Building blocks
It is often found that either one of the couple is dominated in the relationship or all the decisions are mainly taken from one side only. This often leads to a state of dependency of one of the couple on the other. It is usually the wife who is more dependent on her husband before taking any critical decision about the family. Age and gender play a great role here. It is often found that an individual who is mentally and emotionally weak develops this trait of dependency. In this case, the wife may always wait for her husband’s approval and thus in the face of important decision-making becomes confused. Several factors may be responsible for this. Ultimate the effect is on the communication, which in turn affects the family’s interest. Both the members of the couple need to generate a certain degree of self-confidence and strength of character in order to deal with the problems of daily life especially when it comes to make decisions about the child. The immediate effect is on communication between the husband and the wife, which automatically gets hampered. In such cases the wife is constantly nagging at the husband to participate in every small matter and hence complains when the husband does not have adequate time to provide to the family and especially to the wife. Constant dependency might result in irritation on the husband’s behalf, which will tend to further deteriorate the relation. Let us study the fundamental reasons and analysis of such a situation.
Families and social communities largely affect people’s thoughts, feelings, and actions, but individuals vary in their vulnerability to fall into a group think while groups vary in the amount of pressure they exert for conformity. These differences between individuals and groups manifest differences in individuals’ levels of differentiation of self. The less developed a person is by himself the more impact others have on his actions and choices. Also, more he tries to control (actively or passively), the functions of others. This is a common observation in case of a marriage or a conjugal life. This may result in two outcomes. Either the wife becomes more and more dependent on the husband and thus tend to lose her own individuality as described before or the wife (if the husband is dominating) may becomes so disgusted and annoyed with the undue domination that frustration may result, grudges might pent up and lead to occasional outbursts, thus hampering the peace within the house.
According to Bowen, the basic building blocks of an individual are by origin or birth, but an individuals family relationships during childhood and youth mainly decides how much he develops. Once the level of “self” is established, it hardly changes unless a person makes a structured and long-term effort to modify it. An individual with the right kind of environment during childhood, that is one with a more independent set up is less likely to be dominated by the spouse. In a conjugal setting where the two individuals come from different family setups, non-uniformity is bound to develop between them during communication and it often leads to a single voice conversation (we are often acquainted with this kind of communication in a business setting where the leader addresses the team with the team members as listeners and the leader as the decision maker and instructor) where only one person’s decisions hold and the other is just allowed to have the knowledge of the decision or the new change with respect to the conjugal and family life.
When a person has a poorly differentiated “self” or a weak “self”, he depends intensely on the acceptance and approval of others who either adjusts easily to what others think, say or do or they declare what others should be and hence pressurize them to follow. Bullies are the ones who dominate other to conform but they do not follow or accept whatever others say without questioning or analyzing. They also depend on approval and chameleons. An extreme rebel is a person who is poorly differentiated and pretends to be “Self” by opposing others’ positions by default. The presence of such an individual as one member of the couple might result in an automatic unhealthy development within the family. If one person is forced to follow a given set of directions irrespective of his or her personal opinion, the situation is bound to affect the conjugal life and frustration and disgust might even lead to a separation. In such a case sometimes a discipline of dialogue is followed to deal with such situations. Such a method is generally followed during business meetings and if such controlled communication needs to be incorporated in interpersonal communication between husband and wife, it is definitely not the sign of a healthy relationship and often has a negative influence on family system. A child would be observing the diplomatic set up and this would in some way ort he other affect the vulnerable mind of the child. However, the bullying nature can be best tackled this way and occasional outbursts resulting from over dominion on behalf of one of the partners result in further unhealthy set up for the child’s growth and the other members associated with the couple.
Every society has its well differentiated group of people, poorly dfferentiated group and several levels and grades between these extreme stages. As a result families and groups that make up a society vary in their intensity of emotional dependencies. The more the level of dependence the lesser is the groups’ ability to cope with the stressful events that comes their way without causing a high degree of anxiety. The same is true in case of an indivudal as well. When a person is more dependent on the opinion of others and has grown up judging himself or herself based on others’ appreciation or depreciation, he or she is more likely to develop a dependent nature where a lack of appreciation results in low self esteem and frustration. This aspect is often guided by gender and it is often the wife who is led that way. Thus communication tends not to be genuine between the husband and the wife if the husband realises the wife’s way of thinking. The husband will exercise caution and hence would not be able to express what is true. Again, this depends on the priority judgment of the husband.
Differentiation of self is the degree to which a person is capable of independence and close connections with others. There is often the need of school counseling where parents and children are both advised to attend. Individuals define themselves not in isolation but in the context of important relationships with family friends and dear ones. Success at schools is defined as general cognitive ability, perceptions of the concepts and material taught in school, and school-specific self-confidence. According to family systems theory of both Bowen and Minuchin the functioning of parents and their children is interrelated and interdependent. Here the child is much less matured that the parents and hence in a far less privileged state to control the environment and the social orientation on his own. Therefore parents need to play a great role. One may ask, what is the role of husband wife communication in this respect. Well, the communication between the husband and wife decides the ultimate peace in the household and this is what the child learns from and develops his own concepts about a family. The lessons start right from birth even when the child has not learnt to speak clearly. The household environment is maintained through proper communication and effective coordination between the couples. It is not necessary that the two people will agree on everything about their child or the family decisions. It is therefore important to strike a balance between the differences and finally reach a suitable and peaceful decision that will ensure overall development of the family systems.
One process is that the prediction of resiliency in children can be based upon the level of differentiation of self in the family (Minuchin, Bower). Parents who are cooperative, both supportive and strict, and who facilitate porous and approachable boundaries with their children, permitting contact yet protecting the integrity of that relationship, are supposed to form resilient families. Children under such parenting are thought to be more positive in relationships, have better scope of success in school, and have higher self-confidence and self-esteem. They also tend to be more dutiful and resilient of stressful instances. The effective guidance from the parents’ side cannot come up without an effective coordination between them and a healthy communication about the matters concerning the child. A realization needs to be present from both sides and initiatives should be demonstrated from the husband as well as the wife. It should not be resented when one person is busy and the other has to single handedly take care of the child for a particular occasion. However this cannot become a continuous event else the communication and the bond would suffer due to resentment and frustration from one side.

