percodan) or with acetaminophen (Percoset). These drugs are prescribed for pain relief. They all require a doctor's prescription and are prescribed for moderate to severe pain. FENTANYL FENTANYL is extensively used for anesthesia and analgesia. Duragesic is a fentanyl transdermal patch used in chronic pain management, and Actiq is a solid formulation of fentanyl citrate on a stick that dissolves slowly in t...

Should I be concerned about antibiotics in the meat I serve my baby? Well, most experts say it's unlikely that you or your baby will be harmed in the immediate future by the practice of giving antibiotics to livestock. But it is something that you should be concerned about because of its potential threat to public health. Many farmers who raise cows, chickens, and other livestock use antibiotics to treat animals that are sick or at a high risk of becoming sick. In addition to using antibiotics for treatment, though, some critics believe that the industry relies too heavily on antibiotics to fatten livestock and to compensate for unsanitary and crowded conditions in industrial-size farms — despite guidelines for antibiotic use, which specify that they be used judiciously How can people be affected by the antibiotics that farmers use for animals? The main concern isn't that the antibiotics will be transferred to you or your baby, but that they will increase the antibiotic resist...

Breakfast 2 poached eggs 1 slice wholewheat toast with 1 tsp butter or 2 tsp canola spread ½ grapefruit Lunch 1 Chicken Sandwich with Olives and Fresh Basil (see recipe here). Green salad with 2 tbsp olive oil vinaigrette Afternoon snack 2 tbsp peanut butter 6 small (about 30g) wholewheat crackers 1 sliced apple Dinner Pan-seared salmon fillet (about 120g cooked, slightly larger than a deck of cards) 1 cup long-stemmed broccoli cooked with olive oil, cracked red pepper and garlic ¾ cup wild or brown rice Dessert or evening snack ½ cup fresh raspberries or other seasonal berry ½ cup low-fat plain or vanilla yoghurt Daily totals: 7020kJ, 104g protein, 179g carbohydrates, 68g fat (15g sat), 34g fibre, 1586mgsodium Read More

It's fine to think the Michael Kors crepe wedge boots and Hogan shearling shoulder bag will instantly change your life. But to really change it — and maybe even save it — you have to focus on the products that will dress up the inside of your body. So we searched the aisles, talked to doctors, and treated our bodies like a 10th grade biology project — to come up with the nine new health products that are absolutely worth trying on for size. 1 | To Fall Asleep Faster... When you're lying awake bug-eyed, you can either make shadow puppets on your closet door or pop a sleeping pill and risk feeling groggy the next day. Or you can try the Zzone Sleep Solution: a 60-minute CD of not-too-New-Agey instrumental music to use at bedtime (or if you awaken in the middle of the night) to encourage your body's natural relaxation response. The sciencey stuff? Zzone's tunes reduce beta waves (present when we're alert or agitated) and stimulate theta waves (present during meditation...

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, over one million people quit smoking each year. They reach the decision that the risks to their health — as well as to the health of their loved ones and people around them — are no longer acceptable. It is a monumental decision, as any smoker will tell you, one that is not reached without difficulty or determination. Thanks to the availability of a number of over-the-counter aids, smokers who want to kick the habit now have access to some very real assistance in overcoming their physical dependence on cigarettes. Smoking Is An Insult To Your Whole Body Cigarette smoking is the most widespread example of drug dependency in this country today. Many experts believe that it may be even more resistant to treatment than addiction to heroin. The reason for the addiction is nicotine, which is the only known psycho-active ingredient in tobacco smoke. Once nicotine finds its way to the brain, it triggers the release of some powerful chemicals, sending signa...

Introduction Whooping cough, sometimes referred to as pertussis, is an infection of the lining of the airways. It mainly affects the windpipe (trachea) and the two airways that branch off from it to the lungs (the bronchi). Whooping cough is highly infectious. The condition is caused by a bacterium called Bordetella pertussis, which can be passed from person to person through droplets in the air from coughing and sneezing. The condition is known as whooping cough because the main symptom is a hacking cough, which is often followed by a sharp intake of breath that sounds like a 'whoop'. Who is at risk? Whooping cough usually affects infants and young children, although adults can sometimes develop the condition. Whooping cough tends to be most severe in young infants. In rare cases, it can be fatal. How common is it? The introduction of a vaccination programme during the 1950s and the introduction of a pre-school booster jab in 2001 means the annual number of cases of whooping...

Chikungunya fever is a viral disease transmitted to humans by the bite of infected mosquitoes. Chikungunya virus is a member of the genus Alphavirus, in the family Togaviridae. Chikungunya fever is diagnosed based on symptoms, physical findings (e.g., joint swelling), laboratory testing, and the possibility of exposure to infected mosquitoes. There is no specific treatment for chikungunya fever; care is based on symptoms. Chikungunya infection is not usually fatal. Steps to prevent infection with chikungunya virus include use of insect repellent, protective clothing, and staying in areas with screens. Chikungunya virus was first isolated from the blood of a febrile patient in Tanzania in 1953, and has since been cited as the cause of numerous human epidemics in many areas of Africa and Asia and most recently in limited areas of Europe. Chikungunya Prevention The best way to prevent chikungunya virus infection is to avoid mosquito bites. There is no vaccine or preventive drug currently ...

