Steps To Improve Your Memory

Everyone can take steps to improve their memory, and with time and practice most people can gain the ability to memorize seemingly impossible amounts of information. Scientists believe that exercising your brain can create a ‘cognitive reserve’ that will help you stay sharp as you age.

1. Convince yourself that you do have a good memory that will improve. Too many people get stuck here and convince themselves that their memory is bad, that they are just not good with names, that numbers just slip out of their minds for some reason. Erase those thoughts and vow to improve your memory. Commit yourself to the task and bask in your achievements. It’s hard to keep motivated if you beat yourself down every time you make a little bit of progress.

2. Keep your brain active. The brain is not a muscle, but regularly “exercising” the brain actually does keep it growing and spurs the development of new nerve connections that can help improve memory. By developing new mental skills, especially complex ones such as learning a new language or learning to play a new musical instrument, and challenging your brain with puzzles and games you can keep your brain active and improve its physiological functioning.

3. Exercise daily. Regular aerobic exercise improves circulation and efficiency throughout the body, including in the brain, and can help ward off the memory loss that comes with aging. Exercise also makes you more alert and relaxed, and can thereby improve your memory uptake, allowing you to take better mental “pictures.”

4. Reduce stress. Chronic stress, although it does not physically damage the brain, can make remembering much more difficult. Even temporary stresses can make it more difficult to effectively focus on concepts and observe things. Try to relax, regularly practice yoga or other stretching exercises, and see a doctor if you have severe chronic stress.

5. Eat well and eat right. There are a lot of herbal supplements on the market that claim to improve memory, but none have yet been shown to be effective in clinical tests (although small studies have shown some promising results for ginkgo biloba and phosphatidylserine). A healthy diet, however, contributes to a healthy brain, and foods containing antioxidants—broccoli, blueberries, spinach, and berries, for example—and Omega-3 fatty acids appear to promote healthy brain functioning. Feed your brain with such supplements as Thiamine, Vitamin E, Niacin and Vitamin B-6. Grazing, eating 5 or 6 small meals throughout the day instead of 3 large meals, also seems to improve mental functioning (including memory) by limiting dips in blood sugar, which may negatively affect the brain.

6. Take better pictures. Often we forget things not because our memory is bad, but rather because our observational skills need work. One common situation where this occurs (and which almost everyone can relate to) is meeting new people. Often we don’t really learn people’s names at first because we aren’t really concentrating on remembering them. You’ll find that if you make a conscious effort to remember such things, you’ll do much better. One way to train yourself to be more observant is to look at an unfamiliar photograph for a few seconds and then turn the photograph over and describe or write down as many details as you can about the photograph. Try closing your eyes and picturing the photo in your mind. Use a new photograph each time you try this exercise, and with regular practice you will find you’re able to remember more details with even shorter glimpses of the photos.

7. Give yourself time to form a memory. Memories are very fragile in the short-term, and distractions can make you quickly forget something as simple as a phone number. The key to avoid losing memories before you can even form them is to be able to focus on the thing to be remembered for a while without thinking about other things, so when you’re trying to remember something, avoid distractions and complicated tasks for a few minutes.

8. Create vivid, memorable images. You remember information more easily if you can visualize it. If you want to associate a child with a book, try not to visualize the child reading the book – that’s too simple and forgettable. Instead, come up with something more jarring, something that sticks, like the book chasing the child, or the child eating the book. It’s your mind – make the images as shocking and emotional as possible to keep the associations strong.

9. Repeat things you need to learn. The more times you hear, see, or think about something, the more surely you’ll remember it, right? It’s a no-brainer. When you want to remember something, be it your new coworker’s name or your best friend’s birthday, repeat it, either out loud or silently. Try writing it down; think about it.

10. Group things you need to remember. Random lists of things (a shopping list, for example) can be especially difficult to remember. To make it easier, try categorizing the individual things from the list. If you can remember that, among other things, you wanted to buy four different kinds of vegetables, you’ll find it easier to remember all four.

11. Organize your life. Keep items that you frequently need, such as keys and eyeglasses, in the same place every time. Use an electronic organizer or daily planner to keep track of appointments, due dates for bills, and other tasks. Keep phone numbers and addresses in an address book or enter them into your computer or cell phone. Improved organization can help free up your powers of concentration so that you can remember less routine things. Even if being organized doesn’t improve your memory, you’ll receive a lot of the same benefits (i.e. you won’t have to search for your keys anymore).