A hypothetical case study:
People concerned: married couple, Martha and Michael and their single child Amy.
Status: Before the child was born the couple had a happy married life during the initial two years of their marriage
Problems during pregnancy: Martha who was always emotionally dependent on Michael now became more nagging about her worries and when Michael returned from office she would share her anxieties about being a mother. Michael was polite and assuring but resented the fact that she could not handle this herself and thought she was not acting mature.
After the child was born: Martha gradually tried to overcome her own problems and finally became a mother to a daughter whom they named Amy. As Amy grew up Martha was increasingly worried about her problems and small issues. She was concentrating on the fact that the complicacies and dependencies present in her should not be there in Amy. This over attentiveness on Amy made her more dependent on Martha as she began demanding more and more time out of her. Michael became critical about Martha’s guidance and Amy’s immature demands. Martha however resented this criticism of her daughter from her husband. She supported her in case of conflicts and thus Michael became an outsider to the triangle. However at times when Michael did agree with Martha about Amy’s awkward behavior, then Amy felt left out and over-sensitive. She became the outsider now. This shifting of tensions began to get reflected in Amy’s performance outside. Her emotional vulnerability became so severe that she began to get inclined and attached to her friends and got influenced by them during her vulnerable times. Belonging to a multicultural society in school the influence was not healthy and created abruptness and indecisiveness in behavior.

Analysis:
The root of the problem lies in the relationship shared between Martha and Michael. Martha’s nagging nature was mainly responsible in this case. She should have behave in amore mature manner and instead of showering her husband with the anxieties on his return from office, should have chosen a more relaxing time and a much more soothing way of expression. In order to make this happen, however, the emotional vulnerability of Martha had to be controlled and this problem could be solved only through some self-analysis and judgment. On the other hand, hr husband should be aware of Martha’s vulnerable state and take time out to talk to her and guide her in this matter such that she may be able to handle certain things independently. Being a friend first is therefore a must for a healthy conjugal life. Along with a healthy physical intimacy the couple needs to share a friendship, and might help one another in times of distress, the husband and wife, needs to be the life long mate to each other. For a healthy family set up, a congenial interaction and open communication is very important. It is also necessary for the child to realize the bond shared by her parents. This would enable her to walk on the path of moral righteousness because she knows that approval of both the parents would be required and if one of them is taken into confidence the other will definitely come to know. In cases where the child is close to one of the partners, it is often found that the relation is marked with disturbance and undulations. These need to be evened out and hence a child would be gifted with an ideal environment.

Signs and gestures
After a long term of familiarity it is often found that a couple interact with the help of sign language among themselves. This involves some facial or bodily gestures with which each of the two is familiar with and reacts accordingly. Again if the husband needs to ask his wife to switch on the television set for him after returning from work, he needs to make just a gesture towards the television set with his hand. This is his regular habit and his wife is aware of it. Hence he need not waste an entire phrase or sentence to make the request. The frequent use of sign language is a good sign because this in turn indicates the familiarity and the closeness of bond shared between them. Again when everything can be communicated through gestures and signs, at least one member of the couple becomes too lazy to use words and the relationship might lose its vigor in the course of becoming a taken for granted kind. Hence some form of words is always helpful to the health of the conjugal life.

