Archive for June, 2009

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Ovulation Calculators and Ovulation Symptoms

Comments: 0June 30th, 2009 by admin



Women’s body is an amazing combination of natural phenomena and processes that cannot be defined or completely explained by science, yet. All women are different; some have a menstrual cycle every twenty two days, some of them may have every thirty or even more days. You cannot expect to use the same methods so as to detect what is happening in the bodies of all women, because if you do, chances are that you will fail.

Women tend to check and calculate their fertility days when they want to get pregnant. Some women use charts or calculators so as to predict their fertile days, although a pregnancy ovulation calculator is not always a feasible method. The fertile days and ovulation processes are a way too personal issue. Women might discuss this issue with each other and still discover some details or learn some information, of which they were not aware.

According to gynecologists’, using an ovulation prediction calculator is not an accurate solution, unless you combine it with some other observations and data. For instance, many women tend to measure their basal temperature, or check the density and the quality of the cervical mucus, because these two are the main indicators of the ovulation period. If you want to check and predict your ovulation dates, you should use one of the online ovulation calculators combined with an ovulation chart, where you will be recording the changes and differences of the cervical mucus.

This conjunction of methods will help you determine the exact days of your ovulation – or at least in a much better way. In any case though, you should remember that in most cases a pregnancy can occur completely unexpectedly. You might be monitoring and calculating days and dates for months, and when you give up these methods and these procedures you might get pregnant easier. Do not underestimate the influence of stress and anxiety in your effort to get pregnant.

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Posted in Alcohol

Myelodysplastic Syndrome and Leukemia

Comments: 0June 30th, 2009 by admin



Considered to be a benign disease for years, Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) is nowadays known to pose a serious threat to people it affects. Recent studies have revealed that MDS is actually a malignant disease that can further lead to leukemia. Due to this fact, Myelodysplastic Syndrome is also referred to as pre-leukemia disease.

Similar to leukemia, MDS triggers an overproduction of abnormal blood cells that eventually outnumber their healthy counterparts. The cells involved in causing the disease are called blasts and they originate in the bone marrow. Dysfunctional blasts multiply at abnormally fast rates and accumulate in the marrow or in the bloodstream. These functionless cells perturb the production of normal blood cells, causing a decrease in the number of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. As a result, people who suffer from MDS also have anemia, (due to fewer red blood cells), impaired immune system (due to fewer white blood cells) and experience slow healing (due to fewer platelets).

Many patients diagnosed with MDS are at risk of developing leukemia. In order to block the progression of MDS and to prevent the occurrence of leukemia, most patients receive treatments with decitabine, a new drug that is currently under testing.

Although most patients diagnosed with MDS respond well to treatments with mild chemotherapy drugs and decitabine, they commonly experience relapse after completing the prescribed course of medications. MDS has a pronounced recurrent character and despite its high curability in the initial stages of the disease, it becomes very difficult to treat in later stages of evolution.

Oncologists have noticed the fact that patients who relapse also become less responsive to second treatments. The exact reasons why most patients with MDS fail to respond to re-treatment are still unknown. However, this problem may be corrected by extending the duration of initial treatments. Medical scientists explain that a single long-term course of chemotherapy drugs and decitabine may provide better results than frequently repeated shorter treatments. They sustain that by extending the treatment with mild chemotherapy drugs and decitabine beyond the margin of remission, patients with MDS are less likely to relapse. In addition, medical scientists claim that patients who achieve remission should follow ongoing maintenance treatments in order to prevent the recurrence of the disease.

Recently conducted experiments have confirmed the fact that long-term treatments provide better results than repeated treatments in overcoming MDS. Patients who receive short-term treatments not only experience relapse, but they are also more exposed to developing acute leukemia and other severe forms of blood cancer. In order to prevent this from happening, an extended low-dose initial treatment with decitabine followed by maintenance treatments may be the best option for patients diagnosed with MDS.

