Health Issues and Discoveries: How To...

Health Issues and Discoveries: How To...:  How To: Stay fit While Reducing Stress Levels 1.)     Jogging 2.)     Swimming 3.)     Cycling 4.)     Meditation 5.)     Yoga...

Health Issues and Discoveries: How Much Do We Know?

Health Issues and Discoveries: How Much Do We Know?: Mini Interview with Nutritionist Carol Me: How knowledgeable would you say the general population is when it comes to how to care of the...

Health Issues and Discoveries: There is Such a Thing as Good Fat

Health Issues and Discoveries: There is Such a Thing as Good Fat: While some may believe that are body is only capable of storing bad fats, this is entirely untrue! It’s time to steer away from the low ...

Health Issues and Discoveries: Mercury

Health Issues and Discoveries: Mercury: Love Tuna, Not Mercury! People are not paying enough attention to how damaging mercury has become to fish in our waters and how detriment...

Health Issues and Discoveries: Eat Your Heart Out!

Health Issues and Discoveries: Eat Your Heart Out!: Pomegranate's Are Fantastic Tasting, And Fantastic For You Ever notice that the inside of a pomegranate looks like a heart? Well conside...

Health Issues and Discoveries: Alpha Lipoic Acid

Health Issues and Discoveries: Alpha Lipoic Acid: ALA Alpha Lipoic Acid a vitamin like compound which occurs naturally in the body is both fat and water soluble and is transported easily ...

Health Issues and Discoveries: Purified Cod Liver Oil

Health Issues and Discoveries: Purified Cod Liver Oil: Cod Liver Oil- Stench is Beauty Through a new special steam extraction program is a way to make the abundant source of nutrients and vit...

Health Issues and Discoveries: Can You Read My Mind?

Health Issues and Discoveries: Can You Read My Mind?: Boundaries of The Brain There is a new technology that may be able to probe into peoples mind, actually reading into what they are think...

Health Issues and Discoveries: Embryo Selection

Health Issues and Discoveries: Embryo Selection: The Buzz Around It Some medical clinics are now offering embryo selection. Most people believe the procedure to be unethical, some find ...

Health Issues and Discoveries: Health in The News

Health Issues and Discoveries: Health in The News: Why The Health Care Fight is About Abortion Recent news is showing that the affordable care act is expanding access towards abortion. For ...

Health Issues and Discoveries: Perscription Drug Advertisements

Health Issues and Discoveries: Perscription Drug Advertisements: Making Wise Treatment Decisions Perscription drug advertisements can be a wonderful way to evaluate your own health needs. There are three...

Health Issues and Discoveries: Little White Lies Your Doc May Be Telling You

Health Issues and Discoveries: Little White Lies Your Doc May Be Telling You: How Sick Are You? Not all doctors may be telling you the truth, more likely what you may want to hear in the moment. For doctors to hav...

Health Issues and Discoveries: Health Risks Associated With Late Working Hours

Health Issues and Discoveries: Health Risks Associated With Late Working Hours: Night Shifts Lead to Poor Health In Women Apparently women who work on rotating shifts are more susceptible to certain diseases, specif...

Health Issues and Discoveries: Medtronic's Bryan Cervical Disc

Health Issues and Discoveries: Medtronic's Bryan Cervical Disc: New Cervical Disc Approved by FDA The FDA has recently approved the Medtronic’s Bryan Cervical Disc. The Bryan Cervical Disc, designed to ...

Health Issues and Discoveries: Drinking Patterns and Factors Involved

Health Issues and Discoveries: Drinking Patterns and Factors Involved: Teenage Drinking: Parents or the Media? "The environment plays a substansial role in a young adolescents drinking habits. Interesti...

Health Issues and Discoveries: The Future of Health Care

Health Issues and Discoveries: The Future of Health Care:   It's Sticking Point Social media is invading health care and trying to revolutionize it. Patient communities are flourishing in social...

Health Issues and Discoveries: A Good Bedside Manner

Health Issues and Discoveries: A Good Bedside Manner: Can it be Taught? 1.)     Respect 2.)     Courtesy 3.)     Respecting the patients needs 4.)     Listening 5.)     Eye Cont...

Health Issues and Discoveries: Dr. OZ talks Pure Green Tea Coffee Bean

Health Issues and Discoveries: Dr. OZ talks Pure Green Tea Coffee Bean:   Red Coffee Cherry Berries Sugar is never a good thing in excess. In the American diet, sugar will ultimately turn body fat and over...

Health Issues and Discoveries: ADD symtoms; A True Diagnosis?

Health Issues and Discoveries: ADD symtoms; A True Diagnosis?: Child Sleep Disorders and Lack of Focus Diagnoses of attention deficit disorder, (ADD) are now being linked among children who suffer f...

