Month: July 2014

Top 10 Food-Borne Parasites of Greatest Global Concern : Africa

Top 10 Food-Borne Parasites of Greatest Global Concern

A new report released today by two United Nations agencies identifies a “top 10” of food-borne parasites with the greatest global impact, including those found in pork, fish, fresh produce, fruit juice and milk, among other foods.

According to the report, produced by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), the top ten are:

  • Taenia solium (pork tapeworm): In pork
  • Echinococcus granulosus (hydatid worm or dog tapeworm): In fresh produce
  • Echinococcus multilocularis (a type of tapeworm): In fresh produce
  • Toxoplasma gondii (protozoa): In meat from small ruminants, pork, beef, game meat (red meat and organs)
  • Cryptosporidium spp. (protozoa): In fresh produce, fruit juice, milk
  • Entamoeba histolytica (protozoa): In fresh produce
  • Trichinella spiralis (pork worm): In pork
  • Opisthorchiidae (family of flatworms): In freshwater fish
  • Ascaris spp. (small intestinal roundworms): In fresh produce
  • Trypanosoma cruzi (protozoa): In fruit juices

“Obviously this top ten is a more general, global perspective and does not necessarily reflect parasite rankings at a national level where each country may have more precise information,” Renata Clarke, head of food safety and quality at FAO, said in a news release.

“But considering the problems they cause, these parasites do not get the attention they deserve. We hope that by releasing a top ten ranking we can increase awareness among policy makers, the media and the general public about this major public health issue,” she added.

The parasites affect the health of millions of people every year, infecting muscle tissues and organs, causing epilepsy, anaphylactic shock, amoebic dysentery and other problems, the agencies noted. Some can live on in people’s bodies for decades.

Despite their huge social costs and global impacts, information is generally lacking regarding just where these parasites come from, how they live in the human body, and – most importantly – how they make people sick.

The list and report were developed following a request by the global food standards body, the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex), for FAO and WHO to review the current status of knowledge on parasites in food and their public health and trade impacts.

The Codex Committee on Food Hygiene is now developing new guidelines for the control of these parasites. FAO and WHO are supporting the process by providing scientific and technical information.

The aim is to develop new standards for the global food trade that will help countries control the presence of these parasites in the food chain.

The report lists a number of ways to reduce the risk of parasite infections. For farmers, it advises the use of organic fertilizer, particularly on produce, should be closely monitored to ensure it is composted properly and all faecal matter is removed. Water quality must also be closely monitored.

For consumers, it advises that all meat should be well cooked and only clean water should be used to wash and prepare vegetables.

The agencies noted that in Europe, more than 2,500 people are affected by food-borne parasitic infections each year. In 2011, there were 268 cases of trichinellosis and 781 cases of echinococcosis recorded in the European Union.

In Asia, there is no precise national data but parasitic diseases are known to be widely spread and are recognized as major public health problems in many countries.

Meanwhile, there is no data at all in most African nations on the prevalence of food-borne parasites in humans because of a general lack of surveillance systems.

In the United States, Neurocysticercosis, caused by Taenia solium, is the single most common infectious cause of seizures in some areas of the US where 2,000 people are diagnosed with neurocysticercosis every year. Toxoplasmosis is a leading cause of food-borne illness and death.

Source: All Africa

 

‘Oxygen therapy is like a prescription drug, should be used rationally’

‘Oxygen therapy is like a prescription drug, should be used rationally’

An optimum amount of oxygen is essential for the functioning and survival of all body tissues and even a few minutes deprivation can prove fatal. When saturation level of oxygen in the body falls due to some respiratory illness or injury then we need to replenish it artificially to maintain an optimum level by giving oxygen therapy to the patient. This method of dealing with ‘respiratory failure’ was explained succinctly by Dr Girija Nair, head of the pulmonary medicine department at Dr D Y Patil Medical College, Mumbai on the 1st day of 20th NESCON (National Conference on Environmental Sciences and Pulmonary Diseases), a 3-day event which started on Friday and is being organized here by the Academy of Respiratory Medicine under the auspices of Environmental Medical Association.

Oxygen therapy is one of the key treatments in respiratory care. This therapy is used to treat documented hypoxemia (as in case of smokers), severe respiratory distress, severe trauma, interstitial lung disease (ILD), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) including chronic asthma and chronic bronchitis, pulmonary hypertension, acute myocardial infarction, and chronic lung patients during exercise. Some may need it for long term oxygen therapy at home (LTOT).