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Posted in leukimia

Read This Before You Buy an Iron Water Filter

Comments: 0June 30th, 2009 by admin



Before you go buy an iron water filter for your home, make sure you know what’s causing the iron contamination and also the levels of iron in your water. Without knowing a few important facts about iron water, you can easily make the mistake of buying the wrong iron water filtration system.

Firstly it’s important to have your water tested by Water Testing Laboratories in your area. Or you can go out and buy a water testing kit but make sure that it will be able to show results of iron concentrations in the water.

The results should show you what type of iron you have in the water. There are 2 main types. They are:

1) Soluble

This variety is most often reported. In this case you will find that clear water comes out of the tap but if you leave to water for a little to settle in the glass, you will find reddish brown bits accumulating on the bottom of the glass.

and

2) Insoluble

This type of iron water is known as “red water” because when you pour cold tap water into the glass, the color is shaded with a rusty red color. The color is not as off putting as the metallic taste and if there is sulfur hydroxide in the water too, it might smell like rotten eggs too!

The insoluble form also results in an organic complex because iron mixes with other naturally occurring acids in the water. The result might be a yellow brown coloring to the water.

The last insoluble form is iron bacteria. This happens when iron combines with certain types of bacteria. It’s very obvious to notice because it forms a yellow orange reddish slime or sludge in toilet tanks or wells. It can become a huge problem because the iron bacterium clogs up drains or pipes supplying water to the house.

Now that we know what type of iron there could be in your water system, it’s also important to find out the concentrations of the iron. This is a test that only the labs can perform. That’s why it is ultimately best to get a third party to do the testing.

It’s also important to find out where the high levels of iron are coming from. If your water supply comes from a public water supply, then find out from your local town office if this water does have high iron concentrations and if not, then it must be coming from your pipes.

If you get water from a well, then it might even be better to talk to a well driller and your neighbors and find out how deep their wells are and if they have the iron water problem too. If they don’t have this problem, then find out the depth of their wells. It is often costly to get your well dug deeper but it’s cheaper in the long term than treating your water with regular iron filters for well water.

Low to medium concentrations of iron in the water supply, mean that certain iron water filters will be suitable. Higher concentrations used together with normal iron purification systems may result in you having to constantly change and buy new parts for the machine.

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Posted in anemia

What Is Acute Myelogenous Leukemia?

Comments: 0June 30th, 2009 by admin



AML, (acute myelogenous leukemia), is an aggressive cancer of the bone marrow and blood. It is the most common type of leukemia. AML is also known by the following names-acute myeloblastic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, acute granulocytic leukemia or acute nonlymphocytic leukemia. Blood cells are malformed and useless. The cells can accumulate in parts of the body.

Acute myelogenous leukemia statistics

o Rare in people under 40 years old

o More common in men than in women

o Average age is 65 years old

o 5-year survival rate

o under 65 years old-33%

o over 65 years old-4%

o 2007 it is predicted there will be 13,000 cases (majority will be adults)

The symptoms of acute myelogenous leukemia include abnormal blood counts, a general run-down, unwell feeling that never gets better, reoccurring infections, swollen lymph nodes, and bone/ joint pain. Symptoms are acute (comes on suddenly, and accelerates quickly) instead of chronic (mild symptoms that gradually worsen over years).

When the malformed cells collect around parts of the body, it can cause skin, lung, central nervous system, kidney, and even testicle problems. Initially, acute myelogenous leukemia may mimic other conditions. Blood tests identify the possibility of AML. The final diagnosis is usually made after a bone marrow test and sometimes by a spinal tap, also known as a lumbar (lower spine) puncture (LP).

There are several types treatments available, one or more will be used to treat a dignosis of AML.

Chemotherapy-strong drugs taken orally or intravenously that kills the cancer cells. Occasionally it’s injected directly into the spine. It is a systemic treatment because it travels throughout the whole body.

Radiation-high energy rays like X-rays kill the cancer cells

Bone marrow transplants-unhealthy cancer producing bone marrow is destroyed and replaced with matching bone marrow.

