Often incorrectly considered a disease, dementia actually refers to a group of symptoms that negatively affect memory and social abilities, resulting in an interference with daily functioning.  Primarily, problems with memory and impaired judgment or language are the two major areas affected by dementia.  However, numerous other causes and symptoms of dementia exist, which can make diagnosis and treatment difficult or even impossible.
In order for an individual to be classified as having dementia, two or more of the following functions must be significantly impaired: memory, communication and language, ability to focus/pay attention, reasoning and judgment, and visual perception.  More often than not, these symptoms begin slowly and gradually worsen.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, accounting for 60 to 80 percent of cases, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.  It is important to note that Alzheimer’s is not a part of normal aging.  Alzheimer’s worsens over time, with early symptoms including difficulty remembering names and events, apathy and depression, and later symptoms including impaired judgment, confusion, behavior changes and difficulty walking, speaking or swallowing.  Despite there being no cure for Alzheimer’s disease and the fact that available treatments cannot stop the progression, some treatments are available and can slow the progression to improve quality of life.
Another common type of dementia is Parkinson’s disease.  Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological disorder that primarily affects movement. It is often characterized by tremor, muscle stiffness, slow movements or impaired balance.  Unfortunately, there are no treatments available to slow or stop the brain damage that occurs from Parkinson’s disease dementia; rather, current treatments focus on reducing symptoms.
Approximately 5.2 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease or some other form of dementia.  Experts estimate that this number will rise to 13.8 million by 2050.  Concurrently, the cost of treating these conditions is increasing at a similar rate.
Recently, a new study from the Alzheimer’s Association found that one in three seniors die with Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia.  Keep in mind that these people die with the disease and not from dementia, meaning that often, dementia can interfere with other conditions and speed up the deterioration process.  Because of the effects on memory, patients with dementia may have difficulties remembering to take their medicine or to visit their doctor.
If you or someone close to you has dementia, recognize that feelings of anger, depression or discouragement are normal.  Perhaps seeking help from a support group will diminish these feelings, as you can speak with other people in similar situations and gain information about these conditions.
Dr. David B. Samadi is the Vice Chairman of the Department of Urology and Chief of Robotics and Minimally Invasive Surgery at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. He is a board-certified urologist, specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of urological disease, with a focus on robotic prostate cancer treatments. To learn more please visit his websites RoboticOncology.com and SMART-surgery.com. Find Dr. Samadi on Facebook.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/03/27/dementia-what-need-to-know-about-this-growing-condition/?intcmp=HPBucket#ixzz2OpmWpA9b

Read More

Researchers might have found the Holy Grail in the war against cancer, a miracle drug that has killed every kind of cancer tumor it has come in contact with, the New York Post reported.
The drug works by blocking a protein called CD47 that is essentially a "do not eat" signal to the body's immune system, according to Science Magazine.
This protein is produced in healthy blood cells, but researchers at Stanford University found that cancer cells produced an inordinate amount of the protein thus tricking the immune system into not destroying the harmful cells.
With this observation in mind, the researchers built an antibody that blocked cancer's CD47 so that the body's immune system attacked the dangerous cells.
So far, researchers have used the antibody in mice with human breast, ovary, colon, bladder, brain, liver and prostate tumors transplanted into them. In each of the cases the antibody forced the mice's immune system to kill the cancer cells.
Click for more from the New York Post. 

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/03/27/scientists-find-treatment-to-kill-every-kind-cancer-tumor/?intcmp=HPBucket#ixzz2OplElXD4

Read More

Many young kids are picky eaters, but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t getting the nutrients they need to grow.
Dr. Manny Alvarez, senior managing health editor of FoxNews.com, recently received this e-mail from a concerned mom:
Q: My 5-year-old son is a picky eater, and I’m worried he isn’t getting enough vitamins. Should he be taking a multivitamin?
A: Many common ‘kid-friendly’ foods, like breakfast cereal, milk and orange juice, are fortified with important nutrients, such as vitamin D and calcium, Alvarez said.
And since children don’t need large amounts of vitamins and minerals, your child may already be getting a sufficient amount.
But it’s still a good idea to talk to your child’s pediatrician if you have concerns.
A multivitamin might be appropriate for your child if he or she:
*Has an eating disorder
*Has been diagnosed with failure to thrive
*Doesn’t eat regular or well-balanced meals
*Doesn’t get enough vitamin D through diet or sun exposure
*Has certain chronic diseases or food allergies
*Has a restrictive diet, such as vegan or vegetarian
Keep in mind that certain vitamins and minerals can interact with medications that your child may be taking, and that ‘mega-doses’ of these supplements can be toxic.
If you have a question for Dr. Manny, e-mail him at DrManny@foxnews.com

Read More

othing is more frustrating than trying to squeeze into your favorite jeans and finding you just can’t get the zipper to close.

