Best Weight-Loss Advice in 2011

Studies show a direct link between vitamin D deficiency and obesity. Although it is not fully known why, people with a deficiency in this vitamin tend to have much more body fat than those who are not deficient.
Due to digestion difficulties, many people are unable to absorb vitamin D. This deficiency is causing increased risk of death from heart disease, loss of memory in older people, severe asthma in children and cancer. It is possible that vitamin D can help prevent or treat types 1 and 2 diabetes, glucose intolerance and multiple sclerosis.

After eating a meal, drinking four to six ounces of dark wine - a blackberry Merlot is excellent - helps the body digest the meal, break down the foods so the body can absorb the nutrients and helps speed the waste on its way out of the body. Wine cuts the risk of heart attack, heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes,slows the decline of cognitive function and colon cancer by 45 percent.

Pair the vitamin D3 supplement - have a blood test done to determine how many units your body will need - with the wine. It is possible to lose five pounds a week until ultimate body weight is achieved.

Adding a fresh apple to the diet could add another pound or two of weight lost when eaten daily.

Bottom line: Get tested for vitamin D deficiency. Take a supplement of 2,00 to 8,000 units daily. Drink four to six ounces of Wine after lunch  (where permitted ) and after dinner. Make an Apple part of the daily lunch or afternoon snack.

via @examiner.com

LINKS:

Obesity Linked to Lower Vitamin D Levels http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/news/20101217/obesity-linked-lower-vitamin-d-levels

Clear association between obesity and vitamin D deficiency  http://www.physorg.com/news195411310.html

#Eyes: A Window Into Your Health

Eyes can be very helpful when it comes to diagnosing an illness. Sometimes the most simple change in your eyes can signify that you may be sick.  Read below to find out more about how your eyes can be a window into your health.

Kutztown University's Department of Philosophy hosted Dr. Noam Chomsky, world-renowned philosopher, political activist and linguist, as part of UNESCO World Philosophy Day on Nov. 21, 2011.

   The World Philosophy Day 2011 took place on 17 November at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.

Within the framework of the celebration of this event, and in cooperation with academic institutions, civil society actors and other partners in the philosophical world, UNESCO provided philosophers, researchers, teachers and students as well as the general public with a wide variety of conferences on various subjects, such as the equitable sharing of scientific benefits, philosophical meanings of the political upheaval in the Arab world, the role and the place of women philosophers in the exercise of thinking, philosophical practices with children, philosophy and equal opportunities at school.

International Anti-Corruption Day - 9 December

         Fighting corruption is a global concern because corruption is found in both rich and poor countries, and evidence shows that it hurts poor people disproportionately. It contributes to instability, poverty and is a dominant factor driving fragile countries towards state failure.
        Governments, the private sector, non-governmental organizations, the media and citizens around the world are joining forces to fight this crime. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) are at the forefront of these efforts.
        The 2011 joint international campaign focuses on how corruption hinders efforts to achieve the internationally agreed upon MDGs, undermines democracy and the rule of law, leads to human rights violations, distorts markets, erodes quality of life and allows organized crime, terrorism and other threats to human security to flourish.

"On this International Anti-Corruption Day, let us pledge to do our part by cracking down on corruption, shaming those who practice it and engendering a culture that values ethical behaviour."

                                                                                                      Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
                                                                                          Message on International Anti-Corruption Day

What Can You Do?

ACT against corruption!

People often think that corruption is "just a way of life", but every society, sector and individual would benefit from saying "NO" to this crime.

http://www.unodc.org/yournocounts/en/index.html

December 2011- Health Observations and Events

December 2011 Health Current Events - Weeks

Event	Date	Nation	Organisation
THIS WEEKNational Aplastic Anemia and MDS Awareness Week	1st Dec - 7th Dec	United States	AA & MDSIF

National Hand Washing Awareness Week                                                4th Dec−10th Dec

December 2011 Health Events - Days

Event	Date	Nation	Organization
World Aids Day	1st Dec	Worldwide	World Aids Day
International Day Of Disabled Persons	3rd Dec	Worldwide	United Nations

Int'l Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women

       In 1999, the UN General Assembly designated 25 November as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Violence against women and girls is a problem of pandemic proportions. At least one out of every three women around the world has been beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime - with the abuser usually someone known to her.
     Women's activists have marked 25 November as a day against violence since 1981. The date commemorates the brutal assassination of the three Mirabal sisters, political activists in the Dominican Republic, in 1960 on orders of Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo (1930-1961).

    Governments, international organizations and NGOs are invited to organize activities on the day to raise public awareness of the problem. The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women also launches the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence, which runs through 10 December, Human Rights Day.

Raising Awareness of Skin Cancer / Melanoma

BRIEF OVERVIEW :

Skin cancer -MELANOMA

Melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer. It is the leading cause of death from skin disease.

