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History of the ASPCA

Comments: 0September 28th, 2009 by admin



Animal cruelty is a major issue in the United States. Using animals to fight as in the case of Michael Vick or just abusing them happens every day. The ASPCA is a model of many non-profit organizations that try to protect and care for mistreated, abandoned and abused animals.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) was founded by Henry Bergh. Henry Bergh, born in 1813 to a prominent shipbuilder, was a man of leisure touring Europe. He observed many cruel acts to animals and took up the cause to prevent them.

He came back to the U.S. and started giving speeches and finding supporters for his cause. In 1866, the New York State Legislature granted him a charter for the organization. Soon after, an anti-cruelty law for animals was passed and the society was given the authority to enforce it. By his death in 1888, humane societies and anti-cruelty laws started to appear in my states.

The organization first concentrated on horses and livestock but cats and dogs were soon to follow. Dogs, especially, were used to turn treadmills, pull small carts and fight. Stray dogs in the streets of New York were captured, put in cages and dropped in the East River to drown. In 1894, it starting providing shelter for dogs and cats and if required gas was used for euthanasia.

In 1912, it opened a hospital for animals. The doctors at the hospital developed many procedures to treat animals and avoid certain death. In 1918, the hospital starting using anesthesia. In 1954, it added pathology and radiology programs. In 1961, it preformed open heart surgery on a dog.

With the development of kitty litter and canned food, pet ownership increased in the U.S. Its shelters became a good source for a pet. It developed a dog training class to make a dog more desirable as a pet. It introduced tattooing a number on an animal for licensing. In the mid-80′s, it developed the microchip for identification. In 1972, it supported the spay/neutering of adopted pets.

It provides aid in the investigation of animal cruelty crimes, trains law enforcement and lobbies to pass laws to protect animals. It also deals with disaster preparedness by providing emergency services when a natural disaster occurs. Providing supplies, rescuing and caring for abandoned pets, veterinarian services and reuniting owners with their pets are some of the services it conducts during and after a natural disaster.

The ASPCA is headquartered in New York City but has support throughout the country. It supports the city’s animal control program with the Animal Control Poison Center, Animal Behavior Center, Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital, mobile spay/neuter clinics and adoption centers. Mission Orange is an initiative for support from other cities to stop unnecessary euthanasia of pets.

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What is a Normal Blood Sugar Level? Tips For Diabetics

Comments: 0September 28th, 2009 by admin



Glucose is a simple sugar that our body produces from fat, protein, and carbohydrates from the food that we eat. It is carried to the bloodstream to produce energy to the cells. Glucose cannot be used by the cell without the help of insulin. Ingested glucose when absorbed from the intestine into the blood resulted in the increase in blood glucose or simply known as blood sugar.

Blood glucose level is the amount of glucose (sugar) present in the body. Normal blood glucose levels in humans are about 90 mg/dL to 130mg/dL throughout the day. Blood glucose is usually lower in the morning but higher every after meals. Keeping the blood sugar level stable significantly reduces the risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar level) or hyperglycemia (high blood sugar level) and complications such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, stroke and heart disease, retinopathy (eye disease), neuropathy (nerve disease), and nephropathy (kidney disease).

Check your sugar level at home with a testing kit. It has a measuring device and a strip. To check your sugar level, put a small amount of blood on the strip, place the strip into the device and wait for 30 seconds and it will display the blood glucose level.

The ideal blood sugar values are

Upon waking up (before breakfast) – 80 mg/dl to 120 mg/dL Before every meals – 80 mg/dL to 120 mg/dL 2 hours after meals – 160 mg/dL or less At bedtime – 100 mg/dL to 140 mg/dL

Sugar level in blood should be checked over a period of time by a test called HbA1c (hemoglobin A1c). High blood sugar causes HbA1c to rise.

HbA1c of about 6.5% or less is good HbA1c of about 7.5% shows fairly control of diabetes HbA1c above 8.5% shows poor control of diabetes.

A person with type 2 diabetes shows that in every 1% rise in HbA1c is more likely to develop late-stage complications arising from damage to the small blood vessels.

