Category Archives: Health Care

Bread May Increase Risk of Breast Cancer?

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Eating bread and potatoes can increase the risk of developing breast cancer. As stated by scientists in a recent study conducted by the University of California, San Diego.

A study found that people who follow a diet rich in starch (starch) are more at risk for developing tumors than those who rarely consumed starch. The researchers have not been able to explain this trend. However, they assume that the increased levels of insulin-induced ‘refined carbohydrates’ such as starch that can stimulate cancer cell growth.

Researchers studied the diets of 2651 breast cancer patients for 12 months. They found that people who frequently eat starch has a 14.2 percent risk of breast cancer. This risk level is higher than that rarely consume starch, which is about 9.7 percent.

“The results show that not only carbohydrates as a whole (which could potentially increase the risk of cancer), but mainly starch,” says University of California researchers, Jennifer Emond. Studies have not been able to provide recommendations for a good diet to prevent this cancer.

At first, women’s intake of carbohydrates is 233 grams per day. Researchers looked at diet in women who experienced disease recurrence following year. Women whose disease relapses were generally increase intake of starches as much as 2.3 grams per day in the first year. Meanwhile, patients who did not experience a relapse generally reduce the intake of starch 2.7 grams per day.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK. This disease affects about 46,000 women every year. Carbohydrates are the most important fuel for the muscles and vital energy source for brain and central nervous system. Refined carbohydrates like bread contain more starch than from grains (like rice).

Breast Cancer Campaign chief executive, Baroness Delyth Morgan, appreciate these findings. “This study shows that reducing starch consumption may reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence. We are waiting for further research on this issue,” he said.

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Acupuncture Can Prevent Radiation-Induced Chronic Dry Mouth, Study Finds

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When used in conjunction with radiotherapy for cancer of the head and neck, acupuncture has shown for the first time, reducing the debilitating side effect of xerostomia, according to new research from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and Shanghai’s Fudan University Cancer Center.

The study, published in the journal Cancer, reported results from the first randomized, controlled trials of acupuncture to prevent xerostomia.

Xerostomia or severe dry mouth, characterized by reduced salivary flow, which often affects patients receiving radiotherapy for cancer of the head and neck. Most current treatments are palliative and offer limited benefit, according to Lorenzo Cohen, Ph.D., professor in the departments of General Oncology, MD Anderson and behavioral sciences and director of the program “Integrative Medicine.

Worsen the quality of life for patients because it causes problems in eating, talking and sleeping, and increased risk of oral infections.

“There are a number of small studies of the benefits of acupuncture for xerostomia develops, but none have previously examined whether it could prevent xerostomia,” says Cohen, who also is principal investigator of the study. “We found, including acupuncture, along with radiation therapy reduces the incidence and severity of this side effect.”

Cohen and his colleagues examined 86 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated at Shanghai’s Fudan University Cancer Center. Forty patients were randomized to acupuncture and 46 standard care. The arm was treated with acupuncture treatment three times a week for the seven-week radiation therapy. Patients were assessed before chemotherapy weekly during radiotherapy and then again one and six months later.

Results are based on data obtained from two self report questionnaires and measuring the actual flow of saliva. Patients completed xerostomia questionnaire (XQ), eight-point test that assesses symptoms, in accordance with the condition. XQ results below 30 years were consistent with mild or no symptoms of xerostomia.

The second measure, the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory head and neck (MDASI-HN), ranked the severity of symptoms associated with cancer than dry mouth, and interference with quality of life. The team also measured saliva flow by means of standardized methods for collecting sialometry.

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“It is quite remarkable is that we began to see group differences by three weeks radiotherapy for the development of xerostomia associated with cancer symptoms affecting quality of life and rates of saliva flow – an important objective measure,” said Zhiqiang Meng, MD, principal investigator of the study and vice-chairman of the Department of Integrative Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center.

The largest differences in XQ group results were observed at the end of radiotherapy, but differences remained over time. Within one month after radiotherapy, compared 54.3% of the acupuncture group XQ scores higher than 30, with the control group to 86.1%. Within six months after radiotherapy, the numbers fell to 24.1% in the acupuncture group and 63.6% of the control group still reported symptoms of xerostomia. Salivary flow rates were also higher in the acupuncture group, begins three weeks radiotherapy and continued for one and six month follow up.

Acupuncture also helped cancer-related symptoms other than xerostomia, as measured by MDASI-HN questionnaire differences, which appeared in three weeks and continuing every six months.

“Medical consequences are quite profound, in terms of quality of life, because while chronic dry mouth may sound – benign, a significant impact on sleep, eat and talk,” says Cohen. “Without saliva, there may be an increase in the growth of microbes, possible bone infections and nutritional deficiencies irreversible.”

Further studies are needed to determine the mechanisms of the benefits of acupuncture, but the study did not examine this question, Cohen said it could have an impact on local blood flow, especially to the parotid gland.

