No evidence exists that feeding children a high-sugar diet will induce hyperactivity, despite the common belief that it does, according to Dr. Bryan Burke, an associate professor of General Pediatrics and Neonatology at UAMS. "By the same token I kind of like this old wive's tale, despite it being wrong, because a high-sugar diet has its own problems even if you discount hyperactivity. Our children are living in an age conducive to obesity - how could one ever argue against decreasing an excessive amount of dietary sugar?" Dr. Burke warns parents not to worry just about their children's sugar intake. "An excessive amount of fat can just as easily make one overweight. Moderation in all things is the best advice."

 In ovarian cancer, the likelihood of developing the disease is reduced with each pregnancy, says Dr. Alexander Burnett, chief of UAMS' Division of Gynecologic Oncology. "Also, if a woman takes birth control pills for at least five years during her reproductive life, she will have a reduced chance of developing ovarian cancer. It appears that women who have continuous ovarian cycles with monthly ovulation are at increased risk for ovarian cancer. These conditions – pregnancy and oral contraceptive pills – provide a break from the continuous cycles and are theorized to reduce cancer by some related, as yet defined, mechanism." As for uterine cancer, the main risk factor is prolonged exposure to estrogen. "This can be due to excess body fat, taking estrogen medications without progesterone, or situations where the uterus is continuously exposed to the woman’s own estrogens," says Dr. Burnett. "Statistically, women who have children are at lower risk than women who have never given birth. It is theorized that pregnancy provides a period of endometrial 'rest.'"

People faint for a variety of reasons. Standing, particularly when associated with heat or emotional stress, can cause blood to pool in the lower extremities. "If dehydration is present the situation is worsened," explains Dr. Richard Nicholas, chairman of the UAMS Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. "The low rate of blood return to the heart in these situations results in hypo-perfusion of the brain and at times the fainting spell. Standing at attention, or with one's knees locked, may amplify the process." One of the methods of counteracting the blood-pooling problem is to contract the leg muscles or move about, thus stimulating the blood return to the heart and improving circulation to the brain. "You may recall that the first aid treatment for fainting is to lay the person on his back and elevate the legs. This increases blood flow to the head and upper body and is often all that is necessary to achieve recovery."

XDR-TB

Extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis

XDR-TB is the abbreviation for extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB). One in three people in the world is infected with dormant TB germs (i.e. TB bacteria). Only when the bacteria become active do people become ill with TB. Bacteria become active as a result of anything that can reduce the person’s immunity, such as HIV, advancing age, or some medical conditions. TB can usually be treated with a course of four standard, or first-line, anti-TB drugs. If these drugs are misused or mismanaged, multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) can develop. MDR-TB takes longer to treat with second-line drugs, which are more expensive and have more side-effects. XDR-TB can develop when these second-line drugs are also misused or mismanaged and therefore also become ineffective. Because XDR-TB is resistant to first- and second-line drugs, treatment options are seriously limited. It is therefore vital that TB control is managed properly.

Before taking any prscribed medication for high blood pressure, ask your doctor if getting more potassium in your diet would help.  Seven times out of ten it will.  Just by eating two bananas a day and other potassium-rich fruits and vegetables, you should be able to control your blood pressure and avoid medication altogether.



High blood pressure affects one in four of all Ameraicans today.  But fortunately, a simple, almost invisible diet change, can help you lower your blood pressure without using prescription drugs.



What's the secret?  Eat at least two bananas a day, along with at least two other fruits or vegetables, high in potassium.  The link between potassium intake and blood pressure is so strong that many doctors recommend upping your intake beyond the suggested daily intake of many nutritionists.



While the typical American averages 2,500 mg of potassium daily, researchers from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland concluded that adding another 2,500 mg may be all it takes to get the results you need.  So what you actually need altogether is 5,000 mg of potassium a day.  What's more, high potassium consumption may reduce your risk for heart strokes by 25 percent.



If you're not particularly a big fan of bananas, seek out the other fruits and vegetables which are also high in potassium.  So, to help deflate your high blood pressure now, start tomorrow morning with this delicious "Banana Shake" below (763 mg of potassium).  Makes four drinks, so freeze a couple for later.



