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Posts Tagged ‘medical’

Too Much Of A Good Thing May NOT Be A Good Thing

August 29th, 2010 Michael Pritsker No comments

Popular belief is that antioxidants prevent heart, Parkinson’s And Alzheimer’s Disease – new research shows that too much may cause one of these dreaded diseases. It’s a very popular and believable theory, mainly because it makes sense. It has also given hope to many people in search of ways to enhance and extend their lives… naturally. And let’s not forget – it’s profitable.

What we are referring to… of course… is the belief that taking antioxidants is good for you. Many believe they can prevent such diseases as heart, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Now a new study (published in the August 10th issue of Cell) sheds new light on this claim… and says that too much of a certain antioxidant may even cause heart disease.

Understanding how antioxidants are thought to work is very important. Heart, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other deadly diseases are associated with oxidative stress, in which “free radical” molecules are produced in reaction to oxygen intake. Free radicals travel through the body, triggering chemical reactions that damage proteins causing them to form aggregates. It is believed that antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E offer health-promoting benefits by protecting against damaging free radicals that damage the body. That’s why many people take antioxidants to prevent heart and other protein-aggregate diseases in many.

A study was done on laboratory mice in the University of Utah. Researchers found that an overload of natural antioxidants could actually lead to heart failure. This study had some very important findings.

Reductive stress is a condition caused by excessive levels of reduced glutathione, which is one of your body’s most powerful antioxidants. When your cells work properly, they produce just the right amount of reduced glutathione, which is healthy for your body. However, in some people, a mutated gene can disrupt the fine balance, causing the cells to produce too much.

In the study of laboratory mice with failing hearts caused by mutant alpha B-Crystallin, researchers found increased activity of the biochemical pathway leading to high levels of reduced glutathione in the animals. Glutathione is regulated at multiple steps principally by the G6PD enzyme. To establish the connection between reduced glutathione and heart failure, Benjamin mated mutant alpha B-Crystallin mice that carried too much G6PD with mice that had far lower levels.

The resulting offspring had normal levels of reduced glutathione and did not develop heart failure. The researchers found that by lowering the level of reduced glutathione in mice with failing hearts, they were able to increase their rate of survival dramatically. “Lowering the level of reduced glutathione dramatically changed the survival of these mice,” Benjamin said. “Basically, we prevented them from getting heart failure.” Benjamin also added that although many people take antioxidants to prevent heart and other protein-aggregate diseases, there actually is scant evidence to prove they work. And that, “This is a case of too much of a good thing.”

“This field of medicine has not appreciated reductive stress and its influence on disease,” he said. “This is about balance needed in the environment of our cells, and it can have profound consequences on the treatments of heart disease and other serious disorders.”

“Too Much Of A Good Thing?” This is a concept that is misunderstood by most of the population… and probably leads to many health problems. What concept? Most have a skewed concept of how the body functions and what… exactly… optimal performance… or… optimal health is.

Let’s consider performance for example. Many athletes are constantly trying to boost performance with supplementation and vitamins. Some use natural legal products. Some use other synthetic and possibly illegal substances such as anabolic steroids and human growth hormone. Some athletes take anabolic steroids to boost performance. These are steroids such as testosterone which help build muscle, strength and reduce recovery time. And they naturally occur in your body for these and many other purposes.

Naturally occurring steroids are also good for you. If naturally occurring steroids do these good things for you, logic has it that increasing their levels will do more good things for you. And it is true in many instances. Athletes that take the right steroids, increase their athletic performance. And it increases it a great deal.

However, this is not OPTIMAL performance. This is PATHOLOGICAL performance. Here’s why: Optimal performance is when your body is functioning at the highest level for your given genetic potential. Anything beyond that is ABNORMAL. Therefore PATHOLOGICAL.

It’s the same “too much of a good thing” Dr. Benjamin is referring to above. And, it’s the same as far as antioxidants are concerned. It makes complete sense that the proper level of antioxidants is good for you. And they probably help fight disease such as heart, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

Too many approach the use of natural supplements like the athlete approaches the use of steroids. If a little is good – a lot is better. Know this: There is a perfect balance in your body where everything functions at 100% of your genetic potential. More is not better – it is worse. And as the study mentioned in this article demonstrated, too much of a good thing can be…Poison!

This is why choosing and taking supplements (of any kind) is much more involved than going into GNC and aimlessly picking a bunch that are popular or sound good. The old (and uneducated) belief that supplements can’t hurt you because they are natural is false. Snake venom is natural. So is mercury. Some of the most dangerous substances in the world are natural. The supplements you take should depend on your diet and the particular needs of your body.

Want to find out more about nutrition, then visit New Century Spine Centers site on how to choose the best vitamins for your needs.

