High Blood Pressure Leads To ?
High blood pressure leads to , oh I remember now, it leads to memory loss or early dementia. We already knew it leads to many health problems so this is just another little reminder that it’s better to try to keep your pressure low or at least normal.
Some researchers are even saying that if one were to maintain a good blood pressure memory loss and early dementia could be avoided altogether. That surely is a confident statement and with that we have another reason to stay calm and keep away from salt and foods that contain large amounts of sodium.
Now, where was I ?
Big Waistlines Lead to Big Problems
We already know that large waistlines lead to heart disease and some types of cancers, but now you can add asthma to that list. In this study we’re talking about waistlines of 35 inches or more. Even if you are not overweight this risk applies.
It’s thought by researchers that having the fat accumulate around the middle causes chemical reactions that cause these diseases. Furthermore they have also found that being even a little overweight can cause asthma too.
The measurement taken is at the level of the belly button, not where your waist goes in and creates those curves some of us have. If you measure over 35 see your doctor or nutritionist to find out how to get that waist measurement and maybe your weight down.
I would guess that since it’s an accumulation of fat, you may need to watch the amount of fat you take in everyday, and also if there are other factors that turn things into fat once you’ve eaten them.
Scientists Believe That They Found The Cause of Colon Cancer
Scientists have discovered that a common bacteria could be responsible for almost half of all colon cancers. They believe it works by causing imflamation in the cell over a long period of time which eventually damage the cells and make it easy for tumors to grow.
It is hoped that an equally simple antibiotic which will kill this bacteria, can also put an end to some types of colon cancer.
My father died eight months ago of colon cancer and he suffered horribly near the end. What a shame to know that all it might have taken was an antibiotic early on to save his life and prevent the tumors from even starting in the first place. What a pity.
How Colleges Are Managing Their Swine Flu Cases
Young people are starting to go back to school and the CDC has some advice for colleges and universities. The recommendation is if you develop the swine flu quarintine yourself and do not attend classes again until you are without fever for 24 hours or more. It’s important to stay away from the general population so the flu will not spread until most people have hopefully developed some degree of immunity.
Good handwashing and keeping clean in general is still one of your best defenses. Good luck.
Is Your Garage Sale Safe?
It’s that time of the year when garage sales are everywhere. People are either trying to make money or trying to get rid of items they no longer want or use. Sometimes it’s a little of both.
Well the feds say they will come after you if you try to sell an item that has been recalled. This certainly seems like a good idea, after all, it’s all about safety and what’s wrong with that. If you sold an unsafe crib to a neighbor and something were to happen to their baby, you’d feel terrible right? Yet, as obvious as it seems I don’t think it occurs to most people to check. My family is having a yard sale and I know that I never thought about it.
What if you have an antique crib you want to sell at your garage sale? By law, it seems if it isn’t up to today’s standards you could be in trouble with the law. Some people feel the government is going too far by doing this. What do you think?
Recession Increases Secondhand Smoke
Studies have shown that because of more carpooling more people are suffering from second hand smoke. With the price of gas it saves everyone money when you share rides. Remember though, when you share a ride you are also sharing air in the car.
I would think that most people who drive carpools would be sensitive to the other people in the car and if anyone of them is a nonsmoker than smoking should not be done inside the car. Even with the windows open there is smoke inside and those who are sensitive to it will be bothered.
I admit it, I am a smoker, but I will not smoke in anyones car, even mine if one of my passengers is a child or a nonsmoker. I don’t need it that badly.
Apnoea Helps Shorten Life
Those people like myself who suffer nightly from severe sleep apnoea have a 46% higher chance of dying young, researchers say.
Sleep apnoea is when you stop breathing while you’re asleep. I have it to a point where I scare those who are unfortunate enough to be around me when I’m sleeping. It’s a scary thing for anyone to see. The person stops breathing and if they’re like me, it seems to be an awfully long time without air , and it also happens hundreds of times a night.
With me , most of this goes unnoticed except for the seemingly unexplained exhaustion upon waking in the morning. However, there have been times when I woke struggling to take a breath. Those times are very frightening. Still I go to bed every night not worrying about it. Since I’m one of the uninsured I have faith that I will eventually take that next breath.
The HPV and The Penis
Spanish researchers say that the HPV , viruses 16 and 18, the same that cause some cervical cancers in women, also cause cancer of the penis. Although cancer of the penis is rare it does happen.
Gardasil, which is the drug that’s given to young girls to fight the HPV has also been found to be effective in men, recent studies have shown. I bet it won’t be long before we start seeing commercials encouraging boys to get the shot. I wonder if it will be age restricted for males as it seems to be for females.
I always wondered why it’s only for a certain age group. I would think that a vaccine would work against a certain virus no matter how old the person infected is, but for some reason it’s not. We shall see.
Car Seats Can Lower Baby’s Oxygen Level
Having your baby strapped into an infant car seat may lower baby’s oxygen level in the blood because it causes extra pressure on the baby’s chest.
This is not new news. My grandson was born last October and before we were allowed to leave the hospital with him, he had to pass a test where he was put into a car seat for thirty minutes and his oxygen level was measured before and after. My daughter and I were quite alarmed to be told that he failed the test and it would have to be redone. The nurse told us that from her experience baby’s who failed the first time usually passed the second test. We were relieved when an hour or two later he did pass the second test.
Twenty years or so ago, when I had my children I had never heard of such a thing unless they did the test without telling the mother. Still it’s a good thing to know. Car seats are very important to use in the car to protect the baby from accident injury. The problem is that many of these car seats come apart from the base and can be used for carryalls. Many parents feel that it’s best not to wake a sleeping baby and will let the baby remain in the car seat for hours.
The best thing to do is to take the baby out and lay the baby elsewhere.
The VA Sends Bad News To Vets by Mistake
A glitch in the computer system at the VA sent out letters by accident to about 1200 Vets, telling them that they have ALS or more popularly known as Lou Gehrigs Disease. This disease is fatal and affects the muscles in the body.
Many of these vets have already spent up to $3000 of their own money to get second opinions to see if they really had the illness.
Some vets have called a Gulf War Vets Group who looked into this. They want the VA to reimburse those that have shelled out money for second opinions, and to retest those that have not had second opinions yet.
Getting a letter with that kind of news has to not only be scary , but devestating as well. The vets that got those letters do deserve the VA putting this right, computer error or not.