If you, or someone in your family, smokes and you have children, then it is important to ensure that they are not the recipients of, which is classified as a known human (Group A) carcinogen by the U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency. Secondhand smoke is scientifically correlated with a range of illnesses from asthma to cancer to heart disease, and it is even more damaging to children whose lungs and immune systems are still developing. Given the statistics, the less exposure your kids have, the better.

Steps

1. Stop smoking. If you or anyone else in your home smokes, the most effective way to prevent harm to the kids is to quit (or persuade the resident smoker to quit) as soon as possible. It is a hard habit to break but look at just some of the benefits you get for stopping:
   • Healthier kids, less respiratory illness (and fewer medical bills) for you and for them,
   • Clean home environment, no yellowing paintwork, no odors.
   • Cleaner, healthier teeth & gums, which can save you from having work done at the dentist.
   • Cleaner upholstery, curtains, and mirrors.
   • No cost of cigarettes.
   • No chance of household fire from a cigarette or of cigarette burns.
2. Smoke outdoors. Make it a rule to never smoke inside the home, even in the middle of winter. Indoor smoke builds up and anyone in proximity to that smoke is a target of the carcinogenic chemicals and respiratory irritants cigarette smoke contains. The chemical particles also fall onto the household furniture, upholstery and walls, and continue to emit potentially damaging chemicals long after the cigarette is extinguished, not to mention the stale odor of tobacco smoke. But, standing on your driveway and lighting up will be bad for people who pass by, and smoke in the yard can easily go over walls and fences. However, smoking outdoors is always the best choice, because the smoke will naturally disappear much faster outdoors than indoors. Smoking in your home is similar to smoking in a car with the windows rolled up, except that the effects are more instant in a car rather than more long term in a home.
3. Never smoke in the car. It is never okay to smoke in a car when you have kids, even when your kids are not in the car with you, because the smoke residue lingers and off-gases whenever the kids are in the car. Rolling down a window helps some, but can blow the smoke directly into your kids’ faces.
4. Ask guests to light up outdoors. It is your home and you have a right to a smoke-free environment. Be polite but firm and let the guests know that because of the kids, there is a strict “no indoor smoking” policy in place.
5. Keep the kids away from public places where smoking is concentrated. If you do not live in an area with laws banning smoking in restaurants, find the restaurants that voluntarily ban smoking when you take your kids out to eat. This also applies to concerts, shows, entertainment places, and anywhere that smokers feel comfortable lighting up. Be aware that even where smoking is banned indoors, many places still permit smoking on outdoor patios. Keep the kids away from tables of smokers or take them indoors.
6. Ask babysitters not to smoke. This can be difficult, especially if you are asking grandparents or friends to babysit, but you must be firm for the sake of your children’s health.
7. Make alternative arrangements. If you work or follow hobbies in a place that permits smoking, and you need to take your child there for any amount of time, make sure that your child is not exposed to the smoke of others in this environment. If you cannot manage this, make alternative arrangements.

Tips

• Air fresheners only mask the scent of cigarette smoke – they do not remove it. Filters suck up the odor, but all the harmful chemicals will still be lingering, undetectable but still harmful.
• Remember what secondhand smoke exposes children to. Would you allow your children to consume or inhale arsenic, lead, mercury, DDT, acetone, ammonia, formaldehyde, cyanide, or carbon monoxide? These are the chemicals found in secondhand smoke. They may not be visible, but they are there. When inhaled even in small amounts on a regular basis, they can cause significant damage to a developing body. Secondhand smoke causes 3,400 cases of lung cancer each year and 22,000 to 70,000 heart disease in adult non-smokers in the US each year (American Lung Association).
• If you slipped and smoked in your car or indoors, vacuum thoroughly and clean out the car or the room by wiping down furniture, car upholstery, etc. and leave the windows wide open to let in fresh air. Empty all ashtrays and put the garbage bag outside. The amount of extra cleaning effort might help to convince you that it is just easier not to smoke in the first place.
• Change the air filter in your car if you smoke in it. They will contain the smoke smell and make it worse when you turn on your heat or A/C.

