Blood test detects ovarian cancer early

Researchers have developed what they believe is the first blood test that accurately detects ovarian cancer at an early stage. "The ability to recognize almost 100 percent of new tumors will have a major impact on the high death rates of this cancer," senior author Dr. Gil Mor, from Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut, said in a statement. "We hope this test will become the standard of care for women having routine examinations."

Feeling stressed out linked to cervical cancer

Feeling stressed could play a role in the development of cervical cancer, a new report suggests. But experts say the findings are still preliminary and it's too soon to rush out and enroll in a stress-management course

TEEN DIES FROM CUT FINGER! Infection the Cause

A U.K. teen, who unknowingly suffered from a rare condition that affects just one in four million people, died after contracting an infection from a tiny cut on his finger, it is reported by the Daily Mail.

Matthew Corbett, 18, cut his ring finger while vacationing with his family in Spain and contracted a minor infection, according to the report.

At the time Corbett was unaware he suffered from aplastic anemia, a condition in which bone marrow does not produce sufficient new cells to replenish older blood cells. People with the condition have lower counts of all three blood cell types: red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.

The condition prevented Corbett's body from fighting the infection from the cut and it quickly spread up his arm, according the Daily Mail.

He was taken to Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton, Somerset, U.K., on Oct. 14 and specialists diagnosed him with aplastic anemia. Corbett was then moved to the Bristol Royal Infirmary where doctors determined that he needed a bone marrow transplant, according to the report.

After family members were determined to be unsuitable bone marrow donors, one was found in Northern England. He was scheduled to have the tranfusion on Feb. 7, but developed a chest infection beforehand that turned into pneumonia, it is reported. He died Feb. 6.

Click here to read more on this story from the Daily Mail

Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Call-In Sick to Work

 

While many of us jump at the chance to call-in sick to work at the first sign of a cold — other people push through the coughing, sneezing and runny nose to make it into the office. But, is that always a good idea? According to several recent studies, sick employees who drag themselves into work, known as "presenteeism," actually end up costing companies more money than if they decided to stay home. Those costs range from lost productivity to the chances of spreading the illness to fellow co-workers.

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I Was Right About the Bird Flu Hoax

Last year, the number of human cases of avian flu dropped rather than rose for the first time -- from a paltry 115 in 2006 to an even more insignificant 86 in 2007. Frightening headlines warning of a pandemic that could kill 150 million people have all but vanished. Although some “experts” still argue that preparations against bird flu must continue, many are finally beginning to realize what I said all along -- that this overhyped, oversold “pandemic” was never a threat in the first place. According to Dr. Paul A. Offit, a vaccine specialist at Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia, “H5 viruses have been around for 100 years and never caused a pandemic and probably never will.” Still, according to this New York Times article, scientists and governments are congratulating themselves for averting a threat that never was by stockpiling worthless vaccines, pointlessly culling hundreds of millions of birds, and pouring money into preparation efforts. I can only imagine that the flu vaccine manufacturers are laughing all the way to the bank. Sources: New York Times January 22, 2008

The Truth about Sugar

U.S. probes Chinese factory’s ties to heparin ills

WASHINGTON - Government health officials are investigating if a Chinese factory may be a source of problems with a Baxter International blood thinner linked to hundreds of reports of allergic reactions and four deaths. Baxter buys the active ingredient for the drug heparin from a supplier that manufactures it both at the Chinese factory and a facility in the U.S., Baxter spokeswoman Erin Gardiner said. Baxter inspected both facilities last year and found no quality issues, Gardiner said. However, the company plans to reinspect the facilities "very soon" as part of its own investigation, she said.

TWO MAJOR LIFE STYLE CHANGES TO MAKE - Get Rid of these Two Things

HEALTH BOMB #1: High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) has become a modern-day plague. Not only does it contribute to our obesity epidemic, but it has also been linked to:

• Pancreas dysfunction, diabetes and insulin resistance
• High cholesterol and heart disease
• Cancer
• High blood pressure
• Anemia
• Liver damage
• Infertility
• And more

Sadly, the average consumption of fructose has doubled between 1980 and 1994. Soft drinks and some fruit drinks are a major source of HFCS, but it is also found in many other products, from crackers to salad dressing.

Fructose contains zero enzymes, vitamins or minerals — and it leeches micronutrients from your body.

Why is it found in so many products? Because, after air, water, and salt, it’s the cheapest ingredient in the American food chain (and we know how the food industry likes to save money…)

I’d also urge you to  be on the lookout for HFCS in its many “disguises” — conveniently (for the food industry) labeled as chicory, inulin, iso glucose, glucose-fructose syrup, fruit fructose, and others.

Another major “health torpedo” you want to watch out for is…

HEALTH BOMB #2: Gluten — Wheat (and other grains containing gluten) is NOT your friend. My experience has shown that you could well be one of the estimated 1 in 10 people who have at least a subclinical intolerance to gluten protein. This is actually a food allergy.

I recommend avoiding gluten, even the organic whole-grain types.

Gluten intolerance has been linked to miscarriage, autism, intestinal disease (including irritable bowel syndrome), malnutrition, rheumatoid arthritis, heart disease, and developmental delay in children, just to name a few. Oftentimes, your gluten sensitivity may present with various unexplained symptoms.

Getting rid of these two health bombs will go a long way toward improving your health.

Lab study ties artificial sweetener to weight gain

WASHINGTON - Using an artificial, no-calorie sweetener rather than sugar may make it tougher, not easier, to lose weight, U.S. researchers said Sunday. Scientists at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, studied rats that were fed food with the artificial sweetener saccharin and rats fed food with glucose, a natural sugar. In comparison to rats given yogurt sweetened with glucose, those that ate yogurt sweetened with saccharin went on to consume more calories and put on more weight and body fat.

Kosher sales sizzle as shoppers put faith in foods' safety

"I check everything to make sure it's 100 percent kosher," Farkas said. "I check the vegetables to make sure they are free of insects. We wash them in a vegetable wash." That kind of scrutiny is helping to drive a boom in kosher products, and not just in the Jewish community, experts say.