Ah, the joys of watching TV. Lately, television has become a favourite appliance around the world today, especially in well-developed countries. It is said that most households spend a lot of time in front of the television nowadays. Along with television use is also a widespread use of the internet, video games and mobile phones. All these are sedentary activities that are harmful to our health.

Watching Television

Too much television watching can cause children and adults to be violent. Several studies have also found out that watching too much television has undesirable effects on the brain. This is why young children should not be exposed to television at all. Watching television also makes the brain more receptive so that more people who watch television end up buying products advertised on it. Television also leads to a lower life expectancy and causes deaths just like cancers and heart attacks.

It is said that the number of hours of screen time is directly proportional to the number of health illnesses that a person can acquire. Too much television watching is said to bring about violence, aggressive behaviour, increased sexual activity among the youth, low self esteem, poor body image obesity, poor performance in school, sleep problems and many more. Obesity is one such result of watching too much television in all ages. Obesity in turn can bring about numerous medical problems such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

The reasons why television and other screen time activities promote obesity are numerous; some of these reasons include decreased physical activity, advertisements that encourage consumers to eat less healthy foods, snacking behaviour while watching television, and decreased metabolism due to sedentary activities.

To help avoid these detrimental results parents should switch off their television sets. They should also encourage their children to be active by spending time outside the house and taking a walk, working in the garden, playing with friends and family members, walking their pets and indulging on other physical activities.

Parents should also take out television sets, computers and video game consoles out of children's bedrooms. Children who have television sets in their bedrooms were found to watch TV more often and are more likely to eat unhealthy foods. Parents should also decide on the kind of shows children should watch. They should also teach kids on analyzing content of advertisements they watch over television. They should also express their own opinions regarding this matter and talk to their children's teachers and caregivers regarding policies in television watching and computer use. Parents should set an example to their children by being not dependent on-screen activities for their entertainment. Books and sports are other ways of enjoyment without turning on the television screen. There should be fun-filled activities in the schools and neighbourhood for families so that spending too much time in front of the television can be avoided.

Television and Weight Gain in the Young

A recent national study done by researchers from the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth and the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Norris Cotton Cancer Center found that having a bedroom television was a significant predictor of adolescent weight gain. The results of this study were published in the online issue of the JAMA Pediatrics on March 3, 2014. Through this study, the researchers suggested that removing televisions sets from the bedroom may play a big role in eliminating childhood obesity. Data were taken from over 6,522 children and adolescents aged 10-14 years from all 50 states. The researchers found out that 59% percent of these youths had a significantly higher change in body mass index regardless of other factors.

You can read more about staying fit and healthy by exploring our other articles on this site.

A lot of older people nowadays are victims of a robber known as dementia. One common type of dementia is Alzheimer's disease. But can Alzheimer's disease be that dangerous? Read on.

Facts about Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease is a common form of dementia which changes the way people think and function. This disease can lead to cognitive decline which in turn can affect the way your brain functions, affect memory and affect your mood and behaviour. This is because there is progressive loss and damage to brain cells in this medical condition. The exact cause is unknown however some things which can increase your risk of acquiring this condition are older age, a positive family history of this condition, previous injuries to the head which may be severe, vascular disease and lifestyle.

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive illness which affects the way a person thinks and remembers. A person with Alzheimer's disease can present with memory problems, difficulty in speaking and in thinking, and changes in behaviour. These people may also have disorientation and personality changes. The diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease is based more on signs and symptoms. There is also no known cure for this illness, although medications have been developed to slow down its progress. It usually affects people who are aged 65 years old or more, and slightly affects more men than women. However, there are also cases of early onset dementia, that is, dementia which occurs before the age of 65 years old. You can prevent Alzheimer's disease from occurring by quitting smoking, cutting down alcohol consumption, eating a balanced diet, having regular checkups as you age and being physically and mentally active.

Alzheimer's disease and Death

A recent study has shown that Alzheimer's disease can be a contributory factor many deaths in the United states, just like cancer or heart disease. The results of this study are published in the March 5, 2014, print issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The researchers commented that Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias are under-reported on death certificates and medical records. This is why the researchers studied about 2,566 people ages 65 and older who received annual testing for dementia. The average age of the respondents was 78 years old. The results showed that after about eight years, about 1090 respondents died and about 559 respondents developed who had no dementia developed Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease was confirmed after death through autopsy in about 90% of the respondents who were clinically diagnosed with this disorder. It was found out that people who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease have a four times more risk for death, especially those aged 75 to 84. The risk was three times higher in people aged 85 and older. It was also found out that Alzheimer’s disease was to blame in about one-third of deaths of people who belonged to this age group.

