Children's bath products tainted with probable carcinogens

By Beth Daley, Globe Staff

UPDATE: I've been inundated with requests where to find safer products. Read to the end of the blog for info from Campaign for Safe Cosmetics about that question.

Dozens of children’s bath products sold across New England are tainted with chemicals the federal government say are likely carcinogens, a new report by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow say.

Despite label claims like “gentle” and “pure”, the bath products can contain formaldehyde and 1,4 dioxane that the federal government say “may reasonably be anticipated to be a carcinogen.” Formaldehyde can also cause skin rashes in children. Lax label laws do not require the chemicals to be listed on product labels. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says that "the presence of 1,4-dioxane, even as a trace contaminant, is cause for concern."

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics commissioned an independent laboratory to test 48 products for 1,4-dioxane; 28 of those products were also tested for formaldehyde. The lab found that:

• 17 out of 28 products tested - 61 percent - contained both formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane; these included Johnson’s Baby Shampoo, Sesame Street Bubble Bath, Grins & Giggles Milk & Honey Baby Wash and Huggies Naturally Refreshing Cucumber & Green Tea Baby Wash.
• 23 out of 28 products - 82 percent contained formaldehyde at levels ranging from 79 parts per million (ppm) to 610 ppm. Baby Magic Baby Lotion had the highest levels of formaldehyde.
• 32 out of 48 products - 67 percent contained 1,4-dioxane at levels ranging from 0.27 ppm to 35 ppm. American Girl shower products had the highest levels of 1,4-dioxane.

The study is the first to document the widespread presence of both formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane in bath products for children.

A spokeswoman for Johnson & Johnson, Iris Grossman, told USA Today that the company's products are safe and meet or exceed all regulations.

Formaldehyde is banned from personal care products in Japan and Sweden. The European Union bans 1,4-dioxane from personal care products and has recalled products found to contain the chemical. But unlike many other countries, the U.S. government does not limit formaldehyde, 1,4-dioxane, or most other hazardous substances in personal care products.

"The reality of today's world is that we, humans, have contaminated our environment and poisoned ourselves. Not intentionally, but due to our industrial ingenuity, our carelessness, and our unwillingness to study and regulate what we expose ourselves and our environment to," said Dr. Sean Palfrey, a pediatrician at Boston Medical Center and former president of the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Many products tested by the Campaign, including baby shampoo, bubble bath and baby lotion, contained both formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane, as well as other toxic chemicals.

UPDATE: Here is info from Campaign for Safe Cosmetics:

Contrary to industry statements, there are no regulatory standards that limit formaldehyde, 1,4-dioxane or most other toxic chemicals in personal care products sold in the United States. There are signs the U.S. is gearing to catch up, but for now it's up to consumers to consider carefully before they buy. Here's some suggestions for safeguarding your family's health:
Simplify: Select products with fewer ingredients and no synthetic fragrance or dyes, and use fewer products overall.
Choose safety: Search Environmenal Working Group's cosmetic safety database, Skin Deep, to learn more about the products you use and find safer alternatives. Also check out EWG's Safety Guide to Children’s Personal Care Products.
Read labels: Select products for baby and yourself that don't contain the ingredients listed above, which are commonly contaminated with formaldehyde or 1,4-dioxane. (see below)
Take action! Can’t memorize these lists? Nobody can. If harmful contaminants and ingredients weren’t allowed in products, you wouldn’t have to. Tell Congress you want safe cosmetics for babies, adults and everyone in between.
Spread the word: Send an e-card letting friends and family know about this report.

Where These Chemicals Come From
Formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane were not disclosed on product labels because they're contaminants, not ingredients, and therefore are exempt from labeling laws.

Formaldehyde contaminates personal care products when common preservatives release formaldehyde over time in the container. Common ingredients likely to contaminate products with formaldehyde include quaternium-15, DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea and diazolidinyl urea.

1,4-dioxane is a byproduct of a chemical processing technique called ethoxylation, in which cosmetic ingredients are processed with ethylene oxide. Manufacturers can easily remove the toxic byproduct, but are not required by law to do so. Common ingredients likely to be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane include PEG-100 stearate, sodium laureth sulfate, polyethylene and ceteareth-20.

Source: Boston Globe

What is Arthritis? What Causes Arthritis?

Written by Christian Nordqvist

The word arthritis comes from the Greek arthron meaning "joint" and the Latin itis meaning "inflammation". The plural of arthritis is arthritides. Arthritis affects the musculoskeletal system, specifically the joints. It is the main cause of disability among people over fifty-five years of age in industrialized countries.

Arthritis is not a single disease - it is a term that covers over 100 medical conditions. Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and generally affects elderly patients. Some forms of arthritis can affect people at a very early age.

What causes arthritis?
In order to better understand what is going on when a person suffers from some form of arthritis, let us look at how a joint works.

Diagram of a Joint
Basically, a joint is where one bone moves on another bone. Ligaments hold the two bones together. The ligaments are like elastic bands, while they keep the bones in place your muscles relax or contract to make the joint move.

Cartilage covers the bone surface to stop the two bones from rubbing directly against each other. The covering of cartilage allows the joint to work smoothly and painlessly.

A capsule surrounds the joint. The space within the joint - the joint cavity - has synovial fluid. Synovial fluid nourishes the joint and the cartilage. The synovial fluid is produced by the synovium (synovial membrane) which lines the joint cavity.

If you have arthritis something goes wrong with the joint(s). What goes wrong depends on what type of arthritis you have. It could be that the cartilage is wearing away, a lack of fluid, autoimmunity (your body attacking itself), infection, or a combination of many factors.

Types of arthritis
There are over 100 types of arthritis. Here is a description of some common ones, together with the causes:

Osteoarthritis - cartilage loses its elasticity. If the cartilage is stiff it becomes damaged more easily. The cartilage, which acts as a shock absorber, will gradually wear away in some areas. As the cartilage becomes damaged tendons and ligaments become stretched, causing pain. Eventually the bones may rub against each other causing very severe pain.

Rheumatoid arthritis - this is an inflammatory form of arthritis. The synovial membrane (synovium) is attacked, resulting in swelling and pain. If left untreated the arthritis can lead to deformity. Rheumatoid arthritis is significantly more common in women than men and generally strikes when the patient is aged between 40 and 60. However, children and much older people may also be affected.

Infectious arthritis (septic arthritic) - an infection in the synovial fluid and tissues of a joint. It is usually caused by bacteria, but could also be caused by fungi or viruses. Bacteria, fungi or viruses may spread through the bloodstream from infected tissue nearby, and infect a joint. Most susceptible people are those who already have some form of arthritis and develop an infection that travels in the bloodstream.

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) - means arthritis that affects a person aged 16 or less. JRA can be various forms of arthritis; it basically means that a child has it. There are three main types:

1. Pauciarticular JRA, the most common and mildest. The child experiences pain in up to 4 joints.
2. Polyarticular JRA affects more joints and is more severe. As time goes by it tends to get worse.
3. Systemic JRA is the least common. Pain is experienced in many joints. It can spread to organs. This can be the most serious JRA.

What are the signs and symptoms of arthritis?
The symptoms of arthritis depend on the type of arthritis, for example:

Osteoarthritis - The symptoms develop slowly and get worse as time goes by. There is pain in a joint, either during or after use, or after a period of inactivity. There will be tenderness when pressure is applied to the joint. The joint will be stiff, especially first thing in the morning. The patient may find it harder to use the joint - it loses its flexibility. Some patients experience a grating sensation when they use the joint. Hard lumps, or bone spurs may appear around the joint. In some cases the joint might swell. The most common affected joints are in the hips, hands, knees and spine.

