6 cancer-fighting superfoods

Broccoli
All cruciferous veggies (think cauliflower, cabbage, kale) contain cancer-fighting properties, but broccoli is the only one with a sizable amount of sulforaphane, a particularly potent compound that boosts the body's protective enzymes and flushes out cancer-causing chemicals, says Jed Fahey, ScD. A recent University of Michigan study on mice found that sulforaphane also targets cancer stem cells—those that aid in tumor growth.

Helps fight: breast, liver, lung, prostate, skin, stomach, and bladder cancers

Your Rx: The more broccoli, the better, research suggests—so add it wherever you can, from salads to omelets to the top of your pizza.

Berries
All berries are packed with cancer-fighting phytonutrients. But black raspberries, in particular, contain very high concentrations of phytochemicals called anthocyanins, which slow down the growth of premalignant cells and keep new blood vessels from forming (and potentially feeding a cancerous tumor), according to Gary D. Stoner, PhD, a professor of internal medicine at The Ohio State University College of Medicine.

Helps fight: colon, esophageal, oral, and skin cancers

Your Rx: Stoner uses a concentrated berry powder in his studies but says a half-cup serving of berries a day may help your health, too.

Tomatoes
This juicy fruit is the best dietary source of lycopene, a carotenoid that gives tomatoes their red hue, Béliveau says. And that's good news, because lycopene was found to stop endometrial cancer cell growth in a study inNutrition and Cancer. Endometrial cancer causes nearly 8,000 deaths a year.

Helps fight: endometrial, lung, prostate, and stomach cancers

Your Rx: The biggest benefits come from cooked tomatoes (think pasta sauce!), since the heating process increases the amount of lycopene your body is able to absorb.

Walnuts
Their phytosterols (cholesterol-like molecules found in plants) have been shown to block estrogen receptors in breast cancer cells, possibly slowing the cells' growth, says Elaine Hardman, PhD, associate professor at Marshall University School of Medicine in Huntington, West Virginia.

Helps fight: breast and prostate cancers

Your Rx: Munching on an ounce of walnuts a day may yield the best benefits, Hardman's research found.

Garlic
Phytochemicals in garlic have been found to halt the formation of nitrosamines, carcinogens formed in the stomach (and in the intestines, in certain conditions) when you consume nitrates, a common food preservative, Béliveau says. In fact, the Iowa Women's Health Study found that women with the highest amounts of garlic in their diets had a 50 percent lower risk of certain colon cancers than women who ate the least.

Helps fight: breast, colon, esophageal, and stomach cancers

Your Rx: Chop a clove of fresh, crushed garlic (crushing helps release beneficial enzymes), and sprinkle it into that lycopene-rich tomato sauce while it simmers.

Beans
A study out of Michigan State University found that black and navy beans significantly reduced colon cancer incidence in rats, in part because a diet rich in the legumes increased levels of the fatty acid butyrate, which in high concentrations has protective effects against cancer growth. Another study, in the journal Crop Science, found dried beans particularly effective in preventing breast cancer in rats.

Helps fight: breast and colon cancers

Your Rx: Add a serving—a half-cup—of legumes a few times a week (either from a can or dry beans that've been soaked and cooked) to your usual rotation of greens or other veggies.

New Hybrid, Precision Heart Procedures to Help Stop Deadly Arrhythmias

New techniques now being used at UCLA allow doctors to more precisely target certain areas of the heart to stop ventricular arrhythmias -- serious abnormal rhythms in the heart's lower chambers -- in high-risk patients.

Generally, arrhythmias can be controlled by medications, and sometimes defibrillators. But a potentially life-threatening, recurrent arrhythmia known as a ventricular tachycardia, which originates in one of the heart's two ventricles, can produce a fast heart beat that requires other interventions, such as catheter ablation, in which the precise focus area of the arrhythmia must be controlled.

Cardiologists will often use catheter ablation once medications and other therapies have failed. The procedure involves the insertion of a tiny, metal-tipped catheter through a vein in the groin or neck to reach the inside of the heart. Prior to the procedure, electrical tests are conducted on the heart to identify and map the exact site of the arrhythmia's origin.

While ablation is usually performed inside the heart, in about 15 to 30 percent of patients with dangerous ventricular tachycardias, the site responsible for the abnormal rhythm is on the heart's outer surface. Normally, this can be addressed by an ablation procedure, performed in a cardiac catheterization lab, in which doctors thread a wire with a metal-tipped catheter inside the body, under the ribcage, to apply heat or cold to the area of the heart's ventricle that is producing the arrhythmia, stopping it.

However, in high-risk patients who have scarring from previous heart surgeries, it is difficult to reach the outside of the heart. To tackle this problem, a team at UCLA has devised a hybrid approach combining catheter ablation with minimally invasive surgical techniques.

"UCLA is at the forefront of developing and using new techniques and approaches to better access a high-risk patient's heart to stop difficult-to-reach, life-threatening arrhythmias," said Dr.. Kalyanam Shivkumar, professor of medicine and radiological sciences and director of the UCLA Cardiac Arrhythmia Center and Electrophysiology Programs.

A study in the November issue of the journal Heart Rhythmreports on UCLA's experience with the two newer surgical methods, used together with catheter ablation, in 14 high-risk patients who had ventricular arrhythmias treated between September 2004 and March 2010.