Melanoma can also involve the colored part of the eye (iris melanoma).
See also:

• Basal cell skin cancer
• Squamous cell skin cancer

Melanoma is caused by changes in cells called melanocytes, which produce a skin pigment called melanin. Melanin is responsible for skin and hair color. It can appear on normal skin, or it may begin as a mole or other area that has changed in appearance. Some moles that are present at birth may develop into melanomas.
The risk of developing melanoma increases with age. However, it is also frequently seen in young people.
You are more likely to develop melanoma if you:

• Have fair skin, blue or green eyes, or red or blond hair
• Live in sunny climates or at high altitudes
• Spent a lot of time in high levels of strong sunlight, because of a job or other activities
• Have had one or more blistering sunburns during childhood
• Use tanning devices

Other risk factors include:

Yes You Can Eat Healthy on a Budget

When you’re on a tight budget, the thought of preparing tasty, healthy meals on a regular basis can seem daunting. Not only is it easy to get sucked in by grocery merchandising tricks, but it’s also normal for most of us to fall into a mealtime rut, eating the same foods over and over. But you’re in control of your kitchen—and if you cook smart, you can enjoy the first-class meals you deserve.

 

Before you even walk out the door, sit down, write out a list, and stick to it. Shop once a week, and cut out coupons from the paper (skip those for processed foods that are expensive, even with the coupon!)

Money-saving fundamentals:

• Don’t go shopping on an empty stomach! Make sure you shop after a meal, or after a light snack to help resist temptation.
• Shop the perimeter (outside) of the store first. That’s where all of the healthier choices usually are; you’ll avoid all the more processed, costly items.
• Look for sales on fresh fruits and vegetables — stores get a bargain sometimes, and pass that savings on to you
• Choose a large bag of fruit (like apples or pears), instead of the single, large fruits priced per pound.

Buy generic: Generic brands can provide a great savings when shopping and are often labeled as the store’s brands. The nutritional value of the food is the same, whether it’s canned, frozen, or bagged foods.

Project MK-ULTRA - C.I.A 'Mind Control' human experimentation

Project MKULTRA, or MK-ULTRA, was the code name for a covert, illegal CIA human experimentation program, run by the CIA's Office of Scientific Intelligence. This official U.S. government program began in the early 1950s, continuing at least through the late 1960s, and it used U.S. and Canadian citizens as its test subjects.
The published evidence indicates that Project MKULTRA involved the use of many methodologies to manipulate individual mental states and alter brain functions, including the surreptitious administration of drugs and other chemicals, hypnosis, sensory deprivation, isolation, verbal and sexual abuse, as well as various forms of torture.

Project MKULTRA was first brought to wide public attention in 1975 by the U.S. Congress, through investigations by the Church Committee, and by a presidential commission known as the Rockefeller Commission. Investigative efforts were hampered by the fact that CIA Director Richard Helms ordered all MKULTRA files destroyed in 1973; the Church Committee and Rockefeller Commission investigations relied on the sworn testimony of direct participants and on the relatively small number of documents that survived Helms' destruction order.

November 2011- Health Observations and Events

Awareness Event	Coverage	Related Organization
Muscular Dystrophy Awareness Month	Australia	Muscular Dystrophy Australia
Crohn's and Colitis Awareness Month	Canada	Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of Canada
Amaryllis Month	Canada	Huntington Society of Canada
Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation Awareness (CPR) Month	Canada	Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
Diabetes Awareness Month	Canada	Canadian Diabetes Association
Hemophilia Awareness Month	Canada	Canadian Hemophilla Society
Osteoporosis Month	Canada	Osteoporosis Canada
National Marrow Awareness Month	United States	National Marrow Donor Program
National Hospice Month	United States	The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
Diabetic Eye Disease Month	United States	Prevent Blindness America
National Healthy Skin Month	United States	American Academy of Dermatology
Prematurity Awareness Month	United States	March of Dimes
National Epilepsy Month	United States	Epilepsy Foundation
American Diabetes Month	United States	American Diabetes Association
Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month	United States	Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month	United States	Alzheimer's Association
Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness Month	United States	Pulmonary Hypertension Association
Lung Cancer Awareness Month	Worldwide	Macmillan Cancer Support

November 2011 Health Current Events - Weeks

Event	Date	Nation	Organisation
Scleroderma Awareness Week	3rd Nov - 9th Nov	United Kingdom	Raynauds & Scleroderma Association
Mouth Cancer Awareness Week	11th Nov - 17th Nov	United Kingdom	Mouth Cancer
GERD Awareness Week	18th Nov - 24th Nov	Worldwide	IFFGD
Diabetes Awareness Week	18th Nov - 24th Nov	New Zealand	Diabetes New Zealand

November 2011 Health Events - Days

Event	Date	Nation	Organization
World Diabetes Day	14th Nov	Worldwide	World Diabetes Day
Great American Smokeout Day	20th Nov	United States	American Cancer Society

[Infographic] The Stats about Pharmaceutical Companies

How Youth Drive Change - UNESCO Youth Forum 2011

          Today’s youth are raising their voices to shape the present and futures of their countries. They want to be heard, to be included in decision-making debates and to make change. Student engagement, social innovation, fostering democracy, youth employment, conflict and sustainable development are among the issues that will be discussed on the floor of the 7th UNESCO Youth Forum. 

