More Evidence Shows Newer Forms of 'Pill' Raise Clot Risk, FDA Says

THURSDAY, Oct. 27 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday said it "remains concerned" that a newer generation of birth control pills may raise the odds for serious blood clots more than older forms of the Pill.

The announcement concerns oral contraceptives containing a newer type of progestin hormone called drospirenone, which includes Bayer's Yaz or Yasmin. According to the FDA, the new study found a higher risk of venous thromboembolisms (VTEs) -- potentially dangerous clots -- in women on the drospirenone-containing pills vs. those on older forms of oral contraceptives.

The FDA-funded review involved the medical histories of more than 800,000 American women, all of whom were on some type of birth control between 2001 and 2008. The study found that women taking the newer oral contraceptives experienced a higher rate of clots than women on older forms of the contraceptive pill.

The review also found that women on two other forms of birth control -- the Ortho Evra patch from Johnson & Johnson and the NuvaRing vaginal ring from Merck -- had a higher rate of clots.

For now, the FDA is not advising that most women switch to another form of contraception. "If your birth control pill contains drospirenone, do not stop taking it without first talking to your health care professional," the agency said. "Contact your health care professional immediately if you develop any symptoms of blood clots, including persistent leg pain, severe chest pain or sudden shortness of breath. If you smoke and are over 35 years of age, you should not take combination oral contraceptives because they increase the risk that you could experience serious cardiovascular events, including blood clots."

Thursday's announcement was not the FDA's first word on this issue, nor is likely to be the last. The agency issued a similar warning in September, and in a statement released Thursday said that, "given the conflicting nature of the findings from six published studies evaluating this risk, as well as the preliminary data from the FDA-funded study," it plans to host a public meeting on the issue on Dec. 8.
The announcement Thursday comes a day after the release of a study in BMJ that also found newer birth control pills were tied to a higher risk for clots.
In that study, researchers reviewed data on all Danish women, aged 15 to 49, who were not pregnant between January 2001 and December 2009. During that time, more than 4,200 first episodes of VTEs occurred.
Women taking birth control pills with a newer progestin hormone had twice the risk of clots compared to those who took the older form of contraceptive pills.
Compared to women who did not use birth control pills, the risk of VTE was three times higher among those who used pills with levonorgestrel and six times higher among those who took pills with drospirenone, desogestrel or gestodene.
But the absolute risk of VTE associated with taking the newer pills remained relatively low, about 10 per 10,000 women, according to the University of Copenhagen researchers.
For every 2,000 women who switched from using newer pills to pills with levonorgestrel, there would be one less case of clots a year.
While some doctors may choose to prescribe birth control pills with a lower risk whenever possible, it is crucial not to exaggerate the risk of VTE, Dr. Philip Hannaford of the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, wrote in an accompanying editorial in the journal.
"Oral contraceptives are remarkably safe and may confer important long-term benefits in relation to cancer and mortality," he said in a journal news release.
Dr. Glenn Jacobowitz, vice chair of the division of vascular surgery at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City, said: "The information for Yaz is not new. That has recently already been shown in studies to have an increased risk of blood clots than other oral contraceptives. The information on NuvaRing and Ortho Evra would be a new, but similar finding. This is certainly worrisome, particularly for women over age 35 and for smokers."
More information
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has more about birth control pills.

import from:
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How Does the Rice Diet Work?

I must admit, I was surprised when I heard that there was a diet called the "Rice Diet". Rice frequently appears in the list of banned foods of almost every fitness trainer and dietician. Isn't rice supposed to be packed with carbs, and henceforth, a weight loss enemy? So, how does the rice diet promise weight loss results? Let's find out how does the rice diet work.
The rice diet was originally designed by Walter Kempner, in 1939, a doctor at the Duke Hospital. In reality, he had joined the Duke University's Department of Medicine as a researcher. However, due to the onset of the World War II, he worked as a doctor to treat the sick and injured. It was during his practice that he discovered "The Rice Diet" while attending to a woman suffering from high blood pressure. He prescribed her a diet consisting of only rice and fruits. The woman followed his advice for two months and returned for a checkup, whereupon it was found that her bodily functions had improved tremendously. Thereafter, he aimed to formulate a diet that is suitable for patients suffering from cardiac problems, diabetes, hypertension and high blood pressure. A diabetic can achieve significant reduction in blood glucose and sugar levels on the rice diet, even completely eliminating the need for antibiotics!