In order to perform more accurate electrical mapping of the heart and apply precise ablation therapy in hard-to-reach areas in high-risk patients, surgeons used one of two minimally-invasive cardiac surgical techniques to open a small window in the chest to view the heart. Depending on the area of the heart the team needed to access, they used either a procedure called a subxiphoid window or one known as a limited anterior thoracotomy.

The ability to directly visualize the heart and navigate around scar tissue and blood vessels to get closer to the heart's surface, significantly improved accuracy in applying the ablation techniques to stop the arrhythmias.

"These newer, more minimally-invasive procedures offer more treatments for high-risk patients who don't have a lot of options to address a life-threatening arrhythmia, allowing them to avoid potential open heart surgery," Shivkumar said.

The hybrid procedures were performed in the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center adult cardiac catheterization laboratories and involved a collaboration among several UCLA departments, including cardiology, cardiac surgery, anesthesiology, radiology and operating-room administration. Pre-procedure imaging was needed, as well as critical care teams for post-surgical care.

"UCLA is a leader in utilizing these hybrid procedures to meet individual patient care needs. We hope our experiences can help move the field forward," Shivkumar said.

Shivkumar added that his team created new procedural protocols for using technologies such as electrical heart mapping systems and ablation catheters with these new hybrid procedures.

Eating Disorders

Many kids — particularly teens — are concerned about how they look and can feel self-conscious about their bodies. This can be especially true when they are going through puberty, and undergo dramatic physical changes and face new social pressures.

Unfortunately, for a growing proportion of kids and teens, that concern can grow into an obsession that can become an eating disorder. Eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa cause dramatic weight fluctuation, interfere with normal daily life, and damage vital body functions.

Parents can help prevent kids from developing an eating disorder by nurturing their self-esteem, and encouraging healthy attitudes about nutrition and appearance. Also, if you are worried that your child may be developing an eating disorder, it's important to intervene and seek proper medical care. This is also true if there is any family history of eating disorders.

About Eating Disorders

Generally, eating disorders involve self-critical, negative thoughts and feelings about body weight and food, and eating habits that disrupt normal body function and daily activities.

While more common among girls, eating disorders can affect boys, too. They're so common in the U.S. that 1 or 2 out of every 100 kids will struggle with one, most commonly anorexia or bulimia. Unfortunately, many kids and teens successfully hide eating disorders from their families for months or even years.

People with anorexia have an extreme fear of weight gain and a distorted view of their body size and shape. As a result, they strive to maintain a very low body weight. Some restrict their food intake by dieting, fasting, or excessive exercise. They hardly eat at all and often try to eat as few calories as possible, frequently obsessing over food intake. The small amount of food they do eat becomes an obsession.

Bulimia is characterized by habitual binge eating and purging. Someone with bulimia may undergo weight fluctuations, but rarely experiences the low weight associated with anorexia. Both disorders can involve compulsive exercise or other forms of purging food they have eaten, such as by self-induced vomiting or laxative use.

Although anorexia and bulimia are very similar, people with anorexia are usually very thin and underweight but those with bulimia may be a normal weight or even overweight. Binge eating disorders, food phobia, and body image disorders are also becoming increasingly common in adolescence.

It's important to remember that eating disorders can easily get out of hand and are difficult habits to break. Eating disorders are serious clinical problems that require professional treatment by doctors, therapists, and nutritionists.

First Aid - Why is it important!?

If your friend has an accident then the first person there will be the first aider or the person who will help her until others get there. First aid is about using your commonsense in ways that will keep your friend safe without doing harm to her.

Until emergency help arrives, try to control bleeding. If possible, first put on rubber or latex gloves before touching any blood. If these are not available, a clean plastic bag can be used to cover your hands. It is important not to come in contact with blood because of the health risks. If finger or hand pressure is inadequate to control bleeding, place a thick pad of clean cloth or bandage directly over the wound, and hold in place with a belt, bandage, neckties or cloth strips. Take care not to stop the circulation to the rest of the limb. For injuries where a tie cannot be used, such as to the groin, back, chest, head and neck, place a thick pad of clean cloth or bandage directly over the wound and control the bleeding with finger or hand pressure. If bones are not broken, raise the bleeding part higher than the rest of the body. If the injury is extensive, the victim may go into shock and should be treated for it.

Control severe bleeding by applying firm pressure to the wound using a clean, dry dressing and raise it above the level of the heart. Lay the person down, reassure them, keep them warm and loosen tight clothing.

Safety is an awareness of your surroundings and a healthy fear of unstable situations. By its very nature, an emergency is an unstable situation. If everything were truly under control, nothing bad would've happened in the first place. If, for example, you see a person struck by a car in a crosswalk, do not rush headlong into the street to see if they're injured. You will no doubt find yourself lying next to them after being struck by the next car barreling down the road.

For getting them to do something that may have been on their ‘To do’ list for years! Most people know that it would be a good idea to take a first aid course, but sometimes life gets in the way and it is hard to find the time. However, people usually feel happy and relieved once they have learned some lifesaving skills and it improves their confidence and self esteem. If you host a course, you are going to feel great for having had such a positive influence on your family, friends and co-workers!

You can purchase supplies for your travel first aid kit at drug stores, or buy a prearranged kit online. Many travel first aid kits cost under $10. Don’t be afraid to personalize purchased travel first aid kits with any additional supplies like you or you family might need. For example, include a plastic bag with a mild solution of soap and water, along with paper towels for a quick and inexpensive way to wash sticky hands.

