July 4th, 2009
The state of Arizona is promoting compression-only CPR. According to health officials and University of Arizona cardiologists, compression-only CPR is easier and more effective. Because a victims blood is already oxygenated for several minutes after cardiac arrest, it is more important to keep the heart and brain alive by pumping blood around the body. A study tracked 4,000 Japanese victims of cardiac arrest and those who received compression-only CPR had nearly twice the survival rate as those who also received mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Supposedly, theres not enough evidence to stop mouth-to-mouth resuscitation - but thats according to an American Heart Association mouthpiece.
A research cardiologist at the University of Maryland Medical Center found that music like laughter opens up blood vessels, allowing blood to circulate more freely. High-tech imaging measured the size of the patients blood vessels while they listened to music. Not only did the inner linings of the blood vessels open, they also produced chemicals protective to the heart. However, when patients listened to music they didnt like, the blood vessels began to close. Listening to the same song repeatedly also diminished the musics effects. Instead of positively affecting the patients blood vessels, it was music only to their ears.
Researchers have tried to figure out why people gain weight when they stop smoking. Previous hypotheses were that ex-smokers ate more or that their bodies missed the metabolism boost from nicotine. Now researchers at Weill Medical College at Cornell University have taken cell samples from the airways of healthy smokers and non-smokers and found more activity in the gene AZGP1 in the samples from the smokers. AZGP1is thought to help break down fat and control weight. Unfortunately, all weight gain cant be attributed to a lack of activity in this gene. Its also due to a lack of activity in the ex-smokers.
In a study published in Psychological Science, 55 male, social drinkers were asked to slowly drink a cocktail or non-alcoholic beverage and then read War and Peace from a computer screen for 30 minutes. While reading, the men were told to press a particular key if they zoned out. They were also frequently prompted with the message, Were you zoning out? to gauge how often their minds wandered without their realizing it. Because men in the alcohol group zoned out twice as often 25% of the time they might consider switching to light beer and lighter reading.
Tags: american heart association, blood vessels, cardiac arrest, cardiologist, cardiologists, cell samples, cornell university, health officials, inner linings, japanese victims, maryland medical center, mouth to mouth, mouth to mouth resuscitation, mouthpiece, psychological science, state of arizona, survival rate, university of arizona, university of maryland medical center, weill medical college
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July 3rd, 2009
Dry mouth, also known as Xerostomia is a common condition that affects about one in every four to five adults, primarily women. The primary cause of dry mouth is due to the lack of saliva to keep the mouth wet. There is decreased secretion from salivary glands, which results in this condition.
It is a common condition among young adults (around 20 years of age) and elders (60-80 years of age). Some of the common symptoms of Xerostomia are:
1. A sticky, dry feeling in your mouth and tongue
2. Cracked lips
3. Difficulty in chewing, swallowing, tasting, or talking
4. Mouth sores
5. Frequent bad breath
6. Dentures that do not fit comfortably
Saliva helps in chewing, swallowing and digesting food. It also protects teeth from decay by diluting and washing away the food residuals, sugars and the acids produced by bacteria. When saliva is in shortage, as in dry mouth condition, it can cause the following health risks.
1. Reduced saliva flow results in lower pH levels in the mouth, increasing the risk of tooth decay, gum disease, bad breath and oral infections.
2. It can lead to dryness; a burning or sore feeling in the mouth or throat; bad or reduced taste; dentures becoming loose; difficulty in chewing, swallowing and even speaking.
The following preventive measures can prevent Xerostomia or dry mouth condition.
1. Sleeping with an open mouth causes dry mouth condition early in the morning. Make a conscious effort to breathe through the nose.
2. Steaming is a great relief for dry mouth as well as blocked nasal passages
3. The market is filled with various dry mouth products. There are medicinal lozenges that are highly effective for dry mouth. Ensure to choose only lozenges that offer long lasting relief.
4. Practice good hygiene. Brush/floss regularly and gargle on a regular basis.
5. Celery, healthy liquids and parsley are good food substitutes to chew on. They retain moisture content and are good for weight management too!
6. Consume more than 8 glasses of water everyday.
7. Avoid caffeine and alcohol consumption.
Tags: conscious effort, dentures, digesting food, dry mouth, food residuals, food substitutes, gargle, gum disease, lozenges, moisture content, mouth sores, nasal passages, open mouth, oral infections, ph levels, preventive measures, saliva flow, salivary glands, tooth decay, xerostomia
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