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How to Stop Alcohol Abuse Easily With Self Hypnosis

Comments: 0September 27th, 2009 by admin



You want to stop alcohol abuse because it can wreak havoc on your life. Alcoholism is a serious condition and many alcoholics find it impossible to quit drinking beer, hard liquor or other alcoholic beverages. Violence can be a problem in many cases. Your anti-drinking assault begins with looking inward.

Physical Problems

You may experience physical problems due to your excessive drinking habit. This includes premature aging. You add years to your exterior because binge drinking takes a toll on your body. Your body is unable to regenerate as it should and the aging process quickens.

You need to stop alcohol abuse before it has an adverse effect on your liver and heart. Your liver processes toxins in the body and alcoholic beverages are filled with many toxic elements that need to be processed. This causes the liver to malfunction over time.

Excessive drinking can also lead to heart problems. It removes calcium from your body and it has a profound effect on your metabolism. Alcoholism can be deadly if it goes to an extreme because your organs break down little by little until they no longer function properly.

Psychological Problems

An addiction to alcoholic beverages has psychological ramifications as well. Your cognitive abilities drop. You are unable to focus and think clearly. This can spill into your sober stage as well. Drinking in excess causes you to lose valuable brain cells.

Your dependency to alcoholic drinks is damaging to your emotional state as well. You are more apt to have low mood and depression if you abuse alcohol. You begin a cycle of dependency and despondency as you become more and more dependent.

Self-Hypnosis to Stop Alcohol Abuse

One of the most powerful approaches you can use for an addiction like excessive drinking. Many people find great success by using this approach because it works to help you on so many levels. Trying to combat alcoholism alone is overwhelming unless you use the power of your subconscious mind to guide you.

The help that you need is within you. You want to stop alcohol abuse but you simply do not realize that you have the power to accomplish this. Self-hypnosis is very effective because it helps you work through your addiction through your subconscious.

The Subconscious Mind

When you tap into the subconscious mind with the genuine desire to stop alcohol abuse, you are tapping into your habit center. Drinking may be second nature to you now. You might drink without thinking of the ramifications. When you engage the subconscious mind, you take control of the automatic habit.

Once you get control over your habit center, you are better able to address the issues that lead you to drink in excess in the first place. Instead of hiding behind a glass, you face your fears and anxiety head on. This is the ideal approach to overcome them.

If your drinking has gotten so out of control that you don’t believe anything will work, seek help from a professional. You can complement your treatment plan with self-hypnosis. With the combination of professional support and self-hypnosis, you can stop alcohol abuse.

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Posted in Alcohol

Your Menstrual Cycle Can Have a Big Impact on Your Exercise Regime

Comments: 0September 25th, 2009 by admin



Time your hardest workouts to coincide with the latter stages of your menstrual cycle as during this time levels of oestrogen and progesterone are at their highest. Studies have shown that you can exercise harder during this time and will be able to burn more calories!

Every woman should get their iron levels checked regularly as this has a serious impact on how able you are to be able to maintain an exercise program. Even if you are not anaemic having a low iron level can still make you feel tired and unable to workout to your maximum. Ask your doctor to prescribe a low dose of iron tablets to help get your body up to normal levels and monitor how much more exercise you can manage than before. You will be pleasantly surprised.

Seriously don’t bother buying the latest celebrity workout DVD. What benefit will you get from watching a well toned, attractive lady telling you how to get into shape? The chances are that she didn’t get fit by herself but instead was in a position to hire a full time trainer to keep her motivated and also didn’t use the exercises she shows you in the DVD. Very soon you will realise that the chances of actually getting the body and looks of a celebrity are slim and can quickly sap your motivation and make you self conscious. So you would be better spending the money on a session at the gym with a trainer who will work out a plan for you to follow and you will see better results too.

Some heavier women feel that they cannot benefit from exercise but this is totally untrue as even if you don’t lose lots of weight you will still be keeping the heart healthy and reducing this risks of high blood pressure and strokes in later life.

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Zrii and The Benefits of Amalaki

Comments: 0September 25th, 2009 by admin



Amalaki fruit is grown exclusively on certified organic farms. The fresh, ripe fruit is harvested at the optimal time using environmentally sustainable methods that are sensitive to the long term health of the trees and their surrounding ecosystems.

