Travelling with DVT

A deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot (thrombus) that develops in a deep vein, usually in the leg. This can happen if the vein is damaged or if the flow of blood slows down or stops. Deep vein thrombosis can cause pain in the leg, and can lead to complications if it breaks off and travels in the bloodstream to the lungs.

IT IS now recognised that long periods of inactivity, combined with the cramped conditions and dehydration which can occur on long journeys, can cause a number of circulatory problems, ranging from swollen ankles and tired aching legs to more serious conditions such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

One in 20 people could be affected by flight-induced blood clots.

Contributing factors:
- Cramped conditions that many passengers may encounter during flights
- Low humidity
- Reduced cabin pressure
- Dehydration

Those at high-risk include:

- people with previous history of Venous Thrombosis (Blood Clots) and Pulmonary Embolism

- age above 40 (risk increases with age)

- pregnant women

- those who use oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

- those who had recent surgery or injury, especially to lower limbs/abdomen

- those with cancer and undergoing treatments, which can cause blood to clot more easily

- those with genetic blood clotting abnormalities (eg. Factor V Leiden)

Prevention is the best therapy


Helpful Tips:
- Don’t take sleeping pills
- Wear loose-fitting clothes
- Keep legs uncrossed
- Drink water regularly
- Avoid alcohol as much as possible
- Wear compression socks

Source: The Star...Travelling with DVT

8 steps to body beautiful

Your body can look and feel like a million bucks without going under the knife.
BOEY PING PING of The Star seeks out ways for you to try.

Body brushing
Brushing the skin...

Scrub me clean
Body scrubs help remove dead skin cells and flaky patches...

Soak your blues away
After a hard day’s work, a soak in the tub melts your worries away and sends your body into deep relaxation.

Soaps and suds
Notice how bathing gets you all refreshed and invigorated?

Fuzz busting
The best time to shave, wax or tweeze is after a shower when your skin and hair is soft and relaxed.

Smooth as butter
The best way to protect skin is to coat it with moisturisers and sunblock.

Boost your bust
It won’t take you from an A cup to a C cup but bust firming creams do help to increase elasticity and firmness, preventing your breasts from meeting your stomach.

Spot on
Your body needs just as much care and sun protection as your face.

And finally:

Mix your own milk bath
This recipe is said to leave your skin gently scented and feeling like silk.

Ingredients: l 3 cups powdered milk l 1/4 cup oatmeal l 1/4 cup dried orris root (it is the dried and ground root of a Dalmatian iris and has a soft violet scent; can be found in pharmacies/herbalists’)

l 1/3 cup almond meal

l 1 capsule vitamin E (break open into dry ingredients)

l 1/3 cup cornstarch

Directions:

This makes enough for a few baths. Combine ingredients, make sure they are completely mixed. Store in a container. When you are ready to add it to your bath, scoop the desired amount of the mixture and tie securely in a muslin bag or even a facecloth will do. Tie to the faucet allowing the warm water to run over and through the bag.

* To make almond meal:

Using a blender, grind up blanched or slivered almonds to a powdered consistency. (Almond meal can be found in shops retailing baking ingredients.)

(source: pioneerthinking.com)

Article source: The Star...8 steps to body beautiful

Cheaper cancer treatment

PM out to slash costs for cancer treatment

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi intends to perpetuate the work done by his late wife for cancer victims and has made it his personal mission to seek cheaper treatment for Malaysian patients.

The Prime Minister said that medicines for cancer treatment were now very expensive.

”The cost of cancer treatment is very high and I know the medicines are really expensive. It is my intention to make cancer treatment affordable to all.

“This should be our aim and this is what I want to work towards,” he told Parliament yesterday after Deputy Prime Mnister Datuk Seri Najib Razak tabled a motion to convey the MPs' condolences to the family of Datin Paduka Seri Endon Mahmood who died on Thursday.

‘The cost of cancer treatment is very high and I know the medicines are really expensive. It is my intention to make cancer treatment affordable to all' - Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Abdullah said that when Endon, who suffered from breast cancer, was undergoing treatment overseas, she told him of her immense pain.

“Her illness really weakened her. But the lesson, I believe, is that there is already a stronger feeling among everyone on the need to overcome cancer.

“This can be through education and prevention, or having more treatments and types of medicine, which we hope, can be cheaper and more reasonably priced.”

Before she died, Endon had told him to ensure the completion of several projects she had started.

“God willing, I, together with o ur children, will help to ensure the success of the projects,” he added, while appealing to those involved in the projects to continue them as they were for the people's welfare.

“Endon was a loving, generous person who always wanted to help others,” he said.

He conveyed Endon's gratitude to those who had supported and helped her to carry out her charity works.

Among them were her Bakti colleagues, in particular her deputy Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, non-governmental organisations, ministers, officers and everyone else who had worked with her on her cancer awareness project and other projects promoting batik, songket, and family values.