12. Try meditation. Research now suggests that people who regularly practice “mindfulness” meditation are able to focus better and may have better memories. Mindfulness (also known as awareness or insight meditation) is the type commonly practiced in Western countries and is easy to learn. Studies at Massachusetts General Hospital show that regular meditation thickens the cerebral cortex in the brain by increasing the blood flow to that region. Some researchers believe this can enhance attention span, focus, and memory.

13. Sleep well. The amount of sleep we get affects the brain’s ability to recall recently learned information. Getting a good night’s sleep – a minimum of seven hours a night – may improve your short-term memory and long-term relational memory, according to recent studies conducted at the Harvard Medical School.

14. Build your memorization arsenal. Learn pegs, memory palaces, and the Dominic System. These techniques form the foundation for mnemonic techniques, and will visibly improve your memory.

15. Venture out and learn from your mistakes. Go ahead and take a stab at memorizing the first one hundred digits of pi, or, if you’ve done that already, the first one thousand. Memorize the monarchs of England through your memory palaces, or your grocery list through visualization. Through diligent effort you will eventually master the art of memorization.

via : Lovebeats

Fighting Cancer

1. Every person has cancer cells in the body. These cancer cells do not show up in the standard tests until they have multiplied to a few billion. When doctors tell cancer patients that there are no more cancer cells in their bodies after treatment, it just means the tests are unable to detect the cancer cells because they have not reached the detectable size.

2. Cancer cells occur between 6 to more than 10 times in a person's lifetime.

3. When the person's immune system is strong, the cancer cells will be destroyed and prevented from multiplying and forming tumours.

4. When a person has cancer, it indicates the person has multiple nutritional deficiencies. These could be due to genetic, enviromental, food and lifestyle factors.

5. To overcome the multiple nutritional deficiencies, changing diet and including supplements will strengthen the immune system.

6. Chemotherapy involves poisoning the rapidly-growing cancer cells and also destroys rapidly-growing healthy cells in the bone marrow, gastro-intestinal tract, etc. And can cause organ damage like liver, kidneys, heart, lungs, etc.

7. Radiation while destroying cancer cells also burns, scars and damage healthy cells, tissues and organs.

8. Initial treatment with chemotherapy and radiation will often reduce tumor size. However prolonged use of chemotherapy and radiation do not result in more tumor destruction.

9. When the body has too much toxic burden from chemotherapy and radiation the immune system is either compromised or destroyed, hence the person can succumb to various kinds of infections and complications.

10.Chemotherapy and radiation can cause cancer cells to mutate and become resistant and difficult to destroy. Surgery can also cause cancer cells to spread to other sites.

11. An effective way to battle cancer is to starve the cancer cells by not feeding it with the foods it needs to multiply.

CANCER CELLS FEED ON :

A. Sugar is a cancer-feeder. By cutting off sugar it cuts off one important food supply to the cancer cells. Sugar substitutes like NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, etc are made with Aspartame and it is harmful. A better natural substitute would be Manuka honey or molasses, but only in very small amounts.
Table salt has a chemical added to make it white in colour. Better alternative is Bragg's aminos or sea salt.

B. Milk causes the body to produce mucus, especially in the gastro-intestinal tract. Cancer feeds on mucus. By cutting off milk and substituting with unsweetened soya milk, cancer cells are being starved.

C. Cancer cells thrive in an acid environment. A meat-based diet is acidic and it is best to eat fish, and a little chicken rather than beef or pork. Meat also contains livestock antibiotics, growth hormones and parasites, which are all harmful, especially to people with cancer.

D. A diet made of 80% fresh vegetables and juice, whole grains, seeds, nuts and a little fruits help put the body into an alkaline environment. About 20% can be from cooked food including beans.
Fresh vegetable juices provide live enzymes that are easily absorbed and reach down to cellular levels within 15 minutes to nourish and enhance growth of healthy cells. To obtain live enzymes for building healthy cells, try and drink fresh vegetable juice (most vegetables including bean sprouts) and eat some raw vegetables 2 or 3 times a day. Enzymes are destroyed at temperatures of 104 degrees F (40 degress C).

E. Avoid coffee, tea and chocolate, which have high caffeine. Green tea is a better alternative and has cancer-fighting properties. Water best to drink purified water, or filtered, to avoid known toxins and heavy metals in tap water. Distilled water is acidic, avoid it.

12. Meat protein is difficult to digest and requires a lot of digestive enzymes. Undigested meat remaining in the intestines become putrefied and leads to more toxic buildup.