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Main Causes Of Diabetes

August 22nd, 2010 Lori Richards No comments

Diabetes is becoming more common every day. For examples you only need to look at your own social circle. Diabetes most likely is affecting at least on of them. They will at least know someone who has diabetes if they don’t themselves. While it is very common everywhere, it is incredibly so in the western world. Diabetes is broken down int two types, Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 is insulin dependent. You can develop this type at any time in your life. Because it occurs in adulthood, type 2 is also called adult onset diabetes and those with it are not insulin dependent. Some of the major causes of this condition are covered here.

Even though type 1 is not considered hereditary, if someone in your family has it, you may have a genetic predisposition for the condition. You will not necessarily develop type 1 diabetes even if your father has this condition. That’s not to say it doesn’t happen because it does just not very often. So if anyone in your family has type 1 diabetes be sure to discuss it with your doctor. Staying as healthy as possible is always a good idea, especially since you can’t fight genetics.

Believe it or not, sometimes environmental factors can induce Type 1 diabetes. One example of an environmental cause is contracting a viral infection; this can lead to Type 1 diabetes. A viral infection, however, does not mean that you will develop diabetes. If you have the disease, however, and were not born with it, it is possible that you could have contracted it as a side effect/leftover variant of an unavoidable viral infection. It can be unnerving to realize that viral infections can lead to diabetes because they are rather common. So, see your doctor when ever you do not feel well. A simple condition can develop into something serious without notice.

Your chances of developing Type 1 diabetes are also affected by your ethnicity. Type 1 diabetes is more common for those who have Northern European ancestors. It hits people of Finnish and Sardinian descent the most. African Americans and Hispanic Americans are the next most likely to develop diabetes. The ethnicity with the lowest risk is those of Asian descent. But there is no way to control your ethnicity. Changing your ethnicity is not possible so there is no way to negate that risk factor.

The number of people affected by diabetes is increasing every day. Almost every one knows someone who is affected by diabetes even though scientists say that only a small portion of the population is affected. If you feel you might be at risk for diabetes the best thing to do is talk to your doctor. Your doctor will help you any diabetes causes that might currently be affecting your life and help you figure out the best way to deal with those causes. While diabetes can’t always be avoided, there are steps you can take to minimize your risk.

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Categories: Health Tags: Health, medical

Losing Weight May Cause You To Lose More Than Just Weight.

June 4th, 2010 Dirk Kanc No comments

If you’ve finally decided to shed that excess weight you’ve piled on over the last year and you want to do it as quickly as possible, then going through this may even save your life from unnecessary pain and suffering.

Some nutrition gurus say to follow a high-carbohydrate diet and minimize fat. Others boast the only way to lose weight is through low or no carbohydrate eating plans with generous amounts of protein and fat. And then there are the eat anything you want, take this pill and look like a super model products. Who do you believe?

The weight loss industry is big as it is and still growing. Every year millions of dollars are spent by people looking for the easy way out of their love handles.

The advertisements are endless. They all promote the same message they lead people on by letting them think that with a simple pill the weight will basically come off. One thing you should understand is that there are no magic pills that will melt away the pounds. Some pills can even kill you. For example there use to be some supplements that contained a common herb that was marketed as weight loss aids or energy boosters. The herb is similar to amphetamines and has been linked to side effects such as heart arrhythmia, psychotic reactions and seizures.

There have also been reports of heart attack and stroke. Some herbs effect the vascular and nervous systems, and one theory is that blood pressure spikes are one way the herb could promote hemorrhagic stroke. This particularly occurs when combined with caffeine, as is often the case in supplements.

According to findings published in Neurology, daily doses of more than 32 milligrams were linked to a three-fold increase in hemorrhagic stroke risk. So What Is The Weight Loss Solution?

The most important thing is diet and exercise. The only way to lose weight like magic is maintain a diet and exercise program that fits you.

Many people fail at weight loss because they are on the wrong program for them and they quit too early. Everyone is individual. Some people respond well to high carbohydrates and others shed pounds and function better eating almost minimal carbohydrates at all. But one thing remains universally constant during all this is that you must exercise.

Even little exercise such as walking 20 minutes two to three times a week can have a dramatic affect on your weight loss. Starting a weight training program is also encouraged because it will add lean muscle mass which helps with metabolism. Lean muscle mass will actually help you churn calories and lose weight.

A word of warning before you start any new diet or exercise program you should consult with your physician. You can always give New Century Spine Centers in San Diego a call at 619-630-9153 and we’ll help you get on a plan that’s right for you. More has been accomplished through motion than ever will get done through meditation. Stop thinking about it and just do it! If you need help we are only a phone call away. Remember, we’re always here, using the miracle of Chiropractic to help your body heal and maintain the health you deserve!

Want to find out more about nutrition, then visit the chiropractic site on how to choose the best chiropractor nutrition expert.

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Interesting Facts To Know About Medical Jobs

May 2nd, 2010 Adriana Noton No comments

While many industries are losing jobs, the health care field continues to grow. As baby boomers age and Americans just are generally living longer than ever before, the demand for health care is high. Those wanting to join the health care field have many choices available to them, from administrative jobs to patient care jobs. There are entry level jobs available as well as medical jobs for those who have or are willing to get advanced schooling and training.