“She could not thank them herself because she was ill. So, allow me to thank them all on her behalf. She really appreciated everyone's help and even when she was sick, she always spoke about this.”

Abdullah related how Endon was unable to complete several projects because of her illness but added that she was touched by the support she received from people.

“I believe that Endon would have also really appreciated it if I thank as well as seek forgiveness from those whom she could have hurt in any way.”

Earlier, Abdullah said he was deeply touched by the initiative to table the motion to convey the condolences in Parliament.

Source: The Star

Treasures of qigong

BY DR AMIR FARID ISAHAK
The Star

THERE are many benefits of practising qigong, and some of the claims may sound incredulous to sceptics. But for those who diligently practise this ancient art, the benefits are real.

Kay (not her real name) was going through a difficult time in her life three years ago. She was suffering from depression, headaches, insomnia, indigestion, constipation and joint pains. As if all these were not enough, she was also suffering from pelvic pains due to endometriosis.

Read full article: Treasures of qigong...The Star

Differentiating colds, flu and lung infections

A very enlightening article from Dr YLM of The Star.

By DR YLIM

WITH the avian flu and what not, I’m not sure I can tell the difference between having a common cold and a flu. Aren’t they one and the same? Should I panic if I get either one?

You shouldn’t panic, not in any circumstances. No, the common cold and the flu are not one and the same. People often confuse them, calling a cold the “flu” and vice versa. Colds are generally considered minor while a flu is more severe.

There are similarities between the common cold and the flu:

They are both caused by viruses

They are both infections of the upper respiratory tract, namely the nose and throat

They are both highly infectious and contagious
Even doctors sometimes can’t tell the difference between them. So when you present with similar symptoms, they will write the diagnosis as “URTI”, which means upper respiratory tract infection.

What are the differences between them?
Read more...Differentiating colds, flu and lung infections...The Star

The wonder fruit - the banana

Because of their impressive potassium content, bananas are highly recommended by doctors for patients whose potassium is low. One large banana, about 9 inches in length, packs 602 mg of potassium and only carries 140 calories. That same large banana even has 2 grams of protein and 4 grams of fiber. No wonder the banana was considered an important food to boost the health of malnourished children! Those reducing sodium in their diets can't go wrong with a banana with its mere 2 mgs of sodium. For the carbohydrate counters there are 36 grams of carbs in a large banana.

Vitamins and minerals are abundant in the banana, offering 123 I.U. of vitamin A for the large size. A full range of B vitamins are present with .07 mg of Thiamine, .15 mg of Riboflavin, .82 mg Niacin, .88 mg vitamin B6, and 29 mcg of Folic Acid. There are even 13.8 mg of vitamin C. On the mineral scale Calcium counts in at 9.2 mg, Magnesium 44.1 mg, with trace amounts of iron and zinc.

Putting all of the nutritional figures together clearly shows the banana is among the healthiest of fruits. The plantain, when cooked, rates slightly higher on the nutritional scale in vitamins and minerals but similar to the banana in protein and fiber content.

Source: banana.com

More information on the goodness of the banana:

The real source of the following insightful is unknown so if you do know the source, please email me so that credit can be duly given.


Never, put your banana in the refrigerator!!!

This is interesting. After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again.

Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.

But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains re gulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemog lobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in pot assium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were h elped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep b lood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in A ustria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and crisps. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal d isorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand, for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers b ecause they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

Smoking: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes: According to research in "The New England Journal of Medic ine, "eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!

Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around. So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"

PASS IT ON TO YOUR FRIENDS

PS: Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time! I will add one here; want a quick shine on our shoes?? Take the INSIDE of the banana skin, and rub directly on the shoe...polish with dry cloth. Amazing fruit.

Fad diets don't work

Fad diets don't work or do they? Let's hear what a member of the British Medical Research Council has to say. Excerpts are from an article from the Sunday Mail.






















Who would you like to look like, Ms Zellweger, Ms Kidman, Ms Cattrall or Ms Bullock? Find out their secret.

ATKINS DIET
THEORY: Cut down on carbohydrates and fill up on red meat, cheese and cream.
CLAIMS: Lose weight while "eating luxuriously" and never be fat again.
CELEBRITY FAN: Renee Zellweger.

SOUTH BEACH DIET
THEORY: Stock up on lean meat, fish, shellfish, salads, fruit and wholegrains.
CLAIMS: A healthy heart and weight loss without exercise.
CELEBRITY FAN: Nicole Kidman

GI DIET
THEORY: Eat slow-burning wholegrain carbohydrates and avoid white bread, potatoes, cakes and biscuits.
CLAIMS: Permanent weight loss without going hungry.
CELEBRITY FAN: Kim Cattrall.

ZONE DIET
THEORY: Get 40 per cent of your calories from carbohydrates, 30 per cent from protein and 30 per cent from fat and take fish oil supplements.
CLAIMS: Keeps fat down by controlling insulin levels.
CELEBRITY FAN: Sandra Bullock

Now we know why they look so gorgeous!