Before prescribing oxygen therapy there should be a clear indication of its need and the type of therapy needed. The doctor should list the purpose of the therapy, demonstrate the procedure and also list possible complications. For safe and effective treatment with this therapy, it should be remembered that the oxygen used in oxygen therapy is a prescription drug which is to be used under a doctor’s prescription and not like the oxygen we breathe naturally. The prescription should clearly state the airflow rate, delivery system, duration and instructions for monitoring. Regular evaluation of patient is necessary.

The basic purpose to ventilate patients through oxygen therapy is to improve gas exchange till lung functions improve. Oxygen saturation has to be within normal limits. Target should be PaO2 (pressure) not less than 60mm Hg and SpO2 (saturation pressure) not less than 90mm Hg. Excess supply can do more harm than good and one should ensure that this does not happen. Hundred per cent Fi02 breathing is associated with decreased ventilation (obstruction).

Dr Nair shared her experience of having a tough time convincing the ICU staff to lower the oxygen flow while administering to patients of COPD requiring low flow oxygen, as COPD patients may worsen with high flow oxygen. Patients with chronic lung disease should never be delivered at more than 2-3 litre/minute oxygen.

Oxygen needed in the therapy can be dispensed/supplied from: piped in oxygen cylinders which can supply oxygen for up to 57 hours at the desired regulated flow; oxygen concentrator which has molecular sieves to supply 90% oxygen, and permeable membrane to supply 40% oxygen; and liquid oxygen which can be used for 7 days at 2 litres/minute; can be refilled, weighs less, but is costly and can cause thermal burns as liquid oxygen has a very low temperature.

Any system of oxygen delivery would require the following — oxygen supply, flowmeter, oxygen tubing, delivery device and a humidifier (if need be). There are (1) low flow systems which do not provide constant flow oxygen and contribute partially to inspired gas the patient breathes. Examples are nasal cannula, simple mask, non/partial re-breather masks and (2) high flow systems which deliver specific and constant percentage of oxygen independent of patient’s breathing. Examples are venturi mask, tracheostomy collar mask, and T piece.

Venturi mask mixes a specific volume of air and oxygen and is used for accurate delivery of low concentrations of oxygen between 24-60% at a flow of 4-15 litre/minute. The mask is so constructed that there is constant flow of room air blended with a fixed concentration of oxygen. Valves are colour coded and flow rate required to deliver a fixed concentration is shown on each valve. Each colour code corresponds to a precise oxygen concentration and a specific flow rate.

Nasal cannula is a disposable plastic device (having 2 protruding prongs) and connected to an oxygen source for delivering low-medium concentrations of oxygen — 24-44% at flow rate of 1 litre/minute. They are easy and comfortable to use, but some times prolonged use may cause nasal irritation and pharyngeal mucosa.

The simple face mask is made of clear flexible plastic or rubber that can be moulded. It delivers 35-60% oxygen at a flow rate of 6-10 litre/minute. It is used when an increased delivery of oxygen is needed for short duration of time less than 12 hours. It is not very patient-friendly and requires frequent monitoring to check if it is placed correctly.

Partial re-breather mask has an oxygen reservoir bag which should remain inflated during inspiration and expiration. It can deliver oxygen concentrations up to 80%. The oxygen flow rate is maintained at a minimum of 6 litre/minute to ensure that the patient does not re-breathe large amounts of exhaled air. The remaining exhaled air exits through vents.

The non re-breather mask also has an oxygen reservoir bag. It provides highest possible concentration of oxygen of 95-100% at a flow rate of 6-15 litre/minute. It has one-way valves to prevent conservation of exhaled air. When the patient exhales air, the one-way valve closes and all the expired air is deposited in the atmosphere and the patient does not re-breathe any of the expired gas. The flow rate is set so that the mask remains two thirds full during inspiration. It is not very user friendly and is suitable for patients with severe hypoxemia but is impractical for long-term therapy.

Tracheotomy collar mask is inserted directly into the trachea and is used for chronic oxygen therapy need. It provides oxygen concentration of 8-10%, provides good humidity, is comfortable and less expensive.

Dr Nair cautioned that one has to be careful about side effects of the therapy. Oxygen toxicity can occur with oxygen concentration more than 50% when used for long duration of more than 48 hours. Signs of oxygen toxicity are non-productive cough, nausea and vomiting, sub-sternal and chest pain. Suppression of ventilation can lead to increased carbon-di-oxide and its narcosis. Following simple instructions of maintaining proper hygiene of all instruments is also of paramount importance, said Dr Nair.

