Online Disease Guide: September 2008

Health Goals The Vitalism Philosophy

Vitalism is a philosophy on health that is simple to follow and provides powerful effects. At its heart is the belief that living in pain or disease, of any type, is an unnatural state. More importantly, Vitalism suggests that pain and disease is a sign that a larger problem is underfoot.

Reducing pain and disease symptoms by fighting them with modern medicines and surgery will rarely touch the larger problem. New symptoms will arise, and new medicines and surgeries for this symptom will continue to weaken the body, harming its precious organs and destroying the body?s immune response strength. What is needed to understand is how to identify the greater problems behind the initial symptoms of pain or disease before they cause the arrival of larger, more complicated conditions.

There should be an adopted focus on learning the basics of Vitalism, and with each step, the discovering of major health conditions and understanding their underlying causes, of which may not often be considered or discussed in your doctors office, but which are nevertheless understood and well researched. This way of thinking is a positive means of finding more practical alternatives to drugs, expensive supplements, and surgeries.

Also central to the 'vitalist' philosophy is the key principle that a lack of symptoms does not mean health. Health is an abundance of energy. Health is a source of personal power and control over your personal and professional life, along with other relationships. Health is, also, control over your self. Health is having the ability to have your body do whatever you want your body to do.

While the ?vitalist? lifestyle is simple and enriching, to educate yourself away from the misinformation you have been fed over the years may take some time and commitment on your behalf. Every effort should be made to strive for information, expanding your understanding of how your mind and your body work together. Soon, you will understand that the food you eat, when eaten properly, brings you energy instead of draining energy. You will understand that the foods that bring you health are delicious and the unhealthy foods you crave are draining.

Through Vitalism, you will also learn how a lean, healthy physique is enjoyable to obtain and enjoyable to maintain. The same simple steps you need to take to reduce your body pains will bring you a healthier, leaner physique, and an invigorated organic system. We hope to educate you as to what these underlying forces of Vitalism may be and what remedies you may find.

Dr. Bryan Brodeur lives a vitalist lifestyle, is the author of Vitalism, and the owner of VitalityHouse.

How to Prevent Colon Cancer Disease

There are many cases of colon cancer today, with significantly more people being diagnosed with this potentially deadly disease below age 50 than previously. Colon cancer used to be considered a disease of the elderly, but nowadays many younger people are diagnosed with this kind of disease. This is more because of unhealthy lifestyles such as eating habits, lack of exercises and many other factors.

People tend to consume junk food and any other foods that are over-processed and contain high fat and sugar. This allows the chemically-laced food to sit in colon for longer time and lead to the cancer disease.

Several ways to keep your colon healthy:

1. Balancing your diet

A balance diet will supply your body with sufficient nutrition: balance in carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals. It will be better to get all these nutritions naturally by consuming healthy foods such as: fresh vegetables and beans, fish, fruits, seafood and milk. Taking daily supplements also will help.

2. Reduce over-processed foods

Reduce intake of over-processed foods, especially fried foods because these foods contain of high fat that is dangerous to health. You can also choose organic foods that are higher in nutrition. Avoid sausage, hot dogs, ham, and many of which contain salt, sodium nitrites and sodium nitrates, which play big role in leading to colon cancer.

3. Exercise regularly

Do exercise at least 3 times a week is adequate to maintain your stamina and health. If you have any disease, it would be wise to consult with your doctor what exercise suits your current condition.

4. Drink eight glasses of water daily

Adequate water is essential to your body and will help to clean your system by gently washing out offensive bacteria and germs that can harbor in the colon and lead to illness or problems.

5. Colon cleansing

Colon cleansing method has been so popular as an option to keep your colon healthy. Consult with your doctor if you wish to take this method.

6. Visit your doctor and have an annual medical check-up to prevent diseases.

J. Raizel is the owner of Beauty, Health and Fitness blog and Beauty, Health and Fitness eStore. You will find updated news, information, tips and articles about health, beauty and fitness and related products.

Melanin: Aging of the Skin and Skin Cancer

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is responsible for 90% of the visible signs of aging on the skin of whites, says Dr. Michael J. Martin, former Assistant Clinical Professor in the Dept. of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at University of California, San Francisco.

Blacks' skin, however, ages much slower.

Why are most dark-skinned blacks protected from harmful UV rays? Because compared to whites, blacks possess more melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color.

Melanin

Melanin offers protection against UV rays for blacks and other dark-skinned people. Conversely, fair-skinned people are much less protected and more susceptible to skin cancer. Furthermore, albinos' skin offers no protection.

Although blacks' skin produces more melanin than whites', all skin has the same number of melanocytes, the cells that manufacture the melanin.

Melanocytes manufacture melanin from an amino acid, tyrosin, with the help of an enzyme, tyrosinase. In the bottom layer of the epidermis above the dermis, UV light stimulates the production of melanin in the form of insoluble melanosomes. These surround the epidermal cells, which move up to the surface of the skin. The result is a tan.

Blacks' skin produce more melanin, even in the absence of sunlight, and their type of melanin, eumelanin, is more effective at blocking solar rays. However, white skin produces melanin only in the presence of sunlight and after the UV rays have penetrated the lower portion of the epidermis and have caused skin damage.

Melanin also functions as an excellent free radical scavenger. It affects the delicately designed lipids that hold moisture in the stratum corneum (the outermost layer of the epidermis). If the skin loses its moisture, it becomes rigid and cracks, says Sergio Nacht, PhD., Senior Vice-President of Enhanced Derm Technologies, Inc. in Redwood City.

UV Radiation and Skin

UV-A has the longest wavelength, is not filtered by the ozone and passes through glass. It reaches the earth all year long and the amount is comparatively stable. It can penetrate the skin down to the dermis, beneath the four layers of epidermis. It is responsible for most of the visible signs of aging, due to damage to collagen and elastic fibers of the connective tissue of the dermis.

UV-A radiation also plays a role in the development of sunburns and skin cancer. Tanning salon lamps emit a large amount of UV-A rays to generate tans, so the American Academy of Dermatology does not recommend their use.

UV-B radiation, which is partially filtered by the ozone, penetrates the skin to the bottom layer of the epidermis where the basal cells are produced. UV-B can break the molecular bonds, disturbing the dividing cells and altering their structure. Compared with UV-A, UV-B is responsible for most of DNAs damage. It also causes most sunburns. During a sunburn the reddening of the skin, erythema, is caused by dilation of capillaries.

More UV-B is present during summer months between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and at latitudes closer to the equator. Furthermore, at high altitudes the air is thinner and cleaner, so UV-B radiation is more abundant.

UV-C, which is generally filtered by the ozone, has the shortest wavelength and the most energy, or intensity. It can sterilize hospital equipment and kill bacteria.

In addition, UV light that reaches the earth is scattered in all directions, and up to 85% is reflected from surfaces.

The Theory of Melanin for Environmental Adaptation

Originally, people of a particular race resided in a particular area. As time went on, their skin adapted to the environment. For instance, people who lived geographically close to the equator had darker skin, and people who lived far from the equator had lighter skin.

