Why Before Surgery Smokers Should Stop Smoking

According to Ontario's Anesthesiologists smokers should cease their habit even for a short time to help curb the risk of complications both during and after any surgical procedure. To this end, Anesthesiologists have released a new campaign to get smokers to butt out before surgery. The campaign is called - Stop Smoking for Safer Surgery, and it is meant to be a public-patient awareness campaign.

Complications during and after surgery costs the Canadian health care system untold millions of dollars each year. Getting smokers to cease their habit, even for a limited time frame before and after surgery can save the health care system millions in needed money.

It has long been known that cigarette smoke contains very harmful elements such as nicotine and carbon monoxide amongst others. For those undertaking medical procedures, nicotine affects the heart by making it work harder than it should, thus consuming more oxygen, but the carbon monoxide prevents the blood from carrying the necessary oxygen to the heart. This combo leads to an increased risk of heart attack and/or other complications while under the influence of an anesthetic.

Dr. Stephen Brown, who is the Chair of Ontario's Anesthesiologists, says of the campaign, "Smokers are used to the health warnings on cigarette packets, to restrictions on smoking at work and in public, to warnings from their family physicians. To hear the message from an Anesthesiologist is probably something new for most smokers. The risks of pre-operative smoking are not widely known."

"Smokers are more likely to have heart problems during surgery and breathing problems after surgery. They heal more slowly and have an increased risk of wound infections," adds Dr. John Oyston, founder of the Stop Smoking for Safer Surgery initiative.

Doctors stress even a few hours of smoking cessation can reduce complication risks. "If a smoker quits prior to surgery, it will make their date with the surgeon less risky," explains Dr. Brown.

source

Smoke and Booze Can Demage Men's Sperm

Scientists say tests on rats showed sperm damage caused by exposure to garden chemicals remained up to four generations later.

Their findings have led them to warn fathers who smoke and drink to be aware they are potentially not just damaging themselves, but also their heirs.

The study by scientists from the University of Idaho in the U.S. suggests that a father's health plays a greater role in the health of future generations than has been thought.

The team led by Matthew Anway tested the effects of a hormone-disrupting fungicide chemical called vinclozolin on embryonic rats and found the chemical altered genes in the sperm, including some associated with human prostate cancer.

The rats exposed to the chemical showed signs of damage and overgrowth of the prostate, infertility and kidney problems and the defects were also present in animals four generations later.

The scientists admit that the rats were exposed to very high levels of vinclozolin but say their work shows that once toxins cause defects in sperm they can be passed down the generations.

Professor Cynthia Daniels, from Rutgers University in New Jersey, an expert on male and female reproduction, says it has been found that men who drank a lot of alcohol have increased rates of sperm defects and nicotine from tobacco also found its way into seminal fluid as well as blood.

Professor Daniels advises moderation for young couples and points out that substances which can have an impact on reproduction are often also carcinogenic.

Fertility experts say the DNA in sperm cells is more tightly packed than in other cells, and so, to some extent, is protected from damage, however, once sperm cell DNA is damaged, it has no mechanism by which to effect repairs.

They advise any man trying for a baby to lead as healthy a lifestyle as possible as heavy smoking and drinking undoubtedly results in sperm damage and possibly damage to the DNA of the sperm.

However the good news is that male sperm is produced continuously in a 74-day cycle, so the body does cleanse itself over time.

The study was presented to the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in Boston USA.

source

A new Study Raises Doubts About Antidepressant Use

A new study suggests that the majority of patients with depression may not benefit from taking antidepressant drugs.

Researchers from the University of Hull reviewed data from a number of trials involving the drugs Prozac (fluoxetine), Seroxat (paroxetine), Effexor (venlafaxine) and Serzone (nefazodone).

They concluded that the drugs may only be of benefit in patients with very severe depression.

However, the drugs' manufacturers have downplayed the findings, pointing out that other reports have shown them to be effective.

Prozac manufacturer Eli Lilly issued a statement saying: 'Extensive scientific and medical experience has demonstrated that Prozac is an effective antidepressant.

