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Do you need to lose weight or get fit? or are you looking for health advice on quitting smoking? Many of us have health hang-ups or, on a more serious note, health conditions. There’s a fitness guide for all those who are looking for motivation and ideas/advice across a whole range of health topics.
Drugs and diets, cancer and cosmetic surgery, the NHS, and medical research, all have dedicated areas on this site. What other topics are covered? Well you’ll just have to visit and find out, but you can be sure that alternative therapies, medical news, and fitness products might be on the list!
 Think mobility aids and the first thing that comes to mind will probably be zimmer frames and such devices, but in fact there is a vast range of mobility aids available to help those who can move as easily as they used to. Whether you need something to provide stability, or balance, or both, when walking, help to get up and down stairs, help with sleeping, or simply to get in and out of a chair, these are all classed as mobility aids and have given many a whole new lease of life.
Walking aids are brilliant for those who are a little unsteady and have a poor sense of balance and the design of these ensure the user stays perfectly upright and greatly minimises the chance of them falling over. Walkers with wheels are the most popular kind these days as they are a lot easy to use an manoeuvre than the tradition zimmer frame which has to be shuffled or even lifted for the user to move forwards.
The rolling walkers give the user a smooth continuous movement which they control themselves, and many even come with seats now so you can take a break when needed, with a brake mechanism holding the wheels in place. These can also be accessorised with such items as baskets, allowing the user the freedom to go to the local shops and not have to worry about carrying bags.
For those who are permanently or temporarily bed bound, or even those who have an illness that prevents them from sleeping, adjustable beds can be the answer to their prayers. Thanks to an easy to use control, these can be used to raise the head of the bed or the foot and fine tune the bed to the user’s requirements to ensure that they have optimum comfort when away and have the best chance of a good sleep.
A very popular mobility aid for inside the home are recliner chairs. The tip and recline action of these make is much easier for those with problems getting from a sitting to standing position, and vice versa, to get in and out of a chair. These come is a vast and varied range of sizes and styles so everyone can get one that suits their own personal needs. A remote control attached to the arm is all that is needed to set the mechanism in motion, and you can also get them with a massage facility, heat pads and rocking motion.
Stair lifts give those with mobility problems the freedom to move around their home and not be confined to one room or level of the house. When mobility problems strike, going up and down stairs is one of the major problems you have to deal with, so investing in a stair lift gives you the independence to carry on as you always have, more or less, and you can still go up to bed at night and come down in the morning as you always have done.
Second hand smoke has long been considered a dangerous air contaminant that holds many health threats with repeated exposure to it, but now, a new study from Chinese researchers suggest that there may be even more health risks associated with second hand smoke exposure than originally thought.
According to the study, people who are regularly around second hand smoke may actually have increased risks of many various causes of death, not just lung damage and cancer. An increased risk of lung cancer and heart disease has long been linked to exposure to second hand smoke for adults that work and live in smoky environments, but now it is thought that they also may be more likely to die from emphysema and stroke.
Both strokes and emphysema are diseases that are linked to smoking, but the link between second hand smoke and these diseases have always been weak until now. While the Chinese researchers could not definitively prove that secondhand smoke causes strokes and emphysema directly, their research did find that second hand smoke exposure did play a large role in other health factors such as cholesterol levels and blood pressure.
A number of studies conducted across the world have already confirmed that non-smokers that regularly are exposed to second hand smoke have a much higher risk of lung cancer, tumours in the lungs, and of developing heart disease. In fact, the Surgeon General in the US stated just this year that there was very strong ‘suggestive’ evidence that secondhand smoke may also increase the risk of emphysema, COPD, and stroke.
However, the evidence offered by the US was not strong enough to say there was a relationship instead of a suggestion, but according to Cohen the Chinese study helps to build the case for one. Cohen also pointed out that the study originated in China which also happens to be the country that has the most smokers and the least tobacco control, allowing it to be the perfect place to study the effects of second hand smoking.
The study results included 910 adults that were mentored over the course of two decades. Out of the adults in the study 53% reported that they inhaled smoke in their work environment and another 44% said that a smoker lived in their home with them.
