Omega 3

O My Goodness!

A consultant on nutrition to numerous scientific bodies, Dr Artemis P. Simopoulos is also the founder and president of the Center for Genetics, Nutrition and Health in Washington, D.C., a non-profit organisation. She reveals what we should know about the benefits of omega-3:

How did you first come to learn about omega-3?

Research shows that omega-3 fatty acids are helpful to health, particularly during pregnancy and the first year of life, because they’re also in the mother’s milk. They’re also necessary for brain development for the baby in utero, as well as post-natal. Previously, formula milk didn’t contain omega-3, so we supported a lot of research that showed it is a necessary addition to infant formula.

How exactly does omega-3 work?

First, the omega-3 fatty acid has anti-inflammatory properties. It controls and modulates the immune system and decreases the infl ammatory state. Omega-3 is also most important in building bones, while it was found that the omega-6 in sunflower, corn and so on, breaks down bones.

Health Tip: Protect Against Dust Mites

(HealthDay News) -- Dust mites are tiny bugs that live in bed linens, carpets, pillows and other warm areas where dust may gather. The waste from dust mites can cause allergy and asthma symptoms to flare.

To help rid your home of dust mites, the American Academy of Family Physicians offers these suggestions:

1. Cover your mattress and pillows with an airtight cover made of plastic or polyurethane.
2. Wash sheets and pillows each week in very hot water.
3. If possible, bedroom floors should be hardwood or linoleum, rather than carpet.
4. Vacuum carpets and furniture every week.
5. Spray carpets with a 3 percent tannic acid spray every two months. But this solution, itself, can cause problems in allergic or asthmatic people, so check with your doctor first.
6. Use a dehumidifier, and keep your air conditioning running when possible.
7. Use special filters to trap dust mites in your air conditioner and vacuum.

Walk Off Weight Fast

Posted by Debbie Rocker

You don’t have to walk fast to walk off weight fast – truly. Walking consistently at a moderate to moderately strong pace will help you get down to your “fighting” weight and keep you there – fast. But you say that you can’t do any more than you already do.

Well, guess what, to change your body something major has got to change, and the one thing that you can take total control over is putting one foot in front of the other – more.

For just a few weeks, do this: walk more, and more often – just in the beginning, it's not forever. To get a dramatic response from your body – trust me, this will do the trick! Your body needs to experience some true endurance training. That is – you need to endure, go the distance, and stay out on the road longer than usual to effect a powerful and deep physical change.

Here are a few easy ways to get it going:

1. Walk when you could drive. Take your sneakers out instead of your car keys, leave an extra 30 – 60 minutes for travel time and walk to your destinations whenever possible.

2. Walk to and from your workout. If you can, walk to Yoga or Spinning or weight training or any class. Add on an extra 15, 30, 40, 60 or more minutes of cardio.

3. Take the dog out for a good long walk. He needs it as much as you do, so give him or her 30 or 40 minutes of one-on-one time with you - 2 times a day - and watch what happens to you both.

4. Make Saturday or Sunday your long day. Take water, tunes, friends, and whatever pleases you, and go out for 90 minutes or more. Keep an even pace, moderate to moderately strong and steady. Make this weekend walking day a real journey.

Vary terrain, experience new places, explore surrounding areas or distant ones but keep it interesting with variation. Keep increasing time and distance for four weeks. You will see that the added mileage will trim your weight and shape your body.

Then we get into even more effective and efficient ways to train. Soon you’ll be doing just the opposite - walking less and getting more from your training. But for now – put your time on the road in and get great results in return. If you must cut something else out for these few weeks – do it! Make this initial investment and the payoff will be well worth it. This is just the beginning of a truly transforming weight loss program.

Skin-Care Myth

BY HALLIE LEVINE

You're aware that the sun causes dark spots and fine lines, but it's also behind a very scary threat to your health: skin cancer. With rates skyrocketing in young women, it's crucial that you stay safe.

Sure, you've heard the warnings: Wear sunscreen, cover up at the beach, skip the tanning bed. Still, even though these sun-safe pronouncements are so prevalent, a lot of women disregard the message. Only 34 percent of young adults under 25 say that they regularly use sunscreen, reports a 2003 survey from the American Academy of Dermatology.

If you're part of the sans-sunscreen group, then we need to clue you in to something: You're basically inviting skin cancer. Consider the fact that just five sunburns at any time in your life double your odds of developing it.

Yes, it sounds harsh, but that's because it is. Skin cancer is the most prevalent of all cancers. Melanoma, the deadliest form of the disease, is now the second most common cancer in women between the ages of 20 and 29, according to the American Cancer Society. And rates of basal-cell carcinoma and squamous-cell carcinoma — the two less lethal forms of the disease — have more than doubled in the past generation among 20- and 30-somethings, reports a 2005 study from the Mayo Clinic.

It's enough for many dermatologists to consider skin cancer to be at record levels. "When I first started practicing 20 years ago, skin cancer was a disease of senior citizens — even seeing someone in her 30s with it was unusual," explains Richard Fried, M.D., Ph.D., clinical director of the Yardley Skin Enhancement and Wellness Center in Yardley, Pennsylvania. "Now, I regularly remove skin cancers from 20- and 30-somethings, and sometimes even teens, and I barely bat an eye."

