HyperSmash.com HEALTHY AND HAPPY LIFE: September 2012

Throat Cancer Symptoms

Throat Cancer Symptoms is a general term often used to describe squamous cell carcinomas that occur in the skin and mucous membranes of the throat and neck. The disease can affect the vocal cords, the voice box (larynx) or the esophagus. Knowing what symptoms to check for is part of a proactive approach to deterring the development of throat cancer.

Instructions
Assess Your Risk for Throat Cancer
1. Be aware that the incidence of throat cancer increases after age 50. The disease is 10 times more common in men than women. Further, 50 percent more African-American men in the US are diagnosed with throat cancer than Caucasian men.
2. Consider your lifestyle. Smoking or other use of tobacco products increases your risk for throat cancer, as does the excessive consumption of alcohol.

What Causes Asthma?

What Causes Asthma?

crowd of people walking on a street
According to recent estimates, asthma affects 300 million people in the world and more than 22 million in the United States. Although people of all ages suffer from the disease, it most often starts in childhood, currently affecting 6 million children in the US. Asthma kills about 255,000 people worldwide every year.

Types of Asthma

Types of Asthma

Child-Onset Asthma

child with inhaler
Asthma that begins during childhood is called child-onset asthma. This type of asthma happens because a child becomes sensitized to common allergens in the environment - most likely due to genetic reasons. The child is atopic - a genetically determined state of hypersensitivity to environmental allergens.
Allergens are any substances that the body will treat as a foreign body, triggering an immune response. These vary widely between individuals and often include animal proteins, fungi, pollen, house-dust mites and some kind of dust. The airway cells are sensitive to particular materials making an asthmatic response more likely if the child is exposed to a certain amount of an allergen.

Asthma

What is Asthma? What Causes Asthma?

Asthma is a disease affecting the airways that carry air to and from your lungs. People who suffer from this chronic condition (long-lasting or recurrent) are said to be asthmatic.
doctor examining a lung x-ray
The inside walls of an asthmatic's airways are swollen or inflamed. This swelling or inflammation makes the airways extremely sensitive to irritations and increases your susceptibility to an allergic reaction.

Rosacea

Image Source: Interactive Medical Media LLC
Rosacea (say "roh-ZAY-sha") is a skin disease that causes redness and pimples on your nose, cheeks, chin, and forehead. The redness may come and go. People sometimes call rosacea "adult acne" because it can cause outbreaks that look like acne. It can also cause burning and soreness in the eyes and eyelids.

Rosacea often flares when something causes the blood vessels in the face to expand, which causes redness. Things that cause a flare-up are called triggers. Common triggers are exercise, sun and

Ringworm

Image: Courtesy of Dr. Lucille K. Georg/ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Worms don't cause ringworm. Rather, this superficial skin infection, also known as tinea, is caused by fungi called dermatophytes. Fungi are microscopic organisms that can live off the dead tissues of your skin, hair, and nails, much like a mushroom can grow on the bark of a tree.

Ringworm is characterized by a red ring of small blisters or a red ring of scaly skin that grows outward as the infection spreads. Though children are especially susceptible to catching ringworm, it can affect adults as well.



Typhus

  • Typhus is a bacterial disease; there are two types termed endemic and epidemic.
  • Typhus has a long and deadly history, especially epidemic typhus.
  • Typhus is caused by bacteria. Rickettsia prowazekii causes epidemic typhus. Rickettsia typhi and, occasionally, R. felis cause endemic typhus and are transmitted to humans by vectors such as lice (mainly epidemic) and fleas (mainly endemic).
  • Risk factors include visiting or living in areas where rats, mice, and other animals have high populations (for example, disaster areas, poverty-stricken areas, refugee camps, jails) where vectors such as fleas and lice can carry the bacteria from the animals to infect humans.

Bowel Obstruction

What is a bowel obstruction?

A bowel obstruction happens when either your small or large intestine is partly or completely blocked. The blockage prevents food, fluids, and gas from moving through the intestines in the normal way. The blockage may cause severe pain that comes and goes.
This topic covers a blockage caused by tumors, scar tissue, or twisting or narrowing of the intestines. It does not cover ileus, which most commonly happens after surgery on the belly (abdominal surgery).

