Health A-Z

Woman dies after injecting Vaseline into breasts

A 39-year-old Argentinean woman died after attempting to enhance the size of her breasts by injecting them with Vaseline

Sonia Perez Llanzon was admitted to the Lucio Molas hospital in Santa Rosa, Argentina after experiencing trouble breathing. Though Llanzon initially denied what she had done, she eventually confessed to doctors that she had injected herself with Vaseline several weeks earlier in the hopes of making her breasts larger. Doctors found several lesions on both breasts as a result of the home injections.

The Vaseline had entered Llanzon’s blood stream, causing blood clots that travelled to her lungs. Llanzon experienced a pulmonary embolism – a blockage of an artery in her lung – which resulted in her death.

“In all my medical career, I’ve never seen a case like this. The human body has antibodies to remove bacteria and viruses, but it hasn’t got any mechanisms against this type of product,” Julio Pla Cardenas, chief of surgery at Lucio Molas told La Capital.

Pla Cardenas said he has noticed an increasing number of people using Vaseline injections as a form of body augmentation, including men who have injected the product in the hopes of enhancing penis size.

Source: Fox news

Salt makes overweight people age faster

Scientists have discovered that overweight teenagers who eat too much salt have shorter telomeres, the ends of the chromosome which protect the cells from harm

Eating too much salt may speed up the ageing process, scientists have discovered for the first time.
Although sodium is known to raise the blood pressure, which can lead to fatal heart attacks and strokes, it is the first time it has been linked to cellular ageing.

Scientists found that overweight or obese teenagers who had a high salt diet had shorter ‘telomeres’ – the protective caps at the end of chromosomes – compared with those who ate a low salt diet. Telomeres have been compared with the plastic tips that stop shoe laces fraying.

Each time a cell divides the telomeres get shorter and when they get too short the cell stops dividing and dies.

The same genetic process has been linked to conditions associated with old age such as heart disease, cancer, type-2 diabetes and dementia. High levels of body fat were already known to hasten the shortening of telomeres.

But the new study found that sodium in salt seems to work hand-in-hand with obesity to speed the effect up still further.
Lead scientist Dr Haidong Zhu, from Georgia Regents University in Augusta, US, said: “Even in these young people, we can already see the effect of high sodium intake, suggesting that high sodium intake and obesity may act synergistically to accelerate cellular ageing.

“Lowering sodium intake, especially if you are overweight or obese, may slow down the cellular ageing process that plays an important role in the development of heart disease.

“The majority of sodium in the diet comes from processed foods, so parents can help by cooking fresh meals more often and by offering fresh fruit rather than potato chips for a snack.”

Dr Zhu’s team divided 766 teenagers aged 14 to 18 into different groups according to their reported sodium intake.

Low-intake teens consumed an average of around 5g of salt a day, compared with more than 10g grams for the high-intake group. In Britain the recommended intake is 6g. A recent study showed the majority of teenagers exceed their daily limit, mainly through eating bread and cereal.

Researchers found that overweight or obese teenagers who at the most salt had significantly shorter telomeres than those who ate the least. But high sodium intake did not have a significant effect on telomere shortening in normal-weight teens.

Although the salt link was only found in obese people it is the first time that salt has been shown to affect cellular ageing.
The research, presented at an American Heart Association meeting in San Francisco, suggests a possible link with inflammation, said the scientists. Inflammation is known to hasten telomere shortening and is linked to obesity. It also increases a person’s sensitivity to salt.

Katherine Jenner, Campaign Director at Consensus Action on Salt and Health said: “Lowering your salt intake is essential to lower your risk of not just heart disease, but also stroke, heart attack and chronic kidney disease.

“As you might expect, teenagers often have a high salt diet, but it’s not just pizza, crisps and chips that are the culprits, every day foods such as breads, breakfast cereals and sauces can be surprisingly high in salt.” Nutritionist Sonia Pombo added: “Children are eating a worryingly high amount of salt.

“Dietary habits in childhood and adolescence are likely to influence eating patterns in later life.
“Liking salt and salty foods is a learned taste preference and the recommendation that the adult population reduce their sodium intake will be more successful if children do not develop a preference for salt in the first place.”