Source: India Medical Times

Stimulants used to treat ADHD may increase cardiovascular risk

Stimulants used to treat ADHD may increase cardiovascular risk

Each year, thousands of children are diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and put on stimulant medications to help them better focus. While these drugs have proven successful in many children, they have been linked cardiovascular health problems.

New data published in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology suggests that stimulant drugs like Ritalin and Adderall can accelerate heart disease that will often not be recognized until later in life.

Researchers followed more than 700,000 children born in Denmark between 1990 and 1999. They found that while cardiovascular events were rare, they were twice as likely to occur in stimulant users than those who did not take the drugs.

Over the last decade, the over-diagnosis of ADHD in American children has been hotly debated. The truth is, in many children and adults it is over-treated, putting them at risk for heart disease and even addiction. Based on this new study, underestimating the complications of placing potentially addicting drugs in the hands of more people may have more damaging consequences than we previously thought.

Of course, when ADHD is properly diagnosed and treated with the lowest possible doses of stimulant medication, one can reduce the risk to children and adults. And early pharmacological treatment may reduce the risk of substance abuse in some children.

These and all drugs carry risks. When we prescribe medications that can acutely affect the health of young people, or in the long run result in illness, disease, or death – we need to provide a caution on the pill bottle. It’s important that we emphasize that these drugs may be addicting and should not be mixed with other drugs, supplements or drinks.

It is true that the chance of having an adverse outcome is statistically low. But with so many children on these medications for so many years, the risks rise substantially.

Before putting your child on medication, try healthy diet combined with smart lifestyle changes that may reduce or even eliminate symptoms and may also protect your child’s heart from many diseases.

Source: fox news

Researchers regrow corneas, first known tissue grown

Researchers regrow corneas, first known tissue grown from an adult human stem cell

Researchers have identified a way to enhance regrowth of human corneal tissue to restore vision, using a molecule known as ABCB5 that acts as a marker for hard-to-find limbal stem cells. The research is also one of the first known examples of constructing a tissue from an adult-derived human stem cell.

Boston researchers have identified a way to enhance regrowth of human corneal tissue to restore vision, using a molecule known as ABCB5 that acts as a marker for hard-to-find limbal stem cells. This work, a collaboration between the Massachusetts Eye and Ear/Schepens Eye Research Institute (Mass. Eye and Ear), Boston Children’s Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the VA Boston Healthcare System, provides promise to burn victims, victims of chemical injury and others with damaging eye diseases. The research, published this week in Nature, is also one of the first known examples of constructing a tissue from an adult-derived human stem cell.

Limbal stem cells reside in the eye’s basal limbal epithelium, or limbus, and help maintain and regenerate corneal tissue. Their loss due to injury or disease is one of the leading causes of blindness. In the past, tissue or cell transplants have been used to help the cornea regenerate, but it was unknown whether there were actual limbal stem cells in the grafts, or how many, and the outcomes were not consistent.

In this study, researchers were able to use antibodies detecting ABCB5 to zero in on the stem cells in tissue from deceased human donors and use them to regrow anatomically correct, fully functional human corneas in mice.
“Limbal stem cells are very rare, and successful transplants are dependent on these rare cells,” says Bruce Ksander, Ph.D., of Mass. Eye and Ear, co-lead author on the study with post-doctoral fellow Paraskevi Kolovou, M.D. “This finding will now make it much easier to restore the corneal surface. It’s a very good example of basic research moving quickly to a translational application.”

ABCB5 was originally discovered in the lab of Markus Frank, M.D., of Boston Children’s Hospital, and Natasha Frank, M.D., of the VA Boston Healthcare System and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, co-senior investigators on the study, as being produced in tissue precursor cells in human skin and intestine. In the new work, using a mouse model developed by the Frank lab, they found that ABCB5 also occurs in limbal stem cells and is required for their maintenance and survival, and for corneal development and repair. Mice lacking a functional ABCB5 gene lost their populations of limbal stem cells, and their corneas healed poorly after injury.

“ABCB5 allows limbal stem cells to survive, protecting them from apoptosis [programmed cell death],” says Markus Frank. “The mouse model allowed us for the first time to understand the role of ABCB5 in normal development, and should be very important to the stem cell field in general.” according to Natasha Frank.

