General Health Articles

By Anastacia Mott Austin

If pre-history gave us the Stone Age, the Bronze Age, and the Iron Age, then today’s civilization must surely be identified as the Plastic Age.

Plastic is ubiquitous in our modern society. Try spending one day without using anything made of plastic…you won’t make it past 10:30 in the morning.

Now scientists say that a common ingredient in most plastics, called Bisphenol A, or BPA, mimics estrogen and causes reproductive harm in rats at levels below what most humans are exposed to every day.

In fact, BPA was first developed in the 1930s as a synthetic estrogen. For whatever reason, someone decided that it would make a great liner for canned food products and an additive for plastics manufacturing.

As a result, 95% of adult Americans have a measurable amount of BPA in our blood and urine.

A study performed by Randy L Jirtle at Duke University in North Carolina and reported in the June 2006 issue of Science News revealed that pregnant mice who were fed low doses of BPA in their food gave birth to offspring who showed genetic changes, such as a tendency toward obesity.

Another study, published in the July 2007 issue of Reproductive Technology, was performed by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. The NIEHS team conducted a short-term examination of newborn female mice exposed to varying levels of BPA. When those mice were re-examined at mid-life, they had reproductive anomalies that were not found in the control group, such as ovarian cysts and uterine growths.

The amounts of BPA given to mice in the NIEHS study fell below levels found in most humans.

What does this mean for humans? The good news is that humans metabolize BPA at faster rates than rats do, so the chemical leaves the body fairly quickly. The bad news is that we are continually exposed to levels of BPA above those which correspond to reproductive harm in rodents.

Experts report observing estrogenic-like changes in wildlife that are similar to the effects seen in lab animals exposed to BPA, revealing possible evidence that the chemical has leached into ground water and plants consumed by animals in the wild.

Another concern is that no long-term studies have yet been performed. With an agent that causes gene abnormalities, longer studies are needed because gene changes take time to manifest and observe.

This fall the National Toxicology Program will release a report stating its findings about whether BPA should be considered a genotoxic substance.

In the meantime, there are several things that people can do to reduce their exposure to BPA:

* Avoid canned foods such as soups and tomato-based pastas, which had the highest levels of BPA, and canned infant formula, which had over 200 times the recommended safety levels of BPA.

* B-vitamins seem to neutralize the effects of BPA, so take your vitamins!

* Baby bottles and sippy cups had high levels of BPA as well, so avoiding these might be a good idea. Pliable, “cloudy” plastics such as the Medela brand baby bottles don’t contain BPA.

* Some plastic wraps contain BPA, so check the labels for “BPA-free” wraps.

* Consider using an alternative to plastic water bottles. Consider natural plastic alternatives. Biota makes a corn-based plastic for its natural spring water. The bottle dissolves in 70-80 days, and uses no petroleum products in its manufacturing process. Other companies are experimenting with compostable or biodegradable plastics made from corn, hemp, or potatoes.

Or think about stepping out of the Plastic Age, as much as is possible. Glass food or beverage containers can make as much sense as plastic, so consider the possibilities for expanding beyond the overwhelming use of plastics. It’s better for you, and better for the planet.

Seventy percent of menopausal women have a low libido or sex drive. This is often temporary and usually occurs at the beginning of menopause. In some, however, it may haunt them for the rest of their lives.

So what’s the reason behind a diminishing sex drive? Bladder control problems, sleep disturbances, depression, anxiety, and stress all contribute to loss of interest in sex during this period.

But a major reason is changes in hormone levels of estrogen, testosterone and progesterone that result in a hormonal imbalance. These hormones have specific roles to play in enhancing your sexual desire. Estrogen helps heighten your sensitivity during sexual intercourse. Progesterone keeps your libido up while testosterone, a male sex hormone, boosts sexual desire and lubricates the vagina.

No drug has been discovered yet that can treat sexual problems. Estrogen replacement therapy can make intercourse less painful by treating vaginal dryness. But recent research has yielded conflicting results with regards to estrogen’s effectiveness. In-depth studies are currently underway to determine whether a combination of estrogen and the male hormone androgen may help increase the sex drive of women.

While many women eventually learn to live with their low sex drive and no longer seek treatment, they can still avail of a variety of treatment options. If low libido interferes with personal relationships, it can become even more problematic in the long run.

Although sexual problems can be difficult to discuss, talk to your doctor and seek adequate counseling. Your doctor may refer you and your partner to a health professional who specializes in sexual dysfunction. The therapist may advise counseling on an individual basis with your partner or in a support group. This type of counseling can be very successful even when it is done on a short-term basis.

Great things start with simple stuff. If your sex drive isn’t as good as it used to be but you don’t think you need counseling, take time for intimacy with your partner. Intimacy is not all about sex or intercourse. There are a thousand ways to express love. Have quality time together - you can take long romantic walks, go out for candlelit dinners or give each other back rubs.