Warnings

• The surgeon general states that there is NO safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke. Short exposures to second hand smoke can cause blood platelets to become stickier, damage the lining of blood vessels, decrease coronary flow velocity reserves, and reduce heart rate variability, potentially increasing the risk of heart attack (American Lung Association).
• Kids exposed to cigarette smoke can get severe bronchial and other respiratory illnesses, and have an increased exposure to carcinogens, which can trigger cancer. Young bodies are far more vulnerable to cell mutation triggered by secondhand smoke as they are growing. But, that does not make adults completely immune to secondhand smoke either.
• Cigarette smoke contains around 4000 chemicals, a number of which are known carcinogens.

source: www.healthcareadvices.com/childs-health/protect-your-kids-from-secondhand-smoke/

Many of us have a phobia – an extreme or irrational fear – of something. Most of the time we can live with such fears, but in some cases they can take over a person’s life. Luckily, help is at hand.

What is a phobia?

A phobia is an intense fear or feeling of anxiety that occurs only in a particular situation that frightens you.

This might be something as seemingly logical as a fear of heights, or as illogical as a fear of the colour green. At other times you don’t feel anxious. For example, if you have a phobia of spiders (as millions of people do), you only feel anxious when there’s a spider around, otherwise you feel fine.

About one in ten people has a significant phobia, although few people seek treatment.

People develop phobias to all sorts of things. Each phobia has its own name. Some (of a very long list) include:

* Musophobia – fear of mice
* Peladophobia – fear of bald people
* Amathophobia – fear of dust
* Pnigophobia – fear of choking or smothering
* Maieusiophobia – fear of childbirth
* Homichlophobia – fear of fog
* Arachibutyrophobia – fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth

Phobias make people avoid situations they know will make them anxious, but this can make the phobia worse. A person’s life can become increasingly dominated by the precautions they take to avoid a situation they fear. You may know there’s no real danger and you may feel embarrassed by your fear, but you’re still unable to control it. It’s better to confront your fears, even if it’s in a very careful way or with the help of a trained therapist.

A phobia is more likely to go away if it began after a distressing or traumatic event.

What’s the treatment?

Cognitive behavioural therapy – a ‘talking treatment’ where you learn all about the thing or situation you are scared of and how to change your behaviour – has a high success rate in phobias. Your GP can refer you.

For a more detailed look at phobias and the effect they can have, go to the Mental health site.

This article was last medically reviewed by Dr Trisha Macnair in August 2007.

source: www.bbc.co.uk/health/emotional_health/mental_health/mind_phobias.shtml

A review of 100 attacks on guide dogs (dogs that help blind people get around) by other dogs report that there are over 3 attacks each month in the UK, with bull breeds accounting for approximately 40% of all attacks, according to a report published in this week’s Veterinary Record, a BMJ publication.

The authors, two of whom work for the UK Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, examined data on 100 canine attacks on guide dogs between November 2006 and April 2009.

The researchers wanted to quantify how often attacks took place and how severe they were, as well as the impact on the handler and the dog.

61% of attacks were made on dogs that were in harness and working with their trainer or owner. 85.7% of the aggressors and 62% of the victims were male.

Breeds most likely to be attacked were:

• Labradors
• Golden retrievers
• Retriever cross breeds

The majority of attacks took place in public places and in daylight hours between 0900 and 1500 hours.

61% of the attacking dogs were off the lead (leash) at the time. Excluding cross breeds, just under 46% of the attackers were bull breeds – mastiffs, bull terriers, pit bull types, Staffordshire bull terriers and bulldogs. This is a much higher percentage than is found in the general dog population of the UK, where bull breeds account for around 6%, say the researchers.

13.6% of the aggressors were guard dog breeds. Guard dog breeds make up just under 6% of the UK dog population.

49 guide dogs required veterinary care following the attack. In 19% of cases, either the handler or a member of the public sustained injuries, including scratching, bruising, and bites to the hands, ankle or head. In eight of these 19 cases, medical attention was required.

45% of the dogs attacked were affected in a way that subsequently altered their performance or behavior. Two guide dogs had to be withdrawn from guiding service.