Immunotherapy-stimulates the immune system to destroy cancer cells or boosts natural defenses. It can be a made naturally or artificially.

Risk factors for AML

o Previous chemotherapy or radiation treatments

o Exposure to radiation and chemicals like benzene

o Genetic disorders like Downs Syndrome

o Smoking

o Blood disorders like myelodysplasia

People with risk factors should watch more closely for symptoms of AML because early treatment increases survival rate.

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Posted in leukimia

Cinnamon and Diabetes – Can a Spice Really Help My Blood Sugar?

Comments: 0June 30th, 2009 by admin



Cinnamon has been used for thousand of years by many different cultures as a medicinal aid. Some studies have indicated that cinnamon might improve blood glucose and cholesterol levels in those suffering with type 2 diabetes. Cinnamon and diabetes may sound like an peculiar pairing because when we think of cinnamon we usually think of things we should be avoiding like rich pastries.

Researchers have believed for years that spices might help treat diabetes. Research has shown that cinnamon, cloves, bay leaves, and turmeric have each exhibited good results in raising the action of insulin in the body.

Some may think that this is a myth based on ancient beliefs or a rumor spread by the alternative health crowd. But there is actually an increasing amount of research data concerning the positive effects of cinnamomum cassia, the more common type of cinnamon found in the U.S.

While it has been demonstrated to be impressive in the control of blood sugar, those with type 2, (non-insulin dependent diabetes) appear to be the only beneficiaries. Those with type 1 (insulin dependent diabetes) appear to have received no real benefit.

Type 2 diabetes typically occurs in middle-age and causes the untimely death of 100 million people worldwide every year and has devastating affects on millions of other sufferers like heart disease, stroke and blindness.

It is important to note that cinnamon will not cure your diabetes. It may however provide a reduction in the quantity of insulin you take. It may as well benefit in the prevention of the disease.

Always be sure to check with you doctor or nutritionist before adding cinnamon to your diet. If recommended, use it exactly as suggested. Only a small, daily amount should be needed and can be added to foods and beverages you already consume. Many use the common powder or cinnamon stick. Cinnamon pills are available too, and can be purchased in stores or online.

While cinnamon and diabetes may initially seem like an odd couple, it could be beneficial to look into if you have type 2.

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Posted in Diabetes

Vitamin B12 Deficiency Symptoms

Comments: 0June 29th, 2009 by admin



Your body requires very little vitamin b12 or cobalamin and most of us get sufficient quantities of it in our normal meals to satisfy our daily requirements. Although it’s rare to see vitamin b12 deficiency symptoms it can still be useful to be able to recognise them just in case.

You’re most vulnerable to vitamin b12 deficiency if you’ve vegan and don’t use the available dietary supplements containing vitamin b12. Infants breast-feeding from vegan mothers can also be at risk. Vitamin b12 supplements are generally regarded as safe because there are few known adverse effects of overdose.

The main symptom that arises from vitamin b12 deficiency is a type of anemia that causes you to feel tired, weak and lethargic. You might also feel nauseous, constipated and become very flatulent (gas). You may also lose your appetite and suffer weight loss.

More severe cases can give vitamin b12 deficiency symptoms, which include:

Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet Insomnia Loss of memory Dizziness Lack of balance Depression Digestive problems Dizziness Liver enlargement Eye problems Headaches Hallucinations Inflamed tongue Breathing difficulties Loss of memory Palpitations Neurological damage Tinitus or ringing in the ears

Vitamin b12 is commonly found in animal products like eggs, dairy, fish, meat and animal organs. B12 is rarely found in vegetables, which is why vegetarians and especially vegans who don’t eat dairy products or meat, are especially at risk. If you fall into this category then you should consider using vitamin supplements containing b12.

It’s also important to realise that the operation of vitamin b12 is dependent on sufficient quantities of other vitamins being present in your body so you should take care to get a balanced diet to avoid vitamin b12 deficiency symptoms.

