Archive | September 2015

QUOTE FOR MONDAY:

“Lyme disease makes hundreds of thousands of people sick every year; it is the most commonly reported tick-borne infection in the United States.”

Lyme Disease Research Foundation

QUOTE FOR THE WEEKEND:

“If you have a genetic predisposition to ovarian cancer, your doctor may recommend regular pelvic imaging and blood tests to screen for the disease.”

 

Dr. Edward Tanner (an assistant professor of gynecology and obstetrics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland).

Ovarian cancer

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Most people are aware that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but how many of you are also aware that September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month? This cancer is the more silent sister to breast cancer which takes over the month of October with a worldwide pink party and numerous product promotions, some tasteful and some less so. Maybe people and product promoters are just drawn to pink versus the more reserved teal blue color for ovarian cancer. More likely it’s because breasts are visual and ovaries are invisible to the eye. But ovarian cancer is very visible to those diagnosed and to their loved ones.

We need to make more noise about ovarian cancer awareness. But first you have to listen… to your body. Ovarian cancer can be sneaky. Symptoms, such as indigestion, bloating, painful intercourse, menstrual irregularities and back pain, can point to other less invasive conditions. While breast cancer has screening protocols like mammograms and breast self-examination, there is no reliable screening for ovarian cancer. Unfortunately for many women the disease is often detected at an advanced stage. Both breast and ovarian cancer are diagnosed in women of all ages and ethnic backgrounds.

Ovarian cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the ovaries. Women have two ovaries, one on each side of the uterus. The ovaries — each about the size of an almond — produce eggs (ova) as well as the hormones estrogen and progesterone.

Ovarian cancer often goes undetected until it has spread within the pelvis and abdomen. At this late stage, ovarian cancer is more difficult to treat and is frequently fatal. Early-stage ovarian cancer, in which the disease is confined to the ovary, is more likely to be treated successfully.

Surgery and chemotherapy are generally used to treat ovarian cancer.

Early-stage ovarian cancer rarely causes any symptoms. Advanced-stage ovarian cancer may cause few and nonspecific symptoms that are often mistaken for more common benign conditions, such as constipation or irritable bowel.

Signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer may include and don’t ever ignore them:

  • Abdominal bloating or swelling
  • Quickly feeling full when eating
  • Weight loss
  • Discomfort in the pelvis area
  • Changes in bowel habits, such as constipation or diarrhea
  • A frequent need to urinate (urgency including difficulty to void)
  • Increased Abdominal Size
  • Painful Sex
  • Heavy menstrual bleedingWhen to see a doctorIf you have a family history of ovarian cancer or breast cancer, talk to your doctor about your risk of ovarian cancer. Your doctor may refer you to a genetic counselor to discuss testing for certain gene mutations that increase your risk of breast and ovarian cancers. Only a small number of women are found to have genetic mutations that can lead to ovarian cancer.
  • Certain factors may increase your risk of ovarian cancer:
  • Make an appointment with your doctor if you have any signs or symptoms that worry you.
  •  
  • Age. Ovarian cancer can occur at any age but is most common in women ages 50 to 60 years.
  • Inherited gene mutation. A small percentage of ovarian cancers are caused by an inherited gene mutation. The genes known to increase the risk of ovarian cancer are called breast cancer gene 1 (BRCA1) and breast cancer gene 2 (BRCA2). These genes were originally identified in families with multiple cases of breast cancer, which is how they got their names, but women with these mutations also have a significantly increased risk of ovarian cancer.
  • The gene mutations that cause Lynch syndrome, which is associated with colon cancer, also increase a woman’s risk of ovarian cancer.
  • Estrogen hormone replacement therapy, especially with long-term use and in large doses.
  • Age when menstruation started and ended. If you began menstruating before age 12 or underwent menopause after age 52, or both, your risk of ovarian cancer may be higher.
  • Never being pregnant.
  • Fertility treatment.
  • Smoking.
  • Use of an intrauterine device.
  • Polycystic ovary syndrome. “In years past we used to call ovarian cancer the silent killer but it’s really not completely silent, at least in some patients,”

QUOTE FOR FRIDAY:

“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.”

