Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA)

What is it?
An aneurysm is a bulge in the wall of an artery, usually the aorta. The aorta is the largest blood vessel in the body. It receives all the blood from the left ventricle of the heart, and continues from the heart, through the chest, and on to the abdomen. It supplies blood to every organ in the body, except the lungs. An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) affects the segment of the aorta that runs through the abdomen.
Who gets it?
Abdominal aortic aneurysm is common in older adults. There appears to be a genetic link because this type of aneurysm tends to run in families. People who smoke cigarettes are more likely to die from a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm than nonsmokers.
What causes it?
Abdominal aortic aneurysm usually occurs in people with atherosclerosis, also known as hardening of the arteries. As the arteries harden, the wall of the aorta is damaged and weakened. The pressure of the blood flow inside the aorta causes the weakened wall to bulge outward. High blood pressure also contributes to weakened aortic walls.
What are the symptoms?
Abdominal aortic aneurysm may not cause any symptoms at first. When symptoms do occur, they include a pulsing sensation in the abdomen, and pain ranging from mild to severe. Pain may be located in the abdominal, back, or groin area. Sudden, excruciating pain in the lower abdomen and back pain usually indicates a ruptured aorta, which needs to be treated immediately.
How is it diagnosed?
Because abdominal aortic aneurysms may not cause any symptoms until the condition has progressed, they are usually diagnosed by chance during a routine physical examination. The doctor may feel a pulsing, tumor-like mass in the middle of the abdomen. If the aneurysm is about to rupture, it may hurt or feel tender when pressed. It is important to determine its size because the larger the aneurysm, the greater the risk of rupture. The most commonly used test is an abdominal ultrasound, a painless procedure in which a small scanning device is pressed against the abdomen. Sound waves bounce off the internal organs and produce a picture on a video screen. The picture shows the size and length of the aneurysm.
What is the treatment?
Treatment depends upon the size of the aneurysm. If the aneurysm is less than 4 cm (1.5 in) wide, surgery is not necessary, but your doctor will monitor it carefully for an increase in size. Aneurysms between 4 and 5 cm (1.5 - 2 in) wide may be treated with surgery if you and your doctor determine that is the best course of treatment. Aneurysms that are larger than 5 cm (2 in) or are causing symptoms are always treated with surgery, unless it is considered risky because of other health problems. The surgeon makes an incision in the abdomen, removes the aneurysm, and repairs it with a synthetic patch, called a graft. This type of surgery has a very high success rate. There is also another type of surgery called endovascular grafting, which involves inserting a thin tube called a catheter through a groin artery into the abdominal aorta. The catheter's tip holds a deflated balloon that is covered by a tightly folded graft. When the catheter is in position, the balloon is inflated, which causes the graft to open to span the length and width of the aneurysm. Devices at each end of the graft secure it to the inner wall of the aorta to strengthen the wall and prevent it from rupturing. This surgical method may not be available at all hospitals at this time and is only used for non-emergency repairs. Emergency surgery is performed when the abdominal aortic aneurysm has ruptured or is about to rupture. Because a ruptured aneurysm causes internal bleeding, there is a risk of damage to internal organs, such as the kidneys, because their blood supply is interrupted. If a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm is not treated, it always results in death.
Self-care tips
You can reduce your risk of abdominal aortic aneurysm by not smoking and keeping your blood pressure under control. If you have an abdominal aortic aneurysm that does not need to be treated by surgery at this time, keep regular appointments for ultrasound scans of the aneurysm to monitor it for changes in size. Some aneurysms can grow larger in a matter of months. If you have had surgery to repair an abdominal aortic aneurysm, it is good to know that they usually do not occur again, and that you are not at any greater risk for developing aneurysms in other areas of the body.

This information has been designed as a comprehensive and quick reference guide written by our health care reviewers.  The health information written by our authors is intended to be a supplement to the care provided by your physician.  It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice.

