Swine influenza

Swine influenza (also swine flu) refers to influenza caused by any virus of the family Orthomyxoviridae, that is endemic to pig (swine) populations. Strains endemic in swine are called swine influenza virus (SIV), and all known strains of SIV are classified as Influenzavirus A (common) or Influenzavirus C (rare). Influenzavirus B has not been reported in swine. All three clades, Influenzavirus A, B, and C, are endemic in humans.
People who work with poultry and swine, especially people with intense exposures, are at risk of infection from these animals if the animals carry a strain that is also able to infect humans. SIV can mutate into a form that allows it to pass from human to human. The strain responsible for the 2009 swine flu outbreak is believed to have undergone this mutation.
In humans, the symptoms of swine flu are similar to those of influenza and of influenza-like illness in general.

Excerpt From: Swine influenza

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WHO calls swine flu a 'public health emergency'

Below are CTV.Ca about Swine Flue and their cases. How to address the disease by knowing the symptoms of this deathly swine influenza. There are many cases out there around US, Mexico, and there are emergency declaration in some city.
Here are the video link on this swine flu


Symptoms Of Swine Flu
Global Swine Flu Cases Close to Pandemic Levels
The Doctor Is In: Info on Swine Flu
Swine Flu Strain Found In NYC Kansas Ohio UK. Quanrantines

Here are the news from CTV as promised above

CTV.ca News Staff

The World Health Organization is calling the swine flu outbreak a "public health emergency of international concern" and its asking countries to ramp up surveillance for the virus.

But the organization decided Saturday to hold off on raising the global pandemic alert level, even as more cases are being reported in Mexico, and the United States.

Gregory Hartl, a spokesperson for the WHO, said Saturday the threat level will stay at its current Phase 3 until the organization gets a clearer picture at what is going on. Phase 6 would mean officials are calling the outbreak a pandemic.

Countries around are being asked by the WHO to step up their reporting and surveillance of the disease. WHO fears the outbreak could spread from Mexico and the United States.

Mexico officials are closing schools in the capital and two other states for the next 10 days as the country tries to slow the spread of a deadly swine flu outbreak.

Health Secretary Jose Angel Cordova told a news conference Saturday evening that 20 deaths have been confirmed to be from the swine flu outbreak and another 1,324 have likely been sick from the virus since April 13.

He added that the virus may have killed at least 81 people in Mexico, but not all the deaths have been confirmed to be from the virus, known as A H1N1.

The strain has not been previously diagnosed in either pigs or humans and appears to spread easily from human to human.

On Saturday evening, New York City health officials said that eight high school students in the city have likely contacted the virus after visiting Mexico. The results of tests won't be known until Sunday.

Kansas state officials confirmed two cases there Saturday, in addition to seven cases in California and two in Texas.

The head of the WHO, Margaret Chan, said at a news conference earlier on Saturday that the WHO has not received reports of swine flu beyond Mexico and the southwestern United States, but urged all countries to be vigilant for an increase in pneumonia cases or other flu-like illness.

"The viruses causing cases in some parts of Mexico and some parts of the USA are genetically the same," she said, adding the virus "has pandemic potential" because it is spreading between people.

Quarantine in Montreal

Meanwhile, doctors in Montreal placed a woman in quarantine, but released her later when it became clear she did have the virus.

The woman, Patricia Whelan, vacationed in Mexico two weeks ago. Another Canadian was also placed in isolation, but has since been released.

Doctors "have no reason to believe it's swine flu, but they're taking absolutely no chances. It's precautionary," said CTV Montreal's Rob Lurie.

Monica Whelan, the daughter of the woman who was in quarantine, said her family was surprised to learn her mother was so sick.

"My mother never catches a cold, and she's always very strong," she said.

"She still felt very ill after having been on antibiotics. It's been a month since she's been home and her symptoms have not gone away," said Whelan.

Mexican cases

According to Chan, Mexican authorities are reporting that cases range from the very mild to severe, which means it is difficult to tell how widespread the virus really is.

