Yoga Practices for Cancer Survivors

By looking at the picture above, it is none other than one of the very familiar posts in yoga practices. Deriving from wikipedia, yoga is originally a practice where it aims to vary and improve health to achieving Moksha, which is liberation from all worldly suffering and the cycle of birth and death. But nowadays, it has been applied by many people, for many people believe that they could get many health benefits out of it.

That is especially true for cancer survivors. A group of US researchers claimed that, a four-week yoga program which covers breathing, meditation, postures and many other techniques can effectively help in fatigue reduction as well as sleep quality improvement in cancer survivors. Cancer survivors often experience fatigue and poor sleeping pattern. These two symptoms are often the results or more precise to say, the two most common side effects which could affect their quality of lives.

Although cancer survivors often are treated with some specific treatments pharmacologically in order to improve their sleeping problems and fatigue suffered, but in the long run, according to lead investigator, Dr. Karen Mustian, such treatment does not really work out. These treatments do show some effect, but they just would not work well for very long. And hence, researches are looking toward non-pharmacological therapy.

Consequently, The University of Rochester have designed a yoga program specially made for cancer survivors, which is called YOCAS, which involves visualization, meditation, breathing as well as other 18 different poses. A number of participants (where 75 percents of them were breast cancer patients) joined the study and were divided into two groups, where one of them was served with normal post-treatment care, and the other one attended the designed yoga program twice a week, for four weeks.

These are the results experienced by the group which joined the program: Improvement on sleep quality (22%), reduced incidence of clinically impaired sleep (31%), less daytime sleepiness (29%). As for the one who were treated with normal treatment, the results for the mentioned three aspects were only 12%, 16% and 5% respectively. Not only the yoga program works so effectively in these aspects, it also works its way to an extent that it reduces fatigue, and also reducing their use of sleep medication by 12%.

Extra Benefits of Ginger

It has been a long time since this blog is updated! And now, latest health information and posts are coming back and will continuously brought to you by GTF Worldwide Sdn Bhd! Today's article will be very much concerning the goods of ginger.

For many centuries, gingers have been used to treat many ailments and discomforts, such as stomach upsets, cold and others. Other than serving as a miraculous remedy for the problems stated, based on a very recent study, ginger is also said to be have the ability to curb muscle pain.

Patrick O'Connor, a professor of the department of kinesiology, pointed out that ginger can exert anti-inflammatory effects in rodents, but as far as human is concerned, no specific experiments have been done on them, and this renders the effect of ginger to human unexplored.

Hence, O'Connor conducted a study just to investigate the effects of ginger on human's muscle problems. In conjunction to this piece of experiment, O'Connor had gathered 34 and 40 participants and were divided into two different groups, which consume raw or heated treated ginger which existed in the forms of capsule (2 grams for each person), and placebo for 11 consecutive days, respectively.

On the 8th day, these people were asked to conduct 18 extensions of exercises which contribute to moderate muscle injury to the arms. To make things sounded more accurate, the conditions of participants were examined three days prior the exercises as well as three days after the exercises were performed.

As a result, participants who consumed daily ginger supplement reduced the pain of inflammation by 25 percents. Although consuming heat-treated ginger does not enhance the reduction of pain (still stays at 25 percents), it clearly shows that those who did not consume ginger supplement did not experience such beneficial effects.

Toddlers on The Couch

Before a baby is born, this little embryo stays put within the placenta inside his or her mother's womb. During this period, parents often try their very best, to spread positive influence towards the baby by doing a lot of things, such as listening to soft and orchestral music like Mozart's, reading storybook as if the baby within can listen, and of course, many other more.

No doubt, these are great and very positive exposures, and scientifically spoken, these acts can definitely cultivate certain positive attitudes and exerts preferable properties in the babies when they are born later.

So, 9 months is passed, the baby is born, what do parents do to continuing cultivate them into a better person? There are many things they do, by nurturing them, continue telling bedtime stories to them, trying their best to create strong bonds between parents and their kids. But things got a little bit out of hand if you continue reading this article.

Many parents took one of the medias for granted, which is television. The tv set is placed as usual at home, with just one press on the remote control, the screen is switched on, and adults can now start to enjoy the show screening on the tube. While children are often exposed to the television. So, what is wrong exposing a toddlers to the program which is shown in the tv set?

A recent study reveals that, for toddler whom ranged from the age of 2 to 4 years old, if they're frequently exposed to the television, this could forecast how badly the television could affect them, among the consequences are poor school adjustment, and unhealthy habits. What is more, with every additional hour of tv exposure at these ages, it simply means that they'll experience even inferior circumstance in learning in school, deterioration of their health, as well as facing the possibility of being bullied in school in later years.

Psychosocial professor at the University of Montreal, Dr. Linda S. Pagani, who was also a lead author in this study, had mentioned that the more hours these toddlers are exposed to the television, it actually corresponds to a future decrease in classroom engagement and success at math, increased victimization by classmates, have a more sedentary lifestyle, higher consumption of junk food and ultimately, these habits lead to higher body mass index.

Too Little Or Too Much?

Sleeping is always a hotly picked topic in this blog site, the reason why this happens is simply because sleeping is so important, it is so essential that, without proper sleeping period in a day, the rest of the time will turn you into a living zombie. Hence, your sleeping pattern, how long you sleep, is equally important.