There were also emotional repercussions for the owners/handlers, who received an apology from the owners of the aggressor dogs in only six cases. In eight cases, they left the scene without saying anything to the handler. This is despite the fact that many of the handlers were shaken and distressed, and unable to see if their dog needed veterinary care after the attack, say the authors.

There are approximately 4,500 working guide dogs in the United Kingdom, supported by the Association, and it costs around £50,000 ($75,000) to maintain a guide dog during its life time, they point out.

The authors wrote:

The financial implications of attacks on guide dogs should not be underestimated,” they write, “especially if retraining or replacing a guide dog is necessary. Most importantly, a person in critical need of a guide dog may be without one for a period of time while waiting for a suitable replacement to be trained; this will impact on their quality of life and mobility.

source: www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/192385.php

UNISON, the UK’s leading public sector union, today slammed private homecare companies for exploiting staff and leaving elderly people without the care and support they need.

Private care companies routinely employ staff on zero hours contracts, that often means huge swings in paid hours for staff. By refusing to pay for travel time between visits, many home carers are effectively paid below the minimum wage.

They are not offered even basic training, including how to administer medicines, despite having to give them out as a part of their work.

Some companies book back-to-back calls with no travel time at all. This forces carers to shave minutes off already packed care slots, and means elderly people are short-changed, missing out on vital support.

Out of their low wages, many care workers have to pay for their own transport, mobile phones and uniforms – all essential to do the job.

UNISON wants homecare companies to put the care back into caring, by paying for travel time between clients, boosting training and working conditions for carers. This would have the knock on benefit of raising standards of care for elderly people who rely on the service.

Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said:

“It is a scandal that private homecare companies are boosting profits for themselves, but short-changing elderly people and staff. They are cutting corners by scrimping and saving on what they pay their staff. This has a huge knock on effect on elderly people relying on care to live independent lives in their own homes.

“Many UNISON members tell us they miss out on basic training, including how to give medicines or deal with people with dementia, which is a routine part of the job.

“Most care workers are on the minimum wage as it is. It’s a disgrace that private companies, who can get paid more than £15 from local authorities for an hour of care, exploit staff on low wages by refusing to pay for travel time. Over the course of a day, this can lead to some carers slipping below the national minimum wage.

“Improving pay rates, providing more training, and allowing staff enough time to visit people and travel between appointments, would instantly boost standards of care, giving people the dignity they deserve.”

Good Practice

UNISON’s Norfolk Country Branch have negotiated, with Careforce UK, changes to terms and conditions, so that carers will be paid for travel time between visits, for waiting time, and will receive an increased mileage rate.

Bad Practice

Choices – Care at Home employs more than 300 home carers in South Lanarkshire. In February, the company ripped up staff employment contracts, replacing them with zero hours contracts for staff. They pay staff just £5.80 per hour, 5p above the minimum wage and 17p mileage rates.

A carer working for the company, who wanted to remain anonymous, said:

“My company schedules visits so I have to walk for up to thirty minutes. They don’t schedule enough time, and I can’t cut time off my visits, so it means every day I run over. If you’re meant to finish about nine pm, it can be nearly ten o’clock by the time you get home. That makes it really difficult if you have to get home to put the children to bed. I can’t complain, because I’ll lose the work.

“If you get new clients, you don’t know what their needs are until you get there. I think we should be fully briefed before we get to visits, so we know what to expect.”

Another care worker, in the same area said:

“I’ve just lost 24 hours of paid work since I changed onto a zero hours contract. As I get just 5p above the minimum wage, and only 17p per mile, it makes it hard to pay the bills. I’ve also had to spend more than £100 on uniform since I started working for Choices, as they only issue you with one tunic when you start. And I often have to use my own mobile phone.”

source: UNISON

If more women quit smoking before they became pregnant, it would save infant lives, concludes a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Despite a decline over the past decade in the number of women who smoke during pregnancy, smoking is still a major cause of newborn deaths, early births and babies born with low birth weight.

“We know about half of women quit when they find out that they are pregnant, but a lot of women are still smoking during pregnancy,” said Patricia Dietz, DrPh, lead study investigator.

