Circumcision
Circumcision is a procedure in which the foreskin
covering the head of the penis is partially removed. The practice
has been done since ancient times for religious, social, cultural
and medical reasons. It should be noted that in normal boys,
the foreskin should be fully retractable by the average age of
five.

Medical studies have revealed some of the benefits of
circumcision, including lower risk of urinary tract infections, lower
risk of cancer of the penis (which is very low already),
prevention of foreskin infection and easier hygienic care.

There are also reasons why parents may choose NOT
TO have their sons circumcised. These include avoiding the
risk from surgery and the choice to leave the natural foreskin
to protect the sensitive tip of penis.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) revised
their policy statement in 1999 to advise that routine
circumcision is not essential to a child.s health, and that routine
neonatal circumcision is no longer recommended.

Remaining indications for prescribing circumcision are
repeated infection of foreskin, phimosis (unable to retract
foreskin due to stricture of the opening) and religious
requirements.

Circumcision, if it has to be done, is not recommended in
3 to 5 year-old-boys, since it is the period of sexual identification.
Apart from that, it may be done safely at any age, under either
local or general anesthesia. The wound takes 7-10 days to heal.

Remember that as long as the boy is taking good hygienic
care for his special part, there is no need for circumcision.

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What you need to know about heart diseases
by: Mansi gupta
Heart is the most significant organ of the body. It controls and regulates the entire body. An individual can survive the loss of other organs of body but not of a heart. The moment heart ceases pumping blood to the body, it results in a heart stroke and there are chances that the person may die.

But people are often negligent in taking care of this undeniably crucial organ of their body. This is made evident by the studies that reveal the escalating deaths due to cardiac arrests every year. It is not just the elderly who are gripped by cardiac seizures due to their age, which implicates a declining health but also young children, and even infants who are inflicted by heart ailments.

The purpose of this article is to make its readers aware of some of the most common cardiac problems, few possible preventions and cures to them and the measures one should adopt to enjoy a healthy heart.

1. Heart diseases- human heart starts malfunctioning due to many reasons. In other words there are different diseases that affect human heart.

• Congenital Heart Disease is a very common one. It leads to malformation of heart during prenatal development and other severe complications. Chromosomal abnormalities, transfer of infected genes and environment are the main attributed causes to congenital heart disease.

• Coronary Artery Disease is one where heart simply stops pumping blood to the arteries. The blockages or difficulty in the blood flow to the main source of oxygen to the heart muscle i.e. coronary arteries is deemed to be the primary factor that results in this disease. Apart from this the thickening of the arteries called arteriosclerosis, high blood pressure and other problems like asthma, diabetes etc. are the causes of CAD. CAD produces a heart attack and so even the death of the concerned individual.


• A viral infection that attacks the pericardium pouch enveloping the heart is the ground for the Pericardial heart disorder.

2. The Roots of Heart Ailment- in most of the cases the individuals themselves are responsible for their cardiac troubles.

• Over stress is the biggest threat to a healthy life so much so that it affects even one’s heart.

• Faulty food habits i.e. eating more of junk and fattening food rich in cholesterol is the primary reason for a heart attack.


• Obesity and lack of physical labor also accentuates cardiac problems.

• Heart problems are also hereditary.


• Blood pressure patients are more prone to heart attacks.

• Alcoholics, smokers and drug addicts have acute possibilities of heart failure.


3. Some Common Cures- it is not likely to prevent every heart problem especially those malformations or diseases that are innate or since the time of birth. They can at best be treated with the aid of surgeries.

• Watch your eating and drinking habits. Avoid cholesterol abounding food like butter, cheese, creams, cakes and pastries etc.

• Aspirin is deemed to be a potential medicine to ward off cardiac snags. According to physicians aspirin thins the blood and aids in its transfer from heart to other parts of the body.


• Pregnant women are advised to keep away from hard drinks, cigarettes and narcotics. Negligence in this regard can be a source of incurable congenital heart disease to the baby.

• If you are a sedentary worker, make it a point to exercise daily in order to maintain a healthy living.


• Endeavor your best to have a nutritious and balanced diet.

