The Brain Tumor Symptoms

The symptoms of brain tumor vary from patient to patient, and most of these symptoms can also be found in people without brain tumors. So the only way to know if you really have a brain tumor or not is to consult your doctor and get a brain scan.
Headache is the symptom that is common with 46% of patients with tumors. They described this headache in a different way and no reason is a sure sign of a brain tumor for many. Perhaps most people have headaches at some point in their lives, so it is not sure sign of brain tumors. You should talk to your doctor if your headaches are different than you've ever had, with nausea / vomiting, aggravated by bending or effort to go to the bathroom.
Seizures: This was the second most common symptom reported, with 33% of patients reporting a seizure before the diagnosis was made. Seizures can be caused by other things, such high fever, as epilepsy, stroke, trauma and other disorders. This is a symptom that should never be ignored, whatever the cause. In a person who has never had a seizure before, it usually indicates something serious and you should get a brain scan.
A crisis is a sudden and involuntary change in behavior, muscle control, consciousness, and / or sensation. Symptoms can vary from attack and sudden loss of consciousness total agitation of the violent shaking or slight shaking of a limb. A person can experience blurred vision, slurred speech or staring into space and doing other odd behaviors, while having a seizure. About 10% of United States population will experience a single seizure in their lives.
Nausea and Vomiting: As with headaches, these are non-specific - meaning that most people who have nausea and vomiting do not have a brain tumor. Twenty-two percent of our respondents said nausea / vomiting as a symptom.
Nausea and / or vomiting are more likely to look for a brain tumor which is accompanied by other symptoms mentioned here.
Vision problems or hearing: Twenty-five percent reported vision problems first. It is not easy if you have a problem with your hearing or sight, to be extracted. I have often heard that the eye doctor is the first to make diagnoses. When you look in your eyes, sometimes you can see the signs more. Intracranial pressure, because it must be studied.
Problems with the weakness of the arms, legs and facial muscles, and strange sensations in the head or hands: Twenty-five percent reported weakness in the arms or legs. Sixteen percent expressed feelings of weird and strange sensations in there head. This can lead to an altered gait, falling objects, falls, or asymmetric facial expression. These can be symptoms of a stroke. Sudden onset of symptoms is an emergency - you should go to medical emergencies. If you notice a gradual change over time, you should know.

Brain Cancer Survival Rate - Dare to Know Your Chances

A brain cancer survival rate refers to the percentage of people who were reported still living after being diagnosed with the cancer about 5 yrs ago.
Basically, brain tumor is the abnormal growth of cells in the brain and we commonly refer to it as cancer cells. There are different ways in which a tumor may spread. One is that it can be a cause of the spread of cancerous cells originating from another body part or the cancer cells are really coming from the brain itself.
It is true that exposure to harmful chemicals leads to abnormal growth of brain tumor. It was statistically confirmed that about 80% of brain cancer patients are suffering from oligodendroglioma.
Cancer of the brain remains one of the most incurable cancers with an average survival period of one to two years.
Factors Affecting Survival
A five-year brain cancer survival rate may be influenced by several factors including the size of the tumor, at which part of the brain, the severity of the cancer and the stage. In most occasions, the general health of the patient is also an indicative factor of survival.
How do you calculate the rate of survival?
Survival statistics are based on a large number of people, and should not be used to predict the survival of an individual or patient.
Healthline.com reported that children at the age of 14 have around 73 percent chance of surviving cancer of the brain and live until five years of more, while the rate drops to 55 percent with young adults between 15 and 44. Middle-aged patients between 45 and 64 have a rate of 16 percent, and older people have a survival rate of only 5 percent.
Other facts
Statistical facts show that with the proper combination and usage of radiotherapy and chemotherapeutic drugs, the lives of those with brain cancer may be prolonged. In some patients, the quality of live may even be improved but there are those who easily give up and were not luckily able to live more than 2 years.
The brain cancer survival rate presented here is based on a relative result. The total 5-year brain cancer survival rate from the years 1995-2001 was more than 33%. The relative survival rates at 5 years for brain cancer by race and sex were:
• 32.1 percent of Caucasian men
• 37.7 percent for African-American men
• 33.5 percent of Caucasian women
• 37.5 percent for African-American women.
Brain cancer survival rate statistics reveals that about 85% of physical disorders were affected by the negative mental and emotional stress at the fourth/metastatic stage of the disease.
Many patients could attest to the fact that negative emotion and mental stress weaken the immune system despite the fact that there is no such direct connection between negative emotion and cancer, medically speaking. This is one thing we should remember when dealing with patients suffering from cancer, in general.

What Is an Oligodendroglioma?