It is important to have a first aid kit is because they enable someone who is injured, to be quickly treated with basic first aid, before they can be properly treated at the local hospital. Therefore in an emergency situation, it is recommended someone knows where the nearest first aid kit is located and how to use the contents within it.

If you think that you should take a first aid course and I really recommend that, than maybe you'll like to take a few minutes to visit Carlton Training.

You Think You Have A Medical Malpractice Case?

Like many other people, you may think you have a medical malpractice lawsuit if your doctor makes a mistake while treating you. This may or not be true. The truth is, there's a lot more to a medical malpractice case than a patient getting hurt. The key factors involve showing or proving:

• A doctor or another medical professional made a mistake, and
• You were harmed by that mistake

Usually, any malpractice case is a long and complicated legal matter because it's not always fast or easy to prove those two things.

What Is It, Exactly?

Medical malpractice is when a doctor or another medical professional - like a nurse or technician - does something or doesn't do something that causes an injury or some harm to you, the patient. The medical professional's act or failure to act (called an "omission") is called "medical negligence."

As you can see from this definition, a medical malpractice case involves a mistake or error by a medical professional that damages or harms a patient.

Medical Negligence

The mistake or omission can happen at any time during medical treatment. For example, your doctor may make a mistake diagnosing your illness, or she may not give you the proper treatment or medication for that illness. The key here is the standard of care. This is the generally accepted method or methods used by other medical professionals in the area to treat or care for patients under the same or similar circumstances.

For example, if you're a 45-year-old business professional with asthma living in Michigan, the standard of care your doctor must use is the standard other doctors in the Michigan and surrounding areas use to diagnose and treat asthma in 45-year-old business professionals. This standard is different, of course, for 20-year-old athletes in Arizona, or a 70-year-old retired railroad workers in West Virginia. The standard changes depending on the patient's age and medical problem, and usually, where the patient lives.

If you can prove your doctor didn't follow or "breached" the standard of care for your particular medical problem, you've made a big first step in making a good medical malpractice claim.

Injury or Damage

It's not enough that your doctor made some sort of mistake. Before you can file a lawsuit, you have to be able to show that the mistake caused you damage or further harm. The amputation of the wrong limb, brain damage after an operation, a medical condition or disease got worse after treatment, or even death are good examples of injuries or damage. In short, unless you've been harmed, there's no medical malpractice case.

You also have to prove that the injury is connected to the negligence. This is called "causation," meaning your damage or harm was caused by the doctor's mistake. This may be the most difficult - and expensive - part of any medical malpractice case. As a general rule, you'll need at least one expert witness to explain how the mistake caused your injury. These expert witnesses are almost always other doctors or medical professionals.

Experts are also used to help you show the standard of care that applies to your case and how your doctor breached that standard of care.

The Battle

As you can see, a medical malpractice case is usually complicated from the get-go, and usually takes some time to get through. You have a lot to prove. And the defense usually doesn't pay up without a fight. You can bet the doctor or medical professional you're suing - usually, it's that person's insurance company who defends the case - will do everything possible to show that the doctor didn't make a mistake or cause your injury. The defense will use its own experts to do this.

It may take months or even years for the case to be over. And you can't wait forever to file the case, either. The "statues of limitations " set out how long you have to file a lawsuit against someone else, including a malpractice claim. The time period varies from state to state, but generally it's two years from the date of your injury.

These cases aren't cheap, either. Experts cost a lot of money, sometimes over $1,000 per hour, especially if you need them to take off work and come to court to testify. Plus there are all kinds of other costs, like filing and other court costs, as well as discovery.

As a practical matter, though, you may not have to worry too much about these costs, at least not immediately. Most lawyers take medical malpractice cases on a "contingency fee" basis. This means that your attorney will pay most if not all of the costs of the case up front, and he won't charge attorney's fees unless you win the case. If you win, she'll take a percentage of the amount of money you win as her fees and reimbursement for the costs she paid. Generally, if you lose, you'll still have to pay the court costs, but not the fees.

Don't let the potential costs and complexity scare you away from a case. If you've been injured by a medical professional's mistake or failure to act, talk to an attorney to see if you have a good case. Not only can you get money or "damages" for medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering, but you can help make sure the same mistake doesn't happen to another patient.

Questions for Your Attorney

• Do I have to tell the IRS about any money I get from a malpractice lawsuit?
• I traveled to another state for medical treatment. Can I file a malpractice suit in my home state, or do I have to file in the other state? Can you represent t me in the other state?
• I heard that our state has "tort reform" laws that limit how much money I can get in a malpractice suit? Is that true? How much is it? What if that doesn't cover all of my medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering?

Acnee Treatment using Smoothbeam laser technology

Many innovations have been made in recent years towards healing acne scars and removing acne itself, including Smoothbeam laser treatment. Smoothbeam lasers have been very effective in not only temporarily removing acne, but most importantly eliminating acne scars, which can often remain permanently even after acne is no longer a major problem! While there are tons of methods and products available for getting rid of acne, the scars that are left are often a much tougher problem, so this kind of innovation is a welcome treat for acne sufferers.

You can make such a treatment at the :The Knightsbridge Laser Clinic U.K.