Thus Alzheimer's disease needs to prevented as soon as possible. Lifestyle changes can prevent dementia. These lifestyle changes include a healthy diet, mental stimulation, good sleep, good stress management, and active social life. Regular exercise can reduce stress, can boost mood, can improve memory and can increase energy. Regular exercise is said to reduce Alzheimer's disease risk by 50 percent. It can also slow down deterioration in patients with cognitive problems. Eating foods that can protect glial cells in the brain can also slow down the progression of Alzheimer's disease. Examples of these foods include antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables, fatty fish green tea, soy and ginger. One should also not forget to eat lean meat, protein rich foods and healthy fats.

If you want to learn more about Alzheimer's disease, you can read our other articles on this site.

What is zinc? Zinc is a mineral which is essential in the performance of bodily functions. It is naturally present in many foods while it is also a component of supplements, lozenges and cold remedies.

Zinc

Zinc is a mineral which is involved in the metabolism of cells and in the activity of enzymes in the body. It also boosts immune function and protects the body against illnesses, as well as it helps in the production of protein, the healing of wounds, the synthesis of DNA and the division of cells. Zinc also supports normal development in various life stages such as pregnancy, adolescence and childhood. The body cannot produce and store zinc so that it should be taken in by the body through food.

Zinc and Osteoarthritis

Recent news has it that zinc may play a role in the progression of osteoarthritis. As we know, osteoarthritis is a cause for disability among many people. This condition affects the joints in such a way that it causes damage. For us to understand how osteoarthritis gives rise to its numerous signs and symptoms, let us first review a little information about bones and joints. Normally, the ends of the bones are covered by cartilage; this helps the joint move freely and helps to cushion bone ends. In people with osteoarthritis, cartilage breaks down and becomes thinner; the ends of the bones are unprotected and the joint does not move smoothly. Osteoarthritis often affects people over the age of 45 however it can also develop in younger people.

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Osteoarthritis can have a lot of signs and symptoms which often vary from person to person. Symptoms also depend on what joints are affected. Osteoarthritis often develops slowly over months and years and gives rise to pain and stiffness of the joints. These feelings are often worse when the patient is resting and when there is no movement of the joint. These symptoms often affect the way a person does his or her daily activities such as walking, doing housework or even opening jars.

Much have not been studied about the true causes of osteoarthritis, though there are some risk factors known to predispose to this disease such as being overweight, knee injuries, heavy lifting, repetitive movement of the joints, and history of osteoarthritis in the family. It is often diagnosed by symptoms, physical examination, x-rays and blood tests.

A recent study published in the Cell Press February 13th in the journal Cell have found out that tissue damage in osteoarthritis is often caused by a molecular pathway that often involves the regulation and response to zinc levels within cartilage cells. The researchers from Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology have found out that a protein called ZIP8 transports zinc inside cartilage cells and that this protein sets off a cascade of molecular events that lead to destruction of cartilage in mice. These findings are helpful for future research regarding drug targets for osteoarthritis.

The researchers commented that they have not encountered previous evidence linking to zinc as playing a causal role in osteoarthritis. In their study, they have revealed the series of molecular events of the osteoarthritis zinc pathway, a pathway that leads to joint tissue destruction in osteoarthritis. The researchers tested their hypothesis in a mouse model then examined cartilage from osteoarthritis patients. They found that high levels of a protein called ZIP8 were present in the plasma membrane of cartilage cells. This protein is involved in zinc influx and in increasing levels of matrix-degrading enzymes in cartilage cells. Thus the researchers hypothesized that the zinc-ZIP8-MTF1 pathway can cause cartilage destruction in osteoarthritis.

To know more about zinc, you may check our other articles on this site.

Ovarian cancer is one of the top cancers affecting women today. It is usually treated by surgery and chemotherapy. However, a recent study shows that ovarian cancer can be prevented by aspirin intake.

Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is a type of cancer involving the different parts of the ovary. Majority of ovarian cancers are from the epithelium or the outer lining of the ovary. Ovarian cancer is one of the top cancer affecting women around the world today, and can cause death, along with other cancers. This type of cancer usually spreads to the other parts of the reproductive system such as vagina, the stomach, and the uterus. They usually occur in women over the age of 65.

Ovarian cancer is said to be benign when it limits its growth on the ovary only. On the other hand, if it spreads to the other parts of the body, it is termed as malignant. It is malignant when it demonstrates invasion and angiogenesis. Invasion occurs when the cancerous cell moves throughout the body through the blood or the lymphatic system to destroy healthy tissue. Angiogenesis is the process by which the cancerous cells multiply and grow and affect the blood vessels, so that more blood vessels grow and surface out to feed these cancer cells. Metastasis is the process by which the tumor spreads to the other parts of the body and grows to invade and destroy healthy tissues. This condition is hard to treat and is life-threatening.

There are three main types of ovarian cancers: epithelial, germ cell and stromal. Epithelial ovarian cancers are cancers that emerge from the surface of the ovary. This is the most common type of ovarian cancer. Germ cell ovarian cancers, on the other hand, are derived from the cells of the ovary which are responsible for producing eggs. This type of cancer usually affects children and teenage girls. Stromal ovarian cancers, also known as sex cord stromal tumors, often develop from the structures that hold the ovaries together. Cancers from the other parts of the body can also spread in the ovaries.

Ovarian cancer, during its early stages, has vague signs and symptoms which may be overlooked. However, more suggestive signs and symptoms include pelvic pain, pain on the lower side of the body, lower abdominal pain, back pain, indigestion, heartburn, early satiety, frequent and urgent urination, pain during sexual intercourse and changes in bowel habits such as diarrhoea or constipation. As ovarian cancer progresses, it may give a variety of other signs and symptoms which may include nausea, loss of appetite, weight loss, fatigue, difficulty of breathing and other signs and symptoms. Most women feel one or more signs and symptoms before their diagnosis. Thus it is not a silent killer. The most common signs experienced by women with ovarian cancer include pain or pressure in the abdomen or pelvis and bloating.

There are many causes and risk factors for ovarian cancer. Women with a positive family history are prone to develop this disease. Also at high risk are women who have close relatives with prostate, colon or uterine cancers; those over 65 years of age, those who have ever been pregnant, those who have never taken contraceptives, those who started their periods early, and those who had late menopause. If you are at high risk for ovarian cancer, you should take preventive measures.

Ovarian Cancer and Aspirin

A new study has shown that taking aspirin may lower a woman's risk for developing ovarian cancer by one-fifth. This study, done by researchers from the U.S. National Cancer Institute analyzed data from about 8,000 women with ovarian cancer and about 12,000 women without the disease and their intake of aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and acetaminophen (Tylenol). The results revealed that those who took aspirin daily have lowered risk for ovarian cancer by about 20 percent than those who use aspirin once a week. The researchers aim to incite other researchers to study whether aspirin can really lower ovarian cancer risk.

To know more about ovarian cancer, feel free to browse our other articles on this site.

The soda revolution is on! Soda advertisements are everywhere, from newspaper ads and billboards to television ads. This makes us want to drink soda every now and then to make us feel refreshed every day.

But before you reach out for that second can of soda, you should take in mind some health risks that can be obtained from drinking soda. This can change your mind regarding drinking another bottle of soda again.

The Truth About Soda

Soda or soft drinks have become popular nowadays, but little of us know what this drink actually contains. Soda is made up of water with colouring agents, sweeteners and flavouring agents. The sweeteners may come in the form of sugar, fruit juice, high fructose corn syrup, sugar substitutes or a combination of these. Soda may also contain caffeine and preservatives. All these ingredients are mixed with water which has been carbonated using a soda siphon or a carbonation system or by the process of dropping dry ice into water. The ingredients along with the carbonation process bring soda its pleasant taste.

But before you grab another bottle of soda, think about this: many experts have known that the consumption of soda can bring about various negative health effects. Soft drinks sweetened with sugar can bring about the development of type 2 diabetes, obesity, dental caries, and even malnutrition. Soft drinks containing caffeine may bring about anxiety, insomnia and hormonal imbalances. Other harmful additives include sodium benzoate, a substance which has been investigated by researchers as a possible cause of DNA damage and being hyperactive, especially among children.

