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Karuparthy Column Management of Chronic Pain Smoking and Chronic Pain KV, August 2003
Smoking Causes TB Three quarters of male Indian smokers who become ill with TB would not have done so if they had not smoked, researchers report in a paper published in The Lancet, August 16, 2003. Smoking is to blame for half the tuberculosis deaths among Indian men, highlighting a neglected link between tobacco and the killer lung disease. Most big studies into smoking and health until now have been conducted in developed countries where tuberculosis (TB) has been uncommon for more than half a century. As a result, the connection with TB, which is still endemic across much of Asia and Africa, has been greatly underestimated, according to the authors of the first major study on how smoking causes death in India. The study also predicted the number of men dying from smoking-related illnesses in India could double to more than a million a year by 2025. The study suggests that in some parts of the world the main way smoking kills is not via cancer and heart disease, but by damaging the lung's defenses against chronic TB infection. About a billion people worldwide are carrying live TB infection in their lungs, but if they do not smoke then most will never become seriously ill. Smoking increases the danger that any infection will get out of control and cause clinical TB, which can kill and spread easily to other people. Overall, smoking currently causes some 700,000 deaths a year in India, 550,000 among men aged 25-69. The number of deaths could double by 2025 if current smoking patterns persist, the authors conclude. Contents
Harmone Pills Remedy for Stress Even on a good day, going to work can be no picnic. But in an economy where rising layoffs, tight budgets, and long hours are driving some employees to their physical and mental limits, some companies are looking for remedies to keep this from affecting the bottom line, USA Today reports. An employee counseling service in Chicago says it's getting 23 percent more calls from stressed-out clients this year than in the same period in 2002. A survey by another firm says a quarter to a third of employees are feeling physically ill, depressed, or sleep deprived. Some companies recognize this phenomenon as a threat to profits through higher health care costs and decreased productivity. One pharmaceutical company is offering a drug-free remedy: meditation sessions in place of a coffee break. Contents Cervical Cancer Guidelines The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists said: -A first Pap test should occur within three years after first sexual intercourse or by age 21, whichever comes first. Previously, women were supposed to be tested by age 18 or onset of sexual activity. -Women should undergo annual Pap tests up to age 30. -Those 30 and older have two options. They can start getting checked every two to three years after having three consecutive, normal Pap tests. Or they undergo a combination of a Pap exam and testing for the human papillomavirus, or HPV, that causes most cervical cancer. Passing both those tests means they need rechecking no more than every three years. There are numerous strains of the HPV virus. Most clear up on their own, but a few types linger to cause cancer. HPV testing isn't appropriate for women under 30, because younger women often test positive for the harmless, transient strains, ACOG stressed. Some women may need more frequent exams, such as those with weak immune systems or previous cervical cancer, ACOG cautioned. The advice largely mirrors earlier recommendations from the American Cancer Society and the government. The cervix is a small, donut-shaped structure, located
at the top of the vagina. It is the entrance to the uterus. Cervical
cancer begins with abnormal, microscopic changes in cells in the outer
layer of the cervix, called the epithelium. This stage is called dysplasia.
If changes continue to occur, cells may become cancerous and grow out
of control. To learn more about cervical
cancer click here. The Dietary-Prostate ConnectionMost risk factors for prostate cancer can't be controlled. For example,
the disease is more common among men who are older, have a family history
of the disease or are African-American. But researchers are gathering preliminary
evidence on several dietary factors that may also influence the risk. Tamarind
cure for fluorosis Drugs, Tabacco, Alcohol and Money Boredom, stress and a lot of spending money are major
contributing factors for abuse of drugs, alcohol and money, according
to a new survey. The survey was released in August by Columbia
University's National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse.
It involved interviews with 1,987 kids aged 12 through 17 and 504 parents,
403 of whom had kids participating in the survey. The interviews revealed
that children who report being frequently bored were 50 percent more likely
to smoke, drink and use illegal drugs than kids who weren't bored. Kids
who had $25 or more per week in spending money were almost twice as likely
to smoke, drink and use drugs as kids with less disposable income, and twice
as likely to get drunk, the survey found. Kids suffering from a high level
of stress were twice as likely to smoke and use alcohol and illegal drugs
as kids who reported low levels of stress. The kids attributed their stress
to academic pressure and pressure to have sex and take drugs. The survey
also found that kids who went to smaller schools and to religiously affiliated
schools were more likely to be drug-free than kids who went to large or public
schools. The average age of first use for alcohol was about 12, for cigarettes
about 12 1/2 and for marijuana almost 14.