In Scotland, which lies at a northern latitude, descendants of the Britons have white skin. When their skin is exposed to the meager sunlight, the scant amount of melanin their skin produces is unable to block the sunlight. Therefore, their bodies are able to make Vitamin D with the help of sunlight. Vitamin D, a vitamin found in fish oil, is necessary to prevent rickets, a bone disease caused by too little calcium.

In contrast, in Africa, which is near the equator, blacks require intense sunlight to penetrate their dark skin to make Vitamin D. This is all well and good. However, when blacks lived in England during the Industrial Revolution, they were the first to develop symptoms of rickets, such as retarded growth, bowed legs and fractures because not enough sunlight was available.

Fortunately, in 1930, Vitamin D was discovered and dispensed as a supplement to add to the diet.

On the other hand, the skin of whites in Australia are in complete opposition to their climate. Consequently, intense UV radiation has been the major cause of skin damage and skin cancer Down Under.

About The Author

Diana Clarke is a teacher, freelance writer and founder of The Sun and Your Skin, a website on life and light at http://www.yourskinandsun.com.

dianaclarke2001@yahoo.com

7 Reasons You Want A Holistic Dentist To Take Care of Your Teeth

Use of Bio-Compatible Dental Materials

Let's face it, we live in a toxic world; so you don't want to add to your toxic load or create more stress for your immune system through your dentistry. Studies indicate that at some point at least twenty per cent of dental patients develop sensitivity to dental material. Your holistic dentist will have different forms of testing available to ascertain which materials are suitable for you.

Non-Painful and Natural Treatment of Gum Diseases

In dentistry, the only condition that can strictly speaking be called a disease is periodontal (gum) disease. The media has drawn a lot of attention recently to research showing that bacteria causing gum disease is not only found in the mouth. The same bacteria can be found in the blood stream when a patient has gum disease and may also be present in instances of heart disease.

The mouth is the gateway to the body and a sound oral environment is a necessary support for a strong heart in a healthy body. Your gums are the foundation for any dental treatment. A holistic dentist will always try to implement a balanced and progressive program for preserving your gums before recommending a more aggressive approach to your periodontal care.

Safe Removal of Metal Fillings

It is vital that a strict protocol be followed whenever metal fillings need to be replaced. This includes tooth isolation so that no metal particles find themselves in your mouth or, worse yet, are swallowed. Clean air and oxygen should be provided for you to breathe, along with any special filtration and a custom high speed vacuum unit.

Ideally your holistic dentist will also have a filter that will prevent the metal that has been removed from getting into the public water system. In our oceans, fourteen per cent of the pollution is caused by dental metals. Bay Area dentists are actually required to implement this type of filtration to protect the waters of San Francisco Bay.

Prevention and Effective Treatment of Bite Problems and TMJ Problems

Your holistic dentist knows that your mouth is the gateway to your body, not just internally but structurally as well. The patient's bite alignment must always be factored into the total picture of dental treatment, along with specific concerns like problems with the jaw joint (TMJ). Bite assessment is important for treatment, not just for the head and jaw but for the structure of the body as a whole.

Measures to take for bite correction include use of splints designed with state of the art materials, as well as muscular adjustments within the mouth. Sometimes your holistic dentist may coordinate treatment directly with a chiropractor in order to give you the most positive results.

Your bite must be at its best for the successful outcome to your dental treatment: a relaxed and happy smile.

Adjunctive Support

Traditionally, dentists have always stressed the importance of regular brushing and flossing, particularly after eating sweets, for the maintenance of dental health. Your holistic dentist may put even more emphasis on the importance of good dietary habits.

For example, an alkaline, sugar-free diet is an important adjunct to preventive oral health. It is well known that sugar contributes to tooth decay. This is because the bacteria that cause decay easily feed and grow on intake of sugar. An alkaline diet is also helpful in that the stresses of our world tend to cause acidity of the saliva, which affects the health of both teeth and gums. An alkaline diet keeps the ph of saliva at the proper balance so that the digestive processes beginning with the mouth will function optimally. Following some simple dietary guidelines can minimize and actually eliminate sugar cravings.

Your holistic dentist may also use aids like homeopathics, which are a powerful support to oral health and dental treatment. Homeopathic pellets of Aconitum Napellus can be administered to calm anxiety before treatment. Homeopathic gels can be used topically after procedures to dissipate the effects of anesthetics. Others, such as Arnica and Traumeel, can be applied topically to sore gum tissue.

Cosmetic Bonding for Preservation of Tooth Structure

Metal fillings that are 15-20 years old can create cracks in your teeth that eventually grow to become fractures. It is not uncommon to have old fillings stay intact while the tooth structure crumbles around it. In addition to metal fillings weakening tooth structure, they stain the underlying tooth black. It is best to remove old fillings before the tooth breaks, risking root canals or crowns and caps.

Through bonding techniques caps or crowns are sometimes unnecessary, since bonding helps to hold the tooth together rather than wedge it apart. This strengthening through bonding allows us to be more conservative and remove less tooth structure. There are many durable tooth-colored filling materials available today that support the tooth and look natural and beautiful.

Products and Education for Eliminating Toxicity from Your Dental Treatment, Dental Products, Your Home and Your Environment

Today limiting the damage caused by toxicity is a hidden determinant to good health. Limiting toxicity may present as big a challenge as getting proper nutrition. Your body has the wisdom to convert whatever you feed it into nutrients it can use, but over time the immune system and organs of the body may respond to cumulative toxicity by breaking down.

It is important for patients to know about the ingredients to avoid in toothpaste and mouthwash. There is more and more availability of organic, effective, good-tasting alternatives for home dental care. Your holistic dentist can educate you in the many ways that toxic ingredients can be found in personal care and cleaning products and even food and medicine.

Learning which ingredients are best avoided and taking the time to read labels are two ways that we can empower ourselves and our families to strive for good oral health and overall well being. Educating and influencing patients to have a more balanced lifestyle is another of the reasons why your holistic dentist provides important service to your community.

Carey O?Rielly, DDS has over 20 years of experience in the dental field. His practice, the Integrative Center for Holistic Dentistry, is located in Encinitas, CA. Watch a video in which Dr. O?Rielly discusses holistic/cosmetic dentistry and other topics at his web site http://www.myholisticdentist.com

For Dr. O?Rielly?s new ebook, Your Ultimate Asset: The ABC?s of Truly Good Health, visit http://www.myholisticdentist.com

For the story behind the practice and how it came to be ?holistic? visit, subscribe to our holistic health journal at http://www.myholisticdentist.com/illuminae/subscribe.htm and look for news of the practice?s upcoming blog.

Mesothelioma and Asbestos

Mesothelioma is an uncommon form of cancer, commonly linked with prior exposure to asbestos. In this disease, cancerous cells grow in the protective lining (mesothelium) covering the internal organs of the body. This disease is commonly located in the outer lining of the chest cavity and lungs (pleura). It can also be found in the lining of the abdominal cavity (peritoneum), or the sac that envelops the heart (pericardium). People who contract this disease have invariably worked on jobs that put them in close contact with asbestos.

One of the characteristics of mesothelioma is that symptoms can appear very late, sometimes 50 years following first contact with asbestos. Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma, the disease?s most common form, include discomfort in the chest and difficulty in breathing. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma, another form of the disease, include weight loss, abdominal swelling and pain. Blood clotting, bowel obstruction and fever are other symptoms of this type of mesothelioma. If the malignancy has spread to other body parts, then symptoms may include pain, face swelling and difficulty in swallowing food. However, it is important to remember that these symptoms are not exclusive to this disease; they can happen with other less severe conditions as well.

