One in five middle school students and one in three high school students do not eat breakfast.
Some public health and food industry initiatives to encourage children to eat breakfast, particularly cereal..
Scientists around the world examined 161 breakfast cereals from four leading manufacturers and compared nutritional values of children's and nonchildren's cereals to national guidelines.
They found that when comparing nutrients per gram, children's cereals were higher in calories, sodium, carbohydrate, and sugar, but significantly lower in fiber and protein.
They also found that the majority of children's cereals, 66 percent, failed to meet national recommended nutritional standards for foods sold in schools.
So now ,what do you think about cereal for breakfest ??
Source : http://emergencyroomblog.blogspot.com
Tuesday 15 July 2008
Cereal For Breakfest - Is It Healthy ??
Friday 11 July 2008
Body Piercing
Body piercing is an art of puncturing a part of human body, creating an opening in which jewellery may be worn.
People reflect their culture by this art.
It is in practice from ancient times.
Evidence shows that there were mummified bodies with Body piercing.
Ear piercing of either or both the ears were in practice among men in non western cultures.
Generally attitude of people towards piercing varies.
Some has an outlook of piercing as modern fashion, whereas some choose it as a form of sexual expression.
In India, nostril piercing is the most common among women.
Source : http://emergencyroomblog.blogspot.com
Sunday 22 June 2008
Harder For Women To Quit Dependence On Alcohol
In recent years, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of women who are drug-or alcohol-dependent. Not only is the risk of dependency increasing, but also "kicking the habit" is much more difficult for women. Today, about one third of all alcoholics are women, compared to less than 10 percent 30 years ago.
According to the National Institutes of Health, approximately 5.3 million women in the United States drink heavily enough to interfere with their health and well-being. These women are more likely to become victims of violence and can be violent themselves. Most live in dysfunctional families and are much more likely to be divorced, with children who have emotional problems and are at a high risk for alcohol or drug abuse.
Compared to men, women require much less alcohol for a shorter period of time to develop alcohol-related illnesses, such as severe liver disease, an irregular heart rate and heart failure (a condition called alcoholic cardiomyopathy). There is also increased risk of bleeding from the stomach and bowel, pancreatic disease, anemia and, perhaps most seriously, severe brain damage that can lead to loss of intellectual function.
In the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, researchers from the Washington University School of Medicine compared the prevalence of severe alcoholism in women in two national surveys completed a decade apart. The information was obtained from face-to-face U.S. Census Bureau surveys of 43,000 men and women conducted from 1991 to 1993 and from 2001 to 2003. Included in the survey were questions about alcoholism and factors indicating a loss of control with alcohol intake and difficulties stopping drinking.
In this survey, the prevalence of alcohol intake remained stable in men but increased by more than 50 percent in white and Hispanic women. No increase was noted in black women.
Alcoholism is a brain-based disease that leads to lifelong dependence on alcohol. It can be life-threatening. Missing work, drinking and driving, and continuing to drink despite conflicts with family or friends are serious warning signs. Alcoholism is characterized by a craving to drink, an inability to stop drinking and symptoms of withdrawal if alcohol becomes unavailable. This can manifest with confusion, nausea, throwing up, tremor and severe anxiety. For severely addicted women, withdrawal can be fatal.
There is increased risk of becoming an alcoholic if you have a strong family history of alcoholism, live with an alcoholic, are able to "hold your liquor," have a history of depression, or were physically or sexually abused as a child.
If you are concerned that a loved one may have a problem with alcohol, there are well-recognized screening tests for alcohol abuse. Common questions to ask: Have you ever felt a need to cut down on drinking? Have your family members or friends criticized your drinking habits? Have you felt guilty about drinking? Have you ever had a drink in the morning to calm your nerves or help a hangover? Do you wake up in the morning with no memory of the previous night?
Anyone who answers yes to one or more of the following questions almost certainly has a problem.
Sadly, for men and women, alcohol abuse usually begins at a very young age. However, it is possible that the complications of alcohol abuse may not surface until later in life. Many women continue to drink throughout their lives, only to develop problems in their late 60s and beyond. Alcohol abuse in later life is particularly dangerous because alcohol may aggravate or precipitate memory loss and cause insomnia, depression and an increased risk of falls.