"We need to really comb through those data and get the granularities and understand exactly who is suffering and which (age) group has disease more severe than others," Chan said.

The virus is unusual in that it is primarily affecting healthy young adults. Influenza usually affects the very young and the very old.

Unlike recent bird flu cases, where people who became ill had contact with infected birds, it appears that this strain of swine flu is infecting people with no history of contact with animals, according to Canadian infectious disease specialist Dr. Neil Rau.

"What is concerning is that even though it has the word swine flu, meaning it originates from pigs, people who get this infection have no history of contact with pigs," Rau said Saturday during an interview on CTV Newsnet.

Mexican authorities have closed schools, museums, libraries and theatres in an attempt to prevent the virus's spread, while officials at the Mexico City airport are questioning travellers in an effort to prevent a sick passenger from boarding a plane.

On Saturday, Mexico City's mayor cancelled all public events for the next 10 days in order to control the outbreak.

Mayor Marcelo Ebrard also announced that the city has enough medicine to treat those who are infected.

The Mexican government plans to administer 500,000 doses of influenza vaccine to health care workers, who are at high risk of infection.

However, it is unclear if this year's influenza vaccine offers protection against the swine flu.

The WHO said that 12 of the Mexican cases have been linked genetically to a swine flu virus that has appeared in California.

In Canada, Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq said Friday that so far, the virus has not been detected in Canada.

According to Rau, the current outbreak has not been linked to resort areas frequented by Canadian tourists.

However, public health officials are probing a small number of flu-like cases in Canada to determine if they match the Mexican illness.

Experts say the best protection against the virus is to avoid contact with anyone who is coughing or sneezing, wash hands regularly and see a doctor if any of these symptoms become apparent:

fever
cough
sore throat
eye pain
shortness of breath
muscle and joint pain
extreme fatigue
With files from The Associated Press and The Canadian Press

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Butter Battle

The artificial butter flavoring used in microwave popcorn poses a danger of lung damage to ordinary consumers.

The email that follows is from my sister-in-law Ellen who is an attorney working on cases involving microwave popcorn and lung disease. This isn't a hoax. Please send it to people who need to know. Here comes her email.

As I may or may not have told you guys, I'm working on a case involving microwave popcorn manufacturing plant employees who have contracted a bad lung disease that causes scarring of the lungs, sometimes requiring transplant. The suspected culprit is a chemical in the fake butter flavoring (which is also used in other types of flavoring, such as caramel). The FDA has stated numerous times that there is no evidence of any danger to consumers from eating products containing the fake butter flavoring, as the danger appears to be in inhaling the fumes from the product when it is superheated during the manufacturing process. Accordingly, such products remain on the shelves.

However, the National Jewish Medical and Research Center in Denver just sent a letter to the FDA detailing what the hospital alleges is a landmark diagnosis of a consumer who has contracted lung disease as the result of cooking and consuming large amounts of microwave popcorn that contains diacetyl.

I haven't touched this stuff since my case began in 2000, as I always suspected something like this would happen (particularly since microwave popcorn makes the butter flavoring hot enough to emit fumes). Anyway, DON'T eat this stuff!!!!!

Origins: It should come as no surprise to most consumers that many of the flavors found in modern packaged food products are created through the use of chemical flavorings. One example of such is

diacetyl, a chemical used in artificial butter flavoring which is commonly found in microwave popcorn. Studies have linked diacetyl with the development of the lung disease bronchiolitis obliterans (a widespread inflammatory and fibrotic obstruction of the small airways) in industrial flavor workers who experience signficant inhalation exposure to the chemical, and various health advocates have pointed to those studies as a reason to call for more stringent governmental regulation over (or an outright ban on) the use of diacetyl.

