Stuff 4 Better Living » health

New Laser Treatment – may save the sight of many

admin — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:56:24 +0000

Technology may be shining it’s light on people that are blind or partially blind! New laser technology is believed to help save the sight of many people….

I always pondered the challenges of not being able to see and I always come away thanking God that I can see. This technology, if tested and proven could improve the quality of life for those with partial or full blindness.

A revolutionary laser treatment could save the sight of millions, British experts claim.

The process is said to stop the onset of age-related macular degeneration, one of the commonest forms of blindness, which leaves victims unable to read, drive or live independently.

It can be carried out in just ten to 15 minutes by any ophthalmologist. While it does not cure sight loss, its creators say it could prevent a generation from having to put up with declining vision in old age.

People with a family history of the disease could have pre-emptive treatment in their thirties.

The technique is said to be safe and painless and could save the NHS millions of pounds in treating age-related macular degeneration (AMD). It could even stop the disease getting worse in existing patients.

Medical charities welcomed the breakthrough but warned that it might not be available to the public for several years.

AMD is caused by damage to an area about 5mm across at the center of the retina called the macula, which is responsible for our central vision.

full article

Water,Agua,H2O,Eau,Wasser,Dlo

admin — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 19:35:59 +0000

The earth is two-thirds water, and so is your body. You need water to live. It helps flush out everything your body doesn’t need. Without water, the liver becomes less efficient in metabolizing stored body fat. Water helps keep your skin younger looking and makes you feel full so you eat less. Try to drink six to eight 8-ounce glasses a day. Drink a glass with each meal and one between every meal to hit your target.

If you are not getting enough water, your body will react by pulling it from other places, including your blood. This causes the closing of some smaller vessels (capillaries), making your blood thicker, more susceptible to clotting, and harder to pump through your system. This can have serious implications in hypertension, high cholesterol, and heart disease. Recent studies have also linked the lack of water to headaches, arthritis, and heartburn.

Have you have ever gotten up in the morning feeling bloated, or tried on a ring or shoe that fit yesterday but is too tight to wear today? Chances are your body is trying to tell you something. If you have a problem with water retention, excess salt may be the cause. Your body will tolerate a certain amount of sodium, however, the more salt you consume, the more fluid you need to dilute it. To overcome this problem, always drink plenty of water.

What if I told you that being dehydrated promotes the increase of body fat? Water contributes to energy storage along with glycogen. Without water, extra amounts of glucose remain in the bloodstream until reaching the liver, the extra glucose is stored as fat. Your body takes water from inside cells in an effort to compensate for a dehydrated state, including fat cells. Less water in your fat cells means less mobilization of fat for energy.

One of the liver’s primary functions is to metabolize stored fat into energy. The kidneys are responsible for filtering toxins, wastes, ingested water, and salts out of the bloodstream. If you are dehydrated, the kidneys cannot function properly, and the liver must work overtime to compensate. As a result, it metabolizes less fat. So remember, if you are trying to decrease the amount of fat on your body, drink plenty of water.

Water: The Body’s Most Important Nutrient

EPA Dept. of Water

The FDA has advised:stop using Zicam Cold Remedy nasal gel

admin — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 23:08:12 +0000

Hugh Pickens writes “The FDA has advised consumers to stop using Matrixx Initiatives’ Zicam Cold Remedy nasal gel marketed over-the-counter as a cold remedy because it is [1]associated with the loss of sense of smell (anosmia) that may be long-lasting or permanent. The FDA says about 130 consumers have reported a loss of smell after using the homeopathic cure containing zinc, an ingredient scientists say may damage nerves in the nose needed for smell and health officials say they have asked Matrixx executives to turn over more than 800 consumer complaints concerning lost smell that the company has on file. ‘Loss of the sense of smell is potentially life-threatening and may be permanent,’ said Dr. Charles Lee. ‘People without the sense of smell may not be able to detect life-dangerous situations, such as gas leaks or something burning in the house.’ The FDA said the [2]remedy was never formally approved because it is part of a small group of remedies known as homeopathic products that are not required to undergo federal review before launching. The global market for homeopathic drugs is about $200 million per year, according to the American Association of Homeopathic Pharmacists. Matrixx has settled hundreds of lawsuits connected with Zicam in recent years, but says it ‘will [3]seek a meeting with the FDA to vigorously defend its scientific data, developed during more than 10 years of experience with the products, demonstrating their safety.’” http://science.slashdot.org

Be careful with the medicines you choose! I think the medical world has made great advances and has created medicines that have transformed and saved lives … bottom-line people need medicine, but approach with caution. I fear that we have become too dependent on medicine. Our bodies are amazingly resilient. Often, just my opinion, we are too quick, to the medicine cabinet. Is it just me… you take medicine for runny nose, it stops the runny nose, but it makes the rest of you feel terrible.