Therapist Unlimited Blog

There are now more reasons why people should avoid drinking liquor heavily.
A recent study has shown that binge drinking weakens the body’s ability to fight off infection for at least 24 hours afterwards.
Based on the study made by medical experts they discovered that acute alcohol exposure prevents the body from producing certain key-inflammatory cytokines.
Pro-inflammatory cytokines are signalling molecules that launch the inflammatory response to infection.

Better avoid heavy drinking now since it could weaken the body’s immune system.

The researchers noted that the "The time frame during which the risk of infection is increased might be at least 24 hours.
The team of experts revealed a persistent effect of ethanol on cells is indicated, such that inhibition of the response of some cytokines occurs even after the ethanol is cleared.
With this new discovery, it is now high time for binge drinkers to stop their habit or go slow in drinking.
Life is precious it should not be wasted by heavy drinking.

According to a latest medical study middle aged people who smoke, have high blood pressure or diabetes are far more likely to develop dementia in later life.
With the result, researchers hoped that people could modify their lifestyle in mid-life to avoid developing dementia.
Based on medical facts, dementia is a growing public health problem affecting older people in developed countries.
It is perceived that one in six people older than 70 have dementia.
Based on this number it is expected that the number of people with dementia will grow threefold by 2050, compared with 2000.
Earlier research have shown that the presence of cardiovascular risk factors including high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and smoking increase the risk of developing subsequent dementia, but have often failed to show the relationship.
Researchers from the universities of Minnesota, North Carolina and John Hopkins and the University of Mississippi Medical Center studied more than 11,000 people aged 46-70 who were participants in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study in 1990-92.
In their study, people underwent a physical examination and cognitive testing at that time and they were followed up until 2004 to see how many were hospitalized with dementia.

Middle age people should live a healthy lifestyle to avoid suffering from dementia later in their adult life.

After following their progress, the researchers identified 203 cases of hospitalization with dementia.
Smoking, high blood pressure and diabetes were all strongly associated with dementia in white participants and African-Americans.
The results showed that rates of hospitalization with dementia increased exponentially with age in men and women and in different ethnic backgrounds.
Overall, African-Americans had a two and a half times higher rate of hospitalization than white people and African-American women in particular had the highest rates of all.
Current smokers were 70% more likely than those who had never smoked to develop dementia, people with high blood pressure were 60% more likely than those without high blood pressure, and people with diabetes were more than twice as likely than those without diabetes to develop it.
No association was found between people who were obese/overweight and dementia in later life.
The researchers explained the results suggest that smoking cessation and prevention or control of high blood pressure and diabetes starting in midlife may have the added benefit of decreasing dementia hospitalization risk.
The researchers added the results emphasize the importance of healthy lifestyle modification and risk factor treatment to prevent dementia.

According to the latest medical research blacks had 51 percent higher prevalence of obesity, and Hispanics had 21 percent higher obesity prevalence compared with whites.

Based on the research conducted by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention it was learned that greater prevalence of obesity for blacks and whites were found in the South and Midwest than in the West and Northeast.
Hispanics in the Northeast had lower obesity prevalence than Hispanics in the Midwest, South or West.
To get the result the researchers examined data from 2006-2008.
Doctor William H. Dietz, Director of CDC’s Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity, explained this study highlights that in the United States, blacks and Hispanics are disproportionately affected by obesity.
Diaz added if we have any hope of stemming the rise in obesity, we must intensify our efforts to create an environment for healthy.

Black people around the world need to be careful with regards to their health since study shows they are prone to eating disorders.

Moreover, the researchers said in their research they also found out that in 40 states, obesity prevalence among blacks was 30 percent or more.
In five of those states, Alabama, Maine, Mississippi, Ohio, and Oregon, obesity prevalence among blacks was 40 percent or greater.
For blacks, the prevalence of obesity ranged from 23 percent to 45.1 percent among all states and the District of Columbia; among Hispanics in 50 states and DC, the prevalence of obesity ranged from 21 percent to 36.7 percent, with 11 states having an obesity prevalence of 30 percent or higher. Among whites in 50 states and the District of Columbia, the prevalence of obesity ranged from 9 percent to 30.2 percent, with only West Virginia having a prevalence of 30 percent or more.