What causes a bowel obstruction?

Tumors, scar tissue (adhesions), or twisting or narrowing of the intestines can cause a bowel obstruction. These are called mechanical obstructions .
In the small intestine, scar tissue is most often the cause. Other causes include hernias and Crohn's disease, which can twist or narrow the intestine, and tumors, which can block the intestine. A blockage also can happen if one part of the intestine folds like a telescope into another part, which is called intussusception.

What Is The Pancreas? What Does The Pancreas Do?

The pancreas is a gland organ that is located in the abdomen. It is part of the digestive system and produces important enzymes and hormones that help break down foods. The pancreas has an endocrine function because it releases juices directly into the bloodstream, and it has an exocrine function because it releases juices into ducts.

Enzymes, or digestive juices, produced by the pancreas are secreted into the small intestine to further break down food after it has left the stomach. The gland also produces the hormone insulin and secretes it into the bloodstream in order to regulate the body's glucose or sugar level.

What does the pancreas look like?

The pancreas is a 6- to 10-inch (18 to 25 cm) long organ located behind the stomach in the back of the abdomen. It is spongy and shaped somewhat like a fish that is extended horizontally across the abdomen. The head of the pancreas is the largest part and lays on the right side of the abdomen where the stomach is attached to the first part of the small intestine (the duodenum). It is here where the stomach empties partially digested food into the small intestine and this chyme mixes with the secretions from the pancreas.

What is Pancreatic Cancer? Pancreatic Cancer Symptoms and Causes

What Is The Pancreas?

The pancreas is a 6-inch long organ located behind the stomach in the back of the abdomen. It is spongy and shaped somewhat like a fish, extended horizontally across the abdomen. The head of the pancreas is on the right side of the abdomen where the stomach is attached to the first part of the small intestine (the duodenum). The tail of the pancreas - its narrowest part - extends to the left side of the abdomen next to the spleen.
pancreasThe pancreas contains exocrine and endocrine glands that create pancreatic juices, hormones, and insulin. Pancreatic juices, or enzymes, made by the exocrine glands are released into the intestines by way of a series of ducts in order to help digest fat, proteins, and carbohydrates. Over 95% of the pancreas is made up of exocrine glands and ducts. The endocrine cells are arranged in small clusters called islets of Langerhans, which release insulin and glucagon into the bloodstream. These two hormones manage levels of sugar in the blood. When they are not working properly, the result is often diabetes.
More information on the pancreas itself is available in our article What Is The Pancreas? What Does The Pancreas Do?

Types of breast cancers

There are several types of breast cancer, but some of them are quite rare. In some cases a single breast tumor can be a combination of these types or be a mixture of invasive and in situ cancer.

Ductal carcinoma in situ

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS; also known as intraductal carcinoma) is the most common type of non-invasive breast cancer. DCIS means that the cancer cells are inside the ducts but have not spread through the walls of the ducts into the surrounding breast tissue.
About 1 in 5 new breast cancer cases will be DCIS. Nearly all women diagnosed at this early stage of breast cancer can be cured. A mammogram is often the best way to find DCIS early.
When DCIS is diagnosed, the pathologist (a doctor specializing in diagnosing disease from tissue samples) will look for areas of dead or dying cancer cells, called tumor necrosis, within the tissue sample. If necrosis is present, the tumor is likely to be more aggressive. The term comedocarcinoma is often used to describe DCIS with large areas of necrosis. The pathologist will also note how abnormal the cells appear, especially the part of cells where DNA is found (the nucleus).

What is breast cancer?


What is breast cancer?

Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that starts in the cells of the breast. A malignant tumor is a group of cancer cells that can grow into (invade) surrounding tissues or spread (metastasize) to distant areas of the body. The disease occurs almost entirely in women, but men can get it, too.

The normal breast

To understand breast cancer, it helps to have some basic knowledge about the normal structure of the breasts, shown in the diagram below.
The female breast is made up mainly of lobules (milk-producing glands), ducts (tiny tubes that carry the milk from the lobules to the nipple), and stroma (fatty tissue and connective tissue surrounding the ducts and lobules, blood vessels, and lymphatic vessels).
Diagram of the structure of the breast.
Most breast cancers begin in the cells that line the ducts (ductal cancers). Some begin in the cells that line the lobules (lobular cancers), while a small number start in other tissues.