Remember, alcoholism is a disease. If you are a true alcoholic, it is virtually impossible to stop drinking without serious help or intervention. For those who become dependent, the success rate of treatment is poor. If you or someone you love has a problem with alcohol, please seek help. Consider an inpatient or outpatient treatment center and contact your local Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) chapter. Intensive treatment provides the greatest opportunity to live an alcohol-free life while suffering from a very serious disease. Indeed, it is "one day at a time."
Thursday 19 June 2008
Tips To Maintain Good Oral Health
Good oral health involves more than just brushing. To keep your teeth and mouth healthy for a lifetime of use, you use these tips:
1. Understand your own oral health needs.
Talk with your dentist, other oral health care specialist, or hygienist about any special conditions in your mouth and any ways in which your medical/health conditions affect your teeth or oral health.
Get professional cleaning done at least once a year.
2. Develop, then follow, a daily oral health routine.
Take care of your teeth and gums by thorough tooth brushing and flossing.
3. Use fluoride.
Fluoride strengthens developing teeth in children and prevents tooth decay in both children and adults. Toothpastes and mouth rinses contain fluoride. Drink fluoridated water.
4. Brush and floss daily.
Brush your teeth at least twice a day (morning and before bed time) and floss at least once a day.
5. Eat a balanced diet and limit snacking.
Eat wisely. Avoiding sugars and starches when snacking applies to adults as well as children. Minimize snacking and have a five-a-day helping of fiber-rich fruits and vegetables
Avoid tobacco. In addition to general health risks, smokers have 7 times the risk of developing gum disease compared to non-smokers.
Limit alcohol. Heavy use of alcohol is a risk factor for poor oral and general health.
6. Examine your mouth regularly
Look for the development of any spots, lesions, cuts, swellings or growths on your gums, tongue, cheeks, inside of your lips, and floor and roof of your mouth. Examine your teeth for any signs of chipping or cracking, discoloration and looseness.
source : http://el-shefaa.blogspot.com
Monday 16 June 2008
Acne during Pregnancy
Acne during pregnancy is a common problem among women. Pregnant women, especially those in their first trimester of pregnancy, are prone to skin outbreaks. Hormones play a huge role in this occurrence. Even women gifted with clear skin all their life may suffer from acne outbreaks during the first three months of pregnancy. The good thing is, the skin usually clears up as the pregnancy advances towards the second and third trimesters.
Pregnancy AcneAcne during pregnancy cannot be treated the same way as acne occurring in non-pregnant individuals. A doctor should always be consulted because a lot of oral medications can cause harm to the fetus. Topical creams or ointments such as Benzoyl Peroxide and Azelaic Acid are generally safe to apply on the skin of pregnant women. Tetracycline and topical retinoids however should completely be avoided as these have harmful effects.
For severe acne problems, some doctors may prescribe oral erythromycin. It is always best to seek the advice of the doctor prior to using any topical ointments or skin medications. Taking medications during pregnancy is usually associated with serious risks to the fetus. Herbal medicines should likewise be avoided and should be consulted to the physician.
Acne during pregnancy can be caused by higher levels of androgen hormone which triggers the oil glands of the skin to get bigger and to produce more oily substance called sebum. Excessive oil and the shed skin cells lining the hair follicles blocks the skin pores and makes skin susceptible to bacteria. This can lead to inflamed skin and acne outbreak.
Conservative and safer mode of treatment includes hydrating the skin by drinking at least 6 glasses of water per day. Washing the face with lukewarm water and gentle facial soap is also helpful. Make sure to pat the face dry. Do not rub the towel on the delicate skin surface. Never scrub the face as this can cause abrasive injuries to the already inflamed skin.
Acne during pregnancy can be managed well by using mild moisturizers that are oil-free. Choice of make-up should be oil-free as well and it is best to make sure that the products used are labeled noncomedogenic and will not clog pores.
souerce : http://hidup-sehat.blogspot.com
Calcium linked to heart attacks in women
A new study casts a shadow on calcium, the essential mineral known to help keep bones strong, hearts healthy and blood pressure controlled.