Over the past two decades, the rate of mesothelioma cases has gone up. Still, in the larger picture, it is a relatively rare cancer. The percentage of cases largely depends on the populations? exposure to asbestos. In the United States, it has been reported that that frequency may have hit the highest point at 15 per million in 2004. This trend is thought to continue in other parts of the world. Interestingly, mesothelioma is more common in men than women. The risk of this disease augments with age, but a person of any age or gender can be affected. About one-fifth to one-third of all mesothelioma cases are peritoneal.

Mesothelioma Asbestos provides detailed information on Mesothelioma and Asbestos, Mesothelioma Asbestos Diseases, Mesothelioma Asbestos Treatment, Asbestos Mesothelioma Cancer and more. Mesothelioma Asbestos is affiliated with Mesothelioma Diagnosis Support.

Asbestos Mesothelioma Cancer

Mesothelioma is one of the most uncommon forms of cancer. It generally affects the lungs, heart or abdominal organs. The most common form of this disease is pleural mesothelioma. The pleuron is a slight membrane between the chest cavity and the lungs. The lubrication it gives does not allow the lungs to get grazed when they come in contact with the chest wall. Pleural mesothelioma is also known as lung cancer. Peritoneal mesothelioma is another form of mesothelioma. The membrane that envelops the abdomen?s organs is known as the peritoneum. While it is less common than pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma is more invasive and consequently more fatal for the patient.

Mesotheliomas are either easily curable or malignant. The most widespread form of mesothelioma is the ?diffuse malignant pleural mesothelioma?. This tumor is invasive and destructive. It characteristically spreads quickly to the lungs? surface, heart or abdominal organs. Life expectancy for patients afflicted by this cancer usually ranges between four months to two years. Of course, that depends a lot on myriad factors, like the stage of the disease?s detection, the patient?s health etc. With appropriate care, some patients have survived for a number of years.

Early diagnosis and surgery may elongate life expectancy. Surgery may not be a feasible option, however, for older or weaker patients. Radiation treatment and chemotherapy can help in the overall program. Home care and pain management are other alternatives during the later stages of the malignancy.

Automobile mechanics, painters, plasterers, pipe fitters, plumbers, shipyard workers and welders, to name a few, are in regular contact with asbestos and thus in greater danger of getting the disease than individuals of other professions.

Generally, it is believed that sustained exposure to asbestos is more liable to give one mesothelioma. However, some individuals with short but severe exposures have developed this malignancy. Also, a person can get this disease indirectly. Women, while washing the clothes of men (son, husband) who work with asbestos, can develop the cancer.

Will Drinking Tea Lower Your Cholesterol?

These days cholesterol is creating havoc, as death toll due to this disease is ever rising. Majority of the American population is said to have high level cholesterol and this makes them to suffer from its related diseases. By seeing this sudden increase many companies are now in a hurry to produce the drug that can reduce the cholesterol level significantly. And some how they are successful too but what they never highlight is the side effects attached to it. Firstly if we talk about cholesterol, it is a fatty, lipid and waxy substance circulating in the bloodstream. It not only provides the protective coating to the arteries but also produces sex hormones and many fatty acids required by the body.

But once this fat exceeds its limit it becomes the real threat. Nowadays cholesterol reductions medications are selling are like hot cakes in the American market but still many people are unaware of its side effects. Among this whole list of medications the new way which has grown immensely is the tea. According to the experts tea can also help in reducing the cholesterol level in the body. But concrete conclusion is still not out. Many experts feel it do but many discard this theory by calling it as a fluke. They feel that tea cannot reduce cholesterol but yes can curb the raising the cholesterol. However this theory too is not supported by any evidences.

According to the myth, tea can reduce cholesterol level in the body as it breaks down the complex and concentrated plaque on the arteries. But not an ordinary tea, only green and herbal tea has this feature. They tend to have some special herbs and shrubs which not only break down the piled up cholesterol but also curtail the cholesterol growth. But this process tends to take time as it is very lethargy and tedious process. In this the person has to drink green tea for certain amount of time and at fixed frequency. Mainly 35 cups of green tea and that too per week is necessary in order to break down the cholesterol.

Black tea too is of very good use in terms of reducing high cholesterol as it burn the concentrated fat. Being in natural state it has many benefits attached to it. But what make people reluctant in drinking it, is the bitter taste of it. That?s why despite being so beneficial people still avoid and go in for pills and drugs which are accompanied with array of side effects. So your health is in your hands and takes a wise step in order to have happy and healthy living.

The author is budding web content writer and has much experience in writing quality content for many websites. You can view his blog for more information.

Bras and Breast Cancer Are You Dressed to Kill?

Breast cancer is a cultural phenomenon. The incidence of breast cancer is dramatically increased only in cultures that wear bras. How could this be?

The author?s of the book, Dressed to Kill : The Link Between Breast Cancer and Bras ? 1995 by Sydney Ross Singer and Soma Grismaijer examined the habits of 4700 American women, nearly half of whom had breast cancer, before writing their book.

They found that wearing a bra more than 12 hours a day dramatically increased the incidence of breast cancer, cystic breasts (also known as tight-bra syndrome), breast pain, breast tenderness and other breast issues. Women who wear bras 18-24 hours/day have over 100 times greater incidence of breast cancer than those who go bra-less. So, basically you are 3-4 times more likely to get breast cancer from wearing a bra, than by smoking cigarettes!

Bras create constant pressure which compresses and constricts the lymphatic movement to the chest area. If you are a woman who wears a bra and you see red marks and lines after taking your bra off, you are at a greater risk for breast cancer.

The role of lymph is to flush out toxins and debris from tissues. If this flow is impaired, like when wearing a bra, tissues get toxic. We also impair toxin release by using underarm deodorants--they plug up and block our pores.

One interesting study done in the UK in the year 2000, followed 100 women with fibrocystic breast disease. These women went bra-free for three months. The results of this study were astounding, showing how effective this one treatment of going bra-less was in overcoming this particular health challenge.

Singer and Grismaijer validated their own study by going to Fiji and studying the incidence of breast cancer in that country. After working with the country?s epidemiologists, they found only a small percentage of the population with breast cancer. When interviewing these women, they found that every one of them had taken jobs in the corporate world and had started wearing bras within a few short years previous.

Eight Things You CAN Do if You MUST Wear a Bra:

1)Make sure the bra has a loose fit. Remove it when it is not necessary to wear it.
2)Choose a bra with no underwires. These wires block the energy meridians from moving freely through their natural cycles.
3)Use a larger size bra around your menstrual time as increased estrogen causes tissues to retain fluids making the breasts larger and the bra tighter.
4)Discontinue use of deodorizer/antiperspirants. Wash your armpits often with soap and water instead.
5)Bathe daily. The body releases 30% of all the toxins it produces through the skin.
6)Use a shower filter that filters out chlorine. Chlorine also causes several forms of cancer. As you shower, your skin and lungs are absorbing huge amounts of chlorine.
7)Occasionally incorporate Poke Root tincture into your diet to help the lymph flow easier (especially if you have little white dots around the outside of your irises. This is known as a Lymphatic Rosary and is a sign of a slow or sludging lymphatic system.)
8)Sleep naked or in a stretchy T-shirt. Women who wear cotton or nylon non-stretchable materials while they sleep who roll over often can cut circulation off as these materials resist stretching.

