Metabolic Syndrome

Today's youngsters may be the first generation of children to have a shorter life expectancy than their parents--and the reason is obesity. People don't die just from being overweight. They die from the many things that come with it. The majority of overweight children and teenagers already have at least one additional heart disease risk factor, and 25% have two or more. If they have three out of five major risk factors, they are said to have something called metabolic syndrome, a condition that has been identified as a significant marker for heart disease risk.

The five risk factors are high blood pressure (hypertension), high triglycerides, low HDL ("good" cholesterol), abdominal obesity and high fasting blood sugar. If you've got any three of them, you've got metabolic syndrome.

The best way to avoid metabolic syndrome is to concentrate on eating natural, whole foods. Fresh fruit is better than juice. Grilled chicken is better than breaded and fried chicken tenders. Water is better than soda. Nuts are better than chips. The less processed a food is, the more work the body does to digest the carbohydrate, leading to a less severe rise in insulin.

The best approach to decreasing metabolic syndrome may be prevention. Children should be encouraged to develop a healthy lifestyle that includes a quality whole-foods diet, regular physical activity and less sitting around watching television or playing computer games.
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Stress

Stress is caused by the body's instinct to defend itself. This instinct is good in emergencies, like getting out of the way of a speeding car but it can cause physical symptoms if it goes on for too long in response to life's daily challenges and changes.

When this happens, it's as though your body gets ready to jump out of the way of the car, but you are sitting still. Your body is working overtime, with no place to put the extra energy. This can make you feel anxious, afraid, worried and uptight.

Any sort of change can make you feel stressed, even good change. It's not just the change or event itself, but also how you react to it that matters. What may be stressful is different for each person--one person may not feel stressed by retiring from work and another person may feel stressed.

Other things that may be stressful include being laid off from your job, your child leaving or returning home, the death of your spouse, divorce or marriage, an illness, an injury, a job promotion, money problems, moving, or having a baby.

Signs of stress may include anxiety, back pain, constipation or diarrhea, depression, fatigue, headaches, high blood pressure, insomnia, problems with relationships, shortness of breath, stiff neck, upset stomach, and weight gain or loss .

To deal with stress, it helps to exercise on a regular basis, eat well-balanced meals, get enough sleep, meditate, and get away from your daily stresses with group sports, social events and hobbies

Brain Food

The brain is a living organ and is affected by what we eat in the short-term and in the long-term. To simplify, you could say a healthy body equals a healthy brain.

To start the day, eat a balanced breakfast. When waking up from sleeping the body and brain have been in a fast state. If the last meal you ate was finished by 7 p.m. and if you wake up at 7 a.m., it was a 12-hour fast. It helps the brain function to have a balanced breakfast after that 12 hours. Balanced means not too high in calories, not too high in sugar, and has some protein, some fiber, and some fat (such as eggs, whole wheat toast with butter, and orange juice). That kind of breakfast will keep you alert until lunch.

A good way to prevent Alzheimer's is eat fish two to three times a week. Some fish that contain omega-3s are mackerel, salmon, and sardines.

A study in Switzerland discovered that people in their 60s who had the highest blood levels of vitamin C and beta-carotene scored higher on memory tests than those with low levels. In almost all cases the people in the study got the vitamin C and beta-carotene from food, not supplements. Foods with beta-carotene are yellow, orange, and dark green vegetables and foods with vitamin C are citrus fruits, berries, and fresh peppers. Blueberries are in a class by themselves for the benefits they provide to the brain and other parts of the body.

Asparagus, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, lentils, kidney beans, and pinto beans are just a few foods that will supply you with folic acid, another nutrient necessary for proper brain function.

The Cheapest Way to Fix and Maintain Good Health

If you want a "pill" to fix your heart, try exercise. Physical therapy used on people after a heart attack enables them to live longer than those who do get no therapy. Research using rats has shown that exercise can even be more effective than statins, the drugs normally used to treat heart disease.

Research has found that exercise sparks the creation of new heart vessels. In a study of 37 people at Leipzig University in Germany, Dr. Robert Hollriegel found that people with serious heart failure who rode a bike for up to 30 minutes a day for four months produced new stem cells in their bones. Those in the study who exercised also had more small blood vessels in their muscles. Those who didn't exercise had no change in their vessels or muscles.

The way it works is that physical activity strains the heart's arteries and muscles by sending 10 times the normal amount of blood to the muscles being used. Then stem cells are sent to relieve this stress and may repair any damaged parts. If the exercise is continued, the stem cells help the body adapt to the stress by building new blood vessels and strengthening muscles. To maintain the benefits of the new blood vessels and stronger muscles, the exercise must be done on a regular basis.

Vitamin D to Reduce the Risk of Heart Attacks

Men deficient in vitamin D seem to have a higher risk of heart attacks than men whose blood levels of vitamin D are adequate. Medical records and blood samples of 454 men between the ages of 40 and 75 who had fatal or nonfatal heart attacks between January 1993 and January 2004 were compared with 900 men who had no history of cardiovascular disease. The vitamin D connection remained significant even after researchers adjusted for such heart disease risk factors as family history of heart attacks, body mass index, alcohol consumption, physical activities, diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol levels, omega 3 intake and ethnicity. The study was conducted by researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health and Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. The results suggest that current recommendations for vitamin D intake need to be increased to boost blood levels of vitamin D high enough to benefit health, the authors said. The study showed that men whose blood levels of vitamin D were 15 nanograms per milliliter or less were at increased risk. Sufficient blood levels of vitamin D were 30 nanograms per milliliter or more.
          

Honey for Wounds

An ancient scroll was found in Egypt that listed medical case histories, recorded around 3000 B.C. Case #3 described treatment for an acute head wound: after stitching the wound shut, oil and honey were applied to prevent infection.

Researchers at the University of Auckland in New Zealand have written, "Honey has been used since ancient times as a remedy in wound care. Evidence from animal studies and some trials has suggested honey may accelerate wound healing." The results they found show that in acute wounds (burns, lacerations) honey had a significant effect. In some moderate wounds where damage to nerves and blood vessels occurred, healing time was reduced by as much as five days compared to conventional treatments. The use of honey in chronic wounds (diabetic ulcers, arterial and venous ulcers, pressure ulcers, and infected surgical wounds) did not significantly increase healing time compared to conventional treatments.

The honey used to treat wounds has to be in the raw state (raw, uncooked does not qualify) because honey contains enzymes and nutrients that can be very useful to the body. Unfortunately, heat destroys many of them, and commercial honey is heated to keep it from crystallizing inside processing machinery. You can find raw honey in the natural food section of your grocery store or at your local health food store. Get honey from local sources--the honey gathered closest to your home is the best for you.

Skin Care Product Ingredients to Avoid

Your skin is much more than an outer surface to cover bones and muscles--it's the largest organ of your body. Your skin protects your internal organs from injury; helps detoxify wastes through perspiration; is an important line of immune defense against infections--a barrier to viruses and bacteria; protects you against extreme changes in temperature, through its thermoregulatory effect of controlling heat flow between you and your environment; produces and stores vitamin D (important to your immune system); rich in receptors to allow you to sense conditions around you like hard/soft and hot/cold and send information to your brain so you can react to it for self-preservation; protects your body from sunburns and dehydration.