The question on many people's minds, then, is if the link between diacetyl inhalation and bronchiolitis obliterans (also known as BO, or "popcorn lung") in industrial workers is indeed causal, does diacetyl pose a danger to consumers with much lower levels of exposure to diacetyl than factory workers, consumers who merely breathe in fumes produced during the heating of artificially butter-flavored microwave popcorn products? This issue gained prominent public attention in September 2007 via the publication of a letter sent to federal agencies by Dr. Cecile Rose, a pulmonary specialist at Denver's National Jewish Medical and Research Center, saying that doctors at the center believed they had encountered the first case of a consumer's developing lung disease from the fumes of microwave popcorn.

Whether this disclosure demonstrates that microwave popcorn poses a signifcant health risk to ordinary consumers is not so cut-and-dried, though. As Dr. Rose noted, "This is not a definitive causal link" and "We cannot be sure that this patient's exposure to butter flavored microwave popcorn from daily heavy preparation has caused his lung disease" (although she also noted that doctors had "no other plausible explanation" for the patient's symptoms and that the issue "raises a lot of questions and supports the recommendation that more work needs to be done"). Additionally, this case might represent far more of an extreme than a norm, as the patient involved "did report daily consumption of several bags of extra butter flavored microwave popcorn for several years" (at least two bags per day for more than 10 years) and "when he broke open the bags, after the steam came out, he would often inhale the fragrance because he liked it so much."

Shortly after the publication of Dr. Rose's letter, the producers of four of the biggest-selling microwave popcorn brands in the U.S. (Orville Redenbacher, Act II, Pop Secret, and Jolly Time) announced that they were working to remove diacetyl from their microwave popcorn recipes (while nonetheless reassuring consumers about the safety of their products).


Source: http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/popcorn.asp

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DANGEROUS OF LEMON SLICES SERVED WITH BEVERAGES

Beware the lemon in your drink. It could make you sick.

When restaurant workers place a lemon wedge on your glass of water, tea, or soda, they are apparently spiking your drink with germs.

A new study by a New Jersey microbiologist found nasty bacteria on two-thirds of the lemons that were tested from 21 restaurants.

"It was gross," said Anne LaGrange Loving, assistant science professor at Passaic County Community College."

Loving decided to do the study after noticing a waitress with dirty fingernails delivering a drink to a table.

"They put lemon in my Diet Coke, I didn't ask for it, and so I decided to do a study."

Loving and her team swabbed for bacteria as soon as drinks hit the table at restaurants all around Paterson, New Jersey.

"You would think they had dipped the lemons in raw meat," she said, referring to the high levels of bacteria that she found.

The swabs of lemon wedges revealed everything from high counts of fecal bacteria to a couple of dozen other microorganisms — most of which can make you sick. They found bacteria on the rind and on the flesh of the lemons.

Health laws require lemons to be handled with gloves or tongs. But its common practice for waiters and waitresses to simply pop the little lemon wedge onto a drinking glass with their bare hands.

If an employee's hands aren't clean, however, then touching the lemons is likely to contaminate them with bacteria according to Loving.

This is not the first time that Anne Loving has gone looking for bacteria in unusual places. She did a study several years ago and found bacteria on communion cups.

"You'd just have to know me," she laughed. "I'm a germ freak."

But, Loving says, the results of the study point to a significant problem.

"People need to know that the lemons have bacteria on them that can make them sick."

Source: http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/lemon.asp

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WARNING ABOUT CANDY CANES FROM TARGET

I am not one to send mass emails, however, after a recent experience I had I must share this with all of you.

Last night I bought a box of mini candy canes from Target. Of course Emmie begged for one the whole way home and when we got home I gave her one. Later I had one also and they were really good. I turned the box over to see the ingredients and saw they were made in China. After all of the news about products from China recently I gave the box to Charles to bring to work. Before Charles distributed them to anyone he noticed an unusual ingredient in the product, Titanium Dioxide. He googled this and checked it out on OSHA. This is an ingredient that is used in paints, plastics and paper products and is a potential carcinogen.

Charles immediately called Target headquarters to question them on the product and left a message. They did return our call and the customer service rep that called me said they would gladly take my return and that she could not give me any scientific explaination as to why the product contained this ingredient!

