rosa canina

Rose hips provide new ways of tackling many inflammatory diseases such as arthritis. The red berries, one of the richest sources of vitamin C, have been used in cooking and medicine for hundreds of years, but more recently rose hip extract has been shown to reduce pain and improve movement in patients with osteoporosis (a form of arthritis).Experts now believe that rose hip also can combat rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease and even heart disease. All are conditions in which inflammation plays an important role. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease and more serious than osteoarthritis, which is caused by wears and tears of the joints. Inflammation is now known to be a key element of the process that leads to hardening and narrowing of the arteries. Laboratory tests have shown that rose hip inhibits the migration of white blood cells to sites of tissue damage, which fuels inflammation. Antioxidants in the rosehip powder may also neutralise toxic substances released by the white blood cells. Rose hips is one of many powerful ingredients in our Joint and Bone Combo.

ginkgo biloba a powerful antioxidant for vision

Many scientists believe that ginkgo biloba is one of oldest living species of tree. Ginkgo trees can live up to 1,000 years. The leaves of the tree are used for their medicinal effects. Ginkgo biloba has antioxidant powers in the brain, retina of the eye, and in the cardiovascular system. Research shows that Ginkgo biloba can help people with macular degeneration, an oxidation-related disorder causing decreased or lost vision. A study showed that ginkgo improved the distance-vision of people who showed signs of degeneration in the retina. Macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness, is strongly related to hemorrhages in the fine blood vessels in the eye, possibly due to oxidative stress. By strengthening the tiny blood vessels in the eye, and by acting as an antioxidant, ginkgo provides a strong protection against eye diseases. Ginkgo biloba mainly has two active ingredients: flavone glycosides and terpene lactones. Ginkgo flavone glycosides are primarily responsible for ginkgos antioxidant effects and the terpene lactones are responsible for Ginkgo's ability to increase blood circulation to the brain and other parts of the body. Read more about Eye Combo.

facts about the liver and some useful herbs

The liver is the largest internal organ. It is located under the ribs on the right side of the abdomen. The liver is about the size of a football, weighs 3 to 4 pounds and performs more than 500 vital functions. The liver acts as a filter that removes waste products and toxins from the blood. It acts as storage for iron as well as some vitamins and minerals. It produces bile that aides in digestion and regulates levels of hormones, cholesterol and sugars. Everything we eat, drink, breathe and absorb through the skin eventually reaches the liver. Its 300 billion cells control a process called metabolism, in which the liver breaks down nutrients into usable byproducts. These byproducts are delivered to the rest of your body by the bloodstream. The liver also metabolizes toxins into byproducts that can be safely eliminated. Some of these byproducts are routed into the bloodstream and carried to the kidneys, which filter them so that they can be excreted in urine. Others are carried away by bile, a yellow or greenish fluid produced by the liver. These byproducts flow through bile ducts to the gallbladder and intestines so that they can be excreted in feces. Separating nutrients from waste is one of the liver's most important functions, but it is not the only function. The liver is also a storage depot for sugar (glucose), which is released when we need energy.It is very important to take good care of the liver.

Some useful herbs for the liver are:
Milk Thistle.The active and liver-protecting part in Milk thistle is called silymarin. Silymarin which consists of a group of compounds called flavonolignands, helps restore liver cells damaged by alcohol and other toxic substances. Silymarin also keeps new liver cells from being destroyed, reduces inflammation (important for people with liver inflammation or hepatitis), and has effective antioxidant effects. Milk thistle is also useful in the prevention and/or treatment of various liver problems including viral hepatitis, fatty liver associated with long term alcohol use, and liver damage from drugs and industrial toxins.
Dandelion root. Dandelion root contains a large number of nutritive salts that make it useful as an herbal remedy for a variety of conditions. The medicinal use of dandelion root dates back to tenth century Arabia, where it was used to treat liver conditions. Dandelion root stimulates bile secretion. The liver is the largest filter in the body. This self cleaning filter removes its debris by dumping it into the bile. The bile then flows into the intestinal tract and is eliminated in the stool. Therefore, the greater the bile flow, the greater the cleansing of the liver. The high choline content of the root is one ingredient which helps this tonifying effect. Dandelion root contains a bitter, milky juice that is thought to be capable of energizing the body. It also has properties that can detoxify the body and purify the blood.
Licorice root. Licorice root both protects the liver and promotes healing in this vital organ. The herb's anti-inflammatory properties help calm hepatitis-associated liver inflammation. Licorice also fights the virus commonly responsible for hepatitis and supplies valuable antioxidant compounds that help maintain the overall health of the liver. Licorice helps the body clear viral infections, and helps the liver to clean itself. When processed into glycyrrhetinic acid, Licorice root has a powerful anti-viral and anti-inflammatory effect which works to slow the deterioration of the liver and alleviate symptoms commonly associated with hepatitis.
Nettle Leaf. Nettle leaf functions as a health-building tonic partly because of its impressive nutritional profile: It’s rich in a variety of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, carotenoids, iron, magnesium, and potassium. Because nettle has diuretic properties, it also increases urination and helps to flush the urinary tract of organisms that contribute to infections. Nettle leaf is an excellent cleanser and aids the liver in its functions.
Schisandra. From the fruit of schisandra, seven active liver enzyme-lowering ingredients have been currently isolated. Schisandra fruit also contains various lignans, mainly schisandrins, which have been found to prevent liver damage, stimulate liver repair and preserve normal liver functioning. These properties appear to be related to the various anti-oxidant abilities of the schisandrins.
These herbs ( Milk Thistle (200 mg), Dandelion (200 mg), Licorice (50 mg), Nettle Leaf (50 mg) and Schisandra (50mg) ) together forms Liver Combo.

glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate for joints and bones

Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate are substances found naturally in the body. Glucosamine is a form of amino sugar that is believed to play a role in cartilage formation and repair. Chondroitin sulfate is part of a large protein molecule (proteoglycan) that gives cartilage elasticity. Glucosamine and chondroitin are two molecules that make up the type of cartilage found within joints. Inside our joints, cartilage undergoes a constant process of breakdown and repair. Glucosamine is a naturally occurring body chemical, which the body uses to produce cartilage, tendons and ligaments; which are the connective tissue for joints. Glucosamine is a precursor to a molecule called a glycosaminoglycan-this molecule is used in the formation and repair of cartilage. Chondroitin is a naturally occurring body chemical that works in cartilage in a different way to glucosamine. It helps to attract water into the structure of the cartilage, which is essential for maintaining the cushioning effect between the joints, and bringing in nutrients to the cartilage, as it does not have its own blood supply. Chondroitin supplements increase the chondroitin levels in cartilage tissue. Cartilage is the body’s shock-absorber and joint lubricant. It covers the ends of any bones that meet together, and stops the hard bone tissue rubbing together, which would be very painful. Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage covering the ends of the bone thins to such an extent that the ends of the bones come close together or touch. This produces pain and stiffness. Glucosamine and chondroitin supplements can help reduce the loss of cartilage, and can help to repair the cartilage structure, where it is still intact. They can help with pain and stiffness.

dandelion root helps the liver

Dandelion grows wild throughout much of the world and is cultivated in parts of Europe for medicinal uses. The nutrients in dandelion root mildly feed and stimulate the liver, making it a good preventative herb for our modern times, when the liver is put under so much stress from toxins around us. Studies of dandelion's beneficial effects on the liver have shown that the herb increases the production and flow of bile (a digestive aid) from the liver and gallbladder, it is an aid in liver congestion, hepatitis, gall bladder problems and formation of stones, and stimulates and promotes healthy bile. Dandelion roots good effects on the digestive tract make it an aid in food allergies. It is thought that the plant's positive effect on various liver functions is probably related to its high content of the B vitamin choline. Because it improves liver function, dandelion root (in combination with other liver-strengthening nutrients) may be effective for relieving the pain and other symptoms of endometriosis. It also enhances the ability of the liver to remove excess estrogen from the body, thereby helping to restore a healthy balance of hormones. Dandelion root together with Milk Thistle, Nettle Leaf, Schisandra and Licorice root forms Liver Combo from Nepatica.

diabetes and liver disease

n the article “Hepatobiliary Disease in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus” written by Keith G. Tolman, MD; Vivian Fonseca, MD; Meng H. Tan, MD; and Anthony Dalpiaz, PharmD published here we learn that:“Diabetes mellitus is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States; 17 million people are affected. Liver disease is one of the leading causes of death in persons with type 2 diabetes. The standardized mortality rate for death from liver disease is greater than that for cardiovascular disease. The spectrum of liver disease in type 2 diabetes ranges from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The incidence of hepatitis C and acute liver failure is also increased. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is now considered part of the metabolic syndrome, and, with alcohol and hepatitis C, is the most common cause of chronic liver disease in the United States.”
Badly controlled blood sugar increases the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, which can lead to scarring of the liver (nonalcoholic cirrhosis). Other medical conditions related to diabetes — such as high cholesterol also increase the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. In addition, some medications used to treat these related conditions, such as cholesterol-lowering drugs, may cause liver damage. Liver Combo is a natural supplement with Milk Thistle (200 mg), Dandelion (200 mg), Licorice (50 mg), Nettle Leaf (50 mg) and Schizandra (50mg) in order to protect and take care of your liver.