Health Issues and Discoveries: More Red Meat, Shorter Life Span

Health Issues and Discoveries: More Red Meat, Shorter Life Span: Eat less Cow... While red meat has not been getting the best rep, this is only because meat heavy diets tend to be linked to increased ...

Health Issues and Discoveries: More Red Meat, Shorter Life Span

Health Issues and Discoveries: More Red Meat, Shorter Life Span: Eat less Cow... While red meat has not been getting the best rep, this is only because meat heavy diets tend to be linked to increased ...

Health Issues and Discoveries: Dessert Activates the Chemical Reward System In th...

Health Issues and Discoveries: Dessert Activates the Chemical Reward System In th...: "Well maybe I'll have one more..." After eating a doughnut or a cookie it is almost impossible to not even immediately start considerin...

Health Issues and Discoveries: Well Being found from Tai Chi

Health Issues and Discoveries: Well Being found from Tai Chi: Tai Chi Relief Bringing your mind and body together can help to improve overall health, movement and breathing. It can help to crea...

Health Issues and Discoveries: A Better Nights Rest by Blocking Orexin

Health Issues and Discoveries: A Better Nights Rest by Blocking Orexin: ZZZZ... There is a new drug on the market referred to as Suvorexant which is supposed to work by blocking Orexin. Orexin is the brain’s c...

Health Issues and Discoveries: Introductory Post

Health Issues and Discoveries: Introductory Post: "Healing comes from taking responsibility: to realize that it is you - and no one else - that creates your thoughts, your feelings, and your...

Health Issues and Discoveries: Sea Buckthorn Seed Oil

Health Issues and Discoveries: Sea Buckthorn Seed Oil: S ee Buckthorn Heal Sea-buckthorn oil has been used as traditional therapy for diseases. Sea Buckthorn oil is an herbal medicine th...

Health Issues and Discoveries: Local as Local Gets; The Benefits of Having a Home...

Health Issues and Discoveries: Local as Local Gets; The Benefits of Having a Home...: Grow Some Dinner http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/backyard-gardening-grow-your-own-food-improve-your-health-201206294984 This blog ...

Health Issues and Discoveries: Benefits of Juicing

Health Issues and Discoveries: Benefits of Juicing: Drink your Fruits and Veggies Through implementing a juicing plan to your diet you will feel more radiant, energetic and will be able...

Health Issues and Discoveries: How To...

Health Issues and Discoveries: How To...:  How To: Stay fit While Reducing Stress Levels 1.)     Jogging 2.)     Swimming 3.)     Cycling 4.)     Meditation 5.)     Yoga...

Health Issues and Discoveries: Reasons to Avoid ANY Alcohol During Pregnancy

Health Issues and Discoveries: Reasons to Avoid ANY Alcohol During Pregnancy:  No Drinks For Mom or Baby This link to an article regarding drinking during the 6 th to 12 th week of pregnancy focuses on the effec...

Health Issues and Discoveries: How Much Do We Know?

Health Issues and Discoveries: How Much Do We Know?: Mini Interview with Nutritionist Carol Me: How knowledgeable would you say the general population is when it comes to how to care of the...

Health Issues and Discoveries: Hooray for Western Medicine!

Health Issues and Discoveries: Hooray for Western Medicine!: A C U P U N C T U R E Acupuncture comes from China and has been practiced first in Europe and then in the United States. It involves the ...

Health Issues and Discoveries: Top LA/NYC Nutritionist and Health Consultant Chri...

Health Issues and Discoveries: Top LA/NYC Nutritionist and Health Consultant Chri...: Chistine Avanti is On Top Christine Avanti is a top Los Angeles Nutritionist, Chef, and Health Consultant.   She is most well known as th...

Top LA/NYC Nutritionist and Health Consultant Christine Avanti

Chistine Avanti is On Top

Christine Avanti is a top Los Angeles Nutritionist, Chef, and Health Consultant.  She is most well known as the Food Networks advocate on Fat Chef. Christine grew up on a ranch in California cooking home grown produce and raising animals. This humble lifestyle taught Christine the value of organic locally grown and cooked food. In her late 20’s, she became a model and fitness enthusiast. 

In six weeks, following the death of grandfather, Christine used food as an antidepressant. She met a nutritionist who taught her the importance of eating right for your body type. She published a book in late 2009 called Skinny Chicks Don’t Eat Salads. 

 She has appeared as guest nutrition expert/ healthy chef on the Today Show, Dancing with the Stars and Good Morning America. Her private businesses are located in both NYC and Los Angeles.

Hooray for Western Medicine!

A C U P U N C T U R E

Acupuncture comes from China and has been practiced first in Europe and then in the United States. It involves the insertion of needles into the patients skin at certain and specific pressure points in the body. Depending on the severity of the patients problem/inflammation, the needle will be inserted at various depths. The therapeutic benefits that come from acupunture are endless. While acupunture is still controversial among some Western medicine doctors, grounded science has shown promising results.

