Mind that headache, you could have brain tumour

Headache is sometimes the only symptom of brain tumours, a new study has found, suggesting CT scans and other neuro-imaging tests for people with headache can prove helpful in diagnosing the deadly disease. Recent guidelines seeking to reduce the use of CT scans and other neuro-imaging tests for patients with headaches run the risk of missing or delaying the diagnosis of brain tumours, researchers said.

"Although the intentions are laudable, these guidelines are inconsistent with the neurosurgeon's experience with patients with brain tumour," Dr Ammar H Hawasli and colleagues at Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, said.

Reducing the use of neuro-imaging for patients with headaches has been one focus of recent initiatives seeking to limit the use of unnecessary and costly medical tests. The issue is an important one, as headaches are a common reason for physician visits.

In most cases, migraine and other types of headache can be diagnosed in the doctor's office, without any special tests. Several groups have proposed guidelines to limit the neuro-imaging for headache. However, from their experience in treating patients with brain tumours, Hawasli and co-authors raise concerns about this recommendation.

"Specifically, patients with brain tumours may present with isolated headaches in the absence of other neurological symptoms and signs," they said. They analysed a series of 95 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of brain tumour at their department. Nearly half of patients had a combination of symptoms, such as seizures, cognitive and speech dysfunction, or other neurological abnormalities. However, about one-fourth had isolated headaches, no symptoms, or non-specific symptoms.

In 11 patients, headache was the only symptom of brain tumour. Four of these patients had new-onset headaches that would have qualified them for neuroimaging under recently
proposed guidelines. The remaining seven patients had migraine or other types of headache for which imaging may not have been performed under the proposed "Choosing Wisely" guidelines.

Depending on which set of recent recommendations had been followed, neuro-imaging would have been delayed or never performed in three to seven per cent of patients with brain tumours, researchers said. That could have important implications for patient outcomes, as early diagnosis of brain tumours enables prompt treatment and a wider range of surgical options.

"We support careful and sensible use of neuroimaging in which physicians exercise excellent clinical judgement to reduce waste in the medical system," researchers said. The research was published in the journal Neurosurgery.

 THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.








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The Stomach Germs You Need to Avoid!