L I V E R A COMPLICATED & LARGEST ORGAN IN HUMAN BODY

This natural DIY treatment will cost you few pence/cent. And, result is fascinating and beyond believes, this treatment will help cure all seven types of liver diseases. It depends on how serious problem is? It has been used as a key remedy in ancient days.

Liver diseases are life threatening .In modern science there is no confirm evidence that, any specific total curable treatment is available for liver diseases, Yes experts have sources and medications available to block the growth of ailment.
But, it comes to a stage where surgery is the only option left , Problem number one is if, Organ is available , Cost of surgery , and rate of success , at present it is 27%.
Liver is a nerve & logistic centre of our whole body, which monitors and controls our organs activities.
Imagine when the control centre, s biochemical system starts to crumble, as a result it disturb the complex system of whole body.
Introduction
The largest organ in the body is the liver, an indication of its importance in health. It is involved with almost all of the biochemical pathways that allow growth, fight disease, supply nutrients, provide energy, and aid reproduction. Liver cells, which are called hepatocytes, go through thousands of complex biochemical reactions every second in order to perform these myriad functions.
Since the liver is involved with almost all biochemical processes it is no wonder that there are many different diseases that will affect it. This page will cover some of the more important ones we see in animals. The beginning of this page will discuss liver anatomy and physiology, eventually leading to detailed explanations of the more common liver diseases we encounter. This complex organ does not lend itself to easy classification or understanding. Many of the functions of the liver overlap with other organs, and some of the liver's functions involve complicated biochemical pathways.
Infectious canine Hepatitis

1. Liver Shunt


2. Hepatic Lipidosis


3. Cancer


4. Chronic active Hepatitis


5. Copper Storage Disease


6. Gall Bladder Removal

Many of us are not aware that, they are affected with viral hepatitis; Most of us do not know that, Alcohol abuse can causes long lasting damage to your liver.
Symptoms of Liver Disease
. Jaundice (yellowing of eyes and skin)

1. severe itching


2. dark urine


3. mental confusion or coma


4. vomiting of blood


5. easy bruising and tendency to bleed


6. gray or clay-colored stools


7. abnormal buildup of fluid in the abdomen

Every 4th child born in under develop countries is effected with hepatitis A, 79% remains undetected, 53% cannot afford treatment, Ratio of immature death is climbing at the ratio of 11% every year according to WHO.
You can treat yourselves with no complications and confusion , and no side or after effect .It is a seed of herb which is used as a ingredient in our daily cooked meals , to develop test and flavor-----not processed ---not a capsules---not frozen---not in a form of tablet or any sort of therapy. It is live and in natural form.
This seed is available every where, especially at continental and Indian food stores it may not be the one you have heard or tasted before.
You can buy it for few pence/cents in sealed pouch or box.
The natural single ingredient OF HEALING which is a just perfect cure for most liver problems.

Information on Smoking Cessation Pill and Smoking Cessation Treatment

Smoking Cessation

You might have met several people who smoke but you might have come across very few people who are trying to stop smoking. Did you ever wonder, why like this? Everyone knows that smoking is injurious to health; then why do people still smoke.

Well, this is because smoking cessation is much tougher than you can imagine. You just do not wake up one day and say, "Alright, I won't smoke anymore." Smoking cessation done haphazardly may hardly be successful. Only few lucky and courageous people can accomplish smoking cessation, the cold turkey way (without smoking cessation pills and drugs).

If you feel you are strong enough to go for smoking cessation without any aid, go on and try the suitable smoking cessation treatment. But if you know the perils and problems coming your way after you stop smoking, seek a cessation aid. There are many smoking cessation aids in the market, you can either buy them online or buy from a local pharmacy. However before you buy any smoking cessation pills or drugs, here is more on them.

Smoking Cessation Pill

If you want an over the counter smoking cessation pill, which can be bought without a prescription and quit smoking with its help, there are many smoking cessation pill available in the market.

Even though these smoking cessation pills are touted as safe and effective, neither their safety not efficacy is proven in clinical trials. Therefore, you cannot be hundred percent sure that these smoking cessation pills will work for you.

Smoking Cessation Treatment

Smoking cessation treatments such as nicotine replacement therapies have been used for a long time. There are many nicotine-based smoking cessation treatments namely nicotine gums, nicotine patches, nicotine inhalers, and nicotine sprays.