• Young  people in the world: So different and so alike, Monique Coleman
• Mobile revolution, Gigi Ibrahim
• Spring of outrage, Alfredo Trujillo Fernandez
• Miracle Weapons, Serge Amisi
• When poetry is louder than a bomb,Nate Marshall
• Moonlight stars, Carol Natukunda
• A young sughar, Noshan Abbas
• Rebels with a cause, Jens Lubbadeh
• Prescriptions for a sick planet, Zhao Ying
• Green architecture, Carlos Bartesaghi Koc

Held from 17 to 20 October 2011 in UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, the Forum brings together youth delegates, civil society participants, UN entities, intergovernmental organizations, academics and the private sector. Participants will discuss, debate, and exchange ideas on the Forum’s timely themes and have the opportunity to present their recommendations to the representatives of Member States during the 36th UNESCO General Conference. 

Marijuana replaces Ritalin treatment in Children and Adolescents with ADD/ADHD

Brief Overview 
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is also known as hyperactivity or attention deficit disorder (ADD). ADHD is a common condition that affects children and adolescents, while ADD is more common in adults.
        The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) estimates that 3% to 5% of children have ADHD. Some experts, though, say ADHD may occurs in 8% to 10% of school age children. Experts also question whether kids really outgrow ADHD. What that means is that this disorder may be more common in adults than previously thought.

       Children with ADHD generally have problems paying attention or concentrating. They can't seem to follow directions and are easily bored or frustrated with tasks. They also tend to move constantly and are impulsive, not stopping to think before they act. These behaviors are generally common in children. But they occur more often than usual and are more severe in a child with ADHD.

How to Turn your iPhone into a Microscope

       CellScope is a UC Berkeley project designed to enable microscopic image captures from a cell phone’s camera. At first it might sound like a pointlessly geeky project to do microscopy on a cell phone, but in fact it has important applications for mobile health services in remote areas. In some areas of sub-Saharan Africa and other developing areas of the world, access to health care of any kind is scarce, and it often falls upon poorly-equipped doctors or volunteers to take up the slack.

Since health care equipment is generally expensive to begin with, outfitting even a low-power microscope with a wireless transmitter capable of communicating with doctors at a remote location could easily run into the thousands of dollars. Not only that, but the equipment itself would likely be bulky, temperamental, and easily damaged. That's where CellScope comes in. Via an attachment, CellScope can turn a standard cell phone camera into a 5x to 50x microscope, essentially creating a miniaturized blood lab that can capture images and transmit them far more cheaply than traditional equipment.

2011 Recommended Immunizations for Children from Birth Through 6 Years Old

Vaccine-Preventable Diseases and the Vaccines that Prevent Them

The Blue Zones and The Secret of Longevity

        Dan Buettner is the team leader of  "The Blue Zones" which is a longevity research project funded by National Geographic. They are studying human longevity in various cultures around the world. In his book "The Blue Zones", Dan Buettner outlines the healthy habits, the longevity diets and the cultural and familial values that each longevity society upholds.
The name for the project was coined after Dan's team happened to be using a blue marker to circle areas with high rates of human longevity on a map. A blue zone is specifically a geographical region somewhere in the world that has exceptionally high rates of longevity. For example, Okinawan longevity is the best in the world, per capita. One in 2,000 Okinawans can expect to make it past 100, whereas the average American has a 1 in 100,000 chance (according to statistics from 1990).

Latisse - the new treatment promises to enhance the length, thickness and shade of Eyelashes

        The solution, manufactured by American pharmaceutical giant Allergen - which also makes Botox, must be applied daily during the period of the treatment, claims to double the thickness of the lashes as well as making them 18 % darker and 25 % longer. Having applied the lotion for four months, women can even reduce the dose by half to maintain the lashes' thickness and length and if they stop the treatment altogether, the lash will revert to its thinner, shorter original condition.

Since its launch, Latisse, which was originally targeted at middle-aged women with thinning lashes, has sold more than 2.5 million bottles.