At the age of 6, I was diagnosed with a brain tumor. It is most commonly found in adults, so perhaps that means I am mature, but likely it only indicates a lack of fortune.
Oligodendroglioma is a type of tumor that is thought to originate the oligodendrocytes in the brain. Most of the time oligodendrogliomas occur in adults; only four percent of them occur in children. On average, patients diagnosed with them are about 35 years old.
Oligodendrogliomas originate from an unknown source at this time. Some studies have shown a link to a viral cause while others have found a genetic cause. More than likely, both are causes.
There is no way to tell if a tumor is an oligodendroglioma aside from taking a biopsy. They often take a shape similar to a fried egg and sort of wrap around healthy cells. This can lead to headaches, dizziness, and seizures. Since oligodendrogliomas can occur anywhere in the brain, they can ultimately have a number of different symptoms associated with them. For instance, visual loss, motor problems, and even cognitive difficulties can result depending on the location of the tumor.
Many experts believe that oligodendrogliomas are ultimately incurable. They tend to be slow growing and are difficult to remove completely and so recurrence is almost certain. Depending on the "grade" of the tumor, victims typically live anywhere from 3-12 years (although I have made it almost 30). Of course this range is only semi-accurate as severity of the tumor, type of treatment, general health at the time of diagnosis, etc., all have a significant impact on the survival rate of oligodendrogliomas and any type of cancer for that matter.
There are a number of different approaches to dealing with oligodendrogliomas including:
1. Surgery- obviously one way to remove any tumor is to surgically excise it. This may be a particularly important approach when the tumor is directly affecting particular brain structures.
2. Radiation therapy- this may be done in addition to surgery or as a standalone treatment to destroy the tumor cells. However, it can also damage healthy tissue.
3. Chemotherapy- this is a natural approach to any tumor because it can be effective at killing off tumor cells, but it often also brings harsh side effects.
4. Stereotactic Surgery- this is a relatively recent approach that allows doctors to "target" cells three dimensionally and essentially "shoot" them with radiation. That way only the bad cells are affected, unlike with radiation.

What Is Mesothelioma? Types and Treatment Options

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer which affects the mesothelium. The mesothelium is a thin membrane which covers the heart, lungs and other internal organs. You normally get this disease from being exposed to asbestos fibers at some point in your life.
Types of mesothelioma
Pleural mesothelioma
Pleural mesothelioma is the most common form is pleural mesothelioma which develops within the mesothelium. Pleural mesothelioma will develop in the pleural membrane which is the lungs lining.
Breathing in asbestos fibers is the cause of pleural mesothelioma. Upon entering the lungs, the asbestos fibers will work their way into the lungs pleural membrane. Once in there, the body will find it almost impossible to get rid of them. Over a period of several decades, the asbestos fibers will cause the pleural cells to change. These changes may lead to the lungs becoming scarred and, eventually, tumors forming.
Once the cells of the pleural membrane turn cancerous, they will continuously divide, leading to a reduction in lung capacity and causing fluid to buildup between the layers of the pleural membrane.
Because pleural mesothelioma is usually not caught until the later stages of the disease, the prognosis for the patient is normally poor. But, if the disease is caught in the early stages, then the patient's prognosis as well as the life expectancy will be much improved.
Peritoneal mesothelioma
Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma - this is a very rare form of cancer which strikes the peritoneum (the cell walls surrounding the abdominal cavity. The peritoneum lubricates the abdominal cavity which allows the surrounding internal organs and body structures to expand and contract. Peritoneal mesothelioma is very rare with fewer than 500 people contracting this form of cancer each year.
Several decades after asbestos fibers are breathed in or ingested; cancer will develop in the patient's abdomen. Modern tests can diagnose whether or not a patient has peritoneal mesothelioma. Despite the fact that it is not usually diagnosed until it is in the later stages, there are still some treatment options.
Although some patients may qualify for surgery and other curative treatment options, other patients may simply choose palliative measures. Most patients with peritoneal mesothelioma survive for less than a year. However, with the proper treatment, life expectancy could increase. A mesothelioma specialist can help patients find the best treatment options for their cancer, which might improve the patient's prognosis.
According to some studies, the average life expectancy of a man diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma is 7 months, although a few men have survived for almost 100 months. Women usually survive for approximately 9 months after being diagnosed, with a few women surviving for a maximum of 49 months. Patients whose mesothelioma was caught early and with less severe symptoms naturally have a better prognosis.
Mesothelioma treatment options
When it comes to treating cancer, doctors focus on killing the malignant cells and saving the healthy ones. There are several ways to do this.
Doctors will utilize chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation or a combination of all three as the most effective way to treat mesothelioma. The treatment that will be recommended is dependent on several issues:
The type and location of the mesothelioma
How big are the tumors?
How much the cancer has metastasized?
What stage the cancer is in.
The patient's age
The patient's overall health
Several types of doctors will be involved in treating the cancer such as an oncologist or cancer specialist, a radiologist, and a pulmonologist or lung specialist. It can take time to figure out the precise location and variety of the cancer, but determining these factors will enable the oncologist to prescribe the most effective mesothelioma treatment.

Should Chest CT Be Used to Screen for Lung Cancer?