According to a latest medical study African Americans have more chances to suffer from hypertension and kidney disease than white Americans.
Based on the study conducted by the Physician-scientists from NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center it was believed that a heightened level a certain growth factor in the blood may explain explained why blacks have a greater prevalence of hypertension and kidney disease compared to whites.
Recent medical statistics from the National Institutes of Health’s U.S. Renal Data System it was shown that African Americans constitute about 32 percent of all patients treated for kidney failure in the U.S. and are four times more likely to develop renal disease than whites.
With their discovery, researchers hoped that someday their study will lead to the development of a new class of anti-hypertensive and kidney disease drugs that target the TGF-b1 protein Dr. Manikkam Suthanthiran, first author of the study and attending physician at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell explained he believe their study is a took for the world to understand the great puzzle: why the black population has a greater prevalence of hypertension and kidney disease.

African Americans need to be vigilant at all times since they are at higher risk of hypertension and kidney disease than the white Americans.

Suthanthiran revealed after controlling for race, sex and age, TGF-b1 protein levels were highest in hypertensive blacks (46 ng/ml).
Non-hypertensive blacks also had higher levels (42 ng/ml) compared to hypertensive whites (40 ng/ml) and non-hypertensive whites (39 ng/ml), demonstrating that even healthy black patients may be at higher risk for future hypertension and renal disease compared to healthy and hypertensive whites.
Moreover, Suthanthiran and his team revealed many black patients may have a disadvantage from the start having a higher baseline level of TGF-b1.
Dr. Phyllis August, senior author and attending physician in the division of hypertension at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center for his part said while the exact mechanisms of TGF-b1 require further study, he believe that in black patients, higher levels of the growth factor are correlated with lower renin activity an enzyme that constricts blood vessels and raises blood pressure.
It is said that high blood pressure is the leading risk factor for end-stage kidney disease.
The researchers perceive it may be possible that higher levels of TGF-b1 boost retention of sodium salt within the kidneys, leading to higher blood pressure in the kidney and also lower levels of renin.
The researchers also concluded greater levels of TGF-b1 in blacks were also positively associated with body mass index (BMI) an indicator of body fatness compared to height and metabolic syndrome, a group of abnormalities that is associated with atherosclerotic vascular disease and diabetes.
They believe future clinical studies must be done so we may fully understand the specific role of TGF-b1 in how the kidney handles sodium, blood pressure and kidney disease.

According to a latest research the culture and environment makes the US Navy sailors at risk of being addicted to drinking.
Based on the study conducted which was published at the Journal of Mixed Methods Research, many factors contribute to the rise of drinking addiction in the US Navy.
Some of the factors cited in the study were the youth of recruits, alternating periods of exertion and boredom, and a culture that emphasizes drinking as a mechanism for bonding, recreation, and stress relief.
The researchers get the data, though the use of the statistical analysis of survey data as well as an analysis of interviews and observations on bases, ships and submarines.

US Navy sailors are prone to drinking addiction due to culture and environment of the place.

The people behind the study explained they conducted the study to determine the drinking problems happening in the US Navy so that they can map out solutions into it.
It is hoped that the report should serve as warning to Navy personnel to be more vigilant in their work and workplace so that they would not end up suffering from drinking addiction.

Looks like being a vegetarian has countless benefits attached to it.
Based on a latest medical study it was discovered that vegetarians are 12 per cent less likely to develop cancer than meat eaters are.
In a study conducted by the Cancer Research scientists in Oxford University involving 61,000 vegetable and meat eaters for over 12 years, it was discovered that 3,350 were diagnosed with cancer.
The researchers found out that the risk of being diagnosed with cancers of the stomach, bladder and blood was lower in vegetarians than in meat eaters.
The researchers revealed the most striking difference was in cancers of the blood including leukaemia, multiple myeloma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
The risk of these diseases was 45 per cent lower in vegetarians than in meat eaters.
Professor Tim Key, who is part of the research team, explained their large resulted to the findings that likelihood of people developing some cancers is lower among vegetarians than among people who eat meat.