'Since its discovery in 1972, fluoxetine has become one of the world's most-studied medicines. More than 40 million people suffering from depression have been treated with fluoxetine in over 100 countries around the world.'

Experts have also cautioned that patients on antidepressants should not stop taking their medication in light of the latest research.

Marjorie Wallace, chief executive of the mental health charity Sane, said: 'These results are focused on clinical effectiveness rather than health risks.

'It is important that people should not stop taking the antidepressants immediately, as doing so could lead to severe rebound depression.'

source

Bird Flu Breaks Confirmed in Tibet

Chinese authorities confirmed Tuesday the second bird flu outbreak in Tibet this year, a day after reporting a 22-year-old man in central China died from the virus.

Chinese authorities said the Tibetan outbreak started on 6th February, in a small community on the outskirts of Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, which lies in the Himalayas. The outbreak killed over 100 domestic birds, and since then nearly 8,000 more have had to be culled.Samples tested in the laboratory over the weekend have proved positive for the deadly H5N1 form of bird flu, according to a report in the Canadian Press, which also says that the authorities have brought in emergency measures in the area.The earlier bird flu outbreak was reported last month on a poultry farm in the southwest part of the province. That killed 1,000 birds and the farm was put under quarantine regulations.The 22 year old man who died of bird flu on the 24th of January was confirmed as having had the H5N1 virus, said China's Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Beijing. The man, whose name was Li, came from Jianghua County, Yongzhou City, in the central province of Hunan, and was taken into hospital on 22nd of January. His symptoms, fever and headache, started on 16th January. Although he was treated, his symptoms got worse and he died, according to reports from state media.The province is currently experiencing extreme traffic problems because of low temperatures and severe bad weather with ice, rain and heavy snow, which have also caused blackouts. When this happens it is not unusual for disease and illness rates to go up, but the authorities say they have remained steady so far.Also, no person who came into close contact with Li has developed symptoms, and they continue to be kept under close medical observation, said the Chinese authorities.Last month China reported a case of a father and son who had caught bird flu, but officials said that although this was China's first case of bird flu in the same family, there was no evidence that the virus had passed from human to human. The son died early December 2007.According to Xinghua news agency, the new case has now been reported to the World Health Organization (WHO), and also authorities in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, as well as other foreign governments.World experts in bird flu suggest it is only a matter of time before the deadly H5N1 virus mutates into a form that passes from human to human as opposed to bird to human. When it does so, they predict a world pandemic will kill millions of people.According to the WHO, as of 15th February, China has reported 27 confirmed casese of bird flu since 2003, including 17 deaths. Mr Li's death brings the death toll in China to 18.Meanwhile in Viet Nam, the Ministry of Health confirmed last week, that a 40 year old man from Gia Loc district, Hai Duong province, died of H5N1 bird flu on 13th February after being taken into hospital 5 days earlier. He developed symptoms on the 2nd of February and it has been confirmed that he had come into contact with sick and dead domestic birds before falling ill.

Babies Can Have Aids Virus through Pre-Chewed Food

For the first time, health officials report that the AIDS virus can be passed from an infected mother to her baby if she pre-chews the child's food as sometimes occurs in developing countries.Three such cases were reported in the United States :two in Miami and one in Memphis, Tennessee in which a child was infected in this way between 1993 and 2004. The mother was involved in two of the cases and a relative who acted as a caregiver was involved in the third.

It's blood, not saliva, that carried the virus because in at least two of the cases the infected mothers had bleeding gums or mouth sores.In developing countries, some mothers pre-chew food for babies. These women may lack access to packaged baby food or may not have a way to blend baby food.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials say more study is needed. But they are asking parents and caregivers with HIV not to pre-chew infants' food, and are trying to educate doctors about this kind of transmission.

The researchers said HIV transmission appears to have occurred when the children ingested pre-chewed food that contained blood from the bleeding gums of HIV-infected women, and this entered the children's bloodstreams through a cut, sore or inflammation of the mouth or digestive tract.They said they ruled out other possible means of infection such as breast-feeding or blood transfusion.