HEALTH EFFECTS FROM SEPTEMBER 11 DISASTER

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The world trade center (WTC) terrorist attact and its aftermath exposed hundreds of thousands of people to dust, debris, smoke and fumes. September 11, 2001, among rescue and clean up workers, office workers, building evacuees, and residents of lower Manhattan have shown increased respiratory and other physical health problems. Following is a outline of the most common conditions experienced by individuals exposed to the WTC attacks and their aftermath. The types of conditions are:

Upper Airway Cough Syndrome:  Formerly named postnasal drip syndrome which is commonly caused by continuous irritation or infection of the sinuses and the nose either due to allergies or from environmental irritants. The signs or symptoms that arise from this are cough, nasal congestion, postnasal drip and frequent need to clear the throat.

Asthma/Reactive Airways Dysfunction Syndrome:  Some people exposed to the WTC disaster area have developed asthma related to exposure to irritants (also called reactive airways dysfunction syndrome [RADS]). Signs and symptoms include: Shortness of Breath (SOB); chest tightness, wheezing, coughing, phlegm, possible triggering of symptoms by colds or seasonal allergies or exercise or fragrances or extremes of temperature or humidity, recurrent episodes of respiratory infections requiring antibiotic treatment.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease and Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Disease:

Some people exposed to the WTC disaster developed this condition. GERD results from the flow back or return (reflux) of stomach contents into the esophagus. LPRD results from the reflux of stomach contents into the voice box or throat.

Symptoms of GERD: Heartburn, acid regurgitation, upset stomach, cough made worse with meals or at night

Symptoms of LPRD: Hoarseness or other vocal changes, sore throat, cough, sensation of having a lump in the throat

 

Long-Term Physical Health Concerns

There has been increased concern about sarcoidosis and cancer among individuals who were highly exposed during the WTC disaster. The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, in conjunction with other programs, is closely monitoring these conditions in order to detect any increases in these diseases.

At this time, there is no evidence of an increased rate of cancer among individuals highly exposed to the WTC disaster. Increased rates of sarcoidosis have been documented among fire department personnel ( Izbicki G, Chavko R, Banauch, GI, et al. World Trade Center “Sarcoid-Like” Granulomatous Pulmonary Disease in New York City Fire Department Workers. Chest. 2007;3:131;1414-1423). Rates of sarcoidosis among other groups are currently under investigation.

 
 
Sarcoidosis is difficult to verify because NYC providers are not required by law to report sarcoidosis cases to the Health Department.  Based on New York City death certificate records over the past 10 years, there have been an average of 32 sarcoidosis deaths per year, with the annual number remaining the same since the WTC attacks. During the same period, there have been between 362 and 439 sarcoidosis-related hospitalizations per year in NYC (five per 100,000 people), with the annual rate remaining the same since the disaster.

* Breathing in beryllium, other metal dust or fumes or moldy materials can cause lung disease, which may resemble sarcoidosis.

For more information about sarcoidosis, see our sarcoidosis fact sheet  .

Sarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis* is an auto-immune disease that can attack any organ of the body, although it often starts in the lungs or lymph nodes. It mainly affects people between 20 and 40 years of age, with African-Americans three times more likely to develop the condition than Caucasians and women twice as likely to develop it as men. While most sarcoidosis patients recover without treatment, less than one-third develop chronic debilitating sarcoidosis and fewer than 5% die from the disease. The exact cause of sarcoidosis is unknown.

Sarcoidosis and World Trade Center (WTC) Dust Exposure

While studies have not definitively linked dust exposure from the WTC disaster to new-onset sarcoidosis among exposed workers, the data does suggest elevated levels of sarcoidosis among firefighters.

There have been a few reported sarcoidosis cases among rescue workers that may be related to Ground Zero dust exposure. In May 2007, the New York City Chief Medical Examiner determined that dust exposure from the disaster contributed to a sarcoidosis death, based on published epidemiologic findings among exposed firefighters.

 

Cancers

The collapse and burning of the WTC and neighboring buildings released a complex mixture of irritant dust, smoke and gases. The dust cloud also contained heavy metals, as well as asbestos and other carcinogens. In addition, smoke released from the fires contained hazardous and potentially cancer-causing substances.

Because of these exposures, there has been concern about the possibility of increased cancer rates among WTC-exposed people. The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the Fire Department of New York and other researchers are carefully monitoring cancer rates among highly exposed people.

In 2007, the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene brought together a panel of experts, including representatives from FDNY, the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, the New York State Department of Health and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, to discuss the potential impact of the WTC disaster on cancer rates and mortality. For more information, click here .