Lung malignancy is the #1 cause of cancer death in the United States. In 2011, approximately 221,130 patients (115,060 men and 106,070 women) are estimated to be diagnosed with this malignancy. An estimated 156,940 people (85,600 men and 71,340 women) will die of this disease this year. Although cigarette use has decreased, we still have in America about 94 million current or former smokers who are at increased risk of developing lung tumors.
In the past, screening high risk but asymptomatic smokers has been ineffective with chest x-ray, with or without sputum cytology. However, a new study from The National Lung Screening Trial Research Team shows that screening with low dose chest CT reduces lung tumor death by 20%, in comparison to screening with chest x-ray alone (New England Journal of Medicine, volume 365, pages 395-409, August 4, 2011). This clinical trial took place in 33 medical centers in the United States, and is funded by the National Cancer Institute.
To qualify for enrollment, the patients must have a 30 pack-year smoking history. About seven million people in the United States are in this category. For this clinical trial, 53,454 patients were enrolled between 2002 and 2004, and followed until 2009. The people were randomly assigned to chest CT or chest x-ray performed once yearly for three years. Lung tumor was discovered in 645 cases per 100,000 person-years in the CT group, in comparison to 572 in the chest x-ray group. There were 247 lung cancer deaths per 100,000 person-years in the CT group, versus 309 in the chest x-ray group. This calculates to a 20% reduction in mortality.
The bad news is that 96.4% of the abnormal chest CT findings turned out to be benign, meaning false positives. In other words, an abnormality on the CT translates into a cancer diagnosis in only 3.6% of the time. This means that many of these patients had more radiological tests done, tests that are in retrospect "unnecessary". Some people underwent needle biopsies, bronchoscopy and/or chest surgeries in order to determine whether they have a lung tumor or not. Some of these cases resulted in complications (and even deaths), as expected of invasive procedures in the chest. The group that underwent screening with chest x-rays also experienced the same problem, as 94.5% of the abnormal chest x-ray findings also turned out to be benign.
Due to this high level of false positives, chest CT is currently not yet widely recommended for routine screening for lung cancer in the asymptomatic population at large. Certainly, if you are a current or past smoker and you have any chest symptoms (cough, pain, shortness of breath, hoarseness, wheezing, fatigue, weight loss, etc.), then you should go see a health care professional, who may determine that workup with chest x-ray and chest CT is warranted.

How Arm Lift Surgery Is Performed

Weight fluctuations, effects of aging, and even heredity can cause your upper arm skin to become loose and flabby. An arm lift, otherwise known as brachioplasty, is the procedure to consider when you want to remove the excess skin and fat deposits in your upper arm area. One of the first questions that might come to your mind is how arm lift surgery is performed. Well, this is very important to know, before going ahead with the procedure. Be sure to discuss with your plastic surgeon how arm lift is performed and what the options available today for performing the procedure are.
Restore a More Youthful Arm Contour
Arm lift surgery has become increasingly popular over the last couple of decades, with many people resorting to it to achieve their cosmetic goals. The new and improved methods have made it safe to perform arm tuck procedure. A liposuction is all that is needed for people having excess fat with minimal skin excess and good skin elasticity. More often, the surgeon may recommend an upper arm lift/arm tuck as a way to reshape the under portion of the upper arm, from the underarm region to the elbow. The procedure involves removing excess sagging skin, and tightening the underlying supportive tissue, thus restoring a more youthful arm contour.
Arm tuck surgery can:
• Get rid of excess arm fat in the upper arm region
• Reduce excess sagging skin
• Tighten the underlying supportive tissue
How Is Arm Lift Surgery Performed?
Leading plastic surgeons perform brachioplasty using advanced fat elimination and sculpting technologies. One of the advanced devices used is BodyTite. Currently awaiting FDA clearance, BodyTite body contouring device is highly effective for ensuring successful fat removal along with skin tightening results. The device utilizes a hand piece to deliver radiofrequency energy to the adipose tissue and skin. Utilizing radiofrequency energy, the device liquefies fat and tightens skin. Radiofrequency energy passes from an internal electrode to an external electrode in the device, coagulating adipose, fibrous, and vascular tissue and heating the entire soft-tissue matrix.
The procedure is minimally invasive and is performed after administering local anesthesia. Only small incisions are required; therefore the scarring will be minimal.
An Overview of BodyTite™ Advantages
• Local anesthesia
• Reduced recovery time
• Minimal scarring
• Minimal discomfort
• Outpatient procedure
• Virtually painless
If you're considering undergoing arm lift surgery, schedule a consultation with one of the leading plastic surgeons in your area. Your surgeon would, after evaluating your medical condition and other relevant details, inform you whether you are a candidate for arm lift surgery.

