medical news

Multiple sclerosis cases hit 2.3 million worldwide

The number of people living with multiple sclerosis around the world has increased by 10 percent in the past five years to 2.3 million, according to the most extensive survey of the disease to date.

The debilitating neurological condition, which affects twice as many women as men, is found in every region of the world, although prevalence rates vary widely.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is most common in North America and Europe, at 140 and 108 cases per 100,000 respectively, while in sub-Saharan Africa the rate is just 2.1 per 100,000, the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation’s Atlas of MS 2013 showed on Wednesday.

The atlas also confirmed that MS occurs significantly more in countries at high latitude, with Sweden having the highest rate in Europe and Argentina having more cases than countries further north in Latin America.

The reason for the link to high latitudes is unclear but some scientists have suggested that exposure to sunlight may reduce the incidence of the disease.

The survey found big increases in the number of medical experts trained to diagnose MS and help patients with treatment, while the number of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines available to carry out scans has doubled in emerging countries.

But huge disparities remain when it comes to access to modern disease-modifying drugs.

MS medicine has seen a number of advances in recent years, particularly with the introduction of a new generation of oral therapies such as Novartis’ Gilenya, Biogen Idec’s Tecfidera and Sanofi’s Aubagio.

These medicines offer an effective alternative to older disease-modifying treatments that are given by injection.

The survey found that injectable drugs like Biogen’s Avonex and Teva’s Copaxone were partly or fully funded in 96 percent of high-income countries, while Gilenya was available in 76 percent.

However, none of these drugs was available under government programs in low-income countries.

Source: www.foxnews.com

Foods To Consume Before Yoga Class

Most of us practice a common form of exercise to live healthy and that is yoga. Today, you see a lot of people who are practicing yoga to stay fit and to lead a healthy life.

 With this practice, comes along a wide range of foods you should eat too. Eating a healthy diet and following a fully fledged regime will only make you live longer.

If you are a believer in doing yoga to keep fit your mind and body, you need to follow certain food habits as well.

Experts say that before you go ahead with your yoga class, you need to eat a healthy and ‘light’ meal. The only reason is because yoga is a certain type of exercise where your body needs to be focused on your mind solely.

If you have a heavy meal before yoga exercise, you will want to throw up. One should keep their stomach light before a yoga exercise, so you can move your flexible body easily to perform the asanas. Some of the foods you should eat before yoga take a look at some of these healthy foods. These foods should be eaten half an hour before yoga class.

Oats

If you are hungry, grab a bowl of healthy oatmeal before a yoga class. This is a healthy food which you can consume. It is light and will boost your metabolism.

Pears

This is one of the best foods you can choose before you hit the yoga class. Consuming cut fresh pieces of pears is rich in fiber which will fill your tummy completely.

Raisins

If you consume a handful of raisins before your yoga class, you are pampering your body to a high content of natural sugar. This natural sugar will help to keep you active right through the class as you burn energy for weight loss.
Banana

There are a lot of people who refrain from eating a banana as they feel it adds to the extra pounds if you are on a weight loss program. If you are heading to yoga class, have a banana 15 minutes before as it is rich in sodium which will keep you hydrated.

Apricots

You need to stay light when you perform the asanas. Apricots are filling and a light food for you to consume before a yoga class. Dried apricots are the best opt.

Watermelon

If you want to stay light on your tummy, watermelon is the best food for you to consume before a yoga class. Watermelon helps to build your energy levels, so have a cup of fresh juice before you head out.

Yogurt

It is light and the best food to enjoy before yoga. A small cup of yogurt will help you stay fit and keep you mentally sound too.

Chocolate

Dark chocolate is much better when compared to normal chocolate. It is the dark chocolate which provides you with energy, and also helps to keep your heart healthy and active.

Prunes

It is a good food for you to consume before a yoga class. Prunes contain a high content of potassium which will keep you hydrated during the workout.

Almonds

Eating a handful of almonds will help boost your energy levels. Soaked almonds is however the best option for you to chose.

Read more at: www.inooz.com

 

Most of the Indians have the habit of Betel leaves

 

Most of the Indians have the habit of eating paan. Paan is an Indian mouth sweetener which is prepared with betel leaves. The betel leaves are used since the ancient times tracing back to 2000 years ago.

 It has been mentioned in the most ancient historic book of Sri Lanka, the Mahavasma. In India, betel leaves as well as nuts are offered to guests as courtesy. You might be surprised to know that the heart-shaped, smooth, shining and long-stalked betel leaves have numerous health benefits.

 Since ancient times, betel leaves has been used as an aromatic stimulant and anti-flatulent. Apart from being served as a mouth freshener, betel leaf is also used as an aphrodisiac. There are many health benefits of betel leaves which also makes it good for pregnant women. If lactating mothers apply betel leaves, it increases the production of milk in breastfeeding mothers.