Are you dressed to kill? If so, take note and DO something for your health and your life.

? 2005 by Dr. Denice M. Moffat

Dr. Denice Moffat is a practicing naturopath, medical intuitive, and veterinarian working on the family unit (which includes humans and animals) through her phone consultation practice established in 1993. She has a content-rich website at http://www.NaturalHealthTechniques.com and free monthly newsletter. To read Dr. Moffat's full article on Cancer which includes many natural healing treatments and tips, go to: http://www.naturalhealthtechniques.com/SpecificDiseases/cancer1.htm

Does the Amount of Dental InfectionsRoot Canal Infections Influence the Severity of Disease?

When infected teeth produce disturbance in other parts of the body, it is not necessary that the quantity of infection be large, nor is it demonstrated that it is necessary that organisms pass throughout the body or to the special tissues involved, but the evidence at hand strongly suggests that soluble poisons may pass from the infected teeth to the lymph or blood circulation, or both, and produce systemic disturbance entirely out of proportion to the quantity of poison involved.

The evidence indicates that toxic substance may under certain circumstances sensitize the body or special tissues so that very small quantities of the organisms, which produce that toxin, may produce very marked reactions and disturbances.

The nature and results of the numerous Dr. Price investigations are a continuous source of amazement.

For example, in pondering how bacteria could survive in dentin tubules when they become sealed off by the root canal filling, Dr.Price devised a method of dehydrating teeth - that is, measuring the amount of moisture they contain.

In doing this experiment, Dr. Price found root filled teeth contained fluid of sufficient quantity to be culture medium which would nourish bacteria.

Another question which interested Dr. Price was whether the bacteria in infected teeth soley responsible for the illnesses which occurred to rabbits after infected teeth were imbedded under their skins.

He found that by extracting infected teeth, crushing them, and then washing the powder, bacteria could still be found in the liquid. When he put the liquid in a centrifuge, the centrifugal force spun off the bacteria and sedimment, leaving a clear liquid.

When Dr. Price injected a small amount of this clear liquid into a rabbit, it lost 25 percent of its weight in four weeks and it died in the fifth week. Its brother rabbit, used as the control animal and not injected, continued to thrive and gain weight.

About author: Dr. George Meinig,D.D.S.,F.A.C.D. is a Founder of the Association of Root Canal Specialists Discovers Evidence That Root Canals Damage Your Health Learn What to Do. Learn how Dr. George Meinig discovered that a meticulous 25 year research program, conducted by Weston A. Price, DDS, under the auspices of the American Dental Association's Research Institute, was buried by disbelievers of the focal infection theory. Along the way, Dr. Meinig has received many recognition citatons and awards, both Nationally and internationally. For further information: Visit:http://www.1stultimategumsolution.com Edited and prepared by Sung Lee, alternate author

This article can be reprinted freely online as long as the entire article with resource box are included.

Heart Attack: Causes Risks and Prevention

Heart attack, medically known as Myocardial Infarction, is the sudden stoppage of the heart due to death or damage to a large part of the heart muscles known as myocardium. It is widely acknowledged that heart related conditions (cardiovascular diseases) are the number one cause of death and disability in the United States and most parts of the civilized world, today. And sudden death, from heart attack is by far the most common consequence of cardiovascular diseases.

We have all seen someone, seemingly healthy days or hours before, suddenly slump and die. This is the kind of death or disability that heart attack visits on its victims. Of the numerous types of cardiovascular conditions, the one that is most likely to lead to a heart attack is what is known as Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) or more appropriately, Coronary Artery Disease (CAD).

Coronary arteries are the vessels (arteries) that carry oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscles or myocardium. So, as the name implies, Coronary Artery Disease is a condition that affects the coronary arteries (i.e. arteries of the heart). This condition is characterized by the slow and gradual buildup of fatty deposits (fat streaks, plaques or atheromatous streaks) in the walls of the coronary arteries. Initially, these atheromatous streaks/plaques expand into the walls of the arteries, but subsequently, they start building up and growing into the lumen of the affected arteries, narrowing such arteries and obstructing blood flow. This is known as atherosclerosis.

As the build up of the plaques continue, over the years, the plaques increase in thickness and the degree of obstruction of blood flow to the heart muscles becomes severe. Though, the buildup of the plaques takes a very long time to completely occlude the lumen of an artery and result in heart attack, however, sudden rupture of a plaque usually speeds up the process. The rupture of plaque activates the blood clotting system and the clot-plaque interaction fills the lumen of such artery to the point of sudden closure. Such sudden occlusion of a coronary artery causes irreversible death of the heart muscle supplied by that artery (myocardial infarction) and precipitates a 'heart attack' i.e. the sudden stop of heart beat.

Coronary heart disease, the commonest underlying cause of heart attack, as with several other cardiovascular conditions has been associated with a number of risk factors; however, a family history of coronary heart disease appears to be one of the strongest risk factors. Also, men are more likely to suffer a heart attack than women, though after menopause, the risk of women approaches that of men, especially with hormonal therapies, which tend to increase a woman's risk of CHD. Other risk factors include: Smoking, diabetes, hypertension, obesity (especially central or female-type obesity), a chronic sub-clinical lack of vitamin C, elevated homocysteine levels, elevated blood levels of asymmetric dimethylarginine and also importantly, sedentary or inactive lifestyle.

Beside some factors which cannot be controlled, such as hereditary and gender, prevention of CHD and hence, heart attack, is usually achieved through the modification of risk factors. Leading an active life style with frequent exercise, cessation of smoking, maintaining a low-fat, low-calorie diet and decreasing blood cholesterol levels, especially Low density lipoproteins (LDL) are crucial to preventing heart attack. Exercise and healthy diet have been shown to have profound effect on cardiovascular risks, although, cessation of cigarette smoking can also profoundly reduce the risk of heart attack.

It is important to note that despite the increasingly growing number of deaths recorded as a result of heart related conditions, cardiovascular diseases can still be prevented, or at least delayed, in most cases, contrary to general beliefs. The increasing number of deaths recorded in most western countries is mainly due to unhealthy lifestyles; such as smoking, lack of physical activity and unhealthy eating habits; and worst still, the unwillingness to modify these lifestyles in most individuals.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Heart Disease

The Argument for Alternative Medicine: Unconventional Thinking is Critical to Your Wellbeing

Even if all the experts agree, they may well be mistaken. ?Bertrand Russell

A form of Streptococcus bacteria killed as many as 25% of 19th Century women who delivered babies in the hospitals of Europe and the United States. In the 1840?s, Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis, a physician who was practicing in Vienna, hypothesized that doctors were somehow passing disease from their hands to their patients at delivery. Dr. Semmelweis, after realizing that medical students were dissecting cadavers immediately before entering the delivery room, ordered all medical caregivers to wash their hands using a chlorine solution before examining women in labor. Because of this practice in his maternity wards, the mortality rate dropped to less than one percent.