Obesity can certainly result from too much intake of sweet beverages such as soft drinks. One study has found out that school age children who drank soft drinks every day increased their body mass index or BMI within a span of one year. In another study, intake of soda daily in women brought about weight gain; the number of soft drinks taken per day is directly proportional to increase in weight gain. An increased BMI is a characteristic of overweight and obesity, and this can bring about complicated medical problems such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, stroke and other dangerous illnesses.

Consuming a lot of soft drinks can also lead to progressive dental decay. Soda contains a variety of simple carbohydrates such as glucose, sucrose, fructose and other simple sugars. When left in the mouth these sugars are fermented by bacteria, a process which produces excess acid in the mouth that dissolves tooth enamel and leads to tooth decay. The risk of getting tooth decay is directly proportional to the amount of soft drinks consumed. The fermentation plus the fact that some soft drinks are acidic by nature can make tooth decay more possible.

Drinking soda can also lead to low potassium levels, bone density, and bone loss. Bone loss may be due to the fact that soft drinks contain phosphoric acid which lowers bone mineral density, further leading to weak bones or osteoporosis. It has also been hypothesized that soft drinks can block calcium absorption in the body.

Soda and Cancers

Recently, there are reports which say that many soda beverages contain high levels of a caramel coloring agent known as 4-methylimidazole (4-MEI). The substance 4-MEI is said to be a health risk and potential carcinogen. In a study which involved rats and mice, 4-MEI was said to induce leukemia and lung tumors. This led the researchers to conclude that repeated consumption of soda beverages with 4-MEI may produce cancers as that was found in mice and rats which had consumed the substance. More studies should be done as to whether other substances than 4-MEI could bring about other health risks.

Now that you know something about the health risks of drinking soda, maybe you can start weaning off from soda now. To start living healthy, know more on how to change your lifestyle by reading our other articles on this site.

Restless legs syndrome is a disorder of the nerves which gives out symptoms such as throbbing, creeping and unpleasant sensations in the legs with the uncontrollable urge to move them. While it may occur now and then in normal people, it becomes pathologic when it disrupts daytime function and sleep. In a new study, pregabalin proves effective in eliminating unpleasant symptoms associated with this disorder.

Restless Legs Syndrome

Restless legs syndrome is a condition wherein there is an uncontrollable to move the legs whenever the person is trying to relax or lie down. Symptoms may even be present at night when the person relaxes or is at rest and increases in severity as night goes on. Discomfort is relieved by moving the legs. This discomfort may be abnormal nerve sensations called paresthesias or unpleasant abnormal sensations called dysthesias. These sensations can even be painful and irritating.

Untreated restless legs syndrome can cause daytime fatigue, sleep loss and exhaustion. People affected by this disorder often reveal that this condition affects their work, social life and their daily activities. They cannot sleep very well at night and are unable to concentrate during the daytime. They have impaired memory and they often cannot accomplish their daily tasks very well. This can create difficulties for the person to travel and can even cause depression. Restless legs syndrome can both affect adults and children and can even be misdiagnosed by some doctors.

Restless legs syndrome needs to be treated as soon as possible because if left untreated, this can give rise to symptoms such as insomnia, nervousness, muscle cramping, stress, arthritis and early aging. This condition both affects men and women though women are commonly affected. It can affect all ages yet more serious illness can start at middle age or older. Restless legs syndrome is now classified as a movement disorder because this illness forces the legs to move to gain symptom relief.

Common signs and symptoms of restless legs syndrome include uncomfortable sensation in the legs especially when sitting or lying down, an irresistible urge to move the limbs, constant pacing in the floor and tossing and turning in bed. Symptoms get worse at night while in the daytime, the sufferer may be symptom-free. Some people with restless legs syndrome may even sleep during the daytime. Movement of the legs may also be triggered by long car trips, watching a movie, long distance flight, relaxation activities and cast immobilization. The symptoms may go worse when there is lack of sleep and may even vary from person to person. In some people, sleep is disrupted and there may be interference in daily activities. Symptoms may occur every day while in mild cases, symptoms may only occur once or twice a week but may cause a delay in sleep onset at night and impaired daytime functioning. There may even be remissions or exacerbations.

