Preventing Toxoplasmosis in Cats and Humans
July 29, 2008
Preventing toxoplasmosis infection involves some simple precautionary steps for both you and your cat. While there’s no guarantee that you or your cat won’t get it, every step you take may help.
A single-celled parasite called Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is responsible for Toxoplasmosis infections. Both humans and cats, as well as other mammals and birds may become infected through contact with this organism. Wild and domestic cats are the definitive hosts for Toxoplasma, which means that the feline is the animal the organism uses to reproduce.
According to reports from the Centers for Disease Control, the Toxoplasma parasite is found throughout the world, and as many as 60 million people in the United States may carry it. Estimates are that anywhere between 20 percent and 80 percent of populations worldwide may have it. Toxoplasmosis symptoms, however, are relatively rare, causing few people to seek treatment. Cats that are infected may or may not show signs of the disease as well.
In underdeveloped countries, walking on infected soil with unprotected feet is a factor. For the most part, though, the primary risk factor is from eating undercooked or raw meat.
Below are a few of the things you can do to prevent contracting toxoplasmosis yourself.
Do not eat undercooked or raw meat. If you touch raw meat, do not touch your face until you’ve cleaned your hands thoroughly.
Wash your hands, cutting boards, utensils, and sink with soap and warm water.
Wash all raw vegetables and fruits thoroughly.
Get someone else to empty the cat litter box. Pregnant women should take special precautions and have someone else on cat box duty.
Ensure that the litter box is cleaned at least once per day or more in order to dispose of cat feces before it becomes infective.
If you handle the cat box duties yourself, wear a mask and disposable rubber gloves and avoid breathing the dust. Wash your hands after cleaning the box.
While outdoors, avoid sandboxes as cats may use them as litter boxes.
Wear gloves when gardening. Keep your hands away from your eyes, mouth, and nose. Wash your hands when finished.
Avoid drinking unpasteurized milk products, especially goat’s milk.
Here are some things you can do to help prevent your cat from contracting the disease.
Do not feed your cat raw or undercooked meat.
Make your cat an indoor cat to prevent her from hunting birds or rodents that might be carrying the disease.
Keep your cat inside to prevent it from coming in contact with contaminated soil, plants, or insects.
How to ease the pain in a newly pierced ear.
July 29, 2008
What is going on with my pierced ear? You have been waiting for awhile or just decided that a nice earring would enhance your looks. Now you talked to your friends and decided to get your piercing done. What they have said is do some checking around or find someone in the area that does a good job. Maybe you should have waited? Or possibly you are looking for more about getting your ear pierced safely?
Your earlobe is sore. Do not use hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol these hinder healing and stop new skin cell growth. Stay away from ointments. Not only are these messy they tend to slow oxygen from getting to the sore area thus hindering the healing process. Do use salt soaks. This provides the best cleaning for a ring or stud in the ear. It will loosen dry material on the area. This is a mix of a teaspoon of sea or table salt. Dissolved in eight onces of warm water. A good way to bathe the sore spot.
Clean the surrounding skin, mild antiseptic products such as bactine or a good liquid antibacterial soap. Then dilute 50/50 with water, if soap is still harsh. Do not use perfumed soap products do to chemicals that could cause further irritation.
Two or three times a day saturate a cotton swab with the cleaning solution. Apply this to the pierced area and let it soak in for a three to five minutes. This should loosen any dried matter around the pierced area on your ear(s). Rotate the jewelry while the area is still wet. These tips and more are available at bodypiercingsafe.com thanks for reading.
Alternative Cancer Treatment - Breast Cancer: What is it?
July 29, 2008
According to the majority of available resources breast cancer is defined as “cancer of the breast tissue”. This doesn’t give someone diagnosed with the disease much to go on. But after conducting additional research the answer becomes much more understandable. Cancer is a malignant growth. It is caused by abnormal and completely uncontrollable division of cells. Normal cells begin to be misshapen and start to grow at an extremely fast pace. What occurs is a mass or either a lump that continues to grow and can actually spread all over the body.