It is sometimes used as an alternative to anesthetia during surgery and as a general pain killer. Not only physical pain but people suffering from certain psychological illnesses such as depression and anxiety also benefit from acupuncture. If you don’t think it’ll work, I suggest you give it a try and you will be very pleased with the results.

How Much Do We Know?

Mini Interview with Nutritionist Carol

Me: How knowledgeable would you say the general population is when it comes to how to care of themselves?

Carol: A lot less than you would think, people are very unaware of how to keep themselves fit and eating the right foods. The one thing that surprises me the most I would say would be how uneducated they are on what foods are bad and what are good.

Me: What is the most common question you get asked regarding eating right?

Carol: Probably which food is better a bagel or bacon egg or cheese? (Laughs) something along those lines... It seems people are very stuck on their eating habits and are lazy with making a full change. They will ask for caloric differences when both foods are bad in different ways. A lot of the time when you suggest a new habit to them, they show a struggle to detach themselves from their daily eating rituals.

Me: How can society better educate themselves on what’s good and what’s bad?

Carol: Read and get involved. Take action upon yourself. Well being is something you have to believe in first before you can enhance the knowledge of others.

Me: Any other advice?

Carol: Being happy goes hand in hand with taking care of you. Nurture yourself with raw fruits and vegetables, drink a lot of water and get your sleep.

In conclusion…..read, eat your fruits and veggies, rest and hydrate!

Reasons to Avoid ANY Alcohol During Pregnancy

 No Drinks For Mom or Baby

This link to an article regarding drinking during the 6^th to 12^th week of pregnancy focuses on the effects on the central nervous system and brain of the fetus. Lifelong physical damage to the baby occurs in about every 1,000 women who drink in their pregnancy (at least once). This children are more likely to have a smaller head circumference, 16% lower birth weight and 20% more likely to develop a cleft palate/lip.  Some of these physical characterizes are comparable to the symptoms developed early in life from FAS (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome). Due to these statistics, it is safe to say it is absolutely critical to the child’s health and the mother’s well being to stay away from any alcohol at all, especially during the 6^th to 12^th week during the pregnancy. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203718504577178850309081474.html

How To...

 How To: Stay fit While Reducing Stress Levels

1.)    Jogging

2.)    Swimming

3.)    Cycling

4.)    Meditation

5.)    Yoga

        Ways to effectively reduce stress levels are pretty simple; however, pushing yourself to get started is definitely more than half the challenge. By sitting quietly and keeping your mind still, giving time to yourself, doing positive things that make you feel good can bring down those rising cortisol levels. In order to lengthen longevity with must reduce stress. A sense of accomplishment will also help to reduce stress levels as well. Get into your favorite exercise or simple take a walk outside and enjoy nature and your mind will feel much more at ease.

Benefits of Juicing

Drink your Fruits and Veggies

Through implementing a juicing plan to your diet you will feel more radiant, energetic and will be able to achieve optimum health. Through juicing you can gain valuable micronutrients that can be damaged by certain chemical and hormones in many of the processed foods that we consume. When foods are cooked and processed, it destroys these micronutrients by altering the shape of them and the chemical makeup. Essentially what you end up doing is avoiding all the nutrients that come from organic vegetables and fruits. We are recommended 6-8 servings of vegetables and fruits per day and juicing is the easiest way to target this need. Juicing will also help reduce the risk of becoming hypercalcemic or hypertension (hypercalcemic is when you become susceptible to plaque on your arteries from improper assimilation of calcium) with limitation on these micronutrients our bodies are not able to normalize itself. Certain fruits which are high in fructose cause what is called metabolic syndrome or metabolic complications. Deep leafy green vegetables usually potent antioxidants with microbial properties tend to provide most of the benefits that come from juicing.

Local as Local Gets; The Benefits of Having a Home Garden

Grow Some Dinner

http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/backyard-gardening-grow-your-own-food-improve-your-health-201206294984

This blog focuses from Harvard Medical School focuses on how growing your own fruits and vegetables and using them to cook can help your overall health. It helps you eat more fresh local fruits and vegetables, keeps you away from different fertilizers and hormones, and lets you control your portions and exactly how your food is being harvested. It is also great for the environment! "When you grow your own food, you savor it more because you take it to the table with you..." (Dr. Helen Delichatsios, an internist at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital.) It also helps you attract other people in your community to do this. The benefits of harvesting, nuturting and farming are endless and I am a firm believer in this. This blog inspired me to start my own little garden on the roof top of my apartment. You are staying more nurished and limiting your environmental impact as well. You will be reducing the use of fossil fuels and the resulting pollution which comes from all the traveling our fruits and veggies have to do to get to our local supermarket, not to mention, local food always tastes better.