The Stomach Germs You Need to Avoid! With population numbers rising, one thing that is becoming more common is catching infections and passing them on to the people around us. One common form of infection comes from a group of bacteria that are found in many foods and animal feces, which means we have to constantly be careful and follow some basic rules to avoid. It is important to understand what these germs are and what they do, and most of all - how to avoid them! E. Coli The E. Coli germ lives in the colon of people and animals such as cows, sheep and goats. Usually, the bacteria is not harmful and is required for the routine activities of the digestive system, but when some touch occurs with feces, there is a risk of infection. The bacteria usually travels through uncooked meat, polluted water and unpasteurized dairy products.   Symptoms of infection from E Coli include severe diarrhea, stomach aches and vomiting which can last between 5 to 10 days. Also, E Coli bacteria may cause urinary infections, with women being especially susceptible.    Although the vast majority of E Coli bacteria aren't dangerous, there are strands which can cause bloody diarreas, kidney malfunction and even death.   To avoid infection, be sure to properly cook your meat, wash fruit and vegetables thoroughly before eating or cooking them and avoid drinking unpasteurized milk and juice. Make sure to clean your hands well after going to the rest room and to thoroughly clean kitchenware and work surfaces that came in contact with uncooked meat.     Campylobacter Campylobacter jejuni is a species of bacteria commonly found in animal feces. It is one of the most common causes of human gastroenteritis in the world. Food poisoning caused by Campylobacter species can be severely debilitating, but is rarely life-threatening.   C. jejuni is commonly associated with poultry, and it naturally colonizes the digestive tract of many bird species. One study found that 30% of European starlings in farm settings in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom, were carriers of C. jejuni. It is also common in cattle.   Avoid contaminated drinking water and unpasteurized milk, which provide an efficient means for distribution. Contaminated food is a major source of isolated infections, with incorrectly prepared meat and poultry as the primary source of the bacteria.   The causative agent of the relatively rare bacterial disease, listeriosis, a serious infection caused by eating food contaminated with the bacteria. The disease affects primarily pregnant women, newborns, adults with weakened immune systems, and the elderly.   Listeria Listeria germs are found in the soil and in water, and so can appear on raw foods such as fruit and vegetables, raw meat and fish as well as unpasteurized dairy products. Unlike other bacteria, this species can also grow and spread in the relatively low temperatures of the average fridge.   Most Listeria bacteria are handled by the immune system before they can cause infection, but some 'get away' and cause Listeriosis.    Symptoms of listeriosis include fever, shivers, headaches and vomiting. People at high risk to suffer from a listeria infection are pregnant women and their fetuses, adults over 50 and people who have a weak immune system.   Listeriosis may not affect a lot of people, research suggests that every year it affects about 1,600 people globally. However, out of those 1600, 260 die.   To avoid infection, we repeat our advice to scrub vegetables and fruit before eating, clean any spills in the kitchen, especially raw meat juices.    Vibrio The Vibrio Parahaemolyticus germs live in salt water, and are often found in uncooked seafood. They may cause food poisoning which will in turn cause watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, fever and shivers. Severe cases will cause blood and mucus to appear in the feces.   People who eat fish and uncooked seafood may be infected within 24 hours, while the symptoms may last 3-5 days. Severe infections are rare, but people with a weak immune system are at high risk.   These infections can usually be avoided by thoroughly cooking fish and seafood.   Toxoplasma According to the CDC, millions of people around the world carry the Toxoplasma gondii parasite. However, only a few of us suffer any symptoms, due to a robust immune system. That said, there are people who develop texeoplasmosis and may suffer a severe infection.    The symptoms, like those of the flu, might be weakness, fever, muscle pain and enlarged lymph nodes.    Like the ones before, the risk groups are pregnant women and people with a weak immune system. The parasite can cause more severe diseases though, which may harm the brain, eyes, liver and lungs.   The toxoplasma gondii bacteria is found in a large variety of animals, but it can only breed in the stomach of a cat. That is why cats are considered the main spreaders. Cats usually catch the parasite by eating raw meat, unwashed vegetables or by contact with other cat feces which contain the eggs of the parasite.   To prevent infection, the CDC recommends cooking your food safely and avoiding low heats, wash your hands while handeling raw food, and to avoid unclean water and cat feces.    Salmonella Salmonella is a group of bacteria usually found in uncooked poultry, eggs, beef and sometimes unwashed fruit and vegetables. Touching food or animals that came in contact with the bacteria might cause an inflammation in your digestive system. This inflammation is called salmonellosis and its symptoms include fever, diarrhea, stomach and head aches which can last between 4 and 7 days.   Most people heal without treatment, but for the elderly, babies and people with chronic diseases, Salmonellosis can spread in the blood, with deadly results.   To avoid infection, avoid eating uncooked eggs, meat and poultry not fully cooked, and keep your raw meat separate from the cooked meat. Also wash everything that came into contact with uncooked foods.     Norovirus This virus can do harm to the stomach and bowels, and is often called 'stomach flu'. The bacteria are usually found in contaminated food or beverages, but can also be passed by touching surfaces or other people carrying it.   The virus can cause an inflammation in the bowels (gastritis). The symptoms include Fatigue, headaches, nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea and fever that tend to last a few days. Most people overcome the disease, but it's important to drink enough fluids to replace what you lost.   To avoid infection, always clean your hands with soap after handling foods, and disinfect work surfaces in the kitchen and restroom.       THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES. PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO VIEW MY BLOG- HTTP:GSEASYRECIPES.BLOGSPOT.COM/  FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG- HTTP://KNEE REPLACEMENT-STICK CLUB.BLOGSPOT.COM/ FOR CROCHET DESIGNS HTTP://MY CROCHET CREATIONS.BLOGSPOT.COM

13 Healthy Facts About Fruits and Vegetables

Most of us eat fruits and vegetables on a daily basis. After all, they have been a part of our diet since the dawn of history. We eat them raw, cooked, frozen, drink them as juices and combine them with just about any other food we eat. But just like anything else that’s been around for so long, there are many things you don't know about fruits and veggies that can be very useful and important to know. 1) Never mix grapefruits with medications.