In 2010, after beginning the process of confirming cancer diagnoses within their cohorts, the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and FDNY co-chaired another conference of outside experts, including biostatisticians, environmental health scientists and cancer epidemiologists, to help address the complex methodological questions associated with their preliminary cancer investigations. The conference produced several recommendations which are described in the 2010 WTC Medical Working group annual report  .

Although cancer associated with specific exposures takes a long time to develop, three early cancer studies based on verified diagnoses within their cohorts through 2008 (the latest year for which data was available when these analyses began) have been published:

  • FDNY found that nearly 9,000 firefighters with WTC exposure may be at greater risk for cancer than firefighters who weren’t exposed.
  • The WTC Health Registry found small increases in rates of prostate cancer, thyroid cancer and multiple myeloma, a blood cancer, among nearly 34,000 WTC rescue and recovery workers in comparison to rates among New York State residents after adjusting for age, race/ethnicity and sex.
  • Prostate and thyroid cancer rates were higher than expected among nearly 21,000 rescue and recovery workers enrolled in the WTC Health Program in comparison to rates in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania where the majority of workers lived.

Cancer analyses continue at FDNY, the WTC Health Registry and at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

In 2012, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health added many different types of cancers to the list of conditions that can be treated at the World Trade Center Health Program.

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What the New York City Health Department Is Doing:

Through the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Registry, the Health Department is conducting a cancer study that will help determine if cancer rates are higher among those exposed to the WTC disaster. Results of the study will appear on this Web site and will be submitted to peer-reviewed scientific journals.

The Department is also conducting a broader public awareness campaign about cancer testing, and is working with its clinical partners to offer free cancer screenings. Identifying cancer early in the course of the disease reduces the risk of developing disability from cancer. Department efforts to reduce the rates of smoking among WTC disaster-exposed people also help reduce their risk for developing cancer and other diseases.
What You Can Do

Seek medical care.

If you were exposed to the WTC disaster and have developed symptoms or conditions you feel are related to this exposure, tell your doctor and bring the Clinical Guidelines for Physicians Treating Adults Exposed to the WTC Disaster  to help your doctor diagnose and treat your symptoms. The Health Department also released clinical guidelines  for health care providers on how to treat children and adolescents exposed to the WTC disaster.

If you or your doctor believe that you require more specialized care, you may be eligible for free treatment at a WTC Center of Excellence or affiliated facility.

Practice preventive health.

Whether or not you are currently experiencing symptoms, there are things you can do to maintain your current health status, prevent worsening of your health, and detect any new conditions. Suggested measures include:

1.        If you smoke, quit! Tobacco is known to cause cancer and make existing respiratory conditions worse. If you currently smoke, there are programs in place to help you quit.

2.        Lead a healthy lifestyle by drinking alcohol in moderation and avoiding more than moderate sun exposure. Increase physical activity, keep your weight down and eat a healthful and nutritious diet.

3.        Have a physical exam every year that includes a complete blood count (CBC). Be sure your exam includes all tests appropriate for your sex and age, including cancer screenings.

4.        Avoid risks at work and during leisure time. If you have any respiratory conditions try to reduce your exposure to irritants such as dust, pollen, grass and smoke both at home and at work. Consider giving up activities that expose you to irritants, and if activities cannot be avoided, wear personal protective equipment to minimize exposure.

     

If you want to learn how to eat healthy with all four food groups with learning how to lose weight within your body mass index you have come to the right blog. There are 4 food groups with each group having lean, leaner and the leanest type of foods in that group of the 4. If you want to learn more about this than go to my website healthyusa.tsfl.com and peek at what we can offer you through Dr. Wayne Scott Anderson with his book “Dr A’s Habits of Health” and even foods to buy if you want them in the beginning of your diet loss which provides health bars to lunches and dinners to desserts of all kinds to all types of shakes/drinks and so much more foods (low in fat/calories/carbs). Learn how to become healthier for yourself, even spreading the news to family or friends who may become interested and being a great mentor for your children in helping the next generation to be more healthy which would help our health care system to helping our health economy that includes insurance payments for bills at hospitals/doctor’s offices lessened. Helping those who want to become healthier from being effected from 9/11 disaster in 2001 and even our society as a whole is a goal of this blog since it has become so unhealthy in diet causing so many increases in diseases/illnesses, including children, (Obesity, Diabetes II, coronary artery disease, hypertension, and more). Take a look at facebook or UTube with pictures of people in America shopping at Walmart. It may be funny to a some individuals but it is also outright scary with what’s happening to our country. Our country has increased drastically in poor health habits that killed our economy with let alone what our health care system with increase in insurance costs for our society. We could, as a society, turn things around for the better regarding ourselves and others in our country for everyone’s health that would impact every American citizen of all ages in a positive way. I hope I have impacted someone in this country in wanting to learn more about knowing how to become healthier with making a good change for our country as a diversified whole. Society has a responsibility and impact on how things run in each of their respective countries but especially in America, since we live in a democracy. Its common sense if we get better regarding our health overall it will put an impact on our health economy if we don’t our health care system will just get WORSE.