13. Cancer cell walls have a tough protein covering. By refraining from or eating less meat it frees more enzymes to attack the protein walls of cancer cells, and allows the body's killer cells to destroy the cancer cells.

14. Some supplements build up the immune system (IP6, Flor-ssence, Essiac, anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, EFAs, etc) to enable the body's own killer cells to destroy cancer cells. Other supplements like vitamin E are known to cause apoptosis, or programmed cell death, the body's normal method of disposing of damaged, unwanted, or unneeded cells.

15. Cancer is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit. A proactive and positive spirit will help the cancer warrior be a survivor. Anger, unforgiveness and bitterness put the body into a stressful and acidic environment. Learn to have a loving and forgiving spirit. Learn to relax and enjoy life.

16. Cancer cells cannot thrive in an oxygenated environment. Exercising daily and deep breathing help to get more oxygen down to the cellular level. Oxygen therapy is another means employed to destroy cancer cells.

via : Lovebeats

Vitamins

Born to be Obese?

The brain circuitry that controls appetite might be wired differently in some people, and that could predispose them to obesity, researchers suggest.

The study was conducted in rats, not humans, and yet it could ultimately lead to novel obesity treatments, said Philip Smith, director of the Office of Obesity Research at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

"It is not just about drugs that modify short-term appetite," he said, "there may be drugs that stimulate development of the appropriate neural pathways. So, it is an exciting, but very early, time in this field."

The study was published in the Cell Metabolism. Sebastien Bouret, an assistant professor of neuroscience at the University of Southern California, and his colleagues examined neural circuits emanating from the appetite, hunger and body-weight control center of the brain -- the so-called arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (ARH) -- in a series of rats bred to be either prone to, or resistant to, obesity.

The team found fewer neural connections projecting from the ARH in obesity-prone animals than in their leaner counterparts. Surprisingly, Bouret said, this deficiency developed very early in life, before the animals became obese, and appeared to extend into adulthood. "Somehow, these animals are programmed to become obese," Bouret said. "The obesity is hard-wired into the brain."

When the researchers then looked at why the brains of obese rats differed from their normal-weight counterparts, they found that the neurons from obesity-prone animals were less responsive to leptin, a hormone that controls the development of these circuits, and which also signals the body's energy status and controls metabolic rate.

"This paper presumes to say, these animals must be leptin-resistant, and that is why the pathways are not developing," said Smith. But that doesn't mean they are doomed to a life of severe obesity, said Dr. Barbara Kahn, chief of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, in Boston. How they live their lives also matters.

"It is important not to 'blame' the obese person or imply that he/she is responsible for being obese," Kahn noted. "Having said that, reasonable, healthy caloric restriction and a safe and sustainable program of physical activity can help limit weight gain and often bring about some degree of weight loss. In addition, healthy eating and regular exercise can reduce the complications of obesity such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease." At the same time, she added, not everyone can wear a size 4.

"There is a certain aspect of genetics that sets somebody in a certain range of possible body weights, and then how that person lives his or her life will determine whether they are at the bottom or top of the range," she explained.

Human obesity has both genetic and environmental roots. The rats used in this study, like most humans, developed obesity when fed a high-energy diet. On a normal diet, they were heavier than normal rats, but not yet obese. "This is quite an exciting paper," said Smith, "because it links more closely to human behavior than most rodent models we have seen."

The findings also suggest a possible therapeutic approach to combating human obesity. If drugs could be designed to influence the formation of neural circuits during development and targeted to at-risk pregnancies, Smith said, "there is a good likelihood we could have successful interventions that improve the health of the mother, and which have a major impact on disease risk for the infant, during pregnancy."

A related study from Boston University researchers in the same journal found that bulking up muscle mass can lead to a general metabolic improvement in obese individuals. "Interventions designed to increase skeletal muscle mass in at-risk human populations may prove to be critical weapons in the fight against obesity and obesity-related comorbidities, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, hypertension and cancer." an accompanying editorial stated.

by Jeffrey Perkel
via WashingtonPost

A Step By Step Guide Shows How To Properly Do A Self Exam

Some doctors still recommend that women examine their breasts for lumps or other changes. Dr. Sandhya Pruthi calls the self-exam an important part of a triad that also includes clinical exams and mammograms.

A professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., Pruthi says none of these tools is perfect, but they all complement one another. "Sometimes a woman may feel a lump that the mammogram or ultrasound doesn't even find," he says. "Is it helpful then? Yeah, big time."