Source: telegraph

Drinking Hot vs Cold Water… What are the Benefits?

hot-water-vs-cold

The main purpose of drinking any liquid, water in particular, is to hydrate our body. Either hot or cold water will serve this purpose. Obviously, cold water sounds more tempting than hot water.

There is some evidence to suggest you can benefit from some extra calories being burned by drinking cold water. The body has to regulate its temperature to around 98.6 degrees. Drinking cold water forces the body to work a little harder to bring the temperature back up. Cold water is absorbed into the blood stream more easily. By being absorbed into the blood stream easier, it helps to keep your body better hydrated. Especially after heavy physical activity and a lot of sweating has occurred. So, with all these benefits of drinking cold water, what benefit could drinking hot water possibly have? Would purifying your body be a good enough reason? Drinking hot water is kind of like going to a sauna.

When you drink a glass or two of hot water, your body temperature will increase a little. Just like when you drink cold water, and your body had to regulate temperature by heating up, the hot water will cause your body to want to cool down. The way our bodies cool down is by sweating. When we sweat from drinking hot water, we are helping to purify our bloodstreams. We literally sweat out the toxins which have built up in our body.

Some evidence suggests that by drinking hot water, we remove built up deposits in our nervous system. These deposits are responsible for creating negative thoughts and emotions. By removing these build ups, we can help to purify our thoughts and put us in a better emotional state. Drinking hot water can also actually purify the toxins out of your body.

Hot Water Uses

It doesn’t take a lot of effort to gain the benefits of drinking hot water. To get the benefits of detoxification, you can drink hot water as little as 1-2 times a week. Of course, you can do it more often if you choose. The temperature of the water shouldn’t be so hot that it burns you, when you drink it. However, it has to be hot enough to cause you to sweat after drinking it. In fact, for maximum benefit, you should find yourself sweating profusely while drinking it. Once you stop sweating, be sure to wipe away your perspiration and then drink another glass of hot water. This will help to balance out your body temperature.

Drinking hot water also helps to cleanse the nasal cavities. This is especially useful when you are congested during an illness. The vapor from the hot water loosens up all the mucus buildup. This, in turn, will help you be less congested. The detoxification process is also more beneficial when you are sick. The hot water will make you sweat and remove some of the toxins in your body, and hopefully will allow you to have a quicker recovery.

All in all drinking or using Hot or Cold will make a beneficial difference in just how you use it for your everyday needs.

Source: amigas 4 my soul

 

World Water Day 2014: 5 Reasons You Can’t Survive Without Water

world-water-day-2014-logo

March 22 is World Water Day.

60% of our body-weight is made up of water and without it our organs wouldn’t function properly. A reduction of more than 10% of our normal body water percentage can be termed as a medical emergency and can be fatal. Despite being so important, a lot of people don’t drink enough water. The reason might be laziness or indifference, but not staying hydrated can be extremely dangerous. Here are some of the top reasons why your body needs water.

1. It maintains the balance of body fluids

Maintenance of body temperature, digestion and absorption of food, circulation of blood – these are all functions your body will be unable to perform if you don’t give it enough water.

2. Helps get rid of toxins

Without water, your body wouldn’t be able to get rid of toxins that can cause damage to your cells and organs. If you drink adequate water, your body will excrete harmful toxins like blood urea nitrogen through your kidneys.3. Keeps your digestive system in mint condition

3. Digestive System:

If you don’t get enough water, your colon will pull water from the stools to get enough water for your digestive system. This will result in dry stools that are difficult to pass through your colon. Drinking water or eating foods rich in water like cucumber or papaya will help prevent this problem.

4. Keeps you looking beautiful

Many actresses swear by water when it comes to maintaining their beauty. (Katrina Kaif drinks 4 glasses of water after waking up!) Drinking a lot of water will ensure that everything from your eyes to your skin look great.

5. Keeps you active

A loss of just one percent of your normal body water percentage can leave you feeling tired. A loss of more than 2-4% can affect your mental functioning too. This is why you need to drink enough water to keep yourself active and free from any sort of fatigue. Read more about how water is the fuel that keeps your body running.