Rheumatoid arthritis - The patient often finds the same joints in each side of the body are painfully swollen, inflamed, and stiff. The fingers, arms, legs and wrists are most commonly affected. Symptoms are usually worst on waking up in the morning and the stiffness can last for 30 minutes at this time. The joint is tender when touched. Hands may be red and puffy. There may be rheumatoid nodules (bumps of tissue under the skin of the patient's arms). Many patients with rheumatoid arthritis feel tired most of the time. Weight loss is common.

The smaller joints are usually noticeably affected first. Experts say patients with rheumatoid arthritis have problems with several joints at the same time. As the arthritis progresses it spreads from the smaller joints in your hands, wrists, ankles and feet to your elbows, knees, hips, neck, shoulders and jaw.

Infectious arthritis - The patient has a fever, joint inflammation and swelling. He will feel tenderness and/or a sharp pain. Often these symptoms are linked to an injury or another illness. Most commonly affected areas are the knee, shoulder, elbow, wrist and finger. In the majority of cases, just one joint is affected.

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis - The patient is a child. He will experience intermittent fevers which tend to peak in the evening and then suddenly disappear. His appetite will be poor and he will lose weight. There may be blotchy rashes on his arms and legs. Anemia is also common. The child may limp or have a sore wrist, finger, or knee. A joint may suddenly swell and stay larger than it usually is. The child may experience a stiff neck, hips or some other joint.

How will arthritis affect me?
Arthritis affects people in many different ways. How long the patient is affected and how severely it is depends on the type of arthritis. Arthritis sufferers will find there are good and bad days. Most patients with arthritis will suffer from discomfort, pain, stiffness and/or fatigue.

You may also feel frustrated that you are no longer able to grip things so well or get around like you used to. It is important to remember that if you suffer from arthritis this does not mean you have to give up having an active lifestyle. With some changes to your way of life there is no reason why you cannot continue being active.
Physical therapy and occupational therapy for arthritis
Physical therapy and occupational therapy help maintain joint mobility and range of motion. How much therapy you need, and what kind of therapy will depend on many factors, such as the severity and type of arthritis you have, your age, and your general state of health. This has to be decided by you with your physician and physical or occupational therapist.

People with arthritis will often avoid moving the affected joint because of the pain. A physical therapist can help the patient work out the joint stiffness without damaging it. In order to perform your daily activity the physical therapist will help you achieve a good range of motion. This may involve building strength in the muscles that surround the affected joint - stronger muscles help stabilize a weakened joint. You will also be taught the best way to move from one position to another, as well as learning how to use such walking aids as crutches, a cane or a walker, if you need one.

Occupational therapy can teach you how to reduce the strain on your joints as you go about your daily activities. The occupational therapist can help you modify your home and workplace so that your movements do not aggravate your arthritis. You may need a splint for your hands or wrists, as well as aids for dressing, housekeeping, work activities, driving and washing/bathing yourself.

An occupational and/or physical therapist can make an enormous difference to your quality of life if you suffer from arthritis. He/she will help you learn more about your arthritis, devise a dietary plan if you are overweight and overstressing the joints as a result, help you make better decisions about what shoes to buy if that part of the body is affected. You will learn how and when to rest - rest is crucial for treating inflammation and pain, especially when many joints are affected and you feel tired. Resting individual joints is very helpful too - custom splints can be made to rest and support affected joints.

Local pain can be relieved with ice packs or heating pads. Ultrasound and hot packs provide deep heat which relieves localized pain and relaxes muscle spasm around the affected joint. You may find that a warm bath/shower makes it easier for you to exercise afterwards.

Your therapist will most likely devise an exercise program for you. Exercise is a crucial part of effective arthritis therapy.

Medications for arthritis

* NSAIDs NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are the most commonly prescribed drugs for arthritis patients. These may be either prescription or over-the-counter (OTC). At low doses NSAIDs help a vast range of ailments, from headaches, muscle aches, to fever and minor pain. At a higher dose - prescription dose - NSAIDs also help reduce joint inflammation. There are three main types of NSAIDs and they all work by blocking prostaglandins - hormone-like substances that trigger pain, inflammation, muscle cramps and fever:

Traditional NSAIDs - these are the largest subset of NSAIDs. As is the case with most drugs, they do carry a risk of side-effects, such as stomach upset and gastrointestinal bleeding. The risk of side effects is significantly higher if the patient is over 60. A patient should take this type of drug at high doses under the supervision of a doctor.

COX-2 inhibitors - these also reduce pain and inflammation. However, they are designed to have fewer stomach and gastrointestinal side-effects. In 22004/2005 Vioxx and Bextra were taken off the market after some major studies showed Vioxx carried increased cardiovascular risks, while Bextra triggered serious skin reactions. Some other COX-2 inhibitors are also being investigated for side-effects. The FDA asked makers of NSAIDs to highlight warnings on their labels in a black box.

Salicylates - includes aspirin which continues to be the preferred medication of many doctors and patients. Patients need to consult their doctor if they plan to take aspirin more than just occasionally. Long term high dosage usage of aspirin carries with it a significant risk of serious undesirable side effects, such as kidney problems and gastrointestinal bleeding. For effective control of arthritis pain and inflammation frequent large doses are needed. Nonacetylated salicylate is especially designed to have fewer side effects than aspirin. Some doctors may prescribe nonacetylated salicylate if they feel aspirin is too risky for their patient. However, nonacetylated salicylate does not have the chemical aspirin has which protects against cardiovascular disease. Some doctors prescribe low dose aspirin along with nonacetylated salicylate for patients who they feel need cardiovascular protection.

* Glucocorticoids are anti-inflammatory steroids and are very effective at combating inflammation and can be extremely helpful when used properly. The patient needs to consider the potential for undesirable side-effects with this type of drug.

* Anti-malarials, such as hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine are commonly used for treating mild inflammatory arthritis.

* Minocycline - an antibiotic that is sometimes used as antibiotic therapy for rheumatoid arthritis. Its use is controversial.

* Sulfasalazine - commonly used for many types of inflammatory arthritis. Sulfasalazine is a sulfa derivative.

* Methotrexate - works by blocking the metabolism of rapidly dividing cells. It is commonly used for treating more serious types of inflammatory arthritis.

* Azathioprine - used for severe forms of inflammatory arthritis. Azathioprine also blocks the metabolism of rapidly dividing cells.

* Gout medications - some physicians may use gout medications to treat some forms of arthritis.

* Leflunomide - used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis. It also blocks cell metabolism. However, biologic therapy is gradually taking over.

* Cyclosporine - an immunosuppressant drug - it makes your immune system less aggressive. Cyclosporine is commonly used by transplant patients so that their bodies do not reject their transplanted organs. Cyclosporine is usually used in combination with methotrexate for arthritis patients. Although effective, this may be limited by its toxicity.

Diet and bodyweight impact on arthritis
Experts say that eating a well-balanced diet is vital when you have arthritis. Not only will you be receiving critical nutrients, you will also be either maintaining or arriving more quickly at a healthy bodyweight. If you are overweight you will be adding extra pressure on weight-bearing joints. Many patients have found that losing just a few pounds made a significant difference to their quality of life.