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Grapefruits are among the most nutritious fruits out there but they can also be bad for you if you are taking certain medication. The chemicals in a grapefruit can cause a bad reaction with some drugs that can even have fatal results. If you’re on medications, be sure to check with a medical professional before drinking or eating any amount of grapefruit. 2) Fruits and veggies have a lot of fiber. The benefits of fiber include keeping your bowel movements regular, helping lower cholesterol, regulating blood sugar, and help you feel fuller for a longer time. Even if you don't need any more of the vitamins, minerals and other healthy ingredients in fruits and vegetables, they are still one of the best things you can eat on a daily basis. 3) The skin is usually the best part In many fruits and veggies, such as carrots, apples, and cucumbers, a high percentage of the nutrition is actually stored in the skin. This means that when you peel it off, you’re actually peeling away nutritious benefits. Make sure to wash your fruits and vegetables well before eating them and I guarantee you'll get used to eating them with the peel in no time.   4) Bananas are fascinating

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Two incredible things you never knew about these delicious sources of potassium and vitamins: First, bananas are technically herbs and belong to the same "botanical family" as mint or basil. Secondly, in 1950 almost all of the banana species in the world where wiped out by the Panama Disease. Today, most of the bananas sold and eaten around the whole world are direct decedents of the same Asian breeds that survived the disease. 5) Eating fruits and vegetables hardly affects your weight All fruits and all vegetables are low in calories, this is why you hear nutrition professionals and doctors tell you to eat them for snacks. While a bag of chips contains fat, oil, and a lot of calories, a handful of carrots contains none of those things. It is absurd how much fruit and vegetables you can eat before the calories start stacking up so don’t be afraid to eat them. That said, some fruit may carry a high amount of sugar, so don't over-do it on sweet fruit. 6) Broccoli has more protein than a steak Calorie for calorie, there is more protein in broccoli than there is in an average steak, and with no saturated and trans fats or cholesterol, you can get all the protein you need with a significantly lower risk of cardiovascular disease. So if you are trying to grow and strengthen your muscles, broccoli is the food for you. 7) The most hated vegetable in the world is one of the best

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Brussels sprouts reign supreme as the least enjoyable vegetable by children, and also some adults. It might be because of their bitter taste, the repugnant smell or even just its bad reputation. However, Brussels sprouts are among the most nutritious veggies you can ever find. They have no fat, no cholesterol, hardly any calories and plenty of vitamins and minerals. It's a shame that none of these facts make them taste any better… 8) Orange peels are amazing It's been said before that the skin of the fruit can be better than the fruit itself. Orange peels have over four times the amount of fiber then the actual fruit, and contain more antioxidants than the "flesh" inside. The only drawback is that it’s difficult to find a way to eat it. The best way to do it is to grate it up like cheese into an orange zest. You can use is to season all sorts of foods, add to baked goods or mix with your yogurt or cereals. 9) Peppers encourage clotting While most people use them as a spice and not as a whole food, peppers (spicy ones in particular) can work wonders to promote the clotting of blood over wounds. According to some experts, you can even sprinkle some cayenne pepper into a wound where it will act as gauze. 10) "Negative calorie foods" are a myth

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You may have heard that some fruits and vegetables require more calories to digest than they actually give, meaning eating them will actually make you thinner. Unfortunately this is wrong. While there are foods that have very few calories, you still only burn about 10% to 20% of their calorie intake. Let's take, for example, a stalk of celery that’s about 10 calories. While eating and digesting it you will burn about 2 calories, which means you still had an intake of 8 calories. 11) Onions are ridiculously healthy

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Sure they can make you cry and they make your breath smell terrible, but you should forgive them for all of that. The reason onions do those things is the exact same reason why they are good for you. Onions contain over 100 sulfide compounds which give a number of health benefits such as the prevention of asthma and some types of cancer. You don’t have to eat it raw, just eat it. 12) Pineapples are bad for your taste buds Pineapples contain an enzyme called bromelain which breaks down proteins in your mouth, namely your taste buds. After eating a pineapple your palate will be much less sensitive until your mouth can heal itself, which takes about a day. Pineapple is still a great fruit for you, but you should probably let a freshly sliced pineapple sit in the fridge for a bit before eating it. This will give time for the enzymes to break down and they will have a much weaker effect. 13) Apples can wake you up better than a cup of coffee Like

It's hard to believe this fact so just try it for yourself and see. If you’re finding yourself a little low on energy during the afternoon then consider eating an apple in the morning. Thanks to its high carbohydrate, vitamin, and mineral content, an apple can give you a steady supply of nutrition to help you stay energized all day.  THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES. PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO VIEW MY BLOG- HTTP:GSEASYRECIPES.BLOGSPOT.COM/  FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG- HTTP://KNEE REPLACEMENT-STICK CLUB.BLOGSPOT.COM/ FOR CROCHET DESIGNS HTTP://MY CROCHET CREATIONS.BLOGSPOT.COM