The fruit contains the highest content of vitamin C of any natural occuring substance in nature. It maintains balance amongst three doshas and effectively controls digestive problems, strengthens heart, normalises cholesterol, prevents cancer, builds up and sustain defence mechanism, improves eye-sight and detoxifies the body.

Amalaki is also a potent rejuvenative for the entire body. It is said to stimulate the production of red blood cells, enhance cellular regeneration, increase lean body mass and support proper function of the liver, spleen, heart and lungs. It has also been used to improve eyesight, strengthen the bones and teeth, and cause hair and nails to grow. It improves the digestive fire, maintains a healthy blood sugar level and is a rich natural source of antioxidants.

Studies show that the fruit contains 20 times more vitamin C than orange. Other scientific researches show that amalaki increases red blood cell count and hemoglobin and when taken regularly as a dietary supplement, it counteracts the toxic effects of prolonged exposure to environmental heavy metals, such as lead, aluminium and nickel. The fruit is distributed for human consumption in the form of juice through the Zrii company and is also used in various other forms as murabbas, pickles and chutneys. Flowers, root and bark of its tree are also medicinal, but nowadays the twig of amalaki is also used for tanning and dyeing. Its timber is useful for miscellaneous domestic purposes, as it stands well under water and is used in making wells in rural areas.

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Research Shows Acai Effective in Leukemia Treatment

Comments: 0September 25th, 2009 by admin



The University of Florida is the only group in the United States to perform any kind of study on the remarkable acai fruit and the benefits that it holds. It seems like the acai berry is more than just a fad — it does improve one’s health considerably and you can almost instantly feel the effect of its antioxidants on your body.Researchers at the University of Florida made a breakthrough discovery: they have found that acai berries contain properties that can destroy cancer cells, specifically leukemia cells. It is misleading to claim that acai berries can actually cure leukemia, but because of the findings of the study, it is believed that acai berries and products that contain them provide strong health and wellness benefits for people in the long run.First-time drinkers of acai juices have felt the extreme change in their well-being almost immediately. Acai juice has been known to decrease inflammation, improve digestive issues and skin problems, help with sexual dysfunction, and even improve sleep. This may be due to the several vitamins and nutrients that are found in the berries. Acai berries contain high levels of antioxidants, and are rich in Omega fatty acids, enzymes, protein, dietary fiber, and vitamin A, B1 and E. It is highly recommended to take acai in juice form. Acai berry juice has a high concentration of pure, fresh acai extracts so you feel more energetic and healthy.Before trying out acai, learn more about this miracle berry from www.truthaboutacai.com, your most complete source for everything acai.

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Psychological and Medicine Treatments For Alcohol Rehabilitation

Comments: 0September 23rd, 2009 by admin



Usually, psychological and medicinal treatments for alcohol rehabilitation are preferred. The alcohol abuse can result in wide spreading social, economical, physical, and mental damage. The main aim for alcohol rehabilitation is to help the patients lead a happy and drug free life. It comprises mainly of two phases of dependency that are physical and psychological.

The important part of alcohol rehabilitation is the psychological treatment, which focuses mainly on the assistance to the patients thus making them able to cope with the conditions of stress and anxiety. The psychological treatments are aimed to bring positive attitudinal changes to retain a healthy lifestyle.

The psychological treatment plays a vital role in compelling the patient to go through medical treatment. The alcohol rehabilitation becomes easier if the patient is made to confront the denial for abstaining from alcohol. It will be a challenge for the patient. If the challenge is successfully accomplished, it will result in continued abstinence from alcohol.

Alcohol addiction should be taken in account while going through psychological treatment. Mostly, alcoholics are of the view that they drink due to a number of emotional problems. They should be made to account for the fact that alcohol is the main cause of emotional problems. Hence, they should abstain from it, if they want to get rid of their emotional and social problems. The psychiatrist must ensure the involvement of addict’s family and friends in order to help him/her recover from addiction. Family and friends can work along with the doctors for better results.

Medical treatment of alcohol consists of withdrawal from alcohol at the initial stage. It also comprises medication for treating nutritional deficiencies, detoxification and also to encourage alcohol abstinence. The use of disaffirm is prescribed as it is an Anti abuse thus, prevents alcoholic from drinking. This medicine is used during the detoxification phase. It requires abstinence from alcohol as in take of small amount of alcohol can result in vomiting and nausea.