While that swollen, gassy feeling can be a sign of  a health issue like lactose intolerance or food allergy, it's also commonly caused by PMS, high-fiber foods, too much salt and even chewing gum.
READ: Surprising Reasons Some Women Can't Lose Weight
Fortunately, belly bloat can be eliminated with ease.  We asked several health experts to weigh on on how to de-puff that gut.

(Thinkstock)

Peanut Butter

Velvety-smooth peanut butter may sound like a diet disaster, but when eaten in moderation, it can help keep your stomach in check and also aid in weight loss. “Peanut butter is packed with niacin, essential to a vigorous digestive system,” says Carol Cottrill, author of The French Twist: Twelve Secrets of Decadent Dining and Natural Weight Management. “Aim for two tablespoons a day and choose the all-natural brands free of added sugar.”

(Thinkstock)

Asparagus

Asparagus is a diuretic, which helps flush out excess fluid out of the body, says JJ Virgin, author of "The Virgin Diet." “Eating more diuretic veggies can help you de-bloat while supplying your body nutrients and fiber.” Not a fan of asparagus? Virgin suggests opting for other diuretic greens, like cucumber or watercress.

(Thinkstock)

Dandelions

These golden flowers may be a nuisance for your garden, but they can be useful when it comes to your personal health.  Recognized as being rich in nutrients, dandelions were ranked as  of the top four green vegetables in overall nutritional value by the USDA.  But what can they do for your gut? Plenty, insists professional health coach expert Dr. Lori L. Shemek. “This common ‘weed’ acts as a diuretic, which releases retained water, and it has the ability to reduce gas­ — a two-in-one remedy for bloating,” she explains. “Use dandelions either as a salad or as a tea.” Make sure the dandelions you use in your food are chemical free.

(Thinkstock)

Coconut Water

There’s a reason why celebrities like Madonna and Demi Moore can’t get enough of the stuff. The clear fluid inside young coconuts is refreshing for scorching summer days and they’re more nutritional than sugar-filled soda. Coconut water also features potassium, which aids in beating the dreaded bloat. “If you’re eating high sodium foods, enjoy some potassium-rich foods, like coconut water with no sugar added,” says Grace Derocha, dietitian and diabetes educator at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. “Potassium is naturally able to flush our sodium from the body. Just remember to keep it in moderation.” While natural coconut water straight from the nut is a healthy choice to keep cool, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics warns that it should never replace natural, calorie-free water.

(Thinkstock)

Grapes

The best way to beat belly bloat is to prevent it in the first place. Tonique Fitness founder Slywia Wiesenberg explains that eating too many sodium-heavy processed foods is one of the main reasons people can feel so swollen. “Too much salt creates water retention in our bodies, making the belly area bloated,” she says. As an alternative, Wiesenberg suggests snacking on juicy grapes, which can also curb your sweet tooth. “Freeze a few grapes and take them with you to the beach to keep your stomach flat all day,” she suggests.

(Thinkstock)

Pineapple

“Pineapples contain an enzyme called bromelain, which aids digestion,” says personal trainer and nutritionist Ana Alexandre. “A few slices after a heavy meal can help you digest the food better and prevent bloating,” she says.

(Thinkstock)

Yogurt

Yogurt is a great way to add more fruit and nutrients to your overall diet, as well as ease that uncomfortable, swollen feeling. “Eat yogurt with active cultures to help your gastrointestinal system more efficiently to digest and absorb food appropriately,” advises Derocha. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics advises to look for yogurts with “live and active cultures” which is the good bacteria that helps with digestion. 

(Thinkstock)

Avocado

According to Shemek, this creamy wonder fruit does more for you that ease bloating discomfort. “Sodium causes water retention, but potassium, high in avocados, releases water,” she explains. “Avocados will help to slim you down. Avocados have more potassium than bananas. Eat ¼ to ½ daily.”

(Thinkstock)

Peppermint Tea

How does Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Lawrence stay fit for the red carpet? Her trainer insists it’s partially due to peppermint tea.  “Studies show peppermint tea helps with many digestive upsets including bloating,” explains Alexandre. “This is because it contains menthol, an active ingredient. This can soothe the digestive tract. This is my go-to remedy if I get bloated!”

(Thinkstock)

Fennel Seeds

Need fast relief? Shemek says this seed can help you achieve just that. “Fennel is a bloat-blaster either as a tea or sprinkled directly on foods, such as salads or cereals,” explains Shemek. “Compounds in fennel relaxes muscles in your digestive tract and allow trapped gas to pass.”