Please pass this along to others who are probably doing just what I was doing, buying stocking stuffers for their kids! Tell them to look at not only the origin of the product but the INGREDIENTS also!

It frightens me that Target is selling this product! Please check the labels before you buy candy canes at Target or anywhere else.

Origins: In the latter part of 2007, the news of the day was filled with one tale after another about dangerous vendables imported from China. Lead found in consumer products and contaminated pet foods grabbed the headlines, but that was just the tip of the iceberg as potentially dangerous levels of chemicals and toxins turned up in a variety of Chinese products, from toothpaste to

fish.

The "candy cane" e-mail quoted above, which began circulating in November 2007, plays upon the fear of dealing with consumer goods imported from China, but that fear is apparently misplaced in this case.

Titanium dioxide, the subject of the alert, is a naturally-occurring compound which (for the sake of purity) is refined for use in the manufacture of a variety of consumer goods, both domestic and international. Its chief use is as a pigment: it serves to color items a brilliant white and is therefore commonly found in toothpaste and just about any item where a bright white coloring is called for, such as paints, paper, various foods, and even pills and tablets. It also gets put to work in cosmetics and skin care products, where it is used both as a pigment and as a thickener, and is present in almost every sunblock, where it helps protect the skin from ultraviolet light. Beside imparting a brilliant white to products, the compound is also a noteworthy opacifier, which means it helps make items treated with it opaque (i.e., not allowing light to pass through them).

While we can't confirm that there was titanium dioxide in the candy canes purchased by the e-mail's writer, it wouldn't be at all remarkable if there had been. As consumers, our concept of a desireable candy cane calls for the red of its stripes to stand out in stark contrast to its brilliantly white base, and for the sweet to not only start out opaque, but to remain so even as the confection's red stripes get licked away. That sounds like a job for titanium dioxide, or as it is sometimes known, titania.

Titanium dioxide is a potential carcinogen, but is hasn't been demonstrated as posing a cancer risk to consumers through ordinary consumption of food products. In 2006, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified it an IARC Group 2B carcinogen "possibly carcinogen to humans": however, that classification applied only to a finding linking respiratory tract cancer in rats to exposure to high concentrations of ultrafine titanium dioxide dust. While that finding would strongly suggest that people who have to deal with the compound at the manufacturing level should be protected from any chance of their breathing in this very fine dust, once titanium dioxide is no longer in a particle state (i.e., has been incorporated into a manufactured product), it's regarded as safe to eat, touch, or smear on one's skin.

Barbara "candy is still dandy" Mikkelson

Source: http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/candycane.asp

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Vitamin C users who eat shrimp risk death from arsenic poisoning

F.Y.I.

Spread this message out to as many friends and families as possible, because this is a matter of life and death!!

I just read a medical report from my friend saying that: DO NOT eat shrimp (Prawn) if you have just taken VITAMIN C pills!! This will cause you to DIE in ARSENIC (As) toxication within HOURS!!

THIS IS NOT A JOKE!! There's been a case happened in Taiwan.

Take care!

Origins: This e-mailed scare began circulating on the Internet in May 2001. Presumably it's trying to claim that prawns metabolize arsenic (as some aquatic organisms do), forming compounds ordinarily non-toxic to humans, but when the prawns are ingested in combination with Vitamin C, something in the vitamin prompts the re-estalishment of toxicity. Obviously, even if this were true, it only occurs under very specific or extraordinary circumstances, or we'd be finding plenty of accounts of healthy-but-dead seafood lovers.

Shrimp does not turn into arsenic when combined with Vitamin C tablets. Arsenic is a basic element, as listed on the periodic table of elements. It is not formed by combining any one thing with any other; it exists as is in the same way gold does. Just as there was no magical philosophers' stone that would enable its user to transform various worthless substances into gold, neither will the combination of shrimp and Vitamin C tablets produce arsenic.

In any case, we haven't turned up any "medical report" (received from the unnamed but authoritative-sounding "my friend" or not) that links shrimp and Vitamin C with arsenic "toxication." Likewise, we have found no news accounts of any death(s) occurring in Taiwan from this

combination.