QUOTE FOR THURSDAY:

  The cause of the debilitating, and fatal, brain disease Alzheimer’s is conventionally said to be a mystery”

Dr. Mercola ( a physician who founded Mercola.com which is now the world’s top natural health resource site, with over 1.5 million subscribers.)

QUOTE FOR WEDNESDAY:

” Urinary hesitancy can slowly become a problem over time with BPH. An enlarged prostate can press against the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder. ”

Healthline

Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy

BPH 1

Normal Prostate vs. Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

                                             Normal Prostate vs. Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

 

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is an enlarged prostate gland camera.gif. The prostate gland surrounds the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body. As the prostate gets bigger, it may squeeze or partly block the urethra. This often causes problems with urinating.

BPH occurs in almost all men as they age. BPH is not cancer. An enlarged prostate can be a nuisance. But it is usually not a serious problem. About half of all men older than 75 have some symptoms.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia is also known as benign prostatic hypertrophy.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia is probably a normal part of the aging process in men, caused by changes in hormone balance and in cell growth.

BPH causes urinary problems such as:

  • Trouble getting a urine stream started and completely stopped (dribbling).
  • Often feeling like you need to urinate. This feeling may even wake you up at night.
  • A weak urine stream.
  • A sense that your bladder is not completely empty after you urinate.

In a small number of cases, BPH may cause the bladder to be blocked, making it impossible or extremely hard to urinate. This problem may cause backed-up urine (urinary retention), leading to bladder infections or stones, or kidney damage.

BPH does not cause prostate cancer and does not affect a man’s ability to father children. It does not cause erection problems.

Your doctor can diagnose BPH by asking questions about your symptoms and past health and by doing a physical exam. Tests may include a urine test (urinalysis) and a digital rectal exam, which lets your doctor feel the size of your prostate. In some cases, a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test is done to help rule out prostate cancer. (Prostate cancer and BPH are not related, but they can cause some of the same symptoms.)

Your doctor may ask you how often you have symptoms of BPH, how severe they are, and how much they affect your life. If your symptoms are mild to moderate and do not bother you much, home treatment may be all that you need to help keep them under control. Your doctor may want to see you regularly to check on your symptoms and make sure other problems haven’t come up.

As a rule, you don’t need treatment for BPH unless the symptoms bother you or you have other problems such as backed-up urine, bladder infections, or bladder stones.

Although home treatment cannot stop your prostate from getting larger, it can help reduce or control your symptoms. Here are some things you can do that may help reduce your symptoms:

  • Practice “double voiding.” Urinate as much as you can, relax for a few moments, and then urinate again.
  • Avoid caffeine and alcohol. They make your body try to get rid of water and can make you urinate more often.
  • If possible, avoid medicines that can make urination difficult, such as over-the-counter antihistamines, decongestants (including nasal sprays), and allergy pills. Check with your doctor or pharmacist about the medicines you take.

If home treatment does not help, BPH can be treated with medicine. Medicine can reduce the symptoms, but it rarely gets rid of them. If you stop taking medicine, symptoms return.

If your symptoms are severe, your doctor may suggest surgery to remove part of your prostate. But few men have symptoms or other problems severe enough to need surgery.

You cannot prevent BPH or the urination problems it may cause. Some people believe that regular ejaculations will help prevent prostate enlargement. But there is no scientific proof that ejaculation helps.

QUOTE FOR TUESDAY:

“The symptoms of ALL and AML are indicative of a reduced production of functional blood cells, because leukemia wastes the resources of the bone marrow that are normally used to produce new, functioning blood cells.”

American Cancer Society

QUOTE FOR MONDAY:

September is National Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) Awareness Month, and Mount Sinai Health System is reminding the community of the importance of newborn screening performed soon after birth with a blood test, education for families with this inherited condition and comprehensive care for children and adults including regular visits with a specialist can reduce complications of this illness.

Mount Sinai Hospital NYC