New Zealand researchers report in the journal BMJ that otherwise-healthy, postmenopausal women who took calcium supplements were about twice as likely to suffer a heart attack as those who skipped the supplements.
That finding is surprising, because previous research has shown that calcium helps improve the ratio of healthy to unhealthy cholesterol by as much as 20 percent. Such changes are linked with a 20 percent to 30 percent reduction in so-called vascular events, including heart attacks. Other research with both calcium and vitamin D shows improvements in overall mortality among those who take the supplements.
So what accounts for the increased heart attacks?
"I don't know what to make of it," says Robert P. Heaney, a professor of medicine at Creighton University in Nebraska, who has conducted numerous calcium studies. "I think we just have to say that the jury is out."
Heaney noted that there is a large body of information showing calcium's benefits: "I don't expect that to go away."
Heaney has agreed to collaborate with New Zealand researcher Ian Reid to try to figure out why women who took calcium supplements in the study had an increased risk of heart attacks. "We will see," he said, "if the findings pan out."
source : http://hidup-sehat.blogspot.com
Children living near busy roads have greater asthma and eczema risk
Children who live within 50 yards of a busy road are more likely to develop asthma, eczema and hay fever, a major new study has shown.
Researchers have found a strong link between exposure to traffic fumes in the first few years of life and a host of childhood allergies.
They say youngsters living alongside the busiest roads are 50 per cent more likely to be susceptible to allergies than those living in quieter streets.
The study suggests that Britain's allergy epidemic could be partly caused by the steep rise in cars and lorries on British roads in the last few decades.
The number of people with allergies has trebled in the last 20 years. One in three people now suffer at some point in their lives.
The rise has been blamed on the modern obsession with hygiene and children's indoor lifestyles. Doctors say exposure to dirt is essential for a healthy immune system.
But the new German study suggests that the rise of traffic pollution is also playing a role.
Scientists tested nearly 2,900 children at the age of four and more than 3,000 aged six for asthma, wheezing, eczema and sneezing.
Their parents were asked about their health and their exposure to traffic pollutants was calculated by looking at the distance of their homes to major roads at birth, and aged two, three and six years of age.
The scientists also tested the children at six for food allergies, and took air samples around the youngster's homes.
After taking into account the parent's own history of allergies, the number of pets in the home and the number of brothers and sisters - all factors which can cause allergies - they found a strong link between the distance to the nearest major road and hay fever, eczema and bronchitis brought on by asthma.
Children living closest to heavy traffic were 50 per cent more likely to be susceptible to allergies than those living a long way away, they report in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
Dr Joachim Heinrich, who led the study at the Institute of Epidemiology, Munich, said:
"We consistently found strong associations between the distance tot he nearest main road and the allergic disease outcomes," Dr Heinrich wrote in the
"Children living closer than 50 meters to a busy street had the highest probability of getting allergic symptoms, compared to children living further away."
The study is particularly powerful because it is prospective - selecting a group of children first before seeing how the environment goes on to affect their health.
Retrospective studies, which take a sample of children and look back in time to see what could have caused their conditions, are more open to bias.
Past studies have found a link between traffic fumes and allergies. However the studies were was confused by other factors. In many cities, for instance, people who live next to major roads tend to be poorer.
The Germans say their study is different because in Munich just as many wealthy families as poor ones live near busy roads.
Many doctors believe that traffic fumes do not just trigger allergic reactions, they cause underlying allergies.
Busy roads release a wide range of pollutants - from dust and tyre particles, to microscopic particles called PM10s from diesel engines which could damage the body's immune system, increasing risks of allergies. Diesel fumes can also cause harmful changes to blood vessels and damage lungs.
"Children living very close to a major road are likely to be exposed not only to a higher amount of traffic-derived particles and gases, but also to a more freshly emitted aerosols which may be more toxic," said Dr Heinrich.
"Our findings provide strong evidence for traffic related air pollutants on atopic diseases as well as on allergic sensitisation."
The rise in allergies in the West is usually linked to the "hygiene hypothesis" - the idea that the body's immune system over-reacts to pollen, dust and traffic fumes because we are all raised in homes that are too clean.
Doctors say that babies' immune systems need dirt, animal hairs and dust to develop healthily.
source : www.dailymail.co.uk
