Health is Wealth

Mesothelioma Common Questions

2009-08-18T01:38:00.000-07:00

Mesothelioma Common Questions

What is Mesothelioma? What is the difference between pleural mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma?
Malignant mesothelioma is a disease in which a cancerous tumor grows on the mesothelium - the sac lining the internal body cavities. The specific type of mesothelioma is named for the tissue where the cancer started. Pleural mesothelioma starts in the chest, in the pleura that surrounds the lungs (outer lining of the lungs and internal chest wall). It makes up about 70% of mesothelioma cases. Peritoneal mesothelioma starts in the lining of the abdominal cavity.

Although sometimes referred to as "asbestos lung cancer", mesothelioma is not the same as lung cancer. Lung cancers occur inside the lung itself; mesothelioma occurs in the lining of the lung. Mesothelioma is rare, striking fewer than 3000 Americans per year.

How do you get malignant mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is caused by asbestos exposure. Asbestos, once regarded as a miracle mineral, was popular due its lightweight but tough characteristics as well as for its heat-resistant properties. This naturally occurring mineral was used in many commercial and consumer products, from construction materials such as cement, roofing shingles and insulation, to consumer and industrial applications such as hair dryers, automobile brake pads and pipe insulation.
Most people with malignant mesothelioma worked on jobs where they breathed asbestos. Others were exposed to asbestos in a household environment, often without knowing it.

How much exposure does it take to get the disease? What is the latency period?
Very little exposure can result in mesothelioma. Sometimes people who worked with asbestos for as little as one or two months get mesothelioma. The "latency period" refers to the time between asbestos exposure and diagnosis of the disease. For mesothelioma, the latency period can be decades long, and people exposed in the 1940s, 50s, 60s, and 70s are now being diagnosed.

What are the symptoms of mesothelioma?
Our mesothelioma symptoms page goes into detail about the signs of this cancer. Please note that it is important to seek professional medical advice when trying to diagnose for mesothelioma. The major symptoms include:

* Shortness of breath caused by expanding pleural effusion
* Persistent dry cough

Other symptoms may include:

* Fatigue
* Night sweats
* Fever
* Pain under the rib cage
* Swelling or lumps in the abdomen
* Unexpected weight loss

How do doctors treat malignant mesothelioma?
Each patient has an individualized treatment plan which takes into account the type and stage of the cancer as well as the patient's overall health. Traditional mesothelioma treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation or a combination of these.

Is there any promising research or are there promising new drugs for mesothelioma?
Scientists and doctors are engaged in research at various cancer centers all over the United States. Researchers are constantly trying to develop new and more effective drugs as well as new treatment techniques. In the past few years, there have been several major advances in the management of mesothelioma, including more accurate staging, improvements in surgical techniques and postoperative care, new chemotherapy regimens, and new radiotherapy techniques such as intensity-modulated radiation therapy. Some of this research is being conducted through clinical trials, for which you may be eligible. Please call us if you need additional information on current trials.

What should I do if I think I've been exposed to asbestos but don't have mesothelioma?
You probably will not get this rare disease, but you should remain vigilant and get regular check-ups. Let your doctor know about your asbestos exposure.

I was exposed to asbestos when I was in the military. Could that be how I got mesothelioma?
The armed forces used asbestos extensively in the 20th Century, and because of the long latency period only now are many veterans getting mesothelioma. People were exposed in all branches of the service, in a variety of jobs. We have worked with veterans from all over the country. We can help you find VA resources and medical assistance. Our veterans section goes into more detail or feel free to call us at 1-877-367-6376.

Where can I find information on living with mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma Aid is a good website for resource for families dealing with mesothelioma. It includes advice and referrals to other resources for coping with cancer, caregiving, financial challenges, and support groups. Alternatively, contact us here at Mesothelioma Web for help finding resources for living with this disease.