Summary:
Your body requires very little vitamin b12 or cobalamin and most of us get sufficient quantities of it in our normal meals to satisfy our daily requirements. Although it’s rare to see vitamin b12 deficiency symptoms it can still be useful to be able to recognise them just in case.

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Posted in anemia

Understanding and Recognizing Leukemia Symptoms

Comments: 0June 29th, 2009 by admin



Leukemia is a sort of cancer of the blood and marrow. The disease is characterized through the overproducing of immature blood cells (stem cells) that aren’t able to fully develop and carry out the activities of normal blood cells.

Each type of mature blood cells has specific traits and roles inside the body. White blood cells or leukocytes have an important role in the immune system, contributing to overcome infections. White blood cells also help in healing flesh wounds and cuts. Red blood cells or erythrocytes contain hemoglobin, which has a great importance in transporting oxygen to the cells within the organism. Red blood cells are vital for the process of cell respiration, carrying oxygen to cells and removing carbon dioxide from them. Platelets have an important role in repairing damage at the level of blood vessels, accumulating to seal any cuts or tares.

Leukemia leads to the accumulation and crowding of diseased stem cells at the level of the bone marrow, which decreases the normal production of healthy blood cells. The lack of normal blood cells leads to the appearance of leukemia symptoms. It is important to understand that despite the fact that leukemia causes an over production of white blood cells, these cells are immature and can’t substitute for normal blood cells. Due to this, the body is exposed to many forms of infection.

The most common leukemia symptoms are: anemia (insufficient number of red blood cells in the bloodstream), risks of bleeding (insufficient number of platelets in the bloodstream), nose bleeding, bleeding of the oral cavity, predisposition to bruising, high exposure to infections due to lack of white blood cells, improper healing.

Other leukemia symptoms may be fatigue, lack of concentration, poor psychical performance, fever, loss of appetite and weight loss.

In the case of chronic leukemia, which facilitates the accumulation of diseased blood cells in different places inside the body, the leukemia symptoms may be migraines, insomnia, decreased vision and hearing, loss of balance, faints and seizures. Some of these leukemia symptoms need immediate medical intervention, as they may lead to further complications.

Sometimes people with leukemia may have enlarged liver and spleen, causing abdominal swelling or enlarged lymph nodes. The body glands of the organism can also be affected by leukemia.

Leukemia symptoms have a non-specific character. This means that they can be misleading in establishing an appropriate diagnose, as they may also occur in the cases of other diseases. Medical professionals are the only persons able to distinguish leukemia from other illnesses with resembling symptoms. Proper diagnose is very important in order to quickly begin the administration of specific treatment. Blood analysis and careful body examinations can reveal the presence of leukemia. Leukemia is considered to have a high rate of mortality and although the disease can be overcome through treatment and therapy, it can cause death if its presence is not noticed in time. Therefore, prompt intervention is required for leukemia, regardless of its type.

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Posted in leukimia

Ways to Avail Cheap Flights to Istanbul

Comments: 0June 29th, 2009 by admin



Istanbul, Turkey is one of the greatest cities in the world. It is a reunion point linking the West and the East. It is also the only city located in two continents – Asia and Europe. As the largest and most captivating city in Turkey, it continues to attract thousands of visitors every year. For this, cheap flights to Istanbul have become obtainable.

Airfare for Istanbul is really quite expensive. This gives budget travelers a hard time in looking for alternative ways to reach Istanbul. With EasyJet and Condor, these budget airlines now offer cheap flights to Istanbul.

Istanbul was previously recognized as Byzantium and Constantinople from airports throughout Europe. With the surfacing of cheaper flights to this great city, it is definitely excellent news for persons who are eager to escape the chilly weather and long nights. Add the many ski destinations and winter resorts serviceable from the Essex airport and you’re all set to have a great time during the holidays.

