Inhale steam

Have a hot drink

Eat chicken soup – or some curry

Take it easy

Drink water

Raid your store cupboard

De-stress

Wrap up warm

1 Comment  Email This Post

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Sperm donors should be reimbursed in recognition of their “commitment, dedication and selflessness”, a leading fertility campaigner in UK has suggested.

Laura Witjens, who chairs the National Gamete Donation Trust, said sperm donors should receive as much if not more money than women who go through the invasive and risky procedure of donating their eggs.

While fertility clinics are not allowed to pay for eggs or sperm, they can compensate donors up to £250 for loss of earnings and expenses. The limit is being reviewed by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.

While the focus of the review is on women, who have hormone treatment and an operation to remove eggs, Ms Witjens suggested that men who donate sperm should receive equal recognition.

“We’re asking men aged between 20 and 45 to have very limited sexual activity for months on end. This has a significant impact on their normal life,” she wrote on a BBC website, adding that they must also abstain from alcohol for months and make clinic visits.

1 Comment  Email This Post

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Migraine sufferers were offered new hope today after researchers identified a faulty gene responsible for the debilitating headaches.  The finding could lead to better treatment and improve the quality of life for the one in five people who have the neurological disorder.

Scientists at the University of Oxford along with colleagues in Canada took DNA samples from migraines sufferers and their families.

They found that if a gene called Tresk is defective it can trigger pain nerves in the brain and cause a severe headache.

The discovery explains why people in the same family often suffer from the condition and could lead to new drugs that can switch off the pain.

Dr Zameel Cader, from the Medical Research Council’s Functional Genomics Unit at the University of Oxford, said: “We have now made a major step forward in our understanding of why people suffer with migraine and how in certain cases, your family can literally give you a headache.

“Previous studies have identified parts of our DNA that increase the risk in the general population but have not found genes which can be directly responsible for common migraine.

“What we’ve found is that migraines seem to depend on how sensitive our nerves are in the pain centres of the brain.

“This finding should help lead to the key player which controls this excitability and will give us a real opportunity to find a new way to fight migraines and improve the quality of life for those suffering.”

A migraine is a severe, long-lasting headache usually felt as a throbbing pain at the front or on one side of the head.

Some people can have a warning visual disturbance – for example, seeing zigzag lines or flashing lights – before the start of the headache which is called an aura.

Many people also have symptoms, such as nausea and sensitivity to light, during the headache itself.

Until now, the genes responsible were unknown.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) rates migraine as a leading cause of disability worldwide and it is estimated to be the most costly neurological disorder in Europe.

The study about  migraine, published in Nature Medicine, was funded by the Medical Research Council, Genome Canada, Genome Quebec, Emerillon Therapeutics, the Wellcome Trust and Pfizer.

2 Comments  Email This Post

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Human growth hormone is produced in the pituitary gland in the brain and is essential for childhood growth and the development of muscle, bone and cartilage.

But the older we get the less we produce, which is why it has been called the “youth” hormone. Until the 1990s, the only source was pituitary glands from cadavers but it has since become available in synthetic form, as a drug for injection.

It is prescribed to children who have stopped growing too early because they are deficient in the hormone to boost their adult height. Some Harley Street doctors also prescribe it to patients whom they deem to be deficient in the hormone.

Anecdotal reports suggest its popularity is growing among sportsmen as a substitute for anabolic steroids which are perceived to have more serious side effects. But human growth hormone has them too. It can lead to swelling of the body’s soft tissues, abnormal growth of the hands, feet and face, high blood pressure, blood clots, diabetes, increased sweating, and excessive hair growth. Organs including the heart, liver and kidneys, may also grow excessively, leading to potentially life-threatening problems such as cardiomyopathy, a disease of the heart muscle. Researchers have also linked HGH to an increased risks of cancer and overloading of the adrenal glands, which can result in infection and illness.

1 Comment  Email This Post

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

The combination of depression and heart disease is more deadly than either factor alone, researchers say.

  It is already known that either influence can increase the risk of dying from a heart attack or stroke, but there has been little research on both factors combined. Now, experts writing in the journal Heart have concluded the risks are higher if a person is both depressed and suffers from heart disease.

 Almost 6,000 middle-aged British men and women were followed for nearly six years for the research, led by teams from University College London and the University of Versailles in France.

 Around one in five of those taking part had both heart disease and depression. Overall, 170 people died during the study period, including 47 from cardiovascular disease such as heart attacks or strokes.

 The results showed that people with heart disease alone had a 67 per cent higher chance of dying from any cause than those without either heart disease or depression.

 Meanwhile, people with depressive symptoms only were more than twice as likely to die as those with neither heart disease nor depression.

 When researchers looked at those people with both depression and heart disease, and adjusted the results to take account of factors such as age and sex, they found the combination tripled the risk of death from any cause and quadrupled the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. The researchers called for doctors to pay more attention to depression in their cardiac patients.