Read more: http://magazine.foxnews.com/food-wellness/10-foods-beat-belly-bloat?intcmp=HPBucket#ixzz2OFqf8Ion

Read More

When Dr. Stuart Levy, professor of medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine, first sounded the alarm about antibiotic use in livestock back in the late 1970s, U.S. health officials and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) turned a deaf ear.
Warning that the excessive use of antibiotics in livestock was “naïve and cavalier,” Levy predicted that the practice would result in antibiotic-resistant superbugs that could pose a dangerous threat. Despite a significant body of science supporting his concerns, the USDA, which functions as the promotional board for the meat and dairy industries, did nothing.
Today, Levy’s nightmare scenario has come to pass, and still U.S. officials are failing to address the ominous hazards of ongoing antibiotic use in livestock. Even now, when a direct connection between the use of antibiotics in livestock and the proliferation of super germs is well established, the USDA is failing to act, choosing instead to err on the side of meat industry profits.
In 1949, Dr. Thomas Jukes, a researcher for the American Cyanamid Corporation, discovered that feeding animals small doses of the antibiotic chlortetracycline caused chickens and piglets to gain 10 to 15 percent more weight than normal. This remarkable discovery gave livestock producers a short-cut to higher livestock profits while saving on feed costs. Within a few short years, “subtherapeutic” doses of antibiotics were being routinely administered to poultry, hogs and cattle.
Not only did the antibiotics cause animals to gain weight more quickly, but they also helped to prevent infection. This meant that animals could be kept in more crowded spaces with less risk of infectious disease. The use of antibiotics allowed for what today is known as factory farming of livestock.
According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, approximately 70 percent of all antibiotics sold in the United States are used on healthy livestock. Globally, about half of the antibiotics produced are not used to improve human health, but for use in livestock.
When animals consume antibiotics on a regular basis, they develop antibiotic resistance. Consequently, when we eat meat from animals fed antibiotics, we develop antibiotic resistance as well. Meat does not contain antibiotics, but meat tissue imparts plasmids – b bits of genetic material – that transfer antibiotic resistance to humans. The result? Resistance to antibiotics in humans. Thus, the number of superbugs that do not respond to antibiotics is growing, and more and more people cannot be helped by these once miracle drugs.
Each year in the United States, approximately two million pounds of manure produced by livestock contaminate groundwater and soil. As early as 2002, the U.S. Geological Survey reported antibiotics in 48 percent of streams tested nationwide. Almost half of the streams tested were downstream from agricultural operations. This widespread contamination of soil and water increases the risk of antibiotic resistance in humans. And this means that we are prime targets for a global pandemic of supergerms.
In 1998, the European Union took a strong position on antibiotics, banning the use of these drugs for growth promotion in livestock. This has resulted in a steady decrease in antibiotic resistance in livestock and in humans. As early as 30 years ago, the FDA attempted to ban the use of subtherapeutic doses of antibiotics in livestock, but the move was crushed by pharmaceutical and farming lobbyists. The USDA, maintaining a pro-profits position relative to the livestock industry, has failed to budge on the issues of antibiotics in livestock production, despite ominous warnings from health officials around the world, and an increasing number of superbugs.
So where do we stand? Potent and lethal bacteria like NDM-1, MRSA, Clostridium difficile, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumonia do not respond to most drugs. These once life-saving medical agents are useless in an increasing number of cases. As long as animals for human consumption are fed massive quantities of drugs, this trend will continue.
Eating certified organic meats will help to reduce the amount of plasmids you consume, but many germs out there are already dangerous and drug-resistant, so this may actually do little good. Taking health precautions, such as thoroughly washing your hands and keeping away from others who are sick, will help. However, germs are everywhere, on virtually all handles, railings, and public fixtures – from gas pumps to restaurant salt shakers. Unless you wear a biohazard suit or live in a sterile environment, you are exposed to germs on a constant basis.
In the instance of antibiotic use in livestock and the promotion of lethal pathogens, individual behavior is less effective than policy change. As Levy and other health officials have warned, either the practice of feeding antibiotics to livestock must come to an end, or the consequences could be dire.
Chris Kilham is a medicine hunter who researches natural remedies all over the world, from the Amazon to Siberia. He teaches ethnobotany at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he is Explorer In Residence. Chris advises herbal, cosmetic and pharmaceutical companies and is a regular guest on radio and TV programs worldwide. His field research is largely sponsored by Naturex of Avignon, France.