Dr. Semmelweis became an advocate and eventually a martyr for the cause of hand washing by physicians. This unconventional belief was met with criticism and even hostility from his peers. In his day, hand washing was considered an unnecessary burden because of the lack of indoor plumbing. Dr. Semmelweis? many critics were unimpressed and unconvinced by his results despite the fact he was able to duplicate them in other maternity wards.

Dr. Semmelweis was eventually run out of town and died in an institution. At his death in 1865, hand washing by physicians was still a mocked practice. In 1879, at the Academy of Medicine?s seminar in Paris, it was a subject of ridicule and debate. Well into the turn of the next century, the idea of the need for hygiene by the medical community was met with resistance.

?Society is always taken by surprise at any new example of common sense.? ?Ralph Waldo Emerson

Today, we accept the practice of hand washing as just plain common sense. The United States Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has even recognized it as ?the single most important means of preventing the spread of infection?.

?We're going to look back at this century in the future and we're going to laugh eventually, but we'll cry first. This is one of the most barbaric periods. It's going to be called the Dark Ages of medicine.? -Dr. Richard Schulze

Could this happen today? Would conventionally medicine fight disease prevention and treatment that should be common sense? It happens everyday! A prime example is with Lyme Disease.

A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes. -Mark Twain

If you have ever been bitten by a tick, flea, mosquito, gnat, or mite or have been sexually active with someone who has been bitten, then you are at risk for Lyme Disease. Lyme can also be transmitted from mother to unborn child and through breast-feeding. Contaminated food can also pass along the disease.

Forget what you have been told about ?bulls-eye? rashes and deep woods excursions ? they only make up a small percentage of the population infected by Lyme. Lyme Disease is not rare. It is an epidemic.

The Lyme Disease ?outbreak? of the mid-1970?s caused arthritis. However, Lyme causes autoimmunity in the brain and central nervous system, not just the joints. It can mimic MS, Chronic Fatigue, and many mental illnesses. According to the renowned Dr. Cowden, ??more than 50% of chronically ill people may have Lyme contributing to their condition?. Lyme has also been shown to be a factor with Crohn's disease, and ALS.

Lyme, which was not even recognized in the United States until 1975, may be one of the most misunderstood and devastating diseases of our day. The test normally used to detect Lyme Disease is extremely unreliable. This test does not look for the Lyme causing Borreliosis bacteria. Instead, the test looks for the antibodies that your body has produced against Lyme causing bacteria.

The problem is that Lyme can go undetected by your immune system for a long period of time, so those antibodies are not produced against it. Even after antibodies are produced, they are generally found in the tissue, not the blood of an infected person. The result is a negative blood test even if Lyme is present all over the body. Many organ systems can be invaded before an infected person even feels any symptoms. Some will never feel symptoms.

Dr. Jo Anne Whitaker (no known relation to the author) developed a test that looks for the Lyme Borreliosis bacteria, not the antibody. Dr. Whitaker?s lab has tested thousands of people for the presence of Lyme causing bacteria. Every test performed by her lab since 1999 has been positive for Lyme Disease.

?He's the best physician that knows the worthlessness of the most medicines.? -Benjamin Franklin

As difficult as Lyme disease is to detect using standard methods, it is even more difficult to treat. The standard course of treatment can mean years of antibiotics, which are not necessarily effective. Even with years of prescription treatments, patients may still become debilitated or even die.

Cat?s Claw, also known as Una de Gato, is an anti-inflammatory herb and has been used successfully against Lyme Disease. British doctor and surgeon, Andrew Wright, uses Cat?s Claw as his first line of therapy when a patient has Lyme Disease or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. He has found Cat?s Claw a very effective treatment.

?Over 200 years ago, Ben Rush, who signed the Constitution of the United States, warned that we needed to include a medical freedom clause in the Constitution. He said if we didn't it was likely that one group of doctors would monopolize healthcare by passing legislation to outlaw other types of doctors and systems of medicine. This is exactly what happened.? -Dr. Richard Schulze

Lyme doctors in the U.S. who treat their patients with anything outside of conventional treatments, like Cat?s Claw, run the risk of government investigation and losing the right to practice medicine. If you think I am making up some sort of government conspiracy story, let me just say that it has happened to more than fifty effective Lyme doctors in the last three years.

How long will it be before mainstream medicine uses common sense to identify and treat Lyme? Will it even be in our lifetime?

The example of Lyme is just a small part of an ever-growing problem of mainstream medicine stifling medical progress. One persuasive argument for alternative medicine is that it allows for progress in a timely fashion ? especially when the answer is an herb and not a patent medicine.

Heidi Whitaker is an author, popular speaker, and co-founder of http://www.healthydivas.com She has dedicated her life to the fight against autoimmunity. To download a free copy of her book Conquering Autoimmunity visit http://www.healthydivas.com/conquerautoimmunityfreedownload.html

Who is at Increased Risk For Developing Mesothelioma?

Since the late 1800's Asbestos has been mined and used commercially. The use of Asbestos dramatically increased during World War II and since the early 1940's millions of Americans have been exposed to asbestos dust working within industries where initally the risks were not known. There has been widespread exposure to Asbestos by workers within shipyards, mines and mills, producers of asbestos products, workers in the heating and construction industries, and other tradespeople and an increase risk of deveolping mesothelioma has been the result. .

Today, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets limits for acceptable levels of asbestos exposure in the workplace. By contrast, the British Government's Health and Safety executive (HSE) states formally that any threshold for mesothelioma must be at a very low level and it is widely agreed that if any such threshold does exists at all, then it cannot currently be quantified. For practical purposes, therefore, HSE does not assume that any such threshold exists. People who work with asbestos wear personal protective equipment to lower their risk of exposure.

The risk of asbestos-related disease increases with heavier exposure to asbestos and longer exposure time. However, some individuals with only brief exposures have developed mesothelioma. On the other hand, not all workers who are heavily exposed develop asbestos-related diseases. Family members and others living with asbestos workers have an increased risk of developing mesothelioma, and possibly other asbestos-related diseases. This risk may be the result of exposure to asbestos dust brought home on the clothing and hair of asbestos workers.

To reduce the chance of exposing family members to asbestos fibers, asbestos workers are usually required to shower and change their clothing before leaving the workplace.

The combination of smoking and asbestos exposure significantly increases a person's risk of developing cancer of the air passageways in the lung. The Kent brand of cigarettes used asbestos in its filters for the first few years of production in the 1950s and some cases of mesothelioma have resulted. Smoking current cigarettes does not appear to increase the risk of mesothelioma.

There is no curative treatment. Close monitoring (routine X-rays or even pleural biopsy) for mesothelioma is mandated. Oxygen therapy at home is often necessary to relieve the shortness of breath. Supportive treatment of symptoms includes respiratory treatments to remove secretions from the lungs by postural drainage, chest percussion, and vibration. Aerosol medications to thin secretions may be prescribed

Looking for information about Mesothelioma? Go to: http://www.mesotheliomalegalreview.com 'Mesothelioma Legal Review' is published by Linda Woodhouse - The complete resource directory for Mesothelioma related information, legal services, and products Check out more Mesothelioma articles at: http://www.mesotheliomalegalreview.com/archive

Detoxify Your Body In 30 Minutes With A Bath

Dealing with all of the environmental toxins today, can be quite aload on the body. A simple way to help combat these toxins is to take a detoxification bath. In spas today, the use of water therapy is very popular. Bathing in waters containg various healing ingrediants can help to release toxins, promote energy, circulation and well being.