Remember to check with your doctor if lower libido becomes a serious problem. He or she may recommend a supplement that can help increase your libido like Zalestra. Check out www.zalestra.com to find out more.

Sharon Bell is an avid health and fitness enthusiast and published author. Many of her insightful articles can be found at the premier online news magazine http://www.healthnfitnesszone.com.

There are several types of vaginal infections that affect women. If after you notice any abnormal function or sighting in or around the vagina then it is vitally important that you have your doctor examine you so the problem can be determined. Regardless of the type of vaginal infection present it will need treating. Are you the woman that shies away from addressing a health concern of this matter through embarrassment, if so, then you have to get a grip of yourself for fear your problem may need immediate medical attention. What you have to bear in mind is, your doctor or gynecologist examine women’s vaginas every hour of the day, so save your blushes because “Once you have seen one you have seen them all” - so why would yours be any different.

Itchiness, soreness and a difference in your vaginal discharge can be signs of infection. An abnormal discharge is normally described as a thick white curd texture, it can be green and smell, if specks of blood are visible then this can suggest a possible infection. Because we have several types of vaginal infections then this means there are several different causes. Thrush, bacterial vaginosis, trichomoniasis, chlamydia and gonorrhoea are the most common causes of vaginal infection. Genital herpes and genital warts are also other types of infection that will need treatment.

What is Candida albicans, well it is normally known as being a harmless fungus associated with women - where it grows on or in their bodies. However, when it grows excessively, it causes thrush (vaginal candidiasis). Discomfort from this is usually irritation and soreness of the vulva. Some women may notice a change in their vaginal discharge but not in all cases of thrush patients. Infections need to be treated with medication. Most infections relating to the vagina if left untreated can only add to your problem (worsen). Symptoms (irritation soreness) can spread to the buttocks. Vaginal infections can cause severe discomfort when passing urine and can make intercourse painful. It is not healthy to engage in coupling if you have an infection in case of passing the infection on.

Different types of medication are sold over the chemist counter to treat most thrush infections, however you have to be very careful because what you believe may be thrush may well not be, therefore having you treat a condition with the wrong remedy which can be very dangerous indeed.

Most thrush infections respond to one of the antifungal treatments such as clotrimazole cream or pessaries (e.g. Canesten), or fluconazole (Diflucan) tablets. Some women have even admitted to applying plain yoghurt to the infected area for relief. If you find the infection is still present after you initiated your own personal curing process then go and see your doctor. Antifungal drugs or a longer course of fluconazole tablets may be prescribed.

To help prevent thrush occurring wear cotton pants, change underwear regular. Avoid harsh soaps, bubble baths and deodorants. Poor hygiene can cause vaginal odours; smells from the vagina can be repulsive if caused by an infection. Bacterial Vaginosis is more associated with the strong fishy smell. Vaginal douches are not recommended to treat or prevent vaginal infections because they disturb the natural, and protective, acidity of the vagina. Suffering in silence is not the cure.

An allergy occurs, when an individual is sensitized to a known substance, that provokes an allergic reaction. These substances are known as allergens, or triggers, because they cause an overreaction by the body’s immune system. There are naturally occurring allergens, like pollens, environmental substances, like chemicals, and the foods that we eat, mostly proteins, amongst many others.

There are four main ways through which allergens can get into the body:

Inhalation - as with pollen and dust mites.
Eating - as with some foods.
Absorption - via the skin, as with some chemicals and plants.
Injection - some people are allergic to drugs, such as penicillin.

If an allergic person experiences allergens, for the first time, the allergic reactions do not occur, but the immune system is sensitized. Think of it, as becoming ready to resist allergens, that it mistakenly takes to be invaders, intent on doing harm to the body.

Having become hypersensitized to a particular substance, when the immune system experiences the same type of allergen; it automatically mass-produces antibodies to deal with the perceived threat. These antibodies bind with the allergens, and as they move throughout the body, they react with other cells. Then substances, including histamine, cause inflammation, that is a frequent allergy symptom. Allergies vary from person to person, and the symptoms range from something as mild as a drippy nose, to anaphylaxis, which is sometimes fatal.

Testing and Diagnoses

When it is suitable, skin testing is preferable to blood testing, because it is more specific, easier to do, and more economic. Nevertheless, your doctor will know what is best suited to your disorder.

Treatment

Physicians, who are experts in dealing with allergic diseases, undertake intensive training. In the USA a minimum of nine years is needed to qualify as an allergist immunologist. It is reassuring to know that real improvements in medical treatments have been developed by allergists. They include fast acting epinephrine tablets, low allergy foods, and advances in dealing with wasp stings.

