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The prostate gland is a triangular shaped gland that surrounds the urethra and lies between the pubic bone and rectum, just right under the bladder. The prostate glad is responsible for secreting fluid with sperm.

If your prostate is swollen or enlarged (due to age), it acts as a clamp on the urethra. This is called having an enlarged prostate or Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia can make it hard or even impossible to urinate. BPH is just one form of prostate disease that can develop into life threatening conditions.

Prostate cancer is another risk that is affecting many men. Unfortunately, prostate cancer is increasing at an alarming rate. Currently, one in ten men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. It is estimated that by year 2018, one in every four men will be diagnosed with this disease. Prostate cancer, if detected early, can be treated successfully. If prostate cancer is not detected early, and left untreated, it can spread to other parts of the body.

Prostate diseases are usually present in men over the age of 40, and the frequency of sufferers increases with age. The most common screening tests for determining prostate health are the digital rectal exam (DRE), and a blood test called a prostate-specific antigen (PSA). The digital rectal exam is a quick test that can be performed in less than ten minutes. This test is used to screen mostly for prostate disease, but is helpful in screening for other prostate diseases. During the digital rectal exam, the doctor will place one gloved (and lubricated) finger into the patient’s rectum. Next, the doctor will examine the prostate for any lumps or abnormalities.

The prostate-specific antigen test is a blood test that measures prostate-specific antigen, which is produced by the prostate gland. High levels of the prostate-specific antigen may be an early indicator of prostate cancer. High levels of PSA are also present in individuals with an enlarged prostate. A PSA below 2.5 (for those under 60), and 4 (for those over 60) is considered healthy.

Healthy living is a good way to maintain a healthy prostate. What you eat and drink will have an effect on prostate health. Following a healthy diet and healthy lifestyle will lower the risk of developing prostate problems later on in life. Eating foods that are rich in selenium like tuna, wheat germ, herring, seafood, shellfish, eggs, cashews, mushrooms, onions and kelp are all great for maintaining the health of your prostate.

Just as selenium-rich foods benefit the health of your prostate, there are also foods that can harm your prostate. For example, diary intake has been linked to prostate cancer. In fact, diary intake is the strongest dietary factor that contributes to the development of prostate cancer. Men who consume more diary products are among the highest deaths from prostate disease. Diary consumption and the development of prostate cancer are due to the hormone in milk called Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF). A pint of milk a day or the equivalent in diary products will put you at risk for contracting prostate cancer.

Here are natural ways that you can maintain your prostate health:

Saw Palmetto Extract. Saw Palmetto berry extract (Serenoa repens) helps to inhibit the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestoserone (DHT). DHT is a substance that contributes to the over-growth of prostate tissues. Taking Saw Palmetto extract can help with this if taken daily.

Soy. Including more soy in your diet is one way to maintain your prostate health. Soy restores the proper estrogen-to-testosterone ratio that becomes imbalanced in men over the age of 40. Increasing the amount of soy consumption in your diet positively affects the size of the prostate gland. Soy-rich foods include soymilk, tofu, roasted soy nuts and other soy products.

Zinc. 15 mg of zinc a day will help maintain a healthy prostate. Pumpkin seeds are an excellent source of zinc.

Supplements. A good multivitamin program combined with antioxidant supplements can help prevent damage to the prostate. It is a well-known fact that antioxidants are preventative in fighting free radicals that can cause damage to the prostate. Supplements like vitamins A, E and Lycopene can help contribute to the health of your prostate gland.

By: Sarah H

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Latex is a natural substance found in nature that comes from the rubber tree. The milky white fluid is drained from the tree and when this is left to dry it becomes sticky and gooey. Several chemicals are added into the rubber to make the latex used for latex gloves.

Allergic reactions to latex:

Allergic reactions to latex are quite common. Some common reactions to latex are:

Red rashes

Itching

Swelling

Eye and nose irritation

Shortness of breath

Shock and seizures

Latex allergies should be taken seriously and preventative steps should be taken. An allergic reaction can come on suddenly even if you have been tested negative for latex allergies. Latex allergies are caused by proteins in natural rubber and the chemical process used to make latex gloves. For people who have allergies we recommend using a non latex alternative such as nitrile.

Where are latex gloves used:

Latex gloves are used common place in hospitals and medical facilities as a barrier against bacteria and viruses. The more we discover how illnesses are passed from person to person the more precautious our society has become. It is now common place for latex gloves to be used in food preparation, food handling and any service where contact is made from person to person where there is a chance for the transfer on infection and disease. As a precaution against the spread of malicious bacteria and viruses US Postal service employees use gloves while handling our mail. Auto technicians use gloves to prevent oil and grease from being in contact with the skin, this makes for easy cleanup and prevents harmful chemicals from penetrating the skin.