The study appears online and in the July issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Dietz and co-investigators examined data from the US Linked Birth/Infant Death Data Set, which included all 3.3 million births of single babies that occurred in the United States (with the exception of California) during 2002. About 11.5 percent of babies, or 386,000, had mothers who smoked during pregnancy.

Researchers determined that prenatal smoking caused 5 percent to 8 percent of premature births and 13 percent to 19 percent of cases of low birth weight in babies carried to full term. Of infants who died, 5 percent to 7 percent of preterm-related deaths and 23 percent to 34 percent of deaths caused by sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) might have been preventable if the mother had not smoked before pregnancy.

In addition, the researchers wrote that if all women quit smoking during pregnancy, it could cut health care costs by about $232 million every year – and improve overall health for both mothers and children.

“The percentage of SIDS deaths that might be avoided with smoking cessation is a significant number,” said Diane Ashton, M.D., deputy medical director of the March of Dimes. “For women who smoke and are considering pregnancy, we strongly recommend that they get preconception counseling for smoking cessation.”

Given these sobering statistics, why do some women continue to smoke during pregnancy?

“Studies have shown that these women may be dealing with a lot of stress, such as economic hardship, or they might be dealing with depression or other mental health issues,” Dietz said. “Most of them are living with other smokers that make it difficult to quit. They may be living in communities where it’s acceptable to smoke – where everyone is smoking. So it’s really complex.”

“This is an addiction,” Ashton said. “If pregnancy could cure addiction then none of these issues would be a problem. During pregnancy, women tend to be a little more highly motivated to address their addictions, but a lot of it depends on the level of readiness of the individual.”

source: www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/191126.php

Researchers at Yale School of Medicine have discovered a method to select sperm with the highest DNA integrity in a bid to improve male fertility. The method is comparable to that of the egg’s natural selection abilities, according to the study published in the June/July issue of the Journal of Andrology.

“Our results could help address the fact that approximately 40 percent of infertility cases can be traced to male infertility,” said the senior author of the study, Gabor Huszar, M.D., director of the Sperm Physiology Lab and senior research scientist in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences at Yale.

Huszar said that past semen analysis focused on sperm concentration and motility. It was assumed that if a man had a high sperm count and active sperm, that he was fertile. But there was no information on the sperm’s fertility or its ability to attach to its mark, the female gamete. In an ideal case, the egg naturally selects the optimal sperm, but during in-vitro fertilization treatment of men who had only a few sperm, clinicians did not know whether they were injecting the correct sperm into the egg for fertilization. “We have now found a biochemical marker of sperm fertility so that we can select sperm with high genetic integrity,” Huszar said.

Huszar and his colleagues tested the idea that binding sperm to hyaluronic acid selects sperm with high DNA integrity. They studied semen samples from 50 men, and a part of the sperm in the semen was allowed to bind to hyaluronic acid. These sperm were isolated, and the DNA chain integrity was compared to the original sperm in semen. The team used a reagent that stained sperm with high DNA integrity green, whereas sperm with fragmented DNA, and diminished DNA integrity were stained red.

“The sperm with fragmented DNA work like scratched CDs,” Huszar said. “They seem to be operational, but when you play them, some of the information is missing. These damaged sperm may also carry chromosomal aberrations that could be related to genetic diseases.” Huszar and his colleagues identified the nuclear and cytoplasmic attributes of various sperm. They also identified a key relationship between the ability of sperm to bind to hyaluronic acid and between high sperm genetic integrity, which enhances the sperm’s contribution to normal embryo development.

“When sperm is selected with hyaluronic acid binding, they are of comparable, if not better, overall quality than sperm chosen by the oocyte in the natural fertilization process,” said Huszar.

Notes:
Other Yale authors on the study included Artay Yagci, William Murk and Jill Stronk.
Citation: Journal of Andrology (June/July 2010)

Source: Yale University Copyright: Medical News Today

World Thyroid Day was established in 2008 as part of a campaign led by the European Thyroid Association and the American Thyroid Association to emphasize the prevalence of thyroid diseases, to focus on the urgent need for education and prevention programs and to increase awareness of new treatment modalities.

