Archive for the 'General' Category

What Is A Stem Cell Transplant?

Written by ehealth on Thursday, April 2nd, 2009 in General.

By: Alex De Mostafa

Controversial and at the heart of much debate, a stem cell transplant is the procedure where the body might not produce enough stem cells within the bone marrow, and other stem cells are transplanted in their place. Sometimes referred to as a bone marrow transplant, a stem cell transplant is often used to treat conditions such as Leukemia, Myelofibrosis, certain forms of cancer, and Aplastic Anemia.

Stem cells might be taken from bone marrow or from the blood of an umbilical cord. Since stem cells are early cell forms, they will easily adapt and grow into the type of cells that the body needs. Some of the benefits of a stem cell transplant include helping the body replace damaged stem cells as well as replace and renew cells that might have become cancerous or malignant. When new, healthy stem cells are transplanted they often contain high levels of immunity and can strengthen the body’s weakened immune system.

Undergoing a stem cell transplant is a highly risky procedure and there are many possible complications that might ensue. It is imperative to discuss all of the benefits, risks, and potential complications with your health care provider and to thoroughly research the procedure being recommended. Some of the most prevalent complications include failure of the stem cell to take, damage to blood vessels or organs, developing cataracts and cancers that are secondary to existing cancers, and a specific disease called Graft versus Host Disease that results from donor stem cells.

For those who undergo stem cell transplants, it can take up to one year before your body becomes normalized, especially if donor cells were used. Healing is quicker when the transplant uses a person’s own stem cells. For those who find success with their stem cell transplant, and whose bodies do not reject the cells, results are very good and the patient often enjoys a life free of illness and disease.

Article Source: http://articles-mart.com

Learn about stem cell transplantation at stem-cell-transplant.blogspot.com/

Good teeth and you

Written by ehealth on Tuesday, February 24th, 2009 in General.

Looking good and feeling great! That is what having good teeth is all about. Having a healthy and good-looking set of teeth which functions well for life makes a tremendous impact on your enjoyment of life and total well being.

You will enjoy your food, feel healthier and look younger. You need to have teeth to look youthful because teeth and their supporting bone hold up the muscles of your face. Without these supporting structures, facial muscles sag and lips droop, making your cheeks look hollowed out and gaunt. You will look older than your age. Your teeth make your smile and largely determine your image and impression you make on others.

What happens in and around your mouth can affect other parts of the body. So you need to have healthy teeth and gums to stay in the pink of health. Recent studies have shown that the bacteria in decaying teeth and infected gums are linked to heart disease, stroke, pre-term births and low birth-weight babies.

It is also important to think of the mouth and surrounding features of the face as integrated, each part affecting the function, form and health of the other parts.
You can see the interrelationship by considering how teeth are connected to other structures of the face and neck. Teeth are anchored to the jaws by the bone and gums.

The lower jaw is hinged to the immovable upper jaw by the temporomandibular joints in front of the ears. The tongue is attached by muscles to the lower jaw. Muscles of the face which help mouth to open and close and make side-to-side movements when chewing, smiling and laughing, yawning and other movements, are attached to the joints, upper and lower jaws and the neck.

The diseases of the body also affect the mouth. Many general diseases of the body show signs and symptoms in the mouth, for example, nutritional deficiencies, sexually transmitted diseases etc. Therefore, it is important to let your doctor know the state of health in your mouth and to inform your dentist of your medical history, allergies and the medication you are on.

For total dental care, a multi-disciplinary approach is important:’ the doctor and dentist in consultation with each other, and among dental professionals, the general dental practitioner working in tandem with other dental specialists.

Dentistry, the study and application of the art and science of the mounth and adjacent structures, has made tremendous progress in the last twenty years. We are enjoying the technological advances and knowledge that will enable us to keep mouthful of well-aligned teeth which will probably outlive us.
Modern dentistry has widened the scope of treatment for people wanting to improve their smiles, have better tooth function, repair teeth, remove them and replace lost teeth. It also encompasses treatment of diseases of the soft tissue and jawbones and the temporomandibular joints (those that allow your mouth to open and close).

The dental profession can only perform what they know. Research is still going on to find better ways and materials to perform all these things, but the onus of prevention of most dental diseases is on you to take good care of your teeth and mouth.

Google Health News

Written by ehealth on Monday, February 2nd, 2009 in General, Nutrition.

Side Effects of Glucosamine and Chondroitin

Written by ehealth on Tuesday, January 20th, 2009 in General.

By: Amy Cheung, 2009-01-20

Your body contains Glucosamine, a naturally occurring compound that basically consists of glucose and a type of amino acid called glutamine. Glucosamine is also described as a natural amino sugar made from the synthesis of glucose and L-glutamine.

Glucosamine is known alternatively through its other names, including: glucosamine sulfate, glucosamine hydrochloride, and N-acetyl glucosamine.

Glycosaminoglycan, on the other hand, is a molecule that is crucial in the growth and restoration of your cartilage and other tissues throughout the body. At some point when you grow older, your body’s Glycosaminoglycan production diminishes, and subsequently swelling and bloating your joints.

Glucosamine and chondroitin are building blocks of your connective tissues and your cartilage. Glucosamine products are natural substances occurring in shellfish harvests.