The skin-cancer surge can mainly be chalked up to our sun-worshipping culture, explains James Spencer, M.D., clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. A major part of this is the popularity of tanning salons. Several studies have linked indoor tanning to all three skin-cancer types, and yet young women are still cooking themselves under sunlamps — convinced they look thinner and healthier with a year-round bronzing, says Dr. Spencer.

And here's the crazy thing: Skin cancer is almost 100 percent preventable — if you strike a balance between enjoying the great outdoors and cutting your risk factors. But before you can commit yourself to taking the necessary steps, it helps to know the myths about what does and doesn't lead to sun damage. Your primer for

practicing safe sun starts here.

PAGE 1 OF 9 NEXT: Myth #1: A sunburn does more damage than a suntan
in this article
PAGE 1:
Skin Care Myths
PAGE 2:
Myth #1: A sunburn does more damage than a suntan
PAGE 3:
Myth #2: It takes years for the effects of the sun to show up
PAGE 4:
Myth #3: Throwing on a cover-up allows you to skip wearing sunscreen
PAGE 5:
Myth #4: When you're not in direct sun, you have nothing to worry about
PAGE 6:
Myth #5: If you get a mark or mole, your doctor can cut it off before it turns cancerous
PAGE 7:
Myth #6: Tanning salons are a safe way to get color
PAGE 8:
Myth #7: Dark-skinned women aren't in danger
PAGE 9:
Myth #8: The SPF added to some makeup provides plenty of sun protection

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE or Lupus)

What is lupus?
Lupus is a condition of chronic inflammation caused by an autoimmune disease. Autoimmune diseases are illnesses that occur when the body's tissues are attacked by its own immune system. The immune system is a complex system within the body that is designed to fight infectious agents, for example, bacteria, and other foreign invaders. One of the mechanisms that the immune system uses to fight infections is the production of antibodies. Patients with lupus produce abnormal antibodies in their blood that target tissues within their own body rather than foreign infectious agents. Because the antibodies and accompanying cells of inflammation can involve tissues anywhere in the body, lupus has the potential to affect a variety of areas of the body. Sometimes lupus can cause disease of the skin, heart, lungs, kidneys, joints, and/or nervous system. When only the skin is involved, the condition is called discoid lupus. When internal organs are involved, the condition is called systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Both discoid and systemic lupus are more common in women than men (about eight times more common). The disease can affect all ages but most commonly begins from age 20 to 45 years. It is more frequent in African-Americans and people of Chinese and Japanese descent.

What causes lupus?
The precise reason for the abnormal autoimmunity that causes lupus is not known. Inherited genes, viruses, ultraviolet light, and drugs may all play some role. Genetic factors increase the tendency of developing autoimmune diseases, and autoimmune diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis , and immune thyroid disorders are more common among relatives of patients with lupus than the general population. Some scientists believe that the immune system in lupus is more easily stimulated by external factors like viruses or ultraviolet light. Sometimes, symptoms of lupus can be precipitated or aggravated by only a brief period of sun exposure.

Dozens of medications have been reported to trigger SLE; however, more than 90% of this "drug-induced lupus" occurs as a side effect of one of the following six drugs: hydralazine (used for high blood pressure), quinidine and procainamide (used for abnormal heart rhythm), phenytoin (used forepilepsy), isoniazide (used fortuberculosis), d- penicillamine (used for rheumatoid arthritis). These drugs are known to stimulate the immune system and cause SLE. Fortunately, drug-induced SLE is infrequent (accounting for less than 5% of SLE among all patients with SLE) and usually resolves when the medications are discontinued.

It also is known that some women with SLE can experience worsening of their symptoms prior to their menstrual periods. This phenomenon, together with the female predominance of SLE, suggest that female hormones play an important role in the expression of SLE. This hormonal relationship is an active area of ongoing study by scientists.

Recent research provides direct evidence that a key enzyme's failure to dispose of dying cells contributes to SLE. The enzyme, DNase1, normally eliminates what is called "garbage DNA" and other cellular debris by chopping them into tiny fragments for easier disposal. The researchers turned off the DNase1 gene in mice. The mice appeared healthy at birth but after 6-8 months, the majority of mice without DNase1 showed signs of SLE. Thus, a genetic mutation that disrupts the body's cellular waste disposal may be involved in the beginning of SLE.

What are the symptoms of lupus?
In discoid lupus, only the skin is involved. The skin rash in discoid lupus often is found on the face and scalp. It usually is red and may have raised borders. Discoid lupus rashes are usually painless and do not itch, but scarring can cause permanent hair loss. Over time, 5 to 10% of patients with discoid lupus may develop SLE.

Patients with SLE can develop different combinations of symptoms and organ involvement. Common complaints and symptoms include fatigue, low-grade fever, loss of appetite, muscle aches, arthritis, ulcers of the mouth and nose, facial rash ("butterfly rash"), unusual sensitivity to sunlight (photosensitivity), inflammation of the lining that surrounds the lung (pleuritis) and the heart (pericarditis), and poor circulation to the fingers and toes with cold exposure (Raynaud's phenomenon).