Read More

Many of us struggle with body image issues, most of which start at a very early age.
Approximately 30 percent of girls between the ages of 10 and 14 are on a diet at any given time, according to The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.
And, body image disturbances can begin as early as the preschool years, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Children subconsciously mimic what they see and hear from the adults around them, so parents and other adult role models play an important role in promoting a positive body image.
The most important first step in fostering a positive body image in children is to lead by example. Children quickly pick up on any anxiety you have about your body, and through mimicking the adults in their lives they may internalize negative feelings about their own bodies.
Instead of criticizing the fat on your legs, focus instead on expressing how lucky you are to have strong legs to carry you around all day. Don’t talk about things you want to change about your body. Instead, brag about what positive features you are grateful to have.
Next, incorporate fitness into your whole family’s routine. Play active games outside, or go for a run as a family and focus on enjoying each other and how good it feels to be active.
Children take their cues from adults and will probably decide how they feel about exercise based on how their parents talk and behave. If you talk about how much you dread exercising or it being a punishment for eating a slice of pizza the night before, chances are your children won’t be too excited about it, either. Focus on exercising to be fit, not to be thin. Start young and make it fun.
Try toddler yoga or simply kicking a ball around outside; these are great ways to foster a love of exercise in a young child.
This should be obvious, but isn’t: Don’t let your child watch you get on the scale. Many of us have picked up the bad habit of letting the numbers on the scale dictate how we feel about our bodies. As children grow, the number on the scale will grow as well. You don’t want them to be disappointed or feel bad about themselves because the number they see isn’t what they wanted it to be.
Instead of focusing on weight as a number, talk to your child about feeling good, having plenty of energy and why it’s important to be healthy.
Food shouldn’t be used as a reward or punishment. Instead of talking about eating less (or eating foods you don’t prefer) because you’re on a diet, discuss making better food choices because they are healthier. Allow children to be part of the decision-making process and let them help you prepare healthy meals as often as possible.
When cooking with different foods, point out the health benefits of the foods you’re eating. Remove as much processed food from the house as possible so that children are forced to make healthy choices. Any conversation about junk food should revolve around explaining why it isn’t healthy instead of saying that it will make us fat.  The more a child feels deprived, the greater the chances that he or she will want to rebel and eat what’s not “allowed.”
If a child complains to you about his or her body, stop and listen. Have a conversation about why they feel this way, and talk them through it. If they have unrealistic ideals about what they should look like, discuss the ideals they are holding themselves to and why they might be unrealistic.
Remind them that the body is an instrument, not an ornament, and it’s beautiful no matter what size it is.
Jacqueline Banks is a certified holistic health counselor and busy mother.  Her focus is on helping other busy moms in all stages of motherhood keep themselves and their little ones healthy and happy.  She uses natural and organic solutions to solve individual health problems and promote clean living. Check out her website at www.jbholistic.com. 

Read More

Exercise, less sitting time, linked to better sleep

Published March 04, 2013

Reuters

• 
  Reuters

Insomniacs looking for a good night's sleep may want to hit the treadmill, take a walk or play a game of golf or tennis because a new report released on Monday shows exercise promotes good sleep and the more vigorous the workout the better.
Just 10 minutes of exercise a day could make a difference in the duration and quality of sleep, the survey by the non-profit National Sleep Foundation showed.
"We found that exercise and great sleep go together, hand in hand," Max Hirshkowitz, a sleep researcher and the chair of the poll task force, said in an interview.
"We also found a step-wise increase in how vigorous the quality is, in terms of how much you exercise. So if you say you exercise a lot, we found better sleep quality. For people who don't exercise at all we found more sleep problems."
Earlier research studies have shown the impact of exercise on sleep, but Hirshkowitz, who is a professor at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, said the survey is the first to detail the benefits of exercise in a nationally representative poll of this size.
People who described themselves as exercisers reported better sleep than their more sedentary counterparts, although the amount of sleep, an average of just under seven hours on weeknight, was the same.
More than 75 percent of the 1,000 people questioned in the Internet and telephone poll who described themselves as exercisers said they slept well, compared to just over half of people who did no exercise.
Very active people reported fewer sleep problems, dozed off quicker and needed less shut eye a night to function at their best during the day.
Sitting, more than eight hours daily also had a negative impact on sleep, according to the poll.
Naps, struggling to stay awake
Nearly half of Americans report experiencing insomnia occasionally, and 22 percent suffer from the condition, which can be caused by stress, anxiety, pain and medication, every or almost every night, according to the foundation.
In addition to poorer sleep, non-exercisers also were less likely to report good or excellent health compared to active people and had more trouble staying awake while driving and eating.
Nearly three times as many sedentary people said they have trouble keeping awake during the day than exercisers. They also took more naps and had more symptoms of sleep apnea, a disorder that causes shallow breaths or pauses in breathing during sleep, than exercisers,
More than 44 percent of non-exercisers were at a moderate risk for sleep apnea, a higher percentage than active people questioned in the poll.
The survey also seemed to debunk the idea that exercising early or late in the day would adversely impact sleep because it showed that being active at any time of the day was better than being sedentary.
"Exercise is beneficial to sleep," Dr. Barbara Phillips, a member of the poll task force, said in a statement. "It's time to revise global recommendations for improving sleep and put exercise - any time - at the top of our list for healthy sleep habits."

Read More