Markus Frank is working with biopharmaceutical industry to develop a clinical-grade ABCB5 antibody that would meet U.S. regulatory approvals. “A single lab cannot do a study like this,” says Natasha Frank, also affiliated with the Harvard Stem Cell Institute. “It integrates genetics, knockout mice, antibodies, transplantation — a lot of technical expertise that we were lucky came together in a very nice way.”

Source: science daily

How to Protect Your Baby From Whooping Cough

How to Protect Your Baby From Whooping Cough

As a parent, the thought of your baby getting whooping cough, or pertussis, may concern you. But you can take steps to protect your little one, even before he is born.

In order to keep your baby safe, you’ll need to protect yourself and your whole family.

Whooping Cough Is Very Easy to Catch

Pertussis vaccines don’t completely wipe out whooping cough. The protection you get from the childhood vaccine — or from having whooping cough — wanes after a while.

If you’ve had the vaccine, you may still get whooping cough, but not a severe case. In fact, you may mistake it for a cold. And you can still spread it.

“It’s quite contagious,” says Kathryn M. Edwards, MD, director of the Vanderbilt Vaccine Research Program. “It makes you cough, which is an effective way for the organism to spread.” Sneezing and even just breathing are other ways to pass it throughout your household.

It’s Very Dangerous for Babies

When a baby catches whooping cough, it can have breathing trouble, pneumonia, and in rare cases, even brain damage or death. Infants aren’t vaccinated for whooping cough until they are 2 months old.

“Most deaths from whooping cough occur in babies under 4 months old,” says James Cherry, MD, a specialist in children’s infectious diseases, “and most of these babies have gotten it from their parents, particularly their mothers.”

The Vaccinations

There are two pertussis vaccines:

  • DTaP is for children under 7 years old.
  • Tdap is for adults and older children.

Both Tdap and DTaP also protect against diphtheria and tetanus.

Get a Vaccine When You’re Pregnant

If you are expecting, protecting yourself protects your baby.

“A woman should get a Tdap vaccine every time she is pregnant,” Edwards says.

Get the shot between weeks 27 and 36 of your pregnancy. It helps you build antibodies to fight whooping cough that you pass on to your newborn, protecting him before he can get his first DTaP shot.

Build a Circle of Protection at Home

All other adults, older children, and caregivers who will come into close contact with your infant should also have a Tdap shot.

The ideal age to get the Tdap shot is 11 or 12 years old. But teen siblings, cousins, grandparents, and caregivers who haven’t already had the shot should get one, at least 2 weeks before being around the baby.

Get Baby’s Vaccines on Schedule

Your baby starts building his own immunity when he gets the first DTaP shot. He should get a total of five doses, one each at:

  • 2 months
  • 4 months
  • 6 months
  • 15-18 months
  • 4-6 years

When kept to schedule, the vaccine is 80% to 90% effective, and will protect the child until he or she is ready for the Tdap shot.

About one in four children get a fever or soreness, swelling, or redness at the site of the DTaP shot, most likely after a later dose. In rare cases, some children have severe reactions to the vaccine and should stop getting it.

Source: webmd

Brisk walking may improve Parkinson’s symptoms

Brisk walking may improve Parkinson’s symptomsGoing for regular brisk walks may improve symptoms among people with Parkinson’s disease and boost their quality of life, according to a preliminary study.

“Exercise is medicine for Parkinson’s,” Jay Alberts, from the Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute in Ohio, told Reuters Health.

“This shows it doesn’t necessarily have to be super high-intensity exercise,” Alberts said. He studies motor function in Parkinson’s disease but wasn’t involved in the new research.

The study included 60 people with mild to moderate Parkinson’s disease who could walk independently without a cane or walker and had no other serious medical problems.

Researchers had the participants walk briskly, at an average pace of 2.9 miles per hour, three times a week for six months. Each walking session lasted 45 minutes. Participants kept diaries of each session and had trainers to help choose walking routes and collect the diaries.

When researchers compared results from a battery of tests conducted before and after the six months of regular walks, they found participants’ motor function, fitness, mood, tiredness, memory and thinking abilities all improved during the study, on average.

At first some participants also tried interval training – alternating every three minutes between slower and faster speeds – but researchers started assigning all new participants to continuous speed walking when knee pain became a problem in the interval group. There were no such side effects in the continuous speed group, according to results published in Neurology.