Although there are health centers offering the rice diet program wherein you lose weight on the diet under medical supervision of a team of certified professionals that will daily monitor your blood sugar and electrolyte levels, you can also try it at home with the guidance of a dedicated book to the cook recipes. In fact, there are quite a few variations of the diet and you may choose the one that suits your need. With the rice diet, you can expect a rapid weight loss of approximately 20 pounds within a month! In fact, those who have tried the diet have reported a weight loss averaging at 4 pounds a week. The rice diet consists of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nonfat dairy products, olive oil and beans along with rice. You may also add seafood and lean meats to the diet. It is recommended that the dieter should consume iron, vitamin D and calcium supplements along with food. Also, the rice diet significantly cuts down sodium intake to half a gram per day.

Role of the Rice Diet Work
The underlying principle of the rice diet is simple. It relies on reduction of salt in food, to as much as 500 mg a day, in order to induce loss of water weight. A balance of water is essential in the body or else it leaves a puffy appearance, making you look bigger than you actually are. Water retention is a big culprit responsible for that bloated tummy of yours. When you maintain an equilibrium of the volume of water in your system, your appetite is regulated. Hence, the rice diet has lasting effects on your weight loss. Did you know? Excess consumption of salt and sugar is the main culprit that causes you to overeat! This is why most obese people are obsessed with their food and have trouble taking the weight off. Apart from cutting down sodium, the rice diet adds more fiber-rich food to your diet and is an excellent source of carbohydrates that prevents fatigue. Fiber not only cleanses your digestive track, it also keeps you full, acting as an appetite suppressant. The colon cleansing effect of fiber makes you feel healthy and active naturally, so you burn more calories. By absolutely eliminating salt and sugar from the plate in the first phase, the rice diet also gets rid of your cravings for different foods. It even motivates the dieter to eat healthy. Additionally, the diet limits saturated fat consumption by restricting the intake of saturated fat.

The rice diet allows a consumption of 1200 to 1500 calories per day. It is truly a wholesome, detoxifying and low-fat way of healthy living. The rice diet is divided into 3 phases, as follows;

* Phase I: Whole grains and fruits
* Phase II: Vegetables and beans
* Phase III: Addition of nonfat dairy products

The third stage of the diet helps to keep the weight off while allowing a wider variety of food choices. The diet kicks off with a daily calorie limit of 800 and may be followed for a duration of 2 to 12 weeks depending on the dieter's preference. If you are a meat eater, the diet may accommodate a weekly serving of one low-fat meat dish. However, caffeine, alcohol and sugar are strictly prohibited on the diet. Do not forget to include at least an hour of exercise, five days a week, along with your diet. It could be any cardio based workout regimen like running, yoga, pilates or a dancing session. The rice diet derives its name from the fact that the diet relies heavily on whole grains, especially rice, and includes it as an ingredient in at least one dish, for every meal. However, unrefined brown rice is a preferred choice over refined white rice as it contains 2.75 grams per cup of fiber more. It has a higher nutritional value as compared to its white counterpart.

As white rice is frequently the topic of criticism among health experts worldwide due to its nature of causing a spike in insulin levels, brown rice would be a smart choice especially if you are on the brink of or suffer from diabetes. A word of caution: don't overdo rice in your diet and follow the prescribed quantities to the T. Devoid of added sugars and fats, rice is a healthy whole grain to include in your diet. However, the insufficiency of a good source of protein, less than 20 g allowance in the diet, is a major source of concern to prevent loss of muscle mass. If you wish to increase your muscle mass on the rice diet, it may seem fairly impossible. The diet is extremely difficult to follow for a regular meat eater to sustain for a long duration.

This is not a fad diet. It is a scientifically proven health program with an objective of achieving physical fitness. It successfully combats obesity and kidney problems. Major rice consuming nations such as India and China have low instances of health problems like diabetes and hypertension as compared to their Western counterparts, further authenticating these claims backing the diet. This is an excellent diet that brings the body's water content to balance, eliminates toxins and increases vitality. The most notable feature of the rice diet is that it maintains the weight loss for months even after you get off it, as reported by most 'ricers'. This is unlike most other diets on which dieters quickly gain back all the weight reduced, along with additional weight! Not to forget, the well-balanced rice diet menu also fulfills the basic health goals for which it was designed. Even though it provides a variety of 30 healthy and palatable foods, some dieters may find it to be restrictive in nature. Most of these foods are incidentally low on the glycemic index and make up for the high glycemic index of white rice, balancing glucose levels. It is advised that you consult a physician before embarking upon the diet. This is because the rice diet allows the consumption of extremely low levels of sodium and the deficiency of which may cause severe health problems. If you are allergic to any type of grains, you might want to consider getting a rice allergy test too.