New Treatment Looks Promising for Mesothelioma Cancer Patients

2009-08-18T01:35:00.000-07:00

New Treatment Looks Promising for Mesothelioma Cancer Patients

new cancer treatment is being investigated by researchers at Dartmouth Medical School and Amtek, both of which are located in Hanover, New Hampshire. The new treatment strategy may offer fresh hope to cancer patients who are fighting off tumors that refuse to respond to traditional treatment options.

The new study was recently published in the open access, peer reviewed journal PLoS ONE. Researchers developed the new treatment by employing a combination of two chemical agents to selectively kill tumors while simultaneously protecting healthy cells.

The study builds on previous research that suggests that an enzyme called methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP) is missing in 30-70% of certain types of cancer. Cancers lacking in this enzyme include: lung cancer, mesothelioma, pancreatic cancer, and T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Mesothelioma is rare, but attacks the body rapidly. It is not uncommon for the disease to kill within months of being diagnosed.

The study, lead by Dr. Martin Lubin and Adam Lubin of Amtek, builds on this existing knowledge of MTAP. Dr. Lubin's strategy involves giving two drugs to cancer patients. One of the drugs is highly toxic, and can damage both cancer cells and healthy cells.

However, the second drug protects healthy tissues from the toxins in the first drug, effectively allowing doctors to use a much higher concentration of the first drug than was previously possible. Two of the drugs studied are thioguanine and fluorouracil, both of which are already in clinical use. However, due to the toxic side effects, the drugs are only given in very low doses.

The study shows that it is possible to attack tumors that are resistant to low doses of these toxic drugs while protecting healthy tissue. The study was conducted in vitro, and animal studies are now underway. "We hope that successful animal studies will lead to clinical application as soon as possible," Dr. Lubin said.

4 Feb - A world cancer day

2009-02-03T04:48:00.000-08:00

4th February is declared "World Cancer Day"

Pls spare a second of your precious time to say a sincere prayer for any of your parent, sibling, in-law, friend or even a stranger inflicted by the big "C" and is a survivor with God's blessings & your best wishes.

Daffodils are recognised as a symbol of faith and hope for a cancer-free society in the future. Let us put our hands together and wish this mission of achieving a cancer-free society will indeed materialse soon!

"We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

Regular Stretching Program

2009-01-22T10:04:00.000-08:00

Regular Stretching Program

Limber up your lower body by performing the figure-four stretch. It will stretch your hamstring and buttocks.

Follow these simple steps:

1. Lie face up the floor with knees bent and feet flat. Lift right foot and place outside of right ankle on left thigh, just above the knee pointing out.

2. Lifting left foot and bending hand to 90 degrees, place left hand back of left thigh and reach right hand between legs so both hands meet behind left thigh.

3. Inhale, then exhale as you straightens left leg, pulling the left thigh toward chest and keeping hips centered. You will feel the stretch in the right side of your buttocks and or left hamstrings.

4. Hold for a count of 10, breathing evenly, then slowly release and lower left foot to floor.

5. Repeat for a total of 3-4 times, and then switch legs.

Perform this move as part of a regular stretching program. Aim to stretch for a total of 5-10 minutes a day, 4-5 days a week or after you perform any type of activity.

Keep the knee of the raised leg bent to target the buttocks more, after 4-6 weeks or when ready challenge your flexibility by grasping your leg around the calf instead of the thigh, keeping knee slightly bent.