What we have here is the usual unsigned e-mail of unknown origin promoting a dubious claim. What went through the head of the person who wrote this. Pure hoax? Something egregiously misheard then overreacted to? We don't know, but we do know nothing of less-than-dubious validity supports this one.

Barbara "arsenic and old plaice" Mikkelson

Source: http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/shrimp.asp

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Celexa And Hair Loss

Celexa And Hair Loss Is Inevitable As The Drug Depletes Much Needed Protein In The Body

There is no doubt that Celexa and hair loss are not directly related as far as treating either depression for which the drug is most often prescribed, nor is it meant to control hair loss. Celexa is a drug given to someone who may be in need of improving his or her mood to come out of say depression and thus this drug is really an anti-depressant of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor variety. Also, the main use of Celexa is to increase some natural substances present in the user’s brain and thus, since it is clearly prescribed for treating depression, it must not be used outside without first getting a doctor to prescribe it and so considering Celexa and hair loss without first getting medical opinion would be dangerous to say the least.

Also A Means To Treat Prostate Cancer

Celexa is also used for prostrate cancer treatment and as an anti-depressant it can be used for the treatment of hot flashes especially in men who may be undergoing hormonal therapy for their prostate cancer problem. Thus, far from Celexa and hair loss being genuinely concerned with anything but depression, and now of late prostate cancer as well, one would need to think twice before using Celexa for hair loss.

In fact, doctors would actually be the first to inform you that celexa causes hair loss as a side effect though such a reaction has yet to be medically confirmed. There are however many patients that have reported Celexa and hair loss as occurring after using this anti-depressant and one of the reasons put forward as to why Celexa and hair loss go together is that the drug can cause protein depletion and also amino acid depletion. And, hair is essentially made up of protein which makes the theory stronger and also quite valid that there is no advantage to be gained from using Celexa as far as preventing hair loss is concerned.

Thus, besides asking your doctor about Celexa and hair loss, you may also need to ask about how to prevent such hair loss that is a result of taking Celexa and also try and avoid taking the drug by looking for alternative solutions. You may want to consider eating a diet that is going to promote your health and which contains enough of proteins as well as iron that will promote hair growth, and by also ensuring that you get enough rest and do not treat your hair abrasively, you will have found good ways of reducing and also preventing hair loss in your normal activities.

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The Dynamics Of Manic Depression

Manic depression is also termed as bipolar disorder or bipolar affective disorder. The term manic depression was coined due to the differing moods that a person with this mental condition may have at any given time. Many people have no idea what is manic depression since the individual with this condition may seem normal in between bouts of mania and depression.

Symptoms Of Manic Depression

This mental state is easy to spot when the suspected individual is a family member or a good friend. The reason for this is that people usually notice a change in attitude and mood of their friends and family members when they are in constant contact with each other. Since this state of mind or mental condition can occur in as short as a few hours or as long as several days, many people who have this condition may not be noticed.

Manic depression can manifest as bouts of mania or depression. Manic episodes may consist of irritable or elevated moods of the individual. In this state of manic depression, the individual can be hyper active, talkative (to the extent of not being understood to well when he or she talks) and in a distinct high. The buzz will be very distinct and may be occur suddenly or within a span of a few days.

Depression in this condition can occur almost immediately after the manic episode, which can be alarming for some people who witness it, or can occur after a span of normal attitude from the individual, in which time the individual may seem normally experiencing a bout of sadness or stress.

Manic depression can go unnoticed for years until such time that the individual may be the one to notice the strangeness of his or her condition. These cases of manic depression are for those who do not experience of mania or depression in a span of just days or hours. It is not as noticeable and can be shrugged off as plain old depression or just hyperactivity. There are circumstances in manic depression when an individual may experience both mania and depression at the same time at which point many people will notice this instability.

