Therapist Unlimited Blog

 

 

 

Those persons seeking to use aspirin as prevention against cardiovascular disease better abandon the plan now.
A recent medical research has uncovered that the use of low-dose aspirin to ward off heart attacks and strokes in those yet to develop obvious cardiovascular disease can cause serious medical complications.
In the medical world, low-dose aspirin is widely used to prevent further episodes of cardiovascular disease in people who have already had problems such as a heart attack or stroke.
This method known as secondary prevention is well established and of confirmed benefit.
But it is the use of aspirin in primary prevention for those without symptoms, who have not yet had, for example, a heart attack or stroke, but who may be at risk of doing so, following an analysis of the available evidence.
In 2000, cardiovascular disease accounted for two million deaths across the European Union alone, and "worldwide, many people take aspirin every day in the belief that doing so helps prevent cardiovascular disease," says the researchers.

 

 

 

Aspirin could be fatal if not used properly.

 

 

 

The researchers points to various guidelines issued between 2005 and 2008 that recommend aspirin for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in various groups of patients. Examples include people aged 50 and older with type 2 diabetes and those with high blood pressure.
But the team explained that the current evidence does not back up the routine use of low-dose aspirin in such groups, because of the potential risk of serious gastrointestinal bleeds that accompany its use and the negligible impact it has on curbing death rates.
Doctors should review all patients currently taking low-dose aspirin for primary prevention, either as prescribed or over-the-counter treatment, says the research team.
"And the decision about whether to continue or stop treatment should be made only after fully informing patients of the available evidence", they added.
"Furthermore,  the researchers concluded that current evidence for primary prevention suggests the benefits and harms of aspirin in this setting may be more finely balanced than previously thought, even in individuals estimated to be at high risk of experiencing cardiovascular events, including those with diabetes or elevated blood pressure.
The researchers believe, that low dose aspirin prophylaxis should not be routinely used for primary prevention.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Those frequent users of acetaminophen, a known pail reliever should avoid getting hooked with the medicine.
A new study has shown that acetaminophen may be associated with an increased risk of asthma and wheezing in both children and adults exposed to the drug.
The data was taken from a recent study made by researchers from the  University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada, who conducted a systematic review and metaanalysis of 19 clinical studies (total subjects=425,140) that compared the risk of asthma or wheezing with acetaminophen exposure.

Based on the study, the pooled odds ratio (odds ratio for all studies combined) for asthma among users of acetaminophen was 1.63.
The risk of asthma in children who used acetaminophen in the year prior to asthma diagnosis or in the first year of life was elevated to 1.60 and 1.47, respectively.
Moreover, the study revealed a slight increase in the risk of asthma and wheezing with prenatal use of acetaminophen by mothers.
With the relevant data they gathered, the researchers speculate that acetaminophen’s lack of inhibition of cyclooxygenase, the key enzyme involved in the inflammatory response of asthma, may be one explanation for the potential link between acetaminophen use and asthma.

 

 

Contrary to what most people think hookah smoking is as deadly as cigarette puffing recent medical studies has shown.
Brian Primack, M.D., Ed.M., M.S., assistant professor of medicine and pediatrics at Pitt’s School of Medicine and lead author of the study. "What they don’t realize", revealed hookah smokers are are exposing themselves to many of the same toxic chemicals contained in cigarettes.
A hookah, or waterpipe, is used to inhale tobacco that usually is flavored or sweetened.
The opening of hundreds of hookah cafes in the U.S. over the past decade demonstrates the increasing popularity of hookah smoking.
Primacj said although the aesthetic appeal of the practise suggests that it is not harmful, studies show that hookah tobacco smoke is just as toxic as cigarette smoke and is associated with substantial harm and addictiveness.
For example, one average hookah smoking session exposes the user to 40 times the tar of a single cigarette.
Meanwhile according to a latest study made by the University of Pittsburgh, college students who participate in intramural or club sports are less likely to smoke cigarettes than non-athletes, but are more likely than non-athletes to smoke from a hookah.

 

 

Smoking hookah is as deadly as puffing cigarettes.
 

 

 

To get the data, researchers at Pitt examined survey data from 8,745 college-age individuals who participated in the National College Health Assessment administered by the American College Health Association in 2008, and found that 33 percent of the respondents reported participating in varsity, club and intramural sport in the preceding 12 months.
Overall, 29.5 percent of the total sample reported having smoked from a hookah.
Consistent with what has been reported in the past, all types of athletes were less likely than non-athletes to smoke cigarettes.
Similarly, varsity athletes were 22 percent less likely than non-athletes to have smoked tobacco from a hookah.
However, club and intramural participants were each 15 percent more likely than non-athletes to have smoked tobacco from a hookah.