Back pain is the most common problem for almost every people. We all hurt our back in our absence mind. Sometimes it becomes very painful. But you can get rid off it if you know how to treat it. You should avoid the things which cause your back pain.
You should know about proper lifting methods and maintain a good work out routine for your back. The best way to maintain a healthy back is having healthy food along with this these things. There is a less chance of a back injury when you have healthy back. You should consult with a good doctor whenever you feel pain because it can create a major problem in future.
You can suffer a back pain from anything like simple back strain or critical slip disc. That is why you first need to consult a doctor because it’s really hard to detect the origin of the pain. A doctor can find out the proper way to get rid off it and they can give you some useful remedy for it. In many case doctors suggest you to do several tests so they can understand what the actual problem that is going on your back. Sometimes it can happen from most normal things, you can never guess.
There is particular reason for every pain so if you find the proper cause of the pain then you can for a proper treatment. The only one thing you can do for your back, that is eat healthy foods and always do some proper workout for your back. It can help you to keep a strong and healthier back.
Coronary heart disease occurs when the arteries that are responsible for supplying the heart with nutrients and oxygen narrow as a result of atherosclerosis. The result of this is that oxygen and blood does not flow correctly to the heart, especially when the heart is under higher demand such as during periods of high exertion. The most common symptom that people with CHD observe is angina (chest pain) that is the result of an insufficient amount of oxygen getting to the heart. The chest pain can involve tightness, heaviness, and pain in the chest that can sometimes spread to the neck, arm, back, face, jaw, or abdomen.
There are other symptoms of CHD but they are not always a symptom of CHD and could be caused by other medical conditions or in some instances occur without causing any threat to your health. Regardless of this fact, they do warrant a visit to a doctor to make sure that they are not a symptom of something more serious. Some of the most commons symptoms that are attributed to CHD include consistent breathlessness, heart palpitations, fainting, fluid retention, fatigue, blue lips and blue fingernails.
Fatigue is one of the most common heart disease symptoms, but it can have many different causes such as depression. However, if you continually suffer from fatigue along with other symptoms then it is a good idea to see a doctor. Fluid retention is another common symptom and is usually most noticeable as swelling that occurs around the legs, lungs, ankles, or abdomen. Sometimes swelling in areas such as the ankle can be normal for some people, however, it can also be a sign that the heart is not pumping as much blood as it should be which can lead to eventual heart failure if not addressed.
Research has shown that a cocktail of hormone treatments can reduce the incidence of breast cancer in women who are currently at the risk of getting the disease. Tamoxifene, is currently being used for the post-surgery management of the disease, while Raloxifene, Lasofoxifene, and Arzoxifene, are used for the management of Osteoporosis.
According to the study, based on the medical records of 83,000 women who are on the program, the drugs have reduced the incidence of breast cancer by 38%. The study involved the monitoring of the subjects under the drug for 5 years, and then stopping its administration and observing them for another 5 years.
The initial result after 5 years, showed a 42% reduction in the incidence of breast cancer, and another 25% reduction was observed after the treatment was stopped. There was no effect on the fatalities related to the disease, or on the incidence of non-oestrogen related breast cancer.
The drugs are selective oestrogen receptor modulators (SERMS) and work by stimulating Oestrogen-sensitive molecules in the body. Not all stimulate the cells, and Raloxifene blocks the stimulating effect in breast tissue, but stimulates the effects in the bones.
Jack Cuzick, from Queen Mary University of London, led the study, and reported to The Lancet medical journal that the results were very encouraging, and created a way of popularizing the treatment amongst women who at high risk of getting the disease, just as statins and blood pressure-reduction drugs were used to stave off heart attacks, and stroke.
In the UK, Tamoxifene has not yet been given the green-light as a treatment for breast cancer. The regulator, The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), is tasked with scrutinizing the effectiveness of new treatments. It has recommended that the drug, Tamoxifene, be given to women who are at a high risk of developing breast cancer, on a provisional basis.
Later in the year, NICE will give it final recommendations on the administration of the drug. The study also showed that the four drugs were able to reduce the clotting of blood significantly. However, Tamoxifene was found to increase the development of womb cancer.
Unlike a generation ago the elderly and the infirmed no longer have to be uncomfortable with their armchair or restricted to the ground floor of the house. There has been a revolution in disability products, not least of all in devices aimed at assisting people so that they can move freely between one floor of their home and another.