There are many ingredients in personal care products that are harmful to the body. When you put those products on your skin, it will absorb those ingredients. Those harmful ingredients are:

Mineral Oil, Paraffin, and Petrolatum: Petroleum products that coat the skin like plastic, clogging pores and creating a build-up of toxins, which in turn accumulate and can lead to dermatologic issues. Slows cellular development, which can cause you to show earlier signs of aging. Suspected cause of cancer. Disruptive of hormonal activity.

Parabens: Widely used as preservatives in the cosmetic industry (including moisturizers). An estimated 13,200 cosmetic and skin care products contain parabens. Studies implicate their connection with cancer. They have hormone-disrupting qualities (mimicking estrogen) and interfere with the body's endocrine system.

Phenol carbolic acid: Found in many lotions and skin creams. Can cause circulatory collapse, paralysis, convulsions, coma and even death from respiratory failure.

Propylene glycol:Used as a moisturizer in cosmetics and as a carrier in fragrance oils. Shown to cause dermatitis, kidney or liver abnormalities, and may inhibit skin cell growth or cause skin irritation.

Acrylamide: Found in many hand and face creams. Linked to mammary tumors in lab research.

Sodium laurel or lauryl sulfate (SLS), also known as sodium laureth sulfate (SLES): Found in car washes, engine degreasers, garage floor cleaners... and in over 90% of personal care products! SLS breaks down the skin's moisture barrier, easily penetrates the skin, and allows other chemicals to easily penetrate. Combined with other chemicals, SLS becomes a "nitrosamine", a potent class of carcinogen. It can also cause hair loss. SLES is sometimes disguised with the labeling "comes from coconut" or "coconut-derived."

Toluene: Poison! Danger! Harmful or fatal if swallowed! Harmful if inhaled or absorbed through the skin. Made from petroleum or coal tar, and found in most synthetic fragrances. Chronic exposure linked to anemia, lowered blood cell count, liver or kidney damage, and may affect a developing fetus. Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) contains toluene. Other names may include benzoic and benzyl.

Dioxane: Found in compounds known as PEG, Polysorbates, Laureth, ethoxylated alcohols. Common in a wide range of personal care products. The compounds are usually contaminated with high concentrations of highly volatile 1,4-dioxane, easily absorbed through the skin. Dioxane's carcinogenicity was first reported in 1965 and later confirmed in studies including one from the National Cancer Institute in 1978. Nasal passages and liver are the most vulnerable. Dioxane is easily removed during the manufacturing process by "vacuum stripping." Warning: It is a synthetic derivative of coconut. Watch for hidden language on labels, such as "comes from coconut."

Fresh Breath

          
There are ways to keep your breath fresh without using expensive mouthwash or chewing gum. Brush your teeth and floss after every meal if possible. If you aren't able to brush your teeth or floss after eating, rinse your mouth with water and try to loosen any food particles around your teeth. When you are able to brush your teeth, you need to brush your tongue too. The tongue, especially the back of the tongue, is a warm harbor for bacteria. Spend some time on the tongue, moving slowly toward the back so as not to activate your gag reflex. A tongue scraper used twice a day can also be useful. During the day keep your mouth hydrated. A dry mouth can lead to bad breath so try snacking on oranges or celery, and drink plenty of water. To freshen your mouth try an herbal palate cleanser such as parsley (chew on it after meals), drink peppermint tea, or chew two or three fennel or anise seeds or one clove. If you still have bad breath, contact your dentist. He or she may be able to prescribe an antimicrobial mouthwash and can diagnose any condition or concerns of the oral cavity that may be causing the problems, such as gum disease.

Anthrax

What exactly is anthrax, and should you be concerned about it?
Anthrax is an infection caused by a bacterium (a type of germ) called Bacillus anthracis (B. anthracis). Although it's most commonly seen in grazing animals like sheep, pigs, cattle, horses, and goats, anthrax also can occur in humans — although it's very rare.
In the environment, the anthrax-causing bacterium forms spores (a version of the germ covered by a hard protective shell) that can live in the soil for years. People can become infected by coming into contact with these spores through a break in the skin (such as a cut or scrape), by eating food (usually undercooked meat) contaminated by them, or by inhaling spores (breathing them into the lungs). But anthrax is not contagious, which means that it can't spread from person to person.
It's extremely unlikely that you or someone you know could get anthrax. In fact, there are usually only one or two reported cases of anthrax per year. Most of these have been in people who work with animals or animal products.

Why Are People So Concerned About Anthrax?

Anthrax that occurs naturally in the environment isn't a huge threat. But B. anthracis can be grown in a laboratory and some people are worried about anthrax germs being grown as a weapon.
The issue of laboratory-grown B. anthracis received lots of attention in 2001 after an anthrax outbreak in the United States. The outbreak scared many people, in part because five people died (which is very rare) and also because the outbreak coincided with the September 11 terrorist attacks. However, bioterrorism experts believe that it is technologically difficult to use anthrax effectively as a weapon on a large scale.

Types of Anthrax

The three main types of anthrax are:

1. Cutaneous or skin anthrax, can occur if someone with a cut or scrape handles contaminated animals or animal products. More than 95% of anthrax cases are of the cutaneous type, which is the least dangerous form. A person with cutaneous anthrax will notice a small sore that develops into a painless ulcer with a black area in its center. If left untreated, the infection can spread to other areas of the body.
2. Intestinal anthrax can occur if someone eats undercooked contaminated meat. Intestinal anthrax is far less common than cutaneous anthrax, but it can make someone much sicker. Intestinal anthrax symptoms include severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, severe diarrhea, and bleeding from the digestive tract.
3. Pulmonary, or inhaled, anthrax is the rarest form of anthrax — but it's also the most dangerous. Pulmonary anthrax can only occur if someone breathes thousands of anthrax spores into the lungs. Pulmonary anthrax usually seems like a common cold or the flu at first, but it rapidly turns into severe pneumonia and requires hospitalization.

It usually takes fewer than 7 days for a person to show signs of anthrax after being infected. However, symptoms of pulmonary anthrax can sometimes take months to appear

How Difficult Is It to Get Anthrax?

It's very difficult to get anthrax. Just being exposed to the spores or coming into contact with an infected animal doesn't mean that a person will automatically develop the disease.
For example, to get pulmonary anthrax (the type of anthrax that killed the five people in the 2001 outbreak), a person has to inhale thousands of spores. This is extremely difficult to do when the anthrax spores are found in soil or on infected animals.
Even in the case of the manmade outbreak in 2001, several of the people who were exposed were found to have B. anthracis spores only in their nostrils when tested. These spores hadn't made it to their lungs in sufficient amounts to cause a problem. In other words, the people had been exposed to the bacteria but had not developed the disease.

How Is Anthrax Diagnosed and Treated?

Medical professionals can diagnose anthrax by taking samples from the skin sores, blood, or other bodily fluids of people who are believed to have been exposed to B. anthracis. These samples are then sent to a lab to check whether the person has the bacteria in his or her system.
If anthrax is caught early, it is almost always successfully treated with antibiotics. If a person is known to have been exposed to B. anthracis but has no signs or symptoms of the disease, antibiotics may be given (after exposure) to prevent the disease from occurring.
Although there is a vaccine for anthrax, in the United States it is currently only recommended for people who are at risk of coming into contact with B. anthracis. They include people who work with B. anthracis in laboratories, people who handle potentially infected animal products, and U.S. military personnel. The vaccine is not given routinely to people in the United States and it hasn't been studied for use in people younger than 18.
If you worry when you hear about anthrax, remember that it's very rare, and it's unlikely that you will ever be exposed to the germs that cause anthrax. If you're worried about it, talk to a science teacher or medical professional — someone who can help you find the answers to any questions you may have about anthrax.

