posted by admin on Mar 24
The American Cancer Society recommended recently that mean age 50 or older should get an annual blood test in order to detect prostate cancers as early as possible.
The recommended blood test measures a substance known as prostate specific antigen (PSA). When the prostate is enlarged, PSA levels—secreted by the gland—are elevated. Medical experts say that’s a sign which may mean cancer.
The new American Cancer Society recommendation says that PSA testing should be done along with a digital rectal examination every year on men over 50. However, screening should begin at a younger age in blacks or those men who have a strong family history of prostate cancer.
According to the Cancer Society, almost 80 percent of all prostate cancers are diagnosed in men 65 or older. And the Society is recommending the PSA testing even though mass screening for prostate cancer has not been shown to reduce the number of deaths from the disease.
Nasal Spray Warning For Men With Enlarged Prostates
Some men with enlarged prostates may experience complications when using decongestant nasal sprays. Researchers say that some of the most commonly used nasal sprays can cause urinary retention in men who suffer from moderate prostate enlargement.
The researchers recommend that such men consult their doctors before using decongestant nasal sprays to combat a cold.
*216\27\8*
posted by admin on Mar 24
1) Sleeping pills— once again, read the product packaging carefully. You’ll find that over-the-counter sleep aids are approved by the FDA “for occasional use only”. According to some experts, many people try to “anticipate” insomnia by taking a sleeping pill just in case a sleepless night is in store for them. This kind of usage, according to the experts, can lead to psychological dependency.
Most sleeping pills generally contain antihistamines, usually used to treat allergies. Used in sleeping pills, antihistamines can produce such side effects as nausea; vomiting; dizziness; fatigue; dryness of the mouth, nose and throat; and double vision, and are best used on an infrequent basis.
2) Codeine cough medicine— while codeine is a relatively safe drug, some people who take large quantities can become nauseated and constipated. Other people can develop a tolerance to those unpleasant side effects, and become addicted to codeine. Such an addiction is serious and requires treatment under the supervision of a doctor.
3) Eye drops— if you use eye drops three or four times a day for several weeks, you may suddenly find that you need them every few hours to alleviate eye redness. That’s because, when you try to stop, your eyes tend to get redder than they were before you first started using eye drops.
According to many ophthalmologists, the best way to quit using eye drops is to stop, cold-turkey. The doctors admit that it will take up to a month for your eyes to get back to normal, but continued use would only exacerbate the condition. Occasional use of eye drops is fine, but overuse can lead to problems.
*254\27\8*
posted by admin on Mar 24
Both sun and wind can drain your skin of its moisture. Air conditioning can also be a problem because when air is cooled and its humidity level sinks too low, moisture quickly evaporates from your skin. Here are some measures you can take to fight dryness and keep your skin both soft and supple:
1) Use a humidifier when your air conditioner is on in order to help boost the air’s moisture level.
2) Don’t take long, hot baths. Such baths will induce a great amount of water loss through sweating. Take quick showers and warm sponge baths instead.
3) Either cut down on soap when you bathe or switch to a moisturizing soap like Vitabar in the Vitabath Plus formula.
4) Use a rich lotion or cream on damp skin after showering, to seal in moisture.
5) Use an emollient-rich sunscreen. Two such sunscreens are Vaseline Intensive Care’s Moisturizing Sunblock and Coppertone’s Moisturizing Sunblock Lotion.
*191\27\8*
posted by admin on Mar 24
This is a fat-soluble vitamin which actually encompasses a group of related substances, including ergocalciferol (also known as vitamin D2) and cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) which play several important roles in the body. Vitamin D helps regulate the balance of calcium and phosphate, helps form bones and teeth, and aids the absorption of calcium from the intestine.
The body needs only small amounts of vitamin D, which can be provided by a balanced diet and normal exposure to sunlight. A deficiency of vitamin D may lead to low blood levels of calcium and phosphate, which results in a softening of the bones. In children this condition is known as rickets— in adults, it is called osteomalacia.
The best dietary source of vitamin D is fortified milk. Other good sources include butter, cheese, margarine, oily fish, liver, eggs, fortified cereals and breads, and cod liver oil. Normal exposure to sunlight is the non-dietary source. The recommended dietary allowance of vitamin D is 5 to 10 mcg.
*328\27\8*
posted by admin on Mar 24
Different exercises require different types of movement and therefore, different types of exercise shoes. Although there are a seemingly limitless number of different designs available, many athletic shoes are designed with fashion in mind, rather than as protection for your feet. In order to exercise safely and effectively you need to wear appropriate shoes. Here are four expert suggestions for choosing the right exercise shoes:
1) Walking shoes— these should have sturdy soles in order to absorb the wear and tear of walking on pavement and other rough surfaces. The soles should also provide good support for your arches.
2) Running shoes— the best shoes have rigid heel support and flexible fronts which will allow the feet to bend. Some styles provide elevated heels which absorb much of the impact of the feet when they hit the ground.
3) Aerobic shoes— these shoes must be designed for activities that require movement in different directions. They need to have a strong pad underneath the ball of the foot and material that will accommodate the heel so that it is not held rigid. Aerobic shoes should also be lightweight and have flexible soles.
4) Tennis shoes— since the foot moves in all directions during tennis, the best shoes are designed to provide maximum grip on the playing surface. The upper sole should also be cushioned for added protection.
Each Mile You Walk Adds 21 Minutes To Your Life
According to a theoretical model developed by the Rand Corporation, you can add several years to your life by walking for fitness. Each additional mile walked by a sedentary person will add 21 minutes to his or her life, or an extra year of living for 25,028 miles, according to the Rand Corporation’s theoretical model.
People who plan to take up jogging for fitness are advised to build up to it gradually. You can do that by walking until you can cover two miles with no discomfort. Then you can begin alternating between walking and jogging in 100 to 150-yard stretches. As you begin to build up your endurance, you should increase the distance you jog until you are running exclusively. Your goal should be at least 3 or 4 twenty-minute runs a week.
*365\27\8*