Stairlifts have now become relatively commonplace and are now equipped with a whole range of other technological features and specifications. Modern stairlifts are now nearly always custom-built to exactly suit the needs of the individual who is going to use them and of course the building they are going to be installed in.
There are basically two different kinds of stairlifts available, put simply there is the curved lift, as the name suggests this is intended for stairs which have a turn either at the bottom of the top.
The second main type of stairlift is the straight variation, which obviously is intended to be installed on a set of straight stairs which have no turning. When installing in a building with multiple stories a single curved stairlift has considerable advantages over multiple single stairlifts, simply because a person can make the entire journey without having to manoeuvre from one stairlift to another.
With many people concerned about the cost of electricity it is good news that using a stairlift surprisingly only uses roughly the same amount of energy consumed daily by boiling a kettle. Additionally there is a seatbelt required with the installation making use of a stairlift not only economical but also safe.
We all have our favourite chair that we feel most comfortable in, unfortunately as we get older or perhaps suffer some kind of serious accident we may find that sitting down in, or especially, standing up from the chair, may become increasingly difficult, if not impossible, to achieve.
Modern technology has again come to the rescue with the new set of chairs often described as riser-recliner or lift and tilt chairs. The huge advantage of these rise and recline chairs is that, even for people with serious health problems, it is possible to easily and comfortably sit in the chair and then stand up again without undue effort or additional pain.
These chairs, although technologically advanced, operate in a very simple fashion. Basically what they do is make use of several motors which power the chair in order to allow it to lift the and lower the seat as well as the backrest of the chair while at the same time also tilting it forward.
What this means is this ergonomic design will gently lower a person from a standing position into a sitting position, and also raise a person from their seat slowly and gently into a standing position, without any physical effort required by the individual.
By making use of either, or both, of these devices many people who have suffered for years simply standing up from a chair or making painful and slow journeys up the stairs can now take on these tasks without any pain for the inconvenience.
 When a loved one sadly passes away, having a tangible reminder of them that you can visit is a great help during the grieving process and beyond. Headstones, or memorial stones, are the easiest way to do this and with so many styles available today it is relatively easy to select one that is an epitome of the person who you are placing the stone in remembrance of. Young or old, male or female, there is a style of headstone to suit everyone, and here are just a few tips when it comes to choosing one.
First of all you should check with the cemetery or graveyard where you intend placing the headstone whether they have any special rules or restrictions. As these are tailor made in terms of embellishments, photos, engraving etc, if you pay out a lot of money for a stone then find that it is too big for the plot, you can wave goodbye to that money, so make sure you know the rules before ordering the stone.
When it comes to materials used in the creation of headstones for graves, the two big ones are granite and marble and for very good reason; both of these are tough, long lasting and retain their appearance for many years longer than other materials. Granite is becoming increasingly popular as many view marble as cold and soulless, yet there are marble headstones in place in graveyards that have been there at least a century or much longer, and are still in one piece.
Granite can be sourced from all over the world and comes in a variety of colours, the most popular for headstones being red, black, blue and grey. Highly polished granite creates a bright and colourful headstone, while one with a matt finish has an altogether more subtle and traditional style. Granite headstones require very little maintenance and will weather very slowly over a long period of time.
Classic marble is white or bluish white with darker blue or grey veins. The advantage marble has over granite is that it is easier to carve into shapes or designs that you have specifically requested, however intricate. Engravings on marble are usually painted in to stand out, or if you prefer, you can add lead lettering instead of engraving. As we mentioned earlier, marble weathers very well but occasional cleaning will keep it looking pristine.
When it comes to style then there really are no boundaries, apart from any laid down by the cemetery. It is normal to see stones in unusual shapes to suit the hobbies or interests of the person they are paying homage too, and in the sad case of a stone being chosen to mark the grave of a child, there are many pictures and embellishments you can add to make them a unique reminder of the child and also create something that will be a lasting legacy to them.
Whether you go for marble or granite, or even choose a vase as the memorial as opposed to a headstone, you will have little trouble finding a fitting tribute, which makes a difficult time that bit easier.