Doctors and nutritionists are more frequently advising arthritis patients to keep sugary and/or fatty foods to a minimum - such as red meat, cream and cheese. You should make sure you are eating plenty of fruit and vegetables, as well as whole grains. Omega-3 essential fatty acids are thought to relieve to some extent the symptoms of arthritis. A common source of Omega-3 fatty acids is oily fish, such as sardines, herring, trout, and salmon.

Many of us tend to place large portions on our plate. If you reduce the size of the portions you may lose weight more effectively. Make sure that vegetables and fruit make up a large part of your portion.
Living with arthritis
Although arthritis can make daily tasks more difficult and exhausting, there are many techniques and therapies, which added together, can give you a much better quality life, compared to no therapy at all.

It is important that people with arthritis seek medical health and treatment. Although there is no cure for arthritis, there is a lot you can do to minimize its overall effects on your everyday life.

You may wish or have to continue working, and with the right techniques and help from an occupational therapist you may find it is not as daunting as you first thought.

There is a lot you can do to minimize the impact your arthritis might have on family life and raising your children. A person with arthritis will need to remember that being there for the child is much more important than being a super active parent. If you pace yourself and prioritize you will be surprised at how much you can achieve successfully. Be open with your family members about your arthritis - explain how it affects you so that they recognize when you may need extra understanding and support.

Source: Medical News Today

Regenerative Medicine Offers Hope For Incurable Diseases

Revolutionary stem cell therapies could replace diseased body tissues, offering enormous promise for patients with incurable conditions such as Parkinson's disease and diabetes. Stem cells are immature cells that can divide into various types of cells that make up the bodies different organs and tissues. Stem cell therapy has been used for over 30 years to cure severe blood disorders such as leukaemia. At the 35th Annual Meeting of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT), Prof. Katarina Le Blanc (Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden) chaired a session in which researchers discussed how stem cell therapy could regenerate other body tissues, thereby greatly improving human health and quality of life.

Regenerative medicine aims to treat currently incurable disorders, including neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease a devastating condition affecting around 6.3 million people worldwide. Regenerative medicine may also be used to treat muscular dystrophy and multiple sclerosis, and to repair or replace nerve cells (or 'neurons') damaged by spinal cord injury.

Regenerative medicine also has potential to generate new insulin-producing cells in people with diabetes. Around the world, 180 million people have diabetes and the condition contributes to 1-3 million deaths a year through complications such as heart disease and strokes. People with diabetes are unable to produce sufficient insulin, a hormone that helps control blood sugar levels, because of defects in the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Regeneration of these insulin-producing cells could offer a groundbreaking new approach to diabetes therapy.

Other uses of regenerative medicine include the growth of new cardiac muscle cells for patients who have suffered from heart attacks.

Stem cell therapy may either work by providing new stem cells to the patient or by stimulating growth of the patient's own stem cells. Scientists have recently learned a great deal about how stem cells contribute to the regeneration of tissues in the human body after birth.

Dr Kirsty Spalding and co-workers (Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden) aged brain neurons by measuring levels of radioactive carbon-14, generated by nuclear bomb tests during the Cold War, in people's DNA. Neurons in the brain's cerebral neocortex are as old as the individual, i.e. these cells are only generated around the time of birth and not in adulthood. This means that the body has cannot normally replace these cells if they are damaged or diseased.

Bone marrow 'stromal' stem cells are able to differentiate into various types of tissue that form the skeleton, including bone and cartilage. Prof. Paolo Bianco ("La Sapienza" University, Rome, Italy) and co-workers have shown that stromal cells may be used to reconstruct bone, for example in the reconstruction of the face in with patients with injuries.

Experiments conducted by Prof. Yair Reisner and co-workers (Weizmann Institute, Rehovot, Israel) suggest that it in the future it may be possible to grow new organs such as the liver by transplanting stem cells from one individual to another.

Stem cell research and regenerative medicine are rapidly developing research areas, and considerable hope is placed on the use of stem cells in medicine to repair tissue for diseases that are currently not curable.

About the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation

Bone marrow or stem cell transplantation is often the only curative treatment for different malignant diseases and is currently performed on more than 50,000 patients worldwide each year. The European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) as the leading non-profit, scientific society representing 527 transplant centres in and outside Europe, promotes all activity aiming to improve stem cell transplantation or cellular therapy. This includes registering all the activity relating to stem cell transplants with a view to improving treatment outcomes for patients. EBMT has set standards for indication and treatment for malignant and non-malignant diseases, along with running training programmes for continual professional development. These are continually audited and updated. EBMT is also responsible for accrediting the transplant centres based on their performance and data reporting.

Source
European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation

Cell Therapy and Anti Aging Treatment Through Swiss MF3 - The Ultimate Stem Cells Skin Care Revolution From MFIII Sheep Placenta

How Adult Stem Cell Therapies Can Save Your Life: Medicine's Best Kept Secret Saved My Life

Stem Cell Medicine: The New Adult Stem Cell Regenerative Therapy for Cancer, Spinal Injuries, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's and other conditions.

Elimination Of Hepatitis B And C Examined In New Studies

Two new studies in the April issue of Hepatology explore the ways that hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) can be cleared from patients' bodies. Hepatology is a journal published by John Wiley & Sons on behalf of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD).

Both HBV and HCV are global health problems. They can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer and they cause millions of deaths each year. Treatments to contain or cure these infections have been difficult to find. Researchers continue to explore potential therapies and the immune system response to the diseases.

The first new study sheds light on the immunological response to coinfection with HBV and HCV. Researchers led by Evangelista Sagnelli of Naples, Italy, report that for patients with chronic HCV, HBV superinfection can lead to clearance of the HCV.

They compared 29 HCV patients to 29 people, matched by age, gender and risk factors, who did not have HCV. All of the patients developed acute HBV during the same time period. The patients with HCV were more likely to have a severe course of illness, and one died of liver failure. However, nearly a quarter (six out of 24) emerged HCV-free.

"Extensive acute hepatocellular necrosis, although life-threatening, may lead to a clearance of chronic HCV infection," the authors report. Still, the severity of acute HBV in HCV patients raises "the concern that this clinical event could become an emerging health care problem in countries with a wide spread of both HBV and HCV infection," they write.

"Further efforts should be made to extend the use of HBV vaccination in patients with chronic HCV infection" they also suggest.

The second study, headed by Maurizia Brunetto of Pisa, Italy, recommends interferon-based therapies as a first-line approach for patients with chronic HBV, because these have the best chance of clearing hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg). The reduction of HBsAg serum levels leading to HBsAg clearance is the hallmark of a newly achieved immune control of the infection by mean of a significant reduction of virus infected hepatocytes.

The researchers retrospectively investigated the relationship between treatment regimens and changing levels of HbsAg in 386 patients in a multinational study.

"Significantly more patients treated with peginterferon alfa-2a (21 percent) or peginterferon alfa-2a plus lamivudine (17 percent) achieved HBsAg levels under 100 IU/mL at the end of treatment compared with lamivudine (1 percent)," they report.

"HBsAg clearance represents the best possible and closest to cure outcome of antiviral therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B, but is realistic almost exclusively among patients receiving interferon-based regimens, which are recommended as a first-line therapeutic approach," they conclude. Interferon therapy switches the chronic active hepatitis B patient in the non-active HBV carrier who lose serum HBsAg during the years after the end of therapy. If the case occurs before the development of liver cirrhosis it endows the patient with the same life expectancy of the non-HBV infected subject.