What Is Prostate Cancer? What Causes Prostate Cancer?

Prostate cancer is a disease which only affects men. Cancer begins to grow in the prostate - a gland in the male reproductive system. The word "prostate" comes from Medieval Latin prostate and Medieval French prostate. The ancient Greek word prostates means "one standing in front", from proistanai meaning "set before". The prostate is so called because of its position - it is at the base of the bladder.

What is the prostate?

The prostate is an exocrine gland of the male reproductive system, and exists directly under the bladder, in front of the rectum. An exocrine gland is one whose secretions end up outside the body e.g. prostate gland and sweat glands. It is approximately the size of a walnut.

The urethra - a tube that goes from the bladder to the end of the penis and carries urine and semen out of the body - goes through the prostate.

All About Diabetes

What is diabetes? What causes diabetes?


Diabetes, often referred to by doctors as diabetes mellitus, describes a group of metabolic diseases in which the person has high blood glucose (blood sugar), either because insulin production is inadequate, or because the body's cells do not respond properly to insulin, or both. Patients with high blood sugar will typically experience polyuria (frequent urination), they will become increasingly thirsty (polydipsia) and hungry (polyphagia).

There are three types of diabetes:

1) Type 1 Diabetes

The body does not produce insulin. Some people may refer to this type as insulin-dependent diabetes, juvenile diabetes, or early-onset diabetes. People usually develop type 1 diabetes before their 40th year, often in early adulthood or teenage years.

Type 1 diabetes is nowhere near as common as type 2 diabetes. Approximately 10% of all diabetes cases are type 1.

How To Whiten Teeth - Teeth Bleaching

Did you know that teeth whitening is the number one (1) requested cosmetic service today and that its popularity continues to soar?
A recent survey showed 80% of Americans aged 18 to 49 want whiter teeth, with women leading in this area at 85%.  6 out 10  believe a whiter, brighter smile would boost their self confidence especially in the 18 to 24 age range.
According to the American Academy of cosmetic Dentistry, Americans spent more than $1.4 billion on over-the-counter teeth whitening products last year alone.
One of the first things people notice when they meet someone new is their smile. Teeth Whitening has become an accessible and relatively easy way to instantly improve appearance, create a positive first impression, and achieve a more youthful and radiant appearance. Teeth can become discolored over a period of time. Teeth whitening is not a medical procedure, it does not result in healthier teeth, but it can result in whiter teeth.  

Health Benefits of Tart Cherry Juice

At some point you may have been in the grocery store and been browsing through the produce department and come across the wide variety of fruits that are offered. Right away you probably notice the large displays of apples, oranges, and bananas. You may even notice the various melons that are out, or the pineapples. Occasionally you see a large display of strawberries or even blueberries. 
 
However, there is one fruit that I feel almost magically appears in the store one day. Heck, I think Kiwi’s are even on display rather frequently relative to this elusive fruit. When we buy it, it’s such a treat, that it’s almost as if we are eating a dessert rather than a nutritional and valuable part of our diet. This fruit would be none other than the Cherry.

From the description above, I bet you are thinking about sweet cherries. The display alone for sweet cherries found in a produce department is often as bright and beaming as sunshine looks coming through the clouds. The best part is that their look compliments their taste. Whether you eat them whole, or cut them for use in a favorite salad or dessert they are usually eaten fresh and, simply put, they just satisfy your craving from something sweet and healthy.  

Health Benefits of Blueberries

According to researchers at the USDA Human Nutrition Center (HNC), blueberries rank hands down number one with regards to natural antioxidant content. This is in comparison to 40 other fruits and vegetables. 
 
The role of antioxidants is to neutralize free-radicals, the by-products of energy metabolism. Free radicals are responsible in part for cancer, cellular degeneration, and other age related diseases. Anthocyanin, the pigment that makes blueberries their dark purplish blue, is though to be a key agent in the disease fighting process.
Alzheimer and Strokes: In another study conducted by the USDA, it was found that feeding blueberries to elder laboratory rats markedly reduced age related declines in mental capacity. This finding alone has major implications for human cognitive decline, namely Alzheimer’s and other age related cognitive diseases. The natural phytochemicals found in blueberries have also been found to help prevent further brain damage from strokes.