The first involved a 15-month-old African-American boy in Miami, diagnosed in 1993. His great-aunt was infected with HIV and pre-chewed food for the boy when he was between the ages of 9 months and 14 months.

Then a girl, age 9 months, was diagnosed with HIV in 2004. The HIV-positive mother reported giving pre-chewed food to the child, who is still alive, receiving HIV drugs.

In a third case a 3-year-old Caribbean-American boy was diagnosed in 1995, also in Miami. His HIV-infected mother pre-chewed food for her son.

All three children were infected with HIV at a time they would have been teething and had inflamed gums. It may be that both a caregiver and a child must have wounds in their mouths for the virus to have a good chance of passing from one bloodstream to another, the investigators said.

"The researchers advise that health care providers and HIV-infected child caregivers should be aware of the potential health risks and should advise those caregivers against the practice of pre-chewing food for their infants," the CDC said.

"This would really take a lot of thinking before you could say, 'We've had three cases in 11 years, so you have to stop pre-chewing your child's food,'" Hagen said.

Teenager With Four Kidneys Plans To Donate

A teenage girl who discovered she has four kidneys has decided to donate her two extra organs to patients desperately in need of a transplant. This girl,Laura Moon,18 years, is one of a tiny number of people to have four of the organs growing naturally. She only became aware of her unusual anatomy six months ago after undergoing an ultrasound scan to investigate stomach pains following a car crash.

The doctor even asked to take photos to show his university students.

Laura Moon is looking into becoming a live donor after hearing about Leeds resident Luke Heppenstall, 3, who urgently needs a new kidney after both of his were removed because of cancer.

Laura, who is about to start work as a customer services adviser, heard about three-year-old Luke Heppenstall, who urgently needs a new kidney. It occurred to her that if she had four kidneys and did not need all of them, she might be able to donate two to someone who did.

Transplant surgeon Niaz Ahmad of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said he had never seen anyone with four full kidneys."To have completely duplex kidneys on both sides is extremely rare," he said.

Guide to Buying Chocolate For Diabetic Person's

To help you decide among all the options out there, we taste-tested a number of sugar-free chocolate products (and some portion-controlled ones, too). But first, let's talk about how having a little chocolate every day could actually be good for you.

Chocolate have some health benefits,studies have indicated that cocoa and darker types of chocolate may help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, decrease blood pressure, and relax blood vessels.

Many of the health benefits of chocolate seem to stem from the antioxidant flavanols which are also found in other plant foods including tea, grapes, grapefruit, and wine. The cocoa bean happens to be extraordinarily rich in them.

The first thing I learned while surveying the sugar-free chocolate market was that certain drug stores and supermarkets each stock certain brands of sugar-free chocolate. So, if you're looking for a certain brand, keep going to different stores.
I also soon discovered that the sugar replacement du jour for sugar-free chocolates is maltitol (a sugar alcohol). Almost all of the companies who make sugar-free chocolates are using it.

Sugar-free doesn't mean saturated-fat free, or calorie-free. Chocolate tastes so good because of two things: the sweet ingredient (maltitol, in the case of sugar-free chocolate), and cocoa butter. And cocoa butter is rich in saturated fat. For example, five pieces of Russell Stover Sugar Free Chocolate Candy Miniatures add up to 190 calories, 14 grams of total fat, and 9 grams of saturated fat.

If you don't want to go sugar-free, the trick is enjoying your chocolate (preferably the flavanol-contributing dark chocolate) in small portions. And you can easily find portion-controlled chocolate options, whether you choose mini-bars, kisses, or "nuggets."

One of the more nutritious and satisfying dark chocolate options out there is Hershey's Special Dark Nuggets with Almonds. This way, you get some nutritious almonds along with your dose of dark chocolate. If you can be satisfied with 2 of these "nuggets," (19 grams) this would add up to 110 calories, 7 grams of fat, 3 grams of saturated fat (0 trans fat), 10 grams of carbohydrate and 1.5 grams of fiber and 1.5 grams of protein.