“We observed seven to 15 percent improvement in various symptoms that appeared to be clinically meaningful,” Dr. Ergun Uc told Reuters Health in an email. He led the study at the University of Iowa in Iowa City.

This was only a preliminary study, called a phase I/II trial, but Uc said he has applied for phase III trial funding to continue the research.

One limitation of the current study is that it didn’t include a group of patients who did not walk regularly for comparison.

It’s hard to compare the effectiveness of medications to that of exercise since they probably work in different ways, Uc said. He prefers to think of exercise as supplemental to medical treatment, which patients can explore with guidance from their doctors.

With a doctor’s permission, certain patients may be able to follow the aerobic component of physical activity guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which recommend 150 minutes of aerobic exercise, which should feel “somewhat hard,” per week, he said.

Uc added that people with Parkinson’s disease may be discouraged from exercising due to poor general health, lack of knowledge and appreciation of the benefits of exercise, time constraints, lack of an appropriate exercise environment, depression or fear of injury and falls.

“This is probably one of the hottest topics in Parkinson’s research right now,” said Beth Fisher, who studies exercise and Parkinson’s disease at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. She was not part of the new research.

Researchers tend to focus on the physical symptoms of Parkinson’s, like tremor, but non-motor effects are important too, Alberts said.

“This should 100 percent be a part of the treatment program,” he said. “As long as they can do these things in a safe manner and don’t have any other orthopedic reasons (not to exercise), I’m not sure there’s any reason not to recommend exercise.”

“Even if there aren’t motor benefits, there are improvements in mood, fatigue, aerobic fitness – all of these things,” he said.

There will always be debate about the optimal type, amount and intensity of exercise, he said, and researchers will probably never have a precise answer because every person is different. But the aerobic component seems to be the important part, he said.

“I always say, what do you love doing and what can you scale up in difficulty?” Fisher told Reuters Health. “If you love walking and you’re doing it from point A to point B every day outside for x amount of time, how about doing it in less time?”

Source: reuters

10 tips to stay mentally healthy

10 tips to stay mentally healthy

Enjoying mental health means having a sense of wellbeing, being able to function during everyday life and feeling confident to rise to a challenge when the opportunity arises. Just like your physical health, there are actions you can take to increase your mental health. Boost your wellbeing and stay mentally healthy by following a few simple steps.

Connect with others. Develop and maintain strong relationships with people around you who will support and enrich your life. The quality of our personal relationships has a great effect on our wellbeing. Putting time and effort into building strong relationships can bring great rewards.

Take time to enjoy. Set aside time for activities, hobbies and projects you enjoy. Let yourself be spontaneous and creative when the urge takes you. Do a crossword; take a walk in your local park; read a book; sew a quilt; draw pictures with your kids; play with your pets – whatever takes your fancy.

Participate and share interests. Join a club or group of people who share your interests. Being part of a group of people with a common interest provides a sense of belonging and is good for your mental health. Join a sports club; a band; an evening walking group; a dance class; a theatre or choir group; a book or car club.

Contribute to your community. Volunteer your time for a cause or issue that you care about. Help out a neighbour, work in a community garden or do something nice for a friend. There are many great ways to contribute that can help you feel good about yourself and your place in the world. An effort to improve the lives of others is sure to improve your life too.

Take care of yourself. Be active and eat well – these help maintain a healthy body. Physical and mental health are closely linked; it’s easier to feel good about life if your body feels good. You don’t have to go to the gym to exercise – gardening, vacuuming, dancing and bushwalking all count. Combine physical activity with a balanced diet to nourish your body and mind and keep you feeling good, inside and out.

Challenge yourself. Learn a new skill or take on a challenge to meet a goal. You could take on something different at work; commit to a fitness goal or learn to cook a new recipe. Learning improves your mental fitness, while striving to meet your own goals builds skills and confidence and gives you a sense of progress and achievement.

Deal with stress. Be aware of what triggers your stress and how you react. You may be able to avoid some of the triggers and learn to prepare for or manage others. Stress is a part of life and affects people in different ways. It only becomes a problem when it makes you feel uncomfortable or distressed. A balanced lifestyle can help you manage stress better. If you have trouble winding down, you may find that relaxation breathing, yoga or meditation can help.