Sea Buckthorn Seed Oil

See Buckthorn Heal

Sea-buckthorn oil has been used as traditional therapy for diseases. Sea Buckthorn oil is an herbal medicine that has been used for centuries essentially to relieve cough, aid digestion and purify the blood while benefiting circulation and alleviating pain. This female plant is used to treat gastrointestinal distress as well. Topical compressions of Sea Buckthorn are used for minor or major skin alignments as well.

With 160 Bio-active elements, 14 fatty acids, and rich in vitamins and minerals, Sea Buckthorn oil is blood fat reducing, a liver protect ant, and has endless all natural healing properties. It is the perfect berry for all different system functions. While it is grown widely throughout China and the mainlands of Asia it has become popular in the United States and Eastern Europe in natural health food stores.

·         Regulates hormones

·         Normalizes sebaceous secretions, blood chemistry, endocrine balance

·         Is an anti-inflammatory

·         Anti-microbial (bacteria, yeast, fungus, other microbes)

·         Protects the skin from sun and conditions the skin after sun exposure

·         Has Quercetin, an antihistamine, counteracting both histamine-inducing foods

·         Rejuvenates Cells

Introductory Post

"Healing comes from taking responsibility: to realize that it is you - and no one else - that creates your thoughts, your feelings, and your actions." —Peter Shepherd

People tend to be unaware of the fact that they have control over how they feel! Education on whats good and what's not, is essential towards longevity.

This blog will be about practices in Alternative Medicine, general health news, and current National health discoveries. Through being conscious of what is going on, and learning how to better take care of the human body, this will improve physical and mental well being, quality of life, and give a more positive outlook on society.

This blog will cover various tips on how to better your health, as well as information on what is going on with medical research, and will feed the brain with plenty of new knowledge on how to feel good and be more self aware!

A Better Nights Rest by Blocking Orexin

ZZZZ...

There is a new drug on the market referred to as Suvorexant which is supposed to work by blocking Orexin. Orexin is the brain’s chemical which promotes alertness. In patients suffering from insomnia or other related sleeping disorders. The first trial done using the drug showed that patients were falling asleep 36 minutes faster than usual. These results were reported approximately three months after tracking a placebo drug. The second trial that was conducted showed people sleeping longer and falling asleep faster than the patients who were being offered the placebo drug.

This drug can be offered as a new option to patients with chronic sleeping conditions. Many sleep drugs focus on shutting down the entire brain in less of a natural way that is why this drug will provide better effects without the long term side effects.  Patients will experience less drowsiness and will get to experience more normal consistent sleeping patterns. GABA an amino acid stimulates the increase of dopamine in the brain, exerting a relaxing effect on the body, being essential to a better nights rest. It also is known to fight the cortisol hormone (stress hormone) which negatively affects the body’s stress levels.

Well Being found from Tai Chi

Tai Chi Relief

Bringing your mind and body together can help to improve overall health, movement and breathing. It can help to create a better response towards the body’s ability to deal with stress and anxiety. These effects are found from Tai Chi. Preliminary evidence suggests that Tai Chi helps with stress reduction, depression, balance, flexibility, sleep deprivation, hypertension, chronic pain and agility. Tai Chi helps the body to train its senses as well. The function of the sensory neurons inside of the inner ear is what prepares the body for balance. Tai Chi also works the stretch receptors that affect the body’s muscles ad ligaments.  It may improve quality of life, aerobic conditioning and heart health additionally.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_L7sDiDkpbE

Dessert Activates the Chemical Reward System In the Brain

"Well maybe I'll have one more..."

After eating a doughnut or a cookie it is almost impossible to not even immediately start considering having another one. Why do such delicious foods put us in such a predicament? It is because of levels of two hormones known as ghrelin and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG) both of these hormones work to stimulate hunger and activate similar receptors in the brain that certain drugs do.

These hormones make you crave certain foods because it triggers the pleasure/reward part of the brain as opposed to the hunger part. People with increased levels of this tend to have bigger problems with pleasure eating, activating the chemical reward system in the body which overpowers the brains ability to signal the body to know when to stop eating. 

These habits are driven by pleasure and not energy deprivation. While many of the physiological effects are not fully understood, this phenomenon will contribute to a surge in epidemic obesity. So good luck with “one more Oreo”

More Red Meat, Shorter Life Span

Eat less Cow...

While red meat has not been getting the best rep, this is only because meat heavy diets tend to be linked to increased risks of certain developing diseases and cancers. However, certain long term-studies are now indicating that eating a lot of red meat can actually even shorten your life. By eating less than one serving a day of red meat your chances of living a long life are decreased by almost 13%. This study was conducted at Harvard School of Public Health.