As a case in point, "Good Morning America" co-anchor Robin Roberts gave an on air tribute in July to her friend and colleague Joel Siegel, who had recently died of colon cancer. That night she did a breast self-exam and discovered a lump. It turned out to be cancer.

In a message to her fans, Roberts wrote, "I can't stress enough how important it is to get screened and checked for all cancers -- and to do self breast exams."

Here's how:

Look at your breasts in the mirror, from the front and from both sides. Does anything seem unusual? Check for puckering or dimpling; changes in size, shape or symmetry; or inverted nipples. Do this first with your arms at your sides, then with your hands on your hips and finally with your hands over your head, palms pressed together.
Do the next part of the exam in the shower or lying down. Some experts recommend doing both. If you're in the shower, lather your fingers and breasts with soap. This
will reduce friction and help your fingers move smoothly. If you're lying down, make sure you're on a flat surface (e.g., your bed), and don't wear a shirt or bra.

To search for lumps, palpate each of your breasts thoroughly. Be sure to start high enough (at your collarbone), go under your armpits and cover your entire breast - in concentric circles, wedges or whatever pattern works for you.
Check each of your nipples for discharge by gently pinching them with your fingers at the 12 and 6 o'clock positions and again with your fingers at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions.

If you find a lump or notice anything else that seems wrong or just different - asymmetry, dimpling, nipple discharge or inversion - see your family doctor right away.

source

Air Ambulance

I heard about air ambulance services before. Couple months back my friend's mother suffered a stroke. After couple of days in the hospital, the family decided to move her to the hospital in Singapore. So they need an air ambulance since the mother still need the medical equipment during transfered to Singapore. My friend asked around for information about air ambulance. That's how I found out about air ambulance service.

AirAmbulance.net also provide the air ambulance services. They support all patients with any critical care, including stroke, cancer, fragile patients, heart and transplant patients, and many others. They have teams which are specialists in medical flight. They transport patients with flight nurses and paramedics, onboard an air ambulance with the medical equipment.

All their medical team members are also trained in flight physiology, include Registered Nurses, Respiratory Therapists and Registered Flight Paramedics on board. You can ask to have a physician or even your own doctor on board as well. They will coordinate to make your family or patient have the smoothest trip possible.

All aircraft are approved by the FAA for air ambulance with life support equipment onboard. Their staff has over 20 years experience. And their support is available 24 hours a day.

Visit their website at AirAmbulance.net or contact them directly by phone. The number for U.S. resident is 1-800-827-0745, and for international call (USA country code)+305.868.5378. Keep their number, just in case someone around you need their services.

Meth Abuse

What is meth?
Methamphetamine or meth, is an addictive drug. In small amounts, it can be given by doctors to treat some illnesses, but it is often sold by people illegally in very dangerous forms. Some other common names for meth are crystal meth, ice, crank, speed, and tina. Meth can be smoked, snorted, injected, or swallowed. Meth abuse is linked to risky sexual behavior, criminal activity, and death. Illegal meth is often made in home labs by mixing over-the-counter medicines. Fumes from a home meth lab can irritate skin. The chemicals can also cause poisoning. Sometimes home meth labs explode and burn or kill people.

What does meth do?
When people use meth they feel excited and have a lot of energy. This feeling lasts about six to 24 hours. However, using meth can cause a heart attack, stroke, high body temperature, or seizures. Using meth while you are pregnant can harm your child or cause you to go into labor early.

What happens if I keep using meth?
Tolerance to meth is instant. That means, from the beginning it takes more meth to get the same effect. People who are addicted to meth will need more and more to feel the effects. You may feel depressed or unhappy when you stop using meth for even a short time. Even if you don't use it often, you can have cravings and withdrawal problems like depression, tiredness, and feeling anxious.

What problems does meth cause?
Over time, using meth causes problems like violent behavior, feeling anxious or threatened, mood changes, confusion, sleeplessness, and hearing or seeing things that aren't real. Using meth over time also changes how you look. You age quickly and your
teeth decay. Many people who use meth don't get proper nutrition and lose weight. If you inject meth you may get skin rashes. Some people pick at their skin and get infections. Children in homes where meth is used are often neglected or abused. They are also at risk of injury and physical symptoms.