Naltrexone is also recommended during the medicinal treatment of alcoholics. It helps in controlling the temptations for alcohol. It also helps in overcoming the psychological addictions. Moreover, if the patient does not abstain from alcohol then this medicine can cause complete annihilation of the neurological chemical addiction.

Chlordiazepoxide is prescribed to the alcoholics to guarantee the withdrawal of alcohol. Moreover, multivitamins are also used for this purpose. For those who consume alcohol in greater quantity, multivitamins are given in combination with thiamine and folic acid. These prevent the sudden effects of alcohol withdrawal.

Benzodiazepines are used as anti anxiety drugs in order to treat the anxiety and delirium from which the patient usually suffers while going through the rehabilitation process. Recommended dose of the medicine should be used, as it may prove to be addictive.

Exercise should be encouraged during the course of alcohol rehabilitation that helps reduce craving for alcohol. It is a good way to relieve stress and as a result, patient will get a substitute of alcohol in the form of exercise.

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Posted in Alcohol

Signs of Prostate Cancer

Comments: 0September 23rd, 2009 by admin



Prostate is a male reproductive organ that is responsible for making and storing of seminal fluid. And just like other organs prostate is also prone to cancer. A cancerous tumor that consists of certain cells from the prostate gland is called prostate cancer. The growth of a tumor is slow and stays small for a couple of years. At that moment, tumor has produced little to absence of signs or symptoms. As it is develop, it can metastasize beyond the prostate into the surrounding tissues which is also called as local spread. Furthermore, the cancer can spread even farther into some other parts of the body, like bones, liver, and lungs. Therefore, signs and symptoms are more often accompanied with advanced prostate cancer.

Usually early prostate cancer doesn’t have any symptoms. It is usually diagnosed during the time of workup for elevated PSA that is usually noticed during regular checkup. it is strongly prohibited to have a sexual intercourse for 3 days before PSA test because it affects the result of the test. In some cases, prostate cancer reveals or causes symptoms, sometimes the same to some illnesses. These includes, frequent urination, nocturia, hematuria, dysuria, and having a hard time in upholding and opening a stable flow of urine. Usually, there is urinary dysfunction in prostate cancer as the prostatic urethra is surrounded with prostate gland. Urinary function is directly affected when there are changes within the gland. Since there is deposit of seminal fluid into the prostatic gland by the vas deferens and the prostate gland’s secretions are integrated in the semen, the cancer might be the reason why there is sexual dysfunction and performance, like having a hard a time to achieve erection or there is pain during ejaculation.

When the cancer is advanced, cancer can spread to other areas of the body, and this might add other symptoms. Bone pain is the most common symptom, usually in the bones of the spine, pelvic or ribs. There is also a spread of cancer into other bones like in the femur which is proximal part of the bone. When there is a prostate cancer in the spine it can compress the spinal cord which will result to weakness of leg and incontinence fecal and urinary.

Generally, cancer my not show signs and symptoms in earlier stage, but advanced cancer may cause signs that have been mentioned earlier such as problems in urination, low force in the urine stream, blood in the urine or hematuria, blood in the semen and legs swelling. So you must be very careful and observant, because we don’t know who the next victim is.

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Posted in cancer

What is Diabetic Ketoacidosis?

Comments: 0September 23rd, 2009 by admin



Diabetic ketoacidosis is a life threatening condition that all diabetics are susceptible to and is brought on by a deficiency of insulin. Type 1 diabetics are more likely to suffer from this condition, but all diabetics should be aware of its symptoms and life-threatening affects. The mortality rate is about two percent of the people who get it.

Ketoacidosis occurs when glucose cannot be used as an energy source by the cells of the body, or when endogenous sources of energy are not available. When this happens the body will begin to break down fats and proteins for it energy source, in effect cannibalizing itself to survive. This leads to ketosis, which is an abnormal accumulation of ketones caused by metabolism of fatty acids for energy with little carbohydrate metabolism taking place. This can cause a rapid decrease in blood pH resulting in ketoacidosis and a dumping of ketone bodies into the urine.