Cheap flights to Istanbul is obtainable through EasyJet. It services two times a week flights to Fuenteventura. This is while its competitor, Ryanair, offers the latest flights to Spain and Norway. Another option is through Blue air which offers flights to Greece and Romania then; Turkish Airlines will travel to Istanbul.

For the inexpensive airline, Iceland Express, they offer flights from Stansted. As for Snowjet, they provide skiers with flights to the French and Swiss resorts. It is Stansted’s director, Nick Barton, who declared the latest routes. This conveniently appeared during the difficult times of the aviation business.

Ercan-Istanbul-Ercan is a popular flight route that significantly reduced their prices in the past year alone. This is as rivalry intensified among airlines for passengers. This is good news for customers searching for cheap flights to Istanbul. Cyprus Turkish Airlines presents its listed flights that start as low as 70 EUR. They also offer special promotions and standby tickets. Another option is to enter Northern Cyprus from the United Kingdom for as low as 80 GBP.

It’s possible that the latest route from EasyJet will decrease the numbers of TRNC guests and immigrant residents who utilize the Larnaca airport in Cyprus as their cheapest alternative to entering Istanbul to the north. Flights to Larnaca and then across border transfers were formerly the least expensive way for those hoping to go to North Cyprus but there are parking fees to be paid in Larcana amounting to 80 GBP. It costs more if you’ll take a taxi to and from the airport in the south. Thus, these presumed savings are actually not advisable due to the added costs.

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Posted in Allergy And Sinus

Anemia in Dogs

Comments: 0June 28th, 2009 by admin



Anemia is defined as an overall reduction in the number of red blood cells within the bloodstream. The overall consequence of anemia is the inability of the blood to supply desired levels of oxygen to the tissues throughout the body. The signs of anemia include pallor in the mouth and around the eyes, (loss of normal pink color), gradual weakness, and the inability to exercise, rapid breathing, and an unsettled behavior.

The three major causes of anemia are (1) Destruction of red blood cells by parasites, poisons, bacterial toxins, and immune reactions. (2) Loss of blood as a result of accidents, poisoning, bleeding ulcers, and parasites such as hookworms or whipworms. (3) Reduced or abnormal production of new red blood cells in the bone marrow due to tumors, poisons, acute infections, kidney disease, and most frequently by vitamin and mineral deficiencies caused by poor diet.

A simple blood test performed by your veterinarian can tell you if your dog is anemic. Treatment of anemia depends on the cause. While treating the cause, the vet may also give your dog anti-anemic drugs such as iron supplements and vitamins, while putting him on a strict diet to speed up his recovery. Additionally, you shouldn’t overtire your dog during his recovery, rest is important. Anemia as well as any other disorders can be spotted early if you take your pet to the vet twice a year.

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Posted in anemia

Ovarian Cancer (Ab Ovo)

Comments: 0June 28th, 2009 by admin



Ovarian cancer is the 5th most common cancer in women after lung, breast, colorectal and pancreatic cancers. It accounts for only three percent of cancer in women, and fortunately there has been a decline in incidence of this type of cancer by about 1% over the last twenty years. Unfortunately, diagnosis is usually late as there are very subtle and often protean symptoms and signs. Ovarian cancer is not just a cancer of old age, it can occur at any age, even infancy, however, the incidence of this cancer does rise significantly after the age of 50.

There are certain risk factors for ovarian cancer, chief amongst them is family history and some associated genetic syndromes. A blood relative with ovarian cancer raises the risk for their female relative by 5% for this cancer. There is a syndrome of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer which occurs in one out of every 500 women and being an autosomal dominant genetic disorder results in BRCA1 and/or BRCA2 gene mutation. The other is Lynch II syndrome a hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer syndrome, again autosomal dominant, which increases risk for ovarian cancer by 12%. However, the majority of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer have no family history and the etiology remains unknown. When ovarian cancer occurs and is not detected early when localized to one ovary, the cancer will usually spread to the unaffected ovary and uterus first, but can spread to the liver, lungs, adrenal glands, spleen and other intraperitoneal organs.