Immunotherapy

If immunotherapy is thought to be an appropriate treatment, it may either limit the severity of an allergy or cure it completely. It requires injecting progressively increased doses, of the allergen, identified as causing the symptoms. There have been good results in dealing with rhinitis and asthma.

Medicinal Drugs

Various drugs are used to deal with the symptoms of allergy including, antihistamines, cortisone, hydrocortisone, theophlene, epinephrine, and dexamethosone. A few preparations are obtainable over the counter, but it is always wise to seek advice from your doctor, what is suitable for your own allergy.

Summary

It is not known precisely why some people get allergies, whilst others do not. Studies suggest that there is a hereditary reason for some allergies.

It seems sure that the incidence of allergies is on the increase, and that it may have something to do with modern living.

For instance, work places have become airtight, with windows that opened being replaced by air conditioning. However, the quality of the outside air, particularly in built up areas, is questionable. On a global basis, rain forests are being cut down, whilst gas guzzling vehicles are everywhere. Add the development of the emerging nations, and you have a recipe for industrial contamination.

It has been suggested that many Chinese settlers develop hay fever, after moving to the USA, for a few years. Quite recently, there has been much publicity concerning industrial contamination in Beijing, and other places. Probably the time could soon arrive, when the good citizens of China will have their own, home grown sort of rhinitis! Will the sweet smell of success be accompanied by allergic respiratory disorders – if it does, did the end justify the means?

Disclaimer

This article is only for advice, and should not be used as a substitute for the medical guidance of your doctor, or other medically qualified adviser. Always seek confirmation from your doctor, before deciding if a particular product or treatment, is appropriate for your condition.

You should know that what suits one allergy sufferer might be inappropriate for another. Do not act on any advice you have read, either in this article or elsewhere, without the full approval of your doctor. The author does not accept any liability whatsoever, for any consequences arising from or thought to be arising from using this article.

Richard Wise writes articles on natural health, aromatherapy, herbal remedies, antioxidants, allergies and vegetarianism. If you require to know about allergies please visit his web site http://www.allergy-check.com which includes information concerning gluten allergy, and many other specific allergies.

Ring worm
Ring worms are a contagious fungus infection of the skin or scalp or nails and not a worm infection. They are also called “Tinea”. It is a reddish to brownish and elevated region of the skin that has a lighter color at the center and hence looks similar to a ring. The fungi can inhabit dead tissues on the skin and structures like hair or nails, that grow from the skin. Ring worms affect the skin, fingers, toe nails and feet. The fungi feed on keratin which is found in the skin, hair and nails. They prosper when the skin is moist, hot and hidden from light. The most common fungi are Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Microsporum canis. When this infection is found in the groin, it is called “jock itch”. If it exists on the feet, it is called “athlete’s foot”. Nearly, 20% of the population is affected by this disease.

Ring worm symptoms

• Patches appear over the skin that are red, elevated, itchy and scaly. The patches are lighter at the center. These may blister and ooze.
• Bald patches appear on the scalp or in the beard.
• Nails become discolored, thick and may crumble.

Ring worm causes
Ring worm occurs when fungus grows and multiplies on the skin, scalp and nails. This fungus flourishes in warm and moist conditions. So, when there is continuous wetness eg. sweating or minor injuries to the skin, scalp or nails, the possibility of ring worm increases. It is passed from one person to other by direct skin-to-skin contact or contact of contaminated items like combs, shower or pool surfaces or unwashed clothing. Pets like cats and dogs are the carriers of this fungus and contact with these may also lead to ring worm. After getting exposed to the fungi, it is found that some people are more susceptible to ring worm than others. If the individual has eczema or other skin problems, the protective barrier of the skin’s outer layer is less intact and they are more prone to ring worm. Some persons are congenitally more susceptible and can get ring worm throughout their life.

Ring worm treatment
Topical anti-fungal creams like miconazole (Tinactin) or clotrimazole (Lotrimin) are available without any prescription. They have to be applied to the affected area minimum twice a day for several weeks to get rid of ring worm. After the symptoms vanish, treatment must be continued for one week. Only then complete eradication can be guaranteed.

In case of ring worm in the nails or the scalp, the prolonged application of oral anti-fungal medicine is essential. As scalp ring worm is majorly responsible for hair loss, it must be treated aggressively.

If there are only one or two lesions, any of the following medications are prescribed:

• Imidazoles – ketoconazole, econazole, oxiconazole, sulconazole, clotrimazole, miconazole
• Substituted pyridines – ciclopirox olamine
• Naphthiomates – tolnaftate
• Allylamines – naftifine, terbinafine

For relief from itching, a topical corticosteroid is used. This should never be used as the only treatment. Ring worm treatment of Deep abscesses or severely infected regions involves surgical drainage.

