Broccoli may undo diabetes damage

Eating broccoli could reverse the damage caused by diabetes to heart blood vessels, research suggests.

A University of Warwick team believe the key is a compound found in the vegetable, called sulforaphane. It encourages production of enzymes which protect the blood vessels, and a reduction in high levels of molecules which cause significant cell damage.

Brassica vegetables such as broccoli have previously been linked to a lower risk of heart attacks and strokes.....more news at,

Atopic eczema

Atopic eczema is the most commonest form, affecting as many as 15-20% of school age children, with 1-2% of children with the condition being severely affected. It commonly begins in early childhood, when it can be particularly severe.The pathogenesis of atopic eczema is complex and still incompletely understood. It is best considered as an interplay of genetic susceptibility that causes epidermal barrier dysfunction and abnormal immune responses, which are then stimulated by different environmental factors.
Causes for atopic eczema is multifactoral. It might be genetic or caused by various Potential trigger factors, including irritants (eg, soaps and detergents), skin infections, contact allergens, food allergens, and inhalant allergens. Food allergy can be ruled in, if a children with eczema develop immediate symptoms after ingestion of certain food. In infant and young children if moderate or severe uncontrolled eczema persist despite optimum management food allergy can be considered if particularly associated with vomiting,changes in bowel habits or failure to thrive. Children with eczema and suspected cow's milk allergy should not be given diets based on unmodified proteins such as goat or sheep milk or partially hydrolyzed formulas.
Based on severity of the symptoms, management plans is stepped up or down. Mild eczema is managed with emollients and mild-potency topical corticosteroids. Moderate-severity eczema is managed with emollients, moderate-potency topical corticosteroids, topical calcineurin inhibitors, and bandages, in a stepwise approach. For severe eczema, treatment steps, in addition to emollients, may include potent topical corticosteroids, topical calcineurin inhibitors, bandages, phototherapy, and systemic therapy.stepwise management, with regular emollients and intermittent topical corticosteroids forming the basis of treatment and topical calcineurin inhibitors being used as second line treatment under a dermatologist.
Children may be offered a choice of unperfumed emollients for daily moisturizing, washing, and bathing, that suites to their needs and preferences.When emollients and other topical treatments are applied at the same time of day, it is best. whenever feasible, apply these one at a time with several minutes between applications. Management includes control not cure. Even when the eczema is clear, emollients should always be used at least twice a day. In severe eczema, use of greasy emollients are best & in less severe eczema, less greasy preparations are more acceptable.
Parents can be sure of eczema flares, if increased dryness, itching, redness, swelling, and general irritability persist for a longer period. Children have dry skin, itching, so emollients are essential to treat dryness as it acts as a barrier. Children with eczema needs distraction from scratching because as skin is dry and itchy, that becomes a problem.The central heating is very drying so turning down may be helpful.Reducing exposure to house dust mite may also be helpful.
Although infantile eczema is very common, most grow out of it before 13 years of age. Parental support is crucial. Atopic eczema does not last for forever, so there is definitely a ray of hope at the end of the tunnel!

Health Consequences of Second Hand Smoke

Second hand smoke is a mixture of smoke that comes from the burning end of the cigarette,cigar or pipe (side stream smoke) and from smoke exhale by smokers (mainstream smoke). This consist of more than 4,000 substances, some are poisonous and causes lung cancer.The impact of second hand smoke on general health is debilitating. It causes premature deaths in children and diseases in non-smoker adults.
 

Children are at greater risk of being exposed to second hand smoke than adults. In children, it is associated with the initiation and severity of coughs, breathlessness, wheezing, and abdominal disorders.Children are expose from parental smoking and others house hold smokers. Second hand smoke is the 3rd leading cause of preventable death in the US.
When a pregnant women smokes or is a passive smoker, it affects the unborn child resulting in premature delivery of the baby, low birth weight, respiratory tract infections and asthma attacks. Mothers who smoke during pregnancy give birth to a low birth weight baby compared to non-smokers. Maternal smoking during pregnancy and after delivery results in low birth weight & slower growth in early childhood. Children exposed to second hand smoke are at increased risk for bronchitis, pneumonia, ear infection, increased frequency and severity of asthma, respiratory tract infections, otitis media, sinusitis, and behavioral & cognitive disorder and lower pulmonary function test resulting in adulthood.
 

The most common symptom arising from exposure to passive smoking is eye irritation. Parents needs counseling about the danger of child tobacco smoke exposure and the risk associated with smoking behavior. Parental awareness is a must to curb the menace of second hand smoking. Hence, it is a very crucial step to  educate parents about the importance of smoking cessation.This can be done by attending a smoking cessation program or by gaining a sense of self willingness to set a quit date or by use of nicotine replacement therapy. The most important factor in determining the success of a smoking cessation program is a desire of individual to quit.

The first step towards building a non-smoking society is by banning smoking in public places. The main advantage is, it helps protect non-smokers from the health risk of passive smoking. People at work or social gatherings will no longer expose to toxic second hand smoke. We can create a smoke free environment by placing 'no smoking' stickers in home and cars, designate a smoking area outside and always ask visitors to smoke outside. Healthy population ensures prosperity and progress.

Stomach bug treatment for cancer

Eradicating a common bug in people with stomach cancer can prevent the disease from recurring, research suggests. Helicobacter pylori, proved to be the cause of most stomach ulcers, has also been linked with stomach cancer.In a study of 550 people who had stomach cancer surgery, antibiotics which killed the bug cut the risk of a second cancer developing by two-thirds....click & read more....