The Bogo Times : health

What is coronavirus?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV).

A novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans. It was identified by Chinese authorities on January 7 and little is known about it.

These viruses were originally transmitted between animals and people. SARS was believed to have been transmitted from civet cats to humans while MERS traveled from a type of camel to humans.

What are the symptoms?

The symptoms depend on the type of coronavirus and how serious the infection is. If you have a mild to moderate upper-respiratory infection such as the common cold, your symptoms may include

Runny nose
Headache
Cough
Sore throat
Fever
Not feeling well overall

Some coronaviruses can cause severe symptoms. The infections may turn into bronchitis and pneumonia, which cause symptoms such as

Fever, which may be quite high if you have pneumonia
Cough with mucus
Shortness of breath
Chest pain or tightness when you breathe and cough

Severe infections are more common in people with heart or lung diseases, people with weakened immune systems, infants, and older adults.

How are coronavirus infections spread?

Human coronaviruses usually spread from an infected person to others through

The air by coughing and sneezing
Close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands
Touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes before washing your hands
Rarely, feces (poop)

What is being done to stop its spread?

There is no vaccine for the new virus.

Chinese authorities have effectively sealed off Wuhan, state media said.

The move was meant to "resolutely contain the momentum of the epidemic spreading" and protect lives, the central city's special command centre against the virus said, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

More than a dozen other Chinese cities also adopted transport restrictions, affecting 56 million people.

Airports around the world have introduced screening measures and some countries are working to evacuate their citizens from Wuhan.

Prevention

sources:

1/28/2020 06:06:00 PM No comments

A bloodletting drive will be held in Bogo City this February 16, 2020 through the efforts of the Vice Mayor's office in partnership with Red Cross and the City Health Office.

The Benefits of Donating Blood

LOWER IRON LEVELS

Studies suggest that many of us consume more irons than we need to maintain good health. Lower the iron levels in your body every time you give blood, which can help reduce the risk of heart disease.

High blood iron levels have the potential to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease because iron accelerates the oxidation process of cholesterol in the body, which damages arteries. Iron stimulates cells to churn out free radicals, molecules that may contribute to cancer and other diseases of aging. Studies show that high iron levels in your blood are also associated with premature aging.

Women tend to outlive men and are generally better at postponing the onset of age-related diseases, and one theory involves iron loss due to menstruation.

Do you have high iron levels? Get your levels checked to find out. Ferritin measures iron stores in the blood. Levels between 50 and 100 ng/mL are ideal. Levels below 50 ng/mL can cause problems, such as anxiety, fatigue, restless legs, and ADHD. High levels, over 250 ng/mL are associated with iron overload and increase the risk of inflammation, heart disease and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease.

Causes of high iron levels: Causes of too much iron include regular alcohol consumption, cooking in iron pans, foods fortified with iron, well water high in iron, or vitamin or mineral supplements with extra iron. Some people are genetically predisposed to absorb too much iron from food.

REDUCE CANCER RISK

High iron levels can also contribute to the development and growth of tumors. A 2014 study in Cancer Research found that high iron levels in the blood were associated with a 25% increased risk of all cancers and a 39% increase in the risk of dying from cancer. And consuming large amounts of dietary iron is linked with increased risk of colorectal cancer.

Consistent blood donation is associated with lowered risks for cancers, including liver, lung, colon, stomach, and throat cancers. Risk levels dropped in correlation with how often participants donated blood. As a rule, you can safely donate blood every 56 days.

REDUCE HEART ATTACK RISK

High levels of iron in the blood have been cited as a risk factor for heart attack. Regular blood donors can mitigate that risk. Research shows that men who donate regularly over many years have an 88% lower risk of heart attacks and a 33% lower risk of any severe cardiovascular event, such as a stroke.

REPLENISH BLOOD

When you donate blood, your body replaces the blood volume within 48 hours of donation, and all of the red blood cells you lose during donation are completely replaced within four to eight weeks. This process of replenishment can help your body stay healthy and work more efficiently and productively.

ENHANCE MENTAL WELL-BEING

Donating blood can also improve your emotional health. According to the Mental Health Foundation, doing good for others is also good for your psyche. Among the many emotional benefits are:

Reducing stress
Enhancing emotional well-being
Minimizing negative thoughts and feelings
Providing a sense of belonging and reducing feelings of social isolation

source: amenclinics.com

1/28/2020 11:58:00 AM No comments

You’ve probably heard that eating healthy is more expensive than eating processed junk. (Whole Foods, Whole Paycheck, right?!) But is it really true? The answer may surprise you. No matter what, we’ve got some pointers to help both your nutrition and bank account stay on track.

Photo by Trang Doan from Pexels

The Verdict

According to a 2013 Harvard study, yes — eating healthier will inflate your grocery bill. Processed foods are cheaper to manufacture meaning that adding more produce, lean meat, and fish to your diet will cost you an extra $1.50 per day or $550 per year. While some budgets can’t absorb the hike, the difference between eating a balanced diet and surviving on prepackaged food may be easier to overcome than you thought.

One Caveat

Even though wholesome foods sometimes comes with a bigger price tag, we need to be mindful of our own psychology. Recent research indicates that we tend to assign greater nutritional value to more expensive goods. When we’re wrong, our wallets take an unnecessary hit and we perpetuate the idea that a nourishing diet is financially out of reach. Rather than focus on price, we should review the product label to gauge vitamins, nutrients, fats, sodium, and sugar which are true measurements of nutrition.