Girls Have Better Taste Sense Than Boys

Here is one more reason why girls are better than boys: a new study has found that girls have a better sense of taste than boys do.
Recently, a large scale study was done by the Danish Science Communication and The Faculty of Life Sciences (LIFE) at University of Copenhagen in which they looked at taste sensations of children.
Over 8,900 schoolchildren from Denmark were used in the “mass experiment” study where each of the children were supplied with a kit of taster samples along with instructions. This study was quite different because it was conducted as part of the children’s natural science classes.
The tests were designed to recognize the ability of the children to discover sweet and sour tastes and to find out what they prefer when each sensation varied in intensity. The study also had the children finding out how many taste buds they had as well as filling out questionnaires about their eating habits.
“It is quite clear that children and young people are very good tasters, and that there are bigger variations between them than most people would expect. There is, for example, a marked difference between boys and girls, and the ability of children to recognize tastes changes with age. So one could easily develop more varied food products and snacks for children and young people. For example, it is quite clear that children do not necessarily prefer sweet things. According to the findings, healthy snacks could easily be developed for boys with slightly extreme and sour flavours,” says Bodil Allesen-Holm, MSc in Food Science and Technology and head of the study.


Their findings showed that girls recognize taste much better than boys. They also found that boys need about 10 percent more sourness and 20 percent more sweetness to be able to recognize the taste of something.
“We also asked the pupils to count ‘taste buds’ or organs of taste on the tongue. However, the experiment showed that boys and girls have largely the same number of taste buds. So it would appear that what makes the difference is the way in which boys and girls process taste impressions,” says Michael Bom Frّst, Associate Professor at the Department of Food Science at LIFE.
Surprisingly, the study also showed that boys have a sweeter tooth than girls, and about 70 percent of all the children like the taste of fish.
While this study focused on taste alone, more testing could eventually include the other sensations such as sight and smell.

Eye care tips for computer users

11 Eye care tips for computer users
Most of our work is done on computers, and there is usually no escape from it. It is a visually intensive task and, unfortunately, our work pressure and lifestyles do not give us the opportunity to be kind to our eyes.
Which is why these tips should come in handy.
1. Know your eyes
Tears: The first line of defense, they also serve as lubrication by keeping the eyes moist and nourished; they also have a corrective lens function. Eyelids: Their main job is to protect your eyes from dirt, dust and harsh light.
Eyelashes: A protective net for your eyes.
Cornea: A refractive zone that guides light to reach the retina.
Pupil: Controls the amount of light that enters your eyes.
Lens: A refractive zone that also guides light into the retina.
Retina and Optic Nerve: A bunch of intricate wiring that carries vision signals between your brain and eyes.
2. Exercise your eyes
Dr Harish S Belvi, a practising ophthalmologist (eye specialist) based in Mumbai, says that regular work hours should be infused with short breaks. During such breaks, he suggests a small and easy exercise: "First, blink your eyes several times. While you keep your eyes closed, roll your eyeballs both clockwise and anticlockwise and take a deep breath. Gradually open your eyes while releasing your breath. This exercise lasts for a minute and you can repeat it three times before getting back to work." It serves as a good workout for the eyes.
3. Look away
While working for long hours, look at distant objects either in your office or outside. Looking at a distant object and then returning to your task helps your eyes focus better. Try taking such visual breaks for about five to 10 minutes every hour.
4. Positioning is everything
Correct positioning of your computer, keyboard and typing copy is essential. Your screen should be positioned about an arm¢s length from your eyes and 20 degrees below eye level. Consider foot and wrist rests for added comfort.
5. Lighting can make all the difference
Room lighting should be diffuse, not direct, to reduce glare and reflections from your screen. Look into an internal or external glare screen and be sure to set your color, contrast and brightness levels to suit you.
6. A little extra help for your glasses
Anti-reflective coatings on the lenses of your glasses can be applied by your optometrist to reduce discomfort and to ease reduced vision from bright and/or flickering light sources such as VDTs and fluorescent lights. And don¢t forget, your doctor of optometry can talk to you about eyeglasses designed specifically for people who use computers a lot.
Take time out, our 20-20-20 rule
Step I :-
After every 20 minutes of looking into the computer screen, turn your
head and try to look at any object placed at least 20 feet away. This
changes the focal length of your eyes, a must-do for the tired eyes.
Step II :-
Try and blink your eyes for 20 times in succession, to moisten them.
Step III :-
Time permitting of course, one should walk 20 paces after every 20 minutes
of sitting in one particular posture. Helps blood circulation for the entire body.
all in the blinking
Did you know that on average we blink 12 times per minute? But wait, did you know that when we¢re on the computer we only blink 5 times per minute? That can add up to dry eyes. Relieve the discomfort by using artificial tear drops or gels and remember to blink!
7. Palming
Sit straight at your workstation and rub your palms against each other till you feel them warm. The warmth of your palms helps soothe and relax tired eyes. Then, lightly cup your eyes with your palms and relax for 60 seconds. Count the seconds in your mind. Repeat this exercise two to three times whenever your eyes feel tired, or as often as you want. While palming, you can either rest your elbows on your desk or keep away from the desk and cup your eyes. Both ways are fine.
8. Splash water on your face
During breaks, splash water on your face while closing your eyes. This has an overall relaxing effect and helps you feel refreshed..
9. Use tea bags
Keep two used tea bags in the refrigerator before you leave for work. Once you are home, place the tea bags on your eyes for a few minutes as you relax. This not only soothes tired eyes, but also reduces puffiness.
10. Eat healthy
Incorporate Vitamins A, C, and E on a daily basis; eat citrus fruits, green leafy veggies, tomatoes, spinach, poultry and dairy products. Pack a box of chopped carrots, cucumber and fresh fruits and munch in-between meals at the office.