Treatment

Treating manic depression can be done with medication, especially for those prone to manic episodes, and self help, for those who have mild manic depression. Psychiatric session can also be integrated with medication, recommended by most professionals for the best possible treatment. There are alternative treatments to manic depression, which may consist of herbs and therapies that can soothe or calm a person.

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Herbal Hair Loss Cures

A lot of men, as well as women, are suffering from the problem of hair loss. This is due to several different reasons that may include medical conditions, advancing age or probably it might just run in the family.

Today, there is a plethora of medical hair loss cures. Some prove to be very effective and some show no results at all. The problem with the former though is that it may put holes in your pockets due to the expensive price.

There are alternatives for medical hair loss cures and this is through the use of herbs. It has been proven that there are indeed herbs that help people with hair loss problems. Here are a few examples that you may want to try.

Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera is one of the good herbal hair loss cures. Herbalists say that this herb contains two substances which when combined can incite hair re-growth especially in men who are suffering from the male type pattern baldness. These two substances are nitric oxide and super oxide dismutane. Aloe Vera as an herbal hair loss cure is used externally. The gel produced by this plant is the one used to rub on your hair regularly.

Onion

Another herbal hair loss cure is not difficult to look for and can easily be found in any kitchen, an onion. It is believed that onion is an effective plant in treating hair loss. Before going to the bath and washing your hair, rub half an onion on it. Doing this regularly will stimulate hair growth.

Safflower Oil

Eastern health practitioners have used safflower oil as a hair loss cure. Applying safflower oil in the scalp promotes good blood circulation. It is considered as a vasodilator, which means it can stimulate dilation of blood vessels. Through this, more and more nutrients are then allowed to be delivered to the hair follicle and can gradually help in the growth of hair.

Green Tea

Unlike the above herbal hair loss cures which are applied externally, Green Tea (as it is supposed to be) is drank. Catechins, substances found in Green Tea, is capable of inhibiting the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme, which is believed to be a great factor in male baldness. Drinking Green Tea regularly should help as a hair loss cure. If you are not a fan of tea or dislike its taste, you can always have it in capsule form.

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Hair Loss Causes: Reasons Why Your Hair Is Slowly Disappearing

All of us shed a few strands of hair every day. There is really no cause for alarm if you loss a few strands of hair after taking a shower or while brushing your hair when you wake up in the morning. However, losing more than a hundred strands of hair in a day is not normal. If you are one of those people who are losing their hair at an alarming rate, you should consult your doctor about it before you totally go bald. Note that there are several causes of hair loss and some of these hair loss causes can have some serious implications to your health.

Inherited Hair Loss

One of the most common causes of hair loss is genetic in nature. This situation is especially true among men. If baldness runs in your family, you will most likely start losing your hair as you hit your forties or fifties. Some people start losing their hair early and some start shedding their hair later in life but all the same, if baldness runs in your family, you will most likely experience hair loss as you grow older.

Since hair loss due to genetics causes is permanent, you may not be able to re-grow your hair normally after you start shedding them off. Some hair growing products may be able to help you to some extent but in most cases, the effects of these hair-growing products are minimal. If you really want to re-grow your hair, you might as well opt for hair implants. Yes, hair implants may cause you a lot of money but if you really want to have some hair on your head, you might as well invest some money in this type of treatment.

Hair Loss Through Diseases

Diseases like lupus, cancer or syphilis are some of the more serious causes of hair loss. If you are experiencing rapid hair loss and you feel generally unwell, you should consult your doctor right away. Some types of cancers, lupus and syphilis can be cured easily if caught in its early stages. Now the good thing about hair loss caused by certain types of diseases is that it is temporary. This means that after treatment, your hair will most like grow back on its own.

Hair Loss Due To Poor Nutrition And Stress

Stress and poor nutrition can cause hair loss in many people. If you are one of those people who lead stressful lives and you are not eating healthy foods, you will most like loss more strands of hair compared to other people who lead healthy lifestyles. Fortunately, hair loss caused by stress and poor diet is temporary.