Once considered to be a sign of old age, hearing loss affects more of us than anyone realises, and this is mainly due to the fact that modern digital hearing aids are virtually invisible, so only you know you are wearing one.
Many top manufacturers now produce these hearing aids, Siemens being one of them. Regarded as being one of the world’s biggest electronics companies, Siemens hearing aids are of the high quality you would expect from a company with such a good reputation as they have.
Siemens are well known for specialising in various products across the broad spectrum of electronics, and whilst many are often originally surprised at the fact they also manufacture top quality hearing aids, we really shouldn’t be. The reputation they have worked so hard to achieve is clearly evident in their range of digital hearing aids and the innovation and research that has gone into improving the levels of auditory perception in those who have limited abilities when it comes to hearing is present in every device.
The history of the company in the development of popular and highly effective instruments to improve hearing goes way back to 1878, and anyone who chooses a Siemens digital aid to improve their hearing can relax safe in the knowledge that they are using a top notch product that they can rely on to deliver on every one of its promises.
Many people suffer from hearing loss because they are loathe to be fitted with one of those old fashioned, cumbersome hearing aids which stand out a mile, and are the next best thing to walking around wearing a t-shirt declaring ‘I am hard of hearing’. When digital hearing aids came along, they could only assist those with slight hearing loss but, much in the same way that contact lenses have developed, they can be used by those with severe hearing loss.
These are somewhat of a revolution in hearing aids and can either be fitted around the ear or inside the ear canal itself. The flexibility of digital hearing aids is nothing short of phenomenal, and they each can be tailored to meet your own individual requirements. Even those who do not consider themselves to have much hearing loss are astounded when they have these aids fitted, and realise for the first time what they have actually been missing out on.
Sound, along with sight, is one of the hardest senses to deal with the loss of and those who cannot hear properly often find themselves excluded from conversations or answer with an answer that has no relevance whatsoever to the question asked as they misheard but were too embarrassed to ask for it to be repeated.
If this is you, but you do not want to admit to others what you know yourself, then you owe it to yourself to have a hearing test and look at investing in a digital hearing aid. They aren’t as expensive as you would think, and the difference they can make to your overall quality of life is simply priceless.
Drivers can now access smart phone applications, through voice control, using SYNC which allows the apps to be displayed on the dashboard screen. Most of these apps are health-related.
According to the Frost and Sullivan report, the market for medical applications, which is the third-fastest growing application category with more than 17,000 applications, is expected to reach a value of $392 million by the year 2015, and have over 500 million users.
Through the Apple Store, the first commercial SYNC application, which features air-pollution, asthma-alert, and pollen-alert applications, was launched early last year. Ford’s global manager for interiors, infotainment, health and wellness, Gary Strumolo, says that with 26 million asthma sufferers, the application is welcome since it will provide critical information for these people.
With this application, drivers will not have to dig around their pockets looking for their phones, and only have to use voice control to access the applications. Strumolo reiterates that it is not their intention to turn vehicles into medical devices given the stringent rules that the FDA has about is allowed to give medical advice.
Strumolo stresses that the vehicle only mirrors the information which is being shown on the application, and the vehicle itself, is not generating this information. The company has been careful about maintaining the boundaries which would cause the FDA to insist on licensing.
BBC news reported that new research has confirmed that men do tend to inherit the genes that make them predisposed to heart conditions from their father.
The research revealed that in particular there is one version of the Y chromosome that when passed from a father to a son will increase the risk of the son having heart disease by almost 50%.The research took a close look at variation in the Y chromosome that forms a foetus as it develops into a male. Only men have this
chromosome making it a reason that men have a higher risk of cancer then women. The researchers took a close look at the variation of the Y chromosome in 3,000 men that were not related to each other and then placed the men into groups based on the variations that were common among them.
At this point the researchers then took a close look at associations between the gene types and the associated risk of developing coronary artery disease. They discovered that men that had a specific variation had double the risk of heart disease compared to men in the other genetic groups.
The increase was noted to be independent of other risk factors that have already been identified as contributing to a heightened risk of heart disease such as economic and lifestyle factors. Despite this fact, lifestyle factors still play a large role as they can be modified to help reduce the overall risk of suffering a heart attack.
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