Brain cancer facts * Brain cancer can arise from many different types of brain cells (primary brain cancer) or occur when cancer cells from another part of the body spread (metastasize) to the brain. * Causes of brain cancer are difficult to prove; avoiding compounds linked to cancer production is advised. * Symptoms of brain cancer vary but often include weakness, difficulty walking, seizures, and headaches. Other common symptoms are nausea, vomiting, blurry vision, or a change in a person's alertness, mental capacity, memory, speech, or personality. * Tests for brain cancer involve a history, physical exam, and usually a CT or MRI brain scan; sometimes a brain tissue biopsy is done. * Treatments usually are directed by a team of doctors and are designed for the individual patient; treatments may include surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy, often in combination. * Side effects of treatments range from mild to severe, and patients need to discuss plans with their tr...

The tamarind tree grows in most tropical areas of the world. The fruit is eaten from its unripe state all the way to its overripe state. The entire tree is used for everything from food to medicine to dyeing and more. The tree grows to 70 feet tall and makes a good source of shade. Key Medicinal Uses Internally – Tamarind is used to treat fever, constipation and helps the digestion. It can aid sunstroke victims, as well as counteract Datura poisoning and intoxication. The pulp is recommended in cases of paralysis to restore sensation. The bark can be fried with salt and pulverized to an ash and then given to remedy colic and indigestion. Decoctions are used for gingivitis and asthma as well as eye inflammations. Externally – The pulp is applied topically for inflammation, it is used as a gargle for sore throat and when mixed with salt is used as a liniment to treat rheumatism. Leaves and flowers are dried or boiled and then used as poultices to treat sprains, boils and swollen joints...

A lot of care and thought goes into the preparation of every Indian dish. A study into their recipes reveals a lot of surprises. Every single ingredient of the dish is there with a purpose and compliments each other. In fact, the succession of dishes also keeps in mind the flavor and 'nature' of the spices, whether hot or cool. ¤ The Use of Spices and Herbs Spices and herbs used in Indian cooking are either fresh or dried – in which case the flavor changes for each form. However, that is not all: the dried spices and herbs are used in various ways. They can be used whole or grounded (more often than not still pounded at home!) and they may be roasted, fried, deep-fried, half-done, well-done … all according to the taste that the cook wants to give to the eventual dish. Some of the commonly used ingredients in Indian food are as follows: Chilli The spicy curries of Indian cuisine are flavored by hot fiery red and green chillies. The red chillies are usually dried, ground and then...

Web search engine behemoth Google on Tuesday honored Russia’s historic St. Basil’s Cathedral’s 450th birthday showing an image of the church as a doodle on its home page. It was the coolest way the world can remember the great cathedral of the world. A multi-colored tiny image of the iconic structure was placed in the background of the last two letters of the Google logo on its home page. Google used to remind the world of the most important events, dates, objects, inventions, and personalities through its home page doodles. Google recently managed to obtain patent for its doodles to cover, “systems and methods for enticing users to access a Web site.” Of course, it is a fantastic way to keep the Internet users across the world aware of some unforgettable things. Recently Google remembered all of us of the great American guitarist Les Paul through a doodle, which became famous under the name Les Paul Doodle. It was a JavaScript and HTML5-powered playable guitar, which a user can pla...

Hand washing is an easy way to prevent infection. Understand when to wash your hands, how to properly use hand sanitizer and how to get your children into the habit. Frequent hand washing is one of the best ways to avoid getting sick and spreading illness. Hand washing requires only soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer — a cleanser that doesn't require water. Find out when and how to wash your hands properly. When to wash your hands As you touch people, surfaces and objects throughout the day, you accumulate germs on your hands. In turn, you can infect yourself with these germs by touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Although it's impossible to keep your hands germ-free, washing your hands frequently can help limit the transfer of bacteria, viruses and other microbes. Always wash your hands before: * Preparing food * Eating * Treating wounds or giving medicine * Touching a sick or injured person * Inserting or removing contact lenses Always wash your hands ...

A host of healthy, natural foods offer potent healing and preventative powers to remedy a wide range of skin troubles. These foods can dramatically improve skin for a fraction of the price of costly cosmetics or dermatologist visits: 1. Green Tea -- Green tea is rich in antioxidants that reduce inflammation and protect cell membranes. It has been proven to reduce the damage of sunburns and overexposure to ultraviolet light, which in turn reduces the risk of skin cancer. Green tea is also high in polyphenols -- compounds that eliminate cancer-causing free radicals. Recent research by scientists at the Medical College of Georgia shows that the polyphenol most abundant in green tea -- EGCG -- also acts as a "fountain of youth" of sorts for skin by reactivating dying skin cells. In addition to its skin-healthy properties, green tea is also high in vitamins C, D and K, as well as riboflavin, zinc, calcium, magnesium and iron. 2. Salmon -- Salmon -- along with other f...