Competition
for Viagra
One-third of the men surveyed in a study appearing
in the August 5 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine reported
having problems with an erection in the prior three months. While the
incidence of erectile dysfunction (ED) increased about 5 percent each
year for all men, the problem was notably less common among men leading
healthy lifestyles. Being a vigorous exerciser and adding other
healthy lifestyle factors such as eating nine servings of fruits and vegetables
a day, not smoking, staying lean and not drinking had the effect
of adding 10 years to a man's sexual status. Men who did the equivalent
of three hours of running or more each week or playing five hours of singles
tennis reported a 30 percent lower risk of ED, compared with those who
did little or no exercise. Exercise seems to benefit the small arteries
that control erections, much as exercise benefits other arteries, such
as those that feed the heart. Thus, what happens to the penis may be an
early warning of what could happen to the heart, such as a heart attack.
Watching more than 20 hours of television each week, consumption of alcohol,
smoking and being overweight were associated with higher levels of ED, as
was having diabetes, previous stroke or taking antidepressants or beta-blockers.
The risk factors for ED were about the same as those for heart disease.
By avoiding the risk factors
for cardiovascular disease, men can help maintain better sexual function
and live longer. Erection begins with sensory or mental stimulation, or both. When a man becomes aroused through visual or physical stimulation the brain sends signals to the genital area that triggers the release of nitric oxide in the penis. This event is the catalyst that begins a chain of events leading to the erection. Nitric oxide in the penis activates the enzyme guanylate cyclase. This enzyme causes increased levels of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). When levels of cGMP are increased in the penis this causes a smooth muscle relaxation in the pelvis and corpora cavernosa and allows increased blood flow into the corpora cavernosa. As the corpora cavernosa fills with blood it begins to expand due to the pressure created by blood, making the penis expand. And as it expands the arteries that normally carry blood out of the penis become restricted and are unable to carry blood out faster than blood is coming in. The tunica albuginea helps trap the blood in the corpora cavernosa. With more blood coming in and less going out the corpora cavernosa continues to expand and harden, thus resulting in an erection. When muscles in the penis contract to stop the inflow of blood and open outflow channels, erection is reversed. To learn more about the mechanism of erection click here. In August 2003, the Food and Drug Administration has
approved Levitra (from the word levitate). Levitra is a new drug made by Bayer and
Glaxosmithkline that treats erectile dysfunction in men. When taken prior to sexual activity, Levitra helps
a man achieve stronger and longer lasting erections for sexual
intercourse. It contains vardenafil HCl, a drug in the same family as
Viagra, for erection. Levitra comes with the same warnings as Viagra.
It should not be taken by men who already take a nitrate-containing heart
medication or alpha blocker drugs for high blood pressure or enlarged
prostate. Men who've recently had a heart attack or stroke, men with very
low or uncontrolled high blood pressure, and men with the rare heart condition
called QT prolongation also should not take Levitra. The FDA suggests
that all men undergo a physical exam before starting on Levitra. The
main side effects in healthy men were headache, flushing, a stuffy nose
and, rarely, dizziness. One of the risk factors for cardiovascular disease is hostilility combined with depression. Mild to moderate levels of depression symptoms combined with feelings of hostility in healthy men may raise their levels of a protein that is associated with clogged arteries and a greater risk of heart attack, according to new research in Psychosomatic Medicine. Previous studies indicate that the protein, called IL-6, is at least a marker of inflammation, and may even be involved in the inflammatory processes that cause artery thickening and buildup. Contents Federal Government's
Message
Exercise and Longevity
Tastes Differ Western Food Comes Under Fire According to eminent cancer specialists, who gathered in Hyderabad City for a two-day international conference on cancer research and prevention, organised by Apollo Hospitals, dietary habits contribute to two-thirds of cancers. Food rich in fibre and anti-oxidants help prevent cancer. Indians should not mimic Western food habits as a change in dietary habits can lead to uncontrolled cellular growth leading to cancers, particularly of colon. Dr Vernon Steele of National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, USA, and world authority on basic cancer research, Dr Chitti R Moorthy, pioneer in cancer research protocols in the USA, Dr Bandaru S Reddy, international specialist on cancer prevention, Dr Vijay Anand P Reddy, director of Apollo Cancer Hospital, Dr Tripuraneni Prabhakar of the Creps, USA, told reporters that the incidence of cancer had increased in Japan after the people there changed their food habits from traditional to Western. Contents Timing of the Pregnancy
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Don't worry, omega-3 fatty acids
Eat Urad (Black gram or Mungo Beans
or Minumulu (Telugu))
efaeducation.nih.gov/sig/kim.html.