Notes:
Article: "HBV Superinfection in HCV Chronic Carriers, A Disease That Is Frequently Severe But Associated With the Eradication of HCV." Sagnelli, Evangelista; Coppola, Nicola; Pisaturo, Mariantonietta; Masiello, Addolorata; Tonziello, Gilda; Sagnelli, Caterina; Messina, Vincenzo; Filippini, Pietro. Hepatology; April 2009.

Article: "Hepatitis B Virus Surface Antigen Levels - A Guide to Sustained Response to Peginterferon Alfa-2a in HBeAg-negative Chronic Hepatitis B." Brunetto, Maurizia; Moriconi, Francesco; Bonino, Ferruccio; Lau, George; Farci, Patrizia; Yurdaydin, Cihan; Piratvisuth, Teerha; Luo, Kangxian; Yuming, Wang; Hadziyannis, Stephanos; Wolf, Eva; McCloud, Philip; Batria, Richard; Marcellin, Patrick. Hepatology; April 2009.

Source:
Sean Wagner
Wiley-Blackwell

medicalnewstoday.com

Drinking Distilled Water: Early Death Comes From Drinking Distilled Water

During nearly 19 years of clinical practice I have had the opportunity to observe the health effects of drinking different types of water. Most of you would agree that drinking unfiltered tap water could be hazardous to your health because of things like parasites, chlorine, fluoride and dioxins.

Many health fanatics, however, are often surprised to hear me say that drinking distilled water on a regular, daily basis is potentially dangerous.

Paavo Airola wrote about the dangers of distilled water in the 1970's when it first became a fad with the health food crowd.

Distillation is the process in which water is boiled, evaporated and the vapor condensed. Distilled water is free of dissolved minerals and, because of this, has the special property of being able to actively absorb toxic substances from the body and eliminate them.

Studies validate the benefits of drinking distilled water when one is seeking to cleanse or detoxify the system for short periods of time (a few weeks at a time).

Fasting using distilled water can be dangerous because of the rapid loss of electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride) and trace minerals like magnesium, deficiencies of which can cause heart beat irregularities and high blood pressure. Cooking foods in distilled water pulls the minerals out of them and lowers their nutrient value.

Distilled water is an active absorber and when it comes into contact with air, it absorbs carbon dioxide, making it acidic. The more distilled water a person drinks, the higher the body acidity becomes.

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, "Distilled water, being essentially mineral-free, is very aggressive, in that it tends to dissolve substances with which it is in contact. Notably, carbon dioxide from the air is rapidly absorbed, making the water acidic and even more aggressive. Many metals are dissolved by distilled water."

The most toxic commercial beverages that people consume (i.e. cola beverages and other soft drinks) are made from distilled water. Studies have consistently shown that heavy consumers of soft drinks (with or without sugar) spill huge amounts of calcium, magnesium and other trace minerals into the urine.

The more mineral loss, the greater the risk for osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, hypothyroidism, coronary artery disease, high blood pressure and a long list of degenerative diseases generally associated with premature aging.

A growing number of health care practitioners and scientists from around the world have been advocating the theory that aging and disease is the direct result of the accumulation of acid waste products in the body. There is a great deal of scientific documentation that supports such a theory. A poor diet may be partially to blamefor the waste accumulation. Meats, sugar, white flour products, fried foods, soft drinks, processed foods, alcohol, dairy products and other junk foods cause the body to become more acidic. Stress, whether mental or physical can lead to acid deposits in the body.

There is a correlation between the consumption of soft water (distilled water is extremely soft) and the incidence of cardiovascular disease. Cells, tissues and organs do not like to be dipped in acid and will do anything to buffer this acidity including the removal of minerals from the skeleton and the manufacture of bicarbonate in the blood.

The longer one drinks distilled water, the more likely the development of mineral deficiencies and an acid state. I have done well over 3000 mineral evaluations using a combination of blood, urine and hair tests in my practice. Almost without exception, people who consume distilled water exclusively, eventually develop multiple mineral deficiencies.

Those who supplement their distilled water intake with trace minerals are not as deficient but still not as adequately nourished in minerals as their non-distilled water drinking counterparts even after several years of mineral supplementation.

The ideal water for the human body should be alkaline and this requires the presence of minerals like calcium and magnesium.

Distilled water tends to be acidic and can only be recommended as a way of drawing poisons out of the body. Once this is accomplished, the continued drinking of distilled water is a bad idea.

Disease and early death is more likely to be seen with the long term drinking of distilled water. Avoid it except in special circumstances.

Zoltan P. Rona MD MSc
Source: Woman for Balance

Eliminating Toxins And Fat Everyday, Using Only Water

Sugar-coated Nanoparticles Find Hidden Tumors

By Eric Bland, Discovery News

March 30, 2009 -- Nanoparticles that could first illuminate and then destroy hidden tumors have been created by scientists at the University of California, San Diego.

If approved for clinical use, the new technique could improve the odds of survival for cancer patients by letting doctors diagnose and treat cancer earlier. It would also, in theory, minimize the toxic side effects associated with traditional chemotherapy.

"The advantage is that if the nanostructure localizes [near the tumor], it gives you an improved ability to see or treat the tumor," said Michael Sailor, a scientist at the University of California, San Diego, who detailed the research in a recent issue of Nature Materials.

The drawback to most techniques for finding and treating cancer is toxicity. The same radioactive cadmium that accumulates inside tumors and shines light that MRI machines can detect also destroys various internal organs. Chemotherapy drugs such as abraxane destroy tumor cells but also kill plenty of healthy cells.

Scientists started with thin silicon wafers, similar to those used in the semiconductor industry, and broke them into nano-sized pieces using ultrasound. To treat cancer, the particles would soak up whatever cancer drug would work best in a given case. The scientists then coat the particles in a thin layer of dextrose, a form of sugar.

The end result, according to Sailor, are cancer-killing pastries. "They're like little jelly doughnuts, rolled in chocolate to seal everything in," said Sailor.

Once the poisonous particles are injected into the bloodstream, they travel around the body.
Tumors need a lot of blood to grow quickly, but they are not good plumbers. The blood vessels surrounding the tumors are thin and full of holes. Those holes are typically just over 100 nanometers in size, just big enough for the 100-nanometer nanoparticles to slip through and get stuck inside the tumor itself.

The particles, made of nontoxic silicon instead of traditional toxic cadmium, glow under ultraviolet light. After about an hour of circulating through the body, enough of them have physically lodged themselves near the tumor to be detected by an MRI machine, helping doctors pinpoint the location.

As blood flows around the embedded nanoparticles it dissolves the sugar coating and releases the anti-cancer drug, destroying the cancer cells and leaving more healthy cells alive, compared with traditional chemotherapy.

Once the nanoparticles have released the drug, the body continues to break down the particles. Within 24 hours, the nanoparticles are out of the bloodstream, and within a few weeks, they have been excreted from the body entirely.

Sailor and his colleagues used the nanoparticles to identify skin cancer cells in mice. They have not used them to treat cancer yet, but are currently working on it.

Philippe Fauchet, a scientist at the University of Rochester in New York, has developed his own silicon nanoparticles to see tumors, although instead of breaking a large piece of silicon into smaller pieces, he essentially takes small pieces of silicon and makes larger nanoparticles.

"The advantage of using silicon is that it is biocompatable," said Fauchet. "The particles dissolve and are excreted by the urinary tract in 30 days. There is no accumulation, like what you get with heavy metals like cadmium."