Not all lumps are cancerous. Most are benign. They reach a certain size and level off. They may be soft and fluid filled, like cysts. Or they may be firm like fibroadenomas, which also are benign since they don’t grow and spread. Or, they may simply be scar tissue or hardened fat.
Having breast tissue that is actually cancerous is malignant and serious. Almost 90% of malignant breast cancer tumors are labeled as ductal carcinomas. Around 10% of the other cancer instances are lobular carcinomas. In either instance the lumps could appear as thickening in some spots on the breast or armpit. Lymph nodes are located under the armpits. They can sometimes play a role in the development of the disease.
It is highly recommended that individuals start to perform self breast exams at the age of 20 and that they begin to get regular mammograms at the age of 40.
You shouldn’t be alarmed at every single breast change, however a significant alteration in the size or shape of the breast after maturity is a sign to look for. Fluid might also seep from the nipple that doesn’t resemble milk. If you have cancer the fluid will show itself as a form of pus, which indicates infection.
An individual’s nipple or areola might also alter in shape and size.
Breast cancer develops through identifiable stages which mark out the progression of the disease.
Stage 0 is when the condition first shows itself. Stage I is present when the tumor is less than 2cm thick and has yet to spread. By Stage II tumors are typically between 2-5cm thick and there could also be other areas that are effected. If the disease gets to Stage III it penetrates the chest wall. By that time treatment is extremely difficult and the survival rate is low.
Stage IV cancer is the most serious of all. At this point the individual’s cancer has started to spread, forming tumors in other areas. These tumors are identical to the original cancerous growth. Cancers of this type are typically fatal.
Because of the stages of cancer, and health consequences that are present at each level, looking for treatment and diagnosis early is important. A simple lumpectomy is capable of curing the condition completely. If it progresses to the point that chemotherapy or radiation is necessary the odds of recovery are lower and the cure is usually as bad as the disease.
There have been great amounts of progress made over the past 40 years. The equipment that is available today allows for easier diagnosis. Treatments have also evolved to make the cure not as painful and more reliable.
Cancer at any stage is definitely something to be concerned with, however there is a 95% survival rate for individual’s whose cancer is quickly identified and treated by Stage I. You have a greater chance of survival if you monitor yourself and get treatment quickly.
10 Reasons to Use Jurlique Skin Care
July 29, 2008
Nearly everyone uses some sort of skin care these days. With new awareness of how our skin ages, many people have discovered that they do need to use some sort of skin care. Unfortunately, there are a lot of low quality skin care products out there that claim to do amazing things, but never deliver. Jurlique skin care products are just the opposite.
This line of skin care products has a lot to offer and the reviews are positive . . . Jurlique really does produce results. Here are just ten reasons why you might want to consider using this particular skin care line.
1. Jurlique products are made with organic herbs and ingredients that are all natural. There are no harsh chemicals to further damage your skin, just wholesome goodness.
2. The line of skin care products has various options formulated for every skin type. You just need to determine what kind of skin you have and then choose the appropriate product to meet your needs. It`s important to use lotions, etc. that are made for your skin type or you will end up with dryer skin and more blemishes.
3. If you are tired of overly competitive beauty companies that only care about cash . . . Jurlique is a breath of fresh air. Focusing on sustainable practices and biodynamic beauty, they really stand out from the crowd.
4. Got wrinkles? While wrinkles may be a natural part of aging, that doesn’t mean you have to let them take over your face too early . . . Jurlique provides natural wrinkle removers that smooth out your skin and keep you looking younger.
5. Combination skin can be very difficult to treat, with patches of dry skin in amongst the oily areas. However, Jurlique offers specially formulated skin care products to help with that problem and to get your skin back into balance.
6. Many cosmetic companies buy any old ingredients and turn it into something for your face, but Jurlique actually grows their own herbs and flowers to use in their products. The entire process takes place on their farms, so each natural, organic ingredient is carefully monitored from seed. This ensures top quality ingredients.