2 Bananas (sliced)                 2 Cups Skim Milk                            1 Tbsp. Honey

1 Cup Pineapple Juice           2 Cups Nonfat Vanilla Yogurt



Mix all ingredients in a blender until smooth.  Serves 4.  (220 Calories each)

1.  Sore Throat: Drink hot lemonade or herbal tea with honey.  Chamomile and licorice-root teas are particularly effective.  To soothe the irritation, gargle a few times a day with warm salt-water (add one teaspoon of salt per glass of water).  Gargle, but do not swallow.  Swathe a sore throat with a warm chamomile poultice.  To make one, steep one tablespoon of dried chamomile flowers in one to two cups of boiling water for five minutes, and then strain.  Next, soak a cloth in the liquid, wring out the excess and apply the cloth to the throat.







2.  Stuffy Nose: Have some hot chicken soup.  It's particularly effective for boosting the flow of nasal mucus.  Dab petroleum jelly around and just inside nostrils to help relieve a raw nose.  Put a warm compress on the chest.  A wash-cloth soaked in ginger tea is said to increase circulation and ease congestion. 







3. Laryngitis: Silence is the best therapy; if you must communicate, get out the pen and paper.  Also, increased moisture can provide some relief, so try inhaling steam from a cold, air-humidifier and drinking plenty of fluids.







4.  The Flu:  A heating pad may soothe aching muscles; and try relaxing with a good, warm foot soak or a comforting back run.  To quell a queasy stomach, drink warm, flat ginger ale or cola.  Get plenty of rest, and drink plenty of fluids.







5.  Cold Sores: Th best thing to do for cold sores is to keep them clean.  A dab of petroleum jelly can keep lips moist, and antibacterial ointments can help avert a secondary infection.  To help prevent cold sores, replace your toothbrush at least every two months and keep it in a dry place, so the virus that causes the cold sore won't use your toothbrush as a second home.  Some people swear by eating foods rich in amino acid lysine, which is found in dairy proucts, potatoes and brewer's yeast will help to avoid getting cold sores.  Lysine supplements are another source, but they should not be taken without consulting your doctor.







6. Back Pain: If your back acts up, remember this rule:  Apply ice for the first 48 hours to slow swelling and inflammation.  After two days, switch to heat, which aids healing by increasing circulation and relaxing muscle spasms.







7.  Chapped Lips: Coat lips with a moisturizing lip balm that has a build-in sunscreen  of SPF-15.  The sun wreaks havoc with your lips in the winter and the summer.

Beneficial Fruits And Vegetables:

Cabbage: Contains potent antioxidant activity, which is specifically known to prevent breast cancer. Cabbage proves most beneficial when eaten raw or very lightly cooked (preferably stir-fried or steamed).

Carrot: Packed with beta-carotene, they are good for the eyesight and help in lowering blood cholesterol. The orange pigment in carrots boosts the immune system and helps fight disease. One cup of carrot juice daily reduces the risk of lung cancer even amongst smokers.

Oranges : Contain a wide range of antioxidants, which help fight cancer and in lowering cholesterol and blood pressure. So have lots of oranges, though avoid tinned juice and go in for fresh juice.

Grapes: Prevent formation of clots in arteries. A glass of purple grape juice daily is very beneficial.

Onions: Being full of antioxidants, they prevent clotting in the arteries and raise the 'good' cholesterol levels. The antioxidants present in onions inactivate the cancer causing agents.

Spinach: Cuts the risk of lung cancer, heart disease, cataract and senility, so eat plenty of spinach.

Tomatoes: Due to potent antioxidant lycopene which they contain, tomatoes are known to prevent cancer of the oesophagus , stomach and colon. The good news being that cooking and canning does not destroy lycopene , which means that tomato juice, tomato sauce and tomato gravies are all easy preservers of youth.

Since fruits and vegetables have such miraculous powers of prolonging the life span and preventing disease, it only makes sense to have plenty of them everyday