However the silicon nanoparticles are made, it will be a while before they can be used to treat humans, pending approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Sailor said the earliest clinical trials could begin within six months, although his team is estimating a more conservative two year-time frame.

Nanopathology: The Health Impact of Nanoparticles

The Handbook of Nanomedicine

What Science Says About Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

In its final report on the safety of sodium lauryl sulfate, the Journal of the American College of Toxicology notes that this ingredient has a "degenerative effect on the cell membranes because of its protein denaturing properties." What's more, the journal adds, "high levels of skin penetration may occur at even low use concentration."

Interestingly, sodium lauryl sulfate "is used around the world in clinical studies as a skin irritant," notes the journal. The publication expressed additional concerns:

Carcinogenic nitrosamines can form in the manufacturing of sodium lauryl sulfate or by its inter-reaction with other nitrogen-bearing ingredients within a formulation utilizing this ingredient.

Other studies have indicated that sodium lauryl sulfate enters and maintains residual levels in the heart, liver, lungs and brain from skin contact. This poses the question whether it could be a serious potential health threat from its use in shampoos, cleansers, and toothpastes.

Still other research has indicated sodium lauryl sulfate may be damaging to the immune system, especially within the skin. Skin layers may separate and inflame due to its protein denaturing properties.

Although sodium lauryl sulfate is not carcinogenic in experimental studies, it has been shown that it causes severe epidermal changes in the area it is applied, indicating a need for tumor-enhancing assays.

Additional studies have found that sodium lauryl sulfate is heavily deposited on the skin surface and in the hair follicles. Damage to the hair follicle could result from such deposition.

Threat to Eye Health
Damaging effects of sodium lauryl sulfate on eye health are also of concern. In experimental, acute eye tests, a solution of 10 percent sodium lauryl sulfate "caused corneal damage to the . . . eyes if not irrigated or irrigation was delayed."

A solution of 5.1 percent "caused mild irritation."

There may be another more insidious problem with use of sodium lauryl sulfate. Bear with us if we use a little scientific lingo in this section of the report. Your reward will be a better appreciation for whether sodium lauryl sulfate poses undesirable health effects.

Often, in order to make a shampoo gentle to the eyes, the manufacturer will utilize a combination of anionic surfactants (i.e., detergents) with nonionic detergents. An anionic detergent contains a negatively charged polar group. A nonionic detergent has no polar end. Anionic detergents "display remarkable detergent, emulsifying, and foaming properties." Nonionics are "generally considered as the mildest of all surfactants" whose use "has been restricted because of poor foaming potential. They serve more often as auxiliary detergents."

However, while anionic detergents such as sodium lauryl sulfate are the most irritating to the eye, nonionic detergents are less irritating. What's more, according to Tom Conry, author of Consumer's Guide to Cosmetics, "Some of the nonionic surfactants are believed to anesthetize the eyeball. Although we have not been able to track down all of these anesthetizing surfactants, the most common ones are cocamide MEA and DEA, and lauramide MEA and DEA." This is why anionic detergents are frequently combined with nonionic detergents to make shampoos gentle to the eye. In essence, while more aggressive anionic detergents like sodium lauryl sulfate are irritating the eye, the eyeball has been anesthetized by nonionic detergents also in the formulation. Look at shampoo labels and such combinations will be apparent.

Further, according to the Journal of the American College of Toxicology, "Tests show permanent eye damage in young animals from skin contact in non-eye areas. Studies indicated sodium lauryl sulfate kept young eyes from developing properly by possibly denaturing the proteins and not allowing for proper structural formation. This damage was permanent."

Substitution of Gentler Detergents Poses Additional Risks
Unfortunately, many of the gentler detergents that may be substituted for sodium lauryl sulfate pose their own health hazards. For example, many companies have begun to use ethoxylated detergents such as sodium laureth sulfate, cocamide DEA or lauramide DEA because they tend to be less irritating.

Consumers can recognize shampoo ingredients containing ethoxylated detergents and related ingredients by looking for the prefix, word, or syllable PEG, polyethylene, polyethylene glycol, polyoxyethylene, -eth (as in sodium laureth sulfate), or oxynol.

Both our own commissioned independent laboratory testing and that of the federal government have documented ethoxylated alcohol compounds are frequently contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, which is carcinogenic and is listed by the federal government as a probable human carcinogen.

Also, according to a 1998 report from the federal National Toxicology Program, two DEA-based compounds - cocamide DEA and lauramide DEA -have been demonstrated to be cancer-causing in at least in one species of animal.

Source: Woman for Balance

Coffee is number one source of antioxidants

Coffee provides more than just a morning jolt; that steaming cup of java is also the number one source of antioxidants in the U.S. diet, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Scranton (Pa.). Their study was described today at the 230th national meeting of the American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific society.

"Americans get more of their antioxidants from coffee than any other dietary source. Nothing else comes close," says study leader Joe Vinson, Ph.D., a chemistry professor at the university. Although fruits and vegetables are generally promoted as good sources of antioxidants, the new finding is surprising because it represents the first time that coffee has been shown to be the primary source from which most Americans get their antioxidants, Vinson says. Both caffeinated and decaf versions appear to provide similar antioxidant levels, he adds.

He cautions that high antioxidant levels in foods and beverages don't necessarily translate into levels found in the body. The potential health benefits of these antioxidants ultimately depends on how they are absorbed and utilized in the body, a process that is still poorly understood, says Vinson, whose study was primarily funded by the American Cocoa Research Institute.

The news follows a growing number of reports touting the potential health benefits of drinking coffee. It also comes at an appropriate time: Coffee consumption is on the rise in the United States and over half of Americans drink it everyday, according to the National Coffee Association.

Antioxidants in general have been linked to a number of potential health benefits, including protection against heart disease and cancer. For the current study, Vinson and his associates analyzed the antioxidant content of more than 100 different food items, including vegetables, fruits, nuts, spices, oils and common beverages. The data was compared to an existing U.S. Department of Agriculture database on the contribution of each type of food item to the average estimated U.S. per capita consumption.

Coffee came out on top, on the combined basis of both antioxidants per serving size and frequency of consumption, Vinson says. Java easily outranked such popular antioxidant sources as tea, milk, chocolate and cranberries, he says. Of all the foods and beverages studied, dates actually have the most antioxidants of all based solely on serving size, according to Vinson. But since dates are not consumed at anywhere near the level of coffee, the blue ribbon goes to our favorite morning pick-me-up as the number one source of antioxidants, he says.

Besides keeping you alert and awake, coffee has been linked to an increasing number of potential health benefits, including protection against liver and colon cancer, type 2 diabetes, and Parkinson's disease, according to some recently published studies. But there's also a downside: Java can make you jittery and cause stomach pains, while some studies have tied it to elevated blood pressure and heart rates. More research is needed, particularly human studies, to firmly establish its health benefits, Vinson says.

While the findings would seem to encourage people to go out and drink more coffee, Vinson emphasizes moderation. "One to two cups a day appear to be beneficial," he says. If you don't like coffee, consider drinking black tea, which is the second most consumed antioxidant source in the U.S. diet, Vinson says. Bananas, dry beans and corn placed third, fourth and fifth, respectively.

But don't forget about fresh fruits and veggies, the researcher cautions. "Unfortunately, consumers are still not eating enough fruits and vegetables, which are better for you from an overall nutritional point of view due to their higher content of vitamins, minerals and fiber," Vinson says. Dates, cranberries and red grapes are among the top fruits for antioxidants on the basis of concentration (antioxidants per serving size), he says.

