Reducing Macular Degeneration Risk

Macular degeneration is a debilitating eye disorder generally considered to be irreversible, and it remains the leading cause of blindness in individuals over the age of 55. Risks for the disorder commonly run in families, but a new study suggests that the risk can be reduced by not smoking and by a diet high in vitamin D plus the nutrients betaine (found in fish, grains and spinach) and methionine (found in poultry, fish and dairy foods). Researchers from Tufts Medical Center identified cases of elderly, male identical twins, where one brother had late stage macular degeneration and his sibling's disorder was at an early stage. The researchers found that the more severe cases were found among the twin who was the heavier smoker and that disease progression was slowest among those who had higher intakes of vitamin D from dietary sources such as fish or milk and betaine and methionine. (GN) The study was published in the July 1, 2011 issue of Ophthalmology.

Cause of Skin Ulcers

Skin ulcers can be produced in a number of different ways:

1 Through the infection of a wound.

2 Through a pressure sore that hasn't healed properly.

3 Through heat damage, cancer or some circulatory problem.

Whatever the cause, the epidermis and all or most of the dermis (the two main layers of skin) will be destroyed, leaving the underlying tissues exposed to the air.

Some ulcers heal naturally but if there is any underlying problem, such as an infection, that will have to be dealt with first. It is important always to seek medical help straightaway for any skin ulcer, and to obey whatever instructions are then given.

Massage Eases Tension Headaches

This not-so-surprising news comes from Spain's University of Granada, where researchers found that a 30-minute massage could relieve tension headaches, as well as reduce associated stress and anxiety. The type of massage tested by the Spanish investigators targeted cervical trigger points, which are believed to be one of the main contributors to tension headaches. The trigger point massage apparently works by improving autonomic nervous system regulation, the researchers said. Within 24 hours of the massage, patients reported significant relief from headache pain, less stress and reduced anxiety. The research team suggested that massage might directly reduce pain caused by trigger points, which would explain both the physical and psychological improvements seen. Previous studies have found that massage can relieve chronic back pain, lessen the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, reduce headache frequency, relieve arthritis pain, reduce blood pressure, and improve immune function among other benefits. Overall, massage has proven efficacy for reducing pain, anxiety, stress, and depression in patients with a wide range of medical problems.

All You Need To Know About Strabismus

Do you know anything about strabismus? Most people are not familiar with it but it is actually an eye condition that is characterized by eyes are not properly aligned with each other. It is also known as squint, walleye, or crossed-eyes. This condition makes the eyes unable to look at the same point concurrently. It you want to learn more about strabismus, read on.

One thing that you need to know about strabismus is that it occurs when the muscles that are connected to each eye do not work together in a coordinative manner so that the eyes do not move together in the same direction at the same time. It is for this reason that the individual that is afflicted by it are incapable of aligning his or her eyes concurrently. Because of this, one or even both eyes may rotate down, up, in , or out. The eye turning may differ from each case as it could be intermittent, when there is a stimulus such as sickness or stress, or it could be constantly turning.

Green Tea for Weight Control

Following previous research suggesting that green tea affects metabolism, researchers at Penn State fed obese mice epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a compound found in most green tea, and also put them on a high fat diet. Another group of mice, serving as controls, were fed the same high fat diet but no EGCG. The investigators found that the mice receiving EGCG gained weight 45 percent more slowly than the mice that didn’t get the compound. They also found that the mice on the green tea supplement showed an increase of nearly 30 percent in fecal lipid (fats), which suggested that the EGCG was limiting fat absorption. Both groups of mice ate the same amount of food - apparently the EGCG didn’t reduce the mouse appetite. To get an equivalent amount of EGCG used in this study, a human would have to drink 10 cups of green tea daily, the investigators said. But they noted that other studies have indicated drinking just a few cups of green tea daily may help with weight control.

How Do You Treat a Laceration?

Simply stated, a laceration is a cut or tear through the full thickness of the skin, for which a sharp object is often but not necessarily responsible. Lacerations may be clean incisions, as if made with a sharp blade, but they can also be irregular, exten-sively bruised, and contaminated with dirt and debris. Dirty lacerations are likely to become infected. Bleeding is more promi-nent from lacerations than from abrasions.

Treatment for Laceration

The first step in treatment, again, is cleansing; all foreign matter and dead tissue should be removed.

Excessive bleeding can usually be controlled by local pressure, for which the wound edges should be pushed together and com-pressed tightly against deeper tissues. Clean cloth is preferable, but fingers will do if nothing else is available; pressure should be sustained until bleeding is slowed or stopped altogether. Blood from the wound should not be dabbed repeatedly with the cloth as this can lead to significant blood loss, especially from the scalp. The elevation of bleeding extremities may be helpful. If an artery is severed, the fingers are used to compress the artery at a pressure point above the wound, with tourniquets used as a last resort.

A Guide on Restaurant Calorie Counter

If you always eat in a restaurant, it is advisable that you keep your daily calorie intake in check using a restaurant calorie counter. Whether it be just a fast food restaurant or fine dining, it is a good practice to know how much calories you are eating from these establishments, especially that you do not know how they are prepared. A restaurant calorie counter can be accessed in various calorie database websites. This will allow you to remain in control of your calorie intake even when eating outside. Here are some tips that you can do when using a restaurant calorie counter.

A restaurant calorie counter is a very useful way to stay disciplined when eating out. If you follow a strict daily calorie intake regimen, you do not have to be concerned about going beyond your limit when dining in a restaurant. Many restaurants can give you a calorie information sheet of the foods that they serve when you ask for it. This way you will be able to maintain your diet plan and keep your calorie intake under your daily limit. However, not all restaurants have this kind of service thus it may be challenging if you are trying out an establishment for the first time.

Green Tea for Pneumonia Protection

Japanese women who drink even a little bit of green tea seem to have a lower risk of developing pneumonia, and those who drink five or more cups per day may be able to cut their risk by 47 percent. These findings are from a study published in the September 2009 American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The researchers also found that drinking a single cup of green tea daily cut the risk of dying from pneumonia by 41 percent. But these results apply only to Japanese women, not men. Even with the gender differences, the investigators noted that their findings support the hypothesis that compounds in green tea can destroy or inhibit the growth of viruses and other microorganisms that cause pneumonia. This was a big study that followed more than 19,000 men and more than 21,000 women for more than 12 years. The participants' ages ranged from 40 to 79. The researchers saw the benefits in women (but not men) after controlling for age, physical function, smoking status and other health and dietary factors that might influence the risk of pneumonia.