Facts on Caffeine in Tea


 

  • Decaffeinated tea is not caffeine free. It still contains up to .4% by dry weight caffeine content.
     
  • The longer the tea leaves have fermented, the greater their caffeine content.
     
  • The smaller the tea leaf, the stronger the extraction of caffeine.
     
  • The first and second leaves of the tea plant are believed to contain the largest amount of caffeine at 3.4 %.

     
*Caffeine content (Ref.: International Food Information Council, All About Tea by William H. Ukers)
Type of Tea
Milligrams of Caffeine
Caffeine
Avg Per Serving Range Per Ounce*
Black tea
 
40 25-55 5.
naturally caffeinated
Oolong tea
 
30 12-55 3.75
naturally caffeinated  somewhat less than black tea
Green tea
 
20 8-30 2.5
naturally caffeinated  somewhat less than oolong tea,
White tea
 
15 6-25 2.
naturally caffeinated  somewhat less than green tea
Decaffeinated tea
 
2 1-4 .5
Caused from removing most of the caffeine from black, oolong, green, or white tea
Herbal "tea"
 
0 0 0.
Naturally caffeine free

Does Tea Contain More Caffeine Than Coffee?
Tea has only 1/2 to 1/3 as much caffeine as coffee when you compare them cup for cup.  In dry form, coffee actually has less then tea in dry form.  Next time you brew that pot of coffee, consider how much less your brewed cup of tea will have.  Unless of course you consume your tea dry. (Ref.: Caffeine by The Institute of Food Technologists' Expert Panel on Food Safety & Nutrition.)

Tea - Drink To Your Health

It is the second most consumed beverage after water.

Tea drinking has been claimed to have health benefits for centuries, but only in recent years have doctors conducted studies to see if the claims are justified.


cup of tea
Considering the amount of tea drunk around the world every day, the news that the drink can be good for you is welcome indeed. Recent research has indicated that drinking tea as part of a healthy diet and life style can help maintain a healthy body including a healthy heart.
The value of tea may be due, in part, to its antioxidants. Like fruit and vegetables, tea is rich in antioxidants. (In tea these are known as flavonoids). Antioxidants in the diet may help the body in its management of free radicals – highly reactive substances capable of causing damage to body cells.

Health Benefits of Walnut Oil

Walnuts and their oils are excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids. Most of the research on the health benefits of walnuts has focused on consumption of the nut itself, although interest in walnut oil has grown over the last decade. The health benefits of walnuts and walnut oil are similar if the oil is unrefined, fresh (6 month shelf life), and uncooked. However, the serving size of walnut oil is less than the amount of walnuts needed to get the same nutritional benefit. For example:
A 35 gram serving of walnut oil provides the same nutritional benefits as 50 grams of walnuts.
Walnuts are rich in phytonutrients and are an excellent source of selenium, phosphorous, magnesium, zinc, iron, and calcium.
Walnuts and/or walnut oil provide hefty levels of Vitamins B-1, B-2, and B-3, coupled with Vitamin-E and niacin.
The health benefits of walnuts were first identified in 1937 when researchers discovered that they were a significant source of vitamin C. Over the last 70 years, numerous other studies that evaluated the effects of walnut and walnut oil consumption on mortality, disease prevalence, and disease risk factors have been performed. It has now been well established that eating walnuts on a regular basis has definite health benefit. The most significant of which being a reduction in the risk of coronary heart disease. Adding walnuts to the daily diet can certainly help one maintain a healthful body balance.

Foods That Cause Acne

Acne is one of the most hated enemy by everyone, especially women. Acne is not including a dangerous disease. But its presence is very annoying, though acne is not harmful but should we treat and handle well.
Acne is caused by clogged pores due to overactive oil glands. Although many medical experts who denied any connection between acne with the food we eat, there's no harm in avoiding some foods that supposedly can trigger acne.

Here are some foods can cause acne:

1. Sugar and Chocolate
Chocolate may be one of the most food trigger acne. Archives of Dermatology published a study which explains that the food has a high Glycemic Index scale, usually in processed carbohydrates such as sugar can cause the appearance of acne due to increased hormone levels.