The main snag involved in these smoking cessation treatments is that they contain nicotine. Therefore, if you go for these smoking cessation treatments, you will be still supplying dangerous nicotine to your body. There is no point in switching from one form of nicotine to another, after all it is not the smoking itself you are addicted to but the nicotine in your cigarette.

Smoking Cessation Drug

Smoking cessation drugs such as Zyban and Champix are the best available option to stop smoking. Both Zyban and Champix are clinically tested, FDA approved, and non-nicotine smoking cessation drugs.

Though both Zyban and Champix are effective smoking cessation drugs, Zyban is not very popular in smokers due to its nasty side effects. Many people suffer from depression after they take Zyban. Also in clinical trials, it was found that Champix is two times better than Zyban and double folds your chances of success.

So decide for yourself and choose for the best possible way to give up smoking. if you wholeheartedly wish to stop smoking, go for Champix, it will make it easier for you to quit smoking by curbing nicotine cravings, fighting withdrawal symptoms and nullifying the pleasures you get from smoking.

If you wish to go for smoking cessation, help is available; it is now your call to take that help.

Quit smoking treatment

uit Smoking

Most smokers yearn to quit smoking for years before they can finally break free from the habit. If you too wish to go for smoking cessation, buy Chantix, it triples your chances to quit smoking. In addition to Chantix, you will also need some tips and guidelines to carry yourself through the end.

Tips and guidelines for smoking cessation

If you wish to quit smoking, the first thing you can do is to understand the reasons for which you want to quit smoking. Seek your soul and determine the reasons to quit smoking. when you are done with it, write down all the reasons on a piece of paper and stick it on your refrigerator or bedroom door, wherever you can read them the most

Secondly, set a date from which you will completely quit smoking. For e.g. if today is 10 th of the month, you can plan your quit smoking date, 14 days later on 24 th . In this time, you can get about doing other things

You can buy Chantix to quit smoking before your quit date and start taking it as per a doctor's instruction

Tell your friends and family that you are going to quit smoking. Ask for their support, as you will need it in abundance during smoking cessation.

Join a support group of people who are trying to quit smoking or have conquered the habit recently. These people give you real life solutions for smoking cessation

Ask friends and family not to smoke around you. Keep away from situations where you will desire a cigarette e.g. pubs, your favorite hang-out joints

Before and after you quit smoking, talk to a doctor. He will help you in many ways so that you don't get skewed from your path of smoking cessation

Take walks, go for a swim or occupy yourself in any form of exercises. This will keep your mind off from smoking and will relieve mental pressures

Most people put on weight after they quit smoking. It is not advisable to avoid smoking cessation so as not to gain any weight. The key here is to eat healthy and balanced diet. This will defend you against weight gain

Another basic thing you can do for easy smoking cessation (besides Chantix of course) is to drink lots of water. This keeps cravings at bay.

If you keep all these things in mind and get Chantix, you will be mentally and physically ready for smoking cessation. Everyone knows that smoking cessation is no child's play. Even if you buy Chantix, it will not make the path of smoking cessation, less rock-strewn.

However, Chantix will certainly make smoking cessation easier. There are few drugs as effective as Chantix for smoking cessation. Therefore, your best bet lies in getting Chantix for smoking cessation.

So what are you waiting for, thrown your last cigarette out of the window now and get Chantix at the earliest!

Most smokers yearn to quit smoking for years before they can finally break free from the habit. It takes endless trials and severe failures before one can give up cigarettes.

If you too wish to go for smoking cessation, buy Chantix, it triples your chances to quit smoking. In addition to Chantix, you will also need some guidelines to carry yourself through the end.

Buy Chantix to quit smoking before your quit date and start taking it as per a doctor's instruction.

Tell your friends and family that you are trying to quit smoking. Ask for their support, as it will be needed in abundance during smoking cessation.

Join a support group of people who are trying to quit smoking or have won the battle against the habit recently. These people give you real life solutions for smoking cessation.

Ask friends and family not to smoke around you. Keep away from situations where you can wish for a cigarette e.g. pubs, your favorite hang-out joints where you smoke usually.

Before and after you quit smoking, talk to a doctor. He will help you in many ways so that you don't get awry from your path of smoking cessation.

The Role of Asbestos in Mesothelioma

The generic name "asbestos" belongs to a group of minerals called "asbestiform" minerals. Asbestos is a fibrous material which is mined from serpentine rock. Basically, rock was mined and crushed. When the rock was crushed, fibrous stands of asbestos were extracted from the rock. The strands where put in bags and shipped to manufacturing facilities were the asbestos was used as an ingredient in insulation and other materials. The three most commonly used forms of asbestos in product manufacturing were chrysotile, amosite and crocidolite.

