Aspirin Linked to Microbleeds in the Brain

A recent study conducted in the Netherlands has found out that people who regularly take aspirin have more incidences of tiny bleeding episodes in the brain. Physicians at Erasmus MC University Medical Center in Rotterdam have come into this conclusion after analysis over 1,000 magnetic resonance imaging examination results.

Published in the online edition of Archives of Neurology, the study shows that people who are taking aspirin or carbasalate calcium, which is chemically related to aspirin, have 70 percent more chances of getting "microbleeds" compared to those who are not taking such anti-clotting drugs. The doctors have also noted that other clot-preventing drugs such as heparin do not have the same effect on the brain.

Aspirin and carbasalate calcium are taken to reduce the risk of cardiovascular problems like heart attack and stroke as they prevent the formation of clots by acting against the platelets, the blood cell known to form clots.

Despite the link between aspirin and microbleeds, researchers are still baffled on how these tiny bursts of blood to the brain occur and how it will affect us in the future. Some data indicate that microbleeds are associated with reduced brain function, but their role is unclear.

Genes That May Affect Your Health

The human body is quite unique and interesting, so much that scientists still has a lot to learn about it. And what some scientists have discovered is that certain physical characteristics may be able to help tell about the health conditions in certain people. Here are some of them.

Length of Fingers

According to a study made in 2008, women with index fingers that are shorter than their ring fingers may be two times more at risk of developing osteoarthritis in the knees. This characteristic is known to occur predominantly in men. In the case of women, they tend to have lower levels of estrogen which may be seen to play a role in the development of osteoarthritis.

Earlobe Wrinkles

Another physical characteristic that may also predict one’s health concerns wrinkles found on the earlobes. Medical experts have discovered that linear wrinkles found in the earlobe may be able to predict the likelihood of cardiovascular conditions. People with creases in one earlobe may be 33 percent more at risk of heart attacks or other cardiac conditions.

Having wrinkles in both earlobes increases the risk by 77 percent. Although doctors are not exactly sure why this happens, they believe that it is due to the loss of the skins elastic fibers that may be causing the crease as well as may play a role in the hardening of the arteries.

Small Calves

A French study made recently has found a relationship between stroke risk and a woman’s calf size. The study suggests that women with calf sizes that are 13 inches or less are more likely to develop carotid plaques which are known risk factors for stroke. Experts believe that larger calves contain subcutaneous fat that may help pull fatty acids from the bloodstream and then store them where they are less likely to become risk factors for stroke.

Arm Length

Shorter arms may also affect one’s health. Another study suggests that people with shorter arm spans 1.5 times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease. A possible reason might be that certain nutritional and other associated deficits during the critical growing years may have brought about the shorter arm spans in people. This might also affect the cognitive processes and latter decline in life.

Understanding Lupus

Lupus is an autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation, pain, swelling and tissue damage occurring throughout the body. It is primarily caused by the body’s immune system trying to attack its own tissues instead of attacking foreign bodies like bacteria and viruses. Lupus can affect many parts of the body including the joints, heart, lungs, kidneys and even blood cells.

Lupus Cause

Just like many other types of autoimmune diseases, medical experts have yet to discover what causes lupus. Many experts believe that the cause may be attributed to both genetics and the environment. They believe that an individual can inherit a predisposition to developing lupus. But it may take coming into contact with a so-called trigger from the environment such as a type of medication or a virus that may lead to lupus.

Lupus Symptoms

Lupus may affect different people in different ways. There are no general signs and symptoms that affect all lupus patients. Whatever signs and symptoms that show may depend on what part of the body the disease may be affecting. Symptoms can range from fever, fatigue, joint pain, weight loss or gain, skin lesions, mouth sores, chest pain and even memory loss. These symptoms may develop either suddenly or in a gradual manner. They can also either be mild or severe depending on the extent of the problem.

Lupus Treatment

Treatment for lupus would depend on the symptoms as well as what part of the body the disease might be affecting. It is important that individuals suffering from lupus should talk with their doctors to determine what type of treatment would be effective for their case. The level of the treatment would also depend on how aggressive the signs and the symptoms of lupus show in different individuals.

Some of the possible medications that may be provided would include Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs or NSAID’s, corticosteroids and antimalarial drugs which have been known to prevent flare ups of the disease in some people. An important thing that doctors also consider when giving treatment for lupus on certain individuals is the potential side effects that they might bring. Corticosteriods and antimalarial drugs are known to cause certain side effects.

Weird Body Quirks And Their Solutions

Sometimes our bodies react so strangely to things. But as with everything, there is an explanation for these common but weird reactions – and solutions too.