7. If you suffer from sensitive skin and find that regular skin care products tend to make your face break out and irritate the skin, then you will need something gentle. Since natural skin care products don’t use harsh chemicals, existing problems have the chance to clear up, rather than be aggravated.
8. Reduce blemishes the natural way. Rather than applying acids and chemicals to your problem areas, use herbs to soothe the skin naturally and moisturize while minimizing the blemishes. Most skin care lines do one or the other, but Jurlique combines tasks in their creams, meaning you get more for your money.
9. For anyone who wants their facial products to be good enough to eat . . . Jurlique offers yummy natural ingredients like honey, mint and chamomile, among other healthy types. These are all great for your skin and all natural.
10. Beyond skin care products, this line extends to hair treatments and other areas of beauty, as well. So, if you like their creams and lotions, you can start using everything from the same company, all made with the same quality ingredients.
It`s important to put products you trust on your skin. When it comes to treating problems like wrinkles and blemishes, it`s definitely not a good idea to be using lotions full of damaging chemicals that may only aggravate the issue. Opt for natural and organic and you`ll find that your skin does far better.
The Advantages of a Meditation Chair
July 29, 2008
Among the most difficult aspects of meditating is discovering the perfect seated posture, since your legs often fall asleep during an extended period of meditating. Although there are meditation cushions to be had, there are many people who choose to use a meditation chair instead.
If you examine a meditation chair, the first thing you’ll discover is that it doesn’t seem that different from a kitchen chair. It has four legs and a back. But what it does better is help make you more comfy by molding to your body, which keeps cramps at bay and allows for total relaxation.
The stuff that makes this happen is known as buckwheat hull. It adapts to your form, thereby offering a more solid seat due to the ergonomic design which stops the user from slumping throughout the most focused periods of meditation, because it’s tilted somewhat forward.
A good illustration of a meditation chair is the Seagrass. This product was conceived by a meditation practitioner who found that it was quite challenging to meditate when seated in a lotus pose. This chair permits you to cross your ankles or feet and draw them up if you’re weary of laying them on the floor. As well, it allows for appropriate support of the backbone so you won’t go through any back pain following the session.
The Chinese meditation chair is possibly the most ancient model as it has been in existence for hundreds of years. It does not possess ergonomic characteristics such as the ones we use these days, however it boasts an especially wide base so that you have enough space to cross your legs. It doesn’t come with any padding, however you’ll be able to quickly take care of that.
One more type of meditation chair is the Tilt Seat, also called the kneeling chair. The great thing about this meditation chair is that it doesn’t place pressure on the knees and could also be utilized as a table. It’s possible to comfortably read a book if you lay a pillow on the floor.
There are more meditation chairs to be had and they are available in assorted sizes and shapes. An alternative for those who desire something larger is the meditation bench. With the greater surface area, those who favor the lotus position can sit without placing pressure on the legs. Something like it is known as the cane chair.
While picking out the perfect meditation chair, you are advised to take into account your body size and height, as well as your need for comfort. Do not overlook back support because this will also help to enhance your posture.
The beauty of meditation chairs is that they’re lightweight and moveable. They could effortlessly be stashed away in a closet after you’re finished, or it’s possible to purchase styles that harmonize with your interior design.
The meditation chair is configured to keep you relaxed and comfortable during the time that you’re in session. If you’re committed to enhancing your health and fighting stress, purchasing a meditation chair will certainly be a wise investment.
GERD Risk Factors That Must Be Considered And Dealt With
July 29, 2008
Find out below what the Danger Factors of the disease are :
The common denominator in GERD (gastro esophageal reflux disease) is the loss of strength of the muscle of the lower esophageal sphincter. The other common factor concerning GERD is heartburn. Many further distinct factors may be encountered. These include breathing disorders such as asthma, excessive weight, diabetes, expecting a baby, stomach contents being retained for too long, connective tissue disorders and hernias that are hiatal.
Here are some other factors increasing the risk levels:
GERD can happen when this protrusion of the stomach is big enough to affect the lower esophageal sphincter muscle. This is the result of a hernia that may be hiatal or diaphragmatic in nature, where part of the stomach distends beyond its normal dimensions to invade the lower chest. Stomach juices flow back into the esophageal channel, resulting in serious heartburn.