Source: physorg

Aspartame, MSG, Excitotoxins & the Hypothalamus

By Russell L. Blaylock, M.D.

The hypothalamus is a small area of the brain, no larger than the fingernail, that despite its small size, is responsible for controlling some of the most vital neural systems in the body. The wiring of the hypothalamus is some of the most complex in the nervous system, with connections not only to the pituitary, but also to the limbic system (emotional control system), hippocampus, striatum and brain stem. Through these connections it regulates emotions, autonomic control ( parasympathetic and sympathetic), hunger and satiety, immunity, memory input, and anger control. Disruptions in this vital piece of brain can result in anything from minor behavioral problems or endocrine malfunctions to major disruptions in sexual functions, obesity, immune suppression and endocrine gland failure.

Newer findings indicate that the hypothalamus is involved in several
endocrine syndromes, neurological diseases and even psychiatric disorders.
As early as 1976, it was shown that aspartame feeding in mice could produce
lesions in the hypothalamus of newborns. It should be realized that these
are lesions (injuries) that can be seen through an ordinary light
microscope. While the lesions produced by aspartame doses equivalent to MSG
will produce smaller lesions, they are significant none the less. Defenders
of the safety of aspartame and MSG often report studies that have shown no
damage to the hypothalamus when seen under the light microscope. Several
studies have shown that the neurons can be injured without such visible
physical damage being present. The effects may be physiological and
biochemical without physical changes in the neuron.

Within the hypothalamus there are a number of collections of neurons called
nuclei. The arcuate nucleus is consistently the most sensitive of these
nuclei to MSG and aspartame toxicity. We know that this nucleus regulates
growth hormone secretion, by way of the pituitary. But, what is less well
appreciated is the fact that this nucleus has intimate connections to the
other nuclei, such as the supraoptic nucleus and paraventricular nucleus.
Indeed, when animals are given doses of MSG or aspartame, these nuclei are
injured as well. Several studies have shown shrinkage of the pituitary,
thyroid, adrenals and gonads in animals exposed to high concentrations of
these Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills. In addition, a consistent finding is gross obesity in
animals exposed to these excitotoxins early in life. Some have raised the
question concerning the connection between a high intake of food borne
excitotoxins and the dramatic rise in childhood obesity over the past two
decades.

In animals made obese by damaging hypothalamic nuclei, one frequently sees
accompanying violent outburst. We also know that directly injecting
micromolar quantities of MSG into certain hypothalamic nuclei can
precipitate an explosion of violence in experimental animals. The
hypothalamus is one of the areas of the brain not protected by the blood-
brain barrier. This is of special concern during childhood, since exposure
to high intakes of excitotoxins, such as aspartame, can alter the
development of the hypothalamus, leading to sexual maldevelopment and
endocrine problems that will appear later in life. For example, we know that
infant animals exposed to excitotoxins will have fewer offspring and the
offspring will be smaller than normal.

When the hypothalamus is exposed to excitotoxins early in life, the neural
connections are often misdirected. Something I have called, mis-wiring of
the brain. What this means is that a mis-wired hypothalamus will not react
normally to the internal and external environmental cues that normally
control our endocrine system. This could lead to infertility,
hypothyroidism, adrenal hypoactivity, growth retardation and even emotional
or intellectual problems later in life. All of these have been reported in
studies using excitotoxin models.

Many other problems have been traced to excitotoxin damage to the
hypothalamus. For example, it is known that exposure of infants to high dose
excitotoxins can result in immune system impairment throughout life. This
would translate into more infections, cancer, and autoimmune diseases.

Recently, Trocho and co-workers discovered that the methanol in aspartame
appears to attach to the DNA of cells after it is metabolized to
formaldehyde, and is not only very difficult to remove, but results in
numerous DNA deletion injuries. This could increase cancer risk as well as
risk of other degenerative diseases, such as lupus, diabetes and Alzheimer’s
disease.

It is now known that glutamate ( and therefore aspartate) is the major
neurotransmitter in the hypothalamus and therefore excess concentrations may
affect all of the various nuclei in the hypothalamus. This means that
virtually every function of the hypothalamus is vulnerable to excitotoxin
damage, both subtle and acutely dramatic, depending on the dose. In normal
everyday life we are exposed to numerous excitotoxins added to foods and
drinks, in the form of MSG, cysteine and aspartame. Several studies have
shown that these toxic doses are synergistic, that is, they are more than
just the sum effect of each excitotoxin. Therefore, a meal of MSG laden
soup, a diet cola and foods with hydrolyzed vegetable protein and natural
flavoring, could easily damage the hypothalamus, as well as other portions
of the nervous system. During pregnancy, the deleterious effects could be
even more devastating, since it will affect the development of the brain
itself.

Another possibility, is the effect of excitotoxins on the sympathetic
nervous system-controlling centers in the hypothalamus. Over stimulation
could result in cardiac electrical abnormalities leading to sudden death.
This has been demonstrated by hypothalalamic stimulation experiments. There
have been clinical reports of cardiac related emergency room visits
following a meal high in excitotoxin additives. Sudden deaths following such
meals have also been reported. Since most hospitals rarely consider this in
their differential diagnosis, we have no accurate data as to the number of
ER visits and deaths related to this event. I suspect the numbers would be
quite high.

In conclusion, there is compelling evidence to indicate that food additive
excitotoxins, such as aspartame, pose a serious danger to our well being,
especially so in the case of children and the elderly. It has been
demonstrated that excitotoxins in the diet can dramatically elevate free
radical generation for prolonged periods of time and that once induced, it
triggers a viscous cycle that ends in neuron death. Most authorities now
agree that elevated free radical generation is associated with virtually all
degenerative diseases as well as most injuries and toxins. It makes little
sense to expose the general public to a product that we know increases free
radical generation so dramatically and is associated with laboratory proven
injuries to the nervous system.

Russell L. Blaylock, M.D.
Neurosurgeon

Trichotillomania

Daria used to make up excuses for the bald spot on the back of her head. Sometimes she said her head rubbed against the headboard of her bed when she was asleep. Other times she said the baseball caps she had to wear at work were too tight. She knew people doubted her stories, especially family members. But she couldn't face telling them what was really happening: She'd been pulling her hair out since she was 12.

Daria had no idea why she pulled her hair. She just knew that she couldn't stop. Many times, she did it without even thinking. Daria's mom noticed her doing it while watching TV. The two of them did some research and learned about a condition that some people have called trichotillomania.

What Is Trichotillomania?
Trichotillomania (pronounced: trik-oh-till-oh-may-nee-ah) is a type of psychological condition that involves strong urges to pull hair.

Doctors used to believe trichotillomania was rare. But that thinking is now changing as experts gain a better understanding of the condition and more people come forward for help. Trichotillomania affects more girls than guys. Most people who have it develop it during adolescence. But trichotillomania can start when a person is as young as 1 year old.

What Happens With Trichotillomania?
People with trichotillomania pull hair out at the root from places like the scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes, or pubic area. Some people pull large handfuls of hair, which can leave bald patches on the scalp or eyebrows. Other people pull out their hair one strand at a time. Some inspect the strand after pulling it out, or play with the hair after it's been pulled. About half of people with the condition put the hair in their mouths after pulling it.

It might be hard to understand why someone would pull their own hair or eyelashes out — or why they wouldn't just stop. But trichotillomania isn't just an ordinary habit that a person can easily stop. It's a medical condition.