For people having weak immune system or those infections not cleared with a topical medicine or extensive infections, anti-fungal medication in the form of pills is prescribed. Some examples are fluconazole, itraconazole, terbinafine, griseofulvin and ketoconazole. New ring worm infections that are resistant to oral griseofulvin are treated with oral itraconazole or terbinafine. Oral medications have side effects like rash, abnormal liver functioning and gastrointestinal upset. Use of antacid therapy for ulcer disease or gastroesophageal reflux disease interferes with the absorption of the oral medications of treating ring worm. The oral medications modify the efficiency of warfarin which is an anticoagulant drug that reduces the clotting ability of the blood.

A tropical sun rises over Havana and in the neighborhood of Vedado, a maze of worn, bleached apartment blocks, a unique health care system limbers up for another day.

In Parque Aguirre, a small plaza shaded by palms, two dozen pensioners form a semi-circle and perform a series of stretches and gentle exercises, responding to the commands of a spry septuagenarian.

Two blocks away, in a small shabby office, two doctors receive a steady stream of phone calls and visitors, mostly minor queries, but a few people are directed to the nearby Joaquín Albarrán clinic for blood tests, X-rays and prescriptions. Serious cases are referred to Calixto García hospital, an antiquated complex, in which Julio Hernandez, 43, lies in a narrow bed hooked to two intravenous drips after intestinal surgery. His skin is waxy and orange because the hospital lacks vitamins but he will survive that, and the surgery has gone well. “They say I’ll be up and out by tomorrow,” he says.

This snapshot of Havana shows a health care system that is extensive, accessible and, at times, ropey. What is unique is the blend of third world conditions with a progressive ethos and first world results.

Michael Moore’s documentary, Sicko, holds up Cuba as a model. Whether it is a consultation, dentures or open heart surgery, citizens are entitled to free treatment. As a result this impoverished Caribbean island has better health indicators than its much wealthier neighbor 90 miles across the Florida straits.

“There’s a reason Cubans live on average longer than we do,” Moore told Time magazine. “I’m not trumpeting [Fidel] Castro or his regime. I just want to say to fellow Americans, ‘C’mon, we’re the United States. If they can do this, we can do it.’”

Other outsiders such as Kofi Annan, the former UN secretary general, a House of Commons select committee, and an array of non-governmental organizations have also lauded Cuban health care. Even some senior US officials, between bouts of Castro-bashing, have ceded some plaudits.

“Health and education are the revolution’s pillars of legitimacy so the government has to make them work,” says a senior western diplomat in Havana. “If they don’t it loses all its moral authority. My sense is that the health system is quite good.”

But how good, exactly? And how does Cuba do it given such limited means? Neither question is easy to answer. The communist government is not transparent, some statistics are questionable and citizens have reason to muffle complaints lest they be jailed as political dissidents.

According to the World Health Organization a Cuban man can expect to live to 75 and a woman to 79. The probability of a child dying aged under five is five per 1,000 live births. That is better than the US and on a par with the UK.

Yet these world-class results are delivered by a shoestring annual per capita health expenditure of $260 (£130) - less than a 10th of Britain’s $3,065 and a fraction of America’s $6,543.

There is no mystery about Cuba’s core strategy: prevention. From promoting exercise, hygiene and regular check-ups, the system is geared towards averting illnesses and treating them before they become advanced and costly.

This is on display in the neighborhood of Vedado. By 8.30am the pensioners of Parque Aguirre are assembled and following the lead of Carmelina Díaz, 76, and raising arms, swiveling hips and marching on the spot.

Averting illness

Mrs Díaz learned these techniques “for those in their third age” at the national sports institute. A volunteer, she has led these sessions five days a week for 21 years and keeps note of attendance in a leather-bound copybook. “It’s not just physical, it’s also social, we arrange outings to the theater, the beach,” she says.

A star participant is Lilia García Fernández, 81, who uses a cane to circle the park three times before the class. She has seven ailments, including diabetes, rheumatism and arthritis, but remains relatively fit. Asked when she last visited a hospital she pauses. “Ooh, I don’t know, more than five or six years ago,” she says.

Whether they want to or not millions of Cubans are forced to exercise because cars and public transport are so scarce. “For me it’s [five miles] walking every day,” said Leandro Munoca, 64. As a member of the 120 Club, which promotes longevity, he does not resent the exercise.

Cubans are stereotypically lean but the malnourished era dating from the end of Soviet subsidies in the 1990s is giving way to a passion for fried, greasy carbohydrates. Fish and vegetables remain scarce. The result is 30% of adults being overweight, according to government figures. A healthy eating campaign is planned.