These are just some of the basic health benefits of water. Besides this, it can also help you lose weight and prevent heart disease as it is a much healthier substitute to sugar-loaded soft drinks for quenching thirst. You may already be drinking water a few times in a day, but are you drinking enough?

Source: Alibaba clinic

Masala chai – a tasty cup of health!

There has always been a great controversy about whether green tea or masala chai is better for the body. While the debate rages on there has been news that Olympic athletes drink masala chai to help them better deal with the pain, inflammation and fatigue they experience after a grueling session. So what is it that this unique drink offers? Well, here is a breakdown of its health benefits.

Anti inflammatory: Masala chai is made up of a whole array of spices – clove, cinnamon, elaichi, ginger and tulsi. All these spices have their own individual health benefits but what makes masala chai perfect to beat inflammation is the fact that all the benefits of these spices work in synergy to help your body. One of the most important ingredients that helps with inflammation is ginger. A paper published by the National Institute of Health [1] highlighted ginger’s ability to stop the synthesis of prostaglandins (a major player in the initiation of the inflammation process) and leukotriene biosynthesis, which in turn helps reduce the amount of inflammation one experiences.

Another component that makes masala chai a great tool to reduce inflammation is clove. Known to be packed with compound eugenol, clove is great when it comes to reducing inflammation in the muscles of the body. To add to that both these spices are very potent painkillers.

Beats fatigue: For some the best thing after a long, hard day’s work is a hot cup of masala chai. Wondering why? Well, the tannins present in tea help calm the body and revitalize it. Moreover tea contains caffeine – a stimulant. Albeit in a much lesser quantity when compared to coffee, but it has the same uplifting effect as a cuppa. This combination of spices (that helps beat fatigue) combined with a stimulant like caffeine acts as the best way to drive away fatigue. The effects of masala chai are so well known that even Olympic athletes resort to the drink as a ‘banned-substance-safe’ pick-me-up.

Fights cold and flu: Believed to strengthen the immune system and keep common infections at bay, masala chai is infused with the goodness of all the antibacterial, anti fungal, anti parasitic properties of its constituent spices. Moreover the immune boosting effects of clove, cinnamon, elaichi and ginger makes masala chai a great way to keep coughs and colds at bay.

Improves digestion: Wondering how that is possible? Well, according to Mickey Mehta, holistic guru, ‘Masala chai contains spices like clove, tulsi, ginger and elaichi. What makes it great for people is that chai on its own is highly acidic in nature but when you add ginger to it making it masala chai, it becomes a great digestive and in fact cuts out the acidic nature of the tea. So drink a cup of chai, it will rejuvenate you, beat fatigue and make you calmer.’ Apart from ginger, clove and elaichi also help improve digestion by increasing the amount of saliva produced and peristalsis (the movement of food down the digestive tract).

Good for your heart: Black tea (one of the main constituents of masala chai) is known for the strong anti oxidant properties it contains. Apart from that, spices like clove and elaichi also help lower the amount of bad cholesterol and improves the amount of good cholesterol. Thereby, reducing the amount of plaque formation of arterial blocks. The tannins present in tea are also known to help regulate one’s heart rate and blood pressure by dilating the blood vessels.

Boosts metabolism: Having a good and active metabolism is usually associated with weight loss, but did you know that a good metabolism is also responsible for other things like helping your body digest and use food more efficiently. Being an essential part of your health, drinking chai also ensures your entire digestive system is in top condition. Moreover in Ayurveda, tea is known as a heat generating food and therefore helps speed up your metabolism.

Prevents diabetes: Clove, cinnamon and elaichi are both known to help prevent diabetes by increasing the insulin sensitivity in the body and lowering one’s blood sugar levels. Cinnamon is known to keep the mind sharp and prevent the onset of diseases like Alzheimer’s and clove can help your body better utilize sugars.

