Good Food and Fitness

There are so many websites on the Internet that it can be over whelming when you do a search for cancer and it brings back 299 million results. Then there is the worry if the information you are reading is credible and accurate. Below are five websites that are the most useful and interesting for online health resources.

PubMed.com is over a decade old and it provides a resource for doctors and students to track studies. It includes medical journals dating back to the 1950’s, but the flood of results it provides may over whelm you. If you know what your looking for this a very powerful tool with a free login that allows easier filtering. There is also a new added feature called the iPhone application that soon will provide a second opinion while you are in the waiting room of the ER or doctors office.

Visualhealth.com is a free dermatological atlas that provides a Skin Disease Finder, which enables it readers to search for bites, boils, cysts, moles rashes, sores, warts and much more. It even has mug shots that match up with each rash so you can easily tell shingles from ringworm, or scabies from psoriasis. This is definitely more fun that going to the dermatologist’s office and it has some of the more hard-to-describe skin infections such as MRSA. You cane even select a location such as the scalp, toenail, cheek or finger webspace or select widespread rash.

Clinical Trials.gov focuses on experimental treatments with more than 25,000 open trials for drugs, vaccines and surgeries. It is sure to have something for everyone and inpatient volunteers are well compensated, but you have to remember that these drugs are untested, so one should be cautious. Sticking to trials offered by universities and the National Institute of Health are more likely to be monitored for safety more than the private sector.

Ben and James Heywood founded Patients Like Me after their brothers fight with Lou Gehrig’s disease. It encourages patients who are newly diagnosed with life changing, chronic illnesses. It’s a type of Facebook that holds thousands of profiles of patients who are living with diverse diseases like multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s and HIV. It also has a section for mood disorders like anxiety and depression. It allows patients to track their symptoms over time, track their progress and rate their drugs and treatment with fellow patients. This site does share data with nonprofit groups, research hospitals and pharmaceutical companies, but the names and other identifying material are left out.

MayoClinic.com may be the most concise source of medical information on the web, which provides an encyclopedic site that is very easy to consult. It has served as setting the standard for medical care in America for over a century and unlike other health sites, Mayo writes its own material, which is precise, straightforward and sympathetic. It provides a no nonsense symptom checker and many people read it just for shear pleasure.

Tuesday, at the American Heart Associations scientific meeting in New Orleans, it was determined that young people who are obese are at risk for heart disease, stroke and death. A new study out found that neck arteries of obese children and teens are reflective of that of 45 year olds. In fact, out of 70 youngsters age 10 to 18 that enrolled in the Children’s Mercy Hospital study, more than half had a “vascular age” of 30 years older than their actual age. This is not good news, since data shows that a quarter of youngsters age 2 to 19 are considered obese.

This isn’t the first study to show aging arteries in children and previous studies have reported that children with risk factors for heart disease are exhibiting signs of hardening and narrowing of the arteries, a condition which is usually found in adults. Researchers used ultrasound imaging to measure the thickness of the inner walls of carotid arteries, which supply blood to the brain. Increased carotid artery intima-media thickness, also known as CIMT, is an indicator of a build up of fatty deposits or plaque in the arteries that lead to the brain and heart. The average for a child is .45 millimeters, but one 12 year-old boy had a CIMT of .54, which is equivalent to that of a healthy 45 year-old man.

Children in the study also had levels of fat chemicals, which are known as triglycerides that were far above the optimum levels for their age group. Dr. Samuel S. Gidding, chief of pediatric cardiology at the Alfred I. DuPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Delaware noted that teens don’t typically suffer heart attacks, but they can be at risk for early signs of heart disease. He also commented that changing diet and increasing exercise could slow and perhaps even stop deterioration. Either way, teens and parents need to take a proactive approach to treating obesity in children while there is time to reverse the process.