Rest and refresh. Get plenty of sleep. Go to bed at a regular time each day and practice good habits to get better sleep. Sleep restores both your mind and body. However, feelings of fatigue can still set in if you feel constantly rushed and overwhelmed when you are awake. Allow yourself some unfocussed time each day to refresh; for example, let your mind wander, daydream or simply watch the clouds go by for a while. It’s OK to add ‘do nothing’ to your to-do list!

Notice the here and now. Take a moment to notice each of your senses each day. Simply ‘be’ in the moment – feel the sun and wind on your face and notice the air you are breathing. It’s easy to be caught up thinking about the past or planning for the future instead of experiencing the present. Practising mindfulness, by focusing your attention on being in the moment, is a good way to do this. Making a conscious effort to be aware of your inner and outer world is important for your mental health.

Ask for help. This can be as simple as asking a friend to babysit while you have some time out or speaking to your doctor (GP) about where to find a counsellor or community mental health service. The perfect, worry-free life does not exist. Everyone’s life journey has bumpy bits and the people around you can help. If you don’t get the help you need first off, keep asking until you do

Source: better health channel

5 reasons why Pineapples are good for you

5 reasons why Pineapples are good for you

Summers are here with all their heat, sweat and high humidity levels leaving you exhausted and de-energised. To beat the heat, pineapple is one of the best food packed with anti-oxidants.

Its anti-oxidant properties not just helps fight against diseases like atherosclerosis, heart diseases, and various cancers, but also aids digestion and boosts immune system to save you from this scorching heat.
Here are a few health benefits of this unique fruit:

  •  Pineapple helps in building strong bones as it is a rich source of manganese.
  •  Drinking a glass of pineapple juice can help keep gums healthy and strong teeth.
  •  Since, pineapple is a power house of beta-carotene, it helps in fighting macular degeneration.
  •  It is very helpful in weight-loss as it is a fruit rich in fibres and low in calories.
  •  Eating pineapples also boosts metabolism, provides nourishment to hair, skin and nails.

Source: zee news

Top 10 Tips for New Moms

Top 10 Tips for New Moms

The first year of motherhood is packed with joy, sleepless nights, and more than a few surprises. It seems like absolutely everyone — including books, pediatricians, parents, friends and a plethora of well-meaning bystanders — has an opinion on the right and wrong ways to care for a baby. It’s enough to make a new mom crazy. How do you figure out which advice to take, and which to ignore completely?

Never fear — other moms have been in your shoes, and we collected their insights to help you make sense of it all. Moms on CafeMom.com, the largest site for moms, delved into the question, “What advice do you wish you had gotten as a first-time mother?” Veteran mothers offered up tons of great tips, and we picked 10 of our favorites.

Whether you’re getting ready for motherhood or already in the trenches with your bundle of joy, here are 10 tips to help you navigate the surprises with your sanity intact. Read on for parenting pearls of wisdom

Don’t worry about what other moms are doing too much. Try not to compare yourself: You’ll know if you’re doing all you can for your child, and no one else should judge too harshly. Same goes for when you see another mother doing something differently than you. Remind yourself that everyone is different (mothers and their babies) and you really have no right to say your way is better.

Do your own research, but also trust your motherly instincts! They are there for a reason! If it feels wrong to let your baby cry, then pick them up. If you want to rock your baby to sleep and cuddle them while they sleep, then go ahead. If it feels right, then it usually is right

You don’t need so much “stuff” for a newborn … They outgrow most of it within weeks! Get by with less and put all that money you (or the people who came to the shower) wasted into a savings account for the child. Babies aren’t babies forever!

Baby’s insecurity comes from sensing yours. Stay calm and the baby will be calm.

Source: how stuff works

50% of American adults have chronic diseases: Study

American adults have chronic diseases

A new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revealed that half of all adults in the USA have at least one chronic condition, such as diabetes, heart disease or obesity.

The study published in the medical journal ‘The Lancet’ also shows that over a quarter of adults have two or more of these conditions.According to researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the

majority of these chronic conditions are largely preventable through the reduction of risk factors that falls within individuals’ control such as – tobacco use, poor diet, and physical inactivity (both strongly associated with obesity), alcohol consumption, and uncontrolled high blood pressure.

Compared with other high-income countries, USA is less healthy in areas such as obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and chronic lung diseases.

The study also found that Medicare enrollees (the majority of whom are over 65) accounted for 300 billion dollars in healthcare spending. And over 90 percent of this healthcare expenditure was accounted for by people with two or more chronic conditions.

Source: zee news