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Clean air is a basic precondition of our health. However, most of the people in United States and other developed countries suffer from exposure to many air pollutants that put our health at risk. Air pollution affects our health in different ways from simple to serious problems. For example, particulate matter in the air decreases life expectancy according to many researchers; Pollutants such as ozone irritate people’s breathing, trigger asthma symptoms and cause lung and heart diseases; exposure to environmental tobacco smoke causes many severe respiratory health problems such as asthma and lung cancer. Prolonged exposure to certain air pollutants can even cause human infertility according to recent medical researches on air pollution. Nowadays, scientists have discovered a lot of heart and respiratory diseases related to air pollution; the most common are:Minor Respiratory Diseases - The best known is the cold, accompanied by symptoms such as sore throats, congestion and runny nose, cough and sometimes irritation of eyes.Respiratory tract Infections – the most common are bronchitis and pneumonia, caused by viruses or bacteria. They are characterized by cough, fever, chills and dyspnea (difficulty breathing).Asthma - Asthma attacks can be triggered by various factors, including physical activity, infections, exposure to pollen, allergies and stress. They can also be triggered by sensitivity to non-allergenic pollutants in the air such as smog.Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) - It includes two main troubles: emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Emphysema is a chronic infection characterized by injuries and loss of elasticity in the alveoli. Chronic bronchitis is characterized by inflammation of the lining cells inside the airways, which increases the risk of infection and blockage of the entry and exit of air from the lungs. While other forms of air pollution can affect the development of these diseases, Smoking is responsible for about 80% of cases of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.Lung Cancer - It is the leading cause of cancer deaths among women and men. Cigarette smoke contains various carcinogens and is behind most cases of this fatal disease. Lung cancer typically doesnt cause signs and symptoms in its earliest stages. When the disease is advanced the symptoms of chronic cough, loss of appetite, wheezing and chest pain can occur. Scientists have discovered a connection between air pollution and lung cancer.Coronary heart disease (CHD) - disorders of the coronary arteries that are characterized by a narrowing or blockage of arteries or blood vessels carrying blood and oxygen to the heart. Cigarette Smoke (including second hand smoke), lack of exercise, obesity, high cholesterol, family history of coronary artery disease and hypertension (high blood pressure) are the main factors of this medical disorder.Heart failure – is a problem that occurs when the heart is unable to do its job, carry blood to the lungs and the rest of the body. The most common cause is a serious disease of the coronary artery. It can also be triggered by a sensitivity to non-allergenic pollutants in the air. The main symptoms are shortness of breath and swollen ankles and feet.Heart Arrhythmia (Irregular Heartbeat) - consists of irregular or abnormal heartbeat. In some cases, arrhythmia is the result of coronary artery disease. It can also be triggered by sensitivity to pollutants in the air. The symptoms of arrhythmia are palpitations in the chest and dizziness. Certain types of arrhythmia are dangerous and require emergency medical treatment. What can you do to prevent yourself from being a victim of air pollution?We can help. We believe in making air purifiers and air cleaners that truly clean your air - not partially clean, but completely clean. That’s why we believe that all indoor air purifiers need activated carbon in addition to high quality HEPA filters. We use the largest activated carbon filters in the industry to give you the most protection from chemicals and odors. Particles like dust, pollen, mold, bacteria, and even viruses are all removed indiscriminately by our HEPA air filter. Within our air cleaners, each component is as inert as possible, designed to prevent toxic airborne chemicals from ever being created. For more information on air pollution and air cleaners, Visit our air cleaners for home store.

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Enquanto o Exmo. Sr. ministro da Saúde falava sobre a dita gripe suína, ele, com justo orgulho, dizia que tudo estava preparado para enfrentar as doenças novas.

Sem desmerecer todo o esforço de mobilização para rastrear e controlar este problema de saúde pública, é de se perguntar sobre o que está sendo feito com as “doenças velhas”... As doenças crônicas não incomodam mais, já são de costume e, quem sabe, alguém esteja até “se lixando” para elas (como disse o deputado sobre a opinião pública).

As velhas e crônicas: cardiovasculares, câncer, respiratórias, nutricionais e metabólicas, doença mental e violência causam muito mais morbidade e mortalidade, dano social e econômico, do que qualquer “doença nova”, incluindo-se a aids (nem tão nova assim). Também não se fala quase que os primeiros a morrerem das “novas” são os portadores já fragilizados pelas “velhas”.

Parte da atitude paradoxal pode estar na presumida origem das doenças. As novas têm sido relacionadas com os porcos, bugios, macacos, galinhas, aves migratórias e mosquitos. Têm origem no México, na África ou na Ásia. As crônicas têm-se consciência de que são fabricadas pelo próprio homem em busca do desenvolvimento, com seu comportamento individual e coletivo. É mais fácil se mobilizar contra um inimigo aparentemente externo do que arrumar a própria casa.

Sobre as “doenças novas”, o olhar tem sido ingênuo e de curto alcance, satisfazendo-se com o vetor e o hospedeiro, sem uma preocupação maior com toda a rede causal que está por trás. Pouco se fala sobre a responsabilidade humana na utilização da tecnologia para acelerar a produção e aumentar a lucratividade, ao se criarem porcos e galinhas em massa, industrialmente, com rações artificiais, cheias de agrotóxicos e hormônios e manipulação genética. Também não se tem feito grande progresso no controle do clima, do desmatamento, da invasão e destruição dos ecótopos naturais onde o equilíbrio se estabelece.