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Hair Loss

Causes of Hair Loss in Men and Women

Thinning hair is a common problem for both men and women, and there are many factors that can contribute to a sparser scalp. Some of the causes of hair loss are easy to recognize and treat, such as discontinuing particular medications that are contributing to a problem. Others, like male-pattern baldness are simply a part of the aging process, and there is little that can be done to stop it. However, if you experience any type of sudden and significant hair loss, it is important to see your doctor since this can be a sign of an underlying illness. Your doctor can help you find the reason why your hair is thinning and determine whether anything can be done to stop it.

Harsh Hair Treatment
Hair that is treated right will reward you with a thick, luscious mane of tresses that is full of health and body. Hair that is over-treated – by a variety of chemicals and harsh hair processes may become brittle and thin when the treatments are done incorrectly or too often. These processes might include perms, color treatments and relaxers. You can also contribute to hair loss by frequently wearing pigtails or using tight rollers. This thinning is known as traction alopecia, and is the result of constant pulling on the hair from these types of styles. If the pulling is stopped early enough, hair can grow back. However, if scarring has already taken place on the scalp, the result may be permanent.

Autoimmune Condition
There is another type of hair loss, known as alopecia areata, which is thought to be caused by an autoimmune condition. In this situation, the immune system actually creates antibodies to the body's own hair, which can result in a thinner scalp. This condition occurs in people who are in excellent health otherwise, and can be characterized by a smooth, round spot somewhere on the scalp. There are a number of possible treatments for this type of hair loss, including corticosteroid injections, topical medications or light treatment.

Hereditary Hair Loss
This is the most common type of hair loss, and unfortunately, the one cause that has the least help available. Some people who are dealing with a thinning head have found success with either a topical remedy like Minoxodil, which can be purchased over the counter under a commercial name like Rogaine, or an oral prescription from their doctor, such as Finasteride. However, many others have found that their hair loss is simply a natural part of the aging process and have chosen to accept it rather than treat it.

If you are suffering from hair loss of any type, it is important to see your doctor to determine the cause and an appropriate treatment option. Your doctor can tell you whether the thinning scalp is a natural part of aging or whether there is an underlying medical condition that can and should be treated.

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Signs And Symptoms Of Depression

Depression is a state of mind that an individual gets into when there is a lot of stress happening in his or her life at the moment. Many people are affected by this state of mind and some more than others. There are people who are born with genes that make them more susceptible to a state of depression that may need therapy and medication in order to treat it. There are many different causes of this state of mind and it is not only genes that cause it.

Causes Of Depression

There are several causes of depression and these are usually attributed to stress. Mental stress is the prime cause of this state of mind along with one's genes. The piling up of many stressful situations and problems is what triggers the mood of depression. How one is made up genetically may be the reason why some people experience it longer and more deeply than others. Some people are more prone to this mood than others.

Emotional trauma is another cause of depression. A life altering event such as death or an accident can easily trigger this mental state in one's mind. The upheaval of a home or a divorce can also be what is termed as emotional trauma. Some experiences o failure may also pile up and incite depression in some people. Manic depression can occur to those especially prone to it and the need of a trained psychiatrist may be necessary to treat the individual.

What To Look For

There are plenty of signs that a person may be suffering from depression. Listlessness, anxiety and unwillingness to participate in some activities can be signs of this mental condition. Keeping oneself and having little or no friends can also be a sign of depression especially if the individual stays at home most of the time and does not have any visitors. Other signs that a person may be suffering from depression are sleepless nights, loss of appetite and inactivity.

These signs are not the only ones that one should look out for since many people cope with depression in their own different ways. Some people behave normally on the outside but may be suffering from this condition without any outward signs or manifestations. In some ways, the release of the cause of stress can treat depression although in most cases, outside help and guidance may be necessary. Professionals are the ones that can actually treat those suffering from this condition although mild cases resolve given some time.

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High Cholesterol Level Is Not Good For Your Health

High cholesterol level can impair your health and requires immediate action so that the level can be reduced to a more manageable one. Too much of cholesterol can cause formation of plaque in your arteries that in turn can lead to severe medical conditions such as a heart attack. Proper nutrition as well as adequate amount of regular exercises is keys to bringing these levels to a more manageable level.