Aromatherapy involves using oils that help a person physically and psychologically. This practice has been around for thousands of years. The Chinese, Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans were the first to use aromatherapy. These oils include eucalyptus, geranium, bergamot, chamomile, rose, neroli, and peppermint. Each one of these oils helps the body or mind in different ways.

When eucalyptus is rubbed on the body, it helps protect the body from diseases such as the flu or cold. It also keeps some types of insects off of the skin. Geranium has a sweet scent that resembles the smell of a rose. It helps with depression and if it's added to bathwater, it helps relieve stress. Bergamot is a green oil that smells like an orange and cures headaches and nervousness. Chamomile is used for soothing skin itches and stomach aches. Because it is very calming, it sometimes lessens shock and spasms. Rose relieves depression symptoms and stress. Neroli refreshes the skin and helps new skin cells form. Peppermint helps to clear acne and relieve upset stomachs.

These oils are very powerful and should not be rubbed into the skin by themselves. They are often diluted into other oils such as almond oil, grape seed oil, and apricot oil. There are some other problems that could happen when using aromatherapy. Some people are allergic to certain oils, which could cause a serious reaction. Too much exposure to the oil might cause headaches and stomach aches.

Aromatherapy is a very good way to relax. It benefits the body and mind in a multitude of ways. It makes some people's lives a little easier.

Tai Chi, pronounced “tie chee,” was developed in China during the 12th century as a form of Martial Art used primarily for fighting and self-defense. During the years to follow the society became aware of the many health benefits derived from this ancient practice. It is believed that the art of Tai Chi allows vital energy to flow freely throughout the body.

Tai Chi is a slow moving form of exercise that uses the mind and body together in harmony. It takes extreme focus and concentration, which in turn allows the mind to set aside the cares of the outside world and tune into one’s inner being. The slow, graceful movement and concentration combined with deep, relaxed breathing is why this art form is often referred to as “moving meditation.” One of the many reasons for practicing Tai Chi is because of the self-discipline that is gained in order to perform it correctly and effectively.

It has become very popular in our modern culture. It is very helpful with balance, coordination, circulation and mental clarity. As circulation is increased it is believed that this helps relieve pain from arthritis, as well as stimulate the soft tissue within the joints. The meditation that is taking place during Tai Chi is thought to help one manage their stress level. The health benefits are numerous and possibly different for each individual participating in Tai Chi.

Upon deciding to learn Tai Chi it is wise to do some research into the different variations offered. Some of those differences would be the style and also the strength needed to perform the basic moves. The reward gained from this ancient art is believed to be very beneficial for all ages.

Yoga has formulated a way to maintain and achieve a balance, and it is done through the main three yoga structures. These are breathing, exercise and meditation. Those who perform yoga believe that in order for man to be in harmony with his environment and with himself, he has to integrate the mind, the body, and the spirit. This peaceful activity can be one that is very healthy and helpful. Those who suffer depression can especially gain a lot of peace of mind from doing yoga.

Yoga exercises cause organs and glands to produce chemicals that make a person feel relaxed. Yoga stretches aid circulation and help to get rid of poisons in the body. Deep breathing sends fresh oxygen to the brain and stables the nervous system. Yoga also calls for the person to clear their minds. Forcing yourself not to think for a while is a good thing for people who suffer depression.

There are several yoga exercises that will help make depression more bearable. One of them is called the sun salutation. It settles every system in the body that has been affected by stress and depression. This exercise is a series of easy poses done in a smooth motion. Another exercise that can help is the relaxation pose. It is a pose that involves lying on your back and breathing deeply. This pose helps you to relax and forget about the stressful things in life.

Anxiety and depression contribute to fifteen percent of worldwide diseases. They are a disorder related to a low GABA (Gamma-Amino Butyric Acid) level in the brain.

GoodFoodandFitness.com

Online Health

Middle-Aged Arteries Seen in Obese Children

Aromatherapy

Health Benefits of Tai Chi

Yoga for Depression