NAUSEA MAY BE FLU, NOT MORNING SICKNESS

DALLAS (UPI) -- U.S. doctors warn nausea and vomiting, especially after the first trimester, may be signs of flu. Researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas found nausea and vomiting -- usually signs of flu in children but not in adults -- were common in pregnant women with flu. "Both physicians and patients should be aware of these findings so treatment is not delayed," study lead author Dr. Vanessa Rogers said in a statement. "I think our findings should encourage people to be vigilant and to take symptoms seriously." Rogers and colleagues examined 107 pregnant women diagnosed with influenza at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas during the 2003-2004 flu season. Ninety-three percent of the women had a cough and 89 percent had fever -- common signs of flu -- but 85 percent had a "profound" elevated heart rate and 60 percent had nausea and/or vomiting. Nearly two-thirds were sick enough to require hospitalization. The most common complication -- pneumonia -- occurred in 12 percent of the cases. The study, published in Obstetrics and Gynecology, found no significant difference in complications between women with flu and women without flu who gave birth at the hospital during flu season. After birth, the babies also showed no significant difference in complications. "Early diagnosis and treatment might be the reason our patients did so well," Rogers said.

Copyright 2010 by United Press International

LESS THAN SIX HOURS SLEEP CAN KILL YOU

WARWICK, England (UPI) -- People who sleep for less than 6 hours each night have an increased risk of dying prematurely, British and Italian researchers said. Researchers at the University of Warwick and the Federico II University Medical School in Naples, Italy, found that those who slept for less than 6 hours a night were 12 percent more likely to die prematurely than those who slept the recommended 6-8 hours a night. The study, published in the journal Sleep, also said sleeping more than 9 hours a night is not linked to premature death, but can indicate a serious or potentially fatal illness. The researchers reviewed 16 studies from Britain, the United States, Europe and East Asia that involved more than 1.3. million people with up to 25 years of follow-up. "Modern society has seen a gradual reduction in the average amount of sleep people take, and this pattern is more common amongst full-time workers, suggesting that it may be due to societal pressures for longer working hours and more shift-work," Francesco Cappuccio of the University of Warwick and physician at the University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust said in a statement. "Consistently sleeping 6 to 8 hours per night may be optimal for health."
Copyright 2010 by United Press International

IRRITABLE BOWEL LINKED TO BACTERIAL INFECTIONS

There is good news for the millions of suffering with irritable bowel syndrome. In a review published in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, researchers unearthed the possible link between irritable bowel and bacterial infections or alterations in the normal bacterial flora. This may explain the abdominal pain, excessive gas, diarrhea and/or constipation associated with the condition. More importantly, this exciting breakthrough may provide new and effective treatment options, improving the quality of life for adults throughout the country. The contents of your bowel, from the mouth to the rectum, are completely outside of the body encased in your digestive system. Throughout life, these contents contain a delicate and complex mix of bacteria, viruses and even some fungi. There are as many as 500 to 1,000 species of bugs in the bowel that are critically important to normal physiological function. These bacteria help destroy toxins in the bowel, produce vital nutrients, and assure that the bowel content appropriately forms fecal matter and that gas production is kept at a minimum. Anything that upsets this delicate balance -- such as replacing good bacteria with bad -- can lead to a dysfunctional bowel, the symptoms of irritable bowel and even nutritional deficiencies. Oftentimes, antibiotics that are prescribed for the treatment of infections, or even antibiotics in the meat we eat, can destroy normal bacteria. Killing off the good bacteria leaves a void that can be quickly filled with "bad bugs," which may irritate the bowel, cause increased production of gas, lead to alterations in the immune system and cause abdominal pain or alteration of bowel movements. Excessive antibiotic use can even lead to a medical condition called "small intestinal bacterial overgrowth" that has symptoms very similar to irritable bowel, but it can also cause malabsorption, weight loss and severe vitamin B-12 deficiency. Traditionally, irritable bowel has been associated with a variety of health concerns, including excess stress, depression, hormonal alterations and increased food sensitivities. However, there is now evidence indicating that the initial symptoms of irritable bowel frequently follow a case of gastroenteritis. After an episode of nausea and diarrhea that lasts longer than seven days, symptoms identical to those of irritable bowel may last for six months and sometimes indefinitely. In some cases, there is a continued presence of a parasite that may cause irritable bowel. The most common parasite that leads to irritable bowel symptoms is giardia, but another bacteria called Blastocystis hominis has been recently identified as a potential cause. Occasionally, irritable bowel can follow an episode of diarrhea that occurs abroad (traveler's diarrhea). Research now clearly shows that the mix of bacteria in the bowels of patients with irritable bowel is different from normal people. Patients with irritable bowel have bowels that contain fewer lactobacilli and other normal bacteria, which produce less gas. The lactobacilli are replaced by bugs that create more methane and greater amounts of hydrogen gas, which can in turn affect bowel motility. Any change in the mixture of bugs in the bowel can produce unusual molecules that affect the ability of the bowel to contract normally. In addition to excess gas production, these bugs are considered foreign to the body (unlike the normal bacteria flora). In an attempt to destroy the abnormal organisms, the intestinal immune system releases molecules called cytokines that cause the bowel to become hyperactive and inflamed, resulting in pain and further changes in bowel movements. There has been research conducted in Asia that examines the use of probiotics (good bugs) to aid in alleviating the symptoms of irritable bowel. When administered in adequate amounts, these probiotics (live bacteria) appear to be beneficial in reducing bloating, gas, abdominal pain and constipation. For someone with irritable bowel, it is important to consider the fact that excessive use of antibiotics can contribute to the problem. But in addition to examining any medical issues, you may want to consider a safe probiotic food to help maintain a normal bowel flora. This simple change in diet could relieve symptoms of irritable bowel. Clearly, this condition is more than a disease related to stress, depression, anxiety or hormonal alterations. While this research remains in its infancy, it seems likely that more and more attention will be focused on the link between irritable bowel and bacteria.