Da mesma forma, satisfaz a conformidade fatalista de que aconteceu um infarto, um derrame, ou que alguém foi acometido de câncer, ou enlouqueceu. Não se questiona por que e como se chegou a esse ponto e o que é possível fazer para reduzir ou evitar as verdadeiras causas determinantes do mal.

Já foi demonstrado, inclusive em nossa cidade, que todos os males de saúde, os velhos e os novos, ocorrem muito mais (três a quatro vezes) na população marginalizada, em permanente contato com os mais privilegiados e com os quais se entrecruza para servir. Entretanto, enclaves de grande desigualdade social são aceitos como naturais e crescem nas cidades, com gente sem a educação necessária e sem perspectiva de vida. Não basta dispor de profissionais, tecnologia e remédios. Cidadania e solidariedade são essenciais na construção de uma rede de defesa eficaz contra “doenças novas e velhas”.

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Dr. Hannan studied the outcomes of more than 17,400 procedures for people with multiple blocked coronary arteries.
The outcomes were consistently better in an 18-month follow-up for bypass surgery than for the artery-opening procedure called angioplasty followed by insertion of a drug-coated tube known as a stent.
For example, 92.1 percent of those who had surgery for three blocked arteries had no heart attacks and were alive, compared to 89.7 percent of those who got stents.
For those with two blocked arteries, the comparable numbers were 94.5 percent for surgery and 92.5 for stent implants.
The study was not a randomized, controlled trial, which is regarded as the gold standard for medical research.
It was observational, meaning that the researchers simply recorded what happened in medical practice rather than trying to control all the factors involved in choosing a treatment.
But the randomized trials done in the past have not necessarily been better, explains Dr. Hannan. They were restricted to patients who were not very sick, and they also did not recognize that when you compare two treatments, some patients might not prefer the one that is more invasive.
Surgery is more invasive than angioplasty, since it requires the chest to be cut open. Angioplasty is done by threading a flexible tube called a catheter through a blood vessel into the heart.
One shortcoming of the study is the relatively short follow-up period of 18 months, says Dr. Joseph P. Carrozza, at Harvard Medical School, who wrote an accompanying editorial.
One would like to see patients followed for up to five years, says Dr. Carrozza.
There is nothing in this study that makes us feel surgery is the treatment of choice for patients with multi-vessel disease, he adds.
Such a verdict will have to wait on the results of several randomized trials now underway, says Dr. Carrozza.
This is just one piece of evidence we have right now before we get the final word, he explains.
And yet, Dr. Carrozza says, This is the first really large study to look at this issue now and thus should be considered by physicians and heart patients requiring treatment for blocked coronary arteries.

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King’s Health Partners is a pioneering global collaboration between one of the world’s leading research-led universities and three of London’s most successful NHS Foundation Trusts, including leading teaching hospitals and comprehensive mental health services. Our driving purpose is to continually seek and bring about swifter and more effective improvements in health and well-being for our patients in London and people everywhere.

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Kapakahines, marine-derived natural products isolated from a South Pacific sponge in trace quantities, have shown anti-leukemia potential, but studies have been all but stalled by kapakahines lack of availability. But using only acetylene gas, a handful of amino acids, and a dozen inventive steps, a team from The Scripps Research Institute has finally established the first technique to synthesize kapakahines in the laboratory in large quantities, more than a decade after their discovery. With supplies now in hand, and unlimited production potential established, research on the compound can proceed and may eventually lead to new drug treatments.
The research is described in a paper published online by the Journal of the American Chemical Society on April 17, 2009.
Cripbrochalina olemda appears to the uninitiated as a common tube-type sponge similar to countless others you might find on reefs throughout the tropics. But this species, discovered in 1995, is one of a growing number of marine organisms researchers have found that naturally produce chemicals with great potential for fighting diseases such as cancer.
Read more..

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On February 3, 2009, the FDA's Cardiovascular and Renal Drugs Advisory Committee unanimously voted to recommend approval of the novel thienopyridine prasugrel for use in ACS patients undergoing PCI. Drs. Nissen, Ohman, Kandzari, Topol, and Steg each give their take on the likely implications for clinical practice and remaining issues of concern in the optimal management of patients with ACS.

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On February 3, 2009, the FDA's Cardiovascular and Renal Drugs Advisory Committee unanimously voted to recommend approval of the novel thienopyridine prasugrel for use in ACS patients undergoing PCI. Drs. Nissen, Ohman, Kandzari, Topol, and Steg each give their take on the likely implications for clinical practice and remaining issues of concern in the optimal management of patients with ACS.

Similar posts: cardiovascular disease

Heart failure is a varied clinical syndrome with a complex pathophysiology that is still being defined. These features have led to demanding therapeutic regimens that have made optimal management of heart failure a difficult enterprise. In addition, heart failure is common, and its public heath consequences are ever growing. An estimated 4.8 million individuals are afflicted with this syndrome in the United States today, and 400,000 to 700,000 new cases are estimated to develop each year. The prevalence of heart failure increases with age; it approaches 10% of Americans in the ninth decade of life. Aging of the population and the prolonged survival of patients with a variety of cardiovascular diseases that culminate in ventricular dysfunction ensure that the magnitude of the heart failure problem will substantially worsen in the next decade. Experts have projected a 2- to 3-fold increase in prevalence. In addition to being a common condition, heart failure causes substantial morbidity with total hospitalizations, directly and indirectly related, exceeding three million per year.