 

 

 

Those people who are marijuana addicts better stop their unhealthy activity now of face strong chances of suffering from cancer.
According to the result of a new research, “convincing evidence" has shown that marijuana smoke damages the genetic material DNA in ways that could increase the risk of cancer.
Based on the study made by Rajinder Singh and his team, they also found out that toxic substances in tobacco smoke could damage DNA and increase the risk of lung and other cancers.
Despite the data they gathered, Singth and his team are still uncertain over whether marijuana smoke has the same effect.
Singh and the other researchers are currently concerned on the toxicity of acetaldehyde, present in both tobacco and marijuana.

 

 

Constant marijuana users better stop the habit now or face risk of suffering from cancer.

 

The researchers however admitted it is difficult to measure DNA damage from acetaldehyde with conventional tests.
The researchers added the development and use of a modified mass spectrometry method that showed clear indications that marijuana smoke damages DNA.
Moreover, the researchers explained the results provide evidence for the DNA damaging potential of cannabis [marijuana] smoke, implying that the consumption of cannabis cigarettes may be detrimental to human health with the possibility to initiate cancer development.
The team revealed the data obtained from this study suggesting the DNA damaging potential of cannabis smoke highlight the need for stringent regulation of the consumption of cannabis cigarettes, thus limiting the development of adverse health effects such as cancer.
The team said the finding is an indication that marijuana should be avoided and to be stopped for those who are addicted to it since it can also lead to cancer.

 

The strong chances that they will have beer bellies and man boobs lead many men across the globe to stop their drinking addiction.
In the recent study conducted by Know Your Limits campaign it was discovered that more than one in three men (37%) have claimed that they would reduce their drinking to reduce the number of calories they consume.
Based on the survey conducted on 1,000 male drinkers over 18 in England it was also discovered that one in six men (17%) are worried their drinking will lead to man boobs.
The same survey also showed that one in four men or (27%) are worried about getting a beer belly.
The survey also revealed that more than one in eight men or (13%) think their boozing is affecting their appearance.

 

 

Those men who do want to have beer bellies and man boobs better stop your drinking habit now.

 

 

Furthermore, it was also discovered that nearly one in ten men or (9%) worry that excessive drinking is affecting their sexual performance.
The medical experts advised that in order to avoid chances of getting fat because of drinking just limit your drink to only three to four glasses everyday.
On the other hand, health officials in England hoped the survey would encourage regular drinkers to kick the habit for good only because of its possible effects on their physical appearance but more importantly on its impact on their health.
The health officials said if the urge in drinking could not be stopped, it would help if drinkers do it in a minimal level.

 

Those surfers who use illegal drugs before or after surfing better stop that unhealthy activity now.
This developed after medical researchers discovered that using illegal drugs in the exciting sport of surfing can put the life of the surfers in danger.
The researchers said those surfers who use drugs usually got themselves involved in accidents which results in lacerations, contusions, and soft-tissue damage.
Dr. James MacDonald,M.D., the lead author of the research disclose eye injuries such as ruptured globe or orbital fractures are common are also common among surfers who uses illegal drugs.
MacDonald warned some surfers even died from serious injuries for using illegal drugs in their sport of surfing.
He said the research they conducted surprises him on the extent of injuries surfers could suffer if they persist in using illegal drugs while surfing.

 

 

Illegal drugs and surfing can be a deadly combination for surfers.

 

The medical expert explained injury rates tend to high among both the most experienced and the least experienced surfers.
Furthermore, he revealed newer surfers often crowd together and, as in skiing, tend to fall off more often.
MacDonald said those with full-time jobs that cut into wave time may experience injuries relating to deconditioning, such as muscle strains, soft tissue damage and falls.
To avoid injuries, MacDonald it would better for surfers not to take the illegal drugs before surfing since doing so could be dangerous to their health.
As an exciting competitive sport, surfers need to be physically fit and away from the influence of drugs if they wish to engage and become successful in surfing.
Moreover, MacDonald said those new in surfing should keep away from using illegal drugs since they are prone to fall more often due to their being new in such kind of sport.
MacDonald revealed those with full-time jobs that cut into wave time may experience injuries relating to deconditioning, such as muscle strains, soft tissue damage and falls.
He said as an exciting competitive sport, surfers need to be physically fit and away from the influence of drugs if they wish to engage and become successful in surfing.

 

Parents around the world need to be careful in the use phthalates as new pieces of evidence, showed that exposure to that kind of chemical compound could result in low birth weights in infants.
Phthalates is a chemical compound used as plasticizers in a wide variety of personal care products, children’s toys, and medical devices.
It is said that low birth weight is the leading cause of death in children under 5 years of age and increases the risk of cardiovascular and metabolic disease in adulthood.
Based on the research conducted by medical experts they found out that utero phthalate exposure contributes to low birth weight in infants.
Dr. Renshan Ge of the Population Council and colleagues from Fudan University and Second Military Medical University in Shanghai studied 201 pairs of newborns and their mothers between 2005 and 2006.