Hand Washing

Wash your hands!" How many times have you heard that from your parents? You might think they're just nagging you, but actually the most important thing you can do to keep from getting sick is to wash your hands.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), if you don't wash your hands frequently, you can pick up germs from other sources and then infect yourself. You're at risk every time you touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. In fact, one of the most common ways people catch colds is by rubbing their nose or their eyes after the cold virus has gotten on their hands.
If people don't wash their hands frequently (especially when they're sick), they can spread germs directly to other people or onto surfaces that others touch. And before you know it, everyone around you is coming down with something!

The First Line of Defense Against Germs

Think about all of the things that you touched today — from the telephone to the toilet. Maybe you blew your nose and played with your dog. Whatever you did, you came into contact with germs. So it's easy for germs on your hand to end up in your mouth (maybe when you scarfed that handful of popcorn with your teammates right after soccer practice).
By frequently washing your hands the right way, you'll wash away germs — such as bacteria and viruses — that you have picked up from other people, through contaminated water and food, from tainted surfaces, or from animals and animal waste.

Defensive Hand Washing

Did you know that an estimated 1 out of 5 people don't wash their hands after using the restroom? In 2005 the American Society for Microbiology did a survey of hand washing. They asked people questions about their hand-washing habits and also watched people in public restrooms. The results were kind of gross. For example:

• People don't always wash their hands after using the bathroom — 91% of adults say they always wash their hands after using public restrooms, but just 83% were seen doing so.
• People wash their hands less at home — 83% say they wash their hands after using the bathroom at home. Germs are germs, and a bathroom is a bathroom.
• Only 32% of people in the survey said they wash their hands after coughing or sneezing. So it's nice that you protect the people around you by covering your mouth with your hand when you cough. But if you then reach for your friend's pizza, you might as well not have bothered.
• Just 21% wash their hands after handling money.
• Only 42% of the people in the survey washed up after petting a dog or cat. You've seen your dog roll in that mystery smell in the park or your cat rub against you after using the litter pan. Fido and Fluffy are dirtier than you think.

And even if you're a good hand-washer, your friends may be harboring some dirty little secrets: Students don't wash their hands often or well. In one study, only 58% of female and 48% of male middle- and high-school students washed their hands after using the bathroom. Yuck!

How to Wash Your Hands Correctly

There's a right way to wash your hands. Follow these simple steps to keep your hands clean:

• Use warm water (not cold or hot).
• Use whatever soap you like. Antibacterial soaps are popular but regular soap works fine. If you suspect that your hands have come into contact with someone with an infection, think about using an alcohol hand sanitizer.
• Rub your hands together vigorously and scrub all surfaces: Lather up on both sides of your hands, your wrists, between your fingers, and around your nails. Wash for 15 seconds — about how long it takes to sing "Happy Birthday."
• Rinse well under warm running water and pat dry with a clean towel.
• In public restrooms, consider using a paper towel to flush the toilet and open the door because toilet and door handles harbor germs. Throw the towel away after you leave.

To prevent chapping or dry skin, use a mild soap with warm water, pat rather than rub hands dry, and apply a moisturizing lotion liberally afterwards.
When there is no soap or water available, waterless hand soaps or scrubs are a good alternative. They're usually available as a liquid, wipes, or towelettes, and often come in small travel sizes that are perfect for keeping in your book bag, car, locker, purse, or sports bag.
Remember, proper and frequent hand washing is the key to preventing the spread of many common infections. So hum a few verses of "Happy Birthday" and lather up!

5 Tips for Surviving Shots

Do shots make you nervous? You're not alone. Lots of people dread them because they have a very real fear of needles. So next time your doc asks you to roll up your sleeve, try these tips:

1. Distract yourself while you're waiting. Bring along a game, book, music, or movie player — something you'll get completely caught up in so you're not sitting in the waiting room thinking about the shot. Some doctors' offices schedule "shot clinics" where they do nothing but give shots so the wait time is shorter.
2. Concentrate on taking slow, deep breaths. Breathe all the way down into your belly. Deep breathing can help people relax — and concentrating on something other than the shot can take your mind off it.
3. Focus intently on something in the room. Find a picture, poster, or a sign on the wall. Concentrate on the details: If you're looking at a painting, for example, try counting the number of flowers in the garden, cows in the field, or other images. Or create as many new words as you can using the lettering on a sign. Think about how the message on a health awareness poster might affect you. Whatever it takes, keep focusing on something other than the shot until it's over.
4. Cough. Research shows that coughing as the needle goes in can help some people feel less pain.
5. Relax your arm. If you're tense — especially if you tense up the area where you're getting the shot — it can make a shot hurt more.

Sometimes people feel lightheaded or faint after getting a shot. If you feel funny, sit down and rest for 15 minutes.
Don't hesitate to tell the doctor or nurse that you're nervous before getting the shot. Medical professionals are used to people who fear shots and they'll be able to help you relax.

Smoking and asthma

You may have family photo albums full of people smoking at every type of event, from birthday parties to company picnics. That's because smoking was once accepted pretty much everywhere — even in doctor's offices. But that changed as we learned more about the health problems it causes.
If you have asthma, smoking is especially risky because of the damage it does to the lungs.
When someone smokes, he or she may cough, wheeze, and feel short of breath. This is because smoke irritates the airways, causing them to become swollen, narrow, and filled with sticky mucus. These are the same things that happen during an asthma flare-up. That's why smoking can cause asthma flare-ups to happen more often. Those flare-ups may be more severe and harder to control, even with medicine.

If You Smoke

You may have started smoking because all your friends do or because you grew up in a house where lots of people smoked. Some people try smoking because they are curious or bored. No matter why you started, if you're thinking about quitting, it would probably help your asthma.
Smoking can undo the effect of any controller medicine you're taking. It also can force you to use your rescue medicine more often. It can also disturb your sleep by making you cough more at night and can affect how well you perform in sports or other physical activities. Worst of all, it can send you to the emergency department with a severe asthma flare-up.
If you decide to quit smoking, you don't have to go it alone. Seek the support of others who are also trying to quit. You also might ask your doctor about medication or different strategies that can help you crave cigarettes less.

If Other People Smoke

Even if you don't smoke, you may still run into smoky situations in restaurants, parties, or even at home if one of your family members smokes. Secondhand smoke is a known asthma trigger, so you'll want to avoid it as much as possible if you have asthma.
If you hang out with smokers or have a family member who smokes in the house, you are likely to have more frequent and severe asthma symptoms. You may have to take more medicine and your asthma may be harder to control. Finally, you may find yourself at the doctor's office or emergency department more often because of asthma symptoms.
There's not much you can do about other people's behavior, but you should let your friends and family know that what they are doing is making your asthma worse. Ask them not to smoke in your house or car. It's your air, after all.

Tonsillitis

The tonsils are lumps of tissue located on either side of the back of the throat. They are part of the body's immune system, designed to protect us by trapping bacteria and viruses that try to enter the body through the mouth.
But sometimes infections are too much for the tonsils to handle, and these fighters of infection become infected themselves. When that happens, it's called tonsillitis (pronounced: tahn-sih-lie-tus).