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Theres been a lot of buzz about a new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine that found that statin use by people with low cholesterol but high levels of an inflammation marker (C-reactive protein, or CRP) very substantially decreased heart attack and stroke rates over a two-year period. The study participants were men 50 and older and women 60 and older with no history of cardiovascular disease or high cholesterol, but with high levels of CRP. Many also had other cardiovascular risk factors such as obesity, high blood pressure, or smoking.
Does this study suggest that millions of people with normal cholesterol levels but high levels of CRP should start taking statins on a regular basis? There is a caution here, which was raised by an editorial in the NEJM accompanying the study, and has been echoed in many other places, from the New York Times to the British Journal of Medicine: what about the long-term effects of taking statins? It was worrisome to note that in this study, participants taking the statin (Crestor) over the two-year period had an increase in diabetes. This finding brings to mind an unfortunate pattern marring the US drug approval process in recent decades: drugs win approval and are widely marketed, but several years later it turns out that there are side effects to long-term use, sometimes so prevalent and so severe that recommendations for use of the drug must be curtailed. So its best to give very careful thought to who should take a statin? (This was the title of the New York Times editorial regarding the study.)
Furthermore, when discussing how to manage chronic conditions over the long term, we shouldnt neglect good options in nutrition and dietary supplements. Heres how George Carter at our sister organization FIAR puts it, in his direct response to the NEJM study:
Are there cheaper and safer alternatives to lowering CRP? Yes! A low-fat diet, for example, can cut CRP in half in 4 weeks.
How about just adding some fiber? See http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/553590.
They found an 18.1% reduction in CRP using supplemental fiber. While rosuvastatin appears to have done better with a 37% reduction, just using fiber can get one half way there. Also, it is unclear what degree of reduction might be clinically important, although a generally agreed upon level of greater than 1.0 mg/liter CRP is considered problematic.
Vitamin C has also shown some benefit. One study reported that participants who took about 500 milligrams of vitamin C supplements per day saw a 24 percent drop in plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) levels after two months. Another study among healthy non-smokers saw a 25.3% reduction in CRP levels among those with a level greater than 1.0 mg/L at the beginning of the study.
Well conclude by adding that of course dietary supplements like fish oil (with their omega-3 fatty acids), niacin, pantethine, CoQ10 and the B vitamins also have a role to play in controlling cardiovascular risk. Their effectiveness has been widely studied and documented, they have been in use for a long time, and they have very well-known safety profiles. It only makes sense that these supplements should be part of the arsenal of protective and preventive means available to those concerned about managing risk to the heart and circulatory system.
References:
Ridker, PM, et al. Rosuvastatin to Prevent Vascular Events in Men and Women with Elevated C-Reactive Protein. NEJM, 9 Nov 2008
Who Should Take A Statin? Editorial in the New York Times, Nov. 17, 2008. Accessed at http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/17/opinion/17mon2.html?hp
FIAR press release on NEJM statin study accessed at
http://www.fiar.us/StatinResultsMediaLetter.

