elnathan Blog

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 n...

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 t...

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 certai...

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 De...

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 i...

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 abou...

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 ...