This of course all depends on the type of meat that you are eating. Red meat such as beef, lamb or pork in the size of a deck of cards will do this, and for every extra serving size that is consumed, the increase will be almost 20%. By substituting this protein with a serving of fish or plant protein, poultry, nuts, or whole grains, by avoiding processed meats and focusing our diets more on plant based foods; we can avoid harmful substances and provide ourselves with more valuable nutrients.

ADD symtoms; A True Diagnosis?

Child Sleep Disorders and Lack of Focus

Diagnoses of attention deficit disorder, (ADD) are now being linked among children who suffer from is suffering from certain sleep disorders, specifically, sleep apnea. The increases diagnoses over the last few years have been thought to be exacerbated by lack of sleep. Pediatric neurologists and sleep medicine specialists believe that the sleep issues need to be ruled out before diagnosing a child with ADD or ADHD. Symptoms of sleep deprivation closely resemble ADHD symptoms. Being moody tired, over hyper, and trouble focuses are all correlated with symptoms caused from lack of sleep. Lack of sleep disturbs a child’s brain and physical development can cause vision and hearing problems as well. Some children exhibiting sleep apnea (nighttime breathing trouble) did better with cognitive tasks after their tonsils and or adenoids were removed.

While this claim will remain non factual for a while, it is getting stronger and more commonly made.  Many behavior problems have already previously been linked to sleep problems.  While ADHD is commonly mistreated a lot of the times will be treated as sleep apnea or insomnia as well. This compounding cycle during a pivotal time can certainly lead to acute long-term developmental complications.

Dr. OZ talks Pure Green Tea Coffee Bean

 

Red Coffee Cherry Berries

Sugar is never a good thing in excess. In the American diet, sugar will ultimately turn body fat and overwork insulin. What an overproduction of insulin does in the body is it will not allow your body to efficiently keep toxins out. It weakens the immune system and doesn’t allow for proper elimination of these free radicals, also accelerating the process of aging. By implementing a product such as pure coffee bean extract, this will provide a boost in fat metabolism and blood sugar regulation. This substance comes from red coffee cherry berries, the place where all the good stuff in your coffee comes from! 

Chloregenic acid helps to accelerate the body’s weight loss mechanisms. It slows down glucose intake while balancing out blood sugar levels. Too much sugar in the body’s diet leads the body to come what they call insulin resistant, the body then stores more fat as a defense mechanism. All you need in your diet is pure bean coffee beans.

 This is a natural form of weight loss, which will boost your metabolism at a significant rate without giving you a crash or the jitters. In the video below, Dr. OZ discusses the importance of engaging a quality diet and fitness with this product for optimal results.

http://youtu.be/K51nXRgTbG0

A Good Bedside Manner

Can it be Taught?

1.)    Respect

2.)    Courtesy

3.)    Respecting the patients needs

4.)    Listening

5.)    Eye Contact

These are 5 things that are essential in maintain an appropriate bedside manner as a physician. Many believe that good bedside manners can or cannot be taught, however, having a good bedside manner improves interactions with the patients and can definitely advance a professionals career. Being a doctor or in the medical field, requires being able to handle people and to make them feel comfortable above all.

If you are not able to do this, regardless of your medical experience, you will not excel in the same way you would if you are personable and retain good soft skills. Intuitive physicians are able to connect with patients on a more personal level and understand their health condition better then.

So not only does this list of 5 things help with the overall representation and career of a physician, but it also will help to enhance their practical skills as well.  These soft skills also extend outside of the patient but to their family as well. Keeping them well informed about their loved one’s condition in a respectable manner is very important.  This will help with the healing process, and have a much more memorable quality for patients.

The Future of Health Care

  It's Sticking Point

Social media is invading health care and trying to revolutionize it. Patient communities are flourishing in social networks and hospitals and medical centers are diving into the mix with youtube channels. Hospitals are moving away from experiemental networking to more strategic use of the media to enhance loyalty amongst patients. However, at the same time, health care officals are finding problems in being able to adopt the social media, this is causing them to become at risk certain hospital department security risks.

Privacy concerns, vulnerability of social media accounts, are the set backs of these flourishing social networks. Some of the tactics that are being used are converging health records, gathering social media for specific providers, and generally managing conversations. There are better ways to engage health care patients and consumers in conversations without working about privacy concerns. For example, a way to do this would be to promote a wellness plan, this will encourage networks to come together without allocating specific medical advice towards a patients condition.

Drinking Patterns and Factors Involved

Teenage Drinking: Parents or the Media?