This bath can be done in your very own bathtub and does not require special equipment. Hot water helps draw toxins out of the body to the skin?s surface. When the water cools, it pulls toxins from the skin. The ocean, mineral, hot springs and herbal baths have been used for centuries world wide, for their therapeutic effects.

This is the simple recipe that I regularly use to help combat toxins and detoxify my body:

1 cup Epsom salts
1/2 cup Baking Soda
About 1/2 cup Powdered Ginger

Pour Epsom salt or Baking Soada, and ginger into a warm bath and soak for 15 to 20 minutes. After soaking, scrub the skin gently with a natural fiber like a cotton washcloth or a loofah sponge for 5 minutes. Do not remain in the tub for more than 30 minutes. Note the murkyappearance of the water, this is due to the toxins released in your bath water. Wrap yourself in a large towel or bathrobe and then cover up with a warm blanket. You will sweat for about an hour. The next morning you will feel fantastic!

You can take a detoxification bath often, or at least once a month.In addition to detoxifying the body, this bath is also helps relieve pain.

Danielle Sims explored her library of alternative health, herbal books, and aromatherapy books and created a blueprint for making her own body wrap formulas at home. For more information visit Danielle's website Body Wraps Exposed.

What Is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma the medical name for cancer of the pleura (the lining of the lung and chest cavity) or cancer of the peritoneum (the lining of the abdomen). It is usually caused by prolonged or persistent exposure to asbestos.

Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until between twenty and fifty years after exposure, which explains why so many new cases of this form of cancer are coming to light now, even though the dangers of asbestos were realized long ago and measures taken to reduce the risk of the disease.

As with many forms of cancer, the mesothelioma tumor can spread rapidly, often infecting the opposite pleura, and continuing on to other internal organs. Symptoms include a shortness of breath, chest pains, coughing, and loss of weight.

Testing can be carried out initially by X-Ray, with a Thoric CT and open lung biopsy being used to confirm the findings of the early tests. If it is diagnosed early enough, the tumor can be surgically removed, and with follow-up chemotherapy and radiation treatment, full recovery is often possible.

However, in more advanced cases, cure is usually not possible. In such cases, chemotherapy and radiation treatment can be used alongside other pain relief treatments, to ease the symptoms. Where cure is not possible, the average survival time is between four and eighteen months, depending on the stage of the tumor and the general health of the patient.

About The Author

Angela Cambourne owns and maintains the Mesothelioma Hub, an extensive resource site. http://www.mesothelioma-hub.com.

Holistic Healthcare versus Traditional Western Medicine

The Western medicine community recently asked the question: Will Alternative Healthcare, a.k.a. Holistic, Metaphysical, Energy or Mind, Body, Spirit healing and Western Medicine (WM) merge? This question implies there is reason to wonder and/or we need to consider the benefits a merger might create. The consideration of merging Holistic, Metaphysical, Energy or Mind, Body, Spirit healing and Western Medicine is analogues to comparing apples to oranges. The only comparison between apples and oranges is that they are both fruit?but the comparison ends there. Holistic, Metaphysical, Energy or Mind, Body, Spirit Healing and Western Medicine is diametrically polar opposites with nothing in common, except the subject (you). I will explain.

In order to understand the ideology of Western Medicine, you need to examine the language used by doctors and researchers. Their choice of words reveals their belief systems and the models they use to understand the way they think healing works. When observing the state of Western Medicine and the unprecedented influence of pharmaceuticals and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, an interesting paradox arises. The drug companies claim that pharmaceuticals and OTC can do wonders for people: lower cholesterol, end clinical depression, reverse osteoporosis, eliminate allergies, cure cancer, cure MS, calm children and many other similar promises.

If prescription or OTC drugs are so good for people, where are all the healthy medicated customers? The truth is, there aren't, any. There's nobody taking twelve prescriptions or OTC drugs with a clean bill of health. In fact, the more prescriptions a person takes, the worse their overall health. And if you approach the healthiest people you can find and ask what prescription drugs or OTC drugs they're taking in order to be so healthy, they'll give you a confused look: Healthy people don't take prescription or OTC drugs!

This sort of language is not uncommon from researchers in Western Medicine. They perceive the human body as a battleground on which wars are waged against invaders (viruses, bacterial infections and tumors). Beginning with the Victorian era, Western society has become addicted to quick fixes and results with no effort. Western Medicine has in some instances provided this result. When Western Medicine doesn?t produce a ?quick fix? result the answer is: ?Sorry, it couldn?t be helped?the surgery was a success, the patient died.? It is interesting to note the AMA reports a dismal success rate?approximately 250,000 people die each year due to misdiagnosis and/or the treatment does little or nothing to improve the person?s health. In other words these people didn?t die due to an illness they died due to the wrong treatment.

Western Medicine?s theory and doctrines fail to recognize that diseases are not separate from the person. In fact every disease can be more accurately called an expression of the patient's lifestyle, beliefs, and energies. Cancer is not a tumor, for example: it is a systemic disorder that can only truly be cured by helping to support the body, not by attacking it with chemical bombs or knives. The tumor is merely one physical expression of the systemic disorder, and simply removing the tumor does nothing to cure the disease. The body is designed to heal itself?given it has the proper care?nutrition, herbal supplements, spiritual and emotional well-being.

The body is designed to heal itself provided it has the proper support to do its job. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is based on a concept of balanced qi (pronounced chee), or vital energy, that is believed to flow throughout the body. Qi is proposed to regulate a person's spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical balance and to be influenced by the opposing forces of yin (negative energy) and yang (positive energy). Disease is proposed to result from the flow of qi being disrupted and yin and yang becoming imbalanced. Among the components of TCM are herbal and nutritional therapy, restorative physical exercises, meditation, acupuncture, and remedial massage.

Holistic, Metaphysical, Energy or Mind, Body, Spirit healing has existed since the beginning of time amid religious beliefs and practices, along with the mystery, superstition, fear, and misunderstanding. Holistic Healing is now becoming recognized regardless of what anyone chooses to believe or think. Ask almost anyone about their spiritual well-being and they will probably tell you, Yeah, I am a spiritual person, I go to church frequently.? Therein, the confusion arises out of the association of healing with religion. The majority of people, including religious leaders, do not understand the difference.

Definition: HEAL 1. To restore to health or soundness, 2. To set right, repair, 3. To restore a person to spiritual wholeness, 4. To become whole and sound, to return to health.

Definition: SPIRIT 1. The vital principle or animating force within living beings, Incorporeal consciousness. There are about twelve more elaborations mostly to do with various religious implications.

Definition: RELIGION 1. Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe, 2. A set of beliefs, values and practices based on the teachings of a religious doctrine.

Thus, based on Western Medicine?s common interpretations of how things 'ARE', many paradoxes are created. The resultant effect is confusion and un-wellness. The Truth, as Carl Jung and others have carefully worded in their writing, is this: Every Thing in the universe is Energy and Consciousness. How anyone thinks or feels about that Fact cannot change it. The purpose of All religions is the recognition that humans have a part of themselves that is not physical and there is a need to explore and experience this aspect of themselves. Part of the intent is to discover one's purpose and to live in the best way possible. Another part of that goal also includes the attainment of Truth and Spiritual Wellness. However, the result of religious teachings with regard to our Spiritual health has been an abysmal failure. If the most important aspect of our being is our Spiritual self, and it has been neglected, it is a miracle we have existed this long.