How Does It Work?

How does a treatment method like this work? Well, Smoothbeam laser treatment is used to alternatively use heating and cooling methods on your skin, in the effort to heat the middle layer of the skin appropriately. This simple solution allows that layer of your skin to essentially receive the healing that it needs. Not only do acne scars benefit from this kind of treatment, but also wrinkles and other skin problems, such as sebaceous hyperplasia. This kind of procedure is very legitimate and is FDA approved, as well as being endorsed by many dermatologists who perform the procedure for patients regularly. Especially for a laser treatment, Smoothbeam treatments are very good for their low risk of side effects. The vast majority of patients who undergo Smoothbeam laser treatment will only have some mild redness for the hours immediately after the procedure. There is sometimes a level of discomfort to the procedure, but that can easily be limited by applying an over the counter cream to numb the skin before the treatment. Usually, the treatments are conducted in a series, as most dermatologists recommend a few of the treatments for best results.

Is It Right For You?

Of course, to find out whether you are an ideal candidate for Smoothbeam laser treatment, you will really have to speak with your dermatologist. He or she will be familiar with your skin type and will be able to really advise you on the potential benefits of such a treatment. Some people will not see as many results as others from the treatment, which is similar to any other kind of medical treatment in that way. However, for the majority of patients, four treatments will give the desired results that the patient was looking for. That makes this procedure one of the best ways to get rid of unsightly acne scars, so that you can feel good about your skin.

What types of cosmetic surgeries are there?

Below is a list of the most common cosmetic surgeries, if you think about having one I recommend you 'The Cosmetic Surgery Clinic' in the U.K.

Tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) - the abdomen is reshaped and firmed. During this surgical procedure excess skin and fact is removed from the middle and lower abdomen, with the aim of tightening the muscle and fascia of the abdominal wall. Tummy tucks are more popular among women after pregnancy and people who have lost a great deal of weight and do not like the sagging that sometimes results from this. Sometimes the sagging skin occurs for genetic reasons (the patient inherited the trait). This procedure may also improve the appearance of stretch marks, especially those located below the navel.It is important that malnutrition is identified among patients who have lost a lot of weight. Identifying malnutrition before surgery in massive weight loss patients seeking body contouring will significantly decrease surgical complications, accelerate wound healing, improve scar quality and boost patient energy levels, this study found.

Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) - the eyelids are reshaped, or a permanent eyeliner is applied. This procedure may be either functional or cosmetic, and sometimes both. The aim is to reshape the upper or lower eyelid by removing or repositioning excess tissue. It may also involve reinforcing surrounding muscles and tendons.

Mammoplasty, this may include:

Breast enlargement (breast augmentation; boob job) - the breasts are enlarged. This is one of the most common procedures in cosmetic surgery. This is done either with fat grafting, or with saline or silicone gel prosthetics. Usually carried out because the woman feels her breasts are too small (micromastia), but also if one breast is larger than the other, or if the breasts have changed after pregnancy and/or breastfeeding.

Breast implants may also be considered by patients who have had their breast removed (mastectomy), as may be the case with breast cancer. Breast implants come in many sizes, shapes and profiles.

Women who undergo breast enlargement often see a sizable boost in self-esteem and positive feelings about their sexuality, this researcher from the University of Florida found.

Breast reduction - skin and glandular tissue is removed to make the breasts smaller. This procedure may also apply for women who suffer from shoulder or back pain because their breasts are very/too large (gigantomastia). Breast reduction surgery has a much higher percentage of patients who want to relieve a physical discomfort, compared to women who want breast augmentation. This article looks at whether young women undergoing cosmetic breast reduction surgery should be screened for cancer without their informed consent, which is currently what happens. Breast reduction reduces breast cancer risk among high-risk women, this study found.

Male breast reduction (gynecomastia) - The procedure can also be carried out on men who have abnormally large mammary glands. This condition is much more common than people think - it affects approximately 40% to 60% of the male populations of North American and Western Europe (American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery). This article reveals a figure of 40% to 50% of males, at some point in their lives. Some males may have just one affected breast, while others have both. In most cases we are not sure why some men have enlarged breasts. We do know that the following factors may have an impact: taking anabolic steroids, medication containing estrogen, alcohol consumption, marijuana consumption, impaired liver function, and some cancers.

Mastopexy (breast lift) - as the skin loses its elasticity, gravity starts taking its toll, plus other factors such as weight loss, pregnancy and/or breastfeeding alter the shape and firmness of the breasts, some women want a breast lift. The breast lift raises the breasts, giving them a more youthful contour. Sometimes the patient will undergo breast augmentation at the same time.

Lower-body lift - this may include:

Buttock augmentation - this procedure enhances the appearance of the buttocks by making them larger. The surgeon will either graft fat from another part of the patient's body, or use a silicone implant.

Buttock lift - this procedure lifts the buttocks so that they stick out more and have a tighter, more pert appearance. The surgeon does not always need to place implants. A scarless technique can be used for buttock lift.

May also include procedures to tighten loose, sagging skin in the backs of the thighs, hips, outer thighs, and the front of the thighs. The surgeon will usually utilize incisions which go from the back round the hips to the front of the thighs. The surgeon removes the loose skin as well as some underlying fat tissue so that the remaining skin can stretch and smooth the lower body - especially the thighs and buttocks.