Other prevention strategies take the form of adverts promoting self-examinations for signs of cancer and ulcers, and tips on fighting the mosquitoes which spread dengue fever. The health ministry, unopposed by cowed churches, sponsors radio and television dramas urging safer sex. “Without a condom, forget it,” a teenage character tells her boyfriend.

Posters in the “polyclinics”, a new generation of walk-in centers which are just one step below hospitals in range of care but much cheaper to run, cast disease prevention as a patriotic duty. Just as George Bush is made to look sinister in posters with hooded eyes, microbes are depicted as mini-ogres seeking to undermine the revolution.

Often pharmacies lack basics such as aspirin but in recent months they have been reasonably stocked. In addition the state promotes alternative medicine, such as Chinese herbal remedies, which are cheaper than western drugs.

Simple, free access to GPs is a bedrock of health care. There are estimated to be 14,000 family doctors for the 11.2 million population, a ratio of one GP per 785 people. Include all the other doctors in hospitals and colleges and the ratio falls to 175. “We are told to encourage them to contact us. And they do, all the time, day and night,” says one GP, somewhat ruefully. Everyone is supposed to be visited at home at least once a year, often without warning, so the GP can scrutinise a patient’s lifestyle.

Cuban doctors have a reputation for dedication. With an average monthly salary of just $20 they cannot be accused of entering the profession for money. One neurosurgeon spoke of hitchhiking to work and operating on an empty stomach.

Idealism

But for all the system’s impressive results and tinge of idealism few of those who use it have a romantic view. It is routine for patients to offer a regalito, a little present such as cash or a scarce product, such as shampoo. Most, but not all, can scrabble enough pesos together for these under-the-table payments, a common practice across the economy.

“It’s not a bribe, it’s recognition that doctors are as hard up as the rest of us,” said Georgina, a 42-year-old writer. Even so, the better the regalito the better the service. It means some patients are more equal than others.

A deal with Venezuela which sends more than 20,000 Cuban medical staff to South America in exchange for cheap oil has pumped money into the system.

But the deal has put the system under strain. Not only are there fewer doctors on the island, thousands of Bolivian and Venezuelan patients are being flown in, at Venezuelan government expense, and allegedly jumping the queue. Many Cubans grumble about delays and being tended by foreign medical students.

Foreign patients who pay in hard currency, including Europeans and Americans, get stellar treatment. Camilo Cienfuegos, a 200-room hospital cum hotel solely for foreigners, for example, has cable television, air-conditioning, minibars, gourmet chefs and receptionists who drip gold jewelry. It’s a world away from the cracked floors, bare shelves and unshaved staff in grubby T-shirts at the Cuban-only clinic opposite.

José Ramón Balaguer, the health minister, cited Moore’s documentary, which features three Americans treated in Havana, as evidence of the “humane principles of Cuban society” and its willingness to treat anyone. The pragmatic rationale is that the profits are ploughed back into care for ordinary Cubans. Calixto García hospital, now undergoing renovation, shows what a lottery that can be. In wards such as Salon Fortun cigarette butts litter corridors, beds lack mattresses and there is no running water. “God, yuk,” said one elderly man, recoiling from some blocked toilets. Other patients are luckier. Felix Armenteros, 77, a retired tobacco seller awaiting prostrate surgery in another ward, has no complaints. “A special bus brought me here for free. A decent bed, a proper bathroom, great.”

Cuban health care is no utopia. At times it is ragged and harsh. But the virtues are no myth. People live as long as they do because the system, overall, works. To be poor and sick in Cuba is tough, but it is not to be forgotten.

Explainer: How the NHS compares

The trouble with the NHS, some say, is that it is not a national health service but a national sickness service. The focus is not on keeping us well, but keeping us alive. Hospital intensive care units take priority in the public mind over diet and exercise campaigns.

Cuba is admired by public health experts in Britain and around the world for putting the horse before the cart. Unable to afford too many hi-tech operating theatres, it focuses its efforts on keeping its people well and picking up illness early - when it’s easier and cheaper to treat.

So vaccination for children is all-important - and Cuba has exported its homegrown meningitis B vaccine to the rest of Latin America. In the 1970s, Cuba worked hard on building up good care for women through pregnancy and childbirth, and for their babies, which brought the maternal and child mortality rates down to levels common in more affluent countries.

But even more impressive is the ratio of doctors - not surgeons but all-round generalist GPs - to patients. Cuba has about one doctor for every 175 people. In Britain we have about one to 435. Every Cuban will have a medical center nearby where there is a surgery with a GP and a nurse. It makes seeking medical help easy and therefore diagnosis and treatment rapid.

One of the factors behind the relatively poor prognosis for women with breast cancer living in deprived areas of the UK is that they do not go to see a doctor early enough. In Cuba, on the other hand, it can be hard to avoid your GP.

Public health doctors from Britain visit Cuba to see how it manages a life expectancy for both men and women which is hardly different from ours.