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For the last 10 years a generous part of my time has been associated with domestic elk, the furry, four-legged kind we raise on the farm not the two legged ones that hang out with their friends at the lodge on Main Street in town. While most men dream of associating with elk, especially that elusive world class bull, I would say that it's not something that most women would find very appealing. However, my husband and I decided to get involved in raising domestic elk along with our friends who live five minutes away and own the elk ranch where we board our animals. It's been quite a ride. I've learned a lot about elk, some things funny, some tragic and heartbreaking, and some just downright amazing. One thing is for sure, it's never dull.
For the most part elk are pretty easy to get along with as long as you don't corner them, you stay a safe distance from the bulls during the breeding season and as long as you never, never try to come between a cow and her calf unless you either are extremely quick at getting to and climbing an 8-foot fence, or armed with something to defend yourself when she comes after you, and she will! Cow elk are extremely good at hiding their offspring in the trees and tall grass, in fact there have been many times that we have searched and searched for babies in pens that we thought were sparsely vegetated and where they would be easy to find. Right. Lesson number one, never underestimate the protective instincts of a new mother. When you do eventually locate the little one, mama is also extremely good at defending him. She will come at you with both front feet striking at lightening speed making you think twice about trying to tag, weigh, vaccinate or ever touch her calf again.
There are several dogs that live on the farm. The old heeler cross learned years ago that if she ever thought about crossing the elk fence for any reason, it was a VERY BAD IDEA! She found herself on the wrong side of that 8-foot fence one day and barely escaped with her life by beating the cows (female elk) to the fence and climbing up and over as fast as her legs could carry her. She never did that again. The Border collie has been discouraged from the day she arrived on the farm not to go near the fence and she is smart enough to heed the warnings. But the new pup, a miniature Australian shepherd named Ace, was a different story. Ace being just a pup was very curious and loved to race up and down the fence "playing" with one of the bottle raised elk heifers who would run with him on her side of the fence. It was really entertaining to watch them and Ace thought this was great fun.
This Spring this heifer, along with the two other bottle raised cows, gave birth to a bouncing baby calf. She doted on her baby and for the first several days would not even bring him out of hiding. Early one morning, just about sunrise, the dogs had been let out as was the usual routine. They had only been outside a short time when their owners heard a terrible ruckus coming from the elk pen across the driveway. It seems Ace must have been chasing a rabbit or prairie dog and somehow gotten under the fence and in with the elk cows and their babies. Not a good scenario. Two of the cows spotted him and ran him down striking him with those deadly front feet with every intention of killing him. In the mean time his owner hearing all this from the house and realizing what was happening came running out yelling and trying to climb the fence to somehow chase the cows back and rescue the pup. His efforts startled the cows and gave Ace the chance to get to his feet and tear off down the fence trying desperately to find the hole in the fence where he had gotten in. He found the hole narrowly escaping being stomped to death by the cows who were once again in hot pursuit. Ace had escaped with his life but was badly beaten. His left hind leg had been severely damaged and would require surgery to pin together the left distal femoral bone which was fractured. Ace was very lucky not to have sustained any other internal injuries though and his prognosis was good. His owners were sent home with specific instructions for his recovery process and drugs (Rimadyl) for the pain.
This is where the amazing things I have learned about elk come in to play. Each year there would inevitably be one or more elk calves that would end up with broken legs, be it from stepping in a prairie dog hole or being stepped on by a cow, etc. Through experience in trying different methods to help them, and I might add without much success, we have discovered that if just left alone the legs would heal on their own. Lesson number two, elk have the incredible ability to heal their own broken bones, torn ligaments and damaged cartilage, etc. I would not have believed this had I not seen it time and time again with my own eyes. And not only do they heal but they heal so well that months later you would not even be able to tell which calves in the herd had broken their legs. The fact is that elk are the only animals whose bodies produce calcium. Not only that but their chemical makeup is so incredible that the bulls are able to produce huge antlers every year in a matter of just a few months. The antler is made up of 40 key compounds including glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, IGF-1, collagen, amino acids, Omega fatty acids, and much more. Research has shown that these compounds make an excellent supplement for joint problems, arthritis, performance enhancement, and overall general health maintenance. And when the antlers are in the soft or "velvet" stage is when they have the most nutrients. Eastern cultures have used velvet antler for centuries as a staple in their daily diets for all sorts of ailments and for overall energy and well being.
Ace, as well as all the other dogs on the ranch, has been taking freeze-dried elk velvet antler since he was little. His owners did not like giving him the Rimadyl since NSAIDs (non steriodal anti-inflammatory drugs) can cause serious side effects, even death in some cases. So Ace's daily dose of velvet antler was increased instead. He never really showed any signs of being in pain and his recovery has been incredible, just two months after his surgery he is chasing balls again with the Border collie and his x-rays show that the joint is nearly completely healed. And he now stays a respectable distance from the elk fence. Ace's story is just one of many where we have seen great results using elk velvet antler. Elk truly are amazing animals, if you don't believe me just ask Ace.
For more information about elk velvet antler as an all natural joint, arthritis, and overall health supplement for dogs go to The author has been involved with all facets of the domestic elk industry since 1995. She served as administrator of the Colorado Elk Breeders Association for 4 years. She recently became part of Bonus velvet antler, Inc., a new company that produces and markets an all natural joint supplement for dogs made exclusively from elk velvet antler. The company also sells all natural chew treats for dogs.