Trichotillomania is a type of compulsive behavior. This means that people with the condition feel an overwhelming urge to pull their hair. People with trichotillomania also may have other compulsive habits, such as nail biting or skin picking. Some people with trichotillomania also have problems like depression, anxiety, or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Compulsive behaviors like trichotillomania can sometimes run in families.

People with trichotillomania may feel embarrassment, frustration, shame, or depression about the condition. They may worry about what others will think or say. They may feel nagged by people who don't understand that they're not doing this on purpose. They usually try to hide the behavior from other people, and this can make it difficult to get help.

Having trichotillomania can affect how people feel about themselves. Some people are self-conscious about how hair pulling affects their appearance. Because of this, they might feel less confident about making friends or dating. Others might feel powerless to control the urge to pull or blame themselves for not being able to stop. Feelings like these can cause a person's self esteem to suffer.

Why Do People Feel Compelled to Pull Their Hair?
Doctors don't know for certain what causes trichotillomania. Some think it might be related to OCD since OCD and trichotillomania both involve compulsions. Since compulsions arise as an effort to reduce tension, the urges that lead to hair pulling can be stronger when a person is stressed out or worried.

Experts think that compulsive behaviors like hair pulling may be caused by an imbalance of chemicals in the brain. These chemicals, called neurotransmitters (pronounced: nur-oh-tranz-mit-urs), are part of the brain's communication center. When something interferes with how neurotransmitters work, it can cause problems like compulsive behaviors.

Some people with trichotillomania say that they notice sensations in their scalp or skin. For example, it may be a tingling feeling that can only be relieved by pulling, like the feeling of relief that comes from scratching an itch. Some people say that they notice a satisfying feeling when they pull their hair. Others don't even notice when they pull, and do it without thinking.

Any relief that comes with hair pulling usually only lasts for a moment. The urge almost always returns. That's because when the mind becomes used to giving in to the powerful urges that go with compulsive behaviors, the behavior is reinforced The mind gets trapped in a cycle of expecting to have the urge satisfied. The longer this goes on, the harder it can become to resist the urge.

The Hair Pulling "Habit" and You: How to Solve the Trichotillomania Puzzle, Revised Edition

How Do People Overcome the Hair-Pulling Urge?
Because trichotillomania is a medical condition, it's not something most people can just stop doing when they feel like it. People with trichotillomania usually need help from medical experts before they can stop. With the right help, though, most overcome their hair-pulling urges. When someone is able to stop pulling, hair usually grows back.

Overcoming hair-pulling urges may involve talk therapy, medication, or a combination of both.

Therapists teach people with trichotillomania special behavior techniques that help them recognize the urge to pull hair before it becomes too strong to resist. The person learns ways to resist the urge so that it eventually grows weaker and then goes away. A therapist can also help a person regain confidence and self-esteem.

Because the urges behind compulsive habits like hair pulling are so strong, someone may feel more tension or anxiety when first trying to resist the urge. That's why it helps to work with an expert who can offer support and practical advice about how to reverse this powerful habit.

Some doctors may prescribe medications that can help the brain deal better with urges, making them easier to resist. Medication therapy can help to correct the imbalance of chemicals in the brain.

Many people find it helpful to keep their hands busy with a different activity (like squeezing a stress ball or drawing) during times when pulling is the worst. In the beginning, Daria found that knitting while watching TV helped keep her hands busy at a time when she might feel the urge to pull her hair.

Homework time was harder, though. Daria worked with her therapist to realize that she tended to pull more during homework because she was worrying about doing well on a project or test. Daria and her therapist talked about ways to deal homework stress. Daria discovered that being a perfectionist was adding to her tension. When she began to feel more relaxed — and still do excellent work — her confidence blossomed.

If you're worried about hair pulling, talk to a parent, school counselor, or someone you trust about getting help overcoming the problem.

Source: Kids Health

Infectious Mononucleosis "kissing disease"

When Ashley came home with a headache and body aches and pains, she thought she had caught the flu. But by the next morning, Ashley's temperature had soared to 103° F (39° C) and her throat felt like she'd swallowed hot coals. Even worse, she was so tired she could hardly lift her head off the pillow. Ashley had never felt this bad with any cold or flu.

Ashley's mom took her to the doctor, where a physical examination and a blood test revealed that Ashley had mononucleosis.

What Is Mono?
Infectious mononucleosis (pronounced: mah-no-noo-klee-oh-sus), sometimes called "mono" or "the kissing disease," is an infection usually caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). EBV is very common, and many people have been exposed to the virus at some time in childhood.

Not everyone who is exposed to EBV develops the symptoms of mono, though. As with many viruses, it is possible to be exposed to and infected with EBV without becoming sick.

People who have been infected with EBV will carry the virus for the rest of their lives — even if they never have any signs or symptoms of mono. People who do show symptoms of having mono probably will not get sick or have symptoms again.

Although EBV is the most common cause of mono, other viruses, such as cytomegalovirus (pronounced: sye-toe-meh-guh-low-vye-rus), can cause a similar illness. Like EBV, cytomegalovirus stays in the body for life and may not cause any symptoms.

People often kid around about mono, but as Ashley discovered, it's no joke. A case of mono can keep you out of commission for weeks.

How Do People Get Mono?
One common way to "catch" mono is by kissing someone who has been infected, which is how the illness got its "kissing disease" nickname. If you have never been infected with EBV, kissing someone who is infected can put you at risk for getting the disease.

But what if you haven't kissed anyone? You can also get mononucleosis through other types of direct contact with saliva (spit) from someone infected with EBV, such as by sharing a straw, a toothbrush, or an eating utensil.

Some people who have the virus in their bodies never have any symptoms, but it is still possible for them to pass it to others. Experts believe that EBV can even spread from people who had the virus months before.

How Do I Know if I Have It?
Symptoms usually begin to appear 4 to 7 weeks after infection with the virus. Signs that you may have mono include:

* constant fatigue
* fever
* sore throat
* loss of appetite
* swollen lymph nodes (commonly called glands, located in your neck, underarms, and groin)
* headaches
* sore muscles
* larger-than-normal liver or spleen
* skin rash
* abdominal pain

People who have mono may have different combinations of these symptoms, and some may have symptoms so mild that they hardly notice them. Others may have no symptoms at all.

Even if you have several of these symptoms, don't try to diagnose yourself. Always consult your doctor if you have a fever, sore throat, and swollen glands or are unusually tired for no apparent reason.

Because the symptoms of mono are so general and can be signs of other illnesses, it's possible to mistake mononucleosis for the flu, strep throat, or other diseases. In fact, occasionally some people may have mono and strep throat at the same time.

When making a diagnosis, the doctor may want to take some blood tests to see if mono is causing the symptoms. But even if the blood tests indicate mono, there isn't much the doctor can do other than advise a person to drink lots of fluids and get plenty of rest.

21st Century Complete Medical Guide to Infectious Mononucleosis and the Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), Authoritative Government Documents, Clinical References, ... for Patients and Physicians (CD-ROM)

How Can I Get Better?
There is no cure for mononucleosis. But the good news is that even if you do nothing, the illness will go away by itself, usually in 3 to 4 weeks. Because mono is caused by a virus, antibiotics such as penicillin won't help unless you have an additional infection like strep throat. In fact, certain antibiotics can even cause a rash if you take them while you have mono.

Although there's no magic pill for mono, you can do some things to feel better. The best treatment is to get plenty of rest, especially during the beginning stages of the illness when your symptoms are the worst. Put yourself to bed and pass on school, sports, and other activities.