And the NHS, if not exactly influenced by Cuba, is certainly moving in its direction. Not only is public health taking a bigger role - the fight against smoking and obesity is now very visible - but GP surgeries are expanding to embrace nurse practitioners and visiting consultants in addition to doctors and health visitors.

Increasingly, the trend here is towards polyclinics, where a range of treatments, including minor surgery, can be had without the need for a trip to hospital. Sarah Boseley

Hip exercises include the following:

• Squats
• Lunges
• Leg Press
• Dumbbell Squats
• Dumbbell Lunges
• Barbell Squats
• Barbell Lunges

Hip workout – Squats
Stand against a wall. The body from the waist to the head must touch the wall. Place both the feet slightly ahead of the wall and at shoulder width distance. Both knees must be slightly bent, chest upwards and abdominal muscles tightened. Split the body weight between the hip line and the knee line. Squat directly downwards while brushing the back against the wall. Wherever it is felt comfortable, stop the downwards motion. The back should not bend forwards. Then, move upwards to the initial position. This is also a Knee exercise.

Lunges
Place the left leg ahead of the right leg. Split the body weight equally between the legs. Tighten the abdominal muscles, bend the knees slightly and chest must be upwards. Squat directly downwards and stop wherever it is felt comfortable. The back should not bend forward. Push the body upwards to the initial position. Reverse the position of both legs and carry out the same procedure. This is also a thigh exercise.

Leg Press
Sit on a leg press machine with the back against the back pad. Tighten the abdominal muscles, bend the knees slightly and chest must be upwards. Lower the weight. Split the weight between the hip joints and knee joints. Stop when it is felt comfortable and push the weight upwards. Stop just before the knees are straightened. This is also a leg exercise.

Dumbbell Squats
Stand with the legs placed shoulder width apart. Hold one dumbbell in each hand such that the fingers point towards the thighs. Split the weight between the hip line and knee line. Tighten the abdominal muscles, bend the knees slightly and chest must be upwards. Push the hip backwards and squat downwards. Stop whenever it is felt comfortable. The back should not come forward. Start moving upwards. Stop just before the knees are straight. This is also a knee and buttocks exercise.

Dumbbell Lunges
Stand with one leg ahead of the other. Hold one dumbbell in each hand with the fingers pointing towards the thighs. Split the weight equally between the legs. Tighten the abdominal muscles, bend the knees slightly and chest must be upwards. Move the hips slightly backwards and squat directly downwards. Stop whenever it is felt comfortable. Push the weight directly upwards. Stop before the knees become straight. This is also a buttocks exercise.

Barbell Squats
Stand so that the legs are shoulder width apart. Hold the barbell without any weights behind the neck and on the shoulders. Tighten the abdominal muscles, bend the knees slightly and chest must be upwards. Push the hip backwards and squat directly downwards. Stop wherever it is felt comfortable. Push directly upwards to the initial position. Stop just before the knees are straightened. This is also a thigh and leg workout exercise.

Barbell Lunges
Stand with one leg in front of the other. Hold the barbell without any weights behind the neck and on the shoulders. Tighten the abdominal muscles, bend the knees slightly and chest must be upwards. Move the hips backwards slightly and squat directly downwards. Stop whenever it is felt comfortable. Push the weight directly upwards. Stop just before the knees are straightened. This is also an outer thigh exercise.

In all the above hips exercises, the muscles like Gluteus maxumus, adductors, abductors, quadriceps and hamstrings are benefited. Only quadriceps are in the front of the human upper leg. Rest all four muscles lie to the rear of the human upper leg. All the above exercises have to be repeated as many times it is felt comfortable.

To prevent neck pain and stiffness, the neck muscles must be subjected to a daily range of motion exercises. The exercises for neck are intended to maintain the range of motion or regain the loss of movement in the neck. In case of chronic neck pain, these neck exercises aid in mobility and allow to tolerate more activity.

Neck exercise - Neck flexion
Bring the head forward till the chin touches the chest. Stare straight down at the floor. Lift the head to the initial straight position. Repeat this procedure five times. At the beginning, if the neck is moved backwards and then the procedure is followed, then the stretch on the neck increases.

The structures behind the cervical spine are kept in a tight position in the daily posture. Gradually, they become shortened and the neck ceases moving naturally. This exercise stretches these structures.

Neck extension
Move the head backwards till the face is looking directly at the ceiling. The movement should not be fast or forceful. Hold the backward position for a few seconds. Return to the initial straight position. Repeat this motion five times. The small joints at the back of the neck are forced to an extreme position.

Rotation
Turn the head slowly round to one side till it cannot go still further. Hold the neck in this farthest position for some seconds and then return to the initial straight position. Turn the head to one side five times. Then, turn the head to the other side five times. During the individual movements, do not go from one side to the other. Also, do not roll the neck.