Tonsillitis can be caused by certain types of bacteria or viruses. It also can be caused by certain types of bacteria. For example, you've probably heard of strep throat. It's an infection in your throat or tonsils caused by a specific type of bacteria called group A streptococci (pronounced: strep-toe-kah-kye).

What Are the Signs and Symptoms?

If you have healthy tonsils, you probably don't even notice them — even if you look at the back of your throat in a mirror. The tonsils become a lot easier to see when someone has tonsillitis because they swell up and become red. Here are some of the signs of tonsillitis:

• sore throat, which can be mild to severe
• swelling of the tonsils
• swelling of the lymph nodes (glands) in your neck
• redness in the tonsils
• white spots or pus on the tonsils
• changes in your voice
• fever
• difficulty swallowing

If you have symptoms of tonsillitis, it's a good idea to visit your doctor.

What Do Doctors Do?

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and examine your throat and neck. If your doctor thinks you have tonsillitis, he or she may use a soft swab to gently collect a sample from your tonsils and the back of your throat. The sample is then tested to see if strep bacteria are present. The test is quick and easy and it will tell you and your doctor whether you will need medication to get better.
If the test shows that bacteria caused your sore throat, your doctor will usually prescribe an antibiotic to kill the bacteria. Not only will this help you feel better, it will also help prevent complications of untreated strep throat. (When strep throat isn't treated properly with antibiotics, people can develop serious complications, such as kidney disease.)
If your doctor prescribes antibiotics, be sure to follow the directions carefully. You'll need to finish taking all the medicine even if your symptoms go away and you feel better. That will prevent the infection from flaring up again and help protect you against any complications.
If a strep test comes back negative, it's probably a virus causing the tonsillitis. If this is the case, antibiotics won't help. Just like with a cold (also caused by a virus), you'll have to take it easy for several days and let the virus run its course.
If you have frequent episodes of tonsillitis, your doctor or an otolaryngologist (pronounced: oh-toe-lar-un-ga-luh-jist, a doctor who specializes in ear, nose, and throat problems) may recommend a tonsillectomy (pronounced: tahn-suh-lek-tuh-mee). This is a surgical procedure to remove the tonsils. Tonsillectomy may also be recommended if the infection is not responding to antibiotics.

How Can I Prevent Tonsillitis?

Tonsillitis is contagious. This means you can get it from someone else who has it. Sneezing and coughing can pass the tonsillitis-causing virus or bacteria from one person to the next. But you can protect yourself from catching tonsillitis or passing it to somebody else:

• Wash your hands frequently.
• If someone in your household or a friend has tonsillitis, don't use that person's cups, glasses, silverware, toothbrush, or other utensils. And if you have tonsillitis, keep your stuff separate and don't share it with anyone.
• Don't kiss your boyfriend or girlfriend until you're completely over the tonsillitis.
• Once you've started the antibiotic for strep, throw out your toothbrush and buy a new one. That way you won't reinfect yourself.

What Can I Do to Help Myself Feel Better?

If you have tonsillitis, take it easy. Get plenty of rest and drink lots of fluids. You can take acetaminophen or ibuprofen to relieve any pain or discomfort. (Don't take aspirin or other products that contain aspirin, though, because these may put you at risk of developing Reye syndrome, an illness that can have serious complications.)
Call your doctor right away if your condition gets worse; for example, if you have difficulty breathing or swallowing. Also talk to your doctor if your fever comes back or if you're not feeling better in a couple of days.
Avoid smoking or anything that will irritate your throat. It's best to drink lots of liquids. You may prefer softer foods, like applesauce, flavored gelatin, or ice cream. If you don't feel like eating, try drinking liquids that contain calories, such as fruit juices, milkshakes, and soups and broths.
If you're on antibiotics, it's usually OK to return to school 24 hours after you start taking them if your fever is gone and you feel better. If you're still feeling weak, tired, or achy, it may be best to stay home for another day or two. Rest and relaxation sometimes can be the best medicine.

5 Ways to Beat Summer Weight Gain

When we think summer, most of us think outdoor fun. So it seems like we should naturally lose weight over the summer — not gain it.
In reality, though, summer isn't all beach volleyball and water sports. Lots of summer activities can work against our efforts to stay at a healthy weight (campfire s'mores and backyard barbecues, anyone?). The good news is it's easy to avoid problems if we know what to look out for.
Here are 5 ways to beat summer weight gain:

1. Get going with goals. When we don't have a plan, it's easy to spend summer moving from couch to computer, with regular stops at the fridge. Avoid this by aiming for a specific goal, like volunteering, mastering a new skill, or working at a job. Just be sure to plan for some downtime so you can relax a little!
2. Stick to a schedule. With school out, we lose our daily routines. If you don't have a specific job or activity to get up for, it's easy to sleep late, watch too much TV, and snack more than usual. Make sure your summer days have some structure — like getting up at the same time each day and eating meals at set times. Plan activities for specific times, like exercising before breakfast, for example. If you have time on your hands, offer to make dinner a couple of nights a week so your family can enjoy a sit-down meal together.
3. Stay busy. When we're bored, it's easy to fall into a trap of doing nothing and then feeling low on energy. In addition to helping you avoid the cookie jar, filling your days with stuff to do can give you a sense of accomplishment. That's especially true if a dream summer job or planned activity fell through. Limit your screen time — including IM and video games — to no more than 2 hours a day (write it in that schedule you put together!).
4. Beat the heat. Don't let summer heat put your exercise plans on hold. Move your workout indoors. If a gym isn't your scene, try bowling or an indoor climbing wall. If you love being outdoors, try joining a local pool or move a regular run or soccer game to early morning or evening.
5. Think about what (and how) you eat. Summer means picnics and barbecues — activities that revolve around an unlimited spread of food. Pace yourself. Don't overload your plate. Avoid going back for seconds and thirds. Choose seasonal, healthy foods like fresh fruit instead of high-sugar, high-fat desserts. Make catching up with family and friends your focus, not the food. Another good tip for summer eating is to limit frozen treats like ice cream to no more than once a week.

Skin Beauty Secrets

Remove Scars Naturally

There are lots of natural scar remedies, designer scar creams, surgical procedures, and other scar treatment choices, but knowing and understanding which ones really work the best isn't so easy.

Scar creams and surgeries can be super expensive and don't always deliver promising results.  In fact, most home remedies are nothing more than old wives tales that don't really do anything significant to reduce scarring.

If you really want to knowhow to remove scars naturally, and for good, here are some simple tips that work for nearly any type of scar.
Natural Scar Removal Remedies

Use Sunscreen- It's important to keep your scar covered when in the sun. That's because as your scar heals, it can be sensitive to the ultraviolet light of the sun.

The sun can actually cause your scar to easily burn and become hyperpigmented making the scar exceedingly red and a lot more noticeable.

Once this damage has been done, it's hard to remedy, so keep your scar out of the sun.

Use Gentle Exfoliation -

Exfoliating the top layers of your scar can help  flatten and smooth the scarred area.

Don't get too carried away with exfoliation as it can irritate the skin and make your scar even more noticeable if overdone.

Natural acids like lemon juice for instance, can act as a natural bleach. The lemon juice can partially exfoliate the skin which helps flatten it somewhat.

Never apply just any topical product to your skin unless you know what they are.  There are common scar products and remedies that are not scientifically backed and in some cases can cause irritation or in some cases even worsen scars.