Chemical peel - popular among people with acne or pock, as well as those with scars and wrinkles. The procedure involves using Phenol (carbolic acid), TCA (trichloroacetic acid), AHA (glycolic acid) or BHA (salicylic acid) as the active ingredient. There are two types of chemical peel:

Deep (phenol) peel - also known as a deep chemical peel. This is for patients with deep wrinkles, usually from exposure to the sun, as well as the skin that wrinkles around the lips and chin. This treatment reduces the appearance of skin damage and imperfections.

Light to medium chemical peel - more suitable for patients with finely wrinkled faces, as well as sun-damaged skin, and uneven pigmentation. All chemical peels peel away the top layers of the skin.

Researchers at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine found that chemical peels using either alpha-hydroxy acid or beta-hydroxy acid are both highly effective in treating mild to moderately severe facial acne.

Labiaplasty - also called labioplasty, labia minor reduction, or labial reduction. This involves surgery of the labia majora or labia minora of the vulva (part of the female genitalia). Labiaplasty reduces elongated labia. This is generally part of a vaginoplasty. However, this article explains that there exists little clinical or scientific evidence to guide gynecological surgeons as to the safety and effectiveness of different cosmetic vaginal procedures.

Nose job (rhinoplasty) - the surgeon reshapes the patient's nose. It is usually done by an otolaryngologist (head and neck surgeon, ear/nose and throat specialist), maxillofacial surgeon or plastic surgeon. The aim is to improve the appearance of the nose, and sometimes its function as well if the patient has breathing problems. Surgeon's say patients should wait until they are at least 15 years of age (boys perhaps even older). Sometimes rhinoplasty is carried out in conjunction with a facelift. This study found a higher rate of personality disorders among nose job candidates.

Ear surgery (otoplasty) - generally this involves pining the ear closer to the head. However, surgery may involve reducing the size of very large ears, or reshaping various bends in the cartilage. Most commonly, otoplasty is used for patients with:

Protruding ears (ears that stick out)

Large ears

Ears that have an abnormal shape

Some patients have surgery done on just one ear, while others have both ears done. Ear surgery can be performed on children because the ears reach their near total development when the child is 5 or 6. A study revealed that cosmetic ear surgery has the youngest age of patients. Cosmetic surgical procedures for children pose ethical dilemmas, this essay discusses.

Facelift (rhytidectomy) - rhytidectomy means to remove wrinkles surgically. The aim is to make the patient's face look younger. Excess facial skin is removed without tightening underlying tissue - the skin is then redraped on the patient's face and/or neck. Face lifts may be done in many ways, however, the most popular one is to make an incision in front of the ear which extends into the hairline and also curves around the bottom of the ear and then behind it. The skin is then separated from the deeper tissues with a scalpel or scissors over the cheeks and neck. The deeper tissues are then tightened with sutures (stitches) - sometimes the excess deeper tissues are removed. The skin is then redraped and some excess skin is removed. The incisions are then sutured or stapled. Facelift procedures are continuously evolving.

This interesting study looked at the surprising high rate of MRSA infections following facelift surgery.

Liposuction (suction-assisted lipectomy) - also known as fat modeling, liposculpture suction lipectomy, or lipo. Fat is surgically removed from various parts of the body - usually the abdomen, thighs, buttocks, hips, backs of the arms, and neck. Liposuction may also be used for male breast reduction. It is crucial for the patient to be told that liposuction is not a weight loss method.

If there is a lot of fat, the surgeon cannot remove it all in one go. How much fat is removed depends on what method is being used, as well as certain aspects relating to the patient - usually the most that can be taken out is about 5 kg (a little over 10 lbs). If too much fat is removed there is a significantly greater risk of complications for the patient.

The fat is removed via a cannula (a hollow metal tube) that is passed through the fatty tissue. A pump is attached, generating a vacuum, so that the fat is literally sucked out (suction assisted liposuction). A motor may be attached which makes the cannula vibrate (vacillate back and forth). An ultrasonic generator may also be used - this produces sound waves that break the fat cells which are then removed. Prior to removal the fat cells may also be broken down with laser.

Although complications are uncommon, they can occur, including the accumulation of blood under the skin (hematoma), infection, changes in sensation, allergic reactions, damage to underling structures, and unsatisfactory results. It is important that the patient is aware of the risks and has talked about them with a doctor.

Smokers are advised to give up well in advance of the operation and not to resume for at a least a few weeks afterwards. Smoking can significantly undermine recovery.

Liposuction does not reduce the risk of developing diabetes, heart disease or hypertension (high blood pressure), this study revealed.

Brow lift - also known as a browplasty or forehead lift. The aim is to raise drooping eyebrows and/or remove forehead wrinkles (worry lines) - conditions associated with aging. It is often performed in conjunction with other cosmetic procedures aimed at achieving a more harmonious facial appearance.

Chin augmentation - the aim is usually to give the patient a more prominent chin and a better balance of facial features. An implant is usually placed by the surgeon. Often when the patient has a nose job (rhinoplasty) he/she will include chin augmentation surgery in the same session. Sometimes the surgeon is able to manipulate the jaw bone (without using a prosthetic implant). However, chin augmentation with implants is the more popular option for patients with normally functioning teeth and jaw development.