Many churches are in a state of extreme confusion in an attempt to avoid accepting the ?Truth.? The greatest struggle is how to incorporate all the now known knowledge and assimilate it into the religious dogma and theology. The problem is the impossibility of reconciling the obvious flaws in most theology and doctrine. The obvious shortcomings and how political and nationalistic and other special interests and agendas have resulted in a history filled with disappointment, tragedy, confusion and religious wars.

In many cultures it has always been thought and/or known that we are spiritual beings, the biggest exception is in western industrialized cultures that we believe we are people who happen to have a soul. Eastern philosophy believes we are a soul first, housed in this thing called a ?body.? The most beautiful and simple interpretation of how everything 'IS' can be found in the Native American tradition. Everything in the universe is Spirit, each thing in it is of the same Spirit and it is all Connected. This is exactly what we are beginning to understand in science and quantum physics, that everything in the universe is made of the same thing and has a consciousness about it. The two things that frustrate scientists the most is the fact that all these things operate across time, space and dimensions they do not yet understand, and the ability of things to operate on inter-dimensional and multi-dimensional levels. A high degree of new understanding about the science and physics of what spiritual really means is now mostly coming from independent researchers. High-tech and aerospace research physicists and scientists, all seem to have a more concise and accurate understanding of Spirit and the Spiritual than those from a theological background.

The Reality and The Truth of Spirit?In plain language, there is only One God or Universal Energy that Is Everything. There is only One Consciousness. We are only one individuated expression of The One. All the dogma, theology and religious beliefs anyone chooses to pile on this truth is commonly referred to as Bunk. It is the lack of true knowledge and the application of these distortions, which have been the source of all emotional, physical and spiritual problems. Spirit is alive, it is something that is lived and experienced, the surest way to destroy or suppress it is to organize it and institutionalize it.

Spiritual Experiences teach us: Everything we think or feel affects oneself and others. We need to realize every feeling?anger, fear, hate, sadness, judgment?are mind generated emotions and need to be modified or eliminated. Left to fester?anger, fear, hate, sadness, judgment, creates physical reactions. For every physical reaction, a.k.a. symptoms?i.e. colds, cancer, MS, and everything from A to Z, there is a direct link to mind generated emotions. When these mind generated emotions are eliminated and the wounds created from long term and dysfunctional expressions are healed, the physical manifestation labeled as illness by Western Medicine is eliminated.

The bottom line is Health and Well-Being is affected by two factions?Doctors and Ministers. Doctors are trained as mechanics who work on the physical mechanism. They are in the Business of ?Treatment.? They are Not Trained in the Art of Healing. Most doctors do not even understand the most rudimentary concepts of Healing. Most do not realize how they can produce damage and even induce death sentences on their patients.

There is little difference in the effects produced by an intentional damaging curse or a prayer prayed improperly, bad advice or simply some random negative thought. Ministers are trained in traditional theosophical dogmatic perceptions specific to the cultural religious views they ascribe to. Most people have little concept about True Spirituality or how the universe really operates. As a consequence they convey misinformation, half-truths, superstitions and fears along with a multitude of associated damaging information into a person's consciousness. The result of which is Confusion and Paradox?which leads to distress, disease and un-wellness.

Both the good in our lives and the dis-eases we have are the results of our experiences, conditioning and beliefs. It is the experiences, conditioning and beliefs that are counter to our true nature that causes the damage. No matter how dire a client?s predicament seems to be, I Know if they are ?Willing? to do the emotional and spiritual work of releasing old habits, beliefs and forgiving, everything can be healed. The word ?incurable? used by Western Medicine really only means that the person can not be ?cured? by ?outer? methods and that they must Go Within to effect their healing. The condition was created as a way to cope?it came from within and can be healed from within. Reference: Heal Your Body, Louise L. Hay

Since Holistic/Metaphysical Healthcare focuses on supporting the Mind, Body, Spirit to heal itself as it is designed to do and Western Medicine perceives the human body as a battleground on which wars are waged with chemical bombs and scalpels against invaders, how can these divergent ideologies be merged?

The answer: They can?t be?i.e. water and vinegar doesn?t mix?it is metaphysically impossible. Likewise, it is metaphysically impossible to merge Holistic, Metaphysical, Energy or Mind, Body, Spirit healing and Western Medicine. Anyone who would consider such a merger does not understand the laws of Holistic, Metaphysical, Energy or Mind, Body, Spirit healing.

Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD, specializes in: Mind, Body, Spirit healing and Physical/Sexual Abuse Prevention and Recovery. As an inspirational leader, Dr. Neddermeyer empowers people to view life's challenges as an opportunity for Personal/Professional Growth and Spiritual Awakening. http://www.drdorothy.net

Atherosclerosis Blocking or Narrowing of the Arteries

Atherosclerosis comes from the Greek word - athere that means porridge and skleros meaning hardening. These words conjure up an image in our minds of exactly what happens when atherosclerosis develops in the arteries. The plaque that forms and blocks up the arteries are made of atheroma. This is a mixture of cholesterol, fibrous tissue, dead muscle cells, platelets and sometimes calcium. Over the years this plaque gets bigger and bigger, reducing the blood flow and oxygen supply to the body's tissue. Atherosclerosis can affect arteries anywhere in the body, but most life threatening is when it blocks up the heart arteries or the arteries supplying blood and oxygen to the brain.

No artery in the body is safe from atherosclerosis and may effect the heart causing heart disease as the coronary vessels are easily blocked

? the brain, causing a stroke
? the legs, causing poor circulation (peripheral vascular disease) resulting in possible gangrene
? the intestine, causing sections to die.

There are often no early symptoms of athersclerosis, the first perhaps being a heart attack. It is vital therefore that you are aware of the risk factors and make lifestyle changes where possible to minimize your risk of atherosclerosis and other associated conditions. There are two categories of factors for atherosclerosis, those you can change and those you cannot.

Factors you cannot change are:

Age - As you get older the greater the risk of developing heart disease

Ethnicity - Some ethnic groups are more high risk suffering from atherosclerosis than others

Genetic inheritance - The health of your cardiovascular system and atherosclerosis often runs in families

Gender - Men are more likely to suffer from atherosclerosis, as women produce oestrogen, which protects them against the development of atheroma. The risks even out once women stop producing oestrogen

Diabetes - Diabetics are high risk as atherosclerosis is associated with high cholesterol levels. In diabetes, the fatty plaques develop much quicker, but with well-controlled glucose levels the risk is lessened. Another factor that is just as important to control is high blood pressure.