As another consequence due to overweight, pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter causes it to malfunction and lets gastric acids reflux back to the esophagus, which engenders heartburn. GERD can therefore also come from being overweight. To avoid GERD, reduce any excess weight. Excess weight strains the stomach and the diaphragm that is in between the stomach and the abdomen.
Risk factors from lifestyle and bad diet habits :
Any excesses in smoking, drinking or eating will put you at risk of GERD. Poor lifestyle and bad diet habits can also have a negative impact.
Asthma is also indirectly involved because the medicaments that act to widen the air path also dilate the muscle of the lower esophageal sphincter muscle. This is what allows gastric juices to flow back to the esophagus. There is also the suggestion that excessive coughing and related breathing problems from asthma also put extra pressure on the stomach and increase the danger of GERD.
The risk is further compounded by the fact that pregnancy boosts production of progesterone, a hormone that acts to relax several muscles, among them the muscle of the lower esophageal sphincter. Pregnancy also puts extra pressure on the stomach. Pregnant women therefore may be at considerably more risk from GERD.
Getting to the real reason for GERD:
Although treatments exist for GERD using conventional drugs, there are also holistic remedies. Conventional drugs unfortunately address only the superficial manifestation of the disease, and do not tackle the real underlying reasons. This is where holistic remedies are much more effective, because they treat the fundamental causes and truly allow GERD to be reduced or even eliminated.
Taking a holistic attitude is therefore crucial in order to treat all aspects involved. GERD is a complex phenomenon and the causes are also numerous, including genetically inherited characteristics, diet habits, lifestyle and even candida infections. This is why the holistic cures are so much more effective for eliminating GERD.
Acupuncture - You Want to Stick Me With What?!
July 29, 2008
Acupuncture is an ancient and innovative Chinese Medicinal procedure, similar and linked to the other ancient techniques of Acupressure. Acupuncture treatment heals while keeping the body healthy and stress free. The procedure involves inserting fine needles within the skin on predetermined points or meridians, considered energy pathways similar to acupressure. The positive energy that is responsible for good health and a state of wellbeing is know as chi or qi and flows through the energy points known as the meridian. When a person experiences sickness or injury the chi gets blocked and positive energy stops flowing. There are totally 14 paths of energy meridians in our body and 365 acupuncture points distributed on the surface of the body along these 14 meridians.
Special needles or acupressure used at precise locations along these meridians release the blockages by stimulating the trapped chi. This can be compared to a river blocked with debris. Removing the blocking debris allows the river to freely flow without obstruction. Chi, depending on the situation, may flow either too slowly or too quickly - in either case, acupuncture is normally used to regulate the energy’s pace.
Within China, this particular form of medicine has been being practiced for a minimum of four thousand years, with all of these needles being found within archaeology digs of the late Shang Dynasty. There are three types and they are; Five Elements, Traditional Yin / Yang Theory and Western (or medical Acupuncture). Although all three have the same system of points and they use similar methods of diagnosis, each takes a dissimilar approach towards treatment of an illness and its cause. Alternative approaches are taken to arrive at the basic cause and treatment of an illness.
Chinese medicine believes that any form of physical illness is the outcome of stress and anxiety. The five element acupuncture also follows the same belief - the physical well being of a person is dependent on his psychological well being. Following along with all of this, the physical symptoms are only able to be alleviated when all of that inner stress has been dealt with. Since the main emphasis within the five elements theory focuses on treating an illness’s underlying cause, one should realize that it can be a very slow process in order to reach a complete recovery even though it is quite possible. The old yin/yang theory of acupuncture mainly concentrates in bringing back the entire balance of the yin and yang in the human body. More than one energy meridian is stimulated at a given time to trigger more than one element simultaneously.