With the right combination of natural treatments and scar removal methods, you can effectively reduce or eliminate scarring in most cases, but regardless of how old your scar is, you can improve the appearance without expensive and costly procedures.

Healthy Weight Gain Tips

How To Gain Weight-Weight Gain Tips

Weight gain isn’t something that is easy to do, it requires patience and discipline to diet and training. Hopefully the weight gain tips on this site will help you to achieve your goals.
One of the best weight gain tips to remember is DO EVERYTHING BIG! That means eat BIG and lift BIG to get BIG. Say that over and over again in your head until you fully understand it. Many people think weightlifting is the key to gaining weight. Of course weightlifting is an extremely important part. However to gain weight, think beyond weightlifting! Your diet is just as important when it comes to gaining weight.

Weight Gain Tip No 1 – Get Counting

Count your calories on a normal daily basis. That doesn’t mean you have to change your normal eating habits – just eat as you normally would and count the calories you have consumed. This is of crucial importance to try to be as accurate as possible. Then get on the scales and weigh yourself.

Weight Gain Tip No 2 – Get Eating!

Eating is first and foremost the most important thing you need for proper weight gain. It makes sense that you need to eat more calories than you burn. This does not mean eating anything and everything within reach! It means you need to include in your weight gain diet, foods that will help you gain lean mass, not bad fats. 6 meals a day is a good start. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and three other small meals at regular intervals throughout the day. Make it your goal to eat every 2.5 to 3 hours. Remember the principal weight gain tip is to get BIG, you have to eat BIG!

Steak, chicken, fruit, milk, vegetables, cheese and assorted types of nuts are the foods to feast on. Eat 4 – 6 pieces of fresh fruit a day, and at least four tall glasses of milk. Low fat milk is a great, cheap protein source – take advantage of it. A sample snack meal would be a glass of milk, an apple, and a hand full of peanuts.

Plan your meals carefully and stick to the plan. What you eat is the most important ingredient in a successful weight gain program.

Weight Gain Tip No 3 – Get Lifting!

As stated above, proper eating is of utmost importance if you want to gain weight, but if you do not complement eating with weightlifting, all that gained weight will be fat – not muscle.

When trying to gain weight, try working out 3-4 times a week. Make sure you are weightlifting correctly! Lift hard and then recover for the next workout. Focus on the big exercises such as squats, deadlifts, bent-over rows, chin-ups, bench press, & military press. These are the exercises that will turn those extra calories into muscle and therefore help you gain weight. You are not going to gain weight by doing lateral raises and step-ups every workout. It’s the multiple-joint lifts that will shock your system and stimulate your body into growth. Gradually add a little amount of weight each time you workout – this will help you strengthen those muscles. If you focus on strength, size will follow. You need to gain muscular strength in order to get bigger. Look around at your local gym – the strongest guys are also the biggest!

Weight Gain Tip No 4 – Get Weighing!

Weigh yourself at the end of a week. You’ll notice you’re gaining more weight after only one week! However, don’t expect miracles. You won’t have put on 10lb!. Remember that when it comes to weight gain, gaining anymore then 1 or 2 pounds a week is unhealthy and means you’re putting on fat instead of muscle. Patience is a virtue! What you want is to see 1 or 2 pound gains at the end of the week. It may not seem like a lot but add it up. You easily gain weight at the rate of 5-8 pounds a month!

Sooner or later you will stop gaining weight and it is now that you should concentrate on eating even more. So, when you stop gaining for at least 2 weeks, start eating an extra 250 calories a day. Every time you see you haven’t gained weight for at least 2 weeks, add an extra 250 calories.

Weight Gain Tip No 5 – Cut out the Bad Fat!

Avoid trans fats like the plaque, and go for the “good fats”. Yes, you want to gain weight, however you don’t want to gain weight that is in fact just fat. So, cut out the cakes, chips and candy. No more visits to McDonalds and steer clear of anything fried. High protein low fat foods like tuna fish (and other seafood), chicken breast, turkey, lean meats, fruits and vegetables etc, are the good clean foods to eat.

Weight Gain Tip No 6 – Get Drinking! (Sorry, water only)

Drink around a half gallon of water a day and even more if you can. Sure, that’s a lot of water, but believe it or not, it’s that water you need for the energy you need to gain weight! Dehydration can lead to all sorts of health problems, including less stamina at the gym.

Weight Gain Tip No 7 – Go to Sleep!

Get lots of sleep. This is one of the easiest yet most neglected weight gain tips. Sleep for a minimum of 8 hours night. You’re body needs it to function properly.

Weight Loss Tips For Women

Women Guide

Following are the weight loss tips for women, if you follow then definitely you can lose some weight and can maintain a good body shape.

1. Drink plenty of water:

Our body needs a lot of water so drink 8-10 glasses of water. Water is not just way to flush out toxin but if you have more water in your body you will generally feel healthier and fitter. The best thing about water is that is has no calories at all.

2. Do not Skip Meals:

Eat 5 times a day. Start with breakfast. Don't ever skip your breakfast as you'll end up devouring everything in sight for the rest of the day. Eat sensibly so your body doesn't crave for food. If you treat your body right it won't demand for more attention!

3. Watch what you eat:

Keep a watchful eye on every thing that goes in. Remember that it is the easiest thing in the world to eat something without realizing that it was something that you should not have eaten.

4. Just say no to fruit juice:

Juice is fruit with the fiber removed. Not to mention, most of them are packed with sugar. Opt for the real thing instead.

5. Don't be overly-restrictive:

Everyone has his or her favorite treats. Simply allow yourself a little indulgence, but watch out for the frequency and the quantity. Having a small treat once in a while can be rewarding to your weight loss experience. Cutting too much of your favorite treats usually lead to an early relapse.

6. Exercise:

Most authorities recommend 30 - 60 minutes of physical activity a day to stay healthy. Also try adding weight-bearing exercises at least 2 times a week. This will help burn some of the unwanted calories.

7. Avoid crash diets:

They may be tempting, but a crash diet ultimately leads to rebound weight gain and feelings of failure. Crash diets can undermine people's health. It can't be followed for long, cause physical discomfort and it leads to disappointment when people regain the weight soon after.

8. Keep a journal:

It helps to document what you eat. This way you can keep track and evaluate your eating habits at the end of each week. Ask your dietician to look at your journal and suggest improvement points.

9. Get plenty of sleep:

Your sleep time is an essential component to losing weight. Researchers have found evidence to show that better sleep habits are instrumental to the success of any weight loss plan.

10. Don't punish yourself:

Go easy on yourself at least one day in a week. If you begin to dislike your diet then there's something wrong. Find a diet that suits your body type and your lifestyle.

Lazy Person Lossing Weight

 

For Lazy Person's

The ironic thing, though, is that exercise actually boosts your energy and serotonin levels, which in turn brighten your mood and make you an all round better person.
So the trick to a slimmer and nicer you is to fit a little fitness into your life when you can. That way you can still have your cat nap, but you'll have done your exercise as well. Ready to get started? Here's how.

Get motivated

A lazy person's worst enemy is themselves. We all know what it's like to place going for a run a distant second to sitting on the couch and indulging in some television time. So how can you inject a little helium into that will power of yours and get your body into gear?