Dr. David Lipschitz is the author of the books, "Breaking the Rules of Aging" and "Dr. David's First Health Book of More Not Less." To find out more about Dr. David Lipschitz and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com. More information is available at www.DrDavidHealth.com.
Copyright 2010 Creators Syndicate Inc.

SECRETARY OF HEALTH IN MEXICO CONFIRMS MUTATION OF AH1N1/Confirma Ssa primera mutación de A-H1N1

IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH... EN INGLES Y ESPANOL

Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Through a statement by the Ministry of Health in Mexico (SSA) it is confirmed that they have detection a mutation in the influenza virus A-H1N1, which makes the disease resistant to Tamiflu.The department official says that despite the discovery they will not change the treatment recommended in aspect of the new virus, because it is the only resistant strain found in 420 samples of infected people.He reported that the mutation was found in a 10-month-old baby, originally from the municipality of Ecatepec, who survived the disease and is currently well.The child was treated at the Pediatric Hospital La Villa from January 4 when this child was admitted suffering from difficulty in breathing, bronchiolitis and malnutrition grade I.After 10 days spent at the Hospital Infantil de Mexico "Federico Gomez" the child was diagnosed with severe pneumonia, malnutrition of moderate intensity and influenza-like illness.After the disease was controlled, the infant was moved to the Pediatric Hospital in the town to continue treatment, where he was discharged on Feb. 3, said the agency.





Miercoles, 3 de Marzo, 2010
Por medio de un comunicado la Secretaría de Salud (Ssa) confirmó la detección de una mutación en el virus de influenza A-H1N1, la cual convierte a la enfermedad en resistente al Tamiflu.La dependencia indicó que a pesar del descubrimiento no se modificará la recomendación de tratamiento contra el nuevo virus, ya que es la única cepa resistente encontrada en 420 muestras de personas infectadas.Informó que la mutación se encontró en una bebé de 10 meses de edad, originaria del municipio de Ecatepec, quien sobrevivió a la enfermedad y actualmente se encuentra bien.La menor fue atendida en el Hospital Pediátrico La Villa desde el 4 de enero, al presentar dificultad para respirar, bronquiolitis y desnutrición grado I. Luego de 10 días pasó al Hospital Infantil de México “Federico Gómez” con diagnóstico de neumonía grave, desnutrición de intensidad moderada y enfermedad tipo influenza. Después de que se logró controlar la enfermedad, se trasladó al Hospital Pediátrico La Villa para continuar en tratamiento, de donde fue dada de alta el pasado 3 de febrero, indicó la dependencia.

Obesity Limits Pregnancy Weight

ST. LOUIS (UPI) -- A U.S. doctor challenges the recommended guideline that obese women should gain 11-20 pounds during pregnancy. Dr. Raul Artal, chairman of the department of obstetrics, gynecology and women's health at Saint Louis University in Missouri advises overweight or obese mothers-to-be to eat a nutrient-rich diet of between 2,000-2,500 calories a day, and in some cases, to lose weight. He says overweight or obese women should not gain more than 10 pounds when pregnant. "Recommending a single standard of weight gain for all obese classes is of concern since higher body mass index levels are associated with more severe medical conditions and have long-term adverse health implications," Artal says in a statement. Artal writes in a commentary for Obstetrics & Gynecology, that he does not endorse recommendations made by the Institutes of Medicine in Washington -- an independent, non-profit organization that provides advice for health decision makers and the public. "The recently published Institutes of Medicine recommendations for gestational weight gain are virtually identical to those published in 1990 with one exception -- obese women are now recommended to gain 11-20 pounds compared to the previous recommendations of at least 15 pounds," Artal says.
Copyright 2010 by United Press International