Teen Makeup Tips

2009-01-15T11:35:00.000-08:00

Teen Makeup Tips

Makeup plays an important part of enhancing your natural looks. So it is very important to understand the purpose of each tool as well as using them without overloading your looks. It is important for young girls who want to wear makeup by knowing that makeup is for enhancing and not by overdoing it. Basic touches of bronze looks well for all types of skin tone. Use a bronzing powder to give you a bronzing look. Use a peach or pink eye shadow with deep brown or green mascara. Experiment with the colors and let your young and stunning beauty glows.
Foundation Tone Know that the ultimate purpose of foundation is to protect the skin. For young girls foundation is not commonly essential but if you want to use it, you could pick up colors that would match your skin tone exactly.
School girl makeup For a perfect school makeup wear use sheer and natural looking. Eye shadow shade?s that looks good are pastel like violet, pink or light blue; you could also look smoky with plums, a black or brown shade. Use a complementing sheer lipstick for light eye wear and dark matte lipstick for smoky looks. Mascara could be use to add a full eye glamour.
Evening wear makeup For evening occasion like prom, dinner date or simply bar hopping, use stand out shades for makeup. Use light shades of eye shadow like white or cream to the whole eye area from the lid to the brow, and then blend contrast with dark shades such as brown, black or plum to the crease of the eye as visible as possible. Unless you wanted to look a little gothic, never overload these applications. Complement the make up with mascara and lipstick, a shimmering shade would look good for the lips. Another perfect evening makeup is using glitter for the face and body. These is a perfect stand out night glow, use lip gloss or lipstick that has a sparkling glitters or shimmers or even an eye shadow with a nice glam of glitters.
Blusher Color The shades of the blush that you can choose are dependent on several factors. Whether your skin tone is light, medium or dark, you should relate to the intensity of color that you use and make sure it would adhere to your lipstick. Blush color should not necessarily be of the same shade, but it should be in the same family color. For example, pink blush takes pink lipstick or tan brown blush looks well with dark lipstick.

Blush Application Tips 1. Smile and brush the apple of your cheek the round part. 2. The strokes should blend back towards the hair line.

Hair Loss Simple Step

2009-01-10T11:20:00.001-08:00

If you are experiencing hair loss it is important you act now and not wait until it becomes noticeable and start to affect the way you look and feel about yourself. Whether you are a male or female, few things will affect confidence and esteem like a noticeably balding head.
Going bald will make you look, feel and actually act older. Your personality and attitude will change to reflect your dampened ego. You will become less outgoing and less apt to approach members of the opposite sex. Your going bald can dictate the way you are seen and treated by others and yourself.
I know, for at the tender age of 21 I started rapidly loosing my hair and all those negative changes started to happen in my life. It was sheer determination and the dread of looking like my old grand dad this early that turned things around for me.
If you are experiencing hair loss, here are some things I learned that helped me with my battle to stop from going bald and retake control of my life.

1. Check with your doctor.Sometimes hair loss can be a symptom of disease. Thyroid disease, Lupus and Diabetes are two examples of illnesses known to case balding. Check with your doctor and be sure there is not a more serious matter at hand.

2. Watch your diet.Eating correctly will affect not only the overall health of your body, it will also affect the health of your hair and scalp. Maintaining a proper diet is critical for keeping healthy locks.

3. Check your stress levels.Anxiety and stress are common causes of hair loss. Regardless of how hectic life may get, you should take every necessary step to reduce tension and limit its affect on your body. If you must, use yoga, meditation or some other form of stress reduction technique.

4. Careful what you use on your head.Many of todays' hair care products contain chemicals that are harsh and can actually be damaging. Check the ingredients of your shampoos, dyes, perms and conditioners. Choose products that substitute chemicals with natural substances that are milder and which stimulate the scalp and encourage growth.

These few tips will go far in avoiding further hair loss and may even reverse the process. Do your research and take all necessary steps. Going bald can be painful but there are many products on the market that will help. Just know that the issue can be successfully addressed and the earlier you act the better.

Don't wait until it's too far gone. There are products that can immediately stop hair loss and quickly re grow your hair.

25 Tips for Healthy Heart

2009-01-10T11:13:00.000-08:00

To read properly click on Image to Enlarge

Hair Care Treatment

2009-01-06T11:07:00.001-08:00

Characteristics of Healthy Hair

You hair is healthy if your hair is-

• Thick and dense.

• Fine and silky, which means not too oily or rough.