There are many causes of restless legs syndrome including genes, low levels of iron, dysfunction of the basal ganglia, Parkinson's disease, kidney failure, peripheral neuropathy, diabetes, certain medications, pregnancy, alcohol and sleep deprivation.

Restless Legs Syndrome and Pregabalin

A recent study shows that pregabalin can relieve symptoms and slow down the progression of restless legs syndrome when compared with the current standard medication, which is pramipexole. In this study, researchers from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore studied 720 patients with moderate to severe symptoms of restless legs syndrome for the effects of pregabalin versus pramipexole. After 12 weeks, patients on pregabalin showed greater symptom improvement compared with placebo. The findings were published in the February 13 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

For more articles on restless legs syndrome and fatigue, feel free to read our other articles on this site.

The old quote says no man is an island. Indeed, man cannot live by himself. Social health is an aspect of health wherein the person develops relationships with other people. If there are problems affecting the social life of a person, his health is also affected. In this latest study, researchers have found out that loneliness can increase the risk for senior deaths.

Loneliness

Recent technology has left us doing jobs with more ease than before yet have made us busier and busier everyday and have made our elderly more lonelier and lonelier without company every day.

Gone were the days when children and grandparents sat side by side and read books or played board games together. Today, our kids are more preoccupied with playing video games and watching television than spending time with their grandparents. This is the age of secluded seniors.

According to recent studies, about one-fourth of the population of seniors live alone, while almost half report being lonely regularly. The studies have also found out that the more a senior gets lonelier, the more they are likely to decline and die faster. It is said by an US study that 60 year olds have a 45 percent risk in death when they report feeling lonely. There is also more than 50% mental and physical decline among seniors who feel lonely than those whose social lives have been active. Lonely people are also at risk of acquiring Alzheimer's disease. Lonely people oftentimes push other people away and isolate themselves from society.

And not only that, the US study reports that seniors who feel lonely were either married or have been living with a partner for some time. Experts think that it's not the more relationships you have but the quality of the relationships that you enjoy.

So why are our seniors so lonely? One reason for this is because they are alone. Some of them are placed in nursing homes, assisted living communities and other communities where they have limited contact with their family. Oftentimes, their family members pay little attention to them and do not have deep engaging communications with them. The other roots of a senior's loneliness include reduced mobility, reduced income and loss of friends and family members. Loneliness can greatly impact quality of life and health. There are negative health effects that may arise from being lonely. Loneliness is said to have negative effects on blood pressure and is associated with depression and risk for mortality. Loneliness can also predispose to vices such as smoking and alcohol consumption.

This problem among our elderly can be addressed by creating communities where seniors can befriend others at their age group, group services that offer help and support for seniors, and with the use of volunteers in the community who can give emotional, social and practical support.

Loneliness and Early Death

In a latest study by researchers from the University of Chicago, feeling extremely lonely can increase a senior's risk for premature death by 14 percent. The researchers studied the rate of physical and mental decline on seniors. They have found out that older people can eliminate their risk for death by having resilience and by growing from everyday stresses. According to these experts, loneliness can bring about negative consequences such as sleep disruption, blood pressure elevation, increase in the stress hormone  cortisol, altered gene expression in immune cells, low well-being and increased depression. The researchers say that seniors can prevent this decline by staying in touch with family and friends, taking part in family functions and sharing good times with family and friends.

You can learn more about defying aging by reading our other articles on this site.

If you are a smoker, you should consider quitting. Smoking can give rise to many diseases and is the cause of million deaths around the world every year.

The Dangers of Smoking

Smoking can cause more deaths than deaths from HIV, drug use, alcohol use, vehicle accidents and firearm injuries combined. This means to say that smoking is just like paving the road to death. This is maybe because smoking can increase the risks for coronary heart disease, stroke and lung cancer. Aside from this, smoking can also give rise to poor health, frequent illnesses, prolonged absences from work and school and increase in health care costs.

