Pacemaker patients warned not to linger too long in shops as anti-theft systems can interfere with devices

Pacemaker patients warned not to linger too long in shops as anti-theft systems can interfere with devices

Experts warned prolonged exposure to the in-store devices can cause pacing therapy to drop beats

Doctors must warn patients with pacemakers that their devices may be disrupted by anti-theft systems used in shops, experts have said.

Many patients are unaware that electronic anti-theft systems, also known as electronic article surveillance (EAS) systems, can pose a threat to people using cardiac devices, they said.

Prolonged exposure to the in-store devices can cause pacing therapy to drop beats and cause implantable defibrillators (ICDs) to deliver inappropriate shocks, experts told the Cardiostim EHRA Europace 2016 conference in Nice, France.

While previous warnings have been issued, many patients are unaware of the problem, they said.

Some of the anti-theft devices are hidden under floors, in walls and in doors, while traditional pedestal systems in doorways are often covered by advertising sleeves.

A new study, presented by Professor Robert Stevenson, senior scientist at Greatbatch Medical in Santa Clarita, California, US, examined pacemakers against an array of anti-theft devices.

Traditional pedestal systems interfered with cardiac device functioning, especially when the devices were in prolonged close proximity, they found.

In particular, they raised concerns about patients standing in close to EAS pedestals and toddlers with pacemakers crawling over sub-floor systems.

The US study examined pacemakers against an array of anti-theft devices CREDIT: ALAMY

Professor Stevenson added: "Doctors must educate patients about the potential dangers of EAS systems as many have never been warned not to lean or linger in retail store entrances. It is particularly important that patients do not sit or slouch in a chair or couch in store entry areas.

"Electronic anti-theft systems are a part of everyday life, with more than 800,000 pedestals alone installed worldwide. Patients are safe if they walk at a constant pace through the system.

"EAS gates that are obscured with advertising or goods for sale, or hidden in the floor with couches or chairs adjacent, are a serious concern and EAS manufacturers have a responsibility to ensure that retailers install them in such a way that they are visible and well marked."

Co-author Dr Rod Gimbel, an electrophysiologist at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, US, said: "Cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) are critical to patients' health.

"Pacemakers provide pacing support, without which there would be no heartbeat at all for a pacemaker-dependent patient. ICDs deliver pacing or shocks to rescue patients from potentially life-threatening arrhythmias.

"We tell patients 'Don't linger, don't lean' but that advice is hard to follow when systems are invisible. To make matters worse, advertising draws patients closer to the pedestals.

"Some shops have placed camouflaged pedestals next to a chair or in a checkout line, so patients may be next to them for some time, and sofas are put on top of under-floor systems, encouraging patients to sit for long periods."


source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Natural Depression Treatments

Natural Depression Treatments.

Being depressed can make you feel helpless. You're not. Along with therapy and sometimes medication, there's a lot you can do on your own to fight back. Changing your behavior -- your physical activity, lifestyle, and even your way of thinking -- are all natural depression treatments.

These tips can help you feel better -- starting right now.

1. Get in a routine. If you’re depressed, you need a routine, says Ian Cook, MD. He's a psychiatrist and director of the Depression Research and Clinic Program at UCLA.

Depression can strip away the structure from your life. One day melts into the next. Setting a gentle daily schedule can help you get back on track.

2.Set goals. When you're depressed, you may feel like you can't accomplish anything. That makes you feel worse about yourself. To push back, set daily goals for yourself.


"Start very small," Cook says. "Make your goal something that you can succeed at, like doing the dishes every other day."

As you start to feel better, you can add more challenging daily goals.

3. Exercise. It temporarily boosts feel-good chemicals called endorphins. It may also have long-term benefits for people with depression. Regular exercise seems to encourage the brain to rewire itself in positive ways, Cook says.

How much exercise do you need? You don’t need to run marathons to get a benefit. Just walking a few times a week can help.

4. Eat healthy. There is no magic diet that fixes depression. It's a good idea to watch what you eat, though. If depression tends to make you overeat, getting in control of your eating will help you feel better.

Although nothing is definitive, Cook says there's evidence that foods with omega-3 fatty acids (such as salmon and tuna) and folic acid (such as spinach and avocado) could help ease depression.

5. Get enough sleep. Depression can make it hard to get enough shut-eye, and too little sleep can make depression worse.

What can you do? Start by making some changes to your lifestyle. Go to bed and get up at the same time every day. Try not to nap. Take all the distractions out of your bedroom -- no computer and no TV. In time, you may find your sleep improves.