The thyroid gland, butterfly-shaped, relatively small, and located in the middle of the lower neck, produces hormones that influence every cell, tissue and organ in the body. The thyroid hormones regulate the body’s metabolism-the rate at which the body produces energy from nutrients and oxygen-and affects critical body functions, such as energy level and heart rate.

Diseases of the thyroid, including thyroid cancer, thyroid failure and thyroid overactivity, affect tens of millions of people worldwide.

“World Thyroid Day is dedicated to patients and all who are committed to clinical and experimental thyroidology,” said Dr. Leonidas Duntas, chair of the European Thyroid Association and Professor of Endocrinology at the University of Athens Medical School. “We feel confident that by merging our efforts and our resources we may substantially contribute to raising awareness of thyroid diseases through increasing information about thyroid disorders that afflict so many millions of patients around the globe.”

“Thyroid disorders are increasingly being recognized in our population and may affect anyone from childhood to old age and are a frequent cause of problems with fertility, pregnancy and brain development,” said Dr. Terry Davies, president of the American Thyroid Association. “Increased awareness of these disorders by the public will improve their treatment and aid research into their causes.”

“Hypothyroidism,” an underactive thyroid, is a condition where the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone. This is the most common form of thyroid disease. Symptoms include fatigue, depression, forgetfulness, irregular menses and weight gain. Treatment for hypothyroidism is a synthetic form of thyroid hormone called “levothyroxine.”

“Hyperthyroidism,” is a condition causing the gland to produce too much thyroid hormone. Symptoms include irritability, nervousness, muscle weakness, unexplained weight loss, sleep disturbances, vision problems and eye irritation. Graves’ disease, one type of hyperthyroidism, is an autoimmune disorder that is partly genetic.

The thyroid also has a great impact on women’s health during pregnancy. During pregnancy, the thyroid gland produces up to 50 percent more thyroid hormone as compared to when a woman is not pregnant, and may increase in size by 10-15 percent. The chance of developing hypothyroidism during pregnancy is increased as compared to when a woman is not pregnant. The ATA recommends that women at high-risk for thyroid disease should be screened on becoming pregnant.

Thyroid cancer is the most rapidly increasing form of cancer in the United States. The National Cancer Institute reported 37,200 new cases of thyroid cancer in 2009. Growths in the thyroid gland may be discovered by self-examination and, in the vast majority of patients, can be completely cured. They must be distinguished from benign nodules common in the population.

The American Thyroid Association (ATA) is the lead organization in promoting thyroid health and understanding thyroid biology. The ATA values scientific inquiry, clinical excellence, public service, education, collaboration, and collegiality.

A non-profit medical society founded in 1923, the ATA fulfills its mission through supporting excellence and innovation in research, clinical care, education, and public health. ATA members are physicians and scientists who work to enhance the understanding of thyroid physiology and pathophysiology, improve the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid diseases, and promote the education of physicians, patients, and the public about thyroid disorders.

The official journal “Thyroid” of the ATA is published monthly. “Clinical Thyroidology” is published online monthly for the benefit of clinicians and scientists around the world. To further benefit patients, the ATA publishes an online journal “Clinical Thyroidology for Patients.”

Thyroid diseases are among the most common disorders of the endocrine system, affecting almost 13 million Americans alone. The ATA has extensive online information for patients on thyroid disease (in English and Spanish) serving the clinician as a resource for patients and the public who look for reliable information on the internet. The Alliance for Patient Education was formed in 2002 to offer an exchange of information between the ATA and patient education groups: ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc.; the Light of Life Foundation, and the Graves’ Disease Foundation. A public forum is held each year in conjunction with the ATA annual meeting.

source: www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/189693.php

Life Science Analytics’, Bacterial Infections Therapy Area Pipeline Report contains detailed information on the bacterial infections drug pipeline.

This report provides insight into the pipeline status of bacterial infections drugs by company and by stage as well as a summary of the latest news and developments in this area.

Scope of the report:

Each Therapy Area Pipeline Report provides the user with real detail on drug pipelines, by company and by stage, for each specific therapy area. The latest news, by company, also ensures that each report is fresh and up-to-date.