1 Comment  Email This Post

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

COCO, a five-year-old cat, thinks she’s human. Unlike the rest of her feline friends, she is the only one who sleeps – on her back or with her head on pillows – with her owners.  I think she can’t fall asleep without us. I’ve tried keeping her out of the bedroom but she won’t cooperate,” said Mrs Mary Wee, 47, laughing. She owns five other cats.  Sleeping with pets isn’t unheard of. But is it a healthy habit?

In the United States, a recent survey by the American Pet Products Association found that 62 per cent of cats and nearly half of dogs share their owners’ beds. There are no official figures to show how common this is in Singapore.

Today polled 10 pet owners and four of them said they sleep with their pets on a regular basis.

Dog tired

A study released by the Mayo Clinic Sleep Disorders Centre in 2002 found that more than half of pet owners surveyed said their nightly sleep was disturbed by their furry companions.

Dr Lim Li Ling, director of the Sleep Disorder Unit at Singapore General Hospital, said pets can be an environmental disturbance and disrupt sleep if they make excessive movement or noise, just like how a snoring bed partner or a busy construction site hinders sleep.

However, she added that it really depends on the individual.

“If there are no physical issues like allergies, and there is no disruption to sleep or other bedroom activities like sex, then having a pet sleep in the same bed is an individual preference with no sleep-related health issues,” she said.

On the other hand, Dr Lim added that some may find the presence of a beloved pet in bed reassuring – a reason why Mrs Wee does not kick Coco out of bed.

“I’m so used to having that feeling of security and companionship, that I think I won’t be able to sleep well without Coco,” she said.

Pets and allergy

Pets in the bedroom are a big no-no, when it comes to asthmatics and people who suffer from allergies, said experts Today spoke to.

Associate Professor John Abisheganaden, a senior consultant at Tan Tock Seng Hospital’s (TTSH) department of respiratory and critical care, said certain allergens such as dust mites, pollen and cockroaches can provoke asthma symptoms. Cat and dog dander (skin particles) is also one of them.

“While it is not completely possible to avoid all of these allergens, one is able to reduce the level of exposure to them.”

According to Assoc Prof John, surveys conducted in developed countries have shown that 5 to 15 per cent of the general population showed positive skin reactions to cat and/or dog dander. In people with asthma, the figure soared to 40 to 70 per cent.

Close pet-human contact accounts for the high prevalence of pet allergy, he said.

Ms Tang Chwee Ying, a nurse clinician in allergy/clinical immunology at TTSH, said protein secreted by your pet’s oil glands can trigger symptoms of allergy in individuals who are genetically predisposed to allergy.

She added that the allergens – typically found in the fur, saliva, urine and hair roots of the animal – can persist in areas such as carpeting, upholstery and mattresses.

For those who are highly allergic to their pets, the experts said it may not be enough to just keep them out of the bedrooms.

“For a person who is highly allergic to their pets and developing worsening symptoms, removal of the pet from the home followed by extensive cleaning is recommended. Any other measures are at best a compromise,” said Ms Tang.

She added: “Common sense and emotion often collide and differences of opinion among family members may complicate the problem. They will have to decide what is more important for them, the pet or consequences of their condition worsening.”

Don’t blame the animals

Most animal lovers said they are willing to put up with their allergy problems for the sake of their pets.

Helen Fong, who is in her 40s, and her teenage son Joshua suffers from eczema. Joshua also has mild asthma. However, they have no problems letting their pet cats into their bedroom.

“We’ve been having this allergy problem for so long, even before we had our cats. People like to put the blame on animals but to me, our allergy trigger could be anything – it could be the food we eat, the detergent we use or even from air pollution,” said Mdm Fong.

Allergy shots are available to help people build up tolerance towards pet allergens. According to Ms Tang, these are available in the form of regular injections weekly for the first three months, then every one to two monthly for the next three years.

However, she added that such desensitisation regime is expensive, and requires commitment of at least three years to see effects. Moreover, its effectiveness “has not been consistently demonstrated”.

Dr Jean-Paul Ly, senior veterinarian and director of Animal Recovery Centre Group, said ultimately it’s about exercising commonsense.

“If the dog or cat is shampooed and groomed regularly, having it sleep with you is not a problem and certainly not unhealthy. What I don’t encourage is kissing pets on the mouth – that’s unhygienic,” said Dr Ly.

Tips on decreasing airborne pet allergens

No Comments  Email This Post

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Squatting is a healthier way to go according to various researchers. On August 26, the online magazine Slate provided a review of the health benefits of squatting that include shorter potty time, “‘complete evacuation’ of the colon, ridding our bowel of disease-causing toxins,” and hemorrhoid prevention.

Believe it or not, the current toilet seat is a comparatively new invention. It was developed in the Industrial revolution by people who thought it was more ‘dignified’ to sit on a ‘throne’ than the way the natives did.

However, many doctors at the time were worried about this causing health problems because it went against nature. But in Victorian England where even table legs were covered with long table-cloths because they suggested legs (which were called only “limbs”) it was considered very improper to discuss such things.
If you have ever felt, as many, many people do, that after you have evacuated, there is still something left, here is the reason:

The anal canal is UNSTRAIGHTENED when seated. Bowel evacuation when seated results frequently in OBSTRUCTIVE CONSTIPATION.