Controversial Causes of Autism

While the definition of Autism is basically clear, the causes aren't. Autism is a developmental disorder that starts either at birth or during the first years of childhood. Treating Autism is crucial in order for a child to develop the ability to interact normally with other people. Autism is about 20 times more common than experts initially thought that it was. However, there is no clear consensus among them about the actual cause(s) of Autism. That said, there are various (debatable) theories about what causes the disorder. Here are some of them:
1. Genes
It is unquestionable that genetics is a major factor of Autism. However, the composition of the genes that result in Autism is quite complex, and medical researchers aren't 100% certain about which genes result in the disorder. Recently, scientists uncovered the first important connection between Autism and a person's DNA. The study involved about 1,000 autistic people, and 1,200 non-autistic people. It revealed that autistic children typically have about 20% more Copy Number Variations (CNVs) in their DNA makeup, than non-autistic children do. This discovery could result in the improved diagnosis and treatment of Autism. For example, by understanding how the nervous systems of autistic children develop differently than usual, the hope is that new and better treatments will be available for them. While this new development in promising, researchers admit that they'll need several more years to understand fully the link between CNVs and Autism.
2. Joint Attention
This involves a person's using gazes or pointing gestures when observing a particular object or event. It's important to note that different Joint Attention behaviors are observed in different children with Autism. One theory is that autistic children use Joint Attention as often as non-autistic children do, although via different methods.
3. Mental Retardation
Another controversy involving the causes of Autism are related to mental retardation. A commonly held belief is that the majority of autistic people are also meet the clinical definition of mental retardation. However, that perception is somewhat questionable. Studies show that the percentage of autistic people who are mentally retarded can range from about one-fourth or three-fourths. The reason for the large variance is due to the challenge of evaluating the intelligence of people with Autism. Some experts suggest that standard intelligence tests are heavily language-based, and that those tests that evaluate one's ability for abstract reasoning are better at gauging the intelligence of autistic individuals.
4. Vaccines
There is some strong clinical evidence indicating that vaccines could be one of the primary factors that have caused rates of Autism to increase 1000% in the USA since the year 1990. For example, a study in the USA indicated that children who received a particular type of vaccine (with a preservative called thimerosal that's extremely high in mercury) were about 200% more likely to develop Autism, than children who didn't receive the vaccine. Thimerosal has also been linked to learning disabilities that have resulted from Autism. Many researchers also point out the number of vaccines for children has increased significantly during recent decades. They note that certain substances in them could be having an adverse impact on a child's immune system, thus resulting in higher rates of disorders such as Autism.

Only Good Cholesterol Diets Lower Cholesterol

The idea is to stop eating those foods that increase cholesterol and only eat those foods that dismantle, mop up and expel bad cholesterol from the body. Only good cholesterol diets lower cholesterol.
Foods that are rich in saturated fats, trans-fats, sugars, salt and white flour are the foods that increase these cholesterol deposits in the bloodstream. These deposits then attach themselves to the walls of the blood vessels causing dangerous blockages to occur.
Foods that are rich in fiber such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, cereals, ground provision, peas and beans - these foods have the ability to neutralize the effect of bad cholesterol by absorbing or mopping up these fats and trans-fats, build strength in the walls of the blood vessels to protect from further erosion.
Low cholesterol foods also have low calorific value and also aid in any weight loss program. They are rich in vitamins and minerals which are vital for the proper functioning of the body. These foods also reduce the risk of cancer, high blood pressure and because of its anti-arteriosclerotic activity they reduce the risk of heart disease.
There is a great debate going as to whether lean meat is a source of good cholesterol. Some people say that such meats as chicken, turkey, fish, lean red meat, are sources of low cholesterol and they contain much essential minerals, proteins, vitamins and micronutrients that are good for efficient metabolism. The problem with meat today is that it is filled with hormones and in the case of fish, mercury toxins. Meat is not low in calorific value and over time makes one obese. The obesity problem in America is mainly due to the consumption of meat.
Here then is a sample of a diet for low cholesterol which you can use for breakfast lunch and dinner:-
Breakfast - Soy milk, oat bran cereal with fruit and almonds, oat meal bread, olive oil.
Lunch - Soy cold cuts, oat bran bread, bean soup and fruit
Dinner - Stir-fry vegetables, fruit, nuts.
This type of diet will ensure low cholesterol if followed over time. Also of great importance is the consumption of large quantities of pure water and a daily exercise program.
The following are some more general guidelines that will serve one in good stead:-

1. As a general rule you should eat more foods that increase the level of good cholesterol such as garlic, fruits and vegetables, whole grain foods and fibrous foods,
2. If you are a fish eater, eat those fatty fishes because of their omega-3 fatty acid content. These are mackerel, salmon, herring and tuna fish.
3. Your good cholesterol foods must be rich in antioxidants and nutrients - vitamin C, beta carotene (vitamin A), vitamin E and selenium. All fresh fruit, dried fruit and vegetables will supply these.
4. Consume 2-3 liters of pure water daily. This will flush out toxins and remove bad cholesterol.
5. Consumption of saturated fats in the form of animal fats should be avoided. These contain lots of bad cholesterol. If this is to be consumed, it should be with fibers and water,
6. Increase your intake of unsaturated fats such as olive oil, almonds, nuts and unrefined vegetable oils. These prevent cardiovascular diseases and some kinds of cancers,
7. Decrease or eliminate the use of foods that decrease the level of good cholesterol such as margarines, butter and sunflower oil. Replace with white vinegar, olive oil and canola oil,
8. If you are to consume alcohol, limit it to two glasses of wine or beer a day. These are particularly rich in antioxidants and help in the production of good cholesterol.

All this advice should confirmed with your health professional before embarking on same.