Recipes |
Daal Makhani A dish that features urad that contain omega-3 fats, see above. |
IDLI A dish that features urad that contain omega-3 fats, see above Idli ravva (cracked par-boiled rice) - 3 cups urad flour - 1 cup Prepare a batter of urad flour with water (the traditional method of preparing urad batter by soaking urad dal and par-boiled rice for several hours in water and grinding is the best method). Soak the idli rava in water for about 1 hour. Drain water from idli ravva, add to urad batter and mix thoroughly. Add salt and leave the idli mix aside to ferment for about 12 hours. Add some baking soda to the idli mix and mix. Take idli plates and place a drop of oil in each idli mould and spread it. Fill the idli moulds with the idli mix. Heat 2 cups of water in a large vessel or idli cooker and place the filled idli plates and cover with lid. Heat in high for about 20 minutes. Remove the plates from the vessel and remove the idlis. Pour 2 tsp of sesame or flax oil while serving. Side dishes - lentil-chili powder, coconut chutney, lentil chutney and.sambar. Coconut chutney Grated coconut - 1 cup; green chillies – 2; peanuts-1/4 cup, if you are not alergic; asafoetida - a pinch; Splatter with mustard seeds and urud dal. Fry the above in olive oil. Add salt to taste (~1/4 tsp). Add a pinch of tamarind, water and grind into a thick paste. Lentil-chili powder red chili powder- 1tsp; urad flour- 50 g; gram flour - 50 g; ground flax- 2 tsp or ground sesame seeds - 2 tsp; asafoetida - a pinch, if you like; salt to taste Mix and slightly heat in olive oil until the ingredients turn golden red in a fry pan. Lentil chutney As above. Add some water and make into a paste. Sambar Cut onions, raddish, potato, green peas, drumstick, hot green peppers, pearl onions, okra, eggplant, pumpkin, chowchow; 2 teaspoons of olive oil;1 tsp mustard seeds; 1 tsp urad dal; 1 tsp cumin seed; 15 red chillies (cut); 1/2 fenugreek seeds;1/4 tsp asafoetida; 1 tsp ground flax, 1 tsp curry powder; 1 ½ sambar powder; few curry leaves. Fry mustard, urad, cumin, fenugreek and red chillies until urad turns golden and the mustard splatters. Add asafoetida and add vegetables and fry slightly. Add 2 cups of water and allow it to boil. Add ~1 teaspoon salt, tamarind juice (amount vary to taste) and . Then add 1 cup boiled toor dal paste and heat until it mixes uniformly. Add ground flax seed, curry powder and sambar powder. Add curry leaves. The Telangana Science Journal |
Mixed Fruit Shake Ingredients: Directions:
Womenfitness.net
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Stewed Berries in Red Wine Sauce With Yoghurt Cream Ingredients: Directions:
Wheatgerm, honey and raisin muffins
Contents Ingredients: Directions:
Womenfitness.net |
Source: The primary
sources cited above, New York Times (NYT), Washington
Post (WP), Mercury News, Bayarea.com, Intellihealthnews,
Deccan Chronicle (DC), the Hindu, Hindustan Times, Times
of India, AP, Reuters, AFP, womenfitness.net etc.
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