Warnings about the safety of Codeine, Oxycodone and Acetaminophen in breastfeeding mothers

          Doctors have been prescribing Codeine for postpartum pain management for many years, and, until recently, it was considered safe to breastfeed while taking the opioid. But the death of an infant exposed to Codeine through breast-milk has many health care providers questioning the safety of the drug when used by breastfeeding mothers. Because of the potential risks, some doctors have begun the practice of prescribing Oxycodone as an alternative to Codeine; however, a new study soon to be published in The Journal of Pediatrics finds that oxycodone is no safer for breastfed infants than codeine.The levels of Oxycodone in breast milk strongly correlated with plasma levels, suggesting that Oxycodone persisted in the breast milk of some mothers. Therefore, it is important to address the neonatal safety of Oxycodone during breastfeeding.

The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet (Sweden) has today decided the winners of the The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2011

       The 2011 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to Bruce A. Beutler, Jules A. Hoffmann and Ralph M. Steinman.
       Beutler and Hoffmann were honoured for "their discoveries concerning the activation of innate immunity", while the other half of the prize was given to Steinman for "his discovery of the dendritic cell and its role in adaptive immunity".

From fundamental research to medical use

The discoveries that are awarded the 2011 Nobel Prize have provided novel insights into the activation and regulation of our immune system. They have made possible the development of new methods for preventing and treating disease, for instance with improved vaccines against infections and in attempts to stimulate the immune system to attack tumors. These discoveries also help us understand why the immune system can attack our own tissues, thus providing clues for novel treatment of inflammatory diseases.

Healthy Pumpkin Pudding - Grab your go-to dessert recipe for fall

What's your favorite pumpkin treat - or your fave got-to dessert recipe this time of year??

This sweet treat of Pumpkin Pudding is a creamy blend of fall spices, maple syrup and cozy pumpkin. Pumpkin pie flavors of nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger are swirled into each spoonful.

This is my go-to dessert recipe for fall because it is so simple to prepare in a flash. As easy to make as a smoothie. Yet elegant enough to serve at a fall dinner party. And even better, it's totally good for you! Healthy enough to eat any time of the day - from a quick breakfast to a midnight snack. 5 ingredients, 5 minutes no-cooking required. Blend, chill, serve..

October 2011- Health Observations and Events

October 2011 Health Current Events - Months

Awareness Event	Coverage	Related Organization
National Bandanna Day	Australia	CanTeen
SIDS Awareness Month	Canada	Canadian Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths
Autism Awareness Month	Canada	Autism Society Canada
Eye Health Month	Canada	Canadian Association of Optometrists
Breast Cancer Awareness Month	Canada	Canadian Cancer Society
Breast Cancer Awareness Month	United Kingdom	Breast Cancer Care
National Liver Awareness Month	United States	American Liver Foundation
Celiac Awareness Month	United States	Celiac Sprue Association
Lung Health Day	United States	American Association for Respiratory Care
Healthy Lung Month	United States	American Lung Association
National Orthodontic Health Month	United States	American Association of Orthodontists
National Down Syndrome Awareness Month	United States	National Down Syndrome Society
National Spina Bifida Awareness Month	United States	Spina Bifida Association
Lupus Awareness Month	Worldwide	Lupus UK
Rett Syndrome Awareness Month	Worldwide	International Rett Syndrome Foundation

October 2011 Health Current Events - Weeks

Urbanization and Cardiovascular Disease: Raising Heart-Healthy Children in Today’s Cities

WORLD HEART FEDERATION CALLS FOR URGENT ACTION TO PROTECT CHILDREN’S HEART HEALTH IN WORLD’S MOST POPULOUS CITIES

New S.P.A.C.E strategy to address threat to the cardiovascular health of the world’s urban children

Geneva, 29 September 2011 – On World Heart Day, the World Heart Federation calls for a new approach to make cities heart healthier for the children who live in them. The call to action follows research commissioned by them which shows that increasing urbanization threatens the current and future heart health of children.


The research results are presented in a new report entitled, Urbanization and Cardiovascular Disease: Raising Heart-Healthy Children in Today’s Cities. The report summary – made available today – shows how urban life in low- and middle-income countries – often imposes limitations on the ways in which children live, and restricts opportunities for heart-healthy behaviours. In large cities across the globe, urban living actually facilitates unhealthy behaviour in children, including: physical inactivity, eating unhealthy foods, and even tobacco use by children as young as two. Crowded city living environments can also spread diseases such as rheumatic fever, which if left untreated, can cause rheumatic heart disease.

The report notes that children are particularly at risk of the negative health effects of city life, since they are most dependent on and affected by their living environment. Since urbanization is continuing to occur rapidly worldwide, urgent action is needed to prevent an “epidemic” of cardiovascular disease (CVD) including heart attacks and stroke.

Breast Cancer iPhone App Enlists Hunky Men to Remind Women About Self-Examination

A breast cancer app for iPhone, as well as Android, in which hunky men remind women to self-examine will be available in October, which is National Breast Cancer Awareness month.