Further studies are planned, including a major study conducted at MD Anderson in collaboration with Shanghai Fudan University Cancer Center. Both centers will be included 150 patients undergoing radiotherapy for cancer of the head and neck: 50 will receive acupuncture, placebo acupuncture, 50 and 50 will be involved in the control group. Researchers will also examine the components of saliva and a number of other measures to better define the mechanisms of acupuncture.

Home Health Aides Deserve Minimum Wage and Overtime Protections

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Most Americans recognize that home health aides falls into the latter category. Unfortunately, not federal law. Home health aides are excluded from minimum wage and overtime laws for the protection of the federal fair labor standards, because of something called “companionship exemption.” Established in 1970, this exception is the decline in law to ensure neighborhood babysitters and sporadic workers would be given to federal employment protection. Unfortunately, the release also excluded professionalized workforce home health aide, and many of whom work full time.

Home health aides are trained professionals who want a job that is more qualified. To work for agencies, health-related home health aides home to receive many hours of classroom training (which is regulated by the state) or home care agency or private school. Their work covers everything – from eating, bathing and dressing patients, helping with medication and guide patients through range of motion exercises.

The lack of minimum wage and overtime protection for utilities health home, it hurts more than just workers. Users inevitably suffer as well. Because home health agencies are not required to pay for home health aides overtime, home health aides are working extremely long hours, although many agencies are home health-profit companies that charge customers significantly more than paying their workers. This leads to stress, fatigue workforce that is more likely to commit errors. Not surprisingly, the long hours and low wages led to high turnover among home health aides, resulting in less continuity of patient care.

A few years ago, the Supreme Court rejected efforts to settle the release of camaraderie. Ministry of Labor has repeatedly expressed its willingness to write new rules that will expand the Fair Labor Standards Act to protect home health aides (amending Regulation agenda of the Labor Department this year), but it has repeatedly failed to do it. Earlier this year, however, legislation that would end the friendship exception introduced in the U.S. Congress and Senate.

At the same time, states and territories provide home health aides with relief. In some cities, like New York is home health aides and unions covered by living wage laws. Countries are also making progress. Many states require that agencies pay home health aides in the minimum wage, and some of them require overtime as I an article in November-December 2011 issue of Clearinghouse Review: Journal of Poverty Law and Policy will examine a changing landscape of laws and policies affecting home health aides and analyze a recent Pennsylvania case, the Supreme Court ruled part of the Pennsylvania minimum wage law that requires home health agencies to pay overtime to employees.

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Should You Test Your Municipal Water Supply?

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Many homeowners receive water by simply turning on the faucet, and a monthly payment of the municipal water system, others offer their own water. Your water supply or public (you and others are related to the same water system) or private (you provide your own water). Public water systems draw water from rivers, lakes, springs or groundwater wells. Most private drinking water from wells, springs and lakes.

If your water comes from state or municipal water system, water is regularly tested for contaminants regulated by state standards, such as pathogens, radioactive elements and certain toxic chemicals. However, some public water supply has water quality problems caused by inadequate facilities for municipal treatment plants or distribution systems. Some rural water supply does not have enough money to hire trained specialists or to immediately comply with expanding government requirements. In addition, corrosive water or deteriorating pipes in the house add pollutants to the municipal drinking water once it enters your home.

If you get water from own well, you alone are responsible for ensuring that it is safe. Therefore, routine testing for several of the most common contaminants is highly recommended. Even if you currently have a safe, clean water. regular testing can be valuable because it creates a record of water quality. This record can be helpful to solve future problems in obtaining compensation if someone damages water.

When it looks disgusting, the water colored by rust. The colored water happened after the water is shut off in the building for several months.

Rust in water can be a problem if such high levels, it can stain laundry or even contain enough iron to be dangerous to health, for some people. It may also indicate that the water is extremely corrosive or “aggressive”.

Whether public or private water supply, you should have your water tested.

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Inserting Small Objects Into the Ear Damage the Natural Structure of Wax

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Thousands of Britons believed to suffer from hearing loss or infection each year after trying to remove earwax. Useful and necessary, wax helps prevent dirt, dead skin and hair from inserted too far into the ear. Any surplus will be pushed to the ear canal naturally, aided by chewing movements of the jaw.

However, inserting small objects into the ear damage the natural structure of wax called cerumen causing compact, creates blockages and infections.
Crystal Rolfe from the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID), said: “Wax is actually beneficial mechanism to cleanse itself, it contains antibacterial protection and lubricating properties.

“Therefore, it is usually removed and naturally leaves  the ear. Sometimes earwax built in, especially in hearing aid users and should be removed.”It is best to be done by a nurse or doctor, or by syringing microsuction. People should not keep things in their ears to try to remove wax yourself.

“Items such as cotton swabs usually push wax further down, which may cause  compressed and harder to remove. “It can also irritate the thin lining of the canal, and in rare cases even perforate the eardrum if pushed too far or accidentally nudged.” The signal comes as a similar warning was issued in America.

Writing in the journal “Neck and ENT: Head and neck surgery, says Dr. Roland:” Unfortunately, many people feel the need to manually ‘remove’ cerumen from the ears can lead to further congestion and other complications in the ear canal”.

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