• If you suffer from diabetes, blood pressure, asthma or any such disease, go for regular medical check ups to know about the functioning of the internal organs of your body.


• Last but not the least, avoid doing things that petrify you and do not favor your health. For instance if altitude or great height scares you, it is not a prudent choice to go for mountain climbing.


About the author:
Mansi gupta writes about. heart diseases Learn more at http://www.reduceheartdisease.com

Rose are red,violets are blue
Sugar is sweet, and so are you

Sugar is one of the three major types of carbohydrates: sugar, starch and fibers. Once digested, it becomes blood glucose, acting as fuel supplying muscles and organs. Excess glucose will be stored in the form called glycogen in liver and muscles. However, too much sugar certainly results as body fat.

There are many forms of sugar. (You should learn about them in order to understand those nutritional facts. on food packages.) Glucose, fructose, lactose, sucrose, dextrose, honey, molass, corn syrup, invert syrup - all are sugar.

When you consume sugar, especially refined sugar, blood glucose will rise faster than any other carbohydrates. It helps when your body is craving for energy. Unfortunately, your body will rapidly adjust the glucose level down, so you will feel fatigue. Much worse, it may trigger a habit of becoming a sweets-addict; always reaching for sweet snacks while your blood glucose is swinging up and down. To prevent such events, it is better to choose complex carbohydrates such as fruits, cereal and rice instead of sweet snacks.

The most important point is that refined sugar is not harmful in itself, it is how you consume it. Next time, pay attention to the amount and also the components of your sweet snacks. Because:
1. Sugar gives high energy but hardly any fibers. It.s very easy to eat more than you really need. You may end up overweight but suffering vitamin & mineral deficiency.
2. Sugar causes acid in your mouth and can create caries, especially if you don.t brush your teeth afterwards.
3. Snacks are usually rich in both sugar and fat, including those saturated fatty acids, which
may cause arteriosclerosis in the long run.

There are artificial sweetening substances such as aspartame, acesulfame-K, and saccharin. They are quite safe if used properly. However, I believe your conscious can tell you what is good for your health.

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Foods To Avoid During Pregnancy
by: Beverley Brooke
Many women have questions about the types of food that are safe to eat during pregnancy. It is actually easier to discuss the types of foods you should avoid during pregnancy than it is do discuss the foods that are safe to eat.

There's a lot of food to avoid during pregnancy because they may be harmful to you or your developing baby.

Food To Avoid During Pregnancy

Deli and Processed Sandwich Meats – these meats might be contaminated with Listeria, a potentially deadly bacteria that can result in miscarriage or even a stillbirth. While listeria is relatively harmless to most ordinary people, it can be life threatening for your unborn baby. Pregnant women are more susceptible to listeria because of their lowered immune system. If you want to eat deli meats, be sure that you cook them until they are steaming hot, which will help kill any bacteria that might be present.

Raw meats – much lie deli meats, raw meats should be avoided because they can carry bacteria that are harmful for both mother and baby.

Certain types of fish – while most fish is healthy, there are certain kinds of fish that contain high levels of mercury, which is harmful for your unborn baby’s brain. Consuming too much mercury during pregnancy can result in developmental problems and even brain damage. The types of fish that contain the highest levels of mercury include: swordfish, shark, king mackerel, tuna, sea bass and tilefish.

Raw eggs – like raw meat, raw eggs have the potential to carry bacteria, particularly salmonella. Believe it or not raw eggs are in a number of various products including some forms of Caesar dressing, mayonnaise and even ice cream. If you are uncertain about whether or not something you are eating contains raw eggs, avoid it unless you can find out for certain whether or not it is harmful.

Unpasteurized soft cheeses – some chesses that are imported also have the potential to carry life threatening Listeria if they are not pasteurized. The most common types of cheese that carry this risk include certain forms of Brie, Camembert, feta, Gorgonzola and Mexican cheeses like queso. If these cheeses are pasteurized however they should be safe to consume.

Unpasteurized milk or juices – remember that any type of milk product or juice that has not been pasteurized has the potential to carry Listeria and other bacteria that may be harmful for you and your baby during pregnancy.