Although asbestos products have not been used in construction since approximately 1975, the products in place present a clear danger to individuals involved in repair work and the demolition of structures containing asbestos products

Mesothelioma Cancer

Malignant mesothelioma is an uncommon, but no longer rare, cancer that is difficult to diagnose and poorly responsive to therapy. Malignant mesothelioma is the most serious of all asbestos-related diseases.

A layer of specialized cells called mesothelial cells lines the chest cavity, abdominal cavity, and the cavity around the heart. These cells also cover the outer surface of most internal organs. The tissue formed by these cells is called mesothelium.

The mesothelium helps protect the organs by producing a special lubricating fluid that allows organs to move around. For example, this fluid makes it easier for the lungs to move inside the chest during breathing. The mesothelium of the chest is called the pleura and the mesothelium of the abdomen is known as the peritoneum. The mesothelium of the pericardial cavity (the "sac-like" space around the heart) is called the pericardium.

Tumors of the mesothelium can be benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous). A malignant tumor of the mesothelium is called a malignant mesothelioma. Because most mesothelial tumors are cancerous, malignant mesothelioma is often simply called mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma was recognized as a tumor of the pleura, peritoneum and pericardium in the late 1700's. However it was not until much later, in 1960, that this particular type of tumor was described in more detail and even more importantly, its association with asbestos exposure was recognized. The first report linking mesothelioma to asbestos exposure was written by J.C.Wagner, and described 32 cases of workers in the "Asbestos Hills" in South Africa. Since then, the relationship between mesothelioma and asbestos exposure has been confirmed in studies around the world.

The incidence of mesothelioma in the United States remains very low, with 14 cases occurring per million people per year. Despite these numbers, the noticed threefold increase in mesothelioma in males between 1970 and 1984, is directly associated with environmental and occupational exposure to asbestos, mostly in areas of asbestos product plants and shipbuilding facilities.

Although the disease is much more commonly seen in 60-year-old men, it has been described in women and early childhood as well. The cause of the disease is not so well understood in these latter two groups, but there is some evidence of possible asbestos exposure for some of these cases as well.

Malignant mesothelioma is divided into three main types. About 50% to 70% of mesothelioma occurrences are the epithelioid type. This type has the best prognosis (outlook for survival). The other two types are the sarcomatoid type (7%-20%), and the mixed/biphasic type (20%-35%). Treatment options for all three types are the same.

About three-fourths of mesothelioma occurrences start in the chest cavity and is known as pleural mesothelioma. Another 10% to 20% begin in the abdomen and is called peritoneal mesothelioma. Pericardial mesothelioma, starting in the cavity around the heart, is very rare. The covering layer of the testicles is actually an outpouching of peritoneum into the scrotum. Mesothelioma that affects this covering of the testicles is quite rare

Gene Tweak Reverses Aging in Mouse Skin Cells

(HealthDay News) -- Scientists say they've been able to temporarily return old skin cells to their youthful state by blocking the activity of a single gene.

"This gene gets more and more active with age," said lead researcher Dr. Howard Chang, an assistant professor of dermatology at Stanford University. "It doesn't exist to make us old. It is active in a number of processes, including the immune system and inflammation."

Chang said tweaking the gene, which produces a protein called NF-kappa-B, will not serve as a "fountain of youth" for the foreseeable future. The protein has a number of functions, some involved with cancer, and as-yet-unknown side effects must be explored before its safety is known. But one possible use is to help heal wounds more quickly in older people, he noted.

What's exciting about the discovery is that a single gene can have an immediate effect on older cells, Chang said. "People have known that you can affect the aging process with drastic interventions, like calorie restriction. Now we are talking about a single gene that, if blocked in an individual who is already old, can return cells to a youthful status, at least temporarily."

The researchers came across NF-kappa-B by searching existing data on genes that become more or less active as people get older. They found that the activity of a number of those genes is regulated by the protein.

They then used a genetically engineered mouse model to test the effect of inhibiting NF-kappa-B activity in a patch of skin cells.

After two weeks, a patch of treated skin from a 2-year-old mouse not only had the same genetic activity as that of a newborn animal but also looked more youthful, with more dividing cells.
It's fascinating "to engineer a mouse so that the rest of the mouse is old, but that one patch is young, to see that even locally, in a targeted way, you can affect the aging process," Chang said.