Factors that you can change are:

Smoking - Smoking cigarettes promotes atheroma forming within the arteries

High blood pressure - The risk of developing atherosclerosis increases with hypertension

High blood cholesterol level - Research has found that continued high cholesterol levels in the blood increases the risk of atherosclerosis

Obesity - Poor cardiovascular health in general and more risk in developing atherosclerosis are linked to obesity

Inactivity - Regular physical exercise will lower the risk of atherosclerosis

Cholesterol levels can be kept low by eating plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables, high fibre foods and cutting down on animal fats found in full-cream milk, cheese, eggs and red meat. A person with very high cholesterol levels will probably take cholesterol lowering drugs as well as eating a low-fat diet. Recent studies have shown that these drugs improve the long-term risk of developing heart disease.

A person is never too young to worry about atherosclerosis as it can start even before you were born. It can also be present for years before it causes any symptoms - so the earlier you make changes the better for the future outcome.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Heart Disease

Natural Cures: Why All The The Confusion?

There is a lot of confusion and controversy regarding the topic of natural cures. What is natural cures? Does it really work? Do many people use natural therapies? What?s the reasoning behind natural medicine? How do I find out which nutrients to take? Why doesn?t my doctor prescribe these nutrients if they are so effective? Why do the labels on vitamins, mineral and herbs say that they are not intended to treat, cure or prevent any disease? Let?s address each these questions.

What is a natural cure?

Terms such as natural cures, natural medicine and naturopathy are very similar and used intermittently. They all refer to a form of health care that uses diet, herbs, vitamins and minerals to prevent or cure bodily diseases. The goal is to strengthen the body?s immune system so that the body can cure itself of an existing disease or prevent other diseases from forming, without the use of synthetic drugs.

Does it really work?

Speaking from personal experience, yes. I have been cured of repeating bouts of sinusitis, my wife has had relief from arthritis and acid reflux and my daughter has had a reduction in pain from a pancreatic condition. However, for someone who has never experienced it, it is hard to believe that something as simple vitamin C can help where medicines have not. No belief is necessary; the proof is in trying it.

Do many people use natural therapies?

Yes, today, many people are choosing to use natural therapies (In varying degrees) over orthodox medical treatment because they are safer, less expensive, and in many instances more effective than drugs.

What?s the reasoning behind natural medicine?

Most drugs are poisonous to the body. Want proof? Just read the warning labels as to the possible side effects. Some drugs even list ?death? as a side effect! I think ?death? is more than a side effect. In most cases, drugs only mask the symptoms of a disease and trick our brains that the pain and discomfort has diminished or left. Actually, the disease is still present in the body and will run its course until your body?s immune system (if it?s strong enough) either destroys or eliminates it. Drugs only address the symptoms of a disease not the causes. Natural medicine addresses the causes of a disease. For example, one cause of a migraine headache is a deficiency of magnesium in the body; not a deficiency of aspirin. Taking aspirin will relieve the pain symptom, but not the cause of the pain. Taking a magnesium supplement will eliminate the deficiency which in turn will cure the headache.

How do I find out which nutrients to take?

Most people find out what to take through self-study and research, They?ll read books, websites, magazines etc. pertaining to the subject. Many people also learn by the word of mouth from people who have tried a natural remedy and had great success. You may also seek out a course on natural medicine or a naturopathic doctor (but they may be hard to find).

Why doesn?t my doctor prescribe these nutrients if they are so effective? There are several reasons for this. The main reason is that he/she probably has not had any training whatsoever in vitamins, minerals and herbs. Most medical doctors (MDs) have been taught from day one that treating the symptoms with drugs is the only reasonable therapy and to be closed-minded to anything else. Pharmacists are taught the same way. Want proof? Just ask your doctor or pharmacist if they took any classes on natural medicines when they were in school. However, a doctor of osteopathy (DO) is a little less closed-minded because they?re trained more in preventative medicine and do have some nutrition knowledge.

Another reason that doctors do not prescribe nutrients is because they are pressured by the pharmaceutical companies and their own peers not to. There exists within the medical community an unwritten rule of consensus medicine, a protocol of not ?bucking the system?. Drug companies cannot patent nutrients and control their prices like they can with the chemical drugs they manufacture. Therefore, they pressure medical review boards to pressure their member doctors to follow protocol and prescribe only drug therapies whether they work or not. The doctors that deviate from this protocol may lose their professional standing, be condemned as a quack, lose hospital privileges and possibly be subject to arrest.

Why do nutrients have disclaimer labels?

Why do the labels on vitamins, mineral and herbs say that they are not intended to treat, cure or prevent any disease?

Again, this is the result from the efforts of the pharmaceutical companies to control the medical marketplace. They lobbied the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to have Congress pass the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994, which states that only a drug can legally make a claim to treating, curing or preventing any disease. Therefore, nutritional supplement manufacturers must have that disclaimer label on all their products or risk being shut down by the FDA.

In conclusion, the primary cause of all the confusion concerning natural cures can be traced back to the elites of the drugs industry. These elitists are only concerned about corporate profits and have absolutely no concern for the general public. Many ill people, who may be helped or cured by a natural remedy, will suffer and die because of this greed.

Disabled from illness, George Trams self-studied natural cures. He saw a blatant disregard for natural methods. Knowing that all treatment options were not being disclosed, he created the natural cures blog at http://natural--cures.blogspot.com

Coronary Artery Disease

Coronary heart disease is a condition that arises from increased amounts of atheromatous plaques that gather within the arteries. Many people who develop this condition may not begin showing symptoms until years after they have initially developed the disease. The most dangerous symptom of this disease is a heart attack, and this will generally occur after the atheromatous plaques break apart and begin restricting the flow of blood into the heart. Coronary artery disease is a common cause for sudden death.

This condition is known for having varying extremes. Certain people can be defined as being asymptomatic, and will have an early form of the disease where the flow of blood is not blocked. Doctors who perform coronary angiograms at this point may not be able to detect the disease because the lumen within the artery has not been reduced in size. However, the atheromatous plaques will grow into the walls of the arteries, and once they cause the lumen to expand, the blood flow will be restricted. Many researchers believe that this process took many years to occur, but there have been some cases where the plaque would rupture, and the progression of this disease would increase much faster than normal.

If the atheromatous plaques do not block more than 70 percent of the artery, patients will typically not begin showing the symptoms that are associated with the disease. Once the atheromatous plaques block more than 70 percent of the artery, the patient will begin showing symptoms. The heart will begin working harder to increase the amount of blood that flows to it, and the lumen may nearly become completely blocked. A patient who is in this situation will typically have suffered from multiple heart attacks, and may have angina as well. The restriction of blood flow to the heart is called ischema, and the cells will starve because they don't have oxygen.

There are a number of things responsible for the development of coronary artery disease. Smoking or being overweight is a common cause, while a lack of vitamin C can also lead to the development of this condition. There is also evidence that this disease is genetic in nature. Someone who comes from a family where many members have developed coronary heart disease will be much more likely to develop it themselves. People who have large amounts of triglycerides and low-density lipoproteins have an increased chance for developing this condition. Angina is defined as the pain a patient will go through when they have an advanced form of the disease.

Coronary artery disease is very common in the West, and has been called the number one killer of Americans. The best way to avoid it is to avoid smoking and reduce the amount of cholesterol in your body. People who are overeweight will want to exercise and avoid foods that are rich in saturated fats. Those who live a sedentary lifestyle will want to go out as much as possible to be physically active. It is also important to make sure you consume decent amounts of vitamin C.

Michael Colucci is a writer for Coronary Artery Disease which is part of the Knowledge Search network.