Side flexions
Keep the head facing straight forward. Bend the ear down towards the shoulder. The body should not rotate to that side. Return to the initial straight position. Repeat this motion five times. Then, bend the ear to the other side and repeat the motion five times. Do not alternate between the sides after bending once, as this prevents from reaching the ends and aggravates the joints.

Neck Retraction
A majority of people, while sitting, have a tendency to slump and position the head upwards so that the eyes are horizontal. To do this, the neck is arched backwards slightly. Due to this, there is a bending posture to the lower neck and an arching posture to the upper neck. As a consequence, the tissues shorten and there is stiffness and pain. This position is counteracted in Neck retraction. Keep the face straight, draw the head backwards and move the chin slightly downwards. Hold the backward posture for some seconds and return to the initial position. The entire motion is similar to the forward and backward movement of a chicken.

Upper neck nodding
Usually, people tend to poke the chin forward and this provides an extension to the upper neck joints. During the exercise, initially lie flat on the back. A pillow may or may not be taken below the head. Rotate the head forward to rock the neck. The head should not be lifted from the bottom surface. There may be a feeling of a tight pull in the upper neck. If the head is pushed very hard, the pain could aggravate. After getting accustomed to the movement, it can be done in the sitting or standing position. However, pure joint movement is obtained only in lying down position. The movement moves the upper cervical joints.

For all the above movements, each of them have to be done five times and this completes one set. After a short rest another set can be performed. Doing these neck exercises twice or thrice a day would prove very useful. Anytime if dizziness is felt, it implies that the blood vessels in the neck are getting squeezed in this state.

Folic acid is considered a brain food and is needed for energy production and the formation of red blood cells. It strengthens immunity by aiding in the proper formation and functioning of white blood cells.

Another folic acid fact is that it functions as a coenzyme in DNA and RNA synthesis, it is important for healthy cell division and replication. It is involved in protein metabolism, and has been used in the prevention and treatment of folic acid anemia. This nutrient may also help depression and anxiety. It also may be effective in the treatment of uterine cervical dysplasia.

Folic Acid and Pregnancy
Folic acid is very important in pregnancy. It helps to regulate embryonic and fetal nerve cell formation, which is vital for normal development. Folic acid is a B vitamin that can help prevent the vast majority of birth defects of the brain and spinal cord called neural tube defects, such as spina bifida and anencephaly, when taken before pregnancy and in the early weeks of pregnancy. I may also prevent premature birth.

To be effective, a folic acid regimen must begin before conception and continue for at least the first three months of pregnancy. If a woman waits until she knows she is pregnant, it may be too late, because critical events in fetal development occur during the first six weeks of pregnancy, before most women know they have conceived.

Deficiency of Folic Acid
Since NTDs originate in the first months of pregnancy, it is important for a woman to have enough folic acid in her body before pregnancy. Folic Acid is recommended for all women of childbearing age because fifty percent of pregnancies are unplanned.

Studies show that women, who consume the recommended amount of this vitamin supplement, before conception and continuing into the first month of pregnancy, reduce their risk of having a baby with certain birth defects of the brain and spine.

The neural tube is the embryonic structure that develops into the brain and spinal cord; this is a structure which starts out as a flat pancake of cells which normally folds into a tube by the twenty-ninth day after conception. When the neural tube does not close completely, the baby has a neural tube defect. About 2,500 babies are born with NTDs each year, and many other NTD affected pregnancies end in miscarriage or stillbirth.

The most common NTDs are spina bifida and anencephaly. Spina bifida is a leading cause of childhood paralysis. Affected children have varying degrees of lower-body paralysis and bladder and bowel control problems. Anencephaly is a fatal condition in which a baby is born with a severely underdeveloped brain and skull

Studies also suggest that folic acid may help prevent some other birth defects as well, including cleft lip and palate.

Researchers and health care providers recommend that all women who can become pregnant consume a multivitamin containing 400 micrograms of folic acid daily, in addition to eating a healthy diet including foods rich in folic acid.

This is the only sure way a woman can get all the folic acid and other vitamins she needs. Most women get only about 200 micrograms of folic acid a day from their diets. Folic acid works best when combined with vitamin B12 and vitamin C.

Foods Rich in Folic Acid
Folic acid facts show that foods that are naturally rich in folates (natural forms of folic acid found in foods) include beans, peanuts, pork, salmon, tuna, liver, oranges and orange juice. There are many other foods that are rich in folic acids, consult your nutritionist for more details.

The researches on the facts about folic acid also show the body can absorb almost 100 percent of the synthetic form of folic acid and is recommended that women take the synthetic form. Once pregnancy has been confirmed, women should increase their folic acid intake to 600 micrograms a day. Most health care providers recommend a prenatal vitamin that contains at least this amount of folic acid. No more than 1000 micrograms should be taken without the advice of a doctor.