By: Lee Harris

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OK, you have just been diagnosed with cancer…

You have cancer is a phrase which one in five people in the United States will hear this year alone in one form or another. Too many people have cancer! Cancer rips through your life tearing its own pathway. Unfortunately, a lifetime of ignoring certain aspects of your body and you life has resulted in dis-ease.

Hearing you have cancer is earth shattering! Cancer is perhaps the most dreaded disease because we know so little about it and for many it is a death sentence.

All you can do is ask yourself… “how did I get cancer? What did I do to get this in my body? Am I going to die? What am I going to do? Where do I turn? What? What? Where? Where? Why? Why?” Confusion and fear sets in. You are a wreck!

What are you going to do? You need a plan. Prayer helps, but you also need a plan. You need a support system of friends and you need to depend on God to help you.

You question… Am I going to die? Depending on what type of cancer you have and where it is in your body, you have different questions. On the other hand, a few questions are very much the same for everyone. Will I ever get better? Will I look the same? What about insurance? Will it cover everything? What about my family? What about my job? What about business? Who will help me? What shall I do? How much is all this going to cost?

Do these words sound familiar? These words and emotions are all very normal. You are being challenged with the biggest test of your strength in your lifetime. My thoughts probably sound familiar to your thoughts. Your journey has just begun.

As a two-time cancer survivor I have written this book to show you that cancer does not have to be a death sentence. You will have to change many things in your life. As you read on in the book, it is written to make you stop and think. All I can do is to share my experiences and hope that because of my pain and suffering, you will find comfort and cure for your cancer.

Healing yourself, even with the help of modern medicine is a task that only you can do for yourself. Many people will try to help you and guide you, but you need to make the decision that you are going to be well and that certain changes must be made in the way you live your life. In order for you to get well and go on living many more years, you will need to make the decision to be well. Think wellness thoughts. Your mind needs to know that you are already well so that the rest of your body can catch up to such thinking. This concept might be a bit difficult to grasp at first; please read on. Cancer is perhaps the greatest challenge you have ever had to face, and it takes tremendous courage to get well. You must be strong!

Your body, designed by God, has its own self-healing power. Your body got sick by you not listening to it. When you listen to your body and your inner self, you will get well. So many people term cancer as a journey because it is a life changing event. Today, many people are facing cancer and healing themselves. Be hopeful and learn from my journey as well as the journeys and research of many others.

was diagnosed with throat cancer. The doctors were perplexed as to how I got cancer, as I was not the typical profile of the person who contracts throat cancer. I did not smoke, and did not drink to excess. When I walked into the Chemotherapy Infusion Room with a doctor for scheduling, the woman at the help desk asked “who is the patient?” The doctor said, pointing to me and replied, “It is for her.” On the outside I looked healthy, or so I thought at the time. To search the reason why I got cancer was my personal journey. Looking back, I have a different perspective.

My journey was not easy. No cancer healing is simple, however; curing yourself of cancer is not as mysterious as you might assume. Decisions must be made quickly and seriously. You will need a support system.

1. If you smoke, you need to stop immediately.

2. If you are in a home where everyone else smokes, you need to get yourself to a clean environment where you are not exposed to second-hand smoke.

3. If you are a heavy alcohol drinker, you need to stop immediately. Did you know that alcohol consumption can cause cancer? Most of us do not. Where is the “surgeon general” warning on alcohol consumption? Drinking alcohol can cause cancer.

4. If you drink soft drinks with aspartame you need to stop immediately. In fact, soft drinks are nothing but sugar and chemicals. You need to drink juices and water instead.

5. You need to decide that you want to live and that you are going to go about changing your life in order to do so.

6. Get plenty of rest. You need at least 8-10 hours of sleep each day. Naps also are recommended. While at rest, your body can do its own healing process.

7. You need to forget about FEAR. You need to get to work on healing the body that you have badly neglected for many years. Right now, you have no time for fear.