Vegetarians had reasons to smile these days since they are less likely to develop cancer than meat eaters are.

Key said that in particular vegetarians were much less likely to develop cancers of the blood, which include leukaemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
However, more research is needed to substantiate these results and to look for reasons for the differences.
Furthermore, Key said the study looked at 20 different types of cancers.
The differences in risks between vegetarians and meat eaters were independent of other lifestyle behaviours including smoking, alcohol intake and obesity, which also affect the chance of developing cancer.

According to a latest medical study, those children who are physically abused are most likely to end up having cancer when they reach adulthood.
Based on the research it is discovered that childhood physical abuse is associated with 49 per cent higher odds of cancer in adulthood.
Lead researcher Esme Fuller-Thomson, a faculty in Social Work and Department of Family and Community Medicine from the University of Toronto said few talk about childhood physical abuse and cancer in the same breath.
Thomson said from a public health perspective, it is extremely important that clinicians be aware of the full range of risk factors for cancer.
The lead researcher said through their study should provide important new knowledge about a potential childhood abuse-cancer relationship.

More care should be given to physically abuse children since they are prone to cancer.

Meanwhile, co-author Sarah Brennenstuhl, a doctoral student at Uof T, notes that various psychophysiological factors could help to explain the link between childhood physical abuse and cancer. Brennenstuhl revealed one important avenue for future research is to investigate dysfunctions in cortisol production - the hormone that prepares us for ‘fight or flight’ as a possible mediator in the abuse-cancer relationship.
The researchers hoped that the result of their study would compel the parents and the government in general to care more for physically abused children so that they will not end up having cancer when they reaches adulthood.

The women population in this planet need to be extra careful since according to a recent medical study there are more prone to migraines than men.
Migraines are the constricting of blood vessels in the brain that cause intense, recurring vascular headaches.
Medical reports state that migraine headaches affect millions of Americans each year they are the most common type of headache that sends patients running to their doctor’s office.
According to research, like other forms of headaches, women suffer from migraines more frequently than men do.
It is said that approximately three out of four migraine sufferers are women.
Researchers have often cited hormones as a possible explanation.
Based on the data gathered by
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, more than half of migraines in women transpire right before, during or after a woman has her menstrual period.
In addition, although some women experience migraines throughout their cycle, menstrual-related migraines may explain one trigger of the condition.
The researchers noted right before a woman’s cycle begins, the levels of estrogen and progesterone drop sharply.
This decrease in hormone levels may initiate migraine headaches because estrogen has been shown to control brain chemicals that affect pain sensation in women.
The medical experts revealed although hormones are unlikely to explain the entire picture, a recent study revealed that women with a history of migraines might be less likely to develop breast cancer than other women.
Because breast cancer has been linked to higher lifetime exposure to estrogen, the fact that migraines are more common when there is a drop in estrogen may support the hormone theory.

Latest medical data has shown that more women are suffering from migraines than men are.

The symptoms, duration and frequency of migraines can vary greatly from person to person. They may be debilitating for some people. Often times, migraines can come along with sensory warning signs such as seeing flashes of light, blind spots or feeling nauseous (with or without vomiting). Other symptoms include:
– Intense, throbbing pain on one, or sometimes, both sides of the head.
– Feeling "pins and needles" in a limb.
– Sensitivity to light or loud sounds.
– Pain that worsens with physical activity and/or interferes with daily functioning.
In some people, the pain lasts for a short period of time; other patients describe lingering symptoms that can last up to three days. In addition, some people get migraines on a regular basis, yet others may experience them much less frequently.
Currently, there is no cure for migraine headaches, but the symptoms can be managed effectively with pharmaceuticals and lifestyle changes made under medical supervision
In addition to pharmaceutical treatments, migraine sufferers should not discount the value of lifestyle changes. Many experts recommend keeping a diary to record potential triggers, so patients can attempt to avoid them.
Behavioral changes that have been proven effective include limiting caffeine and alcohol, engaging in regular physical activity and coping with stress.
 