The Western Acupuncture methods are faster and the period of treatment is not very long - this form of treatment is a combination of both western and eastern practices. There are two sub-categories of the medical aspect, the first, anesthetic acupuncture, is used in surgical and dental procedures. Again it is used as a temporary pain reliever or as an analgesic for immediate effect. Well documented, reliable medical research has shown acupuncture to be successful in treating high blood pressure and migraines, allergies, depression, arthritis, asthma and gynecological problems including infertility. Acupuncture has been very successful in treating illnesses that do not go away with normal medication; it has also helped in treating psychological disorders that are related to a person’s wellbeing.
Relieve Back Pain with Strength and Flexibility Exercises
July 29, 2008
If you have ever had a serious backache, you can appreciate just how vital your back is - even for activities you think don’t entail the back. For example, squeezing a tennis ball utilizes more muscles than the ones in your hand; the latissimus dorsi and other back muscles are also employed during this movement.
The latissimus dorsi or “lats” for short, are the large muscles on one’s side - in men these produce the “triangle shape” when well defined. Try squeezing a tennis ball as an exercise - do you feel it? You will experience a tensing of these muscles on the same side of your body as the arm used to squeeze the ball. If you have back pain, you can’t miss this.
Strong back muscles are key to playing any sport. They are used for coordination, balance and speed, as well as making a strong foundation for the movement of your limbs.
Following are a few simple exercises which you can use to improve the strength and flexibility of these important muscles. You will get the most benefit out of these exercises when they are done on a firm (not hard, just firm) surface. A hard surface will cause unnecessary discomfort on bony parts while doing these exercises.
Knee to Chest
While lying on your back, clasp both hands behind one thigh. Pull your thigh towards your chest slowly while making sure to keep your other leg flat. Flex your ankle as you do this - alternate between pointing your toe and pulling it back towards your knee while stretching your leg. Hold each position for about five seconds, switch legs and do it over again. Do ten repetitions of this exercise.
Rotations
Do this one while lying back with your feet flat on the floor, knees together and raised. Extend your arms but keep them close to your body and keep your palms flat on the floor as well. Lift your feet just slightly off the ground and by moving your knee, rotate your torso. Move your knees a little to the left, then right. Alternate the exercise by crossing your arms over your chest, then repeat.
As you continue to practice this exercise, you will build flexibility and develop a wider range of motion. Eventually, you’ll be able to touch your knee to the floor.
Pelvic Press
While lying on your back, knees raised and feet on the floor, push the small of your back into the floor - you should feel your lower abdomen tense. Do this exercise with your feet together, then apart. Hold each press for about five seconds while continuing to breathe normally.
Pelvic Lift
Lie on your back, knees raised and feet flat on the ground, arms crossed over your chest. Keeping the legs and knees together, raise the buttocks up slightly and hold for 5 seconds. Lower slowly, count to two, then repeat. Remember to breathe normally through the exercise, in and out slowly.
Dog Stretches
Starting position for this exercise is on all fours with your head raised - look forward to achieve proper posture for this exercise. Lowering your arms, arch your back and hold this position for two seconds before returning to your starting position. Extend one leg, parallel to the floor (or as close to parallel as possible). Hold this position for three seconds, then return to starting position again. This exercise can cause hip, leg or back pain in some - if it does this for you, stop this exercise immediately.
Repeat this exercise with the other leg. You can mix it up by extending your leg with toe pointed, then flex your ankle in a perpendicular direction to the leg; hold this position for two seconds, then repeat. You should do ten reps of this exercise for each leg.
Never perform these exercises if they produce back pain. Mild discomfort from inactivity is natural. Pain is a signal that something is wrong. Consult your physician.
Vaginal candidiasis: Reasons, Symptoms and Remedy
July 29, 2008
Candida microbes are usually hosted by the human body in any case. The problem starts when they grow in an uncontrolled fashion. This happens when other beneficial bacteria can no longer contain the natural multiplication of Candida. This can then result in vaginal candidiasis. Vaginal candidiasis occurs very frequently. Statistics show that one out of every three women will be affected by this at some time in her life. This fungal infection is a big worry for many women and one of the biggest problems is the lack of knowledge about the ailment.