Betel leaves are also good for oral health. It reduces mouth odour, whitens teeth and reduces bleeding. Here are few amazing health benefits of betel leaves that are worth knowing. Next time when you plan to freshen up your mouth, have betel leaves. Just make sure you eat it in a healthy way. Do not mix it with flavorings and nuts.
Read more at: http://www.boldsky.com/health/wellness/2013/health-benefits-betel-leaves-035550.html

 

Aloe Vera – the Most Happening Health Drink

Aloe vera juice is now on top of the charts for its immense health benefits and may have beaten many of its ilks in the race for the most happening health drink. 

Experts have extolled its virtues, and one that stands out is its cholesterol lowering property

According to the claims of its manufacturers, Aloe Vera juice seems to help with weight loss, digestion and immune function. It is also thought to relieve discomfort of any kind. 

They say Aloe vera contains a mix of some of the best vitamins- including A, C, E, folic acid, B1, B2, B3, and B6. It is also one of the few plants that actually contain Vitamin B12, which helps with brain and nervous system function.

Aloe vera juice is also rich in minerals and contains zinc, magnesium, calcium, selenium, iron, sodium, and potassium. This juice is also packed with amino and fatty acids – all helpful in beating indigestion. It boosts the body’s immunity and has the ability to throw out toxins from the body.

‘Aloe vera is amazing if you have any suggestive discomfort. It is very soothing for the internals and helps beat the bloat. Drinking Aloe vera replenishes your body naturally with a huge range of nutrients. It contains approximately 200 active components including – vitamins A, B1,B2,B6, B12, C, E, folic acid and Niacin,’ a leading nutritionist said.
Read more: http://www.medindia.net

 

Now, plant pill that can reduce wrinkles

Ladies, your dream of popping a pill that can make you look younger may finally come true!

In a first, scientists claim to have developed a new pill that is clinically proven to combat ageing by reducing wrinkles, providing an easier alternative to more invasive measures such as Botox.

The oral supplement, containing plant compounds and vitamins, could reduce the depth of crow’s-feet wrinkles on faces by 10 percent, tests at an independent clinic in Germany have shown.

The study also showed the supplement stimulated the production of collagen, which can prevent wrinkles from forming, ‘The Sunday Times’ reported.

The cocktail of ingredients could offer an alternative to more invasive measures such as Botox or the plethora of face creams on which hundreds of millions are spent by people seeking youthful looks.

The ingredients taken by the women in the study were soy isoflavones, which are plant compounds; lycopene, an antioxidant; vitamin C; vitamin E; and omega-3 fatty acids.

Silicone moulds were made of crow’s feet around the eyes and made again after 14 weeks of taking the supplement. The skin was smoother with less marked wrinkles.

There was a “significant reduction in average wrinkle depth” on a test group of 53 women who took the supplement compared with the control group of 55 women who got a placebo, he report said.

“On average, there was a 10 per cent reduction in wrinkle depth in the test group when compared with placebo,” the report said.

An analysis of the skin found increased levels of collagen and a “reduced severity” of skin roughness.

“We found that a significantly higher number of individuals consuming the test product showed increased levels of collagen after 14 weeks than those who consumed placebo products. To our knowledge, this is the first published report of increased collagen production in skin as a result of an oral intervention,” the report said.

The study was published in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science.

Source: http://www.financialexpress.com/news/now-plant-pill-that-can-reduce-wrinkles/1175962

The 4 super foods keep you healthy this autumn

Autumn is here and that means a new crop of seasonal nutrient-dense fruit and vegetable “super foods”, that increase our overall wellness and nutrition and help support a healthy lifestyle, will be harvested soon.

Kari Kooi, registered dietician at Houston Methodist Hospital, said super foods are brimming with nutrients and antioxidants. The benefits of adding them into your everyday meals are numerous, as a nutritious diet can really have a positive impact on both your physical and mental health.

Kooi suggested top four super foods that you can incorporate into your daily meals.

The researcher said that Pumpkins are rich in beta-carotene which turns into vitamin A, also known as the vision vitamin. They are versatile and can be added into just about anything. If you like pumpkin pie, stir a little pumpkin puree into your oatmeal and add some pumpkin pie spice for a healthier alternative.

On the other hand seeds of Pumpkin are a super food powerhouse all on their own. They have heart healthy fat, protein, and fiber. They also have a lot of minerals like magnesium, which aids in bone health, and iron, which helps deliver oxygen to our cells. You can try roasted pumpkin seeds, which can be eaten shell and all, for a healthy snack during the day.

Pomegranates earn super food status because they are extremely rich in antioxidants.

Kooi said that Kiwis have a “tutti fruity” taste, with flavors reminiscent of different fruits like strawberries, melons, pineapples, bananas, and citrus. They also have a lot of fiber and a whopping amount of Vitamin C, which makes them a great super food. To enjoy a kiwi on-the-go, try cutting it in half and scooping the flesh out with a spoon.

Source: http://www.siasat.com/english/news

Diet and exercise improves osteoarthritis pain

Diet and exercise improves osteoarthritis pain

When compared with the exercise group, the diet and exercise group had less knee pain, better function, faster walking speed, and better physical health-related quality of life.