Experts agree that the number one motivational trick is to have clear goals. When's the last time you set off in your car without a destination in mind? Probably never. So don't start a fitness regime without knowing where you want to end up. Online trainer Dean Piazza suggests writing down your goals, telling friends and tracking your progress in a diary to make you more accountable. Reward yourself after you achieve each goal and make sure your goals are realistic, so you'll actually get there and feel good about yourself.

On days when even getting started seems like an effort, there's still something you can do to jumpstart your enthusiasm. Take your workout five minutes at a time. Start a treadmill run or weights workout and aim to stick with it for only five minutes. At the end of that period, give yourself a tick on a notepad and then do another five minutes. By taking on a little bit at a time the workout won't look so daunting and momentum will carry you through.

Making fitness fun will also boost your motivation. Try these sneaky tricks:

* Workout while watching TV: use hand weights, stretch, or do sit-ups during your favourite shows. Also, get off the couch to change the channel or volume.
* Get a pet dog: having to take your new pooch for daily walks is the perfect reason to pull on your sneakers.
* Join a fitness club or team: group exercises or sports teams are not only great for motivation but also for meeting new people.
* Involve loved ones: go for a walk with friends, take your kids to the park for some running games, go rollerblading with your partner, or take a dance class with your sister.
* Be smart: use your life to your advantage by walking to work instead of taking the bus and by planning active outings, like trips to the zoo. You won't have to change much about your current routine and you'll still see results.

Stick to super-easy workouts

The good news for the lazier ones amongst us is that you don't have to set out for a marathon 60-minute jog every day to lose weight. Just 10-20 minutes of exercise three times a week should do it. Try these easy activities:

* Running (try tackling a hill)
* Walking (hit the stairs)
* Skipping
* Boxing
* Jumping jacks
* Lunges and squats
* Sit-ups and push-ups
* Swimming
* Bike riding

Utilise your workday

Where do most of us spend the majority of our time? Either sleeping or at work, right? Well, it's a bit hard to burn calories when you're dozing, so that leaves us with squeezing some sneaky fitness into our nine-to-five grind. And how do we achieve that? By being creative. Any movement is better than none, so add short bouts of exercise throughout your day and you'll notice a difference in your energy levels, concentration, mood, skin and weight!

Try these handy hints:

* Get up and talk to a co-worker in person rather than by e-mail or phone.
* Sit on an exercise ball instead of a chair. This will strengthen your abs and back and help your posture.
* Use the bathroom on another floor and take the stairs.
* Stretch every hour and remember to take deep breaths.
* Find a cafe you like at least two blocks from your office so you have to walk to lunch and back every day.
* Get a headset for your phone so you can move around while you talk.
* If you have your own office, keep a few dumbbells in your desk drawer so you can fit in a quick upper body workout while you're on the phone.

Start today
The hardest part of any fitness regime is getting started, but once you do you'll feel so much better for it. Just because you enjoy your down time doesn't mean you're lazy, so don't feel guilty for hanging around on the couch for a while. Just fit a little fitness into your life when you can and reap the rewards!

Hayfever

Hayfever is a very common ailment affecting many people, fortunately it is usually only problematic during the spring and summer months. Hayfever is caused when the bodies defences over react to pollen released into the air by plants. The pollen causes release of a substance called Histamine from cells in the skin. It is this Histamine that is the cause of many of the symptoms; a blocked nose, itchy runny eyes and sneezing. There are a great many products on the market for this annoying condition, ranging from tablets and nasal sprays to eye drops and within each of these groups there are many possibilities. We will consider each of these in turn:-

• Tablets
• Sprays
• Eye Drops

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Tablets

All of the tablets available for hayfever contain Antihistamines. They work by blocking the effects of histamine inside the body. These antihistamines can be divided again into two broad groups, the 1st Generation and the 2nd Generation. The 1st Generation are the older type of antihistamines which are very effective but have the disadvantage of causing drowsiness in most people who use them, the 2nd Generation antihistamines are newer and tend to avoid causing this drowsiness, although it is not guaranteed in all users.
These are many antihistamines, some examples are Chlorpheniramnie, Terfenadine, Loratidine and Cetirizine.

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Sprays

These sprays are for use in the nose and they can be divided into three further groups. Steroids - these sprays act to reduce the inflammation in the nasal lining and therefore reduce the discomfort arising from the nasal cavity.
It is important to note that the use of nasal sprays avoids many of the associated side effects of steroids.
Some examples of sprays in this category are Beclomethasone and Flunisolide.
Decongestants - these act by reducing the blood flow in the nose, this will reduce the amount of mucus produced in the nose and also reduce the inflammation.
Some examples of sprays in this category are Phenylephrine and Xylometazoline.
Cromoglycate - this substance has an action that is not completely understood, however it is believed that it reduced the amount of histamine released upon contact with pollen.

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Eye Drops

These are products aimed at the treatment of the itchiness caused in the eyes by the pollen. They contain similar ingredients to the nasal sprays, but they are specially formulated for use in the eyes.
Take care usin

HYSTERECTOMY

This summary (taken from the New York State Dept of Health) contains basic information about hysterectomies: the benefits, risks and alternatives to help you make an informed decision. The information provided here will help in discussions with your doctor as you decide whether or not to have the operation.
This summary discusses:
Normal functions of the uterus and ovaries
Deciding whether to have a hysterectomy
Common reasons for recommending a hysterectomy or alternatives
Benefits and risks of each including common physical and emotional effects
Different types of hysterectomies
Hospitalization and recovery