Glucosamine is frequently combined with chondroitin to alleviate the symptoms of osteoarthritis (a.k.a. OA). Clinical studies have established that the Glucosamine-Chondroitin combination is effective in treating osteoporosis and gradually repairing bone function.

Potential Risks of Glucosamine Chondroitin

Generally speaking, almost all supplements have their own risks for side effects. Glucosamine and Chondroitin have revealed excellent results in clinical trials, with a majority of patients experiencing no side effects.

Nonetheless, in isolated cases, some users may report a small elevation in blood pressure, breathing difficulties, uneasiness, rashes, mild headaches, nausea, as well as stomach aches or gastrointestinal pains.

One common side effect of this supplement is soft stools and increased intestinal gas, but this is very rare. Clinical studies with animals show that glucosamine may reduce the amount of insulin in the body, and this may lead to diabetes. Although no such thing has been documented in human trials, diabetic patients are strongly advised to remain vigilant and closely monitor their blood sugar levels when using these supplements.

Also, those who are on aspirin medication therapy or blood thinners must visit their doctor before using these supplements. Similarly, pregnant women or those who want to get pregnant must also seek a physician’s advice, particularly because the effects of these supplements on a growing fetus is currently unknown. Children and women who are breast feeding must also avoid these supplements entirely.

Presently, certain scientific studies continue to investigate the long-term repercussions of glucosamine-chondroitin supplements. On the whole, while their long-term repercussions are still unknown, most specialists share the collective opinion that the combined benefits of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate in OA treatment are far more important than any potential risks for side effects.

Glucosamine chondroitin is quite possibly the single most potent supplement for lubricating, maintaining, and protecting the joints of the human body. Additionally, glucosamine helps limit the movement of your joints and consequently prevent joint cartilage damage. Certain studies have documented the effectiveness of glucosamine in relieving pain and alleviating the symptoms of osteoarthritis, but these effects were not instantly observed. Plus, Glucosamine is also established to lessen joint inflammation and suppress some destructive enzymes that cause damage to the joint cartilage, although more studies on this are needed.

To grab your copy of the Free Arthritis Relief Guide, and to read more articles related to Glucosamine and Chondroitin Side Effects, please visit this website on arthritis.

Spondylolisthesis

Written by ehealth on Monday, January 12th, 2009 in General.

This is a condition I hadn’t heard of before.  I had been getting steadily increasing pains in my back, hips or hamstring muscles over a few months. Never all of them together, just it was either one or another. I finally decided to see my doctor as it was (painfully) obvious something just wasn’t right. He ordered xrays which I had the following day and on Saturday I went back for the results. He told me that the pain was caused from Spondylolisthesis (which apparently is a result of a stress fracture way back in my teens!) and showed me on the xray what it meant. The following two diagrams will show you what I mean.

This is a normal Spine. Notice the smooth curve?

normalspine

Now this one below shows a spine with Spondylolisthesis. The disks make protrude forward or move backward. (mine is backward)

spondylolisthesis_clip_image002

Using Yoga techique for Pain Relief

Written by ehealth on Sunday, November 16th, 2008 in General.

 

By: Sam Onom

Yoga has always been seen to be a good alternative to health and many people have mentioned how beneficial it can be for the body and mind. Yoga for pain relief is has gained some popularity as well as recognition in terms of an acceptable treatment for different body pain problems.

 

Benefits

Being able to address pain thru Yoga makes one less dependent on medication. It can also ease undue stress and to a certain extent reduce the actual occurrence of pain.
Through Yoga for pain relief a person is able to do something good for his or her body. Instead of treating symptoms - the pain - they are actually making their body stronger. Improving the body through Yoga for pain relief is far more beneficial than any medication which simply masks the pain.

Why Yoga Works for them

Yoga for pain relief is commonly used to help patients with arthritis, back pain and fibrmyalgia. Yoga has been tested as a pain relief method and studies have been published in such publications as the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Usually viniYoga is used as Yoga for pain relief. Vini Yoga is a mild type of Yoga that avoids complex positions and straining on the muscles and body. Iyengar Yoga is another form used for pain treatment. It, too, is gentle and slow moving. Ivengar is ideal for those who are less mobile since it makes use of props.

The effectiveness of Yoga as pain relieving exercise can be attributed to its slow moving and gentle procedure. The emphasis on the interrelationship between mind and body also helps to give patients a sense of control over their pain. Many studies have proven the connection between pain and the patient’s way of thinking.
If there is one encouraging benefit from Yoga, it can seem to respond to chronic pain It helps to build muscles, increase strength, reduce stress and increase flexibility and joint strength. All of these things are a great impact on major areas that are often inflicted by chronic pain.

Yoga is a Good Alternative

Yoga is highly acceptable by the doctors and practitioners in the medical field. They would even practice Yoga in addition to medicine. Medical practitioners are open to the idea of Yoga as a form of pain related treatment but it is still recommended that you speak to your doctors before embarking.
It is important that you want to do it correctly since incorrect positioning can lead to injury and more pain. It can be a huge mistake to assume you know what you are doing and jump into Yoga. Always look for an instructor before practicing Yoga. The positions in Yoga can take some time to learn and you can get hurt even though you are moving slowly.

Article Source: http://articles-mart.com

 

Let’s face it, Yoga has been accepted by many doctors in areas of pain relief and a number of other areas of our human body. Get to know more about Pain Relief with Yoga by going to this website: www.painreliefwithyoga.com/



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