• Lustrous, shiny and glossy.

• Pliable, capable of setting and styling.

• Full-bodied and not limp or lank.

Normally there are three kinds of hair types.

Normal hair is shiny, not greasy and easy to manage.

Oily hair feels greasy even a short while after shampooing and tends to look flat sometimes. Usually who have oily skin have oily hair.

Dry hair looks thin and rough it is susceptible to tangles and damage( many times the ends are dry and split). It has a non-slippery feel and does not slide through your fingers.

How to care different types of hair?

Oily hair. A hair care regime for oily hair would aim at removing excess oil and exfoliating the skin cells. The emphasis is on cleansing and toning. Cleansing involves washing and rinsing the hair. It is also essential to rinse the shampoo off thoroughly with cold water after washing with warm water.

Dry hair. The main cause of dry hair is lack of sebum in the scalp, which makes the hair coarse and brittle and susceptible to damage. Poor nutrition, exposure to sun and over use of heated appliances can also rob the hair of valuable moisture. The aim of a hair care regime for dry hair is to replenish oil and moisture in the hair. So, the emphasis is on conditioning.

Frequent shampooing should be avoided. A generous oil application the night before washing your hair is recommended, as it will condition the hair scalp.

If your hair is very dry and damaged, apply a hydrating mask once a week. Avoid vigorous drying with a towel after washing your hair. Instead gently squeeze excess water from the hair and blot dry with a towel.

Stress and U

2009-01-06T11:06:00.001-08:00

Everyone is familiar with stress. We experience it in varying forms and degrees every day. In small doses, stress can actually be beneficial to us. It is only when the stress becomes too great, affecting our physical or mental functioning, that it becomes a problem

Stress Causes

The following are risk factors for uncontrollable stress:

Social and financial problems

Medical illness

Lack of social support

Family history

Stress Symptoms

Stress usually first affects the inner emotions. Initial symptoms may include the following feelings:

Anxiousness

Nervousness

Distraction

Excessive worry

Internal pressure

Stress Treatment

Self-Care at Home

When you find yourself feeling the bad effects of stress, you need to take action immediately. The sooner you begin the process of treatment, the easier it will be and the quicker you will be back to your normal state.

The first step in the process is to try to identify the cause of the stress. Sometimes this is a known source such as a deadline at work, a pile of unpaid bills, or a relationship that is not working out. It can at times be more difficult to find the source of your problem.

Often, many relatively mild stressors occurring at once can bring on the same stress as a larger problem or known source of anxiety or worry.

Some people experience stress from events that occurred in the past (post-traumatic stress disorder).

Prevention

You can take steps to prevent stress in your life.

Set realistic goals and limits for yourself.

Put things into perspective and try not to get upset about insignificant or relatively unimportant matters.

Take stress, time management, or anger management classes.

Find activities that you enjoy and set aside time to participate in them on a regular basis.

Participate in regular physical exercise.

Maintain a positive outlook.

Set goals and break them into easily achievable tasks.

Reward yourself for the good things that you do each day.

Obesity Info

2009-01-06T11:05:00.001-08:00

Obesity is a condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to such an extent that health may be negatively affected. It is commonly defined as a body mass index (BMI = weight divided by height squared) of 30 kg/m2 or higher. This distinguishes it from being overweight as defined by a BMI of between 25–29.9 kg/m2.

Excessive body weight is associated with various diseases, particularly cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus type 2, obstructive sleep apnea, certain types of cancer, and osteoarthritis. As a result, obesity has been found to reduce life expectancy.

The primary treatment for obesity is dieting and physical exercise. If this fails, anti-obesity drugs and (in severe cases) bariatric surgery can be tried.

Obesity arises from too much energy intake compared with a person's basal metabolic rate and level of physical exercise. Excessive caloric intake and a lack of physical activity in genetically susceptible individuals is thought to explain most cases of obesity, with purely genetic, medical, or psychiatric illness contributing to only a limited number of cases. With rates of adult and childhood obesity increasing, authorities view it as a serious public health problem.