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POST SUMMARYYou're under 35 and feel fine, yet the doctor says your blood pressure
is high and you'd better come back to have it checked again. Being a
red-blooded male, you figure five years will be soon enough. After all,
isn't high blood pressure an old man's disease? "Young men are less
likely than older men to believe they have hypertention/hypertension
and less likely to go back to the doctor," says Daniel Lackland, DrPH,
spokesman for the American Society of hypertention/hypertension ...FULL POST.
"Often these are patients whose blood pressure would respond to weight
management and other lifestyle changes, but they're less likely to seek
treatment." Untreated hypertention/hypertension damages the heart and
other organs and can lead to life-threatening conditions that include
heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease. It's called "the silent
killer" because symptoms generally appear only after the disease has
caused damage to vital organs. "With treatment, we can truly prolong
life," Lackland tells WebMD. Understanding High Blood PressureIf your
blood pressure is 120/80, 120 represents systolic pressure, or the
pressure of blood against artery walls when the heart beats. Eighty
represents diastolic pressure, or the pressure between beats. The
Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention,
Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC 7)
guidelines categorize hypertention/hypertension as follows: Normal.
Less than 120/80 Prehypertention/hypertension . 120-139/80-89
hypertention/hypertension . 140/90 (130/80 for patients with diabetes
or chronic kidney disease) Stage 2 hypertention/hypertension . 160/100
hypertention/hypertension, or high blood pressure (HBP), exists when
either the systolic measurement is 140 or higher or the diastolic
measurement is 90 or higher. However, in the majority of people,
controlling systolic hypertention/hypertension is a more important
heart disease risk factor than diastolic blood pressure (except in
young people under the age of 50). There are two types of
hypertention/hypertension : essential, which accounts for 90% to 95% of
cases, and secondary. The cause of essential hypertention/hypertension
is unknown, although lifestyle factors such as obesity, sedentary
lifestyle, and excessive alcohol or salt intake contribute to the
condition. In secondary hypertention/hypertension, the cause may be
kidney disease; hormonal imbalance; or drugs, including cocaine or
alcohol. According to the JNC 7, half the adult population is
prehypertensive or hypertensive, and because blood pressure increases
with age, most people will become hypertensive if they live long
enough. Younger vs. Older Men With High Blood PressureYounger men with
high blood pressure typically have high diastolic pressure while older
men have high systolic pressure. "In young men, the diastolic pressure
rises because the heart is pumping harder," says Lackland. "In older
men, the systolic pressure rises and stiffens arteries. "Part of the
problem with young men is increased body mass. Ten years ago we
wouldn't have seen hypertention/hypertension in the teens and 20s, but
now it's increasing along with rising obesity rates. We're seeing the
increase in particular in African-American men, but it affects men of
all races." High blood pressure is more common in younger men, and
should be taken just as serious as in their older counterparts.
(continued)Younger vs. Older Men With High Blood Pressure
continued...Lackland, who is professor of epidemiology and medicine at
the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, says that as
with older men, treatment for younger men follows JNC 7 guidelines for
lifestyle changes and medications. The JNC 7 recommends the following
lifestyle modifications for people with prehypertention/hypertension as
well as hypertention/hypertension : Weight reduction. Maintain a normal
weight with a target body mass index (BMI) of 18.5 to 24.9. This can
result in an approximate reduction in systolic blood pressure of 5-20
points per 10 kilograms of weight loss, according to the JNC 7. DASH
(Dietary Approaches to Stop hypertention/hypertension ) eating plan.
Adopt a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products.
Reduce saturated and total fat. This can be expected to drop systolic
blood pressure by 8-14 points. Lower salt intake. Reduce dietary sodium
to less than 2,400 milligrams or about 1 teaspoon a day. According to

the JNC 7, a 1,600-milligram sodium DASH eating plan has effects
similar to a single drug therapy. The approximate reduction in systolic
blood pressure would be 2-8 points. Aerobic physical activity. Engage
in regular physical activity, such as brisk walking, at least 30
minutes per day most days of the week. This can decrease systolic blood
pressure by 4-9 points. Moderation of alcohol consumption. Men should
limit alcohol to no more than two drinks per day. A standard drink is
defined by the type of alcohol. For example, a standard drink, such as
a 12-ounce bottle of beer, a 5-ounce glass of wine, or 1.5-ounce shot
of 80-proof distilled spirits, has between 11 and 14 grams of alcohol.
Limiting the amount of alcohol to this quantity is expected to result
in a reduction in systolic blood pressure by 2-4 points. When
medications are indicated for younger men, one question is what will be
the long-term effect? "We've had medications around since the 1970s,
but with newer ARBs (angiotensin receptor blockers), we don't know,"
says Lackland. "But the benefit of keeping blood pressure to goal is so
great. Without treatment, a man at [age] 30 could be facing end-stage
renal disease, stroke, or heart attack." Another Complication Worth
ConsideringIf the threat of premature death from complications of
untreated high blood pressure doesn't get your attention, perhaps this
will: A recent study showed that men with high blood pressure were 2.5
times as likely as men with normal pressure to develop erectile
dysfunction (ED). Men with prehypertention/hypertension also had a
higher incidence of ED than did men with normal pressure. Michael
Doumas, MD, of the University of Athens in Greece, presented the study
at the American Society of hypertention/hypertension 20th Annual
Scientific Meeting and Exposition. In order to assess the link between
hypertention/hypertension and erectile dysfunction, researchers
excluded men who had a history of diabetes, heart disease, renal
failure, or liver and vascular disease, which are associated with ED.
While the study of men aged 31 to 65 didn't compare younger vs. older
men, the fact that more than one-third of the participants with high
blood pressure had erectile dysfunction should be seen as another very
good reason to seek treatment and follow doctor's orders.

Similar posts: cardiovascular disease

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Cardiovascular disease, diabetes and bisphenol A (BPA)

More information coming out of the FDA about the plastic in bottles and other containers is not making anyone feel better.

We heard about the use associated with heart disease possibly related but now there is more about BPA and diabetes.

Data from the NHANES study, a long standing health study in the US found BPA in the urine of patients with heart disease and diabetes. The relationship doesn’t mean cause but it still concerning more and more people.

Similar posts: cardiovascular disease

Cardiovascular disease, diabetes and bisphenol A (BPA)

More information coming out of the FDA about the plastic in bottles and other containers is not making anyone feel better.