The Canadian charity Rethink Breast Cancer (RBC) has come up with an app called "Your Man Reminder."
Women can choose from six stereotypical male hunks, including the Boy Next Door, the Sports Jock, and the Business Man. A woman's hunk will pop up on her smartphone on a regular basis and remind her to do a self-exam. He will also offer her words of encouragement, such as "Give your breasts some TLC." TLC is breast awareness code for the words touch, look and check. Women can even choose the pose they want their man to make. The app will also offer scheduling options for doctors' appointments and a "signs and symptoms" tab, among other conveniences.

Daltonism/ Color Blindness Tests

       
          Color blindness or color vision deficiency is the inability or decreased ability to see color, or perceive color differences, under lighting conditions when color vision is not normally impaired. "Color blind" is a term of art; there is no actual blindness but there is a fault in the development of either or both sets of retinal cones that perceive color in light and transmit that information to the optic nerve. The gene that causes color blindness is carried on the X chromosome, making the handicap far more common among men (who have just one X chromosome) than among women (who have two, so must inherit the gene from both parents).
The symptoms of color blindness also can be produced by physical or chemical damage to the eye, optic nerve, or the brain generally. These are not true color blindness, however, but they represent conditions of limited actual blindness. Similarly, a person with achromatopsia, although unable to see colors, is not "color blind" per se but they suffer from a completely different disorder, of which atypical color deficiency is only one manifestation.

Click HERE  to take the Test 

23% of Global Population Never Uses the Internet for Health Info

@Mashable‘s Social Good Summit is in full swing. David Armano, Edelman Digital’s EVP of Global Innovation and Integration spoke Monday about how digital innovation is impacting global health.
Edelman surveyed more than 15,165 people to create a global confidence index: how healthy different countries believe they are. While most values seem high, the survey shows how cultural views of health can skew responses. In India, Armano said, percentage is high because good health is measured just by access to clean water. Japan’s percentage might be low, despite its record of long life-expectancy, due to the recent earthquake, tsunami and ensuing crises.
But Edelman took the survey one step further, comparing these values to how people keep up their health and how they use the Internet. The results help illustrate the growing connection between global health and digital tools. The goal is to help improve the behavioral shifts, to leverage technology and to improve health.
Have a look at Edelman’s graphic below and compare it to the Digital Engagement just below it.

                                                                  Click for larger view

List of Awareness Ribbons

        Awareness ribbons, due to their ubiquitous nature, have come to symbolize various concerns depending on the colors or the patterns used.
        Yellow ribbons, in the United States, are used to show that a close family member is abroad in military service. In Russia, Belarus and other countries of the former USSR gold and black striped ribbons are used to celebrate the Allies' victory in World War II (9 May).
Of the uses of ribbons to draw awareness to health issues, perhaps the most well-known is the red ribbon for support of those with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Other health and social concerns which have adopted coloured ribbons include Alzheimer's disease (purple), Breast Cancer (pink), bipolar disorder (green), and brain disorder or disability (silver).
Political use of ribbons include red ribbons worn to commemorate the October Revolution (7 November) in the former Soviet Union, and orange ribbons in the Orange Revolution in Ukraine.
 Other ornaments, including flowers (of specific kinds), bracelets and badges may serve essentially the same purpose of drawing attention to a cause. These include poppies, rosettes and wristbands.

        This is a list of awareness ribbons. The meaning behind the awareness ribbon depends on its color or colors. Many groups have adopted ribbons as symbols of support or awareness, and as a result, many causes often share each color. Some causes may also be represented by more than one color.

Colors and meanings

Ribbon	Color	Meanings
	Pearl, white, or clear ribbon	Lung Cancer awareness. Originally clear, referencing air and being too-often unnoticed, but evolved to primarily pearl or white for practical reasons. Some sources suggest clear or white as a subset of pearl for long-term-non-smoker/never-smoker lung cancer, but there's no evidence of lung cancer organization support for this distinction. Some lung cancer organizations use different colors or symbols.
	White ribbon	Multiple Hereditary Exostoses Gay-Teen Suicide Awareness White Ribbon Campaign (what makes a man a man): Working to end violence against women (see also Woman's Christian Temperance Union) The White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood: to ensure that pregnancy and childbirth are safe for all women and newborns in every country around the world (see also Woman's Christian Temperance Union) The White Ribbon is used to raise awareness for Severe Combined Immune Deficiency Disease (SCID) and SCID Newborn Screening Invisible Illness