6. Take on responsibilities. When you’re depressed, you may want to pull back from life and give up your responsibilities at home and at work. Don't. Staying involved and having daily responsibilities can help you maintain a lifestyle that can help counter depression. They ground you and give you a sense of accomplishment.

If you're not up to full-time school or work, that’s fine. Think about part-time. If that seems like too much, consider volunteer work.

7. Challenge negative thoughts. In your fight against depression, a lot of the work is mental -- changing how you think. When you're depressed, you leap to the worst possible conclusions.

The next time you're feeling terrible about yourself, use logic as a natural depression treatment. You might feel like no one likes you, but is there real evidence for that? You might feel like the most worthless person on the planet, but is that really likely? It takes practice, but in time you can beat back those negative thoughts before they get out of control.

8. Check with your doctor before using supplements. "There's promising evidence for certain supplements for depression," Cook says. Those include fish oil, folic acid, and SAMe. But more research needs to be done before we'll know for sure. Always check with your doctor before starting any supplement, especially if you’re already taking medications.


9. Do something new. When you’re depressed, you’re in a rut. Push yourself to do something different. Go to a museum. Pick up a used book and read it on a park bench. Volunteer at a soup kitchen. Take a language class.

"When we challenge ourselves to do something different, there are chemical changes in the brain," Cook says. "Trying something new alters the levels of [the brain chemical] dopamine, which is associated with pleasure, enjoyment, and learning."

10. Try to have fun. If you’re depressed, make time for things you enjoy. What if nothing seems fun anymore? "That's just a symptom of depression," Cook says. You have to keep trying anyway.

As strange as it might sound, you have to work at having fun. Plan things you used to enjoy, even if they feel like a chore. Keep going to the movies. Keep going out with friends for dinner.

When you're depressed, you can lose the knack for enjoying life, Cook says. You have to relearn how to do it. In time, fun things really will feel fun again.


source: webMD

Mediterranean diet can stop breast cancer

Mediterranean diet can stop breast cancer returning, experts have discovered

New research suggests adopting a diet including fresh fish and olive oil could dramatically reduce the chances of the cancer coming back

Evidence suggests a Mediterranean diet can actually help reduce the risk of getting cancer

A Mediterranean diet can stop breast cancer coming back, experts have discovered.

Researchers revealed the stunning findings at the world’s biggest cancer conference in Chicago, reports the Sunday People .

More than 300,000 Brits are diagnosed with various cancers every year and one in eight British women will develop breast cancer at some point in their lives.

Many will beat the disease if diagnosed early enough but then live in constant fear of it returning.

Now new research suggests adopting the diet of fresh fish, vegetables, whole grains, legumes and olive oil could dramatically reduce the chances of cancer coming back.

A Mediterranean diet also helps reduce the risk of heart disease

There is already strong evidence that the Mediterranean diet can help reduce your risk of developing cancer in the first place.

But the new findings, presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting in Chicago, suggest the diet could make a significant difference to those recovering from the disease.

Scientists studied more than 300 women who had been treated for early stage breast cancer and split them into two groups.

One half followed a Mediterranean diet while the other continued a normal, healthy diet.

After three years, 11 patients in the group on a normal, healthy diet saw their breast cancer come back.

But remarkably, none of the patients on the Mediterranean diet relapsed, according to the study presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Lead researcher Claudia Biasini, of the Hospital of Piacenza, Italy, said: “The adoption of a Mediterranean Diet in this study has reduced the risk of cancer recurrence.”

Dr Erica Mayer, ASCO’s breast cancer expert, added: “The whole topic of lifestyle interventions for breast cancer survivors is a very important one.

“There is substantial research going on into what we should be recommending to breast cancer survivors.”

Breast cancer charities welcomed the findings but said further studies should be done to back up the research because it was a relatively small study.

Samia al Qadhi, Chief Executive at Breast Cancer Care, said: “For many women with breast cancer, fear of the disease returning is one of the biggest issues they face after treatment.

“So anything that helps us understand how to lower risk of recurrence is a welcome addition to our toolbox.

The Mediterranean diet has previously shown it can protect against heart disease, with some studies suggesting it can reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes by one third.

There are also theories that it could protect against dementia, with research suggesting that it prevents the brain from shrinking.

Cancer experts said further research to understand the “impact” that diet can have on cancer patients.