How is meth abuse treated?
Meth abuse is treated with individual or group therapy to help you quit. Joining a support group or drug treatment program also may help. Ask your family doctor to help you find a program or group near you.

source : AAFP

Change Your Life Using The Power Of Hypnosis

Every human being must have health problems that they have to deal with. Some of the problems can be cured by medicine, and some of them not. This usually called mental health problem, such as depression, stress, addiction, etc.

How to overcome all of those, it depends on the person itself, and it's not easy. Generally people will look for help from the psychiatrist. But now, you can do it yourself in the comfort of your home, by hypnotizing yourself.

Came across this and it really amazed me. They have so many hypnosis sessions for different kind of needs. Not only for those who has problems, also for self improvement such as building up confidence and self esteem. They have almost 300 hypnosis sessions available for instant download.

They offer a considerable variety of hypnosis downloads in a wide variety of categories, ranging from self-improvement to hypnotherapy to skill development. They also provide a series of hypnosis courses, delivered by e-mail over a number of weeks such as Weight Loss Course, Super Self Esteem, Anti Aging and Enlarge Your Breast! The last one, it's still hard for me to believe it. But they are willing to refund your money (within 90 days) if you're not satisfied with the result. Now I believe.

Check the site out at www.instant-hypnosis.com. If this can make you relax and feels like entering the world with a heightened sense of calm and peace, who doesn't want?!

What You Can Do To Keep Your Health

Does what I do really affect my health?
Very much so. All of the major causes of death cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung disease and injury can be prevented by things you do.

Don't smoke or use tobacco.
Using tobacco is one of the most dangerous things you can do. One out of every 6 deaths in the United States can be blamed on smoking. More preventable illnesses are caused by tobacco than by anything else.

Limit how much alcohol you drink.
This means no more than 2 drinks a day for men, and 1 drink a day for women. One drink is a can of beer (12 ounces), a 4-ounce glass of wine or a jigger (1 ounce) of liquor. Too much alcohol can damage the liver and contribute to some cancers, such as throat and liver cancer. Alcohol also contributes to deaths from car wrecks, murders and suicides.

Eat right.
See below for tips on eating healthy. Heart disease, some cancers, stroke, diabetes and damage to your arteries can be linked to what you eat. Fiber, fruits and vegetables can help reduce your risk of some cancers. Calcium helps build strong bones.

What to eat

• 2 to 4 servings of fruits and 3 to 5 servings of vegetables a day
• 6 to 11 servings of bread, cereal, rice and pasta a day
• 2 to 3 servings of low-fat or fat-free milk, yogurt and cheese a day
• 2 to 3 servings of meat, poultry, fish, dry beans, egg whites or nuts a day
• Lots of fiber (found in whole-grain breads and cereals, fruits and vegetables)
  

What not to eat

• Saturated fat. Saturated fats include animal fats, hydrogenated vegetable fats and tropical fats (coconut and palm oil). A high-fat diet increases your risk of heart disease, breast and colon cancer, and gallbladder disease.
• Sodium. Sodium, found in table salt and some foods, increases blood pressure in some people. Don't cook with salt, avoid prepared foods that are high in sodium and add salt sparingly, if at all, when you're eating.
  

Lose weight if you're overweight.
Many people are overweight. Carrying too much weight increases your risk for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, some cancers, gallbladder disease and arthritis in the weight-bearing joints (like the spine, hips or knees). A high-fiber, low-fat diet and regular exercise can help you lose weight gradually and help you keep it off.

Exercise.
Exercise can help prevent heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, osteoporosis, depression and, possibly, colon cancer, stroke and back injury. You'll also feel better and keep your weight under control if you exercise regularly. Try to exercise for 30 to 60 minutes, 4 to 6 times a week, but any amount is better than none.

Don't sunbathe or use tanning booths.
Sun exposure is linked to skin cancer, which is the most common type of cancer. So it's best to stay out of the sun altogether or to wear protective clothing and hats. Sunscreen may help protect your skin somewhat if you can't avoid being exposed to the sun's harmful rays.

Practice safer sex if you're having sex.
The safest sex is between 2 people who are only having sex with each other and who don't have a sexually transmitted disease (STD) or share needles to inject drugs. If you're at all uncertain about your partner, use latex condoms and a spermicide (sperm-killer). If you're concerned you may be at risk of having an STD, see your doctor about being tested.

Control your cholesterol level.
If your cholesterol level is high, keep your level down by eating right, such as by reducing how much fat you eat, and by exercising.

Control high blood pressure.
High blood pressure increases your risk for heart disease, stroke and kidney disease. To control it, lose weight, exercise, eat less sodium, drink less alcohol, don't smoke and take medicine if your doctor prescribes it.