Heart Attacks And Drinking Warm Wate

Heart Attacks And Drinking Warm Wate

This is a very good article. Not only about the warm water after your meal, but about   Heart Attacks .
The Chinese and Japanese drink hot tea with their meals, not cold water,
maybe it is time we adopt their drinking habit while eating.
For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you. It is nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal. However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion. Once this 'sludge' reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine.. Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer . It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.
C ommon Symptoms Of Heart Attack...
A serious note about heart attacks - You should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting .. Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line
You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack. Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms. 60% of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know, the better chance we could survive.
A cardiologist says if everyone who reads this message sends it to 10 people, you can be sure that we'll save at least one life. Read this & Send to a friend. It could save a life. So, please be a true friend and send this article to all your friends you care about.

Common Sex Myths Busted ..... Read On

Despite a great deal of awareness, people are still sexually misinformed. Knowingly or unknowingly their sex lives are surrounded by a large number of myths and misconceptions.
So, here we bring to you a sex educator and relationship expert to debunk some of the myths surrounding the clandestine yet crucial aspect of an individual's life.
Dr. Yvonne K. Fulbright, the founder of Sexuality Source Inc, has shed light on six common sex myths, reports Fox News
Myth #1: Viagra is 100 percent effective
Regarding this, Fulbright wrote that men bearing this notion needed to think again because a desire component is needed for males to become sexually aroused and attain erection.
Myth # 2: A virgin's hymen always breaks
Breaking the misconception that the presence of a hymen is an indicator that a female is a virgin, and it is broken she has intercourse, the expert explains: This might not happen with every girl, and since girls are born with hymens of various sizes and openings, some might appear to have no hymen at all.
Fulbright also said that some girls might have their hymen stretched from activities like bicycling or horseback riding.
Myth # 3: Withdrawal = Good birth control
Regarding the notion that withdrawal is the best method of birth control, Fulbright said that pregnancy could occur any time unprotected sex was had, whether or not a male had climaxed.
Thus, according to the expert, withdrawal is not recommended as a form of birth control, especially for males who are sexually inexperienced.
Myth # 4: Oral sex is safe sex
Another misconception on the list was that oral sex does not put people at risk for sexually transmitted diseases, which was rendered untrue by the expert. He said that even oral sex can make you susceptible to STDs.
Myth # 5: You can't get pregnant if you aren’t ovulating
Regarding the thought that women can't get pregnant if you aren't ovulating, the expert said that it was not true.
Myth # 6: The Pill protects against STDs
Lastly, Fulbright debunked the myth that contraceptive pills protects against STDs. The expert said that such pills provide protection only from pregnancy, adding that it's the condom that can protect against STDs when sexually active.