A physician assistant is one of the fastest growing health care jobs. A physician assistant does most of the same things that a doctor does, but they do it while being supervised by a doctor. Schooling to become a physician assistant usually takes at least two to three years.

There is a need for medical secretaries to do the administrative jobs that are required in a doctors office, clinic, hospital or nursing home. Many employers will not require education beyond high school or a GED, but if you are competing against other applicants for the job, it will benefit you if you have had some medical secretary training. Strong clerical skills are a plus, too.

For hospitalist jobs like medical assistants, they do some clerical jobs as the secretary does, but they also are trained to handle some basic medical procedures. The medical assistant generally will take a patients temperature, blood pressure and medical history. They may also draw blood and collect other lab specimens. You can complete training to be a medical assistant within a ten to eighteen month time frame.

As more people need health care, there is a greater need for physicians, surgeons, and nurses. To become a physician or surgeon, you will need to complete four years of college, four years of medical school and another three to eight years for residency training. It will take four years to become a registered nurse. You can become a licensed practical or vocational nurse in twelve months to two years time.

Pharmacy is another job industry that is growing. Since you actually become a doctor of pharmacy it will take approximately eight years of schooling beyond high school to become a pharmacist. Pharmacy technicians and pharmacy assistants also work in pharmacies. Pharmacy technicians work under the direction of a pharmacist. While certification is not always required, a potential employer will look favorably upon an applicant who is certified. The pharmacy assistant generally works with the public and does not work with medications. This is an entry level job.

Some jobs in the health care field can be done from home. Although many are employed in traditional health care settings, some medical billers and medical transcriptionists work from their home. Completing training and working in an office setting as a biller will help you hone the skills you will need to be successful working as a biller out of your home. In order to become a medical transcriptionist, you will need to complete training and you need to have a good understanding of medical terminology. People that are medical transcriptionists can work in offices or from home.

There are many choices for the person just beginning their career or for those who want to try something new. With lots of medical jobs to pick from, it is really up to you to decide which career path fits your interest and qualifications that you have or are willing to attain.

This dedicated healthcare staffing centre offers the most practical and diverse medical jobs across the country. We have a wide variety of physician jobs available, as well as employment opportunities for hospitalist jobs and RN jobs.

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How To Find The Right Doctor For You in Canada

December 20th, 2009 Adriana Noton No comments

Anytime you need to find a doctor, it can be a truly frustrating endeavor. It does not matter if you are moving or have just decided you need to see someone new. You have to consider their area of expertise, years of experience and how trustworthy they are. Location can be a factor, as you will want someone that has an office near your home. There can me any issues with finding surgeons and doctors in Canada.

You will also want to keep any existing medial conditions in your thoughts. You have to worry about whether or not they have dealt with them before. Will they try to change a treatment you have already started? Will they approve of your current list of medications? Is it possible they will want to make you switch, when what you already have is working? It can truly be a very long, drawn out process.

Whether moving or just switching, it can help if you know other people in the area. This is a great way to get information on doctors. You can ask them what doctor they use and if they feel comfortable with them. You can easily find out how experienced the doctor is and if they are open and friendly. You can ask questions about how the doctor handles existing conditions and treatments. Friends and family can be a very vital source of information.

This is, however, not always an option. Sometimes you have no one to ask about these things. You may not know anyone in the given area. In this case you need to resort to other resources to find a good, qualified physician. Thankfully, the Internet has helped to make this process much easier. If you are looking for surgeons and doctors in Canada, there are many sites and associations available to help you. You can use their information to find the perfect physician.

A general online search will bring up many informative websites. You can use them to find information on doctors and surgeons, quickly and easily. Some will let you view ratings, showing what others have thought of that doctor. Some provide information about their expertise, experience and even the medical schools they attended. This can all be valuable information to use in making an informed decision.

There are also several sites that will help you locate more precise information. They specialize in listing the best Canadian physicians. This means you have less to comb through on your own. They can help reduce the confusion of figuring out medical and professional jargon.

The College of Physicians and Surgeons has websites relevant to each province. This makes it easy to find doctors near you and find the necessary information on them. It will also help you to narrow down which ones are in the area you live in or are moving to.

The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada provide country wide information. You can check out a doctor’s credentials, information according to specialty and check their practice status. Intraspec offers a website that will also allow you to locate them by province. It can be particularly useful, as it also lists the approximate wait times for appointments.

Whatever resource you decide to use, you can take the mystery out of finding surgeons and doctors in Canada. You can find one that specializes in what you need or someone of general practice. When you need to find a new doctor, it does not have to be a complicated process.

Trying to find a Calgary real estate agency? One of the criteria for purchasing a home is the location of Calgary doctors; especially for families with children. To minimize travel distance, Calgary associations must be closely located as well.

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