This condition results in hyperglycemia that causes osmotic diuresis, leads to dehydration, and precipitates lactic acidosis. Lowered pH, resulting from the acidosis, stimulates the respiratory center and produces deep, rapid respirations known as Kussmaul’s respirations. Large amounts of ketone bodies in the body also produce a fruity or acetone odor on the breath. For many people unfamiliar with this condition it may actually smell as if the person has been drinking alcohol.

If the ketoacidosis in the diabetic is not recognized and treated quickly, the acidosis and dehydration can disrupt heart activity and oxygen transport. It will also severely depress the central nervous system which leads to loss of consciousness and possibly coma and death. Other symptoms that may occur before a loss of consciousness include lethargy, nausea, muscle aches, rapid breathing (Kussmaul’s respirations), low blood pressure, rapid heart rate, difficulty catching ones breath, and dehydration. Other life threatening conditions brought about by this condition include kidney failure and heart attacks.

Aside from an insulin deficiency there are several other common conditions that can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis. These include over eating, infection and other stresses such as trauma, surgery, emotional stress and heart attack.

It is important for anyone with diabetes to be aware of the warning signs of diabetic ketoacidosis. Consulting with one primary care physician is the first step to understanding this condition and taking the proper steps to avoid it affects. By following a sound diabetic diet plan and treatment regiment the chances of suffering from ketoacidosis are greatly diminished. But even then anyone with diabetes should remain ever vigilant against this potentially fatal condition.

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Pros And Cons Of Cord Blood Storage Or Cord Blood Banking

Comments: 0September 17th, 2009 by admin



This new medical promise of treating diseases through stem cell cord blood banking has drawn the attention of a large mass. However, there are mixed opinions regarding umbilical stem cell cord blood. There are certain issues like ethics, racial groups, family history of genetic disorders, and others that dominate the decision for cord blood storage.

Factors To Be Considered For Cord Blood Donation

Recipient’s compatibility – due to the immaturity of the stem cells present in cord blood, the recipient has a reduced risk of graft vs. host disease, which is a potentially serious immune response.
Convenience – it is easier to regain cord blood than bone marrow. This is because it is stored cryogenically and is readily available for transplant. It is hard to find bone marrow donor and its retrieval process is intricate.
Ethnic or racial groups – Race and ethics come in the way of bone marrow donation. Cord blood banking, in which cord blood is stored during childbirth, comes to the rescue at the time of need.
Free services – for families who are unable to afford the cost of cord blood registry, there are certain private banking companies that have come forward to provide free services.

PROS


The major advantage of saving cord blood is that it is readily available at the time of saving the life of someone. The stem cells are already stored at the cord blood bank, hence, can be readily available in case the need arises for transplant.
There is no pain or other harm involved in cord blood collection to either the mother or baby. It is a very simple process carried out immediately after delivery.
Cord blood cells have the potential to help in the treatment of more than 50 diseases including leukemia, critical sickle cell anemia, aplastic anemia, and others.
Stem cell cord blood has higher probability of becoming the perfect match for family members and relatives and has no risk of rejection by the recipient’s body.

CONS


There are no exact estimates to confirm that an average child without any risk factor will utilize her own saved cord blood.
The commercial cord-blood bank demands about $1,500 for cord blood registry, not mentioning the $100 maintenance fee every year.
Besides this, you may have to shell out a few hundred dollars to obtain the cord blood collection kit, for courier charges, and for initial steps of cord blood banking.
Most of the stem cell transplants are done only on kids or adolescents. Moreover, cord blood stem cells are not sufficient for an adult transplant. A large-sized person needs a larger amount of blood forming stem cells for a successful transplant.
There is no concrete evidence that states that stem cells of a relative provide a greater success rate than those drawn from a stranger. Both the donors have equal success rate because the cord blood stem cells are immature, therefore, it doesn’t matter if there is no perfect match for getting an unbeaten bone marrow transplant.
Doctors have little experience in cord blood stem cell transplantation.
Some medical experts are of the view that an ill child receiving her own cord blood stem cells may become prone to get the same disease again. However, there is no medical evidence proving it true.

Cord blood storage might become a new trend very soon. However, the decision to go for cord blood banking is entirely yours. In addition, you have to decide well in advance of the due date because once you lose the precious blood, you cannot regain it. Anyways, it’s good to have something to fall back upon at times of emergencies, isn’t it?

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Posted in anemia

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