Relieves PMS: If it’s that time of the month and you need something natural to fight the symptoms of PMS, tea is your best friend. Masala chai not only has agents that can help calm your nerves and make you happier, but it also has muscle relaxing properties. Elaichi, clove and cinnamon all act as potent painkillers and can help you deal with the pain of your periods.

Source: Health

Spices and herbs helps adults reduce salt intake

Teaching people how to flavor food with spices and herbs is considerably more effective at lowering salt intake than having them do it on their own, according to research presented on Wednesday at the American Heart Association’s Epidemiology & Prevention/Nutrition, Physical Activity & Metabolism Scientific Sessions 2014.In the first phase of the study, 55 volunteers ate a low-sodium diet for four weeks. Researchers provided all foods and calorie-containing drinks. Salt is the main source of sodium in food.

In the second phase, half of the study volunteers participated in a 20-week behavioral intervention aimed at reducing their sodium intake to 1,500 mg/day by using spices and herbs. The other half reduced sodium on their own.
More than 60 percent of the participants in the study had high blood pressure, 18 percent had diabetes and they were overweight.

The researchers found:
In the first phase, sodium intake decreased from an average 3,450 mg/day to an average 1,656 mg/day.

In the second phase, sodium intake increased in both groups. But those who received the behavioral intervention consumed an average 966 mg/day of sodium less than the group that didn’t receive the intervention.

“People in the intervention group learned problem-solving strategies, use of herbs and spices in recipes, how culture influences spice choices, how to monitor diet, overcoming the barriers to making dietary changes, how to choose and order foods when eating out and how to make low-sodium intake permanent,” said Cheryl A. M. Anderson, Ph.D., M.P.H., lead author of the study and associate professor in the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine at the University of California San Diego.

Those assigned to the behavioral intervention group had cooking demonstrations and had a chance to share how they were changing traditional recipes to remove salt and include spices. The researchers didn’t emphasize specific spices, and encouraged participants to try different things to find out what they liked most.

“Salt is abundant in the food supply and the average sodium level for Americans is very high — much higher than what is recommended for healthy living,” Anderson said. “We studied the use of a behavioral intervention where people learn how to use spices and herbs and less salt in their daily lives.”

“Given the challenges of lowering salt in the American diet, we need a public health approach aimed at making it possible for consumers to
The McCormick Science Institute funded the study.

Source: Science daily

7 Spices for super health benefits!

How often do we sprinkle cinnamon powder into the porridge or add a dash of oregano to pizza to pamper our taste buds! It may come as a surprise to many that our favorite herbs and spices not only add a twist of color, flavor and taste to our breakfasts, lunches, and dinners but also pack a nutritional punch.

From keeping our heart healthy and arteries clear to easing pain and warding off cancer, spices used extensively in cooking carry infinite health benefits and contribute towards a healthy life.

spices that not only turn bland dishes into mouth watering delicacies but contribute towards a healthy life.

1. Ginger: This gnarly looking tree root is a good source of magnesium, potassium, copper and vitamin B. The underground stem gives specific flavour to food and has many medicinal uses. It works wonders in alleviating nausea, motion sickness, helps treat upset stomachs, gas and bloating, is beneficial for coping with sore throats and colds. In addition, it is good for arthritis, hinders the growth of certain cancer cells, boosts immunity and promotes sweating.

2. Garlic: Some profess to love garlic while others hate it! Whatever may be the case, there is no denying that garlic is good for you! It has antibacterial, anti-fungal and antiviral properties. Research has established that garlic improves cardiovascular health and helps the body metabolize iron. Just incorporate the spice in your daily diet whether in sauces, pizzas, roasted in veggies or finely chopped in regular meals.

3. Cinnamon: We love cinnamon, the common kitchen spice prized for its unique aroma in pie, rolls, raisin bread, stirred in coffee and sprinkled on yoghurt because it brings out the flavors of the food it is paired with. However, few know that cinnamon tames nausea and stomach ulcers, is a proven anti-inflammatory, keeps arteries healthy increases metabolic rate, helps alleviate arthritis pain, regulates blood sugar and lowers cholesterol. Moreover, it is a natural food preservative.