In addition to new developments and disease specific pipeline projects, each report also contains extensive information in tabular format on a companys full product pipeline and products by phase of development with regard to the therapy area.

Full pipeline details, by stage, are provided and include detailed product descriptions, information on partnering activity plus clinical trial intelligence. Each Therapy Area Pipeline Report also provides detail on the top 20 companies with products in the early stage of development and the top 20 companies with products in the late stage of development. Finally, each report also provides a comparison with other major indications in the disease hub based on Marketed Products vs. Pipeline Products.

Key benefits

* Understand a companys strategic position by accessing detailed independent intelligence on its product pipeline for specific therapy areas.
* Keep track of your competitors and partners by better understanding their product pipeline.
* Monitor a companys research effectiveness by determining pipeline depth and number of products in development by clinical phase for specific disease areas.
* Maintain a critical competitive advantage.

Key Topics Covered:

% of Products by Phase of Development

No. of Products by Phase of Development

Marketed Products vs. Pipeline Products

Company Overview – Pipeline Projects

Legend

Patent Expirations

Upcoming Milestones

Product Sales

Full Pipeline View

News Updates

Source: www.news-medical.net/news/20100517/Life-Science-Analytics-bacterial-infections-drug-pipeline-report.aspx

Sex is taboo. That’s been told and hinted ad nauseum since school days. Talking or discussing sexual issues have been insurmountable barriers in conservative communities and families.

Add to that a total lack of proper sex education in schools and colleges, and there you have a whole crop of gross misconceptions about sex, and irrational fears and apprehensions emanating from it. There are instances where such fears and misconceptions even lead to serious psychological problems that end up affecting one’s sexual health. Needless to say, all this only contributes to discomfort in mingling with the opposite gender.

It is widely accepted and assumed that unnatural sexual traits, or for that matter a complete lack of interest in sexual matters are all symptoms of a person who lacks sex education. Since there are no proper, formal channels for imparting sex education to teenagers and youth, incomplete and information often results in unanswered questions, unclarified doubts and unwanted consequences.

To have a normal and healthy sex life, it’s important to shed social inhibitions attached to the subject and acquire complete knowledge. This Sex Guide contains important facts and information about essential matters pertaining to sex, with a specific focus on both the genders. Get answers to some basic questions related to sex, intimacy, sexual hygiene and tips for maintaining a healthy sexual relationship with your partner. Explore the Sex Guide for a healthier sex life !

www.healthcareadvices.com/sex-and-relationships/sex-guide/#more-1091

Whenever you think of a beautiful face the first thing that comes to your mind is radiant and glowing skin isn’t it? All of us want beautiful skin but forget to follow some simple tips to get healthy skin.

People wonder why they don’t have beautiful skin like their friends. It is easy to believe that beautiful skin is a gift of those costly products which your friend use and which you can’t afford. But you need to get rid of this misconception. You can not get beautiful skin over night by using some expensive creams. The secret behind glowing skin is a healthy lifestyle. Here are a few tips that will help you to get healthy and radiant skin.

Drink Enough Water:

The first condition for having a beautiful skin is to drink a lot of water. You should drink at least 8 to 10 glasses of water per day to keep your skin hydrated and young. Water helps your body to discharge all toxic elements from your body which keeps your healthy.

Eat Healthy Food:

In order to get beautiful skin it is necessary that you avoid those junk foods even if they are very tasty. You don’t need to ignore chocolates forever. Having a chocolate once in a blue moon is fine but don’t make it a habit. Replace those pizzas and pastries with fresh fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables contain minerals, anti oxidants and vitamins needed for your skin. If you are alcoholic or addicted to smoking you need to quit these habits for a healthier lifestyle.

Use Natural Face Care Products:

Yes it is true that some face care products are good for your skin but you should select natural skin care products. Don’t be fooled by the glamorous TV ads because the products shown there contain chemicals harmful for your skin. So never go for cheap products. Natural products may be expensive but they are worth of buying.

source: www.gethealthadvice.net/healthy-skin/essential-tips-for-healthy-beautiful-skin.html