Brain freeze

I’ve always liked the term brain freeze. It’s kind of cool actually – I sometimes wait for someone’s forehead to turn blue whenever they get a brain freeze. No such luck. It’s because it’s just the nerves at the roof of the mouth reacting to something cold you ate, and triggering the blood vessels in front of your head to constrict. For quick relief from this "frozen treat headache", press your tongue to the roof of your mouth to warm it up.

Excessive sweating

Excessive sweating or hyperhidrosis is a fairly common problem, and it happens (even) to healthy people. It usually occurs in the face, palms, soles, and armpits. Treatment usually includes aluminum chloride, antiperspirants, prescription antiperspirants, iontophoresis, Botox injections, oral medications, or surgery.

Vertigo

Vertigo is the sensation that the room is moving when it’s not. It can be caused by an inner ear inflammation, or decreased blood flow to the brain, vertigo can last for minutes, even hours. To distinguish vertigo from dizziness, there should be a feeling of motion. Other symptoms of vertigo include nausea or vomiting, sweating, and unusual eye movements. Treatment for vertigo depends on the cause.

Pins and needles

The pins and needles feeling when your arm goes to sleep is caused by lack of movement of constant pressure on that body part, leaving cells unable to transmit messages to the brain. The cure is very simple – move. Chronic pins and needles may be a sign of a more serious underlying condition. If this is the case, see your doctor.

Hiccups

Hiccups are an uncontrollable contraction of the diaphragm. It is usually caused by eating to fast, drinking too much alcohol, or swallowing air. Hiccups usually go away on their own. To hasten hiccups away, try holding your breath, quickly drinking water, or breathing in a bag.

Source: WebMD

Steps to Add Years to Your Life

Adding years to your life seems to be such a challenging task to do. Some may see it as something difficult to achieve. But one must also realize that small changes in one’s daily lifestyle may contribute to add years to life. Diet is just but one aspect of it. Here are some other simple and easy steps that you can try out in order to add years into your life.

Eat more salads.

Eating more green, leafy vegetable salads can do a lot in increasing your life expectancy in case you decide to include it into your daily diet. Raw, green salads are more effective since further processing may diminish the nutrients that they contain. Eating even a cup of green salad a day can be enough to extend your life expectancy by two years, according ti Italian researchers. Make sure that you don’t forget to add a bit of dressing since the fat content in it can help boost the body’s absorption of certain nutrients found in your salad.

Add nuts into your diet.

Nuts have long been known to provide several health benefits. A regular diet of nuts which may include walnuts, almonds, pecans and peanuts can help increase your life expectancy by about three years. Eating 2 ounces of nuts a day may do the trick.

Have more friends.

People yearn for the company of friends most of the time. But who would have known that they can also help extend your life expectancy by about seven years? It seems to be true according to an Australian study of people aging 70 years old and older. Researchers found out that those who come into contact with the largest network of friends also seem to have a longer lease on life. The company and the friendship seem to help add years into life. The earlier the network of friends is built, the better its effect on adding more fruitful years to your life.

Have a positive outlook.

Keeping a positive mind not only helps make life easier to cope up with, it can also help add years to your life. A Yale study composed of senior adults showed that those with a more positive outlook on aging lived seven years longer than those who dread the days of deteriorating health brought by aging. A simple change of outlook in life can help a lot in determining if you live well into your age or not.

Boosting Immune System Health

The best way to combat illness and most health ailments is by having a good and healthy immune system to protect your body against infections. Boosting your immune system helps ensure that you are well protected against various health conditions especially those brought about by the cold weather and the flu season. Here are some ways in which you may be able to boost up your immune system.

Get plenty of rest.

Taking time to give your body the rest that it needs helps give it time to recover and repair. Getting the right amounts of sleep regularly will make this possible. You would need to get at least 6 to 10 hours of shut eye daily, depending on your age as well as your own physical predisposition.

Drink plenty of water.

Keeping yourself hydrated can help your body work more efficiently. Doing the opposite can actually cause you to suffer from certain conditions like frequent headaches. It may also affect your immune system to quite a degree that may determine your protection against certain illnesses brought by infections.

Limit your sugar intake.

Refined sugars and other artificial sweeteners can also affect your immune system. High sugar levels in the blood can put a stress to your pancreas and may affect how your immune system may function. If you are fond of sweets and follow a diet high in sugar, simply by cutting back on your sugar intake and reducing your body’s cravings for it may be enough to help boost your immune system.

Spend more time outdoors.

The winter season may sometimes oblige you to stay indoors most of the time because of the weather. This can also put a strain on your well-being. You might be surrounded by filtered air indoors that may yet contain germs coming from other people. Staying in such an environment may increase your chances of getting infected.

One way to avoid it is by trying to spend more time outdoors if you can. This will allow you to get fresh air more as well as provide you with some time to put in some exercise. Try to walk outside as much as you can or try to find ways to have fun on the snow. This might help give you that immune system boost that you need.