Understanding Abdominal Pain In Women, 8 common causes for abdominal pain

Understanding Abdominal Pain In Women, 8 common causes for abdominal pain

Do you suffer from frequent abdominal pain? Being a woman, it is quite common to feel discomfort in the lower abdomen from time to time during menstruation.
However, persistent or frequent abdominal pain can imply other health problems such as kidney problems, bowel problems involving reproductive organs like fallopian tubes and ovaries.
If you want to ensure your abdominal pain gets the correct treatment, identify the main cause behind the pain first.
Abdominal pain arising from urinary system
If you suffer from pain in your urinary system, it can indicate bladder problems such as cystitis, kidney stones or inflammation of one or both kidneys.
If you have urinary infections, you may experience burning sensation while passing urine, in addition to abdominal pain.
Pain in lower right abdomen
Besides inflammation of the bowel or appendicitis, pain in the lower right abdomen can also be caused by an ectopic pregnancy or hernia.
Bloating or swelling of the lower abdomen also represents various abnormal intestinal conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome which causes severe abdominal pain.
Pain in navel area
If you are experiencing pain near the bellybutton, it can indicate inflammation to the appendix or a small intestine disorder.
However, despite the area or location of the pain, recurrent or persistent abdominal pain can lead to serious health problems.
Consult your regular healthcare provider to get the right treatment at the right time.
Abdominal pain is most common problem for women. Some of you can experience frequent abdominal pain and for some it can be a very rare but debilitating issue.
Before you go for appropriate treatment for abdominal pain, you have to know the cause behind it.
Here are few most common causes for abdominal pain.
Many of you can experience pain in both sides of lower abdomen, particularly during your regular ovulation period.
Regular menstrual periods or premenstrual syndrome can also cause severe abdominal pain for some of you.
If you are experiencing pain in lower abdomen during pregnancy, it can be a natural sign of pregnancy loss.
Presence of cysts or fluid filled structures in ovaries also makes you to experience debilitating abdominal pain during menstrual periods.
Parasitic infections and other gastrointestinal problems can trigger severe abdominal pain.
Unusual or abnormal production of mucus due to damage of certain organs of your body can also cause abdominal pain.
Urinary tract infections are most common problem among women and this could be one of the main reasons for abdominal pain in women.
Other than these, stress, tearing of abdominal muscles, peptic ulcers, and overdose of drugs or medications can lead to abdominal pain.

Male Menopause?