Rheumatic Heart Disease Alert

Definition of Rheumatic Heart Disease (RO)
Rheumatic heart disease is a disease where it can damage the heart valves, such as leaks or strictures, particularly mitral valve (mitral stenosis) caused by rheumatic fever. This disease is very dangerous because it caused the valves of the heart valve in the course of the disease process that begins with a throat injury.
Rheumatic fever is a systemic disease itself, which can cause acute, subacute, chronic or fulminant, leading to infection of group A beta-hemolytic streptococci in the upper respiratory tract. Rheumatic fever is characterized by prolonged fever, palpitations, sometimes tired. In general, attacks of this disease at the age of 5-15 years, the disease is rarely seen in children under the age of 4 years and over 50 years.
Symptoms of Rheumatic Heart Disease (RO)
In general, shortness of breath experienced patients are caused by heart problems already in motion, pain in joints, reddish spots on the skin, the hand movements, irregular and uncontrollable. In addition, a sign that accompanies neyi also on the abdomen, weight loss, rapid fatigue and fever.
Diagnosis of Rheumatic Heart Disease (RO)
Besides the presence of signs and symptoms that appear directly on the physical, the doctor will usually perform some lab tests that indicate, for example, routine blood tests, Asto, CRP and throat culture. The most accurate survey is echocardiography do to see the status of valves and heart muscle
Treatment of Rheumatic Heart Disease (RO)
If the diagnosis is established by rheumatic heart disease and persistent infection with streptococcus bacteria, but the main thing is that comes from the team doctor gave antibiotics and anti-inflammatory. For example, the provision of oral antibiotics penicillin and benzathine penicillin G. In patients who are allergic to other medicines, there is another alternative, erythromycin or cephalosporin group. While anti-inflammatories are usually cortisone and aspirin. Patients are encouraged to think rest is in a hospital bed, next to the medical team on how to deal with the likelihood of complications such as heart failure, bacterial endocarditis or thromboembolism Trombo.
Rheumatic heart patients (PJR) without symptoms require no treatment. Patients with mild symptoms of heart failure, medical treatment to address his complaint. Symptomatic patients who require invasive treatment or intervention surgical. But surgical and intervention therapy is still limited and the cost is relatively expensive and require long-term follow-up.
Prevention of Rheumatic Heart Disease (RO)
When we see above that Cor is lung might occur in the presence of a triggering event, rheumatic fever (CD), of course, the best prevention, as we do not get rheumatic fever (CD) (Streptococcusbeta hemolytic infections is).
Can see that there are several factors that support a person develops the germ, including environmental factors such as poor living conditions, crowded living conditions and poor access to medical care is a major determinant of the distribution of this disease. Weather variations occur have a significant role in the pathogenesis of strep DR.
A person who is infected with streptococcus bacteria and rheumatic fever should be given with antibiotics. This is to prevent possible attacks a second time or even lead to rheumatic heart disease.