For the fever and aching muscles, try taking acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Steer clear of aspirin unless your doctor tells you to take it: Aspirin has been linked to a serious disease in kids and teens called Reye syndrome, which can lead to liver failure and death.

If you have a sore throat, chew gum, drink tea with honey, or suck on hard candy or ice pops. Even if you're not hungry, try to eat a well-balanced diet and drink lots of water and juices to prevent dehydration. You can get some nutrition and soothe your throat with cold fruit smoothies or low-fat shakes.

When you start feeling better, take it slow. Although you can return to school once your fever disappears, you may still feel tired. Your body will tell you when it's time to rest — listen to it. By taking good care of yourself and resting as much as you need to, you will soon be back to normal, usually within a few weeks.

Doctors also recommend avoiding sports for at least a month after the illness because the spleen (an organ in the body that sits under the left rib cage) is often enlarged temporarily while you are ill. An enlarged spleen can rupture easily, causing internal bleeding and abdominal pain and requiring emergency surgery. Do not participate in contact sports, cheerleading, or even wrestling with your little siblings or your friends until your doctor gives you permission.

As you recover, make sure you don't share the virus with your friends and family. Chances are they will not get the disease from casual contact with you, but you can take a few steps to help them stay germ free. Wash your hands often, cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze or cough, and keep your drinks and eating utensils to yourself. This is one time when your friends and family will thank you for being selfish.

Source: KidsHealth

Chronic Kidney Disease Symptoms

The kidneys are remarkable in their ability to compensate for problems in their function. That is why chronic kidney disease may progress without symptoms for a long time until only very minimal kidney function is left.

Because the kidneys perform so many functions for the body, kidney disease can affect the body in a large number of different ways. Symptoms vary greatly. Several different body systems may be affected. Notably, most patients have no decrease in urine output even with very advanced chronic kidney disease.

• Fatigue and weakness (from anemia or accumulation of waste products in the body)
• Loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting
• Need to urinate frequently, especially at night
• Swelling of the legs and puffiness around the eyes (fluid retention)
• Itching, easy bruising, and pale skin (from anemia)
• Headaches, numbness in the feet or hands (peripheral neuropathy), disturbed sleep, altered mental status (encephalopathy from the accumulation of waste products or uremic poisons), and restless legs syndrome
• High blood pressure, chest pain due to pericarditis (inflammation around the heart)
• Shortness of breath from fluid in lungs
• Bleeding (poor blood clotting)
• Bone pain and fractures
• Decreased sexual interest and erectile dysfunction

When to Seek Medical Care
Several signs and symptoms may suggest complications of chronic kidney disease. Call your healthcare provider if you notice any of the following symptoms:

• Change in energy level or strength
• Increased water retention (puffiness or swelling) in the legs, around the eyes or in other parts of the body
• Shortness of breath or change from normal breathing
• Nausea or vomiting
• Light-headedness
• Severe bone or joint pain
• Easy bruisability
• Itching

If you have diabetes, high blood pressure, or kidney problems, see your healthcare provider right away if you know or suspect that you are pregnant.

See your health care provider as recommended for monitoring and treatment of chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

Some signs and symptoms represent the possibility of a severe complication of chronic kidney disease and warrant a visit to the nearest hospital emergency department.

• Change in level of consciousness - extreme sleepiness or difficult to awaken
• Fainting
• Chest pain
• Difficulty breathing
• Severe nausea and vomiting
• Severe bleeding (from any source)
• Severe weakness

Exams and Tests
Chronic kidney disease usually causes no symptoms in its early stages. Only lab tests can detect any developing problems. Anyone at increased risk for chronic kidney disease should be routinely tested for development of this disease.

• Urine, blood, and imaging tests (x-rays) are used to detect kidney disease, as well as to follow its progress.
• All of these tests have limitations. They are often used together to develop a picture of the nature and extent of the kidney disease.
• In general, this testing can be performed on an outpatient basis.

Urine tests
Urinalysis: Analysis of the urine affords enormous insight into the function of the kidneys. The first step in urinalysis is doing a dipstick test. The dipstick has reagents that check the urine for the presence of various normal and abnormal constituents including protein. Then, the urine is examined under a microscope to look for red and white blood cells, and the presence of casts and crystals (solids).

Only minimal quantities of albumin (protein) are present in urine normally. A positive result on a dipstick test for protein is abnormal. More sensitive than a dipstick test for protein is a laboratory estimation of the urine albumin (protein) and creatinine in the urine. The ratio of albumin (protein) and creatinine in the urine provides a good estimate of albumin (protein) excretion per day.

Twenty-four-hour urine tests: This test requires you to collect all of your urine for 24 consecutive hours. The urine may be analyzed for protein and waste products (urea, nitrogen, and creatinine). The presence of protein in the urine indicates kidney damage. The amount of creatinine and urea excreted in the urine can be used to calculate the level of kidney function and the glomerular filtration rate (GFR).

Glomerular filtration rate (GFR): The GFR is a standard means of expressing overall kidney function. As kidney disease progresses, GFR falls. The normal GFR is about 100-140 mL/min in men and 85-115 mL/min in women. It decreases in most people with age. The GFR may be calculated from the amount of waste products in the 24-hour urine or by using special markers administered intravenously. Patients are divided into five stages of chronic kidney disease based on their GFR (see Table 1 above).

Blood tests
Creatinine and urea (BUN) in the blood: Blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine are the most commonly used blood tests to screen for, and monitor renal disease. Creatinine is a breakdown product of normal muscle breakdown. Urea is the waste product of breakdown of protein. The level of these substances rises in the blood as kidney function worsens.

Estimated GFR (eGFR): The laboratory or your physician may calculate an estimated GFR using the information from your blood work. It is important to be aware of your estimated GFR and stage of chronic kidney disease. Your physician uses your stage of kidney disease to recommend additional testing and suggestions on management.

Electrolyte levels and acid-base balance: Kidney dysfunction causes imbalances in electrolytes, especially potassium, phosphorus, and calcium. High potassium (hyperkalemia) is a particular concern. The acid-base balance of the blood is usually disrupted as well.

Decreased production of the active form of vitamin D can cause low levels of calcium in the blood. Inability to excrete phosphorus by failing kidneys causes its levels in the blood to rise. Testicular or ovarian hormone levels may also be abnormal.

Blood cell counts: Because kidney disease disrupts blood cell production and shortens the survival of red cells, the red blood cell count and hemoglobin may be low (anemia). Some patients may also have iron deficiency due to blood loss in their gastrointestinal system. Other nutritional deficiencies may also impair the production of red cells.

Other tests
Ultrasound: Ultrasound is often used in the diagnosis of kidney disease. An ultrasound is a noninvasive type of test. In general, kidneys are shrunken in size in chronic kidney disease, although they may be normal or even large in size in cases caused by adult polycystic kidney disease, diabetic nephropathy, and amyloidosis. Ultrasound may also be used to diagnose the presence of urinary obstruction, kidney stones and also to assess the blood flow into the kidneys.

Biopsy: A sample of the kidney tissue (biopsy) is sometimes required in cases in which the cause of the kidney disease is unclear. Usually, a biopsy can be collected with local anesthesia only by introducing a needle through the skin into the kidney. This is usually done as an outpatient procedure, though some institutions may require an overnight hospital stay.

Source: eMedicine Health

Coping with Kidney Disease: A 12-Step Treatment Program to Help You Avoid Dialysis