Homemade Remedies for Dandruff: 1. Mix a tablespoon of neem oil or coconut oil with the same quantity of castor oil and mustard oil. Massage this oil mixture on your scalp every night and wash with a natural shampoo on the next day. Herbal Tips for Shiny Hair: 1. Make a paste of eight strawberries and one tablespoon of mayonnaise. Massage this into wet hair. Wrap your hair with a shower cap and then a warm towel. Leave it for fifteen minutes. Lastly rinse with herbal shampoo and apply conditioner. You can use it as an effective hair mask which will give you a wealthy shiny hair. 2. Mix one tablespoon of honey into four cups of tepid water. Wash your hair with neem based shampoo; decant this concoction through your hair. Don’t wash; let it dry as normal way. Herbal Remedies for Premature graying of Hair: 1. Take two tablespoons of henna powder, one tablespoon of yogurt, one tablespoon of fenugreek seed, one tablespoon of coffee, two tablespoon of mint juice and two tablespoons of basil ...

Winter is the most problematic season for our skin. Skin becomes rough, irritated and lifeless in this season. Soft, smooth and glowing skin needs lots of moisturizer. But only moisturizer is not enough. Fruits are the key ingredient of healthy skin. Fruits contain essential vitamins and minerals that are good for our healthy skin. There are some winter skin care tips with fruits which are as follows:- 1. Orange juice helps to make instant glow of our skin. Apply the juice in cotton on your face, neck and hand. Leave it for ten minutes and wash it off with plain water. 2. Mix one tablespoon of fresh apple juice with one fourth teaspoon of lime juice. It can be a good refreshing tonic for the skin. You can use it as an effective skin cleanser. 3. Mix one medium very ripe tomato with one cup of un-boiled milk. Apply it on your face and neck. Leave it for fifteen minutes and wash it off. It’s also a good cleanser. 4. Make a paste of papaya, strawberry, melon and banana and rub it on your ...

Kidney stones, usually quite minute, are a more common problem that people realize but they make themselves felt as they are being expelled from the body. A sharp pain in the side, lower back or abdomen over a period of days or weeks may denote the presence of kidney stones and you should seek professional advice to ensure that they do not cause damage to the kidneys. Except in dire circumstances a physician will usually recommend that they be allowed to disperse naturally. In the meantime drink large quantities of water and consider the following. Home Remedies for Kidney Stones Drinks to Soothe and Cure Beetroot Beet tops and beetroot taken daily is an old-fashioned suggestion for dissolving kidney stones. A Tea to Relieve Kidney Pains 25g (1oz) each grated asparagus root, fennel bulb, parsley root and celery 600ml (1 pint) boiling water Cover the grated vegetables and herbs with the water and leave to stand for 10 minutes. Strain and serve with a dash of lemon juice. Drink 1 smal...

Ashwagandha also known, as Indian ginseng is a low-lying shrub, perennial shrub. It is widely cultivated in the Indian subcontinent and the Middle East for its medicinal properties. It is widely found in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent. Ashwagandha is biologically known as Withania Somnifera. The small flowers of this pant are greenish yellow. It belongs to the family of Solanaceae or Nightshade. Ashwagandha is also known by other names like Indian ginseng, winter cherry and withania root. The history of Ashwagandha can be traced back to 4000 years. It is regarded as a very important herb in Ayurveda. Numerous studies have exhibited its anti-stress adaptogenic properties. It is becoming well known all over the globe as an herb for energy, fortitude and nervous tension. According to the Ayurvedic Medicine, Ashwagandha balances both the Nervous System and Musculo-skeletal System. In Ayurveda, Ashwagandha is also regarded as a sweet root. The distinctive earthy odor and f...

Eat plenty of raw grated carrots, fennel, parsley and green vegetables if you suffer from dyspepsia. The water in which well – washed new potatoes have been cooked or the cooking – water from dark green turnip tops will counteract acidity. If you like whole meal bread but it does not like you try adding well crushed coriander, caraway, aniseed or fennel seeds to the basic dough. Chew black peppercorns or suck liquorice wood slowly wood slowly. Apple cider vinegar or lemon juice One teaspoon of either in ½ cup of warm water every 15 minutes will relieve acidity and heartburn. This may seem to be fighting fire with fire but using antacids provokes the body into producing yet more acid. One of the best home remedies for Indigestion. Bicarbonate of soda One teaspoon in hot water relieves heartburn, acidity and dyspepsia. An even better method is to mix 2 tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda with 1 teaspoon of ground ginger and take 1 teaspoon of this mixture in hot water before breakfa...