A hysterectomy is an operation to remove the uterus (womb). Most hysterectomies are not emergency operations, so you have time to think about your options. This booklet is designed to help you understand the options and their meaning for you.
FUNCTIONS OF THE UTERUS & OVARIES
The uterus cradles and nourishes a fetus from conception to birth, and aids in the delivery of the baby. It also produces the monthly menstrual flow, or period.
The ovaries have two major functions. One is the production of eggs or ova, which permit childbearing. The second is the production of hormones or chemicals which regulate menstruation and other aspects of health and well-being, including sexual well-being.
If the egg that is released during a woman's normal monthly cycle is not fertilized, the lining of the uterus is shed by bleeding (menstruation).
After a hysterectomy, a woman can no longer have children and menstruation stops. The ovaries generally continue to produce hormones, although in some cases they may have reduced activity.
Some hysterectomies also include removal of the ovaries, so the supply of essential female hormones is greatly reduced. This can have various effects, as discussed later.
WHETHER OR NOT TO HAVE A HYSTERECTOMY
Hysterectomy is one treatment for a number of diseases and conditions. If you have cancer of the uterus or ovaries or hemorrhage (uncontrollable bleeding) of the uterus, this operation may save your life.
In most other cases, a hysterectomy is an elective procedure. The operation is done to improve the quality of life: to relieve pain, heavy bleeding or other chronic conditions and discomfort.
There may be other ways of treating or dealing with these problems. Together with your doctor you should weigh all the alternatives and effects of the different choices to help you decide what is right for you.
REASONS FOR A HYSTERECTOMY OR ALTERNATIVES
Reasons why hysterectomies may be recommended fall into three categories:
to save lives;
to correct serious problems that interfere with normal functions;
to improve the quality of life.
The following describe the more common reasons for recommending hysterectomies.
CANCER OF THE UTERUS OR OVARY
Cancerous organs and, in some cases, adjoining organs and structures, are removed in order to stop the spread of this life-threatening disease.
FIBROIDS
These are common non-cancerous (benign) tumors of the uterus and they are the most frequent reason for recommending a hysterectomy. They grow from the muscular wall of the uterus and are made up of muscle and fibrous tissue. Many women over 35 have fibroids, but usually have no symptoms.
In some women, however, fibroids (myomas) may cause heavy bleeding, pelvic discomfort and pain and occasionally pressure on other organs. These symptoms may require treatment, but not always a hysterectomy. There are promising new experimental drugs that may temporarily shrink the tumors; however, these drugs may have serious side effects. They are generally very costly. There is a type of abdominal surgery (myomectomy) that removes the myoma without removing the uterus (see Alternatives for additional information). These treatments may be sufficient or they may offer temporary relief and enable a woman to postpone having a hysterectomy, especially if she still wishes to bear children.
Some women choose to do nothing since fibroids will often shrink in size as a woman goes through menopause.
ENDOMETRIOSIS
Another common reason for recommending a hysterectomy is endometriosis. This is a noncancerous condition in which cells from the uterine lining grow like islands outside of the uterus. This growth occurs most commonly on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder, bowel and other pelvic structures, including the uterine wall. These cells may cause pain and discomfort by bleeding at the time of menstruation. Endometriosis may also cause scarring, adhesions and infertility.
Symptoms can vary greatly and some women choose to do nothing, or find that drug therapy, pain relief medication or more localized surgery are effective. When these are not effective, hysterectomy may be the treatment of choice.
PROLAPSE
As a woman ages, the vaginal supports begin to lose their muscle tone and sag downward (prolapse). With prolapse, the bladder and/or rectum may be pulled downward with the uterus. This happens to most women to some degree. For the vast majority, the sagging is minor and symptoms are not severe.
If the prolapse worsens, some women experience a heavy or dragging feeling in the pelvic area, problems controlling bladder and/or bowel function, and occasionally, protrusion of one of the organs through the vaginal opening.
Some women get relief from these symptoms by doing special exercises ("Kegels") to strengthen the pelvic muscles, by taking hormone therapy or by using a plastic or metal ring (pessary) which may help to hold the uterus in place. None of these treats the underlying problem.
A hysterectomy with repair of supporting structures is usually recommended in more serious cases. A woman has to decide for herself if the discomfort is great enough to have a hysterectomy.
CANCER OF THE CERVIX
Precancerous changes in the cervix are often found on routine Pap smears. These lesions or abnormalities must be treated, but rarely with a hysterectomy. When detected early and treated effectively, most of these conditions do not progress to invasive, life-threatening cancer. they can be treated conservatively, usually on an outpatient basis.
It is only in the case of invasive cancer of the cervix that hysterectomy may be the treatment of choice.
PRE-CANCER OF THE UTERUS
A pre-cancerous change can occur when the lining of the uterus (endometrium) overgrows. "Hyperplasia of the endometrium" means an overgrowth of the lining of the uterus. It causes irregular and/or excessive bleeding. The overgrown lining can usually be treated with hormone therapy and/or a "D & C" (dilation and curettage) a simple outpatient procedure to clean out overgrown tissue. In more severe cases or cases that do not respond to treatment, hyperplasia of the endometrium may lead to cancer of the uterus. Upon diagnosis of cancer, a hysterectomy would be the treatment of choice.
PELVIC ADHESIONS
Irritation of the lining of the abdomen may cause adhesions (scarring) which bind affected organs to each other. The adhesions can result from endometriosis, infection or injury. The symptoms may include severe pain, bowel and bladder problems and infertility.
Pain relief medication or less drastic surgery, such as laser therapy, can be effective in some cases. In very serious cases, hysterectomy may be recommended. However, a hysterectomy itself can cause adhesions.
UNUSUALLY HEAVY BLEEDING
It is normal for the amount and length of menstrual flow to vary from woman to woman. There may also be differences in menstrual flow from one cycle to the next. If bleeding that is unusually heavy or frequent for you occurs, this may be due to a variety of causes. The most common causes are fibroids and hormonal changes.
Because there can be many reasons for unusually heavy bleeding, getting an accurate diagnosis is vital before deciding on a course of treatment. Depending on the diagnosis, drug therapy or minor surgery may be indicated. Rarely, there can be hemorrhage of the uterus in which case a hysterectomy can be life saving.
PELVIC PAIN
This is a common symptom. As with heavy bleeding, there can be a number of causes for pelvic (lower belly) pain. These include endometriosis, fibroids, ovarian cysts, infection or scar tissue. Pain in the pelvic area may not be related to the uterus.
Therefore, a careful diagnosis is essential before considering whether to have a hysterectomy.
BENEFITS & RISKS
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
A hysterectomy may be life-saving in the case of cancer. It can relieve the symptoms of bleeding or discomfort related to fibroids, severe endometriosis or uterine prolapse. On the other hand, for these non-cancerous conditions, you may prefer to seek alternatives to surgery for these symptoms or other problems related to the uterus and pelvic organs.
Symptoms like pelvic pain or unusual bleeding may not necessarily be related to the uterus. An accurate diagnosis will help you to determine the potential benefits and risks of a hysterectomy.
The risks of hysterectomy include the risks of any major operation, although its surgical risks are among the lowest of any major operation.
Hysterectomy patients may have a fever during recovery, and some may develop a mild bladder infection or wound infection. If an infection occurs, it can usually be treated with antibiotics. Less often, women may require a blood transfusion before surgery because of anemia or during surgery for blood loss. Complications related to anesthesia might also occur, especially for women who smoke, are obese, or have serious heart or lung disease.
As with any major abdominal or pelvic operation, serious complications such as blood clots, severe infection, adhesions, postoperative (after surgery) hemorrhage, bowel obstruction or injury to the urinary tract can happen. Rarely, even death can occur.
In addition to the direct surgical risks, there may be longer-term physical and psychological effects, potentially including depression and loss of sexual pleasure. If the ovaries are removed along with the uterus prior to menopause (change of life), there is an increased risk of osteoporosis and heart disease as well. These will be discussed later along with possible treatments.
In making a decision, you should also consider that a hysterectomy is not reversible. After a hysterectomy, you will no longer be able to bear children and you will no longer menstruate. You need to think about the impact these changes would have on you.
Talk about your concerns with your doctor or a counselor and your partner. You may want to bring your partner to your doctor's office to discuss concerns before having the operation.
REMOVAL OF TUBES AND OVARIES
Should your ovaries be removed along with your uterus if you have a hysterectomy?
If you have a diagnosis of uterine cancer, the ovaries should be removed because the hormones they secrete may encourage the growth of the cancer. They also may have to be removed in severe endometriosis because they produce the hormones that are responsible for endometriosis.
The fallopian tubes are generally removed when the ovaries are removed because they are attached to the uterus and their sole purpose is to serve as a passageway between the ovaries and the uterus.
In cases other than uterine cancer or endometriosis, there is controversy among doctors about the advantages and disadvantages of removing ovaries and tubes as part of a hysterectomy.
Some doctors believe that healthy ovaries should be removed as part of a hysterectomy in women who are are close to menopause or later, when the ovaries' function normally fades. It is done as a preventive measure to reduce the risks of developing ovarian cancer. This is because ovarian cancer is very difficult to detect at an early enough stage for it to be curable.
Other doctors disagree because this cancer is rare and because removing the ovaries does not always guarantee women will not develop ovarian cancer. (Rarely, the cells that cause ovarian cancer can be present in the body even after the ovaries are removed.) In addition, ovaries produce several hormones which are beneficial to women. They protect against serious common diseases such as heart disease and osteoporosis and contribute to sexual pleasure.
As a woman ages, the ovaries gradually reduce their production of hormones, but even after menopause they produce small amounts of hormones. Removing the ovaries causes menopause to occur more abruptly. The symptoms of menopause include hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, fatigue, depression and vaginal dryness.
After ovaries are removed or when menopause occurs, hormone replacement therapy often helps reduce the risks of osteoporosis, and reduce menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and vaginal dryness. It may also contribute to sexual pleasure. However, there are some women who cannot be placed on hormone replacement therapy. For example, some women with liver disease or a history of hormone-dependent tumors, such as breast cancer, may not be able to take these hormones.
SEXUALITY
Every person reacts differently, and reactions are a combination of emotional and physical responses. We still have much to learn about the effects of hysterectomy on sexual function.
Some women say they enjoy sex more after a hysterectomy, particularly if they had a lot of bleeding and pain beforehand. Some women feel more relaxed not worrying about getting pregnant.
Some women who have hysterectomies experience lower sexual enjoyment. There may be a number of reasons for this which are only partially understood.
For some women, uterine contractions and pressure against the cervix add to sexual pleasure. Others may feel less pleasure or reduced desire due to loss of certain hormones if ovaries were removed. Loss of hormones can cause vaginal dryness and make sex uncomfortable. Hormone replacement therapy may relieve some of these symptoms. A vaginal gel or lubricant can reduce vaginal dryness. For some women, reduction in sexual pleasure is temporary while they and their partners adjust. Because sexual feelings are so individual, it may be difficult to predict exactly how a hysterectomy will affect your feelings.
EMOTIONAL EFFECTS
Some women report having a strong emotional reaction, or feeling down, after a hysterectomy. Most feel better after a few weeks, but some women do feel depressed for a long time. Other women experience a feeling of relief after a hysterectomy.
No longer being able to bear children can cause emotional problems for some women. Some women feel changed or feel they have suffered a loss. Talking things over with your doctor, your partner, a friend or a counselor often helps. It may help to talk with a friend or another woman who has had a hysterectomy before and after your operation.