Keep your shots up to date.
Adults need a tetanus-diphtheria booster every 10 years. People 50 or older and others at risk should get a flu shot. Ask your doctor if you need other shots.

Check your breasts.
Breast cancer is the second most common cause of death for women. Examine your breasts every month beginning about age 20. Talk to your doctor about how to check your breasts. Have your doctor check your breasts every 1 to 2 years beginning when you're 40. After age 50, you should have a mammogram every 1 to 2 years.

Get regular Pap smears.
Cancer of the cervix in women can be detected by regular Pap smears. Start having them when you begin having sex or by age 18. You'll need them once a year at first, until you've had at least 3 normal Pap tests. After this, you should have them at least every 3 years.

Ask your doctor about other cancer screenings.
Adults over age 50 should ask their doctor about being checked for colorectal cancer. Men over age 50 should discuss with their doctor the risks and benefits of being screened for prostate cancer.

Should I have a yearly physical?
Health screenings are replacing the yearly physical. Instead of every person getting the same exams and tests, only the appropriate ones are given. Talk to your family doctor about your risk factors and what tests and exams are right for you.

source

A Cure For Coughing

To stop night time coughing in a child or adult, put Vicks Vaporub generously on the bottom of the feet at bedtime then cover with socks. Even persistent, heavy, deep coughing will stop in about 5 minutes and stay stopped for many, many hours of relief.

Works 100% of the time and is more effective in children than even very strong prescription cough medicines. In addition it is extremely soothing and comforting and they will sleep soundly.

Cough medicines for kids often do more harm than good due to the chemical makeup of these strong drugs. It was a surprising finding and found to be more effective than prescribed medicines for children at bedtime, and in addition, to have a soothing and calming effect on sick children who then went on to sleep soundly.

Someone who tried it said it felt like a warm blanket enveloped her, the coughing stopped in a few minutes and this was a deep, (incredibly annoying!) every few seconds, uncontrollable cough, plus she slept cough free for hours every night that she used it.

Check out this article : Vicks Helps Relieve Persistent Cough

Hepatitis

The word hepatitis simply means an inflammation of the liver without
pinpointing a specific cause. Someone with hepatitis may:

• * have one of several disorders, including viral or bacterial infection of the liver
  
• * have a liver injury caused by a toxin (poison)
• * have liver damage caused by interruption of the organ's normal blood supply
• * be experiencing an attack by his or her own immune system through an autoimmune disorder
• * have experienced trauma to the abdomen in the area of the liver
  

Hepatitis is most commonly caused by one of three viruses:

• * the hepatitis A virus
• * the hepatitis B virus
• * the hepatitis C virus
  

In some rare cases, the Epstein Barr Virus (which causes mononucleosis) can
also result in hepatitis because it can cause inflammation of the liver.
Other viruses and bacteria that also can cause hepatitis include hepatitis D
and E, varicella (chickenpox), and cytomegalovirus (CMV).

Hepatitis A
The most common form of hepatitis is hepatitis A (also called infectious
hepatitis). This form is caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV), which lives
in the stools (feces or poop) of infected individuals. Infected stool can be
present in small amounts in food and on objects (from doorknobs to diapers).
The hepatitis A virus is spread:

• * when someone ingests anything that's contaminated with HAV-infected stool (this makes it easy for the virus to spread in overcrowded, unsanitary living conditions)
• * in water, milk, and foods, especially in shellfish
  

Because hepatitis A can be a mild infection, it's possible for some people
to be unaware that they have had the illness. In fact, although medical
tests show that about 40% of urban Americans have had hepatitis A, only
about 5% recall being sick. Although the hepatitis A virus can cause
prolonged illness up to 6 months, it typically only causes short-lived
illnesses and it does not cause chronic liver disease.

Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B (also called serum hepatitis) is caused by the hepatitis B virus
(HBV). HBV can cause a wide spectrum of symptoms ranging from general
malaise to chronic liver disease that can lead to liver cancer.
The hepatitis B virus spreads through:

• * infected body fluids, such as blood, saliva, semen, vaginal fluids, tears, and urine
• * a contaminated blood transfusion (uncommon in the United States)
• * shared contaminated needles or syringes for injecting drugs
• * sexual activity with an HBV-infected person
• * transmission from HBV-infected mothers to their newborn babies
  

Hepatitis C
The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is spread by direct contact with an infected
person's blood. The symptoms of the hepatitis C virus can be very similar to
those of the hepatitis A and B viruses. However, infection with the
hepatitis C virus can lead to chronic liver disease and is the leading
reason for liver transplant in the United States.
The hepatitis C virus can be spread by:

• * sharing drug needles
• * getting a tattoo or body piercing with unsterilized tools
• * blood transfusions (especially ones that occurred before 1992; since then the U.S. blood supply has been routinely screened for the disease)
• * transmission from mother to newborn
• * sexual contact (although this is less common)
  

Hepatitis C is also a common threat in kidney dialysis centers. Rarely,
people living with an infected person can contract the disease by sharing
items that might contain that person's blood, such as razors or
toothbrushes.

Diagnosis
All of these viral hepatitis conditions can be diagnosed and followed
through the use of readily available blood tests.

Signs and Symptoms
Hepatitis, in its early stages, may cause flu-like symptoms, including:

• * malaise (a general ill feeling)
• * fever
• * muscle aches
• * loss of appetite
• * nausea
• * vomiting
• * diarrhea
• * jaundice (a yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes)
  

But some people with hepatitis may have no symptoms at all and may not even
know they're infected. People with hepatitis A, for example, usually have
mild symptoms or have no symptoms.
If hepatitis progresses, its symptoms begin to point to the liver as the
source of illness. Chemicals normally secreted by the liver begin to build
up in the blood, which causes:

• * jaundice
• * foul breath
• * a bitter taste in the mouth
• * dark or "tea-colored" urine
• * white, light, or "clay-colored" stools
  

There can also be abdominal pain, which may be centered below the right ribs
(over a tender, swollen liver) or below the left ribs (over a tender
spleen).

Contagiousness
Hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C are all contagious.
The hepatitis A virus can be spread in contaminated food or water, as well
as in unsanitary conditions in schools. Toilets and sinks used by an
infected person should be cleaned with antiseptic cleansers. People who live
with or care for someone with hepatitis should wash their hands after
contact with the infected person. In addition, when traveling to countries
where hepatitis A is prevalent, you should be vaccinated with at least two
doses of the hepatitis A vaccine.
The hepatitis B virus can be found in virtually all body fluids, though its
main routes of infection are through sexual contact, contaminated blood
transfusions, and shared needles for drug injections. Household contact with
adults with hepatitis B can put people at risk for contracting hepatitis.
But frequent hand washing and good hygiene practices can reduce this risk.
All children are routinely vaccinated against hepatitis B at birth and use
of the hepatitis B vaccine can greatly decrease the incidence of this
infection. Ask your doctor about this vaccine. Even adults can be vaccinated
if they feel they're at risk.
The hepatitis C virus can be spread through shared drug needles,
contaminated blood products, and, less commonly, through sexual contact.
Although hepatitis C can be spread from a mother to her fetus during
pregnancy, the risk of passing hepatitis C to the fetus isn't very high
(about 5%). If you're pregnant, contact your doctor if you think you may
have been exposed to hepatitis C.
Over the past several years, improved medical technology has almost
eliminated the risk of catching hepatitis from contaminated blood products
and blood transfusions. But as tattoos and acupuncture have become more
popular, the risk of developing hepatitis from improperly sterilized
equipment used in these procedures has increased. Shared needles in drug use
and shared straws in cocaine use are two very common ways for hepatitis C to
spread.

Prevention
In general, to prevent viral hepatitis you should:

• * Follow good hygiene and avoid crowded, unhealthy living conditions.
• * Take extra care, particularly when drinking and swimming, if you travel to areas of the world where sanitation is poor and water quality is uncertain.
• * Never eat shellfish from waters contaminated by sewage.
• * Remind everyone in your family to wash their hands thoroughly after using the toilet and before eating.
• * Use antiseptic cleansers to clean any toilet, sink, potty-chair, or bedpan used by someone in the family who develops hepatitis.
  

Because contaminated needles and syringes are a major source of hepatitis
infection, it's a good idea to encourage drug awareness programs in your
community and schools. At home, speak to your child frankly and frequently
about the dangers of drug use. It's also important to encourage abstinence
and safe sex for teens, in order to eliminate their risk of hepatitis
infection through sexual contact.