You should also avoid alcohol during your pregnancy. There is no known safe amount of alcohol that can be recommended during pregnancy. There are numerous fetal abnormalities and birth defects as well as developmental problems that have been associated with alcohol use during pregnancy. Alcohol should also be minimized or avoided during breastfeeding, because it can pass through the breast milk.

About the author:Article by Beverley Brooke, author of "Ensure a healthy safe pregnancy for you and your baby", visit http://www.pregnancy-weight-loss.com/for more on pregnancy weight loss

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Reading in Dim light
There are several eye myths our parents used to tell us. We might even tell them to our children as well. Today I will talk about some of those myths so we will be no longer be confused.
Reading in dim light can damage your eyes
O False
It may cause eye fatigue, but not hurting your eyes.
Failure to use proper glasses will hurt your eyes.
O False
While corrective lens are used to improve eyesight, using your eyes with or without glasses cannot damage them further.
Eating tomatoes will improve your vision.
O Not really
Since only small amount of vitamin A is enough to prevent night blindness
There’s nothing you can do about preventing sight loss
O False
Regular eye exam and using proper safety eyewear will do .
An eye examination is necessary only if you’re having problem
O False
A regular eye exam is as important as other regular physical check ups.
Here is an interesting data in US vision problems are as common as one in very twenty preschoolers. It is possible for your child to have a vision problem without your awareness. But an eye doctor is able to examine even a child as small as after birth. Parents always can tell the problem when it is obvious, such as squint. For other eye problems, you need to look for signs including:
· Rubs eyes very often
· Shuts or covers one eye
· Tilts head forward
· Holds objects close to eyes
· Blink more than usual when doing close-up work
· Unable to see distant things clearly
· Complaint of eye itch or burn and cannot see well
Appearance:
-Crossed or misaligned eyes
-Red rim, swollen eyelids
-Inflamed or watery eyes
-Recurring styles of eyelids
-Color photos of the child show white reflection instead of typical red or no reflection
Common eye problems in children are nearsightedness, farsightless, Astigmatism, Squint, Color blindness, Amblyopia (lazy eyes). Untreated eye problems can worsen and lead to other serious conditions, as well as affect learning ability, athletic performance and self-esteem.
Remember that knowing how to take good care of eyes is the key to protect your eyesight for a lifetime.

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http://health.thailandsmile.com/ and http://healthtopic.blogspot.com/
Image source: www.piperreport.com

Cancer patients warned off soy-rich foods

CANCER patients are being warned to avoid foods rich in soy because they can accelerate the growth of tumours.

The Cancer Council NSW will issue guidelines today, warning about the dangers of high-soy diets and soy supplements for cancer patients and those people in remission from cancer.

At particular risk are people suffering from hormone-dependent cancers, including breast and prostate cancer - the two most common types of cancer in Australia.

Cancer survivors are also being urged to avoid high doses of soy, as they may be more vulnerable to a relapse.

Research has found high consumption of soy products can also limit the effectiveness of conventional medicines used to treat the disease.

"There is evidence to suggest that women with existing breast cancer or past breast cancer should be cautious in consuming large quantities of soy foods or phyto-oestrogen supplements," a position statement from the Cancer Council says.

"Women with current or past breast cancer should be aware of the risks of potential tumour growth when taking soy products.

"The Cancer Council does not support the use of health claims on food labels that suggest soy foods or phyto-oestrogens protect against the development of cancer."
Health experts are particularly concerned that breast-cancer sufferers who take soy or phyto-oestrogen supplements could feed the disease and reduce the effectiveness of their treatment.
Soy, which is present in soy beans, soy milk, tofu, tempeh and some breads, contains phyto-oestrogens that mimic the actions of hormones in the body.

This means it may interfere with cancer drugs such as Tamoxifen, which works by suppressing the female hormone oestrogen.

Men with prostate cancer are also being warned against high soy consumption, as phyto-oestrogens may imitate the male hormone androgen.

Although the Cancer Council has warned against soy supplements, it believes an occasional intake of soy food is still safe for cancer patients.