So why is it that smoking gives rise to all these harmful effects? First of all smoking gives rise to coronary heart disease and stroke which are the top killers in the world today. Even people who smoke as little as five cigarettes per day are prone to cardiovascular disease. Also, smoking can damage blood vessels in the body, making them narrower and thicker so that blood pressure goes up and the heart pumps harder to overcome the elevated blood pressure. Clots can also form inside the blood vessels, lead to heart attacks and stroke. Heart attacks are due to clots that block the flow of the blood vessels in the heart, depriving your heart muscle of oxygen and nutrients. Strokes occur when the clot lodges inside the blood vessels of the brain so that brain tissue is deprived of oxygen or the blood vessel bursts. Aside from these, smoking also reduces blood flow to the legs and to the skin of the other parts of the body, creating mottling, ischemia and gangrene.

Smoking can also cause lung disease by creating damage to the airways and the alveoli or small sacs in the lungs. It can also cause COPD, emphysema or chronic bronchitis. It can trigger an asthmatic attack especially in patients who already have asthma. Death can result from COPD among smokers. Smoking can also cause cancers especially in the bladder, the blood, cervix, colon, rectum, esophagus, kidneys, ureter, liver, larynx, pancreas, stomach, oropharynx, trachea and lungs. Among pregnant women, smoking can cause preterm deliveries, stillbirth, low birth weight infants, congenital anomalies, sudden infant death syndrome and ectopic pregnancies. Smoking can reduce fertility among men by affecting the quantity and quality of sperm and creating miscarriages and birth defects. Bone health is also affected by smoking, so that smokers often develop lower bone density especially women who are approaching menopause. It also causes gum problems and tooth loss and may also increase your risk for having cataracts. Other problems caused by smoking are diabetes mellitus, inflammatory problems, immune system defects and rheumatoid arthritis. This is why quitting it for only one year can bring about beneficial changes in your heart health. Your risk for stroke also improves as well as your risks for cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder and stroke.

Smoking and Breast Cancer

A new study has shown that young women who smoke one pack of cigarettes a day for a decade may have a significantly increased risk for estrogen receptor positive breast cancer. The findings of this study are published in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society. The researchers conducted a population-based study in Seattle among 778 patients with estrogen receptor positive breast cancers and 182 patients with triple-negative breast cancers. Estrogen receptor positive breast cancer is the most common type of breast cancer while triple negative breast cancer is more aggressive. The researchers found out that those young women who were recent or current smokers for over 10 years had a 60 percent chance of developing estrogen receptor positive breast cancers. This is why women who have been smoking need to be extra careful and need to quit smoking immediately.

If you want to know more about the ill-effects of smoking, feel free to read our other articles in this site.

One of the most widely used and abused substances is alcohol. Alcohol is similar to drugs; it can cause addiction and becomes a social problem, especially among teens. Many teens, especially in Western countries are often dubbed as problem drinkers because they often get drunk, get into alcohol related accidents, and often get into trouble with the law and with family members and friends. All these are due to the bad effects of alcohol.

Alcohol: Its Effects On The Body

Alcoholic drinks differ by their alcohol content. While beer contains about 5% alcohol, wine usually contains about 12 to 15% of alcohol and hard liquor usually contains about 45% of alcohol. After consuming these drinks, alcohol gets easily into your bloodstream by being absorbed into your stomach and intestines. Once it gets inside the body, alcohol exerts its effects by slowing down your breathing, slowing down your heart rate, and affecting how your brain functions. With too much alcohol intake you may have reduced inhibitions, slurred speech, euphoria, motor impairment, stupor, coma, respiratory paralysis and death.

 If there is too much consumption of alcohol, you may have many health risks such as alcohol dependence, risks for accidents, neck cancer, stomach cancer, breast cancer and other cancers, risky sex behaviours, suicide and homicide. Drinking is also harmful for the pregnant woman and her baby; her baby may suffer from severe birth defects or fetal alcohol syndrome. This is why you should drink responsible and be aware of these health risks. You can drink alcohol, but take it in moderation. If you are a man, you should not have more than two drinks per day and if you're a woman, you should not have more than 1 drink per day. A drink is defined a 5 ounce of wine,120 ounces of beer or 1.5 ounces of liquor. Also, do not drink before you drive, do not drink on an empty stomach and do not drink when you are pregnant.