Although obesity is often stigmatized in the modern Western world, it has been perceived as a symbol of wealth and fertility at other times in history.

Risk factors

The presence of risk factors and diseases associated with obesity are also used to establish a clinical diagnosis. Coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and sleep apnea are possible complications that would indicate a need to commence or intensify treatment for obesity. Smoking, high blood pressure, age and family history are other risk factors that, in combination with obesity, may indicate an additional reason for treatment.

Causes

Diet

Most researchers agree that a combination of excessive calorie consumption.

Sedentary lifestyle

A sedentary lifestyle plays a significant role in obesity. Obese people are less active than those of normal weight.

Genetics

Like many other medical conditions, obesity is the result of an interplay between genetic and environmental factors

Management of obesity

The main treatment for obesity consists of dieting and physical exercise.

Diets to promote weight loss are generally divided into four categories: low-fat, low-carbohydrate, low-calorie, and very low calorie

With use, muscles consume energy derived from both fat and glycogen. Due to the large size of leg muscles, walking, running, and cycling are the most effective means of exercise to reduce body fat.

Protect Your Eye

2009-01-06T11:04:00.001-08:00

Our vision is one of those wonderful gifts most of us take for granted. The only time we even have cause to think about our vision as such is when we think about a blind person who has no vision at all, or our own vision begins to fail us. Being aware of the importance of protecting your vision can help you to avoid problems with it in the future. Your eyes care a part of the body like the skin that you can do things to slow the aging process of using certain precautions that take little time to implement and can make a world of difference later in life.

Eye Care is an important factor in all of our lives. We sometimes take sight for granted but can you imagine not being able to see everyday things normally. Imagine not being able to see your kids, too watch TV, too take a walk and see all of nature is beauties. People with certain eye diseases are not able to enjoy these experiences to their full extent and sometimes not at all.

There are many eye diseases that can be prevented or whose progression can be slowed down with proper precautions and healthy eating. Eating a lot of Vitamins A, E, C, and some Zinc and Selenium can help prevent many diseases including those that affect the eyes. Visit the nutrition page on what foods contain these vitamins and minerals. Certain diseases might be causes by other factors such as obesity, diabetics, exposure to ultraviolet light, smoking, certain medications such as steroids, and many other factors.

It is a good idea to ask your eye care doctor for specific steps you can take. People with obesity or who are diabetic should have more routine checkups since they are more likely to develop certain eye diseases.

Those who are outside most of the day should use protective sunglasses or eyeglasses to prevent heavy exposure to ultraviolet light. People who smoke or take certain medications should ask their doctor if they are more likely to have eye diseases because of family background. These little measures can help your eyes healthy and keep all the emotional, physical, and financial problems that come with eye problems away.

By having a regular check-up and wearing glasses or contact lenses if you need them, you can prevent problems with your eyes in the future.

Cholesterol Knowledge

2009-01-06T11:03:00.001-08:00

Cholesterol is a lipidic, waxy alcohol found in the cell membranes and transported in the blood plasma of all animals. It is an essential component of mammalian cell membranes where it is required to establish proper membrane permeability and fluidity. Cholesterol is the principal sterol synthesized by animals, but small quantities are synthesized in other eukaryotes, such as plants and fungi. It is almost completely absent among prokaryotes, which include bacteria. Cholesterol is classified as a sterol (a contraction of steroid and alcohol).

Although cholesterol is essential for life, high levels in circulation are associated with atherosclerosis. Cholesterol is synthesized in virtually all cells, and significant amounts of it can be absorbed from the diet.

