Liver Disease

Although liver disease is stereotypically linked to alcohol or drugs, the truth is that there are over 100 known forms of liver disease caused by a variety of factors and affecting everyone from infants to older adults. For information on specific forms of liver disease, wait for another article that I will post it soon(type of liver disease).

Cirrhosis is often considered to be a form of liver disease and may be the only liver-related condition that many people have heard of. In fact, cirrhosis is a condition that results from permanent damage or scarring of the liver. It is the end stage of many different forms of liver disease and is known to cause a number of other health problems, including variceal bleeding, ascites and hepatic encephalopathy.

Many types of liver disease still have unknown causes but the most frequent liver diseases are generally caused by one of the following factors:

1. Viral hepatitis
 Caused by viruses that attack the liver, viral hepatitis comes in many forms. The most common forms world-wide are hepatitis A, B and C. Although hepatitis A and B can be prevented by vaccine, there is no vaccine for hepatitis C. In Canada, hepatitis C is the leading cause of liver transplants.

2. Obesity
The leading cause of liver disease in Canada is fatty liver disease linked to obesity.

How to Take the Perfect Nap

By Linda Wasmer Andrews
May 23, 2012

www.health.yahoo.com 

Getting caught napping might not be such a bad thing after all. A growing body of research shows that a catnap can have a host of health benefits.

Among other things, a short nap can decrease drowsiness and fatigue, restore alertness, boost mood, sharpen motor skills, bolster learning, and improve mental performance. Plus, it feels like an indulgence, and that in itself can be delightfully relaxing.

But a nap that lasts too long can leave you feeling groggy rather than rejuvenated. And a nap too late in the day can interfere with nighttime sleep. 

Here’s an A to Zzzs guide to taking an effective, efficient nap.

 

A Is for Afternoon Snooze
For healthy non-elderly adults, a morning nap is generally too early; your body may not be ready for sleep yet. An evening nap is generally too late; you may have trouble falling asleep at your usual bedtime. But an early afternoon nap starting between 1:00 and 3:00 is just right for countering a post-lunch slump.

Keep it short and sweet. A nap lasting 30 minutes or longer can cause sleep inertia—a groggy, disoriented feeling that may persist for several minutes after awakening from a deep slumber. For waking up alert and ready to work, research suggests that the ideal nap length is 10 to 20 minutes.

At Work

Studies have shown that napping can enhance job performance and reduce accidents and mistakes. Some companies have embraced that idea, setting aside napping rooms or installing futuristic EnergyPods where employees can grab 40 winks.

Still, there’s a stigma attached to napping in most offices, where “lying down on the job” is equated with laziness. So if you aren’t lucky enough to work for a pro-napping company, look for an out-of-the-way spot, such as an empty conference room, where you can doze off without being judged or disturbed.

Make yourself comfortable. If possible, shut the door, turn off the phone, switch off the lights, and shut the blinds. But if you can’t make the room dark and quiet, a sleep mask and earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones can be good alternatives.

At Home

At home, stretching out on a couch is a great way to spend a few minutes on a weekend afternoon. But lounging in a hammock may be even better.

A study from the University of Geneva in Switzerland helps explain why. The study utilized a special bed that could either sway slowly like a hammock or stay still. Volunteers were lulled to sleep faster when the bed swayed. What’s more, EEG monitoring showed that the gentle rocking led to changes in their brain activity consistent with deeper sleep.

Zzzs Are for High Achievers
Nappers aren’t slackers, if history books are any indication. The roster of notable nappers includes Napoleon, Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, Winston Churchill, and John F. Kennedy.

In many cultures, siestas are built into the rhythm of daily life. And in more than 85% of mammal species, short periods of sleep during the day come naturally. Some scientists argue that human are meant to take daily naps as well. So go ahead and snooze. You’ll be in good company.

4 Ways to Effective Avoid Heart Disease

Heart disease is the most sadistic killer. Every year, millions of people worldwide die from this disease and there are millions of people convicted as new carriers. Unfortunately, most people do not know that heart disease is preventable through diet and natural settings.

The experts from Europe who joined in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) in recent years are studying the pattern and nutrient intake in 10 European countries. The research also develop ways or strategies to reduce the risk of heart and blood vessel disease.

According to researcher and dietitian, author of Your Healthy Weight Loss Plan, John Phillip, the results of various research shows that heart disease can be formed since the beginning of one's life and later developed into a deadly threat when they grow up. The good news is the risk of heart disease can be controlled and avoided by making simple changes in diet and lifestyle from a person.

EPIC Research published in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine suggests that a change in diet can reduce the risk of heart attack up to 81 percent. 

By setting the right diet, the risk of inflammation can be reduced and blood pressures are can be controlled.

The experts stressed four important factors that one can do in order to avoid the risk of heart disease: 

1. Reduce foods containing refined carbohydrates, sugar, and grains.

Processed foods have now become the main menu every day. In fact, these foods contain

10 Health Benefits of Watermelon

Watermelon is a natural source of most powerful antioxidants provided by nature. It is a good source of the antioxidant vitamins C and A to protect us from diseases. It reduces the risk of dehydration.

Summer and watermelon are inseparable. Watermelons are found almost everywhere in the world. Although we can find watermelons in our markets throughout the year, the season for watermelon is the summer when they are sweet and of the best quality. No other fruit can we find so crunchy and thirst quenching like watermelon.

Health Benefits of Watermelon

The health benefits of watermelon are really great. No matter how it is sliced, it is packed with some of the most important antioxidants found in nature. It is an excellent source of vitamin C and a very good source of vitamin A, particularly through its concentration of beta-carotene.

The beautiful red watermelon is also a source of the potent carotene antioxidant which is called lycopene. These antioxidants travel throughout the body neutralizing free radicals. Free radicals are substances in the body that can cause much damage to us. They are able to oxidize cholesterol, making it stick to blood vessel walls and thicken them which can lead to hearty attack or stroke. The lycopene which gives fruits the attractive red color that we find in watermelon can help reduce the risks of prostate cancer. It is a surprising fact that watermelon is the only fruit that contains higher concentrations of lycopene than any other fresh fruit or vegetable.

Cheap Green Home Heat Tips

By the Care2 Staff. (taken from care2.com)

Although the globe may be warming, we still need to heat our homes once autumn chill sets in. But staying warm doesn’t need to break your bank account or make the planetary problem worse: find out how to reduce your heating bills and your environmental impact with these simple tips. 

We even include a nifty quiz so you can see how your heating habits rate: are you an eco-angel or do you have a carbon footprint the size of a Yeti’s? Find out.

First, here is a simple To Do List to help get you prepared for heating season:
1. If you have storm windows, get them out of summer storage and wash and install them. (Check out Annie’s super-cheap and effective window washing formula.)

2. Have your furnace cleaned so that it operates at maximum efficiency.

3. Have your chimney and flues cleaned to prevent fires.

4. Dust all your radiators or heating elements: nobody needs the smell of fried dust in their homes once the heat goes on, plus who needs to waste heat warming it up?

Where does a lot of our heat (and money and energy resources) go? Right out the window. Practice these simple, clever strategies for weatherizing your windows instead, so you can let in the light without kissing your heating dollars goodbye or adding a few sizes to your carbon footprint. You’ll learn about energy-saving low-e windows and the best caulks to use–and if you don’t know what a window quilt is, you’ll be glad to find out.

You won’t believe how much of a difference in your heating bill these ten thermostat tips will make.

Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/cheap-green-home-heating-tips.html#ixzz1JyLrgQQt