Myths And Facts About Hangover Cures

Hangovers have been a constant dread for those who party hard. Enjoying an all-nighter with booze always is accompanied with that concern of getting massive hangovers the next day. A lot of cures have been offered through the years to prevent or get rid of a hangover. Here are some interesting concoctions that works and some that most think works but doesn’t.

Bacon Sandwich

There are some who believe that bacon sandwich may be a good cure for a hangover. Some believe that it is the bread that soaks up the alcohol. Apart from that, a recent study at Newcastle University’s Center for Life does suggest that a bacon sandwich may really offer relief from a hangover. But it does not do so by simply soaking up all the alcohol drank the night before.

A bacon sandwich, according to the study, contains lots of carbohydrates that can boost sugar levels and speed up the metabolism. This helps get rid of the alcohol quicker. Protein in the bacon contains amino acids that help recover the depleted neurotransmitters in the brain that was caused by drinking too much alcohol.

Isotonic Sports Drinks

Sports drinks also seem to be effective in relieving hangovers. Such drinks do so by rehydrating the body. Too much alcohol can cause dehydration which then can mean the loss of body salts and electrolytes as well as minerals. Sports drinks are known to be 40 percent more effective in rehydrating the body than water which can then help restore blood sugar levels faster.

Exercise

Many believe that sweating out a hangover may cure it. But this doesn’t seem to be the case. Physical exercise the day after drinking too much alcohol may not work to relieve the hangover. It may even worsen the situation as the physical activity may further dehydrate the body and make the condition worse.

Black Coffee

Some believe that the caffeine in coffee may help relieve a hangover by improving alertness. But the opposite seems to be true. Drinking black coffee can actually make the hangover worse. Drinking water to rehydrate the body may be a better option.

Common Bad Habits To Stop

Poor health can come as a result of bad habits. Living a healthier life can be possible by trying to get rid of common bad habits that a lot of people generally follow as part of their lifestyle. Here are some of them.

Smoking And Drinking

Smoking and drinking may probably be the most common bad habits found in many people today. They are considered by many as a means of relaxation and de-stressing after a hard day. But having such bad habits can also have dire health consequences. Smoking and drinking are associated with a number of serious diseases such as cancer, stroke, atherosclerosis and heart disease. Quitting such bad habits can considerably improve one’s health in many ways.

Lack Of Exercise

Another way to stay healthy is by staying physically active on a regular basis. This can be done through regular exercise. Unfortunately, most people would prefer doing other things rather than get their regular dose of exercise. Over time, lack of exercise can lead to obesity, muscle weakening as well as developing a number of health ailments.

Bad Diet

A lot of people have the habit of eating food that may be bad for their health. These are usually foods that taste delicious but may have bad effects on the body. Following a habit of eating bad and usually unhealthy food can eventually cause weight gain as well as other associated health problems such as diabetes, stroke and heart disease.

Self-Prescribing Medications

A lot of people have the habit of trying to treat themselves of certain ailments by acting as their own doctors and self-prescribing medications on themselves. This bad habit may sometimes cause serious problems due to certain side effects of some drugs, especially if taken in combination with others. There is the risk that the reaction of these drugs on one another can cause serious damage to the body which can lead to more health problems.

Happiness Through Positive Thinking

Finding happiness in life need not be that complicated. It may just be a matter of having a more positive outlook in life. Positive thinking can help instill that sense of satisfaction that leads to a feeling of happiness. Here are some of the things that you can think positively about on your way to feeling happy.

Good Health

If you have good health, then it is something to be very thankful about. Unfortunately, a lot of people are not aware of this basic fact until they lose it. Having good health is important and trying to maintain is that way can help you stay happy. Good health can provide you with more energy in life that will help attract more positive things in your life.

Accept What You Are

The happiest people in this world are those who have accepted themselves as who they are, good and bad points alike. There is no need to become somebody else than yourself just to feel accepted. You will become happier and have a more positive outlook in life if you learn how to accept yourself for who you are.

Appreciate What You Have

Sometimes, people feel sad about their life because they seem to want more than they can afford. They seem to want more money, want more things that they usually do not have. Because of these wants, they neglect to be thankful of what they have. Focusing on things they do not have can also driver happiness away.

Life can become easier to deal with if you appreciate what blessings you may have right now. There is no need to try yearning for petty luxuries or for what you don’t have that others you know may have just to be happy. Happiness is a state of mind. How you appreciate the things that you have will help bring you close to that type of positive mental state.

Surround Yourself With Happy Company

Another way to be happy is by surrounding yourself with happy people. Happiness can be contagious. Being around people who are genuinely happy can rub on you. You might also be influenced with their positive mindset after some time of being with such people.