Function

Cholesterol is required to build and maintain cell membranes; it regulates membrane fluidity over a wide range of temperatures. The liver produces about 1 gram of cholesterol per day, in bile

Cholesterol level

>200mg/dl or less than 5.0 mmol/l Low heart attack risk

200-240mg/dl or 5.2-6.2mmol/l Borderline

>240mg/dl or >6.2mmol/l High risk

High blood cholesterol and triglycerides

The medical term for high blood cholesterol and triglycerides is lipid disorder. Such a disorder occurs when you have too many fatty substances in your blood. These substances include cholesterol and triglycerides.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

High cholesterol and other lipid disorders can be inherited (passed down through families) or associated with:

* Fatty diets

* Disease such as diabetes, hypothyroidism, Cushing syndrome, and kidney failure

* Certain medications, including birth control pills, estrogen, corticosteroids, certain diuretics, and beta-blockers

* Lifestyle factors, including inactivity and regular, excessive alcohol use

If you smoke and also have high cholesterol you have an even greater risk for heart disease.

Lipid disorders are more common in men than women.

Signs and tests

Tests to diagnose a lipid disorder may include:

* Lipoprotein test

* Lipoprotein(a) analysis

* HDL test

* LDL test

Treatment

How you are treated depends on your age, health history, if you smoke, and other risk factors for heart disease, such as:

* Diabetes

* Poorly controlled high blood pressure

* Family history of heart disease

There are steps that everyone can take to improve their cholesterol levels, and help prevent heart disease and heart attack. Here are the most important ones:

* Choose foods low in saturated fat. (See cholesterol for more information.)

* Exercise regularly.

* Lose weight if you are overweight.

* Get routine health checkups and cholesterol screenings.

If lifestyle changes do not help or your cholesterol level remains very high, your doctor may may recommend medication. There are several types of drugs available to help lower blood cholesterol levels, and they work in different ways. Some are better at lowering LDL cholesterol, some are good at lowering triglycerides, while others help raise HDL cholesterol.

The most commonly used drugs for treating high LDL cholesterol are called statins. Other drugs that may be used include bile acid sequestering resins, cholesterol absorption inhibitors, fibrates, and nicotinic acid (niacin).

Expectations (prognosis)

If you are diagnosed with high cholesterol, you will probably need to continue lifestyle changes and drug treatment throughout your life. Periodic monitoring of your cholesterol blood levels is necessary. Reducing high cholesterol levels will slow the progression of atherosclerosis.

Complications

Possible complications of high cholesterol include:

* Atherosclerosis

* Coronary artery disease

* Stroke

* Heart attack or death

Prevention

To help prevent high cholesterol:

* Keep a healthy body weight

* Eat a well-balanced, low-fat diet

Weight Loss Just Drink Water

2008-12-28T23:08:00.001-08:00

Make A Successful Weight Loss Just By Drinking Water - Maybe The Easiest Weight Loss Method

Well, you may have heard it before - you can lose weight just by drinking pure plain water. Do you think it is like that? Yes, it is, you can lose weight just by drinking water. I will explain why it is so.
There are studies that show that just by drinking water your metabolism will increase with up to 30 percentages. That is quite impressive, isn't it? To make your weight loss possible you need to drink eight glasses of water every day, and if you have lots of overweight you need to drink a few glasses more. If you live in a warm climate or if you exercise very intensive you need to drink more than the eight glasses. You maybe think that eight glasses is much water to drink, but you shouldn't drink it at the same time; instead you need to spread it out throughout the day.

Drinking water is not only great for your weight loss. Just by drinking lots of water you will look better because and your skin will become more glowing. Your muscles will work more effective when you exercise which will lead to a better shaped body.
A few tips about how you should act when you decide to lose weight just by drinking water:

Start every morning with a glass of water.
Drink a glass of water before every meal.
Drink lukewarm water, it may be easier to drink lots of water when it isn't cold.
Add a slice of lemon if you don't like the taste of the water.
Avoid drinking just before you go to bed.

Drinking water is a cheap and very effective way to lose weight, but often you need to add some diet and exercise to make your weight loss effective.

By Jane Olsson