Some things that reduce risk are the protective effects of oral contraceptives, late menarche, early menopause, multipariety (having more than one child) and breastfeeding. Progesterone appears to be protective, but there is controversy as a 2009 Danish study suggests that all HRT results in increased risk (the study was performed with estrogen alone (unopposed) or estrogen & progestin (progestin is a synthetic progesterone compound). Further study in the use of natural bio-identical hormones for prevention will need to be performed to clear up this controversy as earlier studies showed HRT to be protective. There are modifiable factors such as reducing weight (avoiding obesity), smoke cessation, reducing a high starch and fat diet that can reduce risk of this cancer. It has been shown that a well balanced diet high in carotene, vitamin C and E and unsaturated fats with moderate physical activity all help reduce ovarian cancer risk.

There is much difficulty in making an early diagnosis due to the fact that signs and symptoms are very often subtle and non specific, and unless you go looking for this disease with specific diagnostic lab and radiology tests you are not likely to find it early on. Some symptoms include abdominal pain and fullness, back pain, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, fatigue, pelvic pain and urinary symptoms. Laboratory testing should be considered in women over 40-years of age if these symptoms persist as they are a higher risk population for ovarian cancer. Testing usually involves a CBC, metabolic panel and serum CA 125 levels. CA 125 is a cancer marker that is rather sensitive and specific for ovarian cancer, however there are some other conditions that can elevate this marker such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), endometriosis, ovarian cysts and pregnancy. CA 125 is a good test but not perfect since it is elevated in 90% of patients with advanced disease, but only upwards of 50% with stage I tumors. Additionally, there are other markers that make themselves useful, and they include the beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (Beta-HCG), serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Diagnosis is also made by diagnostic imaging, such as the Doppler transvaginal ultrasound (ultrasonography or US), often used as an initial evaluation for a pelvic mass. US is helpful in determining benign ovarian lesions such as simple cysts from those that appear more malignant such as complex solid tumors. Other modes of radiological imaging useful to the diagnostician are CT scan and gadolinium-enhanced MRI.

Treatment usually includes (after thorough diagnostic testing and staging) excision of the mass/tumor by surgery. Depending on the stage of the disease other organs may also be removed, for example the appendix is generally removed due to its potential target for metastasis. Following removal of the tumor, chemotherapy is typically initiated with a combination of platinum and taxane-based agents. Carboplatin and Taxol are two chemotherapeutic agents that are often used. For those women beyond their reproductive years, a total hysterectomy is often considered, while radiation therapy is reserved for palliative and persistent disease that reappears after a regiment of chemotherapy.

Prognosis is a bit complicated as it is based on the staging of the disease as well as the histological grade (type of tumor etiology) that typically plays a role in recurrence rates. For example, an epithelial ovarian cancer (histologically) has a low malignant potential if diagnosed at stage I and has a 95 – 99% survival rate at 10-years.

Screening for ovarian cancer should include annual physical examination and directed exams by markers and imaging only when warranted. Routine screening with CA 125 yield too many false positives and misses too many tumors early on to be a good general screening test. BRCA analysis should be reserved for descendents of those with mutated BRCA1 & BRCA2 genes, it is not recommended as a general screening tool. The current recommendations for women meeting criteria for high risk or very high risk for ovarian cancer is to be screened with a transvaginal ultrasound and have a CA 125 measured every six months during days 1 through 10 of their menstrual cycle beginning at age 35.

The take home message here is that women need to be diligent with regard to their annual physical examinations and to not ignore persistent symptoms that may point a finger to an underlying more serious condition.

References:

Roett, M. Evans, P., “Ovarian Cancer: An Overview”, American Family Physician, Vol. 80, Num 6, September 15, 2009, p.609-616.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10933270 (Accessed 10/8/2009)

www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=103822 (Accessed 10/8/2009)

(c) 2009

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Posted in cancer

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