A Holistic Approach to Depression and Anxiety

If you have depression and/or anxiety, in addition to conventional medical treatment, consider major changes to your diet and vitamin, trace mineral and herbal supplements. You may have vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Avoid processed, packaged and junk foods. Processed, packaged and junk foods are filled with sugar (primarily high fructose corn syrup), chemicals and toxins. They do not have much fiber or nutrients in them. Avoid soda and artificial fruit drinks. Soda and artificial fruit drinks contain a lot of sugar and toxins that can damage the brain. Also, artificial sweeteners in processed foods and drinks contain chemical sweeteners that are toxic to the brain.
We are bombarding our brains with toxins in our food. At the same time, we are starving our brains of nutrients (vitamins and minerals) because of the food we eat and the beverages we drink. Our energy is being drained by these foods and drinks.
For healthy brains, we need a lot of nutrients (vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants). We need to hydrate ourselves with pure, filtered water (not soda and artificial fruit drinks). This is achieved through a high nutrient diet and through large doses of vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants. A high nutrient diet primarily consists of fresh, non-starchy vegetables, some starchy vegetables and some fruit, berries, nuts and seeds) and some whole grains. Fresh vegetables, fruit, berries, nuts and seeds and whole grains have the fiber our bodies need as well. Some protein is fine, but should be limited. At least 80% of your diet should consist of vegetables, fruit, berries, nuts and seeds. You can get protein from beans, legumes, eggs, fish and lean meat. But, limit your intake of protein and red meat. For starch, eat whole grains, whole potatoes and whole yams along with whole grain pasta, because they contain nutrients.
Fresh, whole, organic vegetables are best because they contain the maximum amount of nutrients in them. They contain the minimum amount of toxins in them. But, fresh non-organic whole vegetables and whole (non-processed) frozen vegetables are better than processed, packaged and junk foods. Avoid genetically modified foods.
Substantially reduce refined sugar and starch in your diet (such as white bread, white rice, white pasta and chips). Substantially reduce fat in your diet - especially poly unsaturated and hydrogenated fats such as vegetable, corn and safflower oil and margarine. Use natural fats such as olive oil and butter. But, go light on olive oil and dairy products such as butter and cheese because they have a high caloric content.
A raw diet is best. Raw, fresh vegetables, fruit, berries, nuts and seeds contain the most nutrients. But, if you wish to cook your food, lightly cook it. This will preserve many of the nutrients in them. Steam them lightly. Boil, bake and grill them lightly. Limit your consumption of processed sauces and condiments. They contain a lot of high fructose corn syrup, salt and toxins.
Some of the best vegetables with a lot of vitamins and minerals in them include green leafy vegetables (such as spinach and kale), broccoli, tomatoes, cucumbers, mushrooms, asparagus, avocados, bok choy, Brussels sprouts, squash, carrots, sweet potatoes, yams, cabbage, cauliflower, eggplant, string beans, lima beans, peppers, artichokes and root vegetables (such as beets, parsnips and turnips). Eat plenty of garlic and onions. Eat berries especially blueberries and strawberries. Eat fruit, especially apples, bananas, grapes, peaches, plums, pears and melons. Super foods such as pomegranates and acai and goji berries are also good. Eat nuts. Almonds and walnuts are especially healthful. Seeds are very healthy too.
Supplement your high nutrient diet with vitamins, minerals and other supplements. A multi-vitamin is good, but it not enough to give you the vitamins and minerals you need for good health even if you are on a high nutrient diet. This is because the nutritional value of fresh and frozen vegetables, fruits and berries has been depleted. This is due to depletion of nutrients in the soil.
So, on a daily basis, take a multi vitamin, but fortify it with additional vitamins and supplements including vitamin A, B-Complex (B-6 and B-12 and Folic Acid and Niacin especially), C, D (D3 especially), E and K Take trace minerals daily. You can get trace minerals in liquid form. Some of the essential trace minerals include iron, zinc, manganese, potassium, magnesium, copper, iodine, selenium, molybdenum, chromium, calcium, sulfur, cobalt, nickel, boron, beryllium, sodium, copper, tin, silicon, vanadium, fluorine. Get lots of sunshine on your face, forehead and arms.
Also, on a daily basis, take (i) Antioxidants (CoQ10, green tea and green tea extract and Resveratrol are good), (ii) Adatogens (such as cordyceps, reishi and shitaki mushrooms), Asrtalagus and Tumeric (Curcurim), (iii) anti inflammatory supplements such as fish oil and (iv) protein/amino acid supplements. When your energy is low, take Echinacea and Aasian Ginseng, Astalagus and Asian Mushrooms and Asian Mushroom supplements (i..e, reishi, cordyceps and shitaki mushrooms). When you feel anxious, take Holy Basil and Kava Kava. When you feel depressed, take St. John's Wort.
Vitamin B-12, D, Co-Q 10 and Astralagus are especially important for depression and anxiety
Drink plenty of water. Some prescribe at least eight, eight ounce glasses of water per day. Filter your water, because tap water contains chemicals. Get plenty of exercise. At the very least, walk two to three miles a day. When you are sitting for long periods, stretch your legs and body and get up and move around or exercise. Breathe more deeply and take a lot more deep breaths to draw the maximum amount of oxygen into your lungs.
To maximize absorption of nutrients, it is important to be in a relaxed and balanced state. This will require you to manage stress, center yourself and purge anger, fear and negativity, while living in the moment and controlling negative thoughts. This is done through deep breathing, centering yourself in your heart, reiki treatments along with meditation and yoga. My books, End of Mood Disorders, The Road to Happiness and The Road to Healing, Good Health and Wellness will teach you the techniques needed to develop inner peace, peace of mind and joy. The books are comprehensive guides that approach depression and anxiety as energy and spiritual disorders as well as mental illnesses and problems with brain chemistry. My books recommend to readers energy-related, positive thinking, meditation and spiritual techniques to achieve and maintain peace of mind, balance, a lot of energy and happiness.

How to Identify Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome, more commonly known as CFS, is a complex disorder that is characterized by long-term fatigue that is not relieved by rest. It is usually worsened by physical or even mental activity. CFS can significantly lower a person's level of activity, affecting even their activities of daily living. A lot people with CFS have difficulty securing jobs or even with just taking care of themselves. Even if the causes of chronic fatigue syndrome are still unidentified, there is a lot we can do for people who suffer from this condition.
Many diseases have fatigue as one of its symptoms which can make identifying chronic fatigue syndrome difficult. However, it is not impossible. If you or someone you know meets the two criteria below, see your physician immediately so you can get medical care. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the criteria for diagnosing the disorder are:
1. Severe or intense fatigue that lasts for more than 6 months, is not relieved or improved by rest and is not caused by any psychiatric or medical condition as excluded by clinical diagnosis; and
2. Simultaneously have at least four of the following: frequent or recurring sore throat, muscle pain, multi-joint pain that doesn't have redness or swelling, tender lymph nodes on the axilla or cervical collar, headaches that are you have not had before in terms of pattern, type or severity, sleep that does not refresh or reenergize you, post-extertional malaise (exhaustion and sickness that follows mental or physical activity) that lasts for at least 24 hours, and impaired concentration or memory.
In order for a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome to be made, the above symptoms should have occurred for more than six months, but should not occur before the onset of the chronic fatigue. Even if you do not meet the criteria, but still suffer from chronic fatigue, it is still suggested that you go see a doctor. As mentioned, there are several diseases that could cause this fatigue.
There are other symptoms of CFS as well. While they may not contribute to the diagnosis, they are still very troublesome and deserve medical care. These symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, abdominal pain, chronic cough, alcohol intolerance, bloating, earache, jaw pain, dry eyes, dry mouth, nausea, morning stiffness, alcohol intolerance, night swears, irritability, anxiety, depression, panic attacks, tingling sensations and weight loss.
If you know someone that has CFS, now is the time to show him support and help him out any way you can. Even cooking, doing a few errands, helping out with house chores or helping them relax can be very helpful. Even the simplest acts do matter.
There is still no cure for chronic fatigue syndrome, and its management require that the patient should be monitored frequently by health care professionals. An individualized treatment program is needed because the condition can have varying symptoms. Both traditional and alternative therapies that target the symptoms, coping techniques and activity management can be used. There are several treatment options that can be explored, but remember that the relief of symptoms is always the primary goal.