Source: mirror

Four things you can do to decrease the chance you develop breast cancer

Four things you can do to decrease the chance you develop breast cancer

Lifestyle choices deemed the most important

A woman and her young child walk through a "mini-field of women" planted in support of the Breast Cancer Network Of Australia on May 15, 2016 in n Melbourne. The field consisted of pink lady silhouettes representing the women diagnosed with breast cancer this year.

Cox Media Group National Content Desk
According to a new study on who is likely to develop breast cancer, lifestyle choices were seen as one of the most important factor in reducing the chances a person will develop the disease.
The study, published online May 26 in JAMA Oncology, looked at more than 40,000 women tested for 24 gene variants which were previously linked to increased risk of breast cancer.
The study looked at factors that could lower a person’s chances of developing breast cancer. As it stands now, a 30-year-old white woman has a 1 in 11 chance of developing the cancer at some point in her life.
Here’s a quick look at the study and its results.

What did the study look at?

The goal of this study was to use data to develop a model for predicting "absolute risk of invasive breast cancer." According to the report, results would “provide new insight into the challenges and opportunities for risk-based targeted ... cancer prevention efforts.”

Who was included?

The study used information from 17,171 cases and 19,862 controls sampled from the Breast and Prostate Cancer Cohort Consortium, and surveys from 5,879 women participating in the 2010 National Health Interview Survey. The study did not include women diagnosed with having the BRCA1 and 2 genes, genes known to increase a woman’s risk of getting breast cancer.

What were the results?

The results were used to create a model for predicting absolute risk of breast cancer based on information about lifestyle and family history from individuals, and data on the risks of getting the disease.
According to the study, four lifestyle factors seem to increase the chance you could get breast cancer, with all other factors being even.
Maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking, limiting alcohol, and not taking hormone replacement therapy following menopause was shown to make a difference in the incidences of breast cancer for white American women.
Researchers said that if women followed those tips, approximately 30 percent of breast cancer cases could be avoided entirely. Of those who would still get the disease, most of the cases would be in women who have the a family history or a genetic mutation (BRCA1) that leaves them more likely to get breast cancer.

What about women with the BRCA1 gene? Will the lifestyle modifications help?

While those with the BRCA1 gene were not included in this study, researchers say lifestyle modifications have been seen to lower the chance of getting cancer even in women who have a high genetic risk for the disease.

What about non-white women?

The modifications were seen to benefit non-white women as well.

What should I do?

Some simple changes in your lifestyle – not smoking, watching your weight, not using hormone replacement therapy and limiting alcohol use – can make a real difference in your chances of getting breast cancer, according to the study.


source: krmg

constipation natural cures

Constipation is unpleasant, but you don't have to suffer. Try these home remedies to get your digestive system back on track.

Constipation

Contipation

Natural home remedies for constipation If your first instinct when you’re constipated is to reach for the laxatives, chances are you don’t need one. The best way to get ‘regular’ again is to eat more fibre, drink more fluids and exercise. Fix it with fibre Start off the day with a high-fibre bran cereal. Some brands contain as much as 14 grams of insoluble fibre, the kind that adds bulk to stool. If you’re new to the whole fibre thing, start off with a smaller serving to prevent gas, bloating and cramping. Fill up on dried beans, prunes, figs, pears and oatmeal. These foods are also all high in soluble fibre. Mix one to two teaspoons of psyllium seeds into a cup of hot water. Let it sit for two hours, add lemon and honey, then drink. Flaxseeds are high in fibre and also contain heart-healthy omega-3 fats. Take one tablespoon of the ground seeds two or three times a day. You can also add it your morning cereal or smoothie. As you increase your intake of fibre be sure to drink lots of water‘at least 8 glasses a day. Loosen up with a hot cup A morning cup of hot java will help. Caffeine has a bowel-loosening effect. Just don’t drink too much since it’s also a diuretic. Herbal or decaffeinated tea, or a simple cup of hot water with lemon juice will also help to get things moving. Dandelion tea has a mildly laxative effect. Steep one teaspoon of the dried root in one cup of boiling water. Drink one cup three times per day. Tastes awful but it works Castor oil has a compound that when digested stimulates the small and large intestines. Swallow one to two teaspoons quickly on an empty stomach and give it eight hours to work its magic. Tastes nasty but it works! Wrinkled fruit to the rescue Prunes are one of the oldest home remedies for constipation. High in fibre, prunes also contain a compound called dihydroxyphenyl isatin, which kicks the colon into action. Raisins are also high in fibre as well as tartaric acid, which has a laxative effect. Get up and go There’s a reason the evening walk used to be called the daily constitutional. Regular exercise helps your body move food quicker. Aim for a daily walk at the very least. Put the pressure on You can stimulate your digestive system through acupressure. Using your thumb, apply pressure at the spot four finger-widths above your wrist on the back of the forearm. Do this two minutes per day. Last resort The herb cascara sagrada is one of the key ingredients in over-the-counter laxatives. It comes in a variety of forms (teas, tinctures,tablets) and it’s important to follow the directions on the package carefully. Don’t use it for more than two weeks since it can cause you to lose too much fluid and salt. Senna is the mother of all laxatives. A tincture is the easiest way to take his herb. Usually 20 to 40 drops at bedtime is sufficient. Go easy with both of these herbs since long-term use can cause dependency. 
 Relax and don’t wait Never force a bowel movement. You can give yourself hemorrhoids or anal fissures that eventually narrow the anal opening, causing constipation. Never ignore nature’s call. If you do, you’re asking for a case of constipation.