Alcohol and Pregnancy

A recent study shows that drinking alcohol during the early stages of pregnancy may damage the growth and function of the placenta. We know that the placenta is responsible for supplying nutrition and other needs to the baby until birth. This research was published in the journal PLoS One and was funded by the British Medical Association. In this study, the researchers investigated the effects of alcohol and its byproduct acetaldehyde on the placenta during the first few weeks of pregnancy. The first two weeks of pregnancy are crucial because it is during within this time that the three germ cell layers in the baby develop into internal organs. The results showed that at very low levels, alcohol did not have any effect on growth and function. However, after moderate and heavy intake, there was reduced transport of taurine, an amino acid, from the mother to baby through the placenta.

The fact that taurine delivery to the fetus is reduced during moderate to heavy alcohol drinking is important since taurine is an important amino acid for proper brain development. Acetaldehyde, on the other hand, did not have any effect on taurine transport. Children with reduced taurine often exhibit negative behaviours and retarded physical development; this might explain why children of alcoholic mothers often exhibit neurological symptoms. Also, alcohol and acetaldehyde are both toxic substances when they are at high levels in the body. The research further elaborates how much alcohol should be consumed to have specific effects on the placenta.

Alcohol was also noted to reduce placental growth. Reduced placental growth could lead to malnourishment of the fetus, since the fetus depends on the placenta for almost all its needs. This would lead to stunted growth and maybe an increased risk for congenital malformations.

If you want to read more on how to achieve a healthy pregnancy, feel free to browse other articles on this site.

If you are fond of eating pizza, you may have noticed that its oil has a characteristic aroma and flavour. These characteristics are brought about by its component, oregano oil, an herbal oil taken from oregano, a herb with potential health benefits. Recently, there is news that oregano oil can help prevent winter vomiting disease, a gastrointestinal illness caused by norvovirus infection

Norvovirus Infection

Winter vomiting disease is caused by norvovirus infection, and causes rapid onset of symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramping and other signs and symptoms of gastroenteritis. After infection, a person may also feel tired, have headaches, have muscle aches and have low-grade fevers with chills. All these symptoms are stipulated to last for about one to two days. Since this is a viral illness, medications are not necessary and supportive treatment may be needed to prevent dehydration.

Norvovirus infections can cause about 90% of non bacterial gastroenteritis worldwide. Outbreaks may happen in places where people gather together and have close contact, such as in hospitals, prisons, schools, dorms and nursing homes. The virus is transmissible from person to person by means of contaminated food and water or even by contaminated surfaces.

Once a norvovirus enters the body, it then attaches to the cells lining the gastrointestinal tract. The virus then penetrates the cells and makes the person vomit and have diarrhea. Studies have shown that the virus attaches to cells through its external coat or capsid then further escapes the body's immune defenses to target people with specific blood groups. The signs and symptoms of the illness start within 12 to 48 hours of contact or incubation period. After infection, affected people may then exhibit various signs and symptoms rapidly such as nausea, vomiting, muscle aches and loss of taste. Diarrhea becomes frequent at a rate of numerous episodes of watery stools within 12-24 hours. They may also develop abdominal discomfort and cramping. Diarrhea may result in dehydration or the loss of body water. However, these symptoms may disappear after 2 to 3 days, however people who are affected by dehydration may develop complications such as electrolyte imbalances, coma and even death.

Norvovirus and Oregano Oil

Recent news has it that a group of scientists from the University of Arizona have found out that a certain substance from oregano oil can be effective against norvovirus infection. The component, called carvacrol, is responsible for the distinct aroma and flavour of oregano oil, and is also responsible for breaking down the outer coat of the norvovirus. This study used the mouse model to detect if carvacrol may indeed have antiviral activities especially against the Norvovirus. The virus used in this experiment was similar to the viruses that exhibit resistance to antimicrobials and disinfectants. Carvacrol acts directly on the capsid of the virus, which is a tough layer of proteins that surround the virus. This would then give the antimicrobial the chance to enter the internal parts of the virus so that it can be killed.

The researchers think that the results of this study are favourable since it can suggest the use of carvacrol as components of sanitizers later on in conjunction with other antimicrobials. Carvacrol is also said to be slow acting than disinfectants so that it has the potential to create long-lasting effects on disinfection. It is also more unlikely that the virus can cause resistance to this substance. This substance is also safe and non-corrosive. However, the drawback is that carvacrol cannot be ingested since it can cause a burning sensation and numbness of the tongue, though it creates no toxicity.

You can read our other articles on viral infections on this site.