Cheek augmentation - this surgical procedure is aimed at giving the patient more prominent cheekbones. The surgeon may place an implant at the top of the cheekbones. Many patients say that weak cheeks make their face seem gaunt and aged. As we age our cheeks may lose their fullness.

Cheek lift - also known as a midface lift. This surgical procedure raises the middle of the face (the cheek) to improve cheek and under-eye fullness and contour.

Hair transplantation - A large percentage of men, especially Caucasian men, and a smaller percentage of women are affected by hair loss. Most hair loss occurs for genetic reasons. Micro-hair transplantation has replaced larger grafts of hair. Patients may require several sessions to achieve desired results. After six weeks the transplanted hair will fall out and be replaced about three months later when the new hair appears. This article explains how a dermatologist can help patients suffering from hair loss.

Collagen injections - collagen is widely used in cosmetic and plastic surgery for burn patients and for the reconstruction of bone. It is also widely used in dentistry, orthopedics and other surgeries. Collagen injections are also used in treating patients with urinary incontinence. One of the drawbacks is that some patients experience prolonged redness. Doctors can carry out a patch test before surgery to find out how susceptible the patient might be. Most collagen comes from young beef cattle - they are free of BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy - mad cow disease). Collagen may also be derived from pig tissue.

These treatments are dermal fillers used in cosmetic medicine to reduce wrinkles, lines and scars, as well as to augment soft tissue contours. Collagen treatments are not permanent - they are degraded by the body and have to be repeated at later date.

Fat injections - also called fat grafting, and has broad applications in cosmetic surgery. The patient's own fat is collected from one part of the body and injected into areas requiring volume-enhancement. The results are generally safe and long lasting. Patients are generally more satisfied with this procedure because often two birds are killed with one stone - fat is removed from a part of the body that needs fat reduction, and then added to another part that requires more volume. When the fat is removed it is washed and purified and then carefully re-injected with specially designed needles. Sometimes the procedure needs to be repeated several times for best results.

The hands, face (including lips), and depressions in the skin contour are the most common targets for skin grafting. Rejuvenating newly identified fat compartments in the facial cheeks can help reduce the hollowed look of the face as it ages, according to research by plastic surgeons at UT Southwestern Medical Center.

Is Natural Light Important in winter??

Seasonal Affective Disorder (often abbreviated as “SAD”) can impact people who feel fine the rest of the year. However, suddenly when winter hits, they find that their mood changes dramatically. In fact, estimates show that 10% of people suffer from this problem. Also Seasonal Affective Disorder is far more likely to affect women than men. More women have SAD then men by a 3:1 ratio! The lack of sunlight during the winter can cause problems with our internal clocks and circadian rhythms. Also less access to the sun and shorter days can cause our serotonin levels to drop during the winter. Lack of serotonin in the body can also make us depressed.
Symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder are very similar to symptoms of clinical depression. Problems include decreased appetite, weight loss, decreased sex drive, feelings of isolation, depression and sometimes even suicidal feelings. Now if you go to a psychiatrist and get evaluated as having SAD, more than likely you will be prescribed some prescription medications. While these prescription antidepressants may help with your SAD, they also will be more than likely to have unintended side effects.

The good news is that there are a wide variety of natural ways of treating Seasonal Affective Disorder. Many of these treatments can be very effective and are even suggested by doctors. Supplements that are recommended to combat Seasonal Affective Disorder include St. Johns Wort, Vitamin D, and increase of Omega-3 fatty acids.

Also make sure you get more natural sunlight each day. This should be one of the first treatments to try to improve your mood. One thing you can do is open your window coverings and get light during every possible opportunity. (If you have a small window you should get a bigger one -like the ones they have at : The Sash Window Shop)Also if you can go for a walk during your lunch break, this can be extremely effective. Getting more physical activity has also been shown to help with Seasonal Affective Disorder. Look out the window and pay attention to the weather. When you see the sun is shining, try to get outside and take advantage of that fact. Actually getting natural sun exposure on your skin can make a big difference.

Many psychiatrists recommend the use of light therapy to their patients as a treatment for SAD. With light therapy, people sit in front of a special light box or lamp each day.

If you have been feeling down during the winter, get proactive. Try some natural solutions and see if they make a difference for you.

From HCG Diets to Shake Weights: Fitness Trends in Review

From tapeworms and Thighmasters to fad diets and blubber-shaking machinery, the only sure thing in the fitness world is that there will always be a new trend claiming to be the secret to quick and easy weightloss or eternal youth. Often, these fads make unrealistic promises or are downright unhealthy. Sometimes, though, trends bubble up for a reason—because they work. Here’s a look at five current fitness trends and my suggestions as to whether you should “hit it” or “quit it.”

HCG Diet: Fad diets are a dime a dozen. All the ones that “work” use the same trick: They have some loosely-tested medical theory that distracts you from the fact that you are just doing good old calorie cutting. This is true of most low-carb and non-medically-indicated gluten-free diets, and it’s certainly true with the HCG diet. In its truest form, the HCG diet requires daily injections of a hormone found in pregnant women that is supposed to help release fat stores. Of course, the internet has sprung up with sites offering to sell you HCG in pill form. But HCG is not active in an oral form, so the pills you find on the internet are pure placebos. In either case, the HCG is more or less a red herring anyway. The real way the HCG diet “works”—you are only allowed 500 calories per day! Yes, you read that right—500 calories. Of course you are going to lose weight in the short-term, but a 500-calorie diet is something one should never undertake without the strictest of doctor’s supervision.