"The environment plays a substansial role in a young adolescents drinking habits. Interesting enough, these findings showed that there was an important shift in drinking patterns between Year 9 and Year 11. The younger group reported that one in five of those who had ever had alcohol had been drunk multiple times in their life before. The other group reported that about half in the older group admitted to having been drunk numerous times and approximately 79 percent had been drunk at least once before in their lifetime." (http://www.vision.org/visionmedia/current-health-articles/teen-drinking/46097.aspx, The Best Shot for Responsible Drinking Patterns, Vision Insights and New Horizons)

The timing of this increased drinking may suggest that their is a large biological factor influencing these habits. Family habits noticed during the teenage years correlates to a teens desire to spend more time with friends rather than family, thus party more/socialize.

Suprsing as well, the influence of celebrities and the media, play a much smaller role than family and friends. People seem to be very assuming that this is the dominant issue, when really statistics show that it isn't. Another study examined the correlation between excessive drinking and what films the teens were allowed to watch in their household. Those who were allowed to watch R rated films had a greater chance of drinking excessively. Lack of parental involvement in the childs life which was truly reflected the drinking patterns of most teens. Family members, friends and close relatives need to set a good example as well to avoide this issue.

Medtronic's Bryan Cervical Disc

New Cervical Disc Approved by FDA

The FDA has recently approved the Medtronic’s Bryan Cervical Disc. The Bryan Cervical Disc, designed to help to alleviate neck pain, finally will be put on the market, but their will be a post market study, including the tracking of patients' neck disability index scores, radiographic information, and neurological status.The Bryan is used to mimic natural disc shock absorption.

It is composed of titanium and polyurethane, and has a metal on metal like design. Its compostiton is what essentially raised awareness to the FDA panel on it's safety, however short term use is not the use, the are of long term use is of concern, and will be under surveillance for the next ten years or so.

The Bryan (Medtronic), Prestige (Medtronic) and ProDisc-C (Synthes) are currently the only cervical artifical disc replacements available in the U.S, Medtronic has not yet announced further details or information regarding the approval and commerical availability of Bryan yet.

Health Risks Associated With Late Working Hours

Night Shifts Lead to Poor Health In Women

Apparently women who work on rotating shifts are more susceptible to certain diseases, specifically the number one killer in the United States, Heart Disease. Long term shift work is a percursor to raised cortisol levels (the stress hormone) leading to a more signficant risk factor to certain illnesses.

"The researchers, led by Pan and senior author Frank Hu, professor of nutrition and epidemiology, analyzed data on more than 69,269 U.S. women, ages 42 to 67, in the Nurses’ Health Study I, tracked from 1988 to 2008, and 107,915 women, ages 25 to 42, in the Nurses’ Health Study II, tracked from 1989 to 2007. About 60% of the nurses performed more than one year of rotating night shift work at baseline; about 11% in Nurses’ Health Study I had more than 10 years of rotating night shift work at baseline, and about 4% in Nurses’ Health Study II worked more than 10 years of rotating night shifts at baseline, and this proportion increased during the follow-up." ( http://healthblogs.org/2012/03/11/rotating-night-shift-work-linked-to-increased-risk-of-type-2-diabetes-in-women/#more-388 )

Of course taking into account other risk factors such as eating habits, poor health habits such as smoking, sleeping patterns, and of course genetics help to explain the relationship between poor health and long/late working shifts. One study done showed a signifcant increased risk of type 2 diabetes among women working rotating night shifts. Rotating night work can change the circadian rhytms that are closey linked with diabetes, obesity, and even glucose dysregulation. Studies have also shown over the years, that lack of sleep is closely associated with weight gain, and with this a higher chance of obesity, heart problems, and type 2 diabetes.

Little White Lies Your Doc May Be Telling You

How Sick Are You?

Not all doctors may be telling you the truth, more likely what you may want to hear in the moment. For doctors to have disclosed serious medical errors to a patient, this would result in malpractice or unprofessional relationships with their patients or drug companies. Medical companies are a business, so for a doctor to be honest with you on whether or not you need a drug may be a bit of a moral dilemma to them. In fact, more than half of doctors have admitted that they have down played a patients prognosis rather than given the evidence in which the facts may support.

Fear of malpractice, fear of overstepping their financial boundaries with the relationship between patients and their drug companies, and also, the human incentive to not be the bearer of poor news, may all be reason for your doctor to tell you a little white lie every now and then. If you choose not to speak up and demand the facts sometimes, you may be surprised.

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,2077274,00.html

Perscription Drug Advertisements

Making Wise Treatment Decisions

Perscription drug advertisements can be a wonderful way to evaluate your own health needs. There are three different types of drug ads.

• Product Claim Ad
• Reminder Ad

• Help Seeking Ad

A product claim ad in an advertisment will typically name the drug, explain it's benefits and its side effects. A reminder ad will usually just advertise the drugs name but will not explain the drug's use. In doing so, there will usually be a lot of different eye catching pictures to make it seem appealing. A help seeking ad will usually do exactly the opposite, however it will not suggest a particular drug for the disease. Of course regardless of the latest advertising strategies and techniques used, companies still face criminal charges and fines due to enforcement efforts. The best thing the drug related companies can do now a days to avoid these complications is to stay up to date with industry guidelines. By staying up to date on a federal and state level, this will most likely help to avoid and issues revolving around the prospect of criminal charges.