No Need To Take Drugs

In fact, people are sure to be astonished to learn that keeping their cholesterol level can be achieved without needing to take any drugs. All it takes is to make a concerted effort and results will be there for you to see. It also means keeping a close watch on type and quantity of food you consume. Some foods will elevate while others will help reduce cholesterol levels in your blood. For example, eating plenty of vegetables and fruits on a daily basis will cause a dramatic reduction of bad cholesterol level in your body.

Another way of reducing these LDL (bad) levels is to eat oat bran cookies; in fact, you can lower the levels by up to twenty-six percent (it is believed). Even foods that contain high fiber are believed to be very effective in controlling cholesterol level; on the other hand, you can also achieve the desired results by consuming foods that are low in cholesterol content.

There no doubts the fact that in case your cholesterol level becomes too high it is then vital that you immediately learn about which foods are good for you and which are not. You must be careful to consume only recommended foods and also pay close attention to your fitness and avoid eating foods that contain too much of fat, and in addition, also reduce the intake of calories. It will definitely mean avoiding animal products that are known to contain high amounts of cholesterol.

Eating grapes is another good way of controlling your cholesterol level and the same goes for apples that contain fiber as well as pectin that are anti-oxidant and which help to contain cholesterol level in the blood. It pays to also learn about what constitutes normal cholesterol level as this information can help you know which foods to eat so that your blood does not contain too much cholesterol.

If you are suffering from coronary heart disease or are liable to suffer heart attacks it is highly recommended that you take special care to ensure that cholesterol level in your blood does not rise above recommended levels. With high cholesterol levels comes the risk of clogging up your arteries and consequently suffering a heart attack. Getting an annual check-up is a good way to help ensure that you are able to succeed in keeping cholesterol levels to acceptable levels.

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Some Misconceptions Related To Cholesterol

One of the most common myths surrounding cholesterol is that each and every food that contains high fatty content will affect your health adversely. However, not all dietary fats are the same and in fact, in this regard you will need to distinguish between saturated fatty and non-saturated fatty acids. In addition, there are mono-saturated fatty acids to contend with as well.

There no doubts the fact that saturated fatty acids will cause increase in fat in a person’s blood and adds to the bad cholesterol or LDL (low density lipoproteins). On the other hand poly-unsaturated and mono-saturated fatty acids have the opposite effect in that they reduce fat in a person’s blood and in addition they decrease bad cholesterol as well.

Not Good For Your Body

Another common myth is that cholesterol is not good for your body; however, it is a required (and, essential) ingredient that keeps a person’s body functioning normally and it is also found in membranes of living cells. Cholesterol also helps to keep out dangerous chemicals and it also does not allow cell components to leave the cells; in addition, it also is vital to formation of a person’s sex hormones as well as bile salts.

Most people also mistakenly believe that by consuming Vitamins E and C they can lower the level of cholesterol in their bodies. However, this is not true and nor is there any evidence that supports such a way of thinking. The myth that it is the sole reason why plaque builds up in a person’s arteries is false and needs to be debunked.

In fact, plaque is generally caused because of an amino acid known as homocysteine that does however cause cholesterol molecules to adhere to it which in turn attracts more of these molecules and so, plaque is formed.

It is also commonly believed that high levels of cholesterol will make a person feel sick. In fact, there are no real visible symptoms or signs to let a person know that levels of cholesterol in their body are on the high side. The only way to determine whether or not such levels are high is through having a lipid profile taken.

It is also wrong to believe that high cholesterol levels are only found in the blood of old people. However, keeping a close check on these levels is vital to enjoying safe and good health. Our lives today are filled with a lot more pressure than was the case only a few decades ago and this is causing even young adults to suffer from elevated levels of cholesterol in their blood. Keeping tabs on the amount of cholesterol present in your blood is a good means of controlling the situation and ensuring good health.

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