The Verdict: Quit It. If you want to lose weight, you need to eat fewer calories than you burn by creating a sustainable deficit, which can be done by anyone, anywhere, for free! If you must, you can take a few twenty-dollar bills out of your wallet and flush them down the toilet for motivation, which would be better than spending your hard-earned cash on this internet gimmick.

P90X: The saying goes, “At any given time, there is an episode of I Love Lucy playing somewhere in the world.” I think the same is probably true of the P90Xinfomercial—possibly twofold. The parade of jaw-dropping transformations and well-oiled “after shots” just reek of scam. But, you know what…? The hype machine of the infomercial doesn’t change the fact that P90X is a really solid, well-rounded, old-school weight and cardio program that will deliver great results to anyone who has the dedication to push themselves through the workouts and, most importantly, reel in their diet. It delivers the same kind of solid workout experience you can get from taking several classes at a gym, which makes it ideal for parents and people who like the flexibility of working out at home. (One caveat: If you are a woman looking to lose weight, it’s likely the nutrition guide that comes with the program will suggest far too many calories. Here are some suggestions for alterations.)

The Verdict: Hit it! Just don’t expect that something magical will happen when the UPS man delivers the package to your door. As with any workout program, you’ll need the commitment to hit the workouts hard and change your diet to seeresults.

Shake Weight: Due to a so-bad-it's-good advertising campaign, the Shake Weighthas become a viral video darling and even landed a starring role on an episode of South Park. But, is it any good as a workout tool? Hardly. I purchased the Shake Weight in the “for men” size and ran through the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it enclosed workout DVD. For starters, I can think of very little that would actually “get you ripped in only 6 minutes per day” aside from deadlifting a small SUV repeatedly. And, while I did have difficulty shaking the weight for the specified period, I’m chalking that up to a slippery handle and biomechanically-shaky moves. I felt no delayed muscle soreness that would indicate that the workout had done anything different from my usual weight regime. Plus, it works only three muscle groups, and there’s certainly not enough weight involved in any case to “get you ripped.” In fact, I’d argue good ole pushups, dips, and pull-ups would do a much better job of that than this noisy gizmo.

The Verdict: Quit It. Spend your thirty bucks on a pair of 20-pound dumbbells that you can use for curls, presses, squats, and lunges to get a full-body workout. Bonus tip: If you want to get the whole Shake Weight experience with your dumbbells, just stop your curl or press mid-way through the rep and do micropulses or hold the isometric contraction for 30 seconds. Oh, and make funny faces. That’s the important part.

HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training): High Intensity Interval Training is the talk of the gym, promising to burn the most calories in the least amount of time and elevating post-exercise calorie burn for up to 24 hours after the session. HIIT is a great addition to most workout programs, and all these claims are backed by solid research, but here’s the thing—most people don’t do HIIT right. It’s more than just hitting the “interval” button on the elliptical while reading the latest copy of Cosmo. A true HIIT workout session involves a warm-up followed by one minute of all-out intensity and one minute of recovery, repeated no more than 10 times, and followed by a cool down. To be true HIIT, the all-out bursts must be can’t-go-for-a-second-longer intervals, and at the end of the 20-30 minute session you should be absolutely beat.

The Verdict: Hit it! High Intensity Interval Training is a great way to get the most out of your workout time. Remember, though, that a true HIIT will leave you utterly depleted and require proper recovery, so don’t do this kind of workout on back-to-back days. Also, don’t put too much weight on the promise of increased post-exercise burn—any workout program will do this. Just focus on blasting through those calories in the workout timeframe and consider any additional benefits as gravy. I tell my clients: With HIIT, if you don’t feel like a flailing fool in the gym, you probably aren’t doing it right.

High-Antioxidant Drinks and Supplements (Acai Berry, Pomegranate, etc.): It seems that anti-oxidants have been added to so many products these days, promising everything from better heart health to eternal youth. Notably, the beverage aisle is jam-packed with high-antioxidant drinks, but most of these drinks are nothing more than expensive fruit punch, with little to offer than massive quantities of sugar and some vitamins tossed in to make for better marketing. Yes, a diet sufficiently high in anti-oxidants is important for good health, but a well-rounded diet full of multi-colored foods will not only provide you more than enough vitamins and minerals, it will contain other important phytonutrients and fiber naturally. I am always wary of artificially adding nutrients to our food outside the ratio of what you’d find in a healthy, well-balanced diet. There is even some evidence that too many anti-oxidants might reduce the positive adaptations to exercise.

The Verdict: Quit it! Don’t reach for a pricy, sugary, calorie-bomb just because it claims to have anti-oxidants or other health benefits. If you are eating a well-rounded, colorful diet, you are probably doing fine on the anti-oxidant front. Try as we might, we really can’t improve on water for drinking.

Holidays Special Environmental Tips for Individuals: Eco-Gifts and Eco-Gift Ideas - Part 1

Eco Gifts and Eco Gift Ideas

Ideas: Offer/ask for gifts that don't involve buying anything. For example, time together, a back rub, babysitting, offer to teach something you know how to do, donation to charity, seeds from your garden, tickets to an event (musical, lecture series, play, concert, etc.), nontoxic house cleaning service, gift certificates for spas, music downloads, movie downloads, etc.