Eighteen months of intensive diet and exercise together lead to less knee pain and better function among overweight and obese adults with knee osteoarthritis, new research has revealed.

Stephen P. Messier, Ph.D., of Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, and colleagues conducted a study to determine whether a 10% or greater reduction in body weight induced by diet, with or without exercise, would reduce joint loading and inflammation and improve clinical outcomes more than exercise alone. The study included 454 overweight and obese older community-dwelling adults (age 55 years or older with a body mass index of 27-41) with pain and radiographic knee OA. The interventions consisted of intensive diet-induced weight loss plus exercise, intensive diet-induced weight loss, or exercise. It was found that average weight loss was greater in the diet and exercise group and the diet group compared with the exercise group. When compared with the exercise group, the diet and exercise group had less knee pain, better function, faster walking speed, and better physical health-related quality of life. The study found that participants in the diet and exercise and diet groups had greater reductions in Interleukin 6 (a measure of inflammation) levels than those in the exercise group, and those in the diet group had greater reductions in knee compressive force than those in the exercise group. Researchers said the findings from this trial suggested that intensive weight loss may have both anti-inflammatory and biomechanical benefits; when combining weight loss with exercise, patients can safely achieve a mean long-term weight loss of more than 10%, with an associated improvement in symptoms greater than with either intervention alone. The study is published in journal JAMA. Source: http://www.dnaindia.com

Mobile phones, towers do not cause cancer’

The Delhi Medical Association (DMA) Friday rubbished reports that radiation emitted from cell phones and their towers cause cancer.

“Radiation from mobiles and mobile towers pose no threat to the health or cause cancer as it is commonly believed,” DMA president Anil Agarwal said at a press conference here.

“The radiation waves are too weak too cause such a deadly disease and moreover there are no empirical findings to establish that mobile tower radiation causes cancer or any such disease,” he said, adding the medical experts from the DMA have come to this conclusion after reviewing the study done by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The WHO conducted a research where they had consulted 4,50,000 cell phone users in the past 13 years, but had not been able to provide support for any relationship between the emission of radiation from mobile phones and cancer, said P. Ramakrishna, a consultant on electro-magnetic fields (EMF).

Even the study done by US’ National Cancer Institute shows no increased risk for brain tumors from cell phone use, he added.

Source: http://www.sify.com/news/

Rapid rise in dengue cases, three deaths in Delhi

There have also been three confirmed deaths and seven suspected deaths, as per an official Friday.

“There has been a total of 1,729 cases and three have died from the vector-borne disease,” said municipal health officer N.K. Yadav.

Of the total cases, 1,698 patients are from Delhi and 31 belong to adjoining states.

The north, south and east corporations reported 837, 408 and 368 cases, respectively.

The victims who have succumbed to the virus and been confirmed by municipal authorities are Phool Singh, 47 of west Delhi’s Ashok Nagar, Priyanka Shankar, 21 of north Delhi’s Pratap Nagar and Priya Jha, 6 of south Delhi’s Okhla.

Source: Zee News

Antibodies in shark may prevent growth of breast cancer

Antibodies in shark may prevent growth of breast cancer

A TYPE of antibody found only in the blood of sharks could help tackle breast cancer, scientists have said.

It is thought that the unique IgNAR antibodies could be used to prevent the growth of cancer cells and research into them could lead to the development of new drugs to fight one of the most common forms of the disease.

Biologists from the University of Aberdeen have been awarded 200,000 pounds ($345,660) by Scottish cancer research charity the Association for International Cancer Research (AICR) to carry out a three-year study.

Their work will focus on two molecules, HER2 and HER3, found on the surface of cancer cells which, when they pair-up, are responsible for signaling cancer cells to grow and divide.

Potentially, IgNAR antibodies could be used to stop these molecules from working and sending the signal.

“IgNAR antibodies are interesting because they bind to targets, such as viruses or parasites, in a very different way to the antibodies found in humans,” said Dr Helen Dooley who is from the university’s School of Biological Sciences and will lead the study.

“They can do this because their attachment region is very small and so can fit into spaces that human antibodies cannot.

“We believe we can exploit the novel binding of IgNAR and use it to stop HER2 and HER3 molecules from working, and prompting cancer cells to grow and divide.”

Very high levels of HER2 are found on the surface of cancer cells in women who have HER2-positive breast cancer, this affects around a quarter of women with breast cancer.

While HER2-positive breast cancer can be treated with drugs but resistance to this successful treatment is a growing problem.

“With the funding from AICR we can begin to explore the potential of IgNAR as a future treatment for breast cancer,” Dooley said.

“This is only the first step in a very long process but if our hypothesis holds true we hope to develop new anti-cancer drugs based upon these unique shark antibodies.”
Read more: http://www.news.com.au/technology/sci-tech/antibodies-in-shark-blood-may-be-able-to-prevent-growth-of-breast-cancer/story-fn5fsgyc-1226727945467#ixzz2gAT8Jweb