Is there a male menopause?
Dr. Male menopause is a controversial area of discussion. But unlike women, wherein there is an acute cessation of hormone production from the ovaries and subsequent menopause, in males there is a gradual decline in serum testosterone levels starting at the age of 40.
What is testosterone?
Dr. Testosterone is a male hormone. The decline in male hormone levels is a very slow gradual process and there is no single point where one can say that a man has attained menopause, as you would do in the case of a woman. There are changes associated with this decline, which are similar to changes that women undergo at menopause.
At what age does male menopause begin?
Dr. It starts very gradually. If you see the physiology of the male hormones, there is a pubital spurt wherein a boy becomes a man, he attains puberty. Now this spurt gives you an excess of male hormones and growth hormones. As time passes both these hormones begin to decrease. The growth hormone starts decreasing by 20 years of age and the male hormone at about the age of 30 or 35.
What are the symptoms of male menopause?
Dr.  The symptoms usually are loss of muscle strength, weakness, inability to concentrate, depression and lack of energy. But a lot of men tend to give importance to impotence or erectile dysfunction and therefore, a lot of males would complain of andropause once they have erectile dysfunction.
What is the treatment?
Dr. The symptoms can be treated by the supplementation of testosterone, which can be done in a variety of ways like injection, patches or pills.
  What are the physical symptoms of male menopause and what are the remedies available?
Dr.  The physical symptoms of male menopause are depression, fatigue, muscle weakness, lethargy and low serum testosterone level. Administration of testosterone will clearly have a benefit.
  What is the ideal way of providing testosterone – a tablet or an injection?
Dr.   Testosterone is available in three forms and the most commonly used is the injectable testosterone. The other two are scrotal patches and tablets. The tablets are quite expensive. The injection (given twice weekly) costs about Rs. 110 each and the tablets (given thrice a day) cost Rs. 30 per tablet.
I have diabetes since the last 5 years. It is said that diabetics experience reduction in libido. Is there any link between diabetics and male menopause?
Dr. Most diabetics do not have a testosterone problem. They have a problem of blood flow wherein the flow of the blood to the penile area or the groin area is low because the arteries become narrow, so you don’t get good erection. Or there is a problem with the nerves due to which a diabetic man’s erection is affected.
I have osteoporosis of the hip bone and my bone density is low, is it a sign of male menopause? I had bypass surgery and I am taking a lot of heart related drugs, do these drugs affect osteoporosis?
Dr.  You are not a good candidate for testosterone supplements. You can continue with your heart medications.
Why is he not a good candidate for testosterone?
Dr.  Firstly, it is important to demonstrate that the low bone density at the hip is because of low testosterone. So the first step would be to demonstrate that he has low testosterone. If he does have a low testosterone level, he would be prone to side effects of testosterone, and he would possibly have drug interactions. More importantly, if he has underlying definite heart disease, then testosterone, at least theoretically, can aggravate the heart disease. As he said that he has had a bypass and is on multiple drugs, it means he is not a good candidate for testosterone. He can treat his osteoporosis with other good available remedies, which include calcium, vitamin D as well as other drugs like Bisphosphonate.
There are many men at the age of 65 or 70 who have fathered children, but women at the age of 50 or 60 cannot bear children. How do you explain this?
Dr. The biggest example is Charlie Chaplin who fathered a child at 80 years of age. But if you see the testosterone levels in males even at 80 years of age, 50 percent would have a decline in testosterone but 50 percent would still have normal testosterone level; therefore, it is not age that dictates andropause and this is the reason why we insist on documenting a low testosterone.
I am a 24 years old bodybuilder. A few days back, I went to a chemist who advised me to take testosterone tablets in order to increase my strength to lift heavier weights. Does this help?
Dr. I think, you better stay away from his advice. We do not recommend testosterone for bodybuilding as it has harmful side effects.

Say no to diet pills

You have a dress in your wardrobe that you've never watched before. And now that you want to, it doesn't fit! So you decide the best thing to do is pop diet pills so it can be worn to the upcoming cocktail party.
But before you actually swallow, read up on how these pills affect your body.
They affect metabolism
Diet pills kill appetite, thereby making one take in fewer calories. The body metabolism slows down as it is not getting enough fuel to function. The body is thus deprived of essential nutrients. Once metabolism slows down, weight loss process also slows down (metabolic rate-the rate at which the body burns calories).
Increased dependency
"Usually, the effects from such diet pills are short-lived. When you stop taking this medication, the weight comes right back on. With the rising popularity of diet pills like Phentermine and Amphtamine, dependency cases have become extremely common too", says Dr Nishi Viswanathan, doctor and nutrition expert.
Long term use of diet pills can cause irreversible damage to the body.
Disastrous side effects
Some side effects experienced by users of a variety of diet pills are heart-related problems like palpitations, high blood pressure, mild to severe strokes and even heart attacks, complete appetite loss, insomnia, nausea, increased urination, etc. 'Diet pills containing Ephedrine can lead to serious heart related problems", says Dr Deepali Tripathi, a physician.
Lifestyle changes can do the trick
Why resort to extreme methods when simpler and healthier options are available? Eat healthy and exercise moderately.
    *      If you are fond of sweets and fatty foods, don't deprive yourself, but eat them in moderation.
    *      Increase your consumption of fresh vegetables and fruits.
    *      Have a regular exercise routine-walking, swimming, jogging, yoga, skipping, Pilates, weight- training, dancing-the list is endless!
    *      Don't deprive your body of food, as that is the only fuel that keeps the body functioning!