Fibromyalgia - Treating the Symptoms Naturally

What is Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia's primary symptom is the presence of chronic, dull muscular pain in the muscles, usually above the waist though it can occur anywhere in the body. In addition, these painful areas are sensitive to touch, where even slight pressure can trigger acute pain.
A number of symptoms often go along with fibromyalgia, the most notable being fatigue. In addition, someone with fibromyalgia may suffer from anxiety, depression, headaches, TMJ, memory issues and irritable bowel syndrome.
The cause of fibromyalgia is so far unknown. Some suspect there may be an autoimmune factor involved, though no evidence has shown this yet. There is a correlation with hormonal and neurotransmitter changes in the body, and it is suspected that people with fibromyalgia have an increase in the neurotransmitters that signal pain in the body, leaving a person hypersensitive to pain.
While fibromyalgia often comes on without any specific reason, it can be triggered by physical trauma, infection, or psychological stress. There is reason to suspect that underlying factors may be involved in fibromyalgia, including long term buildup of stress or tension, fatigue, or unaddressed mental/emotional issues.
Treating Fibromyalgia
The exact cause of fibromyalgia is unknown, which makes it a difficult condition to successfully treat. Conventional medicine focuses on treating the symptoms with pain relievers, anti-depressants, or anti-seizure medications, which can help improve some of the symptoms but rarely offer full recovery from the condition.
Because of this, it is important to take an active role in successfully dealing with fibromyalgia. Basic things you can do independently to decrease symptoms include:

• Exercise and stretching: Both of these activities may make the pain worse at first, but over time, strengthening and stretching the affected muscles can help relieve tension and decrease their sensitivity to pain. It is important to start slowly, and not push your muscles too far, as pain from any sort of muscular damage will compound the pain.
• Sleep: People with fibromyalgia may have a difficult time getting restful sleep, and find that even though they are sleeping a lot, they may not feel rested in the morning. Still, it is important to get enough sleep as this is the body's chance to replenish its energy and is a natural part of the recovery process.
• Maintain a healthy weight: There is a correlation between worsening symptoms of fibromyalgia and being overweight. Eating a healthy diet, and avoiding eating triggered by stress or depression can help improve the overall health of your body and reduce pain.

Stress is also a well-known factor that is correlated with fibromyalgia. People with the condition will often find that their pain and other symptoms worsen during times of increased stress, and improve when life is going more smoothly.
For this reason, dealing with stress on a day-to-day basis can be a great way to help reduce the pain of fibromyalgia. While it isn't possible to completely get rid of stress, you can do some simple things to make it easier to relax throughout the day. Taking breaks from stressful situations like work or home responsibilities, going for a walk, taking some time for yourself, remembering to breathe, doing something you enjoy - these or anything else you come up with to relax and reduce stress will go a long way in improving fibromyalgia if done on a regular basis. It is easy for stress to compound itself if left unchecked - this is something to avoid.
Potential Mind-Body Connection in Fibromyalgia
It is possible that at least in part, the cause of fibromyalgia is related to suppressed anger. It is already well known that unexpressed anger can lead to ongoing anxiety and depression, which are common symptoms that accompany fibromyalgia. Stress and tension are also symptoms related to frustration, and can consume a ton of energy which will increase fatigue. In addition, the difficulties in concentration, TMJ and digestive issues that are associated with fibromyalgia can also be related to suppressed anger.
Consider that fibromyalgia often comes on after traumatic physical or psychological experiences - this type of experience naturally will produce a feeling of anger, as in the question, "Why did this happen to me?" But there is a tendency to want to forget painful experiences, and mentally suppress the feelings associated with that experience, whether the experience is a one-time thing or an accumulation of difficult experiences in life.
In addition, fibromyalgia affects women more than men. That is not to say that women are naturally more predisposed to suppress anger than men, however society definitely does place more pressure not to be angry on women, than it does on men.
The symptom of pain may be representing the unexpressed anger being internalized and taken out on the physical body. If you are suffering from fibromyalgia and suspect this may relate to you, it is important to address the source of your anger so that it can be expressed and directed appropriately, rather than back toward yourself. Even deep-seated difficult or traumatic experiences can be moved on from, and are not meant to be your responsibility or a burden for you to carry throughout your life.
Natural Medicines and Treatments for Fibromyalgia

• Adaptogens: These herbal medicines help strengthen the adrenal glands which are involved in improving energy, can improve certain neurotransmitter levels involved in mood, and can help reduce excess stress hormones like cortisol which can disrupt a number of the body's physical processes. Examples of these kinds of medicines are ginseng, eleutherococcus, holy basil, rhodiola, cordyceps, and ashwaghanda.
• Massage: A massage tailored to your personal tolerance level can help reduce muscular tension and alleviate pain.
• Acupuncture: Some people report a benefit from acupuncture, a Chinese medicinal practice involved in placing small needles along specific meridians, aimed at releasing blocked energy, improving circulation and other physical processes. While this type of treatment may not work for everyone, it is worth considering.