Adopt a relaxed, FULL SQUAT POSTURE and the anal canal STRAIGHTENS

This obviously can help constipation. Months later other health improvements can happen, due to your body being free of extra toxins. Also, bladder function may improve after several months because of an improved pelvic floor nerve supply.

No Comments  Email This Post

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Taking afternoon tea at the Peninsula Hotel Hong Kong is one of the few traditions left in the city from its colonial period. Once the hottest ticket in town for Governors, Generals and visiting royalty, the Peninsula Hotel remains the height of luxury in Hong Kong and Asia and the imperious Peninsula Tea Set has changed little in the last eighty years.

Set in the colonial styled Peninsula Hotel, all marble floors, gilded columns and expensive looking paintings, afternoon tea takes place in the palatial Lobby.

The high tea set itself is straight out of Alice in Wonderland and features Earl Grey, or your choice of tea, a selection of belt busting cakes, English scones and finger sandwiches all served on silver platters. It’ best shared by two. While you work your way through the goodies, you’ll be serenaded by a string quartet and fussed over by bow tied waiters.

Afternoon tea is offered at the Peninsula everyday from 2p.m. – 7p.m. The Lobby does not accept reservations and at weekends you may need to queue before getting a seat.

The Peninsula Hotel is one of the few places left in Hong Kong that enforces a dress code and you’ll be turned back at the door, if you’re wearing flip flops or, for men, sleeveless shirts.

2 Comments  Email This Post

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Even though we knew that red wine and dark chocolate have health benefits, a new study finds that the two are actually potent medicine for killing cancer.

In addition to blueberries, garlic and some teas, Angiogenesis Foundation leader William Li told attendees at the TED Conference in California that red wine and dark chocolate also have cancer-fighting qualities.

“What we eat is really our chemotherapy three times a day,” he said. The foods appear to cut off the blood supply to tumors and quite literally starve them to death. The Foundation went as far as to say that certain foods — like soy, parsley and red grapes — are as effective if not more than FDA approved drugs in battling cancer cells.

So, this Valentine’s Day, indulge in a nice glass of Cabernet and some chocolates without the guilt!

No Comments  Email This Post

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Lingering residue from tobacco smoke which clings to upholstery, clothing and the skin releases cancer-causing agents, work in PNAS journal shows. Berkeley scientists in the US ran lab tests and found “substantial levels” of toxins on smoke-exposed material.

They say while banishing smokers to outdoors cuts second-hand smoke, residues will follow them back inside and this “third-hand smoke” may harm. Opponents called it a laughable term designed to frighten people unduly.

The scientists say nicotine stains on clothing, furniture and wallpaper can react with a common indoor pollutant to generate dangerous chemicals called tobacco-specific nitrosamines or TSNAs.

In the tests, contaminated surface exposed to “high but reasonable” amounts of the pollutant nitrous acid – emitted by unvented gas appliances and in car exhaust – boosted levels of newly formed TSNAs 10-fold.

Substantial traces of TSNAs were also found on the inside surfaces of a truck belonging to a heavy smoker.

The researchers say third-hand smoke is an unappreciated health hazard and suggest a complete ban on smoking in homes and in vehicles to eliminate any risk.

Cancer chemicals

Toxic particles from cigarette smoke can linger on surfaces long after the cigarette has been put out, and small children are particularly susceptible because they are likely to breathe in close proximity, or even lick and suck them, they say.

Researcher Lara Gundel, of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, said: “Smoking outside is better than smoking indoors but nicotine residues will stick to a smoker’s skin and clothing.

“Those residues follow a smoker back inside and get spread everywhere. The biggest risk is to young children.

“Dermal uptake of the nicotine through a child’s skin is likely to occur when the smoker returns and if nitrous acid is in the air, which it usually is, then TSNAs will be formed.”

They are now doing more research to better understand what threat, if any, TSNAs pose.

Amanda Sandford of Action on Smoking and Health said: “The harmful effects of second-hand smoke are already well-established but this study adds a new dimension to the dangers associated with smoking and provides further evidence of the need to protect children, in particular, from exposure to tobacco smoke.

“The study shows that the residue of smoke on surfaces represents a potential risk for cancer but so far we don’t know how big at risk.”

Simon Clark, director of the smokers’ lobby group Forest, remained sceptical.

He said: “The dose makes the poison and there is no evidence that exposure to such minute levels is harmful.

“That doesn’t seem to matter, though. The aim, it seems, is to generate alarm in the hope that people will be stopped from smoking or will give up.

“The real danger is not third-hand smoke but propaganda dressed up as science. Until the evidence of harm is irrefutable, scientists and campaigners should resist the urge to tell us how to live our lives.”

Ed Young of Cancer Research UK said: “This is an interesting piece of research that adds the possibility of an extra level of harm from tobacco smoke.

“There is clear evidence about the harmful effects of second-hand smoke to children, especially in homes and cars.

“The most important step parents can take to protect their families from the dangers of cigarette smoke is to make their homes and cars smokefree.”

Source: BBC News

No Comments  Email This Post

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
•