The finding also adds support to the theory that aging is not simply a process of wear-and-tear but the result of specific genetic changes, he said. And it shows that at least locally and temporarily, those changes can be stopped, Chang added.

The gene treatment has to be used cautiously, because NF-kappa-B is involved in so many different processes in the body, he noted.

A question to be asked now is, "What is the long-term effect of blocking the aging process for a while?," Chang said. "Would the tissue age rapidly again after the treatment stopped, or would they take much longer to age? It's important to sort these things out."

Long-term blockage of the gene would raise serious issues in terms of side effects, Chang said, since the gene is involved in so many body processes. Short-term use -- for wound healing, for example -- might sidestep those problems.

Breast Cancer Genes Also Raise Men's Risk for Malignancy

(HealthDay News) -- Men whose mothers, sisters or daughters test positive for a breast cancer-causing mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes may also have the mutation and be at increased risk for cancer, a new study finds.

Most of those men are unaware of the danger, noted researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, who examined how families discuss genetic test results.

Men with a mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes have a 14 percent lifetime risk of developing prostate cancer and a 6 percent lifetime risk of developing breast cancer, the study authors said.

"Despite these health implications, we have found a lack of understanding of genetic test results among men in these families," study lead author Dr Mary B. Daly, senior vice president for population science at Fox Chase, said in a prepared statement.

The researchers interviewed 24 men with a first-degree female relative who tested positive for a BRCA1 or BRAC2 mutation. All the women said they told their male relative about the test results, but only 18 of the men remembered that they were told.

About half the men (7) who did remember being told the test results didn't believe that they also had an increased risk of cancer. Only 5 of the men correctly assessed their chance of having a BRCA1 or BRCA 2 mutation.

"We devote a significant amount of time learning how best to communicate genetic test results to women, but this study shows we also need to help them communicate the information to their male family members who may be impacted by the test results," Daly concluded.

The study was expected to be presented Friday at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

CONTACT LENSES TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP NEARSIGHTEDNESS ESPECIALLY IN CHILDREN

A contact lens worn at night is being studied for a possible ability to reshape the cornea of the eye. Possibly slowing down nearsightedness, myopia, if the reshaping becomes permanent. But the technique is not without controversy.

"Nearsightedness is caused by a steepening of the cornea, the transparent tissue in front of the colored part of the eye. Nighttime contacts apply a slight pressure to the center of the eye, flattening the cornea." "Adult users must wear the lenses every night, or their corneas will revert to their original shapes, and nearsightedness will return.In children, however, a few small studies suggest the reshaping benefits might be permanent". There are possible problems, indeed all contact lenses wearers have to be very cautious. There is a recent report of problems in Taiwan.

Lenses May Help Nearsighted Kids Special Contacts at Night Might Stabilize Eyes

Night time Lens Wear May Mean Near Perfect Day Time Vision

Report of Problems in Taiwan in Children Having Orthokeratology Children Using Overnight Orthokeratology Face Serious Risk of Microbial Keratitis
"While local conditions and the high prevalence of myopia and contact lens wear in adolescents in Taiwan may contribute to a higher incidence of pediatric microbial keratitis associated in this region, such a complication can also occur in similar patients in other geographic areas".

Shoulder Pain Caused by Swimmers' Shoulder

Shoulder pain is an affliction of many modern athletes. Swimming is no exception. Swimming typically involves a fair amount of freestyle swimming stroke. It has been said that high level competitive swimmers will have as many as 16,000 arm rotations a week. This activity of forward movement in the shoulder and the repetitive fashion does cause significant strain on the shoulder. Swimming coaches and swimmers will know frequent episodes of anterior and superior shoulder pain, both during the swimming and as the process worsens throughout the day.

What is going on here? Firstly, swimming, an excellent form of exercise and a very popular competitive sport, has to some degree some possibility for over use of the shoulder. Over use is defined as using a body part in a repetitive way beyond which it was designed. This stress can, at times, lead to impingement upon the superspinatus tendon, therefore, setting off a cascade that leads to full blown rotator cuff tendonitis. This condition causes significant shoulder pain. It more frequently limits a swimmer’s training schedule due to shoulder pain.