More serious organ involvement with inflammation occurs in the brain, liver, and kidney. White blood cells and blood clotting factors also can be decreased in SLE, thereby increasing the risk of infection and bleeding.

Over half of the patients with SLE develop a characteristic red, flat facial rash over the bridge of their nose. Because of its shape, it is frequently referred to as the "butterfly rash" of SLE. The rash is painless and does not itch. The facial rash, along with inflammation in other organs, can be precipitated or worsened by exposure to sunlight, a condition called photosensitivity. This photosensitivity can be accompanied by worsening of inflammation throughout the body, called a "flare" of disease.

Most patients with SLE will develop arthritis during the course of their illness. Arthritis in SLE commonly involves swelling, pain, stiffness, and even deformity of the small joints of the hands, wrists, and feet. Sometimes, the arthritis of SLE can mimic that of rheumatoid arthritis (another autoimmune disease).

Inflammation of muscles (myositis) can cause muscle pain and weakness.

Inflammation of blood vessels, (vasculitis) that supply oxygen to tissues, can cause isolated injury to a nerve, the skin, or an internal organ. The blood vessels are composed of arteries that pass oxygen-rich blood to the tissues of the body and veins which return oxygen-depleted blood from the tissues to the lungs. Vasculitis is characterized by inflammation with damage to the walls of various blood vessels. The damage blocks the circulation of blood through the vessels and can cause injury to the tissues that the vessels supply.

Inflammation of the lining of the lungs (pleuritis) and of the heart (pericarditis) can cause sharp chest pain. The chest pain is aggravated by coughing, deep breathing, and certain changes in body position. The heart muscle itself rarely can become inflamed (carditis). It has also been shown that young women with SLE have a significantly increased risk of heart attacks from coronary artery disease.

Kidney inflammation in SLE can cause leakage of protein into the urine, fluid retention, high blood pressure, and even kidney failure. With kidney failure, machines are needed to cleanse the blood of accumulated poisons in a process called dialysis.

Involvement of the brain can cause personality changes, thought disorders (psychosis), seizures, and even coma. Damage to nerves can cause numbness, tingling, and weakness of the involved body parts or extremities. Brain involvement is called cerebritis.

Many patients with SLE experience hair loss (alopecia). Often, this occurs simultaneously with an increase in the activity of their disease.

Some patients with SLE have Raynaud's phenomenon. In these patients, the blood supply to the fingers and toes becomes interrupted upon exposeure to cold, causing blanching, bluish discoloration, and pain in the exposed fingers and toes.

Kidney Infection in Adults

What is a kidney infection (pyelonephritis)?
Pyelonephritis is a kidney infection, usually from bacteria that have spread from the bladder.

What causes a kidney infection?
Possible causes of infection include the following:
1. infections in the bladder
2. use of a catheter to drain urine from the bladder
3. use of a cystoscope to examine the bladder and urethra
4. surgery on the urinary tract
5. conditions such as prostate enlargement and kidney stones that prevent the efficient flow of urine from the bladder

What are the symptoms of kidney infection?
Symptoms and signs include:
1. back, side, and groin pain;
2. urgent, frequent urination;
3. pain or burning during urination;
4. fever;
5. nausea and vomiting; and
6. pus and blood in the urine.

How is kidney infection diagnosed?
Diagnosis is made with a urine test to identify bacteria and formations of white blood cells, called casts, shaped like tubes in the kidneys. If an infection cannot be easily cured, x rays might be done to look for abnormalities in the kidneys, ureters, and bladder.

What is the treatment for kidney infection?
A kidney infection is treated with an appropriate antibiotic, and abnormalities may need to be surgically treated.
An untreated or recurrent kidney infection can lead to chronic pyelonephritis, scarring of the kidneys, and permanent kidney damage.

For More Information
American Foundation for Urologic Disease 1000 Corporate Boulevard Suite 410 Linthicum, MD 21090 Phone: 1–800–828–7866 or 410–689–3990 Email: admin@afud.org Internet: www.afud.org
SOURCE: National Kidney and Urologic

What Is Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that is made in the body by the liver. Cholesterol forms part of every cell in the body and serves many vital functions. Our bodies need cholesterol to:

1. Maintain healthy cell walls
2. Make hormones (the body's chemical messengers)
3. Make vitamin D
4. Make bile acids, which aid in fat digestion

Sometimes, however, our bodies make more cholesterol than we really need, and this excess cholesterol circulates in the bloodstream. High levels of cholesterol in the blood can clog blood vessels and increase the risk for heart disease and stroke.

Our bodies can make too much cholesterol when we eat too much saturated fat - the kind of fat found in animal-based foods such as meat and dairy products.

In addition to making cholesterol, we also get a small percentage of our body's cholesterol from the foods we eat. Only animal-based foods such as meat, eggs, and dairy products contain cholesterol. Plant foods such as fruits, vegetables, and grains do not contain cholesterol.

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