4. Saffron: The “golden spice” is truly a wonder herb. Prized for adding color and a unique aroma to a dish, this expensive and exotic spice is known to treat nearly 90 ailments. Saffron is a purifier and has a cooling effect. It works wonders as therapy for kidney, bladder and liver disorders. It is heart healthy, and is known to lower blood cholesterol and triglycerides. Saffron is touted as an enhancer of skin tone.

5. Turmeric: This bright orange-yellow spice has some solid gold health benefits. Turmeric paste speeds healing process of injuries and provides pain relief of arthritis. Turmeric can relieve colds, respiratory problems, improve liver function and help to digest fats quickly. Curcumin, a compound in turmeric contains anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. The spice is also being investigated for its potential benefits in Alzheimer’s disease, managing heart disease and inhibiting cancerous cell growth.

6. Chilies: Believe it or not but chilies which create sensations of heat also help trigger the body’s natural cooling system. Research has established that capsaicin, a pungent compound found in hot chilies, revs up the body’s metabolism and may help burn fat. Capsaicin may also lower risk of ulcers and shield the heart by keeping “bad” LDL cholesterol from turning into a more lethal, artery-clogging form. Moreover, chilies improve circulation, clear congestion, fight inflammation, enhance immunity, aid in weight loss and lower the risk of diabetes.

7. Cardamom: Enriched with dietary fiber, iron, magnesium, zinc, calcium, Vitamin C and potassium, cardamom flushes out toxins from the body, perks up kidney, bladder and digestive function as well as circulation. Commonly known as choti elaichi, this spice alleviates gas and symptoms of asthma, stimulates appetite, aid acid reflux while the fragrant seeds rectify foul breath.

source: the med guru

Shift workers beware: Sleep loss may cause brain damage, new research says

Are you a truck driver or shift worker planning to catch up on some sleep this weekend? Cramming in extra hours of shut-eye may not make up for those lost pulling all-nighters, new research indicates.

The damage may already be done — brain damage, that is, said neuroscientist Sigrid Veasey from the University of Pennsylvania.

Alzheimer’s & Sleep

The widely held idea that you can pay back a sizeable “sleep debt” with long naps later on seems to be a myth, she said in a study published this week in the Journal of Neuroscience.

Long-term sleep deprivation saps the brain of power even after days of recovery sleep, Veasey said. And that could be a sign of lasting brain injury. Veasey and her colleagues at the University of Pennsylvania medical school wanted to find out, so, they put laboratory mice on a wonky sleep schedule that mirrors that of shift workers.

They let them snooze, then woke them up for short periods and for long ones.
Then the scientists looked at their brains — more specifically, at a bundle of nerve cells they say is associated with alertness and cognitive function, the locus coeruleus.

They found damage and lots of it.
“The mice lose 25% of these neurons,” Veasey said.
This is how the scientists think it happened.
When the mice lost a little sleep, nerve cells reacted by making more of a protein, called sirtuin type 3, to energize and protect them.

But when losing sleep became a habit, that reaction shut down. After just a few days of “shift work” sleep, the cells start dying off at an accelerated pace.
The discovery that long-term sleep loss can result in a loss of brain cells is a first, Veasey said.

“No one really thought that the brain could be irreversibly injured from sleep loss,” she said. That has now changed.

More work needs to be done on humans, she said. And her group is planning to study deceased shift workers to see if they have the same kind of nerve damage. They hope their research will result in medicines that will help people working odd hours cope with the consequences of irregular sleep.

Source: CNN

Fried Foods’ Effects May Be Greater In People With Obesity Genes

People with certain genes may be more susceptible to the fattening effects of fried food, a new study suggests.

In the research, people whose genes put them at high risk for obesity saw bigger changes in their body mass index (BMI) from eating fried food than people with a lower genetic risk for obesity.

For example, among women in the study with a high genetic risk for obesity, those who ate fried food four times a week had an average BMI that was 1 point higher compared to those who ate fried food less than once a week. That point amounts to about 6 pounds (2.7 kilograms) for a 5-foot-3 inch (1.5 meters) person. In contrast, among women with a lower genetic risk for obesity, those who ate fried food frequently had a BMI that was just 0.5 points higher than those who rarely ate fried food

The results suggest that some genes may “amplify the adverse effects of fried food consumption on body weight,” said study researcher Lu Qi, an assistant professor in the Department of Nutrition at Harvard School of Public Health.