Illness Triggers
Many causes can take on a major role in triggering vaginal candidiasis. Incorrect clothing including very tight clothing that hugs the body, can restrict the correct evaporation of sweat and lead to infection. This is because of a lack of ventilation, an increase in body heat and in body moisture, all of which aggravates the growth of the Candida microbes.
Psychological pressures are also culprits. Lifestyles nowadays are more hectic and demanding and must be compensated for by the right diet and sleep plans. Unhealthy dietary practices contribute strongly to vaginal candidiasis, which may also be increased by sexual intercourse, pregnancy and certain orally applied contraceptives. In the same way, the wrong lubricants, for example, glycerin and petroleum gel, and synthetic materials for clothing also favor vaginal yeast infection. A large number of these elements also make this impairment chronic.
How to recognize the different signs
Yeast infection of the vagina is recognizable in various ways. One example is an odorless discharge from the vagina with the appearance of cottage cheese. Vaginal candidiasis also means it may be a problem to observe correct hygiene and disagreeable odors may follow. Additional signs are itching and scratching, and when urinating pain or tingling may also come about. Further to this, sexual intercourse may then be painful.
Advice
It is possible to treat vaginal candidiasis in many ways. Different medications are available on the market and maybe prescribed by a Physician, but typically only have short-term effects if any. For effective, long-term treatment, the holistic approach is to be preferred. Not only for the immediate relief of the symptoms, but also in order to eliminate the problem and prevent it from recurring in the future.
Inflammatory Breast Cancer - Diagnosis and Treatment Options
July 29, 2008
Inflammatory breast cancer is a special kind of advanced breast cancer and it’s a serious one. Though we see an increasing number of cases, it is rare, accounting for only 1 to 4 percent of all breast cancers. Overall survival is worse in women with this kind of breast cancer than in other forms of breast cancer. It is inflammatory because its initial manifestations are usually redness and warmth in the skin of the breast, often without a palpable lump. Oftentimes, the patient and even the doctor will mistake it for a simple infection and she’ll be put on antibiotics. But it doesn’t get better. It also doesn’t get worse and that’s the tip-off: an infection will always get better or worse within a week or two - it rarely stays the same. If no change seems to be evident, the doctor should perform a biopsy of the underlying tissue to see if it is cancer.
An asymptomatic breast cancer patient was breast-feeding and developed what her doctor thought was lactational mastitis or inflammation of the breast brought about by breast-feeding. It never cleared up and did not hurt much - there was no fever sign of infection. It hadn’t gone away or gotten worse in six months. Another patient, not breast-feeding, noticed that one breast had suddenly become larger than the other; there was also redness and swelling. In both cases, the doctors at first thought the women had breast infections. So if the symptoms continue after treatment, you should ask to have a biopsy done of the breast tissue and of the skin itself. With inflammatory breast cancer, you have cancer in the lymph vessels of your skin, which makes the skin red. An internet survey done on women with the disease by a man whose wife had died of inflammatory breast cancer showed that most women said they wished they had known that when there is redness of the breast skin unresponsive to antibiotic therapy, this is indicative of inflammatory breast cancer. Probably their doctors were not breast specialists and did not know about this unusual type of breast cancer.
It is very easy to mix up the symptoms of inflammatory breast cancer with those of a breast infection. If you become aware of any of the signs of inflammatory breast cancer, see your doctor immediately.
The surgeon may think it is best if the breast is removed and sometimes the breast is removed too early. This early removal of the breast increases the risk of the disease making reappearance.
Patients may not get the specific chemotherapy dose and also the patient may require two treatments of radiation therapy a day rather than only one treatment, as inflammatory breast cancer is a rapid growing cancer. This is where the importance of an experienced radiologist in inflammatory breast cancer is necessary.
There is no particular age at which an individual could get the disease. However, studies have shown that the average age ranges from about 45 and 55 years of age, but patients could be younger or older than this age range. The amount of new cases of inflammatory breast cancer diagnosed every year in the United States varies.