Did I just mention about how long one should sleep? The problem with how long a person should sleep, exists stereotypically. Many people and even professionals believe that the length of sleeping period is very much depends on that very individually him or herself. They reckon that, certain people feel very energetic after a 6-hour sleep in one day, and others might feel very rejuvenated after an 8-hour sleep. Some might even think that they need only 4 hours of sleeping time in a day to keep them alert.

Very surprisingly (and shockingly), a recent study reveals that, if an individual sleep for less or more than 6 to 8 hours on average, they are linked to premature death. Professor Francesco Cappuccio, who authored an article in the Sleep, Health and Society Program at the University of Warwick, together with his fellow colleagues, found out that sleeping less than 6 hours could increase the risk of premature death by 12 percent higher. And the same it goes for those who sleep for 9 or more hours a night, but arguably, longer sleep increases 30 percent higher in premature death. Researchers believe that short sleep in a night is probably due to the cause of ill-health condition, while long sleep in a night is perhaps represents an indication of ill-health.

Active Lifestyle

Puffer always is the sole solution which curbs asthmatic attacks to frequent asthma sufferers. By using puffer, patients of asthma would virtually be freed from the asthmatic problems they usually face. But when does a puffer is being used by these sufferers? Very obviously, of course during times when they are experiencing asthmatic attacks. But that will generally lead to another question, which is, how do these individuals encounter such deadly attacks?

One of the very common situations which could possibly be, is exercise-induced asthma. Such situation seems to be happening every now and then when asthmatic patients go all out and do some intense exercises. As a result, many parents, or sometimes, even doctors advise the patients not to exercise, but just sit aside watching their peers or even worse, just stay at home, be "grounded" kids.

But is it really true that patients with asthma cannot exercise? Such question has gradually becoming a myth among parents, where they seriously think that their children with asthma are not encouraged to exercise, but in the contrary, they should encourage their children to go all out. But, with some precautions, of course.

Before your children or any individuals with asthma exercise, be sure that they use their puffer about 15 to 20 minutes before the adrenaline pumps in. This will prevent an asthma flare-up occurring in the middle of exercising. If you are unsure about your own circumstance, and want to lead a healthy lifestyle by exercising, this asthma action plan might come in handy. If you do not know how to fill it up, you might need your doctor's advice and you can of course ask him or her to fill it up for you.

Asthma patients who exercise generally will gain benefits such as fewer asthma symptoms, less anxious, less depressed and of course, able to enjoy a better quality of life. As the time goes by, when these asthma patients keep on exercising, the patients will become fitter, and consequently, their asthma symptoms will also be improved.

Baby Swimmers

Babies are adorable and cute. Newly born babies are often regarded as the future leaders of a certain country, the hopes of a particular nation. Most importantly, babies are parents' very own flesh and blood, and these parents, of course, hope for the best in their beloved new born children. And thus, many parents hope that their babies can be able to learn many things in their young ages, stereotypically, hoping that their children can make up what they have lost or things that they were unable to get a hold onto in their younger years.

A recent research shows that by teaching early babies what swimming is, and the way to do it, can distinctly differentiate a great baby with many benefits from a normal baby. While teaching babies swimming might be a source of fun and joy, but the more important aspect on this is the benefits which would be acquired by the babies, especially in their growth development process. Such distinctive result can be observed very clearly even when the babies reach the five year-old mark.

A group of researchers from Norwegian University of Science and Technology were the members who conducted this study. In the mentioned study, two groups which consisted of 19 babies each, were formed. One group was babies who were taught the swimming way, while the other group was treated as a control group. The only factor which differentiates these two groups was the existence of swimming lesson, or not. While the other factors which were put into consideration in this study, such as the parents' education, household income, among others, were all the same for these two groups of babies. Babies who were given swimming lessons received two hours of teachings per week, and they were taught from the age of 2-3 months until they were around 7-month old or so.

The results of the study seemed to be crystal clear, and showed great differences between the two groups. All the babies from both groups were given some exercises to do when the babies were about the age of 5. Obvious results were observed, the babies who received swimming lessons earlier were the best in exercises that related to balance and the ability to reach for things.

Breast Cancer with Alcohol

Previously, there was an article mentioning the downside for youngsters to get themselves involved in binge drinking, if not binge drinking, they are not encouraged to touch any of these alcohol at all. Today's article is just another strong reason why youngsters, particularly girls, should get their fingers off the alcohol.

In many western countries, the rate of benign breast disease sufferers is always increasing by leaps and bounds, and one of the strong reasons why this is happening, is because more and more female youngsters are indulged in alcohol consumption. This appears to be a solid evidence which was obtained from a study conducted at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and Harvard University.

Speaking of benign breast diseases, it usually occurs with the existence of breast lumps. Though the appearance of breast lumps does not mean that it will be really hazardous to that very individual, but about 80 percent of breast lumps are said to be benign. When this happens, there is a great possibility that normal breast tissues could transform into invasive breast cancer.

The researchers of this study have studied girls who fell in the range of 9 to 15 years old by starting to tracking their health records from the year 1996 to 2007. Although specific statistics were not revealed, but the result did show that the more alcohol is consumed, the more likely the participants were diagnosed with benign breast diseases. According to the researchers, girls and young women who drank up to 6 or 7 drinks of alcohol per week tend to have about 5.5 times more likely to encounter with such disease compare to those only took a few sips once a week or none at all in a week. While those who drink three to five times a week appear to increase their risk for up to three times.