ALTERNATIVES
Alternatives to hysterectomy have their own benefits and risks. A myomectomy for fibroids, for example, is more localized surgery and does not involve removal of the uterus. However, like hysterectomy, it does involve general anesthesia and is a major operation. A myomectomy is a more difficult operation to perform than a hysterectomy, and there may be increased risk of bleeding and infection. With this procedure, tumors may remain or return which may lead to further surgery in the future, sometimes a hysterectomy.
Laparoscopy is a common procedure which enables the physician to visualize and treat a number of gynecologic conditions such as endometriosis through one or more minute incisions in the abdomen. It usually requires one day surgery and general anesthesia. Laser therapy or microsurgical techniques can be used with laparoscopy.
Each drug therapy has its own side effects and you should review these with your physician. Some therapies are more experimental and their benefits and risks may not be as well understood. You need to carefully review with your doctor what is known about any therapy you choose.
Or you may choose to simply bear with your symptoms for awhile and see what happens over time since the bleeding and discomfort related to endometriosis or fibroids may diminish as a woman enters menopause.
In considering a hysterectomy, you may wish to get a second opinion. A second opinion means that a second doctor will review your medical history, examine you and advise you as to whether he or she agrees with your primary doctor's treatment recommendation. It is an opportunity for you to discuss your condition with another expert. Many health insurance plans require and pay for a second opinion before any major surgery. Second opinions are common; getting one doesn't mean you are being disloyal to your first doctor.If you don't know another doctor to ask for a second opinion, your insurance company or the county medical society (listed in the white pages of the phone book) can give you the names of appropriate doctors in your area. It is best to request a doctor who is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology.
Finally, because every woman is unique and because a hysterectomy was recommended to you because of your individual needs, it is important that you discuss your personal risks and benefits with your doctor before deciding whether to have a hysterectomy. As with other surgery, different doctors make different judgements about when to recommend this operation.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF HYSTERECTOMIES
All hysterectomies are major operations involving removal of at least the uterus. Some types of hysterectomies involve removing other organs as well. It is important to talk with your doctor about the kind of hysterectomy recommended for you.
SUBTOTAL HYSTERECTOMY
In this operation, only the upper part of the uterus is removed, but the cervix is not. Tubes and ovaries may or may not be removed. This procedure is always done through the abdomen. Leaving the cervix may help with later sexual enjoyment. After this operation, a woman still needs to have regular Pap smears to prevent cervical cancer.
TOTAL HYSTERECTOMY
This operation involves removing both the body of the uterus and the cervix, which is the lower part of the uterus. Hysterectomy can sometimes be done through the vagina (vaginal hysterectomy); at other times, a surgical incision in the lower belly (abdominal hysterectomy) is preferable. For example, if you have large fibroid tumors, it is difficult to safely remove the uterus through the vagina.
Vaginal hysterectomy, when it can safely be performed, generally involves fewer complications, a shorter recovery period and no visible scar.
"Complete hysterectomy" is a common non-medical term that usually means a total hysterectomy plus removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes.
RADICAL HYSTERECTOMY
This procedure is reserved for serious disease such as cancer. The entire uterus and usually both tubes and ovaries as well as the pelvic lymph nodes are removed through the abdomen. Since cancer is unpredictable, other organs or parts of other systems are sometimes removed as well.
HOSPITALIZATION & RECOVERY
Presurgical routines vary from hospital to hospital.
Generally:
blood and urine samples are taken.
enemas are sometimes given.
the abdominal and pelvic areas may be shaved.
After the operation, the hospital stay varies depending on the type of hysterectomy and whether there are any complications.
Since hysterectomy is a major operation, discomfort and pain from the surgical incision are greatest during the first few days after surgery, but medication is available to reduce these symptoms.
By the second or third day, most patients are up walking. Normal activity can usually be resumed in four to eight weeks. Each patient is an individual, so the pace of recovery will vary.
Sexual activity can usually be resumed in six to eight weeks.
During recovery, you may need to rest frequently at first. Plan ahead and ask friends, neighbors or relatives to help you when you get home. It will probably take a while to feel peppy.
Many women find that special exercises can help them recover faster and feel better.
You can discuss both presurgical procedures and your recovery, including useful exercises, with your doctor.
ASK YOUR DOCTOR
Why do I need to have a hysterectomy?
What organ or organs will be removed and why?
Will my ovaries be left in place? If not, why?
Will my cervix be removed? If so, why?
Are there alternatives for me besides a hysterectomy?
What are the advantages, risks, benefits of each?
What will be the physical effects of a hysterectomy?
Are these permanent?
What will happen to my figure, my weight, my breasts?
How will it affect my sex life?
Will I experience menopause (change of life)? Can the symptoms of menopause be treated? What are the risks and benefits of such treatment?
Will the operation be a vaginal or abdominal hysterectomy? And why?
What can I expect in the hospital? pre-operative procedures? length of stay? anesthesia? infection? transfusion? urinary catheter?
What kind of care will I need after my hysterectomy?
How should I prepare for coming home from the hospital?
How soon can I go back to work? Try heavy housework?
When can I resume sexual activity?