Other Eco Gift Ideas:

- Consider purchasing gifts from companies focused on providing products which use renewable energy sources (i.e., solar powered radio , outdoor lighting or just doing something for the environment ) like the Turtle Mat - they are working to save marine turtles from extinction.

- Eco-Artware promotes gifts made from reused and natural materials.

- Shop for gifts at antique stores, estate sales or flea markets.

- Create environmentally friendly gift baskets filled with sustainable gift items (e.g., compact fluorescent or LED light bulbs, plastic bag dryer, organic cotton socks/scarfs/hats/etc., showerhead with mist setting for lowest flow showers, organic and/or vegan snack items, organic cotton towels, shade grown coffee, fair trade gifts, solar battery charger, solar radio/flashlight, a variety of nontoxic and biodegradeable cleaning products or a nontoxic cleaning kit, etc.)

Gifts that Give Back:

- Ask for/give the gift that keeps on growing -- a tree!.

- Make it a Fair Trade Holiday! Buy gifts through Online Fair Trade Shops.

- Give alternative charity gifts (check out the great online alternative gifts at the bottom of the page). Another resource: Charity Christmas Gifts.

- Feed a child in honour of someone you love and post their photo on the Wall Against Hunger (World Food Programme).

- Give the gift of a Mosquito Net to save someone from Malaria.

Give Fair Trade Gifts that:

Fund food for the hungry

Fund free mammograms

Help underprivileged children survive and thrive

Help provide books to underprivileged children

Help preserve endangered forests

Help feed animals in need

- Give Gifts that Give More

- If you are a school teacher, consider asking your students to bring in items that can be donated to a local charity that is distributing holiday gifts for underprivileged children.

Holidays Special Environmental Tips for Individuals: Eco-Gifts and Eco-Gift Ideas - Part 2

Find Gifts: Tom Faulker can help you locate great gifts or other similar green pages online .

Light Up with LEDs: If you are installing Christmas lights, consider purchasing more energy efficient Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs). They have an average life span of 100,000 hours (vs. 1,500) and reduce energy consumption by up to 80-90%.

Gift Giving Policy: If you have a big family/lots of friends, come up with a plan to reduce the overall number of gifts given. One way is to randomly assign to each person only one other family member/friend to buy an eco gift for. Another (fun) example is for each person to buy and wrap one nice eco gift and then hold a party where everyone takes turns selecting their gift from the unselected (and already selected) gifts.

Gift Exemption Voucher: For someone you no longer want to exchange gifts with, print out and send them the Gift Exemption Voucher.

Alternative Gift Registry: If you have a wedding, baby shower, or office holiday party coming up, register for gifts through the Alternative Gift Registry for an eco-friendly celebration.

Fair Trade Wedding: Great ideas for creating a fair trade wedding celebration.

Holiday Cards: If you are sending out holiday cards, you can find eco-friendly ones at Conservatree. Thrift stores also carry donated Holiday cards during the holiday season. As an alternative to standard greeting cards, look into sending electronic greeting cards (check out tree e-greetings to plant a tree with each e-card) or making your own from waste paper.

Greeting Cards: Great information and suggestions at Greeting Card: Go Green or Go Online.

Wrapping Paper: To reduce resource consumption from using new wrapping paper, you can find donated wrapping paper at thrift stores during the holiday season. Alternatively reusable gift bags, usable cloth (e.g., nice dish rags), old maps, decorated paper bags, any colorful pieces of material, home-made gift bags, or the sunday comics can substitute for store-bought wrapping paper.

Decorating Your Table: Consider decorating with soy candles and items from nature or seasonal fruit and vegetables in a bowl

Is polyester upholstery fabric bad for our health?

On One Hand: A Safe Fabric

There are no official health warnings about polyester fabric, and many natural parenting sites list polyester as a safe material to have in your home.

On the Other: Certain Dangers

Researchers at Tufts Medical University found that cancer cells grow more rapidly in polyester test tubes than glass tubes. It is believed that this is because polyester emits phytoestrogens, which are potentially dangerous to the endocrine system.
While rare, some people have allergic reactions to polyester fabric. The dyes contained within polyester upholstery can also cause allergic reactions.
Additionally, researchers at the University of California at Davis discovered that polyester clothing can burn up to 25 percent faster than other fabrics.

Bottom Line

Exposure to polyester upholstery is generally limited, because clothes form a barrier between skin and the upholstery. More studies need to be done to determine if polyester upholstery poses a health risk; it is not as preferable as organic cotton or bamboo. Babies, as well as disabled and elderly people, should not sleep on furniture upholstered with polyester because of the potential fire hazard.

But why to take a chance ? Use natural fabric.

NATURAL FABRICS are created from fibers of animals coats, silkworm cocoons, and plants' seeds, leaves, and stems.

Wool - Fibers from animal coats: Sheep, goats, rabbits, alpacas, llama...

Cotton - Fibers from the cotton plant’s seed pod

Silk - Fibers from the cocoon of the silkworm

Linen - Linen is from flax, a bast fiber taken from the stalk of the plant

Hemp, Ramie, and Jute - All of these are similar to linen but the plants are processed slightly differently.

Such fabrics you can get in this days very easily directly online from specialized sites like 'The Natural Curtain Company' or other similar sites.

Be smart . Live healthy , live different ...

Approved by Doctor Healthy