Health in The News

Why The Health Care Fight is About Abortion

Recent news is showing that the affordable care act is expanding access towards abortion. For a long time now, Obamacare supporters fight to stay that the bill essentially has nothing to do with abortion at all. Obama also promised that there would be no health care funding towards abortion at all. This past week, pro abortion protested flooded the supreme court in a well organized fashion, asking for a pro choice right.

Since allies, and anti choice groups have decided to mandate a debate, pro choice people find it appropriate to embrace Obamacare's expansion of more funded contraception and the abortion industry.Could this potentially change a certain relationship between the Federal Government and the individual? Fundamentally, yes. Should there be support and subsidization? I say yes, it would be ideal. Is it realistc? No, the country does not have enough coverage to support every single person. Should it be taken to such extremes and will a line eventually be crossed and intentions misconstrued? Possibly.

People who can not contain obtain health care due to preexisting conditions are not even considered in this pool. Then there is who to really believe in this situation, or course government officials are going to lie, and activist organizations who may be a tad too bias, it all comes down to an insurance plan, that will protect all circumstances where the life of a woman would be at risk. Then of course, there is the whole argument surrounding whether the abortion is considered necessary or not to be covered through insurance? This is of no authority of a single human being to make a decision for the sake of the life of another. People are throwing around abortion like its no big deal, and have completely lost the meaning behind the beauty of being a mother, however, if the women feels it a responsible choice, and insurance will cover it, so be it. But to place discrepancy between whats a necessary abortion and whats not is completely unjust.

Embryo Selection

The Buzz Around It


Some medical clinics are now offering embryo selection. Most people believe the procedure to be unethical, some find it to be one of the greatest things to be discovered in years. Embryo screening, utilizes in vitro fertilization, where sperm and female eggs are combines together in order to create "the perfect child" Now what about screening to reduce the risk of a single disease? Is this an adequate reason as opposed to screening to choose the color of your child's eyes or hair? How will doctors and scientists be able to manage this and ultimately keep its purpose more for medical purposes in opposition to aesthetic purposes.

Can You Read My Mind?

Boundaries of The Brain


There is a new technology that may be able to probe into peoples mind, actually reading into what they are thinking about at the very moment. By focusing on the medial prefrontal cortex, scientists think they will be able to use neuro imagine to predict that persons though process, or indicate certain emotions. Brain controlled computing is what this is called as of now, however scientists have their concerns of course. Machinery that responds to telepathic thoughts.

Of course a technolgy of such greatness, definitely deserves some ethical debate. For the government to use this under certain circumstances may be one thing, but can something like this get extremeley out of control? How do you place boundaries on something that so many people have been waiting to have? Scientists believe that they may be able to predict peoples thoughts with an accuracy of 70%. Scary!

Science is an incredible thing no doubt, but sometimes there needs to be a boundaries, and if these boundaries are crossed, chaos will permit. Such a wonderful discovery can do great things, but can also do great harm.

Purified Cod Liver Oil

Cod Liver Oil- Stench is Beauty

Through a new special steam extraction program is a way to make the abundant source of nutrients and vitamins knows as Cod Liver Oil, not stink so badly. Cod Liver oil, high in Vitamin A and D, two fat soluble vitamins in which are body needs in order to function are extremely present in this fatty acid. Vitamin D, which we are aware is essential for our bone health, for preventing osteroperosis and the build up of calcium plague on the arteries. Vitamin A, essential for healhty vision, our skin and digestive tract.

One of the reasons Cod Liver Oil is special compared to the typical Omega 3 supplement is because it is high in a good form of Vitamin A. There are three different types of vitamin A. The retinol, which in high amounts can become toxic in the blood stream, this should be monitored of course, beta carotene, found in carrots and certain vegetables, this type mimics vitamin A as an antioxidant, and finally the most natural occuring vitamin A, which comes from the Cod. If you want supple skin and a healthy immunue system, drink your fish oil.

Alpha Lipoic Acid

ALA

Alpha Lipoic Acid a vitamin like compound which occurs naturally in the body is both fat and water soluble and is transported easily across cell membranes for protection. Lipoic acid starts a cellular signaling process. This process, helps the body transport anything foreign outside of the body, thus destroying its contents.

Alpha Lipoic Acid, rich in vitamin E, is both an antioxidant and an anti-inflammatory. In addition to this, it helps the body maintaine healthy blood sugar levels, or glucose levels. By reducing complications in a high sugar diet, ALA can help prevent the risk of diabites and imporve insulin prodcution amongst people diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. ALA is also used to treat eye disorders, such as glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degenrative disorder. Spinach, broccoli, and potatoes are good sources of ALA. Hope you enjoy your veggies

Eat Your Heart Out!