YOUR HEALTH: EXCESSIVE DRINKING SHRINKS YOUR BRAIN AND YOUR MEMORY

Moderate alcohol consumption may be good for your heart, but new research suggests that it doesn't appear to offer the same protective benefits for the brain. While moderate amounts of alcohol don't necessarily help the brain, regularly consuming more than two drinks a day can definitely harm it. Habitual consumption of more than 14 alcoholic drinks per week actually causes the brain to shrink, according to the results of a study conducted by researchers at Wellesley College in Wellesley, Mass. The scientists found that the more alcohol an individual drinks on a regular basis, the lower his or her total brain volume. For the study, the Wellesley researchers evaluated brain size and alcohol consumption patterns in more than 1,800 adults between the ages of 34 and 88 years. The subjects were enrolled in the Framingham Offspring Study, which includes children of the original Framingham Heart Study participants. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were performed and used to measure brain volume, a relatively reliable indicator of brain aging and health. Compared to those who abstained from alcohol, the subjects who habitually consumed more than 14 drinks per week had a 1.6 percent reduction in brain volume. Although chronic drinking is detrimental to the entire brain, the cells of the hippocampus are especially vulnerable to damage from alcohol. The hippocampus is a small, curved structure in the brain that is vital to learning and memory formation. When the structure is surgically removed, a person's ability to store most new experiences in memory is permanently lost. In individuals with advanced, debilitating Alzheimer's dementia, the hippocampus typically is the first brain structure affected, and often the one that is most profoundly damaged by the disease. In an animal study supported by the National Institutes of Health, scientists at Scripps Research Institute in San Diego found that chronic alcohol consumption dramatically reduced the number of new brain cells that normally form in the hippocampus. For the study, rhesus monkeys were allowed to voluntarily consume a sweetened beverage containing 6 percent alcohol during one-hour sessions, five days a week for five months. A control group of monkeys had equal access to a similar, alcohol-free beverage. Analysis of brain tissue revealed that alcohol consumption significantly reduced new brain cell growth and proliferation in the hippocampus. Compared to the non-drinking monkeys, those consuming alcohol exhibited a 58 percent decrease in the number of new brain cells formed in the hippocampus and a 63 percent reduction in cell survival. Based on the results of their study, the researchers concluded that chronic alcohol consumption not only causes existing cells of the hippocampus to die off, it also keeps new cells from forming. These findings have important implications for humans, since shrinkage of the hippocampus is known to coincide with declines in cognitive abilities, such as memory and learning, and can ultimately lead to dementia. Although the hippocampus typically shrinks with age, the rate at which it becomes smaller differs substantially among individuals. While regular physical activity and continued learning have been shown to enhance the size of the structure, chronic alcohol consumption appears to reduce it. In the earliest stages, loss of brain volume is associated with temporary, minor lapses in memory, such as forgetting a doctor's appointment or the name of a casual acquaintance, according to the results of a study published in the medical journal Neurology. The study included 500 adults ages 50 to 85 with no history of dementia. The subjects were asked about their experiences with occasional memory problems, such as having trouble thinking of the right word or forgetting events that had occurred in the previous hours or days. After evaluating the subjects' brains using MRI scans, researchers found that in individuals with occasional memory lapses, the hippocampus was measurably smaller than in subjects with no memory problems. Protecting the hippocampus is especially important for people who have been diagnosed with early Alzheimer's as well as for those who are at high risk for developing the disease. A study conducted by researchers at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland showed that having a large, healthy hippocampus may allow some older adults to compensate for Alzheimer's-related brain changes. If you're determined to keep your hippocampus healthy and your mind sharp as you grow older, don't stop exercising or learning new things. And if you enjoy drinking alcohol, continue to do so only in moderation.

======== Rallie McAllister, M.D. is a family physician, author, speaker, and medical director of www.MommyMDGuides.com, a website featuring child-raising tips from trusted doctors who are also moms. To find out more about Rallie McAllister, M.D., and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.
Copyright 2009 Creators Syndicate Inc.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

I prepare for the new year alone, yet not alone. There wil be trials and there will be tears but I am a survivor and my love for my blogs will see me through this difficult time. Hope you all had a bleesed Christmas and a wonderful new year´s day. Be ready. the train is about to part. See you all soon.

Love, Brenda