Pregnant women around the world need to be careful since they are at higher risk of being inflicted with the deadly H1N1 A influenza virus.
Based on the research conducted by the Motherisk Program at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto and the Japan Drug Information Institute in Pregnancy in Tokyo,
Japan researchers discovered that those in the third trimester are at high risk of serious complications from the H1N1 A influenza virus.
To treat and prevent pregnant women from suffering the deadly  H1N1 A influenza virus, medical experts recommended the intake of oseltamivir, which appears to be the drug of choice because there are more data on its safety in pregnancy.
Dr. Shinya, Head of the Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology at SickKids revealed the groups at high risk of flu-related complications from the novel H1N1 influenza are the same as those for seasonal flu consisting of pregnant women, children under 5 years, the elderly and others such as those with chronic lung conditions.

Pregnant women need to be extra careful these days since they are at higher risk in the deadly H1N1 A Influenza virus.

Meanwhile, medical experts said only small amounts of oseltamivir are excreted into human milk.
The researchers said if an infant is breastfed by the mother on these drugs and needs treatment, the recommended dose of oseltamivir should be given to the infant.
To avoid being inflicted with the deadly disease it would be best for pregnant women to engage in healthy activities such as eating nutritious foods and having enough sleep.

According to a recent study, men are prone to cancer than women are as far as statistics from United Kingdom revealed.
Based on the records from the National Cancer Intelligence Network (NCIN) and Cancer Research UK it was discovered that men are 40 per cent more likely to die of cancer than women are and 16 per cent more likely to get it in the first place.
According to their records, it was also discovered that after excluding breast cancer and cancers that only affect one sex, the difference between men and women was even greater, with men being about 70 per cent more likely to die from cancer than women and over 60 per cent more likely to develop it in the first place.
The researchers revealed even when they excluded lung cancer, which removes the counfounder introduced by the fact more men smoke than women, the underlying figures were the same.
The remaining cancers that were included in the analysis were cancers of the oesophagus, stomach, colorectal, liver, pancreas, kidney, bladder, brain and central nervous system (CNS), non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, malignant melanoma, multiple myeloma and leukaemia.
The team of experts explained more research was needed to understand the gap, but speculated it could be behavioural: perhaps men have unhealthier lifestyles and they do not notice early cancer symptoms, or they are more reluctant to deal with them, whereas women tend to notice them earlier and do not delay in going to the doctor about them.

Men need to be careful since they are more prone to cancer than women according to a study done in the United Kingdom.

For, Alan White, Professor of Men’s Health at Leeds Metropolitan University and Chair of the Men’s Health Forum, the evidence shows that men are generally not aware that, as well as smoking, carrying excess weight around the waist, having a high alcohol intake and a poor diet and their family history all contribute to their increased risk of developing and dying prematurely from cancer, adding that more research needs to be done before we can be sure exactly why this gender gap exists.
White added the report clearly shows that we need to try much harder to get the public, health professionals and the people who make the policies to understand the risks that men face.
He said many of these deaths could be avoided by changes in lifestyle and earlier diagnosis.
Moreover, Professor David Forman of the NCIN said for many of the types of cancer we looked at that affect both sexes, there’s no known biological reason why men should be at a greater risk than women, so we were surprised to see such consistent differences.
Forman said after taking out the effect of age, men were significantly more likely than women to die from every one of the specific types of cancer considered and, apart from melanoma; they were significantly more likely to develop the disease.
He revealed men have a reputation for having a ’stiff upper lip’ and not being as health-conscious as women do.
To get the data, the researchers looked at cancer deaths in the UK for 2007 and new cases categorized by cancer type for 2006.
They summed cancer cases that were not sex-specific and then looked at male and female ratios in each category.