What is Fifty Disease?
Erythema Infectiosum also known as Fifth Disease is caused by Human Parvovirus - B19 (PV-B19), which is an erythrovirus. This disease is common in children between the ages 4 to 16. The very distinctive nature of this disease shows up in the form of red rashes on the patient’s cheeks and appears as if the patient has been slapped or hit on face. This disease spreads across the other parts of the body like legs, trunk and arms etc. Infection of this disease in children is very self limiting and the patient starts recovering after some time without development of more complications.

This disease is referred as Fifth Disease as it is the fifth number disease recognized in a group of diseases which cause rashes in children.

Who develops this disease?
The ratio of males and females getting infected with this disease is almost same. This disease is prevalent in children and does not cause much harm to them as the patient recovers in a very short period without developing more complications.

This disease in adults (especially those who have damaged immune system and pregnant women) may get much more complicated than in children and the result may vary depending on the extent of complications.

(This disease causing virus Parvovirus is different than the Parvovirus found in animals and it does not convert/transform to the human form of virus and vice versa.)

Causes and symptoms of fifth disease:
As discussed earlier, Human Parvovirus-B19 causes fifth disease in humans. The patient is considered infectious during the incubation period of the disease which involves the initiation and development of the disease after which the symptoms starts showing up till the time when the disease matures in the patient. This disease is considered to be transmitted mainly through the body fluids from the infected patient. The body fluid is also considered to transmit when the patient coughs or sneezes and an un-infected person comes in vicinity enough for him/her to get infected.

The disease is also transmitted through blood transfusion or through blood products. It also spreads from an infected mother to her fetus.

The symptoms of this disease include:
1) The patient may experience headache, mild fever, pharyngitis, malaise etc. in the initial phase of the disease.
2) Some patient’s may also experience problems such as diarrhea, nausea, pain in abdominal area, arthralgias etc.
3) In the first stage of the disease patient’s skin begins to appear reddish (cheeks, arms and legs etc.) and gives an impression of being slapped. The erythematic marks appear abruptly on the skin and they start fading in about 4 to 5 days.
4) In the next stage of the disease, an erythematous eruption starts occurring on the patient’s skin targeting the exterior surfaces of the skin (this stage lasts for about 4 to 6 days). This pattern slowly converts into reticulated pattern of patches/blotches on the skin of the patient which may last from 3 to about 22 days.
5) As compared to the children if an adult is exposed to the virus Parvovirus-B19, the disease shows different characteristics and slight different symptoms. The most common symptom experienced by an adult suffering from this disease involves symmetric joint pain, which increases over the period.
6) Patient’s suffering from fifth disease may also experience reddening of eyes, swelling of glands, problems related to throat such as soar throat and joint pain (as mentioned earlier).

What are the complications associated with the fifth disease?
The disease in adults may get more complicated over the period as compared to in children.
People with weakened immune system and with a background of shortened life span of red blood cells are prone to conditions such as prolonged viremia leading to damaged bone marrow cells and other complications. PV-B19 virus may also trigger or cause diseases like papular-purpuric gloves and socks syndrome, systemic sclerosis, acute vasculitic syndromes, rheumatoid arthritis, hemocytophagia, systemic lupus erythematosus, myocarditis, hepatitis, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, anemia, pulmonary diseases, erythematos exanthema (atypical), ileitis, neurological problems, nephrotic syndrome, thalassemia, sickle cell anemia, Pyruvate Kinase deficiency etc.
Infection of the PV-B19 virus in pregnant women may lead to a direct cyto-toxic effect on fetal red blood cells and other problems such as congestive heart failure, anemia, hydrops fetalis and miscarriage etc. The anemia and other complications may also be passed to the fetus.

Test and diagnosis of the disease:
The reddish rashes on patient’s body and skin can help doctors in diagnosing the disease. Other than the physical examination of the patient, doctor also may opt for few tests such as blood test, IgM assays which involve immunoassyas and radioimmunoassay, Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification test, Dot-Blot Hybridization and Polymerase Chain-Reaction etc.

What are the treatments available?
Treatment of the disease varies based on various parameters such as the age group, to which the patient belongs, patient’s immune system etc. Doctor may also prescribe medicines or lotion based on the stage of the disease.

How should I prevent this disease?
As the initial symptoms of the disease take some time to show up and this period falls under the period in which this disease can spread from the infected person to a healthy person (also known as the period between infection and incubation), it is very hard to baseline the preventive measures against this disease. However, children should be advised to keep hygiene and not use each other’s used tissues or handkerchiefs etc. They should also be careful while interacting with sick children.