The findings underscore the importance of eating less fried foods to prevent obesity, particularly for people who are genetically predisposed to weight gain, the researchers said.

Previously, this same group of researchers found that people’s genes affect the obesity risk they face from drinking soda.

Fried food and obesity

Previous studies have shown eating fried food increases people’s risk of obesity. However, these studies did not look at how this risk might vary depending on a person’s genes.

In the new study, researchers analyzed information from more than 37,000 men and women who took part in three large studies in the 1980s and 1990s. Every four years, participants answered questions about their food and beverage intake.

The subjects also had their genomes analyzed for the presence of any of 32 genetic markers linked to obesity. Each person received a score — based on the number and type of genetic markers the individual had — that reflected the subject’s genetic predisposition to obesity, or an obesity risk score.

Not surprisingly, those who ate fried food more frequently tended to have higher BMIs than those who ate fried food less often. But this link was strongest among those with the highest obesity-risk scores.

The people with the highest obesity-risk scores and also the most fried food consumption had the highest BMIs overall.

Fried food all right for some?

The findings held even after the researchers took into account other lifestyle factors that might affect obesity risk, such as consumption of soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages, and how much time people spent watching TV or exercising.

Still, the researchers noted that the study found only an association, and cannot prove that fried food causes obesity among people with certain genes. It’s possible that other unhealthy habits not taken into account in the study were responsible for the link.

The findings do not mean that people with a low genetic risk for obesity can overindulge in fried food, Qi said. He noted that, in the study, frequent consumption of fried food was tied to an increased risk of obesity, even for people with a low genetic risk of obesity.

In addition, fried food consumption is linked with other adverse health effects, such as an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, Qi said.

The findings support recommendations that encourage healthy eating for everyone, Qi said. In the future, it may be possible to tailor diet recommendations for people based on their genes, he said.

Source: Huffington Post

Alcohol-Related Brain Damage

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It’s hardly a secret that alcohol affects the brain — its initial effects include wobbly walking, blurred vision, and slurred speech. But although drinking in moderation isn’t necessarily harmful, and can even help with creativity, researchers in the UK are warning that the long-term effects of drinking may go further than the liver, affecting the brain in more permanent ways.

The report, “All in the Mind,” from Alcohol Concern Cymru, a charity based in London, is a supposed “wake up call” for both the public and health care providers. It highlights the dangers of alcohol-related brain damage (ARBD), an umbrella term for a range of conditions resulting from long-term drinking. These include confusion, poor concentration, memory loss, and depression, as well as other issues that may arise from drinking, like traumatic brain injuries (from falling while drunk) and ophthalmoplegia — a weakness or paralysis of the eye.

Many of these problems are also characteristics of a disease known as Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (WKS), a debilitating and long-lasting syndrome that actually consists of two separate conditions, according to the National Institutes of Health. One of them, known as Wernicke’s encephalopathy, is defined by mental confusion, eye paralysis, and problems with muscle coordination — oftentimes not altogether. Korsakoff’s psychosis is the other condition, characterized by persistent learning and memory problems.

“Most of us know that alcohol can damage our liver, but the fact that it could undermine our long-term brain function is much less well-known,” said Andrew Misell, director of Alcohol Concern Cymru, in a statement. “And when alcohol-related brain damage is on the radar, the focus is often on older street drinkers. But staff on the frontline have been seeing younger people, and other people who don’t fit the stereotype of a homeless dependent drinker, coming in with ARBD. … We hope this paper will be a wake-up call for all of us who drink.”

Alcohol Concern says that while moderation is key, many people instead go through periods during which they drink heavily, then abstain. The charity notes that vitamin deficiency is a major contributor to ARBD — 80 percent of alcoholics are vitamin deficient — and suggests increasing intake of vitamin B1, also called thiamine, which can be given through injections or pills

Source: medical daily