8. Have a positive attitude towards your healing. You are going to become healthy again.

9. Let go and let God!

10. Expect a miracle!

You have read that I am a two-time cancer survivor. When I first was diagnosed with cancer, I took the American Medical Association approach to the disease. I went to the University of Virginia Medical Center which has state-of-the-art cancer treatment. First, I had chemotherapy treatments for several weeks. Chemotherapy gives poison to all cells, killing both cancer cells, and at the same time, healthy cells. I also received seven weeks, five days a week, of radiation therapy. Tomotherapy Radiation equipment takes a scan of the cancer tumor daily and as the treatment progresses, the tumor size and positions change. This equipment targets the tumor and lasers it with radiation, killing the cancer cells. I almost died during the combination of these lengthy treatments. However, after the grueling treatment was over, my cancer went into remission. Recovery from the treatments took a very long time because my body was quite frail and weak. All cancer patients have anemia, and I was no exception. Cancer causes anemia and chemotherapy makes anemia even worse.

My weight went down to 80 pounds. I lost all my hair. I was depressed beyond anything I could ever imagine. I did not eat for five weeks. I had to have a stomach tube inserted so that my body could get the nutrition it needed. Everything tasted like cardboard, so why eat? It was a horrible experience. However, the cancer went into remission and I was cured, or so I thought.

I began to gain weight and come alive again. I had hair stubble. With my immune system being challenged by the chemotherapy, I attracted a very rare amoeba in my right eye. The amoeba ate my cornea and eye blood vessels before the problem was diagnosed correctly. The pain was excruciating and for almost nine months, I was blind in my right eye.

When the amoeba was gone, and my eye began to heal, I began to see again. At the eye doctor’s visit for the first time in almost a year, I finally saw and recognized the “BIG E.” That was a happy day! However, since my body was malnutritioned and weak, the following day I had a heart attack. On the operating room table during heart surgery, I could hear the nurses talking about me. “She is so tiny.” I weighed about 90 pounds soaking wet.

After recovering from the heart attack and gaining weight I gradually got back to my old self and went back to work. I had a new heart, I was thin and fashionable, and I was designing and traveling all over the world again. Modern medicine had cured me of the dreaded disease and surrounding complications. Happy days were here again!

I slipped back into my old bad habits. I worked hard, did not rest enough, stressed over things, and did not eat correctly. Basically I did not love myself any more after this entire ordeal than I did before the cancer. The reason being, I did not know any better. You are sitting there saying “what?” I am here to tell you that cancer is the symptom of something much deeper than just the disease of the cells. The body and the mind are much more complex than what we treat with medicine and medical treatments. In case you have forgotten, your mind is attached to your body and the mind and the brain are very much in charge of everything that goes on in your body either on a conscious or subconscious level.

Within two years, the same cancer returned. I was diagnosed with cancer a second time. This time the treatment was more complicated and severe.

After a biopsy verifying cancer, the doctors wanted to do surgery. They felt that chemotherapy and radiation had not worked. This time they would do salvage surgery which would have left me maimed for the rest of my life.

I refused salvage surgery and everything else that went along with it. The doctors had suggested I at least take another flight of chemotherapy. I went to the appointment with the Chemotherapy Physician. During the course of our conversation (I was taking notes) we discussed my previous chemotherapy treatments and how the cancer had disappeared very quickly. At that point, the doctor turned to me and said “everyone knows chemotherapy does not cure cancer.” I asked him, “then why did you put me through all of that horrendous experience nearly killing me if it could not cure me?” I did not wait for an answer.

My mind was made up that instant. Something was really wrong with this picture! After seeing several of my friends go through cancer treatment with a fatal end, I chose quality of life.

I got three different professional opinions on the second cancer diagnosis.

1. University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville, Virginia where I had been treated for the first cancer treatment.

2. Loma Linda University in Loma Linda, California to their Top Oncology Center.

3. Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona to check out Trans Oral Micro Laser Surgery for Throat Cancer. This is a fairly new procedure done by only two renowned doctors in the world; one of them is at Mayo Clinic.

I saw the most highly regarded Throat Cancer Oncologist in each of the above three places. I did my diligence with world-class surgeons.

All the doctors reviewed my medical history. They assessed my CT Scans, and all gave the same diagnosis. Both University of Virginia and Loma Linda would do the salvage surgery, the only difference being that Loma Linda would remove the artery from my right leg, not my right arm to replace the artery in my neck. At the Mayo Clinic, the surgeon would do a new procedure, Trans Oral Micro Laser Surgery which would involve inserting a laser down my throat surgically and using a laser as the primary cutting tool. This procedure would eliminate cutting my jaw, and removing my artery. However, I was advised the procedure “isn’t magic” and was “not minimalistic.” I would have a sizable wound, maybe some difficulty with speech, a stomach tube inserted through my nose, a very long recovery, problems swallowing, and a speech hindrance for several years, possibly forever.