Long Term Benefits

Even though your wallet may be displeased now, you’re really doing yourself a financial favor by improving your diet. Research shows that eating well reduces your risk for a whole host of unpleasant and costly conditions like cancer, dementia, heart attack, diabetes, and more. With health care expenses reaching new highs every year, it makes sense to invest a little upfront to avoid a potential fiscal disaster later.

How to Eat Healthy on the Cheap

Yes, you may pay more to eat better — but shopping smart can curb the cost. Here are several ways to boost your diet without breaking the bank:

Hit up farmers markets and buy seasonal produce.
Buy frozen produce — it’s cheaper, keeps longer, and packs the same nutritious punch.
Buy inexpensive whole grains, beans, and peanut butter because they’re tasty, versatile, and good for you.
Cook with cheaper cuts of meat like chicken thighs, ground turkey, and beef sirloin.
Buy store brand goods — they usually taste the same as name brands.
Shop sales, use coupons, and go to discount stores. Where you shop can make all the difference.
Meal plan and cook at home. You’ll be in control of the price and what goes into each dish.
Grow your own food. While more land and more free time equate to more crops, even busy apartment dwellers can grow herbs in their windowsill.

Check out recipes for inexpensive and wholesome meals here and here.

Final Thoughts

Eating a balanced diet does cost a bit more than eating processed foods. However, with these money-saving strategies, you can curtail the expense and treat your body better. Your future self will thank you!

This article was originally published at HiCharlie.com.

by Laura Gariepy | May 15, 2019

5/28/2019 09:39:00 AM No comments

3/08/2016 11:18:00 PM No comments

Cancer is one the most common causes of deaths among men. A healthy diet can decrease the risk of developing a certain cancer but other factors especially genes can play a huge role.

Once a cancer spreads and reaches a higher stage, it can be difficult to treat. Healthline.com enumerates 10 of the most common cancer symptoms in men. Knowing these symptoms can help you seek early treatment which gives you a better chance of remission.

1. Bowel Changes

The occasional bowel problem is normal, but changes in your bowels may indicate either colon or rectal cancer—collectively called colorectal cancers. Colon cancer affects the entire colon, while rectal cancer affects the lower portion that connects to the anus.

Frequent diarrhea and constipation may indicate cancer, particularly if these bowel changes come on suddenly. These problems also may be accompanied by frequent gas and abdominal pain.

2. Rectal Bleeding

Rectal bleeding may be an early sign of rectal cancer. This is especially the case if you experience bleeding from the rectum every time you pass a bowel movement. You may notice blood in your stools.

While this is a cancer symptom, colon cancers are difficult to self-diagnose in the early stages. Regular colon cancer screenings are recommended starting at age 50.

3. Urinary Changes

Incontinence and other urinary changes may develop as you age. However, certain changes can be a sign of prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is most common in men ages 60 and older.

Common urinary signs include:

- leaks and incontinence

- inability to urinate despite urges to go

- delayed urination

- straining during urination

4. Blood in Urine

While prostate cancer doesn’t always cause symptoms in its earliest stages, blood in the urine can be one of them. Blood in urine also may be a sign of a urinary tract infection (UTI) or other prostate problems.

Early prostate cancer can also cause bloody semen.

5. Persistent Back Pain

Back pain is the most common cause of disability, but few men realize that it may be a sign of cancer. Common symptoms of colorectal and prostate cancers may not show until they spread to other parts of the body, such as the back.

Unlike occasional muscle pain, this causes tenderness and discomfort in the bones. Prostate cancer specifically may cause these symptoms within the bones of the hips and lower back.

6. Unusual Coughing

Coughing isn’t exclusive to smokers, or to people with a cold or allergies. A persistent cough is an early sign of lung cancer. If you don’t have any other related symptoms, such as a stuffy nose or fever, the cough probably is not related to a virus or infection.

Coughing accompanied with bloody mucus is associated with lung cancer in men.

7. Testicular Lumps

Testicular cancers in men are less common than cancers of the prostate, lungs, and colon. Still, there are early signs you shouldn’t ignore. Lumps in the testicles are a warning sign that you might have this cancer.

Doctors look for these lumps during wellness checks in elderly men as well as those with a family history of testicular cancer. For earliest detection, consider checking for unusual lumps once a month.

8. Excessive Fatigue

Fatigue can be related to a number of chronic illnesses and medical disorders. Excessive fatigue is your body’s way of telling you that something just isn’t right. As cancer cells grow and reproduce, your body may start to feel run down.

Fatigue is especially prominent in colorectal cancers in men. See a medical professional if you have excessive tiredness that doesn’t go away with a good night’s sleep.

9. Unexplained Weight Loss

It becomes more difficult to maintain your weight as you get older, so you might consider weight loss as a positive thing. But, sudden, unexplained weight loss can indicate a serious health problem, including almost any type of cancer.

If you rapidly drop pounds despite no changes in diet or exercise, discuss this with your doctor.

10. Lumps in the Breast

Breast cancer is not exclusive to women. Men also need to be on guard and check for suspicious lumps in the breast area. This is the earliest detectable symptom of male breast cancer. Call your doctor immediately for testing if you notice a lump.

Genes can play a role in male breast cancer, but it may also be caused by exposure to radiation or high estrogen levels. Breast lumps are most commonly found during your 60s.

Source: healthline.com

On Guard: 10 Early Symptoms of Cancer in Men by Kristeen Cherney

10/30/2014 04:12:00 PM No comments

4/24/2014 05:30:00 AM No comments