A hepatitis A vaccine is available, and is especially recommended for those
who:

• *have travel abroad
• * have other forms of liver disease
• * have many sexual partners
• * are in high-risk occupations, such as health-care and child-care personnel
  

If you're planning to travel abroad, consult your doctor in advance so you
and your family have enough time to complete the required immunizations. The
vaccine is especially useful for staff of child-care facilities or schools
where they may be at risk of exposure.
There's also a hepatitis B vaccine, which should be given to both children
and adults as part of routine immunization.
Unfortunately, there's no vaccine for hepatitis C - animal studies indicate
that it may not be possible because the virus doesn't cause the kind of
response that would be needed for a vaccine to be successful.

Duration
For viral hepatitis, the incubation period (the time it takes for a person
to become infected after being exposed) varies depending on which hepatitis
virus causes the disease:

• * For hepatitis A, the incubation period is 2 to 6 weeks.
• * For hepatitis B, the incubation period is between 4 and 20 weeks.
• * For hepatitis C, it's estimated that the incubation period is 2 to 26 weeks.
  

Hepatitis A is usually active for a short period of time and once a person
recovers, he or she can no longer pass the virus to other people. It's
practically unheard for people to become chronic carriers of hepatitis A.
Almost all previously healthy persons who develop hepatitis A will
completely recover from their illness in a few weeks or months without
long-term complications.
With hepatitis B, 85% to 90% of patients recover from their illness
completely within 6 months, without long-term complications.

However, 75% to 85% of those who are infected with hepatitis C do not
recover completely and are more likely to continue to have a long-term
infection. People with hepatitis B (the percentage who don't recover
completely) or hepatitis C who continue to be infected can go on to develop
chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver (the chronic degeneration and
disruption of the structure of the liver). Some people with hepatitis B or C
may also become lifelong carriers of these viruses and can spread them to
other people.

Treatment
When symptoms are severe or laboratory tests show liver damage, it's
sometimes necessary for hepatitis to be treated in the hospital. Here's a
quick look at the treatments available for the various hepatitis viruses:

• * There are no medications used to treat hepatitis A because it's a short-term infection that goes away on its own.
• * Hepatitis B can sometimes be treated using medications. Four drugs are approved for use in adults with hepatitis B, but there hasn't been enough research yet on their use in children.
• * The treatment of hepatitis C has improved significantly with the use of two medications, only one of which is approved for use in children. Another more effective drug isn't approved for children yet but is available for kids in some centers on a research basis. In those adults who've just been infected with hepatitis C (by accidental needle injury, for example), combination therapy with the two drugs is the treatment of choice and can eliminate the virus in about 50% of the people infected.
  

People with mild hepatitis may be treated at home. Except for using the
bathroom, they should rest in bed until the fever and jaundice are gone and
their appetite is normal. Kids with a lack of appetite should try smaller,
more frequent meals and fluids that are high in calories (like milkshakes).
They should also eat healthy foods rich in protein and carbohydrates and
drink plenty of water.

When to Call Your Doctor
Call the doctor if you:

• * have symptoms of hepatitis
• * have been exposed to a friend or relative with the illness
  

If you volunteer at a first-aid station, hospital, or nursing home, be sure
that you are aware of proper safety procedures for preventing contact with
blood or body fluids. You may also want to have immunized against the
hepatitis B virus. Call your doctor if you believe you may have been exposed
to a patient with hepatitis.
If you already know your child has hepatitis, call your doctor if you notice
any of the following symptoms, which may be signs of their liver condition
worsening:

• * confusion or extreme drowsiness
• * skin rash
• * itching
  

Also, monitor your appetite and digestive functions, and call the doctor if
your appetite decreases, or if nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or jaundice
increase.

Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD

Actinic Keratoses

What are actinic keratoses?
Actinic keratoses are rough, scaly patches on the skin. They are usually on areas of your body that get the most sun (for example, the head, neck, arms, and hands).

Who gets them?
People with fair skin who live where it is sunny or who work outside are most likely to get actinic keratoses. The patches are usually found on older people and are more common in men than in women.

How is it treated?
It is important to treat actinic keratoses, otherwise they can turn into skin cancer.
Your family doctor may remove the patches by freezing or scraping them or by having you put a cream or gel on them. Your skin may be red, sore, or swollen after treatment. This should go away after a few days.

How can I prevent actinic keratoses?
. Avoid spending a long time in the sun or using a tanning bed.
. Wear sunscreen when you are outside. The sunscreen should have a sun protection factor (or SPF) of 15 or higher. Look for "broad-spectrum" on the label.
. Wear clothing that protects your skin from the sun (for example, a hat, a shirt with long sleeves, or long pants).