How are swimmers able to prevent shoulder pain caused by swimmer’s shoulder? A few things are very helpful in understanding the anatomy of the rotator cuff. Firstly, the superspinatus is only one of four muscles comprising the rotator cuff. It also is the muscle that is most stressed and at times the one most warn down by repetitive use of free stroke swimming. Swimmers need to understand that there are three other muscles of the rotator cuff that need to be strengthened. Trying to balance out the amount of freestyle with at least increasing the amount of backstrokes when swimming will relatively strengthen some of the other three muscles, particular the infraspinatus. Additionally, I typically recommend that swimmers include a very slightly weighted jump rope at the end or beginning of their swimming workout. The jump rope by keeping the arms low and particularly when used in a very rapid fashion will strengthen the other three muscles of the rotator cuff. This allows for balance within the very complex shoulder joint and specifically the structure of the rotator cuff. This will go a long way towards helping prevent swimmer’s shoulder. Specifically, I typically recommend the blue jump rope put out by Lifeline Fitness. It’s called a speed/workout jump rope.

Problems with shoulders are common with both high level and low level competitive and fitness swimming. It is important to address this problem early. It is important to understand that the shoulder needs balance in its strength. Again, I recommend to my swimmers that they employ usually some increase backstroke and again I recommend using a weighted jump rope for ten minutes of jumping rope at the beginning or end of their practice. This will hopefully prevent shoulder pain, shoulder disease, and allow people to enjoy the rather incredible and unique sport of swimming which I uniformly recommend as an excellent form of low impact exercise.

Moderate Exercise Cuts Risk of Metabolic Syndrome

(HealthDay News) -- A brisk 30-minute walk most days of the week is enough to undo metabolic syndrome, a health condition that can lead to heart disease, diabetes and stroke, a new study suggests.

"What we found was a modest amount of moderate intensity exercise was very effective in improving metabolic syndrome risk," said study author Johanna L. Johnson, a clinical researcher at Duke University Medical Center's department of medicine.

At the start of the study, 41 percent of the 171 participants had metabolic syndrome; at the end, just 27 percent did. The study was published in the Dec. 15 issue of the American Journal of Cardiology.

About one-quarter of all U.S. adults have metabolic syndrome, a collection of risk factors that can eventually set you up for more serious health problems. While some experts debate the validity of considering metabolic syndrome a disease unto itself, the risk factors are potentially dangerous. They include a large waist circumference; high blood pressure; high levels of triglycerides; low levels of good (HDL) cholesterol; and high blood sugar. If you have three or more of the five risk factors, you have metabolic syndrome.

Johnson and her colleagues looked at the effects of different amounts and intensities of exercise.
The researchers assigned the 171 men and women to one of four groups. One was a control group, whose members continued to be sedentary. The other three groups included:

• A low amount/moderate intensity group. They did brisk walking three to five days a week, aiming for about 11 miles, and typically putting in about three hours a week.
• A low amount/vigorous intensity group. They did the same 11 or so miles but at a jogging pace, so they ended up getting about two hours of exercise a week.
• A high amount/vigorous intensity group. They jogged at a vigorous pace about 17 miles a week, putting in about three hours.

What was a bit surprising, Johnson said, was the benefits conferred to each group.
"What we found was that modest amounts of moderate intensity exercise [the low/moderate group] were very effective in improving metabolic syndrome," she said. Those who exercised the most, jogging 17 miles a week, gained a bit more benefit in terms of lowered metabolic syndrome scores, she said.

Those in the low amount/vigorous intensity group didn't improve their scores as much as those who did less-intense exercise for a longer period of time, the low amount/moderate intensity group.

Moderate intensity activity every day, or almost every day, may be better for metabolic syndrome risk reduction than more vigorous activity a few days a week, the researchers suggested.

All three groups of exercisers did have a reduction in their waistline circumference. Waist circumferences above 34.6 inches in women and 40.2 in men are a risk factor for metabolic syndrome, the researchers said.

The high amount/vigorous intensity group had the best reduction in body mass index (BMI, a ratio of weight to height). It went from an average of 29.2 to 28.4. A BMI of 30 and higher is termed obese.

So, the bottom line for middle-age, sedentary, overweight people? "If you tell them to go out for a brisk walk 30 minutes on most days of the week, they are highly likely to improve health and metabolic syndrome risk," Johnson said.

The new research confirms advice on exercise from the American College of Sports Medicine and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, she added.

"It confirms that exercise is beneficial," said Kerry Stewart, a professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, who also has done research on the topic.

"It confirms the benefit of exercise for reducing metabolic syndrome and all the risk factors that make up metabolic syndrome," he said. The surprise, he agreed, was that moderate activity may be enough.