I tell you this story because you will hear something similar and you have to weigh your odds. How do you want to live the rest of your life?

At that point in time, I my body weight was 112 lbs. How much more weight could I possibly lose? I also did not want to look in the mirror and see a part of my face removed. In my mind, I had no choice but to take an alternative route. Remember…Be Determined and Beat Cancer. That mantra was always in my mind. I kept beating that drum again and again.

I turned to alternative medicine, and I began what people call the journey to wellness. I went to a Naturopathic doctor in California and changed my diet drastically to include herbs and vitamins, coupled with fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains, and fish. This diet changed my life. When you have cancer, your body has been depleted of the nutrients it needs, you must give your body and your brain the nutrition it needs to get you well again.

All during my first cancer treatment, I was never given a diet or any information about how a diet can actually cure cancer. However, the truth of the matter is; I probably was not in the frame of mind to listen to anything, even if they had given me a nutritional diet. I had not passed over what my intuitive healer calls the crossroads to wellness. My old habits of living and eating were still a part of my regime. My attitude was such that “I would just take the medicine prescribed for me, do what the doctors tell me to do, and get healed through the wonders of modern medicine.” I would find the best doctor money could buy, the most famous in all the world, and beat cancer! Just take a pill and make it all go away…that was my thinking before I was challenged with cancer the second time.

It was only until I passed over the crossroads, what I call the point of no return when both my conscious and my subconscious mind were working in tandem to get me well forever. I had refused salvage surgery, and knew if I were going to be healed I had to do something major for myself; quickly. I began to study and to do research. I began investigating alternative medicine and other options for healing. I became a voracious reader and searched the Internet for information about cancer cures and healing. I needed to find an answer and heal my self.

I was given a book titled Love, Medicine and Miracles by Dr. Bernie Siegel. Dr. Siegel states that the body has an incredible power to heal itself. This is where my journey began.

Your journey will be different than mine, and only you know where to find the answers buried in your body and mind. Your body has an extremely powerful recuperative ability. You and your mind have the control to heal yourself. In this book, I will show you the tools to institute your own healing process. You must do the work and come to terms with your body.

Copyright 2010 Carol Patterson. All Rights Reserved.

By: Carol E Patterson

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There are various kinds of factors that lead to obesity. These include genetic problems, heredity and other ailments. Most of these causes are due to hormones and not eating habits. But one of the most influential factors of obesity is calories. The calories consumed by the body depend on the metabolic rate of the body and related internal factors. But the calories which are consumed through food into the body are totally dependent on the diet of a person.

There are many people who continue to remain slim and trim in spite of eating twice as compared to someone else who is overweight or obese, even though there food consumption may be less. This factor is one of the main reasons for which the calories consumed by the body should be regulated. If the metabolism rate of an individual is slow then the chances of burning high calorie food will be restricted. Hence the person should eat foods which have lower calorie counts but include all the other ingredients which are required by the body.

Being slim or overweight depends on the pattern in which the body receives and uses carbohydrates, protein and fat calories. It should be noted that not all people react to the same food in the same manner. There had been a series of tests conducted involving this matter and the reaction of the body, to the number of calories consumed, depends on the quantity of each type of calorie which is consumed by the body each day. This is also one of the main reasons that childhood obesity is not different from adult obesity.

For example, those who consumed too many carbohydrate calories than what the body would be able to use, then all the sugar in these carbohydrate calories would get converted to fat tissue and would be stored. This would happen because the body would be getting more sugar or carbohydrates than required. This pattern of calorie consumption is also related to other calorie types too. Those who consume too many wrong calories will certainly become obese or overweight.

Hence calories have a direct impact on obesity. Again it should be remembered that starving or not having food is not the solution to the problem of obesity. It will only aggravate the problem further because the body starts to deposit more fat as a defense mechanism to the starvation period. Hence it is essential that the body gets a diet which includes all the required food nutrients at frequent intervals.

Eating frequently, but consuming foods which are lower in calories helps to improve the metabolism of the body. The body stops to deposit fat in its store and uses up the lower calorie foods and converts the same into energy. Combining low calorie foods along with exercises is the best way of loosing weight and combating obesity.

Low calorie food excludes all forms of fried foods like chips, wafers, French fries, white flour and related foods. But inclusion of high fiber foods like oats, whole wheat, fruits and raw veggies helps to improve metabolism and burn more calories.

By: Johan Knutsson

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Kansieo.com

Let me start off by saying that breast cancer is NOT a death sentence anymore. If detected early it can be treated and the patient can enjoy a full recovery and a long life afterwards.