September 2011 Health Observances

Awareness Event	Coverage	Related Organization
Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month	Canada	National Ovarian Cancer Association
Arthritis Awareness Month	Canada	Arthritis Society
Muscular Dystrophy Month	Canada	Muscular Dystrophy Canada
Sickle Cell Awareness Month	United Kingdom	Sickle Cell Society
National Sickle Cell Month	United States	Sickle Cell Disease Association of America
Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month	United States	National Ovarian Cancer Coalition
National Cholesterol Education Month	United States	NHLBI
Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month	United States	Women's Cancer Network
Reye's Syndrome Awareness Week	United States	National Reye's Syndrome Foundation
Children's Eye Health and Safety Month	United States	Prevent Blindness America
National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month	United States	Recovery Month
Leukemia and Lymphoma Awareness Month	Worldwide	The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

September 2011 Health Current Events - Weeks

Event	Date	Nation	Organisation
National Asthma Week	1st Sep - 7th Sep	Australia	The Asthma Foundation of Victoria
Suicide Prevention Week	2nd Sep - 8th Sep	United States	American Association of Suicidology
Migraine Awareness Week	6th Sep - 12th Sep	United Kingdom	Migraine Action Association
National Stroke Week	15th Sep - 21st Sep	Australia	Stroke Foundation
National Eczema Week	17th Sep - 21st Sep	United Kingdom	The National Eczema Society

September 2011 Health Events - Days

Event	Date	Nation	Organization
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) Awareness Day	9th Sep	Worldwide	FAS Day
Suicide Prevention Day	10th Sep	Worldwide	World Health Organization
Worldwide Lymphoma Awareness Day	15th Sep	Worldwide	Lymphoma Coalition
World Alzheimer's Day	21st Sep	Worldwide	Alzheimer's Disease International
Ataxia Awareness Day	25th Sep	Worldwide	Ataxia Awareness
World Heart Day	28th Sep	Worldwide	World Heart Federation

Harmful Interactions: Mixing Alcohol with Medicines

You’ve probably seen this warning on medicines you’ve taken. The danger is real. Mixing alcohol with certain medications can cause nausea and vomiting, headaches, drowsiness, fainting, or loss of coordination.

It also can put you at risk for internal bleeding, heart problems, and difficulties in breathing. In addition to these dangers, alcohol can make a medication less effective or even useless, or it may make the medication harmful or toxic to your body.

Some medicines that you might never have suspected can react with alcohol, including many medications which can be purchased “over-the-counter”—that is, without a prescription. Even some herbal remedies can have harmful effects when combined with alcohol.

This pamphlet lists medications that can cause harm when taken with alcohol and describes the effects that can result. The list gives the brand name by which each medicine is commonly known (for example, Benadryl®) and its generic name or active ingredient (in Benadryl®, this is diphenhydramine). The list presented here does not include all the medicines that may interact harmfully with alcohol. Most important, the list does not include all the ingredients in every medication.

Medications are safe and effective when used appropriately. Your pharmacist or other health care provider can help you determine which medications interact harmfully with alcohol.

Vandals Attack Canadian Salon Over Battered-Woman Ad

       The owners of a hair salon in Canada have received death threats following an ad campaign featuring battered women, with a promise of making them look good again.
      The Daily Mail reports that Fluid Hair in Edmonton has been vandalized, as people are outraged that it would dare to use domestic violence to advertise its services.
Graffiti was found Thursday morning (Aug 25th  )on the back entrance of the Fluid hair salon. Lavender paint was splashed across the door. A message stenciled on paper and pasted to two back windows read, "This is art that is wrongly named violence, that was violence that was wrongly named art." The two sections were connected by a hot-pink arrow.
       The salon came under fire this week over an ad from February depicting a woman, elegantly dressed, sitting on a couch with a black eye. A man stands behind her holding a necklace. The ad's slogan reads, "Look good in all you do."

The Benefits of Flax Seeds

Flax (also known as common flax or linseed) (binomial name: Linum usitatissimum)  is native to the region extending from the eastern Mediterranean to India and was extensively cultivated in ancient Ethiopia and ancient Egypt.
Some call it one of the most powerful plant foods on the planet. There’s some evidence it may help reduce your risk of heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes. 

Uses

Flax is grown both for its seeds and for its fibers. Various parts of the plant have been used to make fabric, dye, paper, medicines, fishing nets, hair gels, and soap. Flax seed is the source of linseed oil, which has uses as an edible oil, as a nutritional supplement and as an ingredient in many wood finishing products. It is also grown as an ornamental plant in gardens.

Flax seed

Flax seeds come in two basic varieties: (1) brown; and (2) yellow or golden. Most types have similar nutritional characteristics and equal amounts of short-chain omega-3 fatty acids. The exception is a type of yellow flax called solin (trade name Linola), which has a completely different oil profile and is very low in omega-3 FAs. Although brown flax can be consumed as readily as yellow, and has been for thousands of years, it is better known as an ingredient in paints, fiber and cattle feed. Flax seeds produce a vegetable oil known as flaxseed or linseed oil, which is one of the oldest commercial oils, and solvent-processed flax seed oil has been used for centuries as a drying oil in painting and varnishing.