Constipation remedy: Sesame seeds

Sesame seeds

The oily composition of sesame seeds works to moisturize the intestines, which can help if dry stools are a problem. Add the seeds to cereals or salads for crunch, or pulverize them in a coffee grinder and sprinkle on food like a seasoning. This home remedy for constipation is a favorite of Amish and Chinese folk healers.

Constipation remedy: Molasses

Molasses

One tablespoon of blackstrap molasses before bed should help ease your constipation by morning. Blackstrap molasses is boiled and concentrated three times, so it has significant vitamins and minerals; magnesium in particular will help relieve your constipation.

Constipation remedy: Mint or ginger tea

Mint or Ginger Tea

Mint and ginger are both proven home remedies to help alleviate a slew of digestive problems. Peppermint contains menthol, which has an antispasmodic effect that relaxes the muscles of the digestive tract. Ginger is a "warming" herb that causes the inside of the body to generate more heat; herbalists say this can help speed up sluggish digestion. In tea, the hot water will also stimulate digestion and help relieve constipation. Dandelion tea is also a gentle laxative and detoxifier.

Constipation remedy: Healthy fats

Healthy Fats

Olive oil, nuts, and avocados all contain healthy fats, which can help lubricate your intestines and ease constipation. A salad with fiber-rich leafy greens and a simple olive oil dressing, a small handful of nuts, or a tablespoon of natural nut butter on fruit or toast are good options. Even if you're watching your weight, healthy fats are necessary for basic body functions; they are very satiating to keep you satisfied with less.

Constipation remedy: Lemon water

Lemon Water

The citric acid in lemon juice acts as a stimulant to your digestive system and can help flush toxins from your body. Squeeze fresh lemon juice into a glass of water every morning, or add lemon to tea; you may find that the refreshingly tart water not only acts as a natural remedy to your constipation but also that it helps you drink more water each day, which will improve your long-term digestion.

Constipation remedy: Lemon water

Coffee

Coffee can stimulate your colon and speed up your trip to the bathroom. Other hot drinks work too: Herbal tea or a cup of hot water with a little lemon juice (a natural laxative) or honey may stimulate your colon as well. Coffee is also a diuretic, however, so make sure to keep drinking water or your constipation could become worse.

Constipation remedy: Raisins

Raisins

High in fiber, raisins also contain tartaric acid, which has a laxative effect. In one study, doctors determined that panelists who ate 4 1/2 ounces of raisins (one small box) per day had their digested food make it through the digestive track in half the time it took other subjects who did not. Cherries and apricots are also rich in fiber and can help kick your constipation. Eat these fruits with a bowl of yogurt for the added benefits of gut-soothing probiotics.

Constipation remedy: Prunes

Prunes

These fiber-rich fruits are a go-to home remedy for getting your digestion back on track. Three prunes have 3 grams of fiber, and they also contain a compound that triggers the intestinal contraction that makes you want to go. Another great dried fruit choice is figs, which may not cause as much bloating as prunes.

Constipation remedy: Castor oil

Castor Oil

This home remedy for constipation has been handed down for generations. One of the primary uses for castor oil is as a laxative; take 1 to 2 teaspoons on an empty stomach and you should see results in about 8 hours. Why? A component in the oil breaks down into a substance that stimulates your large and small intestines.



source: www.rd.com
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