In this particular article I am going to cover prevention, or at least as close to prevention as you are going to get. Unfortunately no matter what preventative measures you take there is always a chance you will get breast cancer.

I’m going to list these preventative measures in plain English and NOT in medical babble. I never could understand half that stuff anyway.

1. Don’t drink so much. Supposedly there is a strong link between alcohol consumption and breast cancer and it doesn’t matter what type of alcohol it is. They’re all bad. They say to have less than 1 drink per day. My wife has a drink about once a week so I guess she’s okay there. If ,however, you do drink, also drink lots of citrus juices. Supposedly this lowers the risk of breast
cancer.

2. Keep your weight down. Supposedly there is a link between being overweight and getting breast cancer, especially if you gain a lot of weight after menopause It seems that the more fatty tissue the more oestrogen you have and high oestrogen levels are linked to breast cancer.

3. Exercise. Sounds simple enough, but in today’s fast paced
society it is sometimes very hard to find time to hit the gym
or the treadmill or even to go for a walk. Exercise is important for maintaining a healthy weight. They say at least 30 minutes a day. My wife and I both do an hour but believe me, it’s not easy.

4. Stay away from fatty foods. I guess this goes hand in hand with keeping your weight down. They say your fat intake should be no more than 35% of your total calories for the day. I’m not sure how to figure that out. You may want to consult with your doctor on this.

5. Aspirin. Well, they said that aspirin was good for preventing
heart attacks and now they say there is definitely a link between taking a regimen of aspirin and preventing breast cancer. That is one thing my wife and I don’t do at all. The last time either of us had an aspirin was 20 years ago. Hopefully, that she’s skinny will be good enough.

6. Avoid hormone therapy. There is a link between women who have
hormone therapy after menopause and breast cancer. Simply stated, don’t do it. It’s not worth the risks just to avoid hot flushes.

7. Pesticides. This one surprised me but there is a definite link between exposure to pesticides and breast cancer. So try to use them as little as possible. There are many natural ways to kill pests. There are books you can buy on the subject. Just do a Google search for “Natural Pest Removal.”

8. Antibiotics. Avoid taking them if possible. Excessive use of antibiotics weakens the immune system which increases the risk of getting breast, or for that matter, any kind of cancer.

And that’s about it in plain English. Follow the above guidelines and you have an excellent chance of avoiding breast cancer.

By: Michael Russell

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Asthma is simply one of the allergic conditions but all asthmatic attacks do not owe their origin to allergic factors. Similarly, one may develop asthma even without any apparent allergic factor, though most of the respiratory infections are, no doubt, triggered by some allergic factor. Similarly some skin disorders are caused by some known or unknown cause. Allergies that are attributed to digestive system can be easily traced to allergy to a particular food item. Above all, allergies born out of food, air, water, chemicals are too many to count.

Allergic factor is one of the dilemmas of a medical practitioner and problem becomes more compounded and complex when a person is allergic (hypersensitive) to more than one allergens. It is a tedious and arduous job of a doctor to treat an allergic patient who, at most occasions, is not generally aware of an allergic factor which has landed him in the present predicament. To discern, treat and contain allergy is a stupendous talk when a doctor’s acumen and the patient’s patience and perseverance are on the test.

Due to indiscreet use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers for growing food grains, use of chemicals to purify polluted and contaminated water, use of carbide to ripen the fruits, additives used in pickles, sausages, jams, syrups, toxic gases emitted by vehicles, indiscreet and imprudent use of drugs (without knowing their side effects), pollens, climatic effects of weather changes, food allergies, air pollution etc are some of factors which could, and often do, cause allergies to many hypersensitive persons which includes all men, women and children of all the age-groups. There is hardly any person who is free from some one allergic reaction or the other.

Of the various types of allergies and sources of their origin, some can be easily managed by the patient, some by proper medication and the rest can be prevented and preempted by taking recourse to certain medicines.

Some of the allergies are manageable but majority of whom have the tendency to recur, even despite sustained efforts by the doctor’s and patients. Most of the various types of allergies which manifest and impact majority of patients can be easily treated, if not cured fully. It requires a sustained, honest and painstaking effort and resilience on the part of a doctor and the patient to reciprocally co-operate with each other to find a plausible solution. But, then, many patients do not favorably respond even to the best type of medical devices and medicines.

BLOCKBUSTER HERBAL REMEDY FOR ASTHMA & ALLERGY

By: Andy Kahn

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allergy information