Cancer Council nutritionist Kathy Chapman said soy supplements could contain dangerously high doses of phyto-oestrogens.

"If you were a woman with breast cancer and thought, 'I'm going to radically change my diet and have very large portions of soy at every meal', it could be a problem," Ms Chapman said.

"For someone who has tofu once or twice a week and drinks a bit of soya milk, it's not so much of a problem."

Soy has earned a reputation as a natural "superfood" that cuts the risk of breast or prostate cancer, and is commonly included in women's health supplements.
This claim was based on findings that cancer rates were lower in Asia, where soy consumption is high.

But soy would lower the risk of contracting cancer "only a little", according to the Cancer Council.

"While they may have a protective effect, there is also some evidence that phyto-oestrogens may stimulate the growth of existing hormone-dependent cancers," the council's statement said.
The risk of contracting other non-hormone-dependent cancers, including bowel cancer, would be unaffected by soy intake.
The Cancer Council was prompted to investigate the issue after being inundated with questions about the role of soy in cancer patients' diets.

"We felt we were getting a lot of calls on our hotline about this topic," Ms Chapman said.
Breast-cancer survivor Susie Musarra was surprised by the new evidence about soy.
The Sydney mother of two was diagnosed five years ago. She followed a healthy diet, containing plenty of fruit and vegetable juices, during chemotherapy treatment.

"It's really confusing, because you get a lot of conflicting information about what to eat," she said.

"It's good to have this advice, because it helps you make an informed decision - and the Cancer Council is a reputable source."

By Clair Weaver http://www.news.com.au/

Miracle to be a woman
From male to female. The Eight wonder of the world.
At present. Sex Reassignment Surgery (SRS) is no longer an exceedingly complicated surgery if it is done by experienced and skillful physicians. However, the surgery is still considered as a life-altering and irreversible procedure. As a result, all physical and psychological aspects need to be taken into consideration.
Before the surgery the surgeon has to have all the necessary information. So as to be able to evaluate the patient’s state of mind and physical condition.
Criteria for eligibility
1. Patients must pass the psychological examinations and valuations by a psychiatrist.
2. Patients must live happily in the social role of female gender for at least 1 year.
3. Patients must be diagnosed with Gender Identity Disorder.
4. Patients have been taking hormonal sex reassignment medication.
5. Patients have been changing one of his physical appearances such as breast augmentation surgery.
Preparation
After patients have passed the psychological examinations and evaluations, they must complete a pre-operative physical check up by our physicians and hormonal specialists.
Pre-operative preparation
1. Refrain from all fluid and food consumption at least 6-8 hours before the surgery.
2. Complete your personal hygiene such as wash your hair, take a shower etc.
3. Take out all the removable denture works.
4. Remove all your jewelry.
5. Sign and complete the consent form.
6. Inform your doctor, if you have illness on the day of the surgery.
7. Consult your doctor, if you have any questions or concerns, regarding the surgery.
Sex Reassignment Surgery Procedure
1. The anesthesiologist will administer an anaesthetic to the patient.
2. The surgeon will create an adequate vaginal pouch/cavity by using the skin of the penis.
3. The penile skin will be invert to line the vaginal wall.
4. The surgeon will surgically cut open the penis. The Urethra is shorted and re-routed to emerge lower down.
5. The surgeon will use this technique to create a neo-vagina, similar to a biological female genital in both appearance and sensation.
Post operation care
1. Keep the surgical area clean as instructed by your surgeon.
8. Avoid fibers and milky beverage that can induce defection for the first 2-3 days.
9. Patient recommended to use dilator to maintain the depth and the width of neo-vagina for at least 6-12 months.
10. Refrain from sexual activity for at least 2 months after the surgery.
11. Patient is recommended to do light exercise on the fifth day after the surgery for example walking.
12. Restart taking prescribed hormones 1 week after the surgery.
13. Return for follow up appointments.
14. Follow doctor’s advice strictly.
In order to achieve self-satisfaction and a sense of being, patients should discuss all the possible aspects with your surgeon and seek consultations from the psychiatrist before making a final decision.



Source: Phyathai Sriracha hospital
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