Listerine Linked to an Increased Risk of Oral Cancer

Using Mouthwash Could Increase Risk of Cancer by Nine Times, claim Scientists

                  Studies have linked the high alcohol content of some mouthwashes to oral cancer. Now Oral Cancer Prevention International (OCPI), a New York company, has filed a law suit in New Jersey claiming that Johnson & Johnson, one of the world’s biggest companies, interfered with a distribution contract it had for the test as it did not want to lend credence to the link between mouthwash and the disease.

       According to the lawsuit, in February 2010 OCPI signed a contract with a company called OraPharma – which was then a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson – to distribute its cancer test, called the Oral CDx Brush Test. The test is designed to identify pre-cancerous cells in people’s mouths.

However OCPI alleges that Johnson & Johnson grew “extremely concerned about the implications” of an Australian study that linked mouthwashes to cancer.

       OCPI said that the multi-national did not want to “lend credence to the link between Listerine and oral cancer” by selling both products. The company went on to allege that Johnson & Johnson “induced OraPharma to breach the sales agreement” to suppress sales of the test “in order to protect sales of its mouthwash, Listerine”. 

Johnson & Johnson has said: “The company is confident that we have engaged in proper business practices and we look forward to the opportunity to resolve this matter through the legal system.”

Blueberries faked in cereals, muffins, bagels and other food products

The blueberries found in blueberry bagels, cereals, breads and muffins are REAL blueberries right? Wrong! Award-winning investigative journalist Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, exposes the deceptive chemical ingredients and dishonest marketing of "blueberry" products from big-name food and cereal companies. The blueberries, it turns out, are made from artificial colors, hydrogenated oils and liquid sugars. See more episodes at www.FoodInvestigations.com 

Blueberries have long been touted as a superfood, high in antioxidants, vitamin C, and manganese. And unlike other superfoods like acai berries, bee pollen, and wakame seaweed, blueberries are accessible and attractive, so they're an easy sell to anyone skeptical of health food.
So this reputation could be why blueberries are in so many packaged foods, from muffin mixes to salad dressings. They appear to add nutrition and deliciousness that might otherwise be lacking. Nevermind that actual, fresh blueberries are only in season about 2 to 3 months out of the year -- the blueberry harvest goes on all year at the grocery store.

But have you actually read the labels on those supposedly blueberry-filled products?
Some of them, like Target Blueberry Bagels and General Mills Total Pomegranate Blueberry Cereal, might be fooling consumers into thinking the food has something it doesn't. While manufacturers state they're still within the U.S.'s admittedly loose labeling laws, many of those blueberry-promoting products are made without genuine blueberries.
The Consumer Wellness Center recently produced a Food Investigations video that looked at the actual blueberry content of several widely available packaged foods. This expose shows how Kellogs, General Mills, Betty Crocker, and other brands advertise plump, whole blueberries in their cereals and mixes, but deliever dextrose, corn flour, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, sugar, citric acid, artificial flavor, and food colorings Blue #1 and Red #40 instead.

Breastfeeding . Why Human milk is irreplaceable?

World Breastfeeding Week  1–7 August 2011

      World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year from 1 to 7 August in more than 120 countries to encourage breastfeeding and improve the health of babies around the world. It commemorates the Innocenti Declaration made by WHO and UNICEF policy-makers in August 1990 to protect, promote and support breastfeeding.

      Breastfeeding is the best way to provide newborns with the nutrients they need. WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding until a baby is six months old, and continued breastfeeding with the addition of nutritious complementary foods for up to two years or beyond.

Introduction to Breastfeeding

          Breast milk is thought to be the best form of nutrition for neonates and infants. The properties of human milk facilitate the transition of life from in utero to ex utero. This dynamic fluid provides a diverse array of bioactive substances to the developing infant during critical periods of brain, immune, and gut development. The clinician must be familiar with how the mammary gland produces human milk and how its properties nourish and protect the breastfeeding infant.

In China 1.3 million websites have been shut in 2010

Chinese web users are frequently blocked from accessing sites such as Youtube...

More than one million websites closed down in China last year, a state-run think tank has said. The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences said there were were 41% fewer websites at the end of 2010 than a year earlier.
Chinese officials have tightened regulations on the internet in recent years, and they launched a crackdown on pornography websites in 2009.
The academy's researcher said there was no link, insisting China had a "high level of freedom of online speech".
Liu Ruisheng said that despite the declining number of sites, the number of web pages had risen to 60 billion during 2010 - a 79% increase on the previous year.
"This means our content is getting stronger, while our supervision is getting more strict and more regulated," he said.
Civil rights campaigners have long railed against China's web censors, who impose controls known as the Great Firewall of China.
A number of websites are routinely blocked, such as the BBC's Chinese language service, and social media sites like Facebook, Youtube and Twitter.