THE BENEFITS OF OMEGA 3 FISH SEAFOOD: LISTEN TO A PODCAST AND READ WHAT ARE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR OMEGA 3 FOR THE HEART

From Inuit eating fish oil rich with Omega 3 to the American Heart Association recommendation on Omega 3 fish oil to the Institute of Medicine findings on seafood and fish oil and the heart,a litany of reports have implicated oily fish and omega 3 oils in health benefits for everything from the heart to the head. Omega 3 benefits, for the heart at least, seem to be accepted by mainstream medicine. For example, "fish and omega-3 fatty acids in fish are good for your heart. A Mayo Clinic specialist tells how the heart-health benefits of eating fish usually outweigh any risks".

Omega-3 in Fish: How Eating Fish Helps Your Heart

Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Fish Oil, Alpha-Linolenic acid

The whole fish Omega 3 phenomenon started with the Eskimos,now called the Inuit peoples. Hugh Sinclair, a British nutrition-scientist confirmed earlier observations that Eskimos had a reduced cardiovascular mortality (fewer dying from heart problems). Initial post-war correspondence on the subject in The Lancet medical journal led to Sinclair joining forces in the 1970s with two Danish scientists, Bang and Dyerberg, who also studied the Inuit way of life. They showed extended bleeding times in the Inuit population but despite "the vast amount of whale meat and blubber they were eating", they had cholesterol levels similar to those in the UK and Denmark, but lower triglycerides and lower rates of coronary heart disease.

The Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences has said that eating certain fish is beneficial.In 2006 they reported that "The committee confirmed that eating fish and shellfish may reduce people's overall risk for developing heart disease. It is not certain whether this is because substituting the lean protein of seafood for fatty cuts of meat reduces consumers' intake of saturated fat and cholesterol or because of the protective effects of omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in relatively high amounts in many fish species. Americans generally consume too much saturated fat and cholesterol and too little of "good fats" such as the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA in fish

Salient points of the report included:

Lean fish are good sources of protein, are low in saturated fat and cholesterol, and provide moderate amounts of omega-3 fatty acids. Predatory fish with long life spans such as swordfish, shark, and tilefish contain levels of methylmercury that are too high for pregnant and breast-feeding women.

Fatty fish such as salmon are good sources of protein and provide the highest amounts of omega-3 fatty acids. They also contain higher levels of saturated fat and cholesterol and can accumulate higher amounts of pollutants such as dioxin and PCB, depending upon the source. Their methylmercury burden is lower than that of many lean fish.

Shellfish and crustaceans are good sources of protein and low in saturated fat, although some contain moderate amounts of cholesterol. They present the greatest risk of microbial infection if eaten raw.

For all seafood categories, levels of contaminants such as dioxin and PCBs in commercially obtained fish generally do not pose health risks when consumed in amounts recommended by federal agencies. These contaminants tend to be geographically specific problems. State advisories are intended to alert the public about contaminated fish and shellfish from regional and local sources.

Click to listen to a podcast:

"A Salmon A Day Balancing the Benefits of Seafood"

1. Females who are or may become pregnant or who are breast-feeding (All recommendations for pregnant women must be approved by the obstetrician):

May benefit from consuming seafood, especially those with relatively higher concentrations of EPA and DHA.

A reasonable intake would be two 3-ounce (cooked) servings, but they can safely consume 12 ounces per week.

Can consume up to 6 ounces of white (albacore) tuna per week.

Should avoid large predatory fish such as shark, swordfish, tilefish, or king mackerel

2. Children up to 12 years of age:

May benefit from consuming seafood, especially those with relatively higher concentrations of EPA and DHA.

A reasonable intake would be two 3-ounce (cooked) or age-appropriate servings, but they can safely consume 12 ounces per week.

Can consume up to 6 ounces of white (albacore) tuna per week.

Should avoid large predatory fish such as shark, swordfish, tilefish, or king mackerel.

3.Healthy adolescent and adult males and females (who will not become pregnant):

May reduce their risk for future cardiovascular disease by consuming seafood regularly (as suggested by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans).

Who consume more than two servings a week should ensure that they select a variety of seafood to reduce the risk for exposure to contaminants from a single source.

4. Adult males and females who are at risk of coronary heart disease:

May reduce their risk for cardiovascular disease by consuming seafood regularly.

Although supporting evidence is limited, there may be additional benefits from including seafood selections with high levels of EPA and DHA.

Who consume more than two servings a week should ensure that they select a variety of seafood to reduce the risk for exposure to contaminants from a single source. INSTITUTE OF MEDICINE Food and Nutrition Board COMMITTEE ON NUTRIENT RELATIONSHIPS IN SEAFOOD: SELECTIONS TO BALANCE BENEFITS AND RISKS

BRIEFING ON RECOMMENDATIONS TO EAT FISH BY THE IOM