Pomegranate's Are Fantastic Tasting, And Fantastic For You

Ever notice that the inside of a pomegranate looks like a heart? Well consider that to be a signature of good fats! Pomegranate, specifically, rich in antioxidants and polyphenols, ( free radical reducing agents) have been shown to be strong fighters against certain diseases and a great lipid per oxidation blocker.What this means, is that enzymes that come from the pomegranate, help to cleanse the arteries, inhibit inflammation and also help prevent insulin resistance, a precursor to diabetes and obesity.

The enzymes that come from the pomegranate also activate androgenic activity in the cells, meaning hormonal changes. Pomegrante seems to mimic plant sterols which are estrogenic like compounds that work to balance the hormones rather than produce exscessive amounts of bad estrogen, which can lead to breast cancer and other health concerns. Pomegranate contains a high ORAC value.

The ORAC value or oxygen radical absorbance capacity, measures the antioxidant capabilities of a particular food. Because pomegranate's are so high in their ORAC value, they are wonderful for you. So if you wanna purify your blood and protect your heart, indulge in this hearty fruit.

Mercury

Love Tuna, Not Mercury!
People are not paying enough attention to how damaging mercury has become to fish in our waters and how detrimental it can be to our health. Mercury is in toxic amounts in damaging to the liver, kidney, nervous system and basically your entire body. One source of mercury that is going unoticed is in our tooth fillings at the dentist office. This filling is called amalgam. These fillings have a high mercury content and are becoming a more and more common cause of mercury poisioning.

These fillings are actually close to 50 percent composed of mercury. Many of the most knowledgable dentists still aren't going mercury free! So this is a major problem for humans. But what about the mercury that is also being consumed from the fish we eat.

The higher your dinner is in the food chain, chances are the more mercury your body will be consuming from that fish. Tuna, shark, mackerel, and swordfish are the ones to watch out for the highest amounts of mercury. Of course this doesn't mean we should cut back on our intake of fish, especially since they are so rich in many essential fatty acids that are body needs, we simply need to become more aware. Aware, of our mercury intake, and aware of how dangerous it can be, espeically for pregnant women.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeanAuZK_DY&noredirect=1

There is Such a Thing as Good Fat

While some may believe that are body is only capable of storing bad fats, this is entirely untrue!

It’s time to steer away from the low fat myth, because while some fats are yes essentially bad for you, some essential nutrients that are body needs are fats. Good fats which are also known as monosaturated and polyunsaturated fats are the type that help to lower our cholesterol and help promote well being and longevity. Bad fats, saturated and Trans fats are the ones that we most likely need to stay away from. So how can we tell the difference between these good and bad fats?  Butter, cheese and ice cream, and most processed foods in general are the ones that contain a substance known as partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. This type of fat-is bad!

Bad fats, or trans fats, are usually things that are very processed or are solid at room temperature, such as butter for example. Vegetable oil and fat from certain nuts and fish would all be considered to be good fat. Avocado, salmon, nuts, canola oil, safflower oil, these are all the type of fats that will help lower bad cholesterol, and actually possibly slim down the waist line. When we cut back on refined carbohydrates (bad fats) are body stops digesting them as quickly and as efficiently. One of the biggest influences on our blood cholesterol would be the type of fats we put into our body.

Bad fats (saturated and trans) raise the levels of bad cholesterol.Trans fats also lower good cholesterol. Good fats, such as mono and polyunsaturated fats, will not when eaten of course in moderation. One thing to keep in mind, bad fats are almost always man made. Any kind of packaged treat you get in the grocery store, is unfortunately not going to lower your cholesterol or reduce your risk of diabetes. Omega 3 fatty acids are highly marketed today and are even being recommended by traditional medical practitioners.  These EFA’S or essential fatty acids play a crucial role in brain development and overall general health. Omega 3’s are said to help with arthritic pain, heart problems, depression/anxiety and minor skin alignments, ADHD, and other disorders.

There are two different types of fatty acids that come in our diets. “The first type is ALA (alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which is found in some vegetable oils, such as soybean, rapeseed (canola), and flaxseed, and in walnuts. ALA is also found in some green vegetables, such as Brussels sprouts, kale, spinach, and salad greens. The other type, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), is found in fatty fish. The body partially converts ALA to EPA and DHA.” (Dr. Frank Sacks, Harvard School of Public Health)

So yes, it is true-not all fat is going to make you ill and fat. This doesn’t mean go eat a whole bag of nuts or drink olive oil; it means to incorporate it into a diet. This will naturally help to reduce how quickly your body metabolizes bad fats, and it will make you glow!