What Color Eyes Would Your Children Have?

           What Color Eyes Would Your Children Have? is an interactive eye color calculator which allows visitors to explore and learn about genetic inheritance. Using this online exhibit visitors can see the probabilities of their children's eye color or that of their parent's children. In addition, adjustments for populations that have predominantly brown or green eyes can be made.
          Working closely with The Tech Museum of Innovation, Ideum designed and developed this interactive application as part of the Understanding Genetics online exhibition. The program was developed using Macromedia Flash.

What's Your Learning Style?

    Learning styles refer to the ways you prefer to approach new information. Each of us learns and processes information in our own special ways, though we share some learning patterns, preferences, and approaches. Knowing your own style also can help you to realize that other people may approach the same situation in a different way from your own.

Take a few minutes to complete the following questionnaire to assess your preferred learning style. Begin by reading the words in the left-hand column. Of the three responses to the right, circle the one that best characterizes you, answering as honestly as possible with the description that applies to you right now. Count the number of circled items and write your total at the bottom of each column. The questions you prefer will offer insight into how you learn.

1. When I try to concentrate...	I grow distracted by clutter or movement, and I notice things around me other people don’t notice.	I get distracted by sounds, and I attempt to control the amount and type of noise around me.	I become distracted by commotion, and I tend to retreat inside myself.
2. When I visualize...	I see vivid, detailed pictures in my thoughts.	I think in voices and sounds.	I see images in my thoughts that involve movement.
3. When I talk with others...	I find it difficult to listen for very long.	I enjoy listening, or I get impatient to talk myself.	I gesture and communicate with my hands.
4. When I contact people...	I prefer face-to-face meetings.	I prefer speaking by telephone for serious conversations.	I prefer to interact while walking or participating in some activity.
5. When I see an acquaintance...	I forget names but remember faces, and I tend to replay where we met for the first time.	I know people’s names and I can usually quote what we discussed.	I remember what we did together and I may almost “feel” our time together.
6. When I relax...	I watch TV, see a play, visit an exhibit, or go to a movie.	I listen to the radio, play music, read, or talk with a friend.	I play sports, make crafts, or build something with my hands.
7. When I read...	I like descriptive examples and I may pause to imagine the scene.	I enjoy the narrative most and I can almost “hear” the characters talk.	I prefer action-oriented stories, but I do not often read for pleasure.
8. When I spell...	I envision the word in my mind or imagine what the word looks like when written.	I sound out the word, sometimes aloud, and tend to recall rules about letter order.	I get a feel for the word by writing it out or pretending to type it.
9. When I do something new...	I seek out demonstrations, pictures, or diagrams.	I want verbal and written instructions, and to talk it over with someone else.	I jump right in to try it, keep trying, and try different approaches.
10. When I assemble an object...	I look at the picture first and then, maybe, read the directions.	I read the directions, or I talk aloud as I work.	I usually ignore the directions and figure it out as I go along.
11. When I interpret someone's mood...	I examine facial expressions.	I rely on listening to tone of voice.	I focus on body language.
12. When I teach other people...	I show them.	I tell them, write it out, or I ask them a series of questions.	I demonstrate how it is done and then ask them to try.
Total	Visual:	Auditory:	Tactile/Kinesthetic:

The column with the highest total represents your primary processing style. The column with the second-most choices is your secondary style.
Your primary learning style:                                                         
Your secondary learning style:                                                     
Now that you know which learning style you rely on, you can boost your learning potential when working to learn more. For instance, the following suggestions can help you get more from reading a book.
If your primary learning style is visual, draw pictures in the margins, look at the graphics, and read the text that explains the graphics. Envision the topic or play a movie in your thoughts of how you’ll act out the subject matter.
If your primary learning style is auditory, listen to the words you read. Try to develop an internal conversation between you and the text. Don’t be embarrassed to read aloud or talk through the information.
If your primary learning style is tactile/kinesthetic, use a pencil or highlighter pen to mark passages that are meaningful to you. Take notes, transferring the information you learn to the margins of the book, into your journal, or onto a computer. Doodle whatever comes to mind as you read. Hold the book in your hands instead of placing it on a table. Walk around as you read. Feel the words and ideas. Get busy—both mentally and physically.
More information on each style, along with suggestions on how to maximize your learning potential, is available in the book Learn More Now (Hoboken, NJ; John Wiley & Sons, 2004).

  Learn More... 

    Learning techniques   http://research.cs.queensu.ca/~skill/learning.html 
    Learning how to learn http://homepage.ntlworld.com/gkelly68/LearnToLearn/LearningIndex.htm
    Learning toolbox            http://coe.jmu.edu/learningtoolbox/studentstart.htm 
    Multiplication: Learning Times Tables for 8s and 2s http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SawsAyyrFkQ