We heard about the use associated with heart disease possibly related but now there is more about BPA and diabetes.

Data from the NHANES study, a long standing health study in the US found BPA in the urine of patients with heart disease and diabetes. The relationship doesn’t mean cause but it still concerning more and more people.

Similar posts: cardiovascular disease

Atherosclerosis, yet traditional lipid testing may miss up to 50% of people who have abnormal lipids. Prevention includes identifying people at risk and providing the best treatment individualized to their specific problem.

It is with this background that I will discuss Advanced Lipid Testing and its role in identifying all patients at lipid related risk and as a tool for management of abnormal lipid levels. I often ask myself how come health care providers do not understand this type of testing? I honestly believe that if all people are identified as being at risk, and then if treated appropriately, we would significantly change the face of Cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

As physicians, we are taught in medical school that it is all about Total Cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C, and Triglycerides, yet few really understand the limitations of traditional lipid testing. I hear everyday physicians say that if it is so important why isn't everyone doing it? I believe the answer is that one does not want to change from old patterns of thinking, and according to other physicians, it is too much trouble to learn and understand. Recently, the ADA/ACC released a Joint Concession Statement on Lipoprotein Management in patients with Cardiometabolic Risk(CMR). The full text is available on my website. I believe it is mandatory reading and states that patients with CMR in the moderately high, high, and very high risk groups, it is now the standard of of care to quantify lipoproteins by performing ApoB or LDL-P on all patients to ascertain risk and as a goal of therapy.

As we all know that since sterols are insoluble in the blood, they need to be driven around the body in Lipoproteins. These include HDL-P, VLDL-P, and LDL-P among others. HDL particles are also known as ApoA and all the particles that cause atherosclerosis are known as ApoB. Although NCEP( National Cholesterol Education Panel) recommends calculating the non-HDL cholesterol, this value only can alert the physician that there may too many lipoprotein particles despite having a normal LDL-C. Approximately 90-95% pf the circulating ApoB particles are LDL-P which have a half-life of around 3 days. As varying amounts of Triglycerides and Cholesterol are driven around the body, in what I tell my patients are "cars", the ApoB particles enter the arterial wall if there are too many of the "cars" circulating in the bloodstream.

By simple diffusion, all the bad particles flow from inside the artery and move into its wall and are "eaten" by macrophages which become foam cells and are the hallmark of Atherosclerosis. In eight published studies of over 11,000 subjects using LDL-P and other Lipoprotein concentrations remained the most significant and independent predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality over any other lipid parameter including the usual ratio that all physicians and patients talk about. . In a nutshell, it is the number of LDL particles that matter most... it is the number of cars that cause a traffic jam, not the people in the cars. For example, what if a person with moderate risk has met NCEP guidelines and has a LDL-C of 110mg/dl.

How do I know that there are not 100 cars with one person driving or two big buses with 55 people? The answer is that I do not unless I measure LDL-P directly by using NMR or as a second option measuring ApoB with Gel Electrophoresis. Traditional testing measures the passengers and lipoprotein testing measures the cars, and it is the number of cars(LDL-P) measured by NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) that are the most numerous ApoB particles in the body and matter most in the development of Atherosclerosis.

Although a comprehensive review of each of the methodologies to perform Lipoprotein Testing is beyond the scope of this post, I feel that measuring LDL particles directly using NMR is the best way to ascertain someone's true risk and then use that number as a guide to management. As I said in my posting about Alex Trebek, the CDC states that 50% of people who have heart attacks have "normal" cholesterol. I hope you now understand why this can happens, having a normal LDL-C but high LDL-P, and be proactive and ask that your physician performs Advanced Cholesterol Testing.

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Cardiomyopathy is a rare heart muscle disease over the world, but not in Africa where it is one of the major causes of heart failure, according to experts that reviewed all available cardiomyopathy studies performed in Africa, along with all the information about the causes and types of heart muscle disease in Africa, where 10 per cent of the world's population lives.

A 10 per cent to 17 per cent of cardiac problems found through autopsies in South Africa and Uganda, and 17 per cent to 48 per cent of heart failure diagnoses in many parts of Africa are due to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), which is an enlargement of the entire heart, explain researchers.

In the United States, 4 to 8 per 100,000 people are affected by DCM, but African overall incidence is unknown, because the corresponding studies have not been made yet.

Researchers' findings show that Peripartum cardiomyopathy has a very high incidence throughout Africa and Nigeria. This illness can cause heart failure and it develops between the last month of pregnancy and the first five months after childbirth.
Peripartum cardiomyopathy incidence in the US is 1 in 15,000 deliveries; meanwhile the incidence in South Africa is 1 in 1,000 cases.

DCM is caused by various factors, under generally accepted African theory. These include untreated high blood pressure, infective and toxic agents, inappropriate immunologic reactions, nutritional deficiencies, and genetic factors.

According to experts, it is important to do more research to understand the underlying reasons for Africa's high cardiomyopathy rate, and prevent or reduce it.



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