Read More:
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/how-does-the-rice-diet-work.html

Acne Health Article

Definition

Acne is a skin condition that causes whiteheads, blackheads, and inflamed red lesions (papules, pustules, and cysts) to form. These growths are commonly called pimples or "zits."
Alternative Names

Acne vulgaris; Cystic acne; Pimples; Zits
Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Acne occurs when tiny holes on the surface of the skin, called pores, become clogged. Each pore is an opening to a canal called a follicle, which contains a hair and an oil gland. Normally, the oil glands help keep the skin lubricated and help remove old skin cells. When glands produce too much oil, the pores can become blocked, accumulating dirt, debris, and bacteria. The blockage is called a plug or comedone.

The top of the plug may be white (whitehead) or dark (blackhead). If it ruptures, the material inside, including oil and bacteria, can spread to the surrounding area and cause an inflammatory reaction. If the inflammation is deep in your skin, the pimples may enlarge to form firm, painful cysts.

Acne commonly appears on the face and shoulders, but may also occur on the trunk, arms, legs, and buttocks.

Acne is most common in teenagers, but it can happen at any age, even as an infant. Three out of four teenagers have acne to some extent, probably caused by hormonal changes that stimulate oil production. However, people in their 30s and 40s may also have acne.

Acne tends to run in families and can be triggered by:

* Hormonal changes related to menstrual periods, pregnancy, birth control pills, or stress
* Greasy or oily cosmetic and hair products
* Certain drugs (such as steroids, testosterone, estrogen, and phenytoin)
* High levels of humidity and sweating

Despite the popular belief that chocolate, nuts, and other foods cause acne, research does not confirm this idea.

From:
http://health.yahoo.net/adamcontent/acne

How to Avoid Feeling Stressed

I received an email from a college student who told me she was feeling overwhelmed by the very heavy demands of school and social life. She wanted to know how to avoid feeling "stressed out."
We all know how it feels to be stressed, but what does it mean to be stressed out?

Where does stress come from?
You probably know about the "fight or flight" response--that's the adrenalin kick we get when we're either very excited or in mortal danger and must mobilize our mental and physical resources to defend ourselves.
But what happens when the danger is "merely" looming, and not immediate? There's nothing to fight and nowhere to run. This, in biological terms, is what is meant by stress. And in order to cope with prolonged threat or privation, the body begins to shut down some systems in order to conserve its resources.
College students, for example, tend to start their new semesters, with a rush of excitement, in anticipation of the joys and terrors just ahead--both kinds of excitement come with that animating surge of adrenalin. The feeling of being "stressed out" generally starts sometime after the first week, when the adrenalin wears off but the exciting opportunities and daunting demands remain. But now, without the adrenalin surge, where is the energy to take all that work and play on? The body can't continue to pump out adrenalin, so it shifts into conservation mode, which leaves one feeling stressed--under siege by social and academic demands but lacking the resources to cope.
This feeling of high stress may begin to subside if mid-term exams and social activities go well, because by then the student has acquired some evidence that he or she can cope with the demands of school.

Two strategies for handling stress
No one likes to feel stressed, but perhaps there's another way to look at this problem. The key word in the first paragraph above was "avoid." Stress, it's important to realize, isn't always something to avoid.
Stress can mean 1 of 2 things. The first thing a prolonged sense of stress can mean is that one is genuinely overwhelmed. But feeling overwhelmed is not a reason to avoid the stressor; on the contrary, this distressing feeling is a sign that the life circumstances causing the stress must be dealt with. How? Either by eliminating those conditions altogether, or by reducing their effect on you. You might be able to alleviate the effects somewhat by better balancing work and play, or by increasing your exercise or meditation times, or by talking with friends or a counselor.
The second thing stress can mean is that you have come up against a challenge that you need to overcome. Soldiers walk bravely into high-stress situations when they go to boot camp or to war; young doctors in some specialties compete for the honor of entering the most stressful internships. Students challenge themselves by juggling a heavy course load and an active social life. Why? Because stress is also a sign that one is being presented with an opportunity for growth. To feel stressed--and yet to win the struggle against the forces that caused it--is to gain mastery and maturity and confidence.

Learn more?
Two Web sites that have all sorts of good information about stress are eMedicineHealth and How Stuff Works.
Also, feel free to email me if you have a question you would like me to take up. I don't promise a rapid or personal response, but I do promise that messages are confidential and, to protect your privacy, I won't quote you directly in this blog.

http://just4healthy.blogspot.com/2011/04/how-to-avoid-feeling-stressed.html