 

 

Pregnant women need to avoid exposure to phthalates since it could lead to low birth weight for their infants.

 

 Of the 201 infants studied, 88 were born with low birth weight. The researchers analyzed samples of the infants’ meconium, the first bowel movement that occurs after birth, and cord blood to determine phthalate levels.
They found quantifiable levels of phthalate and phthalate metabolites in more than 70% of the samples. Infants with low birth weight had consistently higher levels of phthalates.
Ge said the results showed that phthalate exposure was ubiquitous in these newborns, and that prenatal phthalate exposure might be an environmental risk factor for low birth weight in infants.
The researchers said that with the possible harmful effects it offers there is a need to minimize phthalate exposure.

 

 

 

An intensified teen drug education is also an effective tool to prevent risky sex among teenagers around the world.

 

 

Hitting two birds in one stone.
This was uncovered by researchers who found out that an aggressive teen drug education is also an effective tool to beat our risky sex among the young generation.
According to a report published in the online health magazine site Journal of Adolescent Health, young adults who had been exposed to a popular drug abuse prevention program as adolescents were less likely to engage in risky sexual behaviour five to seven years later.
The researchers said the result of their study has proved that an intensified drug abuse prevention program can help reduce risky sexual practices among young adults.
The Rand Corporation who conducted the study explained teenagers who have undergone a drug prevention training are more likely avoid engaging in sex with multiple partners or perform sex or do unprotective sex.
The result of the study was based on the research conducted on 1,901 unmarried 21-year-olds who took part in a randomized controlled trial of Project ALERT, a drug use prevention program for middle school students developed by Rand Corporation.
The Rand Corporation revealed the study participants were exposed to Project ALERT while they attended middle school in South Dakota.
Among the participants, 631 attended schools that received 14 Project ALERT lessons during middle school, 499 attended schools that received 10 additional lessons during high school and 771 attended schools that did not offer the Project ALERT program.
It was discovered that Young adults exposed to Project ALERT were both less likely to have sex with multiple partners (44 percent versus 50 percent) and to have unprotected sex because of drug use (27 percent versus 32 percent) than their peers who had not been exposed to the program.
About 71 percent of study participants reported inconsistent use of condoms, regardless of whether they had been exposed to Project ALERT.
Furthermore, the researchers say that part of the differences between the two groups may be due to the lower use of drugs and alcohol among those exposed to Project ALERT since the behavior is linked to risky sexual practices. However, the differences in sexual behaviour between the two groups were not entirely explained by the lower substance use levels.
The result of this study should push the national government of any nation around the world to intensify further their anti-drug prevention campaign so also avoid risky sexual behaviours among the young generation.

 

According to a latest study those people who are regular users of shabu or Methamphetamine, a form of street drug are prone to memory loss.
Based on the study conducted by Julie Henry from the University of New South Wales, Australia, and Peter Rendell from Australian Catholic University on 20 adults, they discovered that majority of them are suffering from memory years for using shabu in an of average four years.
Rendell said previous research has found that that Methamphetamine may cause problems in social reasoning. As two of the most important aspects of social thinking are recognising emotion on people’s faces and understanding that, others think about things differently to you known as Theory of Mind.
He explained when compared with a group of people with no history of drug use, the group who had used shabu showed significant deficits on both the facial emotion recognition task and a Theory of Mind task, which involved naming the feelings expressed in photos of people’s eyes.
The researcher said the study has shown that constant shabu use has psychological consequences, and, potentially, consequences for these individuals’ social functioning.
He said the size of these social reasoning deficits was comparable to the memory problems that have also been found in users of shabu, consistent with other evidence showing that shabu is a dangerous drug, which can do lasting harm.
To avoid chances of suffering from memory loss, it would be best to avoid using shabu
To those who are already using it is time to stop this kind of act now.

 

 

 

The public should avoid using shabu since it could cause memory loss.

 

 

Those men and women who have the inherent strong personality trait have strong chances of being fertile during their adult life.
This result of a study conducted by a popular magazine Journal of Personality that state chance of having their own children in the future.
Two of the researchers in the study Markus Jokela and Lisa Keltikangas-Jarvinen revealed status striving may be important for reproductive success even in modern humans  when the relevant traits are measured at the right level - not as educational diplomas or high-status occupations, but as having a dominant personality.
To all those teenagers who have a dominant personality would surely be happy with this finding.
Despite this report, teenagers who have a strong personality should not immediately rejoice since the road towards having your own child is still far ahead so precaution and hard work is necessary.

 

 

 

A recent study has shown that teens that have a strong personality have better chances of having their own children in the future.