Fibromyalgia can be a very frustrating condition to deal with, but taking an active role in doing daily things for your health can help improve the symptoms over time. Addressing stress and other potential mental or emotional components that may be associated with the condition, as well as incorporating natural medicines or treatments can also be of help. With patience and consistency, it is possible to fully recover from fibromyalgia over time.

7 Home Remedies for Joint Pain Relief At Home

Living with chronic joint pain?
Many times in life, body pains as such may inevitably affect our living lifestyle and even cause inconvenience to our lives, as moving of joints is almost indispensable.
Basically the causes of joint pain can be triggered by various injuries and conditions besides aging. It may be a result of sports injury, excessive straining due to the overuse of joints, or even be one of the symptoms for arthritis. Hence it is important to understand your body well and detect the symptoms early as an average person may not be able tell if it's the joints or a torn tendon.
Here are a few remedies which can give you a better quality of life and may help to eliminate the consumption of painkillers as medications commonly prescribed for joint pain are usually pain killers and anti inflammatories:
1. Take a shower with warm water
It can effectively reduce your joint discomfort easily.
2. Consumption of banana
Bananas provide strength and grease to your joints, which may help in reducing the pain in joints suffering from pain.
3. Intake of carrot juice
It helps in improving the condition of joint stiffness by making our ligaments stronger.
4. Use hot and cold compresses on the painful areas of your joints
It will help in reducing your pain from the joint.
5. Joint Pain Exercises
Effective in resolving the problem of joint stiffness. Such workouts will help in improving your joint flexibility and also strengthens your bones.
6. Warm olive oil massage
It is a cost-saving solution and natural remedy for joint stiffness.
7. Mixture of carrot juice and lemon juice
This is one of the good home remedies to reduce joint pain.
Although there is no permanent cure for joint pain, but changing your lifestyle and taking good care of your body can yield positive results on a long run. Start keeping up to a weekly or daily exercising habit as workouts can effectively help in reducing the pain in the joints. Researches have shown that working your body with motion exercises will help to improve your mobility and keep your fitness levels up. While performing those exercises, be cautious with the movements and perform it with good control.
However, do not hesitate to seek for medical support if your joint pain still persists after trying out the suggested remedies. It is advisable to seek for professional treatment if your pain is giving you symptoms that can be interpreted into serious health issues.

Arthritis Pain Treatment - Does Exercise Really Help To Reduce Inflammation? Lets See!

Do you have Arthritis? Maybe too scared to exercise?
There are hundreds of arthritis pain treatment modalities that are available in the market today, and most of these are in the form of pharmacological agents or drugs. Pain relievers or analgesics are on top of the list and are often recommended by physicians to their client to ease the arthritis pain. There are also topical pain agents that can be applied over the swollen joint area to relieve the inflammation that causes the severe and throbbing pain. But Exercise is one of the best for the Pain!
However, with all these possible pain treatments widely available and easy to use, many sufferers of arthritis still face a problem in choosing which of these is the best to apply. It is a big problem indeed since there are lots of pain medications and books on alternative therapies being sold in the market today, which are being advertised to give a promising and satisfying result, but they do not prove much what they are claiming. People are getting confused about these products, because they do not know which of these is bogus and which one is not.
Exercise is the best medicine, but every time you try to strengthen your muscles you hurt your joints. What if you could strengthen your muscles without hurting your joints? Then your stronger muscles will help support your weaker joints and you have broken the cruel cycle of arthritis.
Arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions affects millions of people worldwide with over 4 million or almost 1 in 4 Canadians affected. Arthritis can occur in any joint, especially at the hands, knees, hips, or spine. Regular physical activity, a balanced diet and maintaining a healthy weight can help to prevent the onset of osteoarthritis.
Using a Personal Trainer is the perfect way to set up a exercise program that is designed especially for you. When you exercise with a Personal Trainer, they will implement proper technique and form so your joints remain still while you work on the muscles surrounding the joint. This is isometric and static exercise, which reduces joint pain and stiffness, builds strong muscle around the joints, and increases flexibility and endurance.
By training on a regular to moderate basis, this will help relieve pain in your joints and build muscle tissue. You can also prevent the onset of osteoarthritis and relieve your pain naturally.
Whether you are performing cardiovascular or resistance exercise overworking your muscles is dangerous and can greatly alter your peak performance.
Thankfully personal training has been designed to help assist you from muscle fatigue from resistance exercise and can help you recognise the early signs of dangers ahead. A Trainer displays your muscle strength from various training positions and by keeping track of this data can help alert you when there is a weakness in a muscle group. This in turn helps you to appropriately rest the muscle group.
Exercising should be fun and should not cause permanent injury if done properly. With a personal trainer you are more likely to maximize your performance and avoid over training your muscles which will benefit your overall health and well being, that is what I focus on in
Richard Stadnyk - Owner/Personal Trainer Specialist

Exercise is the best medicine, but every time you try to strengthen your muscles you hurt your joints. What if you could strengthen your muscles without hurting your joints? Receive a Free Personal Training session - Call or email today. Thank you.